S Rank
Calyrex-Shadow
Zacian @ Rusted Sword
A+ Rank
Regigigas
Xerneas
Yveltal
Zamazenta-Crowned
A Rank
Ho-Oh
Imposter (Blissey, Chansey)
Regigigas
Zygarde-C
A- Rank
Eternatus
Giratina
Zekrom
B+ Rank
Kyogre
Palkia
Pheromosa
Tapu Fini
Rayquaza
B Rank
Darmanitan-Z
Dialga
Groudon
Heatran
Kartana
Kyurem-B
Umbreon
B- Rank
Calyrex-I
Kyurem-W
Registeel
Solgaleo
Volcanion
C+ Rank
Giratina-O
Magearna
Necrozma-DM
Snorlax
Steelix
Swampert
Zamazenta
C Rank
Incineroar
Melmetal
Type: Null
Suicune
Regieleki
C- Rank
Buzzwole
Celesteela
Dragapult
Golisopod
Lugia
Nihilego
Pikachu (Imposter)
Reshiram
Tyranitar
Urshifu
Victini
Zarude
screw d rank aha...
Calyrex-Shadow
Zacian @ Rusted Sword
A+ Rank
Regigigas
Xerneas
Yveltal
Zamazenta-Crowned
A Rank
Ho-Oh
Imposter (Blissey, Chansey)
Regigigas
Zygarde-C
A- Rank
Eternatus
Giratina
Zekrom
B+ Rank
Kyogre
Palkia
Pheromosa
Tapu Fini
Rayquaza
B Rank
Darmanitan-Z
Dialga
Groudon
Heatran
Kartana
Kyurem-B
Umbreon
B- Rank
Calyrex-I
Kyurem-W
Registeel
Solgaleo
Volcanion
C+ Rank
Giratina-O
Magearna
Necrozma-DM
Snorlax
Steelix
Swampert
Zamazenta
C Rank
Incineroar
Melmetal
Type: Null
Suicune
Regieleki
C- Rank
Buzzwole
Celesteela
Dragapult
Golisopod
Lugia
Nihilego
Pikachu (Imposter)
Reshiram
Tyranitar
Urshifu
Victini
Zarude
screw d rank aha...

Zacian-C has a blazing fast speed tier and an unique ability that automatically raises its attack. (Due to Intrepid Sword ban, its power stands out even more.) While it loses its item slot, it still has a Band-equivalent attack boost which makes its offensive capabilities just a bit below the current S rank, Calyrex-S. However, unlike Calyrex, it has an excellent defensive typing and bulk that even rivals Magearna’s, which makes it capable of checking mons such as Yveltal, both Kyurems, Regigigas lacking V-Create, and even Xerneas and Calyrex-S to a lesser extent. It is a good Knock Off absorber and does not fear Poisons. Another great thing about Zacian-C is I find that Strength Sap is basically your only mandantory move; you can go freestyle on the remaining three attacks depending on what your team needs, and thus can also choose your own improof with a lot of room. As the only ISword user, it’s also a great fit on Baton Pass offense teams as well. To sum up, Zacian-C is incredibly strong and versatile while providing valuable defensive utility to teams. It is really easy to fit onto a team, which overall makes me believe that it is on par with Calyrex-S in terms of viability, and should be part of the S Rank.

I think I don’t have to touch on this too much cos berry has already elaborated similar points above, but I want to highlight its really unexplored potential of both physical sets and utility sets, being pheal or not. Physical pheal (play rough/ beak or rend/ dragon dance/ spikes or sap) surprises a lot of defensive counterplay namely Ho-Oh, which this set is easily capable of OHKOing it with Beak/ Rend. Utility sets (pheal or regenvest) with Nuzzle, Moonblast, Knock, QD, Spikes, U-Turn etc are able to mess up a lot of defensive cores as well, while still having a strong STAB and passive recovery.

It’s ironically one of the best midground to Calyrex-S and Zacian-C, since RegenVest takes 40 max from the strongest Ghost move, while FC sets can still wall Zacian-C despite being weak to Fairy (Play Rough isn’t even necessary on Zac-C). Bounce and trapping sets still work well. The existence of Lance definitely dents its viability a lot, though.

