Groudon
Coming in at number 1 is Groudon. Groudon's most common used moves are:
- Protect - 98.8%
- Eruption - 54.9%
- Precipice Blades - 54.1%
- Earth Power - 51.2%
Groudon's natures are:
- Timid - 22.7%
- Brave - 21.7%
- Adamant - 18.3%
- Modest - 16.1%
Items and abilities for Groudon will not be discussed as they are always carrying a red orb for primal reversion and has drought/desolate land as abilities. Groudon's role seems to be to "wall"opposing Xerneas. Plus its all around defensive stats make it incredibly tanky for those prolonged battles. It's typing is something I would call "hyper offensive" due to the fact that it cant be burned or paralyzed.
Xerneas
Clocking in at number 2 is everyone's favorite deer. Common moves for it are:
- Dazzling Gleam - 97.0%
- Geomancy - 94.3%
- Protect - 92.5%
- Moonblast - 88.6%
Xerneas' natures don't stray too much from timid and modest:
- Timid - 71.0%
- Modest - 25.0%
- Bold - 1.8%
- Mild - 0.6%
Popular items are:
- Power Herb - 93.8%
- Choice Specs - 4.4%
Ever since the introduction of fairy types in 2014, the competitive pokemon scene has always been plagued by these majestic creatures. Xerneas is unique thanks to its signature move Geomancy. With a power herb, it allows it to get an instant +2 boost in special attack, special defense and speed. Once it sets it up, it's really hard to stop.
Kangaskhan
Everyone's favorite mega evolution coming in at number 3. Do I really have to tell you it's set? Oh well... :
- Fake Out - 98.6%
- Sucker Punch - 88.3%
- Double-Edge - 68.2%
- Low Kick - 59.5%
Popular natures... :
- Jolly - 69.5%
- Adamant - 26.5%
- Brave - 3.7%
- Naive - 0.2%
Surprise, surprise, Kangaskhan is in the top percentage of competitive Pokemon. Kangaskhan will be relevant in every meta game it is allowed to participate in. It's typing and all around stats make it incredibly versatile and easy to fit on every and any team. Continue to build adequate teams while keeping it in mind.
Kyogre
Number 4 Groudon's counter part. It's common moves:
- Ice Beam - 95.4%
- Protect - 95.2%
- Origin Pulse - 86.7%
- Water Spout - 65.6%
Common natures on Kyogre are:
- Modest - 48.4%
- Quiet - 25.4%
- Timid - 22.2%
- Bold - 2.2%
Kyogre is another center piece of this early meta game. Kyogre seems to be used with speed control either in the form of tailwind or trick room. It is used best by switching in to opposing groudon's and help assist partner steel types defensively removing the threat of fire moves. Interestingly enough kyogre seems to be running both origin pulse and water spout. Seems to me origin pulse is to be used when kyogre is not at full hp. However not running thunder causes it to loose mirror matches against opposing Kyogres. Items are not really discussed, but a very very small percentage of Kyogres are running choice scarf.
Talonflame
Number 5 is the bravest bird of them all. Common moves:
- Brave Bird - 99.8%
- Tailwind - 82.9%
- Flare Blitz - 76.3%
- Quick Guard - 70.1%
Popular natures:
- Adamant - 59.5%
- Jolly - 35.2%
- Naughty - 2.3%
- Naive - 1.9%
Most common items:
- Life Orb - 61.4%
- Choice Band - 10.0%
- Lum Berry - 9.0%
Dont use flame body:
- Gale Wings - 99.9%
- Flame Body - 0.1%
Talonflame seems to be back for now. Quick guard on talonflame is an interesting choice, since it seems to counter rather well this heavy fake out meta game. Also, seems to assist in protecting its partners from pranksters, who also seem to be running rampant. It's typing could have something to do why its back in the metagame, since it "somewhat" walls Xerneas and hits it hard with brave bird. Just. Click. Brave bird.
Rayquaza
Rayquaza is at number 6, a weird spot. For now, its most used moves are:
- Dragon Ascent - 99.0%
- Extreme Speed - 86.0%
- Protect - 76.6%
- Waterfall - 32.8%
And most common natures:
- Jolly - 52.1%
- Naive - 17.3%
- Hasty - 13.2%
- Adamant - 11.2%
It gets an item too!:
- Life Orb - 57.5%
- Choice Band - 16.8%
- Focus Sash - 16.8%
- Lum Berry - 4.7%
Rayquaza is seen to be kyogre's partner in crime. With it's ability, coupled with its typing, it can help it defeat opposing groudon's (see waterfall). That seems to be its current role in the meta game. Allowing water type attacks to connect on opposing groudon. It's mega evolution isn't something I would consider using every time, unless it is for defensive purposes. For example, let's say you mega evolve, but your opponent skill swaps his primal groudon under trick room, and all of a sudden your strong winds are gone and the strong sun is back. Proceed with caution when mega evolving.
Smeargle
One of the most hated pokemon, coming in at number 7. Popular moves:
- Dark Void - 96.8%
- Spiky Shield - 66.3%
- Follow Me - 64.3%
- Fake Out - 55.5%
Popular natures:
- Timid - 46.7%
- Jolly - 45.5%
- Relaxed - 4.9%
- Sassy - 1.2%
Popular abilities:
- Moody - 54.3%
- Own Tempo - 43.3%
- Technician - 2.5%
Common items:
- Focus Sash - 69.8%
- Choice Scarf - 24.6%
- Mental Herb - 5.1%
- Custap Berry - 0.1%
Smeargle is the pokemon with the most versatile moveset in the game. It can literally learn any move via sketch. This in return gives it access to signature moves like dark void, geomancy, dragon ascent, etc. Smeargle's strength lies in having the opponent guessing what set it's running. And dark void.
Salamence
Looking strong at number 8 is salamence. Core moves are:
- Protect - 97.7%
- Draco Meteor - 84.7%
- Hyper Voice - 80.4%
- Double-Edge - 62.1%
Common natures:
- Naive - 51.7%
- Timid - 33.3%
- Hasty - 7.9%
- Jolly - 2.2%
Popular items:
- Salamencite - 97.7%
- Lum Berry - 1.1%
- Focus Sash - 0.6%
- Choice Scarf - 0.3%
No reason not to use intimidate:
- Intimidate - 99.9%
Salamence is a great mega evolution. A couple reasons why it could be so popular is because it simply intimidates Kangaskhan, resists Groudon's fire attacks and is immune to its ground attacks, it also outspeeds and can potentially ohko mega Rayquazas. Goes well on teams with Xerneas and Groudon.
Cresselia
Number 9! Arguably the best trick room setter, common moves are:
- Trick Room - 90.6%
- Skill Swap - 78.4%
- Helping Hand - 73.8%
- Ice Beam - 55.5%
Cress seems to be going back to a specially defensive nature rather than physically defensive:
- Sassy - 52.7%
- Relaxed - 21.5%
- Bold - 15.5%
- Calm - 5.8%
Popular choices in items:
- Mental Herb - 47.5%
- Sitrus Berry - 38.8%
- Lum Berry - 7.3%
- Rocky Helmet - 3.2%
Cresselia is the best trick room setter by far. Skill swap on it allows for groudon to obtain the levitate ability, removing all weaknesses while strong sun is up. It also resets the sun for Groudon in case Kyogre decides to switch in. Cress going sassy just shows how inclined the meta game is towards special attacks.
Crobat
Crobat is one of the best supports in the format so far, its common moveset:
- Tailwind - 97.0%
- Super Fang - 95.8%
- Quick Guard - 88.8%
- Taunt - 84.5%
Speed boosting natures are a must for speedy supports:
- Jolly - 57.4%
- Timid - 41.3%
- Naive - 0.8%
- Careful - 0.3%
Popular items for the bat:
- Lum Berry - 60.9%
- Mental Herb - 21.9%
- Sitrus Berry - 11.1%
- Focus Sash - 2.3%
Inner focus is the preferred ability:
- Inner Focus - 98.1%
- Infiltrator - 1.9%
Crobat is an interesting pokemon that saw a lot of usage in previous competitions that allowed Xerneas. It allows for great speed control, big damage on legendary pokemon with high base stats with super fang. Inner focus against Kangaskhan is just a plus. Lum berry seems to help it deal with smeargle, as it can taunt it as well.
Ferrothorn
Ferrothorn is a force to be reckoned with, however can be rather tricky to play properly, common moves on it are:
- Gyro Ball - 98.8%
- Protect - 94.1%
- Power Whip - 92.6%
- Leech Seed - 75.0%
Negative nature in speed for the extra damage on Gyro ball seems the way to go:
- Brave - 70.2%
- Sassy - 16.1%
- Relaxed - 9.4%
- Adamant - 2.3%
Items are:
- Leftovers - 52.1%
- Rocky Helmet - 17.2%
- Lum Berry - 11.2%
- Sitrus Berry - 6.8%
Ability, just go Iron barbs:
- Iron Barbs - 99.9%
- Anticipation - 0.1%
Ferrothorn's usage is tied to Kyogre and Xerneas. It still is played the same way it was before, eliminate your opponent's pokemon that can remove ferrothorn, and you win! simple right? Easier said than done, however kyogre makes it almost impossible to knock out in the rain. It's steel typing helps it against Xerneas, and if it manages to setup a geomancy, simply gyro ball to eliminate it, since the damage will be maxed out with xerneas' speed increased. It's defensive prowess and ability help it against kangaskhan making it a great pokemon in the format.
Liepard
Liepard barely makes it, at number 12, its disruptive moves are:
- Fake Out - 95.0%
- Foul Play - 84.5%
- Encore - 74.9%
- Taunt - 43.9%
Common natures are the following:
- Jolly - 73.6%
- Timid - 25.5%
- Bold - 0.5%
- Impish - 0.4%
Popular items:
- Focus Sash - 90.1%
- Wide Lens - 3.8%
- Mental Herb - 1.9%
- Eject Button - 1.7%
Liepard is definitely a great support. With the combination of fake out and encore, it can lead to locking opponents into protect sitting there doing nothing. The foul play is to avoid being taunt bait, since its preferred item is focus sash.
Closing thoughts
I definitely expect to see landorus therian back in the future as well as thundurus. Landorus therian with a jolly nature and a choice band can potentially become the norm, outspeeding and hitting hard primal groudons, kangaskhans and even kyogres. Thundurus could be a solid answer to all the crobats/liepards and smeargles. I pray to Arceus that Smeargle is just a phase where no one has a clear view on the meta and people are just experimenting.
-BattlearenaVGC(:
