Nebulous Haze
It is no surprise that the metagame has shifted in a way that has favored the use of bulkier teams with BO being the best style currently. This offers the possibility of having a dedicated bulky offense destroyer. Deoxys fits this roll perfectly with its sufficient bulk to allow setup against the common walls of the tier and clean up teams who have been chipped down through hazards. Deoxys does not only break BO amazingly tho, but It matches amazingly against HO, the other big pillar of the tier especially on ladder. As such to bring this titan back from UU into the glory it deserves, I present to you all Nebulous Haze.
1.Peak
2.Team and Description
You love him, you hate him (5% of the time) and you can't live without him. Arguably the best Dark type of the tier and an amazing hazard setter. Although Swords Dance and Boots 4 attacks are the most common sets, Assault Vest gives this guy amazing bulk which gets emphasized by the EV spread I chose. Although there are more common offensive spreads (listed one in the Calc section just below) for this set, I've chosen a bulky variant since you don't need this guy to do damage, the longer it can survive in order to Knock Off and repeatedly setup Spikes the better. Tera Ground combined with this spread allows you to have a tertiary check to Raging Bolt, since it has been faced out of the meta recently you can opt for Poison in order to make the Primarina and Iron Valiant mu simpler.
252+ SpA Protosynthesis Raging Bolt Dragon Pulse vs. 216 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Samurott-Hisui: 156-184 (41.6 - 49%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Iron Valiant Moonblast vs. 216 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Samurott-Hisui: 222-264 (59.2 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Primarina Moonblast vs. 216 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Samurott-Hisui: 254-300 (67.7 - 80%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Great Tusk Headlong Rush vs. 216 HP / 4 Def Samurott-Hisui: 237-279 (63.2 - 74.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
32+ Atk Sharpness Samurott-Hisui Razor Shell vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Great Tusk: 348-410 (93.8 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO (As you stay to trade)
Alternate Spread
Sekiro (Samurott-Hisui) (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sharpness
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 216 HP / 196 Atk / 8 SpD / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
252 SpA Iron Valiant Moonblast vs. 216 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Samurott-Hisui: 222-264 (59.2 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Primarina Moonblast vs. 216 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Samurott-Hisui: 254-300 (67.7 - 80%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Great Tusk Headlong Rush vs. 216 HP / 4 Def Samurott-Hisui: 237-279 (63.2 - 74.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
32+ Atk Sharpness Samurott-Hisui Razor Shell vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Great Tusk: 348-410 (93.8 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO (As you stay to trade)
Alternate Spread
Sekiro (Samurott-Hisui) (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sharpness
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 216 HP / 196 Atk / 8 SpD / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
There are few things left to say about this Pokemon if I'm being honest. It's a phenomenal Ghost Type that checks every physical attacker in the tier and can pivot safely into almost everything. The main explanation behind Bold instead of Timid is that Timid can get 2shot by Ogerpon Wellspring if it teras and gets one crit vs you, since this is my insurance against it, it better be all risks covered.
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Tera Water Ogerpon-Wellspring-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Pecharunt on a critical hit: 246-290 (64.7 - 76.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Tera Water Ogerpon-Wellspring-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Pecharunt on a critical hit: 194-230 (51 - 60.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Tera Water Ogerpon-Wellspring-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Pecharunt: 130-154 (34.2 - 40.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Tera Water Ogerpon-Wellspring-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Pecharunt on a critical hit: 194-230 (51 - 60.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Tera Water Ogerpon-Wellspring-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Pecharunt: 130-154 (34.2 - 40.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
The star of the show and one of the newest terrors of the tier. Believe me when I say it, this guy with a free turn is a straight-up demonic force. I've chosen to be faster than Scarf Landorus-Therian but you can instead drop until +1 Great Tusk territory, note that this speed also guarantees you are faster than most opposing Deoxys Speed so drop it at your own risk.
+2 252 SpA Tera Electric Deoxys-Speed Thunderbolt vs. 80 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Primarina: 278-330 (86.6 - 102.8%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+1 252+ Atk Tera Normal Dragonite Extreme Speed vs. 144 HP / 8 Def Deoxys-Speed: 238-282 (85.9 - 101.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Tera Electric Deoxys-Speed Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kingambit: 271-321 (79.4 - 94.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and 1 layer of Spikes
252+ Atk Supreme Overlord 5 allies fainted Kingambit Sucker Punch vs. 144 HP / 8 Def Tera Electric Deoxys-Speed: 210-247 (75.8 - 89.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 252+ Atk Tera Normal Dragonite Extreme Speed vs. 144 HP / 8 Def Deoxys-Speed: 238-282 (85.9 - 101.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Tera Electric Deoxys-Speed Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kingambit: 271-321 (79.4 - 94.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and 1 layer of Spikes
252+ Atk Supreme Overlord 5 allies fainted Kingambit Sucker Punch vs. 144 HP / 8 Def Tera Electric Deoxys-Speed: 210-247 (75.8 - 89.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Just the best Pokemon in the tier, nothing new. The only two things worth talking about are Tera and Iron Head > Heavy Slam. The first one was to have more assurance against Weezing-Galar since once you tera you can't be burnt. This also helps against opposing Cinderace and Moltres which can spam WoW decently well against you. Iron Head was chosen here since a) Flinch and b) Kyurem is too Heavy and can stall you out of Close Combat quickly with its Pressure ability (Iron Head also has more PP than Heavy Slam).
252 Atk Zamazenta Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 180-214 (46 - 54.7%) -- 58.2% chance to 2HKO
252 Atk Zamazenta Heavy Slam (40 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 90-108 (23 - 27.6%) -- 66.5% chance to 4HKO
252 Atk Zamazenta Heavy Slam (40 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 90-108 (23 - 27.6%) -- 66.5% chance to 4HKO
The unkillable demon makes an appearance on stage but with a small little twist to it. Instead of opting for a strictly defensive set, since I had both Physical and Special Defesne covered I decided to lean a bit more into offensive. The speed is yet again for Raging Bolt, the rest of the EVs can be distributed up to preference but I went with this much SpeDef in order to switch into Moltres more comfortably. There are some alternate spreads in the Calc section below.
+2 16+ Atk Tera Normal Gliscor Facade (140 BP) vs. 252 HP / 248+ Def Primarina: 282-333 (77.4 - 91.4%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 16+ Atk Gliscor Facade (140 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Iron Valiant: 235-277 (81.3 - 95.8%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes
+2 16+ Atk Tera Normal Gliscor Facade (140 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 352-415 (90 - 106.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes
0 SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 244 HP / 148 SpD Gliscor: 124-147 (35.2 - 41.7%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO after Poison Heal
252+ SpA Protosynthesis Raging Bolt Dragon Pulse vs. 244 HP / 148 SpD Gliscor: 219-258 (62.2 - 73.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Poison Heal
The Spreads
Opistopthalmus (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 212 HP / 116 Atk / 4 SpD / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
Opistopthalmus (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 212 HP / 156 Atk / 4 SpD / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
+2 16+ Atk Gliscor Facade (140 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Iron Valiant: 235-277 (81.3 - 95.8%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes
+2 16+ Atk Tera Normal Gliscor Facade (140 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 352-415 (90 - 106.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after 1 layer of Spikes
0 SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 244 HP / 148 SpD Gliscor: 124-147 (35.2 - 41.7%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO after Poison Heal
252+ SpA Protosynthesis Raging Bolt Dragon Pulse vs. 244 HP / 148 SpD Gliscor: 219-258 (62.2 - 73.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Poison Heal
The Spreads
Opistopthalmus (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 212 HP / 116 Atk / 4 SpD / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
Opistopthalmus (Gliscor) (F) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 212 HP / 156 Atk / 4 SpD / 136 Spe
Jolly Nature
Last but not least, the other unkillable beast of the metagame. The sheer bulk this thing has makes it a straightforward addition to 90% of Bulky Offense and Balance Teams so it was without a doubt going to be present. I've chosen to go with Helmet instead of Boots or Leftovers since Helmet takes advantage of Great Tusk superbly. If they switch into you to try and Spin and you Ruination they are at at 42% and unable to switch into Samurott-Hisui or Pecharunt. Helmet is useful in Kingambit endgame scenarios to chip it down before it teras or to put it in range of Tera Dark Pecharunt Foul Play. Tera Ghost and Steel can also be used, with Steel easing the Kyurem matchup.
252 Atk Great Tusk Headlong Rush vs. 244 HP / 40+ Def Ting-Lu: 144-169 (28.1 - 33%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
+2 252+ Atk Supreme Overlord 5 allies fainted Kingambit Iron Head vs. 244 HP / 40+ Def Ting-Lu: 322-379 (62.8 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Zamazenta Close Combat vs. 244 HP / 40+ Def Ting-Lu: 351-416 (68.5 - 81.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252+ Atk Supreme Overlord 5 allies fainted Kingambit Iron Head vs. 244 HP / 40+ Def Ting-Lu: 322-379 (62.8 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Zamazenta Close Combat vs. 244 HP / 40+ Def Ting-Lu: 351-416 (68.5 - 81.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
3. Teambuilding Process
Initially, this team had a Darkrai over the Deoxys and was built probably around 7 weeks ago without much success (drooped to the hell that is the 1500s ladder). I dumped it into the folder of unsuccessful builds and moved on for the week until that weekend I saw Nasty Plot Deoxys putting in work big time on the big stage tournaments, then it clicked, I needed speed control and a late game cleaner and Darkrai made me run triple Dark can dual Ground Which I wasn't a big fan of.
The original building idea was a simple hazard stack with Zamazenta (this guy with hazard support and Knock Off users is obscenely broken), nothing new nor especially creative. You start with the classic dual Dark Ting-Lu Sammurot, add your ground immune of choice (went with Gliscor since I desperately needed a second Knock Off user (Darkrai was not the best user), and a strong sweeper; SD Lando/Soft Sand is another option I tried ut lacks the Knock Off, don't bother with Dragonite since the Moonblast weakness can be seen overseas, the birds of the tier Moltres, Zapdos and Corviknight made the team to passive), you cant run 0 ghost types in the tier and since I was destroyed by Ogerpon Wellspring I went with the good old Pecharunt instead of Gholdengo. Last slot I had a Darkrai with Nasty Plot WoW Dark Pulse and Ice Beam so the replacement for Deoxys was kinda straightforward once I saw the set
The original building idea was a simple hazard stack with Zamazenta (this guy with hazard support and Knock Off users is obscenely broken), nothing new nor especially creative. You start with the classic dual Dark Ting-Lu Sammurot, add your ground immune of choice (went with Gliscor since I desperately needed a second Knock Off user (Darkrai was not the best user), and a strong sweeper; SD Lando/Soft Sand is another option I tried ut lacks the Knock Off, don't bother with Dragonite since the Moonblast weakness can be seen overseas, the birds of the tier Moltres, Zapdos and Corviknight made the team to passive), you cant run 0 ghost types in the tier and since I was destroyed by Ogerpon Wellspring I went with the good old Pecharunt instead of Gholdengo. Last slot I had a Darkrai with Nasty Plot WoW Dark Pulse and Ice Beam so the replacement for Deoxys was kinda straightforward once I saw the set
4. Usage Tips
I can't state this enough, Zamazenta with hazard support is the nastiest thing of the tier, try to keep them up all the time with aggressive doubles and reads to deny removal. At the beginning of the game try and form a game plan around how to prevent the opponent's big threats from getting free turns, if you give free turns left and right you will not be able to stand Kyurem or Keldeo long term.
In the majority of scenarios, either Gliscor or Deoxys will be able to sweep with few conditions met, identify the most likely one and play towards that out without worrying about "giving out" the other in order to chip your opponent down for the other cleaner.
In the majority of scenarios, either Gliscor or Deoxys will be able to sweep with few conditions met, identify the most likely one and play towards that out without worrying about "giving out" the other in order to chip your opponent down for the other cleaner.
5. Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2390139024-1rm9ospy42606ua0l6p7j76f0qyy1wspw - Stall game-plan concept showcase (ignore he timed out)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2389079176-kqpmtye0oviakcxrwi74y7syre97wrwpw - Why you run Iron Head
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2386476654-muyxppy7xmbn9hc7ct4bp64grgccgnapw?p2 - Why you run Iron Head V2
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2381472892-lsr1693iaqpe5h0csff9ac9swyypuqopw - Deo S Cleanup
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2381472892-lsr1693iaqpe5h0csff9ac9swyypuqopw - Deo S Cleanup V3
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2386442374-aut536kpmr60qav4vh8ybic6gjlxigupw?p2 - Vs Kyurem
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2386050672-u1iworf7sho4fkxcxevvl6227tjlj4bpw?p2 - Vs Kyurem V2
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2382170810-p8a8yophm2orggoorie6umsejq5coxkpw?p2 - Vs Kyurem V3
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2383662593-pta4jfetu7geoj5s75mc1vderglodnkpw - Vs Ho
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2383067731-u69ubiply55ntdowdnt3ywf3264ajjepw - Vs Specs Hydrapple (no idea how I won that)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2389079176-kqpmtye0oviakcxrwi74y7syre97wrwpw - Why you run Iron Head
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2386476654-muyxppy7xmbn9hc7ct4bp64grgccgnapw?p2 - Why you run Iron Head V2
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2381472892-lsr1693iaqpe5h0csff9ac9swyypuqopw - Deo S Cleanup
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2381472892-lsr1693iaqpe5h0csff9ac9swyypuqopw - Deo S Cleanup V3
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2386442374-aut536kpmr60qav4vh8ybic6gjlxigupw?p2 - Vs Kyurem
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2386050672-u1iworf7sho4fkxcxevvl6227tjlj4bpw?p2 - Vs Kyurem V2
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2382170810-p8a8yophm2orggoorie6umsejq5coxkpw?p2 - Vs Kyurem V3
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2383662593-pta4jfetu7geoj5s75mc1vderglodnkpw - Vs Ho
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9ou-2383067731-u69ubiply55ntdowdnt3ywf3264ajjepw - Vs Specs Hydrapple (no idea how I won that)
6. Threat List
Stall is a big problem here, the best game plan I've found is to abuse the bootspam you got and try to PP Stall Defog with Pressure Deoxys. Gl with that and lmk if anyone figures something better out.
Primarina has suffered big from the lack of special attackers in the tier and Ogerpon Wellspring beeing top 3 right now. It is hard to switch into it and I generally trade my Samurott-Hisui vs it and play aggressively to prevent hazard removal.
Keldeo for the same reasons Primarina is annoying but even worse since it runs boots most often.
Weezing-Galar is probably the biggest annoyance in the tier right now, not much I can say about it, Pecharunt is your best bet here and your "status absorber".
Kyurem is nasty, play it agro vs him and even consider making the Ting-Lu Steel tera if you are expecting it/see it a lot on ladder (note that this will make Sun mu way more complicated
Hydraple is both Kyurem and Primarina but it now is unkillable and has regenerator. Play trying to avoid giving it free turns.
Primarina has suffered big from the lack of special attackers in the tier and Ogerpon Wellspring beeing top 3 right now. It is hard to switch into it and I generally trade my Samurott-Hisui vs it and play aggressively to prevent hazard removal.
Keldeo for the same reasons Primarina is annoying but even worse since it runs boots most often.
Weezing-Galar is probably the biggest annoyance in the tier right now, not much I can say about it, Pecharunt is your best bet here and your "status absorber".
Kyurem is nasty, play it agro vs him and even consider making the Ting-Lu Steel tera if you are expecting it/see it a lot on ladder (note that this will make Sun mu way more complicated
Hydraple is both Kyurem and Primarina but it now is unkillable and has regenerator. Play trying to avoid giving it free turns.
7. Shoutouts
Savouras Same as always bud, thnx for the help on the teambuilder polishing session and forcing me to ladder further.
LB you sent the most ugly Gliscor spreads Ive seen during the entirety of the generation. The 285 speed one gotta be the most crackman thing Ive seen in a while. Thanks for that mate
8.Team Importable and Outro
Thanks for the long read, appreciated. Hope you like the team, pick up a lot of unsuspecting guys with the bulky Deoxys lategame sweep (happen more than im proud of) and achieve a nice ranking with it. As always any questions you guys have about the team feel free to ask bellow and I'll be glad to help as much as I can. Gl laddering yall!!
https://pokepast.es/879472da73e3f319
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