Project PU: Buried Treasure Project [Week 15: Munchlax, Dragonair, Cherrim]

[scorpdestroyer]

Approved by WhiteDMist
Banner by scorpdestroyer

Each week, some people (mostly PU council members, but other people as well) will each pick a Pokemon that we feel fit the following criteria:

• Pokemon that are underrated or have lots of undiscovered potential
• Pokemon we forgot existed
• Pokemon that make us think "wtf does this even do"

Through the week, you will be choosing from the Pokemon listed to theorymon, teambuild, and experiment with. Theorymonning will be allowed in the first few days but concrete testing is expected afterwards.

This project is not about doing well with these Pokemon. Instead, we're aiming to see how well a Pokemon does in PU, even if it looks like it sucks. If it does well, then great, we've uncovered a gem! If it sucks, then at least we've made sure it does indeed suck rather than simply theorymonning about it.

We ask that you be open-minded. Please experiment with different sets, different Pokemon, and different styles and step out of your comfort zone or your notion of "standard" and "effective". You are encouraged to post replays, teams, and cores you have used with any of these Pokemon, as well as describe your experiences with the Pokemon honestly, whether or not it had been a good one. It would be good to consider these questions when discussing:

• What are some effective sets this Pokemon can run? How do they perform?
• Which sets are not effective?
• Why should this Pokemon be used over other similar ones?
• Is this Pokemon easy to fit on a team? What kind of teammates / team styles help it the most?
• Overall, is this Pokemon easy to use? Would you recommend using this Pokemon?

At the end of each week, I will pick points from good, well-supported posts and these will be compiled and archived. Excellent contributors will be rewarded with voice (+) in the PS room as well as #pu on synIRC. Also, remember that you can gun for sexy badges (

) as well. If you already have all 3, then your post will look good in the archive :)

NOTE: You are welcome to VM me with suggestions of what mons you want to see tested. I will get to them eventually if I find them interesting.

This interval, our three Pokemon are:

Munchlax | Dragonair | Cherrim​

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Week 1 - Simisage, Victreebel, Sawsbuck

Simisage

Good sets:

Nasty Plot Simisage
Simisage @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ice]

- Special setup sweeper similar to Ninetales

Mixed Lure Simisage

Simisage @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Superpower
- Knock Off
- Iron Tail / Seed Bomb

- Good on teams that need Rose / Licky weakened

Victreebel

Good sets

Wallbreaker Victreebel
Victreebel @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Blade / Power Whip
- Sucker Punch / Knock Off
- Sludge Bomb

- Breaks walls
- Works well on Sticky Web

Sawsbuck

Good sets

Choice Scarf Sawsbuck
Sawsbuck @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Horn Leech
- Double-Edge
- Toxic
- Baton Pass

- Revenge kills Carracosta and the like
- Momentum with Baton Pass

Average sets

SubSalac Sawsbuck
Sawsbuck @ Salac Berry
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 HP
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Return

- Suffered a lot from Steel-types, more priority
- Still can clean up but requires a lot more support than most other SubSalac sweepers

Week 2 - Snover, Zweilous, Ninjask

Snover

Decent sets:

Specially Defensive Snover sets
Snover (M) @ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 248 HP / 172 SpD / 88 Spe
Calm Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Blizzard
- Substitute

Snover @ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Blizzard
- Toxic
- Ice Shard
- Leech Seed

Good teammates include:
- Probopass for trapping Steels
- Glaceon and Rotom-F for abusing hail

Zweilous

Good sets

Choice Band
Zweilous @ Choice Band
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Crunch
- Head Smash
- Sleep Talk / Superpower

- Fits on offensive teams
- Glass cannon wallbreaker that breaks everything if it hits

Decent sets
Tank

Zweilous @ Eviolite
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Crunch
- Outrage
- Superpower

- Fits on bulky offense / balance
- Provides good counter to threats such as Ninetales and Grass-types

Ninjask

Creative sets

Choice Band
Ninjask @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
- X-Scissor
- Giga Drain

- Giga Drain is a cool twist over the standard Night Slash. It 2HKOs Barbaracle, Golem, and Costa with a bit of prior dmg, preventing them from switching in for free

Decent sets

Speed Boost + Baton Pass
Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 172 Spe
Impish Nature
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Aerial Ace
- Protect

- Focus should not be on passing +6 Speed behind sub with SD; that's just too much
- Best way is to pass a sub with Spe boosts so teammate gets in safely
- Works especialy well with Marowak, along with other slowmons
- Hone Claws or SD is another good option to pass, but once again Ninjask shouldn't try to pass too many at once

Week 3 - Rapidash, Simisear, Lunatone

Rapidash

Good sets:

3 Attacks + Morning Sun
Rapidash @ Charcoal / Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Drill Run / Will-O-Wisp
- Morning Sun

- Doesn't get worn down so easily by Flare Blitz recoil and SR
- Smashes stuff with very good coverage

Decent sets

Choice Band Rapidash
Rapidash @ Choice Band
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Drill Run / Low Kick
- Baton Pass

- Hits like a truck
- Actually decent speed, can even bp out for momentum
- However recoil sucks

Simisear

Decent sets

4 Attacks
Simisear @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Low Kick / Focus Blast
- Rock Slide

- Decent coverage
- Immediate offensive presence unlike Ninetales

Average sets

SubEndeavor
Simisear @ Salac Berry
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Endeavor
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot

- Sub + Endeavor to bring foes down to easy KO range for teammates
- Can sorta sweep lategame, but ultimately inferior to Simipour

Lunatone

Decent sets

Rock Polish
Lunatone @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Rock Polish
- Psychic
- Ancient Power
- Earth Power

- Good coverage that hits a lot of the tier
- Needs to be supported well to set up Rock Polish
- Outspeeds a good portion of the tier
- Checks Fire- and Ground-type Pokemon

SubEndeavor
Lunatone @ Colbur Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Psychic
- Earth Power / Moonblast

- Boost up on stuff
- Has reliable recovery

Week 4 - Persian, Furfrou, Cottonee

Persian

Decent sets

Nasty Plot
Persian @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Round
- Hidden Power [Dark] / Hidden Power [Ghost]
- Water Pulse / Substitute

- Fast
- Hits hard for a Persian, can sometimes lure in stuff like Missy, Tangela, and bop them
- Decent coverage

Poor sets
Physical Attacker

Persian @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- U-turn
- ??

