Welcome to the RMT archive. Well-built, excellently presented and successful teams will be linked here to chronicle the development of the 9th Generation metagame, as well as to provide examples of quality team building and presentation. Enjoy yourself, and if your team makes it here, congratulations!
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Overused
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, showcasing the new-to-generation-9 ability to block defog.
Battle Against a True Samurai - Kingambit HO Peak #1 by Mimikyu Stardust - Originally posted December 27, 2022
This team showcased the new move Revival Blessing combined with several overwhelming threats in Kingambit, Annihilape, and Chi-Yu. While Annihilape and Chi-Yu were overwhelmingly powerful and later banned, Kingambit remained the star of this team, foreshadowing its strong claim to the S rank of the metagame throughout the generation.
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.
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 was posted after the ban of Espathra, showing it wasn't just broken mons being broken. This style was spammed a ton on ladder and in tournament, and had the ability to end games in just a few turns if the opponent was unprepared.
Rejuvenation by Lily - Originally posted March 23, 2023
This team showcases Baxcalibur, a deadly threat throughout the early metagame, as well as Hyper Offence mainstays like Volcarona and Iron Valiant. This team saw success in tournaments like Smogon Premiere League playoffs.
Monoclaw by Delibird Heart - Originally posted July 1, 2023
This team struck fear into many opponents, and through its successful ladder peaks it temporarily ignited discussions on the legality of quick claw. Notably this team also featured the arrival of strong new pokemon like Ursaluna and Enamorus-Therian.
Vert Sun by Vert - 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.
DLC STALL! by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted September 16, 2023
This team was a standout example of stall in the DLC1 metagame, utilizing Gliscor and Clefable to absorb and counter the newly redistributed Knock Off.
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 team also features Zamazenta which was unbanned for the first time with DLC1.
Grassy Terrain Overload Offence by kd458 - Originally posted November 9, 2023
This team showcased the devastating power of grassy terrain + Unburden Sneasler, a combination which eventually led to Sneasler's ban. The RMT also contains a good amount of backstory on the metagame, discussing building during Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Zamazenta suspect tests.
Hydrapple Stall by SupaGMoney - Originally posted January 20, 2024
Stall resurfaced in the DLC2 metagame in the form of a familiar core and a new face in Sticky Hold Hydrapple. Utilizing the defensive power of the new grass type, this team countered Knock Off attempts and took over the ladder.
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 popular teams of the generation, this triple dark offence became the go-to structure for overwhelming physical walls, utilizing support choices like Roar Zamazenta, Red Card Glimmora, and Healing Wish Enamorus that quickly became standard options.
Exotic Webs by Exotic64 and vk - Originally posted April 26, 2024
Potentially the quintessential webs team of early 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 existed in.
Chansey Hydrapple Fat by mimilimi - Originally posted May 15, 2024
This team is a great example of the fatter teams that came into focus after the ban of Volcarona, as offensive threats like Ogerpon-Wellspring and Darkrai sought to clean weaker balances. Featuring the return of Chansey, this team was used by the author to finish at the top of an Official Ladder Tournament cycle.
Kyurem Bulky Offence by Empo - Originally posted July 2, 2024
This team was a great example of Kyurem's power and versatility during the first half of 2024. Written as a tournament feature, this team was used to great effect during Empo's victorious run in Smogon Tour 36 and featured unconventional picks like Dragon Dance special attacking Kyurem that later became standard options.
__________________
Overused
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, showcasing the new-to-generation-9 ability to block defog.
Battle Against a True Samurai - Kingambit HO Peak #1 by Mimikyu Stardust - Originally posted December 27, 2022This team showcased the new move Revival Blessing combined with several overwhelming threats in Kingambit, Annihilape, and Chi-Yu. While Annihilape and Chi-Yu were overwhelmingly powerful and later banned, Kingambit remained the star of this team, foreshadowing its strong claim to the S rank of the metagame throughout the generation.
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.
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 was posted after the ban of Espathra, showing it wasn't just broken mons being broken. This style was spammed a ton on ladder and in tournament, and had the ability to end games in just a few turns if the opponent was unprepared.
Rejuvenation by Lily - Originally posted March 23, 2023This team showcases Baxcalibur, a deadly threat throughout the early metagame, as well as Hyper Offence mainstays like Volcarona and Iron Valiant. This team saw success in tournaments like Smogon Premiere League playoffs.
Monoclaw by Delibird Heart - Originally posted July 1, 2023This team struck fear into many opponents, and through its successful ladder peaks it temporarily ignited discussions on the legality of quick claw. Notably this team also featured the arrival of strong new pokemon like Ursaluna and Enamorus-Therian.
Vert Sun by Vert - 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.
DLC STALL! by Highv0ltag3 - Originally posted September 16, 2023This team was a standout example of stall in the DLC1 metagame, utilizing Gliscor and Clefable to absorb and counter the newly redistributed Knock Off.
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 team also features Zamazenta which was unbanned for the first time with DLC1.
Grassy Terrain Overload Offence by kd458 - Originally posted November 9, 2023This team showcased the devastating power of grassy terrain + Unburden Sneasler, a combination which eventually led to Sneasler's ban. The RMT also contains a good amount of backstory on the metagame, discussing building during Roaring Moon, Kingambit, and Zamazenta suspect tests.
Hydrapple Stall by SupaGMoney - Originally posted January 20, 2024Stall resurfaced in the DLC2 metagame in the form of a familiar core and a new face in Sticky Hold Hydrapple. Utilizing the defensive power of the new grass type, this team countered Knock Off attempts and took over the ladder.
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 popular teams of the generation, this triple dark offence became the go-to structure for overwhelming physical walls, utilizing support choices like Roar Zamazenta, Red Card Glimmora, and Healing Wish Enamorus that quickly became standard options.
Exotic Webs by Exotic64 and vk - Originally posted April 26, 2024Potentially the quintessential webs team of early 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 existed in.
Chansey Hydrapple Fat by mimilimi - Originally posted May 15, 2024This team is a great example of the fatter teams that came into focus after the ban of Volcarona, as offensive threats like Ogerpon-Wellspring and Darkrai sought to clean weaker balances. Featuring the return of Chansey, this team was used by the author to finish at the top of an Official Ladder Tournament cycle.
Kyurem Bulky Offence by Empo - Originally posted July 2, 2024This team was a great example of Kyurem's power and versatility during the first half of 2024. Written as a tournament feature, this team was used to great effect during Empo's victorious run in Smogon Tour 36 and featured unconventional picks like Dragon Dance special attacking Kyurem that later became standard options.
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