Hey friends, with the release of DLC 2, we have some huge banlist updates that will usher in the beginning of the final (hopefully) Gen 8 Mix and Mega meta. I want to preface this by saying this is truly a huge change for this tier. Although we had multiple big mixups to the meta throughout Sword and Shield MnM, none of those updates or changes approach this DLC's gigantic influx of new powerhouses that impact Mix and Mega in a major way.
Because this is such a dramatic change and we have next to no idea how this meta is going to look, the council took a "fresh slate" approach when we voted on our DLC 2 meta banlist. Meaning, almost all of the new arrivals are remaining unbanned for the start of the meta and almost all of our previously banned Pokemon are being freed. It may seem overwhelming to have such a large number of monstrous threats present at the start, but we feel this will give every Pokemon present in DLC 2 Mix and Mega the fairest chance for a retest and hopefully avoid any community complaints regarding us not giving a mon like Zacian-C a fair chance after it was initially quickbanned at the start of the generation. If we felt there was even a 1% chance a mon could stay in the meta long-term we voted to free that mon. So some of these guys certainly didn't have 5 votes in favor of freeing them but if there was a majority they are going to be allowed.
We voted on the following mons: Gengar, Melmetal, Zeraora, Dragonite, Regigigas, Pheromosa, Naganadel, Entei, Zygarde, Tapu Lele (With Expanding Force in mind), Kartana, Landorus-T, Marshadow, Zacian-Crowned, Eternatus, Lunala, and Kyogre. We also voted to allow Solgaleo to hold mega stones similarly to how we previously did that for Zamazenta. All of these mons will be present at the beginning of the DLC 2 meta except for Marshadow and Regigigas as after significant discussion, there was a majority opinion that these two had no chance of remaining in the meta and thus they will remain banned. This new banlist is updated in the OP in this thread so check it out if you're looking for more details. Out of the both the newcomers and unbans for this meta, I made a personal four part threatlist that represents how dramatically these mons will impact the meta and how likely they are to stay in the tier. Keep in mind these are my opinions so they don't fully reflect where the rest of the council stands in regard to some of these mons.
Threat 1 (Likely to get Quickbanned in the First Week)
Dragonite
Dragonite is simply the strongest Espeeder ever seen in Mix and Mega. This mon has great base stats with a particularly high attack stat, an amazing premega ability and exceptional supporting moveset for an atespeeder. It has access to the proven Dragon/Fairy typing with Altarianite or can use the generally undesired Salamencite to fit 3 possible Ate stones on one team with a massive increase in physical bulk.
Zacian-Crowned (FULL BAN)
Zacian's strengths are fairly easy to explain. Intrepid sword is one of the best available offensive abilities in the game, it has a blazing speed tier, exceptional Fairy/Steel typing, fantastic additional coverage, and powerful setup with Swords Dance.
Pheromosa
Pheromosa is a daunting prospect from a base stat perspective, with sky-high attack stats on both spectrums, it is one of the best mixed attackers in the meta. This is complimented by the highest base speed for viable mons in the meta and access to Quiver Dance. With some of the best STAB options for a Bug/Fighting type in U-turn, High Jump Kick, Focus Blast, and Bug Buzz, Pheromosa is a strong abuser of Lucarionite and with some additional coverage options like Poison Jab, Ice Beam, Drill Run, and Throat Chop Tough Claw stones should be quite strong as well.
Threat 2 (Likely to get Quickbanned in the First Month)
Melmetal
A lot of what makes Melmetal so hard to deal with boils down to its broken signature move Double Iron Bash. On top of that, Melmetal has amazing attack and bulk, stones help solve some of its speed issues, it has fantastic coverage options for Tough Claws stones and any mon slower has an exceptionally hard time dealing with this Pokemon's continuous flinches and any faster mon without bounce has a horrible time switching in on a Thunder Wave.
Gengar
Ghost-types remain at the top of offensive threatlist and the vast majority of special walls are still unable to handle Nasty Plot Gengar. The added power level of the meta could actually hamper its best counter Gyaradosite Toxapex's and other passive special walls and Ghost/Poison is still a fantastic dual STAB combo with little need for additional coverage.
Kyogre (FULL BAN)
XY Kyogre moment... Water resists capable of taking specs Water Spout in rain do not exist in this meta. Specs vs Scarf Kyogre has the potential for nasty game changing mix ups, and this mon has all of the tools necessary for a choiced rain breaker/cleaner and pairs brilliantly with Zacian-Crowned and many other physical breakers. I never thought I would say this but Pdon come save us pls
Lunala (FULL BAN)
Similar train of thought here to Gengar. Offensive Ghost-types reign in this meta, although adaptation of special walls could cover Lunala better than Gengar so there is potential this mon can be handled easier than it was before. However, the previous domination of the CM Leftovers set, potential for Substitute adaptation, and unexplored pure breaking potential of its Choice Specs set remain ominous.
