Metagame Inverse

[OM]

A lot of the OP from E4 Flint. Approved by TI and Ransei.

Banner by Gravity Monkey

What is Inverse?
In Inverse, the type chart is flipped on its head, just like in battles against the guy in the Inverse House in Pokemon X and Y. Super effective attacks become not very effective and vice versa, and immunities become super effective hits.

Here's a chart showing the new type matchups:

Hide

There are a couple of caveats to note:

• This affects Stealth Rock. For instance, in Inverse Battles Mandibuzz would take 1/16 damage from Stealth Rock, and Excadrill would take 1/2.
• Ability-based immunities are unaffected: Levitate, Volt Absorb, and similar abilities all work as normal.
• Type-based immunities to status and other type-specific mechanics are unaffected as well. For instance, Electric-types still can't be paralysed, Ghost-types can't be trapped, and Flying-types are still immune to Spikes.

What are the bans and clauses?
Inverse uses OU clauses.

Bans
Pokemon: Cinderace, Calyrex-Ice, Calyrex-Shadow, Darmanitan-Galar, Dialga, Diggersby, Dracovish, Dracozolt, Eternatus, Genesect, Giratina, Giratina-Origin, Groudon, Ho-Oh, Kartana, Kyogre, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem, Kyurem-White, Landorus-I, Lugia, Lunala, Marshadow, Mewtwo, Naganadel, Necrozma-Dawn-Wings, Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Palkia, Pheromosa, Porygon-Z, Rayquaza, Regidrago, Regieleki, Reshiram, Reuniclus, Rillaboom, Solgaleo, Spectrier, Urshifu-Single-Strike, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zacian, Zacian-Crowned, Zamazenta, Zekrom
Abilities: Arena Trap, Moody, Power Construct, Shadow Tag
Items: King's Rock
Moves: Baton Pass
Clauses: Standard, Dynamax Clause, Inverse Mod

This is equivalent to the OU banlist but with the following changes:

• Bans
  • Diggersby, Rillaboom, Regidrago, Regieleki, Kartana, King's Rock, Dracozolt, Porygon-Z, Kyurem, Reuniclus
• Unbans
  • Magearna, Zamazenta-Crowned, Zygarde

Where can I play it?
Inverse is currently playable using the challenge format. You can scroll down in the Other Metagames section and click inverse.

old chall code

/challenge [user], gen8ou@@@inversemod, -diggersby, -rillaboom, -regieleki, -regidrago, -kartana, -king's rock, -dracozolt, -porygon-z, -kyurem, -reuniclus, +magearna, +zygarde, +zamazenta-crowned

Strategy
As you might expect, type dynamics are completely flipped in Inverse. Ice is a fantastic defensive typing, with 4 resistances and only a single weakness to itself. On the other hand, Steel is an awful typing, with a whopping 9 weaknesses. With no resistances or immunities, Normal is a great offensive typing, and Rapid Spin can't be blocked.

Many format mainstays from previous generations, like Mega Beedrill and Breloom, have been cut from Sword & Shield, which will no doubt shake up the metagame. On the other hand, old threats such as Avalugg and Snorlax are still around, and are joined by powerful new Pokemon like Dragapult and Obstagoon.

Resources
Viability Ranking
Sample Teams

Council
Ax
In The Hills
OM
Mossy Sandwich

 

[OM]

Viability Ranking:

S

Blissey

Zeraora

A+

Tapu Bulu

Urshifu Rapid Strike

A

Articuno

Avalugg

Blacephalon

Dragapult

Glastrier

Porygon2

Rhyperior

Slowbro

Slowking

Tapu Lele

Tornadus-Therian

Toxapex

A-

Alakazam

Gengar

Landorus-Therian

Latios
Mew

Snorlax

Tangrowth

Tapu Koko

Zapdos Galar

B+

Clefable

Hawlucha

Hippowdon

Kommo-o

Mamoswine

Obstagoon

Scolipede

Slowking-Galar

Thundurus-Therian

Torkoal

Venusaur

Victini

Volcarona

Weavile

B

Azelf

Barraskewda
Celebi

Cloyster

Dragonite

Keldeo

Latias

Magearna

Marowak

Marowak-Alola

Melmetal

Nidoking

Roserade

Shuckle

Suicune

Swampert

Thwackey

Virizion

Zarude

B-

Blastoise

Blaziken
Chansey

Entei

Garchomp

Mienshao

Mimikyu

Moltres-Galar

Necrozma

Terrakion

Scyther

Xatu

Zygarde

C

Accelgor

Azumarill

Corviknight

Crawdaunt

Cresselia

Goodra

Hatterene

Hydreigon

Linoone

Mr. Rime

Pikachu

Quagsire

Toxtricity

Weezing-Galar

Zamazenta-Crowned

Zapdos


Sample Teams!


