Project Threats to OU Cores v2: Round 72: Mega Charizard X + Ash-Greninja

[Komodo_Drogo]

Magearna @ Fairium Z
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fleur Cannon
- Focus Blast
- Shift Gear
- Calm Mind
OHKos one of them with fairy z and with +1 regular fluer cannon knocks out the other guaranteed with rocks

252 SpA Magearna Twinkle Tackle (195 BP) vs. 88 HP / 8 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 345-406 (107.4 - 126.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+1 252 SpA Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash: 300-354 (98.6 - 116.4%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Astra]

Tapu Koko @ Electrium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 20 HP / 252 SpA / 20 SpD / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn
Nothing really special here. Tapu Koko easily OHKOes Tornadus-T with Thunderbolt and doesn't care getting hit by any of its moves since it's faster. Gigavolt Havoc also OHKOes Rotom-W, and Thunderbolt still does enough for a 2HKO. However, Tapu Koko must be wary of Hydro Pump if this is the case. Otherwise, Tapu Koko can take the core on rather simply.

 

[ToadNorton]

Reserving Ash-Gren

Greninja-Ash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Spikes

Ash-Gren cleanly 2HKO's Torn and has a 94% chance to 2HKO Rotom-Wash before transformation meaning that neither of them can safely switch in for fear of a Dark Pulse. Gren can also come in on a predicted Torn and threaten to OHKO with Hydro Pump in Ash form. It even can 2HKO Rotom-W with Hydro Pump after rocks once in Ash form.

Calcs

The first two are in non-Ash form, while the last two are Ash-Gren form.
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash: 157-186 (51.6 - 61.1%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 88 HP / 8 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 180-213 (56 - 66.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 88 HP / 8 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 330-388 (102.8 - 120.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash: 144-169 (47.3 - 55.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

 

[Mellow]

Magnezone @ Electrium Z
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power Fire

Magnezone's pretty annoying for the core. It isn't really phased by Torn since it isn't a Fighting coverage variant, and can OHKO both with (Z-)Thunderbolt. Only issue is Rotom is faster and can 2HKO with Hydro so you can't switch hard in on that, but if you play well you can quite easily get Magnezone in on the Torn, so it has a good matchup regardless.

calcs

252+ SpA Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 88 HP / 8 SpD Tornadus-Therian: 350-414 (109 - 128.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Magnezone Gigavolt Havoc (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash: 297-349 (97.6 - 114.8%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery (isn't guaranteed but it's very easy to chip Rotom)

 

[Stall is coming]

reserving a gimmick set: Mirror coat Alomomola

Alomomola @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 40 HP / 216 Def / 252 SpD
Bold Nature
- Mirror Coat
- Toxic
- Wish
- Protect

Calcs:

32 SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 40 HP / 252 SpD Alomomola: 166-196 (34.5 - 40.7%) -- 53.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Retourning 332-392 with Mirror Coat.

0 SpA Rotom-Wash Volt Switch vs. 40 HP / 252 SpD Alomomola: 198-234 (41.1 - 48.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
Retourning 396-468, we can see that he'll nearly OHKO every switch to Alomomola.

This set is really uncommon but he's not useless. Of course, when you confront an Alomomola, you are afraid of Toxik or the burn of Scald, and you can surprise the opponent with a possible OHKO. Moreover, thanks to Toxik, you create a 50/50 situation against special sweepers, which is normally the weakness of this pokemon.

Furthermore, with a ground pokemon (like Gliscor or Hippodown) and when you confront a volt-switch user, you can force him to not spam this attack, and then switch on Alomomola to Mirror Coat the Volt-Switch. Rotom is an example of this. And he hates to be toxik too.

That's why Alomomola is effective against this core Rotom/Tornadus.

I confess that to imagine the gameplay around Alomomola can be hard, that's why I add this replay to illustrate it.

Replay:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-786875855

 

[Failure999]

Reserving the weirdest of all choices, Reuniclus.

Set for Today

Reuniclus @ Leftovers / Fightinium Z
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Acid Armor / Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Recover

Description

I know this nomination choice was odd, so I'm here to explain this pick. Reuniclus has three things going for it, its neat 110/75/85 bulk, Magic Guard to avoid getting worn down by Will'o'Miss, and set-up moves to set up on both pokemon in this core. It is bulky enough to be able to constantly switch into the two thanks to Recover and Leftovers, and set up its defenses to become unkillable. Hence, I feel that Reuniclus deserves a chance to be featured.

