Threat List
This threat list has been designed to help newer members know what Pokémon can do what in the NU tier, and what their options are.
Credit to the Alchemator and Random Pizzaman for providing me a base Threat List which I could tweak slightly and add stuff to. Good job guys!
Offensive Threats
Medicham - Since its introduction in Advance, Medicham has been the epitome of 'glass cannon'. However, despite its incredible power, its frail defenses and middling Speed left it to the NU tier. However, in this environment Medicham shines, 2HKOing the majority of the tier with its high coverage moves, courtesy of its ability Pure Power (which doubles its Attack).
Leafeon - The Grass 'Eeveelution', Leafeon was almost neglected from day one due to its pure Grass typing, creating many weaknesses. However, in the NU tier its fantastic Defense and above average Attack makes it a potent Swords Dance sweeper. However, it's small attacking movepool lets it down, generally using its STAB Leaf Blade and the unSTABed Return.
Glaceon - NU players run often hail teams, and there are two huge reasons reasons: Stallrein and Scarf Glaceon. With a Choice Scarf around its neck, Glaceon outruns much of the tier and OHKOes a lot with a 100% accurate STAB Blizzard which provides fantastic neutral coverage. Its base 130 Special Attack is nothing to scoff at.
Flareon - Flareon can still tear holes in the usually frail NU teams with high powered moves such as Fire Blast and Return, with additional moves such as Hidden Power Grass providing coverage. It can also be a fantastic support pokemon with it's above average Special Defense. Wish is often used on defensive sets to help support the team. Flareon also has Will-O-Wisp in its arsenal.
Relicanth - A Pokémon with base 90 Attack and a STAB move at 150 Base power with no recoil is always going to be scary! If given the chance, a Choice Band Relicanth's Head Smash will do damage to almost everything. A second useful STAB in Waterfall makes Relicanth a potent, albeit relatively slow, threat.
Ursaring - With the introduction of Swellow in Advance, Ursaring was then seen as the inferior Guts Abuser in a fast-paced metagame due to its low Speed. However, the Speed tiers in NU are considerably lower so be prepared for the bear's rampant rampage! Ursaring can also use Quick Feet, on top of moves such as Swords Dance, STAB Return, Earthquake, and Fire Punch.
Persian - A good lead courtesy of a STAB Technician Fake Out, as well as a strong Return. Persian also has U-turn to help scout, and is drew third for the fastest Pokémon in the tier.
Drifblim - Drifblim is a huge special threat in NU, especially because it can run a variety of sets such as 'Calm Mind Sub' and 'ChestoRest' which both make use of its unique ability 'Unburden' - making it all the more dangerous. Shadow Ball is often paired with Hidden Power Fighting, giving perfect neutral coverage.
Poliwrath - Poliwrath's ability Water Absorb gives it a good immunity (in fact, it gains HP) when it comes to take Water-type attacks, helping against rare Rain Dance teams. Belly Drum boosts Poliwrath's Attack to astronomical levels, and it gets good coverage with its Fighting / Water-type attacks. Bulk Up also makes Poliwrath a threat, especially to more physically orientated teams.
Linoone - Linoone is almost the same of Poliwrath in the sense of Belly Drumming, however it has access to STAB on the most powerful priority move in the game - ExtremeSpeed. Shadow Claw stops Ghost-types like Dusclops. Seed Bomb is Linoone's best attack against Probopass and Aggron, even if it isn't super effective.
Rhydon - Rock Polish with a base 130 Attack immediately makes Rhydon a huge threat; doubled by amazing Ground- and Rock-type STABs (Earthquake & Stone Edge). Choice Band Rhydon holds incredible power.
Armaldo - Armaldo is mainly a threat for two reasons; Swords Dance and Rock Polish. These two boosting moves allow it to utilize its 383 Attack stat, often paired with Life Orb for more damage. STAB X-Scissor is great with 100% accuracy, with Stone Edge to back it up.
Skuntank - Skuntank is a strong threat, it can be incredibly unpredictable with STAB on Sucker Punch and access to Explosion. It's comparatively good Speed also lets it make use of Taunt, an incredibly useful move in NU due to most of the metagame needing to set up to cause serious damage.
