Resource SV ZU Viability Rankings - DLC 2 Edition

[Tuthur]

Welcome to the SV ZU Viability Rankings. In this thread, Pokemon are ranked based on their ability to function within the ZU Metagame. This includes many factors, such as versatility, effectiveness, ability to handle metagame trends, size of niche, and several others. Since these are likely to be highly contested, there are a few rules to abide by:​

• Post reasoning. Posts like ‘Tropius should go to B because it has Harvest’ will be deleted and possibly infracted. You are expected to give sound logic for the nominations you make. Any one-liners will be deleted and possibly infracted.
• Be civil. It doesn’t matter how heavily you disagree with a post, at the end of the day it’s an opinion posted by another person so throwing insults at them isn’t gonna be okay.
• No discussion of future bans, suspects, or metagames. We aren’t gonna raise something because may drop or a change may happen in a future metagame, no matter how likely it is.
• If you want to nominate a currently unranked Pokemon to be ranked, replays are a requirement. Preferably, these are replays against high level players so that you really show us that this Pokemon can put in work.
• At the same time, do not base your entire argument around replays and usage statistics. It’s important to show why this Pokemon performs viability, not just that it is used.

Pokemon within sub-ranks are ordered alphabetically. There will be no D rank unless council agrees to have one in the future.

Also, the Pokemon’s names in this thread link to sample sets or analysis!

NEW
Vulpix

S
Muk
Spiritomb

A+
Articuno
Dipplin
Lurantis
Orthworm
Poliwrath
Pyroar
Rhydon
Rotom
Sneasel-Hisui

A
Oricorio-Pa'u
Passimian
Swanna
Toxicroak
Veluza

A-
Arboliva
Avalugg-Hisui
Basculin
Lilligant
Magmortar
Magneton
Morpeko
Scovillain
Sneasel
Toedscruel
Volbeat

B+
Abomasnow
Appletun
Combusken
Exeggutor
Naclstack
Persian-Alola
Primeape
Raichu-Alola
Sableye
Shaymin
Shiftry
Tauros
Whiscash

B
Beartic
Crabominable
Cryogonal
Eelektross
Indeedee-Female
Leafeon
Mabostiff
Masquerain
Medicham
Perrserker
Piloswine
Rotom-Frost
Samurott
Victreebel

B-
Bellossom
Carbink
Dachsbun
Ditto
Hattrem
Haunter
Honchkrow
Houndoom
Ludicolo
Raichu
Ursaring
Wyrdeer

C
Cacturne
Clefairy
Dugtrio-Alola
Electivire
Electrode
Glaceon
Golduck
Granbull
Gurdurr
Klawf
Lapras
Leavanny
Lycanroc-Midnight
Pincurchin
Quaxwell
Rampardos
Rotom-Fan
Swalot
Tauros-Paldea

 

[Tuthur]

Below is the original slate, votes were conducted before Heat Rock and Venomoth ban, hence the high viability of sun elements.

