The Power Difference of Mono and National Dex Mono

By Pengairxan and Neko. Released: 2025/05/04
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Art by a blue banana.

National Dex Monotype separates itself from the current Scarlet and Violet Monotype format due to the existence of Z-Crystals, Hidden Power, and Mega Evolutions, which improve the viability of Pokémon such as Kommo-o, Volcarona, and Lopunny, respectively. Due to these, certain Mega Evolutions outright define types such as Mega Venusaur for Poison, Mega Diancie for Rock, and Mega Pinsir for Bug. National Dex also means everyone is included, allowing unique crossovers such as a Sticky Web + Ogerpon-C Rock team, a Tapu Koko and Iron Valiant Fairy team, Tapu Lele and Deoxys-S Psychic spam, hyper offense dual screens Dark builds with Mega Tyranitar and Flyinium Z Galarian Moltres, and the Dragon core of Mega Latias + Archaludon + Hisuian Goodra. As a result, types such as Psychic, Normal, and Rock, which have lost key Pokémon in Tapu Lele, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Diancie in the transition to SV, become much more viable. Conversely, types like Ghost, Fire, and Dark suffer due to the availability of Z-Moves even for Pokémon that didn't exist during the Sun and Moon era, which led to the bans of Dragapult, Flutter Mane, and Darkrai.

Additionally, the inclusion of Scald and Toxic on most pre-Gen 7 Water-types as well as some other Pokémon makes defensive options such as Toxapex, Hisuian Goodra (inherited from Goomy, which is a pre-Gen 7 Pokémon), and Celesteela less passive. This in turn punishes offense, as threats like Mega Swampert, Tapu Bulu, and Mega Charizard Y have to be more wary of swapping into these walls they can exploit. However, offensive setup sweepers like Galarian Moltres, Keldeo, and Iron Boulder benefit from Z-Moves, which turn 2HKOs into OHKOs, helping them break through defensive cores more effectively, while Hidden Power grants coverage on threats such as Volcarona and Zapdos, enabling them to break would-be checks such as Heatran with Hidden Power Ground and Gliscor with Hidden Power Ice, respectively.

While Scarlet and Violet gave nearly everyone access to some form of entry hazards, the hazard metagame in National Dex Monotype is less oppressive than it is in Monotype due to the wide array of Defog users, which include Latias, Rotom-W, and Zapdos, due to the lack of moveset restrictions. These unique aspects lead to a divide in what is better and worse within both tiers due to the different power levels and combinations one cannot even dream of in SV Monotype.

Too Powerful to Handle

Dragapult

Of course, with access to Z-Moves along to boost their offensive potential, several Pokémon get pushed way over the edge and end up becoming too much for them to handle. No threat demonstrates this better than Dragapult. It is often said that if Dragapult got access to a reliable physical Ghost-type move, it would be banned, and NatDex Monotype can serve as a great assessment to this point. Even with the one-time use of Never-Ending Nightmare, that was usually all Dragapult needed to break through a wall or Fairy-type such as Hippowdon or Tapu Fini that thought it could handle the mighty dragon before being able to run away with the game, or it could break a team down hard enough for a teammate like Gholdengo or Garchomp to easily clean up afterwards. However, Dragapult, being the versatile moveset monster it is, could easily just surprise something thinking it would be Dragon Dance + Never-Ending Nightmare with a surprise Will-O-Wisp or Draco Meteor and getting away for free.

Spectrier

Spectrier is a fearsome although a bit underutilized threat in Monotype due to the existence of superior stallbreakers or hard hitters in Gholdengo and Flutter Mane. Spectrier is still an incredible threat in Monotype due to its great Speed tier and snowball potential with Grim Neigh. In NatDex Monotype, Spectrier managed to outlive behemoths like Flutter Mane and Dragapult, which got quickbanned, turning it into the premier special attacker for Ghost that trampled special walls with its shiny Z-Crystals, allowing it to easily handle threats like Clodsire, Heatran, and Hisuian Goodra using +2 Never-Ending Nightmare. It can also overpower select Dark-types, such as Galarian Moltres, with Twinkle Tackle after a Nasty Plot. Spectrier could also pull off a threatening Calm Mind + Will-O-Wisp set with Hex that, while less threatening towards Dark-types, was devastating against types that preferred balance such as Poison and Flying. Combined with the lack of viable offensive checks like Flutter Mane, Zamazenta, and Dragapult to outspeed and remove Spectrier before it sets up, Spectrier was banned from NatDex Monotype in July 2023.

Ogerpon-Hearthflame

Ogerpon-H on paper doesn't seem like a threat that would become too much better within NatDex Monotype. It doesn't have a Mega Evolution, it can't use Z-Moves, and with several new checks to it running around such as Mega Aerodactyl and Mega Pinsir, it shouldn't be that much harder to handle, right? But as it turned out, National Dex Monotype gives Ogerpon-H an environment where balance structures are much more plentiful, and it starts to become overwhelming. Its Speed tier also causes caused immense issues; 350 may not sound fast by modern standards, but Mega Evolutions weren't designed by modern standards, with the most notable Mega Evolutions such as Mega Gallade, Mega Diancie, and the Mega Eon duo being forced to play a risky 50/50, while other popular Mega Evolutions such as the Mega Charizard formes were easily outran and removed. And those are just the offensive Mega Evolutions, as thanks to Mold Breaker, Ogerpon-H was able to absolutely ruin types like Poison and Steel, as Mold Breaker negated would-be checks such as Mega Venusaur and Heatran; Poison's only resources to deal with it was Crobat and Sneasler, both of which could easily let in threats like Ferrothorn and Ceruledge to run rampant, while Steel was reliant on dealing with it with the otherwise outclassed Stakataka or wearing it down enough for Choice Scarf Excadrill to remove it.

The Winners

Toxapex

Toxapex is famous for what happened to it in SV. The removal of Scald from its moveset has led to The Pex going from a universally detested defensive stalwart able to threaten immense pressure with burns to just another defensive blob. This is not true in NatDex Monotype, as it retains Scald, allowing for it to lay in the pressure it wishes it could in SV, with burns crippling offensive threats like Scizor and Iron Hands and enabling the rest of its team to safely handle them without worry. While it's less notable, Knock Off applies alternative pressure against threats that believe they could effortlessly handle Toxapex such as Archaludon and Tornadus-T, now having to worry about losing crucial held items like Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots, which can end in disaster. Icium Z is also just as good, effectively making Z-Haze a 9th supercharged Recover PP and giving Toxapex just that bit more longevity it needs to stall out a team, along with providing valuable utility by turning Toxapex into a Knock Off absorber and enabling it to check Clangorous Soulblaze from Kommo-o.

Garchomp Garchomp-Mega
  • Garchomp @ Firium Z / Dragonium Z
  • Ability: Rough Skin
  • EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
  • Jolly Nature
  • - Swords Dance
  • - Earthquake
  • - Fire Fang
  • - Scale Shot / Outrage
  • Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
  • Ability: Rough Skin
  • EVs: 248 HP / 20 Def / 240 Spe
  • Jolly Nature
  • - Earthquake
  • - Dragon Tail
  • - Fire Blast / Spikes
  • - Stealth Rock
  • Garchomp @ Garchompite
  • Ability: Sand Force
  • EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
  • Jolly Nature
  • - Swords Dance
  • - Earthquake
  • - Scale Shot
  • - Fire Fang

Garchomp works with a bunch of little things that all pair together to make it stand far mighty above its SV counterpart. One of its most notable traits is that on Dragon, its main competition as a Stealth Rock setter, Archaludon, is far less powerful in NatDex Monotype thanks to an increased power in Fighting- and Ground-types, meaning Garchomp can slot onto Dragon compositions fairly more reliably and engage in entry hazard-setting and phazing utilities. But that is just one way this mighty dragon is run; offensively, access to Z-Moves can allow Garchomp to break through would-be checks, as Inferno Overdrive allows Garchomp to break Skarmory and Celesteela, which otherwise prove to be near-impassable obstacles. And that is of course not counting for the Mega Evolution Garchomp can proudly run with Scale Shot, which patches up what would otherwise be an unfortunate Speed tier to become a dangerous sand sweeper for Ground teams if positioned correctly.

