I just want to put in my two cents about the most important changes of all PU mons.
: Arbok's buff from 85 to 95 atk isn't a real game changer. Even though it hits slightly harder now with Gunk shot and EQ, the Sucker Punch nerf kinda sucks for the poison snake, because it deals less damage than before.
Before changes:
+1 252+ Atk old Arbok Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Stoutland: 264-312 (84.8 - 100.3%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
+1 252+ Atk old Arbok Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Stoutland: 118-139 (37.9 - 44.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
After changes:
+1 252+ Atk new Arbok Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Stoutland: 283-334 (90.9 - 107.3%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
+1 252+ Atk new Arbok Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Stoutland: 111-131 (35.6 - 42.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Will it stay in PU:
Yes!
: Farfetch'd got actually a pretty huge attack buff (from 65 to 90), but to be honest it still has no speed and defenses and it's in general very underwhelming. It should only be used on fun/meme teams, cause it's simply outclassed by other birds.
Will it stay in PU:
Without a shadow of a doubt!
: Oh boy. Dodrio got probably one of the biggest buffs out of all Pokemon. If a speed boost from 100 to 110 wasn't enough, GF also gave it SD and Jump Kick. This monster has no future in PU and will definitely rise to UU or even OU.
Some calcs for the OU players:
252 Atk Life Orb Dodrio Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 242-286 (62.6 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252 Atk Life Orb Dodrio Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Slowbro: 335-395 (85 - 100.2%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Life Orb Dodrio Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Latios: 273-321 (91.3 - 107.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Will it stay in PU:
No way!
: Electrode's buff from 140 speed to 150 doesn't really matter at all. The only things it now outspeeds are: Adamant Ninjask (rare), +2 Relicanth/Weepinbell, Modest scarfed Chatot (rare) and scarfed Monferno (rare).
Will it stay in PU:
Yes!
: Another bird that got buffed. The special attack buff is highly appreciated and also the addition of Moonblast is really nice, but it's main set will remain as a special defensive wall. Even though it has such a nice movepool (Psychic, Heatwave, Shadowball, Moonblast), 86 spatk is just too weak. Pls GF give this little bird Hurricane :/
Will it stay in PU:
Definitely!
: Ariados got some interesting new features, which I'm looking forward to use. First of all, it's spdef rose to 70 (now it has 70/70/70 bulk), which is still meh. But it also got SD and a new move called "Toxic Thread" which lowers the opponents speed by 1 and also poisons the opponent.
A possible moveset could look like this:
Ariados @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sticky Web
- Toxic Thread
- Sucker Punch
- Megahorn
In all honesty, I still believe it is outclassed by other Sticky webbers, but maybe it can find it's own niche.
Will it stay in PU:
Yeah!
: Buffs: HP 50->60 and Spatk 80->90
I'll keep it short: It's still a mon with an super bad typing and it's still outclassed by the likes of Golem or Stunfisk.
Will it stay in PU:
Yes!
: This is a mon I'm exited for. All of it's bulk rose from 55/85/85 to 65/95/95, which makes it a sturdy wall combined with Regenerator. It also got the new busted watertype move "Liquidation" with 85 bp and a chance to lower the opponents defense. Corsola is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the new meta.
Will it stay in PU:
Most likely!
: This thing is interesting. With it's upgraded Spatk and Speed it's actually a scary setup sweeper. With Intimidate it creates setup opportunities against physical attackers and at +1 it outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame besides Ninjask and Electrode. Flying types (maybe Noctowl???), which normally wall this thing, get rekt by an strong Ice Beam.
An interesting calc:
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Stoutland Return vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Masquerain: 238-282 (84.3 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
+1 252 SpA Life Orb Masquerain Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Stoutland: 261-308 (83.9 - 99%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Will it stay in PU:
Probably, because of Vivillion and Lilligant!
: Buff: Speed 70->90 and it still sucks
Will it stay in PU:
The day this rises to NU I'll quit Pokemon forever!
: Volbeat (and Illumise) got both better bulk, which makes Tail Glow passing even more viable and threatening. Also as PU's premier rain setter, it can now setup rain even easier than before.
Some calcs to show it's improved bulk:
Before: 252+ Atk Choice Band Stoutland Return vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Volbeat: 252-297 (75.4 - 88.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
After: 252+ Atk Choice Band Stoutland Return vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Volbeat: 211-249 (63.1 - 74.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Before: 252+ SpA Choice Specs Lapras Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Volbeat: 280-331 (83.8 - 99.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
After: 252+ SpA Choice Specs Lapras Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Volbeat: 255-300 (76.3 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Will it stay in PU:
Honestly I'm not sure, but probably not!
: Both got an increase in HP and a new move each. Power Gem and Flare Blitz. That's quit an huge buff for both of them, because Lunatone, which runs normally an offensive set with LO, really needs a strong, special rock move. Solrock won't really run Flare Blitz, because it's main set/niche is a rocker with will-o-wisp and levitate, so the increase of HP really comes in handy.
Some calcs:
Before: 252+ Atk Choice Band Leafeon Leaf Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Solrock: 344-408 (100 - 118.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
After: 252+ Atk Choice Band Leafeon Leaf Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Solrock: 344-408 (89.5 - 106.2%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO
Before: 252+ SpA Life Orb Lunatone Ancient Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Monferno: 191-226 (71 - 84%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
After: 252+ SpA Life Orb Lunatone Power Gem vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Monferno: 253-300 (94 - 111.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Will they stay in PU:
Lunatone for sure and Solrock probably!
: Even though Chimecho has pretty good bulk with 75/80/90 after the buff, I still see no reason to use this mon over Grumpig. It only benefits are a ground immunity, slightly better physical bulk and screens.
Will it stay in PU:
Yes!
: Crustle's attack increase from 95 to 105 doen't change much.
Here are some examples:
Before: +2 252 Atk Crustle Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Golem: 282-332 (77.6 - 91.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
After: +2 252 Atk Crustle Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Golem: 300-354 (82.6 - 97.5%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Before: +2 252 Atk Crustle Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Stoutland: 288-339 (92.6 - 109%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
After: +2 252 Atk Crustle Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Stoutland: 307-363 (98.7 - 116.7%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
Will it stay in PU:
Most likely!
: Finally this thing doesn't die of any priority move in the game thanks to and def boost from 30 to 50 and an HP buff from 70 to 80.
Just a little example:
Before: 252 Atk Iron Fist Monferno
Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Cryogonal: 270-320 (96 - 113.8%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
After: 252 Atk Monferno
Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cryogonal: 302-356 (82.9 - 97.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Okay maybe this isn't the greatest example of all time, but damn that second calc made me happy :)
But in all honesty, I don't believe this thing is staying in the tier. Cryo was always a decent mon in NU and now it got a lot better.
Will it stay in PU:
Nope!
: All of them won't stay in PU. Peli will rise to OU, because it is a great supporter for mons like Swampert, Kingdra or Tapu Koko. Qurtel will only rise when drought gets unbanned in UU and below. It's simply not good enough for OU in my opinion. Same goes with Gigalith, which is a good mon, but outclassed by Tyranitar and Hippo. Vanilluxe will rise to NU, because it's just too strong with it's 100% accuracy Blizzard.
: This thing is
BUSTED with SD and Aqua Jet. After one SD it is nearly unstoppable. It can basically ohko all major sweepers (Floatzel, Zebstrika, Mr. Mime,...) at +4 with the combination of Jet and QA. This monster will definitely rise atleast to RU or maybe even higher.
: Air Slash -> Useless
: Stockpile -> Useless
: Stomping Tantrum -> Interesting, but probably worse than EQ or Bonemerang
: Coil -> Not a bad move, but it's outclassed by Stoutland
: Air Slash -> Useless
: Quiver Dance -> Could be her main set, but she is even after +1 speed pretty slow
: Head Smash & Tearful Look -> It's still whack, what you losers gon' do?
: Air Slash & Dragon Rush -> Useless
: Drill Peck -> Useless
: Noble Roar -> Useless
: Belch -> Actually works against Cacturn after the triggered Colbur Berry from Sucker Punch
: Spotlight -> Useless
: Swords Dance -> Interesting, but no benefits over Arbok
: Belch -> Useless
: Quiver Dance & Bug Buzz -> No reason to use it over other Quiver Dancers like Masquerain
: Lunge -> Good move, bad Pokemon
: Magnetic Flux -> Useless
: Nasty Plot -> Useless
: Psychic Fangs -> Return, Facade, Superpower and Pursuit/Crunch are more useful
: Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, Hydro Cannon -> Useless
: Head Smash -> Actually a neat addition to kill things like Altaria or Articuno
: Speed Swap -> Useless
: Psychic Terrain -> Interesting
: Fire Lash -> Useless
Peace!