Project Victim of the Week [Week 72: Specs Mesprit]

[TTFTW]

Defensive Torterra as a check/soft counter

Torterra @ Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD
Impish Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Synthesis
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock

Pretty cool set I've been using, I'd say it's a hard counter if you manage to keep it healthy, rock climb barely 3HKO's and the spdef investment allows you to take 2 fire blasts after stealth rocks. Then you can proceed to set up free rocks or synthesis up. You don't even need to worry about crits since you have shell armor (or you can use overgrow, the ability doesn't matter when you look at this calcs)

calcs

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Rock Climb vs. 252 HP / 200+ Def Torterra: 152-179 (38.5 - 45.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
4 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 56 SpD Torterra: 143-169 (36.2 - 42.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

You can't beat this variant though: 4 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Ice Beam vs. 252 HP / 56 SpD Torterra: 234-281 (59.3 - 71.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

 

[Jarii]

Mega-Audino as counter.
Audino @ Audinite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Dazzling Gleam
- Wish
- Protect

With the amazing bulky stat in HP (103) and in defenses (both 126) is mega-audino able to eat up any at least 2 hits from Tauros and is just able to wish up and get it's health back more then Tauros is able to do in 1 turn to it. So with Mega-Audino you easily able to either wear down Tauros when it's not able to OHKO you from the health you have or Wish Protect stall it until you have enough health to wish and attack.

Calcs

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Rock Climb vs. 248 HP / 252+ Def Mega Audino: 129-152 (31.5 - 37.1%) -- 77.6% chance to 3HKO
8 SpA Mega Audino Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Tauros: 109-129 (37.4 - 44.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[erisia]

Poliwrath as check.

Poliwrath @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 80 HP / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Focus Blast
- Ice Beam
- Vacuum Wave

Specs Poliwrath can take any single attack from Tauros after Stealth Rock, can OHKO with Hydro Pump or Focus Blast, and can 2HKO with Vacuum Wave. This 2HKO can turn into a OHKO if Tauros takes some prior damage from hazards, using Earthquake, or other chip damage like Rocky Helmet users or Hail. Either way, Poliwrath can come in after Tauros gets a kill and threaten heavy damage with Vacuum Wave. (I learned this the hard way when testing Tauros :p)

Calcs

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Zen Headbutt vs. 80 HP / 0 Def Poliwrath: 257-304 (75.3 - 89.1%)
252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Rock Climb vs. 80 HP / 0 Def Poliwrath: 218-257 (63.9 - 75.3%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Poliwrath Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Tauros: 294-346 (101 - 118.9%)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Poliwrath Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Tauros: 642-756 (220.6 - 259.7%) -- lol
252+ SpA Choice Specs Poliwrath Vacuum Wave vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Tauros: 216-254 (74.2 - 87.2%)

 

[XenoTech N]

Musharna as a counter.

Musharna @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 240 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Stored Power
- Barrier
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight

So Musharna walls and can easily set up on Tauros. It starts off taking a little less than half, but by then Musharna has a Barrier up, and then it Moonlights and Tauros is screwed.

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Rock Climb vs. 240 HP / 252+ Def Musharna: 165-196 (38.1 - 45.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Rock Climb vs. +2 240 HP / 252+ Def Musharna: 83-99 (19.1 - 22.8%) -- possible 5HKO

 

[Realistic Waters]

Solid Counter

Solrock @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Morning Sun
- Will-O-Wisp
- Rock Slide

It's not ranked but it's a super reliable answer to this Tauros set. Levitate give it a ground immunity so Tauros can only hit you with a weak Rock Climb/Zen. Solrock can initially cripple it with Will-O-Wisp and has the opportunity to set hazards if it really wants. Morning sun helps too so you'll never be worn down.

252 Atk Life Orb Sheer Force Tauros Rock Climb vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Solrock: 82-97 (23.8 - 28.1%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[boltsandbombers]

Counters: Misdreavus (Kiyo) / Cradily (iplaytennislol) / Regirock (lolbro)
Checks: Poliwrath (erisia) / Rhydon (Hootie) / Musharna (XenoTech N)

Week 44:

Cacturne @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Giga Drain
- Spikes
- Sucker Punch

 

[Dundies]

Combusken is a counter

Combusken @ Eviolite
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Low Kick
- Protect

Combusken has no problem switching into anything Cacturne has to throw at it, and it can OHKO in return with Flare Blitz. Since Cacturne isn't likely to stay in, Combusken can also use Cacturne as setup fodder to get up a Swords Dance.

calcs

252+ SpA Life Orb Cacturne Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Combusken: 86-101 (32.9 - 38.6%) -- 99.8% chance to 3HKO

4 Atk Life Orb Cacturne Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Combusken: 64-75 (24.5 - 28.7%) -- 99.6% chance to 4HKO

252 Atk Combusken Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Cacturne: 494-584 (175.8 - 207.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[honchkrow]

Mega Audino as a Counter

Audino @ Audinite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 232 HP / 228 Def / 48 SpA
Bold Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Dazzling Gleam
-

Audino resists Cacturne's dark stab and giga drain does less than half. Dazzling gleam is an easy 2 hit ko, making Cacturne not a threat. Oh btw the hp hits a regen number.

48 SpA Mega Audino Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cacturne: 230-272 (81.8 - 96.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Cacturne Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Audino: 133-156 (38.3 - 44.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[erisia]

Time for more Cradily love!

Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Slide
- Recover
- Toxic

Cradily hard-counters this set outside of like 2 Dark Pulse flinches in a row. Cradily can hit Cacturne with Toxic and just stall it out with Recover as Dark Pulse is a guaranteed 4HKO from 100% health, and if Cacturne tries to spam Spikes, Cradily can either setup Rocks itself or just go for a 2HKO with Rock Slide (considering Cacturne has probably taken some LO recoil or hazard damage).

252+ SpA Life Orb Cacturne Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Cradily: 118-140 (31.3 - 37.2%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

0 Atk Cradily Rock Slide vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Cacturne: 115-136 (40.9 - 48.3%)

 

[Shadestep]

Skuntank as a check

Skuntank @ Black Sludge
Ability: Aftermath
EVs: 24 HP / 224 Atk / 176 SpD / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Poison Jab
- Taunt
- Defog

Skuntank takes very little from all of Cacturne's moves and can threaten it out with a Poison Jab. It can also Defog away spikes that it sets up and recover some HP with Black Sludge.

 

[Cheryl.]

Articuno as a hard check!

Articuno @ Life Orb
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hurricane
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry / Agility
- Roost

Articuno's bulk makes it take little from Cacturne's moves, and can OHKO it with any of it's moves. Always gotta spread more Articuno love!

Calcs

4 Atk Life Orb Cacturne Sucker Punch vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 129-152 (40.1 - 47.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Cacturne Dark Pulse vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Articuno: 142-168 (44.2 - 52.3%) -- 14.8% chance to 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Articuno Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cacturne: 468-554 (166.5 - 197.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[tmacbalanced]

Hitmonchan as a soft check

Hitmonchan (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 124 HP / 252 Atk / 132 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Punch
So, this spread allows Mr.Chan to take a giga drain a bit better. Mr.Chan can out prioritize the sucker punch with mach punch to avoid the sucker punch + giga drain + stealth rocks knock out (would need a max roll). If Hitmon is at 100% health though when it comes in with no hazard damage or prior damage, then it can drain punch. Ice punch also knocks out Cacturne. You could even go a spin + drain punch or spin + mach punch depending on the situation. Hitmon Chan is obviously coming in safely on a dark pulse.
252+ SpA Life Orb Cacturne Giga Drain vs. 124 HP / 4 SpD Hitmonchan: 148-175 (54.4 - 64.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 Atk Life Orb Cacturne Sucker Punch vs. 124 HP / 0 Def Hitmonchan: 77-91 (28.3 - 33.4%) -- 0.2% chance to 3HKO

 

[boltsandbombers]

Counters: Combusken (Dundies) / Mega Audino (iplaytennislol) / Cradily (erisia)
Checks: Hitmonchan (tmacbalanced) / Articuno (BrandonBeast)

Week 45:

Samurott @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Rash Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Aqua Jet
- Megahorn

 

[shiloh]

Lanturn @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 40 HP / 220 Def / 208 SpD / 40 Spe
Calm Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Filler
- Filler
- Filler

Literally takes nothing from Hydro, and Megahorn is a 4HKO, while Thunderbolt 2HKOs

0 Atk Life Orb Samurott Megahorn vs. 40 HP / 252 Def Lanturn: 123-146 (30.6 - 36.4%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Lanturn Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Samurott: 230-272 (69.4 - 82.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[honchkrow]

reserved

fuck you i was typing this out

 

[honchkrow]

Mantine has a hard check/counter

Mantine @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 208 HP / 216 Def / 84 Spe
Bold Nature
- Protect
- Toxic
- Scald
- Defog

Mantine has become really solid in this meta because of how well it handles Steelix, fire types not named Magmortar and waters types such as Samurott! Water Absorb deters Samurott from clicking hydro almost all game which is very nice. On top of that, ice beam does poor damage and Mantine can toxic protect or air slash away to beat it 1 on 1. The speed on Mantine is for jolly Rhydon oo

252+ SpA Life Orb Samurott Ice Beam vs. 208 HP / 0 SpD Mantine: 92-109 (28.4 - 33.7%) -- 97.1% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

 

[XenoTech N]

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 96 HP / 252 SpA / 160 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Focus Blast
- Ice Beam
- Vacuum Wave
Poliwrath completely walls Samurott, resisting all its moves and recovering w/ Leftovers and Water Absorb. Focus Blast then 2HKO's.

