Project SS AG Next Best Thing [On Hiatus]

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approved by pichus | OP inspired from pichus's old thread | amazing art by Albatr0ss!

Hello, and welcome to the current AG Next Best Thing! This project aims to discover unexplored and unique sets for Pokemon in the AG metagame that may not be standard now, but actually work well enough to possibly become the new standard, or at least be quite effective. There are plenty of examples of new sets that have become just as standard as old sets or even overtaken them. As a community, it is our goal in this thread to find new sets for established AG threats that may in time even be considered standard or at least close to it. If your favorite Pokemon is Mewtwo, don't worry, we'll cover even niche Pokemon to give them a chance to shine!

How will this project work?

Each week, I will choose a Pokemon on the AG Viability Rankings. You will have 4 days to come up with and post an original set for that Pokemon, along with an explanation of how the set works. In the 3 days after that, the community will vote on which set is the most creative as well as viable. By "original sets", I mean sets that are not already being given main sets on the Smogon analyses (for Pokemon that do not have in progress analyses yet, you will have to use your judgment on what is considered creative and uncommon enough to be worthy of a set here. You can send me a PM here, on Pokémon Showdown!, or on Discord if you aren't sure).

When choosing a set to nominate, you should keep in mind how viable and how unique it is. Despite this project being about uniqueness, please refrain from posting overly gimmicky sets like Choice Band Zygarde. However, your set should not simply be a standard set with a slight deviation either, such as Chople Berry over Leftovers on Ferrothorn, unless that change achieves something notable. That said, single move changes are generally okay as long as the new move does something specific that the normal set cannot do, such as breaking past a certain check or counter.

IMPORTANT RULES:
  • Feel free to be as creative as you want! Just make sure that you can prove that your set stands apart from the standard sets, especially if yours does not appear much different from the standard ones. Make sure your set is viable as well. The Smogon Strategy Dex is your best friend here.
  • Add an explanation to your post about what your innovation accomplishes, how it differentiates itself from standard creations, etc. It helps people, including the host and even yourself, to understand where your nomination is coming from. Not making one inconveniences others and is, quite frankly, lazy.
  • Please submit only one set for every round. Also, make sure that your set isn't very similar to one submitted by someone else.
  • Adding formatting to your post in the correct areas also helps readers to understand how your set is special from the standard. Keep it under check, though; adding too much formatting doesn't help and just makes your post obnoxious to read.
  • Feel free to post replays of your set in action; this will only help everyone (including yourself) understand whether/how your set can be game changing in some particular situations.
  • Do not edit your nomination post after the voting phase has started.
  • You may reserve sets, but must have the nomination up in 24 hours of that reservation. Afterwards, others may take your set if you do not get up your own set before them.
  • During voting stage, please don't vote for your own set; if you think your own set is the best, just abstain from the vote.
  • Bandwagon votes are not allowed and will not be counted.
  • Posts that are deemed too gimmicky or are not serious at all will be deleted.
  • Changes in votes are allowed, but must be done within the three day deadline.
 
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Hall of Fame
Week 1 - Cosmic Power + Meteor Beam Eternatus by Bread Sandwich
:ss/eternatus:

Week 2 - Defensive Trick Room Necrozma-DM by baconeatinassassin
:ss/necrozma-dusk-mane:

Week 3 - Substitute + Disable Calyrex-S by Frito135
:ss/calyrex-shadow:

Week 4 - Double Team + Bulk Up Groudon by Fc
:ss/groudon:

Week 5 - Laser Focus Yveltal by Fc
:ss/yveltal:
Week 6 - Double Team + Bright Powder Zygarde by Fc
:ss/zygarde:

Week 7 - Bulk Up + Will-O-Wisp Marshadow by thebestneverrest
:ss/marshadow:

Week 8 - Choice Specs Xerneas by TailGlowVM
:ss/xerneas:

Week 9 - Weakness Policy Zekrom by Geysers
:ss/zekrom:

Week 10 - Choice Specs Lunala by cromagnet
:ss/lunala:

Week 11 - Choice Specs Mewtwo by Mbouchon
:ss/mewtwo:

Leaderboard
 
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:eternatus: Week 1 - Eternatus :eternatus:
:ss/eternatus:

With a fantastic typing and movepool allowing it to check threats like Kyogre, Ho-Oh, and Necrozma-DM, access to Pressure, and good Speed tier, Eternatus is a significant threat in AG. Eternatus can also run an offensive set with Meteor Beam, luring in and KOing Ho-Oh and specially defensive Yveltal, making it a potent wallbreaker and cleaner. Thanks to its wide movepool, Eternatus has access to other useful moves like Agility, Cosmic Power, etc. What new set will you uncover for this beast?

Banned sets

Voting will start on May 16th, 3 PM GMT -4!
 
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:ss/Eternatus:

Eternatus @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Venoshock
- Flamethrower
- Dynamax Cannon

Alright time for a fun set. Toxic + Venoshock is such a neat combo that (understandably) doesn't see much use. However, on Etern you can make a case for it. If you manage to land a Toxic on a SpDef Yveltal, LO Venoshock will 2HKO with poison damage. Venoshock without poison straight up has a 33% chance to OHKO Xerneas after rocks, leaving it chipped for another teammate. The 252 Speed and a Timid nature allows you to outspeed the vast majority of the current meta including, but not limited to: Specs Kyogre, Marshadow, Kyurem-White, Yveltal, and Xerneas. Dynamax Cannon and Flamethrower round out the set as standard moves to hit things that aren't poisoned harder. Even if you aren't able to Venoshock most things, Toxic still cripples most of the tier, especially Kyogre and Yveltal. Losing Recover means you no longer have longevity, but the extra punch this set packs could be worth the loss.

252 SpA Life Orb Eternatus Venoshock (130 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Yveltal: 220-259 (48.3 - 56.9%) -- 89.8% chance to 2HKO after toxic damage
252 SpA Life Orb Eternatus Venoshock vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Xerneas: 307-361 (78.1 - 91.8%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Eternatus Dynamax Cannon vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Marshadow: 253-298 (78.8 - 92.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Eternatus Dynamax Cannon vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Kyogre: 173-204 (50.7 - 59.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Eternatus Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 193-228 (48.4 - 57.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
 

aerobee

Pure Hackmons
is a Community Contributoris a Contributor to Smogon
:ss/Eternatus:

Eternatus @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 32 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD / 220 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Venom Drench
- Recover
- Flamethrower

Toxic + Venom Drench is an uncommon combination in the AG metagame, but to me this seemed like the most viable unbanned moveset for Eternatus. 220 Speed EVs lets Eternatus reach 351 Speed, creeping for other Pokemon creeping for Adamant Marshadow. Venom Drench lets Eternatus wear down (as well as other poisoned Pokemon), aiding teammates switching in to threats Eternatus is vulnerable to. Recover's self-explanatory, and Flamethrower chips Steel-types switching in, like Necrozma-DM and Zacian-C.

252+ Atk Choice Band Marshadow Poltergeist (110 BP) vs. 32 HP / 252+ Def Eternatus: 214-253 (49.8 - 58.9%) -- 75.4% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
-1 252+ Atk Choice Band Marshadow Poltergeist (110 BP) vs. 32 HP / 252+ Def Eternatus: 144-169 (33.5 - 39.3%) -- 17.1% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery
-1 252 SpA Choice Specs Kyogre Ice Beam vs. 32 HP / 4 SpD Eternatus: 226-268 (52.6 - 62.4%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 32 HP / 252+ Def Eternatus: 246-289 (57.3 - 67.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
0 SpA Eternatus Flamethrower vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zacian-Crowned: 158-188 (48.4 - 57.6%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO
 
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Since my Venom Drench Etern was taken by Mbouchon, I'd like to mention a Dual Screens Eternatus. With access to Reflect, Light Screen, and TSpikes, Eternatus can be a formidable lead, though it is often overlooked by the community, who often opt for something like Regieleki or Grimmsnarl instead. However, neither of these Pokémon have access to Eternatus' natural bulk. Here's the build:

:ss/Eternatus:
Eternatus @ Light Clay
252 Def/ 36 Spd / 220 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Toxic Spikes
- Recover

With Recover for longevity, Eternatus can quickly set up the ideal screen for itself and begin walling the opponent. Pressure augments its ability to force switches on Pokémon like Kyogre, quickly dropping their PP while staying hidden behind screens. On free turns, it can launch a Toxic Spikes at the opponent, allowing it to whittle down incoming threats while also PP stalling them. One notable weakness is that this Eternatus has no way to deal with Taunt; opposing Prankster users such as Grimmsnarl and Whimsicott can force it out on turn 1 with this move.

252+ Atk Choice Band Marshadow Poltergeist (110 BP) vs. 0 HP / 252 Def Eternatus through Reflect: 117-138 (27.7 - 32.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
+1 252 Atk Zacian-Crowned Behemoth Blade vs. 0 HP / 252 Def Eternatus through Reflect: 123-144 (29.2 - 34.2%) -- 3.7% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Kyogre Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 36+ SpD Eternatus through Light Screen: 100-118 (23.7 - 28%) -- 90.1% chance to 4HKO
252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 252 Def Eternatus through Reflect: 113-133 (26.8 - 31.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

I would like to nominate... Venom Drench Eternatus!
Venom Drench is an extremely underrated move in this metagame, capable of nerfing some of the most powerful sweepers and forcing switches. Combined with Eternatus' access to Toxic, Toxic Spikes, and Cosmic Power, there are a variety of ways to use Venom Drench to stop Pokémon like Geomancy Xerneas. Here's the Eternatus set:

https://pokepast.es/a3fa58bcdfdedbd5

(In case that link doesn't work)
Eternatus @ Black Sludge
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 172 HP / 240 SpD / 96 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Venom Drench
- Cosmic Power / Toxic Spikes / Venoshock
- Recover


If the user opts not to run TSpikes, Eternatus greatly appreciates another Toxic Spikes user, so that it can immediately Venom Drench Pokémon on the switch-in, without having to Toxic them first (Corrosive Salazzle performs this role well, and can Toxic Steel-Type threats like NDM and Zacian-C).

Venoshock hits very hard when the target is poisoned, and Toxic continues to rack up the damage every turn. This set is especially effective late-game after the opponent's Steel-types have been KOd, leaving them without any reliable switch-ins.
 
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Fc

Waiting for something to happen?
is a Site Content Manageris a Top Team Rateris a Social Media Contributoris a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Smogon Discord Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Top Contributoris a defending SCL Champion
Ubers Leader
:ss/eternatus:
Eternatus @ Black Sludge
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 48 HP / 240 SpA / 220 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dragon Pulse
- Meteor Beam
- Substitute
- Recover

s/o's BasedWhat? the innovation god for the set. The main idea is to set up sub and pp stall through things like twave + sunsteel ndm while slowly setting up mbeam. Dpulse for pp since you're meant to pp stall things, and 220 speed lets it outrun ada marsh so that can be checked also, genius set tbh. When it has mu it works super well, just breaking through things and probably forcing dyna if it gets out of hand which is already helpful.
 
:ss/Eternatus:
Eternatus @ Black Sludge
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 212 SpD / 44 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Cosmic Power
- Recover
- Meteor Beam
- Flamethrower


The idea is to use cosmic power + meteor beam to get boosts and then clean through teams, with a few cosmic power boosts it is able to easily shrug off attacks from most of the metagame. Meteor beam is used to gain special attack boosts and deal damage, flamethrower allows it to do solid damage to Zacian-Crowned and Necrozma-Dusk-Mane. The Evs allow it to easily switch in on kyogre and other special attackers like offensive yveltal. This set is best used late game in wars of attrition to easily collect boosts and then sweep through teams.
 
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With 7 votes, Bread Sandwich's Cosmic Power + Meteor Beam set has won the first week for Next Best Thing! Congrats! Your set will be added to the Hall of Fame shortly.

Anyways, on to the next best thing...

:necrozma-dusk-mane: Week 2 - Necrozma-DM :necrozma-dusk-mane:

:ss/necrozma-dusk-mane:

Necrozma-DM is one of AG's most invaluable Pokemon, fitting on almost every team thanks to its ability to reliably check both Zacian-C and Xerneas, while sporting great utility options in Stealth Rock, Knock Off, and Thunder Wave. It is also seen on hyper offense teams as a fearsome setup sweeper, owing to its access to Dragon Dance, great bulk coupled with Prism Armor, and Dynamax which notably lets it improof Ditto. Necrozma-DM can utilize its huge movepool to come up with lots of unique sets; which set will you discover?

Banned sets

Voting will start on May 23rd, 3 PM GMT -4!​
 

Pokemh

Banned deucer.
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Rock Polish
- Earthquake
- Sunsteel Strike

+2 252 Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Steelspike vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Yveltal: 505-595 (110.9 - 130.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Quake vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Ferrothorn: 257-303 (73 - 86%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

+2 252 Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Steelspike vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Zacian-Crowned: 433-511 (132.8 - 156.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252 Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Quake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 390-459 (114.3 - 134.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
You hit 556 with jolly+2 and OHKO/2HKO most of the viable ag mons with +2 and the only mon that walls this set is ho oh which fell in usage in galar.
You can set up on most passive mons get to use dynamax for +1 spd of +1 physdef with +2 speed and or physattack which makes this mon a huge threat.
 

Hgssanta

Banned deucer.


Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Earthquake
- Photon Geyser / Stone Edge
- Sunsteel Strike

Turns tables on teams like nothing else, ditto cant stop it without max, Its a standalone mon that can destroy quagsire and weaken teams easily after a wp proc. Its not even that situational due to pokemon like flamethrower eternatus being extremely common.

+2 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Photon Geyser vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Quagsire: 583-687 (147.9 - 174.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Sunsteel Strike vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Yveltal: 427-504 (93.8 - 110.7%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 204+ Def Ho-Oh: 888-1048 (213.4 - 251.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Quake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 327-385 (82.1 - 96.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ Atk Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Quake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 436-514 (143.4 - 169%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Set HP as 50 to mimic ditto)

basically forces max from another mon, which can easily be exploited by something like xerneas
 

Maxomega

supra ludio
The Forgotten Dragon

Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Prism Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 16 SpA / 20 Spe
Relaxed Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- Moonlight
- Dragon Pulse
- Stealth Rock / Thunder Wave
You always get into situations where you're forced to heal your Necrozma-Dusk-Mane, but there is a Zygarde and you're like "if I heal it, Zygarde is gonna come in and Dragon Dance on me, but if I don't Zacian-Crowned is gonna easily win this game." ? Then I've the perfect set for you!
With this set, you can heal your Necrozma-DM without fearing Dragon Dance Zygarde-Complete. Necrozma-DM found the solution to this problem thanks to its Ultra form, and the power of this dragon that no one knows where it went.
Sunsteel Strike is pretty classic, allowing Necrozma-DM to threaten Zacian-Crowned and Xerneas. Moonlight is its only way to recover health (yeah I prefer Moonlight to Morning Sun), while Stealth Rock brings utility to the team. Thunder Wave is an option over Stealth Rock, in the case you have already hazard supports in your team, and if the latter needs paralysis support against physical threats.

Dragon Pulse is the innovation of this set, and it isn't only a tool to hit Zygarde effectively. Indeed, with all these Dragons in the SS Anything Goes tier, Necrozma-DM needed a tool to hit them all (except Dialga but ...) super effectively, and Dragon Pulse is that tool! You have a problem against Zygarde Dragon Dance? Dragon Pulse is THE move you need. Zekrom Magnet Rise is a problem? Not with Dragon Pulse! Your Necrozma-DM is burned but you need to do damages to Palkia and Rayquaza? (I think you got the point, just making sure).
Also, Dragon Pulse becomes Max Wyrmind if Necrozma-DM is Dynamaxed, and the secondary effect (dropping by one the Attack of the opposing Pokemon) can be useful in many cases: to prevent a sweep from a physical threat, for example.
The only drawback on playing Dragon Pulse over Earthquake is when facing Eternatus, Zacian-Crowned or other Necrozma-DM.

As far as the spread is concerned:
- 16 EVs in SpA allow Necrozma-DM to break the Substitute of 16 HP Zygarde-Complete,
- 20 EVs in Spe allow Necrozma-DM to still outspeed Adamant Marshadow paralyzed,
- The rest is put in HP then Defense.

Against Zygarde:
  • 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dragon Pulse vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 146-172 (40.4 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
  • 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dragon Pulse vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde-Complete: 146-172 (25.3 - 29.8%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery​
  • 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Wyrmwind vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 220-260 (60.9 - 72%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
  • 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Wyrmwind vs. 16 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde-Complete: 220-260 (38.1 - 45%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Against Zekrom:
  • 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zekrom: 138-164 (40.4 - 48%) -- 58.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
  • 16 SpA Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Wyrmwind vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zekrom: 212-250 (62.1 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
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Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Life Orb/Weakness Policy
Ability: Prism Armor
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 108 HP / 148 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Earthquake
- Sunsteel Strike

A slightly terrible set that definitely could be improved that easily allows you to use as a dmax sweeper with the use of aerial ace/rock polish while still being bulky enough to bait things like caly in yvel to switch in, while completely outlawing them with sunsteel.

252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Astral Barrage vs. 108 HP / 0 SpD Prism Armor Dynamax Necrozma-Dusk-Mane: 427-503 (58.9 - 69.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
184+ Atk Life Orb Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Steelspike vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Calyrex-Shadow: 403-476 (118.1 - 139.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

184+ Atk Life Orb Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Steelspike vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Yveltal: 351-413 (89.3 - 105%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
184+ Atk Life Orb Necrozma-Dusk-Mane Max Airstream vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Yveltal: 198-233 (50.3 - 59.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
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