Chloe
NUPL Champion
A+ to A
I like Charizard in a vacuum. Belly Drum Salac sets are super cool, Dragon Dance sets are also neat. However, I believe standard offensive sets are generally tremendously difficult to justify when it means you're not running Talonflame, you miss out on such an excellent speed tier for slightly more, marginal bulk and very little else. I think the set-up sets have merit as I mentioned earlier, the issue arises when you consider how difficult it is to set up, how running Belly Drum and Substitute opens you up to different defensive threats depending on what two coverage moves you use. Dragon Dance is substantially weaker, struggles breaking through defensive teams. Once Regirock, Gigalith, Vaporeon or whatever is holding them back is removed, I think they're still both potent sweeper sets, but they're not of A+ quality.
A to A-
While initially I was very big on Vikavolt, as its defensive typing was amazing against the slew of Fighting- and Ground-types we had; and its offensive stat was through the roof, in practice over time it's seen very little success, clearly not one of an A rank threat. The prevalence of Gigalith, Lanturn, specially defensive Togedemaru and other common checks make Vikavolt's offensive sets fall flat the majority of the time. Its defensive sets, while on occasion useful, are difficult to justify over its competitors. It's fallen off a lot since its initial ranking, and A just doesn't reflect its viability anymore.
A to B+
Sneasel isn't great. In a metagame where Talonflame is on every team, where all our scarfers OHKO it, where balances very commonly have multiple defensive answers. I think A is plenty overrating Sneasel. In practice this Pokemon just doesn't hold up, it's not a potent breaker, it can't sweep, every time I've attempted to use Sneasel it just hasn't held its weight, having this in the same subrank as Guzzlord, Whimsicott and Ribombee feels wrong to say the least.
A to A-
With most teams running competent repeated switchins such as Lanturn, Vaporeon, Gigalith, Regirock; Magmortar struggles immensely in the current metagame. It just doesn't put in work against most balance teams due to the defensive structures that make up the metagame currently, doesn't have many Steel- or Grass-types are benefit from, and if it runs Choice Specs which is probably its best set, it struggles to come in repeatedly due to its hazards weakness. Plenty of its attributes are unfortunately holding it back at the moment. A- suits Magmortar substantially more.
A- to A
Lanturn is easily one of the best defensive Pokemon in the metagame right now, acting as a blanket check to many potent special threats, providing a volt immunity, providing cleric support and additionally acting as one of the best checks to Omastar in a metagame that severely lacks defensive answers to it. Its ability to switch into Talonflame and Heal Bell / pivot off of it is severely underrated. I don't really know what else I can say, it's a premier defensive Pokemon in our metagame and its rank should reflect that.
A- to A
Great scarfer, great wallbreaker, great amount of utility, Mesprit is really prevalent at the moment and rightfully so. It benefits extensively from the lack of Steel-types seeing usage, in addition to the omnipresence of Fighting-type threats, Weezing, Garbodor, Golbat. Its coverage is insanely good. It's the third best scarfer in the metagame, which while not meaning much considering Passimian's and Togedemaru's prominence, it is comparable in my mind. Its Choice Scarf, Choice Specs, NP and utility sets all serve a purpose and all eat up the metagame. I find myself slotting Mesprit onto more and more teams as time goes on, I love using it and I implore others attempt to use it more too.
A- to B+ / B
Gallade struggles immensely in the current metagame, where much more potent Fighting-types are available, Gallade's niche of having the dual Psychic-/Fighting-type doesn't help too much, when common Poison-types in Weezing and Garbodor aren't seeing as much usage as they previously did. Its speed tier is too middling, in a metagame where virtually every balance team is running Talonflame, and multiple pokemon faster than Gallade. It doesn't have much to break through common metagame staples such as Colbur Berry Palossand. Just generally very difficult to justify over more potent Fighting-types like Virizion, Passimian and Toxicroak.
B to A-
Sandaconda is one of the best Ground-types in the metagame, being only second to Palossand. It's more bulkier, lacks Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses, has one of the best support moves in Glare and shrugs off status with ease. Sandaconda is a very spammable defensive threat that switches into the prevalent physical attackers in the metagame with ease. While it moved from C to B last shift, I'm still of the belief this is far too low for Sandaconda, which is slowly becoming a staple in the current metagame.
B- to B
Choice Band Trevenant is an excellent wallbreaker, one that can switchin to status spreaders like Vaporeon, Lanturn, Regirock, Gigalith, Sandaconda without much concern. Its defensive typing allows it to switch into both of Virizion's STABs which significantly eases matchups versus it. 525 Attack after Band is incredibly hard to switch into, and hence Trevenant usually gets an OHKO every time it comes in. A strong Pokemon that I'd consider more potent than the majority of B rank, that many more people should try and use.
I strongly agree with all three of Tap's nominations as well. I'd like to elaborate futher on Omastar, because it's absolutely insane at the moment and deserves A rank undisputedly. How useful its ability to abuse the very large amount of Talonflame usage we're seeing at the moment cannot be understated, Lanturn not running Protect as often. Most people are relying on sacking a Pokemon to Meteor Beam in order to check it, which can easily be abused by Shell Smash-ing again and clicking another move. AV Guzzlord is an example of a Pokemon that can check Omastar relatively well, but even then that sees very little usage comparatively and can easily be whittled down throughout a match. Omastar deserves substantially more usage than it does, but I am for one glad it doesn't see too much. In addition to this, hazard setter Omastar easily exploits teams that rely on Talonflame for removal. Omastar is easily the best way to punish the excessive Talonflame usage at the moment, and in my eyes, definitely deserves A.
