Pokemon Tier List

Competitive Battling Tiers

When it comes to Competitive Battling in the Mainstream Pokemon Games, there are specific classes, called tiers, that each Pokemon falls into. These categories are based upon how good the Pokemon are and how often they are seen in battle, and it's these given types of tiers that many players challenge each other to battle in. Each given tier has a specific Pokemon that are found within them; however, Pokemon from lower tiers can also be used in upper tiers (just not the other way around). There are presently nine different tiers in the Competitive Pokemon Battling World of the 7th Generation: Anything Goes (AG), Uber, OU (OverUsed), BL (Borderline), UU (UnderUsed), BL2 (Borderline 2), RU (RarelyUsed), NU (NeverUsed), and PU. (Any Pokemon not listed in these Tiers are designated as NFE (Never Fully Evolved.)

Anything Goes (AG) Tier

As the title may explain, this tier allows any Pokemon to be used in battle. Any Pokemon from the tiers below it can be used here, as well as any and all items. However, there is one Pokemon that can only be used in here; in a sense, this Pokemon is banned for only use in the Anything Goes Tier because of how overpowered it is compared to all other Pokemon.

AG Tier Pokemon: Mega Rayquaza

Uber Tier

The Uber Tier in Competitive Battling is full of Pokemon that are yet still too strong for the most common tier of OverUsed. Primarily, this tier is mainly composed of Legends and Mega Evolutions that are way too powerful for the lower tiers below it. However, there are a few regular Pokemon found within the Uber Tier because their ability or movepool or a combination of both sees them being fit for only this tier.

Uber Tier Pokemon: Aegislash (All Forms), Arceus (All Forms), Blaziken, Darkrai, Deoxys (All Forms), Dialga, Genesect, Mega Gengar, Giratina (All Forms), Groudon, Primal Groudon, Ho-Oh, Mega Kangaskhan, Kyogre, Primal Kyogre, White Kyurem, Landorus, Mega Lucario, Lugia, Lunala, Mega Metagross, Mewtwo, Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Mewtwo Y, Palkia, Pheromosa, Rayquaza, Reshiram, Mega Salamence, Shaymin Sky Form, Solgaleo, Xerneas, Yveltal, Zekrom, Zygarde Complete Form

OverUsed (OU) Tier

The OverUsed Tier (commonly referred to as OU) is the main, fundamental usage-based tier. These Pokemon are the most used Pokemon in all of the Meta Game, primarily because of the strength they possess. They are the strongest Pokemon found in all of battling, outside of the "too strong" Ubers, and have been deemed as OU based on a council of highly respected experts of Pokemon. OU Pokemon can be used in tiers above it (AG & Uber), but they cannot be used in tiers below it. Uber Tier Mega Stones are restricted from this tier, and so are the abilities of Moody, Power Construct and Shadow Tag.

OU Tier Pokemon: Mega Alakazam, Mega Audino, Mega Beedrill, Buzzwole, Celesteela, Chansey, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, Dugtrio, Excadrill, Ferrothorn, Garchomp, Mega Garchomp, Greninja, Ash-Greninja, Mega Gyarados, Heatran, Mega Heracross, Hoopa Unbound, Mega Houndoom, Jirachi, Kartana, Landorus Therian, Latios, Magearna, Magnezone, Mamoswine, Manaphy, Alolan Marowak, Mega Mawile, Mega Medicham, Mimikyu, Alolan Muk, Nihilego, Pelipper, Mega Pidgeot, Mega Pinsir, Rotom Wash Form, Mega Sableye, Salamence, Mega Scizor, Scolipede, Skarmory, Mega Steelix, Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, Tapu Fini, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Toxapex, Tyranitar, Mega Venusaur, Volcanrona, Xurkitree, Zapdos, Zygarde

Borderline (BL) Tier

Pokemon that are stuck within the Borderline (BL) Tier are too good for the UnderUsed Tier, yet are still too weak for OverUsed Tier. These Pokemon can be used in the BL Tier going upward - including OU, Uber & AG - but they can't be used in UU or any tiers below it.

