[OVERVIEW]
* Muk-Alola's solid defensive typing makes it a worthy fit in teams that require an emergency stop to the likes of Lunala, and Mega Gengar; while checking Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Arceus-Fairy. Combined with an Assault Vest, it can provide a team with a lot of utility with access to tools like Knock Off, Pursuit, and Clear Smog. Given a Choice Band, it could topple down slow-paced teams with the right choice of moves.
* An immunity to the Psychic typing helps it threaten powerhouses such as Mega Mewtwo Y and Deoxys-A, which are otherwise extremely dangerous threats to unprepared teams.
* Additionally, its immunity to Toxic and the ability to absorb Toxic Spikes in appreciated in any team archetype it happens to be in.
* Regardless of whether it's resisted or not, switching into it will be a pain due to the combination of Knock Off and Poison Touch meaning its checks are worn down much easier.
* However, not everything is great for this mass of toxic sludge, it faces stiff competition from Tyranitar which is both faster and hits harder, while additionally checking Ho-Oh and Mega Salamence; as well as being a more consistent check to Yveltal. To add to its misery, it's weak to the ever-so-present Primal Groudon and offensive threats like Arceus-Ground, Dragon Dance Zygarde-C, and Marshadow have no problem dispatching it thanks to its lackluster physical bulk. It's also extremely susceptible to entry hazards, which slowly takes away its ability to be fully able to check its given target.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Clear Smog / Poison Jab
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Assault Vest
ability: Poison Touch
nature: Brave / Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 28 Def / 120 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Knock Off is a useful STAB, removing essential items on threats that really appreciate it such as Leftovers off Lugia, Zygarde, and Gothitelle on the switch while potentially poisoning them due to Poison Touch.
* Pursuit is used to for the likes of Mega Gengar, Lunala, Ultra Necrozma, and Deoxys-A, nailing them on the switch-out while dealing significant damage otherwise.
* The third slot depends on what your team needs. Clear Smog helps against setup sweepers that threaten the team such as Z-Geomancy Xerneas and Arceus-Dark. Poison Jab is a more usable STAB move that deals a significant amount of damage to said targets while potentially having a high chance of poisoning them due to Poison Touch. It's also the best move to use against offensive variants of Yveltal.
* Shadow Sneak enables it to revenge kill weakened threats such as Deoxys-A, Marshadow, Mega Gengar, and Ultra Necrozma.
Set Details
========
* 252 HP EVs combined with 28 Def EVs let it tank an Ice Beam and Superpower from a Rash Deoxys-A.
* 108 Atk EVs with a positive nature guarantee an OHKO on Mega Gengar on switching out while OHKOing with Knock Off.
* The remainder of EVs have been put in Special Defense to buff it up further and take less damage from the likes of Yveltal or Lunala.
* Assault Vest is the item of choice as it helps in checking the mentioned specially-oriented threats.
* Poison Touch gives all of its contact moves a 30% chance to poison its targets, further bolstering its utility.
* While using Clear Smog, it's best suggested to use a Brave nature as it'll amp up Muk's Attack stat while Clear Smog's damage output is unaffected. An Adamant nature can be used otherwise.
Usage Tips
========
* Keeping Muk healthy over the course of the battle as it's not a threat that can be used freely.
* Bouncing off the above point; it's advised as a hit-and-run threat to spam Knock Off early on in the game on expected switches to deprive switch-ins of their items while potentially poisoning them.
* Shadow Sneak is best suggested for revenge-killing weakened threats which might still have a fighting chance against Muk such as Deoxys-A, Marshadow, Ultra Necrozma, and Mega Mewtwo Y. A point to note here is that Muk can only reliably check Calm Mind Ultra Necrozma, while it's shaky against Swords Dance variants.
* Be sure to scout for variants of Lunala, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Hex Mega Gengar that carry Will-o-Wisp as it makes Muk lose its ability to keep them pressured over the course of a long drawn battle.
* The only
Team Options
========
* Necrozma Dusk-Mane can reliably check Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy while taking advantage of the ability for Muk to take care of the likes of Mega Gengar and Lunala.
* Skarmory and Ferrothorn support teams with
* Arceus-Water checks Primal Groudon, Zygarde-C, and Mega Salamence which highly threaten Muk and are capable of downright OHKOing it. In return, Arceus-Water appreciates Mega Gengar off the opponent's side of the field.
* Primal Groudon with a Fire STAB move checks bulky-Steel types such as Ferrothorn which otherwise annoy Muk. It additionally checks Xerneas which can chip at it with Moonblast.
* Additionally, Xerneas helps Muk dispatch Dark-type targets such as Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and opposing Muk-Alola which otherwise trouble Muk in the long run.
* Defensive Pokémon such as Chansey and Arceus-Fairy that appreciate Mega Gengar off the field make for solid partners.
* Lugia checks and phazes away Swords Dance variants of Arceus, Primal Groudon, and Zygarde-C. It additionally also checks physical variants of Ultra Necrozma not running Rock Blast or Stone Edge. Muk-A in return checks Specially-inclined versions of Ultra Necrozma lacking Earth Power, Dawn-Wings Necrozma, and Mega Gengar in return.
* Using Arceus-Grass can help against Zygarde-C and Arceus-Ground, while Muk traps Mega Gengar in return. Sets packing Fire Blast and/or Stone Edge help against the likes of Celesteela, Ferrothorn, Mega Lucario, and Ho-Oh.
* Team builds that run Mega Slowbro instead of Mega Gengar or Mega Sableye appreciate Muk-Alola's ability to absorb Toxic Spikes. Mega Slowbro in return checks all the physical attackers that pose a threat to Muk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
* In exchange for the bulk provided by Assault Vest, a Choice Band can be utilized with an Adamant Nature and an EV spread of 204 Atk / 180 Spd / 124 Spe. The Speed and Attack investment lets it outrun and OHKO standard Gothitelle with Knock Off.
* Lum Berry can be used to avoid an unlucky burn from Will-o-Wisp Mega Gengar or Lunala and hit them back with a super-effective move
* Fire Punch can be used to catch Steel-types switching in, especially so for Ferrothorn and Lucario which tanks every other hit, as well as gain Attack boosts from Dark-type moves due to Justified.
* Gunk Shot can be used over Poison Jab with a Choice Band to deal massive damage to threats not necessarily a Steel-type or Primal Groudon.
* Poison Fang can be over Poison Jab in Assault Vest to potentially badly poison switch-ins and put them on a timer for the rest of the game.
* Rest with a Chesto Berry can be utilized to get a one-time heal. This is especially in the case where Muk is bound to lose a lot of health early- or mid-game.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-types**: Ground-types such as Primal Groudon and Arceus-Ground have it easy as they can come in on any of Muk's moves and can proceed to set up as it won't be staying on in front of these threats without risking an OHKO. Zygarde-C, while it may lose its Leftovers to a Knock Off can still pressure Muk and force it out. Dugtrio can trap it and dispatch with an Earthquake.
**Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types such as Celesteela and Ferrothorn annoy Muk with Leech Seed and can proceed to stall it out anytime. More offensive threats such as Lead Excadrill and Necrozma-DM can dispatch it off quickly with their STAB move while taking less to no damage.
**Primal Kyogre**: Primal Kyogre can take out Muk easily with its assortment of powerful STAB moves, and Earthquake.
**Physical Attackers**: Marshadow, Mega Salamence, Primal Kyogre, Ho-Oh, Necrozma-DM, and Swords Dance Ultra Necrozma are able to take advantage of Muk's weaker Defense stat and topple it down, while it is unable to much in return.
**Toxapex**: Muk is unable to do much against Toxapex while it can burn and cripple Muk for the rest of the battle thanks to Scald.
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