Hi friends, the
Viability Rankings have been updated following the meta shifts we saw post-Kyogre ban and with the ending of WC/GG seasonal! I'll post the changes below along with reasoning for some of the more notable raises/drops! Also samples should be updated soon!
Gods
Pheromosa
B -> A
Pheromosa is a notable HO god in this meta, with its unique speed tier and great donations in Atk/SpD setting it and its receivers apart from other HO gods such as Mewtwo (primarily because sweepers such as Pangoro w/ Mosa speed are silly...)
Marshadow
DNU -> D
Spectrier
DNU -> D
Both donate great speed and attacking donations along with passable defenses.
Diancie
UR -> D
Diancie sets itself apart from Shuckle as a defense-donating god due to its ability to counter Yveltal, pass base 150 Def/SpD, and base 100 attacking stats. Its also much less passive than Shuckle, meaning that you can actually have six Pokemon on your team rather than five.
Receivers
Raises
Heatran
A -> A+
Benefit from Kyogre ban
Slowking-G
A- -> A
Slowking-Galar is a little silly with a speed donation, especially from Gods such as Zamazenta-C. It's no slouch in other roles either, being an effective wall in Def/SpD slots as well as with slower speed donations from gods such as Yveltal.
Urshifu-R
A- -> A
Weavile
A- -> A
Both of these Pokemon are just more effective attackers in this meta.
Buzzwole
B+ -> A-
Benefit from Kyogre ban
Magnezone
B -> B+
Uptick of Skarm, NDM and Ferro usage
Pangoro
B -> A
One of the highest raises this shift, Pangoro has cemented itself as one of the most threatening sweepers in the metagame, with its Fight/Dark/Poison coverage beating nearly everything not named Skarmory, along with Mold Breaker effectively bypassing Unaware walls. With Pheromosa Speed in particular, it outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame bar Regieleki and can easily clean entire teams after a boost.
Tyranitar
B -> B+
It checks Lunala/Yveltal and an assortment of other attackers. Also stall is better now.
Espeon
B- -> B
Extremely dangerous mon on HO that can straight up 6-0 many teams
Mimikyu
B- -> B
Ghost of choice for many offense to spinblock and can usually take a hit which offense may need
Reuniclus
B- -> B
Mandibuzz
C+ -> B-
Regieleki C+ -> B-
While it's easy to say "Regieleki is crazy into any team without a Ground-type", it's extremely true. It's crazy speed tier combined with high SpA donations from Mewtwo, Rayquaza, etc. make it an insane pivot, and it isn't THAT hard to wear down Landorus-T considering how much it wants to switch into. Now, Regieleki into Gastrodon? That's a bit of an L...
Celesteela
C -> C+
Autotomize sets are good
Cloyster
C -> B-
Shell Smash sets, both physical and special, are good. Spikes + Rapid Spin also makes it an effective lead. All-around good HO mon
Diancie
C -> C+
Checks Yveltal, but can easily be worn down.
Ninetales-A C -> C+
Torkoal
C -> C+
Venusaur
C -> C+
Sun is good, but inconsistent
Cobalion
C- -> C+
Kommo-o
C- -> C
Tapu Bulu
UR -> C-
Blaziken
UR -> C+
Speed Boost is good
Crobat
UR -> C
Fast + setup moves + good STABs and coverage
Conkeldurr
UR -> C+
Pangoro but a bit worse w/ more immediate power
Togekiss
UR -> C
Fast + NP + good coverage + Serene Grace
Persian
UR -> C-
I have been told this Pokemon is good due to Fake Out + Feint + ok coverage
Mienshao
UR -> C
RegenVest sets are a mixed bag but it is
still a bulky Regenerator pivot which counts for something
Zapdos-Galar
UR -> C
Sharpedo
UR -> C
Scolipede
UR -> B-
Speed Boost is good pt. 2/3
Weezing-Galar
UR -> C-
Suicune
UR -> B-
Suicune doesn't need a big SpA donation to be effective, and its SubCM sets prey on a lot of defensive cores in GG being passive
Drops
Tornadus-T
A+ -> A
Gastrodon
A -> A-
Kyogre banned
Zeraora
A -> A-
Honestly Zeraora is kinda overrated. It doesn't make effective progress versus like half of the A-tier defensive Pokemon, and while it is VERY fast which is great, it's kinda weak. And it's coverage is mid.
Garchomp
B+ -> B
Rotom-H
B+ -> B
Zapdos
B+ -> B
Ditto
B -> B-
Dracozolt
B -> B-
Sand is mid + loses to Landorus-T and Tangrowth and Gastrodon in Def. It gets some great matchups sometimes though
Seismitoad
B -> B-
Kyogre ban
Slowbro-G
B -> B-
Not a great attacker and its defensive profile is limited
Amoonguss
B- -> C+
Marowak
C+ -> C