But as normal/ fairy, it just gains neutrality from fighting while an immunity from ghost in addition to dragon...how would it be better if it was just plain fairy? Is it just the bulk issue then? Or is it because it has to resort to play rough rather than moonblast making a CM set inviable?
Wigglytuff's problem is that all of its stats bar HP are bad, even though it got a decent ability in Competitive. It'll never be OU-worthy as long as its non-HP stats remain garbage, since low defensive stats compromise its bulk, poor speed holds back offensive sets, and its power is average at best if it can't net a competitive boost. Clefable pretty much entirely outclasses it due to superior abilities, better stats all around except for HP, and a better movepool. Wigglytuff also has to worry about other fairies such as Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir, who don't need the situational Competitive Boost and can instead just murder with Pixilate Hyper Voice.
Also, I know that clefable is better lol...I was just trying to make a point that clefable isn't better just because it got a new typing but mostly because it had amazing abilities to begin with...the new typing just gave it that last 2% it needed to be really good in OU...
You're really downplaying how significant fairy typing was for Clefable. It was far from "2% off" from being OU in Gen 5 (which is as arbitrary a statement as you can get), since it was in RU in Gen 5. Its abilities are great, there's no denying that, but as we saw in Gen 5, it needed more than just solid abilities and even a great movepool; mono-normal typing is really hard to work with, since 1) its lack of resistances means it's relatively difficult to switch in, and 2) Fighting typing was extremely popular in Gen 5 (and still is to an extent). Fairy typing boosted this unassuming Pokemon into stardom, rising from RU to top tier OU. Resisting the ever popular fighting, dark (Knock Off!) and to a lesser extent bug (at least U-Turn spam isn't much of a big deal), in addition to a new immunity to dragon, was a huge deal. Even the new weaknesses to Poison and Steel are relatively inconsequential, because they're rare on non-STAB users, making them very easy to predict. Honestly, Fairy typing was something you could basically slap on any Pokemon and instantly make it better. Clefable being the prime example, but things like Azumarill, Gardevoir, and even Granbull all greatly appreciated the new typing.
As for serp, I actually never thought it would make OU because of birdspam and heatran being everywhere...i mean look at what's happening to poor gallade all because of aegislash's retesting...granted serp can run HP rock or ground (and t-flame/ heatran aren't nearly as intimidating as aegislash) but that makes it lose coverage that it never had to begin with...but I guess it can function optimally as a supportive threat in OU with glare and knock off...I just personally find it pretty hard to sweep with it in OU and I've been using it to death since it's my favorite 'mon...
Having checks and counters doesn't make a Pokemon not viable, especially since Talonflame isn't that hard to deal with, and if your team can't deal with Heatran you're probably going to have problems regardless. It's still got a great speed tier, and the fact that it gets progressively harder to wall just by spamming its best STAB attack is something that can never be downplayed. Even checks can lose to it, since even grass resists can get wrecked by the appropriate +2 coverage move.
Also, Gallade's problems began prior to Aegislash's retest; its usage had been dwindling prior. Its issue was that there were so many other Mega Evolutions which were being preferred for the single Mega Evolution slot, with things like Mega Scizor, MegaZards, Mega Metagross, Mega Diancie, Mega Lopunny, Mega Altaria, etc. running around, all of whom were hugely influential and much more viable. Mega Gallade's not a bad Pokemon by any means, but when you've only got one Mega Evolution per battle, there's a lot more competition, and Mega Gallade had issues making the cut.
