-
Snag some vintage SPL team logo merch over at our Teespring store before January 12th!
-
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
OU BW OU Victim of the Week: Week 9 - Alakazam | Submissions Phase
- Thread starter Aether
- Start date
- Status
counter: toxicroak looks the most solid choice here; gets my vote.
check: breloom. I believe it threatens the common partners of scarf tyranitar more effectively than alternatives
check: breloom. I believe it threatens the common partners of scarf tyranitar more effectively than alternatives
There is currently a tie between Scizor and Breloom, so I will be breaking it and voting for Scizor. That said, congrats to Grabby for winning the checks, and Fakee for winning the counters of Week 6! Your submission will be added to the Hall of Fame Shortly!
The submissions phase will end on Wednesday, May 4th at 11:59pm EDT (GMT -4).
Submissions Phase
Excadrill's is, in my opinon, one of the strongest Pokémon in the tier. An impressive 135 Base Attack and acess to good Ground/Steel STAB makes it increadbaly hard to defensively answer. It is also able to threaten the most common Stealth Rock users in the tier with its STAB moves. How will you deal with this mole?
Note: Please assume Sandstorm is active when submitting your checks and counters!Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Protect
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Protect
Excadrill's is, in my opinon, one of the strongest Pokémon in the tier. An impressive 135 Base Attack and acess to good Ground/Steel STAB makes it increadbaly hard to defensively answer. It is also able to threaten the most common Stealth Rock users in the tier with its STAB moves. How will you deal with this mole?
The submissions phase will end on Wednesday, May 4th at 11:59pm EDT (GMT -4).
Last edited:
Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Level: 100
Impish Nature
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 2252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Brave Bird
Haha Funny Metal Bird Woooooo
Very Standard Check to the Excadrill counter with its immunity to Earthquake and resisting Iron Head. Excadrill needs to flinch it down in order to kill it. With Roost, it is able to stand in the way of Excadrill. Also with Rocky Helmet, it is able to damage Excadrill while out damaging its Leftovers.
Edit: Nominating as a Counter
Last edited:
Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Def / 252 Spe
IVs: 30 Spe
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Hidden Power Ice
A pretty standard, albeit boring counter to Excadrill. Landorus-T easily survives 1 Iron Head after Rocks with Sand up and is fast enough to force Excadrill out with Earthquake. Landorus-T also has the distinction of being one of the few Rockers that beats Excadrill, the other being Gliscor.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 100 Def / 4 SpA / 44 SpD / 112 Spe
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Hidden Power Ice
- Heat Wave
Hard check! it can take attacks well but it can get flinched and chip does hinder it to do well
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 100+ Def Zapdos in Sand: 89-105 (23.2 - 27.4%) -- 66.2% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock, sandstorm damage, and Leftovers recovery
With a flinch it can break through zapdos but in a 1v1 exca will rarely ever break through zapdos and may run out of iron head PP before it does so or it dies to heat wave
0 SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 248-292 (68.6 - 80.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 100 Def / 4 SpA / 44 SpD / 112 Spe
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Roost
- Hidden Power Ice
- Heat Wave
Hard check! it can take attacks well but it can get flinched and chip does hinder it to do well
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 100+ Def Zapdos in Sand: 89-105 (23.2 - 27.4%) -- 66.2% chance to 3HKO after Stealth Rock, sandstorm damage, and Leftovers recovery
With a flinch it can break through zapdos but in a 1v1 exca will rarely ever break through zapdos and may run out of iron head PP before it does so or it dies to heat wave
0 SpA Zapdos Heat Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 248-292 (68.6 - 80.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Nominating Sub Salac Garchomp as a check.
Garchomp @ Salac Berry
Jolly Nature
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
Having a naturally faster mon than Excadrill is great for regaining offensive momentum. Since Scarf Chomp is such a great set, many Drill will want to either Protect to scout the move, or immediately switch to their Ground resist. Substitute will punish either option, and if you get an SD and/or activate Salac Berry, you'll have a really threatening attacker that only gets outsped by Scarf Keldeo, Terrakion, or the Latis.
Chomp is also immune to Sandstorm and resistant to Stealth Rock, making keeping it throughout the game relatively consistent (though you don't want to pivot this in and out of the game with Spikes down).
Garchomp @ Salac Berry
Jolly Nature
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
Having a naturally faster mon than Excadrill is great for regaining offensive momentum. Since Scarf Chomp is such a great set, many Drill will want to either Protect to scout the move, or immediately switch to their Ground resist. Substitute will punish either option, and if you get an SD and/or activate Salac Berry, you'll have a really threatening attacker that only gets outsped by Scarf Keldeo, Terrakion, or the Latis.
Chomp is also immune to Sandstorm and resistant to Stealth Rock, making keeping it throughout the game relatively consistent (though you don't want to pivot this in and out of the game with Spikes down).
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 20 Def / 240 SpD
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Nominating this as a counter, it is immune to EQ assuming it is Sand Force and quadruple resists Iron Head. After taking a hit, it can then respond back with a clean OHKO via Hydro Pump.
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Iron Head vs. 248 HP / 20 Def Rotom-Wash in Sand: 44-52 (14.5 - 17.1%) -- possible 6HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 384-452 (106.3 - 125.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 384-452 (106.3 - 125.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Do we assume we know the ability once Excadrill has come in or are we presuming it's on team preview (where we don't know the ability)?
Cuz if that Drill's Mold Breaker no way are you switching a Levitator into it.
Last edited:
Check (Counter if slowed)
Magnezone @ Air Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sunny Day
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Magnet Rise
This is admittedly somewhat of an inconsistent check due to the fact that it loses to a flinch, but that problem is addressed by pairing it with something that can slow down exca for it, that usually being icy + uturn rachi. This is a little unique from the other checks in that it can actually trap drill and remove it guaranteed, which is notable for certain offensive concepts.
Magnezone @ Air Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sunny Day
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Magnet Rise
This is admittedly somewhat of an inconsistent check due to the fact that it loses to a flinch, but that problem is addressed by pairing it with something that can slow down exca for it, that usually being icy + uturn rachi. This is a little unique from the other checks in that it can actually trap drill and remove it guaranteed, which is notable for certain offensive concepts.
Counter:
FlygonWithSunglasses.JPG
Flygon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 96 HP / 252 Atk / 160 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Roost
- U-turn
- Toxic
This might be the single best excadrill check objectively and without fault. This mon is able to stomach every single attack excadrills stupid claw hands can dish out and retaliate back with its higher speed and likely kill with its impressive stab earthquake;
252 Atk Flygon Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Excadrill: 414-488 (97.6 - 115%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Indeed, bar crits, which every possible answer can theoretically succumb to, Flygon should be held up as a bastion of sustainability against the stupid mole. Roost allows Flygon to stay healthy should it directly take a Sand Force Iron Head or Mold Breaker Earthquake, and U-Turn and Toxic allows Flygon to threaten a large SWATH of the metagame with either momentum or crippling status.
Not to mention there are plenty of otherviable options as well, Fire Blast allows Flygon to more directly threaten Ferrothorn and Skarmory with supereffective damage and Outrage is a move that hits things. If one wanted to be particularly attractive they could even run Hidden Power Ice and a Naive Nature, which allows Flygon to retain its incredible Excadrill annihilating niche and 2HKO Landot while doing nonzero damage to Gliscor.
If you run physdef exca i will flame you
FlygonWithSunglasses.JPG
Flygon @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 96 HP / 252 Atk / 160 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Roost
- U-turn
- Toxic
This might be the single best excadrill check objectively and without fault. This mon is able to stomach every single attack excadrills stupid claw hands can dish out and retaliate back with its higher speed and likely kill with its impressive stab earthquake;
252 Atk Flygon Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Excadrill: 414-488 (97.6 - 115%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Indeed, bar crits, which every possible answer can theoretically succumb to, Flygon should be held up as a bastion of sustainability against the stupid mole. Roost allows Flygon to stay healthy should it directly take a Sand Force Iron Head or Mold Breaker Earthquake, and U-Turn and Toxic allows Flygon to threaten a large SWATH of the metagame with either momentum or crippling status.
Not to mention there are plenty of other
If you run physdef exca i will flame you
THE ZONGER
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Earthquake
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 168 Def Bronzong in Sand: 73-87 (21.5 - 25.7%)
0 Atk Bronzong Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Excadrill: 194-230 (53.7 - 63.7%)
Way better than monai's shitty flygon
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Earthquake
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 168 Def Bronzong in Sand: 73-87 (21.5 - 25.7%)
0 Atk Bronzong Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Excadrill: 194-230 (53.7 - 63.7%)
Way better than monai's shitty flygon
beginning to sound like a broken record now
Rotom @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 144 HP / 132 Def / 232 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Pain Split
Check:
Rotom may not be the bulkiest Excadrill switch-in compared to the likes of Rotom-W, Zapdos, or Skarmory, but is has the upside of blocking Drill's Rapid Spin and therefore truly stopping it from doing its job - removing hazards. EV spread here outspeeds Jolly 252 Spe Excadrill though Rotom's speed can be lowered to Timid 132 Spe if you only want to beat Adamant. This speed ensures it can threaten Excadrill with a fast Will-O-Wisp or leech from its HP with a nasty Pain Split. Rocky Helmet ties into this idea further, ensuring that Excadrill will be incapacitated if it tries to brute force its way through Rotom combined with burn and Pain Split. Although Rotom rarely outright 1v1s Excadrill, it will ensure that it can be easily picked off by a fast partner immediately following its demise therefore denying Excadrill's Rapid Spin.
Can provide high ladder replays if needed
Rotom @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 144 HP / 132 Def / 232 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
- Will-O-Wisp
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Pain Split
Check:
Rotom may not be the bulkiest Excadrill switch-in compared to the likes of Rotom-W, Zapdos, or Skarmory, but is has the upside of blocking Drill's Rapid Spin and therefore truly stopping it from doing its job - removing hazards. EV spread here outspeeds Jolly 252 Spe Excadrill though Rotom's speed can be lowered to Timid 132 Spe if you only want to beat Adamant. This speed ensures it can threaten Excadrill with a fast Will-O-Wisp or leech from its HP with a nasty Pain Split. Rocky Helmet ties into this idea further, ensuring that Excadrill will be incapacitated if it tries to brute force its way through Rotom combined with burn and Pain Split. Although Rotom rarely outright 1v1s Excadrill, it will ensure that it can be easily picked off by a fast partner immediately following its demise therefore denying Excadrill's Rapid Spin.
Can provide high ladder replays if needed
Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Toxic
- Haze
- Rest
Owns that Drill, toxics the switch ins, also takes hits from Keldeo so that's a bonus AND Haze is goated to have. Take that, Monai.
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Flame Charge
check:
although it can only enter once, but if well played and preserved, it can have more than one thanks to the fact that it is faster than Excadrill
btw
Suggesting Gurdurr
Gurdurr @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Rest
- Ice Punch
Check:
Gurdurr is a solid mon who can easily withstand any move from exca:
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Gurdurr in Sand: 117-138 (31.2 - 36.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after sandstorm damage
252+ Atk Excadrill Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Gurdurr: 79-94 (21.1 - 25.1%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO
252+ Atk Excadrill Rapid Spin vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Gurdurr: 14-17 (3.7 - 4.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever
It also forces exca to switch out because they are afraid of a possible drain punch or even a mach punch.
Gurdurr @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Rest
- Ice Punch
Check:
Gurdurr is a solid mon who can easily withstand any move from exca:
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Gurdurr in Sand: 117-138 (31.2 - 36.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after sandstorm damage
252+ Atk Excadrill Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Gurdurr: 79-94 (21.1 - 25.1%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO
252+ Atk Excadrill Rapid Spin vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Gurdurr: 14-17 (3.7 - 4.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever
It also forces exca to switch out because they are afraid of a possible drain punch or even a mach punch.
Jellicent @ Air Balloon
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Night Shade
Nominating as a check. You cant use this throughout the entirety of a game, but is useful not only in temporarily walling excas attacks, but also preventing the spin. Put in a lot of speed and rest in defense. I personally like mine to be v fast but up to you. Also make sure its female, as it looks better.
@ orb244 hp / xxx def / 252 - xxx SpD
- earthquake
- stealth rock
- protect
- filler (uturn, knockoff, icefang, wing atk)
wowzers gliscor swaps into the exca, tanks its attacks (ignores chip with spikes immunity, status immunity, ph tect) and sets sr if exca spins… on paper it can be worn down(use roost i guess…?) but in practice, it does not/lasts long enough to keep up hazards and momentum
lol @ this exercise… ppl always propose whack shit for the xD… even i wouldnt bring skarmory to an spl match
Eelektross @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 Def
- Volt Switch
- Flamethrower
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Giga Drain
Eelektross has levitate so he is immune to earthquake, and he resists iron head. He has leftovers to heal, and also giga drain. for Gastrodon. Flamethrower hits Ferrothorn. HP Ice hits Latios and Landorus, Gliscor, etc. You can also run superpower for Tyranitar, but I'd rather have the speed and not have to sacrifice bulk. This outspeed 4 speed Ttar. He isn't TOO bulky though, iron head in the sand does hurt hehe.
252+ Atk Sand Force Excadrill Iron Head vs. 160 HP / 0 Def Eelektross in Sand: 115-136 (32.7 - 38.7%) -- 99.5% chance to 3HKO after sandstorm damage and Leftovers recovery
Excadrill Earthquake vs. Levitate Eelektross: 0-0 (0 - 0%) -- possibly the worst move ever
Voting Phase
I forgot about this so I'll just let voting run the rest of the week and then we'll start another victim next week. The Voting phase will last until Saturday, May 14th at 11:59pm EDT (GMT -4). You can click each sprite to go to the corresponding post.
Checks
Counters
Thank you to everybody who submitted a set and have fun voting!
I forgot about this so I'll just let voting run the rest of the week and then we'll start another victim next week. The Voting phase will last until Saturday, May 14th at 11:59pm EDT (GMT -4). You can click each sprite to go to the corresponding post.
Checks
Counters
Thank you to everybody who submitted a set and have fun voting!
heatran
skarm
skarm
Checks: 
ROTOM GAAAAANNNNGGG
Counters:
ROTOM GAAAAANNNNGGG Counters:
- Status