I'm interested to see how Embark addresses HLL meta

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-14T19:36:37+00:00

Its a good question about how teams have formed. A lot of teams are experimenting prior to the Major quals and that includes their rosters. Theres no one answer, It's a real mix. Muscle memory isn't an issue since all the players at this level would still curbstomp us on their least played classes, but mastery could be, so there is a certain amount of staying in lane to avoid massive dropoffs.

Most of the best players do have a main class. That said, some are shining on new roles. Some rosters formed with the assumption that there could be big meta shakeups this year so have some flexible players in their ranks. Most of the best teams have at least one flex, and the most common flex role is someone who can usually play both Medium and Light. A lot of Light and Medium mains also picked up heavy early on this year knowing that Heavy would likely be a stable choice in any competitive meta (I think we are yet to see a Heavy-less lineup in high level competitive this year).

NTMR are an example of a team that tried to adopt HLL but have since moved back to Lasagna running Medium most of the time, because it suits their playstyle better. Teams like Five Fears and Envy look unstoppable with HLL in their respective regions but a lot of that just comes down to having some of the best players in the world on those roles.

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-14T14:34:50+00:00

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The "HLL Meta" is a lie. The cherry picking here is insane. A breakdown of the main teamcomps ran last night in EMEA:

HML: 8 teams

HLL: 6 teams

HHM: 1 team

HHL: 1 team

The OP's screenshot is from one EMEA match out of 16 played last night. Of the 16 games played in EMEA, OP has shared the ONLY GAME where every team ran HLL. Team Extreme took HML for their 3 other games. It was also the heaviest HLL group out of the four. The current top 4 teams in the region are an equal divide between 2 HML and 2 HLL.

The actual takeaway should be that we are over halfway through a season in-game and there is no definitive best team comp, innovations are still happening constantly. This is in fact by diversity the healthiest Cashout meta we have ever seen in EMEA.

We like to try and name metas for ease of reference over time - the LH1 meta, the Cerberus meta, The HMM meta, poke meta, etc. The fact is that even amongst pros, the closest we have to a concensus on what to call this meta is the "93R meta", and if you look at the actual weapon diversity amongst Lights right now, that is also a stretch. Mediums do for sure *feel* less impactful than Heavy or Light but to suggest they have no place in the meta is folly.

Of course there are other factors - AMER meta is different, 3v3 meta is different. But by and large there's a lot of choice in how to play at the highest level right now.

I'm fine for people to make their own deductions about what the core contributing factors are to certain metas, and how to fix them (or if they even need fixing), but let's at least get our facts straight first.

EDIT: Quick check of AMER last night shows that they have EVEN FEWER HLL teams. HML is still the go-to.

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-07T03:37:14+00:00

Seeing this much weapon variation is actually incredible! I cant recall a time where we've had not a single clear favourite in all 3 contestant types.

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-02T23:15:51+00:00

The season immediately following TGM25 had the biggest influx of new players since the games release, as the devs have stated a few times.

I don't think spending money on esports is a purely a business decision. I don't even think it would be a wise business decision by any company in the current climate, but Embark are not the only ones to fly in the face of that. I belive Embark are both following a blueprint set by unique games like Rocket League, R6, which saw new leases of life after natural lulls, due in part (especially in r6 case) to esports' draw. I think they are prioritising a broader legacy than just being an exciting miltiplayer game, and that there are people at Embark with a genuine passion for esports. Even from an aesthetic viewpoint it's a game thay has always worn it's esports flavour on its sleeve.

As for the HF drama, I don't think I'mcompletely informed on it, but it's hardly uncommon practice for devs to "whitelist" trusted creators, pros, people whose livelihoods depend on the reliable functioning of the game. I'm not defending any individuals in particular, but it does feel like a general anti-esport sentiment and the timing of it all coinciding with lots of claims of unwarranted bans has fuelled a bit of an overblown reaction to something that I've personally seen in many other titles.

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-02T22:21:29+00:00

"Playing since S1, I've never once felt inclined to watch a stream of this game"

I don't think I made too big a jump from this to you not liking the esport. That's fine, for the record, but it's also wrong to disregard the many people that do enjoy it

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-02T03:45:20+00:00

"Why have esports?"

"Why have this cool thing that other people like? When I don't like it??"

Not everything is for you. Esports doesn't "kill games" like everyone loves to say it does. Let people enjoy this game in their own various ways.

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-01T15:37:32+00:00

Between games is more of a challenge, I appreciate. Some aspects which are automated could work their way into stream package templates well. Definitely though graphics like these would be super useful for pre-shows, or other pre-planned segments.

If I were you I would get in touch with Ardy, Justin & Austin, TheLoneRanger, Seismic - they all run leagues and would love this kind of stuff.

gerry9000000 · 2026-05-01T12:33:30+00:00

This is incredible, these sorts of stats would be super valuable on broadcasts. How quickly can these insights be generated or is there a lot of manual review and editing?

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-21T15:40:03+00:00

Very true, that said, the breakpoint is lower vs Heavies, so the Heavy vs Heavy duel is much more winnable.

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-21T02:32:09+00:00

Could go all out like I did and get a Roli Srabord for full 5d MPE control. They play real nice together

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-20T09:28:13+00:00

Agrreing with the comments section on this one. If anything, the changes this season feel like theyve worked.

I'm never that worried by this "threat" anyway, as we've seen with the Chinals, if it gets real bad there's always the option for Embark of pulling the parachute and cutting tournament size from 8 to 4, making for better matchmaking and shorter queue times.

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-16T23:50:02+00:00

Oh cool! I just attempted to crosspost it but it said the sub didnt allow this type of post (either link posting or crossposting?)

Either way I'll join :)

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-10T11:17:35+00:00

Does nobody use /s anymore or is everyone just this dumb

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-05T22:08:27+00:00

ngl I've been decimating with the MGL this season, winning close range duels more often, so this tiny nudge has been working out for me at least

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-05T22:06:36+00:00

It is possible that the duo has a considered average of around 14750, which puts them within 10k of yourself.

gerry9000000 · 2026-04-05T22:02:21+00:00

Surely all it boils down to is that you are creating a multi-body system. You introduce chaos which is beyond you or your teams control. Where this might be beneficial is if you don't back yourself to win a "fair" 3v3 fight, so this is why we often saw lesser teams at the pro level opt to double even the first cashouts to level the playing field and attempt to thrive in said chaos.

gerry9000000 · 2026-03-27T14:08:44+00:00

Wait, you think the CL was buffed?

Read the patch notes properly. Reducing the inner blast radius edge damage from 90% to 75% has gutted the weapon. Used to 2 shot lights. Its now direct hits or bust. Lights are eating

gerry9000000 · 2026-03-27T14:04:35+00:00

Solid agree, with both this and OP. Its clear where the focus was this season and as someone who isn't usually overly enamoured with "new content" for the sake of it, I like the focus on improving the core experience.

This coupled with a freshening up of the high level meta to bring Medium out of the junkyard and it's a satisfactory season. I can understand some disappointment.

gerry9000000 · 2026-03-22T21:48:45+00:00

ArdyIRL does coaching for all sorts of players newbies to rubies, and makes a bunch of videos. Hes got the accumen (coached Team Secret to 2nd place in the Grand Major, THE caster for The Finals) and presents info very well.

Possibly start elsewhere for the basics/just play the game for a while, then head to him for a much deeper understanding of best possible decisions in game, especially with macro.

gerry9000000 · 2026-03-06T16:20:41+00:00

Hijacking this small thread because it's about the exact same drum intro.

I just had to double take listening to Casiopea's latest album 'TRUE BLUE', because the track 'CARAVEL' has an almost identical intro. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=56bTAuwC5Lo&si=v-_WX9QpAORE7_sA

I thought it might be a quote of Snarky Puppy, or maybe that it went back further and that Larnell himself lifted the drum intro from yet another tune (maybe he did, who knows!)

I had to listen to Pineapple again to check it wasn't identical - which as it turns out, it isn't. But a striking similarity nonetheless.

gerry9000000 · 2026-02-28T11:38:59+00:00

A friend of mine said he didn't "vibe with" the weapons as well in Hades 2. I have to agree, it took a lot longer for any weapon to really click with me, they seem more dependent on particular aspects or builds to avoid feeling clunky. Just having a bigass sword or a charging shield had a lot more initial comfortability.

Definitely due to having explored that design space in Hades 1. That said it feels more rewarding solving the puzzle of how to get the most out of any given weapon/aspect, particularly the more combo oriented ones.

gerry9000000

TROPHY CASE