so your saying if I click sub on
and spam freeze dry I could win? Also what if 
clicks freeze dry directly. I get tera water but;Guys, on boots sets for
I know ice beam is more desirable then blizzard and that’s it
yeah for boots kyu i’d run ice beam/freeze dry/earth power/fillerGuys, on boots sets for
I know ice beam is more desirable then blizzard and that’s it
Alright ty
Guys, on boots sets for
I know ice beam is more desirable then blizzard and that’s it
my personal input, get creative with that last slot! find something that synergizes well with the rest of your team that people aren't using or expecting. as long as you're experimenting, feel free to get real stupid with it. breaking swipe, dragon tail, body slam, imprison, some bullshit like that. worst case, you find out your tech doesn't work and just slap on a more common filler move instead
It's regular specs sets with ep freeze dry and ice beam/blizzard(if your runningGuys, on boots sets for
I know ice beam is more desirable then blizzard and that’s it
) but you could run sub draco dpulse and some other shit I forgor
Cycle 2 just finished, and you know what that means? More meta game talk. Here’s 5 notable mons or trends that popped off this cycle.
CYCLE 2 WINNERS
No. 5 Iron Moth
Iron Moth @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Ghost/Ground/Fairy/Grass/Dark/Water
EVs: 124 Def / 132 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Sludge Wave
- Psychic/Dazzling Gleam/Energy Ball/Tera Blast
- Substitute/Psychic/Dazzling Gleam/Energy Ball/Tera Blast
Iron Moth @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Ghost/Ground/Fairy/Grass
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Sludge Wave
- Tera Blast/Psychic/Dazzling Gleam/Energy Ball
- Agility/Substitute/Psychic/Dazzling Gleam/Energy Ball/Tera Blast
This summer has been proving to us that Iron Moth is a dangerous mfer. Moth provides needed role compression for teams as a Fairy resist, Tspike absorber, and speed control. Its been popping up on many offenses used in OLT such as this one with Tera Dragon G-Fire by oldspicemike
https://pokepast.es/404d7105ec4925d5
Unless you have a specific check, players must be wary of Iron Moth because it will snowball out of control. With Tran usage being low, Iron Moth has been running non-Tera Blast options more frequently, opening the door for Gleam to hit Dragons, Psychic to smack Glimm and opposing Poison types, or E-Ball to snipe Garg/Ting team comps. A particular favorite set of mine is AoA Moth due to how expected Substitute is. You could get surprise kills or even sweep the entire team like in this replay.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2177330522
I’ve spectated a bunch of OLT games where Moth cheats through half the team or wins off the spot. I expect a high rate of Moth checks like Ting-Lu or AV King to rise in usage. We may even see niche checks like Ceruledge.
No. 4 Lokix
Lokix @ Choice Band
Ability: Tinted Lens
Tera Type: Bug
EVs: 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 Spe
Adamant Nature
- First Impression
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Leech Life
Lokix has only been trending upwards in Cycle 2. CB Tinted Lens First Impression is one of the best tools for rkilling the numerous offensive juggernauts like Roaring Moon, Darkrai, Raging Bolt, Gouging Fire, Deo-S, and more. You might’ve seen Lokix on a core of Mola/Crown/Tusk, which was spammed by OLT and non-OLT players alike. Besides Lokix’s valuable priority, its typing is also surprisingly decent, letting it come in on Darkrai, Ting-Lu, Shadow Balls, and Deoxys-Speed. The spread above gives it a bit of bulk while outpacing standard Gliscors. Tera Bug Leech Life is surprisingly strong, doing big chunks to even the physically bulky threats in Gliscor, Mola, and Zama. Lokix still has issues like fraility and a SR weakness, but it is doing better than it was initially the last few months.
No. 3 Samurott-Hisui
Samurott-Hisui @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Fire/Ghost/Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Razor Shell/Aqua Cutter
- Knock Off
- Encore/Sucker Punch
Samurott-Hisui @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Razor Shell/Aqua Cuttee
- Aqua Jet/Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
Samurott-Hisui @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Razor Shell/Aqua Cutter
- Knock Off
- Flip Turn/Sacred Sword
Samurott-Hisui @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Razor Shell/Aqua Cutter
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
Samurott-Hisui @ Black Glasses/Mystic Water
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Dark/Water/Ghost/Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Ceaseless Edge
- Razor Shell/Aqua Cutter
- Sucker Punch/Aqua Jet
Next in line of Dark types spammed this OLT is Samurott-Hisui. Samu has become the go-to Spiker on teams as it can force progress without sacrificing offensive pressure. Outside of that, its access to Encore has only gotten better in the following months as stuff gets optimized and is bolstered by Samu’s Gambit defying Water/Dark typing. Samu boasts multiple sets, the most common being the standard Boots variant and the Sash lead. Spike Stacking HOs have resurfaced and Samu is the MVP of these builds. The only thing stopping Samu from getting up a spike or two a game is the 90% accuracy of Ceaseless. Assault Vest reworks Samu’s role into a bulky offensive spiker. Scarf provides a bit of speed control, and this set alone makes mons like Pult and Cinder hesitant to stay in to click U-Turn because of that being a possibility, letting you get up spikes anyways, but the scariest set imo is SD. After a single boost, it suddenly 2-shots targets like Corv, Skarm, Mola, and can OHKO Zapdos with Tera Dark/Water Ceaseless or Razor Shell. All this while remaining dangerous to faster pokes thanks to priority in the form of Sucker or Aqua Jet. One set I’m interested in trying is this.
Samurott-Hisui @ Mystic Water
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 212 Atk / 116 SpA / 180 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Surf
- Knock Off
- Encore/Grass Knot
Surf with Mystic Water lets you 2HKO Skarm and with Tera, 2HKO physdef Corv after rocks. It also cleanly OHKOs Tusk. You could also drop Encore for Knot to be an immediate asshole to Dozo.
Overall Samu has been consistent even in the face of its competition in Wogre.
No. 2 Roaring Moon
Roaring Moon @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Flying/Ground/Ghost/Fairy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Knock Off
- Acrobatics/Earthquake
- Earthquake/Taunt/Roost/Substitute
Roaring Moon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Outrage
- Iron Head
- U-turn
Cycle 2 has been an experimental period for Roaring Moon, and it might be time to stop calling it Roaring Mid. The most notable innovation being Tera Ground. Ground has the benefit of boosting Earthquake to obscene levels, bypassing checks like Fairy Bolt, Barb Clef, T-Wave Zapdos, and Garg. Other options such a different Tera types or Roost and Sub have been utilized in OLT. bbeeaa made top cut last cycle with Choice Scarf Roaring Moon on this sick team https://pokepast.es/f7d0a349ddc3ee43.
Scarf Moon a cool speed control option that can clean with strong Outrages and spam Knock/U-Turn. Might be weak to Balance, but it can surprise some people, not on this team cause it’s very much public but maybe we’ll see more of it on other builds. Moon’s meta developments have been positive, making it more conspicuous and therefore, avoiding being one-dimensional.
No. 1 These Four Mons Here
This core right here has become the posterchild of slow bootless Balance teams during OLT. Often times it’s these four + a breaker + another wall. The idea is straight forward. Cover as many matchups as possible while having a response to everything and pivoting into the breaker of choice. Here’s a rundown.
Ace is the offensive pivot and hazard control option. Its often seen with Wisp, Sucker, or coverage.
Instead of the typical hazard stacking sets, Ting-Lu on this core runs Resttalk with Payback + EQ, acting as a Dondozo for special attackers while maintaining its health. Its synergy with Cinderace works really well because of its ability to Court Change Spikes off.
Slowking-Galar is a secondary special wall on the team, pivot, anti-weather control, and a progress maker with Future Sight. Due to the hazard removal from Cinder and Corv, Glowking can sometimes run other items like Black Sludge, Lagging Tail, or the OLT favorite, Assault Vest.
As a check to Tusk, Rilla, and Gambit, Corviknight is the final glue to this defensive core. Corviknight is also a pivot and Defogger. Despite being blanked by Ghold, Corv’s synergy with Ting-Lu and Cinder is perfect as they both pressure Ghold, plus the latter can force hazards onto the other side. One set I find cool is a mixed def Corv which with 140 spd EVs + SpD nature, 1v1s the infamous Sub-Tect Kyurem.
204 SpA Kyurem Freeze-Dry vs. 248 HP / 140+ SpD Corviknight: 99-117 (24.8 - 29.3%) -- guaranteed 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
As a way to break teams, one of these two are the most common picks. Both of these have the added bonus of punishing the three best Spikers in the tier, Gliscor, Ting-Lu, and Samurott. Hydrapple has become a favorite of mine as a breaker that can switch into Ting-Lu/Garg and non-Play Rough Ogre. Sub-Tect Kyurem is another popular choice on these builds.
Aiding the defensive core is often one of these walls. Garg can set rocks or cheat games with its Curse set, while Dondozo is a mid ass mon, it helps check G-Fire, KG, and Moon. Thanks to Lefties, it doesn’t have to click Rest every second, so it gets to do its job. Mola can pass wishes and check physical threats as well.
While playtesting these teams, I found them to be very consistent with a strong defensive core and good horsepower accompanying them. Is this the new ZapLuKing? No, but OLT showed the new possible routes Balance can go in the future. I’ll be looking forward to Cycle 3.
This is the only one that I think would be an out and out bad call to test *right now*. Is Zama a great mon? Sure it’s clearly nuts. But the issue Zamazenta is He Who Remains. Without Zamazenta, everything burns. Zama is a great check to a lot of other scary mons, including other mons on this radar or radars in the past. Its presence makes the tier better imo. It’s kinda dumb, but if our goal is the most playable, competitive, and fun meta possible, id keep Zamazenta around for now.
imma be real, Gouging is dumb but I do not think it’s banworthy. It’s fat and strong, but it isn’t too fat or too strong if that makes sense. Its bulky and offensive sets have different checks and play styles they are good into, but that doesn’t mean it’s broken imo. Just a solid mon. I’d give gouging a bit more time to cook. It’s showing good numbers rn but I would say retesting it now would not be the move.
I’ve said my peace on Darkrai in the past, but I think it’s fine for the most part? I like how it gives us more speed control for the tier and it feels healthier in terms of a balance breaker than Kyurem or even Woger tbh. It’s got limited defensive utility and is frailer than either. As scary as Darkrai is, being limited to just Dark Pulse for STAB does hold its ability to rip holes into teams. Sure, flinches are dumb, but I’d rather deal with flinches than Freeze >_>. Its good, but I think it’s healthier than people give credit for. Kyurem is easily the first target I’d look at for a suspect. Current trends, especially Substitute, make it so hard to deal with right now. Defensive cores struggle to handled Gouging and Kyurem and Darkrai and Woger and what have you, but Kyurem feels the most oppressive to account for.
+ ---- + ------------------ + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| Rank | Pokemon | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ------------------ + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Great Tusk | 65 | 35.33% | 47.69% |
| 2 | Kingambit | 59 | 32.07% | 52.54% |
| 3 | Gholdengo | 50 | 27.17% | 48.00% |
| 4 | Iron Moth | 45 | 24.46% | 62.22% |
| 5 | Zamazenta-* | 44 | 23.91% | 59.09% |
| 6 | Landorus-Therian | 41 | 22.28% | 48.78% |
| 7 | Samurott-Hisui | 38 | 20.65% | 55.26% |
| 8 | Slowking-Galar | 36 | 19.57% | 52.78% |
| 9 | Raging Bolt | 35 | 19.02% | 48.57% |
| 10 | Iron Valiant | 34 | 18.48% | 44.12% |
| 11 | Ogerpon-Wellspring | 33 | 17.93% | 48.48% |
| 11 | Gliscor | 33 | 17.93% | 45.45% |
| 13 | Gouging Fire | 31 | 16.85% | 51.61% |
| 14 | Dragonite | 29 | 15.76% | 44.83% |
| 15 | Primarina | 27 | 14.67% | 55.56% |
| 16 | Dragapult | 25 | 13.59% | 56.00% |
| 16 | Roaring Moon | 25 | 13.59% | 52.00% |
| 18 | Darkrai | 24 | 13.04% | 54.17% |
| 19 | Clefable | 22 | 11.96% | 50.00% |
| 20 | Kyurem | 21 | 11.41% | 47.62% |
| 20 | Rillaboom | 21 | 11.41% | 38.10% |
| 22 | Deoxys-Speed | 20 | 10.87% | 65.00% |
| 23 | Glimmora | 18 | 9.78% | 50.00% |
| 24 | Garganacl | 16 | 8.70% | 50.00% |
| 24 | Hatterene | 16 | 8.70% | 37.50% |
| 26 | Iron Treads | 14 | 7.61% | 50.00% |
| 26 | Iron Crown | 14 | 7.61% | 28.57% |
| 28 | Ting-Lu | 13 | 7.07% | 69.23% |
| 29 | Blissey | 12 | 6.52% | 33.33% |
| 30 | Moltres | 11 | 5.98% | 72.73% |
| 30 | Walking Wake | 11 | 5.98% | 54.55% |
| 32 | Toxapex | 10 | 5.43% | 60.00% |
| 32 | Dondozo | 10 | 5.43% | 50.00% |
| 32 | Cinderace | 10 | 5.43% | 50.00% |
| 32 | Enamorus | 10 | 5.43% | 40.00% |
| 36 | Zapdos | 8 | 4.35% | 75.00% |
| 36 | Tinkaton | 8 | 4.35% | 75.00% |
| 36 | Volcanion | 8 | 4.35% | 50.00% |
| 36 | Skarmory | 8 | 4.35% | 37.50% |
| 36 | Ribombee | 8 | 4.35% | 37.50% |
| 36 | Corviknight | 8 | 4.35% | 25.00% |
| 36 | Weavile | 8 | 4.35% | 12.50% |
| 43 | Hawlucha | 7 | 3.80% | 28.57% |
| 44 | Hydrapple | 6 | 3.26% | 66.67% |
| 44 | Clodsire | 6 | 3.26% | 50.00% |
| 44 | Alomomola | 6 | 3.26% | 33.33% |
| 44 | Torkoal | 6 | 3.26% | 33.33% |
| 44 | Scizor | 6 | 3.26% | 16.67% |
| 49 | Ninetales | 5 | 2.72% | 80.00% |
| 49 | Meowscarada | 5 | 2.72% | 80.00% |
| 49 | Ogerpon-Cornerstone | 5 | 2.72% | 20.00% |
| 52 | Ursaluna | 4 | 2.17% | 50.00% |
| 52 | Rotom-Wash | 4 | 2.17% | 50.00% |
| 52 | Ogerpon | 4 | 2.17% | 50.00% |
| 52 | Sinistcha | 4 | 2.17% | 25.00% |
| 56 | Pecharunt | 3 | 1.63% | 66.67% |
| 56 | Garchomp | 3 | 1.63% | 33.33% |
| 56 | Heatran | 3 | 1.63% | 33.33% |
| 56 | Serperior | 3 | 1.63% | 33.33% |
| 60 | Manaphy | 2 | 1.09% | 100.00% |
| 60 | Sylveon | 2 | 1.09% | 100.00% |
| 60 | Skeledirge | 2 | 1.09% | 50.00% |
| 60 | Indeedee | 2 | 1.09% | 50.00% |
| 60 | Ninetales-Alola | 2 | 1.09% | 50.00% |
| 60 | Hoopa-Unbound | 2 | 1.09% | 0.00% |
| 60 | Greninja-* | 2 | 1.09% | 0.00% |
| 60 | Quagsire | 2 | 1.09% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Cryogonal | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Pelipper | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Barraskewda | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Breloom | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Zapdos-Galar | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Azumarill | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Quaquaval | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Beartic | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Muk | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Latios | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Cyclizar | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Polteageist | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Venusaur | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Blaziken | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Chansey | 1 | 0.54% | 100.00% |
| 68 | Amoonguss | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Okidogi | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Sandy Shocks | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Jirachi | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Lokix | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Regidrago | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Tyranitar | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Excadrill | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Weezing-Galar | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Lilligant-Hisui | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Cobalion | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Polteageist-Antique | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Muk-Alola | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
| 68 | Golurk | 1 | 0.54% | 0.00% |
Mixed attacking EVs with max speed and running infiltrator could look scary. Might I suggest u turn instead of draco?(Or the aforementioned tera blast fighting for
stab)
Hard disagree. We’ve pretty much constantly been in a position where we knew we would have to do multiple suspects to reach an ideal/healthy meta up until Volc’s ban. Now we’re actually in a genuinely stable period where no Pokémon sticks out like a sore thumb, let alone multiple at the same time. A couple are POTENTIALLY suspect-able, but it’s pretty unclear if anything would even have enough support to reach a 60% ban vote.
says hello. Imo it's stupidly fast and strong with it's last moveslot being whatever it wants. You don't even know if it's sd or u turn(is this even viable) and I think we should do a susI'm not overly fussed about Wellspring tbh; it hits hard with Ivy Cudgel, sure, but it's quite hazard-prone, matches up poorly into a lot of the more offensive end of the meta, getting dunked on by a lot of top threats(Roaring Moon, Zama, Valiant, Darkrai, Raging Bolt, Gambit, Kyurem, etc.) and overall, in a lot of cases, I feel like it's better on paper than in practice during a match.
True but this is just assuming your offensive team. Ogerpon isn't suspect worthy because of blazing speed but how hard it is to legit have defensive counter play. Think you can switch Rillaboom in? Get U turned on. Sinitscha resist and has strength sap? Plus two knock off goes crazy. Any dragon type? Play rough there ass. Balance teams/ slower pace teams have no legit way to deal with ogerpon if it has the right coverage offensively. Offensive truly doesn't care since they just outspeed ogerpon, meaning ogerpon will never even get a hit in
View attachment 656526
I don’t claim to be the first one to have brought this set up, but I would say I’m one of the first to entertain the idea. Regardless of if you think Kyurem was broken even before this set took off, Sub-Tect did spark this discussion in recent memory. I think its too early to take action on anything rn and if I’m being for real, I think the meta is fine. There’s some meta developments I wanna discuss, but I’ll wait for Cycle 2 to finish beforehand.
To continue the spark of discussion. What are you’re thoughts on these mons in the meta? Should they be suspected or nah?
Lets quickly go over the moves on the most Common Zamazenta Set
