Project OM Matchmaking - On Hiatus Until gen 9

[tzaur]

Palkia @ Lustrous Orb
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fishious Rend
- Dragon Darts
- Jungle Healing
- Shift Gear

Fully physical Palkia, AKA the best abuser of funny 170 BP move. It forces out Imposter Ho-oh if it comes in on VC and can remove Paralysis and get some extra HP back with Jungle Healing; it also has the utility of removing Scald/Sands/Will-O' burns and Nuzzle paralyses from other targets which can allow you to use it a tad more liberally. Ho-oh paralysing Pixi Xerneas makes it easier for Palk to handle, especially if it lacks Extreme Speed, so you don't have to decide whether it's Timid (since E-Speed is much easier to scout/cover for). Does very well vs. opposing Dragon-types especially if Ho-oh paralyses them and/or Palk gets a +1, fat water types save for Fini in some cases, and those weirdo Flash Fire/Primordial Sea Steel-types that love to come in on VCs--especially if Ho-oh eventually reads into the switch and Nuzzles.

 

[Tea Guzzler]

Burning Rage (Kyurem-Black) @ Life Orb
Ability: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shift Gear
- Glacial Lance
- V-create
- Bolt Strike / Precipice Blades

Kyurem 'No walls' Black is an absurd damage dealer and great partner for the above Ho-Oh set. Enjoys the free switches that the threat of Desolate Land V-create generates, allowing this to repeatedly come in and cause havoc with it's insane killpower. Appreciates Ho-Oh's ability to paralyse imposter pretty much for free with Nuzzle, and repeated spikes layers combined with Ho-Oh's fairy resist and Nuzzle heavily pressure Kyurem's arguably best offensive check in PixiSpeed Xerneas. Kyurem also benefits from most V-create switch-ins being passive, Ice-Weak walls such as Giratina or Zygarde-C (and weaker checks like the Water types get fried by Bolt Strike), which Kyurem can easily abuse.

edit: if anyone puts band barraskewda i will personally come to your house

 

[Darkrai Retribution]

If theres one pokemon Ho-Oh hates its Giratina. Its bulky and eats V-create, immune to Nuzzle if its Poison Heal and prevents spikes with Magic Bounce. Zygarde Complete and opposing Magic Bounce hooh are super annoying too. To remedy this, we can use a Swords Dance Regigigas. It not only is able to capitalize on hooh paralyzing Giratina and abusing the spikes it uses, but Regigigas #1 check, Fur coat Zamazenta is a free spike or paralysis for Ho-Oh. Regigigas can also run Glacial Lance to hit Giratina and Zygarde-Complete very hard.

Regigigas @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Facade
- Swords Dance
- Precipice Blades
- Glacial Lance

hits really hard breaks things that wall Ho-Oh like Zygarde-Complete as is a good offensive Pokemon in its own right.

 

[Tanny89k]

Zacian @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Coil
- Spirit Break
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt

Ho-oh's least favourite things to deal with are bulky Dragons, which Zacian can deal with, allowing Ho-oh to click the funny 180BP Fire move. Ho-oh can also break non Primordial Sea Steels, which Zacian struggles with. Ho-oh threatening V-create opens many opportunities to get Zacian in and activate Toxic Orb, and Zacian really enjoys Spikes support, as what this set does is deal hefty chip with Spirit break and Will-O-Wisp and prevent recovery with Taunt, which Spikes help out with a great deal. in terms of Improofing, Ho-oh improofs Zacian fairly well if needed, and Zacian can eat Nuzzles once Toxic Orb has activated, although it should be noted that Zacian doesn't want to get hit with V-create. Just watch out for any Magic Bounce Dragons, since they can block Taunt and Spikes, while being able to take unboosted Spirit Breaks somewhat reliably.

 

[UT]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to a loser (Palkia), XxSevagxX (Xerneas), Tea Guzzler (Kyurem-Black), and ItsChew. (Zygarde-Complete) for their winning submissions!

Week 47: AAA Tough Claws Zapdos-Galar!

Zapdos-Galar @ Choice Band
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird
- Thunderous Kick
- Throat Chop
​

The Flying Terrakion is here to punch holes through just about everything! With two 120 BP STAB attacks, further boosted by Tough Claws, handling its raw damage output is no easy task. Thunderous Kick breaks through passive walls that can’t meaningfully threaten it back, while Throat Chop eliminates some of its harder checks like Doublade. Zapdos-Galar is not a one-bird army however; it is exceedingly prone to chip damage, so it often needs help getting in, and not very fast by AAA standards, so it needs teammates to take advantage of the holes it creates. Who will you pair with the legendary bird that can’t fly to kick your opponent into submission?

Submissions will open until Sunday, May 22nd, 11:59 AM GMT + 5:30. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[ItsChew.]

reserving pixi koko

 

[iapt]

Garchomp @ Life Orb
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Scale Shot
- Stone Edge

Zapdos' incredible breaking power often open up a path for Garchomp to sweep, especially with a Scale Shot speed boost. Garchomp is also often able to outlast the opposing team with Regenerator and take advantage of the huge holes opened up by Zapdos further down the line. Despite both of these Pokemon having middling speed for AAA, Scale Shot can fix that and allow Adamant Garchomp to outpace any scarfers below 300 speed. This core is prone to being revenge killed by Pokemon like Tapu Koko, so a teammate like Heatran is also a good partner.

 

[Ducky]

Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Expanding Force
- Fire Blast
- U-turn
- Trick

Choice Scarf Azelf and Tough Claws Zapdos-Galar form an offensive core capable of breaking down most defensive cores. Azelf's speed and power to U-Turn on the opponent's switchin, such as Blissey, Heatran, and Jirachi gives Zapdos many opportunities to switch in. Zapdos pressures many of Azelf's checks with its powerful STAB moves, while Azelf provides strong speed control, able to revenge kill faster threats such as Talonflame and Tapu Koko. Azelf can also capitalize off of Zapdos's ability to pressure defensive cores by cleaning up weakened teams later in the game

 

[tzaur]

reserving triage t*pu lele

 

[UT]

Thanks for all the great submissions! Congratulations to DuckeryDoodle (Azelf) and iapt (Garchomp) for their winning submissions!

Week 48: MnM Lucarionite Dragapult!

Dragapult @ Lucarionite
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Darts
- Shadow Ball
- U-turn​

Lucaronite Dragapult is a dangerous mixed attacker. Its Adaptability-boosted Shadow Balls have excellent coverage and power, making them exceedingly spammable. It can also drop a Draco for burst damage, and Dragon Darts lets it target special wall’s weaker Defense, especially the notorious Ampherosite Blissey. It’s also a pivot, everyone loves pivots. However, it’s exceedingly frail and kinda sorta extremely vulnerable to Pixie Speed, as well as sometimes lacking power against the bulkiest threats. How will you support Pult?

Submissions will open until Sunday, May 29th at 11:59 AM GMT + 5:30. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[iapt]

Entei @ Altarianite
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Double-Edge
- Sacred Fire
-Stone Edge

Dragapult's primary checks are Blissey and Ho-Oh. Entei is capable of wearing down or OHKOing both of these targets. Bulky Waters can serve as semi-checks to both and they can commonly overload these checks together. Both of these offensive pokemon force switches easily, something that can be taken advantage of. Dragapult is heavily threatened by PixiSpeed users, which entei can often switch into once or twice thanks to its fire typing and often KO back. This core appreciates hazard support from setters like Ampharosite Skarmory or Blissey.

 

[hayedenn]

Zapdos-Galar @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Thunderous Kick
- Close Combat
- Brave Bird
- U-turn

Zapdos-Galar makes a great partner for Dragapult due to its incredible power, great STAB coverage, and pivoting ability. Dragapult's main checks include Blissey and Ho-oh, which Zapdos-Galar is able to directly threaten, as well as Milotic which Zapdos-Galar heavily pressures. On the other hand, Zapdos-G struggles with bulky waters such as Slowbro as well as Magearna, which the pair is able to pressure together. What makes this core really work is the ability for these mons to continuously pressure opposing teams with U-Turn, ideally getting the user a favorable breaker matchup throughout the game. Both Dragapult and Zapdos-G struggle with PixieSpeed users, so Entei and Regieleki checks such as Slowbro and Ho-oh are ideal, as well as Ampharosite Skarmory, which helps this core a lot with Mold Brealer hazards

 

[The Dragon Master]

Only 2 submissions so still Congratulations to iapt (entei) and beauts (galar-zapdos)

Week 49: STAB Offensive Sylveon

Sylveon @ Metronome / Pixie Plate
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Boomburst
- Rapid Spin
- Glare
- Soft-Boiled
​

Offensive Sylveon can (boom) burst through defensive cores, with its 168 BP stab move in boomburst, while providing hazard control and paralysing the few steel types capable of taking boomburst. How will u support this cute Behemoth?

Submissions will open until Sunday, June 5th, 11:59 AM GMT + 5:30. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[drampa's grandpa]

Reserving SubHexGar

That was more than 24 hours
I have decided not to do Gengar ^_^

Sylveon's niche over Clefable is the power behind its Boomburst. So if we're going to find something that appreciates its support we need to find something that likes its wallbreaking capabilities and ability to force switches with power, with less focus on the paralysis and hazard removal because its somewhat outclassed at those.


