Ok so yes Imma do second post, following the Miltank one and trying to mix all of my thoughts before dropping the one in the VR with the noms, so I dont gotta explain everything there. Idk how I'm even gonna make this post cohesive at all. But lets just roll with it.
This is my final conclusions and experimentarion after getting Runner-Up in Winter Seasonal. Will provide showcasing if I have it. So, I encourage you to have a deep look at each:
Imma do it in order of my own priority
Labelling so you get the idea:
New set of already high viable Pokemon:
Certified Starmie Answer:
New low tiered Pokemon set to higher viability:
LETS START
1. Offensive Pivot Scizor
Scizor @
Metal Coat
Ability: Technician
EVs:
156 HP / 132 Atk / 220 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
-
U-turn
- Roost
Shoutout to
Skitty (Skittyrox) for coming up with this idea, even if this existed already, it wasnt really pulled off much since him and I use it in solid teams. This my personal spread of it. This Scizor set is meant to be a
late game wincon while still offering some of the defensive capabilities that Scizor often does.
This set takes advantage of the new trends in the meta, like Bulky Latias, the prevelance of Roserade, and offensively checking Alakazam and Weavile. Even if its frailer, it still use the bulk that Scizor has with its amazing typing. The
speed lets it outspeed Crawdaunt and Modest Magnezone, also outpseeding Starmie after Para. And outspeeding 220 Scizors.
The Atk + Metal Coat is for this calc:
132+ Atk Metal Coat Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def
Clefable: 210-248 (
53.2 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery. Allowing Scizor to
break through Unaware Clefable with a 2hko after lefties + Protect lefties.
Showcasing:
Skitty vs Carter - Round 6 Winter Seasonal
Scizor performs its role of late game sweeper perfectly in this match, Carter is caught off guard by the offensive Scizor letting Clefable in, one turn of it SDing meant that Mew couldn't come in hard on it now, basically giving the game for Skitty. If Scizor was SD but 0Atk lefties, Clefable could have stalled or simply it wouldn't have killed Mew at say, +4.
Me vs Skitty - Round 7 Winter Seasonal
Scizor enters to tank a CB Outrage and SD on the switch, takes advantages of the Flame Body proc and SD on the Lucario, Bullet Punch kills Lucario at -1 from 78% and cleans from there.
2. Specially Defensive Mew
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 236 HP / 236 SpD / 36 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Roost
- Volt Switch / Flamethrower
- Toxic / Defog / Stealth Rock
Mew is a top mon in my opinion right now, youll see where I rank it in my VR noms. Mew is a fantastic specially defensive wall and pivot that isnt passive and performs best on balanced/BO teams. This guy it meant to blanket potent special attacking threats like Latias, Starmie, Heatran (if Volt Switch), Nidoking Magnezone. Also blanketing and 1v1ing, Rotom-Wash (watch out for Trick), Togekiss, Roserade, Clefable (With Toxic), Tangrowth while also forcing out / not letting common Pokemon to stay in like Scizor, Gliscor, Garchomp. etc.
Mew is
customizable to your team needs. It can be the rocker or removal, pivot or toxic spreader. And it performs every single role very well. Its a fantastic tool and asset to have in your team that
imo its a staple for balance and just a relevant as say Clefable in the builder right now.
252 SpA Life Orb Analytic Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 236 HP / 236+ SpD Mew: 185-218 (
46.2 - 54.5%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
. Ofc the next hit isn't Analytic boosted so you always live two.
Showcasing:
IgiveUp vs Banbadoro - Round 6 Seasonal
IgiveUp vs Seraphz - Round 8 Seasonal
IgiveUp performs Mew in this team as his SpDef wall and rock setter, and its used in both replays to come on Defensive and offensive Mie while keeping up Rocks and using Volt Switch to pivot out.
Me vs Tbolt - Round 6 Seasonal
FlameTox Mew has an insanely good MU vs Tbolt team, being able to wall both Nidoking and Starmie, Toxic Clef and 1v1ing Rotom while having Flame for Scizor. It basically 6-0d Tbolt and his team was unprepared for this set.
3. 3-Atks Roost Mew
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 236 HP / 56 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
- Roost
This Mew set its kinda a
mix of the Spdef Mew and the MU Mew set, taking advantage of Mews great movepool, pivoting capability and solid bulk and Speed tier. BeamFlame picks out Scizor, Gliscor, Garchomp, Magnezone, Grass types in general, and Volt switch hits water types for solid damage. Speed is for outspeeding base 90s so Jolly Lucario, Roserade, Rotom-Wash and below.
This set is pretty effective to break balance and having a overall great foundation mon.
Banbadoro vs Me - Round 8 Seasonal
Shoutout to
Banbadoro who came up with this set and I liked it a lot and took it to build for R9. Idk your spread but this is mine. In this game I saw Volt switch + Ice beam so I assumed no Fire move and stayed in with Scizor, huge mistake and I got punished. Then I thought this was an AoA Mew but they reveal Roost mid-game. It almost made the comeback after a Hydro miss, really cool set.
Me vs Baddy - Round 9 Seasonal
The core of Gliscor Scizor Tangrowth gets completely negated by this mew, Crawdaunt and Weavile cant come in as the former gets Volt on and Weav can be hit with a Flamethrower, Baddy has to resort to use Defensive Ape and the Mew just wins on its own.
Me vs Seraphz - Round 9 Seasonal
Scouting for a Mew set is really tough, as in the first battle, this set lures for it not having a fire move. KOing Scizor and having a free way into all of Seraphz team. Nothing is faster and it just gets free hits, effectively winning the game too.
4. Spdef MGuard Clef
Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability:
Magic Guard
EVs:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Moonblast
- Thunder Wave / Calm Mind /
Encore
This Clefable set is meant to gets full use of its typing and special bulk to become a special wall and sponge well, special hits. T
his set came up in an urge to find something that wasn't punished by hazards while switching in on Offensive Latias, Alakazam and most importantly, Starmie. Can also sponge in VS Togekiss, Washtom and Mew if need be, and also isn't completely squishy in the Physical side either.
Thunder Wave is my way to go with this set cuz it cripples said special threats for the rest of the game, but Calm Mind can be an option as you would outsetup them.
252 SpA Life Orb Analytic Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable: 196-231 (
49.7 - 58.6%) --
71.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
You are not taking any hazards or burn damage, so this Clef set always beats Starmie no matter what. You dont even gotta Protect to be out of the next hydro.
Edit: thx to
Tbolt for reminding me to slot Encore as a possible 4th slot.
Showcasing:
Me vs Skitty - Round 7 Seasonal
Cannot seem to find the replay I want but I brought it here and it could effectively blanket zam and spread a T-wave on raptor while Wishing comfortably. I wanna move on cuz I have a lot more to show but trust me on this one. Ive used it a shit on of times vs
Skitty (Skittyrox) he can confirm is good.
5. Snorlax
Snorlax @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 12 HP / 244 Def / 252 SpD
Impish Nature
- Body Slam / Facade
- Sleep Talk / Earthquake / Gastro Acid
- Curse
- Rest
With the thrive of balance, players have come to find out new ways to play around Starmie and Heatran, Snorlax if im not mistaken started as a
Boopi_Bappi idea. Shoutouts fren, and other players have gotten into this trend, like me, Skitty and IgiveUp who have performed Snorlax in the seasonal. Snorlax
performs as a specially defensive wall that servers as a blanket for special hits but also acts as a very scary wincon. BO teams and fat cores struggles with it only clicking Curse once, it has fantastic stat distribution and it has 100% WR in this seasonal being used 4 times at least (it was brought in previous rounds where replays werent mandatory, Igiveup and boopi brought them) and
I seriously think this mon should be ranked way higher.
Showcasing:
IgiveUp vs Baddy - Round 7 Seasonal
Me vs Banbadoro - Round 8 Seasonal (Set 1)
Me vs Banbadoro - Round 8 Seasonal (Set 2)
Not explaining just showing replays where Snorlax puts in work against common high tiered mons and its a wincon that makes progress mid and or late game (Sorry banba you just got Lax'd the most)
6. Choiced Lucario
Lucario @
Choice Scarf / Choice Band
Ability: Justified / Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Meteor Mash
- Crunch
- Copycat / Extreme Speed
Choiced Lucario has exceed in now Bulky offense teams which prefer to run this as a breaker or a revenge killer. Even if the roles of a Scarfed and CB set are different, i put them in the same slot to explain
how Lucario has made its way into compositions that aren't HO. Lucario has such amazing dual STAB combination that in can fit on Bulky Offense or Offense just fine.
