First up will be the Akron Alakazams, led by their coach Adamant1. Winner of the regular season last season, but losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Brooklyn Bulbasaurs. Winner of the award for Coach of the Season, Team of the Season, and Best 6th Mon with Florges. He may take some time to decide on what he wants to do, but that's usually because he's going to know what you're going to do. In order to trick him, you're going to have to go deep into the tank.
Looking at his team we have:
M-Glalie
Volcanion
Cresselia
Galvantula
Whimsicott
Muk-Alola
Tyrantrum
Meloetta
Zoroark
Pinsir
Grassium Z
Almost right away you might recognize a few issues with common weaknesses, such as Ice, Ground, Fire, and Bug. But in fashion with Adamant's play style, he has things that resist or are immune to those as well. His team has a few major offensive threats in Volcanion, Zygarde 50, Tyrantrum, and M-Glalie. With a few really good defensive mons in Cresselia, Whimsicott, and Muk-A. I expect at least a few matches will have a Zoroark sneak in and put in some work on someone.
Keys to this match up: Don't be afraid to play the unexpected.
Next up is the Atlanta Rowlets, led by their coach Lvision17. A new player to this league and to any league I personally have been in. And because of this I can't say how his play is.
Looking at Liam's team we have:
M-Beedrill
Kartana
Blacephalon
Mamoswine
Florges
Jolteon
Emboar
Haxorus
Jellicent
Ribombee
Meowstic
Fightium Z
Starting from the top, Liam is packing two extremely hard hitting glass cannon physical sweepers in Beedrill and Kartana. Along with Ribombee, they share a distinct fire weakness, which is covered by everything else being at most neutral to fire damage. Mamoswine always has a way to sneak up on teams, especially the aforementioned Alakazams. Besides these physical beaters, the Rowlets picked up one of the best discount killers from season 1 in Jolteon to go with Florges. The Rowlets have an extremely strong offense, but can their offense fill in for their lack of a strong defensive game outside of Florges and Jellicent? And how will they stack up against teams that are predominantly defensive like the Lairons?
Keys to this match up: Expect to get bullied out of your core if you're not careful. Don't let M-Beedrill get a Fell Stinger boost started, unless you have a plan around it.
Up next is the Brooklyn Bulbasaurs, led by their coach Santoro613. Santoro jumped in last season after week 3, and proceeded to shake up the league taking a 1-2 team all the way to at one time being 1st place then falling to 4th being 2 games back from 1st. Then beating now division rival Alakazams in the first round of the playoffs with a Flame Orb Facade Salamence. Despite not being at the draft in person and having Liam draft for him, Santoro's team is its usual scary self.
The Brooklyn Bulbasaurs include:
M-Aerodactyl
Necrozma
Milotic
Gliscor
Tangrowth
Zygarde 10
Snorlax
Heracross
Darmanitan
Slurpuff
Raichu
Groundium Z
Just looking at this team, there's not a lot of weakness to it. The big one of note is Ice weakness, both Gliscor and Zygarde 10 being 4x weak. The other thing that jumps out is the amount of monotyping. the with only 4/11 being dual typed, M-Aero, Gliscor, Zy-10, and Heracross. Three having 4x weaknesses. This means he won't have a lot of resistances and weaknesses to things or as plentiful STAB coverage.
By no means does that make this team any less threatening.
Keys to the match up: Don't watch his previous battles to get ideas of what he's going to go with. Each week is extremely tailored for that week's match. The same should go for you into the match.
And last for today is the Detroit Dracos, led by coach Excessive_. Another new coach to me and this league.
The Dracos include:
M-Pinsir
Celesteela
Hydreigon
Azelf
Staraptor
Swampert
Decidueye
Talonflame
Aromatisse
Lanturn
Cryogonal
Flyinium Z
The first thing I notice when looking at this team is the vast difference from the Bulbasaurs in the mono/dual divide, with only 3 monotyped team members. Again this leads to more 4x resistances but many 4x weaknesses. Grass for Swampert, Fairy for Hydreigon, Rock for Talonflame and M-Pinsir. That being said, ground is almost worthless against a majority of the team, being flying or having levitate.
Keys to the match up: Stealth Rocks. You can mostly ignore caring about any other entry hazards. Don't forget that all these off the ground mons don't get the benefits of terrain.
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