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Project SS UU Victim Of The Week v2- Week 53: Darmanitan (Submissions)

Reserving Scizor
Hey there! So glad you decided to take interest in this project, but Scizor has been already taken unfortunately, so you are not available to do it. There are plenty of other checks that haven’t been taken however, so you can edit your post to make it one of them or just delete it if you do not want to make a post for this week

also Going to use this post to remind The Disco Devil to complete their write up for hatterene
 
Nominating a different variation of Reuniclus as a counter.

:bw/reuniclus:
Reuniclus @ Assault Vest
Modest Nature
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 116 SpA / 140 SpD / 4 Spe
- Psyshock
- Future Sight
- Focus Blast
- Knock Off

With its extremely high HP and decent bulk, Reuniclus is well-placed to take advantage of Regenerator. With Future Sight, it can force predictable switches on the opponent's end. With an Assault Vest, it can easily set up this Future Sight in front of almost any special attacker. And with Focus Blast and Knock Off, it has the tools to punish those switches by itself.

Against Kyurem, Reuniclus can easily take an attack, and fire off a Future Sight. Then, it is just a matter of using Psyshock to constantly pressure Kyurem's substitutes and make way for Future Sight to hit. This pressure also means that Kyurem can only ever have a Substitute up or be at full health, not both. From maximum health, this combo deals a minimum of 85.1% damage, in most cases allowing for a KO with Focus Blast as the Kyurem is forced to Roost to recover its health. (You have exactly enough Psyshock PP to attempt this 3 times.)

Calcs:
200 SpA Kyurem Freeze-Dry vs. 248 HP / 140 SpD Assault Vest Reuniclus: 73-87 (17.2 - 20.5%) -- possible 5HKO
116+ SpA Reuniclus Psyshock vs. 56 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 138-163 (34 - 40.2%) -- 39.2% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
116+ SpA Reuniclus Future Sight vs. 56 HP / 0 SpD Kyurem: 207-244 (51.1 - 60.2%) -- 89.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
116+ SpA Reuniclus Focus Blast vs. 56 HP / 0 SpD Kyurem: 276-326 (68.1 - 80.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
 
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It's time to vote again! We got a lot of solid submissions for this week. Checks and counters are down below.
Checks:
212.png
by UrAverageHuman
jirachi big sprite.png
by HydreigonTheChild
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by Codename Magnum
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by The Disco Devil
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by Monky25
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by Bandkrook
Counters:
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by avarice
797.png
by TotomonGang
mew-big-sprite-png.313344
by BigFatMantis
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by Flare219
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by Chicknemacnchez

You must vote for 2 checks and 2 counters this week. You CANNOT vote for yourself. I repeat, vote for 2 CHECKS and 2 COUNTERS this week! Voting ends Thursday, March 25 at 11:59 PM GMT-8. This is a double points week, meaning the top scorer will get 4 points and the runner up will get 2!
My votes are:
Checks: Scizor and Noivern
Counters: Sylveon and Mew
 
The voting stage is over! Congrats to UrAverageHuman for winning the checks section with Codename Magnum taking a close second. Meanwhile, avarice won the counters with getting a near unanimous vote from the voters while BigFatMantis barely edges out the competition to take second. Congrats all of you! Your submissions will be added to the hall of fame soon. As stated earlier, this week is a double points week, meaning the winners will get 4 points instead of 2 while second place will get 2 points instead of 1. Now, before I introduce this week's victim, lets revisit the score board.
Askov-7
BigFatMantis- 7
avarice-7
Flare219- 5
HydreigonTheChild-5
Codename Magnum- 5
UrAverageHuman-5
Monky25- 4
Fusion Flare-2
The Disco Devil-2
25oof-1
Celebii-1
As seen, avarice Askov and BigFatMantis are all tied for first with a large pack leading closely behind. The race to first will only get tighter and closer from here. Now, lets look at this week's victim!
:ss/Alakazam:
Alakazam @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

This week we will be looking at Alakazam. After a few months of going unnoticed, zam has shot straight up to the top of everyone's hit list, being one of the most threatening Pokemon in the tier. With a ludicrously high special attack stat and nearly unmatched speed tier alongside a powerful boosting move in Nasty Plot, nothing is standing in this guy's way at +2. Metagame staples like Kommo-o, Amoonguss, Keldeo, and Nidoqueen all shiver when they see this thing on the field. Since many have been calling for a ban, I feel this week will act as a great resource to identify all the checks or counters Alakazam might have. How will you stop this big brained terror? Submissions are due Tuesday, March 30, at 11:59 PM GMT-8.
 
:ss/zeraora:
Zeraora @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Volt Switch
- Plasma Fists
- Blaze Kick
- Knock Off

Zeraora is the best mon in the tier and often is a team's speed control. It outpaces zam and deletes it w knock off, and can scout for sash w volt if it really wants to.
 
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:SS/zarude:
Zarude @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Leaf Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power Whip
- Darkest Lariat
- U-turn
- Jungle Healing
Nomming zarude as a check. Standard scarf Zarude can outspeeds and OHKOs zam with all of its attacking moves, forcing a bit more predictions in certain scenarios. Also, since u-turn always OHKOs, zarude have a relatively safe move to click that'll garuantee momentum even if the zam switches out. It accomplishes this while taking being immune to psychic and able to switch into a +2 shadow ball pretty comfotably, forcing zam to to bank on the focus blast prediction paying off.

+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zarude: 121-143 (34.4 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Zarude U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 272-320 (108.3 - 127.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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:ss/celesteela:
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Flamethrower
- Leech Seed
- Protect

Nominating Celesteela as a counter because it can take anything at +2 and can switch in safely, protect for recovery and will threaten to OHKO the alakazam back. Relying on a 70% accurate move to do the most damge isn't great either.

Calcs: 0 Atk Celesteela Heavy Slam (120 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 244-288 (97.2 - 114.7%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela: 250-294 (62.8 - 73.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela: 140-165 (35.1 - 41.4%) -- 79.6% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela: 166-196 (41.7 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
 
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AV Tangrowth as a COUNTER
:ss/tangrowth:
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Def / 248 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Knock Off
- Earthquake / Focus Blast

Tang is a god that can take even a +2 Psychic and KO back with such a powerful Knock Off unlike the virgin chansey that needs about 6 turns to KO with Stoss while constanty softboiling, and since tang has the broken ability it isnt put into zam range easily as it regains a big chunk of health by just switching in and out.
Not many mons can say that they defensively check zam and this is one that can, while not being passive spreading poisons and removing items

CALCS
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Psychic vs. 252 HP / 248+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 286-337 (70.7 - 83.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
0 Atk Tangrowth Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 260-308 (103.5 - 122.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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aegislash-blade.gif
aegislash.gif

Aegislash gang

Aegislash @ Spell Tag
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Claw
- Shadow Sneak
- Iron Head
- Close Combat

Aegislash is a check to Nasty Plot Alakazam. Aegislash has very strong priority in Shadow Sneak and can OHKO Alakazam easily. Aegislash can even switch into Shadow Ball once. Spell Tag can increase the power from Aegislash's Ghost STAB without Life Orb Chip

252+ Atk Spell Tag Aegislash-Blade Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 342-404 (136.2 - 160.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Aegislash-Shield: 177-208 (67.8 - 79.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
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Bulky g Moltres (will make my own reservations after 5+ people do theirs since I want to win as well lol)
:ss/Moltres-Galar:
Moltres-Galar @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Berserk
EVs: 248 HP / 160 SpA / 100 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Fiery Wrath

Yanked this set from the NP thread as it counters specs aegislash, but this set could also be one of the few counters to alakazam, otherwise a super duper hard check. Anyway, g moltres can come in on a focus blast due to its high special bulk and take another one before KOing back with fiery wrath. If zam chooses to Nasty Plot on the switch, +2 Focus blast still cannot KO and fiery wrath OHKOs back.
252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Moltres-Galar: 146-172 (38.1 - 44.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Moltres-Galar: 289-341 (75.4 - 89%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
160+ SpA Moltres-Galar Fiery Wrath vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Alakazam: 258-306 (102.7 - 121.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Make sure to write up your reservations or I will put an abra in your mailbox. Submissions are once again due Tuesday March 30 at 11:59 PM GMT-8.
 
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Krookodile @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock

Krook is a check to alakazam, because it switches in on anything besides focus blast, outspeeds it, and nails it with a stab super effective knock off. Zam has to read the krook switch and land the focus blast as well.

252 Atk Krookodile Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 552-650 (219.9 - 258.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Krookodile: 78-92 (23.5 - 27.7%) -- 83.3% chance to 4HKO
252 Atk Krookodile Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 285-336 (113.5 - 133.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
sd mew
Nevermind, gonna go for a throwback to DLC1 with scarf Mienshao as a check.

:ss/mienshao:
Mienshao @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge

With Regenerator, Mienshao has nearly unparalleled longevity as an offensive pivot, capable of weathering weaker hits and hazards, as well as chip damage from Rocky Helmet. With Knock Off and a STAB Close Combat, it can exert quite a bit of pressure under the right conditions, and keep the momentum going for its team. Against Alakazam, Mienshao simply needs to U-turn out to KO it, and if Alakazam switches out, it only gives Mienshao a free pivot into another Pokemon. However, Mienshao is quite frail, so good prediction or another voltturn Pokemon are needed to bring it in. If necessary, Mienshao can tank one Shadow Ball from Alakazam on the switch, though care is needed in doing so as Mienshao will not survive either a Focus Blast or a Psychic.

Calcs:
252 Atk Mienshao U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Alakazam: 278-328 (110.7 - 130.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mienshao: 175-207 (64.5 - 76.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Alakazam Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mienshao: 263-309 (97 - 114%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
 
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