Calyrex-Ghost-Rider (FULL BAN)
Ever wondered what would happen if Lunala had base 165 Special Attack, 150 Speed, and solid bulk with Special Moxie? Wonder no more because in a meta dominated by special Ghost-type powerhouses, Gamefreak has decided we need yet another broken specially offensive Ghost. Ghost-Rider has access to Nasty Plot and a 120 base power special Ghost move called Astral Barrage. The only thing that keeps this mon off Threat 1 is the fact that its coverage is quite poor. Nasty Plot, Astral Barrage, and Psyshock are a Nasty 3-way combo, but the fourth moveslot options are very similar to Gengar with Draining Kiss, Energy Ball, Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, Hex, and Future Sight all being among potential options it could pull off. This means that Lunala counterplay like Mandibuzz and Gyaradosite Toxapex hard wall this mon and I do actually believe Lunala is likely the more versatile and superior Ghost legendary here. With that said, the speed tier, monstrous special attack stat, and fantastic dual stabs worry me but we'll see how effective it proves to be.
Threat 3 (Fairly Likely to get Suspected or Banned)
Zygarde
Altarianite Zygarde really misses Return/Frustration but the Altspeed + Tarrows combo is tried and true, several of its best counters like Bulky Arceus, Aggronite Buzzwole and Aggronite Mew are absent from the meta and because this will likely further constrain Manectite Magearna usage, the viability of Lucarionite Zygarde seems to rise considerably this meta. There is a lot potent luring potential to be found here and it will be interesting to see how Zygarde tries to utilize that freed 4th slot.
Naganadel
Red Orb being gone helps Naga's chances of staying quite a bit but Dragon/Poison is still extremely hard to stop with Fire coverage, Nasty Plot, and an amazing speed tier and powerful offenses. Spikes is a great addition to its already excellent movepool and Diancite seems like one of the more splashable speed control options in this meta.
Eternatus
With fantastic base stats, perfect coverage for a Dragon/Poison type, and a nasty ability, this mon still seems extremely annoying to deal with and the potential for the metronome set to slowly snowball through defensive cores and just stick around forever worries me quite a bit. With that said, I think the significant upgrade in the power creep will allow offensively oriented teams to manage Eternatus much easier than the early SS meta and in return, Eternatus seems like a neat offensive check for some of those new mons.
Landorus-Therian
No Return/Frustration hurts a lot but the unparalleled offensive checking ability with premega intimidate + Explosion and its niche to pressure defoggers with SD/Stealth Rock + Explosion remains the central part of its toolkit. I could see this mon bringing some of the unhealthy elements it brought in Gen 7 to this Gen.
Threat 4 (On the Radar but Unlikely to Get Banned)
Entei
No Blue Orb or Pdon means some of the harder counters for this mon don't exist in this meta. I actually expect Entei to surpass Zygarde as an Espeeder this gen specifically because the counterplay seems so constrained. (I am NOT arguing Entei is better than Zygarde as Zygarde has other sets and is a more well rounded mon in function I am only applying this comparison to Espeed sets). Pinsirite sorely misses Return/Frustration but Altarianite still has all the tools it needs to thrive.
Victini
Similar to Entei, Blue Orb mons and Pdon were two of the best ways to deal with Victin's obscenely strong V-create and other great coverage options to beat normal Water-types. Mixed sets with Work Up used to be very strong and I can see potential for that to rise in this meta as well.
Zeraora
All 3 previously viable sets should still be relevant, Lando-T should be a fantastic offensive check but Pinsirite Zeraora can easily beat that 1v1 and the lack of Pdon and other dominant Ground-types in SS makes me slightly wary of it bringing that problematic dynamic of Volt Switching into powerful teammates back into play. However, Zeraora is another mon that suffers a nerf from the meta power creep upgrade.
Kartana
Kartana is another mon that sorely misses Return. However, its primary set during its most dominant era in Gen 7 was SD with Dual STABs and Sacred Sword meaning it should still be a powerful breaker with Metagrossite. Some of its best counters like Manectite Magearna, Sablenite Zapdos, Moltres, Victini and Pinsirite Arcanine and Entei are all available so the counterplay is there and Kartana's effectiveness will likely depend on how well it can abuse defensive cores alongside fellow breakers.
Solgaleo (STONES ALLOWED)
The decision to allow Solgaleo to hold stones follows in the footsteps of Zamazenta being freed to mega and still struggling showing that even mons with large base stat totals and decent type combos really struggle in Mix and Mega if they have a poor movepool. That is certainly the case for Solgaleo as it is offensively outclassed in every way by Zacian-C and is generally an undesirable mon in a meta full of Steel-types. Defensive sets seem to have potential and we will be keeping a watchful eye on this change, particularly in the event that Zacian-C gets banned early.
Because this is such a huge change in our banlist, I thought a post breaking down the voting process, mons freed, and then some explanation of those mons with a few others would be nice. I have certainly been wrong on multiple occasions when I predicted mons' impact in previous iterations of Mix and Mega so we'll see how the meta shapes up early. I've never had the chance to use some of these mons in Gen 7 and am genuinely intrigued to see if stuff like Dragonite and Pheromosa has a shot to stick around in Sword and Shield Mix and Mega (probably not). Regardless, I can't wait to get my hands dirty with the new mons and I hope you guys feel the same!
tl;dr We voted to free Gengar, Melmetal, Zeraora, Dragonite, Regigigas, Pheromosa, Naganadel, Entei, Zygarde, Kartana, Landorus-T, Marshadow, Zacian-Crowned, Eternatus, Lunala, and Kyogre. Regigigas and Marshadow are remaining banned and Solgaleo will be allowed to hold stones now. Check out the OP in this thread to see the full updated banlist.