Project NU Next Best Thing [Week 35: Gastrodon]

Corthius

diehard hockey fan
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Cycle 30: Gooey
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Being an overlooked Dragon type isn't easy. Goodra was deemeted to be not particulary good and mostly known for its ladder favorite Assault Vest set. But recently it saw a little rise in popularity because of its usage in NUPL.
But there are more items than Choice Specs & Assault Vest and we are sure you guys will come up with great ideas!
Submissions for Goodra will end on Friday, July 9th. Have fun!
Goodra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Bomb
-----------------------------------------
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 32 HP / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Bomb
 
Acid Armor Body Press

:goodra:

Goodra @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 80 HP / 244 Def / 184 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Acid Armor
- Body Press
- Dragon Pulse / Laser Focus

Thanks to his natural high special defense and threatening coverage from usual specs/av , goodra forces a lot of switchs and thus can easily set-up substitute and clean weakened teams . Usually people switch on their steel or scout choice locked move with vaporeon,diancie,sylveon.For the former ones goodra can set-up acid armors infinitely and retaliate back with boosteds body press. Need either sylveon and/or comfey fainted before seting-up.
Dragon pulse let goodra forcing roost on talonflame and kill it without risking burn,hits vileplume without risking sleep .Also a reliable way to hit ghosts. Laser focus prevents id bronzong to win id war.
 
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Katy

Banned deucer.
life dew + toxic goodra (supporter)

:ss/Goodra:
Goodra @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Gentle Nature
- Life Dew
- Toxic
- Dragon Pulse
- Earthquake

Goodra with Life Dew and Toxic can support its teammates pretty well, as it can poison Sylveon, and other bulky Pokemon such as Vaporeon, opposing Goodra, and Mantine, to put them on the timer. Life Dew gives Goodra some sort of longevity and increases its chance to support its teammates. Dragon Pulse is the STAB of choice to have a move which doesnt lower its SpA. Furthermore Erathquake hits Salazzle, Copperajah, Arcanine for super effective damage.
 
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TailGlowVM

Now 100% more demonic
Physical Goodra
:ss/goodra:
Goodra @ Choice Band
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Iron Tail
- Fire Punch / Power Whip

Goodra can utilise its decent base 100 Attack and physical coverage to lure in specially defensive Pokemon like Mantine, Copperajah, Vaporeon, and Sylveon. Outrage is the only usable physical STAB available (while the lock in is off-putting, you'll mostly be clicking it later on when you've eliminated Steel- and Fairy-types with your coverage), Earthquake hits Steel-types hard, and Iron Tail is for Fairy-types. The last slot is team dependent: Fire Punch is useful to hit Levitate Bronzong and Escavalier, while Power Whip hits bulky Ground-types like Mudsdale and Rhydon the hardest.
 
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:ss/goodra:

Trapping Toxic Stall Goodra!

Goodra @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rain Dance
- Toxic
- Rest
- Infestation

With this set, you are able to trap walls such as Vaporeon, Vaporeon, and Vaporeon! Rain dance ensures you have a somewhat reliable recovery option incase the Vaporeon's scald or toxic begins chipping you down. It's also great for PP stall shenanigans against things like Quagsire, non ID Bronzong, and more. The EV spread allows you to better handle the above listed Pokemon. Infestation is the trapping move here, able to trap and annoy certain walls.
 
RestTalk
:ss/goodra:
Goodra @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Dragon Tail
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

A set that can be used once fairy types are removed. Dragon Tail allows you to force opposing Pokemon and can stop setup sweepers. Curse is for mainly boosting your defense. Rest and Sleep Talk allows you to continue to phaze while being able to absorb status conditions.
 
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Raindra Lure
:ss/goodra:
Goodra @ Life Orb
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Rain Dance
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor
- Thunder

pretty weird but fun and viable...

step 1: Set rain dance up on passive mons and clear your status effects when they click toxic (thank you hydration) >:)

step 2: Boosted hydro pumps and 100% accurate thunders for Diancie, Vaporeon and Bronzong. Should of thought about switching in hehe. >:)

252+ SpA Life Orb Goodra Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Diancie in Rain: 322-382 (106.2 - 126%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Goodra Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Bronzong in Rain: 201-238 (59.4 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Life Orb Goodra Thunder vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Vaporeon: 317-374 (68.3 - 80.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Step 3: ??? >:)

Step 4: Profit. Lured with style. Just watch out for Sylveon I guess but it's pretty easy to pair with something which beats it. >:)
 
:ss/goodra:
Goodra @ Leftovers
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 Atk / 116 Def / 4 SpD / 136 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Outrage
- Power Whip

This set patches up one weakness that Goodra has in Low Physical Defense after setting up. The attack EV's are obvious, and the defense EV's are for living Sirfetch'd Close Combat after a curse. (It can be moved to HP if you want, it still does survive it.) The speed is for outspeeding adamant Sirfetch'd. (JOLLY SIRFETCH'D SUCKS.) This set gets walled by Levitate Bronzong but Bronzong walls everything so whatever. (You can run Fire Punch over EQ if you want to.)
 
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TONE

I don't have to take this. I'm going for a walk.
is a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnus
:ss/goodra:

Goodra @ Life Orb
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 104 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Iron Tail / Superpower
- Power Whip
- Draco Meteor
- Fire Blast / Earthquake

Mixed Goodra seemed doable here with good amount of coverage at its disposal. Iron Tail smacks fairies, 2hkoing sylveon after rocks and luring in diancie as well, superpower is only here if you really want to give Copperajah the business. Power Whip for bulky waters like vaporeon and quagsire, Draco meteor is self explanatory for nuking damage. Last move is preference. To dent bronzong and Rotom-c, Fire Blast, else EQ helps against Arcanine and Salazzle. Attack investment is enough to guarantee 2hko vaporeon with Power Whip from full.
 

Corthius

diehard hockey fan
is a Site Content Manageris a Forum Moderatoris a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnus

Sorry for the delay! We all were quite busy. Voting ends on Tuesday at 11:00 pm GMT-4/ET for Goodra! Thank you for all submissions :goomy: Please be reminded that: Voting for your own set is not allowed and advertising for people to vote for your set will result in disqualification in your submission.

Acid Armor + Body Press :leftovers:by Elias PSY
Life Dew + Toxic :heavy-duty_boots: by Katy
Choice Band :choice_band:by TailGlowVM
Infestation + Toxic :leftovers:by turtledoggo1
RestTalk :leftovers:by Zangoose5000
Rain Dance :life_orb:by Realistic Waters
Curse :leftovers:by SimonBoi
Mixed Attacker :life_orb:by TONE
 
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Corthius

diehard hockey fan
is a Site Content Manageris a Forum Moderatoris a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Contributor to Smogonis a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnus
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Congrats Acid Armor + Body Press :leftovers:by Elias PSY for winning this cycle of NU NBT!

Cycle 31: Toxic!
Salazzle GIF | Gfycat
For our next Next Best Thing we decided to go with Salazzle! Salazzle is well known for its ability to poison even steel and opposing Poison types with its ability Corrosion. But it has way more option up its sleeve which we would like to see from you guys!
Submissions for Salzzle will end on Friday, July 17th. Have fun!
Salazzle (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Toxic
- Knock Off
Roxiee: plot 3 attacks is also banned
 
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DD Salazzle

:ss/salazzle:

Salazzle (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 52 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 200 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Fire Lash / Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw / Knock Off / Leech Life
- Gunk Shot / Poison Jab

Pair this on screens idrk. The Speed EV's are for outspeeding base 110's with no boosts while hitting a jump point. The HP EV's are leftovers so you do as you please. The Attack EV's are obvious but i think this is still painfully weak after a boost. You can change the item to air balloon if you want to set up against a non poltergeist golurk or a non smack down mudsdale. (DON'T DO THAT) I don't feel like doing defensive calcs because this set is frail and weak. You can change the nature to adamant and use this spread 16 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 236 Spe to outspeed base 100's with a positive nature if you want a bit more power in exchange of a bit less sweeping potential. I also put dragon claw just for killing flygon, then realized it was gone.:psycry:
#plscomeback:flygon:wemissyou Anyways, i put a slash on moves i see unnecessary for every set.
 
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Katy

Banned deucer.
toxic + venoshock

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Salazzle (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Flamethrower
- Venoshock
- Toxic

this set aims to break down a lot of the bulkier pokemon in the metagame with toxicing them such as dragalge, goodra, guzzlord, and mantine. with toxic it can force a lot of pgress on them coupled with venoshock to get a guaranteed doubled power after the targets are poironed. nasty plot is there to boost salazzles already great strengths and flamethrower is salazzle stab of choice. in overall toxic with venoshock is pretty fun to use and is able to break down many of the bulky threats which are able to wall salazzle otherwise.
 
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TailGlowVM

Now 100% more demonic
SubToxic Salazzle
:ss/salazzle:
Salazzle @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Protect
- Toxic
- Flamethrower

Corrosion allows Salazzle to overcome the usual problem with any SubToxic Pokemon of being unable to do anything meaningful to Poison- and/or Steel-types. It's also a good scout with Protect and can use Substitute effectively thanks to its great Speed tier. Flamethrower is mostly just for finishing off weakened stuff, and it's the best attack available as it's the only one with good neutral coverage and no immunities. While it may seem strange to use max HP over Special Attack investment, the bulk can help survive some weaker attacks in a pinch, and this set can pivot into some Pokemon utilising Salazzle's decent typing (including three 4x resistances), such as Arcanine, defensive Sylveon, and non-Earthquake Toxicroak.
 
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Sash Endeavor

:salazzle:

Salazzle (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Oblivious
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Endeavor
- Nasty Plot / Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave

Endeavor is a cool tech on HO in order to trade kill some bulky mons who wanted to revenge kill lazzle like dragalge,vaporeon or guzzlord.Also make it less reliant on sash.
 
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SubDisable
:ss/Salazzle:
Salazzle (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe or 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Disable
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Bomb / Toxic


So uhh I decided to make this one a more offensive variant. A more bulkier spread is also fine. Substitute is for scouting moves. Next, you can use Disable to stop mons from spamming one move, and especially hinders Choice locked Pokemon. Flamethrower and Sludge Bomb are there so you can also have an offensive presense. Toxic is an alternative to Sludge Bomb to poison switch-ins.
 
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Choice Specs
:ss/salazzle:
Salazzle (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Corrosion
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Dragon Pulse

Utilizing this set, Salazzle is able to deal more immediate damage, making it a scary threat for some teams. It's able to score KO's on things that it otherwise wouldn't be able to. With examples being Exploud, Sirfetch'd, Golurk, as well as other faster mons such as Tyrantrum and Heliolisk. You are also able to deal more immediate damage to bulky waters, allowing you to easily abuse their wish/recover sequences to bring in another deadly teammate. This set is best complimented with some sort of hazard removal, such as dhelm/starmie's rapid spin or defog support
 

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