EDIT: Upon looking at the Forum a little more thoroughly, I see other have suggested Cofagrigus. Disregard my naive assumption of originality and please just take this post as an addition to the discussion!
Hey guys, I posted this on Reddit not too long ago and figured you would enjoy this analysis. Essentially, I believe I've found a "Counter" to MegaKangaskhan. I know the word "Counter" isn't used lightly here, so I made sure to calculate accordingly.
I heard a lot of noise about MegaKangaskhan having "No Counters" due to its wide movepool and incredible strength. I'd like to challenge that idea with a Pokemon that will become available after PokeBank opens up.
Cofagrigus.
When Cofagrius switches in, its considerable physical bulk can take whatever Kanga dishes out. Earthquake is run on some Kanga, but not often, and even so it's not boosted by STAB or a weakness. Return can't hit it, same with Fake-Out and PUP. These can all hit if Kanga hasn't MegaEvolved, but Cofagrigus's 145 Base Defense laughs at such attacks without a boost. The MegaEvolution can easily be baited by not throwing out Cofagrigus first, such as starting with the ever-popular Focus Sash Smeargle, baiting the Evolution, and then switching into Cofagrigus to watch the wasted PUP's fly through him. Crunch and Sucker Punch are viable hits, but here's where the fun starts.
Mummy. Cofagrigus' ability actually takes away Parental Bond and replaces it with Mummy. So, yes, Crunch hits hard, but there's a chance it won't even 2HKO, and that's WITH Parental Bond calculated in. But you don't get to use Parental Bond twice, so it's only a 3HKO unboosted.
Kangaskhan DOES get to hit twice even though Mummy changes its ability after the first hit, but afterward, it can't get a 2HKO anymore because it won't get the boost from Parental Bond. It's either forced to switch out - giving you a free turn - or deal with Cofagrius, which can then either start hitting, use Toxic, WoW, or just Rest up with a Lum berry. Ideally, those Cofagrius who find themselves in this situation used their Calm Minds or Nasty Plots to best take advantage of the situation, or just hit Kanga with a status (Toxic, Burn) right off the bat. However, they can also switch in, which will rarely result in them getting hit with Crunch. Most times, Return/PUP will fly through them. Even if they switch into Crunch, it's still a 3HKO due to Mummy, so you have a free turn to Rest or WoW.
Here are some calculations using a Jolly Kanga:
- 252 Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mummy Cofagrigus: 141-168 (44 - 52.5%): Possible 2HKO, but Mummy interrupts this.
- 252 Atk Mummy Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mummy Cofagrigus: 94-112 (29.3 - 35%): Possible 3HKO, but no 2HKO after first Parental Bond hit.
- +2 252 Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mummy Cofagrigus: 282-333 (88.1 - 104%): Small Chance of OHKO, Guaranteed 2HKO even after Mummy. Mummy activates regardless.
- +2 252 Atk Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cofagrigus: 188-222 (58.7 - 69.3%): Guaranteed 2HKO
Here are some calculations using Adamant:
- 252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mummy Cofagrigus: 156-186 (48.7 - 58.1%): Possible 2HKO
- 252+ Atk Mummy Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mummy Cofagrigus: 104-124 (32.5 - 38.7%): Possible 3HKO.
- +2 252+ Atk Parental Bond Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cofagrigus: 309-366 (96.5 - 114.3%): Almost guaranteed OHKO, but Mummy still cripples Parental Bond.
- +2 252+ Atk Mummy Mega Kangaskhan Crunch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mummy Cofagrigus: 206-244 (64.3 - 76.2%): Guaranteed 2HKO
As you can see, you can switch into MegaKangaskhan safely without worrying about a OHKO at all unless he's +2, and even that requires prediction and either Crunch or Sucker Punch to land, the latter of which can't on a switch-in. Both moves have 80 BP, so I didn't bother calculating separately. Either way, you can Rest to waste Suckerpunch or just use a Status move in general (Toxic, Calm Mind, Nasty Plot etc.)
But that's the best part about Cofagrigus: it has a wide movepool capable of countering MegaKangaskhan.
- Power Split can cripple its attack, making its 2HKO's even 3HKO's or lower, giving you time to Rest/Nasty Plot/WoW.
- Wil-o-wisp cripples MegaKangas in general. After Mummy, they'll be useless.
- Toxic can be used if you prefer some sort of Protect/Toxic variant or just want to Rest all day long to counter the damage.
Let me know what you guys think! Took me a bit to put this together, but I really think Cofagrigus could jump up in use to counter MegaKangaskhan reliably. He's not too shabby of a Physical wall by himself. 1vs1 with Kanga at +0, Cofagrigus can
always win if it runs Rest/WoW/Psychic/Calm Mind(Or Nasty Plot) with a Lum Berry and Max HP/Defense, even on the switch!
It's important to remember that If Kanga isn't already +2, you're guaranteed to have a single turn of setup to Rest with a Lum Berry, since he can't 2HKO after Mummy takes away the Parental Bond.
EDIT: I didn't factor in Leftovers, which eliminates the need for Lum Berry if you prefer the continuous recovery. Taking 50%, 30%, and 17.5% After Crunch, Non-Parental Bond Crunch, and Burned Crunch doesn't kill quite kill Cofagrigus, but you don't have to care at all about close calls with Leftovers healing you in between. By the time your Rest ends, you'll have eaten up Kanga's Burned, Non-Parental Bond Crunches with your defenses and Leftovers, and Kanga will be at 50% or less from Burn.