(
SadisticMystic - hope you don't mind me copying your entry format)
Game:
Ultra Sun
Mode:
Super Doubles
Streak Length:
1,472
The Grassy Room, unchanged since the Air Balloon item switch on Stakataka, has finally come to a close. But since I have few fresh details to share about the team, and as an excuse to pad out this post with already-existing content and colourful sprites, I'll put the members on display once again:
Oranguru (F) ("Agent 9") @ Lum Berry
Nature: Relaxed
Ability: Inner Focus
IVs: 0 Atk, 0 Spe
EVs: 212 HP / 164 Def / 132 SpD
- Trick Room
- Instruct
- Psychic
- Protect
Camerupt (M) ("Hot Humps") @ Cameruptite
Nature: Quiet
Ability: Magma Armor
IVs: 0 Atk, 0 Spe
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpA / 12 SpD
- Protect
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Nature Power {Energy Ball}
Tapu Bulu ("#viabulu") @ Grassium Z
Nature: Brave
Ability: Grassy Surge
IVs: 3 Spe (0-3 offers the same number at Lv. 50)
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def
- Wood Hammer {Bloom Doom}
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Protect
Stakataka ("Jenga") @ Air Balloon
Nature: Lonely
Ability: Beast Boost
IVs: 11 Def, 1 Speed (17 & 0 are optimal)
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Atk / 68 SpD
- Gyro Ball
- Rock Slide
- Protect
- Wide Guard
Erm, so with that out of the way...onto the losing battle!
#1,473 vs Preschooler Reina: [8P9W-WWWW-WWWN-LZJR]
Yep, I was mercilessly brought down by a preschooler. Goddammit. Mistakes were made here from the get-go. I'd obviously be looking to set Trick Room, but choosing to keep Camerupt in was a costly and unrecoverable error; the initial and badly thought-out plan was to swap in Bulu turn 2 to let Nature Power do its thing. This is usually a common and safe practice when faced with a singular Water-type, but not when said Pokemon has Aqua Jet. I guess clouded judgement was also there from previous circumstances, not having seen Feraligatr3 ever Aqua Jet M-Camerupt from full HP. Alas, a false sense of security got the better of me, and I paid the ultimate price with an AJ CH to the face.
It's laughable to look back on the opening turns now and instantly realize how much simpler it would've been to immediately switch Bulu in; removing the AJ possibility, a way to instantly take care of Feraligatr in the event of either Screen being deployed, and keeping Camerupt safe for later. With Grassy Terrain's aid, aside from Mega Charizard Y, camel essentially has the tools to 'KO-->1TWI' (Knockout over the course of one turn with Instruct) all of Reina's roster. And even if Meganium used Petal Blizzard right away (which it did later on next to Greninja), Oranguru could still take the move comfortably:
252+ Atk Meganium Petal Blizzard vs. 212 HP / 164+ Def Oranguru in Grassy Terrain: 64-76 (33.3 - 39.5%) -- 13.9% chance to 3HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
It's not healthy to excessively dwell on what could've happened though, so I'll just chat about what went down for the rest of the battle. Switched in Bulu after Oranguru set TR while Camerupt fell to AJ, Meganium3 setting up both Screens in the meantime. Kinda shot myself more in the foot by sending Staka out instead of Oranguru again. This I'd like to call a panic switch of "man, damage is what I need right now and Jenga's the mon for the job" with little thought behind the decision; it was only after I made the switch and looked at Gyro Ball calcs on Meganium3 taking Reflect into account, so I decided to fish for a Rock Slide flinch, and to contribute to GB's 2HKO case. Stupid, I know, since Meganium wouldn't be doing much of anything that turn regardless.
