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

[Failure999]

I'mma reserve Mega-Heracross because I can't think of another pokemon that can beat both

Heracross @ Heracronite
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Rock Blast / Bullet Seed
- Pin Missile
OK, so the game plan here is to hopefully switch this thing in after a slow U-turn / Volt Switch or a KO at worst into Zygarde (you'll want to dodge toxic because it definitely will cut into your bulk and put your wall breaking on a timer), before Substituting and SDing in most scenarios (if you predict that he's gonna hard switch into Greninja, just whack it on the switch), before you go on a rampage against the enemy's team. Have some Flying-Type pokemon check like Heatran or the likes at the back to deal with Tornadus, Charizard-Mega-Y and the likes and you should be fine

Calcs for those who care

252+ Atk Heracross-Mega Pin Missile (5 hits) vs. 236 HP / 8 Def Zygarde: 255-300 (61.2 - 72.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Heracross-Mega Pin Missile (5 hits) vs. 236 HP / 8 Def Zygarde: 500-590 (120.1 - 141.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Heracross-Mega Pin Missile (5 hits) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Greninja-Ash: 820-970 (287.7 - 340.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

0 Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Heracross-Mega: 43-51 (14.2 - 16.8%) -- possible 6HKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja Water Shuriken (15 BP) (3 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Heracross-Mega: 93-111 (30.7 - 36.7%) -- approx. 70.1% chance to 3HKO [Greninja's only way to break your sub and still do damage to you]
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Water Shuriken (20 BP) (3 hits) vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Heracross-Mega: 162-192 (53.6 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO [Hurts, but just be careful and keep yourself healthy and you should be fine]

 

[Mellow]

Jordy asked me to do this round.

Last Week's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Round:

: Scarf Leaf Storm really messes up the core, even having a chance to 2HKO Zygarde.

Additional Notes:

: While it does have a good matchup against this core, fitting Toxicroak on Rain teams is pretty impractical, so this won't be archived.
As a side note, some of the EVs on the submissions this week have been a bit odd, namely Tangrowth and Mega Garchomp. Also, Toxic on Zygarde is specifically there to cripple the fat Grasses that were submitted this time round - they'll still be archived, but just bare it in mind.
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Round 42 Core: Mega Scizor + Tapu Fini

Here are your sets

Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 116 Def / 144 SpD
Impish Nature
- Curse
- Bullet Punch
- Roost
- Knock Off

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Def / 52 SpD / 192 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nature's Madness
- Scald
- Taunt
- Defog

• I'll just quote myself on this one:

  Mega Scizor is a pretty good check to a lot of stuff that Fini fails to beat, like Magearna, Tapu Bulu, Zygarde, Kartana, Mega Mawile, and Kyurem-Black. It can also act as a soft check to Psychics like Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, and Mega Latios. Conversely, Tapu Fini's a great answer to some special attackers Scizor doesn't like in Ash-Greninja, Heatran, Volcarona, and Hydreigon.

• 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 Scizor + Tapu Fini. Everyone have a good day!

 

[DKM]

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Roost
- Heat Wave
- Defog

Beats Mega Scizor with Heat Wave and doesn't mind its attacks (although Knock Off is a little annoying). Beats Tapu Fini with Thunderbolt, Nature's Madness + Taunt can be annoying if you lost Leftovers but it still beats them both pretty reliably.

You could run a few more speed EVs to creep Tapu Fini (along with Modest Heatran obviously) but I don't believe it's worth it unless you're going out of your way to beat this core.

 

[~erza]

Kartana @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike / Knock Off

While you don't want to be in a 1v1 situation against Mega Scizor, you actually kill it with +2 All-Out Pummeling after Stealth Rock, and if it tries to scout for the Z-Move, Scizor wont be able to Curse against Kartana because Sacred Sword neglates defense boosts, and it should be obvious that Kartana beats Fini.

Calcs

+2 252 Atk Kartana All-Out Pummeling (175 BP) vs. 248 HP / 116+ Def Scizor-Mega: 305-359 (88.9 - 104.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Kartana Sacred Sword vs. 248 HP / 116+ Def Scizor-Mega: 157-185 (45.7 - 53.9%) -- 46.9% chance to 2HKO

 

[laser火circus]

Jordy asked me to do this round.

Last Week's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Round:

: Scarf Leaf Storm really messes up the core, even having a chance to 2HKO Zygarde.

Additional Notes:

: While it does have a good matchup against this core, fitting Toxicroak on Rain teams is pretty impractical, so this won't be archived.
As a side note, some of the EVs on the submissions this week have been a bit odd, namely Tangrowth and Mega Garchomp. Also, Toxic on Zygarde is specifically there to cripple the fat Grasses that were submitted this time round - they'll still be archived, but just bare it in mind.
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Round 42 Core: Mega Scizor + Tapu Fini

Here are your sets

Scizor-Mega @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 116 Def / 144 SpD
Impish Nature
- Curse
- Bullet Punch
- Roost
- Knock Off

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Def / 52 SpD / 192 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nature's Madness
- Scald
- Taunt
- Defog

• I'll just quote myself on this one:
• 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 Scizor + Tapu Fini. Everyone have a good day!

magnezone

 

[Astoria]

Tapu Koko @ Electrium Z
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

 

[Egor]

Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost

Flamethrower OHKOes M-Sciz, Solar Beam 2HKOes Fini.

 

[Loom]

@

Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Hidden Power Ice​

Pretty self-explanatory here, Mega Manectric demolishes Mega Scizor with Overheat, and can comfortably beat Tapu Fini with Thunderbolt and Volt Switch.

Calcs

252 SpA

-

Overheat vs. 248 HP / 16 SpD

-

: 572-676 (166.7 - 197%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA

-

Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 20+ SpD

: 218-258 (63.5 - 75.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Katy]

reserving defensive mega venusaur


Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Def / 156 SpD / 16 Spe
Calm Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- Hidden Power Fire

Mega-Venusaur is a solid check to both Mega Scizor and Tapu Fini as its Grass/Poison typing completely shuts down Tapu Fini and its extremely well distributed bulk helps it tank even a boosted Bullet Punch with ease. The Misty Terrain set up by Tapu Fini also nullifies the effect of scald as mega Venu cannot be burnt whereas it can hit Tapu Fini for super effective damage with Sludge Bomb or can even Giga Drain to recover up a partial amount of health. Mega venusaur 2 hkos Mega Scizor with HP Fire and the latter can do almost no damage in return. Its recovery option in Synthesis is extremely helpful as it can easily regain 50% of its health thus always managing to stay healthy. Henceforth Mega Venusaur is a solid check to this core.

Calcs:

Hide

0 SpA Venusaur-Mega Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 144 SpD Scizor-Mega: 180-212 (52.4 - 61.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 0 Atk Technician Scizor-Mega Bullet Punch vs. 248 HP / 88 Def Venusaur-Mega: 108-127 (29.7 - 34.9%) -- 13.8% chance to 3HKO

 

[SBPC]

Volcarona @ Firium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Fiery Dance
- Giga Drain


It should come as no secret that volcarona can come in clean on curse scizor and use it as setup fodder, and any switch to tapu fini lets her be cleaned by the likes of a +1 or even +2 Giga Drain. Volcarona beating Mega-Scizor is just common sense, click fiery dance and watch Mega-Scizor burn to ash.

 

[birdkeeperdrew]

This one is a no-brainer, at least to me: Bloom Doom Heatran.

Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Lava Plume
- Solar Beam
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power

Grassium Z Solarbeam dumpsters Tapu Fini with a 75% chance to ohko, and Flash Cannon easily fells it if it lives. Lava Plume obviously is a guaranteed kill on Scizor.

 

[Komodo_Drogo]

Reserving Volcanion

 

[xapx]

Reeserving Victeeni

Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Filler

V-Create and Bolt Strike smash the core. You just have to predict, although you can easily chip Fini down repeatedly with V-Create. You can slash Band with Scarf, depending on what the team needs.

Math for people who care:
V-Create OHKOs Mega Scizor, in case you're wondering where that calc is.
252 Atk Choice Band Victini Bolt Strike vs. 248 HP / 104+ Def Scizor-Mega: 112-132 (32.6 - 38.4%) -- 98.6% chance to 3HKO
252 Atk Choice Band Victini Bolt Strike vs. 248 HP / 16 Def Tapu Fini: 310-366 (90.3 - 106.7%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Victini V-create vs. 248 HP / 16 Def Tapu Fini: 160-189 (46.6 - 55.1%) -- 11.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[wadusher]

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

Lele kind of needs to not have HP Fire in order to be checked by scizor, since it flat out OHKOs with specs or after a Calm Mind, and obviously Lele has a solid matchup vs Fini. It only needs to fear being in front of scizor and having misty terrain or no terrain on the field, as not having psychic terrain vs scizor's bullet punch is a death sentence, while knock off does basically nothing. Though obviously losing specs would hurt if its not Z, so you'd have to play around that.

Wall-o'-Calcs

252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Scizor-Mega: 388-460 (113.1 - 134.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Scizor-Mega in Psychic Terrain: 164-193 (47.8 - 56.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 248 HP / 52+ SpD Tapu Fini in Psychic Terrain: 229-271 (66.7 - 79%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

+1 252 SpA Tapu Lele Shattered Psyche (160 BP) vs. 248 HP / 52+ SpD Tapu Fini: 273-322 (79.5 - 93.8%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252 SpA Tapu Lele Psyshock vs. 248 HP / 16 Def Tapu Fini: 171-202 (49.8 - 58.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Tapu Lele Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Scizor-Mega: 264-312 (66.4 - 79.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+1 252 SpA Tapu Lele Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 144 SpD Scizor-Mega: 340-404 (99.1 - 117.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

0 SpA Tapu Fini Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Lele: 73-87 (25.9 - 30.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

0 Atk Technician Scizor-Mega Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 236-278 (83.9 - 98.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 Atk Scizor-Mega Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 126-149 (44.8 - 53%) -- 30.5% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Scizor-Mega Knock Off vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 85-100 (30.2 - 35.5%) -- 36.1% chance to 3HKO

 

[Failure999]

Oh God all the good things have been stolen, I'mma have to reserve Serperior here by the looks of it.

Why am I here? (Serperior) @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power Fire
- Substitute
- Leech Seed / Glare
OK, this is some desperate pokemon to fall behind, so I'm gonna explain. The idea is to switch this thing into Fini, which can't do much outside of Taunt or Nature's Madness. The latter can just be played around with Substitute and Leaf Storm, while the former just asks you to unleash Leaf Storm. If Mega Scizor switches in, HP Fire it into oblivion. Simple, but barely efficient due to the amount of pokemon normally able to counter Serperior on a team.

Calcs for people who care

252 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 52+ SpD Tapu Fini: 206-246 (60 - 71.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 144 SpD Scizor-Mega: 316-376 (92.1 - 109.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock [Stealth Rocks to replicate the damage done after the chip from Leaf Storm on the switch]

0 SpA Tapu Fini Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Serperior: 42-51 (14.4 - 17.5%) -- possible 9HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Technician Scizor-Mega Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 96-114 (32.9 - 39.1%) -- 8.4% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery [Be careful around this and keep yourself healthy, that's why Substitute is here, to help take damage]

TL;DR: Play smart and safe and you'll be fine destroying this core

 

[Komodo_Drogo]

Volcanion @ Grassium Z
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam

OHKOs Scizor with Flamethrower and ,with rocks,guarantees an OHKO on Tapu fini with Bloom Doom. Comes in on either of them, as besides nature's Madness nothing punishes It for real.

252+ SpA Volcanion Bloom Doom (190 BP) vs. 248 HP / 52+ SpD Tapu Fini: 316-374 (92.1 - 109%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[Steel With It]

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Def
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Haze
- Toxic Spikes
- Recover

Between its resistances, Haze to nullify MZor's boosts and TSpikes to poison Fini before Misty Terrain kicks in, The Pex doesn't give a shit about anything this pair can do bar Taunt (and even then, you can just spike up in front of MZor instead).

 

[Ultra Jiren]

Mawile-Mega @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 92 HP / 252 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fire Fang
- Thunder Punch
- Play Rough
- Sucker Punch

fire fang is something u dont see that often but its usefull vs. things like sciz, kart and mag

 

[Martin]

Idrc about archive I just wanna post these flames bc they btfo the core

Salazzle (F) @ Poisonium Z
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Toxic

Salazzle is able to hit both of these pokemon extremely hard with its STABs, OHKOing Scizor with ease and can KO Tapu Fini from full with the help of a Z move (deals around 60% otherwise). Salazzle is a kinda interesting mon beyond this too; Corrosion means it is the only Pokemon capable of poisoning Heatran and Toxapex, both of which it lures out extremely consistently, and this is very handy for keeping them under pressure in the balance MU. HP Ice is the fourth move of choice for Zygarde and Chomp, but if they aren’t an issue Nasty Plot is an alternative option.

 

[Jho]

Jordy said i could steel magnezone so consider it stolen

Magnezone @ Electrium Z
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon

Pretty simple, Magnezone can come in on both Mega Sciz and Tapu Fini and subs on them both as Knock cant break it and Fini is forced out. Once below 50% magnezone can sub up on Natures Madness without it breaking as well, letting it negate a lot of madness damage it would otherwise take. It can beat both Scizor and Fini whilst keeping a sub up, giving it either another KO or substantial chip on another team member.

calcs

0 Atk Scizor-Mega Knock Off vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Magnezone: 59-70 (20.9 - 24.9%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
252+ SpA Magnezone Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 144 SpD Scizor-Mega: 252-300 (73.4 - 87.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 52+ SpD Tapu Fini: 224-266 (65.3 - 77.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Magnezone Gigavolt Havoc (175 BP) vs. 248 HP / 52+ SpD Tapu Fini: 438-516 (127.6 - 150.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[NylaTheWolf]

Reserving magearna

 

[Jordy]

Last Week's Analysis

Highlights

Threat of the Round:

: Magnezone is always a burden to Mega Scizor cores, usually forcing Mega Scizor to be used extra cautiously, and this core is no exception.

Additional Notes:

: Salazzle is too niche to be archived.

: The move choice on Volcarona was very questionable, therefore, it won't be archived.

: Flash Cannon is very questionable on non-Steelium Z sets, but I will archive it considering Grassium Z was the main focus.

: The given Volcanion set is unviable, so it won't be archived either.

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Round 43 Core: Clefable + Magnezone

Here are your sets

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind / Other Moves
- Soft-Boiled
- Stealth Rock / Other Moves

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

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• Clefable struggles pretty heavily in this meta, mainly because of Mega Mawile's dominance. However, with aggressive doubles, Magnezone can effectively take it out for Clefable. Magnezone is also good at pressuring Celesteela and Mega Scizor, two other massive roadblocks in Clefable's path.
• 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 Clefable + Magnezone. Everyone have a good day!

 

[Meliodafu7]

Landorus-Therian @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Fly
- Stealth Rock / Smack Down / Gravity

Landorus-Therian forces out Magnezone and set up a SD or rocks if you are running it, or if they dare stay in predicting scarf U-turn as they switch out, LandorusT can murder Zone with EQ. +2 SSSS destroys Clefable and some bulky Grass-type used to check Lando. Pretty simple

 

[~erza]

Zygarde @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 228 Atk / 68 SpD / 212 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Thousand Arrows
- Extreme Speed
- Iron Tail

You can easily Dragon Dance in front of Magnezone, and +1 TA into +3 TA will kill Clefable easily, if it tries to Calm Mind on your TA, it's in range +1 Iron Tail.

 

[Ultra Jiren]

Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock
- Earth Power
- Magma Storm

beats both down, i dont think i gotta explain how since its obvious