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-'''Tiers''' are an attempt by players to classify {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} in a given [[generation]] by their utility in competitive battles. The classification of Pokémon into tiers can be challenging, as a Pokémon's [[statistic]]s or [[move]]s are not the only factors that can impact a match. Combinations of Pokémon, along with player skill and overall strategy greatly affects the outcome.
+'''Tiers''' are an attempt by players to classify {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} in a given [[generation]] by their utility or popularity in competitive battles. The classification of Pokémon into tiers can be challenging, as a Pokémon's [[statistic]]s or [[move]]s are not the only factors that can impact a match. Combinations of Pokémon, along with player skill and overall strategy greatly affects the outcome.
 ==Tiers in Pokémon==
-Pokémon features [[List of Pokémon|hundreds of species]] available for use in a battle, with great variation in [[base stats]], movesets, [[Type]]s, and {{Abilities}}. Individual sites, users, or organizations may publish tiers, but the most prominent tier lists are produced by [[Smogon]] and {{OBP|Pokémon Online|battle simulator}} and published on their respective websites. Tiers for current [[Appendix:Metagame terminology|metagames]] are updated on a regular basis to reflect the current competitive battling environment; older generations tend to retain the same banlists.
+Pokémon features [[List of Pokémon|hundreds of species]] available for use in a battle, with great variation in [[base stats]], movesets, [[Type]]s, and {{Abilities}}. Individual sites, users, or organizations may publish tiers, but the most prominent tier lists are produced and published by [[Smogon]] and [[Pokémon Online]] and usually based on statistics from [[Pokémon Showdown]]. Tiers for current [[Appendix:Metagame terminology|metagames]] are updated on a regular basis to reflect the current competitive battling environment; older generations tend to retain the same banlists.
 Tier lists are often targets of discussion because there is no "official" tier list for Pokémon. Tiers are often quite fluid—as strategies evolve, Pokémon may move from one tier to another. However, even official tournaments will present lists of disallowed Pokémon.
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 As commonly defined, a "standard" battle allows any Pokémon not listed in the Uber tier. Tiers are exclusive in only one direction; for instance, in a UU battle, Pokémon from tiers above UU (OU or Uber) are banned, but Pokémon from lower tiers (such as RU or NU) are allowed.
-A common addition to the tiers below may be several "Borderline" tiers ("BL", "BL2", and so on). Pokémon in a borderline tier are "too strong" for one tier, but not sufficiently used in the next higher tier to be a part of it. In essence, borderline tiers serve as a ban list for a lower tier.
+A common addition to the tiers below may be several "Borderline" or "Banlist" tiers ("UUBL", "RUBL", and so on). Players can vote Pokémon into a borderline if said Pokémon are "broken" for one tier, but not sufficiently used in the next tier to be a part of it. Pokémon are banned usually because they are very difficult to counter without specifically preparing for them. In other words, battles involving "broken" Pokémon are more likely to be decided by team matchups and the presence of specialized counters rather than "player skill".
 Below are six of the most common tiers.
-===Uber===
+===Ubers===
-The Uber tier is effectively a banlist for the OU tier, as "standard" battles include everything in the OU list and below. Pokémon in the Uber tier were deemed too powerful or destabilizing to the OU [[Appendix:Metagame terminology|metagame]] to allow. Ubers, if allowed, cause extreme "centralization" of strategies—in other words, it is impossible or very difficult to counter them in a reasonable manner.
+The Ubers tier is effectively a banlist for the OU tier, as "standard" battles allow everything in the OU list and below. Players can, similarly to BL tiers, vote to ban Pokémon to Ubers if said Pokémon are too "broken" to the OU [[Appendix:Metagame terminology|metagame]] to allow.
-The Uber tier may include any Pokémon, not necessarily just [[Legendary Pokémon]]. Typically, it includes all {{pkmn2|Legendary}} [[game mascot]]s except [[List of Pokémon with form differences#Kyurem|Black]] {{p|Kyurem}}, due to various factors preventing it from becoming "too centralizing". Although many legendary Pokémon reside in the Uber tier, a far larger number exists in lower tiers due to similar inadequacies.
+The Uber tier may include any Pokémon, not necessarily just [[Legendary Pokémon]]. Typically, it includes most {{pkmn2|Legendary}} [[game mascot]]s except [[List of Pokémon with form differences#Kyurem|Black]] {{p|Kyurem}}, due to various factors preventing it from becoming "too centralizing". Although many legendary Pokémon reside in the Uber tier, a far larger number exists in lower tiers due to similar inadequacies.
-After the release of [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]], due to the dominance of [[Mega Evolution|Mega]] {{p|Rayquaza}}, Smogon made their version of Ubers a full-fledged tier, allowing bans from the tier. Smogon has also banned the move {{m|Baton Pass}} from their version of Ubers. However, unlike other tiers, it is not affected by usage. As a result, Smogon also endorses a playstyle referred to as "Anything Goes", which has no fan-imposed rules other than the "Endless Battle Clause".
+After the release of [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]], due to the dominance of [[Mega Evolution|Mega]] {{p|Rayquaza}}, Smogon made their version of Ubers a full-fledged tier, allowing bans from Ubers. Smogon has also banned the move {{m|Baton Pass}} from their version of Ubers. However, unlike other tiers, it is not affected by usage. As a result, Smogon also endorses a playstyle referred to as "Anything Goes", which has no fan-imposed rules other than the "Endless Battle Clause".
