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Project Victim of the Week 2.0: ZU Edition
- Thread starter 5Dots
- Start date
pilo and tomb
USER | POKEMON | SET | VOTES |
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looks like we've got a 3-way tie between myself, Corthius, and stainedMorph! that might very well be a first for votw 2.0, so kudos! our next victim on the chopping block is...
Malamar @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Superpower
- Knock Off
- Sleep Talk
malamar saw a big rise in yesterday's newly-updated viability rankings, and with good reason too: its ability to spread knock off, tank special hits, and snowball both its attacking and defending prowess alongside resttalk has cemented malamar as a key threat to account for when building in the current metagame. S1nn0hC0nfirm3d even coined the term "malamar-blindness" to refer to one's inability to prepare for malamar in the teambuilder! with that in mind, how are you overcoming your own "malamar-blindness"?
submissions will be accepted until friday may 27th at 11:59 pm gmt -4. good luck!
Sorry for the wait,
I just got lost on the path of life.
Accelgor @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Bug Buzz
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Bomb
- U-turn
Sadly this week is here to send my favorite mon in zu (the squid behemoth) to the depths filled with unforgiving walls and checks. Accelgor is a clean check, being able to take a free switch in and obliterate Malamar with a quad effective Buzz. It can also keep the momentum by using U-turn which also threatens Malamar. A safe way to get Accelgor in is to switch the turn the Malamar has to Rest. Even though it hurts, Accelgor can take a Knock and keep it's item.
And again, I am sorry for the wait.
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reserving shiinotic (bc ofc)
Alcremie @ Leftovers
Ability: Aroma Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
Alcremie is a counter to the given Malamar set, resisting both of its attacks and reliably preventing a sweep throughout the course of the battle, whilst Calm Mind allows Alcremie to gain momentum against the squid by threatening a sweep of its own. The icing on the cake is that Alcremie's access to reliable healing means that Malamar has to play conservatively with Superpower in longer matches, or risk its PP being shrivelled away.
+1 0 Atk Malamar Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Alcremie: 63-75 (18.8 - 22.4%) -- possible 5HKO
+1 0 Atk Malamar Superpower vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Alcremie: 52-61 (15.5 - 18.2%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery
4 SpA Alcremie Dazzling Gleam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Malamar: 164-194 (43.6 - 51.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 0 Atk Malamar Superpower vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Alcremie: 52-61 (15.5 - 18.2%) -- possible 8HKO after Leftovers recovery
4 SpA Alcremie Dazzling Gleam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Malamar: 164-194 (43.6 - 51.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
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Spiritomb @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Dark Pulse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
CroTomb counters the squid by being immune to Superpower and doesn’t take much damage from knock off. It doesn’t appreciate losing its item but unless Malamar gets really lucky with crits spiritomb can freely set up on it.
0 Atk Malamar Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Spiritomb: 67-79 (22 - 25.9%) -- 3.3% chance to 4HKO (before Leftovers gets Knocked)
0 Atk Malamar Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Spiritomb: 45-54 (14.8 - 17.7%) -- possible 6HKO (After leftovers gets knocked)
0 SpA Spiritomb Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Malamar: 70-84 (18.6 - 22.3%) -- possible 5HKO
+1 0 SpA Spiritomb Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Malamar: 105-124 (27.9 - 32.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
0 Atk Malamar Knock Off vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Spiritomb: 45-54 (14.8 - 17.7%) -- possible 6HKO (After leftovers gets knocked)
0 SpA Spiritomb Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Malamar: 70-84 (18.6 - 22.3%) -- possible 5HKO
+1 0 SpA Spiritomb Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Malamar: 105-124 (27.9 - 32.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
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Crustle @ Heavy-Duty Boots / White Herb
Ability: Sturdy / Weak Armor
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Stone Edge
- X-Scissor
- Earthquake
kind of a niche check but it works! you can afford to run adamant over jolly because youll still outspeed 0 speed malamar.
252+ Atk Crustle X-Scissor vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Malamar: 552-652 (146.8 - 173.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO [before they superpower]
252+ Atk Crustle X-Scissor vs. +1 252 HP / 0 Def Malamar: 372-436 (98.9 - 115.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO (guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock)[you come in as they superpower]
0 Atk Malamar Superpower vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Crustle: 67-79 (23.8 - 28.1%) -- 90.6% chance to 4HKO
+1 0 Atk Malamar Superpower vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Crustle: 149-176 (53 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO [if weak armor or after a shell smash]
252+ Atk Crustle X-Scissor vs. +1 252 HP / 0 Def Malamar: 372-436 (98.9 - 115.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO (guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock)[you come in as they superpower]
0 Atk Malamar Superpower vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Crustle: 67-79 (23.8 - 28.1%) -- 90.6% chance to 4HKO
+1 0 Atk Malamar Superpower vs. -1 0 HP / 4 Def Crustle: 149-176 (53 - 62.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO [if weak armor or after a shell smash]
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how fitting that the mon without many answers is the one with the least submissions :owohehe:. please vote for one submission! voting will end sunday may 29 at 11:59 pm gmt -4. my vote goes to 
!
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Alcremie
Alcremie
USER | POKEMON | SET | VOTES |
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Marsheaux and alcremie won this week with a huge landslide, probably the biggest one we've seen yet! congrats! moving right along, we've got...
Rapidash @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
- Flare Blitz
- High Horsepower
- Morning Sun
submissions will be accepted until friday june 3rd, ending at 11:59 pm gmt -4 as always. good luck everyone, and have fun!
Altaria @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 180 Def / 60 SpD / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Toxic
- Hurricane
Altaria is a counter to Rapidash, easily recovering the little it takes from the Fire-type's attacks and shrugging off any status with Natural Cure - in contrast, Rapidash is crippled and permanently set on a timer by Toxic, whose damage stacks nastily with recoil from Flare Blitz.
0 Atk Rapidash Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 180+ Def Altaria: 53-63 (14.9 - 17.7%) -- possible 6HKO
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Poliwrath @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Circle Throw
- Scald
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Counter
Poliwrath counters every Rapidash set outside of Sun + Solar Blade and can easily switchin troughout the match multiple times due RestTalk. It further punishes Rapidash with Rocky Helmet.
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Qwilfish @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Spikes
- Liquidation
Qwilfish easily counters dash as it shrugs off even High Horsepower and inflicts helmet chip in doing so. It can then proceed to do whatever tf it wants. Spike up, Toxic the incoming Rotom, hit dash hard with Liquidation if it decides to stay in, etc. Pain Split can also be run to be a reliable answer throughout the game.
-1 0 Atk Rapidash Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Qwilfish: 34-41 (10.1 - 12.2%)
-1 0 Atk Rapidash High Horsepower vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Qwilfish: 74-88 (22.1 - 26.3%)
0 Atk Qwilfish Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rapidash: 236-278 (70.6 - 83.2%)
-1 0 Atk Rapidash High Horsepower vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Qwilfish: 74-88 (22.1 - 26.3%)
0 Atk Qwilfish Liquidation vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rapidash: 236-278 (70.6 - 83.2%)
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Rhydon @ Eviolite
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 156 SpD / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Rhydon is well known to be a sturdy Rapidash counter - High Horsepower 5HKOes Rhydon after Stealth Rock, while Rhydon immediately can defeat Rapidash with either Earthquake or Stone Edge. Rapidash needs to rely on Toxic and other hazards to whittle Rhydon down, though the rhinoceros will often be accompanied with secondary checks or a cleric, making it difficult for Rapidash to progress.
0 Atk Rapidash High Horsepower vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Rhydon: 78-94 (18.8 - 22.7%) -- possible 5HKO
0 Atk Rapidash Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Rhydon: 37-44 (8.9 - 10.6%) -- lol
16+ Atk Rhydon Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rapidash: 404-476 (120.9 - 142.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
16+ Atk Rhydon Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rapidash: 404-476 (120.9 - 142.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 Atk Rapidash Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Rhydon: 37-44 (8.9 - 10.6%) -- lol
16+ Atk Rhydon Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rapidash: 404-476 (120.9 - 142.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
16+ Atk Rhydon Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rapidash: 404-476 (120.9 - 142.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
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