[I would like to apologize in advance for all the tense confusion that you're bound to encounter while reading this. While I do realize that everything should be in present tense, the fact that I'm writing about a virtually extinct metagame causes me to insert past tenses in everywhere. Note that there are instances where this is intentional, mainly when describing how something once was standard, but wasn't when everybody left to play 386.
I would also like to apologize in advance for how sloppy it is. I really didn't know how to format all this and basically wrote it all with the intent that it would appear on one page, but I have mostly all content and virtually nothing connecting different areas of information, so it's hard to see how anything here is relevant to the topic at hand.
However, my biggest apology is for how incomplete this is. This is a metagame that hundreds of people built over the course of months of play, and here I am summarizing it in 1500 words. So please, if you have anything that you feel should be included, or was included but should be more thoroughly addressed, please say so. (Only vaguely related: I don't know if a topic like this really deserves an introductory preamble. ;x)
Oh, and another apology goes to everything that I got just plain wrong. Since most of this is based on memory, I'm sure I might've gotten some movesets wrong, and included Pokémon that are no longer standards. So if there's anything that doesn't seem right based on your experience with 200, please say so.]
Pokémon that are absent, or Why 200 is more offensively-oriented than 386
If you're comparing this to 386, you'll want to take note that the following Pokémon aren't there to influence the flow:
Blissey
Tyranitar
Dugtrio
Celebi
Snorlax
Zapdos
Suicune
Raikou
Aerodacyl
Gengar
The main effect of this is that the metagame is much more offensive. There are no real stable Heal Bellers. Snorlax and Blissey are absent, meaning that games can progress significantly more rapidly, and special protection is harder to come by (Regice being the most notable). Pokémon like Alakazam and Gardevoir can actually sweep quite effectively with a few Calm Minds under their belt, and special attacking Salamence can actually wreak some havoc. No Aerodacyl or Jolteon (and Raikou and Dugtrio) means the speed standard is lowered, meaning Pokémon can invest in stats other than speed, and actually completely max attack. No Dugtrio means Magneton is free to roam, and without Snorlax Skarmory is less used. Tyranitar's absence is also a biggie. Combine the absence of Sandstream with the lack of viable Heal Bellers, and you've got an environment where there's less switching, which means less Choice Band and Leftovers and more Lum and Liechi.
The only real special wall in the game is Regice. Unlike Blissey, Regice has Amnesia, which might make it seem like it might be a better counter for Pokémon like Alakazam. However, given Regice's shoddy HP (and defense), it's only going to be slightly better than Blissey at taking physical hits. The fact that it needs special attack EVs to do anything to most Calm Minders means less EVs to pad defense. This might not seem like a problem, until you realize that Regice only gets Rest for Recovery. And like Blissey, Regice has a fighting weakness. It's for this reason that people used Focus Punch Sceptile and other similar Pokémon. If Regice takes too many EVs out of special defense, Calm Minders that would otherwise have no business touching it will walk all over it.
On the physical end, Skarmory is still here. The problem is that without Blissey, the game is more specially-oriented, and physical walling is something that isn't as helpful. Fewer Pokémon learn Rock Slide, which hits neautral against Skarmory...and more Pokémon instead use Fire Blast, which means Skarmory doesn't even have a sure shot at walling Pokémon like Gyarados. Magneton kills it, Dugtrio can't protect it, and with Claydol and Starmie being used, it's not going to keep it's Spikes on the field that long, if it gets them down in the first place. Weezing is actually more used than Skarmory mainly for its ability to burn, which can render Pokémon like Gyarados and Metagross useless if it connects, and is one of the contributing factors to the use of Lum, but it suffers from lack of resistances. Also, with the absence of Substitute on Pokémon like Ninjask, Haze is just as good, if not better than Whirlwind or Roar.
The speed tiers
460: Ninjask
416: Electrode
394: Crobat
383: Swellow
372: Alakazam, Sceptile
361: Starmie
339: Manetric
328: Slaking, Dodrio, Salamence, Linoone, Tentacruel, Raichu, Flygon
306: Zangoose
295: Heracross
As you can see, you don't really encounter anything that really matters (or is commonly used) until tier 5, in the form of Alakazam. Thus, 250 speed is enough for Dragon Dancers and Salac users, and you can leave Agility users at 187.
