Project LC Next Best Thing - [The Foo' Nominating]

twinkay

these bugs love all the sugar in my blood
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus
approved by op tl op
literally every nbt thread has this exact same op, so idk who i stole it from


banner lovingly taken from the quasar's old thread

What is this?
The Next Best Thing is a project where the community digs through a featured Pokemon's movepool and crafts novel sets under the objective of beating some of its common checks and counters. Through this project in the past, relatively hidden Pokemon sets between ADV and BW like SD Lucario in DPP OU or Sub-Disable Gengar in BW OU have ended up taking the respective metagames by storm. Not every set that the community comes up in the project with will become metagame defining, however. In fact, a mass majority of new Pokemon sets made here won't end up becoming very popular in the end, which is fine.

The Process
Each 10 days, I will choose a different LC Pokemon, sometimes chosen by random, sometimes chosen by curiosity, of which participants will try to personally create a new set for that is not already on-site or in the process of being put on-site. Participants will be given 7 days to create their set, with discussion about the particular sets being promoted throughout, and on the 8th through 10th day of the cycle, a vote will be held to choose which user's set represented the most creative and simultaneously competitively viable set to utilize in the current LC metagame. Once the votes are tallied and a winner is crowned, the set will be archived in the OP and the process will start all over again for the next Pokemon specimen.


What are we looking for?
Specifically, I want to stress the importance of the balance between creativity and viability when picking a set to post for the Pokemon in question. There's a very fine line between a "creative" set and a "gimmick", and this project is not meant to produce gimmicks, rather emphasize the ability to think outside the box when using a specific Pokemon in order to maximize its potential. Having said that, I would also like to deviate from simple one move / item changes. For instance, changing Eviolite for Berry Juice on Grimer-A is not showing any potential creativity; it's just sacrificing consistent bulk for a large recovery boost. The same would go for using Gunk Shot over Poison Jab. Neither of the aforementioned cases yield productive discussion or results for the project. I am looking for sets that test what we think we know about checks or counters, so-called standards, and what it means to be viable. Maybe a particular option for a Pokemon looks inferior at first glance for that particular Pokemon, but dig deeper and try and find what it might mean in the big picture, for the entire team.

With that all said and done, here are some rules...
  • Let's refrain from standard sets, gimmicky sets, and simple one move / item / ability changes that don't add anything, as described in the OP.
  • Please also refrain from editing your sets after you have already posted them.
  • Obviously, don't vote for yourself during voting.
  • Don't reserve sets!
Current Pokemon: Mienfoo
 
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twinkay

these bugs love all the sugar in my blood
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WEEK 1:
ABRA

- Winner: Fille 's Trick Ring Target Abra

WEEK 2:
PAWNIARD

- Winner: Merritt 's Psychium Z Lure Pawniard

WEEK 3:
GASTLY

- Winner: fran17 's Perish Trap Gastly

WEEK 4:
SLOWPOKE

- Winner: fitzy72 's Electrium Z Zap Cannon Slowpoke

WEEK 5:
MIENFOO

- Winner: Fille 's Flyinium Z Bouncer Mienfoo
 
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twinkay

these bugs love all the sugar in my blood
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Round One will begin today. The Pokemon to submit for is:
Abra!

(voting will start Oct. 27)
 

Sken

feet of clay
is a Tiering Contributor Alumnus


Abra @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 240 SpA / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SpA / 30 SpD / 30 Spe
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball

I think choice scarf, although it's not abra's optimal item, is a cool feature to help beating certain checks and keeping in check some specific pokemon that could very well sweep your entire team. Some scarfers that come to my mind right now would be mienfoo, pawniard, bunnelby, doduo, gastly, frillish, vullaby after sr damage, scrafty, snivy, drilbur, rufflett, pikipek and pretty much every other scarfer. The whole point of the set is having the opponent not to know you're scarf, so you can grab a kill early in the game without any drawback, like some diglett trying to revenge kill beat up you or some elekid just volt switching around. It's useful against webs too, surprising the opponent killing any 17 speed or lower pokemon that wants to take profit from the lowered speed (keep in mind scarf abra under webs is 18 speed only, not 19), while otherwise abra is usually pretty bad against webs teams, and it checks some setup sweepers as well like scrafty, shellder, nasty plot vullaby and a weakened pupkaboo-small. I used it in the snake draft phase 1 against OP and it worked out well as it was a sticky web team where OP's fastest mon was a 17 speed archen.
 

