Yet another WIP.
Munchlax
Set 1: Curselax
Curse
Return
Pursuit
Earthquake/Brick Break/Pursuit/Zen Headbutt
Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 236 HP/ 36 Def/ 236 SpD
Comments:
Good ol' Curselax rises again! After a curse, Munchlax has unmatched 33/18/18 defenses, letting it sponge attacks from both sides of the spectrum with ease, while hitting from an excellent 22 attack with a STAB Return. This Curselax gets played similarly to its counterpart in OU, Snorlax, but with a number of important changes. Because Munchlax doesn't get Crunch, it has to go with Pursuit to hit ghosts SE, which allows you to also move in and threaten special attackers such as Gastly and Abra if you want to go for the kill instead of the free Curse. Rest is a massive liability, and unlike Snorlax, Munch doesn't get Selfdestruct, so it instead goes for better type coverage. Earthquake beats Steels and Rocks. Brick Break may seem reasonable to do the same while hitting Bronzor, but a STAB NVE Return does just as much damage as a neutral Brick Break. Zen Headbutt hits SE things harder, but is rarely a good choice. You can replace Pursuit with any of the aforementioned attacks, but you lose the ability to come in and slaughter Gastly, Abra, and Mismagius.
Set 2: SubPunch
Substitute
Focus Punch
Earthquake/Return
Rock Slide/Return
Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Relaxed/Sassy
EVs: 76 HP/156 Atk/196 Def/76 SpD
Comments:
A gimmicky set, but it could work. Munchlax can come in on a multitude of special attacks, especially fire-type and ice-type ones. It can also come in on fire/ice type physical attacks, so Relaxed is the preferred nature. Once it comes in, people generally switch to something that can actually deal damage to Munchlax, which will allow you to get a Sub up. EQ/Rock Slide give good coverage outside of Focus Punch- EQ hits Poisons, while Rock Slide hits Flying-types. You can also include Return in the place of either attack.
Set 3: Choicelax
- Return
- Pursuit
- Earthquake/Surf
- Zen Headbutt/Earthquake/Facade/Fire Blast
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Brave
EVs: 236 Attack/36 Defense/236 Sp. Defense
Comments
Choicelax is an absurdly powerful hitter right off the bat. Bring it into almost any special attacker, then throw out its incredibly dangerous Return. A STAB Return off of 29 Attack is devastating in Little Cup, crushing most everything that doesn't resist it. Alternately, bring it in on Gastly, Abra, or Misdreavus and Pursuit for the guaranteed kill. Earthquake covers Rhyhorn, Geodude, and Onix, three Pokemon that would normally cause trouble for Munchlax. Alternately, you can use Surf. If you do, move the 36 Defense EVs into Special Attack to ensure the KO. Munchlax's physical movepool is rather mediocre, so you can choose a filler attack. Zen Headbutt hits marginally harder than Return on things that are weak to it, but you won't be flinching with your 6 speed. Alternately, you can use Earthquake for the same reason. If you use Surf, you can also use Fire Blast to beat Bronzor, though it won't be doing much to you. Alternately, you can use Facade in order to eat status effects like Paralysis, as Munchlax isn't doing much with its base 5 speed.
EVs
Munchlax should seek to bolster its low Defense over other things. On the SubPunch set, Attack is important, since you'll only get a couple chances to attack with that set. If you're feeling rather adventurous, you can use Brave or Adamant on the SubPunch set to add a little extra power to your attacks.
Other Options
Given the fast pace of the Little Cup metagame, tossing Natural Gift in the place of Rest on the Curse set can allow it to surprise certain counters if you think that you won't be able to get a Rest in. Watmel Berry gives an 80 BP fire attack to surprise Bronzor, which walls you otherwise. Munchlax also has an interesting special moveset which could possibly be utilized to catch other counters off guard.
Opinion
Munchlax hits like a truck with STAB return, threatens the powerful sweepers of Abra and Gastly with Pursuit, and uses Curse to be a powerful threat to enemies of all types. Its unmatched 135 HP bolstered by 85 Special Defense and Curse combine to create an amazing threat, both defensively AND offensively. It also works as an amazing threat under Trick Room, where its unmatched 4 minimum speed makes ChoiceLax a scary proposition.
Counters
Bronzor can prove to wall Munchlax pretty hard in most cases, as Munchlax can't hit it SE, and its neutral attacks are mediocre at dealing with it. Gastly walls sets that use Brick Break to deal with Zor as well. Fighting Pokemon can also hit it pretty hard as long as it doesn't have a couple curses up yet, so anything that packs a strong Fighting move that can come in before Curse gets out of hand will make short work of it. It's also possible to stat up while it's Resting, outpacing its Curses.
Feel free to give me a hand with tuning this analysis if you can.
Munchlax
Code:
Base stats: Min- Min Max Max+
HP : 135 -- 30 33 --
Atk: 85 13 15 18 19
Def: 40 9 10 13 14
SpA: 40 9 10 13 14
SpD: 85 13 15 18 19
Spe: 5 6 7 10 11Curse
Return
Pursuit
Earthquake/Brick Break/Pursuit/Zen Headbutt
Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 236 HP/ 36 Def/ 236 SpD
Comments:
Good ol' Curselax rises again! After a curse, Munchlax has unmatched 33/18/18 defenses, letting it sponge attacks from both sides of the spectrum with ease, while hitting from an excellent 22 attack with a STAB Return. This Curselax gets played similarly to its counterpart in OU, Snorlax, but with a number of important changes. Because Munchlax doesn't get Crunch, it has to go with Pursuit to hit ghosts SE, which allows you to also move in and threaten special attackers such as Gastly and Abra if you want to go for the kill instead of the free Curse. Rest is a massive liability, and unlike Snorlax, Munch doesn't get Selfdestruct, so it instead goes for better type coverage. Earthquake beats Steels and Rocks. Brick Break may seem reasonable to do the same while hitting Bronzor, but a STAB NVE Return does just as much damage as a neutral Brick Break. Zen Headbutt hits SE things harder, but is rarely a good choice. You can replace Pursuit with any of the aforementioned attacks, but you lose the ability to come in and slaughter Gastly, Abra, and Mismagius.
Set 2: SubPunch
Substitute
Focus Punch
Earthquake/Return
Rock Slide/Return
Item: Oran Berry
Ability: Thick Fat
Nature: Relaxed/Sassy
EVs: 76 HP/156 Atk/196 Def/76 SpD
Comments:
A gimmicky set, but it could work. Munchlax can come in on a multitude of special attacks, especially fire-type and ice-type ones. It can also come in on fire/ice type physical attacks, so Relaxed is the preferred nature. Once it comes in, people generally switch to something that can actually deal damage to Munchlax, which will allow you to get a Sub up. EQ/Rock Slide give good coverage outside of Focus Punch- EQ hits Poisons, while Rock Slide hits Flying-types. You can also include Return in the place of either attack.
Set 3: Choicelax
- Return
- Pursuit
- Earthquake/Surf
- Zen Headbutt/Earthquake/Facade/Fire Blast
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Brave
EVs: 236 Attack/36 Defense/236 Sp. Defense
Comments
Choicelax is an absurdly powerful hitter right off the bat. Bring it into almost any special attacker, then throw out its incredibly dangerous Return. A STAB Return off of 29 Attack is devastating in Little Cup, crushing most everything that doesn't resist it. Alternately, bring it in on Gastly, Abra, or Misdreavus and Pursuit for the guaranteed kill. Earthquake covers Rhyhorn, Geodude, and Onix, three Pokemon that would normally cause trouble for Munchlax. Alternately, you can use Surf. If you do, move the 36 Defense EVs into Special Attack to ensure the KO. Munchlax's physical movepool is rather mediocre, so you can choose a filler attack. Zen Headbutt hits marginally harder than Return on things that are weak to it, but you won't be flinching with your 6 speed. Alternately, you can use Earthquake for the same reason. If you use Surf, you can also use Fire Blast to beat Bronzor, though it won't be doing much to you. Alternately, you can use Facade in order to eat status effects like Paralysis, as Munchlax isn't doing much with its base 5 speed.
EVs
Munchlax should seek to bolster its low Defense over other things. On the SubPunch set, Attack is important, since you'll only get a couple chances to attack with that set. If you're feeling rather adventurous, you can use Brave or Adamant on the SubPunch set to add a little extra power to your attacks.
Other Options
Given the fast pace of the Little Cup metagame, tossing Natural Gift in the place of Rest on the Curse set can allow it to surprise certain counters if you think that you won't be able to get a Rest in. Watmel Berry gives an 80 BP fire attack to surprise Bronzor, which walls you otherwise. Munchlax also has an interesting special moveset which could possibly be utilized to catch other counters off guard.
Opinion
Munchlax hits like a truck with STAB return, threatens the powerful sweepers of Abra and Gastly with Pursuit, and uses Curse to be a powerful threat to enemies of all types. Its unmatched 135 HP bolstered by 85 Special Defense and Curse combine to create an amazing threat, both defensively AND offensively. It also works as an amazing threat under Trick Room, where its unmatched 4 minimum speed makes ChoiceLax a scary proposition.
Counters
Bronzor can prove to wall Munchlax pretty hard in most cases, as Munchlax can't hit it SE, and its neutral attacks are mediocre at dealing with it. Gastly walls sets that use Brick Break to deal with Zor as well. Fighting Pokemon can also hit it pretty hard as long as it doesn't have a couple curses up yet, so anything that packs a strong Fighting move that can come in before Curse gets out of hand will make short work of it. It's also possible to stat up while it's Resting, outpacing its Curses.
Feel free to give me a hand with tuning this analysis if you can.
