This post will be an explainer of the concept and a guide on how to read the document. Lists are contained in subsequent posts. Click here for the CTRL+F section.
Welcome to the SS Draft Role Compendium! If you've ever found yourself with 30 points and realized you were missing removal, a crucial speed tier, and useful priority, this may be for you! A number of draft contributors have put together a list of important roles in SS Draft, and ranked each Pokemon within those categories by means of their skill and proficiency accomplishing that role/task. Not every Pokemon is created equal, and not every Pokemon is equally suited for every task it could in theory accomplish.
This document is the next step up from previous editions, but is still an evolving project. I want to thank everyone in the team and in general who weighed in with useful positive advice for this and future versions. You can see credits at the end of this post. This is not an objective ranking, but rather what a group of contributors believed things should be marked as. There are further improvements to be done for sure. This document should be seen as drafting support, and is not a replacement for your own research and team cohesion consideration.
Elite is defined as Pokemon at or exceeding 15 points, High is the range including 14 to 11 points, Low cost is considered the range of 10 to 6 points, and Budget 'mons are valued at 5 or lower points. This value is likely to change in the future depending on the format.
Here is an example of what a part of a section will look like, using the CTRL+F formatting:
Some sections may have additional clarification within their section to elaborate on what the rankings entail or what moves are included. Not every Pokemon is listed, Budget is limited to 'mons worth 2+ points. Your favorite NFE is probably not on the list.
Credits:
Data compilation: a fairy with credit to Princess Autumn and scionicle for data sources
Scoring: a fairy, ComputerWhiz, TwentyTwan, and RauVGC
QC: scionicle and Addison
Formatting: abriel and a fairy
In future editions, this could be you! Reach out to afairy on Discord for more information if you'd like to help out.
Welcome to the SS Draft Role Compendium! If you've ever found yourself with 30 points and realized you were missing removal, a crucial speed tier, and useful priority, this may be for you! A number of draft contributors have put together a list of important roles in SS Draft, and ranked each Pokemon within those categories by means of their skill and proficiency accomplishing that role/task. Not every Pokemon is created equal, and not every Pokemon is equally suited for every task it could in theory accomplish.
This document is the next step up from previous editions, but is still an evolving project. I want to thank everyone in the team and in general who weighed in with useful positive advice for this and future versions. You can see credits at the end of this post. This is not an objective ranking, but rather what a group of contributors believed things should be marked as. There are further improvements to be done for sure. This document should be seen as drafting support, and is not a replacement for your own research and team cohesion consideration.
Elite is defined as Pokemon at or exceeding 15 points, High is the range including 14 to 11 points, Low cost is considered the range of 10 to 6 points, and Budget 'mons are valued at 5 or lower points. This value is likely to change in the future depending on the format.
Here is an example of what a part of a section will look like, using the CTRL+F formatting:
Defog
[> Rotom-Wash <]
[> Tornadus-Therian, Landorus-Therian, Tapu Koko, Kartana, Zapdos, Latios, Scizor, Tapu Fini <]
[> Mew, Dragonite, Landorus <]
High:
[> Crobat, Corviknight <]
[> Thundurus, Pelipper, Latias, Silvally <]
[> Blaziken, Hydreigon, Thundurus-Therian, Volcarona <]
Low:
[> Mandibuzz, Braviary <]
[> Talonflame, Moltres, Rotom-Heat, Klefki, Weezing-Galar, Noivern, Whimsicott, Rotom-Mow, Tornadus <]
[> Hawlucha, Togekiss, Skarmory, Salamence, Volcanion, Comfey, Conkeldurr <]
Budget: Archeops, Decidueye, Aerodactyl, Flygon, Skuntank, Sigilyph, Ribombee, Drifblim, Gurdurr, Lurantis, Rotom-Frost, Rotom-Fan, Scyther, Charizard, Articuno, Rotom, Drampa, Shiftry, Golbat, Sirfetch'd, Xatu, Mantine, Cryogonal
There are many Pokemon capable of using Defog. Pokemon ranked green are capable of regularly running Defog as needed, and don't miss out on other strategies or roles by doing so. Pokemon ranked yellow can run Defog just fine, but relying on them to regularly do so can limit their abilities to do other things or fill other roles. Pokemon in red have access to Defog and can use it on rare occasion, but often have linear role strategies or lack the inherent characteristics necessary for the roles associated with Defog.
[> Rotom-Wash <]
[> Tornadus-Therian, Landorus-Therian, Tapu Koko, Kartana, Zapdos, Latios, Scizor, Tapu Fini <]
[> Mew, Dragonite, Landorus <]
High:
[> Crobat, Corviknight <]
[> Thundurus, Pelipper, Latias, Silvally <]
[> Blaziken, Hydreigon, Thundurus-Therian, Volcarona <]
Low:
[> Mandibuzz, Braviary <]
[> Talonflame, Moltres, Rotom-Heat, Klefki, Weezing-Galar, Noivern, Whimsicott, Rotom-Mow, Tornadus <]
[> Hawlucha, Togekiss, Skarmory, Salamence, Volcanion, Comfey, Conkeldurr <]
Budget: Archeops, Decidueye, Aerodactyl, Flygon, Skuntank, Sigilyph, Ribombee, Drifblim, Gurdurr, Lurantis, Rotom-Frost, Rotom-Fan, Scyther, Charizard, Articuno, Rotom, Drampa, Shiftry, Golbat, Sirfetch'd, Xatu, Mantine, Cryogonal
There are many Pokemon capable of using Defog. Pokemon ranked green are capable of regularly running Defog as needed, and don't miss out on other strategies or roles by doing so. Pokemon ranked yellow can run Defog just fine, but relying on them to regularly do so can limit their abilities to do other things or fill other roles. Pokemon in red have access to Defog and can use it on rare occasion, but often have linear role strategies or lack the inherent characteristics necessary for the roles associated with Defog.
- In Elite, we can see these examples throughout - a Pokemon like Rotom-Wash is more than capable of coming to games and using Defog, while Landorus-I is going to struggle to bring Defog every time due to what it will normally want to accomplish in a game. Pokemon like Zapdos, Tapu Koko, or Scizor are happy to run Defog, but also have plenty of options to run other sets that can be limited if they are the sole Pokemon expected to use Defog.
- In High, Pokemon like Pelipper or Latias can bring Defog if wanted or necessary, but all have plenty of other strategies to employ or moves to run and don't appreciate the moveslot lock and strategy limitations that come with a mandatory running of Defog. Corviknight, on the other hand, is more than happy to bring Defog to most/every game, and Volcarona is almost always limited if it's tasked with using Defog.
- In Low, the expectation about showing up to every game is reduced, as these 'mons shouldn't expect to be brought to all or many games. Some, like Klefki, can prefer to be doing other things than using Defog, while others like Mandibuzz are capable of reliably Defogging whenever it comes. Comfey is an example of a Pokemon that really wants to not be using Defog, preferring to fill other roles.
- The budget Pokemon is not ranked. These are cheap options that see little to no use in regular Draft play, and are not easily organizable into the Pro/Neutral/Negative categories. A draft may benefit from Mantine's defensive profile, or Ribombee's ability to set Sticky Web, but this document will not be able to know that. We are leaving Budget mons blank, aside notable exceptions - you should research these Pokemon on your own to determine whether they fit your team.
Some sections may have additional clarification within their section to elaborate on what the rankings entail or what moves are included. Not every Pokemon is listed, Budget is limited to 'mons worth 2+ points. Your favorite NFE is probably not on the list.
Credits:
Data compilation: a fairy with credit to Princess Autumn and scionicle for data sources
Scoring: a fairy, ComputerWhiz, TwentyTwan, and RauVGC
QC: scionicle and Addison
Formatting: abriel and a fairy
In future editions, this could be you! Reach out to afairy on Discord for more information if you'd like to help out.
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