i like. Pecharunt a lot and I’ve been using a set that’s fun and it’s done me a lot of justice, reaching me top 18 on ladder at Halloween. no screenshot to prove but trust me bro
Pecharunt @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Poison Puppeteer
EVs: 216 HP / 252 Def / 40 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Malignant Chain
- Shadow Ball
- Nasty Plot / Fake Tears / Acid Spray / Curse
- Recover
This Pokémon checks 70-80% of physical attackers singlehandedly and even some special attackers. It’s got essentially 90 hp and 160 defense, and the aim of Weakness Policy over another item is to allow it to become a defensive wall while having offensive prowess. Max defense and HP while having 222 speed to outspeed Modest / Adamant base 60’s like Prim and Sylv, and those trying to outspeed it as well, like Raging Bolt.
Weakness Policy activates primarily against Iron Hands, Meowscarada, Dirge, Banded Pult, and Pecharunt.
Nasty Plot helps against generally everything, and Fake Tears is for Dirge / unaware Pokemon. Acid spray is similar but deals damage so it can be used to reliably beat Ninetales-Alola with its encore disable. Curse stops generally gimmicky strategies with more reliability than malignant, like Pressure stalling, Pain Split, etc. It also helps beat a lot of physical Dark Types, surprisingly.
252+ Atk Muk-Alola Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 216 HP / 252+ Def Pecharunt: 156-186 (42 - 50.1%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO.
This is all old news.
Weakness Policy particularly allows Pecharunt to beat Adamant Banded Meowsc: :
252+ Atk Choice Band Meowscarada Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 216 HP / 252+ Def Pecharunt: 236-282 (63.6 - 76%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
In return:
+2 0 SpA Pecharunt Malignant Chain vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Meowscarada: 516-608 (176.1 - 207.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
This is valuable because it makes the Meowscarada matchup much more reliable for Pecharunt. Otherwise, it becomes reliant on malignant RNG, which is a massive negative. Even “counterplay” with spamming Recover allows them to fish for crits, and still ends in the Meowsc’s favor.
Note it also simplifies the Metagross matchup:
0 SpA Pecharunt Shadow Ball vs. 240 HP / 48 SpD Metagross: 162-192 (44.8 - 53.1%) -- 24.6% chance to 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Metagross Psychic Fangs vs. 216 HP / 252+ Def Pecharunt: 242-288 (65.2 - 77.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Weakness Policy dies as well to a +3 Shadow Ball via Nasty Plot, and Assault Vest does not deal enough damage to defeat Recover & Shadow Ball.
Another reason to use Weakness Policy is that it still beats Donphan, much like Air Balloon Pech (but now you beat metagross and meowsc much more reliably, too!)
Here’s the calcs for Custap AND Band:
+2 0 SpA Pecharunt Shadow Ball vs. -2 0 HP / 232 SpD Donphan: 340-402 (105.9 - 125.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO (This is achieved with Acid Spray turn1.)
252+ Atk Choice Band Donphan Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 252+ Def Pecharunt: 260-308 (70 - 83%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Donphan Earthquake vs. 216 HP / 252+ Def Pecharunt: 174-206 (46.9 - 55.5%) -- 73.8% chance to 2HKO
Custap meets the same fate, but you Recover after clicking Acid Spray to cover Endure and attacking.
Weakness Policy keeps Pecharunt from being reliant on Poison Puppeteer and Curse without disabling its defensive prowess, and that deserves recognition on the Set Compendium.
: 127-150 (36.8 - 43.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO (Taunt the Iron Crown, then you win with 2 Thunderbolts and a Thunderclap)
Moonblast vs. 176 HP / 8 SpD 
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