Move Category suggestions

Plague von Karma

Banned deucer.
Not sure if this is possible for a specific tier, but Toxic shouldn't be considered useless in Gen 1 UU. It's used to combat Dragonite spamming Wrap, as it causes it to take more damage than it deals in the grind game. This is huge, as its pivot utility is put on a serious timer as well, making hard switches less favourable. This can be applied to any other Wrap user that's not Poison-type. Pokemon such as Dugtrio, Dewgong, Persian and Dodrio use this move quite a lot, for reference.

As an aside, this also goes for Gen 1 NU (should it get a format) given the prevalence of powerful Fire Spin users like Moltres and Ninetales.

EDIT:
Should it be possible for a tier, I have some suggestions for Stadium OU:
  • Double-Edge should never be considered useless unless the Pokemon has awful Attack, as it effectively replaces Hyper Beam. Recoil doesn't apply on KOs in Stadium.
  • Focus Energy should never be considered useless, as it works.
  • Hyper Beam should never be considered useful, as it forces a recharge even on KOs and misses.
 
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Smack Down is currently considered usable if the user is Ground-type. I wouldn't mind loosening it if someone has a better preference.
I mean, if you have a strong Ground type move such as Earthquake or Earth Power, I'd say Smack Down would be viable. Gravity should also be viable for this reason.
 
Here are some moves with a case for lifting from "Not ever useful". I'll save some words and not put "Just altogether an okay move" or "A niche option" in front of every move. You can probably guess what use these moves could serve. They are just generally "decent" things that exist.


Cosmic Power (and its clone Defend Order). Primary-slotted for SM Sigilyph. Maybe "if the user has Magic Guard"?
Pollen Puff: No analyses, but it's basically Bug Buzz. If the user doesn't have Bug Buzz, maybe?
I would think these moves could have more us than you are giving credit in this context. Pollen Puff if I recall correctly heals allies in doubles. Additionally, Cosmic Power would have a lot of potential in doubles, especially when paired with someone with anything like Safeguard or Arometherapy.
 

Amaluna

Somewhere between relatable and psychotic
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Bullet Seed on Cinccino is listed as "usually useless moves" whereas Seed Bomb is listed under "Moves". But I feel like you'd use Bullet Seed over Seed Bomb, even if using Technician. I feel like Bullet Seed should be listed under "moves" as well.
 

Fc

Waiting for something to happen?
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Ubers Leader
Assurance is currently listed as a usually useless move, but at least as an Ubers player it's a very good move. Zacian-C super commonly uses it on its sets for hitting a lot of key targets on switch in with hazards up like Necrozma dusk mane, so if it's format / mon specific at least Zacian-C would appreciate it being listed as useful, but in general I think if a meta defining mon can abuse it then it's useful overall.

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Psychic and Pollen Puff is outclassed by Psyshock and Bug Buzz respectively but for some reasons, Pollen Puff is in the "Usually useless move" category and Psychic isn't, while both having the same base power of 90.
You could argue that Psychic is useful if the user don't have Psyshock but the same can be said for Pollen Puff and Bug Buzz.
So for the above reasons, I would like for either:
-Pollen Puff to be listed as a normal move(for Pokemons without Bug Buzz),
or
-Psychic to be listed as a useless move(for Pokemons with Psyshock).
 
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Adeleine

after committing a dangerous crime
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Psychic is not outclassed by Psyshock; they each have their own advantage. Some Pokemon definitely choose to run Psychic over Psyshock at least some of the time; Tapu Lele comes to mind.

For singles anyway, while Puff ignoring Soundproof is pretty minor, I suppose Buzz’s 10% SpD drop is too?
 
Psychic is not outclassed by Psyshock; they each have their own advantage. Some Pokemon definitely choose to run Psychic over Psyshock at least some of the time; Tapu Lele comes to mind.

For singles anyway, while Puff ignoring Soundproof is pretty minor, I suppose Buzz’s 10% SpD drop is too?
I took the Psychic thing as an example, but Pollen Puff has a respectable 90 base power and is still listed as a useless move for Pokemons without Bug Buzz whereas Psychic also has 90 base power and is listed as a normal move(and 10% Spd drop but that is way too minor).
 

Celever

i am town
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This is niche so I'm not sure it has a place here, but Thunder Fang being in useless is a little strange considering Ice Fang and Fire Fang aren't here. The only Pokémon afaik that always uses it is Boltund (thanks to Strong Jaw and a lack of better physical Electric-Type moves), but I could see fellow Strong Jaw mon Tyrantrum using it in specific matchups depending on where it turns up.

Weaker Electric-Type coverage has been used occasionally even in Gen 8 (namely Shock Wave Pheromosa before its ban) so I can see Thunder Fang being promoted.
 

Adeleine

after committing a dangerous crime
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According to /nds, the only fully evolved Pokemon with Dragon Rush and without Outrage are Dunsparce, Yveltal, Heliolisk, and Lugia. I don’t think any of these Pokemon benefit from Dragon Rush (even SG Dunsparce probably doesn’t appreciate it bc 75 acc / only 20 flinch chance / cant hit steels) so I would guess no on including it.
 
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I think we should list physical moves as usually useless if the Pokemon's Attack is outclassed by 35 points or more by its Special Attack, and vice versa. Of course, this would create a problem for OMs that change stats, but there's really no way to avoid that.
 
I think we should list physical moves as usually useless if the Pokemon's Attack is outclassed by 35 points or more by its Special Attack, and vice versa. Of course, this would create a problem for OMs that change stats, but there's really no way to avoid that.
As a practical example, Garchomp has a 50 points difference, but often runs Fire Blast or Draco Meteor, so I don't think this is necessarily a good idea.
 

HailFall

my cancer is sun and my leo is moon
I havent seen anything actually run brick break since like gen 4. Especially nowadays with much greater cc distribution, and drain punch being given to a lot of mons, very rarely does anything actually run it. I did a quick DS and very few of these pokemon have any business running brick break, and even fewer lack earthquake which is generally better coverage for them.

When you run this search:
/ds brick break, !drain punch, !close combat, !sacred sword, !eq, !superpower, !lc, !nfe, all
I see only bisharp and weavile as pkmn I would possibly run it on, both of which have low kick, and *maybe* scyther. I think this move is niche enough that it could probably be considered "usually useless"
 
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aerobee

Pure Hackmons
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Snarl is listed as a "usually useless move". However, it is often used in AG on Yveltal to hit Calyrex-Shadow, even when it's behind a Substitute. I think it would be beneficial to newer players if this move were listed as useful, at least on mons that use it often.
 

abriel

I’m with you.
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I noticed when creating a Garchomp moveset that Scale Shot was listed as usually useless, which doesn't seem accurate. I'd think that move should be in the useful category, especially if the user is Dragon-type and/or doesn't have other speed-boosting moves. Or, if nothing else, it should be listed as useful for Garchomp.
 
On Melmetal Iron Defense is listed as useful while Acid Armor is listed as usually useless. Acid Armor is also considered usually useless on Reuniclus. IMO if the pokemon has Power trip, Stored power, or Body press in its useful category, Acid Armor should also be considered useful.
 

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