It has been announced that following the current OU tour, tiering will be adjusted according to a composite viability ranking. In preparation for this, I have been considering deeply the future of my favorite tier, LGPE UU. With the introduction of potential defensive pieces such as snorlax, and the current existence of pokemon such as Alolan Persian and Electrode, I would like to propose to the council that we release Mewtwo into LGPE UU. Mewtwo’s descent into UU should be seen as a statistical inevitability, as it has received a cumulative 0% (zero percent) usage rate in the past 7 LGPE OU tours. This demonstrates that it holds no real niche in the OU metagame. Despite this, the council refuses to allow this cool cat its due course (falling into the lower tiers).
Mewtwo would fit quite naturally into the LGPE UU metagame, providing added offensive diversity, especially in regards to Mega Evolutions. It is widely accepted that there are only 3 mega evolutions worth seriously considering in the tier, namely Slowbro, Kangaskhan, and Pidgeot (in order of viability). Mewtwo introduces two dynamic new options for mega evolutions. Mega Mewtwo Y provides the tier with a flexible special attacking option, while Mewtwo X is a surprisingly bulky physical attacker. This provides quite a bit of variety to the tier and could even work to promote new options and innovation, such as stun spore and self destruct Exeggutor and a resurgence of Mega Pinsir (the coolest mega) if supported by thunder wave. This innovation could freshen up a tier which has been described by some as “a little stinky”.
The natural reaction to hearing such a proposal is, of course, shock and disgust. How can we expect the weak and wimpy UU tier to stand up to my 11 year old cousin’s favorite pokemon? We saw what he did to Ash in the movie, after all. I don’t know what I would do if my beloved Mega Kangaskhan and her beautiful child turned to stone before my very eyes. These fears are valid. However, I would like to quote US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Mewtwo is quite an impressive force. However, it is not exactly capable of handling the entire tier all on its own. After all, mewtwo can only have one moveset, consisting of four moves. Movesets that lean strictly into special offense risk falling victim to a well-timed thunder wave from Chansey. Once paralyzed, Mewtwo Y can be OHKOed by the tier’s most prominent stealth rock user, Pinsir, after stealth rock damage. Electrode can also outspeed Mewtwo Y and paralyze it, before slowly chipping it down with foul play, ensuring that it won’t be at full HP, making revenge killing a very simple solution. Mewtwo X is able to handle Chansey, but is not able to outspeed Electrode. It also is weaker into Mega Pidgeot and Mega Slowbro (who is notable for being the best pokemon in LGPE UU). The former can withstand a psychic from Mewtwo X and deal dangerous damage in return with Air Slash, and the latter can withstand repeated attacks while chipping Mewtwo X with shadow ball, which out-damages recover. Mewtwo X also struggles to fit a move into its set that can handle Exeggutor, who threatens sleep, paralysis, and leech seed. Mewtwo is a threatening pokemon, but UU has plenty of these in the tier already.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
I think Mewtwo’s most interesting contributions to the tier are in its potential as a support pokemon. A set with psychic, thunder wave, recover, and taunt gives it tools against pokemon like Exeggutor, who would love to spread status all over your team. Mewtwo also has good bulk, allowing it to live a hit from your opponent’s Mega Mewtwo and paralyze it in return. You can then taunt the paralyzed Mega to prevent it from recovering. At this point, your team is free to wear down the Mega, while your own Mewtwo lives to fire off STAB psychics from its respectable base 154 special attack stat.
"Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will."
While the above points seem compelling, I think it would be better to show you a demonstration of how Mewtwo can fit into the LGPE UU tier. The following are replays from a $30 money match between myself and professional LGPE UU player Not Here, Cassette Ape. I believe that these matches demonstrate just how manageable Mewtwo can be in this tier.
Replays:
(Win V Mewtwo Y)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7letsgoou-2332420944-8gn4dj5u7ocouma01d2book86oooytbpw
(Win V Mewtwo X)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7letsgoou-2332427066-r5u5ay67oeyydgcb1ifblhcrir5v304pw
(Support Mewtwo Win V Mewtwo Y)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7letsgoou-2332430158-gv48rk9jkjmbfrebh0ymgfvunw3ytn5pw
“This above all: to thine own self be true…”
Allowing Mewtwo into the LGPE UU tier would present a multitude of creative team building options which would allow players to express themselves freely. Mewtwo has been forced to languis in non-use, having no real role in LGPE OU. It is only just, fair, and morally upstanding to allow this lovely creature into LGPE UU, where it can contribute to a dynamic, engaging metagame.