Been playing a TON since the DLC dropped, and this shit is NUTS. Definitely some problems to be addressed but for the most part it's been really fun. Gonna just ramble about stuff I've played with/against thus far that has stuck out (for better or worse). Here goes:
Obviously he's insane. Was borderline unacceptable pre-DLC and with the addition of Scale Shot and Veil support, this thing is a genuine demon. Just snowballs out of control so fast and has legitimately stupid bulk behind veil/in snow (Zama CC doesnt even 2HKO, its ridiculous). And even non-Scale Shot sets get better as a result, just adds another layer of unpredictability into playing against this asshole. Outside of Veil this guy still fucks, definitely not reliant on it but is also by far the biggest abuser. Easily the biggest threat in the tier, and even if veil/light clay goes I don't see that changing at all. Dont need to say more, batshit insane mon.
The other talk of the town, just the best enabler in the tier by far. Veil breaks the tier and sometimes feels actually helpless to play against. I already wasn't a fan of the screens teams that infected the ladder when HOME dropped, but those were nothing compared to current veil imo. Makes shit like Bax, Manaphy, Dnite, or basically anything that can boost unholy. It's speed, bulk (physical and special, snow makes this thing a tank), and great secondary fairy typing make it so much better than the average gimmick playstyle enabler. Veil is OU rn.
Actually love the buffs the fish got. Flip Turn is SUCH a big deal, as it pairs perfectly with its massive bulk and regenerator. It allows Alo to pass CHUNKY ass wishes much easier than it ever could before. Still pretty passive but it definitely finds a home on more than just stall now. Also due to Knock Off distribution going up having a mon to sponge Knock Off like Alo is HUGE. It gaining Scald back is also massive as almost nothing is a free switch in anymore with that burn chance (Exchange Bax literally sets up to +7 million tho so definitely handicapped by that being legal rn). Definitely a fan of the fish now though.
Staying on the theme of Flip Turn, legit feel like this guy got even better. H-Samu is a mon that naturally forces a lot of switches, so Flip Turn is a dream come true. Hazard removal didn't really get any better post-DLC1 so spikes feel as prevalent as ever. Been loving Boots 3 Atk + Taunt/Encore, such a reliable setter that can foil tons of bulky shit and pivot around to keep/gain momentum. Love H-Samu rn.
My goat. This guy also gained Flip Turn which makes specs sets even harder to deal with now that it can just pivot around its (already limited) unfavorable matchups. I'm not sure if it's the biggest issue in the tier right now, but definitely a meta-defining threat that got better post-DLC1. Oh it also got Knock Off for some reason, why not.
Haven't used him much yet, but he's def solid. Losing Roost stinks for sure but protect still gives valuable passive recovery via Poison Heal. As mentioned before with Alo, Knock Off absorbers are needed right now and he's one of the best. Having options as a hazard setter (rocks AND spikes!), utility poison spreader, or an SD set up guy gives him hella versatility. Veil/snow being as popular and centralizing as it is hurts Gliscor a lot but once the meta settles and relaxes a bit, I could see him having a very solid place. Would love to see how it goes for Gliscor going forward.
Absolutely demonic under veil. Gets to +3 for free on most of the meta once it's up and just mashes anything in front of it. It still definitely is incredible under rain as well (as its always been), but still feels at its best in the veil. Tera Electric has been by far my favorite on veil teams to troll Zapdos, but I did also like tera water to push this thing to unwallable levels under rain. I don't think it'll be too unmanageable without veil, but while veil is here at its peak, so too is Manaphy.
Did not have high hopes for this due to crazy opportunity cost to use effectively (no item flexibility and mandatory tera to get max value from), but I've been pleasantly surprised. I've only used the fire mask one but man it's cool. It's STAB coverage is so nice, and Ivy Cudgel is a nuclear button once tera'd. Mold Breaker is a neat ability, as you blow through every Unaware mon once tera'd or with an SD, and you can even Taunt stuff like Tera Garg or Ghold. Definitely best under Sun or Veil, as she slots into those archetypes very easily, but definitely can operate on her own too. Just gotta keep the hazards off so it's a bit restricting, but definitely a major threat when supported right.
Maybe not the best option, but damn fun and pretty underrated imo. It's Frankenstein ass 3 in 1 ability is so nice, so it can spam it's Normal STAB relatively stress free. Blood Moon (the move) hits like a damn meteor, and it has solid coverage via its other STAB and non-STAB options. Access to reliable recovery in Moonlight helps SO MUCH due to its lack of speed, and allows it to have multiple chances at doing its thing. Calm Mind feels good too, as its massive HP pool means its can easily get going (especially with the right tera). Vacuum Wave priority with basically scrappy means it can sneak a kill or two in as well on something weakened trying to revenge it. So far I've enjoyed Boots 3 Atk + Moonlight and CM Moonlight 2 Atks. Again, by no means meta defining, but a solid mon in the right conditions.
Real quick rapid fire on some other stuff since this post is getting long:
Chomp is great! Scale Shot is such a breath of fresh airbfor this guy. Bax obviously steals the spotlight but ol' Chomper still can run shit with SD + Scale Shot.
Got Knock Off back so it's back to its old pivoting ways. Maybe not as good as before, but Regen+Knock+U-Turn with that speed will never be bad.
Him and his rain fiends got some neat buffs (Peli got Knock back, Basc got Flip Turn, Thund-T and Zap got weather ball, etc.), and with weather wars being more important than ever (this gen), rains viability going up is huge.
Bro is still Clef. Good mon for sure still even with power creep reaching new heights, Clef stands the test of time.
Veils strongest hater. Court Change feels like a giant middle finger to Veil teams just trying to roll you over (if you can get the change off). Absolutely just as good as it was if not better, fast Taunt/Wisp/Pivot will be good forever.
Low key he's gonna be fire. Poison/Fairy is a bonkers typing and he provides so much utility through status spreading, haze, taunt, etc. And with two great abilities in Levitate and Neutralizing Gas (can defog on ghold I think), I like the look of G-Weezing.
Still wanna try out all the other new stuff and buffed old faces, but for now that's all I've seen/used. TLDR Bax and Veil are heinous (Bax moreso) and but there's some REALLY neat stuff out there. Happy testing and playing all!