By Joqqs13
I’m João (joqqs13), member of Wasted Potential in EMEA, bringing you a small introduction to the new Battle Frontier UL restricted meta – Enchanted Domain!
As the meta is quite large, due to being a typing based meta, I’ve decided to highlight the top picks for each, as well as the 7 additions to balance the meta out.
Overview
The allowed typings are Dark, Dragon, Fairy, Ghost, Normal, Psychic and Steel. A meta composed by several polarizing cores to counterbalance each other while allowing double type Pokémon to provide interesting coverage in the meta, providing a lot of neutral play. Annihilape is not on the list since it’s brand new – but it will also be allowed!
At first glance, the white-listed picks don’t appear to be meta defining, since only Kanto Muk makes it to the top 20 on the rankings provided by pvpoke.com, probably due to Tapu Fini being a centralizing piece of the meta. Looking at the top 20, Tapu Fini has positive matchups against over half the picks, making it a primary target and squad element in team building. To no surprise, the lack of STAB Fighting-type damage makes normal types rise in ranks, with Dubwool being their main representative. This is because of its natural bulk and access to either an Electric- or Dark-type nuke, alongside the spammy Body Slam, which even has STAB.
A couple of Ghost Types also stand out due to their main source of damage being from their secondary typing, making them extremely viable into the dark and normal types, which usually hard-counter Ghost type Pokémon. An exception to this is Annihilape, but on the other hand Annihilape struggles into Fairy-type Pokémon.
Finally, Poison appears to be a very versatile type in the meta, with 2 major flavors – a pseudo fire type in Galarian Weezing due to it being able to learn Overheat, which also has access to a spammy Dark move in Brutal Swing, or the very neutral STAB Play Rough The second group of Poison Pokémon consists of the multitude of Dark/Poison types, with Skuntank and Drapion being the main flavors in this group., with either a more Fast Move or Charged Move oriented role, respectively.
Regice (w/ its Thunder Legacy move), Zapdos and Ampharos comes as healthy additions as (pseudo)electrics with coverage moves. As a result, these Pokémon are able to beat the aforementioned meta-centralizing Pokémon Tapu Fini
Sneasler comes in as a possible anti Ghost and Dark/Poison, also having access to Close Combat to fight off the many normal types present, being a big beneficiary of the shadow bonus to deal massive damage to some of the bulkiest Pokémon in the meta.
Golisopod presents a similar purpose but can provide ice resistance without steels weaknesses to fire, ground and fighting type attacks, fairly common in the top 30. Also relevant is the extra Skeledirge coverage Golisopod provides. Its access to Liquidation makes it a nice neutral damage dealer. It also has access to the Waterfall, possibly being used for unsuspecting dark and normal types that resist Shadow Claw, or for extra anti ground coverage.
Articuno appears to be the weakest pick of the bunch but could have niche use as a setup mon due its access to Icy Wind.
Finally, Megas, Skarmory and a few OUL staples in Pidgeot, Steelix, Registeel, Giratina Altered, Cobalion, Zygarde (100% Form), Galarian Stunfisk and Greedent have been banned, mainly due to their dominance in neutral matchups, or to prevent possible polarizing matchups, aiming to create a balanced meta.
First Look at the meta usage in practice tournaments, and standout picks
Yasser Aleed is probably satisfied to see that 3 out of the top 4 in pvpoke.com are the main pillars of the meta. Outside the aforementioned picks, Cresselia makes an appearance as a Bulky generalist and a main Tapu Fini answer with its Legacy Grass Knot, making Galarian Weezing fear a possible Future Sight, or being able to nearly 2 shot dark types with Moonblast. Jellicent picked up usage by trainers, probably due to its positive matchups into both Tapu Fini and Skeledirge, while also providing an interesting niche running the fast move Bubble. To no surprise, the Shadow variant was preferred for both Skuntank and Drapion. Rounding off the top 10, both flex picks Golisopod and Regice were prevalent.
Fairy
Tapu Fini – The Water/Fairy, in my opinion, is very underwhelming. Even in neutral matchups, or allegedly dominant matchups like Crunch + Aqua Tail Shadow Drapion, Tapu Fini struggles due to how slow it is, and its Water Guns not really adding up in the Ultra League. That being said, Water type damage appears to be unresisted throughout most of the meta. Even against Poison Jab users or Cresselia, Fini can put in some work with a shield advantage or an energy lead. Nearing 60% W/R vs the meta in all even shields, there’s no doubt it’s oppressive. Maybe look at it as more of a generalist than a hard counter to Pokémon who throw resisted moves at it.
Galarian Weezing – A very safe swappable Pokémon in the meta, but besides the Pure Dark types like Mandibuzz or Obstagoon, it doesn’t seem to be a hard check to any particular threat. I believe Play Rough will be the nuke of Choice, due to the prevalence of Tapu Fini in the meta, but Overheat makes it a deadly shield taker or closer. Battle Frontier format allowing TMs makes double nuke GWeez a possible option, so I am excited to see what off-meta combinations players will come up with.
Clefable – Clefable looks usable in the meta, as a core breaker to Weezing + Dubwool. It’s fairly flexible, though if the meta is too heavily dependent on Skeledirge and Poison Jabbers, I fear it won’t have much use. Strives in 0 shields scenarios the most, being pretty much the sole source of Steel damage along with Magnezone.
