Pokémon Counters: Checks & Counter Guides by Format
Find the best checks and counters for top Pokémon across every Smogon tier. Updated monthly from official Smogon usage statistics.
Find the best Pokémon counters for every Smogon format: backed by real battle data, not type-chart guesses. Each format below shows which Pokémon consistently beat or check the biggest threats in competitive play.
Popular current threats
Browse every format and generation
Gen 9
Gen 8
Gen 7
Gen 6
Gen 5
Gen 4
Gen 3
Gen 2
Gen 1
When two Pokémon meet on the ranked ladder, Smogon records the outcome. The KO rate shown here is the percentage of real encounters where the counter forced out or knocked out the target: thousands of actual games distilled into a single reliability number. Use these Pokémon counters to build teams that cover the metagame's top threats.
Pick a format to browse its full threat list. Click any Pokémon to see its top counters ranked by win rate, complete with inline damage calculations and links to teams that run those counters. Use the search bar to jump straight to any Pokémon across all tiers at once. Data refreshes every month when Smogon publishes new stats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Pokémon counters?
A Pokémon counter is a specific Pokémon that can reliably switch into a target and force it out or knock it out. We calculate KO rates from real Smogon ranked ladder data by recording every time two Pokémon face off. This shows which checks actually work in practice, not just on paper.
How are the check percentages calculated?
Each percentage shown is the KO rate: the fraction of real ladder encounters between two Pokémon where the counter either forced a switch (KOed) or was knocked out itself. For example, a +75% KO rate means the counter won the matchup three out of four times. Only matchups with enough encounters to be statistically meaningful are shown. These stats are sourced from Smogon Porygon's match-up data and recalculated every month.
How often are the counter lists updated?
Counter data is regenerated monthly, shortly after Smogon publishes new usage statistics. Each update reflects the current metagame and the latest tier shifts.
How do I use the Pokémon counter search?
Use the search bar to find any Pokémon and see its best checks across all available Smogon tiers. Click a format card to browse the full threat list for a specific tier. Click any Pokémon to see its top counters ranked by KO rate, with damage calculations and teammate data. You can also browse by generation: all the way back to Gen 5.