Molk
Godlike Usmash
Agreeing with DittoCrow that Spikes are really effective in this metagame, and that many common Spikes setters are starting to become better and better with the advent of the new metagame. These days i'm pretty sure the majority of my best RU teams have at least one way to lay down Spikes, whether it be Qwilfish, Ferroseed, Smeargle, Roselia, or a totally different niche Spikes setter such as Cacturne. Like i believe i mentioned in some of my earlier posts here, i've really fallen in love with Ferroseed in particular lately, it might not be the most powerful when it comes to offense, but that Grass/Steel typing and good mixed bulk is a true blessing, and Ferro's exceptionally good at crippling potential switch ins to it with a combination of Leech Seed and Thunder Wave. What's by far my favorite part about Ferroseed, though, is that it matches up exceptionally well against both the good Spinners DittoCrow mentioned: Kabutops and Cryogonal. It hard counters the former while wearing it down from a combination of Life Orb recoil and Iron Barbs, and can OHKO the other with Gyro Ball if it ever dares to switch in, all the while punishing the opponent for attempting to pull off a Rapid Spin with Iron Barbs.
As for Rapid Spinners, has anyone tried out Shell Smash Torkoal as a potential Spinner? It seems like a pretty effective option on paper, having the physical bulk to set up a Shell Smash, and the power to 2HKO all the Ghost-types at worst after a boost while outspeeding all of them except for offensive Rotom at +2 despite its abysmal Speed stat (who gets OHKO'd by +0 Fire Blast on the switch after Stealth Rock damage). It's probably not as good as Kabutops and Cryogonal, as its grounded, has a lack of reliable recovery, and possesses a weakness to Stealth Rock, but i could see it being a decent option, and its certainly better than at least Sandslash imo, maybe thats just me though.
Torkoal @ White Herb
Trait: White Smoke
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Modest Nature
- Shell Smash
- Fire Blast
- Rapid Spin
- Earth Power
So what do you think?
As for Rapid Spinners, has anyone tried out Shell Smash Torkoal as a potential Spinner? It seems like a pretty effective option on paper, having the physical bulk to set up a Shell Smash, and the power to 2HKO all the Ghost-types at worst after a boost while outspeeding all of them except for offensive Rotom at +2 despite its abysmal Speed stat (who gets OHKO'd by +0 Fire Blast on the switch after Stealth Rock damage). It's probably not as good as Kabutops and Cryogonal, as its grounded, has a lack of reliable recovery, and possesses a weakness to Stealth Rock, but i could see it being a decent option, and its certainly better than at least Sandslash imo, maybe thats just me though.
Torkoal @ White Herb
Trait: White Smoke
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Modest Nature
- Shell Smash
- Fire Blast
- Rapid Spin
- Earth Power
Offensive:
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Spiritomb: 300-354 (99 - 116.83%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Spiritomb: 241-285 (79.27 - 93.75%) -- 43.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus: 246-291 (75.92 - 89.81%) -- 18.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Rotom: 201-237 (83.05 - 97.93%) -- 68.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 156 HP / 0 SpD Golurk: 388-457 (108.37 - 127.65%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Defensive:
0 SpA Misdreavus Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Torkoal: 102-120 (36.29 - 42.7%) -- 88.28% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Torkoal: 127-150 (45.19 - 53.38%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Torkoal: 64-76 (22.77 - 27.04%) -- 43.07% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock
0 Atk Spiritomb Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Torkoal: 120-142 (42.7 - 50.53%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
For the Foul Play damage calc, Torkoal could minimize its attack stat to take less from the attack if that doesnt look like a comfortable damage range
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Spiritomb: 300-354 (99 - 116.83%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Spiritomb: 241-285 (79.27 - 93.75%) -- 43.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Misdreavus: 246-291 (75.92 - 89.81%) -- 18.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Rotom: 201-237 (83.05 - 97.93%) -- 68.75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Torkoal Fire Blast vs. 156 HP / 0 SpD Golurk: 388-457 (108.37 - 127.65%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Defensive:
0 SpA Misdreavus Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Torkoal: 102-120 (36.29 - 42.7%) -- 88.28% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Torkoal: 127-150 (45.19 - 53.38%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Spiritomb Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Torkoal: 64-76 (22.77 - 27.04%) -- 43.07% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock
0 Atk Spiritomb Foul Play vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Torkoal: 120-142 (42.7 - 50.53%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
For the Foul Play damage calc, Torkoal could minimize its attack stat to take less from the attack if that doesnt look like a comfortable damage range
So what do you think?