Slowbro

Slowbro's access to Teleport may seem like a simple addition, but it's a huge game changer. As a bulky Pokémon, Teleport allows Slowbro to become a bulky pivot, which is incredibly valuable for Psychic because a lot of its strongest members are frail and need a slow pivot to often find a safe entry point. With just one move, Psychic goes from a type that has to sack consistently to get the right wallbreaker on the field to a type that can easily overwhelm a foe with the same threat consistently, with Tapu Lele, Victini, and Iron Boulder being all the scarier from it. Iron Boulder also serves as a great case study to how valuable Teleport Slowbro is, as within SV, Iron Boulder usually is just barely able to find a way in once a match, which often limits its threat potential, but in NatDex Monotype, Slowbro turns that singular risky entry into multiple ones, allowing for Iron Boulder to put out consistent pressure throughout a match. Of course, Teleport also benefits Slowbro, enabling it to use Future Sight + Teleport effectively to dish out devastating amounts of damage, especially when it's paired with Mega Gallade to break the Dark-type coming in that thinks it can take on Future Sight.

Regieleki

Electric's success in Monotype is closely tied to the presence of Tapu Koko, which provides the type with an answer to threatening Dragon-types like Kommo-o and Garchomp as well as Electric Terrain to empower Rising Voltage users like Alolan Raichu and Regieleki. Regieleki, in particular, benefits greatly from Tapu Koko’s support, as a boosted Rising Voltage allows it to break through even the bulkiest special walls, such as Blissey and Galarian Slowking, as well as Electric-resistant Pokémon like Mega Charizard X and Ferrothorn. Couple this with an extremely high Speed tier that's independent of Terrain, and Regieleki becomes the premier revenge killer of non-Electric-immune threats like Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Iron Valiant. Supercell Slam also sees usage for niche situations on Magnet sets to check Iron Crown behind Light Screen and Tapu Lele. Fortunately, Regieleki does not gain access to Hidden Power in NatDex Monotype, which helps keep it balanced within the tier.

Porygon2 Blissey Staraptor
  • Porygon2 @ Eviolite
  • Ability: Trace / Download
  • EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
  • Bold Nature
  • - Ice Beam
  • - Discharge
  • - Hidden Power Fire / Foul Play / Teleport
  • - Recover
  • Blissey (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
  • Ability: Natural Cure
  • EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
  • Bold Nature
  • - Seismic Toss
  • - Soft-Boiled
  • - Teleport
  • - Toxic / Thunder Wave / Stealth Rock
  • Staraptor @ Heavy-Duty Boots
  • Ability: Intimidate
  • EVs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
  • Impish Nature
  • - Brave Bird
  • - U-Turn
  • - Defog
  • - Roost

The Normal typing's increase in power cannot be described through one Pokémon like Psychic can with Slowbro or Electric with Regieleki. Normal benefits from so many things being vastly superior that it allows the type to thrive. A simple thing that could contribute to such is that its great walls in Porygon2, Blissey, and Chansey are all vastly more threatening thanks to having access to both Toxic and Teleport, allowing them to become far more difficult to handle; opponents' wallbreakers sent to remove these obstacles can be inflicted with Toxic poison or caught off-guard by pivoting with Teleport, either to another wall, repeating the cycle, or to an offensive threat like Ursaluna or Hisuian Zoroark. On the other hand, it could be Staraptor finally being able to play its defensive role once again with Roost and Defog back in its moveset, giving Normal a great form of entry hazard control and a solid Fighting neutrality to fall back on against physical threats like Buzzwole and Sneasler thanks to Intimidate. Of course, it could also just be Mega Lopunny with its powerful Return, Close Combat, and Triple Axel just breaking through the entire tier as well, it's hard to say.

The Losers

Sneasler Gliscor Archaludon Azumarill Hatterene

Sneasler on paper seems like a shoo-in to be better in NatDex Monotype. However, in practice it doesn't come to be, as NatDex as a whole is far more ready for Sneasler without even trying. While Sneasler still can do what it mostly does in regular Monotype, most of the time it ends up being locked into being the team's Choice Scarf user, as it needs that Speed to accomplish its roles. Without it, offensive Tapu Koko and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele will blaze past Sneasler, removing it without worry, and it also needs Rock Slide to act as a team's check to Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y or to revenge kill setup sweepers like Roaring Moon and Mega Altaria. And that is not counting several new problems it now has to deal with such as Mega Pinsir, which can easily revenge kill Sneasler with Aerilate Quick Attack, and Surge Surfer Alolan Raichu, which outpaces Sneasler in Electric Terrain and easily removes it with Psychic.

