Banner by @Annoying Orange Welcome to the Sun/Moon Balanced Hackmons Viability Rankings. In this thread, we as a community will rank all viable Pokémons into alphabetical orders (S-D Rank) that reflect their viabilities in the current SM BH metagame. Common abilities are also listed next to the Pokémons. Everyone is encouraged to post their thoughts and opinions on the rankings provided they are justified by solid reasoning. Spoiler: Latest Update 17/10/05 Removed Protean, Stakeout and Magnet Pull Added some replacement to Protean in terms of Sheer Force, Tough Claws etc. Ranks remain unchanged. S Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that are amazing in the BH metagame. These Pokemon are usually able to perform a variety of roles effectively, or can just do one extremely well. Their use has low risk involved and high reward exerted. Pokemon in this rank have very few flaws that are patched up by numerous positive traits. Chansey (Imposter, Fur Coat) Mega Mewtwo Y (Psychic Surge, Contrary, Simple, No Guard, Sheer Force, No Guard) Primal Kyogre (Poison Heal, Fur Coat, Regenerator, Tinted Lens) Mega Rayquaza (Aerilate, Contrary, Tinted Lens,Triage, Tough Claws, Dazzling, Quick Feet) A Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that are fantastic in the BH metagame, and can sweep, support, or wall significant portions of the metagame. These Pokemon require less support than most others to be used effectively and have few flaws that can easily be compensated for when compared to their positive traits. A+ Rank Arceus-Water (Poison Heal, Unaware, Fur Coat, Magic Bounce) Arceus-Steel (Flash Fire, Prankster, Regenerator, Magic Bounce, Fur Coat, Unaware, Levitate) Zygarde-C (Fur Coat, Poison Heal, Unaware, Regenerator, Magic Bounce, Soundproof, Prankster) Giratina (Poison Heal, Magic Bounce, Fur Coat, Mold Breaker, Prankster, Regenerator, Comatose) Mega Gengar (Normalize, Dazzling, Mold Breaker, Illusion, Magic Bounce) Mega Mewtwo X (Tough Claws, Contrary, Refrigerate, Technician, Mold Breaker, Dazzling, Poison Heal) Arceus-Dark (Unaware, Fur Coat, Regenerator, Poison Heal, Magic Bounce) A Rank Arceus-Fairy (Poison Heal, Unaware, Magic Bounce, Fur Coat, Pixilate) Mega Diancie (Pixilate, Magic Guard, Contrary) Mega Gyarados (Unaware, Regenerator, Simple, Poison Heal, Fur Coat) Regigigas (Poison Heal, Illusion, Mold Breaker, Normalize, Scrappy) A- Rank Solgaleo (Regenerator, Prankster, Magic Bounce, Flash Fire, Unaware, Unburden) Yveltal (Unaware, Poison Heal, Unburden, Regenerator) B Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that are great in the BH metagame. These Pokemon have more notable flaws than those above them that affect how they function in the tier. Their positive traits still outshine their negatives, but they require a bit more team support to bring out their full potential. B+ Rank Arceus-Ghost (Prankster, Mold Breaker, Magic Bounce, Poison Heal) Mega Audino (Poison Heal, Unaware, Fur Coat, Magic Bounce, Prankster) Aegislash (Prankster, Flash Fire, Levitate, Magic Bounce) Dialga (Tinted Lens, Magic Bounce, Steelworker, Regenerator) Mega Tyranitar (Poison Heal, Regenerator, Sand Storm, Unburden, Simple, Magic Bounce) Celesteela (Prankster, Flash Fire, Primordial Sea, Regenerator) B Rank Kyurem-B (Refrigerate, Dazzling, Technician) Mega Slowbro (Soundproof, Fur Coat, Regenerator, Unaware, Volt Absorb) Zekrom (Galvanize, Refrigerate, Tough Claws, Regenerator) Kartana (Steelworker, Unburden, Tinted Lens, Triage, Dazzling, Prankster) B- Rank Mega Sceptile (Dazzling, Contrary, Tinted Lens, Sheer Force) Arceus (Unaware, Poison Heal, Magic Bounce, Normalize) Ferrothorn (Unaware, Flash Fire, Regenerator, Prankster) Mega Garchomp (Adaptability, Poison Heal, Mold Breaker) Lunala (Simple, Unburden) Registeel (Flash Fire, Prankster, Regenerator, Magic Bounce, Levitate) Xerneas (Poison Heal, Contrary, Unaware, Pixilate) Deoxys-A (Psychic Surge, Contrary, Mold Breaker, Dazzling, Simple, No Guard) Slaking (Poison Heal, Illusion, Mold Breaker, Normalize, Scrappy) Groudon (Red Orb -> Primal Groudon, Download/Intimidate -> Desolate Land) Kangaskhan (Illusion->Parental Bond) C Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that have notable niches in the BH metagame, but have just as many notable flaws that prevent them from being effective. Pokemon in the C tier often require significant support to be effective. Pokemon from this rank tend to face a lot of competition with the more commonly used Pokemon. C+ Rank Deoxys-S (Mold Breaker) Mega Aerodactyl (Magic Guard, Mold Breaker, Sand Stream) Kyurem-W (Refrigerate, Sheer force, Snow Warning) Ash Greninja (Dazzling, Simple) Mega Heracross (Triage) Arceus-Electric (Poison heal, Levitate) C Rank Pheromosa (Technician, Dazzling, Skill Link) Arceus-Grass (Prankster) Mega Venusaur (Prankster) Magearna (Flash Fire, Magic Bounce, Prankster, Water Absorb) Palkia (Primordial Sea, Tinted Lens) Mega Blaziken (Contrary, Tinted Lens) Ho-Oh (Magic Guard, Desolate Land, Poison Heal, Contrary) Mega Alakazam (Psychic Surge, Simple, No Guard, Sheer Force) C- Rank Mega Metagross (Regenerator, Unaware) Mega Ampharos (Prankster, Galvanize, Regenerator) Hoopa-Unbound (Dazzling, Adaptability, Simple, Unburden, Tinted Lens, Hustle) Lugia (Prankster, Regenerator) Shedinja (Sturdy, Magic Guard) D Rank: Reserved for Pokemon that are mediocre in the BH metagame, but are viable enough to justify their use on select teams. These Pokemon are either usable but have no real niche, or are only capable of doing their specific task and fail at doing anything more than that. Pokemon from this rank have multiple crippling flaws that prevent them from being successful a majority of the time, and are often severely outclassed because of it. D+ Rank Mega Swampert (Unburden, Primordial Sea, Poison Heal) Alolan Muk (Unaware, Regenerator) Mega Steelix (Soundproof, Flash Fire, Water Absorb) Mega Aggron (Flash Fire, Soundproof, Regenerator, Water Absorb) Arceus-Ground (Soundproof, Water Absorb) Arceus-Psychic (Unaware, Regenerator, Magic Bounce) D Rank Pikachu (Imposter) Marshadow (Normalize, Triage, Dazzling) Mega Pidgeot (Triage) Mega Scizor (Unburden, Primordial Sea, Flash Fire) Reshiram (Contrary, Tinted Lens) Arceus-Fire (Contrary, Mold Breaker, Desolate Land) Arceus-Poison (Magic Bounce, Mold Breaker) Diancie (Water Absorb, Poison Heal, Sand Stream) Regirock (Poison Heal, Regenerator, Magic Bounce, Fur Coat, Water Absorb, Sand Stream) Mega Manectric(Galvanize, No guard) D- Rank Heatran (Levitate, Regenerator, Desolate Land) Xurkitree (Galvanize, No guard) Mega Charizard Y (Triage, Desolate Land) Mega Latios (Fur Coat, Contrary, Tinted Lens, Adaptability) Mega Latias (Fur Coat, Contrary) Blissey Rank: Overshadowed by Chansey in general because of Chansey's ability to bluff Eviolite even if it's running something else. However, it is viable and good without considering this. Blissey (Imposter, Fur Coat, Poison Heal, Prankster) Blacklist: Sawsbuck Deoxys Special thanks to @Funbot28 for helping me make this list.
With Primal Groudon banned, the following changes have been made: Primal Groudon (Tinted Lens, Stakeout, Desolate Land, Queenly Majesty, Refrigerate, Galvanise, Pixilate, Protean, Magnet Pull) -> Unranked due to banned Groudon (Red Orb -> Primal Groudon, Download/Intimidate -> Desolate Land) to B- The following mon's niche in checking certain sets of Pdon is gone, and adjusted appropriately. Mega Swampert (Fur Coat, Primordial Sea, Regenerator) -> Mega Swampert (Primordial Sea, Unburden, Poison Heal) D+ Mega Scizor (Primordial Sea, Flash Fire) D+ -> Mega Scizor (Unburden, Primordial Sea, Flash Fire) D Buzzwole (Primordial Sea, Flash Fire) D+ -> unranked Arceus-Bug (Flash Fire, Primordial Sea) D -> unranked Tapu Fini (Fur coat, Primordial Sea) D- -> unranked Arceus-Grass (Prankster, Flash Fire, Primordial Sea) remains C, removed Flash Fire and Primordial Sea.