Smeargle: Obviously we all know about Sticky Webs Smeargle, and hazard stack Smeargle. It's gonna be quite the threat but it might not actually be all that much better than Leavanny due to being outsped and Taunted by Missy and Grumpig (although it can Magic Coat that with prediction). ShuckleDeath and I have been theorizing with a Belly Drum set (after he swept me with it lol), which we feel could actually be dangerous. He came up with Belly Drum, Bonemerang, Icicle Crash, Extreme Speed with Technician to give those moves a boost, which actually is super hard to wall, but I'll let him explain it to you better. I theorized Spore/Dark Void, Belly Drum, Espeed, Bonemerang which can set up on any slower pokemon without needing Memento support. This also frees it to run Silk Scarf which gets you certain KOs (+6 252+ Atk Silk Scarf Smeargle Extreme Speed vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Monferno: 297-351 (110.4 - 130.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO). However it is badly walled by Gourgeist, Vullaby, and Tangela.
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sticky Web/Stealth Rock
- Stealth Rock/Spikes/Magic Coat
- Nuzzle
- Dark Void
This is what I foresee the standard lead Smeargle set as being. It wants two hazards because otherwise why use it over other hazard setters? The exception is on Sticky Web teams where they can afford to run SR Relicanth or something. It also wants Dark Void so it can set up hazards in front of a sleeping pokemon, and it wants Nuzzle so it can actually do damage and cripple other pokemon especially if Taunted. It would be tough to fit Magic Coat in there if you want to prevent Taunt, but it could be fit over a secondary hazard on a Webs team.
Cacturne: On paper this mon looks ridiculous, but I think this will actually be quite balanced in this meta. SD + Sucker is the most dangerous set due to its potential to sweep teams, but not necessarily the best. It gets walled by common pokemon like Gourgeist and Vullaby, and is easily checked by Monferno. Additionally it is highly reliant on Sucker and we have plenty of ways to deal with that, from fast Wisp users, fast Substitute users, or simply trying to PP stall by switching out or using non-attacking moves. The mixed Dark Pulse, Giga, Spikes/Focus Blast (shoutouts ShuckleDeath), Sucker will probably be the best set in terms of consistency. However, it's really not that scary, doesn't hit extremely hard and can be revenge killed easily since it's Sucker Punch doesn't have full investment.
Muk: is cute. Lots of people I've tested with have been experimenting with CB Gunk Shot which is really powerful and tanky at the same time. It's a neat pokemon, although it needs to predict to get around poison resists. I actually like CB Poison Touch with Poison Jab more than Gunk Shot, cause you got the
60% CHANCE TO POISON THE OPPONENT THAT'S MORE THAN SACRED FIRE, as well as the accuracy. Seriously that wears down potential counters so fast....Yeah anyway, it's going to be a solid tankmon but not anything amazing cause of the low speed, and decent amount of checks. As amberrlamps said, AV might be a decent set as well, considering it has even higher special bulk than Bouffalant. And Curse does look potentially frightening (maybe w/ Shuca) considering the only special attackers that can hit it hard, Psychic-types, take a ton from Shadow Sneak
Muk @ Choice Band
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 218 HP / 252 Atk / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Fire Punch/Focus Punch
- Ice Punch
Shadow Sneak is a powerful priority, Fire Punch hits Metang/Mawile/Klang. Ice Punch hits Gabite/Vibrava/Golem, and Focus Punch bops Probo and every other rock type really hard on the switch.
Rotom-S: I don't actually think this pokemon will be that good. Decent, but not a PU top threat maybe. Its stats are good enough, but its matchup with the meta seems to me kind of mediocre. It's main STABs being walled by Golem and Stunfisk really would limit the potential of a Choice Scarf or Choice Specs set in my opinion, as well as the middling power of Air Slash. And it sucks being checked by its own relative Rotom-F. Tbolt/Air Slash/HP Grass/Wisp with Leftovers or something like that would probably be its best set in my opinion, so it can abuse its decent bulk and set of resistances nicely (and it checks Monferno unlike Frost!). Still will be revenge killed by plenty pokemon after Stealth Rocks damage though.
Rotom-Fan @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Air Slash
- Hidden Power Grass
- Will-O-Wisp/Volt Switch