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

[SLDR]

choice band

Blaziken @ Choice Band
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Flare Blitz
- Knock Off / Thunder Punch
- U-turn​

blaziken has access to two very choice band friendly moves in knock off and uturn, as they are very easy moves to lock yourself into and rarely don't make progress. couple that with a powerful stab combination with good supereffective potential, especially vs steel types, and blaziken seems like a perfect pokèmon for a choice item. unlike specs, it doesnt have a priority move, so it relies a lot more on speed boost to break more offensive teams. at +1, it outruns zeraora and dragapult, which makes it awkward for offensive teams to sack a mon and bring the revenge killer afterwards. this interaction is unique between blaziken and sharpedo and is what makes them really odd to face.
thunder punch is a valid alternative, especially alongside tapu koko's electric terrain, to 2hko pex, slowbro and fini on the switch (yes ik fini removes electric terrain), but keep in mind that uturning out of those mons into koko itself is a pretty solid play, especially with hazards up on the opponent's field

Specs Blaziken
View attachment 378509
Blaziken @ Choice Specs
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/ 252 Spe
Modest Nature
-Fire Blast/Flamethrower
-Focus Blast
-Scorching Sands
-Trick

Blaziken has an above average base special attack of 110, making its specs boosted attacks quite strong. Trick can annoy defensive switch-ins, while flamethrower can be used over fire blast for its better accuracy.

calcs

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 318-375 (107 - 126.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 288-339 (96 - 113%) -- 75% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Scorching Sands vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Koko: 282-334 (100.3 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon: 624-734 (192 - 225.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Scorching Sands vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 166-196 (54.6 - 64.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

flamethrower calcs to compare to fire blast

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 261-307 (87.8 - 103.3%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Blaziken Flamethrower vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 235-277 (78.3 - 92.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

blaziken doesn't learn trick (switcheroo neither), my friend

 

[ralts_boy]

Blaziken @ Charcoal / Protective Pads
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Toxic
- Knock Off​

This is more of a support set, in the sense that it will Toxic mons like Lando or Zapdos on the switch-in. We aren't worried about Toxapex because we can't beat it. Pads are an option for this set, since Lando, Pex, Zapdos, etc. will have Rocky Helmet or Static, but Charcoal is used here to give you a 55% chance to 2HKO defensive Lando-T while still being Jolly nature. CC deals with Heatran and Kyurem (on the switch-in for the latter, or after a speed boost), and Knock Off weakens Torn-T, especially when combined with Toxic, and is usually the best option for breaking bulky waters. It also gives you something to click against a -2 Dragapult or against Blace.

 

[nameless90]

Offensive/Suicide Defogger Blaziken

Blaziken @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Defog
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Knock Off


Here we have a Blaziken that uses Defog as a support move alongside H-DB (to avoid unnecessary damage from hazards) and three coverage moves.
Despite the lack of an Atk-boosting item, a Blaziken with 252 Atk EVs still hits hard.
Flare Blitz + Close Combat is the dual STAB combination, whereas Knock Off is one of the most spammable moves with little/no risk.

Speed Boost is still a strong trait when you want to clean a weakened team.

 

[ironwater]

Blaziken @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Blaze Kick
- Close Combat
- Earthquake / Thunder Punch​

This set aims to use Double Screens in order to setup with both Bulk Up and Speed Boost, while being able to take most hits, even super effective ones and thus active its Weakness Policy. Unlike Swords Dance, Bulk Up increase both your Attack stat and your Defense stat, meaning that you can more easily setup against some physical breakers and activate your Weakness Policy more easily against them. Having setup some Bulk Up also means that you will be harder to revenge kill by some priority moves like Urshifu’s Aqua Jet even when Screens are gone. As for the other moves, Blaze Kick could be replaced by Flare Blitz, but on a Bulk Up set I think that you rather avoid taking too much recoil chip and can rely on your Weakness Policy to still do a lot of damage with Blaze Kick. Close Combat drops you Defense stats and should mainly be used after you have setup some Bulk Up and are in a sweep position. High Jump Kick could be an option to avoid dropping your Defense, but it’s a rather unreliable move. Last move can be Earthquake or Thunder Punch for coverage (or even Knock Off for Dragapult). Earthquake hits Toxapex harder which is an annoying Pokemon to face because of Haze and because it can Knock Off your Weakness Policy before using Scald. Thunder Punch allows you to hit Tapu Fini and Slowbro while still doing decent damage to Toxapex. Lasly, a Jolly nature is preferred over an Adamant one to be able to outspeed Dragapult at +1 (as Dragapult ignores Screens with Infiltrator and can OHKO Blaziken with Draco Meteor).

