Project OM Matchmaking [Week 10: GG Kingambit]

[The Dragon Master]

(art by Chloe)
OP shamelessly stolen from in the hills
Approved by UT and drampa's grandpa ​

OM Matchmaking
Hello everyone, and welcome to OM Matchmaking for the 9th generation of Competitive Pokemon! This is a project designed to pick the best partner for a Pokemon! Every week I will post a Pokemon, and you will need to post a partner with a short description of how the two form the perfect match!

How this works:
Each week, I will submit a Pokemon and set, and people will have about a week to submit their best partner to the sample set, with a short explanation on why the two form a good core. After the submission period, I will choose the top 3 submissions and they will be archived in the Hall of Fame. This project will rotate weekly between Almost Any Ability, Balanced Hackmons, Godly Gift, Mix and Mega, NFE, and STABmons each cycle!

Rules:

• When you reserve a Pokémon, please state what set you are reserving
• Reservations expire 24 hours after they're posted. If you do not post in that time frame, someone else may take it.
• An explanation is mandatory. It doesn't need to be very long—two or three concise sentences should suffice—but make sure it's there.
• You may nominate a different set for a Pokémon that has already been submitted. However, it's important that the set is distinct from the other submission—Submissions where the only difference is something simple like 1 move or an EV spread unless the change substantially alters how the core functions, will not be accepted
• A little theorymonning is inevitable in a project like this, but please try to post based on your experience using and/or facing the Pokémon in question rather than just listing something you have no experience using and/or facing.
• It's completely fine (encouraged, in fact) to give feedback on other people's submissions, but please be nice!

Posting Tips
I recommend using the following format when posting:

Example Submission

Godly Gift: Calm Mind Miraidon

Miraidon @ Leftovers
Ability: Hadron Engine
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Electro Drift
- Draco Meteor
- Overheat
- Calm Mind

Miraidon acts as a great partner for Dragapult, who appreciates the boost to its otherwise mediocre special attack stat. The 2 form a powerful dual Dragon Core that can effectively overwhelm special walls like Clodsire and Ting-lu with their powerful STABs, and Miraidon's Hadron Engine also powers up Dragapult's Thunderbolt, giving it an extra kick against threats like specially defensive Corviknight. The 2 appreciate slow pivoting from the likes of Slowking and Corviknight, as they otherwise have some difficulties finding safe switch-in opportunities.

No specific types of detail are mandatory, but things that are worth considering when writing your explanation include:

• How the Pokémon listed is useful to the nominated partner and vice versa
• Why the set listed is chosen over other variants, if applicable
• Strengths and/or weaknesses of the core in question
• Potential threats to the core mentioned
• Potential options for additional partners when using the core

 

[The Dragon Master]

Hall of Fame
​

Almost Any Ability

Winners: Tea Guzzler Ducky

Balanced Hackmons

Winners:Chessking345 Tea Guzzler SuperSkylake

Godly Gift

Winners: Greybaum Tea Guzzler

Mix and Mega

Winners: Aggrometaile

NFE

Winners: Shing Greybaum

STABmons

.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Welcome everyone to OM Matchmaking for generation 9! I will be your host for this gen, although there will be some changes to the project from last gen. For starters, UT will no longer be my co host because he has a life and there will be 2 new metagames added to the project - Godly Gift and NFE. The new order will be AAA/BH/GG/MNM/NFE/STAB, with one week for each meta. Without further ado, let's get started with:

Week 1: AAA SD Cinderace

Cinderace @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Orichalcum Pulse
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- High Jump Kick
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance​

Having been released only a few weeks ago, Cinderace is a new addition into the AAA metagame. This set is a powerful wallbreaker, capable of cleaving through common walls like Gholdengo, Corviknight, and even most Skelerige sets with its powerful Oricalchum Pulse and Swords Dance boosted attacks. How will you support this bunny?

Submissions will be open until Friday January 8th, 11:59 AM GMT - 5 (Short week this time bc I forgot to post on Saturday) Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[Tea Guzzler]

Great Tusk @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Headlong Rush
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stealth Rock

Great Tusk compliments SD Cinderace well thanks to the combined Fire/Ground coverage that both offer, complimenting each other as both destroy Steel-types with an immunity ability for the other (Tusk beats WBB Corv and Ghold, Cinder beats EE Ghold and FC Corv). Knock Off allows Great Tusk to strip walls of crucial Leftovers recovery, and Stealth Rock puts additional pressure on Cinderace's soft-checks like Iron Moth and Dragonite. Regenerator gives Great Tusk the ability to switch in on and shrug off hits from Cinderace checks like Fur Coat Hippowdon and Dondozo, the latter of which Cinderace's sun also helps with.

 

[Ducky]

Chi-Yu @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Nasty Plot

Sheer Force Chi-Yu is an incredibly powerful offensive partner who takes advantage of Cinderace's Sun to help it power through all but the bulkiest resists. The main draw of Chi-Yu is it's ability to beat Well Baked Body Pokemon such as Gholdengo due to it's Dark typing. The two also pair well because they are able to break down the other's checks. Pokemon such as Well Baked Body Gholdengo and Fur Coat Garganacl cannot switch into Chi Yu, and Pokemon that switch into Chi Yu such as Ice Scales Garganacl and Ice Scales Clodsire are unable to wall Cinderace.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to Tea Guzzler (Great Tusk) and Ducky (Chi-yu) for their winning submisions!

Week 2: BH Miraidon

Miraidon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Hadron Engine
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Rising Voltage
- Draco Meteor
- Steam Eruption
- Volt Switch
​

BH Miraidon is unique in that it uses its native ability even in BH, with Hadron Engine boosting its rising voltage to over 200 base power, letting it act as a powerful wallbreaker and pivot with Volt Switch. How will you support this bike?


Submissions will open until Friday January 21st, 11:59 AM GMT -5. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[SuperSkylake]

Flutter Mane @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Normalize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Judgment
- Entrainment
- Mortal Spin
- Knock Off

A great utility partner for Mirai! In the early game you can busy yourself knocking items such as Covert Cloaks and leftovers off switchins such as Dialga-O and utility Arceus formes. Using Normal-type Mortal Spin lets you clear off hazards while also wearing down opponents with poison to weaken them for Mirai's breaking, while Entrainment and Judgment are solid forcing moves. THe set is also Improof as most Imposters are running cloak right now.

 

[Tea Guzzler]

Palkia-Origin @ Lustrous Globe
Ability: Beads of Ruin
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Dragon Energy
- Steam Eruption
- Strength Sap

Despite Miraidon's massive power, it often finds itself unable to break past Ice Scales or RegenVest users; common Ice Scales users are often at no fear of death (these usually resist or are immune to Electric, and aren't scared of Miraidon's Steam Eruption even if they're Ground-type), and RegenVest users are usually able to switch in to scout Miraidon's choice of attack and switch to a corresponding immunity. Palkia-O preys on this trend with its massively powerful Dragon Energy and Steam Eruption: Steam Eruption removes common Ground-type answers in Clodsire, Ting-Lu, and Ice Scales Groudon, whereas Dragon Energy nukes every RegenVest user with +1 Tera and is the best option against Ground-types Terastallized into something like Grass. Both of these also pressure Imposter users by preventing them from safely switching in and also bluffing Tera Fairy.

btw miraidon should be dragon energy over draco meteor + have 0 atk IVs.

 

[Ducky]

reserving AV dialga

Dialga-Origin @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
Quiet Nature
- Revelation Dance
- Nuzzle
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Assault Vest Dialga-O is a great teammate for Miraidon due to its useful utility. Nuzzle helps spread Paralysis on faster threats such as Zacian-C and Zamazenta-C, allowing Miraidon to force them out. One of Dialga's best traits is its slow U-turn, allowing it to pivot Miraidon in safely. Knock Off lets Dialga remove items such as Chansey's Eviolite, Assault Vest from opposing Dialga, and Heavy-Duty Boots, helping Miraidon make progress. Finally, Dialga-O is a great improof to Miraidon, especially when combined with Tera Fairy.

 

[Tanny89k]

Ting-Lu @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Ceaseless Edge
- Knock Off
- Mortal Edge
- U-turn

Ting-Lu helps to wear down Miraidon's checks with Ceaseless Edge, Mortal Spin, and Knock Off; it lets Miraidon come in repeatedly with U-turn and Mortal Spin's hazard removal; and it can come in on and force out Imposter.

 

[Chessking345]

Eternatus @ Expert Belt
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Dragon Energy
- Final Gambit
- Armor Cannon

Offensive QD Eternatus provides a powerful offensive teammate for Specs Miraidon. Specs Miraidon typically struggles against extremely sturdy walls like SpD Dialga-O, other Ice Scales users, and even Misty Terrain users. These walls have even enough bulk to take hits from multiple special attackers. Eternatus, unlike most other special attackers, can blow up these walls with Final Gambit, clearing the way for Miraidon to wreck havoc.
Quiver Dance provides Eternatus with natural breaking power through its Dragon Energy, Final Gambit deletes almost every special wall with the exception of Ting-Lu, who does not like taking repeated Dragon Energies. Last move Armor Cannon, combined with Expert Belt, almost guarantees the OHKO on Zacian-C, allowing Eternatus to not blow Final Gambit on it. Regenerator keeps Eternatus's health high for Dragon Energy and Final Gambit. Tera Fairy lets Etern surprise Imposter.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to Chessking345 (Eternatus), Tea Guzzler (Palkia), and SuperSkylake (Flutter Mane) for their winning submissions!

Week 3: GG Lokix

Lokix @ Choice Band
Ability: Tinted Lens
Tera Type: Bug
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- First Impression
- U-turn
- Throat Chop
- Leech Life
​

Lokix is a great revenge killer and wallbreaker in GG, generally inheriting attack from Koraidon to power up its First Impression, which is difficult to resist due to Tinited Lens. U-Turn lets it maintain momentum, while leech life helps with longevity. How will u support this bug? Reminder that god's and recievers are fair game here.

Submissions will open until Friday 26th, 11:59 AM GMT - 5. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[Tea Guzzler]

Iron Treads @ Leftovers
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Volt Switch

Lokix's main issues are that it lacks longevity (thanks to its Stealth Rock weakness) and that it basically never switches in safely. Iron Treads helps to remove these issues: Rapid Spin helps preserve Lokix's limited healthpool, helped out by the fact that Earthquake threatens common spinblockers in Gholdengo and Skeledirge (unlike Defog Corviknight, which can't reliably clear entry hazards without giving away free switches). Volt Switch provides Lokix with multiple chances to safely switch in and deal damage, as otherwise, revenge kills are the only times Lokix can safely switch in. Stealth Rock provides additional chip necessary to 2HKO physically defensive Corviknight with Throat Chop and guarantee an OHKO on Flutter Mane and Iron Bundle with First Impression. A sizeable Special Defense boost from Koraidon also ensures it can consistently give Lokix opportunities.

 

[Greybaum]

rules were made to be broken.

One of the key things that differentiates Godly Gift from other tiers is the sheer number of offensive threats in the tier. Gods can donate their Speed, Attack, or Special Attack stat to a Pokemon of any type, and as a result blanket walls like Garganacl and Toxapex become more important than ever for people trying to build a sturdy balance team. This effectively neuters Lokix's biggest asset; a strong pivoting move that can ignore (most) resists goes from "great" to just "good" when the best walls in the tier aren't reliant on resisting attacks in the first place.

In short, Lokix needs all the help it can get, and until the Home update is released Koraidon is our only viable God to donate a hefty Attack stat.


Koraidon @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Orichalcum Pulse
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Outrage
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn

To Lokix's credit, a strong +2 priority move means dedicating a full slot to a traditional Choice Scarfer is largely unnecessary. This allows Koraidon to take on more of a late-game cleaner role, utilising an Adamant nature and three strong STAB moves to pick between. Koraidon also naturally forces a lot of switches, which makes U-turn a great way of bringing Lokix in with momentum and often gives it the opportunity to start chipping away at Fairy-types like Hatterene and Garganacl to make way for the late-game bike sweep.


Gholdengo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Trick

Tea Guzzler has already talked about Lokix's hazard vulnerability, but unfortunately Lokix is one of the many Pokemon that often also needs hazards to be on the opposition's field in order to make progress, particularly when facing Toxapex. Multiple Pokemon can assist with that, but Gholdengo becomes the common denominator that they all end up being paired with as it blocks Rapid Spin, Defog, and also happens to be one of the best Spikes abusers; it massively benefits from hazards chipping down switch-ins like Clodsire and Ting-Lu. Lokix and Gholdengo also make a fantastic pair in their own right, with Gholdengo being a strong breaker Lokix can U-turn into and a fantastic tool for pressuring Corviknight, one of the few true U-turn resists that Lokix has to contend with.

(click me)

Here's a team I made around this offensive core. It's pretty self explanatory, but keep in mind you'll almost always want to tera either Garganacl or Lokix asap, so try to determine which is more important to you at preview. Set your hazards, don't let them do the same, and play carefully around Rain.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to Greybaum (Koraidon) and Tea Guzzler (Iron Treads) for winning!

Week 4: MnM Skeledirge

Skeledirge @ Latiasite
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Torch Song
- Hex
- Slack Off
- Will-O-Wisp​

The dirge is a great wall in MnM, checking physical attackers like Great Tusk while spreading status and helping with setup pre mega. How will u support this croc?

Submissions will open until Friday 29 th, 11:59 AM GMT - 5. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[zastra]

Gastrodon @ Sablenite
Ability: Storm Drain
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Surf
- Recover
- Mirror Coat
- Earth Power
Dirge struggles vs special ghosts like Dragapult and Gholdengo, and that is where Gastrodon comes into play. Its special bulk and access to moves like Mirror coat and earth power makes it a good answer to the aforementioned ghosts. Premega, it can also function as a (somewhat) emergency Palafin check (which can own the croc), thanks to Storm Drain. In return, Dirge helps Gastrodon by functioning as a physical wall against threats like Dragonite, Pinsirite RMoon, Physical (Lopunnite) Iron Valiants, etc.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Only one submission so still Congratulations to Aggrometaile (gastrodon) for their winning submission!

Week 5: NFE Frogadier

Frogadier @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
- Spikes
​

A new addition to NFE, this Frogadier set acts as a useful offensive spiker and pivot, laying the always deadly spikes while Maintain momentum and helping revenge kill threats. How will u support this frog?

Submissions will open until Friday 10th, 11:59 AM GMT - 5. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[Shing]

Gabite @ Eviolite
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw / Outrage
- Stealth Rock / Substitute

SpDef Hattrem, Quaxwell, and Mareanie could be rather frustrating for Spikes Frogadier as Hattrem walls out with its rest/talk set and blocks out the hazards, Quaxwell can take a dish and remove them while Mareanie can take advantage of setting up Toxic Spikes. But the good thing is Frogadier can take advantage of switch-ins by being able to pivot out. And I picked Gabite for its excellent synergy both offensively and defensively. Gabite combats SpDef Hattrem by taking advantage of it by it being focused on walling Frogadier. Mareanie is simply forced out due to being threatened by EQ. While Quaxwell isn't a straightforward answer and I would recommend another teammate for it with these two, they don't have much offensive presence against it. Quaxwell is also very suspectable with being worn out and being put in a lot of uncomfortable positions where they will have to react defensively in order to stay alive.

I picked up Swords Dance as Gabite can generate a lot of offense out of U-turn interactions and Gabite's STABs are simply some of the strongest ones in the tier, and because of the lack of consistent hazard control against it, you'll get a lot of momentum from this. At the same time, it can become an excellent rocker to create an offensive hazard core. Frogadier in turn helps a lot of Gabite's checks such as Sneasel, Fletchinder, and Misdreavus for its defensive typing and excellent speed to revenge kill the opposing opponent.

There aren't that big differences between Adamant and Jolly nature. Jolly's advantages are avoiding speed creeps and not being revenge killed by offensive Tinkaton. Substitute can be an option if you want to take advantage of the bulk and sd set even harder.

 

[Greybaum]

Drakloak @ Eviolite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 92 Def / 168 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Night Shade
- Dragon Tail
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

great phaser to pair with frogadier; spinblocks quaxwell, walls spdef sponges like eelektrik, hattrem, and mareanie, and does usual drakloak stuff (dtail, night shade) which can be hell to deal with if spikes are up. frogadier's huge speed stat also means you get extra insurance for dealing with fast wincons like misdreavus, raboot, and fletchinder if drakloak is caught sleeping.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to Shing (Gabite) and Greybaum (Drakloak) for their winning submissions!

Week 6: STABmons Choice Band Palafin

Palafin @ Choice Band
Ability: Zero to Hero
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Jet Punch
- Flip Turn
- Close Combat / Zen Headbutt
​

With its nuclear STAB move in Surging Strikes and powerful priority in the form of Jet Punch, possibly even boosted by Tera, Choice Band Palafin has established itself as a great wallbreaker in STABmons. How will you support this dolphin?

Submissions will open until Friday 17th, 11:59 AM GMT - 5. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[drampa's grandpa]

Gonna take the lazy route here

Birb (Pelipper) @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature / Relaxed Nature
- U-turn
- Hurricane
- Steam Eruption
- Defog / Roost / Ice Beam

Pelipper is here to support Palafin and its buddies through an ability named Drizzle, which makes a playstyle known as rain possible and pretty good. Palafin hits extremely hard under rain, with or without Tera Water. Pelipper gains little from this interaction and is just there as a support Pokemon, but it is the cornerstone of the team archetype that this particular pair fits on.
Ice Beam might seem weird as an option but Dragonite is really good right now, especially versus rain, and Ice Beam lets you knock it down a peg. Isn't much other reason to run it.

Some calcs:
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Garchomp in Rain on a critical hit: 399-471 (95 - 112.1%) -- approx. 81.3% chance to OHKO (haha recoil)
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Jet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo in Rain: 295-348 (93.6 - 110.4%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Jet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Houndstone in Rain: 283-334 (99.2 - 117.1%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Palafin-Hero Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Numel in Rain on a critical hit: 4320-5088 (1655.1 - 1949.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (very relevant)

 

[Hiusi guy]

Ting-Lu @ Leftovers
Ability: Vessel of Ruin
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def (or 252 Spd)
Impish Nature
- Ceaseless Edge
- Shore Up
- Knock Off
- Parting Shot

Spikes staking plus item removal such as for rocky helmet allowing for you to spam surging strikes more often, even better it has a slow parting shot to get it in easily and make it to where certain mons can't KO it if they do survive a round of strikes.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to drampa's grandpa (Pelipper) and Hiusi guy (Ting-Lu) for their winning submissions!

Week 7: AAA Sandy Shocks

Sandy Shocks @ Life Orb / Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Hadron Engine
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Earth Power
- Spikes
​

With its good special attack, great offensive typing, and useful speed tier, Sandy Shocks is a good special attacker and pivot in AAA, punishing possible switchins with spikes. How will u support this magnet?

Submissions will open until Friday 24th nth, 11:59 AM GMT - 5. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly7

 

[Tea Guzzler]

Gengar @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast

Sandy Shocks has inherently few walls, with the ones it does have being through raw bulk (Ting-Lu) or through double-immunity (VA Corviknight). Sheer Force Gengar provides a threatening way to punish teams reliant on these, with Focus Blast smashing Ting-Lu, the Blobs and RegenVest Roaring Moon, and Shadow Ball smashing the rest of the tier. In return, Sandy Shocks offers the potential for a fast speed control option, preventing faster threats like Cinderace from acting as anti-wallbreaking tools, as well as bringing Gengar in safely and pressuring Bulletproof Gholdengo. These 2 are basically unwallable long-term, so robust checks to the offensive pressure they'll be encountering (such as Dragonite, Cinderace and Greninja) are recommended.

 

[UT]

Houndstone @ Choice Band
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Last Respects
- Shadow Sneak
- Play Rough
- Trick

Choice Specs variants of Sandy Shocks really want speed control, and even Scarf variants still like having a fast physical teammate. With Surge Surfer + Choice Band, Houndstone outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame and packs a wallop, notably getting several KOs that Scarf cannot (252+ Atk Choice Band Houndstone Last Respects vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Great Tusk: 402-474 (92.6 - 109.2%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO). Shocks can also set Spikes and weaken Ting-Lu, one of the few reliable answers to a late-game Houndstone sweep. Shocks is fantastic at applying pressure early-game unless they have a double immunity but even then you can Spikes ig, and almost nothing is better at cleaning than Houndstone late-game.