OU USUM OU Victim of the Week! Week 13: Rain Sweeper Mega Swampert

[clematis]

Oh mb I missed it

no worries! this thread's been a bit weird with pinging people, I know Uber had a problem with it before

 

[clematis]

update to this - I entirely forgot to remind everyone in the SM Discord about voting this week, so the deadline for votes has been extended until Sunday 18th February. Sorry everyone!

 

[Captain Funk]

Jirachi. That's the only mon who wishes a MF would

 

[clematis]

Okay, funnily enough all three of the sets got an equal number of votes!

I'll go ahead and add Jirachi and Gastrodon to the Hall of Fame.

Week 8: Choice Specs Ash-Greninja

Greninja (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Spikes

​

Ash-Greninja's enormous Special Attack and high-power STAB moves, further boosted by Choice Specs, make it a ferocious opponent for unprepared teams to face. In addition, a blitzing Speed stat of 132 means that teams often have to resort to Choice Scarf users or even faster Pokemon to answer it. In addition, this set runs Spikes, allowing it to capitalise on the momentum and switches that Ash-Greninja tends to force. However, until transforming, the user is stuck with regular Greninja, which is much less powerful than its Ash form. Both forms also are extremely capable, struggling to take even neutral or resisted hits, meaning switching it in can generally be a risky business.

Can you find a way to handle this set? You will have 6 days to submit your answers, with submissions ending on Saturday 24th February. If you wish, you may submit both a check and a counter, though you are of course allowed to submit one or the other if you please.

Best of luck!

 

[Reconnecter]

Counter:
Kommo-o @ Leftovers
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 116 SpD / 140 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Protect
- Drain Punch

Well, it can tank Hydro Pump, Dark Pulse and Water Shuriken easily and counter it with Drain Punch with a guaranteed 2HKO.

 

[HydreigonTheChild]

Lopunny-Mega @ Lopunnite
Ability: Limber
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- High Jump Kick
- Power Up Punch

Mega lop can easily come in and revenge kill it as its faster than it, can kill it with fake out -> PUP or just hjk it. Water shurkin doesnt do enough regardless

 

[LOrd Fernado]

Set

Magearna @ Assault Vest
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 248 HP / 224 SpD / 36 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Fleur Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Fire
- Iron Head

very standard, fleur cannon and volt switch are actually the only two important moves against ashgren, the other two do diddly squat, but this just eats hits from ashgren and fires back with fleur cannon.

 

[Astoria]

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Def / 12 SpA / 40 SpD / 192 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Moonblast
- Surf
- Taunt

 

[clematis]

Nominating Choice Scarf Kartana as a check.

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike
- Knock Off

While in a similar vein to Mega Lopunny in that it can't switch in to actually any of Greninja's attacks, if given a free switch then STAB Leaf Blade coming off of a base 181 Attack always kills Gren. Choice Scarf allows it to outspeed Greninja, and Water Shuriken doesn't kill Kartana from full after Stealth Rock, even when Greninja is transformed and it gets its power boost.

 

[clematis]

Alright, voting is now closed. Thanks to everyone for the submissions!
- I am going to accept Mega Lopunny as a check rather than a counter, primarily owing to Lopunny's inability to switch in to Hydro Pump even from full HP.
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Lopunny-Mega: 313-370 (115 - 136%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Checks:
Lopunny-Mega by HydreigonTheChild
Choice Scarf Kartana by clematis

Counters:
Defensive Kommo-O by Reconnector
Assault Vest Magearna by LOrd Fernado
Tapu Fini by Astoria
​

You have four days to vote, ending on Wednesday 28th February. You may vote for one check and one counter this week. I will add the winners to the Hall of Fame at the end of the voting phase.

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Check:

Counter:

 

[j0nathan]

Check:
Counter:

 

[Kustavan]

Check:
Counter:

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Check:
Counter:

Check:
Counter:

Why...

 

[clematis]

Alright, thanks everyone for voting! Apologies for closing voting this week one day later; I've had a fair amount of work-related stuff which unfortunately takes precedence. Anyway.

Congratulations to HydreigonTheChild and Astoria for winning this week's check and counter with Lopunny-Mega and Tapu Fini respectively! I'll add your submissions to the Hall of Fame shortly.

Week 9: Swords Dance Rockium Z Garchomp

Garchomp @ Rockium Z
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
​

Swords Dance Garchomp is a dangerous threat in OU thanks to a sky-high Attack stat, access to excellent Ground/Rock coverage allowing it to hit an opponent at least neutrally, and access to Swords Dance to set up further. In addition, Rockium Z turns Stone Edge into Continental Crush, allowing Garchomp to muscle through some Pokemon that would otherwise answer it, such as Tapu Bulu and Celesteela. In addition, Garchomp has a very good base 102 Speed, allowing it to creep the highly congested base 95-100 Speed tier. However, Garchomp is hampered by prominent weaknesses to Fairy, Ice, and Dragon, which can sometimes prevent it from setting up or sweeping. Also, while base 102 Speed is good, Garchomp is still easily outsped by a significant number of faster Pokemon which can force it out with some consistency.

Can you find a way to handle this set? You will have 6 days to submit your answers, with submissions ending on Wednesday 6th March . If you wish, you may submit both a check and a counter, though you are of course allowed to submit one or the other if you please.

Good luck!

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Lopunny-Mega and Tapu Fini respectively!

It was 2-1 wut

Check:

Hide

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Counter

Counter:

Hide

Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 96 Def / 164 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Slack Off
- Flamethrower

Edit: added sets ty clematis
Second Edit: reconsidered the counter.

 

[clematis]

It was 2-1 wut

Check:

Counter:

Indeed, that's why those two won. More votes than the other submissions (majority vote wins)

(also, would you mind posting which sets for Skarm and Ash-Gren please?)

 

[clematis]

Check: Mega Latias

Latias (F) @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
Hidden Power: Ground
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Thunder Wave
- Roost

Any Latias set works here, but I'm finding myself using this version more and more recently, owing to the utility Thunder Wave provides to a lot of teams I'm running it on. Base 110 Speed allows Latias to outspeed Garchomp, and Ice Beam is the only move it needs to OHKO in every situation. If Mega Evolved, Latias can eat an unboosted Continental Crush, and 50% of the time a +2 CC too, but Stealth Rock means it always dies if Garchomp is already boosted.

Counter: Quagsire

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Toxic

A very much over the top option that you'd typically only find on certain stall and semistall teams, Quagsire's Unaware allows it to discount boosts and take maximum 39.5% from Garchomp's Earthquake, meaning it can sit in front of Chomp as long as is necessary. Toxic and Scald let it force Garchomp out with the threat of status, while Recover and Leftovers let it keep itself healthy.

 

[zinnias]

It was 2-1 wut

Check:

Hide

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Spikes
- Whirlwind
- Counter

Counter:

Hide

Greninja (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam

Edit: added sets ty clematis

gren doesn’t safely switch in to chomp

 

[j0nathan]

Check

Tapu Lele @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Psychic Surge
Hidden Power: Ground
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Moonblast=OHKO. That's all I need to say. If you don't want Psychic and Psyshock you can replace one of them with coverage such as Energy Ball, Shadow Ball or Thunderbolt.

 

[clematis]

Going to extend submissions for 24h. Captain Funk, if possible could you write up those Mega Diancie and Grassium Z Kartana sets?

 

[Captain Funk]

JESUS PIECE

Diancie-Mega @ Diancite
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Earth Power
​

With Rockium Z Chomp having the ability to create offensive wallbreaking pressure and being able to capitalize on that presence by having more opportunities to set up rocks.

Diancie is a solid check to Garchomp thanks to its ability to outspeed and ohko return with. What makes diancie special is due to magic bounce, you're able to Bounce back hazards, creating another presence of fear into Rock setters like Chomp

JKOO TSUNAMI



Kartana @ Grassium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 140 HP / 128 Atk / 40 Def / 200 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Knock Off
- Synthesis
- Defog
​

With this Kartana set, it beats garchomp in its own game, by bring offensive pressure while also being a defensive backbone vs Chomp, with this spread, you speed creep chomp, you can always switch in on Chomp, whether it sets up rocks on you, and you can just get rid of them, or if it EQ's you, and if it EQ's you, it's a 1.6% chance of 2hkoing you while you will always ohko it in return with Z Leaf blade.

Calcs

128 Atk Kartana Bloom Doom (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Garchomp: 357-421 (100 - 117.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 140 HP / 40 Def Kartana: 126-148 (42.8 - 50.3%) -- 1.6% chance to 2HKO

 

[clematis]

Okay, submissions are now closed. Thanks for filling in that reservation, Captain Funk :D

Checks:
Skarmory by DaRotomMachine
Mega Latias by clematis
Choice Scarf Tapu Lele by trainer_j0nathon
Mega Diancie by Captain Funk

Counters:
Mega Slowbro by DaRotomMachine
Quagsire by clematis
Grassium Z Kartana by Captain Funk
​

You have four days to vote, ending on Monday 11th March. You may vote for one check and one counter this week. I will add the winners to the Hall of Fame at the end of the voting phase.

Best of luck to all submissions!

 

[Captain Funk]

Skarm for check

Quag for counter cause it's fucking quag

 

[Glurakaiser]

M-Lati for check
Quag for counter