Project Find A Niche: #4 Manectric/Mega Manectric

[Ginger Princess]

OP stolen here from Ruins of Alph and Jellicent

In this thread, we'll be taking a look at Pokemon in the 1v1 metagames of multiple generations that have never really represented the top tier threat of their generation, but still have potential nonetheless. No Pokemon is entirely pointless, even if they may seem outclassed. The goal is to find what makes these worthwhile in standard play.

If a Pokemon is ranked on the VR in a certain Generation, that generation will be skipped.

The most liked post will be recognized on the OP as the best set created for that mon, alongside receiving 30 Kyubits. Cycle ends every week!

Winners
Week 1: Gen 3 Exploud by Lkjc (Post)
Week 2: Gen 8 Lickilicky by Vrji (Post)
Week 3: Gen 5 Honchkrow by stableprince569 (Post)

 

[Ginger Princess]

The first Pokemon up is Exploud! With such a loud personality, it must have something up in its arsenal worth taking advantage of!

Applicable Gens are, of course, ADV, DPP, BW, ORAS, USUM, and SwSh 1v1. Post a set and explain its niche!

 

[Ginger Princess]

Exploud @ Icium Z
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 180 Def / 252 SpA / 76 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Beam
- Boomburst
- Taunt
- Toxic

Gen 7 Exploud, Kommo-o lure

28- Atk Kommo-o Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 180 Def Exploud: 294-348 (84.2 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Exploud Subzero Slammer (175 BP) vs. -1 240 HP / 100+ SpD Kommo-o: 392-462 (111.6 - 131.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

This gen 7 set is an excellent Kommo-o lure. Soundproof means that Clangorous Soulblaze and Clanging Scales fail against it. If they use Close Combat, then the following Icium will OHKO them. If they have coverage w/ Flamethrower or Poison Jab or w/ever, Icium into Ice Beam will 2HKO.

I just gave it Taunt + Toxic as filler, to maybe screw over hard stall, as well.

 

[IBM]

Made an ADV set because ADV is the only gen where power creep makes Exploud even usable l0l

Set

Exploud @ Choice Band
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 252 Atk / 236 Def / 20 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hyper Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Bug]
- Counter

Lure set for Mence and Metagross I guess...

Big boy banded hyper beam does a lot of damage to a lot of things. Attack is to get the highest possible roll on standard blissey. Defense is to live Banded Adamant Salamence brick break and Banded Adamant Metagross meteor mash and KO both back with counter. HP bug is for celebi and Shadow Ball is for gengar. Speed is mostly just extra evs but it outspeeds 0 speed breloom if anyone runs that.

252+ Atk Choice Band Metagross Meteor Mash vs. 0 HP / 236 Def Exploud: 295-348 (84.5 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Salamence Brick Break vs. 0 HP / 236 Def Exploud: 295-348 (84.5 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[pqs]

Exploud @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Soundproof / Scrappy
EVs: 136 Def / 136 SpA / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Beam
- Fake Tears
- Substitute
- Overheat

okay exploud kinda works but kinda doesn't. this set outspeeds fast mega gyarados (which normally creeps for greninja), and bulks for +1 mega gyarados, and z fake tears into hyper beam barely ohkos. against magearna, sub and if they z fleur, they will almost never ko exploud the next turn.
0 SpA Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Exploud: 228-268 (65.3 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO. if they fleur into z,
-2 0 SpA Magearna Twinkle Tackle (195 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Exploud: 171-202 (48.9 - 57.8%) -- 96.9% chance to 2HKO it does even less. z fake tears into overheat should usually ohko. doesn't really do much outside of this, other than break stall, though.

 

[Ehmcee]

Generation 8 1v1

Exploud @ Life Orb
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 224 HP / 196 SpA / 88 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Boomburst
- Overheat
- Fake Tears

In a metagame where Magearna seems to be rising as a premier pokemon, this pokemon is made to check the main current sets.
This set does lose to specs Magearna although, but I don't believe that particular set will se usage (also to scarf i guess, but no one's gonna use that.

This Exploud'll outspeed speed crept Magearna (108 timid, to outspeed pult after a shift gear) and is able to fake tears into an overheat to finish Magearna, even after a calm mind.

196 SpA Life Orb Exploud Overheat vs. -1 252 HP / 4 SpD Magearna: 364-429 (100 - 117.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Exploud is able to live any hit magearna dishes out, except a focus miss, and a favorable roll against life orb Magearna.

252 SpA Life Orb Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 224 HP / 0 SpD Exploud: 359-422 (88.6 - 104.1%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

This exploud is also able to deal with non specs/AV Primarina, with Fake Tears into Boomburst.

196 SpA Life Orb Exploud Boomburst vs. -2 248 HP / 4 SpD Primarina: 390-460 (107.4 - 126.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Taunt is there to allow Exploud to succesfully win against some stall pokemon like Gastrodon, Corso-G, Physdef Chansey, Ferrothorn and Toxapex.

 

[Here Comes Team Charm!]

Gen 8:

Exploud @ Life Orb
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 48 Def / 252 SpA / 208 SpD
Modest Nature
- Boomburst
- Overheat
- Bulldoze
- Fake Tears

Bulldoze allows exploud to defeat its greatest would-be counter: magnezone. 240 speed gets reduced to 160, allowing exploud to tank any hit, attack with no fear of mirror coat, and outspeed and kill T2. Remaining EVs are dumped into Defense to maximize overall bulk.

Scrappy Boomburst is great versus substitute users such as inteleon, dragapult, and whimsicott, in addition to hitting neutral targets for big damage. Steel-typed resists are obliterated by Overheat.

Fake Tears is an amazing stallbreaking move and exploud doesn't really have the stats for things that aren't stallbreaking, so it might as well be slot 4. Take special note of chansey, who gets 2hkod at -4, allowing you to defeat it before it whittles you down.

Bulldoze also plays a role in the stall magearna matchup: you can survive a +1 fleur cannon with more than 10% left, meaning you can bulldoze, fake tears, and overheat for a very good chance at victory.


252+ SpA Choice Specs Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 208 SpD Exploud: 244-288 (69.9 - 82.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0- Atk Life Orb Exploud Bulldoze vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Magnezone: 172-203 (60.9 - 71.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+1 0 SpA Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 0 HP / 208 SpD Exploud: 265-313 (75.9 - 89.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0- Atk Life Orb Exploud Bulldoze vs. 248 HP / 0+ Def Magearna: 75-91 (20.6 - 25%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Exploud Overheat vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Magearna: 281-333 (77.4 - 91.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Ginger Princess]

Lkjc is the winner for this week, with his ADV Exploud set:



Exploud @ Choice Band
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 252 Atk / 236 Def / 20 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hyper Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Bug]
- Counter

Congratulations, your set will be archived in the OP.

 

[Ginger Princess]

Week 2: Lickilicky!



This big boi is a bit less well-known compared to its meme-y pre evolution, Lickitung, but if its younger self can find a purpose, so can it!

Applicable generations are DPP, BW, ORAS, USUM, and SwSh 1v1. Post a set and explain the niche!

 

[STABLE]

in BW

Lickilicky @ Chople Berry
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 248 HP / 64 Def / 196 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Amnesia
- Curse / Body Slam
- Rest
- Counter

252 Atk Choice Band Teravolt Kyurem-Black Outrage vs. 248 HP / 64 Def Lickilicky: 351-414 (82.9 - 97.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Dragonite Outrage vs. 248 HP / 64 Def Lickilicky: 322-379 (76.1 - 89.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Genesect Bug Buzz vs. 248 HP / 196+ SpD Lickilicky: 163-193 (38.5 - 45.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 196+ SpD Lickilicky: 268-316 (63.3 - 74.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-2 252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. +2 248 HP / 196+ SpD Lickilicky: 67-81 (15.8 - 19.1%) -- possible 6HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Victini V-create vs. 248 HP / 64 Def Lickilicky: 357-421 (84.3 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Meloetta Hyper Beam vs. 248 HP / 196+ SpD Lickilicky: 312-367 (73.7 - 86.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (not sure if you actually win tho)

It's similar to Slowbro except it's a way better special wall (and doesn't lack that much on the physical side) and can cover its only weakness with a Berry. Crit bait? Sure, but you won't really get away with an offensive Lickilicky set. Definitely usable

 

[Here Comes Team Charm!]

