Let's be real for a second. If you grew up playing Pokémon Red and Blue, you probably think Alakazam or Mewtwo are the peak of power. And back in 1998? They totally were. But it's 2026 now. The meta has shifted so hard that the "gods" of the Kanto region are basically fodder for a sentient gold-man made of coins or a prehistoric mushroom with a shield.
Building a Pokémon tier list gen 1-9 isn't just about looking at base stats anymore. It’s about how many "broken" things a Pokémon can do before it gets knocked out. We're talking about abilities that set terrain, items that boost speed to lightspeed, and moves that hit twice just for the fun of it.
The S-Tier: The Unstoppable Meta-Definers
If you aren't prepared for these, you're gonna lose. Period. Most of these come from the more recent generations, but there are a few old-school legends that refuse to die.
Incineroar (Gen 7): Honestly, it's getting ridiculous. This fire cat has won more World Championships than I’ve had hot dinners. It has Intimidate, Fake Out, Parting Shot, and enough bulk to survive a nuke. It’s the king of VGC for a reason. You can't ignore it.
Gholdengo (Gen 9): Basically the reason why status moves are dead. Its ability, Good as Gold, makes it immune to every status move in the book. It just sits there, hits you with "Make It Rain," and collects your lunch money.
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Kingambit (Gen 9): The ultimate "clutch" Pokémon. With Supreme Overlord, it gets stronger for every fallen teammate. You think you’ve won, then this guy comes out, clicks Sucker Punch, and sweeps your entire remaining team.
Miraidon/Koraidon (Gen 9): These are the "Box Legends" that actually lived up to the hype. They set their own terrain/weather, boost their own stats, and have signature moves that hit like a freight train. In the 2026 Ubers meta, they are the bar everyone else has to clear.
Tyranitar (Gen 2): It's the "Goat" for a reason. It falls to UU (UnderUsed) sometimes, but it always finds its way back to the top. In early 2026, it's seeing a massive resurgence in Smogon OU because it’s one of the few things that can actually check Kyurem and Dragapult effectively.
A-Tier: The Reliable Heavy Hitters
These guys are amazing but usually have one glaring weakness that keeps them from being totally broken.
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- Dragapult (Gen 8): Insane speed. It’s the fastest non-legendary in the game most of the time. It can be physical, special, or support. You never know what it’s doing until it’s too late.
- Flutter Mane (Gen 9): A glass cannon. If it hits you, you die. If you hit it with a physical move, it evaporates. It’s been a staple of Regulation Set F and remains a top-tier threat in 2026.
- Amoonguss (Gen 5): The mushroom that won't go away. Spore is still the most annoying move in the game. It’s slow, it’s ugly, and it will put your best attacker to sleep every single time.
- Garchomp (Gen 4): Every few years, people say "Garchomp is washed." Then it gets a new toy like Tera or a specific item and comes roaring back. In the current 2026 meta, Garchomp Z-sets are haunting the higher ladders.
The B-Tier: Good, But Struggling With Power Creep
This is where most of the classic "strong" Pokémon live now. They are still good! You can win with them! But you have to work twice as hard as the guy using a Gen 9 Paradox Pokémon.
Dragonite (Gen 1): Multiscale is a legendary ability. It lets Dragonite survive almost any one hit, allowing it to set up Dragon Dance. It’s still a top-tier threat, but it hates the abundance of Stealth Rocks and the loss of some of its old utility moves in the transition to the latest games.
Scizor (Gen 2): It recently dropped to UU, which broke a lot of hearts. It’s still the best priority attacker with Technician Bullet Punch, but it struggles against the massive defensive walls like Corviknight or the rise of faster Fire-types like Chi-Yu.
Iron Bundle (Gen 9): This robotic Delibird is fast as hell and hits like a truck, but its accuracy can be shaky. It’s a bit of a "boom or bust" pick in the current meta.
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Why the Tier List Changed: The 2026 Meta Reality
Why did Gengar fall from S-tier to "barely viable"? It’s simple: The Game Changed.
Back in Gen 1, Speed was tied to critical hit ratio. If you were fast, you were a god. Now? Everyone has speed control. We have Choice Scarfs, Tailwind, and abilities like Protosynthesis that boost stats for free.
There's also the "Dexit" factor. Not every Pokémon is in every game anymore. When a Pokémon like Landorus-T (the old king of Gen 5-8) is missing or has its movepool gutted, the entire tier list shifts. In Gen 9, Game Freak took away a lot of "healing" moves. Recovery moves like Roost and Recover only have 8 PP now. This killed stall teams and made hyper-offensive Pokémon much better.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Team
- Stop clinging to Gen 1 nostalgia. Charizard is cool, but unless you're running a very specific sun-boosted Solar Power set, he’s going to get eaten alive by a Kingambit or a Wellspring Ogerpon.
- Focus on "Role Compression." The best Pokémon in the 1-9 tier list are the ones that do multiple things. Incineroar isn't just a damage dealer; he's a debuffer, a pivot, and a disruptor.
- Respect the Tera. Terastallization is the biggest "X-factor" in Pokémon history. A Pokémon that is D-tier can suddenly become S-tier if it has the right Tera type to flip a matchup.
- Check the 2026 Usage Stats. If you’re playing Smogon, look at the January 2026 tier shifts. Tyranitar is back in OU for a reason. Torterra has actually become viable in RU (Rarely Used) because of Shell Smash. Use the data, don't just guess.
The Pokémon world is bigger than it’s ever been. With 1,000+ monsters to choose from, the "best" list is always moving. Stay flexible, watch the VGC replays, and for the love of Arceus, bring something that can outspeed a Flutter Mane.
Next Step: Head over to the Smogon or Pikalytics 2026 database to see the exact move usage for the current month. If you want to build a competitive team, start with one S-tier core (like Incineroar/Gholdengo) and fill the gaps from there.