New tiering survey? Here’s how I voted and why:
Espathra: 4
Espa has been an issue for a while, but I’ve never seen it as broken. However, it doesn’t really add anything to the meta, and is more restrictive to teambuilding than it should be.
Garganacl: 2
Everyone is saying that Garg is broken, but if that’s our biggest issue than I’d say we’re in a pretty good spot for the meta. Garg adds a lot to the meta in being a bulky rocks setter that can be offensively threatening and is pretty simple to check in teambuilding. Many times I find I accidentally built a Garg counter into my team, like a mon with Sub, and if I didn’t, all I need to do is slap a Cloak on something. These checks tend to work no matter the Tera, and other sets have decent opportunity cost. It’s checks are somewhat common and good on their own, as well as it being quite valuable. However, I could see it becoming too annoying for its own good with Salt Cure’s chip.
Gholdengo: 1
I think it’s a relatively common opinion now that Gholdengo is good, but far from broken. Sort of like Lando in a way, being an amazing glue that fits on many teams, but far from broken. I don’t have much more to say other than people are overvaluing Good as Gold.
Other discussions:
Tera:
Over the past month and change since the Tera suspect, it’s become more and more clear that Tera is far from a banworthy problem. Even outside of that, there’s a precedent here: a mechanic, move, or ability has never been banned (as far as my memory goes) for any reason other than being uncompetitive. Tera is not uncompetitive. Even with that, Tera adds so much more flexibility to the builder and game that giving it up just doesn’t make sense for any reason than that you personally don’t like it. It adds so much more to the game than it removes. Even with that, almost every single ban that has happened so far (maybe bar Annihilape) has no argument for Tera being a central reason. Flutter Mane and Palafin for their insane stat spreads, Houndstone because of a move, Iron Bundle because of its insane speed and unresisted STABs, and Chi-Yu for not caring about being resisted in the first place. Even Chien-Pao doesn’t need Tera to be so good - it’s just a handy tool. Even Annihilape only had Tera as one part of its equation: Rage Fist, Taunt, it’s typing, its bulk, and the fact that it decimated bulky teams with Bulk Up+Taunt not even needing Tera.
Short version: Tera adds a lot more to the game than it removes, which makes it hard to argue to ban it since it really isn’t particularly a problem.
Covert Cloak
Underrated item of the year award here (sorry Clear Amulet, you were a close second), this item does so much more work than just checking Garg. Cloak Corviknight is super fun since you don’t need to care about SpD drops from Pult or Dengo and can just roost and pivot without worrying. This item also allows for more locked down late games so you can ignore paras, burns, and freezes. Not much more to say, other than HOME should improve this even more.
That’s all for now, sorry for the long Tera rant. (To confirm, I wouldn’t mind Tera Preview either)