Here's the first Riolu post for reference:
http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/1v1-viability-ranking.3536109/page-10#post-6393070
You did make quite a few good points, but not all of them were valid, and you did miss a few others I mentioned in my first posting of Riolu. To prove Riolu's best possible ranking I'm not just going to look at a certain section of 47 1v1 pokemon and their possible movesets, but the general counters of Riolu.
Loses to? (The following points can be used to prove Riolu less useful than C rank)
Riolu does lose to some forms of stall. Riolu does lose to some flying pokemon (Air Balloon + Levitate too). Going before +1 priority and slower than Riolu's dig can sometimes be a satisfactory counter for it. Riolu gets Magnet Rise, so rip Earthquake. Taunt, and Encore can be ignored through Mental Herb, and evaded one copycat dig is active.
Counters Riolu can counter? (The following cannot be used to either lower or disprove Riolu's possible usefulness: neutral)
Riolu can set up atk on just a few stall, and can also rest pp stall those not capable of hurting it enough. Flying types must have over 64 PP of offensive moves to guarantee Riolu counter. Air Balloon users that cannot OHKO Riolu do not suffice, as Riolu could easily break the sub. As for slower offensive pokemon, we all know there are plenty of methods to guarantee you are slower than your opponent, such as lagging tail, that can be added to the set. Finally, I'd like to see you try and use Trick/Switcheroo on it's Substitute.
Wins against? (The following can be used to prove Riolu a good fit in C rank)
Substitute in general stops more Trick/Switcheroo sets than most, as Riolu has Prankster. Riolu also has a few more advantages and movepool possibilities I won't go into specification of. Riolu, beyond some flaws, can overcome and beat all the other Pokemon without the specified requirements listed above, and is very much capable of pulling it's own weight.
Side Notes: On top of this, many of the 1v1 sets in the rankings are very specific and/or customized to meet certain threats.
A C Rank Comparison: Riolu, simularly to Aron, has many counters, but in some situations will come out on top. For example, Riolu may sometimes lose to Earthquake and priority modifications, but Aron loses to status multi-hit moves, and ghost types, yet it's remained C rank. Just because a you can Taunt a Deoxys-Defense doesn't mean it can't wall a simple Charizard-Mega-X.
So my conclusion? Yes maybe Riolu could go to a lower rank, but I believe it fits in quite fine with Aron rank, as you cannot expect it to beat all of the higher rank 1v1 sets, even though it does beat many Pokemon.
On a side note, I would like to prepare a Snorlax viability rankings post with my current most successful set (of all my 1v1ing)
Edit: OK I'm going to begin my post on small Snorlax C to B rank posting right now.
):0[=< (Snorlax) @ Custap Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Counter
- Belly Drum
- Return/Coverage
- Coverage/Substitute
Noteable stats: 110 Atk, 110 SpDef, 160 HP
What does it do?
Snorlax is capable of doing quite a few different things with its bulk, attack, and ability/moveset, the first being Counter. Counter enables Snorlax to answer back any physical attack with twice as much damage, especially useful with 160 HP, and many times force the physical attackers who can, use a setup move like dragon dance to avoid being killed. The second thing Snorlax can do is Belly Drum. Belly Drum allows Snorlax to set up an instant Double Huge Power against either stall Pokemon or physical attackers who tried to setup against Counter. Finally, Snorlax can run many different coverage movepools, with elemental punches, Superpower, Crunch, Return, Giga Impact, Earthquake, Gunk Shot, and many other powerful moves. (Extra: Substitute vs Protect users and some other status moves)
But wait! Theres more! The Custap Berry allows Pokemon below 25% HP to go first! This means Snorlax can take a hit then hit a second time first the next turn! But wait! Theres even more! Gluttony allows Snorlax to use the Custap Berry at only 50% HP! This means Snorlax can take a hit, attack, then attack again the second turn, or Belly Drum down to half half HP, then attack first the next turn!
This set has destroyed entire teams for me, however, this set may sometimes need a bit more prediction (A rank:
These Pokemon have a great matchups against other Pokemon yet are checked easier than S rank Pokemon and requires more prediction to use.), but I think a simple B rank with it's Manaphy-like set would do just fine.
C - B rank for this amazing Snorlax set? What you
you think?
(extra: Snorlax can run one of the most annoying stall sets ever, as well as many other forms of offensive sets like Choice Band)
AND even more... I think we should have some kind of group/thread were people can post tryouts of different theorymons of theirs, not just for 1v1, but perhaps for all oms.
AND EVEN MORE! Edited my post on Aegislash, Diancie, Ampharos, Scolipede, And Porygon-Z (Aegislash
Stay A Rank)
Phew that took a while to type