Votes

	Previous Rank	Outcome	Corthius	Danny	Drud	fish anemometer	LustfulLice	Monai	OranBerryBlissey10	Tuthur
Oricorio-Pa'u	High	A		b+	A	A	A	A	A-	A
Passimian	New	A		a	A+	A+	A	A	A+	A
Swanna	Mid	A		a	A+	A	A-	A	B+	A-
Toxicroak	New	A		a	A	A-	A	A-	A+	A-
Veluza	Mid	A		a+	A+	A	A+	A	B+	A
Arboliva	New	A-		a-	A-	A	A-	A-	A	B+
Avalugg-Hisui	High	A-		b+	A	A-	A-	A-	B+	A-
Basculin	High	A-		b+	A-	A-	A-	A-	A-	A
Lilligant	Mid	A-		b+	A-	A-	A-	A	A-	A-
Magmortar	High	A-		a-	A	A-	A	A	A-	A-
Magneton	High	A-		a-	A-	A-	A-	A-	A-	A-
Morpeko	New	A-		a+	A-	B+	A-	B	A-	A-
Scovillain	Low	A-		b+	A	B-	A-	A	A-	B-
Sneasel	High	A-		b+	A-	A-	B+	A-	B+	A-
Toedscruel	New	A-		a-	B+	A-	B+	A	A-	A-
Volbeat	Low	A-		b+	A-	B	A-	A	A-	B-
Articuno	High	A+		s	S	A+	A+	S	A+	A+
Dipplin	High	A+		a+	A+	A+	A+	A	S	A+
Lurantis	High	A+		a+	A+	A	A	A	A+	A+
Orthworm	High	A+		a+	A+	A+	A+	S	A+	A+
Poliwrath	New	A+		a+	A+	A+	A	A+	A+	A
Pyroar	High	A+		a+	S	A+	A+	S	A	A
Rhydon	New	A+		a+	A+	A+	A+	A+	A	A+
Rotom	New	A+		a+	A+	A+	A	A+	A	A
Sneasel-Hisui	Top	A+		a+	A+	A	A	A+	S	A+
Beartic	UR	B		b	B	B	B	B+	B	B
Crabominable	Mid	B		b	B-	B+	B+	B-	B+	B
Cryogonal	Mid	B		b	B	B-	B	B	B+	B+
Eelektross	High	B		b	B	B+	B-	B-	B+	B
Indeedee-Female	Mid	B		b	B	B	B	B	C+	B
Leafeon	Low	B		c+	B+	B	B	B+	B	B-
Mabosstiff	Mid	B		c	B+	B	B	A-	B	B+
Masquerain	Mid	B		b-	B	B-	B	B	B+	B+
Medicham	High	B		b+	B	B	B	B-	B	B
Perrserker	High	B		b	B	B	B+	B	B+	B+
Piloswine	Mid	B		b	B	B	B	B	A-	B+
Rotom-Frost	Mid	B		c+	B+	B	B	B+	B+	B
Samurott	High	B		b	B	B+	B+	B	B	B
Victreebel	Low	B		c	B	C	B	B	C	B
Bellossom	Low	B-		b	C	B-	B-	B-	B	C
Carbink	Mid	B-		c+	C+	C	C	B-	B	B
Dachsbun	Low	B-		c+	C	B-	C	UR	B	B-
Ditto	Mid	B-		c	B	C	B-	B-?	B	B
Hattrem	Low	B-		b+	B-	B-	B-	B	B	B-
Haunter	Mid	B-		b	B-	C	B-	B	B-	B-
Honchkrow	Low	B-		b-	B-	B-	B-	C	B-	B-
Houndoom	Mid	B-		b-	B-	B-	B-	B-	B-	B-
Ludicolo	Mid	B-		c	B-	C	B-	B-	B-	B
Raichu	Mid	B-		c	B-	B-	B-	B-	C	B-
Ursaring	Low	B-		c	C	B+	B-	C	B	B-
Wyrdeer	UR	B-		b+	B	C	C	B+	C+	B-
Abomasnow	New	B+		b-	B+	A-	B+	B+	B+	B+
Appletun	Mid	B+		a-	B+	B+	B+	B+	A-	B+
Combusken	Mid	B+		b+	B+	B+	B+	B+	B	B
Exeggutor	Low	B+		b	B+	B	A-	A-	A-	B+
Naclstack	Mid	B+		b+	A-	B+	B+	B+	A-	A-
Persian-Alola	Mid	B+		b+	B+	B	B	B-	A-	B+
Primeape	High	B+		b+	B+	A-	B+	B	B+	B+
Raichu-Alola	Mid	B+		a-	B+	B	B	A-	B+	B+
Sableye	Mid	B+		a	B+	B+	B+	A-	A+	B+
Shaymin	High	B+		b+	A-	B	B+	A-	A-	B
Shiftry	Mid	B+		b	B+	B	B	A-	B+	B+
Tauros	High	B+		b-	B+	A-	B+	A-	B+	B+
Whiscash	High	B+		a	B+	A-	B+	B+	B+	A-
Venomoth	High	BANNED		a+	S	S	S	A+	S	S
Cacturne	Low	C		c	C	C	C	UR	C+	C
Clefairy	Low	C		ur	UR	C	C	UR	C	C
Dugtrio-Alola	Low	C		c	UR	UR	C	C	C+	UR
Electivire	New	C		b-	C	C	C	C	C	UR
Electrode	Low	C		c	UR	C	C	UR	B-	C
Glaceon	Low	C		c	UR	C	C	UR	C	C
Golduck	Low	C		c	C	C	C	B-	C	C
Granbull	Low	C		c	UR	C	C	UR	C	UR
Gurdurr	Mid	C		ur	UR	B	C	UR	B-	C
Klawf	Low	C		c+	C	C	C	B-	C	C
Lapras	New	C		c	C	C	C	C	C	C
Leavanny	Low	C		c	B-	C	C	B-	B-	C
Lycanroc-Midnight	Mid	C		c	C	C	C	C	B-	B-
Pincurchin	Low	C		c	UR	C	UR	UR	C	C
Quaxwell	Low	C		c	UR	C	UR	C	C	UR
Rampardos	New	C		c	C	UR	C	C	C	C
Rotom-Fan	Low	C		ur	UR	C	C	UR	C	C
Swalot	Low	C		c+	C	C	C	B-	B-	C
Tauros-Paldea	High	C		c	UR	C	C	UR	B-	UR
Muk	High	S		s	S	A+	S	S	S	A+
Spiritomb	High	S		s	S	S	S	S	A+	S
Arbok	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	C
Bastiodon	New	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	UR
Dugtrio	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR
Duosion	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR
Falinks	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	UR
Golem	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR
Golem-Alola	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	UR
Grumpig	UR	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C-	C
Komala	Low	UR		c	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	UR
Misdreavus	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C-	UR
Probopass	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C-	UR
Rabsca	Low	UR		c+	UR	UR	UR	UR	C+	UR
Sawsbuck	Low	UR		c	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	C
Servine	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR	UR
Tinkatuff	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	C	UR	C	C
Zangoose	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	B-	UR
Zebstrika	Low	UR		ur	UR	UR	UR	UR	C	UR

