Old Mon BST/Ability Change Discussion

[Martin]

Got some sample sets and other stuff here:

Mega Beedrill

Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD/ 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Poison Jab
- Drill Run / Knock Off
- Pursuit / Knock Off

• Benefits from the speed on turn 1, allowing it to run 2 coverage/utility options
• Beyond this, does standard pivoting stuff from gen 6

Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fell Stinger / Swords Dance
- Poison Jab
- U-turn / X-Scissor
- Drill Run / Knock Off

• Benefits from Fell Stinger buff giving it a 100 BP Fell Stinger after the boost from STAB+Adaptability
• Pretty solid late-game cleaner if it can get to +2, having a blazing 145 speed stat and a powerful +2 Adaptability Poison Jab

Sample core

Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fell Stinger / Swords Dance
- Poison Jab
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Dugtrio @ Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 27 HP
- Earthquake
- Reversal
- Screech / Toxic
- Memento

Dugtrio

Dugtrio @ Focus Sash
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 27 HP
- Earthquake
- Reversal
- Screech
- Memento / Stealth Rock / Toxic / Aerial Ace

• Same thing as standard in gen 6 with a higher attack stat
• Screech beats Chansey etc., Aerial Ace nails Mega Heracross for a 2HKO and stops you being as much of a Sub bait for it while outright beating them if they SD (252 Atk Dugtrio Aerial Ace vs. 248 HP / 24 Def Mega Heracross: 192-228 (52.8 - 62.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO) and also beats Breloom if your sash is up/if it uses Bullet Seed (252 Atk Dugtrio Aerial Ace vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Breloom: 264-312 (101.1 - 119.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO)

Dugtrio @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Aerial Ace
- Sucker Punch / Aerial Ace
- Pursuit / Memento / Aerial Ace

• Higher firepower, namely OHKOing Tar without busting your sash (252 Atk Life Orb Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Tyranitar: 328-385 (96.1 - 112.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock) and preventing Hera from Subbing up at all (252 Atk Life Orb Dugtrio Aerial Ace vs. 248 HP / 24 Def Mega Heracross: 250-296 (68.8 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (prevents Sub with SR); 252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Aerial Ace vs. 248 HP / 24 Def Mega Heracross: 288-340 (79.3 - 93.6%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
  
• Lots of attacking options beat different things:
  • SEdge traps pre-boost Volcarona
  • Sucker Punch gives it priority
  • Pursuit traps Gengar and Latios
  • Aerial Ace nails Heracross and Breloom
  • Memento aids setup

Mantine

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Roost
- Toxic / Air Slash / Ice Beam / Hidden Power Electric
- Defog / Toxic / Hidden Power Electric

• lol so fat
• lol scald immunity
• lol roost
  
• lol so many viable alternative EV spreads
• HNNNNG
  
• ALL HAIL

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: some speed benchmark, some bulk benchmark and the rest in SpA
Some Nature
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
- Air Slash / Scald

• Baits stuff like Curse Gastro and HP Electric Mantine with Toxic
  
• Stalls out between Sub and Roost
• ALL HAIL

Pelipper

Pelipper @ Damp Rock / Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Toxic / U-turn
- Hurricane / Scald

• Rain setter
• Water/Fly
• Worse than Mantine on teams which have no use for Drizzle

THE BEST TEAM EVER!!!!11 (jk it will probably suck, but it looks hella fun regardless)

Pelipper @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Toxic / Scald
- U-turn
- Hurricane

Politoed @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Encore
- Toxic
- Rest

Kingdra @ Normallum-Z
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Splash
- Waterfall
- Outrage
- Hydro Pump

Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Low Kick / Swords Dance

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast

Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Low Kick / Power-Up Punch / Superpower

Pelipper @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: some speed benchmark, some bulk benchmark and the rest in SpA
Some Nature
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
- Hurricane

• Subs+Roosts to stall out SEdges
• Baits out stuff like Mantine with Toxic

Pelipper @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 200 HP / 252 SpA / 56 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Hurricane
- Hidden Power Electric
- U-turn / Scald

