VGC 20 - last updated 04-25-2020
We are now in Series 3 as of March 1st, 2020!
Mechanics Questions Answered: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/sword-shield-battle-mechanics-research.3655528/
SEE "Older Posts" for my Speed Tier Article and from other VGC Seasons.
I will also be listing some teambuilding ideas for Gen 8 Battle Stadium doubles based on requests. Asterisks mean likely better mons or mons I need to test more. If you want me to put anything else on the blog please feel free to tell me.
https://www.smogon.com/stats/2020-02/Usage stats from February, use this to figure out standard movesets, items, etc on mons.
https://pikalytics.com/ and https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1BAIySW0zF_buiL9ULO5AQVQaDAEExJ1S seem to be useful for usage also, unconfirmed for 2nd link.
Pyrotoz.com is updated for SwSh, and is useful for finding out your team's weaknesses. Or https://marriland.com/tools/team-builder/. Recommend no more than 3x weaks in something, but Sash or Resist Berry could mitigate that and some teams may need to use more than 3 weaks to beat more important stuff.
https://www.babiri.net/#/ Is a good site for finding quick replays of topteams, thanks to deishu alt for showing it to me!
Teambuilding Guidelines:
- Sleep Counter: Safeguard/Lum/Chesto/Max Starfall/Misty/E-Terrain/Taunt/etc like Overcoat
- Speed Control: Tailwind/Trick Room/Max Airstream/Icy Wind/etc
- ImprisonTR or some other Hard TR counter
- Solar Power Gmax Zard Counter - Thick Fat Lax/Haxorus/Rhyperior in TR/Manual Rain/etc
- Dragapult Counter: Duraludon/Trick Room/etc
- Durant Counter: Heat Wave + Speed Ctrl/Kill Togekiss then outspeed and kill Durant/etc
- Optional: Phazing/tech move to maintain speed control or stop setup: Roar/Fake Out/FM/etc
- Optional: Counter to WP Shadow Sneak/Priority move - Follow Me/Disguise + Dynamax/etc
- Justified Beat Up Counter: Follow Me/Fake Out sometimes/Disguise+Dyna/etc
- Optional: Intimidate and PShot Counter like Competitive or Defiant or a lot of Special mons
- Optional: Aurora Veil Counter, like Brick Break/PsychicFangs/etc
- Optional: Counter to Rotom-W with Eerie Impulse - Mold Breaker Exca, Grass mon, etc
- Optional: Intimidate, Fake Out, Weather, mon that benefits from Weather, Terrain, Follow Me
- Listing this one last since isn't a direct counter to anything, and is optional
Before getting into the tiers I need to state that it is somewhat subjective based on all the Pokemon I have tested and seen others use. But Top Tier mons to me means they are mons in a pool of mons I am very likely considering picking in a regional. This means they are not only highly consistent but also have high potential on some kind of team. High tier means either highly consistent or high potential, but not both. Medium tier means at most medium potential and or consistency. And Low tier means it is low in either consistency or potential. And by "special resources" I mean requiring more than passive support. For example using Pelipper is passive support for a Rain team since it doesn't require a move like "Rain Dance", but having to use a move that is not good in general simply to support a mon probably will make that mon not top tier unless that mon is amazing when supported.
Tiers:
- Speed Control moves like icy wind
- Hitmontop
Top Tier: - Mons Great in general without needing a special resources (Active not Passive) for it
- Abomasnow - typically > vanilluxe since 2 stabs and better typing and walls sleep powder
- Arcanine - Wisp Misses, not great offensively, but great for Intimidate, mostly great for snarl
- Chandy - Worse in Series 3 with everything super affecting it and Charizard getting Solar Power now - but still good vs some things like Sun teams
- Charizard Gmax - If you need to Dmax something else Blaze Zard tends to suck
- Conk
- Corviknight and Gmax form
- Duraludon
- Durant
- Dusclops
- Exca
- Gastrodon
- Hatterene Gmax
- Incineroar - only top tier vs a few mons like sun teams
- Indeedee-F - Psychic Terrain and FM is useful esp with Lum Berry
- Jellicent
- Lapras Gmax
- Liepard
- Mandibuzz - not very off. sometimes, but FP is good
- Mimikyu - in general not that great anymore but good for setup and vs a few teams
- Ninetales-Drought - Good w/ Fake Tears
- Orbeetle-Gmax - Gravity is really good for Sleep or low-accurate moves or Levitate
- Pelipper
- Persian-Alolan
- Primarina - good off and def typing and stats, but a lot of weaknesses
- Rotom-H
- Rotom-C - good vs Rain and Mold Breaker
- Sylveon
- Togekiss
- Torkoal
- T-Tar
- Vanilluxe - 1 STAB and few resists compared to Snow, but is faster for Aurora Veil
- Venusaur - Try to only Sleep Powder when desperate
- Whimsicott
High Tier: Mons that are only great on certain teams
- Aegislash - Having to Kings Shield every other turn is a weakness
- Alcremie - Sweet Veil isn't a big enough reason to use it, they can FM or Taunt Decorate
- Appletun - thick fat, better typing than Ferro
- Araq - Powerful, but slow and bad movepool, try iron ball
- Barraskewda - Good vs Redirection (its only niche) and cant kill bulky TR mons
- Bisharp - Fragile with weaknesses and WOW weak, can't SP when Dynamaxed, use late game
- Blastoise - Maybe has a niche with Yawn but Jellicent usually is better
- Braviary - not that offensive unless it gets a boost
- Bronzong - Has some weaknesses, but TR and OK offensive move
- Butterfree and Gmax one
- Charizard Regular - Relies on Sun for Solar Power, but good with Torkoal
- Probably use Gmax Zard instead with Solar Power
- Cinccino - Use Band
- Cinderace
- Clefairy - Usually outclassed by Togekiss since it has like no offensive potential and really slow, also dies easier from Dyna moves unless Sashed.
- Coalossal - Got improved with Volcalith but still a gimmick with Surf
- Crawdaunt - Highly offensive but kinda slow and not great defenses or defensive typing
- Darmanitan with Gorilla Tactics @Scarf/Band - weak to Intimidate and bad defensive typing
- Ditto
- - Copies boosts but might be locked in if Scarf and not super consistent, countered by Neutralizing Gas
- Dracovish - Intimidate, Good defensive and off. typing, not fast enough or great stats, gastro
- Dracozolt
- - Good with Gravity and Dragon Rush and Iron Ball Bolt Break with Clops, weak to Duraludon, Exca, Whim, Vanilluxe, etc
- Dragapult - Mediocre besides being Dynamaxed unless maybe the Special Set, weak to Dura
- Drampa
- Drednaw - Its offense is OK but not great in Rain
- Ferro - good with Body Press Iron Defense
- Golispod
- Goodra - Usually Duraludon is better, one STAB, worse defensive typing
- Goth - might be top tier with durant, but in general TR is bad
- I tried with Durant it is OK but Durant isn't nearly as good in Series 3 and there is nothing super special about this Combo
- Gourgeist - Good for Trick-Or-Treat and being immune to Sleep Powder
- Grimmsnarl - Prankster is good, decent moves
- Gyarados - both abilities are good, a bit passive and its 4x weak is annoying
- Hatterene (Not Gmax) - Too many moves now that SE it like Pult or Duraludon/Exca
- Outclassed by Gmax Hatterene
- Haxorus - Outspeeds Dragapult with Scarf, decent def. typing, only one STAB move
- Hippowdon
- Hitmontop - One STAB and not great for Dmaxing
- Hydra - Bad defensive typing
- Indeedee-M - Not sure if this one is top-tier without Follow Me
- Inteleon - Might be good for Rain or Hail teams or even w/o it
- Kommo-O - bad defensive typing
- Lapras - Freeze Dry, good vs Rain and Dracovish
- Lucario - Inner Focus is good and steel goes well with Fighting vs Togekiss, try sash
- Ludicolo - too dependent on rain and gastrodon vs max geyser is an issue, freeze dry weak
- Mamo - bad defensive typing
- Mawile - Has Intimidate and decent def. typing and off.
- Meowstic - Seems like a speedier Grimmsnarl with diff typing
- Milotic - Has Competitive, but rarely activates, however coil + hypnosis is threatening
- But not vs Haze Dusclops
- Morelull - Only useful to outspeed mons in TR + uses no offensive moves over Shiinotic
- Mr. Mime - Could use Sitrus or some item besides Eviolite
- Mr. Rime - Screen Cleaner and Safeguard for Sleep or misc., and Eviolite
- Mudsdale - Too slow, doesnt counter TR, and weak to a lot of moves
- Ninetales-Alola - Bad offensive coverage and bad defensively
- Fast speed and Aurora Veil, Moonblast, and Icy wind is its niche, almost top tier
- Noivern - Gets Tailwind and decent stats
- Oranguru - Can't Instruct Dynamaxed mons, low power on its own, weakness policy other tr mons
- Passimian - Has Defiant but isn't powerful, even with a boost not great or fast
- Pikachu Gmax - Requires at least Passive support like Intimidate
- Raichu - with Eerie Impulse, i
- Reuniclus - Has Magic Guard with Life Orb, try with Indeedee - made for Hard TR
- Rotom-W - Misses Hydro Pump too much, Gastrodon counters it
- Eerie impulse one countered by Lightningrod
- Rhyperior - Needs TR with it, 4x weak to grass and water
- Roserade - Use Wide Lens or Sash
- Rotom-W - Hydro Pump Misses, Storm Drain, Mold Breaker, Sun are problems
- Scrafty - Watch out for Burns
- Seismitoad - too dependent on rain and gastrodon vs max geyser is an issue
- Shiftry - Has Chlorophyll, try Sash with Special set and foul play
- Shiinotic - Has Spore, but doesn't do much else
- Snorlax and Gmax - Only activates half the time, try Band
- Torracat - typically outclassed by Persian or Incin
- Vikavolt
- Vileplume - Needs sun with it, Sleep Powder can miss
- Weezing-G - NG or Misty Surge - both High Tier since not that useful very commonly
Teambuilding:
Combos:
Medium Tier
Medium Tier
- Froslass Hawlucha - Good but not great, Ice Shard with two mons immune to fake out, to activate weakness policy and unburden on Hawlucha
- Drampa with cloud nine + Inteleon/Arc with LO Physical Jolly/Zard/Salazzle to outspeed Salazzle and take advantage of weather negating
