Hello. Research week is back with the approval of Aerrow. If you don't already know what research week is:
These three Pokemon can check Murkrow well and have much unknown about them due to their little use:
Have any good sets or discoveries on these Pokemon? Discuss!
As you all know, Murkrow, Gligar, and Misdreavus are now part of the metagame. Gligar can be checked easily by Shellder and Pokemon with Ice-type moves, and Misdreavus can easy be trapped and killed by Dark-types, but what about Murkrow? The bird is very fast and powerful, and it can escape just about anything. That's why this Research Week, we will focus on Pokemon who can check and defeat Murkrow without too much sweat. The thing with Murkrow is that it is so diverse that very few Pokemon can check all its sets, and if you switch in the wrong Pokemon, it could usually be the end for you.Research Week attempts to investigate Pokemon who have potential, be it in stats, movepool, or supporting their team, to serve as an innovative choice in today's metagame. These are Pokemon that, for the most part, remain relatively untested. I have selected 3 Pokemon we feel, with help from everyone else, could see use as they fill a particular niche. Perhaps the title is a bit of a misnomer; in fact, this installment (and perhaps future ones) of Research Week will continue as long as the discussion does, and that's where you all come in.
These three Pokemon can check Murkrow well and have much unknown about them due to their little use:
Rhyhorn is really built for checking offensive Murkrow. A very high Attack stat and Rock typing grant Rhyhorn enough power to OHKO Murkrow with Stone Edge or Rock Slide. In addition, Rhyhorn gets Mega Horn, which hits Murkrow super effectively after it uses Roost. Rock typing also means the dinosaur resists Brave Bird and Heat Wave, attacks commonly found on different Murkrow sets. Its excellent Defense allows it to take Sucker Punch without too much trouble at all, especially with an Eviolite. Rock Polish or Substitute are great setup moves and can be used for free if Murkrow attempts Sucker Punch.
Pawniard is another Pokemon just built to check Murkrow. With good defense, Steel and Dark typing to resist Brave Bird and Sucker Punch, and the ability Defiant to nullify Murkrow's FeatherDance, you can't really go wrong with Pawniard. It also has access to Swords Dance, Rock Polish, and Substitute to set up on an escaping Murkrow. Access to Brick Break lets Pawniard OHKO a roosting Murkrow and break screens that Murkrow might be hiding behind. Pawniard also has great Attack, which means that Eviolite Murkrow will have a lot of trouble tanking its hits, and very bulky variants made to stall can't hit the Steel-type with Toxic.
Tirtouga might not be as stable as a check when compared to Pawniard, but it definitely has its merits. Mixed defensive sets can burn Murkrow with Scald and attack it with Stone Edge. Additionally, it resists Brave Bird, Heat Wave, and Icy Wind, rendering Mixkrow useless. Being faster than the speed bird after using Shell Smash, Tirtouga can use Aqua Jet to avoid being hit by Sucker Punch and hit Murkrow before it can make a Substitute or heal. Rock STAB allows Tirtouga to OHKO Murkrow without any boosts as well. It can even carry Toxic for FeatherDance variants.
Have any good sets or discoveries on these Pokemon? Discuss!