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Old Feb 1st, 2013, 5:09:25 PM   #1
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Big thanks to Antar for these.

January 2013 Usage Stats


January 2013 UU Lead Usage


Metagame Analysis


And now for the moveset statistics.

As for the stats, Heracross at the top was expected. The Top 5 is same as always, Mienshao is still commanding its Top 5 spot). Gligar breaks Top 10 range for some reason--it's really not that good. Crobat finally breaking the top 15, showing its worth in the UU meta--good to see that. Hitmontop is still obnoxiously high at #15. Rhyperior breaks Top 20, Cofagrigus makes #22, which is a nice rise in usage. The big skyrocket here is Froslass; she goes up to #24 all the way from #41! Honchkrow breaks #25, which is interesting, perhaps its boss Moxie sweeping prowess goes to bring it up here. Ambipom usage went down quite considerably, but its still not quite as low as it should be, imo. Abomasnow hasn't made as big a splash hit as expected, sitting down at #49, among the wrenches of Bisharp and Meloetta. Speaking of which, it also looks like Bisharp, Mismagius, and Krookodile aren't leaving the tier just yet. Dusclops is close, though, and it's about time it leaves. Nidoqueen might very well be back in UU next tier shift.

Commentary by ScraftyIsTheBest, edited by kokoloko.

That is all.

Antar sez: Guys, in case you didn't realize, for the first time ever, THESE STATS ARE WEIGHTED! Just keep that in mind.
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Old Feb 1st, 2013, 6:39:23 PM   #2
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I can't believe Blastoise has gotten that popular. I mean, it's the only good Rapid Spinner, but I figured teams would just neglect to run one instead of using Blastoise. Glad to see Crobat finally getting real usage. Nidoqueen is still FAR too low though.

I think I personally bumped Medicham up 15+ places this month with my team :3
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Old Feb 1st, 2013, 7:00:16 PM   #3
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With things like Crobat on the rise (which is very well deserved), people tend to be in need of a spinner; and with Blastoise being the best spinner in the tier, I am not suprised by its constant usage.
Not only Crobat, but Honchkrow, Froslass and other SR weak Pokés become more and more popular. But the one major flaw of those is still the Rock weakness, so yeah, no suprises here. Blastoise gets the job done when needed.

and lol @ Crobat teammates:
...

The Crobat + Rhyperior + Blastoise defensive core seems to be pretty efficient actually (putting Zapdos aside >_>)

Looking further down, I see a lot of underappreciation of Tornadus, Yanmega, Rotom-H and Azumarill. But well, I guess they are kinda harder to fit into teams because of ... Rock ... weaknesses ... and ... stuff.
I think the big Problem about Azumarill is the fact that most people tend to use only one Water type on their team (which is a wise thing to do imo), and that one Water type usually ends up being a more defensive one (mainly Blastoise and Slowbro and sometimes Suicune though, haven't seen Milotic or Empoleon in ages) so offensive Water types such as Sharpedo and Azumarill don't find any room (but god damn, both Azumarill and Sharpedo are such monsters).

And good old Houndoom still guarding the entrance of the UU tier. While I hope it would stay here, I actually wouldn't mind being able to use it in RU (so that its 95 speed becomes somewhat relevant again in terms of sweeping)
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Old Feb 1st, 2013, 7:29:28 PM   #4
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Victini is also quite popular, probably because of its fantastic coverage and sheer power (the ability helps with Focus Blast abuse too). That is probably why Chandelure is so popular. If it is now, wait until Shadow Tag is released! (by the way does anybody know when that is?)
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Old Feb 1st, 2013, 7:45:05 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat cim View Post
I can't believe Blastoise has gotten that popular. I mean, it's the only good Rapid Spinner, but I figured teams would just neglect to run one instead of using Blastoise. Glad to see Crobat finally getting real usage. Nidoqueen is still FAR too low though.

I think I personally bumped Medicham up 15+ places this month with my team :3
That would be the logical thing to do, but it seems most people seem in favor of using a spinner, regardless of whether or not it loses them a significant amount of momentum.

Nidoqueen finally is getting UU usage, but I agree that it is still too low. I'm still shocked Gligar is this high. Again, it was not even remotely close to top 10 until we did the Gen V UU Challenge for Rock Bottom. It was outside top 30 at that point... and it just doesn't seem like it's going to drop back down ever.

