NU FAQ & Resources
credit to Django and ME for writing a lot of this!
Hello user and welcome to the NeverUsed forum! In case you're unaware, NU is the lowest tier available in standard Generation 5 play, just below RU. The Pokemon found here are determined by usage in higher tiers, not their perceived power. This system isn't perfect, and a Pokemon that is too powerful for NU but isn't up to par in RU or higher tiers can slip through the cracks and still end up in NU. Don't worry, though; if a Pokemon is widely considered broken, it will likely be suspected and be voted upon by the NU Senate & rotating council to see if it should be banned and moved to BL3, the NU banlist. There are currently no Pokemon in BL3.
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Resources
If this is your first time visiting the forum or playing NU, you may want to check out some of the useful reference lists, strategy guides, and older resources we have available:
NU StrategyDex - Here you can find a list of every Pokemon (excepting a few NFEs) that is currently usable in NU, as well as their strategy articles. If you ever have a question on whether or not something can be used in NU, be sure to check here and see for yourself!
NU Speed Tiers - Do you ever find yourself questioning whether or not your +2 Gorebyss will outrun Choice Scarf Sawk? Fear no longer, for here you can find out quickly where your boosted and unboosted Pokemon lie on the Speed depth chart.
Using Sun in NU - Weather is an extraordinarily good strategy in NU and with powerhouses like Exeggutor, Victreebel, and Charizard, you've got an impressive array of sweepers who are ready to blast through your opponent's team after a single turn of setup. Weather teams aren't the easiest to piece together, though, but taking a look at this guide will get you headed off in the right direction!
NU Stats - If for any reason you ever want to go back and track the general trends of the NU metagame, you can check out these threads.
np: (now playing) threads - np: threads are the centerpiece of every round of the NU metagame. General discussion of each metagame will usually be found in the np: thread, and a new one is posted after every NU suspect test or after significant changes in the metagame.
NU C&C - If you were ever interested in how the strategy articles get on-site, you can find out here. Articles follow a strict C&C process that you can read more about here. Analyses that will soon be on-site can be found here, meaning you can find updated information before they're released to the strategy guide! If you're interested in earning a badge, this is one of the best places to begin and work towards earning your
badge!
NU Speed Tiers - Do you ever find yourself questioning whether or not your +2 Gorebyss will outrun Choice Scarf Sawk? Fear no longer, for here you can find out quickly where your boosted and unboosted Pokemon lie on the Speed depth chart.
Using Sun in NU - Weather is an extraordinarily good strategy in NU and with powerhouses like Exeggutor, Victreebel, and Charizard, you've got an impressive array of sweepers who are ready to blast through your opponent's team after a single turn of setup. Weather teams aren't the easiest to piece together, though, but taking a look at this guide will get you headed off in the right direction!
NU Stats - If for any reason you ever want to go back and track the general trends of the NU metagame, you can check out these threads.
np: NU Stage 9 - Locked Out of Heaven
np: NU Stage 8 - Who Let The Dogs Out
np: NU Stage 7 - Free Bird
np: NU Stage 6 - Black Magic Woman
np: NU Stage 5 - Won't Get Fooled Again
np: NU Stage 4 - Disco Inferno
np: NU Stage 3 - Riders on the Storm
np: NU Stage 2 - Part of Your World
np: NU Stage 1 - Welcome to Heartbreak
np: NU Stage 0 - For What It's Worth
Initial NU Metagame thread (before it became an official metagame!)
np: NU Stage 8 - Who Let The Dogs Out
np: NU Stage 7 - Free Bird
np: NU Stage 6 - Black Magic Woman
np: NU Stage 5 - Won't Get Fooled Again
np: NU Stage 4 - Disco Inferno
np: NU Stage 3 - Riders on the Storm
np: NU Stage 2 - Part of Your World
np: NU Stage 1 - Welcome to Heartbreak
np: NU Stage 0 - For What It's Worth
Initial NU Metagame thread (before it became an official metagame!)
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Projects
This list will be updated as more guides get put on-site, so stay tuned. We also have a ton of forum projects and I'll be keeping an active index of them here, in case you ever want to look up older variants of them and whatnot! Great posting in these forum projects (and the np: threads listed above) can be rewarded with a
Research Weeks / Groups - Research Week began as a way to identify new, interesting threats hidden in the masses of Pokemon that are available in NU. Follow through each RW / RG as they explore new niches for underused Pokemon and occasionally find a diamond in the rough!
NU Viability Ranking - After PK Gaming posted his UU version, our valiant NU members decided it was a great idea and posted a version of our own. This thread serves as a sort of 'power ranking' of the various NU threats, and debates are held frequently over where each Pokemon should be placed. If you're interested in knowing which Pokemon are considered the best of the best by top NU players, check this thread out!
Theorymon Sessions - I created this thread primarily to discuss the "what if" aspect of competitive Pokemon. If you have ever sat back and thought "hmm how good would Pinsir be if it had Megahorn, or what if Rotom-S actually had a decent ability?" then this very well might be the thread for you.
Teambuilding 101 - Started up by MMF, this project serves to help out newer players that struggle a bit with their teambuilding but are really interested in playing NU. As of posting this, there are three different rounds of Teambuilding 101 with different builders and a different theme each round. Check it out if you have a hard time figuring out what works best in NU.
RG 9: Marowak, Pinsir, Miltank, Regice
RG 8: Ampharos, Charizard, Basculin, Murkrow
RG 7: Granbull, Masquerain, Swoobat, Throh
RG 6: Mr. Mime, Mawile, Torkoal, Solrock
RG 5: Lairon, Simipour, Fraxure
RG 4: Gothitelle, Serperior, Exploud, Omanyte
RG 3: Sawsbuck, Articuno, Duosion
RG 2: Magmar, Lapras, Exeggutor
RG 1: Zweilous, Torterra, Eelektross
RW 11: Golbat, Piloswine, Carracosta, Frillish
RW 10: Bastiodon, Rampardos, Glaceon, Leafeon
RW 9: Lampent, Simipour, Eelektross, Beheeyem
RW 8: Tauros, Pinsir, Floatzel, Sneasel
RW 7: Kangaskhan, Arbok, Ampharos, Shelgon
RW 6: Rapidash, Articuno, Kecleon, Stunfisk
RW 5: Emboar, Muk, Meganium, Pelipper
RW 4: Murkrow, Gardevoir, Drifblim, Luxray
RW 3: Shelmet, Lopunny, Cradily, Relicanth
RW 2: Butterfree, Masquerain, Leavanny
RW 1: Staryu, Porygon, Grumpig
RG 8: Ampharos, Charizard, Basculin, Murkrow
RG 7: Granbull, Masquerain, Swoobat, Throh
RG 6: Mr. Mime, Mawile, Torkoal, Solrock
RG 5: Lairon, Simipour, Fraxure
RG 4: Gothitelle, Serperior, Exploud, Omanyte
RG 3: Sawsbuck, Articuno, Duosion
RG 2: Magmar, Lapras, Exeggutor
RG 1: Zweilous, Torterra, Eelektross
RW 11: Golbat, Piloswine, Carracosta, Frillish
RW 10: Bastiodon, Rampardos, Glaceon, Leafeon
RW 9: Lampent, Simipour, Eelektross, Beheeyem
RW 8: Tauros, Pinsir, Floatzel, Sneasel
RW 7: Kangaskhan, Arbok, Ampharos, Shelgon
RW 6: Rapidash, Articuno, Kecleon, Stunfisk
RW 5: Emboar, Muk, Meganium, Pelipper
RW 4: Murkrow, Gardevoir, Drifblim, Luxray
RW 3: Shelmet, Lopunny, Cradily, Relicanth
RW 2: Butterfree, Masquerain, Leavanny
RW 1: Staryu, Porygon, Grumpig
Theorymon Sessions - I created this thread primarily to discuss the "what if" aspect of competitive Pokemon. If you have ever sat back and thought "hmm how good would Pinsir be if it had Megahorn, or what if Rotom-S actually had a decent ability?" then this very well might be the thread for you.
Teambuilding 101 - Started up by MMF, this project serves to help out newer players that struggle a bit with their teambuilding but are really interested in playing NU. As of posting this, there are three different rounds of Teambuilding 101 with different builders and a different theme each round. Check it out if you have a hard time figuring out what works best in NU.
Teambuilding 101: Round 3 - Hyper Offense - Raseri, Annoyer, tennisace
Teambuilding 101: Round 2 - Stall - Django, DTC, EBeast
Teambuilding 101: Round 1 - Offense - FLCL, MMF, Zebraiken
Teambuilding 101: Round 2 - Stall - Django, DTC, EBeast
Teambuilding 101: Round 1 - Offense - FLCL, MMF, Zebraiken
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you are thinking of making a topic that can be answered in a post or two, simply post that here instead, new topics should be for discussion!
What does [move / item / ability] do?
Check the links in this topic before asking. http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3470153
Also read the first post here: http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3471351
Is there going to be a tier under NU?
As of right now, there will be no official tier below NU.
How do bans in higher tiers affect NU?
Outside of Pokemon bans (which clearly aren't going to be allowed in NU), there are three ability or move combination bans that affect NU. Sand Stream and Snow Warning have been banned from UU, so even though Snover and Hippopotas are usable in NU, they cannot have those abilities. Also, RU banned the combination of Shell Smash + Baton Pass; this combination of moves is illegal in NU as well.
More may be added to this list.
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If you're looking to get involved in the NU community, then please come and join us on IRC! #pokemon is now the default chat for discussion, but should #pokemon be currently involved in another discussion, such as UU or cutemons or Kid Icarus, then #neverused can be used instead. You can either follow the Smogon IRC guide for information on how to connect using various clients (located here), or use this link to directly connect to #pokemon by simply entering a username and clicking connect. Use this link to directly connect to #neverused by simply entering a username and clicking connect.
Have fun chatting, and we hope you enjoy NU! If you have any other questions about posting threads in the forum or something that cannot be quickly answered in this thread, please contact one or all of our friendly moderators. The NU discussion subforum is moderated by @DTC and @Raseri while the NU Analyses subforum is moderated by @ebeast, @Raseri, and @Treecko.
for reference, the previous SQSA thread.
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