UR to C+ / B-Silvally-Dragon @ Dragon Memory
Ability: RKS System
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Multi-Attack
- Work Up
- Flamethrower
- Flash Cannon
Ability: RKS System
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Multi-Attack
- Work Up
- Flamethrower
- Flash Cannon
Dragvally carves out a niche for itself by having a solid defensive typing in this meta, which gives it plenty of chances to come in each game and wear down the opposing team. It is able to exploit the common Vaporeon + steel cores as not being weak to the normal coverage run on Steelix or Copperajah allows it to stay in and 2hko with +1 flamethrower. Flash cannon allows Dragvally to hit fairies as well as hitting Rhydon for a lot of damage (63% min at +1 to max hp). It appreciates wish support in able to come in on Ninetales and Rotom-Mow throughout a game and as its checks don't have any reliable recovery, being able to wish it back up to full once its checks are weakened make it a very scary prospect for standard teams. It trades Drampa's access to reliable recovery for better bulk and a much better speed tier.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ru-1112756642 I was able to chip away at Copperajah as the opp had no switch-in other than it. Dragvally also came in on the opposing Xatu and Vileplume, which gave it ample opportunities to click attacks. I misplayed on turn 26 as I shouldn't have clicked work up but otherwise, Dragvally was a massive threat to the opponent's team.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ru-1112808871 Dragvally was able to exploit its speed tier to outspeed both Gallade and Braviary and click its unresisted STAB move, I got a lucky crit on Rhydon with iron head (before I realized that flash cannon was better) but other than that Dragvally was able to consistently come into the battle and click Multiattack.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ru-1112808871 Dragvally was able to exploit its speed tier to outspeed both Gallade and Braviary and click its unresisted STAB move, I got a lucky crit on Rhydon with iron head (before I realized that flash cannon was better) but other than that Dragvally was able to consistently come into the battle and click Multiattack.
Other noms/drops I will briefly touch on:
A- to A: There are very few mons that live an attack from a +6 Slurpuff, in the A rank those are; Steelix, Rhydon, and Vileplume. All of these are chipped very easily, and as Slurpuff has a good defensive typing in pure fairy, it often finds opportunities to set-up, making it a very dangerous late-game sweeper.
B- to B: Ferroseed is able to counter a lot of top tier 'mons at the moment, Rotom-Mow, Inteleon, Duraludon, naming a few, and if it gets a free switch, it's able to set up spikes which are very good right now as our defoggers are easily pressured.
B+ to A-: Toxicroak is able to break past almost the whole tier with its NP set, while also being able to use an SD set which have very different counters, often making opponents lose a valuable turn in dealing with it. It can also use scarf in order to revenge a lot of the tier with STABs + eq + knock.
S to A+: Salazzle got a lot worse in the most recent drop as Vaporeon is able to counter it very effectively thanks to heal bell while also being able to use Salazzle as wish fodder. Inteleon is also able to pressure Salazzle as it outspeeds and ohkos.
B- to C+ / C: Its a water type that doesn't beat any of the fires and also loses to Inteleon, and is also a poison type that doesn't check Virizion. I think that it's niche as a spiker isn't enough to warrant it as B- material right now.
C/C+ to UR: Lanturn is outclassed by Vaporeon which has access to reliable recovery, only offering an electric immunity which isn't useful as it loses to the tier's best electric in Rotom-Mow anyway. I haven't seen Mr. Rime in forever and its niche as an offensive ice type is done better by Frosmoth and Sneasel while Avalugg is a better defensive spinner.
A+ to S: Virizion is a complete powerhouse and honestly the best pokemon in the tier right now. With its plethora of viable sets and coverage options, it becomes a madhouse in the builder when you're trying to check it. Your Vileplume gets Zen Headbutted, your Dhelmise gets Air Slashed, your Xatu gets Stone Edged. Virizion is just unreal right now and should easily be S rank.
A- to A+: Scrafty is also phenomenal in the current meta sporting two incredibly hard to deal with sets in Dragon Dance and Bulk Up. Dragon Dance Scrafty is very very very hard to beat if it gets to +2 and can even be extremely troublesome just at +1. With an amazing stab combination, and access to Iron Head for Fairy types, it's left to be countered by Vileplume and Weezing which aren't hard to chip throughout the match. It's access to Moxie also furthers its capabilities. Specially Defensive Bulk Up is also difficult to deal with due to its insane bulk and access to Shed Skin for Rest/Status but can be exploited much easier and unlike the Dragon Dance set, it's completely walled by Fairy types.
A- to A: I think its a joke that Vileplume is A- rank right now. Sure, it isn't as good as what it used to be 2 months ago, but it's still the tier's best Physical wall and is extremely annoying to play around.
B to A-: Sneasel being B rank is also a joke. This thing is incredibly powerful, has good STABS, extremely fast, and overall just a really good breaker.
C+ to B: I really do think that Rotom-Fan is completely underrated with what it can do. But no one's gonna listen to me about this anyway, I'll just keep using it for myself it's fine.
C to B-/B: Throat Spray Accelgor is also really underrated, it literally cannot be outsped after Unburden and it's got decent coverage.
