Project Victim of the Week

[Jeronado]

Check

Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 24 Def / 232 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Taunt

An immunity to Draco Meteor and a resistance to Psyshock mean that Gardevoir can take any move Latios wants to go for and fire back with a Hyper Voice. Boosted Psyshock really hurts though and is capable of 2HKOing Gardevoir which is why Gardevoir is only a check. There's some interesting stuff that can happen if Latios is already at +1 SpD, namely Hyper Voice even with a Modest nature does not OHKO Latios at +2 SpD (doesn't even put Latios in range of Life Orb assuming they run 29 HP IVs) and +2 Psyshock can potentially OHKO Gardevoir after Rocks, so that's something to keep note of.

Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Latios Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 24 Def Mega Gardevoir: 117-138 (42.2 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+1 252 SpA Life Orb Latios Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 24 Def Mega Gardevoir: 175-207 (63.1 - 74.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Latios Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 24 Def Mega Gardevoir: 233-274 (84.1 - 98.9%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

232 SpA Pixilate Mega Gardevoir Hyper Voice vs. +1 0 HP / 0 SpD Latios: 278-330 (92.9 - 110.3%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO guaranteed after Stealth Rock
232+ SpA Pixilate Mega Gardevoir Hyper Voice vs. +1 0 HP / 0 SpD Latios: 306-362 (102.3 - 121%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[GnralLao]

No Shedinja yet? lol

Mega Absol as a Check

Absol @ Absolite
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Fire Blast / Ice Beam / Pursuit
- Superpower

Evn though M-Absol is far from being a great mon, it can still switch into CM Latios' moves bar Draco Meteor before outspeeding and OHKOing it Knock Off. Pursuit can be used instead of Fire Blast to OHKO Latios if it tries to switch out (if Pursuit is used in the third moveslot, you should move the leftover EVs in Def and change the nature to Jolly)

Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Mega Absol: 465-550 (171.5 - 202.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO (ouch!)

252 Atk Mega Absol Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Latios: 422-500 (141.1 - 167.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Mega Absol Pursuit (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Latios: 350-414 (117 - 138.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[CharizardIsMeh]

All good ones are taken lol
Counter

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock / Toxic

Specially defensive Excadrill can switch into all attacks Latios throws at it, even Psyshock : 252 SpA Life Orb Latias Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Excadrill: 114-135 (26.8 - 31.8%) -- 38.7% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
He can even survive a +3 Draco Meteor : +3 252 SpA Life Orb Latias Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 287-339 (67.6 - 79.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

...and retaliate with a powerful EQ that 2HKOes after SR :
4 Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 80 HP / 0 Def Latias: 153-181 (47.6 - 56.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Bice]

Name: Garchomp
Status: Check

Garchomp @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Outrage / Fire Blast
- Stone Edge / Fire Blast
- Dragon Claw

Choice Scarf Garchomp can easily rip through unprepared teams, due to how unexpected it is. While it can't switch in to Latios due to being OHKO'd by Draco Meteor, it can switch in while it's setting up or using Psyshock and revenge kill it with Dragon Claw. However, it's safest to use a slow, bulky U-Turn user to get Garchomp in.

252 Atk Garchomp Dragon Claw vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 318-374 (106.3 - 125%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Ramses]

all the good ones are gone again

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Earthquake

Bronzong can easily stomach a +2 Draco Meteor from Latios as well as the subsequent one and proceed to 2HKO it with Gyro Ball.

252 SpA Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 90-105 (26.6 - 31%) -- 11.4% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252 SpA Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 134-159 (39.6 - 47%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 179-211 (52.9 - 62.4%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

4 Atk Bronzong Gyro Ball (138 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 163-193 (54.5 - 64.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Psyshock does very negligible damage

 

[Random Passerby]

Name: Altaria
Status:Check

Altaria @ Altarianite
Ability: Cloud Nine
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 96 SpD / 28 Spe
Impish Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Return
- Earthquake

Mega Altaria avoids the 2HKO from an unboosted Latios, even after Stealth Rock. From there, Mega Altaria can OHKO back with Return or if you predict a switch, heal up with Roost or set up a Dragon Dance. However, Mega Altaria cannot switch into Latios repeatedly. DO NOT set up a Dragon Dance if you think he won't switch as you will still be slower at +1

Calculations

252 SpA Life Orb Latios Psyshock vs. 248 HP / 136+ Def Mega Altaria: 126-149 (35.6 - 42.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
0 Atk Pixilate Mega Altaria Return vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 372-440 (123.5 - 146.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Name: Beedrill
Status: Check

Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Protect
- U-turn
- Poison Jab
- Knock Off

Although it can't switch in on anything, Mega Beedrill always wins 1 v 1 against Latios as it can Protect to Mega Evolve safely and then OHKO Latios with U-turn or Knock Off. Even Poison Jab can OHKO if Latios has taken LO damage or hazards damage.

Calculations

252 Atk Adaptability Mega Beedrill U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 408-484 (135.5 - 160.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Mega Beedrill Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 282-334 (93.6 - 110.9%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Adaptability Mega Beedrill Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 234-276 (77.7 - 91.6%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[MANNAT]

Check

Cacturne @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Drain Punch

Cacturne may not be the most viable OU mon, but it can definitely fit on some teams and put in work in a ton of games. Cactune is somewhat prediction reliant vs this variant of latios, but the second lati clicks an attacking move, it gets blown back by sucker punch. Additionally, lati kinda has to attack you since you can SD up and threaten to sweep if lati isn't careful.

If you want an in-depth explanation of how good cacturne is, check out this post in the VR thread by jpw: http://www.smogon.com/forums/thread...post-954-page-38.3553516/page-39#post-6647572

 

[Aragorn the King]

Checks: Weavile (Skarmx2) | Mega Altaria (Random Passerby ) | Cacturne (littlelucario)
Counters: Mega Scizor (Recreant) | ScarfTar (Infernal) | AV Metagross (Random Passerby)​

You can vote for 1 check and 1 counter.

 

[Random Passerby]

Check: Weavile
Counter: Scarf Ttar

 

[Swede]

MegaLop
Donblade

 

[Swagata]

Check: Weavile
Counter: AV Metagross

 

[Cheryl.]

Check: Cacturne
Counter: Av Metagross

 

[InvisibleWater]

Mega Altaria

AV Metagross

 

[GnralLao]

Check: Weavile
Counter: AV Metagross

 

[Tressed]

Cacturne (how can you not vote for this)
Jirachi

 

[Jamel]

MAlt
MScizor

 

[looiiyut]

Mega altaria
AV metagross

 

[CharizardIsMeh]

Weavile
AV Metagross

 

[p2]

weavile

mega scizor

 

[SANJAY]

Cacturne :^)
AV Metagross

 

[Bice]

Cacturne

AV Metagross

 

[nameless90]

Check:
Mega Gardevoir

Counter:
AV Metagross

 

[Aragorn the King]

Week 94: Thanks guys for all the votes! The results are:

Checks: Weavile (Skarmx2) | Mega Altaria (Random Passerby ) | Cacturne (littlelucario)
Counters: Mega Scizor (Recreant) | ScarfTar (Infernal) | AV Metagross (Random Passerby)

Week 95: LO Alakazam

Alakazam @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam / Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
​

 

[heritage]

Check

Bisharp @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch

Bisharp is a pretty solid check to Alakazam. It is able to switch in to Psychich, Shadow Ball, and Dazzling Gleam without much effort. From there, it is able to OHKO a few times over with Life Orb Sucker Punch, which means it doesn't have to take much damage (none of it switches into Psychic). What sucks is that, if they see a Bisharp, most Alakazam users will click Focus Blast as it tries to switch in, which easily OHKOs Bisharp, so you really need to be wary of switching it in recklessly.

 

[Infernal]

Hoopa-Unbound @ Choice Band
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Hyperspace Fury
- Drain Punch
- Gunk Shot
- Zen Headbutt

This is a solid check. Dark types are currently reigning over OU, and Hoopa-U is among of the ones Alakazam dislikes to encounter. Hoopa-U takes advantage of Alakazam's presence nicely by launching very powerful CB Hyperspace Fury's, which KOes Alakazam several times over or severely dents whatever comes in. There are few Pokemon able to stomach such a strong attack, and Hoopa-U loves nothing more than finding free opportunities to use it on Pokemon like Alakazam.

Focus Blast vs Hoopa-U: 46.1 - 54.8%
Shadow Ball vs Hoopa-U: 31.2 - 36.5%
HP Ice vs Hoopa-U: 23.2 - 27.5%
Dazzling Gleam: 62.1 - 73.4%

As the calcs demonstrate, Hoopa-U's impressive special bulk allows survival from every given move. Although it's always better to try coming in unscathed since Dazzling Gleam and FB are able to 2HKO, good prediction can allow Hoopa-U to switch in on a move like Psychic and work from there. While sets like Scarf and the rare AV can handle Alakazam "better" due to the speed and bulk increase respectively, they can't capitalize on its presence better than CB because they lack the same sheer power to wreck potential switch ins.