This means that those Dragon Dancers and other such stat up artists can put more into special attack to increase Fire Blast's power, or defenses. Also, Pokémon like Gyarados don't need Jolly nature and can use Adamant.
Move tutors, or lack thereof
There are no move tutors in 200, meaning there are far fewer Pokémon learning Thunder Wave, Rock Slide, Substitute, and similar moves. Fewer Pokémon learning Thunder Wave means that risk of paralysis is lower, and no Rock Slide means one less move for Salamence, Heracross, and similar Pokémon, reducing the practicality of Choice Band sets for such kinds of Pokémon.
Mainstay standards in 200
Gyarados@Liechi
Dragon Dance
Taunt/Fire Blast
HP:flying
Earthquake
Without Zapdos around, the only thing that can really wall it was Skarmory, who doesn't like having the Drill Peck forced by Taunt taken by Magneton. It doesn't learn Thunder Wave here, so that's something to keep in mind. With its plethora of resistances and Intimidate, it can actually force Skarmory off teams to make room for itself, and considering that it is much better on the offensive than Skarmory, it does the job better.
Metagross@Lum/Choice Band
Agility/Sludge Bomb
Meteor Mash
Earthquake
Shadow Ball
Agility is much more common in 200, mainly because it can't Explode. Skarmory was hardly common here, meaning it actually has the potential to set up and sweep entire teams, assuming it doesn't run into Swampert. Choice Band Metagross is countered too easily by Magneton, and besides doesn't have as many moves to work with, it doesn't get Explosion, Thunder Punch, or Rock Slide.
Salamence@Lum
Fire Blast
Dragon Claw/Dragon Dance
Crunch/Earthquake/Brick Break
Hydro Pump
Salamence doesn't get Rock Slide here, and CB Salamence was virtually non-existant. Dragon Dancing was a task better left to Gyarados, who made better use of Taunt with better typing, primarily Meteor Mash resistance. Special Salamence is actually quite common and has been known to sweep teams, amazingly enough.
Heracross@Lum/Liechi
Swords Dance
Megahorn
Focus Punch
HP:rock/Brick Break
Heracross's relationship with Skarmory in this metagame has never been that clearly defined either way. Despite how Skarmory has that handy duel resistance to Megahorn, it doesn't like taking Focus Punch on the switch, which Gyarados and Salamence can actually take quite effectively, and with Intimidate can cover other faucets of Skarmory's role. Somewhat ironically, Heracross is the only Pokémon that suffers dramatically from Skarmory's Drill Peck, which is barely a OHKO with minimum defense and HP.
Slaking@Silk Scarf/Liechi
Hyper Beam/Frustration
Earthquake
Shadow Ball/Sleep Talk
Slack off/Rest
One of the main reasons Skarmory sees use, although this was eventually killed by the fact that everything (defined as "everything") used Protect to counter it.
Zangoose@Silk Scarf/Liechi
Frustration
Quick Attack
Swords Dance
Shadow Ball/Brick Break
Zangoose is one of the more effective sweepers of 200. It actually can take down entire teams that showed up unprepared if it can set up.
Weezing@Leftovers
Will-o-Wisp
Sludge Bomb
Haze
Explosion/Rest
Focus Punch isn't used here much, but Weezing's ability to burn and high defense, combined with Earthquake immunity and no physical weaknesses plus the ability to Haze away Dragon Dance allows it to slow down some physical sweepers, and one of the main reasons for the use of Lum.
Skarmory@Leftovers
Drill Peck
Roar
Spikes
Rest/Toxic
While not near the "all-purpose" physical wall it is in 386, Skarmory still has some of the best defenses in the game. Note that Skarmory usually has more attack EVs to utilize Drill Peck better. Toxic-shuffling isn't used as much as it was initially, due to the ultimate superiority of paralysis, despite how it may be hard to find.
Alakazam@Lum
Calm Mind
Psychic
Fire Punch/Thunderpunch
Recover/Ice Punch
Alakazam can sweep quite effectively in 200. Lum, combined with Syncronize, discourages paralysis, and once it has a Calm Mind up it's hard to stop. Recover is mainly for Calm Mind wars with other Alakazams and Gardevoir. Due to its shoddy defense, it does best as a late game sweeper once you've knocked most physical threats into Alakazam's KO range. Note that it gets completely walled by Regice.
Gardevoir@Lum/Chesto
Hypnosis/Will-o-Wisp/Rest
Calm Mind
Psychic
Thunderbolt
Wish was never really used on Gardevoir, because by the time it was made legal 386 was the standard metagame. Gardevoir basically functions as a sturdier Alakazam with a bit more attack power in the form of Thunderbolt, and comparable special attack stat. It beats Alakazam one-on-one unless said Alakazam has Recover.
Regice@Leftovers
Ice Beam
Thunderbolt/Thunder/Zap Cannon
Amnesia
Rest
Regice completely walls most special threats with Amnesia, the only problem being when you have to switch out, so Amnesia is only used as a last-ditch effort to prevent a sweep. Toxic was initially used early on for beating Recover Alakazam, but people later discovered that Alakazam has such awful HP (and moderately low special defense) that simply hitting harder with Ice Beam was more effective. Due to the lack of Thunder Wave, Thunder and Zap Cannon are used for paralysis (which also helps against Alakazam and company). The main problem with Regice is that if you're continually switching into STAB Psychics, you're eventually going to have to Rest, leaving you vulnerable to Focus Punch and Dragon Dance.
Claydol@Leftovers
Rapid Spin
Explosion/Rest
Earthquake
Ice Beam/Psychic
Claydol was originally considered a staple early on when many people used stall teams in RS, based on GSC instinct. Claydol's usefulness was primarily contingent on Skarmory's use, both as a defensive compliment on your team, and as a way to get rid of the Spikes your opponent laid down. When people discovered how much more offensive 200 was, Skarmory diminished in use, and so did Claydol, although it still deserves mention for Rapid Spin, Donphan's existence being a moot point due to the metagame being much more special-based, and Claydol actually resists Psychic.
Milotic@Leftovers
Recover
Hypnosis
Surf
Ice Beam
This is a god-send for stall teams, providing a Pokémon that can take status and has solid defenses. Hypnosis is a biggie, since the lack of Sleep Talk means you'll end up shutting something down. The fact that it learns recover makes it much more stable than many other defensive Pokémon.
I would also like to apologize in advance for how sloppy it is. I really didn't know how to format all this and basically wrote it all with the intent that it would appear on one page, but I have mostly all content and virtually nothing connecting different areas of information, so it's hard to see how anything here is relevant to the topic at hand.
However, my biggest apology is for how incomplete this is. This is a metagame that hundreds of people built over the course of months of play, and here I am summarizing it in 1500 words. So please, if you have anything that you feel should be included, or was included but should be more thoroughly addressed, please say so. (Only vaguely related: I don't know if a topic like this really deserves an introductory preamble. ;x)
Oh, and another apology goes to everything that I got just plain wrong. Since most of this is based on memory, I'm sure I might've gotten some movesets wrong, and included Pokémon that are no longer standards. So if there's anything that doesn't seem right based on your experience with 200, please say so.]
Pokémon that are absent, or Why 200 is more offensively-oriented than 386
If you're comparing this to 386, you'll want to take note that the following Pokémon aren't there to influence the flow:
Blissey
Tyranitar
Dugtrio
Celebi
Snorlax
Zapdos
Suicune
Raikou
Aerodacyl
Gengar
The main effect of this is that the metagame is much more offensive. There are no real stable Heal Bellers. Snorlax and Blissey are absent, meaning that games can progress significantly more rapidly, and special protection is harder to come by (Regice being the most notable). Pokémon like Alakazam and Gardevoir can actually sweep quite effectively with a few Calm Minds under their belt, and special attacking Salamence can actually wreak some havoc. No Aerodacyl or Jolteon (and Raikou and Dugtrio) means the speed standard is lowered, meaning Pokémon can invest in stats other than speed, and actually completely max attack. No Dugtrio means Magneton is free to roam, and without Snorlax Skarmory is less used. Tyranitar's absence is also a biggie. Combine the absence of Sandstream with the lack of viable Heal Bellers, and you've got an environment where there's less switching, which means less Choice Band and Leftovers and more Lum and Liechi.
The only real special wall in the game is Regice. Unlike Blissey, Regice has Amnesia, which might make it seem like it might be a better counter for Pokémon like Alakazam. However, given Regice's shoddy HP (and defense), it's only going to be slightly better than Blissey at taking physical hits. The fact that it needs special attack EVs to do anything to most Calm Minders means less EVs to pad defense. This might not seem like a problem, until you realize that Regice only gets Rest for Recovery. And like Blissey, Regice has a fighting weakness. It's for this reason that people used Focus Punch Sceptile and other similar Pokémon. If Regice takes too many EVs out of special defense, Calm Minders that would otherwise have no business touching it will walk all over it.
On the physical end, Skarmory is still here. The problem is that without Blissey, the game is more specially-oriented, and physical walling is something that isn't as helpful. Fewer Pokémon learn Rock Slide, which hits neautral against Skarmory...and more Pokémon instead use Fire Blast, which means Skarmory doesn't even have a sure shot at walling Pokémon like Gyarados. Magneton kills it, Dugtrio can't protect it, and with Claydol and Starmie being used, it's not going to keep it's Spikes on the field that long, if it gets them down in the first place. Weezing is actually more used than Skarmory mainly for its ability to burn, which can render Pokémon like Gyarados and Metagross useless if it connects, and is one of the contributing factors to the use of Lum, but it suffers from lack of resistances. Also, with the absence of Substitute on Pokémon like Ninjask, Haze is just as good, if not better than Whirlwind or Roar.
The speed tiers
460: Ninjask
416: Electrode
394: Crobat
383: Swellow
372: Alakazam, Sceptile
361: Starmie
339: Manetric
328: Slaking, Dodrio, Salamence, Linoone, Tentacruel, Raichu, Flygon
306: Zangoose
295: Heracross
As you can see, you don't really encounter anything that really matters (or is commonly used) until tier 5, in the form of Alakazam. Thus, 250 speed is enough for Dragon Dancers and Salac users, and you can leave Agility users at 187.
This means that those Dragon Dancers and other such stat up artists can put more into special attack to increase Fire Blast's power, or defenses. Also, Pokémon like Gyarados don't need Jolly nature and can use Adamant.
Move tutors, or lack thereof
There are no move tutors in 200, meaning there are far fewer Pokémon learning Thunder Wave, Rock Slide, Substitute, and similar moves. Fewer Pokémon learning Thunder Wave means that risk of paralysis is lower, and no Rock Slide means one less move for Salamence, Heracross, and similar Pokémon, reducing the practicality of Choice Band sets for such kinds of Pokémon.
Mainstay standards in 200
Gyarados@Liechi
Dragon Dance
Taunt/Fire Blast
HP:flying
Earthquake
Without Zapdos around, the only thing that can really wall it was Skarmory, who doesn't like having the Drill Peck forced by Taunt taken by Magneton. It doesn't learn Thunder Wave here, so that's something to keep in mind. With its plethora of resistances and Intimidate, it can actually force Skarmory off teams to make room for itself, and considering that it is much better on the offensive than Skarmory, it does the job better.
Metagross@Lum/Choice Band
Agility/Sludge Bomb
Meteor Mash
Earthquake
Shadow Ball
Agility is much more common in 200, mainly because it can't Explode. Skarmory was hardly common here, meaning it actually has the potential to set up and sweep entire teams, assuming it doesn't run into Swampert. Choice Band Metagross is countered too easily by Magneton, and besides doesn't have as many moves to work with, it doesn't get Explosion, Thunder Punch, or Rock Slide.
Salamence@Lum
Fire Blast
Dragon Claw/Dragon Dance
Crunch/Earthquake/Brick Break
Hydro Pump
Salamence doesn't get Rock Slide here, and CB Salamence was virtually non-existant. Dragon Dancing was a task better left to Gyarados, who made better use of Taunt with better typing, primarily Meteor Mash resistance. Special Salamence is actually quite common and has been known to sweep teams, amazingly enough.
Heracross@Lum/Liechi
Swords Dance
Megahorn
Focus Punch
HP:rock/Brick Break
Heracross's relationship with Skarmory in this metagame has never been that clearly defined either way. Despite how Skarmory has that handy duel resistance to Megahorn, it doesn't like taking Focus Punch on the switch, which Gyarados and Salamence can actually take quite effectively, and with Intimidate can cover other faucets of Skarmory's role. Somewhat ironically, Heracross is the only Pokémon that suffers dramatically from Skarmory's Drill Peck, which is barely a OHKO with minimum defense and HP.
Slaking@Silk Scarf/Liechi
Hyper Beam/Frustration
Earthquake
Shadow Ball/Sleep Talk
Slack off/Rest
One of the main reasons Skarmory sees use, although this was eventually killed by the fact that everything (defined as "everything") used Protect to counter it.
Zangoose@Silk Scarf/Liechi
Frustration
Quick Attack
Swords Dance
Shadow Ball/Brick Break
Zangoose is one of the more effective sweepers of 200. It actually can take down entire teams that showed up unprepared if it can set up.
Weezing@Leftovers
Will-o-Wisp
Sludge Bomb
Haze
Explosion/Rest
Focus Punch isn't used here much, but Weezing's ability to burn and high defense, combined with Earthquake immunity and no physical weaknesses plus the ability to Haze away Dragon Dance allows it to slow down some physical sweepers, and one of the main reasons for the use of Lum.
Skarmory@Leftovers
Drill Peck
Roar
Spikes
Rest/Toxic
While not near the "all-purpose" physical wall it is in 386, Skarmory still has some of the best defenses in the game. Note that Skarmory usually has more attack EVs to utilize Drill Peck better. Toxic-shuffling isn't used as much as it was initially, due to the ultimate superiority of paralysis, despite how it may be hard to find.
Alakazam@Lum
Calm Mind
Psychic
Fire Punch/Thunderpunch
Recover/Ice Punch
Alakazam can sweep quite effectively in 200. Lum, combined with Syncronize, discourages paralysis, and once it has a Calm Mind up it's hard to stop. Recover is mainly for Calm Mind wars with other Alakazams and Gardevoir. Due to its shoddy defense, it does best as a late game sweeper once you've knocked most physical threats into Alakazam's KO range. Note that it gets completely walled by Regice.
Gardevoir@Lum/Chesto
Hypnosis/Will-o-Wisp/Rest
Calm Mind
Psychic
Thunderbolt
Wish was never really used on Gardevoir, because by the time it was made legal 386 was the standard metagame. Gardevoir basically functions as a sturdier Alakazam with a bit more attack power in the form of Thunderbolt, and comparable special attack stat. It beats Alakazam one-on-one unless said Alakazam has Recover.
Regice@Leftovers
Ice Beam
Thunderbolt/Thunder/Zap Cannon
Amnesia
Rest
Regice completely walls most special threats with Amnesia, the only problem being when you have to switch out, so Amnesia is only used as a last-ditch effort to prevent a sweep. Toxic was initially used early on for beating Recover Alakazam, but people later discovered that Alakazam has such awful HP (and moderately low special defense) that simply hitting harder with Ice Beam was more effective. Due to the lack of Thunder Wave, Thunder and Zap Cannon are used for paralysis (which also helps against Alakazam and company). The main problem with Regice is that if you're continually switching into STAB Psychics, you're eventually going to have to Rest, leaving you vulnerable to Focus Punch and Dragon Dance.
Claydol@Leftovers
Rapid Spin
Explosion/Rest
Earthquake
Ice Beam/Psychic
Claydol was originally considered a staple early on when many people used stall teams in RS, based on GSC instinct. Claydol's usefulness was primarily contingent on Skarmory's use, both as a defensive compliment on your team, and as a way to get rid of the Spikes your opponent laid down. When people discovered how much more offensive 200 was, Skarmory diminished in use, and so did Claydol, although it still deserves mention for Rapid Spin, Donphan's existence being a moot point due to the metagame being much more special-based, and Claydol actually resists Psychic.
Milotic@Leftovers
Recover
Hypnosis
Surf
Ice Beam
This is a god-send for stall teams, providing a Pokémon that can take status and has solid defenses. Hypnosis is a biggie, since the lack of Sleep Talk means you'll end up shutting something down. The fact that it learns recover makes it much more stable than many other defensive Pokémon.