I like Charizard in a vacuum. Belly Drum Salac sets are super cool, Dragon Dance sets are also neat. However, I believe standard offensive sets are generally tremendously difficult to justify when it means you're not running Talonflame, you miss out on such an excellent speed tier for slightly more, marginal bulk and very little else. I think the set-up sets have merit as I mentioned earlier, the issue arises when you consider how difficult it is to set up, how running Belly Drum and Substitute opens you up to different defensive threats depending on what two coverage moves you use. Dragon Dance is substantially weaker, struggles breaking through defensive teams. Once Regirock, Gigalith, Vaporeon or whatever is holding them back is removed, I think they're still both potent sweeper sets, but they're not of A+ quality.
A to A-
While initially I was very big on Vikavolt, as its defensive typing was amazing against the slew of Fighting- and Ground-types we had; and its offensive stat was through the roof, in practice over time it's seen very little success, clearly not one of an A rank threat. The prevalence of Gigalith, Lanturn, specially defensive Togedemaru and other common checks make Vikavolt's offensive sets fall flat the majority of the time. Its defensive sets, while on occasion useful, are difficult to justify over its competitors. It's fallen off a lot since its initial ranking, and A just doesn't reflect its viability anymore.
A to B+
Sneasel isn't great. In a metagame where Talonflame is on every team, where all our scarfers OHKO it, where balances very commonly have multiple defensive answers. I think A is plenty overrating Sneasel. In practice this Pokemon just doesn't hold up, it's not a potent breaker, it can't sweep, every time I've attempted to use Sneasel it just hasn't held its weight, having this in the same subrank as Guzzlord, Whimsicott and Ribombee feels wrong to say the least.
A to A-
With most teams running competent repeated switchins such as Lanturn, Vaporeon, Gigalith, Regirock; Magmortar struggles immensely in the current metagame. It just doesn't put in work against most balance teams due to the defensive structures that make up the metagame currently, doesn't have many Steel- or Grass-types are benefit from, and if it runs Choice Specs which is probably its best set, it struggles to come in repeatedly due to its hazards weakness. Plenty of its attributes are unfortunately holding it back at the moment. A- suits Magmortar substantially more.
A- to A
Lanturn is easily one of the best defensive Pokemon in the metagame right now, acting as a blanket check to many potent special threats, providing a volt immunity, providing cleric support and additionally acting as one of the best checks to Omastar in a metagame that severely lacks defensive answers to it. Its ability to switch into Talonflame and Heal Bell / pivot off of it is severely underrated. I don't really know what else I can say, it's a premier defensive Pokemon in our metagame and its rank should reflect that.
A- to A
Great scarfer, great wallbreaker, great amount of utility, Mesprit is really prevalent at the moment and rightfully so. It benefits extensively from the lack of Steel-types seeing usage, in addition to the omnipresence of Fighting-type threats, Weezing, Garbodor, Golbat. Its coverage is insanely good. It's the third best scarfer in the metagame, which while not meaning much considering Passimian's and Togedemaru's prominence, it is comparable in my mind. Its Choice Scarf, Choice Specs, NP and utility sets all serve a purpose and all eat up the metagame. I find myself slotting Mesprit onto more and more teams as time goes on, I love using it and I implore others attempt to use it more too.
A- to B+ / B
Gallade struggles immensely in the current metagame, where much more potent Fighting-types are available, Gallade's niche of having the dual Psychic-/Fighting-type doesn't help too much, when common Poison-types in Weezing and Garbodor aren't seeing as much usage as they previously did. Its speed tier is too middling, in a metagame where virtually every balance team is running Talonflame, and multiple pokemon faster than Gallade. It doesn't have much to break through common metagame staples such as Colbur Berry Palossand. Just generally very difficult to justify over more potent Fighting-types like Virizion, Passimian and Toxicroak.
B to A-
Sandaconda is one of the best Ground-types in the metagame, being only second to Palossand. It's more bulkier, lacks Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses, has one of the best support moves in Glare and shrugs off status with ease. Sandaconda is a very spammable defensive threat that switches into the prevalent physical attackers in the metagame with ease. While it moved from C to B last shift, I'm still of the belief this is far too low for Sandaconda, which is slowly becoming a staple in the current metagame.
B- to B
Choice Band Trevenant is an excellent wallbreaker, one that can switchin to status spreaders like Vaporeon, Lanturn, Regirock, Gigalith, Sandaconda without much concern. Its defensive typing allows it to switch into both of Virizion's STABs which significantly eases matchups versus it. 525 Attack after Band is incredibly hard to switch into, and hence Trevenant usually gets an OHKO every time it comes in. A strong Pokemon that I'd consider more potent than the majority of B rank, that many more people should try and use.
I strongly agree with all three of Tap's nominations as well. I'd like to elaborate futher on Omastar, because it's absolutely insane at the moment and deserves A rank undisputedly. How useful its ability to abuse the very large amount of Talonflame usage we're seeing at the moment cannot be understated, Lanturn not running Protect as often. Most people are relying on sacking a Pokemon to Meteor Beam in order to check it, which can easily be abused by Shell Smash-ing again and clicking another move. AV Guzzlord is an example of a Pokemon that can check Omastar relatively well, but even then that sees very little usage comparatively and can easily be whittled down throughout a match. Omastar deserves substantially more usage than it does, but I am for one glad it doesn't see too much. In addition to this, hazard setter Omastar easily exploits teams that rely on Talonflame for removal. Omastar is easily the best way to punish the excessive Talonflame usage at the moment, and in my eyes, definitely deserves A.
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