[SIZE=3][B]New Threats to the XY Metagame[/B][/SIZE]

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/681.png[/img] [img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/681-b.png[/img] [B]Aegislash[/B]

Aegislash is probably the single Pokemon that changed the metagame the most. This thing has shaped the metagame by restricting many Pokemon's viability, making Pokemon rise in usage, and by being a glue to many successful teams. Aegislash is one of those Pokemon that fits on most any team. I could list all the Pokemon that will be better now without Aegislash, but that'd eat up this whole paragraph. Aegislash can run many different sets, each capable of beating different things. No Pokemon is capable of countering all of Aegislash's sets, which is why it was banned.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/625.png[/img] [B]Bisharp[/B]

Bisharp was nothing more than another Pokemon in the Underused Metagame in BW2. It rarely ever saw any usage in OU and was never a consideration when team building. XY, however, has granted it many gifts, improving it drastically. The first gift was the Steel type nerf, making Dark and Ghost type moves hit Steel types for neutral damage instead of Steel resisting. The second buff was Knock Off. Knock Off was drastically buffed, with its base power increasing from 20 to 65 + a x1.5 bonus when Knocking Off an item. The last buff, and probably the most important, is the Defog buff. How was Bisharp improved by a move he doesn't get getting better? Defog, which now clears all hazards from the field and lowers opponents' evasion, the latter activates Bisharp's ability, Defiant, giving Bisharp a +2 Attack boost. Bisharp is now very common in OU.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/658.png[/img] [B]Greninja[/B]

Greninja is a very interesting Pokemon, thanks to its amazing ability, Protean, it becomes the same type of the move it is using, giving it STAB on all attacks. This, in association with Greninja's good movepool, give Greninja the ability to come in and severely damage unprepared teams. Offensive teams, in particular, have a lot of trouble handling Greninja. With the right move and prediction, Greninja will be a major threat against any offensive team. Greninja posseses a big threat to many teams lacking a special wall, as some of the only things capable of switching in safely are Chansey and Blissey. AV Kyurem-Black and AV Azumarill are also great ways to handle Greninja.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/036.png[/img] [B]Clefable[/B]

As you could've guessed, the introduction of the Fairy type has created opportunity for many lower tier 'mons to rise to OU. Clefable is one of the most common Fairy types in OU due to its amazing abilities, Unaware and Magic Guard. Unaware grants Clefable the ability to stop set up Pokemon, such as Mega-Tyranitar, Dragonite, Terrakion, other Clefable, and Azumarill. One crippling fact about Unaware Clefable is it is forced to either use Wish + Protect or Moonlight, a move with only 8 PP. Magic Guard Clefable commonly uses the Calm Mind set, allowing it to ignore status that may be inflicted on it from things like Heatran, and set up regardless. Clefable, thanks to its typing, is a great check to many common OU Dragon-, Dark-, and Fighting-Types. Its bulk is lackluster, but its abilities and movepool make up for it.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/184.png[/img] [B]Azumarill[/B]

Azumarill is the Fairy that appreciated its new typing the most. Due to its fantastic typing, it can check a multitude of common threats by itself. It also provides incredible offensive presence, just by clicking Play Rough. Play Rough, thanks to Huge Power and STAB, hits insanely hard, and when paired up with Waterfall, it hits most Pokemon at least neutrally. Azumarill's best set allows it to check almost every special attacker in the game, thanks to Assault Vest. AV Azumarill can tank one special hit from really any OU Pokemon, including LO Thundurus. Azumarill can also run Belly Drum in tandem with Aqua Jet to mitigate Azumarill's low speed, to punch a lot of holes or outright sweep against the right team.



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[SIZE=3][B]Underrated Threats in the XY Metagame[/B][/SIZE]

Everyone knows about the really common Pokemon in OU, like Aegislash, Charizard, Thundurus, Clefable, and more, but what about the less common Pokemon? A lot of Pokemon function very well in OU and don't see high usage. Why? Because they're underrated.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/151.png[/img] [B]Mew[/B]
Usage: 1.34792%
1825 Stats: 2.59690%

Mew was rarely ever seen in early XY, things like Aegislash were huge problems to it. However, Mew has seen a rise in usage as of late, most notably in high level tournament play. Mew's main set allows it to be a major threat to a lot of Pokemon, either by burning physical threats, Knocking Off items, or Taunting stall Pokemon. In the WCOP finals, [URL="http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-ou-16091"]pokeaim used Mew well[/URL], and it did a great job vs Hill. Mew is an amazing Pokemon, thanks to its solid stats and insane movepool. It will naturally have trouble with Fire and Dark types, due to its typing and moveset. Other set options include Swords Dance Mew and Stealth Rock Lead Mew, as both sets can do their jobs quite well with the right matchup.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/660.png[/img] [B]Diggersby[/B]
Usage: 1.62554%
1825 Stats: 2.25100%

Diggersby is a very underrated Pokemon, as it has some great power. Thanks to its typing, it hits every Pokemon neutrally except for Skarmory, Aerodactyl, Air Balloon Steels, and Levitating Ghosts with its STABs alone. Both the Life Orb Swords Dance and Focus Sash Swords Dance sets are great, the former being insanely effective against stall and the latter being very useful vs offense. As a measure of it's ridiculous strength, Life Orb Return 2HKOs Skarmory after a Swords Dance. Choice Scarf Diggersby is another option, as it makes up for Diggersby's mediocre 78 speed. Access to U-Turn, which makes Choice Scarf Diggersby a very viable option.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/641-s.png[/img] [B]Torandus-Therian[/B]
Usage: 0.85344%
1825 Stats: 1.54934%

Tornadus-Therian is very rarely seen on the ladder, as you can see by its usage. What makes Tornadus-T a good Pokemon, though? Torn-T has the ability to check a lot of Pokemon, thanks to its pure Flying typing and its commonly held item, Assault Vest. Torn-T is capable of checking Keldeo, Landorus-I, and Mega Venusaur. Those three Pokemon are incredibly common and being able to take them down using only one team slot is a huge boon. Torn-T has a nice movepool, allowing it to beat a lot of its common checks, like Tyranitar and Heatran, with its coverage moves. Torn-T can also run a Life Orb set (This works best on Rain teams to fire off very powerful Hurricanes with 100% accuracy).

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/214-m.png[/img] [B]Mega Heracross[/B]
Usage: 2.84050%
1825 Stats: 2.21154%

Mega Heracross was very rarely seen in early XY, even though it has the second highest base attack, behind only Mega Mewtwo X. It was seen on gimmick teams, where it would be passed boosts from Scolipede and then sweep with its good coverage and multi-hit moves. Mega Hera is now being used without Quick Pass, running either 4 Attacks or SD + 3 Attacks. It will run SD + 3 Attacks far more often now, as without Aegislash in the meta, it has no need to use Earthquake. Mega Heracross is a fantastic stallbreaker, as it OHKOs Skarmory after a Swords Dance boost and Stealth Rock damage, and can easily take out almost every other common Stall Pokemon.

[img]http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/icon/243.png[/img] [B]Raikou[/B]
Usage: 0.56268%
1825 Stats: 1.66491%

Raikou is another Pokemon with lackluster usage, but a lot of viability. Raikou has two major niches, the first being one of the only counters to Thundurus on offense. The other is being a check to Flying-Types like Talonflame. Raikou is commonly equipped with Assault Vest, allowing it to take Thundurus' moves with ease. Raikou can also carry Leftovers, allowing it to handle Flying types easier an letting it run Calm Mind. However, AV is usually the best set for Raikou, as you need the extra bulk it provides to take hits from powerful special attackers like Thundurus.