I'd rank mixed LO meloetta. I also don't think Defensive M-Venusaur should be in the same rank as offensive. More or less the main issue stems from its over dependency in so many matches to consolidate its defensive role on top of being a water check, Scald switch in, hazard prone. The longevity issue is a thing with both variants, but the fact that defensive variant will always fail to provide an immediate offensive presence to fight back against stuff like Calm Mind Clefable, Lati switch ins, still gets destroyed by the same stuff even with all the supposed bulk it has gained, doesn't make it seem fit to cater it to a fully defensive role when said defensive traits are just there to provide a specific asset or to overkill stuff that realistically it would still beat anyways with more offensive variant or just tank variant, things like Keldeo and M-Altaria as examples.
Got it with Meloetta. Agree on Def M-Venu as well. Over reliance as a check to a bunch of things hold it back and the prominence of weather and low PP of synthesis is anything but helpful.
Every team is prepared for subtoxic Gliscor now since they're packing Clefable, status absorbers, M-Gard is seeing more usage, more or less nobody cares about this set. It's prepared for without a real thought process. B- please, as you still can break down poorly built teams and or offensive teams that are kind of just shitty and focus too much on physical offense.
Yeah, agreeing again. I've always hated the SubToxic Gliscor set, and it was only ranked as highly as it was at your request. Glad you've seen the light. Lol. n_n
Specially Defensive Excadrill drop because it's lost a ton of relevancy and or effectiveness in any given match it's being used on. B/B- for that, I'm more inclined for B- because Sand Rush and Scarf is so much more appealing for both offensive, balance, and ones that utilize sand cores. SpDef Gyarados to B-. Its fame was a sort of check to Landorus, it's gone now, and acts as a somewhat shitty check to stuff like Gengar and Charizard-Y when in the end in practice it just dies due to rocks damage and the opposing player knowing how to work around it easily.
SpDef Drill on its own isn't great, but I've found quite a bit of use with the AV set. The sets function similarly enough that I'll just slash them and call it B. SpDef Gyara lost its main niche. Rocks weakness and no reliable recovery hurts.
Custap should just go to C on Skarmory set. Every time I see a Skarmory it's never Custap because most people have come to the conclusion it blows, and that teams would rather run it as a pivot of sorts to soak up hits by things like M-Diancie or to phase out with Whirlwind while having both longevity with Roost and access to Spikes, which it can lay down throughout the match.
I agree Custap Skarm is such a waste as a lead mon when you could be using stuff with good offensive presence like Lando or Chomp. It's also extremely exploitable and the niche of Spikes + killing itself with Brave Bird isn't really worth it.
Choice Scarf Latios shouldn't be A+ after giving it some thought process. A is fine, the other sets are just much more appealing and have more splashability. I think SubCM Keldeo has overall lost its effectiveness in the meta-game and will overall net you a couple of neat hits in the game but realistically you're better off using Specs or even Life Orb / Taunt variants.
I agree enough to move it down. I think A is good though and not much lower than that. Being able to outspeed every relevant DD'er even if they get to +1 is a huge asset and Latios has coverage to boot.
I think Choice Scarf Heatran is mediocre but my opinion isn't really strong on that one but that's something to think about.
I agree. I actually moved it all the way down to B+ after using it and seeing it used a bunch lately. It gets held back by the fact that most of the moves it locks into are exploitable.
I'd like all of Char-X's sets with the exception of double dance to be in A+ at this point in time. They're really underrated x_x like Dragon Tail / WillOWisp on semi-stall with Skarmory and bulky DDance is solid cause of Lando-T usage decrease so people have sort of come to the conclusion that Jolly isn't even a necessity on a lot of teams you're using Char-X on. This gives it more breathing room to use all these effectively as such this is where my line of thinking is coming from.
Yes. CharX is huge atm. All of its sets are really useful. Checks a shit ton of stuff on offense by taking a hit, DD'ing and then sweeping. Solid bulk and typing and insane power thanks to Tough Claws.
I think Defensive Togekiss, is extremely overrated. Togekiss's best trait is being a balance breaker, something I believe it will fail at utiziling a defensive set because defensive variants lack the speed to hit things like Bisharp and Breloom due to the nature of how its EVs are spread out.
Yeah, I agree. Rocks weakness and the fact that it really can't even Defog well thanks to Bisharp aren't fun.
Reuniclus is weird cause Choice Specs is kind of bonkers but you got something so foreign on most teams like the Trick Room set at C. I personally would give a nod to Specs Reuniclus at C-, it's a bit hard to use Specs Future Sight does things like bring down most Manaphy variants to 8% or blow back stuff like Clefable at full health potentially depending on the variant. What's the allure of SpDef Zapdos now?
Added Specs Reuni and lowered TR to the same ranking at C-. SpDef Zapdos is shit and practically useless with Lando's exit. Not Sure how low to drop it though.
Infernape is all over the place. Mixed nape is mediocre at best, defensive is the bread and butter in my eyes since Weavile and M-Scizor are such big threats in the meta, the others I have no real opinion on.
I think I fixed it.
I'd call Tangrowth Pivot, that's what it really does.
Done.