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The Guide to the Monotype Metagame

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<div class="author">By <a href="/forums/members/langur.241023/">Langur</a>.</div>
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<h2>Introduction</h2>

<p>Hello! Have you ever wandered around Pok&eacute;mon Showdown! looking for some excitement while battling but couldn't seem to find it? Look no more, as I am here to tell you about Monotype! To easily learn how to adapt to the ways of Monotype, stay tuned after our short commercial break to find out!</p>

<h2>How Monotype Works</h2>

<p>Have you wanted to find out how the Other Metagame known as Monotype works? Fret no more, as I'm here to explain it to you! Basically, Monotype is based around all of the Pok&eacute;mon on a team sharing a typing, whether they share a primary typing, secondary typing, or one that is lost due to an ability or Mega Evolution. While there are some challenges to overcome while playing this metagame, it is overall great.</p>

<h2>Creating a Team</h2>

<h3>3 Most Used Types in Monotype</h3>

<ol>
<li>Flying</li>
<ul><li>With it's vast range of selections of typings, stats, and movepools, common Flying-types include Pok&eacute;mon such as Skarmory, Zapdos, and Togekiss.</li></ul>
<li>Steel</li>
<ul><li>With high defenses and coverage against Fairy- and Rock-types, Steel-type Pok&eacute;mon, such as Heatran, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn, come in handy.</li></ul>
<li>Psychic</li>
<ul><li>With a lot of fast physical and special attackers, like Mega Alakazam or Mega Gallade, and a ton of unique type combinations, there are a lot of chances to fool opponents with what kinds of Psychic-types are being used.</li></ul>
</ol>

<p>Whether or not you use one of these three types, be creative! Don't be afraid to show what you can do by yourself!</p>

<h3>How to Prepare Against Offensive Threats</h3>

<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/greninja.gif" />

<strong>Greninja</strong><br />

<p>There is a plethora of offensive threats that can very well demolish a team, Greninja being one of them. There isn't really that much to do about a fast Pok&eacute;mon like Greninja if he has moves that cover a team; however, a priority move, such as Mach Punch, that is super effective against one of his two original types or one of his more common moves, such as Ice Beam and Dark Pulse, can almost always guarantee an OHKO due to its frail defenses. Furthermore, there are always Pok&eacute;mon with Prankster that can prevent Greninja's monstrous Speed from getting in the way, and if it has already changed types, it becomes easier to use a super effective move on Greninja!</p><br />

<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/gallade-mega.gif" />
<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/medicham-mega.gif" />

<strong>Mega Gallade/Medicham</strong><br />

<p>Adding to that pile of threats are Mega Gallade and Mega Medicham. Both of them get boosts to their Attack and Speed, allowing them to become intimidating fast attackers. Mega Gallade has a high base Attack of 165 and beautiful Speed stat of 110 with priority moves such as Shadow Sneak, allowing it to become a high powered, fast threat to various teams. One of the ways to stop this monster is with a fast and/or physically defensive Flying-, Ghost-, or Fairy-type. The same things apply for Mega Medicham, but if a Pok&eacute;mon isn't as fast as Mega Medicham or doesn't have priority, it's (technical) 200 base Attack can almost guarantee an OHKO against the right foe.</p><br />

<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/lopunny-mega.gif" />

<strong>Mega Lopunny</strong><br />

<p>When talking about fast physical attackers, Mega Lopunny a key competitor. With Scrappy, 135 base Speed, 136 base Attack, and High Jump Kick, this thing becomes an immediate threat to any team. Luckily, it has a frail base 65 HP, base 94 Defense, and a base 96 Special Defense, so living a hit from this monster can grant a big opportunity to knock it out; however, it's wide range of moves, including High Jump Kick, Return, Fake Out, and Drain Punch, can allow it to get a handful of damage off while taking damage, and still restore health thanks to the latter.</p>

<h3>Specific Typing Bans</h3>

<p>Even though some Pok&eacute;mon and items aren't banned from Monotype as a whole, they are still banned from certain teams because they can cause that type of team to be too overpowered.</p><br />

<h4>Pok&eacute;mon:</h4>

<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/aegislash.gif" />
<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/genesect.gif" />

<strong>Aegislash and Genesect</strong><br />

<p>Even though these Pok&eacute;mon aren't globally banned, they are not usable on a Steel-type Monotype team. This means that Aegislash is usable on a mono Ghost-type team, and Genesect is still usable on a mono Bug-type team, just not on mono Steel.</p><br />

<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/kyurem-white.gif" />

<strong>Kyurem-White</strong><br />

<p>Kyurem-White isn't too powerful to stay banned, but it is powerful enough to be banished from mono Dragon-type teams, mainly because this, Kyurem-Black, and four other Dragon-types put together are unbelievably powerful.</p><br />

<img src="http://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/shaymin-sky.gif" />

<strong>Shaymin-Sky</strong><br />

<p>Shaymin-Sky is a big threat when it comes to mono Flying-type teams, hence why it's banned. When it comes to mono Flying, combining it with Talonflame and another offensive Pok&eacute;mon, such as Landorus-T, will allow them to cover each other's weaknesses.</p>

<h4>Items:</h4>

<img src="http://www.serebii.net/itemdex/sprites/damprock.png" />

<strong>Damp Rock</strong><br />

<p>This item isn't globally banned; however, it is banned on mono Water-type teams in order to prevent rain teams from having every Pok&eacute;mon be unbelievably fast while also having their Water-type moves doing more damage.</p>

<h3>List of Globally Banned Pok&eacute;mon, Items, and Moves</h3>


<h4>Pokemon:</h4>

<ul>
<li>Arceus</li>
<li>Blaziken</li>
<li>Darkrai</li>
<li>Deoxys</li>
<li>Deoxys-A</li>
<li>Dialga</li>
<li>Giratina</li>
<li>Giratina-O</li>
<li>Groudon</li>
<li>Ho-oh</li>
<li>Kyogre</li>
<li>Mewtwo</li>
<li>Palkia</li>
<li>Rayquaza</li>
<li>Reshiram</li>
<li>Talonflame</li>
<li>Yveltal</li>
<li>Zekrom</li>
</ul>

<h4>Items:</h4>

<ul>
<li>Gengarite</li>
<li>Kangaskhanite</li>
<li>Lucarionite</li>
<li>Salamencite</li>
<li>Soul Dew</li>
</ul>

<h4>Moves:</h4>

<ul>
<li>Double Team</li>
<li>Minimize</li>
<li>Swagger</li>
</ul>

<h2>Making Strategic Calls</h2>

<h3>Predicting Whether or Not the Opponent is Switching</h3>

<p>Even though it might seem difficult to predict your opponent's switch, or lack thereof, it isn't! There are many ways to tell if they're going to switch. To start, there is forcing out. When your Pok&eacute;mon forces out a foe, it threatens the opposing Pok&eacute;mon, causing the opponent to switch the foe out. This can be used in many strategic ways, no matter what the circumstance.</p>

<h3>Overcoming Overpredicting</h3>

<p>You may not want to admit it, but you've overpredicted something at some time. Don't worry! There are plenty of ways to recover from doing so! To start off, say you thought the opponent was going to switch into Pok&eacute;mon A, so you stay in; however, they do not switch Pok&eacute;mon A in, and your Pok&eacute;mon is knocked out. A handful of people get angry and forfeit when this happens, but don't do that! Instead, just switch in another Pok&eacute;mon that can force the foe out into another member of their team.</p>

<h3>Knowing When to Outpredict an Opponent</h3>

<p>It's pretty simple to outpredict your opponent. To begin, you have to know your opponent's team and what they might do to counter yours. They might have a Pok&eacute;mon that has a move that is super effective on one of yours, so they're might switch that in. You can outpredict them by switching into a Pok&eacute;mon that resists or is immune to that move.</p>

<h2>Keeping a High Ladder Ranking</h2>

<p>If you have a high rating on the ladder already, there are some good ways to keep it that way! To start off, you always want to focus on winning games, pretty simple. Besides that, there are always chances that you will go against someone who is higher on the ladder than you. When going against people like this, always try to win! Even if you get defeated, don't sweat it! It will bring down your ladder ranking, but luckily, you can always battle again!</p>

<h3>How to Earn a High Ladder Ranking if You Don't Have One Already</h3>

<p>Even if you don't already have a high ladder ranking, it's fine! It's pretty simple to get up there, so stay calm! To begin, you first need to create a team. Good thing I told you what is/isn't usable in Monotype! After doing that, you need to test your team. It doesn't matter if it's with a friend or on the ladder&mdash;just test it! While doing that, make sure to find flaws in your team and fix them to the best of your ability. After doing this, you should be set to slowly making your way up the ladder, hopefully to the top!</p>

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