The Dark Horse Project

a fairy

is a Tournament Directoris a Site Content Manageris a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Smogon Discord Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Community Leader
credit to ginganinja, stole OP from him


Credit to ToxicPhox for the art.

Introduction:

Welcome back to the Dark Horse Project, Round 6! While there may have been a hiatus for a while, it's back and better than ever! With a new Hall of Fame, it'll be exciting to see who and what makes the Hall of Fame this time around!

The Mission:

For those who weren't around for the last installment, the Dark Horse Project is an experiment per-se, in which players are encouraged and rewarded for playing OU with dark-horse Pokemon - Pokemon that have the ability to to shine in OU, but don't get used because players either have no reason to use them, or don't want to in lieu of more conventional Pokemon. Through this project, diversity in the OU metagame will increase, by the encouraging of good Pokemon that sadly fall on the lower levels of usage. This project also encourages discussion on how Dark Horse Pokemon can be used in the OU metagame, as well as the sharing and distribution of teams that are successful and use unconventional Pokemon.

Rules:

This project aims to recognize and reward users who put in the effort to create a competitively successful team with non-conventional Pokemon. Anyone with a Smogon account has a chance of entering the Hall of Fame for this project. Here are the rules for this project.

  • Each team must use, at the very least, ONE Dark Horse Pokemon. A Dark Horse Pokemon is any pokemon that falls below 4% usage on last month's stats. All the other members of your team can be any Pokemon you wish, so long as they do not fall into the Uber tier.
  • You must use a NEW Pokemon Showdown! account, and not one with previous laddering points. The team you use can shift, but the Dark Horse Pokemon must remain constant on the account.
  • Switching Dark Horse Pokemon is acceptable, but you must restart with a new account if you do, as well as posting in this thread informing the leaders of the project.
  • Put all changes in your original registration form, as well as sending the leaders of the project a visitor message. If you do not, then I cannot promise a swift update to your official registration.
  • Do not start laddering until you've registered in this topic.

Registration:

Registration is not limited to a certain time period only. As long as this project is running, you may register. There will be a post in this thread later to keep track of all participants, as well as links, so don't worry about your registration getting lost in the sea of discussion.

Fill out this form to register:
Pokemon Showdown! Username:
Prior Hall of Fame Standing:
Current Dark Horse Pokemon:
Current Ladder Standing:
Remember - the Pokemon Showdown! Username should be something that has no ranking on the OU ladder, so all your points will have been affected by your Dark Horse team, and only your Dark Horse team! Currently the HoF standing should be empty, but when you've entered the Hall of Fame, feel free to update your post with your standing!

Also, that signup sheet is a basic skeleton - you're more than welcome to add stuff like sprites, images, replays and thoughts to your registration post that would improve it!

Discussion:

This topic should also be used to discuss teambuilding and laddering thoughts and progress. Share your struggles and successes, and discuss your Dark Horse's niche in the OU metagame. This is a place not only to show off warstories/replays/rankings you are proud of, but to also help others achieve their goals! This isn't a competition or a tournament, it's a community project. Here's a basic Do/Do Not listing for those who are wonder what is encouraged, and what is frowned on:

  • Do post and share sets for your Dark Horse Pokemon, as well as teammates.
  • Do discuss threats to your Dark Horse, or your team as a whole.
  • Do ask questions (and by extension, answer other's) regarding the current OU metagame and teambuilding.

  • Do not post insignificant updates - while it's great you broke your previous record or something similar, it does not encourage discussion. Posts should be thought through and unique.
  • Do not ask people to make teams for you. You may ask for thoughts regarding teammates, and individual sets, but do not ask for people to build a team around your Dark Horse Pokemon for you.

Hall of Fame

Now here comes the competitive part. Once you've reached a ranking within the Top 100 on Smogon's competitive OU ladder (with a minimum Glicko2 rating of 2000) with your Dark Horse Pokemon, you may enter the Hall of Fame! Once you are eligible, please fill out this registration form:

Pokemon Showdown! Username:
Dark Horse Pokemon:
Screenshot of the Top 100 Ladder Ranking:
Dark Horse Complete Set:
Even more so than the regular Registration Form, you are highly encouraged to post thoughts, warstories, sets and other related information so others can learn from your success! Once you've filled out the form, you'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Now, the final catch to this project is: only 1 of each Dark Horse Pokemon is allowed into the Hall of Fame each month. For example, only the challenger who laddered highest with Jolteon will be accepted this month; Jolteon challengers with lower ladder ratings cannot enter the Hall of Fame until they pass the highest rating for Jolteon.
 

a fairy

is a Tournament Directoris a Site Content Manageris a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Smogon Discord Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Community Leader

Credit goes to Aluriiya, who gave special permission to use this.

Previous Hall of Fame and HoF Archives can be found here and at the bottom of this post.

Currently the Hall of Fame is empty, but you could be the first!



Gold Class: 2199 - 2100 & top 25:

Silver Class: 2099 - 2050 & top 50:

Bronze Class: 2049 - 2000 & top 100:
 

a fairy

is a Tournament Directoris a Site Content Manageris a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Smogon Discord Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Community Leader
Hey there, almost done! This is the post where we will keep track of all registered participants! If you are not here or your post is not updated, then let me know! I'm on plenty of IRC channels most of the day, including #insidescoop, #grammar, and #mentor.


One registration post per Dark Horse(s), and keep it up to date! When you achieve HoF status with a Dark Horse(s), always update the original post! That way, when we need to update our lists, we can just skip through the registration list. You can make a new post as well to let us know, but always make sure the updates for ladder ranking, alt name, etc are in the original post. We cannot guarantee that we will notice ANY data outside of them. I spent over 2 hours updating my list last month; doing this saves us a lot of time.

You are permitted to use the same Dark Horse as someone else, if that wasn't clear - there are no reservations, no rush, etc, and overlap is certainly allowed. Remember, though, that only one of each Dark Horse, and its associated user, can get into the Hall of Fame per month! You can also ladder with as many Dark Horses at a time as you like. If you reach the Hall of Fame cutoff with multiple Horses at once, they ALL go into the Hall of Fame with you. And remember, even if someone else takes your Dark Horse to the Hall of Fame first, you CAN take it back by beating their ladder rating, so don't give up easily! Be tenacious and ladder to the top!

If you've already reached the Hall of Fame this month, you can continue to participate in the project by either creating a new alt and choosing a new Dark Horse, or simply improving your Hall of Fame record even further. You've got one month, and an ocean of Pokemon, OU - we sure aren't going to stop you from trying all of them!

Our regulations have changed a bit this month. Any Pokemon with more than 4% usage in OU for the month of October is an ineligible Dark Horse. We operate on the honor system, of course. We highly recommend you check this list I've put together, to make sure your Dark Horse selection is legal.

Alakazam
Blissey
Breloom
Celebi
Cloyster
Conkeldurr
Donphan
Dragonite
Espeon
Ferrothorn
Forretress
Garchomp
Gastrodon
Gengar
Gliscor
Gyarados
Haxorus
Heatran
Hydregion
Infernape
Jellicent
Jirachi
Jolteon
Keldeo
Kyurem-Black
Landorus-Therian
Latias
Latios
Lucario
Magnezone
Mamoswine
Metagross
Ninetales
Politoed
Rotom-Wash
Salamence
Scizor
Skarmory
Starmie
Tentracruel
Terrakion
Thundurus-Therian
Toxicroak
Tyranitar
Vaporeon
Venusaur
Volcarona


---

Last Update: 9/3 @ 11:10

Current Participants:

Pokemon Showdown! Username: Scotti.W
Prior Hall of Fame Standing:None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon:Kingdra and Tornadus
Current Ladder Standing:1007
#4


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Slight Of Hand
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: N/A
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Reuniclus
Current Ladder Standing: 1007
#5


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Sylaro
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Mienshao and Sableye
Current Ladder Standing: None yet
#6


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Feeling The Rush
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Reuniclus
Current Ladder Standing: None yet
#7


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Future Dimension
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Abomasnow, Reuniclus, Cofagrigus, Escavalier
Current Ladder Standing: None
#8


Showdown username: relicanth rider
Prior hall of fame standing: None
Current dark horse pokemon: Abomasnow
Ladder standing: 1007
#9


Pokemon Showdown! Username: let it hail
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon:abomasnow/glaceon/chandelure/bronong/slowking/dugtrio
Current Ladder Standing: none
#10


Pokemon Showdown! Username: HailDarkHorse
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: At one point I hit it with Walrein, but that was forever ago.
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Abomasnow
Current Ladder Standing: none
#12


Pokemon Showdown! Username: DarkProject
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: No
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Kyurem
Current Ladder Standing : 1376
#13


Pokemon Showdown! Username: goutland
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Klinklang
Current Ladder Standing: none
#14


Pokemon Showdown Username: all eyez on me
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Kyurem / Chandelure
Current Ladder Standing: None
#15


Pokemon Showdown! Username: OTR
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: N/A
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Slowbro
Current Ladder Standing: N/A
#16


Pokemon Showdown! Username: hp gout
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Articuno / Abomasnow / Tornadus
Current Ladder Standing: None
#17


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Dark Godot
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Sharpedo
Current Ladder Standing: None
#18


Pokemon Showdown! Username: ReuniGG
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Reuniclus
Current Ladder Standing: None
#19


Pokemon Showdown! Username: thatmoltresguy2.0
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: moltres/chansey
Current Ladder Standing: 2134
#20


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Magmortar HO7
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Tornadus/Raikou/Mienshao
Current Ladder Standing: none
#21


Pokemon Showdown! Username: G0LDeneye
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Dugtrio
Current Ladder Standing: 1557
#22


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Double Trouble 2
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: Nope
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Togekiss
Current Ladder Standing: None
#23


Pokemon Showdown! Username: Roy Makaay
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: Nope
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Kingdra
Current Ladder Standing: None
 
Last edited:

Scotti

we back.
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Scotti.W
Prior Hall of Fame Standing:None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon:Kingdra and Tornadus
Current Ladder Standing:1007
 

Dr Ciel

Banned deucer.
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Slight Of Hand

Prior Hall of Fame Standing: N/A

Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Reuniclus

Current Ladder Standing: 1007
 
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Sylaro
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Mienshao and Sableye
Current Ladder Standing: None yet

Btw, if I decide later to stop using one of my dark horses but not the other, do I still have to start over on a new account?
 
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Feeling The Rush
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Reuniclus
Current Ladder Standing: None yet


EDIT:
got bored so ya changing stuff

Pokemon Showdown! Username: TAONU PRIDE
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Liepard / Fearow / Kabutops / Scrafty / Cradily / Mightyena
Current Ladder Standing: none
 
Last edited:

ScraftyIsTheBest

On to new Horizons!
is a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Future Dimension
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Abomasnow, Reuniclus, Cofagrigus, Escavalier
Current Ladder Standing: None
 
Hi you have infername on the list instead of infernape.


Showdown username: qhrtocnsocnicfni relicanth rider
Prior hall of fame standing: None
Current dark horse pokemon: swalot
Current ladder standing: 882

Current dark horse pokemon: Abomasnow
Ladder standing: 1007

 
Pokemon Showdown! Username: let it hail
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon:abomasnow/glaceon/chandelure/bronong/slowking/dugtrio
Current Ladder Standing: none
 

a fairy

is a Tournament Directoris a Site Content Manageris a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Smogon Discord Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Top Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Community Leader
Btw, if I decide later to stop using one of my dark horses but not the other, do I still have to start over on a new account?
Only if you do not add a Pokemon to your list of Dark Horses. Otherwise, you may continue using the previous account.
 

jpw234

Catastrophic Event Specialist
Pokemon Showdown! Username: HailDarkHorse
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: At one point I hit it with Walrein, but that was forever ago.
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Abomasnow
Current Ladder Standing: none
 
Pokemon Showdown! Username: goutland
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Klinklang
Current Ladder Standing: none

I wish people would use more (f)un-viable shit like me in these challenges, but what can you do when there's already so many good *actually* viable lower tier mons. I'm in with Klinklang this time.

Also, shouldn't this project wait to start until the suspect ladders are gone? Since the suspect test JUST ended, everyone's gonna have to restart by tomorrow anyway.
 

PDC

street spirit fade out
is a Team Rater Alumnusis a Top Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Four-Time Past WCoP Champion
Pokemon Showdown Username: all eyez on me
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Kyurem / Chandelure
Current Ladder Standing: None
 
Last edited:
Pokemon Showdown! Username: OTR
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: N/A
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Slowbro
Current Ladder Standing: N/A

Maybe will end up using more if they turn out being great partners. Also waiting until the ladder resets (today) to start.
 
Last updated 9/8

Pokemon Showdown! Username: hp gout
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Articuno / Abomasnow / Tornadus
Current Ladder Standing: #36 (2157 ACRE)
Screenshot of the Top 50 Ladder Ranking:

Dark Horse Complete Set:

Articuno @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 232 Spd / 24 HP
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Blizzard
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Tailwind


Abomasnow @ Focus Sash
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 176 SAtk / 80 Spd / 252 Atk
Mild Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard


Tornadus @ Expert Belt
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Atk
Naive Nature
- Hurricane
- Superpower
- U-turn
- Tailwind


Got a good win streak going until I hit 2100 acre and 11-0. Then I started facing a bunch of people with like 2200+ acre and things got a bit messy.
 
Last edited:
Pokemon Showdown! Username: thatmoltresguy2.0
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: moltres/chansey
Current Ladder Standing: 23º - 2157
02/09-4:57pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT(03/09): Current Ladder Standing: 2134 ladder reset =/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT(05/09): Current Ladder Standing: 2157
darkhorseproject.jpg
 
Last edited:
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Magmortar HO7
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: none
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Tornadus/Raikou/Mienshao
Current Ladder Standing: none
 
Last edited:
Pokemon Showdown! Username: G0LDeneye
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: None
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Dugtrio
Current Ladder Standing: 1557

I did two battles before remembering to sign up, hope that's okay.
 
Last edited:
This sounds like fun =) I think it's time to revive my old paraflinch team ^^

Pokemon Showdown! Username: Double Trouble 2
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: Nope
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Togekiss and Hitmontop
Current Ladder Standing: None

Edit: As I haven't started laddering yet, I've decided to add Hitmontop as a dark horse pokémon. If this is againts the rules then I'll just change back.
 
Last edited:
Pokemon Showdown! Username: Roy Makaay
Prior Hall of Fame Standing: Nope
Current Dark Horse Pokemon: Kingdra
Current Ladder Standing: None
 

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