Question 1

What is Gen 9 UU?

Accepted Answer

Gen 9 UU (UnderUsed) is Smogon's second singles tier for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It includes all Pokémon not used enough to qualify for OU and not banned to higher tiers. Battles are 6v6 singles with Terastallization legal. The tier is maintained by the Smogon UU council through usage stats and suspect tests.

Question 2

What are the best Pokémon in Gen 9 UU?

Accepted Answer

Top Gen 9 UU threats include Volcarona, Hydreigon, Scizor, Slowbro, and Cobalion. Other strong picks include Primarina, Buzzwole, Lokix, and Roaring Moon (if not banned to OU). The tier changes frequently as Pokémon move between OU and UU based on monthly usage stats.

Question 3

How does a Pokémon get into Gen 9 UU?

Accepted Answer

Pokémon are tiered in Smogon based on usage stats from Pokémon Showdown. A Pokémon that appears in fewer than 4.52% of OU battles in a given month drops down to UU. Pokémon can also be banned up to OU by the UU council if they are too strong for the tier.

Question 4

How is Gen 9 UU different from OU?

Accepted Answer

Gen 9 UU bans all Pokémon in OU and above, so the power level is lower and the variety of viable strategies is much wider. Team archetypes that struggle in OU — like dedicated Trick Room teams or full offense with less popular breakers — are more common and successful in UU.

Question 5

How do I build a Gen 9 UU team?

Accepted Answer

UU rewards understanding matchups across a wider Pokémon pool. Start with a win condition — an attacker or setup sweeper — then build around it with a hazard setter, a Defogger or Spinner, pivots, and defensive support. Check the sample teams on this page for current UU structures from the community.

Question 6

How do I copy a Gen 9 UU team into Showdown?

Accepted Answer

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 9 UU as the format.

Question 7

Where can I find Gen 9 UU sample teams?

Accepted Answer

This page shows UU teams shared on crob.at by the community. Official sample teams are posted on the Smogon UU forum. The Pokémon Showdown Teambuilder also includes curated UU samples, and the Smogon UU council posts resources and viability rankings on the Smogon forums.

Gen 9 UU Teams for Pokémon Showdown

Frequently Asked Questions