just posting some initial thoughts from playing for a few hours before i go to bed. didn't get to try out quite as much as I would have wanted because was pretty tired but played around with some HO and an offense and balance team. I'm sure i'll probably disagree with half of what I wrote in a day tbh but i'll be interested to see how much I still agree with later.
Torn is still amazing to me, the speed tier + ability to switch into easily all these big offensive threats like Lati@s, Greninja, Hydrapple, Iron Moth, Hydreigon etc is just great on top of it just farming a lot of teams on ladder atm tbh, feels like the amazing glue its always been still.
Wish sets feel nice atm for negging Lati twins and other stuff and supporting other teammates, meta is a bit too fast for it to shine fully through currently with all the HO spam but with like quagsire cores and stuff it can still feel great, should be a really nice glue mon once the meta slows down a little. Nice for non Knock Cornerstones,
Been a fan of this mon for ability to rly aid you in a ton of matchups against offensive threats rn tbh like ceru/coba/chomper etc, I've been playing around with moveset choices on both ib/eq and think i'm gonna try doing ib+eq+toxic a little on some teams when I can move hazards elsewhere, having both options feels pretty helpful for covering like tera flyings / chomper / an option to stop hydreigon completely abusing you without having to use its tera etc.
Spike stacking feels beyond annoying given our removal options, tera ghost chomper / deoxys can really just make removing so awkward and its definitely a powerful option. Stcha ive also seen being used as always to spinblock and it does it just as well as always while being an offensive pain in the arse, but its definitely got to be a little careful about clanger. I've played a little with bramble as a spiker too, quite enjoying it for spinblocking like treads and it feels like the most reliable spinner into ghosts in a way too. Webs are just as annoying too with these offensive teams and its definitely why ive been liking to try and rely a bit more on my defensive options too like Quagsire because removing them isn't really on the table half the time and these teams are everywhere on ladder.
Very much enjoying what they bring to the tier at the moment with their natural speed tier that makes them great brings, they haven't felt oppressive to play around at all for me through great options like rachi / torn/teleport deo, seeing a lot of like scizor and stuff that can handle them pretty decently too. While the tier is so fast its definitely nice to have the speed control but it'll be interesting to see how they interact when the tier slows down, latias definitely seems like it has some potential to be stupid with its stored power stuff potentially down the road.
Definitely one of the more dangerous things going around from what ive felt, fast encore is a great punisher and set up opportunity, its stab combo is so dangerous and like its coverage is great, free sturdy makes it very punishing if no hazards are up / very dangerous in lead on offensive stuff. The coverage options can kinda neg a lot of its would be answers like Rachi / Clanger too although you can't cover everything in one slot which is helpful at least for playing against it, but its definitely one of the scarier thigs to play against. It's inability to cover all its options in one set and inability to boost its speed has definitely made it feel playable around but its scary for sure. I tried using like Taunt Spikes lead sets on HO to make use of its sturdy and speed combo, but honestly ive felt like it'd rather just attack more and would prefer just playing those SD sets on lead instead despite being a very good spikes lead on paper, maybe this feeling will change when you aren't mostly playing against offense yourself too.
I'm interested in this thing in a more slowed down meta because its got a really nasty combo of tools with like insane bulk, regenerator, nasty moves like fickle beam / dragon tail / infestation and some freedom to use it. I tried using it today with zapdos paralysis spam and it definitely felt offensively dangerous but it feels a bit too tera reliant if it wants to actually become dangerous right now, if you tera fairy it then its absolutely got a lot of potential to matchup into things but its base typing gives it a lot less opportunities right now beyond just abusing bulk + items like av. Still it could use things like sinistcha, cornerstone, sandy etc for turns without tera or using the paralysis spread and was pretty fun.
Torn is still amazing to me, the speed tier + ability to switch into easily all these big offensive threats like Lati@s, Greninja, Hydrapple, Iron Moth, Hydreigon etc is just great on top of it just farming a lot of teams on ladder atm tbh, feels like the amazing glue its always been still. Wish sets feel nice atm for negging Lati twins and other stuff and supporting other teammates, meta is a bit too fast for it to shine fully through currently with all the HO spam but with like quagsire cores and stuff it can still feel great, should be a really nice glue mon once the meta slows down a little. Nice for non Knock Cornerstones, Been a fan of this mon for ability to rly aid you in a ton of matchups against offensive threats rn tbh like ceru/coba/chomper etc, I've been playing around with moveset choices on both ib/eq and think i'm gonna try doing ib+eq+toxic a little on some teams when I can move hazards elsewhere, having both options feels pretty helpful for covering like tera flyings / chomper / an option to stop hydreigon completely abusing you without having to use its tera etc. Spike stacking feels beyond annoying given our removal options, tera ghost chomper / deoxys can really just make removing so awkward and its definitely a powerful option. Stcha ive also seen being used as always to spinblock and it does it just as well as always while being an offensive pain in the arse, but its definitely got to be a little careful about clanger. I've played a little with bramble as a spiker too, quite enjoying it for spinblocking like treads and it feels like the most reliable spinner into ghosts in a way too. Webs are just as annoying too with these offensive teams and its definitely why ive been liking to try and rely a bit more on my defensive options too like Quagsire because removing them isn't really on the table half the time and these teams are everywhere on ladder. Very much enjoying what they bring to the tier at the moment with their natural speed tier that makes them great brings, they haven't felt oppressive to play around at all for me through great options like rachi / torn/teleport deo, seeing a lot of like scizor and stuff that can handle them pretty decently too. While the tier is so fast its definitely nice to have the speed control but it'll be interesting to see how they interact when the tier slows down, latias definitely seems like it has some potential to be stupid with its stored power stuff potentially down the road.Definitely one of the more dangerous things going around from what ive felt, fast encore is a great punisher and set up opportunity, its stab combo is so dangerous and like its coverage is great, free sturdy makes it very punishing if no hazards are up / very dangerous in lead on offensive stuff. The coverage options can kinda neg a lot of its would be answers like Rachi / Clanger too although you can't cover everything in one slot which is helpful at least for playing against it, but its definitely one of the scarier thigs to play against. It's inability to cover all its options in one set and inability to boost its speed has definitely made it feel playable around but its scary for sure. I tried using like Taunt Spikes lead sets on HO to make use of its sturdy and speed combo, but honestly ive felt like it'd rather just attack more and would prefer just playing those SD sets on lead instead despite being a very good spikes lead on paper, maybe this feeling will change when you aren't mostly playing against offense yourself too. I'm interested in this thing in a more slowed down meta because its got a really nasty combo of tools with like insane bulk, regenerator, nasty moves like fickle beam / dragon tail / infestation and some freedom to use it. I tried using it today with zapdos paralysis spam and it definitely felt offensively dangerous but it feels a bit too tera reliant if it wants to actually become dangerous right now, if you tera fairy it then its absolutely got a lot of potential to matchup into things but its base typing gives it a lot less opportunities right now beyond just abusing bulk + items like av. Still it could use things like sinistcha, cornerstone, sandy etc for turns without tera or using the paralysis spread and was pretty fun.
Same song and dance as before, just with more power creep. We got a couple of new checks like garg, pert, and mola, but no real counters. The higher power level should hold it back somewhat, but it could possibly be problematic down the line.
Extremely annoying, but it needs some time for the tier to settle and for bulky teams to be more relevant. Amoong and hydrapple are pretty solid checks, but it's still frustrating to break especially with tera.
We got some passable checks in the lati twins, amoong, and zapdos, but it's partner in crime mola is also back. Definitely not the most banworthy addition, but maybe it'll end up banned for the third time in a row.
It still has a different set for every day of the week and most of the checks we got to it seems shaky, especially with tera. It might survive the initial round of quickbans, but idt this will stay longterm.
An incredible buff to defensive teams, mola can live forever and is very reliable at healing up it's teammates. There's not really much to say about it, but it's huge for balance and stall, which have been struggling for a while.
Nothing really new here either. Good bulk, good typing, and great longevity. It has some new competition in hydrapple, but it still seems like a great option as always.
A web setter than trades speed for immediate power. It's typing can be pretty awkward to deal with as well. It's worth noting that it lost magic coat, tho.
Lol. Lmao, even. It's outclassed as a shell smasher and doesn't have the bulk or longevity to spin reliably.
