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Probably my only post this gen for this thread, and I expect this example to demonstrate why. Was a tricky one to jump on thanks to Volcanion's Coverage and nature making its normal answers for/to very apparent.
So typically, a healthy Volcanion is safe against Victini thanks to Quad-Resisting everything but Bolt Strike, which still has to roll quite high to KO after ~20-25% Chip or the equivalent of SR damage. Meanwhile the SE hits pretty cleanly OH/2HKO Victini in return even without any V-Create drops. V-Create + Bolt Strike is 84% minimum so if Volcanion switches into the former, you could just switch out (too Slow to U-Turn and too weak to eat a hit after drops) to a more proper check, but that still isn't Victini dealing with Volcanion itself unless it gets back out to try and bait yet another switch.
252 Atk Victini Bolt Strike vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Volcanion: 204-240 (67.7 - 79.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Volcanion Steam Eruption vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Victini: 360-426 (105.5 - 124.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Volcanion Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Victini: 198-234 (58 - 68.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Best Victini can do against Volcanion normally is to U-Turn out of it. However, if you Skill Swap as Volcanion comes in, you trade Victini's relatively inconsequential Victory Star for Water Absorb, absorbing Steam Eruption while still being able to stomach an Earth Power in turn. At that point Volcanion's playing chicken, either staying in and eating Bolt Strike to a 2HKO or switching out and risking a teammate to V-Create (which is going to hurt even neutral/resistant targets for a decent chunk).
If you want Victini to just really get to Volcanion specifically for some reason, you can forgo HDB for a Passho Berry (to avoid needing Skill Swap for a 2HKO) or a Shuca Berry (to tank EP a bit easier if Skill Swapping while Volc is out, if you guess wrong on Steam Eruption), though this probably calls for stricter Hazard control to avoid giving away your item OR losing the HP needed to tank such. This could work with the original Glaciate maybe, but I figured A) Glaciate is already for very specific targets anyway so it was a sort of Lure/throwaway move already, and B) how often do I get to pretend Skill Swap is actually a useful Move in one of these battles?
252 SpA Volcanion Steam Eruption vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Passho Berry Victini: 180-213 (52.7 - 62.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Volcanion Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Shuca Berry Victini: 99-117 (29 - 34.3%) -- 3.2% chance to 3HKO
It also might cause a little disruption if you mispredict or Volcanion Switches again, doing things like stealing Toxapex's Regenerator (to avoid it undoing progress while healing on your own exit), Lando-T's Intimidate (weakening its subsequent attacks to make them easier to switch into), Clefable's abilities (which contribute heavily to its kit), or Heatran's Flash Fire (allowing Victini to chunk it for 60-70% with V-Create for example). A lot of weird niche cases, but it shows the move doesn't have to be dead outside the one lure target, and for some of these mons, even one switch-in going wrong for them can mean a good amount of progress against them.
I don't know if submitters can vote, but since the Magnezone set is neither a lure nor technically possible this gen (HP Fire, while not important, isn't a thing) and I shouldn't self vote, my vote by default has to go to Heatran
As cool as skill swap victini is, it doesn't do normal victini things as well as normal victini does, and they could just earth power too. Scarf magnezone is also just mid, so i have to go specs eruption goat
As cool as skill swap victini is, it doesn't do normal victini things as well as normal victini does, and they could just earth power too. Scarf magnezone is also just mid, so i have to go specs eruption goat
Victini's last slot is usually like, glaciate or will-o-wisp, skill swap is honestly a really cool tech option because it also covers switchins from bulky regenerator water types (slowbro/slowking/pex), denying them recovery while also being able to recover itself with regenerator.
Dragapult @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Phantom Force
- Dragon Darts
- Fire Blast / Sucker Punch
Often enough Zeraora acts as the primary speed control against Dragapult in its featured teams, aside from choice scarfers who are naturally slower than it. When kept healthy it acts a check to Dragapult because it wins the trade versus both Specs and Choice Band, though it often prefers chip damage. With Colbur Berry, this interaction is interupted. Dragapult lures Zeraora into clicking Knock Off while it uses Dragon Dance and even allowing Dragapult to go +2 in some sequences and grab multiple kills.
Relevant calcs:
+1 252+ Atk Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 324-384 (102.2 - 121.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252+ Atk Dragapult Phantom Force vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 289-342 (91.1 - 107.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Zeraora Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Colbur Berry Dragapult: 121-143 (38.1 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Ain't no way this tops Cell Battery Volcanion lmao
Bisharp @ Chople Berry
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
Bisharp lives one Close Combat due to Chople Berry and proceeds to destroy Zeraora's career with a Swords Dance boosted Sucker Punch. The HP allows Bisharp to live Close Combat after Stealth Rock chip damage.
Mew @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 148 SpD / 112 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off / Taunt
- Spikes
- Will-O-Wisp
- Roost
Mew is capable of burning Zeraora quite freely because of Colbur Berry and it removes Air Balloon so your team's Ground-type can check it later into the game.
Dragapult @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Phantom Force
- Dragon Darts
- Fire Blast / Sucker Punch
Often enough Zeraora acts as the primary speed control against Dragapult in its featured teams, aside from choice scarfers who are naturally slower than it. When kept healthy it acts a check to Dragapult because it wins the trade versus both Specs and Choice Band, though it often prefers chip damage. With Colbur Berry, this interaction is interupted. Dragapult lures Zeraora into clicking Knock Off while it uses Dragon Dance and even allowing Dragapult to go +2 in some sequences and grab multiple kills.
Relevant calcs:
+1 252+ Atk Dragapult Dragon Darts (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 324-384 (102.2 - 121.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+1 252+ Atk Dragapult Phantom Force vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Zeraora: 289-342 (91.1 - 107.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Zeraora Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Colbur Berry Dragapult: 121-143 (38.1 - 45.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Ain't no way this tops Cell Battery Volcanion lmao
Bisharp @ Chople Berry
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
Bisharp lives one Close Combat due to Chople Berry and proceeds to destroy Zeraora's career with a Swords Dance boosted Sucker Punch. The HP allows Bisharp to live Close Combat after Stealth Rock chip damage.
i dont even think zeraora ohkoes pult anyway with knock, so just because of that im not voting pult >:)
the corv set is a bit iffy
bisharp is using sucker punch the guy switches out
victini would be my best vote but self voting sounds mid so no vote