One of the most crucial abilities in the Blue Lock tale is meta-vision, to the point where there is frequently a clear distinction between those who have it and those who don’t. Isagi Yoichi understood that this fully expressed his capacity to scent an objective once his meta-vision skill developed. Meta-vision is exactly what it sounds like. Players who can use it possess playmaking skills and a far higher football IQ than the average soccer player.
We quickly realised that this was not the case, despite the fact that it initially seemed like the mangaka would utilise Isagi as his chosen hero with meta-vision to set him apart from the others. Over time, other characters have started to imitate Isagi’s skills. In fact, it is certain that at least four players in the Bastard Munchen versus Ubers match have meta-vision.
However, as the stakes rise, we can expect more players than these four to have meta-vision. There have been certain hints sprinkled throughout the Blue Lock narrative about potential playmakers with great IQ, but of course nothing is confirmed yet. As the manga enters its final stages after the Neo Egoist League, we can expect to see meta-vision users of different levels fight it out on the world stage.
Meta-vision is an enigmatic ability linked with superior spatial awareness
The term “meta-vision” refers to a player’s improved vision, which provides them with a profound awareness of the field. A player uses his eyes to continuously take in information from his central and peripheral vision to learn about every player, every play they make, and their positions on the field.
Isagi’s use of meta-vision
me with this specific isagi yoichi shot from the manga https://t.co/SjfDh6a7sP pic.twitter.com/HGNN8VM2OS
— closed. (@hayakawife) June 4, 2023
Isagi constantly gathers information about every player, every play they make, and their positions on the pitch using his eyes to continuously gather information from his centre and peripheral vision. Isagi was able to quickly predict the best players’ consequent movements in Blue Lock.
Furthermore, he was even able to shut down one of the best strikers across the entire world after studying Michael Kaiser’s goal formula. He also used his spatial awareness, positioning, and reflex to create ideal situations for his own goals using his teammates in a way that is only possible for him.
Isagi can also read and comprehend the “egocentrism” or reasons behind other people’s play styles using his vision. He can then use this knowledge to further deter them from defending his own goal and to shut them down while he is attacking. Isagi can identify the most crucial moment in an opponent’s play with his Metavision, then move in to steal the ball or halt it just in time. He made excellent use of this talent against Manshine City.
Other players who can use meta-vision
Niko
🎭Icons do Ikki Niko
📺Anime: Blue Lock pic.twitter.com/L7UMsEUsNR
— Icons de Personagens Todo Dia (@TodoDiaIcon) June 7, 2023
Niko was able to activate this power during the Neo Egoist League game against Bastard München, enabling him to scan the field at a startlingly rapid pace. He still hasn’t mastered this skill, as evidenced by the time he was too preoccupied trying to take the ball from Rensuke Kunigami to notice that Jingo Raichi had snuck up on him from his blind spot.
Ikki Niko has been one of Isagi’s phantoms ever since he first appeared. First off, Niko’s game-making and foresight skills as a striker for Team Y immediately drew the attention of onlookers. After the First Selection, he had been the only player on his team to advance in Blue Lock, consistently following Isagi and being one step behind him. However, it wasn’t until his great comeback against the U-20 team that he really started to show off his powers as a defender and a watchtower that could foretell all of his opponents’ strengths.
He even managed to stop Shidou Ryusei, showcasing his extraordinary skills as a player. It provided the opportunity for Niko to finally demonstrate his exceptional reading abilities and meta-vision, which were initially displayed in chapter 217. However, given that he had just recently discovered his talent, Niko’s powers were revealed to be in a very early level in the most recent episode of Blue Lock. He was quickly silenced by Isagi.
Aiku
The mixed person of the day is Oliver Aiku from Blue Lock!
He is German, Swedish, and Japanese! pic.twitter.com/8Lv6vs03xa
— Mixed Person OTD! (@mixedprsnotd) June 6, 2023
Two chapters later, Oliver Aiku, another player on the same team as Niko, then displayed a skill akin to Niko’s. Aiku, the former captain of the U-20 squad who joined the Blue Lock project in the most recent arc, has been a fan favourite since the first time he debuted in the manga. Aiku was skilled and had more experience than Niko, who was only 15 years old.
Aiku’s contributions to Blue Lock as a defender are undeniable, but he has just recently shown what supporters have known all along, the ability to foresee how a game would develop. He was able to block Bastard Munchen with the use of this meta-vision. One wonders if anyone else possesses the once-thought-to-be-exclusive power of meta-vision now that both Niko and Aiku have joined the club as consistent users.
This was hinted earlier as well. One of the main features of meta-vision is an unusually wide field of view. Isagi observed that despite Aiku not particularly targeting him, he was still able to intercept a pass intended for him due to his ability to assess the source and speed of Isagi Yoichi, and the positions of every other player. With such a broad range of vision, he can quickly identify any threats to the U-20 goal and take immediate action by anticipating movements or unexpected plays.
Other possible users of meta-vision
I love the theory on this colorspread that Kaiser's worn ball represents his poor past. pic.twitter.com/udTYenIF67
— BLUE LOCK (@BIueLockSc) June 2, 2023
Fans have made assumptions about other people who potentially have meta-vision. One of the front-runners appears to be Michael Kaiser, whose excellent offensive technique is matched by his high football IQ. Kaiser is a member of the New Gen-11 and competes against Isagi in the Neo-Egoist League. He joins Don Lorenzo and Itoshi Sae as some of the world’s top football prospects.
It wouldn’t come as a surprise if all three of them had meta-vision. In a similar vein, Itoshi Rin, Sae’s brother, is Isagi’s potential opponent for this talent. Another potential application of meta-vision would be Reo Mikage, another supreme playmaker who specialises in chameleon defence. The mangaka might soon introduce a storyline twist even if other candidates may not be obvious front-runners for this job.
The euphoria surrounding this once-exclusive ability appears to decrease as more people use it, but the reverse is true. It simply implies that the stakes are raising and that Isagi needs to level up even further to become the best striker in the entire globe. Simply having meta-vision is not enough. What do you think about this list? Do you agree about it or is there anyone we missed?
