Garchomp surges to 44% while a wave of Grass-type pressure from Meowscarada and Venusaur reshapes the field around Primarina

The 2000+ bracket runs a different meta. Clefable leads the divergence at 29% versus just 3% below, the widest gap of any pick this week. Blaziken follows at 24% versus 6%, and Kingambit at 18% versus 2% — all three barely register on the mid-ladder but form core pieces of the high-level game, where precise positioning and matchup reads justify their teamslots. Garchomp is consistent at 41% high and 48% mid, slightly more popular below 2000 where raw stats and Stealth Rock utility carry extra weight.

The mid-band has its own identity. Primarina at 21% versus 6% above 2000 is the sharpest downward skew, functioning as a reliable defensive anchor for teams that lean on its Water and Fairy coverage. Meowscarada and Gengar each sit at 12% in the 1000–1999 range with 0% above 2000 — the late-week Meowscarada surge is entirely a mid-ladder development so far.

Meowscarada climbed from 8% to 19% in the second half, threatening Primarina directly with Grass STAB Flower Trick. Rotom (Heat) made an even steeper jump from 2% to 13% with Electric Volt Switch, and Venusaur followed the same arc from 3% to 13% with Giga Drain. Three separate picks converging on the same target is the clearest signal the format has sent all season — Primarina is the weak link players are exploiting, not Garchomp.

Archaludon doubled from 8% last report to 16%, snapping back to its mid-range after a one-week dip. It stands out as the one riser that actually hits the leader: Dragon STAB Draco Meteor connects for ×2 against Garchomp. That angle is showing up at 14% in the 1000–1999 band but has not cracked the 2000+ top ten — it is a mid-ladder adaptation, not a top-level staple.

On the other side, Ninetales (Alola) and Aegislash both collapsed to 0% in the second half after starting at 11% and 10%. Gyarados fell from 17% to 6%, and Hippowdon slipped from 14% to 9%. These picks share a pattern: they bring general bulk or setup utility without the targeted coverage the field now rewards.

Water leads at 77% on Primarina, Gyarados, and Golisopod, but the Grass risers Meowscarada and Venusaur are building real pressure against it. Dragon at 75% rides the Garchomp-Archaludon-Salamence trio, and Steel at 70% benefits from Archaludon pulling double type duty alongside Corviknight and Metagross. Ground (65%), Fire (64%), and Flying (62%) form a tight middle cluster. Fairy at 60% rests almost entirely on Primarina and Mimikyu, making it vulnerable if either one falls further, while Ghost at 54% draws from Mimikyu, Basculegion, and Gengar.