If we deconstruct aspects of the most picked maps, we’d find they share a lot of commonalities. For instance, each of the five maps is not very wide, with an exception being Jaguar Falls around the capture point. Otherwise, they filter into narrow passageways making zoning & watching lanes far simpler a task. Additionally, it enables most champions within the hitscan dominant meta to enact swift rotations.
Ironically, these congested yet numerous pathways also lend more prevalent console flanks (Lex, Koga, Talus) a number of avenues to harass backline DPS. The only distinct feature separating Splitstone Quarry from the pack would be its unique use of elevation. While each map has small sections that can be classified as, Splitstone has Quarry side, Lava side, 2nd Floor of each house, numerous bridges, etc. Our final identifying feature is simply familiarity. Each popular map is dated, with Splitstone being the “newest” amongst them, released July 26th, 2017.
Meanwhile, our most banned maps manage to teeter between two categories: 1) The absolute most played & most familiar (Brightmarsh & Jaguar Falls), and 2) Long maps that have a very wide capture point area with multiple elevations (Timber Mill, Fish Market, & Warders Gate). For the former, those maps are essentials to learn in the game. Every team plays both Brightmarsh & Jaguar falls, so it becomes a common strategy to try to ban at least one of them in order to force an opposing team into discomfort.
On the other hand – Fish, Timber, & Warders tend to be quite punishing if you lose the point fight. It’s far more damning knowing you have a greater physical distance to travel to the point, with greater odds of being zoned off or dismounted as a result. It also isn’t helpful that these maps possess numerous flank routes & elevations around the capture point, enabling a wide range of draft strategies or back line access which can be a death sentence to less initiated teams.