Our very own Worlds VGC competitor Mark has sent in this fantastic article to inform us about the coming VG Metagame! Thanks, Mark!
Introduction:
VGC2013 is
very similar to VGC2012, much too similar in my opinion. The only new
additions are the hidden hollow and dream world abilities which were not
released in VGC2012, the new forms of Landorus, Tornadus and Thundurus
and the new move tutor moves. VGC'12 was a great metagame and I hope
this one is just as good.
Top 10 Pokemon of VGC2013
10. Landorus(Theridan form)
For
two years, Landorus was overshadowed by Tornadus and Thundurus because
of their amazing ability, Prankster and their higher speed but now we
have this guy. By far the best Theridan form, Landorus-T will be one of
the most used Pokemon in VGC'13 because of it's intimidate ability and
145 base Attack. It also has decent speed and great moves like
Earthquake, rock slide and U-turn(which works very well with
intimidate). Unfortunately due to the new move tutors making it possibe
for a lot more Pokemon to get ice moves, a lot more Pokemon like
Hitmontop and Scrafty can OHKO it so a Yache berry will definitely be
the most common item on Landorus.
Standard Nature: Adamant
Standard Moveset: - Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-Turn
- Protect
9. Hitmontop
Hitmontop
does what he did in VGC'12: Intimidate + Fake Out then hit hard with
Close Combat, Sucker Punch and Stone Edge. Hitmontop also Great for
keeping Pokemon such as Terrakion, Scrafty and Mamoswine in check.
Cresselia is the best counter to Hitmontop as Psychic/Psyshock is a
guaranteed 2HKO.
Standard Nature: Adamant
Standard Moveset: - Fake Out
- Close Combat
- Wide Guard
- Stone Edge/Sucker Punch
8. Garchomp
Garchomp
is not as good as he was in VGC'12 because of ice punch move tutors but
he still is a powerful Pokemon which can hit Pokemon like Hydreigon,
Heatran and Metagross for huge damage. Garchomp also has a great choice
of abilities: Rough skin which helps deal a little bit of extra damage
when Garchomp has been hit by a Physical attack and Sand Veil which
raises accuracy and increases the opponent's rage stat when sandstorm is
in effect. His best counters are: Mamouswine, Cresselia, Conkeldurr and
anything with Ice Punch.
Standard Nature: Jolly
Standard Moveset: - Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Rock Slide/Substitute
- Protect
7. Hydreigon
Hydreigon's
power was underestimated by some before but after both the seniors and
masters World Championship winning teams containing this Pokemon, people
realised it's full potential. Hydreigon is the best dragon because it
is the bulkiest dragon without an 4x ice weakness and it can take many
Pokemon out in one hit with Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse and it's new
addition: Earth Power. Hydreigon is the only Pokemon that has benefited
from the new move tutors. This guy's best counters are Hitmontop,
Scrafty, Latios and Conkeldurr.
Standard Nature: Modest
Standard Moveset: - Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power/Flamethrower
- Protect
6. Tyranitar
Tyranitar
is a great Pokemon and is used because it is the best counter to
Cresselia. He is also one of the best Pokemon for switch ins on special
moves like Draco Meteor, Heat Wave, Thunderbolt and most neutral and
resisted special attacks. It can withstand all these hits because of
it's rock typing and instant sandstorm. It also can deal with Volcarona,
Thundurus and Zapdos with it's Rock slide. Tyranitar's best counters
are Conkeldurr, Scrafty, Hitmontop and the two physical steel types:
Metagross and Scizor.
Standard Nature: Adamant
Standard Moveset: - Rock Slide
- Crunch
- Low Kick
- Protect
5. Scrafty
Scrafty
has been majorly improved since VGC'12 because of it's new ability;
Intimidate. This ability essentially Makes it a better Hitmontop. It can
fake out, has intimidate and is a fighting type. The things it has over
Hitmontop are it's better defences, healing with drain punch and an
immunity to psychic attacks. The most important of those are it's
immunity to psychic. This lets it hold it's own against Metagross and
become one of the best counters to Cresselia. Scrafty's best counters
are Hitmontop, Conkeldurr and any other fighting types so most Scraftys
will hold a Chople berry.
Standard Nature: Adamant
Standard Moveset: - Drain Punch
- Crunch
- Fake Out
- Protect/Dragon Dance/Bulk Up
4. Thundurus
Thundurus
is arguably the best electric type in the metagame. It has a great
ability in Prankster and it's good bulk let it use multiple priority
thunder waves in every game it is used in. It also has great special
attack and hits very hard with it's thunderbolt. There is not much else
to say about Thundurus as most of Thundurus' greatness has already been
talked about extensively. The best counters to Thundurus are Tyranitar
and Mamoswine.
Standard Nature: Calm
Standard Moveset: - Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power(Ice/Flying)
- Thunder Wave
- Substitute/Taunt
3. Rotom-Wash
Rotom-Wash
is(in my opinion) the best electric type in the metagame. The reason it
is better than Thundurus because it has a great typing which means it
is only weak to grass attacks and it is bulkier. It also hits Tyranitar
very hard with Hydro Pump and can also hit with huge Thunderbolts just
like Thundurus. Rotom-Wash doesn't have many counters but the best ones
are Virizion and most faster Pokemon with a big neutral hit. Most Rotoms
will carry either Sitrus Berry or Water Gem.
Standard Nature: Modest
Standard Moveset: - Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power(Grass)
- Protect
2. Metagross
Metagross
is the best steel type in the Metagame because it has no 4x weakness
and has loads of resistances. It is the best Pokemon for switching in th
e metagame as well since it is resistant to psychic, the most used type
in the metagame. Metagross also has huge attack and can OHKO Hitmontop,
Metagross and Terrakion very easily. The best counters to Metagross are
Landorus-T, Garchomp and Volcarona.
Standard Nature: Adamant
Standard Moveset: - Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt/Ice Punch
- Bullet Punch
- Protect
1. Cresselia
And
the best VGC Pokemon for the second year in a row is Cresselia. Why?,
because it is the bulkiest Pokemon in the metagame and also has the best
selection of support moves to assist your team. It can also deal good
damage with Psyshock and Ice Beam to big metagame Pokemon like Garchomp,
Landorus-T and Hitmontop. Cresselia's best counters are Scizor,
Tyranitar and Scrafty.
Standard Nature: Calm
Standard Moveset: - Psyshock/Ice Beam
- Thunder Wave/Icy Wind/Trickroom
- Helping Hand/ Swagger
- Rest/Icy Wind/Thunder Wave/Trickroom/Helping Hand
Honourable Mentions
11. Scizor
Second best steel type in the metagame and can sweep after swords dance.
12. Latios
A bit frail but one of the biggest hitters in the metagame.
13. Zapdos
Third best electric type. Has heat wave for coverage and Tailwind for support.
14. Heatran
Third best steel type and best fire type in the metagame.
15. Salamence
Great intimidate user and one of the best dragons.
Secret Weapons
These are a few lesser used Pokemon which I consider to have a great niche in the VGC2013 metagame.
Conkeldurr
Conkeldurr
has been greatly improved by the new move tutors in Pokemon Black/White
2 as he now gets Ice Punch which let's him take out many Pokemon such
as Garchomp and Latios in one hit.
Gastrodon
Gastrodon can work in almost any team because of it's great ability in storm drain and good defensive typing.
Excadrill
A brilliant sweeper in sand and excellent typing.
Chandelure
Unpredictable and has huge special attack.
So
there you go. I hope this has been informative and I hope to talk more
about the VGC after winter Regional Championships in the U.S.
-Mark
