Underused Pokemon Matchmaking Phase 2 [Week 29 - Nasty Plot Infernape]

nv

The Lost Age
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Staff Alumnus
With a unanimous agreement, Kreme is the winner! Congratulations n_n

This week is Mega week, and you guys know what that means. Time to showcase another fascinating Mega in the tier.


Sceptile-Mega @ Sceptilite
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Leaf Storm
- Giga Drain
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast / Substitute

Mega Sceptile is a nice cleaner that fits on more offensive teams as a nice Electric immunity.

Submissions end on Friday.
 

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Atk / 184 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Substitute


M-Sceptile has trouble buly grasses, fire, ice and crobat. This bulky bounce set check these between Intimidate+sub. The speed evs allow gyarados to out speed scarf hydra at +2. 248 hp to maximize bulk while hiting an odd number for sr. The rest in atk to get extra damage. Gyarados lures in electrics for sceptile to get a free boost. The biggest threat i see to this core would be m-aero if gyarados isnt behind a sub because it needs max speed +2 to beat it.​
 
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GeniusX

is a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributor
OUPL Champion
I'll take Entei



Entei @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Stone Edge

Entei is a fantastic partner for Sceptile for a lot of reasons. Entei is able to 1v1 almost all mons that is a problem to Sceptile. These mons include Blissey, Doublade, Whimsicott, Florges, Forretress, Sylveon, Bronzong and many others. Sceptile on the other hand is able to take on bulky ground and grass types used to check Entei. These include mons like Krookodile, Suicune, Vaporeon, Swampert, Alomomola, and Blastoise Mega. Entei's signature move Sacred Fire also has a 50% burn chance which allows it to whittle its opponent and allow Sceptile to sweep more easily. This core also works extremely well on fast paced HO teams because of Sceptile's ridiculous speed stat and Entei's banded Extreme Speed. Extreme Speed is a very handy tool to use late game or pick off a pokemon as it outprioritizes most priority in the tier. Although both offensive mons, they still have some decent defensive synergy with Entei resisting fire and fairy and Sceptile resisting ground and water.
 
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LeoLancaster

does this still work
is a Community Contributor Alumnus

Escavalier @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 244 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Megahorn
- Pursuit

Escavalier and Mega Sceptile form a great core with excellent defensive and offensive synergy. Mega Sceptile is checked by Fairy-types, Cresselia, bulky Normal-types, Mega Beedrill, and Steel-types. Escavalier checks all of these besides some Steel-types, thanks to its resistances and good bulk. In return, Mega Sceptile checks Electric-, Ground-, and Water-types that Escavalier can struggle with. Beyond having good defensive synergy, Escavalier can also use Pursuit to trap Mega Beedrill and Psychic-types, such as Cresselia and Metagross, that keep Mega Sceptile from ravaging the opposing team. The EV spread here is just one viable option; ones with more attack and/or speed are good choices too.
 

nv

The Lost Age
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Staff Alumnus

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Atk / 184 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bounce
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Substitute


M-Sceptile has trouble buly grasses, fire, ice and crobat. This bulky bounce set check these between Intimidate+sub. The speed evs allow gyarados to out speed scarf hydra at +2. 248 hp to maximize bulk while hiting an odd number for sr. The rest in atk to get extra damage. Gyarados lures in electrics for sceptile to get a free boost. The biggest threat i see to this core would be m-aero if gyarados isnt behind a sub because it needs max speed +2 to beat it.​
I'll take Entei



Entei @ Choice Band
Ability: Pressure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Flare Blitz
- Extreme Speed
- Stone Edge

Entei is a fantastic partner for Sceptile for a lot of reasons. Entei is able to 1v1 almost all mons that is a problem to Sceptile. These mons include Blissey, Doublade, Whimsicott, Florges, Forretress, Sylveon, Bronzong and many others. Sceptile on the other hand is able to take on bulky ground and grass types used to check Entei. These include mons like Krookodile, Suicune, Vaporeon, Swampert, Alomomola, and Blastoise Mega. Entei's signature move Sacred Fire also has a 50% burn chance which allows it to whittle its opponent and allow Sceptile to sweep more easily. This core also works extremely well on fast paced HO teams because of Sceptile's ridiculous speed stat and Entei's banded Extreme Speed. Extreme Speed is a very handy tool to use late game or pick off a pokemon as it outprioritizes most priority in the tier. Although both offensive mons, they still have some decent defensive synergy with Entei resisting fire and fairy and Sceptile resisting ground and water.

Escavalier @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 244 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Megahorn
- Pursuit

Escavalier and Mega Sceptile form a great core with excellent defensive and offensive synergy. Mega Sceptile is checked by Fairy-types, Cresselia, bulky Normal-types, Mega Beedrill, and Steel-types. Escavalier checks all of these besides some Steel-types, thanks to its resistances and good bulk. In return, Mega Sceptile checks Electric-, Ground-, and Water-types that Escavalier can struggle with. Beyond having good defensive synergy, Escavalier can also use Pursuit to trap Mega Beedrill and Psychic-types, such as Cresselia and Metagross, that keep Mega Sceptile from ravaging the opposing team. The EV spread here is just one viable option; ones with more attack and/or speed are good choices too.
Voting ends on Monday.
 

nv

The Lost Age
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Staff Alumnus
The winner is GeniusX and his Entei submission.

This week I decided to go with a Pokemon with that has benefitted from the most recent ban in Salamence and appreciates Hydreigon not being around as well.


Haxorus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage / Dragon Claw
- Earthquake

Submissions end on Friday.
 

GeniusX

is a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributor
OUPL Champion
Reserving Roserade


Roserade @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes/Toxis Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder/Hidden Power Fire


Double Dance Haxorus is weak to bulky fairies and bulky waters once lum is burned. Roserade patches up both these problems while being able to wear down enemies with spikes to be easily swept by DD. Or poisoning bulky mons with toxic spikes, allowing them to be easily broken through by SD. Its dual stab allows it to deal with almost anything that stops a Haxorus sweep and the last moveslot is also extremely helpful. Sleep powder alows it to render a annoying mon useless while hp fire allows it to weaken the likes of ferrothorn, allowing haxorus even more freedom. Roserades natrual cure ability also allows it to take scalds and its poison typing allows it to suck up toxic spikes, both really big problems for haxorus. Defensively Roserade can take fairy type moves while Haxorus can take fire type moves.
 
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Forretress (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Happiness: 0
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Pin Missile
- Heavy Slam


Double dance Haxorus has trouble with fairys and some bulky mons before it gets +3. Forretress helps deal with this through hazzards and its steel typing. Heavy slam is a 2hko on relavant fairys and it can come in and get at least one hit on most sylveon sets. Pin missle deals heavy damage to krook and celebi. Gryo ball can be used over heavy slam to ohko mega-aero and help deal with some faster threats if needed. Custap berry is also an optionas well as volt switch tho both are sub optimal in this case.​
 
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Vague

Banned deucer.

Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 176 Atk / 116 SpA / 220 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Explosion

Mixed Metagross is, quite literally, one of the best partners for Haxorus in general. It's a solid way of dealing with the tiers Fairies and it lures in its checks with its wide coverage. Grass Knot + Explosion eliminates most bulky waters with ease and HP Fire mauls Forretress and takes a bug chunk out of other Steels such as Doublade. All in all, Mixed Metagross is an efficient way of amping up the chances of a Haxorus sweep considerably.
 

nv

The Lost Age
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Staff Alumnus
Reserving Roserade


Roserade @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes/Toxis Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Leaf Storm
- Sleep Powder/Hidden Power Fire


Double Dance Haxorus is weak to bulky fairies and bulky waters once lum is burned. Roserade patches up both these problems while being able to wear down enemies with spikes to be easily swept by DD. Or poisoning bulky mons with toxic spikes, allowing them to be easily broken through by SD. Its dual stab allows it to deal with almost anything that stops a Haxorus sweep and the last moveslot is also extremely helpful. Sleep powder alows it to render a annoying mon useless while hp fire allows it to weaken the likes of ferrothorn, allowing haxorus even more freedom. Roserades natrual cure ability also allows it to take scalds and its poison typing allows it to suck up toxic spikes, both really big problems for haxorus. Defensively Roserade can take fairy type moves while Haxorus can take fire type moves.


Forretress (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
Happiness: 0
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Pin Missile
- Heavy Slam


Double dance Haxorus has trouble with fairys and some bulky mons before it gets +3. Forretress helps deal with this through hazzards and its steel typing. Heavy slam is a 2hko on relavant fairys and it can come in and get at least one hit on most sylveon sets. Pin missle deals heavy damage to krook and celebi. Gryo ball can be used over heavy slam to ohko mega-aero and help deal with some faster threats if needed. Custap berry is also an optionas well as volt switch tho both are sub optimal in this case.​

Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 176 Atk / 116 SpA / 220 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Explosion

Mixed Metagross is, quite literally, one of the best partners for Haxorus in general. It's a solid way of dealing with the tiers Fairies and it lures in its checks with its wide coverage. Grass Knot + Explosion eliminates most bulky waters with ease and HP Fire mauls Forretress and takes a bug chunk out of other Steels such as Doublade. All in all, Mixed Metagross is an efficient way of amping up the chances of a Haxorus sweep considerably.
Voting ends Monday.
 

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