Hello everyone, Ace here, and this is my first time bringing to you a VR update! A lot of things have happened since the last slate. Ponyta has been banned about a month ago, which has caused a big change in the meta. Also, LPL is now over. There was some tough competition with many new and returning players, and it was very fun to play in and to watch! Also, congratulations to
Actuarily for being the Doubles LC MVP of the tournament!
Aside of all the fun and games, LPL also gave us a first idea of what the meta now looks like, without Ponyta. This is going to be a long one, as we have a whooping 36 rises and drops to discuss. Disclaimer, there will be many mentions of Ponyta, so I hope it won't feel too repetitive. Anyway, let's just jump right into it!
RISES
Rufflet (t2 to t1) - Since it was suspected more than two months ago, Rufflet has continued proving itself as one of the strongest physical attackers in the metagame. With Ponyta being banned, Rufflet became even stronger, since it's one less threat that outspeeds it, and it doesn't have to worry about crippling burns anymore. The Ponyta ban is leading to meta changes that make place for other Rufflet checks such as Chinchou or Pawniard, but Rufflet is still arguably the best offensive Pokemon in the tier currently, and makes it to Tier 1.
Foongus (t2 to t1) - Foongus has always had its place among the top Pokemon in the tier, whether it be for redirection support or for checking/abusing Trick Room. With one of its main threats, Ponyta, out of the tier, Foongus has a much easier time redirecting attacks, since it has to worry about one less fast, super-effective coverage that would negate its redirection attempt. This, coupled with its great bulk and Spore, is what pushes Foongus to Tier 1.
Gastly (t3 to t2) - Gastly, sitting at 18 speed, really appreciates to no longer have to worry about the best Pokemon in the tier outspeeding it and threatening to OHKO it anymore. With the Ponyta ban, it has been able to better showcase its many perks, such as its strong special attacks, great coverage, spread attack options to ignore redirection and Fake Out immunity. With its ability to threaten many of the current best Pokemon in the tier, such as Mienfoo, Rufflet, Grookey and Spritzee, it comes back to Tier 2.
Abra (t3 to t2) - Abra benefits from the Ponyta ban about the same way as Gastly does. Not having to worry about speed ties with Ponyta is nice, and it also boasts a Fake Out immunity on its own with Inner Focus. The great offensive pressure it brings, as well as its ability to threaten the ever-present Fighting types and some rising stars, like the aforementioned Gastly and Foongus, pushes it back into Tier 2.
Pawniard (t3 to t2) - With the rise of both Abra and Gastly, Pawniard's rise back to Tier 2 is natural, as it is arguably the best check to both. That's not the only reason, though. Pawniard isn't threatened by Ponyta's burns and strong super-effective attacks anymore, and the increasing competition Mienfoo faces with Scraggy benefits it even further, since it can abuse the latter's Intimidate with Defiant. Soft-checking Rufflet and having a good matchup against Trick Room is an added bonus.
Grookey (t3 to t2) - Even though Grookey partnered well with Ponyta, it is still one of Grookey's main checks gone. Grookey's Grassy Glide threatens the still common Water types in the tier, as well as Abra. Grookey is also currently the best check to Mudbray, especially Scarf Mudbray which has considerably increased in popularity. It also retains its good support capacity with Fake Out, Knock Off, Taunt, and activating Grassy Seeds, and makes it to Tier 2.
Elekid (t5 to t3) - Buried deep in Tier 5 in the last VR, Elekid's increase in popularity originally came from its ability to outspeed both Ponyta and Staryu and its fast speed control with Electroweb. It also is a good option against Flying types like Rufflet and boasts an immunity to Foongus' Spore. Its many qualities push Elekid to Tier 3.
Chinchou (t4 to t3) - Originally outclassed by Staryu as a Water type for its better matchup against Ponyta, Chinchou is much more comfortable in the current meta. It is still one of the best checks to Rufflet, since it resists Brave Bird and isn't weak to Close Combat. It also beats opposing Water types like Staryu and walls fellow Electric type Magnemite with Volt Absorb. With the combination of offensive and defensive utility it provides, Chinchou makes it back to Tier 3.
Archen (t4 to t3) - Archen, while being more frail than fellow birds Rufflet and Vullaby, has the advantage of beating both by resisting their Brave Birds with its Rock typing and threatening them with strong spread STAB in Rock Slide. It can also run an all-out attacker set with Head Smash and Acrobatics, hitting extremely hard. With Koffing and Intimidate available to help with not getting Defeatist active, it moves up to Tier 3 as a strong offensive presence with access to speed control in Tailwind.
Cottonee (t4 to t3) - Cottonee has been on a steady decline for a while now, but with Ponyta now gone, it now has more freedom to use its priority support moves without constantly being threatened to be OHKOed by it. While it lacks offensive presence with its lackluster 37 base Special Attack, it can pride itself in being the fastest Tailwind setter in the tier as well as having other support options such as Knock Off, Taunt and Encore. While its Prankster is not always effective, due to it not affecting Dark types and being neutralized by Koffing, it's still a major tool for the many Pokemon that can benefit from priority speed control, such as Mudbray. Therefore, Cottonee rises back to Tier 3.
Salandit (t5 to t4) - Salandit is a good candidate to replace Ponyta as an offensive Fire type. With its good speed and strong STAB and spread moves in Sludge Bomb/Sludge Wave and Heat Wave as well as access to Nasty Plot, it can take advantage of teams that are underprepared for fire types. It also has good support options, being the fastest Fake Out and Will-O-Wisp user currently on the VR. Therefore, it earns its place in Tier 4.
Lileep (t5 to t4) - One of Lileep's niches is the access to Storm Drain, which allows it take advantage of opposing Water-type moves and protect its teammate. While this niche was more useful when Ponyta was around, the meta changes caused by its ban has also been good news for Lileep. With Rufflet, Abra and Gastly on the rise, offensive Fighting type checks have been more prevalent than ever, which Lileep greatly appreciates, as they can keep it safe. Lileep is also immune to Foongus' Spore, and if running Suction Cups, is also immune to phazing, which allows it to make use of its setup options in Swords Dance and Stockpile safely. With two different bulky sets in physical setup and special Storm Drain, Lileep climbs to Tier 4.
Solosis (t5 to t4) - Solosis's lower bulk and worse defensive typing makes it less of a reliable Trick Room setter than others like Porygon and Spritzee. However, Solosis distinguishes itself from the other Trick Room setters with its strong offensive presence and its ability to beat arguably the best Trick Room check, Foongus, with its ability Overcoat and strong Psychic STAB. It also has access to Psychic Terrain, which blocks priority like Fake Out that could be used to stall out Trick Room, and Expanding Force, making it arguably the best Psychic Terrain setter and abuser. It therefore goes up to Tier 4, just behind Spritzee and at the same level as Frillish.
DROPS
Vullaby (t2 to t3) - Vullaby has seen better days. Overshadowed by Rufflet and Archen as an offensive Flying type, its bulkier set is often overly passive, and with it often forgoing Protect, it is an easy target for many super-effective attacks from the likes of Chinchou, Elekid and Spritzee. It still has great utility, with Overcoat making it very good against Foongus, and options to run other sets as well. However, it is no longer the meta-defining force it was a few months ago, and thus drops to Tier 3.
Staryu (t2 to t3) - With the ban of Ponyta, Staryu loses its main purpose, which was to threaten Ponyta. Staryu is still a good option in the current metagame, with good offensive presence and great coverage options. However, the rise of the Grass types Foongus and Grookey as well as Chinchou, it isn't as strong as it was before, and drops to Tier 3.
Spritzee (t2 to t3) - Trick Room as an archetype isn't at its best state right now. The Ponyta ban has led to the rise of Foongus, Gastly and Pawniard, all of which are naturally good against Trick Room teams in general, and especially against Spritzee. Aroma Veil Trick Room being Spritzee's main asset, Spritzee is now less valuable to teams and drops to Tier 3.
Frillish (t3 to t4) - Frillish suffers from the same problem Spritzee does with the rise of Pawniard and Gastly, which both heavily threaten it and give a hard time to Trick Room teams in general. Frillish also loses its good matchup against Ponyta, and thus drops to Tier 4.
Omanyte (t3 to t4) - Since Grookey got more popular, Omanyte has been on a slow but steady decline. The rise of Staryu didn't help its case, and now with Ponyta banned, Omanyte has lost one of its main targets. Omanyte is still the best Shell Smash sweeper in the tier, but just like other Water types like Staryu, the current meta isn't doing it favors, so it drops to Tier 4.
Dewpider (t3 to t4) - Another Water type that drops after the Ponyta ban. The loss of Ponyta and the gain of popularity of Rufflet, Archen and Gastly have made Sticky Webs less impactful. With Dewpider being very weak to the birds and also losing its good matchup against Ponyta, it drops to Tier 4.
Woobat (t3 to t4) - With people being more used to handle Groobat shenanigans, Woobat hasn't seen a lot of usage in the last LPL. Strong special attackers such as Gastly and Magnemite, Taunt, phazing and more could have contributed to this, but Woobat hasn't seen much success lately, and thus drops to Tier 4.
Drifloon (t4 to t5) - While being an LC Ubers Pokemon in singles, one would expect it to be at least decently good in LC Doubles, where it is not banned. Unfortunately, it is completely the opposite. With its meager attacking stats and pool bulk, especially when not running Eviolite to be able to activate Unburden, Drifloon has trouble doing more significant things than setting Tailwind and firing off Will-O-Wisps. Perhaps with Ponyta gone, Drifloon's fast Will-o-Wisp will be more relevant, but right now, it has yet to prove itself, and drops to Tier 5.
Riolu (from t4 to t5) - Riolu initially rose to Tier 4 as its access to priority Coaching and other support options such as Follow Me or Quick Guard, sounded promising. However, this strategy hasn't proven itself to be effective yet, and Riolu remains frail and boasts poor offensive presence compared to the other Fighting types in the tier due to its shallow offensive movepool. Its Prankster neutralized by Koffing is also very undesirable. Riolu still has its niche as a Prankster weather setter, with it often being on sun teams and rain teams. This niche does not make Riolu good enough for Tier 4, however, so it drops to Tier 5.
Croagunk (t4 to t5) - Croagunk rose to Tier 4 because of its supposed ability to check opposing Fighting types it competes with, Mienfoo and Scraggy, but in the end, ends up being completely outclassed by them. It doesn't have the offensive presence of Mienfoo, nor does it have the Intimidate support of Scraggy. Furthermore, a weakness to Mudbray is something a Fighting type would really prefer not having in this meta. Therefore, Croagunk goes back to Tier 5.
Shellos (t4 to t5) - Shellos is just too passive for the metagame right now. It no longer serves as a wall against Ponyta, and the redirection of Water-type moves with Storm Drain is less useful with Ponyta gone as well. Shellos also dislikes the increase of usage of Grass types like Grookey, Electric types like Chinchou or Elekid, and Taunt on the likes of Mienfoo or Koffing. In return, Shellos is pretty underwhelming offensively compared to others in Tier 4 like Frillish or Dewpider, and therefore drops to Tier 5.
Farfetch'd-Galar (t5 to UR) - Farfetch'd-Galar, in principle, should be in competition with fellow Fighting types Mienfoo and Scraggy, with access to Brave Bird and an immunity to Intimidate with Scrappy being its main advantages. However, this isn't the case, as Farfetch'd is definitely outclassed by Mienfoo, due to its lower speed and to not having access to nearly as many support options, most notably Fake Out. Instead, Farfetch'd could have a niche in being a Scarf Final Gambit Pokemon, to remove an opposing Pokemon in one hit. This strategy, however, has yet to show its viability and utility in Doubles LC. Therefore, for now, Farfetch'd-Galar will fall into Unranked category.
Diglett (t5 to UR) - Diglett is very weak and frail for a doubles standard, and with Ponyta gone, it loses its main target. Not having a strong single-target Ground STAB doesn't help it either, since it will hit like wet tissue most of the time. Using Diglett is hard to justify over stronger Ground type Mudbray or better trapper Gothita, and therefore goes Unranked.
Carvanha (t5 to UR) - Carvanha also loses a high-tier target in Ponyta, but it already had other problems to begin with. Its extreme frailty doesn't allow it to take a single hit, and it doesn't have enough power to OHKO most of the targets that aren't weak to its STABs. Grookey's presence in the tier doesn't help it either, and Trick Room completely destroys Speed Boost, its reason to be. Therefore Carvanha gets Unranked.
Cufant (t5 to UR) - With the evolution of Trick Room in Doubles LC, experience has shown that Trick Room seems to be the most effective on semi-Trick Room teams rather than full Trick Room teams. In that regard, strong but vulnerable Trick Room attackers like Cufant are much less easy to fit on teams, and are generally outclassed by Pokemon that are more flexible, whether it is with more bulk like Porygon and Mudbray, or being a Trick Room setter as well like Solosis. A pure Trick Room wallbreaker like Cufant needs too much team support to work well, and Trick Room being less good in general right now doesn't help. Thus, Cufant falls to Unranked.
Aron (t5 to UR) - For similar reasons as for Cufant, Aron has a hard time finding a slot on Trick Room teams. It needs a lot of support to be effective, and it usually isn't worth the effort. Trick Room has also seen better days and it is the only place you could consider using Aron on. Therefore, Aron falls into Unranked.
Onix (t5 to UR) - Onix has also seen an abrupt fall from grace. While it was considered a good Pokemon that could neutralize Ponyta and Flying types like Rufflet and Vullaby handily, its major flaws now catch up to him, to the point of dropping off the VR. Its poor base Attack stat of 45 really shows when it is also very susceptible to Intimidate, making it hit like wet tissue. It is outclassed as a Ground type by Mudbray, which boasts more than double its Attack stat, as well as an immunity to both Intimidate and Fake Out. Onix is also outclassed by Tyrunt as a Dragon Dance Rock-type sweeper, as its severe weakness to the very common Water and Grass types really hurts it. All those reasons combined make Onix very hard to justify on a team, and therefore drops to Unranked.
Natu (t5 to UR) - Access to both Reflect and Light Screen as well as Ally Switch is what got Natu ranked originally. However, with few setup sweepers, screens aren't that useful, and Natu being threatened by many faster threats like Staryu and Gastly make them difficult to set up. Natu doesn't have much going for it aside from that, and therefore goes Unranked.
NEW ADDITIONS
Litten (ranked into t4) - With Ponyta banned, Litten isn't as outclassed as a Fire type anymore. It has access to Intimidate and Will-o-Wisp, which makes it a good option against the many physical attackers in the tier. It also has other support options, such as Fake Out and Parting Shot. Coming in from UR, it is placed into Tier 4, for now.
Oddish (ranked into t5) - With manual sun having proven itself far from unviable, especially with Flash Fire Ponyta gone, Oddish makes its entrance onto the VR at Tier 5 as an alternative to Bulbasaur on sun teams. It faces competition with Bulbasaur as the main sun abuser, since Oddish doesn't have access to Weather Ball. However, many sun teams already have Fire-type coverage, and Oddish is slightly stronger and has access to Moonblast, which covers and could surprise an opposing Fighting type like Scraggy. Aside from this difference, Oddish is just as effective as Bulbasaur as a sun sweeper.
Charmander (ranked into t5) - Similarly to Oddish, Charmander is also a new sun abuser that enters the VR from the first time. With Solar Power and thus very strong Fire-type attacks such as spread Heat Waves and Weather Ball under sun, and with Ponyta out of the picture, Charmander can tear through unprepared teams, justifying its addition to Tier 5.
Helioptile (ranked into t5) - Helioptile is the third and final sun abuser newly added to the VR into Tier 5. With Solar Power, its electric typing and 17 speed, it can be a potent wallbreaker with adequate speed control, which it also has in Electroweb and Glare.
Goldeen (ranked into t5) - Goldeen has a unique niche in the tier, not with its Acupressure shenanigans (lul), but with its ability Lightning Rod, which allows it to redirect Electric-type moves to protect its teammate. Therefore, it makes it a decent check to the rising Electric-type Pokemon like Magnemite and Chinchou, as it also resists their other STABs and can threaten them with Drill Run. These traits allow it to make it to Tier 5.
Duskull (ranked into t5) - Duskull is the final new Pokemon to be ranked for the first time. Its main niche comes with its immunities, being a Trick Room setter immune to Fake Out, and unlike Frillish, it isn't weak to Foongus and boasts an immunity to Ground with Levitate. It also has some good support options, like Will-o-Wisp, Helping Hand, and Ally Switch. However, it is more passive than the other Trick Room setters, so it is only a Tier 5 Pokemon for now.
Phew, that must have been a long read. Congrats on making it this far. There sure was a lot of stuff that was covered, so if you have any opinions about the Pokemon discussed above or any other on the VR, feel free to discuss it in this thread! Anyway, thanks for tuning in, as always, and we will have other news for you soon!