- Completely outclassed by the likes of Purugly, Ursaring
- Doesn't have good enough coverage and is weaker outside of Fake Out

Furfrou

Decent sets

Offensive Pivot
Furfrou @ Leftovers
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Return
- Thunder Wave
- U-turn
- Sucker Punch

- Takes physical hits relatively well and has access to U-turn to gain momentum
- Thunder Wave is cool support
- Other good options include stuff like Wild Charge

Average sets
Utility Furfrou

Furfrou @ Leftovers
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic
- Thunder Wave
- U-turn
- Return

- Spam status and U-turn out
- Also works as a pivot but it's more defensive

Cottonee

lol nobody used it sorry, here's a theory set that was posted though, Cottonee might be able to support stuff with it

Cottonee @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Encore
- Memento
- Taunt
- Stun Spore / Knock Off

Week 5 - Drifblim, Monferno, Hypno

Drifblim

B]Good sets[/B]

ChestoRest Calm Mind
Drifblim @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Unburden
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Rest

- Set up on weak special attackers / stuff that can't harm it such as Roselia, special poliwrath, probopass
- After you're done heal off the damage with rest and get +2 boost
- unlike NP Missy can sweep against faster teams

Average / Decent sets
Tank

Weakness Policy
Drifblim @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Sucker Punch
- Endure
- Phantom Force / Will-O-Wisp / Destiny Bond

- Endure to live a super effective hit, enjoy +2 atk +2 spa +2 spe
- unfortunately it's very difficult to support
- dead weight if you don't get hit by super effective attack as it has no good STAB

Monferno

B]Decent sets[/B]

Suicide Lead
Monferno @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Overheat
- Endeavor

- use it on offensive teams
- prevent opposing hazards with taunt, then endeavor them
- blaze overheat hits pretty hard and prevents avalugg from spinning

Decent sets
Tank

Monferno @ Eviolite
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Close Combat
- Slack Off
- Taunt / Stealth Rock
- Will-O-Wisp

- counters Dark-types like Sneasel, Pawniard, Mightyena
- counters Leafeon, Sawsbuck, etc
- works well on stall teams

Poor sets
Fake Out + Grass Knot

Monferno @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Fake Out
- Grass Knot

- sounds cool in theory because it beats opposing sturdy leads
- however extremely predictable and gives up two good moves in exchange for two subpar ones
- terrible lead matchup if they dont lead with barbaracle / golem

Hypno

Mediocre sets

Special Wall
Hypno @ Leftovers
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Thunder Wave
- Psychic

- can pass Wishes
- mostly outclassed by Lickilicky, although it can sorta take on special Poliwrath a tad bit better

Creative sets
Belly Drum Hypno / Greedy Jew

Hypno @ Salac Berry
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Belly Drum
- Zen Headbutt
- Drain Punch

read Don's post for yourself

I present a set known in FU as "Greedy Jew" or "Jewish Yellow Man" (Blame GameFreak for a striking similarity to Antissemitic propaganda). I actually used that in PU with an FU team a bit after the FU ladder was banished just for the nostalgia and while it wasn't marvelous, it still wasn't THAT bad either, managing to do its job properly after some support. Hypno's solid Special Defense actually lets it set up on weaker defensive Pokemon such as defensive Psychic-types as well as RestTalk Poliwrath (eve I that dont play PU a lot know that it's outclassed but everyone uses it lol). Zen Headbutt + Drain Punch gives good overall coverage in PU, with a special nod to Drain Punch making it able to recover HP, and Sub can help bring HP down to Salac as well as dodge random Sucker Punches from Pawniard and Mightyena. A Jolly nature is preferred because it lets Jewish Yellow Man hit 384 Spe, the same as a +1 Jolly Fraxure and things like Zebstrika and +2 +Spe Carracosta; while Adamant fails to outspeed jumpluff by 1 point. Be wary though, this set requires a certain degree of support to work propely, like Spikes and Pursuit (though the only bulky psychic in PU is Grumpig and male Meowstic I guess...?). Also Sticky Web is appreciated and allows Hypno to run Adamant. If only Greedy Jew could Baton Pass with Belly Drum tho :(

Week 6 - Quilladin, Mothim, Whiscash

Quilladin

Good sets

Bulky Spikes
Quilladin @ Eviolite
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer
- Synthesis
- Roar

- Poor offensive presence
- Counters Roselia, Haunter, Ghost-types
- Fits well as a Spiker on stall teams
- 40 Spe can outrun Relaxed Poliwrath, while 56 Spe can outrun neutral Carracosta

Decent sets
Suicide Spikes

Quilladin @ Focus Sash
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Wood Hammer
- Endeavor

- Outruns Dwebble and Taunts it, also outruns the likes of Togetic and Pelipper
- Endeavor after bringing itself down to sash

Offensive Spikes

Quilladin @ Eviolite
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Taunt
- Spikes
- Wood Hammer

- Outspeeds notable mons like Golem, Pelipper, etc
- Sets up Spikes and hits decently hard with dual STABs
- Helps offensive teams also wall stuff like Haunter and Misdreavus

Mothim

Average sets

Choice Specs
Mothim (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Bug Buzz
- U-turn
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Air Slash / Sleep Talk

- 252+ SpA Choice Specs Tinted Lens Mothim Bug Buzz vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Pelipper: 256-302 (79.2 - 93.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
- U-turn on stuff that wall you like balloon Probopass, Togetic, Lickilicky
- Needs Sticky Web to function well
- Difficult to justify use over other better SW mons like Heatmor
- Still slow, needs Timid to outrun Zebstrika in SW

Bad sets
Quiver Dance

Mothim (M) @ Life Orb / Yache Berry
Ability: Tinted Lens
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Bug Buzz
- Quiver Dance
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Air Slash

- 100% outclassed by Butterfree because it can use sleep powder to set up and outrun base 110s with a modest nature
- Frailest thing ever and needs the speed from Timid to outrun stuff

Whiscash

Average sets

Dragon Dance
Whiscash @ Life Orb
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature / Lonely Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Ice Beam / Zen Headbutt

- Doesn't really stand out much from other sweepers like Carracosta
- Set up DD on stuff

Creative sets
Tank

Whiscash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA
- Hydro Pump
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Electric]

- Surprises stuff
- Ground STAB sorta sets it apart from Floatzel

Week 7 - Golduck, Lampent, Parasect

Golduck

Good sets

Rain Dance Sweeper
Golduck @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Psychic
- Rain Dance
- Ice Beam

- Set up rain late game
- Sweep
- Weaken walls first with wallbreakers
- Outspeeds even fast Scarfers like Raichu

Average sets
CroDuck

Golduck @ Leftovers
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 196 HP / 176 SpD / 136 Spe
Calm Nature
- Calm Mind
- Rest
- Scald
- Sleep Talk

