Lower Tiers BW Sub-Zero Used Discussion + Resources

[missangelic]

Approved by Monai and the BW mod team

Image credit: kodama for the Pokemon TCG - Darkness Ablaze
BW SU Discussion + Resources Thread​

This thread hosts resources for and discussion of BW Sub-Zero Used (SU), the lowest unofficial tier on Smogon. BW SU saw early speculation during the creation of new resource for SU old gens in 2022 and 2023, and a tierlist was established based on ZU tournament usage. Since then, the SU Discord has hosted tournaments, scheduled roomtours, matchmaking, and discussion of BW SU and the new trends that have emerged as we've adjusted the tierlist over time. Now, we're happy to share our tier's resources and discuss more directly on Smogon!

Pokemon tiered as ZU

Pokemon are tiered as ZU based on BW ZU tournament usage, where >3.41% cumulative usage in all of ZUPL IV-VI, Olympiad I-II, Classic V-VI, and BWPL II-III.

Arbok, Bibarel, Clefairy, Emolga, Frillish, Glaceon, Grumpig, Hippopotas, Ivysaur, Kingler, Lairon, Leafeon, Meganium, Mienfoo, Mr. Mime, Muk, Pawniard, Pelipper, Persian, Pikachu, Raichu, Shlegon, Simisear, Slaking, Solrock, Staryu, Vibrava, Walrein, Whiscash, Wormadam-Trash

Pokemon tiered as ZUBL, PU, and above are also not allowed in SU.

SUBL

SU has its own banlist for Pokemon and other metagame elements. This includes:
Butterfree, Dustox, Heat Rock, Mothim, Munchlax, Raticate

Sleep moves, Arena Trap, Drought, and Shadow Tag are also disallowed

Viability Rankings

Last update: June 25th, 2025
Pokemon's names lead to links of their sample sets, though these are still being updated!

S Ranks

S

Luxray
S-

Fearow

A Ranks

A+

Chimecho

Gloom

Lopunny

Phione

Pignite

Vanilluxe
A

Granbull

Hypno

Magmar

Plusle

A-

Budew

Corsola

Croconaw

Eelektrik

Graveler

Leavanny

Lickitung

Lunatone

Pupitar

Seviper

Sudowoodo

Swalot

Wormadam-Sandy

B Ranks

B+

Abra

Dewgong

Drilbur

Dunsparce

Girafarig

Lampent

Masquerain

Seaking

Shelmet

Stantler

Vullaby

B

Archen

Beartic

Bellossom

Gastly

Grotle

Lumineon

Marshtomp

Mightyena

Octillery

Onix

Palpitoad

Wailord

B-

Beautifly

Beedrill

Exploud

Grovyle

Heatmor

Illumise

Kecleon

Lileep

Magcargo

Porygon

Sandshrew

Seadra

Squirtle

Togetic

C Ranks

C+

Anorith

Chinchou

Furret

Mankey

Meditite

Pineco

Servine

C

Duskull

Flareon

Venipede

C-

Baltoy

Carnivine

Cranidos

Noctowl

Prinplup

Slowpoke

Solosis

Weepinbell

VR Visual

Last update: June 25th, 2025

Personal VR Tool

Challenge Command

Use this challenge command to play on Pokemon Showdown!
/challenge gen5zu @@@ -Arbok, -Bibarel, -Butterfree, -Clefairy, -Emolga, -Frillish, -Glaceon, -Grumpig, -Hippopotas, -Ivysaur, -Kingler, -Lairon, -Leafeon, -Meganium, -Mienfoo, -Mr. Mime, -Muk, -Pawniard, -Pelipper, -Persian, -Pikachu, -Raichu, -Shelgon, -Simisear, -Slaking, -Solrock, -Staryu, -Vibrava, -Walrein, -Whiscash, -Wormadam-Trash, +Damp Rock, -Butterfree, -Dustox, -Heat Rock, -Mothim, -Munchlax, -Raticate

Sample Teams

Sudowoodo HO by EternumTagerMain
Chimecho Screens by missangelic
Rain by missangelic
Marshtomp Offense by sleid
Mighty Deer Offense by Fastwalker22
Pizza Party Volt-turn by missangelic
Double Eelectric Volt-turn by Fastwalker22
Choice Hazard Stack by Aides
Spikes BO by Fastwalker22
Serpents BO by Zpice
Choice Luxlluxe BO by Zpice
Beach Bunny by missangelic
BU Granbull by missangelic
Gloomtar by sleid
Magmar Hazard Stack by missangelic
Lickitung Hazard Stack by missangelic
Sandshrew Fat Spikes by sleid
"Lillith Stall" by Zpice

Council: missangelic (SU leader), sleid, Zpice, Aides, Fastwalker22, Gerrychu29, Valerie

 

[missangelic]

Additional resources​

Speed Tiers

Tier 0: 400 and above​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
634​	​	Grovyle​	95​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
634​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1(+1)​
622​	​	Leavanny​	92​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
618​	​	Lumineon​	91​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
590​	​	Girafarig, Seadra​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
578​	​	Grovyle​	95​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
577​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1(+1)​
566​	​	Leavanny​	92​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
564​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
562​	​	Lumineon​	91​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
538​	​	Girafarig, Seadra​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
524​	​	Lunatone​	70​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
516​	​	Seaking​	68​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
514​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
502​	​	Beautifly​	65​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
492​	​	Fearow​	100​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
480​	​	Masquerain​	60​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
478​	​	Lunatone​	70​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
475​	​	Plusle​	95​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
472​	​	Croconaw​	58​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
470​	​	Seaking​	68​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
469​	​	Magmar​	93​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
466​	​	Leavanny​	92​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
459​	​	Furret​	90​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
458​	​	Weepinbell​	55​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
442​	​	Girafarig, Stantler​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
442​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
436​	​	Beartic, Bellossom​	50​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
430​	​	Croconaw​	58​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
426​	​	Gastly / Phione​	80​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
423​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
418​	​	Weepinbell​	55​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
412​	​	Girafarig​	85​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+2​
409​	​	Beedrill​	75​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
402​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​

Tier 1: 300 - 399​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
398​	​	Beartic, Bellossom​	50​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
393​	​	Luxray, Mankey, Mightyena​	70​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
392​	​	Gloom, Porygon​	40​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
387​	​	Exploud​	68​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
385​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​
384​	​	Hypno​	67​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
376​	​	Beautifly, Chimecho, Falreon, Heatmor, Seviper​	65​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
360​	​	Masquerain, Meditite, Wailord​	60​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
358​	​	Gloom, Porygon​	40​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
354​	​	Cranidos, Croconaw​	58​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
348​	​	Exploud​	68​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​
348​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
343​	​	Lampent, Pignite​	55​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
339​	​	Lopunny​	105​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
331​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
328​	​	Fearow​	100​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
322​	​	Croconaw​	58​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​
318​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
317​	​	Grovyle, Plusle​	95​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
311​	​	Leavanny​	92​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
309​	​	Lumineon​	91​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
306​	​	Abra, Furret​	90​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
301​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​

Tier 2: 200 - 299​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
295​	​	Girafarig, Seadra, Stantler​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
291​	​	Servine​	83​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
289​	​	Grovyle​	95​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
284​	​	Gastly, Phione​	80​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
283​	​	Leavanny​	92​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
282​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
281​	​	Lumineon​	91​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
273​	​	Anorith, Beedrill​	75​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
269​	​	Girafarig, Seadra​	85​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
262​	​	Archen, Dewgong, Lunatone, Luxray, Mankey, Mightyena, Noctowl, Onix​	70​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
258​	​	Drilbur, Exploud, Seaking​	68​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
257​	​	Vanilluxe​	79​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
256​	​	Hypno​	67​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
251​	​	Beautifly, Chimecho, Flareon, Heatmor, Seviper​	65​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
240​	​	Masquerain, Meditite, Wailord​	60​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
239​	​	Dewgong, Lunatone, Luxray, Mightyena​	70​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
236​	​	Cranidos, Croconaw​	58​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
235​	​	Drilbur, Exploud, Seaking​	68​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
234​	​	Venipede​	57​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
233​	​	Hypno​	67​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
229​	​	Heatmor, Seviper​	65​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
229​	​	Lampent, Pignite, Swalot, Weepinbell​	55​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
221​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
219​	​	Meditite​	60​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
218​	​	Beartic, Bellossom​	50​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
215​	​	Croconaw​	58​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
210​	​	Carnivine​	46​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
209​	​	Lampent, Pignite, Swalot, Weepinbell​	55​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
207​	​	Granbull, Octillery​	45​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
206​	​	Girafarig​	85​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
201​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​

