AAA Almost Any Ability

:sv/ceruledge:

I'd also like to talk about Ceruledge. Right now, I find that Ceruledge feels somewhat overbearing - versus most teams, I feel like I can just throw it in and getting three kills throughout the game simply because people are having to use mons very vulnerable to Ceruledge to check the metagame - it's extremely easy to get Ceruledge in on doubles via forcing something out with a faster threat - Zamazenta, Roaring Moon, sometimes even Latios can do it. Ceruledge imo has generally forced the metagame to simply outspeed it or die in most instances - Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Great Tusk are often forced to adjust to its speed tier, sacrificing their strength vs other threats in the metagame in order to be able to deal with the sheer pressure that Ceruledge offenses often force on the metagame. I do think that there are a few Pokemon people are underutilizing that prevent Ceruledge (especially Swords Dance) from making instant progress in Regenerator Ting-Lu and Unaware Ursaluna-BM, but these Pokemon are also shaky into 4 attacks variants of Ceruledge, and aren't always instant stops.

It would also seem like Ceruledge is a Pokemon that would be easy to pressure through hazard and chip damage, but the past few months has made it extensively clear that this is not really enough to stop Ceruledge from wrecking a team. Bitter Blade is already stupendously strong under Ceruledge's usual statline, but with a Life Orb and Adaptability / Sword of Ruin, it's usually doing enough damage (outside of outright immunities) that it often manages to recover enough health to the point where Stealth Rock damage is mitigated. In addition to this, Ceruledge is so often capable of taking a KO without very specific Pokemon being present that it often doesn't really matter that Ceruledge is taking serious damage from hazards, LO recoil, Rocky Helmet etc. Specific immunities to this Pokemon are only really affordable on particularly fat teams that actually have to take Ceruledge seriously, and from my experience, these mons aren't exactly good on fats anyway, which itself is already a somewhat difficult (but not unviable!) teamstyle to utilize in the current metagame. I would ideally like to see a suspect on this soon, I feel like removing this Pokemon would be a net positive for the metagame and would help set up a better metagame for OMPL.

:sv/gholdengo:

I'd also like to talk about this troublesome fella. Ghold has recently been getting on my nerves. Specs sets I think are fine, although they're very dangerous wallbreakers, they're not particularly special compared to any of the other breakers (besides Ceruledge) that we have right now. Scarf is also fine, and that set is really nice and it makes me not want to talk about Ghold because losing that set would be so lame for building and would make other mons that are already somewhat borderline (i.e Zamazenta) even more frustrating. However, it's the immunity sets that I really think have made Gholdengo really frustrating to deal with at the moment, especially when item variance gets in the way. Colbur + Immunity Ghold has been a really reliable staple in my experience, being able to easily check Zamazenta and Roaring Moon, and, in the case of EE / Lev Ghold, eat Knock Offs from Tusk and Treads too. The problem with these sets IMO comes with the fact that fitting checks that get around all of the relevant immunities (Colbur / Fluffy, EE / Levitate, Well-Baked Body) is quite a strain on the builder and IMO forces teams to build around somewhat limiting team structures.

EE Ghold is, in particular, a major threat to the game at the moment because of how easily it sits on removal, and how those removal options that thwart EE Ghold have also become less useful. Tusk sets that aren't Scrappy have a terribly difficult time actually spinning on Ghold whilst it easily sets up in front of it, and Scrappy Tusk sets don't actually do a whole lot into the metagame at large. Offensive sets generally struggle to check much defensively, and defensive sets generally struggle to get anything done into the relevant mons - Ghold is quite easily capable of forcing a trade with Scrappy Tusk at high HP, and can quite easily get back in the game. Other sets like Fluffy can genuinely just sit on non Moldy, non EQ Tusk as well, making it very difficult for Tusks to realistically remove from them. Treads is in a similar boat, but at least has Volt Switch to pressure Ghold switches.

I'd also like to say that WBB Ghold is a bit toxic right now. Even getting a single predict wrong vs WBB Ghold can kinda force you into a losing position without specific special attackers, and the Fires that I feel are necessary for EE Ghold are kinda forced to pick between the two sets at preview (barring Heatran, which can just EP for a 2HKO). I don't think it's much of an issue right now given that WBB Ghold can't really enforce the same spinblocking that EE can (although Balloon sets aren't bad at all rn), but it's definitely very scary to face. In the coming months I will have my eyes set on Ghold, seeing what it can do in a tournament setting and how people adapt to it. Personally I think we've adapted to it quite well in the meantime between last OMPL and now, but it's definitely still feeling very dominant in teambuilding.


Other things I believe are worth talking about:

:sv/ting-lu:

Spikes! They're great, but the setters have changed a lot since OMPL imo. I think Skarm and Shocks are both really mediocre spikers, they're both fairly easy to stop from throwing them out and generally speaking, Shocks doesn't really match up well enough into the metagame to even justify using at the moment. Skarm is a pretty solid blanket physical check, but it doesn't really spike all that well in practice - it's very easy to force out, very easy to punish, and generally speaking can't exactly stay in to throw out more spikes on many targets like Ting-Lu and Garchomp can.

As for the other spikers, I'd like to talk about Ting-Lu and Garchomp a bit right now. IMO Ting-Lu is possibly in the best spot that it's ever been in, with the metagame mainly centralizing around Ceruledge, Gholdengo and (somewhat) Latios as the strongest wallbreakers, Ting-Lu being able to pivot into all three of them is a pretty huge deal.

:sm/thundurus-therian:

Thundurus-Therian (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Agility

Probably the best HO spikes abuser right now. Glory is probably capable of explaining this one better than me, given he's used it against me so often now. Just know that if you don't have something like a Latios or priority, this guy is likely to be a pain when Spikes go up.

:sv/ursaluna-bloodmoon:

In regards to fats in the current metagame, I think they're alright. You do need to be paying attention a lot whilst playing them, but I do think that they're capable of easily pressuring more specifically made offenses, and are actually capable of competing with the top teamstyles in the metagame if played well. They're not actually that restrained other than needing a true Ceruledge check, and most of the fats that I've built are good against Ceruledge, but it always feels like they're unrefined right now, and it may be the case that it's just better to pick up some of the faster threats (MGLO Moon, Zamazenta, Adapt Scarf Ghold) and make a somewhat bulky balance with them instead. I've found the slower, almost stall-like fats to be somewhat matchup fishy, but I think that generally, this is the case for stall in modern gens too, and the matchup fishy playstyle may be easier to mitigate, either on ladder, where people probably aren't running the few breakers fats can't really handle (i.e Thundy-T),
 
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Okay fine. I'll say something.

:sv/ceruledge:
Put simply? I don't think it should be banned at the moment, though I am certainly open to changing my mind on this one.

Ceruledge is certainly one of the scariest breakers in the meta right now, I'd even go so far as to call it the scariest, but it's far from some plug-and-play button clicker. It's certainly a mon you have to keep in the back of your mind at every stage of the building process, but Ceruledge definitely isn't the only aspect of the meta like this; Zamazenta, Gholdengo, and Spikestack are all similar in this regard. Of those, I think Gholdengo is incredibly comparable to Ceruledge, as the way you deal with it isn't by slapping one counter and calling it a day because there isn't any really splashable catch-alls to either mon, the difference being that Ceruledge accomplishes this through sheer power rather than Gholdengo's set variety. I think that the biggest issue with Ceruledge is that the way people build teams is incredibly exploitable for Ceruledge, when it's very possible to deal with it without resorting to mediocre options that are primarily good into Ceruledge.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9almostanyability-815255
In this recent game in OM majors, both QT and Kinetic bring a team with multiple fodder mons for Ceruledge (3 from QT if not counting Zapdos and 4 from Kinetic) and only Roaring Moon as a ridiculously shaky check for Ceruledge.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9almostanyability-815320
Kinetic brings a team that's even more ruined by Ceruledge than the last, and this time he does load into Ceruledge. Even with pyu not using his Ceruledge to the best of its capabilities, it gets a KO and forces Pecharunt to sacrifice itself.

Now what does a team that's good into Ceruledge look like?

