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Project OU Next Best Thing - Cycle Last: Mega Latias (Voting)
- Thread starter Egor
- Start date
Terrain Extender by Game Moderator
Z-Mirror Move
Choice scarf
Discharge
Choice Scarf
I'm sorry for such a big delay, I was having a trip so couldn't end up this Cycle. Also thanks spatulakun for setting up a voting. Anyway, the voting is finally over! By it results, the winner of the Cycle 7 is Choice Scarf by Solaros & Lunaris. Congratulations! Your submission will be added to the Hal of Fame soon. Ok, let's start the next cycle!
Cycle Eight - Tapu Bulu
This Cycle is also a Tapu Cycle, and now we're subjecting Tapu Bulu! Its nice defensive typing and bulk let it act as a great defensive threat, and Grassy Surge makes Tapu Bulu even harder to break and provides a useful support to its teammates. Tapu Bulu isn't only a wall though; it's also an impressively powerful wallbreaker when running Choice Band thanks to its naturally high Attack, good coverage, and Grassy Terrain boosting its Grass-type STABs. A Wood Hammer from this Tapu Bulu is even capable of OHKOing offensive Tornadus-T! Tapu Bulu for sure can run more cool sets apart from these two. I'm waiting for some heat from you guys!
Banned Sets
| 
The deadline is Tuesday 9th of July. Good luck!
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Tapu Bulu @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge
A Choice Scarf patches up Tapu Bulu's middling speed, making it into more of a revenge killer and late game cleaner. This set is really nice because it outspeeds a lot of potent threats like (Ash-)Greninja, Mega Lopunny, Mega Medicham, Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele and can hit them hard with Wood Hammer, often netting a OHKO. Outspeeding Tornadus-T is also nice because Stone Edge should OHKO after rocks.
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Greninja-Ash in Grassy Terrain: 812-956 (284.9 - 335.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Lopunny-Mega in Grassy Terrain: 310-366 (114.3 - 135%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega in Grassy Terrain: 336-396 (128.7 - 151.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 20 HP / 0 Def Tapu Koko: 225-265 (78.6 - 92.6%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 249-294 (88.6 - 104.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tornadus-Therian: 262-310 (72.3 - 85.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Lopunny-Mega in Grassy Terrain: 310-366 (114.3 - 135%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Medicham-Mega in Grassy Terrain: 336-396 (128.7 - 151.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 20 HP / 0 Def Tapu Koko: 225-265 (78.6 - 92.6%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 249-294 (88.6 - 104.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Tapu Bulu Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tornadus-Therian: 262-310 (72.3 - 85.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
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Actually taking Whirlwind
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD (adjustable)
Careful Nature
- Horn Leech
- Swords Dance
- Superpower
- Whirlwind
On hazard stacking teams, Whirlwind is a neat option to rack up damage on foes. While this doesn’t annoy the tier’s best Defogger, Tornadus, it chips at the others quite a bit (Zapdos gets quite annoyed for example). Whirlwind can also trigger mind games for your opponent on whether you will boost up or phaze. It can also lead to some scenarios where Bulu can beat a boosting mon by Whirling it away, chipping that Mawile and making it harder for it to setup in the future for example.
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Tapu Bulu @ Fightinium Z
Adamant Nature
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 114 HP / 248 Atk / 148 Spe
- Swords Dance/Bulk Up
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge
While I think people are massively overrating Bulu's effectiveness in the metagame nowadays, what with the absurd amount of Tornadus-T everywhere giving it a pretty hard time, I still think its offensively-oriented sets are still solid wallbreakers in the current metagame. Fightinium Z gives it better coverage with its Z-move than most options as well as a marginally stronger overall Z-move that lets it destroy Celesteela, Magearna, and the like without having to hard-commit to Superpower. Stone Edge OHKOs most of its traditional answers at +2 and does a massive amount of damage unboosted as is. Horn Leech is spammable and gives Bulu drastically increased longevity. Bulk Up gives it a different boosting option that turns it into somewhat of a tank. The Speed investment lets it outpace 128-Speed SpDef Heatran; you can run a Jolly nature and 176 Speed to outpace 20 Speed Bold Zapdos but you're losing out on a shitton of damage as a result.
Z-Move Bulu sets can often bluff a Choice Band set and this one is no exception. This Bulu set can also give slower Stall teams a pretty hard time unless they're relying on Unaware Clefable, which counters this Bulu variant. At +2 it can absolutely demolish stuff like Mega Aggron and its typing alone shits on the other two prominent Unaware walls.
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Magearna: 402-473 (110.7 - 130.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 28 Def Celesteela: 429-505 (108 - 127.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 240+ Def Zapdos: 194-230 (50.6 - 60%) -- 87.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (this damage is high enough to allow for some mindgames against Zapdos's Roost and can let Bulu pick up a boost or two. +2 is an OHKO but that's a very specific scenario.
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 430-508 (111.3 - 131.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Tangrowth: 371-437 (92 - 108.4%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 28 Def Celesteela: 429-505 (108 - 127.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 240+ Def Zapdos: 194-230 (50.6 - 60%) -- 87.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (this damage is high enough to allow for some mindgames against Zapdos's Roost and can let Bulu pick up a boost or two. +2 is an OHKO but that's a very specific scenario.
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 430-508 (111.3 - 131.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Tangrowth: 371-437 (92 - 108.4%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
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Spedef Toxic Bulu
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Synthesis / Protect
This set is made to retain spedef Bulu's bulk while making it more useful against common answers such as Tangrowth, Torn-T, and Zapdos. By wearing them down with chip damage from Toxic it can help teammates with shared checks, such as Kartana, break through more easily. Toxic is generally just a nice move to throw out to catch switch-ins and pairs well with Protect.
Obviously Bulu's terrain hinders Toxic, but its Flying-type checks do not receive this benefit and Toxic is more for long-term pressure than immediate damage. Like any Bulu set not named SD Superpower or Choice Band, this struggles against steels with reliable recovery so pairing this with a Heatran is recommended.
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Synthesis / Protect
This set is made to retain spedef Bulu's bulk while making it more useful against common answers such as Tangrowth, Torn-T, and Zapdos. By wearing them down with chip damage from Toxic it can help teammates with shared checks, such as Kartana, break through more easily. Toxic is generally just a nice move to throw out to catch switch-ins and pairs well with Protect.
Obviously Bulu's terrain hinders Toxic, but its Flying-type checks do not receive this benefit and Toxic is more for long-term pressure than immediate damage. Like any Bulu set not named SD Superpower or Choice Band, this struggles against steels with reliable recovery so pairing this with a Heatran is recommended.
Tapu Bulu @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 204 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Nature's Madness
A blast from the past. Even though AV Bulu's fallen out of favour in recent months, I still swear by this set's immediate damage output and access to Nature's Madness (notably, NM drops Helmet Torn and Pex into Wood Hammer range, beats Zapdos, punishes Steela and Magearna, and ignores the inevitable Scald burns) while retaining SpDef SD's bulk. The given EVs outspeed Adamant Azumarill, but you can run whatever you want.
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Rockium Z Offensive SD
Tapu Bulu @ Rockium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower/Substitute
- Stone Edge
This set is meant to be a balance breaker similarly to the CB variant but this one has the benefit of breaking past many of it's usual checks and counters such as Celesteela, Zapdos, Mega Venu and Torn (it also can lead to surprise kills against Zard X and Volcarona which attempt to set up on Bulu). With Rockium Z Bulu also gains a nice midground attack after it has gotten it's SD off due to the lack of Rock resists in the meta. The EV Spread is ripped straight from the CB set and fulfills the same purpose as said set. Substitute can be used to ease prediction but this leaves bulu unable to hit the likes of Ferrothorn so this usually requires support from the likes of Magnezone.
Tapu Bulu @ Rockium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower/Substitute
- Stone Edge
This set is meant to be a balance breaker similarly to the CB variant but this one has the benefit of breaking past many of it's usual checks and counters such as Celesteela, Zapdos, Mega Venu and Torn (it also can lead to surprise kills against Zard X and Volcarona which attempt to set up on Bulu). With Rockium Z Bulu also gains a nice midground attack after it has gotten it's SD off due to the lack of Rock resists in the meta. The EV Spread is ripped straight from the CB set and fulfills the same purpose as said set. Substitute can be used to ease prediction but this leaves bulu unable to hit the likes of Ferrothorn so this usually requires support from the likes of Magnezone.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-939754346 <- Skip to Turn 21 to watch a Celesteela get blown away
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-940013105 <-You can see me use Z as a mid ground on turn 4
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-940013105 <-You can see me use Z as a mid ground on turn 4
+1 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 0 HP / 68 Def Landorus-Therian: 326-384 (102.1 - 120.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 28 Def Celesteela: 407-479 (102.5 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tornadus-Therian: 514-606 (141.9 - 167.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 240+ Def Zapdos: 348-410 (90.8 - 107%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery <-it may not be a guarnteed OHKO but rocks or horn leech into Z definetly is (also this doesn't require an sd boost)
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 243-287 (72.9 - 86.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO <-this puts skarm in super power range
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 88 Def Venusaur-Mega: 333-392 (91.7 - 107.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Grassy Terrain recovery <- same as skarmory
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 28 Def Celesteela: 407-479 (102.5 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tornadus-Therian: 514-606 (141.9 - 167.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 240+ Def Zapdos: 348-410 (90.8 - 107%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery <-it may not be a guarnteed OHKO but rocks or horn leech into Z definetly is (also this doesn't require an sd boost)
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 243-287 (72.9 - 86.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO <-this puts skarm in super power range
+2 248+ Atk Tapu Bulu Continental Crush (180 BP) vs. 248 HP / 88 Def Venusaur-Mega: 333-392 (91.7 - 107.9%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Grassy Terrain recovery <- same as skarmory
SD + Taunt Tapu Bulu
Tapu Bulu @ Coba Berry/Occa Berry
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Rock Slide
- Taunt
General idea
With access to Swords Dance, this Tapu Bulu doesn't really need much EVs investment with already 300 Atk points available right from the beginning.
The attacking moves are two: Horn Leech + Rock Slide as coverage move, which is picked over Stone Edge for the accuracy and PP issue.
Swords Dance is the key of this set because now we can double our Atk on a predicted switch-in in order to turn our Bulu into a fearsome attacker.
Taunt is here to shut down set-up sweepers and neutering opposite recovery moves considering the Grassy Terrain.
EVs (spread) and item
240 Spe+ allows this Tapu Bulu to reach 270 Spe points, enough to outspeed 252 Spe Kingdra and Qwilfish (NOT under Rain) by one point.
Max HP to be as much bulky as possible and the remaining EVs into the Atk stat.
The item choice is entirely based on the weaknesses of your team because you have to understand if you are weak to Tornadus-T or to the 2 Charizards.
Team(mates) support
Spe control is mandatory in the form of Sticky Web and/or paralysis because Tapu Bulu is held back by its middling Spe.
Tapu Bulu @ Coba Berry/Occa Berry
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Rock Slide
- Taunt
General idea
With access to Swords Dance, this Tapu Bulu doesn't really need much EVs investment with already 300 Atk points available right from the beginning.
The attacking moves are two: Horn Leech + Rock Slide as coverage move, which is picked over Stone Edge for the accuracy and PP issue.
Swords Dance is the key of this set because now we can double our Atk on a predicted switch-in in order to turn our Bulu into a fearsome attacker.
Taunt is here to shut down set-up sweepers and neutering opposite recovery moves considering the Grassy Terrain.
EVs (spread) and item
240 Spe+ allows this Tapu Bulu to reach 270 Spe points, enough to outspeed 252 Spe Kingdra and Qwilfish (NOT under Rain) by one point.
Max HP to be as much bulky as possible and the remaining EVs into the Atk stat.
The item choice is entirely based on the weaknesses of your team because you have to understand if you are weak to Tornadus-T or to the 2 Charizards.
Team(mates) support
Spe control is mandatory in the form of Sticky Web and/or paralysis because Tapu Bulu is held back by its middling Spe.
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Sub Focus Punch
Tapu Bulu @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Megahorn
This isn't on the listed CB set, so I figure that it's fair game here. Megahorn is really good on CB Bulu for its ability to smack Helmet Tang + the lati twins (mainly latias) in one slot, which seriously improves its ability to bust through balanced teams. The main loss here is that it no longer has a move to hit Zard/Volc, but that's worth the ability to hit the aforementioned targets a lot of the time.
Other sets that can work if anyones looking for ideas: leechtect, lefties natures, dual screens, worry seed defensive
Tapu Bulu @ Buginium Z / Occa Berry
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Megahorn
obv. a bit Torn bait, but that aside it pretty much nukes everything. Bug Z or just Megahorn in general allows for you to dismantle teams that rely on Mega Latias/os or RH Tangrowth to check you, which is more than you may imagine. I like the Z move on it because it also allows you to get OHKOs on these Pokemon, muscle past the rare Amoonguss, and truck other Bulu, which is cool. Occa is nice tho bc of how common Tran is and being able to get around that being a check is super practical for some teams.
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Megahorn
obv. a bit Torn bait, but that aside it pretty much nukes everything. Bug Z or just Megahorn in general allows for you to dismantle teams that rely on Mega Latias/os or RH Tangrowth to check you, which is more than you may imagine. I like the Z move on it because it also allows you to get OHKOs on these Pokemon, muscle past the rare Amoonguss, and truck other Bulu, which is cool. Occa is nice tho bc of how common Tran is and being able to get around that being a check is super practical for some teams.
sub disable
Time to vote guys! There are 9 nominations so far:
Choice Scarf by Ruft
Whirlwind by Solaros & Lunaris
Fightinium Z by Dreadfury
Toxic by JTD783
Assault Vest by Steel With It
Rockium Z by Ceros
SD+Taunt by nameless90
CB Megahorn by Mannat
SD Megahorn by Finchinator
Jordy ReadTheMango ithrowrocksatkids KuraiTenshi26 your submissions weren't included because you haven't filled up your reservations. The deadline is Friday 12th of July.