Time for the final stats showdown!
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Deck Knight
Korski
CAP 6 so far:
Abilities: Intimidate / ??? / ???
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This poll will be open for 24 hours. When voting, use only the submitter's name! The entries have links below followed by a full quote beneath for your immediate reference. The list of possible votes includes:
Deck Knight
Korski
Final Submission:
71 / 92 / 104 / 50 / 79 / 122 (BST 518)
HP: 71 (283 - 346)
Atk: 92 (198 - 220 - 283 - 311)
Def: 104 (219 - 244 - 307 - 337)
SpA: 50 (122 - 136 - 199 - 219)
SpD: 79 (174 - 194 - 257 - 282)
Spe: 122 (252 - 280 - 343 - 377)
PT: 147.42 (Good)
ST: 113.15 (Above Average)
PS: 169.84 (Very Good)
SS: 95.61 (Below Average)
BSR: 282.54 (Good)
Attack:
The Spread:
Stats: 284 HP / 283 Atk / 244 Def / 122 SpA / 194 SpD / 377 Spe (Jolly Nature)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
Item: Sitrus Berry
+6 Bullet Punch vs.
0 HP / 4 Def Jolteon: 57.19 - 67.52%
252 HP / 4 Def Latios: 67.85 - 80.21%
252 HP / 0 Def Latias: 62.08 - 73.35%
252 HP / 64 Def Kyurem-B: 85.02 - 100.44%
0 HP / 4 Def Heracross: 86.71 - 101.99%
252 HP / 4 Def Espeon: 92.81 - 109.58%
12 HP / 0 Def Breloom: 94.31 - 111.36%
252 HP / 0 Def Tyranitar: 94.05 - 111.38%
0 HP / 4 Def Kyurem-B: 104.85 - 124.29%
0 HP / 4 Def Mamoswine: 136.84 - 161.77%
+0 Drill Peck vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 76.6% - 90.5%
252/252+ Blissey: 26.2% - 31.1%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 57.2% - 67.7%
252/252+ Donphan: 17.4% - 20.6%
4/0 Dragonite: 33.6% - 39.8% (Multiscale: 16.8% - 19.9%)
252/88+ Ferrothorn: 19.9% - 23.9%
252/252+ Forretress: 18.1% - 21.5%
4/0 Garchomp: 30.4% - 36%
252/184+ Gliscor: 18.9% - 22.9%
0/0 Heatran: 15.2% - 18%
252/0 Heatran: 12.7% - 15%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 16% - 18.8%
252/252+ Jellicent: 23% - 27.5%
0/0 Jirachi: 15% - 17.9%
252/0 Jirachi: 12.6% - 15.1%
4/0 Keldeo: 70.4% - 83.3%
56/0 Kyurem-B: 25.4% - 30.4%
4/0 Latios: 41.7% - 49%
172/0 Magnezone: 7.1% - 8.3%
4/0 Politoed: 41% - 48.4%
252/252+ Politoed: 23.4% - 27.6%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 21.3% - 25.1%
252/0 Rotom-W: 16.1% - 19.1%
248/0 Scizor: 30% - 35.9%
252/252+ Skarmory: 8.7% - 10.5%
248/252+ Vaporeon: 22% - 26.1%
+0 Gear Grind vs.
0 HP / 4 Def Gliscor: 37.11 - 43.98%
192 HP / 64 Def Reuniclus: 37.16 - 44%
4 HP / 0 Def Garchomp: 37.43 - 45.25%
252 HP / 252+ Def Espeon: 38.32 - 45.5%
4 HP / 252 Def Blissey: 38.95 - 46.31%
252 HP / 0 Def Latias: 39.56 - 46.7%
252 HP / 4 Def Latios: 42.85 - 51.09%
32 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 44.03 - 51.98%
4 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 44.17 - 52.14%
4 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 45 - 53.12%
0 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 45.14 - 53.29%
0 HP / 4 Def Mamoswine: 86.42 - 103.04%
0 HP / 4 Def Terrakion: 86.68 - 104.02%
4 HP / 0 Def Terrakion: 88.88 - 104.93%
4 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 96.03 - 114.28%
0 HP / 4 Def Dugtrio: 105.21 - 125.11%
+6 Gear Grind vs.
252 HP / 252+ Def Donphan: 84.89 - 100.52%
4 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 83.33 - 98.14%
0 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 83.59 - 98.45%
248 HP / 176+ Def Cloyster: 83.82 - 99%
252 HP / 252+ Def Donphan: 84.89 - 100.52%
0 HP / 0- Def Multiscale Dragonite: 92.87 - 109.59%
252 HP / 184+ Def Gliscor: 94.91 - 111.86%
200 HP / 244 Def Landorus-T: 104.6 - 123.57%
252 HP / 196 Def Garchomp: 104.76 - 124.28%
252 HP / 252+ Def Reuniclus: 105.18 - 124.52%
252 HP / 4 Def Hippowdon: 106.19 - 125.71%
248 HP / 24+ Def Gliscor: 107.64 - 127.47%
+6 Drill Peck vs.
252/252+ Blissey: 104.6% - 123.2%
252/252+ Donphan: 68.2% - 80.5%
4/0 Dragonite: 132.7% - 156.5% (Multiscale: 66.35% - 78.25%)
252/88+ Ferrothorn: 78.7% - 92.9%
252/252+ Forretress: 71.2% - 83.9%
4/0 Garchomp: 120.1% - 141.6%
252/184+ Gliscor: 75.4% - 89%
0/0 Heatran: 60.4% - 71.5%
252/0 Heatran: 50.5% - 59.8%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 62.9% - 74.3%
252/252+ Jellicent: 92.1% - 108.4%
0/0 Jirachi: 60.4% - 71.3%
252/0 Jirachi: 51% - 60.1%
56/0 Kyurem-B: 101.7% - 120%
4/0 Latios: 164.2% - 193.7%
172/0 Magnezone: 28.1% - 33%
4/0 Politoed: 162.1% - 191%
252/252+ Politoed: 93% - 109.4%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 21.3% - 25.1%
252/0 Rotom-W: 64.1% - 75.3%
248/0 Scizor: 120.1% - 141.7%
252/252+ Skarmory: 35% - 41.3%
248/252+ Vaporeon: 87.5% - 103%
+6 Acrobatics [no item] vs.
252/252+ Donphan: 93.8% - 110.4%
252/252+ Forretress: 91% - 107.1%
252/184+ Gliscor: 103.4% - 122%
0/0 Heatran: 83.3% - 98.1%
252/0 Heatran: 69.7% - 82.1%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 86.7% - 102.1%
0/0 Jirachi: 83% - 97.7%
252/0 Jirachi: 70% - 82.4%
172/0 Magnezone: 38.5% - 45.5%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 28.9% - 34.3%
252/0 Rotom-W: 87.8% - 103.6%
252/252+ Skarmory: 48.2% - 56.6%
+0 Drain Punch / Brick Break vs.
200 HP / 0 Def Empoleon: 40.66 - 47.91%
4 HP / 0 Def Magnezone: 41.13 - 48.93%
0 HP / 0 Def Magnezone: 41.28 - 49.11%
4 HP / 0 Def Scrafty: 42.64 - 50.73%
0 HP / 4 Def Mamoswine: 43.21 - 50.96%
4 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 43.55 - 51.53%
4 HP / 0 Def Terrakion: 43.82 - 51.85%
0 HP / 0 Def Terrakion: 43.96 - 52.01%
12 HP / 4 Def Empoleon: 46.15 - 54.48%
4 HP / 0- Def Hydreigon: 48.46 - 57.05%
252 HP / 0 Def Tyranitar: 59.4 - 70.29%
4 HP / 0 Def Lucario: 61.7 - 73.04%
180 HP / 0 Def Tyranitar: 62.17 - 73.57%
+6 Drain Punch / Brick Break vs.
32 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 43.11 - 50.76%
0 HP / 4 Def Landorus: 43.88 - 51.72%
88 HP / 4 Def Gyarados: 43.9 - 51.84%
4 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 44.06 - 51.87%
0 HP / 0 Def Landorus: 44.2 - 52.03%
0 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 44.2 - 52.03%
88 HP / 0 Def Gyarados: 44.19 - 52.12%
224 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 44.95 - 52.9%
+6 Blaze Kick vs.
(+5) 4 HP / 0 Def Landorus-T: 87.18 - 102.81%
252 HP / 0 Def Empoleon: 87.36 - 102.95%
0 HP / 0- Def Kyurem: 90.79 - 106.9%
0 HP / 4 Def Thick Fat Mamoswine: 96.95 - 114.68%
128 HP / 0 Def Machamp: 99.43 - 117.28%
224 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 101.52 - 119.87%
Selections:
I think Gear Grind is an awesome STAB for CAP6. It makes it very threatening to Sash starters, allows it to beat Sash Alakazam, and gives it a weapon against any odd Novelty Sturdy users, the non-Steel types of which can be defeated by a +6 Gear Grind. Gear Grind also rips through Substitutes and destroys a failsafe that many weakened Pokemon rely on to revenge kill their opponent. Setting up a Substitute as CAP6 Belly Drums is not guaranteed protection with Gear Grind at the ready. Bullet Punch calcs given at +6 to give a realistic expectation of what we're damaging.
Drain Punch is another intriguing move, as it allows us to Belly Drum on Skarmory, hit it with Drain Punch, and even if we are WW'd out, the process can be repeated because of the healing factor. Brick Break is a weaker option because it has no healing and therefore makes it harder to sweep than Drain Punch, but it's roughly the level of Fighting coverage I would support. Blaze Kick would allow CAP6 to take down Skarmory and Magnezone without taking down Heatran.
No Special Attack calcs. Honestly, the last thing we want is any mixed utility for this, as we want to avoid viability for Life Orb as much as possible. Making Life Orb HP 70's pointless does this fairly well.
Speed:
122 Speed has a maximum of 377 with Nature, which outruns Base 65 +Spe Scarfers, and Base 75 Speed non-+Spe Nature Scarfers. It outruns Sash Alakazam and basically nothing else important. While I don't predict a sudden upswing in Scarf Scizor in response to CAP6, there you have it. Adamant Nature CAP6 has 343 Speed, which is slower than +Spe Musketeers (346), so while CAP6 can afford that against say Terrakion by running Bullet Punch, it will have issues with Keldeo, a scenario I find entirely reasonable.
Should there be a set where CAP6 invests no speed, the natural floor of 122 Speed is 280, which outspeeds all Max Spe No Nature Base 90 Pokemon.
Defenses:
71 / 104 / 79
Without Intimidate:
252 Atk Choice Band Terrakion Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 99.64 - 117.6%
252+ Atk Life Orb Lucario Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 85.21 - 100.35%
252+ Atk Choice Band Scizor Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 73.59 - 86.61%
252+ Atk Choice Band Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 27.46 - 32.74%
252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 47.88 - 56.69% (Can KO After Rocks and Belly Drum, but can't switch in on nearly anything or survive BD Bullet Punch)
252+ Atk Gyarados Waterfall vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 47.53 - 56.33% (Can KO After Rocks and Belly Drum w/out Sitrus)
252 Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 33.45 - 39.43% (Can KO rarely After Rocks and Belly Drum w/out Sitrus)
With Intimidate:
-1 252 Atk Choice Band Terrakion Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 66.54 - 78.52%
-1 252+ Atk Life Orb Lucario Close Combat vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 56.69 - 67.25% (Can set up Belly Drum w/ Sitrus and no Rocks.)
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Scizor Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 48.94 - 57.74% (Can set up Belly Drum w/ Sitrus)
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 18.3 - 21.83% (Can set up w/ Belly Drum w/ no rocks w/o Sitrus)
-1 252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 32.04 - 38.38% (Can set up Belly Drum + Bullet Punch for KO.)
-1 252+ Atk Gyarados Waterfall vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 32.04 - 38.02% (Can set up w/ Belly Drum w/ no rocks w/o Sitrus)
-1 252 Atk Garchomp Outrage vs. 4 HP / 0 Def (custom): 22.18 - 26.4% (Can set up w/ Belly Drum w/ no rocks w/o Sitrus)
Special Defense:
252 SpA Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 63.73 - 75% (can be 2HKO'd w/o Sitrus)
252 SpA Life Orb Latias Draco Meteor vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 56.33 - 66.9% (can be 2HKO'd w/ rocks w/o Sitrus)
252 SpA Keldeo Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 83.45 - 98.59% (near certain OHKO w/ Rocks [No Rain])
252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 75 - 88.38% (Can OHKO rarely w/ Rocks)
252+ SpA Life Orb Dragonite Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom) in rain: 66.9 - 78.87% (Cannot OHKO w/ rocks)
0 SpA Vaporeon Scald vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 40.14 - 47.53% [No Rain]
0 SpA Life Orb Garchomp Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom) in rain: 39.43 - 46.83%
252 SpA Life Orb Celebi Psychic vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 34.15 - 40.14% (Can OHKO after Drum and Rocks occasionally w/o Sitrus)
252 SpA Celebi Psychic vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD (custom): 26.4 - 30.98% (2HKO after Drum, Cannot OHKO w/ Rocks)
I had to calibrate up from what I initially wanted on Special Defense. Unlike say Forretress, CAP6 is highly unlikely to run much in defenses, so it must be able to take weaker hits while uninvested.
While I do not think CAP6 should be bulky enough to be a pivot (and even Max/Max+ it really cannot be), it should be able to set up on mid-power Scalds (unless burned) and resisted Special-Based Attacks, and be able to take more physical punishment without relying entirely on Intimidate. Revenge killing against CAP6 should require some sacrifices on the part of the opponent, pushing them to modify their spreads or items to adapt to CAP6.
On Physical Defense, the object is again to ensure that CAP6 has only sufficient bulk to actually set up on something, and then after the switch-in (or KO) to avoid being revenge killed too easily. Intimidate helps a great deal in giving CAP6 setup opportunities, so the real focus is on revenge calculations. The physical bulk here means that the best answers to CAP6 will be dedicated revenge killers, with either very fast Scarfers that have not been weakened into Bullet Punch KO range, or foes like Choice Band Mamoswine, which needs the CB Power to provide that additional threat (Mamo doesn't like Drum Bullet Punches either, but can eat an unboosted one). The idea is to force the metagame to adapt to CAP6 by making the opponent's revenge killers accept different trade-offs than usual. This keeps CAP6 balanced while at the same time requiring the metagame to interact with it.
Conclusion:
The spread balances the high speed by giving it just enough defense to set up with no investment, but the set really comes to life with Sitrus Berry, which gives CAP6 a ton of set-up opportunities and works well with Acrobatics and Belly Drum. Other berries like Lum could also work if you can keep Stealth Rock off of CAP6's side of the field. Even Leftovers has some viability as it puts CAP6 out of KO range for a setup, and can actually allow another setup given the right offensive options or smart play.
CAP6 also has the capability to slightly drop Attack or Speed and invest in some additional bulk against specific threats, which will open it up to different Belly Drum strategies than just Max/Max. CAP6 truly lacks the bulk to be a dedicated wall or pivot, but it does have enough to perform its job of setting up, can take strong neutral unboosted hits at full health like Keldeo's Hydro Pump, or boosted NVE hits like Life Orb Celebi's Psychic.
The most important thing to make Belly Drum a successful concept is set-up opportunities, and this spread allows for those on both sides of the defensive spectrum. It has enough SpD to ably handle neutral hits to get a Drum off, and Intimidate takes its decent physical bulk and augments it into a multitude of setup opportunities on a revenge strike.
What is also compelling is that the speed does allow some flexibility, and while it is structured around a Max/Max+ Set with Sitrus, it can be modified to adjust speed or power down with slightly more bulk to change calculations that might be crucial to team success. The spread is competent without being overpowered, and I believe it will adequately represent a Fast Pokemon with balanced Bulk and Power, but not enough of either in the latter two to say it is all 3. In other words, it can be calibrated to be Fast and Bulky, or Fast and Powerful, but cannot be all 3 at once thanks to the specific dynamics of Belly Drum.
Highlights:
Very high Atk / Speed. It outruns Alakazam, and can KO with Gear Grind through Focus Sash, which I think is very important to avoid its fast Thunder Wave. Only threat that really outspeeds is Jolteon and Scarfers. Has mediocre SpD that allows it to competently set up on weaker threats, but be stopped cold by more aggressive special attackers.
I really don't think we need to go all out trying to bulk this up, or give this even defenses. We don't need Machamp defenses with higher Speed. Ultimately it should get in, Belly Drum, and maul almost anything that isn't faster or be able to clean them up with Bullet Punch.
Random factoids:
The Physical Stats sum to 196, the Special Stats sum to 129.
HP + Def is 175, HP + SpD is 150.
Attack and Speed both end in 2, and if they did not have the single digit points would both be multiples of 30.
Gardevoir and Gallade are the only Pokemon that share the 518 Stat Total of this spread.
No other Pokemon has a value of 122 in any stat.
--------------------Final Submission
HP: 50 241-304
Atk: 92 198-220-283-311
Def: 130 266-296-359-394
SpA: 65 149-166-229-251
SpD: 75 167-186-249-273
Spe: 118 244-272-335-368
Physical Sweepiness: 166.98 (Very Good)
Physical Tankiness: 152.54 (Very Good)
Special Sweepiness: 119.94 (Above Average)
Special Tankiness: 88.51 (Below Average)
Base Stat Rating: 283.34 (Good)
Base Stat Total: 530
Overview: 50 / 92 / 130 / 65 / 75 / 118
The main priorities I had in choosing these numbers were as follows, in this order: 1) to naturally outrun a majority of the unboosted tier (as well as some trolly low-Spe Scarfers) in order to facilitate a +0 Spe sweep, 2) to lean more heavily on Belly Drum for offensive presence with an Atk stat that is below average by OU standards, and 3) to get Intimidate and good physical bulk to work codependently to create setup opportunities. In terms of the build triangle, I went with Speed and Bulk at the expense of Power. Within the paradigm of Bulk and Speed, I opted for non-boundary pushing Defense and biased defensive stats in order to justify the "very high" Speed of this spread. Finally, I chose to not ride any of the limits for PS, PT, SS, ST, or BSR because I wanted a more balanced approach that didn't pull all the CAP's power into a single stat. Considering CAP's stellar defensive typing and primary ability, and considering potential secondary ability and movepool options, I didn't want to try and do too much at once here in stats. This spread gives CAP exactly what it needs in this area to compete in OU while remaining focused on supporting the setup and use of Belly Drum.
Offenses: 92 / 65 / 118
The Atk here is entirely sufficient for an end-game sweep at +6, even with only Drill Peck and Iron Head for STABs (although imo this stat leaves us open to consider reasonable coverage and/or Acrobatics as well). For a number of defensive threats, a little bit of prior damage will be required for the 80 BP attacks, but for an end-game sweeper in a team of 6, I would consider that to be a desirable quality. In reality, with this Speed and this bulk, being guaranteed a OHKO on everything that switches in for the first time would be a tough sell in terms of balance. This stat hits a numerical value of 283 with a Jolly nature and 252 EVs, or 1132 after a Belly Drum. With 252 EVs and an Adamant nature, those numbers jump to 311 and 1244, respectively.
+0 Drill Peck vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 76.6% - 90.5%
252/252+ Blissey: 26.2% - 31.1%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 57.2% - 67.7%
252/252+ Donphan: 17.4% - 20.6%
4/0 Dragonite: 33.6% - 39.8% (Multiscale: 16.8% - 19.9%)
252/88+ Ferrothorn: 19.9% - 23.9%
252/252+ Forretress: 18.1% - 21.5%
4/0 Garchomp: 30.4% - 36%
252/184+ Gliscor: 18.9% - 22.9%
0/0 Heatran: 15.2% - 18%
252/0 Heatran: 12.7% - 15%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 16% - 18.8%
252/252+ Jellicent: 23% - 27.5%
0/0 Jirachi: 15% - 17.9%
252/0 Jirachi: 12.6% - 15.1%
4/0 Keldeo: 70.4% - 83.3%
56/0 Kyurem-B: 25.4% - 30.4%
4/0 Latios: 41.7% - 49%
172/0 Magnezone: 7.1% - 8.3%
4/0 Politoed: 41% - 48.4%
252/252+ Politoed: 23.4% - 27.6%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 21.3% - 25.1%
252/0 Rotom-W: 16.1% - 19.1%
248/0 Scizor: 30% - 35.9%
252/252+ Skarmory: 8.7% - 10.5%
248/252+ Vaporeon: 22% - 26.1%
+6 Drill Peck vs.
252/252+ Blissey: 104.6% - 123.2%
252/252+ Donphan: 68.2% - 80.5%
4/0 Dragonite: 132.7% - 156.5% (Multiscale: 66.35% - 78.25%)
252/88+ Ferrothorn: 78.7% - 92.9%
252/252+ Forretress: 71.2% - 83.9%
4/0 Garchomp: 120.1% - 141.6%
252/184+ Gliscor: 75.4% - 89%
0/0 Heatran: 60.4% - 71.5%
252/0 Heatran: 50.5% - 59.8%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 62.9% - 74.3%
252/252+ Jellicent: 92.1% - 108.4%
0/0 Jirachi: 60.4% - 71.3%
252/0 Jirachi: 51% - 60.1%
56/0 Kyurem-B: 101.7% - 120%
4/0 Latios: 164.2% - 193.7%
172/0 Magnezone: 28.1% - 33%
4/0 Politoed: 162.1% - 191%
252/252+ Politoed: 93% - 109.4%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 21.3% - 25.1%
252/0 Rotom-W: 64.1% - 75.3%
248/0 Scizor: 120.1% - 141.7%
252/252+ Skarmory: 35% - 41.3%
248/252+ Vaporeon: 87.5% - 103%
+6 Acrobatics [no item] vs.
252/252+ Donphan: 93.8% - 110.4%
252/252+ Forretress: 91% - 107.1%
252/184+ Gliscor: 103.4% - 122%
0/0 Heatran: 83.3% - 98.1%
252/0 Heatran: 69.7% - 82.1%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 86.7% - 102.1%
0/0 Jirachi: 83% - 97.7%
252/0 Jirachi: 70% - 82.4%
172/0 Magnezone: 38.5% - 45.5%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 28.9% - 34.3%
252/0 Rotom-W: 87.8% - 103.6%
252/252+ Skarmory: 48.2% - 56.6%
+0 Bullet Punch vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 38.5% - 45.6%
4/0 Breloom: 24% - 28.6%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 14.4% - 17.3%
4/0 Garchomp: 15.4% - 18.4%
4/0 Gengar: 29.8% - 35.5%
4/0 Hydreigon: 17.8% - 21.2%
4/0 Infernape: 11.6% - 13.9%
0/4 Jolteon: 14.4% - 17%
0/4 Keldeo: 8.7% - 10.2%
0/4 Kyurem-B: 26.6% - 32.2%
32/0 Landorus-T: 17.7% - 21.1% (-1: 11.9% - 14.1%)
0/0 Latios: 20.9% - 24.8%
4/0 Lucario: 12.4% - 14.9%
0/4 Mamoswine: 34.9% - 41.6%
4/0 Politoed: 10.2% - 12.1%
4/0 Rotom-W: 5% - 6.2%
0/0 Salamence: 19% - 22.7%
4/0 Terrakion: 35.9% - 42.7%
0/0 Thundurus-T: 11.7% - 14%
72/4 Venusaur: 18.8% - 22.6%
+6 Bullet Punch vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 152.8% - 180.2%
4/0 Breloom: 95% - 112.2%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 56.7% - 66.9%
4/0 Garchomp: 60.3% - 71.2%
4/0 Gengar: 119.1% - 140.1%
4/0 Hydreigon: 69.3% - 81.9%
4/0 Infernape: 46.3% - 54.8%
0/4 Jolteon: 57.2% - 67.5%
0/4 Keldeo: 34.7% - 40.9%
0/4 Kyurem-B: 104.9% - 124.3%
32/0 Landorus-T (+5): 60.6% - 71.6%
0/0 Latios: 82.5% - 97.4%
4/0 Lucario: 48.9% - 57.8%
0/4 Mamoswine: 136.8% - 161.8%
4/0 Politoed: 40.7% - 47.8%
4/0 Rotom-W: 19.8% - 23.6%
0/0 Salamence: 75.2% - 88.8%
4/0 Terrakion: 139.9% - 165.3%
0/0 Thundurus-T: 46.2% - 54.5%
72/4 Venusaur: 75.2% - 88.7%Suffice it to say, this range of damages suggests CAP would rather go on the offensive with a Belly Drum boost than without one. This is exactly what I believe this CAP's offensive output should look like before and after setup. Any bulky neutral targets, like Ferrothorn, Kyurem-B, and Politoed, are the primary sorts of things that go from the "good check" category to the "not good check" category once BD is successfully used. The bulkiest of the bulky, things like Donphan, Forretress, Heatran, Hippowdon, Jirachi, Unaware Quagsire, and Skarmory, are the hardest stops to +6 CAP's STAB attacks available, fitting squarely in line with our threat list (and then there's Magnezone, who I would like to KO with coverage since CAP outruns all versions of it). The Acrobatics calcs are really strong and take most neutral defensive targets out of the game, but since this isn't the thread for that debate, I have posted them simply to show what this spread's maximum power level would look like.+0 Drill Peck vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 83.7% - 99.2%
252/252+ Blissey: 28.7% - 34%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 40.6% - 48.3%
252/252+ Donphan: 19% - 22.7%
4/0 Dragonite: 36.4% - 43.5% (Multiscale: 18.2% - 21.8%)
252/88+ Ferrothorn: 21.6% - 25.9%
252/252+ Forretress: 18.6% - 22%
4/0 Garchomp: 33% - 39.4%
252/184+ Gliscor: 21.2% - 24.9%
0/0 Heatran: 16.7% - 19.8%
252/0 Heatran: 14% - 16.6%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 17.4% - 20.7%
252/252+ Jellicent: 25.2% - 30%
0/0 Jirachi: 16.7% - 19.6%
252/0 Jirachi: 14.1% - 16.6%
4/0 Keldeo: 76.5% - 90.7%
56/0 Kyurem-B: 28.1% - 33.3%
4/0 Latios: 45% - 53.6%
172/0 Magnezone: 7.7% - 9.3%
4/0 Politoed: 44.7% - 53.1%
252/252+ Politoed: 25.8% - 30.5%
252/0 Rotom-W: 17.8% - 20.7%
248/0 Scizor: 33.2% - 39.4%
252/252+ Skarmory: 9.9% - 11.7%
248/252+ Vaporeon: 24.2% - 28.7%
+6 Drill Peck vs.
252/252+ Blissey: 115.1% - 135.4%
252/252+ Donphan: 75% - 88.3%
4/0 Dragonite: 145.7% - 171.6% (Multiscale: 72.9% - 85.8%)
252/88+ Ferrothorn: 86.4% - 101.7%
252/252+ Forretress: 72.3% - 85.6%
4/0 Garchomp: 131.8% - 155.3%
252/184+ Gliscor: 83.1% - 97.7%
0/0 Heatran: 66.9% - 78.6%
252/0 Heatran: 56% - 65.8%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 69.3% - 81.7%
252/252+ Jellicent: 101% - 119.1%
0/0 Jirachi: 66.3% - 78.3%
252/0 Jirachi: 55.9% - 66.1%
56/0 Kyurem-B: 111.9% - 131.9%
172/0 Magnezone: 30.9% - 36.4%
252/0 Politoed: 149.5% - 176%
252/252+ Politoed: 101.8% - 120.3%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 23.1% - 27.4%
252/0 Rotom-W: 70.1% - 82.9%
248/0 Scizor: 132.1% - 155.7%
252/252+ Skarmory: 38.3% - 45.2%
248/252+ Vaporeon: 96.1% - 113.4%
+6 Acrobatics [no item] vs.
252/252+ Donphan: 102.6% - 121.1%
252/252+ Forretress: 100% - 117.8%
0/0 Heatran: 91.6% - 107.7%
252/0 Heatran: 76.7% - 90.2%
252/252+ Hippowdon: 95% - 112.1%
0/0 Jirachi: 91.2% - 107.3%
252/0 Jirachi: 77% - 90.6%
172/0 Magnezone: 42.6% - 50%
252/252+ Unaware Quagsire: 32% - 37.6%
252/0 Rotom-W: 96.4% - 113.5%
252/252+ Skarmory: 53% - 62.3%
+0 Bullet Punch vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 42.1% - 50%
4/0 Breloom: 26.3% - 31.3%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 15.7% - 18.9%
4/0 Garchomp: 16.8% - 20.1%
4/0 Gengar: 32.4% - 38.9%
4/0 Hydreigon: 19.3% - 23%
4/0 Infernape: 12.9% - 15.3%
0/4 Jolteon: 15.5% - 18.8%
0/4 Keldeo: 9.6% - 11.5%
0/4 Kyurem-B: 29.7% - 35.3%
32/0 Landorus-T: 19.3% - 22.9% (-1: 12.8% - 15.6%)
4/0 Latias: 20.9% - 24.8%
252/0 Latias: 17.3% - 20.6%
0/0 Latios: 22.8% - 27.2%
4/0 Lucario: 13.5% - 16%
0/4 Mamoswine: 38.2% - 45.4%
4/0 Politoed: 11.2% - 13.4%
4/0 Rotom-W: 5.4% - 6.6%
0/0 Salamence: 20.8% - 24.8%
0/0 Starmie: 12.6% - 14.9%
248/32 Starmie: 9.6% - 11.5%
4/0 Terrakion: 39% - 46.4%
0/0 Thundurus-T: 12.7% - 15.1%
72/4 Venusaur: 21% - 24.8%
+6 Bullet Punch vs.
4/0 Alakazam: 168.3% - 198%
4/0 Breloom: 104.2% - 122.9%
120/0 Conkeldurr: 62.2% - 73.2%
4/0 Garchomp: 66.2% - 77.9%
4/0 Gengar: 130.5% - 153.8%
4/0 Hydreigon: 75.8% - 89.6%
4/0 Infernape: 51% - 60.2%
0/4 Jolteon: 62.7% - 74.2%
0/4 Keldeo: 38.1% - 44.9%
0/4 Kyurem-B: 115.6% - 136.6%
32/0 Landorus-T (+5): 66.4% - 78.3%
4/0 Latias: 81.8% - 96.7%
252/0 Latias: 67.9% - 80.2%
0/0 Latios: 90.4% - 106.6%
4/0 Lucario: 53.9% - 63.5%
0/4 Mamoswine: 150.1% - 177.8%
4/0 Politoed: 44.7% - 52.5%
4/0 Rotom-W: 21.9% - 26%
0/0 Salamence: 82.5% - 97.3%
0/0 Starmie: 49.4% - 58.6%
248/32 Starmie: 38.7% - 45.5%
4/0 Terrakion: 152.9% - 180.8%
0/0 Thundurus-T: 50.8% - 59.9%
72/4 Venusaur: 82.1% - 97.2%
The Special Attack stat is unusable, period; and besides, nothing that stands in CAP's way is so significant as to warrant its own moveslot for Hidden Power or any other special attack. I have an aesthetic problem with dumping this stat much lower than it is already, as I see just no way for this Poke to put it to any competitive use.
For the Speed stat, I prioritized outrunning things naturally to simplify CAP's list of offensive counters. SashZam and Jolteon are going to beat us no matter what if we underspeed them, so this spread preserves that notion. This stat also preserves most Choice Scarfers as offensive checks, except for Magnezone and Tyranitar, who don't run Scarf all that often as it stands and would only serve to troll the ladder if they were suddenly incentivized to do so. I originally set the stat at 115, but after some consideration I saw no harm in bumping it up to keep trolls like ScarfTar and Whimsicott (if we give CAP priority) out of the picture. The loss of the coin flip vs. Starmie is bearable, imo, as that Poke has not really factored into our threat list or discussions so far. This Speed requires 232 EVs and a Jolly nature to outrun Starmie and ScarfZone, which frees up 24 EVs to invest in Defense; alternatively, 192 EVs + Jolly outruns the base 110s and frees up 64 EVs.
It's worth noting that 248 EVs and an Adamant nature allows CAP to outrun everything up to and including Jolly Garchomp. The increased damage output helps a good deal against stubborn defensive threats, like Ferrothorn, at the expense of outrunning some of the most dangerous special attackers in the tier. To be fair, of the things that outrun Adamant CAP here, Terrakion, Lati@s, Gengar, and non-Sash Alakazam/Dugtrio mostly become non-issues should this CAP run Bullet Punch. This would leave Infernape, Keldeo, Starmie, SashZam, SashTrio and Jolteon as the only unboosted Pokes that can act as reliable offensive checks, compared to only Alakazam, SashTrio, and Jolteon for the Jolly spread (w/o Bullet Punch). If you consider the eternal threats of Choice Scarf Infernape and Keldeo here, the difference really just comes down to Starmie. So, the tradeoff comes down to more power + bullet punch reliance vs. more speed + moveset freedom. I don't think Adamant will be viable without Bullet Punch, personally; however, given the calcs above, I will concede that there is a pretty even viability between the two natures.
Defenses: 50 / 130 / 75
Well this might be a dicey proposition. Low HP is something that creates a dramatic rift between tanking physical and special hits, which I see as a perfect balancing opportunity here. As a secondary consideration, I chose a dramatically low HP stat to preempt the addition of Drain Punch to the movepool (I guess I should be fully transparent about this). Since Belly Drum takes out 50% of the user's HP regardless of the HP stat, I have for some time on IRC been pushing the idea of taking advantage of Drain Punch's raw, numerical HP healing effect. For example, with 50 HP, Belly Drum's 50% HP loss tranlates to only 120 hit points. This means that if Drain Punch does damage equal to 240 hit points, it would completely heal back all the damage lost. Against defensive Pokemon in particular, who typically have lots of HP to forfeit, this would give CAP a major incentive to boost straight up to +6 so it can heal back big amounts of HP by doing big amounts of damage. That Flying / Fighting is the best 2-move coverage available to this CAP is just icing on the cake. This spread does not hinge on Drain Punch being in the movepool to be successful, nor is it solely based around the move. But at the same time, the HP stat is very well-tailored to abuse the move, should the community decide to include it in the movepool.
After doing some preliminary calcs, it was clear to me that a good amount of physical defense was needed to set up with Intimidate. With the necessity (imo) to reach a super-high Spe stat (111+) and our intended goal of using Belly Drum on top of that, there was no way I could justify giving the CAP all-around wallish defenses (trying to channel the build triangle here). The PT is nominally better than that of Keldeo/Terrakion/Landorus-T, which is around perfect for setting up on a few key opponents with the help of Intimidate. Anything higher I think would risk shifting the balance between ability and bulk; I don't want Intimidate to become a "cherry on top" instead of a strategically significant setup tool.
The way I see it, by typing and ability, CAP has no business setting up on or in any way reliably dealing with special attackers defensively, which is reflected here with a ST in the Forretress range. The calcs below will show how this low ST preserves specially-based Choice Scarfers, Alakazam, and Jolteon as solid offensive counters to even full-HP CAP, especially Scarf Heatran, Infernape, Keldeo, and Politoed, who all resist Bullet Punch (and can OHKO in Rain, which imo is important). With weaknesses to Thunder/bolt and Fire Blast and neutralities to Scald, Surf, Hydro Pump, and Ice Beam, there really aren't that many special attacks in OU worth taking (defensive Celebi don't run HP-Fire), so having a SpD soft spot is a good way to ensure this Poke stays focused on setting up vs. physical opponents and relying on speed to secure a sweep.
Taking a look at the damage difference for physical attackers between +0 and -1, it is plain as day that Intimidate will be a major contributing factor in forcing these threats out or otherwise taking necessary advantage of their diminished damage output. Special Fire-type attacks from the likes of Alakazam, Garchomp, and Latios all fall under the 50% threshold in Rain, giving CAP users real incentive to keep Stealth Rock off the field or at least utilize Sitrus Berry. Same story for Jolly TechLoom's LO Mach Punch, whose maximum damage can be reduced to a flat 49% by investing the 24 EVs saved from outrunning Starmie in Defense. Sets that run Sitrus Berry and can successfully set up with minimal damage can even survive a few unexpected attacks, like anything but Vaporeon's Scald in Rain, SpD Heatran's Lava Plume in Rain, Focus Sash Dugtrio's max power Reversal, and Choice Scarf Jirachi's Thunder/Fire Punch.vs. Choice Scarfers:
Garchomp Outrage: 32.4% - 38.2% (-1: 21.6% - 25.7%)
Garchomp Fire Fang: 46.5% - 55.6% (-1: 31.5% - 37.3%)
Heatran Fire Blast: 206.6% - 244% (Rain: 104.6% - 122.8%)
Infernape Close Combat: 47.3% - 56%
Infernape Fire Blast: 176.8% - 209.1% (Rain: 89.6% - 105.4%)
Jirachi ThunderPunch: 45.6% - 53.9%
Keldeo Surf: 81.3% - 96.3%
Kyurem-B Outrage: 39.4% - 46.5% (-1: 26.1% - 31.1%)
Landorus-T Stone Edge: 39% - 46.5% (-1: 25.7% - 30.7%)
Landorus-T Superpower: 46.9% - 55.6% (-1: 31.1% - 36.9%)
Latios Draco Meteor: 59.8% - 71% (-2: 29.9% - 35.7%)
Latios HP-Fire: 80.5% - 95.4% (Rain: 40.7% - 48.1%)
Politoed Surf [Rain]: 95% - 112%
Terrakion Close Combat: 64.7% - 76.3% (-1: 42.7% - 51%)
Terrakion Stone Edge: 53.1% - 63.1% (-1: 35.7% - 42.3%)
vs. Priority:
Jolly LO Breloom Mach Punch: 42.3% - 49.8%
LO Conkeldurr Mach Punch: 32.8% - 39%
Donphan Ice Shard: 11.6% - 13.3% (-1: 7.5% - 9.1%)
Adamant Choice Band Dragonite Extremespeed: 24.1% - 28.6% (-1: 16.2% - 19.1%)
Choice Band Infernape Mach Punch: 27.8% - 33.6%
Adamant LO Lucario Extremespeed: 18.3% - 21.6%
252 SpA LO Lucario Vacuum Wave: 41.5% - 49%
Adamant LO Mamoswine Ice Shard: 30.7% - 36.5%
Choice Band Scizor Bullet Punch: 26.6% - 31.5% (-1: 17.4% - 21.2%)
vs. Others:
Alakazam Focus Blast: 70.5% - 83.4%
Alakazam HP-Fire: 83% - 97.9% (Rain: 42.3% - 49.8%)
Modest LO Celebi Leaf Storm: 35.7% - 41.9%
Modest LO Celebi HP-Fire: 95.4% - 112.9% (Rain: 47.3% - 56.4%)
0 SpA Celebi Giga Drain: 10.4% - 12.4%
0 SpA Celebi Psychic: 25.3% - 29.9%
Adamant Choice Band Dragonite Outrage: 54.4% - 63.9% (-1: 36.1% - 42.7%)
Dragon Dance LO Dragonite +0 Fire Punch: 60.6% - 72.2% (Rain: 30.7% - 36.5%)
Focus Sash Dugtrio Reversal (200 BP): 51.9% - 61.4%
Focus Sash Dugtrio Stone Edge: 25.7% - 30.7% (-1: 17.4% - 20.7%)
Ferrothorn Gyro Ball (136 BP): 19.9% - 23.7% (-1: 13.7% - 16.2%)
Forretress Volt Switch: 35.7% - 42.3%
0 SpA Garchomp Fire Blast: 68% - 80.5% (Rain: 34% - 40.7%)
Gengar Focus Blast: 68.9% - 81.3%
0 Atk Gliscor Ice Fang: 14.9% - 17.4% (-1: 10% - 11.6%)
252+ Atk Gliscor Ice Fang: 20.7% - 24.9% (-1: 14.1% - 16.6% ; +1: 30.7% - 36.5%)
SpD Heatran Lava Plume: 114.5% - 135.3% (Rain: 57.3% - 68%)
Jellicent Scald: 39.8% - 47.3% (Rain: 59.8% - 70.1%)
0 SpA Jirachi Thunder: 90.5% - 107.1%
LO Jolteon Charge Beam: 100.4% - 119.5%
LO Jolteon HP-Ice: 46.5% - 54.8%
CAP 6 so far:
Typing: Steel / FlyingName: Show Me Your Moves!
General Description: A good user of moves with effects not frequently used in the OU metagame.
Justification: There are many moves in Pokémon with great effects, but they often end up unused. Moves such as Gravity, Snatch, and Safeguard have potential in OU, but they are neglected for several reasons: the moves are apparently overshadowed, have poor distribution, or are inefficient compared to another strategy. This CAP uses a combination of typing, ability, and stats to make these underused moves not only feasible, but also capable.
Questions To Be Answered:
- What mechanics of Pokémon determine how viable moves are?--not only the Pokémon's typing, stats, and ability, but also its interaction with playstyles and momentum.
- What new strategies might emerge by giving a new OU Pokémon underused moves?
- What challenges do Pokémon that use lesser-used moves face compared to ones that use a more standard moveset?
- If the Pokémon has options of staple OU moves (high-powered STABs, offensive stat-boosting moves, reliable recovery, Substitute), will those moves be useful to it, even if it's specialized toward a separate and distinct strategy?
- Can underused moves increase other underused moves' viabilities?
- Can one user of a strategy unrecognized in a metagame massively influence a pre-existing playstyle?
Abilities: Intimidate / ??? / ???
