Crown Tundra: The Monotype Metagame

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Introduction

Monotype is often misconstrued as a coinflip tier because the ruleset paints a picture that Flying automatically wins versus Grass or Dark versus Psychic, for example. The Crown Tundra release has brought a chunk of viable Pokémon without which there was less room to build around your team's weaknesses, and as a result, the tier has become more diverse and less matchup-based when comparing it to Pokémon Home in particular. Throughout this article, we will discuss the main types that benefitted from this DLC along with replays and a sample team under each category.

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Overall Metagame Effect

Because of the extensive range of Pokémon coming from the Crown Tundra release, Monotype decided to start off fresh and unban some of the previously banned Pokémon, since it had become an entirely different metagame. As a result of this decision, Urshifu-R and Melmetal both have a place in the new fresh metagame, as Urshifu-R was quickbanned during MPL VI (Monotype Premier League) and Melmetal banned via suspect test. After progress from the MWP III (Monotype Winter Premier League III), the council has decided to quickban Landorus in the middle of the tournament because of its amazing movepool, base 115 Special Attack, and access to Sheer Force paired with Life Orb, which allows it to become a powerful wallbreaker. With this ban, more opportunities have opened up for Pokémon like Nidoking, Landorus-T, and Galarian Zapdos for Ground and Flying teams. Many types like Electric, Poison, and Flying have improved with the DLC additions, with Pokémon like Tapu Koko, Zapdos, Galarian Slowking, Landorus-T, and Thundurus-T, along with a few types like Dark still being solid without additions.

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Ghost

Spectrier and Blacephalon are the most notable additions for Ghost because of their offensive stats, access to Calm Mind, and abilities in Grim Neigh and Beast Boost. Spectrier is able to fulfill two notable roles on Ghost as a wallbreaker with Choice Specs or, more effectively, as a setup sweeper with Calm Mind + Substitute. The setup sweeper set runs Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers like Bisharp and Rillaboom and amplify Hex damage on defensive walls like Celesteela and Toxapex. Calm Mind allows it to set up on special attackers like Zapdos and Heatran in the attempt to pull a Substitute off. Although its movepool is shallow, its Ghost-type STAB move does nice against types like Bug and Electric that don't have proper answers, and its access to setup and utility options in Will-O-Wisp make it shine on Ghost teams. Additionally, Pokémon that resist or are immune to Ghost are uncommon. Spectrier is nice at picking apart balanced teams like Ground and Grass to consecutively set up with Calm Mind behind its Substitute and use Shadow Ball to get KOs. Spectrier's combination of overall bulk and ability to deal with physical and special attackers has caused the rise of counters like Lum Berry + Substitute Bisharp, specially defensive Mandibuzz, RestTalk Drapion, Tapu Fini + specially defensive Swampert, and Grimmsnarl, and a lot of these counters aren't just Spectrier counters, as they each can help with a few other matchups individually. Blacephalon is a little harder to fit on Ghost teams, as the standard team is composed of Galarian Corsola, Dragapult, Mimikyu, Gengar, Spectrier, and Aegislash, and the need to use it over the powerhouse Spectrier is limited. However, if Blacephalon still holds your interest after seeing all that Spectrier does, you should try out a Choice Scarf or a Substitute + Calm Mind set. Its Fire-type STAB moves give Ghost teams an advantage against types like Grass, Steel, Normal, and Ice. Substitute allows it set up on passive Pokémon like Blissey and Ferrothorn to help sweep aforementioned types a lot more easily. Despite the additions, Ghost still has exploitable holes that make it inconsistent like not having enough room to compress roles of hazard remover, pivot, and proper Ground immunity.

