Project SS UU Lure That Threat! Week 25: Slowking (Submissions)

initially approved by UU mods, will be carrying on the legacy created by Lilburr
AC0A2EB4-9306-4D58-B2CF-D77DF7773849.jpeg

Art by ausma , thank you so much!
One year ago, Lure that Threat was founded, giving players a cool competition to help come up with cool new sets to lure and remove in top UU metagame threats. After a few months of hiatus, this project has returned and is as strong as ever. Welcome to SWSH UU's edition of Lure That Threat! Version 2.0! For those who forgot, in this project I will give a Pokemon to lure and your job as the participants is to find a way to lure that threat. What a lure actually is is self-explanatory: specific Pokemon that run an unexpected move or moveset in order to weaken or directly OHKO a specific threat and pave the way for another sweeper. This allows the other Pokemon on a team to have an easier time carrying out their roles to win a game. Having said that, a good deal of lures used by battlers aren't really that optimal, so this project forms a competition to see what creative and effective ideas people can come up with.

Process:
  • Every week, I will post a threat in the SWSH UU metagame alongside a set and a brief description of how it works.
  • The community will then have five days to nominate Pokemon (with sets) that they feel are effective lures to that specific threat. Each person may nominate one lure per week.
  • Remember to include a short description of the lure and how it works.
  • There will then be a three day voting period in which users can vote on the lure that they believe is the best. Each user is allowed one vote.
  • Once the voting period has concluded, the lure with the highest number of votes will be added to the archive. A new set will then be posted.
Rules:

  • You must post a set and an explanation of why your chosen Pokemon is a good lure alongside your nomination. Damage calculations are appreciated and will help better illustrate your point but are not required.
  • Please focus on only posting viable Pokemon as lures. As a general rule of thumb, only nominating Pokemon found in the UU Viability Rankings is a good idea. Nominations can be rejected on the basis of the Pokemon being unviable.
  • You are welcome to reserve a lure, but only if you plan to complete the write-up within 12 hours. Other users may nominate the Pokemon themselves if you fail to meet this time requirement.
  • Do NOT ask anyone for votes, offer votes, exchange votes, or try to manipulate the voting in any way under any circumstances. You should vote for the lure that is the most effective for each round.
  • Most importantly, have fun!

Things to ask yourself before posting a lure:

  • Does this Pokemon have to sacrifice anything important? If you're losing a key part of a set just for an uncommon threat that isn't even lured in, that is what we call a "bad lure;" always consider what you give up in order to lure something, that is very important.
  • Does this Pokemon gain anything important when using this moveset? Does this Pokemon or the team benefit from the lure?
  • Could this method be better aided through teammates? Does your lure need team support to carry out its role effectively?
  • Is this set uncommon enough to be really considered a lure? Would your opponent, under normal battle conditions, expect to be able to safely switch the Pokemon into your lure?
 
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:ss/Zeraora:
Zeraora @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Knock Off
- Play Rough
- Volt Switch

The inaugural lure will be Zeraora. This Pokemon has been at the top of the metagame for months, acting as a fast reliable pivot and all around hard hitter. It is able to threaten common staples like Primarina, Chandelure, Celesteela, and Kommo-o with its wide coverage and STAB attacks, so luring and removing this threat will make it easier for these Pokemon to support their teams. Ladies, gentlemen, and whoever else may be reading, lets LURE THAT THREAT!

Submissions will be be due Saturday, March 27, at 11:59 PM GMT-8
 
Moltres-Galar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Berserk
EVs: 48 HP / 224 Def / 60 SpA / 176 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Agility
- Air Slash
- Fiery Wrath

This set tanks 1 plasma fists from adamant zeraora and moltres-g in return pops the weakness policy and berserk causing it to gain a +3 boost in special attack all the while it can either return an ohko or get an agility and be faster than most of the meta after a boost and potentially end the game on the spot

252+ Atk Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 48 HP / 224 Def Moltres-Galar: 282-332 (84.6 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+3 60+ SpA Moltres-Galar Fiery Wrath vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zeraora: 339-399 (106.9 - 125.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 

KM

slayification
is a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributor
Moltres-Galar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Berserk
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Sucker Punch
- Foul Play
- Dual Wingbeat / Brave Bird

252+ Atk Moltres-Galar Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 120-142 (37.8 - 44.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Moltres-Galar Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 195-231 (61.5 - 72.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

little bit out there, but definitely a very solid lure! zeraora is most teams' common answer to g-molt -- if they're not running something like nihilego or diancie. flip the script on your opponent by running this very snazzy AV physical goltres! Foul Play on the switch to deal an impressive 62-73 damage, and then follow it up with a surprise Sucker Punch to finish them off (except for in the .5% of cases where you roll min both times and they have no chip)!

The rest of the set enables this g-molt to be used as a bulky specially defensive pivot -- amplifying its impressive 125 SpD and access to u-turn. Outside of zera, this set is also a great check to threats like alakazam, keldeo, chandelure, and more -- which doesn't matter for the purpose of this challenge, but means that you won't be running dead weight on teams without zeraora.
 
Gonna make a post earlier than I normally would to spur some innovation
:ss/Celesteela:
Celesteela @ Choice Band
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Megahorn

A neat little set I saw a while ago and kept it in the back of my head. Anyway, most times if I run zeraora I would just click Plasma fists on Celesteela but this set allows you to live a plasma fists and KO back with Earthquake. This set in general can hit stuff like Rotom-H and Slowking who normally switch into Celesteela as a whole. Steela has a large base attack stat so built around this set could be pretty good
252+ Atk Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Celesteela: 318-374 (79.8 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Celesteela Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 384-452 (121.1 - 142.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
:ss/Gyarados:
Gyarados @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Bounce
- Power Whip

This Gyarados doesn't even need to take any damage - it's faster than Zeraora and has a chance to KO:

252+ Atk Gyarados Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 294-348 (92.7 - 109.7%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO

And that's just if you are on a 1v1 which rarely happens. Usually they will have to switch something in first to sac, activating Moxie, which is then a sure-fire KO:

+1 252+ Atk Gyarados Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 442-522 (139.4 - 164.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

If they hard switch Zera (sometimes they do), then you OHKO or KO on the second hit. And Scarf Ada outspeeds obviously.

If Zera has any amount of chip it's also donezo no matter what.
 

Band

scatters things often
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Volcanion @ Cell Battery
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Atk / 176 SpA
Rash Nature
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Earthquake
- Sludge Wave

:cell-battery: "If the holder is hit by an Electric-type damaging move, it consumes the Cell Battery and its Attack is increased by one stage."

Honestly the more I think about this lure, the more I like it lol. Since Volcanion has 120 Defense and nice 80 HP, it can comfortably leave a Plasma Fists from Zeraora and retaliate back with a +1 Earthquake. With this EV spread, EQ always OHKOes Zera (did anyone else know that Volcanion has 110 Attack?????????), but you can opt for less Attack investment if you want to, since chipping Zera is annoying but not impossible. Just be careful about Volt Switch lmao. 176 SpA with a Rash nature still lets Volcanion hit hard because its SpA is enormous.

+1 84 Atk Volcanion Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Zeraora: 318-376 (100.3 - 118.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Volcanion: 254-300 (69.9 - 82.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
Thanks for the submissions everyone. Like other projects, vote for the one submission you like the most. We got some really nice lures this week for zeraora, so here they are!
Physically Defensive Galarian Moltres by HydreigonTheChild
Assault Vest Physical Galarian Moltres by Kitten Milk
Choice Band Celesteela by Monky25
Choice Scarf Gyarados by BigFatMantis
Cell Battery Volcanion by Bandkrook

As I mentioned earlier, vote for your favorite lure. Voting ends on Monday, March 29 at 11:59 PM GMT-8

My vote will be for Cell Battery Volcanion, really cool concept and solid lure
 
Congratulations to Bandkrook for winning the week with their volcanion submission! It will be added to the hall of fame archive. Now, lets take a look at the Pokemon you will be luring for this week...
:ss/Bisharp:
Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch

This week we have Bisharp! This Pokemon has soared in usage as of late. With its ability to hit extremely hard after an SD boost and threaten the common defensive cores of the meta makes Bisharp extremely valuable to use on a team. With its high caliber STAB attacks in Knock Off, Iron Head, and Sucker Punch almost nothing is safe from it. How will you lure this threat? Submissions are due Saturday April 3rd at 11:59 PM GMT-8
 
Azelf @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Psyshock
- Flamethrower
- Energy Ball

Bisharp loves to slay azelf because of its psychic typing, but with a colbur berry, it not only lives comfortably but has a very good shot of returning the OHKO back to bisharp.

252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Colbur Berry Azelf: 195-231 (67 - 79.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Azelf Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 256-302 (94.4 - 111.4%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
 
Jirachi @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Aura Sphere

Normally, Bish could just be at +2 and Sucker Punch this thing out of here, but with a bulkier EV spread and a Colbur Berry, Jirachi can stomach a Sucker Punch from him and OHKO with Aura Sphere.

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Bisharp Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Colbur Berry Jirachi: 317-374 (78.4 - 92.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

0- SpA Jirachi Aura Sphere vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Bisharp: 276-328 (101.8 - 121%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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:ss/alakazam:
Alakazam @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Punch
- Psychic
- Substitute

Funniest shit ive ever made, u sub on their sucker punch and then u click funny focus punch move. we need focus punch because the blast can miss and that would ruin the surprise. If they click knock off instead of sucker/SD then u just cry.

CALCS
4 Atk Life Orb Alakazam Focus Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Bisharp: 328-390 (121 - 143.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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:ss/nidoqueen:
Nidoqueen (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 212 SpA / 88 SpD / 208 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Substitute

Most Nidoqueen are offensive Stealth Rock variants without the bulk necessary to tank Bisharp's Sucker Punch. This one masquerades as one of those Nidoqueen, albeit with a little less power than is expected. Act like sending in Nidoqueen against Bisharp was a blunder, then sub up on Bisharp's Sucker Punch and demolish it with STAB Earth Power. The EVs are so that Nidoqueen outspeeds Adamant Bisharp and so that it can keep its sub up against Amoongus' Giga Drain.

Calcs:
212 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoqueen Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Bisharp: 439-523 (161.9 - 192.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Amoonguss Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 88+ SpD Nidoqueen: 67-79 (20.8 - 24.6%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
 

Band

scatters things often
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Grimmsnarl (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Drain Punch

Bisharp is basically the perfect counter to screens Grimmsnarl. Immune to Prankster Taunt and Thunder Wave and Spirit Break's SpA lowering effect raises Bisharp's Atk. However, with this set, Grimmsnarl can lure Bisharp very well. You do have to predict Bisharp coming in though. You Bulk Up as they come in, and with +1 Def you can live Iron Head and get your HP back with Drain Punch. Sucker Punch hits faster Pokemon like Zeraora and Nidoqueen while Play Rough deals with Salamence, Kommo-o, and others.

252+ Atk Bisharp Iron Head vs. +1 252 HP / 0 Def Grimmsnarl: 266-314 (67.5 - 79.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Grimmsnarl Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 294-347 (92.7 - 109.4%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO

+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Grimmsnarl Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoqueen: 261-308 (81.3 - 95.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
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:ss/Polteageist:
Polteageist @ White Herb
Ability: Weak Armor
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Shell Smash
- Stored Power
- Will-O-Wisp

Bisharp is one of the few Pokemon that are able to deal with the standard Polteageist set, so once teapot has smashed and KOd an enemy pokemon bisharp is able to come in and revenge kill with sucker to avoid taking chip from shadow ball. However, to bisharp's surprise this will fail as will-o-wisp will cripple bisharp with a burn. This hinders it in the long term and allows both offensive and defensive answers to bisharp to have an easy time dealing with it. This also helps with crippling Krookodile who walls it since it drops giga drain. The shell smash set will still work as shadow ball and stored power are enough to destroy most of the metagame.
 

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