Why Every Meta Feels The Same

So 20XX 5 just happened and it has left people complaining that there is no meta. I disagree. I think there is a meta but it has a massive problem. A problem that has been plaguing Splatoon 3 since launch...
Music:
Eagus Wilderness (Day) - Xenoblade Chronicles 3

[@BelleColonD]

It's kinda depressing how this video is from 7 months ago and the meta still hasn't changed at all. And we thought crab meta lasted too long.

[@CrustyBladeOfGrass]

making meaningful buffs means reefslider has to get buffed and we all know nintendo is having none of that

[@onewingedakira]

In all fairness, reefslider did actually get a buff in the most recent patch but like... it did literally nothing to address what was holding reefslider back. It was a meaningless buff

[@lottiye]

before watching this video… it’s the maps. i feel like every single one of them kinda just involves smashing into one area and then hopefully pushing through and then locking out

[@onewingedakira]

I didn't want to touch on maps too much in the vid since other people have already done a good job of explaining that but ye they defo play a big role in what ends up being meta. for example the restrictive maps played perfectly into crab's win con, hence why it has stayed meta all this time while cooler does a lot to ameliorate the issues the maps create.

[@NovaBlue242]

I'm listening to this and agreeing, yep, sounds current and relevant. Imagine my shock when i see that it's 8 months old.

[@StarWagi]

Great video. You have a lot of valid points and its a shame things havent gotteb nuch better in the months following. I personally don't mind this issue very much, but I understand it is bad for the overall health of the meta. A similar example i can think of in another game is the 2022 Nationals format in yugioh. There was a wide spread of decks winning, but every deck was on one of a handful of toxic unfun things and everyone hated it. I didnt mind that format much either, but it takes a lot for me to dislike a meta if i like a game.

[@lancergv2331]

I *really* disagree with the “stuff is too weak, we need to buff up” idea. Power level is entirely a construct, at best it’s relative to a given meta.
The reality is that they have been buffing things, ever since crab meta they’ve been attempting to buff stuff up in order to counter the current meta. Metas only flip when they go too far and more or less just power creep the previous one. The only reason they stopped with cooler meta is you can’t do something like increase damage against coolers or something lol. They took the “buff up and make counters” meme seriously and totally boxed themselves in a corner.
And at this point (content updates are almost certainly over) buffing up is really really risky. It’ll just be a repeat of tenta missiles in 2 if they try. After all, every serious attempt at making a special good in S3 has just flipped the meta over to that special. They basically just have to play damage control with cooler and squash down zooka jet crab so they’re more in line with the rest. I don’t think we wanna live in a world where like double bubble or double vac or something else dumb becomes the only choice.

[@giganticmoon]

we’ve been in cooler meta for 8 months