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

[vNatFly]

Terrakion is a great check to Zapdos. Terrakion when paired with pivots that can lure Zapdos like Tornadus-T or Slowking, it can easily force Zapdos out or threaten it with an OHKO thanks to its Rock-type STAB move. Terrakion also fullfils many more roles like acting as a check to many metagame staples like unboosted Volcarona, Bisharp, Heatran, Excadrill, Hydreigon, Kyurem, Magnezone, Mandibuzz, and Tyranitar. Terrakion can be a much scarier wallbreaker when paired with Future Sight allowing it to break through everything much easier, most notably Toxapex.

 

[haxlolo]

reserving kyurem i guess



Kyurem @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Freeze-Dry
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast
- Earth Power

Pretty standard Kyurem set. You can switch-in on Discharge or Heat Wave and easily scare it out thanks to Ice Beam. If Volt Switch or Hurricane you should get it in with pivot from Teleport users or VoltTurn in general. Since you don't really have recovery and you are weak to Stealth Rock, I'd consider this a check


0 SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Kyurem: 90-107 (23 - 27.3%) -- 63.7% chance to 4HKO

0 SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Kyurem: 156-184 (39.8 - 47%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Kyurem Freeze-Dry vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 410-486 (107 - 126.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[JTD783]

Reserving Tyranitar

 

[InvisibleWater]

Nominating Dracozolt as a check.


Dracozolt @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 148 Atk / 176 SpA / 184 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Bolt Beak
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast

Dracozolt's typing allows it to switch in on Zapdos while taking little damage in the process. When Sand is up, this gives it multiple opportunities to threaten it out with double-power Bolt Beak.

Unfortunately, Dracozolt's ability to check Zapdos hinges entirely on Sand being up. Without it, there's nothing stopping Zapdos from repeatedly Roosting away damage unless you're willing to give up a coverage move for Taunt. There's also very little it can do to stop Zapdos from pivoting out if it has Volt Switch.

Calcs:

148+ Atk Life Orb Dracozolt Bolt Beak (85 BP) vs. 248 HP / 220 Def Zapdos: 138-164 (36 - 42.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
148+ Atk Life Orb Dracozolt Bolt Beak (170 BP) vs. 248 HP / 220 Def Zapdos: 274-324 (71.5 - 84.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
176 SpA Life Orb Dracozolt Draco Meteor vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 203-239 (53 - 62.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
176 SpA Life Orb Dracozolt Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Zapdos: 114-135 (29.7 - 35.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO


0 SpA Zapdos Discharge vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Dracozolt: 39-46 (12.1 - 14.3%) -- possible 7HKO
0 SpA Zapdos Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Dracozolt: 34-40 (10.5 - 12.4%) -- possible 9HKO
0 SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Dracozolt: 107-126 (33.3 - 39.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Dracozolt: 62-73 (19.3 - 22.7%) -- possible 5HKO

 

[SLDR]

Checking/countering an utility Pokémon is a tricky concept, because it isn't meant to be an offensive threat. You should probably look for a Pokémon that makes it hard for Zapdos to do its job: spreading paralysis, grabbing momentum and defogging. Ground types that can setup rocks AND threaten Zapdos are on paper the best options but most of them have been taken, I'm left with one option:

EDIT: This is submitted as a CHECK


Mamoswine @ Never-Melt Ice
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard

With Thick Fat, it only really fears Hurricane, which is the move Zapdos would spam the least due to what it wants to do. Mamo ofc switches into electric stab and heat wave 90% of the time without consequences and, once it's in, forces a switch that can be punished with stealth rock or stuns Zapdos with a supereffective ice stab. Also, having rocks on mamo by scaring out Zapdos can be used to force scenarios when zap has to come in and either give mamo another free turn by clicking Defog (which you can use to your advantage again by forcing progress) or not click Defog (which is what you want in order to maintain hazard pressure). Not only that, but since the opponent has Zapdos, he/she probably won't have neither Corviknight nor Skarmory, Mamo's hardest counters. Due to that, zapdos might be part of a team's rotation to maneuver around mamo with its ground immunity - which is risky - or at last mamo has a good matchup in general. At last, zap can't even try to passively force paralysis on mamo since none of its moves make contact.

Other than offensive prowess and stealth rock, mamo also comes with great defensive utility against the likes of Garchomp, Rillaboom (jolly shard beats adamant glide due to mamo being faster), Hawlucha and Dragapult thanks to priority ice shard. It's not a great electric check despite the ground type, but you have other options for those.

 

[Katy]

Alright Let us get the Voting going! This Weeks Victim of the Week is Utility

We have the following submissions:

Counters:
by HydreigonTheChild
by TailGlowVM
by Vengeance417
by AM

Checks:
by HaaiL
by ViZar
by Sagdiyev
by Tysonslayer
by vNatFly
by Lolito
by InvisibleWater
by SLDR

Vote for 2 Counters and 2 Checks!

Voting Stage will end in 48 hours!

Please guys next time write down if this is a check or counter for new(er) readers, thank you!
Sorry JTD783 I could not include your submission because you didn't fill it out!​

 

[TailGlowVM]

Counters: Can't vote for me obviously, or unranked mons on good conscience, so has to be Rhyperior and Hippowdon.

Checks: Tapu Koko and Garchomp

Sorry, I should have said that only the blue Gastro is viable in OU.

 

[JTD783]

This is what I get for trying to be active during finals week lol. My bad.

Checks: Garchomp, Tapu Koko

Counters: Hippowdon, Gastrodon

 

[ViZar]

Checks: &

Counters: &

 

[NuttyRabbit]

Checks: and

Counters: and

 

[Tysonslayer]

Checks: Loco Koko and Mammothswine
Counters: Fat Hippo and Unviable west Gastrodon

 

[SLDR]

Counters:
Checks:

 

[InvisibleWater]

Counters:
Checks:

 

[haxlolo]

Counters: god stunfisk and gastrodon
Checks: koko and chomp

 

[Queenzz]

Counters:
Checks:
Love the nom of stunfisk, feel both Chomper and Pert get the most out of the advantage as checks

 

[Vengeance417]

mfw Rhyperior is now unranked

Counters:
Checks:

 

[Emil Heskey]

&
&

 

[Katy]

Winners of this week are:

Counters:
by Vengeance417
by HydreigonTheChild
by TailGlowVM

Checks:
by Tysonslayer
by ViZar

Gratz guys, will be added into the archive! :)

Lets get it rollin and lets get directly to Week 20


Slowking-Galar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpA / 80 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Future Sight
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Hydro Pump / Scald / Ice Beam​

Everyone knows what it does. It checks a lot of special wallbreakers in the current metagame, wether it be Heatran, Nidoking, Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, or Tornadus-Therian, this Pokemon covers a lot of metagame staples and alongside Partners such as Corviknight and Landorus-Therian it can excel this role to perfection. Galarian Slowking also profits from great coverage options with Flamethrower, Hydro Pump, and Ice Beam to threaten the Pokemon its meant to check with super effective coverage. But what are Pokemon, which can give Galarian Slowking trouble? What are Pokemon Galarian Slowking dislikes. Lets get it rolling with submissions for Week20.

Deadline will be Friday the 25th! Happy posting!​

 

[Tysonslayer]

Hydreigon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 184 HP / 76 SpA / 248 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Roost

Hydreigon is able to act as a check against Slowking-Galar while it has to be warry of Ice Beam sets, any other version Hydreigon is able to come in while needing to be in the lookout for potential poisoning from Sludge Bomb. Thanks to the dark typing it is immune to the most dangerous move in Slowking's-Galar arsenal being Future Sight which makes it a lot harder to switch into with the wide variety of coverage it has access to. Hydreigon cannot do immediate damage to Slowking-Galar, but it could get a free Nasty Plot off and pressure it with Dark Pulse, while Earth Drop can potentially decrease the Special Defense making it a lot easier for Hydreigon to force it out.

 

[Windingsss]

Dont get me wrong, i still hate Pert, but it actually has something going for it huh

Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Toxic
​

Due to its great special bulk, Swampert can switch repeatedly into Galarian Slowking and threat it out with Earthquake. It resists Flamethrower and Sludge Bomb, Future Sight takes 2 turns to deal damage, and Hydro Pump / Other moves fail to even 5HKO, so i'll consider it a counter. Swampert can also take advantage of Slowking and set rocks or pivot out and gain momentum with Flip Turn.

Some calcs:

bulke frog

0 Atk Swampert Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Slowking-Galar: 282-332 (71.5 - 84.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO


176 SpA Slowking-Galar Future Sight vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 127-150 (31.4 - 37.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery (By the moment Future Sight hits Gking is dead)

176 SpA Slowking-Galar Scald vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 56-67 (13.8 - 16.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever

176 SpA Slowking-Galar Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 78-92 (19.3 - 22.7%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery

176 SpA Slowking-Galar Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 64-76 (15.8 - 18.8%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[TailGlowVM]

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 124 SpD / 132 Spe (outspeeds neutral-natured base 50s)
Sassy Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Heavy Slam

Often Galarian Slowking is used as a switch-in to Heatran, but as we don't have Earthquake slashed, Heavy Slam Heatran turns that around, allowing Heatran to 3HKO it, and it also helps against Clefable. Obviously Glowking's STABs, Flamethrower, and Ice Beam do nothing, Scald only 4HKOes, and Hydro Pump 3HKOes while you're faster, meaning Heatran is a check that counters sets without Hydro Pump.

