that’s about how i feel about it tbh. it mostly just seems like an alternative to fluffy on teams that already have a fluffy mon except for the instances where the weather canceling utility is more important.
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AAA Almost Any Ability Resources
- Thread starter LordBox
- Start date
that’s about how i feel about it tbh. it mostly just seems like an alternative to fluffy on teams that already have a fluffy mon except for the instances where the weather canceling utility is more important.
Swampert A+ -> B 
Frankly I don't think Swampert was ever not outclassed by Manaphy - it has a few key matchups where it fares better, but those don't reflect the metagame we're experiencing. Gholdengo is still fantastic but is no longer an omnipresent S rank threat, Iron Moth has largely dropped Discharge in favour of Energy Ball or Dazzling Gleam, and Pokemon like Zapdos and Regieleki have all but dropped off the grid. To be blunt, a better matchup into Gholdengo and Sandy Shocks is almost never worth the tradeoff of key resistances to Water- and Ice-type attacks from Walking Wake, Primarina, and Chien-Pao. In addition to this, having Scald is a HUGE deal. I cannot overstate how much mileage you can get just by inflicting burn chip on fatties like Scream Tail and Empoleon, and Swampert can't replicate that.
Manaphy A -> S
It's what everyone thinks (thought?) Swampert is(was?) and more.
Roaring Moon
- Add Magic Guard and bold both it and Regenerator (analysis needs a revamp if not already planned btw).
Iron Hands A -> A-
The very definition of "in theory". In my experience both as a player and a spectator this mon is too reliant on facing a certain style of balance team - one that is passive and slow enough to give it free Substitutes, but also one lacking in an Unaware user like Deoxys-D or Scream Tail. Speaking of, the rise in Pixilate Scream Tail (bypassing Substitute) hurts it greatly. This mon can't trade damage comfortably unless you feed it Regenerator and its statline doesn't stop common Pokemon like Azelf and Walking Wake from retaliating if it manages to grab a kill without a sub up. My opinion could definitely shift if people started using older sets like Choice Band again.
Iron Moth A- -> A
One of three Toxic Spikes absorbers in the tier. It's adapted to meta trends fantastically well by slotting in moves like Toxic, and Ceruledge has indirectly made Well-Baked Body users like Gholdengo and Blissey significantly harder to justify. Has some really understated defensive utility by walling Water-type attacks from Walking Wake and Primarina - obviously it can't take Draco Meteor or Psychic but this makes it a fantastic partner to RegenVest users like Manaphy that might be able to reliably scout but not able to reliably wall them.
Scream Tail A- -> A
Pixilate is really good again and Psychic Noise is taking this mon places. Not much more to say - we've just seen set development that brings it back into the spotlight.
Zapdos A- -> UR
I'm expecting people to go "wtf no too far" but hear me out; what is this things niche now? Primordial Sea has lost all of its defensive utility with Ceruledge becoming a top threat, and No Guard frankly just isn't powerful enough to justify using a Pokemon with so few entry points and such a mediocre Speed tier. It can spread paralysis, but if you want a dedicated paralysis spreader you're better off with something like Deoxys-D or Gholdengo, and its offensive output is far too lacking to give it a niche now. Corviknight, Manaphy and Great Tusk are (arguably, I guess) the three best defensive Pokemon right now, yet even despite that Zapdos has had absolutely no successful showings. Maybe there's a niche for MGLO as a mixed breaker, but until that's seen in practice I can't see this as a ranked mon.
Cinderace
- Unbold Magic Guard, add and bold Mold Breaker.
Heatran B+ -> B
Manaphy neuters it, Ceruledge's dominance is indirectly threatening it by bringing in weird sets like Well-Baked Body Mandibuzz, and it doesn't really answer that much anymore (sorry again Zapdos). Unbold Desolate Land and bold Water Absorb.
Pecharunt B+ -> A
Bro what are you doing down here. A ton of defensive utility, being, again, one of three Toxic Spikes absorbers and a fantastic check to whatever you want it to be. You can give it EE and have it spinblock Tusk (better than Gholdengo because you still wall Scrappy even if you can't block Rapid Spin), you can give it Well-Baked Body for Iron Moth and Ceruledge, or you can tech countless other abilities; Prankster Destiny Bond checks every offensive threat in the tier alongside Malignant Chain and Shadow Ball, Corrosion messes with WBB Corviknight/Skarmory, and I've used half a dozen other weird ones like Water Absorb, Wandering Spirit, and Fluffy to great success. Probably the most versatile Pokemon in the tier even when you aren't trying to do weirdo Adaptability stuff with it.
Slither Wing B -> B+
Really strong breaker that has incredible utility in this meta through Tinted Lens First Impression. Nothing's changed for it, it's just undervalued in my eyes.
Ting-Lu C -> A-
One of the best Regenerator mons in the tier, Protect is really strong right now with almost all of our offensive threats being choice locked and it has the bulk to tank super effective hits like Ceruledge's Close Combat if you can keep it at full (easily done im ngl). It's also incredible at chipping down teams between Ruination and nearly undeniable Spikes. Has a hard time against Regenerator Great Tusk but you can make up for this pretty handily by pairing it with Pecharunt.
Ursaluna-Bloodmoon
Throw Well-Baked Body on there instead of Storm Drain haha.
Frankly I don't think Swampert was ever not outclassed by Manaphy - it has a few key matchups where it fares better, but those don't reflect the metagame we're experiencing. Gholdengo is still fantastic but is no longer an omnipresent S rank threat, Iron Moth has largely dropped Discharge in favour of Energy Ball or Dazzling Gleam, and Pokemon like Zapdos and Regieleki have all but dropped off the grid. To be blunt, a better matchup into Gholdengo and Sandy Shocks is almost never worth the tradeoff of key resistances to Water- and Ice-type attacks from Walking Wake, Primarina, and Chien-Pao. In addition to this, having Scald is a HUGE deal. I cannot overstate how much mileage you can get just by inflicting burn chip on fatties like Scream Tail and Empoleon, and Swampert can't replicate that.
Manaphy A -> S
It's what everyone thinks (thought?) Swampert is(was?) and more.
Roaring Moon
- Add Magic Guard and bold both it and Regenerator (analysis needs a revamp if not already planned btw).Iron Hands A -> A-
The very definition of "in theory". In my experience both as a player and a spectator this mon is too reliant on facing a certain style of balance team - one that is passive and slow enough to give it free Substitutes, but also one lacking in an Unaware user like Deoxys-D or Scream Tail. Speaking of, the rise in Pixilate Scream Tail (bypassing Substitute) hurts it greatly. This mon can't trade damage comfortably unless you feed it Regenerator and its statline doesn't stop common Pokemon like Azelf and Walking Wake from retaliating if it manages to grab a kill without a sub up. My opinion could definitely shift if people started using older sets like Choice Band again.
Iron Moth A- -> A
One of three Toxic Spikes absorbers in the tier. It's adapted to meta trends fantastically well by slotting in moves like Toxic, and Ceruledge has indirectly made Well-Baked Body users like Gholdengo and Blissey significantly harder to justify. Has some really understated defensive utility by walling Water-type attacks from Walking Wake and Primarina - obviously it can't take Draco Meteor or Psychic but this makes it a fantastic partner to RegenVest users like Manaphy that might be able to reliably scout but not able to reliably wall them.
Scream Tail A- -> A
Pixilate is really good again and Psychic Noise is taking this mon places. Not much more to say - we've just seen set development that brings it back into the spotlight.
Zapdos A- -> UR
I'm expecting people to go "wtf no too far" but hear me out; what is this things niche now? Primordial Sea has lost all of its defensive utility with Ceruledge becoming a top threat, and No Guard frankly just isn't powerful enough to justify using a Pokemon with so few entry points and such a mediocre Speed tier. It can spread paralysis, but if you want a dedicated paralysis spreader you're better off with something like Deoxys-D or Gholdengo, and its offensive output is far too lacking to give it a niche now. Corviknight, Manaphy and Great Tusk are (arguably, I guess) the three best defensive Pokemon right now, yet even despite that Zapdos has had absolutely no successful showings. Maybe there's a niche for MGLO as a mixed breaker, but until that's seen in practice I can't see this as a ranked mon.
Cinderace
- Unbold Magic Guard, add and bold Mold Breaker.Heatran B+ -> B
Manaphy neuters it, Ceruledge's dominance is indirectly threatening it by bringing in weird sets like Well-Baked Body Mandibuzz, and it doesn't really answer that much anymore (sorry again Zapdos). Unbold Desolate Land and bold Water Absorb.
Pecharunt B+ -> A
Bro what are you doing down here. A ton of defensive utility, being, again, one of three Toxic Spikes absorbers and a fantastic check to whatever you want it to be. You can give it EE and have it spinblock Tusk (better than Gholdengo because you still wall Scrappy even if you can't block Rapid Spin), you can give it Well-Baked Body for Iron Moth and Ceruledge, or you can tech countless other abilities; Prankster Destiny Bond checks every offensive threat in the tier alongside Malignant Chain and Shadow Ball, Corrosion messes with WBB Corviknight/Skarmory, and I've used half a dozen other weird ones like Water Absorb, Wandering Spirit, and Fluffy to great success. Probably the most versatile Pokemon in the tier even when you aren't trying to do weirdo Adaptability stuff with it.
Slither Wing B -> B+
Really strong breaker that has incredible utility in this meta through Tinted Lens First Impression. Nothing's changed for it, it's just undervalued in my eyes.
Ting-Lu C -> A-
One of the best Regenerator mons in the tier, Protect is really strong right now with almost all of our offensive threats being choice locked and it has the bulk to tank super effective hits like Ceruledge's Close Combat if you can keep it at full (easily done im ngl). It's also incredible at chipping down teams between Ruination and nearly undeniable Spikes. Has a hard time against Regenerator Great Tusk but you can make up for this pretty handily by pairing it with Pecharunt.
Ursaluna-Bloodmoon
Throw Well-Baked Body on there instead of Storm Drain haha.
Viability Rankings + Sample Sets (and Analyses)
Last update: mini update April 10th, 2024
- Each Pokemon links to its would-be page in Smogdex. For now, most of them are outdated/blank, but they will be updated over time once QC is up on running!
