Profile of SpottheCat

Most of the stuff OP says (that could be applied to to other games) exists in another form in games that are Esports. I'll use Hearthstone as an example. If you don't know HS is a card game. You'll probably have to know something about the game to get the examples but I guess that's just how it is.

Lack of Counterplay- There are many "decks" that have no counterplay to other decks. (For example Some "decks" do not really interact with the Opponent's cards much, or have Counterplay against some strategies. (ex. Druid having no real board clears as well as Hunter in general being unable to interact with your opponent's cards.)

P2W- Yep. Most of the "meta" decks that see play in tournaments in hearthstone take either a lot of grinding or money to get.

USF- See Secret Paladin or any of the other "decks" in Heathstone that players would tell you are "breaking the meta".

Flawed Design- Hearthstone in general, is a game where you play minion (w/ certain attack and defense), that will attack your opponent's minions in order for you to gain an advantage on the game board. (ex. you have more minions or stronger minions on the board). You are helped by spells that will remove your opponent's minions from the board. However, as mentioned before, Hunter is a class that is completley unable to do this. (For reasons that require more understanding of the game, so I won't mention that here) Yet, this does not break the game as an Esport.

Not to mention the fact that its a card game, so around 50% of the game is working with your RNG.

Arbitrary, Unwarranted balance changes- The developers of HS have introduced new changes that have instantly "broken" the meta.

Yet, HS is still a decent sized esports with tens of thousands to hundred thousand dollar prizes.

Incidentally, as a noob, I have heard that Armor Company is pretty good. However, I haven't found a guide or build order for it. Any such thing would be helpful. Also, as an added question, when should I tech up to BARs/LMG?