Project OU Next Best Thing: Cycle 44 - Dragonite (Voting)

[nameless90]

Reserving Substitute+Cosmic Power Necrozma
Thunder Wave (offensive support) Necrozma

Necrozma @ Heavy-Duty Boots/Lum Berry
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Photon Geyser
- Heat Wave
- Power Gem

This is a way to use the good natural bulk of Necrozma of 97/101/89 + Prism Armor and good offenses to support your teammates with some useful Spe support/control, which is one of the main aspects of the game.
Also, this Necrozma can gain extra turns to attack your opponent's threat more than one time and/or force more switch-outs.

3 attacks allows Necrozma to put some nice pressure even though Power Gem has low base power. Paralysis + Meteor Beam sounds nice in theory, but it requires additional team support and I think that in practice is not worthy enough.

I think that the offensive variant of this set is better than a defensive one because it puts a good amount of pressure.
The item chosen allows Necrozma to switch-in&out repeatedly even if the battlefield is full of hazards, but also Lum Berry is fine if you have another teammate that appreciates the Boots more and you are feared by Toxic.

Keep in mind that this Necrozma is only a cleaner because it doesn't have the power to OHKO from full HP, so hazards and/or Psychic Terrain support is really appreciated (252 SpA Necrozma Photon Geyser vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex in Psychic Terrain: 308-366 (101.3 - 120.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO).
Also a way to get past Dark and Psychic-types not weak to coverage moves is mandatory.

nameless90, your submission is too similar to the banned Weakness Policy Autotomize set, since it's really just an item change (Autotomize and Rock Polish are only marginally different in practice). Please change your set or it will not be included.
You have 24 hours to do this, we will start the voting when this is done.

Done

 

[Ruft]

Chazm, please fill out your reservation.
nameless90, your submission is too similar to the banned Weakness Policy Autotomize set, since it's really just an item change (Autotomize and Rock Polish are only marginally different in practice). Please change your set or it will not be included.

You have 24 hours to do this, we will start the voting when this is done.​

 

[Ruft]

Sorry for the delay, it's time to vote! There are 5 submissions:

Dragon Dance by Katy
Iron Defense + Calm Mind by RottenInfernape
Hyper Beam Urshifu Lure by Veez
SubSalac Swords Dance by ReadTheMango
Thunder Wave by nameless90

The deadline is Tuesday 1st of September.​

 

[Rotten]

too bad defensive SR wasn't filled out, so SubSalac SD

 

[Pro_Hybrid]

Iron Defense + Calm Mind

 

[ReadTheMango]

DD Necrozma by Katy

Though yeah, big shame defensive SR wasn't posted.

 

[Proftreez]

Sub salac sd

 

[Empress Mobile]

Dragon Dance

 

[JTD783]

forgot to make a post for SubCM. oops

my vote goes to Iron Defense + Calm Mind

 

[Katy]

hyber beam seems hyper so i vote for hyper beam

 

[Caionamax]

dragon dance by Katy​

 

[VTMagno]

Iron Defense + Calm Mind

 

[nameless90]

Dragon Dance by Katy

 

[PlusC]

Hyper meme

 

[Egor]

The voting ends right now! By its results, the winner of the Cycle 29 is Dragon Dance by Katy. Congratulations! Your submission will be added to the Hall of Fame soon. And going forward...

Cycle Thirty - Scizor


Scizor generally has not been seeing any consistent usage ever since its introduction with DLC, but during OLT it has picked up some hype primarily on hyper offensive teams as a nice revenge killer and sweeper with Swords Dance and Technician-boosted Bullet Punch backed up by coverage like Knock Off and Quick Attack. Scizor's positive traits also include its useful defensive utility against scary offensive threats such as Kyurem and Rillaboom, which is further expanded when using a rarer specially defensive set. Can you guys come up with more cool sets and techs for Scizor? Of course you can!

Banned Sets
|

The deadline is Sunday 6th of September. Good luck!​

 

[Katy]

choice band


Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Dual Wingbeat
- U-turn

choice band scizor hits as hard as it can with adamant nature, bullet punch is boosted by technician, same with the third slot in dual wingbeat and both these moves hit really hard.
knock off removes items from pkmn like toxapex, corviknight, skarmory to help the teampartners out a bit and to make them less annoying, u-turn creates momentum and can help scizors partners to get in much safer. dual wingbeat is especially helpful against pkmn like volcarona.

