While Pokemon may be best known for its casual RPG elements, the same can’t be said of competitive Pokemon battles. At this level, the stakes are much higher and a single win or loss can see you climbing up the ranked ladder, or dropping down to the bottom.

Related: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: How To Build A Competitive Pokemon

Whether you succeed largely depends on your strategy, team composition, and intuition as a battle-tested trainer. With that said, some Pokemon tiers are easier to climb than others, with UnderUsed falling somewhere in the middle. To give yourself a fighting chance at dominating in UU, consider using the best Pokemon for UnderUsed tier.

10 Quaquaval

Appearing prominently in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Quaquaval is the final evolution of the Water-type starter Quaxly. Equipped with an impressively-high 120 base Attack, this Pokemon is one of the best physical attackers in Gen 9.

This makes Quaquaval viable in both OU and UU tiers, with the latter providing a bit more flexibility when it comes to potential sets. At the UnderUsed level, Quaquaval can fulfill many different roles, including a Swords Dance setter, Rapid Spinner, and Choice Band user that gets a lot of value from its signature Speed-boosting move, Aqua Step.

9 Armarouge

Making up one-half of Charcadet’s evolutionary line, Armarouge is a dual Fire/Psychic-type that fits in comfortably in UU while also being usable at the OU level. This is due to its stellar 125 base Special Attack stat and signature move Armor Cannon.

In addition, Armarouge has access to a slew of powerful coverage special attacks such as Aura Sphere and Expanding Force, the latter of which provides extra stab damage and can be boosted further by Psychic Terrain. While the abilities Flash Fire and Weak Armor leave something to be desired, with the right investment, Armarouge can go a long way.

8 Brambleghast

Moving along, Brambleghast is a Grass/Ghost-type Pokemon introduced in Gen XI that resembles a tumbleweed plant from hell. This is further complemented by high Attack and decent Speed stats that allow it to fit in comfortably in UnderUsed tier.

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At this level, you’ll find Brambleghast thrives as a utility-based Pokemon by leveraging its abilities Infiltrator and Wind Rider. The former lets Brambleghast’s moves pass through enemy substitutes and defenses while the latter raises its Attack when hit by wind moves and provides full wind move immunity.

7 Kilowattrel

In theory, an Electric/Flying-type should be able to dominate the competitive scene, but that’s not exactly the case with Kilowattrel. Plagued by a limited movepool and poor Defense and Special Defense stats, this Pokemon finds itself mostly designated to UnderUsed tier.

Aside from its unique typing, Kilowattrel does have some other things going for it, namely decent Special Attack and Speed stats. This, coupled with stab-based Thunderbolt, Hurricane, and Volt Switch makes it a somewhat reliable offensive pivot capable of jumping in and out of battle.

6 Maushold

Probably the least likely Pokemon to prove viable in a competitive setting, Maushold manages to catch opponents by surprise time after time despite only having a base 111 Speed as its highest stat. This is due to the deadly combination of Tidy Up and Population Bomb.

The first move is effective at removing hazards and substitutes while raising Maushold’s Attack and Speed by one stage each. After that, Population Bomb steps in to bombard enemies with ten stab-boosted hits that become even more potent once Maushold’s Technician ability is activated.

5 Tinkaton

via Nintendo

Serving as the final evolution in the Tinka line, Tinkaton is a dual Steel/Fairy-type that walks around swinging a giant hammer. This is quite ironic seeing as one of Tinkaton’s best moves is Swords Dance, which increases its Attack stat by two stages in a single turn.

Related: Best Steel-Types In Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

With just one Swords Dance under its belt, Tinkaton can knock out most of the UU roster by the way of Gigaton Hammer, its 160 base power signature move. For the remaining slots, it’s best to equip moves like Knock Off and Encore that will disrupt enemies and give Tinkaton a chance to set up.

4 Pawmot

Next up is Pawmot, an UnderUsed tier Pokemon that stands out for its unique Electric/Fighting typing, high Attack and Speed stats, excellent movepool consisting of powerful stab attacks like Double Shock and Close Combat, and potent ability Natural Cure.

When combined, all of these strengths allow Pawmot to carve out a space for itself as one of the best wall-breakers in UU. On top of that, it has access to coverage moves like Ice Punch and Seed Bomb, allowing it to counter common Flying and Ground-type threats.

3 Espeon

As one of the more underrated Eeveelutions, Espeon doesn’t get as much love as it deserves, especially when it comes to competitive representation. This is somewhat surprising considering just how powerful both of its abilities Magic Bounce and Synchronize can be.

The former blocks certain status moves and sends them back to the user while the latter mirrors any status conditions affecting Espeon with the opposing Pokemon. Either one can work wonders with Espeon’s impressive Special Attack and Speed stats to set up dual screens or go on the offensive.

2 Mimikyu

Whether you consider Mimikyu a good Pokemon largely depends on which side of the battlefield you’re on, as going up against this thing can be an absolute nightmare. This speaks to just how powerful Mimikyu is, especially at the UnderUsed level.

Along with having access to set up moves like Swords Dance, it has a potent stab priority attack in Shadow Sneak, with Shadow Claw providing extra power when needed. However, it’s Mimikyu’s ability Disguise that truly makes it a menace, allowing it to tank a free hit.

1 Salamence

Considering how few Dragon types appear in UU, Salamence has a huge advantage over the rest of the competition so long as it can avoid taking four times super-effective damage from Ice attacks. Beyond that, this Pokemon can go largely unchecked due to its amazing stat spread and movepool.

Boasting great Speed, Special Attack, and slightly better Attack stats, Salamence’s potential sets come in a variety of flavors, including all-out special wall-breaker, physical attacker, or a mix of the two. Lastly, Intimidate and Moxie are both viable abilities that can create openings to help Salamence build momentum.

Next: The Best Pokemon For OverUsed Tier