Playing Variants Makes You Weaker

Only atomic makes you weaker bye alot. Rk makes you slightly weaker, because its possible that u get less aware of check, although your calculation will get stronger. Other variants make you better

Playing antichess made me a bit weaker in standard (blitz) I was 1830+ but now 1677 but idc about standard chess now

Yes, i have played atomic and my rating in blitz dropped from the 1200s to the 1100s

There's probably some merit to improving at standard by playing any variant, as each one focuses on some aspect of standard just in a different form. For instance, crazyhouse could help with dynamic positions (or just middlegames in general), KOTH and antichess could help with taking space advantages, three check could help with defending, etc. However, I don't think these help as much as just playing standard, learning openings, practicing endgames, or puzzles.

I agree with @yourself101010 @SoccerTan26 @TheUnknownGuyReborn @Kex09 that playing variants makes you stronger, and each variant focuses on parts of standard chess. Playing antichess has actually made my standard chess rating go higher, and antichess has helped me to improve my calculation

#1
in short term, yes
in long term, probably not
playing to many different variants or time controlls at a time surely doesn't help you play good in any form of chess you are playing
but focusing on a single one at a time and switching, let's say from from month to month, shouldn't really affect performance

at least in my experience

Variants are VERY helpful. They shift your thought process quite a bit and make you relearn some stuff from a different perspective. Even though I am far from an expert in those variants, crazyhouse and three-check have both taught me quite good things simply because I get out of my comfort zone when playing them.

I also agree with @Whitedancingrockstar . Variants are EXTREMELY helpful although I'm a beginner. I played Three-Check and in standard chess I've improved like...a lot! King of The Hill and Racing Kings have also been found very helpful as now I understand the opponent's tactics. Other variants like Chess960, Antichess & Atomic are also no less in their own right.

Unfortunately, there is a chance that some people after playing too much variant games like Antichess might affect the way you play standard chess. I won't say names though.

So, as a suggestion, you shouldn't play variants for a long time unless you want to be a master in that or you have "I don't care" attitude towards standard chess.

Standard is by definition a variant. So the thread make little sense.