Floatzel - Floatzel is the undoubtedly best physical rain sweeper in NU, and some go as far to say that it is the best physical sweeper full stop. In the rain Floatzel outruns almost all of the tier, striking with boosted Waterfalls and those that it can't outspeed can easily be taken down by Aqua Jet. Even without rain support Floatzel still poses a threat thanks to Bulk Up and a base 105 Attack (on top of base 115 Speed).
Hitmonchan - Hitmonchan never had the offensive stats of Hitmonlee, nor the utility of Hitmontop. However in NU it carries one of the most powerful attacks: Focus Punch with an Iron Fist maims anything which is not a Ghost-type - including pokemon that resist it (however 4x resisting pokemon still shrug it off). It also makes a potent revenge killer with Mach Punch. On top of this, it has access to Bulk Up, ThunderPunch, Ice Punch, and Fire Punch.
Slaking - Base 160 attack and above average Speed means something is going to get hurt. Often used with Choice Band to make it even more potent, Slaking has a huge STAB Return which he can fire off. Pair that with a Shadow Claw to help hit Ghost-types, and you have to hope you predict correctly. However, Slaking's ability - Truant - often means he is left in a weak position.
Wailord - Water Spout, supposedly Kyogre's signature move, is also available to no other Pokémon barring Smeargle (on top of Wailord & Kyogre). Despite its mediocre Special Attack Stat, Wailord still throws out hurt to anything that doesn't resist Water Spout. It is even more deadly under Trick Room where it does not have to worry about its low Speed. Wailord is also quite bulky and has access to Selfdestruct.
Entei - A lacking physical STAB means Entei is left with Fire Fang, so its not fully able to use that strong Attack stat. However, Entei does have access to Calm Mind, Fire Blast, and even Eruption, which makes it a solid threat to less-defensive teams.
Venomoth - Venomoth is definitely one of the top special attackers in NU due to its incredible ability shared only with Yanmega: Tinted Lens. This makes many of its 'counters' cry out in pain when they realise they are still being hit neutrally with an often boosted STAB Bug Buzz. It's good Speed helps to wreak havoc.
Exeggutor - Boasting a Special Attack stat greater than that of Salamence's, Exeggutor is strong. Although it is slow, clever prediction ensures that something is going to get hurt by a Specs Leaf Storm, really hurt. Sunny Day and SolarBeam will also pain a lot of Pokémon, as will Wood Hammers, Zen Headbutts, and Explosions. Exeggutor also has Sleep Powder to help maim its targets.
Gardevoir - Gardevoir is a newer addition to the tier. Despite its average Speed, Gardevoir is still a massive threat with base 125 Special Attack and base 115 Special Defense. Calm Mind boosts those two stats even further, allowing it to fire off high-powered Psychics. It also has access to Will-O-Wisp to burn the mainly physical metagame.
Ninetales - With access to Nasty Plot, Ninetales can boost its Special Attack to obscene levels and its base 100 Speed is not-too-shabby either. In addition to this, what it cannot take out it can potentially put to sleep with Hypnosis. Energy Ball helps against bulky Water-types, and Flash Fire gives its Fire Blasts a boost.
Jynx - After being OU for the first two generations, and then BL in Advance, Jynx could not keep up with the fast-paced metagame of the fourth generation and has so dropped to NU. However, Jynx is no pushover with its double STABs providing fantastic neutral coverage and offensive stats further increasing its usefulness. Lovely Kiss helps buy free turns for Jynx to set up its Calm Minds or Substitutes, and is arguably the reason to use it over Glaceon (although Jynx has a much better base 95 Speed).
Dodrio - Dodrio is often underestimated in comparison to its Normal- / Flying- type counterparts, such as Staraptor. However, it can be ridiculously dangerous, and with access to Brave Bird, it can put a world of hurt on the plethora of Bug-typess and Flail may decimates any opposition without a resistance if played correctly.
Pinsir - Pinsir has always been seen as an inferior Heracross, however its trait distinguishes it. Mold Breaker takes care of those pesky Levitators, allowing for an almost prediction free late-game clean-up. A STAB X-Scissor is hardly weak, too.
Tauros - The King of OU in R/B/Y is back to hurt NU with STAB Return. With fantastic Attack and Speed, any team not prepared for Tauros will be swept, regardless of boosts. Intimidate is handy in all sorts of situations, allowing Tauros to actually take a hit or two.
Manectric - With high Speed, great Special Attack, and an amazing movepool, Manectric is the most unpredictable pokemon in NU. It can run Substitute sets to avoid status, Life Orb sets for fantastic coverage and is equally good at utilising Choice sets.
Primeape - The fastest Fighting-type in the tier, who has unique access to U-Turn and Punishment along with Close Combat. Its good Attack stat makes it great user of Choice Scarf and Choice Band.
Kingler - Kingler is a great all round Pokémon on the physical side. Great Attack, and good Defense. Kingler's base 75 Speed and base 50 Special Defense are a bit of a letdown, but Crabhammer is insanely strong from Kingler's Attack stat - let alone if it gets a Swords Dance. Kingler may also use Return, Rock Slide, or X-Scissor.
Haunter - Similar to it's evolution (Gengar), Haunter is a fast, powerful special sweeper. Although it looses out on Focus Blast, it still makes for a good sweeper, and is one of the few offensive Ghost-types in the tier, creating a niche for itself.
Rampardos - Like Medicham, a pure glass cannon. Paper defenses and Groudon-level attack stat. Attach a Scarf, pass some Speed, set up Trick Room or even Rock Polish, and be prepared to damage something at least. Rock-type STAB helps deal damage via a strong Stone Edge.
Marowak - Marowak has always been known for it's colossal Attack stat via Thick Club, and the weaker defenses in NU lets it really break bones. A STAB Earthquake dents just about everything, and Marowak has a myriad of other moves to pair with it; Fire Punch, Rock Slide, and Double-Edge, to name a few.
Cacturne - While constant sandstorm is hard to come up on in NU, letting Cacturne get behind a Substitute or get a Swords Dance in is a very bad idea. STAB Sucker Punch and Seed Bomb is threatening, let alone after a Swords Dance. It also has access to Dark Pulse and Grass Knot and can use its good Special Attack. Being one of the few Spikers in NU isn't a bad thing, either.
Magneton - Another pre-evolution of an OU Pokemon, Magneton is as adept at trapping Steel-types as Aggron (provided it is played correctly), opening up a sweep for a slew of Pokémon walled eternally by by Aggron and friends such as Swellow. Its base 125 Special Attack along with great Electric-type STAB is pretty useful too.
Camerupt - Suffering from the same high Attack, low Speed syndrome as Marowak & company, Camperupt works best in Trick Rom swith excellent STAB and Explosion. Camerupt's good Special Attack means it can even run mixed with its two STABs, using Fire Blast and Earthquake.
Rapidash - Sporting the highest Speed of all the Fire-types, along with the unique Megahorn and good attacking stats, Rapidash can plow it's way through the most common special walls in NU and is an underestimated threat. Hypnosis helps ease prediction.
Kangaskhan - A very subtle offensive force, Kangaskhan has the rare Scrappy and makes a really good Sub Puncher, something Tauros doesn't beat it at. Hitting Ghost-types with STAB attacks isn't all it can do - it's able to utilize Wish.
Gorebyss - The only good remaining special rain sweeper, it'll plow through most things in the rain, courtesy of a strong STAB Surf, with Ice Beam to back it up. It can also Speed itself up with Agility and Baton Pass it if one does not want to use rain.
Lickilicky - The only thing you need to know about Lickilicky is that it has good attacking stats, a huge movepool, and STAB Explosion to kill everything not named Aggron, Bastiodon, or Probopass (or anything that is a Ghost-type). Wish helps it heal, and its good special movepool includes Ice Beam and Fire Blast.
Octillery - It has great dual 105 attacking stats, and Suction Cups makes it one of, if not the, best Baton Pass receivers in NU. An incredible movepool includes Charge Beam, Flamethrower, Surf, Waterfall, and Energy Ball.
Sharpedo - While it has paper defenses, it also has good Speed and a great base 120 Attack along with 95 Special Attack stat makes it quite a powerful mixed sweeper. Dual STAB in Dark and Water-type attacks helps it even more, boosting its Crunch, Waterfall, and Surf.
Zangoose - With Swords Dance it becomes NU's own little mini-Lucario, but with a better Attack stat yet a weaker Quick attack for priority. Shadow Claw helps Zangoose deal with Ghost-types, outspeeding through his high base 90 Speed.
Regigigas - Regigigas's unique ability really hampers its ability offensively, but if one can bypass 5 turns with Regigigas in play it can use that base 160 Atk and base 100 Spe to cause huge trouble via a STAB Return. Regigigas also has Stone Edge, Fire Punch, ThunderPunch, and Ice Punch. Substitute, Confuse Ray, and Thunder Wave may help Regigigas get past the 5 turn barrier.
Defensive Threats
Dusclops - In a similar vein to Rhydon, Dusclops obtained an evolution this generation. However, the only major difference is the Attack stat still meaning that Dusclops can function well as a wall - almost too well. His Rapid Spin blocking ability is almost unrivalled, and can use Will-O-Wisp to help see off physical attackers.
Sandslash - With access to Rapid Spin and great defensive stats, it is almost possible to say that Sandslash is the best Rapid Spinner in NU. The main part that distinguishes it from Cloyster is its resistance to Rock, a common attacking type in NU. Sandslash also has Stealth Rock in his utility.
Regice - The advent of Stealth Rock and other powerful moves such as Stone Edge and Close Combat means that Regice could not retain its status and so it dropped to NU. However, it is still a fantastic special wall with that incredible base 200 Special Defense. Rest + Sleep Talk is its best way of recovery, with a STAB Ice Beam to boot. Other attacking options include Seismic Toss, Thunderbolt, and Charge Beam.
Grumpig - Grumpig is an incredible special wall with Thick Fat and amazing base stats overall. However, it is generally ditched for Hypno but still has its own niche with the added resistance to Fire- and Ice-type attacks. Grumpig is also much faster and has a higher Special Attack stat.
Hypno - Hypno can even stand up to Drifblim and Venomoth while easily walling Manectric and other special attackers. Hypno has Wish to help heal itself, and Insomnia means it cannot be put to sleep.
Gardevoir - Although Gardevoir can be a potent offensive threat, its access to Will-O-Wisp and fantastic base Special Defense make it a viable wall too. Wish also helps Gardevoir heal itself.
Vileplume - Vileplume's typing allows it to immediately absorb Toxic Spikes, an obvious plus against teams containing Venomoth. Aromatherapy heals teammates from status, and Leech Seed helps stall with Synthesis, or can be used to aid teammates HP.
Aggron - Aggron is the ultimate Linoone counter. A x4 Normal resist means that Linoone will be forced into using Rock Smash which can be Metal Bursted back or Seed Bomb which is at best a 3HKO. Aggron also learns Roar & Stealth Rock.
Bastiodon - Bastiodon has a fantastic support movepool including Stealth Rock, Roar, and Toxic. Bastiodon also has the stats which help overcome its x4 Fighting- and Ground-types weaknesses.
Walrein - Despite turning into an amazing staller when paired with Snover (which provides hail), Walrein has the defenses to survive just fine in NU without hail. 110 / 90 / 90 defenses are definitely viable, even though it is weak to Stealth Rock.
Shuckle - With Hippopotas, Shuckle becomes extremely hard to take down on the special side. Shuckle can use Encore to help teammates set up, while also being able to use Stealth Rock and Toxic. However, weakness to Stealth Rock really hampers Shuckle, on top of it being dead way a lot of the time.
Gligar - Despite having stats outclassed by other NU physical walls, Gligar holds its niche with a plethora of useful resistances. A resistance to Bug, immunity to Ground and neutrality to Rock combined with a great base 105 defense make Gligar a great physical wall - and it has Roost for reliable recovery. It also outspeeds many Pokémon allowing for its STAB Earthquake to cause a bit of hurt. Gligar also learns Stealth Rock, and can use Baton Pass in conjunction with Swords Dance / Rock Polish.
Probopass - Probopass, stat-wise, is the ultimate mixed wall in NU. Its Steel / Rock typing can actually sometimes be a benefit: a x4 resistance to Normal is the ridiculously useful. Although the x4 weaknesses to Ground and Fighting do hold it back Probopass should not be underestimated, especially as is able to trap fellow Steel-types and use Magnet Rise. Probopass also learns Stealth Rock, Thunder Wave, and Explosion.
Ampharos - Ampharos has solid defensive stats and a useful supporting movepool which includes Reflect, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, and Heal Bell. Ampharos also has a solid STAB attack in Thunderbolt (coming from a base 115 SpA stat, too).
Cloyster - The second highest Defense stat in NU, without Aggron's unfortunate typing, and it's the most reliable Spiker in NU along with Rapid Spin support for the many Stealth Rock weak Pokemon in NU. However, it is weak to Close Combat and Stone Edge, two common physical attacks, which lessens its ability to come in. It is also weak to Stealth Rock itself, so it may be annoying to come in and Rapid Spin, while losing 25%!
Leafeon - While it works well as an attacker, it may be even better as a physical wall with a huge 130 Defense and moves like Yawn, Baton Pass, Roar and the amazing Wish.
Articuno - Like the other legendary birds, Articuno works well as a defensive Pokemon, and has the best defensive stats of the three, only let down by it's poor typing. If you can keep Stealth Rock off the field, Articuno can be a great shuffler via Roar, as well as being able to use Heal Bell.
Muk - It's great HP and Special Defense make it a great special sponge, allowing Muk to Curse up to cause some damage.
Quagsire - Water Absorb means it gains health if it comes in on Surf or Waterfall - also being immune to Thunderbolt courtesy of its Ground-typing. Quagsire has Yawn, Haze, and Curse, three very useful moves that allow it to annoy the opponent.
Gastrodon - The same typing as Quagsire, but without the Water-type immunity. Gastrodon does have Recover, though. Gastrodon is also able to use Curse, or even Counter / Mirror Coat.
Slowking - Slowking takes on Fire-, Ice-, Psychic-, and Water-type attacks like a champ, and can use Slack Off to restore HP. It can also go on the offensive with Nasty Plot / Slack Off.
Mantine - Mantine's gargantuan Special Defense helps it come in on many of the Fire-types in NU. Mantine can utilize Rest and Sleep Talk to help restore HP, alternatively there it Protect which helps restore HP via Leftovers (often paired with Toxic). Mantine also has a STAB Surf, but is weak to Stealth Rock.
Munchlax - With a whopping 135 base HP and a decent 85 base Special Defense, Munchlax has plenty of durability on the special side in NU. Thick Fat is what helps to distinguish it from Lickilicky, allowing it to wall a number of threatening special attackers in the tier, including Entei, Ninetales, Jynx, and Glaceon. With its pathetic 5 base Speed, it can also serve as a counter / check to various Trick Room threats such as Camerupt, Clamperl and Slowking. Munchlax is no slouch in the offensive department either. STAB Return off 85 base Attack is very respectable in NU, plus with Curse and a wide physical movepool at its disposal, Munchlax can be a very lethal late game sweeper, especially in a last Pokémon situation, where the opponent is unable to Whirlwind or Roar it away.
Other Threats
Butterfree - With a 97.5% accurate Sleep Powder, Butterfree can almost always put something to sleep. Butterfree also has Stun Spore so it can really frustrate the opponent, as well as access to Tailwind.
Xatu - Xatu has an excellent support movepool. Wish, Light Screen, Reflect, Thunder Wave, Trick Room, and U-turn can all help support the team while Xatu helps itself with Roost.
Solrock - Can set up Trick Room and Stealth Rock, followed be an Explosion. It also has Will-O-Wisp and can Baton Pass Calm Minds to teammates.
Bibarel - Bibarel can do a lot of things. Stealth Rock and Taunt makes it a reliable lead. Its abilities help it perfect many roles; a Curser, a Baton Pass reciever, or a counter to Pokémon that need boosts to be threatening (Lapras, Drifblim, etc). Bibarel is also one of the few reliable answers to SubCM Entei.
Jumpluff - Sleep Powder, Encore, Leech Seed, and Substitute means Jumpluff is an annoyer and a half. Jumpluff's good Speed stat helps it stop stat-uppers from doing their thing via a quick Sleep Powder, from where it can proceed to set up.
Snover - Snover is the only Pokémon in NU able to create infinite hail, and it is automatic. This allows it to support teammates who are now able to fire off Blizzards at 100% accuracy. It also helps turn Walrein into "StallRein", a well-known Pokémon that is able to cause havoc in hail. Snover has a few interesting options. Leech Seed can help teammates, and can work with Substitute. Otherwise notable moves include Icy Wind and Ice Shard, both of which have their unique nichés.
Hippopotas - Hippopotas is the only Pokémon in NU able to create infinite sandstorm, and it is automatic. This allows it to support Rock-types, who's Special Defense gets a x1.5 boost in the sandstorm. This allows Pokémon such as Shuckle to be even more annoying to the opponent. Hippopotas can learn Stealth Rock, Yawn, Slack Off, and Roar, which helps it support its teammates even more.
