PDL Beginners division post-draft power ranking

1.Aussie Ariados, Winnkey
-This team is honestly probably one of my favourite teams I've seen drafted in USUM,
you have a brilliant sun core with MZard Y and Heliolisk, both being supported
fantastically by the offensive prowess of Garchomp and Keldeo. Your FWG core, while
leaning on the specially offensive things a little too much for my liking, is brilliant
and support each other wonderfully. You have 2 great forms of priority which can also
sweep if your opponent over preps for your other frightening offense, Crobat is also
a great pick as it patches up your minimal fighting weakness and gives you a defogger
which your team otherwise lacked. On top of all these amazing wallbreakers and sweepers
you have Ninjask which gives you speed pass into these threats. In my opinion that
is what makes this draft the top and one of the best I've seen this gen. However that
doesn't mean this team is all positives as I do have a few queries such as why you
didn't draft a fairy type. Outside of Keldeo you dont have a dark resist and I think
a good fairy in place of Ariados/Klinklang/Lycanroc would be great and would patch this
slight weakness up perfectly. I'd also like to point out that while you do have a steel
type Klinklang is far from reliable and from my league experience Klinklang often fails
to fill the roles that most players look for in their steel types. The last problem
I have with this team is that rocks hurt a lot of your offense majorly such as Zard,
Sneasel, Ninjask. The fact that your only hazard removal is also weak to rocks means
opponents will prioritise rocks vs you, although this isn't always a bad thing and
you can setup turn 1 vs a rocker despite some people disagreeing with that.


2.Melbourne Houndemons, Drunk
-Now I really strugged once I got to this point at deciding which team to place
first, while I feel the Houndemons here have the best cores in the league and a near
perfect balance of offense and defense the thing that gave Winnkey the edge was the
speed tiers. I honestly believe team prep wise the Houndemons will cause the most
frustration for their opponents trying to prep for and counter all the incredible
threats on this draft. To start out I'll point out the FDS core, MLatias/Steela/Florges.
Now this is possibly one of the scariest FDS cores, ever. MLatias and Celesteela
both being 2 incredibly bulky offensive monsters with access to different forms of
setup and then Florges to be a cleric, pass wishes and cure status. Now moving onto
the FWG core which I think is also phenomenal, Tangrowth and Arcanine is a brilliant
defensive partnership which I've used before to much success. When partnering this
defensive core with offensive threats like Manaphy, Hariyama and Linoone (and ofc the
aforementioned Celesteela/MLatias) it's what makes this a quality team. If you prep
too much for Autotomize Celesteela and Z-Rain Dance Manaphy you may get overwhelmed
by an unexpextedly defensive team which will just wall you out. Another thing to note
is that I really like the picks of Alola Persian and Stunfisk giving the team
necessary types and utility. Back to my earlier reasoning about you not being first
due to the speed tiers. While this is, in my eyes, the only down side to this
otherwise terrifying supersquad I must point out that you have a good balance of speed
with no major gaps between Persian-MLatias-Mana-Nine-Gligar. I just feel seeing as
Persian will not come to that many games and will mostly be on the bench another
mon that exceeds Latias' 110 speed would've been nice for the team. Now seeing as you
have Linoone, Manaphy, Celesteela and Gligar which all get access to speed boosting
set-up I don't think this will be a major issue and therefore you have 2nd place
and if I were a betting man, I'd bet on you making the finals match.


3.Charlotte Infernapes, Andros
-Now this draft is probably the most close to my heart, featuring several mons
I would and have used together in a draft myself. The style is clearly bulky offense
and it's very well done. Mew partners fantastically with Nihilego to set (and absorb)
T-Spikes, great with Cobalion which deters your opponent from clicking dark moves
against either of your psychics and, phenomenally with Togekiss which takes
on bug and dark types aswell. I think your offense is outstanding with Cobalion,
Victini, MSceptile, Nihilego, PZ, Togekiss and Mew all being able to dish out
incredibly hard hits. The fact that you've partnered this offense with imo the best
USUM web setter in ribombee which also provides your team with other good utility
such as stun spore, defog etc. is going to be so hard to prep for. Unlike many of
the other drafts in this division, your speed tiers are reasonable with the only
fault I can really see is the gap between Cobalion > Ribombee > MSceptile but your
addition of webs should make this not a problem. I think your FDS core is
fantastic, simply fantastic. And while your team does feature a lot of overlapping
types I don't think it's a big issue as in a lot of cases they help with your
weaknesses, I think the most questionable one is Guzzlord and MSceptile although
I can still see reasoning for it.


4.Vancouver Victinis, Yeen
-My first impression of this team is that it has 0 switch-ins! With a fantastic FDS
core of Rachi/Sylveon/Haxorus. In my opinion probably the second best FDS core in
the beginner division, and with incredible breakers such as MHoundoom and Mienshao
it'll be unbelivably hard to find answers to most of threats. The thing holding this
team back is once again the lack of a elite speed mon, such as weavile or koko etc.
Now the team is still ranked relatively highly due to its speed tiers not being poor
with MDoom, Froslass/Raichu, Mienshao, Jirachi/Shaymin/Ninetales, Haxorus leaving
no particular gap to be exploited. The only possible speed tier gap I could see
is Hax 97 - Gatr 78, now this isn't a major issue as they are both dragon dance users
so can negate scarfers anyway. I think if this team had grabbed an eltie speed tier
mon as mentioned earlier or had grabbed a rock polish/autotomize/agility user then
it would've been placed even higher than it currently is. On the whole I like this
team and it's bulk. I think the Victreebels shall be my "dark horse" pick for this
season.


5.San Antonio Dunsparce, MetaKnight
-There's no denying this team has it's strengths and will be a tough one to prep for.
It once again is a well drafted team with a fantastic rain FDS core. MScizor and
Koko will provide you with a lot of momentum into your sweepers like Serp and Espeon.
The main problems I see with the team is your lack of a swift swim sweeper, I think
if you'd drafted another rain sweeper such as Kabutops or Seismitoad (or even Beartic)
then I would've ranked you considerably higher. Another major flaw with the team
is your lack of good physical breakers, while you have a lot of mixed offense
(Koko, Goodra and even Serperior to an extent) they are mostly going to prefer
running special variants. I think this pressures your team into bringing MScizor and
either of your rockers (Kecleon and Bronzong) offensively every week which will be
very easy for your opponents to exploit.


6.DC Umbreon, Jigalz
-This team is terrifying, featuring some of the scariest breakers in the entire game.
Such as Emboar, MKang, Krook and Kingdra. It also features brilliant setup options
with Thundurus Necrozma and Kingdra all being great win cons. I think where this
team struggles is, no surprises, the speed. Now while there aren't any massive gaps
in your speed tiers (101, 100, 92, 90, 85 etc.) it really sucks not having a mon
above thundys base speed. This means any scarfer than is Garchomp or faster will outspeed
your whole team. Now granted Kingdra has Swift Swim, Thundy has agility and Necroz
has rock polish, I just feel your lack of a fast mon will hinder you greatly.
Now I would like to point out that I absolutely adore your FWG core and think it will
win you games by itself, being a almost perfect bulky offensive core. I think the only
thing dragging this team down besides its speed is your lack of Hazard removal.
Pelipper being your only reliable defogger (I dont count thundy lol)


7.St. Louis Seadras, Other Jon
-This team arguably has one of the best defensive cores in the entire league,
SkarmToadCressUmbreonDrudd is gonna be a pain for any team to take down. Once you
pair that with Veil it will be near impossible. The teams ability to break opposing
bulky drafts is impressive with notable breakers such as MHera, Xurkitree, Drudd,
Alolatales and Salazzle which also has the ability to toxic bulky steel and poison
types which can put responses to your bulk on an essential timer. There are a few
things to note that stopped you from ranking higher up and those being the Bewear
pick seems kind of out of place seeing as you already had Heracross so I don't think
Bewear will be favoured in many, if any matchups. More to the point a recurring theme
here in the beginners division, your speed is pretty bad. You have fast mons like
Alolan-Ninetales and Salazzle which are had to switch in to but aside from those 2
your next fastest mon is Xurkitree (or Heracross before mega evolving.) This creates
a massive speed gap between Ninetales and Xurkitree which will limit you from gaining
much momentum and will force you into a more defensive play style, although that seems
to be preferred anyway.


8.LA Charizards, Eshaan
-Now this team is well-drafted and imo doesn't have any specific type weaknesses that
need working on. However it does have some weaknesses in other regards such as the
solo MSwampert pick, this bothers me for the same reason as the Excadrill previously.
While MPert can function outside of rain, it struggles to achieve anywhere near the
same level of sweeping potential without the rain to partner with it. The reason
I can't fault the MPert too much is that both Politoed and Pelipper were taken by
other teams therefore in those matchups you can exploit your opponents rain.
Furthermore this teams speed tiers are appaling, you have a clump of 4 offensive
mons between 79-98 base speed and then a big gap between Cryogonal and Jolteon.
Once again this will your opponents life much easier when it comes to speed creeping.
(Note: I like the fact you grabbed Araquanid for webs, should help out)
Now this team does have some good offense which shouldn't be slept on with Buzzwole,
Hydreigon and Darmanitan all providing exceptionally good wallbreakers. I also really
like your VoltTurn core of Lando-T and Jolt (and Hydra) which should grant you a lot
of momentum against some teams here. Your defensive options are also far from shabby
with Ferrothorn, Aromatisse, Snorlax and MPert synergising well, one thing to note is
that I think you'll be forced to run Lando offensive more often than not. Another
element that stopped you placing higher was your lack of a psychic type.


9.Flaming Flareons, Dawn
-This team has some clear issues that need to be addressed. For one I see a
big ground weakness throughout your team, with your only resist being Decidueye and
your only immunity being Dodrio (both of which aren't very bulky and can be KO'd by
neutral coverage.) What's more is that you don't have a single mon over base 110
speed which will make your opponents speed creeping very easy. Ignoring these facts
and looking at specific mons you drafted there are still a few concerns I have,
firstly the Alolan Raichu pick seems redundant to me. Yes it gives you an electric
type but I feel something like Manectric or even Eelektross to patchup your ground
weakness could've been more fitting. Also while there's no denying Drill can be a
monster outside of sand, it benefits massively from having it on the team. The fact
that all 3 setters (TTar, Hippo and Gigalith) are undrafted makes me seriously
wonder why you didn't pick one of them. Picking up a sand setter would help
considerably with your speed issue and would make Excadrill even more of a threat.
Now while this is a lot of negative comments that's not to say I don't think your team
is good. I'm a big fan of your FDS core and an even bigger fan of your FWG, all of
the mons in these cores can win games by single-handedly. You have good setup options and
semi-reliable bulk. I think the Lickilicky is also a very good pick and gives you a
necesarry cleric.


10.Belgium Bidoofs, SirSalad
-Now this was one of the hardest teams for me to rate this low down, it has lots
of mons that I would personally draft I just feel the team lacks
a lot of synergy on both the offensive and defensive side. You have fantastic
breakers such as Kyurem, Starmie, Beedrill and even Nidoqueen to an extent. You
also have great utility in Whimsicott and Masquerain which are both really annoying
mons to matchup against. One key down side to this team is that Starmie is your only
spinner which can limit you from running more offensive life orb sets (especially
as your other hazard removal consists of a 2x and a 4x weakness to rock defoggers.)
One key reason it wasn't ranked higher was once again your glaring overlapping types,
for example you decided to draft 3 steel types (2 of which aren't the most viable),
2 poison types, 2 ground types and 2 bug types yet you lack a fire or ghost type.
One thing to note is that you also drafted water types but I think Quagsire fits the
team suprisingly well and unaware/water absorb sets should help your team considerably.


11.Leeds Rhydon, James
-I'm a massive fan of this teams defensive prowess, don't think because it's rated
relatively lowly that it's a bad team in the slightest. Milotic, MVenusaur, Klefki
and Mandibuzz is going to be one of the hardest cores to take down in all of the
beginners division. The reason it's not rated any higher is because of how appaling
the speed tiers are (almost unexcusable in this case) I like how you grabbed
Leavanny to try and remedy this but the team will still suffer as Leavanny will not
be brought every week as sometimes you'll require more of your slower breakers/set-up.
This team also is hindered by lots of unnecesarry overlapping typings
(Leavanny/MVenusaur/Nidoking/Rhydon.) Another problem I see that this team will be very
easily exploited by bulky offensive ground and psychic types which will put a lot of
pressure on Mandibuzz and Milotic therefore I think these 2 picks are perfect for the
team.


12.Furious Feraligatrs, Kyler
-As soon as I look at this draft there are very clear problems that need to be
dealt with right off the bat. Firstly, your draft is extremely knock off weak with
Chansey which will force any team to run knock off and also cofag/alolawak.
I actually really like your defensive pairings of rotom-w/cofag/chansey.
Just not sure why you've decided on mons such a MCamerupt and Suicune
when you already had your FWG. I like the minior pick and it gives your
speed tiers a nice boost which otherwise were lacking. (besides from Kartana
but past that your fastest mon is Electivire which from my experience isn't an
overly reliable electric type.) I think this draft will suffer from being too
passive in some cases and in others too slow which will be easy to overwhelm with
fast offense. What's more is that your team lacks 2 types which I view to be
essential, especially for bulky drafts like this, those being Fairy and Psychic.
It's for these extensive reasons, along with the fact that there are massive gaps
in your speed tiers, that I've placed you in last place.