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Logo by Chloe and UberSkitty.
Welcome to the power rankings for the tenth installment of the PU Premier League, and congrats to the tournament on reaching double digits! With a healthy mix of new, old, and *really* old faces, along with some seriously stacked pools, this year is sure to be interesting. A lot of work goes into getting everyone's votes and gathering results, so we hope that you all enjoy the power rankings. Good luck to all teams and players participating, and let's make it a fun summer.
Thank you to the following users that contributed to this article with their votes: A plague doc, Alice Kazumi, Aliss, Ampha, Aurist, asa, avarice, Bag of Trixx, Bouff, crying, Danny, Dj Breloominati, Django, DripLegend, Drud, DugZa, Dunoks, entrocefalo, Estarossa, EviGaro, feaniix, feen, fish anemometer, frankjosh, goldmason, gulch, gum, Hera, HSOWA, ishtar, justdrew, Kiyo, Lily, LpZ, mj, Monai, mncmt, MZ, nada e ninguem, OranBerryBlissey10, Parpar, plznostep, PTF, sasha, Seraphz, SergioRules, Slowbroth, spell, Stories, sugar ovens, sufys, Suzuya, Tack, taka, Teddeh, TheKingKarp, Thiago Nunes, triple axel blaze, Tuthur, TyCarter, Xiri, and zS.
Thank you also to Ampha, asa, Bella, fish anemometer, gulch, gum, Hera, ishtar, and justdrew for writing, and Meri Berry and Lumari for making this article possible!
After last year's (frankly, disappointing) results and a continuing decline in Fortnite viewership, hit streamer Ninja has come back to manage the Gargantuan Golurks with Seraphz! This team is very top heavy, with strong slots in SM, ORAS, and BW, with Xiri, crying, and LpZ all being very strong players who are very knowledgeable in their respective tiers and should go X-1 or X-2; all have proven themselves to be solid players in the past, although Xiri is coming off an extremely rough 0-4 run in PUBD, which means if any of the three struggle the team can easily crumble apart due to limited depth. The immediate other great pickup here is frankjosh, who despite not seeming to know much DPP PU is a strong tours player playing in a relatively underwhelming DPP pool, although support will be essential for his success, which the team seems to be lacking in.
After that, most of the remaining starters are mostly unproven in PU tours players or are playing in particularly strong pools. justdrew is another strong and knowledgeable player in his own right and notably is 5-0 in his playing career in PUPL; however, this year's Bo3 pool is particularly strong, so he will likely need strong support to succeed. The SV core of Taka, Seraphz, and Bouff has a batch of very proven tours players in other tiers, but only Bouff is experienced in playing in PU team tours, and although SV is a particularly easy tier to learn and pick up, all three may not have the most up-to-date metagame knowledge, which makes the three's success an X factor for the Golurks. Hera, known snake to someone, is starting in SS, a tier they are knowledgeable in, and likely does not need much support to help prep, although this year's SS pool is, like Bo3, very strong, making it potentially an uphill battle for Hera to achieve wins. Last but not least for the starters, a plague doc is a known tour player, but they are a risky pick due to not to have seemingly played ADV in the past, a very top-heavy tier with many strong mainers in the pool, which will mean they will need very heavy support to succeed. When looking at subs, BloodAce will likely be monumental in helping prepare and build in SV and SM in particular and is a solid sub option for both tiers if something goes south. Both azogue and Sahki are mostly tour players and don't see to be particularly knowledgeable on one particular tier, but both can likely hold their own in any tier they might need to be called on to play for, although Sahki's poor 0-2 performance in the most recent PUWC may signal they will need extra support to win. Finally, tom holland is an older player who is particularly knowledgeable in SM, although his unknown amount of rustiness as a tours player may be unfavorable. All in all, this team will need its hard-hitters to do extremely well and will likely require a lot of support coming from the team's players and any helpers they have. If all of that happens and Xiri, crying, LpZ, and frankjosh all put up positive records, a playoff push is in the cards, but if it does not, it's unsure if the remaining members of the team and their support will be enough.
Headed by managers gulch (formerly known as Melt Gibson) and Ampha, the Malignant Chain Snatchers are just about ready to snatch victory this PUPL. What immediately stands out among this roster is a solid array of top-level talent. S1nn0hC0nfirm3d is probably the player to beat in SV; well known for his SS NU and Loser's Game escapades, as well as his signature hyper offensive team colloquially known as Ho3n HO making the rounds around PU Open and ladder, he's a great player and builder and is sure to provide immense value to the team. HSOWA is also a very strong DPP player, coming off a 5-2 record in the previous PUPL and a 3-2 record in DPP. And with Drud out of the DPP pool this year, he faces less competition as a player. OranBerryBlissey10 is more known for their strength in SS ZU and NU but is also a strong SS PU player, with their most notable placement being finals in the most recent SS PU Cup. Unfortunately, their results have been a little lackluster lately, sporting a 4-8 record across PUPL IX and PUWC. sugar ovens is also a widely known SM PU player, having played and built the tier since it was a current gen, and has maintained active in the PU community since, building name recognition as well as having a PUBD championship under their belt. However, the latter half of their roster is a bit more lackluster. Tack and plznostep are around the middle of the pack in their respective generations, as although both are decently well known within their respective tiers, both suffer from lackluster records as of late (2-2 in PUBD and 2-3 in PUPL IX for Tack, and 2-2 in PUBD and 1-2 in PUPL) that might cause them to perform poorly. Ampha and feen could also end up being a bit underwhelming; while Ampha can build and has prior experience in the tier, he has yet to win a game in a team tournament, and while feen is the current RU tier leader, he has yet to play PU and has only recently come back from retirement, which may lead to underperformance and rustiness for both players. Alice Kazumi is also a rather doubtful pick, as while she does have a strong 3-0 record in PUBD, she faces a stronger than average pool with players such as Aberforth, crying, and Teddeh. Finally, there is a very underwhelming Bo3 pick in Suzuya, the second weakest in the pool, who also isn't a bad player but suffers from an extremely strong pool, possibly the strongest in Bo3 history, so support will be necessary. With strong support in VR Council member Scarf Kricketune and flexible substitutes in Fragments and Ming549, these players have high expectations, and despite their weak spots, they are favorites to secure a playoff berth. However, if their weaker slots don't meet expectations, they may disappoint.
They say he who lives in a glass house should not throw stones. Luckily, me stoned in my one-bedroom apartment can heave to my heart's content. Unfortunately for me, the Stoners have created a solid lineup. Typically, two managers with a lack of tier experience do not draft well, but this was not the case.
The 420 Houndstoners, two German managers, and their newly legalized weed, have created what is an impressive and versatile lineup. They were spared a ménage à trois for third place by having the better SV lineup. Ironic, as their core is quite mid (as all players are middle of the pack). Axrtix is a solid player; while mostly known for NU, they've had one stint in PUPL going 4-3, and are fortunately blessed with tier adjacency and translating metagames. Next up is tier, an accomplished player on this site following up a 6-2 record and tour win with the Mags last PUPL. While he is not quite self sufficient, he is opinionated and involved in prep. If you can ignore the fact that he talks in general chat during games, he can be a daunting opponent. Last is sufys, a newer player making a quick rise with some good team tour performances and a quarterfinals appearance in PULT. Many players find a way to ride a hot streak for long periods of time, so PUPL is a great chance for sufys to do this when it really matters. Rounding out the SV core as prep and the Bo3 starter is Danny, one of the better PU players currently, with very commendable results including his appearance in last year's Grand Slam playoffs. Danny is currently moving through PU Open, being able to both build and play at a high level, and should provide fantastic to support to what is an already capable core. He is coming off his first PUPL appearance last year with a 6-2 record in Bo3, putting him third in what is a strong pool.
Unfortunately, even 50 milligrams can't make you overlook what is a considerably weak oldgens lineup. Not only is this an oldgens lineup in need of support, but it's one with potentially no support. While Feaniix is well known for his BW, they are sporting a low 37% win percentage in PU team tours. QWILY has nothing to show for themselves in PUPL, and potentially PU as a whole. While SV is looking self sufficient, the oldgens are not. What can these two provide to circumvent what could be a huge issue for their season? Their strongest player in the old gens, arguably, is avarice—a player that's been drafted to more tours than Snoop Dogg's smoked J's. A strong player, but stretched thin, not very active, and out of their element in ORAS. Continuing along are Piyu and entrocefalo, two players who can be drafted in any tour on the site. That being said, they are surely out of their element and are going to need so much help Danny might never see his family or girlfriend all tour. If they can achieve activity and self-sufficiency, there is hope. Nearing the end of this tragic story, we have dunoks in DPP PU. If I were dunoks, I would choose the Napoleon route and go into exile as opposed to being an underdog with no support in a very top-heavy pool. Lastly is goldmason, a newer player to the site and winner of ADVPL with a 3-3 record in NU. With an interest in oldgens and understanding of mechanics, this player is in a good position for success if they can find support.
This team has competent subs in Kenix, maki, and Clementine. All together they don't compile much PU experience, though, likely not to the extent that this team requires in the oldgens department, and this is also not a list of names that would seem to be especially active. Hopefully Clementine can crank out 10 scouts a week; otherwise, they will surely be frustrating.
If this team can stay off the weed-duh, and really lock in, there's a lot of potential here. It does seem though that if the SV slots can't carry or Danny can't inspire SS and SM with his own prep, this team is in for a rough tournament. This team is loaded with good players that you'll see in many tournaments, but you can't outclick a bad matchup.
Leveling up from last PUPL, ishtar returns to the fray, this time managing with card-carrying Sliggoomfies player Meri Berry. The eclectic PUTL opted to self-buy, leading her squadron of besties into battle by helming the team's SV2 slot. Despite bountiful metagame knowledge and a clean 4-2 finish in last year's PUPL, ishtar is coming into this season fresh off a rough 1-2 in PUWC and an even rougher 2-4 in PUBD, so which one of these she'll end up replicating is largely a mystery. However, her motivation for these tours is always high, and she's still very much a strong contender in her own right. The duo then continued their running theme of the power of friendship by retaining EviGaro, a top contender in the BW pool. Despite being absent from the manager seat this year, asa wasn't far behind either, but did we really expect her to be anywhere else? Much like the team mascot, she's notably evolved from last year, becoming PUTL and putting up a respectable finals finish in the most recent ladder tour alongside a strong 6-3 record last PUPL. Thiago Nunes takes the wheel in the Goodras Bo3 slot, and while he's a notable player with several positive records under his belt, including a good few from PUWC, his rough season last PUPL coupled with dubious knowledge of SS and SM could be cause for concern. Aberforth looks to break out of his reputation as the world's okayest ORAS PU player, with high activity coupled with solid builder support sure to guide him to a respectable record. JabbaTheGriffin brings a blast from the past in DPP, putting his status as one of the few players able to navigate and build in this dinosaur tier to the test. Whether or not this is why he clicks like he has somewhere to go, we can only wonder. Taking up the mantle for SS is Meru, with what certainly appears to be a colorful array of records from previous PU tours. However, the better ones are from past PUPLs, so there's little doubt he'll be able to stand his ground in this year's iteration of Gigalith simulator. Estarossa is starting in SM this year and should be able to do well for himself with solid fundamentals and what will surely amount to millions of test games before his matches. Slowbroth looks to have his breakout PUPL season in ADV, having made a name for himself as the "ADV PU GOAT '' in several ADV tours and putting up a respectable 3-1 in PUBD. Finally, Django rounds out the Goodras SV core. While he has little experience playing the tier, he's been around the block and has some of the best support in the tour. The bench is composed of Bella, who will undoubtedly give perhaps a little too much in making sure every slot is prepped and ready to go before game day, alongside GSC freedom fighter Aurist, who will have to settle for providing excellent support in SV and ADV, and katarina, who has the fundamentals to be of reasonable assistance anywhere she may be needed. There's no shortage of star power in this roster, but only time will tell if the Goodras take home the gold or their real PUPL victory will be the friends they made along the way.
Everyone's favorite couple comes back in the form of the team DugZa x Floss, but the truth about this team is far more confusing and less rooted in romance. Word on the streets is that dissatisfaction amongst the two Haunter x Haunter managers led to the retain of MZ as counselor. DugZa might've misunderstood what I (Ishtar) said when I asked him if MZ should be promoted to tiering council, but we can just hope and see if this strange twist works out for them. It is pride month after all! Unfortunately, this decision led to the Haunters starting the auction with almost negative money after the DugZa x Floss self-buy + the MZ retain, which led to a wacky draft. On top of that, I'm still not convinced Floss did not fall asleep midway through.
So, what does this team actually look like? Floss leads the SV core after a great 6-3 result last PUPL and a less great 2-3 score in PUBD. Still, Floss has cemented himself as one of the best SV lower tier pilots, and people seem hopeful that he's gonna continue displaying that talent at its full potential. MZ is second, and one can only be reminded of his actual words in the PUPL X Team Overview Cast Now Out On Youtube, Like, Comment and Subscribe. Something along the lines of “I don't know what they were thinking.” Still, MZ has been very prominent in SV recently, with solid results and a fantastic knowledge of the tier on top of his oldgen experience. Worst case, he will be slotted back into SM or ORAS or BW or... Cielau rounds up the SV core; a Monotype main who has a good amount of experience across lower tiers, he's expected to be the wildcard slot of the Haunters, for much-needed surprise factor amongst such established players. DugZa, aka Doug, finds himself in Bo3 for the first time after successful ventures in SV and SS. It's hard to cast doubt on Doug with his PU Winter Seasonal victory as well as having great 69% (nice) winrate in PU Team Tours overall, but his lack of SM familiarity might be a deciding factor in his success amongst the strongest pool of the tournament. Will Doug be able to win in a better oldgen than SS? We'll have to find out! mj is another past Haunter that joins the roster once more in SS. A past 4-3 score means that he should be consistent in what people consider a slightly shallow pool. PTF is one of the steals of the draft, with a fantastic 5-1 score in PUBD playing SM. His results before PUBD aren't very notable, so another good tournament should cement him as one of the strongest SM PU players, and he will be working hard to make this happen. tko is another older face, this time in ORAS, who has recently obtained very positive results. A 4-1 in PUBD is nothing to scoff at, but his results before that are fairly inconsistent. Guille is a new face to PU tournaments, but he has BW experience in other tiers, like a recent 5-2 in RUPL. BW is a top-heavy pool, though, and Guille will probably have an uphill battle every week. #1-ranked DPP PU Heysup is back to dominate the pool, while TyCarter slots in ADV after an 0-6 SV record last year in PUPL. As subs we find the likes of skrimps, Tenebricite and Theia, who should be eager to help with tests in old and current gens, as well as to play if the chance arises. Overall, the Haunters have an equal number of established players and players wanting to prove their spot in their respective tiers. The deciding factor in this team will probably be how capable these slots are at proving their skill against the top of the pool.
The Pokéstar Pranksters are in fifth place, led by PUBD winner mncmt and Monotype main sasha. Only mncmt self-bought, though, electing to return to Bo3 following a 3-3 performance last year. While neither are PU mainstays, they both have enough experience with the tier and its oldgens to support their mostly self-sufficient starters.
Beraldo and Larry are strong players who performed very well in PUBD I and seem capable of building their own teams, so it makes sense that they take the top two slots here. At the tail end of this SV core is DripLegend, who hasn't had the best PU team tour showings but still qualified for PU ladder tour playoffs and shouldn't be taken lightly. In SS is gum, who's ranked first in the tier. Unfortunately, this placement makes sense; they're s among the pool's more creative builders on top of piloting GigaSlash teams exactly like everyone else better than anyone I've ever seen. Sylveon used calm mind looks to make his SM PU debut here. Hopefully the support from mncmt, gum, and Bag of Trixx is enough to make up for his inexperience with the tier. Kiyo is no stranger to ORAS, but this being his first PU team tour in over three years does leave some room for doubt, even with his 3-1 record from 2020. triple axel blaze is a PU newcomer with quite a bit of BW experience, so we'll see how well that translates to success. Next is Bag of Trixx in DPP, who is more than comfortable here and more than capable of aiding his oldgen comrades. Lily returns to ADV after a collective 8-3 performance in the tier across PUBD I and PUPL IX, which explains her first-place ranking in the pool and 16.5k price tag. Rounding things out is Mr. Menceganium himself in Bo3, who's solid and has plenty of help for each tier if he needs it. The Pranksters have a few slots that raise eyebrows, but they have some serious star power on their side as well.
The Scream Queen Loors have ranked sixth both in quality of team name and quality of players. zS went from managing the sixth-worst team last PUPL to being ranked sixth this PUPL, awarding him points for consistency. If you ignore his 0-5 SS season in PUBD, he's ranked seventh all time on the PU team tours sheet. However, this will be his first season in Bo3. At his side is Baloor, who is coming off a strong 1-0 and PUPL tournament win in the previous year. Aside from playing a small role in a very well-put-together Mags team, Baloor has next to no PU experience.
As with any team that self-buys both managers, a good draft is key. The Loors started off by nabbing robjr for a reasonable price. Rob is one of the most prolific lower tiers players, bringing with him much-needed consistency, sometimes tempered by a lack of activity. If Rob is invested, he is one of the most dangerous players in the tournament. Unfortunately for the Loors, the draft went downhill from there. They acquired high caliber veterans like lax and Teddeh, both of whom you find near the top of the PU team tour sheet. Questions remain: how active will these players be, and how much support will they need? If there is a sufficient support system and a decent level of activity, both of these players easily top their pools.
This team's setbacks are further revealed when you take a look at their SV core. Baloor is a strong player, but as mentioned earlier, he has a lack of experience and likely an outdated understanding of the tier, having last played in PUWC. etern is another competent SCL-caliber player, but he equally lacks PU experience. Their saving grace is nada e ninguem, who recently won PULT. This gives them some recency bias, which is mitigated by their lack of PU team tour experience and the fact that ladder tours are shorter and usually possess a lesser level of competition than a Seasonal or Open. With their teams most likely being built by nada and zS, is this really the support a weaker SV core can succeed with?
The Loors rounded out their oldgens lineup in a rather lackluster fashion. Mada is a solid player brandishing a trophy and a lot of success on this site. However, they lack both experience and results in this tier. With zS and Leni as their backing, they do have some potential to succeed, though. Speaking of Leni, he was thrown under the bus by being placed into a tier such as DPP, when he can easily be ranked highly in SV, SS, or SM. This may just be because they have no one else, though it does seem like wasted potential and a decision that should be amended. Finally, the Loors selected Parpar for ADV. While Parpar is a new face for this tier, he has gained traction as an ADV UU player and has plenty of experience with the mechanics. Depending on the learning curve, he has a lot of potential here. This team definitely has a good pool of subs in atomicllamas, SergioRules, Aliss, and spell. This is a group of players that have been around the block, whether in PU or otherwise. All are capable players and if needed can come off the bench and have success. Can they be active and pick up the workload? Because this team desperately needs that.
Overall the Loors have potential, but they have left their fate mostly in the hands of good clickers with no tenure. It really depends on how many of these players give a hoot and if they can foster a team environment where activity will generate success.
Hot off a dominant victory last year, the m.A.A.d City Magmortars return, under new management for the second time in a row. Now leading with Drud is former Destructive Dedenne fish anemometer, with the two filling their team's first and second SV slots. While Drud is best known for his prowess in DPP PU, he is currently the winningest PU team tour player, which speaks to a level of skill not limited to dinosaur generations alone. Drud has also shown that he's no slouch in SV PU, going 4-1 in PUWC IV and 6-1 in BLT XI in the tier, so there's little doubt he'll do well. fish anemometer is the defending PU Circuit champion, has similarly good records in PUWC IV and BLT XI, and regularly places well in individual PU tours. He is surely looking to outdo his previous 4-4 record, and he surely has the skill to make it happen. Rounding out their SV core is ZU tier leader Tuthur, a good pilot who has plenty of building support to make up for his inexperience with the tier.
Dj Breloominati is back in SS after being retained. He's a solid player with plenty of experience in SS PU, and he's riding quite a bit of momentum after winning both PUWC IV and PUBD I. Time will tell if he can translate this to a fourth consecutive PU team tour win. ManOfMany is... surprisingly not in ORAS, but in SM. His performance in PUBD I wasn't stellar, and it's been some time since he played SM PU in a tournament, but the talent and knowledge are there, and he shouldn't be underestimated. TheKingKarp is back in ORAS after skipping out on last year's PUPL. He's previously achieved great results in the tier and now has support from ManOfMany, so we'll see how well he can replicate his 5-0 showing in 2022. NU main Stories finds herself in BW yet again. While she didn't do great in this slot last year, she's still a strong, capable player who is always willing to innovate, which lends itself well to the nature of BW. BeatsBlack and Monai round out this team's oldgens, making their PU team tour debut in DPP and ADV after putting up solid records in DPPPL IV and ADVPL IV, respectively. Finally, pdt is back in the Bo3 slot. His 4-2 record from last year speaks for itself, and Bo3 is where he tends to feel most comfortable; no need to fix what isn't broken. There's plenty of talent to go around here, even among the newer faces, and it's up to the Magmortars to fully capitalize on it if they want to bring home the gold once more.
1. fish anemometer: 2 - Magmortars
1. Drud: 7 - Magmortars
1. Tuthur: 18 - Magmortars
The combination of Drud, fish anemometer, and Tuthur sounds more like a ZU dream team, but here they are in PU, earning the title of this year's top SV core. Drud's been a reliable source of wins for many PUPLs until now, even being the overall winningest PU team tour player. With impressive SV showings in PUWC IV, BLT XI, and PU Open VII, too, we can expect great things from him. To the untrained eye, fish anemometer is a ladder hero that hates electric, Dorito-shaped frogs. The trained eye will also see this but at the same time recognize his immense growth as a player since last year and acknowledge his solid recent individual and team tour results. It's pretty hard to argue against the PU Circuit champion being this high up. Now, the trained eye would be forgiven for raising its brow at Tuthur rounding this core out, since he doesn't have much experience in SV PU. Still, the Jigglypuff enthusiast is known for his prowess in ZU and SV NU, so he may end up proving his doubters and low ranking wrong with some help from the team.
2. MZ: 6 - Haunters
2. Floss: 5 - Haunters
2. Cielau: 22 - Haunters
The Haunters' SV core secures the runner-up spot, led by MZ and supported by DugZa. MZ would usually be a name seen playing older generations of PU, but the CEO of Untier Talk has returned with vigor to the PU scene, actively building and laddering, assuring a clinical understanding of the current metagames and its trajectories while also being able to support older generation slots. Ranked fufth overall is Floss. A formidable pilot with a solid 6-3 record in last year's edition of the tournament, Floss has proven his proficiency time and time again, and a more modest PUBD showing from earlier in the year isn't enough to extinguish that. Cielau is a name new to PU. A Monotype main scouted out by the Haunters' managers, they have shown they are capable players in French tournaments and are looking to make an underdog story run for their team in their PUPL debut. DugZa's support also shouldn't go without mention, as he's a top teambuilder in current PU and is sure to lighten the load MZ has to carry.
3. asa: 3 - Goodras
3. ishtar: 8 - Goodras
3. Django: 24 - Goodras
The Goodras SV is led by the tier leader duo themselves! asa has shown to be the creme de la creme of PU players and teambuilders. Climbing all the way to the finals of PULT with some very impressive wins and a 6-3 PUPL last year, asa is still at the forefront of PU and is poised to be a deadly threat to the pool. She can also support or slot into some older generations if team plans are in need of change. Ishtar went positive in the last iteration of PUPL, but since she's become TL, her results have been inconsistent. There is good reason to believe in a strong performance here, though, as indicated by the eighth-place ranking. And like asa, she can slot into older generations as well. Django is a former SPL player back after a 10-year hiatus! Since their return, they have participated in PU suspect tests and NUPL. However, there is doubt, as the 10 year absence has made most players skeptical, and Django has been ranked last by the other starters.
4. S1nn0hC0nfirm3d: 1 - Snatchers
4. Ampha: 15 - Snatchers
4. feen: 19 - Snatchers
Un0v4C0nfirm3d went 11-1 in SCL. Ampha has been showing up in PU as of late with results and high activity. A strong PU SSNL and PULT as well as additional motivation from the manager seat are high hopes for a good season. Although, rumor has it that none of the teams he used in the aforementioned tournaments were his own... feen is a lovely team presence and more than capable player who can certainly pose a threat to the top of the pool and is also capable of slotting into other generations. This team largely hinges on Ho3n stomping the pool and providing top tier support to his teammates. And while the former is almost surely a lock, the latter may be a question mark, as he could very well lone wolf this as well, leaving some weaknesses open with the rest of the core. Still, even in a worst-case scenario, Ampha and feen can clutch up and make something that works.
5. Beraldo: 4 - Pranksters
5. Larry: 10 - Pranksters
5. DripLegend: 21 - Pranksters
Beraldo and Larry are extremely skilled pilots who topped the PUBD sheet in SV. It should be noted, however, that both of those teams had more dedicated builders for these pilots than what we can currently find on the Pranksters. Beraldo is known to build for himself in these, though, and gum might not be as retired as we have thought! Rounding out the SV core is DripLegend. Drip's latest performances in PU haven't been the most convincing, with a 2-5 PU slot in the recent BLT and a 1-2 PUBD performance. Drip will have to pull it together, being the player with the most SV PU knowledge on his team and in the tournament. But if he does, this core has high hopes of succeeding.
6. tier: 12 - Houndstoners
6. Axrtix: 11 - Houndstoners
6. sufys: 14 - Houndstoners
The Stoners SV is led by tier, a player who yapped his way to an impressive 6-2 for 3k last year. He's shown a lot of enthusiasm for PU lately and has the right support to do well again this year. Axrtix was another player who went under the radar last year, ending with a positive record. His PULT laddering phase was also quite dominant. Sufys rounds out the core. A prolific builder whose teams have been seen throughout many tournaments in current PU, he had a respectable PULT showing as well, although BLT didn't go the way he wanted it to. Rankings-wise the Houndstoners, have themselves a generally solid SV lineup. Good clickers, yappers, solid teammates, and builders. A formula for success!
7. nada e ninguem: 9 - LOORS
7. etern: 13 - LOORS
7. Baloor: 20 - LOORS
LOOR finds himself managing and playing! And while it may not seem like it, he's had his fair share of current gen PU, most recently in playing hundreds of games to try and qualify for PULT! A team tournament environment will concentrate his focus more, and his high motivation for this tour will surely pay dividends. nada was crowned champion of the most recent individual tournament, with the ladder hero fittingly taking the ladder tournament. zS and LOOR were successfully able to make him download Discord, so a bright season of wins awaits them! etern is a solid pilot, but there are some question marks surrounding him, with him explicitly stating he'll have activity issues in the signup post. The LOORs take some risks with this lineup, especially with nada having some terrible scheduling in the past. So, fingers crossed the risks were properly calculated!
8. Taka: 17 - Golurks
8. Seraphz: 23 - Golurks
8. Bouff: 16 - Golurks
Finding themselves in last place are the Golurks. However, they certainly aren't without chance. Taka is a player you always appreciate having on your team, contributing to a good atmosphere, testing, and building. Seraphz is a newer player, without many results to speak of at the moment. The motivation is there, though, and they actively build in the tier and were confident enough to self-buy. Bouff is a player with some question marks next to their name. In PUBD they hopped across three different generations to finish 2-3. They're known to be solid, though, and if they are motivated to play SV, there's not much reason they wouldn't do well. This team also has a good amount of support and sub options, should anything go wrong—according to the rankings, that may be more than likely…!
1. mncmt - Pranksters
Few players have the same skill and ability to pilot the game as mncmt. His placement as #1 in the BO3 is clear evidence of this, and so are his results over the years. While a 3-3 last year in PUPL doesn't sound that impressive, a 4-3 in PUPL the year prior coupled with a 5-0 in PUWC show the qualities of a player with near-unrivaled consistency. Teaming up with friends not named Ren should help keep mncmt in shape, and support from sasha, the SV slots, and gum in oldgens should give him more than enough good builds that he should hopefully pilot to victory.
2. pdt - Magmortars
On a very similar level to mncmt, pdt is another powerhouse in lower tiers, with great fundamentals and understanding of the game. The main difference found in pdt probably lies in his tryhard-ness and full commitment to the art of winning. Teaming up with the Mags for a third year in a row should help him maintain these ethics, and while 4-5 and 5-5 records in the last two prior years are nothing to scoff at, this should be the year pdt finally goes positive with excellent support from fish, DJ, Drud and ManOfMany in their respective tiers. A number 2 spot proves that people believe this to be not only possible, but likely.
3. Danny - Houndstoners
After his unsuccessful manager venture in PUBD with the Wo-Chien Clan, Danny is back to remind people of his great run last PUPL, an amazing 6-2. While Danny's results outside of PUPL IX have been less impressive, he's never actually gone negative, scoring a 2-2 in PUBD and last PUWC. It seems people have not forgotten about his great run last PUPL either, but he's more of a question mark slot than mncmt and pdt. Despite this, it takes very little for Danny to turn heads and show people his great piloting and building abilities, though less solid support than the numbers 1 and 2 might mean he's relying on his own abilities a bit too much.
4. zS - LOORS
In the middle of the pool we find zS, a player with equal knowledge in SV as in old gens. zS's score proves to be less consistent than that of his higher-ranked peers, particularly a brutal 0-5 last PUBD in SS. This time around, zS intends on proving his skill within the tier, not in SS, but in Bo3 gaming. His success is yet to be seen, though, but higher fundamental knowledge of current gen as well as oldgens should give him an edge in the builder as long as he doesn't go full wacky crazy mode. In terms of support for SS and SM, Leni and robjr are both knowledgeable in the tiers and should be able to bounce off ideas to him, maybe even sub in if need be, but one should expect some good and especially fun games from zS.
5. DugZa - Haunters
It pains me to paint Doug in a good light, but his results are undeniable. A 4-1 in PUBD and a gargantuan 6-2 last PUPL and 4-1 in PUWC show a player willing to excel (suffer) through the SS tier to unimaginable levels, as well as showing similar consistency in SV. Dougy shows no sign of slowing down, with way more positive results than some of his peers, but his venture into BO3 is still put into question when you consider his lesser knowledge of SM, as well as the fact that this is his first venture into the pool. Great support from the likes of Floss, MZ, and ptf should help lead him in the right direction, or maybe his DOOM!
6. Thiago Nunes - Goodras
In 6th we have Thiago Nunes, which... can't be right. Did we mix up the Brazilians..? Why is mncmt first LMFAOOOO. Anyway, despite what this placement might imply, Thiago Nunes is a very threatening player. However, it does make sense to find him in the bottom half of the pool; he's historically been rather poor in PUPL, sporting a 2-5 all-time record, and now has to play in arguably the toughest pool in the tournament. There are some question marks about his experience with the tiers and support, too. While he has access to probably the best SV support, with the two tier leaders being able to help, his SS support looks rather lackluster. Manager Meri Berry might be able to build, but she didn't perform too well last year, leaving something to question when it comes to the help she's offering. Everyone above him has more experience with the Bo3 tiers, making it hard to justify ranking him higher; mncmt, pdt, and Danny have all played this slot for a full season previously, for example. However, he's still a very good player, and his place in these power rankings has more to do with the people above than it has to do with the OST semifinalist.
7. Suzuya - Snatchers
Almost at the bottom of the pool, we find Suzuya, a recent name change, but one that carries more performances than initially thought of through the history of PU team tournaments. Suzuya's ventures in Bo3 start in 2023, when he went 1-0 against robjr. His other tournaments have similarly small results but are often positive such as a 2-0 in PUPL VIII in BW and a 3-0 in PUWC III playing SS. Overall, Suzuya's resume is short but promising, but this is a whole different field of players, and most of them have much higher knowledge than him. There's a good amount of support in all of the gens in this team though, from the likes of Gulch, Ampha, OBB, Sugar Ovens, and more, so it'll be up to Inder to pull his weight in such a stacked pool to prove the doubters wrong.
8. justdrew - Golurks
One of the main yappers in the tournament, justdrew steps up to the task of defeating all odds, as well as his opponents, hopefully. A fantastic 5-0 last PUPL in SV show high levels of promise, but Drew will have to prove to people that this wasn't a fluke after a much less successful 1-3 in PUWC that same year. Drew is definitely motivated, but he will still have to rely heavily on support from his team, such as Hera and Xiri in oldgens lest Danny beat him after downing an entire Four Loko. Maybe if he's able to translate his amazing yapping abilities into successful builds and good understanding of the tiers, he might just have a chance to raise some eyebrows.
1. gum - Pranksters
Former PUTL gum may have lied about going into retirement. However, what they've never lied about is the depth of their skill in SS PU. An impressive 4-2 last PUPL alongside a few respectable records from PUBD and past PUWC iterations show that they're a capable force, especially in what appears to be a rather shallow pool, and their dedication to the tier is nearly unmatched. If they can stay on top of prep, this season should be a wrap.
2. Dj Breloominati♬ - Magmortars
Breloominati sits near the top of the SS PU pool thanks to not only being the reigning PUPL champion but also managing to have an impressive all-time record of 13-11, boasting the second highest winrate in the pool. The only thing Breloominati will have to worry about this time around is a lack of support, as last year he was supported by Hera, whereas this time around there's no notable support other than the teams that cycle around the Mags. Still, Breloominati is clearly one of the players to beat and hopes to repeat a championship season.
3. OranBerryBlissey10 - Snatchers
This player comes off a rather disappointing performance in team tournaments last year, only managing a 3-4 record with the Doublades in PUPL and a 1-4 record with Benelux in PUWC. Despite this, being a finalist in SS PU Cup is nothing to scoff at, and unlike other players on this list, he manages to build his own teams and is reliably self sufficient, boosting his worth ahead of the pack. Still, his poor record in team tours might come back to haunt him, so it's up in the air whether this will be the OBB from SS PU Cup or the OBB from the recent team tours.
4. Meru - Goodras
Known as an incredibly versatile lower tier player and for having a Smogon account two years older than his teammate Bella, we find the merustie in 4th. While he might not have as much experience with the tier as the people above him, his SS results have all been very good so far; he went 5-2 in the tier during PUPL VIII and 2-0 last year. He's also one of the overall strongest players in the pool, so the main issue might come from his support. While he for sure already has enough teams to reuse, it's not known whether he'll work well with the builders on the Goodras or not, an issue most other people in this pool might not run into. Moreover, his slight lack of experience compared to the people above might come into play in the teambuilder and in-game, but none of this should be a major setback anyway. If he has teams he likes, it wouldn't be surprising to see Meru end up with one of the best records in the pool.
5. Piyu - Houndstoners
To kick off the latter half of the pool, we have Piyu, a great player with sadly no SS PU experience. However, if there's anything Piyu has proven in previous PU tournaments, it's his ability to flawlessly pick up any tier and excel at it; between PUWC and PUBD, his overall record is an impressive 8-1, but I guess that's to be expected when he's named PU after all. Despite this, there are still some things to be wary of and that explain his placement. He has no support outside of avarice, who's mainly uninvolved with the tier now, and Piyu's very unique building style might not be as reliable in a tier as settled as this one. To add on to this, none of the players above him are slouches either, having all proven their playing capabilities. He's defeated expectations multiple times before, and it's very possible that we'll get to see him do it yet again. Just like he did in RUPL. Go guardians wooo :)
6. Mada - LOORS
Mada is pretty similar to Piyu in a way, with both being good players with no experience with the tier. In Mada's case though, he just has no PU results, so I don't know what to write about if I'm being honest. He did very well in SPL, going 5-1 or something, don't feel like fact checking sorry. To balance out his lack of exposure to the tier, he has PU veteran zS to support him throughout the season. There's a bit of a worry there, though; zS seems to be the only support for a lot of his teammates, and so it's worth considering that this might hamper the support he's able to offer to Mada. Despite these issues, Mada is definitely capable of pulling a few upsets considering his skill level, but he might struggle a bit in the earlier weeks as he finds his footing in unfamiliar terrain. Bottom 5 Naruto character by the way.
7. mj - Haunters
Second to last, mj lacks the experience and playing skills of most above him; while he did decently well last year with a 4-3 record, one of those wins was an activity win. To add on to this, his knowledge of the tier is not enough to balance out his playing capabilities when compared to the people above him who lack said knowledge. This is not to say that mj is bad, quite the contrary, but this pool happens to have multiple great players. With DugZa by his side to help him with building, there's always a chance mj ends up winning every game in the builder, and as such I don't think it would be very wise to count him out. He might just surprise us all, something that seems more likely than we'd think.
8. Hera - Golurks
In last place is Hera, who remains relatively unproven despite being on the Magmortars last year. No one doubts their experience with SS PU, since they played the tier extensively while it was the current generation. Rather, it's the lack of big wins in the tier and the fact that they're still newer to the PU tournament scene. They do get points for being mostly self sufficient, though, and they may manage to surprise their opponents harder than they did Bella when they brought a BANNED Pokémon versus her (and lost).
1. robjr - LOORS
robjr has been a known force in SM tiers since his days as PokéTCGGamer3329; sporting a third place on the PU overall sheet, with a 39-23 record, it's no surprise to see why Rob is ranked first here. With solid support backing him up in zS and Teddeh, robjr is very likely to end with a good record here.
2. Xiri - Golurks
Xiri is perhaps one of the most experienced SM PU players all time; with solid performances in the tier since it was the current gen, including playing in the SSDs, Xiri is prone to success this tour. With good builds and good team support, it's no surprise to see him ranked second, close to robjr.
3. sugar ovens - Snatchers
sugar ovens isn't the flashiest player, nor does he have the best records, but his fundamentals and attraction to unorthodox options and builds have not gone unnoticed. That latter trait is especially important in a tier like SM PU, and it sets him apart from many of the other starters here. Perhaps winning PUBD will inspire him to continue pushing the envelope and leave his opponents in the dust.
4. PTF - Haunters
Coming off from a insane 5-1 in PU Bom Dia (PUBD), ptf is likely very motivated to continue on with his performance in PUPL. With some solid support options in the duo of Floss and DugZa along with MZ, we will see if ptf's fire is going to keep burning hot this season or it will fizzle out.
5. ManOfMany - Magmortars
No, you're not seeing things, and no, this name isn't supposed to be one header lower. ManOfMany is playing SM. He's not entirely foreign to this tier and has notable support from friend and fellow Mags player pdt, but his unconvincing ORAS performance in PUBD has some dubious over his motivation, landing him at the bottom end of the pack.
6. Estarossa - Goodras
Estarossa is a consistent player overall, with experience in multiple SM tiers across the board as well as experience in other PU tiers overall, and despite his lower end placement, Estarossa is still a strong player in this pool of SM and shouldn't be underestimated. Estarossa also has solid support in this slot, with asa, ishtar, EviGaro, and Thiago Nunes being able to help with preparation and team support.
7. entrocefalo - Houndstoners
With a solid year of success in Ubers tournaments, including a very successful SCL, entrocefalo is here to SM PU, with not much support specifically for SM, only having Clementine as a possible backup plan and support for SM; the biggest question mark is going to be if entrocefalo's Ubers success will translate well into the land of Jellicent and Eelektross or it will end in disaster? Either way, Clementine is always on bench if things end up going bad.
8. Sylveon used calm mind - Pranksters
With a tough pool and a lack of prior experience in SM PU, Calm Mind Sylveon finds himself in a tough spot this PUPL. Their team support is nothing to sneeze at though, and having a couple of teammates who can build or help in this slot is appreciated, but we are going to have to see if a +1 Hyper voice is going to make it clean OHKOs or be a massive flop; only time will tell.
1. Aberforth - Goodras
Four score and seven- Hm? What's that? Different Abe? Oh, got it. Aberforth is good at the game. His consistent showings in Ubers tournaments alone prove that his fundamentals are strong, and he's been playing ORAS for a good while now. Despite this, he's never really had a truly excellent showing in the tier and has even gone negative a few times. Despite this, his knowledge of the metagame is evident, and his enthusiasm and activity should carry him far so long as his playing skill remains at a similar caliber.
2. crying - Golurks
Few players exemplify the thin line between genius and insanity quite like crying, who put up a 5-4 record in PUPL VIII only playing ORAS. With good fundamentals and seemingly endless tricks up her sleeve, it's no wonder that crying is ranked second. The metagame hasn't changed much in the year she took off, and she seems self sufficient when it comes to teams, so the only concern here is whether she will overcook in the builder.
3. Teddeh - LOORS
Now here's a throwback for longtime PU fans. After lying dormant for over two years, Teddeh is back in ORAS, where he's repeatedly demonstrated his skill. He even has support from manager zS and oldgen aficionado SergioRules, which all sounds like a recipe for success. All that remains to be seen is whether Teddeh can shake off the rust and put in the effort needed to outdo his two most recent PUPL showings, where he collectively went 5-5.
4. tko - Haunters
Although thekrystalonix didn't exactly rock the ORAS pool in 2021, his last PUPL appearance, he had a return to form in PUBD I, where he went 4-1. Besides Teddeh, it's likely that technical knockout has the most ORAS PU experience out of everyone starting, which is sure to serve him well in tandem with his skill and support from all of DugZa, MZ, and PTF.
5. avarice - Houndstoners
The Scizorphobe is back in ORAS after putting up an impressive 5-2 record in PUBD I, and for the victorious Menceganiums at that. That said, he is ranked just below the pool's top half, likely due to steeper competition and him going 1-4 last PUPL. Maybe bringing home the gold in PUBD will give avarice the push to go above and beyond this year, which we don't put past him by any means.
6. Alice Kazumi - Snatchers
The Snatchers consider Alice Kazumi a sleeper pick, and after she quietly went 3-0 in ORAS in PUBD I, it's not hard to see why. The ORAS pool here is certainly tougher than it was then, though, and she's somewhat unproven compared to the other ORAS players. Still, with the support she has, it's entirely possible she'll exceed expectations and put up another good, or even perfect, record.
7. Kiyo - Pranksters
NU main and cowboy kid Kiyo hasn't played ORAS PU in tournament since 2020, which may explain why he's ranked so low, but he still has plenty of ORAS experience on top of being a solid player overall. As such, it likely won't take him very long to readjust to the tier, but how well he'll perform isn't as easily predictable.
8. TheKingKarp - Magmortars
TheKingKarp being ranked last is not a reflection of his skill at all, as he went 5-0 in PUPL VIII playing ORAS. The combination of a tougher ORAS pool and TKK's time away from the tier just doesn't bode well for him, even with support from players like ManOfMany. TKK's got his work cut out for him this year, but if his records are anything to go by, he'll give it his all and then some to meet the challenge.
1. LpZ - Golurks
At the top of the pool this year is LpZ. He is extremely knowledgeable on the tier, having played it for multiple years in PUPL. Extremely creative in his playstyle and teambuilding, he should easily be able to hold his own in the BW pool.
2. EviGaro - Goodras
Another familiar face in nearly any BW lower tier, EviGaro comes in just shy of first place. While there's absolutely no question that her playing skills are up to snuff, with several past teamtours dotted by positive records, she doesn't quite have the same uncanny ability as LpZ to pick up any tier and succeed in it. This lack of flexibility combined with a slight tendency to tilt keeps her from heading the pack, but despite this, she's still a top competitor and shouldn't be underestimated.
3. lax - LOORS
Even with a slight drop after the top 2, former NUTL lax takes the #3 spot on this list. An incredibly experienced player in PUPL and other tours, he should be able to go positive in the BW pool with the proper support, especially with support behind his back and with this pool being a slight step down from last year.
4. Feaniix - Houndstoners
Like last year, Feaniix takes the number 4 spot on this list. Even after coming off a weak 0-5 run in last years PUPL, his knowledge in BW should find him able to take wins in this pool without much support needed from his team.
5. Tack - Snatchers
Tack once again finds herself as a cheap BW pick this year. Despite an unimpressive 2-3 showing last year, her years of knowledge in BW and ability to be completely self sufficient in her slot should lead her to another solid season this year.
6. Stories - Magmortars
Stories, formerly known as Togkey, finds herself comfortably at the number 6 spot this year. Although not particularly knowledgeable in BW, her experience as a player in other PU tiers and tour experience should lead her to success with proper support.
7. Guille - Haunters
Spaniard Guille finds himself at the number 7 spot. A cheap tours player who went for 4k in the draft, he is a newcomer to the tier who will need a lot of proper support to succeed in the tier. If he gets that and plays well, he can find himself gaining wins in this relatively weak pool.
8. triple axel blaze - Pranksters
Last but not least is triple axel blaze. A tours player, he comes in last due to having the least overall tours experience compared to the other BW newcomers. Nonetheless, that does not mean he is a bad player, and he can easily make a splash with the proper support.
1. Heysup - Haunters
#2 player on the PU team tours sheet Heysup is back and ready to continue showing his absolute dominance in the tier. #1 player on the sheet Drud is now SVing, so Heysup finds himself ranked #1, as opposed to last year. While Heysup's 4-3 from last PUPL isn't as dominant as his prior results, it's hard to deny his overall consistency. The Haunters did drop 20.5k on him, and deservedly so. Is there any slowing down to Heysup's record? People seem to think not.
2. HSOWA - Snatchers
HSOWA's been one of the most prominent faces in DPP for a while. His ability to dominate the pool has placed him in the #2 spot, and it's easy to see why. Together with Heysup and Drud, HSOWA has been one of the most relevant DPP PU players, able to thoroughly outclass the field with deep knowledge and play. 3-2 in PUBD and 6-4 in PUPL show the signs of a player ready to continue his streak. He did tell me he was cursed in PU team tours, so we'll see if the Snatchers are able to shake it off and go all the way.
3. frankjosh - Golurks
When it comes to oldgen knowledge and ability to pilot, few players in the pool can compare to frankjosh. After being top of the pool with a 5-2 result in DPP last PUBD, frankjosh takes on the tier once more. Frank's ability to play other tiers such as ORAS makes them a valuable and flexible asset that will surely be able to put up a decent score wherever they end up. For now, people seem to believe that those results will happen here, as they're ranked #3 in the pool.
4. JabbaTheGriffin - Goodras
Remember when DPP didn't have PU? JabbaTheGriffin does. As one of the few players who know the tier well enough to build for it, as well as carrying the slot for his team in DPPPL despite what was otherwise an unmitigated dumpster fire, Jabba's knowledge and level of play should be enough to carry him to a strong record if he has enough time to click in between golf drives.
5. dunoks - Houndstoners
dunoks is back in PUPL after a 2-3 result last year in BW. Players might be surprised to see that dunoks is scoring one of the best results in DPPPL right now though, with a 6-0 in UU. Despite this, it's hard to see where dunoks's support lies apart from his own fundamental knowledge of the gen, so his placement ends up somewhat in the middle, with people questioning his consistency but also acknowledging his ability to do well. Time will tell!
6. BeatsBlack - Magmortars
Similarly to dunoks, BeatsBlack is another player with little DPP PU experience who's been having a crazy good DPPPL run this year. BeatsBlack is the #1 player in the entire tournament playing NU, also showing a similar level of knowledge of the gen. BeatsBlack will also have great support from Drud, who might just have to sub in if things go south.
7. Bag of Trixx - Pranksters
Trixx returns to PU after mostly being a sub last PUBD and ending with a 0-1 record in DPP, which also mirrors his result in the tier in DPPPL this year. He has a good grasp of the tier and is also flexible in his ability to play other oldgens such as ORAS and SM if he's not able to perform in the tier. If he's able to find some tricks up his sleeve, he'll surely have it in the bag!
8. Leni - LOORS
In last place, we have leni, who had minimal experience in the tier recently outside of an 0-2 playing PU in DPPPL. Despite this, his results in more modern PU tiers are undeniable. It's hard to tell if these skills will translate to wins in the non-Team previewPgen vs. so many tough opponents, but good support from zS as well as knowledgeable subs SergioRules and Aliss should lead him in the right direction or even provide options to step in if needed. If he's able to schedule his games successfully, he'll be halfway there!
1. Lily - Pranksters
Lily's been on a hot streak in ADV PU lately, even making her UU constituents weep by going so far as to call the tier her favorite, and she doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. Sporting a respectable 4-1 and 4-2 from PUBD and last PUPL alongside an utterly dominant 8-2 in the most recent ADVPL, it's no shocker she's ranked at the top of the pool. If she can perform at this level against the other strong competitors here, the rest should be all gravy.
2. Monai - Magmortars
Monai is a known oldgens and lower tiers everyman, but he has recently been putting his clicking talent and aptitude for games you have to look for on eBay towards a strong run in ADV PU. He's coming in hot off of an impressive 6-1 from ADVPL, paving his way with wins against top level threats like Lily, Drud, and JabbaTheGriffin. His playing and building skills in the tier are obviously up to snuff; the only question is if his love for the tier is the real thing or just another summer fling.
3. Slowbroth - Goodras
If there's one thing that all good ADV PU players seem to have in common, it's a deep love for the tier, and few are better examples of that than Slowbroth. As ADV's resident mad scientist, it's no question he'll be highly motivated to build strong teams and one-up the competition. What is slightly more questionable, however, is his ability to perform against the rest of this tier's top-level talent. While he's been consistently going X-1 in the tier in other team tours, shockingly few of the wins have been against players in his own weight class. Whether this is a concern or simply a sign he's a cut above, only time will tell.
4. goldmason - Houndstoners
goldmason has the hard part down, being very familiar with ADV mechanics thanks to playing it in several tours over the years. However, his actual PU experience leaves some room for questioning. In fact, he's never even played a game in a PU team tour period. Despite this, his mechanical knowledge and adequate showings in ADV NU seem to have our voters convinced he can take the step down without falling down the stairs.
5. plznostep - Snatchers
plznostep is coming off of a poor ADVPL showing, but his dedication to the tier remains unshaken, and so, too, does his determination. He showed in PUBD that he's no slouch in ADV, going 2-2, and gulch is sure to offer the support plz may need. The question is whether plz has what it takes against the upper end of one of the more stacked pools.
6. Parpar - LOORS
Similar to goldmason, Parpar is a newcomer to PU, but not to ADV in the slightest. Despite this, his mainstay tier is notably further from what he'll be playing here. In addition, his ADV UU ventures lately haven't turned out so hot, most recently riding the bench to an 0-1 record in ADVPL. However, his knowledge of ADV is there; it's moreso a question of if his skills are up to par(par).
7. A plague doc - Golurks
Yet another player knowledgeable about ADV, but this one isn't entirely clueless about PU. Out of his five games in the most recent ADVPL, two of them were in PU, and he won both! In fact, one of them was even against the tier's newest whiz kid, Monai. Despite this, where he truly lacks is his support, largely hoping that LpZ can step up to plate or Bouff remembers enough from his crash course in the tier last PUPL. If he can get his hands on consistently good teams, however, he should be able to perform well.
8. TyCarter - Haunters
The concern about TyCarter is not his ADV knowledge; he's played several ADV metagames and turned out well enough in most. The real problem here is that the pool this year is exceptionally strong on the top end, and TyCarter has a history of responding poorly to pressure. It seems that many still have his 0-6 record from last PUPL fresh on their minds, and it's up to him to rise above and forge a better legacy.
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