All. RIGHT!
Season 1 has just begun!
The meta so far seems pretty fun!
Gogoat-Mega @ Gogoatite
Ability: Sand Rush
Type: Grass
Stats:
HP: 123
Atk: 130 (+30)
Def: 77(+15)
SpA: 112 (+15)
SpD: 106 (+25)
Spe: 83 (+15)
New Moves: High Horsepower
Flavor: Motorbike motif + Goats are normally found in rough, off road terrains
Overview: Sandslash is the only other sand rusher in the meta so far, which means sand based teams are looking pretty ragged. Enter: Gogoat! With a synergistic typing, great stats, and an amazing movepool including setup (in bulk up), recovery and numerous coverage options that compliment it's primary stab (Superpower, Earthquake/the new High Horsepower if you're using this in grassy terrain or VGC, Rock Slide, Wild Charge, heck surf might even see some usage!), I have no doubt that this will be a viable mega
especially considering it's part of the only 3 for now ;). It's a pretty amazing rain check for sand teams too. It can be used outside of sand too, if you're fine with losing your ability slot.
To try and show that this isn't overwhelming, I'll be going over it's checks and counters now:
Skarmory is the hardest counter possible, with all 3 of it's secondary moves (Iron Defense, Toxic, Roar/Whirlwind) being able to neuter it in some way. It also walls all non-wild charge variants, and even those need a couple boosts to break. It's also a nuisance for the sand setters.
Ferrothorn (aka defensive backbone of the tier) can check non-fighting variants, and if it chooses to run toxic, it can also neuter sweep attempts. Also can deal with the sand setters.
Chesnaught can check most variants of gogoat, can also run toxic, and taunt can also shut down setup attempts and deny it recovery. It can also set hazards on it (Giving chesnaught more of a niche is cool). Great against sand setters too. Remember that synthesis is weakened in sand, however.
Amoonguss is a good check, toxic variants do its thing and clear smog can deny setup attempts. Can also spore gogoat's teammates.
Moltres walls any non-rock or electric coverage variants, can hit it with super effective stabs, and also can apply statuses such as toxic or burns from flame body. Watch out for ttar though!
Zapdos walls any non-rock coverage variants (as long as you don't let it boost up too much), can status it with paralysis as well as toxic, hit it with se stabs (Hurricane doesn't lose accuracy in sand, only in sun). You do have to watch out for ttar here though.
Rotom-Heat is an interesting check, though not the sturdiest. Walls any variant without SE coverage (or superpower tbh).
Opposing mega gogoat can pretty handily check itself, though bulk up wars can be kinda tiresome.
And these don't include offensive checks yet. (Sidenote speed tier was chosen so that it's still outsped by thing such as nidoking or rotom outside of sand)
Generally the thing that limits gogoat the most is 4mss and susceptibility to status conditions, especially toxic. Stats can always be buffed or nerfed as needed.
Pyorar-Mega @ Pyrite
Ability: Echo - When this pokemon uses a sound move, it will switch out after using the move.
Stats:
HP 86
ATK 78 (+10)
DEF 112 (+40)
SPA 129 (+20)
SPD 91 (+25)
SPE 111 (+5)
New Moves: Burning Jealousy
Flavor: Lion go Roar
Overview: Echo allows for some really cool interactions. Hyper voice is the most apparent of the bunch, being transformed into a 90 BP pivoting move with good neutral coverage. Noble Roar weakens the opponent's moves so the switch-in can take the hits better.
Hmmm I wonder where we've seen this before...? Echoed Voice looks like a fun (albeit unviable) gimmick, and Snarl is gonna be it's main niche in VGC, most likely set is Heat Wave, HVoice, Snarl, Protect I think (which Burning Jealousy was mainly added for, though to be honest I'm perfectly alright with the most being removed if it's considered extra). However, the most interesting (and fun) interaction has got to be roar.
Roar is guaranteed momentum, swapping the opponent's pokemon and then letting pyroar swap out, which is a unique and dangerous tool. One must rely on prediction however, as roar leaves pyroar open to damage or distruption such as taunt. It's added bulk somewhat mitigates the risk, also allowing it to temporarily check certain threats such as weavile, though without investment it isn't nearly as impressive, and without it's speed (which is capable of outspeeding base 110s such as gengar), it can't make use of Parting Shot Noble Roar as effectively, and opponents it would normally outspeed, such as Garchomp, become threats to it. Granted, slow pivoting is a notoriously good, tool, so it's not all bad.
The most obvious balancing act is the stealth rock weakness alongside the lack of recovery. To fully abuse it's unique toolkit, one must be able to keep hazards off the field, as even 1 layer of spikes really cut down it's time. An aggressive playstyle & prediction is also necessary to maximize Pyroar's impact on the battle. It has some sturdy counters as well, such as pretty much any rock type (most notably TTar which can pursuit it) and Chandelure, though it can run coverage for each of these (Dark Pulse and Iron Tail, though if you want to stay fully special HP Fighting is also an option). For Heatran in M4A OU, HP Ground is usable, which also hits both the former counters in kalos dex,albeit not as hard. Other HPs such as Ice can be used, which hits Chomp and Gliscor (and Lando in M4A OU).
All in all, a really fun sub to play with, and I believe one of my best so far.
Mega Clawitzer
Mega Pyroar-F
