Hey, I'm not sure about the viability of Shiftry, but something it gets that's worth looking at is Defog. Do you guys think Defog Shiftry could be valuable?
I tried tamhrowth and its weakness to fire is its downfall. When you have victini and darmanitan in the tier its really hard to justify using tangrowth over slowbro. While he may be unpredictable he has a lot of competition with slowbro.
Hi guys! It's been a decent while, but it's time for some more Pokemon sets that have flown under the radar. Interestingly enough, both are Grass-types, which seems to be a very valuable offensive and defensive typing in the metagame at the moment. Here are the Pokemon and the sets:
Vest Monjombo
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Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EV's: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Nature: Sassy
Moves:
- Power Whip / Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb
- Earthquake / Rock Slide
Tangrowth is one of those Pokemon that people just seem to forget about. It could be the fact that it looks like a garbled, disgusting mess of ugly tentacles. Valid point, but underneath that mess of tangles is a Pokemon with really under-appreciated stats, an incredible ability, and a fairly diverse movepool that makes it one of the best mixed attackers in the metagame. 100 / 110 offenses are nothing to sneeze at, and it sports a massive base 100 HP / 125 Def Physical defense. That's insane. What has always been its Achilles' Heel, however, is its Special Defense (and somewhat its Speed, but that's much less of a point). Base 50 Special Defense is extremely subpar, even though it sports a good base HP stat. That's where Assault Vest comes in. With an Assault Vest, Tangrowth essentially sports 404 HP / 314 Def / 299 SpD stats, which is very impressive. While multiplying such a small SpD stat may seem like a bad idea, here's some calcs that show just how impressive AV Tangrowth can be:
There's a ton more calcs I can show, but these are the most impressive. The ability to come in and wall/threaten the likes of Keldeo, MegaBlastoise, Latias, Whimsicott and others while having the ability to switch out and recover 30% of health is outstanding. Furthermore, it's completely customizable in 3/4 of its moveset depending on what you want. Want raw power? Power Whip. Recovery on top of Regenerator? Giga Drain. Status? Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb. Pick your poison. Coverage? EQ for Steels and Fires and Rock Slide for Flying-types and Fires have you covered. It's essentially a jack-of-all-trades kind of a Pokemon with amazing utility even without the use of non-attacking moves. Incredible bulk, deceptive power - it's a Pokemon that should be getting more usage.252 SpA Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tangrowth: 115-136 (28.4 - 33.6%) -- 0.5% chance to 3HKO (This does the most damage of all of Keldeo's moves)
252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tangrowth: 171-202 (42.3 - 50%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Chandelure Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 282-332 (69.8 - 82.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (not even a OHKO after SR)
252 Atk Reckless Staraptor Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tangrowth: 368-434 (91 - 107.4%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO (Yeah, a OHKO half of the time, but at zero Defense investment?)
252+ SpA Mega Launcher Mega Blastoise Aura Sphere vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 107-126 (26.4 - 31.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Pixilate Mega Gardevoir Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 165-195 (40.8 - 48.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Weavile Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tangrowth: 250-296 (61.8 - 73.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Latias Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 177-211 (43.8 - 52.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
The Heir of Bisharp
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Shiftry @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Early Bird
EV's: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
Moveset:
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Seed Bomb
- Swords Dance / Substitute
While I have tested this and come to the obvious conclusion that Bisharp is clearly better, the next round of OU testing/shifting is upon us, which means that our Steel / Dark friend may be saying its last farewells to the metagame. In that event, there will be a scramble to find a replacement for it. Shiftry is probably one of the better candidates. Naturally, there are actually some things that Shiftry has going for it over Bisharp. Technically, it has better SpD bulk (although marginal at best). It resists Ground and is only 2x weak to Fighting. Dark / Grass is a potent combo that is only resisted by Houndoom and Whimsicott. Grass STAB gives it the upper hand against normal Physical checks or Bisharp problems, like Hippowdon, as well as things like MegaBlastoise and Keldeo (somewhat). Base 100 Atk isn't terrible - while not 125 like Bisharp, it still does enough to KO things like Latias pre-boost and smash things after a Swords Dance. Shiftry is also faster than Bisharp (Base 80), which is neat. The set is essentially the same as Bisharp's, minus Iron Head and plus Seed Bomb. Explanation shouldn't be required. As said previously, it will compete with Weavile for Bisharp's former position once the tiers have shifted, as Weavile sports higher Attack and Speed, plus has a reliable priority move, while Shiftry has a more powerful priority move and can get past different threats than Weavile, namely bulky Waters like Suicune.
Well if you're worried Luchamon is too frail to set up an SD, you can just pair it up with SD Celebi—which is ridiculously fun to use on its own. It has the cool factor of being able to completely turn a match around with a well-timed pass. I haven't used that core in a while because my laptop died and I lost all my teams, but it worked pretty well when Mega Hera was around. I have a replay of a battle against koko (that I can only describe as ludicrous) where I'd choked real bad with Entei but ended up winning because of Celebi's amazing bulk. You'll obviously need something for Zapper and Weavile (and be careful against LO Bisharp, because Knock Off + Sucker Punch can do a real number on Lucha, having like an 80% chance to 2HKO after rocks), but you have four teamslots for that.
Interesting core idea. I like the typings and dual regenerator. Right now I'm trying Tangrowth out for myself. I have a max def one. Wouldn't you think physdef Tangrowth plus Slowking would be better though? Then slowking takes special shots and Tangrowth takes physical ones. Tangrowth then can have lefties and things like stun spore or sleep powder. AV is a good set idea definately, but I'm wondering if ^ core is just as good if not a little more efficient.Actually, it's funny that you mention that. My current test team is using an AV Tangrowth / Lefties Slowbro core that's proving to be very effective. Turns out, most of the Pokemon that give AV Tangrowth trouble (Physical Fire-types, Physical Ice-types, etc.) all fall victim to Slowbro. Not to mention that a dual-Regenerator core is awesome. You make a fine point about those kinds of weaknesses, but remember that something like AV Tangrowth can't take on /everything/ in the tier. It's going to have its weaknesses. However, that's what makes Pokemon a team-oriented affair.
Also, while it's true that both Victini and Darmanitan hurt Tangrowth a lot, they can't exactly switch into it with impunity. Both absolutely hate having their item removed. Victini takes ~40% from Knock Off and loses its item while taking ~43% from Earthquake. Darmanitan, meanwhile, takes around 65% from Earthquake and is 2HKO'd by Rock Slide a decent amount of the time (especially if there's hazards).
Dark / Grass is a potent combo that is only resisted by Houndoom and Whimsicott.
Chesnaught, which btw is really good at walling prominent threats such as MegaBlastoise, Bisharp, Diggersby and Crawdaunt.And Cobalion and Virizion and Emboar and Hydreigon and other shiftry and probably some more stuff I forgot.
I like the idea of chesnaught but who would you pair it with? Jellicent and bisharp seem like good options since they are both reliable spinblocker and defog abuser. What do you think?Chesnaught, which btw is really good at walling prominent threats such as MegaBlastoise, Bisharp, Diggersby and Crawdaunt.
So after deoxy-s innevitable ban
I am suprised no one has brought up the best offensive spiker in the meta Roserade. With hidden power nerf tecnician and her great special attack she can pose quite threat offensively but best of all sleep powder and spikes are now legal making her perhaps the best offensive spikes setter in the meta and can help fill deo-s's void
Exactly o have simply been running hp fire sleep powder leaf storm spikes and have been extremely succesful especially when used with bisharp meaning nothing but the best spinners want to take away these hazards. Also have you tried the choice specs set sure you give up spikes and sleep powder but you get some of the strongest attacks in the tier and the strongest hidden power in the tier. Also forgot to mention that roserade got a defense buff this gen making it even better then ever before.this
LO roserade is pretty beastly as an offensive spiker, being able to set up spikes while the opponents switch from her attacks. the biggest buff she got was that spikes is no longer illegal with like, everything else that she wants to run (hint: leaf storm and sleep powder). LO leaf storm hits like a friggin dump truck lmao
I did not mean that she could take on bisharp i meant that she makes a great partner with him because spikes likely brings defog.I would think roserades a little shaky to take on bisharp. While a LO 252 technician hp fire ohko bisharp, LO 252+ Sucker punch has a 93,5% chance to ohko 4/0 roserade. If you want to play mindgames with sleep powder then you have to deal with the more than shaky accuracy of sleep powder whike having to watch out for knock off or iron head which is pretty close to a ohko
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That monster....
[UU]
Aggron @ Aggronite
Ability: Filter
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Impish Nature
- Earthquake/Dragon tail
- Iron head/Heavy slam
- Stealth rock
- Thunder Wave
Only Keldeo(252 SAtk) Focus Blast, Hydreigon(252+ SAtk) Life Orb(87~95~103, very low prob. of OHKO) Focus Blast, Mega-Houndoom(252+ SAtk) Fire Blast and Mega-Gardevoir(252+ SAtk) Focus Blast can OHKO this thing(70 Acc).
Physically, the only thing can OHKO its sunny, adamant and choice band Darmanitan's Flare Blitz with no 100% OHKO.
Aggron @ Aggronite
Ability: Filter
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Earthquake/Dragon tail
- Iron head/Heavy slam
- Stealth rock
- Thunder Wave
And now. This thing only can be OHKO by adamant Darmanitan's Flare Blitz.
PD: I'm not doing all the exact calcs and i'm only using the most featured pokemon.
My biggest complaint about mega-aggron and maybe im just not making it work right is it's survivability. It has huge defenses but im finding it only able to wall once/or set up SR once which has been a mild disappointment. Idk how is Maggron supposed to be played? A defensive pivot for offensive teams?
I like the idea of chesnaught but who would you pair it with? Jellicent and bisharp seem like good options since they are both reliable spinblocker and defog abuser. What do you think?
Wobbufet is extremely weak to Burn and Toxic. Its true that it can trap attackers, but not all of them carry 4 moves (sub/SD Bisharp for example) and can easily play around it. Also Volt Switchers and U-turners can just switch out to a wall with reliable recovery and/or toxic.One pokemon that im suprised has not been brought up and is really good is the orignal trapper wobbufet. Wobbufet is great in this meta being able to trap and ko 90% of the mout and nake a great partner too pokemon such as bisharp and crawdaunt as it can come in and ko the fighting types that would ko them or lock stuff into status or set up moves so you csn easily set up.