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Underused Pokemon Matchmaking Phase 2 [Week 29 - Nasty Plot Infernape]
- Thread starter nv
- Start date
Dr Ciel
Banned deucer.
Reserving Crobat
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Crobat @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 48 Def / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog / Taunt
- Roost
Swampert and Crobat make an excellent core for balanced teams as the synergy between the two are absolutely fantastic. Swampert easily handles Electric and Rock types with its Ground STAB. Meanwhile, Crobat handles Grass types and Fighting types with Guts, such as Heracross and Machamp while also utilizing U-Turn to pivot into Swampert against common Electric and Rock types.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Crobat @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 248 HP / 48 Def / 212 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog / Taunt
- Roost
Swampert and Crobat make an excellent core for balanced teams as the synergy between the two are absolutely fantastic. Swampert easily handles Electric and Rock types with its Ground STAB. Meanwhile, Crobat handles Grass types and Fighting types with Guts, such as Heracross and Machamp while also utilizing U-Turn to pivot into Swampert against common Electric and Rock types.
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Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Zapdos @ Magnet
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Zapdos @ Magnet
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost
Swampert + Zapdos is a cool core I found when I first started playing with Zapdos since Zapdos walls the Grass + Water Types that threaten Pert while Pert walls the Ice, Electric, and Rock types that put the hurt on Zapdos. Zapdos can also reliably pivot into Pert in bad situations thanks to Volt Switch, as well as clear hazards, hazards that Swampert can reliably put back up.
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Aquadext beat you to it Cyndebae, but pick another mon! :)
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA
Rash Nature
- Sludge Bomb
- Leaf Storm
- Knock Off
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Tangrowth and Swampert works pretty well together. Tangrowth can take hit from a lot of special attacker due to the Assault Vest, and then saving Swampert from something like Gras Knot Heliolisk, special attacker Mence & cie. While Swampert help Tangrowth to deal with the fire-type who pressure a lot Tangrowth, such as Entei, Chandelure (if choice locked, you just have to scout the move first, and then go on Tangrowth or Swampert) Swampert also help Tangrowth to deal with MAerodactyl. This is a pretty cool Balanced core and it's pretty easy to put in on a team.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Toxic
Machamp @ Assault Vest
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dynamic Punch
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Bullet Punch
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Toxic
Machamp @ Assault Vest
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dynamic Punch
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Bullet Punch
Swampert is a difficult mon to use, only in that Mega Swampert has the ability to do much of what Standard Swampert does.
However, with most MegaPert's running RD Offensive, Swampert has the small niche of a defensive role, and with access to reliable recovery, still holds its place as a defensive staple in the metagame, holding its own against the plethora of Bulky Waters that dominate the tier.
Machamp on the other hand, has little contestant from other pokemons, as its niche as a supportive fighting type is nearly unmatched. DynamicPunch allows RNGeesus to take the wheel, potentially turning a decisive victory into a far more even match. However, Machamp has a plethora of other great moves, in Knock Off to contest Reuinclus as well as removing the items to common switch-ins such as Crobat and bulky Ground types. Bullet Punch is used to hit the newly dropped and fairly powerful Gardevoir, as after rocks it is a 2HKO, and with AV on, an opposing Moonblast is as well. Pair these two with something like a Darmanitan or Chandelure and you have a fearful threesome
Reserving Infernape.
So these two are some scary mons to be working together. Aside from being able to get free turns off things trying to status, they just work incredibly well together in that they can just eliminate each other's checks and weaknesses. I could've gone with mixed Swampert, but the idea was to force switches and use Rocks to clear the way for things like Ape to step in and do some massive damage at +2. On the flip side, Swampert serves as a soft check for things that can't break it, like Crobat which loves to switch in on Infernape.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Stealth Rock
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spa / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Vacuum Wave
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Stealth Rock
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Spa / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot
- Vacuum Wave
So these two are some scary mons to be working together. Aside from being able to get free turns off things trying to status, they just work incredibly well together in that they can just eliminate each other's checks and weaknesses. I could've gone with mixed Swampert, but the idea was to force switches and use Rocks to clear the way for things like Ape to step in and do some massive damage at +2. On the flip side, Swampert serves as a soft check for things that can't break it, like Crobat which loves to switch in on Infernape.
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Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Abomasnow @ Abomasite
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 8 HP / 68 Atk / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
Mild Nature
- Blizzard
- Wood Hammer
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Abomasnow @ Abomasite
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 8 HP / 68 Atk / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
Mild Nature
- Blizzard
- Wood Hammer
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
Pretty standard stuff but these two have some nice synergy together (they're even striking the same pose!). Using non-mega pert lets you use the upgraded version of the xmas tree. Swampert offers a great deal of support to Abomasnow and is in some ways its perfect partner in crime. Although M-Abomasnow has some nice bulk, its common weaknesses to Rock, Fire, Steel etc compromise it somewhat. Swampert covers a good number of these, coming in on threatening stuff like Entei and scaring them out. Pert also provides the invaluable rocks for Aboma that further stack with hail damage to bring many things into the range of Ice Shard KO.
Swampert provides good defensive support for Aboma, and in reverse Aboma can occasionally switch in on Grass-types such as Shaymin to save Swampert from eating a 4 timeser. However this is somewhat limited by the fact that many Grass types carry super-effective attacks such as Sludge Bomb, Drain Punch or U-turn. If it does come in on a resisted hit, however, Aboma can easily scare out opposing Grass-types with the threat of a powerful Blizzard or Ice Shard. Additionally, Aboma can come in on annoying Scalds that Pert dislikes, and scare out the opposing Waters with its Grass STAB.
Worth noting some weaknesses with the combo - both are fat and slow as shit, so T wave support helps; neither has particularly reliable recovery, so if you wanna go with a more balance team then Wish / hazard removal support is always nice; and although AbomaPert provides an Electric resistance / immunity respectively, it is not always reliable because the tier's premier Electric-type (Zapdos) often carries 4x super-effective attacks for both Swampert and Abomasnow on its offensive sets. Nevertheless, these two can work very well together, and if you're not running MegaPert, Aboma is a worthwhile replacement.
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Swampert and Sableye
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Knock Off
- Taunt
Hey guys, got a cool little core here with Swampert and a new UU addition, Sableye. Swampert is a reliable Stealth Rocks setter that can switch into Fire-types like Entei and Darmanitan with ease (which Sableye has trouble with because it can't burn them). Sableye can also compliment Swampert by controlling the hazard game by switching into Rapid Spinners and having the ability to taunt faster defoggers such as Crobat and Swampert. It can also switch into ~some Special Attacks aimed at Swampert (its bulk even max invested is really not the best). But anyway, this duo can really be a nice backbone for keeping hazards up at all times.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Scald
- Roar
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Knock Off
- Taunt
Hey guys, got a cool little core here with Swampert and a new UU addition, Sableye. Swampert is a reliable Stealth Rocks setter that can switch into Fire-types like Entei and Darmanitan with ease (which Sableye has trouble with because it can't burn them). Sableye can also compliment Swampert by controlling the hazard game by switching into Rapid Spinners and having the ability to taunt faster defoggers such as Crobat and Swampert. It can also switch into ~some Special Attacks aimed at Swampert (its bulk even max invested is really not the best). But anyway, this duo can really be a nice backbone for keeping hazards up at all times.
Legacy Raider
Legacy Raider
Nightingale
And with all but 2 votes, Legacy Raider wins this week! Congratulations :)
Now like I said last week, this week is going to tie into Swampert because this week is...
Now while Swampert and its Mega may share some similar partners, I feel like they both had good enough niches to warrant separate weeks. So as such have fun and due to Christmas being on Friday, I will update this on Thursday i.e. Christmas Eve. Have fun and see you guys then! :)
Now like I said last week, this week is going to tie into Swampert because this week is...
Now while Swampert and its Mega may share some similar partners, I feel like they both had good enough niches to warrant separate weeks. So as such have fun and due to Christmas being on Friday, I will update this on Thursday i.e. Christmas Eve. Have fun and see you guys then! :)
Dr Ciel
Banned deucer.
Tornadus because I'm a ninja.
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch / Power Up Punch
Tornadus @ Damp Rock
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Rain Dance
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Hurricane
Mega Swampert + Tornadus is a fantastic core for offensive Rain teams, mainly because of Tornadus's Prankster Rain Dance. Mega Swampert can set up its own rain while beating down the Ice, Rock, and Electric types that Tornadus is threatened by. In return, Tornadus can set up rain that lasts for 8 turns (thanks to Damp Rock) and provide a nice U-Turn to Swampert against Ice, Rock, and Electric types while also defeating Grass types with a STAB Hurricane.
Swampert @ Swampertite
Ability: Damp
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rain Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch / Power Up Punch
Tornadus @ Damp Rock
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Rain Dance
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Hurricane
Mega Swampert + Tornadus is a fantastic core for offensive Rain teams, mainly because of Tornadus's Prankster Rain Dance. Mega Swampert can set up its own rain while beating down the Ice, Rock, and Electric types that Tornadus is threatened by. In return, Tornadus can set up rain that lasts for 8 turns (thanks to Damp Rock) and provide a nice U-Turn to Swampert against Ice, Rock, and Electric types while also defeating Grass types with a STAB Hurricane.
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