In The Hills' Bulky Offense


In The Hills' Galartres Bulky Offense


OM's Speed Boosting Blace Balance


Ax's Torn-T Balance

 

[MAMP]

Something I want to get community input on: last generation, a number of Ubers Pokemon (mainly Steel types) were unbanned, and proved to be balanced in the metagame. I'm interested in doing this again, but I would appreciate discussion on which Pokemon specifically should be unbanned. I think Melmetal in particular would likely be fine, but there's also a consideration for Solgaleo and perhaps Zamazenta-C.

 

[Fardin]

Despite inverse turnings one of solg's main pros into a con, it is still a pretty dangerous threat to most ou mons. It has 137 base hp which is super high in ou standards and has a diverse move pool. One of the things that imo at least allows the meta to deal with it is the lack of set up moves it has. I can only really just see it function as a pure tank with band, or a neat scafer that don't care about webs. Either way letting people experiment with it shouldn't be that bad. Zam c tho deserves to get u unbanned, it's booty

 

[shnowshner]

Looking at Uber Steels:

Weak to everything, horribly slow. It can still hit very hard as it always has, but it loses a lot of value now that it's defensive potential is ruined. OU saw it banned in part thanks to Acid Armor Body Press being a viable option with a completely different set of answers: good luck making that work now.

Similar to Melmetal, its fantastic bulk is ruined by an awful defensive typing: the difference here is how much faster Solgaleo is. 97 Speed is much better, though still slow enough to put it in danger of a variety of faster Pokemon. 137 Attack is very good as well, and it can definitely take some hits with how good its overall stats are.

Thanks to Prism Armor, you can take one hit from full better than Solgaleo, but the HP loss is extreme enough that your higher base Defenses still leave you frailer, if I did the calculation properly. 77 Speed is also much worse, even if you get a massive Attack stat in exchange. Scarf doesn't outspeed Timid/Jolly Dragapult and you get swamped by its STAB Dragon moves. I feel like it should be managable.

The main issue with this is Speed. It's very fast at base 128, though it gets outsped by a couple key Pokemon like the aforementioned Dragapult. It's still got a hefty Attack Stat and great PhysDef thanks to Dauntless Shield. It also takes 1/2 from Stealth Rock and literally can't use an item. Could be strong in the right hands but it manages to be worse here than it is normally.

Even with a SR Weakness, no item slot, a quad weakness to U-Turn, and a horrific typing, 170 Base Attack + Free Attack Boost for EXISTING + 148 Speed is insane. You can't 2HKO Avalugg even at +1, however, so it won't be insta-sweeping through any and every team. That said, I think the pressure it applies is enough to make this questionable and feel like it'd warp teambuilding too much.

 

[willdbeast]

Looking at Uber Steels:
Even with a SR Weakness, no item slot, a quad weakness to U-Turn, and a horrific typing, 170 Base Attack + Free Attack Boost for EXISTING + 148 Speed is insane. You can't 2HKO Avalugg even at +1, however, so it won't be insta-sweeping through any and every team. That said, I think the pressure it applies is enough to make this questionable and feel like it'd warp teambuilding too much.

Random thought:
+1 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Play Rough vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 124-147 (31.4 - 37.3%) -- 85.4% chance to 3HKO

If they are 252/252+ then you can run moonblast and do quite a lot of the damages:
48 SpA Zacian-Crowned Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Avalugg: 165-195 (41.8 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
(48 cos that's the most u can do and still outspeed pult)
and if they're not full def then u get a lot closer to a 2hko with play rough

The main takeaway from this is avalugg is broken

 

[kakaks]

Avalugo (Avalugg) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Body Press
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Toxic
(the same set avalugg normally uses)
Avalugg is gonna be a good tank

 

[Mubs]

I don't think you should unban Zac-C as I'm pretty sure it comes with unbanning its regular form, which has a significantly better typing and almost all of the offensive tools.

Happy to see this meta back. Hope it wins a monthly ladder in the future.

 

[shnowshner]

I don't think you should unban Zac-C as I'm pretty sure it comes with unbanning its regular form, which has a significantly better typing and almost all of the offensive tools.

This shouldn't be an issue, as the two forms are listed separately and have been observed as separate for a long time now. This is supported by how Silvally is treated: the base form and the other Memory forms are all their own Pokemon. You can't remove the Memories they are holding either, whether through Knock Off or Trick. The same mechanics are in place for Zacian/Zamazenta and their Crowned forms. So unbanning the Crowned forms of either would not immediately allow the base forms to be used.

 

[Cuddly]

I don't think you should unban Zac-C as I'm pretty sure it comes with unbanning its regular form, which has a significantly better typing and almost all of the offensive tools.

Happy to see this meta back. Hope it wins a monthly ladder in the future.

You don’t necessarily have to unban the Hero form when unbanning the Crowned form.
Silvally forms and Megas were tiered differently.
Also I’m just more concerned about Zacian’s ridiculous Stats and its ability.

Anyways, Steel types like and will be welcomed additions to combat :Urshifu-Single-Strike: (Still no sprite >_<).
With Inverse, Single Strike’s already good offensive typing is now better thanks to now hitting those pesky Fairies super effectively, and now it has a good defensive typing as well.

While Urshifu struggled with more defensive teams in OU thanks to its limited PP and reliance on Choice Band, running Metronome can be even better now against defensive teams since those sets have more PP and can hit pretty hard still. It also helps when your have a much easier time switching in, keeping your substitute up, and have perfect coverage.

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

Coming from Tours Plaze, I have to mention the banlist we have for the format and why each pokemon is banned, unbanned or being tested.

Diggersby is banned mainly because normal has no resists and it also carries swords dance and quick attack so unless you have an amazing physical wall (Like Avalugg) it's going to destroy your team easily.
Frosmoth was banned before DLC due to its good defensive typing and the amount of types it could hit super effectively with bug buzz. It's being tested after DLC because Chansey and Porygon2 were added so it has more trouble sweeping now.
Alakazam was quick-banned before we could even play one tournament with it. Offensively, psychic type is only resisted by poison and fighting and alakazam can use energy ball to cover poison types which are pretty common in inverse. The only pokemons who resist this coverage are poliwrath, urshifu-rapid-strike, keldeo and terrakion. This meant you could run Nasty Plot + Psychic + Psyshock + Energy ball and have no counters after a nasty plot.
Male Indeedee was also banned because psychic is too good offensively. Specs Expanding force would KO any pokemon that didn't resist or that wasn't called chansey (There was still psyshock for that). Unresisted Hyper voice was also a thing.
Weavile is being tested since it gained triple axel from the DLC. Most pokemons also don't enjoy taking knock offs and fighting covers dark perfectly so low kick is useful as well.

Melmetal was unbanned due to its bad defensive typing and the fact it struggles against avalugg. It's still very good since band double iron bash is very strong and steel type is actually better offensively in inverse. It's also bulky enough to survive physical/weaker super effective hits or decently powerful special hits.

(This calc was taken from a set used back when solgaleo was being tested before DLC. This calc was done by quadrupling psychic's base power)
4 SpA Solgaleo Psychic vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Melmetal: 306-360 (64.8 - 76.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Solgaleo is being retested at the moment (It stayed banned after being tested before DLC). The only tested set so far is scarf which can use psychic to hit avalugg through its weak point. While its attack may seem high, as long as you have a good wall that can take hits on both the physical and special side and that isn't weak to steel or psychic, you should be fine. (Examples include porygon2, chansey, assault vest tangrowth, hippowdon and rhyperior.) Its bulk can make it survive even super effective hits so underestimating it will let it take out your offensive mons.

Zamazenta-Crowned is also being retested. Offensively, it only gets higher speed than solgaleo but its coverage and attack are very bad. Lack of item and taking 50% to rocks is also a major issue. It gets hard-walled by ice and rock types and even special hits after a work up boost deal less than 50% to avalugg. Zamazenta is really bulky but doesn't do anything if your opponent has any decent defensive pokemon.

To end this post I'd link to link a pokepaste containing every set that's been tested and considered viable

Here

https://pokepast.es/a138a30bf3ba2b3c

As well as another one containing sets that haven't been tested but may have potential

Here

https://pokepast.es/fa2d26c56619778e

I'd also like to mention that bug covers every type that resists, psychic and that fighting covers every type that resists ghost or dark (So Psychic + Bug is perfect coverage and so is Ghost/Dark + Fighting)

 

[MAMP]

A few announcements:

Firstly, I'd like to welcome In The Hills and OM to the Inverse council! I appreciate the input from Tours Plaza folks, and we'll definitely be keeping it in mind in our tiering discussions.

Also, we have a very cool new banner by Gravity Monkey! Really love how this turned out.

EDIT: Also we are unbanning Melmetal

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

I've been seeing a lot of people that think inverse is entirely based on chansey + avalugg cores lately. While the core is very popular and may seem very hard to break or even broken, it's not. I'll try to prove that this core is not as good as people may think it is in this post with the list of sets below.

Toolkit to beat Chans-lugg

https://pokepast.es/25da4470a9a7a2c8

All these pokemons can either beat chansey and avalugg on their own or cripple them enough for a team member to finish the job.

Let's talk about the pokemons that don't need help to beat the core first.
Gengar is one of the hardest pokemon to wall in the format thanks to nasty plot. Shadow Ball + Focus Blast is unresisted and poison type is amazing offensively meaning it can hit a lot of pokemons super effectively and will be neutrally effective at worse. It can obviously one-shot avalugg as long as it doesn't have its sturdy active and shadow ball is seriously threatening to chansey.
+2 252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 332-392 (47.2 - 55.7%) -- 77.3% chance to 2HKO

Next (And last for this part) is Dracozolt. Band dracozolt can deal crazy amounts of damage to both pokemons. Band with adamant OHKOs chansey and both band jolly and band adamant 2HKOs Avalugg. You can always carry choice scarf but adamant only has a small chance of 2HKOing avalugg and jolly can only 3HKO. However, it can for sure achieve something with spike support. It's important to keep in mind that dracozolt is walled by lightning rod or volt absorb users such as rhyperior and zeraora.
252+ Atk Hustle Dracozolt Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 175-207 (44.4 - 52.5%) -- 80.9% chance to 2HKO after 1 layer of Spikes and Leftovers recovery

Now let's talk about the pokemons that struggle a bit more with breaking the core.
Band Urshifu deals crazy amounts of damage but not enough to 2HKO avalugg. It will need chip damage or spikes to be able to 2HKO it.
252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu Wicked Blow vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg on a critical hit: 150-177 (38 - 44.9%) -- 68.8% chance to 2HKO after 3 layers of Spikes and Leftovers recovery

Porygon-Z is a special case. Chansey can wall its life orb tri-attacks but, PZ has about 75% chance to 2HKO with a +2 Uproar. +4 Hyper Beam also one-shots chansey. The Choice scarf set's goal is to trick away chansey's eviolite and set up in its face. Tri attack has a 90% chance to 2hko after 1 nasty plot if eviolite is gone. Porygon-Z has a lot of options for its sets such as substitute to block statuses from chansey, recover to stay healthy while setting up or magic coat to bounce chansey's statuses back at it.
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Adaptability Porygon-Z Uproar vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 333-393 (47.3 - 55.9%) -- 76.6% chance to 2HKO

Togekiss is a pretty obvious stall-breaker : Set up with nasty plot and then flinch your opponent until they get KO'd. It does struggle against chansey but you are able to take it out with a bit of luck.
+2 252 SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 147-174 (20.9 - 24.7%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

Band Mamoswine is a physical attacker that can hit avalugg super effectively. Funnily enough, it actually struggles against chansey more since you'll want to lock yourself into icicle crash for avalugg. With adamant and 1 layer of spikes however, it is nearly guaranteed to 2HKO chansey.
252+ Atk Choice Band Mamoswine Icicle Crash vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 304-358 (43.2 - 50.9%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO after 1 layer of Spikes

Marowak-a is here to represent both itself and its Kantonian cousin. Swords dance poltergeist 2HKOs avalugg. Avalugg has the ability to roar marowak away before it gets its second hit in however. Avalanche has a slight chance to 1HKO marowak after an attack so you could get taken out if you were chipped beforehand. No matter what happens, Marowak should be able to weaken avalugg enough to let a teammate finish the job.
+2 252+ Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Poltergeist (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 262-309 (66.4 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

The final mon in this category is venusaur. Venusaur is only usable for sun teams but it is a good way to take care of chansey + lugg. Avalugg falls quickly to venusaur's special attacks but chansey will be a bit harder to take out. Immunity to toxic, Growth increasing your attack and power whip should be enough to take it out. Your venusaur may be in bad shape after taking chansey out due to life orb recoil and seismic toss.
+2 4 Atk Life Orb Venusaur Power Whip vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 378-446 (53.7 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Next up are 3 pokemons that can't take out chansey + lugg but that can be incredibly helpful in crippling them for your other pokemons to easily finish off.

