NOTE: This is a little outdated as I wrote it in the beginning of July - and updated it a little bit to reflect some of the recent issues. This analysis reflects the standard metagame, not the suspect test ladder.
With the advent of the Smogon server and the many changes that accompanied it, along with the new suspect ladder, the analysis of the metagame is something that needs to be done in order to mark the changes so that we as a community is able to make the best decision possible in the upcoming suspect change metagame.
This is an analysis of the standard metagame, sans Wobbuffet, as of the month of August of 2008.
It is an understatement to say Stealth Rock is a major part of the metagame. The better statement is that Stealth Rock is the metagame itself. Most damage calculations for sweepers are now done assuming that Stealth Rock will be in play. There has been calls to ban Stealth Rock, or at least test it. To attest to this claim is the Stealth Rock arms race.
What is the Stealth Rock arms race? It is the use of the item Focus Sash in order to Taunt to halt the opponent's Stealth Rocks and Stealth Rock to set up the rocks themselves. It is the race to stop your opponent's Stealth Rock and set up your own - often sacrificing your lead to do so.
Because many lead Pokemon carry Stealth Rock, the opening leads now carry ways to stop it. Gengar is a popular lead since it is able to bring Pokemon to sleep with ease, preventing the use of Stealth Rock. No longer do people attempt to lead with Pokemon to jump start their momentum, such as Salamence and Weavile. Taunt Gyarados has also taken it's effect as very few people lead with their Hippowdons and Swamperts now, even though the use of Gyarados has diminished due to Gengar being the most popular lead. In order to deal with Gengar, many leads now carry Lum Berry in an attempt to take the initial hypnosis and deal with Gengar back. Because Hippowdon and Swampert lack a way to take down Gengar, they're no longer popular, and now Bronzong is a more popular lead - it's ability to Hypnosis, Set up Rocks, and deal with some top tier threats such as Garchomp and Mamoswine makes us realize why this absolutely hideous Pokemon is OU.
Azelf, with its fast taunt and its ability to melt enemy Bronzongs, and its ability to set up Stealth Rock is perhaps another excellent lead. Is it any wonder that Azelfs were the #1 lead in the official server? Azelfs serve as an example of a suicide lead, along with Deoxys, who can Taunt, set up Stealth Rock, and then run Light Screen and Reflect to ease the next Pokemon's attempt to set up a sweeper.
The current metagame is also very centralized around dealing with Garchomp. Every team must be able to deal with Garchomp in some way - hence the rise of bulky waters, grounds, and steels who are very defensive. The most effective offensive type combination in the metagame currently is Grass and Fire - which reflects the current centralization around steels, grounds, and bulky waters.
If we spoil ourselves with the thought that the metagame measures power by usage - Garchomp is easily the #1 threat in the metagame. It is so powerful that the usage continues to rise month after month despite the countermeasures developed to deal with it. If it carries Yache Berry, it can even take down one of it's counters and greatly harm the other before going down. If it carries Scarf, expect it to be one of the most efficient revenge killers in the game, at times even outspeeding Deoxys E and KOing it. Its defensive prowess is nothing to skimp over either - its ability to switch into threats such as Lucario shows how useful it is defensively.
The threat to watch out for next is of course, Lucario. The Sword Dance set became it's most powerful set (again, measuring power by usage), sweeping through the end game with Extreme Speed and being able to KO the biggest physical walls even after Stealth Rock. It is a threat that is difficult to revenge kill, unless it manages to outspeed Lucario and resists and or immune to Extremespeed. Because many fast ghosts attempt to stop Lucario, expect some to even carry Bullet Punch. Because now people expect Lucario to Sword Dance whenever it switches in, maybe it is quite the time for SpecsLuke, despite the fact that Lucario can no longer 2HKO Blissey with Aura Sphere since Blissey has started carrying SpDef EVs in order to deal with the biggest special threats.
Perhaps Lucario and Garchomp is the biggest factor that turn the metagame into a bulky one. Pokemon such as Celebi and Zapdos quickly rose to popularity - being able to deal with such threats as Garchomp, Lucario, Gyarados. Choice Scarf Heatran is also the revenge killer of choice - being resistant to Extreme Speed and being able to revenge kill both Garchomp and Lucario, amongst many other threats and explode on threats that the team can't deal with. Heatran's ability to prey on the enormous Fire weak in the current metagame is, however, it's greatest utility.
Don't expect threats like Gyarados to be overlooked however. Realizing it's folly to switch into Garchomps who commonly carry Substitute and Yache Berry, many Gyarados are now more and more offensive - being able to KO many of it's supposed counters or at least cripple them. Max Attack Gyarados are more and more common, holding onto a Life Orb to make it more and more deadly, with enough speed to take down it's worst nemesis, Starmie down after a Bite or Earthquake, Nearly 2HKOing Vaporeon with Stone Edge while OHKOing Zapdos, and even crippling Celebis with Ice Fang and in the meanwhile sweeping through many threats with it's physical Water attacks.
Salamence in the meanwhile, are nearly all mixed or Dragon Dancers. Specsmence are rare in sight - perhaps because Stealth Rock makes life difficult for it and being able to stay in as long as possible is very useful for Salamence. Expect Salamence to Dragon Dance and Roost, or carry Life Orb and hit with Draco Meteor and then hit Pokemon with it's massive physical attack.
Gengar is the second most used Pokemon - and it no longer needs to be unpredictable to be useful (but being unpredictable of course, helps it in the long run) - particularly because the metagame is so centralized around these physical threats. Gengar is commonly Scarfed - in order to avoid being so easily preyed by Weavile. Perhaps it is because of Gengar that many Tyranitar now carry spdef so it can take a focus blast and KO it back.
With the emphasis on Physical Offense, and it's temporary loss of Wish, it is no surprise that Blissey usage has declined. Vaporeon in the meanwhile rose to fill in it's niche - being able to deal with Gyarados and Garchomp while being able to pass Wish.
Infernape is still around, perhaps because of it's excellent speed and it's ability to hit the metagame with a fantastic offensive combination that has more utility than Bolt Beam in this metagame - Grass and Fire. Having access to a special Grass and Fire Attack in a physically geared metagame, and it's ability to KO Blissey, it is no surprise that many teams in RMT are weak to Infernape. Infernapes now even carry HP Ice instead of Nasty Plot to stop the Dragons from threatening it - perhaps the biggest reason being able to revenge kill Garchomp.
The effect Deoxys E has on the metagame is stunning, effectively proving itself to be the best clean up sweeper in the game. Deoxys E only forces the metagame to become more and more bulky - as it does it job a little bit too well, being able to deal with it's weakened counters and it's fantastic speed being able to easily clean up whatever remains of the opponent's team. Deoxys E has rose tremendously in usage - not just because of its sweeping prowess but also for the fastest Taunt in the game, a clear nuclear option in the Stealth Rock arms race. This explains the rise of Metagross and Scizor. Both being able to switch into any of Deoxys E's attacks and Pursuit it or hit it with a Priority attack.
Nidoqueen is surprisingly becoming popular, for it's ability to absorb toxic spikes, set up toxic spikes, and additionally countering Heracross and SD Lucario. Forrestress and Starmie use shows the emphasis the metagame has on the entrance hazards such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. It is no surprise that Tentacruel found a niche in OU while Roserade has now become OU again - with its ability to absorb Toxic Spikes and set up their own.
With the advent of the Smogon server and the many changes that accompanied it, along with the new suspect ladder, the analysis of the metagame is something that needs to be done in order to mark the changes so that we as a community is able to make the best decision possible in the upcoming suspect change metagame.
This is an analysis of the standard metagame, sans Wobbuffet, as of the month of August of 2008.
It is an understatement to say Stealth Rock is a major part of the metagame. The better statement is that Stealth Rock is the metagame itself. Most damage calculations for sweepers are now done assuming that Stealth Rock will be in play. There has been calls to ban Stealth Rock, or at least test it. To attest to this claim is the Stealth Rock arms race.
What is the Stealth Rock arms race? It is the use of the item Focus Sash in order to Taunt to halt the opponent's Stealth Rocks and Stealth Rock to set up the rocks themselves. It is the race to stop your opponent's Stealth Rock and set up your own - often sacrificing your lead to do so.
Because many lead Pokemon carry Stealth Rock, the opening leads now carry ways to stop it. Gengar is a popular lead since it is able to bring Pokemon to sleep with ease, preventing the use of Stealth Rock. No longer do people attempt to lead with Pokemon to jump start their momentum, such as Salamence and Weavile. Taunt Gyarados has also taken it's effect as very few people lead with their Hippowdons and Swamperts now, even though the use of Gyarados has diminished due to Gengar being the most popular lead. In order to deal with Gengar, many leads now carry Lum Berry in an attempt to take the initial hypnosis and deal with Gengar back. Because Hippowdon and Swampert lack a way to take down Gengar, they're no longer popular, and now Bronzong is a more popular lead - it's ability to Hypnosis, Set up Rocks, and deal with some top tier threats such as Garchomp and Mamoswine makes us realize why this absolutely hideous Pokemon is OU.
Azelf, with its fast taunt and its ability to melt enemy Bronzongs, and its ability to set up Stealth Rock is perhaps another excellent lead. Is it any wonder that Azelfs were the #1 lead in the official server? Azelfs serve as an example of a suicide lead, along with Deoxys, who can Taunt, set up Stealth Rock, and then run Light Screen and Reflect to ease the next Pokemon's attempt to set up a sweeper.
The current metagame is also very centralized around dealing with Garchomp. Every team must be able to deal with Garchomp in some way - hence the rise of bulky waters, grounds, and steels who are very defensive. The most effective offensive type combination in the metagame currently is Grass and Fire - which reflects the current centralization around steels, grounds, and bulky waters.
If we spoil ourselves with the thought that the metagame measures power by usage - Garchomp is easily the #1 threat in the metagame. It is so powerful that the usage continues to rise month after month despite the countermeasures developed to deal with it. If it carries Yache Berry, it can even take down one of it's counters and greatly harm the other before going down. If it carries Scarf, expect it to be one of the most efficient revenge killers in the game, at times even outspeeding Deoxys E and KOing it. Its defensive prowess is nothing to skimp over either - its ability to switch into threats such as Lucario shows how useful it is defensively.
The threat to watch out for next is of course, Lucario. The Sword Dance set became it's most powerful set (again, measuring power by usage), sweeping through the end game with Extreme Speed and being able to KO the biggest physical walls even after Stealth Rock. It is a threat that is difficult to revenge kill, unless it manages to outspeed Lucario and resists and or immune to Extremespeed. Because many fast ghosts attempt to stop Lucario, expect some to even carry Bullet Punch. Because now people expect Lucario to Sword Dance whenever it switches in, maybe it is quite the time for SpecsLuke, despite the fact that Lucario can no longer 2HKO Blissey with Aura Sphere since Blissey has started carrying SpDef EVs in order to deal with the biggest special threats.
Perhaps Lucario and Garchomp is the biggest factor that turn the metagame into a bulky one. Pokemon such as Celebi and Zapdos quickly rose to popularity - being able to deal with such threats as Garchomp, Lucario, Gyarados. Choice Scarf Heatran is also the revenge killer of choice - being resistant to Extreme Speed and being able to revenge kill both Garchomp and Lucario, amongst many other threats and explode on threats that the team can't deal with. Heatran's ability to prey on the enormous Fire weak in the current metagame is, however, it's greatest utility.
Don't expect threats like Gyarados to be overlooked however. Realizing it's folly to switch into Garchomps who commonly carry Substitute and Yache Berry, many Gyarados are now more and more offensive - being able to KO many of it's supposed counters or at least cripple them. Max Attack Gyarados are more and more common, holding onto a Life Orb to make it more and more deadly, with enough speed to take down it's worst nemesis, Starmie down after a Bite or Earthquake, Nearly 2HKOing Vaporeon with Stone Edge while OHKOing Zapdos, and even crippling Celebis with Ice Fang and in the meanwhile sweeping through many threats with it's physical Water attacks.
Salamence in the meanwhile, are nearly all mixed or Dragon Dancers. Specsmence are rare in sight - perhaps because Stealth Rock makes life difficult for it and being able to stay in as long as possible is very useful for Salamence. Expect Salamence to Dragon Dance and Roost, or carry Life Orb and hit with Draco Meteor and then hit Pokemon with it's massive physical attack.
Gengar is the second most used Pokemon - and it no longer needs to be unpredictable to be useful (but being unpredictable of course, helps it in the long run) - particularly because the metagame is so centralized around these physical threats. Gengar is commonly Scarfed - in order to avoid being so easily preyed by Weavile. Perhaps it is because of Gengar that many Tyranitar now carry spdef so it can take a focus blast and KO it back.
With the emphasis on Physical Offense, and it's temporary loss of Wish, it is no surprise that Blissey usage has declined. Vaporeon in the meanwhile rose to fill in it's niche - being able to deal with Gyarados and Garchomp while being able to pass Wish.
Infernape is still around, perhaps because of it's excellent speed and it's ability to hit the metagame with a fantastic offensive combination that has more utility than Bolt Beam in this metagame - Grass and Fire. Having access to a special Grass and Fire Attack in a physically geared metagame, and it's ability to KO Blissey, it is no surprise that many teams in RMT are weak to Infernape. Infernapes now even carry HP Ice instead of Nasty Plot to stop the Dragons from threatening it - perhaps the biggest reason being able to revenge kill Garchomp.
The effect Deoxys E has on the metagame is stunning, effectively proving itself to be the best clean up sweeper in the game. Deoxys E only forces the metagame to become more and more bulky - as it does it job a little bit too well, being able to deal with it's weakened counters and it's fantastic speed being able to easily clean up whatever remains of the opponent's team. Deoxys E has rose tremendously in usage - not just because of its sweeping prowess but also for the fastest Taunt in the game, a clear nuclear option in the Stealth Rock arms race. This explains the rise of Metagross and Scizor. Both being able to switch into any of Deoxys E's attacks and Pursuit it or hit it with a Priority attack.
Nidoqueen is surprisingly becoming popular, for it's ability to absorb toxic spikes, set up toxic spikes, and additionally countering Heracross and SD Lucario. Forrestress and Starmie use shows the emphasis the metagame has on the entrance hazards such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. It is no surprise that Tentacruel found a niche in OU while Roserade has now become OU again - with its ability to absorb Toxic Spikes and set up their own.
