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Project SV PU Research Week
- Thread starter Melt Gibson
- Start date
I know it's only day 2 of research week, but I can't bear to spend another second with this Pokemon, so you all get an early post.
Bastiodon, as per usual, has been an utter disappointment and has made me extremely tilted.
I ran the following set on a full hazard stack team, which I've lovingly titled:
Don't Use Bastiodon
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Defense / Body Press
- Body Press / Foul Play
- Roar
and when I tell you it was abysmal to use, I'm not exaggerating in the slightest. From my experience, it was complete dead weight, rarely getting rocks up, and on the miracle occasion that it does, it then proceeds to do nothing until it dies. The only merit it can possibly have is through sometimes scaring away physical set-up sweepers with Roar or Foul Play if it has it, but even then, most of the Swords Dancers and Bulker-Uppers have Fighting-type moves! If you're looking for Stealth Rocks, there are numerous far better ways to achieve them.
However! Bastiodon actually found slightly more of a job for itself in an unexpected place: Offensive Trick Room. When no longer shackled by the combo of mediocre speed and shameful defensive typing leaving it vulnerable to hits from nearly every source, it's sometimes able to function as an actual Pokemon rather than what feels like a sack of potatoes thrown out onto the battlefield. I ran the following set:
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Body Press
- Stone Edge
- Foul Play
Don't let me deceive you, however: While not as horrendous as the hazard set, Bastiodon is still not a good Pokémon by any stretch of the imagination. As with all other Bastiodon sets, whatever you may desire from it is far easier obtained through other means.
As per usual, Bastiodon is a complete let-down, even with the new buffs it's received, thanks to its inescapable fundamentally flawed design and combination of traits, on top of the current meta being extremely hostile towards it. The few times I won with it on my team, it was not once off of its own merit; it was consistently carried by the rest of the team.
To put it into perspective for you, I ended my session with this Pokémon not even having broken out of the 1000s; I'm certainly not the best at either of the playstyles I used it on, and I know it was partially due to tilt, but even then those numbers are extremely disheartening.
I ran the following set on a full hazard stack team, which I've lovingly titled:
Don't Use Bastiodon
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Iron Defense / Body Press
- Body Press / Foul Play
- Roar
and when I tell you it was abysmal to use, I'm not exaggerating in the slightest. From my experience, it was complete dead weight, rarely getting rocks up, and on the miracle occasion that it does, it then proceeds to do nothing until it dies. The only merit it can possibly have is through sometimes scaring away physical set-up sweepers with Roar or Foul Play if it has it, but even then, most of the Swords Dancers and Bulker-Uppers have Fighting-type moves! If you're looking for Stealth Rocks, there are numerous far better ways to achieve them.
However! Bastiodon actually found slightly more of a job for itself in an unexpected place: Offensive Trick Room. When no longer shackled by the combo of mediocre speed and shameful defensive typing leaving it vulnerable to hits from nearly every source, it's sometimes able to function as an actual Pokemon rather than what feels like a sack of potatoes thrown out onto the battlefield. I ran the following set:
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Body Press
- Stone Edge
- Foul Play
Don't let me deceive you, however: While not as horrendous as the hazard set, Bastiodon is still not a good Pokémon by any stretch of the imagination. As with all other Bastiodon sets, whatever you may desire from it is far easier obtained through other means.
As per usual, Bastiodon is a complete let-down, even with the new buffs it's received, thanks to its inescapable fundamentally flawed design and combination of traits, on top of the current meta being extremely hostile towards it. The few times I won with it on my team, it was not once off of its own merit; it was consistently carried by the rest of the team.
To put it into perspective for you, I ended my session with this Pokémon not even having broken out of the 1000s; I'm certainly not the best at either of the playstyles I used it on, and I know it was partially due to tilt, but even then those numbers are extremely disheartening.
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SVRW05 Code
Both
Both
I'll go ahead with my results so far, since I've already hit 30 games, I'll probably do more testing with different sets later though.
(i hope it's fine to post early results as I go along)
EV note: 204 Atk Jolly OHKOs all Sandslash-Kanto spread, and OHKOs every Sandaconda spread after Stealth Rock, with Tera Blast Tera Ice at +2, while keeping HP at an odd number. If you're using Knock or Low Kick, just go max/max. I don't recommend dropping any speed, you don't want to lose in the mirror or to Dodrio/Froslass/Duggylola.
SD Copycat my beloved. Copycat is cool because there is 0 reason to ever use the move outside of early generations or Prankster users, and this set (always with Tera Fire Tera Blast) is my norm in LC on Shroodle. It gives you a route to handle Focus Sash leads see: Lycan, or revenge kill fast cleaners see: SD Trailblaze Sneasel-H, Chlorophyll Shiftry/Leafeon, Swift Swim Poliwrath, Scarf anything not named Typhlosion.)
Low Kick works, defo was my first pick, but Knock is probably better if you aren't me and build teams that struggle vs. Ghosts. Tera Blast Tera Ice has been my goated lure set, but can struggle to get in cleanly. Tera Grass will be better for cleaning up matchups into the Grounds even better and giving it more setup opportunities vs. Waters and Electrode/Jolteon... once a certain Fire/Poison with a higher base speed gets the boot. At least Tera Blast Ice still chunks it for huge damage, and most things in general.
The real problem with SD Grafaiai is asking the question "Would I use this over SD Sneasel-Hisui?" The answer is usually no, unless pivoting is good, or you're willing to throw the memes out for Copycat. I'm using both on the same team, though, because I enjoy torturing myself with Ground weakness, so the problem is moot.
I'm trying out CB with Copycat + Low Kick/Knock/Gunk and Explosion support later, the real problem being that for some reason people are unironically using Bastiodon on the ladder, and it stops Explosion funnies.
(i hope it's fine to post early results as I go along)
SD Copycat (Grafaiai) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Dark / Fighting / Ice
EVs: 48 HP / 204 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Knock Off / Low Kick / Tera Blast
- Swords Dance
- Copycat / Any option in slot 2 if you're lame
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Dark / Fighting / Ice
EVs: 48 HP / 204 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Gunk Shot
- Knock Off / Low Kick / Tera Blast
- Swords Dance
- Copycat / Any option in slot 2 if you're lame
EV note: 204 Atk Jolly OHKOs all Sandslash-Kanto spread, and OHKOs every Sandaconda spread after Stealth Rock, with Tera Blast Tera Ice at +2, while keeping HP at an odd number. If you're using Knock or Low Kick, just go max/max. I don't recommend dropping any speed, you don't want to lose in the mirror or to Dodrio/Froslass/Duggylola.
SD Copycat my beloved. Copycat is cool because there is 0 reason to ever use the move outside of early generations or Prankster users, and this set (always with Tera Fire Tera Blast) is my norm in LC on Shroodle. It gives you a route to handle Focus Sash leads see: Lycan, or revenge kill fast cleaners see: SD Trailblaze Sneasel-H, Chlorophyll Shiftry/Leafeon, Swift Swim Poliwrath, Scarf anything not named Typhlosion.)
Low Kick works, defo was my first pick, but Knock is probably better if you aren't me and build teams that struggle vs. Ghosts. Tera Blast Tera Ice has been my goated lure set, but can struggle to get in cleanly. Tera Grass will be better for cleaning up matchups into the Grounds even better and giving it more setup opportunities vs. Waters and Electrode/Jolteon... once a certain Fire/Poison with a higher base speed gets the boot. At least Tera Blast Ice still chunks it for huge damage, and most things in general.
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sandslash: 354-421 (100 - 118.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sandaconda: 328-385 (94.2 - 110.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Sneasel-Hisui: 282-333 (112.3 - 132.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Salazzle: 199-234 (58.7 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery - wait why is the default on the calc 248 hp WHY
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Floatzel: 211-250 (67.8 - 80.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Typhlosion: 160-190 (53.8 - 63.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sandaconda: 328-385 (94.2 - 110.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Eviolite Sneasel-Hisui: 282-333 (112.3 - 132.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Salazzle: 199-234 (58.7 - 69%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery - wait why is the default on the calc 248 hp WHY
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Floatzel: 211-250 (67.8 - 80.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 204 Atk Life Orb Tera Ice Grafaiai Tera Blast (80 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Typhlosion: 160-190 (53.8 - 63.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
The real problem with SD Grafaiai is asking the question "Would I use this over SD Sneasel-Hisui?" The answer is usually no, unless pivoting is good, or you're willing to throw the memes out for Copycat. I'm using both on the same team, though, because I enjoy torturing myself with Ground weakness, so the problem is moot.
I'm trying out CB with Copycat + Low Kick/Knock/Gunk and Explosion support later, the real problem being that for some reason people are unironically using Bastiodon on the ladder, and it stops Explosion funnies.
boy do i have news for you.
Also! it is perfectly fine if you just post as you go along as long as the posts have substantial content to them. Obviously I'm going to strongly discourage one-liners and the like, but if you find something interesting and want to just post it before the week ends, that's okay (and honestly, encouraged).
First off, I had a much better time with Bastiodon than other users it seems. It always gets up rocks when I want it. It lives tons of hits. Pair it with a good fighting resists and ground immunity and it makes good progress.
I used this set:
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Body Press
- Foul Play
- Roar
Notably, I spec'd into physical defense to power up body press and challenge/check physical attackers better since it naturally resists many common special attackers right now (salazzle, whimsicott where everywhere during my sessions).
One bad thing is if you aren't good at piloting your team, you'll get yourself into positions where you have to sink (maybe waste) your tera on bastiodon so it lives a hit.
Roar is what gives this set a niche to me. Being able to live most any hit and phaze out the opposing setup mon is useful on all the teams I tried it on.
I forgot to save any replays of bastiodon - but it can serve as a wincon and did for me probably 1/5 of the time. Of course you have to get rid of ghost types, but you do that for curselax too and this doesn't need to set up to 2hko many mons and surprisingly ohko a few - like tera dark malamar after a superpower boost even.
TL;DR: I disagree with the bastiodon hate and think it not only has a niche as a rocker and phazer but is pretty anti-meta right now with it's typing actually SERVING it for once.
Now for the reason I forgot to save replays of Bastiodon...
-------------------------
First, the set I tried that has some potential, but I'm not clever enough (read good enough at mons) to utilize to the fullest.
Grafaiai @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Leftovers / Black Sludge
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Toxic
- Substitute / Encore
- Protect / Taunt / Switcheroo
- Parting Shot
MEH... Tera Dark makes you immune to other pranksters and gives you an immunity to the psychic type moves you're normally weak to. I tried this because a tier leader told me Grafaiai was better at toxic stalling than Salazzle... Idk if I agree(I love toxic-ing poisons and steel types), but I definitely felt it was not the move once I tried...
Grafaiai @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Double-Edge / Knock off
- Gunk Shot
- Copycat
- U-turn
Bring it in and revenge kill something it's faster than. Use copycat when they bring in their scarfer or revenge killer (priority user). Profit.
Replays (REMEMBER I'M SERIOUSLY SO BAD AT MONS - NOT BEING MODEST - REALLY - SO YOU CAN DO EVEN BETTER):
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2072956483 - Grafaiai gets AURORA VEIL?!
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2072959092 - 120 bp quick attack surprise kills Salazzle
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073687980 Grafaiai can give you end game situations no other mon can with access to such high powered priority moves as double-edge and gunk shot... but gunk shot WILL miss.
TEAMS:
https://pokepast.es/ad72361bf63e1381
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SVRW05 Mareetest
Doin' Bastiodon
Doin' Bastiodon
I meant outside of the research testers! Like, a concerning number of Bastiodons, that can't all have been inspired from this thread! My old team lost HARD to IronPress Bastiodon if it Tera'd, since I had 5 physical offense mons and no status.
Props to you Bruno for also joining Copycat Grafaiai Gang, I wish you the best.
REGARDLESS, part 2 of my experiments into Grafaiai have turned up fairly successful! I've also chosen to semi-ignore the alt username, since I want my main's PU ELO to not run into low ladder.