• 95 SpA+Choice Specs+Drizzle+Hurricane/Hydro Pump hurts
• HNNNNNNG (252+ SpA Choice Specs Pelipper Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mew in Rain: 357-420 (88.3 - 103.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock)

Also, things which benefit from new things:

Moltres

Moltres @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Toxic / Wisp
- Roost
- Fire Blast / Hurricane

• Not 2HKOed by Tapu Bulu's CB Wood Hammer (252+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Moltres in Grassy Terrain: 132-155 (41.1 - 48.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO <-- what the fuck Game Freak)
• Stalls out Stone Edges with Pressure+Sub
• Uses Toxic/Wisp on shit

Moltres @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 156 Def / 104 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic / U-turn
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
- Flamethrower / Hurricane

• Defensive fires are cool
• A better Bulu resist
• ALL HAIL OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR MOLTRES

Moltres @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- U-turn

• The rain fire, benefits from Pelipper buff
• Specs Hurricane is power
• Fire Blast dents rain headaches like Ferrothorn

Volcarona

Volcarona @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 24 Spe
Timid Nature
- U-turn
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
- Flamethrower / Fiery Dance

• Fills same role as defensive Moltres on different teams
• Another Bulu stop

Volcarona @ Lum Berry / Passho Berry
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain / Hidden Power Ground

• 

I'm bored now. Bye!

 

[Divine Retribution]

As for classic Dugtrio, I couldn't agree more with the previous posts. With more Fairies joining the fray, Dugtrio will have its big break trapping their counters. Dugtrio + Tapu Lele seems to be a really great core. Dugtrio can trap things like Bisharp, Klefki, and Magnezone while Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain shields it from Sucker Punch and Klefki's shenanigans.

I'm thinking about a core like this;

Magearna @ Life Orb
Modest - Soul Heart
212 Sp. Atk, 252 HP, 44 Speed
-Fleur Cannon
-Ice Beam
-Flash Cannon
-Volt Switch

Dugtrio @ Focus Sash
Hasty - Arena Trap
255 Attack, 255 Speed
IVs: 21 HP, 0 Defence, 0 Sp. Def
-Earthquake
-Reversal
-Screech
-Toxic

Magearna makes a great lure for Steels and Fires that Dugtrio can easily trap and remove, paving the way for either Magearna or even another teammate (CM Clefable, Mega Altaria, Mega Scizor, etc.) to sweep. Volt Switch on Magearna is what, I think, will really allow this core to put in work. You can scout for incoming Heatrans and Magnezones, which Dugtrio can then make short work of. Other than that, Fleur Cannon is a strong STAB attack, Ice Beam hits Landorus-T and Gliscor switch-ins, and Flash Cannon offers a secondary STAB with no drawbacks.​

 

[bludz]

Dugtrio is also gonna be able to help revenge kill mons like Tapu Lele. I mean the thing is an absolute monster, and unlike Hoopa-U (which I think is a fair comparison in terms of Specs sets, though we will see), it's not as vulnerable to Pursuit. This means it could be potentially getting kills almost every time it gets free switches from VoltTurn

Oh yeah also its hardest counters that I can think of - Jirachi and Mega Metagross - are beaten by Dugtrio

 

[Martin]

Oh yeah also its hardest counters that I can think of - Jirachi and Mega Metagross - are beaten by Dugtrio

I have found an even better one:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Bronzong: 91-108 (26.9 - 31.9%) -- 1.3% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock
0 Atk Bronzong Gyro Ball (70 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tapu Lele: 174-206 (50.5 - 59.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock (assumes max modest Tapu)

edit: FUCK forgot to adjust HP. I meant to calc 0 HP/max spe Lele

Ability: Levitate

ALL HAIL

Jesus Christ I'm hammering this meme into the ground

 

[carlucio7]

Inner Focus will be good for suicune in vgc 2018 as it will be able to use tailwind turn 1 without worrying about fake out or rock slide flinches.

