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Project AG Victim of the Week! Week 14: Calm Mind Kyogre [On Hiatus]
- Thread starter Guard
- Start date
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Zygarde-C takes the victory, congrats BananaLaddersPS !
Moving on:
Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Behemoth Blade
- Wild Charge
- Close Combat
- Assurance
Recently discovered by
, Assurance Zacian-C has been the latest revolution in the metagame. With the combination of Assurance and Stealth Rock damage, Zacian-C is now capable of invalidating Necrozma-DM as a switchin, making tradional counterplay utterly moot. The metagame is in dire need of reassessment when it comes to Zacian-C checks and counters, so rummage your brains!
[Submission phase ends Wednesday 27th May 3 PM GMT]
Moving on:
Zacian-Crowned @ Rusted Sword
Ability: Intrepid Sword
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Behemoth Blade
- Wild Charge
- Close Combat
- Assurance
Recently discovered by
, Assurance Zacian-C has been the latest revolution in the metagame. With the combination of Assurance and Stealth Rock damage, Zacian-C is now capable of invalidating Necrozma-DM as a switchin, making tradional counterplay utterly moot. The metagame is in dire need of reassessment when it comes to Zacian-C checks and counters, so rummage your brains![Submission phase ends Wednesday 27th May 3 PM GMT]
Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Recover
- Toxic
Quagsire acts as a Counter to Zacian C, able to avoid the 2hko on any of its attacks comfortably and heal up with Recover. Its STAB EQ makes it able to offensively threaten Zacian, which is important as this allows Quagsire to waste minimal recovers. Due to Unaware ignoring Zacian's Intrepid Sword boost, Quag is easily able to wall it efficiently, while also being able to threaten dual status on switchins, with the combo of Scald and Toxic. Pretty much the best answer out there.
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Recover
- Toxic
Quagsire acts as a Counter to Zacian C, able to avoid the 2hko on any of its attacks comfortably and heal up with Recover. Its STAB EQ makes it able to offensively threaten Zacian, which is important as this allows Quagsire to waste minimal recovers. Due to Unaware ignoring Zacian's Intrepid Sword boost, Quag is easily able to wall it efficiently, while also being able to threaten dual status on switchins, with the combo of Scald and Toxic. Pretty much the best answer out there.
Volcanion @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Steam Eruption
- Rest
- Defog
Volcanion is an interesting zacian check, capable of switching into behemoth blade, then living a wild charge, and ohkoing back with Overheat. Volcanion is also capable of serving as a status absorber using rest, and supporting its team with defog.
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade (100 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Volcanion: 52-61 (14.2 - 16.7%) -- possible 6HKO
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Volcanion: 250-296 (68.6 - 81.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(19.1 - 22.6% recoil damage)
16.7 + 81.3 = 98
4 SpA Volcanion Overheat vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 312-368 (95.7 - 112.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO — chance increases to 100% after recoil damage!
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Volcanion: 250-296 (68.6 - 81.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(19.1 - 22.6% recoil damage)
16.7 + 81.3 = 98
4 SpA Volcanion Overheat vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 312-368 (95.7 - 112.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO — chance increases to 100% after recoil damage!
As the above calcs show, Volcanion is easily capable of beating Zacian in the 1v1, and also of switching into to behemoth blade, which is quite impressive, as not even Ho-oh can live behemoth into wild charge. In addition, Steam Eruption allows Volcanion to threaten burns, making it relatively difficult to switch into.
e: swapped fblast to overheat
This still works fine because HDB means no boosted assurance damage so this still checks zacian.
Thanks J1mm1p for pointing out that I didn’t copy over the calcs from my other post.
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Ditto as a check
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Transform
Because this Zacian-C set lacks Protect and Substitute, Ditto always comes in and scares it out. Typical offensive Pokemon check but it's doubly worse for Zacian-C because you get +2 on it!
Ditto @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Transform
Because this Zacian-C set lacks Protect and Substitute, Ditto always comes in and scares it out. Typical offensive Pokemon check but it's doubly worse for Zacian-C because you get +2 on it!
Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Haze
- Glare
- Rest
- Thousand Arrows
Submitting this as an check. Zacian is able to two hit ko from 50% to 100%. While zygarde is able to two hit ko with thousand arrows.
Calcs:
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde: 207-244 (49.2 - 58%) -- 60.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
(100% zygarde) +1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde-Complete: 207-244 (32.5 - 38.3%) -- 2.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 174-206 (53.3 - 63.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Haze
- Glare
- Rest
- Thousand Arrows
Submitting this as an check. Zacian is able to two hit ko from 50% to 100%. While zygarde is able to two hit ko with thousand arrows.
Calcs:
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde: 207-244 (49.2 - 58%) -- 60.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
(100% zygarde) +1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde-Complete: 207-244 (32.5 - 38.3%) -- 2.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 174-206 (53.3 - 63.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
I just realised that Primal Groudon is still out for grabs, so I’ll use that instead of Wacan Berry Ho-Oh. Submitting as a counter.
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Precipice Blades / Earthquake
- Lava Plume
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
Primal Groudon is able to stomach multiple hits from Zacian Crowned, even if it uses Close Combat on the switch in. Rest gives Groudon consistent recovery to take on Zacian throughout the game, and Sleep Talk paired with dual STAB gives Groudon a 2 in 3 chance to attack Zacian while asleep. Earthquake can be used over Precipice Blades if you don’t feel like risking to miss an attack.
Groudon-Primal @ Red Orb
Ability: Desolate Land
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Precipice Blades / Earthquake
- Lava Plume
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Groudon-Primal: 84-100 (20.8 - 24.8%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Groudon-Primal: 136-160 (33.7 - 39.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk Groudon-Primal Precipice Blades vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 386-456 (118.4 - 139.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Groudon-Primal Lava Plume vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zacian-Crowned in Harsh Sunshine: 326-386 (100 - 118.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Groudon-Primal: 136-160 (33.7 - 39.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk Groudon-Primal Precipice Blades vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 386-456 (118.4 - 139.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Groudon-Primal Lava Plume vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zacian-Crowned in Harsh Sunshine: 326-386 (100 - 118.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Primal Groudon is able to stomach multiple hits from Zacian Crowned, even if it uses Close Combat on the switch in. Rest gives Groudon consistent recovery to take on Zacian throughout the game, and Sleep Talk paired with dual STAB gives Groudon a 2 in 3 chance to attack Zacian while asleep. Earthquake can be used over Precipice Blades if you don’t feel like risking to miss an attack.
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Eternatus @ Firium Z
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 168 HP / 232 SpA / 108 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Dynamax Cannon
- Sludge Bomb
- Recover
Submitting Eternatus as a check.
How did everyone forget that this exists lol. Anyhow, the EVs allow Eternatus to always avoid the OHKO from Behemoth Blade after Stealth Rock and OHKO it back with Inferno Overdrive (Behemoth Blade does more damage than Assurance).
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 168 HP / 0 Def Eternatus: 343-405 (74 - 87.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
232+ SpA Eternatus Inferno Overdrive (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 396-468 (121.8 - 144%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Necrozma-Dusk Mane @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Morning Sun
- Toxic
- Knock Off
Submitting HDB Necrozma as a counter
The last two moves don't matter, although you can use Earthquake or Iron Defense to improve the matchup if you want. HDB is specifically only there to deny the Assurance boost when rocks are up. Not having Lefties recovery unfortunately does add up though, which kinda makes me want to label it as a check instead.
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Morning Sun
- Toxic
- Knock Off
Submitting HDB Necrozma as a counter
The last two moves don't matter, although you can use Earthquake or Iron Defense to improve the matchup if you want. HDB is specifically only there to deny the Assurance boost when rocks are up. Not having Lefties recovery unfortunately does add up though, which kinda makes me want to label it as a check instead.
Small nitpick but... Where are the calcs?!?!
Volcanion @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Steam Eruption
- Rest
- Defog
Volcanion is an interesting zacian check, capable of switching into behemoth blade, then living a wild charge, and ohkoing back with Overheat. Volcanion is also capable of serving as a status absorber using rest, and supporting its team with defog.
calcs
As the above calcs show, Volcanion is easily capable of beating Zacian in the 1v1, and also of switching into to behemoth blade, which is quite impressive, as not even Ho-oh can live behemoth into wild charge. In addition, Steam Eruption allows Volcanion to threaten burns, making it relatively difficult to switch into.
e: swapped fblast to overheat
This still works fine because HDB means no boosted assurance damage so this still checks zacian.
Wobbuffet @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Destiny Bond
- Counter
- Mirror Coat
- Encore
Submitting this as a check. Pretty simple to be honest: spamming counter always allows Wobbuffet to win, except in the non crit close combat + crit behemoth blade scenario (which is very unlikely.).
Heavy duty boots because behemoth blade has 37% chances to OHKO after stealth rocks + three layers of spikes (lol), and crit behemoth blade OHKO after stealth rocks.
Don't forget that Zacian can't switch out.
Keep in mind that counter returns double damages, and zacian has 325 HP. Also, Assurance deals less damages than Behemoth blade.
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Wobbuffet: 330-388 (56.5 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (330, 333, 337, 340, 345, 349, 352, 357, 360, 364, 369, 372, 376, 379, 384, 388)
Counter obviously kill lol
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Wobbuffet: 131-155 (22.4 - 26.5%) -- 21.1% chance to 4HKO
Possible damage amounts: (131, 133, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 142, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 151, 153, 155)
Zacian always lives the counter, but Wobbuffet can live the next attack and retaliate with counter, except if behemoth blade crits. In this scenario, Zacian will have 16% left maximum, 3% minimum.
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Wobbuffet: 330-388 (56.5 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (330, 333, 337, 340, 345, 349, 352, 357, 360, 364, 369, 372, 376, 379, 384, 388)
Counter obviously kill lol
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Wobbuffet: 131-155 (22.4 - 26.5%) -- 21.1% chance to 4HKO
Possible damage amounts: (131, 133, 134, 136, 137, 139, 141, 142, 144, 145, 147, 148, 150, 151, 153, 155)
Zacian always lives the counter, but Wobbuffet can live the next attack and retaliate with counter, except if behemoth blade crits. In this scenario, Zacian will have 16% left maximum, 3% minimum.
Submissions are now closed! There are to be no edits of your own Pokemon, nor are there to be any new submissions. As usual:
You are to vote for 3 options, in an order from best to worst
1. Jibaku
2. Ainzcrad
3. loti
- Voting will close on 31 May 3 PM GMT 0
- You can't vote for your own submission
- You can vote even if you haven't made a submission.
Quagsire by MDB
Volcanion by BananaLaddersPS
Ditto by lotiasite
Zygarde-C by Ainzcrad
Primal Groudon by WrathoftheLeopard
Eternatus by J1mm1P
Necrozma-DM by Jibaku
Wobuffet by R8bbit Konijn Lapin
Volcanion by BananaLaddersPS
Ditto by lotiasite
Zygarde-C by Ainzcrad
Primal Groudon by WrathoftheLeopard
Eternatus by J1mm1P
Necrozma-DM by Jibaku
Wobuffet by R8bbit Konijn Lapin
You are to vote for 3 options, in an order from best to worst
1. Jibaku
2. Ainzcrad
3. loti
Quagsire takes the victory, congrats MDB!
Moving on:
Arceus-Ghost @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Force
- Brick Break
- Stone Edge
Perhaps being one of the most challenging Pokemon to check this generation, Arceus-Ghost is a ruthless force, especially in Sticky Web teams where it can ignore traditional Speed control options such as Zacian-C and Eternatus, while inherently being semi-Imposterproof as well as immune to Extreme Speed. It's one of the best Dynamax abusers, wallbreakers, and late-game cleaners in general on hyper offensive and even some bulky offensive teams, while still somewhat going under the radar when teambuilding, so it's about time we brainstorm checks!
[Submission phase ends Friday 5th June 3 PM GMT]
Moving on:
Arceus-Ghost @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Force
- Brick Break
- Stone Edge
Perhaps being one of the most challenging Pokemon to check this generation, Arceus-Ghost is a ruthless force, especially in Sticky Web teams where it can ignore traditional Speed control options such as Zacian-C and Eternatus, while inherently being semi-Imposterproof as well as immune to Extreme Speed. It's one of the best Dynamax abusers, wallbreakers, and late-game cleaners in general on hyper offensive and even some bulky offensive teams, while still somewhat going under the radar when teambuilding, so it's about time we brainstorm checks!
[Submission phase ends Friday 5th June 3 PM GMT]
Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Power Construct
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Glare
- Thousand Arrows
- Rest
- Coil
This one’s pretty straightforward. Glare it, then spam coil. Even if ghosty dmaxes it can’t do significant damage to zyg, allowing it to boost to +6 and eventually kill ghostceus.
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Yveltal @ Life Orb
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Oblivion Wing
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Submitting this an Check. So this murders it lmfao, by ohkoing it with dark pulse. It lives stone edge in normal form gets two hit ko'd by stone edge in dmax.
Calcs: yveltal dpulse: 252+ SpA Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Arceus-Ghost: 429-507 (112.5 - 133%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Edge from arceus ghost: 252+ Atk Arceus-Ghost Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Yveltal: 238-280 (60.5 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Pulse
- Heat Wave
- Oblivion Wing
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Submitting this an Check. So this murders it lmfao, by ohkoing it with dark pulse. It lives stone edge in normal form gets two hit ko'd by stone edge in dmax.
Calcs: yveltal dpulse: 252+ SpA Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Arceus-Ghost: 429-507 (112.5 - 133%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Edge from arceus ghost: 252+ Atk Arceus-Ghost Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Yveltal: 238-280 (60.5 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- Status