Project SS AG Next Best Thing [On Hiatus]

[assaultdestiny]

Set

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Atk / 112 Def
Impish Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Earthquake
- Morning Sun
- Swords Dance / Dragon Dance

The aim of this set is to be a check to Zacian-Crowned and Xerneas (and other Physically-Oriented Pokémon), and have a good deal of offensive presence too.
The EV Spread and the Nature is so that we survive the 2HKO from Zacian-C's Close Combat after Leftovers recovery, and the OHKO from Adamant Life Orb Marshadow's Poltergeist. Sunsteel Strike is a very much compelling STAB which hit's Xerneas and more for super-effective damage. Earthquake is a coverage option, which hit's Pokémon such as Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Zekrom for super-effective damage, and suffices as one of the best coverage moves for Necrozma-DM. Morning Sun is reliable recovery which keeps it healthy throughout the match, and let's it remain as a sublime check to Zacian-C.
The last move is more of a choice; Swords Dance turns it into a very deadly sweeper, but with too less speed, which means that it could be revenge killed quite easily. Dragon Dance backs a good amount of power, and also gives the Necrozma-DM some speed, but till it get's a +3 boost, Zacian-C and Calyrex-S outspeed and revenge kill it, making Swords Dance a better option for the long run.

Calcs

Defensive Calcs

252 Atk Bolt Strike vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def : 160-189 (40.2 - 47.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after recovery


+1 252+ Atk Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def : 178-210 (44.7 - 52.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after recovery


252+ Atk Poltergeist (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 112+ Def Prism Armor : 253-300 (63.5 - 75.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after recovery


252 SpA Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Prism Armor : 193-228 (48.4 - 57.2%) -- 45.3% chance to 2HKO after recovery


+2 252+ SpA Max Lightning vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Dynamax : 313-369 (39.3 - 46.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after recovery

Offensive Calcs

+2 144 Atk Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def : 400-472 (117.3 - 138.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO


+2 144 Atk Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 0 Def : 416-490 (127.6 - 150.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO


+2 144 Atk Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def : 488-576 (100.8 - 119%) -- guaranteed OHKO


+2 144 Atk Sunsteel Strike vs. 252 HP / 208+ Def : 229-270 (54.5 - 64.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after recovery


+2 144 Atk Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Prism Armor : 214-253 (53.7 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[burgablob]

Reserved for Specially Defensive NDM


https://pokepast.es/d6bf664876a4f926

Set

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Dark Pulse
- Morning Sun
- Thunder Wave

While Photon Geyser may seem the perfect special move for NDM, allowing it to hit physically until it builds up the needed SpA with Calm Mind, it is entirely incapable of touching Caly-S. In addition, it makes it impossible for NDM to hit Yveltal except with Thunder Wave. While Yveltal still resists Dark Pulse, some damage is better than no damage, right?

As you can see in the defensive calcs below, after 2 Calm Minds, it's pretty much impossible to touch NDM. Kyogre's Water Spout, which often OHKOs physically defensive NDM variants can 3HKO it at best, while NDM can PP stall it with Morning Sun and occasionally retaliate with Dark Pulse, reducing Water Spout's Base Power. Because of Prism Armor, it can tank 3 Earth Powers from a Lando-I with Life Orb while continuing to Calm Mind up and perhaps attack with Dark Pulse.

Defensive Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Astral Barrage vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 158-187 (39.6 - 46.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Astral Barrage vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 121-144 (30.4 - 36.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Necrozma-Dusk-Mane in Rain: 141-166 (35.4 - 41.7%) -- 83.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

+2 252+ SpA Xerneas Thunder vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 90-107 (22.6 - 26.8%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 117-140 (29.3 - 35.1%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

252+ SpA Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Dark Pulse vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 129-152 (32.4 - 38.1%) -- 0.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

4 Atk Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 201-240 (50.5 - 60.3%) -- 87.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Offensive Calcs

+1 4+ SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Calyrex-Shadow: 420-496 (123.1 - 145.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 4+ SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kyogre: 105-124 (30.7 - 36.3%) -- 58.4% chance to 3HKO

+2 4+ SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Dark Aura Yveltal: 105-124 (26.7 - 31.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

Thanks for reading!

