2026 Update, this is going in the right direction,
thanks everyone for the previous feedback, this tierlist was made with Lv100 Rentals, 6v6 Anything Goes battle format in mind.
S Rank
Snorlax – One of the best Pokémon in GSC OU gets an already amazing rental moveset: precise with STAB Headbutt, Fire Punch for Steels, and Curse to boost. It’s absolutely insane. Still, it’s not unbeatable and not a must have for every team in 6v6.
Kadabra – Speed, accuracy, and Psychic power. Thunder Punch offers essential coverage, hitting Skarmory and Murkrow.
Jumpluff – Great Speed and good bulk, plus one of the best support movepools in the format: Stun Spore and Leech Seed shine here.
Moltres – A powerful breaker. Even resists struggle with Fire Blast. Having Roar and Spikes immunity are great too. The only downside? Low PP on Fire Blast, which matters in this meta.
Forretress – Spikes are rare, and Forretress brings value defensively with chip via Spikes + Sandstorm.
Misdreavus – A top-tier pick with a complete, flexible moveset. Pain Split, Thunder, Shadow Ball—even Psywave has its place. One of the best Snorlax counters.
Lanturn – Combines Electric and Water typing in one tanky package. Hard to wear down or wall if you lack Grass-types. Benefits from Jumpluff being vulnerable to paralysis.
Steelix – A powerful physical wall with good offensive threat. Not the most accurate, but hard to wear down. Completely walls Kadabra.
A Rank
Heracross – STAB Megahorn at level 100 is brutal. One of the strongest physical attackers. Just make sure you can handle Moltres.
Dewgong – The ResTalk set and Water/Ice moves is solid. Can shine when built around, but needs high-level tournament data to determine the true power of recovery in the meta.
Slowking – A Psychic-type that can also hurt Steelix and Houndoom.
Pineco – Spikes support + Explosion makes it a better fit for offensive teams.
Dragonair – Good paralysis spreader that can break Steelix and Forretress and resists lots of common moves from FGW cores.
Haunter – Destiny Bond and Spite give it a niche, Spite is huge vs low-PP moves, Shadow Ball and Giga Drain are good moves too.
Starmie – Zap Cannon’s accuracy is shaky, but you get Electric coverage and paralysis in one. Great speed, reliable STAB Water, and Rapid Spin.
Donphan – Another Rapid Spinner. Threatens spinblockers, but gets walled by any Flying-type.
B Rank
Aerodactyl – Rare Rock STAB and blazing speed. Resists Snorlax, destroys Moltres. PP is a concern though.
Ninetales – Extra Speed doesn’t seem worth it compared to Moltres power, Spikes immunity, and EQ immunity but still works great like other Fire Blast users.
Jynx – Hits hard with a powerful and rare pricese Ice STAB thanks to Ice Punch.
Zapdos – Electric is good in the meta. Steelix is often benched, so this hits hard. A key member of Rain teams.
Wigglytuff – A mini Snorlax with a very powerful 120BP STAB attack. Good recipient for speed passing strategies.
Kingdra – Solid 1v1 thanks to typing. Can shrug off Fire Blasts and Hydro Pumps what makes Moltres and Lanturn useless in long matches.
Gengar – Sleep + Night Shade. Struggles vs Normal types once Sleep Clause is active.
Alakazam – Fast sweeper. Future Sight works when you’re walled.
C Rank
Voltorb – Fast Rain setter. Can follow with Thunder or Self-Destruct to pivot in a sweeper.
Graveler – EQ and powerful Self-Destruct. Can bait Flying-types like Jumpluff and Self-Destruct.
Primeape – Fast Cross Chop user that can boost. A more aggressive Snorlax check.
Granbull – Normal-type with decent coverage. Dynamic Punch’s inaccuracy hurts. Good recipient on speed pass.
Piloswine – Strong Earthquake user with STAB Ice for Jumpluff. Doesn’t enjoy Moltres popularity.
Mr. Mime – Baton Pass with Sub and Barrier. Could use its own boosts or just scout. Roar is everywhere, though, so full BP chains are risky.
Skiploom – Top-tier Sun setter/abuser. Annoying to take down, but currently risky by the fire oriented meta.
Parasect – 100% accurate Sleep move. Can chip Fire-types and walls Lanturn better than Jumpluff.
Raikou – Electric typing is strong. Fast, reliable, and has Roar for mind games. Good in Spikes offense.
Staryu – Starmie is more useful thanks to Rapid Spin but this has Recover.
