OMotM/LCotM Spotlight: Twisted Dimension + Mix and Mega Doubles
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Art by anundeadboy.
What is an OMotM/LCotM?
The OMotM, or Other Metagame of the Month, is the metagame that is voted by the players to have a ladder for a specific month. The LCotM, or Leader's Choice of the Month, is a second ladder that is chosen specifically by OM Forum Mods. For the most part, the LCotM is a metagame that needs more love, as it may not be able to compete with the others that get nominated for the OMotM voting.
For December, the OM of the Month is Twisted Dimension, while the Leader's Choice is Mix and Mega Doubles!
Introduction to Twisted Dimension
Twisted Dimension is a brand new OM where move order within any given priority bracket is reversed. Put simply, Trick Room is always up! Now, Pokemon like Hatterene and Pincurchin are Speed demons, while Dragapult and Deoxys-A move at a snail's pace. This gives an immediate advantage to Pokemon with otherwise miniscule Speed stats such as Conkeldurr and Dondozo, with Speed stats as "high" as Incineroar's base 60 Speed being considered slow pivots and Pokemon with over base 90 Speed being nearly nonexistent outside of defensive roles. Low Speed is so important in this metagame that the Speed-halving Iron Ball and Power items, otherwise largely considered useless, are fully banned, while Curse is the single best setup move in the tier! In such a unique environment, otherwise awful Pokemon like Torkoal and Glastrier are banned, while Ubers-level Pokemon like Solgaleo and Zacian are slow enough to be balanced! Be careful of even these "slow" threats though, as if you set up Trick Room, powerful threats like Zacian and Deoxys-A are moving first again, making it a viable strategy!
Threats in Twisted Dimension
- Munchlax @ Eviolite
- Ability: Thick Fat
- EVs: 252 Atk / 8 Def / 248 SpD
- Brave Nature
- IVs: 0 Spe
- - Double-Edge / Body Slam
- - Earthquake
- - Gunk Shot / Crunch / Curse
- - Encore
As the slowest (now fastest) Pokemon in the game, even an average base 85 Attack is enough to be a powerful metagame threat! Without any Speed-lowering items, Munchlax hits a staggeringly fast 13 Speed, low enough to outspeed most Curse sweepers even after multiple boosts. Double-Edge's high Base Power helps compensate for Munchlax's relatively low Attack, but Body Slam is an option to trade some power for extra longevity—paralyzing the foe can be a problem, though! Earthquake smacks foes like Garganacl, Clodsire, and Solgaleo hard, and in the final moveslot, Gunk Shot is notable for hitting Clefable and Hatterene very hard, while Crunch can be used to threaten Giratina. Alternatively, Curse can be used in tandem with Body Slam to turn Munchlax into a devastating sweeper. Finally, the fastest Encore in the format is the real selling point of Munchlax, able to lock foes into disadvantageous moves and either hit them hard or set up Curse of its own.
- Hatterene (F) @ Life Orb
- Ability: Magic Bounce
- EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
- Quiet Nature
- IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- - Dazzling Gleam
- - Psychic Noise / Psyshock
- - Mystical Fire
- - Shadow Ball / Calm Mind
Hatterene is the tier's fastest Magic Bounce user and a premier revenge killer, creeping past the coveted base 30 Speed tier and posing a massive offensive threat with its huge base 136 Special Attack. Psychic Noise is the primary Psychic-type move for its ability to deny Rest from Dondozo and other bulky Curse users, but Psyshock is notable for smacking Chansey, Munchlax, and Clodsire far harder. Mystical Fire is fantastic coverage, letting Hatterene break through Steel-type foes like Kingambit, Copperajah, and Solgaleo. Shadow Ball is the preferred fourth move for a super effective hit against Slowbro, Reuniclus, and opposing Hatterene, but Calm Mind is an option to turn Hatterene into a devastating sweeper with almost no switch-ins aside from the rare Alolan Muk and, if not running Psyshock, Galarian Slowking and Chansey.
- Solgaleo @ Leftovers
- Ability: Full Metal Body
- EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
- Relaxed Nature
- IVs: 0 Spe
- - Teleport
- - Sunsteel Strike
- - Knock Off / Trick Room
- - Morning Sun
Solgaleo, despite its massive Attack and legendary stats, finds itself playing support! Solgaleo's base 97 Speed, while extremely subpar for an offensive Pokemon, is perfectly serviceable in a defensive role, as it's able to tank a hit and either fire back with a deceptively strong Sunsteel Strike or pivot out to a more offensively threatening teammate with Teleport. Knock Off gives Solgaleo some additional utility against Leftovers-reliant foes like Dondozo, but Trick Room is a fun option that allows Solgaleo to enable powerful offensive threats like Deoxys-A, Zacian, and Iron Valiant, turning these slow wallbreakers into the Speed demons they are in standard play! Finally, Morning Sun affords Solgaleo some much-needed healing and allows it some extra leeway when switching into powerful attackers like Hatterene, Crabominable, and Pincurchin.
