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Welcome to ADV UUBL! Huh, UUBL? As in, the list of Pokémon banned from UU? Yup. All 43 of them. The most of any tier, and, one might argue, enough to sustain a metagame of their own. Born from dubious tiering policy when ADV was current gen (most of its Pokémon never having touched UU), UUBL has grown from humble beginnings in 2019 into one of ADV’s liveliest and most welcomingLower Tiers Other Metagames.
Porygon2
— LEGAL:
Regice
— BANNED:
Raikou
— BANNED:
Registeel
Smeargle + Ingrain
— BANNED:
Baton Pass + Block / Mean Look / Spider Web
— BANNED:
Swagger
— BANNED:
Flail / Reversal
— BANNED:
Assist
Sand Veil
— LEGAL:
Soundproof
— Sleep Clause: If a player has already put a Pokémon of their opponent's to sleep and it is still sleeping, another can't be put to sleep.
— Evasion Clause: A Pokémon's moveset cannot contain the moves Double Team or Minimize.
— OHKO Clause: A Pokémon's moveset cannot contain the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold.
— Endless Battle Clause: A player cannot intentionally prevent an opponent from being able to end the game without forfeiting.
— Baton Pass Stat Clause: No Baton Passer may have a way to boost its Speed
— One Boost Passer Clause: Limit one Baton Passer that has a way to boost its stats
— ADV has no Team Preview, meaning the Pokémon in your first team slot is your lead.
— Whether a move is physical or special is determined by its type.
— Many staple items from later generations are absent, including Choice Specs, Choice Scarf, Life Orb, Expert Belt, and Eviolite.
— Grass-types are not immune to powder moves, nor are Electric-types immune to paralysis from Thunder Wave.
— Rest and Sleep Talk work weirdly; this post explains the details.
— Explosion and Self-Destruct halve the target’s Defense during damage calculation, effectively doubling their Base Powers to 500 and 400.
— Wish heals the recipient for half of its maximum HP, regardless of the user’s HP.
— Thunder Wave bypasses Volt Absorb, while Will-O-Wisp bypasses Flash Fire.
All In / Out Off by BeesInYourChair
BlazeOff* by Erfder
Dodrio PhysOff* by Erfder
Sunny w/a Chance of Scizor by KingGojira
Bootleg Zapdug but UUBL by Toasty
Swellow Spikes by Celdanami
Ursazam Spikes Balance by KingGojira
Balanced, as All Zor Should Be by Toasty
Calm Mind Pass by Wenderz
MilGarde Balance by Wenderz
Girly Pop Stall by Celdanami
Pacy 'Toise Semi-Stall by Melninja
Qwilfish Stall by Melninja
Cursebreon Semi-Stall by Scally_Wagon
Liz's Banded Bull Semi-Stall by Scally_Wagon
Raikou is Kill (courtesy of Joaf)
ADVLTL I (courtesy of Joaf)
2025-03 /stats/ /raw/
2024-05 /stats/ /raw/
2020-04 /stats/ /raw/
2019-09 /stats/ /raw/
2017-09 /stats/ /raw/
— Runner-up: Wenderz
— Runner-up: 4lowray
— Runner-up: ORPH
— Runner-up: mind gaming
— Runner-up: bydy
— Runner-up:PasY_G
— BANNED: Registeel
— BANNED: Flail
— LEGAL: Soundproof
— LEGAL: Sand Veil
— BANNED: SpeedPass
— LEGAL: Porygon2
— LEGAL: Regice
— CLAUSE: Smeargle cannot have Baton Pass in its moveset.
— LEGAL: Raikou
— Role Compendium
— Set Compendium
— Comprehensive Speed Tiers
— 06/25 Community Satisfaction Survey
— Legacy OP
— Legacy Sample Teams (c. 11/11/25)
— Legacy Speed Tiers (c. 03/05/20)
— Legacy Viability Rankings (c. 11/11/25)
— Historic Lead Metagame Analysis (c. 11/05/25 | courtesy of Joaf)
— Ancient Historic Lead Metagame Analysis (c. 08/05/23)
— Jumpluff Propaganda
— Raikou is Kill Commentary
— Cat is Back Commentary
Wenderz
Erfder
And a huge shoutout to Teh, whose immense contributions helped make BL what it is today.
Welcome to ADV UUBL! Huh, UUBL? As in, the list of Pokémon banned from UU? Yup. All 43 of them. The most of any tier, and, one might argue, enough to sustain a metagame of their own. Born from dubious tiering policy when ADV was current gen (most of its Pokémon never having touched UU), UUBL has grown from humble beginnings in 2019 into one of ADV’s liveliest and most welcoming
Ruleset
Pokemon
— LEGAL:Porygon2— LEGAL:
Regice— BANNED:
Raikou— BANNED:
RegisteelMoves
— BANNED:Smeargle + Ingrain— BANNED:
Baton Pass + Block / Mean Look / Spider Web— BANNED:
Swagger— BANNED:
Flail / Reversal— BANNED:
AssistAbilities
— LEGAL:Sand Veil — LEGAL:
SoundproofADV Clauses
— Species Clause: A player's team cannot contain two Pokémon with the same National Pokédex number.— Sleep Clause: If a player has already put a Pokémon of their opponent's to sleep and it is still sleeping, another can't be put to sleep.
— Evasion Clause: A Pokémon's moveset cannot contain the moves Double Team or Minimize.
— OHKO Clause: A Pokémon's moveset cannot contain the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold.
— Endless Battle Clause: A player cannot intentionally prevent an opponent from being able to end the game without forfeiting.
BL Specific Clauses
— Freeze Clause: Limit one foe frozen— Baton Pass Stat Clause: No Baton Passer may have a way to boost its Speed
— One Boost Passer Clause: Limit one Baton Passer that has a way to boost its stats
ADV Mechanics:
Players unfamiliar with ADV ought to be aware of several mechanical differences from newer generations.— ADV has no Team Preview, meaning the Pokémon in your first team slot is your lead.
— Whether a move is physical or special is determined by its type.
- Physical moves: Normal, Fighting, Rock, Ground, Ghost, Poison, Steel, Bug, Flying
- Special moves: Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Psychic, Dark, Dragon
- This means Hidden Power can be either physical or special.
— Many staple items from later generations are absent, including Choice Specs, Choice Scarf, Life Orb, Expert Belt, and Eviolite.
— Grass-types are not immune to powder moves, nor are Electric-types immune to paralysis from Thunder Wave.
— Rest and Sleep Talk work weirdly; this post explains the details.
— Explosion and Self-Destruct halve the target’s Defense during damage calculation, effectively doubling their Base Powers to 500 and 400.
— Wish heals the recipient for half of its maximum HP, regardless of the user’s HP.
— Thunder Wave bypasses Volt Absorb, while Will-O-Wisp bypasses Flash Fire.
Community Viability Rankings w/Analyses
Create your own VR here, which you may submit either via posting it in the thread or in the #viability-rankings channel on Discord.
(Temporary VR post Raikou and Registeel rise to OU, waiting for a few player submissions)
Dragonite
Vaporeon
Alakazam
Regirock
Scizor
Slowbro
Regice
Omastar
Sceptile
Weezing
Houndoom
Marowak
Machamp
Lanturn
Miltank
Dodrio
Dusclops
Articuno
Espeon
Ursaring
Tauros
Donphan
Qwilfish
Chansey
Swellow
Blastoise
Armaldo
Umbreon
Smeargle
Tentacruel
Arcanine
Venusaur
Rhydon
Hariyama
Kangaskhan
Exeggutor
Haunter
Glalie
Steelix
Gardevoir
Kingdra
Entei
Blaziken
Flareon
Ludicolo
Lunatone
Linoone
Typhlosion
Hitmonlee
Solrock
Slaking
Lapras
Jynx
Golduck
Misdreavus
Zangoose
Meganium
Ampharos
Jumpluff
Crobat
Cacturne
Hitmontop
Camerupt
Raichu
Poliwrath
Girafarig
Shedinja
Electrode
Banette
Porygon2
Kabutops
Quagsire
Sableye
Sandslash
Roselia
Nidoking
Scyther
Kadabra
Thank you to Celdanami, Erfder, KingGojira, Melninja, Scally_Wagon, Toasty, and unira for submitting to the '26 Viability Rankings.
