This is a hot topic that people constantly debate about. I’ll personally provide my own thoughts on the matter. Whether you agree or disagree with some points or all of it entirely is up to you, but I’d like to remind you that these are just opinions. Please don’t use this post as a call of arms or fight with one another.
So before I delve deeper into the topic, I’d like to dispel some common myths regarding competitiveness. First off, competitiveness is a mindset rather than an enforced ideology. A game or anything at all can have be competitive as long as players see it that way. Furthermore, it is possible for something to contain competitive elements but not be competitive as a whole. Anything can be competitive as long as people see it that way.
There is a long-standing idea that players are of two different factions. They are either fully casual with no care or understanding to any elements of the competitive side of the game. Or they are the polar opposite who are fully competitive and do not have any basic understanding of what it means to play the game casually. In reality, I highly doubt any such players really exist, at least the idea of blatant ignorance of the other faction. I personally believe a majority of players are more of dancing in the center of the scale. They can probably bounce between sides depending on the players they are surrounded by or the depending on what the occasion asks.
Before I go any deeper, I’d like to explain one of the most commonly poorly explained concepts in regard to this topic, meta. Meta is simply the most commonly used themes/sets/decks/etc., by players. The reasoning for meta is usually because of reliability, utility and overall strength of cards and unity within that specific deck/set. Does that mean they’re the best? At core, maybe. Now before you just take my comment and flash it around or start a riot. The answer is maybe because the meta is exactly the definition above. It is the collected thoughts and unified ideas by players of what is considered to be the best. The keyword is “consideration” meaning that it is simply a group thought and understanding rather than a concrete block. Are there strategies/ideas that are better, but aren’t meta? Quite possibly, yes. Meta is a popular construct rather than a defined understanding. Furthermore, meta can be beaten with anti-meta, both of which constantly change depending on players’ strategies and upcoming releases. Meta is not-static and does not necessarily state what the best set/series is, just the belief of what is considered the best.
Competitiveness fundamentally bases itself upon the meta. This is due to the fact that competitiveness relies upon consistency and statistics. A deck is only “meta” if it consistently tops events or makes records at tournaments. The meta is a composition of said topping decks/lists or those that constantly appear around the top margins.
Does that mean that decks outside of this “meta” stand no chance? No, by all means no. It is just unlikely based on statistics and player understanding of the strongest cards/decks at the time that your deck will succeed. You are still able to win, the predicted chances are just lower.
Now something separate from competitiveness and casualness is the whole argument, understanding and feeling of the differences between the two opposites. For instance, competitive players may have this idea that players who don’t play the meta decks aren’t really playing the game seriously. Alternatively, casual players might think that competitive players are all tryhards who don’t know how to have fun. The real truth is this, you are entitled to your opinion and decide how you want to take the game. Some people may be playing casually, but in a sense, they are playing “fun” decks but put full effort into trying to make them strong in regard to the meta. Some competitive players might just enjoy playing competitive decks because that way of playing is fun to them.
Enjoy and take the game however you’d like. But remember, your opinion isn’t universal, others can choose to play a different way or observe the game in a different light.
The problem lies in the root treatment of players amongst each other. Toxic behaviours and otherwise unwanted sentiments persist and grow within communities. It extends further to the point of people “gatekeeping”.
To those who don’t understand what gatekeeping is, the concept is to prevent person from engaging or joining in an activity by citing some list of requirements to fulfil before they are allowed in. An example of this is a player telling another player they are not allowed to play Weiss Schwarz unless they own of one of the “meta” decks.
Now there are certain behaviours that must be made relative in a sense. First off, if a group of players is playing a certain format or way, you as the individual should more than likely attune to them. If they are all playing low tier decks, you bringing your high tier meta deck and smashing probably isn’t fun to any of them or you. The reverse works the same way say if you play low tier decks, but decide to compete and get smashed. You don’t really have the right to complain that they were all playing the “broken” and “meta” things when you yourself only sported a casual deck to begin with. Be more wary of the communities around you. Converse and work with them and create a fun and enjoyable environment for all.
Bottom line is competitiveness is as competitive as you want to see it. Regardless if you see the game from a competitive or casual standpoint, don’t force your opinions onto others. Let’s all be nice and enjoy the game together.
Team APS has some great videos on this matter even if they are for another game (Yu-Gi-Oh) whose points I think can also be tied to this game. Links are below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19Onra6IyHQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJYut2aUIb8