OMotM/LCotM Spotlight: Tier Shift and The Card Game

By in the hills. Released: 2023/05/11.
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Art by anundeadboy

Art by anundeadboy.

What is an OMotM/LCotM?

The OMotM, or Other Metagame of the Month, is the metagame that is voted by the players to have a ladder for a specific month. The LCotM, or Leader's Choice of the Month, is a second ladder that is chosen specifically by OM Forum Mods. For the most part, the LCotM is a metagame that needs more love, as it may not be able to compete with the metagames that get nominated for the OMotM voting.

For May 2023, the OM of the Month is Tier Shift, while Leader's Choice is The Card Game.

Introduction to Tier Shift

Tier Shift is a classic OM that gives bonus stats to Pokémon below OU. The boosts given in this metagame have gone through a number of tweaks throughout the generations to try and reach an optimal variety of threats and competitive landscape. This generation, Tier Shift gives +10 to each stat barring HP, with an extra +5 to each stat for each tier below OU (UU gets +15 per stat, RU +20, NU +25, PU and below +30). Tier Shift aims to take lower tiered Pokémon and give them the boost needed to make them viable in an OU metagame. Some Pokémon may have untapped potential that can be brought out with some stat boosts, such as Pokémon with good abilities like Basculin and Mabosstiff. With so many Pokémon getting buffed stats, the possibilities for innovation are huge!

Threats in Tier Shift

vaporeon

Vaporeon makes use of its naturally high HP to become a very bulky setup sweeper after its boosts. With boosted Special Attack and Defense, Vaporeon can more reliably run a Calm Mind set than in standard play, though otherwise this set is fairly standard.

squawkabilly

Squawkabilly becomes incredibly threatening in Tier Shift with 126 Attack and 122 Speed, alongside Guts-boosted Facade and Brave Bird. It has everything you could want in a wallbreaker, bar coverage to hit Steel-types. Roost and U-turn can be interchanged depending on whether you want to go for offensive pressure or longevity.

Introduction to The Card Game

The Card Game, formerly known as Type CondensinG in Generation 6, is a metagame that aims to cut down the typing chart of 18 types to the 10 types that are seen in Pokémon's Trading Card Game. The condensed types are as follows:

Not only are types changed; abilities and moves are effected and qualities of the condensed types are shared as well, such as Dark-types becoming immune to Poison and Normal-types becoming non-grounded. With a condensed type chart, so many Pokémon have completely different typings and the type chart is essentially flipped on its head. Given this is the first iteration of this metagame in multiple generations, it's nearly completely unexplored and will be incredibly interesting to see the threats that pop up throughout the month.

Threats in The Card Game

garganacl

Garganacl strips away its Rock typing to gain a much better Fighting typing, which leaves it without any weaknesses after Purifying Salt's reduction on Psychic moves. Salt Cure becomes Fighting-type as well, which unfortunately makes Normal-type Pokémon solid checks for it even with Fire Punch. However, despite this weakness, Garganacl will likely still be a potent threat in the metagame due to its better defensive typing and Salt Cure.

gyarados

With nearly unresisted STAB moves and a strong defensive typing, Gyarados is very threatening against unprepared teams. While it still is weak to Stealth Rock, Substitute + Leftovers is still a potent set on it regardless and can throw off defensive checks like Toxapex with ease. Normal STAB is only resisted by Steel-types and lacks immunities, so you can even opt for one attacking move if you want to optimize Gyarados's utility.

ting-lu

Several Dark / Fighting types compete for a slot in The Card Game with threats like Tyranitar and Clodsire also having it, but Ting-Lu is still a very potent entry hazard setter and wall and now can utilize STAB Body Press to deal more damage. Without Fairy-types in the metagame, Dark/Fighting is an incredibly potent typing, only being weak to opposing Fighting-types. Throat Chop can be helpful in beating Flutter Mane, which can deal huge damage with Power Gem.

Final Thoughts

Tier Shift and The Card Game are both metagames that introduce viable Pokémon that are typically bad and offer unique experiences for anyone to enjoy. Enjoy these metagames this May and check out the Other Metas room on PS! to discuss them.

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