PRO PvP Viability Rankings (Updated on 01/24/2025)

[Jorogumo]

PRO PvP Viability Rankings

by @Aggs, @Cyanirl, @Jorogumo, and @Pisforpenguin

 

Welcome to the PRO PvP Viability Rankings thread! This thread is maintained by the PvP Coordinator team and will be updated regularly, but we want to hear your thoughts and opinions on both the metagame at large and specific Pokémon. Please understand that viability rankings are fundamentally a subjective matter — and as such, opinions may certainly differ. Please note the following:

• Usage is not the same as viability. Please do not nominate Pokémon on the grounds that they are frequently used.
• Be detailed when submitting nominations for changes. It is difficult to convince anyone, us included, to change their mind with a one-liner.
• All discussion is welcome, especially if you have personal experience laddering with a certain Pokémon for a substantial number of games.
• Remain civil. While spirited and contentious debate is encouraged, please do not resort to personal attacks.

The following Pokémon are ranked in alphabetical order within each sub-tier:

 

S Rank:

S Rank

Clefable

 Kyurem

 Landorus-T

 

A Rank:

A+ Rank

 Aegislash

 Lopunny-Mega

 Mawile-Mega

 Serperior

 Tornadus-T

 

A Rank

 Bisharp

 Diancie-Mega

Dragonite

 Ferrothorn

 Garchomp

 Heatran

 Keldeo

 Metagross-Mega

 Tangrowth

 Zapdos

 

A- Rank

 Alakazam-Mega

 Annihilape

 Azumarill

 Charizard-Mega-Y

 Excadrill

 Gliscor

 Hoopa-U

 Kyurem-B

 Manaphy

 Medicham-Mega

 Ninetales-Alola

 Rotom-Wash

 Scizor-Mega

Slowking

 Thundurus

Victini

 Volcarona

 

B Rank:

B+ Rank

Amoonguss

Blacephalon

Chansey

 Charizard-Mega-X

 Greninja

Jirachi

 Kommo-o

 Latias

 Latias-Mega

 Latios

 Magnezone

 Pelipper

 Sableye-Mega

 Slowbro

 Swampert-Mega

Tyranitar

Weavile

 

B Rank

Alomomola

 Gyarados-Mega

 Hippowdon

 Hydreigon

 Latios-Mega

Mew

Skarmory

 Suicune

 Thundurus-T

 Tyranitar-Mega

 Venusaur-Mega

 Volcanion

 

B- Rank

Altaria-Mega

 Breloom

 Crawdaunt

Gastrodon

 Heracross-Mega

Kingdra

 Porygon-Z

 Pinsir-Mega

 Reuniclus

 Ribombee

 

C Rank:

C+ Rank

 Alakazam

 Diggersby

Ditto

 Gallade-Mega

 Mamowsine

 Manectric-Mega

 Quagsire

 Scizor

 Togekiss

 

C Rank

Cloyster

 Conkeldurr

 Cresselia

 Gardevoir-Mega

 Gyarados

 Hawlucha

 Marowak-Alola

 Mimikyu

 Slowbro-Mega

Torkoal

 Venusaur

 

C- Rank

 Aerodactyl-Mega

 Azelf

 Blissey

 Cofagrigus

 Garchomp-Mega

 Infernape

Jellicent

Klefki

 Mantine

 Muk-Alola

 Nidoking

 Pidgeot-Mega

 Porygon2

 Seismitoad

 Starmie

Tentacruel

 Uxie

Edited Saturday at 04:59 PM by Jorogumo

[Pisforpenguin]

This is an example post

Please format any constructive posts in a similar manner, feel free to steal this formatting if you wish.

 

Blacephalon B+ > A-

 

Blacephaplon is one of the premiere fire types in the current meta. It boasts incredible offensive STAB combo in ghost/fire backed by an amazing ability in beast boost. At a base 107 speed it is one of the most potent scarfers we currently have most notably being faster than most rain teams outside of kingdra in rain. Often after netting a single kill and gaining a boost most teams are forced to revenge kill with some sort of priority or Blacephalon can just often sweep games. With access to trick it is also able to cripple one of its best counters in chansey.

 

 

The scarf set in particular is often able to force great progress on more offensive teams being able to 2hko most things before the boost.

 

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Keldeo: 160-189 (49.5 - 58.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 180-213 (46.9 - 55.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Zapdos: 127-151 (33.1 - 39.4%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Blacephalon Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Clefable: 219-258 (55.5 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Clefable: 178-211 (45.1 - 53.5%) -- 2% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Garchomp: 168-198 (47 - 55.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 168-198 (40 - 47.1%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 160-189 (53.5 - 63.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-Therian: 120-142 (33.1 - 39.2%) -- 17.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Heatran: 139-165 (43 - 51%) -- 52.3% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

 

As you can see most of the top mons which one could consider switch ins are either cleanly 2HKOd or extremely close meaning if a boost is ever given this mon becomes extremely dangerous. It also shares a role with zard-y in being the strongest offensive fire type in the current meta, however it is able to trade off the drawback of holding a mega stone and either boaster its extremely high speed with a choice scarf or extremely high special attack with a choice specs giving it a unique place away from zard-y.

Edited Saturday at 05:30 AM by Pisforpenguin

[Lol1hp]

thanks, great job everyone. 

[Flipturniscoded]

Nice post. Would love to see some set recommendations if possible

[Jorogumo]

15 hours ago, Flipturniscoded said:

Nice post. Would love to see some set recommendations if possible

Hey. We'll work on a separate list of viable sets, but it'll take time. For now, if there is any Pokémon for which you'd like to know the set(s), please let us know.