Gen 1 RBY NU Resources

[Sabelette]

RBY NU, the oldest generation of NU by game release date but a tier that was created around 2019 and continues to see active tiering and development!

This is the resource hub for everything RBY. Here, you will find the viability rankings, sample teams, and anything else we include that is of importance.

Viability Rankings | Sample Teams | RBY Subforum NU Hub

 

[Sabelette]

RBY NU Viability Rankings​

January 2025 RBY NU Viability Rankings

S
01 Mr. Mime
02 Charizard

A+
03 Venomoth
04 Fearow
05 Poliwrath

A
06 Seadra
07 Moltres
08 Magneton
09 Blastoise
10 Raticate
11 Kabutops

B
12 Arcanine
13 Poliwhirl
14 Aerodactyl

C+
15 Porygon
16 Golduck
17 Gastly
18 Graveler
19 Nidoking
20 Venusaur
21 Wigglytuff

C
22 Exeggcute
23 Dragonair

D
24 Kingler
25 Primeape
26 Rapidash
27 Scyther
28 Staryu

Post-April 2024 UU VR Initial Speculation/VR

After the 2024 UU Viability Rankings update, RBY NU shifted drastically, with Aerodactyl, Venusaur, and Victreebel dropping into the tier and Clefable, Ninetales, Electrode, and Golem rising to UU. Since then, the NU council unbanned Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, and Golduck, and OU reclaimed Victreebel in their Viability Rankings update. As a result, NU has no current Viability Rankings. Below is a very general summary of some Pokemon known or expected to be relevant in the tier, ordered alphabetically. This is subject to change heavily as the metagame is explored.

High Viability - Pokemon you are likely to encounter frequently in NU games that are well-regarded by the playerbase.
Aerodactyl
Blastoise
Charizard
Golduck
Moltres
Mr. Mime
Poliwhirl
Poliwrath
Raticate
Seadra
Venomoth

Mid Viability - Somewhat common Pokemon with defined niches that help with specific matchups or team compositions.
Arcanine
Gastly
Kabutops
Magneton
Nidoking
Fearow
Venusaur

Low Viability - Pokemon with some current use or use in the prior metagame but currently lacking in usage and/or meta exploration.
Abra
Dragonair
Exeggcute
Kingler
Pinsir
Porygon
Primeape
Rapidash
Scyther
Slowpoke
Staryu
Wigglytuff

April 2023 VR

As of April 9th, 2023, here are the official viability rankings for RBY NU; please note that these rankings are outdated due to new rises and drops. Pokemon that have dropped into the tier since then are designated at the top as "NEW" and were not ranked on the last VR. Pokemon that were banned since the last VR due to rising to UU are marked in bold red:

NEW:
Aerodactyl
Golduck
Poliwrath
Poliwhirl
Venusaur
Victreebel - rose back to OU May 16, 2024

S:
1. Clefable
2. Mr. Mime

A:
3. Blastoise
4. Charizard
5. Venomoth

A-:
6. Golem
7. Nidoking

B:
8. Raticate
9. Moltres
10. Kabutops
11. Kingler
12. Wigglytuff

B-:
13. Seadra
14. Electrode
15. Exeggcute
16. Ninetales

--- NU/PU Cutoff Line ---

C:
17. Fearow
18. Rapidash
19. Porygon

D:
20. Pinsir
21. Abra
22. Arcanine
23. Primeape
24. Sandslash

 

[Sabelette]

RBY NU Sample Teams - Semi-Outdated
​

Ruins of Alph Samples


Aero Lead + Kabu by Sabelette


Mag Lead Fast Spam by TG2513


Fire Spam by Sabelette


Double Fire+Water + Grass by Maris Bonibell


Mime Lead + Magneton by TG2513


Mime Lead Fast Spam + Kabu by Shellnuts


Mime Lead Double Flying + Water by Tree69420


Zard Lead Fast Spam + Wrath by Tree69420


Zard Lead + Blastoise + Gastly by Tree69420


Zard Lead Waterspam + Venusaur by Teh


Relatively Fast Spam by Sabelette


Moth Lead + Good Stuff by Sabelette


Moth Lead + Poliwrath by Teh

 

[Sabelette]

Updated with the new Viability Rankings - new samples hopefully after NUCL/ALTPL give the tier a little more development.