Project SS OU - Victim of the Week - Not hosted anymore

[Sagdiyev]

checks: &
counters: &

 

[Fusion Flare]

Checks:
Counters:

And also, we got a new banner from yours truly for this thread!

 

[Katy]

checks:
counters:

 

[Lando-San]

Checks: and
Counters: and

 

[PlusC]

But most of them are just UR (Sableye, Regice, Diancie) or incredibly meager sets on already meager pokemon (Mamoswine) so i won't be putting them up for the voting stage.

Voting for

Checks :Nihilego and Weavile
Counters : Tapu and Zapu

 

[Fusion Flare]

Ok, votes are in, and after much deliberation...we have our winners!

Our winner of the counter section is none other than airfare and their defensive Zapdos! Quite the impressive feat!

Our winner of the checks section is none other than Weavile by Pokeseba! Congratulations to you both!

Now for our next victim...
it’s the new dog on the block, the tyke on trial, the crowned hound, Zamazenta-Crowned!

Zamazenta-Crowned @ Rusted Shield
Ability: Dauntless Shield
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Howl
- Close Combat
- Behemoth Bash
- Wild Charge

Although its unknown if this Pokemon will be freed from the pound, its already proved itself as a very powerful pup! So let’s see if you can prevent this wolf from waging war on the metagame!

and to those who say i can’t do a victim of the week on a pokemon that’s not even in the tier, i have a few things to say....
1) kick rocks, nerd
2) I have permission from finch

 

[JTD783]

as a check

Hippowdon @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
-Slack Off
-Earthquake
-Toxic
-Stealth Rock / Whirlwind

Hippowdon's incredible bulk lets it switch into Zamazenta-Crowned easily. Even Adamant variants can only 3HKO it at best, while Hippowdon can spam Slack Off as Rocky Helmet damage does its work. The only way for Zamazenta-Crowned to get past Hippowdon is an Adamant variant using Howl on the switch, but even then it can only 2HKO and is forced to take an Earthquake and two rounds of Rocky Helmet damage, leaving Zamazenta-Crowned on extremely low HP. As a bonus, Zamazenta-Crowned can be revenge-killed by Excadrill under sand, which is Hippowdon's most common partner. It's a very sturdy check but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a counter.

8 Atk Hippowdon Earthquake vs. +1 64 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 174-206 (51 - 60.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (actually +0 Defense but the damage calc is bugged)

+1 252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Hippowdon: 208-246 (49.5 - 58.5%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO

 

[TailGlowVM]

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 Spe
Bold Nature
- Body Press
- Iron Defense
- Spikes
- Roost

Given my complaints about the changes Zamazenta-C has/will force, it's only fair I nominate just about the only counter that both hasn't had to adapt its moveset to do it and was good before its retest.

Regardless of whether it uses Howl or attacks on the switch, Skarmory takes either two unboosted attacks, or a +1 attack into a +1 attack at +2 Defense, so using Iron Defense followed by Roost is safe, then either two rounds of Rocky Helmet damage plus Wild Charge recoil or one round of Rocky Helmet damage plus the Close Combat defense drop brings it into guaranteed KO range of +2 Body Press.

Of course, Skarm still loses in Electric Terrain, and I dread the day ZamaZone becomes a thing...

 

[Plushietran]

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Flash Cannon
- Close Combat
Aegislash is one of the better dog checks since it doesent care about any bs it runs like ice fang or psychic fangs, and could drop its attack with king's shield on a read while hitting hard with sball and since aegi is a pretty tough mon to switch into it becomes a trade of momentum, aegislash generally tends to be overlooked since it is hard to fit on teams to use its qualities but it is extremely good at what it does and could find its role on a more balanced/bulky offense teams

 

[airfare]

zapdos again

gonna use lucky gsc sprite

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Def / 40 Spe
Timid Nature
- Discharge / Volt Switch
- Roost
- Heat Wave / Hurricane
- Defog / Toxic

In addition to checking common offensive threats like Rillaboom, Kartana, and Tornadus-T, Zapdos serves as a solid Zamazenta-C counter because of its ability to switch into any move comfortably and threaten with a supereffective Heat Wave or Discharge/Static paralysis. It can alternatively choose to pivot into a faster revenge killer like Dragapult or Tapu Koko. Its defenses, ability, and coverage make it one of the best forms of Zamazenta-C counterplay in the tier.

 

[SLDR]

i wrote zapdos a millisecond after airfare fml
I'll take garchomp


Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 224 HP / 228 Def / 56 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Endure
- Dragon Tail
(Endure makes it an even harder check, the last slot is completely filler)

Tank Chomp is definitely not a counter, but it's a damn good check. Zamazenta-C is forced to run Rusted Shield, which means one of its main weaknesses is that every miniscule percentage of passive damage is going to stick, even a puny 3% damage from Stealth Rock.
Endure Tank Chomp takes this concept to the extreme, with the infamous combination of Rocky Helmet and Rough Skin dealing free 23% damage on the enemy's contact.
Zamazenta-C will probably be played with Adamant since it desperately needs any power it can get, so I tailored the EV spread to withstand Adamant Zamazenta-C. Of course if you run into Jolly, it just gets easier.
252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 224 HP / 228+ Def Garchomp: 163-193 (39.4 - 46.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
This means that you can always switch in, either taking no damage from Wild Charge or Howl, or tanking a STAB attack with health to spare to tank the next one dealing 23% damage in the process. Endure ensures that, barring hax, Zamazenta will basically NEVER 2HKO Garchomp no matter what it does on the switch, which means that it will have to eat 69% damage just to remove Garchomp. Of course, Garchomp comes equipped with the third strongest Earthquake in the tier, which despite Zamazenta-C's astounding defense and Dauntless Shield, still deals reliable damage and ensures that Garchomp will always win the 1v1 interaction.
0 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. +1 0 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 198-234 (60.9 - 72%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Taking this into account, I think it's safe to say that Tank Chomp is going to be a major annoyance for Zamazenta-C and his other physical attacking teammates and by virtue of its Ground typing, it definitely deserves a mention as an annoying check.

 

[HydreigonTheChild]

Volcarona @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Roost
- Flamethrower
- Psychic

it is a nice check to zamazenta-c since it is able to have a 30% to ruin its day with flame body, and zama cant 2hko unless it attempts to howl, which then volc can just QD up and 2hko while also outspeeding it


252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Volcarona: 138-163 (36.9 - 43.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+1 0 SpA Volcarona Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zamazenta-Crowned: 272-324 (83.6 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[PlusC]

Posting Sableye as a Counter every week until it's accepted.


Sableye @ Heavy Duty Boots / Rocky Helmet
Impish Nature
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
- Encore
- Spite / Knock Off

252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Behemoth Bash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 142-168 (46.7 - 55.2%) -- 11.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Take barely over half and then you miss WillOWisp and die it eats a Burn and can't do anything. If it tries to Howl you can Encore to lock it down while it burns to death, or use the opportunity to set up another Pokemon (SD+SS Chomp is a great choice). However I would prioritise Burning it.

Spite is once again a great troll move, since this Zama set has 24 offensive PP to work with. Reminder that if you Spite your opponents move down to 0 PP before they use it, it fails.

Rocky Helmet is good for Zam specifically, but Boots are better over all.

Sadly the Sp Def spread which apparently I'm not allowed to say counters TornadusT can't switch in to Bash as the Burned hit will still kill Sableye, but it can switch into any other move (and a lot of players hAve been running Ice Fang over Bash) just fine.

 

[Tysonslayer]

Buzzwole @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 148 Def / 112 Spe
Impish Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Roost

Buzzwole with Bulk Up works as a fantastic counter against Zamazenta-C without a boost already tanks a good amount after +1 and with the usage of Bulk Up at it's disposal boosting both it's attack and defense not only letting you take better hits if zamazenta sets up in front of you, but to also increase a better damage output with Drain Punch and letting you recover your health after losing a good amount of it and the addition of Roost for self recovery for additional longevity. Though Zamazenenta-C with the rare Play Rough can be quite troublesome, then again Buzzwole is able to take at least one Play Rough without rocks on the field, but at the same time forces Zamazenta-C to be in a disadvantage in not having the proper moves that it wants such as making it weak to Toxapex if that where the case. Buzzwole works decently well in not only being able to just check Zamazenta-C but a plethora of OU's biggest threats such as Weavile, Rillaboom, Kartana, and Garchomp.

 

[Totomon]

Lord Toxapex is an incredible CHECK to Zamazenta-C

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Recover
- Haze

If pex has a free turn against zamazenta, it is in for a world of pain. Pex can fish for scald burns which just absolutely ruin zamazenta and it can also cripple other switchins with that same burn or by removing items with knock off, if zamazenta tries to overpower the pex with howl and wild charge it will just get hazed on and be punished with the thing it hates the most, chip damage.
Pex is unstoppable.

CALCS
252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 106-126 (34.8 - 41.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+1 252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 158-186 (51.9 - 61.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

With black sludge the roll will never add to 100% :D.

 

[astralydia]

Magnezone @ Chople Berry
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 220 HP / 228 Def / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
- Body Press
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Iron Defense

Chople Berry Magnezone is a very interesting check to Zamazenta-Crowned - it is capable of taking a Close Combat into a Close Combat after using Iron Defense on the first hit and OHKOing back with Body Press after two Close Combats. As a bonus, it is also incapable of escaping this, meaning that Zamazenta-Crowned can be trappable barring a critical hit.

252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 220 HP / 228+ Def Chople Berry Magnezone: 130-154 (38.6 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. +2 220 HP / 228+ Def Magnezone: 132-156 (39.2 - 46.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 228+ Def Magnezone Body Press vs. -1 4 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 374-442 (114.7 - 135.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[InvisibleWater]

Nominating Quagsire as a Check


Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Toxic

Quagsire can switch in on most of Zamazenta's moves comfortably, realistically only fearing Close Combat if hazards are up (and even then, it may need high rolls or team support to 2HKO). Once in, it can fish for burns with Scald or chip away at Zama with Earthquake, which can 2HKO after Spikes damage or one use of Scald.

Thanks to Unaware, Quagsire doesn't have to worry about Howl or the defense boost from Dauntless Shield.

Calcs

:
0 SpA Quagsire Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zamazenta-Crowned: 45-54 (13.8 - 16.6%) -- possible 7HKO
0 Atk Unaware Quagsire Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 138-164 (42.4 - 50.4%) -- 1.2% chance to 2HKO

:
252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 157-186 (39.8 - 47.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Behemoth Bash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 66-78 (16.7 - 19.7%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Abhi]

Reserving defensive LandorusT

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 164 Def / 92 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off
I'd like to nominate defensive Landorus-T as a counter to Zamazenta-C.
Defensive Landorus-T can very easily counter Zamazenta-C. It's access to Intimidate can make Zamazenta's already underwhelming attack stat even lower, even negating any attempts to set up Howl. Landorus-Ts natural bulk helps with this too since its able to take attacks from Zamazenta rather easily while chipping it with its Rocky Helmet. LandorusT can also threaten a possible 2HKO on Zamazenta if it tries to stay in, severely denting it. Landorus-T's ability to threaten Zamazenta-C with Rocky Helmet and a STAB Earthquake is only matched by Garchomp however, it is unable to take hits as well as Landorus-T. Even though it is a rather good check to Zamazenta-C it can be worn down with entry hazards, status conditions and repeated attacks.

Calcs

-1 252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Behemoth Bash vs. 252 HP / 162+ Def Landorus-Therian: 93-109 (24.3 - 28.5%) -- 97.9% chance to 4HKO
-1 252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 162+ Def Landorus-Therian: 54-65 (14.1 - 17%) -- possible 6HKO

0 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. +1 64 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 146-174 (42.8 - 51%) -- 15.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

 

[oliVes]

Tangrowth @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Focus Blast/Earthquake
- Sleep Powder

Tang is nominated here as a check to Zama-C.
It has the ability to easily eat Zamazenta's unboosted hits and regen it back. It can opt to put the pup to sleep or chip it with EQ or Focus Blast in a 1v1. Fortunately, CC's recoil makes it so that Tangrowth's attacks progressively get stronger. Its Rocky Helmet also helps chip the dog down to health where it can be revengekilled/picked off later. I only regarded Tangrowth as a check because the pooch at +1 may be problematic for it, especially if its running adamant.
(+1 252 Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth: 181-214 (44.8 - 52.9%) -- 27.3% chance to 2HKO
+1 252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth: 199-235 (49.2 - 58.1%) -- 98% chance to 2HKO)

 

[RufflesPro]

Slowbro @ Rocky Helmet / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Iron Defense
- Slack Off
- Body Press
- Future Sight / Teleport

This set is a hard counter to Zama-C. It can switch on anything, and if it switches into Howl, you can Iron Defense to live a 2 +1 Wild Charges (one at +0 Def and one at +2 Def). Last move is a little up to you, you can run scald to spread burns, Ice Beam for Garchomp, or you can just run Teleport. Personally, I like Future Sight because even without Teleport the future sight support is pretty helpful.

+1 252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 218-258 (55.3 - 65.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Wild Charge vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 110-130 (27.9 - 32.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

As you can see, 65% + 33%, double max roll leaves you at 98% where you slack off back to 52%, and that's worst case scenario with Zama-C being Adamant, using Howl on the switch, and getting double max roll. In practice, this even works with rocks up, but if you want consistent counterplay feel free to run HDB.

 

[Azure]

Reserving Victini
Victini as a check



Victini @ Choice Band / Choice Scarf
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Trick / Final Gambit / Toxic


Victini makes a nice check to Zamazenta because it resists both of its stab options, as well as ice fang, and isn't particularly afraid to take a wild charge either. It also obviously threatens an OHKO with V-create, which puts the opponent in a forcing situaiton where they have to either find an immediate response to it, or to sack their Zamazenta if they really must.

Calcs, assuming Zama is adamant:

Hide

252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 108-127 (31.6 - 37.2%) -- 85.7% chance to 3HKO

252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Behemoth Bash vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 90-106 (26.3 - 31%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Wild Charge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 108-128 (31.6 - 37.5%) -- 89.6% chance to 3HKO

252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Crunch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Victini: 192-228 (56.3 - 66.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

To make Victini's V-create even more punishing and difficult to answer to, I think it's most effective on sun teams right now to boost it's damage output against resisted targets like toxapex. Sun partners like weather ball/freeze dry/earth power kyurem and growth venusaur can help it work around pex/tran matchups which annoy it, the latter of which are commonly paired with Zamazenta. I particularly like Banded Victini for it's greater damage output in general, and because it naturally pairs well with scarf eruption Heatran on sun anyway, which can act as another Zama check if Victini is weakened, but if you need the speed to force Zama out even after significant chip, scarf is fine as well.

 

[Sagdiyev]

taking conkeldurr as a half decent check.
good god finding one that wasn't taking too much damage and dishing damage back is hard, those calcs were huge blows to my confidence

@
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Mach Punch

+1 252+ Atk Zamazenta-Crowned Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Conkeldurr: 336-396 (81.1 - 95.6%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Conkeldurr Close Combat vs. +1 0 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 218-260 (67 - 80%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Guts Conkeldurr Mach Punch vs. +1 0 HP / 0 Def Zamazenta-Crowned: 110-132 (33.8 - 40.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

double min roll won't save the doggo

 

[Fusion Flare]

Ok, ok, no more submissions. It’s votin time. Had to switch a few things around, but overall things stayed largely the same.
Check
PhysDef Hippowdon JTD783
Choiced Victini by Azure Nights
Tangrowth by oliVes
Chople Berry Magnezone by Chazm
Unaware Quagsire by InvisibleWater
Tankchomp by SLDR
The Pex by TotomonGang
Defensive Lando-T by Abhisdn417
Counters
BU Buzzwole by Tysonslayer
Bulkarona by HydreigonTheChild
Zapdos by airfare
IronPress Bro RufflesPro
Leftovers Aegislash by Shadesan
IronPress Skarmory by TailGlowVM

rejecting this because its a bad offensive check in that it not only risks being nuked if it takes any chip alongside rocks, unlike something such as victini, but it has 0 longevity, doesn’t resist either of the STABs and/or have massive bulk to offset the above, and relies on flame orb to do have any meaning over the other fighters. the spread is also in-optimal, but that doesn’t matter when the above just ragdolls this. sorry!
2 checks, 2 counters yadda yadda.

 

[TailGlowVM]

Checks:
Counters:

 

[Windingsss]

Checks: Unaware Quagsire and Physdef Hippowdon

Counters: IronPress Skarmory and Bulkarona



e: Fixed the Skarmory thing