CAP Underdogs Project

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OP stolen from King UU

CAP Underdogs Project

Welcome to the CAP Underdogs Project! Here, we will experiment on undiscovered Pokemon to figure out where they stand in the CAP metagame. Maybe a particular Pokemon is viable but doesn't receive enough attention for a clear opinion.

Things to note:

-This project's goal is to create Discussion so don't think you can get away only by doing well on the ladder.
-Since the ladder here is less than stellar, don't use it as a source for your replays unless you know that the person you're battling is very skilled or knowledgeable of the metagame. Battles with voiced, drivers, moderators, and room leaders are typically safe since most of them have had significant experience with the CAP metagame.
-Be open-minded, don't just say something is terrible and walk away; look at its stats and typing and think something up!
-Try to back up your posts with hard evidence like replays, actual sets, perhaps even teams. A bit of theorymonning is fine but please don't just make assumptions
-This project is a great way to discuss some of your inventions and innovations!
-Be sure to have experience with the Pokemon before posting!
-Once most people have a clear experience on the current particular Pokemon, we will be moving on to the next one. (This is typically for a week, though it may be longer or shorter)
-You are free to nominate an Underdog in the Viability Ranking if you feel like it is viable enough to be in it!



Current Underdogs:
 
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The first underdog is Nidoking! This Pokemon has risen to popularity in OU due to being able to counter Clefable. It is a Poison-type like Mollux and Plasmanta, but it gets some cool toys unlike them like Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Earth Power, Superpower, and Sucker Punch. It also doesn't mind Stealth Rock too much and can shrug off Thunder Waves and Toxics so that Clefable can't even use these moves against it. Plus it has Sheer Force so it isn't easily worn down through Life Orb recoil.
 
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snake

is a Community Leaderis a Top CAP Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
CAP Co-Leader
I'm just going to post a nice set I thought up of:

Nidoking (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Megahorn / Superpower / Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam

Megahorn lets Nidoking muscle past Colossoil on the switch in, as it 2HKOes. Superpower could be used, but the defense drop makes Nidoking vulnerable to Colossoil's Superpower. Sludge Wave, Earth Power, and Ice Beam are pretty standard and net good coverage among most CAPmons.
 

OLD GREGG (im back baby)

old gregg for life
Nidoking has some interesting traits that help make it effective here in CAP.
  • Sheer Force+Life Orb boosts its offensive prowess by a large margin.
  • Immunity to Toxic and T-wave is quit nice as the meta has shifted towards stall lately.
  • Sheer Force boosted Ground+Poison STAB is a potent combo.
  • As if Nido's STABs weren't enough, it also has access to a long list of Sheer Force boosted attacks to compliment its STABs.
  • Nido's power when combined with the coverage to hit basically any mon you want super effectively leaves it with few switch-ins.

This is not to say Nidoking excels in CAP, its speed leaves much to be desired against many caps mons, and its bulk isn't exactly good either. Two to three neutral hits can usually send it packing. Strong super effective attacks easily KO Nido meaning it requires delicate play to actually be effective. Nidoking is an extremely potent special attacker when used correctly taking huge chunks of HP out of predicted switch-ins. I think a special set is optimal as it gives SF boosted Earth Power, which hits way harder than Earthquake which doesn't get the boost; in fact a lot of physical moves Nido has access to just do not get boosted by SF. Especially the ones you might be tempted to use i.e. Sucker Punch, Megahorn, SuperPower, Earthquake, etc...

With a simple set of Earth Power, Sludge Wave, Fire Blast, and Thunderbolt-Nidoking hits the majority of the meta super effectively and only the bulkiest mons will be willing to switch in. It pairs well with good pivots who can provide it safe entry and fast attackers/strong priority to mitigate its substandard speed.

Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Superpower

Tomohawk @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 136 HP / 252 SpA / 120 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Roost
- Hurricane
- Focus Blast

Syclant @ Life Orb
Ability: Mountaineer
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 168 Atk / 88 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Earth Power
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Superpower

Latios @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 128 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 124 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Surf
- Draco Meteor
- Defog

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 144 HP / 252 Atk / 112 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Flare Blitz
- Roost


This is a team I built to accentuate Nido's good wall-breaking power. CB TTar is a great mon and traps stuff that Nido does not want to deal with. The Scarf Latios set prob looks weird but its tailored to revenge killing very fast specific threats, on top of being a panic button when the hazards get too real. I put Syclant in to gain momentum and basically mindfuck the opponent by SuperPowering their AVColo to death after showing Ice Beam or Earth Power; mixed Syclant is pretty fun to use in general. Tomo and CharX round out the team as secondary physical/special attackers to more efficiently handle stall.

Here are some decent replays of the team in action:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-386940711
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-386943652
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-387023688
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/cap-386999729
 

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