The Kitakami Prologue Online Competition was an Online Competition held on October 6-8, with a completely new competitive metagame consisting of new and returning Pokemon exclusive to the Kitakami Region in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) The Teal Mask DLC! Read on to learn what was used in the Kitakami Prologue Cup!

Kitakami Prologue Cup Tierlist

Updated 10/05
Tier	Pokemon

SS Tier

Pokemon	Ranking and Features
Ogerpon (Hearthflame Mask)	Hyper Offensive Monster! ・Increase Attack While Terastallized ・OHKO with 2.7x Boost to Ivy Cudgel ▶️ Hearthflame Mask Ogerpon Best Movesets
Bloodmoon Ursaluna	Bulky Special Attacker! ・Strong signature move and good all around stats. ・Ability makes it a strong Normal-type attacker that isn't walled by Ghost-types. ▶️ Bloodmoon Ursaluna Best Movesets
Gyarados	Bulky Setup Sweeper! ・Large damage output with Flying Tera Typey. ・Defensive boost this generation thanks to Tera Type allowing it to lose 4x Electric weakness ・Useful Intimidate Ability. ▶️Gyarados Best Movesets

Ogerpon Hearthflame Mask tops the Tier List because of its highly effective firepower, with very few Pokemon wanting to withstand its offense.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna is a bulky special attacker who can work both in Tailwind and Trick Room. The absence of Rapid-Strike Urshifu will make it so Bloodmoon Ursaluna is checked by very few Pokemon.

Rounding out the SS Tier is Gyarados, who matches up favorably against all the Grass-types and other Flying-weak Pokemon in the Kitakami Prologue. It can position itself for a sweep after a single Dragon Dance.

S Tier

Pokemon	Ranking and Features
Dusclops	Incredibly Bulky! ・Extremely difficult to KO thanks to its defenses and Eviolite.
Clefairy	Amazing Eviolite Support! ・Boosts its own defensive stats with Eviolite. ・Has an amazing supportive move pool. ▶️ Clefairy Best Movesets
Kommo-o	Insane Amount of Stat Boosts! ・Clanagrous Soul + Throat Spray gives an extra Sp. Atk boost. ・Clanging Scales hits both opposing Pokemon. ▶️ Kommo-o Best Movesets
Maushold	Excellent Support Pokemon! ・Has access to a very powerful move in Population Bomb. ・Has very useful Utility Moves in Follow Me, Encore and Helping Hand. ▶️Maushold Best Doubles Moveset
Annihilape	Bulky Physical Attacker! ・Can consistently take out an opposing Pokemon with Final Gambit. ・Has an excellent Ability in Defiant ▶️Annihilape Best Doubles Moveset
Sinistcha	Great Trick Room Setter! ・Set up Trick Room without worrying about Fake Out ・Can heal teammates upon switching in ▶️ Sinistcha Best Movesets

The S Tier comprises of powerful support Pokemon as well as effective attackers who benefit from support.

Dusclops can win games if it can set up Trick Room. With lots of offensive Pokemon unavailable, Dusclops is sure to be difficult to KO.

Clefairy is the best redirection Pokemon in the Kitakami Prologue limited format. With Eviolite and Terastallization, Clefairy is sure to stick around for a long time in battles.

Soundproof Kommo-o is immune to Ursaluna's Hyper Voice and can run through teams with boosted Boombursts.

Maus-Ape is in this tier because its usual checks and counters are not in the format.

Lastly, Sinistcha stands to overperform in this format because of the absence of Flutter Mane and Tornadus.

A Tier

Pokemon	Ranking and Features
Ogerpon	Fast Physical Threat! ・Increase Speed While Terastallized ・Defiant protects it from Intimidate ▶️ Teal Mask Ogerpon Best Movesets
Ogerpon (Wellspring Mask)	Great Coverage Options! ・Increase Sp, Def While Terastallized ・Great Water/Grass Coverage ▶️ Wellspring Mask Ogerpon Best Movesets
Grimmsnarl	Prankster Screens Setter! ・An ideal Prankster Support lead with a reliable bag of tricks. ・One of the best Reflect and Light Screen setters in the game. ▶️Grimmsnarl Best Doubles Movesets
Garchomp	Fast Physical Attacker! ・Decent bulk, and above average Speed and Attack, Garchomp is a force to be reckoned with in formats where few Pokemon outspeed it. ▶️Garchomp Best Doubles Moveset
Arcanine	Reliable Support Pokemon! ・Great natural bulk and access to Intimidate makes it a surprisingly bulky Pokemon in Doubles. ・A versatile Pokemon that can go on the offensive or play the role of a support Pokemon. ▶️Arcanine Best Doubles Moveset
Illumise	Prankster Tailwind! ・Prankster Tailwind User. ・Can be disruptive with Encore.

The Pokemon in this tier are powerful in their own right, however require support from other members of the team to succeed.

Teal Mask and Wellspring Mask Ogerpon are included in this tier, as they can both apply offensive pressure with minimal set up.

Arcanine is a trusted Intimidate user, who resists Hearthflame Ogerpon's STAB options. It also has a good selection of support moves, making it a strong addition to most teams.

Illumise makes a curious addition to high tiers because it is the only Prankster Tailwind user.

B Tier

Pokemon	Ranking and Features
Hatterene	Strong Trick Room Attacker! ・Is a consistent Trick Room setter and Sweeper. ・Has built-in protection in Magic Bounce ▶️Hatterene Best Movesets
Politoed	New Best Rain Setter! ・Is now the premiere weather setter for Rain teams. ・Has a great supportive move pool. ▶️ Politoed Best Movesets
Ludicolo	Fast Special Attacker Under Rain! ・Most Swift Swim Pokemon are Physical Attackers. ・Great offensive coverage moves. ▶️ Ludicolo Best Movesets
Indeedee (Female)	Redirection and Trick Room Setter! ・Protects its team from Priority Moves with Psychic Surge. ・Can support its teammates with Follow Me and Helping Hand ▶️Indeedee-F Best Doubles Moveset
Mimikyu	Consistent Trick Room Setter! ・Its Disguise Ability gives Mimikyu added durability, allowing it to set up more consistently. ▶️Mimikyu Best Doubles Moveset
Snorlax	Incredibly Tanky Attacker! ・Halves the damage of Fire and Ice-type attacks with Thick Fat. ・Difficult to knockout thanks to its natural bulk. ▶️ Snorlax Best Movesets

Pokemon in the B Tier are powerful threats, yet require teams to be built around them. Indeedee and Hatterene are strong contenders because they can guarantee a Trick Room setup.

Politoed and Ludicolo are a strong offensive Rain duo, while Snorlax and Mimikyu are also effective Trick Room Pokemon.

Kitakami Prologue Cores and Top Threats

Maus Ape

Maus Ape
Pokemon	Annihilape	Maushold
Ability	Defiant	Technician
Held Item	Leftovers	Wide Lens
Role	Offensive Tank	Support / Physical Attacker

Wide Lens Technician Maushold can be a powerful threat in a best-of-one ladder format, being able to take cheeky KOs with Population Bomb.

Without prominent Pokemon like Flutter Mane and Amoonguss to cause problems for this duo, as well as powerful Intimidate Pokemon, Gyarados and Arcanine being popular, Maus-Ape could potentially dominate the format if left unchecked.

Top Redirection Pokemon, Clefairy, may put a halt to this duo's Beat Up strategy however, so teams with these two will have to prepare for Eviolite Clefairy.

Clefairy + Setup

Clefairy + Setup
Pokemon	Clefairy	Kommo-o
Ability	Friend Guard	Soundproof
Held Item	Eviolite	Throat Spray
Role	Support	Special Attacker

Clefairy is the premiere redirection Pokemon of this limited format, enabling most setup strategies, as well as guaranteeing protection for whichever teammate it is with thanks to its Friend Guard Ability.

Kommo-o is an unstoppable force once it is able to set up Clangorous Soul, with very few checks to Tera Normal Boomburst.

Tailwind

Tailwind
Pokemon	Illumise	Ogerpon (Hearthflame Mask)
Ability	Prankster	Mold Breaker
Held Item	Focus Sash	Hearthflame Mask
Role	Support	Physucak Attacker

Illumise can set up Tailwind for its team, and position them for a sweep. Ogerpon Hearthflame Mask is able to KO other Ogerpon Hearthflame Mask, so establishing Tailwind can ensure that it wins the mirror.

Trick Room

Trick Room
Pokemon	Dusclops	Bloodmoon Ursaluna
Ability	Frisk	Mind's Eye
Held Item	Eviolite	Throat Spray
Role	Support	Special Attacker

Trick Room remains powerful in the Kitakami Prologue with the reintroduction of Dusclops as the premiere Trick Room Setter.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna is a special attacking menace that can be an offensive menace under Trick Room conditions.

Indeedee + Hatterene

Indeedee + Hatterene
Pokemon	Indeedee (Female)	Hatterene
Ability	Psychic Surge	Magic Bounce
Held Item	Rocky Helmet	Life Orb
Role	Support	Support / Special Attacker

With few ways to counter it, Sword and Shield's classic Indeedee + Hatterene duo is set to make an impression in the Kitakami Prologue. Indeedee can handily redirect attacks away from Hatterene, while Hatterene sets up Trick Room. This duo comes with built in protection in Psychic Surge and Magic Bounce.

Rain

Rain
Pokemon	Politoed	Ludicolo
Ability	Drizzle	Swift Swim
Held Item	Sitrus Berry	Life Orb
Role	Support	Special Attacker

Ludicolo makes a return with its usual partner, Politoed, as a strong offensive duo with Rain. With Terastallization, Ludicolo and Politoed become even harder to face down, proving even more unpredictable compared to previous Pokemon games.

Weezing

Weezing Team
Pokemon	Weezing	Mimikyu
Ability	Neutralizing Gas	Disguise
Held Item	Life Orb	Mental Herb
Role	Support / Special Attacker	Support / Physical Attacker

Weezing finds a niche as a Pokemon that shuts off all Abilities on the field. While this can turn off Mimikyu's Disguise, Mimikyu makes a solid partner because it can set up Trick Room, while Weezing uses Explosion.

Kitakami Prologue Sample Team

Best Team for Kitakami Prologue Cup

Rental Code	023RDJ

Attention!	Rental Teams are not allowed in the Kitakami Prologue. Users are free to build this team in-game, or use the Rental Code in Regulation E Ranked Battles or Casual Battles.

This team makes use of Illumise's Prankster Tailwind, with Blood Moon Ursaluna offering the team a slow mode, but can still function in Tailwind. Ogerpon and Gyarados are present here as well, giving the team a Grass-Fire-Water Core while making use of only two Pokemon.

A Maus Ape Core is also in the team, which can steamroll opponents with no access to redirection, with Population Bomb Maushold being able to take surprise knock outs in a best-of-one setting.

The team seeks to set up an attacker and attempt to sweep, taking full advantage of the absence of popular meta threats such as Flutter Mane, Iron Hands, and Amoonguss in the Kitakami Prologue limited format.

Best Team for Kitakami Prologue Cup

Kitakami Prologue Dates and Details

October 6, 00:00 UTC - October 8, 23:59 UTC

Schedule	Registration Date: 2023/10/02 00:00 UTC to 2023/10/08 23:59 UTC
	Event Duration: 2023/10/06 00:00 UTC to 2023/10/08 23:59 UTC
Info	You may sign up and join this event from the start of the sign-up period to the end of the competition period!
Available Pokemon	・Kitakami Pokedex ・TBA
Banned Pokemon	・Alolan Raichu ・Alolan Sandslash ・Alolan Ninetales ・Hisuian Arcanine ・Alolan Golem ・Paldean Wooper ・Hisuian Goodra ・Ursaluna

Sign-ups for the Kitakami Prologue began on October 2, allowing participants to register up until the last minute of this event on October 8!

The competition itself went on for three days over the weekend of October 6 to October 8 which has now ended.

Kitakami Prologue Online Competition

Banned Pokemon

These Pokemon and their pre-evolutions are not usable in the Kitakami Prologue Cup.

Banned Pokemon
Alolan Raichu	Alolan Sandslash	Alolan Ninetales
Hisuian Arcanine	Alolan Golem	Galarian Weezing
Hisuian Goodra	Ursaluna

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