Resource NU Viability Rankings

[Phantomistix]

Shifts just happened, which means a full VR slate. Keep posting noms and we'll be voting on them as they come in. Full voting slate can be found here.

New Additions

A+ The first of the new drops, Rhyperior has quickly established itself both as a top defensive piece, checking common offensive threats like Kilowattrel, and also as a very potent offensive threat that can maximize its great stats and coverage both on boosting and non boosting sets.
A The second of the new drops, also established itself as a strong attacking threat, owing to its great attack stat, coverage and unmatched speed. Sets itself apart from competition like Tauros-Aqua with access to Flip Turn.
UR -> C Sun has been seeing more tournament and ladder usage recently which means it gets reintroduced to the VR.
UR -> C Sun
UR -> C Sun

Rises

A+ -> S As meta slowed down post Porygon-Z, Vaporeon has established itself as the premier defensive piece on balance and BO, owing to great stats, ability and a strong scald. Customizable with options like Roar, Haze, Calm Mind and coverage all seeing use. Muk leaving means it gets to hold tera much easier now. Gastrodon's departure also means a strong competitor has vanished.
A -> A+ Big winner from shifts, with the arrival of a ground type that's 2HKO'd by Shadow Ball, OHKO'd by Energy Ball. Muk leaving is also a huge boon, being a very common mon that could consistently come in and force progress with Poison Touch Knock Offs.
A- -> A+ Less competition for the bulky dark type that can Knock Off and potentially set up slot after Muk's departure. Has also seen a lot more use on Bulk Up sets recently in tournaments owing to its great late game sweep potential.
B+ -> A Massive winner from shifts, with Kilowattrel dropping off, a new physical water breaker and a new ground type, this is the perfect storm for Tsareena usage to skyrocket and that's exactly what's happened.
B+ -> A- Loves Muk leaving, opens both its support and sweeping sets up.
B -> B+ Has seen a massive surge in recent weeks as a bulky setup sweeper, with great self support options in coverage and Toxic for CM sets and Dragon Tail for physical sets.
B -> B+ Budget Muk-Alola. How dare you stand where he stood.
B- -> A- GlisLoom might be the single most annoying pokemon to play into in the tier. Has taken both tournaments and ladder by storm, and follows the pattern of bulky setup sweepers surgining in usage and viability.
B- -> B A niche physically defensive option to help deal with the plethora of physical attackers seeing use, including the new arrival Barraskewda.
B- -> B+ Biggest winner from Gastrodon's departure, can now rely on Scald as coverage for Ground types (including Rhyperior) instead of Grass Blast, freeing up a move slot for other options that include Tera Blast, coverage moves, CM, Sub or other options.
C -> B- One of the few pokemon that resist both of Barraskewda's STABs (yes it might as well be a fighting type lol), and a defogger in a tier starved for removal

Drops

S -> A+ Was a great partner to PZ, being both pokemon that can chip down steel types on HO for each other. Has been dropping off since the ban. Rhyperior and Barraskewda are both great new additions that make it tougher to clean up games like it used to.
S -> A+ Flamigo is still strong, but there's a lot of competition from the new Barraskewda, as well as the meta generally adapting to its threat.
S -> A+ Scarf sets have dropped off massively in favor of other options, and it faces competition as a ground type from Rhyperior. DD sets remain a very strong threat and CB sets remain the only breaker with a +2 priority attack.
A+ -> A With Vaporeon rising to S, Basculegion suffers being that it already relied on very messy sequences to beat Vaporeon initially, and the meta has adapted well to those sets. More competition from Barraskewda and the resurgence of Tsareena also bring down its viability.
A+ -> A- Rhyperior sends his regards. Now needs to commit a moveslot to tera blast (and tera itself in the matchup) which limits it a lot. Barraskewda being a faster non choiced option also hurts it a lot.
A- -> B+ While it can 2HKO Rhyperior, that requires a boost/Specs and a tera commit, all while hoping the Rhyperior isn't AV or custap, both of which are common and flip the matchup. Rhyperior with attack invest can also OHKO through tera. Even if it gets the 2HKO, it's still chipped down and dies to any priority.
B+ -> B Environment is more hostile to it, with spinblockers like Chandelure and Houndstone rising in viability, as well as pokemon that can boost past it. Barraskewda being a physical pokemon it wants to switch into but can pivot out also harms it.
B+ -> B Suffers from severe 4mss, with both of its STABs being blanked by common and popular pokemon like Chandelure and Basculegion, but requiring different coverage options for each check. Barraskewda being a fast threat with access to priority hurts too. Gastrodon leaving means that's one pokemon it did very well to pressure with mixed and special sets no longer in the tier.
B+ -> B- Rhyperior shuts this thing down almost completely.
B+ -> B GTerrain as an archetype has seen a drop off recently, reflected here and in other staples dropping on the VR too.
B -> B- GTerrain
B -> B- Boxxed out as a fighting type by Flamigo, the Tauros brothers and Barraskewda and as a slower breaker by the rising Chandelure.
B -> B- Vaporeon supremacy, Barraskewda is a stronger, faster water.
B -> C Completely dropped off the map.
B- -> UR Just put the UR in the bag lil bro.
:Sandslash-Alola B- -> C A9 is slowly tumbling down the VR and this thing is only viable on snow teams.
B- -> C Rhyperior and Barraskewda send their regards.
C -> UR
C -> UR

