Resource National Dex RU Viability Rankings

[Runo]

NatDex RU Viability Rankings!​

VR Team

Runo
Adriyun
db
seth
Velcroc
Kinzo
Rafadude


Ranks

Pokemon will be ranked in descending order; there is no divide in viability inbetween ranks. There is no differentiation in offensive and defensive Pokemon. Toxapex may be A+ for its defensive utility, while Hydreigon may be A+ for its capabilities as a wallbreaker.

NEW:

Archaludon
Banette-Mega
Golisopod
Grafaiai
Grimmsnarl
Regieleki
Skeledirge
Talonflame

S-Rank:
Top of the top. Rulers of the metagame. These Pokemon fit on most playstyles and need minimal support to function, if any at all.

S
Aggron-Mega

S-
Latias
Slither Wing

A-Rank:
Meta defining, but not to the extent of the Pokemon in S Rank. These Pokemon need minimal support to function.

A+
Basculegion-F
Cyclizar
Okidogi
Slowking
Steelix-Mega
Thundurus

A
Blissey
Gligar
Krookodile
Manectric-Mega
Nidoking
Primarina
Sceptile-Mega
Tangrowth
Tapu Bulu

A-
Cobalion
Crobat
Diggersby
Gastrodon
Munkidori
Pidgeot-Mega
Sharpedo-Mega
Swampert
Tinkaton
Togekiss
Volcanion
Zarude

B-Rank:
Solid Pokemon, but they don't shape the meta like S and A Rank. They have a defined role which is often applicable and usually quite valuable. These Pokemon always need some support to bring out the best in them.

B+
Arctozolt
Fezandipiti
Infernape
Iron Jugulis
Lokix
Lucario
Mandibuzz
Ogerpon
Rotom-Heat
Sandy Shocks
Zygarde-10%

B
Arcanine-Hisui
Empoleon
Houndoom-Mega
Reuniclus
Sinistcha
Slowbro-Mega
Suicune
Swampert-Mega

B-
Absol-Mega
Lycanroc-Dusk
Metagross
Muk-Alola
Necrozma
Polteageist

Weezing-Galar

C-Rank:
Niche Pokemon that have little to no effect on the metagame, being rarely applicable, highly specific or simply not that valuable in the current meta. Using these Pokemon requires you to focus most of the team on supporting it. Oftentimes when a Pokemon only fits on one specific archetype, they'll reside in this tier.

C+
Azelf
Breloom
Chesnaught
Crawdaunt
Deoxys-Defense
Nidoqueen
Nihilego
Regidrago
Registeel
Rhyperior
Ribombee
Roserade
Sandaconda
Sigilyph

C
Aerodactyl
Bronzong
Camerupt-Mega
Chandelure
Cloyster
Cresselia
Dhelmise
Doublade
Florges
Golurk
Indeedee
Kleavor
Marowak-Alola
Milotic
Porygon2
Quagsire
Scream Tail
Shedinja
Stakataka
Sylveon
Typhlosion-Hisui
Umbreon

Any questions about the VR are more than welcome, and we'd be glad to answer all of them.
This also means that VR nominations are available. Please refer to the below rules that have been gracefully stolen from NDOU.

Guidelines

Guidelines

There are some guidelines to keep in mind before posting here. We want to foster intelligent discussion, not unfounded arguments. Please keep these things in mind:

• Posts like "I think X Pokemon should be in Y Rank" will be deleted; make sure to back your opinion with facts and an actual analysis of the metagame.
• Adding onto the above, I would simply like to point out that, while usage stats may be used to support your argument, they should not be the basis of your argument. Saying something along the lines of "X Pokemon is not used often, so it should drop" or "X Pokemon is used very often, but it isn't ranked very high, it should rise" are not valid arguments.
• You shouldn't merely state the obvious things either. We know that Galarian Darmanitan has access to a very strong STAB Icicle Crash combined with good coverage options. We are far more interested in knowing what meta trends may favor Galarian Darmanitan.
• Replays are mandatory to support a nomination if a Pokemon is Unranked.
• This is not the place for personal attacks. Not everyone agrees on the viability of Pokemon, and that is no reason to attack them. Any posts that do attack users will be swiftly deleted and met with an infraction.

