Project Don't Use This! Use That! (1v1 Edition)

Ginger Princess

Girl moding so hard rn
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Do not use Twinkle Tackle Donphan.

Donphan @ Fairium Z
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Bulldoze / Counter / Head Smash / Rock Tomb / other filler move

Why it's bad: While at first glance Fairium Z might seem like a good option to lure and defeat Dragon- and Dark-types like Mega Gyarados and Kommo-o, it sacrifices important matchups as opposed to better lure sets. In particular, the matchup against Mega Gyarados is inconsistent due to the choice whether to Mega Evolve or not impacting whether Twinkle Tackle is effective or not. Additionally, matchups against Pokemon that are weak to Fairy like Haxorus are easily won by Donphan's standard sets (Choice Band and Groundium Z), so there's no need to use Fairium Z to counter them.

Instead use: Endeavor Donphan (set borrowed from MaceMaster)

Donphan @ Groundium Z
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 168 Def / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 HP
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Substitute
- Endeavor

This set deviates from the standard Groundium Z set less and thus has better matchups aligned more precisely with said set. Against Kommo-o, expect a Clangorous Soulblaze and use Endeavor turn one; follow with Ice Shard turn two to defeat Kommo-o. Against Mega Gyarados, use Endeavor turn one expecting Mega Evolution and Waterfall; after you are barely finished by the Waterfall, use Ice Shard in turn to finish off Mega Gyarados. Play similarly against Pokemon that this set has a chance to lure like Primarina. Remember that if your opponent is wary of your plans, he can play around your strategies by alternative moves such as using Dragon Dance on Mega Gyarados turn one and using Aqua Jet on Primarina similarly. Meanwhile, maximum Attack investment allows Donphan to hit as hard as possible in other matchups, while 168 Def EVs guarantees that it survives a Waterfall from Mega Gyarados:
252+ Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Waterfall vs. 0 HP / 168 Def Donphan: 242-288 (83.4 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
The remaining EVs are placed in Speed for Donphan to outspeed miscellaneous threats like the aforementioned Primarina. 0 HP IVs reduce the amount of HP Magearna gains from Pain Split.

If you are really intent on defeating Kommo-O, you can use a Choice Band set with Play Rough.

Disclaimer: Jocus is not responsible if hax ruins your game while you follow his advice.
but how are you doing to defeat the legendary defensive Lunge Fightinium Pheromosa?
:smogthink:
 

Jocus

Banned deucer.
Still, Fairium Z Donphan has just as much of a chance as Choice Band Play Rough Donphan at beating Pheromosa unless it starts some Substitute shenanigans.
 

Boat

fuck nintendo
is a Tournament Director Alumnusis a Community Leader Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Staff Alumnusis a Dedicated Tournament Host Alumnus
"Against Kommo-o, expect a Clangorous Soulblaze and use Endeavor turn one; follow with Ice Shard turn two to defeat Kommo-o. "

But the optimal Turn 1 play as Kommo-O is Flamethrower. Specifically for that reason.
 

Jocus

Banned deucer.
You're probably going to see Clangorous Soulblaze until you arrive at the 1550s anyway because of lack of experience on low ladder.

Edit: also this is sad:
| Fairium Z 10.591% |
1760 stats
 
Last edited:

pqs

Banned deucer.
:sm/porygon-z:

Don't use this Porygon-Z:
Porygon-Z @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Beam
- Uproar
- Ice Beam
- Trick

Why it's bad: Ice Beam provides almost 0 coverage outside of threats that Hyper Beam most of the time always OHKOs. This may be a misconception as in its analysis it says that it beats Zygarde and Landorus-T for you yet you already OHKO them with Hyper Beam. Instead...

Use this Porygon-Z:

Porygon-Z @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Beam
- Uproar
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Trick

Hidden Power [Fire] is much better for steels and sorts like Genesect. You can also use coverage moves like Shadow Ball in Hidden Power [Fire] or Trick's place to have a better matchup versus Gengar-Mega (hoping that hypnosis misses).
 

Jocus

Banned deucer.
pqs
Most Zygardes (at least in tours and on high ladder) are probably going to run a lot of bulk.
252+ SpA Adaptability Porygon-Z Hyper Beam vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 384-454 (92 - 108.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Porygon-Z Ice Beam vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 464-548 (111.2 - 131.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Edit: This makes Hyper Beam against Zygarde a toss-up matchup.
 

lost heros

Meme Master
Don't Use: Level 100 Cottonee




Cottonee @ Bright Powder
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Protect
- Grass Whistle

Why it's bad:

Being level 100 only allows Cottonee to have 4 substitutes and requires Cottonee to also use Protect to ensure that it gets more than 25% of its health recovered from a leech seed drain


Use:Level 1 Cottonee




Cottonee @ Bright Powder
Ability: Prankster
Level: 1
EVs: 196 Def / 148 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 HP / 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Endeavor
- Grass Whistle


Why it's better:

Being Level 1 gives Cottonee an extra substitute which in turn gives it an additional chance for an opponent's attack to miss. Because also being level 1 guarentees a full health recovery against any not level 1 pokemon, Cottonee also no longer needs protect and instead can use Endeavor to KO opponent's that might try to use rest to PP stall Cottonee. Other Filler can be used over Endeavor as well.
 
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pqs

Banned deucer.
pqs
Most Zygardes (at least in tours and on high ladder) are probably going to run a lot of bulk.
252+ SpA Adaptability Porygon-Z Hyper Beam vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 384-454 (92 - 108.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Porygon-Z Ice Beam vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 464-548 (111.2 - 131.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Edit: This makes Hyper Beam against Zygarde a toss-up matchup.
Okay if you want to beat a pokemon that you already 50/50 with a waste of a moveslot which you can use for something actually good with another move that's fine with me
 
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Jocus

Banned deucer.
Do not use Toxapex (standard set). Instead, use Pyukumuku.

