Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Smogon Premier League is here and the team collection is now available. Support your team!
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
S Rank: Reserved for the top threats in the RU metagame. These Pokemon are usually able to perform a variety of roles effectively, or can just do one extremely well with little to no extra support. Their use has low risk involved and high reward exerted. Pokemon in this tier have very few flaws that are patched up by numerous positive traits.
S:
Durant
Druddigon
S-:
Qwilfish
Sceptile
A Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that are outstanding in the RU metagame and can sweep, wall, or support the majority of the tier. These Pokemon require less support than other Pokemon to be used effectively, but still perform less consistently than the average S rank Pokemon. A rank Pokemon have few flaws that can be overlooked when compared to their positive traits.
A+:
Aerodactyl
Clefable
Kabutops
Moltres
Rotom-C
Slowking
Steelix
A:
Cryogonal
Magneton
Rotom
Sigilyph
Tangrowth
A-:
Alomomola
Amoonguss
Entei
Gallade
Golurk
Lanturn
Spiritomb
Uxie
B Rank: Reserved for Pokemon who are slightly above average in the RU metagame. These Pokemon have more notable flaws than of those above it that affects how they function in the tier. Their positive traits still outshine their negatives, but they require a bit more team support to bring out their full potential
B+:
Drapion
Emboar
Garbodor
Manectric
Omastar
Piloswine
Scolipede
Seismitoad
Skuntank
B:
Absol
Accelgor
Altaria
Bouffalant
Eelektross
Ferroseed
Ludicolo
Medicham
Mesprit
Regirock
Rhydon
Roselia
Torterra
B-:
Aggron
Crawdaunt
Ditto
Escavalier
Exeggutor
Feraligatr
Galvantula
Gurdurr
Jynx
Liepard
Lilligant
Magmortar
Mandibuzz
Miltank
Poliwrath
Primeape
Rotom-F
Samurott
Shiftry
Swellow
Volbeat
C Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that have notable niches in the RU metagame, but have just as notable flaws that prevent them from being top tier threats. Pokemon in the C tier often require significant support to be as effective as higher ranked Pokemon in RU. C rank Pokemon tend to face a lot of competition with the more commonly used Pokemon.
C+:
Archeops
Braviary
Cacturne
Cinccino
Crustle
Drifblim
Duosion
Fraxure
Hariyama
Haunter
Hitmonlee
Kadabra
Kangaskhan
Klinklang
Linoone
Misdreavus
Musharna
Natu
Quagsire
Riolu
Sawk
Sawsbuck
Serperior
Tauros
Victreebel
Whimsicott
C:
Carracosta
Gardevoir
Scyther
Simipour
Smeargle
Weezing
Zangoose
C-:
Charizard
Dragonair
Electivire
Hitmonchan
Rotom-S
Sandslash
Zweilous
D Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that are RU by usage but are considered unviable in the RU metagame.
Role Compendium (thx to GoldCat for the corrections)
Based off the Viability Rankings listed above, this resource is being posted in order to provide a visual list of which Pokemon do what in the BW RU metagame. The main idea behind this is basically helping the players find Pokemon that could fit in their teams when looking for a specific role, or simply help them build more diverse teams by not always using the same Pokemon to fill the same role.
You will find below a table that contains the various roles a BW RU team might need. For each of these roles there will be an exhaustive list of which Pokemon can fulfill the mentioned role.
*In Generation 5, Electric-types can be paralyzed by Thunder Wave and Glare. Stun Spore can paralyze everything, whether it is Electric-types, Grass-types, Pokemon with Lightning Rod, Motor Drive and/or Volt Absorb. Glare can also paralyze Ground-types.