 

[Runo]

National Dex RU Council just got out of a rigorous tournament season and with tier shifts drastically shifting the meta, we decided to update the Viability Rankings again. Just like the sample teams I've also given this it's own thread in an attempt to make our resources more accessable on the Smogon side of things.

Rises

A+ -> S
A+ -> S-
A -> S-
A -> A+
A -> A+
A- -> A+
A- -> A+
A- -> A
A- -> A
A- -> A
A- -> A
A- -> A
B+ -> A-
B+ -> A-
B+ -> A-
B+ -> A-
B -> B+
B -> B+
B- -> B+
B- -> B
B- -> B
C+ -> B-
C -> C+
C -> C+
C -> C+
C -> C+
C -> C+
UR -> C

NEW -> A-

NEW -> B

Drops

S- -> A+
A+ -> A
A -> A-
A -> A-
A -> A-
A -> A-
A -> A-
A- -> B+
A- -> B+
A- -> B+
A- -> B+
B -> B-
B -> B-
B- -> C+
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
A- -> UR
C+ -> UR
C -> UR
C -> UR
C -> UR
C -> UR

---

Rises
Post Tyranitar was insane for Latias's viability. Free to run more powerful Calm Mind Z variants like Firium Z and Electrium Z which makes it even more threatening in the builder. Choice Specs, Choice Scarf, Life Orb, Bolt Beam, etc can all pretty much roam free barring something like Krookodile or a very niche trapper showing up.
World's best Latias check offensively. Pair this with Slowking and Latias is suddenly the least of your concerns. I also said it before but Choice Band is geuninely just Buzzwole Jr. in terms of how insanely stupid it is trying to bend over backwards trying to switch into it. More utility-centric sets like Boots + Will-o-Wisp are also very strong in this tier since it can disrupt the standard flowchart of checking Slither Wing (keeping hazards up and just holding out with a Togekiss or Gligar).
Best Rocker and Steel type in the tier by far, Its absurd bulk lets it stomach so many random hits its unreal. Ever see a Mega Aggron eat a Choice Band Okidogi's Close Combat? Because I have and it ended up crippling the Okidogi with Thunder Wave right after.
A response to Slither Wing and Latias's rise to power. Primarina is a a good defensive check to both and Amoonguss dropping with Zeraora leaving gives it a lot more opportunities to setup its very dangerous Calm Mind sets. Choice Specs and standard defensive sets are also pretty decent too.
The people wanted Gastrodon to fit on bulky offense teams, so god gave them Swampert.
Again a response to the LatiSlither takeover. It's not really that good of a Defogger but the Twave sets can just shut most mons down really fast. More offensive Nasty Plot sets are also really killer as it has the coverage to dispatch any defensive check it wants to with either a well timed Z-move, Flinches -> coverage move finisher, or a combination of both.
Balance teams are really popular and Lucario pulverizes them.
Think this is still kinda mid but was overruled, actually not terrible as an Offensive Rocker or Latias Pursuit Trapper
It's an alternative to Sylveon on Balance and Stall teams since Synthesis makes it considerably less passive and it's been legitimized with Tyranitar leaving the tier. Gotta love the absurd special bulk too, your Latias matchup will be fine trust me.

---

Drops
Tinkaton was just overrated, fad is over and it's back to where it's supposed to be. Still a metagame staple so no worries Tinkabros.
Mandibuzz is so damn passive with Mono Foul Play. This wants like Foul Play, Knock Off, Toxic, U-Turn, and Defog on one set.
Awful Defog user and baited way too easy by stuff like Slither Wing and Gligar who just click U-turn to force it out immediately next turn.
Nasty Plot sets are cool but it was only in the A ranks for so long because it was a pretty solid defogger for a time, that time has since faded and it kinda lost a lot of its relevance during the Tyranitar metagame.
Zydog's role in the tier is a little bit too linear and mandates a little bit too much support for it to warrant being a core part of the tier, Dragon Dance sets helped out but it was kinda just a fad on very specific Hyper Offense teams.
Tyranitar rising was super nice for it but unfortunately it lost Bulu as a target and now as to both deal with Amoonguss on a large chunk of the teams while simultaneously competing with it for a team slot.
UU: "Hey dawg can I get some sand setters?", RU: "Only a spoonful", UU:
Gatr was insanely strong on Sticky Web teams but with Ribombee leaving the tier, it competes with Basculegion-F and Mega Sharpedo too much for a slot on more standard Hyper Offense builds to be of value cost-benefit wise.
Kinda the same thing as Gatr except its niche as a Hone Claws Sweeper was way too theoretical and just barely underspeeding Latias sucks so damn much.
Active detriment to be running this since it hinders the ways Arctozolt teams can cover threats in the builder by taking up a slot compared to Slowking, who is more than likely on these teams as a backup setter anyways. Ultimately there is a consistency drop to using Auto-setters compared to Slowking.
I personally like using Tentacruel but it's just really weird trying to justify and make a good team with.
Raikou had a theoretical supercomputer "it beats everything" niche as a Calm Mind Sweeper, but it was too much theory and not enough actual practice. People be leaning on Mega Manectric 9/10 times anyways.

 

[Koro]

Hi. Is there a list with the banned Pokemon of this tier (with the ones considered RUBL)? Thank you

 

[Velcroc]

Hi. Is there a list with the banned Pokemon of this tier (with the ones considered RUBL)? Thank you

Please post questions in the metagame discussions thread next time. This goes to everyone reading this.

As for your question:

or look at the OP here which contains all the Pokemon banned from RU (even the ones which rose to OU/UU or are in UUBL).

 

[LBN]

After playing a couple rounds in RUBD I can say a couple things definitively. 1: Absolutely nobody in the entire tour is on the same page for viability and I think some people just missed the memo on what's good and what's bad. 2: The VR definitely has some crusty placements and lacks a couple mons I think deserve spotlight. So I'll be going over those right now actually since this tier is actually pretty damn fun. (Fyi, just waive that replay requirement this tier doesn't exactly get a whole ton of play so procuring replays worth anything is more demanding that it is for a tier with an actual ladder)

-> C+
Doublade's main set is mostly linear entirely, but its defensive suite is honestly nothing short of astounding for offensive teams. Mega Aggron, Slither Wing, Okidogi (kinda, you can trade for it which more often than not is a worthwhile pick), checks Latias and Legion-F with Sneak, Reuniclus, Blissey and alot of other pokemon in the tier. Being an offensive tank for offense that abuses these is amazing, and I think its better than most of the memes in C tier. (Replay requirement is cringe but https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9nationaldexru-812992 here take me winning) As for registeel, I think its just undersold. Gligar aside, dual status is absolutely phenomenal at crippling stuff; its bulk is great in Legion-F, Latias and more and its lack of vulnerability to pursuit puts it in higher standing that Bronzong to say the very least.

-> C
Golurk working in yet another lower tier say it ain't so... Honestly it ain't bad, also an offensive ghost with a wide variety of moves. Item flexibility is quality with Custap, colbur, Z moves, spooky plate, lum, passho, life orb you name it it's got it. Its an offensive rocker immune to cyclizar spin, and isn't walled by defog Gligar. Rock polish is more interesting as a breaker. Ground/Ghost/Ice is practically unresisted in the tier which helps alot, and its fast enough to outrun Mega Mane and down with just adamant. Sure you miss out on Sceptile but oh well a pokemon can have flaws (just use jolly if you care enough). It's a good mon, I recommend trying it out. Replays aren't a great showcase but do you know how hard it is to get replays that don't compromise prep :sob:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9nationaldexru-813572
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9nationaldexru-813791

-> S
Yeah I'm serious. This is imo, the top 1 mon in the tier even above Latias. It's just so good at performing game to game, absurd variety, always potent. Prankster Twave, Defog, Z moves, NP, it's just a fantastic all around mon that truthfully borders on busted alot of the time. It picks what it beats and loses to and you are at it's mercy in pretty much every game. If thundurus is on a team it's keeping the momentum whenever it comes in unless bad plays were made. If you don't agree with top 1 thats fine, but at the very least it's an easy A+ contender at the lowest.

A+ -> A- or even lower
It's just not A+ quality I'm sorry. Doesn't really bring enough to a game and its spread pretty thin most of the time, doesn't beat latias unless the Latias chooses to lose to Tinkaton, hopeless vs Aggron, Manectric slaughters it and its lack of recovery. Sure, its a steel who doesn't take up a mega slot but honestly in alot of cases I'd rather use Registeel or Metagross for that type of gig; both of which I think are very underrated.

A- -> B
Z moves are not bailing this thing out from the realm of being bargain bin Cobalion on its best days. I genuinely can't think of the niche it has over Cobalion that can possibly justify it to have the same ranking. Espeed is not remotely enough to justify the worse speed tier; infinitely worse bulk, and still having a bit of 4MSS to boot.

-> UR
This isn't a charity event, first three are straight garbage and I'm surprised they even snuck on the VR to begin with. If I need a latias check that badly there are far better places to go than Florges. Sylveon is lucky I rate specs otherwise it'd be sitting right here as well. Kleavor is not good at all; typing is in competition for the most worthless defensive type in the game and its offensive merits; of which its budget duskroc anyways are not blowing my breath away. The funny stuff about Stone Axe looks cool on paper but just no it sucks.

-> C
Deo-D returns in a post tera enviroment with absolutely none of the qualities needed to be good. Support is genuinely hopeless; I've tried some type of spikes set that gets the job done but it just doesn't exist I'm sorry this shit is really not good it needs too many moves to work. Cosmic Power sets are a little better but honestly there's so much stuff that stuffs it; along side the need to pick between Night shade and toss.

Now for the Rapidfire New Stuff segment.

-> A
Quality returning mon. Has some losing matchups but it provides alot to teams with grassy terrain and it's quite good with Z moves. Not like Latias isn't vulnerable to the classic pursuit after all.

-> B+
Webs are good but they have some bad matchups like Taunt Bat, defog Thundy among others. Honestly I'm not hugely interesting in arguing the validity of webs I mean it's got good abusers like Mega Houndoom, Gatr, and more but at the time same alot of removal in the tier is immune to webs bike notwithstanding.

Now for the other stuff.

B+ -> A-
Quality pivot and a good okidogi check for teams. Mega aggron is more of a boon for it than it looks, especially when super fang mows it down quite quickly without wish support. It's a good pick for sure; and stall can manage to struggle into it quite badly as a result. NP Firium sets are interesting and nice into some matchups, though this is more fringe.

C+ -> B-
Mega pidgeot is pretty solid, flying stab hurricane off that speed tier is great and not much can handle hurricane + heat wave without being u turn bait as well. Rocks weak sucks but honestly when hurricane is spammable its genuinely insane. Roserade mainly dropped cuz bulu left and well bulu is back so knock yourselves out with this one.

I have some other takes I cant be assed to type out anymore, stuff like ogerpon and munkidori down but considering this is the first VR post in the thread I think I've done decently. Also remove talon from the VR it rose up lmao

 

[Runo]

We did another VR update so that people on the ladder and those playing NDRU Money tour have a more clearer picture of what is good. Unfortunately I don't have time to explain the update this time but if one has questions I can try to explain them individually on the thread or on Discord. I will say that the C-rank is pretty hefty again but that doesn't seem like a big deal since they aren't really that awful, more seems like a place where uncertainty is greatest regarding a Pokemon's status.

Rises

S- -> S
A- -> A+
A -> A+
A- -> A
NEW -> A
B+ -> A-
C+ -> A-
B+ -> A-
C -> B+
C+ -> B
C+ -> B-
C+ -> B-
C+ -> B-
NEW -> C+
C -> C+
C -> C+
NEW -> C+
UR -> C+
UR -> C+
UR -> C
UR -> C
UR -> C
NEW -> C
NEW -> C

Drops

S -> S-
A -> A-
A+ -> A-
A- -> B+
A- -> B+
A- -> B+
B+ -> B
B+ -> B
B+ -> B
B- -> C+
B- -> C+
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
C+ -> C
B- -> C
C -> UR
C -> UR

e: votes - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GRW8_-yZvoNKBThCbCbjb898_XtShs30daWa6JezQTU/edit?usp=sharing

