VGC20 – Speed Tiers

Original Pokémon Sword and Shield Speed Tiers made by Ryota Otsubo (@barudoru). Translated for Trainer Tower with permission. If you find any errors, please contact me @TamtamVGC!

Galar (Sword and Shield) Speed Tiers

Below, you will find a list of Speed Tiers for Pokémon in the Galar Pokédex, ordered from highest to lowest. The list will only include EVs (252 or 0), IVs (31 or 0), Natures, Base Speed and the most relevant Speed boosts.

Notes and pointers about Speed

Moves / Abilities Moves / Abilities The fastest Pokémon will move first in their move’s priority bracket. For example, if two Pokémon use Fake Out (a +3 priority move), the faster Pokémon will use Fake Out first. If one Pokémon uses Extreme Speed and another Pokémon uses Flare Blitz, the Extreme Speed user will always move first regardless of Speed, since Extreme Speed has +2 priority compared to Flare Blitz’s +0.

Speed, like most numbers in Pokémon, rounds down. This means that a Galarian Darmanitan holding a Choice Scarf will reach a Speed stat of 241 (161 * 1.5, rounded down), not 242.

Tailwind, Chlorophyll, Swift Swim, Slush Rush, Sand Rush, and Unburden boost Speed by +2 (* 2) in their respective conditions. Choice Scarf and Max Airstream boost Speed by +1 (* 1.5). Icy Wind, Electroweb, and Room Service reduce Speed by -1 (* 0.67). Paralysis and Iron Ball reduce Speed by -2 (* 0.5). Trick Room reverses the Speed order, but follows the same rules about priority.

Abilities that activate on switch-in will proc based on each Pokémon’s Speed. This is useful in figuring out the Speed of the opponent’s Pokémon. For example, if both you and your opponent send out Arcanine, the faster Arcanine’s Intimidate will activate first. The exception to this rule is Unnerve, which will always activate before other Abilities. Turn Order / Switching / Tiebreakers Turn Order / Switching / Tiebreakers The turn order of each Pokémon is now recalculated mid-turn, which is a major mechanics change for Generation 8. If a Prankster Whimsicott uses Tailwind, the Speed is recalculated before the next move happens, which may allow its partner Pokémon to move immediately after it. Similarly, if a Pokémon becomes Paralyzed, its Speed is halved, which may cause it to move later on the same turn.

If two Pokémon switch, the faster Pokémon will switch out first.

If both Pokémon have the same Speed (also known as a speed tie), then the Pokémon moving first is chosen randomly. In other words, speed ties cause a 50-50. The same is true for Ability activation order.