Extending the deadline to Sunday, April 23rd 11:59 PM GMT-4 to allow for more submissions.
-
The moderators of this forum can be found in the CAP forum staff directory.
-
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
-
Congrats to the winners of the 2023 Smog Awards!
Project SV CAP - Victim of the Week - Week 14: Caribolt
- Thread starter Da Pizza Man
- Start date
Breloom @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Seed
- Close Combat
- Mach Punch
- Bulldoze
This is a check to Baxcalibur. Assuming Baxcalibur doesn't terastallize and Stealth Rock is up, Mach Punch will OHKO it. Why Breloom and Pawmot are now the only mons with Mach Punch was a horrible mistake by GameFreak that I will never understand.
252+ Atk Choice Band Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Baxcalibur: 344-408 (92.7 - 109.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
You can also Tera Fighting to OHKO it even without Stealth Rock.
252+ Atk Choice Band Technician Tera Fighting Breloom Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Baxcalibur: 460-544 (123.9 - 146.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
ngl this is not a better check than Valiant I just wanted to increase activity
Voting time!
Dondozo automatically wins for counters, we will only be voting on checks.
Options:
(Zmaslan256)
(Brown4Sides)
Voting ends Tuesday, April 25th 11:59 PM GMT-4
Dondozo automatically wins for counters, we will only be voting on checks.
Options:
(Zmaslan256) (Brown4Sides)Voting ends Tuesday, April 25th 11:59 PM GMT-4
Iron Valiant
copout answer Iron Valiant
Iron Valiant
Iron Valiant wins! Stay tuned for Week 13!
Week 13: Toxapex
Toxapex @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Fairy / Fighting
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Surf
- Sludge Bomb
- Infestation
- Acid Spray / Ice Beam / Tera Blast
If you told me that Toxapex would see success as an offensive Pokemon last gen, I would laugh at you. But, as it turns out, Toxapex makes for a surprisingly very good bulky offensive Pokemon when given an Assault Vest. Toxapex's Special Attack, while nothing to write home about, is just good enough to allow it to pose a threat when fully invested, especially when in conjuction with Sludge Bomb and Infestation. On top of that, Toxapex stills serves as the defensive juggernaught that it has always been known to be, and it easily takes on many of the tiers offensive Pokemon, in particular Special Attackers. The way Toxapex is being played has evolved, and as such, so have its threats? What Pokemon do the best job at putting this starfish under a rock.
Toxapex @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Fairy / Fighting
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Surf
- Sludge Bomb
- Infestation
- Acid Spray / Ice Beam / Tera Blast
(As a reminder, when submitting checks, you are free to use other sets as parts of your argument, but the basis should be about the Assault Vest Set).
Submissions end Thursday, May 4th 11:59 PM GMT-4 (I decided to go back to the old schedule to allow more time for submissions)
Last edited:
reserving Tera Psychic physical Iron Valiant with Zen Headbutt
jk
Caribolt @ Magnet
Ability: Overgrow
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Horn Leech
- Double-Edge
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Caribolt is a check to Assault Vest Toxapex. You outspeed it and kill it with Double-Edge. You don't even need a Swords Dance boost or an Adamant nature to get the job done.
252 Atk Magnet Galvanize Caribolt Double-Edge vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 338-402 (111.5 - 132.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
jk
Caribolt @ Magnet
Ability: Overgrow
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Horn Leech
- Double-Edge
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Caribolt is a check to Assault Vest Toxapex. You outspeed it and kill it with Double-Edge. You don't even need a Swords Dance boost or an Adamant nature to get the job done.
252 Atk Magnet Galvanize Caribolt Double-Edge vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 338-402 (111.5 - 132.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Garchomp @ Leftovers
Jolly Nature
Ability: Rough Skin
Tera Type: Ground / Steel / Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Dragon Claw
- Fire Fang / Dragon Claw / Substitute
- Swords Dance
Swords Dance Garchomp is a Check to AV Toxapex. Earthquake is always a 2HKO into Pex, and one boost nullifies an attempt to tera. While Ice Beam is a 2HKO in return, there are many ways around this. If you get Chomp in safely and healthily, Pex will either drop or be forced out barring a potential Ice Beam crit. Tera Ground Earthquake removes the need for an SD boost, while Tera Steel and Tera Fire work well as defensive teras that both resist Ice and Fairy. Substitute can also be a good tool against Infestation.
Chomp can't safely switch into Pex as it fears Ice Beam too much, but it still can threaten Pex handily in the right situations.
Calcs:
252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 228-270 (75.2 - 89.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Tera Ground Garchomp Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 304-360 (100.3 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Tera Fairy Toxapex: 228-268 (75.2 - 88.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Toxapex Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Garchomp: 284-336 (79.5 - 94.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Toxapex Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tera Steel / Fire Garchomp: 35-42 (9.8 - 11.7%) -- possibly the worst move ever
This reservation has expired.
Plasmanta @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt/Thunder
- Sludge Bomb
- Surf
- Magnet Rise
Plasmanta is a counter to AV Pex. Tbolt almost always 2HKOs, and Plas takes minimal damage from Sludge Bomb.
252 SpA Plasmanta Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Toxapex: 146-174 (48.1 - 57.4%) -- 88.7% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Toxapex Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Plasmanta: 47-56 (18 - 21.4%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery
Naviathan @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Facade
- Slack Off
Naviathan is a check to AV Toxapex. It tanks most of what Pex can throw at it with ease and heals with Slack Off. Its Steel typing means it doesn't have to worry about Acid Spray breaking it down, while Flame Orb + Guts even protects it from an untimely Ice Beam freeze. Because of this, Naviathan can generally switch into Toxapex, set up freely with Dragon Dance, and OHKO it with Facade at +2 or at +1 with Tera Normal. However, Naviathan is vulnerable to Tera Blast Fighting, which deals far more damage to it than it can heal off.
+2 252+ Atk Guts Naviathan Facade (140 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 310-365 (102.3 - 120.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252+ Atk Guts Tera Normal Naviathan Facade (140 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 348-411 (114.8 - 135.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Toxapex Surf vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Naviathan: 65-77 (18.7 - 22.1%) -- 42.9% chance to 4HKO after burn damage
252+ SpA Tera Fighting Toxapex Tera Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Naviathan: 234-276 (67.4 - 79.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after burn damage
Arghonaut @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Circle Throw
- Knock Off / Earthquake
- Recover
Obligatory Arghopost
I am proposing Arghonaut as a counter to AV Toxapex. Now it might seem like a stretch of the definition of a counter, but I have done tests and in a pure 1v1 setting, Arghonaut actually wins with knock off and recover! Even if Toxapex uses Tera Fairy, if there aren't other mons Arghonaut still wins the 1v1 by spamming STAB Circle Throw and Tera-ing if Pex has Tera Blast.
This is the standard Argh set, with it's typing it resists and takes very little from Surf and Ice Beam, and even Infestation. Covert Cloak means that it will never be threatened by Acid Spray, and will never be poisoned by Sludge Bomb. The heavy investment in special defense ensures you will take minimal damage from Pex offensive moves, the 40 defense is simply for stuff other than Toxapex, however it might be useful if you stumble upon a Gunk Shot variant. Tera Steel is in case Toxapex decides to Tera Fairy with Tera Blast, Tera Poison if you're scared of Tera Fighting.
Where Arghonaut distinguishes itself from other counters is with the pressure it puts by being on the field, threatening to setup spikes which may be difficult to remove if you have proper spinblocking, and removing items thanks to knock off. Toxapex can admittedly wear down Arghonaut quite a bit by spamming Infestation+STABs, but that will always be at the cost of Argh knocking off its Assault Vest, setting up dangerous spikes and forcing it out anyway with Circle Throw, which could also deal a free 25% on the incoming mon.
Arghonaut beats AV Toxapex usually not by killing it, but by putting it in a situation where it would almost never want to stay in.
That being said, if you want your Arghonaut to just be better at killing Pex, you can run something like Earthquake for good, easy damage. If you're not scared of Acid Spray, Leftovers will greatly help vs Infestation (and remember that Toxapex can't really trap you anyway since you can force it out with Throw)
252+ SpA Toxapex Surf vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 34-41 (8.2 - 9.9%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ SpA Toxapex Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 69-82 (16.6 - 19.8%) -- guaranteed 6HKO
252+ SpA Tera Fairy Toxapex Tera Blast vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 122-146 (29.4 - 35.2%) -- 22.2% chance to 3HKO
252+ SpA Tera Fighting Toxapex Tera Blast vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 61-73 (14.7 - 17.6%) -- possible 6HKO
0 Atk Arghonaut Knock Off vs. 248 HP / 0 Def (No Item) Toxapex: 36-43 (11.8 - 14.1%) -- possible 8HKO
Closing Submissions
Checks:
(Brown4Sides)
(Zmaslan256)
(memesketch)
Counters:
(Darek)
(Brigtel)
Vote for one check and one counter. Voting ends Sunday, May 7th 11:59 PM GMT-4.
Checks:
(Brown4Sides) (Zmaslan256) (memesketch)Counters:
(Darek) (Brigtel)Vote for one check and one counter. Voting ends Sunday, May 7th 11:59 PM GMT-4.
Check: Garchomp
Counter: Plasmanta
Counter: Plasmanta
Caribolt
Plasmanta
Plasmanta
Naviathan
Plasmanta
Plasmanta
Caribolt
Arghonaut
Gonna slander Darek's submission in a desperate move by mentioning that if Toxapex runs the admittedly uncommon Ice Beam+Acid Spray, it actually has a chance to survive 2 thunderbolts and to 2HKO Plasmanta switching in
252 SpA Plasmanta Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Toxapex: 146-174 (48.1 - 57.4%) -- 88.7% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Toxapex Acid Spray vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Plasmanta: 21-25 (8 - 9.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ SpA Toxapex Ice Beam vs. -2 0 HP / 4 SpD Plasmanta: 125-148 (47.8 - 56.7%) -- 55.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (at 98% HP from Acid Spray+Leftovers)
Arghonaut
Gonna slander Darek's submission in a desperate move by mentioning that if Toxapex runs the admittedly uncommon Ice Beam+Acid Spray, it actually has a chance to survive 2 thunderbolts and to 2HKO Plasmanta switching in
252 SpA Plasmanta Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Assault Vest Toxapex: 146-174 (48.1 - 57.4%) -- 88.7% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Toxapex Acid Spray vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Plasmanta: 21-25 (8 - 9.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ SpA Toxapex Ice Beam vs. -2 0 HP / 4 SpD Plasmanta: 125-148 (47.8 - 56.7%) -- 55.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (at 98% HP from Acid Spray+Leftovers)
Naviathan
Plasmanta
Plasmanta
Plasmanta wins for counters, and for checks its a tie between Caribolt and Naviathan.
Week 14 will be up later.
Week 14 will be up later.
Week 14: Caribolt
Caribolt @ Leftovers / Magnet
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Electric / Grass
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Double-Edge
- Horn Leech
- Rapid Spin
Caribolt @ Leftovers / Magnet
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Electric / Grass
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Double-Edge
- Horn Leech
- Rapid Spin
Caribolt is a good mon, because Galvanize go brrrrr. Submit checks and counters. I have to leave in like 5 minutes so I can't think of something clever to write.
Submissions end Wednesday, May 17th 11:59 PM GMT-4
Iron Moth @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
EVs: 124 Def / 132 SpA / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Fairy
Timid Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Energy Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
Iron Moth is a check to Caribolt. Thanks to Booster Energy it can outspeed Caribolt even after a Rapid Spin boost and KOs it with Fiery Dance. You'll need Stealth Rock up to guarantee the OHKO though.
132 SpA Iron Moth Fiery Dance vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Caribolt: 306-362 (99 - 117.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Chesnaught @ Leftovers
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Tera Type: Fighting
Impish Nature
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Synthesis
- Wood Hammer
Chesnaught is a counter to Caribolt. It's resistances to Galvanize Double-Edge and Horn Leech, with its 122 base defense it can tank out hits from Caribolt. It can also recover with Synthesis and boost its defense with Iron Defense. +2 Defense Body Press will OHKO Caribolt.
+2 252+ Atk Magnet Galvanize Caribolt Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Chesnaught: 168-198 (44.2 - 52.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Def Chesnaught Body Press vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Caribolt: 324-382 (104.8 - 123.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO