Tier
Tiers are an attempt by players to classify Pokémon in a given generation by their utility in competitive battles. They can be found in any game with variable characters, including Pokémon and Super Smash Bros. The classification of Pokémon into tiers can be challenging, as a Pokémon's stats or moves are not the only factor which can impact a match. Combinations of Pokémon, along with player skill and overall strategy, may affect the outcome.
Tiers in Pokémon
Pokémon features hundreds of species available for use in a battle, with great variation in in base stats, movesets, Types, and Abilities. There are multiple tiers - the six most common are listed below. Individual sites, users, or organizations may publish tiers, but the most prominent tier lists are produced by Smogon and Pokémon Online and published on their websites. Tiers for current metagames are updated on a regular basis to reflect the current competitive battling environment; older generations tend to retain the same banlists.
Tier lists are often targets of discussion because there is no "official" tier list for Pokémon. A Pokemon's tier also has the ability to be rather fluid - as strategies evolve, Pokémon may move from one tier to another. However, even official tournaments will present "ban lists" of disallowed Pokémon.
As commonly defined, a "standard" battle allows any Pokémon not listed in the Uber tier. Tiers are 'exclusive' in only one direction; for instance, in a UU battle, Pokemon from tiers above UU (BL, OU, or Uber) are banned, but Pokemon from lower tiers (such as RU or NU) are allowed.
Uber
The Uber tier is effectively a banlist for the OU tier, as "standard" battles include everything in the OU list and below. Pokémon in the Uber tier are deemed too powerful or destabilizing to the metagame to allow. Ubers, if allowed, cause extreme "centralization" of strategies - in other words, it is impossible or very difficult to counter them in a reasonable manner.
The Uber tier may include any Pokémon and tends to include all version mascots except Black Kyurem, which is allowed in standard play (despite being restricted in-game) due to various flaws preventing it from becoming too centralizing. Although many legendary Pokemon reside in the Uber tier, a far larger number exists in lower tiers due to similar inadequacies.
Overused
Overused, commonly abbreviated as "OU", refers to Pokémon that are most frequently used in standard play.
OU status does not have to do with a Pokémon's "power" or "ability". The Pokemon that make up OU, as with all tiers, are determined based on usage. A Pokemon's tier may change from generation to generation. For instance, Magneton is OU in Generation III because it single-handedly eliminates Skarmory, another commonly used Pokémon. In Generation IV, Magnezone, the evolution of Magneton, took Magneton's role in OU due to its superior base stats. If an OU Pokemon is not used enough in the OU tier, it will fall to the UU tier.
Borderline
Pokémon in Borderline, commonly referred to as "BL", are too strong for Underused, but are not sufficiently used in Overused battles. In essence, BL serves a ban list for Underused.
Underused
Underused, commonly referred to as "UU", consists of Pokemon that are not used enough to be in OU. Pokémon classified as UU are often outclassed by Pokemon in higher tiers, possibly as a result of inferior base stats, available moves, or abilities. For example, in Generation V, Machamp fell to UU largely as a result of the introduction of Conkeldurr, which has Mach Punch, Drain Punch, and generally superior base stats. UU Pokémon are occasionally used in OU battles, but most have significantly smaller niches. If a UU Pokemon is not used enough in the UU tier, it will fall to the RU/LU tier.
Borderline 2
Pokémon in Borderline 2, commonly referred to as "BL 2", are too strong for Rarelyused/Littleused, but are not sufficiently used in Underused battles. In essence, BL 2 serves a ban list for Rarelyused/Littleused.
Rarelyused/Littleused
This tier is referred to as either "RU" or "LU". While the name of the tier varies, its "level" is equivalent. The tier consists of Pokemon that are not used enough to be in UU. For example, Escavalier is considered RU in Generation V because it is not used enough in UU battles. If an RU/LU Pokemon is not used enough in the RU/LU tier, it will fall to the NU tier.
Borderline 3
Pokémon in Borderline 3, commonly referred to as "BL 3", are too strong for Neverused, but are not sufficiently used in Rarelyused/Littleused. In essence, BL 3 serves a ban list for Neverused.
Neverused
Neverused, commonly referred to as "NU", consists of Pokemon that are not used enough to be in RU/LU. The name is not literal, stemming from the tiers of Generation I, where Neverused Pokemon had extremely little value in comparison to other, stronger Pokemon. Most novelty Pokémon reside in this tier. Some Pokémon that are pre-evolutions of Pokémon in higher tiers may be classified as NU.
Not Fully Evolved
This tier is more commonly known as "NFE", and as the name implies, contains most Pokémon that have not yet reached their final evolution stage.
Little Cup
- Main article: Little Cup
Little Cup is an entirely separate tier where the lowest evolution of a Pokemon with evolutions is allowed. Examples include Pokémon like Bulbasaur and Mienfoo. Pokémon that do not evolve at all, such as Luvdisc, are not allowed in the tier, and some unevolved Pokémon - for example, Meditite - are deemed too powerful for Little Cup and therefore banned. In this special tier, all Pokemon are required to be level 5 or lower and Berry Juice, Sonicboom, and Dragon Rage are banned.
Tier variations
Some Pokémon are listed in tiers but are sometimes used in competitive play outside of their own tier because they have a change during evolution that modified their disposition enough to allow them to stay competitive, even some in an unevolved state.
- Porygon2, which is due to its evolution, Porygon-Z, having lower Defense and Special Defense, meaning Porygon2 can be used as a wall, while its evolution can not.
- Light Ball holding Pikachu are also due to the Light Ball doubling Pikachu's Attack and Special Attack stats, as well as Pikachu being a very common fan favorite.
- Magneton, as previously stated, is still used in lower tiers because it still carries the ability to trap Steel types with Magnet Pull. It is also used because of its various resistances and high Special Attack. It also has some use in OU battles, as its slightly higher speed than Magnezone allows it to outspeed many OU Pokémon that Magnezone cannot.
- Eviolite, an item that multiplies both defenses of Not Fully Evolved Pokémon by 1.5, has made several other pre-evolutions—such as Gligar, Dusclops, Porygon2 and Chansey—popular in higher tiers, Dusclops even being in higher tiers than its evolution on some tier lists.
External links
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