Post Invis VR noms while I've still got mons on the mind
Incineroar: Tier 1 -> Tier 2
Fire type that doesn't resist fairy actually sucks a lot when it's your defensive pivot that you want to be able to switch into attacks. Has to choose between AV/Sitrus/Goggles/Boots and each comes with its own downsides. It still does Incineroar stuff but I think its skillset isn't as valuable in this meta and it is worse at it.
Gholdengo: Tier 2 -> Tier 3
Lando-I and Kingambit stocks are UP which means Gholdengo stocks are DOWN. Incin/Waterpon on every other team is also a pain for Ghold. Doesn't have as much space to set up and isn't as threatening when it does.
Iron Hands: Tier 2 -> Tier 3
Bro is extremely cooked by Incin despite the type advantage. I've only really seen this guy have success on either hard Trick Room or Tailwind hyper offense with a lot of speed investment. Can't switch into Flutter and worthless into Psyspam are also big Ls.
Ogerpon-Wellspring: Tier 2 -> Tier 1
The most splashable Pokemon in the tier aside from Flutter Mane. This fits on every structure and offers are great balance of offensive and defensive utility. Can run a variety of support options and EV spreads to keep opponents guessing and never feels like dead weight.
Archaludon: Tier 3 -> Tier 2
Less sure on this one but I like both the AV and leftovers 3 attack sets. Stamina is a goated ability that allows Archaludon to leverage its great defensive typing into a lot of the physically leaning teams running around the meta. With Rain from Tornadus or Pelipper it can spread lots of damage with Electro Shot boosts. Can work in both Tailwind and Trick Room.
Deoxys-Attack: Tier 3 -> Tier 2
I was a psyspam skeptic but Deo-A is actually Just Insane. Sash is the only real item, boosts from Tera/Chi-Yu/Helping Hand let it reach the damage thresholds it needs. Opponent basically always needs to trade a mon into it unless they are extra prepared with something like AV Metagross or Ting Lu. And even then the Deo player just gets to switch out lmao.
Glimmora: Tier 3 -> Tier 2
Meteor Beam is a HUGE upgrade for Glimm that upgrades its offensive presence immensely. Aside from Meat Beam randomly OHKOing stuff Glimmora should have no business OHKOing, the Special Attack boost really forces opponents to trade into Glimmora when previously it could be more easily ignored and dealt with at a later time. The extra offensive pressure forces physical attackers into setting up tspikes more often now. Also Glimmora is a holy grail of DOU: FAIRY RESIST HOLY SHIT
Ogerpon-Hearthflame: Tier 3 -> Tier 4
Literally why would I use this over Tier 1 Waterpon. Incineroar existing makes this girl really sad. On sun stuff there are a ton of mons that get spots over this (such as waterpon!) so yeah just not really a place for it rn with its poor defensive typing. Waste of a fairy resist smh...
Sinistcha: Tier 3 -> Tier 4
Kinda do nothing mon a lot of the time that is outclassed by lots of other support options. Healing on switch is nice but then you are switching with a slot instead of doing damage with it. Imo raid boss style teams aren't amazing right now and well rounded teams have p easy counterplay built in.
Baxcalibur: Tier 4 -> Tier 3
Big Damage Guy that has a solid matchup into a lot of the Waterpon balance compositions going around. Its stuck into Clear Amulet now which means it can't use Icicle Spear which is honestly fine imo. I've liked both 3 attack and SD with Ice Shard + Glaive Rush. The defense buff with snow still makes Bax a scary setup threat but I don't think the mon is limited to that style of team.
Dragonite: Tier 4 -> Tier 3
Early meta = CB Tera Normal Espeed good. Honestly could be higher as lots of teams can't handle either Tera Normal Espeed or CB Outrage but I'm kinda hedging that it comes back down to a lower level with more development.
Iron Bundle: Tier 4 -> Tier 5
Just not specially bulky enough for this meta and it needs to invest way more into its speed than it wants which often makes it easy to ignore. Can still be a nuisance for some compositions but its not very usable right now.
Iron Crown: Tier 4 -> Tier 3
Second best clicker of broken move Expanding Force. Awesome typing with great bulk and really in psyspam mirrors. I've found it needs a damage-boosting item to really get the most out of the mon but Booster Energy or Life Orb are natural fits anyways. Tachyon Cutter is nice for sash mons like Deo-A and Chien-Pao.
