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SM OU Scolipede's Concert
- Thread starter Obedience
- Start date
I saw Scolipede and I came coming REAL fast. Holy crap I love SD Scolipede. But here comes my normal critique... I.e, prepare for calcs. And more calcs. And a LOT more calcs.
Scolipede, considering how its your main focus, would likely want Aqua Tail or Megahorn over Protect. Its Item could also be changed, but you have good reasoning for running Sludge.
No, I'm not saying you have to run these. But its a VERY nice addition to have Aqua Tail (although Megahorn hits harder in most cases) as for THIS situation:
If Landorus switches into Scolipede mid-SD sweep, with Earthquake set
+1 252+ Atk Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 104-123 (27.2 - 32.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 135-160 (35.4 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
If Landorus switches into Scolipede mid-SD sweep, With Aqua Tail set
+1 252+ Atk Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 208-246 (54.5 - 64.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 270-320 (70.8 - 83.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
If Landorus is IN when Scolipede SD's and doesnt get off Intimidate, with Earthquake set
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 138-163 (36.2 - 42.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 179-212 (46.9 - 55.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
If Landorus is IN when Scolipede SD's and doesnt get off Intimidate, With Aqua Tail set
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 278-328 (72.9 - 86%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 361-426 (94.7 - 111.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
Really old calcs of mine from an old RMT I did, I dunno, a year ago or more. Aqua Tail nukes Landorus, and can do huge damage to things like Air Balloon Heatran/Excadrill. Megahorn does huge damage to things that take neutral damage from Poison Jab and Megahorn that aren't taking SE damage from Earthquake, or take neutral EQ, resisted PJab, and neutral Megahorn. But Aqua Tail overall is nicer for Scolipede if its your primary sweeper alongside Zygarde. Life Orb also pushes you into OHKO range on Landorus, and in a bunch of other situations.
E-Belt Keldeo
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Keldeo: 261-307 (80.8 - 95%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Keldeo: 341-402 (105.5 - 124.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Phys def Char-X
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Earthquake vs. 72 HP / 252 Def Mega Charizard X: 294-346 (93.3 - 109.8%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO (100% after SR)
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Earthquake vs. 72 HP / 252 Def Mega Charizard X: 382-450 (121.2 - 142.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Phys def Toxapex
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 214-252 (70.3 - 82.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 278-328 (91.4 - 107.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
SpDef Toxapex
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 278-328 (91.4 - 107.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 361-426 (118.7 - 140.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
SubPunch Buzzwole, and most Fighting type spam mons such as Pheromosa, look at your team then take a massive dump over it. Your team also doesn't like Magnezone. At all.
Let's just take a glance at how well your team handles a Max Max Focus Punch Buzzwole that runs EQ (standard set).
252+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Scolipede: 138-163 (53.2 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Greninja-Ash: 782-924 (274.3 - 324.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Greninja-Ash: 175-206 (61.4 - 72.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Water Shuriken (20 BP) (3 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Buzzwole: 279-327 (78.5 - 92.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO, doesn't need to worry AS much)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 540-636 (139.8 - 164.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO (EQ OHKO's as well)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Skarmory: 162-192 (48.5 - 57.4%) -- 50% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Skarmory: 324-384 (97 - 114.9%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO (Should you Roost and get hit by another Focus Punch)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 4 HP / 4 Def Metagross-Mega: 198-234 (65.5 - 77.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 4 Def Metagross-Mega: 178-210 (58.9 - 69.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(252 Atk Tough Claws Metagross-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 278-330 (78.3 - 92.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 188 HP / 0 Def Zygarde: 240-283 (59.4 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 76-90 (21.4 - 25.3%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO
Most of your team just eats shit from there, and with Beast Boost you could be even more screwed. Pheromosa does a similar type of deal, but with High Jump Kick, the ability to U-Turn out of unfavorable situations like versus Skarmory, or being able to Ice Beam Zygarde at +1 and be able to OHKO faster than you can say "Pheromosa should be banned." Ptooey. Fighting moves just overall, with another coverage move like EQ or Ice, demolish your team because of your reliance on three Steels for a majority of your defense and a wallbreaker.
