Is Politoed viable in Gen 5 OU?

Politoed is ranked #7 in Gen 5 OU with 25.32% usage according to Smogon Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 data.

What beats Politoed in Gen 5 OU?

Latios has the strongest conservative score in this observed Jul 2026 - Sep 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 57.3% of 81.81688396252623 relevant encounters. Standard error is 5.5 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Politoed matchup checks ranked in Gen 5 OU?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Politoed was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Politoed counters

Gen 5 OU · Smogon source period Jul 2026 - Sep 2026

#0186 Politoed

Water

USAGE 25.3% #7

ABILITYDrizzle

BASE STATS

HP 90

ATK 75

DEF 75

SPA 90

SPD 100

SPE 70

BST500

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

ElectricGrass

½×

FireWaterIceSteel

Moves

Encore 79.9% Scald 70.5% Protect 51.5% Toxic 50.2% Ice Beam 48.0% Hydro Pump 32.0% Surf 22.2% Hidden Power Grass 12.2%

Items

Leftovers 52.0% Choice Scarf 25.9% Choice Specs 12.4% Chesto Berry 4.4% Eject Button 3.6% Custap Berry 1.1% Sitrus Berry 0.5% Life Orb 0.0%

Abilities

Drizzle100.0%Water Absorb0.0%Damp0.0%

Common Teammates

Ferrothorn82.9%

Thundurus-Therian76.7%

Landorus-Therian22.9%

Browse Gen 5 OU teams using Politoed →

Explore Politoed + Latios teams 35 score Explore Politoed + Alakazam teams 10 score Explore Politoed + Reuniclus teams 6 score Explore Politoed + Tyranitar teams 1 score Explore Politoed + Skarmory teams -16 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Politoed + Ferrothorn 82.9% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Latios

DragonPsychic OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

81.817

35.5

57.3% Standard error 5.47 points

DAMAGE CALCRain

252+ SpA Choice Specs Latios Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Politoed: 273-322 (71 - 83.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Latios counters → Teams with Latios →

Alakazam

Psychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

25.371

9.6

49.3% Standard error 9.93 points

DAMAGE CALCRain

252+ SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Politoed: 187-222 (48.6 - 57.8%) -- 54.3% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Alakazam counters → Teams with Alakazam →

Reuniclus

Psychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

29.687

6.2

42.4% Standard error 9.07 points

DAMAGE CALCRain

252+ SpA Reuniclus Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Politoed: 178-210 (46.3 - 54.6%) -- 7.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Reuniclus counters → Teams with Reuniclus →

Tyranitar

RockDark SOFT CHECK View matchup

66.679

1.2

21.2% Standard error 5.01 points

DAMAGE CALCSand

252+ Atk Tyranitar Crunch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Politoed: 186-220 (48.4 - 57.2%) -- 93.4% chance to 2HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery

View Tyranitar counters → Teams with Tyranitar →

Skarmory

SteelFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

20.443

-16.0

17.9% Standard error 8.48 points

DAMAGE CALCRain

252+ Atk Skarmory Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Politoed: 196-232 (51 - 60.4%) -- 89.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Skarmory counters → Teams with Skarmory →

Ranked #7 with 25.32% usage. Sorted by conservative score.