You need Sassy for a guaranteed 3HKO, but if you don't mind a small chance to miss it with very poor damage rolls, a standard 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe Calm spread works, which will still always check non-Hydro Pump sets.

 

[ViZar]

Excadrill

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 48 HP / 36 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD / 168 Spe
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic / Stealth Rock
- Protect / Stealth Rock

I sub Excadrill has a check to Galarian Slowking. Excadrill lives 2 hits from any attack, except Hydro Pump, after Stealth Rock. With 36 Atk EVs, Excadrill is able to OHKO Slowking-G with EQ after Stealth Rock. It can't 1v1 it if the opponent has Hydro Pump on their Slowking-G, since it can't tank a Flamethrower into a Hydro Pump, but in a pinch it is able to tank a hit and kill it back. Not being able to come in constantly and being hurt by a potential Scald burn, makes it a check.

Rapid Spin provides Hazard Removal without sacrificing your own. Toxic punishes common switch-ins to Excadrill in Buzzwole, Zapdos and Landorus-T and it works well with Protect, which helps with getting more recovery out of Leftovers, accumulating Toxic damage and scouting moves. Stealth Rock is an alternative to Toxic or Protect, which frees up other Pokémon in your team since they don't have to run Stealth Rock anymore.

As a bonus, this Drill set hard counters Tapu Koko, since none of its can even 4HKO it and can be an emergency check to Heatran, being able to switch into a Magma Storm and OHKO it. It also survives 2 Earth Powers if you managed to stall out the Magma Storms.

Calcs

Relevant to Slowking-G match-up

176 SpA Slowking-Galar Flamethrower vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 156-184 (41.8 - 49.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
176 SpA Slowking-Galar Scald vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 138-164 (36.9 - 43.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock, Leftovers recovery, and burn damage
176 SpA Slowking-Galar Hydro Pump vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 190-224 (50.9 - 60%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

36 Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Slowking-Galar: 348-410 (88.3 - 104%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock


Bonus calcs

0 SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 254-302 (68 - 80.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock, Leftovers recovery, and trapping damage
0 SpA Heatran Earth Power vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 154-182 (41.2 - 48.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery


252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Dazzling Gleam vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 74-87 (19.8 - 23.3%) -- possible 6HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Grass Knot (60 BP) vs. 48 HP / 252+ SpD Excadrill: 74-88 (19.8 - 23.5%) -- possible 6HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

 

[Yourwelcomethanku]

Reuniclus @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast

Eats every hit and turns it into set up fodder Reuniclus is a solid Counter to Glowking. With Colbur Berry Reuniclus can even take the combination of Dark-type attacks and Future sight.

Calc

176 SpA Slowking-Galar Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Reuniclus: 142-168 (33.4 - 39.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[Vengeance417]

Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick

Banded Weavile as a check. It doesn't switch in to GalarKing very well, but it's not particularly easy to switch into a Banded Weavile, either. It threatens to either OHKO with Knock Off (Triple Axel can also OHKO after Stealth Rock), or force progress against GalarKing's teammates by removing their items while likely dishing out a ton of damage.

 

[InvisibleWater]

Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch

Bisharp is a check. While it can't switch in on Flamethrower and doesn't like being burned, Bisharp's typing gives it an immunity to both of Glowking's STABs, preventing it from taking chip damage from Future Sight, and potentially giving it opportunities to switch in without taking any damage. Once in, Bisharp can either threaten to 1HKO with Knock Off or Sucker Punch, or set up as Glowking switches out.

It's worth noting that regardless of what Glowking runs in the fourth slot, it will always put Bisharp in KO range of Flamethrower. However, Glowking's incredibly low speed makes it difficult to take advantage of that in a 1v1 scenario.

Calcs:

252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Slowking-Galar: 492-582 (124.8 - 147.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Slowking-Galar: 330-390 (83.7 - 98.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Bisharp Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Slowking-Galar: 169-199 (42.8 - 50.5%) -- 2% chance to 2HKO
252+ Atk Black Glasses Bisharp Sucker Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Slowking-Galar: 354-416 (89.8 - 105.5%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO


176 SpA Slowking-Galar Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 220-260 (81.1 - 95.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
176 SpA Slowking-Galar Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 98-116 (36.1 - 42.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
176 SpA Slowking-Galar Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 135-159 (49.8 - 58.6%) -- 99.6% chance to 2HKO
176 SpA Slowking-Galar Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Bisharp: 55-65 (20.2 - 23.9%) -- guaranteed 5HKO