All Revelant Calcs

32 SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Reuniclus: 153-180 (36 - 42.4%) -- 93.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0- Atk Tornadus-Therian Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus: 112-134 (26.4 - 31.6%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
0- Atk Tornadus-Therian U-turn vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus: 82-98 (19.3 - 23.1%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery

0 SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Reuniclus: 142-168 (33.4 - 39.6%) -- 18.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Volt Switch vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Reuniclus: 91-108 (21.4 - 25.4%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
[All the above Calcs prove that neither Tornadus nor Rotom-Wash can actually 2HKO Reuniclus, hence, it can just heal up and set up on both of them]

 

[JTD783]

Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
-Psychic
-Moonblast
-Psyshock
-Hidden Power Fire

Lele OHKOs both members with Psychic. Rotom-Wash is no threat since Lele is faster and Torn-T can only try to land a Hurricane, which never 2HKOs from full.

252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 88 HP / 8 SpD Tornadus-Therian in Psychic Terrain: 358-423 (111.5 - 131.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
32 SpA Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Lele: 118-139 (41.9 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-Wash in Psychic Terrain: 313-369 (102.9 - 121.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Lele: 109-130 (38.7 - 46.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Any Lele variant will cleanly 2HKO this core but Specs gets bonus points for achieving the OHKO against both without consuming a Z move in the process.

 

[Egor]

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog

Counters Torn-T and has a big chance to 3HKO Rotom with Thunderbolt.

 

[MANNAT]

Greninja (M) @ Grassium Z
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Grass Knot
- Low Kick
- Ice Beam
- Spikes

Back again is your friendly neighborhood Greninja, this time with Grassium Z! I usually use this set to lure in Gastrodon for shit like offensive Tapu Koko, Rotom-W, or some other mon that can go to town with it removed, but it also functions as an effective lure for Rotom-W, easily OHKOing it from full with Z Grass Knot while also hitting Tornadus-T with Ice Beam.

 

[Deleted User [433215]]

Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 16 HP / 212 SpA / 28 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Taunt
- Solar Beam

Although this particular z move Heatran has dropped in use, it can still be a good lure. This set is able to lure in Rotom and smash it with z solar beam while being able to deal heavy damage to Tornadus with Magma Storm. This set isn’t dead weight outside this core either as it beats things like Gastrodon and Fini who think they’re safe coming in.

 

[Charmflash]

Reserving Gastrodon

 

[Meliodafu7]

Mega Latias

Latias @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Stored Power
- Ice Beam / Reflect Type

Mega Latias is a strong threat to this core, as it can use Tornadus-T as setup fodder and take it down if running Ice Beam, and it can switch almost for free against Rotom-W. If Rotom is carrying WoW instead of T-Wave, then it also is set up fodder, and it is more dangerous, as most teams rely on Toxic to take down M-Latias. However, if Rotom-W is carrying T-Wave, it can be scouted by partners like Toxapex or Gliscor. And, if you're running Reflect Type, Rotom-W is set up fodder too, as it can't paralyze M-Latias.
Personally, I'm more fan of Ice Beam to take out Landorus-T and Garchomp, but, Reflect Type is useful, as it allows Mega Latias avoid Pursuit from Tyranitar, use Heatran and Magearna as setup fodder and prevent being paralyzed against Discharge Zapdos and Toxiced by Toxapex, so, it depends on your team and how it can manage those threats.

 

[Jordy]

Last Round's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Round:

: Mirror Coat Alomomola is a cool tech that has a good matchup against this core.

Additional Notes:

: While Zapdos can beat both Rotom-W and Tornadus-T one-on-one, it can lose in the long run, because of its Stealth Rock weakness and Tornadus-T forcing it to lose its Leftovers.

​

Round 50 Core: Mega Latias + Toxapex

Here are your sets

Latias @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Stored Power
- Ice Beam

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Haze
- Recover
- Toxic Spikes

​

• This core has been on the rise since the start of SPL. Toxapex provides Mega Latias with Toxic Spikes support, which is especially nice to force in Pokemon like Weavile and Mega Tyranitar as well as other defensive Pokemon with Mega Latias to cripple them and steadily wear them down. Toxapex is also a nice check to the aforementioned Pokemon. In return, Mega Latias is a good response to Pokemon like Garchomp, which Toxapex tends to struggle against.
• Try to post only OU viable Pokémon and don't post sets specifically for this core, additionally your threat should not be complete deadweight against teams that do not feature the core of Mega Latias + Toxapex. Everyone have a good day!

 

[Felixx]

Mawile-Mega (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Thunder Punch / Knock Off
- Sucker Punch

M-Maw comes in on M-Latias pretty easily, and can use it as setup fodder and KO it with Play Rough. Toxapex dies to +2 Thunder Punch / Knock Off.

 

[Jordy]

Tapu Lele @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Focus Blast

Tapu Lele can naturally pressure Toxapex and wins the Calm Mind war against Mega Latias if it's not weakened.

 

[Katy]

Reserve Hoopa-Unbound

Hoopa-Unbound @ Darkinium Z
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Focus Blast

Hoopa-U already has a strong Base SpAtk stat, but having access to Nasty Plot as a setup move also allows it to be an efficient wallbreaker.
STAB Dark Pulse hits both Mega Latias and Toxapex for a good amount of damage since neither resist Dark moves; while Black Hole Eclipse is able to outright OHKO Mega Latias.
Toxapex is also threatened by Hoopa-U's secondary STAB attacks in either Psychic or Psyshock

Some notable Calcs:

Hide

252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Latias-Mega: 224-266 (61.5 - 73%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Black Hole Eclipse (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Latias-Mega: 450-530 (123.6 - 145.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Black Hole Eclipse (160 BP) vs. +1 252 HP / 0 SpD Latias-Mega: 302-356 (82.9 - 97.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Toxapex: 204-240 (67.1 - 78.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Black Sludge recovery
252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Toxapex: 222-264 (73 - 86.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Black Sludge recovery
+2 252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Psychic vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Toxapex: 404-476 (132.8 - 156.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Hoopa-Unbound Dark Pulse vs. +1 252 HP / 0 SpD Latias-Mega: 302-356 (82.9 - 97.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Failure999]

Reserving Mega Alakazam

 

[Egor]

cm+split gear

 

[Komodo_Drogo]

Kommo-o @ Dragonium Z
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Close Combat
- Poison Jab

Wanted to throw something unorthodox out for this one. An aggresive double or a u-turn/Volt Switch gets it in. Tanks an ice beam, it d-dances once and the core is highly threatened. Z-Outrage deals with latias easily. Toxapex could potentially do something but only way i see is two minimum rolls, as ,even with a burn, after the first outrage it still has a decent chance for 2HKO. If you don't want to risk that you can arguably save the z for toxapex.

0 SpA Latias-Mega Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kommo-o: 168-198 (57.5 - 67.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

+1 252+ Atk Kommo-o Outrage vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Toxapex: 199-235 (65.4 - 77.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery

+1 252+ Atk burned Kommo-o Outrage vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Toxapex: 99-117 (32.5 - 38.4%) -- 3.6% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery

As for other matchups, with the re-emergence of tyranitar, and kommo-o's natural ability to check it, ash-greninja, heatran, and other things I don't care to list, it can do work as long as the opposing team lacks some of the things that kommo-o just can't beat by itself, such as clefable, and tapu fini. And if you want to outspeed the standard choice scarf landorous after +1, just make it jolly, and Z guarantees the ko after rocks.

 

[MFJK]

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 72 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake

Neither Mega Latias nor Toxapex can switch-in on a banded Crunch from Tyranitar, especially with hazards up.

 

[Stall is coming]

reserving M-Gyarados

Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Substitute

Calcs:

252 Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Toxapex: 172-204 (56.5 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252 Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Crunch vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Latias-Mega: 254-302 (69.7 - 82.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

0 SpA Toxapex Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados-Mega: 21-25 (6.3 - 7.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever
0 SpA Latias-Mega Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados-Mega: 34-41 (10.2 - 12.3%) -- possible 9HKO

Gyarados comes into everything except scald-burn, outspeed both and 2HKO both. Moreover, he can place under a substitute against Toxapex and then setup on him.

