Project Victim of the Week 2.0: ZU Edition

[wooper]

btboy (Shiftry) @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Giga Drain
- Heat Wave​

a simple yet effective offensive check to rhydon. shiftry is guaranteed to live an unboosted stone edge even after rocks (assuming you are switching in) or a predicted earthquake and will always ohko back with giga drain. i initially thought this was considered a counter, but realized that counters also factor in "the worst case scenario" minus hax, meaning that shiftry does not qualify since you will be shredded by even a +1 stone edge

16+ Atk Rhydon Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Shiftry: 228-268 (71 - 83.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
16+ Atk Rhydon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Shiftry: 114-134 (35.5 - 41.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Shiftry Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 156 SpD Eviolite Rhydon: 484-567 (116.9 - 136.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Shiftry Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 240 SpD Eviolite Rhydon: 426-504 (102.8 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO (cheeky calc in case they arent running speed)

the standard mixed set with sd or defog/knock/sucker/leaf storm is also viable here, but i like np 3 atks because youre also able to beat mons (read: physdef grass-types) that would otherwise check you, like goss, gourg, and tang

secret set that is bad

Shiftry @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 224 Atk / 32 SpA / 252 Spe
Lonely / Hasty Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Swords Dance / Defog
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Giga Drain
swapping the raw power of leaf storm for the slight recovery you get from giga drain. 32 spatk + LO ohkos max hp 156 spdef evio rhydon after rocks

 

[5Dots]

voting slate is up! Deadline to vote is tomorrow at February 20th at 11:59 GMT-5. Please vote for 2 COUNTERS and 1 CHECK.

	COUNTERS
Defensive Tangela​	Procrastinasian
Physically Defensive Eldegoss​	OranBerryBlissey10
RestTalk Poliwrath​	5Dots
Defensive Gourgeist-Super​	Corthius
RestTalk Wishiwashi​	Dr Ya Yeet

	CHECKS
Nasty Plot Shiftry​	waterbend
Bulk Up Gurdurr​	Marsheaux
Choice Band Thwackey​	Tuthur

 

[Dr Ya Yeet]

me when the
the tang is a check and thwackey is a counter to rhydon


counters - grourgriest ,eldegross
checks - gurdurrrr

 

[5Dots]

Fixed the OP. For next time, it’d be easier to specify whether a Pokemon is a check/counter.

That aside, my votes for counters will be going towards and , and my vote for a check will be Procras’ favorite monke

 

[wooper]

tang goss gurdurr !

 

[Corthius]

Thwackey all the way
tang and poli

 

[Tuthur]

shiftry - tangela - gourg-xl

 

[Marsheaux]

Tangela/Eldegoss, Thwackey

 

[OranBerryBlissey10]

Gourgeist/Poliwrath and Thwackey

 

[5Dots]

COUNTERS​

SET	USER	POKEMON	VOTES
Defensive Tangela	Procrastinasian	​	5​
Defensive Gourgeist-XL	Corthius	(Super)​	4​
Defensive Eldegoss	OranBerryBlissey10	​	3​
RestTalk Poliwrath	5Dots	​	2​
RestTalk Wishiwashi	Dr Ya Yeet	​	0​

CHECKS​

SET	USER	POKEMON	VOTES
Choice Band Thwackey	Tuthur	​	4​
Bulk Up Gurdurr	Marsheaux	​	2​
Nasty Plot Shiftry	waterbend	​	1​

The votes are in! Congratulations to Procrastinasian , Corthius , and Tuthur for winning this week with Tangela, Gourgeist-Super, and Thwackey for their respective counters and checks! Thank you to everyone taking the time to calculate and add submissions. It seems as though we all like Grass-types…All of them winners of this week, and very popular on both the builder and in practice. Surging at the top of the ranks is none other than everyone’s favorite monke…


