Lower Tiers ORAS Sub-Zero Used Discussion + Resources Thread

[missangelic]

Approved by Ruffles and the ORAS mod team

Image credit: Naoki Saito for the Pokemon TCG - Phantom Forces

ORAS SU Discussion Thread​

ORAS Sub-Zero Used is the lowest unofficial tier on Smogon and the tier below ZU. ORAS SU started as a hyperspeculative metagame at least as early as 2017 prior to the release of SM ZU. While ZU never gained a ladder during the time ORAS was the current generation, that didn't stop people from creating projections of what a tier below ORAS ZU could be like. Fast forward to 2021-2023 and a concerted effort began to revitalize SU old gens and retroactively create formal tierlists, leading to the creation of an ORAS SU tierlist by using ORAS ZU tournament stats. Since then, there have been several changes to the tierlist after additional ZU tournaments, and we have now reached a more stable tierlist and metagame. We're very excited to use this thread to reach more interested players, share our resources, and discuss new trends in this still-developing metagame!

Pokemon tiered as ZU

Pokemon are tiered as ZU based on ORAS ZU tournament usage, where Pokemon were listed as ZU based on exceeding at least 3.41% usage in 2 ZU tournaments between Triathlon I, ZUPL V, and Olympiad II.

Bronzor, Carbink, Duosion, Dustox, Electabuzz, Frogadier, Gigalith, Gogoat, Hippopotas, Ivysaur, Jumpluff, Klang, Krokorok, Lairon, Magmar, Marshtomp, Meganium, Meowstic, Persian, Pidgeot, Pignite, Pikachu, Politoed, Quilladin, Sawsbuck, Scraggy, Servine, Simipour, Simisage, Swalot, Swoobat, Vanilluxe, Vibrava, Whirlipede, Whiscash, Wigglytuff

Pokemon tiered as ZUBL, PU, and above are also not allowed in SU.

SUBL

SU has its own banlist of disallowed Pokemon and metagame elements. This includes:
Dragonair, Walrein
Arena Trap, Baton Pass, Shadow Tag, and Swagger are banned via OU
Light Clay is banned via ZU

Viability Rankings

ORAS SU VR
Last update: September 21st, 2025
Pokemon's names are sample set links

S Ranks

S

Furfrou

S-

Mienfoo


A Ranks

A+

Glalie

Golduck

Gourgeist-Large

Trubbish

A

Beartic

Butterfree

Corsola

Dusclops

Emolga

Gloom

Gourgeist-Small

Heatmor

Plusle

Shelgon

Volbeat

Wormadam-Trash

A-

Banette

Chimecho

Glaceon

Graveler

Luxray

Mightyena

Murkrow

Phione

Pupitar

Seaking

Seviper

Solrock


B Ranks

B+

Beedrill

Croconaw

Fearow

Floette

Frillish

Girafarig

Gothitelle

Lopunny

Munchlax

Natu

Noctowl

Staryu

Tentacool

Zweilous


B

Bibarel

Dedenne

Dunsparce

Eelektrik

Gastly

Lampent

Lickitung

Magcargo

Raticate

Slaking

Sudowoodo

B-

Bastiodon

Bellossom

Chinchou

Hypno

Lunatone

Maractus

Masquerain

Palpitoad

Stantler

Wormadam-Sandy


C Ranks

C+

Abra

Ditto
Kricketune

Spritzee

Wailord

Wartortle

C

Carnivine

Dwebble

Grotle

Meditite

Sligooo

Weepinbell

C-
Anorith
Honedge
Omanyte

Onix
Ponyta
Stunky
Sunflora

Tropius

Venipede

Yamask

VR Visual

For accessibility: the A+ rank Gourgeist is Gourgeist-Large, and the A rank Gourgeist is Gourgeist-Small

Personal VR Tool

Challenge Code

/challenge gen6zu @@@ -Bronzor, -Carbink, -Duosion, -Dustox, -Electabuzz, -Frogadier, -Gigalith, -Gogoat, -Hippopotas, -Ivysaur, -Jumpluff, -Klang, -Krokorok, -Lairon, -Magmar, -Marshtomp, -Meganium, -Meowstic, -Persian, -Pidgeot, -Pignite, -Pikachu, -Politoed, -Quilladin, -Sawsbuck, -Scraggy, -Servine, -Simipour, -Simisage, -Swalot, -Swoobat, -Vanilluxe, -Vibrava, -Whirlipede, -Whiscash, -Wigglytuff, -Dragonair, -Walrein

Sample Teams

Glalie Spikes HO by missangelic
Bibarel HO by sleid
Rain HO by missangelic
Setup Spam HO by missangelic
Kricketune Webs by sleid
Fearfoo Pivot-spam by sleid
Fire and Ice by missangelic
GravBee BO by sleid
Hazard Stack Balance by missangelic
Wormatrash Bulky Balance by Fastwalker22
Midnight Fat Balance by sleid
Coolgeist T-Spikes by missangelic
Trubclops Stall by missangelic

SU Discord
Council: missangelic (SU leader), sleid, DoomBre1oom, Charles A. Theist, Fastwalker22

 

[missangelic]

Speed Tiers

Tier 0: 400 and above​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
590​	​	Golduck​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
538​	​	Golduck​	85​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
524​	​	Butterfree, Lunatone, Solrock​	70​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
499​	​	Furfrou​	102​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
496​	​	Dedenne​	101​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
492​	​	Fearow, Slaking​	100​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
489​	​	Gourgeist-Small​	99​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
483​	​	Raticate​	97​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
478​	​	Lunatone, Solrock​	70​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
475​	​	Plusle​	95​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
470​	​	Seaking​	68​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
448​	​	Slaking​	100​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​
442​	​	Girafarig, Golduck, Stantler​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
442​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
441​	​	Girafarig​	85​	Positive​	252​	30​	+1​
436​	​	Beartic, Bellossom Shelgon​	50​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
426​	​	Gastly, Phione​	80​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
425​	​	Gastly​	80​	Positive​	252​	30​	+1​
402​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​

Tier 1: 300 to 399​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
398​	​	Beartic, Bellossom, Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
393​	​	Butterfree, Luxray, Mightyena​	70​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
376​	​	Banette, Chimecho, Glaceon, Gothitelle, Heatmor, Mienfoo, Seviper​	65​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
375​	​	Banette, Chimecho, Glaceon, Gothitelle​	65​	Positive​	252​	30​	+1​
360​	​	Wailord​	60​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
354​	​	Zweilous​	58​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
348​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Positive​	252​	31​	+2​
345​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+3​
340​	​	Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+3​
339​	​	Lopunny​	105​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
338​	​	Graveler​	35​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
335​	​	Emolga​	103​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
333​	​	Furfrou​	102​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
331​	​	Dedenne​	101​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
331​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
328​	​	Fearow, Slaking​	100​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
327​	​	Shelgon​	50​	Positive​	252​	31​	+1​
326​	​	Gourgeist-Small​	99​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
322​	​	Raticate​	97​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
318​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+2​
317​	​	Plusle​	95​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
309​	​	Murkrow​	91​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
301​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​

Tier 2: 200 to 299​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
299​	​	Slaking​	100​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
298​	​	Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	252​	31​	+1​
295​	​	Girafarig, Golduck, Stantler, Staryu​	85​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
294​	​	Girafarig​	85​	Positive​	252​	30​	0​
284​	​	Gastly, Glalie, Phione​	80​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
283​	​	Gastly​	80​	Positive​	252​	30​	0​
276​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+2​
273​	​	Beedrill​	75​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
272​	​	Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+2​
269​	​	Golduck, Stantler​	85​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
265​	​	Bibarel​	71​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
262​	​	Butterfree, Lunatone, Luxray, Mightyena,, Solrock, Tentacool​	70​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
251​	​	Banette, Chimecho, Glaceon, Gothitelle, Heatmor, Mienfoo, Seviper, Trubbish​	65​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
250​	​	Banette, Chimecho, Glaceon, Gothitelle​	65​	Positive​	252​	30​	0​
240​	​	Maractus, Wailord​	60​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
239​	​	Lunatone, Luxray, Mightyena, Solrock​	70​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
237​	​	Gourgeist-Large​	69​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
236​	​	Zweilous​	58​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
235​	​	Seaking​	68​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
229​	​	Banette, Glaceon, Heatmor, Mienfoo, Seviper​	65​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
221​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
219​	​	Maractus​	60​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
218​	​	Murkrow​	91​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
218​	​	Beartic, Shelgon​	50​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
215​	​	Zweilous​	58​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
207​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+1​
206​	​	Staryu​	85​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
204​	​	Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	0​	31​	+1​

Tier 3: 100 to 199​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
199​	​	Beartic, Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
196​	​	Phione​	80​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
186​	​	Beedrill​	75​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
179​	​	Frillish​	40​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
178​	​	Bibarel​	71​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
178​	​	Gloom​	40​	Neutral​	252​	30​	0​
176​	​	Luxray, Mightyena, Noctowl, Solrock, Tentacool​	70​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
174​	​	Gourgeist-Large​	69​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
174​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Positive​	252​	31​	0​
172​	​	Seaking​	68​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
169​	​	Graveler​	35​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
166​	​	Chimecho, Gothitelle, Mienfoo, Trubbish​	65​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
159​	​	Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Neutral​	252​	31​	0​
157​	​	Volbeat​	85​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
156​	​	Maractus, Wailord​	60​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
154​	​	Seaking​	68​	Negative​	0​	31​	0​
152​	​	Zweilous​	58​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
148​	​	Phione​	80​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
140​	​	Floette​	52​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
138​	​	Pupitar​	51​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
136​	​	Shelgon​	50​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
130​	​	Luxray​	70​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
128​	​	Gourgeist-Large​	69​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
126​	​	Dunsparce​	45​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
121​	​	Chimecho​	65​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
116​	​	Eelektrik, Frillish, Gloom​	40​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
108​	​	Grotle, Wormadam-Trash​	36​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
106​	​	Corsola, Graveler​	35​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​

Tier 4: 99 and below​

Speed​	Sprites​	Pokemon​	Base​	Nature​	EVs​	IVs​	Boosts​
97​	​	Wormadam-Trash​	36​	Negative​	0​	31​	0​
96​	​	Lickitung, Magcargo, Sudowoodo​	30​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
86​	​	Dusclops​	25​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
82​	​	Spritzee​	23​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​
76​	​	Eelektrik​	40​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
49​	​	Dusclops​	25​	Negative​	0​	0​	0​
46​	​	Munchlax​	5​	Neutral​	0​	31​	0​

Role Compendium

Utility Roles

Entry Hazards
Stealth Rock
|
Spikes
|
Toxic Spikes
|
Sticky Web
|
Rapid Spin
|
Defog
|
Magic Bounce

Spinblocking
|
Competitive


Item Control
Knock Off (Offensive)
|
Knock Off (Utility)
|
Trick/Switcheroo
|

Misc. Utility
Encore
|
Taunt
|
Naturally Fast Pokemon
-Small|


Offensive Roles

Attackers
Physical Attackers
|
Special Attackers
|
Mixed Attackers


Choice Item Users
Choice Band
|
Choice Specs
|
Choice Scarf
|

Setup Users
Agility/Rock Polish
|
Bulk Up
|
Calm Mind
|
Coil

Curse
|
Dragon Dance
|
Growth
|
Nasty Plot
|
Power-Up Punch

Quiver Dance
|
Rain Dance
|
Swords Dance
|
Work Up

Misc. setup users
(Petaya Berry),(Shell Smash),(Moxie),(Salac Berry)|(Belly Drum),(Speed Boost)

Priority Users
Aqua Jet

Fake Out
|
Ice Shard

Quick Attack
|
Shadow Sneak
|
Sucker Punch

|
Misc. priority users
|(Bullet Punch)

Trapping
Pursuit
|
Infestation




Hyper Offensive Roles
note: Light Clay is banned

Rain
Setters

Beneficiaries


Sun
Setters


Beneficiaries
|

Trick Room
Setters

|
Beneficiaries

|

Self-KO
Explosion/Self-Destruct
|
Memento


Defensive Roles

Walls
Physical Walls
|
Special Walls
|
Mixed Walls
|

Anti-Setup
Clear Smog

Dragon Tail
|
Haze

Imposter

Roar/Whirlwind
|

Pivots
U-turn (Fast/Offensive)
|
U-turn (Slow/Defensive)

Volt Switch (Fast/Offensive)

Volt Switch (Slow/Defensive)
|
Regenerator


Clerics
Aromatherapy / Heal Bell
|
Wish
|
Healing Wish
|

 

[missangelic]

Set Compendium - paste this into your Showdown calculator for easier calcs: link

 

[missangelic]

You may now post!

 

[missangelic]

I'll start the discussion by highlighting what I believe to be one of the best Pokemon in the tier: Furfrou!

Furfrou Sets

Choice Band

Furfrou @ Choice Band
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Return
- U-turn
- Iron Tail / Surf
- Sucker Punch / Thunder Wave / Toxic / Wild Charge

Choice Scarf

Furfrou @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Return
- U-turn
- Iron Tail / Surf
- Thunder Wave / Toxic / Surf

Pivot

Furfrou @ Leftovers
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Return
- U-turn
- Iron Tail / Surf
- Sucker Punch / Toxic / Thunder Wave

You might be asking why Furfrou is one of the top dogs in ORAS SU. Overall, Furfrou is one of the best methods of offensive Speed control in ORAS SU. Not only is Furfrou the third-fastest Pokemon in the tier, it also has a very spammable STAB attack in Return. Only two are Pokemon faster than Furfrou: Lopunny and Emolga. However, Lopunny lacks a pivoting move besides Healing Wish, and Emolga is weak to Stealth Rock. Other fast attackers, such as Slaking and Fearow, share these drawbacks that make Furfrou stand out amongst the competition. Moreover, Furfrou exclusive access to Fur Coat sets it even further apart from fast wallbreakers and pivots like Raticate. After the boost form Fur Coat, Furfrou has comparable physical bulk to walls like Wormadam-Trash, even without any investment, which makes it solid at tanking physical attacks and gives it room to revenge kill threats like Shelgon and Croconaw.


Furfrou's movepool also makes it a star in its role. Although it has some unusual coverage moves, Furfrou capitalizes on the limited pool of good Normal-resistant Pokemon in ORAS SU. U-turn was already super effective Solrock and Lunatone and great at keeping up momentum, but Furfrou has the capabilities to beat its Rock-type checks all on its own. Surf, even off of Furfrou's pitiful and uninvested Special Attack, is capable of 2HKOing 4x Water-weak Pokemon like Graveler, Pupitar, and Magcargo. Iron Tail actually benefits from Choice Band, and it deals massive damage to Sudowoodo, Solrock, Lunatone, and the Rock/Ground NFEs. Additionally, if you really hate Frillish and Corsola in particular, Furfrou's Choice Band set is capable of 2HKOing both of them with Wild Charge. Using Wild Charge can deal significant damage to Furfrou though, especially as Corsola has Regenerator and often runs Rocky Helmet, but Furfrou has a pretty limited list of reliable checks due its colorful coverage. Fortunately for rest of the tier, Furfrou will not have all the coverage it needs, especially if it is going to fit Sucker Punch or any status moves, and without a Choice Band, it is not strong enough to truly function as a wallbreaker. Toxic typically puts most of Furfrou's answers on a timer, and Gourgeist-L and Graveler dislike being afflicted by it. Alternatively, Thunder Wave's paralysis utility is nice in general thanks to how powerful paralysis is in ORAS.


