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Project SV RU: Next Best Thing (Week 2: Choice Items) (Voting Open)

Elec-ant1234

Elec-ant1234

Absolute #1 Meloetta Fan
is a Pre-Contributor
Krookodile_BU_NBT_Banner.png

banner by Elec-ant1234 (yours truly!) | approved by Rarelyme | OP adapted from previous RU Next Best Thing | hosted by Elec-ant1234​


Welcome once again, one and all, to the latest installment of Next Best Thing, a competition to share interesting alternatives to the standard meta Pokémon sets! Be as creative as possible, but you must also show the viability of your set - troll sets may work once but do not contribute to the growth of a competitive metagame. This project is meant to maximize a Pokemon’s potential: we're doing this both for research and for fun, so don't be afraid to give it a shot!

At the beginning of each week, participants will be tasked with creating a new creative yet effective set for a chosen Pokémon. A list of banned sets will be provided: these will be sets already popular within the meta and therefore are not to be posted for the week. The participants will get around 4 days to make their set and create their post. People may discuss the sets posted during these days. At the end of the week, there will be a voting phase to select a winner. Once the votes are tallied and a winner is selected, the set will be listed in the Hall Of Fame below this post and the process will start over with another Pokémon.

Rules and Guidelines:
Submissions must contain the importable set for the Pokemon of the week followed by an explanation of how it works and why you think it’s useful in the context of the current metagame. Replays are recommended but not mandatory.
As said previously, a list of bans will be provided. A minor change in the spread will not be considered as a different set. The change of one coverage move can be accepted if a detailed explanation is given of why it can be considered a good option. A tera change will be accepted but considered a minor change which should influence voters if there is nothing more to it.
  • Your set may not be changed after the voting phase has begun but may be changed prior to the voting stage.
  • You may only submit one set per week.
  • You cannot vote for your own set.
  • You may reserve a set, but if you haven't properly filled it in within 48h of your reservation, it may be taken by someone else. Additionally, sets that haven't been filled out by the time voting starts will not be included in the voting phase.
  • Finally, please follow the global rules as well, please!

:quagchamppogsire: HALL OF FAME!! :quagchamppogsire:
You can click on the sprite of the mon for the set ​
Week 1:
Krookodile @ Loaded Dice
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Scale Shot
- Bulk Up
:krookodile:
 
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Week 1:
Krookodile
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Krookodile has been a tier staple ever since the beginning of SV RU (forget that stint where it dropped to NU), and has been getting better as of late due to various tier shifts and bans heavily favoring it. Krook's now exceptional Dark-Ground coverage lets it be a terror against most mons trying to switch in, with a solid utility movepool backing up its offense. Krook also comes packed with two great abilities in Intimidate and Moxie (boosted), allowing it either greater longevity or the ability to clean games with the best of them like very few mons can anymore. Your goal shall be to create, share, and explain your creative Krookodile set and breath some new life into this old mob boss.


Submission Deadline: Have your set submitted by <t:1769230740:f>

Voting Deadline: Voting will close on <t:1769403540:f>
Banned Sets are taken from Smogdex, any excluded moves not posted here that are on Smogdex are also banned.

Krookodile @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Dark
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Close Combat

Krookodile @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Poison
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Taunt

Krookodile @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Poison
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Stone Edge
 
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Lead Krookodile
hello! do you HATE rocky helmets? do you DESPISE having filthy birds and lizards removing your hazards? do you NOT CARE about letting your opponent get hazards off in the HO mirror? well i have the lead for YOU!

:xy/krookodile:
Krookodile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

with Lilligant-h gone for good, ground dark is basically unresisted aside from chesnaught, which is a huge boon for us, the idea is simple, if your opponent has a lycanroc a ribombee or some other fast HO lead you don't like well, you use something else, but if they don't, you have yourself a fantastic progress-making lead and a mice's best friend, you deter offensive leads with Intimidate and high base-power STAB Earthquake and Knock Off coming from base 117 atk and, you taunt the defensive mons you invite in, invitation that is obviously, part of your mischevious, twisted plan, you can block Gastrodon and Chesnaught from setting the sneaky pebbles and other spikes, while setting your own and knocking their spiky hat off, a boon for many HO teammates, but most imporantly, the rat family, with it's great HO matchup, further help at keeping hazards off and with it's deadly allergy to pointy headgears, it is the perfect teammate for a lead Krookodile, just a reminder that if you die from the helmet's damage when clicking knock, the helmet doesn't get removed so if you face a chesnaught you're better off clicking knock first, and if they click press to kill you that means they didn't get to spikes and their helmet is gone, so send your special attacker and let your mices run rampant later in the game
it's also a great teammate to Sash Crawdaunt, while they both struggle against chesnaught, it works as a fantastic HO anti-lead and benefits a lot from Krook and Maus's ability to keep hazards off, and having your chosen lead die trading with ches's helmet is actually not a bad turn of event as it's complete fodder for every speatking sweeper such as Armarouge and Mew as well as benefitting the aforementionned maushold in the future

