Project USUM OU Victim of the Week [Week 49: Dragon Dance Gyarados]

[Natan]

Reserving Mimikyu as a check

Mimikyu @ Life Orb
Ability: Disguise
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Sneak
- Play Rough
- Shadow Claw

If you need to check something, Mimikyu is most of the times a good answer, thanks to its ability Disguise that gives it a free turn to set up with Swords Dance and then kill the target with Shadow Sneak.

+2 252 Atk Life Orb Mimikyu Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 304-359 (116.4 - 137.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Just pointing out that Bullet Punch deals a lot to Mimikyu, so would be better use Shadow Claw (which is still a guaranteed KO) since after Rocks + BP Mimikyu may faint after Life Orb damage (and imo you should include these calcs)
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mimikyu: 176-208 (70.1 - 82.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Mimikyu Shadow Claw vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 265-315 (101.5 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[david0895]

Just pointing out that Bullet Punch deals a lot to Mimikyu, so would be better use Shadow Claw (which is still a guaranteed KO) since after Rocks + BP Mimikyu may faint after Life Orb damage

When i was writing the post, the set didn't have that move.
I'll do the necessary changes later

 

[Creator of Chaos]

Reserving Magic guard clefable as a check. Will post after work :)

Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Thunder Wave / Flamethrower / Psyshock / Stealth Rock
- Calm Mind / Thunder wave
- Soft-Boiled

Explanation: Bold Clefable with 216def evs can switch into any move of medichams bar Zen Headbutt and force it out with impunity making it one of the best checks to medicham in the meta. Even with Zen a clean switch barring hacks will achieve a similar result. Once in clefable is free to do what it does best, infuriate oppenents with T-wave, set up rocks, Calm mind or Just Kill the bugger with moonblast. Basically if it lacks Zen headbutt Medicham is little more then fodder to clefable and still has to play prediction games if it has it. Still just a check but a solid one in the current meta

On a sidenote 216def Evs also Avoids OHKOs from LO adamant Bisharp, 2hkos from CB zygarde and even Adamant Lando making it useful against more then just medicham.

Calculations

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As you can see even with an adamant nature Medichams most spamable move fails to 2hko and thanks to magicguard clefable can reliably switch in
- 252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 216+ Def Clefable: 177-208 (44.9 - 52.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
- 252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 216+ Def Clefable: 161-190 (40.8 - 48.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

Its coverage does little better
252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Bullet Punch vs. 252 HP / 216+ Def Clefable: 146-174 (37 - 44.1%) -- 99.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 216+ Def Clefable: 136-161 (34.5 - 40.8%) -- 60.6% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

In return Clef does this
0 SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Medicham-Mega: 224-266 (85.8 - 101.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Unfortunatly There is this, Zen headbutt is want renders Clef a Check rather then counter
252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 216+ Def Clefable: 219-258 (55.5 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Aragorn the King]

Reuniclus as a counter

Reuniclus @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Recover

As a bulky Psychic-type with reliable recovery and an immunity to entry hazards, Reuniclus is one of the most reliable switchins to Mega Medicham. The worst Medicham can do is an Adamant Thunder Punch boosted under Electric Terrain, but that only has a 3.9% chance to 2HKO Reuni. Plus, it's assuming Electric Terrain will be up, which is obviously not always the case. The real calc to look at is Adamant High Jump Kick, which does 46.6% max and thus has a 0% chance to 2HKO Reuniclus. After getting in, Reuniclus can use Recover to slowly get back to full, and then either setup on M-Medi with Calm Mind or 2HKO it with Psyshock.

 

[Match Smoke]

Alolan Marowak
Item @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Shadow Bone
-Flare Blitz
-Earthquake / Bonemerang
-Stealth Rocks / Will o Wisp

Alolan-Marowak is a Check

Alolawak naturally resists most M-Medichams coverage attacks and has immunities to Thunder Punch and HJK. With wise switching Marowak can even counter Medicham as Ice Punch + Zen Headbutt won't KO even with 1 layer of spikes up. Even with an uninvested Atk stat, Thick Club allows Marowak to kill 100% of the time with Shadow Bone. The only attack that will do serious damage to defensive Wak is Zen Headbutt, however with full defensive EVs it will allow Marowak to come in on rocks and still deliver a death blow, barring the flinch hax. All relevant maths below.


0+ Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega: 380-450 (145.5 - 172.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 248 HP / 252 Def Marowak-Alola: 178-210 (55.1 - 65%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Marowak-Alola: 55-65 (16.9 - 20%) -- possible 5HKO after 1 layer of Spikes

 

[nameless90]

Seeing as the two persons who reserved Mega Sableye still don't have done it - even though it was a maximum of 6h. The curse of Sableye ends here.

Reserving Counter: Sableye-Mega

Sableye @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 116 Def / 144 SpD
Careful Nature
- Metal Burst
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover

(I need 30 minutes to finish)

This is the classic utility set, but with Metal Burst in place of Protect in order to abuse Recover against a slow/burned/passive threat and dish out some damage with Metal Burst when your HP is refilled.

252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Bullet Punch vs. 252 HP / 112 Def Sableye-Mega: 61-72 (20 - 23.6%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Ice/Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 112 Def Sableye-Mega: 113-133 (37.1 - 43.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
This is a 3HKO without burns, so the change onto Spe mechanic when megaevolving isn't detrimental here.


Sableye is immune to Normal, Psychic and Fighting moves thanks to its typing and can stomach 2 Ice/Thunder Punches bar crits.

252+ Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 112 Def Sableye-Mega in Electric Terrain: 169-199 (55.5 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Keep in mind that Electric Terrain helps Mega Medicham a lot, but Sableye can win 1 vs 1.

It is way safer to not switch directly onto Mega Medicham, because in this generation Mega Sableye can't use Prankster burn when megaevolving. But see this:

252+ Atk Pure Power burned Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 112 Def Sableye in Electric Terrain: 124-146 (40.7 - 48%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Pure Power burned Medicham-Mega Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 112 Def Sableye-Mega in Electric Terrain: 84-99 (27.6 - 32.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

You can choose to not Mega evolve and you are "bulkier" thanks to the prankster WoW, then you Megaevolve your Ghost while clicking Recover.
This is the best scenario possible, because a prankster WoW makes all the difference.

 

[Martin]

Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronise
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
Bold / Impish Nature
- Softboiled
- Will-O-Wisp
- Knock Off
- Volt Switch / Taunt / Defog

Mew is a solid stop to Mega Medicham, being able to stall out Electric Terrain and resisting or taking pitiful damage from anything else Mega Medicham can throw at it, being capable of crippling it with Wisp, or being able to take advantage of it to either grab momentum or to clear Spikes/Webs. Really solid 'mon in general and pretty solid for patching up balance's matchup versus Medicham a bit.

Alternative

Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronise
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
Bold Nature
- Softboiled
- Swords Dance / Iron Defense / Rock Polish
- Nasty Plot / Amnesia / Will-O-Wisp / Knock Off
- Baton Pass

This set, while much more gimmicky/niche/matchup reliant, is something which is able to turn the tables a bit versus a Medicham team due to its ability to pass off boosts to teammates, which they can use to either severely threaten the opponent's team or to safely set up for a cleanup. This requires slightly better timing to pull off, but it allows Mew to act sort of like the enabler for a wincon late game and to sometimes allow for a cleanup to happen earlier than it would otherwise.

 

[Random Passerby]

As usual, vote for 2 checks and 2 counters. Don't vote for your own set. Voting ends Friday night.

Checks:
Mega Metagross
Choice Scarf Tapu Lele
Gengar
Mimikyu
Mega Pinsir
Latios
Clefable
Alolan Marowak

Counters:
Mega Slowbro
Cofagrigus
Reuniculus
Mega Sableye
Mew

 

[GnralLao]

Checks: Gengar and Clefable

Counters: M-Sableye and Mew

 

[OrangeGuru]

Checks: Gengar and Latios

Counters: Cofagrigus and M-Sableye

 

[Jucherz]

Checks: Mega Metagross and Mimikyu
Counters: Mega Sableye and Mew

 

[david0895]

Checks: mega metagross and scarf lele
Counters: mega sableye and mew

 

[BeardyBennett]

Checks: Scarf Lele and Gengar
Counters: M-Sableye and Cofagrigus

 

[volx757]

Checks: mimikyu + gengar
Counters: cofag + megabro

 

[Futatsuiwa of Sado]

Checks: Clefable, Pinsir
Counter: Cofagrigus, Mega Sableye

 

[Natan]

Checks: Scarf Lele and Gengar
Counters: Mega Sableye and Mew

 

[Leo]

Checks: Clefable and Mimikyu
Counters: Cofag and Gobleye

 

[Sunchipps]

Checks: Clefable and Mimikyu
Counters: Sableye-Mega and Cofagrigus

 

[Empo]

scarf lele, mimikyu

slowbro, mew

 

[vso]

Checks : Mega Pinsir , Clefable
Counters: Mega Slowbro, Reuninclus

 

[Gondra]

Checks: Scarf Lele, Mimikyu
Counters: Reuniclus, Mew

 

[ochoagenalyn]

Checks: Choice Scarf Tapu Lele and Mega Pinsir
Counters: Mega Slowbro and Mega Sableye

 

[Creator of Chaos]

Alright everyone the time for voting is up and I'd like to thank everyone for there sumbissions. Medicham is a tricky mon to deal with but not invincible as demonstrated.

The winners are

Checks: Scarf Lele (GnralLao ) and Mimikyu (david0895 )
Counters: Mega Sabkeye (nameless90 ) and Mew (Martin )

Vote count

Hide

Checks:
Mega Metagross - 2
Choice Scarf Tapu Lele - 6
Gengar - 5
Mimikyu - 6
Mega Pinsir - 1
Latios - 1
Clefable - 5
Alolan Marowak - 0

Counters:
Mega Slowbro - 4
Cofagrigus - 5
Reuniculus - 2
Mega Sableye - 8
Mew - 6

This weeks victim is one of Gen 7s cutest fairies as well as our saviour from the dreaded Sableye stall. Give a warm welcome to the queen of OU Stall-breaker Tapu lele (Queen until Diancie gets her mega stone)

Tapu Lele @ Twisted Spoon / Shed Shell / Fightinium Z
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Psyshock / Psychic
- Moonblast
- Hidden Power Fire / Focus Blast / Shadow ball
- Taunt / Calm Mind

Explanation: Thanks to Psychic Surge in combination with a fantastic Fairy/Psychic typing Tapu Lele is the tiers premier stall and balance breaker. Sadly her speed tier leave's her vulnerable to faster threats like metagross or Gengar but anything slower then her that fails to OHKO will likely be annihilated.

Psyshock is the preferred stab as it beats past special walls like chansey and chunks anything that doesn't Strongly resist it while moonblast hits darks and psychics that would otherwise dare to switch in. From There its pretty much a choice of coverage. Hidden power fire lets it roast steels like Scizor. Skarm and Ferrothorn While Focus Blast hits Tran and Celeesta, Shadow ball tho rare is used for luring metagross and bulky psychics that would otherwise capitalise on the Stabs. Taunt lets her shut down stall entirely while calm mind lets her beat past balance once her checks are removed. Twisted Spoon is prefered Item but shed shell does let her dodge dugtrio while Fightiam Z lets her Nuke chansey and most steels in 1 clean hit.

Goodluck to everyone this Week, happy posting and may the best post dethrone the queen.

Random Passerby please edit title

 

[Natan]

Muk-Alola as a counter.

Muk-Alola @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Atk / 16 SpD
Adamant / Brave Nature
- Kn[ock Off
- Pursuit
- Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
- Shadow Sneak / Fire Blast

Muk-Alola is a great way to check Tapu Lele, it can even avoid a 3HKO if Rocks are on the field, then it can prevent Tapu Lele from running with Pursuit (guaranteed 2HKO if Lele switch and have a 30% Poisoning chance) or, if Tapu Lele stay expecting the Pursuit Muk-Alola can deal a lot with Knock Off or OHKO with Poison Jab/Gunk Shot. So this may cost a predict but anyway you have at least 2 chances of poisoning if you click Pursuit in all turns and, under normal condictions, Muk-Alola will always beat Lele on 1v1 and, unlike most checks in OU, it have Pursuit to prevent Tapu Lele from switching out to some Muk-Alola check.

Calcs

240+ Atk Muk-Alola Pursuit vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 78-93 (27.7 - 33%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
240+ Atk Muk-Alola Pursuit (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 156-184 (55.5 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
240+ Atk Muk-Alola Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 312-368 (111 - 130.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
240+ Atk Muk-Alola Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 468-552 (166.5 - 196.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
240+ Atk Muk-Alola Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 189-223 (67.2 - 79.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 16 SpD Assault Vest Muk-Alola: 112-133 (27 - 32.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Lele All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 16 SpD Assault Vest Muk-Alola: 149-176 (35.9 - 42.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[vso]

Reserving Celesteela as a counter ( will do it quick, trying not to get ninja'd)
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability : Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Flamethrower
Celesteela is one of the few great counters to Tapu Lele, even in spite of the fact that it can take massive damage from Electrium Z and a decent amount of chip from Fightinium Z sets,Thunderbolt it is not slashed on the victim, and Celesteela always has an option of just killing the Tapu Lele, or protecting the attack. Leech Seed + Protect + Leftovers gives it an insane amount of recovery. Celesteela is far from dead weight in any other matchups because it can bluff Autotomize sets and massively annoy its so called "counters" with Leech Seed + Protect + Stealth Rock + an actual switch, unless their name is Tangrowth, which still dislikes taking free Air Slash chip.