Big post incoming, because today, I've finally made the Restrictions Community VR! First, I'd like to explain how these results worked...
- I sent out a poll to everyone who had at least finished a full set in the tournament.
- Every rank would be associated with a number. S is 1, A+ is 2, A is 3, and so on, finishing with C- at 10 and D at 11. One person ranked theirs a bit differently (great, good, etc. i don't remember the exact names), and since they did theirs on essentially a scale of five, I put theirs as 2/4/6/8/10, best to worst.
- I took these numbers, then averaged and rounded them for each Pokemon to get their actual placing on the ranking.
- Depending on what round someone placed, I would weight things that much more in their favor. Getting to Round 2 counted your results as if 2 people had your answer, Round 3 had 3 people, etc. Note that I gave the winner of the tournament an additional point over the runner-up, so that has been accounted for.
- If 50% of the community or more did not know where to place a certain Pokemon, it will go under a special "untested" rank regardless of where it would have placed.
- I combined C+, C, and C- into one rank since there was one or two in each. I will mention where they each would have placed, though.
- Note that this is fully ordered.
Restrictions Slate 15 Community Viability Rankings
By DuoM2, Mossy Sandwich, readytolose, Scoopapa, ViZar, and zxgzxg
S Rank
Teslaple - This Pokemon has shown throughout the tournament to be one of, if not the single most dangerous Pokemon in the format. It has a somewhat small movepool, but it's more than enough it needs to play the role of either a Calm Mind breaker or a Defogger. Flower Veil is fantastic for letting it do its job against more passive Pokemon that can't touch its great physical bulk, and Competitive has shown some merit as another scary, albeit less consistent option against things like Defog. The prevalence of Cinnastar is the biggest thing holding this Pokemon back from being overpowered.
Thuco-Tuco - Most people would describe Thuco as a universal check to physical attackers. Its physical bulk alongside Intimidate make it extremely difficult to take down physically, its special bulk is very good, and Borassa is capable of supporting it to alleviate Toxic, which would be a pretty big issue for it otherwise. You can also run things like Spikes, Rapid Spin, and Stealth Rock, and it is almost undoubtedly the best option for the former two moves. It is typically pretty passive, so its matchup against balance teams isn't perfect even if still very good, and it is somewhat of a momentum sink that can invite in dangerous Pokemon like Teslaple. This Pokemon is in talks of getting a slight nerf because of how constraining it is with building.
A+ Rank
Cinnastar - This one only narrowly missed out on S-Rank from a few pretty low rankings. Cinnastar is a borderline mandatory Pokemon on balance to check dangerous Pokemon like Kelven, Torgeist, and Teslaple, and it's not even that passive either. It's also most likely the absolute best Stealth Rock setter in the format, and the ability to spread Toxic is very nice in this format, especially in this case where the Pokemon is switching in and out so much. It does lose to Rapid Spin Thuco-Tuco, but there really isn't much else that's negative to be said about this Pokemon.
Kelven - This Pokemon is an extremely scary breaker that is only countered by Cinnastar. A combination of its very high Speed and Sp. Atk, Ice Beam, Moonblast, Mystical Fire, Freeze-Dry, and Power Gem make it very difficult to handle it defensively otherwise, since most Pokemon fall to at least one of those options. Dirtoad would be a very hard counter, but falls to Freeze-Dry, for example. Cinnastar's prevalence is a pretty big pain, though, and there are some decent checks like Scalaron and Modolith that are also very common, so it's going to need support to clean teams to the best of its capabilities since it almost always wants to run a Choice item.
Sorree - Another very strong breaker that has ways of at least annoying, if not outright beating all of its would-be checks. It's very difficult to beat both defensively and offensively because of its great coverage, high Attack, and the fastest Speed in the entire meta save Abysseil. Choice Scarf, Choice Band, and Hone Claws + 3 Attacks have all seen use. There are Pokemon like Faerenheit, Cinnastar, and Thuco-Tuco that make for serious checks, but options like Trick and Toxic have made their way onto some sets and those can seriously annoy those Pokemon. Most teams regardless will have some kind of answer for it, but it's still a huge factor in a big portion of the battles it participates in.
Borassa - The first thing that stands out about Borassa is its obscene bulk, which alongside Thick Fat, makes it really difficult to take down. Parting Shot is fantastic for a Pokemon with such high bulk, and I mentioned before that both Toxic and Aromatherapy can be great, which this Pokemon can provide either of. U-Turn weakness is really bad for this Pokemon, since it makes it very weak to pivot spam cores and can make it pretty easy to gain momentum from it despite it having Parting Shot. In addition, it's worth noting that this does not beat all Teslaple variants despite how obvious it may seem, since it can't really damage it and Calm Mind variants set up on it easily. This is still a great choice for most defensive teams.