252+ SpA Poliwrath Focus Blast vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Samurott: 214-253 (64.6 - 76.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[boltsandbombers]

5. No reservations.

I added this rule nearly 2 months ago, please follow it ._.

 

[astroboy]

ferroseed as a counter

seed can easily switch into samurott, whittle it down with koff+leech seed, cripple it with thunder wave, and use samu as spikes fodder.
ill add calcs later, im on mobile rn and just wanted to post this

 

[Louna]

Articuno as soft-check

(why is articuno's sprite so fat)

Articuno can switch on any move without being rk by Aqua Jet and just bop Samurott with Freeze-dry. Even if he want to switch, you can just roost or click on hurricane, nothing like to take an hurricane from this cute bird. Take care, if Samurott is in Torrent's range, Articuno can't come on an Hydro pump

calcos

what samurott do
252+ SpA Life Orb Samurott Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Articuno: 187-220 (58.2 - 68.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Samurott Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Articuno: 103-121 (32 - 37.6%) -- 89.8% chance to 3HKO
4 Atk Life Orb Samurott Megahorn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 56-66 (17.4 - 20.5%) -- possible 5HKO
4 Atk Life Orb Samurott Aqua Jet vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Articuno: 56-68 (17.4 - 21.1%) -- possible 5HKO

and now freeze-dry
252 SpA Life Orb Articuno Freeze-Dry vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Samurott: 359-424 (108.4 - 128%) -- guaranteed OHKO

even hurricane hit a lot
252 SpA Life Orb Articuno Hurricane vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Samurott: 282-333 (85.1 - 100.6%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[Silver Aurum]

Check

Lapras @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Signal Beam/Hidden Power Fire/Ice Shard/I have no idea honestly

Not much to be said with this one. This thing can switch in on both special attacks and handles Megahorn decently and OHKO's with freeze dry in return. It also has the added bonus of being adorable.

0 Atk Life Orb Samurott Megahorn vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Lapras: 135-160 (33.5 - 39.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Lapras Freeze-Dry vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Samurott: 422-498 (127.4 - 150.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[boltsandbombers]

Counters: Poliwrath (XenoTech N) / Lanturn (rozes) / Ferroseed (astroboy)
Checks: Lapras (SilverReaper21) / Articuno (Holiano) / Mantine (iplaytennislol)

Week 46:

Sceptile @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power Ice

 

[Ren-chon]

Hariyama as a counter.

Hariyama @ Assault Vest
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Fake Out
- Bullet Punch

The trend before was things walled by Quagsire, now it seems the trend is things walled by Hariyama lol. Anyway, he isn't 2hko'd by anything this Sceptile's set uses thanks to its enormous bulk. Meanwhile, CC is a clean KO 100% of the time.

252 SpA Life Orb Sceptile Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Hariyama: 99-118 (23 - 27.5%) -- 69.4% chance to 4HKO
252+ Atk Hariyama Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Sceptile: 288-340 (102.4 - 120.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Even if it's somehow in Overgrow range:
252 SpA Life Orb Overgrow Sceptile Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Hariyama: 148-175 (34.4 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

 

[Cheryl.]

#KILLME (Weezing) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA
Bold Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Sludge Bomb
- Taunt
- Flamethrower

Weezing is a hard check to LO mixed Sceptile. Being immune to EQ, resistant to Leaf Storm and Focus Blast, and being hit for like baby food from HP Ice is huge for Weezing, and it can 2HKO Sceptile nicely with Sludge Bomb. However, LO Leaf Storm still does a nice chunk to this EV spread of Weezing, so watch out! But overall, Weezing is a great answer to Sceptile.

Calcs

252 SpA Life Orb Sceptile Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Weezing: 160-187 (48 - 56.1%) -- 30.5% chance to 2HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sceptile Focus Blast vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Weezing: 97-116 (29.1 - 34.8%) -- 100% chance to 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Sceptile Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 0 SpD Weezing: 99-117 (29.7 - 35.1%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Black Sludge recovery

8 SpA Weezing Sludge Bomb vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Sceptile: 198-234 (70.2 - 82.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

 

[tmacbalanced]

Jynx as a check

Jynx @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Dry Skin
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Lovely Kiss
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast

Jynx can actually take a hit from this sceptile set not too badly considering the fact that Jynx is frail as paper.
252 SpA Life Orb Sceptile Giga Drain vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Jynx: 142-169 (52.3 - 62.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
4 Atk Life Orb Sceptile Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Jynx: 183-216 (67.5 - 79.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Aside from that though, it's really only coming in safely on a HP ice. Ice beam obviously OHKOs but, psyshock does have a chance to knock sceptile out after some hazards:
252 SpA Jynx Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Sceptile: 190-225 (67.6 - 80%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock and 1 layer of Spikes

And lovely kiss is always nice for some pressure.