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9almostanyability-2281716969-xncz43kl1qy36h9dc9emuy7597bqrhcpw
On Rudi's team, Great Tusk, Zamazenta, and Roaring Moon all 1v1 and revenge kill Ceruledge, Gholdengo can live a Shadow Sneak and kill back, while Landorus either outspeeds and threatens Ceru, or has enough bulk to live a hit and respond with a kill, and Ceruledge can't come in on Swampert except on a prediction or a pivot, both of which can be outplayed. I'm not going to glaze myself any more but lag's team is also good into it.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9almostanyability-804072
Lana's team has Landorus-T, Roaring Moon, EQ Iron Hands, and Kingambit. Ideally it can play around letting Ceru in on Corv and Deo sucks anyway so you're doing yourself a favor by letting Ceru kill with Sneak (for real though forcing Sneak is enough with Moon in the back).

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen9almostanyability-804872
O1V7O2X9O's team has Mana, Lando, Eject Button Pecharunt, Roaring Moon, and Zamazenta, all of which can deal with Ceruledge to an extent.

Then there's physdef Ting-Lu which is so good at dealing with Ceru that it deserves a special mention, and all of this is without dipping into specific stuff like WBB Kingambit, or Intimidate Great Tusk (good set btw), itemless shit like Intimidate Pecharunt or WBB Ghold, Unaware Blursa, and a few more things I can't remember off of the top of my head. Sure, CC Ceruledge can help with some of this stuff but is overall worse than SD at doing Ceruledge things, and is much easier to play around.

Ultimately it comes down to whether or not you think the measures to handle Ceruledge are reasonable enough, and I personally think they are. You usually are not handicapping yourself to beat Ceruledge.

If I didn't spend so much time on Ceruledge I would talk about more stuff now, but basically Thundy-T good and Zamazenta still best mon.
 
I may be an idiot for asking this but why is Zacian banned? It has the exact same stat distribution as Zamazenta and virtually the same move pool. The thing that normally make it broken aren't a factor as any mon can have Intrepid Sword. It's just Zama with slightly better typing and a weaker stab in play rough < close combat and the inability to give screens support.
 
I may be an idiot for asking this but why is Zacian banned? It has the exact same stat distribution as Zamazenta and virtually the same move pool. The thing that normally make it broken aren't a factor as any mon can have Intrepid Sword. It's just Zama with slightly better typing and a weaker stab in play rough < close combat and the inability to give screens support.
Uhh get the long answer for somebody who’s actually well-versed in the metagame but short answer:

Zamazenta’s already controversial as is, and a fairy type is a way better typing than fighting, especially in this metagame.
 
I may be an idiot for asking this but why is Zacian banned? It has the exact same stat distribution as Zamazenta and virtually the same move pool. The thing that normally make it broken aren't a factor as any mon can have Intrepid Sword. It's just Zama with slightly better typing and a weaker stab in play rough < close combat and the inability to give screens support.
Zacian has access to a far better setup moves Swords Dance which would make it an incredibly dangerous setup sweeper in the meta at the very least. While the idea has been floated around a few times it's not particularly serious given it would practically force any team to have Fluffy Corviknighy or an Intimidate Pecharunt to properly check this thing and even then you still need to play around it very carefully.
 
Uhh get the long answer for somebody who’s actually well-versed in the metagame but short answer:

Zamazenta’s already controversial as is, and a fairy type is a way better typing than fighting, especially in this metagame.
Zacian has access to a far better setup moves Swords Dance which would make it an incredibly dangerous setup sweeper in the meta at the very least. While the idea has been floated around a few times it's not particularly serious given it would practically force any team to have Fluffy Corviknighy or an Intimidate Pecharunt to properly check this thing and even then you still need to play around it very carefully.

Thank you both for your input when scrolling through their move pools I missed Zamazenta not accessing Swords Dance and didn't realize Fairy was so good compared to fighting.
 
4th move on RegenVest :pmd/Swampert:
Yes, that is literally the whole post.
Let me rip off BKC's cinematic masterpiece aptly named "4th Move on CB Metagross"
An "extensive" guide

Let's be real here, when's the last time you ever clicked the 4th move on :Swampert: ? Literally never. It's Flip Turn, Earthquake, and Knock-Off. That leaves us with a whole host of moves to choose from.

The actually good(ish) moves:

Stone Edge : Catch :Moltres: and insantly slash off at least 66% of it's health. Also catches :Zapdos:, but you'd rather just Flip Turn to be hoenst.
- Rock Slide : Hate missing :Moltres: and :Zapdos:? Slot in Rock Slide!
- Smack Down : Wanna take extra :Rocky-Helmet: chip from :Corviknight: & :Skarmory: in exchange for a free EQ? Choose this move.
- Rock Tomb : Hate missing even more? Want to do absolutely negative damage? Wanna slow down something? Rock Tomb is your guy!
Ice Beam : Catch :Latios:, :Zapdos:, DesoLand :Landorus-Therian: and mid-ground :Corviknight: & :Skarmory:. Also has the ability to leave a pokemon with semi-permanent hypothermia. But really just.. click the ultimate mid-ground move called Knock-Off...
- Ice Punch : Same things as above but you now get chipped because of :Rocky-Helmet: and do more damage to the aforementioned targets.
- Avalanche : Same things as above but now your move is weaker 95% of the time! Also you can't freeze someone sadly...
Poison Jab : Stop :Scream-Tail: from existing. Also the second best mid-ground into :Moltres:, Any water immunity pokemon and honestly anything thats not a steel type. But.. Knock Off exists...
Moves that exist...:

Surf : Despite being stab on :Swampert: , no one uses this move. Well that is partially justified since, you hit no relevant targets except maybe :Zapdos: with PrimSea. I guess you can 4HKO :Corviknight: and :Skarmory:. But then again the best mid-ground move exists and also Flip Turn.
- Hydro Pump : Same things as above but you have a 20%ish to 3hko the metal birds. You can also miss, which is not fun...
Hammer Arm : Stop Desoland :Heatran: with an :air-balloon: from ruining your day. You can actually lose the speed tie on other :Swampert: by clicking this move then the better move called Flip Turn.
- Focus Punch : Literally worse than Hammer Arm in its function except in style points.
- Focus Blast : Even more worse than Focus Punch except you get the luxury of shooting your computer when you miss.
Mirror Coat : 75% of time you're clicking this move you are already dead to any competent grass coverage. The other 25% of time, is you actually punishing :Zapdos: that tries fish for Hurricane confusions or :Deoxys-Speed: overpredicting. But yknow Flip Turn and Knock Off both exist...

Stealth Rock : Wait Stealth Rock on an :Assault-Vest: user? Want to cope that you have a rocks setter but can't fit it? Just hope you get knocked and get free rocks!

Outrage : Wait it gets Outrage? Why? I guess if you really wanted to dent :Latios: and then get locked into a fairy type. But just click Knock Off...

Avoid pretty much everything else...
 
4th move on RegenVest :pmd/Swampert:
Yes, that is literally the whole post.
Let me rip off BKC's cinematic masterpiece aptly named "4th Move on CB Metagross"
An "extensive" guide

Let's be real here, when's the last time you ever clicked the 4th move on :Swampert: ? Literally never. It's Flip Turn, Earthquake, and Knock-Off. That leaves us with a whole host of moves to choose from.

The actually good(ish) moves:

Stone Edge : Catch :Moltres: and insantly slash off at least 66% of it's health. Also catches :Zapdos:, but you'd rather just Flip Turn to be hoenst.
- Rock Slide : Hate missing :Moltres: and :Zapdos:? Slot in Rock Slide!
- Smack Down : Wanna take extra :Rocky-Helmet: chip from :Corviknight: & :Skarmory: in exchange for a free EQ? Choose this move.
- Rock Tomb : Hate missing even more? Want to do absolutely negative damage? Wanna slow down something? Rock Tomb is your guy!
Ice Beam : Catch :Latios:, :Zapdos:, DesoLand :Landorus-Therian: and mid-ground :Corviknight: & :Skarmory:. Also has the ability to leave a pokemon with semi-permanent hypothermia. But really just.. click the ultimate mid-ground move called Knock-Off...
- Ice Punch : Same things as above but you now get chipped because of :Rocky-Helmet: and do more damage to the aforementioned targets.
- Avalanche : Same things as above but now your move is weaker 95% of the time! Also you can't freeze someone sadly...
Poison Jab : Stop :Scream-Tail: from existing. Also the second best mid-ground into :Moltres:, Any water immunity pokemon and honestly anything thats not a steel type. But.. Knock Off exists...
Moves that exist...:

