Hey WDL coaches! As a quick introduction to those of you that might not know me, I go by Istanbuldayim. If we're friends, call me Sam—or "hey, you" if you prefer. I play in a few leagues, and try to do mons-related write-ups when I can. I agreed to cover WDL and do power rankings—something to add a bit of week-to-week flavor to the league. Power ranking write-ups such as this one are likely to be less common than simple rankings, but I figured we'd start off the season with a bit of post-draft analysis.
WDL!
With the draft in the books and Week 1 of battles just around the corner, let's take a look at some first-thoughts on the WDL teams.
A disclaimer: All of these thoughts are entirely my opinion, with little to no outside input. Consequently, I may very well have rated your team far below where it belongs, or far below where you believe it belongs. None of this is personal (i.e. I didn't rank your team lower because I don't like you), nor is it an objective evaluation of your team. Overall, the teams in this league are solid—none without flaws, but also none that are complete disasters. Don't like your position on the list? Win some matches and prove me wrong—I'll be happy to admit it.
1. KCK:
“I hate using manaphy lol”
-Clutch, 6/16/2018
Funny, that.
This team is good—its T1s pair well together and its mid-low tiers are largely bulky hazard-setters (fantastic pickups when in doubt, by the way). The way this team is structured, it can field a fantastic balanced offense with Manaphy and Mega Pinsir at the back, waiting for their opportunity to strike. And heaven forbid that anyone let Snorlax get a few curses, especially if Toxic Spikes are up.
Sneaky big question: Will this team be at all adversely affected by the lack of VoltTurn?
2. HAR:
Kyurem-B and Mega Lopunny on the same team puts immense pressure on the opposing team to find switch-ins to huge physical threats. Flank those two with an insane special breaker in Volcanion, and the ultimate thorn-in-opponent’s-side mon in Klefki, and you’ve got a team that’s nearly impossible to wall. The team rounds itself out with excellent defensive balance options, such as Zapdos and Muk-A, adding diverse options for rounding out team comps. The big hitters on this team will appreciate the Spikes and Toxic Spikes that Klefki and Cofagrigus can set, and having Klefki around to spread Paralysis via Thunder Wave is excellent.
Sneaky big question: ...is Torterra really the only rock setter on this team?
3. FTP:
Cossak’s drafts are iteratively getting better. This is almost certainly the best one yet. Tornadus-T is easily amongst the greatest pivots in the format, as is Rotom-W. Moreover, this team boasts an excellent type diversity that gives them resistances across the board. Reuniclus is a force to be reckoned with—a bulky psychic with setup options and insane stopping power. The dark types that come along to deal with Reuniclus will have to find a way to survive Mach Punches from Breloom.
If anything, this team is a bit light on stopping power. Breloom can fill the gap, but bringing one mon week-in-week-out becomes predictable. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Crobat, a mon who’s most common role is somewhat redundant with Tornadus-T, swapped for a mid-tier breaker.
Sneaky big question: Can Magneton function as this team’s long-term steel-type?
4. VAN:
Maybe this is premature, but I’d say that Vancouver arguably has one of the best balance drafts in the league. Mew and Heatran form a dangerous core with both offensive and defensive versatility. When you consider that Vancouver can also bring Sticky Web to the table, the team becomes even more dangerous. Heatran on Webs is capable of running through whole teams, while Mimikyu, Xurkitree, and Scrafty also perform much better with Web support. Even outside of Webs, Galvantula, Swellow, and Mega-Sceptile can lay waste to whole teams, so long as the other team doesn’t have a halfway decent Ice Shard user.
Sneaky big question: To what extent will this team rely on Sticky Web support?
5. IND:
Jirachi and Landorus-T are a dangerous pairing, capable of putting opponents in a spin-cycle of U-turns, flinches, and hazards. That kind of survivability and momentum creates openings for some of the big hitters Indianapolis brings to the table (Keldeo, Sylveon, and Salazzle come to mind here). Complementing Landorus-T is one of only a few dragons that can claim to take an Ice hit neutrally: Kyurem (#snubbed). Kyurem brings a fantastic STAB combo paired with solid natural bulk and survivability, which pairs well with the rest of Pac’s front line.
Tauros is a nice value pick, and Liepard has utility as a dark type and a Prankster user. Luxray and Shiftry are more unorthodox picks—slow, but packing fantastic STAB and solid attack.
Sneaky big question: Can Indianapolis get decent work out of their lower-tier picks?
6. HOU:
Zygarde 50% is the first thing that stands out about this team, closely followed by Ninetales-A. The two in tandem demand some respect, as a Zygarde behind Aurora Veil is likely to nab a Dragon Dance or two. Serperior, Thundurus-T, and Mega Heracross are similarly dangerous with Veil support. Empoleon and Incineroar round out a solid FWG core, and their shared weakness to ground and fighting moves is well-covered by Weezing. This team also really appreciates the Toxic Spikes support Weezing brings to the table.
Sneaky big question: How much success can this team see in the games where Ninetales-A doesn’t come, or has a bad matchup?
7. CAN:
A much-touted Zeraora-Entei-Bulu offensive core is, indeed, hard to switch into. That said, somewhat ironically, the biggest struggle I envision for Canton is finding switch-ins for opponents’ physical threats. Steelix and Mega Blastoise have the bulk to take neutral hits, but lack reliable recovery to continually do so. Moreover, as dangerous as the core may be, a team that relies on Tornadus-I and Pangoro as pivots may find itself having to sack teammates to generate opportunities to get in for free.
Sneaky big question: Can this team keep a momentum edge on opponents?
8. KET:
Type redundancy is more easily forgiven on weather teams. In the case of the Reapers, three fire types round out a dangerous Sun-based core, capable of dangerous amounts of fire-spam. Outside a few flash-fire users and quad resists, not much wants to switch in on a sun-boosted banded V-create. Kettling pairs these three with a few solid Eviolite users in Doublade and Gligar, along with grass types to help solve the problem of bulky waters (most of which don’t appreciate a Seed Flare from Shaymin). Oh, and there’s a Wobuffett. It’ll probably trap and KO at least one mon every game it comes, giving the Reapers a chance to strategically remove one of their opponents’ Pokemon from play, potentially opening the door for Victini or Houndoom. Scarfers beware.
Sneaky big question: Is someone going to get swept by Chlorophyll Maractus this season?
9. TRT:
Difficult to break, this one. This is a team with Chansey, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, and Slowbro on the same roster. Surrounding this bulk core, an array of hard-hitting threats spread over several typings—Mega-Diancie, Mamoswine, Mienshao, Electivire, Chandelure, Honchkrow. The Tontins lack much in the way of traditional setup, and will have to come up with ways to muscle past other bulky cores. The good news is that they’ll always be able to lean on that foundation.
Sneaky big question: Is this team too slow?
10 ATL:
On my first pass, I wasn’t sure what to make of Atlanta’s team comp. A surplus of bulk—sporting Tapu Fini next to two defensive psychic types (both of which don’t benefit from misty terrain by virtue of levitate) and a T5 eviolite user filling a bulky grass role. The roster is, at first glance, light on out-of-the-box power.
Then, you notice that ATL packs three dangerous set-up sweepers in Volcarona, Scolipede, and Mega Altaria, while also carrying the support needed to make them shine. Hazard removal? Fini is one of the best defoggers in the format. Worried your opponent has a steel type that’ll stop Scolipede in its tracks? This roster packs not one, but two trappers in Dugtrio and Magnezone. Coaches that underestimate this roster could find themselves surprised by how difficult prep can be.
Sneaky big question: Can this team consistently get work out of Volcarona and Scolipede?
11. DET:
A mixed bag. On one hand, Koko is a force to be reckoned with on any team. On the other hand, a few odd type redundancies on this team may leave the Luxrays in difficult spots versus well-built balance teams that boast a broader type diversity. Two offensive water types, two dragons, and two ground types makes me wonder what the plan was with this draft. I do like the pairing of Gliscor and Cobalion, which cover for each other fairly well.
Sneaky big question: How does this team keep opponents from running Choice Specs week after week?
12. SJS:
Plenty of bulk on this roster, plus a Gothitelle. Is there much to say beyond that? As powerful an ability as Shadow Tag may be, Gothitelle itself does not a win condition make. Other heavy hitters on this roster include Arcanine, Thundurus-I, and Mega-Beedrill, which are all quite notably unappreciative of Stealth Rocks. The Scizors do pack some removal options, but will it be enough when they’re likely to be forced to remove rocks multiple times a game?
Sneaky big question: What are the WinCons for this team beyond Nasty Plot Thundurus and stalling out the opponent?
To all of you, best of luck in your Week 1 matchups!
