ShuckleDeath
They call me the kign of typos
I'd like to elaborate on the monster that is Muk. I also would like to see a rise, and not just for the SpDef set, which is very very good if supported properly, but also because it is much more versitile than that. When Muk first droped i was ver sceptical of a Choice Band set, until I tried it myself and for anyone who has used it or faced it know that it is also a very good set.I don't think I've ever played a PU ladder match in my entire life, however I've played in tournaments a little bit and I just wanted to voice my opinion on a few things.
From my personal experience of playing with and against Muk, I think it's better than A-. SpD Muk, which is far and away the best set in my opinion, boasts incredible special bulk that somehow allows it to turn some of the most threatening and difficult Pokemon to switch into into setup fodder. Passive recovery is always instrumental on a slow setup sweeper, and the fact that Muk has Sticky Hold which not only prevents its Black Sludge from being Knocked Off, but also from being swapped via Trick/Switcheroo is absolutely invaluable. In general the fact that Muk is a slow setup Pokemon that isn't crippled by being Tricked a Choice item is incredible. Muk's attacking option, Poison Jab also happens to a surprisingly useful attack that has utility outside of immediate sweeping. In a similar manner to Scald, Poison Jab has a 30% chance for a status effect (in this case Poison) which makes it a decently spammable move in the early game as you can use it to cripple common switchins such as Golem, Stunfisk, Gourgeist-XL, Vullaby, and Relicanth which will slowly wear them down over time, often making it easier for Muk to sweep in the late game. Muk is also a Pokemon that must be considered when teambuilding, with players being forced to make sure they have reliable methods of counterplay for it unless they want to end up like my last PU Open opponent. Pokemon that are threatening not only in practice, but also in the builder are always rated highly since they are ultimately the Pokemon that define how the teams in the tier are constructed, therefore influencing the tier as a whole. I'd like to see Muk to rise, and low to mid A seems like a fair assessment in my opinion.
252 SpA Life Orb Floatzel Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Muk: 126-149 (30.4 - 35.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Cacturne Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Muk: 122-146 (29.4 - 35.2%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Regice Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Muk: 126-149 (30.4 - 35.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recoveryGolem to the top of A+ alongside Monferno is another thing I've wanted to see for a little while. I have most experience using Choice Band Golem, a savagely underrated set, however, standard sets like Weakness Policy, SpD Tank, and Custap are all still viable and are excellent when used correctly. Golem is by far the most consistent Stealth Rock user in the entire tier, and just also happens to function as a great check to two of the more threatening types in the tier in Electric and Normal. Its reliability and utility as a Stealth Rock user when combined with its aforementioned ability to reliably check a large variety of common threats to balance and bulky offense makes Golem one of the easiest Pokemon to splash onto almost any archetype, and where it's currently sitting just seems slightly too low for just how important it is. I could show replay after replay of Choice Band Golem just rolling through teams, but Golem is already an A+ ranked Pokemon, so you should already know how good it is, I'm only nomming it to rise a few slots at most, but I think its a fair assessment of Golem's value and impact on the metagame
I'm kinda piggybacking off of an already started discussion with this nom, but a Vibrava rise seems like the right thing to do. Vibrava is far superior to Avalugg, the other hazard removal currently sitting alongside Vibrava in the C+ rank, and has experienced a recent spike in popularity thanks to its newly found Physically Defensive set which allows it to better handle metagame staples such as Monferno and Golem more reliably. Vibrava is becoming an easier Pokemon to fit on many balanced and bulky offensive archetypes that require a Ground, Fire, and Rock resist due to the fact that it compresses a decent number of defensive roles into a single slot, whilst also providing hazard removal, and having U-turn so that it doesn't lose momentum, allowing it to support common breakers such as Choice Band Dodrio or Cacturne relatively effectively.
Muk @ Choice Band
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 120 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 132 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Shadow Sneak
I like 132 speed to outpace Pelipper
Having very few switch-ins and still checks grass types and Clefairy rather well, this set acts as a monstrous wallbreaking and blanket check to many common special attackers. Gunk Shot desolates anything that dosesn't resist it and has coverage for most of the things that do. Fire Punch hit's steel types wanting to come in like Mawile(avoids the 2HKO if defensive but doesn't do much back), Metang(clean 2hko), and Pawniard. Brick Break grants the guarantee on Pawniard and hits Relicanth harder. Ice Punch hit's Golem and other ground types like Gabite, and then it has Shadow Sneak to pick off weakened threats. Just a very effective Pokemon right now, which is only further boosted by the fact that many people will try to switch in there Muk check not wanting it to set up, only to get bopped by coverage. Assault Vest is a set that has been considered but is rather rare as it's other sets are so good, that being said it still can be good to check special attackers better while being able to support its teammates rather than needing the support for its self. The downside to this is it has to sacrifice pretty much all physical bulk as it needs to invest heavily into SpDef to be as efficient as possible.
Muk Attacking
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mawile: 124-148 (40.7 - 48.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Metang: 156-184 (48.1 - 56.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Gunk Shot vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Pelipper: 201-237 (62.2 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Gunk Shot vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Vullaby: 160-190 (46.6 - 55.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Brick Break vs. 248 HP / 16+ Def Golem: 166-196 (45.7 - 53.9%) -- 46.9% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Fire Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 206-244 (89.1 - 105.6%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Muk Defending
0 Atk Mawile Iron Head vs. 128 HP / 0 Def Muk: 96-114 (25 - 29.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Mr. Mime Psychic vs. 128 HP / 0 SpD Muk: 320-377 (83.5 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO(~70% after Rocks)
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mawile: 124-148 (40.7 - 48.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Fire Punch vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Metang: 156-184 (48.1 - 56.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Gunk Shot vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Pelipper: 201-237 (62.2 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Gunk Shot vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Vullaby: 160-190 (46.6 - 55.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Brick Break vs. 248 HP / 16+ Def Golem: 166-196 (45.7 - 53.9%) -- 46.9% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Muk Fire Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Pawniard: 206-244 (89.1 - 105.6%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Muk Defending
0 Atk Mawile Iron Head vs. 128 HP / 0 Def Muk: 96-114 (25 - 29.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Mr. Mime Psychic vs. 128 HP / 0 SpD Muk: 320-377 (83.5 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO(~70% after Rocks)
Just a really solid versatile Mon, that I absolutely support in rising.
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