OU Monotype Viability Rankings
approved by ArcticBlast
written by GodChef, Anttya, Rorsarch, and Enoch
approved by ArcticBlast
written by GodChef, Anttya, Rorsarch, and Enoch
Welcome!
Welcome to the the OU Monotype Tier's Ranking Thread, where we, as a community, analyze Monotype Teams and their different play-styles and Rank them accordingly. The purpose of this thread is identify the strengths and weaknesses of Monotype Teams so that we can improve them and advance the Metagame as a whole. However, I would like to emphasize that there is no best or worse Monotype Team, and that although certain Types may have advantages over others as shown by this Thread, that that does not necessarily mean that a Monotype is better or worse. The heart and soul of Monotype is to overcome your weakness through creativity, intelligence, and skill, and that is the idea that we are promoting here. That said, the ultimate goal is to produce a more Balanced Tier through the cooperation of the community, working together to improve the Monotypes that are Ranked lower than the others. (It may be impossible, but we can try!)
We will accomplish this by Ranking Monotypes. However, since one Type in itself has many different ways of being played, each specific Monotype play-style will be individually Ranked from another, based on the Pokemon that define it. For example, Heavy Offense Mono Flying would focus more on using Pivot based Offensive Pressure with Pokemon such Anti-Lead Aerodactyl-Mega, whereas Balanced Flying would prefer a more Defensive approach, using both Walls and Sweepers such as Zapdos and Charizard-X.
OU Monotype Play-Styles
We will break down each Monotype into the following play-styles, based off of the official Usage Stats (excluding Weatherless)
- Heavy Offense / +Rain, Sand, Sun, Hail: Heavy Offensive Teams focus on out-speeding and out-damaging the opponent without prioritizing defense. These Teams typically rely on Dual Screeners for survivability instead.
- Offense / +Rain, Sand, Sun, Hail: Offensive teams rely on out-speeding and out-damaging the opponent directly, using resistances and immunities to take hits as opposed to dedicated Walls.
- Volt+Turn: Offensive Teams that put an emphasis on maintaining constant Offensive Pressure on the opposing Team, while simultaneously putting themselves in the best position possible.
- Balance / +Rain, Sand, Sun, Hail: Balanced Teams use a combination of Sweepers, Walls, and/or Tanks that work together to win a Match, while not emphasizing on anything in particular.
- Semi-Volt-Turn: Balanced Teams that utilize a Volt-Turn Core to bring in their Teammates safely.
- Stall / +Rain, Sand, Sun, Hail: "Stall teams are based off of residual damage. This damage can come in many forms, including: sandstorm, hail, Toxic Spikes, Spikes, and Stealth Rock. The majority of Pokemon on a team like this will have good defenses and contribute to the overall goal of indirectly fainting the opponent's team"
- Semi-Stall / +Rain, Sand, Sun, Hail: Balanced Teams whose Walls/Tanks have properties of Stall Teams.
The Ranks that these individual Monotype play-styles will be determined through
- Matchups: How well one Monotype play-style performs against another.
- Effectiveness: How effective said Type is at performing it's play-style, and whether it's Viable or not.
- Variety: How much options a Type has to perform the play-style.
These three factors are the Main ones that will be considered when Ranking a Monotype play-style, and should thus be included in your Post. To support Matchups, be sure to include the most important ones; you do not necessarily have to mention them all. Effectiveness can be proved through comparing the play-style to others (within it’s Type, specifically), and by mentioning why it benefits the Type as a whole. Both Matchups and Effectiveness depends greatly on what Pokes that do it, and if the Type is diverse enough to have options. Be sure to include the Pokemon that contribute to this play-style as well, along with the Sets and the Roles that they perform. Overall, what we are looking for in a Post is a convincing, thoroughly argument as to why or why not a Type should be in a Tier, supported by how well they perform in the Metagame.
The Pokemon and their different Sets can further be categorized within a play-style as well. If you feel that a Pokemon contributes enough to a specific play-style, you can nominate them to be included in it. Be sure to Post the Set, what Role it performs, and how it contributes to the play-style, while also considering the above.
The Pokemon and their different Sets can further be categorized within a play-style as well. If you feel that a Pokemon contributes enough to a specific play-style, you can nominate them to be included in it. Be sure to Post the Set, what Role it performs, and how it contributes to the play-style, while also considering the above.
An example of how Post should be:
Balanced Flying Mid -----> High Tier
I think Balanced Flying for S Rank, as with their combination of both Bulk and power along with a large arsenal of viable Pokes, they can overcome unfavorable Matchups ( at least Type wise) while still maintaining a dominance over the Metagame. Stealth Rocks, which are widely considered the bane of anything with wings, can be dealt with through Viable Defoggers in Togekiss, Zapdos, Skarmory, and many more. Taunt is also a widespread Move on Flying, so that can shut down the Rock’s too. It can also overcome its Type disadvantages very well.
Balanced Flying can handle both Balanced and Defensive Mono Electric from both sides of the spectrum. Defensively, Balance Flying has the option of running Defogger Zapdos, who, with it’s Typing and Bulk, can shrug off the common Coverage Moves in Thunderbolt and HP Ice while stalling still Electrics out with Toxic and Roost. Bulky Charizard-Mega-X can do this as well, but even better due to it gaining an actual resistance to both Electric and Ice Moves after Mega Evolution. To a lesser degree, Thundurus-T can also soak up Electric Attacks, but it’s predictable and vulnerable to HP Ice (although it could welcome this by running Weakness Policy). Offensively, Balanced Flying can take advantage of the slower Mons’ that Balanced Electric run with Landorus-I, Scarf Moxie Salamence, the aforementioned WP Thundurus-T, and etc. Landorus-I can force many players to Switch out their grounded Electric Types with it’s STAB Earth Power, and can use Gravity to render that tactic useless. Since the most common Scarfer on Balanced Electric is TrickScarf Rotom-W, Salamence can have a field day by spamming Outrage, although it does have to have Magnezone KO’ed to do so. Even the premiere Physical Wall of Balanced Electric find trouble Switching into Salamence’s Outrages, as it is 2HKO’ed by it after Stealth Rocks even if it hasn’t netted any Moxie Boost. Weakness Policy Thundurus-T can take a HP Ice or two that Balanced Electric Teams may opt to use due to an Immunity to their, STAB, and can turn the tables with it’s insanely powerful Attacks coming from an already above average SAtk Stat. Offensive Mono Electric is vulnerable in the same manner as Balanced/Defensive play-styles, but have Manectric-Mega and Scarf Thundurus-T to handle these Threats, so the Matchup is only even at best. This in combination with it’s other many favorable Match Ups make Balanced Flying S Tier in my opinion.
Proof- Salamence (Choice Scarf) V.S. Zapdos (Physically Defensive): 252 Atk Salamence Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 162-192 (42.1 - 50%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Nominating Charizard-X for Balance Flying
Nominating Charizard-Mega-X for Balanced Flying. Charizard X can fulfill many different Roles for Flying, ranging from a Sweeper to a Specially Defensive Wall. It's Typing in combination with its natural Bulk provides Flying with an actual Electric Resistance and a neutrality to Ice, foddering the very Pokemon that threaten it’s Teammates. It has access to Dragon Dance, Swords Dance, and even Belly Drum to do this, wrecking anything it touches with it's Tough Claws. Charizard-X even has access to Roost, allowing it to run a Bulky DD Set for more survivability. It’s access to Roost also allows it to be something of a Wall, as the aforementioned perks of it’s Typing make it an ideal Pivot. Will-o-wisp can cripple Pokes on the Physical side as well, of which it is vulnerable. Although it may be individually outclassed as a Wall by Skarmory in terms of Physical Defense and Zapdos in terms of Special Defense, Charizard-Mega-X can be an effective Wall as it can do both at the same time. It’s many options, Typing, and great Movepool make Charizard-Mega-X a great candidate for a Mega Slot on Balanced Flying.
Nominated Sets for Charizard-Mega-X:
Bulky DD Charizard-Mega-X
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 140 HP / 252 Atk / 116 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Fire Punch / Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
DD Charizard-Mega-X
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
“Wallzard-X” Charizard-Mega-X
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Fire Punch / Toxic
- Earthquake / Rock Slide
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
I think Balanced Flying for S Rank, as with their combination of both Bulk and power along with a large arsenal of viable Pokes, they can overcome unfavorable Matchups ( at least Type wise) while still maintaining a dominance over the Metagame. Stealth Rocks, which are widely considered the bane of anything with wings, can be dealt with through Viable Defoggers in Togekiss, Zapdos, Skarmory, and many more. Taunt is also a widespread Move on Flying, so that can shut down the Rock’s too. It can also overcome its Type disadvantages very well.
Balanced Flying can handle both Balanced and Defensive Mono Electric from both sides of the spectrum. Defensively, Balance Flying has the option of running Defogger Zapdos, who, with it’s Typing and Bulk, can shrug off the common Coverage Moves in Thunderbolt and HP Ice while stalling still Electrics out with Toxic and Roost. Bulky Charizard-Mega-X can do this as well, but even better due to it gaining an actual resistance to both Electric and Ice Moves after Mega Evolution. To a lesser degree, Thundurus-T can also soak up Electric Attacks, but it’s predictable and vulnerable to HP Ice (although it could welcome this by running Weakness Policy). Offensively, Balanced Flying can take advantage of the slower Mons’ that Balanced Electric run with Landorus-I, Scarf Moxie Salamence, the aforementioned WP Thundurus-T, and etc. Landorus-I can force many players to Switch out their grounded Electric Types with it’s STAB Earth Power, and can use Gravity to render that tactic useless. Since the most common Scarfer on Balanced Electric is TrickScarf Rotom-W, Salamence can have a field day by spamming Outrage, although it does have to have Magnezone KO’ed to do so. Even the premiere Physical Wall of Balanced Electric find trouble Switching into Salamence’s Outrages, as it is 2HKO’ed by it after Stealth Rocks even if it hasn’t netted any Moxie Boost. Weakness Policy Thundurus-T can take a HP Ice or two that Balanced Electric Teams may opt to use due to an Immunity to their, STAB, and can turn the tables with it’s insanely powerful Attacks coming from an already above average SAtk Stat. Offensive Mono Electric is vulnerable in the same manner as Balanced/Defensive play-styles, but have Manectric-Mega and Scarf Thundurus-T to handle these Threats, so the Matchup is only even at best. This in combination with it’s other many favorable Match Ups make Balanced Flying S Tier in my opinion.
Proof- Salamence (Choice Scarf) V.S. Zapdos (Physically Defensive): 252 Atk Salamence Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 162-192 (42.1 - 50%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Nominating Charizard-X for Balance Flying
Nominating Charizard-Mega-X for Balanced Flying. Charizard X can fulfill many different Roles for Flying, ranging from a Sweeper to a Specially Defensive Wall. It's Typing in combination with its natural Bulk provides Flying with an actual Electric Resistance and a neutrality to Ice, foddering the very Pokemon that threaten it’s Teammates. It has access to Dragon Dance, Swords Dance, and even Belly Drum to do this, wrecking anything it touches with it's Tough Claws. Charizard-X even has access to Roost, allowing it to run a Bulky DD Set for more survivability. It’s access to Roost also allows it to be something of a Wall, as the aforementioned perks of it’s Typing make it an ideal Pivot. Will-o-wisp can cripple Pokes on the Physical side as well, of which it is vulnerable. Although it may be individually outclassed as a Wall by Skarmory in terms of Physical Defense and Zapdos in terms of Special Defense, Charizard-Mega-X can be an effective Wall as it can do both at the same time. It’s many options, Typing, and great Movepool make Charizard-Mega-X a great candidate for a Mega Slot on Balanced Flying.
Nominated Sets for Charizard-Mega-X:
Bulky DD Charizard-Mega-X
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 140 HP / 252 Atk / 116 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Fire Punch / Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
DD Charizard-Mega-X
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
“Wallzard-X” Charizard-Mega-X
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Fire Punch / Toxic
- Earthquake / Rock Slide
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
Post do not necessarily have to be as long as the example given, as long as they address the points they are trying to get across thoroughly. tl:dr ≠ good
Monotype Play-Style Rankings
Monotype play-styles will be ranked as High, Mid, or Low based off their Matchups, Effectiveness, and Variety as stated above; not necessarily by best to worst. High Tier is where the Monotypes exhibiting these qualities the most go, while Mid Tier to a lesser degree, and Low Tier the least. When a Tier is nominated for a Rank, i
High Tier: Monotype play-styles with a great amount of favorable Matchups and variety, while also overcoming their Weaknesses without relying on gimmicks.
Mid Tier: Monotype play-styles with a decent amount of favorable Matchups and variety, with the ability to overcome their own without relying heavily on gimmicks.
Low Tier: Monotype play-styles with a poor amount of favorable Matchups, that may not be able to overcome their weaknesses outside of gimmicks. May also be limited in variety.
Update (7-9-14)
With the unfortunate departure of GodChef, Anttyaz, Sae Sae, and myself (Enoch) are left to the management of this Thread. However, welcome floe to the team! Floe (PS! Name = aquas0und) is a well known face on Smogon University's Monotype Room, famous for his signature Mono Water talent and expansive knowledge in the Monotype Metagame as a whole. Not to mention he's fucking King Neptune, the king of the sea. Welcome, aquas0und!
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