Tier 3: 100 - 199​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
199​	​	Beartic, Bellossom​	50​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
196​	​	Lumineon​	91​	Negative​	0​	31​	0​
196​	​	Phione​	80​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
196​	​	Gloom, Porygon​	40​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
191​	​	Carnivine​	46​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
189​	​	Granbull, Octillery​	45​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
186​	​	Beedrill​	75​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
179​	​	Gloom, Porygon​	40​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
176​	​	Phione​	80​	Negative​	0​	31​	0​
176​	​	Dewgong, Lunatone, Luxray, Mightyena, Noctowl​	70​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
174​	​	Palpitoad​	69​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
174​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
172​	​	Drilbur, Exploud, Seaking​	68​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
170​	​	Chinchou, Hypno​	67​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
168​	​	Lumineon​	91​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
166​	​	Chimecho, Flareon, Seviper​	65​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
159​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
156​	​	Vullaby, Wailord​	60​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
152​	​	Croconaw​	58​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
148​	​	Phione​	80​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
146​	​	Baltoy, Budew, Pignite, Swalot, Weepinbell​	55​	Nuetral​	0​	31​	0​
141​	​	Pineco​	15​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
138​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
136​	​	Bellossom, Marshtomp, Prinplup​	50​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
128​	​	Carnivine​	46​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
126​	​	Dunsparce, Granbull, Octillery​	45​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
122​	​	Squirtle​	43​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
116​	​	Eelektrik, Gloom, Kecleon, Porygon, Sandshrew, Togetic​	40​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
108​	​	Grotle​	36​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
106​	​	Corsola, Graveler​	35​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​

Tier 4: 99 and below​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
96​	​	Lickitung, Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
86​	​	Duskull, Shelmet​	25​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
82​	​	Lileep​	23​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
76​	​	Eelektrik​	40​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
76​	​	Solosis​	20​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
73​	​	Lileep​	23​	Negative​	0​	31​	0​
66​	​	Pineco, Slowpoke​	15​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​

Role Compendium

Pokemon listed are organized by the VR and if they can viably perform the intended role

Utility Roles

Entry Hazards
Stealth Rock
|
Spikes
|
Toxic Spikes
|
Rapid Spin
|
Spinblockers
|
Grounded Posion-types
|

Item Control
Trick / Switcheroo
|
Knock Off
|

Other Utility
Encore
|
Taunt
|



Offensive Roles

Attackers
Physical Attackers
|
Special Attackers
|
Mixed Attackers
|

Choice Item Users
Choice Band
|
Choice Specs
|

Setup Users
Agility/Autotomize/Rock Polish
|
Bulk Up
|
Calm Mind
|
Coil
|
Curse

Dragon Dance

Nasty Plot
|
Quiver Dance
|
Rain Dance

Salac Berry
|
Sunny Day
|
Swords Dance
|
Weak Armor
|
Work Up
|
Other Setup Users
(Howl, Moxie) |(Unburden),(Shell Smash),(Growth)

Priority
Aqua Jet

Fake Out
|
Ice Shard

Quick Attack
|
Sucker Punch
|
Other Priority Users
(Mach Punch) |(Bullet Punch)



Hyper Offensive Roles
note: Heat Rock is banned

Self-KO move users
Explosion
|
Memento
|

Rain
Setters
|
Beneficiaries
|

Trick Room
Setters
|
Beneficiaries
|



Defensive Roles

Walls
Physical Walls
|
Special Walls
|
Mixed Walls |

Pivots
U-turn (Fast/Offensive)
|
U-turn (Slow/Defensive)
|
Volt Switch (Fast/Offensive)

Volt Switch (Slow/Defensive)
|
Regenerator
|

Anti-Setup
Dragon Tail

Haze

Roar / Whirlwind


Clerics
Wish
|
Aromatherapy/Heal Bell
|
Healing Wish


Status Spreading
note: Sleep moves are banned
Burn
Will-O-Wisp
|
Lava Plume / Scald
|
Flame Body
|
Paralysis
Glare
|
Stun Spore
|
Thunder Wave
|
Discharge
|
Poison
Toxic (typical users)
|
Poison Jab / Gunk Shot / Sludge Bomb
|
Misc. Status
Leech Seed
|
Other
(Serene Grace + Ice Beam), (Disable) | (Tri Attack)

Status Absorbers
Magic Guard
|
Natural Cure

Shed Skin

 

[missangelic]

Reserved

 

[missangelic]

You may now post!