This set was extracted as the most common from 0+ usage stats of September and may not represent other Toxapex sets that are actually viable.
Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Merciless
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Recover
- Toxic
- Baneful Bunker
- Scald

Why it's bad:

To the novice 1v1 mind, Toxapex certainly is attractive as a stall Pokemon, especially with its reputation as an S-tier in OU. However, this set has a few pitfalls: Toxapex isn't even on the 1v1 viability rankings. Yes; it's less viable than Aron and Smeargle, and possibly even Gog (the Scarf Staravia meme set). Firstly, Toxapex has no way to boost its own stats or decrease opposing Pokemon's stats, meaning that it loses to most setup sweepers. Against Poison- and Steel-types, or Taunt users, the only way to win is to spam Scald. This is painfully slow, and Toxapex is done for if the opposing Pokemon has reliable recovery or enough power to break through it. A focus away from special bulk also means that the most powerful special attackers or generally super-effective moves can break through Toxapex mindlessly. Baneful Bunker is comparatively useless because it's not 6v6 with your standard balance Pokemon that have no reliable recovery: you can just stack Toxic damage by constantly healing. Toxapex's typing leaves it vulnerable to many attacks: for example, Mega Gardevoir's, Tapu Lele's, Mew's, and Meloetta's Psychic-type STAB moves; and Garchomp's, Zygarde's, and Landorus-T's Ground-type STAB Moves. Add the general lack of use of Black Sludge as compared to Z-Moves or Berries, and this set is rightly considered unviable.

Instead use: Pyukumuku
Pyukumuku @ Psychium Z
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 248 HP / 124 Def / 136 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Light Screen
- Recover
- Toxic
- Soak

Why it's better: This is a better set and does about the same things, and Pyukumuku is C on the VR. (If you want a stall Pokemon that wins more matchups, check out Clefable, Mega Altaria, and Mega Venusaur among others.) Being a pure Water-type removes nasty weaknesses to Ground and Psychic, allowing Pyukumuku to take a good shot at the likes of Landorus-T and Tapu Lele. Not having a 100% hit rate on Toxic isn't a big deal since it's not like you're gonna die anyway if you miss Toxic. Psychium Z provides more utility than Black Sludge; paired with Light Screen, it creates a move that sets up Light Screen, halving damage from special attacks, and raises its special defense by one. Meanwhile, Recover serves as the reliable recovery. Toxic causes the passive damage that defeats the foe. Soak turns the foe into a pure Water-type, letting Pyukumuku use Toxic on Poison- and Steel-types. Additionally, it removes the STAB damage boost from the opponent. EVs and nature ensure that Pyukumuku can take a variety of physical and special hits. An amazing ability in Unaware lets Pyukumuku shrug off damage from setup sweepers except from Pokemon that bypass or remove the ability, including Mold Breaker users such as Mega Gyarados and Haxorus, and Z-Skill Swap Tapu Lele. Be wary of super effective attacks, Taunt, and extremely powerful attackers. They all beat Pyukumuku, but Toxapex is no better at beating them.

I'm criticizing only the most common Toxapex set. If you think that another Toxapex set has some merit over Pyukumuku or another staller, reply to this thread and let me know along with nominating it in the Viability Rankings to not be Unranked like Gog.
 

IBM

Banned deucer.
Smeargle @ Normalium Z
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Substitute
- Imprison
- Transform

Don't use normalium Z smeargle.
Why:
While Z-Transform does indeed heal you up to full, you usually won't be dying to the opponent's struggle in most situations.
Instead, I believe it's a better idea solidifying your matchup against your bad matchups.

Smeargle @ Quick Claw
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Substitute
- Imprison
- Transform

Use Quick Claw
Why?
It essentially gives you a 20% chance of winning matchups that you usually lost, apart from that, it's essentially the same set.
Don’t use quick claw smeargle.
Why:
While a 20% chance to win losing matchups is nice, you can’t be certain of any matchups because of the chance of the opponent waking up turn one anyway. Also, this strategy is easily shut down by taunt. Instead of getting a chance in bad matchups, I believe it’s a better idea to confirm some more wins.

Smeargle @ Mental Herb
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Substitute
- Imprison
- Transform

Use Mental Herb.
Why?
It gives you a guaranteed win against mons that would otherwise completely shut you down with taunt, like deoxys-speed. Apart from that, it’s essentially the same set.
 


Don't use this: Choice Scarf Togekiss

Togekiss @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Air Slash
- Dazzling Gleam
- Fire Blast
- Trick
While this set might seem nice, what with the immediate 60% chance to flinch anything and everything, this set lacks bulk in it, and faster stall Pokemon like Deoxys-Speed being common does this set no good. Also, this set does nothing beyond hope to flinch slower Pokemon to death, which has a chance of happening that considerably decreases over the course of the match...

Use this set: Electrium Z Togekiss

Togekiss @ Electrium Z
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 208 HP / 72 SpD / 228 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Roost
- Air Slash
- Encore / Nasty Plot / Charm / Fire Blast


With Thunder Wave thrown into the mix, you can potentially have more chance to remain unscathed during the match. What also makes this set better is that it has lots of options, all of which are equally good, which make some otherwise-unlucky match-ups like Primarina or Deoxys-S into potentially winner ones. Encore helps with Mega Slowbro and Mega Gardevoir, while Charm helps with Mega Gyarados, Mega Charizard X, and many other physical attackers, Nasty Plot helps against Confide users and some stall users like Deoxys-S. Unlike the Choice Scarf set, the luck associated with this set does not reduce a crapton over the course of the match, making it a much more reliable set than Choice Scarf..
 
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