FORRETRESS

SWAMPERT

CELEBI

TENTACRUEL

MEW

MIENSHAO

STARMIE

GOLISOPOD

Some thoughts on other 'mons, both good and bad, in the current meta that haven't gotten a lot of discussion...Bringing this up to slam it. Please stop using this on offense :( Complete and utter setup bait for every offense-punishing setup sweeper in the tier, from Azumarill to Porygon-Z. It's alright on bulkier teams that don't fear these types of threats as much, but I simply don't understand why people are so into using this thing on offense. Actually no, keep using it, I like the free ladder points I get from luring in a Forry and setting up with PZ.This has been up there with Hippo and Celebi as one of the most consistent rockers on bulky offense for me. The fact that it takes ~45% from Electric PZ is always a plus, since you don't even need to keep it that healthy to Roar its boosts away or slam it for 70-80% with EQ. (It also takes 94% max from Modest Ghost/Dark PZ, so you can even counter those sets in a pinch - you just need to stay healthy.) It's also nice having a decent check to things like MAero, which is not always the easiest thing to find on an offensive team.This is my other favorite rocker on offensive teams. I run a mixed defensive set with Rocks/Giga/Uturn/Recover, and it's kind of amazing how much punishment this thing can take and pivot out to something else with a slow-ish Uturn. It also gives you a really solid check to two of the scariest 'mons for offense to face, BD Azumarill and Sash Breloom, while also being a reliable answer to basically every Keldeo set and a solid pivot into a million other attacks.Not the best choice on straight offense, but on BO or balanced teams, Tentacruel is great. Fatter teams always need a solid Keldeo answer, especially one that doesn't get completely boned by Pursuit, and this gives you one that also gets utility out the wazoo: T-Spikes (which have been pretty deadly this meta), Haze and Spin. It's a bit passive, but it has a decent Speed and with Haze or the high poison chance on Sludge Bomb, it's surprisingly hard to take advantage of its passivity. I haven't messed around with a more offensive set, but that honestly doesn't sound bad this meta either.Still one of the best 'mons in the tier IMO. As always, this thing can do anything. Taunt/Wisp Mew is still fantastic, but lately my favorite set has been NP. With Psyshock and Energy Ball/Giga Drain, it completely runs through common stall cores, as they tend to rely on things like Quagsire or Blissey to check special setup sweepers. Even without any bulk invested it's surprisingly fat (tanks things like LO Bisharp's Sucker Punch), and it can run Roost for longevity or a ton of coverage options to beat out whatever it is your team needs to nail. Totally underrated but great.Ah I love this 'mon, I think it's really fantastic in this meta. Reckless HJK hits harder than Diggersby's Return, and this is just one of the best Scarfers in the tier right now (and that's saying something, as we have a LOT of good options). My favorite thing to do is to run fighting spam with this and Specs or CM Keldeo, alongside Pursuit support from the likes of MAero or Bisharp. It's amazing how much insurance you get by keeping a Shao in your pocket for the lategame. And with Volcarona gone (because fuck Flame Body, and fuck trying to land Stone Edges :(), this thing is even better.I've been seeing a little more Starmie hype lately, which makes sense, since it is pretty fantastic now that Weavile can't fuck up its day anymore. Forget about Rapid Spin; offensive Analytic is just a HUGE pain to switch into, especially if you're running four attacks. If Spin is more up your alley, you've got a ton of options, both offensive and bulky. Like Tenta it also gives you a great Keldeo resist, and while it is Pursuit weak, its access to recovery lets it more reliably check Keld throughout the game.Sorry, Meru and YABO , I tried to like this thing, but I just can't. CB seems like it should be cool in theory, and it isn't necessarily- but I don't think it's that great, either. First Impression is kinda cool but can leave you dangerously at risk on a CB set. Every now and then using Emergency Exit to get a free switch for one of your other offensive threats is pretty cool, but for every game where that works, there are another three where the ability is a liability. The final nail in the coffin, though, is simply that Azumarill exists. CB Azu has a stronger Aqua Jet and a MUCH better defensive typing, and the threat of Belly Drum means that people are often terrified of switching out of this thing, so it can often nab an early kill. Every single time I've tried to use Golisopod, I've found myself doing better with a CB Azumarill in its place.I'll add more later, and some of my thoughts on the recent slate of bans, but I wanted to talk about these for a bit, since they get a lot less attention than stuff like PZ or Terrakion but are definitely worth discussing.