Way I see it we have a few routes forward.
Broadly we can reduce speed, and leave other stats untouched. This would increase offensive counterplay, though the number of offensive checks we add absolutely depends on the exact value. Lowering to 110 adds Wisp Astrolotl as the softest of checks, and not really much else. 106 adds Blace as a revenge killer, which honestly is something I enjoy. 101 adds Garchomp, post-trick Cruc, Nihilego, and Krilowatt. I've seen some folks arguing for 96 to add Urshifu, or even 95-94 to add Lele.
Reducing Attack further doesn't seem like the way for me. Venomicon's attack is about perfect where it is, ensuring that we have just enough 2HKO potential to be viable, and if we lose even more 2HKOs we just get dropped off of teams in favor of Goltres/Gapdos/etc.
Reducing physical bulk (through a HP nerf or Def nerf) would reduce the "cheese potential" of Coil a tad by making it harder for us to get 2 turns of setup and live Melm/Gyro Ferro. This forces even larger misplays from the opponent to get into a winning potential into what should be two of our hardest checks, or forces us to have screens up. I'm not proposing any hard numbers here cause I am too lazy.
Removing Coil is something that would solve the problem, but I worry that it leaves us being unused on HO, which is really where we see the most use atm. This would make us sorta relegated to a SR user on Libra Builds or a Knock U=turn Pivot, which is definitely fine. Ultimately this route works, and is a bit heavy handed as compared to speed or defense nerfs (if both are mild enough), but imo it works.
Edit:
I don't really like the idea of removing BB. Ye, this removes a ton of its KO power against Steels in particular, but it also changes the dynamic away from health management to sorta "manage setup to put steels into Drill range".
Broadly we can reduce speed, and leave other stats untouched. This would increase offensive counterplay, though the number of offensive checks we add absolutely depends on the exact value. Lowering to 110 adds Wisp Astrolotl as the softest of checks, and not really much else. 106 adds Blace as a revenge killer, which honestly is something I enjoy. 101 adds Garchomp, post-trick Cruc, Nihilego, and Krilowatt. I've seen some folks arguing for 96 to add Urshifu, or even 95-94 to add Lele.
Reducing Attack further doesn't seem like the way for me. Venomicon's attack is about perfect where it is, ensuring that we have just enough 2HKO potential to be viable, and if we lose even more 2HKOs we just get dropped off of teams in favor of Goltres/Gapdos/etc.
Reducing physical bulk (through a HP nerf or Def nerf) would reduce the "cheese potential" of Coil a tad by making it harder for us to get 2 turns of setup and live Melm/Gyro Ferro. This forces even larger misplays from the opponent to get into a winning potential into what should be two of our hardest checks, or forces us to have screens up. I'm not proposing any hard numbers here cause I am too lazy.
Removing Coil is something that would solve the problem, but I worry that it leaves us being unused on HO, which is really where we see the most use atm. This would make us sorta relegated to a SR user on Libra Builds or a Knock U=turn Pivot, which is definitely fine. Ultimately this route works, and is a bit heavy handed as compared to speed or defense nerfs (if both are mild enough), but imo it works.
Edit:
I don't really like the idea of removing BB. Ye, this removes a ton of its KO power against Steels in particular, but it also changes the dynamic away from health management to sorta "manage setup to put steels into Drill range".
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