Concept Name: Devamped Mega Evolution
Pokemon Name: Lopunny
Typing: Normal/Fighting
Stats: 65 / 96 / 94 / 54 / 96 / 125 (530)
Abilities: Limber / Natural Cure
Notable Moves: High Jump Kick, Trick, Low Kick, Baton Pass, Return, Encore, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Substitute, Heal Bell
How It Fulfills the Concept: While we can't go for Scrappy to have perfect coverage, we can still capture Mega Lopunny's fantastic speed tier in this meta. Normal/Fighting, as we know, covers everything except Ghosts, and it gets enough other tools to deal with them (such as Toxic, or just Baton Passing out). As a breaker, it isn't the best as it lacks a boosting move, which is a good thing given the speed. That said, it could have a mean CB set with Trick to screw over Skarmory, or it can Encore a wall and Baton Pass into a counter.
Concept Name: Rock-resistant Spiker
Pokemon Name: Chesnaught
Typing: Grass/Fighting
Stats: 88/107/122/74/75/68 (530)
Abilities: Overgrow / Rough Skin
Notable Moves: Spikes, Spiky Shield, Low Kick, Leech Seed, Taunt, Toxic
How It Fulfills the Concept: Rock resists are kind of awkward right now because most of them are also weak to Earthquake, and given that every Rock type runs Earthquake, things get strange for the role. Chesnaught fortunately resists both Earthquake and Rock Slide, making it a pretty good counter for both. Spikes allows it to have an incredible niche when compared to out other bulky Grasses. It could also be a decent lead, scaring out Tyranitar with 100 BP Low Kick, Taunting Skarmory to prevent Spikes, getting chip damage on Meta through Shield or Seed, and Toxicing Zapdos, or setting a Spike versus any of them because it scares them into switching.
Concept Name: BL Knight
Pokemon Name: Steelix
Typing: Steel/Ground
Stats: 75/105/200/55/75/30 (540 BST)
Abilities: Clear Body / Sand Veil
Notable Moves: Earthquake, Toxic, Roar, Rest, Sleep Talk
How It Fulfills the Concept: Steelix is a dope Rock resist due resisting Rock 4x over, while also having obscene physical bulk so it doesn't care about Earthquake or Explosion. Steelix is, however, highly passive and relies on Roar + Spikes for most of its damage. A bit of an attack raise makes Earthquake more threatening, and it becomes nigh unkillable in sand with Sand Veil boost, so it also can be a bit of a universal Tyranitar check (losing only to Modest Fire Blast).
Concept Name: SpDef Phazer
Pokemon Name: Cramorant
Typing: Water/Flying
Stats: 80 / 55 / 75 / 85 / 135 / 85 (515 BST)
Abilities: Gulp Missile
Notable Moves: Whirlwind, Recover, Toxic, Surf, Protect, Taunt, Ice Beam, Baton Pass, Encore, Knock Off, Hidden Power
How It Fulfills the Concept: Obviously it's pretty specially defensive with 80/135 bulk, and it can shut things down with Whirlwind. It also has fun with Encore to force greedy BP users to manually switch out, stopping them from using it as set up fodder. Alternatively, it can Taunt them to prevent them from boosting. However, due to Gulp Missile, this thing is pretty sweet against physical attackers as well. Gulp Missile providing 25% chip adds up fast in a meta with Spikes and Sand, and the Defense drop or paralysis synergizes well with its own Baton Pass to support an attacker. Additionally, this would be our only bulky Water with a spikes immunity, which would give it a very cool role in teambuilding as normally the bulky water archetype despises spikes damage.
Concept Name: Hail Abuser
Pokemon Name: Delibird
Typing: Ice/Flying
Stats: 77 / 107 / 66 / 106 / 66 / 103 (525 BST)
Abilities: Snow Warning / Magic Guard
Notable Moves: Spikes, Rapid Spin, Focus Punch/Brick Break/Low Kick, Drill Peck, Ice Beam, Taunt, Baton Pass (in addition to everything else it got last time)
How It Fulfills the Concept: So Hail has a bad matchup against a lot of things, the buffed Delibird restores this once god among men to its former glory at the top of the meta. It has an amazing lead matchup: Zapdos is KOed by Ice Beam 50% of the time so it is forced out, Skarmory is Taunted to prevent hazards, Tyranitar is KOed through Fighting move of choice (Low Kick always KOs with no investment), and it can Baton Pass to a bulky Water against Metagross. This also gets the Hail going turn one against anything other than Tyranitar, but either way you still create chip damage. The switches this causes makes Focus Punch hilarious here, absolutely annihilating Blissey (always KOing after weather). As a lead, it can also set its own Spikes, putting more chip damage on the field. Furthermore, Drill Peck operates as a cool emergency move against Celebi. Of course, I've described a million moves here and you only get 4 and that's going to be what holds Delibird back. Because it can do virtually everything, it will take requiring the set to figure out what you need to do to beat it.
Ability Name: Mold Breaker
Effects: Moves can be used on the target regardless of its Abilities.
Distributed to:Camerupt,
Crawdaunt,
Machamp,
Pinsir,
Raichu,
Rhydon,
Tauros
Justification: I'm so sick of Eelektross. Feat: Raichu who is free to spam Electric/Water coverage without fear, and Machamp who would love to tear Gengar's head off with EQ. Crawdaunt is here because Hyper Cutter is legitimately useless on it now and it doesn't want to feed Jelli or Croak. Pinsir is the only one here who actually gets this ability since Moldy mons have yet to be devamped in mostly. Camerupt would likely drop Magma Armor since Solid Rock is more useful. Mold Breaker has dual purpose to chipping Houndoom/Plusle (if they're madlads and predict your Fire move) and hitting Levitate mons.
Concept Name: Post-Gen 3 Dragon-type
Name of Pokemon: Guzzlord
Typing:
Stats: 223/101/53/97/53/43
Abilities: Pressure
Notable Moves:
Brick Break, Earthquake, Body Slam, Sludge Bomb, Rock Slide
Dragon Claw, Crunch, Knock Off, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Heat Wave (why does this learn Heat Wave), Hidden Power Grass, Shock Wave
Substitute, Protect, Toxic, Iron Defense, Rest, Sleep Talk, Stockpile
Why It Should Be Picked: Guzzlord is fat, very fat. With this fat, Guzzlord is able to tank hits all day and fire back with its pretty great offensive coverage in STAB Crunch, STAB Dragon Claw, Fire Blast, Shock Wave, Hidden Power, Earthquake, Brick Break, Sludge Bomb, Rock Slide, and more. With its great typing, enough bulk to take one or two hits from basically anything and all those options, depending on the set, virtually every good Pokemon in the meta for maybe Gliscor has to exercise caution around Guzzlord until its set is revealed. Guzzlord does have flaws, like being stupid slow meaning that it has to take a hit, it has a bunch of common weaknesses, and it has one of the worst cases of 4MSS I've ever seen, but if you need a versatile tank, Guzzlord is THE tank
Guzzlord @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Crunch
- Fire Blast
- Brick Break / Knock Off
Guzzlord @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 28 Def / 252 SpA / 228 Spe
Modest Nature
- Dragon Claw / Crunch
- Flamethrower
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Guzzlord @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 28 SpD / 228 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Brick Break
- Rock Slide
- Sludge Bomb
Concept Name: Suddenly Signature Move
Name of Pokemon: Torkoal
Typing:
Stats: 70/85/140/85/85/20 (+15 SpD)
Abilities: White Smoke / Shell Armor
Notable Moves:
Body Press (Signature), Body Slam, Earthquake, Rapid Spin, Explosion
Fire Blast, Flamethrower, Hidden Power Grass, Solar Beam
Slack Off, Iron Defense, Will-O-Wisp, Rest, Sleep Talk
Why It Should Be Picked: This is probably the funniest SkarmBliss killer that any of us has subbed, as Body Press, even without STAB, cleanly 2HKOs to Blissey thanks to Torkoal's massive 140 Defense, which can be further boosted by Iron Defense, while making Tyranitar think twice about challenging it and makes it a simultaneously offensive and defensive answer to mons like Hitmonlee, Snorlax, Silvally-Normal, and Zarude. Also, with Iron Defense, it can keep itself from being Duggy food, which is huge for a grounded Fire-type. It has some flaws, like losing to the 5 millions Waters in the tier and especially Jellicent, who you can at best Toxic or Will-O if you ditch Iron Defense or Fire STAB, and all the problems that come with being slow, but Body Press makes Torkoal a wall to be scared of
Torkoal @ Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Body Press
- Iron Defense
- Slack Off
Torkoal @ Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Body Press
- Will-O-Wisp
- Slack Off
the unkillable meme (Torkoal) @ Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 SpA
- Iron Defense
- Amnesia
- Body Press
- Rest
the killing meme (Torkoal) @ Choice Band
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 52 HP / 252 Atk / 204 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Body Press
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Sludge Bomb
Council has decided to expand the recipients of 'Lunge' from the previous move slate. Flygon, Scizor, Illumise, Sandslash and Ninjask are all gaining access to it.
This mon has shown to be really bad in the current meta and council is assessing some ways of improving it.
- Normal / Fighting granting near-perfect coverage except against Ghost is impressive, especially with Choice Band or Expert Belt equipped.
- Resisting both Ground and Rock and able to counter both, while also having much bigger physical bulk than Breloom, allows Chesnaught to get Spikes ready. Double weakness to Flying makes it unfavorable against Aerodactyl.
- Thicc.
- 1 / 4 HP set damage through Gulp Missile in addition to -1 Defense or guaranteed Paralysis is insane in a metagame where chip damage is numerous, and as a SpD phazer, it’s great special bulk allows for Def-EV-oriented sets. Rock and Electric weaknesses does sucks though.
- Lots of useful tools and coverage, a somewhat better statline and being an alternative Hail setter of Abomasnow means that hopefully Delibird will be good despite atrocious defensive typing.
- With the power creep in Gen 3 being very moderate, Guzzlord’s bulk isn’t all that bad if not actually usable, especially if using Stockpile, and since Fairy type does not exist in Gen 3, its bulk isn’t severely undermined either. Dark / Dragon is a powerful near-perfect coverage move as a result, only resisted by Steel… which most are destroyed by Fire Blast.
- Body Press is an interesting move, yet Torkoal also have the potential to be concerning with dual Amnesia-Iron Defense in addition to Recovery. Granted, phazing and Toxic do exists, but this is something you do want to KO as soon as possible before it spirals out of control, just like several Calm Mind users.
+ ---- + ------------------ + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| Rank | Pokemon | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ------------------ + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Tyranitar | 168 | 55.26% | 48.21% |
| 2 | Skarmory | 103 | 33.88% | 49.51% |
| 3 | Swampert | 77 | 25.33% | 46.75% |
| 4 | Zapdos | 65 | 21.38% | 56.92% |
| 5 | Metagross | 60 | 19.74% | 53.33% |
| 6 | Gengar | 58 | 19.08% | 46.55% |
| 7 | Celebi | 57 | 18.75% | 49.12% |
| 8 | Aerodactyl | 54 | 17.76% | 46.30% |
| 9 | Eelektross | 53 | 17.43% | 52.83% |
| 10 | Salamence | 50 | 16.45% | 48.00% |
| 10 | Ledian | 50 | 16.45% | 46.00% |
| 12 | Dugtrio | 46 | 15.13% | 45.65% |
| 13 | Cloyster | 42 | 13.82% | 47.62% |
| 14 | Blissey | 40 | 13.16% | 50.00% |
| 15 | Toxicroak | 39 | 12.83% | 43.59% |
| 16 | Magneton | 35 | 11.51% | 34.29% |
| 17 | Snorlax | 31 | 10.20% | 48.39% |
| 17 | Jirachi | 31 | 10.20% | 45.16% |
| 19 | Sableye | 28 | 9.21% | 53.57% |
| 19 | Moltres | 28 | 9.21% | 46.43% |
| 21 | Jolteon | 27 | 8.88% | 48.15% |
| 22 | Zarude | 26 | 8.55% | 61.54% |
| 22 | Jellicent | 26 | 8.55% | 57.69% |
| 24 | Flygon | 24 | 7.89% | 33.33% |
| 25 | Gliscor | 23 | 7.57% | 65.22% |
| 25 | Golurk | 23 | 7.57% | 43.48% |
| 25 | Suicune | 23 | 7.57% | 39.13% |
| 28 | Cryogonal | 22 | 7.24% | 54.55% |
| 28 | Deoxys-Speed | 22 | 7.24% | 40.91% |
| 30 | Golem-Alola | 21 | 6.91% | 47.62% |
| 30 | Silvally | 21 | 6.91% | 38.10% |
| 32 | Heracross | 20 | 6.58% | 60.00% |
| 32 | Hitmonlee | 20 | 6.58% | 40.00% |
| 34 | Girafarig | 19 | 6.25% | 52.63% |
| 35 | Abomasnow | 18 | 5.92% | 44.44% |
| 36 | Forretress | 17 | 5.59% | 52.94% |
| 37 | Starmie | 16 | 5.26% | 50.00% |
| 37 | Sunflora | 16 | 5.26% | 50.00% |
| 39 | Talonflame | 14 | 4.61% | 42.86% |
| 39 | Plusle | 14 | 4.61% | 21.43% |
| 41 | Houndoom | 13 | 4.28% | 69.23% |
| 42 | Breloom | 11 | 3.62% | 45.45% |
| 42 | Staraptor | 11 | 3.62% | 45.45% |
| 42 | Claydol | 11 | 3.62% | 45.45% |
| 45 | Scizor | 10 | 3.29% | 30.00% |
| 46 | Slowbro | 9 | 2.96% | 66.67% |
| 46 | Jumpluff | 9 | 2.96% | 22.22% |
| 48 | Blaziken | 8 | 2.63% | 37.50% |
| 49 | Lanturn | 7 | 2.30% | 71.43% |
| 49 | Ludicolo | 7 | 2.30% | 57.14% |
| 49 | Walrein | 7 | 2.30% | 42.86% |
| 49 | Piloswine | 7 | 2.30% | 28.57% |
| 49 | Roselia | 7 | 2.30% | 28.57% |
| 54 | Mawile | 6 | 1.97% | 66.67% |
| 54 | Hariyama | 6 | 1.97% | 66.67% |
| 56 | Armaldo | 5 | 1.64% | 60.00% |
| 56 | Skuntank | 5 | 1.64% | 40.00% |
| 58 | Steelix | 4 | 1.32% | 75.00% |
| 58 | Registeel | 4 | 1.32% | 25.00% |
| 58 | Exeggutor | 4 | 1.32% | 0.00% |
| 61 | Kingdra | 3 | 0.99% | 66.67% |
| 61 | Porygon2 | 3 | 0.99% | 66.67% |
| 61 | Marowak | 3 | 0.99% | 33.33% |
| 61 | Sandslash | 3 | 0.99% | 33.33% |
| 61 | Camerupt | 3 | 0.99% | 33.33% |
| 61 | Ninjask | 3 | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| 67 | Slowking | 2 | 0.66% | 100.00% |
| 67 | Milotic | 2 | 0.66% | 100.00% |
| 67 | Zarude-Dada | 2 | 0.66% | 50.00% |
| 67 | Volbeat | 2 | 0.66% | 0.00% |
| 67 | Grumpig | 2 | 0.66% | 0.00% |
| 67 | Muk | 2 | 0.66% | 0.00% |
| 67 | Delibird | 2 | 0.66% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Tropius | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Umbreon | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Wailord | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Sneasel | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Weezing | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Regice | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Ampharos | 1 | 0.33% | 100.00% |
| 74 | Dunsparce | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Arcanine | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Fearow | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Electrode | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Omastar | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Cradily | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Sylveon | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Cacturne | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Pinsir | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Minun | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
| 74 | Crobat | 1 | 0.33% | 0.00% |
(Bug, Dark, Dragon, Electric, Fire, Grass, Ice, Poison, Psychic, Rock, Water)
Slate 8 is now live on Showdown. Everything seems pretty spicy.
Hoenn Gaiden UU is now live. It shares the teambuilder with HG OU. Thanks ViZar for coding it.
Submission rules have been updated in the OP regarding some clarification that has been needed over the past few weeks. Please check them out prior to submitting.
We are going to take another playtesting break for tours after Slate 10. Slate 10 is also going to be a commemorative slate that will be a bit different, but I will save the surprise for then.