Even after the introduction of team preview some players constantly send out the same pokemon as their lead, especially if their team is offensive. I decided to explore on this concept of a lead by looking at the usage statistics. I then used this formula to find out how often a certain pokemon is used as a lead.
lead usage/total usage
Ideally with team preview each pokemon should lead 16.67% of the time.
For example, from the November statistics
Deoxys-s 49519 times led/73245 times used = 67.61%
This tells us that deoxys-s is constantly being chosen as a lead over 2/3 of the time it was used. I usually put leads in 3 categories, hazard, weather, and offensive, and some leads actually fit in both categories.
Hazard
Lead rate 3007/5392 = 55.77%
Deoxys-D carries great 160 base defenses and few exposed weaknesses, as well as carrying both stealth rock and spikes. So, why is this lead most often seen on offensive teams? Part of this is the banning of Deoxys-S. Once the fastest spiker was gone, people were looking at its other forme, which still had a decent 90 speed. With speed investment and a positive nature, it can still taunt on many of the threats deoxys-s would, and it didn't need a focus sash either.
Weather
Lead rate 39725/79826 = 45.76%
Politoed is being used as a lead commonly because it can set up rain, which can support the rest of the team, powering hydro pumps and making hurricanes 100% accurate. It also has only 2 weaknesses, and it can run a variety of sets, including bulky, specs, scarf, and chestorest. It also doesn't sit there and do nothing either. It carries decent support moves like toxic and perish song, as well as abusing its own drizzle boost with hydro pumps.
Lead rate 28656/94297 = 30.39%
Tyranitar is also being used as a lead to set up sandstorm, like politoed. It gets monstrous bulk due to sandstorm and its base 100 hp stat too. It has access to Stealth rock, and like politoed, can run a multitude of sets. Boah, scarf, band, and bulky mixed attacker. It also functions as a trapper for latios and latias.
Offensive
Lead rate 35619/108109 = 39.95%
Rotom-W has a favorable match up against most rain teams and sand teams with its dual STABs. It can carry choice scarf to outspeed other offensive leads or choice specs to beat bulky leads like tyranitar. It also has only one weakness too. Perhaps the best reason its used so much is its access to volt switch, because it has the ability to scout the lead and switch out to the appropriate counter.
Lead rate 8731/18017 = 48.46%
Mienshao has amazing offensive capabilities with life orb and a 130 base power Hi Jump Kick. It also has access to fake out if you want to use it as a lead to break sashes. It has a good 105 base speed and with u-turn and regeneration, it can constantly be in the field and help you scout. If mienshao can outspeed the opponent's lead there are very few risks with sending it out.
Honorable Mentions
Lead rate 3577/13626 = 26.25%
Sabelye has no weaknesses and has access to priority taunt, giving it the advantage against hazard leads. With priority will o wisp it can cripple physical leads like mienshao, tyranitar, and landorus. With some investment, it can take multiple hits too.
So, in this thread, we should discuss
lead usage/total usage
Ideally with team preview each pokemon should lead 16.67% of the time.
For example, from the November statistics
Deoxys-s 49519 times led/73245 times used = 67.61%
This tells us that deoxys-s is constantly being chosen as a lead over 2/3 of the time it was used. I usually put leads in 3 categories, hazard, weather, and offensive, and some leads actually fit in both categories.
Hazard
Lead rate 3007/5392 = 55.77%
Deoxys-D carries great 160 base defenses and few exposed weaknesses, as well as carrying both stealth rock and spikes. So, why is this lead most often seen on offensive teams? Part of this is the banning of Deoxys-S. Once the fastest spiker was gone, people were looking at its other forme, which still had a decent 90 speed. With speed investment and a positive nature, it can still taunt on many of the threats deoxys-s would, and it didn't need a focus sash either.
Weather
Lead rate 39725/79826 = 45.76%
Politoed is being used as a lead commonly because it can set up rain, which can support the rest of the team, powering hydro pumps and making hurricanes 100% accurate. It also has only 2 weaknesses, and it can run a variety of sets, including bulky, specs, scarf, and chestorest. It also doesn't sit there and do nothing either. It carries decent support moves like toxic and perish song, as well as abusing its own drizzle boost with hydro pumps.
Lead rate 28656/94297 = 30.39%
Tyranitar is also being used as a lead to set up sandstorm, like politoed. It gets monstrous bulk due to sandstorm and its base 100 hp stat too. It has access to Stealth rock, and like politoed, can run a multitude of sets. Boah, scarf, band, and bulky mixed attacker. It also functions as a trapper for latios and latias.
Offensive
Lead rate 35619/108109 = 39.95%
Rotom-W has a favorable match up against most rain teams and sand teams with its dual STABs. It can carry choice scarf to outspeed other offensive leads or choice specs to beat bulky leads like tyranitar. It also has only one weakness too. Perhaps the best reason its used so much is its access to volt switch, because it has the ability to scout the lead and switch out to the appropriate counter.
Lead rate 8731/18017 = 48.46%
Mienshao has amazing offensive capabilities with life orb and a 130 base power Hi Jump Kick. It also has access to fake out if you want to use it as a lead to break sashes. It has a good 105 base speed and with u-turn and regeneration, it can constantly be in the field and help you scout. If mienshao can outspeed the opponent's lead there are very few risks with sending it out.
Honorable Mentions
Lead rate 3577/13626 = 26.25%
Sabelye has no weaknesses and has access to priority taunt, giving it the advantage against hazard leads. With priority will o wisp it can cripple physical leads like mienshao, tyranitar, and landorus. With some investment, it can take multiple hits too.
So, in this thread, we should discuss
- How common are "lead" pokemon in a metagame with team preview?
- What kinds of lead pokemon exist?
- What qualities do lead pokemon have in common