Hello and welcome to the very first viability list of Scarlet and Violet UU! The metagame is still in the preliminary stages, but the VR council felt that it was appropriate to put up a viability list at this time to show what Pokemon are at the top of the metagame right now. Rather than following conventional rankings of A, B, and C, Pokemon for the simple Viability List are grouped into 4 categories, shown down below. Credits to Lily for the descriptions of these rankings from last generation's viability lists.
Great Tier: The best Pokemon in the tier. You will see these commonly when playing games, and they will consistently perform their role. They must always be accounted for when teambuilding.
Good Tier: These Pokemon are strong on their own merits and can pull their weight most of the time, but may require more support than Pokemon in the Great Tier, or may be less consistent.
Viable Tier: These Pokemon have niches in the metagame and can be used to fill specific roles, but are held back by their lacking consistency and are less common as a result.
UU But Not Viable: These Pokemon either have no niche in UU or are completely outclassed by another Pokemon in the tier. There is no point in using them on a competitive team, as something else will almost always do their job better.
And now, here are our preliminary rankings!
Great Tier
Good Tier
Viable Tier
UU by usage but unviable
Great Tier: The best Pokemon in the tier. You will see these commonly when playing games, and they will consistently perform their role. They must always be accounted for when teambuilding.
Good Tier: These Pokemon are strong on their own merits and can pull their weight most of the time, but may require more support than Pokemon in the Great Tier, or may be less consistent.
Viable Tier: These Pokemon have niches in the metagame and can be used to fill specific roles, but are held back by their lacking consistency and are less common as a result.
UU But Not Viable: These Pokemon either have no niche in UU or are completely outclassed by another Pokemon in the tier. There is no point in using them on a competitive team, as something else will almost always do their job better.
And now, here are our preliminary rankings!
Great Tier
- Gastrodon
- Gengar
- Grafaiai
- Haxorus
- Lucario
- Noivern
- Quagsire
- Salamence
- Sandy Shocks
- Slither Wing
- Slowking
- Staraptor
- Talonflame
- Tinkaton
- Tyranitar
Good Tier
- Armarouge
- Bisharp
- Brambleghast
- Donphan
- Floatzel
- Gallade
- Hawlucha
- Hippowdon
- Iron Jugulis
- Kilowattrel
- Lokix
- Lycanroc-D
- Magnezone
- Maushold
- Mimikyu
- Oricorio- Pom-Pom
- Orthworm
- Pelipper
- Polteageist
- Rotom-Mow
- Salazzle
- Scream Tail
- Slowbro
- Tauros-Paldea-Fire
- Tauros-Paldea-Water
- Toxtricity
- Tsareena
Viable Tier
- Abomasnow
- Alomomola
- Altaria
- Arcanine
- Barraskewda
- Bellibolt
- Blissey
- Bronzong
- Brute Bonnet
- Cetitan
- Cloyster
- Crocalor
- Ditto
- Dragalge
- Drednaw
- Drifblim
- Espeon
- Flamigo
- Florges
- Forretress
- Froslass
- Frosmoth
- Gardevoir
- Glaceon
- Golduck
- Goodra
- Gyarados
- Hariyama
- Heracross
- Indeedee
- Iron Thorns
- Jolteon
- Klefki
- Krookodile
- Mabostiff
- Masquerain
- Morgrem
- Naclstack
- Oricorio-Sensu
- Palossand
- Primeape
- Rabsca
- Revavroom
- Sableye
- Sylveon
- Tatsugiri
- Toedscruel
- Umbreon
- Vaporeon
- Veluza
- Venomoth
- Weavile
- Wo-Chien
- Zangoose
UU by usage but unviable
- Charizard