 

[DistantGoat]

Like I've said I don't even know how many times so far, Gengar is still arguably the best offensive Ghost type in the metagame unless either Aegislash is unbanned or Marshadow stays in OU, neither of which I think are likely. Ghost is an amazing offensive type, so that alone is going to give him a huge niche on offensive teams. Variants like SubDisable and Hex are probably going to be more or less irrelevant now, but offensive variants like 3 attacks are going to be just fine. Bear in mind that most Earthquake users already have a way of smashing him flat on the switch (Outrage, Knock Off, Stone Edge, etc.) so it's not exactly like prediction wasn't a factor to begin with.

I doubt Gengar will leave OU. Losing Levitate hurts but even sans Levitate it's still an amazing Pokemon.

I'm starting to think Gengar's loss of Levitate came about from his very favorable match-ups with every Guardian Deity in the game. They had to take SOMETHING from him so he doesn't run rampant in VGC. Tapu Bulu, of course, being his prime target. I can still see Gengar getting alot of use this VGC if Tapus are very common as I suspect they will be.

 

[Cobalt314]

I'm starting to think Gengar's loss of Levitate came about from his very favorable match-ups with every Guardian Deity in the game. They had to take SOMETHING from him so he doesn't run rampant in VGC. Tapu Bulu, of course, being his prime target. I can still see Gengar getting alot of use this VGC if Tapus are very common as I suspect they will be.

Actually, Gengar has an even better matchup against the Tapus without Levitate, because he also gets the boosts of the terrain they set up.

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Actually, Gengar has an even better matchup against the Tapus without Levitate, because he also gets the boosts of the terrain they set up.

I'm pretty sure floating mons aren't benefited by terrain.
EDIT: I just realized that you wrote "without" instead of "with". Oops.

 

[DistantGoat]

Actually, Gengar has an even better matchup against the Tapus without Levitate, because he also gets the boosts of the terrain they set up.

Very true. It allows him to benefit from all the nifty terrain buffs, but I think more importantly to Gamefreak, it gives an extra rather common counter with ground type, especially how generously eq is spread around through TM.

Edit: Additionally, none of the terrains boost Gengar's STABs, but admittedly he will benefit from Mist's status immunity, Psychic's priority immunity, and even Grass's EQ weakening. But then again ALOT of pokemon are going to benefit from these.

 

[Gengarzilla]

Say what you like about the terrains but it doesn't change the fact that Cursed Body just doesn't feel like a beneficial tradeoff. It's not a very good ability for a Pokémon who can't take hits all that well. There's not even a second/hidden ability now that Gengar's out of the Levitate club, just that one situational ability. I'd have been ok with, say... Prankster. Hopefully Gen VIII is nicer to my spooky buddy.

Most everything else, I like. The Talonflame nerf is one that I'm welcoming with open arms and I'm pleased to see Masquerain, my favourite Bug/Flying type, get a +40 to its BST.

 

[DistantGoat]

Say what you like about the terrains but it doesn't change the fact that Cursed Body just doesn't feel like a beneficial tradeoff. It's not a very good ability for a Pokémon who can't take hits all that well. There's not even a second/hidden ability now that Gengar's out of the Levitate club, just that one situational ability. I'd have been ok with, say... Prankster. Hopefully Gen VIII is nicer to my spooky buddy.

Most everything else, I like. The Talonflame nerf is one that I'm welcoming with open arms and I'm pleased to see Masquerain, my favourite Bug/Flying type, get a +40 to its BST.

Agreed. I was a Talonflame user last gen, but I knew it was broken. I was always looking for oppurtunities to add Rock Slide to pokemon specifically to deal with him.

I also agree that Prankster would have been a much better ability if they HAD to replace Levitate for whatever reason, and fits flavor-wise as well.

 

[Divine Retribution]

and unlike Hoopa-U (which I think is a fair comparison in terms of Specs sets, though we will see), it's not as vulnerable to Pursuit.

It doesn't take Pursuit that much better than Hoopa-U.

252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Pursuit vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Hoopa Unbound: 127-150 (42 - 49.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Pursuit vs. 4 HP / 0 Tapu Lele: 108-127 (38.2 - 45%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[Stairs Of Learning]

It doesn't take Pursuit that much better than Hoopa-U.

252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Pursuit vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Hoopa Unbound: 127-150 (42 - 49.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Pursuit vs. 4 HP / 0 Tapu Lele: 108-127 (38.2 - 45%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

except tapu lele doesn't have to worry about sucker punch mindgames, the only pursuit trapper that lele have to worry is weavile, since lele can stomatch scarf t-tar attacks unlike hoopa, then again you can slap scarf on lele and spam moonblast coming from 135 base spa. (also weavile can't use knock off until pokebank arrives so that kinda affects his viability a little bit)

 

[Gurkenbrot]

Say what you like about the terrains but it doesn't change the fact that Cursed Body just doesn't feel like a beneficial tradeoff. It's not a very good ability for a Pokémon who can't take hits all that well. There's not even a second/hidden ability now that Gengar's out of the Levitate club, just that one situational ability. I'd have been ok with, say... Prankster. Hopefully Gen VIII is nicer to my spooky buddy.

To be honest, I believe it will still be OU, at least after that marshmallow of doom gets the hammer. While losing the nice ground immunity hurts him a lot, it is still really fast and hurts hard, while having a very spammable STAB. Also, bringing in frail stuff is pretty easy this gen, thanks to slow, bulky U-Turn users like Wishiwashi or Type:Null and thanks to Persian-A and Sylvally, which learn Parting Shot while having a non-shitty speed stat.

 

[NinetyNineNo]

Honestly, Dugtrio is looking to be top tier this gen. Trapping is just too powerful, as Mega Sableye has been so fond of showing us.

 

[bludz]

It doesn't take Pursuit that much better than Hoopa-U.

252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Pursuit vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Hoopa Unbound: 127-150 (42 - 49.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Pursuit vs. 4 HP / 0 Tapu Lele: 108-127 (38.2 - 45%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

That's a fair difference if you ask me, but the main thing is that it has Fairy STAB too which is gonna prevent Pursuit from being an option more often than Hoopa locked itself into Focus Blast

 

[latinoheat]

I think niche UU option is Mantine's ceiling, its frail on the physical side, weak to stealth rock and pretty passive offence wise. Reminds me of Alomomola.

On the other hand I fully expect Dugtrio to get a suspect test in OU, +20 attack is a big deal.

 

[TURBODERP]

I think niche UU option is Mantine's ceiling, its frail on the physical side, weak to stealth rock and pretty passive offence wise. Reminds me of Alomomola.

On the other hand I fully expect Dugtrio to get a suspect test in OU, +20 attack is a big deal.

It's not really that frail on the physical side. You don't invest in SpDef at all for a defensive set, and fully invested 85/70 with a great defensive typing makes you actually respectably physically bulky.

252+ Atk Landorus-T Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 240 Def Mantine: 260-306 (77.8 - 91.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Meteor Mash vs. 252 HP / 240 Def Mantine: 103-122 (30.8 - 36.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 240 Def Mantine: 116-137 (34.7 - 41%) -- 67.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 240 Def Mantine: 103-122 (30.8 - 36.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Mantine is a Volcanion, Keldeo, Mega Charizard Y and non-Electric Special attacker wall. It's gonna see play in OU. Hell, even last gen it saw play as a super, super niche Anti-ZardY/Keldeo thing on passive teams, and that was when it had 20 less base HP and no Roost!

 

[Karxrida]

Calcing for Mega Meta but failing to include Zen Headbutt is a bit disingenuous. Can't do it myself atm but it's safe to assume Mantine is 2HKO'd based on Ice Punch's damage.

 

[Halcyon.]

Calcing for Mega Meta but failing to include Zen Headbutt is a bit disingenuous. Can't do it myself atm but it's safe to assume Mantine is 2HKO'd based on Ice Punch's damage.

