Council: flying moose, SBPC, shnowshner
Flipped
Premise: All pokemon have their base stats flipped. (HP/Atk/Def/SpA/SpD/Spe --> Spe/SpD/SpA/Def/Atk/HP)
With this simple flip, the roles of almost all pokemon are fundamentally changed. Fast, physical attackers turn into specially defensive tanks. Slow pokemon with high defenses are now glass cannons. High HP mons are now speed demons. Some may adapt to their new roles, others will not. The overall patterns of stat distributions will be very different, creating a fundamentally different metagame. All this, despite BST remaining exactly the same.
Clauses: Standard OU clauses and rule-set.
Banlist:
Pokemon: Steelix (reasoning1, 2), Blissey (reasoning), Azumarill (reasoning), Calyrex-Ice, Calyrex-Shadow, Dialga, Eternatus, Giratina, Giratina-Origin, Groudon, Ho-oh, Kyogre, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem-White, Lugia, Lunala, Marshadow, Melmetal, Mewtwo, Necrozma-Dawn Wings, Necrozma-Dusk Mane, Palkia, Rayquaza, Reshiram, Solgaleo, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zacian, Zacian-Crowned, Zamazenta, Zamazenta-Crowned, Zekrom, Zygarde, Zygarde-Complete
Abilities: Psychic Surge (reasoning)
Moves: Shell Smash (reasoning), Psychic Terrain (same reasoning as above), Baton Pass
Unbans: Darmanitan-Galar, Dracovish, Cinderace, Genesect, Landorus, Magearna, Naganadel, Pheromosa, Spectrier, Urshifu
1) New Speed Tiers. In normal play, there is surprisingly little variation in the HP stats of fully evolved pokemon. Not that many have HP stats above 100, and very few have HP below 50 or 60. In Flipped, this means that things like speed EV investment and Choice Scarf can give you the jump on a lot.
2) Many Glass Cannons. Unlike HP, standard play does have many fully-evolved pokemon with abysmal speed stats. Such pokemon are usually highly defensive. This translates to a large number of pokemon with very frail HP and incredible offense.
3) Modified Type Conventions. It's no secret that there are some common stat patterns associated with each type, and these are now inverted in Flipped. Steel pokemon that were once slow and defensive are now frail and unviable, while the meta is teaming with defensive dragons, leading to the rise of physically offensive fairies. And as a result, Fire and Poison types have joined the defensive ranks.
4) The Challenge of Change. Many moves are associated with certain stat spreads. There are more slow bulky pokemon with recovery than fast ones, and often offensive pokemon get better coverage. In Flipped, this means many recovery users will be frail, though at the same time, many sweepers will be limited by their offensive options. The pokemon who make the transition most successfully will be the ones with the movepool to adapt.
2) Many Glass Cannons. Unlike HP, standard play does have many fully-evolved pokemon with abysmal speed stats. Such pokemon are usually highly defensive. This translates to a large number of pokemon with very frail HP and incredible offense.
3) Modified Type Conventions. It's no secret that there are some common stat patterns associated with each type, and these are now inverted in Flipped. Steel pokemon that were once slow and defensive are now frail and unviable, while the meta is teaming with defensive dragons, leading to the rise of physically offensive fairies. And as a result, Fire and Poison types have joined the defensive ranks.
4) The Challenge of Change. Many moves are associated with certain stat spreads. There are more slow bulky pokemon with recovery than fast ones, and often offensive pokemon get better coverage. In Flipped, this means many recovery users will be frail, though at the same time, many sweepers will be limited by their offensive options. The pokemon who make the transition most successfully will be the ones with the movepool to adapt.
Sylveon @ Pixie Plate/Choice Band
Ability: Pixillate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Body Slam/Facade
- Quick Attack
- Double Edge
- Wish/Yawn/Protect/Heal Bell
New Stats: 60/130/110/65/65/95
With its incredible power and great speed, Sylveon is one of the meta's defining threats. Its physical movepool is essentially limited to pixillated normal moves, but that's really all it needs, giving it the power to both smash through walls and pick off faster, frailer threats. The last slot provides a support or longevity-prolonging move to use when forcing a switch. Double Edge can be dropped to allow you to use two of these in conjunction (usually Wish + Protect).
Arcanine @ Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
- Flamethrower
- Will-o-Wisp/Toxic
- Morning Sun
- Teleport
New Stats: 95/80/100/80/110/90
Arcanine has great defenses on both sides of the spectrum, and is one of the best switch-ins to Sylveon. Arcanine excels as a pivot and status-spreader, coming in on powerful attacks to spread status or Teleport to an appropriate counter. Arcanine can even run Extremespeed to surprise foes and pick off a weakened opponent, although having to drop Wisp or Teleport is unfortunate.
Espeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Bold Nature
- Psychic Fangs
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell/Toxic
New Stats: 110/95/130/60/65/65
The standard Espeon set. Espeon provides incredible team support, bouncing hazards and keeping its teammates healthy--making it a great partner for creatures that offer important functions but lack good healing of their own, such as Dragapult, Salazzle, and the Hitmon family. Espeon can even break the occasional screens with its attacking move. Vulnerable to special attackers like Tyranitar.
Hitmontop @ Assault Vest
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
Fake Out
Mach Punch
Rapid Spin
Brutal Swing/ Close Combat/ Bullet Punch
New Stats: 70/110/35/95/95/50
Hitmontop offers powerful priority that allows it to OHKO many of the most dangerous glass cannons, including Rhyperior, Avalugg, Snorlax, and Coalossal. Even if they carry Sturdy or Focus Sash, Hitmontop can still eliminate them with it's access to Fake Out. Top's other key service is Rapid Spin support. The last slot offers a choice between the ability to hit Ghosts, a high-powered Fighting STAB to dent defensive switch-ins, or priority to hurt Fairies. This moveset is ideal for an Assault Vest, which allows it to tank or switch in on (a limited number of) powerful special attacks, though it can't handle physical hits. Stall teams may prefer to utilize its cousins for greater SpD longevity over attacking power.
Accelgor @ Leftovers/Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spikes/ Toxic Spikes
- Recover
- Final Gambit
- U-turn
New Stats: 145/60/100/40/70/80
Accelgor is now a defensive behemoth that serves as a Spikes stacker and pivot. While it suffers from being passive, its access to a high HP Final Gambit means the opponent always has to be wary of having a key mon taken out by an Accelgor sacrifice, so it can force switches giving you free U-turns or hazard stacking.
FAQ
How are the stat changes applied?
Base stats are flipped prior to teambuilding. The teambuilder won't display the altered stats, but you should apply natures and EVs as you normally would. If, for example, you want a max speed Snorlax, you would still invest EVs in speed and choose a Jolly nature. To know the correct value of a final calculated stat, I recommend using the damage calculator.
How do items work in this format?
Because only the base stats of each Pokemon are flipped, items remain unaffected and function as normal.
What happens with form-changing pokemon?
In normal play, most pokemon who can change form mid-battle acquire a new speed stat, which in this meta would result in a new HP--an event that cannot occur. This means that all form-changing pokemon, like Darmanitan-Zen, Wishiwashi, and Eiscue, will retain the HP of their base form, derived from the base form's original speed stat.
What about Shedinja?
Shedinja now has 40/30/30/45/90/1 stats, but Shedinja will still have only 1 HP, because it is hard-coded as such, and this programming is completely independent of the flipped stats. Its speed will scale the same way as all other stats do, giving it more than 1 speed point at level 100.
Is there a Discord channel?
Yes, follow this link.
Where is this playable?
We are now playable on ROM! Please go to rom.psim.us.
April 2, 2020: Metagame approved by The Immortal, drampa's grandpa, and Ransei
April 31, 2020: Flipped selected as Leader's Choice for the month of May
May 1, 2020: Council quickbans Psychic Surge and Psychic Terrain
May 4, 2020: Council quickbans Shell Smash
May 27, 2020: Council bans Steelix
September 21, 2020: Council quickbans Blissey and Azumarill
March 31, 2022: Flipped selected as Leader's Choice for the month of April
April 31, 2020: Flipped selected as Leader's Choice for the month of May
May 1, 2020: Council quickbans Psychic Surge and Psychic Terrain
May 4, 2020: Council quickbans Shell Smash
May 27, 2020: Council bans Steelix
September 21, 2020: Council quickbans Blissey and Azumarill
March 31, 2022: Flipped selected as Leader's Choice for the month of April
Last edited:
Rhyperior
Sylveon
Arcanine
Dracovish
Espeon
Goodra
Hitmontop
Avalugg
Dragapult
Zeraora
Kyurem
Snorlax
Clefable
Cobalion
Diggersby
Necrozma
Roserade
Salazzle
Accelgor
Araquanid
Chandelure
Duraludon
Hydreigon
Keldeo
Jirachi
Mandibuzz
Tyranitar
Coalossal
Dracozolt
Pelipper
Primarina
Ribombee
Togekiss
Virizion
Whimsicott
Gengar
Gourgeist-Super
Grimmsnarl
Hitmonlee
Kommo-o
Mantine
Mew
Rotom-Heat
Centiskorch
Ditto
Hippowdon
Rhydon
Rotom-Wash
Torkoal
Xatu
Arctozolt
Cloyster
Excadrill
Flygon
Hawlucha
Hitmonchan
Liepard
Persian-Alola
Shuckle
Throh
Weavile
Arctovish
Drifblim
Gyarados
Jolteon
Mimikyu
Ninjask
Seismitoad
) +304, 277, 214, -164 (x1.5+456, x2=608)