 

[Rotten]

Defog Scizor

Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

While not the most reliable Defogger, it can certainly come in on lots of stuff like Rillaboom, Kyurem, Clefable, etc. and remove hazards this way. Most setters like Excadrill, Ferrothorn, Hippowdon, etc. also do not enjoy facing it because Scizor can easily Roost off any given damage. Finally, U-Turn is greatly important as it can give you momentum on things that would otherwise be easy switch-ins.

4 Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Scizor: 102-120 (29.7 - 34.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
8 Atk Hippowdon Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Scizor: 87-103 (25.3 - 30%) -- 0.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Def Skarmory Body Press vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Scizor: 73-87 (21.2 - 25.3%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Def Ferrothorn Body Press vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Scizor: 70-83 (20.4 - 24.1%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Scizor: 59-70 (17.2 - 20.4%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery​

 

[ReadTheMango]

Reserving HDB

Scizor @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Technician
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Roost
- Knock Off / Defog

Heavy-Duty Boots Scizor acts as a strong pivot with mid-range speed. This item is ridiculously good, and by its use, this mon can come in multiple times and pivot or threaten a mon accordingly.

The EVs are specifically to outspeed Jolly Crawdaunt, which has been seeing more usage, and crushing it with U-Turn. Full Attack EVs are used to hit as hard as you can without compromising your speed. The rest is put into HP to tank both physical and special hits better.

U-Turn is the key move you'll be clicking the most, allowing you to take advantage of switches, or just pivot safely into a defensive answer to whatever is on the field. Bullet Punch is kept for strong priority, which is one of the main reasons you use this mon. Roost increases its longevity, since you aren't using leftovers, this is your main form of recovery. Knock Off is your best last option to cripple mons, though you can also run things like Superpower or Dual Wingbeat if you need the coverage.

Defog is also a fine 4th option with HDB, hence why I have listed it above. Though if you're running Defog, I would recommend running the EVs which the standard Sp. Def Scizor set runs instead.

 

[Veez]

SD Life Orb with Double Edge breaks toxapex (and kills anything it hits neutrally).

Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Double Edge

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scizor Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 199-235 (65.4 - 77.3%)

 

[nameless90]

Reserving HDB

Sorry if I ask this, but...what does "HDB" stand for? "Heavy-Duty Boots". Understood, thanks.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

I feel that Scizor (that lacks Technician HP this generation) is underwhelming....but, still, I pick:

Assault Vest pivot Scizor

Scizor @ Assault Vest
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 8 SpD / 248 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Superpower
- Knock Off

• Spe points with 248 EVs = 250 points, enough to outspeed neutral fully-invested Dracozolt and Toxtricity by one point. Keep in mind the utility of a fastish Knock Off & U-turn; for example:

252 Atk Scizor U-turn vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Prism Armor Necrozma: 171-202 (51 - 60.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (this attacks hurts more than Knock Off!)

Unlickily, with max EVs and positive nature you are ONE point slower than neutral fully-invested Rotom-Heat/Wash and so on.

• SpD with AV (keep in mind that the EVs spread is customizable); some calcs:

Hide

0 SpA Xatu Heat Wave vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 192-228 (68.3 - 81.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Kyurem Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 157-185 (55.8 - 65.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
148+ SpA Life Orb Punk Rock Toxtricity Overdrive vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 149-177 (53 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (but your Knock Off arrives before this happens and throws away the Life Orb, thus lowering the damage you take)
0 SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 69-82 (24.5 - 29.1%) -- 99.8% chance to 4HKO
228 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 125-148 (44.4 - 52.6%) -- 23.8% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Primarina Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 211-249 (75 - 88.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball/Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 96-114 (34.1 - 40.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Clefable Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 180-216 (64 - 76.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 8+ SpD Assault Vest Scizor: 111-132 (39.5 - 46.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

• There isn't much room to create new sets with Scizor, but I decided to give AV a chance to shine (in order to emergency check some threats with a little more ease) alongside U-turn to keep the momentum. I feel that Scizor is often pressured to switch-out without the possibility to use Roost and, even if you have the possibility to recharge your health, I think that you are quite predictable and, eventually, overwhelmed. Not only this, I think that Scizor is quite passive and has a terrible 4MSS due to its bad STAB combination. This set allows you to pick some kills from weakened threats and more momentum than usual with U-turn.

 

[ImperialGamer517]

Sorry if I ask this, but...what does "HDB" stand for?

Heavy Duty Boots

 

[ShootingStarmie]

Dual Wingbeat Scizor

Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Dual Wingbeat

Acrobatics Scizor was a set used way back in generation 5 when Flying Gem existed. While not being as good as its older self, this set provides the same coverage while not needing to give up Scizor's item. The first 3 moves are standard, and everyone knows what they do so I won't go into detail. Dual Wingbeat however is a very interesting option, a new move added this generation which is boosted by Technician, essentially giving Scizor a base 120 Flying-type move. EV's and item are standard, as this is mostly the regular SD set with a twist. Dual Wingbeat is capable of OHKOing Rillaboom and 2HKOing Pokemon such as Azumarill and Tangrowth. Dual Wingbeat also OHKO's Volcarona on the switch, which is usually a great switch into Scizor thanks to Flame Body.

This set still struggles to break through Steel and Flying types, as such, Rotom-H makes for a great partner. The two have great typing synergy together, and Rotom-H can bring Scizor in safely thanks to Volt Switch. Offensive Water-types such as Azumarill and Crawdaunt also make for good teammates, as they're able to check Fire-type Pokemon that Scizor is x4 weak to and are also capable of wall breaking, enabling Scizor a chance to sweep. Lastly, Magnezone makes for a good team member, for its ability to trap Corviknight and Skarmory, while also pressuring bulky Water-types such as Toxapex.

mfw I take the best Scizor set, change one move and call it "original"

 

[DrPumpkinz]

Scizor @ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
Ability: Technician
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Sand Tomb
- Swords Dance

sand tomb is a funny tactic to trap stuff like toxapex and magnezone while also threatening stuff like kyurem, rillaboom, and clef with its basic moves

This is just the first banned set with U-turn over Knock Off.

Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Roost / Quick Attack / Sand Tomb

 

[escarlata]

Bulky Band

Scizor @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Atk / 164 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Superpower / Dual Wingbeat

Bulky Band is a set I find myself using a lot when I need a steel type. With the given investment, Scizor becomes bulky enough to switch into threats like Alakazam multiple times, while still retaining sufficient power to OHKO with BP in return, which has been the primary challenge for defensive sets.

Someone else has submitted a CB set above, but I feel that this set plays differently enough to be classified as its own set

 

[ThelordofbadRNG]

Reserving Scarf Scizor

Scarf Scizor



Scizor @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Iron Head / Bullet Punch
- Dual Wingbeat
- U-turn / Bug Bite
- Knock Off / Bug Bite​

While Choice Scarf isn't the best item on Scizor and the fact that it lost pursuit means it basically lost its specialized niche as a trapper for fast Psychic and Ghost Pokemon like Alakazam and Gengar, it can still probably have a niche as a "good" Volcarona lure thanks to the new Dual Wingbeat. Normally, you usually end up being set up fodder or just get toasted from Fire Blast/Flamethrower. However, thanks to a Choice Scarf, you always outpace unboosted Volcarona and pick one off w/ Technician Wingbeat. Since you lose a lot of firepower thanks to not running a Life Orb or Choice Band, you could run Iron Head as your alternative Steel STAB move. You usually don't appreciate losing the priority, though. You could meme around w/ this set and run Fling+SD once Scizor has fulfilled its purpose and use it as a breaker but honestly I haven't tried it. With a Jolly nature you can creep and pick off Zam and anything below that speed tier w/ U-Turn and gain momentum. Most of the moves are basic, everyone knows what they do so I won't go too into detail. You could run an Adamant nature thanks to your offensive presence which scares Gengar and Alakazam anyway and opt for the extra power.

calcs

252 Atk Technician Scizor Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Volcarona: 372-440 (119.6 - 141.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Technician Scizor Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Volcarona: 372-440 (99.7 - 117.9%) -- approx. 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Scizor Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 198-234 (75.8 - 89.6%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Scizor U-turn vs. 0 HP / 28 Def Alakazam: 408-480 (162.5 - 191.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Scizor Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 320-378 (122.6 - 144.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Technician Scizor Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rillaboom: 288-340 (84.4 - 99.7%) -- approx. 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Technician Scizor Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 246-290 (98 - 115.5%) -- approx. 93.8% chance to OHKO