Special Season 17: Level 1

[Charlotte]

https://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/battle/usum/317/regulation/
​

Classic Bring6Pick3 singles, but with the catch of only allowing pokemon at lv1 to be used.
This brings a lot of unique quirks to the format. A few examples:
Speed tiers are exceptionally tight, with most mons falling into the 6-8 range. This should increase the value of speed control options as raw speed will often not be enough.

Speed tier

Base speed range : Max stat
103+ : 8
53-102 : 7
3-52 : 6

So anything using Chlorophyll, Swift Swim, Sand Rush, Slush Rush, or any boosting move that grants +2 Speed will likely want at least 7 speed to reach 14. As this is faster than 12 (Choice Scarf 8 speed mons)

And for Min speed (TR is probably meta)
49 and lower : 4
50-99 : 5
100-149 : 6
150+ : 7

As with Little Cup, multi-hit moves are beefed up, but the strength of Oran Berry and Berry Juice as hold items counteract them.

And for Sturdy to be restored by an Oran Berry, an HP stat of 11 is needed, which can only happen with a base stat of 49 or lower. Only Geodude(-a), Onix, Nosepass, Shieldon, Magnemite and Shuckle can do this. All other Sturdy mons (most notably Skarmory) will be looking at Berry Juice instead.

A full list of legal mons (and perhaps a preliminary VR) will be edited in later.
Join the discussion on Discord (#special channel)

 

[Theorymon]

So as we've talked about in discord and lobby: Cinccino seems to be a pretty dangerous Pokemon here. It falls onto the highest speed tier, it gets 3 strong multihit moves with skill link, can knock off berries and berry juice with Knock Off, and it can even use U-turn to soften up Berry Juice and Oran Berry stuff. Most stuff in the format gets 1-2HKOed by the multihit moves, which is pretty scary! Even stuff that should 4x resist say, Bullet Seed, such as Skarmory and Ferroseed, actually get 3HKOed, so U-turn softening can be an issue for them!

Because of how level 1 damage calcs work, Life Orb seems to do a bit more damage than Choice Band on Cinccino. Using Choice Scarf might not be a bad idea either, just beause speed tiers are so tight in this format. I wonder if berry juice or oran berry might make sense too, since Cinccino actually DOES survive a lot more stuff than you'd expect!

Something that was brought up in Showdown lobby was the idea of Klefki against Cinccino, it gets some neat tools to counteract it. Mainly: Prankster, Recycle, and Reflect. With these 3 things combined, I think it can actually beat Cinccino one on one, just having tow watch out for Knock Off varients. Klefki also gets Magic Room, which might be a neat strat against berry juice abusers, though losing on recovery itself is a bummer.

 

[marilli]

List of Pokemon that are legal (aside from LC-Legal Pokemon) - sorted by how they are acquired

Stone: Sandslash-A. Ninetales, Ninetales-A, Arcanine, Cloyster, Exeggutor, Exeggutor-A, Starmie, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Sunflora, Honchkrow, Mismagius, Delcatty, Roserade, Froslass, Simisage, Simisear, Simipour, Musharna, Whimsicott, Liligant, Cinccino, Heliolisk,

Trade: Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Milotic, Huntail, Gorebyss, Accelgor, Escavalier, Aroomatisse, Slurpuff, Trevenant, Gourgeist

Incense: Marill, Wobbuffet, Roselia, Sudowoodo, Mr. Mime, Chansey, Snorlax, Mantine,

No Evolution: Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Tauros, Lapras, Aerodacyl, Girafarig, Dunsparce, Qwilfish, Shuckle, Heracross, Corsola, Delibird, Skarmory, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Sableye, Mawile, Plusle, Minun, Volbeat, Illumise, Torkoal, Spinda, Zangoose, Seviper, Lunatone, Solrock, Castform, Kecleon, Tropius, Relicanth, Luvdisc, Pachirisu, Chatot, Spiritomb, Carnivine, Rotom, Regigigas, Audino, Throh, Sawk, Basculin, Maractus, Sigilyph, Emolga, Alomomola, Cryogonal, Stunfisk, Druddigon, Bouffalant, Heatmor, Durant, Furfrou, Hawlucha, Dedenne, Carbink, Klefki, Oricorio, Comfey, Oranguru, Passimian, Pyukumuku, Minior, Komala, Togedemaru, Turtonator, Mimikyu, Bruxish, Drampa, Dhelmise, Wishiwashi

"exceptions": Gyarados (wild encounter at Level 1-100 in BW2)

+ LC-Legal Pokemon

PLEASE message me if you found any errors.

Pokemon That Seem Relevant

S Rank:

Torkoal
Mimikyu
Smeargle
Cinccino

A+ Rank:

Arcanine
Cloyster
Meditite
Kangaskhan-Mega
Shuckle
Whimsicott

A Rank:

Scizor
Rotom-H
Rotom-W
Mawile-Mega
Klefki
Togedemaru

A- Rank:

Lilligant
Gyarados-Mega
Porygon2
Porygon-Z
Skarmory

B Rank:

Eevee
Pyukumuku
Exeggutor
Hawlucha
Magnemite
Slurpuff
Ninetales-A
Sableye-Mega
Gourgeist

C Rank:

Heracross-Mega
Gyarados
Onix
Clamperl
Marill
Numel
Steelix
Roserade
Aerodactyl
Sandslash-A

Ninetales, Huntail, Gorebyss, Snorlax, Minior, Milotic, etc.

 

[Kong Harald]

List of Pokemon that are legal (aside from LC-Legal Pokemon) - sorted by how they are acquired

Stone: Sandslash-A. Ninetales, Ninetales-A, Wigglytuff, Arcanine, Cloyster, Exeggutor (-A), Starmie, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Sunflora, Honchkrow, Mismagius, Delcatty, Roserade, Froslass, Simisage, Simisear, Simipour, Musharna, Whimsicott, Liligant, Cinccino, Heliolisk,

Trade: Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Milotic, Huntail, Gorebyss, Accelgor, Escavalier, Aroomatisse, Slurpuff, Trevenant, Gourgeist

Incense: Roselia, Sudowoodo, Mr. Mime, Chansey, Snorlax, Mantine,

No Evolution: Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Tauros, Lapras, Aerodacyl, Girafarig, Dunsparce, Qwilfish, Shuckle, Heracross, Corsola, Delibird, Skarmory, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Sableye, Plusle, Minun, Volbeat, Illumise, Torkoal, Spinda, Zangoose, Seviper, Lunatone, Solrock, Castform, Kecleon, Tropius, Relicanth, Luvdisc, Pachirisu, Chatot, Spiritomb, Carnivine, Rotom, Regigigas, Audino, Throoh, Sawk, Basculin, Maractus, Sigilyph, Emolga, Alomomola, Cryogonal, Stunfisk, Druddigon, Bouffalant, Heatmor, Durant, Furfrou, Hawlucha, Dedenne, Carbink, Klefki, Oricorio, Comfey, Oranguru, Passimian, Pyukumuku, Minior, Komala, Turtonator, Mimikyu, Bruxish, Drampa, Dhelmise

Event: Gyarados

+ LC-Legal Pokemon

Pokemon That Seem Relevant

Ninetales, Ninetales-A, Arcanine, Cloyster, Exeggutor, Whimsicott, Cinccino, Steelix, Scizor, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Huntail, Gorebyss, Slurpuff, Trevenant, Shuckle, Heracross, Skarmory, Smeargle, Rotom-A, Mimikyu, Gyarados, Ferroseed, Aipom.

Thanks for the list. Is there any way, though, that we can know if pokemon are leveled down to lv1 or not? The list of "eligible pokemon" on PGL just shows the normal Battle Spot list.

 

[marilli]

Thanks for the list. Is there any way, though, that we can know if pokemon are leveled down to lv1 or not? The list of "eligible pokemon" on PGL just shows the normal Battle Spot list.

dang, if so this might have been pointless.

But the "Pokémon in your current team or registered to your Battle Team" states that "Pokémon of Lv. 1 or below may enter." so there might be no restriction other than the level restriction, and there's no legal way to get those "allowed Pokemon" at Lv. 1 or below without hacking.

 

[Lego]

Sorry for the delay getting this on PS!, I've been waiting to see if we need to use marilli's banlist above or if it will auto-level everything down to Lv. 1 (as implied by the PGL page), which we should find out tomorrow so I'll get it up then and edit this post.

E: live pending hotpatch/restart

On a different note, I've added a secret Lv. 1 mode to the BSS Damage Calc! Load up the website and then type "lv1" (without the ") and hit enter, and it'll make the Level switcher change to Lv 50 and Lv 1 rather than 50/100 until you close the page. Mobile users can unlock this by entering the Konami code with their finger (swipe Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right Tap Tap).

 

[1_TrickPhony]

Lego you are the man! Thanks bud!

 

[Theorymon]

Ladder is up on the 3DS! I tried to get through with a level 51 Landorus-T and a Level 50 Passmian, and they were rejected. It does in fact seem like there's no level balancing here, so Lego , Marilli's ban list is correct!

 

[cant say]

quickly whipped up a team to use on stream asap, just looking for some advice on optimising it before we go live.

cute mons

Numel @ Eviolite
Ability: Simple
Level: 1
EVs: 196 HP / 156 SpA
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Growth
- Flame Charge

Mawile-Mega @ Mawilite
Ability: Huge Power
Level: 1
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def
- Play Rough
- Sucker Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Sleep Talk

Furfrou-Heart @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Fur Coat
Level: 1
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 76 HP / 36 Atk / 196 Def / 156 SpA
- Thunder Wave
- Hyper Voice
- Baby-Doll Eyes
- U-turn

Clamperl @ Deep Sea Tooth
Ability: Shell Armor
Level: 1
EVs: 164 Atk / 84 SpA / 236 SpD / 20 Spe
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Shell Smash

Shuckle @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 1
EVs: 116 HP / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Impish Nature
- Rock Slide
- Shell Smash
- Stealth Rock
- Sticky Web

Whimsicott @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Prankster
Level: 1
EVs: 196 HP / 60 SpA / 76 SpD / 148 Spe
Bashful Nature
- Moonblast
- Memento
- Tailwind
- U-turn

Aside from the this team, I've been full of ideas for individual mons to build around. I'm really liking the looks of mixed Mege Kangaskhan, mixed Mega Gyarados, Glare+Headbutt Dunsparce, Mega Sableye stall with Recycle+Oran Magnemite (with Justified Arcanine for Knock Off spam), Shell Smash/Quiver Dance/Geomancy Smeargle, Hawlucha, Sigilyph...

Are they're any cool / fun sets that people have thought of or seen on the ladder so far? I wanna use the hottest meme sets on stream so drop them in this thread

 

[Lego]

This is live on PS! Many thanks to marilli for compiling the banlist.

 

[pkmn master bates]

Anyone have a good idea how to ev train for this format? Can you squeeze full evs onto any poke by training? can poke pelago/ festival bouncy castle get you all the way to full evs?

 

[cant say]

Anyone have a good idea how to ev train for this format? Can you squeeze full evs onto any poke by training? can poke pelago/ festival bouncy castle get you all the way to full evs?

The best way is super training in gen 6. if you need to train alolan pokémon specifically then you’re stuck using pokepelago or festival plaza

 

[queso]

Anyone have a good idea how to ev train for this format? Can you squeeze full evs onto any poke by training? can poke pelago/ festival bouncy castle get you all the way to full evs?

If you have enough money (read: more than you have) you can buy vitamins but that's very very expensive at 10k per 10 evs

 

[Funbot28]

Cloyster @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 1
EVs: 36 Def / 116 Spe
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Liquidation
- Explosion

Fun little set that can surprise 8 Speed mons like Cincinno and Mismagius and smack them out before they can do the same to you. SS sets are still obviously better and are legit broken lol but this can still be fun to abuse common ladder threats and act as a cool revenge killer too.

Eevee @ Eevium Z
Ability: Adaptability
Level: 1
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Spe
- Last Resort
- Hyper Voice
- Stored Power
- Hidden Power [Fire] / Baton Pass / Shadow Ball

Eevee is viable again lol and can really smack shit up especially with Screens support. Kinna gets annoyed by Mimikyu revenge killing but usually can circumvent it with Memento from Whimsicott too. Also passing boosts just makes it even more threatening lol especially with receivers like Cincinno and Mega Kanga.

Roserade @ Life Orb / Grassium Z
Ability: Technician
Level: 1
EVs: 196 HP / 120 Atk / 80 SpA
- Leaf Storm
- Bullet Seed
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Sleep Powder

Dope lead that can cockblock Smeargle Spore shenanigans and generally just deal a ton of damage to everything else. Alolan Ninetales being semi-common is a pain but ye this mon is also dope and should be used more.

Klefki @ Oran Berry / Berry Juice
Ability: Prankster
Level: 1
EVs: 220 HP / 36 SpA / 76 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recycle
- Flash Cannon / Dazzling Gleam
- Calm Mind
- Iron Defense

Cancer set, all i gotta say lol

Fun meta though, def interested in other's ideas since I feel there is a lot to explore here. Multihitters are def top tier with Cloy and Cincinno to a lesser extent lead the pack while BSS staples such as Mimikyu, Mega Kanga, and Mega Maw all can perform really well.

 

[Funbot28]

BSS Special 17 Viability Rankings
thanks to cant say & Theorymon for their help

S-rank:

• 
  Cinccino
• 
  Mimikyu
• 
  Scizor
• 
  Smeargle

A-Rank:

A+

• 
  Cloyster
• 
  Mega Kangaskhan
• 
  Mega Mawile
• 
  Shuckle
• 
  Whimsicott

A

• 
  Arcanine
• 
  Mega Gyarados
• 
  Hawlucha
• 
  Magnemite
• 
  Meditite
• 
  Torkoal

A-

• 
  Numel
• 
  Klefki
• 
  Pyukumuku
• 
  Rotom-Wash
• 
  Mega Sableye
• 
  Trevenant

B-Rank:

B+

• 
  Clamperl
• 
  Gyarados
• 
  Alolan Ninetales
• 
  Roserade
• 
  Alolan Sandslash

B

• 
  Eevee
• 
  Murkrow
• 
  Slurpuff
• 
  Togedemaru

B-

• 
  Carvanha
• 
  Mega Heracross

C-Rank:

• 
  Minior
• 
  Mismagius

D-Rank:

• 
  Heracross
• 
  Milotic
• 
  Onix
• 
  Zigzagoon

 

[cant say]

I COME WITH TEAMS AND USAGE DISCUSSION!!

Week 1 usage stats are updated!

I'm really surprised at Torkoal being #1. I have seen a lot of it but I would have guessed it at around 4-5. It does feel really splashable though and has a couple of nice sets. I've been really liking the Choice Scarf set myself as Eruption just OHKOes everything that doesn't resist it, often resulting in a 3-0 sweep. It also reveals opposing scarfers like Cincinno and Cloyster, allowing easier set up / revenge killing opportunities. However Shell Smash with Oran Berry / Berry Juice is really good too, especially since it allows a boost and replenishes health for Eruption... The only good way to revenge kill that set is Chlorophyll, Life Orb, HP Ground Whimsicott/Exeggutor!

I'm surprised at Kangaskhan being so high. I've found it extremely underwhelming, mostly due to the over-preparedness for Cincinno. Speaking of which, I'm surprised Cincinno is only #6. I expect to see Kang dropa dn Cinc rise in the next update.

Mega Mawile is really good. I expect it to get a little higher, although all these Torkoal make it tough to use.

The rest of the usage stats look pretty much what I expected them to be, so glad we were able to get the VR rankings mostly right.



NOW FOR SOME QR TEAMS!!!

So I've been streaming this a lot on Twitch. I've QRed all the stuff I've built so far, just a fair warning that none of them are great/standard so use at your own risk.


~NUMEL OFFENSE


~SUN OFFENSE


~WIN THREE 1V1s


~THEORYMON'S SWEEP



I want to build a Gyarados team to QR at some stage too just because Gyarados is so hard to get on cartridge. If people have ideas for that then send them my way!

 

[Lugia_numair]

how to join?

 

[SadisticMystic]

Go to Festival Plaza and connect to the Battle Spot, then choose Special Battle when it asks what type of battle you want. You do have to have a compliant team ready to go before it'll let you enter the arena.

 

[BlueTitan180]

List of Pokemon that are legal (aside from LC-Legal Pokemon) - sorted by how they are acquired

Stone: Sandslash-A. Ninetales, Ninetales-A, Wigglytuff, Arcanine, Cloyster, Exeggutor, Exeggutor-A, Starmie, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Sunflora, Honchkrow, Mismagius, Delcatty, Roserade, Froslass, Simisage, Simisear, Simipour, Musharna, Whimsicott, Liligant, Cinccino, Heliolisk,

Trade: Slowking, Steelix, Scizor, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Milotic, Huntail, Gorebyss, Accelgor, Escavalier, Aroomatisse, Slurpuff, Trevenant, Gourgeist

Incense: Marill, Wobbuffet, Roselia, Sudowoodo, Mr. Mime, Chansey, Snorlax, Mantine,

No Evolution: Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Tauros, Lapras, Aerodacyl, Girafarig, Dunsparce, Qwilfish, Shuckle, Heracross, Corsola, Delibird, Skarmory, Stantler, Smeargle, Miltank, Sableye, Mawile, Plusle, Minun, Volbeat, Illumise, Torkoal, Spinda, Zangoose, Seviper, Lunatone, Solrock, Castform, Kecleon, Tropius, Relicanth, Luvdisc, Pachirisu, Chatot, Spiritomb, Carnivine, Rotom, Regigigas, Audino, Throh, Sawk, Basculin, Maractus, Sigilyph, Emolga, Alomomola, Cryogonal, Stunfisk, Druddigon, Bouffalant, Heatmor, Durant, Furfrou, Hawlucha, Dedenne, Carbink, Klefki, Oricorio, Comfey, Oranguru, Passimian, Pyukumuku, Minior, Komala, Turtonator, Mimikyu, Bruxish, Drampa, Dhelmise

