Project SV PU Research Week

[Melt Gibson]

SV PU Research Week
approved by gum | hosted by Melt Gibson | OP partly stolen from SV UU Research Week by BigFatMantis

Welcome to SV PU's Research Week! We'll be doing weekly investigations into SV PU Pokemon. Here's a breakdown of how this will work.

In this project, participants research suggested Pokemon and then share their experience. Please keep the following in mind:
​

• Be open-minded! Some options will naturally be better than others, but don't immediately dismiss something as terrible!​
• Feel free to theorymon early on in the research period, but make it clear you're doing so. Later on in the week you will be expected to back up your findings with evidence.​
• Just because an analysis has been done for a Pokemon doesn't mean there isn't more to explore. Think outside the box!​
• Please refrain from complaining about the chosen Pokemon or sets.
  
  Each week, there will be a new tag given for participants to use on the PU ladder. The player with the highest ranking on their research alt at the end of each week will be added to this thread's Hall of Fame! Insightful comments on another user's post are also highly encouraged. Discuss your findings with others! This discussion also does not have to be limited to this thread; you are encouraged to discuss the Pokemon being researched in the PU room on Pokemon Showdown, the PU Discord, and the Viability Rankings Thread. Saving and posting of replays is heavily encouraged, as they are often the best way to provide substantial backing to your claims.
  
  To sign up, make a post with the Pokemon or set(s) you will be researching and the ladder alt you will be using. For example, my signup post could look like this:
  
  

  SVRW01 Melt
  Decidueye

  Signups can be as late as you'd like, but in most cases the week will still end on Sunday.
  
  When documenting your experiences, questions to ask yourself and answer in your post include: How useful are these Pokemon in SV PU? What niche(s) do they fill? What gives them trouble? What advantages or disadvantages do they have compared to other Pokemon? How do they fit into the metagame?
  
  Week 1 goes live on January 28! All times and dates will be in EST (GMT -5).
  
  

  HALL OF FAME

  Week 1 (Lycanroc and Sandaconda) - Morge
  Week 2 (Snorlax and Tauros-Blaze) - gum
  Week 3 (Mesprit and Tornadus) - asa
  Week 4 (Virizion and Bronzong) - E4 Bruno Mars
  Week 5 (Grafaiai and Bastiodon) - Corvy

  ​

 

[Melt Gibson]

RESEARCH WEEK 1

Welcome to Week 1 of PU Research Week! This week we'll be focusing on Lycanroc-Midday and Sandaconda.


After living out its days in SS PU as a powerful sweeper on Sand teams, Lycanroc has returned to the tier! Although Gigalith is no longer here to support it, Lycanroc has established itself as a powerful threat nonetheless with access to a great STAB priority option in Accelerock, as well as good setup moves like Swords Dance and utility options such as Taunt, Stealth Rock, and Endeavor. Will you try to live out its glory days, or can you teach this old dog some new tricks?


Establishing itself as a consistent Ground-type in a metagame that had lacked one for a short while, Sandaconda brings a wide breadth of options to the table. Glare is a powerful option for speed control on many teams, and Rest's synergy with Shed Skin can give it a deceptive amount of longevity. It even has offensive applications, with setup options in Coil (or perhaps even Scale Shot) backed by a powerful STAB Earthquake.

The tag for this week is SVRW01. Good luck, and happy researching!​

 

[Corvy]

SVRW01 Corby
Lycanroc mostly, might try to do Sandaconda too

 

[Morge]

SVRWO1 Morge
Sandaconda

 

[Code_Error_]

SVRW01 Code
First half of the week will be Lycanroc, last half Sandaconda.

P.S., Lycanroc was on my first singles draft team, and the owner accidentally forgot to put it in their sheet meaning it was 1 point (this was right as teal mask started so still NU). Therefore, can't wait to cook

 

[DiannieRatson]

SVRW01 Diannie

Just like in sv uu rw, Im doing both as usual xd and I like that both mons are familiar mons from ss pu where I played most actively prev.

 

[Corvy]

So far I've tested Lycanroc extensively on various HO teams with no field conditions (sun, rain, etc) and as a suicide lead it does really well into anything non-ghost.

The set I used was 0 HP IV, endeavor, accel, stedge, srocks.

As people are a bit prepared for this strat you can play mindgames by not rocking first and using stedge to creep any surprise switchins, since lycan still does respectable damage without setup or CB. If you see a ghost type on the enemy team you can almost always expect either a ghost lead or ghost switch in t1 to which I responded by either not leading lycan and using it as a switch in sponge or using rocks and switching into a SpA sweeper to avoid WoW turns.

Favorite leads to go against are definitely the regis and hitmonchan, as they both are expected to use something super effective against lycan, which he sponges and endeavors in return. Most monchans try to prio with mach punch after, which you tera ghost and kill. Regis have no real counterplay other than also tera ghosting and essentially losing their tera to what I deem a throaway suicide lead, making the game a lot easier for HO as there is a lot less guesswork involved after tera.

Worst matchups personally has been houndstone. While other matchups like Weezing are annoying, they can be handled easier and are not the end of Lycan.

All in all for now I'd say endeavor lycan is a solid A tier imo and can be used effectively in HO strats.

Next up I'll test setup sweeper lycan and CB lycan.

 

[Corvy]

After testing further sets, specifically Sand Rush CB and Swords Dance Lycan, I can say that both of those sets suck pretty bad. The damage output is there and nice once you do get to do it, but SD setup is near impossible with that nonexistant bulk + horrid typing, and being locked into Stone Edge or Close Combat is not something I enjoyed on CB Lycan.

Therefor my conclusion for Lycanroc right now is as follows;

Suicide Lead Lycan >>>> CB Lycan > SD Lycan

Any Lycanroc that doesn't threaten me with Endeavor is a non-issue, as there will always be a faster and stronger mon on any team that can handle the other sets, examples being Floatzel, Helectrode, Any rotom form, any fighting scarfer. In addition to this it doesn't have the power to act as a breaker either so matchups like Registeel or Regirock, Primeape, Muk, Weezing, Hariyama, and generally any bulky mon is pretty impossible without endeavor.

If there are any other Lycan sets you'd want me to research please tell me here or in the PU Discord!

Now to the tiny amount of Sanda research!

I tested sand spit Sanda with Sand Rush Lycan and this is my opinion on it:

Just run Shed Skin, we don't have enough stuff that can abuse sand in this tier for bootleg hippowdon to work and do its job.

 

[DiannieRatson]

Since Corvy dropped a lot of findings in here already, I guess I’ll continue the discussion midweek by dropping some of my mine’s well.

SET USED:

Lycanroc @ Hard Stone
Ability: Sand Rush
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Accelerock
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt

Since suicide lead Lycanroc is so common, I tried a non-suicide set but I still played it like that anyways xd. The difference is even if opponent sent hazard if I switch out, I am not pressured to spin it away. I also just don’t like the idea of throwing away a base 115 atk mon with base 112 speed and want to get more output from it. Stab stone edge with that base atk would hurt neutral targets a lot. I used Hard Stone item to further boost that stab dmg along with accelerock. The replays would show that some get ohkoed or 2hkoed with the item that could have been not ohkoed without hard stone. I used taunt most of the time but ig close combat would have done more. Taunt barely did anything in most of the replays. The high speed also makes it a nice revenge killer or just a general endgame sweeper once its checks are weakened.

REPLAYS

REPLAYS:


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046634524-5xd7cj2420tvuxe8qtqlhqh9112uuikpw?p2


At my very first attempt, I used sword dance instead of taunt. I met this Chimecho lead which made me regret having SD instead of taunt. Thus, in the next games, let’s see if I had an opportunity to make SD more useful than taunt. Turn 7 I had no choice but to go Sandaconda vs Crabominable. Ice Punch takes ⅔ of conda’s hp but this is where I like having Glare. Turn 12 Lycanroc dealt 38% dmg to malamar but only 32% w/o hard stone. Thats a difference from 3hko to 4hko. Arboliva is in to check Lycanroc. Then, Lycanroc returns t21 to KO 41% hp chimecho. Vikavolt tera’d to poison and yet Lycanroc dealt 52% dmg.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046639179-ji4wdgj6hbwr8przhrrevwy5o9gtueipw?p2


In here, I could have appreciated a focus sash as piloswine eq ohkoed lycanroc. Sandaconda checked pinchurchin in here and glared at sceptile.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046644330-m31co88osjbfq4ul99e2eqtcp44gkvupw


Met the same player some games later. Lycanroc revenge-killed cramorant but got para’d so I decided to just sac it to wo-chien xd. In here, sandaconda tera’d to dragon to resist leaf blade. But then sceptile tera’d to flying and its gg xd.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046641379-o0wyqihkiu5g72lub0tdp146ore1sh6pw


In here I have no idea what slaking does so I lost lycanroc for nothing xd. Sandaconda checked Braviary. I know it can’t deal dmg but plan is to para it and then switch to something.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046642157-wseg6wc6gedrh616u3wwking8v2110qpw


I really like how sandaconda just kinda checked other sp atk mons too xd. It came in vs magneton.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046646494-4h90md9n8p9updki0n9b6wtrcpil1ptpw


Met the same player but now w/ a diff team. I check’d toucannon with lycanroc. It can even 2hko farigiraf! Hisui-Electrode forced lycanroc out t1 so that’s another mon to watch out when using lycanroc.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046650119-tsxv3nl62xplptmisrc9bhdb6ov2np9pw?p2


Opp team used lycanroc sash endeavor set but fainted to rocky helmet sanda xd. Wo-chien won me this game. Idk if the 1% sanda really helped chipping virizion that led to that but ye. Virizion check lycanroc here this time.



https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046656195-0ja5v4bej52xdargbc7c3p5f80dk320pw


Same player. I sent mismagius in this time to immune the endeavor. Lycanroc 2hkoed komala despite hard stone being knock off’d. Turn 14 ig I could have glared zard but maybe rocks is better idk. Another sanda soft checking a sp atk. And I think it’s noteworthy that Lycanroc still outspeed Komala at +1 speed.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046653668-4g1ysre6own3eqjtfzdnz3okj56uwp7pw


As usual I lost lycanroc for nothing vs glastrier. Turn 9 sandaconda checked gurdurr then later on bombardier.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046659693-6zp2osh6mc2kd99j77g3z3opi27os0cpw


Lost lycanroc again this time vs toucannon’s bullet seed. Then since idk who to switch in vs poliwrath, I sent sandaconda in to glare at it. Then sandaconda came in again vs carkol before my opponent left.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046643663-k74b80c48gggb1xe7ixu4la19zvw6zapw


Accelerock ohkoed vulpix, stone edge ohkoed indeedee-f, and…that’s it for this replay.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046664750-17t4cv6o2ws1zw4gxtdip30gon3e2g4pw


Now met the same player but with a full team. Stone edge didnt ohko indeedee-f this time. This is when I can say the Hard Stone really mattered ig.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046661769-d5j8aaaqsf1k2lipuzhsj5mbflti1cfpw


Sandaconda checked regirock. I liked how lycanroc managed to take a volt switch from zebstrika and dazzling gleam from mismagius. It koed the 32% mismagius turn 18. Then, sandaconda checked zebstrika. Lycanroc revenged kill eelektross and the accelerock finished the game vs30% zebstrika. Regirock checked Lycanroc this game.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046666843-8s1oo3iawomani1ni1mm7rsb80syb6upw?p2


Met the same player but nothing much to say here coz my opponent forfeited in turn 9 after checking out ig that it is hard to outplay me despite forcing lycanroc out t1.


https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046667964-n6skiwxu4swelktcu2vbpkcoyvqfpq0pw


Sandaconda checked passimian. Lycanroc taunted dudunsparce and luckily stone edge crit to ohko it. This was a 98-turn game coz endgame is stall coz wo-chien vileplume. This was a tough game for lycanroc as my opp has scarf passimian, vileplume, and bronzong to check it.

 

[Melt Gibson]

Thanks to everyone for a fruitful first week! You're still welcome to post your findings until Monday, and Week 2 will go up today as soon as we have the results of the council vote on the new drops.

Also, congratulations to Morge on having the highest ladder ranking for the week and being our first inductee into the Hall of Fame!

 

[Morge]

Sandaconda
​

I'm so proud of me. Also here's my research post.
Sets used:
Sandaconda @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Shed Skin
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Glare
- Stealth Rock
- Rest

This is the sandaconda set you'll see most frequently and for good reason, with the ability to set rocks and spread paralysis as well with shed skin rest giving it pseudo reliable recovery and letting me . This set does have notable flaws though, with only eq for an attacking move it gets taken advantage of quite easily, while some mons care enough about the paralysis to not want to switch in others don't care at all or in the worst case are just outright immune, this set gets bullied hard by the rotoms but thankfully I only ran into mowtom once while testing. This is extra bad now since you let pom-pom in for free which can be game ending. Once pom-pom gets banned though this set will go back to being good hopefully. Another new drop thats bad for conda I've noticed is toedscruel, which is kinda annoyed by paralysis but once statused can come in and spin on conda for basically free while forcing it out which can be annoying (running stone edge doesn't help here either).

REPLAYS

Getting replays for this mon is kinda hard overall since its pretty dull and basic in what it does but I tried my best
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2050025154
This replay I think shows off current meta conda pretty well, toed made actually keeping hazards up with conda difficult but pivoting around with scyther helped take advantage of it, and the full paras probably saved scyther from getting knocked once or twice. Other than toed sanda dealt with their team pretty well, it matches up great vs hqwill, pauros and regirock and while it can't touch either torn or galarticuno they both hate paralysis so weren't gonna risk coming in on it.

TEAMS

The team I used pre shifts, cuno+sandaconda+lanturn worked out to be a pretty good defensive core I found and offensive defog braviary was cute hazard removal option with better offensive pressure than most of the other hazard removal options we had.


This is the team I've been using post shifts, scyther/bruxish forms a volturn core that gets hoopa in to break stuff. Sableye is here because I was really scared of snorlax and snorlax is here because I need a way to not insta lose to sun.

Sandaconda @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Shed Skin
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Glare
- Rest

Pretty similar to the last set but with the key distinction of swapping out stealth rock for stone edge. Usually you would swap out glare for stone edge but by running another rocker (I used bronzong), its free to run it over rocks, letting it threaten stuff like pom-pom while still spreading paralysis. You still machup poorly into mowtom, stone edge does like 20% max to it but its something at least. Giving up the utility of rocks was unfortunate but being able to catch mons that would otherwise exploit sanda is nice.

TEAMS

Similar team to the other one I used but with zong as my rocker and pom-pom as a wincon because its broken so I gotta get my games in with it before it gets banned.

 

[Code_Error_]

Idk how to put replays and teams like everyone else did (so if someone could teach me that would be great). Also sry this is a bit late but here is my research (mostly lycanroc, not much sandaconda after all)

My Research:
Week 1:
My plan this week is to use 2 somewhat standard teams and one unconventional team to test these mons usefulness for standard play and its usefulness for changing standard play.
Lycanroc
Team 1: Sand Team
Hypothesis: This team will get worn down by grass and water, but will excel if there aren’t late game Lycanroc answers
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046324674-hjw2k9tihd9l1lr7r0f3v3xf4mivzj2pw, Team Here: https://pokepast.es/2c050518582b890e, Notes: (Idk why yellow) Played ok there imo for my first game. Wasn’t rly a showcase on Lycanroc, more of a fun Vespiquen game
Game 2: Changes: https://pokepast.es/f004299b089cfaa9 Knock on Wrath, +Spdef On Rotom so that Electrode outspeeds on volt switch. Will maybe change this in case taunt. Game: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046334821-pd5slf0ohy7my5nm61nbubx6naqp2sfpw
Game 3: Made no changes besides knock off > iron head on sandslash to beat steel types: https://pokepast.es/8985547e3512a4a0, Game: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046340660-bahn3ykigq333gri538iw6xgydrm3cnpw FINALLY WE WIN THESE!!!!!, I’ll analyze the others a bit later. Tricking scarf on lilli TURN 1 was so big. It really limited this demon from popping off vs my team. As you can see in the other replays grass can be a problem is vespiquen is low/goes down with 3 weaknesses to it. I forgot that bug was neutral on ground, and the crit made me feel worse but I was still confident. A Sandslash switch was easy, and while the 1 hit triple axel on the switch after rapid spin sucked the opposing Masq didn’t have stun spore so it was ok. Poli switch was easy, and the double into slash to test non-choice claw worked out as I was able to be 1v1 vs krow. Triple into knock on lanturn worked well since that was the mon I was most scared of for the roc endgame. Triple axel as a mid ground for honch as I sac slash to lantern. Storm on my part worked nice on claw as I expected lantern on a volt. I later figure out it was prob w absorb from how they play. My biggest blunder of the whole game as I allowed the tera blast rock midground to ohko vespiquen, wp on my opponents part. Click drain here bc lanturn water absorb switch is obvious. tera here to live brave bird, as I dont have accelrock since sand rush this works out the best since I can live 2 birds. I opt to switch out for lilligant endgame where it might be locked into a grass move and sack the hippo. I kill lilli and do good dmg with roc on condo. Leaf storm wins the game, if I miss I most die to edge and lose to eq, so I really needed that hit.
Game 4: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046895167-1u15id9p9zrk2sjfvwosajzmnbv9b5hpw, lycanroc did stuff even if it doesnt look like it. While roc still wasnt the mvp in this game (game 3 rotom mow for its insane leaf storms, game 4 here was hippopotas for getting sand up and picking up kills imo), it still rly threatened the opponent team and forced certain plays that allowed it to win in the end. If it missed the 80%, poliwrath always wins with liquidation. Trick on arboliva was big for the rest of the game. While I am scared about water as said in my hypothesis, poliwrath is an answer so grass is the primary type that I am scared of. Lycanroc’s 2hko on indeedee was also nice, my opponent most likely expected choice band accelrock. So it performed much better here, would say this is lycanroc’s best game so far.
Bonus Game Bc I Forgot To Go On Alt :( but still crazy roc sweep: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046940721-y74bg8efvznqzddo0kjgtgw94ww5ap0pw
Bonus Game 2 Bc Turn 3 Throw: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046946563-bg0o3fgnjqk28e1ln30pghzoh0qzjjxpw
Game 5: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046948142-1080huaop27yv9wjybuuitfo9h1huc4pw they played way better than I did not much to say
Overall, grass and water (mainly grass) were scary but my team dealt with them better than I expected. Will generally talk about Lycanroc after Team 3, but in this case being faster than everything at 2x speed did not really matter too much in my games, but it was a nice safety net to have.
Team 2: Band Late Game Accelrock
Hypothesis: Any bulky def mon can wall lycanroc
Bonus Game 1 Because Registeel Wins Easily: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047486256-1a9g9g4ylbyup179m266h0mz0z0ffq5pw
Bonus Game 2 Because No Lycanroc: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047487090-qv9z7p5ervbyk9jkdp1z8ew6mpfkhnnpw
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047487090-qv9z7p5ervbyk9jkdp1z8ew6mpfkhnnpw, Luck kinda messed me up but eh I still played kinda bad anyways, Team Here: https://pokepast.es/c50ada78cf885d76
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047492681-pqr4ylb0ps0rv506za9zpklvfor4wacpw, Weird disconnect, they prob won here and I hope it wasn’t a wifi thing. They def win here with body press registeel. 2 (I would count game 2 as a loss) losses makes me not like band that much.
Game 3: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047496979-w9kh5wsxve5kv2caf8x7bpzhsfpf3v9pw, So I def shouldve lost here but they thought I was + speed. This is why you finish your games people.
Game 4: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047501571-l73a0j8n00xgtphxagcjxemvqvhohvlpw, Changed Team To: https://pokepast.es/fb3580cba05030ef Finally a win I deserved. Made the opponent think I was volt absorb lanturn which helped weaken stuff for the lycanroc endgame if need be. Lycanroc accelrock was CRUCIAL for killing raichu a and making sure that glastrier had enough health to wall sceptile in the endgame.
Game 5: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047505641-pdk5k2hc61ltvd9zlr2kbistoet0tudpw, Win here didn’t involve roc here but its kill on malamar was helpful since I was worried everything on my team was outsped after webs stayed up. Band most likely mattered for the kill.
Team 3: Scarf on PTerrain
Hypothesis: Bulky Teams With Good Dark/Bug Types Can Decimate Me
Bonus Game 1 Bc Team Not Made Well: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047514350-hadlc5ofiok2eqnevorz680xv3bxtx5pw, Team 1: https://pokepast.es/94701c3aa4fa3aa9
Bonus Game 2 bc main I forgot again: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048630465, Fixed Team: https://pokepast.es/87261dd176a7b015 Almost won but didn’t bc acro didnt do enough, wonder if stone edge wouldve won me the game tho.
Bonus Game 3 bc main I FORGOT AGAIN AHH: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048635228 Sceptile 6-0
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048638213-cvbe7e5d99ut3m7fwxyxqhosklaq732pw Had the win con with the stone edge scarf being kinda big here but I missed ofc. Then my opponent forfeited for no reason again.
Bonus Game 4 Bc They Forgot How Aura Wheel Works: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048642508-pr6bpl867vztxollp9wd8l0w3nb23e9pw
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048643621 dk how I won this one but scarf lycanroc is just not expected at all. It helped me win here.
Game 3: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049397588-bkk5fc4q5c9498igp31epdyv1wsem3epw threw wrath for no reason but terrain was important here to get the kill on tera steel hitmonchan. Shouldve tricked turn 1 as well, but I thought they’d go into morpeko. Still won tho on a forfeit, but I count this game bc lycanroc was important here.
Game 4: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049401253-nde87capdldek6iu1p0mfzs5etkvilapw so many misplays yet again and yet I still won. Shouldve been more passive with indeedee. Shouldve clicked healing wish into sceptile. And having no hazard control is another big weakness I spotted here in this game, but my team is so offensive that it doesn’t really matter.
Game 5: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049415108-qegmwb154ngcgmgdf5nbhlrlhcyb1uqpw finally my misplays catch up to me. Not going for a 2nd sd lost me the game.
Sandaconda
Team 1: Snow AV Team With Loaded Dice Icicle Spear Lapras: https://pokepast.es/5718b25805c4001d
Bonus Game 1 bc dumb air slash hax: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049927006-2m6e1dzt4ssy503znls3vsnorkwjgmppw
Bonus Game 2 bc not enough sandaconda action since loaded dice lapras got a lucky sweep: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049931624-73rn2u2jtevw1pv0mrge6ezavlgu1k0pw. Updated Team After this With Air Slash: https://pokepast.es/8b7a9000955c6384
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049943724-vj1ce3axfzllvgp9zjqiewqb1eiu6tppw played really bad, opponent had better team. Not much sandaconda usage but that’s mostly my fault and not the snake’s
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2051014319-vq3q8aaxikzlk5ogtrkmxzfp1lkmpl2pw Just played bad here. I’m guessing band medicham faced against me

 

[Code_Error_]

Idk how to put replays and teams like everyone else did (so if someone could teach me that would be great). Also sry this is a bit late but here is my research (mostly lycanroc, not much sandaconda after all)

My Research:
Week 1:
My plan this week is to use 2 somewhat standard teams and one unconventional team to test these mons usefulness for standard play and its usefulness for changing standard play.
Lycanroc
Team 1: Sand Team
Hypothesis: This team will get worn down by grass and water, but will excel if there aren’t late game Lycanroc answers
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046324674-hjw2k9tihd9l1lr7r0f3v3xf4mivzj2pw, Team Here: https://pokepast.es/2c050518582b890e, Notes: (Idk why yellow) Played ok there imo for my first game. Wasn’t rly a showcase on Lycanroc, more of a fun Vespiquen game
Game 2: Changes: https://pokepast.es/f004299b089cfaa9 Knock on Wrath, +Spdef On Rotom so that Electrode outspeeds on volt switch. Will maybe change this in case taunt. Game: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046334821-pd5slf0ohy7my5nm61nbubx6naqp2sfpw
Game 3: Made no changes besides knock off > iron head on sandslash to beat steel types: https://pokepast.es/8985547e3512a4a0, Game: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046340660-bahn3ykigq333gri538iw6xgydrm3cnpw FINALLY WE WIN THESE!!!!!, I’ll analyze the others a bit later. Tricking scarf on lilli TURN 1 was so big. It really limited this demon from popping off vs my team. As you can see in the other replays grass can be a problem is vespiquen is low/goes down with 3 weaknesses to it. I forgot that bug was neutral on ground, and the crit made me feel worse but I was still confident. A Sandslash switch was easy, and while the 1 hit triple axel on the switch after rapid spin sucked the opposing Masq didn’t have stun spore so it was ok. Poli switch was easy, and the double into slash to test non-choice claw worked out as I was able to be 1v1 vs krow. Triple into knock on lanturn worked well since that was the mon I was most scared of for the roc endgame. Triple axel as a mid ground for honch as I sac slash to lantern. Storm on my part worked nice on claw as I expected lantern on a volt. I later figure out it was prob w absorb from how they play. My biggest blunder of the whole game as I allowed the tera blast rock midground to ohko vespiquen, wp on my opponents part. Click drain here bc lanturn water absorb switch is obvious. tera here to live brave bird, as I dont have accelrock since sand rush this works out the best since I can live 2 birds. I opt to switch out for lilligant endgame where it might be locked into a grass move and sack the hippo. I kill lilli and do good dmg with roc on condo. Leaf storm wins the game, if I miss I most die to edge and lose to eq, so I really needed that hit.
Game 4: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046895167-1u15id9p9zrk2sjfvwosajzmnbv9b5hpw, lycanroc did stuff even if it doesnt look like it. While roc still wasnt the mvp in this game (game 3 rotom mow for its insane leaf storms, game 4 here was hippopotas for getting sand up and picking up kills imo), it still rly threatened the opponent team and forced certain plays that allowed it to win in the end. If it missed the 80%, poliwrath always wins with liquidation. Trick on arboliva was big for the rest of the game. While I am scared about water as said in my hypothesis, poliwrath is an answer so grass is the primary type that I am scared of. Lycanroc’s 2hko on indeedee was also nice, my opponent most likely expected choice band accelrock. So it performed much better here, would say this is lycanroc’s best game so far.
Bonus Game Bc I Forgot To Go On Alt :( but still crazy roc sweep: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046940721-y74bg8efvznqzddo0kjgtgw94ww5ap0pw
Bonus Game 2 Bc Turn 3 Throw: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046946563-bg0o3fgnjqk28e1ln30pghzoh0qzjjxpw
Game 5: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2046948142-1080huaop27yv9wjybuuitfo9h1huc4pw they played way better than I did not much to say
Overall, grass and water (mainly grass) were scary but my team dealt with them better than I expected. Will generally talk about Lycanroc after Team 3, but in this case being faster than everything at 2x speed did not really matter too much in my games, but it was a nice safety net to have.
Team 2: Band Late Game Accelrock
Hypothesis: Any bulky def mon can wall lycanroc
Bonus Game 1 Because Registeel Wins Easily: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047486256-1a9g9g4ylbyup179m266h0mz0z0ffq5pw
Bonus Game 2 Because No Lycanroc: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047487090-qv9z7p5ervbyk9jkdp1z8ew6mpfkhnnpw
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047487090-qv9z7p5ervbyk9jkdp1z8ew6mpfkhnnpw, Luck kinda messed me up but eh I still played kinda bad anyways, Team Here: https://pokepast.es/c50ada78cf885d76
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047492681-pqr4ylb0ps0rv506za9zpklvfor4wacpw, Weird disconnect, they prob won here and I hope it wasn’t a wifi thing. They def win here with body press registeel. 2 (I would count game 2 as a loss) losses makes me not like band that much.
Game 3: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047496979-w9kh5wsxve5kv2caf8x7bpzhsfpf3v9pw, So I def shouldve lost here but they thought I was + speed. This is why you finish your games people.
Game 4: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047501571-l73a0j8n00xgtphxagcjxemvqvhohvlpw, Changed Team To: https://pokepast.es/fb3580cba05030ef Finally a win I deserved. Made the opponent think I was volt absorb lanturn which helped weaken stuff for the lycanroc endgame if need be. Lycanroc accelrock was CRUCIAL for killing raichu a and making sure that glastrier had enough health to wall sceptile in the endgame.
Game 5: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047505641-pdk5k2hc61ltvd9zlr2kbistoet0tudpw, Win here didn’t involve roc here but its kill on malamar was helpful since I was worried everything on my team was outsped after webs stayed up. Band most likely mattered for the kill.
Team 3: Scarf on PTerrain
Hypothesis: Bulky Teams With Good Dark/Bug Types Can Decimate Me
Bonus Game 1 Bc Team Not Made Well: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2047514350-hadlc5ofiok2eqnevorz680xv3bxtx5pw, Team 1: https://pokepast.es/94701c3aa4fa3aa9
Bonus Game 2 bc main I forgot again: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048630465, Fixed Team: https://pokepast.es/87261dd176a7b015 Almost won but didn’t bc acro didnt do enough, wonder if stone edge wouldve won me the game tho.
Bonus Game 3 bc main I FORGOT AGAIN AHH: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048635228 Sceptile 6-0
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048638213-cvbe7e5d99ut3m7fwxyxqhosklaq732pw Had the win con with the stone edge scarf being kinda big here but I missed ofc. Then my opponent forfeited for no reason again.
Bonus Game 4 Bc They Forgot How Aura Wheel Works: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048642508-pr6bpl867vztxollp9wd8l0w3nb23e9pw
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2048643621 dk how I won this one but scarf lycanroc is just not expected at all. It helped me win here.
Game 3: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049397588-bkk5fc4q5c9498igp31epdyv1wsem3epw threw wrath for no reason but terrain was important here to get the kill on tera steel hitmonchan. Shouldve tricked turn 1 as well, but I thought they’d go into morpeko. Still won tho on a forfeit, but I count this game bc lycanroc was important here.
Game 4: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049401253-nde87capdldek6iu1p0mfzs5etkvilapw so many misplays yet again and yet I still won. Shouldve been more passive with indeedee. Shouldve clicked healing wish into sceptile. And having no hazard control is another big weakness I spotted here in this game, but my team is so offensive that it doesn’t really matter.
Game 5: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049415108-qegmwb154ngcgmgdf5nbhlrlhcyb1uqpw finally my misplays catch up to me. Not going for a 2nd sd lost me the game.
Sandaconda
Team 1: Snow AV Team With Loaded Dice Icicle Spear Lapras: https://pokepast.es/5718b25805c4001d
Bonus Game 1 bc dumb air slash hax: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049927006-2m6e1dzt4ssy503znls3vsnorkwjgmppw
Bonus Game 2 bc not enough sandaconda action since loaded dice lapras got a lucky sweep: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049931624-73rn2u2jtevw1pv0mrge6ezavlgu1k0pw. Updated Team After this With Air Slash: https://pokepast.es/8b7a9000955c6384
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2049943724-vj1ce3axfzllvgp9zjqiewqb1eiu6tppw played really bad, opponent had better team. Not much sandaconda usage but that’s mostly my fault and not the snake’s
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2051014319-vq3q8aaxikzlk5ogtrkmxzfp1lkmpl2pw Just played bad here. I’m guessing band medicham faced against me

Next week I'm going to go fully experimental. Bc everyone knows about the common sets. So I'll do 3 weird sets similar to scarf lycanroc (but WAY more wild) to try to learn more about these mons next week. Edit: I also want to get higher on ladder because I just stayed like 1200.

 

[Melt Gibson]

RESEARCH WEEK 2
Welcome to Week 2 of PU Research Week! This week we'll be focusing on Tauros-Paldea-Blaze and Snorlax.


Adding on to Tauros' complicated history in SV PU, the Fire-type Paldean form has finally arrived! Immediately given the nickname of "Red Bull" by the community, Tauros-Blaze comes in sporting a powerful offensive typing, great coverage, a plethora of setup options, and respectable physical bulk combined with Intimidate. Will your opponents successfully mess with this bull, or will they end up getting the horns?


A newcomer to PU, Snorlax brings a whopping HP and Special Defense to the table alongside a large amount of coverage. However, its relative physical frailty combined with the considerable amount of strong physical attackers in the tier can cause problems for it, as can sometimes struggling to fit all the moves it wants for the given situation. Will you be able to push it to greatness, or will your eyes be too big for your plate?

The tag for this week is SVRW02. Good luck, and happy researching!​

 

[Corvy]

SVRW02 Corby
Gonna do both mons since they're relatively easy to test together

 

[gum]

svrw02 gum
both

 

[Morge]

SVRW02 Morge
Both

 

[ViZar]

SVRW02 ViZar
both (changed my mind, gonna do both)

 

[Karcoal]

SVRW02 wta
both

 

[competitiveZero]

SVRW02 lemon
Both.
Sorry for previous sign up

 

[Code_Error_]

SVRW02 Code
Both

 

[AlolanSpheal]

SVRW02 Walrus
Tauros

 

[asa]

svrw02 as
red bull (tauros)

 

[Meru]

SVRW02 Homerun
Both

 

[Corvy]

Alright so I tested 4 sets so far! 2 for Redbull, 2 for Snorlax

For Redbull it was 2 rather serious sets: CB and SubBulk.

CB performed as well as you'd expect, it breaks bulky teams, and wins 1v1s by virtue of intimidate making it always hit harder. There wasn't really a mon that could beat this set in a 1v1 unless it outsped Redbull i.e. Floatzel at -1 still 1-shots you easily. My set ran Flare blitz, Close Combat, Earthquake, Rock Slide. Rock slide was coverage for stuff like Guno, Haviary, and Cramorant, which I saw way too many of tbh.

There wasn't a single match where I didn't feel glad to have CB Redbull on my team, so that should be testament to how great this mon is in general!

Now onto the second set which I didn't expect to do as well as it did;

Substitute, Bulk Up, WoW, Raging Bull with Tera Fairy

This set did extremely well into fat teams, setting up on things like Regirock for free and essentially 1v6ing those matchups with ease. Issues arise against HO teams where you have no time to setup. WoW on a relatively fast mon is super valuable and turns a lot of matchups in your favor i.e. Regirock will do absolutely nothing against you once you burn it. Leftovers heal you up sufficiently to just keep sub up once they finally manage to break it while you're at +4 defense.

Not as explosive as CB Tauros ofc, and has some iffier matchups, but overall I would recommend giving this set a try if you can slot it in your team, and don't necessarily need another breaker.

NOW ONTO LAX!

I'm gonna be honest I was gonna test this set out purely as a meme, but it performed so well that I gaslit myself into thinking it's a viable set...

Enter Gluttony, Custap Berry, Belly Drum Snorlax!

Snorlax @ Custap Berry
Ability: Gluttony
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Belly Drum
- Body Slam
- Heat Crash
- Earthquake

The set aims to switch in on SpA mons, set up bdrum, and take out at least 1 threat with Bslam or Heat Crash. It never fails to take opponents offguard as noone expects this federal government set. The most I've beaten with this lax was 3 mons as my opp setup TR on the turn I bdrummed and they just kinda flopped into the slowest mon in existance.
This set works against pretty much any team, but if your opp reads you and prio kills your lax, you're essentially playing 5v6. High risk, high reward, highly funny. Definitely recommend giving it a whirl and don't dismiss it immediately.

The second Lax set I tested out was the normal Curselax. It performed similar to Chansey before as a massive SpD wall, however it can threaten kills a lot more while not being as annoying as Chansey. I'd say this is the standard Lax set you'll see in most matches, and it's exploitable by just hitting it before it sets up, burning it, and just stuff like Bronzong walling it hard. Thick Fatt makes it basically immune against Typhlosion and forces a switch from the opponent.

Bad matchups imo are as follows: Regirock, Bronzong, Suicide Lead lycan, Hariyama, Redbull

I didn't include floatzel or any mon that needs to do recoil damage, as Snorlax's MASSIVE HP pool make the opponent take 50-70% of their HP in recoil as they try to kill this big ball.

And here are some replays to showcase what teams I used and how I played during the testing period.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2054413126
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2054415867
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2054418401
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2054421595
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2053048870
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2053035546
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2053028704
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2053025079