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Voting is up for this week! For the checks, we have UrAverageHuman winning the week while StarFalcon555 comes in second. Meanwhile, TotomonGang won the week for the counters while Mygrein came second as a close runner up. Congrats all of you! Your submissions will be added to the Hall of Fame shortly. Now, lets take a look at this week's victim!
Salamence @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Hurricane
- Fire Blast
- Roost
Soaring in this week we have Salamence! (Yes, I'm surprised I haven't done him yet either). Salamence has established itself as one of the most dominant forces in UU for a long time. With the ability to run offensive sets while still providing good defensive utility courtesy of its typing has made mence incredibly in the current meta. Salamence's 3 attacks roost set is incredbilly tough to switch into, with its STABs and coverage being near unresisted by the entire tier. How will you beat this flying behemoth? Submissions are due Tuesday, June 8 at 11:59 PM PST!
Primarina @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Draining Kiss
CM+Sub Primarina is a pretty solid counter to Salamence, being able to take a Hurricane comfortably, set up, and then kill it while recovering its health with Draining Kiss.
252 SpA Salamence Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Primarina: 141-166 (38.7 - 45.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Primarina Draining Kiss vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Salamence: 158-188 (47.7 - 56.7%) -- 87.5% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Salamence Hurricane vs. +1 252 HP / 4 SpD Primarina: 94-112 (25.8 - 30.7%) -- 6.1% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 0 SpA Primarina Draining Kiss vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Salamence: 236-282 (71.2 - 85.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Nihilego @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Power Gem
- Sludge Bomb
- Grass Knot
- Stealth Rock
Last week's victim becomes the check. Nihilego is able to not be 2HKOed by Draco Meteor and can outspeed and OHKO.
252 SpA Salamence Draco Meteor over 2 turns vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nihilego: 226-267 (62.9 - 74.3%) -- not a KO
252 SpA Life Orb Nihilego Power Gem vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Salamence: 400-476 (120.8 - 143.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
@ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Swords Dance
Rhyperior is able to easily check salamence due to it being able to switch in on a draco and threaten it out with a OHKO with stone edge or set up on it as it switches out since at -2 it is not doing much to rhyperior. Even 3 hits of draco never KO rhyperior capping at 99%.
16 Atk Rhyperior Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 354-416 (106.9 - 125.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Salamence Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Rhyperior: 198-234 (45.6 - 53.9%) -- 2.3% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Salamence Draco Meteor over 3 turns vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Rhyperior: 364-430 (83.8 - 99%) -- not a KO
252 SpA Salamence Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 240+ SpD Rhyperior: 84-99 (19.3 - 22.8%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery
Sylveon is a Counter
Eats everything threatens it back stays healthy with wish not much to explain.
Sylveon @ Heavy-duty boots
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Calm Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Wish
- Protect
- Heal Bell
252 SpA Salamence Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 128+ SpD Sylveon: 105-124 (26.6 - 31.4%) -- 24.6% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
4 SpA Pixilate Sylveon Hyper Voice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Salamence: 306-360 (92.4 - 108.7%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
Hatterene (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 204 SpDef / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
- Mystical Fire
- Draining Kiss
- Psyshock
- Calm Mind
This more SpDef oriented Hatterene basically sits in front of Salamence, Calm Minds and Draining Kiss' all the health that it had lost.
252 SpA Salamence Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 204 SpD Hatterene: 129-153 (40.5 - 48.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Hatterene Draining Kiss vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Salamence: 168-200 (50.7 - 60.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Another cool thing to note is that with Bold Hatterene, you can still be really annoying in chunking a Bullet Punch from Scizor and OHKOing it back with Mystical Fire, so yea
Slowbro-Galar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Future Sight
- Flamethrower
- Shell Side Arm
- Scald
AV Glowbro is a hard check to Salamence. Nothing Salamence can do affects Glowbro that much, and Glowbro can poison and beat Salamence 9/10 times. However, it is not a counter due to it's dependency on it's item, with Knock Off being literally everywhere.
Diancie @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Atk / 92 Def / 132 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Diamond Storm
- Moonblast
- Heal Bell
Diancie makes salamence its bitch by countering tf out of it. none of its attacks do anything and diancie can easily pick off mence in return
32 Atk Diancie Diamond Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Salamence: 270-318 (81.5 - 96%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Salamence Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 132+ SpD Diancie: 46-55 (15.1 - 18%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery
And with submissions ending, it's time to vote! Down below are the checks and counters submitted for this week Checks
Voting is up! Congrats to TotomonGang for winning the checks while HydreigonTheChild for taking runner up. Meanwhile, congrats to Monky25 for winning the counters and Yourwelcomethanku for raking runner up! All your submissions will be added to the Hall of Fame. Now, lets introduce this week's victim!
Buzzwole @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Roost
We have the beefiest boi of them all, Buzzwole! Buzz has recently taken off in usage, with its ability to provide great defensive utility even on offensive sets as well as its access to reliable recovery. Being able to threat top walls like Celesteela and Tangrowth is incredible for buzzwole, while also being able to stop threats like zarude, mienshao, and scizor in their tracks. This week we will look at the 3 attacks roost set, a set that makes buzzwole an extremely potent wallbreaker while giving him reliable recovery. How will you take down this beast? Submissions are due June 15 at 11:59 PM PST
Chandelure is an incredible CHECK to buzzy wuzzy
Chandelure @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
- Trick
Thanks to 1 more point in speed chandy heavily abuses Buzzwole (especially useful with pivot support) to fire off its straight up nuclear attacks, even the mighty nihilego can't stand up to a specs Shadow Ball, and that is the great thing! Chandy doesnt even need to be predictable and use flamethrower when it can simply use its other stab or even Psychic to own buzz.
If you are feeling ballsy you can even hard switch into a predicted Close Combat.
CALCS
252 SpA Choice Specs Chandelure Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Buzzwole: 349-412 (98.3 - 116%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Chandelure Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Buzzwole: 788-930 (221.9 - 261.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO