Metagame Tier Shift

ssz7ytreal · Jun 28, 2025

What do you mean by kyogre is "technically banned"

VannAccessible · Jun 28, 2025

ssz7ytreal said:
What do you mean by kyogre is "technically banned"

Drizzle is banned, and that’s Kyogre’s only ability.

InkyDarkBird · Jun 29, 2025

This is my Sun team that I reached #44 with on the ladder.

My Team:
https://pokepast.es/5854d5614b4a611e
:groudon:

Groudon and Torkoal are my 2 Sun setters, which are both necessary because Heat Rock is banned. Groudon carries an Eject Pack so it can switch out quickly using Overheat, which also threatens Forretress, Skarmory, Brambleghast, and other Pokemon that think they can simply sit on it. Stone Edge is for stupid Ho-Oh. Torkoal has Rapid Spin to eliminate hazards and Clear Smog to help prevent setup sweepers, such as Cetitan. STAB Lava Plume in the Sun is not a joke and threatens 2HKOs on most offensive attackers. Both of them run Wisp as well.

:cyclizar:

Cyclizar is probably the most role-compressed Pokemon in this metagame. Having Regenerator, U-Turn, Knock Off, Rapid Spin, and Taunt (theres Draco Meteor and Breaking Swipe as well) means that it can easily chip opposing Pokemon and allow pivoting for Slither Wing and Jolteon. Cyclizar removes hazards with Rapid Spin and prevents them from coming up again with Taunt, and its typing naturally walls Brambleghast.

:vaporeon:

The only reason Vaporeon really exists is to serve as a specially defensive pivot that can wall Water Pokemon and not lose instantly to Psyspam. It uses Alluring Voice so it doesn't get destroyed by Tatsugiri and can threaten Dragons or any Pokemon that decides to set up on it. Milotic might be better, but I prefer Water Absorb to help gain momentum.

:jolteon:

Jolteon is my special attacking replacement to Charifraud after it decided to keep screwing me over in the 1300s by missing Choice Specs 252 Spa Solar Power under the Sun Overheat against key targets, as well as taking half its health from Rocks every time Cyclizar or Torkoal weren't able to prevent hazards. Unlike Charizard, Jolteon is the second-fastest viable Pokemon in this tier (Deoxys-S being the first), which is important to outspeed Espeon, Salazzle, Cinccino, Pawmot, etc. Thunderbolt and Volt Switch are generic STAB moves, Alluring Voice is to KO Pawmot and Dragons, and Weather Ball is there because it's basically the only other option besides Shadow Ball. Choice Specs helps it maintain its damage output and KO chipped targets more easily

:slither wing:

Slither Wing is the best Pokemon to use for a Sun team. If you are using Sun and exclude Slither Wing, you are doing something terribly wrong. Choice Banded Protosynthesis First Impression, Flare Blitz, Close Combat, and U-Turn under the Sun OHKO or 2HKO so many HO targets that it isn't even funny.
252+ Atk Choice Band Slither Wing First Impression vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Maushold: 301-355 (104.1 - 122.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Slither Wing First Impression vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Grimmsnarl: 288-339 (87 - 102.4%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Slither Wing Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Alomomola: 306-360 (57.3 - 67.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Slither Wing First Impression vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Brambleghast: 288-340 (91.7 - 108.2%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Slither Wing First Impression vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kleavor: 244-288 (86.8 - 102.4%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Protosynthesis Slither Wing First Impression vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Regidrago: 481-567 (88.9 - 104.8%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Protosynthesis Slither Wing Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Drifblim: 277-327 (54.9 - 64.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Protosynthesis Slither Wing Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Pawmot: 319-376 (113.5 - 133.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Protosynthesis Slither Wing First Impression vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cyclizar: 288-339 (83.7 - 98.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

It's so powerful I don't even know if it wants U-Turn over Earthquake just to secure more KOs.
Compared to Lokix, Slither Wing has
22.68% more Atk
15% more Def (uninvested)
79.2% more SpDef (uninvested)
Only takes 12.5% from Rocks
Hits around 33% more Pokemon with Bug/Fighting/Fire coverage

Strengths:
:thundurus:

I don't know why people are trying to run manual Rain, but it gets easily destroyed with 2 Sun setters, Vaporeon, Jolteon, and Slither Wing.

:cinccino:

Basically any HO and a few balance teams will get destroyed by Slither Wing. I have no idea how well this matches up into stall because it is virtually nonexistent.

Weaknesses:
:ho-oh:

The broken Ubers. Of course it's always the broken Ubers. Have fun trying to pivot in Groudon or Jolteon safely into Eternatus or Ho-Oh without risking OHKOs or burns. You might as well forfeit from the start if you face these teams unless they mistakenly think Eternatus or Ho-Oh can defeat Groudon safely.

:scream tail:

Scream Tail abuses the Sun to become ridiculously fast and prevents Jolteon from threatening it that well with Calm Mind. Slither Wing cannot snag the OHKO using First Impression under the Sun, meaning that the opponent has to somehow not OHKO or 2HKO Slither Wing before it uses Flare Blitz, which is almost never happening.

:deoxys-attack:

Despite checks against Psyspam, it remains a horrible MU into my team because it kills Slither Wing's nuke button. Scarf Indeedee outspeeds Jolteon and Jolteon can only 2HKO it back, meaning that Vaporeon must be preserved in order to defeat Indeedee.

:weezing-galar:

The annoying double 4x resists for Slither Wing's STABs. Necrozma-Dusk-Mane getting banned means this Pokemon will only rise in popularity.

Notable Games:

I hope we can suspect Ho-Oh and Eternatus (maybe Deo-A depending on how broken Psyspam is now that NDM is gone) out of the game next OMOTM. This format is supposed to be dominated by lower-tier Pokemon.

Metagame Tier Shift

ssz7ytreal

VannAccessible

InkyDarkBird