Project SS OU - Victim of the Week - Not hosted anymore

[TURBODERP]

Gastrodon @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Clear Smog/Toxic

Calcs

252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 178-211 (41.7 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 101-119 (23.7 - 27.9%) -- 87.6% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 145-171 (34 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

0 SpA Gastrodon Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 194-230 (78.5 - 93.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Gastrodon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 306-362 (123.8 - 146.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Gastrodon is possibly the closest Pokemon that could be considered a counter to Blacephalon. This is thanks to Sticky Hold, which means unlike Blissey or Chansey, it doesn't have to worry about being crippled by Trick. Max SpDef investment means that outside of a critical hit Shadow Ball or a 20% SpDef drop, Specs Shadow Ball doesn't 2HKO Gastrodon. Earthquake is a clean OHKO on Blacephalon, whereas Scald needs some chip to kill. Heavy-Duty Boots were chosen over Leftovers so that Gastrodon doesn't have to worry about hazards damaging it.

Therefore, Gastrodon is a Hard Check/Soft Counter (not too sure) to Specs Blacephalon

Counter, accounting for the SpDef drop (when it's only 20%) or a crit isn't really fair.

 

[ironwater]

I'm gonna close the submissions in about 20 hours. Hats tagging you if you want to fill your submission. Also Plushietran I guess you want to submit Tyranitar as a check, but tagging you just to be sure.

 

[ironwater]

Submission period is now closed, so let's move on to the voting phase. The Victim of the week was the Ultra Beast . Here are the submissions, we've got:

Checks

by Katy

by HydreigonTheChild

by avg

by Plushietran

by Windingsss

by D5405

by RaikouLover

by SLDR

by ralts_boy

by InvisibleWater

by Da stall masta 999

by Dawn Greninja

Counters

by powergo1

You need to vote for 2 checks (and that’s all since there’s only one counter submitted), voting phase will end on Sunday, good luck to everyone! (you can't vote for your own submission) ​

 

[Coolcodename]

Checks: and

 

[cheru]

Checks:

 

[InvisibleWater]

Checks:

 

[Da stall masta 999]

checks:

 

[Fopo]

Checks:

 

[RaikouLover]

Checks:

 

[Sole Survivor]

Checks:

 

[TDR]

Checks:

 

[D5405]

Checks: ,

 

[ironwater]

Ending the voting phase. Here are the winners for the Blacephalon Victim week:

Checks:

by Katy and by Plushietran

Counters:

by powergo1

Full Results

Checks:
5
5
3
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0

Counters:

Only one counter got submitted

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who made a submission, all of them were very nice.

Now, just to clarify two points. If you are not sure about if the Pokemon you have submitted is a check or a counter, feel free to ask me and I will have a look. I will also try to talk with people who submit checks that should be counters or vice versa. Some submissions can be hard to classify, if it’s the case, please detail why it’s for instance a check and not a counter.

Other point, if you thought about a Pokemon, but don’t have the time to write something immediately you can reserve it. However, avoid reserving something at the beginning of the week if you know you probably won’t have the time to fill your submission. I ping the people with unfilled submission one day before the deadline, but sometimes they don’t respond/don’t have the time to fill it, and it can prevent other people from actually make a suggestion with the Pokemon they took and sometimes we miss very good potential counters or checks because of that. I also wanna emphasize on the fact that, if a reservation is not filled up in the 24 upcoming hours, anyone is free to steal it.

Now let’s move on to a new Victim of the Week. This time we will be featuring a very fast setup sweeper that loves to be paired up with the Alolan Guardians and their terrains: Hawlucha.

Hawlucha @ Grassy / Electric / Psychic / Misty Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 132 SpD / 124 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics
- Close Combat
- Taunt

Hawlucha finds its place in Hyper Offense teams where it shines as a very fast setup sweeper that can clean a weakened team with ease after a Swords Dance. As it is fast enough to not run 252 Speed EVs, some of them can be moved into SpD to survive a Moonblast from defensive Clefable. Taunt is a great tool to beat annoying defensive walls like Haze Toxapex, Whirlwind or Toxic Hippowdon and Iron defense Skarmory/Corviknight. Hawlucha Attack stat is not impressive at first glance, but its two main STABs have very high base power and allow him to OHKO most offensive Pokemon and 2HKO most defensive ones after a Swords Dance boost. Even if it has fall in usage recently, it’s not a threat to overlook. What are the best checks and counters to this wrestler bird? Let’s find out!

Submission phase will end on next Friday, good luck!​

 

[SLDR]

kanto zapdos

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 216 HP / 184 Def / 84 SpA / 24 Spe
Modest Nature
- Discharge
- Hurricane
- Roost
- U-turn / Toxic
COUNTER​

zap is one of the hardest checks to hawlucha, as it resists its stab combination and can threaten it with both of its stabs for a ko. obviously hawlucha is mostly used on screen ho, so zap needs to 2hko with the safer stab, discharge, and not be 2hkod by either +2 cc or +2 acro.
that's what this spread does, alongside creeping the 240-241 speed tier club.

