RicePigeon

Why would you even post that?

Tier rotation time. Although technically an extension of OU by nature and not its own tier, BL is considered a lower tier, thus brings us to... Zygarde Tier Status (Singles): BL Tier Status (Doubles): DUU Type: Dragon/Ground Base Stats: 108 / 100 / 121 / 81 / 95 / 95 Abilities: Aura Break: Pokemon on the field with the abilities Dark Aura and Fairy Aura lose their 33% damage boost from these abilities, and instead gain a 33% damage reduction to the affected attacks. Table of Contents Singles OU Overview Singles Ubers Overview Doubles OU Overview Singles OU Overview ORAS Singles OU Viability: C- Like Kyurem before it, Zygarde is the third member of a super legendary trio, yet because of its flaws it finds itself placed in the lower tiers. Having been banned from UU for being able to easily dismantle every playstyle there, Zygarde finds itself in BL, where it must contend with the OU tier by default. Zygarde is often considered to be heavily outclassed by Garchomp and it's not hard to see why. Zygarde does have a few perks over its landshark cousin, such as Dragon Dance, Extremespeed, Glare, and Coil, the latter giving it a unique niche in OU as one of the few viable Coil users. However, Zygarde's offensive movepool is rather shallow, and lacks immediate power compared to other Dragon Dancers, making Mega Altaria, Mega Charizard X, Gyarados, Mega Gyarados, and even Mega Tyranitar much more appealing options. Zygarde's signature move, Land's Wrath, is essentially inferior to Earthquake in almost every way, including Doubles, so it is never used. Zygarde also lacks a reliable Dragon-type STAB move, limiting its ability. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Coil + Substitute Ability: Aura Break / Item: @Leftovers Nature: Careful w/ EVs: 252 HP / 4 Defense / 252 Sp.Defense Moves: Substitute / Coil / Earthquake / Dragon Tail Tips: Substitute has a dual purpose; Not only does it shield Zygarde from Burns that cut into its longevity and offensive power, but also gives Zygarde a buffer against faster Pokemon Coil is an enhanced version of Bulk Up, not only increasing Attack and Defense by 1 stage, but also Accuracy, and grants Dragon Tail 120% accuracy after a single use, complimenting Zygarde's natural physical bulk. Earthquake is Zygarde's STAB move of choice. Dragon Tail is Zygarde's secondary STAB and has several purposes. It gives Zygarde an attack to hit any Pokemon immune to Earthquake not named Togekiss. Due to its phazing nature, it also allows Zygarde to phaze out slower opposing phazers who attempt to remove its stat boosts or Substitute, along with opposing stat boosters and unfavorable match ups. The above EV spread gives Zygarde exactly 420 HP, allowing it to create 105 HP Substitutes to tank up to two Seismic Tosses from Chansey before breaking. Although its base physical defense is higher, maximum Sp.Defense with Careful is preferred to prevent as many Special attacks from breaking its Substitute as possible, while the lack of Defense investment is compensated for in Coil. Leftovers is the preferred item choice, allowing Zygarde to recover health lost from using Substitute. This set plays well against Defensive teams, setting up Substitute against Pokemon that cannot break it (such as Chansey) and boosting away. Zygarde's checks and counters can be worn down with repeated damage from Dragon Tail and, optimally, Stealth Rock and other entry hazards, as long as Zygarde is behind a Substitute. Recommended Teammates: Fairy types, especially Unaware Clefable, can pose problems due to their Dragon Tail immunity, so checks and counters to them are preferred. Scizor, Mega Scizor, Mega Charizard Y, Heatran, and Tentacruel are examples of Pokemon who can accomplish this, especially the latter two whom can set up Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes, respectively. Powerful super effective Special attacks, most notably Draco Meteor and Ice Beam, pose big problems for Zygarde, so Pokemon that can tank these moves are preferred. Scizor, Mega Scizor, and Heatran again pair well with Zygarde for this purpose, as does Azumarill and, to a lesser extent, Sylveon. Entry Hazards () + Spinblockers/Defiant () Entry hazard users pair will with Dragon Tail, allowing Zygarde to accumulate additional chip damage each time. Heatran and Tentacruel, as previously mentioned, can accomplish this, as can other hazard users such as Clefable, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, Chesnaught, Skarmory, and Klefki are some examples. Using going this route, Pokemon that can dissuade Rapid Spin and Defiant should be used as well. Gengar and Mega Sableye block the former, while Bisharp deters the latter. Pokemon immune to Earthquake can pose problems as they force Zygarde to use Dragon Tail, a negative priority move that gives them time to outspeed and break Substitute or heal. Pokemon that threaten Flying types and Levitate users, such as Thundurus-I, Mega Manectric, and Raikou, can help. Magnezone and Magneton can also accomplish this while trapping and KOing Skarmory and other Steels that aren't weak to Earthquake, such as Ferrothorn and both Scizors. Users of Volt Switch and U-turn can give Zygarde free switch-in opportunities while preserving offensive momentum. Landorus-T, Mega Manectric, Raikou, Rotom-Wash, Scizor/Mega Scizor, and Mega Beedrill are good candidates. Celebi and Mega Lopunny can also accomplish this with Baton Pass. Since Zygarde isn't exactly fast, methods of slowing down faster Pokemon helps. Thundurus-I and Klefki both provide this in the form of Prankster Thunderwave, the latter also being able to lay down Spikes. Although not as effective, Sticky Web can also accomplish this, with Shuckle being the only real viable user in OU. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Dragon Dance Ability: Aura Break / Item: @Lum Berry or Life Orb Nature: Adamant w/ EVs: 4 HP / 252 Attack / 252 Speed Moves: Dragon Dance / Earthquake / Outrage / Stone Edge or Extremespeed Tips: Dragon Dance boosts Zygarde's attack and speed in order to attempt a sweep. Earthquake is Zygarde's Ground STAB move of choice. Outrage is Zygarde's only reliable means of a Dragon-type STAB, allowing it to clean up late game. For the 4th slot, Stone Edge gives Zygarde an option to pick off flying types and other Pokemon without having to rely on Outrage. Extremespeed allows Zygarde to outpace priority users. The given EV spread maximizes Zygarde's Attack and Speed to ensure that Zygarde hits as hard and as fast as possible. For the item, Lum Berry provides Zygarde with a one-time protection against status, and also allows it to cure itself of its self-inflicted confusion once it breaks out of Outrage. Life Orb, however, gives Zygarde additional power. It should be noted that Dragon Dance Zygarde is mostly outclassed by other Dragon Dance users in OU. Zygarde's main niche over these other Dragon Dancers are its typing and access to Extremespeed, so unless you have specific need of these traits, you are most likely better off using another Dragon Dancer besides Zygarde. That being said, the goal of this Zygarde is to nab 1, if not 2, Dragon Dance boosts and begin sweeping. As a sweeper, the optimal time to bring this Zygarde set in is in late game when the opponent's team has been weakened and their defensive cores removed. If running Extremespeed, Zygarde can be brought in earlier to revenge kill weakened priority users. Recommended Teammates: Rotom-Wash is able to check many of the things that threaten Zygarde, including Mamoswine, Talonflame, and Togekiss. Pokemon immune to Earthquake can pose problems. Pokemon that threaten Flying types and Levitate users, such as Thundurus-I, Mega Manectric, and Raikou, can help. Magnezone and Magneton can also accomplish this while trapping and KOing Skarmory and other Steels that aren't weak to Earthquake, such as Ferrothorn and both Scizors. Entry Hazards () + Spinblockers/Defiant () Entry hazard users pair will any sweeper, allowing Zygarde to score potential OHKOs when it would have otherwise only scored a 2HKO. Heatran and Tentacruel, Clefable, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, Chesnaught, Skarmory, and Klefki are some examples. Using going this route, Pokemon that can dissuade Rapid Spin and Defiant should be used as well. Gengar and Mega Sableye block the former, while Bisharp deters the latter. Pokemon that can help lure in Pokemon weak to Ground gives Zygarde an easier time setting up. Talonflame can accomplish this, luring in Pokemon such as Heatran or Tyranitar and giving Zygarde an opportunity to switch in and set up. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Rest + Dragon Dance Ability: Aura Break / Item: @Chest Berry Nature: Adamant w/ EVs: 120 HP / 252 Attack / 136 Speed Moves: Dragon Dance / Rest / Earthquake / Outrage or Stone Edge Tips: Dragon Dance boosts Zygarde's attack and speed in order to attempt a sweep. Rest allows Zygarde to completely heal off any status and restore its HP back to full, at the cost of putting Zygarde to sleep for 2 turns. Earthquake is Zygarde's Ground STAB move of choice. For the 4th slot, Outrage is Zygarde's only reliable means of a Dragon-type STAB, allowing it to clean up late game. Stone Edge gives Zygarde an option to pick off flying types and other Pokemon without having to rely on Outrage. For the EV spread, Attack is maximized with Adamant to allow Zygarde to hit as hard as possible. 136 Speed EVs allows Zygarde to outspeed Choice Scarf Keldeo after a +2 boost, while the rest of the EVs are dumped into HP for extra bulk, which allows Zygarde to survive a Fire Blast from Mega Charizard Y. Chesto Berry is used specifically for Rest, allowing Rest to act as an instant Full Restore as Zygarde wakes up immediately afterward, though this only works once. Unlike the Dragon Dance set, this set aims to accumulate multiple boosts while absorbing status, then using Rest to refresh itself and begin a sweep. Zygarde should only attempt to set up on a Pokemon that it can know for certain it can handle, as Zygarde will usually only get one opportunity to use Rest, and having to switch out afterward can prevent it from successfully sweeping. This set works best on Balanced teams, as Zygarde can use its combination of bulk, speed, and power to patch up weak links in the team. Recommended Teammates: Entry Hazards () + Spinblockers/Defiant () Entry hazard users pair will any sweeper, allowing Zygarde to score potential OHKOs when it would have otherwise only scored a 2HKO. Heatran and Tentacruel, Clefable, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, Chesnaught, Skarmory, and Klefki are some examples. Using going this route, Pokemon that can dissuade Rapid Spin and Defiant should be used as well. Gengar and Mega Sableye block the former, while Bisharp deters the latter. Pokemon immune to Earthquake can pose problems. Pokemon that threaten Flying types and Levitate users, such as Thundurus-I, Mega Manectric, and Raikou, can help. Magnezone and Magneton can also accomplish this while trapping and KOing Skarmory and other Steels that aren't weak to Earthquake, such as Ferrothorn and both Scizors. Users of Volt Switch and U-turn can give Zygarde free switch-in opportunities while preserving offensive momentum. Landorus-T, Mega Manectric, Raikou, Rotom-Wash, Scizor/Mega Scizor, and Mega Beedrill are good candidates. Celebi and Mega Lopunny can also accomplish this with Baton Pass. Due to this Zygarde's need to set up, Dual Screens are not a bad idea as they can make Zygarde harder to KO. Klefki can be a great setter, as are Azelf and Latios. The former two can also set up Spikes and Stealth Rock for Zygarde. Since Zygarde isn't exactly fast, methods of slowing down faster Pokemon helps. Thundurus-I and Klefki both provide this in the form of Prankster Thunderwave, the latter also being able to lay down Spikes. Although not as effective, Sticky Web can also accomplish this, with Shuckle being the only real viable user in OU. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Parashuffler Ability: Aura Break / Item: @Leftovers Nature: Impish w/ EVs: 252 HP / 252 Defense / 4 Sp.Defense Moves: Glare / Earthquake / Dragon Tail / Substitute Tips: Glare is this set's niche, as Zygarde is one of the few OU viable users of the move. Glare works exactly like Thunder Wave, but with the benefit of being able to Paralyze Ground type Pokemon due to them not resisting Normal-type attacks. Earthquake is Zygarde's Ground STAB move of choice, and picks off the Electric types that are immune to Paralysis. Dragon Tail is used for phazing, with the primary purpose of being used in conjunction with Glare to Paralyze as many of the opponent's Pokemon as possible. Substitute is used to give Zygarde a buffer against foes, taking advantage of the 25% chance of the opponent being unable to attack each turn, and guarding Zygarde against status. The given EV spread and nature maximizes Zygarde's physical bulk as much as possible. Physical Defense is chosen over Sp.Defense as this Zygarde set does not run Coil. Leftovers is the preferred item choice, allowing Zygarde to recover health lost from using Substitute. This set's primary purpose, as stated before, is to Paralyze as many of the opponent's Pokemon as possible with Glare, then forcing them out with Dragon Tail. Since Glare can Paralyze Ground types unlike Thunder Wave, Zygarde need only worry about Electric types, who are dispatched with Earthquake. If you find that your opponent keeps switching in their already Paralyzed Pokemon to absorb the incoming status, you can take advantage of this by instead setting up Substitute on the switch or getting chip damage with another Dragon Tail. Recommended Teammates: Slower Pokemon that have trouble dealing with faster offensive threats enjoy having the opponent's speed crippled. Azumarill, Bisharp, Garchomp, Mega Gardevoir, Diggersby, Black Kyurem, and Mega Heracross are all examples of such Pokemon. Entry Hazards () + Spinblockers/Defiant () Due to this set's ability to force switches, entry hazard users pair very well with this set. Heatran, Clefable, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, Chesnaught, Skarmory, and Klefki are some examples. Using going this route, Pokemon that can dissuade Rapid Spin and Defiant should be used as well. Gengar and Mega Sableye block the former, while Bisharp deters the latter. Pokemon that are immune to both Paralysis and Earthquake, namely Rotom-Wash, Thundurus-I, and Gliscor, can pose as obstacles, so teammates that can handle them are recommended. Mega Venusaur, Mamoswine, Clefable, and Sylveon can check all three of them for the most part. Hall of Shame Corner: Land's Wrath: Land's Wrath, despite being Zygarde's signature move, is completely and utterly outclassed by Earthquake in Singles, being 10 Base Power stronger, while Land's Wrath offers no secondary effects to speak of. Rest + Sleep Talk + Dragon Tail: While this may seem like a good moveset for Zygarde in theory, this moveset is utterly outclassed by Hippowdon, who not only sports better mixed bulk, but also a much more reliable recovery move in the form of Slack Off AND the ability to phaze Fairy types with Whirlwind, leaving it with two free moveslots as opposed to Zygarde's one. Singles OU Checks & Counters to Zygarde Common Flying types and Levitate users deny Zygarde access to its STAB Earthquake. Of these listed, Landorus-I, Latios, Latias, and Mega Aerodactyl can hit it for super effective Dragon and Ice coverage. Gliscor and Skarmory can also shut down Sub+Coil Zygarde with Taunt. Togekiss is notable for having a unique type combination that leaves it immune to both of Zygarde's STABs, allowing Togekiss to completely wall the Sub+Coil set. Do note that Dragon Dance variants sometimes carry Stone Edge, which can pose problems for some of these Pokemon. Mega Gardevoir, Mega Altaria, and Sylveon can all bypass Zygarde's Substitute and smack it hard with Pixilate boosted STAB Hyper Voice, all while simultaneously being immune to Dragon Tail. Mamoswine can emulate this effect if it runs Icicle Spear, and can also revenge kill with priority Ice Shard. Fast Pokemon can pose a threat, even to Dragon Dance sets, due to Zygarde's average base 95 speed. Jolly Choice Scarf Landorus-T can outspeed Adamant variants even after a +1 speed boost, while simultaneously neutering its Attack with Intimidate. Mega Manectric and Mega Sceptile can outspeed and KO with Hidden Power Ice and Dragon Pulse, respectively. Choice Scarf Latios also works. Mamoswine can use priority Ice Shard, as can Talonflame with Brave Bird. Do note that frailer offensive Pokemon will have trouble if Zygarde carries Extremespeed, which outspeeds all other attacking priority moves other than itself. Status () As a physical attacker, Zygarde hates burns, especially since it has no recovery outside of Leftovers. Scald burns from Keldeo and both Slowbros pose problems, while Mega Sableye and Rotom-Wash can simply fire off Will-o-Wisps. Clefable, specifically Unaware Clefable, as well as Quagsire can completely negate Zygarde's stat boosts by nature of their ability, while the former can smack it with Moonblast while the latter fishes for Scald burns. Other methods of preventing Zygarde from setting up including Taunt and Choice-Trick also work. Choice Scarf Latios is a prime example of the latter. Singles Ubers Overview ORAS Singles Ubers Viability: F In Gamefreak's perfect little headcanon, Zygarde was intended to be the third member of a legendary trio along with Xerneas and Yveltal, serving as the trio's master, with Zygarde's ability Aura Break being evidence not only of this intention, but also evidence of Zygarde's intended "role" as a counter to both. In practice however, Zygarde simply sucks in Ubers. Even with Aura Break, a +0 Xerneas still manages to score a possible 2HKO with Moonblast after Stealth Rock damage, while offensive Yveltal can beat Zygarde 1-on-1 with Oblivion Wing. Outside of these two monsters, a good number of Pokemon easily threaten Zygarde including Primal Groudon, Mega Salamence, Ho-oh, Latios, Latias, Mewtwo & both Mega Mewtwos, Primal Kyogre, both Giratinas, Lugia, Deoxys-Attack, Deoxys-Speed, Mega Diancie, Rayquaza, Mega Scizor, Arceus-Fairy, White Kyurem, and more. However, there is future hope for Zygarde in ubers. Due to data mining efforts in X&Y's code, we learned of the existence of two moves known as Thousand Arrows and Thousand Waves. Both are identical to Land's Wrath, with the exception of having secondary effects; Thousand Waves deals damage and inflicts trapping status on the target similar to Mean Look, while Thousand Arrows uses a custom type chart to deal super effective damage to Flying-types as opposed to 0 damage. Both moves are as of yet unreleased, leaving many to speculate that these two moves may be released along with new formes for Zygarde, similar to how Freeze Shock and Ice Burn were released as the signature moves of Black Kyurem and White Kyurem, respectively. Until then, Zygarde has to follow in normal Kyurem's footsteps. Doubles OU Overview ORAS Doubles OU Viability: C Zygarde's mediocre attack stat is not only an issue in Singles, but also holds it back in Doubles as well. Zygarde also lacks any kind of support moves outside of Glare, which offers a semi-unique form of speed control that induces Paralysis on Ground types, whom are normally immune to Thunder Wave, the most common form of inducing Paralysis. Common Grounds who laugh at Thunder Wave, namely Landorus-Therian, Garchomp, and Excadrill, now have to be wary of Zygarde cutting their speed by a whopping 75%. Another niche for Zygarde in Doubles is its signature move, Land's Wrath; while Land's Wrath is outclassed by Earthquake in Singles due to its lower base power and lack of secondary effect, Land's Wrath sets itself apart from Earthquake in Doubles due to not hitting Zygarde's ally, thus having to use Protect every other turn or a Flying type or Levitate partner is no longer mandatory. That being said, Zygarde lacks the same offense presence as other Dragon types, most notably Garchomp, Hydreigon, Latios, Salamence, and Black Kyurem, and thus more often than not those will be your first choices for a Dragon type over Zygarde. Zygarde's ability is also completely useless as it was designed specifically to counter Xerneas and Yveltal; not only are both of these Pokemon banned from Doubles OU, but even if they weren't, Zygarde does a horrible job countering both of them. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Physical Attacker Ability: Aura Break / Item: @Leftovers Nature: Adamant w/ EVs: 112 HP / 252 Attack / 148 Speed Moves: Glare or Substitute / Land's Wrath / Stone Edge / Protect or Substitute Tips: Glare is this set's niche, as Zygarde is one of the few viable users of the move. Glare works exactly like Thunder Wave, but with the benefit of being able to Paralyze Ground type Pokemon due to them not resisting Normal-type attacks. Optionally, Substitute can be run instead to block status and prolong Zygarde's longevity. Land's Wrath is a moderately powerful spread damage move and chosen over Earthquake as Zygarde's Ground STAB of choice due to Land's Wrath not hitting Zygarde's ally. Stone Edge provides coverage against Pokemon that are immune to Land's Wrath, and is chosen over Rock Slide so that Zygarde isn't completely stopped by Wide Guard. Protect is a staple move of most Pokemon in Doubles, and Zygarde is no exception. It punishes the opponent's attempts to double target or stall out field conditions such as Tailwind or Trick Room. If Glare is used in the first moveslot, Substitute can also be used here instead, as Zygarde will find more opportunities to set up against a Paralyzed opponent. The given EV spread with an Adamant nature allows Zygarde to hit for as much damage as possible. 148 Speed EVs allows Zygarde to outspeed Jolly Breloom. The remaining EVs are put into HP for extra bulk. Leftovers is the item of choice as it greatly helps Zygarde's longevity as it accumulates HP over time. Due to its bulk, Zygarde is best brought in mid-game against predicted resisted attacks. Zygarde's primary goal should be to use Glare on as much of the opponent's team as possible, especially against fast threats, using Protect when necessary to gain back health from Leftovers. Zygarde is an effective check to Heatran, a common Doubles Pokemon, so do not be afraid to use Land's Wrath if Heatran is on the field, as many Pokemon tend to struggle with it. The same also applies to Pokemon weak to Stone Edge such as Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y. Recommended Teammates: Zygarde has difficulty dealing with Dragon, Ice, and Fairy types by nature of its typing, so teammates that can handle these Pokemon are beneficial. Mega Mawile, Mega Metagross, and Aegislash can handle all three, while Mega Mawile also sports super effective coverage against Dragon, and both appreciate Zygarde's ability to remove Heatran. Aegislash also has the benefit of Wide Guard, which can protect Zygarde against Hyper Voice, which bypasses Substitute. Both Mega Charizards also appreciate having Heatran removed, while each also brings coverage against Zygarde's weaknesses; Mega Charizard X covers Dragon and Ice, while Mega Charizard Y covers Ice and Fairy. Users of Wide Guard help, especially if Zygarde is running Substitute, as Pixilate Hyper Voice is a common Fairy-type spread move that bypasses Substitute. Aegislash is a good user, and also provides super effective coverage against Fairy with STAB Flash Cannon. Hitmontop is another good user, who also has the benefit of running either Fake Out or Feint; the former can flinch opponents and grante Zygarde a free opportunity to get a free Paralysis with Glare, while the latter helps Zygarde get past opposing Wide Guard users attempting to block Land's Wrath, or Talonflame/Mega Charizard Y's attempt to block Stone Edge with Protect. Users of Fake Out can flinch opponents and grante Zygarde a free opportunity to get a free Paralysis with Glare. Scrafty and Hitmontop are good users of the move, as is Mega Kangaskhan. Hitmontop also has the bonus of being able to run Feint, which helps Zygarde get past opposing Wide Guard users attempting to block Land's Wrath, or Talonflame/Mega Charizard Y's attempt to block Stone Edge with Protect. Slow Pokemon, especially offensive Pokemon, appreciate the speed control that Zygarde brings. Bisharp, Mega Mawile, Aegislash, Heatran, Azumarill. Breloom, Conkeldurr, and Sylveon are all examples of such Pokemon. Bisharp, Mega Mawile, Aegislash, and Heatran, in particular, pair well with Zygarde as unlike other Ground types whom run Earthquake, they do not have to fear taking damage from Zygarde's Land's Wrath. Intimidate can neuter Zygarde's already average attack stat, so Pokemon that can handle common users help immensely. Rotom-Wash can check Landorus-Therian, while Talonflame can check Hitmontop and Scrafty. Doubles OU Checks & Counters to Zygarde Intimidate and/or Burn () + () Users of Intimidate and Will-o-Wisp can cut into Zygarde's physical attack and negate its already average damage output. Landorus-Therian, normal Gyarados, Hitmontop, Salamence, and Scrafty are the most notable Intimidate users in Doubles, while common users of burn include Rotom-Wash, Rotom-Heat, and both formes of Sableye. Mega Gardevoir and Sylveon are notable threats due to their ability to spam Pixilate boosted STAB super effective Hyper Voice, which bypass Substitute. Mega Diancie is another notable Fairy to watch out for. Most other Dragon types either speed tie with or outspeed Zygarde, while Zygarde rarely runs Dragon type STABs of its own as the only real options it has are Dragon Tail and Outrage, neither of which are viable choices for Zygarde in Doubles. Do note that most of them do not like being Paralyzed. Ice type coverage is even more problematic, hitting Zygarde for 4x damage. Thundurus-Incarnate, Mega Manectric and Ludicolo commonly carry Ice coverage, and the former two are completely immune to Paralysis, though it must watch out for Stone Edge and Land's Wrath, respectively. Wide Guard can block Land's Wrath, forcing Zygarde to use Stone Edge for any meaningful damage. Cresselia can not only hit Zygarde hard with Ice Beam while being immune to Land's Wrath, but is a common user of Trick Room, which can turn Glare from a liability into a benefit. Other common Trick Room setters include Chandelure and Aromatisse. External Links Smogon Analysis (Singles OU) Smogon Analysis (Doubles OU)

