Project SV OU: The Next Best Thing (Week 11: Iron Moth) (Votings Open)

[nameless90]

Bulky AV Defiant Kingambit

Kingambit @ Assault Vest
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 236 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Spe
Tera Type: Fairy / Flying
Adamant Nature
- Kowtow Cleave
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Low Kick

What I really love about this pokemon is its good bulk, which is here further magnified by Assault Vest that fixes its SpD stat.
Keep in mind that Assault Vest allows you to run a 4th coverage move (Low Kick) that alloes you to have more flexibility.
Also, Defiant is worth using over Supreme Overlord because we can make good use of random stat drops, and can somehow replace Supreme Overlord in a meta with Intimidate users without the need of make teammates fainting.

Some calcs:

Hide

252+ SpA Choice Specs Gholdengo Focus Blast vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tera Fairy Kingambit: 84-99 (21 - 24.7%) -- guaranteed 5HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tera Fairy Kingambit: 168-198 (42 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Slowking-Galar Sludge Bomb vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Tera Fairy Kingambit: 162-192 (40.5 - 48%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Kingambit: 109-130 (27.2 - 32.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

 

[Ryomathekillers]

Weakness Policy Gambit

Kingambit @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Dark/(?)
EVs: 236 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance/Low Kick
- Kowtow Cleave
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head


We all know what normal Kingambit does, but the question I have becomes, what kind of bullshit can kingambit actually survive?

252 Atk Iron Valiant Close Combat vs. 236 HP / 0 Def Tera Dark Kingambit: 338-398 (84.5 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Iron Valiant Moonblast vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Tera Dark Kingambit: 338-398 (84.5 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Great Tusk Close Combat vs. 236 HP / 0 Def Tera Dark Kingambit: 338-398 (84.5 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 236 HP / 0 Def Kingambit: 306-360 (76.5 - 90%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Kingambit: 270-318 (67.5 - 79.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Choice Specs Enamorus Earth Power vs. 236 HP / 0 SpD Kingambit: 346-408 (86.5 - 102%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO (Barely)
+1 252 Atk Baxcalibur Earthquake vs. 236 HP / 0 Def Kingambit: 304-358 (76 - 89.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Kingambit is bulky enough to shrug off super effective hits, combined with the amount of fighting moves used to combat kingambit I think that a weakness policy set can function pretty well. You can survive this stuff and come off with either a +2 attack or you can press sd again and have a +4 gambit threatening sucker punches on the next turn

Kingambit's item slot is very flexible, Between Air Balloon, HDB, Lefties, Black Glasses, Lum berry and so on. All designed to get kingambit around counter play, but why bother getting around counterplay when you can have a nuke.

The best thing about this set in particular is you can change the tera to be whatever you want as due to Gambit's obscene bulk it will likely take any non specs/band move even if it is super effective. It is also funny af if you ever get a weakness policy proc

 

[Poke nerd]

G-knot Gambit



Kingambit @ Miracle Seed
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Grass Knot
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Kowtow Cleave

What are the main threats for gambit? smogon banning it tusk and dondozo. What deals with tusk and don? G-knot!

4+ SpA Miracle Seed Kingambit Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dondozo: 214-252 (42.4 - 50%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO

4+ SpA Miracle Seed Kingambit Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Great Tusk: 248-294 (57.1 - 67.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

This set let's you KO tusk and don effortlessly, without sacrificing too much. You don't lose much attack, and no lo means you're not getting chipped to death while you sucker their entire team. Flying isn't the only tera you can use, I don't know if it's even the best one! I can see this set being useful on grassy terrain to help with setup and power up g-knot to 2hko garg and don.

4+ SpA Miracle Seed Kingambit Grass Knot (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 100 SpD Garganacl in Grassy Terrain: 192-228 (47.5 - 56.4%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery

... Okay a bit less powerful than I thought but moving on...

I'm honestly happy that the next best thing is up and running again,and can't wait to see what crazy ( but maybe viable) sets everyone comes up with!​

 

[Ayush_1]

I'm honestly happy that the next best thing is up and running again,and can't wait to see what crazy ( but maybe viable) sets everyone comes up with!

Glad to hear that. But, I'd like to request you something. If possible, please avoid using light shaded texts in here. You may use Dark Green or Black instead, as the Light Green might be a little harder for other members to see. Thanks

 

[incorolla]

Pressure Stallbreaker

Kingambit @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Dark / Fire
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Thunder Wave / Taunt
- Kowtow Cleave / Sucker Punch
- Sucker Punch / Iron Head


This gambit trades pure breaking power for the ability to drain the pp of walls, particularly those who rely on healing moves, like Clodsire and Talonflame. It doesn't mind getting burned, as it still hits like a truck with a Swords Dance, but Tera Fire is there to still let you clean up late game. Equally, Tera Dark means your attacks still hurt. The second slot is there for utility. Thunder Wave is there to slow offensive checks, while Taunt is useful against Mon like Dondozo, despite it synergising poorly with Pressure.

Well, damn, pressure doesn't affect recovery moves. New idea.

Kingambit @ Life Orb
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Dragon
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Kowtow Cleave
- Iron Head
- Tera Blast
- Sucker Punch


You fuck up anything with this. Late game all out attacker. Tera Dragon is useful as a fire resist and strong neutrally. I got no better idea.

 

[InvisibleWater]

Substitute + 3 Attacks


Kingambit @ Leftovers / Protective Pads / Liechi Berry
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Dark / Fairy / Flying
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Kowtow Cleave
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head / Low Kick / Tera Blast

This set trades the overwhelming power provided by Swords Dance for Substitute's protection from status and easing prediction. Kingambit can end up forcing a lot of switches over the course of a match, especially as the Supreme Overlord boosts accumulate, giving it plenty of opportunities to set up a Substitute.

The fourth moveslot can be customized depending on the team and Kingambit's needs. Iron Head serves as the secondary STAB and can hit Fairy-types. Low Kick is Kingambit's strongest option against other Steel-types like Heatran and opposing Kingambit. Tera Blast with Tera Fairy or Flying can be used to hit many of the Fighting types that Kingambit inevitably lures in, such as Great Tusk, Iron Valiant, or Zamazenta, super-effectively, although this does mean that Kingambit has a dead moveslot until it Teras. If that isn't needed, Tera Fire could be used instead to provide extra insurance against burns.

Leftovers is the obvious choice for an item, since it helps restore the health lost from Substitute. Other options include Protective Pads, which protects Kingambit from contact effects like Rocky Helmet or Zapdos' Static, or Liechi Berry, which boosts Kingambit's Attack in the absence of Swords Dance, in exchange for giving you only one shot to sweep.

 

[Whaloob]

Pressure Stallbreaker

Kingambit @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Dark / Fire
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Thunder Wave / Taunt
- Kowtow Cleave / Sucker Punch
- Sucker Punch / Iron Head


This gambit trades pure breaking power for the ability to drain the pp of walls, particularly those who rely on healing moves, like Clodsire and Talonflame. It doesn't mind getting burned, as it still hits like a truck with a Swords Dance, but Tera Fire is there to still let you clean up late game. Equally, Tera Dark means your attacks still hurt. The second slot is there for utility. Thunder Wave is there to slow offensive checks, while Taunt is useful against Mon like Dondozo, despite it synergising poorly with Pressure.

Pressure only affects moves that target the pressure mon, so recovery moves are unaffected

 

[MetaSkipper]

RestTalk
Kingambit @ Leftovers
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Flying/Fairy
EVs: 236 HP / 104 Atk / 168 Def
Adamant Nature
- Kowtow Cleave
- Iron Head
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

Kingambit can function both as an active check or counter to key threats like Dragapult and Gholdengo and a late-game sweeper, but repeated switch-ins to scare things out expose Kingambit to chip and status. This can hamper Kingambit's ability to function as a closer. Items like Heavy-Duty Boots or Lum Berry can help mitigate one problem, but not the other.

This set aims to give Kingambit significantly more longevity and resistance to status by using Rest. Rest's healing is complemented by increased investment into Kingambit's already good natural bulk. (Shoutouts to Ryomathekillers for already posting defensive calcs.) Even after getting worn down and statused, Kingambit can Rest back up to full HP, use the threat of Sleep Talk to mitigate passivity, and come back in later for an endgame sweep. 104 Attack EVs with Adamant is still plenty to threaten OHKOs on major metagame players.

Calcs

104+ Atk Kingambit Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Iron Valiant: 290-344 (100.3 - 119%) -- guaranteed OHKO

104+ Atk Kingambit Kowtow Cleave vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Gholdengo: 294-348 (93.3 - 110.4%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
(One fainted ally is guaranteed OHKO)

104+ Atk Kingambit Kowtow Cleave vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Dragapult: 360-426 (94.7 - 112.1%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
(One fainted ally is guaranteed OHKO)

104+ Atk Kingambit Kowtow Cleave vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Dragapult: 356-422 (112.3 - 133.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

104+ Atk Supreme Overlord 3 allies fainted Kingambit Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Baxcalibur: 372-438 (100.2 - 118%) -- guaranteed OHKO

104+ Atk Kingambit Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Enamorus: 356-420 (123.1 - 145.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

While this set does lack the monstrous neutral hits of sets with more Attack investment and/or Swords Dance, Supreme Overlord still helps immensely in making this set a late game sweeping threat. With hazards support and the natural whittling down of opponents, the raw power difference becomes more and more negligible in a late-game scenario.

The defensive Teras of Flying or Fairy work best to compliment the more defensive goals of the set. A well-timed Tera can secure a Rest to undo the opponent's work. Leftovers, on top off the their natural utility as recovery, also give you an extra safety net against unlucky Sleep Talk calls.

(Anecdote: While I was testing the set, I got put to sleep by a Sneasler's Dire Claw. Clicking Sleep Talk was exceptionally funny... especially when I woke up that turn and Sleep Talk failed.)

 

[incorolla]

Pressure only affects moves that target the pressure mon, so recovery moves are unaffected

Well, fuck. Updating the op so it works.

 

[Ayush_1]

Kingambit @ Leftovers / Protective Pads / Liechi Berry

Hi Invisible Waters. Since you've kept multiple items in the options, I'd like you to choose for which item sprite should be displayed in the Voting list next to your set. I'd prefer you to choose between Protective Pads & Liechi Berry, since 2 more members have used Leftovers, & it would make the list look more diverse.

 

[InvisibleWater]

I'd prefer you to choose between Protective Pads & Liechi Berry, since 2 more members have used Leftovers, & it would make the list look more diverse.

Liechi Berry. It's definitely the most interesting of the three.

In the future, should I specify which item should be displayed in the post itself if the set has more than one item?

 

[Ayush_1]

Liechi Berry. It's definitely the most interesting of the three.

In the future, should I specify which item should be displayed in the post itself if the set has more than one item?

Thanks a lot. And yes, in the future, you should specify. I'd prompt everyone to choose a rare one.

 

[Ayush_1]

Submissions Closed
​

Thank you everyone for participating this week & submitting the perfect sets.

A special welcome to A1Gallade & Meta Skipper, since it is their first set on our project. We will be looking forward for more such exciting sets in the coming future.

Since only one can be the Next Best Thing, it is your time to decide. Remember, you can only vote once per week, & can't vote for yourselves.

Week-6 Kingambit
​

Bulky Tera Ice + Tera Blast by A1Gallade

Bulky AV + Defiant by nameless90

Weakness Policy by Ryomathekillers

Miracle Seed + Grass Knot by Poke nerd

LO Tera Dragon + Tera Blast by Incorolla

Sub + 3 Attacks by Invisible Waters

Rest + Sleep Talk by Meta Skipper

We've commenced another voting that you'll be doing along with this one (in the same reply). That is choosing the next cycle's Pokemon. Each week, 5 Pokemon will be chosen. For voting, just put a mini sprite in your reply & I'll understand. Remember, 1 vote per user.

The nominees for the Pokemon who will get a Next Best Thing in the coming Cycle are as follows :--->

Voting Deadline: Wednesday August 23, 7:30 AM GMT

 

[MetaSkipper]

Week 6 Vote: Miracle Seed + Grass Knot

Next Week Vote:

 

[InvisibleWater]

Week 6 Vote: Rest + Sleep Talk

Next Week Vote:

 

[nameless90]

Week 6 Vote: Rest + Sleep Talk

Next Week Vote:

 

[Poke nerd]

This week: weakness policy

Next week:

 

[FYBIRR]

This week: Rest + Sleep Talk

Next week:

 

[1LDK]

Week 6 vote: Bulky Tera Ice + Tera Blast by A1Gallade

Next week:

 

[incorolla]

Week 6 vote: RestTalk

Next week vote: Iron Valiant

 

[Ryomathekillers]

Bulky Tera Ice + Tera Blast

Next week: Iron Valiant

 

[Tytohbird]

Bulky Tera Ice + Tera Blast
Next Week:

 

[Ayush_1]

Congrats to MetaSkipper & his Rest + Sleep Talk Kingambit set for winning this week's Next Best Thing Title. The Hall of Fame has been updated.

Submissions Open

Week 7: Zapdos


​

With its excellent typings, great stats & amazing movepool, Zapdos has undoubtedly been the most consistent Pokemon in the OU metagame since Gen 1 (let's not talk about Gen 5). Being used as both offensive & defensive threat shows its versatility. But do you think that's enough. Nope, since we haven't even seen our Battery God's true potential. Lets find out this week about its true Next Best Thing.

Banned Sets

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Tera Type: Electric / Steel
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt / Volt Switch
- Volt Switch / Heat Wave
- Hurricane
- Roost

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 104 Def / 152 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Tera Type: Steel / Fairy
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch / Discharge
- Heat Wave / Discharge
- Hurricane
- Roost

Submissions Deadline: Sunday August 27, 7:30 AM GMT

Voting Deadline: Wednesday August 30, 7:30 AM GMT

 

[nameless90]

Eerie Impulse Zapdos

Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 104 Def / 152 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Tera Type: Steel / Fairy
Timid Nature
- Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Eerie Impulse
- Roost

This set allows to make good use of Eerie Impulse, especially when paired with the good bulk of Zapdos, and the para chance from Discharge that allows to gain some extra turns to use freely Roost.
Volt Switch would have been good, but 4MMS is a thing and I think that the para chance of Discharge makes up in terms of momentum gaining. Thunderbolt was a close call, but I think that Discharge is more suited to a defensivish set like this one.
In this set Discharge+Heat Wave is the chosen dual attacks combination, whereas Roost is mandatory to keep Zapdos as healthy as possible.
Eerie Impulse is picked over Light Screen to force more switch-outs and to gain staying power with our beloved Zapdos since it can be stacked until -6. This is why a good chunck of EVs is put on the Spe: it allows this legendary birds to outspeed some special attackers in order to cripple their SpA before being hit.

Zapdos doesn't really NEED to Terastallize, but it can help to gain extra staying power with Eerie Impulse.

 

[InvisibleWater]

AgiliDos (Agility Cleaner)


Zapdos @ Heavy-Duty Boots / Petaya Berry
Ability: Static
Tera Type: Electric / Fairy / Steel
EVs: 60 HP / 252 SpA / 196 Spe
Modest Nature
- Agility
- Discharge
- Heat Wave
- Roost / Substitute / Hurricane

(Display Petaya Berry for the voting)

With Agility, Zapdos can act as a late-game cleaner, using overwhelming speed to mop up a team when its checks are weakened or removed.

Discharge is the Electric STAB of choice here, since its paralysis chance can allow you to BS past certain checks if they're still alive. Heat Wave prevents Zapdos from being walled by most Steel-types.

The fourth slot is customizable based on what you want out of this set. Roost can keep Zapdos healthy over the course of a sweep attempt. Substitute protects Zapdos from status and eases prediction to a degree. If neither of those suit your needs, feel free to run something like Hurricane instead.

Heavy-Duty Boots is the obvious choice for an item, since it protects Zapdos from Stealth Rock damage. However, Petaya Berry can provide some interesting benefits. It provides a Special Attack boost and synergizes well with Substitute. However, you only get one chance with it, so make it count.

For Tera Types, Electric boosts the power of Discharge. Fairy improves your matchup against various Dark- and Dragon-types, and grants a resistance to Kingambit's Sucker Punch without losing Zapdos' Fighting resistance. Steel completely flips Zapdos' defensive profile and grants it a Toxic immunity, which can be nice, especially if you aren't running Substitute.

The given EV spread allows you to outspeed Scarfed Meowscarada at +2, while still allowing you to outspeed positive-natured base 80s without a boost.