Does Anyone Actually Know What Meta Means??

Hey Guardians,

Most of you are probably familiar with the word “Meta”. For those who aren’t: Meta refers to the best weapons, armor, and strategies in the game at any given time. What not a lot of people seem to know, is what meta actually means. I’ve seen two predominant explanations floating around, and I’m curious where the community stands.

I’ve seen Meta used as an adjective, coming from the Greek prefix meta, meaning “beyond” or “self-referential.” You’ve probably seen this in words like “metaphysical” (beyond the physical) or “metadata” (data about data). In gaming, this interpretation makes sense because the meta refers to the strategies that go beyond surface-level gameplay to build craft for success at a higher, more conceptual level.

On the other hand, many players see meta as a modern acronym: “Most Effective Tactics Available.” This idea comes from gaming forums and communities where players analyzed and broke down the best strategies to win. It’s practical and fits how we use the term in discussions like “What’s the PvP meta right now?”

Curious to hear your thoughts!