BL Tier Pokemon: Alakazam, Azumarill, Breloom, Diggersby, Dragonite, Gyarados, Black Kyurem, Porygon-Z, Superior, Mega Slowbro, Staraptor, Thundurus, Thundurus Therian Form, Tornadus Therian Form, Victini, Weavile

UnderUsed (UU) Tier

Just below both the OverUsed and Borderline Tiers is the UnderUsed (UU) Tier. The UU Tier is full of Pokemon that are far too well off for the lower Pokemon Tiers, but ones that still come up short on reaching the better Battling Tiers. These Pokemon can still be used in those upper tiers, but because there is a drop-off with their strength and abilities, they are better suited to remain in the UU Tier. The move Baton Pass is also banned in the UnderUsed Tier.

UU Tier Pokemon: Mega Absol, Mega Aerodactyl, Alomomola, Amoonguss, Arcanine, Azelf, Bisharp, Mega Blastoise, Blissey, Celebi, Chandelure, Clefable, Cobalion, Conkeldurr, Crobat, Darmanitan (All Forms), Decidueye, Empoleon, Entei, Forretress, Gengar, Gliscor, Haxorus, Hippowdon, Hydreigon, Infernape, Keldeo, Klefki, Krookodile, Latias, Magneton, Mandibuzz, Metagross, Mew, Mienshao, Nidoking, Alolan Ninetales, Primarina, Raikou, Scizor, Mega Sharpedo, Starmie, Swampert, Sylveon, Tentacruel, Terrakion, Togekiss, Tsareena, Volcanion, Zygarde 10% Form

Borderline 2 (BL2) Tier

Much like the BL Tier that is sandwitched between the OU and UU Tier, there is a second Borderline Tier (called BL2) located between the UU and RU Tiers. Pokemon found here are too strong for the RarelyUsed Tier, but are still too weak to be deemed worthy of the UnderUsed Tier.

BL2 Tier Pokemon: Bewear, Crawdaunt, Hawlucha, Kyurem, Lucario, Suicune, Talonflame, Tornadus, Venomoth

RarelyUsed (RU) Tier

The Rarely Used (RU) Tier is the Third Usage-Based Tier, but it's usually considered the highest of the lower-rung tiers by most players. This Tier is one of the largest, being composed of all the Pokemon that failed to be recognized as strong enough for the UnderUsed Tier and above. Baton Pass is still banned from usage in this tier.

RU Tier Pokemon: Aerodactyl, Araquanid, Blastoise, Bronzong, Bruxish, Chesnaught, Cloyster, Comfey, Cresselia, Dhelmise, Diancie, Donphan, Doublade, Durant, Escavalier, Espeon, Feraligatr, Florges, Flygon, Froslass, Galvantula, Gardevoir, Gigalith, Mega Glalie, Gligar, Golisopod, Goodra, Heliolisk, Heracross, Honchkrow, Hoopa, Jellicent, Jolteon, Kommo-o, Linoone, Mantine, Milotic, Nidoqueen, Registeel, Reuniclus, Rhyperio, Roserade, Rotomo Heat Form, Salazzle, Sharpedo, Shaymin, Snorlax, Swellow, Torkoal, Umbreon, Venusaur, Zoroark

NeverUsed (NU) Tier

The next lowest Tier after the RarelyUsed Tier is the NeverUsed (NU) Tier. These Pokemon don't have much value in the Battling Scene of Pokemon, not even being strong enough for the RU Tier, but sometimes can be improved and used with a gimmick moveset.

NU Tier Pokemon; Abomasnow, Absol, Accelgor, Aggron, Ambipom, Archeops, Aromatisse, Aurorus, Barbaracle, Braviary, Charizard, Cinccino, Clawitzer, Claydol, Cofagrigus, Crabominable, Cradily, Delphox, Dodrio, Dragalge, Drampa, Drapion, Druddigon, Alolan Dugtrio, Eelektross, Electivire, Emboar, Alolan Exeggutor, Exploud, Gallade, Garbodor, Gastrodon, Alolan Golem, Golurk, Granbull, Gumshoos, Guzzlord, Hariyama, Hitmonchan, Chitmonlee, Hitmontop, Houndoom, Incineroar, Jynx, Kabutops, Kangaskhan, Kecleon, Kingdra, Klinklang, Komala, Lanturn, Liepard, Lilligant, Ludicolo, Lurantis, Lycanroc, Lycanroc Midnight Form, Machamp, Magmortar, Malamar, Manetric, Medicham, Meloetta (All Forms), Mesprit, Miltank, Minior, Mismagius, Moltres, Mudsdale, Necrozma, Ninetales, Noivern, Omastar, Oranguru, Oricorio (All Forms), Palossand, Pangoro, Passimian, Alolan Persian, Pinsir, Politoed, Poliwrath, Primeape, Pyroar, Pyukumuku, Qwilfish, Alolan Raichu, Alolan Raticate, Regirock, Ribombee, Rotom, Rotom Mow Form, Sableye, Samurott, Sandslash, Alolan Sandslash, Sawk, Sceptile, Scrafty, Seismitoad, Shiftry, Shiinotic, Shuckle, Sigilyph, Silvally (All Forms), Skuntank, Slowbro, Slowking, Slurpuff, Spiritomb, Steelix, Tauros, Togedemaru, Torterra, Toucannon, Toxicroak, Turtonator, Typhlosion, Tyrantrum, Uxie, Vaporeon, Vikavolt, Vileplume, Virizion, Vivillon, Weezing, Whimsicott, Wishiwashi (All Forms), Xatu, Yanmega, Zangoose

PU Tier

The final and lowest tier is called the PU Tier. Unlike all the other Tiers, this one isn't abbreviated as anything. PU, in the easiest way to put this, is a joke for just how bad these Pokemon are. These Pokemon really have no use being used in competitive battling.

PU Tier Pokemon: Altaria, Ampharos, Arbok, Ariados, Armaldo, Articuno, Audino, Avalugg, Banette, Basculin, Bastiodon, Beartic, Beautifly, Beedrill, Beheeyem, Bellossom, Bibarel, Bouffalant, Butterfree, Cacturne, Camerupt, Carbink, Carnivine, Carracosta, Castform, Chatot, Cherrim, Chimecho, Corsola, Crustle, Cryogonal, Dedenne, Delcatty, Delibird, Dewgong, Ditto, Drifblim, Dunsparce, Dusknoir, Dustox, Electrode, Emolga, Exeggutor, Farfetch'd, Fearow, Flareon, Floatzel, Furfrou, Furret, Girafarig, Glaceon, Glalie, Gogoat, Golduck, Golem, Gorebyss, Gothitelle, Gourgeist (All Forms), Grumpig, Heatmor, Huntail, Hypno, Illumise, Jumpluff, Kingler, Kricketune, Lapras, Leafeon, Leavanny, Ledian, Lickilicky, Lopunny, Lumineon, Lunastone, Luvdisc, Luxray, Magcargo, Maractus, Marowak, Masquerain, Mawile, Meganium, Meowstic (All Forms), Mightyena, Minun, Mothim, Mr. Mime, Muk, Musharna, Ninjask, Noctowl, Octillery, Pachirisu, Parasect, Persian, Phione, Pidgeot, Plusle, Probopass, Purugly, Quagsire, Raichu, Rampardos, Rapidash, Raticate, Regice, Regigigas, Relicanth, Rotom Fan Form, Rotom Frost Form, Sawsbuck, Seaking, Seviper, Shedinja, Simipour, Simisage, Simisear, Slaking, Smeargle, Solrock, Spinda, Stantler, Stoutland, Stunfisk, Sudowoodo, Sunflora, Swalot, Swanna, Swoobat, Throh, Trevenant, Tropius, Unfezant, Unown, Ursaring, Vanilluxe, Vespiquen, Victreebel, Volbeat, Wailord, Walrein, Watchog, Whiscash, Wigglytuff, Wobbuffet, Wormadam (All Forms), Zebstrika