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

[ironwater]

Hey there! This project will be reassigned to charlieX7 and SetsuSetsuna. Please give them a warm welcome!

 

[SetsuSetsuna]

Hello everyone, I will be hosting this project in the near future. I am looking forward to reading all the ideas you come up with.

Now for the next Victim of the Week for Week 53 we have Choice Specs Zapdos!


Zapdos @ Choice Specs
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hurricane
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave​

This Zapdos set has rose to become one of the best disruptors in the metagame. In a meta where specially defensive grounds such as Landorus-Therian, Garchomp and Hippowdon are tasked to taking hits from Heatran, Dragapult, Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko and Blacephalon, Choice Specs Zapdos comes to 2HKO them with it's stab Hurricane. Teams such as Choice Spam BO by Storm Zone and OLT 2021 Specs Zapdos by Storm Zone have shown what this mon is capable of in both ladder and tour games. How are some of the checks and counters that can stop this mon?

Deadline for submission will be 18th April 2022​

 

[myself12]

Reserving Slowking-Galar

Slowking-Galar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 124 SpA / 120 SpD
Calm Nature
- Future Sight / Psychic
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam

With Assault Vest, Galarian Slowking is able to tank Zapdos's attacks relatively easily. Hurricane is a 3HKO, and chances are you're not going to hit all three hurricanes (for the record, you have a 34.3% chance). On the other hand, Slowking can 2HKO with Ice Beam. EVs allow it to take 2 specs shadow balls from dragapult and 1 surging strikes from urshifu. Galarian Slowking is a counter to Zapdos.

Calcs:

->
124 SpA Slowking-Galar Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zapdos: 170-202 (52.9 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

->
252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 120+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 132-156 (33.5 - 39.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Volt Switch vs. 252 HP / 120+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 84-100 (21.3 - 25.3%) -- 0.2% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 120+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 108-127 (27.4 - 32.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 120+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 76-90 (19.2 - 22.8%) -- possible 5HKO

 

[Red Raven]

Blissey @ Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Teleport
- Soft Boiled
- Seismic Toss

Good ol blob is probably the single biggest roadblock to Zapdos and most special attackers in general. Lightning birb would need to paralyze this with thunderbolt and get consecute full para in order to break past Blissey. This thing is a counter to lightning birb

 

[BT89]

reserving tyranitar

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch

Choice Band Tyranitar is a very strong check to Zapdos. It can take any two hits from this set while heavily threatening it out with Stone Edge.

252 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 96-114 (28.1 - 33.4%) -- 0% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 58-69 (17 - 20.2%) -- possible 5HKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zapdos: 630-744 (196.2 - 231.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO​

 

[Vkhss]

Reserving Nihilego


Nihilego @ Black Sludge
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Pain Split
- Power Gem
- Thunder Wave
- Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Nihilego: 127-151 (30 - 35.7%) -- 32.6% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Nihilego: 78-92 (18.4 - 21.8%) -- possible 5HKO


0 SpA Nihilego Power Gem vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 234-276 (72.8 - 85.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Nihilego eats a hit and either revenge it or pain spilts the damage off. A very rare set but it works.

 

[SDK03]

Reserving Rotom-Heat

Rotom-H @ Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 92 SpD / 168 Spe
Calm Nature
- Overheat
- Volt Switch
- Toxic
- Pain Split
​

Defensively-oriented Rotom-H makes an unusual, but effective Check Counter to Choice Specs Zapdos. Thanks to its bulk and Fire/Electric typing combined with some EVing and a Calm nature, it resists both Zapdos’ STAB and Heat Wave, with Hurricane only being a 3HKO on it (if it actually hits that consistently). If switching in on an attack, it can easily use Pain Split to recover the damage and finish Zapdos off with Overheat and Volt Switch as the Specs set isn’t carrying Roost to heal off the damage. Rotom-H can also use Toxic to put a timer on anything that may switch into it, including other Zapdos sets.

Defensive Calcs

252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Hurricane vs. 248 HP / 92+ SpD Rotom-Heat: 103-122 (33.9 - 40.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 92+ SpD Rotom-Heat: 84-99 (27.7 - 32.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Volt Switch vs. 248 HP / 92+ SpD Rotom-Heat: 66-78 (21.7 - 25.7%) -- 0.7% chance to 4HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 248 HP / 92+ SpD Rotom-Heat: 59-70 (19.4 - 23.1%) -- possible 5HKO

Offensive Calcs

0 SpA Rotom-Heat Overheat vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 160-189 (49.8 - 58.8%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO

0 SpA Rotom-Heat Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 85-102 (26.4 - 31.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

Thanks to these qualities and utilities, Rotom-Heat is an effective Check Counter to Choice Specs Zapdos

 

[DarkmanimanTheBest]

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Discharge
- Hurricane

This one is so easy.

G-Zap has, in terms of coverage, STAB flying and fighting, and non-stab bug, ground, and fire. Even including niche ones, that's still dark and steel. Its only neutral hits are non-stab, and even with band it can't 2hko, and with SR being irrelevant because of hdb, the closest G-zap can get is....

252 Atk Choice Band Zapdos-Galar Mega Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 153-180 (39.8 - 46.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

And realistically its more like:

252 Atk Choice Band Zapdos-Galar Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 114-135 (29.6 - 35.1%) -- 17.1% chance to 3HKO

Brave bird does more than blaze kick, believe it or not. And all of these moves are contact. you can even spam roost until static happens. Its a really easy match up.

