Project Top 10 Titans of Generation 8 OM Metagames

[UT]

What effect did Pokemon have on the metagame?
Ghosts do be broken. According to this suspect test thread, it was on the radar during the pre-Home meta, but really took off post-Home. It was hard to check defensively cause Adapt Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb go brrrrrrrrrrrrr, and hard to check offensively due to its good Speed tier and resistance to Pixie Speed. Nasty Plot put out a tremendous amount of pressure, and it could cripple checks with Will-O-Wisp, Energy Ball, Taunt, and Substitute thanks to its two-move coverage. When Blissey is running Shadow Ball, you know you're in trouble. It was banned by suspect, freed with DLC2, and quickly re-banned.

In what main roles was Pokemon used?

It mostly used Lucarionite, making it look like the above screenshot. Nasty Plot, Shadow Ball, and Sludge Bomb gave it obscene breaking power and let it overwhelm most walls. Since it only needs three moves, it had a lot of options with the fourth slot, including Wisp and Energy Ball.

What caused it to have a significant impact?
Ghosts do be broken. Again, what takes +2 Adaptability Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb off of 155 SpA well?

How do/did you deal with this Pokemon in MnM?
Again according to this suspect test thread, Rhyperior, Gastrodon, and Gyaradosite Toxapex were all used. Apparently Sablenite Corv was also a thing, and even Choice Scarf Ditto.

 

[Andyboy]

What effect did Pokemon have on the metagame?

Arcanine was the best -atespeeder from the beginning of SS Mix and Mega until DLC2 when the floodgates were opened and Dragonite, Entei, Genesect, Regieleki, and Zygarde were freed. Altarianite provided an excellent Fire/Fairy typing that prevented Steel-types from switching into Altarianite Extreme Speed without fear. Pinsirite was an alternative set that sacrificed the superior -atespeed type to lure common defensive Water-types like Toxapex, Jellicent, and Gastrodon with a potent unresisted Double-Edge.

In what main roles was Pokemon used?

Arcanine was a unique Atespeeder in that it offered excellent support tools on top of being the best revenge-killer and speed control. Access to Morning Sun meant Arcanine was able to come in on hits and stay around much longer which enhanced its capabilities as an offensive revenger. Teleport offered Arcanine a consistent means of momentum to exploit common answers like Toxapex by freely bring in a partner. Will-O-Wisp doubled as a means of crippling physical attackers and defensive answers such as Toxapex. Arcanine also had the ability to sacrifice a potential support or coverage option to adopt a lategame sweeper Howl set. These sets were able to capitalize on passive physical sponges like Venusaurite Corviknight that assumed Arcanine would not be able to punish them switching in and pivoting out to a potential offensive revenger.

What caused it to have a significant impact?

Extreme Speed was a very rare move before DLC2 Mix and Mega. Lucario and Arcanine were really the only viable options for Atespeed so as the vastly superior option between the two, Arcanine was one of the most commonly used Pokemon in early SS MnM. Despite the frequent use of bulky Water-types and other common Arcanine answers, this Pokemon was able to prove dominant in its role through consistent momentum gains, longevity, and fantastic coverage through Psychic Fangs and Wild Charge. Early SS MnM could be a very slow, grindy metagame with both players pivoting around and fishing for Scald burns and other secondary statuses. Arcanine was a Pokemon that thrived in this environment as it was to capitalize on small chip and residual burn damage on defensive mons so well. These consistent capabilities of Arcanine allowed its lure Pinsirite and Howl sets to shine and made playing around this Pokemon that much harder.

How do/did you deal with this Pokemon in MnM?

Toxapex was the premier Arcanine check for the entirety of the metagame until DLC2 hit. Because these two were on so many teams, Arcanine attempting to circumvent Toxapex's walling ability as well as it could and Toxapex attempting to shut out Arcanine as much as possible was a meta-defining interaction that shaped many early SS MnM games. Because of the potential set diversity of Arcanine, other less bulky Water-types like Jellicent and Gastrodon had to be played with caution. Because unlike Toxapex, switching in on a Double-Edge can lead to disaster. Arcanine is a Pokemon that benefits from defensive walls being chipped because this allows for 2HKO's so it was paramount to keep your defensive waters or Hippowdon healthy. Regenerator separated Toxapex from the rest in this way which was another reason it was the best Arcanine counter by a wide margin. Lastly, it was important to pay close attention to the endgame positioning and ensure you weren't setting yourself up to get swept by a lategame Howl Arcanine.

 

[drampa's grandpa]

What effect did Pokemon have on the metagame?

Toxapex has been a key part of Mix and Mega since the pre-home metgame. With Gyaradosite sets it has been vital for checking powerful attackers such as Gengar and Lunala. Later in the metagame when these threats were banned or became less notable, sets such as Bannettite have allowed it to perform an anti-sweeper role, removing boosts with haze before opponents are capable of attacking.

In what main roles was Pokemon used?

Toxapex is notoriously hated for being a fat mon with a large utility movepool which is very difficult to take down. It has a good typing, pre-mega Regenerator to abuse, and can spread status making it more difficult than it appears to switch into, especially with Gyaradosite. Its low offenses and high defenses make it universally function as a mixed wall.

What caused it to have a significant impact?

Toxapex's influence on the metagame stems largely from its bulk and typing, which gave it excellent matchups against Pokémon such as Arcanine, Entei, Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, and others.

How do/did you deal with this Pokemon in MnM?

While every Toxapex set has had marginally different weaknesses, they can all be overwhelmed offensively. Regenerator can be key to keeping Toxapex alive in certain situations, so forcing it to mega is one way to ensure that it cannot recover for free. Banettite Toxapex is frailer compared to the metagame than most other Toxapex's, and can be overwhelmed with powerful attacks, while other Toxapex sets may have trouble with setup.

 

[hayedenn]

What effect did Pokemon have on the metagame?
Pheromosa was the Yin to Urshifu’s Yang, foregoing broken Surging Strikes for a ridiculous speed tier, STAB U-Turn, and great coverage in Triple Axel. By the time it was banned, it was the premier fighting-type, (along with Urshifu-R) terrorizing the tier with its ridiculous power and speed.

In what main roles was Pokemon used?
The primary Pheromosa set was Aerodactylite, with U-Turn and Close Combat mandatory and two of Triple Axel, Throat Chop, Rapid Spin, or Toxic to round out its movepool. Lopunnite really sent Pheromosa over the edge, meaning it was no longer checked effectively by Intimidate pivots such as Magearna, and leaving another Aerodactylite stone user (such as Urshifu-R) that could be used.

What caused it to have a significant impact?
It was strong and fast and hit hard and wore down its checks well.


How do/did you deal with this Pokemon in MnM?
Primarily with -atespeed users such as Regieleki/Entei and Ho-oh. Ho-oh was the best Pheromosa check but Toxic started popping up on Pheromosa to beat it long-term (Toxic + Sand chip from Tyranitar/Hippo meant it couldn’t live two Triple Axels on the switch). Pheromosa was also set-up bait for sweepers such as Xerneas, and pokemon such as Solgaleo could beat Pheromosa if they weren’t CC’d on the switch. Lunala effectively beat non-Throat Chop and Toxic variants. Eternatus resisted both of it’s STABs but had to be wary of Triple Axel.

 

[Redflix]

What effect did Pokemon have on the metagame?

While Mew has been a staple in defensive cores throughout the gen8 Mix And Mega ever since home dropped , its greatest impact was in the home meta thanks to its Bulky CM and Demon Sablenite set which could immediately turn the game around. Since both required different set of checks it would often take advantage of it in-game while also putting considerable strain in the building department.

In what main roles was Pokemon used?

These two sets would mainly be used as set up wincons that would flourish late-game after several of the opponent's mon / their respective checks were chipped significantly. In addition , Scald in CM sets would also be a very strong tool to check threats like Excadrill / Arcanine or Zeraora while also spreading burn to defensive cores like Corviknight and Clefable. Post DLC-1 , Mew would revert to Manectite as its main set while also running Slowbronite occasionally , to function as a strong wall to various physical threats present.

What caused it to have a significant impact?

Being one of the most important mon in the builder and its ability to snowball quickly made mew the best mon pre-dlc 1. Its impact doesnt end there , as it still continued to be a powerful physcial wall throughout the rest of the generation

How do/did you deal with this Pokemon in MnM?

Mold Breaker Toxic (from ampharosite mons) , Hydreigon and Banetitte Toxapex were the most popular answers to Mew during the Home meta , as Hydreigon directly threatened the mon while resisting the moves run by CM sets while Toxic and Haze from Pex took an indirect approach. In the current Meta , Mew is often dealt with either chipping it via pivot moves from strong fighting types like Zap-G , Zeraora and Barraskewda and then breaking it in the long game or by direct threats like Lunala , Absolite Hydreigon or Dragapult.

 

[in the hills]

Thanks for all of the submissions! It's time to VOTE! Let's start off with our #1 Titan.

Options

Arcanine
Blissey
Dragonite
Entei
Eternatus
Gengar
Ho-Oh
Lunala
Magearna
Mew
Pheromosa
Regieleki
Slowbro
Solgaleo
Toxapex
Urshifu-R
Urshifu-S
Zacian
Zygarde

 

[in the hills]

Eternatus

 

[UT]

 

[Ducky]

Eternatus

 

[Shandeur]

 

[Clas]

its like you guys forgot how long this was around

 

[dhelmise]

eternatus

 

[iapt]

Eternatus

 

[hayedenn]

eternatus

 

[in the hills]

Eternatus wins the #1 spot! Time for #2

Options

Arcanine
Blissey
Dragonite
Entei
Gengar
Ho-Oh
Lunala
Magearna
Mew
Pheromosa
Regieleki
Slowbro
Solgaleo
Toxapex
Urshifu-R
Urshifu-S
Zacian
Zygarde

 

[UT]

 

[Andyboy]

Lunala

 

[iapt]

 

[in the hills]

Lunala

 

[TGtz8920]

 

[Clas]

 

[dhelmise]

Zacian

 

[Ducky]

lunala

 

[Shandeur]

 

[rarre]