Here's something else for Balanced Hackmons:
Manectric-Mega @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Ice Beam / Steam Eruption
- Encore
- Spore
So, while Manectric has gotten a new lease on life with Galvanize, it lacked the raw power of Xurkitree, Zekrom, and Ampharos as well as the bulk of the latter two, leaving it only with its sheer speed to stand out from the others. Its power is good, but not so much that it can break a lot of walls. Its also too frail to really set-up and its ideal set-up are hard to Imposter proof without using abilities or weird stuff like Magnezone. So, after a lot of pondering on figuring out on how to leverage Manectric's speed, I finally settled on an "Offensive Disruption" set.
Basically, this Manectric set, rather than trying to play slippery with switching and poking something here and there, it gets in, pissed off its opponent, and proceeds to blast them while they're unable to retaliate. Encore + Spore seems a little overkill, but the combination combined with Manectric's speed shuts down a ton of walls as well as a number of offensive threats. Just be sure the opponent isn't Safety Goggles first. Getting OHKOed on a failed Spore feels bad. If the opponent isn't Magic Bounce, which, as long as the Safety Goggles are in-tact, Manectric doesn't care about hitting by accident with its disruption moves, Manectric can screw them over, and faster too without even touching Prankster. Heck, it can even stare down that dumb Prankster + Imprison + Trap + Transform + Eviolite Chansey and force it out, something a lot of stuff actually can't claim.
Boomburst is the flagship move of the set as the damage cannot be overlooked, at least 2HKOing most non-bulky threats and even 2HKOing a few walls, like Aegislash-Shield (that or all the opposing users of them didn't know what EVs were.) The choice between Ice Beam and Steam Eruption depends on whether Zygarde-C or Primal Groudon is the bigger threat. There are pros and cons of each, as Ice Beam can 2HKO Zygarde-C, (with a small chance of 3HKOing +SpD and Poison Heal versions) and does decent damage to Giratina, two of its other big checks/counters. Steam Eruption, however, is a guaranteed OHKO on all variants of Primal Groudon that are not running a +SpD nature, which has a small chance of being 2HKOed. Both moves should only be used only when absolutely needed, as a resisted Boomburst is still stronger than a neutral Ice Beam and neither coverage move does much damage on neutral hits.
The support moves are the best I've found, but you can drop one for more coverage or run a different combination. Taking off Spore can free up the item slot. Taunt is pretty neat, though means most walls simply U-Turn and bring an offensive threat into your face, hence Encore, and Manectric doesn't have the bulk to take many U-Turns. Glare can be a nice surprise and Manectric is naturally immune to it, but it makes bypassing would-be checks muuuuuch more risky. Some other stuff could be neat, but I didn't toy around with them, so no comment.
Pair it up with teammates who appreciate the Electric coverage. For example, non-1k Arrows using Primal Groudon appreciates Manectrics ability to remove Flash Fire Celesteel and most Groudons also like that it can take out Kyogre too. Water-types aren't horribly common, but there are a lot of Flying types out and about that Manectric can outspeed and prey upon. Defensively, something that can eat attacks aimed at Manectric, usually Ground, and is slow enough to pivot Manectric in works quite well. Zygarde is a prime candidate, but Pokemon like Fur Coat Chansey or defensive Yveltal can also work.
Replays:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7balancedhackmons-571407612
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7balancedhackmons-571773381
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7balancedhackmons-573467902
If these aren't satisfactory, then I'm going to have to start challenging people I know who are good to get replays. ...and probably change the team so they don't counter-team me.
Manectric-Mega @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Ice Beam / Steam Eruption
- Encore
- Spore
So, while Manectric has gotten a new lease on life with Galvanize, it lacked the raw power of Xurkitree, Zekrom, and Ampharos as well as the bulk of the latter two, leaving it only with its sheer speed to stand out from the others. Its power is good, but not so much that it can break a lot of walls. Its also too frail to really set-up and its ideal set-up are hard to Imposter proof without using abilities or weird stuff like Magnezone. So, after a lot of pondering on figuring out on how to leverage Manectric's speed, I finally settled on an "Offensive Disruption" set.
Basically, this Manectric set, rather than trying to play slippery with switching and poking something here and there, it gets in, pissed off its opponent, and proceeds to blast them while they're unable to retaliate. Encore + Spore seems a little overkill, but the combination combined with Manectric's speed shuts down a ton of walls as well as a number of offensive threats. Just be sure the opponent isn't Safety Goggles first. Getting OHKOed on a failed Spore feels bad. If the opponent isn't Magic Bounce, which, as long as the Safety Goggles are in-tact, Manectric doesn't care about hitting by accident with its disruption moves, Manectric can screw them over, and faster too without even touching Prankster. Heck, it can even stare down that dumb Prankster + Imprison + Trap + Transform + Eviolite Chansey and force it out, something a lot of stuff actually can't claim.
Boomburst is the flagship move of the set as the damage cannot be overlooked, at least 2HKOing most non-bulky threats and even 2HKOing a few walls, like Aegislash-Shield (that or all the opposing users of them didn't know what EVs were.) The choice between Ice Beam and Steam Eruption depends on whether Zygarde-C or Primal Groudon is the bigger threat. There are pros and cons of each, as Ice Beam can 2HKO Zygarde-C, (with a small chance of 3HKOing +SpD and Poison Heal versions) and does decent damage to Giratina, two of its other big checks/counters. Steam Eruption, however, is a guaranteed OHKO on all variants of Primal Groudon that are not running a +SpD nature, which has a small chance of being 2HKOed. Both moves should only be used only when absolutely needed, as a resisted Boomburst is still stronger than a neutral Ice Beam and neither coverage move does much damage on neutral hits.
The support moves are the best I've found, but you can drop one for more coverage or run a different combination. Taking off Spore can free up the item slot. Taunt is pretty neat, though means most walls simply U-Turn and bring an offensive threat into your face, hence Encore, and Manectric doesn't have the bulk to take many U-Turns. Glare can be a nice surprise and Manectric is naturally immune to it, but it makes bypassing would-be checks muuuuuch more risky. Some other stuff could be neat, but I didn't toy around with them, so no comment.
Pair it up with teammates who appreciate the Electric coverage. For example, non-1k Arrows using Primal Groudon appreciates Manectrics ability to remove Flash Fire Celesteel and most Groudons also like that it can take out Kyogre too. Water-types aren't horribly common, but there are a lot of Flying types out and about that Manectric can outspeed and prey upon. Defensively, something that can eat attacks aimed at Manectric, usually Ground, and is slow enough to pivot Manectric in works quite well. Zygarde is a prime candidate, but Pokemon like Fur Coat Chansey or defensive Yveltal can also work.
Replays:
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7balancedhackmons-571407612
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7balancedhackmons-571773381
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7balancedhackmons-573467902
If these aren't satisfactory, then I'm going to have to start challenging people I know who are good to get replays. ...and probably change the team so they don't counter-team me.
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