4v4 Doubles UU - Regulation F Meta Predictions
Given Regulation F UU is imminent, and we're only waiting for usage to make a banlist, I'll share some predictions I have for some Pokemon's roles in the meta.
Disclaimer: This is independent of whether or not some borderline Pokemon like Chi-Yu or Archaludon drop, they may have an effect on these but I won't be highlighting anything that primarily works as a check to them.
Also, none of this is ordered in any particular way.
Thundy. This is going to be a good support. It can slow down opponents, weaken special attackers, hit with decent damage, and block Psyspam and sleep. It's also possible to combine it with Enamorus to boost it thanks to Contrary, but tiering councilors have stated their intent to ban Enamorus, so this isn't that relevant. Though, Brute Bonnet feels like a natural opponent, and running Safety Goggles gives up Covert Cloak, making it vulnerable to Fake Out and Sneasler's Dire Claw.
Tyranitar is pretty insane, even if it's missed the spotlight in recent games. It's bulky as hell, and while it struggles against Fighting types, it can rely on partners or run a Tera type like Flying to flip that matchup. It's also a great partner for Garchomp, who stupidly becomes able to dodge 20% of attacks as long as the sandstorm goes on. Landorus-Therian, Iron Boulder, Ogerpon-Cornerstone, and Excadrill are other sand users to look out for.
I think Sneasler might end up being one of the best Pokemon in the whole format. Unburden is a broken ability, Dire Claw flips games, and it's strong enough to do a lot of damage with Close Combat. It's not complicated, you know why Sneasler is good. It'll definitely be a staple on Psyspam teams.
Brute Bonnet is barely worse than Amoonguss, and it's going to be legal in this format. That'll certainly set off alarm bells, given how Amoonguss is really good even in restricted formats. This will be an amazing support for a lot of threats, and will double as a partner and counter to Trick Room strategies. Though, like Reg J, it'll have to be playing without a good sun setter, which means it'll be using no ability for the most part.
Volcarona is the best setup sweeper in VGC, because it boosts the 3 most important stats all at once. I feel like with proper support, it'll be impossible to defeat, especially with a partner healing it or with Giga Drain. However, it's very vulnerable to Tyranitar and Ogerpon-Cornerstone, and can get overwhelmed by special damage before it can boost up. It will also be instantly crippled by a Dire Claw status condition.
Every hero has its villain. Heatran is just not something you want to see if you're a Volcarona. Heat Wave? Bug Buzz? Giga Drain? If you're not using Tera Water Tera Blast, good luck. Volcarona aside, though, Heatran is good defensively into a lot of things. It takes Tyranitar's moves pretty well while hitting it with Flash Cannon, and something like Sneasler can be mind gamed with Tera Fairy sets baiting out a Close Combat. Its natural bulk also lets it take a lot of neutral hits, especially with Assault Vest.
Finally, a good intimidator. For context, Reg H was so starved that we started using Torracat. Landorus is not only an intimidator, but a sand partner and a check to Brute Bonnet, with U-turn dealing quadrupled damage and it being able to run Taunt to ruin Spore. I think it'll be a staple defensive Pokemon of the format, with Safety Goggles sets allowing it to fully ignore Bonnet, Assault Vest sets being able to stomach strong attacks from things like a boosted Volcarona, and Choice Band sets giving it a nice offensive edge.
Bundle will be one of the best speed controls in the format, being able to hit the stupid speed stat of 309. Icy Wind is good, and Freeze-Dry means Tera Water Landorus are still taking a lot of damage from it. It does have to run Hydro Pump for Water stab which sucks for it, but it's not really aiming to be an attacker so much as a turbo fast speed control piece.
I'm surprised this is UU, but Tornadus is that dominant in Reg F, I suppose. Whimsicott will do what Whimsicott does. It's a Tailwind setter, but depending on the team it can run Light Screen, Taunt, or a myriad of other options. Focus Sash sets can outspeed and Taunt a Thundurus, which can be extremely annoying for them to deal with if their game plan requires it to fire off a move like Rain Dance or Electric Terrain. Moonblast is also deceptively strong, with its high base power, STAB, and good offensive typing.
Psyspam good. Expanding force imprison protect trick room. Yum. Don't run Dark types please.
This thing has like 30 roles. It's a mixed attacker, but also has a wide support movepool, and you could run something like a Focus Sash to keep it alive, Booster Energy to make it one of the fastest things in the format, or Life Orb to give it explosive damage. It works on Psyspam teams, it works as a Tyranitar partner to deal with Fighting types and Coach it to the moon, and it works as a Weezing partner since it's not using its ability anyway, but I'm getting ahead of myself with the last one. This robot is good!
Tealpon is legal but not worth mentioning. But Cornerstone Ogerpon is great. It's actually banned from Regulation J UU, funnily enough. Sturdy is amazing, and it's a natural member on Sand teams and works nicely on HO teams that've already exhausted their Focus Sash and need that extra bit of leeway from a Sturdy redirector. Tera Rock Ivy Cudgel also does numbers,
especially if it crits.
Bulky Tailwind setter with a good Psyspam matchup. Iron Valiant is a problem, but with Tera Poison you can force an annoying 50/50 where they have to use Expanding Force if they want to hit you, but if you don't Tera they won't hit you anyway. Also, Booster Speed sets won't be one hitting you with Moonblast, it'll only be an OHKO with Life Orb or Choice Specs. Even then, with decent HP invest, you can turn Life Orb into a roll, and with a lot of bulk you can live it outright. Valiant aside, Moltres can also ramp up well with Berserker using a Leftovers set and support from a redirector like Ogerpon-Cornerstone.
Most of the Pokemon I've mentioned so far are good primarily thanks to their abilities, and Weezing turns them off. Inherently, that makes it pretty good. The issue is it has poor special bulk, and is scared of Psyspam. Even without terrain, it's paying a pretty big price if it just lets Indeedee smack it with a raw Expanding Force. Also, it's very passive and can invite a setup sweeper like Volcarona who doesn't really need Flame Body to do its job. Regardless, I think Weezing will always have a role to blindside ability-reliant Pokemon. Regigigas also works as a partner that isn't Slaking, meaning it is slightly less useless if Weezing leaves the field.
Garchomp is finally in a format where it isn't either banned or thoroughly useless. While it faces competition from Landorus-Therian, its speed tier and access to Sand Veil means it will definitely have uses on teams that require a faster Life Orb attacker compared to Landorus-Therian's more generally defensive profile. And if that 20% dodge ever happens during a key moment, it can win you a game or a set on the spot. I think it'll prove itself.
Smeargle is legal, and yes, people have tested Muk Smeargle. Thankfully, Moody is contentious and potential ban material, and in truth, Muk just sucks here. Evasion moves are banned, meaning if you just Taunt the Smeargle or use spread attacks, you've won. Brute Bonnet is also allowed, meaaning Smeargle is just outclassed as a Spore Redirector. Bonnet is bulkier, stronger, and immune to Prankster. It's simply better.
Nice bulky attacker that has a decent typing. It's pitiful against Psyspam, but Tera and Assault Vest can help. It also competes with Sneasler as a physical Poison/Fighting type, but due to being slow and bulky I don't think they actually compete all that much. Upper Hand will also be annoying for anything looking to use priority. Non-Cloak Thunduri beware.
Probably the only good Trick Room setter in the format. It has unlimited bulk and Lunar Blessing. Feels like it'll be a good partner for Lando and Garchomp to EQ spam with as well.
Allegedly this was good enough to get banned during Reg D UU. I don't care. Iron Valiant forever. Slow bald Expanding Force-less loser.
Gardevoir
Gallade
Chandelure
Conkeldurr
Murkrow
:)
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- I and a few others picked up that the meta was incredibly weak to Bisharp, too focused on the powerful Ghost-types and Torracat. Safe to say we were right with how all of them made top 8, and Bisharp achieved a disgusting 70% winrate. I can confirm it was very instrumental in my run when paired with Coaching Sneasel and Tailwind Scyther support, for a funny triple NFE core. All of the sets were interestingly different, I ran up a Life Orb 3 attacks variant to guarantee the OHKO onto Basculegion and after Coaching, Primarina. gephicka used Eviolite alongside Decorate Smeargle, which let Bisharp cover Brambleghast more effectively. Leila on the other hand dropped Protect and ran a Swords Dance Eviolite Bisharp, dropping the set up support mine and gephicka's had. 
- Most Kommo-o we have seen at an event and...I'm a bit dissapointed? For something once compared to Primarina, Kommo-o had poor performances and I never got the chance to face one. I personally think that Kommo-o's tera hogging has grown easy to play around, and speed control has greatly improved with Talonflame and Basculegion crowding the meta, You'll notice that half of the Kommo straightup droppoed ClangSoul since it felt specific and required a bit of babysitting
