Hello all.
It feels like just yesterday that Scarlet and Violet were released and we all got our hands on Protosynthesis and Quark Drive Pokemon for the first time. Over nineteen months later, the metagame has evolved substantially and many team structures have come and go. The RMT Team would like to add some notable RMTs to the Archive to represent the different metagame shifts and team structures of the past year and half.
I have compiled for consideration a short(?) list of about 20 candidates that I felt like showed significant examples of common meta structures from the beginning of the metagame until more recent times. In this thread I will link to the various teams and show a short explanation of why I think they are notable. Ultimately we will want to cut this list down greatly to the final few candidates, so this is where we need your help. Please vote or comment on which teams you think are worth archiving as an example of a quintessential team style for the time. Ultimately we don't have an exact number that we want to add to the archive but we will seek to prioritize quality and minimize overlap.
I will be posting this in batches
- Palafin & Iron Bundle Rain by Iodyne - Originally posted November 24, 2022
One of the only RMTs that showcase the devastating power of Iron Bundle and Palafin, this was a quintessential example of the early metagame which powered up one or two obviously broken threats and let them fly. Team only peaked at rank 137 so maybe not top quality.
- Ape No Kill Ape Hyper Offense by CTC & CBB - Originally posted November 28, 2022
Ape + Bundle HO with dual hazards Garchomp, Featured in like three blunder vids and thus became quite popular, hit rank 1 and several top 10s.
- After Hours by njnp and xtra$hine - Originally posted December 3, 2022
This was the first example of a super broken Hyper Offense that did well in the No Johns release tournament by combining new toys Cyclizar and Garganacl alongside Iron Hands + screens which was popular early on to deal with things like Chien Pao.
- Gholdengo Hazard Stack, Boots Spam Stall by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted December 6, 2022
This was the first stall team to be featured as an OU sample team, which set the trend of just putting boots on everything except one Knock Off absorber. This is more properly a semi-stall team as Nasty Plot Gholdengo appears as the teams win condition.
- Battle Against a True Samurai - Kingambit HO Peak #1 by Mimikyu Stardust - Originally posted December 27, 2022
This is a great example of some of the absurdity happening in the early metagame, as the team showcases new toy Revival Blessing combined with several overwhelming threats in Kingambit, Annihilape, and Chi-Yu. This is the best RMT I could find that showcased Ape so definitely worth a look.
- Most Wanted Monte Carlo by awyp - Originally posted January 2, 2023
Posted after a 31-1 run in the Terastallization Suspect Test, this team was a prime example of the Chi-Yu offenses that were ripping up the ladder during the test. Specs Chi-Yu had little to no switch ins with one of the only answers being... another Chi-Yu. Combined with the popular Garganacl, this team is a prime example of your average ladder team at the time.
- Orthworm + Espathra HO (2k #1) by Piyu - Originally posted January 8, 2023
This is a great example of the insanity that was shed tail hyper offenses, combined with strong setup sweepers like Dragonite and Roaring Moon, as well as the criminally underrated (at the time) Espathra. Last member is breloom which sticks out but Sleep was banned for a reason this gen. Posted shortly after the Cyclizar ban and the Tera suspect test, this team showed how strong Shed Tail could be even on a slow pokemon like Orthworm and got a number 1 peak to boot.
- CB Chien-Pao Triple-Setup Balance by Daevank5 - Originally posted January 12, 2023
The great and terrible Chien-Pao appears here in another team that peaked at rank 1 on the ladder, showcasing the standard build which often boiled down to get up some hazards and break some holes with Chien-Pao. This was a common flavour of "balance" which leaned very offensive but had viable switch ins to Chien-Pao's few defensive answers like Garganacl.
- Double Regen Stall - Peaked #1 by juliusfunnel - Originally posted January 20, 2023
A second stall team from the early meta, this one is more pure stall with 6 defensive boots-clad pokemon which looked to counter popular Hyper Offenses featuring pokemon like Baxcalibur, Roaring Moon, Chien Pao, and psychic spam. Another #1 peak, this one features the appearance of Dondozo which would continue to be a stall staple throughout the meta.
- Overgrow Meowscarada Hazard Stack-Peaked #1 by Maverick Shooters - Originally posted January 21, 2023
This is an early example of Meowscarada hazard stack offenses that were popular throughout SPL and on the ladder. Meowscarada was one of few viable Knock Off users pre dlc and the role compression of Spikes + Knock + Pivot was very useful. This was also a great example of how powerful Garganacl was in this era, sporting both its own garg and a covert cloak Gholdengo.
- Radica Psyspam by awyp - Originally posted March 12, 2023
A solid example of the Psyspam archetype that was a popular HO variant through SPL era and a bit beyond. This one posted after the ban of Espathra, showing it wasn't just broken mons being broken. This style was spammed a ton on ladder.
- Loaded Dice Baxcalibur Team of the Week by RMT Staff and Lily - Originally posted March 23, 2023
Already in the archive
- Hazard Stack Stall by SupaGMoney - Originally Posted April 8, 2023
A full hazard stack stall that peaked #1 near the end of home but before Walking Wake released. This one trades defog for even more hazards and uses super tough walls like Amneisa clodsire. Unfortunately it is riddled with minisprites lol
- Ceruledge & Walking Wake Sun by RKOtaku - Originally posted May 5, 2023
The best example I could find of Walking Wake sun pre-home. When Wake was released everyone spammed sun for a few days and the council quickly ordered a suspect test as everyone thought it was broken. However over the course of the test voters determined Wake was mostly manageable. Sun teams were still very strong, this one got a peak of rank 5.
- Antimeta AV Slowking Balance by Mimikyu Stardust - Originally Posted May 9, 2023
A good example of slowking balance, shares some overlap with the next team. Also includes Skeledirge which was a balance staple Pre-home. #1 peak as well
- Choice Band Tera Flying Dragonite Balance by Pinkacross - Originally posted May 11, 2023
Another example of Meowscarada offense, some overlap here with the Maverick shooters team but an interesting inclusion from a bit later. This one uses Slowking which was definitely popular even before Home released the Galar variant. Also peaked #1
- Walking Wake + Iron Moth HO by Exotic64 - Originally posted May 21, 2023
This team features no-sun Walking Wake, featuring an all out attacking Iron Moth and the last gasp of Azumarill before Home came out just 9 days later. This is an example of Glimmora HO in its final form before home.
- Monoclaw by Delibird Heart - Originally posted July 1, 2023
This team is a complete gimmick and not really representative of any successful metagame trend but I feel like it deserves at least an honourable mention here due to its successful ladder peaks as well as notable annoyance factor for the time. Also used some newly released pokemon from Home.
- Cyclizar Stall by SupaGmoney - Originally posted July 22, 2023
This team featured a unique take on stall in DLC1 with cyclizar using its utility moves as a valuable glue mon. #2 peak and OLT usage as well
- Vert Sun by Vert and RMT Staff - Originally posted August 17, 2023
A very strong and successful sun team, this staff showcase team was used to great success during OLT. Using the by then typical Walking Wake + Great Tusk, alongside an unorthodox but powerful pick in spore Brute Bonnet.
- Hazards Spam HO by Savouras + TheSergio235 - Originally posted September 11, 2023
Simple and powerful, this HO team showcased the brutal power of Ceaseless Edge and also featured the eventually banned Sneasler with an air balloon Unburden set.
- DLC STALL! by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted September 16, 2023
Stall returned in the DLC metagame to combat hyper offensive threats like Baxcalibur, Manaphy, and Ogerpon. This team boasted a number 1 peak, glory to the stall empire.
- Ogerpon Wellspring HO by Exotic64 - Originally posted September 18, 2023
A very basic HO structure that continues to be relevant today. This team peaked top 3 soon after DLC1 released, shifting the classic Glimmora structure into the new meta. This RMT also features a good amount of information on the teambuilding process and the state of the metagame at the time. Also Hypnosis valiant yikes
- Bloodiursa Screens by Roller K - Originally posted Septemeber 19, 2023
Ursaluna-BM took over SV OU for a significant amount of time as the council controversially elected to suspect test it instead of quick-ban, leading to an environment where screens and/or grassy terrain offense with Ursaluna were impossible to stop. This one also features Zamazenta which was unbanned for the first time with DLC1.
- Accursed Boots War Mongers by Joltinjoe - Originally posted October 30, 2023
I picked this one as a good example of Zapdos Gliscor bulky offense which was rampant near the end of DLC1 to the point that Gliscor got banned and suspect discussions reference this metagame state as an undesirable result to this day.
- GHOSTRIDE by leng loi - Originally posted November 2, 2023
An infamous structure, Rillaboom + Grassy Seed Sneasler boasted speed, power, and hax potential all in one. This team utilized screens Dragapult which was popular near the end of pre-home.
- Love Flew Away by leng loi - Originally posted November 5, 2023
This team put tinkaton on the map, identifying a niche that would continue to be useful throughout dlc1 and beyond. The team also showcased Ogerpon-Wellspring which was one of the top threats in the dlc1 metagame.
- Grassy Terrain Overload Offence by kd458 - Originally posted November 9, 2023
Another version of grassy terrain + Sneasler, this one with a bit more of a bulky backbone. The RMT also contains a good amount of backstory on the metagame, discussing building during Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Zamazenta suspect tests.
Batch 3: DLC2 to July 1
- Psychic Retribution Latias HO by Pinkacross - Originally posted December 19, 2023
New meta HO dropped with a lot of threats including Deoxys, Latias, and Gouging Fire, which was the second target for a suspect. This team was an example of the wave of new threats and featured what is now the standard Latias set that everyone expects.
- Meowscarada Semi-Stall by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted December 24, 2023
Meow semi-stall was a distinct archetype from the end of dlc1 into dlc2, and this one showcases it the best. Also a strong way to deal with the newly added Archaludon and Raging Bolt.
- Darkrai and the Gang Hyper Offense by vk - Originally posted January 14, 2024
This team showcases Hypnosis darkrai, a cheesy but effective set that turned a fair amount of games into coin flips and ended up getting sleep banned throughout SV.
- Hydrapple Stall by SupaGMoney - Originally posted January 20, 2024
I can't believe this team is 6 months old. Very funny team that looks like the worlds worst gimmick and plays like wait hold on I'm going to lose to this. Sticky hold boots is a truly devious invention on a pokemon that has access to regenerator.
- Breaking Swipe Gouging Fire by spook - Originally posted February 11, 2024
Breaking swipe gouging fire was all the rage around the time of the suspect test, and this team peaked #1 with it. Shifting roles from a hyper offense sweeper to more of a bulky booster role really helped break through GF's normal counters, though it ultimately didn't end up being as broken as it seemed at first.
- Dark 'n Darker by s7a - Originally posted April 9, 2024
One of the most brainless HO teams to ever grace the ladder and probably the most overused in the past couple of months. For me this is an automatic addition.
- Exotic Webs by Exotic64 and vk - Originally posted April 26, 2024
This is to me the quintessential webs team in 2024. Featuring fine tuned spreads, counters for its counters, and five of the top no nonsense webs pokemon of the meta, this team is near perfect in what it tries to do, and the RMT itself features lots of insight into the metagame trends it exists in.
- Let the Light In by leng loi - Originally posted May 14, 2024
This is a great example of the bulkier offenses that have been popular the last few months. Heatran rose back to OU around this time, Ogerpon and Darkrai are constantly in suspect talks, Zamazenta rose to be the best pokemon in the game, and hazard removal is getting harder and harder to fit.
- Rank 1 Broken HO by serperiorr - Originally posted June 21, 2024
A recent addition to the RMT section, this team illustrates some current trends like Sash Dragapult, Iron Treads for role compression, and Scale Shot Dragonite. Also I see it on the ladder probably daily so I figured I'd list it.
Please feel free to suggest other teams that might be worth looking at as well! Note we are looking for Existing RMTs not just pastebins of old teams
It feels like just yesterday that Scarlet and Violet were released and we all got our hands on Protosynthesis and Quark Drive Pokemon for the first time. Over nineteen months later, the metagame has evolved substantially and many team structures have come and go. The RMT Team would like to add some notable RMTs to the Archive to represent the different metagame shifts and team structures of the past year and half.
I have compiled for consideration a short(?) list of about 20 candidates that I felt like showed significant examples of common meta structures from the beginning of the metagame until more recent times. In this thread I will link to the various teams and show a short explanation of why I think they are notable. Ultimately we will want to cut this list down greatly to the final few candidates, so this is where we need your help. Please vote or comment on which teams you think are worth archiving as an example of a quintessential team style for the time. Ultimately we don't have an exact number that we want to add to the archive but we will seek to prioritize quality and minimize overlap.
I will be posting this in batches
- Palafin & Iron Bundle Rain by Iodyne - Originally posted November 24, 2022One of the only RMTs that showcase the devastating power of Iron Bundle and Palafin, this was a quintessential example of the early metagame which powered up one or two obviously broken threats and let them fly. Team only peaked at rank 137 so maybe not top quality.
- Ape No Kill Ape Hyper Offense by CTC & CBB - Originally posted November 28, 2022Ape + Bundle HO with dual hazards Garchomp, Featured in like three blunder vids and thus became quite popular, hit rank 1 and several top 10s.
- After Hours by njnp and xtra$hine - Originally posted December 3, 2022This was the first example of a super broken Hyper Offense that did well in the No Johns release tournament by combining new toys Cyclizar and Garganacl alongside Iron Hands + screens which was popular early on to deal with things like Chien Pao.
- Gholdengo Hazard Stack, Boots Spam Stall by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted December 6, 2022This was the first stall team to be featured as an OU sample team, which set the trend of just putting boots on everything except one Knock Off absorber. This is more properly a semi-stall team as Nasty Plot Gholdengo appears as the teams win condition.
- Battle Against a True Samurai - Kingambit HO Peak #1 by Mimikyu Stardust - Originally posted December 27, 2022This is a great example of some of the absurdity happening in the early metagame, as the team showcases new toy Revival Blessing combined with several overwhelming threats in Kingambit, Annihilape, and Chi-Yu. This is the best RMT I could find that showcased Ape so definitely worth a look.
- Most Wanted Monte Carlo by awyp - Originally posted January 2, 2023Posted after a 31-1 run in the Terastallization Suspect Test, this team was a prime example of the Chi-Yu offenses that were ripping up the ladder during the test. Specs Chi-Yu had little to no switch ins with one of the only answers being... another Chi-Yu. Combined with the popular Garganacl, this team is a prime example of your average ladder team at the time.
- Orthworm + Espathra HO (2k #1) by Piyu - Originally posted January 8, 2023This is a great example of the insanity that was shed tail hyper offenses, combined with strong setup sweepers like Dragonite and Roaring Moon, as well as the criminally underrated (at the time) Espathra. Last member is breloom which sticks out but Sleep was banned for a reason this gen. Posted shortly after the Cyclizar ban and the Tera suspect test, this team showed how strong Shed Tail could be even on a slow pokemon like Orthworm and got a number 1 peak to boot.
- CB Chien-Pao Triple-Setup Balance by Daevank5 - Originally posted January 12, 2023The great and terrible Chien-Pao appears here in another team that peaked at rank 1 on the ladder, showcasing the standard build which often boiled down to get up some hazards and break some holes with Chien-Pao. This was a common flavour of "balance" which leaned very offensive but had viable switch ins to Chien-Pao's few defensive answers like Garganacl.
- Double Regen Stall - Peaked #1 by juliusfunnel - Originally posted January 20, 2023A second stall team from the early meta, this one is more pure stall with 6 defensive boots-clad pokemon which looked to counter popular Hyper Offenses featuring pokemon like Baxcalibur, Roaring Moon, Chien Pao, and psychic spam. Another #1 peak, this one features the appearance of Dondozo which would continue to be a stall staple throughout the meta.
- Overgrow Meowscarada Hazard Stack-Peaked #1 by Maverick Shooters - Originally posted January 21, 2023This is an early example of Meowscarada hazard stack offenses that were popular throughout SPL and on the ladder. Meowscarada was one of few viable Knock Off users pre dlc and the role compression of Spikes + Knock + Pivot was very useful. This was also a great example of how powerful Garganacl was in this era, sporting both its own garg and a covert cloak Gholdengo.
- Radica Psyspam by awyp - Originally posted March 12, 2023A solid example of the Psyspam archetype that was a popular HO variant through SPL era and a bit beyond. This one posted after the ban of Espathra, showing it wasn't just broken mons being broken. This style was spammed a ton on ladder.
- Loaded Dice Baxcalibur Team of the Week by RMT Staff and Lily - Originally posted March 23, 2023Already in the archive
- Hazard Stack Stall by SupaGMoney - Originally Posted April 8, 2023A full hazard stack stall that peaked #1 near the end of home but before Walking Wake released. This one trades defog for even more hazards and uses super tough walls like Amneisa clodsire. Unfortunately it is riddled with minisprites lol
- Ceruledge & Walking Wake Sun by RKOtaku - Originally posted May 5, 2023The best example I could find of Walking Wake sun pre-home. When Wake was released everyone spammed sun for a few days and the council quickly ordered a suspect test as everyone thought it was broken. However over the course of the test voters determined Wake was mostly manageable. Sun teams were still very strong, this one got a peak of rank 5.
- Antimeta AV Slowking Balance by Mimikyu Stardust - Originally Posted May 9, 2023A good example of slowking balance, shares some overlap with the next team. Also includes Skeledirge which was a balance staple Pre-home. #1 peak as well
- Choice Band Tera Flying Dragonite Balance by Pinkacross - Originally posted May 11, 2023Another example of Meowscarada offense, some overlap here with the Maverick shooters team but an interesting inclusion from a bit later. This one uses Slowking which was definitely popular even before Home released the Galar variant. Also peaked #1
- Walking Wake + Iron Moth HO by Exotic64 - Originally posted May 21, 2023This team features no-sun Walking Wake, featuring an all out attacking Iron Moth and the last gasp of Azumarill before Home came out just 9 days later. This is an example of Glimmora HO in its final form before home.
- Monoclaw by Delibird Heart - Originally posted July 1, 2023This team is a complete gimmick and not really representative of any successful metagame trend but I feel like it deserves at least an honourable mention here due to its successful ladder peaks as well as notable annoyance factor for the time. Also used some newly released pokemon from Home.
- Cyclizar Stall by SupaGmoney - Originally posted July 22, 2023This team featured a unique take on stall in DLC1 with cyclizar using its utility moves as a valuable glue mon. #2 peak and OLT usage as well
- Vert Sun by Vert and RMT Staff - Originally posted August 17, 2023A very strong and successful sun team, this staff showcase team was used to great success during OLT. Using the by then typical Walking Wake + Great Tusk, alongside an unorthodox but powerful pick in spore Brute Bonnet.
- Hazards Spam HO by Savouras + TheSergio235 - Originally posted September 11, 2023Simple and powerful, this HO team showcased the brutal power of Ceaseless Edge and also featured the eventually banned Sneasler with an air balloon Unburden set.
- DLC STALL! by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted September 16, 2023Stall returned in the DLC metagame to combat hyper offensive threats like Baxcalibur, Manaphy, and Ogerpon. This team boasted a number 1 peak, glory to the stall empire.
- Ogerpon Wellspring HO by Exotic64 - Originally posted September 18, 2023A very basic HO structure that continues to be relevant today. This team peaked top 3 soon after DLC1 released, shifting the classic Glimmora structure into the new meta. This RMT also features a good amount of information on the teambuilding process and the state of the metagame at the time. Also Hypnosis valiant yikes
- Bloodiursa Screens by Roller K - Originally posted Septemeber 19, 2023Ursaluna-BM took over SV OU for a significant amount of time as the council controversially elected to suspect test it instead of quick-ban, leading to an environment where screens and/or grassy terrain offense with Ursaluna were impossible to stop. This one also features Zamazenta which was unbanned for the first time with DLC1.
- Accursed Boots War Mongers by Joltinjoe - Originally posted October 30, 2023I picked this one as a good example of Zapdos Gliscor bulky offense which was rampant near the end of DLC1 to the point that Gliscor got banned and suspect discussions reference this metagame state as an undesirable result to this day.
- GHOSTRIDE by leng loi - Originally posted November 2, 2023An infamous structure, Rillaboom + Grassy Seed Sneasler boasted speed, power, and hax potential all in one. This team utilized screens Dragapult which was popular near the end of pre-home.
- Love Flew Away by leng loi - Originally posted November 5, 2023This team put tinkaton on the map, identifying a niche that would continue to be useful throughout dlc1 and beyond. The team also showcased Ogerpon-Wellspring which was one of the top threats in the dlc1 metagame.
- Grassy Terrain Overload Offence by kd458 - Originally posted November 9, 2023Another version of grassy terrain + Sneasler, this one with a bit more of a bulky backbone. The RMT also contains a good amount of backstory on the metagame, discussing building during Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Zamazenta suspect tests.
Batch 3: DLC2 to July 1
- Psychic Retribution Latias HO by Pinkacross - Originally posted December 19, 2023New meta HO dropped with a lot of threats including Deoxys, Latias, and Gouging Fire, which was the second target for a suspect. This team was an example of the wave of new threats and featured what is now the standard Latias set that everyone expects.
- Meowscarada Semi-Stall by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted December 24, 2023Meow semi-stall was a distinct archetype from the end of dlc1 into dlc2, and this one showcases it the best. Also a strong way to deal with the newly added Archaludon and Raging Bolt.
- Darkrai and the Gang Hyper Offense by vk - Originally posted January 14, 2024This team showcases Hypnosis darkrai, a cheesy but effective set that turned a fair amount of games into coin flips and ended up getting sleep banned throughout SV.
- Hydrapple Stall by SupaGMoney - Originally posted January 20, 2024I can't believe this team is 6 months old. Very funny team that looks like the worlds worst gimmick and plays like wait hold on I'm going to lose to this. Sticky hold boots is a truly devious invention on a pokemon that has access to regenerator.
- Breaking Swipe Gouging Fire by spook - Originally posted February 11, 2024Breaking swipe gouging fire was all the rage around the time of the suspect test, and this team peaked #1 with it. Shifting roles from a hyper offense sweeper to more of a bulky booster role really helped break through GF's normal counters, though it ultimately didn't end up being as broken as it seemed at first.
- Dark 'n Darker by s7a - Originally posted April 9, 2024One of the most brainless HO teams to ever grace the ladder and probably the most overused in the past couple of months. For me this is an automatic addition.
- Exotic Webs by Exotic64 and vk - Originally posted April 26, 2024This is to me the quintessential webs team in 2024. Featuring fine tuned spreads, counters for its counters, and five of the top no nonsense webs pokemon of the meta, this team is near perfect in what it tries to do, and the RMT itself features lots of insight into the metagame trends it exists in.
- Let the Light In by leng loi - Originally posted May 14, 2024This is a great example of the bulkier offenses that have been popular the last few months. Heatran rose back to OU around this time, Ogerpon and Darkrai are constantly in suspect talks, Zamazenta rose to be the best pokemon in the game, and hazard removal is getting harder and harder to fit.
- Rank 1 Broken HO by serperiorr - Originally posted June 21, 2024A recent addition to the RMT section, this team illustrates some current trends like Sash Dragapult, Iron Treads for role compression, and Scale Shot Dragonite. Also I see it on the ladder probably daily so I figured I'd list it.
Please feel free to suggest other teams that might be worth looking at as well! Note we are looking for Existing RMTs not just pastebins of old teams
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