In the same boat of 'fucked because of steel reliance,' Specs Magnezone with Speed investment will remove Skarmory from the playing field via Thunderbolt, can OHKO Heatran with Hidden Power Ground if it's running that, and does a massive chunk to Metagross-Mega if you overpredict (although EQ OHKO's easily lol). Yes, Zygarde and Scolipede have Earthquake, Heatran can Lava Plume, and Metagross can Earthquake too. But it doesn't change the fact that A) Greninja can't OHKO Magnezone even with the tiniest investment possible:
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 24 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 241-285 (83.9 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
But Magnezone also gets either a free kill on Greninja-Ash, or can Flash Cannon/Thunderbolt any other pokemon that wants to come in should you U-Turn.
Moveset Change ideas, and just to dump previously mentioned ones in a 'TL;DR'.
Scolipede: Try Aqua Tail/Megahorn over Protect.
Greninja: Ice Beam is unecessary as Hydro Pump already nukes almost every dragon (bar Dragonite), and even then Dark Pulse hits neutrally.
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 348-411 (97.4 - 115.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Salamence: 267-315 (80.6 - 95.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Heatran: Remove Stealth Rock (read below for another option) and add either Protect to screw with Pheromosa High Jump Kicks or Flash Cannon for Fairies like Lele.
Skarmory: Friend, you need an attack here. Remove Stealth Rock if you didn't for Heatran, or remove Whirlwind, and add either Brave Bird or Iron Head.
Metagross-Mega: You may also want to run Thunder Punch in the third slot for Celesteela.
Zygarde: What.
4 SpA Zygarde Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Bulu: 244-288 (70.9 - 83.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
I dont... What?
Don't run Sludge Wave. Just run Stone Edge. And move the SpAtk EV to Attack and give it Adamant. You may be hitting Bulu for a bit of damage, but Sludge Wave does nothing otherwise, Wood Hammer still OHKOs back, and Stone Edge actually hits some things for quite a bit of damage.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 188 HP / 0 Def Zygarde: 412-486 (101.9 - 120.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Problem Mons at first glance
SpDef Celesteela. Earthquakes Heatran for an OHKO, Leech Seeds Metagross/Skarm/Scolipede since they can't do anything currently to it other than try to do chip damage, Greninja does a fair chunk but can't OHKO and Seed+Protect can chip away at Gren's survivability, and Zygarde is the only thing that can reasonably take it on.
Dugtrio. Traps Heatran/Scolipede/Metagross and will either outright OHKO or do huge damage with Earthquake/Stone Edge. Also sets up Rocks, limiting Scolipede's survivability without removal.
Literally anything else I've put down already. So Buzzwole, Pheromosa, other Fighting spam, Magnezone, etc.
....I'm not sorry for making you read all of this.
Scolipede, considering how its your main focus, would likely want Aqua Tail or Megahorn over Protect. Its Item could also be changed, but you have good reasoning for running Sludge.
No, I'm not saying you have to run these. But its a VERY nice addition to have Aqua Tail (although Megahorn hits harder in most cases) as for THIS situation:
If Landorus switches into Scolipede mid-SD sweep, with Earthquake set
+1 252+ Atk Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 104-123 (27.2 - 32.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 135-160 (35.4 - 41.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
If Landorus switches into Scolipede mid-SD sweep, With Aqua Tail set
+1 252+ Atk Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 208-246 (54.5 - 64.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 270-320 (70.8 - 83.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
If Landorus is IN when Scolipede SD's and doesnt get off Intimidate, with Earthquake set
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 138-163 (36.2 - 42.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Megahorn vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 179-212 (46.9 - 55.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
If Landorus is IN when Scolipede SD's and doesnt get off Intimidate, With Aqua Tail set
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 278-328 (72.9 - 86%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Aqua Tail vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Landorus-T: 361-426 (94.7 - 111.8%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
Really old calcs of mine from an old RMT I did, I dunno, a year ago or more. Aqua Tail nukes Landorus, and can do huge damage to things like Air Balloon Heatran/Excadrill. Megahorn does huge damage to things that take neutral damage from Poison Jab and Megahorn that aren't taking SE damage from Earthquake, or take neutral EQ, resisted PJab, and neutral Megahorn. But Aqua Tail overall is nicer for Scolipede if its your primary sweeper alongside Zygarde. Life Orb also pushes you into OHKO range on Landorus, and in a bunch of other situations.
E-Belt Keldeo
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Keldeo: 261-307 (80.8 - 95%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Poison Jab vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Keldeo: 341-402 (105.5 - 124.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Phys def Char-X
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Earthquake vs. 72 HP / 252 Def Mega Charizard X: 294-346 (93.3 - 109.8%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO (100% after SR)
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Earthquake vs. 72 HP / 252 Def Mega Charizard X: 382-450 (121.2 - 142.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Phys def Toxapex
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 214-252 (70.3 - 82.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 278-328 (91.4 - 107.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
SpDef Toxapex
+2 252+ Atk Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 278-328 (91.4 - 107.8%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Toxapex: 361-426 (118.7 - 140.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
SubPunch Buzzwole, and most Fighting type spam mons such as Pheromosa, look at your team then take a massive dump over it. Your team also doesn't like Magnezone. At all.
Let's just take a glance at how well your team handles a Max Max Focus Punch Buzzwole that runs EQ (standard set).
252+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Scolipede: 138-163 (53.2 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Greninja-Ash: 782-924 (274.3 - 324.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Greninja-Ash: 175-206 (61.4 - 72.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Water Shuriken (20 BP) (3 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Buzzwole: 279-327 (78.5 - 92.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO, doesn't need to worry AS much)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 540-636 (139.8 - 164.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO (EQ OHKO's as well)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Skarmory: 162-192 (48.5 - 57.4%) -- 50% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 252 HP / 232+ Def Skarmory: 324-384 (97 - 114.9%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO (Should you Roost and get hit by another Focus Punch)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 4 HP / 4 Def Metagross-Mega: 198-234 (65.5 - 77.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Buzzwole Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 4 Def Metagross-Mega: 178-210 (58.9 - 69.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(252 Atk Tough Claws Metagross-Mega Zen Headbutt vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 278-330 (78.3 - 92.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO)
252+ Atk Buzzwole Focus Punch vs. 188 HP / 0 Def Zygarde: 240-283 (59.4 - 70%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252+ Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole: 76-90 (21.4 - 25.3%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO
Most of your team just eats shit from there, and with Beast Boost you could be even more screwed. Pheromosa does a similar type of deal, but with High Jump Kick, the ability to U-Turn out of unfavorable situations like versus Skarmory, or being able to Ice Beam Zygarde at +1 and be able to OHKO faster than you can say "Pheromosa should be banned." Ptooey. Fighting moves just overall, with another coverage move like EQ or Ice, demolish your team because of your reliance on three Steels for a majority of your defense and a wallbreaker.
In the same boat of 'fucked because of steel reliance,' Specs Magnezone with Speed investment will remove Skarmory from the playing field via Thunderbolt, can OHKO Heatran with Hidden Power Ground if it's running that, and does a massive chunk to Metagross-Mega if you overpredict (although EQ OHKO's easily lol). Yes, Zygarde and Scolipede have Earthquake, Heatran can Lava Plume, and Metagross can Earthquake too. But it doesn't change the fact that A) Greninja can't OHKO Magnezone even with the tiniest investment possible:
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 24 HP / 0 SpD Magnezone: 241-285 (83.9 - 99.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
But Magnezone also gets either a free kill on Greninja-Ash, or can Flash Cannon/Thunderbolt any other pokemon that wants to come in should you U-Turn.
Moveset Change ideas, and just to dump previously mentioned ones in a 'TL;DR'.
Scolipede: Try Aqua Tail/Megahorn over Protect.
Greninja: Ice Beam is unecessary as Hydro Pump already nukes almost every dragon (bar Dragonite), and even then Dark Pulse hits neutrally.
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Garchomp: 348-411 (97.4 - 115.1%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Greninja-Ash Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Salamence: 267-315 (80.6 - 95.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Heatran: Remove Stealth Rock (read below for another option) and add either Protect to screw with Pheromosa High Jump Kicks or Flash Cannon for Fairies like Lele.
Skarmory: Friend, you need an attack here. Remove Stealth Rock if you didn't for Heatran, or remove Whirlwind, and add either Brave Bird or Iron Head.
Metagross-Mega: You may also want to run Thunder Punch in the third slot for Celesteela.
Zygarde: What.
4 SpA Zygarde Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Tapu Bulu: 244-288 (70.9 - 83.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
I dont... What?
Don't run Sludge Wave. Just run Stone Edge. And move the SpAtk EV to Attack and give it Adamant. You may be hitting Bulu for a bit of damage, but Sludge Wave does nothing otherwise, Wood Hammer still OHKOs back, and Stone Edge actually hits some things for quite a bit of damage.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tapu Bulu Wood Hammer vs. 188 HP / 0 Def Zygarde: 412-486 (101.9 - 120.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Problem Mons at first glance
SpDef Celesteela. Earthquakes Heatran for an OHKO, Leech Seeds Metagross/Skarm/Scolipede since they can't do anything currently to it other than try to do chip damage, Greninja does a fair chunk but can't OHKO and Seed+Protect can chip away at Gren's survivability, and Zygarde is the only thing that can reasonably take it on.
Dugtrio. Traps Heatran/Scolipede/Metagross and will either outright OHKO or do huge damage with Earthquake/Stone Edge. Also sets up Rocks, limiting Scolipede's survivability without removal.
Literally anything else I've put down already. So Buzzwole, Pheromosa, other Fighting spam, Magnezone, etc.
....I'm not sorry for making you read all of this.
Awesome team, i don't really understand why you said ' it seems gimmicky' on the ash greninja, seems fine to me. Maybe try replacing Ice Beam with Hydro Pump, because you have a heatran and scolipede dealing with grass types, and most flying types arent switching into specs hydro pump anyway besides Mantine. Cool team!
hmmm I see your points there, thanks ! Can't say I am not impressed by how brutal your answer is though, considering you like the song "My Demons" by Starset XD (a lovely song tbh). I think I am going to keep the Scolipede set as it is, despite how stupid and/or stubborn it may seem, because I like the fact that I can outspeed a scarf lele after one, and then either force a switch or sweep, I am sorrry :/. I love the fact that you bothered to also give me the calcs ,in certain cases, to show your point. The heatran will not carry stealth rocks anymore, as you suggested. Zygarde has already stopped running sludge wave ,according to the plan, and stone edge seems like a good move to replace it (meant to hit buzzwoles ? 'Cause thousand arrows already hits for stab all flying types and levitating mons). I also changed ice punch for thunder punch JUST this morning. Greninja will also stop running ice beam , your point could not be more well supported. Idk about the Skarmory factor, if you mean to cover the taunt weakness, cause the I think it can not deal considerable damage either way, but I can also see that any damage is good. Any new Pokemon suggestions to cover the teams vulnerability to those mons ? The previous answer really helped !!
THANK YOU :3. But it seems that the team has some weaknesses that need to be taken care of. If you would like to see how the team develops stay tuned !!!
I only respond the way I do because it gets through some people's thick numskulls that their teams are horrible, like using a mon like Uxie these days or running fully special Gyarados-Mega. The songs I enjoy, nor the fact I enjoy romance novels and manga more than anything else, should change the fact I should be honest about your team's problems. Hehe.
Stone Edge hits flying types for SE damage, while Thousand Arrows hits them for Neutral, then removes the flying type. It also hits Buzzwole too, which is another point. (I have tested and Thundurus takes Neutral damage from it, then it takes SE on the second hit. Lost a Randbats match to that...) So things such as Thundurus, which can eat a +1 Thousand Arrows on a roll, won't have a chance to Hidden Power Ice you after a boost. Bulu also eats neutral damage from Stone Edge, although it can eat the hit fairly well.
+1 252+ Atk Zygarde Thousand Arrows vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Thundurus: 270-318 (90.3 - 106.3%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO (gaurenteed OHKO should Rocks be up, or if using Stone Edge.)
+1 252+ Atk Zygarde Stone Edge vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Bulu: 133-157 (47.3 - 55.8%) -- 23.4% chance to 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
I won't complain about you not changing the Scolipede set, as Protect exists for a purpose, it was merely a suggestion that was fairly well warranted. I'd at least suggest trying to see how it goes, and try to switch it into a point where it gets a free revenge kill or setup so you can get the speed boost. Examples being a weakened or even around 70%-80% Tapu Fini.
252+ Atk Life Orb Scolipede Poison Jab vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 276-328 (80.2 - 95.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Skarmory only needs to run Brave Bird/Iron Head for a very few select circumstances, although preventing Tapu Fini from getting free Calm Minds after it taunts you, doing good damage to switchins and being able to do ridiculous damage to Lele are just some examples of stuff that I might try to make my point with. Skarmory just has to fill so many slots with its 4 moveslots that it doesn't have enough room for it all, so if you have to run those 4 status moves then go right ahead.
The main taunter and stallbreaker, CM Lele and its EV spread:
0 Atk Skarmory Iron Head vs. 184 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 64-76 (19.5 - 23.2%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 Atk Skarmory Brave Bird vs. 184 HP / 0 Def Tapu Fini: 96-114 (29.3 - 34.8%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
As a check to Lele:
0 Atk Skarmory Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 136-162 (48.2 - 57.4%) -- 92.6% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Skarmory Iron Head vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 182-216 (64.5 - 76.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
And on switchin:
0 Atk Skarmory Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tapu Koko: 82-97 (29.1 - 34.5%) -- 6% chance to 3HKO (we don't want to talk about Brave Bird damage...)
For things you might want to consider adding, I don't know how you play so I can't just offer exact answers. But I got stuff I'd run.
- Scarf Thundurus-Therian outspeeds non-scarf Pheromosa, who is at this point the fastest viable mon not counting scarves, and can outspeed base 100 Scarfers and lower (ex. Jirachi, Lele), OHKOs Magnezone with Focus Blast, and can OHKO Pheromosa/Buzzwole with Hidden Power Flying. It also isn't trapped by Dugtrio, can VoltTurn, and if you don't want to run Choice Scarf can run Agility, Nasty Plot, or 4 attacks Life Orb to cover everything previously stated but Pheromosa (which OHKOs with Ice Beam) but still outspeeds base 100s without a scarf with Timid.
- Tapu Lele takes a massive dump onto the type known as Fighting, with Buzzwole being instantly forced out if not behind a Sub and not being OHKOd by U-Turn from Pheromosa (but Poison Jab fucks you). Metagross also gets team support off this for ZenButt damage and Scolipede appreciates priority negation (although you may not want this as Bullet Punch/Water Shuriken are on your team). Can run pretty much any set you'd want, from Specs, Scarf, Life Orb, Calm Mind, SubCM, Expert Belt, TwistedSpoon... I could go on.
- Another general option to fuck with Magnezone is to run a Shed Shell on Skarmory for a free switch into Zygarde, and thus gives you a free Dragon Dance should it Thunderbolt OR Volt Switch. It removes passive healing but at least gives you an option, a free Dragon Dance opportunity with the rise of Magnezone because of Celesteela's popularity.
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THANK YOU !!<3 It really helped. I would love to use a scarf lando, it is one of my fave sets, but it does not fit well in the team :/. So Tapu Lele was the go-to move. Metagross has left the team for it to come in. Although it seems to me more frail than before when it come to overall defense, it for sure is better when you examine it based on certain mons. I have kept all status on skarmory, simply because I feel that whirlwind fits my play-style better right now, despite your logical statements :P XD. I will be updating the post, soon so more people can see it complete. Thanks again you life saver !!!<3
i have been having a lot of success with a kartana life orb set with psycho cut leaf blade smart strike and brick break. life orb can kill much of the metagame and after one beast boost comes close to OHKOing Ferrothorn isn't gonna live forever with life orb so i suggest use as late or start game sweeper unless they have pheromosa. this thing has no chance vs pheromosa
hmmm rather interesting. However, I noticed when I started gen7 that Kartana can be beat with fast special attackers, suck as HP fire from the above Tapu Lele set. I would love it if you could send me some more info on that set to check it out ^^
i use this: Kartana @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Att / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant/Jolly Nature
- Smart Strike
- Leaf Blade
- Brick Break/ Sacred Sword
- Psycho Cut/Night Slash
Thanks, I have been having trouble starting up a new team ( I have every time :/), so this Kartana might be the core member of an upcoming team ^^
you can look at my team at this link: http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/sm-clean-up-team-the-janitor-arrives.3592526/#post-7183743
even has my twist on scolipede
Sorry it took me so long to reply, I have been busy with some other things , and I completely forgot to check the thread on a daily basis :P. I have managed to build another team,but could not fit Kartana in, sadly. In an another one, it is such a cool mon ! I will check out your team ! Soon , a new rmt will be up !