Especially in shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone, the term Meta is often mentioned. But what is Meta? What does it even mean? And why is it important? You will find out in this article.
Do you know this? You are chatting with your buddy during a cozy round of Warzone, reading an article about new weapons from a fresh season, or watching a YouTube video about it, and the term Meta casually and naturally comes up. Meta-weapons here, Meta-loadouts there, Meta-settings over there. Yet, not everyone even knows exactly what Meta means in this context.
What is Meta?
What does Meta mean? The term Meta actually comes from Greek and means “over”, “beyond”, meaning that something is on a higher level or superior to another thing.
However, especially in shooters, it has developed into an acronym that well summarizes the actual meaning of the word there – Meta is now also an abbreviation for “most effective tactics available”, referring to the most effective tactics available.
Alternatively, in gaming, Meta can also be used to describe something that goes beyond the actual game.
What does Meta refer to in Warzone? When talking about Meta in Warzone, it usually refers solely to weapons. However, the term is also commonly used in relation to setups, loadouts, playstyles, or options. The meaning or direction that these terms take with the addition of “Meta” remains the same:
- When referring to Meta-weapons, it means the currently most effective weapons. A crucial factor is usually a low Time to Kill (TTK), but other characteristics such as recoil also count. Since Warzone is a live-service game and there are balance patches, the Meta – meaning the most effective weapons – also changes.
- Regarding Meta-setups or Meta-loadouts, the meaning does not change. Here, it refers to weapon configurations or character orientations along with equipment that currently stand out as the most effective, with the focus still on quickly sending the opponent to the virtual afterlife – whether in general or at specific distances.
- It is no different with Meta-options. These refer to settings that provide you with the greatest advantages in battle at a given time.
- The Meta is determined by the players and does not always have to be logical. Sometimes a herd mentality kicks in, and suddenly it is “the one weapon” that dictates everything.
- In Warzone, the TTK does not determine the Meta as strongly as in the regular multiplayer of CoD. For example, the assault rifle Grau 5.56 has long been part of the Meta, but it is relatively weak in damage. However, its high stability combined with the strong Iron Sight makes it a top weapon.
The term “Time to Kill”, also abbreviated as TTK, is mainly used in shooters. It describes the effective time required to eliminate an enemy with full health (and possibly armor), bringing them to 0 health points.
A lower Time to Kill means less time is needed to eliminate your target. With a higher Time to Kill, the opponent has correspondingly more time to possibly react to the fire.
The TTK is an important value, especially in the competitive field, that has a strong influence on which weapons are increasingly relied upon (with the aim of achieving the lowest Time to Kill), meaning which weapon is currently Meta.
In short: When you hear the term Meta or see Meta as an addition somewhere in Warzone, it basically refers to the (most) objectively most effective options available to you in battle – regardless of what Meta specifically refers to in that case.
By the way: Meta does not necessarily mean that you will personally handle the corresponding weapons, loadouts, or options the best. A weapon might generally be considered Meta, but due to your individual skills or preferences, it may be that you only manage to handle it to some extent or not at all. Meta thus means “currently the most effective based on various factors” and not “the best for you”.
How about you? Do you also like to or always rely on Meta-weapons, Meta-loadouts, and Meta-options when playing Call of Duty: Warzone? Or is all of this not important to you, and you primarily focus on what feels best to you in the game? Let us know in the comments, along with other readers of MeinMMO.
