The “Unusual” Meta That Makes a T1 Superstar “Dislike”
In the final days of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, one of the most favored metas among gamers and professional players is the Tank Jayce for the Top Lane position. This playstyle was pioneered by Flandre during ranked matches and was recently implemented by him at the Demacia Cup. The strategy quickly became an “unusual” meta, adopted by many players like Bin, Kiin, and Doran in ranked games.
However, not everyone is a fan of this meta. Recently, Doran – the newly joined superstar of T1 – shared his thoughts on the current “unusual” meta: “Who thought of making Jayce build tank? I’m not criticizing those players, but isn’t building tank on Jayce a bit lacking in creativity?”
Doran’s remarks immediately attracted significant attention. Not only because the Tank Jayce meta is being utilized, but also due to the fact that Doran is a Top Lane player and Jayce is one of his signature champions. Since his debut, Doran has used Jayce 42 times, achieving a win rate of approximately 62%.
The “Unusual” Meta Might Provide a Slight Advantage for T1
In reality, Doran can also play very well with tank champions that create space and make plays for teammates. Therefore, it cannot be said that the Tank Jayce meta will pose a challenge for this player. However, for Doran, if Jayce has to build tank, it may reduce the effectiveness of the champion and waste a ban/pick phase for the team, and should only be a situational choice.
Moreover, with his experience and T1’s playstyle, Tank Jayce could also be a good option in cases where T1 faces difficulties and needs breakthrough plays. At that point, Doran will also need the flexibility to adapt promptly, just as he has consistently demonstrated in many past seasons.