With another tournament going around means another replays post from me. The ongoing UU Masters tournament is the first high stakes tour of gen 9, counting towards UU Circuit points, and with the requiring of replays, I felt it would be good to gather stats that represent the current beta metagame that soon will fade as we approach February shifts tomorrow and later exit Beta. Like past iterations, I’ll give my own personal thoughts on trends and numbers derived from this week of stats and make some slight comparisons to the kickoff tour stats even though they are from different metagames.
Week 1
Code:
+ ---- + ------------------ + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| Rank | Pokemon | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ------------------ + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Tinkaton | 93 | 46.04% | 53.76% |
| 2 | Talonflame | 69 | 34.16% | 57.97% |
| 3 | Tyranitar | 51 | 25.25% | 57.84% |
| 4 | Gengar | 43 | 21.29% | 44.19% |
| 5 | Gastrodon | 42 | 20.79% | 57.14% |
| 6 | Slither Wing | 41 | 20.30% | 54.88% |
| 7 | Salamence | 39 | 19.31% | 35.90% |
| 8 | Sandy Shocks | 38 | 18.81% | 44.74% |
| 9 | Slowking | 37 | 18.32% | 56.76% |
| 10 | Tsareena | 36 | 17.82% | 50.00% |
| 11 | Mimikyu | 29 | 14.36% | 67.24% |
| 12 | Pelipper | 27 | 13.37% | 38.89% |
| 13 | Kilowattrel | 26 | 12.87% | 42.31% |
| 14 | Brambleghast | 25 | 12.38% | 48.00% |
| 15 | Lucario | 24 | 11.88% | 29.17% |
| 16 | Grafaiai | 22 | 10.89% | 59.09% |
| 16 | Bisharp | 22 | 10.89% | 54.55% |
| 18 | Quagsire | 21 | 10.40% | 52.38% |
| 19 | Scream Tail | 20 | 9.90% | 50.00% |
| 19 | Armarouge | 20 | 9.90% | 37.50% |
| 21 | Hawlucha | 18 | 8.91% | 69.44% |
| 21 | Orthworm | 18 | 8.91% | 61.11% |
| 23 | Gardevoir | 17 | 8.42% | 58.82% |
| 23 | Donphan | 17 | 8.42% | 55.88% |
| 23 | Wo-Chien | 17 | 8.42% | 52.94% |
| 26 | Tauros-Paldea-Aqua | 16 | 7.92% | 25.00% |
| 27 | Polteageist | 15 | 7.43% | 46.67% |
| 27 | Floatzel | 15 | 7.43% | 30.00% |
| 27 | Lokix | 15 | 7.43% | 26.67% |
| 30 | Iron Jugulis | 14 | 6.93% | 46.43% |
| 31 | Hippowdon | 13 | 6.44% | 61.54% |
| 31 | Alomomola | 13 | 6.44% | 50.00% |
| 31 | Slowbro | 13 | 6.44% | 42.31% |
| 31 | Toedscruel | 13 | 6.44% | 30.77% |
| 35 | Indeedee | 12 | 5.94% | 66.67% |
| 35 | Noivern | 12 | 5.94% | 66.67% |
| 35 | Barraskewda | 12 | 5.94% | 50.00% |
| 35 | Altaria | 12 | 5.94% | 41.67% |
| 39 | Oricorio-Pom-Pom | 11 | 5.45% | 54.55% |
| 39 | Blissey | 11 | 5.45% | 54.55% |
| 41 | Haxorus | 10 | 4.95% | 80.00% |
| 41 | Magnezone | 10 | 4.95% | 70.00% |
| 41 | Forretress | 10 | 4.95% | 35.00% |
| 44 | Toxtricity | 9 | 4.46% | 33.33% |
| 45 | Espeon | 8 | 3.96% | 62.50% |
| 45 | Maushold-Four | 8 | 3.96% | 50.00% |
| 45 | Staraptor | 8 | 3.96% | 37.50% |
| 45 | Gallade | 8 | 3.96% | 25.00% |
| 49 | Iron Thorns | 7 | 3.47% | 57.14% |
| 49 | Maushold | 7 | 3.47% | 42.86% |
| 51 | Drednaw | 6 | 2.97% | 50.00% |
| 51 | Rotom-Mow | 6 | 2.97% | 41.67% |
| 51 | Tauros-Paldea-Blaze | 6 | 2.97% | 33.33% |
| 54 | Ditto | 5 | 2.48% | 90.00% |
| 54 | Cloyster | 5 | 2.48% | 80.00% |
| 54 | Golduck | 5 | 2.48% | 40.00% |
| 54 | Brute Bonnet | 5 | 2.48% | 30.00% |
| 58 | Coalossal | 4 | 1.98% | 62.50% |
| 58 | Krookodile | 4 | 1.98% | 50.00% |
| 58 | Farigiraf | 4 | 1.98% | 25.00% |
| 58 | Lycanroc-Dusk | 4 | 1.98% | 25.00% |
| 62 | Palossand | 3 | 1.49% | 100.00% |
| 62 | Venomoth | 3 | 1.49% | 66.67% |
| 62 | Vaporeon | 3 | 1.49% | 33.33% |
| 62 | Gyarados | 3 | 1.49% | 33.33% |
| 62 | Froslass | 3 | 1.49% | 33.33% |
| 62 | Heracross | 3 | 1.49% | 33.33% |
| 62 | Oricorio-Sensu | 3 | 1.49% | 0.00% |
| 69 | Chansey | 2 | 0.99% | 100.00% |
| 69 | Mismagius | 2 | 0.99% | 100.00% |
| 69 | Florges | 2 | 0.99% | 100.00% |
| 69 | Dragalge | 2 | 0.99% | 50.00% |
| 69 | Weavile | 2 | 0.99% | 50.00% |
| 69 | Hariyama | 2 | 0.99% | 50.00% |
| 69 | Arcanine | 2 | 0.99% | 50.00% |
| 69 | Bellibolt | 2 | 0.99% | 50.00% |
| 69 | Tatsugiri | 2 | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| 69 | Charizard | 2 | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| 69 | Goodra | 2 | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| 69 | Cetitan | 2 | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Avalugg | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Arboliva | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Pincurchin | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Toxicroak | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Hattrem | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Mabosstiff | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Qwilfish | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Polteageist-Antique | 1 | 0.50% | 100.00% |
| 81 | Salazzle | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Primeape | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Klefki | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Lycanroc | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Naclstack | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Crocalor | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Dudunsparce-* | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Sandaconda | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Sylveon | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Florges-Orange | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
| 81 | Masquerain | 1 | 0.50% | 0.00% |
Skipping past Tinkaton’s absurd showing of usage again, affirming its value with great utility between Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and Encore, the ever-so amazing Fairy-Steel typing, and its value as a Gengar, Grafaiai, and Noivern check, as well as Talonflame’s presence as a fast burn spreader and go-to Slither Wing switch-in, we have Tyranitar coming in at a solid #3. Being the most impactful of the drops, Tyranitar has made quite a splash these last few weeks with its potent attack power and useful set versatility. Choice Band remains one of the toughest Pokemon to switch into while Dragon Dance resides as a strong option on hyper offense. Its Stealth Rock set forms useful hazard stacking cores with Gastrodon and checks a lot of notable threats in the metagame right now like Toxtricity, 3 Attacks + Roost Salamence, Noivern, Kilowattrel, Oricorio and Polteageist if they have not Terad, and Maushold while being a good deterrent from strong wallbreakers like Staraptor and Gengar mindlessly spamming their STABs. It also disrupts rain and can heavily pressure the Gastrodon + Tsareena + Talonflame + Tinkaton balances being popular. I initially was skeptical of how Tyranitar would do in UU with entry hazards, fighting-types, and Pokemon that take advantage of its low speed and poor typing being prevalent, but it's Tyranitar after all and its solidified itself as a top 10 Pokemon at minimum in the metagame and even top 5 in the eyes of many.
The rest of the top 10 isn’t a surprise; Gengar, Gastrodon, Slither Wing, Sandy Shocks, Slowking, and Tsareena have all been on top of the metagame for some time now with their potency and splashability on many BO and Balance teams. A notable difference is that Salamence has worked its way into the top 10, coming in at a strong 7th place this week, which is a huge step up from the middling usage it got in the kick off tour. Salamence offers a unique alternative to Talonflame as a flying-type on many BO and Balance teams, beating out Rain and hating Knock Off less while checking unique foes like Water Tauros while still retaining the useful matchup it has vs slither wing. It’s deceptively strong; Tinkaton is no switch-in, and Gastrodon can be overloaded easily between hazards and limited recovery PP. We’re seeing a lot of use being paired with another pseudo-legendary in Tyranitar to form strong BO and balances by covering each other’s weaknesses. Definitely was an underrated Pokemon that would grow in prevalence as the tier develops.
In terms of non-UU Pokemon making showings, the most notable ones I can point to are Gardevoir and Oricorio Pom-Pom. Gardevoir has been seeing use on a popular rain team this round and in general as a strong Choice Scarf user in the tier, being able to Trace Swift Swim and revenge kill rain sweepers while beating out a variety of Pokemon like Noivern, Gengar, and Iron Jugulis with its STAB combination. It does struggle in power at times, but utility like Trick to cripple walls or Healing Wish to give a breaker a second fighting chance definitely makes up for it. As for Oricorio, it's been a relatively overshadowed Pokemon for some time despite getting recognition from many top players. Bulky Quiver Dance wins way too much vs the tier, it sets up on so much like Sandy Shocks, Gastrodon, Slowking, and Tsareena while eating First Impression easily and just cleaning house with Tera Ground + Revelation Dance. Just check out some of the replays it is featured in and you can see the potent sweeping potential it has. Other non-UU stuff that gets decent usage includes Altaria, Slowbro, Blissey, Haxorus, and Toxtricity, where the former 3 occupy solidified defensive niches in the tier while the latter two are dangerously underrated offensive threats that honestly should be UU by usage.
Lastly, I’ve got to talk about the big losers of this round- also known as the Pokemon UU by usage but had pitifully low usage rates. This doesn’t say they’re not viable compared to stuff that beat them out, because they’re certainly better than garbage like Forretress and Toedscruel, but you do have to wonder what makes them less used and try them out for yourself to see if you can make them work. The lowest used UU by usage Pokemon is Klefki at 1 use, where this honestly shouldn’t be a UU Pokemon as it's outclassed as a Steel-type by Tinkaton for the most part and screens or spikes hyper offense aren’t defining archetypes at the moment. Charizard, Gyarados, Ditto, and Brute Bonnet all are next, which are pretty much mediocre picks right now and would likely drop this coming shift. Iron Thorns is slightly higher than them; it’s got unique applications as a Dragon Dance user compared to regular Tyranitar although it's pretty much eclipsed by it and relying on Terastallizing for Quagsire makes it not very good. These next two though really shocked me; being Gallade and Staraptor. Gallade was strange because it is a really strong balance breaker that has other functions like a Choice Scarf user or Agility cleaner. It struggles with Talonflame and First Impression users but it's still a really strong pick right now, despite relying on pivots we have plenty of good ones to facilitate its breaking power. Staraptor is less surprising since I really struggle to build with it and think it's kinda eh; sure it's strong but kills itself in the process and gets torn apart by entry hazards. It trades 1 for 1 at best these days and isn’t really appealing to use; of course, it’s still Staraptor and def needs to be accounted for so seeing it this low was surprising. Most of the stats aren’t that crazy and generally very few Pokemon are lower than where they should fall into in the metagame. I’m surprised to see how well the beta metagame has been turning out; generally the meta is very stable with few controversial figures. Building is both top-heavy but also varied in a way, which makes an overall fun and enjoyable tier for everyone.