- Lacks a lot of setup opportunities
- Outdone by most other CM sweepers

Decent sets
Substitute + Calm Mind

Golduck @ Leftovers
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 196 HP / 176 SpD / 136 Spe
Calm Nature
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
- Scald
- Ice Beam

- Checks Water-types with its decent bulk
- Does well vs bulky teams

Lampent

Untested sets

Choice Specs / Scarf
Lampent @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Trick / Energy Ball
- Clear Smog

Bulky Calm Mind
Lampent @ Eviolite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 216 HP / 240 SpA / 52 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball

Offensive Trick Room
Lampent @ Eviolite / Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Trick Room
- Memento / Energy Ball / Will-O-Wisp

Parasect

Average sets

Offensive Spore + 3 Attacks
Parasect @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spore
- X-Scissor
- Seed Bomb
- Knock Off / Brick Break

- Use in TR
- Spore is really nice
- Decently powerful, for example 2HKOs Pawniard with LO X-Scissor

Untested sets
Specially Defensive

Parasect @ Leftovers
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Careful Nature
- Spore
- Synthesis
- Seed Bomb
- Knock Off / Aromatherapy / Leech Seed

- Probably walls Water- and Electric- and some Grass-types really well, for example taking max 44% from Poliwrath's Ice Beam

Agility

Parasect @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Agility
- Spore
- Seed Bomb
- Knock Off

- Jolly enables it to outrun everything under 110 Speed at +2

Week 8 - Wigglytuff, Tropius, Swalot

Wigglytuff

Decent sets

Offensive
Wigglytuff @ Life Orb
Ability: Competitive
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: NaN Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Dazzling Gleam
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam / Thunderbolt

Defensive
Wigglytuff @ Leftovers
Ability: Competitive
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: NaN Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Hyper Voice
- Dazzling Gleam

Sets that make your opponent laugh till they timeout
Physical Attacker

Wigglytuff @ Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Return
- Play Rough
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off

Anti-Lead
Wigglytuff @ Power Herb
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- SolarBeam
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Magic Coat

Tropius

"The only Tropius set anywhere near worth using during testing, but it's pretty decent"

SubSeed
Tropius @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: NaN Atk
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Air Slash
- Protect / Energy Ball / Toxic

- You can run max SpD but Tropius doesn't do very well vs a lot of special attackers
- 116 Spe can outrun Pelipper

Average sets
Swords Dance

Tropius @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Earthquake
- Aerial Ace

- Lum Berry with Harvest and Natural Gift gives a Flying STAB and immunity to status if you're into that
- The Chlorophyll set probably wants to be used in sun, while the Harvest set probably wants to be off your team

Special Sun Sweeper
Tropius @ Life Orb / Heat Rock
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sunny Day
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Air Slash / Synthesis

- Victreebel is probably better

Swalot

Average sets

Choice Band
Swalot @ Choice Band
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch / Bullet Seed
- Explosion

- 176 Spe outruns Golem and Marowak

Week 9 - Leavanny, Aurorus, Swoobat

Leavanny

Average sets

Agility
Leavanny @ Life Orb
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Agility
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Knock Off

SubSalac
Leavanny @ Salac Berry
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Endure
- Leaf Blade
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance

- Most Leavanny are outclassed by the likes of Leafeon and Jumpluff without a Sticky Web set, so these sets make the most of its Bug STAB

Aurorus

Good sets

Stealth Rock Lead
Aurorus @ Focus Sash
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Blizzard
- Stealth Rock
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power

- Hail breaks Sturdy and Sashes so you only limit opposing leads like Barbaracle and Golem to just rocks
- Hits quite hard
- Wears down opposing walls with hail damage

Swoobat

Decent sets

Calm Mind + Berry
Swoobat @ Kee Berry / Salac Berry
Ability: Simple
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Signal Beam
- Roost / Substitute

- Simple and a pinch berry give it lots of boosts to abuse with Stored Power
- Needs quite a bit of team support: help it to set up with screens / Memento, and priority needs to be taken out of the picture before it gets the Kee boost

Week 10 - Bibarel, Seviper, Meganium

Week 11 - Lapras, Girafarig, Octillery

Week 12 - Ariados, Regigigas, Walrein

Week 13 - Sliggoo, Magcargo, Dunsparce

Week 14 - Politoed, Gabite, Raticate

Week 15 - Munchlax, Dragonair, Cherrim

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Theorymonning here but I believe the best Simisage set to be a mixed Life Orb set. Something like Giga Drain / HP Ice / Substitute / Low Kick or Gunk Shot can in theory lure in walls such as Lickilicky, Regice and Togetic while being quite fast. Nasty Plot sounds like a good set as well, although I doubt SubSalac will be anywhere near as good as Simipour because Simisage has poor 2-move coverage and a 3 attacks set will probably be the best way to go about it. Serperior leaving means Simisage is actually PU's fastest special attacking Grass-type which is pretty nice.

For Victreebel, I'm really interested in a mixed Life Orb set. Leaf Storm / Sludge Bomb / Knock Off / Sucker Punch is the set I'm probably going to try out because it seems like it can decimate a lot of stuff without having to set up.

Sawsbuck is probably the one explored the most but I'm wondering if SD / Double-Edge / Horn Leech / Megahorn @ Life Orb could be worth it. It sounds really specialized and it probably is but it does cool stuff like:
+2 252 Atk Life Orb Sawsbuck Megahorn vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Tangela: 335-395 (100.2 - 118.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

So yeah those are some ideas I'm throwing up. I'm probably going to test Victreebel so I'll come back with stuff

 

[TONE]

Imma agree with what scorp said regarding his theories while adding a bit of my own intake on the matter. Mixed LO Simisage would be best while at the same time I feel that Rock Slide could also work on Fire-types even tho they get hit just as hard by Gunk Shot while still nailing Regice and Togetic. SubSalac won't be as good as Simipour due to lack of relaible coverage moves, much like its monkey breathren, it does get Endeavor which can come in handy should the moment arise to use it.

For Victreebel, i also believe that mixed LO is a legit set to run for the reasons scorp mentioned. The fact that it also has access to Sucker Punch means it can at least do some damage to other pokemon the outspeed it which other Grass-types in the tier can't claim to do.

For Sawsbuck, a SD set with the set scorp mention is very viable as Megahorn can let it get past bulkier Grass-types. Jump Kick could also be an option over Megahorn if Avalugg is a problem as does have a chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock (tho in my case, I usually have a pokemon to handle Avalugg).
+2 252 Atk Life Orb Sawsbuck Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Avalugg: 276-325 (70.2 - 82.6%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

I'm more than likely will test Simisage out as it can utilize its base 98 Atk and Sp. Atk to some measures.

