Other Tier 35 Pokes-- July 2025

[NotGerald]

Introducing 35 Pokes! An Original Meta where 35 Pokémon are randomly generated a month!
With limited, often unusual, options you'll be forced to seriously consider Pokémon you'd never use otherwise, in situations you'd never usually see them.
To give an idea as to what kind of Meta's we've had, thus far we've seen: 3 Weathers, no abusers (December 2023), Terrain Wars (June 2024), and Seaking as a top 5 mon (March 2024)

Want to join? most of our matchmaking happens on our discord!

We also have a browser extension for teambuilding, and a 35 Wiki for information on previous metas.

Check out our hall of fame to see the incredible things players have achieved outside of monthly tours!

Tier Leaders:
Ember Celica
ThyUnitPossessCopium
NotGerald [Founder]

Lead Developer:
demirab1

Tiering Council:

NoExistencia
Ember Celica
GCGoat
7ayakum
Strings17
Zetious
Qbking3




35 Pokes Rules:

Clauses
Form Clause: Player may have two Pokémon of the same species, but not of the same form, on their team. For example, a Rotom-Fan and a Rotom-Mow is ok, two Rotom-Fans is not.
Sleep Clause Mod: Player cannot induce sleep on more than one of the opponents Pokémon at once
Z-Move Clause: Players cannot use Z-Moves.
Terastal Clause: Player cannot terrastalize their Pokémon
Mega Stone Clause: Mega Stones are banned
Evasion Clause: Player cannot use evasion boosting moves, items, and abilities, including but not limited to: Bright Powder, Double Team, Sand Veil, and Accupressure
Unown Clause: The only Pokémon allowed to use the move "Hidden Power" is Unown. The move is otherwise illegal.

Banned moves:
Fissure, Sheer Cold, Guillotine, Horn Drill, Last Respects, Acupressure, Hidden Power (see Unown Clause)

Banned Abilities:
Shadow Tag, Battle Bond, Sand Veil, Snow Cloak, Moody, Tangled Feet

Banned Items:
Kings Rock, Razor Fang, Quick Claw, Bright Powder, Lax Incense, Berserk Gene

On Dry Passing: Baton Pass is legal, however You cannot have a combination of Moves, Abilities or Items that allows you to intentionally or unintentionally pass boosts, a substitute or passive recovery (Ingrain, Aqua Ring...) to another Pokemon. This includes abilities such as Defiant and Contrary.

35 Seniors (Ubers) Official Rules

35 Ubers: April 2024 Allowed Pokemon







35 Ubers Specific Rules
1. Pokemon are set to 100 (or lower)
2. Hidden Power is banned
3. All forms of evasion boosting are banned, except Snow Cloak and Sand Veil
4. Sleep Clause is in effect, with the exception of Spore and Yawn
5. Kings Rock is banned
6. This format is played in Custom Games
7. Z crystals cannot be put onto a pokemon
8. Mega pokemon must be used in their respective mega forms and not their base forms
9. Mega pokemon must use their mega stones, and you may have multiple megas per team
10. Ogerpon must hold the Hearthflame Mask item, and Arceus-Rock must hold the Stone Plate item.
11. Baton Pass Clause is in effect. Only one Pokemon may have Baton Pass, and that Pokemon may not have a way of passing boosts in Speed and another Stat at the same time.
12. Moody is legal
13. Ohko moves are banned
14. Last Respects is legal
15. Only the pokemon listed under “35 Ubers: April 2024 Allowed Pokemon” may be used. This means that Cramorant (all forms) and Pokestar Spirit are not permitted in the April 2024 format.

Here's a list of the currently allowed Pokémon as of June 2025!

Some Videos about us

 

[Ember Celica]

July 2025 Early Meta Resources


Acquatic Attack by mangoose49
Bulk up Obstagoon by 7ayakum
Rillaboom Arctovish Standard Offense by Ember Celica

Retro Meta Resources

June 2025 Resources

June 2025 Resources



Sample Teams:

https://pokepast.es/c169b23f8dd8086a Arcto Regen Balance by Zetious

Team Explanation

The main idea of this team is to pivot between your regen mons until you can find an opening to bring in arctozolt or mimikyu to set up and sweep. Arcto gets its best value on this team by taking a chunk out of the opposing team in the mid game to allow mimikyu to end the game against a weakened team. The regen core is phys def glowking and AV phys def Tangrowth. This core is very strong and gives this team a backbone and allows you to gain momentum back after you run out of snow turns for arcto. Ditto gives this team an answer for the vast amount of set up sweepers in the meta and can also help in defense if the opposing team brings a regen core as well. Glimmora gives good role compression for hazards and removal, this set is meant to help check mimikyu as well and has enough speed EVs to outspeed non scarf ttar and mons that typically try to speed creep ttar like masquerain and honchkrow. This allows glim more opportunities to set and clear hazards while still being fairly bulky. Mimikyu works best as the late game sweeper, +2 LO shadow claw is a very favorable roll to OHKO max def glowking and can 2HKO tangrowth and ttar with leech life.

