Approved by The Immortal
banner by Kalalokki
ZU, or Zero Used, is an unofficial tier in the making containing Pokemon beneath PU by usage. The idea of a new Smogon tier has been entertained since XY, when it was still named FU, and this tier is a continuation of the same format. Following standard tiering, ZU is a competitive equivalent to the tiers above it.
Check out our room on Pokemon Showdown! and our Discord server!
Rules:
Mechanic: ZU is a usage-based tier below PU. It uses the same cutoff points as the other usage based tiers and also has council votes and suspect tests.
Clauses: PU clauses
Bans:
Strategy:
ZU provides you with a plethora of choices to choose from to combat the tier's metagame. There are many practical approaches but the ones that tend to stand out are Balance, Offense, and Stall teams. While there are no Mega-Evolutions present in ZU, Z-Crystals have aided many Pokémon in the tier, and increased viability in even the most forgotten of the lot. ZU also follows the trend of having core combinations, which make it easier to optimize your composition and choose your ideal team partner(s). There is much to discover in this tier and even the most neglected Pokémon can find their role and potentially shine when constructing your game plan.
We as players commonly find ourselves engrossed in our teambuilder for formats such as this one when trying to tackle the tier's meta.
The two main playstyles in the tier are now "Stall" and "Offense". The most successful teams revolve around checking notable threats such as Floatzel, Komala, and Pyukumuku. One popular "team" core makes use of physically defensive Gourgeist-Super, specially defensive Bronzor, and a defogger such as Silvally-Water or Altaria, although there are many other cores to choose from.
Stall-based teams generally aim to chip away at the opponent's team using Status and Hazards while draining momentum with defensive checks. Common components include an Unaware user, a Cleric, Hazards, a reliable Hazard Remover, and a Knock Off switch-in due to the frequent addition of Eviolite users on the composition. Semi-Stall, however, takes advantage of the stall backbone and uses one offensive Pokémon that functions as a late game cleaner or win condition. This teamslot is typically dedicated to Pokémon such as Choice Scarf Ditto, Combusken, or any other Pokémon that can provide offensive utility and appreciate the passive damage spread by defensive teammates.
Hyper-offensive teams stand out as the faster style of play, revolving around dedicated or suicide leads, hard-hitting Pokémon, speed control, and using resistances and immunities to switch-into attacks. Sticky Webs, Trick Room, and Weather teams frequent the tier and prey on non-stall based teams. They primarily use tactics meant to take advantage of their attackers' weaknesses- this involves abusing stat-boosting moves, damage-boosting items, and prediction lures for would-be counter to maintain momentum.
In a nutshell, ZU has many competitive elements that contribute to an enjoyable platform for battling. There are other strategies at your disposal such as Bulky Offense and even the uncommon variants of Hyper Offense. In addition, there are resources available for those who wish to hone their own creativity, while on the other hand, sample teams are available for newcomers who may need that extra help when learning the ropes of the tier.
Q&A:
Q: What does ZU stand for?
A: It stands for ‘Zero Used’.
Q: How does ZU's suspect tests function?
A: Much like the method used in UU back in early SM, ZU has taken a council driven approach to tiering. We have an active council who is thoroughly knowledgeable and versed in the tier which gives us the ability to make appropriate tiering decisions. When doing suspect tests, we run suspect tours in our room on Pokemon Showdown where winners gain voting rights or host a laddering event where users create new accounts with a tag chosen by the council-members to reach specified GXE / ELO requirements. We also have a rotational council, consisting of these winners, that take on slots for the voting slate along with council members. Then, the council and rotating council vote on the suspect and a simple majority (50%+1) is required to change the status quo.
Resources:
banner by Kalalokki
ZU, or Zero Used, is an unofficial tier in the making containing Pokemon beneath PU by usage. The idea of a new Smogon tier has been entertained since XY, when it was still named FU, and this tier is a continuation of the same format. Following standard tiering, ZU is a competitive equivalent to the tiers above it.
Check out our room on Pokemon Showdown! and our Discord server!
Rules:
Mechanic: ZU is a usage-based tier below PU. It uses the same cutoff points as the other usage based tiers and also has council votes and suspect tests.
Clauses: PU clauses
Bans:
- PU banlist
- Pokemon that are PU by usage:
Absol, Aggron, Articuno, Audino, Aurorus, Carracosta, Claydol, Clefairy, Crabominable, Drampa, Dugtio-Alola, Eelektross, Exeggutor-Alola, Froslass, Golurk, Gurdurr, Haunter, Hitmonchan, Kabutops, Kangaskhan, Lanturn, Liepard, Lilligant, Ludicolo, Lurantis, Lycanroc, Manectric, Mesprit, Mudsdale, Omastar, Oricorio-Sensu, Persian-Alola, Poliwrath, Primeape, Qwilfish, Raichu-Alola, Regirock, Roselia, Rotom-Frost, Sableye, Sandslash-Alola, Scyther, Silvally-Fairy, Skuntank, Spiritomb, Stoutland, Type: Null
- ZUBL; the Pokemon banned from ZU via council votes or suspect test:
Alolan Raticate, Exeggutor, Gorebyss, Jynx, Musharna, Throh, Turtonator, Type: Null, Ursaring, Victreebel, Zangoose
Strategy:
ZU provides you with a plethora of choices to choose from to combat the tier's metagame. There are many practical approaches but the ones that tend to stand out are Balance, Offense, and Stall teams. While there are no Mega-Evolutions present in ZU, Z-Crystals have aided many Pokémon in the tier, and increased viability in even the most forgotten of the lot. ZU also follows the trend of having core combinations, which make it easier to optimize your composition and choose your ideal team partner(s). There is much to discover in this tier and even the most neglected Pokémon can find their role and potentially shine when constructing your game plan.
