Since this thread is empty, I decided to make enemies in the community by giving my rankings of the SCL players. I tend to value having consistency for a longer period of time rather than higher peaks and lower valleys, so I would not be surprised if some other people rate some duos in a different position than I have them in.
1) Terrors - Nails, Actuarily
I think its very hard to argue that this is not the best, if not top 3 pairing for SCL. Nails got retained for the highest cost in the pool (for a cost higher than 2nd place qsns that could get you almost any other player drafted), yet has been one of the most dominant pokemon players I've ever seen - regardless of tier. Actuarily themselves could be a starter on most of these teams as well, and was picked up for a mere 3.5k. While having an admittedly shaky season in DUU for derby after dominating in the slot for DPL, he is starting to get back into form both with his play as well as as a builder for Robjr in our SV slot. As long as they have some level of synergy with builds (I think both prefer some level of bulky offence, which seems to fit the meta and each other well), they should put up a top 2 record together.
2) Islanders - JRL, Frania
The other retain, JRL has been having a terrific year teamtour-wise. Despite forgetting that tera-ghost smeargle can switch out of shadow tag, their floor puts them at a neutral record at worst. This is not the JRL of yesteryear, he has found success working alongside other European players time and time again, which makes their pairing with Frania make a lot of sense. Frania is probably the most veteran presence you could have here (besides maybe Z0m thinking about it harder), but more importantly friends with JRL and their manager for the DPL-winning Thieves. Frania is another one of the subs I would trust more playing if something happens to JRL, which should add to the consistency for the duo. For some reason, I think
Ontario is behind these players as well.
3) Platoon - Xrn, Lunar., Michaelderbeste2
NGL I was not expecting to see Xrn in DOU, and thought that the retain here would be used so they could play OU and cheap out on support options for DOU due to having another player who can help with that tier. The platoon took the opposite approach, and instead went with longtime SCL support and fellow Sp_nda Lunar. Xrn's play speaks for itself, but this pick is bolstered a bit by a (hopefully) strong start due to the work they've done together previously. Lunar was personally very helpful in getting acclimated to the tour scene for doubles after I took a few years away from mons. While they didn't play SV in dpl, I am going to go on the side of good chat presence + knowing Xrn makes a good combination. Michael is Michael, idk how this guy is at the top of seemingly everything from randbats to 2nd place VGC worlds, but I am sure they will have some ideas and insights into the meta. I hope the three of them have fun working together. Go Sp_ndas!
4) Gible - zee, z0mOG
Starter Zee has been unleashed, and with a support that is their friend + can flex into pu/ou/idk whatever gibles want, this core makes the most sense in the where the team was player- and money-wise during the draft. This was what I was expecting from the Platoon, yet this worked out nearly as well for a much cheaper price tag. Even if zee goes negative but close, that is great value from the slot, which is why it is ranked so highly in my mind. While both are primarily VGC players now, DOU isn't hard to learn at all, and I have a feeling they already have some other teams they're communicating with to get up to speed. Zee's playing is above average, which is exactly what is needed here. Z0m support also may not be S++ tier as I primarily think of them as a pilot, but the friendship bonus offsets this and my prediction for how they will do follows the trajectory of Xrn + Lunar.
5) Machines - qsns, sempra, entrocefalo
This might be the hardest one for me to rank: qsns was the most expensive non-retain, which makes sense as they have played for years in the SCL circuit. Even if last year's run did not go as planned, they have been at the forefront of the meta with teams like "kingamit is an actual pokemon", "steal something from VGCPastes" and "Staraptor + Annihilape". If TFT gets a bad patch, expect to have a fully invested player here. However, the support here is not what I would be expecting: Sempra, 5th place at VGC worlds, paired with a good builder who went for a lot of money. I am not sure how this dynamic will work out, which is why it is ranked middle of the pack, as the two of them will have to adapt to the new meta. We may find that halfway through the season that sempra becomes the starter, but I am sure lots of practice games will be ran before then. Mons is Mons however, and VGC players have been able to adjust historically if they have connections in the tier. If the two of them have a finger on the pulse for the meta and figuring out rock Ogerpon is actually viable, then the two of them can do well. Entrocefalo is also listed here, however, I believe they will be more invested in Ubers and may not spend as much time in this channel.
6) Spartans - Tenzai, Toxigen
A classic pairing, two teammates from the last SCL who seem to enjoy from an outside perspective working together. These may be the two I know the least about: both are European, and both established themselves before I started playing while managing separate DPL teams who had wildly different trajectories. That isn't to say they're out of touch, but I would love it if some older players could comment their thoughts on this pair, I rated them this high just due to the experience both have and the fact they worked together already.
7) Breakers - Meminger21, bage1, umbry
Another interesting pairing. I am super high on Memiger as a player (they were by far the hardest player I faced during OSDT, and as a result I picked them to win in the predict tour... instead of the other person who beat me who is coming up later). They have been my dark horse for a while, and seeing them as part of a 6k pick-up partnership makes me happy. Even if they don't perform that's ok - expectations are low for this pair. Bage1 is someone who I think more for some of the weird derby tiers (kinda like me w/ DUU and DPP), but they have grown a TON over the past year. I think drafting these types of players around Umbry makes sense, she is another vet who can help guide them on proper prep, scl pressure and the commitment it takes to succeed in these kinds of tours.
8) Foxes - Akaru Kokuyo, Ann
Akaru is tied with Xrn for cost with this auction, but has been more inconsistent overall, which is why I ranked them lower. While they top cut for OSDT, they had the worst opponent ranking due to dropping a few sets early. This is not their first rodeo, however, and having some experience supporting should let them put up an okay record, especially vs. some of the newer players to SCL. Ann makes sense as their support: A fellow LATAM player so neither has to communicate in English, they already likely have a good working relationship and my guess is that Akaru requested Ann specifically as their support. This draft could move up a few spots, however, it is on the costlier side and as a result has a higher chance of backfiring if something goes amiss.
9) Dynamos - Feyy, raf, Ash KetchumGamer
Team APAC! I hope you snagged memo into your chat as well. I am surprised raf was drafted to SCL, but regardless I am proud of the growth you've shown and have joined the countless other NFE players who have managed to make it to scl/spl, albeit on a different trajectory than most. Feyy is most likely the starter, however, and they seem hungry to win something on the Smogon side after coming over from the draft community. That isn't to say they're bad or that their builds are inherently fishy: after dropping the hoodra we've seen a more consistent feyy throughout their OSDT run vs the Shogun's player xqiht. I probably know the least about feyy from any individual player in the tour, but when watching replays for this there were many times I felt that their thought process was just...correct, which is a positive sign if they have good nerves. Ash KetchumGamer may also help, however, I believe they were passed teams for osdt and may not feel comfortable helping build. If that's incorrect let me know, but I consider them more of an OU player than VGC/Doubles.
10) Shoguns - xqiht, eragon11145
Someone had to be last, and in my mind, it should be the people who are going to be the most inconsistent. That isn't to say their upside isn't high, as eragon has put up above-average performances in DPL/Derby and xqiht in in OSDT finals as well, but both are about as new to the community as I am and I would not trust myself currently to be starting in such a large tour. Additionally, I am not sure which of them is piloting. Eragon has the reputation of being a somewhat wild and chaotic builder, but there are nuggets within those teams I often use within my own teams when looking for inspiration. Xqiht is now just becoming more integrated with the community too, since they are Chinese and lacked discord until very recently. I think this pairing and the dynamos are the most similar, but I think this team has a lower baseline but a higher peak than them which is why I rated them lower. BO1 building may favour them in reality while I have been considering it a downside just due to the nature of their builds, and if that's the case they may be raised as well.
I hope you all enjoyed reading some PRs, and would love it if other ppl posted their own thoughts on the pairings
or invited me to their teamserver to help. I'm looking forward to 3 months from now when I can look back and realize all of my opinions were incorrect!
)
. Okay I guess he is good.. Looking at the teams qsns brought a fairly standard Hyper Offense build with.. a Roaring Moon? Over Flutter Mane? I never question qsns these days but that adding another physical attacker felt a little weird here. Can definitely work, but just feels like Flutter Mane covers more on this style of team. Xrn, on the other hand, is running a SnowBax and friends team. The idea of this team was simply set up Baxcaliber while having partners that can help handle it's weaknesses, having a lot of options for Steel and Fire types. One thing to note is just how weak qsns's team is to Ice, with 4 pokemon being weak to it and only 1 resisting. If qsns lets the Baxcaliber sit on the field too long or get set up, it may be hard to play around it.