Welcome to the official Sun & Moon NU Viability Rankings thread. This thread will be used by the community in order to rank all usable pokémon in the Neverused Tier. You're encouraged to civilly post your thoughts and opinions on the various Pokemon that are usable in NU and what rank they should fall under. The general idea of the topic is to rank each NU Pokemon under "rankings" that go in descending order.
To make ranking these Pokemon easier the NU Council has come up with a list of positive and negative attributes each Pokemon should meet to fit a certain rank. Positives: Threat level, Splashability, Consistent, Effect on the metagame, Reliability. Negatives: Passive, Outclassed, Weak to Hazards, Speed, General Bulk, Matchup. However, something to remember while ranking is that filling criteria is not a black and white process. Pokemon A might have a stronger effect on the metagame compared to Pokemon B, but Pokemon B might still influence teambuilding a lot. Take into account the varying degrees of these criteria as you reflect on a nomination.
Current VR Council:
Hootie
Kiyo
Blast
Disjunction
Eternally
Finchinator
Earth
meepsvictory
Punchshroom
quziel
Rapture
S Rank:
Pokemon in this rank fill all of the main criteria and then some with a strong proficiency in one or more of the positive traits. If a Pokemon in this rank has any downsides, they are usually tame or eclipsed by their obvious assets.
A Rank:
Pokemon in this rank may fill the majority or all of the positive criteria. These Pokemon may have one major or a handful of minor negative characteristics that could set them back.
Pokemon in this rank do an alright job fulfilling criteria, albeit not as convincingly. These Pokemon will have some issues you should be accounting for while building your team.
Pokemon in this rank do a mediocre job at filling criteria. The sizable amount of negative characteristics associated with these Pokemon are something to weigh against their positives before you fit one on a team.
Pokemon in this rank are those that are NU by usage, but are otherwise unviable. Do not discuss the placement of Pokemon here nor nominate Pokemon to move up/down to this rank.
Claydol
Ambipom
Hitmontop
Sandslash-Alola
Current Discussion Points:
To make ranking these Pokemon easier the NU Council has come up with a list of positive and negative attributes each Pokemon should meet to fit a certain rank. Positives: Threat level, Splashability, Consistent, Effect on the metagame, Reliability. Negatives: Passive, Outclassed, Weak to Hazards, Speed, General Bulk, Matchup. However, something to remember while ranking is that filling criteria is not a black and white process. Pokemon A might have a stronger effect on the metagame compared to Pokemon B, but Pokemon B might still influence teambuilding a lot. Take into account the varying degrees of these criteria as you reflect on a nomination.
Current VR Council:
Hootie
Kiyo
Blast
Disjunction
Eternally
Finchinator
Earth
meepsvictory
Punchshroom
quziel
Rapture
S Rank:
Pokemon in this rank fill all of the main criteria and then some with a strong proficiency in one or more of the positive traits. If a Pokemon in this rank has any downsides, they are usually tame or eclipsed by their obvious assets.
S
Delphox
Emboar
Whimsicott
Xatu
A Rank:
Pokemon in this rank may fill the majority or all of the positive criteria. These Pokemon may have one major or a handful of minor negative characteristics that could set them back.
A+
Druddigon
Sneasel
Vanilluxe
Virizion
A
Audino-Mega
Garbodor
Guzzlord
Hitmonlee
Piloswine
Rotom-C
Slowbro
Vikavolt
A-
Braviary
Froslass
Houndoom
Klinklang
Mismagius
Samurott
Sceptile
Seismitoad
Sigilyph
Steelix
Toxicroak
Vaporeon
Vileplume
Vivillon
B Rank:A
A-
Pokemon in this rank do an alright job fulfilling criteria, albeit not as convincingly. These Pokemon will have some issues you should be accounting for while building your team.
B+
Accelgor
Cryogonal
Golbat
Malamar
Medicham
Mesprit
Rotom
Rhydon
Skuntank
Slowking
B
Dodrio
Exeggutor-Alola
Granbull
Hariyama
Jellicent
Ludicolo
Magmortar
Miltank
Omastar
Qwilfish
Raticate-Alola
Scrafty
Type: Null
B-
Aurorus
Cinccino
Clawitzer
Gallade
Lilligant
Pinsir
Sawk
Scyther
Tauros
Typhlosion
Turtonator
Uxie
C Rank:B
B-
Pokemon in this rank do a mediocre job at filling criteria. The sizable amount of negative characteristics associated with these Pokemon are something to weigh against their positives before you fit one on a team.
C+
Abomasnow
Absol
Archeops
Charizard
Drampa
Ferroseed
Jynx
Kabutops
Probopass
Pyukumuku
Raichu-Alola
Regirock
Shuckle
Spiritomb
Weezing
C
Aromatisse
Ditto
Gastrodon
Gourgeist-Super
Haunter
Incineroar
Kangaskhan
Lurantis
Regice
Shiftry
Togedemaru
C-
Articuno
Crustle
Liepard
Masquerain
Minior
Oricorio-Baile
D Rank:C
C-
Pokemon in this rank are those that are NU by usage, but are otherwise unviable. Do not discuss the placement of Pokemon here nor nominate Pokemon to move up/down to this rank.
None
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