by me with some assistance from tennisace and Layell :)
Introduction to Smogon Metagames
Smogon metagames are quite simply the basis of this site. Most people come here to learn about, discuss, and obviously play the metagames that Smogon has established throughout the years. In every generation, there are individual tiers that exist with their own specific rulesets. However, you might be asking yourself, "Why should I play these metagames instead of the official ones established by Game Freak?" This is, of course, a loaded question, which is why this article exists. With the core of this question in mind, it's important to remember that Pokemon is an incredibly expansive game. Just as how a deck of cards can be used to play a multitude of different games, Pokemon can be played in tons of different formats. For some people, official formats such as VGC and Battle Spot are preferable, and that's fine. Nevertheless, others would rather play the game in new and interesting ways without arbitrary restrictions and in a community where they have influence over the game they play. Still, in order to make this decision for yourself—what format is best for you—it's important to understand the intricacies of and differences between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames.
What is the difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames?
Truth be told, there are a lot of differences between official metagames and ones handled by Smogon. The major difference is that Smogon uses 6v6 formats in both singles and doubles, while Battle Spot is a singles metagame where you bring six Pokemon and choose three, and VGC is a doubles metagame where you bring six Pokemon and choose four. This leads to major differences, especially in viable strategies. For example, in the 6v6 format, matches are generally quite a bit longer, and there's a smaller emphasis on overpowering the opponent with fast, strong attackers and a larger emphasis on passive damage and having specific answers for specific threats. This isn't to say that heavy offense is irrelevant in a 6v6 environment, but it is most certainly far less prevalent. In addition to this, Pokemon used in Smogon formats are Level 100, while they are Level 50 in Nintendo formats. This leads to some interesting nuances and precision in Smogon metagames, but overall, the change in levels is mostly irrelevant in actual gameplay.
Another large difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames is active clauses. One of the major ones is Item Clause, which restricts the use of more than one of the same item on the same team, and while it is used in Battle Spot and VGC, it is left out in Smogon metagames. This means that there is one less arbitrary regulation in Smogon metagames, which allows for a larger variety of viable playstyles and strategies. There are also clauses that Smogon has which official metagames do not include. These are Sleep Clause and Evasion Clause. Sleep Clause limits the number of Pokemon that can be put to sleep at a time to just one. This prevents fast Pokemon with sleep-inducing moves from totally running through opposing teams. Evasion Clause prohibits the use of evasion-boosting moves, including Minimize and Double Team, in order to create a metagame with as little luck as possible.
Tiers allow for another huge difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo's. Smogon's tiers—Ubers, OU, UU, RU, NU, and LC—allow for the usage of an enormous variety of Pokemon. If your favorite Pokemon isn't very good in OU or in Battle Spot/VGC, chances are that you can use it effectively in one of our lower tiers. As a short disclaimer, some Pokemon are just plain bad no matter where you try to use them (Watchog, Minun, Corsola, and so on), so although it is not guaranteed that you can use your favorite Pokemon well, the odds are high! Aside from the large variety of viable Pokemon within Smogon metagames, you also get to choose which metagame you like the best. If OU isn't really your thing, you can try out another tier and see if it suits you better. We've even got our own Doubles tier, so you're not limited solely to VGC if you prefer a doubles format.
The most controversial difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames is Smogon's banlist. Bans through Nintendo are based more on ease of access and obvious imbalances in power. For example, cover legends such as Mewtwo, Rayquaza, and Xerneas are all banned from Nintendo formats because they are clearly overpowered. Additionally, you'll find that event Pokemon are also banned. As such, Meloetta, Phione, Jirachi, and more are all banned from Nintendo formats despite the fact that they are far less powerful than the cover legends. Smogon's banlist, however, is based solely on the power of the Pokemon. This means that most event Pokemon are not banned, and even some cover legends, such as Kyurem-B, are also legal for use. Meanwhile, some Pokemon that fit neither of the aforementioned criteria are banned, including Blaziken in both BW and XY, Excadrill and Thundurus in BW, and Salamence and Garchomp in DPP. Smogon's bans are typically done through suspect testing, in which Smogon users play against one another on our simulator, Pokemon Showdown!, in hopes of acquiring enough points to qualify for a vote. This means that all bans are decided based off of the experiences of Smogon community members rather than being decided arbitrarily by the creators of the game.
Why does Smogon get to make the rules?
This question comes up quite a bit and has a bunch of different forms, but it boils down to this: we make tiers that apply only to our official Pokemon Showdown servers and to challenges issued from our Wi-Fi forum. If you wish to play ranked ladder matches on our servers or to issue challenges to people, you must use our tiers. Contrary to popular belief, Smogon's tiers are not universal. We don't enforce tiers on servers that we don't run, and we certainly don't enforce tiers on cartridge matches that don't originate from our forums. Feel free to use whatever ruleset you'd like if you choose to play elsewhere, or even on our servers if you challenge a user and they agree to your rules!
The rules we create for our site are put into place because we want to have fun. If our rules aren't fun for you, you do not have to follow them.
VGC is official, so what incentive do I have to play Smogon metagames?
There are a few assumptions when we are asked this question. What incentive do you have to play the official metagames either? People play them because they enjoy playing them. The same goes for Smogon's metagames. We strive to make our tiers balanced, and we make multiple tiers so many different Pokemon get a chance to shine. Hopefully, these divisions will lead to more enjoyment in the game. Another incentive is our prize system, like that of VGC. Though our prize system is not as large as TPCi's, we still give away great prizes to the top battlers in our official tournaments, with the largest prize being a 3DS given to the winner of the Official Smogon Tournament. Finally, we strive for convenience. Too often VGC tournaments are held only in certain countries and on certain weekends, and not everyone can afford to go to these. Having a commitment on that one day of VGCs or a simple lack of travel funds means that many players are simply unable to compete. With our tournaments, you can play whenever and wherever you'd like during each round. Playing on simulators also means that you can instantly make changes to your team and get back to battling within minutes, while in VGC you're locked to one team for the duration of a tournament.
Why are Smogon metagames worth playing?
The answer to this question will really vary from person to person. Some people enjoy competing against other top players across the world in a variety of metagames. For those people, we have a tournament scene with multiple official tournaments throughout the year and numerous unofficial ones. Others simply want to have fun playing a game they have known and loved for years. For those people, we offer a battle simulator where you can play a number of different tiers so that you can use most of your favorite Pokemon in a competitive scene. Over official metagames, you will find that there is a large number of people who play our metagames on our simulator, making it incredibly easy to find a battle and have fun as soon as you log on. In the end, we are all just here to have fun playing a game that we love, and our metagames are here so that you can share that experience with us.
Now what?
What you want to do from here is totally up to you. There is plenty of crossover between our community and those that focus solely on Nintendo's official metagame. You don't have to pick one metagame and stick with it. If you have more fun playing VGC, go ahead and play that. If you enjoy our metagames or have any interest in them, check out our battle simulator, Pokemon Showdown and have fun playing competitive Pokemon. At the end of the day, that's really what it's all about—having fun. Our metagames are not the end-all-be-all of competitive Pokemon, so if you don't like them, simply don't play them. However, if you do enjoy them, you're welcome to come and play with us.
Introduction to Smogon Metagames
Smogon metagames are quite simply the basis of this site. Most people come here to learn about, discuss, and obviously play the metagames that Smogon has established throughout the years. In every generation, there are individual tiers that exist with their own specific rulesets. However, you might be asking yourself, "Why should I play these metagames instead of the official ones established by Game Freak?" This is, of course, a loaded question, which is why this article exists. With the core of this question in mind, it's important to remember that Pokemon is an incredibly expansive game. Just as how a deck of cards can be used to play a multitude of different games, Pokemon can be played in tons of different formats. For some people, official formats such as VGC and Battle Spot are preferable, and that's fine. Nevertheless, others would rather play the game in new and interesting ways without arbitrary restrictions and in a community where they have influence over the game they play. Still, in order to make this decision for yourself—what format is best for you—it's important to understand the intricacies of and differences between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames.
What is the difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames?
Truth be told, there are a lot of differences between official metagames and ones handled by Smogon. The major difference is that Smogon uses 6v6 formats in both singles and doubles, while Battle Spot is a singles metagame where you bring six Pokemon and choose three, and VGC is a doubles metagame where you bring six Pokemon and choose four. This leads to major differences, especially in viable strategies. For example, in the 6v6 format, matches are generally quite a bit longer, and there's a smaller emphasis on overpowering the opponent with fast, strong attackers and a larger emphasis on passive damage and having specific answers for specific threats. This isn't to say that heavy offense is irrelevant in a 6v6 environment, but it is most certainly far less prevalent. In addition to this, Pokemon used in Smogon formats are Level 100, while they are Level 50 in Nintendo formats. This leads to some interesting nuances and precision in Smogon metagames, but overall, the change in levels is mostly irrelevant in actual gameplay.
Another large difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames is active clauses. One of the major ones is Item Clause, which restricts the use of more than one of the same item on the same team, and while it is used in Battle Spot and VGC, it is left out in Smogon metagames. This means that there is one less arbitrary regulation in Smogon metagames, which allows for a larger variety of viable playstyles and strategies. There are also clauses that Smogon has which official metagames do not include. These are Sleep Clause and Evasion Clause. Sleep Clause limits the number of Pokemon that can be put to sleep at a time to just one. This prevents fast Pokemon with sleep-inducing moves from totally running through opposing teams. Evasion Clause prohibits the use of evasion-boosting moves, including Minimize and Double Team, in order to create a metagame with as little luck as possible.
Tiers allow for another huge difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo's. Smogon's tiers—Ubers, OU, UU, RU, NU, and LC—allow for the usage of an enormous variety of Pokemon. If your favorite Pokemon isn't very good in OU or in Battle Spot/VGC, chances are that you can use it effectively in one of our lower tiers. As a short disclaimer, some Pokemon are just plain bad no matter where you try to use them (Watchog, Minun, Corsola, and so on), so although it is not guaranteed that you can use your favorite Pokemon well, the odds are high! Aside from the large variety of viable Pokemon within Smogon metagames, you also get to choose which metagame you like the best. If OU isn't really your thing, you can try out another tier and see if it suits you better. We've even got our own Doubles tier, so you're not limited solely to VGC if you prefer a doubles format.
The most controversial difference between Smogon metagames and Nintendo metagames is Smogon's banlist. Bans through Nintendo are based more on ease of access and obvious imbalances in power. For example, cover legends such as Mewtwo, Rayquaza, and Xerneas are all banned from Nintendo formats because they are clearly overpowered. Additionally, you'll find that event Pokemon are also banned. As such, Meloetta, Phione, Jirachi, and more are all banned from Nintendo formats despite the fact that they are far less powerful than the cover legends. Smogon's banlist, however, is based solely on the power of the Pokemon. This means that most event Pokemon are not banned, and even some cover legends, such as Kyurem-B, are also legal for use. Meanwhile, some Pokemon that fit neither of the aforementioned criteria are banned, including Blaziken in both BW and XY, Excadrill and Thundurus in BW, and Salamence and Garchomp in DPP. Smogon's bans are typically done through suspect testing, in which Smogon users play against one another on our simulator, Pokemon Showdown!, in hopes of acquiring enough points to qualify for a vote. This means that all bans are decided based off of the experiences of Smogon community members rather than being decided arbitrarily by the creators of the game.
Why does Smogon get to make the rules?
This question comes up quite a bit and has a bunch of different forms, but it boils down to this: we make tiers that apply only to our official Pokemon Showdown servers and to challenges issued from our Wi-Fi forum. If you wish to play ranked ladder matches on our servers or to issue challenges to people, you must use our tiers. Contrary to popular belief, Smogon's tiers are not universal. We don't enforce tiers on servers that we don't run, and we certainly don't enforce tiers on cartridge matches that don't originate from our forums. Feel free to use whatever ruleset you'd like if you choose to play elsewhere, or even on our servers if you challenge a user and they agree to your rules!
The rules we create for our site are put into place because we want to have fun. If our rules aren't fun for you, you do not have to follow them.
VGC is official, so what incentive do I have to play Smogon metagames?
There are a few assumptions when we are asked this question. What incentive do you have to play the official metagames either? People play them because they enjoy playing them. The same goes for Smogon's metagames. We strive to make our tiers balanced, and we make multiple tiers so many different Pokemon get a chance to shine. Hopefully, these divisions will lead to more enjoyment in the game. Another incentive is our prize system, like that of VGC. Though our prize system is not as large as TPCi's, we still give away great prizes to the top battlers in our official tournaments, with the largest prize being a 3DS given to the winner of the Official Smogon Tournament. Finally, we strive for convenience. Too often VGC tournaments are held only in certain countries and on certain weekends, and not everyone can afford to go to these. Having a commitment on that one day of VGCs or a simple lack of travel funds means that many players are simply unable to compete. With our tournaments, you can play whenever and wherever you'd like during each round. Playing on simulators also means that you can instantly make changes to your team and get back to battling within minutes, while in VGC you're locked to one team for the duration of a tournament.
Why are Smogon metagames worth playing?
The answer to this question will really vary from person to person. Some people enjoy competing against other top players across the world in a variety of metagames. For those people, we have a tournament scene with multiple official tournaments throughout the year and numerous unofficial ones. Others simply want to have fun playing a game they have known and loved for years. For those people, we offer a battle simulator where you can play a number of different tiers so that you can use most of your favorite Pokemon in a competitive scene. Over official metagames, you will find that there is a large number of people who play our metagames on our simulator, making it incredibly easy to find a battle and have fun as soon as you log on. In the end, we are all just here to have fun playing a game that we love, and our metagames are here so that you can share that experience with us.
Now what?
What you want to do from here is totally up to you. There is plenty of crossover between our community and those that focus solely on Nintendo's official metagame. You don't have to pick one metagame and stick with it. If you have more fun playing VGC, go ahead and play that. If you enjoy our metagames or have any interest in them, check out our battle simulator, Pokemon Showdown and have fun playing competitive Pokemon. At the end of the day, that's really what it's all about—having fun. Our metagames are not the end-all-be-all of competitive Pokemon, so if you don't like them, simply don't play them. However, if you do enjoy them, you're welcome to come and play with us.
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