(Temporary VR post Raikou and Registeel rise to OU, waiting for a few player submissions)
S Tier
Dragonite Vaporeon AlakazamA+ Tier
Regirock Scizor Slowbro RegiceA Tier
Omastar Sceptile Weezing Houndoom Marowak MachampA- Tier
Lanturn Miltank Dodrio Dusclops Articuno EspeonB+ Tier
Ursaring Tauros Donphan Qwilfish Chansey Swellow BlastoiseB Tier
Armaldo Umbreon Smeargle Tentacruel Arcanine Venusaur RhydonB- Tier
Hariyama Kangaskhan Exeggutor Haunter Glalie Steelix Gardevoir Kingdra Entei Blaziken FlareonC+ Tier
Ludicolo Lunatone Linoone Typhlosion Hitmonlee Solrock Slaking Lapras Jynx Golduck MisdreavusC Tier
Zangoose Meganium Ampharos Jumpluff Crobat Cacturne Hitmontop Camerupt Raichu Poliwrath GirafarigC- Tier
Shedinja Electrode Banette Porygon2 Kabutops Quagsire Sableye Sandslash Roselia Nidoking ScytherD(on't use) Tier
KadabraThank you to Celdanami, Erfder, KingGojira, Melninja, Scally_Wagon, Toasty, and unira for submitting to the '26 Viability Rankings.
Sample Teams
Offense
All In / Out Off by BeesInYourChair BlazeOff* by Erfder Dodrio PhysOff* by Erfder Sunny w/a Chance of Scizor by KingGojira Bootleg Zapdug but UUBL by ToastyBalance
Swellow Spikes by Celdanami Ursazam Spikes Balance by KingGojira Balanced, as All Zor Should Be by Toasty Calm Mind Pass by Wenderz MilGarde Balance by WenderzStall
Girly Pop Stall by Celdanami Pacy 'Toise Semi-Stall by Melninja Qwilfish Stall by Melninja Cursebreon Semi-Stall by Scally_Wagon Liz's Banded Bull Semi-Stall by Scally_Wagon
Many new players to the tier want to use Blaziken. It's often regarded as an average Pokémon here, but it looks cool.
Slowbro is a defensive check to threats like Dragonite, Machamp, Regirock, Vaporeon, and Alakazam while spreading status to facilitate Blaziken's entry. Slowbro holds the team together defensively, so avoid letting it get worn down too quickly. It leads as an easy Thunder Wave disruptor, then can Rest or switch out to come in again later.
Alakazam with Encore becomes very dangerous against opposing stall, which would otherwise wear the team down with Spikes. Encore also helps against Baton Pass chains by locking Espeon into Calm Mind or Vaporeon into Substitute. Alakazam also provides speed control against basically anything faster than Blaziken.
Regirock is your standard Normal-type resist and is generally useful all around. Thunder Wave helps Blaziken outspeed the targets it needs to. Hold Explosion until late-game, when you need to remove a Pokémon for Alakazam, such as Umbreon, or Blaziken, such as Slowbro.
Blaziken holds Choice Band.
--
The problem with Blaziken is that Choice Band Blaziken is often a worse Choice Band Hitmonlee, while special Blaziken becomes a case of "why not Arcanine?" or "why not Typhlosion?" Mixed Salac Berry or Liechi Berry sets often spread the EVs too thin to be threatening without committing to the Berry. Swords Dance Blaziken could be worth exploring but seldom finds the turn or position it needs. Also, Sky Uppercut will miss.
--
This set therefore uses Blaziken as a hit-and-run attacker, preserving enough health against Spikes teams while Choice Band makes every turn count. Overheat has basically no downside over its other Fire-type moves on a prediction. Choice Band Quick Attack is uncommon, so it catches players off guard while cleaning up low-health pinch Berry users like Sceptile or a half-health Alakazam. It can be replaced with Earthquake for Lanturn and a useful midground or Hidden Power Ghost for Dusclops and Slowbro. Note that this Blaziken is slow. It'll get the job done against most targets but must leave against Dragonite carrying Flying-type coverage, which it doesn't really want to risk a Speed tie against anyway.
Ludicolo is the answer to BoltBeam Lanturn and Lapras, using Leech Seed early- to mid-game to heal the team. Its coverage limits opposing responses and lets it stay in against many already seeded targets to accumulate more Leftovers recovery. Leech Seed alongside its Grass-type STAB also discourages Vaporeon and Umbreon from continuing a Baton Pass chain and helps in last-Pokémon situations.
Miltank keeps status off the team and wakes up Slowbro. It is the team's main Ice-type resist, taking some pressure off Slowbro, since Ludicolo lacks the longevity to handle Regice or Articuno. Miltank can take a single turn against Alakazam to fish for Body Slam paralysis or leave it at half health for Blaziken to finish with Quick Attack. Iron Tail is not ideal, but it provides a midground against Regice, Rock-types, and Ghost-types, while the Defense drops can eventually help break through Dusclops with favorable luck.
Slowbro is a defensive check to threats like Dragonite, Machamp, Regirock, Vaporeon, and Alakazam while spreading status to facilitate Blaziken's entry. Slowbro holds the team together defensively, so avoid letting it get worn down too quickly. It leads as an easy Thunder Wave disruptor, then can Rest or switch out to come in again later.
Alakazam with Encore becomes very dangerous against opposing stall, which would otherwise wear the team down with Spikes. Encore also helps against Baton Pass chains by locking Espeon into Calm Mind or Vaporeon into Substitute. Alakazam also provides speed control against basically anything faster than Blaziken.
Regirock is your standard Normal-type resist and is generally useful all around. Thunder Wave helps Blaziken outspeed the targets it needs to. Hold Explosion until late-game, when you need to remove a Pokémon for Alakazam, such as Umbreon, or Blaziken, such as Slowbro.
Blaziken holds Choice Band.
--
The problem with Blaziken is that Choice Band Blaziken is often a worse Choice Band Hitmonlee, while special Blaziken becomes a case of "why not Arcanine?" or "why not Typhlosion?" Mixed Salac Berry or Liechi Berry sets often spread the EVs too thin to be threatening without committing to the Berry. Swords Dance Blaziken could be worth exploring but seldom finds the turn or position it needs. Also, Sky Uppercut will miss.
--
This set therefore uses Blaziken as a hit-and-run attacker, preserving enough health against Spikes teams while Choice Band makes every turn count. Overheat has basically no downside over its other Fire-type moves on a prediction. Choice Band Quick Attack is uncommon, so it catches players off guard while cleaning up low-health pinch Berry users like Sceptile or a half-health Alakazam. It can be replaced with Earthquake for Lanturn and a useful midground or Hidden Power Ghost for Dusclops and Slowbro. Note that this Blaziken is slow. It'll get the job done against most targets but must leave against Dragonite carrying Flying-type coverage, which it doesn't really want to risk a Speed tie against anyway.
Ludicolo is the answer to BoltBeam Lanturn and Lapras, using Leech Seed early- to mid-game to heal the team. Its coverage limits opposing responses and lets it stay in against many already seeded targets to accumulate more Leftovers recovery. Leech Seed alongside its Grass-type STAB also discourages Vaporeon and Umbreon from continuing a Baton Pass chain and helps in last-Pokémon situations.
Miltank keeps status off the team and wakes up Slowbro. It is the team's main Ice-type resist, taking some pressure off Slowbro, since Ludicolo lacks the longevity to handle Regice or Articuno. Miltank can take a single turn against Alakazam to fish for Body Slam paralysis or leave it at half health for Blaziken to finish with Quick Attack. Iron Tail is not ideal, but it provides a midground against Regice, Rock-types, and Ghost-types, while the Defense drops can eventually help break through Dusclops with favorable luck.
Bulky Choice Band Dragonite takes a hit, deals anywhere from 25% to an OHKO depending on the target, then switches into a defensive piece so it can come in again later. Heal Bell clears paralysis from Dodrio or Toxic from a defensive piece. Focus Punch can KO Glalie or Omastar if you expect them not to use Ice Beam turn 1.
Adamant Dodrio doubles down on Dragonite's offensive pressure, with the two wearing down their shared resists for each other.
Hypno is an easy switch-in to Psychic- and Fighting-types and keeps the team healthy with Wish. Brick Break alongside the Attack and Special Defense investment lets it 1v1 Timid Houndoom from full, assuming Crunch doesn't lower its Special Defense. It also picks off Belly Drum Smeargle if it stays in, as uninvested Psychic does less than half.
Regirock is one of the team's Normal-type resists and attempts to punish opposing Choice Band Normal-types with Focus Punch or Toxic as they switch to their physical answer, supporting the Dodrio + Dragonite game plan. It's also basically the team's only answer to Fire-types carrying Hidden Power Ice, whereas Dragonite handles those carrying Hidden Power Grass.
Articuno is your Vaporeon answer. Its Speed aims to outrun 99% of Vaporeon while also creeping Ludicolo, Solrock, and Lunatone as an "already here, might as well." The Defense investment simply preserves a little more health against miscellaneous mixed threats.
Scizor is first and foremost the team's BoltBeam resist, as well as its second Normal-type resist. Its immunity to Toxic lets it stay in against most Water-types and some other special attackers like Regice, though it dislikes paralysis. Steel Wing also helps against Alakazam lacking Fire Punch, though those are rare. Swords Dance shouldn't be used immediately, but it eventually lets Scizor snowball once an opening appears or break through the Substitute of a slower Vaporeon.
Adamant Dodrio doubles down on Dragonite's offensive pressure, with the two wearing down their shared resists for each other.
Hypno is an easy switch-in to Psychic- and Fighting-types and keeps the team healthy with Wish. Brick Break alongside the Attack and Special Defense investment lets it 1v1 Timid Houndoom from full, assuming Crunch doesn't lower its Special Defense. It also picks off Belly Drum Smeargle if it stays in, as uninvested Psychic does less than half.
Regirock is one of the team's Normal-type resists and attempts to punish opposing Choice Band Normal-types with Focus Punch or Toxic as they switch to their physical answer, supporting the Dodrio + Dragonite game plan. It's also basically the team's only answer to Fire-types carrying Hidden Power Ice, whereas Dragonite handles those carrying Hidden Power Grass.
Articuno is your Vaporeon answer. Its Speed aims to outrun 99% of Vaporeon while also creeping Ludicolo, Solrock, and Lunatone as an "already here, might as well." The Defense investment simply preserves a little more health against miscellaneous mixed threats.
Scizor is first and foremost the team's BoltBeam resist, as well as its second Normal-type resist. Its immunity to Toxic lets it stay in against most Water-types and some other special attackers like Regice, though it dislikes paralysis. Steel Wing also helps against Alakazam lacking Fire Punch, though those are rare. Swords Dance shouldn't be used immediately, but it eventually lets Scizor snowball once an opening appears or break through the Substitute of a slower Vaporeon.
Speed Tiers
| Final Speed | Pokémon | Base Speed | EVs | Nature | Boost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 | Jumpluff | 110 | 252 | + | Chlorophyll |
| 690 |  Ninjask | 160 | 252 | + | +1 |
| 638 | Jumpluff | 110 | 252 | / | Chlorophyll |
| 590 | Kingdra / Qwilfish | 85 | 252 | + | Swift Swim |
| 568 | Kabutops | 80 | 252 | + | Swift Swim |
| 568 | Dragonite | 80 | 252 | + | +2 |
| 538 | Kingdra / Qwilfish | 85 | 252 | / | Swift Swim |
| 524 | Ludicolo | 70 | 252 | + | Swift Swim |
| 518 | Kabutops | 80 | 252 | / | Swift Swim |
| 518 | Dragonite | 80 | 252 | / | +2 |
| 502 | Scizor | 65 | 252 | + | +2 |
| 478 | Ludicolo | 70 | 252 | / | Swift Swim |
| 460 | Ninjask | 160 | 252 | + | / |
| 458 | Exeggutor | 55 | 252 | + | Chlorophyll |
| 458 | Omastar | 55 | 252 | + | Swift Swim |
| 458 | Scizor | 65 | 252 | / | +2 |
| 426 | Dragonite | 80 | 252 | + | +1 |
| 418 | Exeggutor | 55 | 252 | / | Chlorophyll |
| 418 | Omastar | 55 | 252 | / | Swift Swim |
| 416 | Electrode | 140 | 252 | + | / |
| 394 | Crobat | 130 | 252 | + | / |
| 388 | Dragonite | 80 | 252 | / | +1 |
| 383 | Swellow | 125 | 252 | + | / |
| 372 | Alakazam / Sceptile | 120 | 252 | + | / |
| 350 | Espeon / Jumpluff / Tauros | 110 | 252 | + | / |
| 339 |  Rapidash / Scyther | 105 | 252 | + | / |
| 332 | Scizor | 65 | 0 | / | +2 |
| 328 | Dodrio / Raichu / Slaking / Tentacruel / Typhlosion | 100 | 252 | + | / |
| 319 | Espeon / Jumpluff / Tauros | 110 | 252 | / | / |
| 317 | Arcanine / Haunter / Houndoom / Jynx | 95 | 252 | + | / |
| 316 | Electrode | 140 | 0 | / | / |
| 309 | Rapidash / Scyther | 105 | 252 | / | / |
| 306 | Kangaskhan / Zangoose | 90 | 252 | + | / |
| 300 | Hitmonlee | 87 | 252 | + | / |
| 299 | Dodrio / Entei / Raichu / Slaking / Typhlosion | 100 | 252 | / | / |
| 296 | Crobat | 130 | 0 | / | / |
| 295 | Articuno / Girafarig / Kingdra / Qwilfish /  Stantler | 85 | 252 | + | / |
| 289 | Arcanine / Haunter / Houndoom / Jynx | 95 | 252 | / | / |
| 286 | Swellow | 125 | 0 | / | / |
| 284 | Blaziken / Dragonite / Gardevoir / Glalie / Kabutops Meganium / Venusaur | 80 | 252 | + | / |
| 280 | Blastoise | 78 | 252 | + | / |
| 279 | Kangaskhan / Zangoose | 90 | 252 | / | / |
| 276 | Alakazam / Sceptile | 120 | 0 | / | / |
| 273 | Smeargle | 75 | 252 | + | / |
| 273 | Hitmonlee | 87 | 252 | / | / |
| 269 | Articuno / Girafarig / Kingdra / Qwilfish / Stantler | 85 | 252 | / | / |
| 262 | Ludicolo / Lunatone / Poliwrath / Solrock | 70 | 252 | + | / |
| 259 | Blaziken / Dragonite / Gardevoir / Glalie / Kabutops Meganium / Venusaur | 80 | 252 | / | / |
| 256 | Hypno / Lanturn | 67 | 252 | + | / |
| 256 | Espeon / Jumpluff / Tauros | 110 | 0 | / | / |
| 255 | Blastoise | 78 | 252 | / | / |
| 251 | Banette / Sandslash / Scizor / Umbreon / Vaporeon | 65 | 252 | + | / |
| 249 | Smeargle | 75 | 252 | / | / |
| 246 | Rapidash / Scyther | 105 | 0 | / | / |
| 240 | Lapras / Porygon2 / Weezing | 60 | 252 | + | / |
| 239 | Ludicolo / Lunatone / Poliwrath / Solrock | 70 | 252 | / | / |
| 236 | Entei / Miltank / Raichu / Tentacruel / Typhlosion | 100 | 0 | / | / |
| 233 | Hypno / Lanturn | 67 | 252 | / | / |
| 229 | Cacturne / Exeggutor / Machamp / Ursaring | 55 | 252 | + | / |
| 229 | Banette / Sandslash / Scizor / Umbreon / Vaporeon | 65 | 252 | / | / |
| 226 | Arcanine /  Diglett / Haunter / Houndoom / Jynx | 95 | 0 | / | / |
| 219 | Lapras / Porygon2 / Weezing | 60 | 252 | / | / |
| 218 | Chansey / Donphan / Hariyama / Regice / Regirock | 50 | 252 | + | / |
| 216 | Kangaskhan / Zangoose | 90 | 0 | / | / |
| 210 | Hitmonlee | 87 | 0 | / | / |
| 209 | Exeggutor / Machamp / Omastar / Ursaring | 55 | 252 | / | / |
| 206 | Articuno / Girafarig /  Gligar / Kingdra / Misdreavus | 85 | 0 | / | / |
| 199 | Chansey / Donphan / Hariyama / Regice / Regirock | 50 | 252 | / | / |
| 196 | Blaziken / Dragonite / Gardevoir / Glalie / Kabutops Meganium / Venusaur | 80 | 0 | / | / |
| 192 | Blastoise | 78 | 0 | / | / |
| 189 | Marowak | 45 | 252 | / | / |
| 186 | Smeargle | 75 | 0 | / | / |
| 176 | Ludicolo / Lunatone / Poliwrath / Solrock | 70 | 0 | / | / |
| 172 | Blastoise | 78 | 0 | - | / |
| 170 | Hypno / Lanturn | 67 | 0 | / | / |
| 166 | Flareon / Roselia / Scizor / Umbreon / Vaporeon | 65 | 0 | / | / |
| 156 | Lapras / Porygon2 / Weezing | 60 | 0 | / | / |
| 153 | Hypno / Lanturn | 67 | 0 | - | / |
| 149 | Flareon / Umbreon / Vaporeon | 65 | 0 | - | / |
| 146 | Ampharos / Exeggutor / Machamp / Omastar | 55 | 0 | / | / |
| 140 | Lapras / Porygon2 / Weezing | 60 | 0 | - | / |
| 136 | Chansey / Donphan / Hariyama / Regice / Regirock | 50 | 0 | / | / |
| 126 | Armaldo /  Dunsparce / Marowak | 45 | 0 | / | / |
| 116 | Camerupt / Rhydon / Shedinja /  Togetic | 40 | 0 | / | / |
| 106 | Quagsire | 35 | 0 | / | / |
| 104 | Camerupt / Togetic | 40 | 0 | - | / |
| 96 | Slowbro / Steelix | 30 | 0 | / | / |
| 95 | Quagsire | 35 | 0 | - | / |
| 86 | Dusclops | 25 | 0 | / | / |
| 77 | Dusclops /  Archie | 25 | 0 | - | / |
Usage Data
ADV OM Bonanza + ADVLTL II (courtesy of Erfder)Raikou is Kill (courtesy of Joaf)
ADVLTL I (courtesy of Joaf)
2025-03 /stats/ /raw/
2024-05 /stats/ /raw/
2020-04 /stats/ /raw/
2019-09 /stats/ /raw/
2017-09 /stats/ /raw/
Tour History
09/26: ADVLTL II
05/26: Cat is Back
— Champion: THE_CHUNGLER— Runner-up: Wenderz
11/25: Raikou is Kill
— Champion: Alder ST— Runner-up: 4lowray
07/25: ADVLTL I
03/25: Revival BL Tour
— Champion: THE_CHUNGLER— Runner-up: ORPH
03/25: BL Ladder Tour
— Champion: Sossa— Runner-up: mind gaming
05/24: RoA Spotlight
— Champion: Wenderz— Runner-up: bydy
03/18: The ADV BL ":blobsweats:" Tour
— Champion: McMeghan— Runner-up:
History History
Travel back to the mid-2000s and you’ll find a much simpler tiering system comprising Ubers, OU, UU, and NU, which functioned much as they do today. Originally short for Borderline but renamed Ban List in '18 (Saria, 2018), BL sat between OU and UU in the tiering hierarchy and categorised Pokémon deemed OU in power despite seeing limited play in the tier itself (chaos, 2007). Likewise, any Pokémon judged too strong for UU was bumped up to BL, effectively making it a receptacle for both surrounding tiers (obi, 2007). BL, however, saw no play as a tier, rather being regarded as junk gathering dust at the back of the OU drawer.
Tiering decisions for Generations 1–3 were made without reference to usage statistics or numerical cut-offs (or, less charitably, were based on vibes (X-Act, 2007)). It was not till the period preceding Platinum’s release that usage statistics informed the tiering process (X-Act, 2008). And because the entire fully evolved Pokédex, plus Scyther, was split among only five tiers, the miniscule size of Ubers left the remaining four rather crowded, UUBL’s enormous modern-day roster reflecting this.
Eventually came a simple idea: DPP BL was large enough, so why not play it as its own tier? There may even be a balanced, unexplored metagame there (Jumpman16, 2007). Not long after, ADV UUBL received its first ladder spotlight in '17, and nearly a decade* of development since has transformed it into a beloved tier.
Our recent history saw calls for "Kou-less," such was Raikou’s centralisation of the metagame, while the first known sighting of Archie occurred on 6 May '25. Then came “OU by technicality”, which the UUBL community unanimously rejected, voting to keep such Pokémon legal and preserving staples like Regice and Sharpen Porygon2. And last but not least, who could forget when “the prestigious ADV council unanimously agreed on Raikou and Registeel rising to OU” (Fruhd*zi, 2026), culminating in the UUBL we know today.
*Future-proofing. Don't be pedantic.
Tiering decisions for Generations 1–3 were made without reference to usage statistics or numerical cut-offs (or, less charitably, were based on vibes (X-Act, 2007)). It was not till the period preceding Platinum’s release that usage statistics informed the tiering process (X-Act, 2008). And because the entire fully evolved Pokédex, plus Scyther, was split among only five tiers, the miniscule size of Ubers left the remaining four rather crowded, UUBL’s enormous modern-day roster reflecting this.
Eventually came a simple idea: DPP BL was large enough, so why not play it as its own tier? There may even be a balanced, unexplored metagame there (Jumpman16, 2007). Not long after, ADV UUBL received its first ladder spotlight in '17, and nearly a decade* of development since has transformed it into a beloved tier.
Our recent history saw calls for "Kou-less," such was Raikou’s centralisation of the metagame, while the first known sighting of Archie occurred on 6 May '25. Then came “OU by technicality”, which the UUBL community unanimously rejected, voting to keep such Pokémon legal and preserving staples like Regice and Sharpen Porygon2. And last but not least, who could forget when “the prestigious ADV council unanimously agreed on Raikou and Registeel rising to OU” (Fruhd*zi, 2026), culminating in the UUBL we know today.
*Future-proofing. Don't be pedantic.
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chaos. (2007, August 17). no, thats the thing. if its not used as much as the OUs but still too powerful for UU it [Online forum post]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/bl-tier.27502/post-574587
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Fruhd*zi. (2026, July 8). The prestigious ADV council has unanimously agreed on Raikou and Registeel rising to OU given the consistent performances over the [Comment on the online forum post ADV OU tiering changes]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/adv-ou-tiering-changes.3652636/post-11055590
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Jumpman16. (2007, September 30). The prospect of a “BL metagame” [Online forum post]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/the-prospect-of-a-bl-metagame.29908/
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obi. (2007, August 18). OK, I'm going to post another explanation on how the tiers work as of now (unless this changed, and, to [Online forum post]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/bl-tier.27502/post-578453
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Saria. (2018, April 24). Renaming of the tier borderlines [Online forum post]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/renaming-of-the-tier-borderlines.3633406/
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X-Act. (2007, August 17). This thing about things being used more ending up in OU and other, equally-powerful, Pokemon used less ending up in [Online forum post]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/bl-tier.27502/post-575054
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X-Act. (2008, April 1). The real new OU list [Online forum post]. Smogon. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/the-real-new-ou-list.38860/09/07/26
— BANNED: Raikou— BANNED: Registeel
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel13/06/25
— BANNED: Medicham
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham01/03/25
— BANNED: Reversal— BANNED: Flail
— LEGAL: Soundproof
— LEGAL: Sand Veil
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil15/06/24
— CLAUSE: Freeze Clause implemented.— BANNED: SpeedPass
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry21/12/23
— BANNED: Swagger
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry,+swagger21/02/22
— BANNED: Charizard— LEGAL: Porygon2
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry,+swagger,+charizard,-porygon224/12/21
— BANNED: Assist
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry,+swagger,+charizard,-porygon2,+assist18/02/21
— BANNED: Breloom— LEGAL: Regice
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry,+swagger,+charizard,-porygon2,+breloom,-regice,+assist19/08/19
— CLAUSE: Teams may not have more than three Pokemon with Baton Pass.— CLAUSE: Smeargle cannot have Baton Pass in its moveset.
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+raikou,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry,+swagger,+charizard,-porygon2,+breloom,-regice,!oneboostpasserclause,3batonpassclause,-smeargle+batonpass,+assist19/07/19
— BANNED: Moltres— LEGAL: Raikou
Code:
/chall gen3uubl@@@+moltres,+registeel,+medicham,+reversal,+flail,-soundproof,-sandveil,!freezeclausemod,!speedpassclause,+batonpass+speedboost,+batonpass+agility,+batonpass+dragondance,+batonpass+salacberry,+swagger,+charizard,-porygon2,+breloom,-regice,!oneboostpasserclause,3batonpassclause,-smeargle+batonpass,+assist19/03/03
— COMPLEX BAN: Porygon2 + SharpenResources
— Lead Metagame Analysis— Role Compendium
— Set Compendium
— Comprehensive Speed Tiers
Lesser Resources
— Discord— 06/25 Community Satisfaction Survey
— Legacy OP
— Legacy Sample Teams (c. 11/11/25)
— Legacy Speed Tiers (c. 03/05/20)
— Legacy Viability Rankings (c. 11/11/25)
— Historic Lead Metagame Analysis (c. 11/05/25 | courtesy of Joaf)
— Ancient Historic Lead Metagame Analysis (c. 08/05/23)
— Jumpluff Propaganda
— Raikou is Kill Commentary
— Cat is Back Commentary
Tier Leaders
Wenderz Erfder And a huge shoutout to Teh, whose immense contributions helped make BL what it is today.
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