We as players commonly find ourselves engrossed in our teambuilder for formats such as this one when trying to tackle the tier's meta.
The two main playstyles in the tier are now "Stall" and "Offense". The most successful teams revolve around checking notable threats such as Floatzel, Komala, and Pyukumuku. One popular "team" core makes use of physically defensive Gourgeist-Super, specially defensive Bronzor, and a defogger such as Silvally-Water or Altaria, although there are many other cores to choose from.
Stall-based teams generally aim to chip away at the opponent's team using Status and Hazards while draining momentum with defensive checks. Common components include an Unaware user, a Cleric, Hazards, a reliable Hazard Remover, and a Knock Off switch-in due to the frequent addition of Eviolite users on the composition. Semi-Stall, however, takes advantage of the stall backbone and uses one offensive Pokémon that functions as a late game cleaner or win condition. This teamslot is typically dedicated to Pokémon such as Choice Scarf Ditto, Combusken, or any other Pokémon that can provide offensive utility and appreciate the passive damage spread by defensive teammates.
Hyper-offensive teams stand out as the faster style of play, revolving around dedicated or suicide leads, hard-hitting Pokémon, speed control, and using resistances and immunities to switch-into attacks. Sticky Webs, Trick Room, and Weather teams frequent the tier and prey on non-stall based teams. They primarily use tactics meant to take advantage of their attackers' weaknesses- this involves abusing stat-boosting moves, damage-boosting items, and prediction lures for would-be counter to maintain momentum.
In a nutshell, ZU has many competitive elements that contribute to an enjoyable platform for battling. There are other strategies at your disposal such as Bulky Offense and even the uncommon variants of Hyper Offense. In addition, there are resources available for those who wish to hone their own creativity, while on the other hand, sample teams are available for newcomers who may need that extra help when learning the ropes of the tier.
Q&A:
Q: What does ZU stand for?
A: It stands for ‘Zero Used’.
Q: How does ZU's suspect tests function?
A: Much like the method used in UU back in early SM, ZU has taken a council driven approach to tiering. We have an active council who is thoroughly knowledgeable and versed in the tier which gives us the ability to make appropriate tiering decisions. When doing suspect tests, we run suspect tours in our room on Pokemon Showdown where winners gain voting rights or host a laddering event where users create new accounts with a tag chosen by the council-members to reach specified GXE / ELO requirements. We also have a rotational council, consisting of these winners, that take on slots for the voting slate along with council members. Then, the council and rotating council vote on the suspect and a simple majority (50%+1) is required to change the status quo.
Resources:
- ZU is currently played in the ZU room on Pokemon Showdown!
- Resource hub
- ZU has an available link to our Discord server. Updates, Announcements, and Tier-based discussion also takes place here!
- List of people on our council include: 5gen (TL), Aaronboyer, Pitches, LightPinkYoshi, BloodAce0107, RawMelon, Xayah (TL)
- Tiering history:
September 8th, 2017: Exeggutor, Gorebyss and Turtonator quick banned by Tier Leaders.
September 19th, 2017: First slate of quick bans voted on by ZU council; Carracosta, Crabominable and Victreebel banned as a result.
October 1st, 2017: Second slate of quick bans voted on by ZU council; Ludicolo and Raticate-Alola banned as a result.
November 17th, 2017: Throh was suspect tested and was banned with a 73% majority.
November 26th, 2017: The ZU council voted on quick bans for Type: Null and Passimian; both were banned as a result.
April 19th, 2018: The ZU council voted on a quick ban for Jynx; it was banned as a result.
April 29th, 2018: Musharna was suspect tested and was banned with a 73% majority.
July 21st, 2018: The ZU council voted on quick bans for Ursaring and Kabutops; both were banned as a result.
September 29th, 2018: Stoutland was suspect tested and was banned with a 70% majority.
October 5th, 2018: The ZU council voted on quick bans for Zangoose; it was banned as a result with a whopping 100% majority.
September 19th, 2017: First slate of quick bans voted on by ZU council; Carracosta, Crabominable and Victreebel banned as a result.
October 1st, 2017: Second slate of quick bans voted on by ZU council; Ludicolo and Raticate-Alola banned as a result.
November 17th, 2017: Throh was suspect tested and was banned with a 73% majority.
November 26th, 2017: The ZU council voted on quick bans for Type: Null and Passimian; both were banned as a result.
April 19th, 2018: The ZU council voted on a quick ban for Jynx; it was banned as a result.
April 29th, 2018: Musharna was suspect tested and was banned with a 73% majority.
July 21st, 2018: The ZU council voted on quick bans for Ursaring and Kabutops; both were banned as a result.
September 29th, 2018: Stoutland was suspect tested and was banned with a 70% majority.
October 5th, 2018: The ZU council voted on quick bans for Zangoose; it was banned as a result with a whopping 100% majority.
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