Project Pokémon Matchmaking (SM Edition) - Current round: Hawlucha (SUBMITTING TAPUS IS BANNED)

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Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Toxic
- Earthquake
Gastrodon, in my opinion; they both cover each others weaknesses completely. Threats to this core would be miscellaneous pokemon like icium-z kyurem-b charizard-y, giga drain volc,etc. gastrodon covers pokemon such as tapu koko and zapdos for celesteela while celesteela covers tapu bulu and other grass types for gastrodon. Both these pokemon make a good match for balances and bulky offenses and in general.
 

Martin

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Sorry for taking so long with this; motivation has been through the floor a bit recently. We'll look at posts for archive another day for that reason btw, and that also means no feedback stuff this week.

In order of posting, the winners are CB Tyranitar by AM, Mega Venusaur by ThiccTornadus, Toxapex by DeathByWobbuffet and Gastrodon by Mjcoolthepokegod.

Round 32: Calm Mind Mega Latias

Latias @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Stored Power / Psyshock
- Thunderbolt / Surf

Go nuts.
 


Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Whirlwind

CM Mega Latias is a good setup sweeper and defensive check/counter to common Pokemon like Keldeo and Tangrowth. However, threats like Tyranitar, Tapu Koko, Garchomp, Mega Charizard X and others threaten to either trap, gain momentum on, or set up on Mega Latias.

Mixed Hippowdon is a great partner for Mega Latias. This Hippowdon set reliably sets up hazards, which in conjunction with Sand damage and Whirlwind provide valuable chip damage that let Mega Latias sweep late game easier. Hippo also can counter answers and threats to Mega Latias like Banded Tyranitar, Mega Charizard X, all Tapu Koko, non-Bloom Doom Heatran, and Scarf Garchomp, threatening them with Earthquake or setting up Stealth Rock while avoiding the 2HKO from anything, even after SR damage. Because Hippowdon has reliable recovery, it can do this multiple times per match. Hippowdon also checks or can phaze out (with Whirlwind) threats to Mega Latias like Mega Pinsir, SD Hawlucha, Scarf Latios, Mega Diance, Offensive Landorus-T, Scarf Tapu Lele, Mega Scizor, Volcarona, Zygarde, Mega Lopunny, CM Clefable, and Mimikyu. Often times, the chip damage Hippowdon gets with EQ on the latter threats is enough to let Mega Latias muscle through after only one Calm Mind boost.

In return, Mega Latias answers and/or sets up on Hippowdon's enemies like Keldeo, Tangrowth, Mega Venusaur, Mew, Mantine, and Mega Sableye. This core is still susceptible to powerful wallbreakers like Kyurem-Black, Fairium Z Magearna, (Ash) Greninja, and Kartana. It also has a hard time breaking through Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Toxapex, without any boosts on Mega Latias. So, when teambuilding, make sure to account for those mons as well.
 
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Keldeo

Keldeo @ Waterium Z
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Taunt

I consider the CM Mega Latias with BoltBeam coverage.​
Mega Latias suffers Dark types (in particular those with Pursuit) and Steels which are well handled by Keldeo's Secret Sword. Taunt is also a good option to avoid annoying status moves that cripples both Keldeo and/or Latias (mainly Thunder Wave, Toxic and Leech Seed). Hydro Pump is still a force to be reckoned with, considering the fact you can use the Waterium Z and set-up with Calm Mind.

On the other hand, Mega Latias helps Keldeo with the Electric coverage (namely towards such as Toxapex, Mantine, Tapu Fini and Slowbro) and with Ice Beam towards some bulky Grass-types (such as Amoonguss, Mega Venusaur).

Something to deal with faster offensive pokemon is needed.
 
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Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Fire Punch

Tyranitar can help Mega Latias to put a dent in Chansey, Hoopa-U and Heatran with its strong Pursuits. Fire Punch is nice to punish Ferrothorn, Magearna and Mega Scizor who are annoying to Mega Latias. Tyranitar is also bait for Keldeo and Tapu Bulu, whose attacks are resisted by Mega Latias. (Mega Latias can run more Def EVs or use a Bold Nature to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Lopunny but that comes at a cost of its high Speed tier)
 

Askov

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Magearna @ Assault Vest
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Fleur Cannon
- Iron Head
- Hidden Power Fire
- Volt Switch

Magearna is a really good partner to Mega-Latias because they covers each other weaknesses very well. Magearna can check a lot of Pokemon that may trouble Mega-Latias such as Weavile, Ash-Ninja, Clefable, Tapu Lele and Mega-Diancie, while Mega-Latias can handle Pokemon like Defensive/Scarf Lando-T, Mega-Swampert and Charizard-Y for Magearna.
 

Kartana @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword
- Defog

If you think about the Pokemon Kartana forces out (Tapu Lele, Ferrothorn, Heatran, Tyranitar, Ash-Gren) and the Pokemon it forces in (Skarmory, defensive Lando-T, Zapdos, Heatran again), you'd see how complimentary Mega Latias is for him, as she can set up on many of his counters and checks, and he can sweep on many of her counters and checks. Their typings and coverage are small but efficient enough to handle most of the metagame once they get going.

http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-648680956 Kart gives Lati a decent opening to sweep and she takes it.
 

Martin

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AV Mage by Askov wins

Round 33: Choice Specs Blacephalon

Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast / Overheat
- Trick
- Flamethrower / Overheat

We've got a shiny new toy, and we've had a while to get used to it. Now tell me: what works well with it?
 
