Why mention sturdy? Aqua Tail would be a solid choice for the last slot though. I tend to forget it even gets that...
Ah, right... Forgive me, I tend to forget that Mold Breaker exists... in fact that already happened to me today *facepalm*
Here's a random idea I had the other day: Impish Herdier @ Eviolite 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef Ability: Intimidate -Toxic -Roar -Return -Crunch / Filler I'm trying to find some actual use for it in NU, what with Fighting types flying around everywhere, but this guy takes physical hits like a frickin BOSS. I'll use a somewhat appropriate calc: 252Atk Life Orb -1 Bisharp (+Atk) Night Slash vs 252HP/252Def Eviolite Herdier (+Def): 19% - 23% (66 - 79 HP). Guaranteed 6HKO. Granted, this doesn't make Herdier an answer to Bisharp in any way, shape or form, because Bisharp sometimes has Taunt, but damn... dat Defence...
Defiant Life Orb Bisharp vs Intimidate Eviolite Herdier: Night Slash [secret]252Atk Life Orb +1 Bisharp (+Atk) Night Slash vs 252HP/252Def Eviolite Herdier (+Def): 44% - 52% (150 - 177 HP). Guaranteed 3HKO. 9% chance to 2HKO. 252Atk Life Orb +3 Bisharp (+Atk) Night Slash vs 252HP/252Def Eviolite Herdier (+Def): 74% - 88% (249 - 294 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO.[/secret] Brick Break [secret]252Atk Life Orb +1 Bisharp (+Atk) Brick Break vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Herdier (+Def): 96% - 113% (322 - 378 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO. 78% chance to OHKO. 252Atk Life Orb +3 Bisharp (+Atk) Brick Break vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Herdier (+Def): 159% - 188% (532 - 628 HP). Guaranteed OHKO.[/secret] Low Kick [secret]252Atk Life Orb +1 Bisharp (+Atk) Low Kick vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Herdier (+Def): 50% - 60% (170 - 202 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO. 252Atk Life Orb +3 Bisharp (+Atk) Low Kick vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Herdier (+Def): 85% - 101% (286 - 338 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO. 7% chance to OHKO.[/secret] Iron Head [secret]252Atk Life Orb +1 Bisharp (+Atk) Iron Head vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Herdier (+Def): 76% - 90% (255 - 301 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO. 252Atk Life Orb +3 Bisharp (+Atk) Iron Head vs 252HP/252Def Leftovers Herdier (+Def): 127% - 150% (426 - 502 HP). Guaranteed OHKO.[/secret] I'd try Thunder Wave instead of Toxic anyway, not like it will make it better but at least will force your opponent think twice before switching into Sawk or similar Pokemon. Even Roar isn't an answer to Bisharp being able to flinch Herdier with Iron Head while you're trying to phaze it with -6 Priority Roar. Maybe your Herdier fits Wifi NEU better than Wifi NU.
Seems a bit too gimmicky, although Stoutland runs a pretty neat set with Rest Talk Stoutland @ Leftovers Trait: Intimidate EV's: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpDef Nature: Impish (+ Def, -SpA) -Frustration -Roar -Rest -Sleep Talk Works best on a stall team, or a team w\ hazards I guess, cool w\ Crustle + Missy
Thread revival! Articuno @ Choice Scarf Trait: Pressure EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) / Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) / any +Speed / +SAtk nature that doesn't -Atk if you want stronger u-turn.. - U-turn - Hurricane - Ice Beam - Hidden Power Ground / other hidden power you want / filler An underrated and barely ever used set - just discovered it a few days back. It is really surprising for opponents and hits hard while outpacing a ton of (even scarved) threats. Only con is you /need/ spin-support, obviously. Also, Nasty Plot / Will-O-Wisp / Shadow Ball / (Thunderbolt or HP Fighting) Misdrevus is amazing (as long as it is EVd to outspeed Standard Skuntank (I also like to outspeed Sawk and Bulky Klingklang)) With Eviolite and a good amount of offensive / speed investment (some HP is OK), this thing cripples all physical threats and then sweeps (with Eviolite, it has good special bulk, too!) Sorry for no importable (forgot my exact EVs and on phone at lunch.)
So that articuno is basically like scarf scyther but special. :v...and no one expects it to wreck. I also have something that no one expects to wreck. Walrein @ Leftovers Thick Fat Timid nature EVs: 80 HP/ 252 SpAtk/ 176 Speed -Encore -Surf -Ice Beam -Substitute Enough speed to outspeed things you usually think it wouldnt since normally you dont even invest into speed. It can come into something like musha whos setting up calm minds and sub encore and fire off ice beams/surfs until death. It works good on many things and unlike whimsicott and friends it can do damage and encore on the same set, and still have a sub up after. Also you can encore ice moves with that nifty 8x ice resist lol.
Mr.Muscle (Basculin) @ Leftovers Trait: Adaptability EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Substitute - Surf - Ice Beam - Toxic / Hidden Power [Grass] / Taunt Basculin can run a special set using its average base 80 special attack stat. What makes this set very popular is that most Basculin sets are physical so things like Tangela, Vileplume are usual switch ins and they get surprised when they see Ice Beam knocking them out and they're like 'wtf'. Substitute is to avoid Status moves from Alomomola most commonly. STAB Surf w/ Adaptability, surprisingly wrecks a lot of things. Ice Beam apart from the grass types hits also hits Altaria, a good check for Basculin if it forgets to bring Ice Beam. Last slot is a choice between three moves. Toxic is very unpredictable which makes it very vital. Hidden Power Grass is another coverage move to hit opposing water types and Taunt shuts down walls like Audino and Lickilicky. As for Checks and Counters, Lickilicky, Audino, Regice, Lapras and Seismitoad (fears hidden power grass) can take on this Basculin set all day long. Actually I'm thinking of using full Choice Specs like this: Ms.Muscle (Basculin) @ Choice Specs Trait: Adaptability EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Surf - Ice Beam - Hidden Power [Grass] - Final Gambit
Surprised you didn't try for Crawdaunt instead, Dzi? It's slower, but slightly more powerful at a base 90 instead of 80. Though I guess it doesn't get Final Gambit, lol.
Tauros @ Life Orb Trait: Sheer Force Naive Nature (+Spd -SDef) EV: 252 Atk, 4 SAtk, 252 Spd Work Up Rock Climb Earthquake Fire Blast Wallbreaker and late game sweeper. Work Up boosts Tauros's attack stats, making it hit pretty damn hard. And being one of the quickest Pokemon in the tier helps its cause too. Rock Climb gets STAB and a Sheer Force boost, although if the accuracy's a turn off go with Return. Earthquake hits the Rock and Steel types resisting Rock Climb. Fire Blast is this set's ace in the hole, having a good chance to OHKO physically defensive Tangela at +1 after Stealth Rock. @Dzi - Final Gambit really doesn't work on Basculin with its rubbish HP, especially not with any investment.
Thread revival! Kingler @ Life Orb Ability: Sheer Force EVs: 16 Atk / 240 SAtk / 252 Spd OR 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd Naughty (+Atk, -SDef) OR Modest (+SAtk, -SAtk) nature -Agility / Hidden Power Grass -Scald -Ice Beam -Superpower / Hidden Power Grass You're probably thinking I'm insane for suggesting a mixed Kingler of all things, huh? Well, let's have a look at some calcs: Spoiler 240 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Scald vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Regirock: 179-213 (49.17 - 58.51%) -- 62.5% chance to 2HKO 16+ Atk Life Orb Kingler Superpower vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Lickilicky: 325-385 (76.65 - 90.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 16+ Atk Life Orb Kingler Superpower vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Regice: 312-369 (85.95 - 101.65%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO 240 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Tangela: 263-309 (78.97 - 92.79%) -- guaranteed 2HKO 240 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Kingler Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Leafeon: 278-328 (83.23 - 98.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Gardevoir @ Colbur Berry Trait: Trace EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) / Modest Nature (+SpAtk, - Atk) - Psychic - Hidden Power [Ground] - Thunder Wave / Will-O-Wisp - Thunderbolt / Will-O-Wisp This thing is a really good Dark-type lure. Houndoom can't OHKO with Sucker Punch (or Pursuit), and Gardevoir can then KO with HP Ground or Thunder Wave. It can also really put the hurt on Skuntank and Drapion with an HP Ground, Will-O-Wisp, or Thunder Wave. This is good to be used with things like Swellow that want to avoid a Sucker Punch, or for Spin Blocking. It also functions as a Choice bluff, which makes it much easier to cripple Pokemon or hit something with a surprise attack. pnerd edit: I love KOing things with Thunder Wave!
