[spuds4ever]

I think just the fact that pokemon variety needs to improve is evidence enough that mienfoo is over-centralized more than is healthy.

Aipom is not actually bad and makes a good anti-lead (at least it did a couple of rounds ago before gligar and co. came to town) I was running an unexpected set of fake out/u-turn/taunt/flight gem acrobatics and it would consistently kill something every game (usually unsuspecting mienfoo) and still pick off weakened things end-game. Well, venonat hasn't actually got any usage at all in the March usage stats (1200) but I guess it's pretty hard to tell due to the low number of players. Granted they pass different things, but they both have the same purpose, to get a sweeper to sweep easier, and I myself would've thought compoundeyes sleep powder would be more attractive...

I think a possible solution is just encouraging new playstyles. They don't have to be gimicky, I've never picked up TR in my life and I'm finding myself doing consistently well with it. Just add some imagination in LC. If it's staying as monotonized as this, no wonder our player base is so small, even ubers has more creativity!

edit: yeah, slowpoke and vullaby are both very good, but as prem said, slowpoke has a bad habit of getting its eviolite knocked off often and has no taunt like vullaby. Vullaby is ridiculously good though if you know its limits.