 

[Anty]

As some of you may know, i have a fetish for a certain sawsbuck set:

Sawsbuck @ Salac Berry
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 HP
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Return

This is quite comparable as late game sweeper to Simipour in both the way it is played and effectiveness. You remove/weaken its checks and counters (Sneasel/Piloswine/Tangela/Metang/Klang/Avalugg), i personally like special Poliwrath (or other ice beam water types) who beats most of them, then wear down the opposing team and sweep. This is why i like wrath, it baits in pokes like missy and Pelipper which Sawsbuck can set up on (ofc it depends on the missy set/predictions). The reason i use this over other wincons like rock polish Torterra and Simipour or whatever, is that the opponent doesnt expect this, which allows me to weaken what can stop this as they feel their Tauros or Scyther is enough to handle this. It also fits better on certain teams, and doesnt have to be built around, i have been in situations where it can fit in perfectly due to the way the team is built.


Moving on to Simisage, i have tried the nasty plot set quite a lot (also Rhythms double grass stab is a waste of a move slot, focus blast is almost necessary to hit Bouffalant), and it is a lot better now than it was in the Serperior meta. Here is a set i have been trying out, and in a couple games, has been successful:

Simisage @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain

This is actually a pretty fun set and is a huge annoyance to most bulky teams, while has a good offensive presence making it decent against offensive teams. Its speed tier is amazing, as unlike gourgeist-small, it can outspeed Ninetales and Dodrio, two common pokes who threaten sub seeders (especially the former who laughs at Will-o-wisp) while also outspeeding +2 carracosta, which is just a nice 'side effect'. Focus blast is what makes this set; hitting Bouffalant is huge asset for Pokemon that try and spam grass moves. This set works well against Pokemon like lickilicky, who cannot break the Substitute, as well as the ever so common water types that sage forces out. A more bulky spread could be used, but it still isnt bulky, and its subs just live a lickilicky knock off

Mixed arent as effective as simipour imo, but bait different stuff in (this baits several nfe grass types, mainly roselia, and cripples with knock off, and ofc lickilicky with focus blast), but i doubt it will be as effective as it is in fu (no gogoat everywhere, sadly)

 

[Froggyboy]

Simisage @ Liechi Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Seed Bomb
- Acrobatics
- Knock Off / Low Kick / Rock Slide

Purpose of this set is to sub twice, get your Liechi activated, and then wreck. This thing can hit most walls in the tier hard, though it does need SR support, as well as a free switch into something, as Simisage is pretty frail. Liechi Berry, Substitute and Gluttony makes the set. while Seed Bomb is STAB. Acrobatics is used for hitting grass types harder than any other move you have, securing 2HKOs on things like Leafeon and Torterra, and OHKOs on Victreebel and Gogoat. Finally, the last move is up to you. Low Kick is to hit Lickilicky and Avalugg for super effective damage, Knock Off can be used to hit Misdrevaus and Metang for super effective damage, while also getting rid of their Eviolite, while Rock Slide could be used to 2HKO Togetic and secure a 2HKO on Pelipper

Calcs because I like to calc things:

Hide

+1 252 Atk Simisage Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Roselia: 226-266 (74.3 - 87.5%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252 Atk Simisage Low Kick (120 BP) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Avalugg: 188-222 (47.8 - 56.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252 Atk Simisage Low Kick (100 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Lickilicky: 282-332 (66.5 - 78.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252 Atk Simisage Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Misdreavus: 172-204 (53 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252 Atk Simisage Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Ninetales: 187-221 (65.1 - 77%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252 Atk Simisage Low Kick (100 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Regice: 268-316 (73.6 - 86.8%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252 Atk Simisage Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Metang: 126-150 (38.8 - 46.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252 Atk Simisage Rock Slide vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Togetic: 110-130 (35.1 - 41.5%) -- 66.4% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252 Atk Simisage Rock Slide vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Pelipper: 146-172 (45.2 - 53.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252 Atk Simisage Seed Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mr. Mime: 229-270 (80.6 - 95%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[ManOfMany]

If we want to do Substitute-Berry gimmicks, here's one for Victreebel

Victreebel @ Salac Berry
Ability: Glutonny
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Growth
- Belch
- Giga Drain

I started using this set as a gimmick, but it actually worked quite well.

Imagine this scenario:
1. Victreebel switches in on Poliwrath. Victreebel uses substitute as the opponent switches out to Rapidash.
2. The foe's Rapidash uses Flare Blitz. The substitute breaks, and Victreebel uses another sub, activating the Salac berry.
3. Victreebel moves first and uses Growth, giving it +1 SpA as the Rapidash uses Flare Blitz again to break the sub.
4. Now Victreebel is free to wreck havoc upon the opponent's team with a +1 Belch.

http://play.pokemonshowdown.com/battle-pu-207904920
Here's a nice replay of SubSalacBelch sweep in action, unfortunately I got the Sitrus berry EVs wrong though.

 

[Anty]

After playing a bit more with these three i do have more to say. (pre warning if i screw up the sets)

Victreebel
I was using the wallbreaking set of sludge bomb/leaf blade/sucker/sleep power, for the start and it was ok, as as i had to rely on sucker punch a lot on offensive teams, and i found myself sacking it to pokes like tauros or ninetales just to get a bit of chip damage. I then tried other stuff on it; with the introduction of pawniard, i was getting frustrated at how easily it switches in (probo is also annoying) so i tried hidden power fighting, which was a nice bait for pawniard, but otherwise wasnt too useful. However, i found victreebel very effective on sticky web, as unlike strong pokes like heatmor it still had decent speed (i used knock off>sucker) so put in quite a lot of work.

sets

Victreebel @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Leaf Blade
- Sucker Punch
- Sludge Bomb

Sawsbuck
This also disliked the new drops, pawniard beats its dual STAB, armaldo checks it and torkoal laughs at it. Sub sd + salac was getting harder to pull off (pawniard was annoying, and i saw more vaccum wave poliwraths and haunters fsr) so i decided to try out other sets. Subpass + 2 attacks to bait in and pivot out on regular checks was ok, though leafeon does it better, otherwise most were just gimmicks, so then i tried scarf. Although it wasnt as good as it was earlier, it was still decent. It worked well on a baton pass team, which could take advantage of pokes like tangela and others who like to switch in. Generally, it didnt feel as good as it used to.

sets

Sawsbuck @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Horn Leech
- Double-Edge
- Toxic
- Baton Pass

Sawsbuck @ Salac Berry
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 HP
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Return

Simisage
I had a mixed results with this, although mostly positive. I started out using the sub seed set which actually worked, however it wasnt too hard for the opponent to play around and there were common pokes like roselia (and scyther when it was here) that were annoying. I moved to the Nasty plot set, which i felt was a lot better. Although most people use stuff like ninetales for the same job, this just felt really nice as it could set up on water types that are common, and i felt people just underestimated it so it put in a lot more work than i expected. The mixed set is ok, lickilicky wasnt too common when i played, but knocking off roselia was pretty nice.

sets

Simisage @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain

Simisage @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Focus Blast
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Simisage @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Superpower
- Knock Off
- Iron Tail / Seed Bomb

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Conclusions from Week 1:

Simisage: Can run a good Nasty Plot + 3 Attacks set. Mixed wallbreaking sets are decent. However, its poor coverage means Sub Nasty Plot sets are difficult to pull off. Physical sets seem decent in theory but no concrete evidence of testing has been shown, so I can't archive them, sorry :s

Victreebel: Took a hit from the drops, especially Pawniard. Mixed wallbreaking sets are probably its best bet outside of sun or SD. Work very well with Sticky Web.

Sawsbuck: Took a huge hit from the drops as well as competition from Leafeon. Scarf sets remain one of its best bets, but other sets such as SubSalac are more difficult to pull off. SubPass + 2 Attacks is decent but Leafeon probably does it better.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week. I don't have a problem if you continue to use these Pokemon and post about them in this thread! Time for a new week though.

This week, our three Pokemon are:

Snover | Zweilous | Ninjask​

 

[Anty]

Ninjask @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
- X-Scissor
- Giga Drain
As every one knows Ninjask has gained a lot of viability now scyther is gone. It plays like how you play scyther, come in from a volt switch or after a ko then uturn out, or maybe sweep late game with x-scissor or aerial ace. The only other move to put in the last slot would be night slash, which only hits missy, so i opted for giga drain, which prevents ninjask from being fodder for baracle/costa and lets it hit golem.
4 SpA Ninjask Giga Drain vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Solid Rock Carracosta: 135-159 (46.5 - 54.8%) -- 56.3% chance to 2HKO
4 SpA Ninjask Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Solid Rock Carracosta: 135-159 (38.3 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
4 SpA Ninjask Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Golem: 180-212 (59.8 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 SpA Ninjask Giga Drain vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Barbaracle: 144-172 (50.3 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Although quite specific, it has one me a game once (gigad on setting up costa who i lo stalled)

Briefly looking at the other two; zweilos is an excellent wallbreaker, but limited due to accuracy and speed, while also functioning as a ninetales check, while i havent used snover recently, it looks interesting paired with snow cloak mons

Sorry for not posting replays, i forgot to save them :<

 

[Raiza]

Zweilous @ Choice Band
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Crunch
- Head Smash
- Sleep Talk / Superpower

Ok so I had the opportunity to try this little guy thanks to the team built in the shop, and I got surprised that this is a decently good Wallbreaker in PU, since most of the teams aren't that fast and they are not prepared to him because he's one of the two viable dragons in the tier(fraxure is the other one). I think Choice Banded is the only viable set for him, since every other set would have been a waste for Zweilous' wallbreaking abilities. I personally think Hustle is a really good ability, that makes Zweilous 2hko even bulky pokémons, unfortunately the downside is pretty big, since you can't afford to miss a move with a fragile pokémon like him and then get locked into it, but it's good if you're not unfortunate as hell. His decent type makes him check some pokémons and go into revengekill to put some big damages on the table. I don't think he really needs a lot of support because it is a pretty offensive pokémon which you can't really build on, but it fits well on Offensive teams and if you need a glass cannon wallbreaker that helps you against bulky Pokémons like Lickilicky, Roselia etc. then I highly recommend you using this guy, but don't expect this to carry a battle.

 

[Magnemite]

free aurorus (Snover) @ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Blizzard
- Toxic
- Ice Shard
- Leech Seed

It really doesn't matter what set you have on this, but I chose the four moves I thought would be the most useful. Hail has actually surprised me, never was I in a position in a battle where I felt I would have been way better off with a normal team, unlike what I expected. Probopass dropping really helped hail, as it gives it SR + a Pawniard check, a way to trap opposing Probopass, a decent Ninetales check, a Rotom check, and other valuable things all in one slot. You only really have room for two hail abusers, otherwise you're just unable to cover weaknesses at all. Your options include Scarf / Specs Glaceon, Agility Articuno (not recommended, it's basically impossible to fit a hazard remover on a decent hail team, but it's an option), Rotom-F, Regice, and some other, much less effective Ice-types. The hardest part of building hail is dealing with Fighting-types. Kadabra is naturally good on hail, so it is a good option. Most traditional Fighting-checks don't really fit on hail, so there aren't really many other good options, but Fighting-types aren't impossible to beat with residual damage and just wearing them down. Hail will definitely be more than viable when Snow Warning Aurorus is released (a bit ironic since Snover, the actual subject of this project, will be unviable then), but for now it's a fun type of team that isn't exactly the best, but definitely works.

Finally, here's a decent replay of hail in action: http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/pu-210155323

 

[2xTheTap]

Ninjask @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 12 SpA / 244 Spe
Naughty Nature
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
- X-Scissor
- Giga Drain

Hey, Anty - small nitpick, but you can afford to invest more SpAtk in that Ninjask spread. The reason being is that Ninjask does not need 419 speed. It really only needs 417 speed to outspeed Electrode by 1 pt (at 416, if it's timid 252). The only two pokemon that hit 418 speed that might change that are +2 252 Dwebble and 252 Swift Swim Relicanth, but I have literally never seen a Swift Swim Relicanth or a SS Dwebble on the ladder (they hit 418 speed, according to http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/speed-tiers-pu.3519533/ ).

I also have a Snover for you.

Stalin (Snover) (M) @ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 248 HP / 172 SpD / 88 Spe
Calm Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Blizzard
- Substitute

This EV spread lets Snover hit 138 speed, which outspeeds Uninvested Piloswine, Lickylicky, Metang, Klang, Regice, Beartic, Carbink, Prinplup, Shelgon, and Bellossom (among others). With a combination of Hail and Sub / Protect / Leech Seed, you can stall out slower pokemon. If you have a sub out, and you predict a switch, you can hit with 2 100% accurate, STAB Blizzards.

 

[Magnemite]

Ninjask @ Choice Band
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Atk / 12 SpA / 244 Spe
Naughty Nature
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
- X-Scissor
- Giga Drain

Hey, Anty - small nitpick, but you can afford to invest more SpAtk in that Ninjask spread. The reason being is that Ninjask does not need 419 speed. It really only needs 417 speed to outspeed Electrode by 1 pt (at 416, if it's timid 252). The only two pokemon that hit 418 speed that might change that are +2 252 Dwebble and 252 Swift Swim Relicanth, but I have literally never seen a Swift Swim Relicanth or a SS Dwebble on the ladder (they hit 418 speed, according to http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/speed-tiers-pu.3519533/ ).

I also have a Snover for you.

Stalin (Snover) (M) @ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 248 HP / 172 SpD / 88 Spe
Calm Nature
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Blizzard
- Substitute

This EV spread lets Snover hit 138 speed, which outspeeds Uninvested Piloswine, Lickylicky, Metang, Klang, Regice, Beartic, Carbink, Prinplup, Shelgon, and Bellossom (among others). With a combination of Hail and Sub / Protect / Leech Seed, you can stall out slower pokemon. If you have a sub out, and you predict a switch, you can hit with 2 100% accurate, STAB Blizzards.

Unless the extra SpA EVs get any important KOes, max Speed is still recommended to tie with other Ninjask.

I don't really like the idea of Substitute or Protect on Snover to be honest, keeping hail up is by far Snover's most important job, and these moves eat through valuable hail turns. If Snover was bulkier it would be an interesting option, but 60/50/60 defenses without Eviolite are hard-pressed to wall much of anything, and detracting from Snover's main purpose isn't the best idea when it is already a burden to have to use a teamslot on it.

 

[2xTheTap]

The thought process behind that Snover is to combine Snover stalling, residual Hail damage and Tspikes (was much better during Garbodor meta, where Garbodor could fit on any style team) for a Hail / Semi-stall team. Otherwise, a different spread and moveset (or a different mon who doesn't gimp you by taking up a useful teamslot in general lol) can easily be used, as Hail Stall isn't great.

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Hmm Magnemite could you post the hail team? I'm interested.

When I built and played with Snover I wasn't focused on building a dedicated hail team. I used a similar set except with more emphasis on bulk, with Eviolite and Protect over Ice Shard. My aim when building was to try and take advantage of Hail's residual damage rather than throw on multiple offensive hail abusers. I threw on attackers like LO Rotom-F, Tauros, etc that really liked Hail's residual damage to nab the extra KOs. For example Missy can no longer counter Tauros effectively by taking hail damage each time it switched in. I wasn't really building around hail per se; I was more focusing on Snover as a special wall that helps chip away at opponents while countering Pokemon like Rotom-F and other Grass-types thanks to its actually decent special bulk

As for the other mons I have played one or two matches with Speed Boost BP Ninjask using a set of Sub / Protect / Flash / BP but I haven't really used it enough to safely talk about its effectiveness. I also tried tank Zweilous using Outrage / Crunch / Superpower / Thunder Wave @ Eviolite for a few matches and I'll probably come back with thoughts later. Zweilous checks important mons like Beheeyem, Grass-types, and Ninetales, but can't check Water-types because they always have Ice Beam. Hence I paired it up with teammates like Roselia and Poliwrath going towards a bulky offensive direction but I'll come back with more on that.

 

[Magnemite]

Hmm Magnemite could you post the hail team? I'm interested.

When I built and played with Snover I wasn't focused on building a dedicated hail team. I used a similar set except with more emphasis on bulk, with Eviolite and Protect over Ice Shard. My aim when building was to try and take advantage of Hail's residual damage rather than throw on multiple offensive hail abusers. I threw on attackers like LO Rotom-F, Tauros, etc that really liked Hail's residual damage to nab the extra KOs. For example Missy can no longer counter Tauros effectively by taking hail damage each time it switched in. I wasn't really building around hail per se; I was more focusing on Snover as a special wall that helps chip away at opponents while countering Pokemon like Rotom-F and other Grass-types thanks to its actually decent special bulk

As for the other mons I have played one or two matches with Speed Boost BP Ninjask using a set of Sub / Protect / Flash / BP but I haven't really used it enough to safely talk about its effectiveness. I also tried tank Zweilous using Outrage / Crunch / Superpower / Thunder Wave @ Eviolite for a few matches and I'll probably come back with thoughts later. Zweilous checks important mons like Beheeyem, Grass-types, and Ninetales, but can't check Water-types because they always have Ice Beam. Hence I paired it up with teammates like Roselia and Poliwrath going towards a bulky offensive direction but I'll come back with more on that.

most of these aren't my actual spreads

free aurorus (Snover) (M) @ Icy Rock
Ability: Snow Warning
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Blizzard
- Toxic
- Ice Shard
- Leech Seed

Glaceon (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Ice Body
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Blizzard
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Baton Pass

Probopass (M) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Earth Power

Kadabra (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Encore
- Calm Mind

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Encore

Rotom-Frost @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Blizzard
- Thunderbolt
- Rest

Scarf Rotom + Specs Glaceon also works, but I was running Chestorest Rotom and Scarf Glaceon to bluff that (which works fairly well, as you can see in the replay in my above post).

Also, you can use Snow Cloak instead of Ice Body on Glaceon if you really want to, but Ice Body helps mitigate SR damage, which is really useful for something on a hail team.

Using Snover that way is interesting, but you can get mostly the same thing with sand, which lets you run Sand Rush Stoutland too. It obviously doesn't check the things you mentioned though, so it's not like it's entirely outclassed by sand.

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 172 Spe
Impish Nature
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Aerial Ace
- Protect

Marowak @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bonemerang
- Knock Off
- Double-Edge
- Stealth Rock / Substitute

This core is the best way to use Ninjask pass. Ninjask pass in itself is probably not a 100% reliable strategy and requires really careful teambuilding to make it work (and I can't say the team I've built around it is very reliable either). However it does work really well on a well-supported team. The times when I've managed to pull off a successful pass are times when my mons could easily do big damage. Marowak is a great partner for several reasons: 1) it's bulky enough to take priority and some weaker hits if a sub isn't possible 2) its coverage and power are insane and literally its main flaw is not being able to outrun anything, which is patched up by Ninjask.

I find the reason why JaskPass is usually so unsuccessful on the ladder is that people try to make Ninjask do way too much. Ladder players run stuff like SD Ninjask, Sash Ninjask, and get to +6 Speed etc but I found the best way to use Ninjask is to simply come in on whatever it forces out with the threat of CB, get up a free sub, accumulate 2-3 boosts and send a sub to a Pokemon so that it comes in safely with +3 Speed. A lot of ladder teams commonly run like Ninjask + 5 slow mons but given that Ninjask can only pass max 2 times a match it's not a good strategy either, although I also ran multiple slow but bulky and powerful mons to take advantage in case passing to Marowak isn't ideal. I ran LO Wrath and Kecleon for instance.

I found that Ninjask could actually pass more than once per match contrary to what players believe. If you send out Jask early on and complete a pass, it can come in again later on, protect once and send the boost. It doesn't usually get to do Sub + BP multiple times, but usually a few speed boosts is all you need late game.

Overall I'd say Speed Boost pass Ninjask is nowhere near as overrated as most people think, but it's nowhere near as godly as most a lot of newer players seem to think either.

The Speed EVs I ran above are probably bullshit, I think they outrun +2 Regice or something like that, don't really remember. Running more bulk is definitely an option.

Zweilous @ Eviolite
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Crunch
- Outrage
- Superpower

Tank Zweilous is a cool Pokemon too, but in reality it needs the backing of a few other defensive Pokemon to be able to check what it has to. Speed EVs outrun min base 65s iirc, which means Roselia and Pelipper. The nice thing is, it pairs really well with other defensive mons because it counters Ninetales, a Pokemon that commonly picks them apart, and as a bonus can defeat Ghost-types. Zweilous is surprisingly bulky enough to tank neutral special hits. In addition it can TWave stuff so that it can hits hard. I found that the best way to build with Zweilous is on bulky offense supported by other Pokemon that can reliably deal with the tier's top threats. For reference, this is the team I used if you want to try tank Zweilous; a better fit for Zweilous (especially a TWave variant) is probably on a slightly more offensive team so that you can actually take advantage of the para support but whatever my team kinda works:

Hide

Zweilous @ Eviolite
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Crunch
- Outrage
- Superpower

Piloswine @ Eviolite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard

Pelipper @ Leftovers
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- Roost
- Hydro Pump
- Hurricane
- Defog

Roselia @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Calm Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- Aromatherapy

Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe
Timid Nature
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Pain Split

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Circle Throw
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

 

[Ares]

Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 172 Spe
Impish Nature
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Aerial Ace
- Protect

Marowak @ Thick Club
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bonemerang
- Knock Off
- Double-Edge
- Stealth Rock / Substitute

This core is the best way to use Ninjask pass. Ninjask pass in itself is probably not a 100% reliable strategy and requires really careful teambuilding to make it work (and I can't say the team I've built around it is very reliable either). However it does work really well on a well-supported team. The times when I've managed to pull off a successful pass are times when my mons could easily do big damage. Marowak is a great partner for several reasons: 1) it's bulky enough to take priority and some weaker hits if a sub isn't possible 2) its coverage and power are insane and literally its main flaw is not being able to outrun anything, which is patched up by Ninjask.

I find the reason why JaskPass is usually so unsuccessful on the ladder is that people try to make Ninjask do way too much. Ladder players run stuff like SD Ninjask, Sash Ninjask, and get to +6 Speed etc but I found the best way to use Ninjask is to simply come in on whatever it forces out with the threat of CB, get up a free sub, accumulate 2-3 boosts and send a sub to a Pokemon so that it comes in safely with +3 Speed. A lot of ladder teams commonly run like Ninjask + 5 slow mons but given that Ninjask can only pass max 2 times a match it's not a good strategy either, although I also ran multiple slow but bulky and powerful mons to take advantage in case passing to Marowak isn't ideal. I ran LO Wrath and Kecleon for instance.

I found that Ninjask could actually pass more than once per match contrary to what players believe. If you send out Jask early on and complete a pass, it can come in again later on, protect once and send the boost. It doesn't usually get to do Sub + BP multiple times, but usually a few speed boosts is all you need late game.

Overall I'd say Speed Boost pass Ninjask is nowhere near as overrated as most people think, but it's nowhere near as godly as most a lot of newer players seem to think either.

The Speed EVs I ran above are probably bullshit, I think they outrun +2 Regice or something like that, don't really remember. Running more bulk is definitely an option.

So the mention of this awesome old core got me thinking, the other day I had mentioned the core to WDM because we were on the subject of baton pass. I thought to myself who learns Hone Claws + Baton Pass, did a deck search and it turns out that Ninjask learns it. So I give you another Ninjask pass core:

+

@ Leftovers | Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 172 Spe | Impish Nature
Baton Pass | Hone Claws | Aerial Ace / Substitute | Protect

@ Life Orb | Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe | Adamant Nature
Rock Climb | Zen Headbutt | Rock Slide | Iron Tail

So I just stole Scorps spread on ninjask from above, but what is the one thing that always seems to be missing? Tauros! If you could pass it an accuracy boost and a +1 attack all of a sudden it becomes unstoppable. The speed boosts are nice, but Tauros already outpaces most of the unboosted meta anyways. You could probably optimize Tauros's spread to run more bulk since its getting the speed boosts as well as running Fire Blast over Iron Tail, but having Iron Tail with an accuracy boost is super nice. Pretty awesome little core here that gives you a late game sweeping force without having to rely on inaccurate coverage moves for Tauros.

Like Scorp said above, Ninjask pass is somewhere inbetween where most ppl place it. If you can pull it off these two passing cores are lots of fun.

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Conclusions from Week 2:

Snover: Hail is underrated. Snover should aim to support hail teammates a la Hippopotas. Good teammates include Fighting-type sponges, Blizzspammers such as Rotom-F and Glaceon, as well as Probopass which traps Steels and checks Fire-types.

Zweilous: Choice Band sets are absolute nukes. Tank sets are decent but require the backing of other defensive Pokemon to be able to effectively work

Ninjask: Choice Band Ninjask can run Giga Drain to surprise bulky Rock-types although it requires good prediction as it only 2HKOs most of them. Baton Pass sets are somewhere between where most people put them; they require a good amount of team support and can't pass +6 Atk +6 Spe behind a sub 10 times a match, but are good enough to pass a sub once or twice cottonee furfrou

This week, our three Pokemon are:

Simisear | Rapidash | Lunatone​

 

[Raiza]

Lunatone @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Rock Polish
- Psychic
- Ancient Power
- Earth Power

read me

since I saw Magnemite using this I wanted to try it out, and this was actually pretty decent if you consider it's Lunatone. I think the Rock Polish+3 Atks is the most effective set of Lunatone because the other ones are outclassed, against this most of the time ppl don't expect to get paired against him and aren't really prepared for the Psychic Ground coverage paired with Life Orb so they get slaughtered basically. Lunatone could be a good choice because of his trait too, Levitate, which makes him have switch ins on Ground moves and then spam his STABs (if you're lucky you'll get a boost with Ancient Power and it's game over). Lunatone in my opinion fits well on Bulky Offense teams since he needs some support to succeed(he will not be able to Setup the Rock Polish most of the time if he isn't supported well) and I recommend it if you need an Anti Meta Setup Sweeper that gives you also a ground immunity and a check to Fire pokémons,not really to flying ones since most popular ones like Pelipper and Swanna usually carry a Water STAB and someone else like Dodrio most of the time has Knock Off.