Pretty cool sets guys. Especially the mixed Kingler but Colbur berry is cool too. Weezing (F) @ Choice Specs Trait: Levitate EVs: 96 HP / 252 SAtk / 120 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Thunderbolt - Fire Blast / Flamethrower - Hidden Power [Grass] / Hidden Power [Ice] - Sludge Bomb Weezing's good special movepool and average base 85 Sp Atk to run a Choice Specs set. Poison typing and its ability levitate gives Weezing an easier time to switch in. Tbolt is for the water types (252SpAtk Choice Specs Weezing (+SAtk) Thunderbolt vs 252HP/SpDef Leftovers Alomomola (Neutral): 89% - 105% (476 - 562 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO. 32% chance to OHKO.) , Fire Blast/Flamethrower for the grass types (Fire Blast 2HKOs Roselia and Vileplume), HP Grass/Ice hits the ground types but i prefer hp grass for Seismitoad: (252SpAtk Choice Specs Weezing (+SAtk) Hidden Power (Grass) vs 252HP/252SpDef Leftovers Water Absorb Seismitoad (+SpDef): 78% - 92% (324 - 384 HP). Guaranteed 2HKO.), Sludge Bomb is STAB. Start of turn 24 The foe's Klinklang used Shift Gear! The foe's Klinklang's Speed sharply rose! The foe's Klinklang's Attack rose! Weezing used Fire Blast! It's super effective! The foe's Klinklang lost 94% of its health! The foe's Klinklang fainted! btw, Fire Blast 1HKO's Klinklang :3 252SpAtk Choice Specs Weezing (+SAtk) Fire Blast vs 160HP/0SpDef Leftovers Klinklang (Neutral): 122% - 144% (370 - 436 HP). Guaranteed OHKO. :3
You seem to be missing 40 EVs on that Weezing, Dzi. It reminds me of the old 'elemental' Weezing that was fairly popular in Gen 4 OU, only with more punch. :3
Okay, so i want to share my Clefairy set <3 Clefairy (F) @ Eviolite Trait: Magic Guard EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Def Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk) - Toxic - Seismic Toss - Softboiled - Heal Bell / Stealth Rock / Magic Coat So this is my stallbreaker Clefairy. It's really easy to use, and its funny! Toxic to cripple things, and softboiled for good healing. I use Seismic Toss because even if Clefairy has an amazing movepool, she doesn't have Clefable's stats to use it, so just stick to ST to break Subs and to hurt the opponet. The last move is up to you, if you need a cleric Heal Bell is your choice. Clefairy can set up SR for you too, and I added Magic Coat for fun, and because its good to face one of the Pokes Clefairy is used for: Tangela. So... Yeah. Clefairy cant be hurt by entry hazards, status or leech seed, so she is simply great to face things like Tangela, Exeggutor, Alomomola, Whimsicott... etc. She just forces them out, and you can toxic or hurt the incoming switching. Opinions? :D
Mantine @ Choice Specs Trait: Water Absorb Evs: 4 Hp / 252 Spatk / 252 Spe Timid Nature -Hydro Pump -Air Slash -Ice Beam -Hp Grass / Signal Beam I've been talking about this set recently and it's very good in the current meta. When equipped with Choice Specs, Mantine hits pretty hard with its great dual stab. Its amazing Special Bulk, even without investment, is great for tanking Special hits while hitting back with some power. Water Absorb is a great ability making Mantine one of the best checks to Samurott. Once in, Mantine can 2hko it easily. The moves on this set maximize coverage. Hydro Pump and Air Slash are its most powerful STAB moves and provide great coverage together. Ice Beam provides some extra coverage. Hp Grass is good for hitting opposing Water-Types hard especially Seismitoad who also has Water Absorb. Signal Beam can be used to hit Psychic Types harder although Hydro Pump 2hko's most of them. This set has been working great for me lately and while not too uncoventional, can surprise some people expecting the bulky Resttalk set.
(M) @ Choice Band Trait: Soundproof EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - Wood Hammer - Ice Shard - Earthquake - Ice Punch YES, SNOWMAN IN NU. Some of you might not be aware, but Abomasnow is allowed in Wifi NU, just without Snow Warning. Abomasnow is amazing powerful with a Choice Band. It's very anti-meta and lacks switch-ins unless you're predicting it right every time. It's only real "counter" is Weezing, who can feel free to swith-in and then get walled by a partner to Abomasnow that's likely a Bulky Psychic type (since they pair well as they resist Fighters and only leave you weak to houndoom, once you make it a Psy+Aboma core.) Just a quick overview, Ice Shard is STAB Priority, while Ice Punch is a bit more powerful ice STAB. Wood Hammer is the main and most deadly attack, although recoil is a bitch. Finally, EQ hits Klingklang, Houndoom, etc. for a ton of damage. ♥ Abomasnow ^_^
Not just Houndoom, Finch. Don't forget Bug-types, which hit both of them for super effective. But yeah, it'd be nice to see moar snowman in NU. People really have forgotten about the poor guy. D:
Drapion (M) @ Salac Berry Trait: Sniper EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Crunch - Earthquake - Swords Dance - Substitute Drapion is really underestimated in NU. Ever since it's dropped, I've seen an occasional Support set with taunt or toxic spikes, but no offensive Drapions. This is the best Sweeping Drapion set out there, in my opinion. With decent Dark STAB, Earthquake, Swords Dance, and Sub+Salac, it's usually effective. Personally, I like using it with hazards support and something that can take the common Fighting types (i.e: Musharna makes a good partner.) Nothing much else to say._.
Maybe somehow try to get Bullet Seed in there? It's cool to break Substitutes! Ice Punch < Bullet Seed possibly. I know Abomasnow isn't fast, but running speed to outpace standard Missy/Bulky Samurott wouldn't hurt either. You'd have to run a lot though, 236 EV's unfortunately. But if your team possibly needs it then you might as well.
^ It's not much more investment than the set already has anyways, so I don't see any reason not to? *shrugs* The set I used in the Aboma analysis had only 48 EVs to outpace Alomomola lol. xD
I tried using that CB Aboma too but I did bullet seed over ice punch so I can 1hit Sturdy leads. :3 (mainly golem) Also breaks subs I guess.
As soon as all the drops, well, dropped, I built a new team. I kind of threw together as many drops as I could in one team, and this was the one Houndoom set that immediately came to my mind. For some reason, Finch didn't see this one coming at all when we played last time, so I guess it's somewhat creative? Anyway: Houndoom (DOG) @ Life Orb Trait:Fire blast EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) - Fire Blast - Hidden Power [Grass] - Dark Pulse - Sucker Punch It's just an all-out-attacker, specially based. Sucker Punch is to finish off threats. It's really quite simple, and I think it abuses Houndoom's traits better than the Trapper set. Drapion and Skuntank do a better job at that anyway. PS. Abomasnow needs more love.
While Zoro's set is great, usually, it misses out on pursuit trapping Musharna, Misdrevus, etc. Maybe giving a decent amount of Athack EVs and Pursuit > Dark Pulse could be an option? Regardless, your set may be slightly situational - but it definetly works! (Did work vs me!!!)
The point of that set isn't to trap random Psychics and Ghosts, its an all out offensive set that is meant to break walls or sweep slower teams. The Sucker Punch is mainly a deterrent for weakened Pokemon attempting to Revenge kill. If you want to trap the random Pokemon with Pursuit, the 'standard' set would be better.
I'm aware that it is meant to function as more of an All-Out-Offensive Pokemon, or WallBreaker, if you will. However, Pursuit is always a nice move to carry if it's doing enough damage to the right things. Also, Dark Pulse isn't doing a ton of damage to many things that Fire Blast doesn't hit harder (bar Bulky Waters which HP Grass hits!) Regardless, both moves are viable for this set, in my opinion.
Tauros (M) @ Life Orb Trait: Sheer Force EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd Rash Nature (+SAtk, -SDef) - Ice Beam / Rock Climb - Fire Blast - Work Up - Rock Climb A weird but really cool set allowing Tauros to be the ultimate wall breaker. After a Work Up with Life Orb+Sheer Force his special attack is 497 and his attack is 758, Tauros can kill almost everything. This set is pretty slow though, since there is only 4 speed evs, so Thunderwave or Tailwind support is greatly appreciated. :3 Crawdaunt (M) @ Choice Specs Trait: Adaptability EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) or Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk) - Surf - Ice Beam - Dark Pulse - Hidden Power [Fire] Another weird set that I have seen being used by other players (ALLALA and Mysterion). Crawdaunt is a monster. Crawdaunt usually attacks on the physical side with either Choice Band or Sub+Dragon Dance, Choice Specs is a really rare set. Although this set is obviously weaker than Choice Band and even Sub+DD, its really surprising, as it can KO a lot of things most notably Alomomola and Tangela.
(Slowpoke) (F) @ Eviolite Trait: Regenerator EVs: 152 HP / 236 Def / 120 SDef Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk) - Scald - Flamethrower - Slack Off - Light Screen/Thunder Wave Imo Slowpoke is very underrated. It totally walls all kinds of Sawk, Emboar, Klinklang and is just a great pivot switch in general, thanks to Regenerator + Eviolite. It provides great resistances for its team much like Slowbro in UU, like Fire, Water, Ice, and Fighting. Scald is a STAB move and allows it to burn switch ins, you know the drill. Flamethrower breaks Klinklangs Sub so it can't possibly set up on you, and has a bonus of hitting Tangela pretty hard. Slack Off is great recovery and makes Slowpoke very bulky. As Slowpoke lures in special attackers, Light Screen is a perfect move for the last slot and makes Slowpoke an amazing mixed wall, and provides great team support. Thunder Wave on the other hand permanently cripples switch ins and compensates for Slowpoke's slowness. Slowpoke faces competition from pokes like Musharna and Alomomola, however Slowpoke is able to wall both Banded Sawk and Klinklang, which is just amazing. The dual-typing is another reason why Slowpoke could be better for your team.
@ Flame Orb Trait: Guts EV's: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA) - Tailwind - U-Turn - Facade - Brave Bird I've had a large obsession with the move Tailwind for a short stint of time and have tried to make teams created around abusing Tailwind mechanics (That better get improved in Gen 6) And this set is fairly interesting. This set is alright because it takes advantage of Pokemon that need to switch out when it comes in. And then Tailwind + U-Turn to a Pokemon that can do large damage, or Tailwind and abuse Guts + Adamant nature which makes a big difference. Is it the best set? I'd say the other is a bit less situational, but this set is great if you can surround it with the right support.
(M) @ Salac Berry Trait: Swift Swim EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - Waterfall - Seed Bomb - Substitute - Swords Dance Although this may not appear to be the best set on paper, it's somewhat effective in practice. Not that I'd reccomend usage of this on a highly competitive team, but it's a nice fun set that can sweep a decent portion of the time. Unlike Samurott, Ludicolo has a grass STAB move and Swift Swim, to take advantage of rain from your team / the opponent. Also, SubSalac sweepers always do well against teams who have taken a good amount of damage on their walls thanks to hazards, other pokemon wearing them down, etc. which makes this Ludicolo function as a nice cleaner. I'm not going to say it's an amazing set, but it's nice to try out and very fun to use!
So I've been dabbling with a rather uncommon mon lately and came up with this set: Luxray @ Leftovers/Air Balloon Trait: Intimidate 252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 SpAtk Bold Nature -Rest -Sleep Talk -Discharge -Roar This set has been working decently well for me lately and is pretty fun to use. With maximum Defense investment alongside Intimidate, Luxray becomes a good physical wall. One of its best traits is its ability to counter the huge threat, Klinklang. It also does well against Gurdurr, Primeape, and Drifblime. It works especially well with Spikes support due to Roar and its stalling capabilities. This set has major surprise factor and has caught many people off guard. I've also tried running a Resttalk Guts set with Wild Charge that worked pretty well. It's not the best physical wall in the tier, but if you're looking for a fun, uncommon mon to use, Luxray works pretty well.
(Beheeyem) (F) @ Choice Specs Trait: Analytic EVs: 220 HP / 252 SAtk / 36 Spd Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) - Psychic - Thunderbolt - Signal Beam - Hidden Power [Ground] This thing is a THREAT, I don't know what words describe it. Specs, Analytic boosted, stab psychic... This thing 2hkos lickilicky with psychic, ohkos skuntank with hp ground on the switch in, I'm loving it. A well played skuntank(or doom/drapion for that matter) can beat it, but with the right predictions, ik ik, you can do massive work. It has pretty good physical bulk, great special bulk, decent hp, incredible SpA, bad speed however, but I gave it enough to outspeed most gurdurrs and co. When this thing is in play, it makes your opponent sweat after seeing its damage output, it did a solid 42% to a musharna, most likely physically defensive, on the switch in with a resisted psychic! Everyone is using offensive gardevoir if they want a powerhouse, but this thing does a pretty good job as well, whilst not being able to abuse ludicolo's swift swim in the rain, this smashes most switch ins and make your opponent think twice, if paired up with entry hazards such as spikes, it just demolishes teams. It is insanely fun to use imo :D