Fille

Afk
is a Pre-Contributor
LCPL Champion

Forrest Gump (Abra) (F) @ Ring Target
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 240 SpA / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Psychic
- Trick
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dazzling Gleam

I guess the GrimerA scenario here is obvious enough, but the glorious part about this set is actually obtaining a useful item back from whatever mon you facing, while giving them a (For certain mons) devastating one. GrimerA is OHKOd by Psychic, and Shadow Sneak will either do half, or just heal you back up with Berry Juice, depending on the item you stole from Grimes. Spritzee Moonblast will only 3hko you with the Eviolite you stole, while Psychic will in turn 2hko, leaving you with a 50%ish Abra with an Eviolite. Ferroseed dies to Hp Fire when item is removed, and with the current meta trend will provide you with a Berry Juice. Pawniard is still an ok switch-in, but whithout Pursuit it still struggles, as coming in on a Psychic leaves it vulnerable to Hp Fire after a Ring Target has been tricked to it.

I know losing a Sash on standard teams can be devastating, but with all the priority running around to just break the sash from the likes of Croagunk/Timburr, too things commonly baiting Abra, I don't see it as a huge loss. This way also doesn't leave you at 1 HP after beating GrimerA/Pursuit trappers in general, meaning any priority won't pick you off just randomly

Note that Diglett, Elekid and Munchlax are still annoying as shit, but Munchlax will be severely crippled due to lack of Bjuice Recycle (Or EvioRestTalk)


Grimer Alola

196+ Atk Grimer-Alola Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Abra: 10-12 (52.6 - 63.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 10, 12)

196+ Atk Grimer-Alola Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def (Berry Juice) Abra: 14-18 (73.6 - 94.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (14, 14, 14, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18)

240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 36 HP / 196 SpD Grimer-Alola: 30-36 (120 - 144%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 32, 32, 32, 32, 32, 32, 32, 32, 36)

Spritzee

12 SpA Spritzee Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Abra: 7-10 (36.8 - 52.6%) -- 11.3% chance to 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (7, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10)

240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 212 HP / 76 SpD Spritzee: 15-18 (55.5 - 66.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18)

Ferroseed

240 SpA Abra Hidden Power Fire vs. 84 HP / 228 SpD Ferroseed: 20-28 (90.9 - 127.2%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (20, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 28)

Vullaby

240 SpA Abra Dazzling Gleam vs. 116 HP / 76 SpD Vullaby: 18-22 (72 - 88%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 22)

240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 116 HP / 76 SpD Vullaby: 15-18 (60 - 72%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18)

Vullaby is not a switch-in anymore after Ring Target is tricked upon it, still an ok check tho

Pawniard

240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 0 HP / 116 SpD Pawniard: 8-10 (38 - 47.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
Possible damage amounts: (8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9, 10)

240 SpA Abra Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 116 SpD Pawniard: 16-20 (76.1 - 95.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20)

Pawn is probably the mon that minds the Ring Target the least due to it's additional Steel Type, as well as access to Sucker Punch that still kills.

240 SpA Abra Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Pawniard: 18-22 (85.7 - 104.7%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 22)

ScarfPawn^Loses it's scarf, 62.5% chance to OHKO after SR so not a reliable Pursuit trapper.

Pumpkaboo

240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 204 HP / 236+ SpD Pumpkaboo-Super: 13-16 (52 - 64%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Possible damage amounts: (13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 15, 16)

0 Atk Pumpkaboo-Super Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Abra: 12-14 (63.1 - 73.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 14)

0 Atk Pumpkaboo-Super Bullet Seed (4 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Abra: 16-24 (84.2 - 126.3%) -- approx. 6.3% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 6)

Pumpkaboo is still check with Sneak/Bullet Seed, but doesn't oneshot (Usually), and if it's full special then it still loses unless 2 Low rolls because
4 SpA Pumpkaboo-Super Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Abra: 6-7 (31.5 - 36.8%) -- 17.6% chance to 3HKO
Possible damage amounts: (6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7)
only heals 3 hp.
 

Simbo

Own a doghouse?
Abra @ Psychium Z
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 240 SpA / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 SpD
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Psycho Shift

I think this abra set is pretty cool. With psychium z psycho shift, abra gains a +2 boost in special attack, turning it into an absolute monster. At +2, abra can rip through almost all mons. Psychic kills almost every neutral target in the tier barring the most bulky of spdef walls, such as spritzee and munchlax. However, both still drop to psychic after a small amount of chip. Dazzling gleam at +2 kills any vullaby (barring scarf) after rocks and kills other psychic immunties (barring pawn). Hp ground has a 56% chance to kill evio grimer-a after rocks, and guarantees death after rock and spike. If getting the +2 seems unlikely, then z psychic can be used to blow away a mon and guarantee a kill that sash bra may not have got (like against bulky timburr). The general idea involves bluffing sash and setting up on an expected switch. Abra forces a lot of switches so this isn't too difficult to do in practice I think.
Without sash, abra does suffer from being revenged/forced out by scarfers, but I think this set has a lot of potential on webs teams or even on offensive teams for its ability to just wreck an opponent who allows the speed control to be removed.

