Resource Monotype Viability Rankings [November 2025]

[pikachu<3]

I haven't really had the success with Froslass yet that would make me really feel confident about Froslass being considered A. The Fighting immunity is good on paper, but despite you saying it's "easy to slap on teams" that just hasn't been the experience of it to me so far. I think I need to go away from traditional screens if I want to make it work I guess, but it's pretty counterintuitive to me to have what's usually a suicide lead on a type that's almost always screens hail HO with alolatales and feels tight on team slots.

I just submitted 3 very distinct ice sample teams here all of have Froslass (which is not a coincidence, I consider it to be a top3 mon on the type after all). I hope seeing those teams helps you build with the mon. I believe the mon fits on any style of Ice team, whether you're running a team based on Screens, a team based on Snow, or a team that isn't based on either of those. While I don't think its anywhere near as mandatory as Kyurem or Alola-Ninetales (which is why I'm nominating it for A and not S), it is fairly splashable and deserves a lot more love than it's currently getting.


Edit: Submitted a 4th sample ice team featuring Light Clay ANine at https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/sv-monotype-sample-teams-september-2025.3733750/post-10784725 which also runs Froslass, I hope this helps too.

"teams that desperately need the pivoting", funny enough, is like every Screens Ice Type ever in current gen. Like the reason why Dewgong found viability and rose in usage to begin with has almost nothing to do with the fire resist in my eyes, but is rather entirely due to Dewgong feeling like it filled a hole that desperately needed to be filled with Ice lacking pivoting. Bringing in Ice's threats like Kyurem safely in can be a huge struggle, especially considering the lack of Roost causing many to instead turn to Choiced Sets. I think Dewgong is fine where it is for how Ice generally operates.

Frankly speaking I think if you want Dewgong to go to D, the onus is less so on critiquing the mon itself, but rather on critiquing the current standard build for Ice which really does want the pivoting.

I think part of the disconnect here is that I don't believe that Screens Ice is the only--or even necessarily the best--way to build and run Ice. I'm not sure where this notion of "Almost all ice teams must be screens/hail offense" comes from, but let me be the first to tell you this is definitely false. I believe screens/snow offense is a fine way to run the type, but there are also other possible ways to run the type that Dewgong will never fit on.

Even so, I'd understand Dewgong's tier if it was the only pivoting option available, but that just isn't true. There's UTurn on some mons (Frosmoth, Articuno), and also Volt Switch on (scarf) Rotom-F. All of these options have their distinct advantages (Frosmoth gets Defog, Articuno gets Roost, Rotom-F compresses a scarfer), and while Dewgong's probably better than these options, I'm not sure it's better enough to deserve C rank while the others stay in D tier (or in Frosmoth's case, gets moved to D tier).

 

[not a very W D:]

alright, no Whiscash. How about something that's already ranked?

Serperior D > C/B.
I was SUPER surprised at this ranking. What do you mean Leaf Storm + Contrary doesn't do that much? Plus, it can run a wide variety of items; Choice Specs for Leaf Storm spam sets, Life Orb for Dragon Pulse, Giga Drain, and/or Glare, or Wide Lens to make Leaf Storm always hit.
I also have some calcs for this.

Life Orb:
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 212 SpD Toxapex: 133-157 (43.8 - 51.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Tentacruel: 134-160 (36.8 - 43.9%) -- 99.76% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-Wash: 289-343 (95 - 112.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 203-242 (50.3 - 60%) -- 78.91% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Scrafty: 138-164 (41.3 - 49.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)

Choice Specs:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 212 SpD Toxapex: 153-181 (50.4 - 59.7%) -- 86.33% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Tentacruel: 156-184 (42.8 - 50.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-Wash: 332-392 (109.2 - 128.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 234-276 (58 - 68.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Scrafty: 159-187 (47.6 - 55.9%) -- 25.78% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (2HKO)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Araquanid: 189-223 (55.7 - 65.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey: 186-220 (26 - 30.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO (around a 90% chance to 2HKO after the Leaf Storm boost.)

Essentially, Serperior is 2 Punch Man for nearly everything. And that's not to mention what it can do at +6. Save my boy Serperior from Abomasnow tier!

 

[londi g]

Now show the calcs on anything that resists grass. It's a good mon, but it doesn't contribute enough against your many disadvantageous matchups

 

[Miyami~~~]

hi, Dewgong isn't in the OP for ice at all, despite everyone talking as though it's ranked like it is. Is it just missing?

 

[not a very W D:]

Now show the calcs on anything that resists grass. It's a good mon, but it doesn't contribute enough against your many disadvantageous matchups

wait dang you're right. But still, does it really need to be in the same tier as Abomasnow? I feel that's really bad for a Pokemon that can snowball high-damage grass moves in only 3 turns without needing nasty plot.

 

[Molemitts]

alright, no Whiscash. How about something that's already ranked?

Serperior D > C/B.
I was SUPER surprised at this ranking. What do you mean Leaf Storm + Contrary doesn't do that much? Plus, it can run a wide variety of items; Choice Specs for Leaf Storm spam sets, Life Orb for Dragon Pulse, Giga Drain, and/or Glare, or Wide Lens to make Leaf Storm always hit.
I also have some calcs for this.

Life Orb:
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 212 SpD Toxapex: 133-157 (43.8 - 51.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Tentacruel: 134-160 (36.8 - 43.9%) -- 99.76% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-Wash: 289-343 (95 - 112.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 203-242 (50.3 - 60%) -- 78.91% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)
252+ SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Scrafty: 138-164 (41.3 - 49.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery (2HKO due to Leaf Storm.)

Choice Specs:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 212 SpD Toxapex: 153-181 (50.4 - 59.7%) -- 86.33% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Tentacruel: 156-184 (42.8 - 50.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery (2HKO)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-Wash: 332-392 (109.2 - 128.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 234-276 (58 - 68.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Scrafty: 159-187 (47.6 - 55.9%) -- 25.78% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (2HKO)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Araquanid: 189-223 (55.7 - 65.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey: 186-220 (26 - 30.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO (around a 90% chance to 2HKO after the Leaf Storm boost.)

Essentially, Serperior is 2 Punch Man for nearly everything. And that's not to mention what it can do at +6. Save my boy Serperior from Abomasnow tier!

This pokemon is D ranked because it has basically no coverage. Literally 1 special, non grass type move besides tera blast: dragon pulse. If it had better options other than glare and sub or screens for moveslots it might be higher on the VRs. C is like maybe arguable but even that is kinda pushing it. Torterra is C and has shell smash and like, movepool options and good secondary stab that hits poisons and fires and steels as well as being a poison neutrality. The reality is that serp really just doesn’t hold up.

 

[londi g]

wait dang you're right. But still, does it really need to be in the same tier as Abomasnow? I feel that's really bad for a Pokemon that can snowball high-damage grass moves in only 3 turns without needing nasty plot.

I think they're in the same tier cause serp is a good mon that provides nothing to the team, while abomasnow is a shit mon that provides a lot to the team

 

[not a very W D:]

I think they're in the same tier cause serp is a good mon that provides nothing to the team, while abomasnow is a shit mon that provides a lot to the team

thanks for explaining this to me!

This pokemon is D ranked because it has basically no coverage. Literally 1 special, non grass type move besides tera blast: dragon pulse. If it had better options other than glare and sub or screens for moveslots it might be higher on the VRs. C is like maybe arguable but even that is kinda pushing it. Torterra is C and has shell smash and like, movepool options and good secondary stab that hits poisons and fires and steels as well as being a poison neutrality. The reality is that serp really just doesn’t hold up.

also you too Molemitts now I understand better

 

[Frostium]

All of the following mons are ZU or below:

- Articuno
- Braviary
- Ditto
- Froslass
- Rotom-Mow
- Indeedee-F
- Minior
- Sableye
- Scovillain
- Smeargle
- Weezing
- Whimsicott
- Piloswine
- Pincurchin
- Dewgong
- Leavanny
- Meowstic
- Ninetales
- Torkoal
- Vivillon
- Trapinch

(In fairness to Ninetales and Torkoal and Scovillain, Drought is banned in PU)

I'm very surprised a monotype veteran like yourself is calling out a nomination's tier placement when discussing VR rank. Be better.

Speaking of ZU shitmons...

B->A (Ice)

This is a top 3 mon on Ice IMO. A fighting immunity with access to spikes and an expansive movepool with Will-o-wisp, Twave, Dbond, Taunt, and the ability to hit both physically and specially with Shadow Ball and Polt, is very easy to slap onto teams. There aren't many ice teams that don't appreciate the Fighting immunity and Spikes support, and it's actually fairly unpredictable in practice given that teams usually don't have time to scout it due to the threat of more Spikes.

C->D (Ice)

I'd really only run this on teams that desperately need the pivoting. The fire resist sounds cool until you realize that it doesn't actually deal with many fire type threats--it sadly doesn't actually check wisp Volcarona (and can get flame body'd regardless even if they're not wisp) and most other threats are either physical or case pain regardless (in Heatran's case, set rocks; in Moltres's case, wisp and uturn)--and it desperately needs hazards clear to function since it can't afford HDB. It also doesn't really have offensive presence other than Knock Off which IMO is only a threat when paired with Spikes.

C->D (Ice)

This sees almost no use on serious Ice teams; it's just really hard to fit. Could go into nitty gritty about why but I don't think its really necessary; the mon just doesn't really do very much that ice needs atm.

A->C/B (Ice)

I continue to stand by my stance that this mon is an overrated win-more mon. It struggles in neutral and bad mus, and sometimes even doesn't sweep when it gets a relatively free Belly Drum. For example:

+6 252 Atk Cetitan Ice Shard vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 205-243 (67.4 - 79.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+6 252 Atk Cetitan Ice Shard vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Iron Boulder: 285-336 (88.7 - 104.6%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO (Scarf iron boulder outspeeds +2 Cetitan)
+6 252 Atk Cetitan Icicle Crash vs. 252 HP / 196+ Def Gholdengo: 196-231 (51.8 - 61.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO balloon Dengo says no, not even gonna calc Balloon tran

In addition, Cetitan doesn't offer the team any notable resistances and doesn't even act as great revenge killer in snow either because it's super weak unboosted, viz:

252 Atk Cetitan Icicle Crash vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Flutter Mane: 204-240 (81.2 - 95.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO weakest shit in the entire world

I'm not sure why this was ever placed in A in the first place but it really needs to drop. Ice doesn't need this mon to win its good mus and is better off running something else in most other matchups.

I think these arguments are disingenuous.

Im not going to go into depth about froslass but genuinely what is froslass providing other than a one time close combat immunity and then dies after? Froslass doesnt particularly outspeed or kill anything important. Its utility only slows down the pace of ice which is like...why?
And ive seen many of your matches where you literally let froslass die within the first few turns. She truly isnt that good of a unit and top 3 is definitely a MAJOR stretch when theres units like weavile and mamo who are auto slots.

As far as dewgong goes, im aware hes blacklisted now but...Its not like ice is running a variety of playstyles and teammates like water, it has the same 10 mons if that and you play around them. A bulky slow pivoting is always nice to have on a very offensive and fragile type like ice because its inherently playing into the offensive playstyle of ice. You pivot out into your more offensive units, you take hits that your other LIMITED options cant do. Mentioning volcarona is a bit questionable because...what other options does ice really have against volcarona anyway? The taunt froslass you mentioned? lol.


Lastly, Cetitan. Im sorry you dont see the appeal but cetitan will always be a staple to ice because of how ice carries itself. It is a bit ironic to mention balloon dengo and your calc against it with cetitan when....dewgong is a soft check to dengo? Which you just discredited before. Dewgong applies pressure and more often than not pops dengos balloon if allowed and even then pivots out if they dont stay in. It seems like good synergy to me..?
In the rare cases youre able to play perfectly, cetitan is a sure fire why to sweep through steel and arguably the only way.
It can easily sweep through ghost given youve chipped down sableye (and we know ghost is a notoriously bad mu for ice)
And bringing in iron boulder into this conversation when no one plays psychic and rock (and knowing that weavile exists) is a bit...? questionable. Iron boulder also doesnt do a considerable amount to cetitan with snowscreens.
This argument seems like youve failed to bring in cetitan for success and then deem it as mediocre but its quite the opposite.
Sure ice doesnt NEED cetitan to win, the same way ive ran kyuremless ice and got to 1600..but its a viability ranking.

 

[pikachu<3]

I think these arguments are disingenuous.

Im not going to go into depth about froslass but genuinely what is froslass providing other than a one time close combat immunity and then dies after? Froslass doesnt particularly outspeed or kill anything important. Its utility only slows down the pace of ice which is like...why?
And ive seen many of your matches where you literally let froslass die within the first few turns. She truly isnt that good of a unit and top 3 is definitely a MAJOR stretch when theres units like weavile and mamo who are auto slots.

Have you never used a suicide lead in your life? Just because a mon dies in the first 3 turns doesn't mean the mon didn't contribute. In fact, far from "slowing down the pace of ice", the mon in fact massively speeds up the pace of HO Ice by giving you a gamestate that you can take advantage of. Let's take the following replay as an example:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486424859-4e6jia9h9e4oi8t1vr0disix3mrstjkpw?p2

Against a Darkrai lead, leading Ninetales-Alola is risky since it can die to Specs Sludge Bomb. Instead, by leading Froslass, Twaving, and getting a layer of spikes to help secure damage rolls later, we immediately get screens up the second it dies. In other words, leading Froslass gives us an advantageous game state that we can immediately capitalize on by getting Screens up.

Another example:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486463783-0e30xo4to8hi4909g962c6x265qfp8ipw

By Twaving the Greninja, we can ensure that Frosmoth sets up on it without issue, immediately forcing the opponent onto the back foot, and as the replay goes we see that Frosmoth is able to sweep with the free +1.

Another example:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486400785?p2 Burn instantly turns Corviknight into setup bait, allowing me to win the game right away

Of course these replays are just what is expected of Froslass; there are obviously games where it overperforms, like:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486461687-3ijbvb2f2h152xxclfn6i0xujp9sxlvpw?p2 -- wins the game T1
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486422858-jhmrhxp0na0m49bqg96ufas99d21aevpw?p2 -- GG Froslass OP
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2394056960-rr5e315bsmtyg1vdhgvq9cp5omoifxtpw Spikes stack wins games
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486408427 Froslass saves the game

And there are of course games where Cursed Body gives you free setup.

Oh, and I've also yet to mention how good Spikes are at bringing things into ranging from various Ice sweepers & scarfers, especially on teams with Icy Rock Tales where mons like Snowslash and Cetitan appreciate the chip to allow them to potentially revenge kill threats despite their mediocre unboosted damage output. I've personally put Froslass on teams more than I've used the so-called "auto includes" like Mamo or Weavile. Froslass doesn't get a lot of kills, but it sure as hell impacts winning and I like winning games.

As far as dewgong goes, im aware hes blacklisted now but...Its not like ice is running a variety of playstyles and teammates like water, it has the same 10 mons if that and you play around them. A bulky slow pivoting is always nice to have on a very offensive and fragile type like ice because its inherently playing into the offensive playstyle of ice. You pivot out into your more offensive units, you take hits that your other LIMITED options cant do. Mentioning volcarona is a bit questionable because...what other options does ice really have against volcarona anyway? The taunt froslass you mentioned? lol.


Lastly, Cetitan. Im sorry you dont see the appeal but cetitan will always be a staple to ice because of how ice carries itself. It is a bit ironic to mention balloon dengo and your calc against it with cetitan when....dewgong is a soft check to dengo? Which you just discredited before. Dewgong applies pressure and more often than not pops dengos balloon if allowed and even then pivots out if they dont stay in. It seems like good synergy to me..?
In the rare cases youre able to play perfectly, cetitan is a sure fire why to sweep through steel and arguably the only way.
It can easily sweep through ghost given youve chipped down sableye (and we know ghost is a notoriously bad mu for ice)
And bringing in iron boulder into this conversation when no one plays psychic and rock (and knowing that weavile exists) is a bit...? questionable. Iron boulder also doesnt do a considerable amount to cetitan with snowscreens.
This argument seems like youve failed to bring in cetitan for success and then deem it as mediocre but its quite the opposite.
Sure ice doesnt NEED cetitan to win, the same way ive ran kyuremless ice and got to 1600..but its a viability ranking.

Since Dewgong is blacklisted, let's just agree to disagree and move on.

As for Cetitan, the "his argument seems like youve failed to bring in cetitan for success and then deem it as mediocre but its quite the opposite." is just completely uncalled for, especially because one of the sample teams I nominated at https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/sv-monotype-sample-teams-september-2025.3733750/post-10781748 contains a cetitan. I have had a lot of success with the mon, but that doesn't mean that I can't recognize the mon's shortcomings and deficiencies. I also nominated Articuno to move from C -> D even when I was having success with it. Do you only nominate mons down when you can't build with them?

Like, just let me ask a few questions:

- Would you still run Cetitan on a team without Icy Rock A-nine (the mon can run Light Clay or Scarf, both viable options), over other options such as SD weavile or SS cloyster?
- Are you going to still run Cetitan when you're running a Kyurem set that isn't Specs who assists in in denting physical walls? There are other viable sets such as SubTect, Dice, and even Boots.
- How reliable is Cetitan at setting up with a sufficient amount of Hail turns left without support from a dedicated pivot?
- How do most Ice teams reliably chip at Sableye, a mon Cetitan doesn't OHKO with shard, when it commonly runs HDB? The team I submitted for samples has Knock off on Snowslash for this purpose; does this count as specialized support?
- How does Cetitan help when you can't get up screens because a strong, fast breaker is lead and is staring at your A9 in the face T1?

Overall, yes Cetitan can be strong in the right circumstances but it does not deserve an A rank spot.

 

[TheWyvernKing]

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486461687-3ijbvb2f2h152xxclfn6i0xujp9sxlvpw?p2 -- wins the game T1
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486422858-jhmrhxp0na0m49bqg96ufas99d21aevpw?p2 -- GG Froslass OP
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2394056960-rr5e315bsmtyg1vdhgvq9cp5omoifxtpw Spikes stack wins games
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2486408427 Froslass saves the game

Aside from the fact your replays are trash (why's this dark one here, the guy let you get up 3 spikes and then forfeited...), I have changed my tune a bit on Froslass and agree that Froslass is defs a bit overlooked in how useful it is, though I don't know if it's A or B tier to be honest.

That being said, I think the point I agree with you more is 100% the fact that Cetitan needs to be dropped from A. I'll give it a...
A-->C

Frankly speaking I think XYZ was correct in saying Cetitan is a mu fish mon, it secures the Fly mu but isn't really needed for that to be honest. Not to mention, I've found myself having a bit of a better mu spread with a cetitan-less team I made.

It took a bit cause trying to fit everything I wanted felt a bit counterintuitive, however I finally got around to making an HO Froslass Ice I liked. I ended up settling for a Dual Lead HO with Scarf Alolatales. Sash Froslass with spikes/will o/taunt/curse, and sash Mamo with SR/EQ/Ice Shard/Knock(originally Endeavor), alongside Scarf alola, HDB Shell Smash Cloyster with Ice Beam/Rock Blast/Icicle Spear, HDB A-Sandslash for Spin, and Specs Kyurem to tie it all together.

I don't think I'd lost with it yet on ladder, here are the last 3 replays I had with it but there were some prior ones vs. Dragon which probs would've been a good demonstration for the merits of Cloy.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2488670479-1hp4jdmacf0mtiitei1t6uxj36y9al8pw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2488674640-a7tv1sexjnxjuc7xv249tgvudjy8w2dpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2488677742-v4elymsd2ems72ffpd6441bv14cn791pw

Edit: here's a replay vs. Dragon
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2488695124-2vb4ukvkuhut1ujnjvpy3pn9bsrdgkkpw

Edit 2: I think got Saw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9monotype-2488698833-kydow9jatu1u1oc61yslukt080ybisdpw

I also will say I think it's a bit of a shame Dewgong got blacklisted, I recognize it became a bit of a meme, however it feels like every week someone new comes in complaining about Ice having issues with switchins to shit like Heatran in the mono room. As XYZ said earlier, there are other pivots, but as he also said, Dewgong is probs the best out of all of them. While I don't know if I can say Screens Ice is the best build, it's a build that desperately wants pivots like Dewgong.

 

[londi g]

Amoonguss (grass): S -> B
Idk how to put this, but this dude just doesn't do anything. Huge momentum sink, and doesn't actually address your weaknesses to poison and bug. Spore is nice, but after putting something to sleep, it just sits there. Foul play deters mons from setting up on you, but it's usually not tanky enough to come in on an SD and click foul play. Poison coverage is also nothing crazy, and toxic can cripple an opponent, but if you're playing grass, you're unlikely to last long enough to exploit it.
And regardless of all that, S tier is supposed to be for mons that will nearly always be a good inclusion on a team, and Amoonguss just isn't one of those.

 

[Erik von Heland]

B -> C (Fighting) Scrafty does well as a non-AV special wall. However, AV Gallade has almost completely eclipsed as the dedicated special wall for Fighting with Iron Hands as the backup AV option should someone drop Gallade for something else. The initial hype for Scrafty came after last year's circuit Dieu Amphibien vs Cielau where Cielau brought Scrafty 3 straight times to secure win 3-2 after being down 0-2. Since then, Scrafty usage has been at an all time low and doesn’t seem like a B rank mon for Fighting.

B -> A (Water) Rain builds have been doing well on both ladder and tour play. Pelipper being a solid physical wall and slow pivot into Eject Button Toxapex provides great momentum. Pair that with item removal in Knock Off and being a Ground immunity, we have a well rounded A rank mon.

B -> A (Water) With Rain comes Water’s best Swift Swim mon. If Rain is doing great, then Barraskewda is one of the largest contributors. The fastest mon in the game with spammable Liquidations and Flip Turns creates great momentum and punches holes needed for Water. Also being able to outspeed Flutter Mane outside of Rain is a big plus as well.

Even if Barraskewda doesn’t get A rank, Pelipper still should have a strong consideration for it. Seeing that Ethereal Sword’s most recent Monotype Swiss Finals series broadcasted a Rain Water team without Barraskewda claiming a win. Rain is a general plus for Water overall that’s been netting good results.