Happy with my own run as well – two ICs, two trophies. Got to face off against some fantastic battlers and showcase a fun team 🐸
Gameplay a lil shaky in clutch moments, but that just means there's room to grow. I may never get that second gold, but I'll take consistent Top 8s.
Huge congratulations to ItsAXN for making Pokémon Go history today!
In Pato and Ilqm, he faced the two strongest battlers of the EU and NA season – just to put on a master class and re-claim the crown.
The storyline going into Worlds writes itself. Is it 2023 all over again?
I hijacked the @mxchmp.bsky.social stream today to hit the legend rank! The vegan scarecrow sure packed a punch. Also converted a Cup/Challenge double header into 55 Championship points. Maybe they’ll ship me to Anaheim?
my š
I was wondering, too. Whole timeline on about innies and outies and I have no clue what the actual fuck either is supposed to be
OUTRAGE morpeko was the only way i was getting VETERAN rank today !! also i tried a newly built shadow sableye variant today. and we don't talk about the two 0-5's that were also today. the mustard-style pants are final sale!
Shellder spotlight done and dusted! 3k per catch with a star piece – if you've made questionable decisions in building Pokémon for PvP lately, this one is a must play!
I went 8-0 to win a prized tournament, hosted by Haydonus (actual), in the @inadequance.bsky.social server! Ice Bean Claydol, Shadow Clause A/, the other guys are regular. ggs!
me when my Morpeko hits the Guzzlord for super effective damage through a shield
When I envision a strong line for the Scroll Cup, I –
What’s your favorite torch song? #pokemongo
I actually think that Blast Burn will be like the 4th most desirable move on it, unless they change it to Hydro stats in the future. Make sure to pick up one just in case, but the best Skeledirges should be the ones without the legacy move
The stats for Torch Song have been datamined – and they're good!
- 45 E allows Skeledirge to stack a Torch Song and a Shadow Ball
- 70 DMG outclasses similar self-buffing moves such as Triple Axel or Trailblaze
- downside: Giving up Disarming Voice will hurt vs some Darks and Dragons
While Dual Destiny was merely a small patch to what we had in Max Out!, the Might and Mastery meta drops a whole DLC worth of changes that WILL impact how tournament teams are looking.
We may have never had this many viable Pokémon. Time to get creative!
However, it's not all misery. Blastoise, Swampert (direct buffs) and Greninja (better environment) will have a four-way scuffle for best water starter. Forretress might be incredible. Mew is viable again, and there’s even an argument to try out Armarouge, now!
FUN AND LACK THEREOF
Some changes annoy me personally a little. Talonflame is about to be worse with more waters and fewer targets. Wigglytuff looks menacing, and that’s not a fun thing to see in the meta. The Discharge rework feels like a nerf and impacts Charjabug.
Furret is a new, capable generalist. Dragons might see an opening if Azumarill usage plummets. Cradily with Rock Tomb will be difficult to remove while boasting great coverage. A-Sandslash may pick up Shadow Claw again. Golisopod gained consistency, plus I guess there’s Swalot!
BUT WAIT. THERE’S MORE
Some staples will drop slightly, but still be around (ShGatr, Diggersby). Overall, the meta's set to grow: Previously unseen Pokémon now sit on the meta's fringes at least. Togetic? Galarian Weezing? Sure, why not. Double buffed Emolga? Put it in the bag.
… but there’s a chance a drop in fighters could lead to it picking up Snarl again.
Mud Slappers should still thrive. Claydol with its Psychic resistance and access to Rock Tomb could have a moment! Jumpluff and Serperior will remain viable, too.
HERE TO STAY
So, how does the current top meta stack up against the new threats?
Out of the main Ghost answers, Shadow Drapion will continue to thrive. Some players might even opt for the non-shadow for an improved Lapras match up!
Mandibuzz also isn’t going anywhere, …
The Ghosts are here to keep newly-buffed Grumpig in check – and they’re plentiful: Drifblim utilizes Hex to spam debuffs, Dusknoir achieves perfect coverage with Dynamic Punch, and the Rock Tomb buff makes Spiritomb a prime target for low friendship trades.
WHO YOU GONNA CALL?
Even beyond Sableye, the field of Ghost types competing for a place in the meta is broadening up. Galarian Corsola loses some of its oppressive Night Shade damage, while bulky Dusclops and Jellicent benefit from buffed Hex improving their neutral match ups.
Lapras' obvious meta status will make certain hard counters more attractive. I’m thinking Morpeko, Pangoro, maybe a Cresselia resurgence.
The Foul Play energy reduction will also see people try out more Malamar, and Shadow Sableye, to fend off that Psywave pressure!
It is deadly with a shield advantage (see below), consistent and versatile. Lapras will decrease the amount of Dewgong we see, it will challenge Azumarill for the bulky water role, and it will scare Annihilape and Primeape with its Psychic type damage. Non-shadow preferred!
LAPPING THE COMPETITION
We like to talk about Pokémon not only in terms of their individual potency, but also in terms of their *gravity*.
Lapras with Psywave and Sparkling Aria will arrive as a Top 5 Pokémon and is set to significantly shift its surroundings in a big way.
Pokémon Go is getting ready for a new season – and the PvP balance update is shaping up to be one of the more substantial ones we've seen.
From Might and Mastery to dominance and diversity, join me on a journey through a new meta, its winners and its losers 🧵
Greatly looking forward to the Might & Mastery season now, and to a new meta to crack. I don't know whether I'll ever make history, but I'll for sure make memories, and that's really all I can ask for.
See you in Atlanta!
– Corsola forms a near perfect core with Primeape and brings the bench pressure vs Annihilape. I never used it once, though.
– Talonflame protected the Primeape/Corsola core from Wigglytuff and is just a Pokémon I'm very familiar with using.
I think I had a team comp advantage every round!
As for the team:
- I knew I wanted to use Charja/Diggersby, as they were my MVPs from Birmingham and form a great core
- Azumarill needed to come, as it opens up neutral play into most popular lines
- Primeape was the fun, squishy thing I wanted to enable.
Other things I was less happy with. Limited time to socialize and focus my energy on the people I do this for. I guess that's just suffering from success. But also, the reputation of someone who loses when it matters is something I want to, and will, shake off.
