Project VGC Next Best Thing - Week 8 (won by Helios of sun)

[Giokio]

We're not done yet with new projects!
Welcome to VGC Next best thing, a thread similar to a Teambuilding Competition, but instead of building an entirely new team, it focuses on only one Pokemon per week, as the players are called to provide a creative new set for the Pokemon chosen.
Here is an example by me.
​

Expert Belt Kartana (Series 9)

Kartana @ Expert Belt
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 108 Atk / 4 Def / 140 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade / Swords Dance
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike
- Detect

Despite lacking the bulk of the AV set, Expert Belt Kartana is an amazing attacker capable of dealing OHKO to Clefairy and Togekiss, the major redirectors in the current metagame, without needing to Dynamax.
Leaf Blade can KO even Bulky variants of Tapu Fini and Rotom-W, removing the risk of being hit by Icy Wind or Will-O-Wisp.
Detect is an unexpected move that can keep Kartana safe while its teammates lure checks such as Heat Wave Zapdos. However, losing Aerial Ace and therefore Max Airstream make Kartana less reliable as a Dynamax abuser.
Being frailer also means that Kartana can be easily taken out by bulky special attackers such as Gothitelle and Porygon2 that can tank its hits if not boosted by Beast Boost.
Overall Expert Belt Kartana is a good alternative to the AV set for being able to OHKO the most common redirectors and be a strong clean up in late game.

Who knows, maybe the new metagame staples will come out from your mind? Try it out!

How it works
Every week me and Human choose a suitable Pokemon that can easily run multiple sets.
Participants will submit a set that isn't already present in the Smogon Strategy Pokedex. .
Participants will have from Monday to Friday to create their set while on Saturday and Sunday they will vote the most creative and viable set out of them all.
After a winner is decided, the set will be posted in the Hall Of Fame below and a new Pokemon will be decided.

Useful information​

• Giokio and Human are hosts of this project for any concerns about the project, please DM them.​
• Feel free to be as creative as you want, but remember that your set must be different from others. Sets that rely too much on specific gimmicks are banned as the goal of the project is finding new ways to use a Pokemon's potential, not rely on gimmicks.​
• You can reserve a set, for example:"I reserve ingrain Celesteela", but if you don't fill out your post in 24h your reservation can be taken by someone else.​
• Feel free to post replays of your set and include calcs to show off how it can affect the current metagame.​
• About Voting, Anyone can, even if you haven't submitted a set, but if you did, make sure to not vote for yourself, doing so or persuading people to vote for you will result in a disqualification.​
• Once the voting phase starts it is forbidden to change your set, doing so will result in disqualification.​

Have Fun discovering new strategies!​

 

[Giokio]

HALL OF FAME​

Pokemon & week​	Winner​	Set​
Week 1: ​	Netherious​	Swagger-Boosted Life Orb​
Week 2: ​	skyp1llar & Prinz​	Custap Berry & Ally Switch​
Week 3: ​	Evelyie​	Sub + Glare​
Week 4: ​	NitroKnight68​	Dragon Dance​
Week 5: ​	Microwave Raccoon​	Rocky Helmet​
Week 6: ​	Evelyie​	Bulky Pivot​
Week 7: ​	Evelyie​	Scary Face​

 

[Giokio]

Week one's Pokemon is Tapu Fini!

You have until Friday 07/02/2021 23:59 UTC+2 for submitting you set!
​

banned set

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
- Calm Mind
- Muddy Water
- Moonblast
- Protect

 

[Yourwelcomethanku]

Choice Specs Tapu Fini
Tapu Fini @ Choice Specs
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 84 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 164 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Muddy Water
- Scald
- Trick

Tapu Fini is falling off in the metagame pretty hard Misty Terrain the main reason to use it, just isn't that important rn and Blastoise-gmax is overall better offensively. I think support Tapu Fini sucks and this is the only other decent offensive set I could think of.

Main advantage Choice Specs has over CM is being more immediately threatening as well having Trick for Porygon2 and Iron Defense sweepers like Ferrothorn and Registeel. Tapu Fini is easily revenge killed so you can try and do as much damage as possible before it is KOd. Dragapult and Landorus-T are good teammates for this set able to increase its speed with Max Airstream letting it to get fast attacks off and they benefit from the Misty Terrain and offensive presence of Tapu Fini dealing with some of their checks.

