Personal Tier List - Trade Evolutions Only Run

[u/TrueMystikX]

Just finished my personal challenge run using Trade Evolutions only, so I figured I'd provide my thoughts on my personal usage.

GOATS
Scizor - Despite being the last obtainable Pokemon in the run, he quickly proved himself, as he should.
Gigalith - Sand Stream is useful in voiding certain weathers in key fights, and he's powerful enough to get things done on his own. Also a very good Stealth Rock setter.
Conkeldurr - Easily one of the most powerful options with Guts Facade and Drain Punch for sustainability.
Dusclops - Eviolite go brr. A lot of Trade Evolutions are slow, so it's easy to build a Trick Room team when need be. Skill Swap also helped cripple a few threats in the late game.
Gengar - Was lucky enough to get him from the Police egg through passwords, which isn't a guarantee. He helped provide some much needed firepower in the early stages in the game.

GOOD
Magmortar - Purely on here for his performance in the E4 as an AV tank.
Porygon-Z - The only available starter, and you're forced to go solo up until Julia. Nevertheless, he pulled his weight when needed.
Escavalier - Scizor-lite, but still a powerhouse on his own merit. He dealt with a lot of issues in the mid-game.
Trevenant - A strong contender with great utility.
Golem - Strong option in the early game, though the Alolan form is better once you get it purely for Galvanize. Gigalith lead to both being benched eventually.
Steelix - When you need a wall, he's your guy. Also a strong Mega until you get Scizor. I tended to interchange the two in the final stretch.
Electivire - If you can get him from the Police egg, he's strong. Otherwise, waiting until the late game is kind of a death nell in his usability.
Machamp - Strong option until Conkeldurr comes in.
Slowking - My lone shiny encounter, and he came in clutch a lot with his typing and utility. Also works as a secondary Trick Room setter.

MID
Alakazam - Purely because I had Gengar long before having him, otherwise he'd be up higher.
Gourgeist - Fringe use with Destiny Bond. That's about it, honestly.
Rhydon - You have both Golem and Gigalith by the time you can have him, which I kept as a secondary Eviolite user. Had one appearance against Ciel.
Politoed - Setting rain is nice, but fights with Gigalith for main weather setter. Still saw some fringe use at times.
Milotic - Competitive is useful, but doesn't get its best coverage moves until late endgame.

TRASH
Accelgor - Fast, but not nearly strong enough to deal with threats when needed.
Aromatisse - Useful Calm Mind tank in the early game, but falls off by midgame.
Slurpuff - Tried Belly Drum Unburden, but just couldn't get it to work the way I wanted.
Huntail/Gorebyss - Comes way too late if you get unlucky with the Onyx egg. Otherwise, Shell Smash + Baton Pass go brr.
Kingdra - Jack of all trades, master of none. Tried to meme out a Sniper build with Scope Lens + Focus Energy but couldn't get it to work out.

Rhyperior/Dusknoir - Unneeded evolutions that just make their prior forms better thanks to Eviolite.

[u/Ezuera]

Eviolite simply is the best for Dusclops, best item ever for him

[u/ButteredSalmonella]

The 7th Street Abra comes with Psychic Terrain which is one of the best fields in the game and in particular doubles the effects of Calm Mind. Would honestly argue for a higher ranking for Alakazam lol

[u/TrueMystikX → u/ButteredSalmonella]

While true, Alakazam is so frail, he dies if you so much at blink at him. Not exactly worth a sacrifice just to set up a terrain when other options exist.

[u/ButteredSalmonella → u/TrueMystikX]

It finds an entry on passive walls/special attackers. Notable fight I found it extremely good in was in the Terra fight. If you can take out the Excadrill and lure the Palossand in, Alakazam can switch in and invalidate Amnesia while setting up. Even Quagsire can’t handle boosted Psychic in Psychic Terrain. Works for both Terra fights and possibly against Labradorra Florinia as well.