Project OM Theorymon: On Hiatus (See Post #131)

[powergo1]

Submission Start:

Scizor @ Leftovers / Assault Vest / Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def OR 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Speed
Impish Nature / Adamant Nature
- Doom Desire
- Gear Grind
- U-turn
- Roost / Leech Life

Got inspired by Doom Desire being mentioned above. Scizor's base 130 Attack allows it to fire off strong now physical Doom Desires. Whilst Doom Desire might be slightly weaker than Technician boosted Gear Grind, being able to pivot out on Scizor's switch ins with U-Turn can threaten the opponent's team. Roost should be used on defensive lefties set, and Leech Life for AV sets (either spread should work) or Life Orb.

Submission End

 

[BitBitio]

submission start

Swampert @ Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
Ability: Torrent / Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Steam Eruption
- Precipice Blades / Flip Turn
- Shore Up
- Flip Turn / Stealth Rock / Spikes

So Swampert doesn't particularly care about the split offensively due to the fact that this set is pretty much the one that it runs in STABmons anyway, but it looks like a really good physical wall because it has no physical weakness (much like Skarmory,) can threaten most of them with a burn and a strong Steam Eruption, has some hazards, can heal off any damage it sustains with the new toy in Shore Up (maybe an even better wall on Sand balances?) and it can pivot on Grass types as they come in. It just seems like physical attackers would have a hard time breaking it, which is further buffed by HP Grass getting nuked in Gen 8 so they can't do what they did in ADV and use it as a lure.
submission end

not a submission, but physical Nidoking looks really good at first with Gunk Shot, Coil, and Earth Power, but it loses out on most of its coverage so it'd have to go mixed.

 

[theotherguytm]

Honestly, this doesn't feel very interesting since the changes are mostly mons that get screwed over (unban poor Cal-G rofl). I think people have mentioned most of the interesting ones.
Going type by type:

Best STAB on each side by type

Bold indicates a move that changes category and is now optimal, in terms of having high power without a notable downside.
Normal: Multi-Attack, Boomburst
Fire: Pyro Ball, Blue Flare
Water: Crabhammer, Steam Eruption
Grass: Power Whip/Wood Hammer, Energy Ball (ignoring Grav/Acid Apple here)
Electric: Bolt Strike, Thunderbolt
Ice: Glacial Lance, Ice Beam
Fighting: Close Combat, Secret Sword
Poison: Gunk Shot, Sludge Wave
Ground: Precipice Blades, Earth Power
Flying: Dragon Ascent, Aeroblast
Rock: Diamond Storm, Power Gem
Bug: Megahorn, Bug Buzz
Psychic: Oops, all Photon Geyser
Ghost: Poltergeist, Moongeist Beam (Astral Barrage probably would get unbanned though since there's literally no-one to abuse it)
Dragon: Dragon Hammer, take your pick lol
Dark: Knock Off/Darkest Lariat, Fiery Wrath
Steel: Sunsteel Strike, Flash Cannon
Fairy: Play Rough, Moonblast

So all that really changes in terms of most STAB options is physical Normal types get a bit better, and special Ice/Electric/Grass types get better (Dark is debatable). Of which, (bar Diggersby and Kyurem) only special Electric types are actually useable. While a load of other mons get screwed out of STABs. Ah well, anyway:
Submission Start
Moltres-Galar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Berserk
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Power Trip
- Agility
- Nasty Plot
- Roost
Power Trip is 100 BP after an Agility and a Nasty Plot. 200 after those two, one Berserk activation and Weakness Policy. Oh and it gets Roost to accumulate multiple Berserk setups. Give it Screens and watch it gooooo.
Submission End

 

[shnowshner]

Submission Start
Cloyster @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest/Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Water Shuriken
- Freeze-Dry
Skill Link + Water Shuriken is a deadly combo, providing 75 BP multi-hit priority, and pairs well with the even stronger Icicle Spear and water-crushing Freeze-Dry. Such a set really benefits from Gen 3 mechanics since all our attacks run off the same attacking stat, meaning we don't have to split our EVs and lose out on important benchmarks to hit as hard and fast as possible. Nature depends on what your team needs, Timid lets you outpace and secure a KO against Kartana with Ice STAB but Modest means your powerful Priority is even stronger; similarly the item you choose is relegated to whatever makes getting a Shell Smash off easier.
Submission End

Pretty incredible how so many Pokemon become much worse as a result of this change, so it's hard to gauge just how well certain things may or may not be since a lot of top threats look like they'd disappear entirely. Dark types especially suffer a lot since most moves are Physical and most Dark Pokemon lean Physical, while the few Special members are hard-pressed to muscle through Fairy due to Steel and Poison being Physical only.

Anyway here's monoattacking Melmetal for your D-rank nom
Melmetal @ Metal Coat / Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Doom Desire
- Double Iron Bash
- Bullet Punch
- Anchor Shot
Think of Doom Desire as a secondary Double Iron Bash after using Double Iron Bash. You can also trap with Anchor Shot alongside Doom Desire, and then bring in something that threatens Steel resists as your 140 BP STAB delayed attack proceeds to nuke anything that it hits neutral and also doesn't have like a billion Defense. Bullet Punch gets boosted by Iron Fist and lets you smack faster threats to put them in range of a follow-up attack as you go down or just outright kill anyway lmao
You could run EQ or other coverage but that falls under the purview of intelligent teambuilding and is way less funny as a result.

 

[Genuine_Angus_B33F]

This is aiming more to be a creative submission, rather than an especially effective one. But I still like it.
I was going to do Scorching Sands / Shadow Ball Flareon so I guess be glad I picked something remotely effective?

Submission Start

Marowak-Alola @ Thick Club / Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Hex / Astral Barrage
- Scorching Sands
- Shore Up
- Substitute / Will-o-Wisp

Alolan Marowak has always had potent offensive potential, but it's defensive attributes are very unique, and are further opened up through the changes to this metagame. The goal of this set is to use SpDef investment and a good typing to deal with many special foes. It's typing and ability gives it resistances to 5 special types; Grass, Ice, Fairy, Fire, and Electric. It also does a great job checking (special) Psychic types, with it's dangerous Ghost STAB and it's many other special attacking type resistances, though the Special Knock Off weakness is cripplingly bad. As for physical foes, it mainly stands against them by using either Will-O-Wisp or Scorching Sands to burn them on the switch, and then pairing up with a teammate to take them on more effectively. It's typing also does fairly well against some physical attackers, mainly those which lack Ground, Rock, or Ghost moves such as Kartana yeah that's about it. While it definitely needs support to function, this set can do a pretty good job at sitting on special attackers.
Submission End

This meta concept is really fun. STABmons does mean that it those who win from the unsplit types win really hard. Shame I forgot about special knock off until about half way through this concept, because it really destroys it.

Edit: Replaced Poltergeist with Astral Barrage, which kind of invalidates Hex but the cute synergy was the point so ehhh

 

[EchoGaia]

Submission start:

I'm tired of all of you talking about top tier threats, but let's talk about low tiers ones that can't be overlooked.

Kangaskhan (F) @ Life Orb / Silk Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Boomburst
- Recover / Quick Attack / Rapid Spin
- Earthquake / Shadow Ball

Kangaskhan is an interesting choice in this metagame due to its access to the coveted combo of physical Boomburst+Scrappy. Scrappy makes it immune to Intimidate from Landorus T, and on top of that, makes that Ghost types aren't immune to its most powerful attack: Boomburst. Its attack stat is only 95 though, so Swords Dance is needed to boost it to deadly levels. Sure it lacks the secondary STAB that Diggersby has on Earthquake while being overall weaker due to the rabbit having Huge Power, but being able to spam freely Boomburst without caring about Ghost types switching in is a notable niche that Mommy has over it, it is also faster than the rabbit, meaning it doesn't need to be fully invested in Speed to outspeed Timid Heatran and Jolly Metagross for instance, which means it can run some bulk investment too. It has also an unblockable Rapid Spin, which allows Kangaskhan to boost also its Speed to threaten offense more easily. Its good bulk, unlike the fellow rabbit and its most fearsome competitor, Stoutland, makes it also easier to setup Swords dance and opens Recover as an option for longevity. Earthquake is somewhat needed in the last slot though to take more easily on Aegislash and Doublade even though in that case it fairs worse than the rabbit. Shadow Ball is also an option to still hit Aegislash and Doublade but also hitting Drifblim (who knows cause it completely walls Diggersby in a point) and also hitting Corviknight and Skarmory neutrally.

I hope you'll try low tiers Pokemon, that can be interesting with the old split.

Submission End

 

[bp scrub]

Its good bulk, unlike the fellow rabbit and its most fearsome competitor, Stoutland,

Just a heads up, Jolly Stoutland with a 140 HP / 132 Atk / 236 Spe spread has the same attack and speed as well as having ever so slightly more bulk (Kanga takes about 1.5% more damage), so the difference comes down to their movepool- Kanga's EQ/Hammer Arm vs Stoutland's Superpower.

 

[Isaiah]

[didn't have electricity for most of the last week]
Thanks to everyone that submitted a set or posted for discussion! That being said, it is...time to vote! Here are all of the qualifying submissions:

by In The Hills
by berry
by Mossy Sandwich
by Akumeoy
by bp scrub
by Betathunder
a loser
The Dragon Master
drampa's grandpa
GamerOGuy
powergo1
BitBitio
theotherguytm
shnowshner
Genuine_Angus_B33F
EchoGaia


Voting will end on 2/28. Anyone is free to vote for your top three sets whether you posted or not! If you did post, you aren't allowed to vote for yourself. Here's mine as an example:

1. in the hills
2. Akumeoy
3. bp scrub

 

[The Dragon Master]

1. Drampas Grampa
2. Mossy sandwich
3.akumeoy

 

[Roldski32]

1. In the hills
2. bp scrub
3. Akumeoy

 

[berry]

1. theotherguytm
2. akumeoy
3. a loser

Not voting for ith because he stole my idea

 

[drampa's grandpa]

1 Mossy Sandwich
2 BP Scrub
3 In The Hills

I think we might need to ban Owing from this meta tbh o_O. Lando-T, Braviary, Dragonite, Aero, Gyarados, Zapdos-Galar: All look terrifying with it.
.
.
.
Nobody submitted this Hydreigon huh?

Hydreigon @ Throat Spray
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Clangorous Soul
- Power Trip
- Who cares

Drampa's Grandpa is obsessed with Power Trip.

 

[a loser]

theotherguytm
by In The Hills
drampa's grandpa

 

[ezlaturbo]

1. Mossy Sandwich
2. theotherguytm
3. shnowshner

Power Trip is amazing.

 

[theotherguytm]

1. a loser (BoltBeam!BoltBeam!BoltBeam! Bottom Text)
2. Akumeoy (usable Sniper mon!!!!)
3. bp scrub (woo a useable Jolteon set in any tier above PU woo)

 

[EchoGaia]

1: BP Scrub
2:Drampa's Grampa (i love Cinderace)
3: Mossy Sandwich

 

[Isaiah]

The top three for this round are:

1st. Akumeoy
2nd. bp scrub
3rd. In The Hills

Congratulations to the winners and thanks again to everyone that submitted!


Continuing unabated to...



OM Theorymon #4: Pure Hackmons without Eternatus-Eternamax

As this implies, the OM Theorymon topic this this time around will be based primarily on and around Pure Hackmons. To quote the OP: "Anything that can be hacked in-game and is usable in local battles is allowed, with no bans or clauses. In other words, all existing Pokémon can use any move and any ability as long as it can be used in local matches against other players! "


Twist: What if it wasn't actually possible to use Eternatus-Eternamax (even by hacking it in)? In context, this would mean:

No more Overflow-based builds. To summarize, stat overflow is "When a Pokemon's stat hits 655 it rolls over and becomes 0. If a Pokemon has exactly 0 Defense it will take minimal (~1-2) damage from each attack, while going over that will make a Pokemon take extremely high amounts of damage."

Because of its incredible 250/250 Defense/Special Defense base stats, Overflow enables Eternatus-Eternamax (AKA Eternamax) to become effectively immune to direct attacks in one of its defensive stats by investing 240 EVs and a positive nature. In practice, this makes Eternamax extremely difficult to knock out without things like status moves or OHKO moves. Within the Pure Hackmons meta itself, Eternamax is extremely centralizing and teams often feature two, three, or even four of them—each unable to take direct damage from either Physical Attacks or Special Attacks and often running Neutralizing Gas to deter nullify would-be problematic opposing abilities.

How would these changes affect the meta? In what ways would the viability of different Pokemon/sets change? Is there anything that would become ban/unban worthy? You have until 3/15 to post your thoughts in this thread. Happy theorymonning!

 

[OM]

Submission Start:

Boop (Zacian-Crowned) @ Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Double Iron Bash
- Bolt Beak
- Glacial Lance
- Shell Smash​

The one thing with ph in this generation is that neutralizing gas just kinda goes fuck you to all the abilities. With the stat overflow mon decimated, Zacian-C gets to come in and nuke every pokemon with a sky high shell smash and dib & boltbeam coverage. Impostor's ignored, wonder guard's ignored, fur coat, ice scales, dauntless shield, intimidate alllll just get ignored.

Works especially well on a hazard stacking team, and heavy duty boots ignores counter hazardspam and nuke anyways.

MAJOR EDIT AS TOLD TO ME BY GOD (ransei) HIMSELF:

Introducing... /forcewin! /forcewin is a fantastic move known as shell smash that decides all pokemon suck and must die. Please consider buying!

EDIT OVER

TL:DR; Broken + Broken = Busted

Submission End

 

[The Dragon Master]

SUBMISSION START

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psystrike
- Fleur Cannon / Moonblast
- Nasty Plot​

So I saw that zacian was taken, so I just had to take broken no 2, Calyrex Shadow. The set is standard with its 2 best stabs, and your choice of a fairy move and nasty plot for setup. I prefer Fleur cannon because it accomplishes feats like:

+2 252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Yveltal: 426-504 (93.4 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO

Yup that's REGENVEST Yveltal, having a high chance to just drop from full health. Moonblast is weaker, but still kos yveltal after rocks. Before u say sucker punch, yveltals dosent come close to killing if caly is dynamaxed, while max Starfall cleanly ohkos.

Dynamax clacs

252 Atk Yveltal Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Dynamax Calyrex-Shadow: 420-496 (51.9 - 61.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Max Starfall vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Yveltal: 460-543 (100.8 - 119%) -- guaranteed OHKO

And you might say, what about Chansey, well that dosent do much back and psystrike does a huge amount.

+2 252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Psystrike vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 672-792 (95.4 - 112.5%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO

Dauntless Shield and fur coat don't activate too because of neutralizing gas, which btw, makes it even HARDER to beat, as it deactivates yveltals regenerator, not giving it its recovery while also deactivating ice scales and other shit like that.

Soooooo, bring yo double yveltal teams I guess.


Submission end

 

[Akumeoy]

Submission Start

Regigigas @ Mental Herb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ingrain
- Substitute
- Minimize
- Baton Pass

With Neutralizing Gas putting the kibosh on things like Prankster Haze, Unaware, and Imposter, it seems like Pure Hackmons could breathe some new life into the Baton Pass playstyle... if not for Eternamax forcing every finisher to be a mixed sweeper. And you either have to spend precious setup turns scouting all of their Eternamaxes, or just hope your sweeper clicks a move they're not invulnerable to. But would you look at that, Eternamax is gone!

Obviously Baton Pass is a whole-team strategy, but I just wanted to highlight one potential support mon: Regigigas. The point of this set is to use its three support moves to bolster the team -- Ingrain for passive recovery + phazing immunity, Substitute to scout and block miscellaneous attacks, Minimize to generate free turns and spit in God's face -- and then Baton Pass out to something that can set up and/or sweep. Regigigas is chosen for its immunity to Spectral Thief, Mental Herb gives you a second wind vs. Taunt, and Prankster lets it set up Ingrain versus Comaphasers.

Either of the two NG sweepers above me would make excellent partners, as would assorted Regieleki sets (to go fast), and so on. Obstagoon and Indeedee deserve special mention as stat recipients, thanks to STAB Power Trip / Stored Power (respectively) and additional Spectral Thief immunities. If Cramorant is a problem, Heliolisk could also earn a spot as a sweeper, but I kinda doubt it.

Submission End

Does it show that I've never played this meta?

 

[theotherguytm]

Uhhh, wow. No other metagame in existence can be affected so much by the removal of one mon. Think Gen 1 AG without Mewtwo, Gen 2 OU+No Species Clause without Snorlax. Both of those would be smaller changes than this. We're looking at a totally different metagame.

Anyway, enough of the broken setup sweepers. Time for the saviour of bulky builds to step up:
Zamazenta-Crowned @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 248 Spe
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Spectral Thief
- Milk Drink
- Teleport
+2 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Double Iron Bash (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 132-156 (34 - 40.2%) -- approx. 3HKO after Stealth Rock (Denied)
+2 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 250-295 (64.4 - 76%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock (Tanks, STs and heals up)
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Astral Barrage vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Zamazenta-Crowned: 370-437 (95.3 - 112.6%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock (we will quietly ignore this one, bring a Normal type)
252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Spectral Thief vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 360-424 (89.1 - 104.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock (though, YEET)

This set clears nasty hazards, checks ComPhazers, shuts down non-Ngas status users, isn't setup bait for the 101 setup sweepers that carry Spore, and even pivots in your breaker! What's not to like? 248 Speed gives up the speed tie with uh, Lycanrock and Scolipede. And in return you get to pivot after other Zam-C! Anchor Shot isn't chosen because Imposters aren't relevant in PH, due to NGas shutting them down.

 

[Lectrys]

Submission Start:


Regieleki @ Life Orb
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Shell Smash
- Bolt Beak
- Glacial Lance

Regieleki has a bad offensive typing for a Shell Smash sweeper as long as Eternamax exists, with its STAB resisted by the extra-fat dragon and needing to jump through loads of hoops to OHKO overflow-Special-Defense it with a physical move after 3 Shell Smashes. But no more Eternamax means Shell Smash Regieleki can come out to play!

Regieleki takes advantage of being the fastest mon in the meta with Spore to open set-up opportunities and prevent anti-set-up moves like Spectral Thief, Whirlwind, and Haze from hitting it. This requires Knock Off support because Safety Goggles blocks that sleep move, so you can try Lovely Kiss instead, but beware of Lovely Kiss's imperfect accuracy.

As a side effect of being the fastest mon in the entire game, Regieleki outspeeds the entire Choice Scarfed meta after 1 Shell Smash (unless those Scarfers get speed boosts). This means that Comaphazer Regieleki cannot blanket check this Shell Smasher after 1 Shell Smash by phazing it out, as it gets OHKOed before it can move and is forced to Dynamax and lose the ability to phaze:

• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 248 HP / 252 Def Regieleki: 364-429 (100.2 - 118.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Even if Comaphazer Regieleki Dynamaxes, all it does is force this Shell Smasher Regieleki to Dynamax - it can't even OHKO the Dynamaxed Shell Smasher in time:

• 252 Atk Regieleki (Dig-based) Max Quake vs. -1 248 HP / 252 Def Regieleki: 422-498 (116.2 - 137.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252 Atk Regieleki (Dig-based) Max Quake vs. -1 248 HP / 252 Def Dynamax Regieleki: 422-498 (58.1 - 68.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Regieleki (Dynamax Cannon-based) Max Wyrmwind vs. -1 248 HP / 252 SpD Regieleki: 211-249 (58.1 - 68.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki (Glacial Lance-based) Max Hailstorm vs. 248 HP / 252 Def Dynamax Regieleki: 391-461 (53.8 - 63.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Once Regieleki has one Shell Smash under its belt, even the bulkiest of Electric resists and immunes are often 2HKOed or OHKOed, and only less orthodox walls can avoid the 2HKO without needing to Dynamax:

• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Giratina: 390-460 (77.5 - 91.4%) -- 25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zygarde-Complete: 775-915 (121.8 - 143.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Dialga: 195-230 (48.3 - 57%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Dialga: 191-225 (47.3 - 55.8%) -- 78.1% chance to 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Kyurem-Black: 243-286 (53.5 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Kyurem-Black: 237-279 (52.2 - 61.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• +2 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Steelix: 133-157 (37.5 - 44.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

Glacial Lance's Max Hailstorm is even more powerful, netting the guaranteed 2HKO on Dialga, but you lose out on Bolt Beak's initial raw power by Dynamaxing.

We'll also note that Dynamaxed walls cannot use Spectral Thief to steal boosts, use Clear Smog to negate boosts, use attacks to give Regieleki a Burn, or use any status move other than Max Guard, so they're stuck using Max Attacks to eliminate Regieleki in time, which Regieleki can survive or try to by Dynamaxing...or not:

• 252 Atk Zygarde-Complete (Precipice Blades-based) Max Quake vs. -1 248 HP / 252 Def Dynamax Regieleki: 680-804 (93.6 - 110.7%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
• 252 Atk Giratina (Spectral Thief-based) Max Phantasm vs. -1 248 HP / 252 Def Regieleki: 316-373 (87 - 102.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
• 252 SpA Giratina (Core Enforcer-based) Max Wyrmwind vs. -1 248 HP / 252 SpD Regieleki: 316-373 (87 - 102.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
• 252 SpA Dialga (Core Enforcer-based) Max Wyrmwind vs. -1 248 HP / 252 SpD Dynamax Regieleki: 423-498 (58.2 - 68.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

...but really, unless they're Comatose, Regieleki should be sleeping and sweeping those walls regardless.

Regieleki is using the sleep move Neutralizing Gas set (instead of, say, the Gastro Acid Air Balloon Wonder Guard set) to prevent Wonder Guard mons from being good switch-ins, prevent Magic Bounce mons from switching in and neutering part of it, prevent Sturdy mons from being good checks, and to actually be able to switch into a No Guard mon and keep its moves higher-powered at the same time. Just in case, Neutralizing Gas also prevents Innards Out mons from OHKOing it by being hit, prevents Fur Coat mons from walling it well, prevents Imposter from copying it, prevents Pranksters from going first, and more.

Due to Bolt Beak's sheer power, this Regieleki is also a decent cleaner late-game if you're that scared of Safety Goggles, 2HKOing or even OHKOing a fair portion of the meta without Shell Smash:

• 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Zacian-Crowned: 216-255 (55.6 - 65.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 274-324 (67.9 - 80.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Glacial Lance vs. 248 HP / 252 Def Regieleki: 183-216 (50.4 - 59.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Spiritomb: 207-243 (68.3 - 80.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Yveltal: 447-530 (98.2 - 116.4%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
• 252 Atk Life Orb Regieleki Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 185-218 (46.4 - 54.7%) -- 61.3% chance to 2HKO

As one more bonus, Gulp Missile Rocky Helmet Cramorant-Gorging can only hope to rip out approx. 41% of Regieleki's HP by switching into Bolt Beak - because Regieleki is an Electric-type, Cramorant-Gorging cannot paralyze it and let a teammate revenge it.

Submission End

For those looking for ideas, I'll note that sets that were good in the Isle of Armor, pre-overflow discovery meta can also come back out to play!

 

[Palapapop]

Submission start

Without eternamax , PH will be a bit more like previous gen , but i'm pretty sure the main problem of gen8ph is both eternamax and neutralizing gaz. an offensive pokemon with Ngas is like a mold breaker user but able to break prankster will o wisp or to stay on some threat who can't run pure power , adaptability , intrepid sword , water buble etc... So stay a big problem : zacian-c , a great typing (252 SpA Choice Specs Calyrex-Shadow Blue Flare vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 364-430 (93.8 - 110.8%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO) , good bulk , a really really good speed tier , a really strong attack , and the addition of bolt beak + glacial lance to the metagame. a set like OM gave is really , really strong. I'm more a fat/ Stall player so i wanted to find something that can handle zacian-C all out attacker, and i have found :



Rotom-Heat @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
- Milk Drink
- Spectral Thief
- Will-O-Wisp
- Teleport

So yeah i submit a defensive pokemon ! The great typing of rotom-heat is really useful to beat zacian-c . Thats a common defensive set with milk drink, teleport to keep momentum if you can (i mean zacian-c put a big pressure so you'll be forced to click recover a lot of time. Will-O-Wisp can be useful if your opponents use sword dance or shift gear some calc :

252 Atk Choice Band Zacian-Crowned Double Iron Bash (2 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-Heat: 62-72 (20.3 - 23.6%) -- approx. 5HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zacian-Crowned V-create vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-Heat: 123-145 (40.4 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zacian-Crowned Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-Heat: 89-105 (29.2 - 34.5%) -- 4.8% chance to 3HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Zacian-Crowned Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-Heat: 116-137 (38.1 - 45%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Submission end

(fishious rend OHKO , but i'm not sure fishious rend is very useful in this metagame , because you will lose a really important move ...)

 

[in the hills]

I'd probably have done a different, faster mon *cough* Choice Scarf ZacC *cough* but this is fine
Submission Start

Groudon
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Glacial Lance
- Shell Smash
- Spore / Lovely Kiss
I chose itemless Groudon to combat potential Trick spam, as well as the fact that it's a strong sweeper that threatens most of the common Pokemon in PH. After a Shell Smash, it outpaces almost the entire meta, bar Choice Scarf Pokemon like Zacian-Crowned and threatens to KO them. Spore is more accurate sleeep move choice, though Lovely Kiss is probably better overall to counter Safety Goggles users like Giratina. Despite being immune to Trick, Choice Scarf Zacian-Crowned can be really annoying for it if they know you are itemless and opt to click Double Iron Bash, but otherwise this set seems pretty neat to take on the way more offensive meta.
Submission End

 

[aerobee]

This mon's going to be a little different from the other submissions.

Submission Start

Cramorant-Gorging @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Gulp Missile
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Roost
- Surf
- Teleport / U-Turn

Many of the other submissions are sweepers, oriented for a metagame where offense is king. Neutralizing Gas removes nearly all counterplay to these mons, but not all; one that is still able to provide protection is Cramorant, with its signature ability Gulp Missile. With Rocky Helmet, physical Pokemon in this metagame will have to think twice before attacking (for example, the Zacian-Crowned above). However, this mon is prediction-reliant, as its unimpressive defensive stats and mediocre Speed cause it to fall to Pokemon with coverage attacks (Bolt Beak on Zacian-C), or those with raw power (Psystrike/Stored Power Calyrex-Shadow).

Here are some calcs to show what I'm talking about:

+2 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Cramorant: 391-460 (113.6 - 133.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Groudon Thousand Arrows vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Cramorant: 369-435 (107.2 - 126.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Psystrike vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Cramorant: 441-519 (128.1 - 150.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Yveltal Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Cramorant: 180-213 (52.3 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Xerneas Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Cramorant: 255-301 (74.1 - 87.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Cramorant also allows the meta to get slightly more creative, as measures to neutralize it, such as Wonder Guard or Magic Bounce, will have a purpose.

Now onto the moveset. Taunt is an obvious pick, forcing slower Pokemon to either switch out or repeatedly attack Cramorant, getting damaged if the Cramorant set includes Surf. Roost is necessary, as Cramorant wouldn't be able to reliably switch in and annoy the opponent without recovery. Surf lets the Cramorant user stay in while acting as a threat to an opposing sweeper, constantly discouraging attacking. Teleport potentially lets Cramorant damage the opponent, while also switching out at the end of the turn. If getting Taunted is a big worry, then U-Turn can be used instead.

While Cramorant's paralysis effect is valuable in the current Pure Hackmons metagame, it is arguably even more so without Eternamax, as there are few other viable methods for speed control. Remember that Electric-Types and Pokemon with Comatose won't be paralyzed after hitting Cramorant; therefore, Regieleki is a very strong check to Cramorant, even without a strong Electric-type move like Bolt Beak.

While this may not matter as much in an offensive metagame, Cramorant is weak to Stealth Rock, which may potentially hinder its potential to paralyze and damage sweepers.

Submission End