2025 Update here, still not accurate I would say but this is going in the right direction,
thanks everyone for the previous feedback, still focused on Stadium 1 but I had some spare time to work on this:
S Rank
Snorlax – One of the best Pokémon in gen 2 gets an already amazing rental moveset: precise, STAB Headbutt, Fire Punch for Steels, and Curse to boost. It’s absolutely insane. Still, it’s not unbeatable.
Kadabra – Speed, accuracy, and Psychic power. Thunder Punch offers essential coverage, hitting Skarmory.
Jumpluff – Great Speed and decent 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.
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.
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 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. Might eventually drop if Forretress rises.
A Rank
Heracross – STAB Megahorn at level 100 is brutal. One of the strongest physical attackers. Just make sure you can handle Moltres.
Slowking – A Psychic-type that can also hurt Steelix and Houndoom. Still under testing though.
Forretress – Spikes are rare, and Forretress brings value defensively with chip via Spikes + Sandstorm. A potential riser.
Ninetales – Falling a bit. Extra Speed doesn’t seem worth it compared to Moltres power, Spikes immunity, and EQ resistance.
Piloswine – Strong Earthquake user with STAB Ice for Jumpluff. Doesn’t enjoy Moltres popularity.
Haunter – Rising. Destiny Bond and Spite give it a niche, and 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—something Lanturn lacks.
Donphan – Another Rapid Spinner. Threatens Ghost 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.
Jynx – Still hits hard with powerful Ice STAB.
Pineco – Spikes support + Explosion makes it a good fit for offensive teams.
Dragonair – Good paralysis spreader that can break Steelix and resists lots of common moves.
Primeape – Fast Cross Chop user that can boost. A more aggressive Snorlax check.
Gengar – Sleep + Night Shade. Struggles vs Snorlax once Sleep Clause is active.
Voltorb – Fast Rain setter. Can follow with Thunder or Self-Destruct to pivot in a sweeper. Just don’t expect 1HKO from Self-Destruct.
Graveler – EQ and powerful Self-Destruct. Can bait Flying-types like Jumpluff and Self-Destruct if needed.
C Rank
Granbull – Normal-type with decent coverage. Dynamic Punch’s inaccuracy hurts.
Wigglytuff – A mini Snorlax.
Alakazam – Fast sweeper. Future Sight works when you’re walled.
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 abusable by smart opponents.
Parasect – 100% accurate Sleep move. Can chip Fire-types and walls Lanturn better than Jumpluff.
Houndoom – High on this right now. Great Special Attack + Speed + Fire coverage makes it 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 its Rock/Fire combo hits hard on the switch.
Skarmory – Struggles due to Fire/Electric coverage, but typing still gives it long-term potential.
Hitmonlee – Fighting-types might fluctuate, but this one hits hard and can boost.
Qwilfish – Offensive Water-type that crushes Grass-types.
Weezing – Just Self-Destruct. Likely to drop as Ghosts are common for Snorlax, spinblocking, and Explosion deterrence.
Kingdra – Solid 1v1 thanks to typing. Can shrug off Fire Blasts and Hydro Pumps what makes Moltres and Lanturn useless in long matches.
Blastoise – Has Rapid Spin and Hydro Pump. Decent mix of utility and power.
Zapdos – Electric is good in the meta. Steelix is often benched, so this hits hard. A key member of Rain teams.
Geodude – Worse Graveler. Feels scary at first in Explosion teams, but too many liabilities. Listed for completeness.
D Rank
Raticate – Fast Super Fang user.
Fearow – Fast, hits Ghosts, access to Toxic.
Abra – Outclassed by Kadabra but not unplayable.
Umbreon – Can trap and lower accuracy. Solid vs Ghosts, but low damage.
Tangela – Grass-type with Sleep.
Bayleef – 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.
Nidoqueen – Body Slam + Ice Punch and Toxic. Can lower accuracy.
Poliwrath – Can hit Ghosts as a Fighter, but I don't like it. Accuracy is too important.
Gastly – Curse user Ghost.
Koffing – Explodes. Can hit Steelix with Fire Blast.
Staryu – Starmie is more useful thanks to Rapid Spin but this has Recover.
Wartortle – Rapid Spin + Water/Ice coverage.
Raikou – Electric typing is strong. Fast, reliable, and has Roar for mind games. Good in Spikes offense.
Magneton – Many resistances and Thunder Wave. Used to be promising and may come back to the top again.
E Rank
Aipom – Agility + Evasion Baton Pass, but dies easily and Roar ruins it.
Clefable – Encore and good coverage.
Espeon – Fast and strong, but walled easily.
Girafarig – Good Agility sweeper. Lost Baton Pass at lv100.
Sunflora – Grass-type with Toxic.
Venusaur – Works with Mega Drain and Poison Powder.
Houndour – Sunny Day abuser with strong moves, but too frail.
Entei – Fire Blast + Roar.
Machamp – Good at bullying Snorlax.
Articuno – Blizzard is scary if it hits. Spikes immunity helps.
Tentacruel – Good coverage options.
Muk – Poison/Fighting coverage, but Dynamic Punch misses too often.
Suicune – Bulky Water-type with Roar. Has a niche.
Azumarill – Struggles as a weather setter. Chinchou might be better. Ice coverage is its one good point.
Golem – Ground/Rock combo is great, if you need to handle Moltres and pressure Snorlax, it’s an option.
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 (WIP)
Work in progress. Some untested mons may shine, especially those avoiding Spikes damage (like Mantine), fit in Rain (like Quagsire), has OHKO moves, or going full stall (Ariados). Shuckle making it is my dream, but I’m unsure yet.
Also, I tried to only include 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!
