Specially Defensive (Muk-Alola) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab / Clear Smog
- Pain Split / Sleep Talk
- Rest
[SET COMMENTS]
Possessing an unique typing and decent bulk, Alolan Muk is one of the best Calyrex-S checks on stall teams. Thanks to this typing, Alolan Muk comfortably takes on Calyrex-S's Astral Barrage and Psychic STAB moves, along with the Fairy-type neutrality letting it check Tera Fairy Calyrex-S better than other Dark-types like Mandibuzz and Ting-Lu. However, Mandibuzz is still a frequent competitor on stall teams due to having a more consistent recovery option in Roost. Knock Off OHKOes Calyrex-S while the lack of switch-ins in the metagame makes it a great progress making move. It removes Leftovers from Ting-Lu and Heavy-Duty Boots from Miraidon, Arceus, Ho-Oh, and Kyogre, synergizing with entry hazards by set by Alolan Muk's teammates. Poison Jab hits Tera Fairy Calyrex-S and Arceus-Fairy, 2HKOing the former. The poison chance, further boosted by Poison Touch allows Alolan Muk to slowly wear down bulky switch-ins like Ting-Lu and defensive Arceus formes. Clear Smog halts set-up sweepers like Tera Fairy Nasty Plot Calyrex-S and Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy from overwhelming Alolan Muk with stat boosts. Rest is Alolan Muk's primary source of healing but due to the commonly used Miraidon's Hadron Engine, it is unreliable. Pain Split is another option for recovery that isn't blocked by Electric Terrain and reduces Alolan Muk's dependency on Rest for staying healthy. Sleep Talk on the other hand discourages Calyrex-S from setting up Nasty Plot while Alolan Muk is asleep. Due to no Tera being particularly beneficial against Calyrex-S, Alolan Muk generally prefers not to Terastallize. However, Tera Poison has a few uses as it turns Draining Kiss into a resistance and strengthens Poison Jab, which comes in handy against Tera Fairy Calyrex-S. However, Terastallizing Alolan Muk comes with the drawback of removing Alolan Muk's resistance to Astral Barrage.
Alolan Muk exclusively fits on stall where its passivity and weakness to physical attackers is not an issue compared to the defensive value it provides in checking Calyrex-S. Teammates like Skeledirge, Gliscor, Alomomola, and Dondozo appreciate Alolan Muk for taking on Calyrex-S. On the other hand, Alolan Muk is vulnerable to strong physical attackers like Koraidon, Zacian-C, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh and Swords Dance Arceus. Hence, Gliscor is a great teammate as it can switch in to Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground as well opposing Gliscor's Knock Off, as the latter greatly hinders Alolan Muk's longevity by removing Heavy-Duty Boots while switching in freely. Gliscor also sets up entry hazards such as Spikes and Toxic Spikes, which exert a lot of pressure on opposing teams and makes use of Alolan Muk's Knock Off removing Heavy-Duty Boots. Similarly, Skeledirge and Dondozo take on threats like Koraidon, Zacian-C and Swords Dance Arceus which greatly threaten Alolan Muk. Although Alolan Muk possesses decent special bulk, strong special attackers like Miraidon and Kyogre are capable of bruteforcing through it. Therefore, special walls like Tera Grass Ho-Oh and Blissey make for good teammates as they can handle Miraidon and Kyogre. In return, Alolan Muk acts as a safeguard against Calyrex-S which can afford getting a Choice item through Trick much more than Ho-Oh or Blissey. Furthermore, it switches in on Psyshock which would otherwise deal massive damage to them.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot is a much stronger alternative to Poison Jab that OHKOes bulky Tera Fairy Calyrex-S after Terastallization, but Poison Jab is more consistent in general. Haze may be used over Clear Smog for deterring setup sweepers that rely on Substitute, mainly against Baton Pass teams. However, it is shut down by Taunt from Calyrex-S and thus inferior to Clear Smog in most cases. Pain Split can be used over Sleep Talk as an alternative recovery option that is usable in Electric Terrain, though it is more unreliable than Rest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Attackers**: Due to Alolan Muk's middling physical defenses, it is forced out by popular wallbreakers like Koraidon, Swords Dance Arceus, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Zacian-C that deal huge damage to Alolan Muk or even outright OHKO it. The latter two can notably switch in and set up freely.
**Gliscor**: Gliscor threatens to 2HKO Alolan Muk with Earthquake and removes Alolan Muk's Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off. It also switches in to Alolan Muk's Poison Jab and Knock Off freely once Toxic Orb is activated.
**Miraidon**: Miraidon's Hadron Engine blocks Alolan Muk's primary source of recovery in Rest, preventing it from staying healthy. Futhermore, Miraidon's strong STAB moves easily 2HKO Alolan Muk, though the former dislikes taking Knock Off.
**Trick Users**: Trick users like Calyrex-S and Ribombee take away Alolan Muk's Heavy-Duty Boots, leaving it prone to entry hazards and unable to check Calyrex-S long-term.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab / Clear Smog
- Pain Split / Sleep Talk
- Rest
[SET COMMENTS]
Possessing an unique typing and decent bulk, Alolan Muk is one of the best Calyrex-S checks on stall teams. Thanks to this typing, Alolan Muk comfortably takes on Calyrex-S's Astral Barrage and Psychic STAB moves, along with the Fairy-type neutrality letting it check Tera Fairy Calyrex-S better than other Dark-types like Mandibuzz and Ting-Lu. However, Mandibuzz is still a frequent competitor on stall teams due to having a more consistent recovery option in Roost. Knock Off OHKOes Calyrex-S while the lack of switch-ins in the metagame makes it a great progress making move. It removes Leftovers from Ting-Lu and Heavy-Duty Boots from Miraidon, Arceus, Ho-Oh, and Kyogre, synergizing with entry hazards by set by Alolan Muk's teammates. Poison Jab hits Tera Fairy Calyrex-S and Arceus-Fairy, 2HKOing the former. The poison chance, further boosted by Poison Touch allows Alolan Muk to slowly wear down bulky switch-ins like Ting-Lu and defensive Arceus formes. Clear Smog halts set-up sweepers like Tera Fairy Nasty Plot Calyrex-S and Calm Mind Arceus-Fairy from overwhelming Alolan Muk with stat boosts. Rest is Alolan Muk's primary source of healing but due to the commonly used Miraidon's Hadron Engine, it is unreliable. Pain Split is another option for recovery that isn't blocked by Electric Terrain and reduces Alolan Muk's dependency on Rest for staying healthy. Sleep Talk on the other hand discourages Calyrex-S from setting up Nasty Plot while Alolan Muk is asleep. Due to no Tera being particularly beneficial against Calyrex-S, Alolan Muk generally prefers not to Terastallize. However, Tera Poison has a few uses as it turns Draining Kiss into a resistance and strengthens Poison Jab, which comes in handy against Tera Fairy Calyrex-S. However, Terastallizing Alolan Muk comes with the drawback of removing Alolan Muk's resistance to Astral Barrage.
Alolan Muk exclusively fits on stall where its passivity and weakness to physical attackers is not an issue compared to the defensive value it provides in checking Calyrex-S. Teammates like Skeledirge, Gliscor, Alomomola, and Dondozo appreciate Alolan Muk for taking on Calyrex-S. On the other hand, Alolan Muk is vulnerable to strong physical attackers like Koraidon, Zacian-C, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, Ho-Oh and Swords Dance Arceus. Hence, Gliscor is a great teammate as it can switch in to Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground as well opposing Gliscor's Knock Off, as the latter greatly hinders Alolan Muk's longevity by removing Heavy-Duty Boots while switching in freely. Gliscor also sets up entry hazards such as Spikes and Toxic Spikes, which exert a lot of pressure on opposing teams and makes use of Alolan Muk's Knock Off removing Heavy-Duty Boots. Similarly, Skeledirge and Dondozo take on threats like Koraidon, Zacian-C and Swords Dance Arceus which greatly threaten Alolan Muk. Although Alolan Muk possesses decent special bulk, strong special attackers like Miraidon and Kyogre are capable of bruteforcing through it. Therefore, special walls like Tera Grass Ho-Oh and Blissey make for good teammates as they can handle Miraidon and Kyogre. In return, Alolan Muk acts as a safeguard against Calyrex-S which can afford getting a Choice item through Trick much more than Ho-Oh or Blissey. Furthermore, it switches in on Psyshock which would otherwise deal massive damage to them.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot is a much stronger alternative to Poison Jab that OHKOes bulky Tera Fairy Calyrex-S after Terastallization, but Poison Jab is more consistent in general. Haze may be used over Clear Smog for deterring setup sweepers that rely on Substitute, mainly against Baton Pass teams. However, it is shut down by Taunt from Calyrex-S and thus inferior to Clear Smog in most cases. Pain Split can be used over Sleep Talk as an alternative recovery option that is usable in Electric Terrain, though it is more unreliable than Rest.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Attackers**: Due to Alolan Muk's middling physical defenses, it is forced out by popular wallbreakers like Koraidon, Swords Dance Arceus, Dragon Dance Arceus-Ground, and Zacian-C that deal huge damage to Alolan Muk or even outright OHKO it. The latter two can notably switch in and set up freely.
**Gliscor**: Gliscor threatens to 2HKO Alolan Muk with Earthquake and removes Alolan Muk's Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off. It also switches in to Alolan Muk's Poison Jab and Knock Off freely once Toxic Orb is activated.
**Miraidon**: Miraidon's Hadron Engine blocks Alolan Muk's primary source of recovery in Rest, preventing it from staying healthy. Futhermore, Miraidon's strong STAB moves easily 2HKO Alolan Muk, though the former dislikes taking Knock Off.
**Trick Users**: Trick users like Calyrex-S and Ribombee take away Alolan Muk's Heavy-Duty Boots, leaving it prone to entry hazards and unable to check Calyrex-S long-term.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/swas.487990/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Last edited: