Metagame Alphabet Cup

[KamenAlliterator]

Suicune should definetly be ranked, one of the best mixed walls with a ton of options(prob A or A- imo)

I fully agree. Especially since it’s already got a good enough movepool, and now having access to one of the best letters in the format, S, i think Suicune can safely become an A- or solid A depending on what it’s used for like you’ve said

Suicune @ Mystic Water
Ability: Pressure / Inner Focus
Tera Type: Water / Steel
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Scale Shot
- Sacred Sword
- Scald / Surf / Sludge Bomb / Sparkling Aria
- Strength Sap / Substitute

Works Pretty well given how S opens up WAY more options and Scale Shot gives it WAY more speed to punish Scarf users, and Dragons that come in it. Overall a good breaker set to hit both types of bulk.

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Salt Cure
- Strength Sap
- Scald / Sparkling Aria
- Substitute / Spikes

Then we have our stall that can chip foes and spread said chip. This set + Knock Off users / Skill Swap Slaking can annoy opponents VERY quickly.

 

[readytolose]

I gotta make some nominations to the official VR. Agree with Suicune being ranked. I don't feel like arguing more about Ninetales.

-> A-
I feel like this mon was probably just forgotten about? Archaludon is great and pretty distinctive from the omnipresent Hisui Goodra. It's got a ton of weird options you can lose to and is a good setup mon in general because Toxapex can't really do much to it in a lot of cases. Electro Shot makes it a great breaker for a rain team. Specs + Dragon Energy can let it get some surprise 2HKOs with extreme power. Doom Desire can be really punishing for some teams to dance around if you can punish Toxapex well. Armor Cannon is great coverage for non-rain sets. Agility + Power Herb can randomly pop up to destroy offense. Amnesia + Electro Shot is a weirdo set I encountered once that was really tough to break for my balance team. Dragon Dance is a dark horse that can be really effective against teams without Corviknight.

-> A-
One of the best spinners and it has a great matchup against a lot of the format's defensive backbone, it's pretty similarly flexible as in standard play. On a sun team, Protosynthesis gives it more utility, especially since the sun setters can pivot now which makes it easier to bring in. Also you can just throw it in front of Skill Swap Slaking.

-> B+
It's a really good stall breaker with Magma Storm + Taunt. A lot of teams have Toxapex as their Fire resist which can't even do anything to it at all unless it runs a water move. Defensive mons like Goodra-Hisui and bulky Salamence tend to favor Sacred Fire spam over EQ so Heatran can prey on that sort of teambuilding construction too. If you run Stealth Rock on it, it can always keep that up against Toxapex. Also it's Fire immune which can be a slapdash way to dissuade CB Volcanion or Cinderace from using certain moves.

-> B
You're gonna have to hear me out for this one. It plays differently enough from other offensive Water-types to have some good merit largely due to its better speed tier. Inteleon has great offensive stats and a powerful and spammable move in Specs Steam Eruption, especially since nothing really likes being burned. What's even better is it has Sandsear Storm which is like the perfect coverage for this meta. It hits Goodra-H, Toxapex, Volcanion, pretty much all the best water resists. The fact that there aren't many good bulky Grass types really lets it pull a lot of weight with this coverage set. It can be harder to dance around than Walking Wake cause it's not reliant on being at full health and it can hit targets that resist Water with a more spammable move than Draco Meteor, and it's faster too. Inteleon also has Switcheroo which means that it can just pass its Specs off onto that Goodra-H, Blissey or whatever if you prefer it. It's got a deep movepool too, like Ice Beam for Salamence, Seed Flare for bulky waters, Secret Sword for Blissey, can set up a Spike or pivot out, etc. Inteleon's really a sleeper hit that is easily overlooked due to a mid typing and no good abilities.

 

[KamenAlliterator]

Sinistcha is honestly a good A- or B+ mon. Having access to both S (one of the best letters in the metagame) and P, helps it get more chances to fight against both its weaknesses with Scorching Sands, Sparkling Aria, and Psychic/Psyshock, and give it just enough leg room to answer its many
checks and bulkier foes.

View attachment 518736
Credit to IMakeNoSense for art, it is good​

Alphabet Cup
In addition to their normal moveset, all Pokémon get every move with which they share a starting letter.

Prevo Clause: Pokémon also gain access to letters available in their prior evolutions.
For example, Blissey is able to run moves that start with H and C because its evolution family includes Happiny and Chansey.

Leaders:
Eli
InkyDarkBird
BandedBodyPress

Clauses: Sleep Moves Clause, Standard OMs, Terastalization Clause

Bans:

Pokémon

Annihilape
Arceus
Baxcalibur
Blaziken
Calyrex-Ice
Calyrex-Shadow
Chien-Pao
Chi-Yu
Deoxys-Base
Deoxys-Attack
Dialga
Dialga-Origin
Dragapult
Dragonite
Espathra
Eternatus
Flutter Mane
Giratina
Giratina-Origin
Gouging Fire
Groudon
Ho-Oh
Iron Bundle
Kingambit
Koraidon
Kyogre
Kyurem-Black
Kyurem-White
Landorus-Base
Lugia
Lunala
Magearna
Magearna-Original
Mamoswine
Meowscarada
Mewtwo
Miraidon
Necrozma-Dawn-Wings
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
Palafin
Palkia
Palkia-Origin
Rayquaza
Reshiram
Sceptile
Shaymin-Sky
Sneasler
Solgaleo
Spectrier
Ursaluna
Urshifu
Weavile
Zacian
Zacian-Crowned
Zamazenta-Crowned
Zekrom

Moves

Acupressure*
Baton Pass*
Belly Drum
Ceaseless Edge
Clangorous Soul
Dire Claw
Extreme Speed
Fillet Away
Glacial Lance
Glare
Last Respects*
Lumina Crash
Rage Fist
Revival Blessing
Salt Cure
Shed Tail*
Shell Smash
Shift Gear
Surging Strikes
Tail Glow
Triple Arrows

• Anything annotated with an asterisk is banned outright, meaning even Pokémon that natively have access cannot use them.

Abilities

Arena Trap
Moody
Shadow Tag

Items

Damp Rock
Heat Rock
King's Rock
Light Clay
Razor Fang

Watchlist:

Watchlist

Ogerpon-Hearthflame
Typhlosion-Hisui
Volcanion

Torch Song

One of the most significant benefits to this meta is that many Pokémon with less-than-stellar movepools get an opportunity to shine.

All Pokémon that start with S get access to all but one of the hazards (Toxic Spikes), Salt Cure, Scald, Soft-Boiled/Shore Up/Slack Off, Strength Sap, Substitute, Swords Dance, and, frankly, an entire suite of incredible moves.

Beyond S, the big winners are:
• R: Rapid Spin, Recover, etc.
• T: Taunt, Teleport, Toxic Spikes, Trick, Trick Room, etc.

With honorable mentions to:
• C: Calm Mind, Ceaseless Edge, Court Change, etc.
• D: Diamond Storm, Discharge, Dragon Dance, every other move starting with “Dragon”, etc.
• M: Meteor Mash, Milk Drink, etc.
• P: Parting Shot, Precipice Blades, Pyro Ball, etc.

Some Pokémon that get particularly nice boosts:
• Rotom (and forms): Good for all the usual reasons, but now with access to recovery moves and Rapid Spin.
• Toxapex: Mortal Spin and Teleport. Taunt and everything is nice, but those two moves on Pex turn its features up to 11.
• Corviknight: Cotton Guard + Body Press turns this wall into a full-on tank. It also gets Court Change and Rapid Spin.

FAQs/Comments:
• Moves not fully functional on cartridge (Pursuit, for one) cannot be used.
• Nicknames do not alter your access to moves. The names as listed by default in the teambuilder determine your access.

Further Notes:
• A lot of really amazing moves don’t get many opportunities to be used: Quiver Dance, Wish, and Extreme Speed to name a few.
• A lot of letters get almost nothing. J, K, Q (other than Quiver Dance), U (other than U-Turn), X, Y, and Z are all left mostly for dead.
• You can challenge your friends/rivals with functionality now added to PS!

How to use the Alphabet Cup Validation Rule

When using the /challenge command, you can now add @@@ Alphabet Cup Move Legality to the end to have it validate our rules! Currently, there is no option in teambuilder but it still works as though we had it!
Example: open up the chat window for a person and type: /challenge gen9anythinggoes @@@ alphabetcupmovelegality, standard oms, sleep moves clause, -arceus, -calyrexice, -calyrexshadow, -dialga, -dialgaorigin, -eternatus, -fluttermane, -giratina, -giratinaorigin, -groudon, -koraidon, -kyogre, -magearna, -magearnaoriginal, -mewtwo, -miraidon, -palafin, -palkia, -palkiaorigin, -rayquaza, -weavile, -zacian, -zaciancrowned, -zamazenta, -zamazentacrowned, -acupressure, -batonpass, -lastrespects, *bellydrum, *filletaway, *glaciallance, *ragefist, *revivalblessing, *shedtail, *shellsmash, *shiftgear, *surgingstrikes, -arenatrap, -moody, -shadow tag
This will challenge someone to Anything Goes with the standard set of clauses (Sleep Moves Clause, etc.), but it will tell you if one of your sets is using a move with a letter it doesn't have access to. We hope to make things even more user-friendly soon!

We hope everyone likes this format and we look forward to seeing the creative sets that will arise!

-----------------

Approved by UT and in the hills

Sinistcha is honestly a good A- or B+ mon. Having access to both S (one of the best letters in the metagame) and P moves, helps it get more chances to fight against both its weaknesses with Scorching Sands, Sparkling Aria, and Psychic/Psyshock, and give it just enough leg room to answer its many
checks and bulkier foes.

Mamoswine is also another great P user who is also granted with M and S moves to expand its physical offensive prowess. Magical Torque and Mach Punch helps it to combat Fighting- and Steel-type threats, and pick off weakened foes. Sacred Sword is a GREAT breaking move, and, in tandem with Solar Blade, can punish pesky Water-types like Dondozo, Primarina and Ogerpon-W. Pain Split, Psycho Cut, and Poison Jab can help deal with checks too. Since Mamo has the ability to answer all its type weaknesses, I do think it’s good for B+ or A- also, even though it’s rather poor defenses leave me wondering if B- might be a better scoring for it.

 

[InkyDarkBird]

Mamoswine is also another great P user who is also granted with M and S moves to expand its physical offensive prowess.

Mamoswine is banned.

 

[KamenAlliterator]

well my stance still stands on Sinistcha. it has the bulk and the coverage now.

 

[Giagantic]

Eli I edited in a small up to date listing of the move restrictions and bans in the opening post, it is out of place but a team thought something was free as it was missing on it. You can choose to do what you want with the information under moves. I didn't check if your mons list was up to date so best check that as well.

EDIT: NOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS WAS MY 1,000th POST I WAS SAVING THIS FOR SOMETHING DAMNIT!

 

[KamenAlliterator]

Eli I edited in a small up to date listing of the move restrictions and bans in the opening post, it is out of place but a team thought something was free as it was missing on it. You can choose to do what you want with the information under moves. I didn't check if your mons list was up to date so best check that as well.

EDIT: NOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS WAS MY 1,000th POST I WAS SAVING THIS FOR SOMETHING DAMNIT!

well that’s just unfortunate…. battle me as compensation

 

[aeiou]

EDIT: NOOOOOOOOOOOO THIS WAS MY 1,000th POST I WAS SAVING THIS FOR SOMETHING DAMNIT!

is this a gholdengo situation

 

[Cuddly]

a viability ranking AND a big list of good moves to use, sorted by letter (under the vr), thanks InkyDarkBird

Viability Ranking

S Rank

Goodra-Hisui

Toxapex

A+ Rank

Cinderace

Corviknight

Enamorus

Ogeron-Hearthflame

Primarina

A Rank

Blissey

Conkeldurr

Gholdengo

Rillaboom

Salamence

Samurott-Hisui

Ting-Lu

A- Rank

Excadrill

Gliscor

Greninja

Hatterene

Jolteon

Ogerpon-Wellspring

Raging Bolt

Scizor

Slaking

Swampert

Thundurus-Therian

Typhlosion-Hisui

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

Volcanion

B+ Rank

Bisharp

Ceruledge

Darkrai

Garchomp

Iron Moth

Iron Valiant

Landorus-Therian

Metagross

Pelipper

Polteageist

Scream Tail

Skeledirge

Slowking-Galar

Toucannon

Walking Wake

B Rank

Clodsire

Deoxys-Speed

Dragalge

Hydrapple

Hydreigon

Iron Crown

Iron Treads

Kommo-o

Krookodile

Kyurem

Moltres

Mudsdale

Pecharunt

Pincurchin

Quagsire

Raichu-Alola

Sandy Shocks

Serperior

Terapagos

Thundurus

Torkoal

Zamazenta

B- Rank

Alomomola

Araquanid

Breloom

Clefable

Ditto

Flapple

Garganacl

Meloetta

Necrozma

Tauros-Paldea-Aqua

Weezing-Galar

A to M

A: Axe Kick, Astral Barrage, Armor Cannon, Aeroblast, Attack Order, Aqua Step, Alluring Voice, Apple Acid, Aura Sphere, Aqua Jet, Accelerock, Acid Spray, Acid Armor, Amnesia

B: Boomburst, Bolt Strike, Blue Flare, Brave Bird, Blizzard, Behemoth Blade/Bash, Beak Blast, Bleakwind Storm, Bitter Blade, Body Press, Blazing Torque, Brick Break, Bitter Malice, Barb Barrage, Bullet Punch, Bullet Seed, Bone Rush, Bind, Beat Up, Bulk Up, Block, Burning Bulwark, Baneful Bunker

C: Counter, Comeuppance, Close Combat, Clanging Scales, Collision Course, Combat Torque, Crabhammer, Crunch, Circle Throw, Clear Smog, Chilling Water, Copycat, Coil, Cotton Guard, Calm Mind, Cosmic Power, Curse, Chilly Reception, Court Change, Corrosive Gas

D: Dragon Energy, Doom Desire, Draco Meteor, Double Shock, Dragon Ascent, Dynamax Cannon, Diamond Storm, Darkest Lariat, Drill Run, Drill Peck, Drum Beating, Dark Pulse, Discharge, Dazzling Gleam, Dragon Tail, Dragon Darts, Dual Wingbeat, Dragon Dance, Defend Order, Defog, Disable, Destiny Bond

E: Eruption, Electro Shot, Electro Drift, Earthquake, Earth Power, Esper Wing, Expanding Force, Eerie Spell, Endeavor, Encore

F: Final Gambit, Fleur Cannon, Flare Blitz, Focus Blast, Future Sight, Fire Blast, Fusion Bolt, Flying Press, Fusion Flare, Foul Play, First Impression, Fiery Wrath, False Surrender, Fire Lash, Fiery Dance, Fickle Beam, Flash Cannon, Flower Trick, Freeze-Dry, Flip Turn, Frost Breath, Fell Stinger, Flame Charge, Fire Spin, Focus Energy

G: Gigaton Hammer, Gyro Ball, Glaive Rush, Gunk Shot, Grav Apple, Grass Knot, Giga Drain, Growth

H: Head Smash, High Jump Kick, Headlong Rush, Heavy Slam, Heat Crash, Hydro Pump, Hurricane, Hard Press, Hammer Arm, Hyper Drill, Heat Wave, Hydro Steam, Horn Leech, Hone Claws, Heart Swap, Haze, Heal Bell, Healing Wish

I: Ice Hammer, Ivy Cudgel, Ice Beam, Icicle Crash, Ice Spinner, Iron Head, Infernal Parade, Ice Shard, Icicle Spear, Infestation, Iron Defense

J: Judgment, Jaw Lock, Jet Punch, Jungle Healing

K: Knock Off

L: Leaf Storm, Low Kick, Luster Purge, Leaf Blade, Liquidation, Leech Life, Lunge, Lava Plume, Leech Seed, Lunar Blessing

M: Mirror Coat, Metal Burst, Megahorn, Make It Rain, Meteor Beam, Mountain Gale, Malignant Chain, Magical Torque, Magma Storm, Moongeist Beam, Mighty Cleave, Mist Ball, Moonblast, Meteor Mash, Matcha Gotcha, Mystical Power, Mach Punch, Mortal Spin, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Milk Drink, Mean Look

N to Z

N: Noxious Torque, Night Daze, Night Slash, Nuzzle, Night Shade, No Retreat, Nasty Plot

O: Overheat, Origin Pulse, Overdrive

P: Psycho Boost, Precipice Blades, Power Whip, Pyro Ball, Poltergeist, Photon Geyser, Psystrike, Petal Blizzard, Play Rough, Psychic Fangs, Poison Jab, Power Gem, Psychic Noise, Psyshield Bash, Parabolic Charge, Poison Fang, Pin Missile, Population Bomb, Power Trip, Parting Shot, Perish Song

Q: Quiver Dance

R: Revelation Dance, Razor Shell, Rock Slide, Rising Voltage, Rapid Spin, Rock Blast, Ruination, Roost, Recover, Roar

S: Solar Blade, Shadow Force, Superpower, Solar Beam, Seed Flare, Steam Eruption, Sacred Fire, Sunsteel Strike, Supercell Slam, Spacial Rend, Springtide Storm, Sandsear Storm, Sacred Sword, Sludge Wave/Bomb, Shell Side Arm, Strange Steam, Secret Sword, Seed Bomb, Shadow Ball, Scald, Snipe Shot, Spirit Shackle, Spirit Break, Stomping Tantrum, Sucker Punch, Scorching Sands, Stone Axe, Shadow Sneak, Sand Tomb, Scale Shot, Stored Power, Super Fang, Seismic Toss, Spikes, Spiky Shield, Sticky Web, Swords Dance, Strength Sap, Shore Up, Synthesis, Stun Spore, Switcheroo

T: Thunder, Thunderous Kick, Thunderbolt, Throat Chop, Thunder Cage, Torch Song, Thunder Punch, Temper Flare, Trop Kick, Thunderclap, Trailblaze, Tachyon Cutter, Twin Beam, Triple Axel, Toxic Spikes, Take Heart, Tidy Up, Topsy-Turvy, Taunt, Trick, Teleport, Toxic, Thunder Wave, Transform

U: U-turn, Upper Hand

V: V-create, Volt Tackle, Volt Switch, Vacuum Wave, Victory Dance

W: Water Spout, Wood Hammer, Wave Crash, Wildbolt Storm, Wild Charge, Waterfall, Wicked Blow, Weather Ball, Whirlpool, Water Shuriken, Wish, Whirlwind, Will-O-Wisp

X: X-Scissor

Y: nothing (Yawn is banned by Sleep Moves Clause)

Z: Zing Zap, Zen Headbutt

Kowtow Cleave should be added to K as it is a Slicing move that and get.

Edit: Also Wicked Torque and Relic Song should/shouldn’t be on here.
They should since they are decent moves and Wicked Torque getting snubbed when Whirlpool is mentioned here.
And they shouldn’t because they really shouldn’t be legal to begin with. Especially Wicked Torque.
Sleep moves are banned because Sleep is an uncompetitive mechanic that relies mostly on luck to gain a random amount of free turns. And these moves, while having very niche alternate use cases, are pretty much only going to be used to fish for Sleep.
There is some other RNG bullshit in Pokemon that if were removed, the games would be 100% better, like Freeze or Flinching. Most of those things get a pass since you’d need to ban moves that people normally use without giving their secondary effects a second thought.
Wicked Torque however is almost strictly worse than Wicked Blow if it weren’t for PP and Sleep (and technically its Encore immunity and anti-crit abilities, but those are so minor they really shouldn’t count). Pokemon like Wo-Chien have options like Knock Off as well.
Relic Song arguably being worse since almost all relevant R Pokemon get Hyper Voice anyways. It’s one use being on its original user to swap to its Fighting form.

 

[dehzao]

Voted for Alphabet Cup and I'm glad it is currently on the ladder spotlight.

That being said, could the council please ask the devs to make all moves with the first letter of the Pokemon appear in the moveset selection? It is good to explore your move options, like it happens with STABMons.

Currently, Moonblast, that starts with M shows as illegal to Meloetta. I know it would be allowed to use, but it would be better if we have the list of the available moves we can use with that letter.

 

[KamenAlliterator]

Voted for Alphabet Cup and I'm glad it is currently on the ladder spotlight.

That being said, could the council please ask the devs to make all moves with the first letter of the Pokemon appear in the moveset selection? It is good to explore your move options, like it happens with STABMons.

View attachment 820469

Currently, Moonblast, that starts with M shows as illegal to Meloetta. I know it would be allowed to use, but it would be better if we have the list of the available moves we can use with that letter.

It should still allow you to use the move. All you have to do is check if the team is valid and it should tell you that it is legal. Moonblast isn’t banned

 

[dehzao]

It should still allow you to use the move. All you have to do is check if the team is valid and it should tell you that it is legal. Moonblast isn’t banned

I know, I wrote that two times in the original reply. The suggestion was regarding the UX/UI of the teambuilding experience. Right now, I have to check the available moves with each letter somewhere else and then put it on the Pokemon.