Cloyster is pretty fun as a defensive spiker and will have a lot of opportunities to set up spikes due to its great physical bulk. It also has ice beam so it won't let avalugg spin for free.

Roserade is the second important spike setter of the format. On top of that, sleep powder and leech seed can seriously annoy both pokemons and will leave them weakened.

The last pokemon is tangrowth. Tangrowth can force chansey out since it's a special attacker that avalugg will fear. After forcing chansey out, tangrowth can knock off chansey's eviolite and its job is done. The rocky helmet set can also use sleep powder and leech seed to be annoying like roserade.


And that's all the good sets that can beat the chansey-lugg core. There are other, more niche sets such as ice beam tauros but they're not worth discussing since they are outclassed overall. Keep in mind these sets are useful outside of breaking chansey+lugg cores since they can break other cores or straight up sweep. I hope I have convinced some people that this core isn't that hard to break and that using other playstyles than the bulky teams that come with using chansey+lugg may be viable.

Edit: I considered the format with the tours plaza ban but there are some pokemons that can take on the core quite easily in the banned list

Diggersby hits hard and even avalugg can't wall it. Avalugg's best option is to roar it away which would also let diggersby come back in for free.
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 253-298 (64.2 - 75.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Weavile is like mamoswine, a strong physical ice type that can hit avalugg super effectively.
252 Atk Choice Band Weavile Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 258-312 (65.4 - 79.1%) -- approx. 2HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Weavile Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 369-435 (52.4 - 61.8%) -- approx. 2HKO

Alakazam can set up with nasty plot and has psyshock so it beats chansey easily.
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Psyshock vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 464-546 (66 - 77.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Edit 2 : Due to recent discoveries/debates I guess I'll have to add taunt + Set up users. I'll also take this opportunity to add sets for pokemons I hadn't shown.

More Tools to beat Chans-Lugg

https://pokepast.es/daf600e1c77b28a5

Cinderace with Electro Ball is able to take out one of chansey or avalugg but won't have enough health to take out the other one. Taunt can stop chansey from healing.
252 Atk Cinderace Pyro Ball vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 240-283 (34.1 - 40.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
4 SpA Libero Cinderace Electro Ball (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Avalugg: 210-247 (53.2 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Comfey can use taunt to stop chansey from healing. It'll mostly heal using draning kiss or synthesis while it sets up.
+2 252+ SpA Triage Comfey Draining Kiss vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 84-100 (11.9 - 14.2%) -- possible 8HKO (20.8 - 24.8% recovered)

Obstagoon can set up with bulk up to become strong enough to take out avalugg. You may take quite a bit of damage from your burn or avalanche while setting up, however.
+2 252 Atk Guts Obstagoon Facade (140 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 246-289 (62.4 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Hydreigon can set up with nasty plot and heal with roost while stopping phazing or toxic with taunt.
+6 252 SpA Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 322-381 (45.8 - 54.1%) -- 52.3% chance to 2HKO

Rillaboom can take a lot of recoil damage from wood hammer due to chansey and avalugg having a lot of health and they'll also be able to deal decent damage. Regardless, it can 2HKO after a life orb boosted swords dance... which is not far away from what band does...
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg in Grassy Terrain: 325-383 (82.4 - 97.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Def Avalugg Body Press vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rillaboom: 136-160 (39.8 - 46.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

 

[TeddiursaYoshi216]

Kyurem @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Earth Power
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Claw
I made this for Avalugg, and shadow claw helps deal with chansey, which usually walls it. It's got the best draco meteor, only resisted by niche mons like Haxorus, aside from Dragapult. I think this will help against stall (which is powered by Avalugg and Chansey).

(Also I suck so maybe this is bad advice)

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

Kyurem @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Earth Power
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Claw
I made this for Avalugg, and shadow claw helps deal with chansey, which usually walls it. It's got the best draco meteor, only resisted by niche mons like Haxorus, aside from Dragapult. I think this will help against stall (which is powered by Avalugg and Chansey).

4 Atk Kyurem Shadow Claw vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 170-200 (24.1 - 28.4%) -- 97.9% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Kyurem Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 202-238 (28.7 - 33.8%) -- 0.7% chance to 3HKO
It won't work. Kyurem is still a great special attacker though so if you build your team to pressure and take out chansey, it could work well.

