Resource Monotype Creative / Underrated Sets

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Lapras @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 8 SpD / 248 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Freeze-Dry
- Ice Beam
- Surf
Choice Specs Lapras aids immensely in the Water, Dragon, and Grass Matchups ( Though Grass is extremely difficult thanks to Rillaboom) One of Rain teams biggest problems is that it is easily stalled by Balance Water Cores like Toxapex, Mantine, and Tapu Fini. So what beats all three? Choice Specs Lapras of course! From my experience playing VGC, I've learned that Lapras is one of the hardest anwsers to Water Types and was occasionally used in VGC as a Rain Answer including GS Cup. Between Water Absorb, Choice Specs, and Freeze-Dry, Lapras can single handedly take out the majority of Mono-Water teams since they have 0 switch ins to it. Yes, Lapras is slow, has a bad defensive typing, and has no recovery, but its bulk has proven to be critical to take hits like Thundurus-T, and thanks to Tapu Fini's Misty Surge, it allows Lapras to switch in on Toxic and take on Dragon types. Lapras has basically perfect coverage between Water and Freeze-Dry, so Surf is just a safe option and Ice Beam is higher power. A rain team I used featuring Specs Lapras has made the 1700s on the ladder.

Calcs:

252 SpA Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Lapras: 300-354 (74.8 - 88.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Rotom-Wash Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Lapras: 264-312 (65.8 - 77.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Replays showing how useful Lapras can be:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1426443901

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1426433224

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1423495218

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1417698984

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1409818655
 
Darmanitan-Galar @ Salac Berry
Ability: Zen Mode
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Belly Drum
- Fire Punch
- Icicle Crash / Earthquake
- Substitute


Less Creative and more Underrated or just underappreaciated. People always see Darm and think Band or Scarf for the Double Band or Band and Scarf with Gorilla Tactics. That, for sure, is an incredible strong set and i agree it's annoying to deal with. I still want to bring back this A fun and B very very powerful set. With Salac Berry boost after Sub + Belly Drum and fire + ice stab or coverage depending what your ice team looks like to that point, this Darm can solo alot of Teams that expect a scarf and disrespect the Substitute option. It needs alot more help to work, and it for sure will mostly not outclass Scarf or Band, but it is a suprise that can put in work for your Team and is still very fun to use. (currently no calcs or replay's cause i am sick, once i feel more healthy i can add if needed but everyone can understand what this set is trying to do i think)
 

Aqua Jet

Stardew
is a Contributor to Smogonis a Community Contributor Alumnus

Psych Up Alakazam
Alakazam @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock / Stored Power
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Psych Up
Psychic has an enormous problem dealing with Volcarona, considering +1 Quiver Dance can threaten the entire team. Psych Up would be useful for revenge sweeping Special-Attackers, notably Volcarona and copying their setup~
+1 252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Volcarona: 285-336 (91.6 - 108%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
+1 252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Volcarona in Psychic Terrain: 370-436 (118.9 - 140.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 SpA Alakazam Psyshock vs. 248 HP / 112 Def Volcarona in Psychic Terrain: 367-433 (98.3 - 116%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Alakazam Stored Power (140 BP) vs. +2 0 HP / 4 SpD Volcarona in Psychic Terrain: 337-397 (108.3 - 127.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
I'm super high on a modified version of this set right now, seen below in an importable. I chose to add Dazzling Gleam > Shadow Ball because if you let something like Moltres-Galar setup on a passive Pokémon like Slowbro. Once Moltres-Galar gets to +4, you can bring Alakazam in and Psych Up into Dazzling Gleam to OHKO it and cause a major headache for the rest of its teammates (especially if you're facing a Dark team, unless they happen to have brought Bisharp).
this fool (Alakazam) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psych Up
- Psyshock
- Dazzling Gleam
- Focus Blast
 
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Dragalge (Dragon)

Rest+sleep talk pivot

Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Flip Turn
- Sleep Talk
- Gunk Shot
- Rest

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8monotype-1599397286-2j3qaukl38vedhyjmbdev0hgxuilv56pw

been experimenting with this pokemon on dragon for a bit and was really happy to see it in a MPL tour game. Anyways the main issue I had with common set is I felt T-spikes was easily handle with more usage types like water,steel,dark,and flying. Each type had an easy time removing it or ineffective by tspikes also drag gets worn down easily because it works as a pivot. Black sludge recovery isnt always the most reliable recovery. With this set you can still beat tapu fini which gives dragon a hard time and have a more reliable pivot with flip turn+rest/talk. Overall I honestly think this is a better set than tspikes set. Only draw back makes normal a more difficult mu but normal hasnt seen a big usage plus you can use other dragon cores to help with that MU
 
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