BW mono dog 1v1
This meta is a subset of gen5 1v1 where you can only use somewhat dog inspired pokemon. Everything I consider to be legal is in this paste:
https://pokepast.es/35757189cf806899 (There is some level of controversy over raikou being a cat and while I do agree with this the raikou trio is the original mono dog so has to be included. Also I know that samurott is meant to be an otter but its design is clearly based off of a dog.)
The S tiers:
Lando-T
just an all-round very versatile mon, intimidate helps a lot with the majority of dogs being physically biased (though a very large amount of the dogs get intimidate), with great stats, typing and movepool. The best set in this meta would be adamant scarf in my opinion given a lot of dogs want to be running HP ice specifically for lando-t. I have even run modest scarf raikou specifically for this matchup. Also if you are planning on using gen5 mono dog in standard gen5 1v1 I would recommend an anti latios lando-t given it's a relatively hard mon to check with only dogs. If you don't mind losing to the relatively rare scarf latios you can just run scarf yourself or something like:
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Yache Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 76 HP / 92 Atk / 248 SpD / 92 Spe
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Bulldoze
- Bulk Up
to make the matchup as safe as it could possibly be.
Raikou
By far the best of the original mono dog trio. Being a special attacker helps a lot against the massive amounts of intimidate users, also in standard gen5 1v1 a keldeo beating dog is very useful. For mono dog I would always recommend offensive (Specs/ Scarf depending on the team) as PP/Toxic Stall just doesn't beat much of the meta. Although a more offensive set with substitute can also be very useful at beating a lot of the A tiers that like to run giga impact.
Suicune
While I generally find suicune to be a bit underwhelming in gen5 1v1 generally it would be impossible to ignore how well it matches up into the vast majority of dogs. Also it can't be understated how good being a special attacker is for this format. The meta is generally too fast for stall to be great so I would recommend an offensive set bulked for band lando-t. Icy wind can also be a great tool in a lot of matchups which is why I generally like not being choice locked. The main strength of suicune is just being a water type with better stats than samurott, water types are just generally very good for this meta.
Suicune @ Water Gem
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 48 HP / 244 SpA / 216 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Icy Wind
- Hydro Pump
- Substitute
Bulk to live a stoutland banded/ normal gem giga impact, speed is to creep the common 260 speed tier for mono dog (252 invest stoutland gets to 259) and then SpA dump. Sub to dodge a lot of random jank.
A Tiers
Virizion
Good stats and typing for the tier, for an offensive mon it lacks immediate power but makes up for it in bulk. With the right set it can beat all 3 of the s tiers which is a massive benefit, however, it isn't really strong enough generally to warrant a place in the S tier.
Virizion @ Fighting Gem
Ability: Justified
EVs: 32 HP / 188 Atk / 72 Def / 32 SpD / 184 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Leaf Blade
- Swords Dance
- Protect
The standard sets comp fighting gem but with protect over quick attack is great for the tier (protect beats fly lando-t which lando-t always wants to be running in mono dog).
Entei
While I do think fire types can often struggle in this meta Entei's overall stats lets it bypass this weakness. While it does have better physical attack I would always run special given how prevalent intimidate is and entei getting eruption. Modest scarf can blow up a massive amount of the meta.
Lairon
While this is just worse aggron, aggron is not a dog and worse aggron is still great for this meta. With all of the fighting types and intimidate flying around this is not due to its stab head smash but rather sturdy metal burst given how much currently wants to be running choice. I anticipate as the meta develops there will be a shift away from choice but for the time being lairon does great.
Riolu
The second NFE A tier and the better of the 2 gimmick mons of the tier. There is also only one flying type and while a lot of things can run stuff like taunt/ quick attack to beat this it still 3-0 fishes nicely and beats a good portion of the meta.
Riolu @ Custap Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 240 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Substitute
- Dig
- Copycat
- Reversal
The rough gimmick is to substitute into custap range then dig once into copycat to get a prankster t1 that makes you invulnerable and min speed lets you move last on turn 2 to get free damage. EVs for technically optimal physical bulk not that it matters.
Samurott
This trades a significant loss on bulk and speed for a massive increase on power compared to suicune. Once again water types are just very good in mono dog and this thing blows things away with torrent water gem hydro cannon. Also encore is very neat at beating things like riolu.
Samurott @ Water Gem
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 132 SpD / 120 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Hydro Cannon
- Surf
- Encore
The spread that I've been using (literally cannot remember what the EVs are for but it has worked very nicely).
B Tiers
Terrakion
Great immediate offence with a stab combo to hit a lot, however, as great as it is on paper it doesn't match up great into a lot of the other dogs. That being said though it is still a terrakion and that makes it B tier.
Cobalion
In general I would say virizion does a very similar thing but better, however, there are differences mainly down to type and stat distribution that technically gives this a niche. And virizion is so great that being only slightly worse is still very viable. You also get the option for Iron Defence Rest stall which with 129 defence and a great speed tier beats a lot and is something virizion cannot do.
Granbull
By far the best counter user in the tier (Lucario and Houndoom don't have the defensive capabilities to very reliably do much with the move). Base 120 attack also lets you deal a ton with giga impact sometimes.
Granbull @ Chople Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Happiness: 0
EVs: 196 HP / 252 Atk / 60 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Counter
- Ice Punch
- Frustration
- Giga Impact
This is the set I've generally been using (bulky offence).
Stoutland
This is a very underrated pokemon in gen5 1v1 in my opinion. It generally does similar things to arcanine but with a worse stall movepool, however, it benefits massively from not being fire type which is one of the weaker types for this metagame. It also gets access to stab giga impact which off of a respectable 100 attack works neat.
C Tiers (they have viability but I wouldn't recommend using unless you need a very specific niche filled)
Arcanine
Despite being amazing in gen5 1v1 arcanine really struggles in mono dog given how much better entei is. Everything and their dog has intimidate and special arcanine is very underwhelming. The only set I would consider running is stall with will o wisp and snarl but this still feels a bit underwhelming.
Growlithe
For the stall set you can get bulkier with growlithe at the expense of an item slot and a lot of speed. I would say this is worse but it is also more dog like and still viable enough to have a mention.
Aron
The standard fear set is usable but not great. It is sometimes worth putting on a team for a 3-0 fish but it will often be dead weight.
Aron @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 196 Atk / 116 Def / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 21 HP
- Endeavor
- Sandstorm
- Toxic
- Earthquake
Level 5 with 21 hp ivs is optimal for being the highest level where berry juice still always heals you to full EVs are to get to the highest speed and attack possible to do best in the mirror.
Unviable Options
Lucario
The closest in this tier to being viable, however, it just struggles to actually beat anything in the current state of the meta.
Houndoom
I used a lando-t lure set to some effect, however to say that this is anything but a gimmick on a bad mon would be disingenuous and the set also relied on surprise factor.
Houndoom @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 204 Def / 52 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Counter
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Overheat
Absol
A ton of fighting types and intimidaters means this just does nothing in the meta.
Manectric
This would be surprisingly good if raikou didn't exist, however, unfortunately for manectric it does.
Luxray
While this can beat a few dogs there will pretty much always be a better option for the team.
Mightyena
Genuinely horrendous stats that should never be on a fully evolved mon.
Lillipup
I don't think I need to say why this is unviable, however, thought I would post my funny attract set that I hope to some day beat a lando t with.
Lillipup (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Vital Spirit
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Attract
- Toxic
- Rest
- Protect
(Female so that attract always works on lando t).
The Rest (unviable to the point where it's not worth explaining, however, I hope that with some meta developments I might see some cool sets for these one day).
Sample Teams
The Brokens:
https://pokepast.es/e1b6f29f44b53455
Double Unviables:
https://pokepast.es/2d3b57e8cce9f3c3
Stall Raikou:
https://pokepast.es/a5df9371f75d3daa
If you ever want to practise this tier dm me here or on pokemon showdown/ discord and I'll be happy to play. Also worth mentioning that LRXC will be hosting a tour on stream next Wednesday which will definitely be worth checking out.
B+ to A-
C+ to B-
B to B+
C to C+
C- to C
C+to B
UR to D
B+ to C+
B to B-
B to B-
B- to C+
C+ to C
C to C-
B- to C+
C to C-
C to D
C to C-
D to UR
C to C-
C- to D
Zapdos has been quickbanned from ADV 1v1 