Zekrom hasn’t really dropped in viability, and is still among the best spiker and mixed breakers rn. STAB Beak forces out most of the Bouncers namely Zama-C and Ho-Oh, while Core Enforcer/ Draco Meteor can also dent Bounce Giratina and Zygod. A lot of room for creativity as well, esp pheal variants.

I really don’t know about this one. Water is an excellent defensive type physically, but Kyogre only outclasses other Waters in terms of special bulk. FC sets are indeed promising, but doesn’t Fini and Palkia do that better? I don’t think berry’s argument of it being good in the past 3 gens is valid, RegenVest Pogre was a great blanket special check but not really in gen8; though I can agree that pheal sets are still great. I don’t think Kyogre really needs a rise rn, as a result. someone lmk how kyogre works please

I was originally putting this in B for its mixed Adapt set, but I remembered about FC and that should make a B+ nom promising. So first its Adapt set is really annoying to face, with Adapt + Lustrous Orb boosting all its STABs by 1.6x, making Rend and Draco Meteor hit extremely hard. Not to mention the two moves synergizes really well, with Rend 2HKOing Xern, Yvel, Umbreon (potential checks to Meteor) while Meteor handily OHKOs Dragons like Tina. It can also fit in Steam Eruption for FC Steels. Anyway, the FC set is just as good (Scald/ Core/ Recover/ whatever), forcing out the majority of physical attackers with Burn chance (Zac-C) and nullifying pheal (Regigigas). It still hits decently hard while having a slot for pivoting or Knock.

Pheromosa in D rank is absolute bullshit imo: Its unrivaled speed in competitive play (yes, screw you regieleki and ninjask) makes it capable of revenge-killing the majority of offensive powerhouses, including but not limited to Calyrex-S, Zacian-C and Regigigas. Accessibility to STAB U-Turn lets it generate momentum really well throughout a match, especially when paired with a slow pivot such as Zygarde-C. It’s not like it couldn’t break walls either: It cleanly OHKOs/ 2HKOs Zama-C, Umbreon, Registeel, Zygod, non-FC Tina, Yveltal and more just with a basic U-Turn/ CC/ Knock/ Lance set. It can also be a great offensive pivot if you change the set to Magic Guard + Life Orb. I often find myself using Phero solely because I need a way to force out Calyrex, where it is the only mon capable of outspeeding without Scarf. I think mixed sets could have potential as well but it’s pretty unexplored rn. However, Phero offers little to no defensive utility which makes me believe that it should not be placed in A ranks, and thus should reside in B+.

Fini checks most of the Dragons excellently, compared to Xern, it has an added resistance to Rend, VC and Lance, making it a better check to most physical Dragon-types. I find it much more useful on ladder due to additionally checking Palkia, Reshiram, and both Kyurems. It has a wide range of viable sets as well, Bounce, FC and pheal all work excellently. Also STAB Flip Turn is cool.

Heatran is an excellent check to Xerneas, Zacian-C, both Kyurems, Kartana and more due to its excellent defensive typing. It is capable of running various defensive sets namely FC/ Scales but I think Bounce is the best set of the lot, denying Zacian-C Strength Sap, Xerneas Sap/ Spikes, Normalize Calyrex-S (esp Ice Techno Blast variants) and Regigigas Spikes, often walling their full set combined with Heatran’s super long list of resistances. However, it has a glaring double weakness to EQ/ Earth Power, two really common coverage moves, while CC and Rend is also common among physical attackers, so it needs quite a bit of team support to scout for these moves to do its job. Unlike the superior Steel, Zama-C, it actually has a Psychic and Fairy resistance, as well as a much better mu against Ice-types, which should let it have a place in the B rank.

I think Volcanion's double resistance to Ice and Steel gives it a niche as an FC mon that checks Zac-C and Kyurem-B. Its STABs are pretty promising and hits decently hard, but its overreliance on Boots and weakness to Beak somewhat hinders how well it can wall.
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