Project UU Victim of the Week (Round Twenty Four: Rhyperior)

[Taptricity]

Alright it’s voting time! What’s on the bully list tonight?

Checks:

Mega Sceptile by Scizorphobic

Bulk Up Zeraora by Estarossa

Tentacruel by Solaros & Lunaris

Taunt Roost Hydreigon by Datsplashtho

Nasty Plot Z-Thunder Azelf by mashonem

Counters:

Articuno by Stoward

Grassium Celebi by Katy

Mega Altaria by Smallsmallrose

Choice Band Tsareena by Daiyaga

Toxicroak by Twilight

Reuniclus by faded love

Hooo boy we got a lot of submissions! Vote for two checks and two counters. New round begins Thursday. Good bye!

 

[TMM]

toxicroak and malt. Hydreigon and sceptile

 

[Estarossa]

Toxicroak and Altaria for counters.
Tentacruel and Sceptile for checks.

Hydreigon should 100% be a counter imo since even ignoring the possibility to kill it, you can easily out pp its scalds even when burned with around 4 roosts remaining if every single scald was +1, more remaining otherwise, forcing it to struggle.

 

[avarice]

zera tenta

croak malt

 

[Katy]

counter: malt, croak
check: tenta, mega sceptile

 

[Smallsmallrose]

Counter: Articuno and Celebi
Check: Zera and Hydreigon

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

Counters: Toxicroak and Celebi
Checks: Hydreigon and Zeraora

 

[Taptricity]

Oh my goodness a 4-way tie! Well then let’s finally settle this by granting Zeraora the win it’s been longing for. I’m placing my vote to Zeraora for checks to break the tie.

The Winners are:

Estarossa and Twilight
Estarossa and Twilight both claim the victory this time with Zeraora and Toxicroak being few and far between as physical attackers that defeat Suicune.

Voting Count

Checks:
Zeraora=4
Hydreigon=3
Mega Sceptile=3
Tentacruel=3
Azelf=0

Counters:
Toxicroak=5
Mega Altaria=4
Celebi=2
Articuno=1
Reuniclus=0
Tsareena=0

Round 22’s Victim is:
Nidoking

Nidoking (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Ice Beam

With its near perfect coverage and a Substitute, Nidoking can be frustrating for teams to deal with once it picks up steam as it can make opposing Pokémon drop behind a Substitute due to not relying on prediction in the slightest. How are you going to overthrow the King? Submissions are due by Monday. Good luck!​

 

[Sickist]

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Gyro Ball
- Protect / Psywave

Bronzong is a Counter to Nidoking, due to being immune to both of Nidoking's STAB's, while also taking pitiful damage from Ice Beam. Meanwhile, Bronzong can get up rocks vs Nidoking, and then dispose of Nidoking via either Gyro or Psywave.

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Bronzong: 40-48 (11.8 - 14.2%) -- possibly the worst move ever

It takes almost PP stalls Nidoking out of Ice Beams due to how little Ice Beam does with Leftoveres recovery. Gyro Ball is a 2HKO on Nidoking 70% of the time.

 

[Estarossa]

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Soft-Boiled
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Wish / Stealth Rock

Blissey is a great counter to substitute nidoking, since it has nothing to fear from non-existant superpowers. Not only does it take very little damage from any of it's moves, but it is able to take advantage of it and set up rocks or pass wishes to it's teammates, and easily kill it in return with seismic toss.

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey: 153-181 (21.4 - 25.3%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recover
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey: 144-172 (20.1 - 24%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey: 96-114 (13.4 - 15.9%) -- possibly the worst move ever

 

[Katy]

gastrodon


Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover

Gastrodon can threaten Nidoking with Scald and Earthquake and can tank any hit pretty well due to Gastrodons nice Spdef. Gastrodon can also break the Substitutes
Nidoking could go for with either of its STAB moves in Scald or Earthquake.
Meanwhile Nidoking doesn't do enough to Gastrodon with Sludge Wave as Nidokings first STAB gets resistet due to
the Ground typing Gastrodon offers. Ice Beam also won't do much as well. The only noteable damage Nidoking does on Gastrodon is with its STAB Earth Power but then Gastrodon
can easily Out-Recover up the damage it took from Nidokings Earth Power and can continue threatening Nidoking in the rest of the game, furthermore when the Nidoking user decides to switch out Nidking Gastrodon is able to Toxic a team member
from the Nidoking user or just threatens it - the incoming mon - with either of its STAB moves, therefore Gastrodon is a solid answer and servers pretty well as a check.