Surf : Despite being stab on :Swampert: , no one uses this move. Well that is partially justified since, you hit no relevant targets except maybe :Zapdos: with PrimSea. I guess you can 4HKO :Corviknight: and :Skarmory:. But then again the best mid-ground move exists and also Flip Turn.
- Hydro Pump : Same things as above but you have a 20%ish to 3hko the metal birds. You can also miss, which is not fun...
Hammer Arm : Stop Desoland :Heatran: with an :air-balloon: from ruining your day. You can actually lose the speed tie on other :Swampert: by clicking this move then the better move called Flip Turn.
- Focus Punch : Literally worse than Hammer Arm in its function except in style points.
- Focus Blast : Even more worse than Focus Punch except you get the luxury of shooting your computer when you miss.
Mirror Coat : 75% of time you're clicking this move you are already dead to any competent grass coverage. The other 25% of time, is you actually punishing :Zapdos: that tries fish for Hurricane confusions or :Deoxys-Speed: overpredicting. But yknow Flip Turn and Knock Off both exist...

Stealth Rock : Wait Stealth Rock on an :Assault-Vest: user? Want to cope that you have a rocks setter but can't fit it? Just hope you get knocked and get free rocks!

Outrage : Wait it gets Outrage? Why? I guess if you really wanted to dent :Latios: and then get locked into a fairy type. But just click Knock Off...

Avoid pretty much everything else...
There's also Brick Break for the Screens matchup. Saying this before Racool comes at your house to kill you
 
100th post + dumping the teams I built for majors. I was able to do fine on ladder, able to get #1 and 90+ gxe, but they all feel too honest/have ridiculously bad mu's into random things so they r like w/e.

:Entei::Roaring Moon::Tinkaton::Ogerpon-Hearthflame::Great Tusk::Zapdos:

Entei balance, based this team around an ivar team from open, it's fun and fresh, but is pretty susceptible to things like set up stail.

:Ogerpon-Hearthflame: This set feels like the truth for it, spikes always let u make progress vs things like zap, and trailblaze lets you become a deadly late-game cleaner, gets bricked by wbb corv but u can play around w tusk and zap.

:Zapdos: I don't really think offensive is that good in the current meta, especially now that ceru is gone, although imo it was better even before it got axed. You need the bulk for zama/other random phys threats and the extra damage output isn't needed as spikes help even it out. Speed doesn't feel necessary because teams either have the hard counters to zap (pert, treads, vabs corv) that are slower and get droned on anyway, or the faster threats (moon, boulder, chien) that you wouldn't stay in on anyway. Ig it helps against tusk but most of the time its trading knock for its life at best and its never really staying in on zap anyway. Thunder/Hurricane a busted combo so it bullies the mons the same that it did before even with the reduced damage output.

:Swampert::Scream Tail::Skarmory::Roaring Moon::Great Tusk::Gholdengo:

v1 of the team I ended up using, felt too passive and got dunked on by opposing spike stack so I wanted to rework.

:Swampert::Skarmory::Roaring Moon::Great Tusk::Gholdengo::Zapdos:

Fun team, gets dunked on by primarina and I load into modest stamina set-up so yea it was just a matter of time before that thing swept, didn't help I got the zapdos turns wrong every time. I wanted brick break pert in case I loaded into screens, I don't usually use mana/pert cores because I don't like the spdef cores they force, and I think testing with it this past week and the game just reinforce that idea for me.

:Scream Tail::Ting-lu::Iron Treads::Corviknight::Zapdos::Roaring Moon:

Random spike stack I used on ladder. 3a tect stail is actually heat and dunks on treads that switch-in to check. Tbh I've been vibing w non-wish stail, and it feels like the future for the mon, wish is fine but its always felt exploitable and weaker compared to more offensive sets since psynoise is busted asl. Protect is also just busted because of all the choice lock mons and mons that think they know ur set since u reveal tect and they get bopped w noise or flame.

As for meta thoughts, I'm a broken record but it is like ok. I think getting rid of Ceru was a step in the right direction but you are pulled in completely different directions in the builder when it comes to checking certain mons (zama, chien, rmoon) that the meta will still be incredibly centralized. I've changed opinion on Chien-Pao, as its really the only good user of priority in the tier rn and getting rid of that would make things even more stale, set-up harder to check, and less reliable revenge options. It has decent enough checks and honestly punishes lazy corv builds the most, which is fine. Though in the long-term for the tier it'd prob be better to either get rid of chien or zama, and since zama stayed then I see chien going simply because it has been contentious for so long.

:Roaring Moon: The past few suspects all I read is everything is a 'comfort ban' (whatever that means anyway), this mon would be the furthest from that and would actually force meaningful meta shifts and action post ban. Though I guess if everyone wants the blanket omnicheck, that is also the most brainless and powerful progress maker, that also has insane longevity bc of mg/regen, thats fine (it can also be a deadly set-up wincon, whatever you need it to be!); I just don't understand many of the common complaints about the tier I read when even the thought of suspecting this mon is met w such opposition. It stifles creativity in builder in terms of offensive and defensive cores, as there is currently no reason to run anything else as it is a cut above all other mons in this tier to an insane degree. In-game it is even worse, as it controls and dictates the flow of any game since there is realistically a very small pool of mons that can switch-in to its damage output w knock + turn (which then become fodder for its teammates it pivots in anyway). Atp to me most aaa games come down to who can play their moon better to get their breaker in fast enough to beat down the other team before you yourself get worn down, or you load the right defensive core and just wall w/e they brought so then it really just becomes ab KOing their moon. (also I'm not rlly gonna engage in a convo ab this, this is more for me to get it off my chest since I know at the end of the day this guy is gonna stay because its viewed as too important for the tier to function)

:Manaphy: This mon hasn't been the best regen since wake meta, and I still stand by my B+ vote for this thing when we did the voting a few months ago. It is a jack of all trade's master of none to me. Full Phys def/spdef make you lose out on valuable and common mu's on either side of the spectrum, you still need a good amount defensive support for it as mons like zapdos and literally all fires can dunk on it either way, and it is very susceptible to getting knocked/becomes bricked when that does happen. Knock/u-turn/scald is nowhere near as valuable as it used to be, and there has been quite a bit of counterplay developed that naturally handle what mana can do. I also don't think it checks things nearly as well now, and other regens can do similar things while having valuable tools/better mu's into specific threats. I also just think that the cores it forces are boring/weak/aren't as progressive as people have been thinking of ways to beat them for over a year, so you naturally find more counterplay to it compared to some other regens. All this to say consider using other regens in the builder!

Also I'm dipping from council, irl is getting busier than I expected and I want to be able to focus on school/work more meaningfully.
 
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Perhaps I’m missing something but does it seem like Ogerpon-Hearthflame is little too good at wall breaking? Outside of Moltres and well baked body Corviknight it seems nearly impossible to switch into
primsea zap and also other well baked body steels like ghold exists but yea it can be quite hard to wall without dedicated checks
 
Perhaps I’m missing something but does it seem like Ogerpon-Hearthflame is little too good at wall breaking? Outside of Moltres and well baked body Corviknight it seems nearly impossible to switch into
It is an ok breaker, but it has far more defensive checks than you list here. Going through the VR in the resources you have Roaring Moon (RegenVest/MGLO) as a soft check, Prankster or Intimidate Pecharunt as an okay check, Zapdos which is a fairly strong counter (though Ogerpon can tech around it kind of), the majority of the Baked variants often completely stuff it, alongside even stuff like Arch and Latios. Apart from this list its middling speed-tier often means it needs a good deal of positioning to get in and wreak some havoc otherwise being pressured by the multitude of faster threats like Zamazenta and Pao given its lack of great resists/bulk to leverage.
 
Does anyone know the math comparing steely spirit and steelworker? I can’t really find it anywhere and I’m trying to do some cheese. Steely spirit is just better yeah?
252+ Atk Steelworker Tinkaton Gigaton Hammer vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Abomasnow in Snow: 344-408 (89.8 - 106.5%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Steely Spirit Tinkaton Gigaton Hammer vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Abomasnow in Snow: 344-408 (89.8 - 106.5%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO

They provide the same attack boost; Steely Spirit however is better in doubles but that's of course not relevant here
 
Steely Spirit however is better in doubles but that's of course not relevant here
Steel Spirit also has the very tiny niche of boosting the power of Jirachi's Doom Desire, if the Steely Spirit mon is on the field when Doom Desire hits.

Unless you are also running Doom Desire Jirachi, Steely Spirit and Steelworker are functionally identical in AAA.
 
how do you guys feel about trick room at the moment? It feels not too bad with how offensive everything is and there are lots of fun shitmons that shine under trick room (looking at you camerupt)
 
how do you guys feel about trick room at the moment? It feels not too bad with how offensive everything is and there are lots of fun shitmons that shine under trick room (looking at you camerupt)
Trick Room in singles is and always has been a meme team format that most good teams can play around fairly readily. Offense generally just offenses. Balance and slower archetypes have the tank to handle it. Hyper Offense can have issues if relying on things like sticky web and frail sweepers but the archetype has always been flawed and as I like to put it, gimmicky.
 
In my short time trying trick room the only gimmick that actually worked was the one that doesn’t actually need to be on a dedicated trick room team (shocker). I present to you OTR Bronzong. Steely spirit makes gyro ball hilariously strong, 2hkoing offensive crown and killing basically anything that doesn’t resist it. The special attack with steel beam lets you ohko max hp tusk and prevent defog if you kill yourself with it.

Bronzong @ Iron Plate
Ability: Steely Spirit
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 SpA
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Trick Room
- Gyro Ball
- Steel Beam

Some funny calcs:

144 SpA Iron Plate Steely Spirit Bronzong Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Corviknight: 150-177 (37.5 - 44.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252+ Atk Iron Plate Steely Spirit Bronzong Gyro Ball (141 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Roaring Moon: 466-549 (112.8 - 132.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

144 SpA Iron Plate Steely Spirit Bronzong Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Great Tusk: 438-516 (100.9 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

144 SpA Iron Plate Steely Spirit Bronzong Steel Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Pecharunt: 292-345 (76.8 - 90.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
 
Hey, I come baring two cool sets!

Fast Intimidate Pecharunt
:pecharunt::pecharunt::pecharunt::pecharunt:
Pecharunt @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hex
- Malignant Chain
- Parting Shot
- Recover

I will credit Glory for this though I've used it before but they reminded me of it through their superior application and skills. Fast Pecharunt is just really good, it is max speed, not anything less which lets it outspeed a vast number of threats from Hadron Vest Iron Crowns that run 301 speed typically or even lower to Great Tusk and anything else 301 speed or less which includes Gholdengo and other more defensive sets like Iron Treads. It is still reasonably bulky due to Intimidate and max hp with its high natural defense, plus can trade with even Banded Roaring Moons due to Colbur Berry though other options are available like HBD or Black Sludge. Fast Parting Shot is just underrated and lets it weaken stuff in ways that normal slow Pecharunt sets don't whilst remaining healthy due to not having to take a hit first before getting the parting off.

Choice Band Protean Zamazenta
:zamazenta::zamazenta::zamazenta::zamazenta:
Zamazenta @ Choice Band
Ability: Protean
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Heavy Slam

Protean Zamazenta is just really cool as it can break sutff like Pecharunt and counter Prankster sets by preventing Parting Shot, hit really hard with Stone Edge vs Corvs/Skarms, etc... It has both defensive and offensive applications through the changing of type matchups. Fire Fang can be run over Heavy Slam to better break fluffy Corviknights but I prefer Heavy Slam for its ability to troll Scream Tail and for its good defensive typing preventing stuff like scarf Latios from easily revenge killing a healthy Zamazenta.
 
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