Froslass is actually being used, it looks like. That was sitting down at the bottom of the barrel for the longest time, but it's up into top 25 now. Why is Togekiss so low at 31? It's really good guys :(
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Old Feb 1st, 2013, 11:33:04 PM   #6
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Honchkrow and Froslass have been majorly underrated for quite a while now, its great to see them getting the usage they deserve. I was shocked a few months ago when I saw they were useable in the Rock Bottom challenge, along with Pokemon like Cobalion. Honchkrow is a very scary sweeper, and while it might not be able to KO all the opposing team due to lots of recoil, it will definitely take a good many with it if you play it correctly. It can serve as a mid game sweeper to break apart the opponent's team for a different sweeper, and its a good late game cleaner as well with that killer Sucker Punch. One of my favorite things to do with Honchkrow is run Pursuit in the final slot. Pursuit/Sucker Punch mind games are nothing new, but opponent's often don't expect Pursuit on Honchkrow, so they are a little easier to win. That, and if you do KO your quarry, not only are they playing with one less mon, they're facing your +1 Honchkrow, which is a terrifying Pokemon. A lot of good players have been hyping Froslass lately, and I guess its payed off. Well deserved, because it throws Spikes up for aggressive teams incredibly well.

Just a random, strange occurrence: Mew's usage is actually higher in the raw stats. This could lend some credence to the users that have said "I haven't seen many good Mew players," which was what several senators said imo. This doesn't show its overall usefulness in battle, just an interesting note.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 12:01:35 AM   #7
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I'm glad Honchkrow's usage is on the rise, it can decimate teams if they're unprepared for it. Looking at the stats Nidoqueen is by far the most underrated thing on there, I honestly think its better than Nidoking. Also what does everyone think'll happen when Chandelure gets Shadow Tag? Will it just go straight up to OU, no questions asked?
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 12:54:19 AM   #8
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PTJon7 and Explorer- Chandelure is going right to Ubers as soon as Shadow Tag is released. Access to Flame Charge, Calm Mind, and base 145 SpAtk means that the opposing team will not be able to choice-lock itself into any fire, fighting, normal, and probably bug type move without instantaneously losing the battle. Goth went from NU to OU when it got Shadow Tag, and it isn't exactly quality. No immunities, two resistances (one of them being psychic) and horrid base stats really don't offer much. Chandelure is tied for the most immunities in the game (Rotom says hi), has set-up moves that don't leave it high and dry as soon as it has killed the trapped mon (Calm Mind, Acid Armor, and Flame Charge say hi), and quite frankly the elimination of specific typed moves on choiced users will not be healthy for any game. And uh, if you look at the top mons in the tier real quick, you can quickly pick out the ones that would stop existing. Most notably, the #1. I'm certain it's shooting out of UU at just about light speed when Shadow Tag is released, and the possibility of it staying in OU is so slim due to the over-centralization it would cause.

Oh, and we killed Charizard. It's out of the top 100.

Beyond that, I really don't like how usage is going. I don't think Blastoise, Chandelure, Gligar, Flygon, Umbreon, or Crobat are really all that great. I guess Blastoise makes sense, because as said, it exists as the best spinner, but in a perfect world its usage would in fact be lower. Chandelure is still a one-trick pony in my book, Gligar is out-walled by a whole bunch of stuff and remains quad weak to ice as hail is re-introduced to the tier, Flygon doesn't pack enough punch as an offensive mon, Umbreon is weak to stuff it really doesn't want to be weak to, and Crobat really doesn't do much (woo, quad resists grass and fighting attacks but is still weak to SR, Volt Switch, and has very sub-standard attack). I think stuff like Mew, Empoleon, Shaymin, Xatu, Azumarill, Sharpedo, Yanmega, Rotom-H, Tornadus, Venomoth, Amoongus, and Hitmonlee all deserve to be a little bit higher up on that list.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 1:08:37 AM   #9
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Chandelure might not hit Uber. It's SR-Weak, loses to Rain, that might be enough.

And keep using Nidoqueen, she's damn good, and it's nice to see UU recognizing what RU has always known.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 1:54:54 AM   #10
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I just want to note that venomoth really deserves more usage, it can easily set up quiver dances and send to sleep whatever gives him trouble. Also, Blastoise might not be the best poke but in a tier with excellent fire, ice, and flying pokes being around people just need a spinner, and there's not much else to choose than blastoise imo.(hitmontop doesnt sucks that much but claydol... RU would like you i guess)
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 2:54:24 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Cesterp View Post
PTJon7 and Explorer- Chandelure is going right to Ubers as soon as Shadow Tag is released. Access to Flame Charge, Calm Mind, and base 145 SpAtk means that the opposing team will not be able to choice-lock itself into any fire, fighting, normal, and probably bug type move without instantaneously losing the battle.
People aren't going to choice lock themselves into any of those types until your Chandelure in dead, I guess it punished certain revenge killers by switching in after they use their moves... To be honest a Flame Charge + Calm Mind seems too lacking as a move pool to be that impressive, there will probably be other sets that do a better job. If it's really good people will just run Aqua Jet. The fact that Chandelure is SR weak and can be Pursuit trapped for the KO doesn't help its case. Anyways, I think it can stay in the format without all that much trouble, but it's almost sure people will want it out.

It gets utterly destroyed by Baton Pass! Woooooooot! (it can be used as a pretty odd finisher for BP too)
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 3:23:52 AM   #12
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Shitmontop. Why?

Still upset by Claydol's usage.

Also Nidoqueen needs to be wayyyy higher.

Overall not too surprising though; this is about what I expected. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but eh, if people want to use poor Pokémon I don't mind, haha.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 3:29:20 AM   #13
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These stats seem pretty accurate for the most part. I am disappointed at how sparse hail teams were on the ladder, and Abomasnow's rank at #49 reflects that. However, I'm glad that Froslass is rising in usage, as it's one of the best Pokes in the entire tier, in my opinion.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 3:40:13 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat cim View Post
I can't believe Blastoise has gotten that popular. I mean, it's the only good Rapid Spinner, but I figured teams would just neglect to run one instead of using Blastoise. Glad to see Crobat finally getting real usage. Nidoqueen is still FAR too low though.

I think I personally bumped Medicham up 15+ places this month with my team :3
I think it has a lot to do with so many of UU's powerhouses being Fire-types (Chandelure, Darmanitan, Victini). Spin support is a great assistance to these Pokemon, and Blastoise has good type synergy with them, so it's an obvious choice. Still, must say I'm surprised to see it at #2...

Sad to see Meloetta, Zoroark and Krookodile so close to RU, but then again, maybe RU will be a nicer home to these guys. Krookodile wouldn't have to deal with competition from Heracross (who completely and utterly outclasses it), Meloetta would be a pretty nice check to Nidoqueen, and Zoroark... well, Zoroark would still be Zoroark, but that's not a totally bad thing :X
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 11:51:07 AM   #15
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Abomasnow's presence is probably another reason Frosslass has been used more.
Speaking of Abomasnow, its usage is way too low.
As the only weather summoner in the tier, its ability to turn things like Rotom-F and Walrein into complete nightmares to face should definitely deserve more usage.
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Old Feb 2nd, 2013, 2:29:18 PM   #16
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Pokes (with >3.406 usage) ordered by avg. weight:

Nidoqueen (82.74%)
Abomasnow
Raikou
Gligar
Mienshao
Zapdos
Suicune
Cobalion
Chandelure
Shaymin
Roserade
Snorlax
Hitmontop
Blastoise
Cofagrigus
Azelf
Virizion
Rhyperior
Tornadus
Victini
Porygon2
Heracross
Crobat
Scrafty
Flygon
Slowbro
Darmanitan
Empoleon
Kingdra
Froslass (the median poke/ 70.28%)
Swampert
Rotom-Heat
Nidoking
Sableye
Meloetta
Honchkrow
Bronzong
Weavile
Umbreon
Mew
Sharpedo
Mismagius
Yanmega
Azumarill
Xatu
Togekiss
Arcanine
Porygon-Z
Bisharp
Claydol
Krookodile
Registeel
Milotic
Machamp
Zoroark
Houndoom
Dusclops
Ambipom (56.77%)

Hail teams seem to be performing well, as most of the pokemon near the top of this list are pokemon that hail teams really like having. Also, pokemon normally said to be the worst of UU (Ambipom, Claydol, Dusclops, Registeel) seem to be justified with their low average weight (no surprise here). I'm surprised that Bisharp is so low though (he tends to sweep teams by himself when I use him).
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Old Feb 4th, 2013, 6:22:21 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Cesterp View Post
PTJon7 and Explorer- Chandelure is going right to Ubers as soon as Shadow Tag is released. Access to Flame Charge, Calm Mind, and base 145 SpAtk means that the opposing team will not be able to choice-lock itself into any fire, fighting, normal, and probably bug type move without instantaneously losing the battle.
Hate to break it to you, but Chandelure doesn't get Flash Fire and Shadow Tag at the same time. It can only have one or the other. Many Fire-type STAB moves from Darmanitan and Victini can 2HKO the 'mon, which is one of many reasons why it doesn't run Flame Body.

