SV OU Tiering Survey results ar now live:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/sv-ou-tiering-surveys.3711911/page-2#post-9947296
Enjoy discussion of these results and the larger metagame while adhering to the parameters mentioned in
TPP's post above. Thanks
Now that the demonic presence of sleep is gone (
I've wanted it gone since before the DLCs, I'm glad it was finally removed), we can start looking at the metagame's potent aspects. I'm gonna talk a bit about everything mentioned in the Tiering Survey.
Terastallization
As the survey indicated, I think the majority of us can agree that outright banning Tera would be a huge mistake. However, and as much as I hate saying this (
because it tanks 's
OU viability), I think if anything should be looked at it should be Tera Blast. Otherwise, leave Tera be - no Tera Preview, no Tera Ban, maybe look at Tera Blast.
Kyurem
Although I haven't felt Kyurem to be an issue personally due to its propensity to be worn down by hazards alongside its middling defensive typing, I acknowledge that it's indeed a matchup-heavy Pokemon that can flip games on their head if proper preparations are not made for it. I wouldn't be opposed to a suspect, but I think there are much bigger fish to fry right now.
Gouging Fire
Basically repeat everything I said about Kyurem here - nuclear power, middling defensive typing, matchup-heavy Pokemon, wouldn't be opposed to a suspect but not a high priority for me personally.
Roaring Moon
To me, this is still the most busted Pokemon in the tier right now. In addition, non-Taunt variants just lost a way to handle it (sleep), so now it has additional leeway to crush the tier. Its combination of immediate power, bulk, Tera Flying Acrobatics with Booster Energy, boosting capabilities, phenomenal offensive typing, and coverage is too much for the tier and I
heavily support a suspect test.
Archaludon
Man, we came a long way from saying "Morkal, this thing is mid" to "Suspect it now I can't beat it in rain" haven't we? Comedic sense of satisfaction about my favorite OU Pokemon aside, I think Archaludon has plenty of answers - Rain Archa requires that you run rain which arguably isn't even the best weather in OU (
that being Sun), and I personally still like the PhysDef PressTailLightScreenProc variant the most. I'd be generally opposed to a suspect, Archaludon is an A/A+ Pokemon in OU, not broken.
Gholdengo
My opinion on this mon flips back and forth quite frequently but is generally in the range of "eh, either way" and it still feels that way to me. I don't think that it's overwhelming or anything, but I do acknowledge the metagame could potentially feel a lot better with it being gone. I wouldn't be opposed to either a suspect test or it staying.
Kingambit
Heavily opposed to a suspect - Kingambit isn't even in the top three Dark-types in OU right now in my opinion, and hasn't been since its peak near the end of DLC1. It has a myriad of great answers, exploitable speed + an exploitable defensive typing. Please do not suspect Kingambit, I'm vehemently opposed to suspecting it.
Deoxys-Speed
Feels great in OU and isn't overwhelming at all in my opinion, he's starting to feel a bit underwhelming. Sure the speed control is nice, but the supposed "lead metagame stranglehold" is just "Deo-S user playing 5v6 after setting Rocks." Deoxys-S is a solid OU Pokemon, nothing overwhelming.
Raging Bolt
See Kingambit above - great OU mon, not broken.
Barraskewda
Extremely strong and fast, but weather-reliant and very frail. Not broken imo, just a great staple for Rain offense.
Volcarona
I still think that
is the better MU-fish-mon of the two, but generally at this point I don't see either of them as a problem. Volcarona needs time to snowball and it doesn't have that as much in this meta. Wouldn't be opposed to a suspect for either of them, but not a high priority.
Booster Energy
It's fine, just get rid of Roaring Moon and Booster Energy will feel a lot more balanced.
Gliscor
I like how Gliscor fits in the meta now. It might be worth looking at if Kyurem gets the proverbial yeet - but I like the functionality that it adds to the tier, especially now that the focus of the tier's offense has shifted to SpA rather than Phys, which Gliscor does not appreciate. Great mon both in OU and Ubers, not suspect worthy as of right now imo (
remember, just because something has a good niche in Ubers doesn't mean it's banworthy in OU - Gen 4 Ariados and Parasect both had notable Ubers niches because of Darkrai/Kyogre respectively).
Zamazenta
Do not ban under any circumstances. Zamazenta is not overwhelming in any capacity and is arguably this generation's Landorus-T in terms of being the glue that helps hold OU together. Fantastic speed, great bulk, and usable offenses. It would be a serious mistake in my opinion to ban Zamazenta.
Iron Boulder
Iron Boulder does one thing and does one thing well - it's fast, and can boost. Its power before said boosts is nothing to write home about, it has middling defensive typing and often can't reliably use both of its STABs. It's strong, but it's fine in the tier.
Lugia
Whew... looks like we actually have to talk about OU Lugia a little bit. Look, I get where people are coming from with Lugia, I really do, but let me tell you a tale of GSC OU Celebi - it didn't die, the end. Lugia doesn't die either. Sure its power isn't anything to write home about, and maybe if Lugia didn't get Multiscale it might be balanced, but Multiscale is, imo, the straw that breaks the Camerupt's back for OU Lugia. To be more specific though, look at Lugia's defensive profile - 106/130/154 with Multiscale, access to Calm Mind for boosting, Recover for reliable recovery, and a wide offensive/utility movepool. Lugia may have been nerfed this gen movepool/surroundings-wise, but it also got several potent new tools in its ability to terastallize along with STAB Psychic Noise to shut down stall completely. Couple that with 110 Speed and the ability to go both physical and special along with phasing, and you have a mon that, while being underwhelming in Ubers, is not meant for OU in my opinion. If we truly need to suspect Lugia to see whether it's broken or not, so be it, but I think it'll be too much for OU.
Stored Power
Cheese move - I dislike it, but I don't think it's overwhelming. I'm fine with it going or staying.