Reserving CM Keldeo


Keldeo @ Waterium Z
Ability: Justified
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Taunt
- Secret Sword
- Calm Mind

Keldeo can take advantage of Pokemon like Mantine and Tyranitar that might want to switch in on Blacephalon to beat it, furthermore Blacephalon can deal with annoying Psychic-types like Lati@s, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth which Keldeo tends to struggle against.
 
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Tapu Koko @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 36 SpA / 220 Spe
Naive Nature
- Wild Charge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Defog
- U-turn

This could realistically be any Tapu Koko variant with Volt or U-turn, but Scarf Fog compresses a few roles into one slot. Given Koko's speed and raw power, players are keen on mashing their Koko check whenever it comes in to avoid suffering huge losses---which can be taken advantage of pretty easily. Ferrothorn, Tangrowth, and AV Magearna are all common Koko checks that it can pivot out of via U-turn or Volt and bring Blacephalon in for an opening to break. I would consider VoltTurn support near mandatory with Blace given its frailty and susceptibility to common coverage, so VoltTurn Koko is a good start.
 
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greninja @ psychium z | protean
timid / naive nature | 4 hp / 4 atk | 252 spa | 252 spe
toxic spikes | extrasenssory | hydro pump / low kick | dark pulse / ice beam

decided to go with this fun lure gren set alongside specs blace, as it can deal with mons such as pex with extrasenssory in tandem with psychium z, keld, heatran, and ttar if played well. the last few move slots are pretty interchangeable and expandable dependant on what the team needs, and additionally, scarf can be an option over psychium to help out with mons such as scarf lando, scarf lati(s), mega zam, mega lop, koko etc.
 


Latios @ Latiosite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Earthquake
- Roost

Mega Latios can basically completely KO a lot of Blacephalon's checks / counters, such as Tyranitar and SpD Heatran. It also helps against mons like Toxapex that switch into Blace scouting its moves. Latios appreciates Blace's ability to check Mega Scizor as well. The defensive synergy isn't that great but Latios is just great because it deals a lot of damage to CB Tars that are usually used to deal with Blace, which can make Blace harder to deal with in the long run.
 
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Martin

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Uh yeah we forgot abt this lol. We're not gonna do Blace winners 'cuz these posts are all 2.5 months old LMAO. Anyway, this round:


Hawlucha @ [Terrain] Seed
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD / 96 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Swords Dance
- High Jump Kick
- Roost

Also submitting any of the Tapus is strictly prohibited. This is because we want to see what other partners work well with Lucha lol; they're mandatory partners and as such kinda defeat the point of the project. Beyond that though anything is fair game.
 

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Gyarados @ Waterium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake
- Bounce / Taunt / Substitute

Hawlucha fucking despises Zapdos, with it being basically the best answer to it in the tier. This Gyarados set pairs really well with Hawlucha because Zapdos normally takes on Flyinium Z Gyarados with relative ease and threatens to OHKO it back with Discharge. +1 Z Aqua Tail OHKOs Zapdos, resulting in Hawlucha being able to run through the opposing team. This works best on the Hawlucha + Koko Screens HO archetype because Intimidate lets you bluff Mega Gyarados, but you can definitely run Moxie if you want because Aqua Tail is ruthlessly powerful. Sidenote: Aqua Tail is chosen over Waterfall because of the significant difference between the power of their Z Moves.
 
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Reserving Mega Mawile

Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Play Rough
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off

With access to Knock Off, Mega Mawile can adequately pressure Zapdos by knocking off it's item, and can easily Ko next round with Play Rough, or put within Halucha range with Sucker Punch. Mega Mawile can also put heavy pressure on other Hawlucha switch-ins/ counters like Clefable, Celesteela, and Mew by knocking off their respective items and then denting them for significant damage.
 
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So Noisy

sehna padega thoda

Pinsir-Mega @ Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Return
- Quick Attack
- Stone Edge

Pretty straightforward in what it does- lures Zapdos and pressures and weakens stuff like Clefable, Tapu Koko, Celesteela, Magearna etc. into Hawlucha range helping it clean late game.
 
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Kartana @ Grassium Z
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Knock Off

Kartana can remove Zapdos's Leftovers as it comes in, forcing it to Roost more often. If your opponent is not paying attention, you can also take out Zapdos with a +2 Bloom Doom. Kartana also forces damage on Landorus-T, Magearna and Mew, all of which needs to be weakened for a Hawlucha sweep.
 
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Landorus-Therian @ Yache Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock / U-turn
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice] / U-turn
- Toxic

This is a bit more specialized, but Yache Toxic Landorus-T provides a whole slew of benefits for Hawlucha, it invites and cripples Zapdos, especially if its Stealth Rock. Yache Berry allows it to handle and surprise non Shuca Tapu Koko without much issue, handles Magearna and poisons Mew as well. It also has additional utility on its own by soft checking other Hawlucha and crippling Tangrowth or Tapu Bulu.
 
yeah sedetz reserved this but it's literally been 2 months

Tyranitar-Mega @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
- Ice Punch


Tyranitar provides an array of benefits for Hawlucha into one role-compressed slot. These benefits include setting rocks - which are more or less guaranteed, as this set beats every defogger in the tier barring Mega Scizor as well as possessing the ability to remove lucha's checks, notably Zapdos, Mew and Mega Latias whilst being able to heavily dent or outright remove Tapu Koko, Flyinium Lando and Magearna. This 'mon loves being placed on BO, as there is very little opportunity cost associated with running Mega Ttar, as you no longer need to run a cleaner such as Mega Lop or Mega Scizor due to Hawlucha's offensive capabilities. This ttar is shiny as it is able to flexx on the opponent, causing even more an upset. Also if you need a host i'm here
 
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