Chou Toshio
Over9000
My, how far we've come from that.
I think the first thing that really stands out to any player coming from DPP / BW going into the current XY Beta OU / Pokebank is the sheer amount of priority attacks. They're everywhere, and pretty much rule the metagame. Priority attacks are the meta-- they are so fast, and so powerful; every game becomes a test of who can set up and blast the opponent into oblivion with priority first-- or weathering out the storm of Acrobats and Extreme Speeds to take down the key enemy threats. While I also posted a thread about "bulky offense ruling XY", I think the first round of play testing has completely shown otherwise-- the power and diversity of priority attacks is so intense, that the current OU makes BW OU look "slow", "tame" and "defensive" by comparison.
The initial instinct is to chock this new environment up to the released ubers-- it's true, that with Pokemon like Blaziken, Genesect, and Landorus-I running free, we would expect a more offensive metagame. What's important though is that these "released beasts" are NOT at the top of the XY food chain; they're doing well if they manage to stay relevant-- but dominating? Definitely not. I've never seen anyone use a Manaphy. Tornadus and Thundurus are barely ever seen. Landorus-I and Excadrill just manage to eek out a niche in there somewhere. Genesect is a staple but not a standout, and the mighty Blaziken just can't seem to find a spot on a lot of teams when it's wiped out by a priority Acrobat.
Is this just a case of "new and shiny"? I think otherwise-- seeing as Darkrai, Deoxys formes, and Shaymin-S were literally everywhere at the start of BW OU-- the "released ubers" then had far more representation than they do now. I think it's safe to say that performance plays a big role, and while XY didn't release a whole lot of Pokemon-- it clearly released threats that were on "a whole 'nother level", of priority.
As basic OP data, I'll put summations of the major priority moves that make up the priority meta:
New Priority:
Talonflame:
252+ Atk Flying Gem (custom) Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 216-255 (63.34 - 74.78%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb (custom) Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 204-242 (59.82 - 70.96%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Priority on these monstrous flying attacks makes this the angriest bird to ever live. Flying's always had tremendous potential, but BW Tornadus-T has NOTHING on Talonflame. With the potential to boost up with SD, this gets more 6-0's than DD Gyara ever did.
Mega Kangaskhan
252+ Atk Kangaskhan Sucker Punch (Both Hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 140-165 (41.05 - 48.38%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
-Fake Out can be vicious too, especially alongside Sucker Punch
Mega Lucario
252+ Atk Adaptability Lucario Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 104-124 (30.49 - 36.36%) -- 54.05% chance to 3HKO
252+ Atk Lucario ExtremeSpeed vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 104-123 (30.49 - 36.07%) -- 51.12% chance to 3HKO
And while it's never commonly seen, it's not like this Pokemon CAN'T use its monstrous Sp.A, Nasty Plot, and Adaptability Vacuum Wave.
Mega Mawile
252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 165-195 (48.38 - 57.18%) -- 91.8% chance to 2HKO
Mega Pinsir
252+ Atk Aeriolite Pinsir Quick Attack vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 107-126 (31.37 - 36.95%) -- 79.1% chance to 3HKO
Aegislash
252+ Atk Life Orb (custom) Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 105-125 (30.79 - 36.65%) -- 62.35% chance to 3HKO
This tremendous plethora of diverse priority has dramatically changed the metagame, especially with Steel types having lost those Ghost and Dark resistances. Most of these guys can easily get boosts, with all of them having access to Swords Dance, or +2 Power Punch for Kang. Pinsir can even get to +2.5 easily enough if it can pick off something with Moxie before mega evolving.
Flying, Dark, Normal, and it can't be forgotten that all the OLD priority attacks are still there too! Scizor's even more on top of his game, with Mega Scizor making it ridiculously easy to set up a Swords Dance and go nuts with its new power and bulk. Dragonite has never been better with the new Weakness Policy letting it easily getting to +2 or +2.5 before rampaging with its own Extreme Speed. Breloom might have gotten nerfed like crazy, but that doesn't mean your team can still go without a good answer to Priority Techinician Mach Punch. Mamoswine is still living large with the most powerful Ice Shard in the meta. And finally, Azumarril-- Not only will you now see this guy everywhere thanks to his awesome new typing, but Belly Drum + Aqua Jet unleashed--
+6 252+ Atk Splash Plate Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (custom): 381-448 (111.73 - 131.37%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Of course, Genesect, Zygarde, and the Deoxys formes also get Extreme Speed, and could really mess you up if you underestimate them.
That's it for the summary.
This thread is to discuss impressions on the priority meta, as well as discussing strategies for dealing with all the meta's priority attacks. What pokes make good answers? How many checks to priority does it take? What types of strategies win and lose out from this metagame shift? DO SPEED TIERS (for non priority Pokemon) EVEN MATTER ANYMORE???
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