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

[InvisibleWater]

Suicide Lead


Skarmory @ Custap Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Taunt
- Brave Bird

If, for some reason, you wish to use Skarmory on a Hyper Offense team, this set is one of your better options. Even with no investment, Skarmory's bulk and typing can potentially allow it to set up multiple hazards before it goes down. Taunt allows Skarmory to shut down slower hazard setters and removers, while Brave Bird allows Skarmory to put up something resembling a fight.

The held item is somewhat customizable -- Custap Berry allows Skarmory to set up an additional layer of hazards before it goes down or KO itself with Brave Bird recoil before its hazards can be removed, while Mental Herb provides temporary protection against Taunt, potentially allowing Skarmory to set up hazards against faster Taunt users.

 

[Jonbot]

Lure magnezone skarmory. Yes I am insane

@ Expert Belt
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 80 Def / 176 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Sand Tomb
- Roost

Sturdy allows skarm to take 2 thunderbolts from magnezone and, with an expert belt and the attack investment, this set can trap and 2hko specs magnezone with stealth rock. With a swords dance on the switch, it can also 2hko bulky magnezone from full. The speed investment allows skarm to outspeed and timid zone.


252 Atk Expert Belt Skarmory Sand Tomb vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Magnezone: 120-144 (42.7 - 51.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and trapping damage

+2 252 Atk Expert Belt Skarmory Sand Tomb vs. 4 HP / 252 Def Magnezone: 192-230 (68 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage


This set can also threaten a heavily chipped heatran after a swords dance but it is a lot more risky compared to magnezone as magma storm will ohko skarmory with trapping damage.


+2 252 Atk Expert Belt Skarmory Sand Tomb vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 254-302 (65.8 - 78.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage

+2 252 Atk Expert Belt Skarmory Sand Tomb vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 254-302 (78.6 - 93.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and trapping damage

 

[nameless90]

SpDef (Curse or Iron Defense) Skarmory
Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 232 SpD / 24 Spe
Careful Nature
- Curse(/Iron Defense)
- Body Press
- Payback
- Rest

I think that combining an Iron Defense/Curse set with a SpD EVs spread is an optimal choice for Skarmory because it still has a huge base Def to work with, not to mention the boosting move.
Both of them are good, but I like to underline how well Curse works alongside Payback, a Dark-type move that allows Skarmory to get past Ghost-type pokemons (immune to Body Press).
Rest is picked over Roost in order to get rid of burn, since WoW is often an utility move seen everywhere, including from Ghost types.

For examples:
252 SpA Gengar Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 232+ SpD Skarmory: 120-142 (35.9 - 42.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk Skarmory Payback (100 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 180-214 (68.9 - 81.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery

 

[BT89]

Cycle 81 Submissions Phase is over!
Time to vote!

This Cycle's Featured Pokemon


/ Double Dance by Bluecliqse
Specially Defensive w/o Spikes by Xenocide88
Sand Tomb by Snapteryx
/ Taunt by Hatternity
Eject Button by Moyashi
Toxic + Protect by GiyuForPresident
Choice Band by Stone Bold
/ Weak Armor RetroBacon
Curse by JTD783
/ Suicide Lead by InvisibleWater
Magnezone Lure by Jonbot
Specially Defensive Curse by nameless90


You must vote for 2 sets, in no particular order.
You have 48 hours to vote!
Voting ends on Monday, July 18th.

Please do not vote for your own set, and make sure to vote for 2 sets. ​

 

[Giyu]

taunt and CB

 

[Hatternity]

Eject Button by Moyashi
Toxic + Protect by GiyuForPresident

 

[InvisibleWater]

Sand Tomb by Snapteryx
Curse by JTD783

 

[Jonbot]

Curse by JTD783
Choice Band by Stone Bold

 

[Smashburn]

Eject Button by Moyashi
Magnezone Lure by Jonbot

 

[JTD783]

Taunt

Suicide Lead

 

[pulsar512b]

magnezone lure and spd curse

 

[Xenocide88]

Eject Button by Moyashi
SpDef Curse by nameless90

 

[Snapteryx]

Eject Button
Toxic + Protect

 

[Moyashi]

/ Taunt by Hatternity
/ Suicide Lead by InvisibleWater

 

[Vengeance417]

Choice Band

SpDef Curse

 

[BT89]

Voting is up!