Latios (M) @ Life Orb / Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psystrike
- Draco Meteor
- Roost
- Aura Sphere / Thunderbolt

This Latios abuses the paralysis Sylveon spreads and the fact that Sylveon brings in cripples, and weakens Pokemon such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Toxapex, all of which Latios can check and use as opportunities to break.

 

[in the hills]

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Protective Pads
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- No Retreat
- Final Gambit
No Retreat Urshifu-RS makes a great partner for Sylveon as it can threaten the biggest threats to Sylveon, namely Heatran and Toxapex with either its STABs or with Final Gambit. On the other hand, Sylveon is a nice offensive check to some of Urshifu-RS's checks, such as Buzzwole. Glare support can be beneficial against Pokemon like Cinderace and Tornadus-T, which otherwise could annoy Urshifu prior to it setting up.

 

[The Dragon Master]

Only 2 submissions (submit more people) so still Congratulations to drampa's grandpa (latios) and in the hills (Urshifu) for their winning submissions!

Week 50: BH Spectrier

Spectrier @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Astral Barrage
- Moongeist Beam
- Focus Blast
- Volt Switch
​

After getting itself banned from everywhere, spectrier can arrived in BH to abuse the lack of ghost Resists with its ice scales ignoring Moongiest beam, and extremely powerful nuke in Astral Barrage. Focus blast hits the most common ghost resist in Regigigas, while volt switch let's it maintain momentum. How will u support this ghostly beast?

Submissions will open until Sunday, June 11th, 11:59 AM GMT - 4. Remember reservations are only good for 24 hours, so post your sets and explanations quickly!

 

[Tea Guzzler]

reserving bounce zyg-c

 

[Tea Guzzler]

reserving bounce zyg-c

big whoppa (Zygarde-Complete) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Thousand Waves
- Volt Switch
- Core Enforcer
- Roost

Bounce Zygarde-C makes a very good partner for Specs Spectrier for a few reasons. First is that this is a very capable improof - timid Astral is doing at most 40, and due to the ground typing you block Imposters looking to Volt Switch for momentum on you. Zygarde also benefits Spectrier through it's field presence - many of the targets that Spectrier has trouble with, such as Eternatus or Yveltal, tend to not like being in front of Zygarde due to being both VS fodder, taking heavy Core Enforcer damage and also being unable to use utility like spikes or sap in order to make progress, and so Zygarde makes it easy to bring Spectrier in without these key walls being on the field. Bounce's hazard control is also useful in keeping Spectrier healthy over the course of a game, since Specs sets will never be healing (wish is bad), and Spectrier bulk is decent enough that it's HP should be preserved. In return, Zygarde gets an offensive monster that can reliably limit most mons carrying Glacial Lance and can act as a great VS-spam set piece to completely deny enemy spikers.

PS: RegenVest Zygarde-C is a good alternative set for Spectrier, you improof better and are more likely to be carrying Nuzzle/Knock off to cause the enemy grief, but you lose the innate hazard control which isn't ideal.

 

[Maybca☆〜ゝ。∂]

Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Expanding Force
- U-turn
- Trick
- Fire Blast

in the aaa meta I think an azelf + volcanion body. this combo is really offensive you go to azelf you type uturn he puts an answer to azelf example: mandibuzz, uturn you go to volcanion mandibuzz doesn't like and volcanion doesn't always counter or put the flash fire / primordial sea. I really think that with good defensive poke (regnerator) with teleport and again azelf uturn a death if there is no flash fire / primordial sea

 

[Onyx Onix 7]

Specterier is generally quite difficult to Imposter-proof without foregoing significant utility options or being forced to recover every single turn in the case that Zygarde sets are being used. As such the optimal teammate for it is:

UltimateLifeForm (Wigglytuff) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Moonblast
- Rapid Spin
- Nuzzle
- U-turn

Wigglytuff cleanly Imposter-Proofs Specterier with its immunity to Ghost and its neutrality to Fighting and its ability to punish Spectrier Imposters with Nuzzle:

252 SpA Spectrier Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Wigglytuff: 102-121 (21 - 25%) -- 0% chance to 4HKO

and serves as a decent check to other common sets such as Eternatus and Xerneas as it can take a hit and surprise them with a Nuzzle:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Eternatus Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Wigglytuff: 402-474 (83 - 97.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Pixilate Xerneas Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Wigglytuff: 199-235 (41.1 - 48.5%) -- not a KO

Beyond that Wigglytuff has good general utility as a pivot that can take most hits Neutrally, is Immune to the Giratina and Lunala's most common moves, and has the coveted STAB Moonblast to beat common Spinblockers such as Giratina.

 

[tzaur]

Zamazenta-Crowned @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sunsteel Strike
- High Jump Kick / Low Kick
- Glacial Lance
- U-turn

A bit of an unconventional set on a conventional mon, but it pairs well with Spectrier offensively. Common switchins to Spect include: RegenVesters such as Ogre, Zygod, Yvel, or rando Normal-types, specially defensive Dark-types, and oddball Normal-types such as non-Imposter blobs, Type: Null, and Snorlax. Spectrier is an incredibly powerful mon that just obliterates teams without a solid answer to it, and with the horse on the rise, a lot of teams have at least one of these answers to help manage it. So, having something to enable it by threatening, weakening, and/or removing these answers to it can go a very long way since Spect can just clean up by mindlessly spamming its powerful Ghost STABs, which cleanly OHKOs or 2HKOs the remainder of the format, in the late game. Regenerator + Choice Band Zama-C does this job exceptionally well. Choice Band + Adamant guarantees the KO on RegenVest/non-def invested Zygod, all non-Bold Xern variants (has a chance to KO Bold and guaranteed after minimal chip), Ogre after a Volt Switch, and PhysDef Type: Null after a Volt Switch/minimal chip. Regenerator is of course to give Zama-C an extra layer of survivability to help it keep up with Spect's answers in the mid-/long- term.

Calcs

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Kyogre: 297-349 (73.5 - 86.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (threatens a KO after a Volt Switch)

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Yveltal: 382-450 (83.7 - 98.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (threatens a KO after Volt Switch)

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned Glacial Lance vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Zygarde-Complete: 648-764 (101.8 - 120.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO (RegenVest)

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Dialga: 444-524 (109.9 - 129.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Umbreon: 474-558 (120.3 - 141.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Eviolite Type: Null: 348-410 (88.3 - 104%) -- 25% chance to OHKO (threatens a KO after Volt Switch; KO after hazards)

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Snorlax: 660-776 (125.9 - 148%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Low Kick also very much KOs if for whatever reason you're scared of PH variants Protect-scouting you)

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned High Jump Kick vs. 252 HP / 252 Def Regigigas: 518-612 (122.1 - 144.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO (if you don't want to rely too much on correctly timing and landing Focus Blast; Low Kick also KOs)

252+ Atk Choice Band Zamazenta-Crowned Sunsteel Strike vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Xerneas: 402-474 (88.1 - 103.9%) -- 25% chance to OHKO (not a Spect switchin obviously, but a nice bonus; KO after Hazards/Volt)

lol

 

[Maybca☆〜ゝ。∂]

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 184 HP / 252 SpA / 72 Spe
Modest Nature
- U-turn
- Thunder
- Hurricane
- Roost

I think zapdos puts real offensive pressure only with sub metronome as well as offensive lo or even boots. His counters: blyssey, jirachi I'm not going to say the absorbed volts that block him. with an adaptibility mamoswine or even zydog but still volcanion lo the duo is almost indestructible ask you the sr you hards switch on volcanion when you think that hirachi is coming and volcanion or put primodial sea ferro I do not see too much counter there. in summary zapdos + a poke which hit hard on the physics of the poke which wall zapdos = really hard to counter and to finish the whole thing I will think of a chandelure which goes with it to counter the primordial sea which annoys volcanion.

 

[UT]

Azelf @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Expanding Force
- U-turn
- Trick
- Fire Blast

in the aaa meta I think an azelf + volcanion body. this combo is really offensive you go to azelf you type uturn he puts an answer to azelf example: mandibuzz, uturn you go to volcanion mandibuzz doesn't like and volcanion doesn't always counter or put the flash fire / primordial sea. I really think that with good defensive poke (regnerator) with teleport and again azelf uturn a death if there is no flash fire / primordial sea

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Primordial Sea
EVs: 184 HP / 252 SpA / 72 Spe
Modest Nature
- U-turn
- Thunder
- Hurricane
- Roost

I think zapdos puts real offensive pressure only with sub metronome as well as offensive lo or even boots. His counters: blyssey, jirachi I'm not going to say the absorbed volts that block him. with an adaptibility mamoswine or even zydog but still volcanion lo the duo is almost indestructible ask you the sr you hards switch on volcanion when you think that hirachi is coming and volcanion or put primodial sea ferro I do not see too much counter there. in summary zapdos + a poke which hit hard on the physics of the poke which wall zapdos = really hard to counter and to finish the whole thing I will think of a chandelure which goes with it to counter the primordial sea which annoys volcanion.

Both of these are AAA sets, currently matchmaking is looking for partners for Spectrier in BH.

 

[Maybca☆〜ゝ。∂]

Mb

 

[cityscapes]

Xerneas @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Boomburst
- Volt Switch
- Knock Off
- Magma Storm / Nuzzle / Rapid Spin / Strength Sap

you have volt switch, and you have, volt switch. together these two can power thru counterplay to special attackers. knock is a huge help for removing av and null eviolite, boom will obviously shred regigigas, you can run some meme in the last slot depending on how you feel. dont lose to quiver dance and ur set.