With the release of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, fans of the Pokemon franchise are encountering tons of new creatures from the Paldea region. Furthermore, fans of the competitive side of Pokemon are eager to explore the viability of Game Freak's latest additions. This is especially common as VGC tournaments pop up for the new game.
However, those who are newer to the competitive scene may have a difficult time discerning which Pokemon would fit the best roles on their team. One of these roles is the wall, which refers to bulky Pokemon that can take a lot of blows while dealing massive damage. Out of the new Gen 9 Pokemon, these will make the best walls for any team.
6 Clodsire
Since Gen 7, regional forms of past Pokemon have provided variety to each game's new lineup. Gen 9 continues on this tradition with Paldean Wooper, who sports a Poison/Ground-typing. Unlike its Johtoian form, this Wooper doesn't involve into Quagsire, but instead Clodsire. This new Gen 9 Pokemon offers a whole new design, stat distribution, and move pool.
While its typing provides decent type coverage, resistances, and immunity to Electric-type attacks, Clodsire also sports 100 base Special Defense and 130 base HP, which is pretty rare. Clodsire also has access to moves like Stockpile and Swallow, which allow it to remain in battle for a long time. The only thing it lacks is Speed, but this can be negligible for most walls.
5 Skeledirge
The final evolutions of the three starter Pokemon are often the team members players grow most attached to. However, players who chose Fuecoco as their starter may benefit the most competitively. Skeledirge, the final stage of Fuecoco, is Fire/Ghost-type, which has been seen before in competitively viable Pokemon like Chandelure and Blacephalon.
However, Skeledirge also possesses incredible base stats in both physical Defense and HP, both of which are over 100. Furthermore, unlike Clodsire, Skeledirge also has a meaty Special Attack stat. This allows it to take advantage of his signature STAB move, Torch Song, which also boosts its Special Attack. Skeledirge can deliver powerful blows for a Pokemon this bulky.
4 Baxcalibur
Paldea's pseudo-legendary Pokemon continues the Dragon-type tradition, this time combined with Ice-type. Baxcalibur will prove to be a very useful Pokemon serving various roles in the meta, thanks to its incredible 145 base Attack. With decent defenses, speed, and a whopping 115 HP, Baxcalibur could be a wall with the ability to break other walls.
It helps that Baxcalibur's movepool includes some pretty devastating attacks as well, such as the signature move Glaive Rush. However, combining this Pokemon with Rest and Sleep Talk can allow him to fully recover any damage dealt while also unleashing some powerful moves. Suffice it to say, but Baxcalibur will be a real threat to competitive players in Gen 9's meta.
3 Dondozo & Tatsugiri
The Water-type Dondozo will likely get the most field time in the doubles meta, where it can be paired with Dragon/Water-type Tatsugiri. Tatsugiri's Ability allows it to hide inside Dondozo's mouth, raising all of Dondozo's stats by 2 stages. It may seem like a sacrifice to dedicate two team slots to Dondozo and Tatsugiri, but it's worth it to create a truly beefy wall for doubles matches.
These double stat buffs from Tatsugiri's Ability work in the advantage of Dondozo, who already boasts incredible HP, Attack, and physical Defense. It even has access to coverage moves like Avalanche and Earthquake, which can counter its Grass and Electric-type weaknesses respectively. It even won't be possible for other players to forcibly switch out Dondozo, making him a true wall.
2 Wo-Chien
The Grass/Dark type Wo-Chien is one of four Legendary Pokemon designated the Treasures of Ruin, alongside Ting-Lu, Chien-Pao, and Chi-Yu. Sporting a Dark/Grass-typing, Wo-Chien is the only one of the four with incredible stats in both Defense and Special Defense. It also happens to sport decent stats in both Attack and Special Attack, making it quite the threat.
A good Wo-Chien moveset for the competitive meta would pair it with a move like Poison Powder or Stun Spore, as well as Leech Seed to keep it alive. With additional access to moves like Zen Headbutt, which covers its Fighting and Poison-type weaknesses, Wo-Chien can be a very difficult Pokemon to get rid of in battle.
1 Scream Tail
Paradox Pokemon, who have been introduced in Scarlet & Violet, are some of the biggest threats to the competitive meta. Mysterious ancient Pokemon that resemble the Pokemon of the present, they boast incredible stats. When paired with the Booster Energy item, their stats can be raised even more. This is especially true of Scream Tail, a Fairy/Psychic-type that appears to be an ancestor of Jigglypuff.
With 115 HP, 115 Special Defense, and 111 Speed, Scream Trail is incredibly tough to kill while also being speedy enough to KO, particularly with STAB moves. Scream Tail also gets access to Bulk Up, which can improve its Attack and Defense even more, as well as Wish, which will come in handy as it survives over the course of several turns.