I wrote this set out while pondering what the heck to do with my Victini after reading this whole thread through. It's my first post for a competitive set on Smogon, so feel free to tear it to shreads. It's all a learning experience. =P
Not sure if it'll hold any weight, but give me your thoughts. It was crafted to counter all of his weaknesses, with one STAB.
move 1: Flamethrower/Fire Blast/Psychic (STAB of your choice)
move 2: Focus Blast (Defense against Dark and Rock)
move 3: Shadow Ball (Defense against Ghost)
move 4: Energy Ball/Solarbeam (Defense against Ground and Water)
item: Wise Glasses
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP/ 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
Here's my thought process with this. It has five weaknesses, Dark, Ghost, Ground, Rock, and Water. It can cover all of those in 3 moves. Slam a STAB for that neutral/SE attack and it strikes interesting to me.
Fore note: The information is running the set mentioned, and using Flamethrower for the STAB, and Energy Ball for Move 4. I mentioned Fire Blast and Solarbeam for if it was receiving Sunny Day support. Psychic was mentioned if you opt for that instead. I used
this damage calculator to crunch the numbers you see below.
Granted, the first downsides I can immediately see are:
Immunities to fire with Flash Fire -
Pokemon who can learn this are:
Ninetales - Since Ninetales usually runs Drought in Gen V, Gen IV sets would apply to this. You would at most
4-5HKO it with Focus Blast if it was running 252 HP/252 SpD and +SpD Nature. Tied for Speed.
Arcanine - Arcanine usually runs Intimidate in both Gen IV and V, but you would at most
4HKO it with Focus Blast with 252HP/252SpD and +SpD nature, while it has the same chance to do so with Flare Blitz and Wild Charge with 252 Atk/252 Spe. You out-speed as long as you run Timid.
Rapidash - While he can 3-4HKO you with Megahorn, outspeed you unless -Spe natured, and put you to sleep with Hypnosis, you can
2HKO it with Focus Blast.
Flareon - Due to his SpD Bulk, usual investment into SpD, and access to Wish, Flareon can be
problematic.
Houndoom - You out-speed with Timid and
2HKO it with Focus Blast against 252 HP/252 SpD and +SpD nature.
Heatran - Unless it is running Choice Scarf, you will out-speed it. If it’s 252 SpA, it can 2HKO you with Earth Power. Otherwise, if it’s running 252 SpD/252 HP and +SpD nature, you
2-3HKO it with Focus Blast.
Chandelure - According to
Here, Chandelure is a Trick Room or a Choice Scarf recommended user. That can means problems. You can
3HKO it with Shadow Ball if it’s running 252 SpD/252 HP and +SpD Nature. However, it can 2HKO you with STAB Shadow Ball, regardless if it evens puts any EVs into SpA.
Heatmor - No sets are out for this guy, but you can
3-4HKO a 252SpD/252HP +SpD Nature.
Typhlosion - It ties with Victini for speed, but if it’s running 252 HP/252 SpD +SpD Nature, you’ll
4HKO it with Focus Blast. Watch out if it’s running HP Rock however.
Entei - Again, tying for speed, but if it’s running 252 SpD/252 HP +SpD Nature, you’ll
4-5HKO it with Focus Blast. Watch out, however, because he’ll 2HKO you with Stone Edge.
Immunities to Grass with Sap Sipper -
Pokemon who can learn this are:
Sawsbuck - Hit it with Flamethrower instead. Unless it's running 252 HP/252 SpD and a SpD+ nature where you'll 2HKO, you'll
OHKO it.
Azumarill - Most sets I've seen, regardless of ridding it of a SE, Huge Power is better. If he was running Sap Sipper, he would be
problematic.
Girafarig - Hit it with STAB Flamethrower instead.
2-3HKO if it was running 252 HP/252 SpD and a SpD+ nature, but all Gen IV sets don't do this.
Stantler - Hit it with Focus Blast.
2HKO on 252 HP/252 SpD and a SpD+ nature.
Miltank - Hit it with Focus Blast.
2HKO on 252 HP/252 SpD and a SpD+ nature.
Zebstrika - Hit it with STAB Flamethrower instead. It will outspeed you with a neutral Spe nature against your +Spe nature, but it can only 3-4HKO you with it's STAB Thunder Bolt (252 SpA/252 Spe), or 3HKO with STAB Thunder (252 SpA/252 Spe) or Wild Charge (252 Atk/252 Spe), giving you time to
2HKO with your STAB Flamethrower.
Counters discussed at the first post by SJCrew
Blissey - If it can’t kill you quick, it’ll stall you to death. Luckily, unless you’re against an Uber set up Blissey, Blissey normally buffs 4 SpD/252HP. If this is the case, you’ll
4-5HKO it with Focus Blast. If it for some reason is running 252 SpD/252HP, it’ll take 5-6 Focus Blasts to take her out.
Chansey - Same with Blissey. With Eviolite attached to her, it’ll be a
6-7HKO with Focus Blast against a 252HP/252SpD +SpD Nature.
Latias - While you can
4-5HKO it with Shadow Ball if it’s running 252HP/252SpD +SpD Nature, you’ll have to do a 5-6HKO if it runs Soul Dew plus the previously mentioned stats. However, it will 2HKO you with even just Dragon Pulse if it runs Soul Dew, 252SpA/252Spe Timid.
Problematic. Period.
Latios - Same as Latias. 5HKO with Shadow Ball against it’s most specially defensive set and Soul Dew,
3-4HKO without Soul Dew. It’ll 2HKO or OHKO you however with Dragon Pulse and no EV investment in SpA.
Problematic.
Garchomp - Considering it can OHKO you with Earthquake 75% of the time, Garchomp is for sure
problematic, outspeeding you with a 252Atk/252Spe Jolly nature. You can
3HKO it with Focus Blast, but good luck with that.
Anything else I missed?