Fixed it, completely forgot Cofragigus was dark/ghost after winning!
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Name of the Pokemon: Donphan
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Wallbreaker, Stealth Rock setter
Type:
Abilities: Stamina / Inner Focus | Pressure
Stat Distribution: 135 / 110 / 75 / 80 / 50 / 60 | BST: 510 ( weighs ~900 kg, similar to Mudsdale )
Movepool Additions: *Berserk, Hydro Pump,
Movepool Removals: Rapid Spin, Poison Jab, Rock Polish, Counter, Head Smash, Curse
Custom Elements: Berserk - 140 BP Normal-type move, 85% acc. user is locked in for 2-3 turns upon use. User is confused afterwards. ( Boomburst / Thrash clone )
Justification: Can switch into physical attackers thanks to Stamina and force them out with strong attacks such as Double Edge, Berserk, Knock Off, Earthquake, Heavy Slam, and Superpower. Berserk is strong enough to pressure even Nihilego with a Choice Band ( Heavy Slam is your best bet though ), but at the same time lets Cofagrigus in for free. Cofagrigus will also enjoy using Pain Split on this. Band is probably the best set but it wouldn't be a half bad rocks setter either.
Flavor: With all due disrespect to Donphan it just isn't what I'm looking for in an elephant pokemon. This build captures the idea of elephant much better IMO.
Name of the Pokemon: Meganium
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Cleric, Bulky Swords Dance, Sun Abuser
Type:
Abilities: Thick Fat / Leaf Guard | Solar Power
Stat Distribution: 82 / 83 / 96 / 84 / 96 / 69 | BST: 510
Movepool Additions: *Petal Blizzard, Leaf Blade, Parting Shot, Wish, Dragon Hammer, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Thunder Wave
Custom Elements: Petal Blizzard - 95 BP Special Grass-type attack. 30% chance to lower opponent's SpA by 1 stage ( Moonblast clone )
Justification: Thick Fat turns a less-than-stellar defensive typing into a pretty decent one, becoming a Grass-type that actually resists Fire and making Ice a normal 2x weakness. It now has a terrific support movepool that pairs well with Parting Shot such as Thunder Wave, Wish, and Dual Screens. On top of that it has the ability to run some ( probably gimmicky ) bulky setup sets in Swords Dance and Sunny Day, which might be enough to force your opponent to play carefully around it. It might make a nice dedicated Sun Abuser too if an ally sets up sun for it.
Name of the Pokemon: Absol
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Choice Specs, fast Calm Mind
Type:
Abilities: Natural Cure / Aftermath | Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 65 / 80 / 60 / 110 / 105 / 100 | BST: 520
Movepool Additions: Moonblast, U-turn, Dazzling Gleam, Aura Sphere, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave
Movepool Removals: Swords Dance, Sucker Punch, Will-o-Wisp, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Ice Beam, Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Thunder Wave
Justification: The epitome of a Regen-Vest user. Craps on Cofagrigus, crapped in turn on by Nihilego. I tested a very similar ( much stronger ) fakemon in the Battle Tree and offensive Vest was by far its best and only good set. Specs might be good in 6v6, though, but the bulk is actually disappointing without a vest. It lacks any sort of support move aside from Taunt, firmly sementing it as a switch-in to special attacks that fires back with attacks of its own. Still, a strong Specs or super effective Special attack should 2HKO even through a vest.
Flavor: There is a bit of a theme to this mon. Originally part of a legendary trio with "polar opposite" typings representing various cycles of nature, this one represents the balance between life and death.
Name of the Pokemon: Gliscor
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control, Status Absorber
Type:
Abilities: Air Lock / Rattled | Mold Breaker
Stat Distribution: 114 / 93 / 101 / 83 / 62 / 57 | BST: 510
Movepool Additions: Brave Bird, Air Slash, Hurricane, Whirlwind, Meteor Mash
Movepool Removals: Roost, Swords Dance, Sludge Bomb, Venoshock, Poison Jab
Justification: A physically bulky tank with U-turn, Defog, and Stealth Rock. Earthquake and Brave Bird are excellent dual STAB moves. Roost had to be taken away or else this would be a wall and not a pivot. This breaks the mold of Ground/Flying-types to an extent because it gets solid Flying-type STAB moves to use. Speaking of, Mold Breaker is there to counter Nihilego, who otherwise would just win the hazard war against it indefinitely.
Flavor: Another "polar opposite" typing to go along with Absol, this pokemon tirelessly flies across the sky by day and burrows through the ground by night; basically, it traces a similar path to what some ancient civilizations thought the sun does.
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Pokemon: Escavalier
Roles: Offensive Pivot, Sword Dance Wallbreaker, Pursuit/Pincer Flank Trapper, OTR
Type:
Abilities: Heatproof / Swarm / Overcoat
Stat Distribution: 70 / 120 / 100 / 60 / 90 / 20 (BST: 460)
Movepool Additions: Pincer Flank*, U-turn, Lunge, Leech Life
Movepool Removals: —
Custom Elements: Pincer Flank — Steel type pursuit clone
Justification: Nihilego's Nightmare. This pokemon is, first, immune to Venom Slam or TSpikes. And then comes in Pincer Flank: 252+ Atk Choice Band Escavalier Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Nihilego: 348-410 (85.7 - 100.9%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery. Nihi needs 252 in both HP, Defense and a Bold nature to be able to maybe survive a banded Pincer Flank. Your only solution is Babiri Berry, and it works only once. Elseway, Escavalier is a pretty potent offensive pivot with a good bulk and a really high attack. Its biggest advantage is also its major flaw: Bug/Steel typing. It's an almost perfect defensive typing (don't forget heatproof), but it's far from an interesting typing offensively, especially when we consider that it lacks mach punch. Also, it has abysmal speed, but that can be used in a OTR set (without Gyro Ball though). Unfortunately, it can't really pass through Cofagrigus, just run if you see it. But hey it still decimates Nihilego!
Pokemon: Pyroar
Roles: Offensive Pivot, Sun Setter
Type:
Abilities: Intimidate / Competitive / Drought
Stat Distribution: 80 / 70 / 72 / 100 / 93 / 116 (BST: 531)
Movepool Additions: Burn Up, Parting Shot, Quickfire*
Movepool Removals: —
Custom Elements: Quickfire — Fire type Vacuum Wave clone
Justification: It's fast, bulky, and pretty powerful. It can do a pretty good job as a pivot, particularly against Cofagrigus, since it can switch in W-o-W or Shadow Ball without even caring. Nihilego is way more of a threat, but Pyroar can still get out using Parting Shot. Also Intimidate + Parting Shot = rip physical attack.
Pokemon: Flaaffy (Eviolite combatible)
Roles: Defensive Pivot, Cleric
Type:
Abilities: Natural Cure / Static / Volt Absorb
Stat Distribution: 100 / 55 / 70 / 70 / 80 / 40 (BST: 395)
Movepool Additions: Dazzling Gleam, Wish, Heal Bell, Earth Power, Moonlight
Movepool Removals: —
Custom Elements: —
Justification: Electric/Fairy is a typing that I found really interesting for a defensive pivot. It has only two weaknesses and a great number of interesting resistances (and even one immunity!). Unfortunately, in normal play, all fairy/electric mons are either offensive (Koko) or not viable in most metagames (Dedenne). I decided to merge this interesting typing with another underrepresented concept, an eviolite user. And from this union is born Flaaffy! With great supportive movepool with Thunder Wave, Volt Switch and some new things like Wish and Heal Bell, Flaaffy could work as a really potent pivot. Its abilities even furter reinforce this role: Natural Cure adds more value to switching out and Volt Absorb gives it more switch-in opportunities. Flaaffy is still far from invinvible, since it would be pretty much walled by Nihilego, but it would be an interesting addition to the cast.
Pokemon: Tapu Bulu
Roles: Defensive Pivot, Sword Dance Sweeper, Terrain Setter, Assault Vest
Type:
Abilities: Grassy Surge / Telepathy
Stat Distribution: 85 / 85 / 115 / 75 / 80 / 70 (BST: 510)
Movepool Additions: Flamethrower, Fire Punch, Flare Blitz, Will-O-Wisp
Movepool Removals: Superpower, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Rock Tomb, Focus Blast
Custom Elements: —
Justification: I desinged this mon to be the perfect Nihilego partner: Their typing complements each other, so that they don't hold any common weaknesses. Nihilego can protect Bulu from poison and flying moves, while Bulu can go against water, steel and ground. Also, about ground, Bulu goes really well with Unaware Nihilego since it can provides Grassy Terrain, reducing Nihi's crippling weakness. Bulu can also burns opponent before passing to Nihilego, which can be really helpful when we know how low is its physical bulk. In return, Nihi can provide Hazard Control to Bulu, something it really needs, and a reliable answer against set-up abusers — as long as Stored Power isn't implicated.
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Nice! Also you mention how your Scizor can beat Heatran with Bulldoze... but Heatran doesn’t exist (yet)
Also yes to both
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I know that, just felt I should give something to compare to. Maybe unaware nihilego would be a better comparison, I'll edit when I can.
Name of the Pokemon: Zeraora
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Mixed Attacker, Late-Game Sweeper
Type: Electric/Fighting
Abilities: Volt Absorb
Stat Distribution: 78/122/65/122/70/143 (BST: 600)
Movepool Additions: Aura Sphere, Ice Punch
Movepool Removals: None
Custom Elements: None
Justification: If I were to sum this up in a short sentence, "this is what Zeraora should have been." Its Speed tier, as it was before, is still amazing, allowing it to outpace every relevant unboosted Pokemon in the current OU metagame, barring Mega Alakazam, who enjoys running Modest quite often nowadays. In standard play, its raw power can be somewhat underwhelming, so I took ten from each of its defenses and HP to add a bit more to its attacking power. It's still not absurdly strong on its own, but after a boost or with a choice item (and having such a fast Pokemon makes it a solid Choice Band or Choice Specs candidate) would definitely be nice.
Name of the Pokemon: Starmie
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Offensive Spinner
Type: Water/Psychic
Abilities: Illuminate, Natural Cure, Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 70/60/85/125/85/115 (BST: 540)
Movepool Additions: Volt Switch, Refresh
Movepool Removals: None
Custom Elements: None
Justification: So, hazards are extremely prominent, to the point to where every team needs some form of hazard control to not feel incredibly inferior to teams with hazard control. Offense needs a tool that can keep momentum while getting rid of unwanted hazards, and that’s what this Starmie aims to be. Its bulk isn’t the best, and its typing isn’t stellar (pun intended), but it can use its offensive coverage to threaten a lot of Pokemon as a whole, which nets it free Rapid Spins. Regenerator helps it shrug off most hazards, though Toxic Spikes is still annoying, but it has Refresh for that, or it can run Natural Cure + Recover if your team is super weak to Toxic Spikes.
Name of the Pokemon: Ho-Oh
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Defensive Defog
Type: Fire/Flying
Abilities: Pressure, Regenerator
Stat Distribution:76/90/90/70/154/90 (BST: 570)
Movepool Additions: None
Movepool Removals: Calm Mind, Will-o-Wisp
Custom Elements: None
Justification: Ho-Oh is a Pokemon with an interesting typing and a four-times weakness to Stealth Rock, and though they aren’t great for it, it isn’t completely terrible against them, so I thought it’d be fun to nerf an Uber to try to get into this metagame. I actually left its best stat in vanilla, its Special Defense, completely untouched, though its attacking stats and HP got nerfed a lot. It could also provide Defog support if needed or phase out setup sweepers with Roar, so it’s not TOO passive, and Sacred Fire is nice against physical attackers. Also, it COULD run Choice Band, since its STAB typing is amazing, especially backed by Earthquake, but its Attack stat is kinda mediocre, so I left that out of the main roles.
Name of the Pokemon: Uxie
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Stealth Rock Setter, Cleric (Heal Bell)
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Abilities: Levitate
Stat Distribution: 70/70/130/70/130/110 (BST: 580)
Movepool Additions: Recover, Moonblast
Movepool Removals: Memento, Light Screen, Reflect, Calm Mind
Custom Elements: None
Justification: Now here's a Pokemon whose role I changed completely despite not changing much. Before, Uxie was used as a suicide lead on hyper offensive teams due to its solid bulk allowing it to set up Stealth Rock or Trick Room, or possibly even weather in the lower tiers, and be able to give a lot of momentum to its teammates due to access to Memento. But, after giving it Recover and removing Memento, its role has completely shifted to a defensive pivot! Uxie now isn't a good suicide lead anymore because U-Turn doesn't quite do what Memento did, but on the Trick Room teams that wanted to use it as a suicide lead before, even there it could work as a defensive pivot. The rest is just minor adjustments to make it more appealing, for the most part. An added Fairy typing is always nice, and it isn't weak to very many coverage options that are TOO common. A higher Speed tier makes it much more customizable to outspeed whatever the meta calls for, other than very fast offensive threats, and I got rid of the screens and Calm Mind to make its role more defined.
About done. Open to thoughts and criticism, if anyone has any?
Just to say, the base stats are a bit high in general compared to Cofagrigus and Nihilego. Zeraora's stats allows it to abuse any of the Choice items. Remember that this is not an OU Pet Mod, but a "complete refresh" micrometagame that only allows winning submissions to be used.
I'd suggest to tone down the higher stats, but that's just a suggestion and you don't have to go through it if you don't want to.
Got done making this change a while ago, but forgot to say anything about it here. Thank you!
I think I'm done because I have no more ideas, any feedback?
Name of the Pokemon: Scizor
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Swords Dance Sweeper, Hazard Control
Type: Bug / Steel
Abilities: Swarm / Technician / Intimidate
Stat Distribution: 75 / 115 / 110 / 55 / 75 / 50
Movepool Additions: Bulldoze, Bulk Up
Movepool Removals: Superpower
Custom Elements: N/A
Justification: Scizor is already a great offensive pivot using Choice Band in UU or Scizorite in OU, but adding a bit of bulk at the cost of small amounts of attack and speed allow it to act as a slow pivot with Intimidate or a more offensive Swords Dance technician. Bulldoze acts as technician boosted coverage move that stops Heatran from switching in on it, and Bulk Up can be used on either set to boost up defensive and offensive capabilities all in one. Scizor is still threatened by fire types because of it's low speed, but deals with them better because of bulldoze. It can also act as Hazard Control by switching in on a setter more vulnerable to Scizor, defog, and then pivot out.
252+ Atk Technician Scizor Bulldoze vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Unaware Nihilego: 364-432 (89.8 - 106.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
This if Nihilego is running max physical bulk, which it probably won't.
+2 252+ Atk Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Cofagrigus: 112-133 (32.6 - 38.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
Assuming Scizor got a SD in somewhere. This calc is kind of inaccurate because the calculator doesnt account for Mummy cancelling Technician.
Name of the Pokemon: Sableye
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Taunt-based stallbreaker
Type: Dark / Steel
Abilities: Clear Body / Crystallized / Stall
Stat Distribution: 75 / 103 / 95 / 75 / 80 / 50
Movepool Additions: Parting Shot, Baneful Bunker
Movepool Removals: N/A
Custom Elements: Crystallized: Stamina clone for SpD
Justification: Sableye acts as a defensive pivot by draining the opponents momentum and then switching into a sweeper using Parting Shot. Baneful Bunker can discourage physical attackers from making contact. Sableye can take hits from most things and then return the damage using something like Metal Burst or even an actual attacking move due to the usable attack level. Sucker Punch is another option to pressure the opponent into switching or revenge kill a low health opponent. Taunt is a great option to shut down opposing stall, especially since Sableye is immune to Seismic Toss. Crystallized can boost SpD to good levels if you spam recovery and then cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp. Parting Shot can act as a slow pivoting move to keep momentum and force some switches on slightly weaker opponents.
Name of the Pokemon: Goodra
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Defensive Pivot, Cleric, Choice Specs user, Assault Vest user
Type: Poison / Dragon
Abilities: Sap Sipper / Liquid Ooze / Gooey
Stat Distribution: 90 / 110 / 80 / 110 / 100 / 65
Movepool Additions: Strength Sap, Wish, Toxic Spikes, Sludge Slide
Movepool Removals: N/A
Custom Elements: Sludge Slide: Poison type Volt Switch clone
Justification: Goodra can now fill a variety of roles thanks to it's good overall stats and better support movepool. It can use Gooey to cripple physical attackers or Sap Sipper to switch into grass type attackers and boost it's own attack. It can really be defensive also using moves like Strength Sap to stay alive and Wish and Sludge Slide to heal it's teammates. Choice Specs sets are also a good option due to a great offensive typing. Offensive Pivot is also a very viable option using AV sets with Sludge Slide to keep momentum while switching in. Goodra is still limited by a lack of boosting moves and a middling speed (out of the 2 existing pokemon so far.)
Sableye looks like a very interesting mon to use. The threat of SpD boost + Wisp should be tempered by a 4x weak to Fighting so it's a cool balance and probably pairs well with Cofagrigus. Did you mean to not give it any Steel-type STAB though? It would certainly be useful to defeat Nihilego although that doesn't mean it needs to have it.
Goodra also looks fun, although I think you may underestimate it if you say it has a lack of boosting moves. Remember that it gets Curse, an above average recovery move, and Poison / Leech Seed immunity. I'd say that a Curse set might be a really good wincon and have totally different counters to a Specs set. Strength Sap in general makes me a bit nervous as it's one of those moves that tends to have low distribution and yet make the pokemon who have it punch well above their weight.
Just my two cents. Cool submissions!
I'm still very skeptical about the power level of these. Some guidelines you might try to follow are:
-For the offensive pivots, make sure one of the two walls can stop it, and not just barely and only with no hazards. The closer it comes to beating both walls, probably the slower it should be.
-For the defensive pivots, make sure it doesn't wall better than the walls we voted for. The closer the bulk of these pivots is to the walls, the more cuts there need to be in terms of things like support moves and reliable recovery. Also keep in mind that both of the walls are very bulky on one side of the attacking spectrum but pretty frail on the other.
Hopefully that helps without being too restricting. Cool ideas otherwise. I like the idea of bringing in a modified Ho-oh and I think its new stats look pretty good. Definitely on the powerful side but mitigated pretty heavily by SR and probably walled by Nihilego.
I'm also pretty much done with mine, if anyone wants to give feedback it'd be much appreciated.
Name of the Pokemon: Donphan
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Wallbreaker, Stealth Rock setter
Type:
Abilities: Stamina / Inner Focus | Pressure
Stat Distribution: 135 / 110 / 75 / 80 / 50 / 60 | BST: 510 ( weighs ~900 kg, similar to Mudsdale )
Movepool Additions: *Berserk, Hydro Pump,
Movepool Removals: Rapid Spin, Poison Jab, Rock Polish, Counter, Head Smash, Curse
Custom Elements: Berserk - 140 BP Normal-type move, 85% acc. user is locked in for 2-3 turns upon use. User is confused afterwards. ( Boomburst / Thrash clone? sorry if this is breaking the rules )
Justification: Can switch into physical attackers thanks to Stamina and force them out with strong attacks such as Double Edge, Berserk, Knock Off, Earthquake, Heavy Slam, and Superpower. Berserk is strong enough to pressure even Nihilego with a Choice Band ( Heavy Slam is your best bet though ), but at the same time lets Cofagrigus in for free. Cofagrigus will also enjoy using Pain Split on this. Band is probably the best set but it wouldn't be a half bad rocks setter either.
Flavor: With all due disrespect to Donphan it just isn't what I'm looking for in an elephant pokemon. This build captures the idea of elephant much better IMO.
Name of the Pokemon: Meganium
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Cleric, Bulky Swords Dance, Sun Abuser
Type:
Abilities: Thick Fat / Leaf Guard | Solar Power
Stat Distribution: 80 / 82 / 95 / 83 / 95 / 75 | BST: 510
Movepool Additions: *Petal Blizzard, Parting Shot, Wish, Dragon Hammer, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Thunder Wave
Custom Elements: Petal Blizzard - 95 BP Special Grass-type attack. 30% chance to lower opponent's SpA by 1 stage ( Moonblast clone )
Justification: Thick Fat turns a less-than-stellar defensive typing into a pretty decent one, becoming a Grass-type that actually resists Fire and making Ice a normal 2x weakness. It now has a terrific support movepool that pairs well with Parting Shot such as Thunder Wave, Wish, and Dual Screens. On top of that it has the ability to run some ( probably gimmicky ) bulky setup sets in Swords Dance and Sunny Day, which might be enough to force your opponent to play carefully around it. It might make a nice dedicated Sun Abuser too if an ally sets up sun for it.
Name of the Pokemon: Absol
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Choice Specs, fast Calm Mind
Type:
Abilities: Natural Cure / Aftermath | Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 65 / 80 / 60 / 110 / 105 / 100 | BST: 520
Movepool Additions: Moonblast, U-turn, Dazzling Gleam, Aura Sphere, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave
Movepool Removals: Swords Dance, Sucker Punch, Will-o-Wisp, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Ice Beam, Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Thunder Wave
Justification: The epitome of a Regen-Vest user. Craps on Cofagrigus, crapped in turn on by Nihilego. I tested a very similar ( much stronger ) fakemon in the Battle Tree and offensive Vest was by far its best and only good set. Specs might be good in 6v6, though, but the bulk is actually disappointing without a vest. It lacks any sort of support move aside from Taunt, firmly sementing it as a switch-in to special attacks that fires back with attacks of its own. Still, a strong Specs or super effective Special attack should 2HKO even through a vest.
Flavor: There is a bit of a theme to this mon. Originally part of a legendary trio with "polar opposite" typings representing various cycles of nature, this one represents the balance between life and death.
Name of the Pokemon: Gliscor
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control, Status Absorber
Type:
Abilities: Marvel Scale / Unburden | Mold Breaker
Stat Distribution: 114 / 93 / 101 / 93 / 62 / 57 | BST: 520
Movepool Additions: Brave Bird, Air Slash, Hurricane, Whirlwind, Meteor Mash
Movepool Removals: Roost, Swords Dance, Sludge Bomb, Venoshock, Poison Jab
Justification: A physically bulky tank with U-turn, Defog, and Stealth Rock. Earthquake and Brave Bird are excellent dual STAB moves but Earth Power and Air Slash or Hurricane are better if you want to get Burned on purpose to activate Marvel Scale. Roost had to be taken away or else this would be a wall and not a pivot. This breaks the mold of Ground/Flying-types to an extent because it gets solid Flying-type STAB moves to use. Speaking of, Mold Breaker is there to counter Nihilego, who otherwise would just win the hazard war against it indefinitely.
Flavor: Another "polar opposite" typing to go along with Absol, this pokemon tirelessly flies across the sky by day and burrows through the ground by night; basically, it traces a similar path to what some ancient civilizations thought the sun does.
Gonna go through the current submissions with some thoughts and criticisms
252 Atk Life Orb Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Nihilego: 265-313 (65.2 - 77%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Zeraora Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Nihilego: 212-251 (52.2 - 61.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 252 HP / 0 Def (Specially Invested) Cofagrigus: 142-169 (41.2 - 49.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Looking at our current walls with BST between 450-550 (ish, nihilego has a pretty high BST it seems), a 600 BST 143 base speed attacker that can beat both walls with a singular set (Specially defensive Cofagrigus can kind-of not be 2HKO'd but its vulnerable to chip) doesn't seem healthy. Please significantly nerf this thing, this metagame is shaping up to be significantly lower power than OU so buffing an OU-viable threat isn't the way to go at the moment. A good idea for balancing this would be a specially-oriented set beating Cofag but losing to Nihi and vice versa for a physical set.
That's it for now, if your sub wasn't commented on it's either unfinished or A-OK. Keep up the good work!
4 SpA Life Orb Zeraora Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD (Physically Invested) Cofagrigus: 172-203 (50 - 59%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Name of the Pokemon: Zeraora
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Mixed Attacker, Late-Game Sweeper
Type: Electric/Fighting
Abilities: Volt Absorb
Stat Distribution: 98/112/65/112/70/143 (BST: 600)
Movepool Additions: Aura Sphere, Ice Punch
Movepool Removals: None
Custom Elements: None
Justification: If I were to sum this up in a short sentence, "this is what Zeraora should have been." Its Speed tier, as it was before, is still amazing, allowing it to outpace every relevant unboosted Pokemon in the current OU metagame, barring Mega Alakazam, who enjoys running Modest quite often nowadays. In standard play, its raw power can be somewhat underwhelming, so I took ten from each of its defenses and HP to add a bit more to its attacking power. It's still not absurdly strong on its own, but after a boost or with a choice item (and having such a fast Pokemon makes it a solid Choice Band or Choice Specs candidate) would definitely be nice.
252 Atk Life Orb Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Nihilego: 265-313 (65.2 - 77%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Zeraora Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Nihilego: 212-251 (52.2 - 61.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Zeraora Plasma Fists vs. 252 HP / 0 Def (Specially Invested) Cofagrigus: 142-169 (41.2 - 49.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Looking at our current walls with BST between 450-550 (ish, nihilego has a pretty high BST it seems), a 600 BST 143 base speed attacker that can beat both walls with a singular set (Specially defensive Cofagrigus can kind-of not be 2HKO'd but its vulnerable to chip) doesn't seem healthy. Please significantly nerf this thing, this metagame is shaping up to be significantly lower power than OU so buffing an OU-viable threat isn't the way to go at the moment. A good idea for balancing this would be a specially-oriented set beating Cofag but losing to Nihi and vice versa for a physical set.
Seems fine enough, beating Nihilego is ok due to virtue of typing, but a power nerf seems warranted (to at least allow specially defensive Cofag the idea of spinblocking, 90-95 seems like a good number as LO Hydro always rarely/never 2HKO's lefties Cofag without rocks).
Name of the Pokemon: Starmie
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Offensive Spinner
Type: Water/Psychic
Abilities: Illuminate, Natural Cure, Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 70/60/85/115/85/115 (BST: 530)
Movepool Additions: Volt Switch, Refresh
Movepool Removals: None
Custom Elements: None
Justification: So, hazards are extremely prominent, to the point to where every team needs some form of hazard control to not feel incredibly inferior to teams with hazard control. Offense needs a tool that can keep momentum while getting rid of unwanted hazards, and that’s what this Starmie aims to be. Its bulk isn’t the best, and its typing isn’t stellar (pun intended), but it can use its offensive coverage to threaten a lot of Pokemon as a whole, which nets it free Rapid Spins. Regenerator helps it shrug off most hazards, though Toxic Spikes is still annoying, but it has Refresh for that, or it can run Natural Cure + Recover if your team is super weak to Toxic Spikes.
Honestly I'd recommend removing Sacred Fire and giving it Will-o-Wisp+a weaker Fire STAB (Fire Punch, Blaze Kick, flavor-based custom) back as Sacred Fire is a stupidly spammable attack that exerts too much pressure even on defensive sets. Outside of that cool defog pivot, the stats seem perfectly fine
Name of the Pokemon: Ho-Oh
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Defensive Defog
Type: Fire/Flying
Abilities: Pressure, Regenerator
Stat Distribution:76/90/90/70/124/90 (BST: 540)
Movepool Additions: None
Movepool Removals: Calm Mind, Will-o-Wisp
Custom Elements: None
Justification: Ho-Oh is a Pokemon with an interesting typing and a four-times weakness to Stealth Rock, and though they aren’t great for it, it isn’t completely terrible against them, so I thought it’d be fun to nerf an Uber to try to get into this metagame. I actually left its Speed and Defense completely untouched, though its attacking stats, special defense and HP got nerfed a lot. It could also provide Defog support if needed or phase out setup sweepers with Roar, so it’s not TOO passive, and Sacred Fire is nice against physical attackers. Also, it COULD run Choice Band, since its STAB typing is amazing, especially backed by Earthquake, but its Attack stat is kinda mediocre, so I left that out of the main roles.
This is some very solid mixed bulk, and this alongside hazard resilience and a pretty nice defensive typing (few weaknesses) it may just outshine our walls which isn't what a defensive pivot should do. It would also probably still be a very nice Trick Room setter, just saying. Cut down on that bulk (Cofag is only slightly bulkier physically with no reliable recovery for comparison) and perhaps make the speed tier more around 90-95.
Name of the Pokemon: Uxie
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Stealth Rock Setter, Cleric (Heal Bell)
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Abilities: Levitate
Stat Distribution: 80/80/120/80/120/100 (BST: 580)
Movepool Additions: Recover, Moonblast
Movepool Removals: Memento, Light Screen, Reflect, Calm Mind
Custom Elements: None
Justification: Now here's a Pokemon whose role I changed completely despite not changing much. Before, Uxie was used as a suicide lead on hyper offensive teams due to its solid bulk allowing it to set up Stealth Rock or Trick Room, or possibly even weather in the lower tiers, and be able to give a lot of momentum to its teammates due to access to Memento. But, after giving it Recover and removing Memento, its role has completely shifted to a defensive pivot! Uxie now isn't a good suicide lead anymore because U-Turn doesn't quite do what Memento did, but on the Trick Room teams that wanted to use it as a suicide lead before, even there it could work as a defensive pivot. The rest is just minor adjustments to make it more appealing, for the most part. An added Fairy typing is always nice, and it isn't weak to very many coverage options that are TOO common. A higher Speed tier makes it much more customizable to outspeed whatever the meta calls for, other than very fast offensive threats, and I got rid of the screens and Calm Mind to make its role more defined.
Outside of removing Parting Shot in order to force it to U-turn on Cofagrigus and risk the Rough Skin+Rocky Helmet damage, looks good. Technician may be a bit of a "always pick", which is unfortunate as Dry Skin looked like it could've created some interesting switch-in chances. Don't have to change it, just pointing it out.
Pokemon Name: Toxicroak
Roles: Offensive Pivot, Choice Band, Hazard Setter, Revenge Killer
Types:
Abilities: Anticipation / Dry Skin | Technician
Stats: 83 / 106 / 70 / 51 / 95 / 105 | (BST: 520)
Movepool Additions: Parting Shot, U-Turn, Mach Punch, Spikes
Movepool Removals: Swords Dance, Nasty Plot
Justification: Not designed to straight up defeat Cofagrigus in OHKO, but can escape with Parting Shot or U-Turn. In the meanwhile, it is able to mess with Nihilego as its Poison-type makes it immune to Venom Slam's Toxic effect and have enough Attack to at least 2HKO Nihilego with Fighting-type STAB. Its 105 base speed is made so that it can outspeed Nihilego without using Choice Scarf, and also allows it to set up Toxic Spikes and Spikes when the time is appropriate. Its reasonable Special bulk also allows it to take Special moves decently well.
Strength Sap is a phenomenal healing move that totally removes its "weak" special defense by allowing it to beat basically any physical attacker it can eat a hit from. Please remove, also possibly reduce physical bulk down to 70 for more of a pronounced weakness. Scoop already covered your other subs well.