"exceptions": Gyarados (wild encounter at Level 1-100 in BW2)

+ LC-Legal Pokemon

Pokemon That Seem Relevant

Ninetales, Ninetales-A, Arcanine, Cloyster, Exeggutor, Whimsicott, Cinccino, Steelix, Scizor, Porygon2, Porygon-Z, Huntail, Gorebyss, Slurpuff, Trevenant, Marill, Snorlax, Shuckle, Heracross, Skarmory, Smeargle, Mawile, Rotom-A, Mimikyu, Gyarados, Ferroseed, Aipom, Torkoal, Lilligant.

Did you forgot to put Togedemaru? it's eligible in Global Link.

 

[marilli]

Did you forgot to put Togedemaru? it's eligible in Global Link.

Yes, Togedemaru is seen and is quite good. Thanks for the catch. Just messaged lego to edit the on-showdown eligibility, cuz he based it off this list.

I can't find where to subscribe in Battle Spot, neither where to sign up

https://3ds.pokemon-gl.com/information/593fff55-a9ea-43ff-a6bc-fb990020c68a

 

[cant say]

Made a new team if people are looking for more QRs. It’s been pretty fun, it started as an Aurora Veil offence build with Ninetales / Sandslash but they were super awful...


FWG HO

You’d think a team with 4 fire-weak mons would be bad in this Fire-spam meta, but luring them in at team preview to then set up on them with Gyara or Numel has been decent (plus Sturdy Magnemite has been keeping them in check too)

Torkoal over Numel is an option but Numel is able to check opposing Torkoal better. Gyarados should possibly have Earthquake over Iron Head to OHKO Torkoal as well as the team isn’t too weak to Mimikyu and gives it another option to hit Rotom-W with. I’ll have a play around with this changes on stream this week. However this got me back up out of the low ladder after a few other test teams tanked my score.

I’m convinced the cheese Magnemite set is an actual threat, it’s bailed me out of so many games. Thunder Wave punishes weak moves thrown into Sturdy really well, Double Team + Recycle is a broken combo with the free turns generated.

Double Dance Klefki is really good too, but there are way more Fire-types on the cart ladder than Showdown so it’s been pretty hard to use since migrating the team across.




Also I want to talk about Torkoal. I think we should legitimately move it to S+ on the VR! How are people checking it in this? I’ve seen some wacky stuff like Teryx38 using Z-Dig Arcanine to kill them 80% of the time. The [ Shell Smash / Substitute / Eruption / filler ] set with Oran / Juice is so overwhelmingly strong. Being able to get back to 100% health SO reliably and spam +2 Eruption in Sun OHKOes basically all resists!

+2 0 SpA Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 0 HP / 36 SpD Mega Gyarados in Sun: 11-13 (84.6 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO)
(KOes with Rocks)

+2 0 SpA Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 0 HP / 220 SpD Rotom-W in Sun: 11-13 (91.6 - 108.3%) -- 75% chance to OHKO (75% chance to OHKO)

0 Atk Mimikyu Never-Ending Nightmare (140 BP) vs. -1 116 HP / 0 Def Torkoal: 10-13 (76.9 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO)
(follow-up Sneak kills, but you have to burn their berry before getting the Z move off which usually means attaching with another mon as they set up and then sacking to get Mimikyu in. They can also predict the Z move and just Sub on it lol)


Do people just sack whatever they can and get in a Chlorophyll sweeper to revenge kill it? This mon is like Primal Groudon on steroids lol

 

[Lego]

Did you forgot to put Togedemaru? it's eligible in Global Link.

This, Poipole, and Type: Null are all fixed on showdown (pending restart)

 

[BlueTitan180]

This, Poipole, and Type: Null are all fixed on showdown (pending restart)

Poipole and Type: Null can't be Level 1 in the main games since they aren't breedable. And this is still here after the fix.

 

[Lego]

Poipole and Type: Null can't be Level 1 in the main games since they aren't breedable. And this is still here after the fix.View attachment 195735

Yeah that's what I meant lol, prior to this fix they were allowed but I've just banned them.

re: togedemaru

This, Poipole, and Type: Null are all fixed on showdown (pending restart)

 

[pokemonvortex]

Hey, does anyone know why Wigglytuff is legal here?

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