The Week In Review
As the first week Perfect Galar has really been fully playable complete with client support, it's been a time of lots of play and building, especially with the recent roomtour considered. The following is a bit of a recap of what's been used and what should be used.
Commonly Used Pokemon
One of the most common sights in this first stretch of the format's lifespan, Melmetal is absolutely a force to be reckoned with. It may be weaker and frailer than in vanilla but even then it can still do solid damage with its STAB Double Iron Bash and coverage, and more importantly its huge speed increase makes it a whole new type of threat, one that can shred numerous bulky cores with the correct coverage.
Regi cores are a thing now, carried by Regigigas becoming one of the best breakers in the format after its Slow Start elapses and it can spam the improved Crush Grip and oodles of other coverage with impunity. Its two most common partners seem to be Registeel and Regieleki, the former being a sturdy wall with various utility choices from Stealth Rock to Knock Off to Thunder Wave while the latter can hit hard and quickly pivot around anything that isn't a Ground type not weak to Superpower. I've also seen and used Regidrago and Regirock, but those are a little more rare/niche.
Yet another commonly used modified Pokemon except unlike the previous two cases this one doesn't seem all there. I dunno, whenever I or anyone else uses it it doesn't seem to get very far even with its slightly improved bulk and Calm Mind access.
These three are as sturdy and used as ever. Not much to say except no more WishPort jank on Clefable.
There seems to be a fair amount of Zapdos-Galar hype thus far, but honestly I think it's gonna fall off once people begin to realize that Urshifu is still lowkey broken.
Does typical Liberace things. Probably gonna have to be nerfed once people learn to use it optimally but for now we can pretend it's balanced I think maybe.
See Cinderace
Underrated/Unused Threats
I'm like the only person who has really used this Pokemon thus far and I don't get why. It's done wonders for me as a late-game cleaner with an Iron Defense Body Press set that can comb through so much Toxapex not-withstanding, as well as check Urshifu.
Only used by me and Squawkerz so far, but what has been seen seems extremely promising. Even with it no longer being capable of snowballing with Grim Neigh, Specs Astral Barrage is just an absurd nuke that forces things like Drapion to run Special Defense to not get blown away.
Where did all the Tyranitar usage go?????? It's in the best spot it's ever been with everything new that works for it (Dynamax and Pursuit returning namely). Use it, please!
Two physical attackers I have yet to see anybody try out. I'm sure they ain't bad, just that nobody's taken the time to test them out.
This thing is actually fucking stupid as hell, Talonflame on god damn krokodil seriously priority Shell Side Arm and Focus Blast is so lethal it's not funny
And Now, A Sample Team
Not the best team in the world but it provides a solid mix of fatness and power with the usual ticks. Also takes advantage of Cursola, another good-ass mon I have yet to see anyone else use.
So what do you think? What looks good? What looks bad? What's underrated? What's overrated?