Scalaron - The best fully defensive Defog user in the format. Scalaron's typing and natural bulk make it a great natural check to a lot of Pokemon, and it makes for a very natural partner to things like Borassa, Modolith, and Thuco-Tuco. This kind of falters if it gets its Heavy-Duty Boots removed in any way, though, and it's not unbreakable by any stretch.
A Rank
Modolith - Modolith makes for a great check to a bunch of different Pokemon. Most of these are physical attackers, but this also includes Regolite, Torgeist, and most notably Cinnastar, who it threatens with a STAB Iron Head and can set up with Spikes or Stealth Rock while they can't do much back. Its physical bulk is fantastic as well, rivaling Toxapex in that regard. Its major weakness to Fighting-type moves makes it a pretty imperfect check to a bunch of physical Pokemon, though, and its special bulk is pretty bad unless it resists the incoming attack. In addition, it lacks recovery, which can make it difficult to maintain throughout some longer matches.
Afloof - Another extremely difficult breaker to switch into. Adaptability with Normal/Dark STABs and 129 Special Attack is no joke, and most Pokemon will get 2HKOd by this Pokemon's STAB moves. It's pretty frail and not the fastest thing in the world, although it does have Sucker Punch or Fake Out to alleviate the latter issue, but it's not the easiest thing in the world to get onto the field. There are also some bulkier checks, like Assault Vest Cinnastar, but Trick variants have seen some use in tournament. Very good breaker.
Faerenheit - Formerly the best Pokemon in the format, Faerenheit still remains a very beefy physical wall, capable of making for a strong check to some dangerous Pokemon like Sorree and Nimbusteed. It is by far the best Wish user in the format, and this can really go a long way in helping certain Pokemon like Crypterid see their full potential. It's very passive, though, which makes it somewhat exploitable, and it faces a lot of competition from Scalaron.
Tantrary - This is a breaker that is ranked here for reasons similar to Afloof, although not the same. It's one of few Pokemon in this format that has zero true defensive counters, but it really requires good prediction to use properly. Cinnastar, Scalaron, Borassa, and Modolith all will get 2HKOd at worst by either Psychic, Moonblast, or Overheat. It's similarly difficult to get onto the field as Afloof, though, and isn't fast so it will struggle against hyper offense.
A- Rank
Dragraceful - While its role somewhat has been taken over by Sorree, Dragraceful is still a decent utility Scarfer. Its Speed stat is great for a Pokemon that likes running Scarf, with the only Pokemon beating it that commonly hits +1 being the aforementioned Sorree, and access to moves like Rapid Spin and the ability Queenly Majesty helps it set itself apart and give it a role on some teams.
Torgeist - Torgeist is still a very dangerous cleaner or breaker, although definitely not as good as it used to be. Merciless and Nasty Plot make it very difficult to switch into if you don't have a Sp. Def Modolith or Cinnastar. Thing is though, almost every bulkier team in the format is going to have at least one of those two Pokemon, and you're going to have to account for that when you play. This Pokemon ends up being more difficult to use for that reason, but still is a good option.
Dirtoad - Dirtoad has seen a bit of use recently for a Choice Band pivoting set that tends to have a pretty good matchup against most special breakers as well. It really sucks against Borassa, but can at least Flip Turn out against that, and gaining momentum against Borassa is really nice. Its physical bulk and Speed both leave a lot to be desired, though.
Scimicobra - Another very slow, but extremely powerful wallbreaker. Scimicobra has just about no defensive answers, and although Pokemon like Thuco-Tuco and Cinnastar make for stronger checks, it has the coverage to beat those if needed. It's very slow, which makes it an ideal candidate for Sticky Web teams, but it tends to have very little utility otherwise, which makes it compete with a lot of Pokemon that don't need to boost.
Centhorn - Triage is a fantastic ability that gives a lot of use to what would otherwise be a very mediocre Pokemon, since Swords Dance boosted Drain Punches and Horn Leeches are moderately threatening, are good for cleaning, and can also scare out most faster Pokemon even if unboosted. This is a Pokemon that absolutely requires support to function, though, since almost every team will intrinsically have at least one hard check to this Pokemon. The worst of this is with Scalaron and Faerenheit. Regardless, the utility of such strong priority cannot be understated.
Aerock - Poison Heal gives Aerock a really good matchup against a lot of more passive Pokemon by default, such as the bulky Fires and Borassa. It can also provide a lot of utility as well, between Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin, and U-Turn. It's not the fastest thing in the world, gets countered pretty easily by Thuco-Tuco and Modolith, and its typing doesn't help its overall lack of bulk, so it tends to struggle to do much aside from its assigned utility. That utility is still pretty good, though.
Nimbusteed - Another really scary breaker that fits like a glove onto most hyper offense archetypes. Aerilate boosted Double-Edge is no joke coming from a Pokemon with such a high base Attack stat. It's even slower than most defensive Pokemon in this format, though, and still is checked by Faerenheit and Cinnastar, so it's definitely not perfect.
B+ Rank
Kapagon - This Pokemon is mostly run for its offensive Flip Turn spam when paired alongside other breakers like Sorree, and for that role, it's pretty good. That role is somewhat specific, but Flip Turns that are boosted by Choice Band and Drizzle are something to definitely be afraid of even off of a pretty mediocre base Attack stat. It needs to be mentioned that its Borassa matchup is terrible, though, and you're going to need some way of wearing it down or not giving it an opportunity to heal.
Regolite - Regolite is a potentially very dangerous sweeper that needs a lot of specific conditions to be met in order for it to truly shine. You need to get rid of Scarfers, priority from Centhorn and Afloof, Modolith, and sometimes Borassa depending on whether or not you're running Moonblast. A lot of teams I personally have fought haven't run immediate Speed control, so it may not be as difficult to meet those as it may seem. Also worth noting that this seems to get more use on hyper offense than anywhere else.
Zoltanka - Zoltanka has absolutely absurd special bulk alongside a great typing and access to Filter, making it a pretty efficient way of checking a lot of strong special attackers. Most notably, it makes for a fantastic Kelven check, although it has to watch for repeated Mystical Fires. Shift Gear variants have also popped up, but those admittedly have not seen too much success. What holds it back is how easy it is to wear down, especially with physical moves, and even more so with Knock Off. Wish support can alleviate this to some extent, though.
Polbearab - Polbearab is a moderately fast, bulky Ice-type with access to Poison Heal and Swords Dance to boost its power. It also has Ice/Fighting/Ground coverage, which makes it a pretty threatening balance breaker alongside what was mentioned before. The prevalence of Scalaron and Faerenheit hurt it in this role quite a bit, though, and it has a pretty noticeable lack of power before setting up.
Vulcaraptor - A pretty good breaker that has mostly seen use on Hyper Offense, Vulcaraptor can abuse its high Speed and great coverage in Rock Blast, Flame Charge, and Bonemerang to clean up teams in the late game. It often uses Hone Claws as well in this role. It struggles a lot with Borassa and Thuco-Tuco, though, which makes it pretty difficult to find the opportunity to use.
Crypterid - Crypterid has great special bulk and is one of the only viable Toxic Spikes users, which gives it some distinction over Cinnastar alongside Swords Dance. Modolith also makes for a great check, but Close Combat is a somewhat common move, so it isn't wise to go without scouting that out first. Thuco-Tuco makes for a very easy counter, though, and it lacks the same longevity that Cinnastar has defensively.
Sharm - Sharm has insane special bulk, but not really the best typing for the role. It also has access to Wish and both Spikes and Toxic Spikes, giving it some level of role compression. There aren't a lot of viable special attackers in the metagame as of right now, though, and it struggles with physical hits.
B Rank
Nunopod - This is a Pokemon that has seen use in quite a few different roles. It's seen a bit of use as hazard control with Rapid Spin or Court Change, a bit of use as a pivot with Flip Turn, and a bit of use as a cleaner with Shift Gear or Sub Quiver Dance. It's not really the best at any of these roles, though.
Refluse - Refluse is a staple of Sticky Web, but nobody's really found a reason to put it onto other teams. It's a fantastic Sticky Web lead, though, as a high base Speed alongside a strong Poison STAB and Corrosion Toxic make it somewhat threatening and it will consistently get its Webs off, even if typically only once per game.
Abysseil - Abysseil is by far the fastest Pokemon in the metagame, but it's not that strong and it's not that bulky. Its role is as the best Dual Screens setter in the format, and it doesn't really do much more than that. Choice Specs has seen some use, though, although those aren't difficult to handle defensively and mandate much more support than most other cleaners would hope to have.
Kodokai - A pretty underexplored Pokemon compared to a lot of others that have a ranking, but still a pretty good one. Kodokai has shown to be a staple of Trick Room teams through its offensive Trick Room set, which is pretty difficult to switch into and has Teleport to help get teammates in safely. It doesn't really have a defined role otherwise, but it's still a staple of a team archetype that has had some good success.
Cyknight - Cyknight has fallen very far from its days of an uncounterable wallbreaker. Almost all balance teams have one counter in Thuco-Tuco, Scalaron, or Modolith as a very hard check. Cyknight has apparently still seen some use as a hyper offense mon that can use Final Gambit to trade with one of those Pokemon and open a hole for one of its teammates, and while I personally haven't seen or used it, it seems very risky and good prediction seems like an absolute necessity when using or playing against it. Despite what all there is against it, Cyknight still does have a place in the metagame.
Donzyxote - It's a defensive Pokemon with a bad typing and low physical bulk, but it checks Teslaple very well, can set Trick Room, and Teleport. Those three things give it a pretty strong role on Trick Room teams, though, even if it's not mandatory.
Crystelf - Crystelf is a pretty fragile lead that has a nice offensive presence to set it apart from the crowd, notably having Rock/Fairy/Ground coverage. The niche is there, and it's still not necessarily bad, but it loses hard to Modolith, which makes it somewhat difficult to justify for a lot of teams.
Draugelid - This is one of those Pokemon that can choose its counters. It's very potent on Sticky Web and Trick Room, but it's pretty fragile and an Ice-type so it's difficult to set up. There are a lot of breakers that have good matchups against it, but it has options against almost all of them.
B- Rank
Parakinesis - Flying is a pretty strong STAB type for this meta, especially when combined with Focus Punch or possibly Zen Headbutt as coverage, but it's really difficult to justify over other breakers. It has Prankster for a few shenanigans there and is capable of running Choice Band for additional power to break Faerenheit, but both have their own sets of issues even if they are capable of doing their job.
Flydra - Flydra is an alright special breaker and pivot, although it's really not the best at its job. Its Speed tier is notable for only losing to Sorree and Abysseil, and its STAB Draco Meteors are somewhat scary, but it struggles against a lot of very common Pokemon. The most notable of which is Faerenheit, who completely stonewalls it.
Quadringo - Quadringo is capable of running Swords Dance and Dragon Dance sets while being a very good check to Teslaple and Sorree, but neither of these sets have really seen much success despite its coverage not being that bad. They still have seen some, though, and aren't that bad even if there are better options.
Rancourgar - Rancourgar is a breaker that is very prone to being worn down because of Reckless and its required decision between either Choice Band and Heavy-Duty Boots. It also loses pretty hard to Cinnastar, needs help to break Borassa and Faerenheit, and would like Sun to help it break in a meta where Sun isn't the greatest.
C Ranks
Snailord (+) - I personally don't think this Pokemon is this bad, but it's still stuck on only Sticky Web since its bulky pivoting sets are outdone by Cinnastar. That being said though, it's kinda similar to Shuckle in that its main roles come in its bulk and Stealth Rock alongside Webs. It can also set Shell Smash and pose somewhat of a threat offensively, although it's nothing to write home about in that regard.
Arbrella (+) - Arbrella beats Teslaple unless it's CM Synthesis and can put something to Sleep but doesn't really do much else of note and is typically just worse than other Teslaple checks like Cinnastar.
Folliclawe - Folliclawe's stats are far too mediocre for it to be a good Pokemon. It struggles as a breaker and is too frail and just not fast enough to be an efficient cleaner. Some teams appreciate its STAB combo and Speed, though, so it's not unusable.
Serpaint (-) - The near universally agreed upon worst Pokemon in the metagame. It's okay at spreading paralysis, but struggles to do much else. It lacks the stats and coverage to succeed, and Torgeist makes for extremely tough competition due to similar roles.
Untested
Cindarner (Projected B-) - Sun has been tested a few times to mixed results, and how good of a standalone breaker it is otherwise has not been explored enough.
Spiriteal (Projected B-) - Nobody really has felt the incentive to put this on their team without building exclusively around it, in which case nobody really knows what role it may have. Nasty Plot and Choice Scarf sets both hypothetically could see some use, though.
Coracrab (Projected C) - This is a Pokemon that has been tested a decent bit, but not enough. It's a threatening breaker with Swords Dance under certain hyper offense, but is distinctly worse than other breakers.
Gembezzle (Projected C) - Like Spiriteal, nobody really knows what role this Pokemon may have. It may be useful with Flare Boost but this hasn't really been tested at all.
And finally, after about two hours of typing, my work here is done. This is not a list I fully agree with, but it does give a good idea of what the metagame is like. I will shortly be editing the second post with this. Thank you guys for contributing here! My next post will be about the other results of the poll as well as usage stats and possibly Thuco-Tuco nerfs.