Victim Of The Week [On Hiatus]

I vote for Moose and Goose's Trapinch because it's a very underrated Pokemon that can easily handle Stakataka, for example like he said about Trapinch is that since it lacks defense it can be OHKO'd by an earthquake with those invested stats not fully into Attack, which is also another great thing since it's mostly invested in Defense it can handle Stakataka 1v1. I very do love underrated Pokemon handling much meta Pokemon like Stakataka, as for myself have experience for using Whiscash back in Gen 6 and will love to see more of underrated pokemon!
 
Leader Wallace's Kommo-o

while kommo-o is somewhat of a gimmick I feel like this set is the best at not only countering stak, but also being able to use it as fodder to set up its own sweep.
 
Taking general viability / effectiveness against the victim into an account, I vote for jmal98's Aegislash.

Groudium Z ct hurts, but Aegislash usually has better use outsides facing Stakataka.
 

Thick Fat Azumarill

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Congratulations Jmal98! Your submission will be logged in the Archive!
Victim of the Week 43 - Blacephalon



Up next we have the last of the new Pokemon, Blacephalon. With a decent speed stat of 107 and a Mind-Blowing 151 Special Attack, this Ghost/Fire UB can fire off strong STAB moves, but unfortunately, its coverage options are lacking. So, how do you deal with this mon?

Submissions will be closed in 4 days from now. Good Luck!
 
ttar.gif

Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Ice Punch / Whatever you want

Standard & very customizable Assault Vest Tyranitar. Fully investing on Special Defense showcases monstrosity of surviving two Moonblast from Choice Specs Tapu Lele and two Focus Blast from bulky Mega Gengar (who uses that lol).
Sadly even if Blacephalon carries Choice Specs + HP Grass CT it doesn't even come close to 2HKOing this Tyranitar and Tyranitar guarantees its removal with Pursuit. Also I don't feel like I have to mention how useful Tyranitar is outsides outsides checking Blacephalon; it basically handles most special attackers, with the most prominent one being Naganadel and Mega Charizard Y.

Finally, the presence of Tyranitar as a top-tier threat in the metagame hurts Blacephalon's viability, since it's unable to 2HKO Tyranitar on the switch without prior damage and falls prey to Pursuit.
- OU Blacephalon Analysis

Honestly I don't understand what counters Blacephalon better than Tyranitar, I am not trying to sound rude.
 
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Traapinch general.png

Trapinch @ Eviolite
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 228 HP / 68 Atk / 212 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Earthquake
- Fissure
- Rock Tomb
- Quick Attack

After razing the Stakatakaraka-atacca army Private T.T. Trapinch was promoted to a Colonel, and with the peace that was brought to The United Sand Dunes of Trapinchtopia he decided to train new troops to secure the flourishing country from the magical threat that would appear every so often: the malevolent Hipster Lamp Republic. The Hipster Lamp Republic, after taking over Kyogre Kingdom, Rayquaza Republic, and Deoxys Democracy and they had theirs eyes set on The United Sand Dunes of Trapinchtopia, however the brave and valiant souls that were being trained were experts at laying waste to the hipster lamps.

Offensive:
68+ Atk Trapinch Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 218-258 (170.3 - 201.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Defensive:
252 SpA Blacephalon Mind Blown vs. 228 HP / 212 SpD Eviolite Trapinch: 126-148 (84.5 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Fire Blast vs. 228 HP / 212 SpD Eviolite Trapinch: 93-109 (62.4 - 73.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
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Reserving Houndoom
EDIT:
Houndoom-Mega @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Solar Beam/Sludge Bomb

Mega-Houndoom resists both its STAB options, and can set up a nasty plot and sweep from there. You can even switch on a predicted Mind Blown and get a Flash Fire boost. As a fire type-Mega Evolution Sp.attacker, it does face competition from Charizard-Y, but Houndoom has a more useful secondary STAB option, acess to Nasty Plot, breaking through Toxapex and chansey as well as being a decent check to Lele-Metagross, which Ttar can't do. I've been pairing it up with Torkoal to make use of its abillity. Calcs:
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Lele in Sun: 198-234 (111.8 - 132.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey in Sun: 142-168 (39.8 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey in Sun: 283-334 (79.4 - 93.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Houndoom-Mega Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 106-126 (67.5 - 80.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex in Sun: 165-194 (105 - 123.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex in Sun: 160-189 (101.9 - 120.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey in Sun: 343-405 (94.7 - 111.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Solar Beam vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini in Sun: 174-206 (98.8 - 117%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Azumarill in Sun: 258-304 (124.6 - 146.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Houndoom-Mega: 153-181 (102 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon in Sun: 241-284 (144.3 - 170%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Salamence-Mega in Sun: 243-286 (142.1 - 167.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Salamence-Mega in Sun: 243-286 (120.2 - 141.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Altaria-Mega in Sun: 214-252 (117.5 - 138.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados-Mega in Sun: 177-209 (104.1 - 122.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados in Sun: 215-253 (126.4 - 148.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Even resisted Mons get 2hkoed.
 
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It's time for my boy Quagsire to shine!

Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
- Yawn
- Amnesia

Thanks to Unaware and Quagsire's T H I C C bulk it doesn't care about Fire-STAB or any boosts Blacephalon may have. You can then boost back with Amnesia, destroying any hope of Blacephalon being able to beat it. Quagsire can then get a clean 2HKO on Blace and can continue it's reign of terror by spamming Yawn to annoy your opponent.

Calcs:
0 SpA Quagsire Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 78-92 (60.9 - 71.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 72-85 (35.6 - 42%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 144-169 (71.2 - 83.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Inferno Overdrive (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 89-105 (44 - 51.9%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 36-43 (17.8 - 21.2%) -- possible 5HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 72-85 (35.6 - 42%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
 
Nominating M-Gyara as a check.

Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall / Aqua Tail
- Ice Fang / Substitute / Taunt
- Earthquake / Substitute / Taunt

By virtue of typing alone, M-Gyara checks Blacephalon, as Blacephalon is very reliant on its STABs and Hidden Power to deal damage, and Blacephalon does not run Hidden Powers that are super effective against Gyarados. Furthermore, if Blacephalon is choice locked, Gyarados can take advantage and set up Dragon Dance (watch out for Mind Blown though, it still deals a number even when it's not very effective). Gyarados is also a great, viable choice in this meta.

Aqua Tail has a high chance of OHKOing Bulky Mimikyu at +1, but Waterfall is more reliable overall and has that nice flinch chance.

252 SpA Blacephalon Mind Blown vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gyarados-Mega: 57-68 (33.3 - 39.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Blacephalon Mind Blown vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gyarados-Mega: 63-75 (36.8 - 43.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Gyarados-Mega: 42-50 (24.5 - 29.2%) -- 99.7% chance to 4HKO
+1 252 Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Waterfall vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mimikyu: 141-166 (108.4 - 127.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252 Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Waterfall vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mimikyu: 139-165 (85.8 - 101.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
+1 252 Atk Mold Breaker Gyarados-Mega Aqua Tail vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Mimikyu: 156-184 (96.2 - 113.5%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
 
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Thick Fat Azumarill

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All right, submissions are now closed! There are to be no edits of your own Pokemon, nor are there to be any new submissions. A few quick things to note;
  • Voting will close on the 1/7 at 10:00pm GMT-2 (9:00pm EST), where the next Vitim Of The Week will also be announced
  • You can't vote for your own submission
  • You can only change your vote once, so think carefully before doing so
  • You can vote even if you haven't made a submission. It is expected that you vote if you did submit yourself, but not compulsory


Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Pursuit
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge / Ice Punch / Whatever you want

Standard & very customizable Assault Vest Tyranitar. Fully investing on Special Defense showcases monstrosity of surviving two Moonblast from Choice Specs Tapu Lele and two Focus Blast from bulky Mega Gengar (who uses that lol).
Sadly even if Blacephalon carries Choice Specs + HP Grass CT it doesn't even come close to 2HKOing this Tyranitar and Tyranitar guarantees its removal with Pursuit. Also I don't feel like I have to mention how useful Tyranitar is outsides outsides checking Blacephalon; it basically handles most special attackers, with the most prominent one being Naganadel and Mega Charizard Y.


Finally, the presence of Tyranitar as a top-tier threat in the metagame hurts Blacephalon's viability, since it's unable to 2HKO Tyranitar on the switch without prior damage and falls prey to Pursuit.
- OU Blacephalon Analysis

Honestly I don't understand what counters Blacephalon better than Tyranitar, I am not trying to sound rude.

Trapinch @ Eviolite
Ability: Arena Trap
EVs: 228 HP / 68 Atk / 212 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Earthquake
- Fissure
- Rock Tomb
- Quick Attack

After razing the Stakatakaraka-atacca army Private T.T. Trapinch was promoted to a Colonel, and with the peace that was brought to The United Sand Dunes of Trapinchtopia he decided to train new troops to secure the flourishing country from the magical threat that would appear every so often: the malevolent Hipster Lamp Republic. The Hipster Lamp Republic, after taking over Kyogre Kingdom, Rayquaza Republic, and Deoxys Democracy and they had theirs eyes set on The United Sand Dunes of Trapinchtopia, however the brave and valiant souls that were being trained were experts at laying waste to the hipster lamps.

Offensive:
68+ Atk Trapinch Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Blacephalon: 218-258 (170.3 - 201.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Defensive:
252 SpA Blacephalon Mind Blown vs. 228 HP / 212 SpD Eviolite Trapinch: 126-148 (84.5 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Fire Blast vs. 228 HP / 212 SpD Eviolite Trapinch: 93-109 (62.4 - 73.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Houndoom-Mega @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Solar Beam/Sludge Bomb

Mega-Houndoom resists both its STAB options, and can set up a nasty plot and sweep from there. You can even switch on a predicted Mind Blown and get a Flash Fire boost. As a fire type-Mega Evolution Sp.attacker, it does face competition from Charizard-Y, but Houndoom has a more useful secondary STAB option, acess to Nasty Plot, breaking through Toxapex and chansey as well as being a decent check to Lele-Metagross, which Ttar can't do. I've been pairing it up with Torkoal to make use of its abillity. Calcs:
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Lele in Sun: 198-234 (111.8 - 132.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey in Sun: 142-168 (39.8 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Eviolite Chansey in Sun: 283-334 (79.4 - 93.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Houndoom-Mega Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 106-126 (67.5 - 80.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex in Sun: 165-194 (105 - 123.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex in Sun: 160-189 (101.9 - 120.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey in Sun: 343-405 (94.7 - 111.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Solar Beam vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini in Sun: 174-206 (98.8 - 117%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Azumarill in Sun: 258-304 (124.6 - 146.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Houndoom-Mega: 153-181 (102 - 120.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon in Sun: 241-284 (144.3 - 170%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Salamence-Mega in Sun: 243-286 (142.1 - 167.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Salamence-Mega in Sun: 243-286 (120.2 - 141.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Altaria-Mega in Sun: 214-252 (117.5 - 138.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados-Mega in Sun: 177-209 (104.1 - 122.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Solar Power Houndoom-Mega Solar Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados in Sun: 215-253 (126.4 - 148.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Even resisted Mons get 2hkoed.
It's time for my boy Quagsire to shine!



Quagsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
- Yawn
- Amnesia

Thanks to Unaware and Quagsire's T H I C C bulk it doesn't care about Fire-STAB or any boosts Blacephalon may have. You can then boost back with Amnesia, destroying any hope of Blacephalon being able to beat it. Quagsire can then get a clean 2HKO on Blace and can continue it's reign of terror by spamming Yawn to annoy your opponent.

Calcs:
0 SpA Quagsire Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blacephalon: 78-92 (60.9 - 71.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 72-85 (35.6 - 42%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 144-169 (71.2 - 83.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Nominating M-Gyara as a check.

Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall / Aqua Tail
- Ice Fang / Substitute / Taunt
- Earthquake / Substitute / Taunt

By virtue of typing alone, M-Gyara checks Blacephalon, as Blacephalon is very reliant on its STABs and Hidden Power to deal damage, and Blacephalon does not run Hidden Powers that are super effective against Gyarados. Furthermore, if Blacephalon is choice locked, Gyarados can take advantage and set up Dragon Dance (watch out for Mind Blown though, it still deals a number even when it's not very effective). Gyarados is also a great, viable choice in this meta.

Aqua Tail has a high chance of OHKOing Bulky Mimikyu at +1, but Waterfall is more reliable overall. Calcs later.
252 SpA Blacephalon Inferno Overdrive (200 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 89-105 (44 - 51.9%) -- 16% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Shadow Ball vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 36-43 (17.8 - 21.2%) -- possible 5HKO
252 SpA Blacephalon Never-Ending Nightmare (160 BP) vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ SpD Quagsire: 72-85 (35.6 - 42%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
 
I was going to vote Ttar because it stops Blacephalon cold until I remembered that Blacephalon learns Will-O-Wisp, which can seriously cripple Ttar, and being practically taken out of commission by the thing you're supposed to counter is not fun (even though nobody carries will-o-wisp...YET.) In light of that I'll vote for Quagsire as a check (although I really don't think it's a counter because playing Recover games against Shadow Ball is usually a losing battle), because I think an Amnesia set is pretty funny. I think Houndoom is really cool though, I saw a speedy defensive Foul Play varient that lived an EQ from Zard X and really messed me up lol.

By the way I updated my Gyarados post with calcs (the ones in the quote are Quagsire calcs, which is weird).
 
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Theorymon

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I gotta vote for DawnManeDuskWings 's Tyranitar. With Pursuit, its typing, and sand stream, it's hard to be a more reliable check to Blacephalon than Tyranitar. It helps that AV Tyranitar in particular does well against Naganadel too, who is a big threat at the moment!
 
I'm voting for AV Tyranitar, because it also does this:
+2 236 SpA Naganadel Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sand: 144-171 (69.5 - 82.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
 
Something I had in mind when nominating Tyranitar for Blacephalon was that AV Ttar has downsides of being unable to stay healthy while taking repeated attacks and use Stealth Rock / other status moves. Also, some Blacephalon players I have seen intentionally lure Tyranitar, use Trick to lock Tyranitar into Pursuit and this results in Tyranitar being a setup fodder after it eliminates Blacephalon.

Taking these considerations to an account, I will vote The Squash's Quagsire.

Edit:

I apologize for confusion. I kinda made a horrible reasoning above and thought I have deleted the draft but somehow it was posted due to browser bug or something.

So the reason why I vote for Quagsire despite its vulnerability to Trick and potential Sp.Def drop from Shadow Ball on switch is because amongst all mentioned Pokemon to counter Blacephalon, it can stay healthy after handling Blacephalon unlike things like Tyranitar or Gyarados both of which need their health reserved as much as possible. Hope this explained better ;-P
 
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PPB's Mega Gyarados

Tyranitar is without a doubt the best counter, but slapping an assault vest on it for virtue of switching in better isn't a good choice. It could have been an spd set with a pinch berry and could have offered rock support for your team or something like that. It doesn't need the vest to counter Blazephalon, especially considering ttar can do so so much more with a better spread, something more spd orientated which would still have the benefits of dealing with Naganadel and Volcarona as well. Hence, my vote is going to Mega Gyarados since by typing it's a great check and can even switch in if it has mega evolved being comfortably 3hko'd. It's also setup fodder which Gyarados really appreciates
 

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