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IDK what I wanna pick this week rn so this week's results will roll over until next week; I'll prolly discuss it a bit w/ someone if I can find the time. Sorry this is so late; a combination of IRL picking up and me just generally trying to fit this around other things is making me forget and causing delays, so especially over the next few weeks I appreciate people's patience with me haha
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Round 15: Webs Smeargle
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 100 HP / 116 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sticky Web
- Stealth Rock
- Memento / Taunt / Magic Coat
- Memento / Taunt / Magic Coat
I honestly don't actually care what slots 3/4 u consider (inc. stuff I've not mentioned) 'cause it's more just the webs aspect that I'm looking for here.
Mimikyu is a great partner for webs Smeargle, since its Ghost type make it immune to Normal type attacks, allowing it to block Rapid Spin and keep webs up more easily, which is why it's such a staple on Sticky Web teams. Also, since its Speed stat isn't that great, it benefits a lot from Sticky Web slowing down foes, being able to afford to run an Adamant nature for more power while not relying as much on Shadow Sneak to threaten faster Pokémon. It's also a generally decent cleaner, being able to set up a Swords Dance "for free" as long as its Disguise is still intact.
Reserving Bisharp
Bisharp @ Black Glasses / Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spe/ 4 Hp
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
Bisharp is a solid Defiant user, encouraging opposing teams to not use Defog against Sticky Webs teams for it gets a +2 boost in attack and can be extremely dangerous to many builds after that. It can be a nice win condition outside of Sticky Webs and loves Sticky Webs to outspeed threats like Zygarde, Knocked Off Keldeo, Mamoswine, Greninja, Knocked Off Garchomp, and non Scarf Tapu Lele. It does not suffer from Psychic Terrain as much. It can also deal massive chip damage to Mega Metagross with Sucker Punch on the turn when clear body activates.
Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 68 Atk / 188 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice
- Superpower
- Knock Off
Thundurus is the other viable Defiant user besides Bisharp that is capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing multiple mons with hazard removal such as Fini, Starmie, Zapdos, walls/has a chance to 2HKO Scizor, and a myriad of less viable forms like the Latis, Tentacruel, Mantine etc. Thundurus also appreciates the Sticky Web support as it allows it to outspeed threats such as Greninja, Weavile, Scarf Chomp/Keldeo and more that Thundurus would normally be unable to KO because they're faster than it. Also Thundurus' Electric-typing allows it to check numerous Flying-types that are immune to Sticky Webs such as Pinsir, weakened Landorus, Zard-Y etc.
Protean Greninja, in particular, has a great matchup against common entry hazard removers such as Tapu Fini (Gunk Shot), Starmie (Dark Pulse) and Excadrill (Hydro Pump), thus making it harder for the opponent to get rid of hazards.
With Sticky Web support, Greninja can outspeed the majority of the unboosted metagame and some slower scarfers. Stealth Rocks are always useful to net some additional KOs and 2HKOs.
Calcs vs Rapid Spinners and Defoggers:
4 Atk Life Orb Protean Greninja Gunk Shot vs. 248 HP / 192 Def Tapu Fini: 242-289 (70.5 - 84.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery and Moonblast only 4HKOes Poison Greninja
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 564-665 (155.8 - 183.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Starmie: 330-393 (126.4 - 150.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Protean Greninja Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 108 SpD Mandibuzz: 307-361 (72.5 - 85.3%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Defogger Kartana: 344-407 (132.8 - 157.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
an archetype that rely on having hazzards on the field 100% of the time really apreciates a spinblocker with acess to taunt. while most people choose mimikyu as the ghost on SW teams(mostly because it's NJNP team) gengar have a lot of good traits going in his favor, obviously taunt is the biggest one, cause you avoid deffogers from removing the hazzards or set-up sweepers that may threat your team, gengar is the best lead against teams that have tapu fini, since they will lead with fini 100% of the time, and gengar is a huge threat to fini. against spinners if they choose to kill gengar you can bring another powerhouse mon found in this archetype. besides being very effective against hazzard removers gengar have a big fame of lacking good switches tnks to the tier lacking good ghost resists, alongside his perfect coverage and SW gengar get's way dangerous since things like koko, gren, mega alaka, mega metagross, scarf keldeo and scarf terrak get's destroyed, since gengar can 2ko a lot mons he rally apreciates being in a team with 4 wallbreakers/set-up sweepers and having rocks on the field most of the time, LO is better most of the time, but ghostium can be used to nuke some bulkier mons and avoid recoil damage.
Smeargle helps this thing by setting webs which means zygarde can out outspeed and ko them with thousand arrow or the other moves it has and toxic to widdle down those mons. This helps zygarde by setting up webs and rocks and clicking spore on the lead which can be a problem for zygarde or any mons in the team.
Kartana's sky-high Attack and good Speed might make it seem like an obvious candidate for a Scarf, but it hates being locked into any of its moves since they're easily exploitable by common resistances. Webs patches up this problem by allowing Kartana to switch freely between its moves while still outspeeding many things that threaten it without a Scarf, making it a terrifying lategame sweeper/cleaner that snowballs quickly with Beast Boost. It also handles Tapu Fini with ease, helping keep hazards on the field for itself and its teammates since Smeargle rarely gets a second chance to set Webs if they get removed.
Medicham @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- High Jump Kick
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
We all know what this thing does. High Jump Kick is pretty much the only move you click, and webs allow mmedi to outspeed stuff like Tapu Koko Greninja and Gengar if they aren't choice scarf. also you can fish for freeze with ice punch on mega sableye.
maximises overall mixed bulk according to this tool. I've moved 4 EVs out of Defense into HP to give an Atk boost on the off-chance someone brings Download on P2/PZ for whatever dumb reason.
Mega Sableye completely shuts Smeargle down so packing something to lead against it is a good idea. Standard Tapu Lele also performs well against defensive cores and appreciate the reduced Speed of its opponents. It also provides team support with Psychic Terrain which opponents may try to use to bypass Sticky Web.
xurk gets a lot of benefits from webs. most scarfers are grounded so it outspeeds them after a z hypnosis. if you hit hypnosis you can usually guarantee a kill and sometimes a tail glow as well, starting the snowball effect.
Nidoking @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
Nidoking is considered a slow pokemon in a meta where things like Greninja, Gengar, Tapu Lele and others fasts pokemons are common, but with Sticky Web support it can be a very threatening pokemon with its very good coverage and Sheer Force boosted attacks.
Under webs, Nidoking outspeeds every unboosted pokemon in the OU metagame. You can use Modest for more power, but it will be slower than some megas like Mega-Beedrill, Mega-Aerodactyl and Mega-Alakazam.
Sludge Wave and Earth Power are the STABs, hitting everything that not resist (or even some frail pokemons that resist) really hard and Ice Beam and Flamethrower are good coverage options to hit pokemons like Celesteela, Landorus-T and Ferrothorn harder.
Although Modest doesn't allow you to outspeed some unboosted pokemons, it gives more power to break through defensive ones like Mega-Sableye, Celesteela, Amoonguss...
Calcs:
2HKOs:
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 144+ SpD Sableye-Mega: 146-173 (48 - 56.9%) -- 89.5% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela: 195-231 (48.9 - 58%) -- 59% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 36 HP / 252+ SpD Alomomola: 247-292 (51.4 - 60.8%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 216+ SpD Amoonguss: 234-278 (54.2 - 64.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
OHKOs:
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 192+ SpD Clefable: 351-416 (89 - 105.5%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Tapu Fini: 312-369 (90.9 - 107.5%) -- 50% chance to OHKO252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 24 SpD Toxapex: 296-351 (97.3 - 115.4%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Magearna: 361-429 (99.1 - 117.8%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Greninja-Ash: 286-339 (100.3 - 118.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 240 HP / 212+ SpD Zygarde: 421-499 (100.9 - 119.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
2HKOs:
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 144+ SpD Sableye-Mega: 133-157 (43.7 - 51.6%) -- 10.9% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela: 177-211 (44.4 - 53%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 36 HP / 252+ SpD Alomomola: 226-266 (47 - 55.4%) -- 17.6% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 248 HP / 216+ SpD Amoonguss: 216-255 (50.1 - 59.1%) -- 78.5% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
OHKOs:
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 192+ SpD Clefable: 322-382 (81.7 - 96.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Tapu Fini: 283-335 (82.5 - 97.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 24 SpD Toxapex: 273-322 (89.8 - 105.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Magearna: 330-393 (90.6 - 107.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Greninja-Ash: 263-309 (92.2 - 108.4%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 240 HP / 212+ SpD Zygarde: 385-458 (92.3 - 109.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
I was kinda torn between a handful of attackers for a third winner and didn't want to do four, so I've just left it at two.
=========== Round 16: Choice Band Zygarde
Volcarona @ Firium Z / Psychium Z
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fire Blast
- Giga Drain / Psychic
- Hidden Power Ground / Psychic
Volcarona appreciates the Grass-types Zygarde brings in because it is able to set up on a majority of them such as non Rock coverage Tangrowth/Bulu, Amoonguss etc. Zygarde also breaks past a ton of Volcarona's normal checks letting you customize Volcarona more comfortably to choose what it beats via options like HP Ice and Charti Berry. These include Heatran, Toxapex, Chansey, Tyranitar, and it's typing also lets it switch into Rock coverage from 101+ Scarfers like Keldeo and Garchomp. Volcarona also likes Zygarde weakening bulky Water and Ground types with its power and Toxic so it has an easier time sweeping with mons that it has to 2HKO weakened. Volcarona's typing also resists many things Zygarde is weak to like Fairy and Ice so it can soft check these things in a pinch, especially if running a bulky spread.
Mega Scizor and Zygarde share great synergy and can do a lot for one another. Scizor can U-Turn out into Zygarde to give it an advantageous position against a lot of Pokemon in the OU meta. If you can predict a Heatran switch in, you're basically getting to click Thousand Arrows for free once Scizor ensures that Zygarde gets onto the field safely. Honestly, in most situations Zygarde can still switch into offensive fire types like Tran - it can even stomach a hit from Mega Charizard Y in a pinch.
Scizor can also benefit Zygarde by providing a switch in to its ultimate hard stop - Tangrowth. Since Tangy is limited to either HP Fire or HP Ice(and usually elects for the latter), the combination of these two allows Zygarde to safely switch out in more situations than not. Although it's nowhere near popular right now(and shouldn't be imo considering Megagross was the main reason to run Pursuit), you could also make the argument that Pursuit can help bop a choice locked Lele or the ever rare Latios. Although really, in my humble opinion, you're better served to rely on the hazard control that Defog gives you(especially with the lack of depth we have rn in hazard removal).
Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Solar Beam
- Taunt/ Stealth Rock
This helps cb zygarde break those annoying grass walls like tangrowth since it annoys it the most since it can come into its move and click hp ice threatening to switch out and other mons like kyream-b waevile and mamo threatening it by being ice type and can ohko it withs it stab. Also can kill tapu fini with grassium z solar beam and other bulky waters that can threaten it. Zygarde helps this by being a decent answer to kill offensive lando and other mons that threaten heatran.
Thundurus is a great offensive partner for CB Zygarde. On the special side Thunderbolt allows Thundurus to keep bulky waters in check, while Hidden Power Ice deals with bulky grounds and faster dragons. Then Thundurus can flip over to the physical side with Z-Fly to deal with bulky grass types and other frailer threats Thundurus out speeds and can threaten with a 175 base power stab move. Finally Thundurus provides the team with a form of emergency speed control with Thunder Wave. This Prankster Yellow Magic allows Thundurus to stop set up sweepers in a pinch (especially well when considering espeed on Zygarde is another option for your team), and Thundurus can slow down faster threats who could be an issue for Zygarde later in the match. Basically these two work well together, because Thundurus excels at removing things that stop Zygard from just clicking Thousand Arrows and winning games.
232 SpA Thundurus Thunderbolt vs. 248 HP / 16+ SpD Tapu Fini: 204-240 (59.4 - 69.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
232 SpA Thundurus Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Landorus-Therian: 304-360 (95.2 - 112.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
24 Atk Thundurus Supersonic Skystrike (175 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Tangrowth: 356-422 (88.1 - 104.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
24 Atk Thundurus Supersonic Skystrike (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 262-309 (87.6 - 103.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
232 SpA Thundurus Hidden Power Ice vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Salamence: 304-360 (91.8 - 108.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
24 Atk Thundurus Supersonic Skystrike (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 274-324 (97.5 - 115.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
Zapdos is a fantastic partner for CB Zygarde because it is able to reliably beat some of the pokemon that give Zygarde a hard time defensively. This includes mons like Defensive Landorus-T, Tangrowth, Ferrothorn, Tapu Bulu, and the uncommon Hippowdon. Zapdos needs to run Roost + 3 attacks when paired with Zygarde imo since you need both Heat Wave and HP Ice to reliably beat Zygarde's defensive answers. Zapdos is very capable of spamming Discharge to hope for a paralysis so that Zygarde can then outspeed it. On the other hand, Zygarde is able to take care of some of the things that Zapdos dislikes like Heatran and Tyranitar. The spread is to outspeed Adamant Tapu Bulu while still maximizing its physical bulk. You can change the spread to whatever you want; this is just the spread I commonly run. Whether you choose Pressure or Static is up to personal preference. Pressure can annoy bulkier teams better by forcing them to waste tons of PP, while Static can get clutch paralysis on an opponent who decides to touch you. Static also helps because it can easily get a paralysis on something, which can allow Zygarde to come in and hit hard. A great example of this core in action is the famous Triple Z Balance team that obii made a while back. Overall, a solid partner for Zygarde and one you should always consider when building around Zygarde.
Greninja provides Spikes support for Zygarde which allows it to chip away at bulkier Pokemon such as Alomomola, Tangrowth and Ferrothorn easier. Zygarde and Greninja are capable of beating each other's checks; Zygarde checks Toxapex and AV Magearna while Greninja punishes switches into Tapu Fini and Tangrowth by forcing them out and laying down Spikes.
This is about two mons sharing the same checks and doubling up to ensure one or the other sweeps. The no 1 counter to Zygarde is phys def Tangrowth who is also pressured to switch in to Landorus. But Lando is free to SD and then Supersonic Skystrike to take that mon out; similarly, the other main switch in to both is Defensive Lando T who can be severely dented by both parties. Zygarde can also take on Celesteela + Skarm who completely prevent Flyinium Landorus from doing anything. Obviousl offensive ice/water types with ice coverage are really annoying so pair with Toxapex and just win
Tornadus-Therian is a great partner for Zygarde since it can deal with Tangrowth, one of Zygarde's biggest check due to its typing and bulk, because of its access to STAB Hurricane. It can also 2HKO or OHKO some of Zygarde's other checks, such as Ferrothorn and Scizor with Heat Wave and Landorus-Therian and Buzzwole with Hurricane, although the latter is much more uncommon. It can also provide U-Turn support for Zygarde, allowing it to get safe switch ins so it can start wallbreaking. On the other hand, Zygarde can check Pokémon that would annoy Tornadus-T, such as Heatran and Mega Charizard-Y. Keep in mind that those two do share an Ice weakness, but it can be dealt with by other team members.
252 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 304-359 (75.2 - 88.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 369-437 (104.8 - 124.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-Therian Heat Wave vs. 248 HP / 128 SpD Scizor-Mega: 421-499 (122.7 - 145.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 252 HP / 24 SpD Landorus-Therian: 242-286 (63.3 - 74.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Tornadus-Therian Hurricane vs. 204 HP / 12 SpD Buzzwole: 1357-1596 (334.2 - 393.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock
- Healing Wish
Jirachi can handle many Fairy, Ice and Dragon types while providing a "slow" U-turn, SR to deal chip damage to Zygarde's checks/counters and Healing Wish to give Zygarde a second chance to shine.
Jirachi compresses the roles of both a U-turner and a Stealth Rocker, so you can have a lot of team customization, depending on the Mega you choose.