User blog comment:Wubmeister/Can we predict the cycle of FotM?/@comment-3974211-20140121051602

Mid lane: Phase 1 - Assassin meta. Assassins become permabanned/nerfed, which leads onto Phase 2. Phase 2 - Mage meta. Champions like Gragas become popular with his hard-counters, like Fizz, permabanned. Phase 2 lasts until assassins stop being banned.

Top lane:
 * Phase 1 - Tanks. Usually emerge in response to the assassins. After a while, people stop banning the assassins and start banning the tanks.
 * Phase 2 - Fighters/Bullies. With the tanks banned, top-players pull out the Jaxes, Rivens and Renektons.

We're currently exiting Phase 1 of Top Lane, with tanks such as Shyvana, Mundo and Nasus being banned extensively. We're also seeing a return of Phase 1 Mid Lane, with assassins no longer being banned and the nerfs of champions like Gragas. We're about to enter the Fighter/Assassins meta.