If You can only keep Four VST Synths You have. Which Ones ?

[osiris]

Massive X
Pigments
JP8080
OsTIrus

(with DUNE as backup)

[billinder33]

Serum - for wub wub screech squeltch bloop
Nexus 5 - for 'staying in the lane' synth sounds
Diva paired with the Mona skin - for vintage analog
Kontakt - for the extensive sample libraries

These 4 pretty much cover everything for me, but I do use Phaseplant, Current, and Myth from time to time.

[abi]

Zebra 3
Falcon
Korg Multi/Poly
Diva

[Uncle E]

Proxima
Model 82
The Eighty
OB-E

[zvenx]

Kontakt
Maschine 2
Omnisphere 3
Superior Drummer 3
rsp

[BBFG#]

Well, the OP specified "synths", so I assume we can still have as many drums and DAWs (including whatever stock instruments they include). Those that have included those in their four should get an additional choice then.
Personally, there are different ways I approach this. And much like choosing a spectrum of colors to limit a painting to, I choose which synths to use as base neutrals, primaries, secondaries; with highlights (sweeteners) that help complete them before starting when no specific idea is the inspiration.
Do we build with a plan, create from an idea or simply explore without any preconceived notion?

Using the latest "deductive" threads of what runs on all three OSs and what uses the simple serial/key card authorization without online intrusions, there are currently three companies I would choose that fit the synth category. And I probably would not limit it further to only four from their total offerings.

I probably would still want/need to add others that don't offer the complete freedom that those the companies do. But am constantly looking for things to replace them according to that standard.
And at this point for this thread, I feel the list would still be too long. So I'll give you just two "synth" companies that do fit those considerations for me.

1. u-He
2. Audio Damage

I only really need one synth, but I don't know which one that is until I open it and it inspires the moment to an evolution.

I also more often don't start with a synth. But it does happen.

[machinesworking]

This assumes everyone is 100% in the box by omission. I've got a few analog hardware synths so that sound is covered...

Kontakt
Falcon
Zebra
Absynth

[ksandvik]

Anything from u-he.

[IvyBirds]

Omnisphere 3
HALion7

With those two I can do Subtractive VA, Wavetables, Sample Based, Granular, Spectral/Resynthesis and FM. I could spend the rest of my life using just those two and never really need anything else

HALion7 also gives me all the bread and butter sounds I could ever need

With the other two slots I would use

Arturia Synclavier V for additive and a different take on FM than HALion7, and the fact it easily loads 12 one shot drum samples so I have no need for a separate drum machine

Plogue OPS7 for bit accurate DX7 sounds with many enhancements

[4_the masses]

Surge XT.
Korg Trident.
Full Bucket Fury 800.
Waldorf Microwave 1.

[Echoes in the Attic]

I’m assuming Kontakt does not count. If I needed to use one for that I would, for all the real instruments but will assume that’s not a synth in this case.

This became an easier question recently after getting into Ultra. Especially once it has granular too.

So mine would be:
Ultra
Omnisphere
Diva
VCVRack 2 (or Cardinal)

[Cuauhtli]

Pigments
Reaktor
Massive
(To be determined)

[Daru925]

MassiveX Phoscyon2 Nepheton2 Drumazon2

[D-Fusion]

I would keep:

1. ?
2. ?
3. ?
4. ?

[Benedict]

Honestly, I could live entirely without VST synths. Not coz I have hardware as I got rid of that decades ago, but because Reason's lineup is sooo good.

I would prefer to keep my own:
1. ADs-8 Drum Module as it is different from Kong.
2. Mini PD - CZ style PD in a Mini form
3. ARK-2601 - just so easy to get nice lead tones
4. I would miss Manda Power Drum Kit 2 as that is so immediately useful when I wanna Rock!

Surge XT - yet I almost never use it so...