+2 240 SpA Abra Hidden Power Ground vs. 36 HP / 36 SpD Eviolite Grimer-Alola: 20-24 (80 - 96%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Possible damage amounts: (20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 22, 22, 22, 22, 22, 22, 22, 22, 24)
196+ Atk Grimer-Alola Shadow Sneak vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Abra: 14-18 (73.6 - 94.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (14, 14, 14, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18)
+2 240 SpA Abra Dazzling Gleam vs. 116 HP / 76 SpD Eviolite Vullaby: 22-28 (88 - 112%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (22, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 28)
+2 240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 76 HP / 252 SpD Eviolite Spritzee: 16-21 (64 - 84%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (16, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 18, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 19, 21)
+2 240 SpA Abra Psychic vs. 0 HP / 236 SpD Munchlax: 22-27 (73.3 - 90%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (22, 22, 22, 22, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 25, 25, 25, 25, 25, 27)
 

Abra @ Choice Specs
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 240 SpA / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Now I was originally going to do Trick and forget about the move Psychic. But then I realized it wasn't worth it because most LC sets had Choice Scarfs, Eviolites etc. Now Abra can learn a variety of Special attacking moves but the ones I decided to go for was Psychic for STAB, Dazzling Gleam for Dark types Shadow Ball for Ghost-types and HP Fire for those bug types. Now there aren't that many useful bug types in LC but I wanted to do fire because there are a lot of steel types in LC and a lot of useful ones too. I also gave Abra a timid nature so it can outspeed everything and OHKO everything with the moves I gave him.

240 SpA Choice Specs Abra Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 76 SpD Vullaby: 24-30 (104.3 - 130.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

240 SpA Choice Specs Abra Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 80 SpD Gastly: 32-38 (168.4 - 200%) -- guaranteed OHKO

240 SpA Choice Specs Abra Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 36 SpD Pawniard: 24-30 (126.3 - 157.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

240 SpA Choice Specs Abra Psychic vs. 124 HP / 160 SpD Eviolite Foongus: 30-36 (120 - 144%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 
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Altariel von Sweep

They Who Laugh Last
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Abra @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 40 Atk / 240 SpA / 200 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Taunt
- Knock Off
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Though about Taunt Abra, while it may be gimmicky and only works on key situations, it is a potential threat that can put a hard stop to many status attacks, including hazards in early-game, and also stopping setup opportunities, even if you got Memento'd. Knock Off does some chip damage and takes away their Eviolites or Berry Juices, making it easier for Abra to break with Psychic and Hidden Power Fire, though it gets easily walled by Grimer-Alola and Munchlax.
 

Abra @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 240 SpA / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Counter
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fighting]

Thunder Wave is a balanced move.
Read OP but still stands. :^) Now for an actual set for a niche for one of 2 "counters" to
Abra.


Abra @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 240 SpA / 196 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Counter

Lol We're implying Abra has counters now :x. K For munchlax. Just stay in on pursuit and counter. It does 16 hp or more 75% of the time but never kills without crit. Doing 16 hp and being hasty means you stay in on pursuit and KO with counter. Hp ground already does a million to Grime and Stunky.

Calcs
236+ Atk Munchlax Pursuit vs. 0 HP / 76- Def Abra: 14-18 (73.6 - 94.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(14, 14, 14, 14, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 16, 18)
 
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twinkay

these bugs love all the sugar in my blood
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Vote!

Here are your options:
--------------
I love the amount of participation this initial week! Thanks to everyone for a great kickstart to the project.

Think I'm going to vote for Scarf Abra. Although there were a lot of creative ideas, this was the one I think was the most solid and it helped it had tournament results to back it up, of course.
 
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twinkay

these bugs love all the sugar in my blood
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus
The winner is very clearly Fille ! Congratulations!


Votes
  • Fille's Trick: 10
  • Sken's Scarf: 4
  • Altariel von Sweep's Taunt: 1
Again, thanks for such a great week! I'll add Abra as the first member to the Hall of Fame.

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He's LCs favorite Sucker Pincer with an iron head! This weeks Pokemon is Pawniard!

voting begins November 6th


 

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