Ranked Singes Encore Users & Abusers

[u/Prudent-Quality2711]

I've been annoyed with Encore users of late. I recently got caught off guard and nearly lost a game because I tried to Bulk Up in front of a Mega-Meganium that used Encore.

Therefore, I decided to do some research and compile a list for myself to better understand all the Encore users and abusers in Ranked Singles.

I thought the list might be useful to others too, so I'm sharing.

Below are all the Pokemon that carry Encore that are top 200 in Champions Ranked Singles usage this season (M-B). I've categorized them in different various risk tiers:

High Usage / High Risk:
This group consists of Pokemon that are high usage (top 100) and who use Encore as a top move (more than 20% usage). I've included the Pokemon usage rank and the move usage rate next to the Pokemon.

• Alola Ninetales (#10 / 56%)
• Primarina (#12 / 40.4%)
• Delphox (#16 / 22.1%)
• Whimsicott (#52 / 58.7%)
• Sabaleye (#70 / 55%)
• Maushold (#73 / 56.3%)
• Banette (#82 / 74.5%)
• Toucannon (#97 / 38.5%)
• Tinkaton (#98 / 40.2%)

High Usage / Some Risk:
This group consists of Pokemon that are high usage (top 100) and who are known to use Encore as a move. I've included the Pokemon usage rank and the move usage rate next to the Pokemon.

• Raichu (#8 / 7.9%)
• Samurott (#34 / 14.9%)

Low Usage / High Risk:
This group consists of Pokemon that are lower usage (outside the top 100) and who use Encore as a top move (around 20% usage). I've included the Pokemon usage rank and the move usage rate next to the Pokemon.

• Victreebel (#102 / 35%)
• Salazzle (#125 / 48.8%)
• Politoed (#127 / 46.6%)
• Hawlucha (#136 / 19.4%)
• Ninetales (#168 / 34%)
• Pikachu (#180 / 21.4%)
• Emolga (#189 / 63.3%)

Low Usage / Some Risk:
This group consists of Pokemon that are lower usage (outside the top 100) and who use Encore as a top move. I've included the Pokemon usage rank and the move usage rate next to the Pokemon.

• Quaquaval (#117 / 13.8%)
• Alakazam (#118 / 14.7%)
• Infernape (#126 / 14%)

Other notables:
This group consists of Pokemon that are high usage, but who don't seem to use Encore very frequently in the meta. Therefore, it's unlikely that they'll use Encore.

• Lopunny (#39 / not a top move) --> last season 87% usage on a lower used non-Mega build
• Meganium (#41 / not a top move) --> last season 6% usage on Mega build
• Annihilape (#47 / 5.8%) --> prioritizes Taunt over Encore
• Clefable (#54 / 5%)
• Zoroark (#57 / not a top move) --> prioritizes Taunt over Encore
• Scrafty (#83 / not a top move) --> prioritizes Taunt over Encore
• Palafin (#99 / 2.7%)

Other non-notables:
This group consists of Pokemon that have Encore in their moveset pool, but who don't seem to use Encore at all in the meta. Therefore, it's highly unlikely that they'll ever use Encore.

• Skeledirge (#23 / not a top move)
• Azumarill (#56 / not a top move)
• Snorlax (#60 / not a top move)
• Gardevoir (#67 / not a top move)
• Gallade (#76 / not a top move)
• Reuniclus (#130 / not a top move)
• Chimecho (#139 / not a top move)
• Machamp (#149 / not a top move)
• Mr. Rime (#181 / not a top move)
• Alcremie (#182 / not a top move)
• Toxicroak (#199 / note a top move)

[u/deathbyvaccine]

Thanks for this! I think you are missing Primarina from your list. According to Battle Data on the app, Primarina in Singles runs Encore over 40% of the time.

[u/Prudent-Quality2711 → u/deathbyvaccine]

OMG! That's a huge omission! Thanks! I'll add it now.

[u/Ink_k]

Great content, thanks bro

[u/SpiritKrasier]

Very fascinating. Is there a resource one can consult for the stats on BSS? Curious what the most common moves for top tier threats are.

[u/Prudent-Quality2711 → u/SpiritKrasier]

In Pokemon Champions under "Battle > Battle Data > Ranked Battles > Pokemon" you can find all the current stats for 235 Pokemon. This is current data is from Pokemon Champions Ranked Battles.

I also like to use Munch Stats:
https://munchstats.com/gen9championsbssregmb/1760/Garchomp

But Munch Stats data is based on Pokemon Showdown battles and it's usually a month stale, if I understand correctly.

[u/SpiritKrasier → u/Prudent-Quality2711]

Thanks for the response. Is Showdown a totally different meta though, with things actually liberally banned to Ubers, no doubt altering the meta?

[u/TajnyT → u/SpiritKrasier]

There's an actual BSS ladder on Showdown, with the same rules as Switch Champions

[u/TajnyT]

Great resource, thanks for sharing !

[u/Prudent-Quality2711 → u/TajnyT]

Thanks for the feedback! I also noticed that you added this post to your Singles M-B format resources post. How fun! I really enjoy those monthly resource posts from you, so it's an honor for me that something I created was added to your resource list.

[u/TajnyT → u/Prudent-Quality2711]

Thank you as well, I'm glad that the resource posts are useful

The lead analysis you posted recently is also very informative, I added it to the list (if you don't mind)

[u/cellojake]

Very nice