Name of the Pokemon: Goodra
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Defensive Pivot, Cleric, Choice Specs user, Assault Vest user
Type: Poison / Dragon
Abilities: Sap Sipper / Liquid Ooze / Gooey
Stat Distribution: 90 / 110 / 80 / 110 / 100 / 65
Movepool Additions: Strength Sap, Wish, Toxic Spikes, Sludge Slide
Movepool Removals: N/A
Custom Elements: Sludge Slide: Poison type Volt Switch clone
Justification: Goodra can now fill a variety of roles thanks to it's good overall stats and better support movepool. It can use Gooey to cripple physical attackers or Sap Sipper to switch into grass type attackers and boost it's own attack. It can really be defensive also using moves like Strength Sap to stay alive and Wish and Sludge Slide to heal it's teammates. Choice Specs sets are also a good option due to a great offensive typing. Offensive Pivot is also a very viable option using AV sets with Sludge Slide to keep momentum while switching in. Goodra is still limited by a lack of boosting moves and a middling speed (out of the 2 existing pokemon so far.)
Perhaps reduce special bulk a bit to make it more of a pronounced weakness, Prankster Charm is a catch-all vs physical attackers and it resists Dark-types anyhow so weaker special bulk makes it more vulnerable to special attackers and therefore unable to pivot into them as easily. Also I feel like priority parting shot (and other utility) outshines priority u-turn (esp. off of 50 attack) and kind of invalidates any usage of Busy Beetle. Otherwise a very interesting sub, priority manipulation is always cool.
Pokemon: Volbeat
Roles: Defensive Pivot, Weather Setter, Defogger, Special Attacker
Type:
Abilities: Illuminate / Busy Beetle* / Prankster (HA)
Base Stats: 85 / 50 / 85 / 70 / 95 / 65 (450 BST)
Movepool Additions: Moonblast, Healing Order, Parting Shot, Charm
Movepool Removals: None
Custom Elements: Busy Beetle: This Pokemon's Bug-type moves have their priority increased by 1.
Uses: Volbeat is a defensive pivot with a myriad of utility options. Its new ability gives its Bug moves increased priority, which means it can now use priority U-turn, Healing Order, Tail Glow and other useful moves. Volbeat's Prankster is also a viable ability which gives it priority Parting Shot, Thunder Wave, Encore, Defog and more. Volbeat's typing isn't the greatest defensively, but it offers some useful resistances to Ground, Dark and Fighting attacks. It has a good match up against Cofagrigus but it can't hurt Nihilego (however it can cripple Nihilego with status moves).
Just a small suggestion of reducing its speed stat to 69 so 252/252 adamant Meganium cannot outspeed uninvested Nihilego and therefore forcing you to run Jolly. Speed creep ftw
Name of the Pokemon: Meganium
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Cleric, Bulky Swords Dance, Sun Abuser
Type:
Abilities: Thick Fat / Leaf Guard | Solar Power
Stat Distribution: 80 / 82 / 95 / 83 / 95 / 75 | BST: 510
Movepool Additions: *Petal Blizzard, Parting Shot, Wish, Dragon Hammer, Draco Meteor, Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Thunder Wave
Custom Elements: Petal Blizzard - 95 BP Special Grass-type attack. 30% chance to lower opponent's SpA by 1 stage ( Moonblast clone )
Justification: Thick Fat turns a less-than-stellar defensive typing into a pretty decent one, becoming a Grass-type that actually resists Fire and making Ice a normal 2x weakness. It now has a terrific support movepool that pairs well with Parting Shot such as Thunder Wave, Wish, and Dual Screens. On top of that it has the ability to run some ( probably gimmicky ) bulky setup sets in Swords Dance and Sunny Day, which might be enough to force your opponent to play carefully around it. It might make a nice dedicated Sun Abuser too if an ally sets up sun for it.
Cool sub, I have my doubts about Marvel Scale+Rest but that's probably (definitely) a complete gimmick. I was expecting to see Mold Breaker EQ at one point or another too, congrats on being the first. Also perhaps Immunity/flavor ability instead of unburden just because I don't want another Hawlucha-esque gimmick strat being discovered with this guy.
Name of the Pokemon: Gliscor
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control, Status Absorber
Type:
Abilities: Marvel Scale / Unburden | Mold Breaker
Stat Distribution: 114 / 93 / 101 / 93 / 62 / 57 | BST: 520
Movepool Additions: Brave Bird, Air Slash, Hurricane, Whirlwind, Meteor Mash
Movepool Removals: Roost, Swords Dance, Sludge Bomb, Venoshock, Poison Jab
Justification: A physically bulky tank with U-turn, Defog, and Stealth Rock. Earthquake and Brave Bird are excellent dual STAB moves but Earth Power and Air Slash or Hurricane are better if you want to get Burned on purpose to activate Marvel Scale. Roost had to be taken away or else this would be a wall and not a pivot. This breaks the mold of Ground/Flying-types to an extent because it gets solid Flying-type STAB moves to use. Speaking of, Mold Breaker is there to counter Nihilego, who otherwise would just win the hazard war against it indefinitely.
Flavor: Another "polar opposite" typing to go along with Absol, this pokemon tirelessly flies across the sky by day and burrows through the ground by night; basically, it traces a similar path to what some ancient civilizations thought the sun does.
That's it for now, if your sub wasn't commented on it's either unfinished or A-OK. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for the feedback! I've implemented most of your suggestions, including giving sableye Iron Head and removing Strength Sap from Goodra. I didn't think about Goodra having Curse, but I decided to keep it because if it's vulnerability to burns and low speed leaving it subject to Encore. And when you said Leech Seed immunity, did you mean because it has liquid Ooze?
Sap Sipper grants an immunity to leech seed
For some reason I thought Marvel Scale didn't work with sleep. Giving it a reason to use RestTalk would pretty much defeat the purpose of not giving it recovery so I'll remove that. I didn't really have any plans for Unburden so I'll take that off just to be safe too. If Mold Breaker is too sharp a counter to Nihilego I was considering giving it a Flying-type Thousand Arrows clone to knock it down which would give more counterplay on both sides. I just thought that if it can't do anything to Nihilego it's going to get its hazards spun and its Defog stalled out basically for free. Maybe I'm worrying too much about one mon, though.
Nah Mold Breaker is perfectly fine
Name of the Pokemon: Accelgor
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Hazard Setter (Spikes, Toxic Spikes), Revenge Killer
Type:
Abilities: Natural Cure / Regenerator (HA)
Stat Distribution: 65 / 65 / 65 / 100 / 75 / 125 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave, Power Gem
Movepool Removals: Power Swap, Guard Split, Gastro Acid, Knock Off, Recover, Acid Spray, Water Shuriken
Custom Elements: N/A
Justification: Accelgor is a special offensive pivot that can threaten switches with its combination of strong Bug, Fighting, and Rock moves. It can take advantage of this to set hazards, and if a threat switches in that it can't beat, it can attempt switching out with U-turn to maintain momentum, which also activates Regenerator. Its speed and priority in Vacuum Wave also allow it to revenge kill weakened opponents. To balance its offensive capabilities, Accelgor is frail and can't hit either of the walls super effectively outside of Hidden Power, has no reliable recovery so it can be worn down, and it has some difficulty with Ghost-types that resist its STAB moves. It also has a 4x Flying weakness and really dislikes being paralyzed.
Name of the Pokemon: Samurott
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Weather Sweeper (Sand), Revenge Killer
Type:
Abilities: Water Absorb / Sand Rush (HA)
Stat Distribution: 75 / 100 / 80 / 60 / 70 / 110 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Earthquake, Earth Power, U-turn
Movepool Removals: Megahorn, Sacred Sword, Superpower, Swords Dance, Work Up
Custom Elements: N/A
Justification: Samurott is a physical offensive pivot with high speed and attack and two useful abilities in Water Absorb and Sand Rush. STAB Liquidation and Earthquake can hit hard, and it has Aqua Jet to assist in taking out weakened threats, but it has trouble hitting opposing Grass-types and some Flying-types.