One of the best parts of using Furfrou, beyond the Speed control, is how well it keeps up momentum to support its teammates with great positions. Wallbreakers such as Heatmor, Glaceon, and Banette appreciate being brought in freely and can easily overcome obstacles like Wormadam-S, Heatmor, and Frillish, allowing Furfrou to clean up late-game. Furfrou excels at providing team support, and its ability to create pivot cores that threaten to catch opponents in the vortex makes it the best friend to many other pivots. Mienfoo is one pivot that puts a lot of pressure on Rock-types, and it can soften up physical walls like Gloom for Furfrou by using Knock Off. Phione is another pivot that matches up well against a lot of the Rock-types Furfrou struggles against, and it also packs Knock Off and Heal Bell for supporting Furfrou. Since Furfrou is likely to draw in Ghost-types, it can set up Pursuit trappers like Murkrow and Banette. When you're teambuilding with Furfrou, it opens you up to running some really powerful pairs.


Furfrou does have a couple of flaws that downplay its many positive qualities. If you want Furfrou to have much power behind it, then you have to run a Choice Band, which makes it somewhat prediction-reliant even if Return and U-turn are so great. On its own, Furfrou really won't be breaking through Ghost-types like Gourgeist-L and Dusclops, and it's ruined by any status that they and other walls like to spread. Despite Furfrou being quite physically bulky as a fast attacker, it doesn't have many other useful resistances that it brings to the table, and running it generally makes it harder to fit other Normal-types like Munchlax or Dunsparce onto teams. As I alluded to earlier in the post, even though Furfrou has a ton that it brings to teams, other fast Normal-types can specialize to fit certain niches better than it. Lopunny brings Healing Wish, Fake Out, High Jump Kick, Encore, and its own extended movepool of tricks, while Raticate and Slaking are far more powerful than Furfrou. Fearow is a wallbreaker and offensive pivot actually capable of breaking down physically defensive Grass-types like Gourgeist-L and Gloom, and Stantler and Girafarig pack a lot more offensive flexibility with their coverage moves compared to Furfrou. Still, none of them pack all of what Furfrou can provide, so don't let what I've said dissuade you from slapping it onto teams, as most teams will be made better simply by Furfrou being on them.


Despite the quirky movepool and linear roles that Furfrou tends to play as an offensive pivot, there are a couple diamonds in the rough that it can play with. One of the go-to ways of dealing with Furfrou is to status it, particularly with burns, but Facade lets it ignore that to potentially punch through physical walls like Gloom and bulky Shelgon. If you're using the pivot set for Furfrou and really hate status, you could run Refresh just so you don't have to waste a teamslot on a Heal Bell user. Work Up can even work with Furfrou's access to Sucker Punch to make it a setup sweeper, but Raticate often does this role better. In fact, Furfrou often struggles with getting too experimental on its sets because it needs to fit all of Return and U-turn on top of the coverage and status moves that it wants to run. Still, there are a couple of fun tricks Furfrou can do.



(Click for the team paste)
I've made this relatively linear VoltTurn team, built around supporting Choice Band Furfrou. Corsola serves as a reliable defensive pivot, accumulating residual damage to set up Furfrou the late-game, while Mienfoo handles bulky Rock-types that trouble Furfrou. Murkrow takes advantage of Furfrou's U-turn, which allows it to get on the field for free, and then uses Pursuit to trap and eliminate porblematic foes like Frillish and Gourgeist-L. Luxray, another bulky pivot, works well alongside Furfrou, putting pressure on Frillish and Corsola. Beedrill is the last member of the team, and it's welcome as a defensive pivot that compresses entry hazard removal and item disruption to pave the way for its offensive teammates.

If you enjoy using Furfrou or any other Pokemon in ORAS SU, feel free to share some sets or teams that you've used!

 

[Fastwalker22]

Hello everyone,

I've been in and out of participation in the ORAS SU metagame, but I want to pitch in to the discussion as well with a write-up on my favorite mon in the tier, Phione! With a broad utility movepool and a well-rounded statspread that can give it excellent bulk or a deceptively high threat level, Phione thrives due to its flexibility, able to serve as an incredible pivot in teamstyles from Semistall to Volt-Turn Offense. This write-up is structured like a standard Smogon analysis, with a couple of example sets and an explanation of how to use each one.

Overview:
Phione is one of SU’s foremost pivots, and it excels in both offensive and defensive builds. Defensive sets are good blanket checks for a variety of threats, and can run a variety of utility moves which can spread status, remove items, or serve a cleric function, while Scald and U-Turn reduce passivity and provide easier switch-ins for your offensive Pokemon. Offensive sets are great at forcing switches and keeping up momentum with u-turn, and still have enough bulk to take a hit and counter vs many faster Pokemon.

Defensive Pivot:

Ability: Hydration

Item: Leftovers

Moves:
Scald
U-turn
Knock Off
Protect/Heal Bell//Toxic

Nature: Bold

EVS:
252 HP
252 Def OR 4 Def
4 SpD OR 252 SpD


Set Details:
This set is a bulky pivot, which mainly focuses on spreading passive damage through scald and knock off, as well as facilitating free switch-ins for its teammates with U-turn. Defensive Phione has an easy time coming in against most Stealth Rock users and hazard removers, and its checks either take solid damage from Scald or don’t enjoy getting hit with a Knock Off or U-Turn. Phione’s fourth move depends on what your team needs; Protect is useful for Leftovers recovery/spreading status chip damage/stalling out rain, Heal Bell can remove status on teams that need it but can’t afford to run a more passive cleric such as Lickitung, and Toxic gives you additional methods to spread status. These sets generally function as blanket checks to offensive Pokemon and opposing pivots: Physdef sets walling and threatening status on attackers such as Furfrou, Mienfoo, and Banette, while Spdef checks mons such Golduck, Heatmor, and Lampent. Both defensive variants have excellent matchups into rain, able to both sponge hits from rain abusers like Golduck and Beartic and hit hard in return with rain-boosted Scalds.

Checks and Counters:

Electric types: Phione is outran by Dedenne, Emolga, and Plusle, and speed-invested Luxray variants, and takes heavy damage from their STAB options. However, none of these Pokemon appreciate switching in on a Scald, and the Phione player can either pivot out if they predict the switch or semi-reliably take a hit before going down if they don't.

Dragon-Types: Zweilous and Shelgon have the bulk to comfortably tank Phione's attacks and the ability to either set up on it with Dragon Dance or otherwise get free turns to wishpass (in the case of Shelgon) or spread hazard damage with phasing moves (in the case of Zweilous). Phione's main options against these Pokemon are knocking off Eviolite and otherwise quickly pivoting out.

Gloom/Gourgeist: This pair of defensive Grass-types is problematic for Phione to deal with due to their ability to easily switch in on Scald and recover off the damage. Phione tends to sponge hits from the pair fairly well, though, and both scald burns and a lost item can seriously hinder their ability to fulfil their role in the future.

Offensive Pivot:

Ability: Hydration

Item: Leftovers/Expert Belt

Moves:
Scald/Surf
Ice Beam/Knock Off
Knock Off/Hidden Power Grass
U-Turn

Nature: Timid/Naive

EVS:
252 SpAtk
252 Spd
4 HP

Set Details:
Offensive Phione finds switch-in opportunities vs defensive Pokemon, especially stealth rock setters such as Magcargo, Graveler, and Corsola, and threatens big kills while keeping up momentum with U-turn. Offensive Phione pairs well with other offensive Pokemon such as Luxray and Heatmor, who can threaten the Grasses, Waters, and Special walls that like switching in on Phione. Aside from your choice of water STAB, Ice Beam is useful for grass types such as Gourgeist and Gloom, Grass coverage is useful for threatening opposing water types, Knock Off lets you hinder special walls such as Lickitung and Dusclops, and U-turn is important for pivoting. Offensive Phione faces heavy competition from Golduck, who has access to Calm Mind and superior offensive stats, but Phione’s access to U-Turn and Knock Off gives it a niche.

Checks/Counters:

Grass Types: Defensive grasses generally take Phione’s hits well and can quickly chip it down with residual/direct damage or recover health. However, defensive sets can knock off their items on the switch-in, offensive sets do solid damage with Ice Beam, and both sets can pivot out easily with U-Turn.

Fast electric types: Phione gets outran by Dedenne, Emolga, and Plusle, and is threatened greatly by the trio. However, none of them appreciate coming in on a scald.

Special Walls: While Knock Off Variants can remove the items of special walls such as Dusclops, Lickitung, and opposing Spdef Phione, Phione can't do much to threaten these Pokemon itself and must rely either on heavy prior chip damage or stronger wallbreakers which can capitalize off of these eviolite-lacking walls.

Other Options:

Phione is an effective rain setter due to its great bulk and ability to provide free switch-ins for rain abusers with u-turn, but rain structures generally prefer Volbeat as a rain setter due to its access to Prankster, disruptive options such as Thunder Wave and Encore, and Roost’s reliable recovery.

Phione can effectively run Choice Scarf or Choice Specs, with similar EVs and movesets to the offensive Leftovers/Expert Belt sets.

 

[missangelic]

Hi! After wrapping another ORAS SU tour through the SU Discord, the ORAS SU council, now including Zpice, is ready to release a new update to our ongoing VR with some new trends. I've also updated the OP and resource posts with sample sets for every Pokemon on the VR, and they should be up to date with the current metagame. Here's what changed for our VR from its last incarnation:

2025 ORAS SU VR Changes

Rises/Additions

S- to S:
A+ to S-:
A to A+:
A- to A: (-Small)
B+ to A-:
B to A-:
B to B+:
B- to B+:
B- to B:
C+ to B-:
UR to B-:
UR to C+:
UR to C-:

Drops

S- to A+: (-Large)
A+ to A:
A to A-:
A- to B+:
A- to B:
B+ to B:
B to B-:
B- to C+:
C+ to C:
C to UR:
C- to UR:

Unchanged

A+:
A:
A-:
B+:
B:
B-:
C+:
C:
C-:
UR:

While I don't have the time to go over every change in detail, I would like to cover some of the most major changes, though my explanations represent more of my own opinion than every voter.
S- to S
This shouldn't be too much of a surprise given how much I gushed about it in one of the above posts, but Furfrou has cemented itself as one of the best Pokemon in the current ORAS SU metagame. Its fantastic Speed, decent Attack, and access to U-turn make it a force to contend with, and it even has just enough coverage to deal with the tier's flawed Normal-resistant Pokemon on its own. Most teams are better off by having a Furfrou on them, and having counterplay to Furfrou is mandatory for all teams. Even counterplay to Furfrou becomes flawed because of its access to U-turn to escape its bad matchups, and it easily forms cores with Pursuit users and other wallbreakers thanks to its ability to keep up momentum. Furfrou's effect on the builder is so severe that it often pushes down the viabilities of other Normal-types like Raticate, Slaking, and Lopunny just by its existence, although there are legitimate reasons to consider them, especially in matchups where they can exploit teams overly preparing for Furfrou.
A+ to S-
Mienfoo's ascendancy shouldn't be much of a shock either, but it's inarguably had the most major ascent of our top tier Pokemon in 2025. Fighting-type competition in ORAS SU is limited only to other unevolved Fighting-types like Meditite (we don't even get the top-shelf ones like Scraggy and middle stage ones), so Mienfoo easily stands out on top of its access to Regenerator, Knock Off, and U-turn. Those three aforementioned tools make Mienfoo one of the best progress-makers in the tier, especially when defensive cores relying on Rock-types as well as Eviolite users like Gloom make themselves vulnerable to being broken apart or worn down by Mienfoo. New developments to Mienfoo's sets like bulky Swords Dance and Taunt have only made Mienfoo even better, and it pairs especially well with other hot pivots like Furfrou and Emolga.
A to A+
Spikes has become one the dominant forces in ORAS SU with the sorry state of entry hazard removal. Glalie matches up incredibly well against nearly all hazard removers in the tier (and Magic Bounce Natu) between STAB Freeze-Dry, Taunt, and its solid Speed. Trubbish feasts on non-Taunt variants of Mienfoo and any other Pokemon that can't outright OHKO it, and Pain Split and Explosion make its defensive and offensive variants pains to deal with. Conveniently, top threats like Furfrou, Emolga, and Heatmor thrive with Spikes on the field to wear down their answers.
(Higher)
Besides Spikes and VoltTurn, rain is one of the most dominant offensive archetypes in ORAS SU, thanks primarily to the tier receiving Golduck in our most recent (and probably last) tier shift last year. Both Beartic and Volbeat are integral parts of the playstyle as the best physical sweeper and best setter, respectively, so we've bumped them both up to reflect rain's potency. Seaking is getting bumped partly for its place on rain, but its Lightning Rod defensive set also just a decent addition to some teams as a way to patch up holes against Electric-types like Plusle and Luxray. The defensive set isn't a total momentum sink either thanks to Scald and Knock Off for making progress, especially as these traits help it punish Grass-types like Gloom and Gourgeist formes.
(Higher)
Despite the rise of Mienfoo, both of the tier's most prominent Dark-types besides Murkrow have seen increased popularity and value in the current metagame. It pains me to say this because I'm a Mightyena hater, but having a Dark-type wallbreaker and sweeper that can take advantage of Furfrou and Mienfoo inviting Ghost-types in is solid. I'm higher on Zweilous, as I commented after our Discord tour in the previous year that Zweilous was due to return to prominence with more experimentation. The rise of Spikes teams has really helped Zweilous out, especially Trubbish Spikes teams, and its RestTalk set has re-established itself as being solid enough for serious consideration. Still, both of these Pokemon can be pretty flawed, Zweilous particularly with Hustle's accuracy, so they aren't top tier at the moment, just trending.
UR to B-
ORAS SU doesn't just exist in a vacuum, as its playerbase is strongly influenced and overlaps with other SU old gens as well as ZU. New and old developments in ORAS ZU, BW ZU, and BW SU are often reflected in the high regard for Furfrou and Mienfoo as well as increased interest in Mightyena, Seaking, and the previously unranked Hypno. Hypno's stallbreaker set has gotten it back on the playerbase's radar as a legitimate force in the tier that was written off too quickly. Although there's significant competition amongst Psychic-types in ORAS SU between Chimecho, Gothitelle, and Girafarig (on top of "fake" Psychic-types like Solrock and Natu), Hypno still distinguishes itself thanks to its deep utility movepool including options like Taunt, Thunder Wave, Wish, and Seismic Toss. Even Nasty Plot sets have seen a resurgence, finding easier setup opportunities compared to Girafarig thanks to Hypno's solid bulk. It's still pretty early, but Hypno looks like one of the more promising lower rank discoveries in the still-nascent metagame.

Thanks for reading! I'm hoping to continue supporting ORAS SU resources into the next year, when we will hopefully have a more organized SU tournament circuit that is primarily through the forums.