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Metagame Alphabet Cup

:great-tusk:
Great Tusk @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Headlong Rush
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Ice Spinner

This set feels REALLY good into the current meta. Lots of bulky guys like Prima, Bliss, Pex that it just bullies absurdly hard, especially with Booster Energy active. You can prob change to Tera Fighting to not eat shit on Corvs. Also, Pex is top 5 here, Topsy Turvy stops so much ladder cheese and Mortal Spin is Mortal Spin and you get Teleport on top of all that. Actually, fuck it, just writing this post as I go, here's my team, has a bunch of guys on it that I think are pretty great rn.
 
:great-tusk:
Great Tusk @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Headlong Rush
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Ice Spinner

This set feels REALLY good into the current meta. Lots of bulky guys like Prima, Bliss, Pex that it just bullies absurdly hard, especially with Booster Energy active. You can prob change to Tera Fighting to not eat shit on Corvs. Also, Pex is top 5 here, Topsy Turvy stops so much ladder cheese and Mortal Spin is Mortal Spin and you get Teleport on top of all that. Actually, fuck it, just writing this post as I go, here's my team, has a bunch of guys on it that I think are pretty great rn.
bro I've been using haze toxapex you just opened my eyes
 
What I want restricted next is Glare for its uncompetitiveness. Glare offers insane value for crippling offensive Pokemon and forces you to run an Electric Pokemon to counter it, which wouldn’t be a problem if Glare didn’t have so many viable users. I’ve seen Garchomp, Goodra-Hisui, Gholdengo, Great Tusk, Grimmsnarl, Gliscor, and Garganacl. This results in paralysis being much more common in the games I've played so far.

Glare's uncompetitiveness comes from the fact that you cannot counter it effectively while addressing the other status effects and it can hax you. Glare being given to prominent Ground-type Pokemon means that most Electric Pokemon can easily be threatened by an Earthquake if they switch in to block it. If you don't use an Electric Pokemon in the first place, you are forced to use a status blocker (Gliscor, Garganacl, Hatterene, Gholdengo, and Gliscor and Garganacl and Gholdengo are Glarers themselves) or you have to tank the Glare, likely on a defensive Pokemon. The distribution of Heal Bell is much worse than Glare, with it only really being able to be used on Hatterene and Hippowdon. The existence of Sacred Fire and Mortal Spin worsen this issue because it becomes borderline unreasonable to be able to effectively counter Toxapex (very centralizing Pokemon), Cinderace, Skarmory, Swampert, Salamence, and all of the Glare Pokemon in one team. However, unlike Mortal Spin and Sacred Fire, Glare can parahax Pokemon, which is why I believe it is the most uncompetitive move out of Sacred Fire and Mortal Spin.

Glare was never supposed to be mass distributed like this.
 
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Typhlosion(-Hisui) is balanced, Slaking is walled by paradox Pokemon, Ninetales doesn’t even use Victory Dance, Victreebel prefers Growth, and Revavroom already has Shift Gear.

Only Volcanion has a potentially broken strategy with Victory Dance.
 
Typhlosion(-Hisui) is balanced, Slaking is walled by paradox Pokemon, Ninetales doesn’t even use Victory Dance, Victreebel prefers Growth, and Revavroom already has Shift Gear.

Only Volcanion has a potentially broken strategy with Victory Dance.
Hisui Lilligant can pair it with Power Trip. Would that be useable?
 
Well, Lilligant-Hisui is first of all the only native user of Victory Dance, so the only action you could take against it is banning it.
I highly doubt Lilligant-Hisui wants to use Power Trip with its frail defenses. It prefers Precipice Blades and Pyro Ball much more.
 
I believe that Volcanion is banworthy. STAB V-Create on a mon with that attack stat and bulk is simply too much. Pair it with Choice Band or Victory Dance and it is overwhelming for the tier. Alternatively, a V-Create restriction would suffice to solve the issue.

Another thing I would like to mention is that Glare is uncompetitive cheese and must be restricted. Gholdengo, Garganacl, and Grimmsnarl are abusers of the move who cause RNG-based battle outcomes through the spreading of paralysis. Glare is a 100% accurate version of Thunder Wave that affects Ground-types, and so is only stopped by Electrics (and Gholdengo/Garganacl themselves, ironically). For this reason, it is officially restricted to snake Pokemon. When Pokemon with usable stats get this move, it is too much for a tier to handle. When your Pokemon is paralysed, you not only face a harrowing speed debuff but also a petrifying 25% chance to be unable to move at all. This is reminiscent of the recently banned Sleep, which also causes your Pokemon to be unable to take action. However, while Sleep could only last a maximum of 3 turns (and had more immunities such as Grass-types and Sap Sipper Goodra-Hisui), Paralysis lasts for the entire match.

In conclusion, the best next step for the tier is to ban Volcanion/restrict V-Create and restrict Glare.
 
I believe that Volcanion is banworthy. STAB V-Create on a mon with that attack stat and bulk is simply too much. Pair it with Choice Band or Victory Dance and it is overwhelming for the tier. Alternatively, a V-Create restriction would suffice to solve the issue.

Another thing I would like to mention is that Glare is uncompetitive cheese and must be restricted. Gholdengo, Garganacl, and Grimmsnarl are abusers of the move who cause RNG-based battle outcomes through the spreading of paralysis. Glare is a 100% accurate version of Thunder Wave that affects Ground-types, and so is only stopped by Electrics (and Gholdengo/Garganacl themselves, ironically). For this reason, it is officially restricted to snake Pokemon. When Pokemon with usable stats get this move, it is too much for a tier to handle. When your Pokemon is paralysed, you not only face a harrowing speed debuff but also a petrifying 25% chance to be unable to move at all. This is reminiscent of the recently banned Sleep, which also causes your Pokemon to be unable to take action. However, while Sleep could only last a maximum of 3 turns (and had more immunities such as Grass-types and Sap Sipper Goodra-Hisui), Paralysis lasts for the entire match.

In conclusion, the best next step for the tier is to ban Volcanion/restrict V-Create and restrict Glare.
Seconded, glare is not fun with such wide distribution. I'm even seeing it on H!Goodra, Gastrodon and Alolan Muk.
 
just peaked #1 with this team :Bisharp: :Iron Bundle: :Gholdengo: :Samurott-Hisui: :rillaboom: :Dragonite:
Unbenannt.PNG

Team breakdown:

This team revolves around Bisharp :Bisharp:, which is surprisingly bulky and capable of dishing out heavy damage. With Tera Fire and Bitter Blade, Bisharp gains longevity, negates burns, and can sustain itself throughout battles. A key advantage is its ability to completely wall Toxapex (when not Terastallized), as common sets run Mortal Spin, Recover, Topsy-Turvy, and Teleport. This allows Bisharp to safely set up Swords Dance again and pressure opposing Pokémon while forcing chip damage through hazards.

Iron Bundle :iron bundle: remains a standard but highly effective choice, boasting blistering speed and solid offensive presence with minimal resistances. Gholdengo :Gholdengo:, running Glare, plays a crucial role in handling threats like Serperior while spreading paralysis to cripple opposing teams. Samurott :Samurott-Hisui: serves as the team's hazard setter, keeping up offensive momentum.

Rillaboom :Rillaboom: provides much-needed priority with Grassy Glide and brings Grassy Terrain support, which benefits Bisharp and Gholdengo by halving Earthquake damage while also granting passive recovery. Finally, Dragonite :Dragonite: acts as the team's cleaner, boasting a strong Flying STAB move and Extreme Speed for powerful priority.

The team lacks a strong defensive backbone, making fast and aggressive play essential to securing victories before opponents can wear it down.
ladder peak game: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9alphabetcup-2294076722-cw86pldgs7l9hsg3unke8q9ktiej7m7pw

Stuff that needs to go immediately: Spore :Amoonguss:

Sleep is just stupid and letting fast Pokemon like Serperior, Cinderace, Meowscarada or Booster-Energy Sandy Shocks have Spore is ridiculous.

Stuff that needs to be heavily looked at: Clangorous Soul :Kommo-O:and maybe Tera :Normal-Gem:


Overall, I really enjoy the current meta—it encourages creativity in team building, allowing for a variety of unique and fun strategies. Whether it's hyper offense, stall, or balance, all playstyles are viable, making for a diverse and engaging experience :sphearical:
 
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Hi everyone, I've been playing some games, this meta is honestly quite fun yet I strongly agree with previous posts regarding Spore/Glare; these move should be at least restricted to native users. Tera being legit may be questionable as well since most of mons get stronger moves/coverage.

Quick thoughts on this meta so far :
  • :dragonite: having access to Dragon Darts/Dragon Ascent is so good (and might be borderline?).
  • :samurott-hisui: Stone Axe + Ceaseless Edge is a blessing but Mortal/Rapid Spin can be everywhere so make sure to put Gholdengo if you intend to hazard stack.
  • :swampert: is solid with additional moves such as Strength Sap, Mortal Spin, Milk Drink, Stone Axe
  • :slaking: with Skill Swap is threatening unless you have some Protosynthesis/Quark Drive so perhaps this should be on radar.
  • As it was said before, Topsy Turvy seems necessary (:tornadus: & :thundurus: can abuse it thanks to Prankster and get free Torch Song on the next turn)
  • Trick Room seems to be much more viable in this meta (and I'm so glad it is) : :Ursaluna: can set it by itself, specs :primarina: simply spam STAB Boomburst (and even learn Psystrike to annoy Toxapex), :reuniclus: gets Secret Sword...
Also, what do you think about Triple Arrows?
 
Triple Arrows doesn't seem too threatening. Only Terrakion, Thundurus, and the Tauros forms are really viable with it, and the Tauros forms are extremely weak. Meanwhile, Terrakion is threatened by Great Tusk, and Thundurus mostly uses Topsy-Turvy anyways (still frail).

Also, +1 Dragonite is hard countered by Corviknight and Toxapex.
 
Typhlosion(-Hisui) is balanced, Slaking is walled by paradox Pokemon, Ninetales doesn’t even use Victory Dance, Victreebel prefers Growth, and Revavroom already has Shift Gear.

Only Volcanion has a potentially broken strategy with Victory Dance.
I'm actually believer of Victory Dance Venusaur. Grass/Poison is very useful defensively both because of its resistances and its poison immunity, and unlike Victreebel, it has decent defensive stats to give it the opportunity to accumulate the multiple boosts it needs to compensate for its underwhelming stats. I've been using this set on screens a bit and it has put in a lot more work than i expected:
:venusaur:
Venusaur @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Victory Dance
- Ivy Cudgel
- Bitter Blade
- Earthquake
It has a combination of a couple good traits, like the ability to threaten toxapex(if it's not physdef lol) and corviknight, immunity to poison pre-tera and burn after tera, and longevity with bitter blade. But realistically, i expect the strongest setup sweepers in this meta to have a way of circumventing at least one of the various ways of beating setup, since options such as Haze, Prankster Topsy-Turvy, Unaware, Phazing, Clear Smog, Encore, Priority, Imposter and Transform are all significantly easier to fit in most styles of teams.
 
Triple Arrows doesn't seem too threatening. Only Terrakion, Thundurus, and the Tauros forms are really viable with it, and the Tauros forms are extremely weak. Meanwhile, Terrakion is threatened by Great Tusk, and Thundurus mostly uses Topsy-Turvy anyways (still frail).

Also, +1 Dragonite is hard countered by Corviknight and Toxapex.
Toxapex takes 60 from +0 Dragon Ascent
 
Toxapex takes 60 from +0 Dragon Ascent
Where are you getting this from?
252 Atk Dragonite Dragon Ascent vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 108-127 (35.6 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Toxapex also just Topsy-Turvies any Dragonite with +1 and can use Mortal Spin to cripple it.

Is there a post with all revelant moves for each letter?
 
Where are you getting this from?
252 Atk Dragonite Dragon Ascent vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 108-127 (35.6 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Toxapex also just Topsy-Turvies any Dragonite with +1 and can use Mortal Spin to cripple it.


You’re using physdef Toxapex?
 
You’re using physdef Toxapex?
Yes? Both physical, specially defensive, and even AV Toxapexes can be viable, although I’d argue that regular balance teams ought to use physically defensive Toxapex and use Goodra-Hisui as their special wall.

I’m willing to bet that Toxapex and Goodra-Hisui are currently the most centralizing Pokemon in the tier. They both check so many Pokemon, although Goodra-Hisui probably has more utility with Knock Off, Dragon Tail, Sacred Fire, Glare, and Sap Sipper.
 
It's worth noting that Sleep Moves Clause and a Clangorous Soul restriction are enacted, we're just waiting for the button to be pressed.

Haven't played enough this month yet to hit my "Yup, Tera is a bad mechanic" threshold that other people have, but I wouldn't miss it if it were gone next time I logged on. It's not as busted as Dynamax, but it's not good.
Hi everyone, I've been playing some games, this meta is honestly quite fun yet I strongly agree with previous posts regarding Spore/Glare; these move should be at least restricted to native users. Tera being legit may be questionable as well since most of mons get stronger moves/coverage.

Quick thoughts on this meta so far :
  • :dragonite: having access to Dragon Darts/Dragon Ascent is so good (and might be borderline?).
  • :samurott-hisui: Stone Axe + Ceaseless Edge is a blessing but Mortal/Rapid Spin can be everywhere so make sure to put Gholdengo if you intend to hazard stack.
  • :swampert: is solid with additional moves such as Strength Sap, Mortal Spin, Milk Drink, Stone Axe
  • :slaking: with Skill Swap is threatening unless you have some Protosynthesis/Quark Drive so perhaps this should be on radar.
  • As it was said before, Topsy Turvy seems necessary (:tornadus: & :thundurus: can abuse it thanks to Prankster and get free Torch Song on the next turn)
  • Trick Room seems to be much more viable in this meta (and I'm so glad it is) : :Ursaluna: can set it by itself, specs :primarina: simply spam STAB Boomburst (and even learn Psystrike to annoy Toxapex), :reuniclus: gets Secret Sword...
Also, what do you think about Triple Arrows?
I love Trick Room. Conkeldurr also gets it, as does Toxapex. TR->TP Toxapex is dumb. I've been using Ursa, Conk, Reun, and Pex on a TR team with Band Volcanion. I haven't run into too many V-creates besides yet, but I understand why people also want it gone. I don't know about Slaking, but I also haven't run into a VD set. I saw someone use Trace Gardevoir to ruin Slaking's day, but that feels a little specific.
 
After the most recent wave of bans, I reached the top of the ladder.

Here's my team:Ogerpon-Wellspring::Raging Bolt::Blissey::Toxapex::Corviknight::Gliscor:

1738717610127.png


Last two games as of writing:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9alphabetcup-2294577674
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9alphabetcup-2294572594

Meet the team:
:Ogerpon-Wellspring: Ogerpon does little more than reprise its role in OU. O has some decent moves, none of which Ogerpon would slot over its existing movepool. My team has it with Knock Off, but with the trouble dragons tended to give her, I would slot Play Rough. Knock Off's main perk is being a permanent way to make Spikes a threat to Pex. I like how Slaking will Skill Swap and then I can tera and get rid of Truant.
:Raging Bolt: In stark contrast, Great Neck is rewritten in Alphabet Cup. It's still either a bulky offensive pivot or a sweeper, but the way it does that is changed. Rapid Spin and Recover give it greater utility and longevity, Revelation Dance serves it's moveset by working with Terastalization, making it an upgrade to and combination of Thunderbolt and Tera Blast. Tera Fairy is my choice due to the amount of Dragons in the tier that get greedy and think of Great Neck as a free speed boost with Scale Shot. The initial reason I chose Great Neck is it being electric type and fairly bulky gives it a very strong matchup against Glare Gholdengo, as well as blocking Skill Swap.
:Blissey: Special tank. Burning Bulwark is stupid on Blissey. It's not good, it's not bad. To me this is the most ladder cheesey part of my team. Chilly Reception may be a more reliable move on it in the long run. Haze keeps boosting special mons in check. Seismic Toss makes it an actual Pokemon instead of being a sponge on the team.
:Toxapex: This team uses the standard Toxapex set. This is really the wall of the tier. Spinning is the biggest utility it provides, and Topsy Turvy prevents a lot of sweepers from getting going.
:Corviknight: I did not use Corv for awhile, but once I started it was a night and day difference. The biggest threats to my team beforehand were a lot of strong set up sweepers like Dnite, Mence, and Luna. Corv checks a lot more than that, but putting it on my team improved my match ups so much. I understand the Cotton Guard Body Press sets, but Corv is still a more active part of the team by just Rapid Spinning, pivoting, and phasing. Rapid Spin is often overlooked for Mortal, but Ghosts are fewer than Steels.
:Gliscor: Glare is the biggest point of contention in the tier for me. Glare is the biggest enabler of this team. Obviously it lets me win games I shouldn't, but the power level of the tier makes this often the only consistent defensive counterplay. It is much easier to paralyze than it is to burn, in my experience. If there was a good, consistent to burn a Salamence or Slaking, I would always do that over Glare. I end up burning Cinderace more often than any other mon. Glare is the most efficient way to deal with offense. Gliscor is fast enough to 2hko Gholdengo, who can also 2hko at +0. Spike stacking is very strong when 60% of team's only way of dealing with hazards is Mortal Spin, which is blocked by Corv. Scouting is necessary against a lot of Pokemon like Specs Primarina and Volcanion as the most consistent.

Now that some of the dust has settled, I'm going to give my opinion some. I would put Glare on a watch list. It's annoying, especially with Gholdengo whose Hex strengthens up doing so. Gliscor is annoying by getting more free turns to heal and stack Spikes. Garchomp and Goodra are annoying in the usual para ways, but they're fine. Salamence is also just incredibly oppresive. In my experience, it's best set is Ddance/Scale Shot/Bone Rush/Sacred Fire. With the right positioning, especially with Glare support, it takes games way too easy for me to not mention it. Terastalization thought is something that I can't really formulate thoughts around. I'm unsure at this time whether is a negative influence or not. However, the current state of the meta is comfortable atm. There's not many games that I don't enjoy. That's why I play semistall, the games are longer.
 
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