 

[baconeatinassassin]

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Trick Room
- Morning Sun
- Sunsteel Strike
- filler

Essentially standard defensive Necrozma-DM but with Trick Room. Usually, a healthy Geomancy Xerneas is able to beat Necrozma-DM that switch into it by either Dynamaxing immediately and potentially 2HKOing it, or scouting for Dynamax from the Necrozma-DM user with Substitute, giving themselves the advantage later in the game. Trick Room takes away this guesswork and a lot of Xerneas' sweeping ability, making it much easier for teammates to deal with (once Dynamax has been expended). It also comes in handy against Swords Dance Zacian-C and an array of other setup sweepers seeking for a setup opportunity against Necrozma-DM.​

 

[Rotten]

Hello, it's voting time! Unfortunately mbouchon and NB402141, your submissions won't be included because you haven't put the descriptions in for your sets yet. Feel free to vote, though! This week, there are 7 submissions:

Swords Dance + Rock Polish by Bro Darkrai
Offensive Trick Room by Hgssanta
Dragon Pulse by Maxomega
Dynamax Sweeper by crystalizerix
Swords Dance + Morning Sun by AssaultDestiny
Calm Mind Specially Defensive by burgablob
Defensive Trick Room by baconeatinassassin

Vote for your favorite set! Remember to not vote for your own set if you have submitted one.

Voting will end on May 26th, 3 PM GMT-4!​

 

[Hgssanta]

Calm Mind Specially Defensive Variant by Burgablob

 

[Lilly12]

Calm Mind Specially Defensive Variant by Burgablob

 

[NomNom414]

1. Swords dance + Rock Polish by Bro Darkrai cuz we stan pokemh fr
2. Offensive trick room by hssanta cuz that was mine
):<

 

[Swas]

Defensive Trick Room by baconeatinassassin

 

[NB402141]

Calm Mind Specially Defensive by burgablob

 

[assaultdestiny]

Defensive Trick Room by baconeatinassassin

 

[Frito]

Swords Dance + Rock Polish by Bro Darkrai

 

[burgablob]

Swords Dance + Morning Sun by Assault Destiny

 

[Pokemh]

Defensive Trick Room by baconeatinassassin

 

[|Powerman|]

Dragon Pulse by Maxomega

 

[burgablob]

The Forgotten Dragon

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 16 SpA / 20 Spe
Relaxed Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Moonlight
- Dragon Pulse
- Stealth Rock / Thunder Wave
​

You always get into situations where you're forced to heal your Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, but there is a Zygarde and you're like "if I heal it, Zygarde is gonna come in and Dragon Dance on me, but if I don't Zacian-Crowned is gonna easily win this game." ? Then I've the perfect set for you!
With this set, you can heal your Necrozma-DM without fearing Dragon Dance Zygarde-Complete. Necrozma-DM found the solution to this problem thanks to its Ultra form, and the power of this dragon that no one knows where it went.
Sunsteel Strike is pretty classic, allowing Necrozma-DM to threaten Zacian-Crowned and Xerneas. Moonlight is its only way to recover health (yeah I prefer Moonlight to Morning Sun), while Stealth Rock brings utility to the team. Thunder Wave is an option over Stealth Rock, in the case you have already hazard supports in your team, and if the latter needs paralysis support against physical threats.

Dragon Pulse is the innovation of this set, and it isn't only a tool to hit Zygarde effectively. Indeed, with all these Dragons in the SS Anything Goes tier, Necrozma-DM needed a tool to hit them all (except Dialga but ...) super effectively, and Dragon Pulse is that tool! You have a problem against Zygarde Dragon Dance? Dragon Pulse is THE move you need. Zekrom Magnet Rise is a problem? Not with Dragon Pulse! Your Necrozma-DM is burned but you need to do damages to Palkia and Rayquaza? (I think you got the point, just making sure).
Also, Dragon Pulse becomes Max Wyrmind if Necrozma-DM is Dynamaxed, and the secondary effect (dropping by one the Attack of the opposing Pokemon) can be useful in many cases: to prevent a sweep from a physical threat, for example.
The only drawback on playing Dragon Pulse over Earthquake is when facing Eternatus, Zacian-Crowned or other Necrozma-DM.

As far as the spread is concerned:
- 16 EVs in SpA allow Necrozma-DM to break the Substitute of 16 HP Zygarde-Complete,
- 20 EVs in Spe allow Necrozma-DM to still outspeed Adamant Marshadow paralyzed,
- The rest is put in HP then Defense.

Some relevant calcs

Against Zygarde:

• 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dragon Pulse vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 146-172 (40.4 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
• 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dragon Pulse vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde-Complete: 146-172 (25.3 - 29.8%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery​
• 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Wyrmwind vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 220-260 (60.9 - 72%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
• 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Wyrmwind vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde-Complete: 220-260 (38.1 - 45%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

Against Zekrom:

• 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zekrom: 138-164 (40.4 - 48%) -- 58.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
• 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Wyrmwind vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zekrom: 212-250 (62.1 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

btw I'm a little confused by this, isn't it impossible to get Ultra Necrozma without the ultranecrozium z or whatever? But this set uses rocky helm instead? Any answer would be greatly appreciated, I've been scratching my head abt this for a while now and can't find an answer...

 

[Pokemh]

btw I'm a little confused by this, isn't it impossible to get Ultra Necrozma without the ultranecrozium z or whatever? But this set uses rocky helm instead? Any answer would be greatly appreciated, I've been scratching my head abt this for a while now and can't find an answer...

It's two attacks ndm with it's stab and dragon pulse to hit threats like zekrom and zygarde also a stab of Ultra-Necrozma which is why there is a picture of it also "Forgotten Dragon" kinda sums it up hope that's what your wondering

 

[burgablob]

It's two attacks ndm with it's stab and dragon pulse to hit threats like zekrom and zygarde also a stab of Ultra-Necrozma which is why there is a picture of it also "Forgotten Dragon" kinda sums it up hope that's what your wondering

Got it, thanks! I thought that it was actually supposed to turn into Ultra Necrozma, not stay as NDM. Makes a lot more sense now.

 

[Tic-Tac-Toe Guru]

Defensive TR by bacon

 

[Rotten]

Thanks to our tiebreak, baconeatinassassin has won the second Next Best Thing with his Defensive Trick Room set. Congrats! Your set will be added to the Hall of Fame shortly and there will be a Leaderboard added.

The next best thing will be:

Week 3 - Calyrex-S



Calyrex-S is inarguably one of the best offensive Pokemon in AG. Its amazing Special Attack, amazing STAB moves in Astral Barrage and Psyshock, and a fantastic Speed tier all make it difficult to deal with. It can even handle its biggest checks in Yveltal and Tyranitar by nailing them with a boosted Max Starfall, or by wearing them down with the SubSeed set. Calyrex-S has 4 sets; Choice Specs, Nasty Plot, Choice Scarf, and SubSeed. However, can you try to build another set?

Banned sets

Voting will start on May 30th, 3 PM GMT-4!​

 

[crystalizerix]

Calyrex-Shadow @ Expert Belt
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot/ Substitute
- Astral Barrage
- Draining Kiss
- Will-O-Wisp

A set that allows caly to remain somewhat safe from yvel switch ins, while also possibly hitting things like sash marsh and zac with wisp. Sub/np allows it to abuse the fact that it can get a free turn to set up on things that are forced to switch in or just hitting anything that does switch in.

Calcs

252 SpA Expert Belt Calyrex-Shadow Draining Kiss vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Yveltal: 178-211 (45.2 - 53.6%) -- 39.5% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Expert Belt Calyrex-Shadow Draining Kiss vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Yveltal: 115-137 (25.2 - 30.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

252+ Atk Technician burned Marshadow Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 252-296 (73.9 - 86.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[NB402141]

reserving will-o-wisp hex caly-s

Calyrex-Shadow @ Leftovers
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hex
- Psyshock
- Substitute
Will o wisp deal great problems to physical mons and hex gains a boost from it. Psyschock allows caly to kill chansey and sub allows it to avoid ditto and status. Lefties allow it to gain hp after it uses sub. Will o wisp and sub also allows caly to avoid sucker punch yveltal. This set is more of hurting the opposing mon then actually killing them.

 

[Fc]

Calyrex-Shadow @ Life Orb / Focus Sash
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Imprison
- Foul Play
- Astral Barrage
- Nasty Plot

This is one of the most gimmicky things you can probably do with Calyrex-S, but it's still interesting even if it's terrible. A lot of Yveltal run coverage with Foul Play + U-turn, and a lot of teams rely on Ditto to act as speed control against Calyrex-S. This Imprison Foul Play set is aimed to take on both of those at the cost of a lot of good moves Calyrex-S can run, but when it works you can just win. Of course Dynamax can get in the way but the opponent's plays will become fairly telegraphed usually when staring down a +2 Calyrex-S with an Imprison up, so if you avoid Dynamax things are great. Sash gives you that extra chance to misplay and live an Yveltal dynamax, while orb is probably preferred just for power since you're running mono barrage.

 

[Swas]

Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Future Sight
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Astral Barrage

A Future Sight set, that's greatly under-explored but funny. It's great at helping wallbreakers like Zacian-Crowned, Kyogre, etc. by providing Future Sight support and pivoting with Baton Pass. Future Sight breaks Pokemon like Eternatus, Quagsire, etc. and brings defensive Pokemon in the range of getting 2HKOed by teammates. Focus Sash as item with Nasty Plot + Baton Pass is a threatening QuickPass set, with the latter also helping to pivot out for hitting Future Sight two turns later.

Calcs

VS Necro Dusk Mane
252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 54-64 (13.5 - 16%) -- possible 7HKO
After hitting Necrozma-DM with Future Sight, Close Combat is able to 2HKO it unless they Dynamax.

+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 160-189 (40.2 - 47.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

VS Quagsire
252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Quagsire: 331-390 (84 - 98.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Zacian-C forces their Calyrex-S counter aka Yveltal or Tyranitar, and lures Quagsire to be hit by a Future Sight.

VS Eternatus
252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 212+ SpD Eternatus: 362-428 (74.7 - 88.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
At this range, Kyogre just cleans it as Eternatus falls to very low HP.

VS Kyurem-W
252 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Future Sight vs. 0 HP / 216 SpD Kyurem-White: 192-226 (49.1 - 57.8%) -- 96.1% chance to 2HKO

It also brings Kyurem-W in the range of getting 2HKOed by Water Spout.
252 SpA Kyogre Water Spout (150 BP) vs. 0 HP / 216 SpD Kyurem-White: 111-131 (28.3 - 33.5%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO

 

[aerobee]

Calyrex-Shadow @ Leftovers
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Will-O-Wisp
- Leech Seed
- Astral Barrage
- Grass Knot

This is probably one of the most defensively-oriented Calyrex-S sets one could make. Will-O-Wisp lets Calyrex halve the opposing Pokemon's Attack stat, allowing it to take surprisingly little from Foul Play Yveltal. Leech Seed helps Calyrex serve as a strong support Pokemon, helping offensive teammates regenerate their health. Astral Barrage hits non-resists respectably hard (even without SpA investment), and Grass Knot annoys Tyranitar, while also helping to chip opposing Pokemon's health in longer games.

Calcs

0- Atk Dark Aura burned Yveltal Foul Play vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Calyrex-Shadow: 152-180 (37.6 - 44.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0- Atk Dark Aura burned Yveltal Foul Play vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Calyrex-Shadow: 152-180 (37.6 - 44.5%) -- 76.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
0- Atk burned Tyranitar Foul Play vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Calyrex-Shadow: 116-138 (28.7 - 34.1%) -- 98.9% chance to 3HKO after sandstorm damage
4 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 130-154 (32.1 - 38.1%) -- 95.7% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and burn damage
4 SpA Calyrex-Shadow Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Kyogre: 200-236 (49.5 - 58.4%) -- 64.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

P. S. This set's been sitting in my builder for a couple months now

 

[nameless90]

Screener Calyrex-S

Calyrex-Shadow @ Light Clay
Ability: As One (Spectrier)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Psyshock
- Reflect
- Light Screen


General idea: Offensive Screener
Here we have arguably the most offensive screener in the metagame with the classic dual STAB combination (to keep some offensive presence) and both screens to make good use of predicted switch-outs. Don't understimate the fact that Reflect and Light Screen are a way to circumvent Sucker Punch before switching-out.
Light Clay is mandatory because it makes this set much more reliable.
Aside from the crit chance, the screens helps to keep in check some powerful threats (even those Dynamaxed) cutting their offensive output.

Base 100/80/100 defenses are not bad despite the typing that has two glaring weaknesses, but you can wish to check something (bar critical hits) even without the screens up.

This Calyrex loves teammates to switch-in covered by screens because it isn't self-sufficient by any means due to 2 bad weaknesses.

Team(mates) support
Hazards support is mandatory as well as a slow VoltTurn support in order to begin forcing switches (a.k.a. free turns).
Keep in mind that this Calyrex loves to come into play at high hp even because it doesn't run recovery moves.