Lowkey Monotype sucks right now, so the Crown Tundra DLC is hype. Anyway, just going to drop
some a lot of thoughts on the upcoming metagame!
Types that Benefit from the DLC
While it is undoubtedly clear that all types somewhat benefit from the Crown Tundra DLC, there are a few types that got luckier than others. I'm going to be covering what I think those are right now. Quick disclaimer, I will not be covering Pokemon from this DLC that I believe will be banned, such as Tapu Lele & Tapu Koko, in this section. Also, if a Pokemon like Articuno has a Galarian form and is Psychic-type, I included it in that section even though the sprite does not match.
Dragon
Dragon is going to be a very dominant type again this generation. Heavy-Duty Boots will mean Dragonite can run some exciting sets such as Dragon Dance + Dual Wingbeat. However, I can't imagine what move it will drop, potentially Outrage, I guess. Choice Band Dragonite will be a great set again. Latios and Latias are super appreciated. Latios will be a fantastic Choice Specs user with its new coverage. Latias will do the same thing it has always done in being a Choice Scarf Revenge Killer, Healing Wish Cleric, and Defog user. Garchomp will probably return as the Stealth Rock lead set. However, I can see Duraludon and Garchomp being used, Duraludon as a Stealth Rock setter, allowing Garchomp to use Swords Dance. Fun type, not much more to say about it.
Fire
Fire is a great type right now. However, these are still some fascinating additions. All of these Pokemon bar Entei feel like they bring something new to the type. Entei is just there, I guess. First of all, let me say I have always been such a fan of Moltres, but now with Heavy-Duty Boots, it will actually be viable. The two main sets I can see this Pokemon running both have Heavy-Duty Boots, which is the only viable item on Moltres. The first set is a Pressure stall, with Substitute and Toxic. The more offensive set I can see being run is Agility. However, this may be kind of difficult to do as the sun interferes with Hurricane's accuracy. Heatran can run a Specially Defensive set or offensive Air Balloon. I can see Specially Defensive Heatran and SubToxic Moltres being a very annoying core on Fire. Victini will always have the option to run Choice Band, allowing it to act as a nuke in the sun. It can also run Heavy-Duty Boots to enable it to pivot in and out with U-turn relatively free. Volcanion could run a Choice Specs set. Although, I feel like we will see more offensive Heavy-Duty Boots Defog sets being used with this Pokemon. It is immune to Water attacks is excellent for the type. Finally, the Ultra Beast clown, Blacephalon, will I'm assuming, run a Choice Scarf. This will make it the fastest Pokemon available for Fire, allowing it to check Nihilego with Psyshock. Nihilego can also opt to run a SubCM set with Heavy-Duty Boots to take advantage of passive Pokemon, such as Chansey. However, I feel like a Choice Scarf will be the most popular pick still for this Pokemon. Although it may not have gotten as much Pokemon as Flying, I am still very hyped to build with this type.
Flying
Ah, this is so fun to look at, especially when you consider Flying has three more Pokemon and the Galarian forms of the legendary birds. Right off the bat, while Gliscor does not appear to be returning, Flying still got two Electric immunities. The Electric immunities are Thundurus-Therian and both Landorus forms. This means Emolga will no longer be a thing, thank god, lol. Another interesting thing to note is that since Heavy-Duty Boots are now an item previously unviable Pokemon, such as Articuno and Moltres. This will allow them to be viable in Monotype. A few exciting move additions to the type are Dragon Dance on Aerodactyl, Nasty Plot on Tornadus-Therian, and Cosmic Power on Celesteela. Dragon Dance Aerodactyl allows it to have a niche as a Fire killer. Nothing will really compete with its EdgeQuake, and fire certainly has no Pokemon faster than +1 Aerodactyl, so that will be interesting. With access to Heavy-Duty Boots, Tornadus is a better Defog user than it ever has been. Now it also can abuse Nasty Plot with all sorts of fantastic coverage ranging from Sludge Wave, Heat Wave, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot. This will allow it to be tailored to take on a variety of different Pokemon and matchups. I'm not entirely sure that Cosmic Power Celesteela will be the most viable set since giving up Flamethrower or Leech Seed isn't ideal. However, it will be even more painful to take out if it opts to run that move. I think with Rising Voltage Tapu Koko might catch the ban hammer making Celesteela even better in the Fairy matchup. Not sure what Galarian Articuno and Moltres get access to. However, I heard that Galarian Zapdos will have a Hawlucha like move pool and some impressive Electric-type moves like Bolt Beak. Dragonite now no longer needs to worry about Defog to keep Multiscale intact. I think this will allow Dragonite to more viably pull of a Dragon Dance set, especially since it now has access to Dual Wingbeat. The types ability to Pressure stall will for sure be something very annoying to face. Overall, I think Flying will be one of the top types in the new metagame. As it got access to a plethora of viable legendary Pokemon and Heavy-Duty Boots, a tremendous asset to the type.
