+- Pokemon Uranium (https://pokemonuranium.co/forum)
+-- Forum: Pokemon Uranium (https://pokemonuranium.co/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Competitive Discussion (https://pokemonuranium.co/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=7)
+--- Thread: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok (/showthread.php?tid=918)
Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - Lord Windos - 05-30-2017
Greeting, everyone! I have lately been looking through the catalogue of Mega Evolutions in
Uranium, and spot one that was particularly interesting to me: M-Arbok! Without further or do, let’s sink our fangs into this topic!
Mega Arbok
![[Image: latest?cb=20160816122206]](https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/pokemon-uranium/images/a/a0/045_1.png/revision/latest?cb=20160816122206)
BASE STATS
HP: 60 S.ATK: 65
ATK: 130 S.DEF: 95
DEF: 100 SPD: 90
Unlike other Mega Evolutions in Uranium, what makes M-Arbok so good isn’t just stat increases or an ability change. On paper, compared to the likes of M-Archilles, M-Dramsama, or M-Drillagan, its stat boosts look poultry, since its spread rather evenly among its ATK, DEF, S.DEF, and SPD, making it seem like its Mega Form is stretching itself very thin across multiple fronts. Its Poison typing, while quite helpful in giving the many Fairies around the lethal injection, its Ground and Psychic weakness make it quite vulnerable in the higher tiers, where such moves are spammed with wild abandon.
The factors that give this mighty snake such a nasty sting, however, lay coiled up within its typing and movepool. Upon Mega Evolving, M-Arbok gains a Dark typing along with its Poison type, which is an absolutely huge boon for the toxic constrictor, as it gains one of the best type combination in the entire series! Its Poison/Dark grants it’s a crucial immunity towards Psychic types, reducing its weakness to only Ground, which unlike other mono weakness Pokemon (besides Ghost-Dark) is only 2X effective instead of 4X. Even with a deadly weakness to grit, its solid defenses and access Coil enable it to shrug off at least a hit, and retaliate with either a Seed Bomb or Ice Fang. Combine its typing, solid defensive bulk, and boosting moves, and it can weather a lot of thrashing!
Speaking of the snake’s moves, it has a surprising amount of coverage available to it. It has the three elemental Fangs to deal with the vast majority of types, nailing Ground and Steel types with the aforementioned Ice Fang or a Fire Fang. Through breeding, it also has access to Sucker Punch and Pursuit, which make it capable of being both a capable trapper AND revenge killer, and has access to Crunch for those that just want a plain Dark STAB. In addition, it also has access to Earthquake, giving it a solid option to take down the Steel types that try to wall it, and a great option to bury the Fearsome Fiery Trio (Inflagetah, Archilles, and Beliaddon)! It even has access to recovery other than Rest in Swallow, albeit it only working with Stockpile.
Finally, there is its Mega ability Petrify. In conjunction with Intimidate, it can either completely poison a Physical Attacker assault before it can even began, or force them out into a counter for the frightening snake, in which it can use Coil safely before triggering its Megalution to hobble the speed of its aggressor with any coverage move it can choose. Or fire off a boosted Gunk Shot, which is deadly to anything but Steel types, but you have Earthquake to scrap them!
Overall, despite its weakness to an extremely common and deadly type, M-Arbok’s typing, fine tuned stats, movepool and Abilities give this poisonous viper all the venom its needs to kill the competition!
