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

[nameless90]

HDB Rapid Spin Pheromosa (with HJK)

Pheromosa @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 228 Atk / 28 Def / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin

I don't know if this set will be allowed because it is an evolution" of an already oiled set, but there aren't many options left, so I tried with this.
This set is designed to take a hit from a CB Grassy Glide and then dish out damage.

252+ Atk Choice Band Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 0 HP / 28 Def Pheromosa in Grassy Terrain: 240-282 (84.8 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

In my opinion, every HDB Pheromosa should run those 28 EVs in order to avoid being revenge killed this way.

High Jump Kick is here to fix the power drop from the missing EVs into Atk, but also anables to ensure some 2HKOs or OHKO (with just some prior chip damage) because it is also STABbed and outdamages CC. The drawback is huge, but you have to consider that Pheromosa isn't meant to last long anyway because it is a frail revenge killer anyway. Also, in OU Protect isn't so common as it is in Doubles so you "only" have a 10% miss chance if you are not facing Toxapex (you can't hit Aegislash with Fightning moves).

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228 Atk Life Orb Pheromosa High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 160+ Def Mandibuzz: 212-251 (50.1 - 59.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
228 Atk Life Orb Pheromosa High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tornadus-Therian: 169-199 (46.6 - 54.9%) -- 68% chance to 2HKO
228 Atk Life Orb Pheromosa High Jump Kick vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kingdra: 296-348 (101.7 - 119.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
228 Atk Life Orb Pheromosa High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Scizor: 281-331 (81.9 - 96.5%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

The remaining moveslots are pretty classic: Rapid Spin to get rid of hazards (with the aid of HDB) and Ice Beam to kill Grounds, especially those with Intimidate.

 

[ReadTheMango]

Agility Pheromosa


Pheromosa @ Life Orb / Protective Pads / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Agility
- Close Combat
- Triple Axel
- Drill Run / Lunge

Essentially this set trades in some of the power of a quiver dance set in favour of hitting +2 in one turn and outspeeding practically everything. Barring +speed Pheromosa at +2, +speed Regieleki at +1, and Jolly Barraskewda in the rain, 3 uncommon circumstances.

Originally this set was, like a quiver dance set, specially focused. The extra power / coverage options / reliable stab available to physical Pheromosa pushed it in that direction. Adamant was chosen over Jolly to allow Pheromosa to boost it's attack with beast boost. You can easily bluff Jolly on your initial switchin. While I prefer fighting STAB, plus ice / ground coverage, you can run Lunge over Drill Run for dual STAB.

Life Orb is preferential as it provides a pretty significant boost in power, netting some needed KOs where necessary. Protective Pads is a second viable option which lets you avoid big Zap's static, Ferro's rocky helmet / iron barbs, toxapex rocky helmet etc. Heavy-Duty Boots is the final item option, but the one I would recommend the least, as you aren't pivoting like usual. If running Pro Pads, or HDB, I would recommend putting 36 EVs into defense to live some common priority moves.

Fun fact: If Pheromosa's attack stat and speed stat it will prioritize attack 100% of the time, allowing you to give it a nice extra 4 EVs into defense.

That being said, this thing should be banned xd

 

[Tio Chico]

Substitute + 3 Attack

Pheromosa @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Focus Blast
- Ice Beam / Shock Wave
- Bug Buzz / Shock Wave

Due to the versatility and speed, Pheromosa forces many switchs, Substitute allows to hit more safely avoiding some predicts.
If you can hide behind a Substitute in a sack it also makes Pheromosa semi invulnerable to revenge kill.
Modest is the choice to boost offensive power (and always KO Slowbro with Bug Buzz) but Timid will be faster than Scarf Pult after Beast Boost.

Another alternative is Rash / Naive Nature with Close Combat, it has its disadvantages such as lower power and contact punishments, but in compensation it is not only 70% reliable as Focus Blast.

Sorry about so many alternatives, I know, but the focus is Substitute.

 

[Egor]

And let's start the voting phase! We got 9 submissions so far:
Taunt by Sickist
QD + Throat Spray by Katy
Choice Scarf by musiquepkmn
Choice Specs by Zneon
Fling + Light Ball by zedhatool
Facade + Fling by Xaviere
Taunt + Roost by kalifguest22
Agility by ReadTheMango
Substitute by Tio Chico

nameless90 your submission wasn't included, since it doesn't deviate from one of the banned sets enough. The deadline is Tuesday 8th of December.​

 

[Xaviere]

specs

 

[Katy]

Too many great and fun submissions here, its hard to chose 1 Set, but i go with Zneons Choice Specs Pheromosa.

But great submissions y'all!

 

[fart goblin]

specs

 

[nameless90]

nameless90 your submission wasn't included, since it doesn't deviate from one of the banned sets enough. The deadline is Tuesday 8th of December.

Ok, no problem.

I vote for Choice Specs by Zneon
because Pheromosa's special movepool is good to work with although U-turn is physical.

 

[Caionamax]

by Zneon

 

[Sickist]

qdance + throat spray is pretty hot

 

[MLBL]

Scarf.

 

[kalifguest22]

Substitute

 

[zedhatool]

specs

 

[Amir]

Specs

 

[ReadTheMango]

QD + Throat Spray by Katy

 

[Tio Chico]

QD + Throat Spray

 

[musiquepkmn]

Specs. Honestly not looking like it's gonna be close

 

[Gomi]

specs

 

[Proftreez]

taunt roost

 

[Ruft]

The voting phase is over! By its results, the winner of cycle 36 is Choice Specs by Zneon. Congratulations! Your submission will be added to the Hall of Fame soon. Now, let's move on to the next cycle!

Cycle Thirty-Seven - Landorus-Therian


With the Crown Tundra expansion, Landorus-T has finally returned as the most used Pokemon in OU globally. It has many desirable qualities going for it after all: strong, solid bulk, Intimidate, Electric immunity, Ground immunity, Stealth Rock, U-turn, and so much more. This makes it a splashable Pokemon that can fit onto many teams and is able to fulfill various roles effectively, such as offensive pivot, defensive pivot, suicide lead, and Swords Dance wallbreaker.
Do you have any other set ideas you'd like to showcase? Let's see it!

Banned Sets
| | | |

The deadline is Sunday 13th of December. Good luck!​

 

[musiquepkmn]

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 136 HP / 128 Atk / 244 Spe
Naive Nature
- Earthquake
- Psychic
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
Okay I'll quit my usual "Hate this? Well use this..." stuff and get right to the point. Lead off with this thing and KO Pheromosa turn 1 with a Scarf Psychic. Revenge every non-QD Mosa set with a guaranteed OHKO; no need to risk hitting a Stone Edge or go for a 2HKO but die to Triple Axel first. Switch into and force out/KO every Dragonite set. Revenge Modest Max Speed Shift Gear magearna with an OHKO. 2HKO the most common Buzzwall spreads and see the look on your opponents face.

Given set EVs are to never be 2HKOed by Jolly Dragonite Dual Wingbeat at +0 (if they DD as you switch) so you can 2HKO them with Stone Edge. HP EVs are to OHKO 0hp 0def magearna after Rocks and a round of lefties. Speed EVs are to outspeed Modest max speed Magearna after a shift gear and Jolly Arctozolt in hail.

 

[Finchinator]

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Power Herb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Knock Off
- Fly

A concept I have yet to use much at all honestly, but wanted to try. It is able to lure in and demolish Buzzwole while also having potential against Rillaboom, Tangrowth, and some midgrounds (gets lots of neutral hits, which can go a long way at +2 if you are not sure what to predict vs non-Grounded Pokemon). Stone Edge vs Knock Off just depends what you prefer between hitting specific Flying type Pokemon like Zapdos or spammability/utility in match-ups where SD LandoT is less directly productive. I prefer Stone Edge right now in theory, but again need to give it more of a go in practice.

This set is probably pretty good alongside other physical attackers like Urshifu and Kartana, who do not appreciate Buzzwole and Tangrowth. It is absolutely situational, but most posts here for LandoT will be as it is a mostly "solved" Pokemon.

 

[Andrew Loh]

Le Banded Landorus-Therian

Set

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 8 SpD / 248 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Stone Edge

Landorus-therian often been overlooked as the physical choiced breaker, namely Pheromosa, Urshifu, Melmetal and Kartana. It ends up being the team pivot or simply a suicide lead rocker. Hence, here we have, the simple and straightforward choice band Landorus-Therian set.

With the all-spammable Earthquake and U-turn tag along with 145 base Atk stats, it functions as well as other choiced physical breakers. Unlike others, it does not take Spikes/Toxic-spikes upon entry and provides 2 natural immunity which is ground and electric which makes Landorus-Therian has its own niche among the physical choiced breakers. Simply exquisite and splash-able~

 

[AM]

SubToxic Landorus-T

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Smack Down
- Substitute
- Toxic

Supplements mons like SubCM Spectrier, Subs up on Hippowdon that run EQ + Toxic or just get a Toxic on them, Toxic non steel birds, Toxic the buzzwole and slowbro that always switches in, Smack down for steel birds and threaten Molt/Zap a bit more, etc. Better against fatty cores. Adamant for stronger hits against Clefable, Pex, and friends. Not to be used as a defensive countermeasure like Defensive variants. Spread Toxic around to help other mons.

 

[ReadTheMango]

Sub Bulk Up


Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Earthquake
- Fly

Sub Bulk Up Lando-T takes advantage of many of the common checks to Lando to setup. Steel Birds, Hippos etc.

Max HP + Max SpD allows Lando to both shore up it's SpD stat, but also strengthen both its substitutes and physically defensive prowess. EQ + Fly was chosen for a STAB combo which isn't resisted by much. Fly allows you an extra turn of Leftovers, but also to hit Grass / Bug types like Buzzwole and Tang which resist EQ.

Lando-T is such a threatening mon that you often can just click sub to start with in favorable matchups. That being said, this set struggles to get through Zapdos. Overall, very fun to use, and can just autowin games if you have the right matchp.