Project National Dex OU Victim of the Week - Week 18: Mega Garchomp

[peap]

Voting for counter and for check.

I like Shedinja as a counter; only works on stall but I do think Shed takes stall to new dimensions in Natdex OU, even with Safety Goggles since Mega Sableye exists to support it. Mega Latias is really solid, sometimes I find it gets chipped into KO range coming in a turn after Manaphy, like from Roosting off Mega Swampert Ice Punch, Stealth Rock chip when Greninja doubles in on you, etc.

For checks I like Rilla, always gives Manaphy second thoughts about a Tail Glow and doesn't get as chipped as Koko from a Surf on the switch due to terrain recovery.

 

[Avaritia]

Check: Rillaboom

Counter: Latias-Mega

 

[AV Cosmoem]

ok my true vote is this

Counter:
Check:

 

[KirbCena]

Counter: Mega Latias
Check: Rillaboom

 

[The Dragon Master]

Check: Tapu Koko

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

Voting has ended!
Congratulations to BaconEatinAssassin for winning Counters with Mega Latias, and adsam for winning Checks with Rillaboom.
Pannu will add these go the archives......eventually.

This week’s newfound victim is


Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- High Jump Kick
- Zen Headbutt
- Thunder Punch

The monstrously powerful Mega Medicham militarily mauls teams with its monstrous Pure Power-boosted attacks. How do you turn its rampage back the other way? Submissions end at 11:59 PM GMT+1 on the 26th!
​

 

[R8]

Sableye Mega

The set (Super standard)

Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Protect
- Recover
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp

You probably already know him: Sableye Mega, the stall staple.
Even if it only fits in stall teams, Sableye mega is arguably one of the best counters to Mega-Medicham available in the metagame. His typing gives it immunities against MMedi stab moves, and is bulky enough to avoid the 2hko from any of the coverage moves it carries.
Sableye mega can even stay in his base forme depending on the matchup, to be less vulnerable to paralysis, and deter a bit MMedi from trying to fish status, threatening it with a priority will-o-wisp, while priority recover save it if it get parad once. (252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 130-153 (42.7 - 50.3%) -- 1.2% chance to 2HKO - same calc with tpunch - (THIS IS REGULAR SABLEYE))
It can survive long enough protect his team from mmedi assaults, giving the stall team the time it needs to win.

 

[adem]

Submitting Shedinja as a Counter

The set:

Shedinja @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Wonder Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Swords Dance
- Poltergeist
- Will-O-Wisp/Toxic
- X-Scissor

Its quite obvious why Shedinja is a hard counter to Mega-Medi. Being immune to all its stabs and coverage (Bar the non existent fire punch and rock slide which is an unset). It can threaten back with a wisp or toxic to cripple it or its switchins, or setup up freely in its face. Although it completely hard counters Mega-Medi, it is generally an ass mon that only fits on stall

The goated calcs

Goat

Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. Shedinja: 0-0 (0 - 0%) -- possibly the worst move ever
Medicham-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. Wonder Guard Shedinja: 0-0 (0 - 0%) -- possibly the worst move ever
Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. Wonder Guard Shedinja: 0-0 (0 - 0%) -- possibly the worst move ever

 

[Orangesodapop]

Submitting Latias-Mega as a Check

Le Set
Latias-Mega (F) @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Roost
- Psyshock / Stored power/Thunderbolt
-Aura Sphere/Ice Beam/Mystical fire​

Overall it's pretty simple, Latias with its 80/120 physical bulk, while resisting both of Mega-Medicham's stabs. It avoids being 2hkoed by HJK, and it can usually roost spam it off while being able to CM as well. However, Mega Latias cant switch in as easily without fearing ice punch, and repeated HJK's, but most of the time, Latias should be able to switch in on Mega Medi's Move (Tpunch / ZHB) and scare it off. Overall it is a good check to it, but not solid enough to be considered a counter.


The Calcs

​

Hide

MegaLati on Megamedi
4 SpA Latias-Mega Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 132-156 (50.5 - 59.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 4 SpA Latias-Mega Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 262-310 (100.3 - 118.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 4 SpA Latias-Mega Stored Power (100 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Medicham-Mega: 331-390 (126.8 - 149.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 4 SpA Latias-Mega Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Medicham-Mega: 149-176 (57 - 67.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 4 SpA Latias-Mega Mystical Fire vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Medicham-Mega: 124-147 (47.5 - 56.3%) -- 84% chance to 2HKO

MegaMedi on MegaLati
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Latias-Mega: 151-178 (41.4 - 48.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Latias-Mega: 234-276 (64.2 - 75.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Latias-Mega: 93-110 (25.5 - 30.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Latias-Mega: 151-178 (41.4 - 48.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

​

​

 

[The Dragon Master]

Submitting slowbro as a CHECK



Slowbro @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Slack Off
- Future Sight
- Teleport

Slowbros immense physical bulk and resistance to both of medichams STABs makes it an good check to medicham, as it can shrug them of well with its access to reliable recovery in slack off and regenerator. However, it can be 2HKOd by thunder punch, so one wrong prediction and bad luck can lead to it getting KO'd so it can only be considered a check.

 

[Avaritia]

Submitting Aegislash as a check.



Aegislash @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Claw
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak

da calcs

252+ Atk Aegislash-Blade Shadow Claw vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 306-360 (117.2 - 137.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 174-206 (66.6 - 78.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 102-121 (39 - 46.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 81-96 (31 - 36.7%) -- 74.6% chance to 3HKO

Aegislash threatens to survive a Zen Headbutt/Thunder Punch and then OHKO Medicham-Mega back with Shadow Claw. Else, it can even set up a Swords Dance either predicting a switch or in its face before threatening an OHKO with Shadow Sneak. Alternatively if you predict well enough, you switch it into a HJK to let it take crash damage and then OHKO it with Sneak. Obviously a few issues with hax and recovery, but hard to argue when it resists both its STABs, even causing one of them to backfire, and can OHKO in response.​

 

[Byleth]

Submitting Reuniclus as a COUNTER.

Reuniclus @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Acid Armor
- Psyshock / Stored Power
- Recover

Reuniclus is able to freely switch into Mega Medicham without the worry of hazards thanks to Magic Guard while recovering off the damage. It can also use Mega Medicham to set up as well, not fearing a 2HKO from any of its attacks which even extends to Adamant Thunder Punch backed by Terrain. This Double Dance Reuniclus set aims to punish Mega Medicham for attacking it with the added Rocky Helmet, but really any Reuniclus set will work.

Calcs

252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus: 159-188 (37.5 - 44.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus: 174-206 (41 - 48.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus in Electric Terrain: 176-208 (41.5 - 49%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[Victini4ssbu]

Submitting Ash Greninja as a check (pre ash form also)
Ash gren is a decent check to mega medi because it can freely switch into zen headbutt and a not desirable amount for fake in 42.1% max roll and 35.7 for both forms and there is no way an unboosted mega medi can outspeed a max speed regular greninja and ash greninja so greninja is a fantastic revenge-killer to mega medicham.
Calcs:
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Medicham-Mega: 190-225 (72.7 - 86.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Medicham-Mega: 261-307 (100 - 117.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Medicham-Mega: 253-298 (96.9 - 114.1%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Medicham-Mega: 346-408 (132.5 - 156.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Don't switch in on hjk: 252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Greninja-Ash: 984-1158 (345.2 - 406.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Kate]

I cannot thank Solaros & Lunaris for subbing in for me and pannu while we we absent for a bit. Make sure to congratulate him on his shiny new badge! Anyway, here's voting:

Counters:

Sableye-Mega

Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Protect
- Recover
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp

Shedinja

Shedinja @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Wonder Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Swords Dance
- Poltergeist
- Will-O-Wisp/Toxic
- X-Scissor

Reuniclus

Reuniclus @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Acid Armor
- Psyshock / Stored Power
- Recover

Checks:

Latias-Mega

Latias-Mega (F) @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Roost
- Psyshock / Stored power/Thunderbolt
-Aura Sphere/Ice Beam/Mystical fire

Slowbro

Slowbro @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Scald
- Slack Off
- Future Sight
- Teleport

Aegislash

Aegislash @ Ghostium Z
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Claw
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak

Greninja-Ash

Greninja-Ash (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Shuriken
- Dark Pulse
- Hydro Pump
- Spikes

Make sure to vote for one counter and one check! My vote:

Counter:

Check:

Voting ends February 28th at 6 pm gmt -5

 

[Optify]

Counter: reuni

check: mlati

fat psychics r goated

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

Counter:
Check:

 

[KirbCena]

Counter:

Check:

 

[Nowno]

counter msableye

check ash greninja

 

[NuttyRabbit]

Counter:

Check:

 

[pannu]

And voting has finished! for this week the winners were 23Gz with their Reuniclus and Avaritia GC with their Aegislash, gz to the both of you!

In contrast of last weeks incredibly strong mega that fits well on offensive teams, we'll be going with one of the more bulky mega Pokemon in the tier, quite the durable wall and a staple of the stall teams that have recently risen in popularity



Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Impish Nature
- Protect
- Knock Off
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp

With Magic Bounce making it practically immune to all opposing status moves and its stellar bulk paired with its amazing typing,
Sableye seems pretty hard to break unless you can hit it supereffectively, how does one stop The Madness of the Jewel King?

Submissions end on March the 5th at 11:59PM gmt+1!​

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

Death Waltz (Clefable) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Thunder
- Soft-Boiled

Try as it may, Mega Sableye is unable to touch Clefable outside of Knock Off, which only delays its inevitable defeat, as Clefable will just set up and break through the opposing team anyway (once the Unaware mon is removed). There’s not much to say here; if you’re struggling with the jewel thief, make this the star of your team.

 

[Sputnik]

Here's Magearna as a counter.

Da Set

Magearna @ Fairium Z
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 252 HP / 28 Def / 220 SpA / 8 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fleur Cannon
- Thunderbolt
- Calm Mind
- Pain Split

CM+Split Mage with a Z-move eats Knock Off for breakfast and doesn't mind being burned that much, albeit it can get annoying at times. From there it can set up on Sableye and nuke it and the rest of the stall team.

0 Atk Sableye-Mega Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 28 Def Magearna: 27-32 (7.4 - 8.7%) -- possibly the worst move ever
220+ SpA Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye-Mega: 300-354 (99 - 116.8%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO

 

[adem]

Submitting Tapu Lele as a Check

The Set

Tapu Lele @ Fightinium Z / Psychium Z
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
- Calm Mind

This specific Tapu Lele set is the set that does the best against Mega Sableye, as normally Mega Sableye would protect against it, expecting choiced sets, which would give Lele a free turn of setup, to continue to rip apart mega sableye and the teams it is in. Pretty basic set, cm to setup, focus for steels, with fight z giving you a 1 time accurate nuke against steels, psychium is also an option that lets you blow past unaware clef, psyshock for blobs, and mblast for Msab specifically.

 

[Victini4ssbu]

Submitting mega lopunny as a CHECK
Set:
Lopunny-Mega (M) @ Lopunnite
Ability: Limber
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Return
- Fake Out

Mega lop loves the ability scrappy to use super effective cc on a ghost type. Mega lop does not serve as a check if the sableye is not mega because it fears prankster will-o-wisp.

Calcs:
252 Atk Lopunny-Mega Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Sableye-Mega: 332-392 (109.5 - 129.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
I don't recommend getting burnt:
252 Atk burned Lopunny-Mega Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Sableye-Mega: 166-196 (54.7 - 64.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[peap]

Submitting bug boy as a CHECK.

Heracross-Mega
Adamant Nature
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Substitute
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast
- Pin Missile​

One of the natural wonders of the Pokemon world, Mega Heracross sports the highest raw Attack stat in the game (ignoring the artificial juicer that is Mewtwo-Mega-X). This Attack maxes out at a crunchy 515 with full EVs and a positive nature, turning Sableye into casual 2HKO territory for either of the rhino beetle's coverage attacks in Pin Missile or Rock Blast. Moreover, Heracross doesn't need fancy positioning to dent Sableye or its common teammates on stall. A solid utility typing in Bug/FIghting lets Heracross naturally Substitute on MSab, guarding it from Will-O-Wisp and the miserly Knock Off while maintaining offensive momentum against a likely switch.

Heracross' Workout PRs

252+ Atk Heracross-Mega Pin Missile (5 hits) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Sableye-Mega: 245-290 (80.8 - 95.7%) -- approx. 2HKO
252+ Atk Heracross-Mega Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Sableye-Mega: 165-195 (54.4 - 64.3%) -- approx. 2HKO
252+ Atk Heracross-Mega Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 175-210 (44.4 - 53.2%) -- approx. 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

With minor support, Hera also brutalizes Sableye's teammates should they try to switch in for support. One of its most common checks on stall, Unaware Clefable, has a good chance to fall to a Rock Blast 2HKO after a round of hazards and/or its Leftovers have been knocked off.

Mega Heracross is not particularly difficult to fit on teams in the current meta. It breaks down many common pivots, particularly Bliss/Bro/Zapdos cores. Heatran is an excellent and viable teammate both offensively and defensively, to overwhelm Clefable/Corviknight/Toxapex as switch-ins and lure in SpDef Sableye for a Heracross moment.