I think what holds rotom back from S is its passive nature against most of the common threats, since it needs wisp + hex to break, it solely relies on this set and it involves the clicking of two moves. I agree that rotom is extremely underprepared for (shane didn't have any answers in his team 3 and waters didn't really on his team 1) but that doesn't really come down to the mon being S rank material, more lackluster building from both players in my honest opinion. (not taking anything away from the players, the series was very good to watch:3) But just because a mon is under-prepared for right now, what with the sceptile hype and steelix hype does it mean that it got any better. I believe that yes, rotom + rotom fan did get better from the drop of steelix, allowing it to have more switches in to spread status and cause damage to teams, but it's still got some problems.**A -> S
Might seem like a big jump in viability, but Rotom is 100% worthy of S Rank in this meta imo. The Hex set is probably the best balance breaker in the tier, as it has such an easy time getting around its own checks and counters. On most Balance teams these are mons like Lanturn and Steelix, which are easily beaten by the Hex set. Rotom is one of the scarriest and under prepared mons to face in the current meta, and this is shown by a huge amount of recent tour matches, the most recent one I can remember being Shaneghoul vs Realistic Waters for NUL [Game 1, 2, 3].
In the games, Rotom makes an appearance in all of them, and is always able to be a threat to the opposing team. In Game 1, Shaneghoul is the one who brings it and right from the start its easy to tell that it would put in a lot of work against Water's team. Since his electric resist is Steelix, it does not want to come in on a Wisp as it is then 2HKOd by Hex and can't even damage it back as Rotom resists both of Steelix's STABs. In the game Shane uses it to wear down the Articuno, which would have lead to Sceptile putting in more work late game but instead he swept with Barbaracle. In Game 2 both players bring Rotom, and right from the start its obvious how threatening they are to each other. However Waters does have a Pyroar which is one of the few checks to Rotom as it isn't affected by Wisp or Hex, but it still is worn down very easily by rocks + volt switch damage. One Shane's side, his best way to handle the opposing Rotom is switching into Sceptile, which is only really a one time switch in since Burn Damage + Hex kill it after rocks. Water's ends up using his Bulkier Rotom set with Pain Split to take care of the Garbodor, Samurott, and Scyther leading to a late game Specs Sceptile sweep. Even with his bad match up, Shane is able to use his Rotom to take care of a threat to his team in Piloswine. In Game Three, Shane once again brings a Rotom, and it puts in large amounts of work for his team. While there is a Pyroar, he is still able to beat the opposing Steelix, threaten out Vileplume multiple times even at low health, and late game check the Sawk showing its worth as a Balance breaker.
In terms of checks / counters to Rotom, there are really only two hard counters in the tier: Mega Audino and Camerupt. Out of these, only Mega Audino is viable enough to be considered a common mon in the metagame, and even then it can't just be thrown onto teams as its a very big momentum sap for playstyles like offense and some forms of balance. Other checks to the Hex set are mons like Pyroar, Magmortar, Skuntank, and Shiftry. None of which have reliable recovery and can't switch in multiple times due to Wisp buring up the Lum Berry the first time around on Skuntank / Shiftry. Also while Pyroar / Magmortar aren't affected by Wisp, options in the 4th slot are there to hit them. A new move I've started running is Discharge, as it gives Rotom a reliable Electric STAB while also giving it another way to Status the opponent. It also allows it to beat things like Sceptile that try to switch in on Hex / Volt Switch, only to take a Discharge.
There are also multiple viable Rotom sets that contribute to its viablity and threat level in NU. These are: Hex + Spel Tag, Defensive, Scarf, and Sub. Defensive is able to handle most common Normals / Flyings / and Steel Types in the tier due to its Typing and Bulk once invested. Scarf is a threat to a lot of teams that lack Electric resists, as it has a very easy job to just wear down the opposing team with continued attacks and the ability to cripple defensive mons with Trick. The last set is probably something a lot less people know about, and its a set I've started to use and I'm probably one of the few that use it. The set is Hex / Substitute / Will-o-wisp / Discharge with Max Speed and either Max HP or Attack. Rotom is able to set up Subs on things like Steelix, Lanturn, Weezing, Scyther, and other threatening Physical and Special attackers. From there it is able to basically annoy and rack up damage very quickly against the opposing team.
Rotom also provides a key role on offensive teams as an Anti-Hazard Removal mon. Due to its Typing it can reliably switch into Rapid Spinners due to its Normal Immunity, and threaten common spinners like Hitmonchan and Kabutops with Will-o-wisp, making sure they can't spin during the match. It also is able to beat common Defoggers like Mantine and Pelipper, due to its threatening Electric STAB. Even though it can't prevent them from defogging, it punishes the opponenet for not switching out to something that can handle Rotom, or going for Scald to get the burn. This could mean Rotom can get a free Wisp off, or just Volt Switch to grab momentum.
Overall I do believe Rotom is one of the most threatening and under prepared mons in the meta, and its ranking should reflect this, which is why I am suggesting to move it up to S right away instead of waiting a week or two for it to be put in A+.
Firstly its weak damage output, it doesn't exactly break things straight away, which means that it takes time + playing it extremely well to break down its checks, this is something completely different to sceptile who can come in, force a switch and leaf storm everything in its path.
Secondly, i'd like to say it has a hard time spamming its stabs, there's always a prediction involved with every team that's around. Having a ground type is a staple on every team, whilst dark types + normal types that may carry pursuit (liepard, tauros, skuntank) or even outspeed and just ohko come in on the stabs involved. I'd agree by saying that will-o is a very spammable move, but its attacking moves hold it back from S for me since it cannot be used very easily, it takes a large amount of skill involved to get it right.
in conclusion because I can sometimes get a bit muddled with my points, rotom needs wisp + hex to break shit, its stabs are weak and that's what holds it back from being a splashable mon, stabs aren't spammable + can be pursuit trapped by some of the most common physical attackers in the tier. However I would most definitely agree on a rise to A+, it's still a very, very good mon right now and I agree with a rise.
