





The basic layout of weapons nowadays is some flavor of bonus/penalty/3x3 drive + 5 stats, 15 (10) stats, 25 true dmg, 15 flat dr, and a combat effect. And if they're really daring, they'll give you a style.
On one hand, I do think that because of this powercreep has slowed down but, and the other, units feel more stale and are increasingly defined by their prf skill. There's also something to be said about IS reprinting units with prf skills more than before.
There are 1000+ units in this game, so I don't blame them for not being able to make each character super unique. Not to say that units were more unique before, but weapons just aren't that impressive, they're for flavor, skills are the meat and potatoes. If I were to ask what makes x a good unit, (besides styles) it's probably, not always though, something from their prf skill. The text is easier to understand and powercreep isn't as crazy, but at what cost.
This was from my biased memory and is mostly to spark discussion rather than be objective. I think most of them are definitely decent units, but harbingers of powercreep? Maybe a few units here and there but that seems normal.
Edit: should have specified this is based on their best modes, and I feel more knowledgeable about SD than AR, so that definitely leads to discrepancies in placements.
If the translator is accurate enough, it seems kozaki was the one pushing the envelope. Book artists might have more sway in how OCs look than we think.