Breaking Down the VGC Metagame

[Greyfeld]

So, I was doing some research on VGC teams, and I decided to compile a list, for my own use, of pokemon typically seen in competition, and the moves/abilities to watch out for. Since I've never been to a VGC myself, it's hard to compile a full list, especially since most warstories are missing a lot of the round-to-round info. So, if anybody can shed some more light on this list, please do so:

Non-Uber Pokes
Metagross - *Clear Body*, Bullet Punch, Explosion, Hammer Arm, Meteor Mash
Infernape - Close Combat, Fake Out, Mach Punch, Overheat/Flare Blitz, Encore -Focus Sash-
Weavile - Fake Out, Night Slash, Ice Shard/Ice Punch, Low Kick
Smeargle - Dark Void, Super Fang, Endevour, Detect, Follow Me, Fake Out -Focus Sash-
Hitmontop - *Technician*, Fake Out, Mach Punch, Sucker Punch, Detect
Abomasnow - *Snow Warning*, Blizzard, Grass Knot/Woodhammer, Ice Shard
Tyranitar - *Sand Stream*, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Low Kick, Crunch, Payback, Fling
Tangrowth - *Clorophyll*, Power Whip, Sleep Powder
Shiftry - Fake Out, Explosion, Sucker Punch, Leaf Storm/Seed Bomb
Ludicolo - Leech Seed, Gross Knot, Surf/Hydro Pump, Ice Beam/Blizzard, Fake Out
Toxicroak - *Dry Skin*, Fake Out, Sucker Punch, Low Kick
Togekiss - Follow Me, Air Slash, Encore
Shedinja - Shadow Sneak, X-Scissor, Sunny Day
Cresselia - Icy Wind, Helping Hand, Calm Mind
Lati@s - Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor, Grass Knot

Uber Pokes
Mewtwo - Aura Sphere, Grass Knot, Fire Blast, Psychic, Blizzard/Ice Beam, Selfdestruct, Taunt
Groudon - *Drought*, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Fire Punch, Dragon Claw
Palkia - Spacial Rend, Earth Power, Flamethrower/Fire Blast, Thunder, Hydro Pump, Surf, Aura Sphere
Kyogre - *Drizzle*, Waterspout/Hydro Pump, Thunder, Blizzard, Surf, Muddy Water, Ancientpower -Choice Scarf-
Dialga - Trick Room, Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Aura Sphere, Earth Power, Rest
Ho-Oh - Safeguard, Sacred Fire, Brave Bird, Roost, Recover, Substitute, Earthquake
Giratina - Shadow Force, Dragon Claw, Shadow Sneak, Draco Meteor/Dragon Pulse, Calm Mind, Shadow Ball

 

[JRank]

So, I was doing some research on VGC teams, and I decided to compile a list, for my own use, of pokemon typically seen in competition, and the moves/abilities to watch out for. Since I've never been to a VGC myself, it's hard to compile a full list, especially since most warstories are missing a lot of the round-to-round info. So, if anybody can shed some more light on this list, please do so:

Non-Uber Pokes
Metagross - *Clear Body*, Bullet Punch, Explosion
Infernape - Close Combat, Fake Out
Smeargle - Dark Void, Follow Me, every other move
Hitmontop - *Technician*, Fake Out, Mach Punch
Abomasnow - *Snow Warning*, Blizzard, Grass Knot/Woodhammer
Tyranitar - *Sand Stream*, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Low Kick
Tangrowth- *Chlorophyll* Power Whip, Sleep Powder
Ludicolo - Leech Seed, Substitute
Toxicroak - *Dry Skin*, Fake Out, Sucker Punch, Low Kick
Togekiss - Follow Me, Air Slash, Encore

Uber Pokes
Mewtwo - beastly SpA, powerful moves
Groudon - *Drought*, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Fling
Palkia - Spacial Rend, Earth Power, Surf/Hydro Pump, Trick Room
Kyogre - *Drizzle*, Waterspout/Hydro Pump, Thunder, Blizzard
Dialga - Trick Room, Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor
Ho-Oh - Safeguard, Sacred Fire, Brave Bird, Roost
Giratina - Shadow Force, Dragon Claw, Stalling
Lati@s - Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor

Additions in bold.

 

[Albinoloon]

Very accurate list, but here's a couple changes I see: when I played, or watched people play, I have never seen SubSeeder Ludicolo, but special sweeper Ludicolo partnered with Kyogre, and I've seen more Shiftry than Tangrowth, they commonly run Explosion. Cresselia are also very common in this metagame, along with Shedinja, but other than that, you've basically covered all of the threats. Good job! :)

 

[skarm]

I think you need Lugia on there.

 

[theamericandream38]

Many pokemon use Protect, but I guess that is implied so it isn't necessary to include it on all of the lists. Ludicolo uses Grass Knot and Surf/Hydro Pump much more often than the two moves you listed, and possibly Ice Beam or Blizzard as well. Many Groudon use Rock Slide, and many Abomasnow use Ice Shard. The moveset for Hitmontop is almost always Mach Punch/Fake Out/Sucker Punch/Detect, and Life Orb is often the item attached. Smeragle usually uses Dark Void along with some combination of Detect/Follow Me/Endeavor/Fake Out.

 

[jumpluff]

Since I've been reading all the warstories, I'd say Weavile and Infernape have received a little bit of usage. You've got Infernape on there though. Always Fake Out. Several users have been using Haban Palkia.

 

[Habitus]

Leech Seed Ludicolo without the Sub is more common than you think

 

[Habitus]

Super Fang is another common Smeargle move due to it needing no Atk investment like Endeavor

 

[Greyfeld]

I made some additions to the list. Keep in mind, I'm only writing down abilities and moves right now, though I'm sure I'll add typical items for each poke once I've compiled my current list.

I'm not adding everything everybody says right away. There are some things that I've seen while running teams on a VGC simulator, so I've already verified for myself that they're common strategies. Others, I've only barely heard for the first time, so I want to see if others will mention them as well before adding them to the list.

So, let's keep this rolling :)

 

[Sixonesix]

So, I was doing some research on VGC teams, and I decided to compile a list, for my own use, of pokemon typically seen in competition, and the moves/abilities to watch out for. Since I've never been to a VGC myself, it's hard to compile a full list, especially since most warstories are missing a lot of the round-to-round info. So, if anybody can shed some more light on this list, please do so:

Non-Uber Pokes
Metagross - *Clear Body*, Bullet Punch, Explosion, Hammer Arm, Meteor Mash
Infernape - Close Combat, Fake Out, Encore, Mach Punch, Overheat, Flare Blitz
Weavile - Fake Out, Pursuit/Night Shade, Ice Shard/Ice Punch, Night Slash, Low Kick
Smeargle - Dark Void, Super Fang, Endevour, Detect, Follow Me, Fake Out
Hitmontop - *Technician*, Fake Out, Mach Punch, Sucker Punch, Detect
Abomasnow - *Snow Warning*, Blizzard, Grass Knot/Woodhammer, Ice Shard
Tyranitar - *Sand Stream*, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Low Kick, Crunch, Payback, Fling (with Iron Ball)
Tangrowth - *Clorophyll*, Power Whip, Sleep Powder
Shiftry - Fake Out, Explosion, Sucker Punch
Ludicolo - Leech Seed, Grass Knot, Surf/Hydro Pump, Ice Beam/Blizzard, Fake Out
Toxicroak - *Dry Skin*, Fake Out, Sucker Punch, Low Kick
Togekiss - Follow Me, Air Slash, Encore
Shedinja - Sunny Day, Shadow Sneak, X-Scissor
Cresselia - Icy Wind, Helping Hand, Calm Mind
Lati@s - Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor

Uber Pokes
Mewtwo - Aura Sphere, Grass Knot, Fire Blast, Psychic, Blizzard/Ice Beam, Selfdestruct
Groudon - *Drought*, Earthquake, Rock Slide, Fire Punch, Dragon Claw
Palkia - Spacial Rend, Earth Power, Flamethrower/Fire Blast, Thunder, Hydro Pump, Surf, Aura Sphere
Kyogre - *Drizzle*, Waterspout/Hydro Pump, Thunder, Blizzard, Surf, Muddy Water, Ancientpower
Dialga - Trick Room, Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Aura Sphere, Earth Power, Rest
Ho-Oh - Safeguard, Sacred Fire, Brave Bird, Roost, Recover, Substitute, Earthquake
Giratina - Shadow Force, Dragon Claw, Shadow Sneak, Draco Meteor, Calm Mind, Dragon Pulse, Shadow Ball

 

[Greyfeld]

Sunny Day on Shedinja? Why?

 

[Cybertron]

To get rid of Hail/Sandstorm.

 

[Garaluo]

Needs Blissey in there. This metagame is actually very weak to Blissey, especially CM/toxic stall.

 

[TTS]

Cress needs Trick Room
Tangrowth isn't common enough to warrant inclusion(imo)
The Lati@s twins need Grass Knot.
Shiftry needs Leaf Storm/Seed Bomb.

 

[CCM30]

Would Zapdos be common enough for inclusion? I didn't run into any at Newark, but I know some have popped up this year.

Obviously, if that were the case, we'd have Discharge and Heatwave for it.

 

[JRank]

Cress needs Trick Room
Tangrowth isn't common enough to warrant inclusion(imo)
The Lati@s twins need Grass Knot.
Shiftry needs Leaf Storm/Seed Bomb.

You obviously didn't get lose in your top 16 match to a Tangrowth. The trainer who used it got second at Dallas, too.

 

[Greyfeld]

I've started adding items to the list. Feel free to keep naming common/dangerous moves for each poke, but I'm now also looking for the most common item for each as well.

 

[Gymdude]

Is this going to eventually evolve into small descriptions of the role each pokemon plays? Just curious about how in-depth this is going to end up being.

Anyway, I've seen a few Parasect on RD teams. I agree that Zapdos and Blissey deserve inclusion. I think Lati@s (or at least Latias) should have Helping Hand, as well as being moved to the Uber section (unless you're doing it by their 'uber' or 'restricted' list). Weavile is obvious focus sash Pokemon and Abomasnow and Shedinja should be considered. Scarf Pokemon include Kyogre, Palkia, and Giratina while Abomoasnow could probably be considered too.

 

[TTS]

I think Lati@s (or at least Latias) should have Helping Hand, as well as being moved to the Uber section.

This is the VGC metagame. Latias and Latios aren't counted as ubers.

 

[Greyfeld]

Is this going to eventually evolve into small descriptions of the role each pokemon plays? Just curious about how in-depth this is going to end up being.

Anyway, I've seen a few Parasect on RD teams. I agree that Zapdos and Blissey deserve inclusion. I think Lati@s (or at least Latias) should have Helping Hand, as well as being moved to the Uber section (unless you're doing it by their 'uber' or 'restricted' list). Weavile is obvious focus sash Pokemon and Abomasnow and Shedinja should be considered. Scarf Pokemon include Kyogre, Palkia, and Giratina while Abomoasnow could probably be considered too.

Actually, I originally made this thread for my own personal research, because I planned on making a VGC team based on the info I found for the top VGC teams. Afterall, I'm horrible when it comes to seeing the potential for combinations and off-the-beaten-path strategies. However, I'm fantastic at gathering information and doing research to improve my own game. I even created a "MK. II" thread to gather more information about the meta and increase my understanding of team leads.

However, if there's a large demand to have a fleshed-out thread with all this information, I'd be happy to condense it all into one new thread once I've gotten all the information I'm looking for.

Of course, you also have to keep in mind that Gen 5 is coming out within the next year, so even if/when I finally condense everything into one sticky, Gen 5 will change everything, and I'll have to wait for testing to be done before making a whole new guide with the updated pokes.

 

[Greyfeld]

Still looking for more input, so here's a bump.

 

[Boomguy]

Tangrowth was only used by 1 person thats it.

Parasect is an uncommon non uber that has its uses,

 

[Cybertron]

Mewtwo might have Taunt too.

 

[Charistopher]

My mewtwo had taunt. And Palkia can use TR which is very hard to predict

 

[RaikouAura]

Lati@s also use Thunder a lot when paired wih Kyogre I guess