Tier List update December 2016

[Blue]

I will announce the Tier list changes of November in this thread.

These changes are made according to the Usage gathered from 5th November - 6th December.

The tables can be seen here: (The cut-off point is 4.36%).

 

A list of this months Tier Changes:

 

Moving up from NU to UU:

Nidoking: 6.72% Usage in Under Used. It will be locked in the UU Tier for two months.

 

Moving down from OU to UU/BL: Quick Banned to Borderline

Rhydon: 2.28% Usage in Over Used. Most likely the result of the Snorlax test ban going on.

Rhydon recently fell below the OU usage cutoff, and the discussion arose as to whether or not it should be tested in UU. However, after months of Rhydon testing in 2015 UU, the TC has a pretty good idea of what to expect from Rhydon and still believes this threat would be a bad fit for the tier. The raw power and revenge killing capabilities of this monster are simply overwhelming. The implementation of the new items like specs, scarf, and LO really haven't had an effect on Rhydon's strength, and would do little to change things this time around. It just has no switch-ins, with incredibly powerful stabs and coverage in earthquake/rock slide or blast, and coverage in megahorn and no recoil double edge patches up any holes that may allow things to find their way in. In addition, it can actually benefit from a life orb to up its damage total even more. Because Rhydon is a case of a pokemon that has already shown to be too much for UU to handle, and not enough has changed to alter that determination, we will not be testing Rhydon in UU. It will immediately take its place in BL.

 

 

Status of Test bans:

 

Kangaskhan (Test ban in UU): Banned to Borderline

Ever since Kangaskhan got test banned, the UU tier has improved competitively in numerous, quantifiable ways. The UU usage table confirms what many had already begun to notice - a flexible UU tier with a lot of teambuilding freedom for its players. We believe that we now have a better tier dynamic. Stall, with its kanga + X + Y cores, is no longer the go-to playstyle, and special walls are easier to break thanks to their exploitable flaws. Simply put, with the most splashable mon in UU history no longer in the picture, people are forced to balance their special wall choice with the particular needs of their team. However, special attackers are still kept in check by viable options in the tier. For these reasons, we've decided to make the Kangaskhan ban permanent, and it will be sent to BL.

 

Snorlax (Test ban in OU): Extended by one month.

During the test ban of Snorlax, you may recall the Tier Council has listed several indicators for an increased health of the OU meta. Most of these indicators have hold true. The usage of uncompetitive strategies sets such as Swagger Jolteon seems to have decreased, but on the flipside of that coin, the usage of Trapinch has increased. 

The amount of Mons in the red zone (>25% Usage) has decreased from 8 to 5, which means there is less centralization.

Due to the fact that Chansey has gained so much usage % and it has now become the go-to Speciall Wall, the Tier Council will keep an eye out on whether or not this is negatively influencing the Tier.

Other noteworthy Usage changes include:

Chansey +13% Flygon +7% Forretress +6% Porygon2 +5%

Skarmory -11% Dusclops -5% Rhydon -4%

 

 

Additional Information:

 

Little Cup Usage shows a surprisingly high usage for Gastly: The Tier Council is going to wait and see whether LC requires more active Tiering and doesn't wish to start a chain reaction of Uber offensive bans in the Tier.

 

 

Thanks to the Tier Council and everyone who has been participating in Official Tournaments and Matchmaking!