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Project SS OU - Victim of the Week - Not hosted anymore
- Thread starter SetsuSetsuna
- Start date
- Status
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P.S. sorry for the bad Nidoking submission. I have exams very soon and I rushed it
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P.S. sorry for the bad Nidoking submission. I have exams very soon and I rushed it
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Ending the voting phase. Here are the winners for the Tapu Bulu Victim week:
Checks:
by RaikouLover and by SLDR
Counters:
by BoomFantastic and by D5405
Congratulations and thanks to everyone who made a submission, there were a lot of cool ideas as always.
Let’s move on to a new Victim of the Week. This week will be featuring the clown Ultra Beast: Blacephalon.
Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Flamethrower
- Overheat
- Trick
Blacephalon is not a clown in OU. Equipped with a Choice Specs, it can deal massive damage to anything that tries to switch into it. Being a slower but way stronger version of the almighty Choice Specs Dragapult, Blacephalon is also able to become a deadly sweeper when faster foes are removed. With Beast Boost it can easily snowball weakened teams, becoming harder to switch into after each kill. Overheat is a secondary Fire STAB that allows Blacephalon to nuke something immediately du to its insane base power. Trick is useful to annoy some special walls that could take any of its attack. Who do you think are the best checks and counters to this disco ball head boy? Let’s find out!
Submission phase will end on next Friday, good luck!
Checks:
by RaikouLover and by SLDRCounters:
by BoomFantastic and by D5405Checks:
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10 9 1Congratulations and thanks to everyone who made a submission, there were a lot of cool ideas as always.
Let’s move on to a new Victim of the Week. This week will be featuring the clown Ultra Beast: Blacephalon.
Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Flamethrower
- Overheat
- Trick
Blacephalon is not a clown in OU. Equipped with a Choice Specs, it can deal massive damage to anything that tries to switch into it. Being a slower but way stronger version of the almighty Choice Specs Dragapult, Blacephalon is also able to become a deadly sweeper when faster foes are removed. With Beast Boost it can easily snowball weakened teams, becoming harder to switch into after each kill. Overheat is a secondary Fire STAB that allows Blacephalon to nuke something immediately du to its insane base power. Trick is useful to annoy some special walls that could take any of its attack. Who do you think are the best checks and counters to this disco ball head boy? Let’s find out!
Submission phase will end on next Friday, good luck!
Katy
Banned deucer.
Hydreigon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 164 HP / 92 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Roost
Hydreigon is a great check to Blacephalon, as it checks both its STABs pretty well due to its great typing in Dark and Dragon, meaning that none of Blacephalons attacks hit it for super effective damage. Furthermore Hydreigon has Leftovers and Roost, which grants it formidable longevity and recovery alike to withstand well against Blacephalon. Blacephalon also doesnt want to Trick its Choice Specs away to Hydreigon, as this means, Hydreigon can get more powerwul against this and the rest of Blacephalons teammates, due to Hydreigons great SpA stat.
calcs for reference:
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 164 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 119-141 (32.5 - 38.5%) -- 98.6% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 164 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 135-159 (36.8 - 43.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 164 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 194-228 (53 - 62.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
into
-2 252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 164 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 97-114 (26.5 - 31.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
92 SpA Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 272-324 (110.1 - 131.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
92 SpA Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 222-262 (89.8 - 106%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
92 SpA Hydreigon Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 204-242 (82.5 - 97.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
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@ LeftoversAbility: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 40 SpD / 68 Spe
Impish Nature
- Body Press
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Kommo-o is a check due to a lack of reliable recovery and overheat doing almost more than half of its hp. But, kommo-o can still switch in and take one attack and proceed to threaten it with earthquake, is completely immune to shadow ball which allows it to to take advantage of it with stealth rocks. Trick cripples this which sucks but it means it loses a ton of power that it otherwise would need for teammates such as heatran, garchomp, and sp def lando-t.
0 Atk Kommo-o Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 260-306 (105.2 - 123.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 40 SpD Kommo-o: 164-193 (46.3 - 54.5%) -- 59% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 40 SpD Kommo-o: 114-134 (32.2 - 37.8%) -- 32.4% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
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Landorus-Therian (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 23 Spe
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Defog / Stealth Rock
- Toxic / Knock Off
Big Lando is back in business, acting as a check to Blacephalon. It can't pivot into it directly, but on a free turn, it can cleanly OHKO Blacephalon with Earthquake and Knock Off.