Rapidash @ Choice Band
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Drill Run / Low Kick
- Baton Pass

read me

Ok now going into Rapidash, while using him I felt it similiar to while I was playing Zweilous in some ways, since both don't really have a great bulk and need backup to work, expecially Rapidash since he needs hazard control if he wants to be durable in the long run. I wouldn't really call Rapidash a Wallbreaker tho but more of a Revengekiller since his Atk isn't hot enough to break through common walls if you run Jolly Nature, which is needed if you want to outspeed various threats in the PU tier. What makes Rapidash decent in my opinion is his coverage that ables him to hit most of the pokémons in the tier and his trait that makes him a decent Fire Check, that's why I usually prefer Drill Run over Low Kick, so I can actually answer back when I enter on Fire pokémons. Rapidash, like Lunatone, fits well on Bulky Offense teams since he needs hazard control as I already said because he doesn't really appreciate Stealth Rock/Spikes damage really much. I recommend using him to you if you need a Revenge Killer with coverage which is a fire check that also can give momentum to your team with Baton Pass.

 

[Anty]

Choice band rapidash is decent, but from plenty of experience, i feel this is the best set:

Rapidash @ Charcoal / Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Drill Run
- Morning Sun
The thing i hate with choiced rapidash is how easy it is to wear down ie rocks weak, recoil from STAB, and it limits its switch in opportunities (also being choice locked predictions). This set provides offense with a reliable switch in to ninetales as well as grass types, especcially if sleep clause is active. Charcoal is nice to bluff a choice set, and sounds cooler than flame plate, while lefties allows it to take hits better and recovery from rocks. Flare blitz and wild charge are required, being STAB and hitting waters, respectively, and drill run is its best coverage imo as it smashes ninetales, however will-o-wisp is also a usable option as it cripples pokes like defensive costa and golem who otherwise switch in for free. Overall this is a very underrated poke in general, as most offensive teams resort to poliwrath as a switch in, who hates wild charge.

Unfortunately i didnt save the replays from my round 2 PU tour game which really showcased rapidash's ability to handle top tier threats

 

[Raiza]

Just built a team based on the informations I had about these two underrated beasts, since they fit well in Bulky Offense teams I figured out to build one with them in it so If someone wants to try them feel free to use this team, it was made for that. The team didn't perform too bad on the ladder, it's basically rounded on Lunatone sweep, in depth: Lunatone, Jumpluff and Misdreavus give to the team three ground immunities and a great offensive presence, with the utility of Will-O-Wisp by Missy that gives Lunatone a lot of space to Setup. Jumpluff is great since it can take a few Knock Offs and put to sleep annoying threats to this team with his high speed. They also gave me the opportunity to fit in Probopass, which places Stealth Rock and lures enemy team with Toxic, and Rapidash, a decent revengekiler because they had a great synergy with the three ground immunities. In the last slot there it is the god Poliwrath ready to cover some weaknesses since my team didn't really have Rock checks neither answers to Dark Spam and Jumpluff couldn't really handle a lot of hits by water moves risking a burn too cuz it's a really bless for my team if he stays alive, so the defensive set on Poli was forced there.

importable

Lunatone @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk
- Rock Polish
- Psychic
- Ancient Power
- Earth Power

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Circle Throw
- Scald
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Probopass @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 172 SpD / 84 Spe
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Volt Switch
- Earth Power

Jumpluff
Ability: Infiltrator
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Swords Dance
- Seed Bomb
- Acrobatics

Misdreavus @ Eviolite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt

Rapidash @ Charcoal
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Wild Charge
- Drill Run
- Morning Sun

some replays:
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/pu-211123494
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/pu-211070386
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/pu-211066317
http://pokemonshowdown.com/replay/pu-211065038

 

[TONE]

Simisear @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Low Kick / Focus Blast
- Rock Slide

Description

Simisear isn't the first pokemon that pops into your head when it come to premier Fire-types in PU, but it does have its own reliable advantages. Tho Ninetales outclasses it as a better NP sweeper due to having better bulk plus Flash Fire, Simisear can pull off an all-attacking set and provide immeadiate offense. Fire Blast and Grass Knot are staples on this set as Fire Blast is Simisear's strongest go-to move while Grass Knot smacks Rock-Types such as Golem, Carracosta, and Barbaracle. Focus Blast 2HKOs Lickilicky after Stealth Rock damage, tho Low Kick could be used over Focus Blast if the low accuracy is unappealing although you miss out on the guarenteed 2HKO in the process. Rock Slide is in the last slot for a relaible way of hitting other Fire-types in the tier such as Flareon and Ninetales.

Simisear @ Salac Berry
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Endeavor
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot

Description

While this set is better done by its Water monkey breathren Simipour, Endeavor sets it apart from all other Fire-Types in PU. It gives it the oppurtunity to handle common Fire-type switch-ins such as Flareon and Ninetales while still providing coverage with Fire Blast and Grass Knot. Just remember to be cautious around priority users when Simisear is in a weakened state.

Lunatone @ Colbur Berry / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight
- Psychic
- Earth Power / Moonblast

Description

Going off Magnemite's RP Lunatone set, I chose to go along a offensive Calm Mind set as this Lunatone sacrifies speed for more staying power. Calm Mind and Moonlight are for Lunatone to get as many boosts as possible with Moonlight giving it reliable recovery. Psychic is Lunatone's main STAB attack with Earth Power allowing Lunatone to hit Probopass and Pawniard although Moonblast can be used over Earth Power if you already have something for Steel-types as Moonblast allows Lunatone to hit Dark-types such as Sneasel and Mightyena harder. Leftovers is for passive recovery while Colbur Berry is on Lunatone cause screw Knock Off.

 

[scorpdestroyer]

Note: If you have suggestions on which Pokemon you want to see featured, feel free to VM me and I will add them eventually if I find them interesting!

Conclusions from week 3:

Simisear: A little outclassed by Ninetales. Better sets take advantage of the immediate power offered by Simisear, but its niche is rather small

Rapidash: Fast and powerful. Non-choice sets that offer recovery option in Morning Sun are the best in helping Rapidash keep alive and keep hitting stuff around

Lunatone: Decent typing that can run good offensive setup sets to avoid being outclassed by Solrock. These sets (RP, CM) have very good coverage but need to be supported well, or the setup opportunities don't come

Hopefully we'll see more activity this week with suspect test nearly over and some interesting mons picked by some people:

This week, our three Pokemon are:

Persian | Furfrou | Cottonee​