Bulky Disable (Swsh)

Lickilicky @ Chople Berry
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 248 HP / 232 Def / 28 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk, 0 Spe
- Disable
- Rest
- Seismic Toss
- Defense Curl/Amnesia/Counter

This set makes use of disable, rest, and lickilicky's excellent ability and status moves to ensure good matchups against offensive and stall pokemon alike. It automatically wins versus many choiced pokemon if it can survive one of their hits by disabling the move. Note that this is a significant improvement over straightforward stall sets, which can't run a chople berry and lose to anything that deals upwards of 60-75%. This lickilicky can tank moves like band haxorus's close combat and outrage, band crustle, anything band darmanitan can throw at it, band sawk, and even band diggersby's giga impact. It then disables, rests if necessary, and finishes them off with struggle damage and seismic toss.

As for its final move: amnesia and defense curl are straightforward defensive setup mostly meant to counter an opponent's setup, while counter lets you beat physical mons that'd otherwise kill with struggle (or that simply aren't choice-locked).

Please note that lickilicky has an impressive 144 PP (sometimes more with sleep turns) if it chooses to run defense curl. Combined with its taunt immunity and Rest recovery, this is enough to outlast many other stall pokemon such as corviknight, gastrodon, rotoms, arcanine, whimsicott, and even Spite Corsola-Galar (though that last one relies on them being uninvested rather than min speed).

In conclusion, this lickilicky set carves out a notable niche as a physically bulky stallmon/choice answer that is immune to Taunt, and to do so employs an underexplored archetype (bulky disable).

Some calcs

252+ Atk Choice Band Mold Breaker Haxorus Outrage vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Lickilicky: 268-316 (63.3 - 74.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Gorilla Tactics Darmanitan-Galar Giga Impact vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Lickilicky: 323-380 (76.3 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Sawk Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Chople Berry Lickilicky: 237-280 (56 - 66.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
232+ Atk Choice Band Huge Power Diggersby Giga Impact vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Lickilicky: 349-412 (82.5 - 97.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Crustle Rock Wrecker vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Lickilicky: 262-310 (61.9 - 73.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
236+ Atk Choice Band Snorlax Giga Impact vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Lickilicky: 268-316 (63.3 - 74.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
156+ Atk Choice Band Strong Jaw Dracovish Fishious Rend (170 BP) vs. 248 HP / 232+ Def Lickilicky: 369-435 (87.2 - 102.8%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

 

[Vrji]

better then ever (Lickilicky) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 204 HP / 4 Atk / 76 Def / 224 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Ice Beam
- Substitute
- Power Whip
- Earthquake

This set does absolutely nothing and beats no viable mons, however, it 3-0s the lazzle dazzle 2.0 sample, because for some godforsaken reason that runs 0 atk haxorus.

Calcs:
4 Atk Lickilicky Power Whip vs. 248 HP / 92+ Def Rindo Berry Gastrodon: 168-198 (39.5 - 46.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (2HKOs after wasting the berry and doesn't die to counter).
224+ SpA Lickilicky Ice Beam vs. 84 HP / 0 SpD Haxorus: 204-240 (64.9 - 76.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Haxorus Outrage vs. 204 HP / 76 Def Lickilicky: 174-205 (42.2 - 49.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
4 Atk Lickilicky Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 20 Def Salazzle: 372-440 (134.2 - 158.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Salazzle Overheat vs. 204 HP / 0 SpD Lickilicky: 285-335 (69.1 - 81.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Substitute is there to be clicked on counter if for insurance on a missed whip, and lum berry is there just for scald. However, if you don't have trash rng like me, you can replace those with chople berry and counter to actually beat things.

 

[blondesasukeuchiha]

The most standard looking set ever for gen 7, I tried both Rockium and Electrium but they weren't quite powerful enough so here's everyone's favorite playstyle, stall Lickilicky.

Lickilicky @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Amnesia
- Rest
- Confide
- Wrap

Pretty self explanatory, you beat a ton of the best special attackers in the meta, including but not limited to...

List

Special Dragonite
Magearna
Charizard-Y (Might lose to flamethrower/fire blast+blast burn but no one has ever run that)
Greninja (Not CB)
Z and non trick Porygon-Z
Non psyshock Lele
Mega Gardevoir
Z Mew
Mega Slowbro
Aegislash
Magnezone (As long as they dont full para you 3 times in a row)
Specs Celesteela
Genesect
Heatran

I stopped at B+ because I have other things to do but you get the gist of it, if you don't have a physical move or Psyshock then you're losing to Lickilicky. The only problems I see it having are crits, which all stall mons don't like, and if you don't confide on the right turns versus Gard, Lele, and other calm mind users. Overall its basically a worse, spdef slowbro and its sad no one made a set like this back when gen 7 was played more commonly because it probably would have been useful.

edit: changed seismic toss to wrap because toss+amnesia is illegal

 

[Ginger Princess]

While stableprince569 had the most votes, his set for BW contains incompatible tech.

As such, the winner of this week will be Vrji's Gen 8 Lickilicky set!

better then ever (Lickilicky) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 204 HP / 4 Atk / 76 Def / 224 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Ice Beam
- Substitute
- Power Whip
- Earthquake

Congratulations! Your set will be archived in the OP.

 

[Ginger Princess]

Week 3: Honchkrow!


This mafioso has moved past the mischievous and toxic lifestyle of his pre-evolution, Prankster Murkrow, and has instead decided to prioritize organized crime! How messed up will you be after one of their fly-bys?

Eligible generations will be Generations 5, 6, and 7, as it is ranked on the DPP VR, and doesn't exist in Generation 8 yet. Post a set and explain the niche! Vote in the poll for next weeks Pokemon!

 

[Ginger Princess]

also tagging Rosa to give Vrji and Lkjc 30 kyubits each for winning week 2 and 1

 

[STABLE]

well rip my last week attempt, trying again for BW

Honchkrow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- Night Slash
- Heat Wave

The little baby is really too frail and too slow naturally to do anything competently, but its niche typing and good attack stat (SpA is not bad either) make it ideal for a metagame like BW full of fighting types and with a very dominant Cresselia.

this only runs Psychic as an attacking move lol crit night slash and you're alright
4 SpA Honchkrow Heat Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Genesect: 316-372 (111.6 - 131.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Keldeo: 458-542 (141.3 - 167.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Night Slash vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 294-348 (97.6 - 115.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
-1 252+ Atk Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Scrafty: 248-294 (74.4 - 88.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO it be like that
252+ Atk Honchkrow Superpower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tyranitar: 516-608 (127.7 - 150.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Volcarona: 594-702 (190.9 - 225.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 224 HP / 0 Def Conkeldurr: 438-516 (107.6 - 126.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 236 Def Hariyama: 458-542 (106.7 - 126.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Terrakion: 306-360 (94.4 - 111.1%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Infernape: 554-654 (188.4 - 222.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
4 SpA Honchkrow Heat Wave vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Scizor: 360-424 (104.9 - 123.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Alternatively, a CB set can help you with some other MUs, and Sucker Punch still beats stuff like Latios

Honchkrow @ Choice Band
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- Sucker Punch
- Heat Wave

252+ Atk Choice Band Honchkrow Superpower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 398-470 (103.1 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Honchkrow Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 420-494 (123.1 - 144.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Honchkrow Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Meloetta: 522-614 (129.2 - 151.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Honchkrow Brave Bird vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Scrafty: 372-438 (111.7 - 131.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO ayy
252+ Atk Choice Band Honchkrow Sucker Punch vs. 184 HP / 0 Def Chandelure: 458-542 (149.1 - 176.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

set is legal this time
not anything too viable but it can definitely see some use, maybe next to something that suffers to Bug- and Fighting-types, like Ferrothorn or Tyranitar

 

[Here Comes Team Charm!]

Watch stable be the only one to even submit something this cycle bc honchkrow is just that unsuited to 1v1.

 

[superstrike66]

I'm making an offer that you can refuse. It's Honchkrow in gen 7 time.

Michael Corleone (Honchkrow) @ Kee Berry
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 240 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Feather Dance
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic​

Honchkrow is dogshit and should never be used in gen 7. However, it gets Feather Dance and is somehow able to beat slower physical attackers such as Gyara, Zygarde, and non-scarf Physical Dnite, so it must be good. It also beats Jumpluff and Whimsi (provided neither have an attack or Taunt) thanks to Insomnia and Taunt.

Calcs:​

For the first 2 mons, Feather Dance t1, then spam Taunt, Toxic, and Roost as needed.
VS

:
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Devastating Drake (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 262-310 (64.8 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Extreme Speed vs. +1 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 50-59 (12.3 - 14.6%) -- possible 7HKO (Dnite can't beat you if it goes Z-Outrage into Espeed).
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. +1 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 111-132 (27.4 - 32.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

VS

:
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 97-115 (24 - 28.4%) -- 96.9% chance to 4HKO
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Outrage vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 97-115 (24 - 28.4%) -- 97% chance to 4HKO
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Crunch vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 32-38 (7.9 - 9.4%) -- possibly the worst move ever

For Zygarde, Taunt t1, Feather Dance t2, then Feather Dance, Toxic, and Roost spam.

VS

:
12 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 160-189 (39.6 - 46.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
-2 12 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 81-96 (20 - 23.7%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

 

[Ehmcee]

I'm making an offer that you can refuse. It's Honchkrow in gen 7 time.

Michael Corleone (Honchkrow) @ Kee Berry
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 240 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Feather Dance
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic​

Honchkrow is dogshit and should never be used in gen 7. However, it gets Feather Dance and is somehow able to beat slower physical attackers such as Gyara, Zygarde, and non-scarf Physical Dnite, so it must be good. It also beats Jumpluff and Whimsi (provided neither have an attack or Taunt) thanks to Insomnia and Taunt.

Calcs:​

For the first 2 mons, Feather Dance t1, then spam Taunt, Toxic, and Roost as needed.
VS

:
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Devastating Drake (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 262-310 (64.8 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Extreme Speed vs. +1 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 50-59 (12.3 - 14.6%) -- possible 7HKO (Dnite can't beat you if it goes Z-Outrage into Espeed).
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. +1 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 111-132 (27.4 - 32.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

VS

:
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 97-115 (24 - 28.4%) -- 96.9% chance to 4HKO
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Outrage vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 97-115 (24 - 28.4%) -- 97% chance to 4HKO
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Crunch vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 32-38 (7.9 - 9.4%) -- possibly the worst move ever

For Zygarde, Taunt t1, Feather Dance t2, then Feather Dance, Toxic, and Roost spam.

VS

:
12 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 160-189 (39.6 - 46.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
-2 12 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 81-96 (20 - 23.7%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

The gyara matchup is somewhat iffy, most of them will run taunt

 

[blondesasukeuchiha]

I'm making an offer that you can refuse. It's Honchkrow in gen 7 time.

Michael Corleone (Honchkrow) @ Kee Berry
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Def / 240 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Feather Dance
- Taunt
- Roost
- Toxic​

Honchkrow is dogshit and should never be used in gen 7. However, it gets Feather Dance and is somehow able to beat slower physical attackers such as Gyara, Zygarde, and non-scarf Physical Dnite, so it must be good. It also beats Jumpluff and Whimsi (provided neither have an attack or Taunt) thanks to Insomnia and Taunt.

Calcs:​

For the first 2 mons, Feather Dance t1, then spam Taunt, Toxic, and Roost as needed.
VS

:
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Devastating Drake (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 262-310 (64.8 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Extreme Speed vs. +1 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 50-59 (12.3 - 14.6%) -- possible 7HKO (Dnite can't beat you if it goes Z-Outrage into Espeed).
-2 144+ Atk Dragonite Outrage vs. +1 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 111-132 (27.4 - 32.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

VS

:
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 97-115 (24 - 28.4%) -- 96.9% chance to 4HKO
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Outrage vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 97-115 (24 - 28.4%) -- 97% chance to 4HKO
-2 44+ Atk Gyarados Crunch vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 32-38 (7.9 - 9.4%) -- possibly the worst move ever

For Zygarde, Taunt t1, Feather Dance t2, then Feather Dance, Toxic, and Roost spam.

VS

:
12 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 160-189 (39.6 - 46.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
-2 12 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 20 Def Honchkrow: 81-96 (20 - 23.7%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

I tried to make an av set so it could beat special attackers in gen 7 but it beat so few mons no matter what i did that i gave up, I admire you for even finding a set that can beat more than 4 mons

 

[Ehmcee]

When honchkrow is literally outclassed by its pre evo

 

[Ginger Princess]

srry for the delay for this, had real life stuff + WC to pay attention to.

The winner of the Honchkrow Find a Niche is stableprince569, with his BW Choice Item sets!

Honchkrow @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- Night Slash
- Heat Wave

Honchkrow @ Choice Band
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- Sucker Punch
- Heat Wave

His sets will be memorialized in the OP. Tagging Rosa to award stableprince569 30 Kyubits

 

[Ginger Princess]

Week 4: Manectric/Mega Manectric!


Manectric has always been one of the coolest pupper Pokemon, personally, but this has not shown in 1v1, hindered by being outclassed by the perceived-better Electric pupper, Raikou. Mega Manectric was once considered viable in ORAS and USUM, but has fallen to the wayside with the recent interpretation of the metagame, as its Special Attack and bulk, even with Intimidate, was seen as not enough.

Are these Old Gens right to treat this Manectric and its Mega with scorn? Or is its bite better than its bark?

Eligible generations are ADV, DPP, BW, ORAS, USUM, and SwSh (Gens 3-8). Post a set and explain the niche! Vote in the poll for next weeks Pokemon! The Pokemon in the poll are regular Charizard, Muk, and Cradily!

edit: Manectric does actually exist in Gen 8, so you can make a set for that.

 

[blondesasukeuchiha]

I present you the most standard set ever for mega manectric in gen 7, I made this thing right before the tapu koko ban to help beat it but it still beats a bunch of other stuff that didn't get banned

Manectric-Mega @ Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Magnet Rise
- Hidden Power [Ice]

What it beats

Flyinium Dragonite (As long as you predict the eq) and Scarf (if they eq which who wouldn't)
Mega Gyarados
Mega Metagross
Gren
Slowbro Mega (Its like a 95% chance to 2ko)
50/50 with Zygarde
Non Scarf Landorus-T
Magnezone
Tapu Fini
Celesteela
50/50 Donphan
50/50 Garchomp
Genesect
Jumpluff (click overheat, it does more)
Mawile Mega (50/50 with spdef)
Serperior

I only went to B+ because I have to go do other stuff today but you get the gist, this thing is actually pretty viable and probably should be on the gen 7 viability rankings as its better than a lot of other D tier mons and even C- ones.
Stay tuned, I may edit this with another set later this week for a different gen if I get bored again