I'd like to bring up a Pokemon that's been mentioned numerous times throughout this topic, yet has never received any strong opposition for receiving an OU Analysis: Exeggutor.
I've been playtesting a lot with the walking tree, and I've really enjoyed the results. Let me provide some points to consider:
- It has two fantastic abilities in Harvest and Chlorophyll.
- Under sun, it is the hardest-hitting Grass Pokemon at Base Special Attack 125. Compared to 110 base Lilligant and Tangrowth, its STAB Leaf Storm hits harder than any other threat with Chlorophyll boost.
EDIT: Upon further calculations, I've found that a 252 Speed EV spread with neutral nature on Exeggutor wields a whopping 418 under sunlight. This allows it to outspeed the likes of Max Speed Stat Crobat, Infernape, Weavile, and Aerodactyl (ie most everything). It can then proceed to mess them up with Sleep Powder or take them out with its 383 Special Attack stat (with max EVs and + nature), complete with STAB.
- With Harvest, Lum Berry Exeggutor is able to absorb any status with no problems, from Poison to confusion.
- By using Rest, Exeggutor can instantly recover its entire HP stat as many times as it'd like with no repercussions, thanks to Harvest Lum Berry.
- With access to STAB Psychic, Psyshock, and Sludge Bomb, it can make an offensive presence with its 125 base Special Attack.
- Its plausible 95 Base Attack can pack a punch behind Explosion, even with 0 EVs invested.
- Doesn't require Rest / Lum berry to recover since it has access to Leech Seed, Moonlight, and Synthesis.
- Can run Tanga Berry with Harvest to alleviate its 4x Bug weakness. Block could even be used in conjunction to prevent U-Turning away, making for an easy KO on Mienshao.
- It has plenty of team support moves like Toxic, Sleep Powder, Trick Room, and Stun Spore.
Now, if that type of versatility isn't enough, note that Exeggutor is resistant to Grass, Water, Electric, Ground, and
Fighting types. With many commonly found resistances, Exeggutor doesn't have much trouble switching in. It can take status effects with perfect ease while dishing out hard damage. Let me highlight some of the Pokemon it counters best:
- Conkeldurr - Exeggutor is an absolute champion against this guy. According to my calculations, Positive Atk Nature, Max EVs, +1 Bulk Up, STAB, AND Guts activated Drain Punch on Conkeldurr against Neutral Defense Nature, 252 HP / 0 Defense EVs Exeggutor only does 31.0% ~ 36.5%. With the odds stocked completely against it, Exeggutor only takes about 1/3 damage from its most powerful attack, which it could recover off easily with LumRest or other recovering options. Payback Conkeldurr is always going to be outrun by Exeggutor, who can either OHKO with STAB Psychic or put it to sleep with Sleep Powder. Seeing as Conkeldurr is such a huge threat in OU, Exeggutor really steps up to the plate to resist its massive hits and retaliate with some moves of its own.
- Breloom - In the same vein, Exeggutor completely walls any Breloom set. With resistance to its STAB Fighting-type attacks, it can switch in with ease. Don't forget that Lum Berry can handle Spore and that Exeggutor's Grass typing doesn't take Leech Seed. Exeggutor can use this time to put it to sleep with Sleep Powder or hit it with STAB Psychic for a near-guaranteed OHKO. If you have some defense EVs invested, Exeggutor stands up fine against Facade and Stone Edge, and can LumRest away any damage.
- Ferrothorn - Exeggutor can render Ferrothorn useless by putting it to sleep with Sleep Powder. It resists Power Whip and Bulldoze and won't take Leech Seed damage. While asleep, Ferrothorn is open to being finished off with HP Fire or one of your fiery teammates.
- Gliscor - Unless it's running with Ice Fang, Gliscor is gonna face some serious issues. Exeggutor won't take Toxic with Lum Berry and can hit hard with both STABs for neutral damage. HP Ice lets Chlorophyll Exeggutor hit hard on Gliscor's middling Special Defense. With the right prediction, Exeggutor can stop the right Gliscor set in its tracks.
While Exeggutor is x4 weak to Bug-type attacks and x2 to Pursuit, measures can be taken to alleviate these problems. It is honestly not hard to predict U-Turn on something like Mienshao or Scizor, so a switch can easily be made. When running in sunlight, Exeggutor can put both threats to sleep and then hit with Psychic or switch out safely. A Tanga Berry can be used with Harvest to prevent Bug-types from hitting so hard, but it is usually easy enough to predict U-Turn. Exeggutor can handle staying in with many Pursuit users when it has defensive EVs; Tyranitar specifically will not like STAB Leaf Storm. Regardless, it can Sleep Powder those threats and then instantly recover with LumRest.
Whether it be to recover HP and statuses indefinitely, hit hard with Base 125 Special Attack with Chlorophyll under sunlight, or providing team support for Steel-types like Heatran and Excadrill that dread Fighting-types, Exeggutor is versatile enough to perform many roles in OU. I hope what I've researched makes some sense. If the general consensus is that Exeggutor should get an OU analysis, I'd love to take part in writing it up; I have lots of the groundwork done already!
Thanks for your time.