Project Victim of the Week 2.0: ZU Edition

[missangelic]

Reserving Clefairy

Clefairy @ Eviolite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Soft-Boiled
- Moonblast
- Mystical Fire / Knock Off / Stealth Rock
- Calm Mind

Nominating CM Clefairy as a defensive counter.
Calm Mind Clefairy is able to take advantage of Articuno and use it as setup fodder. Calm Mind Clefairy, unlike Calm Mind Alcremie, can consistently check Articuno throughout a battle. Thanks to Magic Guard, Clefairy can absorb Toxic for its team and potentially even protect it from a stray freeze. That small interaction aside, even though Alcremie could run Aromatherapy or Rest, it is at more of the PP mercy of Articuno. Clefairy's ability to maintain momentum with Stealth Rock and Knock Off can be more valuable to some teams that are looking for a more synergistic partner.
Clefairy is not 2HKO'd by any of Articuno's moves, and though it does not threaten to OHKO or even 2HKO back, +6 Moonblast is biased to 2HKO for your 1v1 endgames. Less can be said about other defensive measures against Articuno, such as Miltank, as many are vulnerable to Toxic while Articuno's Pressure + Heal Bell is guaranteed to outstall the PP on Toxic.
Here, having Mystical Fire with Moonblast helps to run Articuno out of Roost PP and makes it less threatening versus the rest of Clefairy's team in longer games. +6 Mystical Fire is also a much more likely 2HKO on Articuno than Moonblast. However, Knock Off or Stealth Rock can help Clefairy's team obtain more chip damage if your Articuno matchup is managed by other members.

Calcs

+6 0 SpA Clefairy Mystical Fire vs. 248 HP / 164+ SpD Articuno: 188-222 (49 - 57.9%) -- 96.1% chance to 2HKO

+6 0 SpA Clefairy Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 164+ SpD Articuno: 178-210 (46.4 - 54.8%) -- 61.3% chance to 2HKO

0 Atk Articuno Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Clefairy: 135-159 (39.2 - 46.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

0 SpA Articuno Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Clefairy: 46-55 (13.3 - 15.9%) -- possible 7HKO

 

[risin_glory]

reserving cinccino
(ma boy rose ;_;)


Silvally-Rock @ Rock Memory
Ability: RKS System
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Multi-Attack
- Flamethrower
- Surf
- U-turn

Counter
0 Atk Articuno Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Silvally-Rock: 59-69 (17.8 - 20.8%)
0 Atk Articuno U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Silvally-Rock: 46-55 (13.8 - 16.6%)
0- SpA Articuno Freeze-Dry vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Silvally-Rock: 67-81 (20.2 - 24.4%)

4 Atk Silvally-Rock Multi-Attack vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 496-588 (129.5 - 153.5%)

 

[PowerOfMemes]

Solrock @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Morning Sun
- Will-O-Wisp
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Slide/Stone Edge

Even though Solrock is an odd choice for a physically defensive 'mon, it has something Rhydon doesn't-recovery and Will-O-Wisp. This makes Solrock a nice bulky 'mon that can last longer than Rhydon can and also help out its teammates with tanking hits with Will-O. Stealth Rock is obviously for chipping down your opponents. Rock Slide is for STAB, and Stone Edge is for if you want power.

Defensive Calcs

0- SpA Articuno Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Solrock: 93-109 (24.2 - 28.3%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Articuno Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Solrock: 45-54 (11.7 - 14%) -- possibly the worst move ever

Offensive Calcs

4 Atk Solrock Rock Slide vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 312-372 (81.4 - 97.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 Atk Solrock Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 412-492 (107.5 - 128.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[5Dots]

Solrock @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Morning Sun
- Will-O-Wisp
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Slide/Stone Edge

Even though Solrock is an odd choice for a physically defensive 'mon, it has something Rhydon doesn't-recovery and Will-O-Wisp. This makes Solrock a nice bulky 'mon that can last longer than Rhydon can and also help out its teammates with tanking hits with Will-O. Stealth Rock is obviously for chipping down your opponents. Rock Slide is for STAB, and Stone Edge is for if you want power.

Defensive Calcs

0- SpA Articuno Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Solrock: 93-109 (24.2 - 28.3%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Articuno Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Solrock: 45-54 (11.7 - 14%) -- possibly the worst move ever

Offensive Calcs

4 Atk Solrock Rock Slide vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 312-372 (81.4 - 97.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 Atk Solrock Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 412-492 (107.5 - 128.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Hey! Thank you for posting and taking the time to implement calcs for offensive/defensive sets. Unfortunately, Solrock isn’t ranked on the viability rankings now, which means it won’t be put on the voting slate. You could still edit this post and implement a Pokemon on the VR that hasn’t been used yet, and your vote will then be counted!

 

[PowerOfMemes]

, but with hair
Dugtrio-Alola @ Life Orb
Ability: Tangling Hair
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock/Toxic
- Stone Edge/Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Iron Head

Stealth Rock for over game chip, or Toxic for walls. Stone Edge for flying 'mons, or Sucker Punch for Speed Control. And EQ + Iron Head for STAB. Iron Head 2HKOs, and Stone Edge OHKOs. And you eat up all of Articuno's attacks.

Defensive Calcs

0 Atk Articuno U-turn vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Dugtrio-Alola: 33-39 (15.6 - 18.4%) -- possible 6HKO
0 Atk Articuno Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Dugtrio-Alola: 84-100 (39.8 - 47.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0- SpA Articuno Freeze-Dry vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Dugtrio-Alola: 87-103 (41.2 - 48.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Offensive Calcs

252 Atk Life Orb Dugtrio-Alola Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 283-338 (73.8 - 88.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Dugtrio-Alola Stone Edge vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 473-562 (123.4 - 146.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[wooper]

we only received one true check to articuno, so i've added all of the submissions into one voting slate.

​

USER​	POKEMON​	SET​
waterbend​	​	sub shift gear klinklang​
5Dots​	​	black belt sawk​
Dr Ya Yeet​	​	mixed def miltank​
Corthius​	​	banded lycanroc midnight​
Marsheaux​	​	spdef coalossal​
missangelic​	​	spdef clef​
PowerOfMemes​	​	offensive dugtrio-alola​

please choose two (2) pokemon for this week! my votes are going to lycan and duggy ! voting will end tomorrow, sunday the 3rd, at 11:59 pm gmt -5. good lucky everyone!

 

[viet noa]

ngl i completely forgot to do my submission

my bad

 

[viet noa]

also my votes go to klinklang and duggy

 

[5Dots]

and

 

[Dr Ya Yeet]

and

 

[Corthius]

klinklang / clef

 

[D5405]

Klinklang and Coalossal

 

[PowerOfMemes]

lyc and sawk

 

[Marsheaux]

Klinklang and Miltank

 

[Nickit with hat]

Coalossal and Lycanrock

 

[missangelic]

Dugtrio-Alola and Lycanroc-Midnight!

 

[wooper]

USER​	POKEMON​	SET​	VOTES​
waterbend​	​	sub shift gear klinklang​	5​
5Dots​	​	black belt sawk​	1​
Dr Ya Yeet​	​	mixed def miltank​	2​
Corthius​	​	banded lycanroc midnight​	4​
Marsheaux​	​	spdef coalossal​	4​
missangelic​	​	spdef clef​	1​
PowerOfMemes​	​	offensive dugtrio-alola​	3​

​

looks like yours truly has just eked out the win with sub shift gear klinklang, but Corthius's banded lycanroc and Marsheaux's double hazard spdef coalossal were just one vote behind! thank you to everyone for participating! next up on the chopping block we have the talk of the town, the belle of the ball...

Jynx (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute / Lovely Kiss
- Ice Beam / Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Nasty Plot / Psychic​

jynx has been on the up-and-up recently in the zu tier, with many boasting about her offensive capabilities for weeks and even months. the recent shifts saw multiple answers move up to pu, as well as its biggest competitor for the role of ice-type set-up mon, making way for jynx to beat down opposing teams that much more easily. jynx makes use of both specs and scarf, but 5Dots and i were most interested in subplot, which allows jynx to take advantage of the many switches it forces on common mons like tangela, altaria, and rhydon. however, you can also opt for lovely kiss over substitute, using jynx's high speed tier to put foes asleep to aid in wallbreaker or sweeping. you can choose which stab move you run--ice beam or psychic--but you should always have focus blast to nail steels and darks alike. finally, sub or kiss 3 attacks is totally viable, making use of your perfect coverage at the cost of not boosting up.

submissions will be accepted until friday april 8th at 11:59 pm gmt -5. good luck, everyone!

 

[Procrastinasian]

Maybe reserving articuno

 

[viet noa]

reserving froslass (this time ill do it)

 

[missangelic]

Nominating ladder lord Accelgor as an offensive check.

Accelgor @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Bug Buzz
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Bomb
- Spikes

252+ SpA Choice Specs Accelgor Bug Buzz vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Jynx: 420-494 (154.9 - 182.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
No matter what, Accelgor's Specs Bug Buzz will OHKO Jynx, even through a Sub, 100% of the time. Meta: solved.

 

[PowerOfMemes]

but EMO
Lycanroc-Midnight @ Choice Scarf
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Play Rough
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- Crunch

It's simple; you OHKO with Stone Edge. Scarf is also there for 'mons that are faster too that you can hit up with a strong attack. Check.
252 Atk Lycanroc-Midnight Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Jynx: 662-780 (244.2 - 287.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[viet noa]

Froslass @ Choice Band
Ability: Cursed Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Axel
- Poltergeist
- Ice Shard
- Trick / Spikes

Froslass can occasionally serve as a counter to Jynx if the opposing Jynx doesn't have Psychic STAB, but it is primarily an offensive check. While it can't afford to take a +2 Psychic or Psyshock, it can revenge kill Jynx and take little from Ice Beam and Focus Blast.

Calcs

252 Atk Choice Band Froslass Poltergeist vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Jynx: 866-1020 (319.5 - 376.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Froslass Triple Axel (40 BP) (3 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Jynx: 234-279 (86.3 - 102.9%) -- approx. 6.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Jynx Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Froslass: 90-107 (32 - 38%) -- 95.4% chance to 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Jynx Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Froslass: 180-213 (64 - 75.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Jynx Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Froslass: 160-189 (56.9 - 67.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Jynx Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Froslass: 319-376 (113.5 - 133.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[OranBerryBlissey10]

Rapidash @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Horsepower
- Toxic
- Morning Sun

Rapidash is a solid offensive check as it comfortably takes any one hit, outspeeds and easily ohko's. It can lose with bad sleep luck however, which is why it isn't a counter.

calcs

252 SpA Jynx Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Rapidash: 81-96 (24.2 - 28.7%)
252 SpA Jynx Psychic vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Rapidash: 162-192 (48.5 - 57.4%)
0 Atk Rapidash Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Dry Skin Jynx: 716-846 (264.2 - 312.1%)

 

[5Dots]

Type: Null @ Eviolite
Ability: Battle Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
IVs: 0 Spe
Sassy Nature
- U-turn
- Toxic
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Type: Null is unique as a Jynx counter - it can stomach even a +2 Focus Blast and can pivot out relatively freely against it with U-turn, enabling it to pivot to a revenge killer like Choice Scarf Manectric or a priority user like Gurdurr or Gourgeist-Small. Although U-turn doesn’t OHKO Jynx, it still deals massive damage and gives teammates the opportunity to pivot in safely. Even if Jynx puts it to sleep with Lovely Kiss, it’s no means a safe bet - Type Null has good chances to still pivot with U-turn or cripple it with Toxic with Sleep Talk, something other specially defensive Pokemon like Articuno can’t claim.

Calcs

+2 252 SpA Jynx Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Type: Null: 238-282 (60.5 - 71.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Jynx Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Type: Null: 135-159 (34.3 - 40.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Jynx Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Eviolite Type: Null: 135-159 (34.3 - 40.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk Type: Null U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Jynx: 214-254 (78.9 - 93.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

As a side note, Type: Null benefited from Wishiwashi leaving - it can leverage its better bulk much easier now, even if it comes at the cost of losing a lot of its offensive presence. It’s pretty much the most reliable slow pivot (sorry Vespiquen) and can fit balance and bulkier builds easier.​

 

[Dr Ya Yeet]

can i take wishiwashi


Alcremie (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sweet Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
slightly spdef cm 2 attacks sweet veil creamy is a CHECK to jynx me thinks
32 spdef helps in not getting 2 shot by +2 ice beam after a cm,recover for instant thing,mystical fire almost ohkos after cm+lowers spatk so like win win
and let the thing kiss you its ded fosho then

calcs

+2 252 SpA Jynx Ice Beam vs. +1 252 HP / 32 SpD Alcremie: 148-175 (44.3 - 52.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Jynx Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 32 SpD Alcremie: 111-132 (33.2 - 39.5%) -- 18.7% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 4 SpA Alcremie Mystical Fire vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Dry Skin Jynx: 228-270 (84.1 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 SpA Alcremie Mystical Fire vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Dry Skin Jynx: 154-182 (56.8 - 67.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO