Now why the fuck is Chinchou S rank though. I come on Smogon one morning to see that bullshit. What even makes it S rank? Like when even was this discussion. Oh, Chou can switch into Fletchling. OMG!!!! So impressive. Very S rank. In all of the S and A rank mons, minus Fletchling, opposing Chinchou, and sometimes Magnemite (analytic HP Ground slays it), Chinchou wants to switch in on NONE, literally NONE of them, or else it can be readily crippled. I will actually make a list, because user
kingmidas tried arguing with me otherwise in chat when I discovered this obscenity.
Mienfoo: Um, certainly doesn't want to switch in on knock off. Even if it switches in on drain punch, Mienfoo will still win 1v1. Especially if it's carrying HJK.
Pawniard: Knock off galore. Combo of knock off + sucker will easily fuck over this sucker.
Abra: LOL. Abra easily 3HKOs Chinchou with evio and BJ, and Energy Ball Abra is high usage, so Chinchou is even more screwed over then.
Archen: Um. Archen packs a variety of moves that can severely dent Chou. Knock off, Rock Slide, and Earthquake can deal with this "S-Rank mon"
Drilbur: You'd be beyond stupid to think Chinchou can switch into Drilbur.
Ponyta: Chou is usually a rather safe switch-in to Ponyta, but Sunny Day sets are rather popular now, and no way Chou can beat Ponyta under the sun.
Timburr: Same thing as Mienfoo, and actually benefits from a stray scald burn.
Tirtouga: Bulky tirt takes jack shit from volt switch so it can still perform its role, and SS tirt can set up in Chou's face and earthquake it.
Croagunk: Also the same thing as Mienfoo and Timburr, but actually is healed from scald, so it has an even nicer match up.
Ferroseed: Performs its role af versus Chinchou-- sets up spikes for days.
Foongus: Do I need to elaborate on why Foongus slays Chinchou? No.
Porygon: Uh, Chinchou has to hope for scald burns versus Porygon who otherwise stalls Chinchou and eventually kills it with Tri Attack, which also has the potential to hax.
Spritzee: Same thing as Porygon, but doesn't absorb Volt Switch, so a bit worse in that regard.
Carvanha: Eh. Full health Chou will win, but it still doesn't really want to be switching into Crunch.
Cottonee: I'm lazy and don't want to explain why Cottonee obviously wins versus Chinchou.
Diglett: " " (except replace mentions of Cottonee with Diglett)
Gastly: LO Sludgebomb 2HKOs Chinchou
Gothita: Eh. Can come in and trap Chinchou with either Psychic or Energy Ball, depending.
Omanyte: +2 Earth Power says hello. Tanks a volt switch.
Snubbul: Tanks any of Chinchou's attacks, can steal its item with Thief, and then also proceed to use Earthquake.
Vullaby: Same thing as Pawniard, though to a much lesser extent. Also way too bulky for Chinchou to ever hope to slay.
Vulpix: Uhh. LO Energy Ball???????????????????????? Also scald only does ~ 50/60% at most.
Chou has no place switching into 99% of the A rank and above mons. However, things
are hard pressed to switch into Chinchou because of a combination of the two most annoying moves ever: Volt Switch and Scald (thank u gen 4 and 5 respectively). For this reason, it is a really good pivot, but if it can't really switch into much of the commonplace meta, then how would that ever warrant Chinchou S rank? In all honesty, before this absurd movement of ranks took place, I was thinking in my head that Chinchou is placed too high in A+, let alone
S. OK.