Ghost
Skeledirge – A ghost that hangs with both Normal and Dark types. Against Fini, Shadow Ball puts a huge dent in it. Avoid Water types, and you have a very solid damage dealer with both STAB Incinerate and Shadow Ball. This Crocodile also has access to the 45 energy cost move Disarming Voice, which provides very useful coverage for a Fire- and Ghost-Type Pokémon. I don’t think there’s much of a merit to Flamethrower, but that could be an interesting option if you are lacking coverage vs Skuntank and Overqwill.
Jellicent – I find Jellicent interesting as a secondary water type damage dealer. The Bubble variant appears to have good use as a safe swap, being able to put a fight against common counters like Snorlax, Alolan Sandslash, Dark/Poisons and Golisopod in the 0 shields. It’s also one of the few Pokémon in the meta that resists the fast move pressure of both Skeledirge and Tapu Fini, who will be common picks.
Palossand – The XL Sandcastle. Probably a pick that will not be that common due to the inaccessibility as a wild spawn. One of the only sources of super effective damage against the dark poisons thanks to the combination of Mud Shot + Scorching Sands. It is Also a Pokémon that cores very well with Tapu Fini, since Grass type damage is not really common in the meta, and it does well vs both Poison and Electric types. Palossand’s Shadow Ball deals nearly 40% damage to Tapu Fini, making the 0 shields scenario close if Tapu Fini doesn’t go for Moonblast, nearly 2 shoting it. Don’t let it get a head of steam.
Dark
Shadow Skuntank – The main anti meta pick in my opinion, since it has very positive to neutral play against the top 4 Pokémon used in practice tournaments (Tapu Fini, Dubwool, Skeledirge and Galarian Weezing). Very oppressive with Poison Jab, being able to deal super effective damage against Pokémon that resist the Fast Move, having access to Trailblaze, Flamethrower and Sludge Bomb along with Crunch. The option to TM your Pokémon is very beneficent for this skunk. I believe it to be a big threat to consider while team building.
Shadow Drapion – If you value speed over consistent damage over time, I believe Drapion is a very viable safe swap in the meta. Being able to use Aqua Tail every 8 turns results in even Ground-Type Pokémon not being safe against it. And believe it or not, Tapu Fini ain’t that good in practice vs it. If shields and debuffs start stacking up against Fini, Drapion is more than capable to flip this matchup.
Mandibuzz – A tank, a damage sponge able to support glassier picks. If you don’t have super effective damage against it, you’ll have a tough time taking it down. It is able to withstand a Moonblast from Tapu Fini and put it quite low, making electric or other fairy types probably necessary on a team to deal with it
Normal
Dubwool – The best Pokémon in the meta. Very good and deceiving neutrals, due to both its bulk and spamminess. It can beat most matchups using straight Body Slam. It Has 2 very good neutral nukes versus the meta in Wild Charge and Payback. it Might warrant Counter users to pick up usage to beat it. Multiple players in the practice tournaments think this Pokémon is worth bringing to every single battle, so take that into account while team building.
Oinkologne – Another source of ground damage to hit Dark-Poison Pokémon, Skeledirge and Galarian Weezing., This Pokémon takes advantage of the lack of fighting damage in the main meta. With a similar stat product to Jellicent, it tends to linger in matchups, chipping away with Body Slam in neutrals. Also has access to Trailblaze, being able to deal super effective damage to Fini.
Miscellaneous
Turtonator – My good friend Triptando ran it in practice. I quote ‘I wanted to play Turtonator just because I have it, but when it was on Escav that was cool. I can see it have some play but Skeledirge is probably the Incinerate user to go for’- Maybe it has some play if you need to avoid the Ghost weaknesses of Skeledirge, but besides that, feels like a secondary, more expensive fire type.
Cresselia – I believe in it as I believe in Mandibuzz, as it allows bulkier picks to shine through. But with so much super effective damage in the meta threating it, I believe it will be the 6th pick of many rosters, looking to fill a niche. It’s a reliable Fini answer for sure, winning pretty much all shield scenarios but the 0-2s.
Regice – I used it to win one of the practice tournaments, and it’s a very interesting pick. Its move pool allows it to hit for neutral to super effective damage to pretty much the entire meta, making it very viable in the Battle Frontier format. It felt very versatile, making you choose between: Legacy charged move Thunder for Water and Flying-types, Earthquake for the Dark Poisons, Focus Blast for the Normal and Dark-Types, or Blizzard for a general STAB nuke. You do need to cover it well; Ice is not properly known for its resistances…
Shadow Magnezone – The Glass Cannon of choice in this meta. In the top 30, most of the picks that resist electric are not very viable into the rest of the meta (besides Palossand), making Zone an interesting pick. Has an interesting resistance to Poison (with a caveat, since Zone is a very glassy Pokémon) that might make it an interesting core with Tapu Fini.
Greninja – Just like Tapu Fini, it takes advantage of the lack of water resist throughout the meta to spam its Legacy Hydro Cannon (in only 9 turns!). Regardless, I see it again as a generalist that needs 2 shields on it to be the most effective. It’s dark typing might be useful, since it resists ghost and forces other dark types to use their less efficient coverage moves against it.
To Conclude…
We see by the usage that right now, the meta is slightly condensed. I’m sure will see some variation from week to week on part of the teams. But as it currently stands, the top usage picks appear to have very few core breakers, benefiting neutral play and matchup knowledge. There isn’t much else you can ask for a competitive meta, so great job by our developers for creating this domain.
Special thank you to Triptando and Systler for their help reviewing the article and providing feedback.
Have a great cycle everyone, hope you have fun and exciting battles with your friends, best of luck!
João Correia (joqqs13)