 

[Kin+ak (✧∇✧)]

to S- (B)
Glastrier is a BEAST and is almost unwallable for it gets Extended Coverage letting it Smack Steels with Close Combat and Horsepower, smack Sking with Crunch or throat chop, and has that JUICY STAB icicl spear Loaded dice that 2HKOs P much anything that doesn't drop to tha other oves. and it got swords dance btw so if you SD on any switch the mon is dropping. Very Bulky asw so you can stay in 1 or é turns after TR to kill some more, very VERY solid in TR


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldexru-2302155154
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldexru-2302164762

 

[Adriyun]

to B-
Glastrier is a BEAST and is almost unwallable for it gets Extended Coverage letting it Smack Steels with Close Combat and Horsepower, smack Sking with Crunch or throat chop, and has that JUICY STAB icicl spear Loaded dice that 2HKOs P much anything that doesn't drop to tha other oves. and it got swords dance btw so if you SD on any switch the mon is dropping. Very Bulky asw so you can stay in 1 or é turns after TR to kill some more, very VERY solid in TR


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldexru-2302155154
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldexru-2302164762

Not to be rude but.. can you keep your glastrier and random shit mon you think is A/B worthy out of here.. we all know this isn’t gonna do anything

 

[Kin+ak (✧∇✧)]

Not to be rude but.. can you keep your glastrier and random shit mon you think is A/B worthy out of here.. we all know this isn’t gonna do anything

Fixed it

 

[Kin+ak (✧∇✧)]

to B-
Mega Ampharos got one of the best in terms of Breaking power tbh, one of the major flaws that come often is "it can't boost its special attack" but Homie have you tried using Charge Beam? bet you haven't huh? Charge Beam ampharos can pick up KOs and get a Deadly Special attack boost that will leave its opponent Praying for lowrolls -if any- and Crumbling to its hits. SP.Def Mega Aggron Fears its Mold breaker Focus Blast, in fact Mega Ampharos has little to no walls at all. Mega Ampharos also wins the duel against Most mons, and with Trick room support such as healing wish from Hattrem or Z Memento from Cofagrigus (Heals 100%HP) it can take on much more than 1 opponent after Trick room ends. I feel like outside of trick room, while not great, would at least have the merit of having them STrONG volt switches. Absolutely Hates that Bulu is back but it aint too common and gets Smacked by the rest of Trick room usually (Obviously you could try Curse Outrage Supercell Slam Fire Punch, we don't judge).
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9nationaldexru-2304227808?p2

 

[Micaiah]

would like to make a quick nom as I'm not gonna be playing this tier for the foreseeable future.



When building stall/semistall/defensive structures, I often found my Blisseys strapped for slots: you want wish + protect to deal with futureport + fight type teams and to deal with the reduced softboiled pps, seismic toss obviously, toxic to pressure slowking/cyclizar as well as putting special boosters like houndoom/thundurus/roost lati on a timer, heal bell to wake up your rest aggron, deal with wisp moth and other random statusers. I found the easiest moveslot to outsource is heal bell. There are a handful of bellers in the tier, some are even on the vr, but in my opinion articuno is by far the best of them. As a backup special wall with haze and pressure, it deals with some special boosters/attackers that blissey can't handle (without very suboptimal sets, at least), like sub basculegion, sub cm sinistcha, cm glowking, mixed nidoking, cm reuniclus, primarina, sigilph, work up pidgeot and np togekiss, if running a fast spread. fast freeze-dry is also deceptively annoying to switch into if spikes are up, and pressure is a great boon to have in fat mirrors although do not expect this mon to carry the matchup alone. It is a very one-dimensional pokemon, it basically has 5 viable moves if you count defog but is very good at what it does in specific team structures. I think it belongs somewhere in C/C+

 

[Big Chungus irl]

Dogi ought to go to S- and Slither to A+ imo. Amoongus being removed adds to this shift of power, but it has been happening for a while now.