Ground
Ground as of right now absolutely sucks. However, with the addition of just these Pokemon, I believe it will shoot up in viability. Nidoking can provide the team with Fire, Ice, Electric, and Poison coverage and set and absorb Toxic Spikes. While Toxic Spikes are not as good as they were last gen thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots. However, they still will be great for matchups such as Psychic and Fairy. While Garchomp did not get Dragon Dance, it can always be a phenomenal wallbreaker with Swords Dance, running the same set it did last gen without the Z-move. I don't think anything aside Swords Dance will be useful, but that's fine because it will be so good. The Landorus forms are exactly what Ground needs. Landorus will make a phenomenal Gravity user allowing the type to hit Pokemon such as Steel Birds. Its Therian form will make a good Choice Scarf user and a great partner for Nidoking. U-turn and Knock Off will be remarkable on Landorus-Therian. I expect Psychic will be an excellent type, and those two always can annoy Psychic-types. I believe both sand and non-Sand teams will be viable, non-sand abusing Choice Scarf Landorus and Nidoking. In contrast, sand builds will use the classic Hippowdon + Excadrill and have support from Gravity Landorus.
Psychic
+
Calyrex
Psychic is pretty trash right now, having many bad matchups against good types and no overwhelmingly great matchups vs. them. This makes it hard justifying using it right now. However, this DLC will fix that indefinitely. The most exciting additions are Victini, Latios, Latias, Metagross, Galarian Articuno, and Galarian Slowking. Victini will again provide a nuke in Choice Band, basically kill everything with Fire. It can also run a Heavy-Duty Boots set to make it immune to its hazard weakness. I do think Choice Scarf Victini is terrible. However, if you use it, I believe Final Gambit would be a cool tech. Latios right off that bat looks like a fantastic Choice Specs abuser with even fewer switch-ins thanks to Aura Sphere and Mystical Fire. This means that Tyranitar and Ferrothorn are no longer switch-ins, which is hilarious and slightly broken. Latias is coming back as a good Choice Scarf user with access to Healing Wish and Defog. Metagross will run the same sets as last-gen, either a Choice Band set or Kasib berry for Mimikyu. Even though it has access to Meteor Beam, Expanding Force, and Steel Roller now, I can't see a special set working nearly as well. Galarian Slowking will probably be a fun, slower offensive Pokemon that can abuse Teleport. I still believe a Water-type Teleport in Kantonian Slowking will provide more utility for Psychic teams. Galarian Articuno provides a Ground immunity that isn't weak to Mold Breaker Excadrill, so that could be an interesting defining niche for it. Honestly, I don't know much about Calyrex, but I'm not very hyped about it because Celebi is so cool. However, if they make it as broken as they did its counterpart in Urshifu, I guess I'll have to bite my tongue. Overall, Psychic is back on top, and I can't see Indeedee being all that good anymore unless you specifically build a team around Terrain Extender Indeedee. Can not wait for all the possibilities this type has.
Steel
With the return of Heatran, the immunity core is back in session. It will be excruciating to deal with Corviknight/Celesteela/Skarmory, Heatran, Aegislash, and Ferrothorn. I can see, as a consequence, Aegislash leaving due to it being the usual ban of this core. However, even without Aegislash, Steel will still be insane. Heatran will provide a much-needed Fire immunity, between it and Choice Scarf Cobalion, or Excadrill Steel can potentially handle Fire. Metagross, I can see as a Choice Band user for the type, less used, but I think it will be good. Stealth Rock + Toxic Registeel with Seismic Toss might be used, but I think the usual hazard team will make it difficult to use. Celesteela is back, it will be excellent. Not much to say. It will pretty much do the same thing it did for the type the last generation. Side note, I am thrilled that its back. Stakataka could be an interesting anti-fire piece of technology, which might be more necessary for this generation. I say this because Blacephalon now has Scorching Sands, which allows it to blow past Heatran, very cool. Doublade with Shadow Sneak might unironically also be a thing because of this if Aegislash is indeed banned. Steel is a very epic type that appreciates every Pokemon the Crown Tundra gave it back.
Types that benefit less
Electric
Not much to say about these; Electric will appreciate actual Ground immunities. Zapdos will go back to being a Specially Defensive Defog pivot now with Heavy-Duty Boots. Of the two Thundurus forms, I believe Thundurus-I will be better due to its higher Speed tier.
Poison
The Stealth Rock users for the type are back: The Nido's and Nihilego. Nidoqueen will probably not be run, but it will allow Nidoking more space to run extra coverage. Crobat will be an excellent addition to the type with Heavy-Duty Boots. Nihilego will probably return to its spot as a Choice Scarf user. I can also see it running an Expert Belt set that allows it to take on Water teams, due to a lack of Mega Venusaur this generation.
Water
While Water definitely did not get as much as the other types, what it got was extremely beneficial. Suicune will be back at it again with its Vincune shenanigans, making it very difficult to break past after a few Calm Mind sweeps. Water teams preferred Stealth Rock setter is back in Swampert. It will for sure, make its way onto a majority of Water teams. Tapu Fini will be more viable this generation, with its cool utility in setting Misty Terrain and providing Knock Off and Defog support. While it is disappointing not seeing Greninja return, I feel like Water will keep its place in the metagame with these Pokemon. However, Psychic teams will be extremely problematic for the type. I will be excited to see how these Pokemon play out.
Potential New Sets
& Galarian forms
Zapdos is really beneficial for both types that it is on. Flying teams will probably use a Heavy-Duty Boots SubToxic set. In contrast, Electric teams will settle for the more classic Zapdos set of Specially Defensive Defog pivot. Moltres and Articuno as well will be viable on the types they can be used on. Moltres will probably run SubToxic sets on both types it is on and potential an Agility sweeper set. Hurricane is inaccurate in the sun, so if it uses that on Fire, it will have to settle for Air Slash. Articuno will run some sort of SubPressure set or Defog. All these birds will never drop Heavy-Duty Boots, especially Moltres and Articuno. Galarian Zapdos feels like it will be a Hawlucha with potentially physical electric coverage, if it gets Bolt Beak that should be fun to toy around with. Don't have much insight into the other two but they should be interesting.
Dragon Dance will for sure be its main set. Dragon Dance + EdgeQuake + Dual Wingbeat seems like it will be impossible for types like Fire to handle. Potential items it could run are Lum Berry or Heavy-Duty Boots.
Dragon Dance will definitely be the vibe with Heavy-Duty Boots. I can still see Dragon teams using Choice Band as an emergency check to Pokemon like Cloyster.
This thing will be cool for Poison teams, with Heavy-Duty Boots and Brave Bird + Roost + Defog + Taunt/Toxic, it should provide lots of utility to the type. Not much has changed for it aside Heavy-Duty Boots. I'm not convinced Dual Wingbeat will be very good on this thing and will still opt for Brave Bird due to the difference in damage the two have.
Choice Specs sets will absolutely dominate. Choice Specs + STABs + Thunderbolt + Aura Sphere seems to be the most appealing set to me at the moment. This would allow it to hit Pokemon like Celesteela and Tyranitar and leave Steel-type Pokemon to Victini to handle.
This thing can run Substitute + Heavy-Duty Boots. It can allow it to annoy Steel teams and act as an emergency check to Sucker Punch Bisharp. It also has the option of just being a nuke with Choice Band as well.
Heavy-Duty Boots + Nasty Plot will be very cool. I can see it running these moves alongside Nasty Plot, Hurricane, Focus Blast, and Heat Wave. This will allow it to murder Steel teams or throw in Sludge Wave/Grass Knot over Heat Wave to target Pokemon like Hatterene and Swampert, respectively.
Heavy-Duty Boots Defog + STABs + Earth Power/Toxic seems very appealing. It will be better on Fire teams for sure.
This thing got Scorching Sands. Steel hard loses to this Pokemon; its very hilarious. I can see Heavy-Duty Boots Substitute + STABs + Scorching Sand being its main set on Ghost teams. Very excited to try this out.
Pokemon I believe will be too much for the metagame
I'm not going to talk about cover legendary's as it is abundantly clear they are broken.
While it may not have access to z-moves like it did the last generation, it still will be able to very easily abuse types like Water and Ground for Steel. Perhaps even better than the previous generation as Greninja will not be around to stop it this time around. I feel like this one is relatively self-explanatory.
Thousand Arrows again invalidates all Ground-type immunities, I think it will be either be banned immediately or within the first week of its release.
Tapu Lele is an obvious choice as it was broken the last generation. This generation has become easily more busted thanks to it getting Expanding Force. Surprised to see Tapu Koko on this list. I think it will be too much between it getting an insanely strong STAB in Rising Voltage. It got a plethora of great physical coverage as Play Rough and Close Combat. I believe its versatility, speed, and raw power will be too much for this metagame.
I'm very borderline about these two. I'm not sure whether they will be broken, but for sure extremely powerful. With Nasty Plot, Tornadus-T is an instrumental threat, and with Latios's increased coverage, it has become harder to wall. If these push them into the borderline, it will be interesting to watch them play out.
Pheromosa still has insane coverage, a good offensive pivot with U-turn, and great offensive stats. I can't see this thing realistically staying in the metagame, Heavy-Duty Boots may even make it a better U-turn user. Naganadel no longer has access to its Dragonium Z nuke. Its perfect Dragon Poison Fire coverage is a nuisance to deal with, hopefully, it won't stay in the metagame for very long. Genesect like Pheromosa, still very good and could have only gotten better with Heavy-Duty Boots, can't imagine it will stay.
Thanks for reading my essay!