 

[Pokeslice]

A+ -> A

I will stand behind this mon being not great right now for many reasons (it was always overhyped) and I still think it should drop even more. It just isn't splashable defensively, isn't as threatening offensively, and isn't warping in the way other mons are in A+ or S at the moment. No doubt it can still be a pretty cool mon and a threat, but it just isn't near the face of the meta right now. If it only wasn't a Rock-type or was a Steel-type...

For anyone who disagrees, feel free to check the massive drop off in usage in NUPL and NUFL over the course of the tournaments. The HO meta that made OTR Diancie feel amazing and undroppable sometimes is far behind us, same with the non-HO PZ meta, and it's time the VR begins to reflect where Diancie should probably be. Like I said, tour players realized that it just isn't so splashable...

 

[LettuceLeaf07]

I've exclusively been playing this tier through the teambuilding comp, so while I definitely have an idea of the meta, my builds are stall and trick room. I'm not going to pretend to have a complete vision of the meta, but I want to nom a mon which I've used and that I think should be at least considered for the VR:

UR -> C

Sableye has a niche on bulkier/stall teams from its good defensive typing and prankster-boosted supporting movepool. Setup is pretty good in this tier, and bringing a Sableye (wisp/recover/knock/encore) to restrict setup opportunities is valuable in practice. A Sableye in the back threatening an Encore or a Will-o-Wisp offers ways to outplay setup, which can turn a well-positioned sweep into the mon clicking the setup move again before being forced out, chipped to death via knock off, or being revenged while still being locked into Encore.

Sableye's stats are kind of low, but it is able to rely on its typing, Recover, and Will-o-Wisp to juuust barely wall most physical threats if it switches in on them (see calcs). It's better if it safely gets in (especially on a setup turn), but naturally that won't always be the case. If you position to where your opponent has to switch into Sableye however, you can have fun not being 2HKO'd as they have to play around knock and wisp.

I mean barely for switching into most of these CB-boosted attacks

The assumed line for these is: opponent switches in, you switch in Sableye on an attack, wisp as your first move. Note that these calcs look really good if your opponent is trying to switch into you, since very few do half after a wisp.

These you can switch into if you're feeling lucky:
252+ Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 165-195 (54.2 - 64.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (if boots, the follow-up wisp prevents a 2hko)
252 Atk Choice Band Flygon Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 177-208 (58.2 - 68.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (if boots, max roll -> wisp leaves EQ with a 50% chance to KO)
252 Atk Flamigo Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 156-184 (51.3 - 60.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (you die to CC lol, but if helm, max roll BB->burned BB is a 68.8% to KO (and not a KO if boots))
252 Atk Choice Band Barraskewda Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 174-205 (57.2 - 67.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (for boots, max roll -> burned liq is a 25% KO)

These you absolutely cannot switch into:
252 Atk Choice Band Tauros-Paldea-Aqua Wave Crash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 226-267 (74.3 - 87.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (you do not live a second hit after wisp)
252+ Atk Mystic Water Adaptability Basculegion Wave Crash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 270-318 (88.8 - 104.6%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO (dont switch into water moves, flip turn does half ur health)
252+ Atk Choice Band Technician Breloom Bullet Seed (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 261-309 (85.8 - 101.6%) -- 0.9% chance to OHKO (make sure you switch into CC or a Pheal Prot set, or if ur silly run disable/j)
252 Atk Flamigo Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 312-368 (102.6 - 121%) -- guaranteed OHKO (dont forget scrappy)

and for fun:
252 SpA Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Sableye: 104-123 (34.2 - 40.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Sableye: 156-185 (51.3 - 60.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 104-123 (34.2 - 40.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (SpDef viable??)

Despite its bulk leaving a little to be desired, you still have Prankster Encore. You don't need to worry about dying to a +2 Flygon or whatever, because you encore it into DD and now it can't attack. Its bulk is just good enough to use wisp + recover to cover a couple of the cases you aren't clicking Encore. The most notable mons that can afford to set up against Sableye are Incineroar, Scrafty, Tauros-F (if it runs bulk up sets, idk), and Overqwil, which is a relatively small threatlist that can be loosely covered by a Diancie or Altaria.

Overall, Sableye has its shortcomings, but those do not take away how valuable of a tool Prankster Encore is for bulkier teams, and how hard it is to switch into a Sableye threatening a knock or wisp. At the very least, having a Sableye means you threaten a switch in on a setup turn, nullifying any progress that mon would be making, and making your opponent think twice before clicking a setup move. It isn't helpless against non-setup mons too, since wisp and knock are able to force progress.

sableye pop off replay: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nu-2396103823
Teambuilding comp entries: mine, frogwha's ft. better replays

 

[Pokeslice]

Hi I'd like to propose a pretty major reshifting of much of A- and B+ together with a few other VR shifts:

RISES
A- ->A
Maybe the most underrated mon in the meta right now and somehow in A. Extremely difficult to switch into, great defensive utility in a Rhyp Flygon meta, and has a plethora of good sets

A- -> A/A+
This mon has terrorized everyone and everything and clearly deserves a raise. I personally feel like it's more of an anti meta trend than an A+ mon, but I know others would disagree. Clear rise no matter what.

B+ -> A-
A bit passive, but one of our better removal options and Fight resists. Can spread wisp and sometimes be unkillable. The definition of an A- mon atm imo.

B+ -> A-
This speedy Electric-type has become a clear meta demon with its variety of sets and the rise of Gastro. Sub and CM Volt stuff smoke people.

B+ -> A-
This mon was kind of written off early by people, but it's an insanely broken breaker with nearly no switch ins over the course of the game. It's also a great HO sweeper. Very under used and underrated.

B+ -> A-
I love Woch. Woch stocks are at an all time high post Muk and you can use literally any set on any form of balance or fat and you'll be satisfied. Sometimes it doesn't die + it has so much unexplored utility; very clear raise to me.

B -> B+
GUNO IS BROKEN TRY IT OUT. On a serious note, this mon is really fantastic like I've been saying since SCL, just not used and a bit weird to build around. No Muk makes this guy great, especially into the current Incin spam. Like insanely good into Incin + Zong. Oh and into Overqwil too. I think this mon ends up in A- when it's all said and done.

B -> B+
The big bulky fat set up guy is still a massive threat, even with its awful ltwc showing.

B -> B+
The ultimate B+ Elias mon, Houndstone is great. Super strong answer to many of the tiers physical attackers while being a solid offensive and defensive presence.

B- -> B+
The cram hype train has left the station. Solid removal and annoying af to deal with, put it in B+ with other niche, but very much viable, Pokemon

DROPS
A+ -> A
Let's stop pretending this mon is on the level of nearly anything else in A+ or that it fits comfortably into the current meta. I can't remember the last time I saw Diancie really pop off and we keep seeing no Steel Diancie teams fall apart in tours. It's a relic of a past meta, as expected imo. Not bad, but with a masssssssive drop off in usage and win rate, this should be clear to everyone who isn't a Diancie apologist.

A -> A-
Kinda disappointing and really mediocre mon from what I've seen and used. It has a lot of strong traits but a lot of dead weight matchups and slight 4mss. I think this current rank represented the hype which has died down.

/ A- -> B+
I'm grouping both of these Fighting-types together. I won't pretend I ever understood the Tauros Blaze hype, but imo it's clearly worse than the Water guy on 95% of teams, especially in a Rhyp meta. Toxicroak is similar in that it's become clearly pushed out and increasingly niche as the weeks go on. A mon with good utility, but in a B+ way moreso than an A- rank.

- A- -> B+
Should just never have risen and I stand by that. We need to stop voting one week fun mons this high on the VR.