Project Victim Of The Week | Week 6: Blastoise

[poh]

Thanks to everyone submitting their check/counter!

Submissions

Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Recover
- Toxic / Haze


Vaporeon @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Wish
- Protect
- Flip Turn


Gigalith @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
- Toxic / Superpower / Earthquake


Flygon @ Lum Berry
Ability: Levitate
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Throat Chop


Dragalge @ Black Sludge
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 112 SpA / 144 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Toxic Spikes
- Flip Turn


Diancie @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Diamond Storm
- Moonblast
- Body Press


Aerodactyl @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Toxic / Dual Wingbeat



Mantine @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Roost
- Defog
- Air Slash


Tyrantrum @ Haban Berry
Ability: Strong Jaw
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Dragon Claw
- Crunch


Indeedee-F (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Expanding Force
- Mystical Fire
- Dazzling Gleam
- Healing Wish


Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Heatproof
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Heavy Slam
- Toxic

When submitting your check/counter, try to keep it to mons that are NU by usage (pokemon that have the NU label in the teambuilder on ps). PU mons are allowed but keep your submissions relevant to the NU metagame. Please don't forget to complete your post when reserving a mon, I've noticed that some forget to actually write their reservation.

Blastoise @ White Herb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Shell Smash
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
​

sprites

use this for high aesthetic sprites https://www.pkparaiso.com/espada_escudo/sprites_pokemon.php

 

[Pokeslice]

spdef vap

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpD
Careful Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic
- Wish
- Protect

As you can probably guess, any Water Absorb mon can wall Stoise, but the rest of them can all be flinched down without SpDef, which none of them can run atm. Vaporeon is the exception. You can specifically afford SpDef on it in this meta, and I've found this to be the perfect spread. 40+ means that +4 DP is a 3HKO at best all while Toxicing/Scalding it down. The 3HKO means that you won't be as susceptible to flinches, unlike no Haze Mantine or Gastro. All in all, a perfect answer.

 

[Corthius]

Heliolisk @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hyper Voice
- Volt Switch
- Grass Knot

Despite many people calling it 'piss weak', I found myself using this little bugger a lot lately. A Choice Scarf makes Heliolisk faster than +2 Blastoise and let it do big damage with its STAB Thunderbolt. In return you dont die to any of Blastoise's attacks even at +2 outside of Aura Sphere which is not used at the moment.

 

[Oathkeeper]

Virizion @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge

Check. Most of the time, Viriz will want to come in safely before Blastoise has used Shell Smash to kill it via 1 Leaf Blade

252 Atk Life Orb Virizion Leaf Blade vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Blastoise: 296-351 (98.9 - 117.3%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO

However, it can come in a Shell Smash and still live 1 Ice Beam and OHKO right back using the same calc as above

+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Virizion: 260-306 (80.4 - 94.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO​

 

[Jaytop31]

Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Jolly Nature
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Drain Punch
- Sucker Punch

Toxicroak is a check to Blastoise. With it's Dark resist and Water immunity Blastoise's best move is Ice Beam and Toxicroak can live a +2 Ice Beam + Stealth Rocks while it can kill Blastoise with a combination of Gunk Shot + Sucker Punch. Althought, Toxicorak can die at the same time because of LO recoil if the Blastoise get a high roll on Ice Beam. Without SR Toxicroak have 75% chance of surviving and with SR it has 31.2% chance of surviving. But in both cases the Toxicroak manages to kill the opposing Blastoise. If Blastoise doesn't Shell Smash Toxicroak can take it out without potentially killing itself in the process.

calcs

+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 40 SpD Toxicroak: 216-255 (70.3 - 83%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Blastoise Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 40 SpD Toxicroak: 108-128 (35.1 - 41.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Toxicroak Gunk Shot vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Blastoise: 220-261 (73.5 - 87.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Toxicroak Drain Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Blastoise: 138-164 (46.1 - 54.8%) -- 56.3% chance to 2HKO (22.4 - 26.7% recovered)
252 Atk Life Orb Toxicroak Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Blastoise: 87-103 (29 - 34.4%) -- 3.3% chance to 3HKO

 

[Katy]

spdef gastrodon

Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Earth Power
- Recover
- Toxic​

Specially defensive Gastrodon is a great answer to Shell Smash Blastoise as it can tank hits even when Blastoise is at +2 due to Shell Smash boost.
Gastrodon has also reliable recovery which benefit it in the progress of checking Blastoise. Gastrodon can also dish out a Toxic into Blastoises direction to whittle it down and limit its capabilities of tearing through the team severely. In overall Gastrodon is a great check as it can also switch into its Water-type STAB move to soak it up and strengthen its own SpA.

Hide

+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 132-156 (30.9 - 36.6%) -- 5.7% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 118-139 (27.6 - 32.6%) -- 99.9% chance to 4HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

0 SpA Gastrodon Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Blastoise: 87-103 (29 - 34.4%) -- 100% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock

 

[wooper]

Mantine @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Scald
- Roost
- Air Slash / Haze / Toxic​

mantine tanks +2 ice beams and dark pulses thanks to max hp and its huge spdef stat, despite having 0 investment in the latter. the first three moves are a given, and the last moveslot helps you beat stoise in different ways: air slash deals more damage than scald, haze removes the opponent's boosts, and toxic puts them on a timer. roost up, scald if you get frozen, and you should be in the clear.

+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mantine: 121-143 (32.3 - 38.2%) -- 97.1% chance to 3HKO
+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mantine: 107-127 (28.6 - 33.9%) -- 1.1% chance to 3HKO

0 SpA Mantine Air Slash vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Blastoise: 66-78 (22 - 26%) -- 2.7% chance to 4HKO

 

[roxie]

Goodra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Bomb

Goodra naturally eats an Ice Beam without any investment assuming it's at full health. Even with Choice Specs, Thunderbolt and Draco Meteor are still rolls however because of Blastoise nice bulk. Blastoise shouldn't however be at full by the time Goodra comes in (assuming the Pokemon it sets up on does chip damage). Toise is always OHKOd by Draco meteor as long as its chipped from Stealth Rock as shown in the calculations below:

252 SpA Choice Specs Goodra Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blastoise: 271-319 (90.6 - 106.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Goodra: 226-268 (70.4 - 83.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Goodra Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Blastoise: 250-296 (83.6 - 98.9%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Danny]

Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 36 HP / 196 Def / 16 SpA / 220 SpD / 40 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Toxic/Thunderbolt
- Protect​

Is this an unmon? Yes. Is this a fun mon? Potentially? IDK, either way Lanturn eats up Blastoise for breakfast and has a lot more utility than it is given credit. Lanturn is a counter to SS Blastoise, and no move at +2 can even 3HKO it. Not only is Lanturn great in this match up, it also is a decent SpD bulky pivot, able to stomach hits from Articuno Galar and Salazzle just fine. Lanturn should never lose to a Blastoise (unless they flinch you down). Tbolt is also an option if you don’t want to Volt out on their sub and not KO them.

Calcs

+2 252+ SpA Blastoise Dark Pulse vs. 36 HP / 220+ SpD Lanturn: 127-150 (31.7 - 37.5%) -- 0% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
16 SpA Lanturn Volt Switch vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Blastoise: 116-140 (38.7 - 46.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
16 SpA Lanturn Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Blastoise: 152-182 (50.8 - 60.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO