Monotype Premier League X Power Rankings

By DugZa, Kev, Leafium Z, Neko, Ethereal Sword, and RoyalReloaded. Released: 2024/05/26.
« Previous Article Next Article »
MPL X Banner

Logo by Rex The Eater Of Worlds.

Welcome to the tenth iteration of the Monotype Premier League. This year we decided to continue what we initiated last year and do Power Rankings in a more official article format. We asked knowledgeable players from each new and old generation to rank all the starters and then averaged said rankings in an attempt to get what we hope is an unbiased ranking. That said, with all the possible variables, it is nigh impossible to get an accurate ranking, as some teams and individuals are bound to perform better than what their rankings indicate and exceed expectations. Therefore, please do not take these rankings to heart; at the end of the day, this is all to bring hype and enjoyment for the tournament while giving everyone a fun read.

A massive thank you to the following individuals for their rankings and contributions to making this article possible: adjustments, Attribute, Azick, Chaitanya, Cielau, crashy, DAHLI, DugZa, Firnen, Floss, Gelbel3c, Isza, ikiarihS, Leafium Z, LuckyPiper, Mada, maroon, Mateeus, Meta, Neko, North, pas_touchao, QWILY, Rinda, Sabella, Scarfire, Splash, Spitfire, style.css, tier, Trouser Snakes, twinkay, and yedla

An additional thank you and shoutout to the writers DugZa, Ethereal Sword, Leafium Z, Kev, Neko, and RoyalReloaded for their dedication and contribution to this article, especially to Kev for coming out of retirement to help out with the article! Special thank you to style.css for providing the graphics for the article, and a big thank you again to Etheral Sword for going out of his way to create the sheet for the rankings. Last but not least, big thank you to Lumari for aiding with GP and helping this article reach completion in a timely manner.

Goldenrod Gengars

Gengars

The Gengars are a franchise that is famous for being managed by some of the best players in the tier, from its original run with Chaitanya and Zap to other notable co-managers like Dahli and Leru. While this new generation of Gengars kept the spirit of the original duo by having two Indian managers, the name values have declined tremendously. Manager Ashbala has several failed manager signups, only finally getting in this year because of many regular managers not signing up and his competition being controversial users with inexperienced co-managers like his own co Piyush. Prior to the draft, he was convinced by multiple people to not self-buy; only time will tell if heeding the advice was a sign of poor confidence and resolve or the first great decision he's made as manager. The marquee purchase of this team is Attribute, who has been cementing himself amongst the best players in the tier. His greatest asset is his high-quality support to every slot, in particular because his contributions as a player are minimal, with him yet to have a standout performance; perhaps him quitting his stint as BW player to return to SM will help going positive this time around. Following up the mainer core are Meta, who has quietly and reliably been putting out decent performances for the last years, and twinkay, who is having their first season as a starter after a couple failed stints as manager; as a big talker and critic, this is twinkay's chance to prove they aren't just a yapper. Rounding out the mainers is Neko, who used to be seen as some weird cat person afterthought but has proven her value with recent good individual performances and consecutive success as a manager in BLT and MWP. The remainder of the starting lineup is full of players outside of Monotype. Leading that pack is mind gaming, who already showed advanced skills in Monotype by dominating the Monothreat in MWP. The main concern is that he has a reputation of not sharing his teams with teammates and not being present in the Discord; perhaps avoiding input from manager Ashbala will be a good thing, or the gaps in knowledge from lack of mainer support could be his downfall. Besides him, there is clean, who had a good showing in their first MPL last season, YouTube superstar freezai, whose limited MPL experience was winless, and Thiago Nunes, who will be having his second Monotype showing after a somewhat decent display in MWC. The substitutes on the team are lackluster. We have some German support for mind gaming in Sylvi and Achimoo, where the former has played MPL before and won their one game. Ashbala also seems to not have realized the campaign to get NatDex in MPL failed, as he bought Mono NatDex mainer sunnyboi0. Finishing off their lineup is token Indian buy memedose46 (Piyush's words!) and King Billu, who is remembered in the community for having one of the worst games ever played in the tier during a Monotype World Cup.

Melemele Meloettas

Meloettas

After a strong run last year, the French managing pair of Cielau and Toadow return with the Melemele Meloettas. The death bells began ringing when the duo decided on their massive buy being tier leader Floss. Despite being undoubtedly one of the best players in the tier and being well recognized for his trendsetting building acumen, the teams he has been on have been finding themselves towards the bottom of the standings in the last few iterations. However, even the biggest Floss haters would be hard pressed to put the failure of this team on his shoulders after seeing the rest of the decisions made by the managers. Following their star purchase, Cielau and Toadow decided to go dormant and not fight for even the mid-priced players, instead stacking up on sub-10k purchases. They left everyone wondering who they were saving their money for during the entire draft, only for the answer to be nobody. The remainder of the starting lineup is riddled with questionable slots; almost half their starting lineup has never been in MPL before. SM Cup winner Drizzle finds himself in ORAS, while manager Toadow, whose only positive MPL was when he played in ORAS, has put himself in SM. Fellow MPL debutants on the team are Ina fable, who has gained traction from continuous successful performances in individuals, and schwipper, whose only notable showing has been in NatDex. Making a sophomore MPL appearance is fellow Frenchmen Gelbel3c, who confused everyone with a BW starter position on this team last year but managed to make an impression despite a negative record. Accompanying all these newcomers is longtime veteran feen, who is making a serious return to Pokémon; he has a history dating back all the way to MPL I and has some of the most tour appearances of all time, as well as being the person with the 4th most losses of all time in Monotype team tournaments. As for their substitutes, most notable is Bouff, who returns to Monotype tournaments after spending the last few years slandering and disrespecting the community. Also on the bench is UU mainer hariyana grande, whose presence will be questionable without friends avarice and Azick as teammates. Finishing up the lineup are Masskeau, who had a bad 1-4 performance as a token French sub for them last year, and an unknown in RoFnA. Overall, this team has good tier coverage in terms of prep between the managers and tier leader Floss but lacks the star playing power to inspire much faith; will they be able to workhorse themselves to success like last year? Or will the French luck counter the Floss curse?

Bell Tower Braves

Braves

The first controversy of the season came early this year for the Bell Tower Braves, with the immediate quitting of their first buy lax messing with their plans. Manager Mateeus should be given credit for his confidence in always self-buying despite not being highly regarded as a player despite years of participating in the SM pool. The star buy is Xiri, whose performance is always an enigma; sometimes he will have an insanely dominant season, and sometimes it is benchworthy, but without DugZa and Floss, odds are in his favor. With him in SV is the returning Fírnen, who is coming back hot with a win in SV Cup. His current gen knowledge will be beneficial in filling in the gaps left by Mateeus while also being an ancient veteran with experience in all gens. Also in SV are Mihowk, who has had a good performance in individuals and in Monotype team tournaments, and avarice, who has failed to have a good season in all his many appearances. In SS, they have hellom, who had an incredible SPL recently but has given pretty uninspiring Monotype performances, riddled with bad and lucky games. Filling up their ORAS slot, they have inactive user Jojo8868. In theory, he could be fairly helpful to their SS slot, but after being an absentee manager in MWP, that does not seem very likely. As for his ORAS abilities, he had a pitiful performance last year despite being teammates with two of the most knowledgeable players in the generation. Now he has no major support and cannot rely on last year's teams as a crutch due to the Keldeo ban; but maybe Staravia enthusiast Mateeus can help now. The final starter is Feaniix, who plays BW in basically every tier's PL; this gives him a high understanding of the mechanics, but his performance in those PLs is generally uninspiring. On their bench, they have pas_touchao who went from being highly rated after strong individual showings to now being on the lower end of substitutes. There is also borderline unacceptable username holder Trouser Snakes, who had a good showing last year after a poor MPL debut the prior year; his interest in old gens could be valuable support. Another hard worker is RoyalReloaded, who has been grinding as a contributor and will surely be very dedicated to helping his team. The final mainer sub is sapphire, who was shrouded in controversy last season for only being bought due to credits freely being given to another team. Finishing off the lineup is Tenebricite, who has gained a lot of momentum due to doing well in the ongoing Monotype Cup. Overall, the team lacks that star player most of the others have, with it being a middling lineup; however, Mateeus did a decent job of assembling a serviceable team that has good potential to deliver despite his plans being thrown off early draft.

Trick House Treeckos

Treeckos

Throughout the many iterations of the Trick House Treeckos, they have been called many things: weebs, mediocre, friendship power, the whole circus, and so much more. Regardless, the duo of LuckyPiper and Crashy generally perform well. This year, they find themselves in the highest ranking they have ever seen, despite the team looking as textbook Treeckos as it can. Did their players grow in quality and acclaim throughout the years? Or did the overall quality of the playerbase drop and are their players resilient in sticking around? Manager Crashy has cemented himself as one of the best BW players in the tiers for years now after becoming a regular in the generation, despite some other veterans having some criticism on his play. As for manager LuckyPiper, he still fails to get the respect of the community as a player despite decent records as an SM regular. The first two buys of the team are the most unexpected additions to the Treeckos, with Larry and Azick. The former has a history of some of the best records ever and managing multiple teams, so there's high hopes despite recent distance from the tier. As for Azick, the hotheaded workhorse is perhaps too defensive and stubborn to survive on the Treeckos. It is hard to believe that he could handle dealing with LuckyPiper commenting on his teams or plays. Next, there is Monotype ring magnet rs, who has collected Monotype team tournament victories effortlessly in the past; however, he has not been part of a win in a while and has not delivered noteworthy records. Next up there is Treeckos regular adjustments, who is always almost a guaranteed buy by this pair. Having stepped out from the game for a while before just recently returning, he may be unable to adjust to the changes. The new two players are borderline ban cases in King Choco, with his questionable avatars, and Suspensse, with his questionable past behavior. King Choco generally delivers decent performances, so he should be more than suitable enough of a substitute. As for the latter, he had a strong showing in the last MWP, although some games were in OMs; however, he is another veteran who will be familiar with most of the formats in the tournament. In ORAS, they have Quinn, who had a poor showing when they played non-OMs in the past, neither of which was ORAS, which will be a first try. There is a lot of trust put in them to deliver as a starter. Wrapping up the roster is Ethereal Sword, an active newcomer who is sure to be motivated to help and should benefit being in an active chat like the Treeckos. Overall, a mostly standard lineup from the Treeckos, but one that inspires more faith to the rest of the community than they usually do.

Hearthome Honchkrows

Honchkrows

The most dominant franchise in Monotype history, the Hearthome Honchkrows are the only team to boast multiple MPL victories. However, they seem to be a shell of their former selves, with possibly the least impressive lineup in their long history. Despite claiming he largely contributed to the first victory of this franchise, manager Isza led the Honchkrows to the worst performance they ever had when he took the helm; his track record as a manager is quite disappointing. One of the best advantages of the Honchkrows throughout the years has been that both managers are top players and buying themselves for much cheaper than market value; however, this time only Sabella bought himself out of the pair. While he is a decorated veteran in BW, a shaky 0-4 start last year saved by cheesing his opponents to gain momentum foreshadows another rude awakening this year. Unexpectedly, the Krows' main target was fade, who is known for insulting and hating Monotype yet still keeps coming back like he has Stockholm Syndrome. While he has definitely had some strong performances in the past that could justify spending 1/5th of the budget, he had a tragic showing last year while being supported by the top 2 Monotype players, which bodes poorly, as he now has two mostly out-of-touch boomers as his support. The most impressive buy is win machine Gondra, who returns to SM after dominating BW last year, delivering a 7-1 like they also did in their SM debut. Yedla leads the SV core; he was once respected as the best French Monotype player but has fallen from grace over the years, often coming off as a backup buy. They also have style.css, a hard worker who can help grind prep but has a bad record and is huge activity fishing bait with them not being able to log in on weekends. The SV lineup is capped off with Tarre25, who had an impressive debut last year, and TTK, whose success in the Monotype is primarily in OMs. In SS, their tour player of choice is 3d, who went from being mostly a joke and toxic user to becoming more respected as a player as of late. As for the substitutes, there is Mimilucha, who has never played the tier before but at least a familiar name to some, unlike other substitute JeoZ. The team has also sold back Lime for roxie, who was shockingly left undrafted and had some drama regarding that. As a very active community member and big workhorse, roxie would definitely be helpful. However, past teammates have complained about some of roxie's unorthodox and bad choices and suggestions, so it will come down to how the managers balance them out. Overall, the Honchkrows undoubtedly have a competitive lineup this year, but they lack the star power the franchise is used to.

Tyrannical Tinkatons

Tinkatons

Next up we have former Wakes manager Mada, with yet another team named Tyrannical Tinkatons for some unknown reason. The team had a strong start with the very cheap retain of BW veteran and VGC professional North; he has consistently been considered amongst the top BW players for basically a decade. However, his pride in refusing an activity win cost his team playoffs last year. Mada was collecting all the banned managers and questionable users this tournament. We have Chaitanya, who is manager banned after years of warnings and threats. Moreover, his steady decline in the tier is very apparent, with his lowest ranking in years. The pairing of Dieu Amphibien and Fraolain were managers of an MWP team shrouded in Discord drama leading to bans. Both have some individual success but have failed to impress in team tournaments with overall negative records. Also on the team is Vodoom, known for being a terrible teammate with an obnoxious attitude; however, teaming with Chaitanya means he should be appropriately leashed at least. The team also has SM pool mainstay QWILY, who regularly puts up good performances. There is also failed retired player Rinda, whose mediocre MWP led to tension with then- and now-teammates Chaitanya and Vodoom; things may be awkward following the aftermath of that season. Nonetheless, he is expected to deliver in a weak SS pool. Overall, the Tinkatons find themselves well ahead of the rest of the teams on paper, but they fall sharply in terms of skill when it comes to the substitutes; there is a big dependence on starters showing up and delivering. Leading the bench core is Monotype resident idiot Maki, who locked themselves to bench until playoffs. The core of Vid, Havens, and juleocesar looks like something out of 2017, but unlike most boomer cores, it would still be mediocre then. Only Vid was considered decent in the past, but the old gens have changed significantly since his days. Moreover, he was easily offended by harsh words, which bodes poorly for being around Chaitanya and Vodoom; a clash is definitely imminent. Havens may be the most confusing purchase in the whole tour, as he never had the feats when he was active to be getting guaranteed a draft upon returning with no activity; he is instead most remembered for notable losses in team tournaments. Next, juleocesar is only of the longest-running Monotype players on the site, and after years of consistent activity but persistent mediocrity, he's finally started getting some results. This team is a weird collection of users, meshing together historic teammates and well-tested friendships, as well as very opposing personalities that will struggle to collaborate.

Tohjo Falls Thunders

Thunders

There have been some weird manager pairings in the past, but no couple has been odder than the water-and-oil pair of Splash and maroon. Most started asking if it was real, because it was unfathomable. The two strong personalities have clashed and mocked each other plenty of times in the past because of the many differences divide them. Both of them have self-purchased and will probably deliver decent performances, as long as Splash is not stubborn and listens to teammates' feedback, instead of deciding Ground with Swift Swim Seismitoad was gonna be a guaranteed counter to rain, only for him to get that expected matchup and have it die to Hidden Power Grass turn 1. Star purchase of the team is yet another strong personality, and one of the most dominant players in Monotype, DAHLI. There's hardly any doubts they will deliver wins, but it is questionable how they will mix with manager Splash; similarly to maroon, there's a history of arguments and dislike. Their next player is probably the most anticipated performance in the entire pool, with the first Monotype appearance of MichaelderBeste2, who is regarded as one of the best Pokémon players, with success in OU, VGC, and more. However, he apparently shares mind gaming's pitfalls as a teammate and generally requires German friends, which he lacks here. It is possible he signed up hoping to be playing with certain people, and losing that could cause him to not really care. Next up, they have Railgun, who has had varying performances in the past and is very used to collaborating with DAHLI. However, they are no longer slotted in their comfort zone of SS but find themselves in SV, where they have less experience and DAHLI cannot provide support. Finishing out the SV lineup of the team is cpt.kraken, who had his debut with this franchise last year. Since then, he has been involved in some controversy over the Totodiles Discord and some potential antiquated viewpoints he may hold, which could lead to major problems with manager maroon and star DAHLI. The last starter on the team is tier, who has a mediocre cumulative record but still manages to have quite the ego despite it. As for the bench, they have Bouki, who has expressed annoyance about not being drafted in the past, and there is apparently tension now that fellow Frenchman dunoks is starting over him. Finally, dex is known for malding every time he loses; however, when it comes to this team he might be in good company. Overall, this team has a lot of strong personalities who aren't exactly a match, and we're definitely not expecting much non-business activity happening in that Discord. They have some decent names to have success, but absolutely no synergy.

Zero Isle Zoroarks

Zoroarks

The Zero Isle Zoroarks are a rebrand of last year's Wayward Wakes, who finished the regular season on top of the leaderboard, and their lineup shows that current managers plunder and Scarfire don't plan on making major changes. After a strong and cheap showing, their friend Leafium Z was retained. Despite his sheet record, many aren't fully drinking the Kool-Aid, attributing success to luck, hence Luckium Z. To prove the naysayers wrong, he needs a strong but clean season. Their first buy was yet another former Wake, the inconsistent Shiraiki. He followed a 7-2 MPL with a pitiful 2-7 MWP. Moreover, he's slotted into BW, where he has no team tournament games in. While he has some experience with it through his endeavors in the Bo3 slot, he finds himself in a pool full of experienced oldheads that will make it difficult to get too impressive of a record. Next, the team gets a former MPL managing duo in DugZa and Dj Breloominati, with the latter also being a former Wake. DugZa is respected as one of the better players in the tier, has a wide knowledge of multiple of the metagames, and is one of the biggest tryhards on the site. This would all make him a great asset to a team, if it weren't for the fact that he is so cursed. None of his teams have seen MPL playoffs; in fact, they barely manage to see past 6th place. However, this is mostly when he manages and takes charge of most of the slots. As a player, he won MWP last year with the MWP equivalent of the Wakes, the Glameows, so perhaps success can be repeated when he is able to focus on his slot and not the entire team. Dj Breloominati dominated the ORAS pool last year, which helped elevate him to the top of the Monotype overall sheet with an insane 22-5 record. It will be interesting to see how he will collaborate with Dugza, however, with his least impressive performances being when they team and taking into account last year's tension when Dugza did not draft him. Another former member of the Glameows is Sificon, whose only full season has been playing OMs. Finishing up their SV starting lineup is Elyoss, whose only two games so far have been an even record representing France in Monotype World Cup. Finishing up their starting lineup is Hurtadoo, another French player but one with more history, whose track record has also been mostly pretty average. Sitting on their bench is sasha and FadedCharm; neither is too notable or will fill in any gaps in the team, and the team needs the starters to deliver. Overall, the Zoroarks have a high-potential lineup, with multiple starters having remarkable seasons in the past and having enough experience to not have to worry about teambuilding.

MPL sv RANKINGS
  1. Floss
  2. Cielau
  3. Azick
  4. Scarfire
  5. Leafium Z
  6. Dieu Amphibien
  7. Vodoom
  8. rs
  9. Fírnen
  10. yedla
  11. Xiri
  12. mind gaming
  13. Mada
  14. Mihowk
  15. Larry
  16. Fraolain
  17. maroon
  18. cpt.kraken
  19. avarice
  20. Neko
  21. Suspensse
  22. Railgun
  23. clean
  24. TTK
  25. freezai
  26. Feen
  27. Sificon
  28. Tarre25
  29. Dunoks
  30. style.css
  31. Elyoss
  32. Ina Fable
Avatar

1. Dieu Amphibien (6): Tinkatons

Avatar

1. Vodoom (7): Tinkatons

Avatar

1. Mada (13): Tinkatons

Avatar

1. Fraolain (16): Tinkatons

The Tinkatons have an absolutely loaded SV roster; however, their biggest challenge might be themselves. The Tinkatons core is headlined by newly minted SPL champion and team manager Mada, followed by the eccentric personality that is Vodoom and rounded out by Frenchmen Dieu Amphibien and Fraolain (frol1). All of these players are extremely talented, and this core should have lofty aspirations. Although Mada doesn't have as many games played as some of his teammates, his prowess when it comes to making sure his team is ready in the builder is not to be understated. Sometimes the ideas are a bit out there... notably Surskit Webs water... but the rest of the lineup can iron out any qualms they have with what they are going to use. Second is Vodoom, a player who is always thinking of ways to optimize his play, and the most experienced one out of his SV teammates. In third is Dieu Amphibien, perhaps the most vocal of the French players. Dieu is absolutely no slouch, having an 11-9 record in SV and a 24-22 record overall, as well as making it quite far in last year's Circuit playoffs. Due to the fact that Dieu is paired up with his best buddy Frol1, he should be motivated to showcase some flashy teams and put on a great performance. Speaking of, Frol1's SV record of 3-6 and overall record of 9-16 might be deceptive, but he is not to be taken lightly. Finishing as a runnerup in the most recent Spring Seasonal is a testament to his skill, both in the builder and on the battlefield. Frol1 can also regularly be found at the top of the ladder, staying up to date with the meta. This Tinkatons core is incredibly scary, and opponents will need to prepare diligently. Mada, Dieu, and Frol1 should do the same, because if they play poorly, they WILL be hearing about it from Vodoom. What will the server look like in the middle of the season? What about the end? Who knows.

Avatar

2. Azick (3): Treeckos

Avatar

2. rs (8): Treeckos

Avatar

2. Larry (15): Treeckos

Avatar

2. Suspensse (21): Treeckos

The Treeckos are back after a few years off, and their lineup is full of talent. Leading the charge for the Treeckos is Larry, who many may be surprised to see isn't managing this tournament with his best pal Dave. Larry has a 2-4 record in SV but a very respectable 33-19 record overall. He still holds the single best record ever made in a team tour at 9-0 from the SM era, so he is undeniably one of the best players the tier has ever had; with his full focus being on playing, as well as support from Azick, Larry should be able to get his SV record in the positive and continue to add to his already impressive all-time stats. Next up is Azick, a name that should be familiar to everybody reading this. The recently appointed Room Owner dons a 7-7 SV record and a 9-10 overall record. Azick is always building and dominating side team tournaments that feature Monotype, so he is most certainly on top of the meta. Will this be the year Azick finally gets his overall record into the positive? Third is rs. The recent council retiree has a 12-8 record in SV and a 54-44 record overall. Despite not being as active as some other players, rs has an extensive background and lots of experience to boot. Once he is caught up to speed on the current meta, it should be clear skies ahead for him. Finally is Suspensse, a player who flies a bit under the radar but has an impressive 4-0 record in SV and 6-1 overall. As previously mentioned, Suspensse is a bit of an unknown quantity, but he does have a Monotype Generations win under his belt from a few years ago and has a fairly impressive record thus far. Will he be able to keep it up or will he come back down to earth? The Treeckos have a lot to look forward to in their comeback season, as their roster is chock full of players with experience and metagame knowledge.

Avatar

3. Fírnen (9): Braves

Avatar

3. Xiri (11): Braves

Avatar

3. Mihowk (14): Braves

Avatar

3. avarice (19): Braves

The Braves enter the fray with the third-strongest SV core with a squad that exudes experience. They did this without splurging on any single player, with a total cost of 35500 credits among these four players. Leading the line is Fírnen, who is looking to follow up on his solid 4-2 record in MWP. Not to mention he also recently won the SV Cup, so he is certainly up to date on the tier right now. However, despite winning MPL VI, his own MPL history is lackluster with just a 40% win rate. Nonetheless, he can't be carried to victory this time, and his experience and teambuilding support will be vital if this team intends to go far. Next up is Xiri, who had the dubious honor of going winless last year and even adding four losses for bonus points. This was followed by a lukewarm 4-3 record in MWP, so Xiri has much to answer for in this iteration. Mihowk, reunited with his MWP managers, is third and aims to follow up his 5-3 results in MPL and MWP with a statement-making campaign this season. Team support will be critical for him, as his early exit in SV Cup leaves many statements still to be made. Reigning MPL champion avarice rounds out the group, but the title alone cannot erase his consecutive 0-2 performances in MPL and MWP and the fact that he is known for consistently putting up negative records year after year. Thus, it is not a repeat win but redemption that would be his goal this year. The Braves will certainly need all the bravery they can muster to overcome history's long shadow.

Avatar

4. Floss (1): Meloettas

Avatar

4. Cielau (2): Meloettas

Avatar

4. feen (26): Meloettas

Avatar

4. Ina fable (32): Meloettas

The Meloettas core is spearheaded by the #1 and #2 ranked players in the pool, Floss and Cielau. Floss, who received five out of seven first-place votes among his peers, owns a respectable 11-8 record in SV in team tournaments. One of three Monotype tier leaders, he is brilliant when it comes to newer metagames, including SV. However, Floss will most certainly have to spread himself thin, as he will most likely have to largely help prepare his teammates, who are not nearly as experienced as he is. Cielau wears the other large price tag for the Meloettas, having a 5-2 SV record and a 23-13 overall record. Cielau, much like Floss, has a brilliant mind for the game and will likely spread himself thin supporting the entire team this season. Still, coupled with his building buddy Toadow, he should be able to put together a solid outing, as his skill on the battlefield will take him quite far. The Meloettas strategy to spend 43500 points on their two crown jewels certainly shows, as the back end of their core lags a bit behind, though it certainly has a lot of potential. Next up is feen, the recently appointed RU tier leader who is slowly, but surely, making a return to Monotype team tournaments. feen is coming off a 1-3 performance in MWP, which are his only SV team tournament games, and has a 35-43 record overall, not to mention his glory days in Monotype are long gone given he has put up negative records in all of the past few tours he took part in. However, the experience is certainly there; now all feen has to do is familiarize himself with the SV metagame, which shouldn't be much of an issue. The core is rounded out by Ina Fable, who ranks last among SV starters. Ina Fable, who is currently 0-3, is making their SV debut in Monotype team tournaments. Ina Fable has shown to be skilled in other tiers, as well as regularly playing high ladder Monotype. This Meloettas core has a lot of promise, despite what the records may say. Feen and Ina Fable fans should expect to see them in the win column this season, as the support from Floss, Cielau, and defending circuit champion Toadow, coupled with their experience in other tiers, will go a long way. How far will the Meloettas go? Is this the year that they win it all, or will they pull a Joel Embiid and fizzle out in the playoffs?

Avatar

5. Scarfire (4): Zoroarks

Avatar

5. Leafium Z (5): Zoroarks

Avatar

5. Sificon (27): Zoroarks

Avatar

5. Elyoss (31): Zoroarks

The Zoroarks arrive with the fifth strongest SV lineup for an overall cost of 33000 credits. With two council members among them, the reader should be warned that the Zoroarks' performance will be inversely proportional to the number of suspect tests that occur after or during the tournament. Veteran Flutter Mane despiser Scarfire leads the charge and will surely be building all the teams every week for a squad of Monotype mainers who don't really need the help. Nonetheless, their past results speak for themselves, going 6-3 in the previous MPL and a tournament-winning 6-4 in MWP. As the fourth-ranked player overall, high expectations will undoubtedly be placed on Scarfire. The same can be said for the fifth-ranked player overall, Leafium Z, who similarly has a legacy to protect. With a 6-2 record in MPL as part of the ill-starred Wakes team followed by 5-0 in MWP, much will be expected out of the fake Z-Crystal. Popular sentiment takes a dive for the two remaining players, but as players with a wealth of Monotype experience, they have all potential of defying the odds. MWP winner and room moderator Sificon, having gone 6-3 in CAP Mono for MWP, will be looking to establish himself in SV this year. Finally, Elyoss, fresh off of an NDMPL win after going 4-1, will try to make waves in MPL this year as well.

Avatar

6. mind gaming (12): Gengars

Avatar

6. Neko (20): Gengars

Avatar

6. clean (23): Gengars

Avatar

6. freezai (25): Gengars

The Gengars are back after failing to make playoffs last year. They have the sixth strongest SV lineup at a 29000 credit price tag. With a relative lack of Mono mainers, they are hoping that star power will be the key to victory. First up is mind gaming, who debuted in Monotype with a 7-3 performance in MWP playing Monothreat. However, he is as of yet untested in MPL and is notorious as a controversial teammate in tours, often not even joining the team server; and when he does, he hardly ever posts his teams and resorts to prepping in PMs, completely defeating the point of team tours; at least it stays in line with most German players' approach in team tours, sadly enough. Next up is Neko, the only Mono mainer in this lineup. Her fiery performance in the Spring Seasonal is tempered only by her beloved feline companion being banished to the shadow realm. But there will be no time to grieve the loss, as her support will be critical for this team to succeed. Finally, two more Smogon legends round out the team: clean, who went 4-3 in the previous MPL, and the esteemed YouTuber freezai, who will be debuting in Monotype this year.

Avatar

7. yedla (10): Honchkrows

Avatar

7. TTK (24): Honchkrows

Avatar

7. Tarre25 (28): Honchkrows

Avatar

7. style.css (30): Honchkrows

The defending champions are sporting a new roster from head to toe, and this SV lineup is a bit of an odd one. Leading the way is yedla, who, believe it or not, has the most experience when it comes to the Honchkrows' SV lineup. Yedla's 15-18 (7-5 in SV) are the most games by anybody in the Krows lineup. Will yedla's experience be enough, or will he falter? Next up is Tarre25, a player whose 8-5 SV record is the only team tournament experience he has to show. However, he can regularly be found playing high ladder matches, so staying up to date on the meta won't be a problem for him. Despite that, this is Tarre's first MPL experience, so being thrown right into the heat of battle might be a little overwhelming. The Honchkrow's 3rd slot is occupied by none other than the National Dex Monotype tier leader, style.css. Style has an 0-2 record in SV and 5-8 overall, but his skills from National Dex Monotype should translate over nicely. However, style's lack of availability may make it tough to help prepare with his teammates, and without any notable results to speak of, it is hard to have a lot of faith in his ability to thrive in this tournament. Lastly is Toy Time King (TTK). TTK has yet to play any SV games in team tournaments but owns a respectable 7-5 record overall and had a decent showing in the most recent MWP. TTK can regularly be found playing on the ladder with different types, whether it be just for fun or recording a YouTube video. TTK is certainly a solid player in his own right, and he hopes to get off to a strong start when it comes to his SV stint. The Honchkrows don't have a lot of leg room when it comes to switching up the lineup, so they're going to have to figure it out one way or another if they want to go far. Isza's support will be crucial here; this roster certainly has a lot of potential, and Isza is a manager who always brings out the best in his players, so this will certainly be an intriguing storyline to follow.

Avatar

8. maroon (17): Thunders

Avatar

8. cpt.kraken (18): Thunders

Avatar

8. Railgun (22): Thunders

Avatar

8. dunoks (29): Thunders

The Thunders enter the tournament with the weakest SV squad and the weakest team overall after two self-buys. With a 29500 credit investment into this SV lineup, will this be an underdog strategy or a case study in poor auction management? Reigning MWP champion maroon will have the responsibility of being the talisman for the team. A 4-3 performance last MPL and a positive record overall paints an optimistic picture, but an early elimination from SV Cup could signal trouble if the team loses cohesion. Thus, it falls to cpt.kraken to provide team support. An experienced ladder player who has had modest performances in team tours throughout the previous year, his metagame knowledge will be critical for the team's performance in SV. Whether putting all the burden on a 3.5k player with only one year of tournament experience is a recipe for disaster remains to be seen. Rounding out the lineup are Railgun and Dunoks, non-mainers who will aim to show that they too can conquer SV Monotype. Overall, the odds are not in the Thunders' favor, but it will be leadership that will be the primary factor in determining whether this team will sink or swim.

MPL ss RANKINGS
Avatar

1. Rinda - Tinkatons (1.14)

Leading the pool is Rinda, boasting a solid 12-8 record in SS and an overall record of 17-11 across several team tours. With this experience, coupled with the support of Chaitanya and Mada, Rinda is likely to dominate the SS pool this time around. However, given the traumatic experience that teaming up with Vodoom and Chaitanya can be for Rinda, the likeliness of the Tinkatons' Discord imploding before week 4, and how shaky his plays can be based based off last MWP, there is a lot standing in the way between Rinda and a coveted 7-0. In the worst-case scenario, Rinda can still be expected to perform well with only the support of their fellow Frenchmen Fraolain and Dieu Amphibien.

Avatar

2. Hurtadoo - Zoroarks (2.57)

Le Doo trails behind Rinda with a respectable SS record of 7-5, placing them high in the rankings of this pool. It's surprising that the Zoroarks managed to acquire Hurtadoo for just 4500, though that may be due to Hurtadoo's lack of participation last MWP or lack of any notable achievements to speak of in recent memory. Hurtadoo also lacks his familiar teammates in mushamu and Cielau, which can make Hurtadoo feel less motivated this time around. Nevertheless, the Zoroarks can provide strong support, with talented builders like DugZa and Scarfire backing Hurtadoo, and his new teammates providing a generally friendly vibe might be enough to keep Hurtadoo dominant in the pool and motivated for the rest of the tour.

Avatar

3. MichaelderBeste2 - Thunders (3.57)

Touted to be a natural in Pokémon games, MichaelDerBeste2's achievements include winning the Smogon Tour and Smogon Masters and finding success in VGC as well. Because of these, its not surprising that Michael snags the third place in the pool despite zero games of Monotype in any team tour or seasonal at all. Third place, the most expensive SS starter in the pool, even without games. Let that sink in. With Splash, Maroon, DAHLI, and cpt.kraken passing teams and getting him up to speed, he might bring something fresh to revolutionize the SS Monotype metagame. However, without the German teammates that Michael usually wants to be with and his equally infamous reputation as a not-so-good teammate, his motivation for doing well in this tour remains in question.

Avatar

4. hellom - Braves (4.14)

hellom, better known as SwordStrike, comes in fourth with a 3-1 record in SS and a mediocre performance in MWP. Though these feats seem lacking, Hellom is coming off an extremely good SPL run with a 10-1 record and has been drafted into Braves, a team full of familiar faces for him. To add to his advantages, he will also be backed by great builders in Fírnen and Pas_touchao, but it remains to be seen if he can replicate his SPL success in MPL.

Avatar

5. adjustments - Treeckos (4.29)

Adjustments leads the bottom half of the rankings. Though his 4-7 record in SS looks shaky on paper, his overall record of 17-12 demonstrates the experience he has amassed over several team tours. It is notable that Adjustments had an extremely successful MWP run with a 5-1 record, though this was primarily in National Dex Monotype games. Backed by the power of friendship in Lucky Piper and Crashy, and Azick's... builds, Adjustments has the tools to adjust this standing when it's time to perform. However, having just come out of hiatus and starting for MPL for the first time, the pressure and possible nervousness could potentially interfere with his performance.

Avatar

6. Thiago Nunes - Gengars (5.14)

Thiago Nunes lands at 6th with a tiny record of 3-1 and of these games being in SS. However, Thiago Nunes has been proven to be a great battler considering his deep OST run and consistency between multiple tiers. However, he might be hard pressed to get teams, with Attribute likely being overburdened in his own tier and SV and not enough builders on the team. Still though, if Gengars can provide teams that have a neutral matchup to the opponent every week, Thiago Nunes can easily prove this ranking wrong.

Avatar

7. schwipper - Meloettas (5.14)

Schwipper is an old player finally getting the chance to prove that he can perform well even outside National Dex Monotype. With a good record in 5-3 in the aforementioned tier, Floss and Cielau's ability to pass teams, and his notable luck during games, Schwipper might be able to splash high enough to upset some of the opponents in this pool. However, like Adjustments, this being his first time in the big stage might affect him adversely especially at crucial moments in his games.

Avatar

8. 3d - Honchkrows (6.00)

Despite landing in last place due to inexperience in Monotype, 3d had a solid 5-4 record in SS OU this SPL. Looking to replicate this success in MPL, 3d can leverage his SS OU experience and the strong builder support from Honchkrows, like Isza and Style.css. Given the balance-heavy nature of SS Monotype, which parallels SS OU, 3d might be able to quickly acclimate to the tier and prove this ranking wrong.

MPL sm RANKINGS
Avatar

1. Attribute - Gengars (1.71)

Starting off, we have Attribute at the very top of the ranking, and if you haven't been living under a rock on the last couple years in the Monotype community, it is not difficult to see why. Despite having a mediocre SM record of 15-16 and an overall record even more mediocre at 44-47, this guy is here to prove that raw records aren't everything, given how he is easily one of the best and more influential players in the tier across all gens, even with those horrible numbers. No one can deny his clicking capabilities and building skills, but the Gengars might struggle to give him support if needed, as apparently only Ashbala knows what happens in that gen. Despite having a few years of consecutively successful MPL runs, he went back to his usual negative ways last year; if the downward trend continues, then the Gengars are in for a world of pain. All in all, he is definitely the force to be reckoned in this tier, and it is very likely to finally tally both records to the positive side.

Avatar

2. DAHLI - Thunders (1.86)

Right below the #1 player by a very small margin, we have Dahli, also known as SM's legitimate owner. Boasting the seventh highest winrate overall, with a whopping 42-20, those numbers stem directly from his success in gen 7, with an impressive 29-13. Not to mention his iconic 9-1 run from MPL V still remains one of the most dominant showings in the tier's history. In the latest MPL, he also was the best player of his team with a solid 5-2, but that was not enough to save the Gengars' disastrous season, and he decided to separate from his longtime friend Chaitanya to find himself with a new pair of supporters in Splash and maroon. Expectations on him are always high, given the amazing in-game known by everyone and now, and under new managers, he finds himself hoping for a better team, an even better record, and, of course, the MPL X ring.

Avatar

3. DugZa - Zoroarks (2.57)

Wrapping up the SM podium, DugZa will try to achieve success away from his partner in crime, Floss. After three consecutive failures in previous years, this might be his best attempt to date to finally break the curse and at least advance from the group stage. Previous circuit champion, with an overall respectable 23-14, an impressive 11-5 in SM, and a lot of friendly faces and support from the Zoroarks, this might finally be the year that DugZa plays in a MPL playoffs. With him having not played the tier regularly for a full season since MPL 6, there are some question marks if he can go back to his ribbon-getting form, but only time will tell.

Avatar

4. Gondra - Honchkrows (3.71)

In the previous MPL, Gondra surprised everyone by signing up to play only BW, and despite having an excellent 7-1, it wasn't enough to carry Thunders to victory; this year, he returns to his comfort zone of SM. Boasting an amazing overall record of 24-9 and an even more jaw-dropping 11-3 in SM, Gondra is expected to replicate last year's successful record, with the support of Isza this time around. Moreover, the last time he played the tier in an MPL was back in MPL VI, when the same support from Isza translated into a strong 7-1 record. With the same support by his side, the Honchkrows will be hoping to repeat history four years later.

Avatar

5. Toadow - Meloettas (4.29)

Returning from a very mediocre 3-3 record last year, we have the French representative and current circuit champion Toadow, who decided to take a break from SV and try his luck on SM in an attempt to improve his numbers, which, unfortunately, are not very appealing. With an uninteresting overall of 27-29 and a disappointing 7-10 in SM, we expect the current generation champion to take the most out of Floss and Cielau's support in an attempt to tally both records to the positive side of the sheet. Not to mention he first made a name for himself way back when with his SM prowess, so things aren't totally hopeless for Toadow; besides, his fifth-place ranking doesn't really reflect badly on his skill but rather hints at how competitive the rest of the pool is. Nonetheless, Toadow will have to pull some upsets to help Meloettas to their first MPL win, all which having the classic French luck by his side.

Avatar

6. QWILY - Tinkatons (5.29)

Our sixth place belongs to QWILY, who has solidified themselves as a SM mainer in Monotype team tournaments at this point. On the Wakes' last year, QWILY ended the tour with a good 5-4 record, which helped their case to improve their overall of 19-21 and SM record of 15-13 a little bit. Granted, last year they had a lot of support, and it is not expected to be different in Tinkatons; this time, he has even better support in Chaitanya, one of the more successful players in SM, so things are looking bright for the German. All that said, it all relies on the Tinkatons' Discord not self-immolating before the tour ends, given the questionable assortment of players with conflicting personalities.

Avatar

7. Mateeus - Braves (6.00)

Sadly, the player quality now takes a massive dive down compared to the previous six, courtesy of our favorite Staravia lover Mateeus sitting at the seventh place. In last year's Meloettas debut, he finished the tour with one of his best records in 4-4… and when a 4-4 record is one of your best records, the red flags start to rise. If we proceed to take a look at the 19-29 overall and at the 12-18 SM, the red flags are now up and swinging. If the Braves want to have any shot at winning the tour, Mat will have to get the gears going and start showing off that he learned at least something over all these years of Monotype and Staravia yapping.

Avatar

8. LuckyPiper - Treeckos (6.57)

Last, and indeed least, we have Treeckos manager and anime lover LuckyPiper! In MPL IX, he and his buddy Crashy ended up in the shitstorm that was the Drilburs team, and, to the surprise of many, he proceeded to reach an amazing record of 3-1 while playing SM (yes, we are considering 3-1 “amazing” to his standards). But maybe we are being too harsh, because his numbers aren't THAT bad, boasting a 22-20 overall and a somewhat good 14-8 in SM, proving that luck is also at his side, since it is unlikely that his positive record is a reward of pure skill. But jokes aside, if Treeckos want to have any shot at being successful in this tournament, they will need their manager to deliver something, and despite being at the bottom of the barrel in our rankings, Luckypiper is indeed capable of upsetting anyone in this pool and come up with a great result, provided a couple things happen, like the planets aligning or something of the sort.

MPL oras RANKINGS
Avatar

1. Dj Breloominati♬ - Zoroarks (1.86)

You don't often see someone going from being benched for someone like Sylvi of all people to being ranked #1 above the likes of Chaitanya in a pool too often within a period of one year, but this is the case for Dj Breloominati♬ (who I will refer to as Spitfire moving forward). After being bought for just 3.5k in MPL IX and starting as a substitute, he surprised everyone after he put up a dominant 7-1 record in the tier last year. He currently sits on top of the all-time Monotype records based on Wilson scoring with a solid 22-5 record and an even more impressive 9-1 record in ORAS. Not to mention, he yet again finds himself surrounded by (mostly) familiar faces on the Zoroarks aka Wakes 2.0, so with support similar to last year as well as his long-time friend DugZa tagging along this time, the prospects look bright for Spitfire to replicate his success from last year. While some may attribute most of his success to rolling the right matchups more often than not—and while there may be some truth to it—Spitfire is back to prove the haters wrong and rid them of any doubt they may have regarding his abilities.

Avatar

2. fade - Honchkrows (2.00)

Having spent more time hating on the tier in recent years, it was ironic to see fade signup for MPL this time given he skipped MWP as well. Nonetheless, his long-time friend Isza was quick to secure him for a staggering 20k during the draft, which shocked many. Now, fade finds himself ranked second in ORAS. Despite being known as one of the best ORAS OU players today, his ORAS Monotype experience is fairly limited given he is best known for his SS successes within the Monotype community. The last time he was a full-time starter in ORAS, he had Isza support too, but he finished the tour with a 2-4 record. Moreover, he had a below-average 3-6 record last MPL, and this year didn't start off too well for him either, as he went 3-6 in SPL; it is hard to say if he's in the right mindset and how well he'd do this time around. Nonetheless, he is widely recognized as a skilled player on account of feats such as a stellar 8-0 record in MWP IV or all the success he's had in officials in the past. If he can recreate the magic from MWP IV again, then things are looking bright for the Honchkrows starter; given the usual skill level he is known for, it isn't hard to expect him to replicate such a record once again.

Avatar

3. Chaitanya - Tinkatons (2.29)

How the mighty have fallen.... having been touted as one of the best players the tier has ever seen, even ranking above the likes of 1 True Lycan and Trichotomy in their prime, Chaitanya now finds himself ranked third in a rather average ORAS pool. This is mostly due to his recent team tour showings being lackluster compared to his usual standards, often going neutral or close to neutral; this isn't even bad per se but rather hints at the high caliber of player he is if people think going neutral is uncharacteristic of him. While Chaitanya isn't particularly known for his ORAS prowess, he is still recognized as an influential player and a creative builder, often supporting players like Finchinator and Star, who had great success in the tier with his support; he also had a successful showing in ORAS in MPL VI, when he put up a stellar 7-1 record playing Bo3. If he can give us a glimpse of his peak form, then it is not farfetched to say that he can dominate this pool.

Avatar

4. Splash - Thunders (3.57)

Long-time ORAS enthusiast and Thunders manager finds himself in the middle of the pack. Splash is yet to have his breakout tour in Monotype, having consistently put up very average neutral or close to neutral records for years on end, and it is hard to say if that would change this time around. However, it is safe to say he is one of the most experienced players in the tier and is known to be one of the few people who actively build this tier in this pool, which could play into his advantage in the builder. He also has his co-manager maroon for support this time, which could prove to be pivotal if they work well together; however, if their different personalities would clash in the builder is yet to be seen. Fortunately for the Thunders, there are no SPL or SCL drafts scheduled for the duration of this tour, or they would've been in risk of losing their manager if he went undrafted in them.

Avatar

5. Jojo8868 - Braves (4.71)

Following a strong MLT performance way back when, Jojo8868 quickly became noticed as a newcomer with potential to be one of the best players in the tier; however, that MLT showing was all we ever saw from him.... he is more known for being a Brawl Stars mainer nowadays, as he has consistently put up below average, negative records year after year; his 5th place ranking is not a testament of his skills but rather a display of how weak the rest of the pool is. After locking himself into ORAS last year in an attempt to price fix, Jojo found himself stuck playing ORAS for most of the tour, more than he would've liked, and walked away with a 1-3 record ridden with misplays and throws throughout despite having some of the best support backing him. Similarly, he finds himself bound to the ORAS slot on the Braves yet again this year, and to make matters worse, it's hard to say if he'll have even half of the amazing support cast he had last year; the future is looking bleak for Jojo.

Avatar

6. drizzle - Meloettas (5.43)

Drizzle has dabbled with Monotype for years now, but most of his playing has been limited to average showings in BLT and some circuit tours here and there; however, this year he turned over a new leaf in his Monotype career, as he won the SM Cup not too long ago and is making his debut MPL showing as a result. SM is widely considered to be the best generation of Monotype, so winning the SM Cup is nothing to scoff at, but.... he finds himself starting in ORAS rather than SM in this tour, which is odd given his manager, who's occupying the SM slot, has had more success in ORAS and vice versa. He did have a decent run in the ORAS Cup, making it to the semifinals, but that still pales in comparison to his SM Cup win, so maybe the Meloettas managers know something we don't. Drizzle was completely off the map before he won the SM Cup, so there is very little we know about Drizzle's experience as a player let alone his ORAS Monotype experience. Perhaps, he will prove to be a flexible player and easily adapt to the new surroundings in ORAS with support from his manager and have a successful run, but there are too many question marks right now to have total faith in his abilities to succeed.

Avatar

7. Quinn - Treeckos (5.71)

Quinn made his MPL debut last year starting in SS, but it didn't go as well as he would've liked, as he put up a terrible 0-5 record. He had a more successful showing in MWP soon after, going 4-2, but that was in LC, which doesn't say much. Now, he finds himself in ORAS, another tier he has no recorded games on the sheet. However, this time he teams with a long-time friend and manager crashy, who is known for his ORAS expertise and will be able to support Quinn throughout the tour. If Quinn can capitalize on this great support and make the most out of it to amend what went wrong last year is yet to be seen. Based on what we know so far, though, we have little reason to believe that Quinn can be on par with most of the pool, so the expectations are low for the Treecko.

Avatar

8. twinkay - Gengars (6.43)

Seeing twinkay in 8th place is shocking to many, including me, the writer, given he has had more success in the tier than some of the names above him. That said, it's not hard to understand why the rankers think otherwise; he sits at a record of 2-10 on the overall Monotype sheet currently, which is abysmal, to say the least. Adding on to this, his only success in the tier comes from the most recent ORASPL, which most players in the community are not very well aware of. His ORASPL run was fairly impressive nonetheless, going 5-1, which included a tiebreak win against tier leader Floss and a finals win against the #1 ranked player in the pool, Dj Breloominati♬. Moreover, he also has support from Attribute this time, so if he can show us a glimpse of his ORASPL performance rather than what we've seen in previous iterations of MPL, then he could very well make a mockery out of this ranking if things pan out well for him.

MPL bw RANKINGS
Avatar

1. Sabella - Honchkrows (1.86)

After being robbed of the #1 ranking the last two years by SoulWind and Attribute, Sabella claims his #1 spot back this year with both of those players no longer in the BW pool. Sabella is a name synonymous with Monotype; he has played in every single Monotype team tour to this date starting from MPL 1 and has had successful showings more often than not. He sits on top of the overall Monotype sheets for the number of wins and games played—more specifically, he also has the best BW record at 34-19. It is hard to ever expect Sabella to do badly in BW; he's usually the first name you would think of when you see BW Monotype. Despite being known for spamming the same boring Psychic team or the Parasect Bug team among others, Sabella took it upon himself to add a new Electric team his collection last year. However, he did show a glimpse of weakness last year as he started off going 0-4, but he was still able to recover it into a respectable 4-5 by the end of the tour; however, a negative record is still uncharacteristic of him. With good teams and even better piloting, expect a strong record from Sabella yet again!

Avatar

2. crashy - Treeckos (2.29)

crashy is another name that has been going hand in hand with BW Monotype in recent years. After trying his hand at different tiers last MPL and things going not so well with a 2-5 record, crashy migrated back into the BW pool this year, where it is unlikely that last year's history repeats itself. He has a respectable 14-8 record on the overall sheet and is a largely unpredictable player in the builder. He is known to bring a breath of fresh air to the tier with his out-of-the-box ideas and creative building such as experimenting with less popular types like Rock, which most other BW players wouldn't even dare to think of. Back with his usual partner in crime, LuckyPiper, and some regular faces from MPL VI, or the "circus" as some would call it, there is hardly any reason to believe crashy won't put up another successful campaign this MPL.

Avatar

3. North - Tinkatons (2.57)

Being one of the only two retains of this MPL, North is back in BW. Like Sabella, North is one of the oldest faces in BW Monotype who has consistently done well in the tier throughout the years. After a long hiatus since MPL VI, North made a return last MPL and proved why he was still a force to be reckoned with. He sits at second, just below Sabella, for the most BW wins at 31 and also holds the best BW record ever in Monotype team tours. All this to say that North's dominance in the generation is one of the best the tier has ever seen. His building might not be as creative as the two above, but the standard teams and types have proven to get the job done just right for him regardless. As long as he doesn't refuse to take an activity win in a deciding game and cost his team playoffs again, North will be able to live up to the high expectations set on him.

Avatar

4. Meta - Gengars (2.86)

Meta is not a name you often expect to see in a BW player pool; as a newer player, one would expect him to be more assimilated to more modern tiers, but they would be wrong, as his BW skills are up there with the best. Having dabbled with BW in the previous two MPLs, going 4-3 and 4-0, and making the finals of the BW Cup last year, it is evident that his BW knowledge is on a respectable level. However, his self-sufficiency is a question mark, as he is not known for being a flashy builder in the tier; that said, with one of the best BW minds in Attribute to support him, self-sufficiency should not be much of a concern, as long as he can pilot the teams provided successfully. On a good day, he can comfortably take down the players above him as he has shown to do in the past two years, so expectations are high for MR7.

Avatar

5. ikiarihS - Zoroarks (4.57)

Shiraiki, who recently reverted to ikiarihS—I hate myself for knowing him to spell it out without having to look—finds himself in the middle of the pack in this BW pool. He is most certainly not someone you would expect to see in a BW pool, as he has considerably more success in SV and SS, but at the same time, he also has considerably worse performances in those tiers, such as his recent 2-7 showing in MWP V. His channel will most likely be plagued with more 2-7 jokes than actual prep. That's not to say he has nothing going for him in BW; he first made a name for himself by winning the BW Cup last year in a rather unexpected fashion, edging out Meta in the finals. Whether he knows the mechanics of the tier thoroughly is a question yet to be answered, but worst case he clicks a Dark move against a Steel-type assuming neutral damage, which would still be better than some of his plays from the 2-7 campaign! Jokes aside, on a good day he can compete with the best of the best as evidenced by his 7-2 record last MPL, so the Zoroarks will be hoping to see more "good days" than his MWP days this season.

Avatar

6. Gelbel3c - Meloettas (5.57)

Gelbel3c surprised many last MPL when he was drafted to start BW for the Meloettas. While he did put up a mediocre 3-5 record, when you're a newer 3k player that no one has heard of starting in a pool with the likes of SoulWind, Sabella and Attribute staring down at you, being able to walk away with three wins is a respectable task, especially when some of those wins are against the top dogs of the pool while mostly playing decent games. That said, 3-5 is still not the most convincing record as proven by the low 6th place ranking given to him by the rankers. Now, back with the experience of one full season playing the tier, Gelbel3c will be able to learn from his mistakes and hope to put up a more impressive showing this time around; especially with the pool looking weaker than last year, things are looking hopeful for our French starter in their sophomore MPL run.

Avatar

7. Feaniix - Braves (6.00)

Feaniix makes an appearance in MPL for the first time this season. A German player who regularly finds himself playing BW tiers across most team tours, he knows the generation inside out. Unfortunately for him, knowing the generation well doesn't necessarily mean you're good at it, as he is known to put up consistently middling and below-average records in most BW tiers, so it is hard to say if this tour will be any different given he doesn't even have the experience factor going for him this time. To add insult to injury, the Braves don't have any dedicated or reliable BW builders to provide the support he needs, so he might find himself out of the race before it even begins. For the Braves' sake, I hope they can figure something between the managers to get him up to speed regarding the tier; otherwise, it's looking like a long season for Braves' BW slot this tour.

Avatar

8. tier - Thunders (6.29)

tier, a rather eccentric personality; if you were to judge him solely based on how he talks and acts you would assume he's the new ABR but if you were to look at the actual records, they tell a completely different story. He is more known for yapping nowadays than for actual results; in fact, after reading this writeup, he will likely come into the Monotype Discord and start arguing about the power rankings! Anyway, he played two games last MPL and despite going 1-1, the games were bad enough for him to be benched immediately and never see the light of day for the rest of the tour. Sitting at a below-average 3-6 on the overall Monotype sheet, it's hard to expect much from tier this tour. While he had some success in recent times such as getting drafted in SCL, we are yet to see any actual results from him before we can rank him higher as a player. If his managers can provide the necessary support with teams, then perhaps he can surprise everyone, but even then this slot is likely star crossed for the Thunders this season.

Overall Team Rankings

Rankings
Graphics by style.css | Team logos by Blazenix, Masskeau, DAHLI, Jolly Togekiss ^-^, style.css, Dharma, and Arya | HTML by Lumari, Quite Quiet, ant, and Spy | Script by Toast++.
« Previous Article Next Article »