Part Two is here, this is where we step back up and highlight the tools Pooémon have gained that put them on the map as offensive threats in Convergence.
Espeon
Notable Abilities: Speed Boost
Notable Moves: Calm Mind, Protect, Stored Power, Dazzling Gleam, Focus Blast, Lumina Crash, Roost, Morning Sun, Nasty Plot, Substitute, Taunt
Espeon is perhaps THE most powerful set up sweeper in the tier right now, and is one the council is keeping a very keen eye on if we need to pass action on. Espeon acts as Espathra in standard OU but better, sacrificing some physical bulk for extra points in speed and ALOT more power behind it's Attacks. After a single turn of Calm Mind + Speed Boost Espeon can threaten out most Pokémon, and after 2 it starts being able to OHKO any offensive Pokémon that isn't a resist. It is aoften found on Electric Terrain teams where it can run Electric Seed to become bulkier and even more powerful. Make no mistake, every team should be prepared to handle this thing.
Lilligant
Notable Abilities: Contrary, Poison Heal, Protean
Notable Moves: Leaf Storm, U-turn, Earth Power, Surf, Shadow Ball, Healing Wish, Quiver Dance, Sleep Powder, Giga Drain, Stored Power, Energy Ball, Tera Blast
Lilligant is a strong wallbreaker and set up sweeper, chiefly utilizing two very different but equally viable sets to clean up teams relatively quickly. It's first set is Contrary Leaf Storm, which it commonly equipped with Choice Scarf in order to quickly snowball and clean teams after their Grass resists are weakened / taken out. This set has proven to be extremely effective versus the popular offensive builds, but may have slight trouble versus certain variants of stall or a bulkier balance teams who often pack multiple resists to Grass naturally, in addition to many Unaware Pokemon. On the flip side, we have the likes of QD Toxic Orb, which has a much better matchup versus fat due to Stored Power, PH and swapping Tera types on a whim allow it to bust past usual means of checking Contrary Lilligant. Yes, Lilligant is a certified threat in our current metagame and is one both players and council should look out for in the near future.
Slither Wing
Notable Abilities: Guts, Moxie, Protosynthesis
Notable Moves: Close Combat, First Impression, Megahorn, U-turn, Earthquake, Facade, Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Spikes, Morning Sun, Flare Blitz, Will-O-Wisp, Trailblaze, Acrobatics
Slither Wing combines its overall raw power with the splashability of Heracross to form a super powered version of itself. It's main sets of choice usually boil down to SD Guts sets and Scarf Moxie variants, but the classic Banded First Impression sets are also of value. It's extremely hard to find consistent switchins to it's Guts set, often relying on bulky Ghosts to get the job done. Still, it hates how prolific Flying types are and would much rather they disappear before it comes out on the scene. Regardless, if a revengekiller for the likes of Chi Yu, Roaring Moon or Chien Pao is desired, look no further.
Kilowattrel
Notable Abilities: Volt Absorb, Competitive, Wind Rider,
Dancer
Notable Moves: Thunderbolt, Thunder, Revelation Dance, Hurricane, Shadow Ball, Weather Ball, U-turn, Quiver Dance, Nasty Plot, Stored Power, Air Slash, Roost
Kilowattrel's main claim to fame is being the fastest current user of Quiver Dance, which it uses to great effect as a set up sweeper, which it often pairs with Revelation Dance and Tera to be a very unpredictable yet powerful wincon. Usually accompanied by Screens support, Kilowattrel often poses a threat to teams after a single QD, as nothing generally has the ability to revengekill it after it gets to +1. After which it proceeds to clean up a team with it's impressive coverage between it's Dual STAB and the ability to switch it up and gain a potent Tera type to break through counters. It can also run Nasty Plot and be a very strong wallbreaker, a set it commonly runs on Rain teams.
Roaring Moon
Notable Abilities: Hustle, Protosynthesis, Levitate
Notable Moves: Crunch, Jaw Lock, Dragon Dance, Acrobatics, U-turn, Dragon Claw, Earthquake, Roost, Stealth Rock, Taunt, Outrage, Iron Head, Fire Fang
Roaring Moon got a very small amount of buffs from standard play, but it's main buff is access to the Hustle ability, which gives it a huge boost in it's power at the cost of accuracy. This makes Roaring Moon definitely a much more high risk high reward Pokémon, as Choice Band Hustle Crunch is often shown to be able to break past even the strongest of defensive walls, but one untimely miss may prove disaterous for the Roaring Moon user. Of course classic sets like Dragon Dance + Booster Energy are still very popular and largely effective, as is it's infamous Jaw Lock + DDance set, which got a buff in the form of Levitate, allowing it to dodge the ever prevalent Spikes or Toxic Spikes that would otherwise ruin the longevity of a set like that.
Cinderace
Notable Abilities: Libero, Drought
Notable Moves: Pyro Ball, Earthquake, Close Combat, U-turn, Court Change, Extreme Speed, Swords Dance, Belly Drum, Gunk Shot, Sucker Punch, Wild Charge
Cinderace differs from most of it's pure Fire types brethren, where most would use Drought to support it's team, Cinderace is much better off running Drought primarily to crank up it's own power, making Choice Band and even Boots Cinderace a very difficult Pokemon to switch into whenever it switches in. Outside of it's Drought sets, Libero also gained a multitude of useful coverage upgrades and new additions that make Ace more reliable as a breaker, but without question it's greatest Libero addition has to be the likes of Extreme Speed, allowing Ace to be a very consistent revenge killer in the tier thanks to gaining STAB on first turn Extreme Speed. Thanks to E-Speed, Cinderace can use Swords Dance with Libero without sacrificing offensive utility, making it a E-Killer lite situation. This set faves very heavy competition from the Dragon Flying types however, though not requiring to burn your Tera to get the boost is a large benefit. Don't overlook Cinderace, it might just surprise you.
Several other looming threats currently exist in the tier, such as
,
and
, Pokémon who were banned from OU but have been allowed so far in the tier, of course under heavy observation. Classic OU threats like
or
who only got one new move (Brave Bird or Beat Up respectively) are very much still extremely powerful with these singular moves adding to their repertoire. Sun and Rain are still powerful, and many unchanged threats are still doing their do. Thanks to everyone who played in various tours throughout the week allowing me to grab this data to make this post. Good luck and happy battling!