Votes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...FM8isGtTkr/pubhtml?gid=1632258521&single=true
Pokemon Abilities S Rank None! A Rank A+ Corviknight Corviknight
Fluffy, Intimidate, Well-Baked Body, Prankster Great Tusk Great Tusk
Scrappy, Fluffy, Regenerator, Mold Breaker Manaphy Regenerator, Motor Drive, Protosynthesis Roaring Moon Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard, Regenerator A Azelf Azelf
Psychic Surge Chien-Pao Chien-Pao
Sword of Ruin, Adaptability, Magic Guard Deoxys-Speed Deoxys-Speed
Psychic Surge, Prankster, Sheer Force, Protean Gholdengo Gholdengo
Earth Eater, Well-Baked Body, Adaptability, Immunity Abilities Iron Moth Desolate Land, Sheer Force Scream Tail Unaware, Pixilate Walking Wake Walking Wake
Primordial Sea, Dragon's Maw, Adaptability Zamazenta Zamazenta
Sword of Ruin, Scrappy, Purifying Salt, Regenerator A- Barraskewda Barraskewda
Primordial Sea Ceruledge Ceruledge
Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Deoxys-Defense Deoxys-Defense
Unaware, Intimidate, Fluffy, Regenerator Dragonite Dragonite
Aerilate Empoleon Empoleon
Volt Absorb, Earth Eater, Bulletproof Gengar Gengar
Sheer Force, Normalize, Beads of Ruin Iron Boulder Iron Boulder
Sharpness Iron Hands Earth Eater, Regenerator, Surge Surfer Mandibuzz Mandibuzz
Unaware, Fluffy, Magic Guard, Immunity Abilities Pecharunt Earth Eater, Corrosion, Unaware Primarina Primarina
Primordial Sea, Regenerator Swampert Regenerator B Rank B+ Garchomp Garchomp
Regenerator, Sword of Ruin Heatran Water Absorb, Magic Guard, Desolate Land, Earth Eater Kingambit Kingambit
Adaptability, Well-Baked Body, Earth Eater Latios Latios
Adaptability, Tinted Lens, Hadron Engine Ogerpon-Hearthflame Ogerpon-Hearthflame
Sword of Ruin, Desolate Land, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker Ogerpon-Wellspring Ogerpon-Wellspring
Primordial Sea, Sword of Ruin Sandy Shocks Sandy Shocks
Hadron Engine, Earth Eater Skarmory Skarmory
Well-Baked Body, Fluffy, Intimidate Ting Lu Regenerator, Fluffy Zapdos Primordial Sea, No Guard, Intimidate Zapdos-Galar Zapdos-Galar
Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard B Archaludon Archaludon
Primordial Sea, Regenerator, Earth Eater Blissey Blissey
Magic Guard, Unaware, Well-Baked Body Cinderace Desolate Land, Mold Breaker, Magic Guard, Sword of Ruin, Electrode-Hisui Electrode-Hisui
Magic Guard Goodra-Hisui Goodra-Hisui
Regenerator, Earth Eater Landorus-Therian Landorus-Therian
Desolate Land, Regenerator Meloetta Meloetta
Regenerator Meowscarada Meowscarada
Sword of Ruin Ogerpon-Cornerstone Ogerpon-Cornerstone
Rocky Payload, Sword of Ruin Slither Wing Tinted Lens, Magic Guard, Sword of Ruin Terrakion Terrakion
Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Volcarona Volcarona
Sheer Force, Desolate Land, Magic Guard Zoroark-Hisui Zoroark-Hisui
Sheer Force B- Jirachi Jirachi
Regnerator Garganacl Garganacl
Earth Eater, Fluffy Iron Treads Iron Treads
Regenerator, Immunity Abilities, Magic Guard C Rank Chansey Chansey
Unaware, Magic Guard, Pressure Chesnaught Chesnaught
Flame Body, Well-Baked Body Cobalion Cobalion
Magic Guard Cresselia Cresselia
Unaware, Stamina Enamorus-Therian Enamorus-Therian
Sheer Force, Well-Baked Body Iron Crown Iron Crown
Tinted Lens, Adaptability Kommo-o Kommo-o
Regenerator, Galvanize Landorus Landorus
Desolate Land, Sheer Force Mew Mew
Regenerator, Magic Guard Polteageist Polteageist
Queenly Majesty, Normalize Quaquaval Quaquaval
Intimidate, Magic Guard, Fluffy Regieleki Regieleki
Refrigerate Smeargle Smeargle
Prankster, Aroma Veil Talonflame Talonflame
Magic Guard Thundurus Thundurus
Sheer Force, Magic Guard Thundurus-Therian Thundurus-Therian
Sheer Force, Primordial Sea Toxapex Toxapex
Corrosion, Prankster Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Adaptability, Storm Drain, Steam Engine Zamazenta-Crowned Zamazenta-Crowned
Dauntless Shield
Mini update!
Rises:
Manaphy A -> A+ Iron Moth A- -> A Scream Tail A- -> A Dragonite B+ -> A- Pecharunt B+ -> A- Ting-Lu C -> B+ Ogerpon-W B -> B+ Kingambit B -> B+ Jirachi UR -> B-Drops:
Corviknight S -> A+ Swampert A+ -> A- Ceruledge A -> A- Iron Hands A -> A- Zapdos A- -> B+ Cinderace B+ -> B Thundurus B- -> CAbilities updated:
Roaring Moon: Added Magic Guard
Cinderace: Added Mold Breaker
Heatran: Move Water Absorb to bolded spot
More rankings you want to see changed? More abilities to add? Yell at us here!
Nominating to A-:
I've found that in the current meta, Garchomp has a very important niche as a defensive Regenerator mon where it can, in one slot, soft-check the various electric types of the tier, and also cover the various fire and Desolate Land threats, on both sides of the spectrum. While its utility is usually only being able to set up rocks/spikes and phazing via Dragon Tail, I find that it's great glue in a defensive core and can cover the weaknesses of common defensive mons.
Nominating to A (adding the ability Vessel of Ruin):
Right now, Empoleon is one of the premier special walls in the tier, acting as a check to a vast array of threats, from the psychics in Azelf, Deoxys-S, and Latios, to nukes like Walking Wake, leveraging its typing to have meaningful resists against the majority of the meta. With its additional utility in setting up rocks, providing pivoting, and having access to Knock Off and phazing, its combination of utility and bulk leaves it as a very good mon in the current meta.
to A-:I've found that in the current meta, Garchomp has a very important niche as a defensive Regenerator mon where it can, in one slot, soft-check the various electric types of the tier, and also cover the various fire and Desolate Land threats, on both sides of the spectrum. While its utility is usually only being able to set up rocks/spikes and phazing via Dragon Tail, I find that it's great glue in a defensive core and can cover the weaknesses of common defensive mons.
Nominating
to A (adding the ability Vessel of Ruin):Right now, Empoleon is one of the premier special walls in the tier, acting as a check to a vast array of threats, from the psychics in Azelf, Deoxys-S, and Latios, to nukes like Walking Wake, leveraging its typing to have meaningful resists against the majority of the meta. With its additional utility in setting up rocks, providing pivoting, and having access to Knock Off and phazing, its combination of utility and bulk leaves it as a very good mon in the current meta.
Nominating to B-:
A Thundy T renaissance has been under way and it is looking unfortunately promising. Agility and sheer force life orb are a deadly combo on things like Goltres but in this case its just absurd. I fear the developments that may arise through further innovations within the Thundy-T community.
Calcs:
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Iron Moth: 179-212 (49.1 - 58.2%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Manaphy: 234-276 (57.9 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Swampert: 234-276 (57.9 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
to B-:A Thundy T renaissance has been under way and it is looking unfortunately promising. Agility and sheer force life orb are a deadly combo on things like Goltres but in this case its just absurd. I fear the developments that may arise through further innovations within the Thundy-T community.
Calcs:
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Iron Moth: 179-212 (49.1 - 58.2%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Manaphy: 234-276 (57.9 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Swampert: 234-276 (57.9 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
vr noms bc they kinda old at this point tbh
A- to C - Yes, it's actually that bad. This pokemon does literally nothing every time I've seen it used. Psychic is an atrocious defensive typing, you're giving up running Deo-S because of Species Clause, you spike stack worse than Skarm/Ting/Chomp, you switch into less than Corv/Tusk/Mandi or Mana/Empo/Prima, it's just genuinely horrendous. If anyone has had success with a Deo-D team in the past month, please tell me what it is, because I have tried and failed to use it.
A to A+ - See here.
A- to B+ - Grouping all of these together because they all feel like mons that got overrated at the start of the post-Gouging meta. Barra can't really clean much better than other Waters and it despises Wake forcing shit like Water Absorb and DesoMoth onto most teams. Mandi I just really haven't seen any good use for, but its traits are too good to have it be below B+ with Knock and Toxic and pivot and Foul Play, def got some 4MSS though. Pert has had his time, and he's not as good as the other two RegenVest Waters anymore imo, that Water neutrality really hurts and outside of Moth/Dengo I find he usually has worse MUs than Mana/Prima. Gengar in theory can break a lot of teams but in practice it's hazard vulnerable, really easy to click Knock on, and can't revenge some important targets like Psychic Noise Scream Tail or Scarf Wake, making it hard to get on the field in a real game.
A- to A - Not much to say that hasn't already been said, these are just two very, very strong defensive mons that find their way onto tons of popular teams, balance and offense alike. Prankster Pecharunt especially has proven to be one of the best glues for offense, giving them a good physical backbone, TSpikes absorption, and a guaranteed trade all in one slot.
Add Sheer Force and Magic Guard, both unbolded - Both of these sets have proven to be pretty respectable imo. Sheer Force is devastating when they don't have a Tran or Empo, and Magic Guard makes it much more resilient against hazards and stuff like Mana Scalds, which it otherwise hates switching into.
A+ to S - When I think of AAA, I think of these Pokemon. Roaring Moon has proven time and time again to be THE physical mon, ensuring nothing wants to switch into it out of fear of its Knock Offs and Dragon STAB. U-Turn gives it effortless pivoting and Roost lets it constantly stay healthy and sponge hits when necessary. This is all just with the Magic Guard set, too; Roaring Moon becomes infinitely scarier when you add in Sword of Ruin choiced sets, or the rarer DD variants. Manaphy...well, it's Manaphy, you know what it does, you use it on like every team. Manaphy's Manaphy, not much more to be said.
Some quick ones to finish this up because this post is getting kinda long:
B+ to B - Really struggles with Zama and Terrak rising in popularity, Flying STAB just ain't what it used to be sadly.
B+ to A- (maybe) - Kinda unsure on this one but the lack of Press Corv makes this really deadly with the longevity of Leftovers. Just uh, don't run into Tusks.
B+ to A- - Best spiker in the tier imo, it's really bulky, it's got Flamethrowers to bully Corv with, EQ, Protect, DTail, just a good mon tbh.
A to A+ - Pixilate Boomburst sure is a move. Wish sure is a move. It just doesn't die unless you run Boulder, idk man.
A to A- - Doesn't appreciate the increasing popularity of PsySurge Deo giving it some pretty heavy competition, but it's still good since you got pivot.
A- to C - Yes, it's actually that bad. This pokemon does literally nothing every time I've seen it used. Psychic is an atrocious defensive typing, you're giving up running Deo-S because of Species Clause, you spike stack worse than Skarm/Ting/Chomp, you switch into less than Corv/Tusk/Mandi or Mana/Empo/Prima, it's just genuinely horrendous. If anyone has had success with a Deo-D team in the past month, please tell me what it is, because I have tried and failed to use it. A to A+ - See here. A- to B+ - Grouping all of these together because they all feel like mons that got overrated at the start of the post-Gouging meta. Barra can't really clean much better than other Waters and it despises Wake forcing shit like Water Absorb and DesoMoth onto most teams. Mandi I just really haven't seen any good use for, but its traits are too good to have it be below B+ with Knock and Toxic and pivot and Foul Play, def got some 4MSS though. Pert has had his time, and he's not as good as the other two RegenVest Waters anymore imo, that Water neutrality really hurts and outside of Moth/Dengo I find he usually has worse MUs than Mana/Prima. Gengar in theory can break a lot of teams but in practice it's hazard vulnerable, really easy to click Knock on, and can't revenge some important targets like Psychic Noise Scream Tail or Scarf Wake, making it hard to get on the field in a real game. A- to A - Not much to say that hasn't already been said, these are just two very, very strong defensive mons that find their way onto tons of popular teams, balance and offense alike. Prankster Pecharunt especially has proven to be one of the best glues for offense, giving them a good physical backbone, TSpikes absorption, and a guaranteed trade all in one slot. Add Sheer Force and Magic Guard, both unbolded - Both of these sets have proven to be pretty respectable imo. Sheer Force is devastating when they don't have a Tran or Empo, and Magic Guard makes it much more resilient against hazards and stuff like Mana Scalds, which it otherwise hates switching into. A+ to S - When I think of AAA, I think of these Pokemon. Roaring Moon has proven time and time again to be THE physical mon, ensuring nothing wants to switch into it out of fear of its Knock Offs and Dragon STAB. U-Turn gives it effortless pivoting and Roost lets it constantly stay healthy and sponge hits when necessary. This is all just with the Magic Guard set, too; Roaring Moon becomes infinitely scarier when you add in Sword of Ruin choiced sets, or the rarer DD variants. Manaphy...well, it's Manaphy, you know what it does, you use it on like every team. Manaphy's Manaphy, not much more to be said.Some quick ones to finish this up because this post is getting kinda long:
B+ to B - Really struggles with Zama and Terrak rising in popularity, Flying STAB just ain't what it used to be sadly. B+ to A- (maybe) - Kinda unsure on this one but the lack of Press Corv makes this really deadly with the longevity of Leftovers. Just uh, don't run into Tusks. B+ to A- - Best spiker in the tier imo, it's really bulky, it's got Flamethrowers to bully Corv with, EQ, Protect, DTail, just a good mon tbh. A to A+ - Pixilate Boomburst sure is a move. Wish sure is a move. It just doesn't die unless you run Boulder, idk man. A to A- - Doesn't appreciate the increasing popularity of PsySurge Deo giving it some pretty heavy competition, but it's still good since you got pivot.
