Usage Statistics for January

"OU" List:

Shedinja
Sandslash
Raichu
Pikachu
Golduck
Banette
Aggron
Armaldo
Mawile

High Usage:

Exploud
Relicanth
Furret
Noctowl
Wailord
Stantler
Cloyster
Dodrio

Medium Usage:

Plusle
Crawdaunt
Chimecho
Bellossom
Purugly
Mr.Mime
Mothim
Skuntank
Kingler
Sudowoodo
Ampharos
Pachirisu
Carnivine

Low Usage:

Phione
Raticate
Xatu
Seviper
Beedrill
Chatot
Pidgeot
Sableye
Trapinch
Wormadam-s
Masquerain
Butterfree
Lunatone
Golem
Dunsparce
Volbeat
Cacturne
Dewgong
Girafarig
Torkoal
Whiscash
Fearow
Cherrim
Corsola
Sunflora
Cradily
Castform
Tropius
Mightyena
Spinda
Dustox
Delcatty
Beautifly
Lumineon
Huntail

No Usage:

Quagsire
Octillery
Shiftry
Parasect
Ariados
Granbull
Bastiodon
Solrock
Pelipper
Magcargo
Wigglytuff
Arbok
Kecleon
Politoed
Walrein
Ledian
Vespiquen
Seaking
Delibird
Glalie
Vigoroth
Kricketune
Farfetch'd
Clamperl
Wormadam
Wormadam-G
Minun
Ditto
Luvdisc
Illumise
Unown

Leads:

Mawile
Relicanth
Banette
Noctowl
Purugly/Furret (tie)

Popular Pokemon Combos:

Banette+Sandslash
Shedinja+Sandslash
Aggron+Golduck

Random Facts:

-Purugly had a severe drop in usage and couldn't even make it to High Usage.
-Shiftry did more jumping. He's now back at having no usage, after being OU last month.
-As the months go on, the "No Usage" list grows longer. This is a sign of either stabilization or centralization, depending on how you look at it.
-Pikachu was only one use behind Raichu this month.
-If you look at the OU list, you'll notice that they counter each other which is probably why this is the first month where there weren't any claims of "broken" Pokemon.
-Plusle made it to the top of Medium Usage, but Minun remains in No Usage.
-Crawdaunt was more popular than Kingler.
-Baton Pass teams seem to be a thing of the past.

Common Trends in January:

Most Common Pokemon: Shedinja
Most Common Lead: Mawile
Most Common Baton Passer: Mawile
Most Common Type of Teams: Balanced (leaning towards offensive)
Most Common Revenge Killer: Raichu
Most Common Late-Game Sweeper: Armaldo/Shedinja
Most Common Wall Breaker: Pikachu
Most Common Walls: Sandslash, Aggron, Relicanth, and Cloyster

Other Notes: Baton Pass teams, popular at NU's creation, were literally non-existent this month, although the occasional single Baton Passer sometimes showed up. The standard style of play is still offensive, but not like the hyper-offensive teams of last month. Instead, the current "standard" teams are balanced, often including a mixture of sweepers and walls.