Houndoom – Great Special Attack + Speed + Fire coverage, it is a strong Misdreavus counter and potential game sweeper thanks to a powerful Bite that can also flinch.
Magcargo – With limited movesets around, this works. Resists Snorlax and Moltres and its Fire/Rock combo hits hard on the switch.
Qwilfish – Offensive Water-type that crushes Grass-types.
Abra – Outclassed by Kadabra but not unplayable, Ice punch helps vs Steelix.
Weezing – Powerful Self-Destruct. Likely to drop as Ghosts are common for Snorlax, spinblocking, and Explosion deterrence.
Blastoise – Has Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump. Good mix of utility and power.
D Rank
Chinchou – Rain setter. Can abuse it with STAB Thunder and Surf.
Electabuzz – Fast Electric type with precise STAB and Light Screen.
Skarmory – Struggles due to Fire/Electric coverage, but typing still gives it long-term potential and can hard wall a lot of mid table Pokemon.
Fearow – Fast, powerful, precise, can hit Ghosts, access to Toxic, has hyper beam for a final blow.
Hitmonlee – Fighting-types might fluctuate, but this one hits hard and can boost.
Geodude – Worse Graveler. Feels scary at first in Explosion teams, but too many liabilities.
Umbreon – Can trap and lower accuracy. Solid vs Ghosts, but very low damage.
Tangela – Mono-Grass-type with Sleep.
Bayleef – Has recovery, Body Slam is fine, but too passive. Forretress and Sandstorm ruin it.
Charizard – A faster, less powerful, more accurate Moltres without Roar but with more PP. Spikes immunity helps.
Arcanine – Extreme Speed is cool, but lacks damage elsewhere.
Gastly – Curse user Ghost.
Espeon – Fast and strong, but walled easily.
Koffing – Explodes. Can hit Steelix with Fire Blast.
Wartortle – Rapid Spin + Water/Ice coverage.
Magneton – Many resistances and Thunder Wave coupled with a sky high powerful Thunder.
E Rank
Nidoqueen – Body Slam + Ice Punch and Toxic. Can lower accuracy too.
Raticate – Fast Super Fang user.
Aipom – Agility + Evasion Baton Pass, but dies easily and Roar ruins the strategy.
Kabutops – Good STAB moves and typing for the meta.
Girafarig – Good Agility sweeper that can abuse flinching.
Dodrio – Great balance of power/speed/accuracy with good hax chance.
Scizor – Agility sweeper with low damage.
Venusaur – Works with Mega Drain and Poison Powder.
Houndour – Sunny Day abuser with strong moves, but too frail.
Entei – Fire Blast + Roar.
Exeggutor – Grass type with sleep.
Sudowoodo – STAB rock slide that walls Snorlax.
Tentacruel – Good coverage moves, Water type that beats Grass types.
Suicune – Bulky Water-type with Roar. Has a niche.
Golem – Rock/Ground combo is great, if you need to handle Moltres, pressure Snorlax and wall Zapdos.
Ampharos – This design deserves S tier, but its combo moves only land 50% of the time. When it works, it wrecks the meta!
F Rank
Clefable – Encore and good coverage.
Flareon – Powerful Fire Blast with useful priority thanks to a high attack stat.
Corsola – Good STAB combo and Mirror Move.
Raichu – Thunder wave and a fast powerful Thunder.
Sandslash – Powerful EQ but walled by flying types.
Milktank – Normal type with decent attacks and the metagame cleric with Heal Bell.
Dragonite – Actually hits decently hard with Wing Attack and the typing can be useful.
Murkrow – Great dark damage and Night Shade.
Azumarill – Struggles as a weather setter. Ice coverage is the selling point hitting Jumpluff hard.
Flaaffy – The Electric/Fire combo is interesting and can set up Light Screen.
Tyranitar – Dark type damage.
Muk – Poison/Fighting coverage, but Dynamic Punch misses too often.
Articuno – Blizzard is scary if it hits. Spikes immunity helps.
Sunflora – Grass-type with Toxic.
Ariados – Toxic/Protect with trapping and good STAB Sludge Bomb.
Sneasel – Can abuse its speed and x4 damage on Jumpluff.
I have only included impactful unevolved Pokémon—Spikes users, Rapid Spinners, Weather Setters, Exploders, or those with Recovery. There’s progress here, but more testing is needed.
Stadium 2 Rentals metagame showcase
If you want to help shape this meta with me, hit me up or leave your thoughts!
