Pokemon: Smogon Tiers, Explained
The competitive Pokemon scene is one of the biggest e-sports communities in the world. In August 2022, that community will be gathering in London, England for the annual Pokemon World Championships. Players of the Pokemon video games, trading card game, and spin-offs will compete against each other to become the world's greatest trainers.
Related: Pokemon: The Best Physical Attackers In Competitive Play
However, newcomers to the competitive scene may be confused by talk of the Pokemon Sword & Shield metagame. Through the strategy website Smogon, the competitive metagame is divided into several tiers based on the strength and usage of certain Pokemon. These seven tiers make up the primary Smogon tiers that Pokemon players adhere to in competitive play.
If players are wondering what «PU» stands for, it doesn't. This tier name is a pun that basically means that all Pokemon placed in it, for lack of a better word, stink. These unfortunately include popular, fan-favorite Pokemon like Absol, Gallade, and Charizard. However, it's still a much better tier than most other Pokemon get.
If a Pokemon doesn't have enough strategies to warrant their placement in the PU tier, they are either Untiered. Pokemon that aren't fully evolved also get banned to the NFE tier. However, many Pokemon in either of these tiers are eligible in higher tiers, meaning smart players can get mileage by utilizing a Pokemon that few players come across.
In most Smogon tier lists, only fully-evolved Pokemon (and few unevolved Pokemon) are counted in the tier list. However, even among fully-evolved Pokemon, many are categorized in the NU tier, which designates Pokemon that see minimal to no usage in competitive play. This is often due to a combination of mediocre
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