Gliscor has had an interesting journey within SV Monotype. Once it was introduced back in the Teal Mask DLC, it cemented itself as one of Flying's top threats and slowly became more and more unbearable to the playerbase over time within that metagame, with cries for a ban growing louder by the hour. But in NatDex Monotype, it is considered a lot more reasonable to handle for a very simple reason: the metagame has far more tools to break Gliscor. A great example is Gliscor's matchup into Poison; within SV Monotype, Gliscor stonewalls the type with minimal recourse outside of wearing it down over time and hoping to remove it with huge powerful attacks such as Choice Specs Iron Moth's Overheat, while in NatDex Monotype, Sheer Force Nidoking is on the prowl, with its Ice Beam completely shattering this defensive beast. And that's just one type, as Bug gains access to Buzzwole, which can easily slot in Ice Punch to take Gliscor down, while Electric and opposing Flying teams have Hidden Power Ice on Zapdos, which can run rampant in the Flying matchup or open enough of a hole in Ground for Electric to gain a foothold.

Archaludon does exactly what it does in NatDex Monotype as it does in SV, which should be enough; after all, several new dominant SV Pokémon like Great Tusk, Meowscarada, and Gholdengo ended up doing mostly the same in NatDex to great success, but Archaludon didn't. This mostly comes down to how NatDex Monotype functions overall. Z-Moves make Archaludon a far shakier physical check, as instead of checking a Triple Axel off of Weavile, it is now checking a Subzero Slammer, which can cripple it, and that is true across the board where the Pokémon and moves are stronger. Mega Altaria also exists as new competition for taking on Dragon-types, and while it may lack Stealth Rock, it makes up for it by having a full-on Dragon immunity instead of a neutrality. After all, who needs a Dragon-neutral Pokémon that gets physically stronger after each hit when you have a setup sweeper that is immune outright?

Azumarill isn't bad per se. It's just the competition for Fairy's and Water's teammates is at an all-time high, which makes Azumarill a hard choice to slot onto a team. On Water, Azumarill has always had issues fitting in, often being required to play a niche stall set with Sap Sipper, Perish Song, and Whirlpool, but with the breadth of options available for Water and NatDex Monotype's overall build style, stall Water is fairly niche, and Azumarill is niche when it does show up. Fairy though is where Azumarill's struggles are more pronounced, far more despite it being the home Azumarill has had for multiple generations of Monotype. Tapu Lele can hurt Azumarill, as not only does its Psyshock act as an incredible wallbreaker, but Psychic Terrain prevents Azumarill's Aqua Jet, which is vital to its success. Iron Valiant also serves as a major issue, with Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain enabling Iron Valiant to act as valuable speed control along with being able to reliably use Z-Moves offensively instead of needing it to use it to offset Belly Drum's cost.

Of course, instead of having issues, you could be completely outclassed like Hatterene. While a Dark neutrality for Psychic, a Psychic typing to hit Poison-types for Fairy, and entry hazard denial in Magic Bounce are great traits to have in one package, they sadly aren't enough when your competition is Tapu Lele for the typing. Tapu Lele's abilities to blast through Dark-types with its powerful Moonblast and eviscerate Poison-types with Psychic Terrain-boosted Psyshock make it a must-have on both Psychic and Fairy over a slow bulky Pokémon. And on Fairy, Hatterene is even harder to slot on when a Magic Bounce Pokémon with better offensive capabilities and better support with its access to Stealth Rock exists in Mega Diancie. While it does perform better on Psychic teams, Tapu Lele gives enough oomph that a second Fairy-type is usually not desired, and if you need a physical wall on Psychic, Slowbro isn't a momentum drainer like Hatterene.

Closing

And that is a brief summary of some of the many winners and losers of the changes from SV Monotype to NatDex Monotype. Of course, there are far more than what are listed there, but to discover them, you'll just have to play these tiers yourself and find out.

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