It's 2HKOed after Stealth Rock, but not without. No idea why he was calcing without a +Def nature on Mantine...

252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Metagross Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mantine: 166-196 (44.3 - 52.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

However, it's not like Thunder Punch isn't common on Mega Meta so I wouldn't call Mantine a stop to it. It's a situational check at best.

 

[bluegrass]

Choice Band Dugtrio looks a lot more viable this gen with that Atk increase. Frail offensive mons can be OHKO'd by Earthquake now and it also helps him revenge kill weakened stuff like Keldeo

Hide

252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham: 258-304 (98.8 - 116.4%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 234-276 (90.3 - 106.5%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 259-306 (92.8 - 109.6%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO (Tapu Lele)
252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Keldeo: 222-262 (68.7 - 81.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 172 Def Clefable: 214-253 (54.3 - 64.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (Bold set avoids 2HKO though)
252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 16 HP / 8 Def Mega Gardevoir: 288-339 (102.4 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Dugtrio Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 271-319 (42.2 - 49.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (This makes me super sad)

 

[Svartwolf]

While the gengar changes are certainly a nerf, I do kinda like it flavor-wise (now gengar is finally the shadow it was aiming to be) But cursed body is a little too lame.
If they wanted to give a recurring ghost type ability as equally powerful they could give him prankster, or if they wanted to give him a more tame one, Frisk could been also decent, both fit gengar lore-wise (Frisk cause he is kinda a stalker).
I think frisk could be better this gen, because now that everything can run a Z stone, there will be always room for surprise ...

 

[MoonDunes]

With the inevitable terrain wars coming, Gengar losing Levitate might not seem as bad we think. He learns powerful special moves that can take advantage of all the move-boosting terrains (TBolt, Energy Ball, Psychic). Makes him fit well on pretty much any terrain team. I suppose Fairy Terrain isn't great because it blocks WoW, but I doubt we're going to see much of Fairy vs the other 3 terrains IMO

 

[Bombkirby]

Say what you like about the terrains but it doesn't change the fact that Cursed Body just doesn't feel like a beneficial tradeoff. It's not a very good ability for a Pokémon who can't take hits all that well. There's not even a second/hidden ability now that Gengar's out of the Levitate club, just that one situational ability. I'd have been ok with, say... Prankster. Hopefully Gen VIII is nicer to my spooky buddy.

Most everything else, I like. The Talonflame nerf is one that I'm welcoming with open arms and I'm pleased to see Masquerain, my favourite Bug/Flying type, get a +40 to its BST.

I'm surprised anyone is upset over this. Gengar is really really good and always has been really really good. I would understand if something like Farfetch'd got nerfed as that would just be cruel and unusual for a bad Pokemon to become even worse... But giving one of the most dominant staples in the game one more weakness is not that huge of a deal. It's pretty obvious this is intended to be a slight nerf to a powerful Pokemon. Of course his new ability isn't going to be as useful!

After reading through a lot of the threads here I'm kind of shocked at some of the balance suggestions like "I hope Keldeo/Gliscopod get Water Bubble" and I'm extremely curious and even a little afraid about what ever considers to be a "fair" and well made Pokemon.

As it stands I think Gengar will remain a top pick. His levitate was a nice bonus but not the deciding reason why he was used. His speed and power and movepool was the main reason. Many things that should beat him lose to him because of of his stats and versatility. And switching him in on Earthquake was risky anyways since if the opponent chose anything else he would die anyways.

 

[DistantGoat]

With the inevitable terrain wars coming, Gengar losing Levitate might not seem as bad we think. He learns powerful special moves that can take advantage of all the move-boosting terrains (TBolt, Energy Ball, Psychic). Makes him fit well on pretty much any terrain team. I suppose Fairy Terrain isn't great because it blocks WoW, but I doubt we're going to see much of Fairy vs the other 3 terrains IMO

I think misty terrain will be a very popular terrain this VGC. Status immunity will help out alot of aggressive strategies and neuter alot of opposing strategies. Keep your eye on Tapu Fini, I see it having quite a presence this VGC.