Gen 5 Muk [WIP]

[Akir]

[OVERVIEW]


[SET]
name: Bulky Tank
move 1: Curse
move 2: Poison Jab
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Shadow Sneak / Ice Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Poison Touch
nature: Adamant
evs:

[SET COMMENTS]
Poison Jab is the preferred STAB thanks to the better accuracy than other options and Poison Touch boosting the Poison chance. Fire Punch is for hitting Steel-types such as Klang, which is 2HKOed after a single Curse. Shadow Sneak is much-needed priority to make up for Muk's low Speed that also has a chance to Poison thanks to Poison Touch. Ice Punch is for Ground-types such as Torterra, which can be OHKOed with a Curse boost after Stealth Rock. Poison Touch is the preferred ability due to the chance at applying Poison to high value and common switchins such as Stunfisk and chipping them down considerably.

Muk has handy resistances to Grass- and neutral Special attacks, but is weak to common Ground- and Psychic-type attacks. As such, partners like Torterra and Shiftry that can round out the weaknesses while benefitting from the defensive synergy are great picks. Muk is also slow, so paralysis support from teammates like Stunfisk is also appreciated. Muk excels at breaking through Grass-types like Vileplume and weakening Steel-types like Bronzor, so sweepers like Huntail or Ursaring benefit from having Muk around. Muk also hates having entry hazards digging into its natural bulk, so hazard control such as Tentacool or Natu can be key in getting the most out of Muk.

[CREDITS]

Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:

 

[Bella]

[OVERVIEW]

With its high Attack and solid HP and SpDef, Muk at first glance has all of the makings of a formidable threat in PU. Muk's performance in the generation previous and the generation after would suggest success as well, but the reality is that Muk falls short in BW PU. The Sleep rules in BW means that Muk has a hard time recovering damage with Rest, making recovering damage from the common entry hazards and soaking up attacks difficult, and common walls that are immune to Muk's STAB such as Klang and Bronzor make a Cro (not exactly sure what you mean here. Did you mean curse?) set unappealing. Muk's slow Speed and weak coverage moves also leaves it as an offensive threat that can struggle to make progress against the opponent. Competition from much better suited Poison-types such as Arbok and Vileplume (i wouldnt rly add plume since its a bit different of a role than arbok and muk, so i would just say arbok here.) that can do similar roles better also dig into how often Muk finds itself on a team. Muk even boasts weaknesses to the very common Ground- and Psychic-types like Stunfisk and Beheeyem that populate the tier. Even through all of this, Muk can still leverage its good bulk and good coverage options to make a niche for itself as a bulky attacker in PU.

[SET]
name: Bulky Tank
move 1: Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Explosion / Substitute
item: Choice Band / Leftovers
ability: Poison Touch
nature: Adamant
evs: 216 HP / 240 Atk / 52 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Poison Jab is the preferred STAB thanks to the better accuracy and Poison Touch boosting the Poison chance, but Gunk Shot is also perfectly viable for more damage at the cost of accuracy. Shadow Sneak is much-needed priority to make up for Muk's low Speed that also has a chance to Poison thanks to Poison Touch. Fire Punch is for hitting Steel-types such as Klang, which is 2HKOed with a Choice Band, and Bronzor, which is sometimes 2HKOed with a Choice Band after Stealth Rock damage. Ice Punch is for Ground-types such as Torterra, which can be OHKOed with a Choice Band after Stealth Rock. The fourth moveslot can also be either Explosion or Substitute, with Explosion cleanly OHKOing a lot of offensive threats like Monferno or Zebstrika while Substitute cn create useful 101 HP Substitutes to absorb set damage moves like a Night Shade from Natu along with making Muk much harder to dislodge. (Mention how sub should only be used on lefties sets and can be used as a surprise tool on people expecting band.) Choice Band is the preferred item due to Muk achieving a few good benchmarks, such as aforementioned 2HKO on Klang with Fire Punch and potential OHKO on Torterra with Ice Punch, but Leftovers is the item to use if Substitute is chosen for the last moveslot in order to heal back the damage from using Substitute and making Muk generally harder to KO. Poison Touch is the preferred ability due to the chance at applying Poison to high value and common switchins such as Stunfisk and chipping them down considerably, and the fact that the tier does not have enough Trick or Knock Off users to demand Sticky Hold nor is Muk fast enough to fully utilize Stench. The EVs are very precise with the HP investment pushing Muk to 405 HP for generalized bulk and 101 HP Substitutes and the Speed investment letting Muk outspeed 0 Speed Torterra with the rest thrown into Attack to maximize damage output. 0 Speed Torterra is generally the fastest thing Muk can afford to invest enough EVs into to outspeed, as the next benchmark of base 70 Speed would require a monumental amount of sacrifice from bulk, so even Muks with Choice Band appreciate the EV spread even without the use of Substitute. (this feels like pure filler the reader does not rly need to know about imo)

Muk has handy resistances to Grass- and Fighting-type attacks, but is weak to common Ground- and Psychic-type attacks. As such, partners like Stunfisk and Shiftry that can round out the weaknesses while benefitting from the defensive synergy are great picks. Muk is also slow, so paralysis support from teammates like Stunfisk is also appreciated. Muk excels at breaking through Grass-types like Vileplume and weakening Steel-types like Klang, so sweepers like Huntail or Ursaring benefit from having Muk around. Muk also hates having entry hazards digging into its natural bulk, so hazard control such as Tentacool or Natu can be key in getting the most out of Muk.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/

Not bad, 1/1!
GP Team