So I won the open and I promised UT I would make a post after I got knocked out, which technically means I’m not even required to do this but doing it anyways.
R1 vs UT
https://pokepast.es/37702b01eb5511b2 (L)
This team is built around the idea that scream tail with psychic noise can help walking wake break through bulky resists like empoleon. UT brought band roaring moon and I lost a mon every time it came in. Don't think this team is that good anymore, it did kind of start a revolution of people running psychic noise on scream tail though so proud of that at least.
https://pokepast.es/b75f5a9380e10155 (W)
Early on I learned stall was good in this tier (it fell off a little during the duration of the open) so I built my own version. UT brought a team that could not break through and I won in an easy game without losing a mon. This team got me great results on ladder and it should still do decently there even now.
https://pokepast.es/d353ffe55ff401cf (W)
I had not really thought about which team to use during g3 of this match, and I accidentally loaded a team that I didnt think was good because it lacked speed control, whoops. I got punished for it and only won because I won 2 speed ties with my iron moth vs UT’s Latios. 75% of the time I would have been out round one instead of winning the tournament. This was the series I was closest to losing during the entire tournament, part of that was me being quite new to the meta. But part of that is also UT being a great player.
R2 vs Codename C.A.T
https://pokepast.es/37ae635e1a79ae07 (W, W)
This week I really started liking building aaa again and got some nice results. I also used this team vs my w3 opponent because I really enjoyed using it. This is my favorite team from that time and I think it still holds up now.
https://pokepast.es/7249024c8a26d093 (W)
This is the other team I used, it used to be quite decent but I think the metagame has developed past it and there are better options now.
R3 vs Don Bork
https://pokepast.es/576af0eba94f9848 (W)
I really started noticing how broken hazards are in this meta, corviknight and great tusk are the only good removal options and both are pretty exploitable. From here on out you will see that every single team I built abuses hazards in some way.
https://pokepast.es/ddccdf9bcd80d105 (L)
Speaking of hazards, the other team that I used actually aims to use them as the main tool for progress.
R4 vs ghostlike
https://pokepast.es/7c7739df7a8ebf8b (W)
I knew I had to step up my building if I wanted to beat ghostlike because they are really good and not scared to use preparation to get an advantage. So I decided that I would build with a couple mons I had not used before. I think this team is pretty nice, mglo hands is slept on, that mon is a huge threat.
https://pokepast.es/80d13505aa9f4a5f (L)
This team was built with the idea that future sight + zamazenta destroys absolutely everything. Problem is actually setting that up. Especially with the uptick of roaring moon usage at the moment makes this team very inconsistent as you have to get many predictions right. The team is also pretty weak to special attacking ghosts.
https://pokepast.es/6ded57eeecee6e3f (W)
I built this team from an idea UT gave me. Specs tinted lens latios is a huge threat that is nearly impossible to switch into, but one of the many problems it faces is finding the right speed control to pair it with. This idea started from pairing it with sandy shocks for a special attacking core that is very tough to reliably switch into over the course of a game. Due to the fact that ting lu has become more popular lately this team will struggle to keep up.
Semifinals vs Slither Wing
https://pokepast.es/3d99ad700666cdc5 (L)
I wanted to try building with dnite to mix up my scout and because betticus kept insisting it is good. Pretty good standard team otherwise, sadly loaded it into a near unwinnable mu.
https://pokepast.es/5f74b2aff5e4e425 (W)
This offense is one of the scariest teams I have built for the open. It is extremely difficult to keep everything defended because of the big differences in what the breakers do. Physdef regenvest primarina holds everything together. That mon works really well on offensive teams like this one by compressing roles.
https://pokepast.es/37411b77dd77933a (W)
yes you see that right, I used Entei, and it won. This mon is pretty underrated rn and should probably be on the vr at least. In the worst case scenario it will get a burn vs a key target like manaphy or pecharunt and in some cases it can take over a game completely. It also does a job as a revengekiller with pixilate espeed. Cool mon thats underrated rn.
Finals vs Atha
https://pokepast.es/a2e63f3894a7ad18 (W)
This team came from an idea DFM shared with me, mglo ghold is extremely difficult to switch into in the current meta. the whole idea of the team is to get mons statussed and use the hexing ghosts to break holes in teams. Very effective team at that, but does not like playing against zapdos (that mon kinda sucks rn tho)
https://pokepast.es/2fd075c965e35151 (L)
I wanted to try something more defensive again but wanted to use a wincon that can win get out of control on its own without much support. Cm psynoise scream tail does that job splendidly. Sadly the gameplan did not work out this game.
https://pokepast.es/4e499115a7c1ae16 (W)
Back to my usual hazard offense. This team does what it is supposed to do. Very tough to play around the threats in combination with hazards.
Finals vs Lana
https://pokepast.es/be7bb9ccabd794b2 (W)
vs Lana I wanted to do something a little different. I did not have a good read on them and wanted to surprise them a little. This is a team I built a while ago (around the time of R3 iirc) but never felt like it would do amazing vs my opponents. I kind of regret bringing this team because I dont think it is actually that good and I pretty much only won because of a fortunate crit.
https://pokepast.es/10c651969344b9e7 (W)
This is also a team I built a while ago. I was pretty stressed with having to build something new every week (not just for aaa) and during the finals that really caught up with me. I also dont think this team is that great but I played out of my mind to win the tournament.
R1 vs UT
https://pokepast.es/37702b01eb5511b2 (L)
This team is built around the idea that scream tail with psychic noise can help walking wake break through bulky resists like empoleon. UT brought band roaring moon and I lost a mon every time it came in. Don't think this team is that good anymore, it did kind of start a revolution of people running psychic noise on scream tail though so proud of that at least.
https://pokepast.es/b75f5a9380e10155 (W)
Early on I learned stall was good in this tier (it fell off a little during the duration of the open) so I built my own version. UT brought a team that could not break through and I won in an easy game without losing a mon. This team got me great results on ladder and it should still do decently there even now.
https://pokepast.es/d353ffe55ff401cf (W)
I had not really thought about which team to use during g3 of this match, and I accidentally loaded a team that I didnt think was good because it lacked speed control, whoops. I got punished for it and only won because I won 2 speed ties with my iron moth vs UT’s Latios. 75% of the time I would have been out round one instead of winning the tournament. This was the series I was closest to losing during the entire tournament, part of that was me being quite new to the meta. But part of that is also UT being a great player.
R2 vs Codename C.A.T
https://pokepast.es/37ae635e1a79ae07 (W, W)
This week I really started liking building aaa again and got some nice results. I also used this team vs my w3 opponent because I really enjoyed using it. This is my favorite team from that time and I think it still holds up now.
https://pokepast.es/7249024c8a26d093 (W)
This is the other team I used, it used to be quite decent but I think the metagame has developed past it and there are better options now.
R3 vs Don Bork
https://pokepast.es/576af0eba94f9848 (W)
I really started noticing how broken hazards are in this meta, corviknight and great tusk are the only good removal options and both are pretty exploitable. From here on out you will see that every single team I built abuses hazards in some way.
https://pokepast.es/ddccdf9bcd80d105 (L)
Speaking of hazards, the other team that I used actually aims to use them as the main tool for progress.
R4 vs ghostlike
https://pokepast.es/7c7739df7a8ebf8b (W)
I knew I had to step up my building if I wanted to beat ghostlike because they are really good and not scared to use preparation to get an advantage. So I decided that I would build with a couple mons I had not used before. I think this team is pretty nice, mglo hands is slept on, that mon is a huge threat.
https://pokepast.es/80d13505aa9f4a5f (L)
This team was built with the idea that future sight + zamazenta destroys absolutely everything. Problem is actually setting that up. Especially with the uptick of roaring moon usage at the moment makes this team very inconsistent as you have to get many predictions right. The team is also pretty weak to special attacking ghosts.
https://pokepast.es/6ded57eeecee6e3f (W)
I built this team from an idea UT gave me. Specs tinted lens latios is a huge threat that is nearly impossible to switch into, but one of the many problems it faces is finding the right speed control to pair it with. This idea started from pairing it with sandy shocks for a special attacking core that is very tough to reliably switch into over the course of a game. Due to the fact that ting lu has become more popular lately this team will struggle to keep up.
Semifinals vs Slither Wing
https://pokepast.es/3d99ad700666cdc5 (L)
I wanted to try building with dnite to mix up my scout and because betticus kept insisting it is good. Pretty good standard team otherwise, sadly loaded it into a near unwinnable mu.
https://pokepast.es/5f74b2aff5e4e425 (W)
This offense is one of the scariest teams I have built for the open. It is extremely difficult to keep everything defended because of the big differences in what the breakers do. Physdef regenvest primarina holds everything together. That mon works really well on offensive teams like this one by compressing roles.
https://pokepast.es/37411b77dd77933a (W)
yes you see that right, I used Entei, and it won. This mon is pretty underrated rn and should probably be on the vr at least. In the worst case scenario it will get a burn vs a key target like manaphy or pecharunt and in some cases it can take over a game completely. It also does a job as a revengekiller with pixilate espeed. Cool mon thats underrated rn.
Finals vs Atha
https://pokepast.es/a2e63f3894a7ad18 (W)
This team came from an idea DFM shared with me, mglo ghold is extremely difficult to switch into in the current meta. the whole idea of the team is to get mons statussed and use the hexing ghosts to break holes in teams. Very effective team at that, but does not like playing against zapdos (that mon kinda sucks rn tho)
https://pokepast.es/2fd075c965e35151 (L)
I wanted to try something more defensive again but wanted to use a wincon that can win get out of control on its own without much support. Cm psynoise scream tail does that job splendidly. Sadly the gameplan did not work out this game.
https://pokepast.es/4e499115a7c1ae16 (W)
Back to my usual hazard offense. This team does what it is supposed to do. Very tough to play around the threats in combination with hazards.
Finals vs Lana
https://pokepast.es/be7bb9ccabd794b2 (W)
vs Lana I wanted to do something a little different. I did not have a good read on them and wanted to surprise them a little. This is a team I built a while ago (around the time of R3 iirc) but never felt like it would do amazing vs my opponents. I kind of regret bringing this team because I dont think it is actually that good and I pretty much only won because of a fortunate crit.
https://pokepast.es/10c651969344b9e7 (W)
This is also a team I built a while ago. I was pretty stressed with having to build something new every week (not just for aaa) and during the finals that really caught up with me. I also dont think this team is that great but I played out of my mind to win the tournament.
= As much as Corviknight retains various haters within the community, as so far as to avoid it like the plague, its utility is still undeniable and lands at a comfy #1 position. Being one of the few viable removers we have and compressing great defensive use with its ability as a pivot makes it still the best glue for an immense amount of teams. While there is no ability usage statistics, Fluffy is by far the most popular set for its security against mons like Roaring Moon and the Fighting-types and specially defensive VA is also a fine pick that can let it flex its role.
= Great Tusk lands into a secure 2nd position in usage, being again one of the few viable removers but in comparison to Corviknight far less passive, retaining flexible use defensively and offensively with strong STABs useful in Moldy/Scrappy sets combined with Knock/Rocks able to exert extensive offensive pressure and its bulk + typing still affords the ability to check the likes of Roaring Moon and Kingambit, it's easy to see why GTusk lands itself high above the rest and there seems to be little reason it'll change any time soon.
↑ Roaring Moon has seen a steady slow rise from its position as a fine mon up to secure a well deserved 3rd position in usage and become a great staple. Offensively, it's flexible and extremely consistent. Knock + U-Turn practically guarantee it progress on any given turn, especially with such a strong STAB Knock that RMoon wields. Scarf sets abuse it to act as fantastic speed control that still can guarantee progress while Band sets take it further to focus on utilising it to break though somewhat set back by Fluffy Corv but not immensely. MGLO sets have also found popularity in recent weeks, able to really focus on spamming Knock + U-turn without Choice lock or being hindered by chip like omnipresent Rocks/Rocky Helmet as well as being able to retain defensive utility with Roost as a bulky Dragon-type on the special side for threats like Electrode/Iron Moth. RegenVest serves as a rarer option though for those who want to maximise the defensive utility they want out of RMoon on certain structures.
↑ Another mon that has seen a slow rise from its respectable position to being one of the pre-eminent defensive options on the special side, edging out 4th place. In part Empoleons rise can be attributed to the increasingly acknowledgment that Walking Wake is really really strong but has mostly just been about discovery as Swampert as fallen off. Empoleon's base in its typing and bulk are quite notable, with a good Water, Fairy and Psychic resist, letting it check the popular aforementioned Wake as well as Psysurge and STail check and being an ok Manaphy check which has risen. Combined with a movepool that is also quite respectable, with Knock/Rocks/Flip Turn letting it contribute progress consistently, it can fit on many teams quite comfortably as a easy glue and SpD blanket with a variety of abilities that just help to amplify its base utility.
= Gholdengo retains respectable usage, only barely losing to Empoleon to sit at 5th place. Gholdengo for the most part does what it likes to do, with immunities and its unique defensive profile it serves as a fine defensive glue while not being entirely passive with Nasty Plot letting it exert considerable offensive pressure. Arguably it has seen a small rise as Swampert has fallen off quite a bit, with Manaphy taking its place and being a bit more exploitable for Gholdengo with its lack of EQ and also ability to be hit with T-Wave and Hexed. EE has generally been the predominant ability, with WBB rare corresponding to the popularity of Fire-types and fine amount of resists/ways to outplay. More offensive sets like Scarf and particularly offensive sets like Hex MGLO/Specs have also cropped up rather recently which are rather interesting and I've tested to mild success but haven't made too much of a splash in Open but it could be interesting to see in OMPL.
↑ With the addition of Psychic Noise to its movepool as well as just general discovery, speedy PixiBurst has become extremely popular, pumping out results with one of the notably higher win rates. Able to chase out and soft check a myriad of mons like Walking Wake/Latios/Ogerpon formes and with other utility like Rocks/TWave or PsyNoise, STail can serve as an ever annoying progress maker on the field. I don't think the general meta conditions have affected STail too much, though offensive Steels like Heatran and Gholdengo are no longer at their absolute peak popularity, they generally dont appreciate PixiBurst/PsyNoise regardless.
↑ Manaphy has seen a return to forme, usurping Swampert as the premier RegenVest and Regen in general, almost seeming to approach mimicking its dominance in DLC1, though with greater competition and diversity in team structures seen it's unlikely to return to its monstrous peak. Its sheer utility in Knock Off, Scald and U-turn make sure it always keep up progress and annoy the opponent, with solid typing and bulk, critically resisting Water to act as a better Wake check and also not being quadruple weak to the various Grass-type moves flying around to snipe Swampert. Offensive sets have mostly fallen off, but Take Heart is still an interesting option for defensive Manaphy sets.
↑ Another who has seen a steady rise from its place of modicum to one of the most popular defensive glues and pivots within the tier. This is in large part due to the discovery of the Prankster set which pairs well with many of the more fast pace teams developing in the meta. With tremendous physical bulk, Pecharunt can act to soft check many like Zama-H and Hands and even come in and eat many super effective hits and exert pressure with Prankster Destiny Bond, combined with Prankster Parting Shot it can serve to act as a stopgap even against the majority of offensive threats, acting as a overall very useful compression on the defensive side. It does sport a uniquely low winrate, though not too low to be too much of a sign.
= Walking Wake has always been a strong breaker and the Open serves to confirm its place within the meta, boasting the highest usage rate of a true pure breaker. Specs power is truly spectacular, with Primordial Sea Weather Ball smashing through the majority of neutral walls, especially amplified with access to Knock Off. To attest to its strength further, recent meta developments have shown to its strength, with the rise of Manaphy/Empoleon in some part response to Wake strength being far too great for things like Swampert. Its quadruple Fire and Water resists also are fairly useful, just an extra cherry on top. Though now, the even more niche Water Absorb has seen usage in mons like Heatran and Gholdengo, which could spell a potential worse future for Wake but we'll see for stuff like Empoleon/Manaphy isn't even too secure and need to be kept healthy and other sets like DMaw can somewhat bypass these. Outside of Specs, Scarf also is strong for Knock + Pivot and its raw power even Scarfed make it a fine candidate though not as fast as entirely desirable, just to add to variety, making it no surprise why Wake secures such high usage.
= Not too much to say about Moth, it for the most part does what it always does with great utility and offensive presence, though Wake's strong usage has further secured Iron Moths utility as a Water immunity. TSpikes has seen a fair rise in amount of usage on Moth as well, being on almost half on them now, though not to extremely notable success as far as I can tell.
= Dragonite remains firmly quite good with just about the same tricks it has always used. Its typing and defensive utility is personally the more appealing part of DNite to me, able to check the likes of Moth, Heatran and Zama-H and a stopgap for others like Wake as those fishy all-out offensive sets are rather inconsistent but are undeniably somewhat strong, with an interestingly high winrate though these may be result of lower-level games. Bulkier Manaphy's popping up with Ice Beam are somewhat a nuisance though I've also seen some interesting Facade DNites for them, though not to too much success.
= Personally, I hate (to use) Zama-H and I am somewhat vindicated with its lower win-rate in Open even if it doesn't mean that much. With Fluffy and prime resists with STail/Pecha/Gholdengo/DNite being extremely popular, it feels rather awful to use Zama-H to me. Through the Open it has found alright usage at a shared 13th place and probably the most usage of the purely offensive Fighting-types, though that's not saying much as most has found fairly low usage nowadays. It can probably be built around to a degree as these aforementioned mons aren't impossible to bypass with coverage or support but... just use Slither Wing tbh...
= The lesser of the metal birds, Skarm has maintained a continued position as a niche option on generally fatter teams with its ability to setup Spikes and phaze as well. Its usage is a bit higher than I expected, though it has an oddly low winrate attached so... Corv stays winning. Ting-Lu has also risen up as a pre-eminent Spiker so I'm curious if Skarm can continue to maintain its position (also I saw some people using Wabs Skarm... wtf...)
↓ Swampert has seen a dramatic fall from grace from its position as the premier RegenVest/Regen in the earlier stages of the meta to falling out of favour from most experienced players with the majority preferring Manaphy to it, with a respectable usage but certainly nowhere near what it once was. With stuff like Wake roaming around and strong Grass coverage now used in adaption, Swamperts flaw become very exposed and its positives overshined with Gouging out of the picture and Electric-types not that hard to answer. As Manaphy reigns, it's doubtful Swampert will ever come to reclaim its crown for the foreseeable future.
= Heatran has gone through its ups and downs, falling off quite a bit from its dominance with MGLO back in Home and suffering under the reign of Manaphy in DLC1 though seeing neat exploration of various sets like Sub and Desoland in the meantime. Heatran continues to maintain a pretty respectable position with new sets like Water Absorb popularised for Walking Wake and the appreciated recovery. Manaphy's strength isn't entirely appreciated though Heatran maintains a plethora of utility in Wisp and Rocks to annoy it. Its low speed isn't the best in the faster pace the meta is up now but I think it has its neat strengths as a fairly neat mon defensively and as a progress maker, time will tell if it really catches on or not.
↓ I swear there was a moment where it had a load of hype, but it has mostly died off and Hands has settled into its ok position. Its usage and win-rate is mostly respectable, tying 19th with Azelf and Latios but I think it definitely did not live up to the hype. The increasing usage of STail/Pecharunt isn't exactly too favourable for Hands and while it isn't surmountable by any means with strong Electric STAB they are undeniable popular nuisances and its low speed can make it a bit annoying at times to get in for more offensive sets like MGLO that seem appealing. Bulkier EE sets have seen ok usage, with GTusk/RMoon ever popular and also the increasing rise of Ting-Lu, Iron Hands will continue to have a pretty fine niche but I don't think it's insanely special or great.
= Deo-S sits in a fine position currently, maintaining pace with other fairly popular breakers like CPao/Ceruledge/Latios. SFLO/Psysurge sets remain the most popular with some more niche sets like Protean also seeing some sparse usage. I have heard some form of hype behind Deo-S being kind of broken, which I dont really believe, but sets like mixed LO Psysurge are interesting and I expect that Deo-S will maintain fine usage or even increase in usage as we head into OMPL.
↓ Remember when we wanted to ban Chien-Pao? Crazy times... Chien-Pao still maintains respectable usage, but has seen a slow decline from the days when it was "broken" with quite a poor winrate not helping its case. With rise of Manaphy over Swampert, Empoleon increasing usage and other checks like Iron Hands, Primarina and even Protect on Ting-Lu, CB Chien-Pao has found it hard to really click to much effectiveness these days in spite of Corvs becoming more cocky and running far more Fluffy and less Intimidate. SD SoR LO is a fairly interesting set to me that could try to bypass these checks though time will tell if it'll pick up.
↓ Ceruledge had its moment to shine, when it was spammed everywhere with SoR but this phase is over now with the increasing amount of counterplay in form of itemless and sets like Regen Ting-Lu rising in popularity, Ceruledge's popularity has levelled off and declined in comparison to past glory. I don't think it's too bad, with still respectable usage and winrates and can still be quite threatening with correct piloting or tech, but the reward has decreased to not be so braindead and Ceruledge has always been a risky mon to pilot with its typing and bulk. Time will tell if it'll return back to its heights.
↑ Ting-Lu has seen a notable climb from its past usage (zero). While it's not particularly high overall, which can be attributed to its still limiting effect on structures when using it and being a more recent thing among top players, you can see its usage and success in the later games at higher levels. It can serve as a fine check to threatening mons in the meta like Psysurgers and Ceruledge/Roaring Moon, further amplified with Tect to scout out threatening Banded breakers like Fighting-types and Chien-Pao. It serves mostly well as a hazard-setter able to abuse Corv as does everything and annoy GTusk with chip as the majority lack Regenerator these days. I do find Ting-Lu structures can be a bit restricting and exploitable in places... but that might be more because I'm bad lol. It'll be interesting see if this fad can cement its place or fall to the wayside as the meta develops further.
↓ Remember when this mon was broken? Sitting with an abysmal usage rate, it can most likely be attributed to rise of a whole lot of Fighting checks within the meta and the increasing pace of it. Pecharunt, Scream Tail and especially Fluffy Corviknight spell annoyances for Zapdos-Galar that while not unsurmountable are troublesome to get past and for a mon of its speed tier it wants to make sure it kills when it gets in. Without this ability, it's hard to justify as it rarely gets in with the majority of the meta outspeeding it and it having trouble keeping up with the pace of the meta. If the meta ever slows down, it could see some increased usage though that also depends on the popularity of aforementioned checks.
↓ Slither Wing has always been a more niche Fighting-type and the decreasing validity of the type as a whole has not helped but I am a believer! Tinted U-turn and First Impression is great and it gets fine coverage in EQ/Flare Blitz in comparison to others like Gapdos... I even tinkered around with some defensive sets as a RMoon/GTusk/Hands check. Hopefully I'll be vindicated in OMPL...
↓ These mons have always felt like the epitome of potential and I've tried to make them work well though not to much success so I wondered if others had better success, but it seems it hasn't faired that much better. Their usage is fairly low across the board and I only remember seeing one Wellspring used to decent effect before. A far fall from when the likes of Ogerpon-C was "broken" (even though some people still claim it is...) but maybe it'll see some more interesting play in OMPL.
↓ Physical Fire-types in general kind of just feel on the down low to me, with rarely anybody running Fire-immunities and sometimes even just lacking physical Fire-resists in general on some structures... I still have hope for them, though Ogerpon-H definitely has not has the greatest showing so far though and Ace has Manaphy to contend with but... I believe in them...