Finally, MGyarados appreciated the ban of Zygarde. In deed, the main counter of Zygarde, Tangrowth, is able to counter MGyarados too.

 

[xapx]

Greninja @ Groundium Z
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Dig
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- filler

Groundium Z Protean Greninja can comfortably deal with both Calm Mind Mega Latias and SpDef Toxapex. Tectonic Rage has 75% to OHKO SpDef Toxapex, which turns into a guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock damage. U-turn deals decent damage to Mega Latias (43.4 - 51.6%), allowing another teammate to come in and threaten it.

Other combinations work as well. Taunt + Extrasensory with the item Life Orb or Expert Belt shut down this core, walling Mega Latias and stopping Toxapex from recovering.

 

[Dreadfury]

Reserving an old relic: CM+Fairium Tapu Koko!

Tapu Koko @ Fairium Z
Timid Nature
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Calm Mind
- Hidden Power Ice/Hidden Power Fire
- Dazzling Gleam

This set kinda died off and it's pretty sad to see that it hasn't been as popular, but I feel like the post-Zygarde meta shifts do CM+Fairium Koko MANY favors since Tangrowth is a lot less prominent nowadays. HP Fire can clap Ferrothorn if it appears, while HP Ice hits Lando-T. Koko naturally forces Toxapex out and this set can prey on those forced switches by getting a free Calm Mind off. +1 Twinkle Tackle blows Mega Latias back completely. Even an unboosted one has a pretty decent chance of OHKOing Mega Latias after Stealth Rock damage, and that prior damage on Mega Latias can give Koko a tremendous edge.

Koko's superior damage output and amazing Speed tier also give it a considerable edge when forced to fight the Calm Mind war against Mega Latias since it is only threatened by a Stored Power OHKO at +3. Any turn Mega Latias spends NOT Calm Minding up is a turn Koko can spend getting a Calm Mind up to threaten the OHKO with Twinkle Tackle.

252 SpA Tapu Koko Twinkle Tackle (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Latias-Mega: 296-350 (81.3 - 96.1%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

+1 252 SpA Tapu Koko Twinkle Tackle (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Latias-Mega: 444-524 (121.9 - 143.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

+1 252 SpA Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Toxapex in Electric Terrain: 300-354 (98.6 - 116.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock and Black Sludge recovery

+1 252 SpA Tapu Koko Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 232+ SpD Ferrothorn: 208-248 (59 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery (ik it doesn't really do that much damage but it still gets quite a lot of chip out of it)

 

[Jordy]

Last Round's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Round:

: Calm Mind Tapu Koko is an interesting pick that has somewhat picked up again.

Additional Notes:

: I'm not convinced by the given Kommo-o set to be better than the standard.

Round 51 Core: Tapu Bulu + Kartana

Here are your sets

Tapu Bulu @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Wood Hammer
- Superpower
- Stone Edge

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Knock Off / Defog

​

• In a post-Zygarde meta, Tapu Bulu has been enjoying a rise in Choice Band sets, as these are incredibly hard to defensively check and often get free turns against bulkier teams. The obvious choice to pair Tapu Bulu with is Kartana, which becomes incredibly threatening with Grassy Terrain up and a Choice Scarf. It also benefits from Tapu Bulu's ability to bust open Grass-type resists.
• Try to post only OU viable Pokémon and don't post sets specifically for this core, additionally your threat should not be complete deadweight against teams that do not feature the core of Tapu Bulu + Kartana. Everyone have a good day!

 

[xapx]

Buzzwole @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 Spe
Impish Nature
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Bulk Up
- Roost

This big, fat cockroach can take anything these two can throw at him and threaten them with Ice Punch and Drain Punch. It could also set up as your wincon on these two Pokemon. Buzzwole even has reliable recovery to consistently check them. However, the loss of Leftovers from Knock Off is rather annoying for Buzzwole

calcs

Kartana's attack with the highest damage output:
252 Atk Kartana Smart Strike vs. 252 HP / 144+ Def Buzzwole: 91-108 (21.7 - 25.8%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

Bulu's highest damage:
248+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 144+ Def Buzzwole in Grassy Terrain: 148-175 (35.4 - 41.8%) -- 0.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery

Even if you use unmove Zen Headbutt: 248+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 144+ Def Buzzwole: 176-208 (42.1 - 49.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery