Metagame SV ZeroUsed Speculation Thread

[plznostep]

Time to look into my crystal ball....

Hide

- Seems rather outclassed in PU but Magnetic Flux sets exist and are very neat and its still used there pretty sure. We'll see.
- Not entirely sure we get this since i know people call it decent in PU but it wouldn't be farfetched for it to drop.
- Slow ice type, entirely outclassed by Crabominable in PU except on weather, in which rain and snow are not the best weathers
- Lots of Electric type competition, this doesn't have a chance of staying imo
- Way better spikers exist, otherwise this actually might be super scary because ice types are busted with Tera and this has hustle, so we'll maybe see if this can actually be an okay offensive threat.
- Eiscue is a big gimmick always but i hope its at least okay. Tera is a big buff ig.
- Scary. Guts got a lot better and it might be okay as a spdef wall but it lost roar sooo.
- Specs is going to go crazy now it has actually coverage with tera. Calm Mind also will.
- Again, better spikers exist in PU and Glalie has lost explosion. BIG L. Either way ig ill have to use Take Down instead and die that way.
- Good here but not in PU certainly. Much better psychics to use there.
- This looks quite nice, hopefully it turns out great, always had a soft spot for Greedent.
- Poor stat layout but it has sky high attack and good abilities, this looks like it would be a great wallbreaker. RIP Slaking
- This is outclassed by Gothitelle who is outclassed in PU. Surely will get.
- I hope that PU doesn't take this but webs might be a thing now.
- Cool pivot and something that punishes water attacks is nice.
- It got wish. its still bad.
- This looks pretty good, Guts is going to be an amazing wallbreaker for one.
- I believe Female is used in PU to take on Houndoom, so this form will drop while F stays in PU probably?
- No way this stays PU. I have no idea how it will do here im not an Oranguru expert.
- Maybe cool pivot? Idk seems bad.
- No idea if this one will come true but i hope it does, we want Persian to come home again
- I never see this, i think its not going to be PU. That's scary.
- Swords Dance might cool, it can boost its speed and not worry about status. That has to be worth noting
- Truant has always made this awful. Except in like, DPP ZU ig.
- This can use Eviolite (idk why people say it can't u dumb), Calm Mind might be cool or just Work Up physical sets ig.
- This should drop, but people are using it because i believe blunder made a video using it. I will have to revisit this.
- I think this drops? Its a cool suicide lead but i never see it
- No shot this doesn't drop, it has good coverage ig.
- Skuntank makes this not see much use in PU, otherwise this will be spreading tspikes with ease, we love.
- I don't think this stays PU either. Got some nice buffs, surely will be a pretty decent pivot
- I actually have no idea how this performs so im assuming it drops. It got Nasty Plot. WOOOOOOOOOO


NFEs:
- This by no means should ever drop. As a rocker and spiker, it loses to Quaxwell. And Quaxwell is a better spinner. Please give me this.
- Dragonair is seen more i think? Tera Normal stuff is cool on that, this doesn't get that but its atk is super high? im scared.
- MORE SPINNERS WOOOO. It has a good movepool but bad stats so surely drops
- I just don't see this that much but i can see it being PU? I really hope this doesn't drop, it will tear us all apart.
- This has the cool thing of resisting a ton of common PU mons, but like its Zweilous and you have to go out of your way to find it.

 

[Tuthur]

Hide

Banette
Dedenne
Delibird
Eiscue
Flareon
Glalie
Gothitelle
Greedent
Gumshoos
Hypno
Jumpluff
Leafeon
Lumineon
Luvdisc
Luxray
Oinkologne
Oinkologne-F
Oranguru
Pachirisu
Pincurchin
Scovillain
Seviper
Slaking
Stantler
Sudowoodo
Sunflora
Swalot
Tropius
Wigglytuff

NFEs:
Dragonair
Fraxure
Frogadier
Glimmet
Toedscool
Vigoroth
Zweilous

 

[TomatoZause]

Mons

Ampharos
Banette
Beartic
Cacturne
Dedenne
Delibird
Eiscue
Flareon
Girafarig
Glaceon
Glalie
Gothitelle
Greedent
Gumshoos
Hypno
Jumpluff
Leafeon
Lumineon
Luvdisc
Luxray
Oinkologne
Oinkologne-F
Oranguru
Pachirisu
Persian
Rotom-Fan
Scovillain
Seviper
Slaking
Stantler
Stonjourner
Sudowoodo
Sunflora
Swalot
Tropius
Wigglytuff

NFEs:
Carkol
Dragonair
Fraxure
Glimmet
Murkrow
Toedscool
Vigoroth
Zweilous

 

[yovan33321]

No way that becomes an official tier

 

[TTK]

Hide

Ampharos certain
Banette certain
Beartic depends on if my rain team and many others carries this
Dedenne certain
Delibird it's delibird
Eiscue probably
Electrode thing is, it's actually decent but will it see the usage
Flareon likely but unsure
Glaceon depends on the clout i give the cm set
Glalie certain
Gothitelle certain
Greedent certain
Gumshoos certain
Hypno used in pu just because of insom but probably drops
Jumpluff unsure
Kricketune it's kricketune.
Lumineon no defog no scald lumineon kek
Luvdisc it's luvdisc.
Luxray sleeper pick that probably ends up dropping unfortunately
Oinkologne female sees the usage
Oranguru certain
Pachirisu certain
Persian probably
Pincurchin unsure spikes is really good
Rabsca i couldn't imagine the revive mon dropping but who knows?
Rotom-Fan tough to say because it isn't bad but frostom
Scovillain if sun teams get this to 4.52% and above fair play but outside of it, its bad
Seviper certain
Slaking if this doesn't drop I wholeheartedly blame aim
Stantler probably its not that good
Stonjourner probably
Sudowoodo certain
Sunflora it's sunflora.
Swalot probably
Tropius probably
Wigglytuff certain

NFEs:
Carkol
Dartrix
Fraxure
Frogadier
Glimmet
Murkrow
Shroodle
Toedscool
Zweilous

 

[GetSleidSun]

peer into my crystal ball, zu will be them all!

Banette
Beartic
Dedenne
Delibird
Flareon
Glaceon
Glalie
Gothitelle
Greedent
Gumshoos
Hypno
Jumpluff
Kricketune
Lilligant
Lumineon
Luvdisc
Luxray
Oinkologne
Oinkologne-F
Oranguru
Pachirisu
Persian
Pincurchin
Rotom-Fan
Scovillain
Seviper
Slaking
Stantler
Sudowoodo
Sunflora
Swalot
Tropius
Wigglytuff

NFEs:
Carkoal
Fraxure
Murkrow
Toedscool
Zweilous

 

[Tuthur]

Small change in the banlist based on the new usage stats;
-
+

 

[Gyagabuh]

Some thoughts:

Girafarig,Stantler,and Dunsparce will probably dominate the tier lol.Girafarig can run different moveset but Bulky Calm Mind Rest Early Bird set is interesting,outside of that it can be a Double Dance Sweeper with Calm Mind and Agility.

Stantler was very similar to Girafarig imo,it has the advantage of having Intimidate though.Otherwise it were very similar to Girafarig with Calm Mind,Restalk,Tera Blast set.

Dunsparce is gonna be very annoying lol.Its just gonna come in,tank a hit,and it either gonna paralyze you with Glare,sets up Stealth Rock,put you to sleep with Yawn,or healed with Roost.I can already see this mon haxing me lmao

Flareon is also interesting,it can be an offensive threat with Guts Tera Normal Facade or it could be a Specially Defensive Wall with HDB cause Fire is actually a pretty good defensive typing outside of its SR weakness.

There's so many set that i could think of this mon.It can be a TR sweeper,it can run AV set,and maybe it can run Sub + CM set.Looking forward to use this mon

Dartrix was a defogger with good bulk and reliable recovery,and It can also threaten the Rock and Ground type that sets up Stealth Rock.It might have some competition with Toedscool though.

Toedscool is gonna be the premier utility mon.It can remove hazard,puts you to sleep with Spore,Knock Off your item,etc..

Misdreavus was very similar to Gastly,they can both run Sub Nasty Plot set and Specs or Scarf set.The main advantage that Misdreavus has was it has higher speed than Gastly,and it can run Will o Wisp,Pain Split,Hex set unlike Gastly with its pitiful bulk.

Gastly was stronger than Misdreavus so it has much better time wallbreaking than Misdreavus.There isn't much to say about Gastly other than it hit very hard especially with Specs.

 

[CrabominableSolos7]

FATHER AND SON

​

Boasting an absurdly high 670 BST, ludicrous 160 Atk and 150/100/65 bulk, Slaking stands out as an absolute menance for the current speculation ZU meta, comprised majoritarily of NFEs and low BST fully evolved Pokémon. With Choice Scarf, it turns into one of the fastest Pokémon in the meta, while coupled with a Choice Band its attacks gain such sheer power that nearly every speculated drop is OHKOed or 2HKOed by its STAB Body Slam or coverage options in Earthquake, Sucker Punch, Fire Punch, etc. Even with Truant hindering its full potential, it already shows signs of being a borderline unhealthy threat in the metagame. Slaking Jr. also proves to be a potential threat itself. With great base 90 Speed and workable 80/80/55 bulk coupled with access to reliable recovery in Slack Off, the sloth is quickly solidifying itself as a major component of the speculative ZU meta. Furthermore, its access to the combination of Taunt + Bulk Up allows it to effectively shut down defensive staples such as Sandygast, Mareanie, Cufant, etc., providing an incredibly threatening secondary (or even primary) win condition for teams.

My guy Slaking is not gonna be good in any tier
It doesn't matter how high its BST is when its ability has dragged it down this much. Slaking may have a high Attack stat and become one of the fastest in the meta with scarf, but its ability allows your opponent to have a FREE TURN. It does not matter if you switch or stay in after attacking, you are allowing the opponent to set up which shouldn't be allowed to happen.
Giga impact makes it even worse because it doesnt let you do ANYTHING after attacking, which is basically what Truant is without the damage. Maybe you pick up the KO on a mon, but it's not worth it when you allow the next one to potentially sweep. This is especially the case for mons like Stonjourner and Gogoat which don't require too much to begin picking up KO's. You can even use Protect on the turns Slaking can even attack to make sure it can't even do anything to you!
Do not promote a Pokemon that is so unviable it practically hands out free wins.

 

[TomatoZause]

My guy Slaking is not gonna be good in any tier
It doesn't matter how high its BST is when its ability has dragged it down this much. Slaking may have a high Attack stat and become one of the fastest in the meta with scarf, but its ability allows your opponent to have a FREE TURN. It does not matter if you switch or stay in after attacking, you are allowing the opponent to set up which shouldn't be allowed to happen.
Giga impact makes it even worse because it doesnt let you do ANYTHING after attacking, which is basically what Truant is without the damage. Maybe you pick up the KO on a mon, but it's not worth it when you allow the next one to potentially sweep. This is especially the case for mons like Stonjourner and Gogoat which don't require too much to begin picking up KO's. You can even use Protect on the turns Slaking can even attack to make sure it can't even do anything to you!
Do not promote a Pokemon that is so unviable it practically hands out free wins.

Slaking is actually viable in several tiers, including DPP ZU, BW ZU and ORAS ZU. While I think Slaking will likely not be as good as it was in previous generations due to the lack of Pursuit, it may still be a threatening wallbreaker. This is also a speculative meta, so calling something "so unviable [that] it practically hands out wins" is not very fair yet. I'd also like to point out that in BW ZU (which is Slaking's best gen), you have plenty of threatening setup sweepers that can take advantage of Truant, like CM Protect/Substitute Grumpig. Grumpig is a very common Pokemon in that tier, but it doesn't make Slaking unviable. While you do have to build around Slaking, you can counteract its weaknesses by running setup-deterrents, or Pokemon that stop the threats that use Slaking as setup-fodder. I'd also like to mention that Gogoat will certainly not be in ZU.

Don't get me wrong, I do not think Slaking will be good in this gen without Pursuit. I just think that it should not be written off after 3 weeks of a meta that does not exist.

 

[plznostep]

Hey ZU!

I wanted to talk about some fun Pokemon I've been using while this tier has been running, I think SV ZU is going to be very unique and I'm looking forward to seeing how this tier develops over time

Firstly; here is one of my favourite Pokemon to use here, Flittle

Set

Flittle @ Petaya Berry
Ability: Speed Boost
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stored Power
- Tera Blast
- Substitute
- Protect

If you are familiar with how Yanma works in DPP ZU, this functions very similarly; spam Protect + Substitute and get a Peteya Boost to clean. It's important to get to +6 with Flittle because that gives you a base 160 power move with the Peteya Berry boost, and Flittle's special attack isn't actually that bad either when boosted with a Peteya Berry hitting about 344, making this a pretty nice cleaner once you have facilitated it. There are quite a few things that stop Flittle, priority from Banette, Pawniard and Murkrow can be troublesome in particular and you'll need to chip down Psychic types such as Girafarig and Gothitelle first before you clean, which you can do by hazards, making Flittle fit really nicely on HO teams. Steel types can also be a tiny problem, but Flittle has Tera Fighting here so you can hit them with that for significant damage. Please don't sleep on this mon, i know Flittle has a reputation for being a joke, but thats because people used Eviolite on a Pokemon with defenses worse then Gastly LOL

Here's a Replay showing it off

Replay

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-1830401761

Set

Eelektrik @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
- Discharge
- U-turn
- Giga Drain
- Acid Spray

This is basically baby Eelektross, and its very good here imo. You have your main stab, Discharge, spreading paralysis and you have Giga Drain to hit grounds, while still being able to pivot on various voltblockers that do not care about Giga Drain, such as Pincurchin and Toedscool. Acid Spray can also be used to stop setup, and with Tera Poison, this move goes up to 60 base power, making it stronger while lowering your targets. Poison is also just generally a great tera type for it as well, making it only weak to Psychic moves and picking up some nice resistances to some types such as Grass and Fighting. As a result, i've found this a great pivot to use on teams, especially with Glaceon.

Set

Delibird @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Hustle
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Spinner
- Brave Bird
- Drill Run
- Ice Shard

Lastly, I would like to talk about the little bird that could, Delibird. I would honestly say this, don't count it out. It has some great stabs and Hustle gives it a workable Atk stat while having a pretty decent speed tier and priority. Brave Bird hits pretty hard as well, and it even comes with coverage for Electric and Rock-types that would resist Brave Bird in Drill Run. Hustle is a bit annoying, but otherwise this is actually really solid. You can even run Rapid Spin for an offensive Rapid Spinner, something that i don't think you'll find anywhere else. Another mon you really shouldn't overlook.

That's it from me, I hope you all enjoy speculating and I can't wait for April 1st!

​

 

[Catalisador]

Hey, y'all! Lumineon afficionado Catalisador here to give my two cents on the speculative ZU meta one last time before the real deal releases on April 1st! Let's hop into it!

​

Glaceon has been terrorizing the speculative ZU meta as of late. Players have finally caught up with how oppressive this eeveelution can be. Sporting insanely high 130 Special Attack and serviceable 65/110/95 bulk, Glaceon has quickly become one of the, if not the most broken Pokémon in the meta. With sets ranging from Choice Specs, Calm Mind RestTalk, Calm Mind + Trailblaze and even defensive Wish support (arguably offensive Glaceon's only true check lol), its versatility can't be understated either! I totally expect Glaceon to dominate the upcoming ZU metagame.
Glaceon replay vs. sexywooper: https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/battle-gen9pu-1833154575

​

The only predicted Water-type to drop (besides NFEs), Lumineon has taken the spotlight lately. Its impressive Speed tier, coupled with its Water + Ice coverage makes it a potent offensive attacker, threatening common defensive staples like Dartrix and Sandygast. Furthermore, coupled with Tera Blast Ground, it becomes an effective lure of the ever so common Mareanie, effectively one shotting it. Its defensive capabilities are similarly potent, with an excellent Water type and access to utility moves like Encore and U-Turn, the later providing invaluable momentum for teams. Definitely keep an eye on this fish!
Lumineon replay on a Tournament finals: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-1833158217

​

I've been preaching about Flittle since NU came out, so I was really pleased to know that it actually functions as a decent offensive threat in the speculative ZU meta. plznostep's performance with the bird has been really solid and I definitely recommend checking out his post about it! In short, Flittle can easily snowball late game with its potent Speed Boost ability coupled with access to Stored Power, creating an effective 160+ BP STAB move! Absolutely one of my favourite little critters.

​

Krokorok is one of my favourite Pokémon to use in the speculative ZU meta. Its has incredible potential: offensively, Moxie and a great dual STAB in Ground and Dark makes Choice Scarf or Choice Band sets incredibly threatening, while acess to Intimidate and utility moves like Stealth Rock and Taunt allows it to function as an incredible utility option for teams. Definitely keep an eye on the croc!

​

Dartrix's addition to the metagame was incredibly useful. Sporting decent stats all around and access to an incredible utility movepool with moves like Knock Off, Roost and Defog, Dartrix quickly rose to the top of the speculative ZU meta.

 

[Fissure]

Predictions

Banette
Beartic
Dedenne
Delibird
Eiscue
Electrode
Flareon
Glaceon
Glalie
Gothitelle
Greedent
Grumpig
Gumshoos
Hypno
Jumpluff
Leafeon
Lilligant
Lumineon
Luvdisc
Luxray
Oinkologne
Oinkologne-F
Oranguru
Pachirisu
Persian
Pincurchin
Raichu
Rotom-Fan
Sawsbuck
Seviper
Slaking
Stantler
Stonjourner
Sudowoodo
Sunflora
Tropius
Wigglytuff


NFEs:
Carkoal
Dragonair
Fraxure
Glimmet
Hattrem
Murkrow
Toedscool
Vigoroth
Zweilous

 

[Wayward]

Glalie @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Safety Goggles
Ability: Inner Focus
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spikes
- Ice Spinner
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard

252 Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Toedscool: 324-384 (114 - 135.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Glalie Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Carkol: 248-292 (68.1 - 80.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Tera Ground Glalie Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Carkol: 372-436 (102.1 - 119.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Glalie Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Carkol: 164-196 (45 - 53.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Tera Ground Glalie Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Carkol: 244-292 (67 - 80.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock and 1 layer of Spikes
252 Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Steenee: 140-168 (45.4 - 54.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

With its new move Ice Spinner, a physical Glalie set is a spiker that has pretty crazy matchups vs most of the available spinners in the tier! Ground/Ice coverage is just crazy in general as we know well by now. Safety Goggles is not preferred but it's a cool tech for switching into Todescool with impunity.

Edit:
252 Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Dartrix: 220-264 (61.1 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Dartrix: 240-288 (66.6 - 80%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Dartrix: 328-388 (91.1 - 107.7%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Dartrix: 360-424 (100 - 117.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
physdef Dartrix is a fucking beast but still gets smacked by this set

Edit 2:
252 Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Corvisquire: 198-234 (58.4 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Glalie Ice Spinner vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Corvisquire: 132-156 (38.9 - 46%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
The choice between Eviolite and Boots for the hazard-removing NFEs in this tier is a false dichotomy in the face of Glalie

Edit 3: Okay this thing is fucking gas so here's some more funny calcs vs some offensive/pivot type mons:

Hide

252+ Atk Tera Ground Glalie Earthquake into Ice Shard vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Persian: 274-325 (101.1 - 119.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
With Inner Focus, Persian's Fake-Out can't flinch you, and you can Tera Ground EQ HDB offensive Persian into Ice Shard range from full if you're Adamant.
252+ Atk Tera Ground Glalie Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 152+ Def Electrode: 260-308 (99.6 - 118%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
With Tera Ground, you can of course volt block vs other irritating taunt pivots like Electrode. This Electrode set is something I concocted, it runs Boots, 152 Def/252 SpA/104 Spe Bold, it outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame (assuming Persian is the next fastest mon) and has decent physical bulk (i.e. not guaranteed to be OHKO'd by this STAB Adamant EQ, lol) with Static to pivot in on weak moves like U-Turns. Regardless, Glalie can surprise volt block and smack this bulky Trode for a near-guaranteed OHKO.
I'm liking Adamant more and more the more calcs I run, though the ability to outspeed things like Jolly Krokorok, Timid Scovillain, etc. with Jolly Glalie can of course be key depending on the game state and the team at hand.

 

[GetSleidSun]

Hello! First of all, I wanted to thank everyone who participated. It was a lot of fun to tally up the close scores and see everyone's thoughts on who would drop to ZU. Without further ado, and I promise it's not rigged I counted twice, the winner of the SV ZU Crystal Ball is GetSleidSun ! Again, I really appreciate and want to thank those who took the time to participate. If you have any questions about your score, feel free to ask. Now, let's go enjoy some SV ZU now that it is here!

Score Placements

GetSleidSun - 61
Melons-N-Soda - 60 (5 NFE correct)
Tuthur - 60 (4 NFE correct)
Zause - 59
Toy Time King - 57
5Dots - 56
Plznostep - 54
Fissure - 53
Baitwiz - 48

 

[wooper]

with the totally not rigged crystal ball results above, we will be locking this thread! any discussions on the sv zu meta should now be populated in our np thread. thanks for speculating with us!