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Landorus-Therian: 183-216 (47.9 - 56.5%) -- 32.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Landorus-Therian: 204-241 (53.4 - 63%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Landorus-Therian: 297-349 (77.7 - 91.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 492-582 (199.1 - 235.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 Atk Landorus-Therian Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 320-378 (129.5 - 153%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Landorus-Therian: 204-241 (53.4 - 63%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Landorus-Therian: 297-349 (77.7 - 91.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 492-582 (199.1 - 235.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 Atk Landorus-Therian Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 320-378 (129.5 - 153%) -- guaranteed OHKO
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Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Fire Punch
- Rock Blast / Earthquake / Heavy Slam / Assurance
Tyranitar is one of the best ghostbusters in the tier, because of its typing and amazing special bulk thanks to its sand stream ability, few thing can punish Blacephalon for clicking shadow ball, so Tyranitar is amazing at its job, its not just a shadow ball sponge either, it can act as an amazing wallbreaker that punishes the ghost types by turning them into an oppotunity for it to start breaking the oppsition,
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 72-86 (21.1 - 25.2%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 118-139 (34.6 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Tyranitar Crunch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 728-860 (294.7 - 348.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 118-139 (34.6 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Tyranitar Crunch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 728-860 (294.7 - 348.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
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"They said you can't use Fini for everything, but i showed them you can" - Elon Musk, or at least i think so
Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 52 SpD / 204 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Trick
Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 52 SpD / 204 Spe
Timid Nature
- Moonblast
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Trick
Tapu Fini is known for being one of Dragapult best checks, and that kind of applies to Blacephalon too, so im submitting this as a check. This set doesnt have a lot of bulk (though it has enough to check Dragapult), so you will take a lot of damage from Shadow Ball, and this means that the opponent will try to KO Fini and get the Beast Boost; thats where Scarf comes in. You can switch in once and surprise the opponent with a speedy Knock Off or Scald! This set has an edge over other checks and that'd be the fact that, if Blacephalon clicks Trick, its getting an item that will make it a lot less threatening, and that it'd be locked into Trick after getting Choice Scarf. Plus, Fini can still Trick a bad item (Choice Specs) to a wall like Toxapex
Calcs:
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Tapu Fini: 168-198 (48.8 - 57.5%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO (Supposed to happen)
252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 52 SpD Tapu Fini: 112-133 (32.5 - 38.6%) -- 99.1% chance to 3HKO (After Knock it doesnt 2HKO)
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0- Atk Tapu Fini Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 164-194 (66.3 - 78.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 200-236 (80.9 - 95.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
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Weavile @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Triple Axel
- Knock Off
- Ice Shard
Weavile is able to revenge kill blacephelon with its knock off heres the calc:252 Atk Weavile Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 498-588 (201.6 - 238%) -- guaranteed OHKO
So i submit weavile as a check
Crawdaunt @ Choice Band / Life Orb
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off
- Crabhammer
- Crunch / Swords Dance
Crawdaunt is an offensive check to Blacephaleon, as it is always able to revenge kill with Aqua Jet. Furthermore, Crawdaunt's Dark / Water typing affords it the ability to take one Shadow Ball or Flamethrower from the clown. Keep this is mind, as it is best to use its positioning vs. Blace early game while you can keep the hit in your back pocket for most of the match. Try not to switch this in unless you absolutely have to (Overheat will OHKO). Band is slightly better check than SD due to longevity, but they both work in a pinch.
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Crawdaunt: 177-208 (66.2 - 77.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Crawdaunt: 199-234 (74.5 - 87.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Life Orb Adaptability Crawdaunt Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 395-468 (159.9 - 189.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Crawdaunt Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 1092-1288 (442.1 - 521.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Tornadus-Therian (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 172 HP / 168 SpD / 168 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Heat Wave
- Knock Off
- U-turn
CHECKfunny because I made this post a few hours ago lol but it's av tornt again, this time with a different spread altogether. this is to be used if minimizing chances to die to +2 lo rillaboom's grassy glide after rocks isn't an issue for your team (read the post for more context).
this spread gives more safety for dealing with blacephalon, because it now lives a specs overheat after rocks:
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 172 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-Therian: 217-256 (63.4 - 74.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
...also...
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 172 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-Therian: 151-178 (44.1 - 52%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 172 HP / 168 SpD Assault Vest Tornadus-Therian: 135-159 (39.4 - 46.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
these calcs mean that av tornadus is possibly the only pokèmon that can outspeed blacephalon, take any one hit and threaten back with knock off, which only needs a single turn of rocks to ko:
0- Atk Tornadus-Therian Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 208-246 (84.2 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
you could argue that blacephalon teams should have double defog and no stealth rock, and that's a good point. however, i wanted to provide a spread that could take blacephalon on even with rocks up.
the original spread in the post lives specs overheat without rocks and has the same ability to switch into overheat and safely uturn out to a teammate that can eat a -2 specs overheat, or take either flamethrower/shadowball without rocks up and threaten to knock off blacephalon's specs thus living the next attack (since the specs hit deals less than 60%, a non-specs hit deals less than 40% which of course together deal less than 100%).
I hope I explained this properly, but av torn is a decent blacephalon check and has the added benefit of being able to switch in and being faster than blace, while also being generally more splashable in the builder than many of its other more dedicated checks.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpD / 120 Spe
Calm Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Protect
- Heavy Slam/Nature Power
While any Heatran set could, in theory, work here (modest scarf eruption/earth power is an OHKO, offensive 0-investment sets take 64-76% from Shadow Ball), a more defensive set gives potential longevity and increases Heatran's viability as a check.
The EV spread here is the standard one running around in the calcs at the moment, with enough speed to outrun neutral base 60s (many of which could give Heatran a problem if they outspeed, but get smashed otherwise). The rest of the EVs are dumped into HP and SpDef. With this spread, Specs Blace's Shadow Ball does:
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 136+ SpD Heatran: 168-198 (43.5 - 51.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
while Heatran's Earth Power returns:
0 SpA Heatran Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 196-232 (79.3 - 93.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
By no means can the Blacephalon afford to stay in on the Heatran; but, if it does, the Heatran can easily afford to Protect and gain Leftovers recovery. If the opponent switches to a passive mon like Blissey, their Protect won't be burned, and the Heatran can Protect again to gain an additional turn, if desired. While the Heatran remains healthy, the Blacephalon user is always on the back foot, as locking into a Fire move would be extremely risky.
Finally, this set incorporates the seldom-seen Heavy Slam tech. This pairs well with Protect in my opinion, since a Tapu Lele may come in on a <50% health Heatran and threaten it with Focus Blast. Protect allows you to scout this option and, if they predicted you to switch, you can stay in and OHKO even a Lele at full health. It also gives a more reliable option against Glowking, while Protect allows you to scout the Earthquake.
As one last note, this set also pairs well with Rillaboom since it doubles the Heatran's recovery while shielding it from weak Earthquakes. Nature Power therefore is an option in the last slot but, unless Swampert or others become common in the metagame, this probably isn't worth it.
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Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Flip Turn
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Swampert is a check. While getting Tricked a choice item is annoying, it can take two of Blacephalon's other moves from full HP, and threaten an OHKO in return.
Beast Boost does complicate things somewhat, but Swampert can still switch in at +1, just not as comfortably as it could before the boost.
0 Atk Swampert Flip Turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 234-276 (94.7 - 111.7%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
0 Atk Swampert Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 390-458 (157.8 - 185.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 169-199 (41.8 - 49.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 253-298 (62.6 - 73.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 95-112 (23.5 - 27.7%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 142-168 (35.1 - 41.5%) -- 77% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 137-162 (33.9 - 40%) -- 32.8% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
-1 252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 91-108 (22.5 - 26.7%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
-2 252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Swampert: 69-81 (17 - 20%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery
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Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Choice Band
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- U-turn
Urshifu is a pretty good offensive Blacephalon check. Aqua jet and surging strikes both OHKO so you can revenge kill. That’s pretty much it. It’s just rly good.
252 Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 326-386 (131.9 - 156.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon on a critical hit: 918-1086 (371.6 - 439.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Fly By Night (Dragonite) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 56 Def / 52 SpD / 136 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Dual Wingbeat
Dragonite is a decent check to Blacephalon as it can come in on an Overheat / Shadow Ball and force Blacephalon out because uninvested Adamant DNite OHKOes Blacephalon with Earthquake and Blace does not 2HKO DNite with Shadow Ball through Multiscale even if it gets two back-to-back max rolls unless it gets a Special Defense drop. This set utilises the defensive Dragon Dance set with a speck of Special Defense investment to survive Blacephalon's Shadow Ball. It can then Dragon Dance on the second Shadow Ball and force Blacephalon out and potentially get a Roost off although it is better to play it safe for the particular turn after which you have a Dragon Dance up. It has enough Speed to outspeed Blacephalon at +1. The calcs this set achieves are:
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 52 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 104-123 (27 - 31.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 52 SpD Dragonite: 208-246 (54 - 63.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
16+ Atk Dragonite Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 340-402 (137.6 - 162.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 248 HP / 52 SpD Dragonite: 208-246 (54 - 63.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
16+ Atk Dragonite Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 340-402 (137.6 - 162.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
no Fly By Nite doesn't sound right even if it was a missed opportunity
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Gastrodon @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Clear Smog/Toxic
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 178-211 (41.7 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 101-119 (23.7 - 27.9%) -- 87.6% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 145-171 (34 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Gastrodon Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 194-230 (78.5 - 93.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Gastrodon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 306-362 (123.8 - 146.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 101-119 (23.7 - 27.9%) -- 87.6% chance to 4HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Blacephalon Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 145-171 (34 - 40.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Gastrodon Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 194-230 (78.5 - 93.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Gastrodon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 306-362 (123.8 - 146.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Gastrodon is possibly the closest Pokemon that could be considered a counter to Blacephalon. This is thanks to Sticky Hold, which means unlike Blissey or Chansey, it doesn't have to worry about being crippled by Trick. Max SpDef investment means that outside of a critical hit Shadow Ball or a 20% SpDef drop, Specs Shadow Ball doesn't 2HKO Gastrodon. Earthquake is a clean OHKO on Blacephalon, whereas Scald needs some chip to kill. Heavy-Duty Boots were chosen over Leftovers so that Gastrodon doesn't have to worry about hazards damaging it.
Therefore, Gastrodon is a Hard Check/Soft Counter (not too sure) to Specs Blacephalon
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