A to A-/B+: Personally, Charizard got a lot worse with the new additions to the tier. It's easily walled by Vaporeon, Snorlax, and Gastrodon, it can really only afford to have Fire-type STAB which is honestly pretty bad, and cant even reliably check the things that it wants to such as Passimian (Knock Off), Vileplume (Sludge Bomb), and Virizion (Stone Edge). It's still good due to its high speed tier and ability to just Toxic everything, but it's nowhere near as good as what it used to be.
A+ to A: I honestly haven't seen Indeedee do much of anything lately and it's definitely gotten worse with the additions of Drapion and Vaporeon.
B+ to B: The moth sucks.
A+ to A-: I agree with Expulso, def isnt as good as what it used to be.
(whatever tier) to UR: Eh, don't think any of these are viable anymore.
| A to A- - 
UR -> C (
, as it'll basically be forced out if boomer isn't burnt or anything.
B -> B-/C+: This mon is unfortunately kinda dogshit, it has a cool enough typing and Prankster Encore will always be neat but it's difficult to justify running this over the plethora of extremely good Grass types in the tier rn. It's so weak and frail that it cannot reliably beat any specially oriented Virizion sets for shit despite its typing and speed, it requires Specs Energy Ball to even 2HKO Vaporeon, and generally I feel you're just not getting a lot of mileage out of it outside of very specific builds.
A- -> B+: Very strong mon no doubt, but it's just too difficult to build with to warrant a spot in the A ranks. Its set of resistances would be very useful, but unfortunately its special bulk is pathetic so all the thing you'd like to check with it just blow it back in the long run. This makes it a Steel-type that does none of the things you'd want a Steel-type to do, so it kinda sucks a lot of the time. Has its spot on certain offensive builds, but not solid enough to be A-
B- -> B: It may be somewhat passive, but it's also one of very few mons to be able to beat Salazzle and Ninetales at the same time while compressing roles on offensive builds. A cut above the rest of B- imo
seems ranked way too high in a lix-infested meta, its ability to outspeed lazzle seems to be the only thing that really would make it worth running over raichu and idk if thats enough to justify B
same issue as boltund except its speed tier is worse than raichu. its dual stab would be nice but again, lix meta is lix meta. it gets webs but then vikavolt just seems like the better pick 90% of the time if you're going with that. maybe webs ho will catch on and this thing will carve itself a significant niche but frankly i doubt it
?
Rotom-Mow: A+ -> A
Jellicent: A- -> A
Silvally-Fairy: A- -> A
silvally-poison: ur -> B- [agree with termi]
garbodor: b- -> b/b+ [agree with goldcat]
: Drampa once again proves itself in spades, as its dual STABS backed up by an array of potential moves, like Flamethrower, Roost, and Calm Mind allow it to fashion itself into a multifaceted offensive weapon, wielding equally dangerous Choice Specs and Chople + Calm Mind sets.
: With the advent of Grassy Terrain Rillaboom as well as a small Indeedee resurgence, Hitmonlee finds itself in a better spot than ever to abuse its brutal Unburden cleaner sets.
: Ninetales has fully embraced its role as the sunbringer, being able to completely shatter any team without one of a tiny handful of dedicated answers. Revenge killers must be able to deal with Ninetales, as its powerful Fire Blasts enable it to rend opposing balance to shreds. On off times, it even enables powerful Sun wallbreakers, like Leafeon and Vileplume, to bring out their full potential.
: Catch-all special sponge Snorlax finally gets its big break into A, owed to its impressive handling of top meta threats Vaporeon, Rotom-Mow, Drampa, and of course the big three Fire-types. With the ability to turn its walling of some of the best Pokemon in the tier into Curse-boosted or Choice Banded assaults, every team must have a way to handle Snorlax, lest it slowly boost up and run you over.
: A great offensive check to Vaporeon, Abomasnow can fish for a strong matchup and then deal out huge amounts of damage with its excellent STAB combination, great coverage, and potential Aurora Veil team support, though it's overshadowed somewhat by the stronger and faster Vanilluxe.
: Insert something something about Xatu, Spikes are good again, et cetera. Froslass reprises its role as a Spikes-stacking heavy offense lead from previous generations with a new life within RU's B ranks.
: Haunter is a niche but powerful wallbreaker with a typing as excellent as its defensive stats are pitiful. Its a great glass cannon and requires a lot of support to function, but it's a cut above C rank.
: Virizion's oppressive dominance over RU, combined with other miscellaneous monsters such as Rotom-Mow and Vaporeon running around, as well as the slight dropoff of Rhydon, makes Claydol not as much of an appealing choice as it once was.
: Sad as it is, Cramorant suffers from a lot of common issues, and while it is still a very unique Pokemon, RU's two best Defoggers overshadow it greatly. Rotom-Mow and Vaporeon can both use it as fodder for free turns, and Ninetales messing with both Hurricane's accuracy and Surf's power is none too beneficial for our crammy friend.
: Overshadowed by Jellicent and Vaporeon, Gastrodon suffers from being quad-weak to Grass, preventing it from serving a role a bulky water should be expected to- checking Fire-types. Virizion's dominance and Rotom-Mow's widespread popularity do it no favors, either. It can still hang with the big dogs of the tier, but it's harder overall to place on teams nowadays.
: It's a poor man's Steelix that can barely attempt to check Fighting-types and can't even learn Toxic. Bewear often carries Lum berry, Passimian uses it as momentum fodder, and the less said about Virizion, the better. Sure, it handles Toxicroak, but really- you can get away with Mudsdale or Steelix more or less anywhere you'd want to use Runerigus. Toxic Spikes are nifty, but they aren't enough to save Runerigus from the depths of C rank- Vileplume, Toxicroak, and Salazzle make sure those don't get too far in any given game.
: Virizion and Vaporeon once again render Kingler less viable than it once was, and while its double dance set can potentially wreak serious havoc, it's quite specially frail and doesn't find many setup opportunities except against the weakest of threats.
: Pure Ice typing isn't good for a wall. Avalugg dropped like a stone through RU down to NU, and its barely functioning niche here as a physical wall can be called into question by a lot of RU's common physical attackers, many of which can break it down without much trouble. It's Special Defense is also abysmal, and the common Fire-types and even Ice-weak special attackers can tear it apart easily.
: Gurdurr has no place among RU, plain and simple. It's been barely clinging on to a niche for months now, and it dropping to NU gives all the more reason to finally kick it to Unranked. Its job as a Defogger is heavily overshadowed by the tier's more appealing options, and as a Fighting-type, it's hopelessly outclassed by all of Toxicroak, Virizion, Bewear, and Passimian.
: Rotom has been slipping slowly for months now, and this latest shift is no different. It now faces strong competition from its lawncare counterpart, and as an Electric-type wallbreaker, it has to compete with the faster, coverage-move-bearing Raichu-Alola. Still a capable Pokemon but now overshadowed in its various roles, Rotom-N slips to B rank.
: Alcremie is too slow and nonthreatening to have much of a place in RU anymore. Better Calm Mind users exist, better wallbreakers exist, mono-Fairy is a bad typing for a slow offensive Pokemon in RU, and it faces stiff competition from the usually-better Aromatisse and Silvally-Fairy. While it can be used, Alcremie hasn't put up good results in RU for a long time now, and has been rightfully removed from the rankings.
: Zizagood is simply overshadowd by RU's myriad of strong Ground-type Stealth Rock users, and doesn't offer enough to a team to be seriously considered over them in all but the most niche of cases. It's still usable yes, but very rarely will you need to call upon Piloswine's specific bag of talents when Rhydon, Mudsdale, and Steelix all exist.
: A suicide rocker is cool, and Alolan Dugtrio does it, but hyper offense is a poor playstyle in RU, thus limiting Alolan Duggy's use to a very small variety of teams. It's placement has been reflected by a C ranking.
: Similarly to the fan, Rotom-Frost suffers from being overshadowed by Rotom-Mow, a crippling Stealth Rock weakness, and an inability to deal with RU's fierce triumverate of Fire-types, one of which will find a way onto almost every team. It's usable as a niche Nasty Plot or Choice user, but only barely.
(C): Dugtrio is a very niche Choice Band user that offers approximately zilch defensive utility outside of a couple nifty tricks in Memento and Sucker Punch. It's been placed next to its Alolan variant in C.
(C+): Corsola really, honestly.. doesn't do much. It's a Stealth Rock user that isn't a Ground-type, which is super cool, but unfortunately it's nothing but setup fodder for the most dangerous of special attackers in RU, and complete Knock Off and Toxic bait. However, it's a sliver above the bottom of the barrel, so it's been placed in C+.
(B): Torkoal is another non-Ground-type Stealth Rock user and the awkward fourth child of RU's elite trio of Fire-types- the one that always gets left out on going on Mystery Dungeon explorations with the other three, if you will. Torkoal however is a great physical wall in its own right, one that can take even +2 Life Orb Stone Edge from Virizion. It's also got some niftry tricks up its sleeve, ranging from Body Press to Rapid Spin to even Shell Smash, enabling it to potentially surprise opponents. It has earned a B ranking as a result.
(C+): Originally conceived to combat the terrifying Inteleon before its ban, Wishiwashi functions as a niche Water-type able to maintain momentum with U-turn and directly threaten enemy Fire-types with Earthquake and Toxic. It fits nicely in C+.
(C): Arctovish is able to come in on Vaporeon using its Water immunity and then, uh... well, it does stuff. I think. It can burn away Wishes with Freeze-Dry, set up a Substitute in order to ease prediction later on, and then proceed to sit comfortably until Vaporeon inevitably switches out. It's worthy of C ranking, at least.
(C): Arctozolt is cool. It's a strong Electric-type attacker not stopped by Steelix due to its access to Hydro Pump, though it's held back by needed to run Heavy-Duty Boots so it doesn't fall over and die to Stealth Rock. However, it can really mess up teams that rely on Steelix-Vaporeon-Rotom Mow cores to stave off enemy assaults.