What is the Twisted Dimension Other Meta?
Like the Trick Room field effect, in the Twisted Dimension, the move order within each priority bracket is reversed. In other words, by default, lower speed Pokémon now move before higher speed ones!
Council Members
VannAccessible (Tier Leader)
solrock the great
Lectrys
Fingie Snatcher
S1nn0hC0nfirm3dStrategy
With the normally all-important speed investment rendered undesirable (in most cases), all kinds of new meta interactions emerge! Trainers are encouraged to adopt 0 speed EVs and IVs for their Pokémon, as well as a negative speed nature, in order to maximize their efficiency in battle. In turn, you can now dump more stats into bulk or offenses!
With bulky, low-speed mons reigning supreme, what kind of strategies will ultimately prove effective to achieve victory in the Twisted Dimension?
Clauses
Standard OMs, Sleep Moves Clause, Terastal Clause, Level 100 Clause
Pokémon
Arceus
Calyrex-Ice
Calyrex-Shadow
Dialga
Dialga-Origin
Eternatus
Ho-Oh
Giratina-Origin
Glastrier
Groudon
Koraidon
Kyogre
Kyurem-Black
Kyurem-White
Lugia
Lunala
Magearna
Mewtwo
Miraidon
Palkia
Palkia-Origin
Necrozma-Dawn-Wings
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
Rayquaza
Reshiram
Torkoal
Zekrom
Arena Trap
Moody
Sand Veil
Shadow Tag
Snow Cloak
Bright Powder
Iron Ball
King's Rock
Power Anklet
Power Band
Power Bracer
Power Belt
Power Lens
Power Weight
Razor Fang
Baton Pass
Final Gambit
Last Respects
Shed Tail
None currently
Increased Viability
Normally slow offensive mons with low base speed become lightning fast and even more effective in their breaking and sweeping roles.
Low speed offensive pivots gain new viability as scary momentum grabbers.
Hammer Arm and Ice Hammer lower their users’ speed, letting their users snowball to victory.
Defensive walls are now able to act faster than many of the offensive threats they are intended to counter.
Non-Ghost type Curse effectively becomes Victory Dance, with its speed reducing stat change. In the same vein, Pokémon able to exploit Body Press in conjunction with either Curse or Iron Defense become potent wincons, in the right conditions.
Little Cup and other NFE mons may find themselves occupying unique niches their evolved forms can’t replicate due to their especially low base speed. It’s pretty wild to see baby Pokemon co-habitating an OM with Ubers; speed really is everything!
In a meta where almost everything has full HP investment, Pain Split and Leech Seed become a much more reliable form of recovery.
Low speed utility mons become more effective as fast attackers, while also providing support for their teammates with hazards and field effects.
Speaking of hazards, need some zippy hazard or screen control? Got you covered!
Decreased Viability
Several Uber-tier Pokémon sit at base speed stats near or above base 90 base, and thus find themselves severely nerfed. This consideration permits us the opportunity to explore the viability of these powerful Pokémon in the Twisted Dimension. Despite their higher speed becoming a detriment, the Ubers best suited to the TDOM remain potent offensive juggernauts and maintain excellent bulk. We hope you look forward to using them, pending balance testing!
The speed inversion disproportionately nerfs frail Pokémon with naturally high base speed, as well as those that rely on speed enhancing abilities such as Unburden, Swift Swim, Sand Rush, Chlorophyll, Slush Rush, Speed Boost, Protosynthesis and Quark Drive. (The Paradox abilities can still be used to augment offenses or defenses, however.) However, such mons can still be explored under Trick Room, as this move temporarily reverts the speed tiers back to that of standard play.
These mechanic changes also effectively nerf the speed boosting moves Dragon Dance, Quiver Dance, Shell Smash and Tidy Up, among others, which become less desirable sweeping options. This also applies to attacks with speed raising secondary effects like Scale Shot, Aqua Step, Flame Charge and Trailblaze.
Rapid Spin also now comes with an unfortunate speed boost nerf.
In a bulky, low speed meta, Gyro Ball will have reduced damage output. Iron Head or Heavy Slam can often be used in its place as the preferred Steel STAB.
Intimidate loses some efficacy in a meta where Body Press is so common on physical attackers, as well as Curse, Swords Dance and Belly Drum. Intimidate is still a solid ability, just not necessarily a meta-defining one.
Paralysis now gives your opponent a speed jump, and while it may still generate free turns, should probably be avoided, if possible. This also results in a nerf to attacking moves with paralysis as a possible secondary effect, like Discharge and Body Slam.
Tailwind is completely unviable, obviously. Sticky Web is similarly nerfed, although gimmicky Court Change + Web Strats can be used, these rely on using Cinderace or Smeargle, and are easily telegraphed and beaten with any of Taunt, Rapid Spinning the Web lead, or Defog.
Formerly slow pivot moves become a bit more awkward to use, as they will often now act first and cannot necessarily bring in their teammates safely. However…
Lateral Viability Shifts
… Now mid and higher speed Pokémon with good natural bulk can maintain their speed IVs to assume similar slow pivot roles to get their teammates in safely. Deoxys-Defense and Solgaleo deserve special mention for their access to the low priority Teleport, in addition to Trick Room.
Mid-speed Pokémon and those with priority are expected to be the least affected by the speed bracket reversal, but are expected to maintain a healthy presence in the meta. They should enjoy shifting their stats towards the bulky side, regardless.
Choice Scarf is a great item in standard play and possibly the worst possible item any Pokémon would want to hold in an OM with inverted speed tiers. So how is it relevant at all? Pokémon with access to Trick can swap this horribly debilitating item to their switch ins, simultaneously locking them into one move and ensuring they will struggle to perform for the rest of the game.
Normally slow offensive mons with low base speed become lightning fast and even more effective in their breaking and sweeping roles.
Low speed offensive pivots gain new viability as scary momentum grabbers.
Hammer Arm and Ice Hammer lower their users’ speed, letting their users snowball to victory.
Defensive walls are now able to act faster than many of the offensive threats they are intended to counter.
Non-Ghost type Curse effectively becomes Victory Dance, with its speed reducing stat change. In the same vein, Pokémon able to exploit Body Press in conjunction with either Curse or Iron Defense become potent wincons, in the right conditions.
Little Cup and other NFE mons may find themselves occupying unique niches their evolved forms can’t replicate due to their especially low base speed. It’s pretty wild to see baby Pokemon co-habitating an OM with Ubers; speed really is everything!
In a meta where almost everything has full HP investment, Pain Split and Leech Seed become a much more reliable form of recovery.
Low speed utility mons become more effective as fast attackers, while also providing support for their teammates with hazards and field effects.
Speaking of hazards, need some zippy hazard or screen control? Got you covered!
Decreased Viability
Several Uber-tier Pokémon sit at base speed stats near or above base 90 base, and thus find themselves severely nerfed. This consideration permits us the opportunity to explore the viability of these powerful Pokémon in the Twisted Dimension. Despite their higher speed becoming a detriment, the Ubers best suited to the TDOM remain potent offensive juggernauts and maintain excellent bulk. We hope you look forward to using them, pending balance testing!
The speed inversion disproportionately nerfs frail Pokémon with naturally high base speed, as well as those that rely on speed enhancing abilities such as Unburden, Swift Swim, Sand Rush, Chlorophyll, Slush Rush, Speed Boost, Protosynthesis and Quark Drive. (The Paradox abilities can still be used to augment offenses or defenses, however.) However, such mons can still be explored under Trick Room, as this move temporarily reverts the speed tiers back to that of standard play.
These mechanic changes also effectively nerf the speed boosting moves Dragon Dance, Quiver Dance, Shell Smash and Tidy Up, among others, which become less desirable sweeping options. This also applies to attacks with speed raising secondary effects like Scale Shot, Aqua Step, Flame Charge and Trailblaze.
Rapid Spin also now comes with an unfortunate speed boost nerf.
In a bulky, low speed meta, Gyro Ball will have reduced damage output. Iron Head or Heavy Slam can often be used in its place as the preferred Steel STAB.
Intimidate loses some efficacy in a meta where Body Press is so common on physical attackers, as well as Curse, Swords Dance and Belly Drum. Intimidate is still a solid ability, just not necessarily a meta-defining one.