 

[powergo1]

Blaziken @ Liechi Berry
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Reversal
- Swords Dance
- Blaze Kick / Ice Punch / Knock Off / Earthquake / Thunder Punch

The way this set works is that Blaziken is sent in on a mon that is scared of it (Heatran, Ferro, etc.), and as it swaps out into the usual counters (Fini, Pex, Slowbro, etc.) get an SD boost. Then as you outspeed them, sub 4 times in a row (301 HP allows this to happen), by then your Liechi Berry activates, giving you +3 and a 200BP STAB Reversal, which hits very hard. The fourth move could either be Blaze Kick for the strongest STAB without recoil (and to hit Buzzwole), or coverage such as Ice Punch (Lando-T), Knock Off (Slowbro, Ghost types), EQ (Pex), or Thunder Punch (Pex, Slowbro, Fini). This set does require some support to sweep, such as making sure hazards are removed from the field, and also making sure priority users are also dead.

+3 Reversal hits hard

• +3 252+ Atk Blaziken Reversal (200 BP) vs. 248 HP / 168+ Def Corviknight: 631-744 (158.1 - 186.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• +3 252+ Atk Blaziken Reversal (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0+ Def Toxapex: 267-314 (87.8 - 103.2%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
• +3 252+ Atk Blaziken Reversal (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Slowbro: 285-336 (72.3 - 85.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• +3 252+ Atk Blaziken Reversal (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 192+ Def Tapu Fini: 288-340 (83.7 - 98.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
• +2 252+ Atk Blaziken Reversal (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 164+ Def Landorus-Therian: 283-333 (74 - 87.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
  +3 252+ Atk Blaziken Reversal (200 BP) vs. 248 HP / 56 Def Dragonite: 416-489 (108 - 127%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[InvisibleWater]

Substitute + Bulk Up


Blaziken @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Close Combat / Focus Punch
- Blaze Kick / Thunder Punch / Earthquake

Substitute allows Blaziken to rack up multiple speed boosts if it scares out a Pokemon. It also has an interesting synergy with Bulk Up -- not only does it increase Blaziken's Attack and Defense, it also makes Substitutes harder to break with physical attacks.

Since this set uses Substitute, Focus Punch is an option over Close Combat. While it's riskier to use if a Sub isn't up, it also doesn't come with defense drops.

The last slot can be customized to suit Blaziken's or the team's needs. Blaze Kick is Blaziken's strongest physical Fire move that doesn't cause recoil, Thunder Punch hits most bulky Waters super-effectively, and Earthquake is Blaziken's strongest option against Toxapex.

 

[Gomi]

Voting time!

here are you submissions:
specs by Xaviere
band by SLDR
knock tox by ralts_boy
defog by nameless90
WP+BU by ironwater
liechi sub reversal by powergo1
sub+BU by invisiblewater

Deadlines in 2 days.​

 

[InvisibleWater]

liechi sub reversal

 

[Smashburn]

Sorry this is late I literally just found this thread an hour ago and started typing pls let me in Gomi

I believe that when a lot of people think of Blaziken as an offensive tool, they forego this great fire chicken's utility outside of a 3 ATK SD set. In the cases where it is used, its team is tailored to the holes it often leaves in a team's structure, where Blaziken offers nothing more to the team than being a niche late game sweeper that weighs down momentum. However, Blaziken boasts the ability to best get past its defensive checks, such as Landorus, Garchomp, and Hippowdon, in a unique way when compared to its counterparts-- namely Victini and Darmanitan.



Fire Chicken (Blaziken) @ Air Balloon
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz / Blaze Kick
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Close Combat

This set aims to extort ground types for a late game sweep that would otherwise leave Blaziken helpless, taking full advantage of Blaziken's inability to kill them at +2 (the aforementioned Landorus, Garchomp, and Hippowdon). With Air Balloon, Blaziken cannot only come in on ground type moves, but as they are often the only option for defensive Ground types, it can take advantage of them. This also allows Blaziken to come in on other mons that normally aim to kill / weaken it with ground type coverage moves such as Kyurem and Heatran, which it also then sets up on. Its Speed Boost ability allows it to outspeed most of the meta aside from faster Scarfers and Eleki at 252+ Spe +1, making it very threatening late game. However, it sports its own flaws.

The set's use of Air Balloon to take advantage of its defensive checks is very limited, and if not played correctly, can mean this late-game strategy fails early into the game. It does not appreciate initial damage as it pops its Air Balloon, especially Knock Off. Knock off and other dark coverage threatens its best partner Slowbro, which relies on its Heavy-Duty Boots or Colbur Berry to either support its longevity or check threats such as Weavile, which it otherwise would not do. Slowbro provides necessary Future-port support for Blaziken to keep out Toxapex and Urshifu-R, as well as grabbing momentum on those same mons. However, further options are needed to check Toxapex as Slowbro dislikes Knock Off removing / activating its item.

 

[nameless90]

Band by SLDR
because Blaziken can use a Band while gaining +1 Spe boosts, thus limiting its revenge killers when cleaning

 

[agslash23]

Defog Blaziken
I believe it has some value coz it pressures setters like Tran, Lando

 

[iceblazer]

Band

 

[Fopo]

band

 

[SLDR]

Kinda sad no one thought of will-o-wisp or endure+reversal with protective pads, so I'll vote the closest thing to it which is liechi sub reversal

 

[remetagross]

Sub Reversal.

 

[Smashburn]

Band

 

[Plushietran]

choice band

 

[zReptar]

Band all the way

 

[Darkortex]

Choice band

 

[Clone]

Band is the only thing I’ve seen here that’s actually viable and not a gimmick

 

[julian113]

Damn just saw this thread now guys I have like four different sets/spreads in my post history imao.

Other than that air balloon blaziken because I don’t like band and that’s the only other set that actually looks like it would work.

Edit: sub reversal if that isn’t an option

 

[JTD783]

tfw I didn’t have notifications on and I missed this week’s submission phase entirely

Lots of good stuff this week, but Band has a special place in my heart

 

[Gomi]

voting has concluded and the winner is Choice Band by SLDR! Your submission will be added to the hall of fame soon.

Week 59 - Moltres Galar


Gmolt is a bulky offensive threat sporting two great stabs and a great defensively typing for the offensive archetypes it makes itself home to. The mon has been relatively static in its set variety, mostly being some variation of agility+Nasty plot and dual stab, so there should be plenty of unmarked territory to mess around with.

Banned sets


Deadlines monday ​

 

[Katy]

reserving black glasses + uturn + nasty plot goltres


Moltres-Galar @ Black Glasses
Ability: Berserk
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fiery Wrath
- Hurricane
- U-turn
- Nasty Plot ​

Nasty Plot + Black Glasses gives Goltres a hard hitting Dark-type STAB move in Fiery Wrath, which is able to maximize its damage output. Hurricane is its secondary STAB move with being able to hit Grass-types like Tapu Bulu and Rillaboom and it also hits Ferrothorn for neutral damage. Hurricane also hits Hydreigon for neutral. U-turn switches Goltres out of unfavorable Matchups such as Blissey, specially defensive Clefable and Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele, Tapu Fini, and Tapu Koko. It also provides momentum for the rest of the team.

 

[ralts_boy]

Moltres-Galar @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Berserk
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fiery Wrath
- Air Slash / Hurricane
- Taunt​

This Moltres is only really good for breaking balance/stall. Taunt protects you from many forms of status while you set up, while also keeping bulky mons (which Moltres will be setting up on) from getting up hazards. At +6, Fiery Wrath is a 2HKO on Blissey, and Quag has a 44% chance to be 2HKOd as well (unboosted, of course). The only mon you really don't deal with is Clef.
Hurricane is stronger than Air Slash, but it depends if you're ok with missing. The flinch chance is also nice. Sitrus berry on this set helps you get +2 for free instead of just +1 so you can get to breaking faster.