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Resource SS OU Viability Rankings
- Thread starter Clementine
- Start date
Making a few noms. I dont think there have been any drastic changes, moreso unreliable Pokemon not seeing play anymore, while others keep performing well despite not "exploding" in popularity.
A- to B+/B 
B+ to B
Rain continues to decline due to the its polarizing nature. Gastrodon and Bulky Rillaboom rising in popularity, SpDef Slowbro being able to pivot around Seismitoad, SpDef Protect Garchomp being everywhere and being able to both stall out rain turns and trade with Seismitoad and Barraskewda, it feels like everything is against rain. With only 1 appearance in SPL and none in both Masters Top 16 and Circuit Finals, it only feels deserving for these Pokemon to drop.
A to A-
Yet another Pokemon that just like Seismitoad, greatly struggles with the rise of Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and SpDef Slowbro and Toxapex, on top of SpDef Garchomp to boot. While its bulk and ability to destroy defensive cores are nice, its relative low Speed and Stealth Rock weakness make it awkward to fit on teams often.
B to A-
Skarmory found its home in defensive hazard stack teams alongside Clefable, Gastrodon, Hippowdon, and Tapu Koko, which heavily rely on it to take on Melmetal, Swords Dance Garchomp, and Rillaboom. While its presence can be explited by the Ghosts which already threaten these teams, as well as Pads Kartana, it is undeniably an essential part of these teams.
A- to A
Its hard to remember Rillaboom without the bulky sets, specially as Grassy Terrain balances continue to be a consistent playstyle in both tournaments and ladder, providing extra recovery to teammates such as Melmetal, Heatran, Garchomp, Clefable, Gastrodon and Toxapex, which may take further advantage of it with Protect, allowing them to restore the extra health needed to more reliably check the likes of Dragapult, Tapu Lele, and Weavile.
B+ to A- 
B to B+
On top of the defensive sets, what makes me feel okay with these rises is the power and variety both of these have shown on offensive teams. From Blaziken running Protect, Earthquake, Air Balloon, to Scizor opting for Superpower and Sand Tomb, both of them can break pass would be checks such as Toxapex and Heatran, respectively. Their typing is greatly appreciated on these teams, as they are both one of the few Pokemon on HO/Offense that can not only take on Weavile and the Grass-types, but also use them as fodder. Blaziken can also fit on offensive non HO teams alongside Dragapult, Weavile, Rillaboom, and Zapdos. Meanwhile, Scizor's priority and ability to threaten Tapu Lele is greatly appreciated.
A- to B+
Victini is nowhere to be seen. SpDef Garchomp and Gastrodon's popularity hurt it a fair bit. Even Will-O-Wisp variants can fall flat against Aromatherapy Clefable teams, which were dominating the top of the ladder not long ago. Add Heatran, Dragonite, and Toxapex to the mix and it gets really hard to actually click your moves.
B+ to B-
Zapdos has been a top 10 usage Pokemon for a long while now, with it even peaking around top 5 at times, so its not surprise this Pokemon isnt around as much as it once was. Garchomp, Melmetal, and even Gastrodon and Heatran running Protect makes it easy to scout its moves. Add Tapu Koko to the mix and the number of teams that Zapdos-Galar can open up gets smaller and smaller. With tons of breakers in the tier, including Fighting-types such as Urshifu-R and Buzzwole, and the fact hazard stacks can perfectly work without the presence of a Defiant user, and it gets harder and harder to justify Zapdos-Galar's presence on a team.
UR to C-
Umbreon does Umbreon things, Baloor's nom from year+ ago makes a good job of explaining it. Bewear has been a Weavile pivot / answer on very specific teams; it showed up twice in SCL 2022 as well as this past SPL.
C- to UR
It really only is a matchup Pokemon, just as many more that dont deserve to be ranked despite their matchup against certain teams. See for example Diggersby and Registeel.
A- to B+/B B+ to BRain continues to decline due to the its polarizing nature. Gastrodon and Bulky Rillaboom rising in popularity, SpDef Slowbro being able to pivot around Seismitoad, SpDef Protect Garchomp being everywhere and being able to both stall out rain turns and trade with Seismitoad and Barraskewda, it feels like everything is against rain. With only 1 appearance in SPL and none in both Masters Top 16 and Circuit Finals, it only feels deserving for these Pokemon to drop.
A to A-Yet another Pokemon that just like Seismitoad, greatly struggles with the rise of Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and SpDef Slowbro and Toxapex, on top of SpDef Garchomp to boot. While its bulk and ability to destroy defensive cores are nice, its relative low Speed and Stealth Rock weakness make it awkward to fit on teams often.
B to A-Skarmory found its home in defensive hazard stack teams alongside Clefable, Gastrodon, Hippowdon, and Tapu Koko, which heavily rely on it to take on Melmetal, Swords Dance Garchomp, and Rillaboom. While its presence can be explited by the Ghosts which already threaten these teams, as well as Pads Kartana, it is undeniably an essential part of these teams.
A- to AIts hard to remember Rillaboom without the bulky sets, specially as Grassy Terrain balances continue to be a consistent playstyle in both tournaments and ladder, providing extra recovery to teammates such as Melmetal, Heatran, Garchomp, Clefable, Gastrodon and Toxapex, which may take further advantage of it with Protect, allowing them to restore the extra health needed to more reliably check the likes of Dragapult, Tapu Lele, and Weavile.
B+ to A- B to B+On top of the defensive sets, what makes me feel okay with these rises is the power and variety both of these have shown on offensive teams. From Blaziken running Protect, Earthquake, Air Balloon, to Scizor opting for Superpower and Sand Tomb, both of them can break pass would be checks such as Toxapex and Heatran, respectively. Their typing is greatly appreciated on these teams, as they are both one of the few Pokemon on HO/Offense that can not only take on Weavile and the Grass-types, but also use them as fodder. Blaziken can also fit on offensive non HO teams alongside Dragapult, Weavile, Rillaboom, and Zapdos. Meanwhile, Scizor's priority and ability to threaten Tapu Lele is greatly appreciated.
A- to B+Victini is nowhere to be seen. SpDef Garchomp and Gastrodon's popularity hurt it a fair bit. Even Will-O-Wisp variants can fall flat against Aromatherapy Clefable teams, which were dominating the top of the ladder not long ago. Add Heatran, Dragonite, and Toxapex to the mix and it gets really hard to actually click your moves.
B+ to B-Zapdos has been a top 10 usage Pokemon for a long while now, with it even peaking around top 5 at times, so its not surprise this Pokemon isnt around as much as it once was. Garchomp, Melmetal, and even Gastrodon and Heatran running Protect makes it easy to scout its moves. Add Tapu Koko to the mix and the number of teams that Zapdos-Galar can open up gets smaller and smaller. With tons of breakers in the tier, including Fighting-types such as Urshifu-R and Buzzwole, and the fact hazard stacks can perfectly work without the presence of a Defiant user, and it gets harder and harder to justify Zapdos-Galar's presence on a team.
UR to C-Umbreon does Umbreon things, Baloor's nom from year+ ago makes a good job of explaining it. Bewear has been a Weavile pivot / answer on very specific teams; it showed up twice in SCL 2022 as well as this past SPL.
C- to URIt really only is a matchup Pokemon, just as many more that dont deserve to be ranked despite their matchup against certain teams. See for example Diggersby and Registeel.