Thwackey @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Wood Hammer
- U-turn
- Knock Off
That’s right, this week’s victim is none other than Procras’ boy Thwackey! With powerful priority to revenge kill even the fastest of offensive threats, like Cinccino, Manectric, Choice Scarf Sawk, and non-resistant Silvally formes, Thwackey can easily rip open holes early game or clean up the remaining teams with a simple priority move. With excellent utility in Knock Off and U-turn, Thwackey is by no means passive against its checks; in fact, Thwackey’s Grassy Surge benefits its teammates by giving offensive partners the extra bit of longevity! How will you turn up the neat against this menacing monkey? Deadline ends Friday, February 25th, at 11:59 GMT-5!​

 

[Tuthur]

Miltank (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Milk Drink
- Heal Bell / Stealth Rock​

Miltank is a counter to Thwackey. It outspeeds it, is immune to its STAB moves, takes little from U-turn and punishes it with Rocky Helmet, and doesn't mind that much losing its item to Knock Off unlike most other Grass-resists.

 

[Marsheaux]

Silvally-Poison @ Poison Memory
Ability: RKS System
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Multi-Attack
- Defog
- U-Turn
- Surf​

Silvally-Poison is a counter to Thwackey - Multi-Attack kills every time, while this more defensive set twice allows Silvally to come in on Wood Hammer and force Thwackey out, even when ignoring how Silvally benefits from the Grassy Terrain recovery. Silvally doesn't have to worry about losing its item to Knock Off, in any case.

Surf serves to threaten any of Thwackey's Ground or Rock-type friends that it may want to switch to, while Silvally's physical bulk gives opportunities for hazard removal whether on the switch or otherwise - in a last resort, Silvally's speed means that it can pivot safely away from most foes.

Calcs

0 Atk Silvally-Poison Multi-Attack vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Thwackey: 332-392 (118.1 - 139.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Wood Hammer vs. 0 HP / 252 Def Silvally-Poison in Grassy Terrain: 128-151 (38.6 - 45.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain recovery

 

[Corthius]

Rapidash

Rapidash @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Horsepower
- Toxic
- Morning Sun

UtilityDash acts as a great counter when it is at 100% HP. Once knocked, switching into Thwackey with hazards up can be really tough tho. Fire STAB to nuke the monke.

 

[5Dots]

Bouffalant @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 176 HP / 252 Atk / 80 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Head Charge
- Throat Chop
While Bouffalant is now far from the SM ZU star it once was, it is still one of the premier Thwackey COUNTERs. Thanks to its ability Sap Sipper, it doesn’t just blank Thwackey’s STAB move - its Attack gets empowered by it! The best Thwackey can do is to Knock Off its Leftovers - although it usually 3HKOs it, the damage afterwards won’t be much, and at that point, U-turn deals more damage to it, only eeking out a miniscule 7% chance to 4HKO it under Grassy Terrain. In turn, Bouffalant obliterates it with a clean OHKO after Stealth Rock, and still has around 44% chance to KO it without Rocks.

Calcs

252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 176 HP / 0 Def Bouffalant: 136-161 (36.2 - 42.9%) -- 97.3% chance to 3HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Knock Off vs. 176 HP / 0 Def Bouffalant: 91-108 (24.2 - 28.8%) -- possible 5HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery (Itemless)
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey U-turn vs. 176 HP / 0 Def Bouffalant: 98-116 (26.1 - 30.9%) -- 6.8% chance to 4HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Bouffalant Head Charge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Thwackey: 256-303 (91.1 - 107.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Bouffalant Head Charge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Thwackey: 256-303 (91.1 - 107.8%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO

reserving shiinotic

Remember that specs shiinotic is best shiinotic

 

[Mirbro]

Anti-Procras (Tangela) @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Knock Off
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb​

This Pokémon is a COUNTER to Thwackey. Its typing is great against Thwackey which can only do a U-turn to hit super-effectively Tangela. Moreover, Tangela needs first to have its item (Eviolite) removed before taking big damage from Thackey after U-turn. Tangela can take this damage and then recover it with Regenerator, Giga Drain and maybe Synthesis. On the other hand, Tangela can threat Thwackey with Knock Off, getting rid of Choice Band, and mainly with Sludge Bomb which is a 2HKO. Thus, Thwackey really needs something else to break through Tangela: entry hazards (like Stealth Rock and a couple of Spikes layers) and Eviolite removed. In this case, Tangela will be very low in HP after Thwackey leaves the field, and Regenerator will not be enough if Thackeys comes in quickly. In conclusion, Tangela can stop Thackey but, if played correctly, it can be highly pressured.

