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Published on November 23rd, 2013 | by Scott

23

VGC ’14 Pokémon Speed Tiers

While together they look a bit like a reference table in a mathematics textbook, Speed tiers are what drive turns in Pokémon. Knowing whether your Pokémon is going to move before or after its opponents is essential to winning battles and avoiding unnecessary damage. This list should help you get a feel for the relative speed of each Pokémon and what nearby threats are faster or slower than them.

Some helpful hints about Speed before the table:

  • Discounting the bonuses and penalties of a Pokémon’s Nature, the difference between a 0 IV in Speed and a 31 IV is 15 points in Speed and the difference between 0 EVs and 252 EVs in Speed is 32 points with an odd IV or 31 with an even IV.
  • Choice Scarf boosts Speed by one level (*1.5). Tailwind boosts Speed by two levels (*2). Thunder Wave reduces speed to 1/4. Icy Wind reduces Speed by one level (2/3). Iron Ball reduces Speed by two levels (2/4).
  • A Pokémon’s Speed is always a whole number. Like most of the math in Pokémon, Speed calculations round down, so a Pokémon with 101 Speed would have 151 Speed when holding a Choice Scarf, not 151.5 or 152.
  • The turn order of Pokémon is decided before a turn starts. If you use a move that changes a Pokémon’s Speed level (like Icy Wind) or value (through Mega Evolving) you retain the Speed value you had before the turn started until the next turn. The only exception to this rule is the move Quash.
  • There is a 50/50 chance of each Pokémon moving first if two Pokémon have the same Speed. This is some of how Speed Tiers got their name, though Game Freak has enjoyed putting Pokémon at a much greater variety of Speeds in recent iterations of the game compared to the older games, when any popular Pokémon were tied at base speeds like 100.

Every Pokémon listed below has either 0 or 252 EVs in Speed and a 31 or 0 IV in Speed. In real life, you’ll probably see more variance than this, so what a list like this really does is help you find absolutes: these are the fastest and slowest Pokémon can be with the given natures. Since taking unnecessary risks tends to be the fastest way to lose in Pokémon, you can use this information when planning your team to make sure that your Pokémon will move before important threats that can knock your Pokémon out, or if that is unreasonable or impossible, to know when defeat could be a turn away and you need to switch out to a more appropriate counter to fend it off. This list can also help you figure out how much Speed you really need: if all the things you want to counter only require your Pokémon to invest 100 EVs in Speed, you’re probably going to want to invest the rest of your EVs defensively instead of running more Speed EVs that might not accomplish very much.

The speeds listed here are broken up into three somewhat arbitrary groups to make the list a little more readable. There is almost too much data here already, so Pokémon not likely to be relevant to the metagame aren’t listed. Should there be a rise in Pidgeot usage, it would be added to the list.

Faster Than Base 100

Pokémon here are those faster than base 100 Pokémon with positive natures, which includes Pokémon with Speed boosts from weather abilities and Choice Scarf as well as most of the Pokémon that are used largely because of their innate Speed.

Max Speed Stat Pokémon Nature EVs Boost Base Speed
294 Yanmega Neutral 252 +2 95
274 Kingdra Neutral 252 +2 85
264 Venusaur Neutral 252 +2 80
244 Ludicolo Neutral 252 +2 70
231 Garchomp Neutral 252 +1 102
228 Salamence, Zapdos, Staraptor Neutral 252 +1 100
225 Hydreigon Neutral 252 +1 98
222 Mega Alakazam, Mega Aerodactyl Positive 252 0 150
220 Yanmega Neutral 252 +1 95
216 Krookodile Neutral 252 +1 92
213 Moltres Neutral 252 +1 90
208 Smeargle Positive 252 +1 75
207 Rotom-A* Neutral 252 +1 86
205 Heracross Neutral 252 +1 85
205 Mega Manectric Positive 252 0 135
202 Mega Alakazam, Mega Aerodactyl Neutral 252 0 150
200 Mega Gengar, Crobat, Aerodactyl, Jolteon Positive 252 0 130
198 Mamoswine, Chandelure Neutral 252 +1 80
195 Blastoise Neutral 252 +1 78
195 Talonflame Positive 252 0 126
194 Weavile Positive 252 0 125
192 Noivern Positive 252 0 123
191 Greninja Positive 252 0 122
190 Smeargle Neutral 252 +1 75
187 Mega Manectric Neutral 252 0 135
186 Tyranitar Positive 252 +1 61
184 Abomasnow Positive 252 +1 60
183 Mega Absol, Mega Houndoom, Starmie Positive 252 0 115
183 Politoed, Cloyster Neutral 252 +1 70
182 Mega Gengar, Crobat, Aerodactyl, Jolteon Neutral 252 0 130
180 Mega Lucario Positive 252 0 112
178 Talonflame Neutral 252 0 126
178 Gengar, Raichu Positive 252 0 110
177 Heliolisk Positive 252 0 109
177 Weavile Neutral 252 0 125
175 Noivern Neutral 252 0 123
174 Greninja Neutral 252 0 122
173 Liepard Positive 252 0 106
172 Mega Pinsir, Manectric, Mienshao, Scyther Positive 252 0 105
171 Meowstic, Delphox Positive 252 0 104
169 Garchomp Positive 252 0 102
167 Mega Absol, Mega Houndoom, Starmie Neutral 252 0 115

