Generation 9 National Dex, Singles Format Reference
Gen 9 National Dex is Smogon's most expansive Singles format, every Pokémon from every generation is legal, alongside Mega Evolutions, Z-moves, and Tera. The format collapses 9 generations of design into one tier ; matchup space is enormous, but power-creep correction has sharpened the meta significantly since SV launch.
Cartridge
Scarlet & Violet (full National Dex)
Type
6v6 Singles
Dex scope
All 1,000+ Pokémon legal
Bonus mechanics
Megas + Z-moves + Tera all legal
One format, three generation-defining mechanics on the field at once. Tera-boosted SV threats can be revenge-killed by a Z-Move-pivoting Sun Mega. The matchup tree is bigger than any other Singles tier.
At a glance
National Dex (NatDex) is the Smogon Singles format that opens up the entire Pokédex. Every Pokémon ever released is legal, pre-Gen 9 staples, Gen 9 newcomers, mega-evolved variants, regional forms, the lot. Mechanics from prior generations come with them : Mega Evolution, Z-moves, plus current-gen Tera all coexist on the same battlefield.
The format runs the standard Smogon Singles clause set (Sleep, Species, Evasion, OHKO, Endless Battle, Moody, Baton Pass) and layers a tier-specific banlist on top. Bans are heavier than OU because Mega + Z-move + Tera can stack power in ways individual gens couldn't. The community calibrates the banlist via the same suspect-test process Smogon uses for every tier, see /timeline for current and past suspects.
- Format type6v6 Singles, all six brought to battle
- PositionCross-generational meta, Smogon's largest Singles pool
- MechanicsTera + Mega Evolution + Z-moves all legal in same battle
- BanlistOU bans + Mega bans + Z-move bans + NatDex-specific bans
- Where it's playedPokémon Showdown ladder + Smogon NatDex tournaments. Live tier page: /sv/nationaldex.
Format rules
NatDex inherits OU's clauses and adds bans calibrated for the cross-gen power level. Mega Evolution is allowed exactly once per team (one Mega Stone equipped, one Pokémon mega-evolves per battle). Z-moves work as in Gen 7, one per team, one per battle.
| Clause / Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sleep Clause | Only one opposing Pokémon may be put to sleep at a time. |
| Species Clause | Each team can only carry one of any given species. |
| Evasion Clause | Evasion-boosting moves and abilities are banned. |
| OHKO Clause | Sheer Cold, Fissure, Horn Drill, Guillotine are banned. |
| Endless Battle Clause | Battle states that cannot end are forbidden. |
| Mega Evolution rule | One Mega Stone per team. One Pokémon mega-evolves per battle. |
| Z-move rule | One Z-Crystal per team. One Z-move attempt per battle. |
| Tera rule | Tera legal as in OU, one Tera per battle, any Pokémon eligible. |
| NatDex banlist | OU-banned Pokémon + tier-specific Mega/Z-move bans + NatDex-only bans. |
What National Dex adds over OU
NatDex isn't just "OU plus extra Pokémon". The three legal generations of mechanics, Mega Evolution, Z-moves, Tera, interact in ways that change every threat list, every defensive core, every speed tier.
Mega Evolution
Pokémon holding their species-specific Mega Stone evolve once per battle, gaining a stat boost and often a new ability. The classic Mega Pokémon, Mega Charizard X/Y, Mega Latios, Mega Salamence, are tier defining. Meta-relevant Megas are calibrated by ban list ; the strongest (Mega Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza) are NatDex Ubers.
Z-Moves
One-time-use signature attacks scaled from a held Z-Crystal. The format limits one Z-move per team, so the choice is strategic. Z-moves shine as nuclear options for sweepers (Z-Sleep Talk, Z-Splash setup boosts) or as game-ending wallbreakers (Z-Hydro Pump, Z-Fire Blast).
Tera
Same as OU, once per battle, change a Pokémon's typing. In NatDex Tera unlocks more aggressive lines because the broader Pokémon pool means more 4× weaknesses to hide and more STAB to gain.
Archetypes
NatDex archetypes mirror standard Singles structure but draw from a much deeper pool. Hyper Offense, Balance, Stall, weather-based teams, Trick Room, all viable, all enriched by cross-gen options.
Aggressive
Hyper Offense
Six offensive Pokémon. Common build : hazard lead + Mega wallbreaker + Z-move sweeper + setup wincon + Choice Scarf revenge killer + endgame closer. Cross-gen access broadens lead options dramatically.
Balance
Bulky Offense
3-4 offensive Pokémon plus 2-3 defensive pivots. Cross-gen defensive cores : Mega Latias, Heatran, Toxapex, Garganacl all coexist on the same team, tier shifts blur the boundary with stall.
Defensive
Stall
Six defensive Pokémon. NatDex stall draws from every gen's best wall, Toxapex, Skarmory, Blissey, Clefable. Mega Sableye when not banned, Mega Slowbro for the Spike-baiting walls.
Specialty
Weather teams
Sand (Tyranitar / Hippowdon), Rain (Pelipper / Politoed), Sun (Torkoal + Drought / Mega Charizard Y), Hail / Snow setters all viable. Weather + Mega + Z-move stacking is the format's ceiling.
Setup
Setup spam
Setup sweepers benefit massively from cross-gen Z-moves (Z-Splash, Z-Memento for free boosts) and Mega buffs. Dragon Dance Mega Salamence, Calm Mind Mega Latias, Swords Dance Mega Garchomp all classic NatDex wincons.
Trick Room
TR offense
Slow Megas (Mega Mawile, Mega Camerupt) plus reliable TR setters from any gen (Cresselia, Slowking-Galar) make TR teams more consistent than in OU.
Team roles in National Dex
The seven structural roles apply identically, but every role has a deeper pool to choose from. The builder's task shifts from "find the one viable answer" (single-gen tiers) to "pick the answer that fits this team's shape".
Cross-gen options : Heatran, Mega Garchomp, Skarmory, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, every team has 5+ Stealth Rock options.
Tornadus-T Defog, Mandibuzz Defog, Excadrill Rapid Spin, Cinderace Court Change. NatDex never lacks hazard control.
Cross-gen Choice Scarf options span every speed tier. Priority access via Mega Pinsir, Mega Lopunny (when legal). TR setters from any gen.
Clefable Magic Guard, Sylveon Heal Bell + Wish, Blissey Aromatherapy. The deepest status-absorber pool of any Smogon Singles tier.
Tornadus-T U-turn, Mega Manectric Volt Switch, Slowking-Galar Teleport, Cinderace U-turn, every offensive shape has a fitting pivot.
Mega-form wallbreakers (Mega Charizard Y, Mega Latios) hit harder than any single-gen alternative. Z-move wallbreakers add a one-shot KO threat.
Mega Salamence Dragon Dance, Mega Charizard X DD, Mega Mawile SD, Z-Mimic + setup sweepers, wincons stack mechanic layers.
What makes National Dex different
NatDex is the deepest Smogon Singles format. Pokémon mastery from any prior gen carries directly into the format ; OU specialists who never touched pre-SV competitive often need months to internalize the bigger threat list.
↑
Pool depth
1,000+ legal Pokémon
↑
Mechanic stacking
Tera + Mega + Z all legal
↑
Matchup variance
Bigger threat list, more permutations
- Cross-gen knowledge required, knowing Tornadus-T from Gen 7, Mega Latias from Gen 6, Iron Hands from SV, the format demands all of it.
- Mechanic stacking, answering a Mega-evolved threat that Tera-fies into a Z-move sweep is a regular occurrence. Defensive plans must layer.
- Banlist depth, Mega Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza, Mega Gengar, plus standard Ubers, the NatDex banlist is the longest of any Singles tier.
- Slower pace than OU on average, the deeper defensive pool means stall and balance play differently ; games can run longer than OU's standard 25-30 turns.
How to get started
NatDex has a healthy ladder community and active tournament circuit. The format welcomes returning players from any prior gen, your old Mega Pokémon expertise is still valid currency here.
- Read Smogon's NatDex tier page, banlist + Mega/Z-move rules canonical there.
- Pick a starting archetype, Hyper Offense and Balance are the easiest entry points ; Stall takes longer to learn the matchup chart.
- Copy a sample team, Smogon's NatDex samples cover every archetype. Cross-reference with the live tier page for current usage.
- Ladder Pokémon Showdown, the [Gen 9] National Dex ladder is well-populated. Climbing rewards understanding the meta's top 30 Pokémon, not the full 1000.
- Watch tournament VODs, Smogon Premier League NatDex matches are the highest-level NatDex content. See the play to learn the matchups.
Where to go from here
The above is the static reference for Gen 9 National Dex. Live tier data lives in the rest of Pokékipe.
- Live tier data, /sv/nationaldex for NatDex usage and Pokémon stats.
- Mechanics, Mega Evolution deep dive, Z-Moves deep dive, Gen 9, Scarlet & Violet for Tera.
- Adjacent tiers, Gen 9 OU (the SV-only Singles tier), Gen 9 Ubers.
- Tier shifts, Timeline tracks NatDex banlist updates and suspects.