Landorus-Incarnate: Tier 4 -> Tier 2
This really should not be this low. Was already rising up in usage/viability in the pre-dlc2 meta but the new additions have really helped it out. Incineroar immediately shooting up to a top usage mon immediately gives Lando-I a use case, but other additions such as Archaludon and Raging Bolt have poor matchups into Lando-I. Lando-I also benefits from Incineroar itself, as Incin generally slows the pace of games down and creates space for Lando-I to set up Substitutes or deal free damage. Additionally the rise of Psyspam gives Lando-I a role as the premier steel-breaker in the metagame which can help out those compositions a lot.
Porygon2: TIer 4 -> Tier 3
Go-to Trick Room setter for consistency while still offering a solid offensive presence. +1 Tera Blasts / Ice Beams do a lot of damage and can't be ignored. One of the most consistent Lando-I checks and a great partner for a ton of Lando-I weak mons such as Archaludon and Kingambit.
Roaring Moon: Tier 4 -> Tier 5
Idk if I've seen one of these be remotely impressive sense the meta has settled down a bit. Outclassed by all the other Dragons and all the other Speed Control options.
Hisuian Arcanine: Tier 5 -> Tier 4
The gentleman's Fire-type Intimidate. Huge massive epic Fairy resist. CB Rockslide does awesome damage and not much can switch in comfortably. (Tbh I have a soft spot for this guy it's maybe still tier 5).
Deoxys Speed: Tier 5 -> Tier 4
I feel like this fits the 2nd definition of a tier 4 perfectly. Deo-S is a great hazard stacker for priority spam teams. It's so fast that you can invest so much in bulk to the point where it can live 2-3 neutral hits while setting Rocks+Spikes or disrupting opponents with Taunt. It has just enough offenses so Psycho Boost can threaten decent damage and frail Pokemon such as Lando-I may be scared to stay in on a potential Ice Beam
Entei: Tier 5 -> Tier 3
FAIRY RESIST INTIMIDATE AND FAKE OUT IMMUNE HUGE. Uhh Sacred Fire is probably a top 10 most busted move in the game. AV Entei can be ev'd to live crazy stuff like Lando-I Earth Power which is epic. Kinda single-handedly revived Chien Pao offensive compositions with its combination of typing and bulk.
Excadrill: Tier 5 -> Tier 4
Only usable on sand but the archetype is pretty solid. FAIRY RESIST ALERT that can often be faster and threaten an OHKO on Flutter is nice.
Kyurem: Tier 5 -> Tier 4
I think I'm less high on this than most but the sheer stats + Snow defense buff make it clearly better than Tier 5. Its 4 for me because I think Bax outclasses it.
Metagross: Tier 5 -> Tier 4
Heavy Slam is a nice buff, to spread damage. Great Coaching recipient. (Fairy Resist!) Works as a soft Flutter Check as Bullet Punch with some damage modifiers (Tera/Pao/Coaching) can threaten Flutters. AV is probably its only real set.
Terrakion: Tier 5 -> Tier 4*
Honestly this might be too low. New tools of Tera and Covert Cloak (and more!) have made Terracott more viable than ever (except maybe dynamax idk i didnt play then). Without a Follow Me user the duo can be an extreme pain to take down, and even then the Terracott user can switch up the formula and flip the matchup. Tier 4 for now because I think it isn't super consistent but has the potential to be a very high-ceiling archetype. IMO the premier matchup fish right now.
Tyranitar: Tier 5 -> Tier 4
Ttar = back. AV is a monster especially with coaching support as it can trade with pretty much every special attacker in the tier. Lower Lando-T and Iron Hands usage + a useful Sand Rush partner in Excadrill.
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All these guys: Tier 5 -> UR
These all feel outclassed significantly by other options or Just Plain Bad.
Mew: UR -> Tier 4
Best (only tbh) Coaching user. Does a lot of the same stuff as earlier in the gen when it was solid but now it gets broken move coaching. The slower meta helps it out as it is less likely to get overwhelmed by offense.
Primarina: UR -> Tier 5
Tapu Fini LARP but the typing is still God-tier. Calm Mind threatens big damage with Moonblast/Hvoice after only a couple boosts and its a great natural partner for other bulky attackers such as Archaludon and Kingambit.
Ting Lu: UR -> Tier 5
Fat bitch that's a bit of a fish but clicking hazard + whirlwind is p nice and its a good safety net vs psyspam. Alternatively going more offensive with AV isn't bad either as long as partners can take care of Rillaboom/Waterpon. Cool Coaching recipient as well.
Suicune: UR -> Tier 5
Bulky water that can sit in front of a lot of stuff. Generally outclassed by other stuff but bulk + typing + Snarl + Roar gives it a niche.