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Why is meta so... meta?

Father Cthulhu·1/6/2015, 6:09:22 PM·2 votes·1,121 views

I've been playing League since march a couple years ago, about when Zac came out. I was still noobish, so I just played whatever and prayed I wouldn't do too bad. I eventually leveled the account up to the 20's, and started hearing so much about meta this, meta that, that champs not meta, that build isn't meta...

I quickly informed myself on what the meta is, what build and champions are and aren't meta, etc. But... Why are those champions meta, and others aren't?

In the current meta, we have adc supp bot, usually some kind of fighter or tank top, apc's or assassins mid, and (insert random jungler) in the jungle. The only variation of this kind of thing that I ever really see in pro's is lane swaps and a Lulu top every once in a while. (lookin at you Dyrus) Mid is now filled with the same mid laners almost all the time, and the same can be said for bot. People like Gragas, Karthus, Brand, Malzahar, and Viktor just don't usually pop up, simply because they're not 'meta' enough. But WHY are they not meta?

Most of this boils down to a balance between mechanics, damage and mobility. This is what determines what's meta and what's not.

11 Comments

Rawrful1/6/2015, 8:35:19 PM3 votes

No, no, no people. Meta is not what is considered 'strongest.' It is what is considered safest. "Meta" play is "Standard" play. It has few weaknesses, and clearly defined but not overwhelming strengths. It doesn't destroy your opponent, but it doesn't leave you open to getting destroyed yourself.

"Meta" champions generally have a clear strength that is easy to take advantage of, and are generally just solid at what they do. They aren't risky. A team that puts a Vayne top and makes bottom lane a Pantheon/J4 all-in lane is taking a huge risk (Double melee bot lane is scary times), but if the Vayne can hold top and the Pantheon and J4 get fed bottom, the enemy ADC gets shut down and they insta-win the game. But, stick a meta top top and a meta support/adc bot lane, and you have way less risk.

Meta = less risk. Which makes it better for solo queue play, and for strong pro teams that don't need to take risks to win consistently. That is why you see less entrenched pro teams playing Poppy and double ADC and all kinds of non-meta stuff, but C9 and TSM run something very close to meta every single game.

Jamaree1/6/2015, 6:19:43 PM1 votes

Because the pros play them, that ultimately decides what is meta and what isn't, but that isn't to say some champions and other ways of playing aren't meta.

AikidoLawnNinja1/6/2015, 6:54:08 PM1 votes

In any competitive game, the "metagame" simply describes what works best in the current competitive environment. The meta is the meta because it provides greater odds of success than other possible choices.

Years ago, I was into competitive Magic: The Gathering, and I got a whole lot of hate from the local players for choosing the "Fires" deck that was "meta" at the time. When I'd win a tournament, I'd have to put up with butthurt losers whining that I had no skill and only won because I was a "meta sheep". Well, I chose to play Fires for a reason... it worked. Whine all you want, but I'm still the one walking out of the store with 18 free booster backs.

It's the same with League. The metagame exists the way it does because it works, and unless you're a very high-level player with a super-coordinated team, straying from the metagame, more often than not, does nothing but handicap your team.

When high-level players make off-meta picks or build off-meta, it's not because that pick/build is generally good... it's because that pick/build filled a VERY specific niche in ONE composition, in ONE game.

Kuroi861/6/2015, 7:05:26 PM1 votes

The "Meta" is what is considered the strongest, most effective means of winning the game at any given time. This typically begins in the pro scene, and then rolls down through the ranks as people discover the strategy the pros use and find that it is indeed effective. Of course, the meta has a slightly less known aspect, the counter meta. Simply put, nearly every champ has a weak point in their game and there is another champ capable of abusing this weak point, you simply have to know your champs and how to use this to your advantage.

Of course, the fact still remains, with enough skill, you can win with just about any champ.

t3hcollective1/6/2015, 7:22:15 PM1 votes

You ask a question then answer it yourself? Meta is what you expect to give you the most success over the long term. It has to do with objectives like buildings/dragon/baron and pvp. It is so much more than just which champ is strongest atm. You limit the scope of meta far too much with your..."analysis"

Bresn1/6/2015, 9:07:42 PM1 votes

Things that aren't "in meta" are still useable unless it's something nerfed to the ground etc. You can make weird, "Not meta" item builds into something that the enemy team has never seen and roflstomp them. Your ranked team can use this crazy all mid lane with certain champs and items and even if it's not meta, you can still make it work,

Meta is just the general champions used, the general items, the general team comp, etc.