Today – January 6th, the first version of 2022 has officially launched and has had a significant impact on the Teamfight Tactics meta. With both the Idol and Kai’Sa systems heavily nerfed, the appearance rate of these formations has dropped significantly compared to the previous patch. Meanwhile, the formations that were already stable and not nerfed in patch 12.1, such as Sorcerers, Innovators, Jhin and friends, continue to show extreme strength.
In addition to the aforementioned names, the Gang Team has seen a surge in its top 4 placement rate right after patch 12.1 was updated. Specifically, 2 Gang Team formations combined with 4 Assassins and Idol – Scholar are both boasting a top 4 placement rate of over 54%. Notably, the Gang Team itself received very little buff in the last patch. So what is the reason that this team comp, although not significantly strengthened, is still in the top meta? Let’s explore.
First, we need to reiterate that the Kai’Sa – Idol formation has been heavily nerfed and disappeared from the meta. Essentially, this was a hard counter to the Gang Team as it was very difficult to take down giant units like Sion and Galio early. Meanwhile, with her ability to dash to the place with the least opponents, Kai’Sa is not afraid of the Gang Team’s Assassin units.
In fact, another very strong formation, Chemtech, being nerfed also significantly strengthens the Gang Team. This formation is characterized by the durability of the Bruiser units, making it hard for the Assassin pieces to take them down. Furthermore, Urgot, when using his skill, will attack the nearest enemy (usually the Assassin units), which also strongly counters the Gang Team. Clearly, as hard counters weaken in patch 12.1, the Gang Team benefits greatly.
Next, the rise of formations like Jhin, Innovators or Sorcerers in patch 12.1 also contributes to enhancing the value of the Gang Team. The common characteristic of the aforementioned team comps is that they all rely on backline carry units to deal damage. Once pieces like Jhin, Seraphine, Lux, Viktor are approached by Assassins, they are very easy to take down and do not contribute much to the fight.
In addition to the aforementioned objective factors, the Assassin system and the Gang Team themselves also received some very notable buffs, making this team comp significantly stronger in patch 12.1. For example, the buff to Twisted Fate’s damage makes him a very good option for sustaining health early in the game for the Gang Team. Additionally, the fact that the Assassin Emblem now provides Talon instead of Ekko helps this system deal damage much more effectively.
In conclusion, with too many hard counters being nerfed and the ‘prey’ of the Assassin units being widely used, the Gang Team has become extremely powerful. If you find yourself a bit lost in the new meta and are unsure how to build a team, the Gang Team is an excellent choice at this moment.