Name of the Pokemon: Bastiodon
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Setter (Stealth Rock)
Type:
Abilities: Filter / Soundproof (HA)
Stat Distribution: 80 / 75 / 105 / 70 / 105 / 60 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Haze
Movepool Removals: Ice Beam, Blizzard, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Curse, Outrage
Custom Elements: N/A
Justification: Bastiodon can switch in easily to many attacks with its great mixed bulk, and it has a 4x resistance to Stealth Rock and immunity to Toxic Spikes. Filter allows it to survive super effective attacks better while Soundproof provides a switch in to Hyper Voice, Boomburst, and Perish Song users. Its bulk allows it to set Stealth Rock itself too, and its new move Haze allows it to stop set up sweepers. However, Bastiodon is rather passive, it can't actually remove hazards, and it can be worn down due to lack of reliable recovery.
Name of the Pokemon: Venusaur
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control
Type:
Abilities: Overgrow / Thick Fat (HA)
Stat Distribution: 75 / 75 / 95 / 80 / 100 / 70 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Clear Smog, Defog
Movepool Removals: Swords Dance, Curse, Growth, Earthquake, Bulldoze
Custom Elements:
Justification:
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Name of the Pokemon: Poliwrath
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Set Up Sweeper (Bulk Up)
Type: Water - Fighting
Abilities: Intimidate
Stat Distribution: 90 / 105 / 80 / 60 / 90 / 50
BST: 475
Movepool Additions: Superpower, Hammer Arm, Aqua Jet, U-Turn
Movepool Removal: Belly Drum
Justification: Poliwrath is a bulky and strong physical attacker that has many switch in opportunities thanks to Intimidate and bulk. Hammer Arm is a useful physical STAB that allows Poliwrath to hit hard. U-Turn allows Poliwrath to pivot out, and thanks to Poli's low speed it can take a hit and bring in a wall breaker or set up sweeper for little to no cost. Aqua is useful priority that makes up for Poliwraths low speed, however the low speed is also a significant weakness along with Cofagrigus walling Poliwrath comfortably and being able to cripple with Will-o-Wisp.
Name of the Pokemon: Flygon
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Choice Scarf, Hazard Control, Choice Specs
Type: Dragon / Fairy
Ability: Mythical Presence
Custom: Mythical Presence - Lowers opponents Special Attack by 1 on switch in (Special Intimidate clone)
Stat Distribution: 85/50/80/105/70/100 BST: 490
Movepool Additions: Moonblast, Spikes
Movepool Removals: Boomburst
Justification: Flygon gains an amazing Dragon/Fairy typing, giving it seven resistances and one immunity, allowing it to switch into many situations with ease. Mythical Presence further helps with this. High speed combined with a strong special attack lets Flygon use it's amazing movepool to break down walls, and it also has the option of removing and setting hazards. Roost improves longevity. It has the option of Specs, Scarf or LO to further improve it's offensive capabilities. Levitate Nihelgo does wall Flygon however and can take two Draco Meteors and return with Sludge Wave.
Name of the Pokemon: Latias
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control, Cleric (Wish)
Type: Psychic / Fairy
Abilities: Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 90 / 40 / 90 / 80 / 70 / 105
BST: 475
Movepool Additions: Moonblast, Baby Doll Eyes
Movepool Removal: Calm Mind, Draco Meteor
Justification: Latias is a physical wall with a quality Fairy/Psychic typing thats main benefit comes with passing on wishes to it's teammates thanks to it's high speed and Regenerator shrugging off attacks Latias is forced to take. Latias is also good at removing hazards however it struggles with special attacks and it's physical bulk isn't too powerful, meaning it can struggle with a high powered attack.
Name of the Pokemon: Lanturn
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Cleric (Heal Bell), Mixed Wall
Type: Water / Electric
Abilities: Serene Grace
Stat Distribution: 120 / 50 / 75 / 75 / 85 / 50 BST: 455
Movepool Additions: Wish, Recover
Justification: Lanturn becomes a strong mixed wall with Scald and Discharge both having a 60% chance to paralyze or burn thanks to Serene Grace. Lanturn posseses a fantastic support movepool with moves like Heal Bell, Soak, Whirlpool and Wish helping it to annoy opponents and help teammates. However Lanturn doesn't possess great attacking capabilities and lacks speed.
I'm new to this, so criticism would be appreciated!
Edit: Made some changes including giving Poliwrath Intimidate plus U-Turn and some stat changes to Lanturn and Poliwrath. Revamped Latias as well.
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This isn't a clone of an existing move, so you can't use it sadly. Otherwise your subs look good to me!
Adding on to this, if you've ever witnessed Chingling Eternal (my cursed creation) in the Eternal Pokemon pet mod, a move of this variety is absurdly unhealthy. (Chingling has a move called Good Tidings which functions the same way, this replay in particular shows just how much it allows offense to screw around with bulkier builds that rely on chipping down wallbreakers, with a wish+switch move it just skews the metagame towards bulky offense by default.)
2 Things: Subs close in around 30 hours or so (so finish up!), and time for more comments. Yay
And the link issue is probably just your phone assuming that the stat spreads are phone numbers, this only happens on mobile and isn't a fixable issue.
With such low speed this would be a Swords Dance Wallbreaker, not a sweeper probably. Cavalry Charge sounds like a priority move, not really a pursuit clone, you could rename it Pincer Flank (or Pincer Movement if you want to be accurate) or something that more implies trapping over speed. Bonus points for still being military themed! Also Kings Shield feels a bit unecessary, it just makes physical attackers hesitant due to the 50/50 chance. I'd remove it.
Pokemon: Escavalier
Roles: Offensive Pivot, Sword Dance Sweeper, Pursuit/Cavalry Charge Trapper, OTR
Type:
Abilities: Heatproof / Swarm / Overcoat
Stat Distribution: 70 / 120 / 100 / 60 / 90 / 20 (BST: 460)
Movepool Additions: King's Shield, Cavalry Charge*, U-turn, Lunge, Leech Life
Movepool Removals: —
Custom Elements: Cavalry Charge — Steel type pursuit clone
Justification: Nihilego's Nightmare. This pokemon is, first, immune to Venom Slam or TSpikes. And then comes in Cavalry Charge: 252+ Atk Choice Band Escavalier Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Nihilego: 348-410 (85.7 - 100.9%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery. Nihi needs 252 in both HP, Defense and a Bold nature to be able to maybe survive a banded Cavalry Charge. Your only solution is Babiri Berry, and it works only once. Elseway, Escavalier is a pretty potent offensive pivot with a good bulk and a really high attack. Its biggest advantage is also its major flaw: Bug/Steel typing. It's an almost perfect defensive typing (don't forget heatproof), but it's far from an interesting typing offensively, especially when we consider that it lacks mach punch. Also, it has abysmal speed, but that can be used in a OTR set (without Gyro Ball though). Also, it has no reliable recovery. But hey it still decimates Nihilego!
I'm hesitant on giving it such powerful priority, even with a burn up mechanic, it really messes with offense.
Pokemon: Pyroar
Roles: Offensive Pivot, Sun Setter
Type:
Abilities: Intimidate / Competitive / Drought
Stat Distribution: 80 / 70 / 72 / 100 / 93 / 116 (BST: 531)
Movepool Additions: Burn Up, Parting Shot, Quickfire*
Movepool Removals: —
Custom Elements: Quickfire — Extremespeed clone, but fire, special, and with burn up mechanic
Justification: It's fast, bulky, and pretty powerful. It can do a pretty good job as a pivot, particularly against Cofagrigus, since it can switch in W-o-W or Shadow Ball without even caring. Nihilego is way more of a threat, but Pyroar can still get out using Parting Shot. Also Intimidate + Parting Shot = rip physical attack.
Nasty Plot would most likely overshadow its role as a pivot, and additionally a +2 Z-Focus Blast has a chance to OHKO fully invested Nihilego (Unaware counters, but that set is difficult to fit onto teams). So I'd recommend removing it, perhaps replace it with Calm Mind? It functions as a fantastic anti-offense option without Nasty Plot, and Spikes+Regenerator allows it to still pressure fatter teams regardless. Which brings me to the next point, is Focus Switch really necessary (less custom options is preferable) when Spikes and U-Turn already capitalize off of switches well enough? Especially with Regenerator, a virtually Hazard-immune fast attacker with STAB pivoting on a decent offensive typing would be quite annoying.
