Project National Dex OU Victim of the Week - Week 18: Mega Garchomp

[Robot7620]

mage + gastro

 

[peap]

Abstaining counters, going with Scizor for check. Mainly since the Gastro set as described falls to Cinderace HJK with a small amount of chip and gets pivoted on.

 

[pannu]

And voting is finished!

The winner of this week for Counters is Sigmatecture, gz!
as for Checks there was a tie so ill cast in my vote and vote for Scizor, gz Jordy!
you will both be added to the hall of fame! because i got to doing that now

As for this week i wanted to keep the theme of "big offensive threats", so we have one of the most threatening offensive pokemon there is in the meta


Magearna @ Choice Specs
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fleur Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Focus Blast
- Trick

With a very high Special attack stat thats paired with a very strong stab move in fleur cannon, amazing coverage in focus blast, pivoting in volt switch and Trick to cripple walls, there dont seem to be many threats to this pokemon, i wonder what you will come up with! Voting ends on friday at 11:59 pm gmt+1!​

 

[R8]

Set

Slowking-Galar @ Assault Vest
Calm Nature
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpA / 80 SpD
- Future Sight
- Sludge Bomb
- Flamethrower
- Scald

I'm not going to lie, i just stole the Galar OU set. But most 252 hp sets (if not every single viable one) tanks anything specs mag could try to throw at it. I didn't make the spread, but i assume it allows to switch and beat specs flash cannon mag 1v1 (Although you can pivot into a steel resist anyway).

The calcs that made me thinks that

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 80+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 112-133 (28.4 - 33.7%) -- 0.7% chance to 3HKO
176 SpA Slowking-Galar Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Magearna: 146-172 (48.5 - 57.1%) -- 89.8% chance to 2HKO
You also do not care about volt switch chip:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Volt Switch vs. 252 HP / 80+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 66-78 (16.7 - 19.7%) -- guaranteed 6HKO

Slowking galar isn't much bothered if it get tricked by the way. If you're running a black sludge set, magearna could even be crippled if it clicks trick against you. I picked the AV set here because it's the most effective set at countering specs magearna.

I submit that as a COUNTER.

Bonus lol eggs dee

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 80+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar: 150-178 (38 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[Zneon]

Cinderace @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Libero
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Pyro Ball
- U-turn
- High Jump Kick
- Zen Headbutt

Cinderace is one of the best offensive checks to Magearna. Magearna almost all the time is going to be forced out by Cinderace once it comes in safely because Pyro Ball is a KO on it every single time. Though it is a check and check only because Cinderace cannot switch into anything Magearna throws out well. Fleur Cannon alone does around 70%+ and that's a resisted move, so Cinderace isn't safe however its a great check nonetheless.

 

[Chemical_Jackfruit]

Golem-Alola @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Thunder Punch
- Explosion
- Fire Punch
Pretty simple check you get in on this thing through pivoting then click equake permanently removing mage after chip.
Submitting as a CHECK

 

[Piley]

Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magnet Pull
Hidden Power: Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Volt Switch

Magnezone can trap and take out Magearna if it either switches in on a trick or comes in after Magearna has killed something with Fleur Cannon. If Magearna goes for trick, even crits will not do anything to save it. Don't try to switch directly in on Fleur Cannon tho. Submitting as a check.

Calcs

-1 252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Fleur Cannon over 2 turns vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Magnezone: 178-210 (63.3 - 74.7%) -- not a KO
(-1 since in this scenario we're assuming that something was sacked to fleur cannon, therefore it would get a soul heart boost)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Magearna: 214-253 (71 - 84%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(hp fire does less damage}

 

[Byleth]

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 248 HP / 52 SpA / 192 SpD / 16 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leech Seed
- Earth Power
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis

Mega Venusaur is able to switch into Specs Magearna with relative ease, tanking Fleur Cannon pretty nicely and being Volt Switch resistant while eating up nearly any other option due to it's typing, and ability, while punishing it back with Earth Power for a guaranteed 2HKO after rocks or Leech Seed. What's intriguing to me for Mega Venusaur as a Specs Mag answer is that it's immune to Trick, as it is a Mega Evolution meaning you don't have to worry about being crippled just to address Magearna.

It is not without its problems however. Venusaur does not like taking repeated Volt Switches under rocks into a mon that pressures it, and specs Flash Cannon has the ability to 2HKO it after rocks (albeit a small chance at 29.3%). However, Venusaur can just Synthesis up and leech or have a steel resistant teammate.

EV's are to 2HKO pex with Earth Power after Leech Seed and to guarantee outspeeding Mega Mawile, while the rest go into HP and SpDef to handle mons like defensive tran specs gren and specs mag.

Calcs

Specs Mag into Fleur
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 248 HP / 192+ SpD Venusaur-Mega: 116-137 (31.9 - 37.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

Earth Power Venu after rocks
52 SpA Venusaur-Mega Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Magearna: 142-168 (47.1 - 55.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

Flash Cannon Mag after rocks
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Flash Cannon vs. 248 HP / 192+ SpD Venusaur-Mega: 144-169 (39.6 - 46.5%) -- 29.3% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock

Submitting as a COUNTER.

 

[413X]

Scarf Tini

Victini @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Final Gambit
- U-turn
- Bolt Strike

It can take at least 2 of every Mag hit coming at it and doesnt really mind about Specs being Tricked on it. Magearnas nearly always switch out after hitting a Victini once, so Tini can eat up 2 opportunities from Specs Mag which is quite rare in this meta.

This set is especially safe against Magearna because it can deal with every other set that Magearna can run including KissPower and Assault Vest.

Sadly this mon doesnt have access to any recovery to heal up and it is weak to rocks leaving it susceptible to being chipped hard so it is only a CHECK to specs Magearna.

hot hot hot calcs(v hot)

4 Atk Victini V-create vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Magearna: 344-408 (114.2 - 135.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Victini: 174-206 (43 - 50.9%) -- 4.7% chance to 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Volt Switch vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Victini: 126-149 (31.1 - 36.8%) -- 76.4% chance to 3HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Victini: 107-127 (26.4 - 31.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

 

[baconeatinassassin]

sets

whatever you want really, examples:
Amoonguss @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 104 Def / 152 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Clear Smog
- Giga Drain

Amoonguss @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Sludge Bomb
- Stun Spore
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Amoonguss's Grass/Poison typing resists all three of Volt Switch, Fleur Cannon and Focus Blast, and Regenerator prevents it from being worn down over time. If you want to be more insured against Specs Magearna variants with Flash Cannon/Hidden Power Fire and have the ability to scout other choiced special attackers you can use an Assault Vest set, which also comes with the perk of preventing Magearna from potentially crippling Amoonguss' teammates with Trick. 104 Defense prevents +2 Life Orb Rillaboom from OHKOing with Knock Off after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain.

Meanwhile, physically defensive is less shaky as a counter but gives a better matchup against Rillaboom/Mega Mawile and other certain physical attackers, and is less passive thanks to its ability to reliably spread status. 232 Defense with a Bold nature prevents the OHKO from +2 Knock Off from Mega Mawile, +2 Z-Darkest Lariat Rillaboom after rocks and Grassy Terrain, and +1 Psyshock from Mega Latias after rocks. It also lets itemless or Clear Smog Amoonguss to guaranteed take two hits from Life Orb Rillaboom from full after rocks, allowing it to 1v1 Rillaboom.

calcs

vs Assault Vest:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 152+ SpD Assault Vest Amoonguss: 107-126 (24.7 - 29.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 152+ SpD Assault Vest Amoonguss: 133-157 (30.7 - 36.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 104 Def Amoonguss: 342-403 (79.1 - 93.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain recovery


vs physically defensive:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Fleur Cannon vs. 252 HP / 24 SpD Amoonguss: 204-240 (47.2 - 55.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
(doesn't account for spattack drop)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magearna Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 24 SpD Amoonguss: 252-297 (58.3 - 68.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

vs other mons

+1 0 SpA Latias-Mega Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Amoonguss: 318-374 (73.6 - 86.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

if helmet:
+2 252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile-Mega Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Amoonguss: 366-431 (84.7 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252+ Atk Rillaboom Black Hole Eclipse (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Amoonguss: 341-402 (78.9 - 93%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain recovery

if clear smog + helmet:
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Amoonguss: 269-317 (62.2 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Amoonguss: 91-108 (21 - 25%) -- possible 5HKO after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain recovery
maximum damage is 98.3%, clear smog into sludge bomb will KO rillaboom with the life orb recoil

if itemless:
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Rillaboom Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Amoonguss: 181-213 (41.8 - 49.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Grassy Terrain recovery

 

[pannu]

And submissions have closed! There where alot of submissions this time around, yall sure do love checking specs mage huh.
Anyways what you'll vote for this week is

Counters
by R8bbit Konijn Lapin
by Unwizardly Kid
by BaconEatinAssassin

Checks
by Zneon
by Chemical_Jackfruit
by Dragonpiley07
by 413x

Vote for your favorite in the Counters category or your 2 favorites in the checks category! Also, reminder you can vote for a category that you haven't submitted to (I.e if you submitted a check you can vote for counter)
Voting ends on Sunday at 11:59pm gmt+1

​

 

[R8]

Check : cinderace

Broken checks broken

 

[KJLX]

Counter : galarian slowking
Check : cinderace

 

[Amberr]

Counter: Amoongus
Check:Victini

 

[Piley]

counter: slowking-g

 

[KirbCena]

Counter: Glowking

Check: Victini

 

[Optify]

Counter: glowking

Check: cinderace

 

[pannu]

The most certainly not very late results have came in!
The winner of this weeks counter is R8bbit Konijn Lapin with Galarian-Slowking, Grats! as for checks the winner was Zneon with Cinderace, congratulations on that! You will both be added to hall of fame when i get around to doing it...
Anyways, for this week we have one of the most common pokemon in the metagame

Clefable @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 96 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Thunder
- Soft-Boiled
Threatening to set up alot of calm minds and then hit you with a powerful Life orb Boosted Moonblast, CM clefable is a genuine threat to alot of teams, especially considering how status effects dont hurt it, i wonder what checks or counters you submit this time?
Submissions end on Friday at 11:59pm gmt+1
​

 

[Avaritia]

Submitting Magnezone as a Counter:


Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Modest Nature
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Fire

I can't believe it's not calcs!

0 SpA Life Orb Clefable Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 70-82 (24.9 - 29.1%) -- 99.9% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magnezone Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 96+ SpD Clefable: 386-456 (97.9 - 115.7%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO

After 1 CM:
+1 0 SpA Life Orb Clefable Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 104-123 (37 - 43.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magnezone Flash Cannon vs. +1 252 HP / 96+ SpD Clefable: 258-306 (65.4 - 77.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

After 2 CMs:
+2 0 SpA Life Orb Clefable Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 138-164 (49.1 - 58.3%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Magnezone Flash Cannon vs. +2 252 HP / 96+ SpD Clefable: 194-230 (49.2 - 58.3%) -- 98% chance to 2HKO

Sorry (again! ) for pulling from last week, but again, I think even this kind of standard set is very effective at countering Clefable, where 87.5% of the time Clefable is one-shot from full by Flash Cannon, while naturally resisting both of its moves. So, if Clefable decides to use Moonblast on switch-in, almost all the time it would either need to switch out else get outsped and killed. If Clefable uses Calm Mind instead, it still gets 2HKO-ed as well if it decides to stay in. There is also a great benefit in being immune to parahax that could come about from switching into a stray Thunder.

Magnezone also threatens to Volt Switch if the player predicts the Clefable to switch out to something else, potentially gaining momentum while dealing a chunk of damage to whatever is switched in. Furthermore, Magnezone is extremely flexible and can be paired with a myriad of Pokemon that benefit from it not only threatening Fairy-Types like Clefable but Steel-Types like Corviknight and Ferrothorn - Pokemon that Clefable is very commonly paired with.

Definitely has its shortcomings (Moonblast hax, getting repeatedly chunked) but also is just one of the most versatile and effective Pokemon to answer Clefable and its potential partners.​

 

[Piley]

reserving excadrill

 

[KirbCena]

Reserving Mega Scizor

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

(ironically this doesnt get heart swap)
Magearna @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 248 HP / 52 Def / 156 SpD / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
- Heart Swap
- Pain Split

Counter. Magearna can come in on anything at +1 (barring Fire Blast) and proceed to Heart Swap Clefable’s boosts away, then smack it very hard with a Flash Cannon. It can also gain momentum as Clefable switches. There’s not much to say here, just be wary of getting too worn down by its moves if you lack Leftovers.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Submitting victini as a check




Victini @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 32 HP / 224 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- U-turn
- Bolt Strike
- Toxic


This set checks cm clef pretty well, as it's able to use its good bulk and resistance to moonblast to switch in on it decently well. The given spread prevents +1 Life orb thunder from 2HKOing letting it come in on it more safely. Really liked jordys idea of toxic in the last slot so I used that here. Now ofcourse it is prone to being worn down, meaning it may struggle in checking it in the long term which is why it's stated as a check only. Also thunders para chance is annoying as hell, but it's a 20 % chance factoring accuracy so eh and then again it's a check, not a counter.

 

[thegarbodr]

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy subumting as check
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spa
Brave Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Iron Head
- Shadow Sneak
- Air Slash
This pokemon is just a beast agisnt clef you would kill it even if he has fire blast and it just solid hope you like it.

 

[pannu]

And submissions have finished, only its exactly a week later than I said it would! Dear God I am horrible at doing things when I said I would, instead of fixing my issues I'll just get someone else to do it for me! I'd like to welcome Kaitlyn onto this project as my cohost! Hopefully shes better at sticking to schedule then I am...
Anyways uh, voting

Counters
by Avaritia GC
by Solaros & Lunaris

Checks
by The Dragon Master
by thegarbodr

Remember to vote for both categories if you can, voting ends on Sunday the 7th at 11:59pm gmt+1 (Actually, this time)​