Project Victim of the Week

[heritage]

Counter

Chesnaught @ Leftovers
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Leech Seed
- Drain Punch
- Spikes
- Spiky Shield / Seed Bomb

Thanks to Chesnaught's tremendously high base defense and its type, which resists both of Kabutops' STAB moves, Chesnaught is a hard counter to it. Even +2 Waterfall in the Rain is incapable of 2HKOing Chesnaught after Stealth Rock, and Chesnaught can do massive damage back with Drain Punch, OHKO with Seed Bomb if it carries it or set up Spikes against it. It can also spam Spiky Shield if it tries to Waterfall to flinch, weakening it to the point where Drain Punch can OHKO after any prior damage.

Hide

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Chesnaught: 133-157 (35 - 41.3%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Chesnaught in Rain: 160-190 (42.1 - 50%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

0 Atk Chesnaught Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 164-194 (62.8 - 74.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Chesnaught Seed Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 352-420 (134.8 - 160.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Cheryl.]

Seismitoad @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

Seismitoad is a Counter to Kabutops. Due to resisting Stone Edge and being immune to Waterfall because of Water Absorb, Seismitoad can take any hit from Kabutops and retaliate with Earthquake or Scald, which both hurt Kabutops badly. It can even Knock Off Kabutop's Life Orb, making it much less powerful. The closest chance to 2HKOing Seismitoad is with a +2 Low Kick, which still can't 2HKO without hazards up.

Calcs

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 244+ Def Seismitoad: 94-109 (22.7 - 26.3%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Low Kick (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 244+ Def Seismitoad: 100-118 (24.1 - 28.5%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 244+ Def Seismitoad: 186-218 (44.9 - 52.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Low Kick (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 244+ Def Seismitoad: 199-235 (48 - 56.7%) -- 38.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

0- Atk Seismitoad Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 180-212 (68.9 - 81.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Seismitoad Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops in Rain: 153-180 (58.6 - 68.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[p2]

counter

Slowbro @ Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Slack Off

thanks to mega slowbros incredible physical defense, it switches into kabutops easily and ohkos kabutops with scald in a standard situation (1 turn of lo recoil, rocks damage, and rain boost). pretty solid counter, also doesn't risk getting critted by stone edge at +2 which is also really nice.

Scald vs.

: 219-258 (83.9 - 98.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Stone Edge vs.

: 110-133 (27.9 - 33.7%) -- 0.2% chance to 3HKO
+2

Stone Edge vs.

: 220-261 (55.8 - 66.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[HailFall]

as a check

Breloom @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Mach Punch
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
- Focus Punch / Swords Dance / Rock Tomb

Adamant Life Orb Breloom can come in on a free switch and live an Aqua Jet from Kabutops, OHKOing it with Mach Punch in return 100% of the time.

252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 268-320 (102.6 - 122.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Breloom in Rain: 77-91 (29.5 - 34.8%) -- 12.9% chance to 3HKO

Why it's not a counter

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Waterfall vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Breloom in Rain: 153-182 (58.6 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(153, 156, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 168, 168, 170, 172, 174, 175, 178, 179, 182)

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Breloom in Rain: 77-91 (29.5 - 34.8%) -- 12.9% chance to 3HKO
(77, 78, 78, 79, 81, 82, 82, 83, 84, 86, 86, 87, 88, 90, 90, 91)

182+91=273, Breloom has only 261 HP.

 

[detviech]

Gastrodon as a Counter

Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover

With the key Ground typing and Storm Drain, Kaputops can't really touch Gastrodon. Rain boosted Scald or Earthquake however 2HKO Kaputops easily. Obviously Scald can also burn, making Kabutops basically useless.

Calcs

0 Atk Gastrodon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 176-210 (67.4 - 80.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

0 SpA Gastrodon Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops in Rain: 163-193 (62.4 - 73.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Gastrodon: 97-116 (22.7 - 27.2%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Gastrodon: 195-230 (45.7 - 53.9%) -- 4.3% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Even if Kabutops boosts up, the chance to 2HKO Gastro is extremly low, and it has access to Recover what makes Gastrodon a counter to Kabutops.

 

[GnralLao]

Lemme see... what could possibly check a Swift Swimmer that hasn't already been mentionned... oh, I know! A faster Swift Swimmer, of course!

Kingdra as a Check

Kingdra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swimmer
EVs: 28 HP / 252 SpA / 228 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Scald
- Ice Beam

Has anyone had to battle a rain team while using a rain team too? I bet it'd be funny as hell. Anyway, onto the serious stuff.

Due to Kingdra's typing, it can easily sponge Kabutops' spammable Water-type moves, even in the rain. Moreover, since Kingdra has four Speed points more than Kabutops and both have the Swift Swimmer ability, Kingdra will always move first, whether they're in the rain or not, that is unless Kabutops uses Aqua Jet, but even at +2, it does pitiful damage to Kingdra. Just watch out for Kabutops' Stone Edge as it majorly dents Kingdra (at least 75%) and it can even net the KO with Aqua Jet afterwards (Low Kick does over half too, so be careful).

What Kabutops does

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Aqua Jet vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Kingdra in Rain: 32-39 (10.7 - 13%) -- possible 8HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Waterfall vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Kingdra in Rain: 66-79 (22.1 - 26.5%) -- 17% chance to 4HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Low Kick (100 BP) vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Kingdra: 149-177 (50 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Kingdra: 224-265 (75.1 - 88.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Aqua Jet vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Kingdra in Rain: 66-79 (22.1 - 26.5%) -- 17% chance to 4HKO

What Kingdra does

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kingdra Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops in Rain: 348-411 (134.3 - 158.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[matthewc20090]

Mega venusaur

 

[llSECRETSWORDll]

Check

Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
- Roost
- Solar Beam

While it's OHKOED 4 times over by Stone Edge (252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 1050-1237 (353.5 - 416.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO), Zard-Y removes the rain with Drought and OHKOes with Solar Beam.
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops: 816-960 (312.6 - 367.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Sun]

Counter
Tangrowth @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Leech Seed

Tang is a really solid and bulk mon, it can resist every stab from Kabu and kill it with Giga drain, is also a real counter in this meta because is very popular on sand teams, which are very weak to rain teams.

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth: 133-157 (32.9 - 38.8%) -- 99.6% chance to 3HKO
0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops: 472-556 (180.8 - 213%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth: 265-312 (65.5 - 77.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[MANNAT]

Ferro as a hard check

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip

Aside from low kick, all of kabu's attacks do dong to ferrothorn and ferro ohkos the thing with powerwhip. However, low kick 2hkos ferro so it can get 2hkod upon switch in or ohkod if ur opp is stupidi enough to run sd low kick. (foregoing priority and hazard control is kinda retarded lol)

 

[Martin]

Counter

Poliwrath @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Scald

Poliwrath is a very niche Pokémon in the current metagame due to the combination of its typing, ability and access to Circle Throw making it excelent for role compression. In this context, Poliwrath is a complete stop to Kabutops. It is immune to its primary STAB, resists its secondary STAB and it takes jack shit from Low Kick, only taking marginally more from it than from Stone Edge. It forces it out and is able to either threaten the switch-out with a rain-boosted Scald and its burn rate or mess with them by forcing multiple switches, and it also 2HKOs Kabutops with both of said moves if you assume that that the rain is up.

0 Atk Poliwrath Circle Throw vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 120-144 (45.9 - 55.1%) -- 55.9% chance to 2HKO
0 SpA Poliwrath Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops in Rain: 130-154 (49.8 - 59%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 220+ Def Poliwrath: 82-97 (21.4 - 25.3%) -- 0.2% chance to 4HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Low Kick (80 BP) vs. 248 HP / 220+ Def Poliwrath: 88-104 (22.9 - 27.1%) -- 50.9% chance to 4HKO

 

[nameless90]

Hard check: Rotom-W

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers or Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 Spe or EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-W: 148-175 (48.8 - 57.7%) -- 57.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

0 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops: 212-252 (81.2 - 96.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (gueranteed OHKO considering 2 LO recoil)
0 SpA Rotom-W Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops in Rain: 249-294 (95.4 - 112.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO

EVs spreads: the first one is standard. The second one is meant to reach 222 Spe, one points higher than base Tyranitar (61 base Spe) with 252 EVs in Spe with neutral nature. In this way, you can burn this sand setter, thus neutering it. In the latter spread a Sitrus Berry is mandatory to transform a 2HKO to a 3HKO.

Rotom-W can be considered only a good check due to Kabutops' Adamant nature (that Stone Edge really hurts) and low Rotom's base HP. Also a +2 Stone Edge has high chances to OHKO the washing machine.
Just Volt Switch in front of the Swift Swimmer to almost kill it while gaining momentum or click Hydro Pump, which is even stronger in rain.

This is one of the best checks available just due the amount of threats it can check.

 

[Lemon Ginger]

It's that friendly bloke, Toxicroak! (As a counter/hard check)

Two sets here:

Swords dance
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Gunk Shot
- Swords Dance

Nasty Plot
Toxicroak @ Black Sludge
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 208 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 40 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Vacuum Wave
- Sludge Bomb
- Dark Pulse / Icy Wind
- Nasty Plot

Toxicroak takes 0 from water attacks, obviously, so it only has stone edge to worry about. (Low kick and knock off are of zero concern.

The physical set can switch in on any attack and OHKO with drain punch, recovering back any damage. If kabutops clicked something other than stone edge, Toxicroak can setup. Unfortunately, this set is infrequently OHKOed by +2 stone edge, so you have to be careful when you come in, since sucker punch only does ~40%. You can run more bulk, but then you don't outspeed jolly bisharp.

The nasty plot set is bulkier and never Koed by +2 stone edge, so it can switch in on anything and 2HKO back with vacuum wave or setup if kabutops didn't SD. Coverage is between dark pulse and icy wind, since you'll likely be luring in a lando or chomp. NP croak is a very unexpected set currently, and it can afford to run a little more bulk because of stab vacuum wave, nabbing ttar and bisharp, most notably.

Vs croak
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 116 HP / 4 Def Toxicroak: 151-178 (44.9 - 52.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Dry Skin recovery

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 208 HP / 4 Def Toxicroak: 302-355 (84.1 - 98.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Dry Skin recovery

Vs kabutops
252 Atk Life Orb Toxicroak Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Kabutops: 265-315 (101.5 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Toxicroak Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops: 134-158 (51.3 - 60.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[0besity]

Check: Amoonguss

Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 92 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Clear Smog / Stun Spore
- Hidden Power Fire / Foul Play / Sludge Bomb

Amoonguss needs to get in safely since it is 2hkoed by Stone edge, but once it does get in, Amoonguss can proceed to OHKO with Giga Drain or Spore the potential switch in. A Giga Drain OHKO plus Regenerator should ensure Amoonguss remains relatively healthy.

0 SpA Amoonguss Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kabutops: 376-448 (144 - 171.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Kabutops Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 136 Def Amoonguss: 242-285 (56 - 65.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery

 

[Aragorn the King]

Voting:

Checks:

IV RestTalk Keldeo
II Mega Charizard Y
III Ferrothorn
III Toxicroak
I Breloom
I Kingdra
Rotom-W
I Amoonguss

Counters:

VI Poliwrath
IV Chesnaught
III Tangrowth
Seismitoad
Mega Slowbro
Gastrodon

(My tie-breaker: Ferro + Toxic > CharY)

You may vote for one check and one counter. Don't vote for yourself.​

 

[Sobi]

Check: Mega Char Y
Counter: Poliwrath

 

[HailFall]

Check: ZardY
Counter: Chesnaught

 

[p2]

amoonguss

tangrowth

 

[Ramses]

keldeo
tangrowth

 

[Sun]

Keldeo
Poliwrath

 

[detviech]

Check: Keldeo
Counter: Chesnaught

 

[Eclipse]

Check: Toxicroak
Counter: Poliwrath

 

[Martin]

Ferrothorn
Tangrowth

 

[Bice]

Keldeo

Poliwrath

 

[Cheryl.]

Ferrothorn

Poliwrath