Name of the Pokemon: Accelgor
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Special Sweeper (Nasty Plot), Hazard Setter (Spikes, Toxic Spikes), Revenge Killer
Type:
Abilities: Natural Cure / Regenerator (HA)
Stat Distribution: 65 / 65 / 65 / 100 / 75 / 125 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Nasty Plot, Aura Sphere, Vacuum Wave, Power Gem, Focus Switch*
Movepool Removals: Power Swap, Guard Split, Gastro Acid, Knock Off, Recover, Acid Spray, Water Shuriken
Custom Elements: Focus Switch - Fighting-type Volt Switch
Justification: Accelgor is a special offensive pivot that can threaten switches with its combination of strong Bug, Fighting, and Rock moves. It can take advantage of this to set hazards or set up with Nasty Plot, and if a threat switches in that it can't beat, it can attempt switching out with U-turn or Focus Switch* to maintain momentum, which also activates Regenerator. Its speed and priority in Vacuum Wave also allow it to revenge kill weakened opponents. To balance its offensive capabilities, Accelgor is frail and can't hit either of the walls super effectively outside of Hidden Power, has no reliable recovery so it can be worn down, and it has some difficulty with Ghost-types who can block Focus Switch and resist its STAB moves. It also has a 4x Flying weakness and really dislikes being paralyzed.
While Fire/Ground plus passable bulk may work as an offensive pivot in a metagame rife with powerful electrics (cough koko cough) it's normally a pretty cruddy typing for pivoting into attacks. Wouldn't function as an effective pivot as it stands, I'd think
Name of the Pokemon: Rapidash
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Revenge Killer, Weather Sweeper (Sand)
Type:
Abilities: Flash Fire / Sand Rush (HA)
Stat Distribution: 75 / 100 / 80 / 60 / 70 / 110 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Blaze Kick, Ember Charge*
Movepool Removals: Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, Solar Beam
Custom Elements: Ember Charge - Fire-type Quick Attack
Justification: Rapidash is a physical offensive pivot and revenge killer, and it can threaten switches with its strong STAB combo. Its main STABs Blaze Kick and High Horsepower can do a lot of damage, and Ember Charge* provides it with STAB priority to pick off weakened targets. On sand teams, Sand Rush makes it very fast. However, Rapidash is terrified of opposing Ground and Water types and can't hit them very well and it has no way to set up.
I rather like this submission, it would be a pretty sure-fire switch for a lot of electrics and normals and carries a good amount of utility. Good stuff, blanket typing+good bulk is a nice example of how a defensive pivot can work without Regen/pivoting move.
Name of the Pokemon: Bastiodon
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Setter (Stealth Rock)
Type:
Abilities: Filter / Soundproof (HA)
Stat Distribution: 80 / 75 / 105 / 70 / 105 / 60 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Steely Face*
Movepool Removals: Ice Beam, Blizzard, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Curse, Outrage
Custom Elements: Steely Face - Steel-type Haze
Justification: Bastiodon can switch in easily to many attacks with its great mixed bulk, and it has a 4x resistance to Stealth Rock and immunity to Toxic Spikes. Filter allows it to survive super effective attacks better while Soundproof provides a switch in to Hyper Voice, Boomburst, and Perish Song users. Its bulk allows it to set Stealth Rock itself too, and its new move Steely Face* allows it to stop set up sweepers. However, Bastiodon is rather passive, it can't actually remove hazards, and it can be worn down due to lack of reliable recovery.
Vine Sweep may be a bit too much utility, especially being unblockable. Swap it with Defog? Does the same with less upsides.
Name of the Pokemon: Venusaur
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control
Type:
Abilities: Overgrow / Thick Fat (HA)
Stat Distribution: 75 / 75 / 95 / 80 / 100 / 70 | BST: 495
Movepool Additions: Clear Smog, Vine Sweep*
Movepool Removals: Swords Dance, Curse, Growth, Earthquake, Bulldoze
Custom Elements: Vine Sweep - Grass-type Rapid Spin
Justification:Budget MegaVenusaur has good mixed bulk with a decent defensive typing that becomes even better with Thick Fat effectively neutralizing two of its weaknesses. Being Poison-type allows it to remove Toxic Spikes just by switching in, and it has Leech Seed, Giga Drain, Synthesis to provide recovery, Clear Smog to stop set up attackers, and Vine Sweep* to remove other hazards. However, it is easily walled by opposing Steel and Poison types. While its unique Vine Sweep can’t be blocked by Ghost-types, it can still be blocked by Sap Sippers and can still potentially give the opponent a free turn to switch a threat in.
I generally dislike confusion on principle and 100% accurate sleep is also annoying. Water Absorb, Poli's original ability, would probably fulfill the pivot role better by granting it more switch-in opportunities.
Name of the Pokemon: Poliwrath
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Set Up Sweeper (Bulk Up)
Type: Water - Fighting
Abilities: No Guard
Stat Distribution: 90 / 105 / 85 / 60 / 85 / 50 BST: 475
Movepool Additions: Dynamic Punch, Aqua Jet
Movepool Removal: Belly Drum
Justification: Poliwrath is a bulky and strong physical attacker that posseses a strong physical STAB in No Guard Dynamic Punch while it can also guarantee sleep with No Guard Hypnosis, ensuring a free turn. Aqua Jet is useful priority that makes up for Poliwraths low speed, however the low speed is also a significant weakness along with Cofagrigus walling Poliwrath comfortably and being able to cripple with Will-o-Wisp.
I quite like this sub- comes off as a jack of all trades. Good stuff.
Name of the Pokemon: Flygon
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Choice Scarf, Hazard Control, Choice Specs
Type: Dragon / Fairy
Ability: Mythical Presence
Custom: Mythical Presence - Lowers opponents Special Attack by 1 on switch in (Special Intimidate clone)
Stat Distribution: 85/50/80/105/70/100 BST: 490
Movepool Additions: Moonblast, Spikes
Movepool Removals: Boomburst
Justification: Flygon gains an amazing Dragon/Fairy typing, giving it seven resistances and one immunity, allowing it to switch into many situations with ease. Mythical Presence further helps with this. High speed combined with a strong special attack lets Flygon use it's amazing movepool to break down walls, and it also has the option of removing and setting hazards. Roost improves longevity. It has the option of Specs, Scarf or LO to further improve it's offensive capabilities. Levitate Nihelgo does wall Flygon however and can take two Draco Meteors and return with Sludge Wave.
Wishful Retreat needs to go. Outside of that, doesn't this seem a bit too similar to Flygon? Same typing, ability (albeit outclassed here), special bias, etc. While it is true that both will likely not win if one of these 2 subs do win, a bit of a change to stand out would be appreciated (and why moonlight when it has recover and roost). You could keep it as psychic/dragon as a start.
Name of the Pokemon: Latias
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Control, Cleric
Type: Dragon / Fairy
Abilities: Regenerator / Mythical Presence (Special Intimidate clone)
Stat Distribution: 70 / 40 / 60 / 80 / 110 / 105 BST: 465
Movepool Additions: Wishful Retreat, Moonblast, Moonlight, Baby Doll Eyes
Custom Element: Wishful Retreat - Latias switches out, healing 50% of it's own health to the teammate that replaces it.
Justification: Latias also has the benefit of a Dragon/Fairy typing, meaning it doesn't have to fear Pursuit and other dark type moves when switching out now. Latias is an amazing cleric, with Wishful Retreat combined with high speed along with Regenerator means Latias can heal it's teammates quickly and effeciently. Mythic Presence also provides a different and useful option to shut down special attackers. However to balance this it has low defense and HP so it is suspectible to physical attacks and won't be OP at healing teammates.
Perhaps nerf the physical bulk a bit to account for constant burns. Outside of that looks dandy.
Name of the Pokemon: Lanturn
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Cleric (Heal Bell), Mixed Wall
Type: Water / Electric
Abilities: Serene Grace
Stat Distribution: 120 / 50 / 80 / 75 / 80 / 50 BST: 455
Movepool Additions: Wish, Recover
Justification: Lanturn becomes a strong mixed wall with Scald and Discharge both having a 60% chance to paralyze or burn thanks to Serene Grace. Lanturn posseses a fantastic support movepool with moves like Heal Bell, Soak, Whirlpool and Wish helping it to annoy opponents and help teammates. However Lanturn doesn't possess great attacking capabilities and lacks speed.
I'm new to this, so criticism would be appreciated!
Edit: Some of the stats are showing links, will fix later!
And the link issue is probably just your phone assuming that the stat spreads are phone numbers, this only happens on mobile and isn't a fixable issue.
I took all of these into account and edited my subs:
Accelgor: I removed Nasty Plot and Focus Switch and didn't give it Calm Mind, as +1 Focus Blast still hits pretty hard too.
Rapidash: I replaced it with Samurott which has a similar role but better typing, I think. (though if Koko or something similar appears I'm reviving Rapidash :p
Bastiodon: I deemed Steely Face unnecessary and just gave it Haze instead. Less flavor but oh well.
Venusaur: I removed Vine Sweep and gave it Defog.
Hopefully these all look better now.
Hey, just to let you know, I edited my post after I knew what a pivot actually is. If anyone is willing to share its opinion about it, that’s highly welcomed.
Name of the Pokemon: Raichu
Role(s): Offensive Pivot
Type:
Abilities: Static / Lightning Rod | HA: Magic Guard
Stat Distribution:
HP 55
ATK 105
DEF 40
SPA 100
SPD 70
SPE 125
BST 495
Movepool Additions: Ice Shard, Icicle Spear, Ice Punch, Hail, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Icy Wind, Play Rough
Movepool Removals: - -
Custom Elements: none
Justification: BoltBeam STAB combo for a fast part in a VoltTurn core. With its new STAB it can have some offensive presence, it can use a Choice Band or Choice Specs set, and also has a secret weapon, Happy Hour, that can let it sweep some opponents before being OHKOed by a Mach Punch or an unexpected Earthquake.
Name of the Pokemon: Jellicent
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Defogger, TR Setter, Cleric, Annoyer
Type:
Abilities: Cursed Body / Storm Drain | HA: Regenerator
Stat Distribution:
HP 120
ATK 50
DEF 70
SPA 90
SPD 100
SPE 50
BST 480
Movepool Additions: Soak, Shadow Sneak, Destiny Bond, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psyshock, Calm Mind, Magic Coat, Knock Off, Heal Bell, Wish, Defog, Encore, Disable
Movepool Removals: - -
Custom Elements: none
Justification: It can help with its high bulkiness tanking some hits from opponents, thanks also to all its 6 resistances and its 2 immunities. It can pass a consistent Wish and heal the team or phaze away the hazards, while it takes some hits, but also inflict statuses and conditions like Disable or Encore. An annoyer.
Name of the Pokemon: Bastiodon
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard setter, TR Sweeper
Type:
Abilities: Sturdy / Heavy Metal | HA: No Guard
Stat Distribution:
HP 85
ATK 100
DEF 120
SPA 40
SPD 95
SPE 50
BST 490
Weight: 620.0 kg
Movepool Additions: Dragon Hammer, Dragon Tail, Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor, Dragon Dance, Spikes, Shore Up
Movepool Removals: Rock Blast, Smack Down
Custom Elements: none
Justification: Another defensive pivot, physical this time. With a not-explored-yet type combo, a very strong one, it can function as many roles as setup sweeper, hazard setter, TR sweeper, tank. I gave it some strong STABs and No Guard to take advantage of them, but it can also use its two other abilities, of which Sturdy may be useful for a hazard setter set and Heavy Metal for a set with Heavy Slam (warning: any Low Kick can OHKO it).
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Outside of its HP (effective bulk) being a tad too high (110ish would probably be more in line), it looks good. Altho offensive options such as Thunderbolt probably aren’t necessary additions, and parting shot+regenerator looks a bit too powerful (remove parting shot). Nice sub!
Name of the Pokemon: Mienshao
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Cleaner, Hazard Remover
Type:
Abilities: Inner Focus | Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 80/125/70/45/70/120 | 510 (+15 HP, +10 Def, -50 SpA, +10 SpD, +15 Spe)
Movepool Additions: Defog
Movepool Removals: High Jump Kick, Swords Dance
Custom Element:
Justification: Thanks to Regenerator and Drain Punch Mienshao can heal itself and come many time through the game to pivot. Thanks to high speed tier and U-Turn it can pivot and scout. It can also bring utility to the team thanks to its access to Taunt and Defog. This Pokémon main faults are its average 80/70/70 bulk and the fact the best physical wall: Cofagrigus is immune to its STAB and the best way for Mienshao to hit it is neutral Knock Off.
Name of the Pokemon: Jumpluff
Role(s): Offensive Pivot, Hazard Remover
Type:
Abilities: Chlorophyll, Prankster | Wonder Skin
Stat Distribution: 75/55/70/95/95/130 | 520 (+40 Spa, +20 Spe)
Movepool Additions: Defog, Cotton Wind
Movepool Removals: Swords Dance
Custom Element: Cotton Wind: 80 BP 100 Accuracy, Flying-type, Special, 10 PP, lowers opponent speed by one stage.
Justification: Jumpluff thanks to Strenght Sap and decent bulk can take many hits through a game. It has a wide choices of option between Strenght Sap, Cotton Wind, Sleep Powder, U-Turn, Leech Seed, Memento, Defog and Encore. Its 2 abilities are really usefull, one gives it priority healing, sleep, encore and defog while the other gives it a pseudo immunity to status move which is really usefull. Because it has a lot of tools Jumpluff may have a 4MSS but we'll. Imo the best set will be: Wonder Skin, Cotton Wind, Strenght Sap, U-Turn, Sleep Powder. But other moves can work to.
Name of the Pokemon: Uxie
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Setter, Trick Room Lead, Calm Minder, Stall Breaker
Type:
Abilities: Levitate
Stat Distribution: 75/75/130/75/130/50 | 460 (-45 Spe)
Movepool Additions: Wise Ball, Moonblast, Play Rough, Heal Bell, Explosion
Movepool Removals: Futur Sight, Psychic, Psyshock, Zen Headbutt
Custom Element: Wise Ball: 80 BP, 100 Accuracy, Fairy-Type, Special, 10 PP, traps the opponent ala Anchor Shot
Justification: With that level of bulk Uxie looks more like a wall than a Pivot. However it has no way besides leftovers to get its health back meaning it will be overwhelmed by small damages through the game. Wise ball is a nice tool for suppressing prediction on your side. Levitate means Uxie doesn't care about Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Its low speed allows it to bring slow voltturn support to its team. It has access to a lot of support move such as SR, Thunder Wave, U-Turn, Heal Bell, Knock Off and the majority of fields. It can also run a defensive Calm Mind set ala Suicune/Snorlax which can break through some defensive core but can break through unaware/haze nihilego. Finally thanks to the combination of low speed, trick room, stealth rock, bulk and explosion/memento it can perform as a Trick Room lead.
Name of the Pokemon: Articuno
Role(s): Defensive Pivot, Hazard Remover, Choice Scarf
Type:
Abilities: Pressure | Regenerator
Stat Distribution: 90/85/100/95/125/85 | 580 (unchanged)
Movepool Additions: Air Slash
Movepool Removals: Agility
Custom Element: Regenerator
Justification: Articuno has access to recovery with Roost and Regenerator, and utility through Heal Bell, Haze and Defog. It can pivot thanks to U-Turn and has strong STAB move in Freeze-Dry and Hurricane. It's main weakness are vulnerabelity to status and poor defensive typing with 4 common weaknesses to rock, electric, fire and steel despite 1 immunities and 2 resistances.
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Thank you very much, I've made some changes to improve my pivots!