I'd like to start by complimenting you on this incredibly well put together post; it's not often that you see a post this well thought through from someone not named Levi or Fiend. I'd like to add some more discussion to each of the points you've raised!Alright, so there are a few nominations I'd like to make after playing this meta for a while. I'll start off with existing noms I agree with and then some of my own. First, I'll start with the ones I disagree with. First off, Vullaby definitely should not be moving down. If anything, the meta trends have been favorable towards it because of the usage rise of Abra and Ghosts. It is easily one of the most splashable mons in the tier along with Mienfoo, its unpredictability factor hugely in its favor as it could mean losing a mon just because you mispredicted a set. Vullaby's just a downright amazing glue mon for pretty much any team, being able to fulfill a pivot / wallbreaker / revenge killer / sweeper / wall all excellently. Sure, Snubbull pressures it but just because a mon has a check does not mean it is not meta-defining, and I would go so far as to say the rise of Snubbull is attributed partially to Vullaby's ubiquity. Also, I don't agree with Corphish moving down: it's a very potent, powerful wallbreaker and Water Spam is pretty good right now; Berks covered mainly why I disagree so I will just leave it at that. I'm still on the fence about Abra but I think A+ is fine for it atm, LO requires webs to function to its potential and Sash can be played around, even if running Counter. Also, it struggles against common walls like Grimer-A and Ferroseed. Anyway, onto the nominations!
Diglett: A+ > S
This may be a little controversial but I think Diglett is worth S-Rank. Diglett alleviates so much pressure vs certain threats, it's kind of crazy in a sense. If you have Diglett, you are guaranteed to kill Ponyta or Croagunk or Pawniard--whatever your team needs. And the reason this works in practice is because the opponent can't switch out. Even though there are plenty of bulky mons who can comfortably live a hit from Diglett the problem is they just cannot switch in. Diglett also can't really be prepared for; if you have a Bloom Doom Ponyta, it will be beaten by Diglett, etc. Diglett is not dead weight versus non-trapped opponents either: Gastly has to be wary of Sucker Punch and Vullaby has to be mindful of Rock Slide, for example. Granted, Diglett probably isn't OHKOing much unless you're running Groundium Z, but where it really shines is in the endgame, when the mons Diglett needs to beat Diglett is able to beat and it is MUCH scarier. Even for Pokemon Diglett cannot beat, Memento is a good option to pivot into your win condition and neutralize threats, which is very important in a late-game scenario. Diglett is singlehandedly the best revenge killer in the metagame and has a huge impact right now.
Diglett also is really easy to fit on teams now. It can deal with almost any threat once weakened, and chances are that if you have a sweeper it benefits from Diglett in some way. Diglett requires no support because it does its job fine on its own; this makes Diglett really easy to slap onto any team, no matter the archetype. Diglett also has the element of surprise at its arsenal; the opponent may think its safe to Shell Smash with Shellder, but Diglett turns out to be Scarf. The same situation applies to Omanyte and Sash Diglett, or Croagunk and LO / Groundium Diglett. Diglett applies a lot of pressure in a late-game scenario when the opponent (presumably) is trying to set up their win condition. Diglett can easily remove a threat that might otherwise have caused you to lose the game, without the risk of the threat switching out.
Diglett also has been seeing lots of usage in high-level play in SPL and LCPL. Recent Pokemon rising in popularity such as Croagunk and Kabuto have also contributed to Diglett's effectiveness. In conclusion, the amazing support Diglett provides to almost any team and its ability to threaten opposing teams tremendously warrants an S-ranking in my opinion.
Chinchou: A > A+
Chinchou is a superb glue Pokemon for many teams, and has two very good sets allowing it to be even more splashable. As a bulky pivot, Chinchou has few competitors, as it has the ability to both tank and offensively threaten many common threats, such as Doduo and Magnemite, and then have the capability to switch into another team member. It is also one of the only viable clerics in LC, allowing Hex Gastly and Foongus to be much less threatening. BJ Chinchou has the ability to threaten top-tier threats such as Vullaby and Staryu as well as support the team offensively, threatening common switch-ins via Ice Beam / HP Ground. I think one of the main selling points of Chinchou is how few switch-ins it actually has: Ground-types are obviously threatened by Water STAB, Grass-types are threatened by Ice Beam (Scarf Chinchou can 2HKO Foongus with hazards up), and opposing Chinchou are 2HKOed by HP Ground. Along with its walling / revenge killing capacity, Chinchou can become a very threatening Pokemon when given a switch-in.
Chinchou is also an amazing Scarfer, and, since I have had more experience with that set, I will talk about it more. Scarf Chinchou revenge kills so many common threats and has pretty good coverage which gives it merit over some other Scarfers that it faces competition with like Magnemite. Not only is it a great pivot for offensive teams, it has a powerful Hydro Pump, which allows it to dent some common threats such as Mienfoo and Snubbull. Unlike other Scarfers, Chinchou gets many chances to switch in to the opponent thanks to Volt Absorb as well as resisting common offensive types: Flying, Water, Ice, Steel, Fire. Chinchou is also amazing on Water Spam, which is a good playstyle currently, allowing it to carve itself a niche on those teams as well. Overall, Water / Flying / Ground pressure is really good right now, and, for all of the functions it can perform, I believe Chinchou should be A+.
Onix: A > A+
Flying-types are really common right now making Onix a very popular mon and a staple for successful balance and offense. Hazards (or just Rocks really) are very important because it's great to have an advantage vs Sturdy and Flying-types and Onix is by far the best setter as well as being able to consistently pressure the opposing team. Onix also sports a fantastic 17 Speed which allows to outspeed Vullaby, Rufflet, Pawniard, and Dwebble, which makes Onix even more reliable. Both SturdyJuice and WA allow you ample opportunistic to get up Rocks as well as still being able to apply offensive pressure. Having an extremely high Defense is a huge bonus as well. Onix fits on plenty of teams because of how many important roles it provides: Flying check, Electric check, hazard setter, physical wall, and set-up sweeper stop all in one.
The current metagame has also been very favorable to Onix. As I said before, Flying-types are very common, and Onix, especially WA Onix, is the best check to them. Hazards are set up by few viable Pokemon, being opposing Onix, Dwebble, and Diglett (although another move is generally better), allowing SturdyJuice to be extremely consistent. Another pro for SturdyJuice is that it negates quite possibly the biggest drawback of Onix which is its poor defensive typing, allowing it to take at least 2 hits before dying. Weak Armor is a great check to many fast physical attackers that otherwise would be very threatening with hazards up. Onix absolutely does not struggle for a teamslot, it is extremely effective and highly rewarding, which is why it fits on many teams. Onix also synergizes well with other Pokemon and is really great for balance cores: Staryu / Onix / Vullaby and Onix / Foongus / Doduo are fantastic in their ability to check common threats and are pretty common, looking at LCPL replays.
Another reason people might want Onix is that it face competition as a Ground-type from Diglett, but those two play different enough roles I think it's okay to have them this close to each other on the VR. Onix is more of a hazard setting, physical tank and check to common attackers while Diglett is, primarily, a revenge killer. Its role certainly isn't outclassed by any other Pokemon, and, while it does not define the meta, Onix is one the best Pokemon in LC and a great pick for many teams. (I know that A+ was rejected by the previous VR update but honestly I think Onix deserves it.)
Doduo: A- > A
Doduo is an extremely strong and popular wallbreaker right now and for good reasons: Flying Spam is good and and Doduo is nearly impossible to check without a WA Rock-type, which more are being forgone in favor of Diglett (aside from Onix, of course). Doduo may not be meta-defining, but it certainly is a top-level threat, which is what I think of A to begin with.
Doduo has a really, really strong Brave Bird along with fantastic coverage, which is perhaps its strongest selling point. It has a good Attack and Speed, allowing it to be one of the most effective physical wallbreakers in the metagame. In my opinion, it's a better Rufflet; powerful, faster, and without the annoying accuracy drops. Doduo also can Knock Off Eviolites giving it more utility than just a wallbreaker, and Jump Kick is great coverage, allowing it to hit Rock and Steel-types who otherwise could switch into Brave Bird safely. Doduo requires very little support because of how self-sufficient it already is with its coverage. A slow pivot is really all that is needed, as Doduo cannot safely switch into attacks. Doduo partners well with Mienfoo and Chinchou which both can fulfill this role nicely, as well as pressuring WA Rock-types. Doduo also partners well with Foongus, Diglett, Timburr, Staryu, and Onix, all of which are very good team options which help further fit Doduo into teams. If you want an even faster revenge killer, Choice Scarf Doduo allows you to revenge kill ScarfFoo, Scarf Chinchou, Adamant A-Sandshrew in hail, and the entirety of the unboosted metagame. Scarf Doduo can easily clean teams with Brave Bird or Return, making it just as much as an offensive threat as LO / BJ.
Doduo, however, certainly has flaws, which is why I think A is a good place for it. Being a very strong and reliable wallbreaker or cleaner depending on the set and being a good team option for those looking for a fast, powerful Flying-type (which is appreciated considering the popularity of Fighting-types) makes it A-rank, in my opinion.
Kabuto: B > B+
Kabuto provides amazing role compression for many teams. Hazard removal + hazard support is great in its own right as the only other viable hazard removal is Staryu (and I guess Defensive Vullaby) and neither have the ability to set up hazards. It can damage or cripple Ghost-type spinblockers through Knock Off (OHKOing Gastly). Kabuto also has the other benefit of being a WA Rock allowing it to check Flying-types. Specific mons that Kabuto can check are Vullaby, Doduo, Rufflet, Pawniard (kind of), and Onix (if carrying Waterfall). Since balanced teams usually don't have teamslots to spare this can be really helpful in place of using Staryu + a hazard setter. Kabuto also synergizes very well with offensive Bug, Fire, and Grass-types like Larvesta or Snivy that appreciate Stealth Rock support, hazard removal, and the ability to check Flying-types. It's a lot more useful to teams than other things in B (Houndour, Pancham, Amaura) and thus should rise to B+.
And for a nomination of my own...
Mienfoo + Timburr: S > A+
So I've been talking about rises this entire time so now it's time to discuss a drop. I have grouped Mienfoo and Timburr together becauseI'm lazyI don't think one is better than the other but honestly I would be fine with either dropping. But with potentially 6 Pokemon in S pending the next update, I think S-rank could use some cleaning. I'm guessing this will be pretty controversial so allow me to explain myself:
The current metagame has not been very kind to Fighting-types. Snubbull usage is on the rise, as is Abra. Flying-Spam and Flying-types have dominated the harsh ecosystem that is Little Cup. Fighting checks like Snubbull, Foongus, Pumpkaboo, Croagunk, and Spritzee are commonplace and definitely not hard to fit on any team. Physically defensive Pokemon like Shellder and Mudbray are naturally popular. It's not hard to see why Timburr and Mienfoo would not be as thriving as before, and, in my opinion at least, they have abdicated their S-Rank position. Try to find a successful team that doesn't have sturdy checks to these Pokemon: you won't be able to! And although that may just be a consequence of them being good Pokemon, it seems that these two just don't threaten teams enough anymore to deserve an S-Rank. Don't get me wrong--they are still great mons, they just aren't as meta-defining as say, Vullaby. A+ is still a fantastic rank, and I feel that is where these need to go. But, for argument's sake, I will analyze why I feel each indiviual mon deserves to be moved down a rank.
Mienfoo is a little underwhelming right now. Its own popularity has led to its demise, in a way: Fighting checks are now very common and Mienfoo struggles to break past them without resorting to a less effective set, such as Z-Bounce. Mienfoo also struggles to maintain offensive pressure: bulkier variants are outsped often and Scarf variants have to worry about being locked into a move. Unlike Timburr, Mienfoo does not have access to Guts, making it susceptible to burns from Flame Body users and Gastly, which further hinders its offensive capacity. Bulkier variants of Mienfoo also have to worry about being set-up bait to common sweepers in the tier, Shellder and NP Vullaby. Mienfoo also suffers from 4MSS, wanting to run Drain Punch but also Stone Edge and Poison Jab as coverage and Fake Out as utility. And sure, Mienfoo has a whirligig of sets to choose from, but only Scarf and Bulky Pivot really stand out. SD Pass can work on certain teams but it certainly is not the best set Mienfoo has. Mienfoo certainly, however, has a lot of upsides, which is why it should still be A+. I just don't think it is quite S material, due to the way the metagame has adapted to it.
Timburr suffers from similar things that Mienfoo does, so this section will be a bit shorter. Obviously, as I have mentioned before, the popularity of Fighting checks in the tier have sort of left Timburr behind, and Timburr, unlike Mienfoo, does not have much versatility to offer. Timburr has two sets: Bulky Attacker and Bulk Up. Timburr (as well as Mienfoo) lacks a way to hit Poison-types super-effectively. Although Ice Punch is super-effective against Foongus, it only 3HKOes. Timburr also suffers from 4MSS, having to decide between Ice Punch and Poison Jab. Timburr would also appreciate the effects of Guts and Iron Fist (1ASS?), but can only choose one. Timburr has an edge over Mienfoo in Mach Punch, although Timburr's otherwise slow speed allows it to be easily revenge killed.
The overarching reason I think Mienfoo and Timburr are not as good as before is that I think the metagame has just adapted to them and moved on. Fighting checks, even unintentionally, find their way on all teams, and Flying-types as well as Abra and Gastly's popularity contribute to why offensive checks to Mienfoo and Timburr are more commonplace. And competition for a teamslot with other Fighting-types like Scraggy and Croagunk has risen as well. Nevertheless, the two Fighting-types will continue to be strong forces in the metagame, which is why I think they are well suited for A+.
Thank you for reading and props if you actually read all the stuff I wrote! Would add more but I'm tired of writing
Oh also yeah I used LCPL replays for most of my research
Having set Diglett in A+ for so long seems to have had a psychological effect on the community and their teambuilding: because we've decided it's not that good, we don't need to be as worried about it. This has created a metagame trend in which Diglett-weak mons are perceived as less of a liability, which in turn actually makes them more of a liability! This is the general trend of metagame development: a threat is on the rise, is adapted to, and falls out of favor; then, because it falls out of favor, that same threat becomes less prepared for and therefore comes back on the rise. Normally, this happens over a period of months, but Diglett always seems to be a hot topic. I would definitely say that Diglett is on the rise; however, that is a measure of a trend, rather than a measure of overall viability. Diglett, unlike most other top-tier Pokemon, relies wholly on the usage of certain other Pokemon to be viable. For example, if people happened to just stop using Pawniard, Mienfoo would still be a phenomenal Pokemon thanks to its overall combination of excellent offensive presence, variability of sets, and solid defensive presence. Diglett, on the other hand, would become nigh unviable if Pokemon such as Ponyta, Mareanie, and Croagunk stopped being used. Though Diglett being on the rise may seem indicative of its deserving S rank, its general effect on the metagame tends to fluctuate so much more wildly than those of other Pokemon that it is difficult to justify an actual rank move. In terms of its true viability, Diglett has a lot going for it. Being what is essentially the best revenge killer in the tier is a huge asset, but Diglett struggles with extreme frailty and only mediocre damage output against most Pokemon. Essentially, though it's on the rise, I believe that Diglett's overall viability fits in well with A+.
I agree wholeheartedly with this nomination. Chinchou's combination of solid bulk, killer STAB coverage, variability in sets, and prowess as a Choice Scarf user in particular make this a no-brainer move for me. Your last paragraph in particular really nails the benefits of ScarfChou on the head. Being one of the few scarfers with a good enough bulk and type matchup to switch in on a number of threats is a huge boon to offensive teams, and is actually the main reason I think Chinchou is the best scarfer in the tier. Once again, I'd just like to throw my whole weight behind this nom. Oh, and don't sleep on 17 Speed Subzero Slammer Chinchou either ;)
Once again, I think you've hit the nail right on the head. Onix is, to put it frankly, one of the most consistent Pokemon in the tier. The fact that Onix can comfortably switch into enormous physical attacking threats such as LO Doduo's Jump Kick (which it survives regardless of which set you're using and either lives QA top KO in return with Rock Blast or pops Berry Juice to reestablish Sturdy) is just incredible. It consistently sets up Stealth Rock, moreso than just about any other rock setter. Additionally, Onix can get in some more damage via its excellent STAB coverage, access to the potent combination of Weak Armor and Explosion, or via phazing with Roar or Dragon Tail. In short, you'd be hard pressed to say Onix isn't the best rocker in the tier - a quality which in itself deserves A rank - and everything else that comes in the Onix package is enough, in my opinion, to bump it up to A+.
I'll abstain from discussing this one. On the one hand, Doduo is just an absolute monstrous offensive force; like you said, its only true checks are Weak Armor Rock-type Pokemon. However, the issue is that it has such a difficult time getting in consistently. There's only one, maybe two good hazard removers, and Doduo has to focus on free switches from pivots and teammate KOs or risky switches in on things like Drilbur just to get onto the field. I have a lot of experience with it, as one of the best teams I've built this gen have it, but I'm torn between ranks for Doduo. If there was a rank between A- and A, I'd put it there, but for now I'll abstain on any move.
Though I haven't used it much (I like Pawniard as a rocker too much and I never clear hazards) Kabuto's recent performance in tours such as SPL, LCPL, and Seasonal has really made a good case for its rise. Even considering that it shares a rank with Pokemon such as Amaura and Pancham is somewhat absurd, and, in my opinion, this is one of the easiest moves out there. Get it up to B+!
Mienfoo and Timburr single-handedly define the LC metagame. They are the reason Pawniard has dropped out of glory, they are the reason Snubbull and Spritzee are good, and they are the reason that you will not find a successful team without at least one hard check and one soft check to them and other Fighting-types. Each of them received buffs in this metagame, and each of them still warrants S rank. Let's go over each individually!
Mienfoo is perhaps the truest jack-of-all-trades that has ever existed in Little Cup. Outside of hazard control, it can basically fulfill any role your team may need. If you need a pivot, Mienfoo has two viable pivot sets in Fast and Slow Pivot; the Fast Pivot set benefits from a quick Taunt and a threatening High Jump Kick, and the Slow Pivot set benefits from increased bulk and annoying longevity. Mienfoo also checks all the marks of a good Choice Scarf user: it has a base Speed over 32, access to a high-powered STAB attack, access to a pivot move, and the ability to switch in on several threats. All of this is without mentioning its other potentially threatening niche sets, such as its Z-Move sets and its Baton Pass set. To put it frankly, Mienfoo can do anything you want it to, and it can justifiably fill that niche over many other Pokemon without the risk of being outclassed or underperforming. Mienfoo is a little like the Lando-T of Little Cup; it's probably the best all-around Pokemon in the tier, and it's just too good overall to not be represented as a top-tier threat. When a Pokemon can do anything you want it to whenever you want it to on whatever team you want it to, how can it be anything but S?
Timburr, on the other hand, has a stronger case for a drop. It's slow, and it's not overtly strong. What bolsters Timburr is its defensive capabilities. As long as you have a Timburr, you cannot be swept by an Omanyte, a Pawniard, a Tirtouga, or anything else that's weak to Fighting. It can't be OHKOed by Shellder or Sash Abra (!!) and it's just a phenomenally annoying Pokemon to get rid of. Its Bulk Up set is falling out of favor in my opinion, but its Bulky Attacker set is truly annoying. Unless you specifically have a Spritzee or Snubbull, you won't have anything that can comfortably switch into Timburr throughout the match.
All of this is without mentioning what happens when you pair Mienfoo and Timburr together. Dealing with one of them is hard enough, but unless you're running a Birdspam build or a Carvanha-less Waterspam build, you'll probably have a tough time with these two together. The metagame has had a long, long time to adapt to these two Pokemon, and the fact that they are still so prominent and threatening is a testament to their overall viability as Pokemon. Though many of your points hold water, they just don't change the fact that these two Pokemon are just so good. they shape the metagame more than any other Pokemon, and that's why I believe they have a solid place at the top of the viability rankings.
Thanks for spurring some good discussion!
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