Sample Team

Replays

• Star vs Chaitanya (Ghost vs Steel)
• Attribute vs Luckypiper (Ghost vs Water)
• basaninho vs tazz (Ghost vs Electric)

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Poison

Poison-type teams have received a handful of Pokémon, but the most notable ones were Galarian Slowking, Nidoking, and Nihilego, rounding out their defensive wardrobe and offensively threatening attributes. Poison teams didn't use to have much defensive counterplay to special threats like Kyurem, Alolan Raichu, and Togekiss, but thanks to Galarian Slowking, a number of matchups like Electric, Ice, and Dragon improved. An Assault Vest set is best to better its chances of survival against the aforementioned special attackers, and it gives it maximum coverage in Future Sight, Earthquake, Flamethrower, and Ice Beam. Galarian Slowking makes a great addition to the Regenerator core composed of Toxapex and Amoonguss, as it's able to switch into Freeze-Dry from Pokémon like Alolan Ninetales, which threatens both. Its coverage in Flamethrower and Earthquake allows it to hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and notably Magma Storm + Earth Power Heatran, which would try trapping and KOing teammates throughout the match. Skuntank's usage has lowered since Galarian Slowking arrived, because one of the main reasons to use it over Drapion was to revenge kill Alolan Raichu with Sucker Punch. Drapion makes a great partner with Galarian Slowking because it can force switches with Whirlwind, giving Future Sight a higher likelihood of hitting targets that don't resist or aren't immune to Psychic. Its utility in removing items with Knock Off accompanied with Rest keeps it healthy to deal with threats like Spectrier and Tapu Lele. Nidoking's ability to break Steel teams with Flamethrower and Earth Power has caused Salazzle to drop in viability due to its inability to break through Steel’s immunity core as easily as it did before The Crown Tundra with Heatran in the tier now. Amoonguss is a great partner for Nidoking because it gives it opportunities to come into play with Spore while also being the most reliable counter to Mold Breaker Excadrill. Nidoking’s BoltBeam coverage allows it to break through defensive Flying cores like Mantine + Landorus-T while also improving a number of matchups like Water, Dragon, and Ground. Its Ground typing prevents Volt Switch from being spammed by Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Regieleki. With the addition of Heavy-Duty Boots in SS, Stealth Rock cannot pressure Bug-, Fire-, and Flying-type Pokémon like Volcarona and Tornadus, so Thunderbolt is often favored over entry hazards. Nihilego improves the Bug, Fire, and Flying matchup with its access to Power Gem and Thunderbolt. It's able to act as a revenge killer with Choice Scarf to outpace Pokémon like Choice Scarf Landorus-T, Volcarona after a Quiver Dance, and Dragonite after a Dragon Dance or a Meteor Beam sweeper not locked into one move with Power Herb. Nihilego appreciates Amoonguss and Galarian Weezing to help with Ground-types like Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Garchomp, while its decent special bulk gives it opportunities to come into special attackers like Galarian Moltres, Hydreigon, and Volcarona; however, its poor Defense makes it susceptible to pretty much any physical attack. Galarian Weezing’s immunity to Dragon and Ground benefits Poison’s defensive core, and it also has Defog to remove hazards. The standard Poison team is often composed of Toxapex, Amoonguss, Galarian Weezing, and Nidoking, with the last two slots being Galarian Slowking + Drapion, Gengar + Skuntank, or Nihilego + Skuntank. However, teams running Gengar and Nihilego have become less common with the addition of Galarian Slowking.

Sample Team

Replays

• King Choco vs Decem (Ice vs Poison)
• Shiba vs North (Poison vs Ghost)
• Star vs zugubu royale (Poison vs Flying)

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Flying

Flying teams have gained a handful of both offensive and defensive Pokémon like Landorus-T, Celesteela, Thundurus-T, Tornadus-T, and many more, letting it quickly rise as one of the top types in the current SS Monotype metagame ever since The Crown Tundra's release. The addition of Heavy-Duty Boots is also critical to Flying's success, allowing Flying-types such as Dragonite, Moltres, and Thundurus-T to be extremely potent in their own roles without taking Stealth Rock damage. Flying teams are usually balance, but hyper offense archetypes with leads like Aerodactyl can also be viable. Dragonite, Landorus-T, and Thundurus-T have significantly improved the Electric matchup as well, which Flying teams had no way to deal with outside of the extremely niche Emolga. Celesteela returns as a gigantic threat, patching up Flying's matchup versus types like Ice, Rock, and Psychic while being quite difficult to wear down due to the combination of its good mixed bulk, Leech Seed, and Beast Boost to increase its defensive prowess upon securing KOs. Skarmory's amazing physical bulk allows it to handle threats like Terrakion, Weavile, and Mamoswine and threaten them with a powerful Body Press while providing valuable entry hazard support with Spikes. Skarmory can be used with Corviknight, as it handles the aforementioned physical attackers like Weavile and Mamoswine, while Corviknight can deal with threatening special attackers like Kyurem and Tapu Lele. Landorus-T is a staple because of its Ground typing paired with Intimidate, ability to run a Choice Scarf or defensive set, and access to support moves like Knock Off, U-turn, Stealth Rock, and Toxic. Thundurus-T and Mantine are both desired to help with the Water-type matchup. Mantine provides a crucial Water immunity to the team by taking on problematic Pokémon like Barraskewda, Azumarill, and Urshifu-R, although it must be careful of the latter's Thunder Punch. On the other hand, Thundurus-T is a fearsome sweeper with the combination of Nasty Plot and Agility, Grass Knot to beat Electric-immune Water-types such as Swampert and Gastrodon, and Volt Absorb to prevent Volt Switch from Rotom-W. Galarian Moltres has been used as a great offensive sweeper against Poison, Steel, and notably Ghost and Psychic teams, being difficult to stop after a Nasty Plot and Agility boost. Although less common than Galarian Moltres, Mandibuzz is a decent pick on balance Flying teams, as it also deals with dangerous Ghost-types in Spectrier, Dragapult, and Aegislash while providing useful utility through Knock Off, U-turn, and Defog. Moltres has also been spotted on Flying teams, as it can improve Flying's matchup against Steel teams due to its part Fire typing, Heavy-Duty Boots, and newfound access to Scorching Sands, which lets it overwhelm non-Air Balloon Heatran. Choice Specs Zapdos has greatly impacted the metagame as a powerful wallbreaker due to its great coverage in Hurricane, Heat Wave, Thunderbolt, and Volt Switch. Its access to Pressure and neutrality to Electric-type attacks also make it a useful defensive Pokémon, making progress easily through PP stalling. Galarian Zapdos has risen in usage as a great wallbreaker with Choice Band due to its Fighting typing enabling it to help in the Dark matchup, taking on threats like Hydreigon and Tyranitar. Overall, the introduction of The Crown Tundra has caused Flying teams to be just as effective as they were last generation.

Sample Team

Replays

• Trichotomy vs Floss (Flying vs Fairy)
• Conflux vs Avarice (Flying vs Ice)
• Metariolu7 vs Sabella (Flying vs Flying)
• TJ vs Wanka (Flying vs Steel)

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Steel

Steel is one of the many types that were blessed by The Crown Tundra's release, as it regained two integral Pokémon in Celesteela and Heatran. With the return of Heatran, the infamous Steel immunity core is back at its most powerful. Melmetal was also unbanned in the Crown Tundra metagame, giving Steel another valuable resource. Between Heatran, a Flying-type like Celesteela, Corviknight or Skarmory, and Aegislash, the type covers its natural weaknesses in Fire, Ground, and Fighting with defensive immunities. The reason that Heatran's return makes it the most potent defensive core in any generation of Monotype is because Aegislash was banned in previous generations, preventing the immunity core from being completed. This makes the type incredibly difficult to break, which is furthered bolstered by the usual presence of Ferrothorn, which throws in a resistance to Electric- and Water-type attacks, another way to check the core offensively. Another great part of this defensive immunity core is that they do not have to run passive sets to be successful. Heatran and Aegislash tend to run specially defensive sets with Toxic, allowing them to cripple other Pokémon such as Mantine and Mandibuzz. This also allows both of them to better check threats such as Thundurus-T and Tapu Koko. Alternatively, Heatran can run an Air Balloon set to improve the matchup against Steel and against threats such as Choice Scarf Excadrill and Nidoking. Aegislash can also run a Swords Dance set, allowing it to break Pokémon such as Slowking, or a Choice Specs set, allowing it to break Pokémon such as Skarmory. Simultaneously, Celesteela can never truly be passive thanks to Heavy Slam, which always does a sizable chunk of damage even without any Attack investment. While a strong defensive core is great, this is only as successful as it is due to the plethora of offensive options available to Steel teams. Melmetal is a powerful slow bulky wallbreaker that can spam Double Iron Bash and score serious damage on anything it connects with while using its coverage to take on what resists its STAB attacks, such as Ferrothorn with Superpower and Toxapex with Earthquake. Alternatively, Melmetal can utilize a Toxic + Substitute set thanks to its excellent natural physical bulk to wear down and scout the foe. Alongside Double Iron Bash, Melmetal should run Earthquake or Thunder Punch on this set to also threaten Toxapex. Overall, with what the Crown Tundra gave back to Steel, it has reclaimed its place as one of the top types in the metagame.

Sample Team

Replays

• Shiba vs Kythr (Steel vs Poison)
• King Choco vs Splash (Steel vs Psychic)
• Isza vs Chaitanya (Steel vs Water)
• Trichotomy vs Luckypiper (Steel vs Electric)

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Ground

Ground gained a lot of notable Pokémon such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, Zygarde-10%, and Nidoking, which helped it improve a lot of other matchups such as Flying and Steel. Before The Crown Tundra, Ground had to rely on some niche Pokémon like Rhyperior and Flygon to check certain problematic Pokémon like Corviknight and Ferrothorn, respectively. With the new DLC, Ground got a fresh roster of offensive Pokémon, with the most prominent one being Landorus. It swiftly got banned by a council vote due to its absurd damage output. However, Ground still has solid picks like Landorus-T, which tried to close in the gap left by Landorus with different sets like Smack Down or Gravity to take care of Flying-type Pokémon like Celesteela and Skarmory, while a Choice Scarf set is also commonly used. Garchomp has also cemented itself as a scary Swords Dance user due to its access to Scale Shot, which makes it a lot harder to deal with for offensive types like Electric and Dragon. Nidoking has also become a staple as a coveted viable special wallbreaker to make up for the loss of Landorus. Its presence on the type helps the team immensely to pressure Steel-, Flying- and Grass-type teams due to its fantastic BoltBeam coverage and Flamethrower while also providing the utility of absorbing Toxic Spikes for the team. Zygarde-10% is also a niche pick and covers matchups like Poison, Flying, Steel for Ground-type teams with its Choice Band set and Thousand Arrows, which limits switch-ins for it against various types; however, it is hard to justify using it, since Ground as a type is already strapped in terms of team slots, the matchups covered by it overlap with other common teammates, and it is weak and frail. The majority of the Ground-type teams are centered around Hippowdon, Excadrill to benefit from sand, and a Water-immune Pokémon like Gastrodon or Seismitoad. The team generally relies on Excadrill in sand to keep faster foes in check; however, some players have started utilizing revenge killers like Landorus-T, Mamoswine, and Krookodile, which help cover different matchups!

Sample Team

Replays

• Bushtush vs Dahli (Flying vs Ground)
• Maroon vs Star (Dark vs Ground)
• Floss vs Conflux (Ground vs Flying)

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Dragon

Dragon-type teams gained a vast range of viable Pokémon through the DLC, most notably Dragonite, Garchomp, Latios, and Latias. Kyurem-B, despite being banned in the pre-DLC metagame and rightfully so, was freed once again following the DLC release, further strengthening Dragon's already powerful arsenal. However, its brute force was yet again deemed too much for the tier, and it was banned through a council vote within days after its reintroduction. While this ban did significantly affect Dragon as a type, Dragon still remains as a top contender within the Monotype metagame. Thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots, Dragonite is no longer weak to hazards. This, combined with Multiscale, makes Dragonite a reliable revenge killer and a potent late-game setup sweeper. Garchomp returns as Dragon's premier Stealth Rock setter, the best Electric-immune option available, most specifically helping against Volt Switch pivots like Regieleki, and a reliable defensive switch-in against most physical attackers. At the same time, Latias and Latios are back as perhaps the best Choice Scarf options available on Dragon-type teams, providing a Ground immunity and also aiding greatly in matchups such as Fighting and Poison. While Pokémon like Galarian Slowking and Drapion can prove to be threatening in said matchups, access to Psyshock to take advantage of Galarian Slowking's low Defense stat, Draco Meteor to deal with Drapion, and at times the use of Choice Specs, especially on Latios, can help ameliorate the situation. However, the tight competition for a slot, the matchups it does well in being already taken care of by other Pokémon, and Latias proving to be more beneficial thanks to its access to Healing Wish all resulted in Latios's usage dwindling down, slowly. As such, Dragon continues to thrive, primarily sporting offensive archetypes that take advantage of its powerful offensive threats and solidifies its stature as a top type within the Monotype metagame.

Sample Team

Replays

• Splash vs gorex (Dragon vs Ghost)
• Star vs Floss (Dragon vs Fairy)
• Fylkir Pudin vs Isza (Dragon vs Flying)

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Electric

Before The Crown Tundra, Electric-type teams revolved around Pincurchin's Electric Terrain to support offensive Pokémon such as Alolan Raichu and Zeraora. The teams were more offensively inclined, with common teammates being Galvantula, Dracozolt, and Rotom-H. The Crown Tundra brought in interesting additions to Electric-type teams like Tapu Koko, Regieleki, Zapdos, Xurkitree, Thundurus formes, and Raikou. Tapu Koko swiftly replaced Pincurchin as the premier Pokémon for Electric Terrain support, as it not only hits much harder with a Choice Specs set but also improves the team's matchup against Dragon-, Dark-, and Ground-type teams due to its Dazzling Gleam and Grass Knot taking on foes like Kyurem and Gastrodon while being able to offensively pivot to bring in teammates like Alolan Raichu, Zeraora and Regieleki. Regieleki quickly became a force to be reckoned with, as Transistor + Electric Terrain + Choice Specs means nothing really can stomach its Electric-type attacks; however, given its sparse movepool, it is hard walled by Electric-immune Pokémon like Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad and fails to do anything meaningful against them other than baiting them in, which can be positive in positioning and taking such Pokémon out with other teammates. In addition, it does not see much usage due to the fact that Electric-type teams already do a good job of beating types with no Electric-immune Pokémon. With Tapu Koko as a good Electric Terrain user and Regieleki blasting apart teams with its Electric-type moves early during its release, Terrain Extender was banned, which helped tone down Regieleki's unhealthy presence in the tier to near non-existent. Zapdos's most threatening set, Choice Specs, can blast away types like Grass and puts in good work against Dragon-type teams due to Hurricane being a strong neutral move, and it also does a good job of punishing Pokémon like Swampert, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad on Water-type teams. It has become a common face on Electric-type teams, as Heavy-Duty Boots makes it much harder to wear down for opposing teams, and it excels more at checking threats like Rillaboom and Tapu Bulu. Zapdos also forms a decent defensive core with Rotom-W, which can take care of Ground-type Pokémon like Landorus-T and Mamoswine for it. Due to the lack of resistance to types like Ghost, Rock, and Ice, the core struggles to take on certain attackers such as Spectrier, Nihilego, and Kyurem. Xurkitree is also available now, but it is mediocre at best and really struggles to find a spot on the team, as Pokémon such as Regieleki, and Tapu Koko outclass it. Raikou is also in a similar boat; even though it got access to moves like Scald and Aura Sphere, it is hardly seen on the type and only has a small niche as a Substitute + Calm Mind user. Thundurus is notorious for its mixed sets making it hard to wall for Pokémon like Blissey, as it can run Knock Off or Superpower to heavily punish it and eliminate an obstacle for Electric-type teams. It can also stop certain fast threats like Dragapult, Latios, and Volcarona with Prankster Thunder Wave. While Thundurus-T has a niche as a Nasty Plot wallbreaker behind a Substitute, its colorful coverage with moves like Sludge Wave and Grass Knot lets it deal with pesky checks like Tapu Bulu and Gastrodon. Pokémon like Xurkitree, Raikou, and Thundurus-T are seldom used, as Electric-type teams have tight team slots to cover and they are outclassed by common staples. All in all, Electric-type teams greatly improved with The Crown Tundra, which was evident by their usage in team tournaments.

