★ np: SS UU Stage 7 - Hungry Like the Wolf (DLC2 plans - see post #42)

[Glitchwood High]

I'm wondering if weather is going to become incredibly strong in UU now. I've heard that drizzle is being unbanned, and venusaur is coming back into the tier, plus the unbanning of ninetales-a means Veil Offense is going to be everywhere.

Sun teams basically live and die by Venusaur and now that it's coming back, they're gonna be really strong. Drizzle-well, you know, it's strong too. Even though Politoed sucks, setting drizzle automatically is more than enough for Kingdra, Omastar and Ludicolo to get to work (alongside Azumarill and potentially Crawdaunt, if those drop). Also I'm not sure if Tyranitar is dropping but if it is, Dracozolt, Lycanroc and Landorus-Incarnate (if it drops) are gonna be menaces too. And then you have Ninetales-A doing it's own thing. I'm not saying every team is going to be either drizzle, sun, sand or ninetales-a, but the majority of teams will probably fall into that niche. Hence why I'm now using Lickilicky.



Sidenote: Victini is probably dropping, which means that V-create is going to be a MENACE. How many defensive mons does it run over? Celesteela, Aegislash, Skarmory, defensive Jirachi, Mandibuzz (if that drops), Primarina, Registeel, Rhyperior, Scizor, Tapu Bulu, heck even Volcanion. Let's not mention venusaur, gyarados, and literally every single defensive mon in UU. As a wallbreaker it's only problem is that it can't sweep due to the stat drops from v-create, but that can be overlooked due to the horrid lack of checks for V-create. Let's not even talk about Sun teams..

Jolly Nature w/ Orb

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Aegislash-Shield: 361-429 (111.4 - 132.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Celesteela: 447-530 (112.5 - 133.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 361-429 (108 - 128.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jirachi: 460-541 (113.8 - 133.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Victini Bolt Strike vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Mandibuzz: 216-255 (51 - 60.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Registeel: 346-408 (95 - 112%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO (credit to registeel for even taking a hit lmao)

0 SpA Life Orb Victini Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 244 HP / 188 SpD Solid Rock Rhyperior: 413-487 (95.6 - 112.7%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
With investment that becomes...
44 SpA Life Orb Victini Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 244 HP / 188 SpD Solid Rock Rhyperior: 433-511 (100.2 - 118.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Slowbro Galar seems to be the only mon that can take the v-create and can use eerie spell to drain it's pp.

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tapu Bulu: 416-494 (120.9 - 143.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Victini Bolt Strike vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Volcanion: 263-309 (87.3 - 102.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

252 Atk Life Orb Victini Bolt Strike vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Volcanion: 263-309 (87.3 - 102.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

-1 252 Atk Life Orb Victini Bolt Strike vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Gyarados: 380-447 (96.4 - 113.4%) -- 75% chance to OHKO

Now imagine this with an adamant nature...or even a choice band. Fear Victini.

 

[Glitchwood High]

haha uu in 4.5 hours go brrrrr

honestly uu is dead

I mean for sure it's gonna be unrecognizable but after November 15th things will be alright. Hopefully. Anyways, anytime there's a dlc drop or pokemon home uu dies and is reborn again, so no worries.

 

[Glitchwood High]

hey ! be sure to check this :
View attachment 286981
as you can see, steel does NOT resist fire ! maybe try your calcs with non steels mon !

I did calcs for lots of non-steel mons, like Mandibuzz and Venusaur and Rhyperior and Gyarados. You would know that if you read what I said. And anyways, the majority of good defensive mons are steel type, or get melted by v-create anyways. Before you say anything else:

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Weezing-Galar: 208-247 (62.2 - 73.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
(zen headbutt also 2hkos so you don't even need v-create)

252 Atk Life Orb Victini Bolt Strike vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Slowbro: 216-255 (54.8 - 64.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Slowbro does okay enough if it starts spamming bolt strike...maybe, but if it presses scald even once it dies. It doesn't do much other than be u-turn bait.

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 452-534 (114.7 - 135.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Hyper voice deals a whopping 20% against victini, too.

252 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 252 HP / 200 Def Slowbro-Galar: 273-321 (69.2 - 81.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Even with reduced defense scald only deals 60% at most.

as you can see, a lot of non steel type mons fear victini all the same! maybe try your comments with actual content

 

[Jade]

shifts

h

Aegislash moved from OU to UUBL
Gengar moved from OU to UUBL
Hawlucha moved from OU to UUBL
Primarina moved from OU to UUBL
Aerodactyl moved from OU to UU
Alakazam moved from OU to UU
Amoonguss moved from OU to UU
Articuno-Galar moved from OU to UU
Azelf moved from OU to UU
Azumarill moved from OU to UU
Blacephalon moved from OU to UU
Buzzwole moved from OU to UU
Celesteela moved from OU to UU
Crawdaunt moved from OU to UU
Cresselia moved from OU to UU
Diancie moved from OU to UU
Entei moved from OU to UU
Glastrier moved from OU to UU
Hatterene moved from OU to UU
Hippowdon moved from OU to UU
Hydreigon moved from OU to UU
Jirachi moved from OU to UU
Kommo-o moved from OU to UU
Kyurem moved from OU to UU
Latias moved from OU to UU
Magnezone moved from OU to UU
Metagross moved from OU to UU
Mew moved from OU to UU
Moltres-Galar moved from OU to UU
Nidoking moved from OU to UU
Nihilego moved from OU to UU
Omastar moved from OU to UU
Raikou moved from OU to UU
Regidrago moved from OU to UU
Regigigas moved from OU to UU
Registeel moved from OU to UU
Rotom-Heat moved from OU to UU
Salamence moved from OU to UU
Scizor moved from OU to UU
Skarmory moved from OU to UU
Slowking-Galar moved from OU to UU
Stakataka moved from OU to UU
Suicune moved from OU to UU
Tangrowth moved from OU to UU
Tapu Bulu moved from OU to UU
Tapu Lele moved from OU to UU
Thundurus moved from OU to UU
Thundurus-Therian moved from OU to UU
Togekiss moved from OU to UU
Toxtricity moved from OU to UU
Uxie moved from OU to UU
Victini moved from OU to UU
Volcanion moved from OU to UU
Volcarona moved from OU to UU
Zeraora moved from OU to UU

Archeops moved from OU to RU
Articuno moved from OU to RU
Kabutops moved from OU to RU
Nidoqueen moved from OU to RU
Regice moved from OU to RU
Rhyperior moved from OU to RU
Tornadus moved from OU to RU
Xurkitree moved from OU to RU

Aggron moved from OU to NU
Audino moved from OU to NU
Aurorus moved from OU to NU
Carbink moved from OU to NU
Cradily moved from OU to NU
Crobat moved from OU to NU
Electivire moved from OU to NU
Regirock moved from OU to NU
Sceptile moved from OU to NU
Spiritomb moved from OU to NU
Tyrantrum moved from OU to NU

Absol moved from OU to PU
Altaria moved from OU to PU
Armaldo moved from OU to PU
Calyrex moved from OU to PU
Carracosta moved from OU to PU
Cryogonal moved from OU to PU
Guzzlord moved from OU to PU
Jynx moved from OU to PU
Magmortar moved from OU to PU
Mesprit moved from OU to PU
Relicanth moved from OU to PU
Walrein moved from OU to PU
Zygarde-10% moved from OU to PU

 

[Moutemoute]

Also :
• Slowbro rise to OU
• Tornadus, Xurkitree, Crobat, Nidoqueen and Zydog are below UU but probably viable in the tier

 

[Clefable]

Can I get some clarification please on why some mons dropped directly to UU but some dropped directly to BL?

 

[Moutemoute]

Can I get some clarification please on why some mons dropped directly to UU but some dropped directly to BL?

Everything is explained bellow :
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/tiering-for-generation-8.3657121/post-8631252

Also the UUBL are not UUBL but UU since we decided (the council) to unban everything..

 

[Fusion Flare]

I think I speak for everyone when I say:

LETS

FUCKING

GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ViZar]

Can I get some clarification please on why some mons dropped directly to UU but some dropped directly to BL?

The UUBL Pokémon were UU, but got banned. So when they rise to OU and then drop again they get UUBL

 

[SpookMÆN]

Ye who cares about old meta king Scizor dropping, we finally got KLANGER, cant wait to get swept by some cheese HO on ladder

 

[Sickist]

Hey we got some of OUs "staples" like Tangrowth, Rotom-H, Amoonguss, Magnezone. Time to play bw ou

 

[WMAR]

Does Drizzle count as an unban?

 

[G-Luke]

Scizor and Scyther in the same tier hell yeah

 

[ViZar]

It's really funny how Tapu Lele was predicted to get banned to Ubers, because we thought it gets Expanding Force and now it's UU.
How the tables have turned.

 

[Perish Song]

Lmfao this is literally Tribal Migration UU edition. I hope the metagame can adapt.

The first thing to notice is that there are next to no Ghost resists in the tier, while we have Blacephalon dropping. Be sure to watch out for that. To nobody's surprise, Aegislash and Gengar are already UUBL so Blace is likely to follow immediately.

 

[G-Luke]

Lmfao this is literally Tribal Migration UU edition. I hope the metagame can adapt.

The first thing to notice is that there are next to no Ghost resists in the tier, while we have Blacephalon dropping. Be sure to watch out for that. To nobody's surprise, Aegislash and Gengar are already UUBL so Blace is likely to follow immediately.

Yall skeeping on Rest Talk Moltres Galar

 

[AllTerrainVen0moth]

Im literally singing Witch Doctor to the amount of pokemon that dropped holy frick

 

[Eve]

​

Welcome to the first UU VERN (noiVErn RaNkings)! Experts agree that this is the best way to measure a Pokemon's potential in the tier. Pokemon are ordered alphabetically in ranks, and only Pokemon that dropped to UU are ranked. These rankings are objective and factual and I won't be accepting feedback at this time.

S RANK: These Pokemon have amazing matchups against Noivern. They still get U-Turned on lol
Totally invalidates Noivern. Heavy Slam cleanly 2HKOs and Flamethrower does negative damage Gets U-Turned on.
Ice Beam and ridiculous bulk go brrrrrrrrr Gets U-Turned on.
Unless it becomes popular enough to warrant Noivern running Flash Cannon you body it. Gets U-Turned on.
Can be 2HKOd by Hurricane if Max HP Max Sp.Atk but otherwise you're winning and probably setting up a CM or Trick room in the process. That means you don't really care about getting U-Turned on but you're still getting U-Turned on
Just like everything ever related to Mew, MU depends entirely on set. Mew can be an amazing Noivern answer or entirely useless against it. Because of the former it's up here though. Gets U-Turned on.
Absolutely dominates Noivern, taking 45% max from Draco Meteor with no defensive investment and OHKOing in return with Power Gem. Gets U-Turned on.
Amazing Noivern matchup. Tanks all its hits and punishes back with an easy OHKO. Gets U-Turned on.

Can tank Noivern's hits easily and heal them off with Slack Off and Regenerator while threatening back with strong attacks. Gets U-Turned on.
Uses Noivern as setup fodder for Calm Mind. Gets U-Turned on.
OHKOs with either STAB and doesn't care about anything except Hurricane at all. Gets U-Turned on.
Not even 2HKOd by Hurricane and can heal all the damage off while hitting back hard or setting up. Gets U-Turned on.

A RANK: These Pokemon are very solid answers to Noivern with minor drawbacks.

Avoids a 2HKO from Draco Meteor and Hurricane without any defensive investment, allowing it to heal with Recover and threaten a 2HKO with Psychic or Freezing Glare. Reliant on Boots to switch in consistently. Gets U-Turned on.
Bulkless variants are 2HKOd by Hurricane, otherwise tanks well. Gets U-Turned on.

Can switch in on even Flamethrower if bulk invested and then OHKO. Support with Wish or something and this is a super sturdy switchin. Reliant on Boots to switch in consistently. Gets U-Turned on.
Tanks Noivern very well but can be annoyed to no end by Taunt variants if you don't opt to run the niche Stone Edge. Gets U-Turned on.
Choice Scarf can outspeed and 2HKO/OHKO depending on move, while bulky variants just wall but get U-Turned on.
Easily tanks even Flamethrower and returns fire with a Toxic. Useless against Taunt Noivern. Gets U-Turned on.
Uses Noivern as setup fodder for Trick Room or Stealth Rock. Gets mauled by the extremely niche Focus Blast. Gets U-Turned on.

B RANK: These Pokemon have decently good matchups against Noivern, but have a few flaws that make them suboptimal answers to rely on.
Can tank Noivern's dual STAB well and hit back quite hard, with Choice Specs Shadow Ball even being capable of OHKOing if ran and Head Smash easily OHKOing. Doesn't appreciate Flamethrower which can 2HKO bulkless variants which hurts its ranking. Probably gets U-Turned on if it can't be KO'd.
Does surprisingly well against variants lacking Hurricane or Taunt, able to tank two Flamethrowers after Stealth Rock damage, threaten a Spore and then Regen the damage off. If it's already slept something it can lose though, dealing <40% with Sludge Bomb. Gets U-Turned on.

Wins the 1v1 thanks to Berserk letting Fiery Wrath do enough to outdamage Roost, but isn't a consistent check without unreliable RestTalk and gets U-Turned on.
Can stall non-Taunt Noivern out thanks to its new addition of Rest and get through its Slow Start. However, Rest can make it somewhat exploitable as it gets U-Turned on.
HP invested variants tank 2 Draco Meteors and threaten back with Discharge and Pain Split. Gets U-Turned on.
Bulky variants only care about Hurricane, any variant with Max Attack has minor odds to OHKO with Stone Edge. Without Stone Edge can't really hurt back and gets worn down by Flamethrower though. Gets U-Turned on.
Can actually set up on non-Hurricane (better, traditionally) variants comfortably, especially if running a bulky set. Destroyed by Taunt Noivern 1v1. Doesn't get U-Turned on because of Flame Body.
This Pokemon actually pivots ON Noivern, AND removes its lovely boots. Crazy, right? It also 2HKOs before Noivern can with Plasma Fists, but Draco does a ton in return so be wary.

C RANK: These Pokemon have fairly even matchups with Noivern, or can destroy it if set up. Many of these Pokemon are limited in effectiveness as answers due to their poor longevity.
Can revenge kill Noivern with Stone Edge and doesn't get U-Turned on thanks to its ridiculous Speed, but doesn't like taking Noivern's Draco Meteor which almost OHKOs.
Banded E-Speed 2HKOs and Stone Edge OHKOs, but Draco Meteor can 2HKO (always does after Stealth Rock). Not the worst MU overall
If at +2 with Unburden activated, it OHKOs with Acrobatics; otherwise it's outsped and usually OHKOd after Stealth Rock.
Scarf Hydreigon is a very good RKer to Noivern, other sets despise its existence.
If you've set up a Speed boost then Noivern isn't an answer to you but otherwise you get completely eviscerated. Defensive Rocker sets get killed and Defogged on.
Neither can switch in on the other, Noivern wins 1v1 and checks Substitute variants so it has an edge.
Similar to Kyurem. Can run Choice Scarf more viably but gets U-Turned on for more damage than Kyurem does too if bulky enough to tank a Draco from full.
Choice Specs Magnezone can easily OHKO but it gets easily 2HKOd by Flamethrower too.
If not running Choice Band it requires Ice Punch or Explosion to OHKO Noivern while 2HKOd in return by Noivern who can also remove its Rocks. Gets U-Turned on.
Can tank a Draco after Stealth Rock damage and OHKO with Ice Beam. Gets U-Turned on.
Usually OHKOd by Draco Meteor after Stealth Rock. Does outspeed and OHKO after setup at least.
If set up, wins! If not, loses.
Outsped and 2HKOd by Draco Meteor but OHKOs Noivern if set up. Thunder Wave could help shift this matchup 1v1 but is very difficult to fit
Outsped and 2HKOd by Draco Meteor but OHKOs Noivern if set up.
Tanks its hits and can do whatever it wants in return, which sadly doesn't include actually being able to significantly damage Noivern unless it's some gimmicky setup set outclassed by its siblings or Cresselia. Gets U-Turned on.
252 Atk Victini Bolt Strike vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Noivern: 142-168 (45.6 - 54%) -- 46.9% chance to 2HKO. Lol. Can win if running special with Glaciate though! Gets U-Turned on.

D RANK: These Pokemon might not be free switchins for Noivern, but they still have a poor matchup.
Gets U-Turned on for half its health.
Draco Meteor OHKOs after Stealth Rock. Gets U-Turned on.
Outsped and reliably OHKO'd after Stealth Rock by Draco Meteor. Sub CM sets get ruined by Infiltrator. This thing HATES Noivern.
If you're not Choice Scarf you are getting evaporated
Gets nuked by Draco.
Outsped and usually OHKOd after Stealth Rock.

Outside of bad Choice Scarf or Dragon Dance sets, loses very convincingly to Noivern.
CB BP does a massive chunk but you get eviscerated by Flamethrower so loses to healthy Vern.
Non-AV variants that aim to sleep it get 2HKOd by Flamethrower unless max Sp.Def, AV variants can't do anything meaningful to it. Gets U-Turned on.
Good odds to get 2HKOd by Draco Meteor unless it's running bulk. Can't 2HKO bulkless Noivern at all unless running Choice Specs.

F Rank: Holy shit skarm gets destroyed and can't even hurt it lol
2HKOd by Flamethrower and is generally massive fodder.

 

[okispokis]

It’s here. Just as the phenomenon of the DLC Cascade had reached its nadir last month, a second wave comes washing over the Galar region from the cold front on the Crown Tundra. This front is even more drastic, both bringing more mons to the tier than the front from Isle of Armor and shifting the power level to an extent not really seen following that last cascade. Once solid OU mons now find themselves down in the lower altitude environment, and a few mons returning to UU aren’t quite as stellar as they were before. With the sheer amount of mons dropping, we will likely see many who cannot adapt to the new tier/could be good if they didn’t have so much competition or force themselves out as their presence is simply too disruptive to the ecosystem. While this new meta will probably be as coherent as a dumpster fire in its initial stages, I have tried my best to give a rough analysis of each mon falling this month. The sheer amount of drops means that I’ve had to change up the format of this analysis to not overwhelm my dear readers with a massive wall of text. Given the length of everything, I think it best we just get started.

Approximate Ratings (These rankings aren’t proper viability rankings, but are simply my approximate guess as to how good each mon is in terms of what’s dropping).
S++: Obviously broken.
S+: Broken, but I can see an argument about it being fine (or it’s not as blatantly broken).
S: Great, but I can see arguments about it being broken.
A: Overall great/good.
B: Decent, but has significant flaws.
C: Niche, can fit on some teams.
D: Trash.

Drops with Potential

Amoonguss

Amoonguss once again looks to be the same annoying Regen blob it always is. While it won’t be quite as annoying as Toxapex can be in OU, its solid bulk and ability will make killing it a pain to any team that is unprepared. The fungus’ other major asset is guaranteed sleep in Spore, which can be key in shutting down terrifying set-up sweepers before they get going or creating an opening for an ally sweeper to exploit; Spore is simply a must have for this mon. Other notable tools are Foul Play to prey on sleeping physical sweepers, Sludge Bomb to spread poison and take on most Grasses foolish enough to intercept its Spore, Giga Drain or Synthesis for added sustain and Stomping Tantrum just so it has something for Steels. As much as I hate to say it, this thing looks to be pretty damn good. A+

G. Articuno

While it likely won’t be a top tier in UU, I think Garticuno does have some serious potential. This thing has potential as a late-game Calm Mind sweeper, using its STABs and either Shadow Ball for extra coverage or Recover for longevity. It’s access to U-turn means it could also function as a Specs user, using Competitive in order to deter opposing Defog or Intimidate users. This thing can definitely hit hard, but with certain other drops it can be walled without too much hassle. B+

Azelf

The removal of Pursuit is a dream come true for Azelf, who finally has the ability to run non-lead sets again. That’s not to say lead Azelf is bad, though; it’s fast Stealth Rock and Taunt alongside solid utility like Knock Off or Explosion to KO itself before Rocks can be removed makes it a great lead for HO teams. That said, non-HO teams can utilize it as a fast Nasty Plot sweeper, with solid coverage like Dazzling Gleam and Fire Blast. With its Speed, U-turn and solid attacking sets, it can also function as a solid Choice user; Specs is easy to explain, Scarf makes it a fast AF revenge killer and I think even Band could be viable due to unpredictability and now getting Play Rough for Dark types. Overall, Azelf suddenly has a lot more freedom in what it can do, and looks to be an interesting addition to the tier. A

Azumarill

Compared to last gen, I think Azumarill will be a bit more manageable as 1) this shift is providing a lot of mons it can’t switch in on and 2) it lost access to Z-Belly Drum, so it no longer gets to automatically be at half. Azu’s Belly Drum set is a very all or nothing mon; sometimes you’ll sweep, other times you find something that can live a +6 Aqua Jet and stomp you back, especially with Drum’s self-inflicted damage, a burden which also prevents Azu from switching into anything unless you know it’s a Dragon move. Choice Band has an easier time getting in, but we’re getting several new Grass types that don’t care too much about Jet like Bulu and easily KO back. Don’t get me wrong, this thing is still terrifying with adequate support; I just don’t think it belongs in the broken section. Of course if Drizzle stays unbanned, that could potentially push it over the edge, but I have my doubts about that. S

Buzzwole

Buzzwole’s great physical bulk and Attack stat make it something to be feared. It also gets a really diverse movepool, allowing it to potentially smack any answers; it has Darkest Lariat for Ghost types, Poison Jab for Fairies, Ice Punch/Thunder Punch/Stone Edge for Flying types, and has several forms of recovery. Finally, Beast Boost can allow it to snowball once various checks have been removed. I can picture several viable sets, mainly Choice Band to just smack everything, Choice Scarf to fix its mediocre Speed, or tanky sweeper with Bulk Up + Roost. That said, it does have its downsides: as I mentioned, its Speed is rather unimpressive without Scarf and its special bulk is very underwhelming. A+

Celesteela

With Electric spam in OU reaching critical mass, Celesteela takes refuge in the more inviting environment of UU. With well-rounded stats and a fairly diverse movepool, Steela has quite a few sets to choose from: Leech Seed + Protect/Substitute, Autotomize sweeper with Weakness Policy, and Specs are just some of your options. Beast Boost is a particularly great tool for a mon with Steela’s stats, as it can easily get the boost in either attacking stat or even invest in a defensive stat on bulkier sets. While Steela fills the swiss-army-knife role pretty well, none of its stats are that great and its low speed leaves it vulnerable to a whole army of revenge killers, even if it only sports two weaknesses. Not having any recovery outside Leech Seed is also a tad annoying. Still, that variety means you can easily trick Steela out to fit whatever role your team needs. A

Crawdaunt

The Claw comes back to UU, although it might have a harder time than before. As powerful as its Adaptability STAB still is, we also got a bunch of mons that resist those meaty STABs like Tapu Bulu and Kommo-o, as well as generally buff mons like Buzzwole and Skarmory that can shrug off a hit or two. It’s speed and special bulk is just as miserable as ever, too. That said, STAB still hits pretty hard, especially when boosted by the newly unbanned Drizzle, so I think it might just work out for ol’ Crawdaunt. A

Diggersby

While I was initially hesitant to welcome Diggersby back, I think it could actually be fine given some drops I was not anticipating. The big one is obviously Tapu Bulu, whose Grassy Terrain neuters Digger’s EQ, meaning Normal-resistant mons can stand up to it more easily and bulkier defensive mons become even harder to break. This shift also gave us a bevy of new Flying types and fast offensive mons, both of which make Digger more reliant on Quick Attack to get damage. It still gets a lot of damage if your opponent lacks these checks, but the checks aren’t too difficult to slot on a team. S/A+

Durant

I already went into this guy when I discussed the possibility of returning BL mons, but I think Durant looks to be one of the most manageable returns. The sheer amount of physically bulky mons that can stand in its way means Ant can no longer slot everything it needs onto one set; no matter what you drop, something will be there to stop you. I think Durant will switch to a Hone Claws set over Band since without a +1 it struggles to take out mons like Suicune and Swampert, although that comes with a turn of vulnerability, especially with paper-thin special bulk. With 4MSS now a very real concern for Ant, I think it will be strong but not overwhelming. A

Entei

Entei got several small buffs in the gen shift, between Boots to alleviate its hazard struggles, buffed Inner Focus to prevent intimidation and the ability to use Flare Blitz without being nature locked. With dual STAB, Stone Edge for coverage and priority in E-Speed, Entei looks to be solid AoA. However, needing Boots means it can’t run Life Orb or Band for added power, which may not leave it the most useful physical attacker in practice, especially since its Attack isn’t the highest of the new drops. That said, high burn chance in Sacred Fire and revenge killing via priority does give it a solid role, albeit not one every team has room for. B/B-

Glastrier

Glastrier may be a mon with 145 Attack and a Moxie clone, but I feel it is sufficiently balanced out by its bottom-tier Speed and abysmal defensive typing (with no recovery). That typing, in addition to lacking- any resists, also makes it weak to Rocks, meaning without Boots it can be whittled down easily despite its naturally good bulk; of course, running Boots means you’re not running an offensive item, so without a SD boost it isn’t completely taxing offensively. That said, Chilling Neigh means this thing can still snowball (get it?) late-game once the mons that immediately threaten it are out of the way, plus unlike its ghostly counterpart it actually gets coverage. Glastrier may need support for you to get the most out of it, but those rewards are definitely worth it. S/A+

Hatterene

Hatterene will likely go back to her old witchy tricks, whether that be as a bulky CM sweeper, Trick Room setter or possible Specs/AV user. However, Hatt will probably not be as good as she was before as her once solid bulk now looks considerably less impressive with the mid-gen power creep, which intrinsically makes all her flaws more apparent than before. The main thing that still justifies her usage in UU is that terrific ability in Magic Bounce, as even in the age of Boots the ability to protect your side from hazards is potentially game-changing. Hatt’s definitely still useful, but the new level of power will make her a bit fringe. B

Haxorus

As intimidating as that axe may seem (or- unnerving, I guess?), Haxorus’ meaty Attack stat isn’t enough to invalidate the tier on its own; it needs STAB to consistently break defensive Moltres and the new bulky Waters, needs Close Combat as Hax’s strongest anti-Steel option, needs EQ since it otherwise flails against Nidos, Metagross and Doublade, without Poison Jab/Iron Head it loses to Fairies like Tapu Bulu and Geezing, and on top of that needs boosting to consistently break through tougher walls. Much like Durant, Hax ends up falling short of broken this time thanks to 4MSS. Still, if you can get rid of whatever your coverage fails to hit, Hax is a pure BEAST, demolishing weakened teams or tearing big holes if your opponent can’t predict right. This dude is going to be a premier offensive Dragon (that isn’t banned). A

Hippowdon

With OU preferring the Special bulk and/or respectable power of Tyranitar, Hippowdon finds itself as the de facto face of UU Sand. Hippo serves as a great physical wall, setting Rocks, keeping itself healthy with Slack Off, throwing off consistent EQs and either spreading Toxic or phasing out threats before they can get out of control. Most importantly, though, Hippo’s Sand transforms Dracozolt into a terrifying menace, and this core will easily claim some lives before Zolt inevitably gets banned. Even without Dracozolt, though, Hippowdon looks primed to be a solid support mon in its own right. A+

Hydreigon

Hydreigon is another mon that borders on being broken, but I think it’s common weaknesses to Fairy, Fighting and U-turn alongside many faster threats (unless it’s Scarf) should keep it in check with the new higher power level. Hydreigon has a few viable roles- going all in on its great special power with either NP or Specs, becoming a solid revenge-killer with Scarf or even adopting a stallbreaker set w/Roost like the one it used to moderate success in USUM OU. It definitely has exploitable weaknesses, but Hydra is shaping up to be a great new addition. S

Jirachi

The flinch god is back, although his signature flinch antics probably won’t be so dominant. The influx of bulky mons like Suicune, Swampert and Volcanion, among others, naturally suffocate the old physical Scarf set, which outside of Trick has little to handle them besides praying to RNGesus. As such, I predict that CM Rachi and support/Rocker Rachi may become the new default sets. Of course, you can never be entirely sure about what Jirachi will do thanks to its expansive movepool, with solid coverage on both sides and excellent support options like U-turn, Rocks, Wish and Healing Wish. That versatility, while not as broken as before, is more than enough to keep Rachi near the top of the pack. S/A+

Kommo-o

Another previously banned mon that I’ve softened on a bit, my main worry with Kommo-o was Clangorous Soul, which with an additional +1 from Throat Spray could decimate teams without one of a few Fairy types. However, we ended up getting a few drops I wasn’t expecting, which do include several solid checks like Primarina, which isn’t OHKOed by +1 Poison Jab unless you’re +Attack nature. I still think Soul Kom can be terrifying in the right circumstances, but it’s not complete overkill. You can also run the more defensive set it uses in OU, but I feel the lower power level allows offensive sets to put in more work, making it the better option. Still, both routes are perfectly viable. A

Kyurem

Kyurem was probably one of the most obvious drops this shift, since there’s not really much reason to use it over the unbanned Kyurem-Black. While it may have been dumped rather unceremoniously, Kyurem will likely set out to remind us why it was one of the most feared UU mons when it first dropped. Specs is just as terrifying as ever, packing IceDry, dropping Dracos and firing off either Earth Power or Focus Blast for Steels. Equally as threatening is SubRoost, which keeps up the offensive pressure while applying its literal Pressure and Sub-stalling to deplete vital PP. However, the power-creep also makes Rem’s speed tier a bit less special, as we now have more threats that can force it out. Such is the way of Rem: switching into it is a pain, but once you’re in revenging it isn’t too difficult. A-

Lycanroc-Dusk

Duskroc comes back to its prime hunting ground, ready to just spam attacks and open up holes for its teammates. The AoA set it utilized before its ban will probably return as the dominant set due to Duskroc’s noted difficulty in safely setting up: STAB priority Accelerock, CC, Crunch and Psychic Fangs/Iron Head hits most of the meta pretty hard. That said, the increased bulk level means that, while Duskroc still hits as hard as ever, bulkier teams now have greater ease in playing around it- what I mean is that UU has a lot more mons that can shrug off a hit if it’s not SE, allowing to to rack up LO recoil on the wolf. Admittedly, I’m a bit more on the fence about this guy than some of the other unbans, but I think it could work. S

Magnezone

Whenever Steel types seek to block your assault, Magnezone is there to help. With a decent offensive STAB combo, hitting non-Swampert Waters and Fairies hard, Volt Switch to retain momentum and Body Press to take advantage of Magnet Pull. Zone probably wishes it could just use a Special attack for anti-Steel coverage instead of having to invest separately for Press, but given the new plethora of Steels and respectably powerful Tbolt it will probably be solid albeit unspectacular. A-

Metagross

While Metagross would probably prefer to still have Pursuit, it still seems set as a solid attacker. With strong Steel STAB in Meteor Mash and solid priority in Bullet Punch it tears through Fairies, alongside solid attacking options like Zen Headbutt, EQ, Hammer Arm, Thunder Punch and Explosion, among others. Its great physical bulk allows it to take hits on a powerful Band set, reliably set Rocks or even run a gimmicky but fun Agility + Weakness Policy set. Of course, it still has several notable type weaknesses like Ground and Dark, but any unprepared team will get smacked hard. A

Mew

It’s no longer a myth: UU Mew is back! With a movepool that puts all other Pokemon to shame (which I can say since Smeargle isn’t around) and decent stats across the board, it’s less a question of what Mew can do and more about what it can’t. If I was to really list every set Mew could potentially run in UU, with all its boosting options, strong coverage and superb utility, we’d probably be here another hour. For now, let’s just leave it at- despite having common weaknesses and a mediocre ability, Mew is easily one of the most interesting drops this shift. A+

G. Moltres

Goltres may be a fairly one-dimensional offensive threat, but with Berserk it can potentially rack up its only okay 100 SpA. With Nasty Plot, dual STAB and Agility, Goltres is capable of becoming a potent late game sweeper. You can just go STABs + RestTalk and leverage your bulk for multiple Berserk boosts, but RestTalk is a lot more RNG reliant and can leave you vulnerable to powerful physical attackers when relying on that Sleep Talk roll. Those are really the only 2 options, as Specs sets are unviable due to lack of coverage (seriously, why does this thing not get Heat Wave?) or even Defog for utility. Its lack of recovery outside Rest and inability to hit things that resist its STABs unless it can rack up multiple boosts mean that Goltres has serious flaws both offensively and defensively. Ultimately, I think it will barely hold onto its UU rank, if it even does. B

Nidoking

Sheer Force go brrr. You’d probably never think that 85 SpA would be too impressive, but Nidoking has been running with it for 3 generations already so why stop now? With the extra kick from LO, King becomes a deceptively strong attacker, between its STABs and key coverage in BoltBeam and Fire Blast it has a SE hit for most of the tier (at least potentially). Of course, you can also drop your choice of coverage for Substitute to ensure any mon the outspeeds you can’t just take you out, considering that King is not exactly the bulkiest mon. That only okay speed and bulk is what keeps it from being a meta-defining threat, but it still gets the job done. A-

Nihilego

Nihilego has quite a decent movepool, packing solid coverage like Grass Knot, Thunderbolt and Psychic, as well as hazards in Rock and TSpikes. Its SpA and Speed, alongside Beast Boost, allow it to run an effective Specs, Scarf or AoA set, with the aforementioned hazards providing it some valuable utility. However, Nihilego did get one significant blow via the loss of Hidden Power, meaning it now gets walled by most Steel types, which isn’t too great considering the influx of Steels we see this drop. That’s not to say Nihil is bad now, but I can see struggling a lot more than last gen. B+

Omastar

You might be just as surprised I’m putting Omastar on the main list as I am that it even landed in UU at all, but Omastar has several great qualities in UU. Swift Swim allows it to be decently speedy and boost the STAB off its already okay 115 SpA, Shell Smash + Hydro Pump/Earth Power/Ice Beam allows it to be a potent late-game sweeper in and out of rain (although it still prefers with) and laying Spikes or Rocks alongside its Armors allows it to also serve as an HO lead or a setter who can come in multiple times. Granted, there are some mons who outspeed even after the smash and its awful defensive typing leaves it vulnerable to multiple metagame superstars, but I can see this guy having some decent usage. B if rain stays, C if it leaves.

Primarina

Primarina has had a fairly controversial track record in UU, whether by its free reign during the USUM days or its ban this gen. While Prima has lost Z moves and HP compared to last gen, it also gained CM to serve as a bulky sweeper and pivoting in Flip Turn, which greatly benefits Choice sets. However, I feel that the power level has increased by a margin where Prima is no longer overwhelming. The CM set that got it banned now has to compete with the infamous CroCune, which backs superior bulk and a better defensive ability in Pressure. There are generally a lot more mons that resist Water STAB now, including scary Grass types like Bulu and Venusaur. In addition the return of Venu will undoubtedly promote Sun again in the upcoming weather wars, which further weakens Prima. Not too scary without a boost, Prima may end up falling back on its Specs and Scarf sets utilizing Flip Turn, where it’ll be good but not overwhelming (we already have stronger Choice attacks like Chandelure in the mix). A+

Raikou

Raikou would probably still like HP, but the addition of Scald means that it’s not helpless against opposing Ground types; it also likes that Aura Sphere is no longer nature locked. Rai has the option to utilize either a fast CM set (possibly paired with Substitute) or go for a speedy Specs set packing Tbolt/Scald/Aura/Volt Switch. However, weather wars allow it to go even further, trading in for more powerful STAB in Thunder and using the now-unlocked Weather Ball for an even harder hit against Ground types (it should be noted that any Raikou users should keep an eye on Seismotoad, who could easily pop up again in a weather-heavy meta). Even if Drizzle is taken away again, Rai still has what it needs to be a good offensive Electric. A

Regidrago

Dragon SPAM- er, I mean Regidrago utilizes its absurd ability in Dragon’s Maw to fire off super-strong STAB attacks. Drago will most likely lean physical since that route gives it some coverage, namely Hammer Arm to hit Steels. Much like its brother Regieleki in OU, Drago is obviously held back by its terrible movepool, having little to hit opposing Fairies unless it KOs itself with Explosion (which doesn’t even work on Mimikyu). It’s stats are also not much to write home about, with a meh speed stat and terrible defenses which betray its hefty HP stat. Still, the sheer power of STAB is probably enough that you have to run a Fairy type just in case in bites its way into battle. S/A+

Rotom-Heat

Having 3 Rotom-A’s in the tier may take a bit of getting used to, but Heattom is definitely no slouch compared to the Washer or Mower. With Boots it serves as either a reliable defensive pivot or late-game NP cleaner, while Choice sets with the requisite Trick prove a nuisance in its right. The return of weather wars also means more Sun to boost its already strong Overheat. However, non-Choice sets are restricted a bit since they need Boots to bypass that Stealth Rock weakness, meaning they lack the luxury of Leftovers that Washtom and Mowtom have. Still, the dominance Heattom has displayed this gen against the other Rotoms is unlikely to dissipate so easily. A

Scizor

Scizor is quite the versatile menace; you’ve got the SD or Curse sweeper, powerful Bander and defensive Defogger to worry about. All sets utilize Scizor’s signature claim to fame in Technician Bullet Punch, which can cleave through mons that don’t resist it and is especially great considering the influx of Fairies, making it a great partner for Regidrago. It also packs notable tools in STAB U-turn, powerful Knock Off, recovery in Roost and notable coverage in Superpower and Technician-boosted Dual Wingbeat. It does have flaws thanks to its low speed and 4x Fire weakness, but this is gonna be an easy top tier. S

Skarmory

If its brief stint in UU following the IoA drop is anything to go by, Skarmory will be a mighty fine addition to the tier. With great physical bulk and Roost, it walls some of the most dangerous breakers in the tier, including Duskroc, Haxorus and Bulu. It mainly makes its name through the hazard game, reliably Defogging and packing both Spikes and Rocks (I find that Spikes is usually better). It also got a great new attack in Body Press, which operates off of its great Defense stat, has Toxic for most of the Ghosts in the tier and occasional Whirlwind to phase out sweepers and rack up hazard damage. Granted, the return of Rain, rise of Sun and presence of multiple strong Electrics mean it's a bit easier to crack now, but Steel bird will keep on chugging. A+

G. Slowking

Glowking packs several advantages over its Johto counterpart, with higher SpA and fewer weaknesses (not being weak to U-turn). Granted, it does lack Teleport, but Glowking still functions as a bulky Regen user, especially with Assault Vest (which notably outclasses Glowbro); AV will basically just be Glowbro’s AV set, but possibly with Eerie Spell for Psychic STAB. It also still has the NP set with dual STAB and Fire Blast available. Speaking of Eerie Spell, its great secondary effect of PP drainage can be useful against STALL, but is limited by low PP and only okay BP- you need to use Spell very selectively. Of course, its typing also gives it an EQ weakness, so Bulu’s Grassy Terrain is greatly appreciated. Like all Regen users, it is also vulnerable to being relied on too heavily, as even that level of healing can only go so far. Glowking may not be flashy or as great as Slowbro, but if you need a bulky RegenVest user, he’s your guy. A-

Suicune

Guess who’s back. Back again. CroCune’s back. Tell a friend. Yessir, Suicune is back and uses its good bulk and Pressure to be a rare effective RestTalker, the epitome of a bulky CM sweeper. Cune also has some other variants of this role such as SubProtect and a rare CM + 3 attacks, although the latter isn’t too great since it doesn’t capitalize on its great bulk as much. Sure, there are a few new UU mons, most notably Bulu, who give Cune a hard time, but once those nuisances are gone, CroCune can show why it is one of the longest lasting sets in all of singles. A

Tapu Bulu

While Bulu may have been cast from its OU throne by upstart Rillaboom, UU proves a much different story. Simply put, I can easily see this guy being one of the best new options for the tier. Thanks to its terrain, Bulu’s Wood Hammer hits like a truck while its STAB Horn Leech provides ample recovery. More impressive than its raw power, though, is the great amount of set variety Bulu possesses: as I already discussed on the speculation thread, Bulu can go for a power Band set, a bulky & cheeky AV set, a powerful cleaner with SD, a bulky sweeper with- er, Bulk Up, a surgical stallbreaker thanks to Nature’s Madness or a bulky SubSeeder with a highly flexible fourth slot (it may also be able to go Scarf, but there’s better options for super-strong Scarfer). So, why is this guy not deemed broken? Well, without Scarf his speed is rather mediocre, allowing him to be taken down by the horde of faster offensive mons, many of which have a way to hit him SE. Weather Wars are also not that great for him, as Sun teams have no shortage of answers while Rain enables a good deal of Hurricane spam (also Hail has an advantage over him, I guess?). Bulu also has a bit of 4MSS, as it wants dual Grass STAB but also CC for Steels, Stone Edge for Flying, Darkest Lariat to hit Doublade and Latias, Zen Headbutt for Geezing and Amoonguss (which is otherwise a thoroughly mediocre option)- you get the idea. While I wouldn’t say Bulu is too much, I have no illusion he won’t be great despite those issues. A+

Thundurus-Therian

Thundurus-T has been in a bit of a bind in singles, not as good as its Incarnate form but too strong for UU. However, gen 8 brought a major nerf with the loss of HP, denying it special Flying STAB and HP Ice to complement its Electric spam. The loss of Ice is especially crucial as Thundy now has to get separate coverage for Ground and Grass types: without Grass Knot or Weather Ball (Rain) it gets walled by Ground types, and also can’t do much to most Grass types without Sludge Bomb/Wave. This makes its potentially scary NP set somewhat predictable. Still, Thundurus is still no slouch offensively, having the choice between NP, Scarf to patch its only okay Speed and possibly Specs for sheer power (Choice sets slap on Volt Switch). No matter which set it chooses, it has to deal with predictability and/or a host of fast revenge killers. It’s powerful, but it’s not too much worse than Chandelure- at least, until you factor Drizzle into the equation. Rain allows Thundy to run Weather Ball (Rain), a more consistent option than Knot, and slap on stronger STAB Thunder. Predictability is still an issue under rain, but this factor may be enough to push it over the edge. I was a bit hesitant to put Thundy in the main section mainly because of its ability to be UU Zapdos, but if Drizzle is rebanned I don’t think he’ll be too bad. I can see a meta with Drizzle being balanced, I can see a meta with Thundy being balanced, but it gets harder to see the meta being balanced with both of them. S

Togekiss

Togekiss packs a surprising amount of variety into its- omletty?- wings. With decent bulk, reliable recovery and Boots, Kiss packs quite a lot of support between Defog, Heal Bell and TWave. Of course, we all know what this mon truly does best- “Air Slash flinch go brrrr”. This ability to ratchet up the annoyance against slower teams is bolstered by its access to NP, making this inherently gimmicky shit into something that tears teams apart with ease if the RNG lines up. Kiss also has solid anti-Steel coverage in Aura Sphere and Flamethrower/Fire Blast, meaning a double attacker set is possible and can get the jump on those who don’t expect it. Kiss has a few flaws, but nothing too major. A-/B+

Toxtricity

Toxtricity was another of the inevitable drops considering that OU Electrics now have the likes of Koko, Zapdos and Regieleki running around. Tox definitely still has a unique niche thanks to Punk Rock STAB and Boomburst, but it will likely struggle a lot more considering the power creep that has set in; its power is still good, but its subpar speed and almost non-existent defensive utility make it a breaker one can’t just slap onto any team. Tox finds its main usage against STALL, where its lack of speed isn’t so debilitating and it may be able to use a powerful Specs set. Its best set for the whole meta will probably be Shift Gear, which allows Tox the speed to actually be a scary offensive threat. Still, Tox will often find itself wanting Web support; sadly, its days in the spotlight are probably over. B

Venusaur

Having been booted from the tier twice already this gen, the upcoming weather wars may be what makes third time the charm. Venusaur is an immeasurable asset to Sun, becoming fast AF and firing off Sun-boosted Solar Beam and Weather Ball, alongside good anti-Fairy STAB in Sludge Bomb. These three moves are all givens (unless you want weaker but more reliable STAB in Energy Ball), but that fourth slot gives you some options; Growth turns Venu from cleaner to sweeper, Sleep Powder or Knock Off helps provide utility for the team while softening Venu’s checks, and Earth Power allows you to go AoA and get the jump on the likes of Tentacruel and maintain anti-Steel coverage outside of Sun. Speaking of, Venu actually wants Drizzle to stay, as Rain being a serious option for the tier means that Sun, and by extension itself, won’t be consistently overwhelming considering rain tends to be the best check to sun (given that its the weather that tends to dominate a weather war). Honestly, I think power creep will prevent Venu from being too powerful this time around regardless, but there’ll be no reason for another ban if Venu has other weathers to keep it down. A+

Volcanion

Another bulky Defogger with newfound hazard immunity, Volcanion stands out from the other such Defoggers thanks to Water Absorb, which combined with boosted Steam Eruption makes it a great check to many rain abusers. It also packs good physical bulk, proving a nuisance to otherwise terrifying physical breakers (it's the reason Durant needs Rock coverage now). Its movepool is also nothing to scoff at, with powerful Fire STAB complementing Steam Eruption, on top of useful coverage in Earth Power and Sludge Bomb. However, being a bulky mon with no recovery is always annoying, especially when any non-Choice set basically has to run Boots over Leftovers. Speaking of, a Specs set does have some moderate potential, but you need hazard support since Volc is vulnerable to all hazards. B+

Weavile

Triple Axel might seem like enough to make Weavile broken, but upon closer examination of what’s dropping it might not be so bad. Weavile would probably love to just spam STAB, but without Low Kick it struggles to take on bulky Steels and lacking Poison Jab means Fairies, especially Primarina and Fini, just set up in your face if unboosted. Furthermore, the drop also includes several great priority users like Scizor, Duskroc and Zygarde 10%, making revenging Weavile a bit easier; finally, it has to watch for Rocks since its pitiful bulk prevents Boots from being good on it. Of course, its power is nothing to be laughed off, especially with its terrific Speed tier; Triple Axel and Knock Off bring the power, especially backed by SD + LO or Band, and STAB priority in Ice Shard never hurts. Weavile is a very all or nothing mon, with any player needing to decide if those benefits make up for some notable weaknesses. S

Zeraora

One of several Electric types to fall down here, Zeraora is unique thanks to its physical orientation (besides Zolt, but we all know that’s getting banned). With blazing Speed and strong STAB in Plasma Fists, Zer tears through many mons that can’t resist Electric. It will often try to run CC and Knock Off, with the last move depending on what set you run: Bulk Up if you want a sweeper, Volt Switch if you go for the Boots pivot set, Grass Knot if you absolutely want to hit Ground types, Toxic for walls, or maybe Play Rough if you wanna go Band (not recommended). You can also go for a Special pivot with Tbolt, Knot and Aura Sphere, but other Electric types already fill that Special pivot role (ie I find it a bit boring). That speed alone is probably gonna make it a great UU mon. A+

Niche at Best

Aerodactyl

As promising as Dragon Dance and actually decent Flying STAB may seem, Aerodactyl simply isn’t cut out for UU. It’s not good at setting up due to its frailty and lacks the raw power for a Band revenge killer (Zygarde 10% does this better since its STABs are most reliable, plus a little priority goes a long way). Any UU Aero is probably best off as a suicude Rocks lead, with blazing Speed and Taunt; however, since Rocks aren’t enough to win you the game anymore, you generally want a hazard setter who can set multiple times if need be. Aero isn’t completely unusable, but it just doesn’t do enough to justify a team slot for most playstyles. C-

Cresselia

While Cresselia is not exactly the most impressive threat coming to UU, it does hold a few small but useful roles. It’s great overall bulk and recovery in Moonlight means that it can take a few hits, and its signature move Lunar Dance, a clone of Healing Wish, is a great support asset alongside Thunder Wave. It also still has its great Trick Room support set, which can enable dangerous mons like Alolawak; however, it is now outclassed a bit by the Slow twins and occasional Porygon2 as a setter since they have the buffed Teleport to bring in teammates safely. Cress is also kept from being a true mainstream mon by its thoroughly lackluster attacking stats and the low PP of its recovery. Still, its talents can be of more help than harm for certain teams. C+

Diancie

Diancie did get a few new assets; Play Rough means it now has dual STAB on the physical side, pairing up nicely with Diamond Storm, while Mystical Fire gives some new depth to its Special/CM sets. Diancie still has solid bulk thanks to even 150 defenses, giving it some use as a Rocker, Heal Bell cleric or Trick Room setter, even having the bulk to sometimes make use of Weakness Policy to patch its otherwise okay attacking stats. That said, Diancie has 3 big things holding it back: its initial lack of power, its low speed and an awful defensive typing that leaves it weak to some fairly potent offensive types. These issues are just too great for Diancie to run with UU, so best to just let it fall to a tier that can better appreciate it. C

Regigigas

The hype is real: after 4 generations, Regigigas finally has the basic moves of Protect and Rest that it needs to stall out Slow Start, becoming a true titan for once. That still doesn’t mean it’s gonna make it in UU. While Gigas can stall out the charge turns now, it still needs to waste 5 turns before it can actually do something, and there are still a bounty of mons that can force it out either through powerful Fighting moves or occasionally phasing. Those charge turns are also very predictable, potentially allowing dangerous offensive threats to boost on your turns of inactivity. Gigas also has a bit of 4MSS since it needs Protect or Rest, and with its support allowing it use even during charge it will usually only get two attacks to work with (especially since Rest requires either Sleep Talk or Chesto). It could do damage if only it got literally any other ability or more reliable recovery or actual boosting, but as much as I love this guy, its presence here is all hype. D

Registeel

Registeel can serve as an adequate Rocker in UU thanks to its titanic (get it?) bulk, Steel typing and newfound access to Body Press for a better offensive presence. Toxic whittles down checks, Seismic Toss serves as an alternative to Press for consistent damage and gives you more freedom for EV spreads, and Iron Head if you really want STAB. That said, Steel’s lack of recovery outside Rest, which it usually doesn’t have the luxury to run, is just as much a pain as always, and so greatly appreciates support from Wish or Bulu’s Grassy Surge. As such, Steel mainly makes its home on STALL teams, where its teammates can play around its weaknesses and keep it healthy. The more specific role, alongside competition from overall better Steels like Skarmory, Doublade, Cobalion, Metagross and Jirachi mean that Steel will likely be niche at best, but it will perform that niche admirably. C+

Stakataka

Staktaka may have been hampered by the loss of Z power, but it still packs a solid Attack stat and monstrous physical bulk, alongside being a demon under Trick Room, which it can also set. Body Press may seem appealing, but investing in the bulk to use it means Beast Boost will boost Defense instead of Attack, so you can’t snowball. It still has meaty STABs and good coverage like EQ and Superpower, but its bulk becomes a bit less intimidating given those crippling weaknesses to Fighting and Ground. Staka probably won’t be more than niche, but any serious UU player should keep the wall in mind given just how sturdy it can be. B-/C+

Uxie

Uxie’s problem is simply because of how thoroughly outclassed it is. Why run Uxie when much better Psychic types are available? Uxie has KnockTurn, but so do a lot of other mons with actual offensive presence. As a Psychic Rocks setter, it has neither the Speed and power of Azelf nor the Prism Armor and variety of Necrozma. Defensively, even the niche Cresselia outdoes it since she has recovery and can potentially provide a full restore to a teammate. Uxie’s one role is as a suicude Rocker/Trick Room setter, using Memento to allow a sweeper to come in- the problem is that this strat is easily countered, namely by just Taunting it. Thoroughly underwhelming in UU, let the lower tiers take it. C-

A Little Too Strong

Aegislash

It’s all fun and games until you remember this thing’s stats are functionally 60/140/140/140/140/60. Whether it’s applying the ever irritating SubToxic, sweeping with SD or serving as a Choice user you need to be very careful about, this thing is simply too strong and too unpredictable to be healthy long-term, especially with strong STAB Shadow Sneak and the always-useful CC. You can never be sure of what this thing is running, and unlike something like Bulu its different sets require drastically different answers, meaning few mons can counter every Aegis set. Yeah, still broken. S++

Alakazam

Let’s see: great Special Attack + Magic Guard-LO and it gets Plot now, not to mention its great speed tier and the fact you can’t even punish it with Pursuit anymore. Yeah, no way this thing isn’t broken. S++

Blacephalon

Ahem. .. 157 SpA, with Beast Boost for each KO. A solid speed tier. Powerful dual STAB. Sun is a thing. Pursuit is not. Other than a Rocks weakness, there’s nothing seriously holding this thing back. I think I’ve made my point. S++

Conkeldurr

For all the bulky new mons UU has, none of them really switch into Guts Conkeldurr that well. According to the calcs I ran in my previous theorymoning about the BL drops, Conk can easily 2HKO otherwise stalwart defensive mons like Suicune and Swampert. CC is insane with Guts, and is shored up by solid coverage like Knock Off, Stone Edge, Poison Jab and neutral but meaty Facade. Its speed should be a hindrance at lea- wait, no! It gets STAB priority in Mach Punch, too, meaning it will always get off at least some damage in battle. No way it stays. S++

Dracozolt

Even if we only had Gigalith to provide Sand, Sand Rush + Bolt Beak would still give Dracozolt a 170 BP move before STAB. Now that it can reliably outspeed things, Zolt basically requires a Ground type on every team, as even resists can be quickly worn down if they switch in. That’s also not to ignore powerful Dragon STAB, Zolt’s own EQ for Steels and Fire Blast for a few select checks like Doublade. While Sand Rush may sacrifice the sheer power of Hustle, it also means Zolt isn’t constantly losing the game on unlucky misses, and its 100 Attack still hits decently hard when boosted by Band or LO (I also think Expert Belt could be an option, but it doesn’t seem like that’s catching on yet). Of course, you could try using weather wars to disrupt this thing, but you’re probably sacrificing your setter to do so. This thing naturally restricts teambuilding, and unlike certain new mons it actually has a decent movepool. Maybe Zolt can run in OU, but down here it’s a bit much. S++

Gengar

Gengar stands out as a NP sweeper due to its ability to threaten most mons with only 2 or 3 moves. Shadow Ball is a must, and from there you use some combo of Sludge Wave/Focus Blast/Substitute, depending on whether you want to be an all-out attacker or want security to patch up Gengar’s lackluster bulk. Unlike Alakazam, Geng also has the option to effectively run Choice sets, which can cripple walls with Trick, or tack on extra coverage like Thunderbolt or Energy Ball. Specs hits fairly hard, while Scarf allows it to effectively outspeed the whole tier, barring a few gimmicky faster Scarfers. It doesn’t even stop there: while not as useful, you can utilize Black Sludge sets with Pain Split or WispHex. Hex in general can also be useful when paired with TSpike support. Gengar is a very potent offensive mon, especially against any team lacking priority, and so may need to be banned a third time. S+

Gyarados

Even with Boots over a boosting item, Gyarados is still plenty strong after just one Dragon Dance, and outspeeds all but the faster Scarfers with max Speed Jolly. What truly makes this thing scary is Moxie, meaning you often can’t afford to lose even one mon to this thing. In terms of moves, it actually smacks everything it needs to with just STABs and Power Whip, as Bounce deals with Mowtom and is actually stronger against Volcanion than EQ. Of course, you can also drop Whip or Bounce for Substitute to protect against status and live an Electric hit. Sure, fast Electric types like Zeraora can easily take Gyara out before it has a chance to sweep, but most can’t switch in. And so Gyara is yet another sweeper that just snowballs too easily. S++

Hawlucha

When you delete your blurb on a guy, only to realize he did actually drop off. You know, I was initially willing to give Hawlucha a chance in UU. Surely, with only Bulu’s terrain and unimpressive initial power we could keep Hawk in check now, right? Then Lele dropped, and I realized what an idiot I am. Pass. S+

Latias

Latias was already a great mon in USUM UU, but this gen gave it the two coverage options it always dreamed of in Aura Sphere and Mystical Fire, which more than make up for the loss of HP. Thanks to these two moves, Latias can effectively run a copy of its brother’s offensive sets in OU, as Specs still hits pretty hard while Scarf makes it blazing fast; Scarf also allows it to make good use of Healing Wish. Latias’ better bulk means it can afford to run bulkier sets, whether those be CM, 3 attacks + Roost, Cosmic + Stored Power or defensive utility via Defog and Healing Wish. Whether it's becoming an offensive powerhouse in its own right or enabling other dangerous sweepers with support, especially with HW, Latias is gonna run the tier ragged trying to counter it. S+

A. Ninetales

Alolatales does one thing, but does that one thing well: Aurora Veil. With its good Speed tier and useful support options like Encore and Hypnosis, it reliably sets Veil and allows its sweeper teammates to go wild. It’s the weird thing about Tales compared to most other suspect-worthy mons: Tales isn’t really that strong in its own right with only 81 SpA, but is questionable because of how it enables other problematic mons. And between the influx of offensive powerhouses and weather wars starting up again, Alolatales stands to be even more useful this time around, especially since it also disrupts opposing weather. Maybe Alolatales works when the meta settles into something not as focused on HO, but now’s not really a good time for it to come back. S+

Salamence

While Salamence is inherently outclassed by Dragonite due to the latter’s additional defensive usage, the DDance- Moxie combo is still as scary as ever. Furthermore, Mence actually gets a decent Flying STAB now in Dual Wingbeat, allowing it dual STAB alongside EQ. Of course, that set has some drawbacks- which is where mixed mence comes in. With Fire Blast and possibly Hurricane or another special move, Mence can effectively go for an AoA set while still picking up Moxie boosts. A full Special set might be useful too, although it's a tad more predictable considering Special Mence will always run Intimidate over Moxie. Still hits hard, can attack from either side of the spectrum- no thanks. S++

Scolipede

Scolipede may not be as overwhelming a Speed Boost sweeper as Blaziken, but that doesn’t mean it's to be underestimated. With strong STAB Megahorn and a STAB Poison Jab that strategically hits Fairies, alongside good coverage in EQ, Rock Slide and Aqua Tail, depending on which checks you want to hit hardest, +2 Scoli still doesn’t have that many defensive answers. Sure, Bulu can weaken EQ, but you cannot bring Bulu into this thing. Sure, Skarmory is a good check, but it’s one check (plus it can’t really do that much in return without Brave Bird, which many Skarm don’t run anymore). It may need a SD boost to get going, but it's pretty hard to stop once it does. S+

Tapu Lele

How the hell did Lele drop before Fini? Initially poised to be the most insane thing in OU, Lele was denied Expanding Force, then denied its OU placement. Despite the fact that it’s still kind of insane to expect UU to handle this. With great dual STAB, terrific coverage in Focus Blast/Shadow Ball/Thunderbolt, the ability to run a powerful Specs set or CM sweeper or decently powerful Scarf set, utility in Trick and Nature’s Madness, and the ability to block priority, making fast sweepers or revenge killers impossible to block, Lele provides a lot. Too much, many would say, including myself. Bulu can remove Lele’s terrain, but other than that there’s nothing to seriously stopping Lele and co from wrecking the place. S++

Thundurus

So, why do I think Thundurus will be more busted than Therian form? Two reasons. First, that extra 10 points of Speed may seem small, but it enters a new Speed tier where it becomes intrinsically harder to revenge-kill without a fast Scarfer or priority user. NP, meanwhile, ensures Thundy still hits hard even with the lower SpA. Thundy-I also has more depth to its game thanks to Prankster, allowing nearly-unblockable Defog and good speed control in TWave, alongside KnockTurn. Finally, Defiant means that a physical Thundy-I is a possibility, or at least Superpower and KnockTurn are. With more versatility and superior Speed, alongside a decent movepool (albeit one that would like a good Flying STAB), Thundy edges out its Therian counterpart for being broken. S+

Victini

With Boots to accompany its Fire typing and U-turn, Victini gets a boost to take the place of the loss of Z-Celebrate. While 100s across the board may not be the best, V-Create. … Guess I need to say more. V-Create is a nuke that scorches anything that fails to resist it. Think your Waters will save you? Bolt Strike smashes all but Swampert. However, Swampert falls with little difficulty to special Victini and its Grass Knot/Energy Ball. Special Victini also still possesses powerful STAB Blue Flare, better Psychic STAB and other coverage like Thunderbolt and Focus Blast. And of course, U-turn ensures Vic can always just switch out of anything it doesn’t beat 1v1. Of course, that’s if you’re not stocked up on removal; if you are, Victini can viably run any Choice item and take advantage of Trick to cripple its walls. Band ratchets up the power of V-Create an extra few notches, Scarf makes revenging it hard without the V drop and Specs, while not as spectacular, still packs a nasty surprise factor. Walling Vic is still overly difficult for UU, and so it should probably go. S+

Volcorona

One drop I certainly wasn’t expecting given its pre-Tundra dominance, UU has one key difference from OU for Volcorona: no Toxapex or Heatran. Who are easily its two best checks. Boots mean it doesn’t care about Rocks anymore, and it got banned from UU in past gens despite being Rocks weak. Especially with the power of Sun, Quiver Dance Volc is basically unstoppable, even having Hurricane in case opposing teams try to weaken it with rain. Hell to the no. S++

Xurkitree

Well, looks like we’re gonna have to wait for Xurkitree to get banned from RU first. Did not see this coming. Xurkitree may only have one major set, but Scarf still terrorizes with its 173 SpA. That SpA also ensures that Beast Boost will always go to SpA, making it effectively special Moxie (or just Grim Neigh, I guess). While the loss of HP Ice is annoying, Xurk still packs Energy Ball to hit Ground types and Dazzling Gleam for Dragons, so it can still manage to hit those who can switch into Tbolt or Volt Switch pretty damn hard. While Xurk isn’t the fastest Scarfer (which it normally needs to patch its lackluster 83 Speed), it can be fast enough that it becomes a pain to take out after a SpA boost. Granted, its meh bulk means it can’t switch in too well, but with this kind of power that becomes a bit negligible. Of course, Web teams have the luxury of running a Specs or CM Xurk; if you don’t have Eviolite Chansey, slower teams just lose outright. Xurkitree is yet another mon that’s just too good at snowballing, even with the loss of Tail Glow. S++

Um, did you miss your stop?
For as many mons that just got swept down to UU, the hype effect involved with certain mons meant that a few species, despite being perfectly functional in UU, ended up getting pushed down even farther. Assuming these picks aren’t quickly banned from the lower tiers, we will probably have to wait until December before some of them rise up. Still, I’ll just leave this info on these mons in the meantime.

Forgotten but Viable

Crobat

Gen 8 gave support-Crobat the one thing it's wanted for generations: a way to bypass Rocks. With the newfound aid of Boots, Crobat uses its base 130 Speed to become the new faster hazard remover in UU (besides Prankster). Bat’s ability to bypass Rocks means it doesn’t have to spam Roost as often (although Roost is still a must have) and also greatly benefits its speedy U-turn. From there, you have your choice of Defog for that fast hazard removal I mentioned, Taunt to shut down stall, Super Fang to whittle down bulkier threats or Brave Bird for a strong STAB attack. Crobat’s main issue is that it is limited to a support role due to its fairly unimpressive attacking stats (let’s face it, NP sets are never going to make it long-term off 70 SpA). Still, if you need a faster mon on support duties, Crobat is the new go-to for that role. A-/B+

Nidoqueen

Nidoqueen, meanwhile, uses the Poison/Ground typing’s defensive qualities to fend off powerful Electric and Fairy types, among others. Most importantly, the added bulk compared to her King allows Queen to more reliably set Rocks or Toxic Spikes. Its own Sheer Force shenanigans are still strong enough to threaten out several terrifying additions like Tapu Bulu and Duskroc. It even has the potential to run a more defensive set with Poison Point so that it can spread status with its Sludge Bomb and new Scorching Sands, although this makes it normally mediocre SpA more apparent. B+

Tornadus

Tornadus got a pair of really good buffs in NP and Boots, which allow it to function as a speedy NP sweeper with STAB Hurricane and Focus Blast/Heat Wave for Steels, alongside several other coverage options, both special and physical. Mixed may not be as threatening, but it could work considering Torn’s solid offensive stats. A more serious alternative set is a speedy support, which packs Prankster Defog alongside good support in KnockTurn to take on a more utility role. It’s defenses are lacking, meaning any SE hit can take it out, but with Plot up this thing can be a bit scary. The upcoming Weather meta also makes it scary, fixing STAB accuracy and giving it a strong WBall, but at the cost of having to use Focus Miss for anti-Steel coverage, and- I believe the nickname says why that might be an issue. Again, whether it gets the boot may depend on how we rule on rain. S/A+

Zygarde-10%

Cell doggo comes to rain speedy destruction on any who dare not stand on the ground. Zygarde 10% is a fairly straight forward revenge killer- with the added power of Band, it fires Thousands Arrows for immunity-free STAB, Outrage for when the Fairies are all gone, Extreme Speed for the handful of faster threats and either EQ for stronger STAB or Iron Tail to hit Fairies. You also have the option to drop Outrage or slot 4 for Toxic for whittling, although Choice-Toxic has a fairly obvious trade off. Zyg can also be a set up sweeper with Coil or DDance, but its lackluster bulk compared to its Semiperfect- I mean 50% form can make that set-up a pain. Zyg will be first in foremost an unspectacular but satisfactory revenger. B

And that is all I have for you this month. We also got some mons coming up from the lower tiers, but this article has already gone on long enough and most of them probably aren’t staying anyways; maybe I’ll do another article on them when I’m not completely sapped. Still, with UU set to become a whole other tier, one wonders what migrations, upwards or downwards, we’ll see in the next few weeks and which species will truly make UU a home. I’m guessing more than a few of my blurbs will be wrong, and that’s okay. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be recovering my energy for the next week or so.

 

[G-Luke]

Gengar setting the records for mon banned from a tier the most within a single generation.

 

[lydian]

 

[G-Luke]

Gengar setting the records for mon banned from a tier the most within a single generation.