Paralysis now gives your opponent a speed jump, and while it may still generate free turns, should probably be avoided, if possible. This also results in a nerf to attacking moves with paralysis as a possible secondary effect, like Discharge and Body Slam.
Tailwind is completely unviable, obviously. Sticky Web is similarly nerfed, although gimmicky Court Change + Web Strats can be used, these rely on using Cinderace or Smeargle, and are easily telegraphed and beaten with any of Taunt, Rapid Spinning the Web lead, or Defog.
Formerly slow pivot moves become a bit more awkward to use, as they will often now act first and cannot necessarily bring in their teammates safely. However…
Lateral Viability Shifts
… Now mid and higher speed Pokémon with good natural bulk can maintain their speed IVs to assume similar slow pivot roles to get their teammates in safely. Deoxys-Defense and Solgaleo deserve special mention for their access to the low priority Teleport, in addition to Trick Room.
Mid-speed Pokémon and those with priority are expected to be the least affected by the speed bracket reversal, but are expected to maintain a healthy presence in the meta. They should enjoy shifting their stats towards the bulky side, regardless.
Choice Scarf is a great item in standard play and possibly the worst possible item any Pokémon would want to hold in an OM with inverted speed tiers. So how is it relevant at all? Pokémon with access to Trick can swap this horribly debilitating item to their switch ins, simultaneously locking them into one move and ensuring they will struggle to perform for the rest of the game.
As a convenient “anti-Banlist” reference resource, the following Ubers-tier Pokemon are legal in the Twisted Dimension. Their Uber-tier status alone should not suggest that any of these are dominant, good, or even viable, as the speed inversion severely nerfs them and their defensive checks outspeed them. The Ubers also do not appreciate the general bulk of the tier reducing their relative offensive power. Still, some may have the bulk, defensive typing, utility or offensive threat as slow breakers to have a viable place in the meta.
It is also worth mentioning that because many of these Pokemon inhabit higher speed tiers, they may ironically be formidable threats under Trick Room, which reverts the speed tiers back to that of standard play for 5 turns. In this scenario, they are still free to invest in bulk, while customizing their speed IVs more flexibly, as their higher base speed should be enough to make them quite fast under Trick Room.
It is also worth mentioning that because many of these Pokemon inhabit higher speed tiers, they may ironically be formidable threats under Trick Room, which reverts the speed tiers back to that of standard play for 5 turns. In this scenario, they are still free to invest in bulk, while customizing their speed IVs more flexibly, as their higher base speed should be enough to make them quite fast under Trick Room.
- Annihilape
- Archaludon
Baxcalibur- Chien-Pao
- Chi-Yu
Deoxys
Deoxys-Attack
Espathra- Flutter Mane
- Giratina
- Gouging Fire
Hoopa
Hoopa-Unbound
Iron Bundle
Landorus
Ogerpon-Hearthflame
Palafin
Regieleki
Shaymin-Sky- Sneasler
- Solgaleo
Spectrier
Terapagos
Ursaluna-Bloodmoon- Urshifu
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike- Volcarona
Zacian- Zacian-Crowned
- Zamazenta-Crowned
Q: “How do I play the Twisted Dimension OM?”
A: “The Twisted Dimension is the Other Meta of the Month for December and is listed at the top of the Other Metas tab on Showdown!”
Q: “What happens if a Pokémon uses Trick Room?”
A: “The speed tier inverts back to that of standard play, but only for the normal 5 turn Trick Room duration. This is relevant to the competitive meta as Trick Room can be used with higher speed mons and applied speed IVs, as a form of speed control.”
Q: "How are priority moves affected by the speed inversion?"
A: "Only the Speed-resolved order of moves within a priority bracket are reversed, or put another way, the moves that bypass the speed check still function as normal.
For example, moves inhabiting a higher than normal priority bracket, such as ExtremeSpeed, are still performed before ones with lower priority, regardless of speed stats. In the same vein, moves with lowered priority, such as Teleport, are still performed after moves of normal priority, regardless of speed stats.
Q: “How about Prankster? Does it still go first?”
A: “Yes! The abilities and items that increase priority brackets for certain moves, such as Prankster, Gale Wings, and Triage will allow their affected moves to act first regardless of speed.
Similarly, Quick Draw, Quick Claw, and Custap Berry function as normal and will allow their user to act first within their priority brackets.
Stall, Lagging Tail and moves affected by Mycelium Might will still act second within their priority brackets, regardless of speed stat, and move last.
However, if two Pokémon use a move of the same priority bracket on the same turn, the speed inversion comes into play, and the Pokémon with the lower base speed will always use their move first."
Q: "Why are only 100 level Pokémon allowed?"
A: "A unique aspect to the reversal of speed priority mechanics is that the lower level a Pokémon is, the faster it becomes compared to Pokémon with the same speed stat. To promote a stable metagame with more predictable speed tiers, and prevent runaway underleveled speed creeping in this manner, all Pokémon are locked to level 100.
The level lock also prevents uncompetitive Level 1 FEAR strats from becoming a problem, as a Level 1 Pokémon would always be faster than any Level 100 Pokémon and basically 1HKO any non-Ghost type with Endeavor.”
Q: “Why is Final Gambit banned?”
A: “The issue with Final Gambit lies in Copycat chains.
High HP mons like Blissey, Chansey, Vaporeon and Azumarill can use Copycat, and now that they have access to a speed stat, they can go all in with some pretty cheesy FG strats that would be difficult to stop without either a Ghost type, priority or Protect.
Even if they don’t sweep a team on their own, even one of these guys can easily make an advantageous trade with a vital part of an opposing defensive core, allowing the rest of their team to sweep.
Since Copycat has other utility that Final Gambit does not, banning Final Gambit results in the least collateral damage in eliminating this uncompetitive strategy.”
Q: “Does Unaware ignore speed stat changes?”
A: “No, it does not. This normally unimportant quirk is quite relevant with reversed speed tiers. With speed drops, Unaware users are more vulnerable to being out-sped and countered.”
Q: “Does the item Room Service auto-proc In this meta?”
A: “No, it does not. It works via Trick Room, as normal. We are currently exploring if Room Service auto-procing as a form of one-time speed control is within the initial premise of the tier.”
A: “The Twisted Dimension is the Other Meta of the Month for December and is listed at the top of the Other Metas tab on Showdown!”
Q: “What happens if a Pokémon uses Trick Room?”
A: “The speed tier inverts back to that of standard play, but only for the normal 5 turn Trick Room duration. This is relevant to the competitive meta as Trick Room can be used with higher speed mons and applied speed IVs, as a form of speed control.”
Q: "How are priority moves affected by the speed inversion?"
A: "Only the Speed-resolved order of moves within a priority bracket are reversed, or put another way, the moves that bypass the speed check still function as normal.
For example, moves inhabiting a higher than normal priority bracket, such as ExtremeSpeed, are still performed before ones with lower priority, regardless of speed stats. In the same vein, moves with lowered priority, such as Teleport, are still performed after moves of normal priority, regardless of speed stats.
Q: “How about Prankster? Does it still go first?”
A: “Yes! The abilities and items that increase priority brackets for certain moves, such as Prankster, Gale Wings, and Triage will allow their affected moves to act first regardless of speed.
Similarly, Quick Draw, Quick Claw, and Custap Berry function as normal and will allow their user to act first within their priority brackets.
Stall, Lagging Tail and moves affected by Mycelium Might will still act second within their priority brackets, regardless of speed stat, and move last.
However, if two Pokémon use a move of the same priority bracket on the same turn, the speed inversion comes into play, and the Pokémon with the lower base speed will always use their move first."
Q: "Why are only 100 level Pokémon allowed?"
A: "A unique aspect to the reversal of speed priority mechanics is that the lower level a Pokémon is, the faster it becomes compared to Pokémon with the same speed stat. To promote a stable metagame with more predictable speed tiers, and prevent runaway underleveled speed creeping in this manner, all Pokémon are locked to level 100.
The level lock also prevents uncompetitive Level 1 FEAR strats from becoming a problem, as a Level 1 Pokémon would always be faster than any Level 100 Pokémon and basically 1HKO any non-Ghost type with Endeavor.”
Q: “Why is Final Gambit banned?”
A: “The issue with Final Gambit lies in Copycat chains.