Sample Team

Replays

• Isza vs Leru (Electric vs Dark)
• Decem vs Chaitanya (Electric vs Fairy)
• Splash vs Tjay (Electric vs Steel)

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Fairy

Fairy teams only received a handful of new additions via the Crown Tundra DLC. However, the few additions they did receive are more than sufficient to make Fairy teams a force to be reckoned with. With the new DLC, Magearna and Tapu Lele were freed in Monotype, two Pokémon that were deemed to be too powerful for the tier to handle in SM. With its newfound access to moves such as Draining Kiss and Stored Power in conjunction with other utility moves such as Shift Gear, Calm Mind, and an amazing ability in Soul-Heart, there was no doubt that Magearna was an unhealthy aspect within the tier, and it departed shortly after its release. However, Tapu Lele remains in the tier, unlike in SM, mostly in part due to the terrain nerf in SS, causing them to be removed by Defog and reducing the damage boost they provide. The DLC also blessed Fairy teams with the other fabled Guardian Deities, more commonly known as the "Tapus", in Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, Tapu Bulu, and the previously mentioned Tapu Lele. While the former two have received less love on Fairy-type teams, Tapu Bulu and Tapu Lele play an integral role on them. Tapu Bulu's ability to contribute significantly against types like Ground, Water, and Electric, mostly due to its part Grass typing, is second to none, while Choice Specs Tapu Lele under Psychic Terrain shows unparalleled wallbreaking capabilities while also helping greatly in the Water, Dragon, and Poison matchup, the latter being a matchup Fairy-type teams generally struggle against. Despite it being an integral part on Fairy teams in SM Monotype, the loss of Hidden Power Ice in tandem with the increased usage of Alolan Ninetales to further ease matchups like Flying and Water resulted in Tapu Koko's decreasing usage. Fairy also received a less viable Pokémon in Diancie. Diancie had a significant drop in terms of viability in comparison to its dominance in the SM metagame due to no longer having access to its Mega Evolution. It is evident that the addition of the Guardian Deities in conjunction with other Pokémon such as Azumarill, Alolan Ninetales, Mimikyu, and Clefable helps Fairy sustain its stature as a top type since the SM and pre-DLC SS metagame.

Sample Team

Replays

• dahli vs kythr (Fairy vs Electric)
• Floss vs Trichotomy (Fairy vs Water)
• Attribute vs Isza (Fairy vs Dragon)

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Final Thoughts

The Crown Tundra has brought many changes to Monotype with more portions of Pokémon released, which has allowed players to shape the tier to what it is now. Because of these arrivals, many unwinnable matchups like Flying versus Electric and Poison versus Psychic have become more doable, allowing even more types to be relevant. If you are interested in getting involved with the Monotype community, come take part in discussion in our subforum and Monotype PS! room and join our Discord server!

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