Black and White OU Speed Tiers

By TelamonianAjax, updated by Sergi. Art by andrew3391.

Introduction

When making an EV spread for a Pokemon on your team, Speed is often the most important stat. Knowing what a particular Pokemon can and cannot outrun is crucial to battling at a high level. DPP Tyranitar is a great example of the significance of the Speed stat. Its base 61 Speed is not too impressive at first glance, but when maximized and boosted with a Choice Scarf, Tyranitar can outspeed the base 115 Speed tier—notably maximum Speed Azelf and Starmie—as well as slower Pokemon who could otherwise trouble many teams, such as Gengar and Latias. In fact, the ability to counter Latias was one of the main reasons Choice Scarf Tyranitar became so common.

To start, you'll need the maximum Speed of the Pokemon you're considering, which is found on that Pokemon's analysis page. With this information, you can refer to the following tables for Speed numbers for other Pokemon with different EV and nature investments. Determine which threats you wish your Pokemon to outpseed, and distribute EVs accordingly. Note that you need to keep in mind the Speed IV of the Pokemon, a factor that is most relevant for Hidden Power types. Pokemon who have weather-inducing abilities, who utilize moves such as Payback, as well as Pokemon on a Trick Room team, may also wish to be slower than a certain opponent, based on its own Speed stat.

For example, a very common threat in BW OU is Conkeldurr. A Reuniclus user might decide it wants Reuniclus to be slower than Conkeldurr, as the latter has a very powerful Payback. We can see from this table that Conkeldurr, with a neutral nature and 0 Spe EVs, reaches a speed higher than that of Reuniclus with the same. There's more to this puzzle, though: Payback Conkeldurr commonly runs a Speed-reducing nature and a Spe IV of 0 in order to move second as much as possible. This enables Conkeldurr to hit a Speed of 85, granting it a full-powered Payback against neutral-natured Reuniclus, who hits a Speed stat of 96. By giving Reuniclus a Speed-reducing nature, however, we lower its Speed to 86. Reducing its Spe IV to 29 then allows it to reach a Speed of 84, which ensures that Reuniclus will always move after Conkeldurr. This makes Conkeldurr's Payback have 50 Base Power, enabling Reuniclus to beat Conkeldurr handily.

So we see how the Speed stat can be used to ensure the best possible outcome for your Pokemon. This works similarly if you're trying to outspeed a certain Pokemon with a certain boost. For example, let's say you use Agility Lucario to deal with Venusaur in the sun. We can see that Venusaur reaches 518 Speed in intense sunlight. To top that with Lucario, we need only invest 176 Spe EVs and a neutral nature (granted, this assumes you can use Agility to boost Lucario's Speed before Venusaur comes into play).

Tier 0 (> Choice Scarf Max Base 100 Speed)
Terrakion 692 / Terrakion / 108 / +Spe / 252 / +2
Thundurus-T 602 / Thundurus-T / 101 / Neutral / 252 / +2
Sharpedo Gliscor 578 / Sharpedo, Gliscor / 95 / Neutral / 252 / +2
Moltres 558 / Moltres / 90 / Neutral / 252 / +2
Landorus-T 540 / Landorus-T / 91 / Neutral / 208 / +2
Thundurus-T 540 / Thundurus-T / 101 / Neutral / 128 / +2
Latios Gengar 525 / Latios, Gengar / 110 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Metagross cloyster 524 / Metagross, Cloyster / 70 / +Spe / 252 / +2
Keldeo terrakion 519 / Keldeo, Terrakion / 108 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Garchomp 499 / Garchomp / 102 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Thundurus-T 496 / Thundurus-T / 101 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Jirachi Volcarona Salamence Victini 492 / Jirachi, Volcarona, Salamence, Victini / 100 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Tier 1 (Max Base 130 Speed to Choice Scarf Max Base 100 Speed)
Hydreigon 486 / Hydreigon / 98 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Haxorus 483 / Haxorus / 97 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Kyurem-B Kyurem Darmanitan 475 / Kyurem-B, Kyurem, Darmanitan / 95 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Landorus-T463 / Landorus-T / 91 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Excadrill 453 / Excadrill / 88 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Jirachi Volcarona Salamence Victini 449 / Jirachi, Volcarona, Salamence, Victini / 100 / Neutral / 252 / +1
Rotom-W 447 / Rotom-W / 86 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Heracross 442 / Heracross / 85 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Sharpedo 433 / Sharpedo / 95 / Neutral / 252 / +1
Gorebyss 406 / Gorebyss / 52 / Neutral / 252 / +2
Heatran 396 / Heatran / 77 / +Spe / 200 / +1
Gyarados 396 / Gyarados / 81 / + Spe / 168 / +1
Volcarona 396 / Volcarona / 100 / Neutral / 112 / +1
Aerodactyl Jolteon 394 / Aerodactyl, Jolteon / 130 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Tier 2 (Max Base 108 Speed to Max Base 130 Speed)
Politoed 393 / Politoed / 70 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Magneton 391 / Magneton / 70 / +Spe / 252 (30 IVs) / +1
Gyarados 391 / Gyarados / 81 / Neutral / 252 / +1
Dragonite 388 / Dragonite / 80 / Neutral / 252 / +1
Weavile 383 / Weavile / 125 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Scizor Gothitelle 376 / Scizor, Gothitelle / 65 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Gyarados 373 / Gyarados / 81 / Neutral / 204 / +1
Dragonite 373 / Dragonite / 80 / +Spe / 124 / +1
Heatran 373 / Heatran / 77 / Neutral / 236 / +1
Alakazam Dugtrio 372 / Alakazam, Dugtrio / 120 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Tyranitar 364 / Tyranitar / 61 / +Spe / 252 / +1
Starmie Azelf Raikou 361 / Starmie, Azelf, Raikou / 115 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Magnezone 358 / Magnezone / 60 / +Spe / 252 (30 IVs) / +1
Tornadus 353 / Tornadus / 111 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Latios Gengar Latias Froslass Espeon 350 / Latios, Gengar, Latias, Froslass, Espeon / 110 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Keldeo Terrakion Virizion Cobalion Infernape346 / Keldeo, Terrakion, Virizion, Cobalion, Infernape / 108 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Tier 3 (Max Base 80 Speed to Max Base 108 Speed)
Mienshao 339 / Mienshao / 105 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Garchomp 333 / Garchomp / 102 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Thundurus-T 331 / Thundurus-T / 101 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Jirachi Volcarona Salamence Celebi Victini Mew Shaymin 328 / Jirachi, Volcarona, Salamence, Celebi, Victini, Mew, Shaymin / 100 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Hydreigon 324 / Hydreigon / 98 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Haxorus 322 / Haxorus / 97 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Kyurem-B Kyurem Darmanitan 317 / Kyurem-B, Kyurem, Darmanitan / 95 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Landorus-T 309 / Landorus-T / 91 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Moltres 306 / Moltres / 90 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Garchomp 303 / Garchomp / 102 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Excadrill 302 / Excadrill / 88 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Thundurus-T 301 / Thundurus-T / 101 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Jirachi Volcarona Salamence Celebi Victini Mew Shaymin 299 / Jirachi, Volcarona, Salamence, Celebi, Victini, Mew, Shaymin / 100 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Rotom-W 298 / Rotom-W / 86 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Hydreigon 295 / Hydreigon / 98 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Kyurem-B Kyurem Sharpedo Gliscor 289 / Kyurem-B, Kyurem, Sharpedo, Gliscor / 95 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Mamoswine Chandelure 284 / Mamoswine, Chandelure / 80 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Tier 4 (Min Base 77 Speed to Max Base 80 Speed)
Landorus-T 281 / Landorus-T / 91 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Gliscor 280 / Gliscor / 95 / Neutral / 216 / 0
Lucario Moltres 279 / Lucario, Moltres / 90 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Heatran 278 / Heatran / 77 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Excadrill 275 / Excadrill / 88 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Landorus-T 270 / Landorus-T / 91 / Neutral / 208 / 0
Thundurus-T 270 / Thundurus-T / 101 / Neutral / 128 / 0
Toxicroak Kingdra Heracross 269 / Toxicroak, Kingdra, Heracross / 85 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Landorus-T 264 / Landorus-T / 91 / +Spe / 88 / 0
Gyarados 264 / Gyarados / 81 / + Spe / 168 / 0
Volcarona 264 / Volcarona / 100 / Neutral / 112 / 0
Mew Ninetales 263 / Mew, Ninetales / 100 / Neutral / 108 / 0
Breloom Skarmory Metagross Cloyster 262 / Breloom, Skarmory, Metagross, Cloyster / 70 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Gyarados 261 / Gyarados / 81 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Dragonite Mamoswine 259 / Dragonite, Mamoswine / 80 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Heatran 253 / Heatran / 77 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Scizor Gothitelle 251 / Scizor, Gothitelle / 65 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Dragonite 249 / Dragonite / 80 / +Spe / 124 / 0
Tyranitar 243 / Tyranitar / 61 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Jirachi Celebi Tentacruel Zapdos 240 / Jirachi, Celebi, Tentacruel, Zapdos / 100 / Neutral / 16 / 0
Breloom Politoed 239 / Breloom, Politoed / 70 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Scizor Gothitelle 229 / Scizor, Gothitelle / 65 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Xatu 226 / Xatu / 95 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Landorus-T 218 / Landorus-T / 91 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Roserade 216 / Roserade / 90 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Feraligatr 210 / Feraligatr / 78 / Neutral / 72 / 0
Magnezone 210 / Magnezone / 60 / Neutral / 220 / 0
Rotom-W 208 / Rotom-W / 86 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Gorebyss 203 / Gorebyss / 52 / Neutral / 252 / 0
Landorus-T 196 / Landorus-T / 91 / -Spe / 0 / 0
Heatran 190 / Heatran / 77 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Tier 5 (Max Base 45 Speed to Min Base 77 Speed)
Jellicent 182 / Jellicent / 60 / Neutral / 104 / 0
Skarmory Breloom 182 / Skarmory, Breloom / 70 / Neutral / 24 / 0
Wobbuffet 181 / Wobbuffet / 33 / +Spe / 252 / 0
Tyranitar 177 / Tyranitar / 61 / Neutral / 76 / 0
Skarmory Breloom Politoed 176 / Skarmory, Breloom, Politoed / 70 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Scizor Vaporeon 166 / Scizor, Vaporeon / 65 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Tyranitar 158 / Tyranitar / 61 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Jellicent Abomasnow 156 / Jellicent, Abomasnow / 60 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Blissey 146 / Blissey / 55 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Tyranitar 142 / Tyranitar / 61 / -Spe / 0 / 0
Sableye Chansey Azumarill Tangrowth Donphan 136 / Sableye, Chansey, Azumarill, Tangrowth, Donphan / 50 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Hippowdon 130 / Hippowdon / 47 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Conkeldurr 126 / Conkeldurr / 45 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Tier 6 (< Min Base 45 Speed)
Forretress 116 / Forretress / 40 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Gastrodon 114 / Gastrodon / 39 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Gastrodon 102 / Gastrodon / 39 / -Spe / 0 / 0
Reuniclus Amoonguss Slowking Slowbro 96 / Reuniclus, Amoonguss, Slowking, Slowbro / 30 / Neutral / 0 / 0
Quagsire 95 / Quagsire / 35 / -Spe / 0 / 0
Forretress 76 / Forretress / 40 / -Spe / 0 (0 IVs) / 0
Bronzong 65 / Bronzong / 33 / -Spe / 0 (2 IVs) / 0
Reuniclus Slowking Slowbro 58 / Reuniclus, Slowking, Slowbro / 30 / -Spe / 0 (0 IVs) / 0
Ferrothorn 57 / Ferrothorn / 20 / -Spe / 0 (19 IVs) / 0
Ferrothorn 40 / Ferrothorn / 20 / -Spe / 0 (0 IVs) / 0