Tier List

[psidestroyer]

Ok, so you basically train your pokemon in accordance with the tier list. Such as in Over-Used(OU) you could train Infernape to deal with Garchomp and/or Salamence with the move HP(Ice). Is that correct?

Which site has the correct tier listing? Also, do you feel that some pokemon are placed in the wrong tier?

[Cytosine]

Here is the currently accepted Smogon tiers list. (http://www.smogon.com/dp/tiers/)

Quick note on tiers (before Pontus ninjas me):

Ubers is the highest tier. All pokemon are allowed, bar none. Often there is a misconception that only ubers (such as Groudon and Raquaza) can be used. Pokemon such as Metagross and Blissey are also popular. Pokemon listed in this tier may only be used in uber matches.

OU (Overused) is the next tier, the 'Standard' tier in which most battles are conducted. Pokemon listed here may be used in OU and Uber matches but nothing underneath.

BL (Borderline) is the middle tier. More of a faux-tier than anything, there is no BL metagame per se. It serves to balance UU, and the pokemon in this tier are not considered any weaker than in OU, they are separated by usage alone. This means that people who make a 'BL/UU' team or a 'BL' team don't really know what they're talking about. Pokemon listed here may be used in OU and Uber matches, but not anything below.

UU (Underused) is next. This is decided by both useage and strength. Pokemon listed here can be used in UU, OU and Ubers, but not anything underneath.

NU (Neverused) is last. These are pokemon like Beedrill which are almost never used in battles. They may be used in any match.

On the current Smogon tier lists, there are no NUs, as NU has been merged with UU pending separation.

There are also two other 'tiers' listed: Limbo and NFE. Limbo is pokemon which are currently hovering between OU and Ubers. In this case, these are Deoxys-E (Speed form) and Wobbuffet. Both are considered OU by Shoddy (and useable in the ladder); Wobbuffet is Uber at Smogon but Deoxys-E is currently OU.

NFE (non-fully evolved) is for pokemon such as Charmeleon and Chikorita, who are not at their final stages yet. It is to be decided which NFEs should be allowed into UU matches, and which ones are simply watered down versions of their full forms (and so making UU into a mini-OU).

Hope I helped. :^:

EDIT: Forgot to add my personal opinion. I believe most pokemon are currently in the correct tier. IMO Wobbuffet is definitely Uber, and Deoxys-E should stay in OU.

[Chris!]

For all Gamewinners purposes, Wobbufett is Uber while Deoxys-S is probably BL.

Cyto said this perfectly.

Oh, and NFEs in lower tiers have pretty much been determined; they're allowed if different than FEs. Porygon2 is BL, Scyther, Vigoroth, Pikachu, Trapinch, and Clamperl are UU.

[Jeffie!]

Except instead of BL, you prolly mean OU. Because Deoxys would kick BL's ass so hard even if you only let half of him fight.

[psidestroyer]

So if you were to challenge someone to an OU match, and your team were to consist of two OU and four BL pokemon. Would that be acceptable?

[Chris!]

Except instead of BL, you prolly mean OU. Because Deoxys would kick BL's ass so hard even if you only let half of him fight.
As Cyto and by extension I have pointed out, BL is not really a tier. It consists of things at OU strength, but not OU usage. Deoxys-S is BL by usage and even if there were a BL metagame he wouldn't be a complete rapist.

Each tier's metagame only bans the tiers above it.

[Cytosine]

Oh, and NFEs in lower tiers have pretty much been determined; they're allowed if different than FEs. Porygon2 is BL, Scyther, Vigoroth, Pikachu, Trapinch, and Clamperl are UU.

That seems like a good list to me. I thought that might be the basis that they were decided on, I just wasn't sure which ones.

[Chris!]

Rule of thumb: If there's an analysis on Smogon, it's an allowed NFE. Pory2, Pikachu, Scyther, and Vigoroth are actually listed on the tiers; Clamperl and Trapinch aren't as of yet.

[Seerow]

So if you were to challenge someone to an OU match, and your team were to consist of two OU and four BL pokemon. Would that be acceptable?
Yes. Basically, as Cytosine said, BL doesn't have a metagame. In all other tiers, you can use anything from that tier and below, but not anything from any tiers above that tier.