Dude it's barely been a month :sob: (but yeah Deo-D needs to be kneecapped)
...wait, only a month?
holy shit it HAS only been a month what the hell I thought it was like 3Mini update!
Rises:
Drops:
Abilities updated:
Roaring Moon: Added Magic Guard
Cinderace: Added Mold Breaker
Heatran: Move Water Absorb to bolded spot
More rankings you want to see changed? More abilities to add? Yell at us here!
another Mini-update to slightly adjust the VR before the end of the Wake suspect! There were a few more voted on but I'll only be mentioning those with a rank change.Viability Rankings + Sample Sets (and Analyses)
Last update: mini update April 10th, 2024
- Each Pokemon links to its page in Smogdex.
Votes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...FM8isGtTkr/pubhtml?gid=1632258521&single=true
Pokemon Abilities S Rank Manaphy Regenerator, Motor Drive, Protosynthesis Roaring Moon Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard, Regenerator A Rank A+ Corviknight Fluffy, Intimidate, Well-Baked Body, Prankster Great Tusk Scrappy, Fluffy, Regenerator, Mold Breaker Walking Wake Primordial Sea, Dragon's Maw, Adaptability A Chien-Pao Sword of Ruin, Adaptability, Magic Guard Deoxys-Speed Psychic Surge, Prankster, Sheer Force, Protean Gholdengo Earth Eater, Well-Baked Body, Adaptability, Hadron Engine, Immunity Abilities Iron Moth Desolate Land, Sheer Force Scream Tail Pixilate, Unaware Zamazenta Sword of Ruin, Scrappy, Purifying Salt, Regenerator A- Azelf Psychic Surge Ceruledge Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Dragonite Aerilate Empoleon Volt Absorb, Earth Eater, Bulletproof Iron Boulder Sharpness Iron Hands Earth Eater, Regenerator, Surge Surfer Pecharunt Prankster, Intimidate, Corrosion, Well-Baked Body Primarina Primordial Sea, Regenerator, Sheer Force, Magic Guard Swampert Regenerator Zapdos Primordial Sea, No Guard, Intimidate B Rank B+ Barraskewda Primordial Sea Electrode-Hisui Magic Guard Garchomp Regenerator, Sword of Ruin Gengar Sheer Force, Normalize, Beads of Ruin Heatran Water Absorb, Magic Guard, Desolate Land, Earth Eater Kingambit Adaptability, Well-Baked Body, Earth Eater Latios Adaptability, Tinted Lens, Hadron Engine Mandibuzz Unaware, Fluffy, Magic Guard, Immunity Abilities Ogerpon-Hearthflame Sword of Ruin, Desolate Land, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker Ogerpon-Wellspring Primordial Sea, Sword of Ruin Sandy Shocks Hadron Engine, Earth Eater Skarmory Well-Baked Body, Fluffy, Intimidate Ting Lu Regenerator, Fluffy B Archaludon Primordial Sea, Regenerator, Earth Eater Blissey Magic Guard, Unaware, Well-Baked Body Cinderace Desolate Land, Mold Breaker, Magic Guard, Sword of Ruin, Deoxys-Defense Unaware, Intimidate, Fluffy, Regenerator Goodra-Hisui Regenerator Landorus-Therian Desolate Land, Regenerator Meloetta Regenerator Meowscarada Sword of Ruin Ogerpon-Cornerstone Rocky Payload, Sword of Ruin Slither Wing Tinted Lens, Magic Guard, Sword of Ruin Terrakion Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Volcarona Sheer Force, Desolate Land, Magic Guard Zapdos-Galar Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard Zoroark-Hisui Sheer Force B- Jirachi Regnerator Garganacl Earth Eater, Fluffy Iron Treads Regenerator, Immunity Abilities, Magic Guard C Rank Chansey Unaware, Magic Guard, Pressure Chesnaught Flame Body, Well-Baked Body Cobalion Magic Guard Cresselia Unaware, Stamina Enamorus-Therian Sheer Force, Well-Baked Body Iron Crown Tinted Lens, Adaptability Kommo-o Regenerator, Galvanize Landorus Desolate Land, Sheer Force Mew Regenerator, Magic Guard Polteageist Queenly Majesty, Normalize Quaquaval Intimidate, Magic Guard, Fluffy Regieleki Refrigerate Smeargle Prankster, Aroma Veil Talonflame Magic Guard Thundurus Sheer Force, Magic Guard Thundurus-Therian Sheer Force, Primordial Sea Toxapex Corrosion, Prankster Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Adaptability, Storm Drain, Steam Engine Zamazenta-Crowned Dauntless Shield
Rises:
Manaphy A+ -> S Roaring Moon A+ -> S Walking Wake A -> A+ Zapdos B+ -> A- Electrode-Hisui B -> B+Drops:
Azelf A -> A- Gengar A- -> B+ Mandibuzz A- -> B+ Barraskewda A- -> B+ Deoxys Defense A- -> B Zapdos-Galar B+ -> BAbilities Updated:
Primarina: Added Sheer Force and Magic Guard (unbolded)
Gholdengo: Added Hadron Engine (unbolded)
Goodra-Hisui: Removed Earth Eater
As always, feel free to yell at us here if you have reason to see abilities changed or rankings moved!
In wake of the ending of OMPL and a lot of meta development a full VR update is here! Voting here (UT abstained this time around) All changes listed below (hopefully)Viability Rankings + Sample Sets (and Analyses)
Last update: mini update April 10th, 2024
- Each Pokemon links to its page in Smogdex.
Votes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...FM8isGtTkr/pubhtml?gid=1632258521&single=true
Pokemon Abilities S Rank Great Tusk Scrappy, Fluffy, Regenerator, Mold Breaker, Immunity Abilities Roaring Moon Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard, Regenerator A Rank A+ Corviknight Fluffy, Intimidate, Volt Absorb, Well-Baked Body, Prankster Manaphy Regenerator, Motor Drive, Protosynthesis Gholdengo Adaptability, Earth Eater, Hadron Engine, Surge Surfer, Immunity Abilities Deoxys-Speed Psychic Surge, Sheer Force, Protean, Hadron Engine, Prankster Swampert Regenerator Zapdos Primordial Sea, No Guard, Intimidate A Dragonite Aerilate Scream Tail Pixilate, Unaware Zamazenta Sword of Ruin, Scrappy, Purifying Salt, Regenerator Pecharunt Prankster, Intimidate, Corrosion, Well-Baked Body, Levitate A- Ceruledge Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Chien-Pao Sword of Ruin, Adaptability, Magic Guard Heatran Desolate Land, Water Absorb, Magic Guard, Earth Eater Iron Moth Desolate Land, Sheer Force Primarina Primordial Sea, Regenerator, Sheer Force, Magic Guard Skarmory Well-Baked Body, Fluffy, Intimidate B Rank B+ Azelf Psychic Surge Cinderace Desolate Land, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker, Sword of Ruin Electrode-Hisui Magic Guard Empoleon Volt Absorb, Earth Eater, Bulletproof, Vessel of Ruin Iron Boulder Sharpness Iron Hands Earth Eater, Regenerator, Surge Surfer Kingambit Adaptability, Well-Baked Body, Earth Eater Latios Adaptability, Tinted Lens, Hadron Engine Meowscarada Sword of Ruin Ogerpon-Cornerstone Rocky Payload, Sword of Ruin Ogerpon-Wellspring Primordial Sea, Sword of Ruin Sandy Shocks Hadron Engine, Earth Eater Ting Lu Regenerator, Fluffy Volcarona Sheer Force, Magic Guard, Desolate Land, Dazzling B Barraskewda Primordial Sea Cobalion Magic Guard Garchomp Regenerator, Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Gengar Sheer Force, Normalize, Beads of Ruin, Hadron Engine Goodra-Hisui Regenerator Iron Treads Regenerator, Immunity Abilities, Magic Guard Iron Crown Tinted Lens, Psychic Surge Mandibuzz Well-Baked Body, Fluffy, Magic Guard, Unaware, Immunity Abilities Moltres Moltres
Desolate Land, Magic Guard Ogerpon-Hearthflame Sword of Ruin, Desolate Land, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker Slither Wing Tinted Lens, Magic Guard, Sword of Ruin B- Archaludon Primordial Sea, Regenerator, Earth Eater Blissey Magic Guard, Unaware, Well-Baked Body Deoxys-Defense Unaware, Intimidate, Fluffy, Regenerator Garganacl Earth Eater, Fluffy Landorus-Therian Desolate Land, Fluffy, Regenerator Regieleki Refrigerate Terrakion Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Thundurus-Therian Sheer Force, Primordial Sea, Surge Surfer C Rank Chansey Unaware, Magic Guard, Pressure Chesnaught Flame Body, Well-Baked Body Cresselia Unaware, Stamina Enamorus-Therian Sheer Force Entei Entei
Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard Gliscor Gliscor
Well-Baked Body, Regenerator, Water Absorb Goodra Goodra
Regenerator Grimmsnarl Grimmsnarl
Pixilate Jirachi Regenerator Kommo-o Regenerator, Galvanize Landorus Desolate Land, Fluffy Meloetta Regenerator Mew Regenerator, Magic Guard Quaquaval Intimidate, Magic Guard, Fluffy Ribombee Ribombee
Prankster Smeargle Prankster, Aroma Veil Talonflame Magic Guard Thundurus Sheer Force, Magic Guard Toxapex Corrosion, Prankster Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Adaptability, Storm Drain, Steam Engine Zapdos-Galar Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard Zoroark-Hisui Sheer Force
Promotions:
Swampert A- -> A+ Gholdengo A -> A+ Deoxys-Speed A -> A+ Great Tusk A+ -> S Zapdos A- -> A+ Dragonite A- -> A Pecharunt A- -> A Heatran B+ -> A- Skarmory B+ -> A- Cinderace B -> B+ Ogerpon-Cornerstone B -> B+ Volcarona B -> B+ Moltres UR -> B Cobalion C -> B Iron Treads B- -> B Iron Crown C -> B Regieleki C -> B- Thundurus-Therian C -> B- Gliscor UR -> C Goodra UR -> C Grimmsnarl UR -> C Ribombee UR -> C Entei UR -> CDemotions:
Manaphy S -> A+ Chien-Pao A -> A- Iron Moth A -> A- Azelf A- -> B+ Empoleon A- -> B+ Iron Boulder A- -> B+ Iron Hands A- -> B+ Barraskewda B+ -> B Garchomp B+ -> B Gengar B+ -> B Ogerpon-Hearthflame B+ -> B Mandibuzz B+ -> B Archaludon B -> B- Landorus-Therian B -> B- Meloetta B -> C Zapdos-Galar B -> C Zoroark-Hisui B -> C Blissey B -> B- Deoxys-Defense B -> B- Terrakion B -> B- Zamazenta-Crowned C -> URAbility Changes:
Corviknight: Added Volt Absorb (unbolded)
Deoxys-Speed: Added Hadron Engine (unbolded), unbolded Prankster
Gholdengo: Moved WBB to "Immunity Abilities", bolded Adaptability, added Surge Surfer
Pecharunt: Added Levitate (unbolded)
Cinderace: Unbolded Mold Breaker
Heatran: Bolded Desolate Land, unbolded Water Absorb
Empoleon: Added Vessel of Ruin (unbolded)
Garchomp: Added Adaptability (unbolded)
Volcarona: Unbolded Desolate Land, added Dazzling (unbolded)
Kingambit: Unbolded Earth Eater and Well-Baked Body
Gengar: Added Hadron Engine (unbolded)
Mandibuzz: Unbolded Fluffy and Unaware, bolded Well-Baked Body
Thundurus-Therian: Added Surge Surfer (unbolded)
Landorus-Therian (and incarnate): Added Fluffy (bolded)
cat will also be leaving our resources council, thank you for all you've helped us out!
As always, feel free to yell at us here if you have reason to see abilities changed or rankings moved!
Certain sample sets for AAA are a bit outdated, so I wanted to suggest some new updated sets for certain Pokemon in addition to some new sets that I think should be added.
Physically Defensive (Great Tusk) @ Rocky Helmet / Leftovers / Eject Button
Ability: Fluffy / Scrappy / Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def or 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 Spe (Outspeeds no Speed EVs Zapdos)
Impish Nature
- Body Press / Earthquake
- Knock Off / Ice Spinner / Taunt
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock / Taunt / Earthquake
Fast Defensive (Great Tusk) @ Leftovers / Eject Button
Ability: Scrappy / Earth Eater
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake / Close Combat / Headlong Rush
- Knock Off / Ice Spinner
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
Offensive (Great Tusk) @ Leftovers
Ability: Scrappy / Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Headlong Rush / Earthquake / Ice Spinner
- Rapid Spin
- Bulk Up / Taunt
Ability: Fluffy / Scrappy / Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def or 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 Spe (Outspeeds no Speed EVs Zapdos)
Impish Nature
- Body Press / Earthquake
- Knock Off / Ice Spinner / Taunt
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock / Taunt / Earthquake
Fast Defensive (Great Tusk) @ Leftovers / Eject Button
Ability: Scrappy / Earth Eater
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake / Close Combat / Headlong Rush
- Knock Off / Ice Spinner
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
Offensive (Great Tusk) @ Leftovers
Ability: Scrappy / Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Headlong Rush / Earthquake / Ice Spinner
- Rapid Spin
- Bulk Up / Taunt
RegenVest (Roaring Moon) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Earthquake / Stone Edge / Throat Chop
- Throat Chop / Dragon Tail / Dragon Claw
MGLO (Roaring Moon) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Earthquake / Taunt
- Roost
i know UT just wrote this like a couple months ago, but Taunt is pretty valuable and DClaw is pretty rare now.
Dragon Dance (Roaring Moon) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sword of Ruin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant or Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Knock Off
- Acrobatics
- Earthquake / Stone Edge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Earthquake / Stone Edge / Throat Chop
- Throat Chop / Dragon Tail / Dragon Claw
MGLO (Roaring Moon) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Earthquake / Taunt
- Roost
i know UT just wrote this like a couple months ago, but Taunt is pretty valuable and DClaw is pretty rare now.
Dragon Dance (Roaring Moon) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sword of Ruin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant or Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Knock Off
- Acrobatics
- Earthquake / Stone Edge
RegenVest (Manaphy) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed or Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
Take Heart Sweeper (Manaphy) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stamina
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Stored Power
- Take Heart
Tail Glow (Manaphy) @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis / Motor Drive
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball / Psychic
- Tail Glow
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed or Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
Take Heart Sweeper (Manaphy) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stamina
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Serious Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Stored Power
- Take Heart
Tail Glow (Manaphy) @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis / Motor Drive
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball / Psychic
- Tail Glow
Physically Defensive (Gholdengo) @ Leftovers / Colbur Berry / Air Balloon
Ability: Well-Baked Body / Levitate / Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball / Hex
- Recover
- Nasty Plot / Thunder Wave
Ability: Well-Baked Body / Levitate / Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball / Hex
- Recover
- Nasty Plot / Thunder Wave
PsySurge (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive or Rash Nature
- Expanding Force
- Ice Beam / Thunderbolt / Shadow Ball
- Superpower
- Knock Off
SFLO (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid or Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt / Focus Blast / Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball / Nasty Plot / Knock Off
Libero (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive or Rash Nature
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Superpower / Shadow Ball
- Knock Off / Shadow Ball
Hadron Engine (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Hadron Engine
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest or Timid Nature
- Psychic / Psycho Boost
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam / Shadow Ball
- Shadow Ball / Nasty Plot
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive or Rash Nature
- Expanding Force
- Ice Beam / Thunderbolt / Shadow Ball
- Superpower
- Knock Off
SFLO (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid or Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt / Focus Blast / Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball / Nasty Plot / Knock Off
Libero (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Libero
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive or Rash Nature
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Superpower / Shadow Ball
- Knock Off / Shadow Ball
Hadron Engine (Deoxys-Speed) @ Life Orb
Ability: Hadron Engine
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest or Timid Nature
- Psychic / Psycho Boost
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam / Shadow Ball
- Shadow Ball / Nasty Plot
RegenVest (Swampert) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Flip Turn
- Ice Beam
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Flip Turn
- Ice Beam
Primordial Sea (Zapdos) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe (outspeeds Adamant Ceruledge) or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Hurricane / Weather Ball
- Thunder / Weather Ball
- U-turn / Volt Switch
- Roost
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe (outspeeds Adamant Ceruledge) or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Hurricane / Weather Ball
- Thunder / Weather Ball
- U-turn / Volt Switch
- Roost
Offensive Support (Scream Tail) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Wish
- Protect / Psychic Noise
- Stealth Rock / Psychic Noise
Choice Scarf (Scream Tail) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Wish
- Trick
- Stealth Rock / Psychic Noise
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Wish
- Protect / Psychic Noise
- Stealth Rock / Psychic Noise
Choice Scarf (Scream Tail) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Wish
- Trick
- Stealth Rock / Psychic Noise
Desolate Land (Heatran) @ Leftovers
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Will-O-Wisp
- Stealth Rock
- Solar Beam / Earth Power / Power Gem
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Will-O-Wisp
- Stealth Rock
- Solar Beam / Earth Power / Power Gem
Physically Defensive (Skarmory) @ Rocky Helmet / Leftovers / Nothing
Ability: Fluffy / Well-Baked Body / Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish or Bold Nature
- Brave Bird / Body Press
- Roost
- Spikes / Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind / Taunt
Ability: Fluffy / Well-Baked Body / Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish or Bold Nature
- Brave Bird / Body Press
- Roost
- Spikes / Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind / Taunt
Specially Defensive (Empoleon) @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb / Vessel of Ruin / Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Knock Off
- Flip Turn
- Roost
- Stealth Rock / Roar
Ability: Volt Absorb / Vessel of Ruin / Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Knock Off
- Flip Turn
- Roost
- Stealth Rock / Roar
Physically Defensive (Iron Hands) @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots / Punching Glove
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Swords Dance
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch
Choice Specs (Latios) (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dragon's Maw / Adaptability / Tinted Lens
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Luster Purge
- Flip Turn
- Dragon Pulse / Psyshock / Trick / Shadow Ball
Ability: Dragon's Maw / Adaptability / Tinted Lens
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Luster Purge
- Flip Turn
- Dragon Pulse / Psyshock / Trick / Shadow Ball
Last edited:
This has been updated have fun im going to bedAAA Role CompendiumThis is the Role Compendium for the AAA tier. Each Pokemon that is here is, at least theoretically, viable in the AAA metagame, and as such, it will change as the viability rankings get updated. Feel free to discuss below whether a Pokemon should be added to or removed from a certain role; however, please refrain from discussing the order of a given subsection aside from glaring issues.
Hazard Setters
Stealth Rock:
Spikes:
Toxic Spikes:
Sticky Web:
Hazard Control
Defog:
Rapid Spin:
Other removal:
Spinblockers:
Momentum
U-turn:
Volt Switch:
Flip Turn:
Parting Shot:
Set-up Sweepers
Swords Dance:
Nasty Plot:
Bulk Up / Curse:
Calm Mind:
Iron Defense:
Other:
(Dragon Dance)
Status Afflictors
Burn - Direct (Will-O-Wisp):
Burn - Indirect (Lava Plume/Scald):
Paralysis - Direct (Thunder Wave/Stun Spore/Zap Cannon):
Paralysis - Indirect (Discharge/Thunder):
Bad Poison - Direct (Toxic):
Bad Poison - Indirect (Malignant Chain):
Utility
Knock Off:
Wish:
Heal Bell:
Wallbreakers
Physical Amplification (Sword of Ruin, Adaptability, etc.):
Special Amplification (Sheer Force, Adaptability, Hadron Engine, etc.):
Magic Guard - Physical:
Magic Guard - Special:
Magic Guard - Mixed:
Weather - Desolate Land:
Weather - Primordial Sea:
Dedicated Walls
Physically Defensive Amplification (Intimidate, Fluffy, etc.):
Type Immunity Walls (Well-Baked Body, Volt Absorb, Earth Eater etc.)
Regenerator - PhysDef:
Regenerator - SpDef:
Speed Control
Naturally Fast:
Choice Scarfers:
Extreme Speed:
Sucker Punch:
Other (Amplification):
(Surge Surfer)
Other (Priority)
munkidorilover99 here to post a vr nom ^_^
UR --> B- / B
this mon has seen almost 0 use in tour play at all but i genuinely believe that this mon is viable. yes, its basically a worse azelf but it has the benefits of being a poison type and having focus blast. psyshock is pretty fucking broken in a tier like aaa where theres close to 0 mixed walls and most spdef walls being much frailer on the physical side. having a secondary stab is amazing for this mon since it has a reliable way of dealing with most darks now and shuts down scream tail who can check it otherwise. focus blast is also really great to have as an option to hopefully beat steels, another roadblock azelf struggles with. ability wise, hadron allows it to just blast corv away after a fair bit of chip while adapt hides your ability. tlens is also pretty fine to use, blasting away ghold without needing sball and bproof treads. specs is great, scarf is fine too since it still gets important 2hkoes on stuff like mglo moon. with that said its speed tier, while good, isnt particularly fast, leaving it lacking at times. it also still suffers from competition from azelf and is prediction-reliant, which is why i think a B- / B ranking would be a fair slot for it.
UR --> B- / BMunkidori @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Hadron Engine / Adaptability / Tinted Lens
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock / Psychic
- Sludge Bomb
- U-turn
- Focus Blast / Future Sight / Shadow Ball
Ability: Hadron Engine / Adaptability / Tinted Lens
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock / Psychic
- Sludge Bomb
- U-turn
- Focus Blast / Future Sight / Shadow Ball
this mon has seen almost 0 use in tour play at all but i genuinely believe that this mon is viable. yes, its basically a worse azelf but it has the benefits of being a poison type and having focus blast. psyshock is pretty fucking broken in a tier like aaa where theres close to 0 mixed walls and most spdef walls being much frailer on the physical side. having a secondary stab is amazing for this mon since it has a reliable way of dealing with most darks now and shuts down scream tail who can check it otherwise. focus blast is also really great to have as an option to hopefully beat steels, another roadblock azelf struggles with. ability wise, hadron allows it to just blast corv away after a fair bit of chip while adapt hides your ability. tlens is also pretty fine to use, blasting away ghold without needing sball and bproof treads. specs is great, scarf is fine too since it still gets important 2hkoes on stuff like mglo moon. with that said its speed tier, while good, isnt particularly fast, leaving it lacking at times. it also still suffers from competition from azelf and is prediction-reliant, which is why i think a B- / B ranking would be a fair slot for it.
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Swampert: 285-336 (70.5 - 83.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Manaphy: 261-307 (64.6 - 75.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Manaphy: 196-232 (48.5 - 57.4%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Manaphy: 189-223 (46.7 - 55.1%) -- 69.5% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 298-351 (74.5 - 87.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Roaring Moon: 291-343 (82.9 - 97.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 248 HP / 68 SpD Assault Vest Roaring Moon: 183-216 (44.3 - 52.3%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 376-444 (119.3 - 140.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 252-296 (63 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Treads: 198-234 (51.6 - 61%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 236-280 (74.9 - 88.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Swampert: 190-225 (47 - 55.6%) -- 76.2% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Manaphy: 174-205 (43 - 50.7%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Manaphy: 132-156 (32.6 - 38.6%) -- 98.6% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Manaphy: 127-150 (31.4 - 37.1%) -- 83.4% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 199-235 (49.7 - 58.7%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Roaring Moon: 195-229 (55.5 - 65.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 248 HP / 68 SpD Assault Vest Roaring Moon: 121-144 (29.2 - 34.8%) -- 11.1% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 250-296 (79.3 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 168-198 (42 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Treads: 132-156 (34.4 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 158-186 (50.1 - 59%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Manaphy: 261-307 (64.6 - 75.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Manaphy: 196-232 (48.5 - 57.4%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Manaphy: 189-223 (46.7 - 55.1%) -- 69.5% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 298-351 (74.5 - 87.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Roaring Moon: 291-343 (82.9 - 97.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 248 HP / 68 SpD Assault Vest Roaring Moon: 183-216 (44.3 - 52.3%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Munkidori Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 376-444 (119.3 - 140.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 252-296 (63 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Treads: 198-234 (51.6 - 61%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 236-280 (74.9 - 88.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Swampert: 190-225 (47 - 55.6%) -- 76.2% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Manaphy: 174-205 (43 - 50.7%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Manaphy: 132-156 (32.6 - 38.6%) -- 98.6% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Manaphy: 127-150 (31.4 - 37.1%) -- 83.4% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 199-235 (49.7 - 58.7%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Roaring Moon: 195-229 (55.5 - 65.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Sludge Bomb vs. 248 HP / 68 SpD Assault Vest Roaring Moon: 121-144 (29.2 - 34.8%) -- 11.1% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Hadron Engine Munkidori Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 250-296 (79.3 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 168-198 (42 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Treads: 132-156 (34.4 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Tinted Lens Munkidori Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 158-186 (50.1 - 59%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Abilities: The Good, The Bad, and how to pick one!
Abilities. You can use a lot of them. You can use almost any, actually. But how many are actually good, and more importantly, how many are good for you and your team? If you're a new player struggling to build a team, here's a guide on what abilities to use and on what Pokemon!
The viability rankings are your friend. Though all Pokemon listed here are, at least on a surface level, viable users of these abilities, sometimes a lower ranked Pokemon may be better suited to take advantage of an ability. Pokemon are ranked by overall viability on this guide, not necessarily their viability with a certain ability. If an ability is bolded on the viability rankings, that means that Pokemon is most useful with that ability and it may be a better option for your team than a more niche user.
1a: Yeah, these get their own category.
Regenerator:
Every time this Pokemon leaves the field, 33.3% of it's HP (rounded down) is restored. This is not blocked by Psychic Noise.
Regenerator is another of the most widely useful abilities in the game. Almost any Pokemon appreciates being able to restore a third of it's health without spending a turn or a moveslot on a recovery move. On offensive Pokemon, this ability shines for giving a powerful threat another chance at life, letting it safely switch in and eat a hit, force the opponent out, then heal off the damage. Defensively, this ability really shines, giving bulky Pokemon like Manaphy and Swampert a form of reliable recovery and letting them consistently check powerful offensive threats. Similar to Magic Guard, most Pokemon could justify running Regenerator, but because you can only use it once per team, Pokemon dependent on it for recovery or utility should be prioritized.
Viable RegenVest users:
RegenVest users you might consider: Sturdy special walls that otherwise lack recovery or appreciate the extra moveslot, or physical walls that appreciate the additional utility of a Special Defense boost.
Other viable defensive users:
Defensive Regenerator users you might consider: Sturdy physical/mixed walls that don't have a moveslot to spare for a recovery move, especially pivot-heavy ones.
Viable offensive users:
Offensive users you might consider: Bulkier attackers than can afford to take a hit or two and heal off the damage.
Magic Guard:
This Pokemon can only be damaged by direct attacks. Moves that damage over time like Leech Seed or Whirpool, volatile status conditions like Poison and Burn, entry hazards, and recoil from moves like Steel Beam and Head Smash will all do no damage. Life Orb recoil is also removed, but the damage boost remains. Substitute, Pain Split, Belly Drum, and Ghost-type Curse will still damage the user.
Magic Guard is generally regarded as the best ability in the game, and that's no different here. Ignoring passive damage is huge for both offensive and defensive Pokemon; it gives offensive Pokemon more opportunities to switch in or set up and lets them take advantage of Life Orb and recoil moves with no drawback, while making defensive Pokemon much harder to wear down with status or entry hazards. Almost any Pokemon can justify running Magic Guard, but Pokemon that plan to switch in and out of battle often benefit the most, as they ignore the entry hazards that define the tier.
Viable offensive users:
Offensive users you might consider: Any offensive Pokemon that benefits from ignoring recoil, ignoring entry hazards, or no-drawbacks Life Orb.
Viable defensive users:
Defensive users you might consider: Any bulky Pokemon that switches in often and highly appreciates ignoring passive damage from hazards or status.
1b: Prioritizing your ability slot
Magic Guard and especially Regenerator are incredibly high demand abilities. Barring the most hyper offensive structures possible (and even those appreciate them), almost every team will have at least one of these abilities and many will have both. Many Pokemon can viably run these abilities, but not all are created equally. Pokemon like Swampert, defensive Manaphy, and Hisuian Goodra are pretty much solely dependent on Regenerator for their niche in the metagame, and likewise for Pokemon like Hisuian Electrode and Cobalion with Magic Guard. If you want to effectively utilize these Pokemon, you have to sacrifice using these abilities on another teammate. They will not function well without them, and your team will almost inarguably be worse unless you have a good reason for stepping off the beaten path.
Once again, the viability rankings are your friend, here. Though all Pokemon listed here are indeed viable users of these abilities, some Pokemon are more dependent on them than others and indeed, a lower ranked Pokemon may be better suited to take advantage of an ability. Swampert may be slightly lower than Great Tusk on the viability rankings, for example, but RegenVest Swampert is arguably more viable than RegenVest Great Tusk. If an ability is bolded on the viability rankings, that means that Pokemon is most useful with that ability and it may be a better option for your team than a more niche user.
2a: The Good
Desolate Land:
Desolate Land amplifies the power of Fire-type moves, nullifies all damaging Water-type moves (including Hydro Steam!), and remains in effect until either this Pokemon switches out or a Pokemon with either Primordial Sea or Delta Stream switches in.
Good Desolate Land users tend to be either fast, offensive Fire-types who chiefly click Fire-type moves, slower and bulkier ones looking to counter Primordial Sea, or non Fire-types who appreciate Weather Ball becoming a 100BP Fire-type move. Pokemon who are less slated to take advantage of it include Pokemon who simply want a Water immunity (Water Absorb) or Pokemon like Volcanion with important Water-type moves they want to click.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Fast, powerful Fire-types, Pokemon that benefit from Fire-type Weather Ball or 1-turn Solar Beam
Primordial Sea:
Primordial Sea amplifies the power of Water-type moves, nullifies all damaging Fire-type moves, and remains in effect until either this Pokemon switches out or a Pokemon with either Desolate Land or Delta Stream switches in.
Good Primordial Sea users tend to be offensive Water-types who mainly want to click powerful Water moves, bulkier Water-types looking to switch-in on Desolate Land users, or non Water-types who appreciate permanent Rain boosting their coverage or the accuracy on Thunder or Hurricane. Primordial Sea should not be used on Pokemon who simply want a Fire-immunity (Well-Baked Body) or on Pokemon who need Fire-type coverage.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Powerful Water-types, Pokemon that benefit from Water-type Weather Ball or 100% accurate Thunder and Hurricane.
Psychic Surge:
Psychic Surge sets Psychic Terrain every time the user enters the field, overriding any existing terrain, nullifying priority against grounded Pokemon, boosting all grounded Psychic moves by 30%, and turning Expanding Force into a 120 BP move before the terrain boost.
Psychic Surge is near exclusively used on fast Psychic-types who want to use powerful Expanding Force while giving themselves and their teammates an immunity to opposing priority use at the cost of not being able to use any of their own. If you simply want a priority immunity, it may be better to run Dazzling instead to allow your other teammates to still use powerful priority moves.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Speedy special-attacking Psychic-types with access to Expanding Force.
Hadron Engine:
Hadron Engine sets Electric Terrain on switch in, overriding any existing terrain and multiplying the power of a grounded Pokemon's Electric-type moves by 30%. In addition, Hadron Engine users get 1.33x Special Attack in Electric Terrain.
Hadron Engine is most often used by fast, grounded Electric-type Pokemon, as they essentially get a 73% boost to their STAB Electric moves. Other fast special attackers, especially those with Electric-type coverage, can also make use of Hadron Engine's 33% Special Attack boost. Hadron Engine should not be used by Flying-type Pokemon such as Zapdos and Thundurus, as they do not receive the 30% boost to Electric moves.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Any powerful special attacker, especially ones with access to Electric-type coverage.
2b: The Maybe
Delta Stream:
Delta Stream removes the weaknesses from Flying-type Pokemon (not their secondary type) and remains in effect until this Pokemon switches out or a Pokemon with either Desolate Land or Primordial Sea switches in.
Delta Stream is incredibly niche, entirely reserved for defensive Flying-types who want to nullify their weaknesses to common moves or who want to counter other Primal Weather users by turning their Weather Ball into a 50BP Normal-type move.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: bulky Flying-types that appreciate nullifying opposing primal weather
Grassy Surge:
Grassy Surge sets Grassy Terrain on switch in, overriding any existing terrain, amplifying the power of grounded Grass-type moves by 30%, weakening Earthquake, Bulldoze, and Magnitude by 50%, and restoring 1/16th of all grounded Pokemon's health at the end of the turn.
Grassy Surge is by far the most niche of the terrains so far and currently has no common users, but some Pokemon like Gholdengo and Pecharunt may be able to take advantage of extra recovery, nullifying opposing terrain, and lowering the damage of Earthquake, while Pokemon like Ogerpon formes and Roaring Moon may appreciate the power boost to Grass-type moves or the existence of Grassy Seed + Acrobatics, respectively.
Users you might consider:(all formes)
2c: The Bad
Other Terrain:
Misty Surge might seem like a good option to reduce the power of opposing Dragon-type moves and prevent status conditions. In actuality, though, no viable users currently exist, as Misty Terrain's applications are usually far too niche or far too detrimental to your own teammates to justify running it.
Electric Surge, meanwhile, is entirely outclassed by Hadron Engine. Even if a physical attacking Electric-type wanted to set terrain to boost its Electric move, there's absolutely no benefit to running Electric Surge over Hadron Engine.
Non-Permanent Weather:
Drought and Drizzle may seem viable on paper. However, the near omnipresence of Primal Weather combined with being outclassed by more standard offensive boosting abilities mean they have no place in the metagame.
Likewise, Sand Stream seems to have potential on bulky Rock-type Pokemon like Garganacl; in practice, the Special Defense boost is not worth running Sand Stream over an immunity ability or a damage reducing ability like Vessel of Ruin, especially when Primal Weathers completely nullify it.
Snow Warning might seem appealing on Aurora Veil users such as Alolan Ninetales and Frosslass, but in practice, they are entirely outclassed by Prankster screens users such as Corviknight and Deoxys-S, as these Pokemon can get screens up reliably even in the face of primal weather.
3a: The Good
Sword of Ruin:
Sword of Ruin multiplies the Defense of any Pokemon without the ability by 0.75x, effectively giving the user 1.33x power on their physical moves.
Sword of Ruin is the most common physical amplification ability, and almost any physical attacker can take advantage of it. Sword of Ruin is the best option for physical attackers running non-contact moves and/or coverage moves (read: Earthquake users). Pokemon without these moves can still use Sword of Ruin, but may prefer one of the below abilities. Pokemon only running STAB moves may prefer Adaptability, as it does not reveal itself upon switch-in, hiding valuable information from your opponent.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Any physical attacker
Tough Claws:
Tough Claws boosts the power of the user's contact moves by 1.3x.
Tough Claws is one of the most common alternatives to Sword of Ruin, as it trades a small amount of power and a lack of a boost on specific moves for concealing the ability and potentially allowing another teammate to run Sword of Ruin. Tough Claws should only be used on Pokemon that primarily use contact moves, as non-contact moves have no damage boost, meaning Ground- or Rock-types like Garchomp or Terrakion, as well as the Ogerpon formes should not use this ability.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Any physical attacker that primarily runs contact moves
Sharpness:
Sharpness boosts the power of slicing moves by 1.5x, allowing lower base power moves to rival the most powerful options in the game.
Sharpness is nearly exclusively used on Pokemon who have multiple slicing moves, including reliable slicing STAB. Pokemon who only have one or two relevant slicing moves should not use this ability, as the power boost on one move rarely justifies the lack of a boost on other important moves.
Common users:
Users you might consider: Pokemon who primarily use slicing moves
3b: The Bad
Outclassed:
Alternate amplification abilities that seem usable on paper such as Iron Fist, Reckless, or Skill Link (among many others) are all in practice outclassed by one of the above abilities. The damage boost is either too low, exclusive to too few moves, or both to be justifiable over a consistent choice such as Sword of Ruin.
Long Reach might appear to be an option on physical attackers to ignore Fluffy and Rocky Helmet, but is usually outclassed by direct amplification or by Mold Breaker to ignore Fluffy altogether alongside immunity abilities.
Technician is a good ability, but even the most powerful Technician-boosted moves tend to be weaker than the competition, so this ability struggles to justify itself. The same applies to Strong Jaw, as while a 50% boost to biting moves is potentially very powerful, biting moves tend to be either weak or have better alternatives that can be boosted by other abilities.
Inconsistent:
Abilities that depend on the user to fulfill a condition or for the opponent to make a specific moves are not consistent enough to see use. Abilities like Moxie or Beast Boost that rely on the user getting a free K.O. are bad, as it is much harder to faint the opposing team without a boosting ability, and the boost itself is not enough to justify this drawback. Do not use these abilities.
Intrepid Sword, while having a niche on Hyper Offense teams, is generally outclassed by the above abilities due to the boost only applying one time. Critical hit focused abilities like Super Luck and Sniper are also very inconsistent and should not be used, as an occasional big reward is not generally worth trading consistent power. Abilities that rely on your opponent carrying a certain ability like Guard Dog are also inconsistent, making the risk not worth the reward.
4a: The Good
Sheer Force:
Sheer Force boosts the power of any move with a secondary effect by 1.3x, at the cost of removing the effect. In addition, this Pokemon ignores Life Orb recoil if using a Sheer Force boosted move.
Though it does apply to a few physical moves, Sheer Force is the quintessential special amplification ability, and almost any special attacker can effectively run it in tandem with Life Orb. Any Pokemon with it's primary STAB moves being Sheer Force boosted or with enough Sheer Force-boosted coverage can justify running this ability. A Pokemon who wants to run a Choice item instead of Life Orb may prefer the larger boosts of an ability such as Adaptability or Beads of Ruin.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Any special attacker that runs moves with secondary effects.
Hadron Engine:
Hadron Engine sets Electric Terrain on switch in, overriding any existing terrain and multiplying the power of a grounded Pokemon's Electric-type moves by 30%. In addition, Hadron Engine users get 1.33x Special Attack in Electric Terrain.
Hadron Engine is most often used by fast, grounded Electric-type Pokemon, as they essentially get a 73% boost to their STAB Electric moves. Other fast special attackers, especially those with Electric-type coverage, can also make use of Hadron Engine's 33% Special Attack boost. Hadron Engine should not be used by Flying-type Pokemon such as Zapdos and Thundurus, as they do not receive the 30% boost to Electric moves.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Any powerful special attacker, especially ones with access to Electric-type coverage.
Beads of Ruin
Beads of Ruin multiplies the Special Defense of any Pokemon without the ability by 0.75x, effectively giving the user 1.33x power on their special moves (barring Psyshock).
Beads of Ruin is best for special attacking Pokemon who want to run multiple coverage moves without secondary effects, but not very many Pokemon fit into this category. Pokemon who only run STAB moves prefer Adaptability or a type-specific ability, while those with plentiful coverage may prefer Sheer Force. Almost any special attacker can effectively run Beads of Ruin, but other options are often more valuable, as Beads of Ruin reveals information to your opponent that they otherwise would not have.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Most special attackers
4b: The Bad
Alternate amplification abilities that seem usable on paper such as Punk Rock, Mega Launcher, or Technician are all in practice outclassed by one of the above abilities. The damage boost is either too low, exclusive to too few moves, or both to be justifiable over a consistent choice such as Sheer Force.
Abilities like Grim Neigh or Beast Boost that rely on the user getting a free K.O. are inconsistent and shouldn't be used, as the more consistent damage boost of an ability like Sheer Force or Adaptability is far preferable. Likewise, abiltiies such as Competitive that demand the opponent make a specific move are also very inconsistent, and a more consistent choice is almost always worth it.
5a: The Good
Abilities in this section, if applicable, will be split into physical/special users
Adaptability:
Adaptability boosts the power of any move that shares a type with the user by 1.333x; the STAB boost becomes 2x instead of 1.5x.
Adaptability is the quintessential boosting ability for both physical and special attackers. Adaptability can be effectively wielded by any Pokemon that primarily attacks using STAB moves, though a Pokemon that very often clicks coverage may prefer the overall boost of Sword/Beads of Ruin. Adaptability's primary advantage over the Ruin abilities is not revealing itself on switch in, hiding crucial information about your ability from your opponent. Likewise, a Pokemon that primarily spams STAB moves of a single type may prefer a type-based damage amplifying ability, as the boost is oftentimes greater.
Viable physical users:
Viable special users:
Users you might consider: Any powerful attacker with spammable STAB moves
Tinted Lens:
Tinted Lens boosts the power of any move resisted by the opponent by 2x. This turns normal resistances into neutralities, and 4x resistances into 2x weaknesses.
Tinted Lens is primarily used by powerful attackers with typings that have multiple common resistances. Tinted Lens allows these Pokemon to spam their powerful moves even in the face of resisting foes, but the lack of damage boost against neutral or even weak targets means that a Pokemon with sufficient STAB coverage or plentiful coverage may prefer the boost of Adaptability or a Ruin ability.
Viable physical users:
Viable special users:
Users you might consider: Any powerful attacker with good STAB moves with unfortunate typings
Mold Breaker
This Pokemon's moves ignore the opponent's ability.
Mold Breaker is primarily used by attackers looking to ignore opponent's immunity abilities or defensive amplification abilities like Fluffy and Vessel of Ruin. This ability most often finds use on powerful Fire-types looking to dodge Well-Baked Body, but offensive Ground-, Electric-, and Water-type attackers as well as users of bullet moves may also find themselves using this ability.
Viable users:
-ate Abilities:
Aerilate, Pixilate, Refrigerate and Galvanize turn Normal-type moves into Flying-, Fairy-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves respectively, and apply a 20% power boost to them.
-ate abilities are primarily used by Pokemon with poor coverage but powerful Normal-type moves, or by Pokemon looking to take advantage of powerful Normal-type moves in their arsenal to hit specific foes. Due to only boosting one, often non-STAB type, these abilities are generally quite niche and are often outclassed by more generalized damage amplification, but they can often be worthwhile if the boost or type-change is significant enough.
Viable Pixilate users:
Viable Galvanize users:
Viable Refrigerate users:
Users you might consider: Pokemon with poor coverage but powerful Normal-type moves, or Pokemon looking to hit a specific target like Corviknight or Roaring Moon
Type-boosting Abilities:
Type-boosting abilities boost the power of a specific type of move by 50%.
Type-boosting abilities are usually highly specific, relegated nearly exclusively to Pokemon with one powerful STAB move they click more than any other. Pokemon that value boosting moves of multiple types should not run a type-boosting ability, and should instead run for a more generalized boosting ability like Sword/Beads of Ruin or Adaptability.
Viable Dragon's Maw users:
Viable Rocky Payload users:
Viable Steelworker users:
Users you might consider: Pokemon with one powerful move they want to boost above all.
Protean:
Once per switch-in, this Pokemon's type changes to the type of the move it's using. STAB boost is applied to this move. A single-typed Pokemon can use a move of it's original type before using a move of another type to activate Protean.
Protean has fallen from glory, as activating only once per switch-in has left it a shell of it's former self. Protean should only be used on Pokemon that absolutely require the 50% STAB boost on a coverage move as opposed to the more generalized boost of Sheer Force or a Ruin ability. Pokemon who switch moves often should also opt for the more generalized boost, as this allows them far more versatility in their damage.
Viable Protean users:
Users you might consider: Pokemon that really need that extra "oomph" on a coverage move.
5b: The Bad
Just like in the above section, most alternate amplification abilities are just not optimal choices. Good abilities like Technician or Sniper, while they aren't awful, are not viable due to their inconsistency or general lack of damage. Type-enhancing abilities that boost the opponent like Dark Aura or Fairy Aura are not viable. There is no reason to give your opponent a damage boost. Instead, opt for an ability like Adaptability instead, as the damage boost is equal without revealing your ability or boosting your opponent's damage output.
The starter abilities + Swarm are all unviable choices, for much of the same reason as abilities like Moxie and Grim Neigh. Being dependent on your opponent's moves to deal boosted damage is inconsistent and not worth it, especially when abilities like Desolate Land or Sword of Ruin provide a similar or equal boost without being dependent on your opponent's choices to work.
In general, type-enhancing abilities should be used lightly. While it's tempting to boost one type by 50%, you should ask yourself if a more general 33% boost is more valuable, and it almost always will be.
6a: The Good
Ground Immunity Abilities:
Levitate ignores damage-dealing Ground-type moves, while also granting an immunity to Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Earth Eater grants an immunity to all Ground-type moves, restoring 25% health to the user if hit by one.
Levitate and Earth Eater are extremely similar, and most Pokemon running one can also viably run the other. Levitate is more useful on Pokemon prone to getting worn down by Spikes, while Earth Eater is preferred on Pokemon that don't much mind entry hazards and would prefer the 25% health buff. Ground immunity abilities are best utilized by Pokemon either weak to Ground or bulky neutral Pokemon looking to become a sudden check to threats like Great Tusk and Sandy Shocks.
Viable Ground-immunity ability users:
Users you might consider: Ground-weak walls or generally bulky Pokemon that greatly appreciate an additional immunity.
Well-Baked Body:
Well-Baked Body grants an immunity to Fire-type moves and, when hit with one, raises the user's Defense by 2 stages.
Well-Baked Body is naturally very prominent thanks to the popularity of powerful Fire-type attackers like Cinderace, Moltres, and Volcarona. Any Fire-weak or generally bulky Pokemon is able to take advantage of the additional immunity to switch in on both powerful attackers as well as stray Will-o-Wisps. This move also synergizes well with Body Press thanks to the +2 Defense boost.
Viable Well-Baked Body users:
Users you might consider: Fire-weak walls or generally bulky Pokemon that greatly appreciate an additional immunity.
Electric-immunity Abilities:
Volt Absorb grants an immunity to Electric-type moves and, when hit with one, heals the user by 25% of it's HP. Motor Drive grants an immunity to Electric-type moves and grants a +1 Speed boost if hit by one, while Lightning Rod grants a +1 Special Attack boost.
Similar to Well-Baked Body, the prominence of powerful Electric-types like Zapdos leads to the rise of Electric immunity abilities to counter them. Volt Absorb is by far the most common, especially on bulky Pokemon and walls that heavily appreciate the health increase, but Motor Drive and Lighting Rod have their use cases on fast-paced offensive teams on threats like Manaphy and Gholdengo.
Viable Electric-immunity ability users:
Users you might consider: Bulky walls that appreciate an additional immunity for Volt Absorb, powerful offensive threats that appreciate a Speed/Special Attack boost for Motor Drive / Lightning Rod.
Water-immunity Abilities:
Water Absorb grants an immunity to Water-type moves and, when hit with one, heals the user by 25% of it's HP. Storm Drain grants an immunity to Electric-type moves and grants a +1 Special Attack boost if hit by one.
Water-immunity abilities are slightly more niche without the omnipresence of Walking Wake, but powerful Water-types like Ogerpon-Wellspring and offensive Manaphy give them a place in the metagame. Water Absorb is by far the most common, especially on bulky Pokemon and walls that heavily appreciate the health increase, but Storm Drain can see use on offensive threats that more greatly value the increased damage.
Viable Water-immunity ability users:
Users you might consider: Water-weak walls or generally bulky Pokemon that greatly appreciate an additional immunity or Special Attack boost.
Bulletproof:
Bulletproof grants an immunity to certain "bullet" moves, a list of which can be found here.
Bulletproof stands out from it's contemporaries by not granting an immunity to not just a certain type of move, but rather moves from several types. Moves like Shadow Ball, Focus Blast, Weather Ball and Energy Ball are all extremely widespread and are all blocked by Bulletproof, alongside slightly rarer but still relevant moves like Sludge Bomb, Pyro Ball, Aura Sphere and Zap Cannon. Bulletproof can be used by nearly any Pokemon looking to check a wide variety of special attackers, especially primal weather users dependent on Weather Ball for their STAB move.
Viable Bulletproof users:
Users you might consider: Bulky Pokemon looking to act as a check to a wide variety of attackers.
6b: The Maybe?
Purifying Salt:
Purifying Salt grants an immunity to volatile status conditions and halves the damage of Ghost-type moves.
Purifying Salt is relatively rare, but it sees use on Pokemon who appreciate the resistance to Ghost-type moves but especially on physical attackers who use it as an immunity to Burn. It's usually a hard ability to justify, as while resisting Ghost-type moves is certainly valuable, a full immunity ability or an offensive amplification ability can often be preferable.
Viable Purifying Salt users:
Users you might consider: Bulky Pokemon who appreciate the additional resistance, or attackers that appreciate the immunity to
Soundproof:
Soundproof grants an immunity to certain "sound" moves, a list of which can be found here.
Not too dissimilar from Bulletproof, Soundproof grants an immunity to several moves from several different types. Where Soundproof differs, though, is that sound moves affects relatively few and rarer moves. The only viable Pokemon who primarily attack with sound moves are Pixilate Scream Tail, Volcarona, and Kommo-o, as well as Pecharunt with Parting Shot and RegenVest Primarina with Psychic Noise. While these are all common foes, it can be risky to dedicate an entire ability slot just to checking them. Despite this, Soundproof still sees rare use to turn near any Pokemon into a perfect counter to Scream Tail.
Viable Soundproof users:
Users you might consider: Bulky attackers on teams that really hate Pixilate Scream Tail
6c: The Bad
There is essentially zero scenarios where Flash Fire is even a sidegrade to Well-Baked Body, as it is normally strictly worse. Similarly, Dry Skin has very few use cases over Water Absorb, as the Fire-type weakness is too notable to justify healing in rain.
Sap Sipper may seem appealing, especially on Swampert, but Grass-type moves are rare enough to make it a poor use of an ability slot, especially when Swampert gets so much more value out of RegenVest. Wind Rider is also a poor use of an ability slot, as wind moves are relatively rare and that ability slot is better spent on a guaranteed value ability like Regenerator.
Resistance abilities such as Thick Fat and Heatproof are strictly worse than either general defensive amplification abilities like Vessel of Ruin or their full immunity counterparts. There is nearly zero benefit to resisting a hit instead of absorbing it.
7a: The Good
Intimidate:
Upon entering the field, the opponent's Pokemon's Attack lowers by one stage. Pokemon with the ability Scrappy are unaffected, and Pokemon with Defiant, Rattled, or Competitive receive a stat boost.
Intimidate is the premier physically defensive amplification ability. The utility of lowering a foe's Attack by a consistent 1 stage is fantastic, allowing Pokemon with Intimidate to check huge swathes of the metagame as well as dissuade users of Attack-boosting moves by resetting their progress. Intimidate is justifiable on any Pokemon looking to tank big physical hits, but Pokemon with plentiful resistances or pivoting moves benefit more.
Viable Intimidate users:
Users you might consider: Physical walls looking for a boost to their defensive prowess that can't be dodged by Mold Breaker.
Fluffy:
This Pokemon receives 1/2 damage from contact moves, but takes 2x damage from Fire-type moves.
Fluffy is another fantastic defensive amplification ability, but it's slightly more niche than Intimidate. Fluffy is preferable on Pokemon who would rather sit on the field for a while and check multiple foes on a single switch-in, or take advantage of the Defense boost to easily set up. Fluffy isn't perfect, though, as common physical moves like Stone Edge and Earthquake as well as the Mold Breaker ability completely bypass it. The Fire weakness is also a major point against it, as you have no amplification against contact Fire-type moves and are actively forced out by any non-contact ones.
Viable Fluffy users:
Users you might consider: Physical walls looking for a boost to their defensive prowess, setup sweeperts that appreciate the ease in setting up
Unaware:
This Pokemon ignores any of the foe's stat changes when dealing or receiving damage. Draco Meteor drops and Swords Dance boosts are equally ignored.
Unaware turns any Pokemon into a counter for dangerous set-up sweepers. Suddenly, +3 is hitting exactly as hard as unboosted. Unaware is especially useful in Calm Mind wars, as you get stronger while outright ignoring your opponent's boosts. Unaware is a valuable ability on Pokemon with plentiful resistances or neutralities, as they can check many setup sweepers without a dedicated immunity ability, but it's worth noting that ignoring Draco Meteor drops means it's risky to use it as a check to Dragon-types if you aren't a Fairy-type.
Viable Unaware users:
Users you might consider: Bulky walls or setup sweepers that appreciate checking set-up sweepers.
Vessel of Ruin:
This Pokemon lowers the Special Attack stat of all Pokemon on the field without Vessel of Ruin by 25%
Vessel of Ruin is a great catch-all defensive amplification ability. Vessel of Ruin essentially provides a 33% Special Defense boost to the user, making it easy to slap onto any special wall, but it's slightly more niche than the Attack reduction abilities because most special walls will either prefer RegenVest, Unaware, or a type-immunity ability.
Viable Vessel of Ruin users:
Users you might consider: Special walls that don't want RegenVest and don't need an immunity ability.
7b: The Bad
Multiscale and it's upgraded cousin Shadow Shield are always worse than a general defensive amplification ability. There is no benefit to taking less damage on a single hit when you could take less damage on every hit. Don't use either, but especially don't use Multiscale, as Shadow Shield strictly outclasses it
Dauntless Shield is a strictly inferior version of Intimidate, as it only applies once per switch-in in Gen 9. The boost to Body Press does not justify the complete waste of an ability slot if forced out even once.
Mirror Armor is an awful ability, don't try. Using it to counter Intimidate is appealing until you remember Intimidate is used by Pokemon who usually don't care enough about their own Attack to justify wasting an ability slot on Mirror Armor.[/B]
8a: The Good
Prankster:
Status moves used by this Pokemon have +1 added to their priority. Dark-types are immune to Prankster-boosted moves.
Prankster is the quintessential suicide lead ability: come out turn 1, get up hazards or screens, then faint or switch out to your powerful sweepers. It also sees use on more defensive Pokemon looking to take advantage of boosted priority on moves like Toxic, Destiny Bond, and Parting Shot. Any utility-heavy Pokemon that values the increased priority of status moves can justify running Prankster.
Viable Prankster users:
Users you might consider: Entry hazard leads or status spreaders that appreciate the consistency of moving first
Corrosion:
This Pokemon can poison a target even if it's a Steel- or Poison-type.
Corrosion instantly turns any Pokemon with Toxic into a dangerous status spreader. Suddenly, Corviknight or Pecharunt can't come in for free on Toxic and now they're getting worn down remarkably quickly. Corrosion is relatively niche, as Toxic is a rarer move in Gen 9 and the utility of poisoning Steel- and Poison-types doesn't bring consistent value every single game, but on Pokemon who can afford the ability slot it's often worthwhile.
Viable Corrosion users:
Users you might consider: Pokemon with the primary goal of spreading Toxic damage
Aroma Veil:
Protects the user from the effects of Taunt, Torment, Encore, Disable, Cursed Body, Heal Block / Psychic Noise, and infatuation.
Aroma Veil is a niche option on hyper offense leads over Prankster, choosing to sacrifice the utility of moving first in exchange for a slight advantage in the hyper offense ditto, ignoring the opponent's Taunt and getting your own Taunt, screens or hazards up for free. Aroma Veil, of course, does not guarantee you move first and has little value if your opponent doesn't click Taunt or Encore, but the instant advantage versus other hyper offense teams occasionally makes it worth it.
Viable Aroma Veil users:
Users you might consider: Hyper offense leads that don't necessarily need Prankster
Scrappy:
Scrappy allows the user to hit Ghost-types with Normal and Fighting moves, while also ignoring the effect of Intimidate.
Scrappy is almost always seen on Fighting-type Pokemon, as hitting Ghost-types with Close Combat (or Rapid Spin, if you're Great Tusk) is an invaluable trait. Ignoring Intimidate is also invaluable, as Intimidate is otherwise one of the most reliable ways to check physical attackers-- effectively making Scrappy a damage amplification ability in that matchup.
Viable users:
Users you might consider: Powerful Fighting-types or Rapid Spin users that appreciate the ability to hit Ghost-types
Normalize:
All moves used by this Pokemon are Normal-type and receive a 20% power boost.
This ability is here and not with the other type-boosting abilities because the only use case is Normalize Gengar, a set consisting of Skill Swap and Mean Look to trap and effectively neutralize an opponent, rendering them completely unable to hit Gengar barring moves like Weather Ball. This gives Gengar the freedom to either set up Toxic Spikes or set up to +6 with Nasty Plot. No other Pokemon should use Normalize. It is a garbage ability and the only use case is giving it to your opponent.
Viable Normalize users:
Users you might consider: No.
Protosynthesis / Quark Drive
When a Pokemon with Protosynthesis / Quark Drive is in harsh sunlight/Electric Terrain or holds a Booster Energy, it's highest stat is boosted by 30% unless the highest stat is Speed, in which case it's boosted by 50%. The Booster Energy item is consumed.
Protosynthesis / Quark Drive should only, and I mean only, be used on hyper offense teams looking for a one-time Speed boost with the Booster Energy. The 30% boost to another stat is not ever worth it. Protosynthesis/Quark Drive are niche abilities on setup Pokemon with middling-but-acceptable Speed that really appreciate the Speed boost allowing them to outspeed faster threats like Roaring Moon.
Viable Protosynthesis/Quark Drive users:
Users you might consider: Setup Pokemon on hyper offense that need the one-time 50% Speed boost.
Surge Surfer:
This Pokemon's Speed is doubled on Electric Terrain. If the terrain changes or runs out, the Pokemon returns to it's normal Speed stat.
Surge Surfer is a niche option on teams sporting powerful Hadron Engine sweepers, acting as powerful speed control complementing the Hadron wallbreaker. Surge Surfer is useful for Pokemon with low of middling Speed that highly appreciate the 2x boost putting them either on par with or outright faster than speedsters like Roaring Moon and base 110 Pokemon. Surge Surfer users often appreciate having either Electric-type STAB or powerful Electric-type coverage, allowing them to make full use of Electric Terrain offensively.
Viable Surge Surfer users:
Users you might consider: Slow/middling Speed Pokemon on Hadron Engine teams
new resource just dropped, have fun x2
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Typhlosion-Hisui @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Infernal Parade
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind
Kilowattrel @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Serene Grace
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Air Slash
- Discharge
- Roost
- U-turn
Chesnaught @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Synthesis
- Body Press
- Knock Off
- Spikes
Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Well-Baked Body
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Body Press
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Pecharunt @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Malignant Chain
- Parting Shot
- Recover
- Destiny Bond
Swampert @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Flip Turn
- Knock Off
- Mirror Coat
First time user poster here(in general,actually. I have no idea how to properly post teams and stuff). I wanted a to play AAA and wondered if this team here is good. Wanted to try sheer force orb Typhlosion and Serene Grace Kilowattral. Mind you I don’t how to team build,so please go easy on me and give me some changes I need to do.
Ability: Sheer Force
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Infernal Parade
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind
Kilowattrel @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Serene Grace
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Air Slash
- Discharge
- Roost
- U-turn
Chesnaught @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Synthesis
- Body Press
- Knock Off
- Spikes
Corviknight @ Leftovers
Ability: Well-Baked Body
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Body Press
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog
Pecharunt @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Malignant Chain
- Parting Shot
- Recover
- Destiny Bond
Swampert @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Flip Turn
- Knock Off
- Mirror Coat
First time user poster here(in general,actually. I have no idea how to properly post teams and stuff). I wanted a to play AAA and wondered if this team here is good. Wanted to try sheer force orb Typhlosion and Serene Grace Kilowattral. Mind you I don’t how to team build,so please go easy on me and give me some changes I need to do.
Hi, you're in the wrong thread. This thread is for discussion and maintenance of our permanent resources.
For help with team-building and general metagame discussion, you'll have more help in the main thread or the OM Discord.
double post lel
I've got a minor announcement for everyone regarding the Role Compendium as well as the new ability guide! After talking with players as well as other resource council members on how to make these resources equally valuable for both new and experienced players, I've gone ahead and edited both to split each relevant role/ability into three subdivisions: Common, Uncommon, and Niche.
Common is reserved for Pokemon who are, well, common in a particular role. They're commonly seen Pokemon who commonly run the relevant ability/move/etc. This much is pretty self explanatory.
Uncommon fits two categories of Pokemon: Commonly seen Pokemon who can uncommonly but viably run a certain option, or uncommon Pokemon who can run said option. While these are technically two different categories, I've chosen to combine them together to make it easier to digest for new players, and this should hopefully help them realize, for example, that Stealth Rock Azelf is something they should worry about roughly the same as they should worry about Stealth Rock Cobalion, despite one only occasionally running the move and the other almost always running it.