 

[Thatgoomyguy]

I don't understand why Ampharos is untiered. I have been using my Ampharos a lot on the ladder, and Power Herb Meteor Beam is a drug. It grabs K.O's whenever it joins the field.
This isn't a disingenous question to the mods. I am genuinely asking, because maybe I'm too low on the ladder to understand.

 

[Tuthur]

I don't understand why Ampharos is untiered. I have been using my Ampharos a lot on the ladder, and Power Herb Meteor Beam is a drug. It grabs K.O's whenever it joins the field.
This isn't a disingenous question to the mods. I am genuinely asking, because maybe I'm too low on the ladder to understand.

Ampharos is unranked, but it is true that the Meteor Beam set is not awful. Between good power and decent coverage in Focus Blast + Dazzling Gleam / Dragon Pulse / Tera Blast, Ampharos can definitely create some holes in defensive cores. However, it faces huge competition from more threatening Electric-types, namely Rotom forms and Magneton. Thanks to their secondary typing and higher Speed tier, they are more effective at putting pressure on opposing teams. As for defensive sets, Eelektross outclasses it.

 

[LettuceLeaf07]

I'm really glad that the VR came up, mostly because I have opinions and I feel too lazy to make a personal vr.

A -> A-
I find myself really disillusioned with Swanna. It's arguably the best mon to run hurricane on, it's a water type, it has recovery, knock, and a pivoting move, and it has defog. However, it's an offensive mon with the moveset of a defensive one, and Swanna cannot pull off defensive spreads. Swanna does not have the bulk to check anything you want it to long-term, even with roost. Hurricane and surf are nice, but not enough. Even though Swanna is our most viable defogger, I think its lack of bulk is enough of a downside to drop it to A- with the other removal options.

B- -> B
Houndoom is definitely outclassed by Pyroar, Magmortar, and every other offensive fire type. However, I think that flash fire is enough of a niche to justify putting it in B. Flash fire opens up Houndoom to make a choiced fire-type think twice before locking in a fire move, then being able to force a switch and hit something with dark pulse or fire blast. That being said, Houndoom is still a little weak, but I believe that the ability for Houndoom to function like a Pyroar or Magmortar, only with more defensive value and utility, at least makes it better than Dachsbun.

B- -> C
I cannot see a world where Carbink would be worth using. I would rather set hazards with Orthworm or Whiscash even, and I would rather set trick room with Hattrem or Spiritomb. As cool as a fairy type would be, Carbink does not do enough to feel like a substantial fairy type. It can work well enough where I think it does deserve a mention in C-tier, but barely.