Resource SV ZU Viability List [post home/DLC1]

[Corthius]

op stolen from the old VL. last updated november 13, 2023.

Welcome to the second viability list of Scarlet and Violet ZU! The metagame has shaken up quite a bit with the multiple ways that new pokemon got introduced. The VR council has come up with the following viability list, shoutout to S1nn0hC0nfirm3d, who was part of the initial vote. Rather than following conventional rankings of A, B, and C, Pokemon for the simple Viability List are grouped into 4 categories, shown down below. Credits to Lily for the descriptions of these rankings from last generation's viability lists.

Top Tier: The absolute best pokemon in the tier. These stand above any other pokemon and are fitting for most, if not all, playstyles that are prominent in the meta. They must always be accounted for when teambuilding.
High Tier: The best Pokemon in the tier. You will see these commonly when playing games, and they will consistently perform their role. They must always be accounted for when teambuilding.
Mid Tier: These Pokemon are strong on their own merits and can pull their weight most of the time, but may require more support than Pokemon in the High Tier, or may be less consistent.
Low Tier: These Pokemon have niches in the metagame and can be used to fill specific roles, but are held back by their lacking consistency and are less common as a result.

ZUBL

Crabominable
Electrode
Falinks
Lycanroc-Midnight
Mabosstiff
Masquerain
Perrserker
Raichu
Rotom-Fan
Rotom-Frost
Tauros
Ursaring
Wyrdeer:
Zangoose

New!
Arbok
Klawf
Leavanny
Ludicolo
Sneasel
Thwackey
Trevenant
Victreebel
Volbeat

Top
Indeedee-F
Leafeon
Misdreavus
Rotom-Fan
Tinkatuff

High
Dugtrio
Gabite
Golduck
Sawsbuck
Swalot

Mid
Ampharos
Banette
Cacturne
Camerupt
Clefairy
Dachsbun
Dedenne
Ditto
Dunsparce
Dusknoir
Flapple
Frogadier
Glaceon
Gogoat
Grumpig
Illumise
Kricketune
Lumineon
Noctowl
Phione
Quaxwell
Sliggoo-Hisui
Squawkabilly

Low
Beartic
Calyrex
Chimecho
Crocalor
Dartrix
Dusclops
Eelektrik
Flareon
Fraxure
Furret
Glalie
Glimmet
Greedent
Hakamo-o
Jumpluff
Krokorok
Magcargo
Monferno
Persian
Pincurchin
Pupitar
Quilladin
Raboot
Rabsca
Scovillain
Stonjourner
Sudowoodo
Tropius
Vespiquen
Vullaby
Vulpix-Alola
Wugtrio

 

[Gambit_Gamin]

It's quite interesting to see Calyrex so low in the viability rankings. Even with tools such as Calm Mind and Leech Seed, it really is that bad?

 

[S1nn0hC0nfirm3d]

It's quite interesting to see Calyrex so low in the viability rankings. Even with tools such as Calm Mind and Leech Seed, it really is that bad?

Yes. Calyrex suffers from one of the worst defensive typings in the game, with a ton of weaknesses, especially to faster revenge killers like Raboot, Frogadier, Choice Scarf Krokorok, Lumineon, Squakabilly.... you name it. Basically anything faster than it and viable will have strong, super effective coverage to nail it, with its nasty U-turn weakness being especially hard to build around given the inherent loss of momentum.

That's a huge liability defensively that other Psychic-types like Grumpig and Girafarig don't worry about. Conversely, those two can pull off roles as Psychic-type sweepers while still offering defensive merit for the team and for themselves in regards to setup opportunities in the form of Grumpig's Thick Fat and Girafarig's Eviolite bulk.

So ultimately, Calyrex is a niche setup sweeper, outclassed by at least two other Psychic-types that fulfill similar yet superior roles. Its best bet is as an Agility + Calm Mind sweeper, as STAB Giga Drain can be decent when backed with a boosted Stored Power. See below:

set

Calyrex @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Unnerve
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Agility
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Giga Drain

Weakness Policy can work as well, especially with screens support. Giga Drain can also be swapped for Draining Kiss with Tera Fairy.

 

[PlayaBeavs]

Henlo sers,

why is the best physical wall in zu not ranked?

MUDBRAY
Stamina/ Terra steel
- stealth rocks/rockslide/whatever else
- earthquake
- rest
- roar
Not many physical attackers can get through this bad boy. I’m too lazy to write more than this.

mudbray good
Stop using triple dive wuggy

walls the apparently top tier stonjourner easily,
Greedent (knock off sucks but isn’t the end of the world)

curse sliggy walled/phazed/wrecked
+ a lot more as long as they aren’t hitting you super effectively with the first hit you’re good

he is always there for you

 

[5Dots]

Henlo sers,

why is the best physical wall in zu not ranked?

MUDBRAY
Stamina/ Terra steel
- stealth rocks/rockslide/whatever else
- earthquake
- rest
- roar
Not many physical attackers can get through this bad boy. I’m too lazy to write more than this.

Mudbray suffers from the increased power level from the drops we got. Many special attackers like Frogadier and Glaceon can bypass its physical bulk. These pokemon are very common and will cause a hard time for Mudbray to get in. It also faces increased competition as a physical wall Stonjourner and even Sandshrew. Stonjourner is more capable offensively because of its greater Attack and Speed, and can run a lot more viable sets than Mudbray (who, thanks to its lower Speed, is much more passive than Ston). Sandshrew has the neat Knock Off + Rapid Spin combination, which is what Mudbray can offer. Rest also makes Mudbray a sitting duck since it's going to be doing nothing until it wakes up, giving the opposition the time needed to set up.
Outside of those Stealth Rockers? There's also much more useful setters like Camerupt and Clefairy who have better qualities than Mudbray (who only has Stamina).

It was neat before we got these drops, and you COULD use it, but it's just grossly outclassed by many other Stealth Rock setters at this point. Stamina is a great ability, and it has some cool attacking moves, but it's got too many issues with its low Speed and lesser versatility compared to other hazard setters.

 

[Welcome to mars]

Funny how spidops is in the top 10 of zu but is ranked low tier, p.s max defense and hp spidops is underrated

 

[wooper]

new updated viability list is out!

rises

UR --> Mid
UR --> Low

drops

High --> Mid
High --> Mid
Low --> UR
High --> Mid
High --> Mid
Mid --> Low
Mid --> Low
High --> Mid
Mid --> UR
Mid --> UR
Mid --> UR
High --> Mid
Mid --> Low
Mid --> Low
Low --> UR
High --> Low
High --> Mid
Mid --> UR
High --> Mid
Mid --> Low
Mid --> Low
Low --> UR
Mid --> Low
Mid --> UR
High --> Mid
High --> Low
Low --> UR
High --> Low
High --> Mid
Mid --> UR
Low --> UR
High --> Low
Mid --> UR
Mid --> UR
High --> Low
Mid --> UR
Mid --> Low
Mid --> UR
Mid --> Low
Mid --> Low
Mid --> Low
High --> Mid
Low --> UR
High --> Mid
Top --> Low
Low --> UR
Mid --> Low
High --> Low
Low --> UR

new!

New --> UR
New --> Mid
New --> Low
New --> Mid
New --> Mid
New --> High
New --> Mid
New --> Top
New --> Mid
New --> Low
New --> High
New --> Mid
New --> High
New --> Mid
New --> Low
New --> Low
New --> UR
New --> Top
New --> Mid
New --> Mid
New --> Mid
New --> Low
New --> High
New --> Top
New --> Mid
Mid --> Low

Freed ZUBL

ZUBL --> Low
ZUBL --> Top
ZUBL --> Top
ZUBL --> High
ZUBL --> Top
ZUBL --> High

voting slate

	Previous Rank	Final Rank	Corthius	Danny	Drud	fish anemometer	Monai	OranBerryBlissey10	Tuthur
Ampharos	High	Mid	mid	Mid	mid	mid	Mid	Mid	Low
Ariados	New	UR	ur	Ur	ur	UR	UR	UR	UR
Banette	High	Mid	mid	Mid	mid	mid	Mid	Mid	Low
Beartic	ZUBL	Low	mid	Low	low	low	Mid	Mid	Low
Cacturne	PU	Mid	mid	High	mid	mid	High	High	Mid
Calyrex	Low	Low	low	Low	low	ur	Low	UR	UR
Camerupt	High	Mid	low	Low	low	mid	Mid	Mid	Mid
Chimecho	PU	Low	mid	Low	low	mid	Mid	Low	Low
Daschbun	PU	Mid	low	Mid	mid	mid	Mid	Mid	Mid
Dedenne	High	Mid	mid	Low	mid	low	Mid	Mid	Mid
Ditto	PU	Mid	mid	High	high	mid	Mid	Mid	High
Dugtrio	PU	High	mid	Mid	high	high	High	High	High
Dusknoir	PU	Mid	low	Low	low	mid	Mid	Mid	Mid
Eiscue	Low	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	UR	Low	UR
Falinks	PU	Top	top	High	top	top	Top	Top	Top
Flapple	PU	Mid	high	Mid	mid	mid	High	Mid	Mid
Flareon	Low	Low	ur	Low	low	low	low	Low	UR
Furret	PU	Low	low	Low	ur	ur	ur	Low	Low
Glaceon	High	Mid	mid	Mid	mid	mid	mid	Mid	Mid
Glalie	Mid	Low	ur	Ur	lor	low	low	UR	Low
Gogoat	PU	Mid	mid	High	mid	mid	mid	High	Mid
Golduck	PU	High	high	Top	high	top	high	High	High
Gothitelle	Low	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	low	Low	UR
Greedent	Mid	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Grumpig	High	Mid	mid	Low	mid	mid	mid	Mid	Low
Hypno	Low	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Illumise	PU	Mid	low	Mid	mid	high	low	Mid	Mid
Indeedee-F	ZUBL	Top	top	Top	top	top	top	Top	Top
Jumpluff	PU	Low	mid	Low	low	low	low	UR	Low
Kricketune	UR	Mid	low	Low	mid	mid	mid	Mid	High
Leafeon	ZUBL	Top	high	Too	top	top	Top	Top	High
Lumineon	High	Mid	high	Mid	mid	mid	mid	Low	Low
Luxray	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Lycanroc-N	ZUBL	High	high	High	high	top	top	Top	High
Magcargo	PU	Low	low	Ur	low	low	ur	Low	Low
Mightyena	PU	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Noctowl	PU	Mid	mid	Mis	mid	mid	low	Low	Mid
Oranguru	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	low	ur	UR	UR
Persian	High	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Phione	PU	Mid	mid	Mid	high	high	mid	High	Mid
Pincurchin	Mid	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Rabsca	PU	Low	low	Mid	mid	mid	low	Low	Low
Rotom-Fan	ZUBL	Top	top	Too	top	top	High	High	High
Sawsbuck	ZUBL	High	high	Top	high	high	High	High	High
Scovillain	Mid	Low	low	Mis	low	mid	low	Mid	Low
Spidops	Low	UR	low	Low	ur	ur	ur	Low	UR
Squawkabilly	High	Mid	mid	Mis	mid	mid	mid	Mid	Mid
Stonjourner	Top	Low	low	Low	low	low	mid	Low	UR
Sudowoodo	Low	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	UR
Swalot	PU	High	high	Tip	high	high	high	High	High
Tropius	UR	Low	ur	Ur	low	low	low	Low	Low
Vespiquen	Mid	Low	mid	Mid	low	low	low	Low	Low
Wigglytuff	Low	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	Low	UR
Wyrdeer	PU	Mid	mid	Mid	high	mid	mid	High	Mid
Wugtrio	Mid	Low	ur	Low	low	low	low	UR	Low
Clefairy	High	Mid	mid	Mid	mid	mid	mid	Mid	Mid
Crocalor	Mid	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Dartrix	Mid	Low	low	Low	low	low	ur	Low	Low
Dewott	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Dragonair	Mid	UR	low	Ur	low	low	ur	UR	UR
Drakloak	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Dunsparce	High	Mid	mid	High	mid	mid	low	Mid	Mid
Dusclops	Mid	Low	low	Mid	low	low	ur	Low	Low
Eelektrik	Mid	Low	mid	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Fraxure	High	Low	mid	Low	low	low	low	Mid	Low
Frogadier	High	Mid	high	Mid	high	mid	mid	High	Mid
Gabite	PU	High	high	Top	high	high	mid	High	High
Girafarig	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	low	Low	UR
Hakamo-o	High	Low	mid	Low	low	low	low	Mid	Low
Krokorok	High	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Misdreavus	PU	Top	high	Top	top	high	top	High	Top
Monferno	High	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Pikachu	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Prinplup	Mid	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Pupitar	Mid	Low	low	Ur	low	low	low	Low	Low
Quaxwell	PU	Mid	mid	Low	mid	low	low	High	High
Quilladin	Low	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Raboot	Mid	Low	mid	Low	mid	low	low	Low	Low
Sliggoo-H	High	Mid	mid	Mid	mid	mid	low	Mid	Mid
Tinkatuff	PU	Top	top	High	high	top	top	Top	Top
Bronzor	Low	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Glimmet	Mid	Low	low	Low	low	low	low	Low	Low
Grimer-A	Mid	UR	ur	Low	ur	ur	ur	Low	UR
Mareanie	Low	UR	ur	Ur	ur	ur	ur	Low	UR
Pawniard	Mid	UR	low	Ur	ur	ur	ur	Low	UR
Toedscool	Low	UR	ur :,(	Ur	ur	ur	ur	UR	UR
Vullaby	High	Low	low	Low	low	low	ur	Mid	Low

 

[Welcome to mars]

I find it hilarious that stonejourner was once considered the one of best pokemon within the zu tier, being ranked top in the viability rankings, but immediately became a low tier pokemon on the level of freaking furret mainly because of lycanroc midnight outclassing it as the tiers premier bulky rock type simply because special attackers don’t instantly fold it, this may be one of the biggest fall offs in smogon history