Calcs

Thackey vs Tangela

252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey U-turn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Tangela: 84-100 (25.2 - 30%) -- 0.2% chance to 4HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Tangela: 57-68 (17.1 - 20.4%) -- possible 7HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey U-turn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Tangela: 124-146 (37.2 - 43.8%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery


Tangela vs Thwackey

0 SpA Tangela Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Thwackey: 194-230 (69 - 81.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

 

[Dr Ya Yeet]

cotton fluff ball owo *clicks outrage (Altaria) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Hurricane
- Roost
- Toxic
COUNTER
quad resists main stab,doesnt care about wood hammer either,u turn bounces off,roost for infinite longevity,only bad thing is knock but alt is a decent fogger so rocks shouldnt be that hard to keep off hopefully

 

[BT89]

reserving rotom-s

 

[wooper]

Skuntank @ Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 20 HP / 236 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
- Dark Pulse
- Corrosive Gas / Taunt / Fire Blast​

np skunk is an offensive counter to band procras thwackey. wood hammer is an extremely scary 2hko, even after black sludge + gterrain recovery, and even resisted grassy glides and neutral non-stab uturns deal big damage, but skunk will always ohko with sludge bomb + is faster, even with a modest nature. 20 hp is just to hit a lefties number, rest is fairly standard imo!

236 SpA Skuntank Sludge Bomb vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Thwackey: 294-348 (104.6 - 123.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Wood Hammer vs. 20 HP / 0 Def Skuntank in Grassy Terrain: 217-256 (61.6 - 72.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Grassy Glide vs. 20 HP / 0 Def Skuntank in Grassy Terrain: 127-150 (36 - 42.6%) -- 2.1% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey U-turn vs. 20 HP / 0 Def Skuntank: 130-154 (36.9 - 43.7%) -- 14.1% chance to 3HKO after Black Sludge recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery

 

[OranBerryBlissey10]

reserving shiinotic

 

[Procrastinasian]

Reserving the procras anti-procras guy


Tangela @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Sleep Powder
- Knock Off
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb

bruh

 

[wooper]

Rapidash

reserving rotom-s

reserving shiinotic

get those submissions in!

 

[risin_glory]

Shiinotic
Ability: Effect Spore
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Strength Sap
- Spore
- Moonblast
- Giga Drain

Thwack counter
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Shiinotic in Grassy Terrain: 130-153 (40.1 - 47.2%) -- 96% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery
0 SpA Shiinotic Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Thwackey: 141-166 (50.1 - 59%) -- 78.1% chance to 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

ssap+mblast brrr

sry obb, post spontaneously next time :|

 

[wooper]

funnily enough, we didnt get a single submission for a check, but it looks like our funny monkey has lots of counters though!

COUNTERS​

USER​	POKEMON​	SET​
Tuthur​		nascar miltank​
Marsheaux​		defensive poisonvally​
Corthius​		utility rapidash​
5Dots​		sub sd bouffalant​
Mirbro​		physdef tangela​
Dr Ya Yeet​		physdef altaria​
waterbend​		np skuntank​
risin_glory​		physdef shiinotic​

pick two of your favorites! voting will end tomorrow sunday feb 27th (happy pokemon day ) monday sundayr feb 28th at 11:59 pm gmt -5. im voting for and . thanks for all the submissions, and good luck!

 

[5Dots]

and

 

[risin_glory]

miltank and skuntank