Gen 8 OU Pokémon Teams to Copy & Paste | Sword & Shield

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SAMPLE · CURATED BY SMOGON

German Offence

Smogon· 3 days ago · 8 views

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More sample teams

Council-curated structures — proven in the current ladder & circuit.

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SAMPLE 7 views

AegiCune Semi Stall

Zokuru· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 7 views

specs clown cb weave

Smogon· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 7 views

shifu koko - W

Ox the Fox· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 6 views

Le Roi Soleil

Smogon· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 6 views

Dark Spam HO

Smogon· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 5 views

AV dtail King + LS Pex (Gastro can be leftovers)

Smogon· 3 days ago

Sample teams

Council-curated structures · 26 teams

Ox the Fox· 3 days ago

AV dtail King + LS Pex (Gastro can be leftovers)

Torn-T Doomstack, Modern Gastro

cyberacc· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 4 views

Psy Terrain Volcarona

Smogon· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 4 views

specs hydrei band buzz BO

Ox the Fox· 3 days ago

Damien GTerrain HO (Zera item is flexible)

Smogon· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 3 views

Double Defog UnaClefa Stall

Zokuru· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 3 views

NO BAD MATCHUPS

Ox the Fox· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 3 views

Sticky Barb Clef + Encore Tini

Lacks Spam (Team Canada 2022 WCoP Edit)

Smogon· 3 days ago

SAMPLE 3 views

Zera Pult Ft. Trapper Fini

specs pult balloon tran

Smogon· 3 days ago

Community teams

Shared by players · 4 teams shown

90 views

Mar 20, 2026

76 views

VS Rose

Zan· May 4, 2026

59 views

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gen 8 OU?

Gen 8 OU is Smogon's main singles format for Pokémon Sword & Shield. It features Dynamax — every Pokémon can Dynamax once per battle, tripling HP and transforming moves into Max Moves. Battles are 6v6 singles. The format was highly contested during its run due to how central Dynamax was to every team's gameplan.

What are the best Pokémon in Gen 8 OU?

Gen 8 OU top threats include Landorus-Therian, Heatran, Clefable, Corviknight, Toxapex, Rillaboom, Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, Garchomp, and Dragapult. Landorus-T and Heatran have been mainstays across multiple generations. Rillaboom's Grassy Surge and Urshifu's Surging Strikes bypassing Dynamax Max Guard were defining mechanics of the tier.

How is Gen 8 OU different from Gen 9 OU?

Gen 8 OU uses Dynamax instead of Terastallization as its signature mechanic. Many Pokémon in Gen 8 OU were introduced in Sword & Shield and are not available in Gen 9, and vice versa. The overall power level and team archetypes differ significantly — Gen 8 has a more centralised defensive structure built around Dynamax turns.

What Pokémon are banned in Gen 8 OU?

Pokémon banned from Gen 8 OU to Ubers include Zacian-Crowned, Calyrex-Shadow, Calyrex-Ice, Eternatus, Blaziken, and many others. The Dynamax mechanic itself was suspected multiple times, and numerous Pokémon were banned specifically because they were too strong under Dynamax conditions.

How do I build a Gen 8 OU team?

Gen 8 OU teams are built with a Dynamax user in mind — typically a setup sweeper or breaker that can abuse Max Moves' secondary effects (like Max Airstream for speed boosts or Max Quake for special defense drops). Pair it with Landorus-T for pivot and Stealth Rock, Heatran for Fire coverage, and a defensive backbone. Check the sample teams above for current structures.

How do I copy a Gen 8 OU team into Showdown?

Click any team card to open it, then hit the copy button. Open Pokémon Showdown, go to the Teambuilder, click "Import from text", paste the team, and save. Select Gen 8 OU as the format.

Where can I find Gen 8 OU sample teams?

This page shows Gen 8 OU teams shared on crob.at by the community. Official sample teams and resources are archived on the Smogon Gen 8 OU forum. The Pokémon Showdown Teambuilder also includes curated Gen 8 OU samples for players who want to experience the Dynamax era.

Gen 8 OU Teams for Pokémon Showdown

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Gen 8 OU?

What are the best Pokémon in Gen 8 OU?

How is Gen 8 OU different from Gen 9 OU?

What Pokémon are banned in Gen 8 OU?

How do I build a Gen 8 OU team?

How do I copy a Gen 8 OU team into Showdown?

Where can I find Gen 8 OU sample teams?