Project SS RU Victim of the Week: Week 31 - NP Alolatales

[Oathkeeper]

Chandelure @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Energy Ball

Check. Obviously dies to a +2 Stone Edge from Coba, but not an unboosted one. Simply bring it in after a sacrifice or slow pivot and Fire Blast away!


Checks
Defensive Milotic by Yourwelcomthank
Wallbreaker Starmie by Jmash
Defensive Calm Mind Galarbro by Monky25
Specs Toxtricity by Renju_V2
NP Salazzle by Flareblitzkreig
Scarf Darmanitan by Jaytop31
PhysDef Gastrodon by Aquarius Ghost ❤
PhysDef Vileplume by xoPure
WispHex Chandelure by Oathkeepre


Vote for 2 checks. You cannot vote for your own!

Checks: Milotic, Darmanitan​

 

[Jmash]

Checks: Toxtricity and Salazzle

 

[Aquarius Ghost ❤]

Tox and lazzle
The other two

 

[Oathkeeper]

After some calc'ing, Coba can SD on Gastro coming in, then SD the following turn, and then OHKO Gastro via CC. This make Gastro a check, not a counter. With that in mind, there's only 2 counters (Plume and Doublade).

Anyone voting, please vote for 2 checks only!

 

[Yourwelcomethanku]

Checks: Toxtricity Gastrodon

 

[Renju V.3]

Checks: Salazzle,Milotic

 

[Flareblitzkreig]

checks: gbro, starmie

 

[Jaytop31]

Milotic, Salazzle

 

[KlangFan11]

Checks: Milotic,Toxtricity

 

[xoPure]

salazzle, toxtricity

 

[ExPosure]

Toxtricity,Gbro

 

[Oathkeeper]

Winners


Checks
Specs Toxtricity by Renju_V2 (6 votes)
NP Salazzle by Flareblitzkreig (5 votes)


Counter
Bulky SD Doublade by gorex (unanimous)


Honorable mentions

Vote counts this week

Checks
Toxtricity - 6
Salazzle - 5
Milotic - 4
Slowbro-G - 2
Starmie - 1
Darmanitan - 1
Gastrodon - 1
Chandelure, Vileplume - 0

Top Assassin Standings

Flareblitzkreig - 5
gorex - 5
Natan - 3
Aquarius Ghost ❤ - 2
Jaytop31 - 2
Mac3 - 2
Monky25 - 2
Raxelgrande - 2
Renju_V2 - 2
Oathkeepre - 1
zizalith - 1

Week 25

Zarude @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Darkest Lariat
- Close Combat
- U-turn​

 

[Flareblitzkreig]

Togekiss @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Air Slash
- Defog
- Thunder Wave
- Roost

goatkiss does goatkiss things like usual.
it absolutely walls the hell out of zarude, with it's best option (power whip) being a 5hko AT BEST
in return, togekiss cleanly 2hkoes zarude and therefore it is a COUNTER to zarude

calcs

0 SpA Togekiss Air Slash vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zarude: 198-234 (56.4 - 66.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Zarude Power Whip vs. 248 HP / 204+ Def Togekiss: 72-85 (19.3 - 22.7%) -- possible 5HKO
252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 248 HP / 204+ Def Togekiss: 51-60 (13.6 - 16%) -- possible 7HKO
252 Atk Zarude U-turn vs. 248 HP / 204+ Def Togekiss: 14-16 (3.7 - 4.2%) -- possibly the worst move ever(lol)

 

[Aquarius Ghost ❤]

tangela
Tangela @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
Tangela is a counter bc it can switching to any move.
calcs u 3hko with sbomb, and then it cant touch u gg

 

[Yourwelcomethanku]

Vileplume is a Counter to Zarude
Now it is possible with hazards and u-turn damage Vileplume could be put in 2hko range which would require 3 layers of spikes and a u-turn to put it in range of 2 darkest lariat or multiple u-turns so if you run HDB on Vileplume it is than a full counter. Many players will not run HDB as that does mean its not running helmet or black sludge. Really the only way your opponent will break Vileplume with scarf zarude is by making many reads repetedly and mantain hazards which in my book is enough to call it a counter.
Vileplume @ Heavy Duty boots/ Rocky Helmet /Black Sludge
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Strength Sap / Synthesis
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Sleep Powder/ Toxic

Calcs

252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Vileplume: 106-126 (29.9 - 35.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
0 SpA Vileplume Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zarude: 218-260 (62.1 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Ark Zarude will heal vileplume 339HP From Strength Sap
-1 252atk Zarude will heal Vileplume 226HP Strength Sap

 

[Monky25]

Weezing-Galar @ Black Sludge
Bold Nature
Ability: Neutralizing Gas
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Sludge Bomb
- Strange Steam
- Defog
- Will-O-Wisp

Weezing-G is a counter to scarf zarude. It takes very little from any of it's attacks and can 2HKO with sludge bomb or strange steam or even cripple it with will-o-wisp, neutering it for the rest of the game.
0 SpA Weezing-Galar Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zarude: 176-210 (50.1 - 59.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Weezing-Galar Strange Steam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zarude: 176-210 (50.1 - 59.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Zarude Power Whip vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Weezing-Galar: 59-69 (17.6 - 20.6%) -- possible 7HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Weezing-Galar: 42-50 (12.5 - 14.9%) -- possibly the worst move ever

 

[gorex]

reserving noivern as a check

Noivern @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 168 Def / 88 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Flamethrower
- Roost
- U-turn

pretty simple stuff here actually, you take anything not named darkest lariat comfortably because of noivern's typing offering resistances to all the other moves in the movepool. with this spread here, u can always take 2 non crit darkest lariat from zarude from full, so if ever the priority is to kill zarude, u are able to do that instead instead of scouting lariat then gg smth else. ofc, feel free to use max spa max spe, its just less reliable in answering zarude imo. noivern needs some chip on zarude to 2hko, but its fine generally since u can pp stall out lariats, and generate momentum if zarude clicks any of the other moves. if lariat happens to crit, cry as u make ur switch-in to smth on ur team that resists, then roost up vern on smth else down the line.

defensive calcs

252 Atk Zarude Power Whip vs. 0 HP / 168 Def Noivern: 46-54 (14.7 - 17.3%) -- possible 6HKO
252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 0 HP / 168 Def Noivern: 130-154 (41.8 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Zarude Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 168 Def Noivern: 61-72 (19.6 - 23.1%) -- possible 5HKO
252 Atk Zarude U-turn vs. 0 HP / 168 Def Noivern: 36-42 (11.5 - 13.5%) -- possible 8HKO

offensive calcs

88 SpA Noivern Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zarude: 156-184 (44.4 - 52.4%) -- 19.1% chance to 2HKO
88 SpA Noivern Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Zarude: 146-172 (41.5 - 49%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[TripleCx3]

Ice Table (Avalugg) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Recover
- Rapid Spin
- Body Press
- Avalanche
Avalugg is a counter to zarude, it takes pitiful damage from all its moves even cc, and is easily able to recover the damage off while threatening it with both avalanche and body press, even OHKOing from full hp after a cc drop

252 Atk Zarude Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 114-136 (28.9 - 34.5%) -- 4.7% chance to 3HKO
252 Atk Zarude U-turn vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Avalugg: 34-40 (8.6 - 10.1%) -- possibly the worst move ever

0 Atk Avalugg Avalanche vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 284-336 (80.9 - 95.7%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Def Avalugg Body Press vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 240-284 (68.3 - 80.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Jaytop31]

reserving vileplume nvm i'm blind, i'll take crobat

Crobat @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- U-turn
- Defog

Crobat is a great check to Zarude, as it takes nothing from Power Whip, Close Combat and U-turn thanks to it's 4 times resists, while Crobat can easily 2HKO back with either Brave Bird or U-turn. Darkest Lariat can't 2HKO but if Crobat use Brave Bird it will die to the second Darkest Lariat. You can also U-turn for ~55% and go into another pokemon that have a dark resist.

calcs

252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Crobat: 157-186 (41.9 - 49.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

0 Atk Crobat Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 228-270 (64.9 - 76.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (20.1 - 23.8% recoil damage)
0 Atk Crobat U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 180-212 (51.2 - 60.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[xoPure]

reserving bewear

Bewear @ Choice Band
Ability: Fluffy
EVs: 108 HP / 252 Atk / 148 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- Darkest Lariat
Bewear is a great offensive CHECK to scarf Zarude. Bewear takes laughable damage thanks to its ability Fluffy while threatening an OHKO back with literally every move but Darkest Lariat after rocks. Found this to be the best spread as Bewear is really the only base 60 that wants speed in the tier, and since its a very uncommon mon, i made it faster than the standard BP Magnezone set as its the only mon with a close enough speed tier to invest speed into, which gives me room for HP investment to reach the 3HKO threshold.

Calc Wall:

252 Atk Zarude Close Combat vs. 108 HP / 0 Def Fluffy Bewear: 149-176 (36.5 - 43.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

252 Atk Zarude Power Whip vs. 108 HP / 0 Def Fluffy Bewear: 111-132 (27.2 - 32.3%) -- 4.5% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock

252 Atk Zarude U-turn vs. 108 HP / 0 Def Fluffy Bewear: 21-25 (5.1 - 6.1%) -- possibly the worst move ever

252+ Atk Choice Band Bewear Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 378-446 (107.6 - 127%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Bewear Double-Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zarude: 301-355 (85.7 - 101.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Jmash]

Talonflame @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Will-O-Wisp
- U-turn
- Roost

Talonflame is a check to Choice Scarf Zarude, as Power Whip, Close Combat, and U-turn don’t do much and all risk a Flame Body burn, especially important as a way to punish U-turn. Unfortunately, Darkest Lariat can 2HKO, but even that risks a burn and must predict properly on the switch.

252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Talonflame: 172-204 (47.9 - 56.8%) -- 88.3% chance to 2HKO

 

[iceblazer]

Submitting Heracross as a check.

Heracross @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
Heracross can tank an attack from Zarude and easily KO it with either Megahorn or CC, with the best Zarude doing is U-turning out of it. Although it should be noted that Hera still takes a hefty amount of damage from the monkey.

Calcs:
252 Atk Zarude Power Whip vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Heracross: 117-138 (38.8 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after burn damage

252 Atk Zarude Darkest Lariat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Heracross: 84-99 (27.9 - 32.8%) -- 83.9% chance to 3HKO after burn damage

252 Atk Guts Heracross Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Zarude: 546-644 (155.5 - 183.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Guts Heracross Megahorn vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Zarude: 1092-1288 (311.1 - 366.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Oathkeeper]

Cobalion @ Chople Berry
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge

Check. Coba can come in on Zarude after it's used either Power Whip or Darkest Lariat and easily force it out. It can even eat up one Close Combat if it needs to and deal heavy damage with its own Close Combat!

TripleCx3, while Avalugg could potentially work as an answer to Zarude, it's not listed on the VR anywhere and is therefore not considered in the voting here. I do apologize


Checks
Custom Noivern by gorex
Offensive Utility Crobat by Jaytop31
Band Bewear by xoPure
Defensive Utility Talonflame by Jmash
Guts Heracross by sovietsympathizer
SD Cobalion by Oathkeepre


Counters
Defensive Togekiss by Flareblitzkreig
PhysDef Tangela by Aquarius Ghost ❤
PhysDef Vileplume by Yourwelcomthank
Defensive Weezing-G by Monky25


As usual, vote for 2 checks & 2 counters!

Checks: Crobat, Talonflame
Counters: Togekiss, Weezing-G​

 

[Aquarius Ghost ❤]

Same ones as goatkeepre just noivern>talon

 

[xoPure]

Check: talonflame, crobat
Counter: tangela, g-weezing