Switch-in Choiced Dracovish Fishious Rend Counters: Mimikyu/Lapras/Gastrodon/Maractus/Jellicent/Ludicolo/Dracovish/Sash and outspeed and ohko back
Ghost Types/Inner Focus (Good for F.O. flinch immunity, or can use HH + Dyna): Jellicent/Chandelure/Dragapult/Dusclops or HH (almost anything, like Kiss/Sylveon/Rotom for ex)
Beat Up + Justified Counters: Follow Me, Foul Play, Sash, Fake Out, Trick Room, Change their ability, Psych Up, Haze, Clear Smog if not Steel, Faster Wisp, Neutralizing Gas Weezing, Topsy Turvy, Excadrill + Sand or Priority TW,
Priority Twave Counters: Dark types, ground types, safeguard, Misty Terrain, Max Starfall, nonpriority taunt, lightningrod, facade if not parahaxed
Good Weakness Policy (WP) users: Dragapult/Rhyperior/Togekiss/T-tar/Unburden ones - Hawlucha
How to counter WP DynaKiss: LO Durant Dynamaxed/Power Swap/Bolt Beak Dracozolt/Rock Wrecker Rhyperior/Chip it and then finish off/Dont SE it/Trick Room/Trick bad item/Fairy and Flying resists like Rotom-H/Wait a turn and see if Dmax or not/Magic Room/Know its item on game2/See other Dynamax counters at the bottom of my blog
WP Counters: Magic Room/Don't SE them/Hit their Ally/Knock Off/Trick/Switcheroo/Finish off/Power Swap/Going after them the turn you SE them/Speed Control
Ghost Types/Inner Focus (Good for F.O. flinch immunity, or can use HH + Dyna): Jellicent/Chandelure/Dragapult/Dusclops or HH (almost anything, like Kiss/Sylveon/Rotom for ex)
Beat Up + Justified Counters: Follow Me, Foul Play, Sash, Fake Out, Trick Room, Change their ability, Psych Up, Haze, Clear Smog if not Steel, Faster Wisp, Neutralizing Gas Weezing, Topsy Turvy, Excadrill + Sand or Priority TW,
Priority Twave Counters: Dark types, ground types, safeguard, Misty Terrain, Max Starfall, nonpriority taunt, lightningrod, facade if not parahaxed
Good Weakness Policy (WP) users: Dragapult/Rhyperior/Togekiss/T-tar/Unburden ones - Hawlucha
How to counter WP DynaKiss: LO Durant Dynamaxed/Power Swap/Bolt Beak Dracozolt/Rock Wrecker Rhyperior/Chip it and then finish off/Dont SE it/Trick Room/Trick bad item/Fairy and Flying resists like Rotom-H/Wait a turn and see if Dmax or not/Magic Room/Know its item on game2/See other Dynamax counters at the bottom of my blog
WP Counters: Magic Room/Don't SE them/Hit their Ally/Knock Off/Trick/Switcheroo/Finish off/Power Swap/Going after them the turn you SE them/Speed Control
Yawn: Togekiss/Sylveon/Gastro/Oranguru/Torkoal
Psychic Fangs: Barraskewda/RK9/Dracovish/Dragapult/Mawile
Brick Break: Almost anything but tends to be a filler move Grimm/Scrafty/Dura/Hax/Darman/Conk/Lax/Tar/Exca/Aboma/Kiss/Goth/Orang/Kommo-O
Defog/Court Change/Gmax Wind Rage/ScreenCleaner/Mon to outspeed OHKO Lapras: Hydra/Braviary/Conk(BB is better)/Whim/Rotom/Zard/Butter/Cinderace*/Corviknight**/Mr. Rime or Mr. Mime***/LO Dracozolt Dmax or Band nonDmax one or Pikachu with LightBall****
Icy wind: Gyarados*/Colo*/Mamo*/Seismi*/Jelli*/Obstagoon/Aboma/Mawile
E-web: Rotom forms*/Passimian/Butterfree/Raichu/Pikachu
Max Strike and Max Airstream for Speed Control: Almost anything
Dragon Dance: Tar*/Gyara*/Scrafty/Lapras/Kommo-O/Dragapult*/Crawdaunt/Haxorus*
Flame Charge: Arc/Chandy/Cinderace/Zard/9tales
Bulldoze: Zard/Arc/Exca/Gyara/Tar/Aboma/Hippo/Mamo/Conk/Seismi/Haxorus/Darman-G/Hydra/Goodra/Diggersby/Kommo-O/Drednaw
Intimidate: Gyarados, Arcanine, Scrafty, Hitmontop, Mawile, Qwilfish
Psychic Fangs: Barraskewda/RK9/Dracovish/Dragapult/Mawile
Brick Break: Almost anything but tends to be a filler move Grimm/Scrafty/Dura/Hax/Darman/Conk/Lax/Tar/Exca/Aboma/Kiss/Goth/Orang/Kommo-O
Defog/Court Change/Gmax Wind Rage/ScreenCleaner/Mon to outspeed OHKO Lapras: Hydra/Braviary/Conk(BB is better)/Whim/Rotom/Zard/Butter/Cinderace*/Corviknight**/Mr. Rime or Mr. Mime***/LO Dracozolt Dmax or Band nonDmax one or Pikachu with LightBall****
Icy wind: Gyarados*/Colo*/Mamo*/Seismi*/Jelli*/Obstagoon/Aboma/Mawile
E-web: Rotom forms*/Passimian/Butterfree/Raichu/Pikachu
Max Strike and Max Airstream for Speed Control: Almost anything
Dragon Dance: Tar*/Gyara*/Scrafty/Lapras/Kommo-O/Dragapult*/Crawdaunt/Haxorus*
Flame Charge: Arc/Chandy/Cinderace/Zard/9tales
Bulldoze: Zard/Arc/Exca/Gyara/Tar/Aboma/Hippo/Mamo/Conk/Seismi/Haxorus/Darman-G/Hydra/Goodra/Diggersby/Kommo-O/Drednaw
Intimidate: Gyarados, Arcanine, Scrafty, Hitmontop, Mawile, Qwilfish
Terrain: Indeedee(Psy-Terrain)/Tsareena(Similar to Psy-Terrain), Pincurchin (Electric-T), Weezing-G (Misty-T), Rillaboom (Grassy Terrain - not yet)
Weather: Pelipper/Tar/Torkoal/Hippowdon/Aboma/Vanilluxe/Ninetales Drought and Snow Warning
TR (Trick Room): Oranguru/Chandy/Goth/Hatterene/Mimikyu/Dusclops - best ones
TW (Tailwind): Mandibuzz/Braviary*/Whimsicott*/Drifblim/Corviknight*/Pelipper*/Butterfree/Noivern*/Frosmoth
Hydra, Togekiss, Hawlucha, Zard and Silvally do not get TW anymore
Hydra, Togekiss, Hawlucha, Zard and Silvally do not get TW anymore
Swift Swim: Ludicolo*/Barraskewda/Drednaw/Seismitoed*
Sand Rush: Exca
Chlorophyll: Vileplume*/Shiftry*/Whimsicott*/Bellossom(outclassed by Vileplume)/Leafeon
Solar Power: Zard*/Heliolisk
Fake Out: Goth/Hitmontop/Ludicolo/Perrserker/Liepard/Pikachu/Raichu/Salazzle/Scrafty
Follow Me: Clefairy(NoFriendGuardYet)/Clefable/Togekiss/Indeedee
Lucario lost Follow Me
Rage Powder: Butterfree/etc
Lucario lost Follow Me
Rage Powder: Butterfree/etc
Competitive: Milotic/Goth
Defiant: Obstagoon/Bisharp/Passimian/Falinks/Braviary*
LR (Lightningrod): Rhyperior/Rhydon/Pincurchin/Togedemaru/Raichu/nonGmaxPika
Flash Fire: Chandy*/Centiskorch/Coalossal
TR Powerhouses + Sleep: Tar/Araq/Rhyperior/Torkoal/Lax/Aboma/Toxtricity/Conkeldurr/Pangoro/Sylveon/Drampa/Mudsdale/Hatterene/Shiinotic
TW Powerhouses + Sleep: Tar/9tales/Zard/Chandelure/Sylveon/Dracovish/Abomasnow/Butterfree
Scrappy/Own Tempo/Inner focus/Oblivious changed to ignore Intimidate
Medium Tier: - Mons that are very rarely great on teams, very niche
Scrappy/Own Tempo/Inner focus/Oblivious changed to ignore Intimidate
Medium Tier: - Mons that are very rarely great on teams, very niche
- Beartic - Has Slush Rush but only decent offense and bad defensive typing
- Boltund - Has Strong Jaw and High Speed but weak and low defenses
- Bronzor - Very weak power and lacks body press
- Centiskorch - Has White Smoke, but bad defensive typing
- Claydol - Not very powerful and bad defensive typing, but has Imprison TR
- Clefable/Clefairy* - Better Follow Me users in theory
- Cloyster - Skill Link is good for countering Sashes but that is about it, with Scarf Jolly
- Cofagrigus - Has TR and Fake Tears, but weak offense
- Dhelmise - It does have 3 Stabs but bad defensive and offensive typing and is slow
- Drifblim - Requires Misty or Psychic Terrain, Dbond nerfed, not very offensive
- Dugtrio - Has Arena Trap, Beat Up, and Ally Switch, but fragile and weak
- Dusknoir - Has TR but weak offense
- Eldegoss - Low offense and relies on Leech Seed, but great ability
- Escavalier - Good in TR but there is Torkoal and a lot of fire mons in general
- Flapple - Decent in TR and if Gravity is up and if Dmaxed
- Flygon - Mediocre stats, very small niche
- Gallade - Weak defenses, can be Intimidated, slow, but has ImprisonTR
- Gardevoir - Outspeeds and Ohkos Dragapult with Timid, but weak offense and defen
- Gengar - Good Offense but fragile
- Gigalith - Usually outclassed by Tar, only one STAB, might be ok on TR
- Goth competitive Imprison - Only has 1 or 2 attacking moves and Competitive might not work
- Hawlucha -Relies on Swagger but can miss, or use WP + priority move
- Heliolisk - Fragile, but powerful in Sun
- Klinkklang - Has Clear Body with TR but only one STAB and not great moves or stats
- Leafeon - Has Chlorophyll, but isn't powerful enough and bad defensive typing
- Linoone-G - Has Parting Shot and Knock Off but bad stats other than Speed
- Machamp - Outclassed by other Fighting types
- Manectric - Weak offense and fragile, but has LR
- Mantine - Good moves and abilities but weak stats
- Obstagoon - Good against Dynamax and Intimidate Lowers, otherwise just OK, with Guts it is OK also but not great
- Octillery - Decent with Specs Spout in TR but that is about it
- Pangoro - Scrappy, but is slow
- Perrserker - At best it is OK in offensive moves and defensive typing
- Pincurchin - Electric Surge is a useful niche, but generally outclassed by Weezing
- Poltageist - Fragile defenses but Shell Smash strategy might work
- Qwilfish - Has intimidate but not great defensive typing or offense
- Raichu - Weak offense and fragile, but has LR
- Rhydon - Not extremely powerful, slow, bad defensive typing, but has Lightningrod
- Ribombee - Might be OK with Sweet Veil and Speed Swap for a specific team
- Sableye - Has prankster but weak offense
- Shedinja - too many things SE it, use Safety Goggles, Soak doesn't work consistently
- Silvally - Requires Type Memory and only has one STAB, maybe useful somehow
- Sirfetch'd - Has Scrappy and unique moves, but fragile and slow
- Steelix - Decent offense and bulk on a TR team
- Stonjourner - slow and only decent offense but decent ability
- Toxtricity - offensive but fragile
- Trevenant - Bad defensive typing, but has TR and decent offense
- Tsareena - Has Queenly Majesty, but doesn't have great offense or support
- Umbreon - with yawn foul play snarl protect/filler, is not very powerful but supportive
Low Tier: - Mons that seem to have no niche or are generally inconsistent/bad on any team
Accelgor - Pretty much ruined from Final Gambit doing half to Dynamax
Aegislash - Doesn't keep defensive form when Dynamaxing Max Guard, stats and KS nerfed
Avalugg - bad defensive typing and slow, not good support moves
Bellossom - Outclassed by Vileplume
Bewear - Outclassed by other Fighting types, Fluffy is not enough of a niche
Crustle - Not powerful enough with Shell Smash and slow
Cursola - Perish Body requires you to attack it with a contact move to activate, not consistent
Cramorant - Ability is decent but even with Coalossal can't make Surf work well
Diggersby - Use Exca or something instead, it is outclassed
Eiscue - Fragile and Gimmicky
Falinks - Not great stats and requires setup
Frosmoth - bad typing
Glalie - Has Inner Focus, but is fragile, slow, and needs a boost to be any good
Grapploct - Octolock sucks as it goes away when it faints so Grapplock is useless
Hitmonchan - Has Inner Focus, but outclassed by other Fighting mons
Hitmonlee - Outclassed by Hawlucha
Malamar - dynamaxing with Max Knuckle or having allies dynamax works against it
Mantine - outclassed by Pelipper
Maractus - Outclassed by other Chlorophyll mons like Leafeon, doesn't get Storm Drain
Morpeko - Too weak and fragile but Aura Wheel is good
Rillaboom with Overgrowth - Bad defensive typing, weak to Intimidate, only one STAB
Salazzle - Doesn't have a good niche, fragile, and only decent offense
Sandaconda - Sand Spit is not as good as Sandstream, outclassed by Tar/Hippo
Sawk - Has Inner Focus, but outclassed by other Fighting mons
Sirfetched - Outclassed by Conk
Stunfisk - ability won't save it and bad movepool
Thievul - Stakeout is unreleased so it is bad, would be kinda bad anyways with its stats
Throh - Has Inner Focus, but outclassed by other Fighting mons
Turtonator - Bad defensive typing, weak offense, try shell trap dynamax move
Type Null - Has weak offense and bad movepool
Weavile - Weak defenses, can be Intimidated, low offense
Aegislash - Doesn't keep defensive form when Dynamaxing Max Guard, stats and KS nerfed
Avalugg - bad defensive typing and slow, not good support moves
Bellossom - Outclassed by Vileplume
Bewear - Outclassed by other Fighting types, Fluffy is not enough of a niche
Crustle - Not powerful enough with Shell Smash and slow
Cursola - Perish Body requires you to attack it with a contact move to activate, not consistent
Cramorant - Ability is decent but even with Coalossal can't make Surf work well
Diggersby - Use Exca or something instead, it is outclassed
Eiscue - Fragile and Gimmicky
Falinks - Not great stats and requires setup
Frosmoth - bad typing
Glalie - Has Inner Focus, but is fragile, slow, and needs a boost to be any good
Grapploct - Octolock sucks as it goes away when it faints so Grapplock is useless
Hitmonchan - Has Inner Focus, but outclassed by other Fighting mons
Hitmonlee - Outclassed by Hawlucha
Malamar - dynamaxing with Max Knuckle or having allies dynamax works against it
Mantine - outclassed by Pelipper
Maractus - Outclassed by other Chlorophyll mons like Leafeon, doesn't get Storm Drain
Morpeko - Too weak and fragile but Aura Wheel is good
Rillaboom with Overgrowth - Bad defensive typing, weak to Intimidate, only one STAB
Salazzle - Doesn't have a good niche, fragile, and only decent offense
Sandaconda - Sand Spit is not as good as Sandstream, outclassed by Tar/Hippo
Sawk - Has Inner Focus, but outclassed by other Fighting mons
Sirfetched - Outclassed by Conk
Stunfisk - ability won't save it and bad movepool
Thievul - Stakeout is unreleased so it is bad, would be kinda bad anyways with its stats
Throh - Has Inner Focus, but outclassed by other Fighting mons
Turtonator - Bad defensive typing, weak offense, try shell trap dynamax move
Type Null - Has weak offense and bad movepool
Weavile - Weak defenses, can be Intimidated, low offense
Turn order changed to where Tailwind, Icy Wind, etc instantly changes turn order mid-turn rather than waiting until turn 2. For example, Tailwind would cause your ally and you to be twice as fast within the same turn that you use it. Whimsicott TW + another mon faster than Exca outside of sand could outspeed Excadrill in Sand when you TW turn 1 for example.
A list of all relevant move changes from Gen 7 to Gen 8 (some stuff left out):
Move mechanics and other threads about SwSh https://www.smogon.com/forums/forums/sword-shield.524/
Dynamax Move Damage Calc: https://pastebin.com/xtLKvTDU
Dynamax Counters: Perish Song, stalling it somehow, dig, fly, phantom force, bounce, Sleep Moves, Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, Dynamaxing, Max Guard, Sub, Protect, Detect, Punishment, Foul Play, Shedinja (safety goggles), Ally Switch, Twave (kinda), Disguise, Ice Face, Storm Drain, Lightningrod, Intimidate, Flash Fire, Water or Volt Absorb, Ignore it and attack their ally, Aurora Veil, Reflect, Light Screen, Growl, Snarl, Struggle Bug, Leer, Octolock, Screech, Fake Tears, Metal Sound, Curse, Calm Mind, Soak to lower their STAB power, Trick or Switcheroo a choice or other bad item like Eject Button, Defiant to counter their boosts, Mirror Armor, Yawn, Spirit Break, Curse (Ghost one), Boost your defenses, Topsy Turvy, Trick lagging tail, Confuse them, Attract, Paralyze them, Psych Up, Eerie Impulse, Unaware Ability, Transform, Ditto (Imposter), behemoth blade, behemoth bash, Dynamax cannon are not BSD legal
*tested these with various people like Sam0el2020 and Glitch22*
Does not work vs Dynamax:
Is bad/unboosted vs Dynamax:
Is bad while dynamaxed:
Still glitched on Showdown: Stalwart not ignoring Ally Switch
Sample Teams:
- Clefable - Ally Switch
- Vileplume - Sludge Wave
- Dugtrio - High Horsepower
- Ninetales-Drought - Encore
- Machamp - Darkest Lariat, Reversal, Cross Poison, Rock Blast, Assurance, High Horsepower
- Galarian Weezing - Sludge Wave
- Rhydon - Heat Crash, High Horsepower, HH
- Rhyperior - Heat Crash, High Horsepower, HH, Body Press
- Top - Drill Run
- Gyarados - Power Whip
- Lapras - Liquidation, HH, Sparkling Aria, Life Dew, Weather Ball
- Leafeon - Solar Blade, no more Knock Off
- Sylveon - Mystical Fire
- Snorlax - Darkest Lariat, Heat Crash, Hydro Pump, Encore, Hammer Arm, Flail, Bite, Gastro Acid, Body Press
- Xatu - Cosmic Power, Baton Pass, Imprison
- Togekiss - Mystical Fire, Ally Switch, Play Rough, Tri Attack, Helping Hand, Life Dew, Helping Hand, Imprison, Body Slam, Amnesia,Uproar
- Galarian Corsola - Hex
- Mamoswine - High Horsepower, Rock Blast, Heavy Slam, Body Press
- Tyranitar - Heavy Slam, High Horsepower, Muddy Water, Body Press, Hydro Pump, Revenge, Rock Blast
- Gardevoir - Mystical Fire
- Ludicolo - Weather Ball, Encore, Muddy Water, Leaf Storm
- Shiftry - Solar Blade, Assurance, Screech, Air Slash, Heat Wave
- Shedinja - Hex
- Sableye - Encore, Helping Hand, Hex, Gyro Ball, Disable, Drain Punch
- Torkoal - Ancient Power, Heat Crash, Body Press, Weather Ball
- Milotic - Weather Ball, Life Dew, Helping Hand, Imprison, Breaking Swipe, Muddy Water
- Gastrodon - Hydro Pump, Weather Ball
- Bronzong - Speed Swap, Weather Ball, Power Swap, Steel Beam, Psychic Terrain, Body Press
- Hippowdon - High Horsepower, Body Press, Amnesia, Heavy Slam
- Abomasnow - Earth Power, Aurora Veil, Leaf Storm, Weather Ball, Icicle Spear
- Rotom - Nasty Plot, Helping Hand, Electric Terrain, Eerie Impulse, Hyper Voice, Stored Power
- Weavile - Psycho Cut, Icicle Spear, Fake Tears
- Gallade - Solar Blade, Reversal, Life Dew, Icy Wind, Revenge
- Musharna - Moonblast
- Excadrill - High Horsepower
- Seismitoad - Liquidation, Power Whip
- Conkeldurr- Close Combat, High Horsepower
- Galarian Darmanitan - Icicle Crash, Reversal, Endure
- Scrafty - Close Combat, Assurance
- Reuniclus - Encore, Hammer Arm, Stored Power, Psychic Terrain, Power Swap, Guard Swap
- Gothitelle - Fake Out, Nasty Plot
- Vanilluxe - Icicle Crash, Hyper Voice, Aurora Veil
- Beartic - Liquidation, Icicle Spear, Heavy Slam, Body Press, Ice Fang
- Jellicent - Destiny Bond
- Accelgor - Reversal, Endure, Drain Punch
- Ferrothorn - Body Press, Assurance
- Bisharp - Screech, Beat Up, Endure
- Braviary - Close Combat, Hurricane, Assurance
- Mandibuzz - Assurance
- Hydreigon - Nasty Plot, Hydro Pump, Dragon Dance
- Malamar - Liquidation, Baton Pass, Disable, Acupressure, Fake Tears, Endure, Future Sight, Nasty Plot, Stored Power, Scary Face
- Pangoro - Darkest Lariat, Close Combat, Reversal, Endure, Circle Throw, Storm Throw
- Hawlucha - Close Combat, Brave Bird, Reversal, Endure, Assurance
- Gourgeist - Mystical Fire, Moonblast, Power Whip, Hex
- Trevenant - Sucker Punch, Disable, Magical Lead, Hex, Endure
- Avalugg - Icicle Spear, High Horsepower, Body Press, Hydro Pump, Heavy Slam
- Goodra - Hydro Pump, Life Dew, Assurance
- Mudsdale - Body Press
- Tsareena - Solar Blade
- Araquanid - Hydro Pump, Bug Buzz, Dive, Endure
- Shiinotic - Pollen Puff, Draining Kiss, Rain Dance, Weather Ball, Endure, Drain Punch, Hyper Beam, Facade
- Oranguru - Encore, Yawn, Last Resort, Hyper Beam, Attract, Imprison, Endure
- Passimian - Assurance, Counter, Revenge, Retaliate, Endure
- Salazzle - Fire Lash, Dragon Dance, Flare Blitz, Endeavor, Beat Up, Cross Poison
- Mimikyu - Hex
- Drampa - Hydro Pump
- Kommo-O - Aura Sphere, Body Press, Clangorous Soul (New Sig), Boomburst
Move mechanics and other threads about SwSh https://www.smogon.com/forums/forums/sword-shield.524/
Dynamax Move Damage Calc: https://pastebin.com/xtLKvTDU
Dynamax Counters: Perish Song, stalling it somehow, dig, fly, phantom force, bounce, Sleep Moves, Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, Dynamaxing, Max Guard, Sub, Protect, Detect, Punishment, Foul Play, Shedinja (safety goggles), Ally Switch, Twave (kinda), Disguise, Ice Face, Storm Drain, Lightningrod, Intimidate, Flash Fire, Water or Volt Absorb, Ignore it and attack their ally, Aurora Veil, Reflect, Light Screen, Growl, Snarl, Struggle Bug, Leer, Octolock, Screech, Fake Tears, Metal Sound, Curse, Calm Mind, Soak to lower their STAB power, Trick or Switcheroo a choice or other bad item like Eject Button, Defiant to counter their boosts, Mirror Armor, Yawn, Spirit Break, Curse (Ghost one), Boost your defenses, Topsy Turvy, Trick lagging tail, Confuse them, Attract, Paralyze them, Psych Up, Eerie Impulse, Unaware Ability, Transform, Ditto (Imposter), behemoth blade, behemoth bash, Dynamax cannon are not BSD legal
*tested these with various people like Sam0el2020 and Glitch22*
Does not work vs Dynamax:
- Destinybond
- Low Kick and other weight-based moves
- Roar/Whirlwind/Red Card
- Raising evasion, since moves always hit while dynamaxed
- Decreasing their accuracy while they are dynamaxed but takes effect after
- Disable
- Encore
- OHKO moves
- Rocky Helmet
- Shield Dust
- Transform/Imposter, but copying the stats works
Is bad/unboosted vs Dynamax:
- Night Shade and other set damage moves
- Leech Seed halved while they are dynamaxed
- Pain Split is based on base HP
- Endeavor (I am told uses original HP tho, will test it)
- Super Fang, but non-damaging moves may be more ideal for chipping Dmax mons, and is based on their base hp (no nature's madness)
- Counter, Mirror Coat, Metal Burst is based on base HP
- Recoiling moves such as Flare Blitz go by Dynamax hp
Is bad while dynamaxed:
- Substitute (It fades if you Dmax the turn after and you don't get it back after Dmax goes away)
- Be switched out by your own Eject Pack when they lower your stats
- Be switched out by your own Eject Button when they attack you (try to use Ebutton with something you won't Dmax to prevent this problem, like Whim)
Can't do while Dynamaxed:
- Use status or non-damaging moves besides Max Guard
- Attack your ally with a Dmax move
- Spread moves
- Secondary Effects of the base move, (for ex. Snipe Shot's Max Geyser acts the same as a regular Max Geyser but the power may be different than from a base move more or less powerful like Hydro Pump)
Still glitched on Showdown: Stalwart not ignoring Ally Switch
Sample Teams:
- https://pokepast.es/6f3b7dfd48e63700 - My top8 Dallas Team
- https://pokepast.es/2a4f739e461b7653 and https://pastebin.com/r7Zp4EM4 - My 1st Place Galar Weekly Pikachu Team
- https://pokepast.es/7fc0f12aa264e402 - Rain Team
- https://pokepast.es/b7827b0e86c004b2 - Tailwind + Gravity Dracozolt
- https://pokepast.es/0ddbe794db1e2859 TR Iron Ball Dracozolt + Gravity
- https://pokepast.es/65ee89e1918abaa3 - Torkoal Vileplume + TR
- https://pokepast.es/61dafa66be11ee9f - Hard TR
- Mr. GX and Koutesh's Teams (that they posted publicly): https://pokepast.es/8b12990958fdfe5f https://pokepast.es/cc06531f5367f1a5
Recharging or other high power moves like Eruption with STAB and high power for Dynamax:
Giga Impact - Braviary/Bewear/Snorlax/Unphezant/Cinccino/Silvally/Type Null/Greedent/Obstagoon/Diggersby/Linoone
Meteor Assault - Sirfetched - Doesn't count since Max Knuckle is 95 power
Hydro Cannon - Inteleon
Blast Burn - Charizard
Hyper Beam - Sylveon(Pixelate)/Drampa/Heliolisk/Silvally/TypeNull
Eruption - Torkoal
Water Spout - Octillery/Wailord/Octillery
SelfDestruct - Snorlax/Silvally
Explosion - Silvally
Head Smash - Drednaw/Sudowoodo/Scrafty(Unstab)
Removed lists (Due to being bad/outclassed):
TW: Mantine - Outclassed by Pelipper/Gyarados or other TWers
Swift Swim: Mantine - Outclassed by Pelipper/Gyarados or other swift swimmers
TR: Aromatisse and Gardy and Xatu - outclassed by Hatterene, Malamar, Jellicent, Gourgeist, /Mr.Mime/Lunatone/Solrock/Trevenant/Cofagrigus/Reuniclus/Sigilyph/Zong/Xatu/Musharna - usually outclassed by Oranguru unless HH/Dusknoir - use Clops instead
Slush Rush: Beartic/Arctovolt/Arctovish - but all are bad
Glitches:
https://github.com/smogon/pokemon-showdown/commits/master - This is where you can view a lot of the updates on Showdown for glitches. https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/bug-reports-v3-read-original-post-before-posting.3634749/page-103 this is where you should read before posting glitches.
Parting Shot vs Defiant activates it twice on Showdown.
Currently Weather Ball's narration as Breakneck Blitz is wrong. Should say for example when Rain is up: "Max Strike Turned into Max Geyser!" or something like that instead. Swamp doesnt work as of march 10, 2020. G-Max Pikachu cannot get Volt Tackle in game according to Metabou.
Dragon Darts might be glitched on PS, it either hits togekiss or checks for immunity then hits its ally twice on PS even if Kiss follow me's (supposed to hit a fairy type like kiss twice). I know for sure darts is glitched vs Indeedee Pikachu since it hits Indeedee and Pika each one time through follow me when it doesn't do that in-game. The glitch seems to ignore follow me in the programming. Yawn also is glitched, bulbapedia says "It will also fail when used on a target under the effect of Safeguard, but a Pokémon that is already drowsy can still fall asleep while under the effect of Safeguard." Sand Spit might be glitched with its interactions with Max Geyser for example activating the sand at the wrong time. Wandering spirit might be glitched. Mimikyu stays in big form after Dynamaxing.