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Victim Of The Week [VoTW #27 - Zygarde / Zygarde-Complete]

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Uninspired? Yeah. Beats the victim? Yeah.

serperior.gif

Serperior @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Glare
- Reflect
- Synthesis

Despite kang being way less relevant, i still really enjoy using serperior as an loom/non-scarf chomper counterplay, and the Synthesis variant just so happens to switch in on every fini variant, barring an incredibly unlikely Ice Beam freeze after misty terrain wears off.

Not even fairium (awful set by the way) can kill serp, with synthesis doing more than moonblasts after the zmove is consumed!

252+ SpA Tapu Fini Twinkle Tackle (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 138-163 (75.8 - 89.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 76-90 (41.7 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

In such a matchup, you can literally cheese for special attack "drops", eventually scaring the fini out, or if it gets 2 "drops" on you, you can go for the throat!

+2 0 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 186-222 (105.6 - 126.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Uninvested serperior 2-shots the fini, and by the end of the exchange gets to +4 if the fini user is stupid enough to stay in once synthesis is revealed.
0 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 96-114 (54.5 - 64.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Serp has recently been a mon I appreciate more and more during building, it's often so nice to have an earthquake switchin and a spore switchin and a bullet seed switchin and a speed control user and a screener all in one. Try it out!
 
kartana.gif

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Psycho Cut

Kartana works as a good Fini check thanks to its great attack stat and can actually take a hit from Fini, despite its crappy special bulk.

vs Defensive Fini
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Tapu Fini: 132-156 (75 - 88.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 60-72 (44.4 - 53.3%) -- 32% chance to 2HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Brine vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 42-49 (31.1 - 36.2%) -- 60.1% chance to 3HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Surf vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 57-68 (42.2 - 50.3%) -- 1.2% chance to 2HKO
Vs Offensive Fini
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 176-210 (100 - 119.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 97-115 (71.8 - 85.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 84-99 (62.2 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 107-127 (79.2 - 94%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

This set works as a good revenge killer against prominent threats like Tapu Lele and Hippowdon, and once it starts to accumulate boosts, it can create some real problems for the enemy team!
 
089-a.png

Muk-Alola @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
- Shadow Sneak / Fire Blast
- Pursuit

Fears pretty much nothing Tapu Fini throws at it except for Guardian of Alola on the switch-in, but will KO or force Fini out 100% of the time otherwise. Very straight forward counter so there isn't much to say about it other than it wins the match-up. Also handles Lele, Koko and P2 ( to a lesser extent ), so that's nice too. Kinda hurts that Garchomp & Ground-type coverage in general is everywhere nowadays, but that can be easily circunvented with team support.
 
File:Spr_6x_131.png

Lapras @ Assault Vest
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Def / 196 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Freeze-Dry
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Shard
- Sheer Cold
With above average bulk, access to Water Absorb and Freeze-Dry make Lapras a formidable special tank, walling most water-types.
Calcs:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Lapras: 76-90 (35.6 - 42.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Lapras: 51-61 (23.9 - 28.6%) -- 97.3% chance to 4HKO
196+ SpA Lapras Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Fini: 78-92 (44 - 51.9%) -- 8.6% chance to 2HKO
Freeze-Dry and Hydro Pump have perfect coverage, so the other slots are filler. Ice Shard provides useful priority, while Sheer Cold allows Lapras to break through Calm Mind Fini, while becoming a terrifying stallbreaker.
 
Submissions are now closed! There are to be no edits of your own Pokemon, nor are there to be any new submissions. A few quick things to note;
  • Voting will close on the 22/4 at 12:30pm GMT+11 (8:30pm EST 14/4), where the next Vitim Of The Week will also be announced
  • You can't vote for your own submission
  • You can only change your vote once, so think carefully before doing so
  • You can vote even if you haven't made a submission. It is expected that you vote if you did submit yourself, but not compulsory
Best of luck everybody!
toxapex.gif

Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Recover
Probably the best counter to fini. Toxapex can stall out Misty Terrain and can then Toxic it. Haze is used to handle CM Fini's. Because of Toxapex's bulk it takes minor damage from Fini's move. If you get Taunted and HP reduced to half through nature's madness then you can simply switch-out and then switch-in again since it gets regenerators. Apart from fini it handles many other physical attackers in the tier.
395.png

- Ice Beam
- Flash Cannon / Grass Knot

Yeah i know, it's Empoleon. But sometimes my figers just move on their own.
But hey, even being bad this thing can work vs Tapu Fini.
First, it resists both of its STABs...

252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Empoleon: 36-42 (21 - 24.5%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Empoleon: 42-49 (24.5 - 28.6%) -- 99.1% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Surf vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Empoleon: 33-40 (19.2 - 23.3%) -- possible 5HKO

Then, Empoleon can either attack (flash cannon it's a 3hko before petaya) or easily set up Agility if not Taunted (evs are to outspeed base 130 after 1 boost).
In the perfect scenario you'd be able to turn this thing into a fast penguin (with 2 boost it outspeeds every scarf user barring Jolly Pheromosa) with a boosted SpA thanks to the Petaya.

Now you'd be able to pressure your enemy just until the first Focus Sash Garchomp arrives.
gengar-mega.png

Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 236 HP / 4 Def / 12 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hypnosis
- Hex
- Sludge Bomb
- Substitute

Pretty straightforward. 2HKOs Fini with Sludge Bomb and is a hellish matchup against everything slower and that doesn't resist its moves. Just be careful with Fini's terrain when using this monster and also scream when Hypnosis misses.
12 SpA Mega Gengar Sludge Bomb vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 132-156 (75 - 88.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

vs. Defensive
0 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 236 HP / 4 SpD Mega Gengar: 27-32 (16.3 - 19.3%) -- possible 6HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Surf vs. 236 HP / 4 SpD Mega Gengar: 51-61 (30.9 - 36.9%) -- 72.9% chance to 3HKO

vs. Offensive
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 236 HP / 4 SpD Mega Gengar: 87-103 (52.7 - 62.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Vortex (185 BP) vs. 236 HP / 4 SpD Mega Gengar: 144-171 (87.2 - 103.6%) -- 25% chance to OHKO
What Pokemon counters a Water-type Tapu? A Grass-type Tapu, in this case Tapu Bulu.
tapubulu.gif

Tapu Bulu @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge

Grassy Terrain does leave it suspectible to a burn from Scald, but on the flip side it doubles the power of Grass-type moves thus cancelling the power out if such a case occurs.

This is the commonly used Choice Band set, and a Band is always the best item to get around Haze and Taunt. A Choice-Band boosted Wood Hammer is nothing to scoff at, and will even OHKO Fini when burned by Scald and Grassy Terrain is activated. Horn Leech is the alternative STAB move used to recover health. From a defensive point of view, base 95 Sp.Def is good for an all-out attacker, as even a +1 Ice Beam won't OHKO it.

Here're the calcs:
+1 0 SpA Tapu Fini Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Bulu: 194-230 (68.7 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band burned Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 248 HP / 248+ Def Tapu Fini in Grassy Terrain: 318-375 (92.7 - 109.3%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 248 HP / 248+ Def Tapu Fini in Grassy Terrain: 636-750 (185.4 - 218.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
ferrothorn.gif

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
IV's: 0 Spe
Relaxed Nature
- Power Whip
- Gyro Ball
- Leech Seed
- Protect

Tapu Fini can be a tough nut to crack due to the fact that it can run both offensive and defensive sets well and it can smack Pokemon it normally can't touch with Nature's Madness. Ferrothorn is one of the few Pokemon that can handle both offensive and defensive Fini, with Power Whip carrying a 91% chance to 2HKO 244/252+ Fini, and cleanly 2HKOing Modest variants or Bold variants that don't invest quite as much in Def. Nature's Madness can still be a nuisance, but Ferrothorn can shrug off the damage through the combination of Leftovers + Leech Seed + Protect. Beyond Nature's Madness, Fini can barely scratch Ferrothorn unless it carries HP Fire. Hidden Power in general is pretty rare on Fini, but HP Fire can cause a problem for Ferrothorn if it catches you off-guard, so make sure you scout for it prior (Protect helps here).

-0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Tapu Fini: 84-102 (47.7 - 57.9%) -- 91.4% chance to 2HKO
-0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 116-138 (65.9 - 78.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
-252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Vortex (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 54-63 (29.8 - 34.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
-252+ SpA Tapu Fini Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 35-42 (19.3 - 23.2%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery
-252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 32-38 (17.6 - 20.9%) -- possible 7HKO after Leftovers recovery
-252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 96-116 (53 - 64%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Beyond Fini, Ferrothorn is also handy for taking on several popular Battle Spot Pokemon thanks to its bulk and typing. It can comfortably take on threats such as Tapu Koko and non-HP Fire Lele, Greninja, non-Fire Punch Dragonite, and most other Pokemon in general that don't have any super-effective moves to hit it with.
venusaur-mega.jpg

Venusaur(Venusaurite)
Ability : Chlorophyll - Thick Fat
Calm Nature
EVs : 252 Hp / 252 SpD / 4 Def

Sludge Bomb
Giga Drain
Leech Seed
Synthesis

Venusaur has the luxury to switch in to Alola Guardian while taking less than 25%(19.7% to be exact) from a fully invested modest Tapu Fini's Brine/Ice Beam retaliating with Giga Drain or healing with Synthesis. Even at +3 Hydro Vortex does only 77% at best to this monster. Calcs below
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Brine (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Venusaur-Mega: 31-37 (16.5 - 19.7%) -- possible 6HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Thick Fat Venusaur-Mega: 30-36 (16 - 19.2%) -- possible 6HKO
+3 252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Vortex (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Venusaur-Mega: 122-144 (65.2 - 77%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Venusaur-Mega Giga Drain vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Tapu Fini: 66-80 (37.2 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Calm Mega Venusaur destroys Tapu Koko , also it is a solid answer to Thundurus-T , Greninja , Hydreigon , Breloom even winning 1vs1 against a bulky Mega Gengar.
beedrill-mega.png

Beedrill @ Beedrillite
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Poison Jab
- U-turn / Fell Stinger
- Drill Run
- Knock Off

Despite being frail as shit, Mega Beedrill actually ranks Fini's non-Z moves well and can retaliate with Poison Jab.

252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Beedrill: 100-118 (71.4 - 84.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Adaptability Mega Beedrill Poison Jab vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 180-216 (102.2 - 122.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252 Atk Adaptability Mega Beedrill Poison Jab vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Tapu Fini: 136-160 (77.2 - 90.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
magnezone.gif

Magnezone @ Assault Vest
Ability: Analytic / Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
- HP Fire / HP Ice / HP Ground

Magnezone has the perfect typing and bulk to check Tapu Fini. His offensive capabilities are quite interesting, being able to safely pivoting for a teammate.

252+ SpA Analytic Magnezone Thunderbolt vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 176-210 (100 - 119.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Vortex (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Magnezone: 102-121 (57.6 - 68.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Here's calcs for Offensive Fini. Zone takes Hydro Vortex easily and replicates with a guaranteed OHKO Tbolt.
The matchup vs PhysDef Fini is easier.

Magnezone can also handle a lot of threats likes Tapu Lele, Mimikyu, Tapu Koko and Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Celesteela.
Uninspired? Yeah. Beats the victim? Yeah.

serperior.gif

Serperior @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Glare
- Reflect
- Synthesis

Despite kang being way less relevant, i still really enjoy using serperior as an loom/non-scarf chomper counterplay, and the Synthesis variant just so happens to switch in on every fini variant, barring an incredibly unlikely Ice Beam freeze after misty terrain wears off.

Not even fairium (awful set by the way) can kill serp, with synthesis doing more than moonblasts after the zmove is consumed!

252+ SpA Tapu Fini Twinkle Tackle (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 138-163 (75.8 - 89.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 76-90 (41.7 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

In such a matchup, you can literally cheese for special attack "drops", eventually scaring the fini out, or if it gets 2 "drops" on you, you can go for the throat!

+2 0 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 186-222 (105.6 - 126.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Uninvested serperior 2-shots the fini, and by the end of the exchange gets to +4 if the fini user is stupid enough to stay in once synthesis is revealed.
0 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 244 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Fini: 96-114 (54.5 - 64.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Serp has recently been a mon I appreciate more and more during building, it's often so nice to have an earthquake switchin and a spore switchin and a bullet seed switchin and a speed control user and a screener all in one. Try it out!
kartana.gif

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Psycho Cut

Kartana works as a good Fini check thanks to its great attack stat and can actually take a hit from Fini, despite its crappy special bulk.
vs Defensive Fini
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 244 HP / 252+ Def Tapu Fini: 132-156 (75 - 88.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 60-72 (44.4 - 53.3%) -- 32% chance to 2HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Brine vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 42-49 (31.1 - 36.2%) -- 60.1% chance to 3HKO
0 SpA Tapu Fini Surf vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 57-68 (42.2 - 50.3%) -- 1.2% chance to 2HKO
Vs Offensive Fini
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 176-210 (100 - 119.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 97-115 (71.8 - 85.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 84-99 (62.2 - 73.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kartana: 107-127 (79.2 - 94%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

This set works as a good revenge killer against prominent threats like Tapu Lele and Hippowdon, and once it starts to accumulate boosts, it can create some real problems for the enemy team!
089-a.png

Muk-Alola @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
- Shadow Sneak / Fire Blast
- Pursuit

Fears pretty much nothing Tapu Fini throws at it except for Guardian of Alola on the switch-in, but will KO or force Fini out 100% of the time otherwise. Very straight forward counter so there isn't much to say about it other than it wins the match-up. Also handles Lele, Koko and P2 ( to a lesser extent ), so that's nice too. Kinda hurts that Garchomp & Ground-type coverage in general is everywhere nowadays, but that can be easily circunvented with team support.
Spr_6x_131.png

Lapras @ Assault Vest
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 60 HP / 252 Def / 196 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Freeze-Dry
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Shard
- Sheer Cold
With above average bulk, access to Water Absorb and Freeze-Dry make Lapras a formidable special tank, walling most water-types.
Calcs:
252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Lapras: 76-90 (35.6 - 42.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 60 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Lapras: 51-61 (23.9 - 28.6%) -- 97.3% chance to 4HKO
196+ SpA Lapras Freeze-Dry vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tapu Fini: 78-92 (44 - 51.9%) -- 8.6% chance to 2HKO
Freeze-Dry and Hydro Pump have perfect coverage, so the other slots are filler. Ice Shard provides useful priority, while Sheer Cold allows Lapras to break through Calm Mind Fini, while becoming a terrifying stallbreaker.
 
My vote goes to average fella's Serperior. It counters Fini hard and overall a very useful mon as he said being a screener , speed control user , spore switchin etc
 
ThickFatAzumarill's Mega-Gengar.

While it does lose vs certain offensive fini variants, Mega-Gengar is an amazing mega right now. I love the more defensive trapper sets, they can really screw you over at any stage of the game
 
Kanon90's Mega Venusaur

The worst that Fini can do to it is Nature's Madness or Guardian of Alola, but then it's forced out, giving Venusaur an opportunity to heal.
 
Kanon90's Mega Venusaur

Mega Venusaur is everything that Tapu Fini fears: a bulky grass-type that doesn't care about being burned by scald and can heal any damage Fini throws at it.

On a completely unrelated note, woo 100 posts! :pimp: (took me long enough)
 
Kanon90's Mega Venusaur

Pretty much everything has been said about Venu already. The best Fini can do against Mega Venusaur is Nature's Madness/Guardian of Alola, and Venusaur can shrug the damage off through Giga Drain and Synthesis.
 
VotW Fini poll.png


I have to agree with the PS crowd this week. I usually have a Ferro on my teams which I often use to beat opposing Fini, but getting hit with a Taunt sucks, and I've even run into several Hidden Power Fire sets as well. I really like Mega Gengar too, but accidentally coming in on a Hydro Vortex means you've just lost your check to it! Mega Venusaur really screws over Fini, as well as being a cool anti-meta mega option.

So yeah, Kanon90
 
Congratulations to Kanon90 for winning VoTW 11 (Tapu Fini) with your submission of Mega-Venusaur! Your post will be logged into the archive.

VoTW #12 - Breloom
breloom.gif

Everybody's favourite offensive mushroom is our next victim! Let's be honest though, what's there to even say about Breloom? Predictable Pokemon, yes. Easy to deal with? Definitely not. Grass + Fighting + Rock coverage makes breloom an absolute menace to deal with, giving it sufficient coverage of almost the entire metagame. If Breloom is faster, it uses spore. If Breloom is slower, it takes the hit at the cost of its Focus Sash and retaliates extremely hard in return, able to OHKO three out of the four tapus with Bullet Seed as well as hit threatening Fire-types extremely hard with Rock Tomb. More often than not, the speed drop givin to the opponent from rock tomb will also make Breloom faster, giving the a free opportunity to either spore again or spam Rock Tomb even more. While not quite as metagame defining, the occasional Swords Dance and Substitute + Focus Punch sets can pop up and be extremely annoying to deal with. So, how do you deal with Breloom?

Submissions are open and will be closed in four days from now. Best of luck everyone!​
 
venusaur-mega.gif

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]

We all know this guy smacks every Breloom that exists. Breloom can not touch this.

Defensive Calcs
252+ Atk Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mega Venusaur: 18-21 (9.6 - 11.2%) -- possible 9HKO
252+ Atk Technician Breloom Rock Tomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mega Venusaur: 36-43 (19.2 - 22.9%) -- possible 5HKO
252+ Atk Technician Breloom Bullet Seed (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Mega Venusaur: 25-30 (13.3 - 16%) -- possible 7HKO

Ez win calc
0 SpA Mega Venusaur Sludge Bomb vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Breloom: 182-216 (133.8 - 158.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
Upon some deeper thinking, it seems that I didn't really think this victim through very well given that mega venu walls it as it does to fini ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

aegislash.gif


Aegislash @ Safety Goggle
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Sneak
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Shadow Claw

How about some oras memories? Good old safety goggles Aegislash punishes breloom, easily setting up while breloom cries in self pitty. Breloom can't touch it, Aegislash sets up, smashes Breloom on the spot or anything that switches in
 
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latest

Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 156 HP / 132 Def / 108 SpA / 4 SpD / 108 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Sludge Wave
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt/Earthquake

By virtue of its ability, Goodra is able to shut down Breloom easily, being immune to spore. Damage calcs: 252+ Atk Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 156 HP / 132 Def Goodra: 64-76 (34.5 - 41%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 Atk Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 156 HP / 132 Def Goodra: 58-69 (31.3 - 37.2%) -- 76.7% chance to 3HKO
108+ SpA Goodra Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Breloom: 162-192 (120 - 142.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
108+ SpA Goodra Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Breloom: 104-124 (77 - 91.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Goodra itself is a great answer to the likes of Celesteela, Mega Charizard-Y, Rotom-Wash and Heat, Venusaur, and even Tapu Koko and Bulu. Since this set is from VGC, the EV spread should be enough to survive jolly Chomp's Dragon Claw.
 
it's kind of lazy to nom the exact same serp set twice so
tapubulu.gif

Tapu Bulu @ Assault Vest
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Wood Hammer
- Stone Edge
- Superpower


Tapu Bulu isn't very good, as a general rule it's probably the least neutral tapu for the least neutral terrain, builds with bulu must be made with grassy terrain being up some of the time in mind, so eq use must be limited, so it's not super splashable.

but god damn if even without super effective coverage bulu wins the matchup.

Breloom is forced to get good Bullet Seed rolls multiple times *while predicting the bulu switchin which means it's not sporing* even if it's Adamant.

252+ Atk Technician Breloom Bullet Seed (4 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Bulu in Grassy Terrain: 180-216 (52.3 - 62.7%) -- approx. 99.6% chance to 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

If it's Jolly it has to rely on both predicting the bulu switchin, and getting *double 5-hits* or some combination of high rolls with 4-hit followed by a 5-hit. It's incredibly unlikely if you don't know!

252 Atk Technician Breloom Bullet Seed (4 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Bulu in Grassy Terrain: 160-192 (46.5 - 55.8%) -- approx. 6.6% chance to 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery


Whereas Bulu... gets em with a simple one-two punch horn leech+superpower. dead mushroom.

252+ Atk Tapu Bulu Horn Leech vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Breloom in Grassy Terrain: 122-144 (46.7 - 55.1%) -- 14.1% chance to 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
252+ Atk Tapu Bulu Superpower vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Breloom: 173-204 (66.2 - 78.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
 
amoonguss.gif


Amoonguss @ Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Spore
- Sludge Bomb/HP Fire
- Giga Drain
- HP Fire/Foul Play

Okay, yeah this is basically a poor man's M-Venu. However, Amoonguss finds a niche in the metagame with its ability to tank hits from popular Pokémon such as Tapu Koko, Thundurus-Therian, Tapu Fini, and BRELOOM. Before I get to the calcs, I want to argue why this yung shroom fills a special (and different) niche from M-Venu. First, Amoonguss' amazing ability, Regenerator, allows it to function as part of a stall/bulky core - it can pivot in, eat a hit, fire off a Spore or an attack, and then proceed to switch out and recover up to 33% of its health. While M-Venusaur can potentially be worn down since it relies heavily on Synthesis/Leech Seed/Giga Drain for recovery, Amoonguss can theoretically recover forever as long as you can switch it out. Also unlike M-Venu, Amoonguss has a 100% accurate sleep move in Spore - no worrying about a Sleep Powder miss costing you the game! Finally, with the increase in popularity of TR, Amoonguss provides your team with a 'mon that can underspeed virtually the entire metagame (speedties Snorlax and is only faster than Ferrothorn, which loses 1v1 to HP Fire variants) and Spore its way out of the TR and allow your faster 'mons to come in later and win the game.

Offensive Calcs:
0 SpA Amoonguss Sludge Bomb vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Breloom: 134-158 (98.5 - 116.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO [not including 30% chance to poison and kill :) ]
0 SpA Amoonguss Hidden Power Fire vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Breloom: 60-72 (44.1 - 52.9%) -- 23.4% chance to 2HKO

Defensive Calcs:
252+ Atk Technician Breloom Mach Punch vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Amoonguss: 25-30 (11.3 - 13.5%) -- possibly the worst move ever
252+ Atk Technician Breloom Bullet Seed (5 hits) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Amoonguss: 40-45 (18 - 20.3%) -- possible 7HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252+ Atk Technician Breloom Rock Tomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Amoonguss: 51-61 (23 - 27.6%) -- possible 5HKO after Black Sludge recovery

It may not be as good as M-Venu overall, but Amoonguss is an interesting and less-used counter to this week's victim and arguably takes less damage in the 1v1 thanks to Black Sludge recovery. It also doesn't take up a mega slot!

Cheers, and happy playing!
 
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