Niche is a catch-all category for any Pokemon ranked B- or lower on the viability rankings. This distinction from uncommon was chosen both to make it clear that these lower ranked Pokemon are lower ranked for a reason as well as to make these resources slightly more useful for any AAA UU players in the crowd, I'm looking out for all 3 of you
Hope you all enjoy this change and that it makes these resources more useful to you!
I've got a minor announcement for everyone regarding the Role Compendium as well as the new ability guide! After talking with players as well as other resource council members on how to make these resources equally valuable for both new and experienced players, I've gone ahead and edited both to split each relevant role/ability into three subdivisions: Common, Uncommon, and Niche.
Common is reserved for Pokemon who are, well, common in a particular role. They're commonly seen Pokemon who commonly run the relevant ability/move/etc. This much is pretty self explanatory.
Uncommon fits two categories of Pokemon: Commonly seen Pokemon who can uncommonly but viably run a certain option, or uncommon Pokemon who can run said option. While these are technically two different categories, I've chosen to combine them together to make it easier to digest for new players, and this should hopefully help them realize, for example, that Stealth Rock Azelf is something they should worry about roughly the same as they should worry about Stealth Rock Cobalion, despite one only occasionally running the move and the other almost always running it.
Niche is a catch-all category for any Pokemon ranked B- or lower on the viability rankings. This distinction from uncommon was chosen both to make it clear that these lower ranked Pokemon are lower ranked for a reason as well as to make these resources slightly more useful for any AAA UU players in the crowd, I'm looking out for all 3 of you
Great Tusk is a pretty common Pokemon who commonly runs Stealth Rock. There's no disputing that it should be considered a Common Stealth Rock user.
Deoxys-Speed is by all means a common Pokemon, but it usually prefers running all out offensive sets. Stealth Rock is still a perfectly viable option, though, just a somewhat rare one, so it would be Uncommon.
Cobalion is a pretty uncommon sight, but it's not ranked at B- or below just yet. It pretty commonly runs Stealth Rock, so it would also be uncommon.
Kommo-o almost always runs Stealth Rock, but it is currently sitting in C tier, so it would be ranked Niche.
is a pretty common Pokemon who commonly runs Stealth Rock. There's no disputing that it should be considered a Common Stealth Rock user.Deoxys-Speed
is by all means a common Pokemon, but it usually prefers running all out offensive sets. Stealth Rock is still a perfectly viable option, though, just a somewhat rare one, so it would be Uncommon.Cobalion
is a pretty uncommon sight, but it's not ranked at B- or below just yet. It pretty commonly runs Stealth Rock, so it would also be uncommon.Kommo-o
almost always runs Stealth Rock, but it is currently sitting in C tier, so it would be ranked Niche.Hope you all enjoy this change and that it makes these resources more useful to you!
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If you want to talk about a set or a team you find cool or interesting, please take it to the main thread, this thread is for discussion and maintenance of our permanent teambuilding resources.
Nominating 
to B+ (Lvl 1 Adding the Ability Sturdy)
I've noticed a serious lack of gimmicky mons in the OM, and this one, is super necessary. I would send it straight to S, but given it can be situational due to lack of the ability to run more than one item on a mon, it just has to sit below A. You can't, unfortunately, simultaneously avoid hazard damage, encore, multi-hit moves, and secondary status effects. So, heavy duty boots, covert cloak, and mental herb, are the three main options to run. At the end of the day, Misdreavous will just about always take a mon with it as long as it avoids multi-hit moves, and priority. Which is why I opted out of using Custap (although it could have its place). Trick Room, Destiny Bond, Pain Split, and Curse, are optimal, with Will-O being a good alternative (minus accuracy) for Curse. Having the ability to get rid of just about every powerful mon in this meta with a lvl 1 Misdreavous is pure value.
to B+ (Lvl 1 Adding the Ability Sturdy)I've noticed a serious lack of gimmicky mons in the OM, and this one, is super necessary. I would send it straight to S, but given it can be situational due to lack of the ability to run more than one item on a mon, it just has to sit below A. You can't, unfortunately, simultaneously avoid hazard damage, encore, multi-hit moves, and secondary status effects. So, heavy duty boots, covert cloak, and mental herb, are the three main options to run. At the end of the day, Misdreavous will just about always take a mon with it as long as it avoids multi-hit moves, and priority. Which is why I opted out of using Custap (although it could have its place). Trick Room, Destiny Bond, Pain Split, and Curse, are optimal, with Will-O being a good alternative (minus accuracy) for Curse. Having the ability to get rid of just about every powerful mon in this meta with a lvl 1 Misdreavous is pure value.
just peaked rank 1 in your amazing tier. thank you for all the awesome teams. Roaring Moon is actually insane.
I think Chien Pao should rise up to A since crash can't be punished by helmet and the flinch rate helps it smoke its "counters"
also think primarina should have stamina as a slash/bolded ability. the sub calm mind draining kiss set being able to set up on eq pert and get its help back is wild.
Keep up the good work
I think Chien Pao should rise up to A since crash can't be punished by helmet and the flinch rate helps it smoke its "counters"
also think primarina should have stamina as a slash/bolded ability. the sub calm mind draining kiss set being able to set up on eq pert and get its help back is wild.
Keep up the good work
Nominating 
UR -> C/B-
Abilties: Technician, Sword of Ruin
Mamoswine is a menace offensively having more 10 more attack than Chien-Pao, Its electric immunity (allowing for switchin opportunities) and resistance to Stealth Rock. (Adamant) Icicle Spear can pressure and (potentially) 2hko Intimidate and it naturally threatens . It also decks with Earthquake. Unlike Chien-Pao, it has the option to switch moves without sacrificing longevity or power, and thus can also deck a common ice check with Earthquake, Knock Off or (my personal favorite move), Trailblaze. With Trailblaze, It becomes unironically a terrifying cleaner, clicking just Icicle Spear and Earthquake on everything it outspeeds. Not to mention Ice Shard is just useful in checking everything faster than it like , and and just in general set-up sweepers. The reason why this mon isn't higher in nomination, is that it really needs Trailblaze, cause it's so damn slow without it. Not to mention how prediction reliant it is.
UR -> C/B-Abilties: Technician, Sword of Ruin
Mamoswine is a menace offensively having more 10 more attack than Chien-Pao, Its electric immunity (allowing for switchin opportunities) and resistance to Stealth Rock. (Adamant) Icicle Spear can pressure and (potentially) 2hko Intimidate
and it naturally threatens . It also decks with Earthquake. Unlike Chien-Pao, it has the option to switch moves without sacrificing longevity or power, and thus can also deck a common ice check with Earthquake, Knock Off or (my personal favorite move), Trailblaze. With Trailblaze, It becomes unironically a terrifying cleaner, clicking just Icicle Spear and Earthquake on everything it outspeeds. Not to mention Ice Shard is just useful in checking everything faster than it like , and and just in general set-up sweepers. The reason why this mon isn't higher in nomination, is that it really needs Trailblaze, cause it's so damn slow without it. Not to mention how prediction reliant it is.
Viability Rankings + Sample Sets (and Analyses)
Last update: 3rd August, 2024
- Each Pokemon links to its page in Smogdex.
Votes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...FM8isGtTkr/pubhtml?gid=1632258521&single=true
Pokemon Abilities S Rank Great Tusk Scrappy, Fluffy, Regenerator, Mold Breaker, Immunity Abilities Roaring Moon Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard, Regenerator A Rank A+ Corviknight Fluffy, Intimidate, Volt Absorb, Well-Baked Body, Prankster Manaphy Regenerator, Motor Drive, Protosynthesis Gholdengo Well-Baked Body, Adaptability, Hadron Engine, Magic Guard, Immunity Abilities Deoxys-Speed Psychic Surge, Sheer Force, Protean, Hadron Engine, Prankster Swampert Regenerator Zapdos Primordial Sea, No Guard A Scream Tail Pixilate, Unaware Zamazenta Sword of Ruin, Scrappy, Purifying Salt, Tough Claws Pecharunt Prankster, Intimidate, Corrosion, Well-Baked Body, Levitate A- Ceruledge Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Chien-Pao Sword of Ruin, Adaptability, Magic Guard Heatran Desolate Land, Water Absorb, Magic Guard, Earth Eater Iron Moth Desolate Land, Sheer Force Primarina Primordial Sea, Regenerator, Sheer Force Skarmory Well-Baked Body, Fluffy, Intimidate B Rank B+ Azelf Psychic Surge Cinderace Desolate Land, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker, Sword of Ruin Electrode-Hisui Magic Guard, Hadron Engine Empoleon Volt Absorb, Levitate, Bulletproof, Vessel of Ruin Iron Boulder Sharpness Iron Hands Regenerator, Earth Eater, Surge Surfer Kingambit Adaptability, Well-Baked Body, Earth Eater Latios Tinted Lens, Hadron Engine, Adaptability, Dragon's Maw Meowscarada Sword of Ruin Ogerpon-Cornerstone Rocky Payload, Sword of Ruin Ogerpon-Wellspring Primordial Sea, Sword of Ruin Sandy Shocks Hadron Engine Ting Lu Regenerator, Fluffy, Magic Guard Volcarona Sheer Force, Magic Guard, Desolate Land B Barraskewda Primordial Sea Cobalion Magic Guard Garchomp Regenerator, Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Gengar Sheer Force, Normalize, Beads of Ruin, Hadron Engine Goodra-Hisui Regenerator Iron Treads Bulletproof, Regenerator, Immunity Abilities, Magic Guard Iron Crown Tinted Lens, Psychic Surge Mandibuzz Well-Baked Body, Fluffy, Magic Guard, Unaware, Immunity Abilities Moltres Desolate Land, Magic Guard Ogerpon-Hearthflame Sword of Ruin, Desolate Land, Magic Guard, Mold Breaker Slither Wing Tinted Lens, Magic Guard, Sword of Ruin B- Archaludon Primordial Sea, Regenerator Blissey Magic Guard, Unaware, Well-Baked Body Deoxys-Defense Unaware, Intimidate, Fluffy, Regenerator Garganacl Earth Eater, Fluffy Landorus-Therian Desolate Land, Fluffy, Regenerator Regieleki Refrigerate Terrakion Sword of Ruin, Adaptability Thundurus-Therian Sheer Force, Primordial Sea, Surge Surfer C Rank Chansey Unaware, Magic Guard, Pressure Chesnaught Flame Body, Well-Baked Body Cresselia Unaware, Stamina Enamorus-Therian Sheer Force, Well-Baked Body Entei Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard Gliscor Well-Baked Body, Regenerator, Water Absorb Goodra Regenerator Grimmsnarl Pixilate Jirachi Regenerator Kommo-o Regenerator, Galvanize Landorus Desolate Land, Fluffy Meloetta Regenerator Mew Regenerator, Magic Guard Quaquaval Intimidate, Magic Guard, Fluffy Ribombee Prankster Smeargle Prankster, Aroma Veil Talonflame Magic Guard Thundurus Sheer Force, Magic Guard Toxapex Corrosion, Prankster Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Adaptability, Storm Drain, Steam Engine Zapdos-Galar Sword of Ruin, Magic Guard Zoroark-Hisui Sheer Force
New VR update!
Rises:
to A+ to A to A to A- to A- to A- to A- to A- to B+ to B- to B-
to C to C to C
to C
to C
to CDrops
to A to A to B to B to B to B- to B- to B- to B- to C to C to C to C to C to UR to UR to UR to UR (finally) to UR to URYou may have noticed this already, but we updated our resources early to match the new VR!
We're also introducing a totally new resource, the AAA Common Ability index! We're aware that AAA, especially on ladder, can be hard to get into due to the innate unpredictability here. This resource intends to serve as a guide to ongoing ladder trends, allowing new players a tool to help understand what they're up against and get past the 1200s slog!
This will be updated roughly once a month to account for new ladder trends as they come and go. I hope you find this useful if you're new here!
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Explain yourself
The Role Compendium, Ability Use Guide, and Common Ability Index have all been updated with the Volcarona ban! The Role Compendium and Common Ability Index will, as usual, receive a full update at the beginning of December.
Edit: So have the Speed Tiers!
Edit: So have the Speed Tiers!
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