Mawile @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 4 Def / 248 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Play Rough
- Rock Slide
Nominating Mawile as a
check. You've heard of physically defensive Mawile, but have you heard of
specially defensive Mawile? Admittedly, Mawile needs to be fully invested in Special Defense to pull this off, but this spread turns Flamethrower into an almost guaranteed 4HKO.
0- SpA Silvally-Bug Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 248 SpD Assault Vest Mawile: 86-102 (28.2 - 33.5%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO
0- SpA Silvally-Bug Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 248 SpD Assault Vest Mawile: 86-102 (28.2 - 33.5%) -- 25.5% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock
In return, Mawile can comfortably 3HKO with either Rock Slide or Play Rough.
4+ Atk Sheer Force Mawile Play Rough vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Silvally-Bug: 127-150 (38.3 - 45.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
4+ Atk Sheer Force Mawile Rock Slide vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Silvally-Bug: 142-168 (42.9 - 50.7%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO
Both of which turn into guaranteed 2HKOs if Bugvally comes in on Stealth Rocks.
In my opinion, the best part of this set is the potential for mind games.
After Swords Dance, Multi-Attack will actually do more damage than Flamethrower (barely), but because it would crazy to run Mawile with maxed Special bulk instead of Phys Def, your opponent will (likely) never click Multi-Attack.
+2 252 Atk Silvally-Bug Multi-Attack vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mawile: 90-106 (29.6 - 34.8%) -- 10.7% chance to 3HKO
+2 252 Atk Silvally-Bug Multi-Attack vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mawile: 90-106 (29.6 - 34.8%) -- 83.5% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock
I've put 4 EVs into Mawile's Defense because they do make a
slight difference in the % chance for Multi-Attack to become a 3HKO, but putting those 4 into Attack doesn't raise the damage of Rock Slide or Play Rough.
The goal of this set is to come in on the Swords Dance or come in fresh-faced. Mawile should not take an attack to switch in, but if it does, Sucker Punch can do a small amount of damage to make up for the non-guaranteed 2HKO when Stealth Rocks aren't set up.
Running Mawile with Special Defense investment is a little odd, but I had this idea and wanted to share.