Resource Simple Questions, Simple Answers

Hey, I haven’t played Ubers in a while, and when I saw the newest edition of the VR I got myself asking, what caused Groudon, Lando-T, and Rayquaza to rise so much? What are good sets to run on them?
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Groudon slices through the common Yveltal/Eternatus/Necrozma Dusk Mane core that is seen on most teams. It's extremely flexible with a bulky booster set, double dancer, and defensive set all being viable options
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Landorus Therian is a good defensive pivot with Stealth Rock/Defog and works as a check to Groudon, Necrozma, and Zekrom. Its slow U-turn is also useful for safely bringing in a teammate
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Rayquaza's Choice Band set is a fearsome breaker with Dragon Ascent slamming most of the tier. Its V-create can also eviscerate Necrozma and Extreme Speed is useful against weakened targets and hyper offense
 
View attachment 391086 Groudon slices through the common Yveltal/Eternatus/Necrozma Dusk Mane core that is seen on most teams. It's extremely flexible with a bulky booster set, double dancer, and defensive set all being viable options
View attachment 391088Landorus Therian is a good defensive pivot with Stealth Rock/Defog and works as a check to Groudon, Necrozma, and Zekrom. Its slow U-turn is also useful for safely bringing in a teammate
View attachment 391087 Rayquaza's Choice Band set is a fearsome breaker with Dragon Ascent slamming most of the tier. Its V-create can also eviscerate Necrozma and Extreme Speed is useful against weakened targets and hyper offense
Ty very much!! I’ll for sure try them now!
 

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What's the reason why some Eternatus run Draco Meteor?
there can be quite a few depending on the set, but the damage increase is noticeable.

4 SpA Eternatus Dynamax Cannon vs. 204 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 312-368 (76.4 - 90.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

4 SpA Eternatus Draco Meteor vs. 204 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 408-480 (100 - 117.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

For example, this can be crucial when trying to not get Glare'd with Eternatus in a situation where doing so loses the game. Another one that's popped up more recently is Eject Pack. Switching out when hitting a Dusk Mane is huge, letting in breakers like Choice Specs Kyogre, Dracovish, or just Magnezone to trap it freely. On offensive sets Draco Meteor just hits like a nuke.

252+ SpA Life Orb Eternatus Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 72 SpD Yveltal: 309-367 (67.9 - 80.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Calcs like this are no joke, practically killing after any hit prior. So Draco Meteor has pretty solid uses overall, just needs to be picked right when compared to dmax cannon or dpulse.
 
How do I deal with Sub Twave Ogre set?
Usually, applying offensive pressure should be enough. You can threaten to poison/damage it with faster stuff like Etern and Yveltal, revenge kill it with Marshadow (Spectral Thief goes through sub). Zekrom is an excellent offensive answer which can't be paralyzed.

This Kyogre set is heavily dependent on its item too, so stuff like Knock Off NDM can also be a nuisance since Kyogre is supposed to switch in safely against it. Bullet Seed Ferrothorn also 1v1s this set quite comfortably.
 

Garrett

Banned deucer.
I noticed Zamazenta-C is in the B ranks in the VR now. I remember it being completely, hilariously unviable -- what happened?
I don't know about unviable ever, but it was definitely thought to be much worse than other physical walls like Defensive Zygarde, Xerneas, and Don, and therefore undeserving of a higher VR spot. Some testing proved that otherwise. Its real niche is being a Knock absorber so Etern/Xern can run offensive/setup sets and maintain their item. It also has a very good matchup against Zarude + Yveltal cores, so there's another reason. Given the kind of meta Ubers is (being that less mons make the top cut), mons in A and higher are much better than those in B, which are far better than those in C, etc. I think B- is fair.
 
Hi does Kyurem-Black outclass Calyrex-Ice? If no, why not? Thanks for any replies
If you looked at the VR you'd see it's the opposite: Calyrex-I is B- (somewhat niche but still very much viable) while Kyurem-B is D (completely unviable in Ubers but too strong for OU). If I had to guess why, it might be because of Calyrex's superior bulk and access to useful utility in moves like Leech Seed, as well as Kyurem-Black being entirely outclassed by Zekrom as a Dragon Dance sweeper.

EDIT: Neither should probably be your first choice for an offensive Ice-type though. Scarf GalarDarm is probably the best Ice breaker in the tier thanks to Gorilla Tactics, and Weavile is a glass cannon with a great matchup against the metagame as a whole thanks to its typing. If you want to use Calyrex-I, focus on the things it can do that Garm and Weavile can't, like SubSeed and Trick Room (though Necrozma-DM is the better Trick Room setter). If you want to use Kyurem-B... just use Zekrom lol.
 
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Hi, would someone please suggest a good team that has pretty good Weavile & Dracovish matchups, without being Webs or Stall?

And then would you also please say 1 or 2 sentences about the strategy with the team versus them, like for example how to play more aggressively or some other strategy?
 

igiveuponaname

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Could Tapu Lele work in Ubers alongside Paralysis support? I could see it pairing well with Calyrex-S because it's Psychic Terrain would block Marshadow's Shadow Sneak, as well as being able to hit Yveltal hard with Moonblast. My overall knowledge of the tier is still rather lackluster imo and I would appreciate any answers.
 
Hi, would someone please suggest a good team that has pretty good Weavile & Dracovish matchups, without being Webs or Stall?

And then would you also please say 1 or 2 sentences about the strategy with the team versus them, like for example how to play more aggressively or some other strategy?
Zamazenta @ Choice Band

Ability: Dauntless Shield

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Close Combat

- Crunch

- Wild Charge

- Ice Fang



Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers

Ability: Prism Armor

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 60 Def / 154 SpD / 4 Spe

Adamant Nature

- Earthquake

- Sunsteel Strike

- Moonlight

- Swords Dance



Eternatus @ Black Sludge

Ability: Pressure

EVs: 244 HP / 240 SpD / 24 Spe

Timid Nature

- Dragon Tail

- Recover

- Dynamax Cannon

- Mystical Fire



Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots

Ability: Dark Aura

EVs: 244 HP / 48 Atk / 216 SpD

Adamant Nature

IVs: 30 Spe

- Knock Off

- Roost

- Defog

- U-turn



Tangrowth @ Rocky Helmet

Ability: Regenerator

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 10 SpD

Relaxed Nature

- Grass Knot

- Knock Off

- Earthquake

- Leech Seed



Ditto @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Imposter

EVs: 248 HP / 10 Atk / 252 Def

Relaxed Nature

IVs: 0 Spe

- Transform

Zamazenta @ Black Belt

Ability: Dauntless Shield

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Close Combat

- Crunch

- Reversal

- Endure



Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers

Ability: Prism Armor

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 252 HP / 18 Def / 200 SpD / 40 Spe

Careful Nature

- Thunder Wave

- Iron Head

- Moonlight

- Stealth Rock



Eternatus @ Black Sludge

Ability: Pressure

EVs: 244 HP / 240 SpD / 24 Spe

Timid Nature

- Dragon Tail

- Recover

- Dynamax Cannon

- Mystical Fire



Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots

Ability: Dark Aura

EVs: 244 HP / 48 Atk / 216 SpD

Adamant Nature

IVs: 30 Spe

- Knock Off

- Roost

- Defog

- U-turn



Tangrowth @ Rocky Helmet

Ability: Regenerator

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 10 SpD

Relaxed Nature

- Grass Knot

- Knock Off

- Earthquake

- Leech Seed



Ditto @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Imposter

EVs: 248 HP / 10 Atk / 252 Def

Relaxed Nature

IVs: 0 Spe

- Transform


Against dracovish just switch tangrowth. Zamazenta outspeeds even scarf variants. Ditto can switch in fishious rend if needed (or eternatus). Against weavile you have Zamazenta but triple axel do strong damage and knock off cripples zamazenta a lot. Tangrowth can be switched for rocky helmet damage, but not the best play.


Could Tapu Lele work in Ubers alongside Paralysis support? I could see it pairing well with Calyrex-S because it's Psychic Terrain would block Marshadow's Shadow Sneak, as well as being able to hit Yveltal hard with Moonblast. My overall knowledge of the tier is still rather lackluster imo and I would appreciate any answers.

Slurpuff @ Focus Sash

Ability: Unburden

EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Hasty Nature

IVs: 27 HP / 0 Atk / 0 Def / 0 SpD

- Misty Explosion

- Magic Coat

- Sticky Web

- Yawn



Eternatus @ Power Herb

Ability: Pressure

EVs: 8 HP / 252 SpA / 98 SpD / 152 Spe

Modest Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Dynamax Cannon

- Flamethrower

- Meteor Beam

- Sludge Bomb



Yveltal @ Heavy-Duty Boots

Ability: Dark Aura

EVs: 4 HP / 176 SpA / 78 SpD / 252 Spe

Modest Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Dark Pulse

- Oblivion Wing

- Taunt

- Roost



Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Life Orb

Ability: Prism Armor

EVs: 136 HP / 252 Atk / 120 Spe

Adamant Nature

- Sunsteel Strike

- Earthquake

- Dragon Dance

- Photon Geyser



Tapu Lele @ Life Orb

Ability: Psychic Surge

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Psychic

- Moonblast

- Taunt

- Shadow Ball



Calyrex-Shadow @ Focus Sash

Ability: As One (Spectrier)

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Astral Barrage

- Psyshock

- Nasty Plot

- Draining Kiss

Webs is other possibility for use tapu lele. Sadly isn't enough useful with necrozma-DM being used in the majority of the good teams.
 
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Against dracovish just switch tangrowth. Zamazenta outspeeds even scarf variants. Ditto can switch in fishious rend if needed (or eternatus). Against weavile you have Zamazenta but triple axel do strong damage and knock off cripples zamazenta a lot. Tangrowth can be switched for rocky helmet damage, but not the best play.
thanks a bunch! I didn't realize you could build a viable team for ubers with tang, and also I didn't know regular Zama was faster than C or that it even had enough speed to outrun scarf vish, thats pretty cool to know.
 

Garrett

Banned deucer.
Could Tapu Lele work in Ubers alongside Paralysis support? I could see it pairing well with Calyrex-S because it's Psychic Terrain would block Marshadow's Shadow Sneak, as well as being able to hit Yveltal hard with Moonblast. My overall knowledge of the tier is still rather lackluster imo and I would appreciate any answers.
People have absolutely toyed with psychic terrain support with caly-s. I personally think the best try to make it work is caly-s using the Psychic Terrain move itself, and pairing it with a mewtwo so that the two together muscle through Yveltal. The main issue with this strategy is you make opposing caly-s even more threatening to you, especially Scarf or Sash.

Lele is probably not viable because it allows NDM to set up stealth rocks for very little damage taken in the process. Mewtwo can consider fire blast.
 

Garrett

Banned deucer.
Hi, would someone please suggest a good team that has pretty good Weavile & Dracovish matchups, without being Webs or Stall?

And then would you also please say 1 or 2 sentences about the strategy with the team versus them, like for example how to play more aggressively or some other strategy?
Inherently the best teams against those two are teams different than which gave rise to them in the first place: really fat. A general balance or offense with a calyrex-s or offensive xerneas usually wins the long game. It’s good to understand that you don’t beat dracovish by outlasting fishious rend 99% of the time, you beat it by abusing the fact that Kyogre + Dracovish stacks weaknesses and there are defensive holes in that sort of team structure for you to abuse. Weavile is similar. Sometimes you just need to play more offensive against those teams.
 
Has there been / is there an effective Semi-TR HO/BO team? I'm thinking using TR Calyrex-Ice + TR NDM and wondered what existing teams have used this combo.
 
Could Tapu Lele work in Ubers alongside Paralysis support? I could see it pairing well with Calyrex-S because it's Psychic Terrain would block Marshadow's Shadow Sneak, as well as being able to hit Yveltal hard with Moonblast. My overall knowledge of the tier is still rather lackluster imo and I would appreciate any answers.
I feel like Lele can be made to work in Ubers, but not as an offensive threat, it's easily stopped by Necro DM and just outclassed by Caly-S. I experimented w Lele as a Terrain Setter suport on a psychic spam webs offense, much in the vein of Gen 7 Ubers. W the boost from Psychic terrain, Caly-s, and especially Mewtwo become very hard to answer. Mewtwo can break through it's and Caly's checks, and the terrain makes Marshadow a victim instead of a threat, while occasional Yveltal Sucker Punch won't work either. A set for Lele w Nature's madness and taunt, IMO, is the most effective to run
 
Is scarf yveltal still good?
Scarf Yveltal is good in a situational sense. There will always be a better choice scarf user to invest into in the tier's actual state since Yveltal is more used defensively for the top threats.
You would need to fulfill Yveltal's role as a defensive backbone to have it as a choice scarf user. But it will not be like an offensive team that relies on Yveltal as the main check and breaker (see Life orb/Black Glasses sets with Taunt).

An example of a team with it would be like this https://pokepast.es/ca1f662c9f99fa72
Here Mandibuzz takes what would be like Yveltal's role as a Defog user and is paired with Scarf Yveltal who can check an incoming Calyrex-Shadow set (Choice set or Sub set) and respond accordingly. Mandibuzz helps the team and Yveltal with Defog and by being a check to some offensive threats, while Yveltal helps the team with its Revenge Killer role (the team being weak to Galarian Darmanitan). Hope it helps!
 
Could Marshadow with focus sash, spectral thief, shadow ball, shadow sneak, and close combat be any good?
And if not, how could I make my marshadow better and how many could be usable?
 

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