Oranguru was 100% better to bring out here; I failed to prepare for a worst-case scenario of seeing the one thing that Bulu and Staka both can't beat come out, potential Bulletproof Chesnaught. Something that uninvested Psychic could easily 2HKO, turned into me helplessly Bloom Dooming for as much damage as I could, buying a turn of Protect with Staka. But TR turns were wasting away, and I realized my mistake too late; I was pressured to the point of preserving Staka in the case of a backline M-Charizard, and for the need to set TR again, but Oranguru took too much damage combined from Focus Blast and Petal Blizzard on the switch. Annoyingly, even with Life Orb recoil, Chesnaught was also too defensively resilient to Wood Hammer and the friendly fire PBs. TR wore off, and my side was in threat of a double down; I'd contemplated double Protecting there, but Chesnaught was out of PB range anyway from Terrain recovery (lul).
So it came down to full HP Staka vs. full HP Meganium3 and Greninja34 with Screens still active. This was helpful in a sense given that Meganium was forced to Petal Blizzard first to pop the Air Balloon, with Greninja being frail enough to be 2HKO'd through Reflect; turned out to be set 3 using Grass Knot as well, so no means of OHKO'ing...still a tiny amount of hope if I get the double Protect! To little surprise this attempt failed, and GK was the final nail in the coffin. Had I actually got the second Protect...well, even then things weren't looking the best; 2 Gyro Balls (one in Reflect, one out) could KO but Staka was extremely likely to be KO'd by single-target PB + EQ in Return. Farewell, my fallen comrades!
----------
Just a handful of Battle Videos made the final cut, either close losses or somewhat entertaining enough to be saved.
#907 vs Pokemon Breeder Colby [E2RG-WWWW-WWWN-LZLB]
The advantage of Bulu not being all that slow is that it outspeeds Snorlax34 (among other things) outside TR, providing a quick method of removal with Bloom Doom. Now registering that the AI's side is slower, Cofagrigus3 sets TR as Slowbro34 comes out; no worries though as I Protect Bulu in my plan to reverse TR the following turn, with Oranguru in no threat of being KO'd. Instruct Wood Hammer scores a double down (yes, too powerful even for M-Slowbro!), then a rare Instruct Superpower to finish the Ferrothorn.
#1,056 vs Scientist Stein [VK7G-WWWW-WWWN-LZMB]
Similar occurrence here, Bulu in a position to switch in immediately to start bashing spiders and things. This was dragged out a little by Dusknoir's Pain Split, but constant Terrain recovery was helping my case more than the AI's.
#1,060 vs Pokemon Trainer Grimsley [9Z9W-WWWW-WWWN-LZN8]
Obligatory first-turn Protect in front of dual Darks while attacking right away with Camerupt; I aimed for Houndoom because I could KO it instantly, and in the event of Oranguru going down without setting TR, scary demon dog paired with other things is scary. I honestly can't fully recall why I kept Oranguru in on the Black Hole Eclipse, but it was probably because I was confident enough in Camerupt and co. to handle Grimsley without TR, and didn't want to chance Staka/Bulu taking too much damage on a switch after seeing Sunny Day. After taking care of Sash Liepard, Scrafty4 was left to Bulk Up twice and accrue +2/+2, despite being 3v1, was making a relatively scary turn considering Staka could serve little but sac fodder, and I spent an extra turn switching out Bulu to dispel the Intimidate. Single-target Heat Wave in the sun dealt a hefty amount, and despite the HP gained by KO'ing Staka, +2 Scrafty was still in guranteed range of Bloom Doom by the end of the turn (didn't feel like I was in a position her to predict, regardless of the most likely Drain Punch target). However, things are rarely that simple; the AI punished my eagerness to close out the battle with a well-timed Protect of its own. Grassy Terrain wears off, but not all bad news; Scrafty still looks in range of Superpower as I can Protect Camerupt to prevent further recovery...phew! If only, another spanner in the works as Scrafty succeeds with the double Protect (!). The next Drain Punch also scores a CH on top, but M-Camerupt is a champ and holds on for the good of the streak, with Earth Power + Wood Hammer doing enough to render the AI incapable of winning.
#1,089 vs Ace Trainer Hashim [DL8G-WWWW-WWWN-LZZJ]
A case for both my slots being threatened with OHKOs, and for Bulu to once again come to the rescue. Bloom Doom to delete Golisopod, but what left me dumbfounded here was Vikavolt3 using Z-Mud Shot...on Bulu. Not even Bug Buzz on Oranguru?? Gotta love the AI sometimes!
#1,177 vs Aether Foundation Heidi [DT7G-WWWW-WWWN-LZRH]
Decided to scout for what move Aerodactyl would lock into, and then go from there. Turned out to be Crunch, so Bulu could come in relatively safely (outside Thunderbolt paralysis) and help curb any damage inflicted upon Camerupt. After downing Sturdy Magnezone, camel + Staka didn't even need TR's help to dismantle Aero, Crobat4 and Tauros4.
#1,261 vs Scientist Tivon [MAZG-WWWW-WWWN-LZTQ]
(lol @ Gothitelle Psych Upping nonexistent stat changes first turn)
Initial plan was to simply set TR while Protecting Camerupt from obvious Water move, then switch in Bulu to grant Energy Ball OHKO on Jellicent. I soon discovered, due to my Switch button not working, that Gothitelle had Shadow Tag. With Earth Power + Psychic KO looking unlikely, I chose to chance the possible Curse Body proc on Instruct EP; this happened while Gothitelle Flattered Camerupt, but a risk I was willing to take since Jellicent would be heavily tempted to reverse TR, and the damage from a single EP would escape Water Spout KO range as well. TR reversed by Jellicent (lol @ Gothitelle Psych Upping the wrong target), confusion hit from failed Protect just to be safe as Jellicent Recovered, while trusty Oranguru sets TR again. Protect Camerupt while Psychic'ing to get Jellicent lower (generally a good thing), try for the Instruct Heat Wave double KO next turn; Jellicent goes down but Gothitelle avoids the second hit, another Flatter into Oranguru, Earth Power no longer disabled. Tangrowth out, camel hits himself in confusion the first time but Instruct works its magic and scores a double down, and so too does Eelektross shortly after!
#1,299 vs Ace Trainer Granville [5KEW-WWWW-WWWN-LPWQ]
This team doesn't exactly have a magical strategy for OHKO moves, so you can imagine my annoyance when Fissure instantly deletes my setter. Despite the threat of Dugtrio in Sand going for more Fissures, my out was removing Greninja4 from play immediately; Hydro Pump/Blizzard are much more likely to hit. Camerupt staying alive would be greatly helpful so I went for the double and got it (!) while Horn Leeching Greninja. I was basically praying for minimal Fissure hits at this point, I make a wrong guess on the Ice Punch Bulu/Fake Out Camerupt 50:50, but camel luckily lives to see another turn. Bulu takes an Ice Punch next turn (I really should have Bloom Doomed here, was too concerned about staying healthy), Camerupt avoids another Fissure, but Dugtrio avoids Horn Leech + Heat Wave, Weavile down. Ribombee out, Fissure takes care of Camerupt next turn, I don't bother Protecting Bulu given the Quiver Dance predisposition, am finally able to Bloom Doom Dugtrio, and the Staka I preserved is well-equipped to handle Ribombee. I think I'd still be in a good position with Staka had Bulu fallen; Ribombee could pop the Balloon, but Dugtrio would be on its last Fissure, and would obviously need to land it to win.
#1,449 vs Punk Girl Edda [Y5MW-WWWW-WWWN-LPXT]
Gotta watch out for Nidoking34, Savage Spinout for Oranguru or Earth Power/EQ for Camerupt. Cue a Protect + Bulu switch to cover these bases. Next turn was basically me forcing the AI to make a trade, leaving Bulu open to attack. The one I had my eyes on was Poison Jab into Bulu for safe TR going up, which fortunately worked. With neither slot phased much by M-Sableye, Camerupt was free to come back in and wreak havoc.
