Metagame Category Swap

zastra

you didn't even notice
is a Tiering Contributor

Re-approved by in the hills and drampa's grandpa | Banner by Swiffix | Concept credit goes to Nitro Indigo

Are there any Pokémon you wish were better offensively, but most of their good moves run off their lower attacking stat? Well, wish no more! In Category Swap, all physical moves are special, and all special moves are physical. Stats still work the same; for example, Salazzle’s Nasty Plot still boosts its base 111 special attack, but now it’s better at using Flare Blitz than Fire Blast.

Banlist
Standard OMs, Sleep Clause Mod
:koraidon: :miraidon: :arceus: :calyrex-ice: :calyrex-shadow: :zacian: :zacian-crowned: :zamazenta-crowned: :dialga: :dialga-origin: :palkia: :palkia-origin::giratina: :giratina-origin: :magearna: :mewtwo: :rayquaza: :groudon: :kyogre: :regieleki: :chi-yu: :landorus::spectrier: :darkrai::iron-valiant:
Koraidon, Miraidon, Arceus (all formes), Calyrex (both formes), Zacian (both formes), Zamazenta-Crowned, Dialga (both formes), Palkia (both formes), Giratina (both formes), Magearna, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre, Regieleki, Chi-Yu, Landorus-I, Spectrier, Darkrai, Iron Valiant
Indigo Disk DLC Additions [NEW]
:Deoxys-Attack: :Deoxys: :Ho-oh: :Kyurem-Black: :Kyurem-White: :Lunala: :Necrozma-Dawn-Wings: :Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: :Reshiram: :Solgaleo: :Zekrom:
Deoxys-Attack, Deoxys-Base, Ho-oh, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem-White, Lunala, Necrozma-Dawn-Wings, Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Reshiram, Solgaleo, Zekrom
  • Arena Trap
  • Shadow Tag
  • Moody
  • Baton Pass
  • Draco Meteor
  • Last Respects
  • Overheat
  • Shed Tail
  • King's Rock
  • Razor Fang

Strategy
A lot of Pokémon gain coverage options, or can finally take advantage of their STAB… while others lose them. Defensive Pokémon and mixed attackers stay mostly the same.
Note: The teambuilder automatically sets a Pokémon’s attack IV to 0 if it knows no physical moves. Since it doesn’t take Category Swap’s mechanics into account, be sure to check your Pokémon’s IVs before entering battles.

  • TBA!

Gyarados @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Hurricane
- Thunderbolt / Thunder
- Dragon Dance

Out of the sample sets in the original thread’s first post, Gyarados is the only one who returns. Hydro Pump is much stronger than Waterfall, and Hurricane is slightly more reliable than Bounce. Use Thunder if you have rain support; use Thunderbolt otherwise.

Roaring Moon @ Booster Energy / Life Orb
Ability: Protosynthesis
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Flamethrower / Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Dragon Pulse

Roaring Moon’s only physical Fire move is Fire Fang, so it can take even more advantage of the sun with its more powerful special Fire moves. With this stat spread, Protosynthesis boosts its attack, but 370 speed + Dragon Dance is nothing to sneeze at. If you’re not too worried about coverage, you could replace one of its attacks with U-Turn. It also learns Hurricane and Hydro Pump, so it could have a niche on rain teams.

Dragapult @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Shadow Ball
- Hydro Pump
- U-turn

Dragapult can now abuse its great special movepool with its higher stat.

Q&A
Do Body Press and Foul Play work the same as usual?
Body Press does, because it substitutes the user's attacking stat for its defense in its damage calculation, but Foul Play now uses the target's special attack. In both cases, they also use the target’s special defense like all formerly-physical moves.

How does Psyshock work?
Psyshock would still calculate damage based on the target’s defense, so there’s no point in using it over any other special-now-physical Psychic move.

What triggers Counter and Mirror Coat?
Those moves check if the opponent used a move tagged as physical or special. Since all damaging moves’ tags are swapped around in this meta, Counter would reflect special-now-physical moves, while Mirror Coat would reflect physical-now-special moves.

Which moves make contact?
Whether a move makes contact or not is independent of whether it's physical or special, so moves that make contact under normal circumstances will still do so here. However, since most contact moves are physical in standard play, this means that Rocky Helmet will punish special attackers more in this meta.

What about burn and confusion?
Burn halves the power of moves that are now physical, while confusion damage is still physical.

How does Tera Blast work?
The same as usual; it becomes the category that corresponds to the higher attack stat. When terastallized, Tera Blast is physical.

Resources

Playability
Gen 9 Category Swap is currently not playable as a ladder on any Showdown server, but you can challenge someone to a match with this command:
/challenge gen9anythinggoes @@@ Standard OMs, Sleep Clause Mod, Category Swap Mod, -Arena Trap, -Moody, -Shadow Tag, -King's Rock, -Razor Fang, -Baton Pass, -Draco Meteor, -Overheat, -Last Respects, -Shed Tail, -Miraidon, -Koraidon, -Arceus, -Calyrex-Shadow, -Calyrex-Ice, -Zacian, -Zacian-Crowned, -Zamazenta-Crowned, -Dialga, -Dialga-Origin, -Palkia, -Palkia-Origin, -Giratina, -Giratina-Origin, -Magearna, -Mewtwo, -Rayquaza, -Groudon, -Kyogre, -Regieleki, -Chi-Yu, -Landorus-base, -Spectrier, -Darkrai, -Iron valiant, -Deoxys-Attack, -Deoxys-Base, -Ho-oh, -Kyurem-Black, -Kyurem-White, -Lunala, -Necrozma-Dawn-Wings, -Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, -Reshiram, -Solgaleo, -Zekrom

Council
:pmd/dragapult: zastra
:pmd/Polteageist: Tea Guzzler
:pmd/Krookodile: Velcroc
:pmd/turtwig: kenn

Changelog
DATE​
UPDATE​
10/11/2023
13/11/2023
19/11/2023
17/12/2023
 
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Tera Blast just uses the higher offense stat, so as far as I'm aware, it should still work the same? Making it be the lower stat seems very silly.

Now for some opening thoughts on a handful new mons.

:sv/meowscarada: SpA of 81 is decent when combined with Flower Trick, but now it can use Nasty Plot to boost it to be (relatively, given Grass's mediocrity) threatening. Special-Now-Physical options aren't bad either, but no Swords Dance hurts the potential of actually using it for anything besides Protean proccing.
:sv/dudunsparce: Coil sets are definitely viable when moves like Thunder, Hurricane, and Boomburst are on the table. Stored Power too if you wanna be funny.
:sv/houndstone: This feels incredibly mediocre in a world where it doesn't get Last Respects. Just send LR to the banlist if that move's the problem, since beyond that, its even remotely viable Special-Now-Physical moves are... Shadow Ball, Tera Blast, and Hyper Beam. Yes, I'm calling HB viable because that's how desperate the thing is.
:sv/glimmora: Switches out its coverage for raw power. Gunk Shot and your choice between Slide/Edge as STAB off of 130 SpA hit hard. Also it can Explode off of that same 130 stat once you're done using it that fight and is the strongest boomer alongside Magnezone.
:sv/chi-yu: Flare Blitz off this thing is one hell of a drug. It only has 55 base HP, which means oof ouch lots of recoil, but it doesn't have any other physical-into-special Fire beyond... Flame Charge.
 
Tera Blast just uses the higher offense stat, so as far as I'm aware, it should still work the same? Making it be the lower stat seems very silly.
Instruct said that on the submission thread, so I've edited the OP to reflect that.

Coil sets are definitely viable when moves like Thunder, Hurricane, and Boomburst are on the table. Stored Power too if you wanna be funny.
That sounds amazing. I think Coil is an underrated move, and Thunder and Hurricane are both affected by Serene Grace.

Also, someone in the Showdown chat told me that you can use Category Swap as a rule when challenging someone. Does anyone know what the exact command is?
 

KaenSoul

FuegoAlma
is a Forum Moderatoris a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a member of the Battle Simulator Staff
Moderator
Also, someone in the Showdown chat told me that you can use Category Swap as a rule when challenging someone. Does anyone know what the exact command is?
To add the Catswap gimmick to any tier, just add category swap mod to the challenge code.
If you want a to challenge them to a regular catswap game just send them this chall code as pm:
/challenge gen9anythinggoes @@@ Standard OMs, Sleep Clause Mod, Category Swap Mod, -Arena Trap, -Moody, -Shadow Tag, -King's Rock, -Baton Pass, -Draco Meteor, -Overheat, -miraidon, -koraidon

By the way, /battlerules list all available rules if you want to mix stuff.

Now to not make this feel like work...
Team I used on today's room tour (it was build in like 4 minutes, don't expect a "good" team)
:meowscarada: :garchomp: :lucario: :grimmsnarl: :gholdengo: :volcarona:
It was a casual thing, but it did win. Gholdengo may not be as good as gold here, but is still nice to be able to shut down defog and protect the screens, there is also very few viable spinners (just MetalDonphanmon really) so hazard stacking seemed like a good idea. The point is, HO looks dumb, I think I won all 3 games by setting up with Volca and then spamming tera leech life, the lack of Heatran just made this thing kind of dumb.
 

zastra

you didn't even notice
is a Tiering Contributor
Anyone want to contribute more sample sets?
posttime!
:sv/ceruledge:
Ceruledge @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Weak Armor
Tera Type: Flying / Grass
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 SpA
- Swords Dance
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute / Tera Blast
Ceruledge now gets a more reliable form of Ghost STAB in Shadow Ball (it no longer has to rely on Ghost Tera Blast and can utilize its Tera to cover for its weaknesses), and Fire Blasts in Sun (which is AMAZING) hurt.

:sv/roaring-moon:
Roaring Moon @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Fire / Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast / Hydro Pump
- Dragon Pulse
- Dragon Dance
It's mentioned in the sample sets, all I have to add is.... this is broken please ban-

:sv/volcarona:
Volcarona @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leech Life
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Quiver Dance
Volcarona is Volcarona, except that it gets BETTER coverage now AND NO Heatran to keep it in check AND benefits from Sun... Also broken please ban-

:sv/gogoat:
Gogoat @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Surf
- Bulk Up
- Milk Drink
- Leaf Storm
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-1722953521

:sv/pawmot:
Pawmot @ Choice Band / Choice Scarf / Leppa Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Electric / Fighting / Ice
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
-Revival Blessing
-Focus Blast
-Thunderbolt / Thunder
-Volt Switch
Revival Blessing

:sv/lucario:
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
Tera Type: Normal / Flying / Ground
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Close Combat
- Meteor Mash / Bullet Punch
- Extreme Speed / Earthquake
Lucario's can now utilize its slightly better offensive stat.

:sv/pelipper:
Pelipper @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
Tera Type: Water / Flying / Ground / Dark
EVs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
- Brave Bird
- Liquidation
- U-turn / Tera Blast
- Knock Off
OFFENSIVE SPECS RAIN BIRB is GREAT, hey, it gets a pivoting move and KNOCK! Funny thing is, it can be run on non-rain teams to beat sun lol.
 
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:Sylveon:
Ability: Pixilate
- Calm Mind
- Trailblaze
- Quick Attack
- Last Resort

All of the Eeveelutions have access to Calm Mind and Last Resort. Last Resort is such a strange move to use, but something like Sylveon would probably really like it. Calm Mind + a now Special Trailblaze, alongside a Special priority move in Quick Attack. Double Edge might be a more reliable choice to use, but Last Resort could be an interesting option for just a bit more power and no recoil.
 
Special thanks to PrincessGardevoir
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Happy this OM's back on the table! Hopefully we get this one as OMotM a bit faster than last generation.

Watchlist:
  • :Houndstone: Even with base 50 special attack, Last Respects at full power can still tear through walls; see the damage calculations below:
252+ SpA Houndstone Last Respects (300 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hatterene: 420-494 (132 - 155.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Completely disagree with the notion of this mon being anywhere on the watchlist. Tyranitar isn't great, nor is Hippowdon, especially since there's no other Sand Rush users in the game (lycanroc is an unmon here.), and without wasting a teamslot on a mon which offers very little outside of Stealth Rocks and being a physical wall respectively, it is terribly slow and terribly weak. Body Press should be useful for smacking Dark types, but you can't afford to invest into it as you need all of the Special Attack and Speed as you can get to not get outsped even in Sand and to actually do damage. Using a (admittedly bulky) Psychic-type weak to Last Respects also really doesn't do the calculation justice.

252+ SpA Houndstone Last Respects vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Garchomp: 339-400 (80.7 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Houndstone Last Respects vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Volcarona: 286-337 (76.6 - 90.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (91.9%-108% with 0 HP, lol)
252+ SpA Houndstone Last Respects vs. 252 HP / 64 SpD Toxapex: 210-247 (69 - 81.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252+ SpA Houndstone Last Respects vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dondozo: 420-495 (83.3 - 98.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Houndstone Last Respects vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Purifying Salt Garganacl: 172-204 (42.5 - 50.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Houndstone Last Respects vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Vessel of Ruin Ting-Lu: 139-164 (27 - 31.9%) -- 38.7% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

It's not that Houndstone isn't scary or a solid win condition - It definitely is, these calcs all barely skirt the line of survivable after any chip damage - but that there's significantly worse around right now, and it's not particularly favorable for Houndstone to gamble on there being no Normal types, Dark types, or Garganacl roaming.

Volcarona should definitely be there instead; the best answer to Volcarona got dexit'd (for the time being anyway), leaving it with no surefire response outside of praying that Garganacl is at high enough HP to eat a Leech Life or two. Almost every source of priority in the game is Special, meaning a Quiver Dancing Volcarona builds up more resistance to revenge killing as it goes. It's frankly insane that it wasn't one of the immediate quickbans.

Anyone want to contribute more sample sets?
Don't mind if I do---

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Garganacl @ Leftovers
Level: 100
Calm Nature
Ability: Purifying Salt
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
- Body Press
- Salt Cure
- Recover
- Iron Defense
Garganacl suffers approximately nothing from Category Swap, although it does miss raw Salt Cure dealing actual damage to opponents. Being a physical and special wall that fears almost nothing from Volcarona, Houndstone, Roaring Moon and more is amazing, and the fewer Water types as Swift Swim was essentially nuked from orbit means it fears little from nonexstent Grass and Water STAB attacks barring the rogue Scovillain.

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Iron Treads @ Leftovers
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earth Power
- Volt Switch
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
Iron Treads, similarly, loses approximately nothing and only has gained. With a physical pivoting move and a great defensive typing, along with good STAB options and Great Tusk having lost all of its coverage, Treads loves being the best spinner around barring Glimmora. Fearing nothing from Glimmora is actually the big thing with treads; Glimmora can do almost no damage to Treads without suiciding with Explosion, Treads is immune to Toxic Spikes, and can infinitely spin on it while also keeping hazards up for itself.

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Iron Hands @ Assault Vest
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Focus Blast
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Fake Out

+3 252+ SpA Volcarona Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Iron Hands: 337-397 (75 - 88.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Beads of Ruin Chi-Yu Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Iron Hands: 165-195 (36.7 - 43.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Beads of Ruin Chi-Yu Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Iron Hands: 270-318 (60.1 - 70.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Sandy Shocks Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Iron Hands: 284-336 (63.2 - 74.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Houndstone Last Respects vs. 0 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Iron Hands: 271-321 (60.3 - 71.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
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Zoroark-hisui suffers from lower bp attack but gains low kick instead of the unrelable focus blast and sucker punch being slightly less common.

Zoroark-Hisui @ life orb/heavy duty boots/choice item
Ability: Illusion
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Body Slam
- Shadow Claw
- Nasty Plot / u-turn
- Low Kick
 

BoingK

back to the lab again
is a Pre-Contributor

Palafin-Hero @ Choice Band / Choice Scarf / Leftovers
Ability: Zero to Hero
Tera Type: Normal / Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Boomburst
- Hydro Pump / Surf
- Grass Knot
- Ice Beam / Bulk Up / Flip Turn / Focus Blast / Aura Sphere
I'm surprised no one's mentioned this fella yet. Boomburst coming off a whopping base 160 attack is very funny, to say the least. Palafin has access to Hydro Pump, and isn't found wanting of coverage either, with Ice Beam, Grass Knot, and Focus Blast (or Aura Sphere if you don't like 10% accurate moves). This dolphin even has the ability to pivot out with Flip Turn or bolster its offenses with Bulk Up. You could slap on a Scarf to fix up its average speed stat or a Band to watch this funny little guy blow up the entire tier. Lefties are probably your best bet on Bulk Up sets: the lack of Drain Punch does hurt a bit. This mon is something to watch out for; I don't think it'll be wildly broken (I'm predicting a huge Sun presence, as well as Palafin getting hard walled by Toxapex and Forretress), but it'll certainly be very good.
 
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BoingK

back to the lab again
is a Pre-Contributor
I don't think it'll be wildly broken (I'm predicting a huge Sun presence, as well as Palafin getting hard walled by Toxapex and Forretress), but it'll certainly be very good.
I'd like to retract my statement please.
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 157-185 (51.6 - 60.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Forretress: 196-232 (55.3 - 65.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Corviknight: 241-285 (60.2 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Garganacl: 414-488 (102.4 - 120.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Iron Hands: 237-279 (46.2 - 54.4%) -- 96.9% chance to 2HKO after 1 layer of Spikes and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Tera Normal Palafin-Hero Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Iron Hands: 300-354 (58.5 - 69.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Pelipper: 211-249 (65.1 - 76.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Tera Normal Palafin-Hero Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Dondozo: 288-339 (57.1 - 67.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Dondozo: 328-388 (65 - 76.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clodsire: 372-438 (80.1 - 94.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clodsire: 289-340 (62.2 - 73.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 226-268 (57.3 - 68%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-Wash: 201-237 (66.1 - 77.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
I think you get the idea (I probably missed some more crucial calcs but this is insane damage nonetheless)
These calcs are for banded Palafin, Bulk Up sets have opportunity to further bolster their damage output to insane levels and nuke the tier (with less prediction once set up) and Scarf sets probably tear apart offense
Might wanna watchlist Palafin
 
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LOrd Fernado

I COULD BE BANNED!
ok so this metagame hasn't been updated for eons and i'm concerned cus this exists
:sv/kommo-o:
Kommo @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Bulletproof / Soundproof
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Fighting / Normal
Jolly Nature
- Clangorus Soul / Belly Drum
- Clanging Scales
- Vacuum Wave
- Aura Sphere / Boomburst
u thought kommo-o couldn't get any scarier with sweeping? THINK AGAIN! +6 Boomburst looks scary as hell ngl
 
It's been a few months, so uh, let's talk about this a bit(?)


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These former 4 are objectively tera sinks that accomplish nothing. Grass Oger is limited to Grass STAB and Tera Blast, and the others are forced to Tera to get their other STAB type. None of them, therefore, are relevant whatsoever, although you could probably try and argue that Leaf Storm Firepon with SD/Encore/Tera Blast could at least try and be viable. Okidogi has Focus Blast. No, not sludge bomb, sludge wave, or even sludge. Just Focus Blast. Sinistcha is also stuck with only Poltergeist for STAB, effectively making it unviable permanently.

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Might actually do something? Trailblaze, Gunk, and a ghost/dark coverage in Poltergeist or Lash Out are pretty much your only options, but if you choose to run Tera Blast, you have SOMETHING at your disposal.

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Objectively worse than base Wake, it's forced to use weaker and riskier STAB options in Liquidation and Outrage to wallbreak, but has gained three terrifying options: Special Knock Off, Special Flip Turn, and Special Aqua Jet. Given that a lot of sun abusers have drastically changed in viability in CS, such as Flutter being stuck with Poltergeist as its only STAB move or Tusk who lost nearly everything, I don't think Wake will do anything if CS ever sees the light of day again.

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Same vein as Wake, you trade a LOT of firepower being forced to run Liquidation for STAB, but you gain two things in return: Special Flip Turn and special Knock Off. Missing out on every coverage move does hurt, but Ogerpon-W effectively does not exist here, so.

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Very, VERY powerful. Remember a year ago, right after SV's release (i think) when I said that Rain was nerfed? Uh no, this thing kinda just deletes stuff. 112 base Atk suddenly does a LOT of work when you aren't forced into taking Wave Crash recoil, and instead of being locked to STAB moves primarily, you can run Ice Beam as strong coverage! ...However, as cool as viable Basculegion is, I think the lack of rain abusers outside of it that are good, limited to Hurricane Dragonite/Salamence, Rain Wake, or maybe Thunder Iron Thorns, I don't think this will be enough.


Ban

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Trade offer: Blood Moon for every coverage move in the game. Nobody likes dealing with Bloodmoon Ursa in OU, and now instead of only having normal and ground coverage, you have Headlong Rush, Body slam, the elemental punches, Hammer Arm, Crunch for air balloon ghosts, Stone Edge, and special Trailblaze. Yeah yikes this thing is insufferable.

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Same case as OU (if you've been following the tiering discussions.) Gliscor objectively is the best spiker in the game, is resistant to every form of chip damage in the game, is worse at handling Knock but not much else. With the sheer power of Rain

:kommo-o: Terrifying for reasons seen above. Physical and Mixed sets all benefit from Terastalization to give you a better typing, incredible coverage, Clangorous Soul. It does everything.







Addendum to the banlist (given Home + DLC dropped)
Arceus (all forms), Calyrex-Shadow, Calyrex-Ice, Chi-Yu, Darkrai, Dialga, Dialga-Origin, Eternatus, Giratina, Giratina-Origin, Groudon, Kyogre, Landoru-I, Magearna, Mewtwo, Palafin (maybe fine?), Palkia-Origin, Rayquaza, Regieleki Spectrier, Volcarona, Zacian, Zacian-C


Reasons for some mons:
Chi-Yu- Needs no introduction, this shit is foul and the fact it wasn't in the banlist months ago is a travesty.
Magearna - In case Stored Power sets weren't strong enough already, it's now Physical on a mon with Shift Gear, physical Draining Kiss, and can still run Special sets with Iron Head, Play Rough, Ice Spiner and/or Brick Break.
Regieleki - It's Atk is as high as its SpAtk. No. If you ban Tera, it's fine.


Potential unbans not listed above:
Darkrai - Completely shit coverage (locked to Poison Jab, Rock Slide and Drain Punch), Hypnosis as its scariest status move, but Nasty Plot Knock Off could be too much?
Iron Bundle- Lost all of its sheer power in freeze dry and hydro in exchange for special Flip Turn and U-Turn. Honestly it's more than fine.
Zamazenta-C- Lost all of its ways to reasonably hit Ghosts, but IronPress is still scary strong and you have Flash Cannon. Probably still fine
 

Attachments

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zastra

you didn't even notice
is a Tiering Contributor
hello! sorry this meta has been so stale. but im finally here with some news.

Firstly, Nitro Indigo has decided to step down from TL and council, and I have stepped up as TL. Thank them for their contributions, and welcome Velcroc to the council!

Secondly, we voted on a bunch of stuff. Full slate:
1699673664096.png


:arceus: :calyrex-ice: :calyrex-shadow: :zacian: :zacian-crowned: :zamazenta-crowned: :dialga: :dialga-origin: :palkia: :palkia-origin: :giratina: :giratina-origin::magearna: :mewtwo: :rayquaza: :groudon: :kyogre: :regieleki: :chi-yu: :landorus:
So Arceus (all formes), Calyrex (both formes), Zacian (both formes), Zamazenta-Crowned, Dialga (both formes), Palkia (both formes), Giratina (both formes), Magearna, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre, Regieleki, Chi-Yu, and Landorus-I have been quickbanned from Category Swap!

Also, Shed Tail and Last Respects are banned!

I'll not post reasonings as these bans are pretty self-explanatory, but if anyone has any questions regarding these feel free to post in this thread / DM me or any council member.

We voted on zamazenta (hero), roaring moon, volcarona, enamorus, ursa-bm and kommo-o, but these ended up not being banned. we have added these mons to the watchlist and will be closely monitoring them. we will take action on them if they prove themselves to be broken on ladder (if / when we get one again someday). terastallization is also something we will be closely monitering, along with mons like palafin, etc. I'll update the OP whenever it's transferred to me. thanks!
[edit 1: updated the OP]

edit 2: please welcome kenn to the council as well!
 
Last edited:
hello! sorry this meta has been so stale. but im finally here with some news.

Firstly, Nitro Indigo has decided to step down from TL and council, and I have stepped up as TL. Thank them for their contributions, and welcome Velcroc to the council!

Secondly, we voted on a bunch of stuff. Full slate:
View attachment 569963

:arceus: :calyrex-ice: :calyrex-shadow: :zacian: :zacian-crowned: :zamazenta-crowned: :dialga: :dialga-origin: :palkia: :palkia-origin: :magearna: :mewtwo: :rayquaza: :groudon: :kyogre: :regieleki: :chi-yu: :landorus:
So Arceus (all formes), Calyrex (both formes), Zacian (both formes), Zamazenta-Crowned, Dialga (both formes), Palkia (both formes), Magearna, Mewtwo, Rayquaza, Groudon, Kyogre, Regieleki, Chi-Yu, and Landorus-I have been quickbanned from Category Swap!
Also, Shed Tail and Last Respects are banned!

I'll not post reasonings as these bans are pretty self-explanatory, but if anyone has any questions regarding these feel free to post in this thread / DM me or any council member.

We voted on zamazenta (hero), roaring moon, volcarona, enamorus, ursa-bm and kommo-o, but these ended up not being banned. we have added these mons to the watchlist and will be closely monitoring them. we will take action on them if they prove themselves to be broken on ladder (if / when we get one again someday). terastallization is also something we will be closely monitering, along with mons like palafin, etc. I'll update the OP whenever it's transferred to me. thanks!
[edit 1: updated the OP]

edit 2: please welcome kenn to the council as well!
Where is Giratina?
 

kenn

Prince of the Halidom
is a Community Contributoris a Battle Simulator Moderator
Hello everyone!
Your wonderful council decided that after some games and a couple room tours that there were some glaring problems still lurking around in Category Swap so we went ahead and voted on a few things!​
zastraTea GuzzlerVelcrockennResult
:Gholdengo:BANABSTAINDNBABSTAIN1-1-2 DNB
:Spectrier:BANBANBANBAN4-0-0 BAN
:Darkrai:BANABSTAINBANBAN3-0-1 BAN
:sv/spectrier:Spectrier and Darkrai are BANNED from Category Swap!:sv/darkrai:
:spectrier:Spectrier:spectrier:
Spectrier has a fantastic base 130 Speed and 145 Special Attack stat as per usual but what really sets it off in Category Swap is access to a way more powerful STAB in Poltergeist alongside some nice coverage such as Stomping Tantrum which would have double damage if Poltergeist were to not hit or fail against a mon that has no item. It also could snowball a little too easily thanks to Chilling Neigh. For these reasons, it was voted unanimously to no longer be allowed in Category Swap.

:darkrai:Darkrai:darkrai:
Darkrai may look like it doesn't have much for Category Swap but it has everything it could want thanks to an actually decent ex-physical movepool ranging from Drain Punch for recovery and Poison Jab for opposing Fairy-types to Knock Off and Sucker Punch as solid STAB options all while being able to boost with Nasty Plot. For those reasons, it was deemed too much and therefore banned from Category Swap!

On that note, as DLC2 is looming, we hope y'all continue or begin to enjoy Category Swap! The council is hard at work to make the OM as fun as it can be!​
 

zastra

you didn't even notice
is a Tiering Contributor
ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Category Swap council presents: The Final Update Before DLC 2.
:gholdengo: :sv/iron-valiant: :zamazenta:
Iron Valiant has been quickbanned from Category Swap!
Full slate:

zastraTea GuzzlerVelcrockennFINAL VERDICT
Iron ValiantBANBANBANBANBAN
GholdengoDNBDNBDNBBANDNB
ZamazentaDNBDNBDNBABSDNB
Iron Valiant distinguishes itself as a terrifying Swords Dance sweeper in CatSwap, gaining all sorts of amazing physical coverage like Moonblast, Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, Psychic, Vacuum Wave, etc. (these are the main ones). Iron Valiant has no trouble breaking past teams as usual answers like Gholdengo and Zapdos get folded by tera electric sets quite easily (booster energy ensures iron valiant is unaffected by Poltergeist). Quark drive+booster energy, paired with its naturally high speed tier, also make revenge killing extremely difficult, and you often have to use faster scarfers like Zamazenta and Iron Bundle to revenge kill it (scarf accomplishes nothing else and they're much better off with some other item), and even then they are not consistent answers as you often have to rely on tera mindgames. We believe its way too unhealthy and overcentralizing for the metagame (forcing use of unorthodox sets or mons), and the best course of action would be to ban it even though dlc is in less than a month (we might consider unbanning it if we see we have enough good checks).

We voted on Gholdengo and Zamazenta too, but we (most of the council members, at least) believe it's too early to ban them. Instead, we are considering action on the move Poltergeist, but its fate would depend on what pokemon DLC 2 gives us.
 

zastra

you didn't even notice
is a Tiering Contributor
1702787100452.png

DLC 2 UPDATE

:Deoxys-Attack: :Deoxys: :Ho-oh: :Kyurem-Black: :Kyurem-White: :Lunala: :Necrozma-Dawn-Wings: :Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: :Reshiram: :Solgaleo: :Zekrom:
These pokemon have been banned from Category Swap! We also voted on Deoxys-Speed and Deoxys-Defense. Results can be found below:

zastraVelcrockennTeaRESULT
:deoxys-speed: Deoxys-S
BAN
DNB
DNB
DNB
DNB
:deoxys-defense: Deoxys-D
DNB
DNB
DNB
DNB
DNB

So, Deoxys-Attack, Deoxys-Base, Ho-oh, Kyurem-Black, Kyurem-White, Lunala, Necrozma-Dawn-Wings, Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, Reshiram, Solgaleo, and Zekrom are now banned. Deoxys-Speed and Deoxys-Defense are free. The fate of Terapagos will be decided soon:tm:, stay tuned.
 

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