Also, Bug-type moves aren't an issue when one can just U-turn out into something which lols at Chandelure. It's not going to Ubers, although I reckon it will be a BL mon when it gets Shadow Tag just because this tier has less things to prepare for ST Chand than OU does (for one thing, permanent Sand). This is assuming Chandelure won't be suspected later on.
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Old Feb 4th, 2013, 8:07:06 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat /B/utterfree View Post
Hate to break it to you, but Chandelure doesn't get Flash Fire and Shadow Tag at the same time. It can only have one or the other. Many Fire-type STAB moves from Darmanitan and Victini can 2HKO the 'mon, which is one of many reasons why it doesn't run Flame Body.

Also, Bug-type moves aren't an issue when one can just U-turn out into something which lols at Chandelure. It's not going to Ubers, although I reckon it will be a BL mon when it gets Shadow Tag just because this tier has less things to prepare for ST Chand than OU does (for one thing, permanent Sand). This is assuming Chandelure won't be suspected later on.
Not too sure we're open to speculating since things do change from how they originally panned out, take Ditto for instance, just going to point out that trappers are kinda a big deal in OU (its what propelled Dugtrio up there after all) because of its impact on the weather game. Other than that it is a very potent revenge killer by merit of its ability, and its typing isn't exactly a slouch either. I'd say that ST Lure would deserve more credit than you're giving him especially when unlike the other trappers this one is blessed with an extraordinarily high attacking stat and good STABS, well its better than Psychic, in addition to having immunities (giving it switch in opportunities). Still... given that the new Pokemon game will be release sometime this year I wonder if we'll ever see ST Lure I mean Halloween was kinda the most opportune festivity to release it but they missed out on that.

As for Flame Body or Flash Fire I would think that its just see-sawed back to Flash fire recently with the drop of trace P2 in popularity as a counter to Lure.
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Old Feb 7th, 2013, 6:42:20 PM   #19
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Chandelure's living on borrowed time. Even if OU doesn't knee-jerk it to Ubers, surely it'll get enough usage to make it OU on it's own merits.

Speaking of OU, anyone else look at their stats and get nervous about Haxorus and Reuniclus sitting right on the precipice of UU?
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Old Feb 7th, 2013, 7:48:22 PM   #20
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The one thing I can guarantee will happen once Chandelure gets Shadow Tag is this; regardless of whether it winds up in BL, OU, or Ubers, Chandelure will basically bid farewell to UU.

| 16 | Arcanine | 11.58286% | 21460 | 12.056% | 17833 | 12.087% |
| 17 | Darmanitan | 11.53331% | 19995 | 11.233% | 16367 | 11.093% |

Looks like these to are still battling for more usage, but seems like Vicky has thrown RK9 and Darma out of the Top 10.

| 41 | Machamp | 6.28760% | 12068 | 6.779% | 10112 | 6.854% |

Meh.

| 57 | Zoroark | 3.82703% | 7507 | 4.217% | 3349 | 2.270% |

Why so low? Zoroark is a great sweeper and makes nice synergy with Heracross and Cofagrigus...

| 59 | Chansey | 3.48294% | 5056 | 2.840% | 4295 | 2.911% |

Wow, so the blob was really this popular prior to the quickban.
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Old Feb 8th, 2013, 12:48:50 PM   #21
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No way ST Chandelure is UU or even BL. A fire-type trapper who can easily revenge the weather starters? Every sun team in OU will start packing it.
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Old Feb 8th, 2013, 1:48:48 PM   #22
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Yea, Chandelure's gone when ST comes out. I'd actually like to suspect it before then because it's the most broken thing in the tier. There simply is no safe switch for the Specs set other than Snorlax (who always just gets tricked).
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