Pokemon Platinum Metagame Discussion

This thread is focused on the competitive aspects of Platinum.

I've been digging through the Internet and have found many interesting things that will change our metagame. Many powerful Pokemon are getting great new attacks, and the several new Pokemon are sure to spice up this metagame. Lets have a look -



Current Moveset Changes
Blue Signifies Useful Changes for OU




Ominous Wind - Moltres, Suicune, Salamence, Yanmega, Ninetales, Togekiss, Altaria, Vespiquen

Twister - Zapdos, Crobat, Staryu

Air Cutter - Articuno, Zapdos, Drifblim, Altaria, Honchkrow, Yanmega, Vespiquen, Xatu, Mantine, Pelipper, Butterfree, Beautifly, Ledian, Togetic, Masquerain, Mothim

Signal Beam - Articuno, Cresselia, Regice, Magnezone, Glaceon, Espeon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Hypno, Electrode, Manectric, Togekiss, Electivire, Starmie, Slowking, Alakazam, Slowbro, Froslass, Raichu, Jynx, Empoleon, Luxray, Bronzong, Claydol, Mr. Mime, Blastoise, Wormadam

Magnet Rise - Luxray

Earth Power - Regigigas, Whiscash, Quagsire, Swampert, Garchomp, Gastrodon, Torkoal, Torterra

Iron Head - Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Kingdra, Probopass, Magnezone, Mamoswine, Bronzong, Miltank, Gyarados
Steel has crappy coverage, but Kingdra has an even crappier movepool, so Iron Head is welcome.

Icy Wind - Drifblim, Mismagius, Octillery, Shellos, Lanturn, Piloswine

Outrage - Salamence, Flygon, Nidoking, Kingdra, Snorlax, Gyarados, Lapras, Rhydon, Tauros, Marowak, Venusaur
STAB Outrage. Garchomp again?! No, not exactly. Still, this move is an enormous boost for these three Dragons. Although lacking Dragon Dance or Swords Dance, Flygon will still have STAB Earthquake, so he is shaping up to being a more balanced Garchomp. Outrage on Kingdra will be very interesting, I assume this will hugely increase its popularity. Salamence is not as adveresly affected by this, but it is still very welcome to his movepool. It seems that the unique qualities of Dragonite's Dragon Dance+Outrage are a thing of the past.

Superpower - Dragonite, Flareon, Rampardos, Absol, Blaziken, Tyranitar, Snorlax, Mamoswine, Hippowdon, Luxray, Ursaring, Pinsir, Armaldo, Honchkrow, Donphan, Golem
Blaziken now has a more powerful STAB move, but it will unfortunately lower his Attack. This could still be useful on Choice Band sets. Tyranitar no longer needs to rely on Focus Punch, but once again, the lowering of Attack(and in Tyranitar's case), his decent defense is a harsh negative.


Seed Bomb - Donphan, Cradily, Shiftry, Snorlax, Ambipom, Vileplume, Victreebel, Carnivine, Jumpluff
WHY DONPHAN?!

Heat Wave - Zapdos, Togekiss, Crobat
I didn't see this coming at all. Zapdos now has a fun new toy to abuse against Bronzong and the like. And a new move for Nasty Plot Crobat to abuse!

Dive - Politoed, Lanturn, Quagsire, Cloyster, Totodile

Trick - Porygon-Z, Drifblim
One of the main reasons I would use Alakazam over Porygon-Z would be Trick, but now Porygon-Z can swap items with his opponent. Blissey won't have fun with that Choice Scarf, thats for sure!

Zen Headbutt - Bronzong, Claydol, Lapras, Blastoise, Exeggutor, Solrock, Clefable, Medicham, Gallade
Medicham already has Psycho Cut, but the useful Flinch from Zen Headbutt can help against certain Pokemon. Just beware the 90% accuracy.

Gunk Shot - Toxicroak, Slaking, Snorlax, Ambipom, Donphan, Infernape
A very risky 70% accuracy move, but Toxicroak now has a very powerful STAB, especially with a Swords Dance boost. It is just to bad Poison is the worst offensive type in the game.

ThunderPunch - Rampardos, Lucario, Toxicroak, Flygon, Probopass
More reliable Gyarados coverage, 'nuff said. Lucario will benefit least from this, but TPunch does have better accuracy than Stone Edge.


Curse - Steelix
Somebody is leaving UU.


Fire Punch - Rampardos, Probopass

Ice Punch - Lucario, Toxicroak, Floatzel, Probopass, Froslass
Toxicroak is loving Platinum, that is for sure. It is very possible that Flygon will become a popular Pokemon, but much more importantly, Gliscor will no longer be a reliable Lucario counter. This is an enormous boost for Lucario.

Sucker Punch - Shiftry, Froslass, Golem, Skuntank

Aqua Tail - Lapras, Walrein, Drapion, Seviper, Gligar, Quagsire, Salamence, Swampert, Slowbro, Slowking, Armaldo, Rhyperior, Golduck, Tyranitar, Garchomp, Floatzel
The Cursing SlowBro/King sets lacked STAB, and now they have it.

Vacuum Wave - Poliwrath

Knock Off - Toxicroak, Ambipom, Empoleon, Kricketune, Seviper
A useful support move.


Iron Defense - Armaldo

Ancientpower - Bronzor, Probopass, Marshtomp, Lunatone, Regigigas

Mud-Slap - Kricketot

Snore - Burmy

Synthesis - Cherrim

Swift - Chingling, Chatot, Luxray

Bullet Punch - Scizor
STAB and Technician










Shaymin's new Sky Forme has beefed up Stats, and a new typing - Flying/Grass. It sucks defensively, with a Stealth Rock Weakness, a Fire Weakness, and a 4x Ice Weakness, but this Pokemon has very good base stats at -

100/103/75/120/75/127

Uber Discussion will take place at a later date.








Giratina can now be a monster sweeper in Ubers, his Origin Forme has these base stats -

150/120/100/120/100/90




The much discussed Rotom Formes all share the same base stats, which are actually good -

50/65/107/105/107/86











I'll update when I find new things.

Ok a couple things. Damn!Snorlax's a beast! Awww.....they didn't even give Zen Headbutt to mew?(maybe through Move Tutor) With a bunch of new changes coming,could it be possible for Garchomp to move to OU again?Rhyperior...getting along with the water, huh?Probopass+Ice Punch=*shifty eyes*Man...there are many changes and mistakes being undone.

bennet3 wrote:Iron Head - Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Kingdra, Probopass, Magnezone, Mamoswine, Bronzong, Miltank, Gyarados
Steel has crappy coverage, but Kingdra has an even crappier movepool, so Iron Head is welcome.

Heat Wave - Zapdos, Togekiss, Crobat
I didn't see this coming at all. Zapdos now has a fun new toy to abuse against Bronzong and the like. And a new move for Nasty Plot Crobat to abuse!

Curse - Steelix
Somebody is leaving UU.

Ice Punch - Lucario, Toxicroak, Floatzel, Probopass, Froslass
Toxicroak is loving Platinum, that is for sure. It is very possible that Flygon will become a popular Pokemon, but much more importantly, Gliscor will no longer be a reliable Lucario counter. This is an enormous boost for Lucario.

Bullet Punch - Scizor
STAB and Technician



Shaymin's new Sky Forme has beefed up Stats, and a new typing - Flying/Grass. It sucks defensively, with a Stealth Rock Weakness, a Fire Weakness, and a 4x Ice Weakness, but this Pokemon has very good base stats at -

100/103/75/120/75/127

Uber Discussion will take place at a later date.

Iron Head on Kingdra isn't really Meta game changing as Waterfall (and now Outrage) has better type coverage, power (STAB) and accuracy.

IMO Togekiss will like Heat Wave.

I think Steelix will stay UU as its sp.def and speed are low enough for it to be killed by something strong IIRC (curse the first turn, killed the next before it'll do anything). Toxicroak may be leaving UU instead.

IMO Extreme Speed, Close Combat, Swords Dance, Ice punch Lucario may be a candidate for Uber. <_<

Bullet punch will only realy replace quick attack on some movesets, (not all as you'll be attacking with a steel type).


Skymin looks like it could go either way with its tier placement, it has decent Attack as well as it's Sp.Attack, its Speed is higher than Weavile/ Swellow's and its defences are almost the same as Azumarill's, If it wasn't for the typing it would definately be Uber IMO (I think it still will if it has an Attack/ Sp.Attack boosting move).

I don't see how Lucario with Ice Punch would make it uber. Lucario is better with Crunch to take ghost types out easily. And a lot can outspeed and survive an Extremespeed and KO.

Yeah there really isn't any point for Lucario to be Uber just because of ice punch.Besides,it doesn't receive STAB.(barring any items that'll increase its attack) Plus, it would have to either withstand an attack or avoid being hit and then use SD for it to start performing it's attacks into a successful sweep.

Ghost42 wrote:Skymin looks like it could go either way with its tier placement, it has decent Attack as well as it's Sp.Attack, its Speed is higher than Weavile/ Swellow's and its defences are almost the same as Azumarill's, If it wasn't for the typing it would definately be Uber IMO (I think it still will if it has an Attack/ Sp.Attack boosting move).

Garchomp also has a x4 weakness to Ice but it's uber, Skymin is better than Chomp, higher speed and special attack. Give it a Yache and it's almost impossible to take out, nothing can switch into it since Seed flare is STAB and has a 80% chance of lowering SP defense, not to forgot Air slash's 60% chance of flinch rate.

If it's something then it will be atleast Uber, if not then it will be banned on wifi.

Fan1 wrote:

Ghost42 wrote:Skymin looks like it could go either way with its tier placement, it has decent Attack as well as it's Sp.Attack, its Speed is higher than Weavile/ Swellow's and its defences are almost the same as Azumarill's, If it wasn't for the typing it would definately be Uber IMO (I think it still will if it has an Attack/ Sp.Attack boosting move).

Garchomp also has a x4 weakness to Ice but it's uber, Skymin is better than Chomp, higher speed and special attack. Give it a Yache and it's almost impossible to take out, nothing can switch into it since Seed flare is STAB and has a 80% chance of lowering SP defense, not to forgot Air slash's 60% chance of flinch rate.

If it's something then it will be atleast Uber, if not then it will be banned on wifi.

It's more like 68%. Seed Flare has 85% accuracy iirc, same thing with Air Slash, accuracy drops the percentage to 57%. That doesn't mean that it isn't extremely overpowered though, and personally I agree with fan; this is an uber tier pokemon at the very least.

Fan1 wrote:

Ghost42 wrote:Skymin looks like it could go either way with its tier placement, it has decent Attack as well as it's Sp.Attack, its Speed is higher than Weavile/ Swellow's and its defences are almost the same as Azumarill's, If it wasn't for the typing it would definately be Uber IMO (I think it still will if it has an Attack/ Sp.Attack boosting move).

Garchomp also has a x4 weakness to Ice but it's uber, Skymin is better than Chomp, higher speed and special attack. Give it a Yache and it's almost impossible to take out, nothing can switch into it since Seed flare is STAB and has a 80% chance of lowering SP defense, not to forgot Air slash's 60% chance of flinch rate.

If it's something then it will be atleast Uber, if not then it will be banned on wifi.

Chomp doesn't have a weakness to SR and has a method for dealing with steel types (IDK Skymin's new moves so I'm not sure if it can hurt steels much).

I do think it is likely going to be Uber, but it isn't guaranteed.



As for Lucario, the only thing Crunch will hurt more than Ice Punch/ CC is Dusknoir (since it is the only Ghost that can take a physical hit IIRC) where as Ice Punch will be better for defensive grounds (Gliscore, Hippodon etc).

Ice Punch is put on it so its old counter gliscor thinks twice before switching in.

bennet3 wrote:Ice Punch is put on it so its old counter gliscor thinks twice before switching in.

Ice Punch will have to be given over Extremespeed/Crunch with CC and SD the main priorities of the moveset, if that happens then anything faster can take advantage of Lucario [If it's been given over Extremespeed] and if it's over Crunch then it has a problem with Ghost and Dark types.

Fan1 wrote:

bennet3 wrote:Ice Punch is put on it so its old counter gliscor thinks twice before switching in.

Ice Punch will have to be given over Extremespeed/Crunch with CC and SD the main priorities of the moveset, if that happens then anything faster can take advantage of Lucario [If it's been given over Extremespeed] and if it's over Crunch then it has a problem with Ghost and Dark types.

Crunch is bad against Dark types. <_<
The only thing Crunch will be more effective against than Ice punch will be Dusknoir (maybe a physicaly defensive Spiritomb), since other Ghosts will be OHKOed against either.

Ghost and Psychic*

... Such as Azelf and Cresselia.

I presume you mean Uxie (considering Azelf's defences).

I admit I did forget about the defensive psychics.