Edit : Dragon Dance kyurem could actually work well!
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Kyurem Icicle Spear (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 258-303 (65.4 - 76.9%) -- approx. 2HKO (Ice beam OHKOs)
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Kyurem Shadow Claw vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 434-512 (61.7 - 72.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Tranquility]

I've been seeing a lot of people that think inverse is entirely based on chansey + avalugg cores lately. While the core is very popular and may seem very hard to break or even broken, it's not.

Taunt.

 

[TeddiursaYoshi216]

Taunt.

Yeah, but there aren't many viable taunt mons. The only successful one that I found was Rillaboom, which is already a good Avalugg check. The problem is, Rillaboom only has 3 good moves in inverse, the other two both being grass.

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

Taunt.

I wish it was that simple...
Though taunt can be beneficial and can help some pokemons in this matchup so I'll try to see how it could help. It could help rillaboom in killing avalugg but grassy terrain heals lugg and there's a lot of recoil from wood hammer, life orb if its the item you decided to go for and rocky helmet if avalugg is holding it. Alakazam, Weavile and Gengar already break the core and don't need taunt. Urshifu takes too much damage from avalanche and doesn't deal enough back so it doesn't even win without choice band. Obstagoon also takes too much damage back for too little damage dealt. The problem with taunt is that chansey and avalugg aren't passive and can deal solid damage and not being able to use a choiced item means you give them more time to damage you. Now if there is one pokemon it could open a niche to, it would be calm mind comfey since it passively heals by damaging chansey and avalugg. With leftovers and high HP investment, it could out-heal chansey's seismic tosses with draining kiss after a few calm mind. But yeah taunt doesn't seem to help that much especially since switching resets it.

Edit: I guess I'll have to add that comfey is not the only pokemon who can taunt into set up. Obstagoon and rillaboom can also do this so they can find use in it. This does take 2 moveslots though so rillaboom may prefer having access to grassy glide and u-turn instead of taunt and swords dance.

 

[Karl Dude Guy]

Axgwd is based

I guess I'll have to add that comfey is not the only pokemon who can taunt into set up.

+6 252+ SpA Life Orb Triage Comfey Draining Kiss vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 218-257 (31 - 36.5%) -- 65.3% chance to 3HKO you should also add that comfey isn't that good

jokes aside

I wish it was that simple...

Infact it is pretty simple, Taunt is a great move esp in Inverse. It breaks a lot of cores like ChansLugg and P2 Roserade, Stops set up from Frosmoth and Reuniclus for example, allows pokemon to set up after a Taunt like Obstagoon or Gyarados and stops crippling moves like Toxic. There are so many pokemon that benefit from Taunt in OU aswell like Urshifu, Hydreigon, Zeraora just to name a few. Easily top ten best moves in the game.

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

+6 252+ SpA Life Orb Triage Comfey Draining Kiss vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 218-257 (31 - 36.5%) -- 65.3% chance to 3HKO you should also add that comfey isn't that good

The good part here is the healing. (54.3 - 63.9% recovered)

Infact it is pretty simple, Taunt is a great move esp in Inverse. It breaks a lot of cores like ChansLugg and P2 Roserade, Stops set up from Frosmoth and Reuniclus for example, allows pokemon to set up after a Taunt like Obstagoon or Gyarados and stops crippling moves like Toxic. There are so many pokemon that benefit from Taunt in OU aswell like Urshifu, Hydreigon, Zeraora just to name a few. Easily top ten best moves in the game.

I was talking in context to beating chans-lugg. They're able to deal at least decent damage so taunt isn't beating this core without anything else.

 

[Karl Dude Guy]

I was talking in context to beating chans-lugg. They're able to deal at least decent damage so taunt isn't beating this core without anything else.

Correct you can't beat chanslugg with just taunt, that's where set up comes in.

 

[fabwooloo]

The good part here is the healing. (54.3 - 63.9% recovered)


I was talking in context to beating chans-lugg. They're able to deal at least decent damage so taunt isn't beating this core without anything else.

i wouldnt really say decent damage as most lugg sets are rapid spin, toxic, recover and roar so it cant deal much damage, also taunt also prevents the twos recovery moves along with them trying to set up hazards as some chansey sets/lugg sets will do, it also allows you to set up blocking lugg's roar and chansey while yes is able to do solid damage is set up fodder for something like reunicluss, if you manage to get an iron defense and a calm mind up with reun then it does one shot lugg, the sets you shared while they are good are weak to the move taunt

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

i wouldnt really say decent damage as most lugg sets are rapid spin, toxic, recover and roar so it cant deal much damage, also taunt also prevents the twos recovery moves along with them trying to set up hazards as some chansey sets/lugg sets will do, it also allows you to set up blocking lugg's roar and chansey while yes is able to do solid damage is set up fodder for something like reunicluss, if you manage to get an iron defense and a calm mind up with reun then it does one shot lugg, the sets you shared while they are good are weak to the move taunt

Avalugg beats a LOT more pokemons with avalanche or body press over Toxic. And I did agree that taunt into set up works. However, I can't find too many pokemons who can find use in it. Now if you run taunt without set up, here's what happens.

252 Atk Guts Obstagoon Facade (140 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 123-145 (31.2 - 36.8%) -- 75.5% chance to 3HKO
4 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Obstagoon: 147-174 (44.9 - 53.2%) -- 86.7% chance to 2HKO after burn damage

252+ Atk Life Orb Urshifu Wicked Blow vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg on a critical hit: 130-153 (32.9 - 38.8%) -- 99.5% chance to 3HKO
4 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Urshifu: 148-175 (43.4 - 51.3%) -- 6.6% chance to 2HKO

252+ SpA Punk Rock Toxtricity Boomburst vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 126-150 (17.9 - 21.3%) -- possible 5HKO
Chansey Seismic Toss vs. 0 HP Toxtricity: 100-100 (34.3 - 34.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

4 SpA Life Orb Cinderace Electro Ball (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Avalugg: 273-321 (69.2 - 81.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (You beat avalugg anyway)
4 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Cinderace: 187-222 (62.1 - 73.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 107-126 (15.2 - 17.9%) -- possible 6HKO
Chansey Seismic Toss vs. 0 HP Hydreigon: 100-100 (30.7 - 30.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

252+ Atk Life Orb Adaptability Crawdaunt Crabhammer vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 135-161 (34.2 - 40.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
4 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Crawdaunt: 338-398 (126.5 - 149%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 94-112 (23.8 - 28.4%) -- 96.7% chance to 4HKO
4 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Bisharp: 296-350 (109.2 - 129.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

I want to make this very clear that I DO agree that taunt + Set up works. It's just that there aren't many pokemons that will now beat chans-lugg with taunt and set up. From what I've seen, only comfey and obstagoon get a lot of benefit out of it with rillaboom and hydreigon also working but going way out of their way to be able to do that (Rillaboom no longer running choiced and using 2 moveslots on taunt + swords dance and Hydreigon using taunt and probably roost and high hp investment). I'm not disagreeing that taunt is a good move, it's just that there are better and more efficient ways to beat chans-lugg.

 

[MAMP]

Hi everyone, I'd like to announce that the council has decided to ban Diggersby. Despite no longer being able to use Return in this generation, its complete lack of switchins and access to Swords Dance largely invalidates bulkier teams and Quick Attack makes it still quite threatening against offense as well. Given a single turn to set up, Diggersby could easily clean through a wide range of teams. We wanted to get this out of the way now for OM Snake Draft, in which Inverse is a format (and which you can sign up for here: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/om-snake-draft-iii-player-signups.3667468). This metagame is still somewhat undeveloped so we will be using the Snake Draft as a sort of testing ground to see where else tiering action needs to be taken. In particular, the council has our collective eyes on Alakazam, Obstagoon, and Rillaboom.

 

[Mossy Sandwich]

Diggersby ban was necessary since it was one of the most ridiculous pokemon in the meta.
Against walls
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Hippowdon: 352-417 (83.8 - 99.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 253-298 (64.2 - 75.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Against Bulky faster pokemons
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Quick Attack vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Obstagoon: 218-257 (66.6 - 78.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after burn damage
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Huge Power Diggersby Quick Attack vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kyurem: 239-282 (61.1 - 72.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

As for the pokemons being watched, I believe Rillaboom is a massive threat to teambuilding since teams without a decently bulky grass resist don't stand a chance. And I'm only talking about the choice band set. Swords dance can potentially break some resists.
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Hippowdon in Grassy Terrain: 226-268 (53.8 - 63.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Grassy Terrain recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro in Grassy Terrain: 238-281 (60.4 - 71.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

Alakazam is obviously a threat with nearly unresisted coverage, nasty plot and the ability to hit special walls such as chansey with psyshock. Magic guard with either focus sash or life orb is also quite the problem. While I don't have much experience using or playing against alakazam, in theory the sash set seems to be able to consistently take one kill. I do believe bulky fighting types with mach punch or dragon darts dragapult can stop that but a lot of teams don't have these tools. There does seem to be ways to deal with it though and some of these sets haven't been tested yet so maybe conkeldurr can break out in the meta or something.
+2 252 SpA Alakazam Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Conkeldurr: 213-252 (60.6 - 71.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after burn damage
252+ Atk Conkeldurr Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 190-224 (75.6 - 89.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Obstagoon... I'm not so sure about. I haven't used it but I've played against it a few times. Its speed isn't good enough. Being outsped by urshifu, gengar, dragapult and alakazam is a big problem since all those pokemons destroy you. Burn chipping you down is also a problem and being locked to one item makes you predictable and vulnerable. It also isn't getting through strong walls like Avalugg though a taunt+bulk up set can let it win and I'm guessing this is the reason it could be banned. Unresisted STAB facade with guts also seems crazy on paper but remember that obstagoon only has 90 base attack. Urshifu can use Choice band with STABs only slightly less powerful than obstagoon's but with a crazy 130 base attack and higher base speed. Overall, Obstagoon is outsped by important pokemons, is chipped by burn damage and is basically locked to its flame orb with a base attack that doesn't make it too devastating. Unresisted facade is strong but I don't think it's better than any other breaker or makes people use weird sets/pokemons to counter it.

Now for pokemons that I think should be watched out for
.
Choice band dracozolt seems to have no switch-ins. The only pokemons who can survive 2 bolt beaks are really bulky resists or pokemons with lightning rod or volt absorb. Well hustle lets outrage 1-2HKO them all. Now scarf does have switch-ins but it's still really hard to switch-into without a bulky resist like cloyster or slowbro.
252 Atk Choice Band Hustle Dracozolt Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 240-283 (60.9 - 71.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Hustle Dracozolt Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rhyperior: 220-259 (50.6 - 59.6%) -- 82.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recover
252 Atk Choice Band Hustle Dracozolt Aerial Ace vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 312-368 (98.4 - 116%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Hustle Dracozolt Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cloyster: 172-204 (56.5 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Gengar is very similar to alakzam : Nasty plot with unresisted coverage and good speed. Sludge wave hitting a lot of types super effectively doesn't help things either. Just like alakazam, it can break through chansey thanks to STAB shadow ball. It could for sure struggle to break through special walls that don't have weaknesses to its attacks such as goodra. There seems to be better ways to take care of it than alakazam and it's a bit slower so it could be handleable. Gengar can dominate slow teams though so make sure to have a pokemon with good speed.
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 188-224 (48.9 - 58.3%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey: 432-510 (61.4 - 72.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Lastly, Assault vest tangrowth seems to be able to beat a lot of offensive pokemons thanks to its grass STAB hitting many types super effectively. It also possesses sludge bomb to hit ground and rock types which are 2 of the 3 grass resists. Knock off can be very helpful especially with chansey and porygon2 being common defensive pokemons. With diggersby being banned and rillaboom and dracozolt also being potentially banned, I believe tangrowth could become quite hard to deal with. Even if your opponent can play around your tangrowth, it's still a good defensive pivot that can threaten many pokemons and force your opponent to switch out. A rocky helmet set is also an option and sleep powder/leech seed are powerful moves if used well as they can cripple opposing pokemons. Regenerator negating chip and making sure you're always healthy means you can counter multiple offensive threats without the fear of not having enough health to take them on. It doesn't help that the types that can threaten it aren't very common. Electric is only used by dracozolt and zeraora, ground types are usually defensive pokemons, are threatened by sludge bomb and earthquake also isn't as common in inverse and grass types are threatened by tangrowth. (Edit: I forgot about the water weakness but I guess that's just how rare it is)
+1 252 SpA Life Orb Volcarona Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 84 SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 330-390 (81.6 - 96.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
168+ SpA Tangrowth Leaf Storm vs. +1 0 HP / 0 SpD Volcarona: 332-392 (106.7 - 126%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tangrowth: 272-322 (67.3 - 79.7%) -- approx. 2HKO
168+ SpA Tangrowth Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Dragapult: 328-386 (103.4 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 84 SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 341-403 (84.4 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
168+ SpA Tangrowth Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gengar: 452-536 (173.1 - 205.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO