XY UU Beta Discussion (Read post #32)

[Ununhexium]

Forretress makes for an interesting case. Has the Defog buff caused it to loose its purpose of being a hazard setting, spinblocking wall? (I mean Defog can't be blocked unlike Rapid Spin. Removes all hazards though). Or will the Overcoat buff be enough to keep it at OU? I hope it gets Sticky Web as an egg move or something (it is a bug right lmao)

the main problem with defog is that it is prone to taunt. i like sableye in OU because it has ghost typing and priority taunt. also, forretress has volt switch so it can be a slow physically defensive pivot.

now what about mismagius. i feel it will drop to RU unless someone discovers some real cool niche.

 

[Sergeant Spooky]

the main problem with defog is that it is prone to taunt. i like sableye in OU because it has ghost typing and priority taunt.

Except spinblocking works immediately when you send out a ghost. If the opponent has their defogger out on the field and you don't have your taunter, there's not a lot you can do.

now what about mismagius. i feel it will drop to RU unless someone discovers some real cool niche.

It got Dazzling Gleam, meaning it has perfect neutral coverage with Ghost/Fairy (aside from Pyroar) and doesn't have to use Hidden Power anymore. It's still pretty fast and has Nasty Plot.

If only it got retyped to Fairy/Ghost... pretty legit typing. Four immunities with levitate.

 

[CQC]

the main problem with defog is that it is prone to taunt. i like sableye in OU because it has ghost typing and priority taunt. also, forretress has volt switch so it can be a slow physically defensive pivot.

now what about mismagius. i feel it will drop to RU unless someone discovers some real cool niche.

I really don't see how taunt is the main problem with defog because it requires the defogger to switch into a mon that already carries taunt, which is rather unlikely. The main problem with defog is still that it removes hazards form both fields.

 

[ScraftyIsTheBest]

On some other topic, has anyone tried Barbaracle?

Barbaracle @ Lum Berry
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Stone Edge
- Cross Chop

Despite how hideous (but hilarious) Barbaracle looks, I have tested Barbaracle a bit on the ladder. To be fair, this Pokemon definitely has potential. Barbaracle has a nice Attack stat and usable Speed to use Shell Smash, so it can make for a pretty good sweeper. Tough Claws is a great ability which boosts the power of Razor Shell and Cross Chop, and between Razor Shell, Cross Chop, and Stone Edge, Barbaracle can sweep teams after its counters are either defeated or weakened. Barbaracle can become quite hard to stop so long as Cross Chop and Stone Edge don't miss, and it has a couple of resistances to use to be able to set up. The only problem I've had with Barbaracle so far is being able to set up; since Rock has so many exploitable weaknesses, Barbaracle can sometimes be hard pressed to grab a Smash boost, and is very vulnerable to priority. So what do you guys think of this barnacle Pokemon?

 

[Yumii]

Is it just me or do baton pass teams work really well in this tier? You get almost everything from the baton pass my @ss team except espeon and scizor which can be somewhat replaced by pokes like mega absol and durant. Plus you can use scolipede instead of ninjask for better typing/bulk/iron defense boosts.
But more importantly, a lot of stuff checking baton passing is either uncommon or banned (no sableye, no ridiculous priority like talonflame).
Threats like fast/prankster taunt are still around like deoxys-s (which I don't think will stay too long) and tornadus (annoying, but manageable), and we don't get espeon with Stab stored power to try and work around hazers but after trying a team out, baton passing is pretty reliable.

 

[WebBowser]

Y

Is it just me or do baton pass teams work really well in this tier? You get almost everything from the baton pass my @ss team except espeon and scizor which can be somewhat replaced by pokes like mega absol and durant. Plus you can use scolipede instead of ninjask for better typing/bulk/iron defense boosts.
But more importantly, a lot of stuff checking baton passing is either uncommon or banned (no sableye, no ridiculous priority like talonflame).
Threats like fast/prankster taunt are still around like deoxys-s (which I don't think will stay too long) and tornadus (annoying, but manageable), and we don't get espeon with Stab stored power to try and work around hazers but after trying a team out, baton passing is pretty reliable.

You got something better then STAB stored power, you have Mega Absol. Mega Absol is basically a physical espeon with priority. It has a huge base attack already and more then good enough speed for BP purposes, so even a relatively small boost such as +2 speed and +2 attack can allow it to sweep many teams. The only thing espeon has over it is that absol needs to swap in first to counter phazers. Mega hera is also a wonderful end recipient. With just a tiiiiiny bit of speed investment (52 IIRC), mega hera outspeeds darn near everything at +2. He's not particularly vulnerable to priority, resists mach punch and sucker punch even, and has high enough stats to not really need much boosting to sweep but greatly appreciates any boosting it can get. at a mere +2 attack, it ohkos quite literally everything, and any defense buff it gets will help it shrug off any priority that comes it's way even harder. In fact, I often ran arm thrust over CC when I ran mega-hera on BP teams just because I wanted to avoid the defense debuff and the additional attack was totally irrelevent.

As for forretress, there are few things that it can do that a defensive megazor set cannot do better outside of setting up hazards, which it is lackluster at anyway. There is no reason for it to not drop.

 

[EonX]

Yeah, BP teams are fairly viable. This is thanks in large part to Scolipede who isn't a pure support Pokemon like Ninjask since its base 100 Attack and STAB Megahorn allows it to utilize its own boosts if the situation calls for it.

As for Barbaracle, it's certainly viable. There aren't tons of things that can handle its boosted attacks, but the problem it has is what it's weak to. A weakness to Fighting sucks a ton when the top 2 megas (Heracross and Medicham) are part Fighting-type. A weakness to Volt Switch is unfortunate considering there are plenty users of the move here. Mega Manectric, Thundurus-T, and Jolteon just to name a few. When I see it, I just try to keep up offensive pressure and preserve my Scarf user just in case if the team I'm using has one.

That said, there are a couple of things I've been using recently that I've grown quite fond of (on different teams) One should come as no surprise considering how strong it is, but the other will only come as no surprise for those few people who knew me back in BW1:

Gardevoir (F) @ Gardevoirite
Trait: Pixilate (Trace)
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast / Thunderbolt
- Substitute / Calm Mind / Shadow Ball

Mega Gardevoir is really damn strong. Fairy is basically the new Dragon. No immunities, only 3 resistances based on type. Easy offensive type to spam. Psyshock beats down special walls like Chansey and Snorlax while also discouraging Poison-types from coming in. One of two moves has to be used in the 3rd slot to pick off Empoleon, arguably the most durable check to Gardevoir. I pick Focus Blast since it also hits every other Steel-type in the tier bar Metagross for super effective damage. Of course, Thunderbolt is safer against Empoleon, but then you can't hit most other Steels for super effective damage. The last slot is really flexible. I personally use Sub so I can block Sucker Punch and guard against Focus Blast doing what it does best; missing. This also lets Gardevoir sweep if there aren't more than 2 Pokemon that can outspeed and break her Sub. If you still want to go the sweeping route, Calm Mind is an option to just send Gardevoir's damage output through the roof. But then you're flattened by any Sucker Punch or Bullet Punch user out there. You can also go for full coverage in Shadow Ball. This lets Gardevoir hit the only common Steel-type that is able to avoid super effective damage from Focus Blast; Metagross. Going this route allows Gardevoir to be more of a wallbreaker rather than a sweeper. There's also a couple of other niche options if your team needs them. Will-O-Wisp can cripple any physical attacker (bar Fire-types) that tries to come in on Gardevoir. Taunt stops Empoleon from supporting its team with Rocks or Defog which can give a teammate a very easy switch-in. Destiny Bond can take down a dangerous threat with Gardevoir so long as she outspeeds them. Also nice for discouraging the use of Sucker Punch or Bullet Punch on Gardevoir.

Staraptor (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- Double-Edge / Return
- U-turn

Ok, I"ve loved this guy ever since BW1, but the changes that happened with BW2 were really unkind to it. However, in XY UU (Beta) Scarf Raptor is amazing. Base 100 Speed is great right now since it beats out Haxorus and Zygarde, the most common DD users in the tier. There's also the fact that Brave Bird will slice straight through the 3 top megas right now (Heracross, Medicham, and Gardevoir) Next up is Close Combat. Pretty simple as to what this does. You can lure out Steel- and Rock-types and proceed to smash them with Close Combat. Double-Edge is another high powered STAB move that rips through bulkier Electric-types such as Zapdos and Rotom-H like it was nothing. It also is a clear 2HKO on Mega Manectric factoring in the Intimidate drop. Return is a bit safer and will still 2HKO offensive variants of Zapdos and Rotom-H, but bulkier variants can still take it if SR isn't up on the field. U-turn rounds out the set and allows Staraptor to be a decent lead option that can put immediate pressure on the opposing team from the start. This set can be run as the same except with a Choice Band instead of a Choice Scarf so you can just bulldoze through shit. Just know that you'll only have a 50/50 shot at beating Mega Medicham and Mega Gardevoir since they both sit at base 100 as well. I personally like this as a Choice Scarf set more since it's really great knowing that as long as I keep Staraptor alive, Mega Medicham and Mega Gardevoir can't sweep through my team.

 

[Patrick1088]

Focus blast and tbol are so meh on gardevoir. If you choose one, something will wall you. Youre better off with shadow ball to hit the steels that resist fairy and psychic coverage. Shadow ball hits metagross and slowbro super effectively. Substitute ahould be the last move to help scout and pick off weakened everything lol

 

[noknuckles]

This is something that I just experienced a few minutes ago:
252 Atk Choice Band Heracross Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Golurk: 372-438 (97.3 - 114.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO

The Knock Off buff is so huge for the fighting types that got it. I talked about Mienshao earlier. Here's another fighting type that completely destroys things that used to deal with it. I know Mega Heracross is the in thing right now, but the old versions of Heracross are still quite legit, and those sets absolutely love Knock Off. Golurk getting OHKO'd by Heracross, that is absolutely disgusting

Personally I'm not a big fan of how the Knock Off buff is flipping these Fighting vs Ghost matchups backwards

 

[Golemman]

This is something that I just experienced a few minutes ago:
252 Atk Choice Band Heracross Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Golurk: 372-438 (97.3 - 114.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO

The Knock Off buff is so huge for the fighting types that got it. I talked about Mienshao earlier. Here's another fighting type that completely destroys things that used to deal with it. I know Mega Heracross is the in thing right now, but the old versions of Heracross are still quite legit, and those sets absolutely love Knock Off. Golurk getting OHKO'd by Heracross, that is absolutely disgusting

Personally I'm not a big fan of how the Knock Off buff is flipping these Fighting vs Ghost matchups backwards

I've found that Machamp really enjoys knock off now. In BW he was forced to run payback, which was really bad against Dusknoir/clops and spiritomb. Here's what I currently run in uu.

Machamp (McSwole)
Leftovers 252hp, 128spe, 124spD, 8att
Substitute
Bulk up
Dynamic punch/focus punch
Knock off
The ev's outspeed min base 70's and under, and adds bulk to the subs. Sub + bulk up is a good combination, setting up subs on walls and things like Ariados, Gourgeist, gastrodon, Jellicent, milotic, etc. (the latter waters' scalds from 4spA do about 21-25%, so probable to keep a sub). The more defense boosts the tougher the subs. The fighting move decision isn't too difficult. I always use dynamic punch because confusion helps set up and is more reliable. Focus punch has higher pp and power, so it can go well with sub. Knock off is machamp's favorite coverage move, offering perfect coverage except for fairies, heracross, and the now uncommon Toxicroak. This set can't do anything to fairies which is unfortunate, but it shouldn't be expected to. +1 8at knock off does 2hko megagardevoir, so if it's previously weakened and switches in he's fine. Hyper voice runs right through subs and ko's unfortunately. Basically, set up a sub on something, get as many bulk ups as possible, and spam confusion and item loss backed by some pretty hefty power.
Thoughts? Want to use this set? Want to be swole like Machamp?

 

[TPO3]

now what about mismagius. i feel it will drop to RU unless someone discovers some real cool niche.

TBH, Mismagius is an awful pokemon. I honestly believe there was no reason it should not have fallen to RU /last/ generation with superior ghosts like Chandelure, Cofagrigus, and Sableye in the tier. This generation we also got the addition of Jellicent, Gourgeist, and Froslass has fallen back down. There's just no reason to use Mismagius.

Speaking of Jellicent, it's a solid anti-meta pokemon at the moment. Between its typing, its ability, its superb Special Defense, it checks a LOT of high-level threats, like Keldeo, Latias, Drizzle Offense, as well as Moxie Scarf and Mega variants of Heracross. Not to mention that virtually ANY slow, defensive pokemon succumbs to the combination of Taunt + Status Move (see: Chansey, Vaporeon, Gastrodon, even Florges with enough Speed EVs).

Also I know there's a lot of hype for Scarf Staraptor because of its prowess as a revenge killer with great power, but Banded Staraptor is just a monster. It 2HKOs anything that doesn't resist flying, and Close Combat scores at least neutral damage against anything that does. There's a reason Staraptor has been BL since its introduction in DPP, I suggest everybody tries it out.

 

[Patrick1088]

TBH, Mismagius is an awful pokemon. I honestly believe there was no reason it should not have fallen to RU /last/ generation with superior ghosts like Chandelure, Cofagrigus, and Sableye in the tier. This generation we also got the addition of Jellicent, Gourgeist, and Froslass has fallen back down. There's just no reason to use Mismagius.

Speaking of Jellicent, it's a solid anti-meta pokemon at the moment. Between its typing, its ability, its superb Special Defense, it checks a LOT of high-level threats, like Keldeo, Latias, Drizzle Offense, as well as Moxie Scarf and Mega variants of Heracross. Not to mention that virtually ANY slow, defensive pokemon succumbs to the combination of Taunt + Status Move (see: Chansey, Vaporeon, Gastrodon, even Florges with enough Speed EVs).

Mismagius had the niche of being able to clean up late game very easily with Nasty Plot. Once Snorlax and Umbreon were out of the way, Mismagius can sweep. Mismagius has the bonus of being stealth rock neutral and has a higher sp attack than cofagrigus. Cofagrigus needs TR if it's running a NP set. It's only real nemesis since Togekiss is gone is Meloetta which the hidden power nerf made it worse.

As for Jelli, it has its pros and cons. With Drizzle banned, it lost a good niche of being immune to the Hydro Pumps that would be thrown around. It is a 100% check to every Keldeo variant. However, it is a bit of a shaky check to Heracross, especially mega heracross.

252+ Atk Mega Heracross Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jellicent: 180-215 (44.5 - 53.2%) -- approx. 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (without any hazards or previous damage and keep in mind that Mega Hera does get Bullet Seed)

252+ Atk Mega Heracross Bullet Seed (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jellicent: 360-430 (89.1 - 106.4%) -- approx. 12.5% chance to OHKO

You're best bet is to hope that:

1. M-Hera doesn't carry Bullet Seed
2. There are no hazards on the field, nor does Jelli have any previous damage
3. M-Hera isn't running behind a sub since you will have to break the sub and then try to burn it.
4. M-Hera did not get a Swords Dance Boost:

+2 252+ Atk Mega Heracross Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jellicent: 355-420 (87.8 - 103.9%) -- approx. 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ Atk Heracross Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jellicent: 105-124 (25.9 - 30.6%) -- 3.1% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

So, Jellicent is a great check to Scarf Moxie Hera. However, Jellicent needs to make sure that it doesn't go and burn Guts Banded Hera with Scald:

252+ Atk Choice Band Guts Heracross Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jellicent: 236-278 (58.4 - 68.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[noknuckles]

Atleast Jellicent can survive the EQ. A banded Heracross locked into EQ is easy to switch out of. The more worrying thing about banded burned Heracross is, as I've said above, Knock Off:

252 Atk Choice Band Guts Heracross Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Jellicent: 418-492 (103.4 - 121.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Combating fighting types is gonna be a guessing game. No more free switches into your bulky ghost of choice. It'll be like Chandelure last gen trying to switch into fighting attacks, knowing full well the risk of a Stone Edge. Jellicent can still be really valuable against choiced fighting types. There are just more risks with switching ghosts into fighting now.

 

[GlassGlaceon]

On some other topic, has anyone tried Barbaracle?

Barbaracle @ Lum Berry
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
- Stone Edge
- Cross Chop

Despite how hideous (but hilarious) Barbaracle looks, I have tested Barbaracle a bit on the ladder. To be fair, this Pokemon definitely has potential. Barbaracle has a nice Attack stat and usable Speed to use Shell Smash, so it can make for a pretty good sweeper. Tough Claws is a great ability which boosts the power of Razor Shell and Cross Chop, and between Razor Shell, Cross Chop, and Stone Edge, Barbaracle can sweep teams after its counters are either defeated or weakened. Barbaracle can become quite hard to stop so long as Cross Chop and Stone Edge don't miss, and it has a couple of resistances to use to be able to set up. The only problem I've had with Barbaracle so far is being able to set up; since Rock has so many exploitable weaknesses, Barbaracle can sometimes be hard pressed to grab a Smash boost, and is very vulnerable to priority. So what do you guys think of this barnacle Pokemon?

I approve of daddu in UU :"] no, but for real, barbaracle is freaking scary as crap at +2, being the 2nd fastest shell smasher IIRC and outspeeding neutral natured base 122 speed scarfers (aka ninja who is OU which is irrelevant) with a +speed nature, 2HKO's max/max slowbro with X-scissor, and has a good chance to 2HKO with a +atk nature and stone edge, it can also almost guaranteedly OHKO 252/4 Deo-d with X-scissor after 1 layer of spikes. just depends on if you wanna switch out cross chop for a much more reliable, albeit slightly weaker alternative. barnacle is pretty solid in UU imo, and is a force of nature at +2.

 

[PK Gaming]

Use this

Thundurus-T @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive
-Thunderbolt
-Knock Off
-Superpower
-U-turn

One of the best attackers in the tier, good luck switching into this beast

Anyone else finding Gardevoir (in any form) to be the anti metagame of UU!? So good at the moment

And Staraptor needs to stop being slept on. Still one of the most powerful pokemon this generation. Just cant mindlessly spam Brave Bird, but doesnt mean its not powerful.

Kyurem as well. Specs Draco meteor is still an amazing wall breaking set

Yeah, Scarf Staraptor and Kyurem are so good

 

[TPO3]

Mismagius had the niche of being able to clean up late game very easily with Nasty Plot. Once Snorlax and Umbreon were out of the way, Mismagius can sweep. Mismagius has the bonus of being stealth rock neutral and has a higher sp attack than cofagrigus. Cofagrigus needs TR if it's running a NP set. It's only real nemesis since Togekiss is gone is Meloetta which the hidden power nerf made it worse.

Technically, this is true. However if you're using Mismagius as a late-game cleaner instead of a spinblocker, there are several other pokemon you could be using instead. Mew, Azelf, and Celebi are all better with Nasty Plot, while Mega Manectric, Kingdra, and several Scarf pokemon all clean better without it. The only thing Mismagius has on these pokemon is that it can "spinblock" while threatening to clean, but spinblocking becomes much more difficult when you have a pokemon you can't risk losing until it's set up for its late game sweep/clean attempt.

As for Jelli, it has its pros and cons. With Drizzle banned, it lost a good niche of being immune to the Hydro Pumps that would be thrown around. It is a 100% check to every Keldeo variant. However, it is a bit of a shaky check to Heracross, especially mega heracross.

Yeah, it doesn't check Mega Cross as well as I thought. I didn't realize Heracross learned Bullet Seed and was actually using it. However while Drizzle might be banned, there are still several Water-types running around in this tier, the most notable ones being Keldeo and Kingdra. I'm sure Gastrodon, Vaporeon, and Slowbro will pick up in usage as well once the tier settles down a bit more.

 

[Golemman]

Use this

Thundurus-T @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive
-Thunderbolt
-Knock Off
-Superpower
-U-turn

One of the best attackers in the tier, good luck switching into this beast

Yeah, Scarf Staraptor and Kyurem are so good

Why a physical set? ThundT has 40 higher spattack with dark pulse, focus blast, and volt switch.

 

[UU ALL DAY]

Why a physical set? ThundT has 40 higher spattack with dark pulse, focus blast, and volt switch.

You cripple fat Chansey, kill off Celebi, and can hurt walls by removing their item. Utility is sometimes more important than power.

 

[DTC]

Physical Thundurus-T has a few benefits. For one, U-turn and Knock Off are both really nice moves. Lots of utility + do a decent amount of damage. These moves also allow Thundurus-T to break past some of the counters to the Special sets, like Latias, Celebi, and Chansey.

There's really not much that switches into that set aside from Florges, Hippo (who is reluctant to switch into Thundurus-T in fear of Grass Knot) or Amoonguss, so it can be tricky to deal with. Plus everything hates to get their item Knocked Off aside from megas which take a lot of damage from one of Thundurus-T's other moves anyways.

 

[Golemman]

252 Atk Life Orb Thundurus-T Superpower vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Chansey: 387-458 (54.9 - 65%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Not quite with attack drop (next hit is 36-43. So if both hits are peak damage rolls you can ko I guess). That can be soft boileded(?) off and then your cover is blown.
252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus-T Dark Pulse vs. 220 HP / 252+ SpD Celebi: 177-211 (44.6 - 53.2%) -- 86.7% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
Even celebi can be dealt with specially.
Hippo gets beat by grass knot on a special set without having to worry about bluffing. Florges and chansey cannot be expected to be beaten by a special attacker.
I'm just saying that there are mons who would do better for the roll of fast physical attacker like weavile, staraptor, crobat, or electivire even. Knock off does have great utility but also is so widespread that many more mons can use it than ThundT and can do it better (like Machamp). Volt switch has the same utility as uturn. Ground types are immune to it true, so then carry grass knot.

 

[UU ALL DAY]

Knock off + Superpower on Chansey would be optimal. Likewise, for Celebi, Knock off + U-Turn will kill offense and specially defensive sets.

 

[PK Gaming]

Why a physical set? ThundT has 40 higher spattack with dark pulse, focus blast, and volt switch.

Think of all the common Pokemon that tend to switch into Thundurus-T in UU. They're much more vulnerable on the physical side.

252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus-T Dark Pulse vs. 220 HP / 252+ SpD Celebi: 177-211 (44.6 - 53.2%) -- 86.7% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

Why bother using a move that barely does over 50% to Celebi when you can outright OHKO with U-turn? Your calc doesn't account for situations where Celebi switches into a resisted move, or when if it comes in via revenge kill/u-turn.
252 Atk Life Orb Thundurus-T U-turn vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Celebi: 343-406 (84.9 - 100.49%) -- 81.25% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

You don't nearly enough damage to Latias with Dark Pulse
252 SpA Life Orb Thundurus-T Dark Pulse vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Latias: 198-234 (65.56 - 77.48%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Whereas Knock Off is a clean OHKO after SR
252 Atk Life Orb Thundurus-T Crunch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Latias: 260-307 (86.09 - 101.65%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Knock Off happens to be an amazing move now, so there's that.

 

[Ash Borer]

Dunkelheit (Hydreigon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 Atk
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- U-turn
- Dark Pulse
- Flamethrower

​

Great hole smasher. I love this thing because it can check bisharp pretty effectively, and the dark typing lets it break through the bulky psychic and ghosts type that seem to find their way into lower tiers like Cress, Uxie, Deo, Dusclops, Mew, etc. U-turn is key, it lets you pivot out of the obvious fairy switch in. Backed up with a steel type like the mighty escavalier to punish the retreat with knock off, or just outright kill with iron head you can break down a lot of defenses. Draco meteor is the nuke of course, it basically demolishes anything neutral to it. Flamethrower is great, the steel types arent strong enough to warrant fire blast. Focus Blast would be a solid choice as well, it does a number on Umbreon, Chansey and P2 (Escavalier beats all of these mons with Knock off + megahorn btw), but of course it misses all day so checking bisharp becomes shaky as fuck. I run timid because gotta go fast but modest might work.

 

[Feast]

Offensive core?

Offensive core.

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon

Nidoqueen (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 100 HP / 252 SAtk / 156 Spd
Modest Nature
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt

Hydreigon can switch in on the Ground, Water and Psychic attacks aimed at Nidoqueen with impunity. Nidoqueen can switch in on the Bug, Fighting and Fairy. Hydreigon also resists many types that Nidoqueen is neutral to such as Fire, Grass, Ghost and Dark whereas Nidoqueen can take Rock and Poison attacks that Hydreigon doesn't like.

Dragon and Ice type attacks will do a number on both so paring them with a Steel type like Bronzong works wonders.

 

[Swamp Link]

Offensive core?

Offensive core.

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon

Nidoqueen (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 100 HP / 252 SAtk / 156 Spd
Modest Nature
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt

Hydreigon can switch in on the Ground, Water and Psychic attacks aimed at Nidoqueen with impunity. Nidoqueen can switch in on the Bug, Fighting and Fairy. Hydreigon also resists many types that Nidoqueen is neutral to such as Fire, Grass, Ghost and Dark whereas Nidoqueen can take Rock and Poison attacks that Hydreigon doesn't like.

Dragon and Ice type attacks will do a number on both so paring them with a Steel type like Bronzong works wonders.

252+ SpA Life Orb Hydreigon Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Florges: 166-198 (46.1 - 55%) -- 9.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
If you predict the switch-in, if it's running a fully physically defensive spread, and if you get two high rolls, then you can KO Florges (the most prominent fairy) with Flash Cannon. Flash Cannon's not very helpful on Hydreigon, I'd suggest Roost in the last spot instead.