When I saw the viability ranking I agreed with most of them. but for a couple of them, I didn't even understand why they were so low.
For instance Dusclops. It is a great wall, has access to Pain Split and Will-o-wisp, shutting down quite a few pokemon. Eg:
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Pursuit vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 92-110 (32.3 - 38.7%) -- 98.3% chance to 3HKO
Dusclops wouldn't be affected by Sucker Punch, and can reply with Will-o-wisp.
252+ Atk Choice Band Archeops Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 226-267 (79.5 - 94%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
While this does deal a lot of damage, Dusclops can Will-o-wisp or Pain Split, halving Archeop's attack either way. Also, most Banded sets have Stone Edge > Head Smash, and Jolly > Adamant, which is
252 Atk Choice Band Archeops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 138-163 (48.5 - 57.3%) -- 93.4% chance to 2HKO
Meaning Dusclops can completely shut it down.
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Feraligatr Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 172-203 (60.5 - 71.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+3 252+ Atk Life Orb Feraligatr Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 212-251 (74.6 - 88.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
It can stop Feraligatr sweeps with Will-o-wisp, taking +2, +3 and even 62.5% chance for +4 Waterfalls without fainting, and with Stealth Rocks up still only 6.3% chance to OHKO at +3.
252+ Atk Life Orb Shiftry Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 203-242 (71.4 - 85.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Also stops Shiftry, although it doesn't really counter it too well.
It doesn't stop there though.
+6 252+ Atk Slurpuff Play Rough vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 246-291 (86.6 - 102.4%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
This is specially defensive Dusclops, taking +6 Play Roughs and stopping Slurpuff in it's tracks with Will-o-wisp.
252+ Atk Rhydon Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 96-114 (33.8 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
If Rhydon has Substitute it would beat a Dusclops in 1 on 1, but otherwise Dusclops can Will-o-wisp it, and Pain Split it or something else.
252 Atk Dread Plate Liepard Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 156-186 (54.9 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+ Will-o-wisp means it doesn't 2HKO, and Pain Split can be used to gain HP back - although Dusclops would be crippled by lack of Eviolite.
It counters Sceptile pretty well:
252 SpA Life Orb Sceptile Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Dusclops: 97-114 (34.1 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sceptile Leaf Blade vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 168-199 (59.1 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Stops LO and SD Sceptile in their tracks.
Pyroar and Mesprit also fall to its mighty defense, allowing Dusclops to switch into a Shadow Ball or Dark Pulse or Fire Blast, then Pain Split right back up again.
252 SpA Choice Specs Pyroar Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Dusclops: 96-114 (33.8 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Pyroar Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Dusclops: 94-112 (33 - 39.4%) -- 100% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Mesprit Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Dusclops: 90-108 (31.6 - 38%) -- 93.5% chance to 3HKO
Counters Sawk like a boss:
252 Atk Choice Band Sawk Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 164-194 (57.7 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Sawk Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 180-214 (63.3 - 75.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Sawk Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Dusclops: 122-144 (42.9 - 50.7%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO
Although it walls a lot, with the prominence of Knock Off, it is greatly crippled, so I don't expect it to rise too high in the ranking, but I think D rank is a bit harsh. It counters a lot of top threats, even if it does so in a one-time usage thing. Also, it can wear down walls if it needs to with Curse, but mostly it will just get switched out of.
Another pokemon I think doesn't deserve D rank is Persian. Technician boosted Normal gem Fake Out does a lot.
It isn't particularly amazing, but Normal gem Fake Out + Covet/U-turn/Feint Attack for ghosts does devastate pokemon with lower defenses, and against walls can steal their Leftovers/Eviolites.
When I saw Carbink in D rank I was like WHAAAAAAAT. Diancie is basically Carbink with 50 extra attack stats. Carbink can set up Stealth Rocks, Light Screen and Reflect no problem often, but after some calcs I saw it wasn't as good as it seemed, but D rank is still a bit low.
252+ Atk Sawk Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Carbink: 138-164 (45.3 - 53.9%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
It can tank a SE Earthquake and set up Reflect, then Light Screen and SR. It is a great answer to Spiritomb especially though -
252+ Atk Spiritomb Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Carbink: 33-40 (10.8 - 13.1%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Carbink: 51-60 (16.7 - 19.7%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Carbink: 51-60 (16.7 - 19.7%) -- guaranteed 6HKO
And you can see, it deals almost no damage to Carbink, while Carbink can set up Stealth Rock or Screens, depending on the set.
Again, I don't expect Carbink to shoot up to B rank or anything, I just think it deserves a little more respect when it has 150 base defenses.
Ok Rapidash. Am I missing something here, does something else outclass it? Because Banded Flare Blitz hurts. Although it can't KO what it really needs to, it still can rip through weakened teams, with either LO or Band. SR and Spikes support needed, yes, but still needs to be at least C- imo.
I think Ludicolo could be upgraded to B+, or even A-, because if it sets up a Rain Dance, it can KO a helluva lot a things.
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Giga Drain vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Feraligatr: 320-377 (102.5 - 120.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Taking a little over 50% from Sucker Punch:
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Spiritomb in Rain: 278-329 (91.4 - 108.2%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Sawk in Rain: 378-446 (129.8 - 153.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Pyroar in Rain: 842-993 (268.1 - 316.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Carbink in Rain: 328-385 (107.8 - 126.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Togetic in Rain: 140-165 (44.5 - 52.5%) -- 19.9% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Mr. Mime in Rain: 257-304 (115.7 - 136.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Vileplume: 237-281 (66.9 - 79.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
Although admittedly Vileplume OHKOs back with Sludge Bomb, with prior damage, including SR + 2 layers of Spikes, it can OHKO.
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mesprit in Rain: 286-339 (95 - 112.6%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Uxie in Rain: 179-212 (50.5 - 59.8%) -- 84.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Giga Drain vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gorebyss: 346-408 (137.3 - 161.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
With a higher base speed than Gorebyss, it can Rain Dance even if Gorebyss is using Shell Smash.
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Granbull in Rain: 452-534 (117.7 - 139%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Gourgeist-Super: 185-218 (49.4 - 58.2%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO (taking 37-45% from Seed Bomb)
252+ SpA Life Orb Ludicolo Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Musharna in Rain: 224-265 (51.3 - 60.7%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ SpA Omastar Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Ludicolo: 198-233 (65.5 - 77.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Also serves as an Omastar counter, setting up Rain Dance and then Giga Draining if it hasn't switched out.
Ludicolo's special defense is no laughing matter, and it can "sweep or wall significant portions of the metagame, but require some support or have some flaws that prevents them from doing this consistently."
Ludicolo is walled heavily by Ferroseed though, but otherwise can deal a lot of damage to most of the meta with a Rain Dance up.
Also, Omastar -> A-, just because it can sweep so easily through unprepared teams.
I think I've proven my point with Dusclops and Ludicolo especially.