Approved by Zeefable
Welcome to the Hidden Gems Ladder Tournament, where we attempt to find Pokemon that have been overlooked by the playerbase at large and see if they have a niche. The goal is to promote a more diverse metagame. Here's how it works:
You have 40 matches to get as high on the ladder as you can, using a particular Pokemon (the gem). You must pick and register a special alt (more on that later). Besides the gem, the rest of your team can be whatever you like and you may change it as often as you like. You can change the gem's set as often as you like too. There will be four ranks, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. If you reach Platinum rank, you will automatically be added to the hall of fame and get to nominate a Pokemon for next week's challenge. Once you hit the score required for any of the ranks, please edit your original sign up post with the replay that got you over the threshold. Also include screen caps of your peak and your final score. Lastly, please PM me a Pokepaste of your final team once you've played all 30 matches. You don't have to mention cut mons, or indeed have any info at all besides the team. While it's not compulsory, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the gems, as I plan on writing an article about this and would like multiple perspectives.
And here are the first gems:
Alt name: [HGLTW1P1] BLANK - Copy and paste the part in square brackets, add whatever you want after e.g. [HGLTW1P1] Chrsfal
Niche on paper: Better version of Clear Body is huge in a meta with both Intimidate and stat drops caused by max moves everywhere. Excellent user of Dynamax as it resists Zacian's Behemoth Blade, and can boost both defences with Max Steelspike and Quake. Makes great use of Weakness Policy as it has common weaknesses and great bulk. Also has nice utility moves in Wide Guard and Trick Room.
Bronze Rank: 1250 points
Silver Rank: 1350 points
Gold Rank: 1450 points
Platinum Rank: 1550 points
Alt: [HGLTW1P2] BLANK
Niche on paper: Threatens rain teams, notably Kyogre, and it can beat Charizard that lack Scorching Sands thanks to resisting both STABs. Grass and Fire resistances combined with ability to set Electric Terrain with Max Lightning let it threaten the VenuCoal combination. It's also a strong Dynamax user as it has Max Airstream with Fly and resists Zacian's Behemoth Blade. Speed tier can also let it work with both Tailwind and Trick Room support.
Bronze Rank: 1200 points
Silver Rank: 1300 points
Gold Rank: 1400 points
Platinum Rank: 1500 points
Alt: [HGLTW1P3] BLANK
Niche on paper: Huge special attack and low Speed make it a solid Trick Room sweeper. It has three great abilities in Sap Sipper, which gives you a Trick Room setter that doesn't care about Amoonguss, Berserk that lets it Snowball and Cloud Nine which shuts off weather shenanigans. Can also provide Speed control with Glare and STAB Max Strike.
Bronze Rank: 1250 points
Silver Rank: 1350 points
Gold Rank: 1450 points
Platinum Rank: 1550 points
Good luck everyone! Deadline for this week is Saturday 13th November 22:00 GMT.
Welcome to the Hidden Gems Ladder Tournament, where we attempt to find Pokemon that have been overlooked by the playerbase at large and see if they have a niche. The goal is to promote a more diverse metagame. Here's how it works:
You have 40 matches to get as high on the ladder as you can, using a particular Pokemon (the gem). You must pick and register a special alt (more on that later). Besides the gem, the rest of your team can be whatever you like and you may change it as often as you like. You can change the gem's set as often as you like too. There will be four ranks, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. If you reach Platinum rank, you will automatically be added to the hall of fame and get to nominate a Pokemon for next week's challenge. Once you hit the score required for any of the ranks, please edit your original sign up post with the replay that got you over the threshold. Also include screen caps of your peak and your final score. Lastly, please PM me a Pokepaste of your final team once you've played all 30 matches. You don't have to mention cut mons, or indeed have any info at all besides the team. While it's not compulsory, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the gems, as I plan on writing an article about this and would like multiple perspectives.
And here are the first gems:
Alt name: [HGLTW1P1] BLANK - Copy and paste the part in square brackets, add whatever you want after e.g. [HGLTW1P1] Chrsfal
Niche on paper: Better version of Clear Body is huge in a meta with both Intimidate and stat drops caused by max moves everywhere. Excellent user of Dynamax as it resists Zacian's Behemoth Blade, and can boost both defences with Max Steelspike and Quake. Makes great use of Weakness Policy as it has common weaknesses and great bulk. Also has nice utility moves in Wide Guard and Trick Room.
Bronze Rank: 1250 points
Silver Rank: 1350 points
Gold Rank: 1450 points
Platinum Rank: 1550 points
Alt: [HGLTW1P2] BLANK
Niche on paper: Threatens rain teams, notably Kyogre, and it can beat Charizard that lack Scorching Sands thanks to resisting both STABs. Grass and Fire resistances combined with ability to set Electric Terrain with Max Lightning let it threaten the VenuCoal combination. It's also a strong Dynamax user as it has Max Airstream with Fly and resists Zacian's Behemoth Blade. Speed tier can also let it work with both Tailwind and Trick Room support.
Bronze Rank: 1200 points
Silver Rank: 1300 points
Gold Rank: 1400 points
Platinum Rank: 1500 points
Alt: [HGLTW1P3] BLANK
Niche on paper: Huge special attack and low Speed make it a solid Trick Room sweeper. It has three great abilities in Sap Sipper, which gives you a Trick Room setter that doesn't care about Amoonguss, Berserk that lets it Snowball and Cloud Nine which shuts off weather shenanigans. Can also provide Speed control with Glare and STAB Max Strike.
Bronze Rank: 1250 points
Silver Rank: 1350 points
Gold Rank: 1450 points
Platinum Rank: 1550 points
No nominating objectively terrible / outclassed Pokemon. It must have a niche, at least on paper.
Nothing ranked above C+ on the Series 11 viability rankings
Nothing ranked above C+ on the Series 11 viability rankings
Good luck everyone! Deadline for this week is Saturday 13th November 22:00 GMT.
Last edited:
HGLTW1P1 lover
Ended at 1315
