Oh boy, this'll be fun. Bolded my new additions that I think will eventually make the VR.
If I have time later I'll do write ups for the new additions to justify them, because I think some might view it as... well, just strange without explanation. I've explained the new mons that were included at the bottom. Poor Hariyama doesn't get to be on the list after Chi Yu went to fish heaven.
S Rank:
(Pokemon I feel are very splashable on any team and are versatile in the sets they can run)
S Rank
Gholdengo
Great Tusk
S- Rank
Chien-Pao
Dragapult
Iron Valiant
A Rank:
(Pokemon I feel help shape the metagame and make it what it is, whilst having some weaknesses to them to keep them balanced)
A+ Rank
Cinderace
Dondozo
Dragonite
Espathra
Garganacl
Kingambit
Roaring Moon
Ting-Lu
A Rank
Amoonguss
Clodsire
Corviknight
Iron Moth
Rotom-Wash
Skeledirge
Volcarona
A- Rank
Breloom
Garchomp
Glimmora
Grimmsnarl
Hatterene
Iron Hands
Iron Treads
Meowscarada
Scizor
Toxapex
B Rank:
(The Pokemon I feel hold a certain niche in the metagame and require specific teambuilding to allow them to actually be good, or generally have one role in the metagame)
B+ Rank
Azumarill
Baxcalibur
Pawmot
Pelipper
Quaquaval
Slowking
Tauros-Paldea-Fire
Torkoal
B Rank
Barraskewda
Ditto
Floatzel
Orthworm
Sandy Shocks
B- Rank
Ceruledge
Gastrodon
Hydreigon
Golduck
Slither Wing
Talonflame
Toedscruel
C Rank:
(the garbage mons that hold some form of value individually pulling off some form of niche viability)
C+ Rank
Alomomola
Blissey
Gyarados
Hawlucha
Hippowdon
Iron Thorns
Iron Jugulis
Masquerain
Pincurchin
Polteageist
Scovillain
Scream Tail
Tyranitar
Vaporeon
C Rank
Arcanine
Avalugg
Charizard
Cloyster
Dragalge
Gallade
Grafaiai
Indeedee
Lokix
Magnezone
Mimikyu
Rotom-Heat
Slowbro
Sylveon
Tauros-Paldea-Water
Tinkaton
D Rank:
(the garbage mons)
D Rank
Brute Bonnet
Cetitan
Chansey
Gengar
Haxorus
Kilowattrel
Klefki
Maushold
Quagsire
Rabsca
Salamence
Umbreon
New mon explanations:
Golduck
Rain team's best and really only special sweeper, NP+3 moves is very difficult to wall after your checks are softened up. Very underplayed but given the right conditions, it will punch holes through teams. Only viable on rain teams but this doesn't stop Barraskewda and Floatzel from being highly regarded.
Toedscruel
Great resists and the only mon to be able to status Gholdengo and Garganacl, some of the most important mons in the tier. Great coverage and utility. Rapid Spin and Knock Off with hazards is great role compression, can run Spore or Toxic for status, and Earth Power is the only STAB really needed on most sets to threaten key mons. A ton of flexibility and roles it can fill, honestly a relatively unexplored option in the metagame.
Vaporeon
I'll continue to link this until Vaporeon gets ranked.
Avalugg
One of the better defensive Tera mons, enormous defense with Recover+Rapid Spin is pretty valuable, and Curse/Iron Defense+Body Press sets can win games if positioned correctly. Oh by the way this thing gets Sturdy+Mirror Coat if you really want to lure mons like Gholdengo. Ice Body+Leftovers with Slowking Chilly Reception on Balance or Stall is super underrated.
Dragalge
Nominated here. I love the AV set to blanket check most special attackers, but Specs against Balance and Bulky Offense just wins games. Lots of Tera possibilities, and Poison coverage to threaten the Fairy types wanting to switch into Draco Meteor makes this mon difficult to switch into. Adaptability working with Tera is surprisingly powerful, even without Specs.
Grafaiai
A very unpredictable mon with a lot of utility options. People have explored the Prankster Parting Shot pivot set, but the Poison Touch set I posted
here is really difficult to handle for many teams. Taunt/Encore is great to cover set up and stall, and Black Sludge Switcheroo can cripple walls. A bit on the frail side but still a ton of options to explore.
Tauros-Paldea-Water
When you want a water mon to check Chien Pao and you don't want to play Azumarill or Quaquaval. RestTalk is probably its best set, but mixed bulk AV is pretty effective with Wish support. Don't sleep on its offensive sets either, Bulk Up+3 moves can catch unprepared teams off guard and sweep, you just have to choose between Wild Charge and Earthquake for what you want to hit. Not anywhere near as good as its Fire counterpart, but still a ton of fun.
Tinkaton
Great typing and an excellent support movepool. Gigaton Hammer is a great exclusive, and you have Stealth Rocks, Knock Off, Encore, and Thunder Wave to choose from to round out the arsenal. People have tried the SD set but I think its pretty mid. Pretty poor offensive stats is disappointing but it has arguably the best dual typing in the game and good enough bulk and movepool to make it work. Also a great Chien Pao emergency button if you need it. One of the few Mold Breaker mons that can status Gholdengo and Garganacl, and if you really want to run SD, you can actually break through Unaware defensive cores while being immune to Toxic.