Middle of the Pack

The bulk of the available Pokémon fit into this group. Slower than the base 100s like Mega Kangaskhan, Charizard, Zapdos, and Salamence that will drive a lot of the metagame’s Speed decisions, but faster than Pokémon you’d see on a dedicated Trick Room team.

Max Speed Stat Pokémon Nature EVs Boost Base Speed
167 Mega Kangaskhan, All Charizard, Salamence, Zapdos, Staraptor, Mega Medicham Positive 252 0 100
165 Hydreigon Positive 252 0 98
164 Mega Lucario Neutral 252 0 112
163 Haxorus Positive 252 0 97
162 Gengar, Raichu Neutral 252 0 110
161 Yanmega, Houndoom Positive 252 0 95
158 Mega Garchomp, Krookodile Positive 252 0 92
157 Mega Pinsir, Manectric, Mienshao, Scyther Neutral 252 0 105
156 Kangaskhan, Moltres, Lucario Positive 252 0 90
156 Meowstic, Delphox Neutral 252 0 104
155 Vivillon Positive 252 0 89
154 Garchomp Neutral 252 0 102
152 Mega Kangaskhan, All Charizard, Salamence, Zapdos, Staraptor, Mega Medicham Neutral 252 0 100
151 Rotom-A Positive 252 0 86
150 Hydreigon Neutral 252 0 98
150 Kingdra, Heracross, Toxicroak, Nidoking, Pinsir Positive 252 0 85
149 Haxorus Neutral 252 0 97
147 Yanmega, Houndoom Neutral 252 0 95
146 Talonflame Neutral 0 0 126
146 Mega Gyarados, Gyarados Positive 252 0 81
145 Mega Venusaur, Mamoswine, Goodra, Chandelure, Gardevoir, Gallade, Dragonite, Venusaur, Medicham Positive 252 0 80
144 Mega Garchomp, Krookodile Neutral 252 0 92
143 Blastoise Positive 252 0 78
142 Kangaskhan, Moltres, Lucario Neutral 252 0 90
141 Vivillon Neutral 252 0 89
139 Smeargle, Mega Scizor, Mega Heracross, Mega Banette, Florges, Absol, Klefki Positive 252 0 75
138 Rotom-A Neutral 252 0 86
137 Kingdra, Heracross, Toxicroak, Nidoking, Pinsir Neutral 252 0 85
137 Malamar Positive 252 0 73
135 Mega Tyranitar Positive 252 0 71
134 Politoed, Ludicolo, Bisharp, Magneton Positive 252 0 70
133 Mega Gyarados, Gyarados Neutral 252 0 81
132 Mega Venusaur, Mamoswine, Goodra, Chandelure, Gardevoir, Gallade, Dragonite, Venusaur, Medicham Neutral 252 0 80
132 Exploud Positive 252 0 68
130 Blastoise Neutral 252 0 78
128 Scizor Positive 252 0 65
127 Smeargle, Mega Scizor, Mega Heracross, Mega Banette, Florges, Absol, Klefki Neutral 252 0 75
125 Malamar Neutral 252 0 73
124 Meowstic, Delphox Neutral 0 0 104
124 Tyranitar Positive 252 0 61
123 Mega Tyranitar Neutral 252 0 71
123 Abomasnow, Sylveon, Aegislash Positive 252 0 60
122 Politoed, Ludicolo, Bisharp, Magneton Neutral 252 0 70
120 Exploud Neutral 252 0 68
120 Mega Kangaskhan, All Charizard, Salamence, Zapdos, Staraptor, Tentacruel, Mega Medicham Neutral 0 0 100
118 Hydreigon Neutral 0 0 98
117 Scizor Neutral 252 0 65
112 Abomasnow, Sylveon, Aegislash Neutral 252 0 60
110 Scrafty, Pangoro Neutral 252 0 58
110 Murkrow Neutral 0 0 91
109 Vivillon Neutral 0 0 89
106 Rotom-A Neutral 0 0 86
105 Toxicroak, Heracross Neutral 0 0 85
104 Gourgeist (Medium Size) Neutral 0 0 84
102 Azumarill Neutral 252 0 50
101 Mega Gyarados, Gyarados Neutral 0 0 81
100 Mega Venusaur, Mamoswine, Goodra, Chandelure, Gardevoir, Gallade, Dragonite, Venusaur, Medicham Neutral 0 0 80
98 Meowstic, Delphox Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 104
98 Blastoise Neutral 0 0 78
95 Smeargle, Mega Scizor, Mega Heracross, Mega Banette, Florges, Klefki Neutral 0 0 75
93 Malamar Neutral 0 0 73
91 Mega Tyranitar Neutral 0 0 71
90 Politoed, Ludicolo, Bisharp, Magneton Neutral 0 0 70
90 Amoonguss Positive 252 0 30
85 Scizor, Gothitelle, Vaporeon Neutral 0 0 65
81 Tyranitar Neutral 0 0 61
80 Abomasnow, Sylveon, Aegislash Neutral 0 0 60
79 Clawitzer Neutral 0 0 59
78 Scrafty, Pangoro Neutral 0 0 58
76 Trevenant Neutral 0 0 56

Trick Room Zone

Below are the slowest Pokémon, most of which have had their Speed lowered further by a negative Nature and a 0 IV in order to optimize their effectiveness in Trick Room.

Max Speed Stat Pokémon Nature EVs Boost Base Speed
76 Chandelure, Gardevoir, Gallade Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 80
75 Ampharos, Machamp, Crawdaunt, Gothorita Neutral 0 0 55
74 Gourgeist (Super Size) Neutral 0 0 54
74 Blastoise Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 78
72 Smeargle, Mega Scizor, Mega Heracross, Mega Banette Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 75
70 Malamar Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 73
70 Mega Mawile, Mega Aggron, Azumarill, Sableye, Mawile, Aggron, Hariyama Neutral 0 0 50
68 Mega Tyranitar Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 71
65 Exploud Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 68
65 Conkeldurr, Mega Ampharos, Marowak Neutral 0 0 45
64 Dragalge Neutral 0 0 44
63 Scizor, Gothitelle Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 65
60 Rhydon, Rhyperior Neutral 0 0 40
58 Abomasnow, Sylveon, Aegislash Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 60
57 Clawitzer Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 59
56 Scrafty Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 58
54 Ampharos, Machamp, Crawdaunt, Gothorita Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 55
54 Trevenant Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 56
53 Gourgeist (Super Size) Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 54
50 Mega Abomasnow, Amoonguss, Slowking, Slowbro, Reuniclus, Snorlax Neutral 0 0 30
49 Aromatisse Neutral 0 0 29
49 Mega Mawile, Mega Aggron, Azumarill, Sableye, Mawile, Aggron, Hariyama Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 50
45 Conkeldurr, Mega Ampharos, Marowak Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 45
44 Dragalge Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 44
40 Rhydon, Rhyperior Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 40
40 Ferrothorn, Torkoal, Escavalier Neutral 0 0 20
33 Politoed Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV -2 70
31 Mega Abomasnow, Amoonguss, Slowking, Slowbro, Reuniclus, Snorlax Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 30
30 Aromatisse Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 29
29 Tyranitar Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV -2 61
29 Abomasnow Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV -2 60
22 Ferrothorn, Torkoal, Escavalier Negative 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 20
4 Aron Negative Level 1, 0 EVs, 0 IV 0 20

 


About the Author

started playing VGC in 2011. He finished 17th at US Nationals, then lost in the final round of 2011 Worlds LCQ. He finished 10th in the 2012 World Championships and qualified for Worlds again in 2013 after going into US Nationals second in CP. Instead of playing, he commentated at US Nationals and the World Championships in 2013 and 2014. Follow him on Twitter @NBNostrom!


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23 Responses to VGC ’14 Pokémon Speed Tiers

  1. Scott says:
    November 23, 2013 at 12:01 pm

    I should note I blew threw this pretty quickly, so there’s probably a couple things I didn’t include I should have… if there’s something obvious I missed, feel free and suggest it, but it should be mostly complete. I’ll gradually update it over the season if we get surprised by some strange stuff being decent or if Choice Scarf is common on things that don’t have +1s listed.

  2. Adib says:
    November 23, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    Positive Gyarados should be at 146, not 145
     
    Thanks for putting this together!

  3. Carl says:
    November 23, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Mega Manectric has “positive” nature for both its listings.

  4. Scott says:
    November 23, 2013 at 12:22 pm

    Fixed that stuff (how did I even do that with Gyarados…), thanks. I’m sure there’s probably a few more but most of it should be right.

  5. tlyee61 says:
    November 23, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    nice article scott, really was looking forward to this rather than having to look at every mon on PS! to get speed stats.

  6. Kappy says:
    November 23, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    This article is super helpful, nice job! LOL. A couple things I saw while perusing the list:
     

    • Mega Manectric has “Negative” instead of “Neutral” (unless he actually does hit 187 with a Negative nature).
    • You listed base 55 with a Negative nature, 0 EV, and 0 IV twice; once with Gothorita and once without Gothorita.
  7. shinryu says:
    November 23, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    Very handy reference, thanks for putting together one.

  8. Lajo says:
    November 24, 2013 at 3:36 am

    This list is very helpful, thank you Scott for putting this together!

    I also see quite some Ddance Mega Tyranitar, so you should add this to the list, too.
    It reaches 205 after a Ddance which is noteworthy since it speed ties with Mega Manectric.

  9. ScottMtc says:
    November 24, 2013 at 9:42 am

    149 Haxorus, Positive etc should be Neutral

  10. Bosseidon says:
    November 29, 2013 at 10:13 am

    Ok I’m a noob, what is the boost (+1,+2, etc). I don’t understand how a Venusaur with 80 base stats could be 4th fastest pokemon. Help! PLZ 🙂

  11. araluen7 says:
    November 29, 2013 at 10:19 am

    Ok I’m a noob, what is the boost (+1,+2, etc). I don’t understand how a Venusaur with 80 base stats could be 4th fastest pokemon. Help! PLZ :)

     
    +1 Is a choice scarf, and +2 could be either under Tailwind, Chlorophyll, Swift Swim, Sand Rush, etc.  

  12. voodoo pimp says:
    November 29, 2013 at 11:04 am

    +1 multiplies the base stat by 1.5, and +2 multiplies it by 2.

  13. Chauzu says:
    November 29, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Just wanted to give a thank you to this list, I always have it as one of my resources when building my teams now. Much appreciated!

  14. MSK says:
    December 1, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    So what is the max speed of a Jolly Choice Scarf Garchomp?

  15. Jffurlan says:
    December 1, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Being new to competitive battling I wanted to see if I could figure this out:

    Jolly garchomp with 31 iv speed + 252 EV’s with +3 (+1 for scarf, +2 for tailwind) would be 422.

    Am I right?

  16. voodoo pimp says:
    December 1, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    Being new to competitive battling I wanted to see if I could figure this out:

    Jolly garchomp with 31 iv speed + 252 EV’s with +3 (+1 for scarf, +2 for tailwind) would be 422.

    Am I right?

    Not quite.  Flat modifiers may act like +X modifiers by themselves, but they stack multiplicatively.  1.5x from scarf and 2x from Tailwind actually combine to 3x (which is the equivalent of +4), or 507 for Jolly Garchomp.
     

    So what is the max speed of a Jolly Choice Scarf Garchomp?

    253 assuming no other modifiers.

  17. Jffurlan says:
    December 1, 2013 at 5:19 pm

    Not quite.  Flat modifiers may act like +X modifiers by themselves, but they stack multiplicatively.  1.5x from scarf and 2x from Tailwind actually combine to 3x (which is the equivalent of +4), or 507 for jolly Garchomp

    Good to know, thanks!

  18. MSK says:
    December 1, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    Cool, nice one. Just wanted to know if a fully invested Modest Ludiculo in the rain would still outspeed it, but obviously it doesn’t. So I may as well EV to outspeed an Adamant one and put the spare EV’s in HP or Defence.

  19. Scruffy says:
    December 7, 2013 at 10:36 pm

    Thank you very much for this information, this will greatly assist me in building my team and knowing what to expect from the teams of others in this coming season. Thank you Scott.

  20. camzeee says:
    December 8, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    0 spe Brave Tyranitar comes in at 59. Something people are often looking to underspeed for weather.

  21. mybodyisready says:
    May 18, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    Why is the max speed stat for level 100 Pokemon? Doesn’t the VGC 2014 ruleset use level 50 Pokemon?

  22. Scott says:
    May 18, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    Probably because it’s not for level 100 Pokemon.

  23. mybodyisready says:
    May 19, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    You’re right, I misread the boosts the Pokemon get in the first couple of entries.

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