zinnias
formerly AcneAutist
[Overview]
Alolan Muk's high HP and Special Defense, along with its great defensive typing, allow it to act as a sturdy, specially defensive pivot that can check powerful special attackers such as Mega Alakazam, Greninja and Tapu Lele. A Poison / Dark typing gives Alolan Muk an immunity to Psychic-type attacks while also taking neutral damage from common Fighting- or Fairy-type coverage that Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele commonly carry. Additionally, Alolan Muk's Poison typing has the added benefit of absorbing Toxic Spikes. Another virtue of its typing is that Alolan Muk has access to a STAB Pursuit, which allows it to trap Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam. Alolan Muk's Poison Touch ability allows it to easily spread poison with its attacks, including Pursuit, which allows it to wear down opposing Pokemon. Unfortunately, Alolan Muk's passivity and poor Defense stat invite in strong physical attackers such as Mega Mawile and Landorus-T. It is also notably slow, which, in combination with its lack of recovery, can make it difficult to keep healthy throughout a game.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Fire Punch / Rock Slide
item: Assault Vest
ability: Poison Touch
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 36 Atk / 28 Def / 192 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Alolan Muk's most spammable attack is Knock Off, which removes items from common switch-ins like Toxapex and Magearna and dissuades Heatran and Celesteela from coming in. Pursuit allows Alolan Muk to trap powerful Psychic-types like Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele, with Poison Touch adding a valuable chance to poison the trapped Pokemon. It can even be used against Pokemon that are not heavily damaged by Pursuit but hindered by poison, such as Mega Latias and Tapu Koko. Poison Jab is a strong STAB option to hit Fairy-types such as Clefable and Tapu Bulu with its own 30% poison chance that combines with Poison Touch for a 51% chance to poison. Fire Punch allows Alolan Muk to hit Steel-types that it can't otherwise threaten such as Ferrothorn and Magearna. Rock Slide is a useful option to hit Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y hard and is preferred over Stone Edge for its better accuracy.
Set Details
========
28 Defense EVs ensure that Alolan Muk avoids being 2HKOed by Choice Band Hoopa-U's Hyperspace Fury. 248 HP EVs, alongside 192 Special Defense EVs and a Careful nature, allow Alolan Muk to survive two Choice Specs Blacephalon's Fire Blasts after Stealth Rock. Additionally, it allows Alolan Muk to avoid being OHKOed by a +2 Savage Spin-Out from offensive Volcarona. 4 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Chansey. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack. Assault Vest gives Alolan Muk the special bulk needed in order to reliably check powerful special attackers like Tapu Lele.
Usage Tips
========
Alolan Muk is best used to switch into Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Mega Alakazam and Blacephalon to trap and possibly KO them with Pursuit. Alolan Muk can take a variety of strong neutral special hits well, but it should switch into these attacks sparingly, as it has no form of recovery. Alolan Muk is an adept punisher of Choice-locked Pokemon such as Greninja, as it is bulky enough to take a resisted hit and use Pursuit to potentially poison them as they switch out. It is important to keep multiple layers of entry hazards off of the field, as these can very quickly wear down Alolan Muk in conjunction with the attacks it takes.
Team Options
========
Alolan Muk generally fits on bulky offense and balance teams, as they greatly appreciate the removal of the likes of Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele. Pairing Alolan Muk with a Ground-type check, such as Landorus-T or Mega Latias, is a great idea, as Alolan Muk tends to invite Ground-types in. Z-Move Heatran appreciates Alolan Muk's ability to remove Mega Alakazam, which can trace Flash Fire, as well as its ability to potentially poison Mega Latias with Pursuit. Tapu Bulu is a beneficial partner for Alolan Muk because it brings Grassy Terrain to the field, which not only halves the power of Earthquake but also gives Alolan Muk some much-needed recovery. Alolan Muk is a grounded Pokemon with no recovery, so entry hazard removal from the likes of Tornadus-T is quite important to prevent Alolan Muk from being chipped down. Wish support from Pokemon like Clefable is also highly beneficial.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Shadow Sneak is a niche option that can be used to give Alolan Muk an extra chance to both attack and make contact when it would otherwise be KOed; however, this move is generally inferior to the standard Fire Punch or Rock Slide, as these moves better improve Alolan Muk's coverage and have more consistent uses. Poison Fang is notable for its 50% chance to badly poison, which combines with Poison Touch for a 65% chance to inflict either poison or bad poison. Poison Fang is a steep drop in power from Poison Jab, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**:
Ground-type Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and especially Gliscor have an easy time switching in and instantly threatening out Alolan Muk with Earthquake. However, Landorus-T and Garchomp can potentially be poisoned while switching in.
**Residual Damage**:
Alolan Muk can be withered down quickly by attacks in conjunction with entry hazards and weather, as it has no recovery.
**Physical Wallbreakers**:
Strong physical wallbreakers such as Kyurem-B and Mega Medicham threaten to OHKO Alolan Muk if they can safely switch in.
**Bulky Poison-types**:
Pokemon such as Toxapex and Mega Venusaur have an incredibly easy time switching in and forcing out Alolan Muk because they cannot be poisoned.
**Burn**:
Alolan Muk is fearful of being burned by Scald and Will-O-Wisp from the likes of Toxapex and Rotom-W, as the status halves its damage output and puts it on a timer.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/acneautist.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/skypenguin.462413/
Grammar checked by:
(https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dex.277988/, https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/)
Alolan Muk's high HP and Special Defense, along with its great defensive typing, allow it to act as a sturdy, specially defensive pivot that can check powerful special attackers such as Mega Alakazam, Greninja and Tapu Lele. A Poison / Dark typing gives Alolan Muk an immunity to Psychic-type attacks while also taking neutral damage from common Fighting- or Fairy-type coverage that Psychic-type Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele commonly carry. Additionally, Alolan Muk's Poison typing has the added benefit of absorbing Toxic Spikes. Another virtue of its typing is that Alolan Muk has access to a STAB Pursuit, which allows it to trap Pokemon such as Mega Alakazam. Alolan Muk's Poison Touch ability allows it to easily spread poison with its attacks, including Pursuit, which allows it to wear down opposing Pokemon. Unfortunately, Alolan Muk's passivity and poor Defense stat invite in strong physical attackers such as Mega Mawile and Landorus-T. It is also notably slow, which, in combination with its lack of recovery, can make it difficult to keep healthy throughout a game.
[SET]
name: Assault Vest
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Fire Punch / Rock Slide
item: Assault Vest
ability: Poison Touch
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 36 Atk / 28 Def / 192 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Alolan Muk's most spammable attack is Knock Off, which removes items from common switch-ins like Toxapex and Magearna and dissuades Heatran and Celesteela from coming in. Pursuit allows Alolan Muk to trap powerful Psychic-types like Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele, with Poison Touch adding a valuable chance to poison the trapped Pokemon. It can even be used against Pokemon that are not heavily damaged by Pursuit but hindered by poison, such as Mega Latias and Tapu Koko. Poison Jab is a strong STAB option to hit Fairy-types such as Clefable and Tapu Bulu with its own 30% poison chance that combines with Poison Touch for a 51% chance to poison. Fire Punch allows Alolan Muk to hit Steel-types that it can't otherwise threaten such as Ferrothorn and Magearna. Rock Slide is a useful option to hit Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y hard and is preferred over Stone Edge for its better accuracy.
Set Details
========
28 Defense EVs ensure that Alolan Muk avoids being 2HKOed by Choice Band Hoopa-U's Hyperspace Fury. 248 HP EVs, alongside 192 Special Defense EVs and a Careful nature, allow Alolan Muk to survive two Choice Specs Blacephalon's Fire Blasts after Stealth Rock. Additionally, it allows Alolan Muk to avoid being OHKOed by a +2 Savage Spin-Out from offensive Volcarona. 4 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Chansey. The rest of the EVs are put into Attack. Assault Vest gives Alolan Muk the special bulk needed in order to reliably check powerful special attackers like Tapu Lele.
Usage Tips
========
Alolan Muk is best used to switch into Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Mega Alakazam and Blacephalon to trap and possibly KO them with Pursuit. Alolan Muk can take a variety of strong neutral special hits well, but it should switch into these attacks sparingly, as it has no form of recovery. Alolan Muk is an adept punisher of Choice-locked Pokemon such as Greninja, as it is bulky enough to take a resisted hit and use Pursuit to potentially poison them as they switch out. It is important to keep multiple layers of entry hazards off of the field, as these can very quickly wear down Alolan Muk in conjunction with the attacks it takes.
Team Options
========
Alolan Muk generally fits on bulky offense and balance teams, as they greatly appreciate the removal of the likes of Mega Alakazam and Tapu Lele. Pairing Alolan Muk with a Ground-type check, such as Landorus-T or Mega Latias, is a great idea, as Alolan Muk tends to invite Ground-types in. Z-Move Heatran appreciates Alolan Muk's ability to remove Mega Alakazam, which can trace Flash Fire, as well as its ability to potentially poison Mega Latias with Pursuit. Tapu Bulu is a beneficial partner for Alolan Muk because it brings Grassy Terrain to the field, which not only halves the power of Earthquake but also gives Alolan Muk some much-needed recovery. Alolan Muk is a grounded Pokemon with no recovery, so entry hazard removal from the likes of Tornadus-T is quite important to prevent Alolan Muk from being chipped down. Wish support from Pokemon like Clefable is also highly beneficial.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Shadow Sneak is a niche option that can be used to give Alolan Muk an extra chance to both attack and make contact when it would otherwise be KOed; however, this move is generally inferior to the standard Fire Punch or Rock Slide, as these moves better improve Alolan Muk's coverage and have more consistent uses. Poison Fang is notable for its 50% chance to badly poison, which combines with Poison Touch for a 65% chance to inflict either poison or bad poison. Poison Fang is a steep drop in power from Poison Jab, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**:
Ground-type Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Garchomp, and especially Gliscor have an easy time switching in and instantly threatening out Alolan Muk with Earthquake. However, Landorus-T and Garchomp can potentially be poisoned while switching in.
**Residual Damage**:
Alolan Muk can be withered down quickly by attacks in conjunction with entry hazards and weather, as it has no recovery.
**Physical Wallbreakers**:
Strong physical wallbreakers such as Kyurem-B and Mega Medicham threaten to OHKO Alolan Muk if they can safely switch in.
**Bulky Poison-types**:
Pokemon such as Toxapex and Mega Venusaur have an incredibly easy time switching in and forcing out Alolan Muk because they cannot be poisoned.
**Burn**:
Alolan Muk is fearful of being burned by Scald and Will-O-Wisp from the likes of Toxapex and Rotom-W, as the status halves its damage output and puts it on a timer.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/acneautist.569291/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/skypenguin.462413/
Grammar checked by:
(https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dex.277988/, https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/)
Last edited: