PvP Set Viability Rankings

[Pisforpenguin]

PRO Set Viability Tier List

By Aggs, Cyanirl, Jorogumo, and Pisforpenguin

 

Welcome to the Set Viability Tier List. This resources ranks the common sets for each of the Pokémon found currently on the VR Thread. Please note these are not the only sets each of these Pokémon may run, however this can be considered a guide for new players helping them find useful sets for certain mons. Also take in consideration that the best set for every mon will not be the best for every team, for example if you just pull the best ranked set for the 6 mons you want to play you may not end up with a functional team. You may also find yourself in places when teambuilding where you need a set that is not listed on our rankings and that is also perfectly fine, do not feel pressured to use only ranked set. We encourage feedback from the community and if you feel any important sets are missing please feel free to mention them in this thread.

 

 

S Rank:

 

S Rank

Clefable

Magic Guard Calm Mind: S 

Stealth Rock: S

Unaware Calm Mind: A+

Unaware Cleric: A+

Offensive: A

 

Kyurem

SubRoost: S

Choice Specs: A

 

Landorus-T

Choice Scarf: S

Defensive Stealth Rock: S

Offensive Stealth Rock: S

Dual Dance: A

Focus Sash: A

 

A Rank:

 

A+ Rank

Aegislash

Offensive: A+

Sub Toxic: A

Swords Dance: A-

 

 

Lopunny-Mega

Offensive: A+

 

Mawile-Mega

Swords Dance: A+

All-Out Attacker: A

SubPunch: B+

 

Serperior

Substitute: A+

Utility: A+

Choice Scarf: A-

Screens: B+

 

Tornadus-T

Assault Vest: A+

Z-move: A+

Rocky Helmet: A

Offensive: A-

 

A Rank

Bisharp

Eviolite: A

Black Glasses: B+

Pursuit: B+

 

Diancie-Mega

All-Out Attacker: A

Substitute Endeavor: B+

 

Dragonite

Flynium Z Dragon Dance: A

Choice Band: B+

 

Ferrothorn

Utility: A

 

Garchomp

Offensive: A

Offensive Stealth Rock: A

Physically Defensive: A

Choice Scarf: B+

 

Heatran

Offensive Z-Move: A

Specially Defensive: A

Choice Scarf: B+

 

Keldeo

Choice Specs: A

Choice Scarf: A-

Calm Mind: B+

 

Metagross-Mega

All-Out Attacker: A

Offensive Stealth Rock: A-

Rock Polish: B+

 

Tangrowth

Physically Defensive: A

Specially Defensive: A

 

Zapdos

Physically Defensive: A

Offensive: B+

Specially Defensive: B+

 

A- Rank

Alakazam-Mega

Offensive: A-

 

Annihilape

Bulk Up: A-

Choice Scarf: B

 

Azumarill

Assault Vest: A-

Choice Band: A-

Z-Belly Drum: B+

Perish Trapper: B-

 

Charizard-Mega-Y

Offensive: A-

 

Excadrill

Sand Rush Z-Move: A-

Focus Sash: B+

Choice Scarf: B

Specially Defensive: B

 

Gliscor

Stallbreaker: A-

Utility: B

 

Hoopa-U

Choice Band: A-

Choice Specs: B+

Nasty Plot: B+

Assault Vest: B

Choice Scarf: B

 

Kyurem-B

Icium Z: A-

Choice Scarf: B

Choice Band: B-

Offensive: B-

 

Manaphy

Waterium Z Tail Glow: A-

Rain Dance: B+

 

Medicham-Mega

Offensive: A-

 

Ninetales-Alola

Aurora Veil: A-

 

Rotom-Wash

Physically Defensive: A-

Offensive: B

 

Scizor-Mega

Defensive: A-

Offensive: B+

Defog: B

 

Slowking

Specially Defensive: A-

 

Thundurus

Offensive: A-

Utility: B+

 

Victini

Choice Band: A-

Choice Scarf: A-

Z-Celebrate: B+

 

Volcarona

Offensive: A-

Swarm: A-

Defensive: B

 

B Rank:

 

B+ Rank

Amoonguss

Defensive: B+

Assault Vest: B-

 

Blacephalon

Choice Scarf: B+

Choice Specs: B

Calm Mind: B-

 

Chansey

Utility: B+

 

Charizard-Mega-X

Offensive: B+

Defensive: B

 

Greninja

Choice Scarf: B+

Z-Move: B+

 

Jirachi

Choice Scarf: B+

Specially Defensive: B

Z-Happy Hour: B-

 

Kommo-o

Kommonium Z: B+

Belly Drum: B

Specially Defensive: B

Dragon Dance: B-

 

Latias

Offensive: B+

Choice Scarf: B

 

Latias-Mega

Utility: B+

Calm Mind: B

 

Latios

Choice Scarf: B+

Choice Specs: B+

Soul Dew: B+

 

Magnezone

Choice Scarf: B+

Choice Specs: B+

Z-Move: B-

 

Pelipper

Defensive: B+

Choice Scarf: B

Choice Specs: B

 

Sableye-Mega

Utility: B+

Calm Mind: B-

 

Slowbro

Utility: B+

Calm Mind: B

 

Swampert-Mega

Offensive: B+

Offensive Stealth Rock: B+

 

Tyranitar

Choice Band: B+

Assault Vest: B

Choice Scarf: B

Utility: B-

 

Weavile

Choice Band: B+

 

B Rank

Alomomola

Defensive: B

 

Gyarados-Mega

Offensive: B

 

Hippowdon

Defensive: B

 

Hydreigon

Choice Scarf: B

Choice Specs: B

Offensive: B

 

Latios-Mega

Offensive: B

 

Mew

Stallbreaker: B

Utility: B-

Offensive: C+

 

Skarmory

Physically Defensive: B

 

Suicune

Substitute Calm Mind: B

Defensive: B-

 

Thundurus-T

Agility: B

Nasty Plot: B

Dual Dance: B-

 

Tyranitar-Mega

Offensive: B

Utility: B-

 

Venusaur-Mega

Defensive: B

Offensive: B-

 

Volcanion

Choice Specs: B

Defensive Utility: B

Choice Scarf: B-

 

B- Rank

Altaria-Mega

Physically Defensive: B-

Physically Offensive: C+

Utility: C+

Specially Offensive: C

 

Breloom

Offensive: B-

Poison Heal: C

 

Crawdaunt

Choice Band: B-

Offensive: C

 

Gastrodon

Specially Defensive: B-

 

Heracross-Mega

Offensive: B-

 

Kingdra

Choice Specs: B-

 

Porygon-Z

Offensive: B-

 

Pinsir-Mega

Offensive: B-

 

Reuniclus

Calm Mind: B-

Dual Dance: C

Trick Room: C

 

Ribombee

Sticky Web: B-

 

C Rank:

 

C+ Rank

Alakazam

Focus Sash: C+

Offensive: C

 

Diggersby

Offensive: C+

Choice Band: C

Choice Scarf: C

 

Ditto

Choice Scarf: C+

 

Gallade-Mega

Offensive: C+

Bulk Up: C

 

Mamowsine

Offensive: C+

Choice Band: C

Focus Sash Lead: C-

 

Manectric-Mega

Offensive: C+

 

Quagsire

Physically Defensive Unaware: C+

 

Scizor

Choice Band: C+

Offensive: C

 

Togekiss

Nasty Plot Stallbreaker: C+

Choice Scarf: C-

 

C Rank

Cloyster

Shell Smash: C

 

Conkeldurr

Guts: C

Assault Vest: C-

Sheer Force: C-

 

Cresselia

Trick Room: C

Utility: C-

 

Gardevoir-Mega

Offensive: C

 

Gyarados

Flynium Z: C

 

Hawlucha

Offensive: C

 

Marowak-Alola

Offensive: C

 

Mimikyu

Offensive: C

 

Slowbro-Mega

Calm Mind: C

Physically Defensive: C

 

Torkoal

Physically Defensive: C

 

Venusaur

Offensive: C

 

C- Rank

Aerodactyl-Mega

Offensive: C-

Pursuit: C-

 

Azelf

Focus Sash: C-

 

Blissey

Calm Mind: C-

Defensive: C-

 

Cofagrigus

Physically Defensive: C-

Trick Room: C-

 

Garchomp-Mega

All-Out Attacker: C-

Swords Dance: C-

 

Infernape

Focus Sash: C-

 

Jellicent

Physically Defensive: C-

 

Klefki

Screens: C-

Specially Defensive: C-

 

Mantine

Defensive: C-

 

Muk-Alola

Assault Vest: C-

 

Nidoking

Offensive: C-

 

Pidgeot-Mega

Offensive: C-

Stallbreaker: C-

 

Porygon2

Defensive: C-

Trick Room: C-

 

Seismitoad

Defensive: C-

 

Starmie

Offensive: C-

Defensive: C-

 

Tentacruel

Defensive: C-

 

Uxie

Trick Room: C-

Edited Sunday at 05:57 AM by Pisforpenguin

[Jorogumo]

Reserved.

[Bash]

I'm not sure about the usefulness of this topic in its current form. Like, it is for sure useful in some way, but I wonder if the effort was worth it if is stays like this.
Especially since you mention new players as a audience. I currently see it as a tier list where PvP affine people can philosophize with each other about which set may be a tiny better than a other.

 

This may sound harsher than it is meant to be, I just want to sctrictly point that out because you also have nowhere mentioned that this topic is not finished/in work and I personally am worried about the future of this topic in the way it is right now.

 

I try to show why I see it this way.

Do you like my S tier Magic Guard Calm Mind set?

Spoiler

Clefable @ Leftovers  
Ability: Magic Guard 
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD  
Modest Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Calm Mind  
- Moonblast  
- Ice Beam  
- Flamethrower

 

 

For a beginner, most of the set details are not clear. The explanations are missing. The sets are not usefull if not build in the right surroundings, you mention that. But how do I know the right build for my Pokémon? If this is something every newbie should answer for themself, then the topic is needless in begin with. They would (have to) come to conclusions on their own anyway.

 

Perhaps someone could argue the same way at the viability list, but I think that one is at least more 'general' and can be excused in this way.

 

I'd wish for set details with examples like in the Smogon dex. Maybe also a hint for the nature of the Pokémon, like "Bold prefered" or "Common natures: Bold"

Spoiler

In this way you know at least which exact sets are meant, and have a more fundemental base to think about what the weaknesses of this set/s may be and why you'd prefer move A over move B in the same All-out Attacker set.

 

 

----------------

 

 

 

I think the most common set in PRO is:

 

Diancie-Mega @ Diancite  
Ability: Magic Bounce  
- Protect  
- Stealth Rock  
- Diamond Storm  
- Moonblast

 

and should be added.

I think you mean a different set with 'All out', do you?

 

 

 

[Jorogumo]

14 minutes ago, Bash said:

I'd wish for set details with examples like in the Smogon dex. Maybe also a hint for the nature of the Pokémon, like "Bold prefered" or "Common natures: Bold"

Thank you for the suggestions, Bash. Your feedback is appreciated.

 

This thread is in its final form, but we will discuss adding missing sets like the Mega Diancie one you mention or Stealth Rock Mega Metagross. We may need to rename some of the sets to clarify what we mean and avoid any potential confusion. I will just add that usage does not necessarily dictate viability; the most used sets may not automatically be deemed the most viable ones, so we reserve the right to rank all options accordingly while remaining open to changes and additions posted by players in this very thread.

 

We wanted to get the viability rankings and set viability rankings out first as indicative resources while we continue working on the rest. One of the projects would be a detailed list of sets including Abilities, Natures, items, moves, and EV spreads in alignment with what you propose. However, that one would understandably take time and would also link back to this one. Ideally, clicking on each recommended set would take the user to the corresponding set details, but that may not be possible, and we may need to settle for a direct link to the other thread instead. Set explanations would take even longer and are not currently being considered because the time investment would not be worth their limited utility.