Choice Band Lure (Grafaiai) @ Choice Band
Ability: Prankster / Poison Touch
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Low Kick
- Copycat / U-Turn
Ability: Prankster / Poison Touch
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Gunk Shot
- Low Kick
- Copycat / U-Turn
Second verse, same as the first. CB Grafaiai is very cool, a lot like SD Grafaiai but trades out inconsistency and being a matchup fish for being better in more matchups but not a wincon. Gunk hits like a truck, and nobody expects a CB Gunk. Tera type is pretty flexible, but I've found Tera Fighting is incredibly strong with Life Orb Lycanroc as backup, since dying from Life Orb recoil when clicking CC or Edge as Lycan frees you to click Copycat on whatever comes in.
I don't use Poison Touch, but if you aren't using Copycat or Parting Shot, Poison Touch is the only good ability.
I tried Explosion, and... didn't go as well as I hoped. You need Tera Normal to guarantee an OHKO on the grounds (Full def invest Sandslash is 67% chance to OHKO, Sandaconda is 18%, 56% after SR), and sacrificial plays aren't worth it if you sack two mons. That's nothing to say of Palossand and Houndstone, which wall you for free, or a Bastiodon switching in on one of the Explosions thereby rendering it moot. Or Tera Ghost, which is a safe click vs. Grafaiai usually.
And I have replays this time!
Game 1
CB Grafaiai OHKOs Hitmonchan (If it was max HP chan, LO can never OHKO while CB has a 68% chance to), Tera Fight for a guaranteed OHKO on Pyroar without risking a Gunk miss, then dents Lapras for 80% and OHKOs Tera Fairy Palossand.
Game 2
Ignoring me malding like hell, notable for CB Grafaiai to make decent progress via Knock Off, removing Houndstone's Choice Band and Sandslash's leftovers, and using Copycat to steal Roost on a fleeing Articuno. Copycat is cool for that.
Game 3
Houndoom means Copycat is worthless (Copycat into a Dark Type causes even offensive moves to fail, since Dark Types are immune to all moves affected by Prankster.) Grafaiai still manages to chip in with an 87% hit to Lanturn. This battle marks the point of learning to use ground resists, and relying on Specs Eggy to wallbreak through physical tanks aka Sandaconda.
Game 4
Rhydon hard walls anything Graf does. Best it can do is Gunk into it and pray it poisons (it does) but I misplay in the end and Farig isn't able to bail me out. Not much to do when you get hard walled but just pray for things to go well.
Game 5
Grafaiai is hard walled by both Fur Coat Persian, who threatens Twave, and Rhydon. Sandslash gets baited and OHKO'd by Low Kick, and Farigiraf nearly dies to a suicidal Gunk Shot play, which misses, and nearly winds up costing the game. Eggy clutched it, though.
More importantly, for some proper thoughts: In spite of my (mostly joking) praise, Grafaiai is not consistent in offensive roles, period. Relying on Gunk Shot on both SD and CB sets (or Scarf if you're built different) sucks, a lack of priority without using gimmicky Copycat sets sucks, and its typing sucks. It struggles to get on the field safely and Tera'ing for SD, and it doesn't have the firepower or mixed STAB coverage that something like Choice Sneasel or Bombirdier have. Unique defensive typing means nothing if that typing doesn't let you have entry outside of Whimsicott, Decidueye, Wo-Chien, or choice locked Ghost types. Salazzle has entry on Fires and Fairies for free, threatens Toxic and Nasty Plot, and easily slots Sub in on most sets; Sneasel resists Fighting and Dark, is faster, and has better STAB options. Its unfortunate.
It was the same problem I had in early SV UU with it; it has a lot of variety, but it can't really compete with damage specialists or utility specialists. Ironically, this artist's paintbrush draws in many widths, yet its colors shine dull; sometimes, you need the thin brush which shines brightly.
Utility sets are probably better, but I don't use utility mons, I'm a braindead HO player whose single functioning brain cell turns on when I see 100% damage taken on my opponent's Pokemon, hence I will not be experimenting with that side of it.
Is he fun though? hell fucking yeah.
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Now, it's Grafaiai's turn!
Firstly, I had to use it as the newest Prankster weather-setter, with the following set(s) on both sun and rain teams:
/ 
Grafaiai @ Heat Rock / Damp Rock
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sunny Day / Rain Dance
- Super Fang
- Knock Off
- U-turn
It worked about as well as a weather setter could, but of course most of its power depends on the team around it and weather as a whole is very matchup dependent right now.
I also used it on pivot-spam hyperoffense with a Swords Dance set, to great effect:
Grafaiai @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Slash
- U-turn
Grafaiai's really nice 110 Speed and solid 95 Attack stat make it able to do very good damage after a boost, particularly mid-game with powerful Gunk Shots, and even Slashes on a crit. Poison Touch is also a nice, well, touch, especially in combination with U-Turn for some very annoying plays.
Of course, I had to go for Terrain shenanigans as well, which went swimmingly:
Grafaiai @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 76 HP / 252 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Gunk Shot
- Low Kick
- Swords Dance
The EV spread maximizes attack while surpassing the nice 300 Speed threshold, putting you at 602 after Unburden, dumping the rest into a little bit of HP just in case. I don't know if it actually helps any calcs, I just felt like doing it. All Grafaiai sets are good, but specifically this Grafaiai set is amazing, plain and simple. If you run it on Psyterrain alongside a Mespirit or something youll be taking dubs like crazy, especially if you also have dual Unburden with Sceptile or something. Terrain overall is extremely good right now, carried me up to the mid 1200s after my fall from grace with Bastiodon.
I love you, Grafaiai. Broken mon though.
/ Grafaiai @ Heat Rock / Damp Rock
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sunny Day / Rain Dance
- Super Fang
- Knock Off
- U-turn
It worked about as well as a weather setter could, but of course most of its power depends on the team around it and weather as a whole is very matchup dependent right now.
I also used it on pivot-spam hyperoffense with a Swords Dance set, to great effect:
Grafaiai @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Gunk Shot
- Slash
- U-turn
Grafaiai's really nice 110 Speed and solid 95 Attack stat make it able to do very good damage after a boost, particularly mid-game with powerful Gunk Shots, and even Slashes on a crit. Poison Touch is also a nice, well, touch, especially in combination with U-Turn for some very annoying plays.
Of course, I had to go for Terrain shenanigans as well, which went swimmingly:
Grafaiai @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 76 HP / 252 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Gunk Shot
- Low Kick
- Swords Dance
The EV spread maximizes attack while surpassing the nice 300 Speed threshold, putting you at 602 after Unburden, dumping the rest into a little bit of HP just in case. I don't know if it actually helps any calcs, I just felt like doing it. All Grafaiai sets are good, but specifically this Grafaiai set is amazing, plain and simple. If you run it on Psyterrain alongside a Mespirit or something youll be taking dubs like crazy, especially if you also have dual Unburden with Sceptile or something. Terrain overall is extremely good right now, carried me up to the mid 1200s after my fall from grace with Bastiodon.
I love you, Grafaiai. Broken mon though.
So the research week.
Firstly, Bastiodon. As always, bastiodon didn't do anything except be a complete disappointment.
I have tried the most common sense which is:
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: No
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Body Press
- Foul Play
- Roar
While it always sets up rocks, that's just about it. There's nothing else that it can do due to the amount of fighting types and ground types in this tier, Just don't bother using Bastiodon it's just awful. However I found a slight success in making bastiodon an ironpress user while using this set:
Bastiodon @ Air balloon
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: No
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron defense
- Body Press
- Foul Play
- Metal burst
In really niche matchups, this guy can do something but usually just don't use it.
(I literally lost it trying to test this guy)
Now for grafaiai.
This guy of course, did a lot better than bastiodon. The first set I used was:
Grafaiai @ Choice band/Heavy duty boots
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Switcheroo/Swords dance
- Gunk Shot
- Knock off
- U-turn
Which is the set that gave me the most success being a really good pivot in most teams.
I also made use of unburden pairing it with indeedee in a psychic terrain team using:
Grafaiai @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Flying
EVs:252 Atk / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Gunk Shot
- Low Kick
- Swords Dance
Terrain is really good right now so this guy took quite a lot of Ws until 1200s before bastiodon got me down.
So grafaiai is just great in general, really solid and has multiple sets that you could use, with 110 speed and 95 attack makes it good in anything it does.
Definitely broken but not banworthy
Firstly, Bastiodon. As always, bastiodon didn't do anything except be a complete disappointment.
I have tried the most common sense which is:
Bastiodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: No
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Body Press
- Foul Play
- Roar
While it always sets up rocks, that's just about it. There's nothing else that it can do due to the amount of fighting types and ground types in this tier, Just don't bother using Bastiodon it's just awful. However I found a slight success in making bastiodon an ironpress user while using this set:
Bastiodon @ Air balloon
Ability: Sturdy
Shiny: No
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Iron defense
- Body Press
- Foul Play
- Metal burst
In really niche matchups, this guy can do something but usually just don't use it.
(I literally lost it trying to test this guy)
Now for grafaiai.
This guy of course, did a lot better than bastiodon. The first set I used was:
Grafaiai @ Choice band/Heavy duty boots
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Switcheroo/Swords dance
- Gunk Shot
- Knock off
- U-turn
Which is the set that gave me the most success being a really good pivot in most teams.
I also made use of unburden pairing it with indeedee in a psychic terrain team using:
Grafaiai @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Unburden
Tera Type: Flying
EVs:252 Atk / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Gunk Shot
- Low Kick
- Swords Dance
Terrain is really good right now so this guy took quite a lot of Ws until 1200s before bastiodon got me down.
So grafaiai is just great in general, really solid and has multiple sets that you could use, with 110 speed and 95 attack makes it good in anything it does.
Definitely broken but not banworthy
Hi, I know I promised Bastiodon as well as Grafaiai, but I got sick midway through this week so I just did research on the artist.
Week 5:
Grafaiai
Team 1: Grassy Terrain Team but ITS NOT UNBURDEN GRASSY SEED, ITS SCARF DOUBLE EDGE POISON JAB KNOCK OFF U TURN POISON TOUCH
The team: https://pokepast.es/f04b5cbcc64108b3
:grafaiai:
Bonus Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073851814-rn5kk8tpim2epqlszdnxcykoya0mr0apw uxie…
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073854194-r4njm9r6ciqee93xzcik91lcd7ity57pw grafaiai kills malamar but sadly poison touch didnt proc on the sandslash
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073857758-7uttsz639dnowh1eh5crnamq5gytdsipw salazzle sux for the team, have to sack grafaiai. Decid and porygon2 tera ghost was so frustrating, and ofc I missed the dual wingbeat to put salt in the wounds. Still no poison touch we’ll see when it works
Bonus Game 2 bc wrong account: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2074706268-4fwcfh7hu379bqrp0lsd3fay8hknksnpw
Bonus Game 3 bc wrong acc: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2077674818 poor soul had to play mono water vs grassy terrain
Bonus Game 4 bc uxie. Like this mon is underrated in PU no one was excited for it on the vote im so disappointed: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2077677623
Game 3: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2077679100 technically grafaiai was important bc it gave us a mon to sac on explosion. Uxie beating alcremie 1v1 was cool tho
So I've concluded that, from my experience, Grafaiai is not that strong as a scarf mon. I often sac'ed it instead of using it for offense, and it probably would have been stronger as a prankster parting shot support mon. Side note, I wish they gave Bastiodon rock polish because before I was sick I was planning to do Meteor Beam Power Herb Rock Polish Bastiodon, maybe in Gen 10...
Week 5:
Grafaiai
Team 1: Grassy Terrain Team but ITS NOT UNBURDEN GRASSY SEED, ITS SCARF DOUBLE EDGE POISON JAB KNOCK OFF U TURN POISON TOUCH
The team: https://pokepast.es/f04b5cbcc64108b3
:grafaiai:
Bonus Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073851814-rn5kk8tpim2epqlszdnxcykoya0mr0apw uxie…
Game 1: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073854194-r4njm9r6ciqee93xzcik91lcd7ity57pw grafaiai kills malamar but sadly poison touch didnt proc on the sandslash
Game 2: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2073857758-7uttsz639dnowh1eh5crnamq5gytdsipw salazzle sux for the team, have to sack grafaiai. Decid and porygon2 tera ghost was so frustrating, and ofc I missed the dual wingbeat to put salt in the wounds. Still no poison touch we’ll see when it works
Bonus Game 2 bc wrong account: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2074706268-4fwcfh7hu379bqrp0lsd3fay8hknksnpw
Bonus Game 3 bc wrong acc: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2077674818 poor soul had to play mono water vs grassy terrain
Bonus Game 4 bc uxie. Like this mon is underrated in PU no one was excited for it on the vote im so disappointed: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2077677623
Game 3: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2077679100 technically grafaiai was important bc it gave us a mon to sac on explosion. Uxie beating alcremie 1v1 was cool tho
So I've concluded that, from my experience, Grafaiai is not that strong as a scarf mon. I often sac'ed it instead of using it for offense, and it probably would have been stronger as a prankster parting shot support mon. Side note, I wish they gave Bastiodon rock polish because before I was sick I was planning to do Meteor Beam Power Herb Rock Polish Bastiodon, maybe in Gen 10...
Alright so Imma be a bit less fancy than everyone else lol
My initial thoughts on Bastio were pretty similar to everyone else here; "Bad, shit typing, doesn't do anything good"
But over time that changed drastically! Custap Berry and Metal Burst saved this mon for me, not because either of them let the big oaf do anything special, but because both of them make your opp consider their next move carefully, do they attack and risk losing a breaker, or do they chip it down and get bonked by body press?
https://pokepast.es/b19d548989f6092b
This team let me either lead or pivot into bastio comfortably, letting him soak hit after hit and trading well into decent'ish matchups.
Now to Graf!
I only rly tested CB Poison touch Graf and it showed decent results, even got me a win in SSNL! It does well into all the tanky threats we have in the meta rn and the poison it kinda spreads for free is super valuable at times. 10/10 recommend this mon
My initial thoughts on Bastio were pretty similar to everyone else here; "Bad, shit typing, doesn't do anything good"
But over time that changed drastically! Custap Berry and Metal Burst saved this mon for me, not because either of them let the big oaf do anything special, but because both of them make your opp consider their next move carefully, do they attack and risk losing a breaker, or do they chip it down and get bonked by body press?
https://pokepast.es/b19d548989f6092b
This team let me either lead or pivot into bastio comfortably, letting him soak hit after hit and trading well into decent'ish matchups.
Now to Graf!
I only rly tested CB Poison touch Graf and it showed decent results, even got me a win in SSNL! It does well into all the tanky threats we have in the meta rn and the poison it kinda spreads for free is super valuable at times. 10/10 recommend this mon
Hi all! Sorry about the delay in getting Week 6 up, work was awfully busy. That said, thanks to everyone for your enthusiastic participation this week, and a special congratulations to Corvy for having the highest ladder rating this week and entering the hall of fame!
Research Week 6: Old Faces, New Places 
Welcome to Research Week 6! This week we'll be focusing on Hisuian Decidueye and Alolan Exeggutor.
A recent addition to the tier, Hisuian Decidueye carries a large number of traits that make it entirely unique from its base form. Most notable are its access to Scrappy, and its signature move Triple Arrows, which does so many different things at once it may as well be a Yu-Gi-Oh card. However, it also maintains a large number of aspects that allow regular Decidueye to be successful in the tier: Knock Off, Defog, Roost, and U-Turn, just to name a few. Do birds of a feather flock together? Or is this ugly duckling outclassed by his cousin?
Banned last generation for doing too much damage to everything, Alolan Exeggutor has come back for a second chance at PU. While it did lose access to Teleport in the new generation, it gained access to a new tool of a different variety in Calm Mind, allowing it to function as a setup threat. However, this new generation of PU has two things that are entirely new and pose a threat to Alolan Exeggutor's mission - Steels and Sp.Def walls. Will you manage to make it work? Or is Exeggutor's time in the sun finally over?
The tag for this week will be SVRW06. The deadline for this week is Sunday, March 17th. Happy researching!
Research Week 6: Old Faces, New Places Welcome to Research Week 6! This week we'll be focusing on Hisuian Decidueye and Alolan Exeggutor.
A recent addition to the tier, Hisuian Decidueye carries a large number of traits that make it entirely unique from its base form. Most notable are its access to Scrappy, and its signature move Triple Arrows, which does so many different things at once it may as well be a Yu-Gi-Oh card. However, it also maintains a large number of aspects that allow regular Decidueye to be successful in the tier: Knock Off, Defog, Roost, and U-Turn, just to name a few. Do birds of a feather flock together? Or is this ugly duckling outclassed by his cousin?
Banned last generation for doing too much damage to everything, Alolan Exeggutor has come back for a second chance at PU. While it did lose access to Teleport in the new generation, it gained access to a new tool of a different variety in Calm Mind, allowing it to function as a setup threat. However, this new generation of PU has two things that are entirely new and pose a threat to Alolan Exeggutor's mission - Steels and Sp.Def walls. Will you manage to make it work? Or is Exeggutor's time in the sun finally over?
The tag for this week will be SVRW06. The deadline for this week is Sunday, March 17th. Happy researching!
SVRW06 Code
Not sick anymore so should be both.
Not sick anymore so should be both.
SVR06 E4BrunoMars
Decidueye-Hisui
Decidueye-Hisui
If I do it, it'll b SVR06 Zora, and I'll do Eggy. Probably will just do normal laddering for a while and post my thoughts anyway, though lmao
It's me again, with early testing results.
Specs Eggylola sucks. Locking into either STAB is ultra susceptible to being baited or being 4x resisted in the current meta, Flamethrower isn't much better, and locking into other options isn't any better than that. It's also lame, boring, and not the type of set this autist runs. As such, I turned to becoming Farigiraf but not weak to Ground types; and it's not half bad!