Calcs:

Hide

0 SpA Gastrodon Scald vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Nidoking: 204-242 (67.3 - 79.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
0 Atk Gastrodon Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Nidoking: 228-270 (75.2 - 89.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 81-95 (19 - 22.3%) -- possible 6HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 153-181 (35.9 - 42.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Gastrodon: 103-121 (24.1 - 28.4%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

​

 

[avarice]

Aerodactyl-Mega @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

Aero checks with EQ or traps with pursuit and finishes it off/lessens nidos ability to set up subs

 

[Smallsmallrose]

Latias @ Dragonium Z/Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Roost
Latias is a hard check to Nidoking because it can always switch in at least once on any move, and threaten to outspeed and KO Nidoking in one hit with either Dragonium or Life Orb STABS, even non-Life Orb psyshock will KO after minimal chip.
252 SpA Latias Devastating Drake (195 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Nidoking: 358-423 (118.1 - 139.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latias Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Nidoking: 374-445 (123.4 - 146.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Latias Draco Meteor vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Nidoking: 312-368 (102.9 - 121.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Latias Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Nidoking: 288-342 (95 - 112.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
It can even roost on a predicted switch to come back and fight Nidoking again later, but what stops Latias from being a full counter is that Nidoking's Sludge Wave and Ice Beam can outdamage roost, meaning that if it switches and you recover, you won't break even on HP and King can wear you down over time. But Lati is still a pretty solid check.
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Latias: 157-187 (52.1 - 62.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Latias: 200-237 (66.4 - 78.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
These sting pretty bad on paper, of course. But Latias always outspeeds and OHKOs in return. Not to mention that coming in on Earth Power is completely free if you can call it.

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

Reserving Starmie

Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
- Rapid Spin

Starmie checks Nidoking by virtue of its Speed and Water or Psychic STAB. It cleanly OHKOes with either STAB or Ice Beam. However, it can only the break the Sub if the King is behind it before getting smacked, so get that Sub down on the sack before coming in. Other than that, you should be good.

 

[Galactiknight]

Kyurem @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power / Hidden Power Fire
- Roost

Kyurem is one of the best offensive checks to Nidoking and is frankly, very underrated. Because of its fantastic natural bulk, roost, and ability to outspeed and KO Nidoking the next turn with ice beam, Kyurem can potentially come in on Nido multiple times throughout a match. Its also more consistent than Latias when it comes to switching in because its not weak to ice beam.
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Sludge Wave vs. 56 HP / 0 SpD Kyurem: 216-255 (53.3 - 62.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Nidoking Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Latias: 200-237 (66.4 - 78.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

As can be seen from the calcs, Kyurem can easily roost up after switching in on a sludge wave and be almost back to full with leftovers. The most important reason why Kyurem is a better check to Nidoking than stuff like Latias and Bronzong is because its unlikely that it will be pursuit trapped. In a meta where band scizor and scarf krook are on almost every team, this is very important. Kyurem also provides more offensive pressure when it switches in, as few teams have good countermeasures for this overlooked set. Of course Kyurem is weaker to hazards, but with good hazard control such as Empoleon this forgotten dragon should be able to switch into Nidoking and gain momentum by going for substitute or attacking with the largely unresisted combo of ice STAB + ground coverage.

 

[sanguine]

reserving cress.

 

[dingbat]

magnet rise cobalion as check hehehe

cobalion @ fight/steel z idgaf
ability: justified
252 atk / 4 spd / 252 spe
jolly nature
-magnet rise
-sd
-cc
-iron head

can't switch in to ep but if it gets in safely we gucci

another fun and dumb idea would be air balloon which i had lots of fun with last gen :) but it's not as practical this gen imho

 

[VCrakeV]

Nominating Articuno as a counter:

Articuno @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Freeze-Dry
- Roost
- Defog
- Heal Bell

Articuno walls Nidoking through "sheer" bulk alone, like Chansey (but less so). Freeze-Dry hits really hard, given it is super effective STAB. Roost allows Articuno to repeatedly check Nidoking throughout the match. Defog allows Articuno to remove rocks from the field. This may seem counterintuitive, given its typing, but Articuno can switch in as rocks are set. Pressure allows Articuno to pp stall stealth rock and spikes. While it is not on the victim set, Nidoking sometimes uses stealth rock, making Articuno that much more fitting of a counter. Heal bell removes status like toxic, which hazard setters love to use. Pressure allows you to pp stall toxic.

 

[sanguine]

new cohost kids, hide your wives :cwl: . Anyway let’s get voting started:

Checks:

Gastrodon by Katy

Mega Aerodactyl by Scizorphobic

Latias by Smallsmallrose

Starmie by Solaros & Lunaris

Kyurem by Galactiknight

Cobalion by dingbat

Counters:

Bronzong by Sickist

Blissey by Estarossa

Articuno by VCrakeV


New round begins Thursday. Get your votes in by then or suffer the consequences.

 

[Smallsmallrose]

Voting Gastrodon for check because tbh that should have been listed as a counter
Voting Brongzong for counter because underrated mon

 

[Sickist]

nice to see faded join the badge whore gang

check: kyurem

counter: blissey

 

[Wevton]

Check: Kyurem.
Counter: Bronzong.

 

[dingbat]

kyurem
blissey

 

[Solaros & Lunaris]

Kyurem
Zong

 

[Jade]

Kyurem for check because that's an underrated mon that absolutely demolishes unprepared teams. Like 90% of mine...
Blissey as a counter for pretty obvious reasons that I don't need to explain.