https://pokepast.es/6ef3d1710a65d020
Standard Arctozolt Offense by Tjoker

Team Explanation

This team utilizes several of this format’s strongest wallbreakers to deal ludicrous damage and ultimately end with either a Mimikyu or Arctozolt clean-up. The main leads for this team are either Glimmora or Tyranitar. Glimmora is easily the best hazard setter in the tier and can very comfortably set up Rocks and Toxic Spikes most games. It is also this team’s sole hazard removal, but works well enough due to the main star of this team, Arctozolt, running a Boots set. This sample uses Unnerve Tyranitar, which has by now surpassed Sand Stream in being the best ability on it this meta. With Expert Belt, it is able to OHKO many prominent threats with the help of Stealth Rocks: Fire Blast to cover non-AV Tangrowth and Escavalier, Knock Off for both Slowkings, and Earthquake for Arctozolt and opposing Tyranitars. Glowking is this team’s only defensive mon but is able to live hits better than any Pokémon this meta. Along with the classic Chilly Reception and Regenerator combo, it can easily heal and set the snow up for Arctozolt for free. Purugly might be a pretty oddball pick, but it is no joke and a real threat this metagame. It is the best Mimikyu answer in the tier, being able to naturally outspeed and be immune to its Ghost STAB, which is very valuable. This Purugly set has Foul Play to punish Swords Dance Mimikyu and is able to live its other most common attack, Leech Life, even with +2 Life Orb. It runs Wide Lens to make its Hypnosis land slightly more, but can easily be switched out for Black Glasses if you want Foul Play to do more damage to other physical attackers such as Dugtrio-A, Archeops, and Escavalier. Fake Out is also a valuable move in this set to stall Snow turns against opposing Arctozolt or Trick Room turns. Mimikyu runs the Life Orb item because, unlike other teams, it doesn’t have to solely rely on Mimikyu cleaning or sweeping. This team’s versatility allows it to run Orb to do big damage fast. Arctozolt is the main attacker of this team and is running Boots to ignore the prominent threat of hazards this meta. The reasoning for double Ice STAB is to be able to hit both sets of Tangrowth, AV and Rocky Helmet, hard.

https://pokepast.es/30fa4536f530fb3f Trick Room Escavalier + Tyranitar by 7ayakum

Team Explanation

This trick room team is an improved version of the one I posted previously. I had issues with the Physically defensive Glowkings, Quaquavuls, and Unnerve Tyranitars that were getting rid of my Trick Room setters before they could get Escavalier in to break. With this team I am able to get rid of opposing Glowkings with Choice Band Unnerve Tyranitar. CB Knock off does a lot to most Pokèmon and nothing likes getting Knocked off. Being able to pursuit trap the Slowkings opens up the rest of the team. Fire Blast OHKOs Escavalier. Escavalier doesn't need to worry about fire blast from opposing Glowkings, meaning it can be threatening in and out of TR. This specific set also lives a fire blast from 4 spa Tyranitar and able to OHKO with Megahorn. Silver powder + Swords Dance ensures that Megahorn can be clicked freely and Swords Dance is really nice to capitalise on the Spiky Shield Glimmoras and Protect Slowkings that aim to stall out Trick Room Turns. While this team is still weak to Unnerve Tyranitar, Eject button Slowking makes it so that the opposing team cannot freely U-turn on an incoming Glowking to Pursuit trap it with Tyranitar, it also eases positioning of the breakers and sweepers on this team. Furthermore, Physically defensive Tangrowth punishes Tyranitar and chips it down with Rocky Helmet. Tangrowth also makes the matchup into Mimikyu easier now as the previous version had AV Tangrowth which often let Mimikyu freely set up on it. Knock Off + Sleep Powder makes Tangrowth not passive and always able to hinder the opposing team in some way. Sludge Bomb is to hit opposing Tangrowths. Uxie is able to get rocks up to put things in range of the attackers and it is able to live an adamant Knock Off from unnerve Ttar to set up trick room. FInally, Mimikyu is a great end game sweeper for the team, Life Orb lets it threaten the whole meta after SD and is a great option outside of trick room.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/175zXSI8LJZbnvQiMSuCYM7glqrejUre3IR6NfNVecX0/edit?tab=t.0 CM Slowtwins by mangoose49

https://pokepast.es/58c8ef3eabd17b9e Bruxish Webs by Qbking3

https://pokepast.es/734901c85206249c Band Tyranitar Offense by GCGoat

team explanation

Choice Band Tyranitar is one of the scariest wallbreakers in the tier, with even Tangrowth disliking switching into banded Stone Edge. Pursuit allows it to trap and eliminate the Slowkings, creating massive holes in opposing defensive structures. Glowking can repeatedly switch into weak attacks and pivot into Tyranitar, maximizing the number of times it hits the field. Glimmora offers excellent role compression, functioning as a rocker, spinner, and Mimikyu check, with Air Balloon allowing it to switch in on an opponent trying to predict with a Ground move. Tangrowth is the second half of this team's Regenerator core, functioning as a reliable mixed wall. Power Whip is used over Giga Drain to deal more damage to Tyranitar, Slowking, Quaquaval, and Toedscruel at the cost of being less reliable. Quaquaval is the late game sweeper of this team, and can sweep with ease once Tyranitar has weakened its checks. Finally, Arctozolt is a secondary progress maker that Glowking can pivot into in case Tyranitar gets low on hp.

Big 5 Klawf by mangoose49

Team Explanation

Mimikyu Hazard Stack by Turtle12

Team Explanation

"This team has a strong regenerator core of tangrowth and slowking which is the easiest combination to handle Arctozolt. Tangrowth is AV to handle arctozolt matchup, sludge bomb is needed for tang mirror, focus blast can be changed for any move including status moves (tang gets knocked often) depending on what you like to run, giga and knock are needed on tang. Slowking needs chilly reception and slack off and psychic gives it stab and allows it to hit quaquaval and mienshao hard. Slowking final move is flamethrower for escavelier but protect, thunder wave, or future sight are similarily good (scald is not good). Glimmora is great at getting spikes and removing hazards, mortal spin or spiky shield can easily be replaced with power gem, meteor beam, or sludge wave (keep your opponent guessing your set). Klawf provides utility in giving rocks and can hit tyranitar and escavelier hard, High horsepower is for glowking. Klawf is the weakest link on the team and when you develop your own variations of this I would recommend changing this mon first. Klawf and glimmora run enough speed to outspeed tyrantiar and then they max out their attacking stat. Ditto is a fantastic mon into nearly every matchup being able to copy regenerator against defensive teams and copy stat boosts on offensive ones. Ditto is often used to trade with a pokemon that sometimes cause issues for the team such as escavelier or arctozolt. Mimikyu is the top pokemon of this team and with leech life it can break both tangrowth and tyranitar and snowball out of control. Most endgames mimikyu can win and the bulk on mimikyu is surprising and weak sucker punches and attacks do not do the most to it. Opposing mimikyu is handled by ditto and mimikyu."

Pokemon Analyses:


Other Resources:

Living Set Repository by Ember Celica

Other Tier Post in thread '35 Pokes-- July 2025'

Jun 9, 2025

https://pokepast.es/a62729d6add14af2
https://pokepast.es/28aa68193c7de5cc
https://pokepast.es/11899dfb963a9459
https://pokepast.es/47b89d70d9398a22

At the very beginning of the meta, I started compiling a living set repository of literally every single set I've used on ladder and every single notable set I've personally played against on ladder. To give you guys a broader array of sets, I asked every member of the tiering council for contributions and asked some community members for their cool sets. The people I can remember taking specific sets from...

• Ember Celica

• 
• 

pokepastes

https://pokepast.es/a62729d6add14af2
https://pokepast.es/28aa68193c7de5cc
https://pokepast.es/11899dfb963a9459
https://pokepast.es/47b89d70d9398a22

shareable team links

https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/view-team-1130382
https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/view-team-1130382
https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/view-team-1132267
https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/view-team-1132268

May 2025 Resources

May 2025 Resource Archive


Sample Teams:

Swellow Mienshao Balance by GCGoat

Team Explanation

is one of the strongest wallbreakers in the tier with specs Boomburst, threatening to 2hko everything not named Empoleon. U-turn is used to pivot into the next Pokemon,
which is an excellent scarfer with access to U-turn for additional pivoting, Close Combat for breaking, Knock Off for item removal, and Regenerator to heal off any chip damage.
is the primary Venusaur check of this team, switching into its attacks and threatening to ohko it with sun-boosted Flamethrower. Thunderbolt deals solid damage to Empoleon, forcing it to Roost.
is required on balance teams to deal with Barraskewda. Sleep Powder can disrupt would-be checks such as Skarmory, and Sludge Bomb deals heavy damage to opposing Tangrowth.
functions as a special tank, hazard remover, and slow pivot. Scald can be spammed in the early game to threaten burn on any physical attackers that would otherwise want to switch in.
is the Stealth Rock setter of this team. Special defense investment allows it to more consistently 1v1 Empoleon, and Heavy Slam allows it to function as a Ribombee check, which this team otherwise has little counterplay for. Toxic can be substituted for Smack Down if you're having a hard time dealing with Skarmory.

Priority Spam Bulky Offense by A_Memester112233


Binding Band Politoed Trap Offense by Strings17

Team Explanation

This team aims to overwhelm the opponent with lokix, mienshao, and swellow baiting in defensive pokemon such as cofagrigus, tangrowth, and empoleon who can be trapped and often removed by politoed. Whirlpool with binding band along with protect does 1/3 a pokemons hp + the initial whirlpool damage, and pokemon with recovery moves can still be perish trapped.. Hitmonchan removes hazards and can handle nidoking when needed. Nidoking sets hazards and can somewhat handle mienshao, previous iterations used defensive nidoking to better accomplish this but the sample instead invests in speed and special attack to just aid the other offensive pokemon by breaking in addition to politoed.

https://pokepast.es/bf0779a2a9e18979 Standard Sample Balance by Ember Celica

Team explanation

The team is exactly what it sounds like - 6 of the most commonly used pokemon all running relatively standard sets. It's meant to play exactly into your expectations without any particular techs or surprise factors, though things such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Life Orb Lokix have fallen off in popularity in the time between building this team and posting it. I personally prefer using a variant of this team with Choice Band Mienshao and HDB Lokix, but the original still holds up well enough

.

Pokemon Analyses:

Analysis

Here is the first analysis for May 2025, featuring none other than Swellow!

POKEMON ANALYSIS: SWELLOW

Sets: https://pokepast.es/b3da9d2d55675bd4

Swellow returns from the depths of SM RU to serve as a stupendous source of breaking power and natural speed control in the May 2025 metagame. Its blazing 125 speed allows it to outspeed everything but Barraskewda. Choice Specs is Swellow’s make-or-break, immediately boosting Boomburst, Swellow’s best attack, to nuclear levels, allowing it to muscle past switch-ins such as Goodra and Assault Vest Tangrowth. Scrappy is mandatory on Choice Specs sets due to the prevalence of Cofagrigus, and Heat Wave allows Swellow to hit Skarmory, which is one of the few Pokémon in the tier resistant to Boomburst. U-Turn allows Swellow to pivot out of bad matchups such as Empoleon while Hurricane provides excellent coverage into Tangrowth and Venusaur. Guts Attacker and Mixed sets exist for Swellow, but they are significantly more niche.

Swellow fits best on bulky offense and balance teams in which its immediate speed and power are highly appreciated. Swellow has a difficult time switching in because it is so frail, so it highly appreciates pivots like Empoleon, Lokix, and Mienshao to help get it in safely. Hazard control is also appreciated on Swellow teams, making pokemon like Hitmontop and Empoleon excellent partners to Swellow. Hitmontop is able to hit Swellow’s defensive checks such as Empoleon and SpDef invested Goodra hard with Close Combat and Triple Axel respectively while clearing hazards with Rapid Spin, while Empoleon, with access to Defog and Flip Turn, provides both hazard control and a pivot in one slot.

QC By Alfrex and Ember Celica
Grammar Checked by Ember Celica

Analysis

POKEMON ANALYSIS: MIENSHAO
Mienshao makes its presence in May 2025's metagame as a solid Pokemon with an impressive base 125 Attack stat, sharing the spot for highest Attack with 3 others, as well as an above-average speed stat of 105. Mienshao has a good amount of set customisation thanks to its choice of ability between Reckless and Regenerator and a wide movepool, functioning as a fast pivot, priority user, as well as a sweeper and wallbreaker with decent utility options.

Mienshao fits on a variety of teams thanks to its qualities, which are appreciated by a multitude of different Pokémon and team styles, with balance being possibly the one that can benefit the most. Mienshao can effectively cover options that a team needs most, being able to bring moves such as Fake Out, Upper Hand, U-Turn, Knock Off, Triple Axel, Blaze Kick, Taunt, SD, Poison Jab and threatening Fighting STAB in Close Combat and High/Jump Kick. This coverage allows Mienshao to act as a "Swiss Army Knife" of a team, threatening damage on prominent metagame staples such as Empoleon and pivoting to safety.

Mienshao's main drawback is its frailty. Despite having Regenerator and being able to easily pivot away from danger, Mienshao can get outsped by naturally faster mons and scarfers, as well as if it finds itself caught on a Sticky Web. This means that if Mienshao doesn't KO first, or doesn't pivot away first, it will be vulnerable to getting OHKO'd or crippled by the opponent, and is also vulnerable to crash damage if it's using High/Jump kick with or without Reckless. Some of it's checks include: defensively checked by Skarmory, Tangrowth, Cofagrigus and Mudsdale, as well as offensively checked by Ribombee, Timid Swoobat, Inteleon (Hydro pump and/or specs), Swellow and Barraskewda.

Sets: https://pokepast.es/375e30915d525f14
Scarfer set taken from GCGoat 's balance sample.
QC and Grammar Check by @qbking and BellUno

April 2025 Resources

April 2025 Resources Archive
Sample Teams:

Dusknoir Offense by Qbking3



Max Pivot Choiced Offense by Zetious



Donphan/Kingdra Offense by GCGoat



Triple Choiced Gastro Offense by Ember Celica



Council-created sample teams:

https://pokepast.es/b9cfc24d1c1a0e77 Physical Dragonspam by Shifty
https://pokepast.es/e1ee0fd900f265f7 lead crustle offence by 33eels
https://pokepast.es/71d407fd7e060949 Hazard stack balance by TTK
https://pokepast.es/8634b0e518aa8340 Toxic Spam Chimecho by Turtle12
https://pokepast.es/95668a058ad07887 Bulky Balance by 7md
https://pokepast.es/cf1881f3eb5d14da Lead Donphan HO by Zetious

Pre Shed Tail Ban Sample:
Bulky Offense by GCGoat

March 2025 Resources

March 2025 Resources Archive


Pokemon Analyses:

Sample Teams:




Kingler Rain by BellUno



March 25 Balance by TTK



Kabutops Hyper Offense by A_Memester112233




Bulky Offense by 7ayakum

 

[SirPeanutCronch]

Hey guys go subscribe to our official YouTube channel even though stuff probably wont happen on it lol, ill make content when uhhhh sometime

https://www.youtube.com/@35Pokes

 

[BagonGanda]

real

 

[TTK]

WE WON

 

[Daisam]

lfg

 

[Portobello]

35 is officially IN

 

[StanTerhoeve28]

NEVER TRUST THUNDER!!, all I will say

 

[shadowpea]

frosmeth

 

[eambplsl]

Welcome, Smogon, to 35pokes! Where pincurchin and zebstrika already were top mons, Lunatone is a war criminal, we cult yanmega, praise alomomola, jonh slowking, play overheat fish riddles, wumineon had 85% wr, love mispeling mons names, call cedottle snob, dont play doobles ot lc(for my sadness), cook some interesting teams and more that i forgot. I hope you guys like it!

 

[OceanicGamer]

Serviper

 

[RetroDude42]

Frosmeth will carry me to victory; I believe

 

[Msousa]

GALLADE AND ALOMOMOLA DID NOT DESERVE THE BANHAMMER IN JULY, PAWMOT IS BROKEN, THEY ARE TRYING TO SILENCE US, BUT I'LL KEEP SPEAKING THE TRU-

 

[MamboTND]

HYPE, we official now!!
Is honestly the best way to enjoy Pokemon, specially after finding Gen 8 and Gen 9 not as enjoyable to prior gens.

 

[Ember Celica]

NEVER TRUST THUNDER!!, all I will say

SO TRUE

 

[ThyUnitPossessCopium]

LETS GO CORSOLA BEST POKEMON

 

[eambplsl]

NEVER TRUST THUNDER!!, all I will say

Indeed

 

[ThundergamesPT2]

Well, we did it guys. We now have out own thread. Im so proud of this community for any newcomer, hello, 35pokes is probably the best middle ground between a normal smogon format and a draft league! Its very, very fun to play, and every meta is extremely unique, so give it a go if you want

 

[Kizaco]

35pokes is probably the best middle ground between a normal smogon format and a draft league!

Aka peak. To all newcomers: you should join the discord neow! :3

 

[Maszt]

*draws a single line*
ROTOM-HEAT

 

[Washed Master]

Hello

 

[McBruh]

dont play doobles

Bruh

 

[ThundergamesPT2]

Bruh

Yeah very unfortunate ppl dont play doubles, mr. Doubles Leader

 

[NotGerald]

35pokes is probably the best middle ground between a normal smogon format and a draft league!

That's actually a really good way of putting it lol

 

[Runo]

Im curious as to why mega stones are banned from this format, doesn't seem as metagame breaking as the other generational mechanics