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Underused Pokemon Matchmaking Phase 2 [Week 29 - Nasty Plot Infernape]

With 4 votes (such a small voting pool this time lol) Dr Ciel is this week's winner!

This week, I decided to go with a mon I featured in my most recent RMT (see here) and that is...

toxicroak.gif


Frogger has had its ups and downs with the height of its popularity being Gen 5 OU due to permaweather. Gen 6 brought a dampening to permaweather, which allowed this guy to drop to UU where he has found a home with three very unique sets. Have fun guys and see you all Friday! :)

P.S. I need a new banner as the current one has been deleted and / or removed so if anyone is willing feel free!!! :P
 
toxicroak.gif
houndoom-mega.gif


You Should've (Houndoom-Mega) (M) @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Protect

Copyrighted (Toxicroak) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch

I'd like to first and foremost thank NV for saving me the work of having to make the sets on PS before copy / pasting here. Anyhow this is an offensive core that's been on the rise as of late, as they both work extremely well together. They are both extremely threatening setup sweepers that not only weaken or remove many checks and counters to each other, but they also provide some decent defensive synergy virtue of their abilities and typing, for instance, Toxicroak is able to take the Water-type attacks aimed at Houndoom while Houndoom is able to take the Fire-type attacks aimed at Toxicroak. An example of their offensive synergy however, is that Cresselia and Doublade, two checks or counters to Toxicroak, are easily weakened / removed by Mega Houndoom, while Blissey and Feraligatr, two checks or counters to Mega Houndoom, are easily dealt with thanks to Toxicroak. Overall a pretty solid core that I 100% did not take from NV :)
 
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Reserving Krook because oh my lord the synergy.
toxicroak.gif
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Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch

Krookodile @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

What does Toxicroak dislike? Well, a lot. Get ready for sprites
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Cresselia,
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Reuniclus,
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Crobat,
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Salamence,
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Doublade,
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Arcanine,
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Gligar,
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Nidoqueen,
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Mamoswine,
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Entei,
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Shaymin and Krookodile. All of these threats take a hit or two, and can hit back to tear through Toxicroak's paper thin defenses.

Almost all of these (minus Shaymin, opposing Krook, and perhaps Crobat if you have the kind of luck I get with Stone Edge misses) can be destroyed by CB Krookodile, with amazing STAB, a godly ability in Intimidate to give cushioning against physical threats, and the best Pursuit trapping arguably in the game. Likewise, Krookodile still has recurring nightmares of the old King of UU,
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CroCune, as well as
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Gatr,
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Sharpedo,
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Florges,
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Hydreigon,
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Chesnaught, and
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Whimsicott, all of which are either Set-up fodder or simply food for Toxicroak, who adores bulky Water opponents, and whose Poison and Fighting Typing allows it to take down Grass Types and Dark Types that usually take on those Bulky Waters.

The ability for Krook to Pursuit Trap hard threats keeps pressure on your opponent, and Toxicroak's Sucker Punch gives extreme priority that defies Speed so fast threats don't matter covers all archetypes from Hyper Offense to Stall, but mostly takes on the defining Bulky Offensive that reigns in UU currently.

However, be wary of Krook's HP, as Band means that he'll be switching in and out, and without a dedicated cleric, has no way to keep at the HP required to check as many threats as it does. Toxicroak may have reliable recovery in Drain Punch, but puts itself on thin ice in order to, as if it doesn't KO, Toxicroak has a high probability to die. Consider Wish-Passers like
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Florges, or
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Shaymin's Healing Wish to keep these two healthy and wallbreaking. Choice Scarf
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Kyurem is also a nice cleaner, as Ice Typing is an offensive godsend, and the weakness to Steel is laughable with Croak and Krook on the team.
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Mega Bee is another great addition who has amazing turning ability, which pulls into Krook who can then pursuit trap, or into Croak to Set-up and begin destroying.

I absolutely love this core, and constantly fall into it when beginning a teambuild. It's just incredibly strong. Seriously, play with it and have fun.
 
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Toxicroak and Hydreigon

toxicroak.gif

Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch
hydreigon.gif

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- U-turn

This core is another simple one. Toxicroak is walled by Doublade and the influx of Physic-Types in the metagame, like Cresselia and Reuniclus. This is why Hydreigon makes the perfect partner, being able to just obliterate Toxicroak's counters with a STAB Choice Specs Dark Pulse. A Scarf set could work to help get rid of Toxicroaks's offensive checks, such as Salamence or Crobat, but Specs can really pack a punch against anything if some of the more passive counters think they can live. But yeah, here's a Toxicroak match :]
 
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Reserving Moltres.

toxicroak.gif

Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch

moltres.gif

Moltres @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Hurricane
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost

Moltres is a pretty interesting partner for Toxicroak. Croak has troubles with Doublade and Ground types like Swampert, Gligar, Nidoqueen, and Krookodile. Moltres can KO Doublade & Nidoqueen with its STAB moves while crippling (Mega) Swampert, Gligar, and Krookodile with a well-timed Will-O-Wisp. In return, Toxicroak sets up on the speciallly bulky Pokemon that Moltres hates, such as Snorlax, Blissey, and Porygon2, while also setting up on Water type Pokemon that Moltres loathes.
 
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toxicroak.gif
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Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Swords Dance

Nidoqueen @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 180 HP / 252 SpA / 76 Spe
Modest Nature
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave / Toxic Spikes
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock

Nidoqueen makes a nice Poison-Spam team with Toxicroak and it helps it break past things like Doublade and possibly heavily pressure Ground-types with Ice Beam is ran. It also helps break down their checks easier with Stealth Rocks and possibly Toxic Spikes.
 
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And with that, Kreme is the winner this week!!! (is this week my core's week or something?)

This week is another Mega week! 25 weeks of Matchmaking who would've thought we made it this far and we still have a long ways to go! :) Anyways, this week's Mega is one that is commonly seen on offense because it is frail, but hits harder than a semi. I am talking about...

beedrill-mega.gif


This bug is a known nuisance due to its powerful U-turn and its ability to be faster than most. Good luck you guys; you have until Friday! :)
 
Rotom-Mow and Mega Beedrill

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+
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Mega Beedrill and Rotom-Mow make up one of the most premier volt turn cores in the tier as of right now. And for good reason too. These two excell at wearing down the opposition due to their ability to force switches. Mega Beedrill lures out the bulky grounds / waters which Rotom-Mow can easily dispatch. Likewise Rotom-Mow forces teams without ground types to switch into its special wall (or just anything that could potentially eat a leaf storm / tbolt and most of the mons that could be sent in dont appreciate beedrill being around) which gives Beedrill the opportunity to punish them. They often force teams into a cycle of switching which leaves room for set up sweepers to finish the opposition off.

Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Protect
- Poison Jab
- Knock Off / Drill Run

Rotom-Mow @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Leaf Storm
- Trick
 
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Reserving Empoleon.

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Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Protect
- Poison Jab
- Knock Off

empoleon.gif

Empoleon @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Spe
Modest Nature
- Defog
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot

Offensive Empoleon makes a fine partner for Mega Beedrill mainly by removing hazards with Defog & dealing with Bulky Steel types such as Mega Aggron, Doublade, and Forretress & common Physical walls such as Gligar. In return, Beedrill can provide pivotal U-Turn support, which allows it to switch to Empoleon on its threats, most notably Crobat, allowing Empoleon to take it out & help Beedill clean late game.
 
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