My answers and discussion on the format at hand:
How enjoyable is the format: 2/10.
I really dislike the format. It's very polarised between the hard aggressive teams and the stallier teams. Most that reside in the middle get roughed up by the extremes.
How competitive is the format: 2/10.
Little in the format that's competitive. Most games with Kingambit usually end in a reverse sweep, hazard control is relatively low thanks to the threat of Ghold, the distribution of knock off makes boots strats harder in a low hazard control meta, valiant revenge kills most things, and acts as a near perfect duo with Kingambit. Also, I find there is massive variance on the ladder. There are so many things to check, you easily lose games to stuff you couldn't fit an answer, or an answer that has the tech to beat your answer. Yeah, needs a few bans.
Quickbans: 7/10.
I think the council has been far too conservative this time with QBs. BM ursa was showing signs of being way too much early on, yet it had a suspect, and one of the fastest suspects in recent memory.
Gliscor: 1/5.
I really don't see the issue. Spikes are big, but that's down to other factors. It is a mon that learns toxic, but that's another problem reduced availability. Yeah, that one gliscor checkmate existed, but I feel its to do with other factors.
Manaphy: 3/5.
Not over the top, but needs an eye on it. Its very potent, but usually has flaws with longevity if the lefties are removed. I don't think its the big one to look at currently, but slap it on the radar.
Gholdengo: 5/5!!!
Needs going asap. If Spinning was an option vs it, then it would be fine. However, blocking Defog, Rapid Spin and Mortal Spin leaves the hazard meta in a choke hold. I decided to have a look at the NDOU suspect and see the reasoning there. I mean, if anything, more hazard control options in NDOU should mean that Gholdengo shouldn't be an issue, right? On the contrary, there is a Spike problem there, and having similar Gholdengo based hazard issues. And, if NDOU, a tier with far more options for the hazard meta, is struggling, then I really don't see how the limited options of SV OU is doing anything to help. The mon's ability to spinblock is straight crazy, and its influence on the meta is a problem. QB, and let the remainder of the format be a litmus test for future Ghold action in DLC2.
Waterpon: 5/5.
A fairly potent SD setter, Waterpon is very lacking in switch ins. Trailblaze sets are brutal to offensive teams, while encore sets are rough for defensive teams to handle. Given it has a very potent STAB, and sustain in Horn Leech, its quite over the top. Very few true counters, and most rely on Tera, usually the Dragon type, to check it. It also compresses the FWG type core into only 2 mons, so add on your fire of choice (Cinderace and Ceruledge seem popular) and its quite potent. When the likes of Kingambit are gone, it's a tough cookie to revenge kill, or even handle defensively. I think it needs a QB, but maybe wants suspecting
Sneasler: 1/5.
What's all the fuss with Sneasler. Tbh, I am using a more stallier/defensive team, and have extreme phys walls to keep it in check. Corv, Glisc and Dozo kinda keep it in check. Especially Glisc, absorbing the status hits from Dire Claw. Dire Claw is the only bit I see that is brutal, but I think it needs the format to calm down a bit before it truly shines. However, the amount of defensive options into it seem fine imo. Opinions can change, so I'll need to see it in action
Kingmabit: 5/5!!!.
It was a mistake letting this remain unbanned. It's so broken, it should have been a QB. It's the ultimate revenge killer, and is the reason for so much Encore and Sub strats. This thing currently is what I find makes the meta a hellscape. You can be winning, having made some amazing predictions, then SO 5 sucker punches all over you, and all the hard work is nothing. It's absolutely broken, and no amount of Tera tiering is going to make it any less potent. It should have gone in the last test, and should have been tested over Roaring Moon first. Needs to go, ASAP.
Tera Blast: 3/5
I'm not sure where to stand on this. 3/5 is enough that, its good that it provides some plays vs mons, and I see it in the same vein as Hidden Power. On the flipside, I think a ban on it could ease up some of the Tera issues, but not all. Plus, most mons aren't using tera blast, solely cause it forces them to use Tera, or be with a sub-par move slot. However, I have seen mons that use tera blast to beat certain things. Saw a tera ice
Other things to look at:
- Booster Energy (I feel its a little too much for some mons. Especially the speed boost, which is such a critical stat that gets boosted. Strong for both Valiant and Roaring Moon)
- Iron Valiant (Stupid revenge killer, and has so many sets, its hard to get a specific mon to deal with it. Might be worse after Gambit and Ghold bans, but yeah).
- Rillaboom (Currently, Grassy Surge, with very little terrain counterplay. You have to allow it its terrain. Plus, Tera banded wood hammer in terrain is just ridiculous).
Yeah, overall, I'm not a fan of the meta. There's too much stranglehold on the meta. And that's coming from someone who's a fan of VGC, where everything is fair game, but is currently a better meta.
- 4/5 Look, I get it. Should I have voted 5/5? Probably, but I said 4/5 for this. I don't really have a justifiable reason, just wanted to save the only 5/5 for 
since I hate the gold thing more.
- 3/5 They are probably problematic, but we have bigger proverbial fish to fry (none of which are fish). I also might've only said 2 on 
- 4/5 I hate this, too, but not as much as 
