OMotM/LCotM Spotlight: Partners in Crime and Chimera 1v1

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 September 2022, the OM of the Month is Partners in Crime, while Leader's Choice is Chimera 1v1.

Introduction to Partners in Crime

Partners in Crime is a doubles-based metagame in which active Pokémon on each side of the field share their movesets and abilities with each other. For example, if both Incineroar and Cresselia were on the field, both Pokémon would share their moves and have Levitate and Intimidate. When a Pokémon switches out, the other active Pokémon on the field can still use their moves for that turn, but will gain the ability of whichever Pokémon enters the field immediately. With two abilities and up to eight moves, this metagame offers a ton of combinations; pair that with the fast paced, prediction-reliant play of a doubles format and this metagame is extremely exciting. Every turn will keep both players and spectators on the edge of their seats when faced with the mind games this metagame offers between sharing extra moves, the potential to switch in a Pokémon with a new ability to share, and even just classic doubles mind games with moves like Protect and Tailwind.

Partners in Crime was previously one of the most popular formats in the Other Metagames section, but due to technical difficulties had to be shelved for quite some time. Luckily, this metagame has returned and has quickly shot back to being one of the most popular OMs, thanks to the work of Instruct and support from the community.

Threats in Partners in Crime

• Incineroar @ Sitrus Berry / Safety Goggles
• Ability: Intimidate
• EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 28 Def / 160 SpD
• Careful Nature
• - Fake Out
• - Flare Blitz
• - Knock Off
• - Parting Shot

Incineroar has been a well known face in doubles metagames for quite some time, and Partners in Crime puts it on a whole new level. Sharing Intimidate makes it so that physical attackers suffer an immediate -2 Attack and Fake Out, Parting Shot, and Knock Off are all fantastic support moves that further make Incineroar one of the easiest Pokémon to put on any team. Pivoting from Parting Shot is especially potent as it can come from either teammate and is great at gaining momentum by potentially cycling another Intimidate activation onto the field.

• Porygon2 @ Eviolite
• Ability: Download
• EVs: 248 HP / 40 Def / 156 SpA / 64 SpD
• Quiet Nature
• IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
• - Ice Beam
• - Thunderbolt
• - Recover
• - Trick Room

Trick Room is a very strong playstyle in doubles formats, with either semi- and full Trick Room both being common. In Partners in Crime, this playstyle is much more potent because of how much more difficult it is to stop Trick Room from being set up since it can come from either user. Porygon2 is arguably the best Trick Room setter in the metagame, as its natural bulk, good typing, and Download allow it to not only be a great Trick Room setter but also enable its partners simultaneously. It's especially difficult to stop Trick Room from remaining on the field when partnered with Amoonguss, which opens the threat of both Spore and Rage Powder from either partner and shares Regenerator to allow for more chances to setup Trick Room throughout the match.

• Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
• Ability: Misty Surge
• EVs: 252 HP / 68 Def / 112 SpA / 76 Spe
• Bold Nature
• IVs: 0 Atk
• - Calm Mind / Taunt
• - Moonblast
• - Muddy Water
• - Protect

Tapu Fini is an amazing staple in this metagame and provides useful support against most strong offensive builds including Rain, Sun, and Dragon spam. Misty Surge is a great ability to share that keeps teammates healthy and gives them an added resistance to Dragon-type moves, while Tapu Fini also passes strong special moves and either Calm Mind or Taunt to set up against teams or have a reliable way of stopping Trick Room. On top of sharing great support tools, Tapu Fini is also powerful in its own right and is great at beating most physical attackers, especially when paired with an Intimidate user like Incineroar. Moonblast and Muddy Water are able to hit physical attackers like Kyurem-B, Incineroar, and Urshifu-R super effectively.

• Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
• Ability: Sheer Force
• EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• IVs: 0 Atk
• - Earth Power
• - Sludge Bomb
• - Substitute
• - Protect

Landorus is a great example of one of the many offensive behemoths in the metagame. Passing Sheer Force to teammates like Kyurem-B, Metagross, and Heatran super charges their attacks, while it can utilize their coverage or just its own to maintain steady pressure on opposing teams. It is important to note, however, that Sheer Force sharing to both partners means that Fake Out does not flinch while Landorus is on the field, so be careful not to make that mistake.

Introduction to Chimera 1v1

Chimera 1v1 is the most complicated format that Other Metagames has to offer. In Chimera 1v1, each Pokémon on the team donates specific traits depending on their team order, which can be changed at team preview, to create one "chimera". The first team slot donates its typing, the second its Item, the third its ability, the fourth its stats, the fifth its first two moveslots, and the sixth its last two moveslots. Just forming one combination of six Pokémon that can achieve a strong chimera can be mind boggling in itself, but when considering different combinations when swapping around at team preview, the possibilities are endless. Truly great Chimera 1v1 teams have multiple combinations so you can adapt to the opponent's team on the fly. It's easy to get a little overwhelmed by this metagame, but the gameplay for it is simple, rewarding, and, most importantly, a lot of fun.

Due to the nature of this metagame, it's difficult to explain common threats in the metagame: nearly any Pokémon can be good. Instead of covering threats, here is a sample team from Chimera 1v1's Tier Leader, anaconja. There's a ton of different ways to try this team out, so take the time to explore different options.

Here's some examples of potential chimeras from this team:

• Dialga @ Choice Specs
• Ability: Dragon's Maw
• EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
• Timid Nature
• - Earth Power
• - Flash Cannon
• - Fire Blast
• - Draco Meteor

In this example, the chimera would use Dialga's typing, Noivern's item, Regidrago's ability, Eternatus's stats, Kyurem-B's first two moves, and Rayquaza's last two moves. With 145 Special Attack and 130 Speed, Dragon's Maw Draco Meteor, and Choice Specs, this Chimera is a terrifyingly strong wallbreaker, and Dialga's typing makes it difficult to OHKO.

• Dialga @ Leftovers
• Ability: Air Lock
• EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
• Relaxed Nature
• - Cosmic Power
• - Dragon Pulse
• - Iron Tail
• - Roost

This stall set uses Dialga's typing, Kyurem-B's item, Rayquaza's ability, Regidrago's stats, Eternatus's first two moves, and Noivern's last two moves to setup against opposing Pokémon without fear of being statused. With base 200 HP and Dialga's typing, it's easy to get multiple Cosmic Powers up against most threats, and then it can wear them down with its STAB moves.

Conclusion

Partners in Crime and Chimera 1v1 both introduce ways to pair traits from partner Pokémon, but both offer completely different experiences for people to enjoy. Check out these metagames this September and check out the Other Metas room on PS! to discuss them.