 

[DarkmanimanTheBest]

Buzzbros
Mandibuzz

Ice punch Buzzwole

 

[SDK03]

View attachment 418852
Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Discharge
- Hurricane

This one is so easy.

G-Zap has, in terms of coverage, STAB flying and fighting, and non-stab bug, ground, and fire. Even including niche ones, that's still dark and steel. Its only neutral hits are non-stab, and even with band it can't 2hko, and with SR being irrelevant because of hdb, the closest G-zap can get is....

252 Atk Choice Band Zapdos-Galar Mega Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 153-180 (39.8 - 46.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

And realistically its more like:

252 Atk Choice Band Zapdos-Galar Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 114-135 (29.6 - 35.1%) -- 17.1% chance to 3HKO

Brave bird does more than blaze kick, believe it or not. And all of these moves are contact. you can even spam roost until static happens. Its a really easy match up.

How do we tell them?

 

[charlieX7]

View attachment 418852
Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Roost
- Defog
- Discharge
- Hurricane

This one is so easy.

G-Zap has, in terms of coverage, STAB flying and fighting, and non-stab bug, ground, and fire. Even including niche ones, that's still dark and steel. Its only neutral hits are non-stab, and even with band it can't 2hko, and with SR being irrelevant because of hdb, the closest G-zap can get is....

252 Atk Choice Band Zapdos-Galar Mega Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 153-180 (39.8 - 46.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

And realistically its more like:

252 Atk Choice Band Zapdos-Galar Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Zapdos: 114-135 (29.6 - 35.1%) -- 17.1% chance to 3HKO

Brave bird does more than blaze kick, believe it or not. And all of these moves are contact. you can even spam roost until static happens. Its a really easy match up.

bro the mon you're fighting is... zapdos
like kanto zap
why

 

[SetsuSetsuna]

Ty to everyone who participated this week. Let's look at the submissions you all posted.

Counters:

by Red Raven

Checks:

by BT89
Calm Paint Split by SDK03
Pain Split Max SpDef Max Hp by Vkhss
by myself12

A few notes:

- Even thought the Slowking-Galar is listed as a counter, is still gets 3HKO by hurricane and is likely to get 3HKO by thunderbolt if there are rocks up, so I decided to list it as a check.
- The Rotom Heat is listed as a check instead of counter while the Nihilego is not listed as neither a counter nor a check. Please check your submissions / add more to them if you think is worth considering them as counters instead of checks. As of this moment I think is fine to list them as checks.

Deadline for Voting will be 20th April 2022 at 11:59 pm GMT-4​

 

[myself12]

Counter:
Check:

 

[Red Raven]

How many are we voting for? If one, mine goes to and if two, add in

 

[SDK03]

Counter:

Check: /

btw, changed Rotom-Heat to a Counter instead of a Check

 

[TURBODERP]

I don't understand how the listed Slowking-Galar set isn't a counter. Okay sure it's 3HKO'd by Hurricane (except 3 Hurricanes landing consecutively doesn't happen at least 60% of the time) and after SR be 3HKO'd by Thunderbolt most of the time, but Glowking very clearly 2HKO's back. That's a counter as per OP's quoted bit from Smog.

Slowking-Galar even has Regenerator and very good special bulk so it's not like after one or even two rounds of SR that Specs Zapdos suddenly breaks through and wins the 1v1.

 

[myself12]

The Slowking-Galar set isn't a counter because if it tries to switch-in, it gets KOed before it can get KOed back.

My bad, I should've realized that before I submitted it as a counter.

 

[HydreigonTheChild]

check: cb tar

 

[RAP Yogurt]

Counter: Blissey

Check: : Tyranitar

 

[D5405]

Check: Ttar
Counter:Blissey

 

[blooclipse]

counter:
check:

 

[charlieX7]

And voting is done!

The winners are...

Blissey (obviously),

Tyranitar!

Votes

5
7
1
1
0

Thanks to everybody who posted for participating in this round of SWSH VOTW!

 

[SetsuSetsuna]

Hi everyone and sorry for the delay.

For the next Victim of the Week for Week 54 we have 3 Attacks Buzzwole


Buzzwole @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 152 HP / 168 Atk / 188 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake
- Roost​

With enough speed for Timid Magnezone, Adamant Bisharp and Modest Volcanion, a good amount of bulk to take physical attacks, and more than enough attack to blow opposing steels, this pokemon has a great mixture of attributes. Ice Punch allows it to hit Garchomp, Landorus-Therian super effectively while Earthquake hits Toxapex and Slowking-Galar. Rocky helmet punishes Triple Axel from Weavile and Surging Strikes from Urshifu. How can this pokemon be stopped?

Deadline for submission will be May 1st 2022 at 11:59 EST​

 

[HydreigonTheChild]

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

This is what i do I sit on you!

well.... slowbro walls any buzzwole without leech life and toxic.... it can switch in threaten burn, port out, or future sight and force it out

 

[658Greninja]

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD
Calm Nature
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Stealth Rock/Thunder Wave
- Knock Off/Trick/Thunder Wave

Clefable is a counter to Buzzwole. This Buzz variant almost never runs Poison Jab, so you are free to set rocks, knock, para something, etc. Or you can hit it with Moonblast and kill it after rocks.

168+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 200 Def Clefable: 121-143 (30.7 - 36.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

0 SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 152 HP / 0 SpD Buzzwole: 326-386 (82.9 - 98.2%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock