Project ORAS RU Victim of the Week V2, with enthusiasm!! (Week 77: Swords Dance Cacturne)

[Kableye]

Emboar as a check

Emboar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Wild Charge
- Sleep Talk

Missy is really weak especially without Nasty Plot or Spooky Plate. It's defense also is pretty bad, so naturally a physical attacker it can't burn would be a massive threat. Emboar fits the bill, Hex does average damage while Flare Blitz ohko's.

boaring

252 SpA Mismagius Hex (65 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Emboar: 130-154 (36 - 42.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Reckless Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mismagius: 342-403 (131 - 154.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Reserving is for nerds.

 

[rau]

*cough* eat muh scarfgon outrage

meloettaaaaaa es a check!

Meloetta @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Focus Blast

While you don't get the opportunity to Calm Mind bc taunt is super duper gay (you could bluff some other shit idk), Melo's normal typing grants it a nice immunity to Hex, and its special bulk means it takes little damage from D-gleam. Will-o-Wisp kinda sucks since the damage adds up a bit with rocks n all. What melo does back, ya say? Well... you 2HKO with Shadow Ball and Psychic, so yay!

calcs later bc I need to be a contributor to SOCIETY too aka go to school

 

[Thatwackycruton]

Check

Houndoom @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 220 Atk / 36 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Pursuit
- Sucker Punch
- Fire Blast
- Crunch

While not as good as it once was, Houndoom is an effective method of trapping and removing Mismagius, even with the Colbur Berry. Thanks to flash fire, will-o-wisp does nothing to doom, making hex do pitiful damage. Dazzling gleam does decent damage, but Houdoom can do much more to Mismagius back. This set does force a few mind games between sucker punch and pursuit, but they're generally in doomers favor.

 

[fran17]

Camerupt is a soft counter which takes a little damage from Dazzling Gleam and Hex and is immune to WoW, and can reply with a really hard hit.

@ Cameruptite
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 168 HP / 252 SpA / 88 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Earth Power
- Toxic

 

[MrAldo]

Hi, just passing by to say that Im missing at least 2 more nominations so I can update the thread (just 1 more if no special mention) so yeah, Ill be patiently waiting for another one

Preferably at least one more nomination from someone that hasnt posted yet, more from the same posters are welcome.

 

[Miyami~~]

If you need one, I'll reserve Drapion and do it when I'm out of school.

 

[Drangonn.]

Fletchinder is a soft check that is immune to WoW, 2HKO with Acro, takes nothing from Dazzling Gleam, and only fears taking a hex on the switch. It can even set up in its face if it doesn't taunt.

Fletchinder
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Def / 28 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost

 

[Miyami~~]

Sorry! I was sick!

Virizion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Close Combat
- Zen Headbutt / Stone Edge

Yes, I know this isn't drapion. The idea here is that Lum Berry baits out a Will-O-Wisp, you go for a swords dance, outspeed, and then you're set to sweep. I'd call it a check because taunt can mess around, but if you get to +2 Virizion's pretty massive Special Bulk can keep you alive from hex or gleam.

+2 252 Atk Virizion Leaf Blade vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mismagius: 343-405 (131.4 - 155.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Virizion Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mismagius: 255-300 (97.7 - 114.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Virizion Zen Headbutt vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mismagius: 204-240 (78.1 - 91.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Virizion Leaf Blade vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mismagius: 172-204 (65.9 - 78.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Mismagius Hex (65 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Virizion: 75-88 (23.2 - 27.2%) -- 55.9% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Mismagius Hex (130 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Virizion: 147-174 (45.5 - 53.8%) -- 41% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Mismagius Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Virizion: 122-144 (37.7 - 44.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[MrAldo]

Alright, that will do the trick, thanks everyone for the backup, appreciate it :) Winners are as follows!

Counter: Mega Camerupt (fran17) | Exploud (NaCl) | Meloetta (Ryoma Nagare)
Check: Emboar (Kableye) | Virizion (Miyami~~) | Fletchinder (Drangonn)
Special mention: Houndoom (Thatwackycruton)
​

Thanks again :) Moving on to the next victim!

Victim of this week is:

Virizion @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Calm Mind
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast

Time to bring the big guns. Monster of a set with way too different responses from the swords dance set and once it gets down it becomes incredibly scary, almost unbreakable. LETS GO!

DO YOUR RESERVATIONS ON 48 HOURS OR ILL TAKE THE RESERVATION FOR MYSELF. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. IT TAKES 5 MINUTES.

 

[Miyami~~]

Reserving Golbat.

 

[Thatwackycruton]

Check

Fletchinder
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Def / 28 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost

Standard Fletch serves as a competent check to Viriz on most teams. it can switch provided that rocks aren't up, and if they are, it can switch in on any move but focus blast. I was rather shocked to learn that viriz could still 2HKO Fletch through the resist, but I suppose it is a very high power, LO-boosted STAB. Anyway, fletch OHKOes with acrobatics and can go for the SD on a predicted switch, although most CM viriz teams have good answers to fletch.

 

[Drangonn.]

Delphox is a HARD CHECK to Calm Mind Virizion. It takes absolutely nothing from its attacks when unboosted, but falls to a +4 Focus Blast. It has STAB Psyshock to obliterate it, though. Both of its STABs hit it super effectively, and when in a Calm Mind War, Delphox wins.

Delphox @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Psyshock
- Dazzling Gleam
- Trick

or

Delphox @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Psyshock
- Calm Mind
- Grass Knot

 

[gorex]

Meloetta @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 16 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 236 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Psyshock
- Hyper Voice
- Dazzling Gleam

Basically zdrup15's set from back in the day in creative/underrated sets which i really liked the look of, with psyshock > psychic to beat viri through the cm boosts

 

[feen]

Garbodor @ Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Def / 96 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Gunk Shot
- Pain Split
- Haze

Garbodor eats up whatever Virizion hits it with, and can KO it in return with a Gunk Shot.
0 Atk Garbodor Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Virizion: 324-384 (100.3 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Therefore, Garbodor is a counter.

 

[EonX]

Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Focus Blast
- Aerial Ace

Assault Vest Tangrowth is a hard check to Calm Mind Virizion. Virizion's only way of winning the matchup is to hit 2 Focus Blasts in a row at +1. (we all know how that usually works out...) In a best case scenario, (for the Virizion user) Virizion will be sitting around 10% after a min roll from Aerial Ace + 2 rounds of Life Orb recoil. If one of the Focus Blasts misses, Tangrowth wins and can Regenerate about half the damage it took by switching out of whatever comes in behind Viriz.

 

[fran17]

Escavalier @ Choice Band
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Megahorn
- Drill Run
- Iron Head
- Pursuit

CB Escavalier is a nice check to CM Virizion, Focus Blast is a 2HKO on the switch and at +1 it has the 31.8% chance to OHKO, otherwise Esca can take everything and OHKO back with a strong Megahorn!

 

[aurora]

Hoopa @ Life Orb
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Knock Off

Hoopa hard checks Calm Mind Virizion. It does not like switching in on a boosted Giga Drain, as it is always 2HKOed, but it can come in on a Virizion that hasn't gotten any boosts or is boosting for free and devastate it with Psyshock. It is immune to Focus Blast and takes fuck all from Hidden Power.

 

[Thatwackycruton]

Golbat @ Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 180 SpD / 80 Spe
Careful Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Brave Bird
- Super Fang

The monstrously cash specially defensive Golbat is a marvelous counter to special Virizion. It can just Roost away the damage from even a +1 HP Ice:

+1 252 SpA Life Orb Virizion Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 180+ SpD Eviolite Golbat: 125-148 (35.4 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

And, of course, Brave Bird destroys Virizion in return. For the most part, people will not be staying in with Virizion even at +1, so Golbat provides a free turn to Defog hazards away or Super Fang the incoming switch-in.

This was reserved by Miyami~~ I don't really know what happens now, but I don't think it's allowed until the reservation has been invalidated. Still, it's really up to the discression of Aldo

 

[Cirlo]

Scarfed Emboar as a Check

Porchetta (Emboar) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Superpower
- Wild Charge
- Heavy Slam/Sleep Talk

Takes little damage from Giga and HP ice, is faster and can Revenge Kill with Flare Blitz, be aware of Focus Blast that can be painful even at +0 (considering how easy is to take chip damge on Emboar)

252 SpA Life Orb Virizion Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Emboar: 87-104 (24 - 28.8%) -- 99.2% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Virizion Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Emboar: 282-333 (78.1 - 92.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Reckless Emboar Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Virizion: 594-698 (183.9 - 216%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Take Azelfie]

Aerodactyl @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Aqua Tail
- Roost

Aerodactyl can come in on a predicted Calm Mind or after something has died and instantly threaten it with a Flying move (Ace or Wing Attack.) Pretty much your always forced to make Virizion sacrifice itself or make it switch out. Pretty nice check.

 

[Miyami~~]

Golbat @ Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 180 Spd / 80 Spe
Careful Nature
- Taunt
- Roost
- Brave Bird
- Super Fang / Haze

Stallbreaker bat. Takes middling damage from Virizion's attacks, can stop the setup with Taunt or shut it down with Haze, has reliable recovery, and has weakness advantage. Calling it a counter but at worst it's a hard check.

 

[Cheryl.]

Braviary @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Return
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- U-Turn

Simple Check to CM Virizion, can revenge kill it with Brave Bird due to outspeeding due to Choice Scarf, sadly it cannot switch in, but it makes for a good offensive check to Virizion.

 

[MrAldo]

Ah, excellent, lots of submissions this time. Thanks a lot! And glad everyone did their reservations! Winners are as follows:

Counter: Garbodor (fran17) | Delphox (Drangonn) | Golbat (Miyami~~)
Check: Meloetta (gorex) | Tangrowth (with AV) (EonX) | Fletchinder (Thatwackycruton)
Special mention: Hoopa (Aurora) | Aerodactyl (Take Azelfie)
​

Thank you very much :D

Victim of this new week is:

Seismitoad @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Sludge Bomb
- Hydro Pump

Offensive Stealth Rock Seismitoad, but like Offensive. It has a surprising amount of power and respectable coverage to annoy a lot of potential switch-ins. Pretty nice set to be honest. Discuss!

DO YOUR RESERVATIONS ON 48 HOURS OR ILL TAKE THE RESERVATION FOR MYSELF. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. IT TAKES 5 MINUTES.

 

[DTC]

Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder / Knock Off / HP Fire
- Synthesis

Takes 60% max from LO Earth Power and outspeeds and OHKO's. Seismitoad gets worn down every time it uses an attack while Venusaur can heal up with Synthesis. In addition, allowing Venusaur to come in is very scary for a lot of teams unless they have Registeel / Escavalier.

 

[Drangonn.]

Reserving CM Virizion

Virizion @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power Ice

Comes in on a predicted Scald or Earth Power, and can even take a Sludge Bomb pretty well. Threatens with a strong, Life Orb-boosted Giga Drain and can even set up on a predicted switch. A pretty good check to Offensive Stealth Rock Seismitoad.