This thread is for simple questions that need relatively simple answers to avoid clogging up the metagame thread with one-liners. Quote the question you are answering to help keep things organized. If you were considering making a thread to ask "Why was Calyrex-Shadow banned?" or "How was Shedinja broken?" I'd recommend asking those questions here instead. Feedback on teams is more suited here, help on developing unfinished teams goes in the tier's Discord server.
FAQ
Does this have a Discord server?
Yes, join here!
Why is Dynamax not allowed?
Besides coding limitations, implementing Dynamax doesn't adhere to National Dex's identity, additionally given its well-documented uncompetitive nature even within the identity of Uber metagames, it'd most likely be banned anyways.
Can I use Terastal, Mega Evolution, and Z-Moves on the same team?
Yes, however, any one Pokemon has access to one of these mechanics. Furthermore, Mega Evolution and Z-Moves take priority over Terastal. For example, Mewtwo holding Mewtwonite Y cannot Terastallize. Necrozma-DM holding Solgalium Z cannot Terastallize either. Pokemon that trigger Primal Reversion (Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre) can't Terastallize either.
Why is X banned?
Even though Uber metagames have a more lenient tiering policy, their competitive nature as developed in recent generations as a proper format over a mere playable banlist, has led to certain aspects in the tier to be too undesirable to be in the tier without hindering competitive aspects and meta variety.
Baton Pass
As of recent generations team structures dedicated to this move have quite minimal counterplay, especially as the inheritor of the passed stat changes itself can wildly vary in terms of checks and counters.
Assist
Per lingering internal data in SV, Assist was deemed to call Revival Blessing, which led to stall-like team structures revolving around taking advantage of such combination to constrain offense, acting as an unhealthy aspect on the tier by demanding its main forms of counterplay to be either PP stalling with a Regenerator core, or Extreme Killer Arceus.
Shedinja
The capability to Terastallize means that this has extremely limited counterplay, especially when supported by Shed Tail as then it's immune to nearly all moves, with none of the viable ability bypassing users in the tier (Kyurem-B, Necrozma-DM) wanting to switch into Will-O-Wisp, getting so severe as for users to start running Pursuit + Mold Breaker Druddigon or even a move slot just for Hail or Sandstorm. While Tera Electric + Air Balloon was a trend by its invulnerability to attacks that don't ignore abilities bar Thousand Arrows, other Tera types such as Ground and Water with Safety Goggles or Heavy-Duty Boots to play around typical counterplay also saw use, further cementing its unhealthy impact on the tier.
Mega Gengar
A gained access to Encore combined with its very high Speed tier and Shadow Tag means that it can comfortably be pivoted into a good portion of the tier then enable a sweep for itself with Nasty Plot, or at worst almost trivially perform an opening on the other team for its team to take advantage of.
Calyrex-S
The capability to Terastallize means that this has no real checks whatsoever, especially when it has sufficient move slots to play around counterplay, it can also use Z-Moves for similar results regardless.
Mega Rayquaza
Flying is a rather unresisted type in the metagame, resulting on the sheer damage output of this Pokemon to have no real switch-ins as they can all be 2HKOed without even having to setup, which is further complemented by a Speed tier above non-positive nature base 120 Speed Pokemon like Arceus, Palkia-O, and M-Salamence. Unlike Deoxys-A, Mega Rayquaza's actually usable bulk further enhanced by Delta Stream also means that it can hard-switch into foes like Primal Groudon with some prediction, while also being way harder to revenge kill or force out.
Miraidon
Miraidon hits a Speed tier above nearly the entire metagame, which when combined with +1 Z-Draco Meteor OHKOing every non-resist in the tier results on this having no real answers. More standard sets such as Tera Dragon + Choice Specs or Calm Mind + Life Orb still proved to be too strong for the tier regardless.
Koraidon
In a bulkier metagame, Koraidon proves itself to be arguably better than Mega Rayquaza by having the capability to Terastallize to flip the matchup on its counterplay while also having even better stats on top out of its ability to overwhelm nearly the entire metagame, all while being a self-sufficient sweeper thanks to Loaded Dice + Scale Shot heavily reducing its counterplay as then the best answers were dedicated Tera mind games. The higher amount of threats in the tier means that teams can't dedicate their resources into Koraidon as much compared to SV Ubers, especially when the main enabler of most team structures known as Primal Groudon loses to Koraidon.
Xerneas
Xerneas’s Geomancy sets made it a contentious presence, especially when coupled with Terastallization. Xerneas was an effective user of both offensive and defensive Terastallization, most often using Tera Electric, Fighting, and Stellar, although common Pokémon such as Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, and Primal Groudon were able to somewhat reasonably contain it despite Terastallization mind games. Following Koraidon’s ban, Xerneas was free to run a Modest nature and start investing in bulk which invalidated much of its already limited counterplay. Additionally, the Hidden Power Rock + Focus Blast set rarely utilized Terastallization and enabled hyper offense structures to an unhealthy degree. Xerneas and Zacian-C too easily overwhelmed their shared counterplay and both were considered for a suspect test with Xerneas ultimately receiving the banhammer.
Dynamax
The reasonings here apply, but in a nutshell it's fundamentally not competitive to enable doubled bulk at the press of a button, especially when only offensive Pokémon benefit the most as defensive ones are far more limited to Max Guard, let alone the prediction being way more risky on the defender than the Dynamax user, to which it's an high reward with minimal loss.
Ultra Necrozma
A gained access to Dragon Dance with no additions whatsoever to its counterplay means that only real answer in the entire metagame was Arceus-Dark, heavily constraining the teambuilder out of lacking Tera Dark users to act as soft-checks, if still centralized, compared to Gen 9.
Shadow Tag
Shadow Tag is a controversial topic on the tier, but overall it was deemed to be unhealthy given the increase on variety of offensive Pokemon and the inability for utility Arceus formes to not be trapped in lack of Taunt.
Zacian-C
Higher stats compared to Gen 9 plus Intrepid Sword triggers every time per switch-in over once per battle for a Pokemon that's already borderline in SV ND Ubers.
Zacian
Even though it lacks a Steel typing, a free item slot and a Speed tier above Eternatus still enables it to have quite minimal counterplay by overwhelming a good portion of the metagame.
Moody
Moody's RNG aspect was the cause of a quickban early in the metagame. This may get revisited if there's considerable demand for it by the userbase.
Is Focus Sash Marshadow viable?
It certainly isn't, Focus Sash Marshadow has been an appealing set on paper as it can revenge kill a setup sweeper while also snowballing by stealing setup with Spectral Thief, but not only does this heavily reduce Marshadow's characteristic and meta defining damage output to wallbreak against a good portion of the metagame compared to other items like Life Orb and Choice Band, the opponent can also just switch out, especially as Focus Sash Marshadow is rather weak relative to the tier for most bulky Pokemon in the tier to use it as an opportunity to lay entry hazards or status, and additionally this whole niche is invalidated by entry hazards as then Focus Sash won't trigger if Marshadow is worn down at all. More information on this, better alternatives, and other common sets of the tier that are way more of an on-paper thing than an in-practice one can be found here.
Can Focus Sash Marshadow have an analysis in the SmogDex as to highlight why it shouldn't be used?
Even though there's been precedent on this sort of analyses, it has been discussed internally and agreed on that this'd only worsen the issue of Focus Sash Marshadow being a trend on the ladder even though it's simply a poor man's Ditto / standard Marshadow as explained in the previous question. Analyses are meant to showcase the options for high level play in tournaments and against experienced players alike, not the unusual trends of the ladder, so highlighting it just because the ladder keeps using it isn't a good reason ether.
Why is Primal Groudon in nearly every viable team?
With the centralized nature of Uber metagames, even though it may seem as if Primal Groudon centralizes the metagame to some degree, Primal Groundon provides unparalled role compression in the builder and that translates well into games as it often serves essential roles, Primal Groudon's ability to consistently do this while maintaining flexibility in its set and EV spread make it a boon to nearly every team outside of extreme playstyles.
In more detail, Primal Groudon has been historically a cornerstone for Uber metagames, and ND Ubers is not an exception. With its solid stats, typing and ability, Primal Groudon provides highly accessible role compression (entry hazards (in particular being the main Stealth Rock setter of the tier), and status spreading) heavily desirable for nearly all balance and bulky offense teams. Additionally, Primal Groudon has the capability to check top threats like Zacian-C and Primal Kyogre, as well as more selectively a good portion of the rest of the metagame, all depending on the matchup and the team it fits on, as its longevity limitations demand clever management of its use at checking foes a team may struggle with.
Primal Groudon is also far from passive with its potent mixed offenses, EdgeQuake access, and nuclear Fire STAB granting it the potential to overwhelm some checks, both in defensive and offensive sets alike, even finding a place in some offense teams by having options ranging from Swords Dance + Rock Polish to adapt its use against the team it faces, to an Eruption set that can 2HKO foes like Giratina-O after minimal chip.
What is GHAZ, and why is it a trend?
"GHAZ" refers to a team core made of Primal Groudon + Ho-Oh + Arceus (any utility forme, mostly Arceus-Dark) + Zygarde, which has been gaining traction as of around the start of 2025 as this is an extremely self-sufficient core to handle nearly the entire metagame, having two spare slots where nearly anything ranked in the VR can viably fit.
More specifically, Zygarde's solid physical bulk and utility enable it to check nearly the entire physically offensive metagame, especially when supported by Terastallizing, Arceus checks mixed wallbreakers and bulky setup sweepers like Yveltal, Zygarde, and Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh checks most special attackers in the tier while also providing hazard control and status spreading, and Primal Groudon does its typical role compression as explained in the previous question.
FAQ
Does this have a Discord server?
Yes, join here!
Why is Dynamax not allowed?
Besides coding limitations, implementing Dynamax doesn't adhere to National Dex's identity, additionally given its well-documented uncompetitive nature even within the identity of Uber metagames, it'd most likely be banned anyways.
Can I use Terastal, Mega Evolution, and Z-Moves on the same team?
Yes, however, any one Pokemon has access to one of these mechanics. Furthermore, Mega Evolution and Z-Moves take priority over Terastal. For example, Mewtwo holding Mewtwonite Y cannot Terastallize. Necrozma-DM holding Solgalium Z cannot Terastallize either. Pokemon that trigger Primal Reversion (Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre) can't Terastallize either.
Why is X banned?
Even though Uber metagames have a more lenient tiering policy, their competitive nature as developed in recent generations as a proper format over a mere playable banlist, has led to certain aspects in the tier to be too undesirable to be in the tier without hindering competitive aspects and meta variety.
Baton PassAs of recent generations team structures dedicated to this move have quite minimal counterplay, especially as the inheritor of the passed stat changes itself can wildly vary in terms of checks and counters.
AssistPer lingering internal data in SV, Assist was deemed to call Revival Blessing, which led to stall-like team structures revolving around taking advantage of such combination to constrain offense, acting as an unhealthy aspect on the tier by demanding its main forms of counterplay to be either PP stalling with a Regenerator core, or Extreme Killer Arceus.
ShedinjaThe capability to Terastallize means that this has extremely limited counterplay, especially when supported by Shed Tail as then it's immune to nearly all moves, with none of the viable ability bypassing users in the tier (Kyurem-B, Necrozma-DM) wanting to switch into Will-O-Wisp, getting so severe as for users to start running Pursuit + Mold Breaker Druddigon or even a move slot just for Hail or Sandstorm. While Tera Electric + Air Balloon was a trend by its invulnerability to attacks that don't ignore abilities bar Thousand Arrows, other Tera types such as Ground and Water with Safety Goggles or Heavy-Duty Boots to play around typical counterplay also saw use, further cementing its unhealthy impact on the tier.
Mega GengarA gained access to Encore combined with its very high Speed tier and Shadow Tag means that it can comfortably be pivoted into a good portion of the tier then enable a sweep for itself with Nasty Plot, or at worst almost trivially perform an opening on the other team for its team to take advantage of.
Calyrex-SThe capability to Terastallize means that this has no real checks whatsoever, especially when it has sufficient move slots to play around counterplay, it can also use Z-Moves for similar results regardless.
Mega RayquazaFlying is a rather unresisted type in the metagame, resulting on the sheer damage output of this Pokemon to have no real switch-ins as they can all be 2HKOed without even having to setup, which is further complemented by a Speed tier above non-positive nature base 120 Speed Pokemon like Arceus, Palkia-O, and M-Salamence. Unlike Deoxys-A, Mega Rayquaza's actually usable bulk further enhanced by Delta Stream also means that it can hard-switch into foes like Primal Groudon with some prediction, while also being way harder to revenge kill or force out.
MiraidonMiraidon hits a Speed tier above nearly the entire metagame, which when combined with +1 Z-Draco Meteor OHKOing every non-resist in the tier results on this having no real answers. More standard sets such as Tera Dragon + Choice Specs or Calm Mind + Life Orb still proved to be too strong for the tier regardless.
KoraidonIn a bulkier metagame, Koraidon proves itself to be arguably better than Mega Rayquaza by having the capability to Terastallize to flip the matchup on its counterplay while also having even better stats on top out of its ability to overwhelm nearly the entire metagame, all while being a self-sufficient sweeper thanks to Loaded Dice + Scale Shot heavily reducing its counterplay as then the best answers were dedicated Tera mind games. The higher amount of threats in the tier means that teams can't dedicate their resources into Koraidon as much compared to SV Ubers, especially when the main enabler of most team structures known as Primal Groudon loses to Koraidon.
XerneasXerneas’s Geomancy sets made it a contentious presence, especially when coupled with Terastallization. Xerneas was an effective user of both offensive and defensive Terastallization, most often using Tera Electric, Fighting, and Stellar, although common Pokémon such as Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, and Primal Groudon were able to somewhat reasonably contain it despite Terastallization mind games. Following Koraidon’s ban, Xerneas was free to run a Modest nature and start investing in bulk which invalidated much of its already limited counterplay. Additionally, the Hidden Power Rock + Focus Blast set rarely utilized Terastallization and enabled hyper offense structures to an unhealthy degree. Xerneas and Zacian-C too easily overwhelmed their shared counterplay and both were considered for a suspect test with Xerneas ultimately receiving the banhammer.
DynamaxThe reasonings here apply, but in a nutshell it's fundamentally not competitive to enable doubled bulk at the press of a button, especially when only offensive Pokémon benefit the most as defensive ones are far more limited to Max Guard, let alone the prediction being way more risky on the defender than the Dynamax user, to which it's an high reward with minimal loss.
Ultra NecrozmaA gained access to Dragon Dance with no additions whatsoever to its counterplay means that only real answer in the entire metagame was Arceus-Dark, heavily constraining the teambuilder out of lacking Tera Dark users to act as soft-checks, if still centralized, compared to Gen 9.
Shadow TagShadow Tag is a controversial topic on the tier, but overall it was deemed to be unhealthy given the increase on variety of offensive Pokemon and the inability for utility Arceus formes to not be trapped in lack of Taunt.
Zacian-CHigher stats compared to Gen 9 plus Intrepid Sword triggers every time per switch-in over once per battle for a Pokemon that's already borderline in SV ND Ubers.
ZacianEven though it lacks a Steel typing, a free item slot and a Speed tier above Eternatus still enables it to have quite minimal counterplay by overwhelming a good portion of the metagame.
MoodyMoody's RNG aspect was the cause of a quickban early in the metagame. This may get revisited if there's considerable demand for it by the userbase.
Is Focus Sash Marshadow viable?
It certainly isn't, Focus Sash Marshadow has been an appealing set on paper as it can revenge kill a setup sweeper while also snowballing by stealing setup with Spectral Thief, but not only does this heavily reduce Marshadow's characteristic and meta defining damage output to wallbreak against a good portion of the metagame compared to other items like Life Orb and Choice Band, the opponent can also just switch out, especially as Focus Sash Marshadow is rather weak relative to the tier for most bulky Pokemon in the tier to use it as an opportunity to lay entry hazards or status, and additionally this whole niche is invalidated by entry hazards as then Focus Sash won't trigger if Marshadow is worn down at all. More information on this, better alternatives, and other common sets of the tier that are way more of an on-paper thing than an in-practice one can be found here.
Can Focus Sash Marshadow have an analysis in the SmogDex as to highlight why it shouldn't be used?
Even though there's been precedent on this sort of analyses, it has been discussed internally and agreed on that this'd only worsen the issue of Focus Sash Marshadow being a trend on the ladder even though it's simply a poor man's Ditto / standard Marshadow as explained in the previous question. Analyses are meant to showcase the options for high level play in tournaments and against experienced players alike, not the unusual trends of the ladder, so highlighting it just because the ladder keeps using it isn't a good reason ether.
Why is Primal Groudon in nearly every viable team?
With the centralized nature of Uber metagames, even though it may seem as if Primal Groudon centralizes the metagame to some degree, Primal Groundon provides unparalled role compression in the builder and that translates well into games as it often serves essential roles, Primal Groudon's ability to consistently do this while maintaining flexibility in its set and EV spread make it a boon to nearly every team outside of extreme playstyles.
In more detail, Primal Groudon has been historically a cornerstone for Uber metagames, and ND Ubers is not an exception. With its solid stats, typing and ability, Primal Groudon provides highly accessible role compression (entry hazards (in particular being the main Stealth Rock setter of the tier), and status spreading) heavily desirable for nearly all balance and bulky offense teams. Additionally, Primal Groudon has the capability to check top threats like Zacian-C and Primal Kyogre, as well as more selectively a good portion of the rest of the metagame, all depending on the matchup and the team it fits on, as its longevity limitations demand clever management of its use at checking foes a team may struggle with.
Primal Groudon is also far from passive with its potent mixed offenses, EdgeQuake access, and nuclear Fire STAB granting it the potential to overwhelm some checks, both in defensive and offensive sets alike, even finding a place in some offense teams by having options ranging from Swords Dance + Rock Polish to adapt its use against the team it faces, to an Eruption set that can 2HKO foes like Giratina-O after minimal chip.
What is GHAZ, and why is it a trend?
"GHAZ" refers to a team core made of Primal Groudon + Ho-Oh + Arceus (any utility forme, mostly Arceus-Dark) + Zygarde, which has been gaining traction as of around the start of 2025 as this is an extremely self-sufficient core to handle nearly the entire metagame, having two spare slots where nearly anything ranked in the VR can viably fit.
More specifically, Zygarde's solid physical bulk and utility enable it to check nearly the entire physically offensive metagame, especially when supported by Terastallizing, Arceus checks mixed wallbreakers and bulky setup sweepers like Yveltal, Zygarde, and Necrozma-DM, Ho-Oh checks most special attackers in the tier while also providing hazard control and status spreading, and Primal Groudon does its typical role compression as explained in the previous question.
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