Where there are winners, there are also the losers (although it's mean to call them that-- they try. They really do.) NeverUsed is the melting pot of NFE's and underpowered Pokemon where almost anything is viable if you play cleverly. Gen 6 is likely to provide a few drops from RU and a perhaps few straight-to-NU releases:
Potential New NU:
Aromataisse: Being part of the new, vast Fairy crew, there has to be one or two at the bottom of the barrel. Aromataisse, despite having a hideous, nightmare-inducing design, has a few things going for it. Its main flaw; a Base 28 Speed stat which means a Graveler could outspeed it. It has rather decent defensive stats at 101/72/89, and with the ability Aroma Veil it is essentially immune to Taunt (and Attract... Because that's supposed to be scary now). Aromataisse's typing and movepool allow a decent cleric set. Getting a Wish from 101HP is pretty fun especially in NU. Access to Aromatherapy, a rather nice Special movepool (and a base 99 Special Attack to boot) means that the perfumed anteater may be haunting more dreams than just mine (seriously, Hypno is less creepy looking than this thing).
Dedenne: The Electric/Fairy combination may be unique to Dedenne, but this is the only thing impressive about the Raichu clone. Subpar stats everywhere barring Speed, and a rather lacklustre movepool which is unfortunately geared towards its weaker Attack stat means that it isn't going to be making (shock) waves in high tiers anytime soon. To make matters worse, it has 67/57/67 defenses. If this thing survives a single attack it's lucky. Rai-two is definitely nowhere near the viability of the original orange electric mouse.
Carbink: Getting all of the fairies out of the way, Carbink will presumably be a premier defensive Pokemon for Gen 6 NU. Rock/Fairy is an interesting typing, but suffers from 4x Steel weakness (but they're rather sparse in NU) and many x2 weaknesses also. Carbink essentially plays like a Shuckle, setting up rocks with relative ease, and it can also dual-screen well enough also. Sturdy means you can comfortably run Leftovers which you'd need because this thing has no reliable recovery moves. 50/150/150 looks solid on paper but this gem-encrusted lump of rock isn't any defensive behemoth. Still, it does what it needs to do and will play well as a defender in NU.
Furfrou: Yeah, I'm done with the fairies now. Meet the generic Normal-type. Furfrou has an interesting niche as a defensive beast, thanks to the Fur Coat ability, decent 70/60/90 defences and base 102 Speed. It also has access to Cotton Guard to push it to +3 defence quickly-- in NU relative terms, this allows it to survive three Close Combats from Banded Sawk at max defence. Furfrou's main fault, however, is lack of recovery and a rather exposed Special Defence. Its base 80 Attack isn't going to shatter planets but with Sucker Punch, Wild Charge, STAB Return, and so on, it can certainly pick off weak opponents. Furfrou may not even wind up in NU, as it has great skill walling Physical hits, but its low HP and special defense are its downfalls.
Vivillon: I love this bug so much that I doubt it'll be NU, but we'll base its success on Butterfree for example. What sets it apart from its Quiver Dance amigos is Compoundeyes STAB Hurricane (a very nice reference to the Butterfly Effect theory). With a Quiver Dance under your belt you've got quite a force on your hands, even from a base 90 speed and special attack. Its dual STABs in the form of Hurricane and Bug Buzz work well in NU and RU and few resist the combination. Vivillon, however, has all the same problems its fellow butterflies have-- it's frail and almost requires a Sash to function, and has problems dealing with priority. Still, this little papillon will not disappoint.
Meowstic: Meowstic had all the makings of an interesting Pokemon-- two different move sets dependant on gender, and the abilities Prankster and Competitive. Meowstic-M is much more useful than the female: Priority DualScreens, Trick, and Yawn are its most useful tools and give it a unique niche in the game. With 80 Special Attack, Meowstic-F isn't as powerful as she should be for an attacker. That said, access to Calm Mind and Charge Beam, coupled with not-so-bad 74/76/83 defenses and 104 Speed, the problem can be alleviated. Competitive also allows for boosts if an Intimidater switches in, or if Sticky Web is down. But personally I'd pick the male for its supportive role.
Current NU Shakeups:
Assuming that Mega Evolutions are not tiered separately from their base forms, NU loses Mawile, Ampharos, Gardevoir, Kangaskhan, Charizard, Pinsir and Banette (even if only half of these were common, they will be missed). Thanks to Overcoat's new buffs, Mandibuzz is likely to leave too, and Scolipede with Speed Boost is jetting its way out of the tier faster than you can say Megahorn. Exploud and Chatot may also be leaving on account of Boomburst. With so much going and so little entering, NU is changing drastically.
As one example, Sawk finds itself with a lot less power than it did in Gen 5, as the newfound Fairies resist his Close Combat, and can easily KO him with their supereffective STABs. Belly Drum Linoone gets a little better too thanks to Play Rough. Defensively Eviolite users everywhere cry at the thought of a majorly buffed Knock Off, particularly Misdreavus and Metang (who is now weak to Dark). It's safe to say that things in NU are going to get a lot more interesting.
Aside from the listed Pokemon above, what do you think will be leaving NU, and what will be joining the depths of the tiers?
Potential New NU:
Aromataisse: Being part of the new, vast Fairy crew, there has to be one or two at the bottom of the barrel. Aromataisse, despite having a hideous, nightmare-inducing design, has a few things going for it. Its main flaw; a Base 28 Speed stat which means a Graveler could outspeed it. It has rather decent defensive stats at 101/72/89, and with the ability Aroma Veil it is essentially immune to Taunt (and Attract... Because that's supposed to be scary now). Aromataisse's typing and movepool allow a decent cleric set. Getting a Wish from 101HP is pretty fun especially in NU. Access to Aromatherapy, a rather nice Special movepool (and a base 99 Special Attack to boot) means that the perfumed anteater may be haunting more dreams than just mine (seriously, Hypno is less creepy looking than this thing).
Dedenne: The Electric/Fairy combination may be unique to Dedenne, but this is the only thing impressive about the Raichu clone. Subpar stats everywhere barring Speed, and a rather lacklustre movepool which is unfortunately geared towards its weaker Attack stat means that it isn't going to be making (shock) waves in high tiers anytime soon. To make matters worse, it has 67/57/67 defenses. If this thing survives a single attack it's lucky. Rai-two is definitely nowhere near the viability of the original orange electric mouse.
Carbink: Getting all of the fairies out of the way, Carbink will presumably be a premier defensive Pokemon for Gen 6 NU. Rock/Fairy is an interesting typing, but suffers from 4x Steel weakness (but they're rather sparse in NU) and many x2 weaknesses also. Carbink essentially plays like a Shuckle, setting up rocks with relative ease, and it can also dual-screen well enough also. Sturdy means you can comfortably run Leftovers which you'd need because this thing has no reliable recovery moves. 50/150/150 looks solid on paper but this gem-encrusted lump of rock isn't any defensive behemoth. Still, it does what it needs to do and will play well as a defender in NU.
Furfrou: Yeah, I'm done with the fairies now. Meet the generic Normal-type. Furfrou has an interesting niche as a defensive beast, thanks to the Fur Coat ability, decent 70/60/90 defences and base 102 Speed. It also has access to Cotton Guard to push it to +3 defence quickly-- in NU relative terms, this allows it to survive three Close Combats from Banded Sawk at max defence. Furfrou's main fault, however, is lack of recovery and a rather exposed Special Defence. Its base 80 Attack isn't going to shatter planets but with Sucker Punch, Wild Charge, STAB Return, and so on, it can certainly pick off weak opponents. Furfrou may not even wind up in NU, as it has great skill walling Physical hits, but its low HP and special defense are its downfalls.
Vivillon: I love this bug so much that I doubt it'll be NU, but we'll base its success on Butterfree for example. What sets it apart from its Quiver Dance amigos is Compoundeyes STAB Hurricane (a very nice reference to the Butterfly Effect theory). With a Quiver Dance under your belt you've got quite a force on your hands, even from a base 90 speed and special attack. Its dual STABs in the form of Hurricane and Bug Buzz work well in NU and RU and few resist the combination. Vivillon, however, has all the same problems its fellow butterflies have-- it's frail and almost requires a Sash to function, and has problems dealing with priority. Still, this little papillon will not disappoint.
Meowstic: Meowstic had all the makings of an interesting Pokemon-- two different move sets dependant on gender, and the abilities Prankster and Competitive. Meowstic-M is much more useful than the female: Priority DualScreens, Trick, and Yawn are its most useful tools and give it a unique niche in the game. With 80 Special Attack, Meowstic-F isn't as powerful as she should be for an attacker. That said, access to Calm Mind and Charge Beam, coupled with not-so-bad 74/76/83 defenses and 104 Speed, the problem can be alleviated. Competitive also allows for boosts if an Intimidater switches in, or if Sticky Web is down. But personally I'd pick the male for its supportive role.
Current NU Shakeups:
Assuming that Mega Evolutions are not tiered separately from their base forms, NU loses Mawile, Ampharos, Gardevoir, Kangaskhan, Charizard, Pinsir and Banette (even if only half of these were common, they will be missed). Thanks to Overcoat's new buffs, Mandibuzz is likely to leave too, and Scolipede with Speed Boost is jetting its way out of the tier faster than you can say Megahorn. Exploud and Chatot may also be leaving on account of Boomburst. With so much going and so little entering, NU is changing drastically.
As one example, Sawk finds itself with a lot less power than it did in Gen 5, as the newfound Fairies resist his Close Combat, and can easily KO him with their supereffective STABs. Belly Drum Linoone gets a little better too thanks to Play Rough. Defensively Eviolite users everywhere cry at the thought of a majorly buffed Knock Off, particularly Misdreavus and Metang (who is now weak to Dark). It's safe to say that things in NU are going to get a lot more interesting.
Aside from the listed Pokemon above, what do you think will be leaving NU, and what will be joining the depths of the tiers?
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