Gen VI Tiers

By Jukain. Updated by TRC, MattL, and Snobalt. Basis for clauses taken from the BW banlist page.

Introduction

Tiers are Smogon's way of categorizing Pokémon based on usage. Pokémon can be banned from the tier or move up to higher tier from their usage. Typically, they are updated after three months of usage statistics from Smogon's simulator, Pokémon Showdown. The standard tiers that are endorsed by Smogon in Gen VI are Ubers, OverUsed (OU), UnderUsed (UU), RarelyUsed (RU), NeverUsed (NU), PU, Little Cup (LC), and Doubles.

Ubers

Ubers is the tier above OU. It does not, however, receive any Pokémon from OU by usage. Instead, it receives Pokémon either through initial placement: Pokémon that never see the light of OU, and through banning: Pokémon that are deemed to be too powerful for OU. Most of the cover legendaries find themselves in this tier, as they are generally the strongest titans in the games.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause; Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.

Banned Pokémon

  • Mega Rayquaza

Banned Moves

  • Swagger

OverUsed

OverUsed, or OU, is Smogon's standard tier. The highest level of play is generally seen in this tier, and it is the basis for all other tiers. The most powerful Pokémon are banned from this tier up to Ubers. Pokémon cannot rise from OU to Ubers based on usage. Most of the cover legendaries in addition to select other Pokémon are on the banlist.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Baton Pass Clause: Only one Pokémon per team may know the move Baton Pass.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.

Banned Pokémon

  • Aegislash
  • Arceus
  • Blaziken
  • Darkrai
  • Deoxys
  • Deoxys-A
  • Deoxys-D
  • Deoxys-S
  • Dialga
  • Genesect
  • Giratina
  • Giratina-O
  • Greninja
  • Groudon
  • Ho-Oh
  • Kyogre
  • Kyurem-W
  • Lugia
  • Mewtwo
  • Palkia
  • Rayquaza
  • Reshiram
  • Shaymin-S
  • Xerneas
  • Yveltal
  • Zekrom

Banned Items

  • Gengarite
  • Kangaskhanite
  • Lucarionite
  • Mawilite
  • Salamencite
  • Soul Dew

Banned Moves

  • Swagger

UnderUsed

UnderUsed, or UU, is the tier that contains all of the Pokémon that are just short of OU in terms of the required usage amount, which equates to a 50% chance of encountering the Pokémon in OU in 20 battles. These Pokémon can still be used in OU, and a lot of them are actually quite powerful as well, but they simply aren't used enough for them to change their tier placement.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.

Banned Pokémon

  • Pokémon in the Uber and OU tiers by usage
  • Crawdaunt
  • Diggersby
  • Hawlucha
  • Klefki
  • Scolipede
  • Smeargle
  • Staraptor
  • Terrakion
  • Thundurus-T
  • Togekiss
  • Tornadus-T
  • Venomoth
  • Victini
  • Volcarona
  • Weavile
  • Zygarde

Banned Items

  • Alakazite
  • Heracronite
  • Medichamite
  • Pinsirite

Banned Abilities

  • Drizzle
  • Drought
  • Shadow Tag

Banned Moves

  • Swagger

RarelyUsed

RarelyUsed, or RU, is the tier that contains all of the Pokémon that are just short of UU in terms of the required usage amount, which equates to a 50% chance of encountering the Pokémon in UU in 20 battles. These Pokémon can still be used in UU, and a lot of them are actually quite powerful as well, but they simply aren't used enough for them to change their tier placement.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.

Banned Pokémon

  • Pokémon in the Uber, OU, and UU tiers by usage
  • Dragalge
  • Froslass
  • Kyurem
  • Moltres
  • Pangoro
  • Shuckle
  • Tornadus
  • Yanmega
  • Zoroark

Banned Items

  • Houndoominite

Banned Abilities

  • Drizzle
  • Drought
  • Shadow Tag

Banned Moves

  • Swagger

NeverUsed

NeverUsed, or NU, is the tier that contains all of the Pokémon that are just short of RU in terms of the required usage amount, which equates to a 50% chance of encountering the Pokémon in RU in 20 battles. These Pokémon can still be used in RU, and a lot of them are actually quite powerful as well, but they simply aren't used enough for them to change their tier placement.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.

Banned Pokémon

  • Pokémon in the Uber, OU, UU, and RU tiers by usage
  • Combusken
  • Sigilyph

Banned Abilities

  • Drizzle
  • Drought
  • Shadow Tag

Banned Moves

  • Swagger

PU

PU, which stands for nothing, is the tier that contains all of the Pokémon that are just short of NU in terms of the required usage amount, which equates to a 50% chance of encountering the Pokémon in NU in 20 battles. These Pokémon can still be used in NU, and a lot of them are actually quite powerful as well, but they simply aren't used enough for them to change their tier placement.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.

Banned Pokémon

  • Pokémon in the Uber, OU, UU, and RU tiers by usage
  • Barbaracle
  • Carracosta
  • Exeggutor
  • Linoone
  • Throh
  • Victreebel
  • Vigoroth

Banned Abilities

  • Drizzle
  • Drought
  • Shadow Tag

Banned Moves

  • Swagger
  • Chatter

Little Cup

Little Cup was a battle mode introduced in DPP. Numerous players took a liking to it, and it eventually became an official Smogon tier. It is played at level 5 with the lowest possible evolutions of a Pokémon. Pokémon with no evolutions are banned.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Sleep Clause: Only one Pokémon may be put to sleep on the opposing team at a time, if not induced by a move such as Rest.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 5.

Banned Pokémon

  • Gligar
  • Meditite
  • Misdreavus
  • Murkrow
  • Scyther
  • Sneasel
  • Swirlix
  • Tangela
  • Yanma

Banned Moves

  • Dragon Rage
  • Sonic Boom
  • Swagger

Doubles

A Smogon brand of Doubles was added to the list of tiers this generation. It follows standard Smogon clauses and rules, allowing 6 Pokémon per team (and in-battle) that can be up to level 100. Due to these factors, it is much different from the popular Smogon- and Nintendo-endorsed VGC metagame.

Play Restrictions

  • Endless Battle Clause: Any moveset on any Pokémon that is capable of intentionally causing an endless battle is banned from competitive play. Thus:
    • A Pokémon may not carry Recycle and hold a Leppa Berry in conjunction with Heal Pulse and Milk Drink, Moonlight, Morning Sun, Recover, Roost, Slack Off, Soft-Boiled, or Wish.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Pain Split on its moveset.
    • A Pokémon may not hold a Leppa Berry and carry Recycle and Fling on its moveset.
  • Evasion Clause: The moves Double Team and Minimize are not permitted in play.
  • Moody Clause: Pokémon with the ability Moody are not permitted.
  • OHKO Clause: A Pokémon may not have the moves Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill, or Sheer Cold in its moveset.
  • Species Clause: Players cannot have two Pokémon with the same Pokédex number on the same team.
  • Pokémon may be up to level 100.
  • The mode of play is doubles (two Pokémon out at a time vs. two opposing Pokémon).

Banned Pokémon

  • Arceus
  • Dialga
  • Giratina
  • Giratina-O
  • Groudon
  • Ho-Oh
  • Kyogre
  • Kyurem-W
  • Lugia
  • Mewtwo
  • Palkia
  • Rayquaza
  • Reshiram
  • Xerneas
  • Yveltal
  • Zekrom

Banned Items

  • Salamencite
  • Soul Dew

Banned Moves

  • Dark Void