Project Threats to OU Cores v2: Round 72: Mega Charizard X + Ash-Greninja

[Arcanine is Regal]

Breloom @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Mach Punch
- Spore
- Focus Punch
- Bullet Seed

This is a breloom set I've been using on a sticky web offense team, the amount of damage this mach punch does is insane, and its a pretty good stallbreaker too since not much can switch into a focus punch + another attack. Anyway it resists greninja priority and can ohko both these mons with its own priority. Doesnt counter them by any means but its a good check.

252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Greninja-Ash: 390-460 (136.8 - 161.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Lopunny-Mega: 296-351 (109.2 - 129.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Jordy]

Last Week's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Week:

: Choice Scarf Kartana is a pretty big threat to teams that run Mega Lopunny + Ash-Greninja.

Additional Notes:

: Breloom is bad and has absolutely no place in OU.
​

Round 35 Core: Mega Slowbro + Tapu Bulu

Here are your sets

Slowbro-Mega @ Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 152 Def / 88 SpA / 20 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Fire Blast
- Slack Off
- Toxic / Thunder Wave

Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 164 SpD / 96 Spe
Careful Nature
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Swords Dance
- Synthesis / Protect

• Mega Slowbro is a very solid Pokemon in the current metagame, capable of checking many Pokemon like Heatran, Zygarde, Mega Medicham, and most Protean Greninja. Tapu Bulu helps with Pokemon like Ash-Greninja, Mega Alakazam, and Tapu Koko, which can pose a great threat to Mega Slowbro.
• Try to post only OU viable Pokémon and don't post sets specifically for this core, additionally your threat should not be complete deadweight against teams that do not feature the core of Mega Slowbro + Tapu Bulu. Everyone have a good day!

Song of the Week

"Lean Wit Me"

 

[Vengeance417]

Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost

Flamethrower OHKOs Tapu Bulu and Mega Slowbro falls to Solar Beam after Stealth Rock. Heatran is commonly seen with either of these two Pokemon and that's afraid of Focus Blast.

 

[Mellow]

Kartana @

/

/

Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike

Z-Move doesn't matter - +2 Leaf Blade kills Mega Slowbro (it's usually a roll but Bulu sets up Terrain for you) and Tapu Bulu dies to +2 Smart Strike. You set up on Bulu fairly freely since Superpower only does like 70.

calcs

0 Atk Tapu Bulu Superpower vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Kartana: 172-204 (66.1 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
+2 252 Atk Kartana Smart Strike vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Tapu Bulu: 522-614 (152.1 - 179%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 248 HP / 152+ Def Slowbro-Mega: 374-444 (95.1 - 112.9%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 248 HP / 152+ Def Slowbro-Mega in Grassy Terrain: 564-666 (143.5 - 169.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Lotus]

Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Sludge Bomb
- Earthquake

Tangrowth can easily pivot into both Mega Slowbro and Tapu Bulu with AV and Regen. Giga Drain and Sludge Bomb are used to threaten both of them.

 

[MANNAT]

Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast
- Pin Missile
- Swords Dance

Mega Heracross can easily counter Tapu Bulu by resisting its attacks, and threatening to fuck it up with +2 Pin Missile and obviously threatens Mega Slowbro with Pin Missile as well, but it has to be wary of switching into Psyshock or Scald, although if it hasn't mega'd yet, then a Scald burn would actually be beneficial.

 

[Martin]

Greninja @ Metronome / Expert Belt / Waterium Z
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Spikes
- Dark Pulse
- Gunk Shot
- Ice Beam / Hidden Power [Fire] / Hydro Pump

Protean Gren can basically run any combination of moves according to the needs of its team, and Dark Pulse is among those options; running it turns the otherwise poor MU versus Slowbro into one that it wins almost every time, and in addition it 2HKOes Mew and lets Greninja win out versus Reuniclus if used alongside Metronome (provided that you get Greninja in before its built up its stats too hard). Running it alongside Gunk Shot allows Greninja to just completely decimate this core as Bulu obviously just drops to Gunk Shot.

