Project OU Next Best Thing: Cycle 87 - Not hosted anymore

[Egor]

Time to vote everyone! We got 9 submissions so far:
Nasty Plot by 658Greninja
3 Attacks by Katy
Offensive TR by AM
Belch by Bandkrook
Wonder Room by incorolla
Stored Power by APW001
Trick by nameless90
Calm Mind by Amir
Belly Drum by Contrary Servine

glava222 your submission wasn't included because you haven't fulfilled your reservation. The deadline is Tuesday 16th of February.​

 

[Katy]

Nasty Plot by 658Greninja (shoutouts to Bandkrooks idea as well) and great submissions overall ^.^

 

[Monky25]

Belly drum by contrary servine

 

[Banbadoro]

Nameless' Trick + Black Sludge.

 

[nameless90]

Wonder Room by incorolla
because it is something new and unexpected. I think it can even work because it is a good strategy to begin with (basically, you neuter Blissey/Chansey as a special defender).

 

[Contrary Servine]

Nasty Plot by 658Greninja

 

[Band]

Nasty Plot

 

[incorolla]

Voting for 3 Attacks by Katy

 

[voyage]

Stored Power.

 

[Ruft]

The voting phase is over! By its results, the winner of cycle 43 is Nasty Plot by 658Greninja. Congratulations! Your submission will be added to the Hall of Fame soon. Now let's move on to the next cycle!

Cycle Forty-Four - Dragonite


Thanks to its great stats, versatile movepool, and an amazing ability in Multiscale alongside Heavy-Duty Boots, Dragonite can be a strong pick in the current metagame. Thanks to Multiscale, it can find many opportunities to set up with Dragon Dance, making it a nice set on more offensively inclined teams. Moreover, another bulkier set with Heal Bell and Ice Beam, which allows it to check threats like Heatran and Kartana and serve a cleric role for its team, has also popped up recently.
Do you have any other interesting sets to showcase? Let's see them!

Banned Sets


The deadline is Sunday 21st of February. Good luck!​

 

[Katy]

dual screens


Dragonite @ Light Clay
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Roost
- Ice Beam​

This Dragonite set aims to support the team with Reflect and Light Screen up, basically what Tapu Koko and Regieleki do, but with 1 advantage over them, Dragonite has a ground immunity and Multiscale alongside Roost to keep itself healthy. Furthermore Dragonite has Ice Beam to threaten other Dragon- Flying- and Ground-types alike with a super effective coverage. However the loss of Heavy-Duty Boots means Multiscale is harder to maintain, but in overall this set can be a fun little niche dual screens set and Dragonite has not terrible bulk to do that role.

 

[glava222]

Curse

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Roost
- Earthquake
- Dual Wingbeat

The purpose of this set is to mix the roles of setup dragonites and defensive variants. Dragonite is in general quite good at walling several important physical metagame threats, like rillaboom,kartana,cinderace,urshifu-rs... and this set means to exploit such physical attackers by setting up on them and possibly sweeping under the right circumstances. While a great defensive typing,multiscale,curse and HP investment keep it safe on the physical side, special defense investment helps it ward off a lot of otherwise dangerous special attackers. Indeed, a fully specially defensive invested dragonite can do some absolutely wacky stuff, like take a specs lele moonblast and not even have its marvel scale broken after a roost. Some hilarious calcs:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 252-297 (65.2 - 76.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 168-198 (43.5 - 51.2%) -- 5.9% chance to 2HKO

+2 252 SpA Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 297-351 (76.9 - 90.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

this gives dnite a great utility in forcing very strong specs users into locking themselves into a move, greatly helping your team manouver around them.

While uninvested, 134 base attack is still a lot, and taking into account you are gonna be racking up curse boosts dragonite can become a very scary attacker very soon, especially since as noted several powerful physical wallbreakers cannot stop it from setting up. This set will not be breaking whole teams with only 1-2 boosts, but many teams will be unable to stop it from setting up to unmanageable levels once their few answers are exhausted. The dream scenario is to take out your opponents' special breaker and then just set up on either their physical ones or walls.

Another good way to use this set would be as a wincon on stallish teams, kinda like a physical reuniclus. This set has pretty good synergies with such teams because it can ward off some dangerous threats to them like magma storm heatran, and function as an ordinary wall if necessary. dragonite also appreciates heal bell support such teams can provide.

 

[658Greninja]

Dragonite @ Life Orb
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 56 Atk / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
Mild Nature
- Draco Meteor/Hurricane
- Fire Blast/Thunder
- Superpower/Earthquake
- Roost

MixedNite

Was originally gonna post CB Nite, but it had trouble breaking through defensive cores, so I went with the old fashioned Gen 4 MixedNite. The basic idea for this set is to break open holes and/or lure certain threats for its teammates. Draco hits mons that aren’t fairies or strong special walls very hard. Hurricane is an alternative to 2HKO max PhysD Clef and Fini after rocks while providing a nice middle ground for everything else for the cost of being walled by Zapdos. Fire Blast hits Ferro, Corv, and Mag. Thunder still hits Corv but now it can OHKO Torn and Slowbro, 2HKO Slowking, and guarantee a 2HKO on Mandibuzz and Fini. Superpower hits Ferro, Tran, and even Mag really hard while OHKOing Ttar and OHKOing Blissey after a Hurricane. Earthquake can be used for a guaranteed OHKO on Tran, and Koko. Roost is for longevity ofc. I believe heavy support is required to make this work (mainly hazard removal) and there are usually more consistent options for this role like MixedChomp. However MixedNite offers a breaker that can check Rilla and Kart while keeping itself alive for longer with Roost.​

 

[incorolla]

Reserving Haze Staller

 

[Banbadoro]

Weakness Policy Dragonite

Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance / Agility
- Earthquake
- Dual Wingbeat
- Outrage

Dragonite has a place on a HO play-style, with its ability to take hits well when at full health; something amplified when behind Screens. DD is the choice of speed-boosting move, for which you need Jolly. Alternatively you could choose Agility which would help you outspeed Scarf users and even Regieleki, though you'd need to be confident of having your Policy activated. Dragonite has a huge movepool, so the attacks are merely which 3 moves suit best. EQ is always a good coverage move for any mon, Wingbeat is relatively weak but can bypass an opponent's Sash, and Outrage for a powerful STAB move. As this is not Boots Nite, get it in before you get Stealth Rocked.

 

[Band]

Cleric

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Heal Bell
- Earthquake / Ice Punch / Dual Wingbeat

This set functions very well as a blanket check to almost every physical attacker in OU, capable of taking on scary attackers like Cinderace and Rillaboom very easily. Roost lets Dragonite recover its Multiscale, which is crucial so it can stomach super effective hits. Since you have a lot of opportunities to come in against hazard setters like Landorus-T, Swampert, and Excadrill, Defog is a good pick. Heal Bell prevents you and teammates from getting crippled by status. The complicated part comes in the last slot. If you choose EQ, you can threaten Excadrill, Cinderace, Heatran, and Melmetal, but you lack ways to hit Pokemon like Zapdos and Latios. If Ice Punch is chosen, you scare Dragon-types and Landorus-T from getting in freely but can't hit Steel-types. Dual Wingbeat beats Volcarona, Buzzwole, and Rillaboom, but you can't scratch Steel-types and Tyranitar. It comes down a lot to your team structure, so choose what fits best.

​

calcs

252+ Atk Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 136-162 (35.2 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after sandstorm damage

252 Atk Libero Cinderace Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 45-54 (11.6 - 13.9%) -- possible 8HKO

+2 252 Atk Excadrill Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 100-118 (25.9 - 30.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

+2 252+ Atk Rillaboom Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 84-99 (21.7 - 25.6%) -- 1.5% chance to 4HKO

252 SpA Dragapult Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 178-210 (46.1 - 54.4%) -- 53.1% chance to 2HKO

+2 252 Atk Life Orb Kartana Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 131-155 (33.9 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

+2 252 Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 176-208 (45.5 - 53.8%) -- 46.1% chance to 2HKO

+1 252 SpA Volcarona Psychic vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 76-89 (19.6 - 23%) -- possible 5HKO

 

[Amir]

DD Heal Bell

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 12 HP / 164 Atk / 40 Def / 52 SpD / 240 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Heal Bell
- Dual Wingbeat
- Roost​

With the release of Sword & Shield a new item was released allowing us to change the ability of Heal Bell Inner Focus Dragonite from XD: Gale of Darkness to Multiscale, creating this new underrated threat in the current OU metagame.
This Dragonite can be seen used on bulky offensive teams, especially revolving around Magnezone (known as DragMag).
The following spread allows you to maximize bulk and speed while facing a lot of pokemon.
As the spread allows you tank 5 Scale Shots from LO Garchomp and DD in its face, yes ALL 5. And on top of that tank an Adamant CB Dragon Darts from Pult.

252 Atk Life Orb Garchomp Scale Shot (5 hits) vs. 12 HP / 40 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 275-320 (84.3 - 98.1%) -- approx. 2HKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 12 HP / 40 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 254-302 (77.9 - 92.6%) -- approx. 2HKO


While the HP and SpD allows you to take some super powerful hits in the tier such as Modest Specs Draco from Dragapult and Ice beam from Modest Nidoking.

252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 12 HP / 52 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 260-307 (79.7 - 94.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Dragapult Draco Meteor vs. 12 HP / 52 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 276-325 (84.6 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Finally the speed allows you to hit 256 which is faster than common Landorus-T, so you can just roost of those stone edges, and at +1 it allows you to outspeed neutral speed Dragapult (383).

Thank you and enjoy.

Edit: If you're wondering why I am not running Earthquake; once again, this set is partnered with Magnezone to trap and remove or chip them in range of Dnite.

 

[nameless90]

Defog Dragonite

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 12 HP / 152 Atk / 40 Def / 52 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Defog
- Dual Wingbeat
- Ice Punch
- Roost


General idea: this is a set meant for support only (a sort of Mandibuzz 2.0)
The idea is to use Dragonite alongside Defog, one of its best status move in its movepool. Don't understimate the secondary effect of lowering the evasion of the target; just be aware of Contrary/Defiant/Competitive users.
Not only it makes sense alongside Heavy-Duty Boots, but also helps to connect the following hit.
Dual Wingbeat is the Flying STAB without recoil and Ice Punch is for coverage towards those Grounds that have hazards in their movesets.
Roost is here for longevity.

The EVs spread is copied from the most part from the post above because it is a good spread to tank some hits with Multiscale intact.

152 Atk EVs are not that much, but enough to do this:

• 152 Atk Dragonite Ice Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Landorus-Therian: 340-404 (106.5 - 126.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Martin]

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Dragon Dance
- Fly
- Roost

The aim of this set is to set up multiple times and to stall out low-PP moves like Stone Edge with the combination of Substitute, Fly and Multiscale. PP stalling is also made easier by Dragon Dance, which lets Nite use Sub or Roost before faster opponents. Of course, this set can not function without Magnezone support due to the lack of coverage and is totally shut down by Toxapex, so you would need to try and work a team around it, but it is functional nonetheless. The main competition in this (very specific) role is Sub+DD Kyurem, which trades STAB Fly, Multiscale, and DNite's stellar defensive typing for higher Speed, access to Pressure, and 101 HP substitutes. Max Speed is used to outrun Zeraora and Dragapult, letting it pick off the latter at +1 from around 83% (or higher on a damage roll) assuming you don't get intimidated, thus circumventing Teleport Slowbro-->Infiltrator shenanigans to an extent, and preventing the former breaking your Sub as it goes down if it's heavily weakened. However, Max Atk is also an option if you prefer firepower over bulk (KOs Pult after SR), or if you're willing to take the L versus +Spe Pult, you can run 252 HP / 108 Def/SpD / 148 Spe to outrun Modest/Mild Dragapult at +1 with a bit more physical bulk, though I'm not sure if there are any relevant targets that you'd need more bulk for now that Ice Punch Mega Lopunny no longer exists.

 

[Obsidian297]

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Heal Bell
- Thunder Wave/Toxic
- Ice Beam/Fire Blast​

This is a utility variant that I love to use since it's so unexpected, yet effective due to its great bulk, further compounded by Multiscale and great utility in Heal Bell and T-wave/Toxic. It sits on basically every special attacker except Heatran, and can easily stay healthy while statusing everything on the enemy team.

Roost to keep Multiscale intact, Heal Bell to act as a cleric, TWave for offensive teams, Toxic for stall, Ice Beam is standard for this variant as it OHKOs Chomp and Lando-T, tho Fire Blast OHKO'ing Ferro is really helpful too

It really doesn't die

A wall of calcs

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kyurem Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 350-414 (90.6 - 107.2%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Zapdos Thunder vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 63-75 (16.3 - 19.4%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Landorus-Therian Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Multiscale Dragonite: 124-146 (32.1 - 37.8%) -- 0.2% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 114-135 (29.5 - 34.9%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 179-213 (46.3 - 55.1%) -- 12.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Magearna Stored Power (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 163-192 (42.2 - 49.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

You'd think this fits on stall, but it works amazingly well on offense teams as a catch all wall that you can switch in to absorb strong attacks and be amazing utility, kinda like Chansey Offense in ORAS OU. It's so disgusting to face against.

It requires Defog support, though you can slap on Boots very viably too.

Some other moves include Haze, if set up sweepers are too much, Roar to shuffle targets, which is especially deadly with SR or Spikes, EQ to take out Tran

 

[Deleted User 465389]

Band Nite

Dragonite @ Choice Band
Ability: Multiscale
EV’s: 252 ATK/252 SPE/ 4 HP
Jolly Nature
-Outrage
-Duel Wingbeat
-Earthquake
-Extreme Speed​

This dragonite aims to be a strong choice band user, with a beefy 134 base attack. Outrage and Duel Wingbeat are your main moves, and Earthquakes used for steels and fairies. Extreme Speed’s used in case of a revenge killer need.

Beep Boop Here Be Calcs

252 Atk Choice Band Dragonite Outrage vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 204-240 (51.7 - 60.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Choice Band Dragonite Outrage vs. 0 HP / 12 Def Landorus-Therian: 324-382 (101.5 - 119.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Choice Band Dragonite Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Magearna: 296-350 (81.5 - 96.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Choice Band Dragonite Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rillaboom: 436-520 (127.8 - 152.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[VTaxi]

DD Focus Punch Nite

Dragonite @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Dragon Dance
- Focus Punch
- Dual Wingbeat

This Dragonite set can be used in a variety of teams, to set-up sweep using Dragon Dance.
Multiscale is a great ability as it can almost guarantee a Dragon Dance.
Dragon Dance works well with Multiscale and is used to boost Dragonite's already high attack (base 134) to even higher levels, as well as boosting its mediocre speed (base 80).
Substitute is used to set up both Dragon Dance and Focus Punch.
Dual Wingbeat is used for a strong STAB boosted move.
Lastly, the interesting and fun to use Focus Punch has a whopping 150 base power, but if you get hit that turn, it doesn't carry out. Substitute can compensate for this, as it can shield you from any damage.

Notable Damage Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 250-294 (77.3 - 91%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

+1 252+ Atk Dragonite Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 168+ Def Corviknight: 205-242 (51.2 - 60.5%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

+1 252+ Atk Dragonite Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 80 Def Ferrothorn: 408-482 (115.9 - 136.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

dont even ask about toxapex...

This set is extremely fun to use, and I suggest you try it.

Edit
Remember to always say Foccuuuuuusssss Puuuuunch whenever you use it.

 

[Ruft]

It's time to vote! There are 11 submissions:

Dual Screens by Katy
Curse by glava222
Mixed by 658Greninja
Weakness Policy by APW001
Defog Heal Bell by Bandkrook
DD Heal Bell by Amir
Defog by nameless90
Sub DD by Martin
Heal Bell + Status by Obsidian297
Choice Band by Xaviere
DD Focus Punch by VTaxi

incorolla, your submission is not included because you haven't filled out your reservation.
The deadline for voting is Thursday 25th of February.​

 

[Katy]

I go for VTaxis one.

 

[Deleted User 465389]

i like dd heal bell