 ===OverUsed===
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 ===UnderUsed===
-UnderUsed, commonly referred to as "'''UU'''", consists of Pokémon that are not used enough to be in OU. Pokémon classified as UU are often outclassed by Pokémon in higher tiers, possibly as a result of generally lower base stats, available moves, or Abilities. For example, in Generation V, {{p|Machamp}} fell to UU in some tier lists largely as a result of the introduction of {{p|Conkeldurr}}, which has {{m|Mach Punch}}, {{m|Drain Punch}}, and generally superior base stats. UU Pokémon are commonly used in OU battles, but most have smaller niches. If a UU Pokémon is not used enough in the UU tier, it will fall to the RU/LU tier.
+UnderUsed, commonly referred to as "'''UU'''", consists of Pokémon that are not used enough to be in OU. Pokémon classified as UU are often outclassed by Pokémon in higher tiers, possibly as a result of generally lower base stats, available moves, or Abilities. For example, in Generation V, {{p|Machamp}} fell to UU in some tier lists largely as a result of the introduction of {{p|Conkeldurr}}, which has {{m|Mach Punch}}, {{m|Drain Punch}}, and generally superior base stats. UU Pokémon are sometimes used in OU battles, but most have smaller niches. If a UU Pokémon is not used enough in the UU tier, it will fall to the RU tier.
-===RarelyUsed/LittleUsed===
+===RarelyUsed===
-RarelyUsed/LittleUsed, commonly referred to as either "'''RU'''" or "'''LU'''". While the name of the tier varies, its "level" is equivalent. The tier consists of Pokémon that are not used enough to be in UU. For example, {{p|Escavalier}} is considered RU in Generation V in some tier lists because it is not used enough in UU battles. If an RU/LU Pokémon is not used enough in the RU/LU tier, it will fall to the NU tier.
+RarelyUsed, commonly referred to as either "'''RU'''". The tier consists of Pokémon that are not used enough to be in UU. For example, {{p|Escavalier}} is considered RU in Generation V in some tier lists because it is not used enough in UU battles. If an RU Pokémon is not used enough in the RU tier, it will fall to the NU tier.
 ===NeverUsed===
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 ===Untiered===
-Some Pokémon are not competitively viable in any tier and left untiered. Untiered Pokémon that have an evolved form are typically given the classification Not Fully Evolved (NFE) instead; if an untiered NFE Pokémon is eligible for [[Little Cup]], it is often referred to as LC instead.
+Some Pokémon are not used enough in any tier and left untiered. Untiered Pokémon that have an evolved form are typically given the classification Not Fully Evolved (NFE) instead; if an untiered NFE Pokémon is eligible for [[Little Cup]], it is often referred to as LC instead.
-==Tier variations==
-Some Pokémon are listed in tiers but are sometimes used in competitive play outside of their own tier because they have a change during evolution that modified their disposition enough to allow them to stay competitive, even some in an unevolved state.
-* {{p|Porygon2}}, which is due to its evolution, {{p|Porygon-Z}}, having lower {{stat|Defense}} and {{stat|Special Defense}}, meaning Porygon2 can be used as a {{dl|Appendix:Metagame terminology|wall}}, unlike its evolution.
-* {{p|Pikachu}} holding {{DL|Stat-enhancing item|Light Ball}} can have higher Attack and Special Attack than its evolution, {{p|Raichu}}.
-* {{p|Magneton}}, as previously stated, is still used in lower tiers because it carries the ability to trap {{t|Steel}} types with {{a|Magnet Pull}}. It also has use in OU battles, as its slightly higher speed than {{p|Magnezone}} allows it to outspeed many OU Pokémon that Magnezone cannot.
-* {{DL|Stat-enhancing item|Eviolite}}, an item that multiplies both Defense and Special Defense of not-fully-evolved Pokémon by 1.5, has increased the popularity of several other pre-evolutions, such as {{p|Gligar}}, {{p|Dusclops}}, and {{p|Chansey}}, among others, Dusclops and Chansey even being in a higher tier than their evolutions, {{p|Dusknoir}} and {{p|Blissey}}, respectively, on some tier lists.
 ==Tiers in special formats==
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 This format is based on the [[Stadium Cup]].
-Some unevolved Pokémon—for example, {{p|Meditite}}, {{p|Scyther}} and {{p|Gligar}}—are sometimes considered too powerful and banned in some tier lists. In this special battle style, [[Berry Juice]] is also sometimes banned.
+Some unevolved Pokémon—for example, {{p|Meditite}}, {{p|Scyther}} and {{p|Gligar}}—are sometimes considered broken and banned in some tier lists. In this special battle style, [[Berry Juice]] is also sometimes banned.
 [[Eviolite]] is one of the most commonly used items in this format, because it can boost the Defense and Special Defense of any legal Pokémon in this format by 50%.
 ==External links==
-* [http://www.smogon.com/xyhub/tiers Smogon tier list]
+* [https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/tiering-faq.3644714/ Smogon tier list and FAQ]
+* [https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/tiering-policy-framework.3628026/ Smogon tiering policy]
 {{Project Fandom notice}}