Project SS AG Next Best Thing [On Hiatus]

Block + Endeavor Xerneas
:ss/Xerneas:

Xerneas @ Protective Pads
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Endeavor
- Moonblast
- Substitute
- Block

This Xerneas specializes in easily removing Necrozma-DM to let teammates like Zacian-C or another Xerneas abuse it. The idea is to take advantage of the fact that Necrozma-DM is basically forced to switch in when Xerneas is on the field. While it switches in, you can click subsitute. It will think you’re a standard geomancy set, and stay in. Next, you trap it with block. Then just sub to low hp and click endeavor. The last moveslot is used for Moonblast to give Xerneas a reliable source of damage output. The item is protective pads to prevent Necrozma-DM from healing while you die to rocky helmet damage. It also lets Xerneas defeat Ferrothorn. The EVs are put into special attack and speed to let Xerneas force out Pokemon and create opportunities to remove Dusk Mane. Timid lets Xerneas speedtie special life orb Yveltal, though Modest is probably fine.
 
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Thanks to our tiebreaker, TailGlowVM wins with his Choice Specs set!

Week 9 - Zekrom
:ss/zekrom:

Zekrom is a scary setup sweeper that is effective at threatening defensive Pokemon like Yveltal, Necrozma-DM, etc. thanks to its access to Dragon Dance and good STAB combination. Dragon Dance lets it outspeed most fast Pokemon in AG, including Zacian-C, Eternatus, and Calyrex-S. Zekrom can even set up on foes like specially defensive Ferrothorn and non-EQ Necrozma-DM with ease thanks to Substitute, while preventing Ditto from copying Zekrom. Because of this, Zekrom has limited defensive answers in AG outside of Lunala.

Banned sets

Voting will start on Sunday.​
 
:ss/zekrom:
Zekrom @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Focus Blast

This is a fun set for screens that takes advantage of common Zekrom "checks" like Landorus-T, Groudon, and Earthquake Necrozma-DM. After a DD and a WP boost, Zekrom OHKOs virtually the entire meta bar Lunala. Focus Blast enables Zekrom to pick off Ferrothorn, and the other moves are standard. With screens support this thing is incredibly threatening and can get a ton of free turns, even if the opponent knows the set, as it can force out opposing Necromzma-DM if they're scared that it's WP. I cba to run calcs here, but rest assured that the only ways to stop this thing if the WP is activated are Ditto, Lunala, and some defensive dynas.
 
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:ss/zekrom:

Zekrom @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Roost
- Haze
- Volt Switch

This is a defensive set that allows Zekrom to take a rare defensive role. Boots help it function as a Defogger, as in order to work as one it'd have to switch into hazards more often than the average Pokemon. It has reliable recovery in Roost and phasing in Haze. It differentiates itself from defensive Zygarde and Groudon with pivoting; it can use Volt Switch against a switch-in to take advantage of it being on the field. 100/120 bulk is respectably bulky when fully invested, especially when supplemented by Zekrom's impressive Electric/Dragon typing. It can switch into Zacian-C lacking Play Rough, threatens one of the most prominent Pokemon in Yveltal, and can maneuver around checks like Lunala and Ferrothorn.

+1 252+ Atk Zacian-Crowned Close Combat vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Zekrom: 167-197 (41.4 - 48.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
224 Atk Zygarde 50% Thousand Arrows vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Zekrom: 116-138 (28.7 - 34.2%) -- 1.3% chance to 3HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Zekrom: 195-230 (48.3 - 57%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO

0 SpA Teravolt Zekrom Volt Switch vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Yveltal: 132-156 (29 - 34.2%) -- 1.2% chance to 3HKO
 
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Haha specs zekrom go brr
1625685474906.gif


Zekrom @ Choice Specs
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 156 HP / 252 SpA / 100 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Draco Meteor
- Earth Power
- Shadow Ball
Normal zekrom dislikes Quagsire and Lunala quite a bit. Specs zekrom breaks both of these. Max SpA is for maximum firepower, 100 Spe allows it to outpace Defensive Zygarde, and the rest is dumped in HP. The HP allows it to take a Life Orb Astral from Calyrex and has a good chance of living a Specs Ice Beam from Kyogre (at full HP). That’s pretty impressive. It also helps it take strong hits like Zacian-C’s Close Combat, Zekrom’s dragon claw, defensive Etern’s Dynamax Cannon, and defensive Groudon’s precipice blades. All of the Pokémon mentioned are OHKOd back besides Groudon who is 2HKOd. Offensive Groudon outspeeds and OHKOs, but if Zekrom comes in on something that would be setup fodder for DDance and the opponent switches to Groudon, it OHKOs with Draco Meteor on the switch.
Calcs of how it can beat just about every Pokémon from S+ to A-

Zacian-Crowned is a nice teammate, as it can take out Ditto when it transforms in to Zekrom (which benefits Zacian as it dislikes ditto), Offensive Etern, Chansey/Blissey, Xerneas, and Ferrothorn, which all give Zekrom trouble. In turn, Zekrom can beat Quagsire (pretty easily at that, as Quagsire often switches in, and will get a fun surprise of Draco Meteor if they don’t already know that you’re a special zekrom) as well as NDM which helps Zacian. Zekrom also appreciates hazard control, as hazards can chip it to the point where fast attackers can KO it.
 
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Unfortunately Zekrom has one of the most limited movepools in Pokemon, but I managed to come up with:
:ss/zekrom:
Zekrom @ Leftovers
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Magnet Rise

Magnet Rise helps Zekrom against Quagsire, Groudon, Earthquake Necrozma-DM, and Landorus-T (unfortunately not Zygarde), potentially letting it set up for free against some usual counters. The loss of Substitute or Roost makes this option usually less useful overall, but since the set has considerably different counterplay to usual it can generate additional turns of setup as the opponent won't expect it.
 
Choice Band Zekrom
:ss/zekrom:

Zekrom @ Choice Band
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature/Adamant
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Crunch
- Outrage

This is a pretty simple set. Choice Band makes Zekrom more immediately threatening due to its ability to almost always 2hko Lunala with Crunch. Adamant is an option to guarantee the 2hko, but it misses out on a great speedtier. Choice Band Bolt Strike is capable of threatening a huge part of the AG tier alone. Dragon Claw is a great secondary STAB that hits Eternatus, Kyurem-W and Zygarde for super effective damage while also quickly wearing down Groudon and Landorus-T. Crunch hits Lunala as I said earlier, and Outrage is used in the last moveslot to 2hko Quagsire.

I’m too lazy to post calcs but yall know how hard +1 zek hits and this hits just as hard.
 
zekrom.gif.m.1523036373
Assault Vest Zekrom

Zekrom @ Assault Vest
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 HP / 248 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Facade
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Crunch


Here we have a tankish Zekrom that can use AV even in its Dynamaxed form to have further bulk to work with.
Bolt Strike + Dragon Claw is the dual STAB combination that hits hard even when uninvested.
Facade is a good move when statused due to the modified base power and Crunch outdamages Lunala's recovery moves if its shield is broken.

8 Spe EVs let Zekrom outspeed the standard defensive Groudon if we can dish out some residual damage to it.

With this extra bulk, Zekrom an emergency check some threats of the AG environment. Some examples:
  • +2 252 SpA Life Orb Calyrex-Shadow Astral Barrage vs. 252 HP / 248 SpD Assault Vest Zekrom: 321-380 (79.4 - 94%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(keep in mind that Psyshock may OHKO Zekrom, though)
  • 252+ SpA Fairy Aura Xerneas Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 248+ SpD Assault Vest Zekrom: 218-260 (53.9 - 64.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
  • 252+ SpA Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 248+ SpD Assault Vest Zekrom: 121-144 (29.9 - 35.6%) -- 30% chance to 3HKO
  • 4 Atk Life Orb Dark Aura Yveltal Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Zekrom: 142-168 (35.1 - 41.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
  • 252 SpA Choice Specs Kyogre Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 248+ SpD Assault Vest Zekrom: 158-188 (39.1 - 46.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
 
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:bw/zekrom:
Zekrom @ Life Orb
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Weather Ball

you can pair weather ball zekrom with groudon to supply sun and give zekrom a 100 bp special fire move. two of the primary zekrom checks people chuck on teams are eq ndm and ferrothorn - weather ball will blow both of those up. while zekrom beats ndm usually anyway, doing so with weather ball means you don't take two important hits of rocky helmet while 2hkoing, even with jolly, while having the extra power afforded by life orb:

0- SpA Life Orb Zekrom Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Prism Armor Necrozma-Dusk-Mane in Sun: 205-242 (51.5 - 60.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

more importantly, weather ball destroys ferrothorn, which is often the primary zekrom counter for a lot of teams with iron defense or curse:

0- SpA Life Orb Teravolt Zekrom Weather Ball (100 BP Fire) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Ferrothorn in Sun: 385-458 (109.3 - 130.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

obviously since sun doesn't last that long, it can be kind of difficult to go groudon -> zekrom -> dd -> two weather balls without sun running out, but weather ball + +1 bolt does the job too. with ferrothorn coming back into the spotlight a lot, especially curse/idef sets (see trade's game for agpl), zekrom hasn't had much of a chance to shine, but you can easily surprise it with this set
 
Nooooo it misses :(
:bw/zekrom:
@:life-orb:
Zekrom
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 252 Atk / 52 SpA / 204 Spe
Naive Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Bolt Strike
- Dragon Claw
- Focus Blast

204 speed evs allows zekrom to outspeed non scarf caly after 1 dd. 52 spa allows zekrom to 2hko ferro after rocks. And 252 attack to hit hard. Dragon dance is for setup. Bolt strike and dragon claw are the 2 main stabs here.
Focus blast miss hits ferro. Tho -spd means its ohkod by lo caly :( .

52 SpA Life Orb Teravolt Zekrom Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Ferrothorn: 179-213 (50.8 - 60.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Tho its focus miss will miss.
Hope everyone has a nice day :]
 
It's time to vote! For a pokemon with a linear movepool, we got some very unique submissions for this round:

:weakness-policy: Weakness Policy by Geysers
:heavy-duty boots: Defensive by Mbouchon
:choice-specs: Choice Specs by PrimalKyogre
:leftovers: Magnet Rise by TailGlowVM
:choice-band: Choice Band by Turtonator44
:assault-vest: Assault Vest by nameless90
:life-orb: Weather Ball by lotiasite
:life-orb: Focus Blast by The gaming attack

Voting will end on Wednesday.

good submissions this round, but i'm going to vote for geysers weakness policy set because it has very limited answers outside of lunala and ditto, which can be beaten through dynamax + reflect.​
 
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