 

[Netherious]

Swagger LO Fini

Tapu Fini @ Life Orb
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 28 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 220 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Waterfall
- Play Rough
- Ice Punch / Giga Impact
- Protect

Physical Tapu Fini is a sight to behold. A true manipulative master of team preview, enabling some free dubs on the various ladders/bo1 events all the while offering a creative approach to offensive physical Water-types in our format. Tapu Fini has a rather small movepool for physical coverage, however it has just enough to be functional within its own right.

Tapu Fini manages to get Play Rough (where Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu do not) and also has decent coverage options in Ice Punch and/or Giga Impact for some max speed control.

28 HP EV's give Tapu Fini a 10n-1 HP stat, minimizing the damage taken from Life Orb. 220 Speed with a Jolly nature outspeeds all max speed Base 80 Pokemon such as Venusaur and Togekiss.

252 Atk allows Tapu Fini to maximize its output while additionally emphasizing on speed.

Physical Tapu Fini's true power comes from partnering with an Ally with Swagger or Coaching. Thanks to Misty Terrain, Swagger will double Tapu Fini's Atk (85% of the time) and enable Tapu Fini to be an offensive anomaly capable of tearing through many compositions that may be unprepared. Tapu Fini also naturally checks/counters common Intimidate pokemon such as Incineroar and Landorus-i which gives it plenty of opportunities to set up.

Alongside a Coaching Pokemon such as Misty Seed Hawlucha, you can offer twofold synergy by activating Hawlucha's Unburden to double its speed and then offer a Coaching that outspeeds some of the fastest Pokemon in the format.

Tapu Fini will ultimately best be paired with Tornadus or Thundurus with Swagger, but can also easily partner with other Pokemon such as Grimmsnarl (Prankster but overlapping Fairy typing), Entei (Inner Focus + check to grass types), and Raichu (Lightningrod + Tickle + potential volt switch/Weakness Policy self-activation).

Tornadus has the added benefit of offering Tailwind, Icy Wind, and a strong STAB in Hurricane which can take advantage turn 2 following a max Geyser.

A final note, Physical Tapu Fini naturally punishes more passive checks to standard Tapu Fini sets such as Amoonguss or Porygon2. Landorus typically max into Tapu Fini and attempt to boost their SpD, of which Fini can take great advantage of by hitting from the Physical end. It is a strong option in Bo1 formats such as IC's and forces your opponent into very difficult decisions with minimal amounts of time.

 

[mayamajig]

Brine + Nature's Madness Tapu Fini

Tapu Fini @ Wacan Berry
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 116 Def / 4 SpA / 100 SpD / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
-Brine
-Nature's Madness
-Icy Wind/Light Screen/Reflect
-Taunt

Our wonderful Guardian of Poni Island has fallen from grace since the rise of offensive teams revolving around Rillaboom and Regieleki. However, this set aims to take advantage of its supportive potential while punishing its more passive checks. Brine may not seem like a great move for Tapu Fini, especially since it has very little special attack investment. However, if the opponent's HP is at or below 50%, it becomes a base 130 water move that is powerful even without much investment and has the boon of keeping Fini from being a sitting duck. Nature's Madness assists in both bringing an opponent down to brine range and also enabling its partners to keep up the offensive pressure. Icy Wind is there for speed control, while Reflect or Light Screen can be helpful for both it and its partners to endure strong attacks. Taunt rounds off the set by stopping the occasional Porygon2 and Amoonguss from doing what they typically do best. Wacan Berry just seemed like a good item pick for a supportive Tapu Fini at the moment, since Regieleki is insanely common in the format. A very good teammate that I had in mind while building this was Alolan Marowak, which has had a surge in usage because of the aforementioned offensive teams. It's got Lightning Rod to mitigate Regieleki's presence on the field and strong fire-type STAB to chunk Rillaboom or some steel-types. Even more than that, with its slower speed tier it can take advantage of the Nature's Madness from Fini to further damage its foes.

 

[Sagdiyev]

Choice Scarf Tapu Fini

Importable

Tapu Fini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Trick
- Ice Beam
- Muddy Water
- Moonblast

Pretty simple set. You surprise and outspeed stuff, or cripple a wall with a funny blue scarf. Muddy Water, Trick and Moonblast are given, and IB hits grasses and flyings like Amoonguss hard and Landorus without having to resort to the damage and accuracy reduced Muddy Water.

 

[Helios of Sun]

Heal Pulse Fini

Tapu Fini @ Aguav Berry / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 4 SpA / 36 SpD / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Heal Pulse
- Protect
- Nature's Madness​

When I saw HBCvgc use Heal Pulse Fini in his set against Rahxen (who I believe was undefeated in NPA at the time playing only Coalossal), I knew how scarily good this mon was at supporting an Iron Defense Pokemon to succeed in an endgame scenario against Rillaboom Urshifu endgames (for example). With Heal Pulse, it is able to allow the Iron Defense Pokemon take a heavy hit, set up Iron Defense, and continue on its rampage against the rest of the enemy team.

Although supporting Iron Defense mons is what it can be primarily used for, other moves are selected in order to allow it to be useful in other scenarios. For example, Nature's Madness is a good all-around support move to deal enough chip to allow your team's other sweepers to gain momentum, Moonblast allows you to deal heavy damage to mons weak to it, particularly both Urshifus and Dragapult.

 

[NitroKnight68]

Assault Vest Fini

Tapu Fini @ Assault Vest
Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Def / 140 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Brine
- Dazzling Gleam
- Icy Wind
- Nature's Madness

This set is able to tank pretty much any hit from its popular threats while also providing support with moves like Nature's Madness and Icy Wind. Even without Protect it does really well at stalling out opposing Dynamax turns and can be really annoying to deal with. Not to mention it can also be a good Dynamax option and take hilariously low amounts of damage from the strongest sweepers in the metagame. Here are some of the threats it can mitigate with its bulk.

Mitigated Threats

Even with 252 SpA Timid Dynamax Regieleki only manages to do about (75.7 - 89.2%) to Fini forcing it to spend another turn attacking into Fini while you can set up a partner or switch in a Ground type mon.


Adamant 252 Atk Miracle Seed Rillaboom also fails to pick up an OHKO on Fini in Grassy Terrain doing only about (82.4 - 98.3%) and since it is min speed Fini Rillaboom often fails to even set up its terrain unless switched in on a later turn.


Most Kartana do not run 252 Atk but this Fini can still tank a Leaf Blade from a 252 Atk Jolly Kartana taking (81.3 - 96%) not allowing it to get a free Beast Boost.


Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Venusaur cannot OHKO a Fini even after the G-Max Vinelash damage which shows just how bulky this set can be.

 

[skyp1llar]

Telepathic Speed Tapu Fini

Tapu Fini @ Adrenaline Orb
Ability: Telepathy
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Scald
- Dazzling Gleam
- Taunt / Icy Wind​

This Tapu Fini set is optimized to both take advantage of defensive setup cores (especially omnipresent ground leads and TR / Support setups) and enable immediate spread offense on the user's side of the field.

Taunt is self explanatory and can catch a lot of the "janky" support-types off guard BUT can be switched out for Icy Wind if you already have a good TR check (which then allows you to outspeed every base 100 under the sun).

Tapu Fini's natural bulk allows it to live almost every singular non-super effective attack (hello giga-impact max strike Regigas) thus 252 HP Ev's are required. Additionally, because we don't have any Misty Terrain-- this set does its best to capitalize on the strength of Scald and assumes you get a burn every once in a while.

We are using Calm so that we can live turn 1 repositioning leads (like non-L.O 252/252 Regieleki with thunderbolt/volt switch, both of which we survive). At 204 Defense EV's, we live a grassy terrain miracle seed adamant 252 grassy glide from Rillaboom which could mess with some of that offensive momentum we would gain into an Incineroar/Rillaboom core (wherein the adrenaline orb has been activated).

There aren't really any offensive benchmarks we can hit with Dazzling Gleam / Scald without massive investment or setup (one of Tapu Fini's biggest problems) so we ignore that and assume that the real reason you're using this set is to get a "pseudo helping-hand" if you will-- by getting a bit of chip damage off with Dazzling Gleam into both pokemon and breaking sashes or taking lum berries and pairing it with something disgustingly fun like Naganadel, Landorus, Xurkitree, Magnezone, and other uncommon but not completely non-viable spread attack users.

With Adrenaline Orb, at +1 with a small investment of 4 EV's into speed this Tapu Fini can speedcheck opposing Landorus-T and potentially get rid of Lum Berry or cripple it entirely with a burn. Alternatively; with 52 Speed EV investment it outspeeds those pesky base 100's after an intimidate or an airstream / icy-wind / whatever.

A core philosophy of this build is that a lot of times momentum can be swung in your direction by simply going for dual offense on turn one. With telepathy Tapu Fini, you may be able to get that extra "chip" necessary to eliminate a Pokemon from the field before they even realize what's happening (or before they realize that that team-sheet does indeed say choice-specs Toxtricity with Boomburst is that even scary? not really but you get what i mean).

After trying my hardest to think "outside the box" and looking at the slew of "support-type" replies I tried to kind of come at this from another angle. It was hard. It seems pretty obvious why calm mind sets are generally most "splashable" for Tapu Fini as optimization is quite difficult.

Thanks for reading! This is fun!

 

[Giokio]

Voting Phase has started! You may vote for only one set different from yours. Feel free to explain why you voted a set over others to encourage discussion.

submissions:
Choice Specs by Yourwelcomethanku
Swagger by Netherious
Brine + Nature’s Madness by mayamajig
Scarf by Sagdiyev
Heal Pulse by Helios of Sun
Assault Vest by NitroKnight68
Adrenaline Orbby skyp1llar

You have until July 2 23:59 UTC+2 to vote!

 

[Yourwelcomethanku]

Swagger LO

 

[zee]

Scarf

 

[skyp1llar]

My vote goes to Swagger by Netherious

I think that in actual games life orb swagger can be surprisingly successful.

When optimized as a surprise lead in games where there are no teamsheets or best of 3 (although it is still respectable in bo3 if properly positioned); and the opponent's Fini's checks/counters are relying on a turn of setup-- setting up their own screen / snarl, expecting a calm mind, taunting, anticipating dynamax-- Fini can quickly snowball out of control.

The addition of Giga Impact through Max Strike as a speed control option to set up your back-line sweepers is the extra je ne sais quoi that makes me like this one. Cool set Netherious !

 

[mayamajig]

Swagger LO Fini is pretty cool in my book

 

[SoulBadguy0408]

Swagger LO Fini. I really like how unique it is, but while also being effective

 

[Evelyie]

My vote goes for Helios of Sun's Heal Pulse set

 

[Giokio]

The winner of week one of VGC Next Best Thing is Netherious with its Life Orb Tapu Fini!
Congratulations!

Series 10 got announced but we won’t shift to restricteds immediately, week two will be in s9 and its protagonist is Bronzong!

You have until Friday 07/10/2021 23:59 UTC+2 for submitting you set!
Since Bronzong is a quite unexplored mon we won’t have any banned sets this week​

 

[lucariomaster2]

Going to try getting involved in this!

I thought long and hard about why anyone would use Bronzong in Series 9. It has some cool options, but all of these options are outclassed. Ground immunity isn't nearly as useful in SwSh formats compared to before (though S10 may change this); It gets Imprison Trick Room, but this is done better by Gothitelle; it gets Gyro Ball, but this is done better by Ferrothorn; and it's all in all outclassed by Dusclops who gets just about everything that Bronzong gets, plus more. However, there is one set that only Bronzong pulls off, and that is setting Trick Room while using Body Press.



Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
- Trick Room
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Protect

Pretty standard stuff, really. Set up Trick Room alongside something like Glastrier, then start stacking Iron Defenses until Body Press starts doing good damage. Bronzong loves Max Quake support to beef up its SDef, which is pretty lackluster otherwise. I went with Leftovers as the item because a set like this will tend to draw games out, and if it's on the field for more than six turns then Leftovers will outheal any Berry.

 

[Yourwelcomethanku]

Imprison Bronzong

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Imprison
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Trick Room

With Imprison Bronzong can seal opposing Trick Room from Porygon2 and other Pokemon while having the ability to handle non Turtonator Iron Defense sweepers.

 

[Prinz]

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spe)
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
- Trick Room
- Iron Defense
- Body Press
- Ally switch

The most standard and effective bronzong set in series 9 imo, Protect can work as well over ally switch of course, but dodging max quakes is cool and after an iron defense you can tank dynamax moves directed to your dynamax mon thanks to ally switch

 

[NitroKnight68]

Rocky Helmet-Bronzong

Bronzong @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 68 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Body Press
- Iron Defense
- Ally Switch
- Trick Room

This is a pretty standard Bronzong set but has Rocky Helmet which is very underrated as an item especially on Trick Room setters that you usually want to Fake Out. It helps break sash on some pesky mons like Urshifu and can also help chip down bulky attackers like Incineroar.

It is EV'd to live Wicked Blow from Urshifu while still being able to take a Fake Out from something like an Incineroar. Ally Switch can be used to make some mons take chip damage with rocky helmet or just to soak up max moves from your sweeper or even avoid taunt.

Bronzong is definitely underutilised and can be pretty good in the meta. Lando-T cannot put a dent on this thing and Bronzong can also help setup your sweeper by using something like a bulldoze(over Ally Switch) while also making its presence felt with Iron Defense+Body Press unlike mons like Dusclops and Porygon2 which are not as impactful once the Trick Room is set.

 

[skyp1llar]

The Devil's Bell

(art by spastman on DeviantArt)

Bronzong @ Custap Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Speed Swap
- Hypnosis
- Body Press
- Trick Room​

Custap Bronzong is something that I experimented with back in Series 1 before I realized that Custap wasn't in the game yet-- and I paired it bulk-up gigantamax Grimmsnarl (hence the name Devil's Bell) because of their near perfect dual synergy. Custap Bronzong can easily be used to enable other sorts of hyper-offense and speed swap is an incredible board-state tool.

This set speaks for itself. You set up Trick Room (or don't) and enable Bronzong with your partner pokemon ( a standard psychic terrain lead or fake out to check taunts works ) and then body press or hypnosis everything under the sun. If you have a fast pokemon that needs to be enabled in TR or the opponent has a fast pokemon that needs to be crippled outside of TR; you can position yourself for a speed swap. Because of Bronzong's natural bulk 67/116/116) Custap actually gets activated more often than not and allows you to go for a priority base 32 bracket speed swap or a priority body press off of 183 defense stat.

Levitate is the obvious ability here and allows you to be protected from the omnipresent ground types all over the format. EV's take advantage of Bronzong's bulkiness and are optimized for survivability and hitting as hard as possible with Body Press.

 

[lucariomaster2]

The Devil's Bell

View attachment 356447
(art by spastman on DeviantArt)

Bronzong @ Custap Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Speed Swap
- Hypnosis
- Body Press
- Trick Room​

Custap Bronzong is something that I experimented with back in Series 1 before I realized that Custap wasn't in the game yet-- and I paired it bulk-up gigantamax Grimmsnarl (hence the name Devil's Bell) because of their near perfect dual synergy. Custap Bronzong can easily be used to enable other sorts of hyper-offense and speed swap is an incredible board-state tool.

This set speaks for itself. You set up Trick Room (or don't) and enable Bronzong with your partner pokemon ( a standard psychic terrain lead or fake out to check taunts works ) and then body press or hypnosis everything under the sun. If you have a fast pokemon that needs to be enabled in TR or the opponenet has a fast pokemon that needs to be crippled outside of TR; you can position yourself for a speed swap. Because of Bronzong's natural bulk 67/116/116) Custap actually gets activated more often than not and allows you to nail go for a priority base 32 bracket speed swap or a priority body press off of 183 defense stat.

Levitate is the obvious ability here and allows you to be protected from the omnipresent ground types all over the format. EV's take advantage of Bronzong's bulkiness and are optimized for survivability and hitting as hard as possible with Body Press.

Ok so I really love this set. Since you mentioned Psychic Terrain would it be worth running Heatproof > Levitate so that Bronzong benefits from it?

 

[skyp1llar]

Ok so I really love this set. Since you mentioned Psychic Terrain would it be worth running Heatproof > Levitate so that Bronzong benefits from it?

Absolutely. Levitate gives you a better M.U against things like Landorus (which you'll often see as turn 1 leads in Series 9) and the ability to fire off EQ's of your own-- but heatproof can be used over levitate if you don't have a fast fake out / something to cripple or eliminate fast and priority taunt on turn 1. This set can also be used mid-game effectively, after you've phazed their mitigation efforts.