Battle Stadium Series 2 Role Compendium
Here, we'll be doing some light analyses on common and uncommon roles in the metagame, and listing some Pokemon for you to use in said role!
Since things are early for the Series 2 metagame, we won't really divide roles on viability yet beyond what made sense in Series 1. Once things become more clear, we'll divide things into viability too!
ALSO: THIS IS NOT FINISHED YET! THIS IS JUST WHAT WE GOT SO FAR!
Hazards
Stealth Rock
Even in the fast paced world of 3v3, Stealth Rock can make plenty of sense on a team. While setting them up every game isn't a must, they're a huge help against Focus Sash foes and Dragonite alike.
Defensive Stealth Rock Setters
These Pokemon are bulky options that are pretty reliable at getting Stealth Rock up, and even support in other ways.
Likely to be major
Hippowdon
Garchomp
Annihilape
Great Tusk
Clodsire
Tinkaton
Garganacl
Likely to be viable
Iron Treads
Scream Tail
Torkoal
Likely to be niche
Chansey
Tyranitar
Dudunsparce
Orthworm
Mudsdale
Gastrodon
Krookodile
Offensive Stealth Rock Setters
These Pokemon often try to get Stealth Rock up by ANY means necessary, with many of them even using Focus Sash to guarantee it!
Likely to be major
Great Tusk
Garchomp
Glimmora
Likely to be viable
Hydreigon
Kingambit
Likely to be niche
Sandy Shocks
Iron Thorns
Lycanroc-D
Toxic Spikes
Toxic Spikes aren't really too common, and the good absorbers can make it tricky to use. However, it can be devestating against the right match-up, and the Pokemon that use them can do more than just that anyways! You got two categories: Defensive ones, and Offensive ones who just have the option of using Toxic Spikes (but don't always run it). And of course..
Toxic Debris Setter (duh)
Glimmora
Defensive Toxic Spikes Setters
Likely to be major
Clodsire
Likely to be niche
Toxapex
Offensive Toxic Spikes Setters
Likely to be viable
Iron Moth
Meowscarada
Likely to be niche
Gengar
Pincurchin
Spikes
Traditionally, Spikes have been a very rare hazard in Battle Stadium Singles, since they take time to be as effective compared to Stealth Rock, which can be a liability in a 3v3 environment. However, with the rise of Spikes Garchomp, clearly they have worth this generation! Generally, being able to use Stealth Rock as well is prefered, because Stealth Rock + Spikes do a lot of damage together!
The Big One
Garchomp
Other potential, less common users
Clodsire
Glimmora
Likely to be niche
Orthworm
Sandy Shocks
Iron Thorns
Rapid Spin
Back in previous generations, Rapid Spin used to be considered a waste of time, due to the fast paced nature of 3v3. However, with the rise of Spikes Garchomp, and the sheer power of Multiscale Dragonite, Rapid Spin is not as useless as it used to be! Don't expect it to be common, but it's something to keep in mind.
Likely to be major
Great Tusk
Likely to be viable
Iron Treads
Torkoal
Glimmora (Mortal Spin)
Sticky Web
On paper, Sticky Web sounds like it could be quite powerful this generation.., but the distribution is NOT good right now. This is listed more out of obligation than something to prepare for. So if you really want to use Sticky Webs, these are your only options...
The one that might be usable?
Masquerain
Your other sad choices
Spidops
Kricketune
Status, Disruption, and Debuffs
Sleep
Since Battle Stadium Singles does not have Sleep Clause, this is an extremely powerful status!
Spore
It doesn't get much better than Spore, with its wonderful 100% accuracy!
Breloom
Amoonguss
Brute Bonnet
Yawn
Yawn's extra turn doesn't make it great at instant gratification, but its great at forcing switches and its wide learnpool makes it a major move!
Likely to be major
Hippowdon
Dondozo
Skeledirge
Umbreon
Sylveon
Likely to be viable
Torkoal
Clodsire
Likely to be niche
Slowking
Slowbro
Dudunsparce
Houndstone
Hypnosis
The 60% accuracy makes Hypnosis a very risky move, but the speedy Pokemon that can viably use it can be devestating if the lady luck is on their side!
Espathra
Iron Valiant
Gengar
Paralysis
Paralysis is a powerful speed control option that can last the whole match, and it has a fairly wide variety of viable users too!
Thunder Wave
Likely to be major
Dragonite
Gholdengo
Tinkaton
Likely to be viable
Scream Tail
Flutter Mane
Hydreigon
Gengar
Dragapult
Kingambit
Mimikyu
Umbreon
Grimmsnarl
Blissey
Chansey
Likely to be niche
Bellibolt
Gyarados
Pincurchin
Sandy Shocks
Tyranitar
Glare
Not only is Glare more accurate than Thunder Wave, but it hits Ground-types too! But it has a very poor distribution...
The one good Glare user
Dudunsparce
Nuzzle
Since this is an attack, it can break Focus Sash and ignore Taunt! Nuzzle also has a very small distribution, though.
The major user
Pawmot
Other likely very niche users
Toxtricity
Hatterene
Fling + Light Ball
Pikachu? Nah that thing sucks, the real use of Light Ball is to Fling it on foes, paralyzing Ground-types and Gholdengo! Note that Covert Cloak does block this effect though.
Likely to use it
Annihilape
Blissey
Likely to be niche
Garchomp
Garganacl
Krookodile
Burn
Burns are somewhat risky to attempt inflicting since there isn't a 100% reliable way to do so, but halving Attack is so strong that it's worth considering!
Will-O-Wisp
The one status move to inflict burn, though the 85% accuracy can be annoying...
Likely to be major
Skeledirge
Volcarona
Dragapult
Rotom-W
Likely to be viable
Mimikyu
Paldean Tauros-Fire
Slither Wing
Rotom-H
Likely to be niche
Gengar
Ceruledge
Torkoal
Houndstone
Arcanine
Fling + Flame Orb
This is a pretty rare combo, but it does give a few Pokemon a highly unexpected way to burn stuff!
Garganacl
Blissey
Toxic Poisoning
This is a status that wears down foes like no other, but it's extremely limited distribution still makes it rather uncommon.
Toxic
Likely to use it
Clodsire
Toxapex
Unlikely to use it often
Gengar
Glimmora
Fling + Toxic Orb / Poison Barb
Now this is a real rarity, but Fling + Toxic Orb DOES get some surprising status (or Poison Barb if you want regular poison in exchange for not getting status'd lol)
Garganacl
Blissey
Ghost-type Curse
Cutting half your health might make Curse seem like an iffy move on Ghost-types, but it deals so much chip damage it can be worth it, especially if you're trying to sack your Pokemon anyways!
Likely to be major
Mimikyu
Dragapult
Annihilape
Likely to be niche
Skeledirge
Tera Ghost Garganacl
Gengar
Leech Seed
Leech Seed has been an annoying status in the past, but the biggest users of it got smacked by dexit this gen.
Most likely to sometimes use it.
Meowscarada
Uncommon Pokemon that might use it
Scovillain
Arboliva
Taunt
The ability to shut down defense and support Pokemon makes Taunt very valuable!
Likely to be major
Annihilape
Corviknight
Meowscarada
Likely to be viable
Flutter Mane
Roaring Moon
Great Tusk
Iron Bundle
Iron Valiant
Kingambit
Mimikyu
Umbreon
Ceruledge
Gengar
Quaquaval
Hydreigon
Likely to be niche
Tyranitar
Iron Thorns
Gyarados
Krookodile
Encore
Encore has proven itself to be a fairly debilitating move, so be prepared for it!
Likely to be major
Dragonite
Iron Bundle
Scream Tail
Tinkaton
Likely to be viable
Skeledirge
Iron Valiant
Annihilape
Gengar
Quaquaval
Pawmot
Likely to be niche
Sableye
Grafaiai
Trick / Switcheroo
Choice Trick / Switcheroo
This is the bane of defensive Pokemon everywhere!
Likely to be major
Gholdengo
Iron Valiant
Rotom-W
Rotom-H
Mimikyu
Meowscarada
Likely to be niche
Grimmsnarl
Gengar
Scream Tail
Armarouge
Slowking
Slowbro
Houndstone
Trick + Lagging Tail
This rather rare strategy is an interesting alternative to paralysis.
Gholdengo
Blissey
Grimmsnarl
Slowking
Knock Off
Besides being a pretty powerful move, this rare treat is great at removing important items!
Likely to be major
Meowscarada
Great Tusk
Iron Treads
Iron Valiant
Tinkaton
Likely to be niche
Cyclizar
Trapping
Removing the ability to switch is quite powerful! However, the current ways of doing so are a bit limited outside of a few major options.
Trapping Moves
Likely to be major
Dragonite (Fire Spin)
Likely to be viable
Roaring Moon (Jaw Lock + Shed Shell)
Trapping Abilities
You'd think trapping abilities would be REALLY scary, and they are... but the selection is rather limited this generation.
Likely to be niche
Gothitelle (Shadow Tag)
Magnezone (Magnet Pull)
Likely to be VERY rare
Dugtrio (Arena Trap)
Disable
While not common, Disable can be horrifying against Choiced Pokemon, and in general is particularly effective at taking control of a foe.
Likely to be major
Dragapult
Likely to be viable
Scream Tail
Likely to be niche
Iron Valiant
Gengar
Sableye
Cursed Body
Gengar
Dual Screens Dragapult
Speed Debuffs
In the fast paced world of 3v3 battles, speed control attacks can be quite useful!
Likely to be major
Annihilape (Bulldoze, Rock Tomb, Low Sweep)
Breloom (Bulldoze, Rock Tomb)
Glimmora (Mud Shot)
Likely to be viable
Garchomp (Bulldoze, Rock Tomb)
Paldean Tauros-Fire (Rock Tomb)
Hippowdon (Rock Tomb)
Offensive Debuffs
These aren't terribly common, but some Pokemon have good reasons for using it!
Intimidate
This is by far the easiest way to debuff physical attack, even if the selection is not as good as you'd hope right now.
Likely to be viable
Salamence
Paldean Tauros-Fire
Likely to be niche
Gyarados
Paldean Tauros-Water
Krookodile
Chilling Water
This isn't a terribly common move, but it sees a bit of use
Toxapex
Bellibolt
Memento
This is a move to use if you are willing to go all-in on a specific set up for another Pokemon!
Likely to be viable
Glimmora
Gholdengo
Likely to be niche
Pincurchin
Rabsca
Defensive Debuffs
This is not something you'll see a lot of, but there is one interesting example to note!
Acid Spray
Acid Spray won't help you sweep like say, Nasty Plot would, but its secret is that Unaware walls don't really like facing this move!
Likely to be viable
Iron Moth
Likely to be niche
Bellibolt
Stat Removal
These aren't particularly common, but Clear Smog and Haze are good options for the few defensive Pokemon that get them!
Clear Smog
Amoonguss
Haze
Toxapex
Offensive Roles
1-turn Set-up Sweepers
This is exactly what it says on the tin: these are very offensive Pokemon that only need one turn of set up to sweep! Note that some of these Pokemon can actually be bulky sweepers as well.
Speed Boosting
Since these boosts tend to be a bit lighter on the offensive side, a lot of these tend to be more late game sweepers than something you see breaking walls.
Likely to be major
Dragon Dance: Dragonite
Baxcalibur
Dragapult
Roaring Moon
Quiver Dance: Volcarona
Booster Energy: Flutter Mane
Iron Valiant
Roaring Moon
Likely to be viable
Dragon Dance: Salamence
Speed Boost: Calm Mind Espathra
Shell Smash: Cloyster
Speed Boosting Attack: Rapid Spin Great Tusk
Moxie Quaquaval
Trailblaze Brute Bonnet
Likely to be niche
Dragon Dance: Gyarados
Tyranitar
Iron Thorns
Haxorus
Weak Armor: Ceruledge
Armarouge
Booster Energy: Iron Jugulis
Mainly Offensive Boosting
Likely to be major
Swords Dance: Garchomp
Kingambit
Mimikyu
Iron Valiant
Baxcalibur
Nasty Plot: Gholdengo
Rotom-W
Bulk Up: Great Tusk
Calm Mind: Flutter Mane
Likely to be viable
Swords Dance:Scizor
Breloom
Quaquaval
Iron Hands
Nasty Plot: Hydreigon
Bulk Up: Slither Wing
Calm Mind: Iron Valiant
Espathra
Sylveon
Likely to be niche
Swords Dance: Ceruledge
Tinkaton
Gallade
Haxorus
Nasty Plot: Gengar
Bulk Up / Coil: Paldean Tauros-Fire
Paldean Tauros-Water
Dudunsparce
Calm Mind: Armarouge
Dudunsparce
Work Up: Iron Jugulis
Bulky Sweepers
These Pokemon take the tortoise's side: slow and steady set-ups win the race! These Pokemon usually aim to get multiple boosts before they attempt to sweep, thanks to major bulk investment.
Likely to be major
Bulk Up: Annihilape
Great Tusk
Curse: Dondozo
Dragon Dance: Dragonite
Quiver Dance: Volcarona
Iron Defense + Body Press: Corviknight
Garganacl
Attacking move: Skeledirge (Torch Song, and sometimes Flame Charge)
Likely to be viable
Bulk Up: Slither Wing
Quaquaval
Corviknight
Curse: Garganacl
Clodsire
Dragon Dance: Roaring Moon
Calm Mind: Sylveon
Stored Power Espathra
Iron Defense + Body Press: Iron Treads
Iron Hands
Likely to be niche
Bulk Up: Ceruledge
Scream Tail
Curse:Tyranitar
Calm Mind:Blissey
Scream Tail
Gothitelle
Iron Defense + Body Press: Orthworm