Project PU Matchmaking! Season 3, Week 5: Rotom-Frost! (Submission phase)

[Lost Soul]

Dodrio and Exeggutor-Alola

 

[Oathkeeper]

 

[PH]

Eggy and Mesprit

 

[PTF]

Voting has ended.​

Congratulations to Broken Phobias for winning this weeks Matchmaking! You are this weeks cupid and your submission of Exeggutor-Alola has won with a total of six votes! You have earned two points and you are currently first on the leaderboard.

You could see the winning core here: +

In second place with 4 votes is Offensive Mesprit by Aaronboyer! When isn't Mesprit the ultimate match providing healing wish, a fighting check and Stealth Rocks! You have won one point which places you second on the leaderboard.

Check the core here: +


Special shoutout to normal spam with Dodrio by UberSkitty.

Congratulations everyone and thank you for a killer first week kicking off the revamp!

~~~

Week 2
Sandslash-Alola. ​

This weeks submission is Alolaslash and has been really good in the current meta - packing a tonne of role compression. It probably is our best spinner currently and the meta has been slowly adapting to this mon by preparing lures with Hidden Power Fighting on Oriciorio Pom Pom and Articuno. Don't just focus on hail - SpDef Alolaslash is awesome!

There will be no reservations from here on in. Good luck!

​

 

[Aaronboyer]

Aurorus @ Choice Specs
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Blizzard
- Freeze-Dry
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power Rock

Aurorus + Alolan Sandslash form the iconic offensive Hail duo, where Aurorus sets up hail with Snow Warning for Alolan Sandslash and puts an immense amount of offensive pressure on the opposing team while Alolan Sandslash can now outspeed and can eliminate common Hidden Power Fighting lures such as Oricorio-Pom-Pom and Articuno for the typical SpDef set with Icicle Crash and Iron Head respectively.

 

[Oathkeeper]

Mesprit @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Psychic
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock
- Healing Wish

Alolaslash doesn't like Chan and Gurdurr with their Mach Punches and Defensive Mesprit eats up anything they throw at it and beats them right back with a simple Psychic or two.

0 SpA Mesprit Psychic vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Gurdurr: 236-278 (63.1 - 74.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

0 SpA Mesprit Psychic vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Hitmonchan: 126-150 (41.7 - 49.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (Chan ain't doing much back)

It can also come in on Primeape and deal with it too as well as other mons that give Alolaslash a hard time such as: Qwilfish, Poliwrath, and Weezing!

 

[j0gurt]

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Recover
- Toxic

Quagsire+SpDef Sandslash-Alola forms a solid defensive core that can neutralize most of each other's checks. For one, Quagsire checks the Fighting-types that would force Alolan Sandslash out like Hitmonchan, Primape, and most importantly Gurdurr, which Quagsire flat out counters. Alolan Sandslash, in turn, checks the majority of Grass-types that would immediately threaten Quagsire such as Roselia and non-Hidden Power Fire Lilligant. I would recommend ToxTect Alolan Sandslash in this core as it gives you a chance to manage both Alolan Exeggutor sets if you predict it switching in on Quagsire and switch accordingly.

252 Atk Primeape Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 135-160 (34.2 - 40.6%) -- 53.5% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Life Orb Iron Fist Hitmonchan Drain Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 144-172 (36.5 - 43.6%) -- 98.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[PH]

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 160 SpA / 96 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Focus Blast
- Toxic
- Protect

Poliwrath and Alolan Sandslash have pretty good synergy here as Poli is able to beat many of Sandslash's checks such as Chan and scarf Primeape while Alolan Sandslash is able to check Poli's checks such as offensive Mesprit and Alolachu. This allows for a very bulky core that can be pretty good if used correctly

 

[ishtar]

Sableye @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Night Shade

Sableye and Alolan Sandslash form a powerful defensive core against many attackers and setup sweepers in the tier due to their natural bulk, utility and great typing.
Sableye can check common Fighting-type threats like Gurdurr and Hitmonchan by being immune to their STAB moves and punishing the use of other physical attacks due to the use of the Rocky Helmet. In return, Alolan Sandslash can threaten Fairy types that trouble Sableye and a plethora of special attackers like Lilligant and Oricorio-Pom Pom(though it must scout for potential lures) as well as doing considerable amounts of damage to wallbreakers like Alolan Exeggutor. Sableye is also able to spin block, which helps keep Alolan Sandslash's hazards up.

Finally, it must be pointed out that Simisear and special Combusken are a huge issue to this core, since neither of the partnered mons are able to check them reliably. Use hazards as well as partners like Lanturn, faster attackers and priority users to keep these threats in check.

Relevant calcs:

Sableye Night Shade vs. 252 HP Gurdurr: 100-100 (26.7 - 26.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

Sableye Night Shade vs. 244 HP Hitmonchan: 100-100 (33.1 - 33.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

Sableye Night Shade vs. 0 HP Primeape: 100-100 (36.9 - 36.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[PTF]

Time to vote! Two votes each like normal.

Specs Jigglypuff and I took the time to make a video sharing our thoughts on this week's submissions. Check it out.

This weeks matches to our poor and lonely Alolaslash are:

Aaronboyer's Specs Aurorus:

Oathkeepre's Mesprit:

j0gurt's Quagsire:

PhantomHurious's Poliwrath:

KellyKafka's Sableye:

​

 

[PH]

Aurorus and Sableye

the sableye description was just too good lol.

 

[gum]

Aurorus and Poliwrath

 

[Greybaum]

Aurorus and Sableye.

 

[Oathkeeper]

 

[sugar ovens]

Quagsire and Poliwrath

 

[Taptricity]

Aurorus and Sableye

 

[sketchy ecchi]

Mesprit and Sableye

 

[PTF]

Congratulations to Aaronboyer and KellyKafka for winning this weeks Matchmaking in a tie!

The winning cores are:

Aaronboyer's + and KellyKafka's +

.
​

You both will be awarded two points each which puts you in a strong position of winning PU's First Top Cupid. Shoutout to everyone else who submitted their matches. Special shoutout to KellyKafka because your post was top notch. I think the community as a whole is quite impressed by everyone's submissions and now that you guys are going to be discussed on YouTube by Specs and I, I'm pretty sure the quality of posts will exceed the high level it has been in these past two weeks. Good job everyone!!

Week 3: Minior

​

This week we are matching the newest addition to our tier - Minior. I hope this week inspires you to learn more about Minior - what it excels at, what mons pressure it, what mons stop it. For reference, Minior's checks and counters were discussed in this weeks Victim of the Week. Don't be scared to add a little detail in your explanations - everyone appreciates it! Good luck and let's not keep the poor and lonely Minior - single.

 

[ishtar]

Z Simisear.

Simisear @ Firium Z.

Ability: Blaze

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Fire Blast

- Focus Blast

- Grass Knot

- Nasty Plot

Simisear is a powerful offensive threat in the PU metagame due to its uncommon typing for the tier and its access to moves like Fire Blast, Focus Blast, Grass Knot and Nasty Plot.

It’s essential to name some of the answers that players have been using to beat or stop this mon before going in depth into the match that has been chosen for it. Some of these have been: Quagsire, Metang, Regirock, Bronzor, Eelektross, Pyukumuku, Oricorio Pom-Pom and a series of priority users.

Nasty Plot Simisear is able to outspeed most of the known mons that threaten Minior and can OHKO some of them with the use of a Z-Move. Quagsire is also the only one that can threaten to OHKO Simisear back with Earthquake. The next calcs show that, at +2, you're guaranteed to OHKO all of these threats with the respective coverage or use of a Z move except for Regirock, which has a 18.7% chance of surviving.

Calcs.

252 SpA Simisear Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Quagsire: 408-484 (103.5 - 122.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

4 Atk Quagsire Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Simisear: 276-326 (94.8 - 112%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO

+2 252 SpA Simisear Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 156 SpD Mudsdale: 414-488 (102.4 - 120.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Simisear Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Metang: 236-282 (72.8 - 87%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Simisear Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Metang: 398-470 (122.8 - 145%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 SpA Simisear Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 200 SpD Regirock: 354-418 (97.2 - 114.8%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Simisear Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 112 SpD Eviolite Bronzor: 200-236 (62.8 - 74.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Simisear Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 112 SpD Eviolite Bronzor: 332-392 (104.4 - 123.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 SpA Simisear Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 397-468 (106.1 - 125.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Simisear Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Oricorio-Pom-Pom: 198-234 (55.9 - 66.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Simisear Inferno Overdrive (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Oricorio-Pom-Pom: 333-393 (94 - 111%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO

Sub Gluttony Simisear.

Simisear @ Iapapa Berry

Ability: Gluttony

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Fire Blast

- Focus Blast

- Grass Knot

- Substitute

Simisear is able to beat threats like Lycanroc and Mudsdale, which can trouble Minior, by utilizing a Substitute set. This set takes advantage of its ability Gluttony and the move Substitute to be able to take an Accelerock from Lycanroc and KO it with Focus Blast. In the same way, Simisear can 2HKO Mudsdale with Grass Knot and prevent being OHKO’d by being behind a sub. Finally, the Sub set is able to wall Pyukumuku and force it out.

Calcs.

252 SpA Simisear Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Lycanroc: 306-362 (105.1 - 124.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 SpA Simisear Grass Knot (60 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Lycanroc: 154-182 (52.9 - 62.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Simisear Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 156 SpD Mudsdale: 208-246 (51.4 - 60.8%) -- 92.6% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Note.

This set also KOs Absol, which does a considerable amount of damage to Minior with Sucker Punch. Can also utilize Blaze on this set as well. The idea for the Substitute set came from the Taskr vs. HJAD battle during PU Seasonals so shoutout to Taskr. This one does not have Nasty Plot though, since you kinda need Grass Knot and Focus Blast in order to threaten both Mudsdale and Lycanroc since the latter isn't OHKO'd by the grass move.

As a conclusion it must be noted that Simisear will usually come in to threaten these mons after a partner has fainted, with the right prediction or through a slow U-turn since it usually can't take hits from most of these threats. Take advantage of the many mons that Simi forces out due to its coverage to NP or Sub, since it is able to beat all of the aformentioned threats reliably after setting up. Players must have a more solid answer to some of the bulky waters and grounds, since a good build shouldn't rely on only a fire type to check or counter the aforementioned mons. What Simisear does best is pressuring the opposing team's answer(s) to Minior by having a varied movepool and a great offensive typing.

Hazards are great for weakening the opposing team and letting Simisear OHKO all Minior's answers without the need of a NP. I also considered Lilligant for this post since it beats most of the grounds and waters, but it fails to break through the steels like Metang and Bronzor. Equally, some of the choice mons in the tier are amazing at doing big amounts of damage but often have trouble keeping momentum and can be easily exploitablable due to their item. QD Lilligant deserves to be mentioned though, since it compliments Simisear and Minior by helping beat or force out mons like Quag and Mudsdale as well as being able to put an opponent's mon to sleep. Same can be said about other grass types who very well function as great partners for these two and help Simisear fulfill its main role. Simisear and Minior are two powerful setup sweepers complimenting one another and that's why I think they're such a powerful match.

Thanks for reading.

 

[tondas]

Persian-Alola @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Thunderbolt
- Parting Shot

breaks past walls like regirock, outpaces various mons that threatens minior before setup like alolachu lycanroc duggy etc. and koes them all which is a major perk over arguably best partner alolan exeggutor (someone already reserved :{), and lastly it provides momentum and setup chances through parting shot.

e: unboosted black hole eclipse also has a 50/50 chance of KOing pom pom after rocks which is neat bc that thing is annoying for sub minior if it's above around 70%.

 

[Oathkeeper]

Neckboi (Exeggutor-Alola) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Leaf Storm
- Flamethrower
- Giga Drain

Eggy-A pairs really well with recent drop Minior. The reason being is that Minior can't deal with the Unaware users in Pyukumuku and Quagsire that make Minior's Shell Smash pointless and any other bulky mons out there like Jellicent, Mesprit, Mudsdale, Regirock, Eelektross, and Shuca Berry Alolaslash. Minior just has a hard time either setting up on these mons or hitting them once it does. All of these mons can take 1 hit from a respective attack and then hit back. Each of them have the chance to switch into a Shell Smash from Minior or they're toast.

So, this is where Eggy comes in. Eggy-A can deal with all of these guys. Eggy-A easily OHKOs Quag, Pyukumuku, non Specs Jellicent, and Regirock with Leaf Storm. Mesprit, assuming it doesn't have Ice Beam, can go down to a Draco or Storm 3/8 times at full. Alolaslash just drops to a Specs Flamethrower. The best part of Eggy-A? It can almost switch in on all of these threats with minimal risk! I do say almost because Alolaslash has Icicle Crash and goes faster than Eggy. Jellicent could be running Ice Beam and so can Mesprit.

 

[Aaronboyer]

Sandslash-Alola @ Leftovers
Ability: Slush Rush
EVs: 252 HP / 208 SpD / 48 Spe
Careful Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake

Specially Defensive Alolan Sandslash pairs nicely with Minior, as it can remove Stealth Rock from play, intoxicate Quagsire, Pyukumuku, and Regirock on the switch, and handles Oricorio-Pom-Pom which would otherwise check Minior sets lacking Rock STAB, among other things.

 

[jonago]

Pinsir @ Buginium Z
Ability: Moldbreaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- X-Scissor
- Knock Off/Stone Edge/Substitute*
- Earthquake​

► I think the best partner for Minior is SD - Moldbreaker Pinsir. Not only does Moldbreaker allow Pinsir to ignore Levitate and nab a kill on Eelektross, it also allows it to SD on the switchin to Quagsire/Pyukumuku and kill them afterwards with a +2 Z-Move. That means you have to break with Pinsir earlygame so Minior can win. There is where I see them both synergize well.
► The set is self-explanatory. The third moveslot is very variable since Knock only hits Jelli for effective damage (which doesn't do anything, sadly) and Edge hits Oricorio Pompom. I prefer Knock Off because it is possible to knock off important items like Scarfs, Eviolites or Lefties.

Quag/Pyuku Calcs

+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 408-480 (103.5 - 121.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Pyukumuku: 306-360 (97.4 - 114.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery

► With, arguably, the best counters to the classic SubSmash set in check, I'll go a bit deeper into why I think Pinsir is the perfect partner for Minior.
Next to Quag and Pyuku there are some more checks to Minior.
► Pokemon like Mudsdale, Regirock, utility Jellicent*, bulky Mesprit, Qwilfish, Shuca Berry Alolan Sandslash and the old newcomer Gastrodon, which all check Minior defensively, are getting lured and/or killed/chipped.
► Of course, that comes with the cost of you having to setup. However, most of the time Pinsir eats one hit and can retaliate with the boosted attack. And considering the fact, that most people often times only have one real good answer to Minior, that helps you out a bunch for your gameplan.

More calcs

+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mudsdale: 366-432 (90.5 - 106.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery
56+ Atk Mudsdale Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Pinsir: 200-236 (73.8 - 87%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Regirock: 220-259 (60.4 - 71.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Regirock Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Pinsir: 216-254 (79.7 - 93.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 224+ Def Jellicent: 234-276 (57.9 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
*that calc is the reason why one might consider using Substitute in the third moveslot

defensive Mesprit dies lol

+1 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Qwilfish: 362-428 (108.3 - 128.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Qwilfish: 254-300 (76 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Shuca Berry Sandslash-Alola: 181-213 (62.1 - 73.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Sandslash-Alola: 216-255 (74.2 - 87.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252 Atk Mold Breaker Pinsir Savage Spin-Out (160 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Gastrodon: 465-547 (109.4 - 128.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Leftovers recovery

► Despite Pinsir being really good on paper against defensive checks, it struggles with offensive threats like Lycanroc, Oricorio Pompom (with Stone Edge you can only hit it on the switch), strong priority users (Kang, Skuntank) or other faster pokemon (Scarf Swanna, Alola Raichu, Alolan Persian still checks Minior defensively, while checking Pinsir offensively).
► But that can be dealt with with the rest of the team. A simple Scarfer like Primeape checks a ton of the last listed mons, so building around that shouldn't be too difficult. Also Healing Wish Mesprit is a nice partner so Pinsir can recover of the damage it took from Rocktyoe moves (from Mudsdale/Regirock).

 

[UberSkitty]

Remember when people thought this mon was gonna rise to UU lol

Froslass (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
- Hex / Ice Beam
- Destiny Bond

What's a good setup mon without their Spikes, and I find Froslass to be the Spiker alongside Minior. A major reason for this is in Destiny Bond, since Froslass can lure in Pokemon like Skuntank and take it down so that it can't revenge kill Minior. Destiny Bond can also work against mons like Gurdurr and Regirock. Froslass can also run Will-O-Wisp to cripple and wear down mons like Skuntank and Regirock, or go Taunt in attempt to keep hazards off the field and help. It can also run Ice Beam over Hex if you really hate stuff like Oricorio-Pom-Pom. Oh yeah, did I mention it gets Spikes?

 

[PTF]

RIP
Minior
Sunday 6th January 2019 - Saturday 12 January 2019.​

Minior has been quickbanned. Unfortunate because this week we had 6 stellar posts that went above and beyond every other week. This thread encases posts that arguably showcase the most effort on PU's entire subforum. Just scroll up yourselves and look how well thought-out and visually appealing each post is! Great job as always but this week - damn, you guys killed it.

Week 4: Raichu-Alola​

Now onto more happier news, we have a new single mon that is lonely and wants to find a lover. This weeks single mon is:

Raichu-A has a lot of love to share and no one to share it with. Let's find it a match. On a more serious note, Alolachu is a really good mid-to-late game sweeper with a great speed tier and a wide movepool to cover its checks including Grass Knot and Psyshock. Alolachu has become much better with the rise of one of its major checks - Toge from PU to NU. Alolachu was discussed on Victim of the Week a while ago - so check out the checks and counters posted in there. The set you want to match is solely up to you, it could be scarf, NP Sweeper or Specs Jigglypuff.

Good luck and lets hook Alolachu up!​