Replays: will be updated over time
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ru-2521938684 the downright tyrannical Rarelyme getting krook'd but abusing the evil and intimidating jirachi for his own profit
 
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Hone Claws Krook
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Krookodile @ Expert Belt
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Poison/Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot/Stone Edge
- Hone Claws

Hate being choice locked? Predicted a ches switch in, only for your coverage move to miss? Hone Claws provides the benefits of cb without being choice locked or missing Gunk Shot or Stone Edge. Expert Belt also boosts krook's wallbreaking potential beyond cb, beating mons cb varients wouldn't, such as Tera Flying zone and ches after Tera Poison. The third slot depends on what your team needs.

Hone Claws Krook:
+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Chesnaught: 286-336 (75.2 - 88.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Tera Poison Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Chesnaught: 427-504 (112.3 - 132.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Chesnaught: 286-336 (75.2 - 88.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 3 layers of Spikes

+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tera Fairy Umbreon: 401-473 (101.7 - 120%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Krookodile Stone Edge vs. 116 HP / 0 Def Tera Flying Magnezone: 324-382 (104.5 - 123.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tablets of Ruin Wo-Chien: 326-386 (87.1 - 103.2%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

+1 252 Atk Expert Belt Krookodile Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 360-425 (91.3 - 107.8%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO

CB Krook:
252 Atk Choice Band Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Chesnaught: 238-280 (62.6 - 73.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Tera Poison Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Chesnaught: 356-420 (93.6 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Chesnaught: 238-280 (62.6 - 73.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after 3 layers of Spikes

252 Atk Choice Band Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tera Fairy Umbreon: 334-394 (84.7 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

252 Atk Choice Band Krookodile Stone Edge vs. 116 HP / 0 Def Tera Flying Magnezone: 270-318 (87 - 102.5%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

252 Atk Choice Band Krookodile Gunk Shot vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tablets of Ruin Wo-Chien: 272-322 (72.7 - 86%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 Atk Choice Band Krookodile Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 300-354 (76.1 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
Bulk Up Krook
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Alright, I'll cover the set which is literally on the cover art since no one else has. Now, in my view, there are two main ways of using Bulk Up Krook:

Krookodile @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Gunk Shot

Krookodile @ Loaded Dice
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Scale Shot
- Bulk Up

You're always going to be using Earthquake and Knock Off, as these stabs are incredible, but in the last slot you may choose between either Gunk Shot or Scale Shot. If you go with Gunk shot, Tera Poison is generally preferable since this gives you the STAB boost in addition to Fairy resist (useful vs Mimikyu and Scarf Gardevoir), Fighting resist (neat versus Mienshao), and Grass resist (occasionally valuable vs Torterra, Breloom, and Grassy Glide Chesnaugth on Grassy Terrain teams). Furthermore, Leftovers is generally the most reliable item on this set since it gives Krook passive recovery every turn and thus makes it eaiser for it to set up and harder to revenge kill. Finally, Intimidate is generally the best ability on this set since it provides more set-up opportunities for Krook versus physical attackers.

However, if you opt for Scale Shot Krook, the choice of item, ability, and tera is more contentious. One of the cooler options out there is to use Scale Shot with Tera Dragon, Loaded Dice,and Moxie. Post-tera, this effectively provides Krook with a 100-125 BP Dragon STAB which also boosts its speed, while Bulk Up + Moxie boosts lets it snowball offensively. Moreover, Tera Dragon provides you with a water/fire resist in a pinch, such as versus Sun, Rain, Aqua Jet, and Armarouge. This set also has the added benefit of not activating Defiant versus Bisharp, making Krook a bit more reliable into it. Granted, Krook is still a poor answer to Tera Fly Bish, and with Scale Shot lowering its defense it's more vulnerable to being picked off by Mach Punch from Loom, Extreme Speed from Entei/Lucario, and Shadow Sneak from Mimikyu.

Admittedly, one could feasibly also think of other moves to use, namely Close Combat and Stone Edge, but those would be the third and fourth best thing rather than the next best thing.
 
Counter Krook
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Krookodile @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 124 Atk / 140 Def / 244 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Counter
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock / Gunk Shot / Taunt

While Krookodile does typically use its defensive typing and intim to help check multiple threats, its moreso a secondary trait to its offensive potential. This set still does have that offensive potential, but comes with a lot better defensive profile. The primary role of this set, is ofc counter. Due to its typing, a good chunk of mons can hit krook super effectively, though typically this is more due to u-turn. Counter krook takes this to its advantage, being able to stomach attacks easier, and then launch a devestating attack back even on foes it may not be able to usually ko. Something like chesnaught should usually be able to ko krook, but instead if it ever clicks body press, it will be KO'd in return. A jirachi that clicks u-turn into a defensive wall like gastrodon will instead be met with decent damage that then can be followed up with increasing offensive pressure. This set can trade extremely well, be a defensive check to mons, and be an annoying pokemon to switch into, all rolled into one.

Ev spread is to outspeed specs basculegion and modest p-z, with defensve to live a LO lycanroc dusk CC after intim while also living chesnaught body press, with the rest in attack. Rocky helmet further increases residual damage krook does, with the last move being flexible. Tera Poison can allow Krook to live more super effective hits if needed.
 
Thank you to everyone who submitted a set! Voting is now open, so vote for whatever set you think is best!

Krookodile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

Krookodile @ Expert Belt
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Poison/Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot/Stone Edge
- Hone Claws

Krookodile @ Loaded Dice
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Scale Shot
- Bulk Up

Krookodile @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 124 Atk / 140 Def / 244 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Counter
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock / Gunk Shot / Taunt

The Voting Deadline is <t:1769403540:f>!
 
Congrats to eifo for winning the first week of Next Best Thing!

Krookodile @ Loaded Dice
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Scale Shot
- Bulk Up

Thank you everyone for participating in the first week of Next Best Thing!
The next week will be up soon!
 
Week 2:
Choice Items
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This week, we're switching it up! Choice Items, like the Choice Band, Choice Scarf, and Choice Specs have been staples of competitive Pokemon ever since they were introduced in Generation 4, and have found use in every single metagame for their ability to allow Pokemon the ability to have increased stats without any setup time, at the iconic downside of locking them into the first move they click. This ability to allow Pokemon immediately stronger stats, or the ability to cripple opposing Pokemon by bestowing them with a Choice Item via Trick or Switcheroo is incredibly powerful, and plenty of Pokemon in the metagame already commonly use these items. However, your goal this week will be to switch things up. Choose a Pokemon that does not already have a commonly run Choice Item, and give them one! Your only restriction is that if that Pokemon already has a Smogon set for the Choice Item you're giving them, you'll have to choose a different Choice Item. Just changing the moves on the set won't be enough this week! Good Luck, and have a fun time creating mysterious creations previously unknown to man!

Submission Deadline: Have your set submitted by <t:1769921940:f>

Voting Deadline: Voting will close on <t:1770094740:f>
Any set that uses the same choice item as a Smogon set of the Pokemon you're using, I.E. a Choice Band/Scarf Krookodile set, or a Choice Scarf/Specs Gardevoir set (if it's labeled under Other Options, then that is also counted.)
 
c25cluar16vb1.jpg


:sv/armarouge:
Armarouge @ Choice Specs
Ability: Weak Armor / Flash Fire
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Armor Cannon
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball / Energy Ball
- Tera Blast / Flamethrower / Energy Ball / Trick

power herb+meteor beam is strong and lets you change moves, but come on, we don't have time to use a 120 BP rock move. this thing hits make-spdef-muk-a-rethink-its-life choices hard. throw a choice specs on that legally different megaman OC and click the red button to see big numbers and have guaranteed reactions on chat when they realize you are specs modest. Armor Cannon only has 8 PP tho which can be sus into stall and suicune so running Flamethrower just in case is a good idea. Maybe. Is this set in the Other Options? Yes. Will people think you're stupid for running specs armarouge? Yes also so it counts.

But I get it, I get it, it's still cheating isn't it. So here is a perfectly legal set conforming to the rules:

:sv/trevenant:
Trevenant @ Choice Band
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Poltergeist
- Wood Hammer
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch

Poltergeist OHKOs Noivern and Talonflame. have fun.
 
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SKRIMPS ALT (Muk-Alola) @ Choice Band
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Drain Punch

I've used CB Amuk consistently in individuals, and it has a lot going for it. It has stab knock which off ada invest and band hits hard. It also has Poison Touch so you can poison stuff that might try to switch into a stab like Krook or Gastro. It also has priority which is really solid for cleaning up late game with tera and a nice defensive typing that lets it switch into many things. Drain Punch is also nice for catching darks like Krook or Umb and for recovery. It also gets zhb which is nice if fezan or gweez ever drops down. Paired with hwish support like Rachi it can switch in more aggressively to mons like Slowbro making it a self sufficient, potent, and realistically viable breaker.
 
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Roh Roh (Gengar) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Cursed Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Trick
- Focus Blast

Gengar kinda fell off since he has a lot of checks (cycli, empo spD, Hoodra, Blissey, Muk-a etc etc...) but i recently played a lot of specs muk coupled to a fighting such as shao and good volturn if at one point his check is dead he can do his magic. Classic sball and i find sludge wave better than sludge bomb to maximize the damages. Trick is useful especially against his defensive checks, and finally focus miss to hit every steel/dark type trying to in on a sludge or sball. Pretty classic but does his job, as i said coupled to like scarf shao and volturn he is a demon.
 
empoleon.gif

Empoleon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Competitive
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 144 HP / 148 SpA / 216 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Flip Turn/Flash Cannon/Vacuum Wave

The ev spread is from the offensive set, so I don't need to explain it. While the hp invest was meant for hippo, it still has its uses. Scarf herscu's Shadow Ball is a 3HKO instead of 2HKO, and spec hoodra's tbolt is now a 2HKO.

Specs makes it a scary wallbreaker without relying on Competitive, breaking through defensive walls or outright OHKOing them. For example, emp can 3HKO amuk (2HKO after a Competitive boost), where as non-specs is a 5HKO. Grass Knot also has a 87.5% chance to OHKO gastro.
148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Surf vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Muk-Alola: 144-171 (34.7 - 41.3%) -- 71.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery (5HKO w/o specs; 2HKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Grass Knot (100 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Suicune: 262-310 (64.8 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (3HKO w/o specs; OHKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Slowbro: 282-334 (71.5 - 84.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (89% to 2HKO w/o specs; OHKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Grass Knot (60 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Gastrodon: 416-492 (97.6 - 115.4%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO (2HKO w/o specs)

The foruth slot is rather flexible. Flip Turns provides momentum and escapes zone's Magnet Pull. Flash Cannon nails fairies such mmq, garde, and otr Diancie. Vacuum Wave is a revenge killer tool and does pretty good damage after Competitive.
148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mienshao: 90-106 (33.2 - 39.1%) -- 99.9% chance to 3HKO (2HKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Magnezone: 130-154 (46.2 - 54.8%) -- 57% chance to 2HKO (50/50 to OHKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Vacuum Wave vs. 40 HP / 0 SpD Goodra-Hisui: 84-100 (27 - 32.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO (2HKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Vacuum Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Breloom: 90-106 (27.7 - 32.7%) -- possible 5HKO (2HKO after comp)

148+ SpA Choice Specs Empoleon Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Porygon-Z: 150-178 (48.2 - 57.2%) -- 91% chance to 2HKO (75% to OHKO after comp)

Because of emp's lack of recovery, you'll need a hazard remover and/or wish support. Forming a hazstack team is also recommended so emp can take advantage of Vacuum Wave.
 
I'll be real I forgot that voting started today :sob:


Trevenant @ Choice Band
Ability: Natural Cure
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Poltergeist
- Wood Hammer
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch

SKRIMPS ALT (Muk-Alola) @ Choice Band
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Drain Punch

Roh Roh (Gengar) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Cursed Body
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Trick
- Focus Blast

Empoleon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Competitive
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 144 HP / 148 SpA / 216 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot
- Flip Turn/Flash Cannon/Vacuum Wave

Since i basically wasted like an entire day, I'll be extending the voting period (again... i gotta get better memory)

Voting Period ends <t:1770141540:f> now!
 
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