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Lower Tiers RU Playstyle Classification Thread

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DittoCrow

DittoCrow

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Playstyle Classification Thread​


Credit to Molk and Oglemi for helping with the OP.​

Hey RU Players! The purpose of this thread is to help you to easily find Pokemon that fit a specific role you're looking for. Need a strong physical sweeper? Just take a look at the list under the roles of an offensive team. The categories will have a link to the Pokemon's analysis and the set(s) that fit into the listed role.

The list is small right now, so it's your job to fill in the lists of Pokemon in each role. Suggest viable Pokemon that fit into a certain category and try to give a small explanation of what the Pokemon does and why it fits there. If you don't see a specific playstyle or role that you are looking for, please make a suggestion to add it! Don't be overwhelmed right now, as you can just add 1-2 Pokemon if you would like.

Here are the list of playstyles so you can quickly access them:
  1. [jump=1]Offense[/jump]
  2. [jump=2]Bulky Offense[/jump]
  3. [jump=3]Stall[/jump]
  4. [jump=4]Balance[/jump]
  5. [jump=5]VoltTurn[/jump]
  6. [jump=6]Trick Room[/jump]
  7. [jump=7]Rain[/jump]
  8. [jump=8]Sun[/jump]
  9. [jump=9]Manly[/jump]
  10. [jump=10]Niche Roles[/jump]
[a]1[/a]Offense: An offensive team is one that focuses on pressuring the opponent with strong attackers and sweepers.

Hazard Setters:

  • 617.png
    Accelgor (Offensive or Lead)
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    Cacturne (Spikes)
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    Crustle (Utility or Custap Lead)
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    Druddigon (Stealth Rock)
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    Garbodor (Suicide Lead)
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    Mesprit (Stealth Rock)
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    Omastar (Suicide Lead)
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    Qwilfish (Utility)
  • 545.png
    Scolipede (Spikes)
  • 235.png
    Smeargle (Spikes)
  • 480.png
    Uxie (Standard Support or Dual Screens)
Physical Sweepers:

Special Sweepers:

Pivots:

  • 591.png
    Amoonguss (Pivot)
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    Eelektross (Special Attacker)
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    Lanturn (Tank or Choice Specs)
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    Rotom-C (Support or Choice Scarf)
  • 199.png
    Slowking (Choice Specs or Offensive Trick Room)
Tanks/Utility:

Wallbreakers:
Rapid Spinners:

Revenge Killers:

[a]2[/a]Bulky Offense: A Bulky Offense team is one that has more Pokemon with high defense, but maintains pressure on the opponent through strong attacks and hazards.

Hazard Setters:

Physical Sweepers:

Special Sweepers:
Rapid Spinners:

Pivots:

  • 591.png
    Amoonguss (Pivot or Offensive)
  • 604.png
    Eelektross (Special Attacker)
  • 171.png
    Lanturn (Tank or Choice Specs)
  • 199.png
    Slowking (Defensive or Choice Specs)
Tanks/Utility:

Wallbreakers:

Spinblockers:

[a]3[/a]Stall: Stall is a full team of walls that focuses on shutting down the opposing team through pure defense and forcing switches.

Physical Walls:

Special Walls:

Spikes/Toxic Spikes Users:

Rapid Spinners:

Spinblockers:

Heal Bell/Aromatherapy Users

Wish Users:

[a]4[/a]Balance: Balance is a mix of offense and defense. It will usually include both powerful attackers, tanks, and defensive supporters.

Hazard Setters:

Physical Sweepers:

Special Sweepers:
Tanks/Utility:

Wallbreakers:

Physical Walls:

Special Walls:

Pivots:

Rapid Spinners:

Spinblockers:
[a]5[/a]VoltTurn: VoltTurn is a strategy that puts pressure on the opponent by constantly dealing damage and switching out through the usage of Volt Switch and U-turn.

Volt Switch Users:

U-turn Users:

Rapid Spinners:

[a]6[/a]Trick Room Teams:Trick Room is a strange move that makes slower Pokemon go first for a short period of time. Slow, powerful Pokemon such as Aggron and Druddigon benefit from this immensely. (all Pokemon here should use a speed reducing nature with a speed Iv of 0)

Trick Room Setters:

Trick Room Sweepers:

[a]7[/a]Rain Teams: Rain teams take advantage of the rain weather condition through abilities like Swift Swim and the boost that rain gives to Water-type moves.

Rain Setters:

Rain Sweepers:

[a]8[/a]Sun Teams: Sun teams take advantage of the sun weather condition through abilities like Chlorophyll and the boost that sun gives to Fire-type moves.


Sun Setters:

Sun Sweepers:

[a]9[/a]Manly Teams: Manly teams consist of only the manliest Pokemon.(Manly Pokemon can only be submitted if you post another Pokemon for another playstyle as well, remember this!)

[a]10[/a]Niche Roles: These Pokemon play a very niche or unique role that can't be attributed to one type of team. Other Pokemon will usually be chosen before these are considered, but they can fit onto very specific types of teams.
  • 606.png
    Beheeyem (Analytic Special Attacker)
  • 323.png
    Camerupt (Stealth Rock setter with unique typing)
  • 132.png
    Ditto (Catch All Revenge Killer)
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    Golem (Suicide Lead with Explosion)
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    Gothorita (Trapper)
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    Lampent (Cryo Spinblocker+Escavalier counter)
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    Liepard (Swagger+Foul Play)
  • 414.png
    Mothim (Tinted Lens Specs)
  • 198.png
    Murkrow (Prankster Support)
  • 177.png
    Natu (Magic Bounce)
  • 204.png
    Pineco (level 1 suicide lead)
  • 447.png
    Riolu (Priority Phazer)
  • 028.png
    Sandslash (Niche Spinner)
  • 324.png
    Torkoal (Niche spinner)
  • 288.png
    Vigoroth (Bulk Up)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
006.gif
Charizard for sun sweeper:
  • Hits extremely hard thanks to Solar Power and a boost to its main stab moves.
  • Solid speed without scarf.
  • OHKOes Slowking(Grass Gem Solarbeam), Regirock(Read Slowking), and has a 50% chance of killing Druddigon(Dragon Pulse after Stealth Rock damage without any item to boost its power).
  • Not as dependent on sun being up as other sun abusers.
 
I like this ^^

Spr_b_5b_596.png

Volturn:
Ani596MS.png
(All-out Attacker)
  • High Speed and STAB Volt Switch.
  • Can take advantage of 91% accurate Thunder to punish switch-ins.
  • Has STAB Bug Buzz to hit Pokemon like Druddigon that doesn't mind an Electric attack.
  • Has difficulty directly switching in due to frail defenses and lack of useful resistances.
  • Weak to Stealth Rock and every other form of hazards.
 
Helped make the original OP, might as well contribute a bit =).

Bulky Offense

Pivots:

621.png
(Pivot or Offensive)

  • Regenerator makes Amoonguss a naturally good pivot
  • good bulk and useful typing help it stand out, counters things like Sceptile, Feraligatr, and Lilligant and absorbs Toxic Spikes, for example
  • Spore is absolutely deadly, especially on a Pokemon this bulky
  • many Pokemon that switch in to absorb Spore, such as Magmortar and Sleep Talk Entei/Emboar fear being paralyzed by Stun Spore, even Escavalier is afraid of the occasional Hidden Power Fire
  • can go either defensive or offensive effectively, depending on what the specific team needs
  • Pairs well with many other common Pokemon! (for example, Slowking)

Offense

Revenge Killers:

244.png
(Physical Attacker)

  • Physical Entei makes an excellent revenge killer
  • a powerful +2 priority ExtremeSpeed makes Entei exceptionally good at taking out faster, frailer threats such as Sceptile, Cinccino, and Accelgor before they can do too much damage
  • Can also serve the role of a secondary wallbreaker or late game cleaner if needed between the power of a CB/Flame Plate Flare Blitz and the aformentioned ExtremeSpeed
  • decent bulk, can take a hit even if it can't immediately KO the opponent with Espeed if needed
  • Able to completely dodge Absol's deadly Sucker Punch due to the higher priority of Extremespeed, something many other revenge killers would love to be able to do.

Stall

Physical Walls:

208.png
(Defensive)

  • Steelix's absolutely massive physical bulk, plethora of resistances, access to Stealth Rock, and ability to phaze make it a stall staple
  • Laughs at most of RU's physical attackers, even being able to take unstabbled Earthquakes rather well
  • one of the best phazers in RU, can switch in on most physical threats with ease and roar them out while having more than enough bulk to take a boosted hit in the process.
  • High BP STABs (Earthquake has 150 BP after STAB while max power Gyro Ball hits a massive 225 BP) let it hit back somewhat hard compared to other defensive Pokemon, although 85 Attack is still a bit of a letdown.
  • hazard resistant, it's only really afraid of Spikes in the end, completely immune to Toxic Spikes and 4x resists Stealth Rock.
  • No reliable recovery, but it pairs exceptionally well with Alomomola, one of the best wish users in RU to make up for it.
 
I'm 100% clueless on how anyone can forget this guy, who is arguably one of the best pokemon in this meta.
Bulky Offense

589.gif
(Choice Band/ChestoRest)


  • An excellent offensive answer to a myriad of threats such as Hail, HP Rock Lilligant, Uxie, most Sceptile and a bunch of other stuff.
  • Can also function as a wallbreaker thanks to its massive Attack stat and Megahorn.
  • Also rather bulky, so it can take a decent chunk of hits.
  • Doesn't have reliable recovery. However, that is alleviated by ChestoRest sets.
  • Low Speed, which is made up for by synergizing well with the premier TR abuser in the meta, Slowking.
  • Still walled by Steelix and some Fire-Types can take a hit.
 
Trick Room

Trick Room Sweepers:

306.png
(Choice Band)

  • Abysmal Speed, great Attack, and a 150 BP STAB with no drawbacks make Aggron one of the best trick room sweepers in RU.
  • I really can't stress the power of Head Smash enough, barely anything can switch in on a CB Head Smash alone, let alone its coverage moves.
  • resists Bug, Dark, and Ghost-type moves, which many Trick Room setters are weak to, giving it some defensive synergy.
  • In return, many of the Trick Room setters (Such as Slowking) do well against things like Steelix and Poliwrath that check Aggron, forming potent offensive cores to threaten the opposition.
  • takes barely anything from pretty much every priority move bar Mach Punch, not even Aqua Jet leaves a huge dent, so trying to pick off Aggron under Trick Room with moves like that is futile.
  • one of the manliest Pokemon ever to boot.
 
Bulky Offense
Hazard Setters:

112.gif
(Tank)



  • Amazing physical bulk with Eviolite, allowing it to check many dangerous physical threats such as Entei.
  • Great offensive stab with EdgeQuak coverage plus good coverage options.
  • Sets up Stealth Rock reliably.
  • No leftovers recovery is disappointing some times, weak Special Defense leaves it open to strong special attacker.
  • One of the manliest pokes in the tier.
 
Trick Room Setter:
235.gif
(FEARGLE)
  • Easier to stop compared to other Trick Room setters, but is still good enough to guarantee 1.5 kills when played correctly.
  • Spore allows Smeargle to eliminate a mon from the game without even trying after it gets Trick Room up.
  • Dragon Rage allows Smeargle to KO Pokemon holding Leftovers by himself.
  • LV 1 mon wrecking shit is manly.
 
Maybe my definition of a pivot is different than some peoples', but isn't a pivot used to reposition for momentum? In that case, you'd usually have one of U-turn, Baton Pass, or Volt Switch; Slowking doesn't have any.
 
Limitless said:
Maybe my definition of a pivot is different than some peoples', but isn't a pivot used to reposition for momentum? In that case, you'd usually have one of U-turn, Baton Pass, or Volt Switch; Slowking doesn't have any.
Click to expand...

I agree that those three moves are extremely useful for pivots, but I think the operative word, which you mentioned, is "usually." Slowking's bulk, defensive typing, and insane ability to recover health allow it to manually switch in incredibly well for RU standards. Obviously, it's not easy to hard switch into a breaker or cleaner, so you could go to Slowking in between to do some hazard control. But yeah, not having a move that switches it out doesn't help it.
 
For Offense:

310.png

(Choice Scarf)

* Has great coverage between Volt Switch, Overheat/Flamethrower, and HP Grass.
* Switcheroo to cripple walls if Speed boost isn't needed any longer
* Outspeeds every relevant boosted threat; great insurance for offense teams
* Frail, so it's generally a strict cleaner/revenge killer
* Does have Lightningrod to dissuade Electric attacks
 
NfskMjmMal said:
I agree that those three moves are extremely useful for pivots, but I think the operative word, which you mentioned, is "usually." Slowking's bulk, defensive typing, and insane ability to recover health allow it to manually switch in incredibly well for RU standards. Obviously, it's not easy to hard switch into a breaker or cleaner, so you could go to Slowking in between to do some hazard control. But yeah, not having a move that switches it out doesn't help it.
Click to expand...

Omit "usually," then. Let's look exactly what the definition of pivot means:

"The central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates."

Of course, this definition has nothing to do with Pokemon, but it's based on the idea of momentum in Pokemon. My point is that anytime you have a wall that doesn't have one of the three moves I mentioned, then you lose all momentum. With Slowking, it is no different. Just because something can continually switch in doesn't imply that it attributes to any gain in momentum.
 
Rain Teams
Rain Sweepers
141.png

(Swords Dance)
  • Gifted with Rapid Spin
  • Able to set up Swords Dance
  • Useful resistances
  • Unfortunately walled by Tangrowth and Poliwrath
  • Can also use a Choice Band set
  • Aqua Jet to take out faster threats
  • Swift Swim greatly boosts its speed
 
Here are some:

1. Emboar (usually with Choice Band) for a Trick Room sweeper.

*Base 65 Speed and Base 125 Attack are great for Trick Room (use Brave nature)
*Has great coverage between STABs and common coverage moves (usually Head Smash/Stone Edge, Wild Charge, or Earthquake)
*OHKOs or 2HKOs almost anything
*Immune to burns
*Synergizes well with common Trick Room setters as it resists Dark-type moves
*Life Orb set is also very good to switch attacks; Scald/Grass Knot are now viable to deal with Rhydon and similar Pokemon

2. Kabutops for a Hail team Rapid Spinner:

*Much better offensive presence than Cryogonal (of course in some cases Cryogonal is preferable; it depends on the team)
*STAB coverage is uncommon on hail teams
*4x resist to Fire-type moves
*Neutral to Stealth Rock (unlike Cryogonal)
 
Bulky Offense:
Hazard Setters:
558.gif

(Custap Berry, Utility)
  • Has both Stealth Rock and Spikes up in his arsenal
  • Base 95 Attack allows to maintain offensive pressure as well
  • Usable ability in Sturdy, guarantees at least one layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock on the field
  • Has a surprise factor due to the fact it can run fully offensive Shell Smash set
  • Speed is pretty much its worst enemy, as well as, Taunt in some situations
Have been using hermit crab to huge success lately, so thought might as well share that
 
Bulky Offense

Hazard Setters:

627.png
(Support)

  • a great typing laden with resistances, excellent mixed bulk and access to Eviolite give Ferroseed countless opportunities to switch in and set up Spikes for its teammates.
  • beats both Kabutops and Cryogonal (and Sandslash) 1 on 1, which is something many Spikers wish they could do.
  • not the best offensively, but a 150 BP STAB Gyro Ball as well as access to Leech Seed and Thunder Wave ensure Ferroseed isn't set up bait, and also help deter Pokemon that could take down Ferroseed such as Entei and Moltres from switching in.
  • outside of Spiking, Ferroseed's good bulk, typing and support movepool help it checks various other Pokemon such as Feraligatr, Omastar, Outrage locked Druddigon, Aggron, Aerodactyl, and Rhydon when needed
 
Oh my god what a brilliant thread!

Anyway, I am a very big fan of VolTurn, and RU is, in my opinion, the best tier for it. In almost every one of my teams I usually have at least one of each. I will put on 3 pokemon here - Cinccino, Manectric and Galvantula.

VolTurn

310.gif


  • Strong fire attacks in overheat and flamethrower
    Brilliant speed (for RU)
    Brilliant special attack (for RU)
    Lightningrod
    Ability to run hidden power of choice on choice sets.

596.gif


  • Bug STAB
    Compoundeyes for a 97.5% accurate thunder.
    Grass coverage, and a way to recover health in giga drain.
    Great special attack
    Some of the best speed in RU.
    Can usually run hidden power of choice on choice sets.

573.gif


  • Skill link.
    3 Multi-hit moves, providing perfect coverage outside of steel types.
    Ability to 2HKO many common leads, such as Omastar and Crustle.
    Extremely fast speed, letting it run a choice band set and still out-run much of the tier.
    Also has technician, to utilize some of it's other attacks, such as wake-up slap.
 
Offense

Wallbreakers:

528.png
(Choice Band)

  • 2HKO's the entirety of the tier with at least once coverage move with very few, if any exceptions
  • can be easily eved to outspeed every wall as well (or if you need it, everything up to adamant absol) and still has enough power to 2HKO pretty much everything at worst even with a +speed nature
  • still checks many of the things that scarf emboar does, although not as well due to the lack of the extra speed :/
  • neutral to Stealth Rock unlike other Fire-type wallbreakers such as Magmortar and Moltres
  • OHKOs Slowking with Wild Charge after rocks, something almost no other Fire-type can boast
  • if you ever end up in that range, blaze Flare Blitz really hurts
  • emboar is a strong pig
  • calcs below :)

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Alomomola: 260-306 (48.68 - 57.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

This is the pokemon that takes the least overall o_O.

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Wild Charge vs. 248 HP / 144 Def Slowking: 316-374 (80.4 - 95.16%) -- 56.25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth: 384-452 (95.04 - 111.88%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 88 Def Amoonguss: 740-872 (171.29 - 201.85%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Superpower vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Clefable: 798-942 (202.53 - 239.08%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 220+ Def Steelix: 272-324 (76.83 - 91.52%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Superpower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Regirock: 338-398 (92.85 - 109.34%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 248 HP / 168 Def Cryogonal: 1058-1248 (308.45 - 363.84%) -- guaranteed OHKO (this one's kinda obvious but w/e)

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Roselia: 770-908 (253.28 - 298.68%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Poliwrath: 232-274 (60.41 - 71.35%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Superpower vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 249-294 (63.19 - 74.61%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Emboar Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 240+ Def Qwilfish: 182-216 (54.49 - 64.67%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
 
Bulky Offense (?)

Physical Sweeper/Hazard Setter:


Golurk
623.gif

  • Good well rounded bulk (89 / 80 / 80)
  • Awesome typing when dealing with Fighting types
  • Access to Stealth Rock
  • Two good STAB attacks and great coverage moves
  • Access to No Guard and Dynamic Punch
  • Access to Iron Fist, boosting Shadow Punch, Drain Punch, Ice Punch, etc.
 
Offense:

142.gif
(Life Orb Attacker, Subroost, Hazard Setter)


  • Faster then the entire unboosted metagame except ninja bug
  • STAB stone edge hurts
  • Life orb sets can surprise ferroseed and steelix with fire blast
  • Opponent will expect it to lead, so it can give you a lead advantage
  • Can PP stall stone edge with subroost + pressure
  • Fast taunt and fast rocks




127.gif
(Choice Scarf)


  • Moxie is awesome, letting him turn a revenge kill into a late game sweep
  • Difficult to death fodder against
  • Good coverage with close combat and stone edge
  • Solid Defense lets him survive entei's e-speed
  • Common walls like tangrowth and uxie are weak to x-scissor
  • Surprise factor
  • Massive Coolness factor
 
Offense

Wallbreakers:

597.png
(Flying Gem)
  • Incredible power and speed, outpacing and/or 2HKOing the majority of the metagame
  • Hits a huge variety of opponents hard with STABs and coverage
  • Popular physical walls in Tangrowth and Poliwrath crumble in the face of Acrobatics, while pokemon who can survive the STAB onslaught can be smacked by Earth Power or Heat Wave
  • Extremely difficult to wall or switch into, much less outspeed
  • Able to counteract its neutering ability with Roost or Head Smash to preserve its power
  • Overcomes its Stealth Rock weakness with Roost
  • Forces a ton of switches
 
Offense:

Physical Sweepers

277.png
(Guts)

  • One of the fastest Pokemon in RU, outruns pretty much every unboosted threat in the tier, as well as some slower Scarfed Pokemon such as Emboar and Glaceon.
  • Guts and two powerful STAB moves in Brave Bird and Facade make up for Swellow's average base 85 Attack stat.
  • Can U-turn out of its checks and counters with some prediction, wearing them down over time, watch out for residual damage though.
  • Exceptionally deadly with Spikes support, they let Swellow score many OHKO's it wouldnt be able to otherwise, and almost all of Swellow's checks and counters are grounded, ensuring they get worn down quickly.
  • aforementioned high Speed can let Swellow serve as a decent revenge killer when needed as well.
  • needs some support to function to its full potential but can be devastating
 
I added a list at the top of the post with links to each playstyle so you can easily find each one. Might as well contribute something while I'm at it...

VoltTurn (Volt Switch User):

479-mow.png
Rotom-C (Any Set)

Can't really go wrong with Rotom-C on a VoltTurn team lol. Has great typing, stats, and is really hard to switch into when you have constant momentum. Pretty much a staple on these types of teams.
 
Offense/Bruce Lee fans

106.gif
(Choice Band, Unburden)


  • Choice Band reckless hi jump kick can 1hko pretty much anything that doesn't resist it, 2hko all but the bulkiest resists.
  • Mach punch is great priority and laughts absol who usually can wreck offensive teams
  • While epic high jump kick breaks holes in stall, fake out unburden can sweep offensive teams
  • decent sp.def lets him survive the odd giga drain or surf
 
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