When Teamfight Tactics season 6 was released, the Giant system was not very popular among gamers due to the disadvantages it brought. Sacrificing a position in the lineup to accommodate a Giant unit reduced the offensive strategies and versatility of players. Even when Sion became a hot meta, it was because this unit could deal damage too strongly, not related to its defensive capabilities.
However, in the current version, things have completely changed as Giant tankers are becoming incredibly powerful. First was Cho’Gath at the start of patch 11.24, and now Sion is being widely used. Even in a lineup that seems unrelated like Marksmen, Sion can still become a perfect frontline unit. So what is the reason for this power surge? Let’s find out.
First, we need to recall a bit about the meta of patch 11.23b when compositions related to Innovators were becoming incredibly strong. Even after being nerfed, the Innovator team showed players just how powerful the crowd control abilities of Orianna, Yuumi, and Janna were. Moreover, the popularity of a “super tanker” like Braum also taught players a similar lesson, as this unit has excellent crowd control capabilities with its stuns and knock-ups.
As a result, players had to look for ways to counter this overwhelming crowd control. First are lineups that are not afraid of being controlled, such as Chemtech – Brawlers, with their tenacity. Next, melee carries like Yone and Trundle needed to use Quicksilver to comfortably deal damage.
And then people realized that instead of spending too many resources to do the above, a much simpler method was to bring Giant units onto the board. With their innate immunity to crowd control, Giant units can freely unleash their abilities without fear of being interrupted by opponents. Not to mention that Giant units have strong base stats and can effectively tank even at level 1 star.
Additionally, with the popularity of Tahm Kench at the moment, the Giant system is even stronger. The advantage of Tahm Kench is its Devour ability, which swallows opponents, deals continuous damage, and spits out resources if it kills a target. However, when facing Giant units, Tahm Kench cannot swallow these pieces at all, effectively rendering it useless.
In conclusion, with the current meta focused heavily on crowd control, the Giant system is the most effective counter. Combined with high base stats and innate tankiness, Giant units can help you “turn the tide” incredibly easily to secure victory.