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Metagame Linked (OMotM) (Survey in Post #119)

Ok as a mid-ladder scrub, heres my not as relevant opinion:

Assurance is fine, it feels unwallable at times, but so does a lot of the meta. Generally its either priority to kill the Assurance user or sack and switch in a counter to whatever mon is using it.

Belly Drum is a non-issue. Taking 50% of your HP willingly when the meta is running dual attacks just makes Belly Drum not really that good tbh. Every Belly Drum user I run into dies before they get the chance to deal any meaningful damage.

Dragapult is probably the big threat in the meta. DD+Darts, Darts+Assurance, Will-O/T-Wave+Hex, Draco+U-Turn, or even just a basic Shadow Ball + Dragon Pulse/Darts. All viable options that makes Dragapult one of the hardest mons to read and counter. Still loses to things like Sucker Punch and Fairy types have a good time against it, so I wouldn't really say its "broken", but definitely S or S- tier viability.

Electric Terrain really cant thrive without being linked. It is far too slow to be viable, which is fine. I don't mind it staying restricted as it is far too overpowered when unrestricted.

Endeavor is just dumb. Any non-ghost type just dies on the spot. It's not fun, nor fair. Get it out of here.

Heat Rock really isn't a problem when Sunny Day has the same problem as Electric Terrain. Sun is just too slow to get going now, and doesn't have as much use as it used to. Which is good because Growth + Solar Beam/Blade was insane, and needed to get nerfed in some way.

Hoopa-Unbound is absolutely completely unwallable, when its not dying to a single U-turn from any single mon in the meta. This thing is just far too frail to get things done. Against bulky fat teams it thrives and wipes them out effortlessly, but nobody is really running fat. Everyone is running hyper offense double attacks screens/webs, so Hoopa just drops dead the moment a strong attacker hits the field with U-turn.

Iron Moth I would rope in with Dragapult as just a super good S/S- tier mon. Acid Spray + Fiery Dance is really good, but gets HARD countered by Heatran, and still doesn't appreciate things like Goodra-Hisui. It has similar issues to Hoopa with its physical bulk being sub-optimal so things like Kingambit sucker punch and any Aqua Jet user can just run it over. Even Fake Out+Grassy Glide Rillaboom does solid damage.

Light Clay really isn't a big deal. In a meta this offensive there are times where screens cant even save you. Some Linked combos still kill through screens due to how potent this meta can be. I don't really see it as a problem.

Why is Quick Claw allowed in the first place? Its just RNG fishing. Fought an entire team of slow Quick Claw users it was unbearable. Should've been banned from Day 1.

Zamazenta does steamroll physical attackers true, but when faced with any ghost type, Zamazenta has to choose between attack damage for crunch, or defensive ID+Press damage, and if it chooses one it loses to something else. Plus when this thing goes against webs it faces a MULTITUDE of extra issues like Special Valiant, Iron Moth, Enamorus, and the Latis, while being terrified of Flame Body burn from Moltres. A good mon but not close to banworthy imo.
 
Double-posting but not really, it's been 12 hours, but I wanted to showcase a few attackers I've been loving on ladder.
:ogerpon-cornerstone: Ogerpon-Cornerstone (F) @ Cornerstone Mask
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Focus Energy
- Ivy Cudgel
- Superpower / Horn Leech
- Knock Off / Horn Leech

Focus Energy + Ivy Cudgel as mentioned by someone else is a 100% crit rate. This is really useful for bypassing screens and Zamazenta ID boosts to just deal heavy damage with no way to stop it. I choose Cornerstone specifically because Ivy Cudgel hits Dragapult for neutral damage while still OHKOing Iron Moth. Superpower hits steel types like Kingambit and Treads, while Knock Off hits Gholdengo and general item removal, but can run Horn Leech for 2nd STAB over one of the 2 coverage moves.
:Conkeldurr: Conkeldurr @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Facade
- Knock Off
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch

Guts Conk in Trick Room is REALLY strong. The big difference between Conk and stuff like Ursaluna is access to priority Mach Punch. 252+ Guts Mach Punch absolutely tears through Kingambit before it can even think about Iron Head Assurance, and is fantastic for revenge killing. Facade + Knock guarantees that one big hit is going off, as any ghost type just melts in the face of Knock Off. Great TR attacker.
:Goodra-Hisui: Goodra-Hisui @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Knock Off
- Dragon Tail
- Heavy Slam
- Draco Meteor

The most annoying thing I've ever made. When paired with a good wish passer this thing will make your opponent want to pull their hair out. Just click the funny phasing move and dont stop unless a Fairy comes along, then its Heavy Slam time. Great Tusk swapped in? No he didn't get outta here. Zamazenta swapped in? NOPE, Gholdengo take it or leave it. Hazards aren't even required to make this work. Just swap it into a frail special attacker, take 15% from a special attack, and click the funny move, although hazards make this WAY more effective. Draco Meteor is a cool surprise button since you wont need that Special Attack anyways. I've had people just forfeit the moment this thing starts messing with them.
:Skeledirge: Skeledirge @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Bold Nature
- Flame Charge
- Torch Song
- Shadow Ball
- Slack Off

Fiery Snowball. If they dont have Heatran this thing can easily just swap into a physical setup sweeper, and start snowballing. 176 Speed allows you to outspeed Dragapult at +2, and Kingambit at +0. If this thing gets to +2, its pretty much over, pack it up.

:Moltres: Moltres @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- U-turn
- Flamethrower
- Scorching Sands

Great physical sponge. come in, take a hit, phish for burn, roost and bye bye. Basically acts as a better Regenerator. I have punished my fair share of physical attackers with Moltres, completely shuts down Weavile, Physical/Mixed Valiant, Tusk, and Rillaboom.
 
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