Project SV OU - Victim of the Week (Week 74: Assault Vest Hoopa-U)

[Ehmcee]

Check


Kommo-o @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Bulletproof
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Clangorous Soul
- Clanging Scales
- Aura Sphere
- Flamethrower

Initially thought I could run the standard Throat Spray set, but turns out Ogerpon hits STUPID HARD when Tera'd, at +2 we wouldn't even be guaranteed to get a clangsoul off. Sitrus allows us to get that little bit of healing we need to be able to use it, while still being able to ohko Ogerpon at +1 with Aura Sphere.

+2 252 Atk Cornerstone Mask Tera Rock Ogerpon-Cornerstone-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kommo-o: 204-240 (70.1 - 82.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 252 SpA Kommo-o Aura Sphere vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tera Rock Ogerpon-Cornerstone-Tera: 338-398 (112.2 - 132.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Tera Steel is pmuch just to not get revenged by fairies

 

[kd458]

Just going with a Check for this week, feel like actual counters to this mon are very limited without being too Tera-reliant to really consider (Sorry Tinkaton and Weezing-G you are both really ass, Weezing wins w/ Tera Steel tho).

Check: Bulky Toxicroak



Sucker4 (Toxicroak) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Dry Skin
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 204 HP / 156 Def / 128 SpA / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Vacuum Wave

Yeah. Sorry there are really not many things that can actually take a boosted hit from Ogerpon-C and either live a second or kill it with priority/a faster attack (remember Sturdy), and Toxicroak is one of those very few, with its priority unaffected by the Defence boost from Tera Rock. I mean I had other options that are actually on the VR like 252 HP / 252+ Def Iron Fist Conk (still a roll to die to +2 Whip after rocks btw) and Fake Out-CC Hands (Drain doesn't kill post-Tera) but I feel like that's going to achieve even less in OU, this might at least do something every few games.

This spread is guaranteed to live a +2 Cudgel after taking rocks, and Vacuum Wave 2HKOs, playing around Sturdy. Tera is irrelevant because if you Tera you are going to die instantly, but Ghost lets you hard wall Dondozo because of Dry Skin which is pretty fun. This set also beats Ogerpon-Wellspring if they don't have Tera, which is again pretty fun. 20 Speed is for min speed Tusk, in case you ever find yourself in a situation where this mon gets the chance to do anything else.

Toxicroak Calcs

128+ SpA Choice Specs Toxicroak Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Ogerpon-Cornerstone: 152-180 (50.4 - 59.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
This is the only relevant calc, you have no reason to ever click anything else since you're gonna have to take a hit either way.

Ogerpon Calcs

252 Atk Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon-Cornerstone Ivy Cudgel vs. 204 HP / 156 Def Toxicroak: 106-126 (29.6 - 35.1%) -- 17% chance to 3HKO
252 Atk Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon-Cornerstone Power Whip vs. 204 HP / 156 Def Toxicroak: 128-151 (35.7 - 42.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon-Cornerstone Low Kick (60 BP) vs. 204 HP / 156 Def Toxicroak: 43-51 (12 - 14.2%) -- possible 8HKO
Look at this mon tank hits like a champ. Are you not impressed?

+2 252 Atk Cornerstone Mask Tera Rock Ogerpon-Cornerstone-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 204 HP / 156 Def Toxicroak: 284-335 (79.3 - 93.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Even if they SD on the switch, +2 Tera Rock Cudgel does not kill after rocks, so barring a crit you will always beat it.

This set can switch in hard on an unboosted Ogerpon-C, live any hit even if it SDs as you come in and kill it with two Vacuum Waves, which is technically even better than the definition of a check as it does not need a free turn to switch in. However, it's susceptible to hazard chip, has no reliable recovery and it means that you have to run a Toxicroak on your team, so functions exclusively as a check.

 

[Setsu]

Thank you very much for your submissions. Will be allowing all of them, of course you get to decide how much weight you put on Sturdy being a factor. Please vote for up to 2 checks and 1 counter

Check
Iron Defense by InvisibleWater
Close Combat Booster Energy by Lectrys
Choice Band by LOrd Fernado
Tera Dragon Dragon Darts by Zora489
Choice Band by Pando067
Choice Band by chartung17
Bulk Up PhysDef by Mugenman88
by Just A Shroom God
Clangorous Soul + Aura Sphere + Sitrus Berry by Ehmcee
Bulky Choice Specs Vacuum Wave by kd458

Counter
PhysDef by 15terms
Iron Defense by Zora489
Choice Band Tera Steel Gyro Ball by zaydapoketrainer

Voting ends on Tuesday October 24th at 11:59 EST​

 

[Ehmcee]

 

[Mugenman88]

Checks:
Counter:

 

[veti]

 

[kd458]

Checks:
Counter:

Just as a side note, I feel like a couple of these checks just didn't consider Sturdy and so in practice could feasibly lose the 1v1 even if given a free turn to switch in.

 

[Lectrys]

Checks:
Counter:

 

[chartung17]

Check
Counter

 

[zaydapoketrainer]

Checks:
Counter:

 

[Zora489]

Ngl I saw your pfp and made a LC team just because phantump shiny looks good

 

[InvisibleWater]

Checks:
Counter:

 

[Pando067]

Checks:
Counters:

 

[SandVeil10]

Checks :

Counter :

 

[Setsu]

Thank you very much for your votes. The winners this time are

Check ID by InvisibleWater and BU by Mugenman88
Counter PhysDef by 15terms​

The sets have been added to the Hall of Fame. For the next Victim of the Week we have... Ribombee!

Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Sticky Web
- Stun Spore​

Ribombee's access to Sticky Web in conjunction with its excellent Speed and good movepool made it possible for it to stay in OU. Moonblast allows it to hit the likes of Hisuian Samurott, Great Tusk, Dragapult, and Zamazenta for super effective damage. Psychic complements its coverage and hits Glimmora, Sneasler, and Iron Moth. Stun Spore can cripple the likes of Cinderace and Corviknight. Focus Sash allows Ribombee to tank a hit, while Tera Ghost protects it from Rapid Spin attempts and Maushold's Population Bomb. While Ribombee's main job is to put Sticky Web up, these moves may allow it to dent the opposing team. Which Pokemon can stop it from doing any more damage?

Submissions end on Saturday October 28th at 11:59 EST
Your submissions DOES NOT have to deny Sticky Web, but it DOES have to take Focus Sash into consideration.​

 

[Just A Shroom God]

reserving spdef gliscor

Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 244 HP / 24 Def / 238 SpD
Careful Nature
- Toxic Spikes
- Protect
- Earthquake
- Toxic

Most gliscor sets very obviously beat Ribombee 1v1. However, Gliscor doesn't have the tools to prevent Sticky Web from going up, so Ribombee did its job already, so it can't function as a good check, right? Well, this Gliscor set retaliates with hazards of its own: Toxic Spikes. Most sticky web teams are VERY weak to Toxic Spikes, as they usually don't run boots in exchange for boosting items, and their only common Poison is Iron Moth, who SpDef Gliscor conveniently deals with. SpDef EVs allow it to fully wall Rib and beat Moth 1v1 even after a SpA raise from FD, and 24 defense evs allow it to tank a +1 RM Tera Flying Acrobatics from full to retaliate with a toxic. Tera type is flexible, but Tera Water allows it to beat spinner tusk and the rare dancin' duck that want to remove your hazards. More of an anti-webs option than an anti-ribombee option, but that's what rib represents really.

 

[chartung17]

Counter


Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Draining Kiss
- Psyshock
- Mystical Fire

Magic Bounce protects you from both Sticky Web and Stun Spore. Moonblast doesn't do much, and after one Calm Mind, you can heal much faster than Ribombee can deal damage.

252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hatterene: 88-105 (27.6 - 33%) -- 84.6% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. +1 252 HP / 252+ SpD Hatterene: 58-70 (18.2 - 22%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery

+1 4 SpA Hatterene Draining Kiss vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Ribombee: 141-166 (54 - 63.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (33.3 - 39.3% recovered)

 

[veti]

Counter

Iron Treads @ Focus Sash
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Steel Beam/Iron Head
- Earthquake

Ribombee has to waste tera and terastalize T1 to deny T1 spin, not having the speed boost from quark drive is important to underspeed turn 1 otherwise webs will go up.

T1 webs are either denied or tera is wasted, leading to two possible scenarios

If no Tera T1: Treads uses Steel STAB after getting the speed boost T1, kills/forces out bee, gets up rocks. Ribombee has been completely neutralized.

If Tera T1: Treads still 1v1s but doesn't deny webs, however you trade webs up for tera + a pokemon.

Even if Ribombee teras it is hard walled by Iron Treads. Treads can then use it's steel STAB of choice to finish off the bee.

Steel STABs

0 SpA Iron Treads Steel Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Ribombee: 306-362 (117.2 - 138.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

8 Atk Iron Treads Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Ribombee: 288-342 (110.3 - 131%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Moonblast

252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Iron Treads: 84-99 (21.9 - 25.8%) -- 3.6% chance to 4HKO

 

[Mugenman88]

Check


Zapdos-Galar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dual Wingbeat
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Anyone that sees you lead Gapdos is just gonna assume you're going for a fat Brave Bird, but instead, they get hit with a mult-hit move which gets around Focus Sash and denies the webs in one fell swoop! If they go gigabrain and try to go Tera Ghost somehow anticipating this, Tera Flying can still make it OHKO on anything but a min roll. If the Ribombee also for whatever reason tries to do something cheeky like Tera Ghost and Moonblast for a fast kill instead of trying to set webs they need a max roll to OHKO.

252 Atk Zapdos-Galar Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Ribombee: 388-460 (148.6 - 176.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Tera Flying Zapdos-Galar Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tera Ghost Ribombee: 260-308 (99.6 - 118%) -- approx. 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Zapdos-Galar Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tera Ghost Ribombee: 194-230 (74.3 - 88.1%) -- approx. 2HKO

252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Zapdos-Galar: 272-324 (84.7 - 100.9%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

 

[AlphaChillua]

Counter/ Or Check, can be either depending on some rng.
Heatran is an amazing counter to all types of ribombee sets, heatran can take ribombee out in a single turn with magma storm due to shield dust not protecting against magma storms trapping effect.
What I normally use is this:
Heatran
Item: Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 140 HP / 176 SpA / 12 SpD / 180 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Stealth Rock
- Will-O-Wisp


If I see a ribombee, I can just lead with heatran and magma storm. Due to this set having some versatility, even if they do not end up leading with ribombee, I can utilize stealth rock or wisp to gain some progress regardless. At most, heatran may suffer against stun spore, which is definitely managable.
Not only this, but heatran also takes basically no damage at all from any of ribombee's moves. Heatran is a very strong counter to ribombee.
Although heatran using magma storm may be predictable, this mon definitely helps prevent ribombee from staying on the field for longer than it should be.

Calcs:
Tran OHKO
176+ SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Ribombee: 456-536 (174.7 - 205.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Heatrans defensive capabilities against ribombee
252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 140 HP / 12 SpD Heatran: 29-34 (8.1 - 9.4%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252 SpA Ribombee Psychic vs. 140 HP / 12 SpD Heatran: 37-44 (10.3 - 12.2%) -- possibly the worst move ever

 

[InvisibleWater]

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Tera Type: Steel
Timid Nature
- Roost
- Hurricane
- Thunderbolt / Volt Switch
- Volt Switch / Heat Wave

Zapdos is a check. While it doesn't resist any of Ribombee's attacks before Terastalizing, Zapdos' typing allows it to ignore both Stun Spore and Sticky Web, and Ribombee deals comparatively little damage in return, with its strongest option, Moonblast, having only a small chance to 2HKO. Once Zapdos is in, Ribombee only avoids the OHKO from either Hurricane or Heat Wave due to its Focus Sash.

 

[Fusion Flare]

Iron Moth @ Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 124 Def / 132 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Fiery Dance
- Sludge Wave
- Energy Ball

Iron Moth checks Ribombee. If it leads off vs the bug, it can initiate a nasty catch-22 situation. Either you Psychic into a potential fish for Fiery Dance boosts, or you try and Stun Spore only to get owned super hard by Sub. What’s more, Psychic only hits Iron Moth for a 2HKO, and it even has Tera Grass if you really don’t wanna play 50-50s.

 

[Zora489]

Thank you very much for your votes. The winners this time are

Check ID by InvisibleWater and BU by Mugenman88
Counter PhysDef by 15terms​

The sets have been added to the Hall of Fame. For the next Victim of the Week we have... Ribombee!

Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Sticky Web
- Stun Spore​

Ribombee's access to Sticky Web in conjunction with its excellent Speed and good movepool made it possible for it to stay in OU. Moonblast allows it to hit the likes of Hisuian Samurott, Great Tusk, Dragapult, and Zamazenta for super effective damage. Psychic complements its coverage and hits Glimmora, Sneasler, and Iron Moth. Stun Spore can cripple the likes of Cinderace and Corviknight. Focus Sash allows Ribombee to tank a hit, while Tera Ghost protects it from Rapid Spin attempts and Maushold's Population Bomb. While Ribombee's main job is to put Sticky Web up, these moves may allow it to dent the opposing team. Which Pokemon can stop it from doing any more damage?

Submissions end on Saturday October 28th at 11:59 EST
Your submissions DOES NOT have to deny Sticky Web, but it DOES have to take Focus Sash into consideration.​

Yoooooo, so I've been experimenting with forretress as a lead and it seems sort of viable so here it is!

Forretress @ Occa Berry
Ability: Overcoat
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Atk / 188 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Volt Switch
- Earthquake

Essentially, the idea is to click rapid spin turn one against ribomb, then spam eq on it after it tera ghosts. The set is almost entirely designed to remove hazards even through dengo, and live a moth/cinderace hit so you can always get a spin off.

252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 188+ SpD Forretress: 66-78 (18.6 - 22%) -- possible 5HKO
252 SpA Ribombee Psychic vs. 252 HP / 188+ SpD Forretress: 42-49 (11.8 - 13.8%) -- possible 8HKO

 

[Lectrys]

Counter


Gholdengo @ Air Balloon
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Fighting / Flying / Water
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot
- Recover

You can't prevent Sticky Web from being set, but this Ribombee cannot hit Gholdengo neutrally or harder, can't paralyze Gholdengo either, and hits so weakly that Gholdengo doesn't even need a bulky set to be a counter.

252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 67-80 (21.2 - 25.3%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Ribombee: 530-626 (203 - 239.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tera Ghost Ribombee: 265-313 (101.5 - 119.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Ribombee: 178-210 (68.1 - 80.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tera Ghost Ribombee: 356-420 (136.3 - 160.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Check


Azumarill @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Belly Drum
- Play Rough
- Aqua Jet
- Encore

So you lose your ability to Belly Drum if Ribombee attacks straight off the bat, but if they Sticky Web on Turn 1, you can Encore that and optionally set up in its face! Alternately, if Encore backfires, just tear Ribombee apart as it attacks and live to tell the tale.

252 SpA Ribombee Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 151-178 (37.3 - 44%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Play Rough vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Ribombee: 271-319 (103.8 - 122.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Ribombee: 120-142 (45.9 - 54.4%) -- 56.3% chance to 2HKO

 

[hpdark]

Weavile @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
- Low Kick

Weavile checks Ribombee. If it leads against ribom, banded Icicle spear always 3hko at 3 hits. Being a multi-hit attack means that Focus sash cannot help ribom survive to get a web/stunspore/moonblast. Worst case scenario is if icicle spear only hit twice, in which Ribom still either have to suicide for the web turn 1 or give up turn 1 web for the KO but no longer have sash so another ally like Dragapult and or Zamazenta can come in and finish the job, denying web altogether. Alternatively Weavile can tera ice to have an even better chance at OHKO and not get OHKO by Moonblast.

If ribom was forced out, banded Icicle spear still hit very hard on neutral targets. For mid-late game when web is up and ribom sash is broken, Ice shard can pick up the KO without risking any teammates to stun spore.