Sub Focus Punch
@ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Ice Punch
- Leech Life / Drain Punch / Roost / Toxic
I tried this because I wanted to try something unique, if not slightly suboptimal. Anyways, this actually gives you a surprising amount of options, and can help Buzzwole absolutely flatten counters even.
So, why run this?
-Buzzwole hates statuses, whether offensive (burn) or defensive (toxic) variants. Sub bypasses that against most of the relevant status mons that will stay in on buzzwole.
-It’s an offensive set that still has defensive utility. It lets a friggin Buzzwole get a hit off against anything (except dragapult, but just be a Chad like Buzzwole and ice punch on the switch), without being severely weakening. As an additional small defensive point, it’s a Buzzwole. Lots of stuff won’t be able to break the sub, so you’ll have it against a lot of stuff that switches in on you.
-sub Focus punch lets Buzzwole stay in against counters that would switch in and do massive damage without as much risk.
drain vs leech vs roost vs toxic is a preference thing. Ice punch feels mandatory bc of lando and pult and zap etc.
So what do you do against various mons you come in on and that come in on you?
Landorus-T? Sub up or just go for the super strong ice punch
pult? You shouldn’t stay in but you can be a baller and ice punch on the switch (or toxic if you choose to use that)
ferro? Sub up and blow that boy back
Corv?Blow. That. Boy. Back.(252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 248 HP / 168+ Def Corviknight: 211-250 (52.8 - 62.6%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery - so if it switches in, its a 50/50 whether it dies. If it roosts and you focus punch, it’s going down, and if it doesn’t and you switch into something else etc, it’s at low health.)
Fairies? Don’t stay in duh, but hit em on the switch for a nice 40%(clef), 40-55%(fini depending on set), or 58-68%(koko)
pex? I got nothing for you, sorry
Here’s a mid-1400’s (I am not good) replay showcasing how it has often come into play for me (and shoutout to my opponent for being a good guy).
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1428776380 - does 45% to a scarf fini from behind a sub, which let me setup for the last mon priority kill. Plus, he just didn’t care about rotom wash or lando t or ferrothorn, so 3 mons were potential sub fodder.
so yeah, is it good? Idk maybe, but it’s really fun when it works. Oh, and a friend told me to tell you guys to make sure you remember infiltrator is an ability... because some people may forget it sometimes... says my friend.