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Honestly, it took me a good while for me to come up with this thing. Skarmory as a counter.
So, long story short. Skarmory can come in as a free or hard switch; it doesn't really matters. Its amazing defense and typing completely shutdowns both of its STABs and its only coverage move, as they all do like 0 to it.
Once in, you can proceed in a couple of ways which differ from how desperate you are to take it out. Firstly, as their first move might be too keep dancing in order to increase their changes of breaking Skarm, you can just phase it out with Whirlwind. However, at that same point, if you predict an attack instead, you'd go with a Roost, but I don't know if this is really a recommended option to take at all. Lastly, the last two options are related to what to do if you can predict a switch out, which are either doubling yourself or just setting up Spikes in order to pressure further Exca switch ins. If you ask me, though, I'd recommend to always set up Spikes, the pressure is always appreciated.
+2 252 Atk Life Orb Excadrill Rock Slide vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 125-147 (37.5 - 44.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 Atk Life Orb Excadrill Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 99-117 (29.7 - 35.1%) -- 19.5% chance to 3HKO
Another week, another victim. I'll pick the winners when I have the time. This time around, we're looking at a wallbreaker that is almost never used in OU - Nidoking.
Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Substitute / Fire Blast / Thunderbolt
Nidoking's access to Sheer Force and great movepool allows it to threaten common Pokemon in OU such as Heatran, Toxapex, Tapu Bulu and Clefable. Ice Beam allows Nidoking to hit Gliscor, Landorus and Zygarde while Substitute allows Nidoking to ease prediction and force switches. Alternatively, it can run Fire Blast to 2HKO Celesteela or Thunderbolt to lure Mantine. How do you check or counter this Pokemon in OU?
Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Heal Bell / Toxic
- Seismic Toss
- Soft-Boiled
We all know what this blob does, and we all know king cant break this for good. Its impressive spd bulk allows it to eat every hit king can throw at it even if shes considerably weakened ( sludge wave does 21 max, so even at 45 u still come in and softboiled 100% of the time on king) and can use him to get rocks up, toxic predicting a switch, heal bell for teamates or just kill it with multiple seismic tosses.
Tapu Lele @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Focus Blast
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
(Any Tapu Lele set works here, so I am just posting my favorite one.)
Tapu Lele can not switch in, but it can revenge kill Nidoking easily as it outspeeds and OHKOs with Psyshock.
Lucy (Medicham-Mega) (F) @ Medichamite
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fake Out
- High Jump Kick
- Zen Headbutt
- Ice Punch
Medi can either hard switch into an attack to force it out, which isn't recommended at all unless you're really desperate, or can be brought as a revenge killer. Either way, it works and hence why I decided to go with it.
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Medicham-Mega: 227-269 (86.9 - 103%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO (This is why I'm against hard switches)
252 Atk Pure Power Medicham-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoking: 542-638 (178.8 - 210.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 40 Def / 220 SpD
Calm Nature
- Roost
- Scald
- Defog
- Toxic / Haze
Mantine can come in and take not much from all nidoking Attacks except the rare Thunderbolt while also threatining it with scald
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 208+ SpD Mantine: 117-138 (31.3 - 36.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 208+ SpD Mantine: 291-348 (78 - 93.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Mantine Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 182-216 (60 - 71.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Knock Off
Ferrothorn is an annoyance to any set lacking Flamethrower or Fire Blast. It is able to effectively be 4HKO'd by Earth Power with Leech Seed + Leftovers recovery. Knock Off also poses a large threat to Nidoking as its able to remove its Life Orb, further rendering Nidoking as spike fodder. If you want to play the more aggresive route, Power Whip does a large amount of damage to Nido [as shown below]
Code:
With Life Orb:
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 126-149 (35.7 - 42.3%) -- 94.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 84-100 (23.8 - 28.4%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
Without Life Orb:
252 SpA Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 97-115 (27.5 - 32.6%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
252 SpA Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 65-77 (18.4 - 21.8%) -- possibly the worst move ever
power whip:
0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoking: 153-180 (50.4 - 59.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leech Seed damage
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 153-181 (36 - 42.5%) -- 93% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Gastrodon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoking: 230-272 (75.9 - 89.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Gastrodon Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 204-242 (67.3 - 79.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
The Don doesn't care about the King at all. Beefy special defense and super effective coverage mean Nidoking can't really touch Gastrodon, who can switch in and heal up consistently.
Mega alakazam is able to hit nidoking and kill it with psychic, however mega alazakam can't switch into nidoking and it will die from a attack from it.
252 SpA Alakazam-Mega Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 464-548 (153.1 - 180.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Alakazam-Mega Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 138-163 (45.5 - 53.7%) -- 42.6% chance to 2HKO
Mega alakazam is able to hit nidoking and kill it with psychic, however mega alazakam can't switch into nidoking and it will die from a attack from it.
252 SpA Alakazam-Mega Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 464-548 (153.1 - 180.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Alakazam-Mega Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 138-163 (45.5 - 53.7%) -- 42.6% chance to 2HKO
Hasty Mega Latios can take both Ice Beam and Sludge Wave from Nidoking at full health even after Rocks damage and can switch into a predicted Earth Power or Flamethrower. Latios naturally outspeeds Nidoking and forces it out with the threat of Psychic or Draco Meteor if you're running it; Latios can also use this momentum to Roost up so that it finds more opportunities to switch into Nidoking later on in the match, therefore making it a great Nidoking answer.
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Latios-Mega: 169-200 (56.1 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Latios-Mega: 213-252 (70.7 - 83.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Latios-Mega Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 434-512 (143.2 - 168.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Latios-Mega Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Nidoking: 313-369 (103.3 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 48 Def / 208 SpD
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Knock Off
Ferrothorn is an annoyance to any set lacking Flamethrower or Fire Blast. It is able to effectively be 4HKO'd by Earth Power with Leech Seed + Leftovers recovery. Knock Off also poses a large threat to Nidoking as its able to remove its Life Orb, further rendering Nidoking as spike fodder. If you want to play the more aggresive route, Power Whip does a large amount of damage to Nido [as shown below]
Code:
With Life Orb:
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 126-149 (35.7 - 42.3%) -- 94.2% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 84-100 (23.8 - 28.4%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
Without Life Orb:
252 SpA Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 97-115 (27.5 - 32.6%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery and Leech Seed recovery
252 SpA Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 208+ SpD Ferrothorn: 65-77 (18.4 - 21.8%) -- possibly the worst move ever
power whip:
0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Nidoking: 153-180 (50.4 - 59.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leech Seed damage
This loses to any fire move variant, which is actually the most common last move on Nidoking. Otherwise, it is an ok check, but still I would not bank on this as counterplay, personally.
---
Suppose this is a decent enough check -- would be a counter if it took a bit less on the switch-in, but let's not bank fully on it as a counter because of that.
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 176 HP / 80 Def / 252 Spe or 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog / Stealth Rock
- Will-O-Wisp / Ice Beam
- Earth Power / Ice Beam
- Soft-Boiled
The big thing is you outspeed it and then Soft-Boiled + Leftovers negates all of the damage and you are able to 2HKO it offensively, allowing Mew to be a decent switch-in to Nidoking on balanced. If you run a slower Mew, then you should not use it for this purpose, of course. However, faster Mew is best right now and that is the spread I am showing, so yea.
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 176 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 199-234 (51.6 - 60.7%) -- 92.2% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 199-234 (49.3 - 58%) -- 58.2% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Mew Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Nidoking: 164-194 (54.1 - 64%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (Earth Power does the exact same)
Everyone knows what Reuniclus does by now; it comes in on bulky Pokemon such as Toxapex, Ferrothorn and Celesteela and sets up in their face. Psyshock allows Reuniclus to beat opposing Calm Mind users such as Clefable and Suicune. Shadow Ball allows Reuniclus to not be useless against Mega Sableye while Focus Blast allows it to hit Tyranitar.
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Tyranitar can not switch in to Focus Blast variants, but it can outspeed and OHKO with Crunch or Pursuit trap it. Tyranitar counters Shadow Ball variants.
Hoopa-Unbound @ Choice Band
Ability: Magician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Hyperspace Fury
- Zen Headbutt
- Drain Punch
- Fire Punch
Hoopa-U is able to stomach any attack that Reuni throws at it, with the exception of some wack Signal Beam shit, but that dosen't matter here since it's specifically Shadow Ball/Focus Blast w/ Leftovers Reuni, and it's able to OHKO it with a Choice Band Hyperspace Fury.
252 Atk Choice Band Hoopa-Unbound Hyperspace Fury vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus: 516-608 (121.6 - 143.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Pursuit
- U-turn
- Bullet Punch
- Roost
If your team doesn't need defog / you have it on another member, pursuit can work nicely. In this case, Reuniclus can not significantly damage Mega Scizor at all, their best bet is +1 Focus Blast and it usually doesn't even 2HKO. In return, Mega Scizor scares Reuniclus out as they can not afford to stay in incase you are SD as +2 U-Turn / Knock Off sends them flying, so you can fairly safely click Pursuit and chunk 55% off the Reuniclus, making it nearly impossible for them to setup again.
+1 0 SpA Reuniclus Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Scizor-Mega: 155-183 (45.1 - 53.3%) -- 35.5% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Scizor-Mega Pursuit vs. 252 HP / 212+ Def Reuniclus: 222-262 (52.3 - 61.7%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (taking into account technician and doubled power)
Dammit, changing to life orb kyurem black
Better Firium Z Heatran as a check
Heatran @ Firium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Toxic
- Taunt
Shooting immediatly its Z move will do heavy damage to Reuniclus, forcing it to use Recover, unless it wants to be finished the next turn.
This will give you a chance to neutralize it with Taunt
252 SpA Heatran Magma Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Reuniclus: 187-222 (44.1 - 52.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Heatran Inferno Overdrive (180 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Reuniclus: 337-397 (79.4 - 93.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Reuniclus Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Heatran: 198-234 (61.3 - 72.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
CB KOff OHKOs Reun more than 50% of the time assuming its Leftovers is still intact, and if Reun's taken a little prior damage ~20%) then it is KOed by a boosted Pursuit. Bonus of using KOff is that there isn't really much that appreciates switching into a KOff from CB Weavile, so it often isn't even really a 50:50 between KOff and Pursuit early game.