+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Close Combat vs. 216 HP / 184 Def Zapdos: 162-191 (42.4 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 216 HP / 184 Def Zapdos: 148-175 (38.9 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
84+ SpA Zapdos Discharge vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha through Light Screen: 150-177 (50.5 - 59.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

zapdos can also actively and passively paralyze hawlucha, which can negate an attack from it, preserving zapdos' health against the physical onslaught of screens ho.
i could have gone for a bulkier spread, but hawlucha is not that common to warrant it and this zap set and spread can pull its weight on different matchups like cb kart, rilla, torn-t ecc

even though i cant account for crits - which would ruin zap - i have to count it as a COUNTER because stone edge isn't common and thus zap has much easier time dealing with lucha

 

[Katy]

tapu koko


Tapu Koko @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- U-turn
- Roost​

Tapu Koko is a STRONG CHECK to Hawlucha, as it can easily change the Terrain and therefore Hawlucha cannot get the Seed going if it has Psychic, Grass, or Misty Seed, therefore it can stop the boost with its Electric Seed. Tapu Koko has Roost and two STAB moves, which are super effective against Hawlucha and it can even withstand a +2 Close Combat and Acrobatics by Hawlucha. However, Tapu Koko should not be weakened too much or else it has trouble checking Hawlucha when it already is at +2. But in overall Tapu Koko makes for a great check against the luchadore bird.

 

[Da stall masta 999]

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Aromatherapy
- Toxic

Just click click click and kill the Hawlucha. It can’t stop it because of Unaware and Moonblast dealing lots of damage to it. Even if it has taunt Moonblast still does big damage. Unlike stuff like Zapdos that can lose to stone edge, Unaware Clefable has nothing to worry about. It can just soft boiled and Moonblast accordingly. Also, Unaware ignores Hawlucha’s spdef rise. So Moonblast still does big damage.

Counter

Calcs
252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 136-162 (34.5 - 41.1%) -- 64.6% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Unaware Clefable Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 236-282 (79.4 - 94.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Hawlucha Poison Jab vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 134-158 (34 - 40.1%) -- 35% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[ralts_boy]

Regieleki @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Transistor
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Electro Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Rapid Spin / Extreme Speed / Explosion​

Regieleki really doesn't like Landorus, or any other Ground-types or Zeraora. Also, for a mon that really has no coverage, locking yourself in with a Choice Scarf just means it will be even more prediction reliant. However, if your team is weak to Hawlucha, then this set gives you a guaranteed get-out-of-jail-free card, and since Hawlucha can't switch out without losing Unburden, no prediction is required. Regieleki will ALWAYS outspeed Hawlucha and, at least with the set listed here, will ALWAYS OHKO with Thunderbolt:

252+ SpA Transistor Regieleki Thunderbolt vs. +1 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 326-386 (109.7 - 129.9%)

Regieleki is really only good either for screens or when using electric moves, so this offensive set doesn't really perform much worse from being locked into an electric move, since you were always going to click one anyways. Electro Ball is here since it is usually your strongest move, but Thunderbolt hits fast mons harder. Volt Switch is obvious, and the last slot can be any of the 3 Normal-type moves listed.

In addition to dealing with Hawlucha, this set is also notable for outspeeding rain-boosted Adamant Barraskewda. Be mindful that banded Jet is a roll to one-shot, but you always KO in return. This set also outruns Scarf Kart or +2 Timid Kart and has a 50% chance to OHKO with Thunderbolt. This is a check, btw. I'm pretty sure the only mon Regieleki is a counter to is Shuckle, and even then, maybe not.

 

[cheru]

Aegislash @ Spell Tag
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Flash Cannon
- Close Combat
- Shadow Sneak

Aegislash is a decent offensive check to Hawlucha, as it is one of the few Pokemon to resist its STAB combo. Its strong Spell Tag boosted attacks allow it to break through Hawlucha even through a Special Defense boost. Shadow Sneak is also good for picking it off after a bit of chip, which even isn't affected by Psychic Terrain due to Hawlucha's Flying tying.

calcs vs grassy/electric

252+ SpA Spell Tag Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 220-261 (74 - 87.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Spell Tag Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. +1 0 HP / 0 Def Grassy Seed Hawlucha: 58-70 (19.5 - 23.5%) -- possible 5HKO

calcs vs psychic/misty

252+ SpA Spell Tag Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. +1 0 HP / 132 SpD Psychic Seed Hawlucha: 147-174 (49.4 - 58.5%) -- 98.4% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Spell Tag Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hawlucha: 88-105 (29.6 - 35.3%) -- 17.9% chance to 3HKO

defensive calcs

252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Aegislash-Shield: 58-69 (22.2 - 26.4%) -- 12.5% chance to 4HKO
Hawlucha Close Combat vs. Aegislash-Shield: 0-0 (0 - 0%) -- possibly the worst move ever

 

[D5405]

Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Ice Beam
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Heal Bell
Defensive Dnite is a decent check to hawlucha as its able to tank hits from +2Lucha as +2 Acro is a 3HKO while Dnite's Ice beam is a 2HKO on the defense boosting Grassy seed and Electric seed and Ice beam is a 3HKO on the spdef boosting Misty seed and Psychic Seed there is also the chance of getting ice beam freezes so there is that ig.
Heres some calcs
The Electric seed and Grassy seed
0 SpA Dragonite Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 158-186 (53.1 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
The Misty Seed and Psychic Seed
0 SpA Dragonite Ice Beam vs. +1 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 106-126 (35.6 - 42.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Finally Hawlucha's dmg output on Dnite
+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 116-137 (30 - 35.4%) -- 27.8% chance to 3HKO
252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Multiscale Dragonite: 58-69 (15 - 17.8%) -- possible 6HKO
So i submit Dnite as a check

 

[Tysonslayer]

Slowbro @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Scald
- Future Sight
- Teleport
- Slack Off

Slowbro is a check against Hawlucha, being able to take Close Combat comfortably and only having to watch out for boosted Acrobatics which is a 2HKO. Slowbro can do a couple of things such as set up Future Sight which can force out Hawlucha if it tries to Taunt to take advantage of Slowbro and force it out losing all of its buffs, and even if gets the Special Defense boost any chip done to Hawlucha with Future Sight would be enough to force it out. When forcing out Hawlucha this gives Slowbro opportunities depending if it's taunted or not where you can fish for burns on switch-ins, heal off, or Teleport to a teammate.

 

[wind]

Skarmory!

​

Skarmory @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spikes
- Body Press
- Roost
- Whirlwind​

I guess you can say Skarmory is very "Sturdy", huh? This metal bird switches into Hawlucha as it uses Swords Dance, takes a boosted Close Combat, and ends all of its hope with Whirlwind. I went for Shed Shell so Zone can't trap you :)

 

[InvisibleWater]

Quagsire @ Leftovers / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Toxic

Quagsire is a check. While Taunt is incredibly annoying for it, Quagsire ignores all of Hawlucha's boosts thanks to Unaware, allowing it to switch in on Hawlucha's attacks regardless of how much it's boosted. This gives it an opportunity to fish for Scald burns, which can cripple Hawlucha for the rest of the match. Since Hawlucha is a Flying-type, even Misty Seed variants are vulnerable to this.

Calcs

0 SpA Unaware Quagsire Scald vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 75-88 (25.2 - 29.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO


252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (55 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 63-75 (15.9 - 19%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk burned Hawlucha Acrobatics (55 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 31-37 (7.8 - 9.3%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 126-148 (31.9 - 37.5%) -- 0.2% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk burned Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 63-74 (15.9 - 18.7%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Hawlucha Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 136-162 (34.5 - 41.1%) -- 64.6% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk burned Hawlucha Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 68-81 (17.2 - 20.5%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Sole Survivor]

reserving Celesteela

Bamboo Rocket (Celesteela) @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 160 HP / 44 Def / 140 SpA / 48 SpD / 116 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Air Slash
- Leech Seed
- Autotomize
- Flamethrower

Celesteela is a good check to Hawlucha as Hawlucha is forced to use Close Combat which doesn't 2HKO and drops Hawlucha's defenses. Air Slash then cleanly 2HKOs it. Celesteela's Leftovers allow it to ignore Stealth Rock and avoid getting 2HKOed by Hawlucha. If it Swords Dances on the switch, Celesteela can still OHKO it since Stealth Rock should be up on the opposing end and Hawlucha teams don't carry Defog most of the time and there aren't many reliable spinners in the current OU metagame.

Calcs

252+ Atk Hawlucha Close Combat vs. 160 HP / 44 Def Celesteela: 159-187 (42.4 - 49.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Close Combat vs. 160 HP / 44 Def Celesteela: 316-373 (84.2 - 99.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

140+ SpA Celesteela Air Slash vs. 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 260-308 (87.5 - 103.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[RaikouLover]

Toxtricity @ Choice Specs
Ability: Punk Rock
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overdrive
- Boomburst
- Sludge Wave
- Volt Switch

Toxtricity is a check. It lives both STABs at +2 and OHKOs even +1 Spdef with Overdrive. It even has a favorable roll vs. the rare Stone Edge. Due to Toxtricity’s speed tier, some choose to drop some speed for bulk (especially on Shift Gear sets) which only helps this matchup:

+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Toxtricity: 228-268 (78.3 - 92%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Toxtricity: 253-298 (86.9 - 102.4%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Punk Rock Toxtricity Overdrive vs. +1 0 HP / 132 SpD Hawlucha: 374-444 (125.9 - 149.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[ironwater]

I'm gonna close the submissions in about 20 hours. avg, Tysonslayer tagging you if you want to fill your submissions. Also Windingsss do you want to submit Skarmory as a check or a counter ?