Veterans Still Dominating the Meta
It’s 2024, and while fresh talent keeps rolling in, some of the game’s most seasoned players are still parked at the top proof that experience and composure matter just as much as raw aim. From League to CS2, Valorant to Dota 2, the veterans continue to make their mark not just with mechanics, but with game sense, leadership, and cold blooded execution when it counts.
In Counter Strike 2, names like dev1ce and s1mple haven’t lost their edge. Whether it’s anchoring bomb sites or calling mid round decisions, their consistency under pressure is a masterclass. Over in League of Legends, Faker is still pulling strings, reminding a new generation that macro wins games. His read on tempo and teamfight setups keeps T1 dangerous in almost any meta.
Valorant’s scene isn’t short on legends either. Players like ScreaM and ShahZaM continue to lead from the front balancing fragging power with mentoring younger teammates. It’s the same story in Dota 2, where veterans like Puppey and KuroKy are battle scars deep, steering team morale and strategy while still showing up in the clutch.
What keeps these players relevant isn’t some cheat code. It’s adaptability. Meta shifts come and go, but staying sharp, keeping egos in check, and showing up tournament after tournament is what separates a long career from a short headline. The game keeps changing. These players keep evolving.
Rising Giants in the Arena
Every season brings fresh blood to the esports stage, but 2024 has been especially wild. A handful of breakout names aren’t just keeping up they’re rewriting what dominance looks like.
Take ZENRA, the 20 year old Valorant duelist from Thailand. He went from substitute status six months ago to leading his team in clutches and entry frags during VCT qualifiers. His read on enemy positioning is freakishly accurate, and his aggressive playstyle forces errors in even the most polished lineups. ZENRA’s rise is also the result of a roster shuffle that saw two longtime veterans benched in favor of younger, hungrier talent.
Then there’s Dagger, an unassuming CS2 rifler from Poland. Picked up by a Tier 2 team through open qualifiers, he’s been consistently top fragging against seasoned rosters, with a 1.27 KD across four LAN events. His mechanics are clean, but it’s his composure under pressure that’s turning heads. What’s more surprising than his aim is his background he paused university to try one last run at competitive play. Now, he’s on shortlists for orgs with deep playoff ambitions.
In the League of Legends scene, watch for Kiiya, a mid laner from an upstart Korean team who turned a wildcard seeding into a semis run. His story isn’t just about mechanical flair (though he has that); it’s about the comeback. After being released from a major org in 2022, he grinded solo queue and low tier events until getting picked up again. Now? He’s drawing bans and double coverage every match. His current KDA sits at 6.3, with a 72% kill participation rate.
Each of these players brings a unique signature an aggressive edge, sniper level focus, or bounce back grit. But what ties them together is timing: they showed up when the metas were in flux, when old systems were cracking open. They’re not just riding trends they’re shaping them.
Next Gen Talent Taking Over
Teenage prodigies are no longer just climbing the ladder they’re walking onto pro stages and holding their own against veterans. Names like Hexa (Valorant), Crynz (League of Legends), and Revo (CS2) aren’t just flukes they’re the new standard. Most of them started grinding at 12 or 13, now getting signed before they can vote. And it’s not all instinct. Behind the scenes, orgs are taking cues from traditional sports, building pipelines with structured coaching, mental performance training, and workload management.
What’s different in 2024? Development is getting faster and more systematic. High schoolers are entering dev leagues, streaming daily with pro caliber setups, and facing international scrims by the time they’re 16. Some even have nutritionists on staff. It’s not just about clicks or aim it’s about staying consistent, coachable, and resilient.
This youth wave isn’t just a headline it’s reshaping the entire pro scene. Veteran players have to adapt or give way. Teams are investing earlier. And sponsors? They’re targeting long run ROI instead of chasing short term hype. These fresh faces aren’t the future of esports they’re the now.
(Explore more on young esports talent)
Role of Region & Meta in Player Breakouts
The days of one size fits all playstyles are done. Regional metas are defining not just how the game’s played, but who rises to the top. In 2024, we’re seeing mid tier regions emerge as talent factories not because they’re copying the big names, but because they’re innovating around them.
Take LATAM in Valorant or Southeast Asia in Mobile Legends. These regions have developed tactical identities rooted in fast rotations, bolder flanks, and off meta picks. It’s not always clean or conventional, but when it works, it breaks open matches. The result? Players from these environments are showing up with instincts and reflexes molded by chaotic, high pressure environments that reward creativity over textbook play.
The meta isn’t locked anymore. What dominates in Korea might get picked apart in Turkey. What works in NA might slow roll in Europe. That volatility gives rise to new breakouts players who wouldn’t have been spotted under static conditions, now thriving because the tactical script keeps changing.
For fans watching closely, it means keeping tabs on smaller leagues isn’t just niche it’s smart. The next headline star isn’t necessarily in a spotlight yet. But they’re out there, grinding through unfamiliar metas, getting sharper, faster, hungrier.
Who to Keep Your Eyes On
This season is packed with talent, but a few names are standing taller than the rest across various titles. If you’re tracking breakout potential or consistent dominance, here’s who deserves a spot on your radar.
1. Derke (Valorant Fnatic)
Laser precise aim, ice cold under pressure. Derke’s been a highlight machine for Fnatic, especially in high stakes playoff games. His first pick duels can swing a match before it even starts. With the meta favoring aggressive duelists again, his value’s only going up.
2. m0NESY (CS2 G2 Esports)
Still barely out of his teens, but already playing like a veteran. m0NESY brings explosive entry play and clutch potential that G2 leans on hard. Analysts say he might build a legacy akin to the greats. The major this season could define his arc.
3. Faker (League of Legends T1)
No surprise he’s still here, and still lethal. Faker’s experience is unmatched, and his macro shotcalling keeps T1 in striking distance of titles. Every season people count him out. Every season he proves it’s too early for that.
4. Arteezy (Dota 2 Shopify Rebellion)
Dota’s quiet assassin. Arteezy’s core play remains sharp, and this new roster shuffle could be what finally propels him past that elusive first International title. Between solid farming and unshakable lane presence, he’s still one to watch.
5. Kayze (Overwatch Houston Outlaws)
Rookie with serious aim and a crazy high ceiling. Kayze has become the center of fan buzz this split with backline dives and key ult usage. Critics are watching to see if he burns hot or becomes franchise core material.
Community Hype & Expert Eyes:
Reddit threads are thick with debate, and tier lists shift weekly, but these five keep showing up on top. Analysts say this crop blends raw talent with the kind of instincts you can’t coach.
This season, it’s not just about skills it’s about timing. And all five of these players have eyes locked on the prize.
Final Scout Talk
These rising and veteran esports stars aren’t just top performers they’re barometers for where the entire ecosystem is headed. Whether it’s a teenage prodigy taking down legends or a seasoned pro adapting to a volatile meta, each of them signals a shift in how the game is played, watched, and monetized.
For fans, the impact is clear: loyalty is going deeper. It’s less about teams and more about players now. Twitch streams, YouTube recaps, and social media engagement mean real time access to these personalities wherever they compete. Fans are following individual storylines as closely as match results.
Organizations are watching closely too. Talent development is no longer optional it’s strategic. The orgs investing early in player development and adaptable coaching staffs are staying relevant longer. And sponsors? They’re shifting from team banners to personal partnerships, sometimes backing a player’s brand more than the jersey they wear.
To follow their trajectory this season: check major title leaderboards, plug into Reddit threads, and keep up with tournament coverage from platforms like Liquipedia, HLTV, and Esports Charts. If you’re scouting for the future today, these are your starting points.
Further reading: Young esports talent
