Generation 9 UU — Singles Format Reference
Gen 9 UU is the second tier of the Smogon usage hierarchy. Pokémon below OU's usage threshold play here, supplemented by UUBL drops too strong for UU. The format runs faster and more polarized than OU.
Cartridge
Scarlet & Violet
Type
6v6 Singles
Position
Below OU, above RU
Defining list
UUBL
Take OU's top 25% of usage off the table. What plays at the next 25% is UU — faster on average, more polarized, less defensive depth, more priority abusers.
At a glance
UU is the usage tier directly below OU. Pokémon drop into UU when their OU usage falls below the tier's threshold; Pokémon rise to OU when their UU usage exceeds OU's lower-end threshold. The cycle produces continuous mid-tier movement.
UU runs the same Smogon clause set as OU plus a tier-specific UUBL banlist for Pokémon too strong for UU but not used enough for OU. The format's defining feature is its pace — fewer wallbreakers absorb Choice Band hits, fewer reliable defensive walls anchor stall, and priority moves cover more matchups than in OU.
- Format type6v6 Singles, all six brought to battle
- PositionTier 2 — below OU, above RU
- MechanicsTera legal; same Smogon Singles clause set as OU
- BanlistOU-banned Pokémon + UUBL Pokémon (too-strong-for-UU)
- Where it's playedPokémon Showdown ladder + Smogon UU tournaments. Live tier page: /sv/uu.
Format rules
UU applies the standard Smogon Singles clauses identical to OU, plus the UUBL ban list. The format's structural identity flows from which Pokémon are NOT in OU vs which are NOT in UU.
| Clause | 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. |
| Moody Clause | Moody is banned outright. |
| Baton Pass Clause | Speed-passing combined with stat-passing is forbidden. |
| UU + UUBL banlist | OU-banned Pokémon + tier-specific UUBL bans (see below). |
UUBL & the tier system
The Smogon usage tier system is the franchise's primary self-balancing mechanism. UU's banlist is dynamic — Pokémon move between OU, UU, and RU based on usage trends.
How tier shifts work
- Drops — when a Pokémon's OU usage falls below the tier threshold for several consecutive months, it drops to UU.
- Rises — when a Pokémon's UU usage rises above the OU threshold for several months, it rises to OU.
- UUBL — if a Pokémon's UU usage indicates it's too strong for the tier (high win-rate, high usage) but not used enough for OU, it's placed in UUBL — banned from UU but not legal in OU.
UUBL examples
UUBL is dynamic — exact members shift across cycles. Common UUBL residents in Gen 9 have included variants of Roaring Moon, Iron Valiant, and other OU drops that proved too strong for UU. The current UUBL list lives on Smogon's tier page.
Archetypes
UU archetypes mirror OU's but with different defining Pokémon. Hyper Offense, Balance, and Stall all viable; weather teams less central; speed-control via priority more common.
Aggressive
Hyper Offense
Six offensive Pokémon. Common build: hazard-stack lead + Choice Band wallbreaker + Choice Specs special breaker + setup sweeper + priority cleaner + endgame closer.
Balance
Bulky Offense
3-4 offensive Pokémon plus 2-3 defensive pivots. UU defensive cores: Rotom-Wash, Slowking variants, Skarmory drops, Sylveon Wish-pass.
Defensive
Stall
Six defensive Pokémon. Stall in UU works around Sylveon Wish, Skarmory Spikes, Rotom-Wash defensive support, plus a stallbreaker (Hatterene equivalents or progressive wincons).
Specialty
Sand · Rain niche
Without OU's top weather setters (Tyranitar usually OU), UU weather teams use alternative setters and rely on the speed boost more than chip damage.
Setup
Setup spam
UU rewards setup sweepers. Calm Mind users, Dragon Dance setters, Swords Dance physical breakers — fewer reliable revenge killers means setup wincons close games.
Priority
Priority offense
Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet, Sucker Punch users get extra value in UU. With fewer Choice Scarf revenge killers, priority moves cover speed control gaps.
Team roles in UU
The seven structural roles apply identically to UU. The Pokémon filling them are different from OU — typically lower-stat-line versions or niche Pokémon that didn't crack OU.
UU hazard setters: Skarmory (when OU-dropped), Salamence Stealth Rock, niche Sticky Web setters.
UU removers: Rotom-Wash Defog, niche Rapid Spin users (Sandaconda, etc.). Spinblockers fewer in UU than OU.
UU speed control leans on priority more than OU. Common Choice Scarf users: Salamence, Rotom variants, niche threats.
Sylveon + Heal Bell / Wish, niche Magic Guard absorbers.
UU pivots: Rotom-Wash Volt Switch, Salamence U-turn, niche Teleport users.
UU breakers: Specs special attackers, Banded physical attackers. Lower stat lines than OU but still effective in UU's defensive context.
UU wincons: Calm Mind setup, Dragon Dance setters, Sword Dance physicals, Iron Defense + Body Press niche.
What makes UU different
UU is OU's structurally faster, more polarized cousin. Without the format's top-tier defensive walls, offensive Pokémon cycle through KOs more quickly.
↑
Pace
Faster than OU on average
↓
Defensive depth
Fewer reliable walls
↑
Setup viability
Setup sweepers close games
- Faster pace — without OU's defensive cornerstones (Toxapex, Garganacl etc. typically OU-staple), wallbreakers exploit lower defensive ceilings more reliably.
- More setup viability — fewer reliable revenge killers means setup wincons cycle to +1 / +2 more easily.
- Priority bracket matters more — Bullet Punch, Sucker Punch, Aqua Jet, Mach Punch users get extra value relative to OU.
- UUBL volatility — the tier's banlist shifts more than OU's. Pokémon drop, get UUBL'd, sometimes return.
How to get started
UU has a smaller community than OU but an active ladder and dedicated tournament scene. The faster pace makes ladder games shorter than OU.
- Read Smogon's UU tier page — banlist + UUBL list canonical.
- Pick an archetype — UU rewards setup spam and HO; balance and stall work but require tier-specific defensive knowledge.
- Copy a sample team — Smogon's UU samples are vetted; tier shifts make them rotate, but baseline structures stay valid.
- Ladder Pokémon Showdown — UU ladder is active. Tournament play continues via Smogon UU Open and similar.
- Track tier shifts — UU's usage cycle moves Pokémon every few months. Stay current via the tier page.
Where to go from here
The above is the static reference for Gen 9 UU. Live tier data lives in the rest of Pokékipe.
- Live tier data — /sv/uu for UU usage and Pokémon stats.
- Mechanics — Gen 9 — Scarlet & Violet covers Tera and the underlying Gen 9 engine.
- Adjacent tiers — Gen 9 OU (the tier above), Gen 9 RU (the tier below).
- Tier shifts — Timeline tracks UU drops, rises, and UUBL changes.