With the looming closure of the Silph Arena, it may be considered that its institution is facing a "lost innocence" of sorts. Such is the condition of things that were once thought to be infallible but then becomes irreversibly marred by certain happenings. In this case, it was thought that the Arena would survive for a very long time but had to close after a less significant chunk of time. Efforts to make peace with that "lost innocence" could then be hard, and in a way, that could be characterized by this month's themed cup, the very last one for the individual competitions, called "Innocent".
For this themed cup, the allowed species are of the Water, Flying, Psychic, Dragon, and Fairy types, with an additional four species, each one happening to be of the Poison type (Arbok, Swalot, Garbodor, and Dragalge). Any others of the Poison type are banned, as are the Fire, Ice, and Steel types. Furthermore, 13 other species are banned (the Galarian birds, Mew, and Hawlucha among them), and the full list can be seen on the page for the themed cup; Shadow Pokémon are also barred from use. The bans are quite numerous and fascinating, especially in light of the "curated" species.
As for the rankings, Jumpluff is tops on its list, roughly followed by a number of species of the Electric type (including Alolan Raichu and Dedenne), Water type (including Seaking and Azumarill), and Fairy type (including Florges and Togetic). Of the four "curated" species, the topmost one is Swalot, although it has more potential for putting away species of the other types above rather than - as expected by its Poison type - the Fairy type. It along with some of these high-ranking contenders may qualify as team essentials to be brought and faced against what others may bring to the table.
If it looks like the Fairy type is trying to take center stage in this theme, then that's not completely off the mark, as the development notes do state that the intent is just that, along with the creation of a broad species meta. Its fair resemblance to Naiad is also noted, as well as the creation of a neutral field for the Fairy type and to allow some minor Poison counters. That is exactly why the bans are as they are, to avoid outcompeting the Fairy types and to avoid certain species (not necessarily of but including the Fairy type) outcompeting others. In the end, this cup was designed for longevity with the exception of its organizer.
That seems to make a fitting end as well. After 40 themed cups (at least, for its individual competition), the end of Silph Arena is fast approaching and its "innocence" is becoming "lost". But before that can happen, this last themed cup may provide the competitors in the individual competition with the answers they need, with its neutral meta (or at least, as it is expected to be such). It won't change the fact that the Silph Arena its facing its fate after the several years of its existence, but at least Trainers can still revel in the "innocence" before its last and complete "loss".
One year ago: Pokémon Go Fest Marathon Incoming
Two years ago: Display Case Ideas for Pokémon Fans
Three years ago: Pokémon and Sign Language
Four years ago: A Daily Pokémon Routine
Five years ago: Missing Ranger
Six years ago: 3DS Pokémon Badges
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