Gross Sweep
Plan Ahead
So with DLC drops coming to UU in about 18 days I feel like there is time for one more update to get the VR as good as it can possibly be before the meta undergoes a drastic shift. These are a handful of nominations I feel fairly strongly about, that I'd like to discuss before the DLC.
Incineroar has been one of the top Pokemon in the metagame for a while now, and even with recent drops like Keldeo in the tier it still continues to thrive. Thanks to Heavy Duty Boots it serves as the premiere pivot in the tier. As the combination of Knock Off + Parting Shot / U-turn allow it to always be helpful. Regardless of what else you’re running in those 2 other slots, Incineraor will pull its weight in pretty much any matchup. Incineroar is also really nice in the current metagame as it’s one of the few viable Dark-types (and the most splashable one by far), which allows it to help vs strong psychic types like Reuniclus and Necrozma (depending on the sets) and helps check the Teapot who can be very threatening after a Shell Smash. Aside from being a solid pivot Incineraor has shown great flexibility running more offensive sets utilizing Swords Dance to help break down opposing teams. Overall Incineraor is an incredibly spashable mon that will find a way to make progress in basically every game it’s a part of, which is all you can really ask from a Pokemon.
Edit: lol I forgot to actually mention that Incin should rise to S, but I'm sure you all got that.
Gardevoir should drop. Gardevoir being A ranked seems like a relic from when Venusaur was terrorizing the tier, and it was one of the few methods of revenge killing the tier had. I had some hopes it would climb back to prominence when Pelipper dropped down, but Drizzle was quickly banned and here we are. At a point in time when Sylveon just outclasses Gardevoir in a lot of scenarios I just can’t support Garde being A ranked any longer. It’s still a decent mon with Scarf, but with mons like Darmanitan and Rillaboom being faster scarfers that Garde has to compete with it is tough. The combination of weather losing relevance in the tier, Sylveon being better at so many roles, and the rise of solid opposing scarfers has me losing faith in Gardevoir. A drop to A- or B+ feels like the right move to make.
The idea that Copperajah needs a rise is not new, but it’s important enough that I want to take a second to echo the notion. Copperajah is a force that I find myself loving more and more. It provides solid role compression of a bulky steel + Rocks. It also sets itself apart from others like Bronzong by providing a serious offensive presence. That said I do tend to find myself struggling with 4mss a bit as I want to fit Stealth Rock / Heavy Slam / Earthquake / Power Whip / and Heat Crash, which is just not doable. Copperajah is also excellent as it’s one of the better Roserade switch ins the tier has taking basically nothing from its STABs, while getting up Rocks vs it pretty easily. Also if you manage to fit Stealth Rock on another slot Copperajah is able to alleviate itself of its 4mss and run an Assault Vest. Which allows it to be more of a threat offensively with great coverage, and switch into fairies even better. I think Copperajah is going to continue to strive going forward and definitely deserves to rise, in my opinion, from B to A- or B+ at the very least.
Ninetales is B+ ??? This feels like another relic from the days sun dominated the UU tier. As Chlorophyll abusers like Leafeon and Shiftry have failed to fill the giant shoes left behind by Venusaur, Ninetales has also fallen off. While it still possesses a solid speed tier and strong set up with Nasty Plot, it just doesn’t feel like a standalone B+ Pokemon. I think Ninetales needs a rank that more directly reflects Sun in the current UU meta, to me a rank of B- or C+ feels more appropriate. C+ would make it equal with its Drought counterpart Torkoal, but I see Ninetales as bit more viable and would settle happily with a rank of B-
Gigalith should drop. Times have been hard on Gigalith. Having the ability to reset weather with Sand and use the Spdef boost to help take on special attackers like Sylveon and Noivern made it great. That said as opposing weathers have died down, and Volt Switch has grown more popular it has been tough for Gigalith to find a spot on teams. It’s almost not a matter of Gigalith doing anything wrong, but other mons have really started to separate themselves by handling common issues better. Be it Grounds like Rhyperior stopping Volt Switch, or Steels like Escavalier and Copperajah rising in usage to check fairies. It just feels like Gigalith is never the best option for a team and it’s not worth actually using. I’m not exactly sure where it should end up, but A is definitely too high for where it is currently.
Pangoro should be a rank above Machamp. The nuclear Knock Off that Pangoro provides really makes it stick out, and the Dark typing allowing it to greatly help vs threats like Necrozma and Reuniclus can’t be understated. Pangoro also provides teams with a ghost resist that can help keep Chandy from spamming Shadow Ball. While there are definitely some team compositions that make it worth running Machamp, like if you are trying to avoid stacking Dark-types and want to run Incineraor. At the end of the day though I feel Pangoro outclasses Machamp to the point them being in the same rank feels wrong as they compete with each other for team slots so closely. I personally want to See Pangoro rise to A, but I would also accept Machamp dropping down a rank if the VR council feels A is too much for Pangoro right now. The current rankings just seem inaccurate with these two in the same tier.
I would like to see Gastrodon in B+. Gastrodon is a really cool choice in the current meta, as it is one of the best anti VoltTurn mons in the meta. As it can easily switch into Rotom-W without a lot of fear, unlike a lot of other Ground types. The best spread that I’ve played with personally right now is Max Defense which helps you deal with Keldeo and Darmanitan who are two of the more prominent threats in the current meta. Overall I feel like Gastrodon is a strong pick in the current metagame that helps keep a lot of threats running around in check. It definitely isn’t a world beater, but deserves a rise to B+ in my eyes. (Also VR should use East Gastrodon regardless)
I will keep this very simple. Flygon is not A- material. While I will always stand by a faster scarfer, in terms of the meta, with a ground typing and U-turn. Flygon just does not measure up. This thing never hits hard enough. I often find myself clicking Dragon Claw with this Pokemon to revenge kill, and am often left unimpressed as this thing hits like a wet noodle. Outside of providing speed control and a pair of immunities Flygon is just bad. If you need some role compression in your 6th slot, Flygon could be worth a look. That said, this is a Pokémon that I actively try to avoid needing its role compression to complete my teams, as I honestly feel it is underwhelming in the roles it provides. At the minimum I’d like to nom Flygon to B+ and I would support a lower ranking. Also with Haxorus being banned Flygon lost a major niche it had, which was revenge killing +1 Haxorus. Haxorus warped the meta so much that it made Flygon usable, and its ban has quickly sunk Flygon. Also it’s probably worth mentioning that some defog Flygon sets are usable, but they are by no means A- rank sets.
Edit: lol I forgot to actually mention that Incin should rise to S, but I'm sure you all got that.
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