Anty
let's drop
The VR is looking really solid rn however it is sorta dead so im gonna suggest some more 'controversial' changes.
Ninetales and Rapidash to change places (rap to a+ tales to a): It is clear that the former S rank is not what it used to be, as this metagame has been harsher to tales. Firstly, the metagame is becoming more prepared for it, as even looking at the viability rankings, pokemon like grumpig and rapidash have had huge increases lately. These are just two examples of the one of the best counter and offensive check in the tier to it, and though it can run dark pulse for grumpig, it is mediocre coverage outside of it, and hidden power ground doesnt stop rapidash from revenge killing it. Another thing about this metagame is that it shows how important speed and priority is, as out of S and A+ ranks the only pokes that dont have priority/outspeed tales are roselia, barbaracle, and rotom, in which the first poke is known for its support, the second for its boosting and the first for being a scarfer. This 'need for speed' is really not kind on ninetales, as it finds it now pretty much relies on sub or a berry (both unreliable) to avoid getting revenge killed vs offensive playstyles, and the defensive playstyles which ninetales destroys have undoubtably gotten worse (also limits the other 'stalltales' set which has become p much irrelevant). There is still much more to talk about, mainly hazards + using other fire types though i dont want this to be too wordy.
I have been finding rapdiash to be better in this metagame. Although they do perform different roles, they still do compete for a team slot due to typing (rocks weakness is huge in this metagame) and being fast + strong, and the only situation i can think of which their roles to mean they wont be competing for a team slot is if you need tales as a balance breaker (which is rare) or if you need something faster for other tales/simis (which is more common). I dont want to just compare the two as i know that the comparison still isnt perfect and they both have solid niches (np + sdef vs spe + recovery). The main reasons why i think rapidash should move up are to do with its speed, letting it revenge kill many pokes like simis/ninetales/leafeon/etc, its power and coverage, this increases its revenge killing potential and mean that there are no complete counters (well, solrock), and the main reason why i love rapidash is because it can be used throughout the entire battle due to a great immunity, some decent resists and access to mourning sun. Annoyingly, rapidash does have an opportunity cost to it, being fodder for costa/baracle, however it can afford to run wisp over drill run, as you hit fires hard with wild charge anyway and willo cripples every rock type which can mostly tank drill runs.
Another suggestion i think should happen is rotom-f down to a (honestly i can see it going down further). Although the loss of haunter may seem nice for it, as it has less competition as a choice scarf user, however sadly there have been other scarfers to take its place (simipour/raichu) and its speed just isnt enough in this metagame. In such a sweeper potent metagame, scarfers are crucial for revenge killing a lot of them, so outspeeding the unboosted metagame isnt enough. Looking at the speed tiers, the only relevant sweepers rotom actually outspeeds are fraxure, adamant torterra, and regice, and unfortunately it cannot revenge kill what i would say is the scariest out of all of them (regice). This really limits the effectiveness of rotom as a scarfer, as a metagame filled with barbaracle and sun, i would much rather use scarfers like dodrio and raichu who are more effective at revenge killing. Obviously scarf rotom has a solid niche with its power and being great for volturn cores (though weakness in rocks is annoying), however this niche isnt a+ worthy. The subsplit set is also decent, however has several flaws, mainly the offensive metagame being harsher towards it due to an influx in faster pokemon and more fire types, and most people would want an electric type like zebstrika which can revenge kill and pivot out.
These next to noms i feel need a lot of discussion.
Barbaracle andor Costa down to A: Yes this may seem weird considering how they were s rank not long ago, however i really feel the metagame has not been nice to them (note that i will only talk amount the ss sets as that is the only possible sets that are a+/could get them a+). Looking at the viability ranking there is a clear lack of set up oppurtunities, as in s and a+, the only pokes they can really set up on are (excluding themselves ofc) pawniard (costa hates losing LO and baracle is weakened to less than 30%), and choice scarf rotom/simipour locked into the wrong move, which is fairly situational. Going down the rankings, there still isnt much; in A they set up on non-willo rap (if ur team has no +2 ss stops you run willo), scarf hp ice raichu (?), and possibly forcing out probopass, then in a-; choiced stout/float, +0 mightyena (costa only and rare), non twave togetic, or forcing like togetic out. Yeah this really isnt reliable, especcially when you can compare them two pokes like rain dance poli and regice who have much more set up opportunities (a lot of lower rank pokes they set up on put them in range if priorities). There have also been an increase of usage of their checks i feel. Torterra and kadabra are everywhere atm, and costa still has problems with common pokes like simipour, jumpluff, and poliwrath, whereas barbaracle struggles with scarf sawsbuck, simipour, and raichu which are the post popular (from what i have seen). However they are still difficult for certain teams so shouldnt be underestimated (a rank is still high). Those two pokes are surprisingly easy to group together ngl. e: memento support is pretty nice but that is a lot of support and kinda doesnt suggest a+ imo
Remember these are only suggestions to promote talk so please rebuttle my points (i know i have been talking more about the pokes flaws/positives but i think i have covered everything in a reasonable amount of space).
e: forgot about moving peli up to a- due it being one of the few good defogers and the sdef set is amazing - i might make a larger post about it later
Ninetales and Rapidash to change places (rap to a+ tales to a): It is clear that the former S rank is not what it used to be, as this metagame has been harsher to tales. Firstly, the metagame is becoming more prepared for it, as even looking at the viability rankings, pokemon like grumpig and rapidash have had huge increases lately. These are just two examples of the one of the best counter and offensive check in the tier to it, and though it can run dark pulse for grumpig, it is mediocre coverage outside of it, and hidden power ground doesnt stop rapidash from revenge killing it. Another thing about this metagame is that it shows how important speed and priority is, as out of S and A+ ranks the only pokes that dont have priority/outspeed tales are roselia, barbaracle, and rotom, in which the first poke is known for its support, the second for its boosting and the first for being a scarfer. This 'need for speed' is really not kind on ninetales, as it finds it now pretty much relies on sub or a berry (both unreliable) to avoid getting revenge killed vs offensive playstyles, and the defensive playstyles which ninetales destroys have undoubtably gotten worse (also limits the other 'stalltales' set which has become p much irrelevant). There is still much more to talk about, mainly hazards + using other fire types though i dont want this to be too wordy.
I have been finding rapdiash to be better in this metagame. Although they do perform different roles, they still do compete for a team slot due to typing (rocks weakness is huge in this metagame) and being fast + strong, and the only situation i can think of which their roles to mean they wont be competing for a team slot is if you need tales as a balance breaker (which is rare) or if you need something faster for other tales/simis (which is more common). I dont want to just compare the two as i know that the comparison still isnt perfect and they both have solid niches (np + sdef vs spe + recovery). The main reasons why i think rapidash should move up are to do with its speed, letting it revenge kill many pokes like simis/ninetales/leafeon/etc, its power and coverage, this increases its revenge killing potential and mean that there are no complete counters (well, solrock), and the main reason why i love rapidash is because it can be used throughout the entire battle due to a great immunity, some decent resists and access to mourning sun. Annoyingly, rapidash does have an opportunity cost to it, being fodder for costa/baracle, however it can afford to run wisp over drill run, as you hit fires hard with wild charge anyway and willo cripples every rock type which can mostly tank drill runs.
Another suggestion i think should happen is rotom-f down to a (honestly i can see it going down further). Although the loss of haunter may seem nice for it, as it has less competition as a choice scarf user, however sadly there have been other scarfers to take its place (simipour/raichu) and its speed just isnt enough in this metagame. In such a sweeper potent metagame, scarfers are crucial for revenge killing a lot of them, so outspeeding the unboosted metagame isnt enough. Looking at the speed tiers, the only relevant sweepers rotom actually outspeeds are fraxure, adamant torterra, and regice, and unfortunately it cannot revenge kill what i would say is the scariest out of all of them (regice). This really limits the effectiveness of rotom as a scarfer, as a metagame filled with barbaracle and sun, i would much rather use scarfers like dodrio and raichu who are more effective at revenge killing. Obviously scarf rotom has a solid niche with its power and being great for volturn cores (though weakness in rocks is annoying), however this niche isnt a+ worthy. The subsplit set is also decent, however has several flaws, mainly the offensive metagame being harsher towards it due to an influx in faster pokemon and more fire types, and most people would want an electric type like zebstrika which can revenge kill and pivot out.
These next to noms i feel need a lot of discussion.
Barbaracle andor Costa down to A: Yes this may seem weird considering how they were s rank not long ago, however i really feel the metagame has not been nice to them (note that i will only talk amount the ss sets as that is the only possible sets that are a+/could get them a+). Looking at the viability ranking there is a clear lack of set up oppurtunities, as in s and a+, the only pokes they can really set up on are (excluding themselves ofc) pawniard (costa hates losing LO and baracle is weakened to less than 30%), and choice scarf rotom/simipour locked into the wrong move, which is fairly situational. Going down the rankings, there still isnt much; in A they set up on non-willo rap (if ur team has no +2 ss stops you run willo), scarf hp ice raichu (?), and possibly forcing out probopass, then in a-; choiced stout/float, +0 mightyena (costa only and rare), non twave togetic, or forcing like togetic out. Yeah this really isnt reliable, especcially when you can compare them two pokes like rain dance poli and regice who have much more set up opportunities (a lot of lower rank pokes they set up on put them in range if priorities). There have also been an increase of usage of their checks i feel. Torterra and kadabra are everywhere atm, and costa still has problems with common pokes like simipour, jumpluff, and poliwrath, whereas barbaracle struggles with scarf sawsbuck, simipour, and raichu which are the post popular (from what i have seen). However they are still difficult for certain teams so shouldnt be underestimated (a rank is still high). Those two pokes are surprisingly easy to group together ngl. e: memento support is pretty nice but that is a lot of support and kinda doesnt suggest a+ imo
Remember these are only suggestions to promote talk so please rebuttle my points (i know i have been talking more about the pokes flaws/positives but i think i have covered everything in a reasonable amount of space).
e: forgot about moving peli up to a- due it being one of the few good defogers and the sdef set is amazing - i might make a larger post about it later