 

[Katy]

Magnezone @ Steelium Z
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 96 HP / 192 SpA / 220 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Substitute

Magnezone is a great check to this core as it threatens both Mega Slowbro and Tapu Bulu with its electric and steel stabs respectively. It also resists Tapu-Bulu's spammable stab in horn leech and can set up a substitute vs bulu as it is able to outpace bulu and set up sub on a protect/synthesis or even a predicted switch out and blow something away with a corkscrew crash (z- flash canon). However superpower should be kept in caution but the particular zone spread guarantees to live one hit for sure. Magnezone is really good vs mega-slowbro as it severely damages it with tbolt and can also sub on a predicted switch out. It also resists the psychic stab and scald does not do much to it and zone also does not mind getting burnt. Overall I feel magnezone is a great option to check these 2 mons and it also can be used a steel trapper as well as a great flying resist.

Calcs:
192+ SpA Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 20 SpD Slowbro-Mega: 366-432 (93.1 - 109.9%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
192+ SpA Magnezone Corkscrew Crash (160 BP) vs. 248 HP / 164+ SpD Tapu Bulu: 444-524 (129.4 - 152.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Leftovers recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery
0 Atk Tapu Bulu Superpower vs. 96 HP / 4 Def Magnezone: 192-226 (62.9 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

 

[Meliodafu7]

Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Taunt
- Focus Blast

Gengar is a bitch for this core to face, as both members are weak to its STAB moves: M-Slowbro gets cleanly OHKOed by a Life Orb Shadow Ball, and Bulu is melted by Sludge Wave. A common partner for this core is Heatran, which is OHKOed by Focus Blast in its offensive sets, and its utility set takes a million from the move.

[calcs later]

 

[JTD783]

Volcarona @ Buginium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
-Quiver Dance
-Fire Blast
-Bug Buzz
-Hidden Power Ground

Standard Z Bug Volc. Fire Blast kills Bulu and Bug Buzz kills Mega Slowbro. It switches into Bulu for free and can come in against Slowbro if it goes for Slack Off on said turn.

 

[Steel With It]

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 156 SpD / 16 Spe
Calm / Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power Fire / Earthquake / Leech Seed
- Synthesis

+2 0 Atk Tapu Bulu Superpower vs. 248 HP / 88 Def Venusaur-Mega: 84-99 (23.1 - 27.2%) -- possible 5HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
0 SpA Venusaur-Mega Sludge Bomb vs. 248 HP / 164+ SpD Tapu Bulu: 372-444 (108.4 - 129.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

88 SpA Slowbro-Mega Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 156+ SpD Thick Fat Venusaur-Mega: 74-88 (20.3 - 24.2%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
0 SpA Venusaur-Mega Giga Drain vs. 248 HP / 20 SpD Slowbro-Mega: 224-266 (56.9 - 67.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

MegaSaur doesn't really care about burns or paralysis from MegaBro, either.

 

[Egor]

Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Overheat
- Trick

Specs Blace OHKOes both M-bro and Bulu with Shadow Ball and Fire Blast respectively, but it heavily relies on prediction and can't switch directly into this core.

 

[Akumeoy]

Hoopa-Unbound @ Choice Band
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Hyperspace Fury
- Gunk Shot
- Fire Punch
- Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt / Trick

Hoopa-U is so fucking strong. Outspeeds both and deals heavy damage. Can't switch in but Hoopa-U should always be used with pivot support anyways. Notable for, unlike many other submissions, not really giving a shit about whatever rounds out the FWG core on the opponent's team.

252 Atk Choice Band Hoopa-Unbound Gunk Shot vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Tapu Bulu: 812-956 (236.7 - 278.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Hoopa-Unbound Hyperspace Fury vs. 252 HP / 152+ Def Slowbro-Mega: 284-336 (72 - 85.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Deleted User [433215]]

Kyurem-B:
This thing can beat bulu and bro with the z slammer set. It even beats tran if its packin EP.

Amoongus: does the same type of thing as venu except it can spore something and it regens so its even more annoying.

 

[Matter of the dark 1]

Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 236 HP / 160 SpD / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Substitute
- Coil
- Glare

not the best answer but it can be usefull. it paras and set upes on both since bro has no ice beam + u can fish for paras

 

[MikeDawg]

Zygarde @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 236 HP / 160 SpD / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thousand Arrows
- Substitute
- Coil
- Glare

not the best answer but it can be usefull. it paras and set upes on both since bro has no ice beam + u can fish for paras

Might as well just run Toxic if your goal is to beat defensive checks (e.g. bro, bulu, tangrowth, etc).

 

[Jordy]

Last Week's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Week:

: Charizard Y is still a good Pokemon that does very well against the given core, so I'd just like to highlight it.

Additional Notes:

: SubGlare sets rely solely on hax to beat Mega Slowbro, the EVs allow Mega Slowbro's Scald to break Zygarde's Substitute almost all the time. Toxic sets are definitely annoying, though, so I'll add it.

​

Round 36 Core: Heatran + Blacephalon

Here are your sets

Heatran @ Steelium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 16 HP / 216 SpA / 28 SpD / 248 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Flash Cannon
- Magma Storm

Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Overheat / Flamethrower
- Trick

• Heatran + Blacephalon is a cool Fire-type spam core that revolves around Heatran luring common Fire-type resists like Tyranitar and Zygarde, which allows Blacephalon to go in.
• Try to post only OU viable Pokémon and don't post sets specifically for this core, additionally your threat should not be complete deadweight against teams that do not feature the core of Heatran + Blacephalon. Everyone have a good day!

Song of the Week

I'll do another dutch song for the uncultured.

"My Ride"

 

[lydian]

Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 184 HP / 232 SpD / 92 Spe
Careful Nature
- Rock Slide
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Pursuit

They say Chansey’s Special bulk is unrivaled, well, here’s its rival. AV Tyranitar can come in on Corkscrew Crash and tank a Flash Cannon afterwards to bop Heatran away. And even after that it probably still has enough hp to come in on Blacephalon and Pursuit trap it. While it’s true that Tyranitar can be prone to getting worn down and doesn’t quite appreciate a Corkscrew Crash, it’s probably the best defensive switch in to this core anyway.

 

[Meliodafu7]

Kartana @ Fightinium Z / Grassium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Knock Off

Can't switch-in, but It can Revenge kill Blacephalon with Knock Off, and then, boop Heatran with a +1 AoP. Grassium can be used as at +0, Bloom Doom dicks Blacephalon, but usually Fightinium is better.

Calcs latter

 

[Vengeance417]

Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Earthquake​

Base form Charizard can come in on Heatran as it goes for any of its moves, then proceed to use it as set up fodder to get up a Dragon Dance. Charizard can then proceed to outspeed Blacephalon and OHKO both members of the given core with Earthquake.​

 

[JTD783]

Ash Greninja

Greninja @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
-Hydro Pump
-Water Shuriken
-Dark Pulse
-Spikes

Gren can switch into both members of the core, resisting each of their STABs. It threatens them out by OHKOing with Hydro Pump, or Dark Pulse once Heatran is weakened. Or it just gets Spikes up on the switch.

As a bonus, Gren doesn't care about Trick from Blace since it just gives it specs again.

 

[xapx]

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 244 Atk / 68 Def / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Explosion
- Stone Edge

Honestly, EQ is all you need here. Click EQ and blown them away! There is no Naive nature so it takes Heatran's attack's better, but Specs Blace blows it back, so it won't be switching in.

 

[Egor]

Greninja @ Waterium Z
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Fire
- Spikes

Heatran with this spread can survive Hydro Pump but not after rocks, or it'll be just KOed by Z-move. Blace falls from regular Pump.

 

[Sk3no]

Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Waterfall
- Earthquake

Basically, mega gyara can tank heatran and blacephalon's special moves and then hit them back with a physical move, earthquake can be used to OHKO heatran while waterfall and crunch will OHKO on blacephalon.

 

[Akumeoy]

Pelipper @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 36 Def / 224 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- U-turn
- Roost
- Defog

Heatran and Blacephalon are much less threatening when the power of their Fire-type attacks is halved. Pelipper also counters this particular Heatran set and Defogs away its rocks. Specs Shadow Ball blows it back but every rain sweeper wipes the floor with Blacephalon so I wouldn't worry about it.

216+ SpA Heatran Corkscrew Crash (160 BP) vs. 248 HP / 228 SpD Pelipper: 142-168 (43.9 - 52%) -- 13.3% chance to 2HKO