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We didn't have much of a show in terms of voting this week, so I'd really like to reach out to those not very involved in VotW and/or forum projects overall and encourage you to participate, especially during voting phase which takes little to no effort or time.
Anyways, as for the current situation on tagging people when updating the OP, I've decided to stop tagging people when updating both the archive and the leaderboard. Essentially, when you get placed in a week the only time you'll be tagged is in announcement post.
Eelektross @ Assault Vest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Quiet Nature
- Volt Switch
- Flamethrower
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
You guys have until Tuesday to submit, looking forward to seeing some new faces! Good luck!
OTR Eggy
Alolan Exeggutor uses its dragon typing to counter Eelektross by easily take all of Eel's unique coverage, even not minding Knock Off due to holding a Z crystal. Eggy can then proceed to set up Trick Room and wreck havoc, though mind that a healthy Eelektross can stall a turn of Trick Room by taking a hit.
252+ SpA Exeggutor-Alola Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 271-321 (72.4 - 85.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Turtonator resists all of Eelektross' coverage including Knock Off because of the Dragonium-Z and can set up freely and OHKO Eelektross with +2 Devastating Drake.
+2 252 SpA Turtonator Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 399-471 (106.6 - 125.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Drampa @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 136 HP / 252 SpA / 120 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Hyper Voice
- Fire Blast
- Focus Blast
Can switch into Giga Drain and resist all of Eel's moves (most it takes is 99.7% to 4HKO) and 2HKO it back with Draco Meteor (ish) or Hyper Voice. Still beats it without Choice Specs even if it gets Knocked Off which makes Drampa a nice counter.
252+ SpA Choice Specs Drampa Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 288-339 (77 - 90.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Drampa Draco Meteor over 2 turns vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 384-453 (102.6 - 121.1%) -- guaranteed KO in 2 turns
252+ SpA Choice Specs Drampa Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 199-235 (53.2 - 62.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0- Atk Eelektross Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 136 HP / 0 Def Drampa: 81-96 (24.4 - 29%) -- 99.7% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Eelektross Volt Switch vs. 136 HP / 0 SpD Drampa: 59-69 (17.8 - 20.8%) -- possible 5HKO
252+ SpA Drampa Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 192-226 (51.3 - 60.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Drampa Hyper Voice vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Eelektross: 133-157 (35.5 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Here's one mon that comes to mind when dealing with the electric snake.
Kecleon @ Assault Vest
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk / 172 HP / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Knock Off
-Sucker Punch
-Drain Punch
-Shadow Sneak
Kecleon may be slow, but so is Eelektross. Kecleon also has a base 120 SpDef and most Eelektross run special attacks. So, that's why I thought of this Smogon-provided set to completely counter special Eelektross. Usually, Eel runs Volt Switch, Giga Drain, Flamethrower, and Knock Off/Thunderbolt. All of which Kec can take numerous times. You could forego Sucker Punch or Knock Off in favor of Power Up Punch to get some kick in Kec's attacks. Here's some calcs:
0- Atk Eelektross Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 172 HP / 0 Def Kecleon: 95-112 (31.2 - 36.8%) -- 73.4% chance to 3HKO (This is the damage done if Kecleon still has his AV).
252+ SpA Eelektross Volt Switch vs. 172 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Kecleon: 63-75 (20.7 - 24.6%) -- guaranteed 5HKO (Eel's standard STAB move and still eats at least 5 of these)!
252+ SpA Eelektross Giga Drain vs. 172 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Kecleon: 45-53 (14.8 - 17.4%) -- possible 6HKO (Laughable damage, not enough to keep it going against Kecleon).
252+ SpA Eelektross Flamethrower vs. 172 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Kecleon: 53-63 (17.4 - 20.7%) -- possible 5HKO (This is the one move that could beat Kec only because of the 10% chance for burn, other than that, Kec wins).
252+ SpA Eelektross Flamethrower vs. 172 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Kecleon: 53-63 (17.4 - 20.7%) -- possible 5HKO (Even Eel's best, most usable STAB move is a 5HKO).
You could also run a Life Orb set, but you sacrifice the SpDef help for attack power because notice the set does not give you any SpDef investment. But the AV takes care of that. 276 SpDef w/o AV, 414 SpDef w/AV.
Submitting the set I've had the highest number of successful Eel KOs with as a check. The definition of a check is "if given a free switch, Pokémon will win every time with no hax". Since Eel fails to OHKO and Tort will almost always OHKO (and always 2HKO without burn), it fulfills this definition.
Torterra @ Grassium Z
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Wood Hammer
- Synthesis
At first glance, this doesn't really look like much, since Tort is guaranteed to be 2HKO'd by Eel on the predicted switch (though I'm not arguing for it to be a counter).
252+ SpA Eelektross Flamethrower vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Torterra: 214-252 (54.4 - 64.1%)
However, Torterra is guaranteed to outspeed and OHKO this Eel set in return with Z-Wood Hammer after rocks (80% to OHKO without rocks)
252+ Atk Torterra Bloom Doom (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eelektross: 363-427 (97 - 114.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Even if they fear the Wood Hammer or Z-move, the Eel will NOT be staying in against even an uninvested Torterra, as it will severely chunk Eel - by and large a more useful Mon throughout the course of the match. Switching out isn't within the definition of 'check', but the fact that Torterra forces the Eel to either switch out or be KO'd fulfills that definition.
0 Atk Torterra Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eelektross: 168-198 (44.9 - 52.9%)
Additionally, even without the Z-crystal, Torterra KOs Eel from within Overgrow range; because Eel does so much on the switch, it is NOT difficult for Torterra to be within this range. It dies from recoil damage from most ranges (takes 31% in recoil), but takes out one of the most effective blanket check Pokémon in the tier while doing it.
252+ Atk Overgrow Torterra Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eelektross: 343-405 (91.7 - 108.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
As an aside, this set is actually surprisingly easy to fit into bulky offense or offense teams that want a z-user. Torterra is very good in the current meta, and its raw power with Z-Wood Hammer is not to be underrated.
Zangoose is a solid check, simply OHKOing with a Facade after Toxic Orb has activated, even when using Jolly over Adamant. Swords Dance can be used over Close Combat, but I far and beyond prefer AoA. Now that Jolly Skuntank is becoming less obligatory with the departure of Magmortar, you can also afford an Adamant nature; however, Jolly still finds use in outspeeding Adamant Kangaskhan 100% of the time, as well as Pokemon such as Shiftry, Mesprit, Skuntank, Pinsir, etc. with a +Speed nature.
(I would've nominated Stoutland, but the possibility that it will rise to NU steered me away from it.)
(Kecleon and Alolan Exeggutor were submitted as counters and checks, respectively, but I deemed them the opposite due to Kecleon not taking Knock Off + 2 Volt Switches particularly well, and because Alolan Exeggutor takes little to nothing from any of Eelektross' attacks.)
Get your votes in by Friday!
EDIT: Sorry for not pointing this out, but vote for 2 checks and 2 counters.
Carracosta @ White Herb
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Shell Smash
- Stone Edge
- Aqua Jet
- Hydro Pump
Carracosta is an offensive check, being able to stomach super-effective attacks thanks to Solid Rock and then fire back with a +2 Stone Edge, while never being 2HKO'd by any combination of Kanga's attacks.
252+ Atk Kangaskhan Power-Up Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Solid Rock Carracosta: 46-55 (15.9 - 19%)
+1 252+ Atk Kangaskhan Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Solid Rock Carracosta: 169-201 (58.4 - 69.5%)
+2 252+ Atk Carracosta Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kangaskhan: 379-447 (107.9 - 127.3%)
Gourgeist Small is a Counter to Kangaskhan, being able to outspeed it and Will-O-Wisp without fearing Sucker Punch, enabling it to set up sub seed for free.
Kangaskhan @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Double-Edge
- Sucker Punch
- Focus Punch / Hammer Arm
or any other Kanga set really This particular variation of kangaskhan serves as an offensive check, being able to come in through the means of a slow U-turn / Parting Shot. This variation easily ohkos opposing kangaskhan with an all out pummelling whilst silk scarf variants must rely on some prior damage - most commonly a round of entry hazards, a round of fake out or double edge recoil - to reliably ohko it. Silk Scarf variants also have to risk the speed tie, potentially having to take upwards of 70% of damage, on top of recoil.
Avalugg serves as a check here. Avalugg can always come in on Kangaskhan's hits. Even it's best STAB (Double-Edge). Avalugg does have reliable recovery with its leftovers and Recover. Avalugg can also use Toxic to wear down Kangaskhan and use Recover to let Kang defeat itself. Avalugg's biggest problem is rocks, but it can get rid of them with Rapid Spin. Here are some calcs:
252+ Atk Silk Scarf Kangaskhan Fake Out vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Avalugg: 36-43 (9.1 - 10.9%) -- hardly anything 252+ Atk Silk Scarf Kangaskhan Double-Edge vs. 252 HP / 104+ Def Avalugg: 105-124 (26.6 - 31.4%) -- 24.6% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery-- This shows that Avalugg can take hits!
Sucker Punch and EQ don't do any better than Double-Edge. There is the possibility that Kangaskhan will run Power-Up Punch to help itself but Avalanche can help here.
88 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kangaskhan: 193-228 (54.9 - 64.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO -- This is assuming Avalugg gets hit first