Seems very strong with tera. It's very difficult to stop once it gets going and has the coverage to circumvent it's checks, even if it can't fit everything it wants. There are a couple of checks to it, like the lati twins and mola, but it still seems too strong.
It's too passive for any teams besides stall, but it's still unbreakable on the special side. Not much to say here.
An upgrade to maushold with higher attack, slightly more speed, and knock. Tidy up can be valuable on screens teams to support sash sweepers, and it's still a potent threat in it's own right. Imo, it still seems too frail to be used outside of HO, tho.
Technically it can check kommo-o? Idk why this got more usage than terrakion.
Incredibly strong after a boost, but it's surprisingly slow and might struggle with the new bulky waters and grasses.
An awkward midground between araquanid and ribombee. It's slower than quite a few offensive threats and it's thunders aren't really that strong. The bee even has para and pivoting support if you want it. There might be a place for this, but it seems heavily outclassed.
Battle bond is still a ridiculous ability. There are a couple of decent checks to it, like mola, amoong, and even slowking if it drops dark pulse, but it still shreds offensive teams and can easily run away with games.
It has some good tools like intimidate, STAB knock, and parting shot, but it has no recovery and a very awkward defensive typing
Incredible coverage, an absurd spa stat, and access to booster speed make this a deadly breaker or cleaner. I don't see this staying for long, it has the power and coverage to break through everything not named blissey.
It's very strong and has a new option in tera blast to work around it's checks, but there are a ton of pokemon that can easily stop it. Between slowking, the lati twins, and amoong, it's still very reasonable to check it even with tera.
A strong special swift swimmer would be great for rain if it existed. Maybe it'll have a place next month when peli drops again.
It's a bit slow, but almost nothing can take it's boosted hits. It seems broken on webs, but maybe it's mediocre speed could let it dodge the first set of quickbans.
Losing toxic is a bit annoying, but access to knock and psychic fangs as well as a general lack of bulky steels is huge for it. It's lack of longevity and 4MSS might hold it back, but it has some interesting potential to make a comeback.
Shell smash and meteor beam are incredibly funny. Probably not great, but funny nonetheless.
It's a bit slow, but it still has plenty of boosting options, from DD to CM to meteor beam, and could be a solid offensive rocker on HO teams, or just another generic stored power sweeper.
A fun nuke and nothing more. Specs tera blast might have some funny potential, but it's still porygon
Magic guard is a fantastic ability, but 8pp recover and competition from the 50 other psychic CM sweepers hurts
The ultimate HO lead. Spore something, get up hazards, and pick from any good support option. It's worth noting that revival blessing can't be sketched, but it's not like it has a shortage of options anyway.
Tera seems really interesting for it, but it's still just gonna do normal suicune things. It's a timeless classic for a reason.
Rocks, knock, and flip turn are all great tools, but it still lacks longevity and has bad 4MSS. The role compression can still be valuable tho.
It has an incredible amount of support moves, but still lacks longevity, has 4MSS, and has an awkward typing with underwhelming physical bulk. It's also our only new usable removal option, but it's still very flawed.
A strong special chlorophyller would be great for sun if it existed. Maybe it'll have a place next month when torkoal drops again.
The bird seems absolutely incredible. It still has valuable defensive utility with it's great typing and static, but it's also a fantastic offensive threat. Our flying resists are surprisingly limited, and nothing really switches into it safely besides garg and blissey. That being said, there are some faster options that can help pivot around it, like treads and the latis, but it still seems very strong.
Offers a solid mix of offensive and defenisive utility, but it's speed tier isn't quite as impressive as before and meow and weav leaving are rough for it. It probably has a place, but it seems pretty niche.
High attack and a great offensive typing make it a very funny breaker. Not the most serious choice out there, but it felt wrong not to mention it.
Outspeeding ogerpon and the latis is great and it has decent coverage. It's a bit lacking in immediate power, but CM and pivot sets might have a place in the tier.
It's a good rocks setter and is fantastic at trading with physical attackers. It's awkward stats and typing hold it back somewhat, but it's still great at forcing progress.
Band and SD seem scary with it's great offensive typing, but it's awkward speed tier hurts. It's difficult to counter defensively, but it's very easy to revenge kill it.