Introduction to Mix and Mega Doubles
Mix and Mega Doubles takes Mix and Mega, a well-known OM where regular Pokemon gain stats and abilities from Mega Pokemon's Mega Stones, and flips it on its head by being in a doubles format! In this meta, Pokemon like Dragonite, Raging Bolt, and Kyogre are considered on equal footing; the former two have access to powerful tools like Altarianite, Salamencite, and Manectite, granting useful abilities and stat boosts, while Kyogre is stuck with regular boring items like Mystic Water and Choice Scarf. Stats and abilities make or break Pokemon in this meta, as Pokemon like Groudon and Volcanion purely rely on their abilities and stats to have any worth, while Archaludon with Swampertite is an incredible attacker thanks to Swift Swim letting it outspeed the entire unboosted metagame! Most important, though, is Speed tiers, with Banettite's ability to ignore Speed tiers alongside increased-priority status moves like Tailwind, Decorate, and After You being so strong that the stone is banned as a result, although Tailwind and Trick Room are still incredibly important.
Threats in Mix and Mega Doubles
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/ Altarianite 
Iron Hands is by far the best Pokemon in Mix and Mega Doubles, and for good reason. Its high base stats, insane Mega Stone flexibility, and access to a variety of moves like Swords Dance, Volt Switch, and Fake Out make it a devastating attacker and great pivot. While Sablenite is the preferred Mega Stone, other Mega Stones like Altarianite, Abomasite, and Manectite can be run to help Iron Hands fit the team's needs as a strong attacker with excellent neutral coverage, snow setter for teammates like Calyrex-I and Kyurem, or Intimidate user.
- Entei @ Altarianite
/ Pinsirite 
- Ability: Inner Focus
- EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
- Adamant Nature
- - Sacred Fire
- - Extreme Speed
- - Double-Edge / Stone Edge / Stomping Tantrum
- - Protect
Entei leverages its base ability in Inner Focus, access to Sacred Fire and Extreme Speed, and high Attack to great effect in MnM Doubles. Double-Edge is a great high-damage -ate-boosted move that avoids the priority lock from Psychic Terrain and similar abilities, while Stone Edge and Stomping Tantrum hit Fire-types like opposing Entei, Volcanion, and Ho-Oh. Entei is best slotted on balance cores with Rillaboom for denying Psychic Terrain, since Entei relies on Extreme Speed to be a consistent threat. Altarianite is by far the best option on Entei, since it lets it threaten Dragon-types like Dragonite and Raging Bolt, but Pinsirite removes its Ground weakness while still turning its Normal-type attacks into strong neutral options in combination with Sacred Fire.
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/ Manectite Raging Bolt is a fantastic pivot and damage dealer thanks to its absurd Special Attack and STAB combos. Lucarionite focuses on Raging Bolt's damage, often OHKOing targets outright or with minor chip thanks to Adaptability boosting Draco Meteor to absurd levels, while Manectite turns Raging Bolt into an incredible pivot thanks to Intimidate and its bulk allowing it to come in constantly. Alternatively, Altarianite focuses on the great neutral coverage that Electric / Fairy provides, forgoing Draco Meteor's incredible damage for a better typing long-term, to either deal great damage instantly or take over games with Calm Mind.
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Despite not being able to hold Mega Stones, Kyogre demands respect from every team thanks to its great item flexibility, Drizzle shifting the entire battle, and its absurd Water-type damage. Origin Pulse is the better move overall because it reduces the need to stay healthy to use spread attacks, but Hydro Pump allows Kyogre to work around Wide Guard from Pokemon like Zamazenta-C and Lunala. Thunder hits Volcanion, a staple on balance, but Ice Beam can be used if a teammate like Raging Bolt or Archaludon is present. Both of the first two given EV spreads outspeed Choice Scarf Groudon and Kyogre when Tailwind is up.
Final Thoughts
From the Speed tiers being turned on their head in Twisted Dimension to the plethora of unique and quirky interactions in Mix and Mega Doubles, this month has something for everyone! To discuss, play, and learn about these metagames and more, why don't you come check out the Other Metas room on Pokémon Showdown?
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