Pokémon that struggle in NU but would work in PU
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Art by JustoonSmitts.
Introduction
Quite often Pokémon are irrelevant in a tier above but stay there due to usage from devoted ladder players, even if they would see more competitive play in the tier below. Here we explore why these Pokémon don't work very well in NU but would do just fine in PU.
Why it doesn't work in NU
While Clawitzer isn't necessarily a bad Pokémon, it generally falls short of other wallbreakers and Water-types for a few reasons. For starters, Clawitzer provides very little to its team in terms of defensive utility; it doesn't check Pokémon such as Incineroar, Delphox, and Magmortar like other Water-types can, and its bulk isn't particularly great either, meaning it's not very hard to take down with a hard hitter like Passimian or Aerodactyl. While Choice Specs sets are very threatening if they get onto the field successfully due to their great coverage and power, Pokémon like Druddigon, Vaporeon, and Assault Vest Slowking can generally take a hit or two from Clawitzer and switch to the appropriate check. While Substitute + Toxic sets attempt to remedy this issue by stalling out checks, they're significantly easier to pivot around due to their decreased offensive presence.
Why it'd be good in PU
While Clawitzer struggles in NU, it'd be fantastic, and most likely broken, in PU. With a great movepool capable of beating specially defensive walls like Audino and Type: Null, a pivoting move in U-turn to lessen prediction, and decent defenses to take a hit from most Pokémon in the tier, it's fair to say Clawitzer would be firmly in the A ranks. Aura Sphere plus Dark Pulse would basically invalidate standard Water-type checks like Lanturn, which is 2HKOed if it's the support set or 3HKOed if it's the Assault Vest set, and Jellicent, which is cleanly 2HKOed. Although it'd still see competition from Pokémon like Choice Specs Drampa and Jellicent, the better coverage and simple access to U-turn would definitely mean Clawitzer would see a decent amount of usage. It'd basically be a not bad Wishiwashi.
Why it doesn't work in NU
Hitmonlee faces issues in that it's simply outdone by the other Fighting-types in NU. Hitmonlee lacks the raw power of Medicham, can't pressure checks as easily as Pangoro, and lacks the overall utility of Passimian, leaving it very one-dimensional. While Hitmonlee has a unique niche with its Curse + Unburden set, it's hard walled by too many prominent Pokémon such as Weezing, defensive Slowking, and Palossand, and its awful defenses don't provide it with many setup opportunities.
Why it'd be good in PU
Simple to say that Hitmonlee is probably the most broken Pokémon listed here, with an amazing STAB Reckless High Jump Kick, potent sweeper set with Unburden—which would be faster than every single Choice Scarf user in the tier even if it ran Adamant—, and reasonable Speed tier, making it faster than Pokémon like Victreebel and Stoutland. Choice Band / Life Orb High Jump Kick alone would propel Hitmonlee to either A+ or S rank, breaking almost any Fighting-type check that isn't a Ghost-type, as it OHKOes Pokémon like Oricorio-E and the aforementioned Victreebel after Stealth Rock damage. Hitmonlee would essentially force every team to carry either several checks or a Ghost-type like Sableye or Oricorio-G and, with the recent loss of the S rank Froslass taking out one of the most easiest checks to Hitmonlee to fit on a team, would be very restrictive on teambuilding. Even sets that were seen as gimmicks, like Fake Out + Normal Gem, would most likely see a modicum of success in the PU metagame.
Why it doesn't work in NU
Although Silvally-Steel possesses desirable attributes such as a Poison immunity, which lets it switch into and remove Toxic Spikes with Defog, the ability to check Pokémon like Whimsicott, Comfey, and Vivillon, and Parting Shot, it faces many roadblocks that prevent it from making the most out of these traits. Silvally-Steel is simply too easily pressured by wallbreakers like Heliolisk, Sceptile, and Alolan Exeggutor due to their power and coverage moves to function as a blanket special wall. Additionally, Silvally-Steel's lack of reliable recovery means it only fits on teams with Wish support; otherwise, it will get worn down too quickly. It also is hard pressed to justify Parting Shot over U-turn on its sets due to the prevalence of Passimian, which can take advantage of Parting Shot's stat drops with Defiant.
Why it'd be good in PU
Silvally-Steel had already been PU pre-USM, before the release of Defog for the formes, and for a short while after before NU took it. While it was only at the bottom of the B rankings during its initial stint in the tier, I firmly believe it'd be around A- if it had dropped again. A Pokémon that is immune to Toxic Spikes, takes reduced Stealth Rock damage, has options to hit basically every entry hazard setter in the tier super effectively, and has great support moves in both Defog and Parting Shot quite clearly would carve a very solid niche. Being a Normal-resistant Pokémon that also checks the likes of Victreebel and Aurorus is something else it has going for it, being able to deal with even Hidden Power Fire versions of Victreebel. Silvally-Steel would, however, struggle with four-moveslot syndrome, where it'd have to pick which entry hazard setters it'd want to deal with and most likely have to drop its Steel-type STAB move for something like Flamethrower or Surf.
Why it doesn't work in NU
Ambipom is simply too weak and frail to be an effective wallbreaker. While it has tools like Knock Off and Low Kick to cripple checks such as Palossand, Weezing, Steelix, and Rhydon, they aren't enough to let it effectively get past them, and due to these Pokémon's typing and bulk, they can negate Ambipom's niche in Fake Out. Additionally, Ambipom's awful defenses provide it with very few opportunities to come into battle, an issue other wallbreakers like Passimian, Heliolisk, and Aerodactyl struggle with less.
Why it'd be good in PU
Ambipom's Speed tier alone would set it apart from the rest of the tier, hitting a very respectable 361. The ability to outspeed the likes of Lycanroc, Z-Move Dodrio, Choice Scarf Aurorus, and Alolan Raichu, would make it a consistent and reliable revenge killer, further helped by a Technician-boosted Fake Out. Ambipom also has decent enough coverage with moves like Low Kick and Fire Punch to at least chip at standard Normal-resistant Pokémon such as Regirock, Ferroseed, and Aggron. Fake Out support in such an entry hazard-heavy metagame alongside a fast U-turn would also make it very easy for teams to chip at the opponent's Pokémon with Ambipom, easily paving the way for the multiple sweepers that PU has.
Why it doesn't work in NU
While Miltank used to be a solid stop to Vanilluxe before it was banned, it now suffers from being unable to take advantage of its bulk and Thick Fat effectively. While in theory Miltank should be able to check Fire- and Ice-types, Pokémon such as Incineroar, Delphox, Magmortar, and Sneasel exert immense pressure on Miltank due to their raw power and coverage options, allowing them to bypass the resistances Miltank gains from Thick Fat. Miltank is also completely unable to force Stealth Rock against teams with Xatu.
Why it'd be good in PU
Similarly to Silvally-Steel, Miltank has already been in the tier; however, it saw way more success and was used for its many utility roles. Being a Stealth Rock setter that isn't weak to Aurorus and Eelektross would be huge, along with reliable recovery in Milk Drink, ensuring it could keep those Pokémon in check. Miltank also has other viable sets like offensive Stealth Rock setter, which it used in its time in PU to lure the likes of Oricorio-G and Ferroseed, and a cleric set if the team already has an entry hazard setter. Miltank's Speed tier is also a huge bonus, enabling it to creep the likes of Victreebel, Stoutland, and even Kangaskhan if needed, and then cripple them with Thunder Wave or Toxic.
Why it doesn't work in NU
Mega Audino simply suffers too greatly from stall being a poor archetype in NU. While it is a staple Pokémon on such builds, the inability of such builds to deal with Pokémon like Pangoro, RestTalk Incineroar, Magmortar, and Flyinium Z Sigilyph means these builds and, as a result, Mega Audino cannot flourish. Despite its great bulk and utility options in Wish, Healing Wish, and Encore, Mega Audino has very little application on other archetypes outside of the also niche Trick Room due to how much momentum it gives up.
Why it'd be good in PU
Another fat Normal-type, Mega Audino would help reinvent PU stall entirely. Increased bulk and the ability to absorb Knock Off over its non-Mega counterpart, Mega Audino would be the face of every successful stall team ran in PU. The ability to choose when you want the increased bulk would allow Audino to use Regenerator for as long as it needed before Mega Evolving, helping it keep healthy. Even outside of stall, the fantastic bulk combined with Wish plus Heal Bell support, and even the ability to run more offensive sets to lure the likes of Victreebel, Ferroseed, and Aggron, would make it a solid threat in the tier.
Closing Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed our speculative thoughts on how these Pokémon would perform in PU; it's certainly a shame that we won't get to see any of them, as the last shifts of this generation have just been and gone.
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