Metagame SV Pokebilities AAA

[Lavender Vice]

I have many thoughts about these changes, but regardless of that- it's time to show off some shitmons to meme with.

Qwilfish @ Choice Band
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flip Turn
- Gunk Shot
- Liquidation
- Barb Barrage

Qwilfish has STAB Flip Turn and Gunk Shot under rain with Intimdate. Once Barra goes (people are tripping if they think that thing is staying imho lmfao) this'll likely rise up to be the next best (and banned) swift swimmer. Also gets spikes if you wanna use that over BB.

Ludicolo @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball
- Encore
- Surf

Just a strong attacker, LO Recoil is offset by Rain Dish. One of the fastest Encores in the tier that isn't prankster so it gives it a lot of oppurtunities to fuck with opponents (speed is to outspeed Zama)

Sawsbuck @ Protective Pads
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Headbutt
- Stomping Tantrum
- Wild Charge
- Swords Dance

Ain't no way this is surviving. A bit of 4MSS since you want ST to hit Heatran and Pecha, Wild Charge to hit Corvi and Horn Leech for healing and Grass STAB but like... dawg... this has double speed Serene Grace Headbutt and SD.

Vileplume @ Kee Berry
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 HP / 96 SpA / 160 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Growth
- Strength Sap
- Sludge Bomb
- Weather Ball

Ain't no way this is staying. The genuine free'est setup ever lmfao (speed is to outspeed Meow)

Whimsicott @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 208 HP / 252 SpA / 48 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Hurricane
- Stun Spore
- Encore

ANTI META PICK!!!!11!!11 Yeah this is just me memeing atp. Outspeeds basically everything in the sun and hits them for SE with Hurricane. I uh, haven't calc'd if this actually *kills anything* with it, but shhhh

Jumpluff @ Electric Seed
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- Seed Bomb
- Double-Edge

ANOTHER ANTI META CHLORO USER 1 1o1j1ei1ieeu2 jfjdjfjdf GALVANIZE DOUBLE EDGE HITS CORVI TRUST TRUST TRUST


As a sidenote WBB Corvi becomes even more everpresent, and Clodsire literally reaches 100% usage now

 

[mason75]

So, going to be real. This is prob gonna be my last real team I share (or at least one I'm anywhere near happy with) for the next minute and a half. Been getting a bit burnt out, and just haven't been able to climb back up to Rank 1 (I did manage to hit like, Rank 3 iirc with this team though). REGARDLESS, the team has a very fun tech that I would like to immortalize here and share (also it feels strangely queer themed, fitting for the last day of Pride Month).

Misty Meow Balance

https://pokepast.es/93693f3c72536e99

Meowscarada @ Choice Band
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Flower Trick
- Triple Axel

The star of the show and the bane of this tier, has actual plot armor. So, looks like a pretty standard Meow set, Jolly max max, Knock, Uturn, Flower Trick Axel, and... MISTY SURGE? Yes, I know, I continue to 'overcook' as the non-believers say. Misty Surge does a LOT for Meowscarada, and allows it to have lasting pressure on the field even after it switches out.
So, why Misty Surge? Well, it solves a LOT of small interactions that Meowscarada REALLY likes. It resets terrain, allowing you to bypass Priority Grassy Glide, weaken PsySpam teams, but most importantly- STOP QUARK SPEED BOOST. This lets you pressure things like Moth and Crown under ETerrain, and blow them up with CB Knock. It also gives you immunity to status (and your team, and the enemy team) so you stomp on defensive Breloom and fuck over most self-status mons, lets you not be threatened by Static and Flame Body (which is, imo, the biggest benefit to Long Reach), and keep your own team healthy.
BUT BUT BUT That is NOT the biggest upside to Misty Terrain. The biggest reason to use this, is the built-in dragon resistance for yourself and your entire team. You not only due to how terrain/weather effects work in mons, know if say, the Hadron Lati you're facing is scarf or not, but it doesn't matter! A Modest, Beads of Ruin Scarf Lati cannot OHKO Meowscarada with Draco Meteor in Misty Terrain. This, in turn, also helps you weather the storm against Dragspam mons like Regidrago, giving Slowking a resistance to dragon effectively and letting it wall these threats. It makes it so defensive, slower paced teams like this aren't required to run a fairy or else you auto-lose to DragSpam. It has issues, you really miss the safety of Long Reach letting you not worry about Helmet/Rough Skin chip, and the power boost from Adapt/SoR- but the benefits IF YOU BUILD YOUR TEAM AROUND THEM are so, so worth it. (yes I channeled all of my energy into yapping about this cool tech).

Crawdaunt @ Choice Band
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Liquidation
- Crunch

Mr. Craw blows shit up. Idk what you want me to say lmfao, but real talk the team needed a wallbreaker pretty desperately, and Mr. Craw is one of the best in the tier. Could arguably replace it with Adapt Freeze Dry Mamo? But I settled on Craw.

Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Fluffy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- U-turn
- Defog

...yeah I don't have the energy to make a joke for it this time. It's Corvi.

Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 SpA
Relaxed Nature
- Scorching Sands
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Stone Edge

Good ol' chomp. Using Stone Edge on it to help against Talon, because the team is uber weak to it otherwise, and Scorching Sands is really greedy with Misty Meow but I like the fact it hits things like defensive Tusk harder while having a chance to burn. Has come in clutch a few times.

Slowking @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Shadow Shield
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Future Sight
- Chilly Reception
- Earthquake

Standard Slowking. EQ for Deso Heatran, Moth and Glowking.

Rillaboom @ Assault Vest
Ability: Wind Rider
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Drum Beating
- U-turn
- Grassy Glide
- Low Kick

I do not care that Wind Rider Rilla is kinda fake, I will keep trying to make it work. Drum Beating provides some nice utility in a pretty hefty and strong grass move that doesn't recoil you like Wood Hammer, and Low Kick over Knock to blast things like Heatran and Hoodra. It ain't amazing, but it's an amazing check to Hurricane spammers like Zap and Torn-T while providing pivoting and priority.

And uh, yeah, that's the team. Happy Pride everybody, never stop being your true selves and good luck laddering.​

I psyched myself out thinking you had to be volt absorb slowking, if only I just clicked the super-effective move…

 

[mason75]

Keldeo is banned in AAA for a reason. Look at the calcs that Specs PrimSea hits, it doesn't need any native abilities to be bonkers strong. That being said, I'd argue you don't need a super offensive core to take advantage of Munkidori, since its main advantage compared to other psychic Regens (Slowkings) is being able to spread poison easily with Fake Out providing safety compared to Fez. Using a single reliable breaker like CB Meowscarada and then other defensive mons that can take advantage of the ability for the team to slowly wear down the enemy with poison damage (and also shore up the fact that Munkidori AIN'T all that on the specially defensive side) could help.

I’m running scarf meow currently. I’m not a balance builder by any means but I’m learning quite a bit. So balance is more so closer to Semi-stall than bulky offense, correct? 1-2 breakers/offensive mons is all you want/need?

 

[Miss Crisis]

pokeaaa 2

while writing the announcement post, i was considering making a dissenting opinion post after the announcement went live. i decided against it at first, because i guessed that these changes might be unpopular and saw no need to risk undermining them. i'm writing this post because of a message from BBP that made me think about it differently.

as you may know, i am very attached to this format and care deeply for it. there was an allegation that i was forced into doing this, and it seems some blame is falling (incorrectly) on OM leadership, and i would like to clear some things up.

you're aware of my stance as PokeAAA and OM Mashups Leader Miss Crisis. Mashups have been sporadically caused issues throughout the years due to improper tiering interfering with both gameplay and the community. i've been more than guilty of causing these issues and have always done my best to resolve them, but there were certain systemic issues getting in our way. at the moment of writing i'm actually sitting on a comprehensive Mashups Tiering Policy and Guidelines post, waiting for further research and clarification before publication. this post has been in the works since starting the subforum last year, and after a series of tiering issues related to spotlight ladder it became clear that a master post was needed to refer to while making decisions. the guidelines will pull heavily from the OM Tiering Policy Guidelines, because mashups are derivative of Other Metagames and should conform to their tiering processes whenever possible. PokeAAA has already had issues with legacy bans, such as Revival Blessing and pokemon like Dondozo and Zoroark-Hisui, and the complex bans i put into place are another example of this; the complex bans existed to protect the presence of many otherwise irrelevant Pokemon and also garchomp and mamoswine, which is definitionally a case of bending tiering guidelines to allow certain Pokemon to get special treatment. this was always going to happen, and now was the moment where it was brought to our attention seriously for the first time since the format grew in popularity.

on the other hand, as Miss Crisis the Mashups Enjoyer i was pretty bummed about how things turned out, and i think that you deserve an explanation for what's been going on for the last two months.

after beefing the tiering action on meowscarada, the process just ground to a halt. these issues were entirely out of our hands and i shoulder what little blame remains. the hasty quickbans on May 4th (LOL just realized i spent my 2 year traniversary working on this) were the wrong decision, and were undone by the council the next day. unfortunately, about 45 minutes after i submitted the pull request to ban Meowscarada and Keldeo, the server reset and the changes were stuck on the ladder until the next week. a suspect test was obviously necessary, but we needed to wait for the ladder to reset, then the meta to redevelop, and to have OMMPL at least closing out by the beginning of the test so it wouldn't be affected by tiering action.

as we reached this point, the council was still debating on which Pokemon was going to be tested first. we put some work into a keldeo suspect test at first (the header was going to be the horse by the ocean with the caption MAN), but after some metagame development from lavender vice's evil factory it became clear that meowscarada was the bigger problem. this takes us to june 3rd, when i posted the Meowscarada Suspect Thread in OM Submissions. this took fairly long, as i was busy and took some time to make the required edits, and the OM Leaders have so much to do. OM Leaders if you're reading this i appreciate you so much and i am so sorry for the sloppy mistakes you guys have had to help me clean up. also i spent like two hours figuring out pixel art from scratch to make the header for the suspect test.

by this point, meowscarada was just. unbearable. this thing has ways around every possible way to counter it and all of them are good somehow. it can do anything and is far and away the best Pokemon in the tier, and is actively stifling teambuilding and further metagame development. we were itching to take whatever action we could, as soon as possible, to remove this broken element from our format.

last week, while this process was still ongoing, it became clear that PokeAAA was being featured in at least one, if not more, large tournaments in the next few months. this discussion started on the 26th, and the issue of the egregious violation of Tiering Policy rule 3 was brought up; it became clear it needed to be addressed before PokeAAA could become the kind of metagame that could hold up under scrutiny from the wider community and forum exposure, where rules matter so much more than they do to the average player on ladder. this news was not met kindly by the council, who was in unanimous disapproval of the proposed changes. we had about 72 hours of intense debate and resistance before i intervened, shut down discussion, and proceeded to the next step. i ended the discussion early because this change was going to happen at some point, and rather than wasting further valuable time arguing about OM Tiering Policy with the people who made and interpret the policy, i deemed it more important to implement the inevitable changes immediately so we had more time before the tournament(s) to build up the meta once again.

did we need to do this? yes, and better now than later.
am i glad we did this? yeah :shrug:
did i want to do this? lol. lmao, even. as i mentioned before, i was in the trenches while creating and implementing these complex bans when getting the format up and running, because i believed they were the right thing to do.
were the complex bans the right thing to do? it seemed so at the time, and i wholeheartedly believe i did the right thing in that scenario.
was this update the correct decision? yes and i hold no doubt about it.
do i think this is going to have negative impacts? probably, but once the format stabilizes i doubt we’ll still worry about it. as much as it felt wrong to do so, banning two of the best ground types and a bunch of (i say this lovingly) shitmons who did nothing wrong is not going to rob the tier of its identity and it’s not going to permanently cripple it.

as both tier leader and community member, i will be embracing this change. i set aside my biases almost a week ago and began working in good faith to run the tier like we should. i will not entertain walking back this change without serious, gamebreaking issues, and i will learn to enjoy this new period in the meta, just like i have for the rest of this tier’s history. do not blame the OM leaders for the changes, they were right and this was something that should have been done years ago.

also, meowscarada has like plot armor or something. for some reason we can’t get rid of that stupid cat no matter how hard
we try :sobbing:

 

[EtherealLouser]

Like Miss Crisis said above, these two fucking SUCK to lose, especially Garchomp, who is a top defensive staple. It's cases like these where a complex ban would be very obvious to make, but whatever, we're in Rome and we do what the Romans do.

Funnily enough, these two larpers are actually the best source of Ice STAB in the tier since, for some reason, Game Freak thought half of all fully evolved Ice types needed Snow Cloak (and also Ambipom, who's actually quite viable with a Protean Beat-Up set).

Now looking at the unbans, these two are mons I'm personally not looking forward to facing. Serp's most common set will probably be a Galvanize Tera Blast set to take advantage of Corviknights lacking Delta Stream or VA. Meanwhile, Zoroark Hisui is probably gonna jump between Specs and SFLO breaking sets. Both these mons put a lot more pressure on the special side of the builder, notably taking advantage of the most common special walls: Ting Lu and Galarian Slowking, respectively. Serperior, especially, has an obnoxious speed tier with the ability to spam Glare, while good Zoroark-H teams can make you second-guess the mon in front of you before blasting you back with Shadow Ball. My gut says they'll be broken, but my brain says they'll probably be fine.

The council is on something if we think this fish freak is fine, but I can see where they're coming from. PrimalSea CB Liquidation doesn't 2HKO Pecharunt or any neutral fluffy user, but this thing absolutely fucks with speed tiers in this metagame. It doesn't even need any Speed to outspeed even Scarf Meow, and putting 252 in Defense allows it to survive way more priority than you think. Basically, your only counterplay is defensive checks and chip + priority (non-SOR CB Lokix doesn't actually kill max Defense lol), which I don't think is healthy but whatever, only time will tell.

Speaking of fucked speed tiers, let's talk about these double speed bastards. I actually think all the DesoChloro users (Bellesom, Eggy, Lilligant Normal and Hisui) are pretty mid. The first 3 hilariously have shit coverage: Bellossom and Lilligant Normal can't hit Fire-type Desolate Land users while Eggy can't touch Corv; meanwhile, Lilligant Hisui can't abuse Fire Weather Ball well and already has Victory Dance for Speed, so Deso is redundant. Sand Rush TTar seems a bit fraudulent to me; I've used CB TTar on the ladder, and imo it really needs the boost from SOR to feel like you're not gambling on hitting Stone Edge twice on Corv + the speed control is not reliable into mons like Wellspring, Moth, Zapdos, etc. Overquil and Shiftry, though, do have a lot more potential than the rest. With Rocks, Adamant +2 LO Overquil nabs OHKOs on Moltres with Gunk and Heatran with Crunch. Shiftry can do similar things with Growth: even without investment, +2 LO Weather Ball shreds non-WB/Bulletproof Steels, and Meow already showed us how stifling Grass-Dark STAB can be. There's more probably, but the bottom line is that every team now needs Weather control on their team from now on, and I personally don't like how restricting that is.

Anyways, if you made it to the end, thanks for reading the yap.

 

[Lavender Vice]

I’m running scarf meow currently. I’m not a balance builder by any means but I’m learning quite a bit. So balance is more so closer to Semi-stall than bulky offense, correct? 1-2 breakers/offensive mons is all you want/need?

It really depends, depends on the balance team, how you like to play, etc.

Me, personally, I like two breakers/fast attackers like Talonflame, Meow, Crawdaunt, etc. and then 4 defensive mons (ALWAYS a regen core for me though it’s not ‘mandatory’), typically with pivoting to get said attackers in to build my balance teams. When I only have 1 attacker is when I usually consider it semi-stall, at least for me personally. Balance can 100% have only 3 or probably (I think? I don’t play much offensive teams to be honest so that side of the team spectrum is not my strong suit) 2 defensive mons.

It’s like all things murky. Bulky offense can have like, 4 attackers for example that are super fat and able to stick around like DMaw Apple and Earth Eater Hands. Some more offensively oriented players might consider what I call balance in 2 attackers 4 defensive mons semi-stall, etc.

My one way of building balance ain’t the only way (or probably even the best way), just what I found works for me best. A bit of a cop out answer, I know, but just tinker around, find what you both work with best and more importantly have the most fun with.

 

[Lavender Vice]

I have just realized gang, with the advent of weatherspeed and a fuck ton of Grass/Poisons running around... the set... I've been sitting on for so long to finally reach its peak.

Wyrdeer @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Psychic Noise
- Earthquake
- Lunge
- Thunder

REGENVEST WYRDEER LET'S GOOOOFOEJGOIEHWIGHEWiuHBheibg

IT HAS SAP SIPPER IT IS IMMUNE TO SOLAR BEAM AND STRENGTH SAP
WANNA REALLY FUCK THOSE WEATHERSPEED ABUSERS OVER THOUGH??!?!?!? GO BULLETPROOF. IMMUNE TO GRASS MOVES AND SLUDGE BOMB/WEATHER BALL.

YOU ONE SHOT EGGY (I think I am way too high on Wyrdeer stock prices going up to bother calcing) WITH LUNGE, YOU BLAST THE GRASS/POISONS WITH PSYNOISE AND MAKE IT SO THEY CAN'T BE ANNOYING SHITS WITH SYNTHESIS. THUNDER BLASTS SWIFT SWIMMERS. EQ FOR HEATRAN! OH, AND SWIFT SWIMMERS AREN'T KILLING YOU BECAUSE INTIMIDATE!!111!!1 AND SCOUTING ITEMS WITH FRISK!>?/r,.2mkl3n2fbh3i2gfuewfv

I am NOT losing it gang, I am NOT. RegenVest Wydeer is the new meta, and THIS stupid deer that literally not a single person asked for will be what saves us from weatherspeed

(Ok seriously though, memes and jokes and crackbuilding aside, Wyrdeer does seem strangely poised to do well in the new meta and I really hate that I can say that with genuine seriousness).

 

[EtherealLouser]

I have just realized gang, with the advent of weatherspeed and a fuck ton of Grass/Poisons running around... the set... I've been sitting on for so long to finally reach its peak.

Wyrdeer @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Psychic Noise
- Earthquake
- Lunge
- Thunder

REGENVEST WYRDEER LET'S GOOOOFOEJGOIEHWIGHEWiuHBheibg

IT HAS SAP SIPPER IT IS IMMUNE TO SOLAR BEAM AND STRENGTH SAP
WANNA REALLY FUCK THOSE WEATHERSPEED ABUSERS OVER THOUGH??!?!?!? GO BULLETPROOF. IMMUNE TO GRASS MOVES AND SLUDGE BOMB/WEATHER BALL.

YOU ONE SHOT EGGY (I think I am way too high on Wyrdeer stock prices going up to bother calcing) WITH LUNGE, YOU BLAST THE GRASS/POISONS WITH PSYNOISE AND MAKE IT SO THEY CAN'T BE ANNOYING SHITS WITH SYNTHESIS. THUNDER BLASTS SWIFT SWIMMERS. EQ FOR HEATRAN! OH, AND SWIFT SWIMMERS AREN'T KILLING YOU BECAUSE INTIMIDATE!!111!!1 AND SCOUTING ITEMS WITH FRISK!>?/r,.2mkl3n2fbh3i2gfuewfv

I am NOT losing it gang, I am NOT. RegenVest Wydeer is the new meta, and THIS stupid deer that literally not a single person asked for will be what saves us from weatherspeed

(Ok seriously though, memes and jokes and crackbuilding aside, Wyrdeer does seem strangely poised to do well in the new meta and I really hate that I can say that with genuine seriousness).

I'm pretty sure Goodra-Hisui does the same thing but better....not as strong vs Physically-Attacking Deso/PrimSea users but, like, why use a Special Wall for physical attackers, y'know what I mean? (Goodra-H stocks have never been higher, that's my GOAT right there)

 

[Lavender Vice]

I'm pretty sure Goodra-Hisui does the same thing but better....not as strong vs Physically-Attacking Deso/PrimSea users but, like, why use a Special Wall for physical attackers, y'know what I mean? (Goodra-H stocks have never been higher, that's my GOAT right there)

Because unlike the FAKE RegenVest mon Hoodra, Wyrdeer isn't blasted by Eggy's Low Kick. Is it kinda just... demonstrably worse in every other way? Yeah lmfao NOPE that's just pro weatherspeed propaganda that us Wyrdeer loyalists will not stand for.

 

[MothmansBf]

Y'all really got up to some shit while I was gone I'll be damned xD I've come off my copium ride and am ready to jump back into the meta, just to find WeatherSpeed is about to make me call it dad, as well as the introduction of my beloved Zoroark and Serperior. I reckon I'm gonna have to rely on my RegenVest Incin set, it'll be like old times for me lol.

In all seriousness I am very excited and a little weary about the changes, but it's nice to be back at PokeAAA Incorporated

 

[Argostar]

I've made what looks to be an ok team but I'd greatly appreciate if people could give feedback for me
https://pokepast.es/3461b0c9ddad8e37

I've made what looks to be an ok team but I'd greatly appreciate if people could give feedback for me
https://pokepast.es/3461b0c9ddad8e37

Ok I've updated the team https://pokepast.es/28dfe1f94edd2e52

 

[Poke nerd]

I've made what looks to be an ok team but I'd greatly appreciate if people could give feedback for me
https://pokepast.es/3461b0c9ddad8e37


Ok I've updated the team https://pokepast.es/28dfe1f94edd2e52

this depends if you want to lean more towards offense or balance:

balance

i'm gonna start with some BEEG changes

----->
---->

this makes the team less offensive but provides a great defensive backbone
also change corv's regen to volt absorb for the many deadly electric mons (this also lets prim run regen-vest)
tusk also gives the team rocks which are incredibly helpful
scizor also didn't provide anything the team didn't already have so bye bye
also the torn set confuses me so i'd either swap it out for with a similar set or go all out on offense with torn and give it magic guard/sheer force + life orb
while dragon's maw lati is scary, it can't output consistent damage, and if the opponent is running a fairy type, you're not doing much damage at all. so i'd swap the ability to either beads of ruin, adaptability, or hadron engine (which all serve a simillar purpose)

https://pokepast.es/5122e0b1024aca67

offense

corv feels a bit out of place on offense, so:
-----> /
----->
---->

this gives you a broken dude, a broken dude and a great utility mon that has great role compression
samurott is also regenvest for damage, hazards and pivotting all in 1. go for moth is you prefer damage and longevity, or go leki (with refridgerate/ hadron engine and ) if you prefer speed and stronger pivots
once again swap lati's ability to beads of ruin, hadron engine or adaptability for more consistent damage

https://pokepast.es/80c3ac7e022dbd02

hope this helps and happy laddering

 

[Wikdchikn the Grate]

Regarding the bans and unbans, I’d like to bring attention to two things that I haven’t seen anyone talk about.

1. Houndstone’s ban: I might be one of the only people who was running it, but it was one of the best Physical punishers in my opinion. It got Wisp and Fluffy, and a bit of weather deterrent and speed control with Sand Spit+Sand Rush. There is one Pokémon that I think might fit that role, and that is Fluffy Altaria, but it lacks the 101 Attack Poltergeist chunking. If there would be one Pokémon that I would like to see unbanned, it would be Houndstone, even though it is very unlikely.

2. Sunflora: Sunflora has been overlooked as a Desolate Land+Chlorophyll abuser because of its base 30 speed, but it can shore up its slowness with Choice Scarf. It is the only legal fully evolved Chlorophyll user to get Earth Power, and that gives it a major edge over some other Sun abusers, along with Solar Power to deal a lot more damage. This might be the singular Singles meta where Sunflora might actually be relatively viable.

 

[EtherealLouser]

2. Sunflora: Sunflora has been overlooked as a Desolate Land+Chlorophyll abuser because of its base 30 speed, but it can shore up its slowness with Choice Scarf. It is the only legal fully evolved Chlorophyll user to get Earth Power, and that gives it a major edge over some other Sun abusers, along with Solar Power to deal a lot more damage. This might be the singular Singles meta where Sunflora might actually be relatively viable.

I've been on a spree testing all the new unbans and DesoChloro/PrimSwim abusers and let me tell you, first hand, Scarf Sunflora is just not worth it. Sunflora runs into the same issues that Ursaring has, funnily enough: both are insane breakers capable of mauling most teams in front of them, but they are on a timer to do so, and any attempt to give them longevity/extra utility takes away from their main purpose, that is wallbreaking. Choice items are just kinda bad on Sunflora too because Solar Power chips you for as much health as Poison Heal heals, meaning missed predicts chip you way more than you'd expect. Better to lean into the nuclear power with a Growth set than try to be speed control + power, and ultimately coming up short on both categories.

 

[BandedBodyPress]

Speaking on Houndstone’s ban reasoning. It’s like it was early Gen 9. Because Basculegion is banned for reasons that are not Last Respects, it leaves Houndstone as the only abuser of LR. Not following coming tiering philosophy is council’s fault. Having to update it mid-gen was less than ideal, but it’s what had to happen. Houndstone is an under looked casualty, but I’m glad it was appreciated while it was here.

Highkey the best case scenario is that enough Pokemon get Sand Veil, Snow Cloak, and Last Respects next gen so that we have more justification for complex bans and allowing Houndstone.

 

[Argostar]

Why is Noivern banned?

 

[Faux Focalors Furina]

Why is Noivern banned?

Something to do with Boomburst + Aerilate shenanigans along with Filtrator existing meaning it can go through sub and screenz

 

[MothmansBf]

Something to do with Boomburst + Aerilate shenanigans along with Filtrator existing meaning it can go through sub and screenz

Boomburst already goes through Substitute, but to my knowledge it is purely for the fact that it would be the strongest abuser of Boomburst + stab -Ate ability since Toxtricity is slow and Flying stab is leagues better than Electric stab and Scream Tail would usually prefer to run different sets. I imagine once Gen 10 starts, and we presumably get Gen 10 Pokebilities AAA with the new Champions megas, that Draconize Kommo-O and Flygon will be the main abusers, and perhaps Noivern won't be considered broken.

 

[Faux Focalors Furina]

Boomburst already goes through Substitute, but to my knowledge it is purely for the fact that it would be the strongest abuser of Boomburst + stab -Ate ability since Toxtricity is slow and Flying stab is leagues better than Electric stab and Scream Tail would usually prefer to run different sets. I imagine once Gen 10 starts, and we presumably get Gen 10 Pokebilities AAA with the new Champions megas, that Draconize Kommo-O and Flygon will be the main abusers, and perhaps Noivern won't be considered broken.

Yeah but it also going through/bypassing the damage from light screen is important to consider I guess for some HO players. Although you're right on the Draconize part, it's either Draconize will be banned or Kommo-o and Noivern get the boot instead lol

Edit: Forgot screens is a sub-archetype for HO teams lol

 

[Lavender Vice]

Yeah but it also going through/bypassing the damage from light screen is important to consider I guess for HO players. Although you're right on the Draconize part, it's either Draconize will be banned or Kommo-o and Noivern get the boot instead lol

Considering tiering policy going forward, Dragonize is not going to be banned. Kommo-O will be interesting to see if it's considered broken with Dragonize, as while Dragoomburst is stronger than DMaw Clanging Scales iirc (only marginally), it does offer the lack of a defense drop and higher PP count (which is big if used against, say, Corvi). Noivern will likely be banned regardless because Aerilate, and Flygon will be... eh? 80 SpA isn't something to write home about, and while secondary Ground STAB and Levitate are nice, it's also pretty slow (jfc 100 speed is slow now how did we get here GF?).

And even if all 3 are broken, the new policies in place will have us just ban all 3 of them and not Dragonize.

 

[EtherealLouser]

Yeah but it also going through/bypassing the damage from light screen is important to consider I guess for HO players. Although you're right on the Draconize part, it's either Draconize will be banned or Kommo-o and Noivern get the boot instead lol

Not all HOs use Screens and HO can tech mons with Soundproof like Zama (who can also use the ability to beat Scream Tail and Pech too) easier than other archetypes; no, the real reason it's banned is as nothing, not even Blissey, walls Noivern long term because of no-immunities Super Fang. It chunks everything in the game for half and if your only response is a RegenVester, you're getting put into 2HKO range much quicker than you'd think. Resists aren't safe either: if you switch Max Spdef Corv in on Super Fang, you're basically forced to heal because if you don't and Rocks are up, you don't switch in again. Super Fang has 16 PP, so it stalls recovery moves even on Pressure pokemon.

Though, in the case of Dragonize, it won't be broken on either Kommo or Flygon because 1) Dragon STAB is not as spammable as types like Flying or Fairy STAB, and 2) In terms of Sheer Power, Draco Meteor with a boosting ability like Beads or Adapt hits harder and applies to other moves

252 SpA Life Orb Dragonize Kommo-o Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Swampert: 153-181 (37.8 - 44.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKOd
252 SpA Life Orb Beads of Ruin Kommo-o Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Swampert: 157-187 (38.8 - 46.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[mason75]

I have just realized gang, with the advent of weatherspeed and a fuck ton of Grass/Poisons running around... the set... I've been sitting on for so long to finally reach its peak.

Wyrdeer @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Psychic Noise
- Earthquake
- Lunge
- Thunder

REGENVEST WYRDEER LET'S GOOOOFOEJGOIEHWIGHEWiuHBheibg

IT HAS SAP SIPPER IT IS IMMUNE TO SOLAR BEAM AND STRENGTH SAP
WANNA REALLY FUCK THOSE WEATHERSPEED ABUSERS OVER THOUGH??!?!?!? GO BULLETPROOF. IMMUNE TO GRASS MOVES AND SLUDGE BOMB/WEATHER BALL.

YOU ONE SHOT EGGY (I think I am way too high on Wyrdeer stock prices going up to bother calcing) WITH LUNGE, YOU BLAST THE GRASS/POISONS WITH PSYNOISE AND MAKE IT SO THEY CAN'T BE ANNOYING SHITS WITH SYNTHESIS. THUNDER BLASTS SWIFT SWIMMERS. EQ FOR HEATRAN! OH, AND SWIFT SWIMMERS AREN'T KILLING YOU BECAUSE INTIMIDATE!!111!!1 AND SCOUTING ITEMS WITH FRISK!>?/r,.2mkl3n2fbh3i2gfuewfv

I am NOT losing it gang, I am NOT. RegenVest Wydeer is the new meta, and THIS stupid deer that literally not a single person asked for will be what saves us from weatherspeed

(Ok seriously though, memes and jokes and crackbuilding aside, Wyrdeer does seem strangely poised to do well in the new meta and I really hate that I can say that with genuine seriousness).

I think Munkidori if anything, will be the new regenvester added to the roster. I highly recommend yall try it, it’s disgusting!

 

[MothmansBf]

I think Munkidori if anything, will be the new regenvester added to the roster. I highly recommend yall try it, it’s disgusting!

I feel like I don't want my RegenVester to be so vulnerable to Knock tho, that forces a reliable Knock absorber that could make the Regen core easier to break. I'm very partial to my Incin RegenVester but he makes Knock a less spammable move from your opponent with Intimidate support.

 

[mason75]

I feel like I don't want my RegenVester to be so vulnerable to Knock tho, that forces a reliable Knock absorber that could make the Regen core easier to break. I'm very partial to my Incin RegenVester but he makes Knock a less spammable move from your opponent with Intimidate support.

Maybe it could be paired with Hydrapple? As it has sticky hold and regen. Not sure what else you’d put on it maybe fluffy?

 

[Lavender Vice]

So, uh, BURN OUT ISN'T REAL LOVELIES (this is sarcasm it very much is) WE HIT NUMBER ONE AGAIN SO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS!

RegenVest Deo-D Stall

https://pokepast.es/64ca6912b172b8f1

Clodsire @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes

Good ol' standard Clodsire. It's very nicely poised to handle a lot of the new threats in the metagame, especially with Thick Fat, and overall serves as just a great special Unaware wall that can setup hazards.

Alomomola @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Fluffy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Flip Turn
- Wish
- Rain Dance

It's Fluffy Mola lmfao I use this thing on almost every team. I don't think I need to explain anymore what this absolute gremlin does.

Deoxys-Defense @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Psychic Noise
- Knock Off
- Counter
- Night Shade

Now, I KNOW what you're thinking. 'Lavender, jfc, really? Are we really memeing with ANOTHER fake ass RegenVester?' YES WE ARE! But, Deo-D has a lot of interesting tools at its disposal to take advantage of being the team's regenvester, namely- PRESSURE. Pressure is a MASSIVE game changer for a regen mon, and while normally you struggle to slot it in because... it's Pressure lmfao run literally any other ability, having it natively alongside Deo-D's tools gives it a lot of potential to win PP wars through attrition.

A pure psychic type lets it take on a good few of the psychics in the tier like Deo-S and Hatt, it has Knock Off so it serves as the team's desperately needed Knock support, a relatively really damn fast PsyNoise and Night Shade let it break down opposing mons slowly but surely. But, my favorite tech, COUNTER. Those annoying as Corvi's keep U-Turning on you? Does that bother you? WELL CLICK COUNTER AND BLAST WHATEVER'S COMING IN FOR... like 40% but that's still a decent chunk. Because of Deo-D's solid mixed defenses, you can take semi-powerful neutral hits and blast back with counter. Arguably... just run Mirror Coat or even Psycho Boost instead ngl, but regardless Deo-D is genuinely really solid as a RegenVester and deserves a lot more love.

Fezandipiti (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- U-turn
- Roost
- Beat Up
- Moonblast

I wanted a fairy type to hold off DragSpam while also having something that can actually... force progress (sorry Hatt and Scream, you ain't it). Settled on Fez because it also has recovery, a poison typing that can be handy at times (mainly for grass types), and with Corrosion + Toxic Chain it is great (WHEN IT FUCKING WORKS I CLICKED 6 HIT BEAT UP 7 TIMES IN A ROW WITH NO POISON?????) at putting opposing mons on a timer.

Dondozo @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Wave Crash
- Body Press
- Rest
- Curse

It's Dozo, like, genuinely the most one-note mon out there. Volt Absorb to help against stray Volt Switches and more importantly Iron Hands.

Brambleghast @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Well-Baked Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Poltergeist
- Rapid Spin
- Strength Sap
- Leaf Storm

Alright, I swear, I SWEAR I have not gone completely off the deep end- just hear me out. SO, I wanted a hazard remover that could beat Heatran. Well, it's simple, right? WBB Corvi, Tier Queen herself and throws down with weatherspeed mons. Unfortunately, people just... don't... want... to use weatherspeed on ladder..? And instead I kept running into things like Taunt Regen Tusk, and while WBB Corvi walls Heatran, it also is walled in return and risks getting burned. I also found that being forced to remove my own hazards was quite an issue as well, so, what's a girlie to do?

Well, here we have WBB Bramble (Magma Storm isn't a wind move gang) with the most CURSED ass moveset you've ever seen. Spin and Strength Sap are obvious, Polter is to blast ghosts that might want to switch in and block your spin but... Relaxed? With LEAF STORM? Lavender, are we deadass right now- YES WE ARE DEADASS. Bramble has 80 SpA which WITH A STAB LEAF STORM (and 96 SpA IVs but 0 investment gets the job done more than enough tbh if you chip it down a little bit) fucking NUKES Great Tusk, Alo, etc. Those physical walls that are weak to grass get god damned nuked by ts, and the surprise factor is SO good. Helps make Bramble not as cripplingly passive without investment in its offenses. It's still... weak ok don't get me wrong, but it filled a small, nice little niche in the team.

Anywho yeah that's the new team. I really should be focusing on other stuff rn because life I am ngl, but istg this metagame is like the god damn green goblin mask for me and I have way too much fun bringing niche shitmons to #1 lmfao. ​