
Arghonaut @ Covert Cloak
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Circle Throw
- Knock Off / Earthquake
- Recover
Obligatory Arghopost
I am proposing Arghonaut as a
counter to AV Toxapex. Now it might seem like a stretch of the definition of a counter, but I have done tests and in a pure 1v1 setting, Arghonaut actually wins with knock off and recover! Even if Toxapex uses Tera Fairy, if there aren't other mons Arghonaut still wins the 1v1 by spamming STAB Circle Throw and Tera-ing if Pex has Tera Blast.
This is the standard Argh set, with it's typing it resists and takes very little from Surf and Ice Beam, and even Infestation. Covert Cloak means that it will never be threatened by Acid Spray, and will never be poisoned by Sludge Bomb. The heavy investment in special defense ensures you will take minimal damage from Pex offensive moves, the 40 defense is simply for stuff other than Toxapex, however it might be useful if you stumble upon a Gunk Shot variant. Tera Steel is in case Toxapex decides to Tera Fairy with Tera Blast, Tera Poison if you're scared of Tera Fighting.
Where Arghonaut distinguishes itself from other counters is with the pressure it puts by being on the field, threatening to setup spikes which may be difficult to remove if you have proper spinblocking, and removing items thanks to knock off. Toxapex can admittedly wear down Arghonaut quite a bit by spamming Infestation+STABs, but that will always be at the cost of Argh knocking off its Assault Vest, setting up dangerous spikes and forcing it out anyway with Circle Throw, which could also deal a free 25% on the incoming mon.
Arghonaut beats AV Toxapex usually not by killing it, but by putting it in a situation where it would almost never want to stay in.
That being said, if you want your Arghonaut to just be better at killing Pex, you can run something like Earthquake for good, easy damage. If you're not scared of Acid Spray, Leftovers will greatly help vs Infestation (and remember that Toxapex can't really trap you anyway since you can force it out with Throw)
252+ SpA Toxapex Surf vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 34-41 (8.2 - 9.9%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ SpA Toxapex Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 69-82 (16.6 - 19.8%) -- guaranteed 6HKO
252+ SpA Tera Fairy Toxapex Tera Blast vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 122-146 (29.4 - 35.2%) -- 22.2% chance to 3HKO
252+ SpA Tera Fighting Toxapex Tera Blast vs. 252 HP / 216+ SpD Arghonaut: 61-73 (14.7 - 17.6%) -- possible 6HKO
0 Atk Arghonaut Knock Off vs. 248 HP / 0 Def (No Item) Toxapex: 36-43 (11.8 - 14.1%) -- possible 8HKO