Project NU Next Best Thing [Week 35: Gastrodon]

[Corthius]

Slowbro-Galar @ Colbur Berry / Black Sludge
Ability: Quick Draw
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron Defense
- Calm Mind
- Slack Off / Flamethrower
- Stored Power / Ice Beam / Flamethrower

This set is pure evil. Well only if you manage to get it rolling, but hell if you do get up some boosts this thing becomes the definition of 'a pain in the ass'. The best part about bulky set up poison types is the fact that you are immune to Toxic (obv. not from Slazzle) so wearing you down via poison is not possible. The two set up moves of choice are Iron Defense and Calm Mind to boost both your defense and you special defense to endure more hits. Colbur berry allows you to set up on certain Dark types with Iron Defense. Slack Off is the usual recovery.
Which move you prefere is up to you, Stored Power (or Poison STAB if you really want to) both have immunities so you would get walled. Flamethrower has cool neutral coverage with less Flash Fire mons running around. Ice Beam is probably your best option because it ensures that you will always do damage and will not be walled due to immunities.

 

[MassiveDestruction]

Belly Drum + Quick Claw

Slowbro-Galar @ Quick Claw
Ability: Quick Draw
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpA
Brave Nature
- Belly Drum
- Shell Side Arm
- Zen Headbutt
- Drain Punch

general idea

Belly Drum and kill all mons in the match a_A

 

[Pokeslice]

AV Future Sight

Slowbro-Galar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 128 SpA / 88 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Psyshock
- Flamethrower
- Future Sight​

This set abuses the insanely powerful and game warping move of Future Sight on the super bulky mon. With AV+Regen, Bro's longevity is through the roof, with great bulk on both sides+passive recovery, letting it get multiple chances for Future Sights. It goes perfectly with Pangoro, probably the best, and my favorite abuser of this set, as it covers every weakness and makes playing around the Panda impossible at times.

As for the spread, here's an explanation

The Spread

252 HP - For obvious reasons, lets you maximize bulk on both sides and keeps you alive and well

40 Def - The 40 Def here was mostly the leftover ev's, but it has a really nice purpose when I did some calcing. It makes a ton of unfavorable rolls back into your favor like CB Escav goes from 80-85% to OHKO to a 40% chance while you outspeed and KO (I'll get to that soon) or with Sharpedo, who's Crunch is now a 30% chance to OHKO with Life Orb, while Sludge KO's. It also lets you handle CC's or First Impression a LOT better. CB Sirfetch'd CC is now a guaranteed 5HKO instead of 4, and his First Impression is now just under half. Those are only a few, the list goes on and on. All in all, that 40 Def is game saving at times.

128+ SpA - The SpA here guarantees hard hits, but also while maximizing bulk. 128+ was specifically chosen to always KO tier menace Slurpuff from full while it can max out at 75% damage on you at +6. A tiny bit more can be usable because of the tiny bit extra in speed if you want, just to get the jump on certain calcs, like always OHKOing Sharpedo on the switch instead of just after LO damage, but I found that not as necessary. This felt like the perfect number to hit.

88 Speed - The 88 is just to guarantee you outspeed neutral base 40's, like the random no speed Dhelmise or Gurdurr, but more importantly, it lets you set up a Future Sight on Gastro, which is a situation that'll arise constantly. This also lets you get the jump on Escav's, many of whom run enough for Gastro or base 40's.

I've found this spread to be the perfect balance of power and bulk. Enjoy!

 

[Zangoose5000]

Reserving Curse + Trick Room

 

[Elias PSY]

Choice specs

Slowbro-Galar @ Choice Specs
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Sludge Bomb
- Trick / Grass Knot
- Flamethrower

Because psychic+poison dual stab is near inresisted in the tier.
Unlike others wallbreakers you can basically hit hard then run away thanks to regenerator.
Trick if you hate p2,cress and umbreon or grass knot for gastrodon.

 

[Danny]

Block + CM

Slowbro-Galar @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Block
- Calm Mind
- Scald/ Flamethrower
- Slack Off/ Rest​

Pretty fire set, main idea is trap something like Bronzong which cannot do anything to you, and set up on it. Block allows you to trap many of the passive walls that like to come in on you such as Umbreon, or Bronzong and use them as set up fodder. The EVs are simple, just max defense max HP so that you maximize you physical bulk. Opt for Scald for the burn chance and the fact that otherwise you are beat by Bronzong and Ground types. I think foregoing Sludge Bomb is worth it in order to have recovery. Alternatively in that slot Flamethrower is a possibility, making quick work of Zonger but hurting your ability to hit Palossand and friends. Slack Off is last for instant recovery, alternatively if you would like to go full PP stall, Rest is there to heal off annoying burns and to stall the opponents out of moves faster. The best part of this set is that with Regenerator you can do it multiple times. Really fun set, not as good imo to Sludge Scald CM, but it has a nice niche because it takes opposing walls out of commission.

 

[My Gender is Egg]

Reserving defensive curse

Slowbro-Galar @ Quick Claw/ Black Sludge/ No Item
Ability: Quick Draw/ Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Earthquake / Drain Punch
- Slack Off
- Shell Side Arm

A weakness of many defensive sweepers is being put in a timer by Toxic, but Glowbro lacks this weakness fuck salazzle and thus having a niche as a potent win-con late-game. Earthquake has a great synergy with Shell Side Arm by hitting Steel, Poison and Rock types that may take a Shell Side Arm, although Drain Punch is an option that trades the Poison matchup and higher base power to hit Levitate users such as Flygon and Bronzong. Max Sp.Def means you can handle better special attackers while setting up since they don't care about Curse boosts while Quick Draw+Quick Claw is a way to somewhat help with your low speed against fast attackers while Regenerator gives you more presence earlier as an actual defensive Pokémon while Black Sludge gives passive recovery while itemless helps against Poltergeist and Knock Off from the likes of Dhelmise and Pangoro respectively.