The winner is…
Eject Button by Moyashi!

Votes

/ Double Dance by Bluecliqse - 0
Specially Defensive w/o Spikes by Xenocide88 - 0
Sand Tomb by Snapteryx - 1
/ Taunt by Hatternity - 3
Eject Button by Moyashi - 4
Toxic + Protect by GiyuForPresident - 2
Choice Band by Stone Bold - 3
/ Weak Armor RetroBacon - 0
Curse by JTD783 - 2
/ Suicide Lead by InvisibleWater - 2
Magnezone Lure by Jonbot - 2
Specially Defensive Curse by nameless90 - 3

Week 82



Pelipper occupies a mandatory slot on rain teams due to its sheer reliability as a rain setter. Access to utility moves like Scald and U-turn grant it unparalleled efficiency as a rain setter, enabling major threats like Barraskewda, Zapdos, Tornadus-T, and even more niche options like Kingdra, Thundurus-T, and Omastar. Although it’s movepool isn’t exactly the largest thing the world has ever seen, there is still a good amount of tools left to be creative. So let’s see what you guys got!

Banned Sets
(standard defensive)

The deadline is Saturday, July 25th!​

 

[pulsar512b]

reserving specs

 

[JTD783]

To Kill a Knockingbird (Knock Off)



Pelipper @ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- U-Turn
- Knock Off

This is useful if your team values item removal more than chip damage from Scald or Hurricane. It is notably annoying for Ferrothorn, Tornadus-Therian, Zapdos, and Tapu Fini.

 

[Snapteryx]

Reserving Toxic + Protect
Got lazy srry

 

[Jonbot]

Reserving tailwind


@ Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- U-turn
- Tailwind
- Roost

This set allows slower rain abusers like and non swift swim abusers like to outspeed and threaten faster offensive mons like and . Since this set doesn’t have defog, hazard control is heavily appreciated from or even more offensive options like

 

[nameless90]

Agility 3Atk Pelipper

Pelipper: @ Life Orb
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hurricane
- Surf/Weather Ball
- Agility
- Ice Beam

Here we have an offensive standalone Pelliper, which uses one of the 5 resistances and 1 immunity it has in order to set-up a first Agility in order to reach 502 Spe points at +2.
Thanks to Drizzle, Pelipper has access to two strong moves in the form of Hurricane and Surf/Weather Ball that hit hard under the Rain.

 

[Xenocide88]

Reserving Eject Button


Pelipper @ Eject Button
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Roost
- U-turn

This set pairs Eject Button+U-turn to create constant momentum for your rain sweepers, and enough bulk with Roost to take hits and keep trucking on. Scald and Knock off are there to create the most progress for two moves without having to slot Toxic.

 

[Hatternity]

Mystic-Water

Pelipper @ Mystic Water
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 152 HP / 252 SpA / 104 Spe
Modest Nature
- Weather Ball
- Hurricane
- U-turn
- Roost

The offensive power of Specs Pelliper for a semi-rain team with a little bit more longevity. Weather Ball in the rain backed by mystic water is really strong even off only base 95 special attack. Enough speed for defensive Heatran. For example, some Pokemon who would usually try and pivot in:

252+ SpA Mystic Water Pelipper Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Koko in Rain: 328-387 (116.7 - 137.7%)
252+ SpA Mystic Water Pelipper Weather Ball (100 BP Water) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Tornadus-Therian in Rain: 283-334 (78.1 - 92.2%)

P.S. - Initially went with whirlpool but it's pretty awful if you think about it.

 

[RedDiamond1024]

Choice Specs Peli

Gullet (Pelipper) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Hurricane
- Hydro Pump
- U-turn
This pelipper is meant to bring offensive power, with a stab combo unironically very hard to switch into, ontop of high bp moves in hurricane and rain boosted scald. U-turn help keeps momentum for an added bonus.

 

[Stone Bold]

Whirlpool Trapper

Pelipper @ Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 232 HP / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Whirlpool
- Brine / Roost / Knock Off
- Soak / Roost
- Toxic

Pyukumuku on wings. This set allows it to whittle down or remove passive Pokemon like Toxapex and Ferrothorn that could potentially pose a threat to its rain teammates.