The most obvious solution that comes to mind is Tapu Fini. Misty Surge lets it switch into Yawn basically forever so you don't have to worry so much about Hippo getting in on a good matchup and starting a Yawn chain. If you want to keep using Dracovish, Sleep Talk has become an increasing popular option, so that's something that can at least check Yawn.Put those ways screens do seem simple enough. Another thing that has been getting me is Yawn Rocks Hippo. Dracovish can lead but they invariably have Fini/Ferro/Kartana to switch in. I've never been good about using Taunt but is there any other way? What few things muscle past Hippo to begin w/ can't switch in easily on Yawn, and/or have their moves in turn rendered useless by a switch to something like the aforementioned.
What's your play v.s. GMax Lapras/Zacian cores? Specifically seeing a lot of weakness policy Lapras leads that beat Ttar if you rock blast them, freeze dry Dracovisk, GMax resonance Lando, freeze dry Quag and GMax resonance Moltres. I feel like you'd probably want to save Necrozma and your own dynamax for later when they bring out Zacian, but as is, I'm not sure what other plays there are.This season I managed to make top 50 using this team
https://pokepast.es/cd96d6587e8ca158
Team premise is quite simple, wear down Necrozma checks so he can sweep.
Quagsire stops Zacian dead in its tracks. You’re perfectly open to sack Landorus and then dynamax Necrozma to deal with Gmax Lappy. As long as you make sure you keep Quagsire alive for Zacian. I approach each lapras team differently, depending on how the player utilizes it. My main goal however is to clear anything that can break Quagsire to make sure the Zacian is as hindered as possible.What's your play v.s. GMax Lapras/Zacian cores? Specifically seeing a lot of weakness policy Lapras leads that beat Ttar if you rock blast them, freeze dry Dracovisk, GMax resonance Lando, freeze dry Quag and GMax resonance Moltres. I feel like you'd probably want to save Necrozma and your own dynamax for later when they bring out Zacian, but as is, I'm not sure what other plays there are.
Otherwise, loving the team, has given me a lot of easy wins apart from that comp.
Yeah, we’ve just been a bit hesitant to post anything as the metagame goes through the wild, early stages of development. We’re also trying to make both a normal VR and a “just restricted legends” VR so it’s taking a little longer than normal.will there be a series VR page, or is it something debutting towards the end of this month to sort out stuff?
Welcome to Smogon! Unfortunately, this will always lose to any Quagsire or Ditto. You probably figured out this much from losing to them over and over again. And unfortunately, no amount of Grass coverage on the team will actually guarantee Quagsire from ever being picked vs Zacian -- your opponent could always patch up their weaknesses by pairing Quagsire with something like Eternatus or Chansey, which makes it super safe for your opponent to bring Quagsire anyways, because it will never have to take the Grass-type hit. Eternatus also has a great matchup vs the rest of the team, so those 2 which are common partners, are definitely coming out together and taking the free W.Hello. This is my first ever post on Smogon (though I've been lurking for over a decade at this point... Well... If you can "lurk" by reading articles & using the Strategy Dex - This is my first forum post (Well - I did just request a Ditto actually - so 2nd post.)
Welcome to Smogon! Unfortunately, this will always lose to any Quagsire or Ditto. You probably figured out this much from losing to them over and over again. And unfortunately, no amount of Grass coverage on the team will actually guarantee Quagsire from ever being picked vs Zacian -- your opponent could always patch up their weaknesses by pairing Quagsire with something like Eternatus or Chansey, which makes it super safe for your opponent to bring Quagsire anyways, because it will never have to take the Grass-type hit. Eternatus also has a great matchup vs the rest of the team, so those 2 which are common partners, are definitely coming out together and taking the free W.
Instead of just praying your opponent doesn't actually bring Quagsire, you should approach team preview differently. Try to have a different core of 3 that supports the Zacian setup, and also reasonably checks Quagsire cores. I recommend using Light Clay Lapras with Zacian, because it helps you with both Quagsire (Freeze-Dry + Sheer Cold for the special wall Chansey), and also denies Ditto the revenge KO on Zacian. Because you are Adamant Zacian, you don't need Quick Attack to get the 1v1 win vs Ditto (+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 153-181 (98.7 - 116.7%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO). Another alternative vs stall teams is Gothitelle, which traps and removes Pokemon like Quagsire.
And as for the EVs, yes, at level 50, 8 EV = 1 stat, but 2 IV = 1 stat as well. Max IV is 31. So 31 IVs and 4 EVs give you 16 extra stat, and every 8 points from there gives 1 more.
So while yes, Gyarados can beat Quagsire with power whip, I think it’s important to explain how Unaware works just so you know.Also.... You don't think a power whip after 2 Swords dance passed to a MAX-Attack gryados Can handle Quagsire? - Like.... The Baton can pass two ways ya know.... Whoever gets the boost... Has to try to sweep... - Anyway I really don't wanna do the lock with Gothitelle.... That takes forever right?
This is bad advice because Rindo Berry has 1% usage on Quagsire, but I ran into it and it blew me away with Counter, so make sure you Dynamax Gyara to get the double HP and avoid dying lol.You don't think a power whip after 2 Swords dance passed to a MAX-Attack gryados Can handle Quagsire?
Correct.I feel what yer saying... Having a real team would be better than having.... A fake one.
So I guess the regular way to handle a ditto would be... To have a pokemon that walls Zacian on the team - OR... To abandon the whole baton pass idea if I see a ditto in team select.
I guess my quick attack idea has no merit huh?
Well cant say, i was saying that Quick Attack helps the ditto matchup if you're using Lapras instead of passing boosts. If you are Jolly, then you need Behemoth Blade + Quick Attack to KO the Ditto, and I was saying because it's Adamant, you don't need it. Which is why I provided that calc there: +1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 153-181 (98.7 - 116.7%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKOCorrect.
As for Quick Attack, it’s pathetically weak, doesn’t get the STAB boost, Zacian-C resists it due to being a Steel-type, and even if it was strong; Ditto would just go for it against you and move first due to holding a Choice Scarf...
+6 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Quick Attack vs. 252 HP (48 base HP) / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 49-58 (31.6 - 37.4%) -- 90.3% chance to 3HKO
I don’t want to make you feel stupid because you’re clearly very new to the game and we’re more than happy to help, but thinking Quick Attack had any chance at helping with the Ditto matchup shows you have a long way to go.
Endeavor works weirdly with Dynamax. The HP increase adds a buffer to the Max, so if a 100% HP Zapdos maxes and uses Airstream vs Rillaboom, taking it to 1 HP with the Focus Sash, Endeavor would leave the Zapdos on 51%. Grassy Glide obviously doesn’t pick up the KO after this.Okay.... I finally got the DLCs (Thanks Biden) - I got my Urshifu... I went water type cuz I like to break sashes.
Anyway - So I'm finally making a Standard Rillaboom with grassy glide...
And then I notice.... Rillaboom just got Endeavor....
So.... Rillaboom can do the "F.E.A.R" technique.... And lol.... The acronym actually works with his name.
"Focus Sash, endeavor, Oh......, Rillaboom."
Ummmm.... Isn't that set-up usually a guaranteed kill? (I know it can fail... sash broken etc.... It can fail in MANY ways...)
But when it goes off..... I mean.... Couldn't this take out a Dynamax Zapdos etc?
Like.... Anything non-ghost... (DANG.... Just thought about Shadow Calyrex.......)
Hmmmmm.....
Anyway.....
What are you guy's thoughts about a F.E.A.R Rillaboom?
Seems like when it goes off... It'll go off...
Also.... Grassy glide should be all but guaranteed to get some damage on the following pokemon...
EDIT:
Also - If you TOTALLY committed Rillaboom to "F.E.A.R" - Then you wouldn't really want any EVs in.... Speed.... Or HP...
You also wouldn't want any defense EVs since you WANT Rillaboom to use a focus sash... Meaning the only other place to put the EVs is Spec. ATK.... So now... You have a Rillaboom with a Surprise BoomBurst? Or Leaf Storm? - I know I'm WAY out there right now... But this has been an interesting rabbit hole to dive down.... Even if the idea is stupid...
EDIT 2:
It just occurred to me... That certain Max Moves resetting the ground.... Would ruin this strategy.... Almost to the point that I understand now... Why no one does this....
Is THAT why nobody does F.E.A.R. Rillaboom?
And if nobody does it because it's stupid...... Would it not then be unexpected....?
EDIT 3:
It just now occurred to me... The Max Moves that would likely be used against Rillaboom.... And MAX AIRSTREAM seems like an all-to-often "goto" for most players trying to dynamax sweep -
Fortunately....
That don't reset the ground.... Neither will fire.... Unfortunately The Ice Max Move breaks the sash.... Poison does nothing... And the rarely used Bug doesn't reset anything... Rock types would be kinda stupid to stay in against Rillaboom so.... We're not worried about sandstorm breaking the sash...
I'm mainly thinking of this concept as a lead to just get rid of an opening Zapdos.
And that Max Airstream is usually just too sweet for people to not go for.... So..... At least against that....
Doesn't that work?
Endeavor works weirdly with Dynamax. The HP increase adds a buffer to the Max, so if a 100% HP Zapdos maxes and uses Airstream vs Rillaboom, taking it to 1 HP with the Focus Sash, Endeavor would leave the Zapdos on 51%. Grassy Glide obviously doesn’t pick up the KO after this.
If this did work, I imagine it would actually be decently popular, just like Focus Sash / Sturdy + Counter (or Mirror Coat / Metal Burst) is currently.
This probably could have been deduced by yourself simply by trying the tactic on Showdown or Googling the question.
As for where to put the ‘spare’ 252 EVs; they would absolutely go into Spe. Rillaboom’s base 60 SpA isnt hurting anything even with max investment, and a fast Endeavor is better than being slow and mixed.
I‘d suggest trying Endeavor Rillaboom in Spikemuth Cup where Dynamax is banned, but I don’t think it would even be viable there. A lot of Zapdos are bulky Rocky Helmet there, and would probably just Volt Switch out assuming you to not stay in with Rillaboom, so either your full HP Endeavor goes first, or does barely anything to the Pokémon coming in to replace Zapdos. But probably worth trying at least!