Psychic Noise is great in general, even ignoring Throat Spray, since it lets you safely delete Substitute Salazzle while also hitting +1 (and also messing with both Decidueye variants, and CM Roost Braviary-Hisui.) Tack on Throat Spray as a pretty safe way of hitting +1, since a lot of your targets after clicking Trick Room should be weak, and you're set! Giga Drain off 125 SpA and Modest will usually heal you ~40% of your health if you OHKO the thing in front of you - which you probably will.
Flamethrower means you don't autolose (or at least don't suffer as much) against Steels. Orthworm and Sandslash-Alola take +1 Dragon Pulses much like the dinosaurs took the meteor several million years ago, but Zong shuts you down, turns off Giga Drain healing with Psychic Noise, and just outlasts you without Flamethrower. Without Dragon Pulse, your matchup into other Eggy and Tera Dragons from stuff like Sandaconda beomes MUCH worse, since a +1 Psychic Noise really won't do shit.
Calm Mind is also a... fine option, but relying on dual STABs or a Stab plus Flamethrower is not very good coverage-wise, and if you run Psychic Noise, it's an even worse coverage move outside of hitting Salazzle. It's better to have either dual STAB + Noise or a STAB plus Flamethrower plus noise to cover yourself.
The best part is pairing it with Trick Room Farigiraf, since Farig has a much better matchup into mons like Salazzle, Ice types and Fairies, while Exeggutor is very comfortable setting up in front of the Grounds that might stop a Tera Fire/Electric Farig, as well as being VERY comfortable into something like Sableye.
...The problem with this set is also the pairing I have for it -- Farigiraf is a way more consistent endgame thanks to being a bit bulkier and Nasty Plot letting it clean up far easier, along with having fewer defensive answers thanks to Psyshock and STAB Tera Blast before Terastalizing. Tera Blast as STAB in general gives Farigiraf infinitely more freedom, as it doesn't play with a potentially dead moveslot like Eggy would have to do, and can focus its tera entirely into giving it a single turn to click Nasty Plot with Tera Fire and win, or Tera Water and survive a turn to Trick Room to win, or more. NP boosting faster also means that Farigiraf is able to OHKO much more cleanly.
Eggy is also unable to do things like this:
Throat Spray TR (Exeggutor-Alola) @ Throat Spray
Ability: Frisk
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Dragon Pulse / Flamethrower
- Giga Drain
- Psychic Noise
- Trick Room
Ability: Frisk
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Dragon Pulse / Flamethrower
- Giga Drain
- Psychic Noise
- Trick Room
Specs Eggylola sucks. Locking into either STAB is ultra susceptible to being baited or being 4x resisted in the current meta, Flamethrower isn't much better, and locking into other options isn't any better than that. It's also lame, boring, and not the type of set this autist runs. As such, I turned to becoming Farigiraf but not weak to Ground types; and it's not half bad!
Psychic Noise is great in general, even ignoring Throat Spray, since it lets you safely delete Substitute Salazzle while also hitting +1 (and also messing with both Decidueye variants, and CM Roost Braviary-Hisui.) Tack on Throat Spray as a pretty safe way of hitting +1, since a lot of your targets after clicking Trick Room should be weak, and you're set! Giga Drain off 125 SpA and Modest will usually heal you ~40% of your health if you OHKO the thing in front of you - which you probably will.
Flamethrower means you don't autolose (or at least don't suffer as much) against Steels. Orthworm and Sandslash-Alola take +1 Dragon Pulses much like the dinosaurs took the meteor several million years ago, but Zong shuts you down, turns off Giga Drain healing with Psychic Noise, and just outlasts you without Flamethrower. Without Dragon Pulse, your matchup into other Eggy and Tera Dragons from stuff like Sandaconda beomes MUCH worse, since a +1 Psychic Noise really won't do shit.
Calm Mind is also a... fine option, but relying on dual STABs or a Stab plus Flamethrower is not very good coverage-wise, and if you run Psychic Noise, it's an even worse coverage move outside of hitting Salazzle. It's better to have either dual STAB + Noise or a STAB plus Flamethrower plus noise to cover yourself.
The best part is pairing it with Trick Room Farigiraf, since Farig has a much better matchup into mons like Salazzle, Ice types and Fairies, while Exeggutor is very comfortable setting up in front of the Grounds that might stop a Tera Fire/Electric Farig, as well as being VERY comfortable into something like Sableye.
...The problem with this set is also the pairing I have for it -- Farigiraf is a way more consistent endgame thanks to being a bit bulkier and Nasty Plot letting it clean up far easier, along with having fewer defensive answers thanks to Psyshock and STAB Tera Blast before Terastalizing. Tera Blast as STAB in general gives Farigiraf infinitely more freedom, as it doesn't play with a potentially dead moveslot like Eggy would have to do, and can focus its tera entirely into giving it a single turn to click Nasty Plot with Tera Fire and win, or Tera Water and survive a turn to Trick Room to win, or more. NP boosting faster also means that Farigiraf is able to OHKO much more cleanly.
Eggy is also unable to do things like this:
I wanted to focus on one Pokemon since I assumed that would be extremely busy and I was right. I have some data on Decidueye-H but I couldn't invest much time into this research so I will be more lackluster than I would've liked. So, I'd like to apologise for a lower quality, than my Tauros-P and Snorlax post.
Decidueye-H is a Pokemon that I've been interested in a lot. Not only due to its funny button in Triple Arrows, but since regular Decidueye and Virizion already exist in the tier and both are pretty good.
One thing I noticed is that it competes with Virizion a lot. It is stronger than Virizion and Scrappy allows it to spam its Fighting STAB more easily, however Virizion's advantage, Speed, is far more useful. You can beat any Pokemon you like but giving Braviary-H and Scyther a free turn is really rough, especially since Virizion can still outrun them and beat them with Stone Edge/Rock Slide.
Also, for the entire research, I've been exclusively running Triple Arrows, and while it is solid and can put you in a great position, it is weaker than Virizion clicking CC.
252+ Atk Decidueye-Hisui Triple Arrows vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Bronzong: 127-151 (37.5 - 44.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Virizion Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Bronzong: 135-159 (39.9 - 47%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
I've tried to make the most out of Triple Arrows, thus I built 3 sets around this move:
- This one is obvious. You have a spammable move and it does huge damage
- Swords Dance with Trailblaze gives Triple Arrows more power and the speed boost is great for sweeping and abusing flinches.
- Same as Choice Band, but you take advantage of flinches and you have a good speed tier in 360.
Sets I haven't tried:
- A standard pivot set with Roost or Tera Rock + Tera Blast, to abuse useful resistances in Ground, Grass, Electric, Rock and Water
I built this team, the day the drops happened, thus I sadly don't have any replays for it, atleast none where Decidueye-H shines. Speaking of which, Choice Band is not it. Triple Arrows can do work, but the drawback of being locked into a Triple Arrows is really rough in a meta where Scyther and Braviary-H are good Pokemon, not to mention that Salazzle, Mesprit, Uxie, Whimsicott and Bruxish are not Pokemon you want to get free turns either.
Other than this, the damage was... disappointing? I missed out on so many KOs or 2HKOs because of the lower power and the secondary chances, never played came into play. Close Combat is really better in this slot. Other than the Fighting STAB, U-turn, Knock Off and Leaf Blade were my last options. In all honesty, I think Leaf Blade is the most "useless" move here, since I haven't had many opportunities to click it, so you could run CC and Triple Arrows.
It is still a set I wouldn't recommend, since it is really puts you on the backfoot if you play incorrectly or recklessly. You could run Tera Rock and Tera Blast for Flying-types and it is something that I found myself wishing for in many circumstances.
The Team:
CB Hecidueye + NP Encore Salazzle
The Set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Choice Band
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Dark / Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Arrows / Close Combat
- Leaf Blade / Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Ignore the quality of the team here, the focus is Decidueye-H and it was alright. I didn't had many opportunities to set-up and it many turns to really do something, since it needs two Trailblazes to outrun even Scarfers and SD is really necessary to achieve KOs.
I still think that this set has potential but there were cases where I rather had Virizion, who doesn't need a speed boost to sweep effectively or deal a lot of damage. I think regular Decidueye would've been better since that has STAB Shadow Sneak to deal with faster Pokemon.
I think the set is fine in a vacuum but it needs a stronger team that makes great use out of it.
The Team:
SD Decidueye-H Offense
The Set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Lum Berry
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Dark / Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Arrows
- Knock Off
- Trailblaze
- Swords Dance
Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081419664?p2 - Decidueye-H trolled a Tera Dragon Rhydon
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081424849 - Beat Mismagius and chipped Hitmonchan
This is a really simple idea to put it on a VoltTurn team, but even outside of VoltTurn cores, Scarf is really useful. I had a lot of success with this set. The issue still comes from locking into a move and giving a Pokemon like Scyther a free turn, but being able to outrun Pokemon up to Lycanroc is really useful.
You can definitively surprise a lot of people with the new speed and getting the jump on stuff like Scyther, Braviary-H and Mismagius is really nice. With the new speed you can also abuse the flinch chance, so you can definitively cheese your way out of a rough position.
The Team:
VoltTurn Offense
The Set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Dark / Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Arrows
- Leaf Blade / Tera Blast
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081430057?p2 - Got a lot of value by chipping and beating Pokemon
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081449856 - Chipped a lot of Pokemon and allowed me to win
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2082763320 - Lead Decidueye-H won me the game and resistances were useful
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2082766865?p2 - Bulk and resistances allowed me to win again
Verdict: I think I focused on the wrong sets and style of teams, similar to my Tauros research. I had more ideas like a defensive set with Rocky Helmet and even Special Attacking sets, but I sadly didn't have the time for that.
I overall think it is a decent Pokemon. The issue comes by competing with Virizion and regular Decidueye. Virizion is faster and the SD set has more potential on that speed while regular Decidueye pulls off Special Attacking and defensive sets much better. In addition, its SD sets have STAB priority and Poltergeist is still a good STAB, eventhough it limits Knock Off usage on your team.
Decidueye-H, in my opinion, works best if you click CC on a Choice Band set since you do a lot of damage and this is a niche that Virizion cannot replicate "effectively", since it is weaker and lacks Scrappy (CB Virizion is still good tho). SD can also work on this Pokemon but it requires a lot of support and Scarf, while it was my most successful set, is more niche.
Decidueye-H is a Pokemon that I've been interested in a lot. Not only due to its funny button in Triple Arrows, but since regular Decidueye and Virizion already exist in the tier and both are pretty good.
One thing I noticed is that it competes with Virizion a lot. It is stronger than Virizion and Scrappy allows it to spam its Fighting STAB more easily, however Virizion's advantage, Speed, is far more useful. You can beat any Pokemon you like but giving Braviary-H and Scyther a free turn is really rough, especially since Virizion can still outrun them and beat them with Stone Edge/Rock Slide.
Also, for the entire research, I've been exclusively running Triple Arrows, and while it is solid and can put you in a great position, it is weaker than Virizion clicking CC.
252+ Atk Decidueye-Hisui Triple Arrows vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Bronzong: 127-151 (37.5 - 44.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Virizion Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Bronzong: 135-159 (39.9 - 47%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
I've tried to make the most out of Triple Arrows, thus I built 3 sets around this move:
- This one is obvious. You have a spammable move and it does huge damage - Swords Dance with Trailblaze gives Triple Arrows more power and the speed boost is great for sweeping and abusing flinches. - Same as Choice Band, but you take advantage of flinches and you have a good speed tier in 360.Sets I haven't tried:
- A standard pivot set with Roost or Tera Rock + Tera Blast, to abuse useful resistances in Ground, Grass, Electric, Rock and WaterI built this team, the day the drops happened, thus I sadly don't have any replays for it, atleast none where Decidueye-H shines. Speaking of which, Choice Band is not it. Triple Arrows can do work, but the drawback of being locked into a Triple Arrows is really rough in a meta where Scyther and Braviary-H are good Pokemon, not to mention that Salazzle, Mesprit, Uxie, Whimsicott and Bruxish are not Pokemon you want to get free turns either.
Other than this, the damage was... disappointing? I missed out on so many KOs or 2HKOs because of the lower power and the secondary chances, never played came into play. Close Combat is really better in this slot. Other than the Fighting STAB, U-turn, Knock Off and Leaf Blade were my last options. In all honesty, I think Leaf Blade is the most "useless" move here, since I haven't had many opportunities to click it, so you could run CC and Triple Arrows.
It is still a set I wouldn't recommend, since it is really puts you on the backfoot if you play incorrectly or recklessly. You could run Tera Rock and Tera Blast for Flying-types and it is something that I found myself wishing for in many circumstances.
The Team:
CB Hecidueye + NP Encore SalazzleThe Set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Choice Band
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Dark / Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Arrows / Close Combat
- Leaf Blade / Close Combat
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Ignore the quality of the team here, the focus is Decidueye-H and it was alright. I didn't had many opportunities to set-up and it many turns to really do something, since it needs two Trailblazes to outrun even Scarfers and SD is really necessary to achieve KOs.
I still think that this set has potential but there were cases where I rather had Virizion, who doesn't need a speed boost to sweep effectively or deal a lot of damage. I think regular Decidueye would've been better since that has STAB Shadow Sneak to deal with faster Pokemon.
I think the set is fine in a vacuum but it needs a stronger team that makes great use out of it.
The Team:
SD Decidueye-H OffenseThe Set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Lum Berry
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Dark / Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Arrows
- Knock Off
- Trailblaze
- Swords Dance
Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081419664?p2 - Decidueye-H trolled a Tera Dragon Rhydon
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081424849 - Beat Mismagius and chipped Hitmonchan
This is a really simple idea to put it on a VoltTurn team, but even outside of VoltTurn cores, Scarf is really useful. I had a lot of success with this set. The issue still comes from locking into a move and giving a Pokemon like Scyther a free turn, but being able to outrun Pokemon up to Lycanroc is really useful.
You can definitively surprise a lot of people with the new speed and getting the jump on stuff like Scyther, Braviary-H and Mismagius is really nice. With the new speed you can also abuse the flinch chance, so you can definitively cheese your way out of a rough position.
The Team:
VoltTurn OffenseThe Set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Dark / Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Triple Arrows
- Leaf Blade / Tera Blast
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081430057?p2 - Got a lot of value by chipping and beating Pokemon
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2081449856 - Chipped a lot of Pokemon and allowed me to win
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2082763320 - Lead Decidueye-H won me the game and resistances were useful
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9pu-2082766865?p2 - Bulk and resistances allowed me to win again
Verdict: I think I focused on the wrong sets and style of teams, similar to my Tauros research. I had more ideas like a defensive set with Rocky Helmet and even Special Attacking sets, but I sadly didn't have the time for that.
I overall think it is a decent Pokemon. The issue comes by competing with Virizion and regular Decidueye. Virizion is faster and the SD set has more potential on that speed while regular Decidueye pulls off Special Attacking and defensive sets much better. In addition, its SD sets have STAB priority and Poltergeist is still a good STAB, eventhough it limits Knock Off usage on your team.
Decidueye-H, in my opinion, works best if you click CC on a Choice Band set since you do a lot of damage and this is a niche that Virizion cannot replicate "effectively", since it is weaker and lacks Scrappy (CB Virizion is still good tho). SD can also work on this Pokemon but it requires a lot of support and Scarf, while it was my most successful set, is more niche.
Hello, so this is my first time doing one of those so my opinion may not be as good as of the others
But well, after playing 50 games with each of the mons asked to be examined (pretty few, ik) I got some results
The first one is Hecidueye, which I pretty much used just this set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Assault Vest
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 34 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Tera Blast
- Triple Arrows
- U-turn/Knock off
I used this bc, in a meta where everything that threatens it has a base speed of 90+, while it has 60 base spd, it isn't really worth having to use a choice set
Hecidueye, with this set, can still threaten things like Snorlax, Wo-Chien, Lycan, Palo and Sandanot considering rocky helmet while resisting special attackers like Hoopa, Salazzle (if it doesn't click fire blast and you can't tera)
As a last note, I have to say that Tera blast rock is probably the best one for it bc it can make any of the things that would check/tank it like H-Braviary, Scyther and Vika vulnerable
But as my opinion on it, it's not the best choice for the fighting type of your team when there are mons like Hariyama and Virizion on the board, but it still has a niche with it's access to Scrappy
Now onto Axeggutor, which I used this set:
Alolan Dragon (Exeggutor-Alola) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 6 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Giga Drain
- Psychic Noise
- Flamethrower
And I have to say that it's bad, since it, most of the time, only shined as a switch in punisherit probably shines more on TR teams, but idk how to use them so _-
But it's more useful when it's Teraed, with tera Fire getting the ice types on the catch and receiving neutral DMG fromSalazzle Poison types attacks AND for tanking volt switchers
My opinion on it is that it's a Bad Mon, but being the onlynatural Dragon type on the tier gives it a mini-niche that isn't really justifiable on how not so good it is
But well, after playing 50 games with each of the mons asked to be examined (pretty few, ik) I got some results
The first one is Hecidueye, which I pretty much used just this set:
Decidueye-Hisui @ Assault Vest
Ability: Scrappy
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 224 HP / 252 Atk / 34 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Tera Blast
- Triple Arrows
- U-turn/Knock off
I used this bc, in a meta where everything that threatens it has a base speed of 90+, while it has 60 base spd, it isn't really worth having to use a choice set
Hecidueye, with this set, can still threaten things like Snorlax, Wo-Chien, Lycan, Palo and Sanda
As a last note, I have to say that Tera blast rock is probably the best one for it bc it can make any of the things that would check/tank it like H-Braviary, Scyther and Vika vulnerable
But as my opinion on it, it's not the best choice for the fighting type of your team when there are mons like Hariyama and Virizion on the board, but it still has a niche with it's access to Scrappy
Now onto Axeggutor, which I used this set:
Alolan Dragon (Exeggutor-Alola) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Frisk
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 6 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Giga Drain
- Psychic Noise
- Flamethrower
And I have to say that it's bad, since it, most of the time, only shined as a switch in punisher
But it's more useful when it's Teraed, with tera Fire getting the ice types on the catch and receiving neutral DMG from
My opinion on it is that it's a Bad Mon, but being the only