Basically think 2D sidescroller version of Minecraft, but with a bunch of RPG elements thrown in. Main site: https://terraria.org/

AAAAAAND there goes my childhood

Mega Metagross OU suspect test is now underway

Seems like Trini is still trying to find his niche. (Ive hijacked this thread to include rhymes without a hitch).

Wrong thread. Last warning. Stay on topic or further action will be taken. EDIT: After looking over the rules again, posting a release requires a screenshot. If you don't add one I'll have no choice but to lock this thread.

Serperior and Terrakion have botth been quickbanned from UU, and thus removed from the UU viability list

http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/np-uu-stage-2-uptown-funk-you-up.3528903/page-6#post-6035826 Serperior and Terrakion both quickbanned from UU

UU Update: Rises : A+ -> S : Unranked -> S : A -> S : Unranked -> S : Unranked -> A+ : A- -> A : B+ -> A- : B -> B+ : B- -> B : B- -> B : C -> B : C -> B- : C -> B- : C -> B- : C -> B- : Unranked -> B- : Unranked -> C : Unranked -> C : Unranked -> C Drops : S -> A+ : A+ -> B+ : A -> A- : A -> A- : A -> A- : A -> A- : A- -> B+ : A- -> B+ : A- -> B+ : B+ -> B : B -> B- : B -> C : B- -> C : C -> F/Unranked : C -> D

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/05/coca-cola-makeithappy-gakwer-mein-coke-hitler

I bet I can name someone besides myself who approves of this. (still waiting on Hikari)

After attempts to negotiate with ZUN regarding the Indigogo funding, the project ultimately received a Cease & Desist order from Team Shanghai Alice's legal rep. The game is now officially known as "Nansei Doujin Spirit" and all Touhou references have been removed. Further info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCd5wlUiuCY For one thing I can't look at Touhou the same way again.

Split off the off-topic posts after people were already warned not to do so, multiple times I might add. Further offtopic posts will be deleted and infractions will be handed out. You guys already had your chance.

It dropped because of Primal Groudon. Same for both Mega Charizards.

Late Ubers update Rises (Rock): B+ -> A- : B -> B+ : B- -> B+ : B- -> B (Water): C+ -> B- : C -> C+ (Ice): D -> C Drops (Ground): A -> A- : A- -> B+ : B+ -> B : B+ -> B (Electric): B -> B- (Poison): B -> B- : B -> C+ : B -> B- : B -> B- : B- -> C (Fire): C+ -> C (Psychic): C+ -> C (Steel): C+ -> C : C+ -> F/Unranked : C+ -> F/Unranked : C+ -> F/Unranked : C+ -> F/Unranked : C+ -> C : C+ -> C : C+ -> C : C+ -> C : C+ -> C : C -> F/Unranked

Sorry for such a long delay for the POTW. I find it easier than instead of every Monday that PotW be moved to Wednesdays. Sorry for the wait. Once again with the tier rotation, we come back to OU. This time, we see a newcomer to the OU tier brought upon by ORAS; Altaria & Mega Altaria Tier Status (Singles): OU Tier Status (Doubles): D.UU Type (Normal): Dragon/Flying Type (Mega): Dragon/Fairy Base Stats (Normal): 75 / 70 / 90 / 70 / 105 / 80 Base Stats (Mega): 75 / 110 / 110 / 110 / 105 / 80 Abilities (Normal): Natural Cure: Whenever this Pokemon switches out, either by manually switching, using U-turn, Volt Switch, or Baton Pass, or is forced out by Roar or Whirlwind, this Pokemon will lose all status conditions that it currently has. Cloud Nine (Hidden Ability): As long as this Pokemon is out on the field, all effects of weather are negated. Abilities (Mega): Pixilate: All Normal-type moves used by this Pokemon will have their type changed to Fairy-type. Any attack that has its type changed by this ability will also receive a 30% base power increase. Table of Contents Singles OU Overview Singles Ubers Overview Doubles OU Overview Singles OU Overview ORAS Singles OU Viability (Normal): F/Unranked ORAS Singles OU Viability (Mega): A+ Like Charizard before it, Altaria is another case of a rags to riches story, having soared all the way from PU to OU due to its new Mega Evolution granted by ORAS. While Mega Altaria's base stats are pretty average by Mega standards, Mega Altaria more than makes up for this with its unique Dragon/Fairy typing, which is great both offensively and defensively. Altaria also has quite a good movepool available to it, and with decent stats across the board, it can function as either a physical attacker, special attacker, or support, making Mega Altaria quite unpredictable. With Pixilate, its Normal type moves become STAB Fairy type moves with an additional 30% base power increase, allowing it to even surpass Mega Gyarados, another premier Dragon Dance user, in terms of raw damage. Mega Altaria is not without its flaws, however. 80 Base Speed is rather slow and dependent on Dragon Dance. While Mega Altaria's typing is great both offensively and defensively, the fact that it consumes your Mega slot means that certain other Megas who would love to have Mega Altaria as a teammate, such as Mega Venusaur, cannot be used alongside it. Finally, despite its great typing and bulk, dangerous threats in the metagame such as Mega Metagross, Mega Scizor, and even Clefable keep it in check. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Special Attacker Ability: Natural Cure (Pixilate) / Item: @Altarianite Nature: Timid or Modest w/ EVs: 24 HP / 248 Sp.Attack / 236 Speed Moves: Hyper Voice / Fire Blast / Earthquake or Heal Bell / Roost Tips: Hyper Voice, when affected by Pixilate, turns from a 90 base power Normal-type attack into a STAB 117 base power Fairy-type attack, with the added benefit of being able to bypass Substitute. Fire Blast is there to hit the Steel types that resist Hyper Voice. The third slot depends on wether you need extra coverage or utility. Earthquake is used specifically for Heatran, who resists Hyper Voice while being immune to Fire Blast due to Flash Fire. If coverage against Heatran isn't needed, Heal Bell can be run for team support. Roost provides Mega Altaria with longevity. The above EV spread with a Timid nature allows Mega Altaria to outspeed Jolly Mega Heracross, Adamant Lucario, Adamant Excadrill, and Timid Heatran. 248 Sp.Attack EVs allow for it to hit as hard as possible, while the remaining 24 EVs are put into HP for a bit more bulk. A modest nature can be run if extra power is needed, but doesn't gain any extra notable KOs, and fails to outspeed the above threats. This set is the most aggressive of Mega Altaria's sets, as you can simply come in and start spamming your Fairy+Fire coverage. While Pixilate Hyper Voice is good, Mega Altaria's Hyper Voice pales in comparison to that of Mega Gardevoir and Choice Specs Sylveon, so this set should not be used as a wallbreaker. Mega Altaria's typing allows it to switch in many times with its 7 resistances, and doesn't care too much about status unlike its Dragon Dance sets. If running Earthquake, you can bluff a Dragon Dance set by using it first, luring in a Physically defensive yet Specially weak Pokemon that you can spam Hyper Voice and Fire Blast against. As already stated, this set should not be played as a wallbreaker, but as an offensive supporter that can, for the most part, sustain itself. Honorable Mentions: Perish Song is an option that can be run for extra utility against setup sweepers and Stall teams, as it forces your opponent to choose between switching out or losing their sweeper/walls. It can be difficult to find a moveslot for it, however. Draco Meteor is a powerful nuke that provides neutral coverage against everything that resists Hyper Voice other than Steel-types, but otherwise provides redundant coverage with Hyper Voice. If Gliscor or Landorus-Therian are an issue, Ice Beam can be run. However, Gliscor is known to run Substitute, which blocks Ice Beam, and Landorus-Therian is already 2HKOed by Hyper Voice. Agility is another option that can rectify Mega Altaria's speed, allowing it to attempt a sweep, but without a boosting move it is often too weak to do so. Recommended Teammates: This moveset is more or less self-sufficient, but it does have problems with Heatran and special walls. Stallbreaker Heatran can handle these, as can Excadrill. Since this set tends to lure in Steel types as well as weaken other notable threats, sweepers and cleaners that appreciate having them gone work as teammates work nicely. Talonflame, Dragonite, and Latios are a few of these. Offensive users of Stealth Rock, such as Heatran, Tyranitar, Excadrill, and Terrakion, make for great teammates, as this set tends to force many switches, thus capitalizing on entry hazard damage. Due to its typing, Mega Altaria fits well on Sand Offense teams, as it resists Water, Bug, Fighting, and Grass. Excadrill, as well as Tyranitar and Hippowdon, tend to be common staples of Sand Offense, so they should be used alongside Mega Altaria if you plan on using it on this team archtype. Although an extremely niche Pokemon in OU, Gorebyss can provide Mega Altaria with Shell Smash boosts via Baton Pass, turning Mega Altaria into a potent threat backed by great coverage. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Offensive Dragon Dance Ability: Natural Cure (Pixilate) / Item: @Altarianite Nature: Adamant, Naughty, or Jolly w/ EVs: 252 Attack / 4 Sp.Attack / 252 Speed Moves: Dragon Dance / Return, Facade, or Double-Edge / Earthquake / Roost or Fire Blast Tips: Dragon Dance not only patches up Mega Altaria's average speed, but also further bolsters its decent Attack stat, allowing it to perform as a sweeper. The second moveslot is dedicated to Fairy-type STAB move after Pixilate. Return is the preferred option as Pixilate turns it into a 136.2 base power STAB Fairy-type attack with good power and little to no drawbacks. Facade is another option that takes advantage of burns and paralysis, as Facade now ignores the attack drop from burn as of X&Y, turning into a powerful 182 base power STAB move, but is only 91 base power otherwise, so it is much more situational. Double-Edge is also more powerful than Return and much more consistent than Facade, as Pixilate turns it into a powerful 156 base power Fairy move that, at +1, can OHKO Chansey after Stealth Rock, but the recoil will quickly eat into Mega Altaria's longevity. Earthquake provides coverage against most Steels that resist Fairy-type STAB. For the last moveslot, Roost provides Mega Altaria with longevity, which goes extremely well with its natural bulk. Fire Blast, despite being a Special Attack, can be used instead for extra coverage against the Steel types that don't really care about Earthquake, namely Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Scizor. The EV spread with an Adamant/Naughty/Jolly nature capitalizes on this Mega Altaria's role as a sweeper, maximizing its Attack and Speed. For the nature, Naughty should only be used if running Fire Blast in the 4th slot, otherwise Adamant or Jolly should be used. In these cases, Adamant is preferred, as Mega Altaria needs as much power as it can get. Jolly does have the benefit in allowing Mega Altaria to outspeed Choice Scarf Landorus-Therian, however. As a sweeper, your primary goal should be to use a single Dragon Dance and then begin your sweep. As such, this Mega Altaria should be sent in late in the game when its checks and counters have been removed. If running Fire Blast, this Altaria can be sent in earlier in the match to lure in its checks and counters, weakening them on the switch. While Mega Altaria has decent bulk, it is usually not enough to stomach the more powerful attacks in OU that can threaten its sweep, especially when uninvested. The best way to send it in is either after an opponent's KO or through the clever use of U-Turn or Volt Switch. Since this Altaria's bulk isnt too fantastic with no investment, Roost should generally be used on predicted switches or weak opponents. Due keep in mind that with only 80 base speed, Mega Altaria can still be outsped at +1 by common revenge killers donning a Choice Scarf, so these may need to be eliminated as well before attempting a sweep. Recommended Teammates: If not running Fire Blast, Skarmory, Ferrothorn, and Scizor/Mega Scizor can and will very easily switch in against you, with the latter three using their Steel-type STAB to dispose of you. Magnezone can easily trap and kill these Pokemon. Heatran and Keldeo cannot trap the above Pokemon like Magnezone can, but they still serve as checks to them. Even Pokemon that commonly run Fire type coverage moves, such as Latios and Jirachi can be used. Azumarill, Diggersby, and Breloom cannot always beat them, but they can at least lure them in and weaken them. Like most Dragon Dancers, Unaware Clefable can ignore Altaria's Dragon Dance boosts, and hit it with super effective Moonblasts. Heatran helps, as it quad resists Clefable's Moonblast while also being immune to its Flamethrower. Gengar, Excadrill and Doublade also work, though the latter two must watch for Flamethrower. While Altaria loses its Rock weakness upon Mega Evolving, hazard removal helps for switching it in prior to Mega Evolving. Excadrill can provide this with Rapid Spin, while Latias can not only provide hazard removal through Defog, but also allow Altaria a second opportunity to sweep by using Healing Wish. Latios can also work, but does not have the benefit of Healing Wish like its sister. Entry Hazards: Stealth Rock () As with any sweeper, Stealth Rock support is greatly appreciated, as it can easily turn a 3HKO into a 2HKO, making its job as a sweeper easier. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Support Ability: Natural Cure (Pixilate) / Item: @Altarianite Nature: Bold, Impish, or Relaxed w/ EVs: 248 HP / 104 Defense / 156 Sp.Defense Moves: Roost / Hyper Voice or Return / Heal Bell / Flamethrower, Earthquake, Perish Song, Haze, or Toxic Tips: Roost provides Mega Altaria with longevity, which goes extremely well with its natural bulk. The second slot is for Fairy type STAB, the choice depending on whether you want to hit physically or specially. Hyper Voice hits on the special side while bypassing Substitute, while Return hits for physical damage, most notably against threats with lower Defense stats such as Mega Gyarados and Thundurus-Incarnate. Heal Bell provides team support by having Mega Altaria take the role of a cleric, healing status conditions from the team. The last slot is used for either additional coverage or additional support. As far as coverage options go, Flamethrower and Earthquake both provide coverage against Steel types that resist Fairy. Like the case with Hyper Voice and Return, the choice depends on whether you want to hit for Physical or Special damage. Perish Song forces walls and setup sweepers to switch out at the risk of a KO. Other options for this slot include Haze and Toxic, the former allowing this Altaria set to counter both Mega Slowbro and Mega Sableye. The above EV spread with a Bold/Impish/Relaxed nature allows Mega Altaria to avoid notable 2HKOs, including Keldeo's Icy Wind, Latios's Psyshock, and Landorus-Therian's Earthquake. The choice of nature is dependent on the moves that Altaria runs in both the 2nd and 4th moveslots. Bold is preferred if using only special attacks (Hyper Voice + Flamethrower), Impish for only physical attacks (Return + Earthquake), and Relaxed for mixed (Hyper Voice + Earthquake or Return + Flamethrower). This Mega Altaria set works as a defensive pivot, allowing it to switch into many attacks and Roost off the damage. Due to its typing, it is best used to pivot into Fire, Water, Dragon, and Fighting type attacks, many of which are common to offensive OU Pokemon. Due to its resistances and invested bulk, this Mega Altaria works best on Balance teams that need specific resistances that Mega Altaria can cover. Most of the time you should be using Roost liberally, as while Mega Altaria has great mixed bulk, its not on the same level as walls, a problem that is further complicated by the lack of Leftovers. Recommended Teammates: Magnezone, especially Choice Specs variants, make an excellent partner to Mega Altaria due to its type synergy. Heatran forms part of a defensive core with this Mega Altaria, being able to take on Fairy, Ice and Poison types, especially Clefable. Heatran can also provide status and Stealth Rock. Normal Gyarados works well to handle the Steel types that Mega Altaria lures in, and also appreciates having Heal Bell support so it can Dragon Dance without status interruption. Entry Hazard Control: Rapid Spin or Defog () Since this Altaria set will be switching in quite often, Rapid Spinners and Defoggers that work well on Balanced teams help as teammates, providing Mega Altaria with more opportunities to switch in, especially if it hasn't Mega Evolved yet. ORAS OU Singles Moveset: Defensive Dragon Dance Ability: Natural Cure (Pixilate) / Item: @Altarianite Nature: Impish w/ EVs: 248 HP / 136 Defense / 96 Sp.Defense / 28 Speed Moves: Dragon Dance / Roost / Return / Heal Bell, Refresh, Substitute, or Earthquake Tips: Dragon Dance not only patches up Mega Altaria's average speed, but also further bolsters its decent Attack stat, allowing it to perform as a sweeper. Roost provides Mega Altaria with longevity, which goes extremely well with its natural bulk. Return is the preferred STAB as Pixilate turns it into a 136.2 base power STAB Fairy-type attack with good power and little to no drawbacks. The fourth move is dedicated to either status prevention, or extra coverage with Earthquake. Substitute blocks status moves that can cripple Mega Altaria, while Heal Bell and Refresh remove it. Refresh has more PP than Heal Bell, so it is harder to PP stall with Toxic, but does not have the advantage of providing team support. The above EV spread with an Impish nature aims to make this set as physically bulky as possible, while also avoiding notable KOs on the special side, such as Thundurus-Incarnate's Hidden Power Ice. The 28 Speed EVs allows this set to outrun Mega Lopunny and Mega Manectric after two Dragon Dances, as well as max Speed Azumarill with no boosts. This set works nicely on Balanced teams that don't have too many attackers and in need of a win condition This set can be sent in earlier in the game to provide team support with Heal Bell, acting as a cleric. Later in the game, this set can come in and start accumulating Dragon Dance boosts to turn itself into a win condition, and has an easier time setting up compared to the Offensive Dragon Dance set. Unlike the Offensive Dragon Dance set, this variant will need at least two Dragon Dance boosts in order to become fully effective, due to its lack of Attack and Speed investment. The best time to grab Dragon Dance boosts are against Pokemon reliant on status moves, such as Rotom-Wash, both Mega Charizards, Chansey, Heatran, Thundurus-Incarnate, and Sableye/Mega Sableye, as Mega Altaria can heal itself easily with Heal Bell or Refresh, or block status entirely with Substitute. Recommended Teammates: Unlike Offensive Dragon Dance Mega Altaria, Defensive Dragon Dance needs a significant amount of Offensive support in order to become effective due to its limited coverage and lack of offensive investment. Steel types are a major concern, so trappers such as Magnezone and Gothitelle work, as does Heatran and Steel type lures such as Azumarill, Latios, Diggersby, and Breloom. While not as common, Poison types can also spell trouble for this Mega Altaria set. Heatran covers this nicely, covering Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, Gengar, and Dragalge. Excadrill also works, and is also able to provide Rapid Spin support. Entry Hazards: Stealth Rock () As with any sweeper, Stealth Rock support is greatly appreciated, as it can easily turn a 3HKO into a 2HKO, making its job as a sweeper easier. Hall of Shame Corner: Cotton Guard While Cotton Guard may seem like a good idea on Mega Altaria at first glance, due to its unique ability to nab an instant +3 Defense boost, the sad truth is that Cotton Guard is a gimmicky and subpar choice of a move. It takes up an important moveslot on Altaria that could be used for other, more important moves; support sets need Heal Bell, Offensive DD cant afford to sacrifice Roost AND extra coverage, and Defensive DD already has coverage issues as is and needs something to mitigate status. Singles OU Checks & Counters to Altaria Opposing Fairy types can hit Altaria for super effective STAB damage, both before and after it Mega Evolves. Bulkier Fairy types usually require at least 1 Dragon Dance boost before Mega Altaria can do any meaningful damage to them. Clefable, in particular, deserves special mention as Unaware variants can ignore the Attack boosts from Dragon Dance. Steel types can pose problems as well, as not only do they have super effective STAB moves, but also resist Fairy. Do note that all must watch out for Earthquake except Ferrothorn, Skarmory, Scizor, and Mega Scizor, while Heatran is the only one that doesn't care about Fire Blast. Poison types, as well as the uncommon Poison-type coverage moves, are also problematic. Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss can easily tank Fairy attacks and Earthquake, though the latter must watch out for Flamethrower and Fire Blast, and also has trouble against variants with Substitute. Gengar and Mega Beedrill are frailer alternatives that can check unboosted Mega Altaria while punishing fleeing Altarias with Substitute and U-Turn, respectively. While they lack super effective coverage most of the time, Fire types can also check Mega Altaria. Talonflame in particular is notable for being resistant or immune to everything Mega Altaria commonly carries, and can also revenge kill with priority Brave Bird. Heatran must watch out for Earthquake, but can otherwise cripple Altaria with Toxic and Taunt if it lacks Substitute, Heal Bell, or Refresh. Although Mega Altaria usually avoids an OHKO from most revenge killers at full health, most Choice Scarfers such as Landorus-Therian, Keldeo (with icy Wind), Excadrill, and Heatran can score a KO with prior damage. Sand Rush variants of Excadrill don't need Choice Scarf to outspeed, and can still outpace even a +2 Mega Altaria in the sand. In a similar vein, Choice Specs Kingdra can outspeed +1 Mega Altaria in the rain and KO with Ice Beam, but cannot outspeed a +2 Mega Altaria. Scizor, Mega Scizor, Mamoswine, and Weavile can outspeed and revenge kill with super effective priority moves in Bullet Punch and Ice Shard, respectively. Thundurus-Incarnate and Klefki can use Prankster Thunder Wave to cut Dragon Dance sweeps short, should Mega Altaria be lacking Substitute, Heal Bell, or Refresh. Singles Ubers Overview ORAS Singles Ubers Viability (Normal): F/Unranked ORAS Singles Ubers Viability (Mega): F/Unranked Mega Altaria isn't worth the team slot or the Mega slot in Ubers. Too many large threats in the Ubers metagame threaten it, the most notable include Primal Groudon, Xerneas, Mega Gengar, Mega Diancie, Mega Scizor, and even Ho-oh to an extent. Mega Diancie gives it huge competition for the role of a cleric, and being a better Fairy type in ubers in general. As a Dragon Dancer, it is heavily outclassed by Mega Salamence. While Mega Altaria's typing allows it to check Zekrom and Palkia, the use of these two have fallen drastically due to the addition of Primal Groudon. The biggest nail in the coffin, however, is the fact that normal Altaria has virtually no switch-in opportunities, so getting the chance to Mega Evolve is next to impossible, especially when Altaria needs the typing of its Mega Evolution in order to tank the Pokemon that it is intended to tank, rendering it nearly useless as an Yveltal check. Doubles OU Overview ORAS Doubles OU Viability (Normal): C+ ORAS Doubles OU Viability (Mega): C+ Mega Altaria is mostly outclassed by other Fairy types in Doubles, most notably Sylveon. However, Mega Altaria does have a few niches that set it apart from other Fairies in Doubles. Its unique Dragon/Fairy typing, coupled with its natural bulk, allows it to take hits better, both physical and special, something that neither Sylveon nor Mega Gardevoir can claim. Altaria also have better coverage options, most notably Fire Blast, and provides utility in the form of Tailwind while having access to reliable recovery in the form of Roost. Altaria's Cloud Nine ability when pre-mega gives it an interesting niche of being able to check rain and sun teams, both being very potent playstyles in Doubles; locking Mega Charizard Y into a 2-turn Solarbeam while neutering the power of its Fire STABs while simultaneously restoring its water weakness, and cutting into the speed boosts of Chlorophyll & Swift Swimmers alike. However, its 80 base speed is often too slow to take advantage of its own Tailwind, and yet too fast to effectively use Trick Room. ORAS OU Doubles Moveset: Special Attacker Ability: Cloud Nine (Pixilate) / Item: @Altarianite Nature: Modest w/ EVs: 252 HP / 196 Sp.Attack / 60 Speed Moves: Hyper Voice / Fire Blast or Flamethrower / Tailwind or Draco Meteor / Protect Tips: Hyper Voice is Altaria's STAB move of choice, hitting both opponents. Fire Blast is primarily for coverage against Steels that resist Hyper Voice. Flamethrower can be used if the extra accuracy is needed, though it will miss out on some KOs. For the third moveslot, Tailwind is preferred to give team support. Draco Meteor, however, can be used as a one-time nuke against single targets that need to be dispatched quickly. Protect is a staple on almost all Pokemon in Doubles, allowing you scout an opponent's move, punish double targeting, or stalling out field conditions such as Trick Room. 252 HP EVs allows Mega Altaria to survive several notable attacks, including Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast, as well as Mega Kangaskhan. 60 speed EVs allows Mega Altaria to outspeed Choice Scarf Therian Landorus after setting up Tailwind. The remaining EVs are put into Sp.Attack with a Modest nature to make Altaria hit as hard as possible. Cloud Nine is the preferred ability pre-mega, as this allows you to send in Altaria to check opposing weather teams. For instance, Mega Charizard Y's Fire attacks deal significantly less damage while it gets locked into Solarbeam for 2 turns, and Chlorophyll/Swift Swim/Sand Rush users such as Excadrill, Venusaur, and Mega Swampert lose their doubled speed. Do not use Mega Altaria as a lead, as it requires a good amount of support to be truly effective. Furthermore, not using Altaria as a lead allows you to send it in to abuse Cloud Nine when you need it to. Altaria should predominantly be used as a supporting attacker. Recommended Teammates: Methods of speed control are excellent choices, especially if running Draco Meteor over Tailwind. Suicune is a nice teammate, as it can fish for Scald Burns against threats like Mega Mawile and Mega Metagross. Cresselia is a good support option, as not only does it provide additional speed control with Thunder Wave and Icy Wind, but also provides Helping Hand support to give Mega Altaria's Hyper Voices a 50% damage boost for the turn. Thundurus-Incarnate and Talonflame both provide speed control in the form of Thunder Wave and Tailwind, respectively, with both gaining priority due to their abilities. Methods to ensure Altaria's longevity, such as Intimidate, are strongly recommended. Landorus-Therian can lure in Bisharp, which Mega Altaria can KO with Fire Blast. Normal Gyarados offers nice type synergy with Mega Altaria in addition to Intimidate, resisting Steel while Mega Altaria resists Electric, and can offer either offensive or defensive support. Doubles OU Checks & Counters to Altaria Both Mega Gardevoir and Sylveon's Pixilate Hyper Voice hits harder than Mega Altaria's, and is also super effective against it. Due to EV investment, both often find themselves able to outspeed Mega Altaria as well. Both Mega Metagross and Mega Mawile pose problems with their high-powered Steel STAB, backed by Tough Claws and Huge Power, respectively. Both can also take a Fire Blast from Altaria while whittling away with their priority moves. Heatran is in a similar boat as it resists everything Altaria can throw at it while being immune to Fire Blast. Although Aegislash risks a 2HKO from Fire Blast, it can OHKO with Flash Cannon after a small bit of prior damage, while also blocking Hyper Voice with Wide Guard. Gengar, and by extension its Mega Evolution, can smack Mega Altaria hard with Sludge Bomb, or reduce its speed with Icy Wind, and doesn't particularly care about Landorus-Therian if it hasnt Mega Evolved yet. Mega Venusaur and Amoongus can be plenty annoying for Altaria. Both resist Pixilate Hyper Voice while sporting Super Effective Poison-type STAB. Mega Venusaur also lacks a weakness to Fire Blast due to Thick Fat, while Amoonguss can redirect Altaria's attacks with Rage Powder, or disable it entirely with Spore. Swift Swim/Sand Rush/Chlorophyll (+, +, +) Although Altaria can check these Pokemon prior to Mega evolving, once it loses Cloud Nine upon Mega Evolving these Pokemon can easily outspeed and pose problems with their super effective coverage moves (Ice Punch/Beam for Mega Swampert/Ludicolo, Iron Head for Excadrill, & Sludge Bomb for Venusaur). Speed Control () 80 Base Speed is often too slow to outpace most faster threats even under Tailwind, and is too fast to effectively make use of Trick Room, so opposing Speed Control users can easily make life hard for Altaria. External Links Smogon Analysis (Singles OU) Smogon Analysis (Doubles VGC)

Reviving this to commemorate Gengar's "bro" returning to OU; Type: -->> Base Stats (Starmie): 60 / 75 / 85 / 100 / 85 / 115 Base Stats (Mega): 60 / 75 / 115 / 140 / 115 / 115 Ability: Natural Cure / Illuminate / Analytic -->> Regenerator Have fun

The following Pokemon were removed from the following tiers' viability lists as a result of the February tier shifts: UU RU NU PU And to start things off, some OU changes: Rises: : A+ -> S : A -> A+ : B+ -> A+ : A -> A+ : A- -> A : A- -> A : B+ -> A- : B -> A- : B -> B+ : B -> B+ : B- -> B : C+ -> B- : D -> C : Unranked -> D : Unranked -> D Drops: : S -> A+ : S -> A+ : A+ -> A : A+ -> A : A+ -> A (M.Latias): A -> B+ : A- -> B+ : A- -> B+ : B -> B- : C -> C-

And JUST after I posted the tier update, Mega Pinsir just got quickbanned from UU: EDIT: Small Doubles update: Rises : DUU -> DOU : DUU -> DOU Drops : DOU -> DUU : DOU -> DUU : DOU -> DUU : DOU -> DUU : DOU -> DUU

You also forgot Hidden Power Fire and its sexy 160/160/110 offensive stats, ability to run a multitude of roles (rock polish sweeper, calm mind sweeper, support, all out mixed attacker, Trick Room setter, stallbreaking with Magic Bounce, etc).

February Tier updates. Rises : UU to OU : BL to OU : UU to OU : BL to OU : UU to OU : UU to OU : UU to OU : RU to UU : BL2 to UU : RU to UU : RU to UU : RU to UU : BL2 to UU : RU to BL2 : NU to RU : BL3 to RU : NU to RU : NU to RU : BL4 to NU : PU to NU : PU to NU Drops : OU to UU : OU to BL : OU to UU : OU to UU : OU to UU : OU to UU : RU to NU : NU to PU : RU to NU : RU to NU : RU to NU : RU to NU : NU to PU : NU to PU : NU to PU

Was this necessary?

Just wanted to point out that we don't police Mugen creations for sprites/sounds/etc that were used without the original author's permission, considering not only the site's intended purpose as a warehouse, but also the vast amount of Mugen creations makes such policing methods impractical. Not to mention that when most Mugen websites DID police such Mugen creations prior to 2007, the results were... messy, and that's putting it politely. To be fair, Ax did credit Loganir and Verz in the first post for the source of his sprites. I'm not saying what he did was right, but I'm not saying he's wrong either, since he hasn't broken any rules here in regards to this matter.