Project Victim of the Week

[SP458]

Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice
- Focus Blast / Nasty Plot
- Thunder Wave / Nasty Plot

Check

Thundurus can only come on coverage moves or by double switching (as Fire Blast / Flamethrower are lethal) but once in, a single Thunderbolt OHKOes Charizard (LO boost is required for the guaranteed KO without Rocks).

Against Thundurus:
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Thundurus in Sun: 378-445 (126.4 - 148.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Thundurus: 91-108 (30.4 - 36.1%) -- 48.6% chance to 3HKO
(Focus Blast deals the same damage than Solar Beam)

Against Charizard:
252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 330-390 (111.1 - 131.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Bice]

Diancie @ Diancite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 8 Atk / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Moonblast
- Diamond Storm
- Hidden Power Fire
- Protect

Status: Check

Mega Diancie is unable to switch in due to being 2HKO'd by Fire/Focus Blast and being OHKO'd by Solar Beam. However, when it does manage to get in, it can outspeed and OHKO 'Zard Y with Diamond Storm.

8 Atk Mega Diancie Diamond Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 804-948 (270.7 - 319.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Ramses]

Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Dragon Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Roost

Mega Charizard X is a hard check to it's Y counterpart. It can come in virtually scot-free as it takes negligible damage from both Fire Blast and Solar Beam, it's only true fear is being smacked by a Focus Blast, especially with hazards up. After it gets into play off a weaker attack, it can then use Zard Y as setup fodder and OHKO it the next turn with a Dragon Claw or Sun-boosted Flare Blitz at the risk of being KOed by Focus Blast (if it hits) after soaking up a Fire Blast.

v.s.

+1 252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Charizard X Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y in Sun: 352-414 (118.5 - 139.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+1 252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Charizard X Dragon Claw vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 313-369 (105.3 - 124.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

v.s.

252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard X in Sun: 98-116 (32.9 - 39%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO

252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard X: 48-56 (16.1 - 18.8%) -- possible 6HKO

252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Charizard X: 192-226 (64.6 - 76%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[FMG]

Check: Raikou

Raikou @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Ice
- Shadow Ball

Choice Specs Raikou can 100% kill Mega Charizard-Y with a Thunderbolt. You can also run Assault Vest Raikou. T-bolt won't kill charizard-y if you are av, but fire blast from modest Zard won't kill either. So you can easily 2 hit ko it with t-bolt.

Calcs

252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 356-422 (119.8 - 142%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Raikou Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 240-284 (80.8 - 95.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Raikou Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 278-330 (93.6 - 111.1%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Raikou in Sun: 229-271 (71.3 - 84.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[BIG G CHOPPA]

Dragalge @ Draco Plate
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 228 HP / 252 SpA / 28 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Focus Blast
- Toxic Spikes

Status: Check

Dragalge is a pretty cool check against Mega Charizard Y. You don't really see it that much, but it has some benefits as being able to check Mega Charizard y. Being able to threaten back with a Draco Meteor as Fire Blast does not 2 hit KO. Even with Stealth Rock up the odds are in your favor as Fire Blast fails to 2 hit KO more than 50% of the time. In addition it is able to setup Toxic Spikes which can be annoying to the opposing team. Draco Meteor takes a huge chunk out of Mega Charizard Y's health, being able to secure an OHKO with some chip damage. Rocks is enough to put it in range for Sludge Wave and it cannot repeatedly roost on Dragalge as Sludge Wave can poison and the fact that it is pressured to Roost up every turn means that the PP flies by quickly.

252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 228 HP / 0 SpD Dragalge in Sun: 131-155 (39.9 - 47.2%) -- 46.9% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252+ SpA Draco Plate Adaptability Dragalge Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 272-320 (91.5 - 107.7%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Adaptability Dragalge Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 166-196 (55.8 - 65.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Lemon Ginger]

Chandelure as a Counter

Chandelure @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Energy Ball
- Trick

Chandelure takes ZERO from any fire attacks and ZERO from focus blast. Solarbeam does 30% and Chandelure outspeeds and 2HKOs back with fire blast:

+1 252 SpA Chandelure Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y in Sun: 193-228 (64.9 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Anything switching in that's not an EggBlob (that's what trick is for BTW) has to contend with STAB Fire Blast coming off 145 SpA. With Flash Fire. In the Sun. Most things in OU just get 2KHOd by this.

You could use the Sub-Will-O set, but that loses to Char Y if it has Air Slash (which is awful on Char Y)

P.S. Zard Y is the true mega Zard. Zard X is an abomination that never should have been created.

 

[Infernal]

Altaria-Mega @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 136 Def / 92 SpD / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Return
- Heal Bell

Although Mega Altaria has fallen from grace in this metagame, it's still a good response to Charizard-Y. With its good bulk and resistances to every move Charizard-Y carries, Mega Altaria can stomach its hits pretty well. For example, a Modest Fire Blast in the sun only has a 18.4% chance to 2HKO after SR, dealing 38.8 - 45.8% total. From there, Mega Altaria can recover up to keep itself in good condition, potentially use Charizard-Y as DD fodder, and end up winning 1v1.