 

[roxie]

Voting ends on Monday for Texanbro!! Thank you for all submissions. Please be reminded that: Voting for your own set is not allowed and advertising for people to vote for your set will result in a disqualification in your submission. (Corthius made this post but is busy and couldn't post in time).

Weakness Policy + Stored Power by Katy
Assault Vest by nameless90
Calm Mind + Iron Defense by Corthius
Belly Drum + Quick Claw by Massive Destruction
Assault Vest + Future Sight by Pokeslice
Choice Specs by Elias PSY
Block + Calm Mind by your____bro
Curse by My Gender Is Egg​

 

[Katy]

Corthius

 

[Elias PSY]

Future sight

 

[nameless90]

Weakness Policy+Stored Power by Katy

 

[My Gender is Egg]

block+calm mind

 

[voyage]

AV + FS.

 

[MassiveDestruction]

av + fs

 

[Pokeslice]

BD Texas Bro

 

[MegaFlareon]

Curse by My Gender Is Egg

 

[roxie]

cm + id

 

[Socrates1O1]

av, future sight

 

[roxie]

Cycle 11 - at last!

Celebi has taken a stance with both its Nasty Plot + 3 Attacks and Defensive Stealth Rocks sets. Celebi however has a number of sets that we can use for Next Best Thing along with being pretty effective in the December shift metagame. Hopefully, RU doesn't steal Celebi from us!!! Submissions will end on Saturday, December 19th.

Banned Set(s)

/

 

[nameless90]

SD with Sucker Punch Celebi

Celebi @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Zen Headbutt
- Sucker Punch


Although it is generally inferior to a classic set with Giga Drain due to the lack of recovery move, this set can use Sucker Punch as criminally unexpected move that punishes the fast revenge killers with low health left. Swords Dance is a key move because it boost your Atk to a good level.
Leaf Blade + Zen Headbutt is the dual STAB combination to have both coverage and power.
This set catch off-guard SpD tanks that usually checks well the special attacker sets (unless too many Nasty Plot).
Natural Cure is the only ability available, but it is a good one to get rid of burn and other detrimental status if you have hp left.

Calcs:

Hide

252 Atk Life Orb Celebi Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 250-296 (95.7 - 113.4%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Life Orb Celebi Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Espeon: 250-296 (92.2 - 109.2%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Life Orb Celebi Sucker Punch vs. 228 HP / 0 Def Raichu-Alola: 289-341 (90.8 - 107.2%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Life Orb Celebi Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rotom: 205-244 (85 - 101.2%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO

252 Atk Life Orb Celebi Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sigilyph: 200-237 (57.4 - 68.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Celebi Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Silvally-Ghost: 174-205 (52.5 - 61.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[Katy]

reserving rocks + future sight celebi

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Giga Drain
- Future Sight
- U-turn​

Future Sight-Celebi is there to force switches with having Stealth Rocks, it is always nice, as with the forced switches into the Rocks, the opposing Team takes slow but worthful damage in the long term of the game. Giga Drain is there to make damage + to heal Celebi up a bit, Leftovers are there, to help in this case as well. Celebi has U-turn to grant its teammates some momentum, and tu lure in dark-types with Fture Sight, to U-turn on them, to damage them with a little bit more chip-damage.

This set can be used on bulky offensive and balance-ish team archetypes, with great fighting-types as its partner, such as Bewear, Scrafty, and Toxicroak. Golisopod is another great partner, as it directly threatens many dark-types with its great move in First Impression, furthermore this set can be paired up with some bulky fire-types such as arcanine, to help out versus the many steel-types such as Bronzong and Copperajah.

 

[Danny]

Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Curs
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Psychic
- Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball / Protect

This set works well on balance,managing to seek whenthe opposing team is weakened.Celebi is also a good breaker, breaking down the common Bronzong / Sylveon cores.Struggles with all the First Impression and Bug Spam the tier, but if played properly it can be scary to any team. Protect for First Impression. After a NP, you can force out Golisopod due to First Impression.​

 

[Elias PSY]

SubSeed



Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Earth Power
- Psychic

This set attempt to worn down celebi common checks in steel/fire types with the combination of subtitute+leech seed to help others teammates (especially scarf cleaners).Thanks to substitute and it's natural high speed,he can also scout slowers wallbreakers or start healing with leech seed.
Toxic spikes support is valuable to won duel vs wish users and goodra (who doesn't care of leech seed and unboosted psychic)

 

[My Gender is Egg]

reserving specs

Celebi @ Choice Specs
Ability: Natural Cure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Earth Power
- Leaf Storm
- U-turn / Dazzling Gleam / Stealth Rock / Toxic

Choice Specs Celebi has the advantage of raw and immediate power, being able to use Leaf Storm as an immediate STAB which is almost exactly as strong as a 2+ LO Giga Drain and being able to break the likes of AV Glowbro and Araquanid on the switch without wasting a turn setting up Nasty Plot. Furthermore this set has a free 4th slot, U-turn for momentum, Dazzling Gleam for Goodra, Stealth Rock to abuse forced switches or Toxic to annoy counters.

 

[roxie]

Voting ends on Sunday 10:30 pm GMT-4/ET for Celebi!! Thank you for all submissions Please be reminded that: Voting for your own set is not allowed and advertising for people to vote for your set will result in a disqualification in your submission.

Swords Dance by nameless90
Stealth Rocks + Future Sight by Katy
Nasty Plot by your____bro
SubSeed by Elias PSY
Choice Specs by My Gender is Egg​