562,186 opening pairs from 283,730 games · 97 lead pairs ranked · all Elo (≥ 1100). How leads are counted.

Charizard + Grimmsnarl is the best-winning lead

Sides that open with Charizard + Grimmsnarl win 59.6% of 1,049 games (95% CI 56.6–62.5), across 375 players. The most common opening, Gardevoir + Indeedee-F, is on 1.7% of sides and wins 54.1%, clearly above even.

A lead is picked after both players see each other’s six, so these numbers say how an opening does when players choose it, not how it would do if forced into every game. More on leads.

Charizard + Grimmsnarl59.656.6–62.5 · n 1,049
Golisopod + Grimmsnarl58.856.1–61.5 · n 1,243
Pelipper + Swampert58.756.8–60.5 · n 2,612
Raichu + Volcarona58.555.7–61.2 · n 1,250
Raichu + Sylveon58.555.8–61.1 · n 1,358
Gholdengo + Staraptor58.055.3–60.6 · n 1,358
Archaludon + Pelipper57.055.6–58.3 · n 5,145
Espathra + Raichu56.854.5–59.1 · n 1,816

Best lead pairs by win rate, all Elo. Bar: 95% CI. Leads need n ≥ 500, CI ≤ ±3 pp, ≥ 50 distinct players.

Eight of the ten most common leads win clearly more than half

Eight sit clearly above 50%, two clearly below, and none within noise of even.

Gardevoir + Indeedee-F54.153.1–55.1 · n 9,285
Excadrill + Tyranitar54.753.5–55.8 · n 7,035
Armarouge + Indeedee-F51.750.5–53.0 · n 6,166
Gengar + Incineroar53.252.0–54.5 · n 6,053
Salamence + Sneasler53.552.2–54.8 · n 5,951
Archaludon + Pelipper57.055.6–58.3 · n 5,145

Win rate of the six most common lead pairs, all Elo. Bar: 95% CI.

Above 1300, Gholdengo + Raichu leads best

Nine lead pairs clear the bar when both players are 1300 or better. The best wins 53.6% (CI 51.2–56.0, n 1,659).

Gholdengo + Raichu53.651.2–56.0 · n 1,659
Archaludon + Pelipper53.450.6–56.2 · n 1,207
Salamence + Sneasler52.950.3–55.4 · n 1,464
Excadrill + Tyranitar52.650.2–55.0 · n 1,684
Gengar + Incineroar51.749.4–54.0 · n 1,788
Gardevoir + Indeedee-F51.649.5–53.8 · n 2,030

Best lead pairs by win rate, Elo ≥ 1300. Bar: 95% CI.

Every ranked lead pair

The two species on the field at turn 1. Sorted by share, the percentage of sides that opened with that pair; select a column heading to re-sort. Lead WR is the win rate of the side that opened with it. Games where both sides opened with the same pair are excluded. Only pairs with n ≥ 500, CI ≤ ±3 pp, ≥ 50 distinct players at all Elo are listed.

52.4 CI clear of 50%, above
47.6 CI clear of 50%, below
50.3 CI overlaps 50%
48.0thin below the sample bar
95% CI, 35–65% scale, rule at 50%

#	Lead pair	Share %	Players	Lead WR	Lead WR, ≥ 1300
1	Gardevoir + Indeedee-F	1.67	2,470	54.153.1–55.1 · n 9.3k	51.649.5–53.8 · n 2.0k
2	Excadrill + Tyranitar	1.26	1,918	54.753.5–55.8 · n 7.0k	52.650.2–55.0 · n 1.7k
3	Armarouge + Indeedee-F	1.10	1,792	51.750.5–53.0 · n 6.2k	50.547.6–53.4 · n 1.1k
4	Gengar + Incineroar	1.09	1,301	53.252.0–54.5 · n 6.1k	51.749.4–54.0 · n 1.8k
5	Salamence + Sneasler	1.07	2,248	53.552.2–54.8 · n 6.0k	52.950.3–55.4 · n 1.5k
6	Archaludon + Pelipper	0.92	1,672	57.055.6–58.3 · n 5.1k	53.450.6–56.2 · n 1.2k
7	Rillaboom + Sneasler	0.92	2,148	46.545.2–47.9 · n 5.1k	42.9thin39.6–46.3 · n 830
8	Indeedee-F + Sneasler	0.92	1,903	45.243.8–46.5 · n 5.1k	42.3thin38.8–45.9 · n 740
9	Gholdengo + Raichu	0.83	1,418	56.254.8–57.6 · n 4.6k	53.651.2–56.0 · n 1.7k
10	Indeedee + Sneasler	0.81	1,380	55.253.7–56.6 · n 4.5k	50.948.1–53.7 · n 1.2k
11	Farigiraf + Golisopod	0.78	1,209	53.151.6–54.6 · n 4.4k	48.946.0–51.9 · n 1.1k
12	Farigiraf + Incineroar	0.75	1,150	51.750.2–53.2 · n 4.2k	51.0thin47.9–54.1 · n 1.0k
13	Hatterene + Indeedee-F	0.68	885	51.149.5–52.7 · n 3.8k	48.3thin44.4–52.2 · n 636
14	Kingambit + Sneasler	0.66	1,344	53.151.5–54.7 · n 3.7k	52.4thin49.4–55.4 · n 1.0k
15	Rillaboom + Salamence	0.63	1,735	51.349.7–53.0 · n 3.5k	49.7thin46.1–53.2 · n 745
16	Golisopod + Indeedee-F	0.56	1,180	48.246.4–49.9 · n 3.1k	48.1thin43.3–53.0 · n 401
17	Archaludon + Politoed	0.54	671	49.848.0–51.6 · n 3.0k	42.9thin39.9–46.1 · n 978
18	Arcanine-Hisui + Raichu	0.53	1,006	55.053.2–56.8 · n 3.0k	52.9thin49.7–56.1 · n 922
19	Kingambit + Salamence	0.52	1,190	56.654.8–58.4 · n 2.9k	53.0thin49.4–56.6 · n 724
20	Incineroar + Salamence	0.50	1,229	49.547.6–51.3 · n 2.8k	47.1thin42.2–52.0 · n 395
21	Garchomp + Incineroar	0.49	1,195	50.148.3–52.0 · n 2.8k	47.6thin43.8–51.3 · n 679
22	Rillaboom + Volcarona	0.48	1,047	51.549.6–53.4 · n 2.7k	45.1thin41.4–48.9 · n 672
23	Raichu + Rillaboom	0.48	1,277	50.648.7–52.5 · n 2.7k	48.7thin45.1–52.3 · n 735
24	Staraptor + Whimsicott	0.47	622	49.547.6–51.4 · n 2.6k	52.4thin48.0–56.7 · n 502
25	Garchomp + Sneasler	0.47	937	51.049.1–53.0 · n 2.6k	51.5thin48.0–54.9 · n 804
26	Pelipper + Swampert	0.47	774	58.756.8–60.5 · n 2.6k	58.7thin55.0–62.3 · n 692
27	Farigiraf + Staraptor	0.45	341	55.954.0–57.9 · n 2.5k	51.3thin47.3–55.3 · n 610
28	Charizard + Venusaur	0.44	648	52.150.2–54.1 · n 2.5k	50.1thin46.5–53.8 · n 716
29	Milotic + Salamence	0.44	1,043	53.251.2–55.1 · n 2.5k	49.7thin45.6–53.9 · n 563
30	Sneasler + Tyranitar	0.44	905	49.247.3–51.2 · n 2.4k	46.6thin42.7–50.5 · n 614
31	Gholdengo + Salamence	0.43	1,054	56.854.8–58.8 · n 2.4k	54.5thin50.8–58.0 · n 729
32	Farigiraf + Rillaboom	0.43	861	49.347.3–51.2 · n 2.4k	48.9thin44.7–53.1 · n 542
33	Indeedee-F + Milotic	0.42	806	50.348.3–52.3 · n 2.4k	49.4thin44.7–54.1 · n 431
34	Milotic + Sneasler	0.41	935	51.449.3–53.4 · n 2.3k	48.8thin44.7–53.0 · n 553
35	Incineroar + Metagross	0.40	414	43.341.2–45.3 · n 2.3k	52.4thin45.3–59.5 · n 185
36	Gholdengo + Rillaboom	0.40	1,215	53.751.6–55.7 · n 2.2k	52.4thin48.4–56.4 · n 597
37	Charizard + Garchomp	0.40	592	55.453.3–57.4 · n 2.2k	57.0thin53.2–60.8 · n 654
38	Arcanine-Hisui + Salamence	0.39	916	51.048.9–53.1 · n 2.2k	47.8thin43.4–52.3 · n 487
39	Gholdengo + Incineroar	0.39	1,046	52.550.4–54.6 · n 2.2k	54.4thin50.0–58.8 · n 487
40	Gengar + Rillaboom	0.38	742	52.350.2–54.4 · n 2.2k	50.5thin47.0–54.1 · n 746
41	Floette-Eternal + Incineroar	0.38	921	56.554.4–58.6 · n 2.1k	50.9thin46.7–55.1 · n 536
42	Raichu + Sneasler	0.37	736	52.950.7–55.0 · n 2.1k	50.0thin46.0–54.0 · n 604
43	Incineroar + Raichu	0.36	827	49.547.4–51.7 · n 2.0k	50.6thin46.3–54.8 · n 540
44	Metagross + Sneasler	0.36	732	51.449.2–53.5 · n 2.0k	46.4thin42.0–50.8 · n 485
45	Milotic + Rillaboom	0.36	988	51.649.4–53.8 · n 2.0k	47.6thin42.9–52.3 · n 435
46	Incineroar + Sneasler	0.36	1,009	46.143.9–48.3 · n 2.0k	43.2thin37.8–48.7 · n 315
47	Corviknight + Sneasler	0.35	699	47.044.8–49.2 · n 2.0k	40.0thin35.8–44.4 · n 492
48	Blastoise + Indeedee-F	0.35	471	53.050.8–55.2 · n 2.0k	52.2thin47.7–56.6 · n 483
49	Archaludon + Grimmsnarl	0.35	586	54.151.9–56.3 · n 1.9k	50.7thin47.2–54.3 · n 751
50	Charizard + Whimsicott	0.34	597	51.949.7–54.1 · n 1.9k	52.5thin47.5–57.5 · n 381
51	Golisopod + Pelipper	0.33	881	53.851.5–56.1 · n 1.8k	50.6thin44.6–56.5 · n 271
52	Espathra + Raichu	0.32	254	56.854.5–59.1 · n 1.8k	55.1thin51.4–58.8 · n 700
53	Floette-Eternal + Rillaboom	0.32	819	50.848.5–53.1 · n 1.8k	51.4thin46.9–55.9 · n 469
54	Milotic + Raichu	0.32	627	53.451.0–55.6 · n 1.8k	48.4thin44.4–52.4 · n 601
55	Gholdengo + Sneasler	0.32	840	51.248.9–53.5 · n 1.8k	50.8thin46.5–55.1 · n 516
56	Garchomp + Rillaboom	0.32	893	49.947.5–52.2 · n 1.8k	48.8thin44.7–53.0 · n 549
57	Incineroar + Milotic	0.30	705	52.049.6–54.3 · n 1.7k	48.3thin42.7–54.0 · n 298
58	Farigiraf + Kingambit	0.29	577	52.550.0–54.9 · n 1.6k	52.5thin48.6–56.5 · n 611
59	Froslass + Sneasler	0.28	527	55.052.6–57.4 · n 1.6k	50.5thin46.1–54.8 · n 505
60	Indeedee-F + Metagross	0.28	565	49.046.6–51.5 · n 1.6k	45.6thin39.7–51.7 · n 261
61	Basculegion + Pelipper	0.28	576	51.749.2–54.2 · n 1.6k	51.9thin46.6–57.1 · n 347
62	Arcanine-Hisui + Sneasler	0.27	680	51.649.1–54.1 · n 1.5k	46.4thin41.2–51.7 · n 345
63	Salamence + Sylveon	0.27	355	49.847.3–52.3 · n 1.5k	44.3thin37.9–50.9 · n 219
64	Charizard + Farigiraf	0.26	378	51.849.2–54.3 · n 1.5k	45.2thin40.9–49.6 · n 502
65	Kingambit + Rillaboom	0.26	814	51.248.7–53.8 · n 1.5k	48.2thin43.3–53.2 · n 388
66	Baxcalibur + Sneasler	0.26	540	45.643.0–48.2 · n 1.4k	51.1thin44.7–57.4 · n 235
67	Incineroar + Rillaboom	0.26	854	43.741.2–46.3 · n 1.4k	44.9thin37.6–52.5 · n 167
68	Garchomp + Whimsicott	0.25	536	48.245.6–50.8 · n 1.4k	49.8thin43.7–55.9 · n 257
69	Kingambit + Raichu	0.25	536	52.950.3–55.4 · n 1.4k	52.8thin48.5–57.1 · n 509
70	Gholdengo + Milotic	0.25	654	53.050.4–55.6 · n 1.4k	49.1thin44.3–54.0 · n 407
71	Arcanine-Hisui + Rillaboom	0.25	700	47.945.2–50.5 · n 1.4k	47.6thin41.9–53.3 · n 290
72	Golisopod + Sneasler	0.25	567	48.846.1–51.4 · n 1.4k	49.1thin43.2–55.0 · n 271
73	Floette-Eternal + Sneasler	0.24	574	54.351.7–57.0 · n 1.4k	52.3thin47.4–57.2 · n 388
74	Incineroar + Lucario	0.24	493	51.849.1–54.5 · n 1.4k	50.0thin44.2–55.8 · n 278
75	Gholdengo + Staraptor	0.24	549	58.055.3–60.6 · n 1.4k	56.1thin51.6–60.4 · n 485
76	Raichu + Sylveon	0.24	505	58.555.8–61.1 · n 1.4k	54.3thin50.2–58.3 · n 575
77	Corviknight + Indeedee	0.24	544	55.652.9–58.2 · n 1.3k	47.6thin42.1–53.1 · n 309
78	Basculegion + Sneasler	0.24	643	46.543.8–49.1 · n 1.3k	46.9thin40.8–53.0 · n 254
79	Gardevoir + Sneasler	0.23	576	52.449.6–55.1 · n 1.3k	48.0thin42.5–53.6 · n 306
80	Charizard + Sneasler	0.23	482	52.649.9–55.3 · n 1.3k	48.0thin42.5–53.6 · n 306
81	Delphox + Sneasler	0.23	416	52.349.6–55.0 · n 1.3k	53.5thin48.9–58.0 · n 460
82	Garchomp + Volcarona	0.23	513	54.251.5–56.9 · n 1.3k	51.5thin47.0–56.1 · n 458
83	Lucario + Rillaboom	0.22	561	52.049.3–54.8 · n 1.3k	48.4thin42.6–54.2 · n 279
84	Raichu + Volcarona	0.22	470	58.555.7–61.2 · n 1.2k	52.0thin47.4–56.5 · n 456
85	Golisopod + Grimmsnarl	0.22	441	58.856.1–61.5 · n 1.2k	56.1thin51.3–60.9 · n 408
86	Indeedee + Salamence	0.22	620	53.250.4–56.0 · n 1.2k	51.6thin45.7–57.5 · n 275
87	Basculegion + Kingambit	0.22	551	50.747.9–53.4 · n 1.2k	47.3thin41.6–53.2 · n 283
88	Farigiraf + Garchomp	0.21	461	50.847.9–53.6 · n 1.2k	49.7thin44.7–54.8 · n 378
89	Golisopod + Incineroar	0.21	592	50.247.3–53.1 · n 1.2k	49.8thin43.1–56.5 · n 211
90	Garchomp + Kingambit	0.20	480	51.548.6–54.4 · n 1.1k	51.3thin46.1–56.5 · n 347
91	Archaludon + Sableye	0.20	244	54.551.5–57.4 · n 1.1k	53.4thin47.2–59.5 · n 249
92	Glimmora + Whimsicott	0.19	342	50.947.9–53.9 · n 1.1k	51.1thin45.2–56.9 · n 280
93	Indeedee-F + Kingambit	0.19	541	52.949.9–55.8 · n 1.1k	50.9thin44.5–57.2 · n 232
94	Arcanine-Hisui + Milotic	0.19	486	53.950.9–56.9 · n 1.1k	51.1thin45.2–56.9 · n 280
95	Alakazam + Indeedee-F	0.19	403	45.542.6–48.5 · n 1.1k	43.7thin35.3–52.4 · n 126
96	Salamence + Tyranitar	0.19	492	51.748.7–54.7 · n 1.1k	48.5thin42.9–54.2 · n 297
97	Charizard + Grimmsnarl	0.19	375	59.656.6–62.5 · n 1.0k	64.3thin59.3–69.0 · n 370