@RollieRob
So refreshing to hear an actual answer!
@KoOkiEzRoCkz
Off-meta competitive League would legit be 2x more entertaining
@suchalem6686
That’s one of the reasons I was excited to see FLY lock in Fiddlesticks at worlds. It was new, it was crazy, it was cool.
@lv99roidmage25
Bruh I hate opening up a league esports stream and seeing the same comps for what seems to me for the last 2 years, it’s so bland same comps same items never any variety I fucking miss C9 debut year
@averagepersonvibing9219
the new fearless drafts happening will hopefully help this, although it's only a soft fearless in lpl, for example
@thundercloud5565
A long time ago back when I actually watched someone the big pro tournaments like LCS, I would see every once in a while a team pull out a dark horse non-meta pick like twisted fate jungle, or ad kennen, and interestingly it actually was highly effective when they did. I miss that time, it was the coolest thing to see off-meta picks not only played even at the highest levels of play, but actively crushing it when those picks came out.
@zoroark522
Many potentially good points, but I would say that above all else it's because Vel'Koz as a champion doesn't provide enough reward for the risk of picking him. For example, you could just pick Viktor or Syndra and have just as useful (if not more useful) CC, better burst and overall damage (for the tradeoff of less tank killing), while also being significantly easier to pull off because they are very safe champions who have good 1v1 presence in lane for roams and avoiding early setbacks. It's as simple as there not being any sort of balance to champions if you take away the numbers. Some champions are objectively better, and while it doesn't mean they will always win, why make the conscious decision to take a steeper path when in a race? Especially when the outcome of that race is your livelihood and dream.
@quincejones687
Say it with me... FEARLESS! FEARLESS! FEARLESS!
@francesco8000
fearless draft may be the solution to this: a team can't play the same champion in a series so if you play 5 games you MUST play 5 different champions. In that context pocket picks like vel koz may become more popular.
@kstelakis
I remember in overwatch, they always played the same heroes in esports and then in a minor league a team with an MS paint drawn logo pulled off the most random ass combo of champions (3 tank 3 support 0 damage) and then rolled everyone else there, then did it for the next tournament as well and suddenly pros realized that the specific combination is super strong and suddenly the entire meta became the GOATS meta after the GOATS team
@remveel2443
It's also weird that the meta only shifts if EU teams tries to shift it. We see this with G2 on lane swaps. Sure, NIP started it, but it was in no intention to start a new meta but to save their bot from a horrible matchup. That was the initial reason. But G2 expanded the reasoning and made it viable at any reason. My point is, unless an EU team went ballistic woah with Velkos and pushed him to be meta in EU scene, Velkos would never be played competitive. Especially by LPL or LCK with their tough skull for changes
@jenostheascended7818
Even if you could slot him into a draft (you would need a damn good reason for him to be better than a more standard support/mid), it would also have to happen often enough that it's worse wasting practice time on it, unless some player already practices him constantly in his free time. Look at the latest interview from the G2 coach at MSI. Job security is maybe 1% of the reason why innovative picks aren't considered. The real reason is that it's just not worth it to waste your good practice time on an off meta pick u less you are 100% sure the player is an expert on that champion, and it's good into a meta comp, and it can be drafted reliably without sacrificing all of your team's picks.
@gaze2156
I feel like esports could change the reward structure so that the entertainment factor is taken into account. Like, if there's no way you're beating T1 at their own game, throw them a curvevall. They know every meta matchup and are coached ridiculously hard. Playing something they're not used to might be the edge a slightly-worse player needs to get the upper hand. Play something new and exciting and fun to watch, and if you put up a good fight, you'll at least be a fan favorite.
@diegofuegohastaluego
This should be 5 mill views
@thetillter2228
W strimmer W editor :_azzaBusiness::_azza5Head::_azzaLETSGO:
@kerroseir4764
Cant wait for yorick in pro play
@Powerate
I think it's because Pro meta champions are usually self sufficient champion that don't need a lot of help to setup their plays or can react and fight while defending theirselves to the enemy's plays
@Acusumano25
I fucking HATE that so many people just opt for "meta" and put their head in the sand for anything else. Doesnt matter the game either Like, what do people think happened before any given build/strat was considered meta? Someone had to try it before people knew it was good
@jpkush5198
this is also why its so refreshing too see baus in competitive he brings new life and they are adapting the way these pros are having to play by thinking out the box using baus as a presure cooker for laning to make plays on the otherside of map.
@bokbliner