Rejecting all three of these sets. The Flail set is too much of a gimmick set to warrant an analysis while the Life Orb Sheer Force and Refrigerate sets are outclassed by or not viable compared to the Mold Breaker / Desolate Land / Intrepid Sword sets that have been reserved.
Accepting this, but Fur Coat only and with some alterations. Impish nature makes no sense for this set and Bold is not wanted, Melmetal generally runs Speed EVs anyway so min speed is better here. Lava Plume should be the first slash as it is more accurate and has more PP. Use the set below.
Darmanitan-Zen @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Lava Plume / Blue Flare
- Spectral Thief / Nuzzle
- Recover
- Baton Pass / Volt Switch
Rejecting this.
Accepting this, but with some alterations. Use the set below. Reshiram needs a Timid nature to outspeed Zacian-C after a Quiver Dance. Apple Acid is bad and Freeze-Dry is worth mentioning since it lets this be self-improof while still hitting Toxapex and Eternatus.
Reshiram @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Eruption / Lava Plume
- Quiver Dance
- Dynamax Cannon / Earth Power / Freeze-Dry
- Volt Switch / Nuzzle / Stealth Rock / Leech Seed
Thank you for the feedback:
I agree on Lava Plume serving as the primary slashed option for the first slot. I can switch Roost for Recover, it was more of just in case I face a niche Imprison set.
My mistake on Unova Zen Mode’s Nature, I meant to do Relaxed on Fur Coat, and Sassy in Regenerator. Also Ice Scales was meant to be the slashed ability with a Sassy nature.
Let me know if that makes a difference, I assume you know it was Ice Scales, but I Re-read it and it just said Ice with no Nature variation.
**You mentioned that Melmetal generally runs Speed, which at max IVs + EVs is 167, but minimum Speed Darmanitan-Zen Mode is 131. Max Speed IVs + EVs Golisipod is 179.
Did you mean to say that Melmetal generally do not max Speed EVs/IVs? In either case I could just make Darmanitan-Zen Mode 1 speed higher to outspeed, plus it could then outspeed minimum Speed RegenVest Primarina, so it could Volt Switch before Primarina can use Scald.
The point is, if they are weakened, Darmanitan-Zen Mode can threaten them before they can use Recover, or pivot first. Plus it can Baton Pass against naturally slower walls before they Spectral Thief (like passing boosts to a Normal-type).
If you think it’s better to go lowest Speed, to go as a slowest pivot, let me know. I just wanted to confirm if you want me to give up hitting some Melmetal with Blue Flare before it can heal.
If I go Relaxed, 0 EVs, 12 Speed IVs it outspeeds Min Speed Primarina.
To outspeed Melmetal, and/or Golisipod I can adjust as well and keep a Relaxed nature.**
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Now that Unova passed, that leaves one slot open for a second Pokemon BH reservation:
Excadrill (M) @ Ground Memory
Ability: Tough Claws
Shiny: Yes
Happiness: 160
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shift Gear
- Multi-Attack
- Bolt Beak
- Sunsteel Strike
Excadrill is a self-sufficient threat whose many advantages let it forgo the usual mandatory considerations for physical sweepers.
It’s first advantage here lies in its Dual-STAB combination - Resisting all of its own Attacks, while capable of 1HKOing Imposter via Multi-Attack, after setting up. This is in addition to being able to use a powerful STAB Sunsteel Strike that reduces the need for Mold Breaker.
Second, it is powerful enough to replace Intrepid Sword with Tough Claws, minimizing Haze’s impact, as many of the top Prankster Hazers are vulnerable to at least one move in its moveset, from Corviknight, to Toxapex.
Third, Excadrill can use Shift Gear to take advantage of Speed for Bolt Beak, which it’s Choice Band sets cannot do, as it doesn’t need the extra power Shell Smash provides, enabling Excadrill to maintain durability in setting up, without much fear of taking priority attacks.
Overall, many of the most durable Pokemon in the game are weak to at least one move in its moveset from Eternatus and Melmetal to Eviolite Doublade, making its 1HKOs all the more beneficial for pressuring the opponent’s biggest walls.
+1 252+ Atk Tough Claws Excadrill Multi-Attack vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Melmetal: 482-570 (101.6 - 120.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252+ Atk Tough Claws Excadrill Multi-Attack vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Doublade: 312-368 (96.8 - 114.2%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
