Project Next Best Thing (on pause until the metagame settled)

[Katy]

OP stolen from OU and UU
Approved by EviGaro
Banner by Jolly Togekiss ^-^
Co-hosted with

RU Next Best Thing is here for Sword and Shield! This project tasks the most creative of participants with finding underexplored sets for familiar Pokemon, in order to let them function in a new and useful manner. This project is meant to encourage exploration of a Pokemon in the RU Metagame. With this in mind, not every set will become a metagame staple, and that's ok! We're here to discover what each Pokemon can do, so no matter the purpose of the set you make, your contribution is valuable. We're doing this both for research and for fun, so don't be afraid to give it a shot!

So, how's this going to work?
Each week, a Pokemon with the potential to have many options for sets will be selected. Participants must try to create a new set for it that is not already considered one of its main sets (either already in the Smogon Strategy Pokedex or in the process of being added).
On my signal, a vote will be held in order to choose which set is the most creative and viable in the current Gen 8 RU metagame. Once the votes are tallied and a winner is selected, the set will be listed in the Hall Of Fame below this post and the process will start over with another Pokemon.


VERY IMPORTANT RULES

1. -Feel free to be as creative as you want, just make sure that you can prove that your set stands apart from the standard sets, especially if yours does not appear much different from the standard ones. It is also important that you understand the difference between a creative set and a gimmicky set- this project is meant to use creativity to maximize a Pokemon's potential, not produce gimmicks. We may disallow sets if we deem them too gimmicky, situational, or unoriginal.
2. -Avoid using single move/item changes, as they do not explore untapped potential of a Pokemon, but rather augment what we already understand of a Pokemon.
3. -Feel free to post replays of your set in action! This is a great way to show how your set can be game changing in certain situations.
4. We appreciate suggestions for Pokemon to cover in the future, but please directly send those to myself rather than posting them in this thread!
5. -Do not change your set after voting phase has started- doing so will result in disqualification.
6. -You may not vote for your own set or persuade people to vote for you- these will also result in disqualification.
7. -You may reserve a set, but if you haven't properly filled it in within 2 days of your reservation it may be taken by someone else.
8. -You are required to have fun!

One of the best Wallbreakers in the Ru-Tier, Centiskorch, made an impact in the tier
with being banned first from RU, but now it has arrived in the tier, with having a great typing, movepool and ability to threaten Copperajah, Escavalier,
and Bronzong. It can also keep the dangerous Fire-Types like Arcanine and Ninetales at bay. What else can we do with this amazing pokemon?

Banned Set

Centiskorch @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fire Lash
- Leech Life
- Power Whip
- Knock Off

Submissions end until next SUNDAY at 10 PM GMT+2​

 

[Katy]

Hall of Fame

Week 1 - Winner: HailFall
Week 2 - Winner: Jaytop31
Week 3 - Winner: Oathkeepre
Week 4 - Winner: Jaytop31
Week 5 - Winner: MegaBanette69​

 

[CMx]

Centiskorch @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Coil
- Fire Lash / Flare Blitz
- Leech Life
- Power Whip / Knock Off​

Coil is an interesting choice on Centiskorch and is also an useful boosting move, since it increases the attack, the defense and also the accuracy which can turn it into an even more dangerous threat in RU. The accuracy boost can also come in handy since Power Whip is only 85% accuracy. The rest of the move set is pretty much self explanatory with two powerful stab moves and Power Whip / Knock Off as a coverage move. Depending on the team and the idea how to incorporate Centiskorch, it is possible to use Flare Blitz instead of Fire Lash to hit opponents harder on the first hit or to replace Power Whip with Knock Off.

Due to its bug and fire typing, entry hazards especially Stealth Rocks can hurt Centiskorch a lot and limit his impact and durability during the match which makes Heavy-Duty Boots the most obvious item choice. If the team provides enough support for Centiskorch to get rid off hazards via Defog or Rapid Spin, it is also possible to use e.g. Life Orb to increase its power and allowing it to 2HKO Milotic or Mantine.

 

[HailFall]

Centiskorch @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire / Flame Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Fire Lash
- Power Whip
- Sleep Talk
- Rest

Resttalk gives skorch extra staying power so toxic wont beat it and its pretty much guaranteed to break most stalls. It doesnt really need coverage beyond fire lash and power whip vs slow teams and the only things that is realistically going to wall it is flash fire arcanine. Flame body is an option to break p2 and garde but you lose the ability to check tales.

 

[TomSprite]

Centiskorch @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 124 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Scald
- Scorching Sands
- Knock Off
​

Special centiskorch gives it the tools it needs to remain a good check to the sturdy steels and ferocious fire types in the RU tier, as well as allowing it to beat some of its best answers in the right situations.

124 speed evs allow it to outspeed the plethora of base 40 speed Pokémon that it checks and that check it. Dhelmise for the former and Rhyperior for latter as well as outspeeding standard Dragalge sets in the process. Modest nature with 252 special attack allows it to deal as much damage as possible, with the remaining points put into HP to make sure this centipede stays alive.

• Fire blast is its STAB. Threatening OHKOs on Pokémon like Dhelmise, Steelix and Escavalier as well as solidly 2HKOing Bronzong and Copperajah on switch in.​
• Scald is good for some of the fire types it checks, namely Arcanine, cleanly 2HKOing it as well as threatening the OHKO on a big check to Centiskorch - Rhyperior (which it is EV'd to outspeed) hitting it on its much weaker special side. It can also threaten Gigalith with the burn on switch in, crippling it for the rest of the game.​
• Scorching Sands is an alternative move for fire types, namely the big 2 in Ninetales and Salazzle, 2HKOing Ninetales and OHKOing Salazzle. It can also be used to 3HKO (2HKO after burn damage), offensive Dragalge, which can be used as a check to this Centiskorch.​
• In the last slot, Bug Buzz can be used, however I opted for Knock Off. It gives Centiskorch something useful against Pokémon that check it, namely Jellicent and Mantine in particular, crippling them with item removal for other team members to take on.​

Overall this set aims to switch Centiskorch's role slightly, while still allowing for it to take on the Pokémon it would normally beat. I hope you enjoy using this pretty special set.

 

[LpZ]

Centiskorch @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Fire Lash
- Leech Life
- Power Whip​

This set capitalize on its ability to force switches from pokemon like Klefki, Bronzong, Gardevoir locked into Moonblast. Copperajah, Dhelmise, etc.

Substitute: Substitute blocks status and can ease predictions upon forcing a switch from the opponent.

Fire Lash: Its Fire STAB that can deal a decent amount of damage by itself, but only that, it drops the opposing pokemon's defense 100% of the time and it makes your attacks stronger after clicking it repeatedly.

Leech Life: Its Bug STAB of choice, it can be argued that Knock Off is prolly better in this slot by knocking some important items like Zard's HDB, Mantine's HDB, Milotic's Lefties/HDB, Dragalge Black Sludge/Specs, etc, but Leech Life besides being a secondary STAB move it can maintain Centiskorch healthy enough so it can set up more Substitutes.

Power Whip: Coverage of choice, capable of breaking through Water and Rock pokemon like Mantine at -1, Milotic, Rhyperior, Gigalith, Seismitoad and Blastoise.

 

[Katy]

Alright guys let's start voting for this week for Centiskorch!

these are the 4 submission:
Coil Centiskorch by CMx
RestTalk Centiskorch by HailFall
Special Centiskorch by TomSprite
Substitute Centiskorch by The LpZ

Vote for your favorite set.
votingphase ends on Wednesday 22 pm GMT +2


​

 

[Jmash]

TomSprite’s Special Centi

 

[LpZ]

special centiskorch

 

[TomSprite]

RestTalk Centiskorch by HailFall

 

[CMx]

Resttalk

 

[Hematemesis]

RestTalk

 

[Flareblitzkreig]

Coil

 

[Jaytop31]

coil

 

[PlusC]

Special

 

[Katy]

With their RestTalk-Set this Weeks winner is: HailFall Congratulations. Your Centiskorch will be added to the Hall of Fame.

without any hiatus we go right to the next Pokemon:


Goodra sees a good amount of usage on the RU-Ladder with checking the ever dangerous Ninetales, but it also serves like a great special and also physical wallbreaker, whatever your team needs, this sluggy Dragon can fullfill the role and is a great option as a partner.
But what else can we do with this versatile Dragon? Any new ideas?

Banned Sets

Goodra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt

Goodra @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt

Goodra @ Choice Band
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Power Whip

Submissions end until next Wednesday at 10 PM GMT+2​

 

[TomSprite]

ASSAULT VEST GOODRA

Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Breaking Swipe
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch
- Power Whip​

Assault Vest Goodra takes its already astronomical levels of special defense and boosts them to even higher levels. This set is aimed to switch in to some of the strongest special attackers in the tier with ease, while wearing down the opponents teams with strong, physical attacks. The majority of the EVs are invested into HP, maximising bulk, and attack to make sure Goodra hits as hard as possible. With 8 speed EVs, it can outrun the plethora of base 40s in the tier, as well as modest Dragalge. Sap Sipper is the ability of choice, adding an immunity on top of its already good resistances and allowing it to boost its attack at the same time.

• The newly added Breaking Swipe allows it to check even physical attackers once it is in, having a 100% chance to lower their attack. It also functions as Dragon type STAB, hitting pretty hard off a base 100, adamant attack stat. It makes Goodra surprisingly hard to kill on the physical side too, especially with 248 HP EVs.
• Earthquake hits strong special attacking Fire types like Salazzle, Ninetales and Arcanine for good damage, as well as Klefki, Dragalge and of course Galarian Slowbro for strong Super Effective Damage.
• Fire Punch gives Goodra a way to hit Levitate Bronzong (which otherwise walls this set) as well as hitting the Grass types Goodra likes switching in on, like Virizion and Dhelmise.
• Lastly, Power Whip allows Goodra to pick up the OHKO on Seismitoad and 2HKOs on bulky variants of Rhyperior and Gigalith as well as OHKOing Choice Specs Inteleon, thinking it can 2HKO with Ice Beam.

 

[PA]

Reserving acid spray lo

 

[Hera]

Goodra is more often used for its offense, with its great coverage, solid attacking stats, and a base 80 Speed tier, which is great for a wallbreaker. However, something that's underestimated is its bulk. 90/70/150 is pretty good, as it's able to constantly switch into neutral special hits in order to facilitate its wallbreaking. This set aims to patch up its middling physical defense in order to become a wall.


Goodra @ Leftovers
Ability: Gooey
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Def / 140 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Toxic
- Life Dew
- Acid Armor
- Dragon Pulse / Body Press

The set is straightforward. Toxic is a common move on many defensive mons, Life Dew gives it a form of instant recovery (albeit only 25%), and Acid Armor turns it from good to nearly unbreakable. Combined with its naturally sky high special defense, very little can outdamage its recovery when it has +2 Defense. Dragon Pulse is a consistent and reliable STAB move, while Body Press benefits off of max Defense and Acid Armor to hit harder than Dragon Pulse after a boost and hits Steel-types. However, Body Press means Goodra's damage output is impacted by a burn. I choose Gooey not only to standout from the many Sap Sipper sets you see, but also to act as a check to physical attackers (although Scarf Passiman destroys you). The EV spread outspeeds Virizion at -1 while still maintaining a sizable amount of bulk to comfortably check physical attackers. Goodra doesn't have anyway to stop status outside of Hydration with Rain Dance or Sub, so Acid Armor could be replaced with those if you're really adamant on not getting badly poisoned. Other than that, it doesn't have much in terms of a defensive move pool, unless Counter is your thing.

 

[Expulso]

SubCurse


Goodra @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Curse
- Outrage
- Fire Punch

This set looks very dumb LOL but ok hear me out. They go to something like Bronzong or Klefki, you Curse, then you can sub on Bronzong (it can't break the Sub) and/or start Fire Punching. General special walls like Mantine also can't break your Sub. Once you take out the Steel-type, just Outrage. Lum is chosen to cure Confusion and because I didn't want to use Lefties in order to bluff a Choice item. Jolly Nature and max speed, which seems counter-intuitive alongside Curse, are necessary to allow Goodra to outspeed Pokemon like Klefki, Rhyperior, and non-Timid Dragalge after one Curse. At +1 Def and with great natural special bulk, Curse Goodra can actually be somewhat hard to revenge-kill.

252 SpA Gardevoir Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Goodra: 212-252 (66 - 78.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Passimian Close Combat vs. +1 0 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 166-196 (51.7 - 61%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Have fun with this. If anyone uses this successfully please send me a replay, I'd love to see it in action.
It probably loses to physical walls like Steelix and Rhyperior, but overall it seems pretty usable.

Enjoy!

 

[Deleted User 465389]

Metronome Goodra

Goodra @ Metronome
Abilty: Gooey
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Adamant nature
-Outrage
-Iron Tail
-Fire Punch
-Earthquake​

This gooodra aims to use metronome to power up your moves, having outrage as it’s strongest with stab. Goooodra’s other moves help against steel and fairy types, and fire punch for the burn chance. You can also bluff a choice gooooodra, and surprise them with a super effective hit from a not choice goooooodra.

 

[TomSprite]

Metronome Goodra
View attachment 277692
Goodra @ Metronome
Abilty: Gooey
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Adamant nature
-Outrage
-Iron Tail
-Fire Punch
-Earthquake​

This gooodra aims to use metronome to fuel outrage, with each outage giving metronome a 2-3 move boost for 1 PP. Goooodra’s other moves help against steel and fairy types, and earthquake for reliability. You can also bluff a choice gooooodra, and surprise them with a super effective hit from a not choice goooooodra.

I don't want to rain on any gooey parades, but I thought you should know that Metronome doesn't affect the 2-3 turns where Goodra is locked into Outrage. It does work on the move, but only each time a PP is consumed.

 

[Jaytop31]

reserving hydration + rest

Goodra @ Binding Band
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rain Dance
- Rest
- Infestation / Acid Armor
- Toxic / Body Press​

This set aims to use goodra's bulk rather than it's offensive ability with it's 90/70/150 bulk, it's access to hydration, rest and rain dance.
With hydration, goodra can use rest and wake up instantly if rain is active, giving him good recovery and meaning it doesn't get put on a timer by toxic.
The first set aims to trap usual switchins to goodra with infestation and lowering them with toxic or body press while the second one aims to set up with acid armor and dealing damage with body press.

 

[CMx]

Goodra @ Wide Lens
Ability: Gooey
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Laser Focus
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt / Sludge Bomb / Hydro Pump​

While taking a look what moveset could be fun to play on Goodra (and since a lot of good options were already picked), Laser Focus caught my attention. I have not heard of this move before neither did I see someone use it. Unless similiar moves like Focus Energy, Laser Focus provides a 100% crit chance on the next turn which sounds amazing, especially if critical hits neglects a -2 after using Draco Meteor beforehand. The downside is pretty obvious since it takes a turn to activate it every time you want to use it and it also takes a spot in the moveset where you could fit in another attacking move which could provide better coverage. Since Draco Meteor and Fire Blast do not have 100% accuracy a potential item could be Wide Lens to increase the chances of hiting the opponent Pokémon when Laser Focus is activated. Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots are good options as well but I personally would prefer an item that could lead the opponent in thinking that this Goodra is choiced like the above mentioned Wide Lens or Expert Belt, Dragon Fang etc.

The EVs as well as the nature are pretty much self-explanatory since you want to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding stuff like Exploud, Bewear, Golurk etc. to prevent getting damaged before attacking them. Gooey could be fun if you use Laser Focus Turn 1 when your opponent probably will use a move that makes contact with Goodra. On Turn 2 there is a possibility that this speed drop causes the opponents Pokémon to be slower and getting smacked by a critical hit. Draco Meteor and Fire Blast are obligatory moves because they will give Goodra a powerful stab and a nice coverage move to hit steel types. The last move depends on the rest of the team or which Pokémon you want to hit with Goodra as well. Since it has a nice movepool there are plenty of viable options.

Laser Focus is definitely not a move that you will spam during the battle but use it more strategically if you want to catch the opponent off guard by taking a Pokémon out because of a critical hit or causing high damage so that other team member have an easier way of sweeping in the end. Having team members like Magnet Rise Magneton to remove stuff like Bronzong and Pokémon that can lure and remove fairy-types can help Goodra to maximize its potential to spam powerful Draco Meteors during the match without worrying about resistances or immunities.

 

[Katy]

Alright guys let's start the voting phase for this weeks Pokemon Goodra!

These are the 6 Submission for this week
Assault Vest by TomSprite
Toxic + Life Dew by Heracross2.0
SubCurse by Expulso
Metronome by Xaviere
Hydration + Rest by Jaytop31
Wide Lens + Laser Focus by CMx

Vote for your favorite set.
votingphase ends on Saturday 22 pm GMT +2

PA I wasn't able to include your set, since you didn't fill it out, sorry!​