There are some interesting advantages Mega Altaria has over other potential answers to Charizard-Y. Guessing which form you're facing can sometimes be tricky, and several Charizard-Y answers like Latios drop dead to X variants. As such, Mega Altaria's ability to serve as an initial switch into both X and Y Charizard forms is useful in these guessing games. Another unique thing with Mega Altaria is its ability to run Cloud Nine prior to mega evolving. With this, you take even less from Modest Charizard-Y's Fire Blast (25.7 - 30.5%) thanks to sun removal.

All in all, Mega Altaria still does its job here despite unfavorable metagame trends. Even though you will likely be forced to 1. recover up after switching in to stay healthy, and 2. grab a few DDs before you're truly able to take Charizard-Y down, I'd classify Mega Altaria as a counter. This is because you avoid a 2HKO from every attack on the switch besides the very small chance mentioned earlier and can alternate between healing/DD to win 1v1.

 

[Random Passerby]

Pretty sure we have done Zard-Y before, no?

AraEDIT: It was done in a previous thread back in either 2013 or 2014. It's never been done in my version of the project though.

Name: Aerodactyl
Status: Check

Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Fire Fang
- Pursuit / Roost

All the obvious mons are taken so... anyway, Mega Aero takes about 50-60% from any of Zard-Y's attacks and can OHKO back with Stone Edge. Pursuit deals about half to a fleeing Zard while Roost allows you to heal up.

Calculations

252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Aerodactyl in Sun: 163-192 (54.1 - 63.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Aerodactyl: 158-187 (52.4 - 62.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Mega Aerodactyl Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Charizard Y: 820-972 (276 - 327.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tough Claws Mega Aerodactyl Pursuit vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Charizard Y: 146-172 (49.1 - 57.9%) -- 96.9% chance to 2HKO

 

[InvisibleWater]

Check

Victini @ Life Orb
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 96 Atk / 160 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- Glaciate
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot

Victini resists all of Charizard's moves, allowing it to switch in on anything except Fire Blast, then OHKO it with Bolt Strike. V-Create can OHKO on a high damage roll, but the defense and speed drops make it somewhat risky if hazards aren't up

Calcs

Offensive:
96 Atk Life Orb Victini V-create vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y in Sun: 255-300 (85.8 - 101%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
96 Atk Life Orb Victini Bolt Strike vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Charizard Y: 328-387 (110.4 - 130.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
160 SpA Life Orb Victini Glaciate vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 64-75 (21.5 - 25.2%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO
160 SpA Life Orb Victini Energy Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 22-26 (7.4 - 8.7%) -- possibly the worst move ever
160 SpA Life Orb Victini Grass Knot (100 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Charizard Y: 23-29 (7.7 - 9.7%) -- possibly the worst move ever

Defensive:
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Victini in Sun: 174-205 (51 - 60.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Victini: 85-100 (24.9 - 29.3%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Victini: 85-100 (24.9 - 29.3%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Victini in Sun: 143-168 (41.9 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[matthewc20090]

Sap sipper Azumarill as a Counter

Azumarill @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 248 HP/ 8 Def/ 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Scald
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

This azu set walls the heck out of zard y, only taking 37% at most from fire blast. With leftovers, fire blast is a 4HKO, meaning that Azumarill can poison charizard, then rest talk indefinitely.

 

[Aragorn the King]

Checks:

IV Scarf Tyranitar
III Goodra
II Mega Diancie

I Terrakion
CB Dragonite
I Thundurus
Toxic Mega Charizard Y
Mega Charizard X
I Raikou
Dragalge
I Mega Aerodactyl
Victini


Counters:

V Mega Latias
III Politoed
*II SpD Talonflame

I Sap Sipper Azumarill
I Chansey
I CM Blissey
I Chandelure
Mega Altaria
Latias
Cleric Blissey

You may vote for 1 check and 1 counter!

* My tie-breaker​

 

[Cheryl.]

Check: Scarf TTar
Counter: Sap Sipper Azu

 

[FMG]

Check: Terrakion


Counter: Mega Latias

 

[michaeloche]

Check: Thundurus

Counter: Mega Latias

 

[detviech]

Check: Scarf TTar
Counter: SpD Talonflame

 

[nameless90]

Checks: Goodra


Counters: CM Blissey (I can't vote for myself, but this set is similar, so the choice for me is obvious)

 

[InvisibleWater]

Check: Scarf Tyranitar

Counter: Chandelure

 

[garoninja]

Check: Porygon2 Eviolite

Counter: Heatran Scarf

 

[Bice]

Goodra

Mega Latias

 

[matthewc20090]

Mega diancie

Mega latias

 

[ethanlol]

Check: I don't think Scarf Tar because the miss potential. Raikou

Counter: Politoed cuz rain takes a huge shit on Charizard

 

[Random Passerby]

Check: Goodra

Counter: Chansey

 

[Gary]

Check: Mega Diancie
Counter: Politoed (probably the best in the tier because it's a free opportunity to get up rain)

Anything that's massive T-tar bait is a terrible Zard-Y counter, but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[SketchUp]

Mega Aero and Politoed

 

[Aragorn the King]

Week 111 Results:

Checks: Scarf Tyranitar (michaeloche) | Goodra (CrystalRam) | Mega Diancie (Viridi)
Counters: Mega Latias (ethanlol) | Politoed (wishes) | SpD Talonflame (detviech)

Thanks everyone for the votes on checks and counters to Mega Charizard-Y! It was a great week!

Week 112: Mega Pinsir

Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Aerilate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Close Combat / Earthquake
- Quick Attack​