1. What surprised you the most from these stats?
The continued decline of Zapdos-G. I think a lot of people are egregiously underestimating the offensive pressure that Thunderous Kick can put on opposing teams once Ghost types and Intimidate users have been taken care of. I'd like to also point out that Zapdos-G gets access to Throat Chop, which is an extra way to deal with weakened ghosts. In addition to this, STAB Fighting / Flying-type coverage is impeccable and nails key threats in the metagame. I think people are seeing its average 100 base speed and underestimating its potential. Please, look into this mon more.
2. Among the mons with increased usage, which ones do you believe will continue to see an increase in usage?
Garchomp, easily. This Pokemon has so many fantastic qualities that make it unpredictable and extremely splashable onto many different team archetypes. Need something that can punish physical attackers while setting up hazards and hitting hard back? Garchomp time. Want a physical attacker who both hard counter Regieleki while also running mixed Fire Blast to yeet Ferrothorn? Time for Garchomp. Need a solid set-up sweeper with great STAB moves and solid coverage? Garchomp. I predict Garchomp will break into the top 10, or at least reach as high as 12 in usage.
3. Among the mons with decreased usage, which ones do you believe will continue to see a decrease in usage?
Regieleki, this Pokemon has not acclimated well to the Ground heavy metagame, especially with Landorus-T's prominence as the #1 choice and Garchomp's continued rise to fame. STAB Electric with Normal-type coverage is just not cutting it in a metagame absolutely dominated by both Ground and Ghost types. While its double screens set and access to Rapid Spin still give it a usable niche in OU, the metagame will continue to adapt to it even better.
4. What mons do you think are underrated and may see higher usage in the future?
Zapdos-G for the reasons that I mentioned above. Easily the most underrated Pokemon right now.
5. What mons do you think are overrated and may see less usage in the future?
Pheromosa. Now, I know people might bite my head off here, but I think the only reason that people are so freaked out by this Pokemon right now is because of the Quiver Dance set discovery still being relatively new. There are many options to handle it, and while I still think it will always be S or A+ ranked, I don't think it will stay as high as it is forever. In the top 10? Most likely, but not where it's at currently.
6. How do you feel about the most common offensive mons in the tier, and how do they impact the tier?
I feel as though right now the tier is what Gen 7's OU metagame should have been. The removal of Z-moves as an offensive option was nothing but a blessing for so many different types of strategies and opened up a lot of room for experimentation, and (my favorite thing in all of Pokemon) using lower-tiered Pokemon in OU.
7. How do you feel about the most common defensive mons in the tier, and what are some common defensive cores you see?
I honestly have no opinion on this.
8. How do you feel about team building? Does it feel like there are too many things to cover, or are there certain mons that restrict building?
I feel that Ghost-type offense as a whole (not just Spectrier) including the necessity for Ghost or Dark coverage places a strain on teams, but that it will acclimate in time.
9. What are your favorite mons to use in OU right now?
Honestly, a lot of non-OU Pokemon such as Stonjourner, Audino, Hatterene, Shiftry and Torkoal. If we're specifically talking about OU Pokemon however, I would say that Melmetal, Zapdos-G, Urshifu-SS, and Heatran are my current favorites to use!
10. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the day :)
You too :)
The continued decline of Zapdos-G. I think a lot of people are egregiously underestimating the offensive pressure that Thunderous Kick can put on opposing teams once Ghost types and Intimidate users have been taken care of. I'd like to also point out that Zapdos-G gets access to Throat Chop, which is an extra way to deal with weakened ghosts. In addition to this, STAB Fighting / Flying-type coverage is impeccable and nails key threats in the metagame. I think people are seeing its average 100 base speed and underestimating its potential. Please, look into this mon more.
2. Among the mons with increased usage, which ones do you believe will continue to see an increase in usage?
Garchomp, easily. This Pokemon has so many fantastic qualities that make it unpredictable and extremely splashable onto many different team archetypes. Need something that can punish physical attackers while setting up hazards and hitting hard back? Garchomp time. Want a physical attacker who both hard counter Regieleki while also running mixed Fire Blast to yeet Ferrothorn? Time for Garchomp. Need a solid set-up sweeper with great STAB moves and solid coverage? Garchomp. I predict Garchomp will break into the top 10, or at least reach as high as 12 in usage.
3. Among the mons with decreased usage, which ones do you believe will continue to see a decrease in usage?
Regieleki, this Pokemon has not acclimated well to the Ground heavy metagame, especially with Landorus-T's prominence as the #1 choice and Garchomp's continued rise to fame. STAB Electric with Normal-type coverage is just not cutting it in a metagame absolutely dominated by both Ground and Ghost types. While its double screens set and access to Rapid Spin still give it a usable niche in OU, the metagame will continue to adapt to it even better.
4. What mons do you think are underrated and may see higher usage in the future?
Zapdos-G for the reasons that I mentioned above. Easily the most underrated Pokemon right now.
5. What mons do you think are overrated and may see less usage in the future?
Pheromosa. Now, I know people might bite my head off here, but I think the only reason that people are so freaked out by this Pokemon right now is because of the Quiver Dance set discovery still being relatively new. There are many options to handle it, and while I still think it will always be S or A+ ranked, I don't think it will stay as high as it is forever. In the top 10? Most likely, but not where it's at currently.
6. How do you feel about the most common offensive mons in the tier, and how do they impact the tier?
I feel as though right now the tier is what Gen 7's OU metagame should have been. The removal of Z-moves as an offensive option was nothing but a blessing for so many different types of strategies and opened up a lot of room for experimentation, and (my favorite thing in all of Pokemon) using lower-tiered Pokemon in OU.
7. How do you feel about the most common defensive mons in the tier, and what are some common defensive cores you see?
I honestly have no opinion on this.
8. How do you feel about team building? Does it feel like there are too many things to cover, or are there certain mons that restrict building?
I feel that Ghost-type offense as a whole (not just Spectrier) including the necessity for Ghost or Dark coverage places a strain on teams, but that it will acclimate in time.
9. What are your favorite mons to use in OU right now?
Honestly, a lot of non-OU Pokemon such as Stonjourner, Audino, Hatterene, Shiftry and Torkoal. If we're specifically talking about OU Pokemon however, I would say that Melmetal, Zapdos-G, Urshifu-SS, and Heatran are my current favorites to use!
10. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the day :)
You too :)