How G2 Esports Adapted to the 2024 League of Legends Meta to Return to the Top

The competitive landscape of League of Legends is always in flux, and 2024 has been no different. With major shifts in champion balance, new itemizations, and evolving strategies, even the best teams have had to redefine their approaches to remain at the top. G2 Esports, one of the most iconic teams in League of Legends history, has once again managed to rise above the chaos, reasserting their dominance in a rapidly changing meta. In this article, we will explore how G2 Esports adapted their strategy, embraced the evolving meta, and made intelligent champion choices to continue being one of the most formidable forces in the scene.
Embracing the Chaos: Strategic Evolution in the New Meta
League of Legends in 2024 introduced several game-altering changes, including reworks to jungle objectives, changes to champion power curves, and an entirely new line of “Aspect” items that have redefined late-game power spikes. G2 Esports, known for their versatility and innovative spirit, approached these shifts with a deep understanding that adaptation was not optional but necessary.
One of the most significant changes that impacted G2’s approach this year was the rework of jungle objectives. With Dragon buffs being split into two categories—“Elemental Boons” for early game map control and “Empowered Blessings” for late game dominance—teams were forced to rethink their objective priorities. G2 quickly adapted by emphasizing aggressive early-game control, ensuring they could secure Elemental Boons to gain map dominance and tempo. G2’s star jungler, Yike, played a crucial role in this adaptation. By picking champions like Kha’Zix and Nidalee—who excel in early game skirmishes and high mobility—Yike helped G2 contest objectives, forcing opposing teams into unfavorable fights. The strategy wasn’t merely about brute force but rather a careful balance of calculated risks, a method G2 has always excelled at.
In tandem with their jungler’s aggressive style, G2’s solo laners took champions that complemented Yike’s tempo. Caps, their mid laner, showcased his signature flexibility, frequently picking champions such as Lissandra and Tristana. Lissandra allowed Caps to provide crowd control and roam effectively to assist in skirmishes, while Tristana’s scaling ensured G2 still had power in the late game. The pairing of a proactive jungle-mid duo enabled G2 to control objectives early, convert them into significant mid-game leads, and subsequently reduce the pressure of late-game coin flips that many other teams struggled with. Another significant development in 2024 was the introduction of Aspect items—an entirely new item tier that provided powerful, situational effects tailored for late-game engagements. These items created an interesting strategic challenge: which player would take responsibility for building them, given their high cost and game-changing utility? G2’s coaching staff and analysts were quick to assess the best way to integrate these items into their gameplay, using their strengths to maximize the team’s potential.
Mikyx, G2’s support, embraced the new “Guardian’s Aspect” item—a support-focused Aspect that enhanced shielding and healing effects for teammates caught in extended skirmishes. By focusing on champions like Janna and Taric, Mikyx was able to make the most of the Guardian’s Aspect, turning critical teamfights in G2’s favor by keeping key carries alive during prolonged brawls. The strategic importance of this approach was evident: rather than focusing purely on initiating or disengaging fights, G2 leveraged sustained presence, outlasting opponents who lacked comparable late-game resources. In the bot lane, Hans Sama—G2’s ADC—chose hyper-scaling champions like Jinx and Kog’Maw. He would often be the designated carrier of the “Reaver’s Aspect” item, which provided true damage based on enemy health, giving G2 the extra punch needed to shred through beefy frontlines that were typical in the 2024 meta. The synergy between Mikyx’s support role and Hans Sama’s damage output created a powerful duo that thrived in the late game, ensuring that G2 could stay competitive even if the early-game plan faltered.
Champion Diversity and Role Fluidity: G2’s Meta-Defining Adaptations
Adaptation to a shifting meta isn’t just about item choices and objective control—it’s also about the champions that a team prioritizes. G2 Esports have always been known for their deep champion pools and role-swapping strategies, and in 2024, they took this to a new level. The hallmark of G2’s success this year has been their ability to make role-swaps seamlessly. BrokenBlade, the team’s top laner, and Caps occasionally swapped champions or roles to gain strategic advantages over their opponents. In particular, BrokenBlade’s surprising move to pick mages like Swain and Vladimir in the top lane allowed Caps to flex into physical damage-dealing champions, such as Jayce or even Quinn, when the matchup demanded it. This fluidity threw opponents off balance, as they could not predict G2’s draft intentions easily and often found themselves mismatched during the laning phase.
