A PvP Evaluation on the GBL Season 14 Transfer Rebalance

GO Battle League Season 14 (or 10, in Niantic math) is upon us, and together with it, our now-customary transfer rebalance, and… it’s tiny!

This is without doubt one of the smallest new season rebalances we’ve ever gotten. No tweaks to present strikes, and solely 5 whole Pokémon receiving new strikes in any respect (three of them getting the identical transfer). Due to that, now we have solely a handful of issues to debate. Which is sweet since I’ve out of the blue gone from 0 energetic analyses to over half a dozen very quickly flat. Thanks for all of the eleventh hour information, Niantic! Love you too.

So let’s see what we’ve obtained….

DARK WATERS

Jellicent

WaterGhost

Arguably the largest winner from this small replace is JELLICENT, now sporting Surf, considered one of Niantic’s favourite strikes handy out of late. ( you, Season 12 Lanturn!) On the floor, this must be a serious boon to JelliBelli, proper? Its greatest draw back to this point has been the wrestle to place out Water-type injury, having to depend on underwhelming Bubble (typically much less favored than Hex and its larger power positive aspects) or low injury Bubble Beam to deal any Water injury in any respect. Not even one thing like Hydro Pump in Jelli’s case!

With Surf within the combine, clearly that downside goes away… if you need it to. Will we? There’s solely peril in giving up Shadow Ball (or Ice Beam, relying on meta/group protection wants), so we’re speaking about as a substitute giving up Bubble Beam and its annoying, cumulative debuffing for straight-up injury as a substitute.

Beginning in Nice League, at a fast look, Bubble Beam and Surf are in shut competitors. However I’m not so certain that’s true. Bubble Beam does put on down Skarmory, Cresselia, and Talonflame, and whereas these DO matter, take into account that Surf as a substitute washes away Diggersby and the BIG prize: Galarian Stunfisk.

And Surf pulls forward slightly extra clearly with shields down. Stacked up towards Bubble Beam, Surf represents a straight improve by tacking on Cresselia, Bastiodon, and a surer win versus Pelipper too, with NO notable new losses.

Much more impressively, in 2v2 shielding you would possibly count on Bubble Beam to flip the script, with its compiling debuffs giving it an edge, proper? Besides it mostly doesn’t, as a substitute performing no higher than as a sidegrade to Surf. Bubble Beam does uniquely outlast Pelipper this time, in addition to Shadow Swampert and, situationally, typically Shadow Alolan Ninetales as nicely. However Surf once more takes down Galarian Stunfisk, plus Diggersby and Dunsparce. One may simply argue that the upper worth is once more with Surf’s distinctive trio of wins in that equation.

However as good as these outcomes are, Extremely League (and XL Jellicent) is a crystal clear improve. Take a look at 1v1 shielding, Bubble Beam versus Surf: the latter positive aspects (in alphabetical order) Aurorus, Charizard, Gliscor, Alolan Muk, G-Stunfisk, Swampert, AND Sylveon, with no new losses!

And the positive aspects are even extra distinguished with shields down, the place Surf picks up NINE new wins: Aurorus, Gliscor, Granbull, Gyarados, Snorlax, Galarian Stunfisk, common and Shadow Swampert, and the mirror match (versus Shadow Ball/Ice Beam Jellicent) as in comparison with Bubble Beam. And whereas issues do even out extra when evaluating Bubble Beam and Surf in 2v2 shielding — Surf takes down G-Fisk, Dubwool, Tapu FIni, Gliscor, and Arorus, whereas BB as a substitute outlasts Gyarados, Shadow CharmTales, Granbull, and Talonflame and Charizard — general it’s clear that Surf is more likely to result in a brand new tidal wave for Extremely League Jellicent. Hope that, not like your humble writer, you went on the grind for Frillish throughout latest occasions!

LONG STORY SHORT, Jellicent is the clear (and arguably solely true) winner on this restricted replace. I don’t know that it’s going to out of the blue surge up the charts, however the place it was annoying earlier than, will probably be a lot moreso now. Extremely League Jelli specifically simply grew to become a better precedence.

ON A WHIM?

Whimsicott

GrassFairy

One oft-rumored change was that quite a lot of Fairies could be receiving new-ish quick transfer Fairy Wind. Ultimately, that occurred… however just for WHIMSICOTT. Not Cottonee, one of many stars of the (fortunately returning) Little League, however rarely-ever-seen Whimsicott. Hmmm… okay?

In equity, Whimsicott isn’t actually a lot worse off than other notable Charmers in Nice League… on paper, it’s actually better and maybe ought to get extra consideration than it already does. Being a Grass/Fairy kind is a blessing and a curse, although seemingly extra of the previous within the present meta. Being weak to Ice means struggling versus stuff like Walrein and Froslass that not less than another Charmers can beat, and being weak to Flying makes stuff like even (Air Slash) Mandibuzz problematic. However on the plus facet, the individuality of its Grass typing means additionally resisting Grass (beating Victreebel!), Water AND Floor (thus being uniquely capable of overcome Swampert), and Electrical too (beating Lanturn and, much less clearly, DDeoxys that depends on common Thunderbolt protection). Whimsie has some actually distinctive and potent issues going for it that different Charmers merely don’t.

So sure, Whimsicott can matter. And Fairy Wind builds on that in constructive methods. Whimsicott can now outrace some BIG names it couldn’t earlier than: Shadow Alolan Ninetales, Diggersby, Lickitung, and the mighty Azumarill (packing Ice Beam!), although it does quit Snarl Mandibuzz and Toxicroak that manages to get a Mud Bomb bait and land Sludge Bomb. Nonetheless, general a pleasant enchancment that places it up there with other Fairy Wind users.

Issues are even brighter with shields down, with seven new wins as in comparison with Charm, they usually’re all huge names: Medicham, Swampert, Sableye, Obstagoon, Toxicroak, Vigoroth, and Walrein!

That mentioned, Appeal tends to do very nicely in 2v2 shielding, and such is the case here. Fairy Wind now represents a not insignificant dropoff, however that’s not totally sudden. When you resolve to run Fairy Wind Whimsie, greatest to maybe reserve it as a more in-depth or swap moderately than lead, because it runs greatest with a defend or two out of the best way already.

LONG STORY SHORT, Whimsicott is each higher (howdy, onerous walled Lanturn!) and worse (So. A lot. Wing Assault!) in at present’s Nice League meta than it ever has been earlier than. And Fairy Wind affords an general improve with some BIG names it might cross off, together with a big swath of the everyday Play Pokémon match group. Unsure how spicy these gamers might need to get, however I really suppose Whimsie could also be value one other look coming off this replace.

BOOMBUST

I can hold this one very temporary, as I already talked about Boomburst again throughout Noivern Group Day (lower than a month in the past!) and particularly about varied different Pokémon that would be taught it.

No, it doesn’t assist something that simply acquired it. FLYGON needs to maintain Dragon Claw and Earth Energy, or typically Stone Edge for protection if you wish to spice it up. KOMMO-O doesn’t do nicely if it offers up Dragon Claw or Shut Fight… there’s no room for Boomburst. And EXPLOUD, the one Pokémon which Boomburst matches so nicely thematically, remains to be trapped behind horrible, horrible, no good, very unhealthy quick strikes (Chew  and Astonish ), stays completely nugatory, often unable to even attain the power for Boomburst earlier than falling.

LONG STORY SHORT, no. Simply no. SO many different issues you might have tweaked as a substitute over there at Niantic HQ, fellas.

Alright, I’ve a number of different analyses in progress: Fantasy Cup, Double Iron Bash Melmetal, Hawlucha, and extra. It’s been a really busy 24 hours! So I’ll go get to that, and say ciao for now… however you’ll be seeing a number of me within the coming days as I catch up!

Till subsequent time, you will discover me on Twitter or Patreon. Or please be happy to remark right here with your individual ideas or questions and I’ll get again to you as quickly as I can!

Keep protected on the market, Pokéfriends. Better of luck this season, and catch you subsequent time!

The submit A PvP Evaluation on the GBL Season 14 Transfer Rebalance appeared first on Pokémon GO Hub.