High HP mons like Blissey, Chansey, Vaporeon and Azumarill can use Copycat, and now that they have access to a speed stat, they can go all in with some pretty cheesy FG strats that would be difficult to stop without either a Ghost type, priority or Protect.
Even if they don’t sweep a team on their own, even one of these guys can easily make an advantageous trade with a vital part of an opposing defensive core, allowing the rest of their team to sweep.
Since Copycat has other utility that Final Gambit does not, banning Final Gambit results in the least collateral damage in eliminating this uncompetitive strategy.”
Q: “Does Unaware ignore speed stat changes?”
A: “No, it does not. This normally unimportant quirk is quite relevant with reversed speed tiers. With speed drops, Unaware users are more vulnerable to being out-sped and countered.”
Q: “Does the item Room Service auto-proc In this meta?”
A: “No, it does not. It works via Trick Room, as normal. We are currently exploring if Room Service auto-procing as a form of one-time speed control is within the initial premise of the tier.”
Tiering History
Date | Action |
|---|---|
11/01/2024 | Meta created with initial banlist. |
11/03/2024 | |
12/06/2024 | Torkoal, Glastrier and Power/Ball quickbanned. Giratina, Zamazenta-Crowned, Zacian and Zacian-Crowned freed. |
Resources
> Sample Teams
> Early Viability Rankings
> OM Discord
Last edited:
Enamorus-Therian
Goodra-Hisui
Golurk
Hippowdon
Heatran
Jirachi
Klefki
Latios
Latias
Okidogi
Palossand
Rhyperior
Skarmory
Slowbro-Galar
Armarouge
Azumarill
Bellibolt
Chansey
Chandelure
Coalossal
Cresselia
Diancie
Dragonite
Drifblim
Dusknoir
Exeggutor-Alola
Gastrodon
Hariyama
Indeedee
Glimmora
Golem-Alola
Granbull
Great Tusk
Glaceon
Meowstic
Mimikyu
Moltres
Mudsdale
Kyurem
Ninetales
Necrozma
Rampardos
Rabsca
Rotom-Heat
Sandygast
Scream Tail
Spiritomb
Spidos
Tentacruel
Toedscruel
Trevenant
Vaporeon
Cinderace
Decidueye-Hisui
Duosion
Ditto
Dudunsparce
Eiscue
Gallade
Grafaiai
Illumise
Iron Moth
Meowscarada
Meloetta
Solosis
Smeargle
Tarountula
Volbeat
I do not think this mon is good but Spin Out is funny enough to try.
- Weird, I know, but this guy is one of the slowest, AKA fastest mons here. Belly drum means this is super threatening while outspeeding the entire tier with pretty great coverage. It's got some impressive natural bulk combined with cheek pouch granting almost free set-up means you should have a pretty easy time setting up and killing stuff.
- priority looks to be super valuable here. Scarf is actually hurting you now so it's basically the best you'll get for speed control. scizor's got some decent speed for this format with a powerful bullet punch, so I could see it doing well.
- Basic formula for being great here. Slow Breakers look disgusting now that their biggest issue, their speed, is now a positive. There's plenty of other mons I could falling into this (kingambit, azumarill, rhyperior, new stuff like eruption torkoal) and I'd bet that they'll end up being either dominant or banned.
- We can't ignore the defense mons either. These mons are now super fast on top of being bulky, which is huge. I'd expect defense to be super good after initial bans. Clod, for example, is tied with torkoal and greedent for slowest fully evolved mon, with fast toxics and unaware looking super annoying.
- Curse looks insane here. It's essentially victory dance but given to half of the game. I could totally see the move itself being potentially game-breaking.
- These three are my bets for top tier status. These each combine the slow breaker buff and the defense buff super well and look really annoying to deal with. Snorlax with curse or belly drum looks demonic to deal with, with it and reun wielding the fastest encore in the tier for a fully evoled mon. Hydrapple combines a demonic breaker with a great defensive piece with longevity thanks to regen. Reun honestly may become the best mon in the tier after it settles. Magic guard means you bully bulky teams while fitting on them. That and fast encore looks super hard to beat.
- This is the fastest mon in the tier, and it has encore, curse, belly drum and access to eviolite. It honestly could be secretly super good.