The importance of this versatility cannot be understated, as it also made G2’s drafts incredibly hard to counter. For instance, in their series against Fnatic during the Summer Split finals, G2 successfully baited their opponents into drafting early, only to reveal later that their mid and top champions were actually flex picks. This draft flexibility gave G2 a significant psychological edge, ensuring that they always had the upper hand before the game even started. G2 Esports didn’t just use their flexibility to confuse their opponents—they also adapted their champion priorities to fit the exact needs of the ever-changing meta. The introduction of new champions like Orlaith, a powerful mid-lane burst mage with zoning capabilities, and the rework of older champions like Nocturne, who was turned into a high-sustain bruiser, shifted the competitive landscape significantly. G2 recognized the potential of these champions early and incorporated them into their repertoire before most other teams.
Caps, in particular, was quick to master Orlaith, and his use of the champion became a cornerstone of G2’s mid-game dominance. Orlaith’s zoning tools were perfect for creating space around objectives like Baron and Dragon, forcing opponents to either engage G2 on unfavorable terms or concede critical map control. Meanwhile, Yike brought Nocturne back into the jungle spotlight, using his ultimate to isolate vulnerable targets and remove them from fights before they could contribute meaningfully. Hans Sama also adapted by picking champions who fit the fast-paced, skirmish-heavy meta that characterized much of the 2024 season. Alongside traditional late-game carries, he incorporated Zeri and Lucian—champions that are known for their ability to reposition and dodge skill shots, making them particularly effective in chaotic, high-mobility fights. This adaptability ensured that G2 could thrive regardless of whether they were playing for early game tempo or aiming for a late-game powerhouse strategy.
G2’s success in adapting to the meta went beyond just individual champion picks and draft strategies—it was fundamentally about empowering each player to take on a style that worked best for them within the changing meta. The coaching staff played a huge role in identifying and nurturing each player’s strengths throughout the year, ensuring G2 remained unpredictable yet cohesive. BrokenBlade, for example, became more than just a “carry top” player—he embraced a supportive role when necessary, picking champions like Sion and Ornn to give his team the front-line they needed. His willingness to take on these selfless picks allowed Yike and Caps to play more aggressively, knowing they had a reliable safety net. On the other hand, Caps was given the freedom to play high-risk, high-reward champions, with the confidence that the rest of the team could adapt their playstyle around his needs. Hans Sama’s ability to switch between utility carries and hyper-carries also enabled G2 to diversify their strategies further. In games where the team needed him to play a more supportive role, he could lock in Ashe or Varus to provide utility through crowd control and vision, allowing Caps or Yike to take the carry role. This constant interchangeability among players and roles kept G2 unpredictable and adaptable, making them one of the most feared teams in the 2024 season.
Leveraging Macro Play for Consistent Wins
Lastly, G2’s macro game was another key area where they outshined their competition. The meta shifts in 2024 often forced teams into unpredictable late-game scenarios, but G2 excelled in these situations through superior wave management, map rotations, and vision control. They placed significant emphasis on controlling jungle quadrants, denying resources from the enemy while establishing deep vision to spot out any rotations. The team’s superior understanding of side lane pressure, coupled with well-timed objective setups, often forced opponents to choose between contesting a Baron play or defending against a split-push led by BrokenBlade. By presenting opponents with no-win scenarios, G2 demonstrated their mastery of macro play, which proved invaluable in a meta that often forced late-game fights with Aspect items and empowered dragons.
The 2024 League of Legends meta has been one of the most tumultuous yet, with sweeping changes to champions, items, and objectives that have forced teams to rethink how they approach the game at every level. G2 Esports not only survived these changes but thrived, thanks to their ability to adapt their strategies, champion pools, and macro gameplay to fit the demands of the new meta. Their deep understanding of the game, combined with a willingness to innovate and flex roles when necessary, has allowed them to return to the summit of competitive play. By mastering the intricacies of the new Aspect items, adjusting their early and late-game priorities, and staying one step ahead of the competition through draft flexibility, G2 Esports once again proved why they are one of the most formidable and beloved teams in League of Legends history. The road to success in 2024 was not easy, but G2’s adaptation to the meta, focus on team synergy, and strategic diversity allowed them to come out on top—and their journey is far from over. The lessons they learned this year will no doubt carry them forward, ensuring they remain at the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends for seasons to come.