CC is very spammable when Clefable its scared to come in, Crunch hits Latias and Starmie for solid damage. CB prefers Extreme speed, whereas Copycat its a good alternative for combining with U-turn users like Scizor and Gliscor. You can also slot Sleep Talk there if u are afraid or Rose for sure.
Showcasing:
Skitty vs Me - Round 7 Seasonal
Me vs Tbolt - Round 6 Seasonal
Me vs Baddy - Round 9 Seasonal
Me vs Scarf Kricketune - Round 3 Seasonal (G2 on my YT vid)
All these replays just show Lucario morbing. Not expecting a Choice Item and getting a wall down or destroying late game. Lucario is the goat.
7. Miltank
MommyMilkers (Miltank) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def /
96 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Milk Drink
- Earthquake
- Body Slam / Seismic Toss
- Heal Bell / Thunder Wave / Stealth Rock
Redirecting to my previous article for references.
8. Do-Nothing Latias
Latias (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs:
252 HP / 60 SpD / 196 Spe or just 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam / Draco Meteor
- Thunderbolt / Defog
- Recover
- Thunder Wave / Defog
Ahh... my favorite Latias set,
the one that gives everything free turns. But does it? Latias is a great blanket as its typing allows it to
basically T-wave everything, and can potentially Defog and keep common threats on check thanks to its high speed tier and just good old reliable bulk. Its not a guaranteed Starmie answer as Analytic Ice Beams ofc hurts a lot. But it can come in on it for sure and without rocks it does live 2 always. I run enough speed for Garchomp tho that leads being slower than Infernape and opposing Latias, but nonetheless you are checking Ape just fine and you aren't killing Lati back so for me is fine having that extra special bulk
There's a shit ton of players who have perform this I just wanted to slot it here because its a trend, its there, be ready and aware. Because at 4am when u wake up and hungry, you go to the fridge and you hear someone whispering. You may have encountered ... Do-Nothing Latias.
9. Spdef Celebi
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs:
236 HP / 236 SpD / 36 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain / Leaf Storm /
Grass Knot
- Recover
-
Thunder Wave / Leech Seed / Psychic / Future Sight / U-turn / Stealth Rock / Perish Song / Heal Bell / Healing Wish
Ok so as you can see, Celebi has such a versatile movepool to choose on its 2 other slots that I would only consider Grass move + Recover mandatory. Its a good asset for sure to have and the best set for it imo. Scarf Celebi doesn't provide much now in the meta whereas Spdef Celebi is a great wall for again, special threats like Latias, Starmie and Alakazam, while also completely negating Rotom-Wash, coming on Clefable and crippling it. Coming on Milo, even Magnezone, Mew, ofc Suicune and others.. I like Grass Knot because it hits every water type hard without having a negative effect except Rotom, and rotom u would beat anyway.
Leech Seed I think is huge to punish Heatran and 1v1ing Latias and Blissey. You can find your best moves to run on this guy and roll with it. Solid mon for sure.
Showcasing:
Skitty vs Carter - Round 6 Seasonal
This guy has been used in a lot of other battles like the circuit playoffs finals last year (nice crit btw) but this is the one I remember. Celebi performs as the Special wall of skitty negating Raikou of ever sweeping and tanking hits from MU Mew.
10. 3atk Slack Off Ape
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Overheat
- Close Combat
- U-turn
-
Slack Off
Again huge shoutout to
Skitty (Skittyrox) for bringing this set out. Infernape as popped out again as a fantastic breaker of common balance and fat cores. But the problem of it is its frailness and
how it gets worn down so easily by hazards and Life orb Damage. However, LO Infernape is such a threat that
will forces switches as the fact that
it can switch moves will make u pivot around it.
Letting Slack off come into play. Slack off over Rocks makes Infernape last longer in those 50+ games and still there as a breaker that its harder to deal with. Amazing call by Skitty.
Showcasing:
Skitty vs IgiveUp - Round 3 Seasonal (I believe so. My YT vid)
I think by far the best display of this set was in the G2 of this MU. Infernape gets one Slack Off and then its impossible to wall for IgiveUp fat squad. Forming an amazing Voltturn combo with Washtom, like in old days.
11-12. Specs and Spdef Washtom
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Trick
- Nasty Plot / Thunderbolt | Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 248 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Discharge / Rest / Thunder Wave
- Protect / Sleep Talk / Thunder Wave |
Ok so let me get this straight,
STOP USING PHYS DEF, PHYS DEF SUCKS (Well it doesnt suck but its the worst set by far rn imo)
. Ok, now moving on. Specs Washtom is such a fantastic wallbreaker.
It can easily disguise itself as a Scarf set and demolish a team that doesn't have a Roserade, or Spdef Celebi or sometimes Do-nothing Latias, but none of them except Rose appreciate getting tricked. It tricks Blissey / Snorlax just as Scarf would do. And
nothing else likes to switch into Specs Boosted Hydros, 2shoting even Spdef Mew with rocks, doing like 90% to chomp.
Tbolt is a great asset to just bypass bulky waters such as opposing Rotom-Wash, Milotic and such. If you dont wanna trick which unless you see an aforementioned mon you most likely wont do.
Regarding Spdef Washtom, its def a good mon. A bulky pivot that fits better the current meta trends imo. Its a great para spreader as no Ground wants to come in on it. Also it disguises as phys def so Chomp can be afraid of it. And ofc it helps with the demon that is Starmie.
252 SpA Life Orb Analytic Starmie Psychic vs. 252 HP / 248+ SpD Rotom-Wash: 142-169 (46.7 - 55.5%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
If you do come on this situation of them having Psychic, this is how much you are taking. Psychic has started to pop off in Offensive mie sets due to this guy specifically, thats why I like Protect / Resttalk. Cuz it lets u come in more consistently. Ofc you dont get 2hkod cuz the next Psychic aint killing you.
And you click T-wave / Discharge. Thats how you deal with Starmie. Do not Volt Switch.
Showcasing:
Me vs Banbadoro - Round 8 Seasonal (Miltank game)
This is the same Miltank game is just a great display of Specs Rotom, 2hkoing opposing Rotom with Hydro, doing 90% to Chomp and breaking through Spdef Scizor. Basically winning + Miltank when Starmie got paralyzed.
Didn't find any good Spdef Rotom showcasing. But source: Trust frfr
13. No missing Zam
Alakazam @ Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
-
Psyshock / Psychic
- Shadow Ball
-
Encore / Recover
Ok this is something I've thought of but saw
Mada and
Oblivion Wing bring so shoutout to them. Even though Seraphz was indeed running Focus Blast, I wonder.
What do u need Focus Blast for? You are almost never clicking it, Weavile is not coming hard in, Ttar doesnt exists. You can Psyshock Blissey. And more importantly,
you just need to put Scizor and Heatran on +2 ShadowBall, just having a neutral hit on steels is enough when boosted. This mon having its 4th slot free with its speed tier and access to Encore, and it longer games, even with the frailness of Zam, having Recover, its huge. I recommend trying runnning Zam with no Focus Blast and let a utility move perform it a lot better.
Showcasing:
Oblivion Wing vs IgiveUp - Round 8 Seasonal
Seraphz pulls out the Encore on Blissey and forces it out, it would have won inmediately if it didnt got para and come hard on a Scald. But still put in a massive amount of work allowing Seraphz to take this game.
Mada vs Me - Round 8 Seasonal
So Mada basically destroyed me in the endgame with NP Recover zam cuz I couldnt do anything with my team, everything was slower and unfort my Clef was rocks so univested Moonblast just gets pp stalled.
14. Shuca Willo Heatran
Heatran @
Shuca Berry
Ability:
Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
-
Will-O-Wisp
So the idea behind this set is basically
luring Ground types into come hard on it and getting inmediately punished by Will-O-Wisp, which is a super underrated move on Heatran btw, and by Ground types I mean Garchomp and especially
Gliscor if it hasnt activated Toxic Orb, getting the burn on Gliscor is basically a useless Gliscor and a W for Heatran. Shuca Berry is more for
when they are burnt you can stay in since healthy Garchomp kills you through Shuca anyway, and its more too for
the Heatran mirror, Flash Fire meaning you can come comfortably on Heatran and at worst they EP on your shuca. Still, it wont be expected since Flame Body is so common now.
Showcasing:
Me vs Banbadoro - Seasonal Round 8 (Set 2)
So this is the only time I brought this, thats why its low on priority. It didn't do what it was supposed to and it missed a Willo on Scizor Lmao. But in any case, we build this squad with my man Skitty and came up with this set.
15. Bulky Espeon
Espeon @ Leftovers
Ability:
Magic Bounce
EVs:
252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic / Stored Power
-
Wish / Morning Sun
- Protect / Shadow Ball
-
Yawn / Calm Mind
Ok hear me out on this one, in our current metagame. We have 5 consistent removal options. This being, Gliscor, Starmie, Scizor, Latias and Mew.
Slotting Defog is really annoying and it really hurts to not have another move especially in the latter 3 mentioned. In the urge of finding a way of
dealing with Roserade stack and also fat/stall. Espeon came into mind.
Why Espeon over Xatu? You might ask, well, Xatu sucks. Its bulk its actually worse than Espeon (
Xatu is 65/70/70 and Espeon 65/60/95) and being flying just makes it worst, and its slower.
Espeon 110 speed tier makes it actually use its utility better. Espeon performs as a switch on common hazard setters that struggle to punish it thanks to Magic Bounce.
CM sets 1v1 Heatran as you cannot taunt it. Letting Espeon Recover with either Wish or Morning Sun forever, it comes on Roserade quite nicely, and on other Rockers / status spreaders like Blissey, Clefable, Mew, Skarmory, Celebi and Do-Nothing Latias.
Unfortunately the showcase I had of
Xilefi getting destroyed on his RoseCune balance by Espeon is lost in the archive. It was a rather old replay yes but
Rose stack and fat still as relevant so this is a good option you can think of putting in your team.
It also allows Scizor to freely run SD which is very appreciated.
16-17 Unaware and Water Absorb Quagsire
Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald / Counter / Curse
- Toxic
- Recover
- Earthquake | Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald / Haze / Yawn
- Toxic
- Recover
- Earthquake |
Gastrodon and Swampert fucking sucks, let me introduce you to the only good Water/Ground type in the tier, that performs the role of those fake mons a lot better. (Except SR pert but pert is dogshit). Ofc both of this sets perform completely different roles.
Phys def Unaware is actually meant to take on the likes of
Garchomp, Infernape, Lucario, Azumarill, SD Scizor, etc. Is basically wins VS most HO compositions on its own, and for those Pokemon in particular its better than Unaware Clefable, ofc this doesnt provide the late game wincon and wish support, but it does have Toxic,
being of the few good Toxic users in the tier. (With Mew and Nidoking, yes Nidoking, but thats for future references).
Spdef Water Absorb completely shiftes the pool of Pokemon Quagsire is supposed to come into, this being well, Water types such as
Rotom-Wash, Starmie, Milotic. And special threats like Heatran, Magnezone, Mew, Nidoking, and Suicune (If Haze/Yawn). Quagsire ofc puts on a timer every mon here with toxic and just takes on Heatran and Magnezone with its typing.
Dont Toxic Mew lol. And heres a proof of its special bulk being actually good.
252 SpA Life Orb Analytic Starmie Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 196-231 (
49.7 - 58.6%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery.
Next one doesnt kill you.
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 175-208 (
44.4 - 52.7%) -- 23.8% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Just pair this with a good removal and you are good to go.
18. Rotom-Heat
Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf / Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Nasty Plot
- Trick
I think this mon is underrated in how it can be a good alternative to Rotom-Wash or Mow (Which isnt as appealing now tbh cuz Grass types are so good, better than it). Rotom Heat just
its an electric type that beats Grass types and its inmune to EQ so its also free on Gliscor too. I
ts actually better into the fat compositions of Clef Blissey Growth Gliscor. etc. The only problem is being
weak to rocks, but it gets free setups on Clef and Heatran which run Flame Body anyways. And your Water type just dont wanna take a Volt Switch, this is obviously worse VS offensive teams that have Craw/Azu as you get AJ. But considering it bringing it
when you want to take out that Rose/Celebi/Growth in your way. Its harder to build a team without Heatran, but it can pay off, especially your fire type revenging Starmie (if Scarf) is quite nice.
I dont have a replay showcasing but I was going to load it on G3 vs
igiveuponaname and it never happened unfort.
But heres the team if you are interested, it was meant to destroy stall.
---------------------------------------
THANK
FUCK IM DONE OK umm imma use this post to refer to a
future post coming that will be VR nominations and also to the
format discussion of BDSPPL.
Regarding
Starmie, as you may have seen,
we have 7 , 8 with Blissey. So options for Starmie you do have, offensively and defensively.
See ya ^^