MOVESETS
The Black Mamba! (Physical Sweeper)
Sucker Punch/Pursuit
Gunk Shot
Coil
Earthquake/Seed Bomb/Fire Fang
Nature: Adament/Jolly
EV’s: 252 ATK, 252 SPD, 4 S.DEF
If you want a deadly sweeper and powerful revenge killer in one hissing package, then feast your eyes on this set! The strategy for this set is simple: Either lead with M-Arbok to force a switch and use Coil, immediately Mega Evolve at the start to hobble the opposition even more to give you a chance for the first strike and/or screw over Choice Scarf users, or switch into a resisted hit and do one of the above options. Once you have boosted your stats or inflicted some damage on the opponent, you can proceed to tear into them with you choice of moves! Sucker Punch is an prime choice for a Dark STAB, as the boost provided by Coil and its high priority makes it a potent toxin to faster threats that try to switch in and outspeed you, such as Inflagetah, Archilles or Choice Scarfers like Nucleon, and is a great move for revenge killing. Pursuit, on the other hand, is great for trapping weakened targets, Ghost types like Dramsama, or Psychics once Arbok goes Mega, as its abilities often provoke switches that you can exploit with some prediction. Gunk Shot, in conjuction with a Coil, is a frightenly accurate move that hits like a truck full of toxic waste, proving absolutely ruinous to most Pokemon bar Steel types. The last move slot is all about what you need your venomous viper to cover for more. Earthquake is the first choice, as it deals with the vast majority of Steel types in the game and snuffs out Fire types like Chimiconda. Seed Bomb, on the other hand, is there to swiftly take care of any Ground types like Encartress of Laissure that try to switch in and muscle it out, and it’s a decent solution to the few Bulky Waters that room around, such as Brainroar and Evolite Regenerator Corsola. Fire Fang is mainly there for Metalynx and S-51A, if you don’t have any Fire types that are capable of dealing with them. The Nature you want depends on whether you want maxium power behind your attack, or want to take maximum advantage of Petrify to out speed your opponents.
The Diamond Back Rattle Snake! (Bulky Attacker)
Pursuit
Sucker Punch
Gunk Shot/Poison Jab
Seed Bomb/Earthquake
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 248 HP, 200 ATK, 60 SPD
Essentially Alola Muk’s set repurposed to accommodate M-Arbok’s needs and different movepool, but it is just as effect on it, if not more so! Pursuit is your first move of choice, as the constrictor’s abilities in either form often force the opponent to frequently shuffle there Pokémon in and out, allowing it to rake up an impressive amount of damage. Sucker Punch is there to have a semi-reliable Dark STAB, and a great way for the snake to get the alpha strike against a faster opponent. Gunk Shot is still a powerful move despite forgoing Coil, but if you miss with it, you will certainly pine for the accuracy boost the move provided, so Poison Jab is still a decently powerful alternative Poison STAB. The final move depends on what this hydra to muscle through. Seed Bomb gives it an option to threaten and Ground types not named Gliscor, and can combo well with either of your Dark STABs, while Earthquake shakes up all Steel types other than S-51A, and hits the Powerful Fire and Electric types present in the meta. Adamant nature ensures that every attack M-Arbok’s makes hits as hard as possible, and the EVs spread ensures that it can have as much health as possible, switch in a little more when Stealth Rocks are set up, and hit hard as possible while still out speeding certain targets after a Speed drop from petrify. While it does not have access to Knock Off like Alola Muk, but this poison python can still use this set to great effect! If you would prefer to have Coil/Stockpile on the set, however, you can replace either its Poison STAB or Sucker Punch with minimal hassle, but you would lose already powerful moves for simple stat boosts it doesn't absolutely need. The choice, however, is always left to you.
The Reticulated Python (Phase Tank Set)
Pursuit
Gastro Acid/Glare/Toxic
Stockpile
Swallow
Nature: Impish or Careful
EV’s: 248 HP, 252 DEF or 252 S.DEF
A Gimmicky set, but it’s a fun one to troll with! Pursuit is your main attacking move on this set, as it capitalizes on the many switches this snake moveset and ability will generate, and allows it to serve as a trapper if all else fails. Gastro Acid is very irritating move to be hit by, as it can hobble or outright cripple many Pokémon that depend on their abilities, forcing the opponent to switch out to reset its effects, which either allows this toxic creature to nail them with Pursuit, or have free opportunity to set up with Stockpile. Glare and Toxic can be used instead, however, to cripple tankier Pokémon that would want to switch in, or put the brakes on speedier Pokémon like Archilles while still generating momentum for your team. Stockpile and Swallow are used together to both allow M-Arbok to boosts its defenses to incredible levels, and heal off any damage at a moment’s notice at the sacrifice of the buff. Recovery heavily reliant on prediction, however, so if Swallow is used at the wrong time, you might end with a battered snake before you even know what hit you! Even is for maximum Health and Defense, but you can opt to split the DEF EVs into both defenses or into ATK, if you want Pursuit to hit harder. Not the most effective set out there, but it is still a somewhat viable one if you just want to mess around with the enemy team!
The Scarlet King Snake (Substitute Set)
Substitute
Coil
Sucker Punch
Gunk Shot
Nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP, 252 S.DEF, 4 ATK
Credit to shademonkey for this wonderfully brilliant set, an I can't believed I didn't think of when I originally posted this guide! The concept of this set is simple here, but how you execute is the key to victory. You either switch in on a hit you can safely resist (Or a Psychic attack, for no risk at all!), or wait until one of its teammates drops dead to safely let the hydra slither onto the battlefield. Once Intimidate and/or Petrify freezes the enemy in their tracks, start setting up a Substitute or Coil boost, depending on what you predict your opponent will do. Presuming that you get up the Substitute some venomous point down the line, you can then proceed to stack as many boosts as you can get away with, then start laying in with brutal Sucker Punches or Gunk Shots, depending on what you this hungery snake is staring down at the time. Since Substitute offer protection from status and at least one free action for the viper, this is a very puissant set, and fit perfectly in Defensive Tank teams or Stall. Nature and EVs are to ensure that M-Arbok has the toughest snake skin hide imaginable, as it has no way of boosting its S.DEF outside of a Calm Mind BP. Speaking of Baton Passer, I recommend you have a Cleric like Slyveon or Luxelong on the team with it to pass Wishes onto it and cure the occasional status, as it has no form of reliable recovery outside of Rest, which is a really hazardous move to have on it, given its weakness to Ground!
OTHER MOVES
Poison: Fang: If you don’t mind having a weaker Poison STAB for a 50% chance to Toxic the target, then go for it!
Dig: A good way to protect yourself, but the opponent could just switch to something Immune to it easily, or use Earthquake to bring the poison python’s a painful pummeling!
Beat Up: Great if you have a Hyper Offensive team full of Physical Attackers, and it would work especially well on the Phase Tank Set.
Swagger: Can be used in conjuction with Glare to set up the dreaded Parafusion combo, but while M-Arbok is bulky, it has no reliable recovery outside of Swallow, so….
Rest and Sleep Talk: Can be used together to get a ResTalk set going, but that Ground weakness and low base HP can make it pretty hard for it to survive long enough to make use of the combo!
Snatch: Switch into a target that going to try set up, steal those boosts, and use them for yourself! Nasty stuff right there…perfect for a Dark type!
Disable: Use it on a Choice item user or a Tank at the right time, and watch as they collapse! Finding a spot and opportunity to use it is the hardest part, though!
Aqua Tail: If you want to put the hurt on Ground and Fire types with just move and have something else to deal with Steel types, then this is an apt choice.
Ice Fang: Basically your using this to hunt down Gliscor or Harptera, while still having a semi-powerful move to deal with Ground types and Dragons with.
Nuclear Form: Don’t use it. Just don’t. It is not fast or strong enough to take advantage of its typing, and its moves are all Special based, so the Nuclear move it gets is absolutely worthless. Stick with Nucleon if you want a Nucmon on your team!
Partners for Mega Arbok:
Pranksteer Taunt users like Whimsicott and Sayble eye can greatly help cripple the enemy team before it encounter the deadly snake, and they can prevent Hazard users from doing there job, which is always great. Baton Passer like Stenowatt or Luxelong would be a great boon for the it as well, as they can pass along Speed, Attack, and Defense boost as necessary. The later can double as a cleric for the team, using Wish and Heal Bell to keep M-Arbok healthy and in prime fighting condition. Siekameter is also a great partner for the hydra, as it can lay down Sticky Webs to slow the enemy team down, switch into and resist incoming Ground type attacks, and use Ice Beam/Surf to take care of them as well! Having either Inflagetah or Archilles would also help extend M-Arbok’s stay on the field, as they can pick off Steel types that could wall one without Earthquake and take advantage of the disruption that the snake causes. Finally, Cocancer can soundly counter Ground and Steel types that try to close in on the snake with Wood Hammer and Earthquake, respectably, while M-Arbok can destroy Alpico and checks fellow Poison types like Chimiconda.
Counters to Mega Arbok:
Steel and Ground types, first and foremost. If it is not packing the appropriate coverage move, they can either wall them with impunity, or force it out on threat of Earthquake. It hates being burned or paralyzed too, so Status users like the aforementioned Whimiscott or Antarki will defang the venomous viper before it can even start sinking its fangs into its prey. Strong Fighting types such as Baariette/M-Baariette can put serious dents into while resisting its Dark STABs. Herolune and Lathan could be considered its greatest counters, as both have extremely painful moves to deal with, while the later laughs at Seed Bomb, Earthquake and Ice Fang, before a Sheer Force Metal Crusher or Subduction comes in to completely bury the hydra alive before it can even blink.
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - shademonkey - 05-31-2017
Could you add the calcs for the specific speed tiers that Arbok-M must reach? Like, what can it outspeed with an Adamant or Jolly nature, 252 EV, after a Petrify debuff? What about notable spood boosters like Scarf Nucleon/Laissure/Transform Dramsama, and Speed Boost Tracton?
In such a case Arbok wouldn't invest 252 EV in Speed, one would want to use them for the HP stat, as Arbok-M's defense and special defense are quite good considering Uranium's average.
While you've made a good job a showing Arbok's potential as an offensive sweeper, I would love to see a more Zygarde-like bulky set, running Substitute, Coil, Sucker Punch and perhaps Poison Fang or Gunk Shot. Too bad the snake doesn't learn Dragon Tail. EV would have to be taken from Speed and put into HP and Special Defense. Of course other counters would arise : Taunters, Phazers...
Quote: Wrote:The Reticulated Python (Phase Tank Set)I know you said it was gimmicky but this screams a big fat no to me. Stockpile + Swallow has never been reliable for recovery. This Arbok right here is setup fodder and does not really phaze anything; Pursuit on an uninvested pokemon, even Stab'd and boosted by a switch out, isn't going to inflict much damage.
Pursuit
Gastro Acid/Glare/Toxic
Stockpile
Swallow
Nature: Impish or Careful
EV’s: 248 HP, 252 DEF or 252 S.DEF
Sorry if this came harsh
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - PhantomUnderYourDesk - 05-31-2017
I see what you did here, dear Windos. You grew attached to Apsis, huh? C:
Nope, honestly, I personally don't like Mega Evolutions that much. But I admit, M-Arbok is quite awesome in looks and stuff.
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - Lord Windos - 05-31-2017
(05-31-2017, 08:42 AM)shademonkey Wrote: Could you add the calcs for the specific speed tiers that Arbok-M must reach? Like, what can it outspeed with an Adamant or Jolly nature, 252 EV, after a Petrify debuff? What about notable spood boosters like Scarf Nucleon/Laissure/Transform Dramsama, and Speed Boost Tracton?
In such a case Arbok wouldn't invest 252 EV in Speed, one would want to use them for the HP stat, as Arbok-M's defense and special defense are quite good considering Uranium's average.
While you've made a good job a showing Arbok's potential as an offensive sweeper, I would love to see a more Zygarde-like bulky set, running Substitute, Coil, Sucker Punch and perhaps Poison Fang or Gunk Shot. Too bad the snake doesn't learn Dragon Tail. EV would have to be taken from Speed and put into HP and Special Defense. Of course other counters would arise : Taunters, Phazers...
Quote: Wrote:The Reticulated Python (Phase Tank Set)I know you said it was gimmicky but this screams a big fat no to me. Stockpile + Swallow has never been reliable for recovery. This Arbok right here is setup fodder and does not really phaze anything; Pursuit on an uninvested pokemon, even Stab'd and boosted by a switch out, isn't going to inflict much damage.
Pursuit
Gastro Acid/Glare/Toxic
Stockpile
Swallow
Nature: Impish or Careful
EV’s: 248 HP, 252 DEF or 252 S.DEF
Sorry if this came harsh
I honestly don't know how to run speed calcs, mate. With my guides, it more of a outline/proof of concept than doing very hard calculation for what affects what, but I can learn how to do those later today to satisfy you inquiry! We all have to learn someday, after all!
I believe I will make a Zygarde esqe set, now that you have brought the idea to mind, mate! I believe that it would certainly work well with either Gunk Shot, EQ, or Beat Up, as those Offensive boosts are crazy good!
As for the Constrictor Set, if it gets enough complaints from users, I'll remove it from my guide not to give a bad impression. I want to provide useful, helpful info, not cause any discord from making a trolling guide!
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - PhantomUnderYourDesk - 05-31-2017
(05-31-2017, 12:01 PM)Lord Windos Wrote: As for the Constrictor Set, if it gets enough complaints from users, I'll remove it from my guide not to give a bad impression. I want to provide useful, helpful info, not cause any discord from making a trolling guide!
I actually enjoy reading through these Fun Sets that can be found on some 'mons Guides, regardless of how useful (or not) they might be in the end. Totally messing up with the opponent because you bring a well-known and easily predicted Pokemon with a move set that's completely out of the ordinary sounds like lots of fun.
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - shademonkey - 05-31-2017
Quote:I honestly don't know how to run speed calcs, mate. With my guides, it more of a outline/proof of concept than doing very hard calculation for what affects what, but I can learn how to do those later today to satisfy you inquiry! We all have to learn someday, after all
The wiki gives you the extreme values of each pokemon's stats. For example, 31/252 Jolly Arbok-M would hit a maximal speed stat of 306 at level 100. But that's if you choose to invest fully in Speed. If you want to know a stat that's not the very maximum you can get you'll have to run this formula.
![[Image: OtherStatCalcGen34.png]](http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/File:OtherStatCalcGen34.png)
Let's see with your typical Choice Scarf Nucleon: Nucleon has a Speed Base Stat of 90 just like Arbok-M.
2*90 + 31 + 252/4 = 274
274*50 / 100 + 5 = 142
142*1.1 for a Timid Nature = 156
156*1.5 with Scarf = 234
234*0.66 after Petrify = 154 at level 50. When Max Speed Arbok-M hits 156 at level 50.
Or I just realized you could use Showdown if you want to know your final stats before applying modifiers.
Quote:As for the Constrictor Set, if it gets enough complaints from users, I'll remove it from my guide not to give a bad impression. I want to provide useful, helpful info, not cause any discord from making a trolling guide!Causing discord? You give me too much credit ;
Nah I was just trying to say this set'll have a difficult time doing what it's supposed to do, but I was in a hurry and worded my sentence in a way that made me sound rude. It happens sometimes, hahaOh and, by any means please keep the unorthodox sets coming ;
I like to see originality, but this particular one I'm just not too fond, is what I'm saying.
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - Lord Windos - 05-31-2017
(05-31-2017, 01:48 PM)shademonkey Wrote: The wiki gives you the extreme values of each pokemon's stats. For example, 31/252 Jolly Arbok-M would hit a maximal speed stat of 306 at level 100. But that's if you choose to invest fully in Speed. If you want to know a stat that's not the very maximum you can get you'll have to run this formula.
Let's see with your typical Choice Scarf Nucleon: Nucleon has a Speed Base Stat of 90 just like Arbok-M.
2*90 + 31 + 252/4 = 274
274*50 / 100 + 5 = 142
142*1.1 for a Timid Nature = 156
156*1.5 with Scarf = 234
234*0.66 after Petrify = 154 at level 50. When Max Speed Arbok-M hits 156 at level 50.
Or I just realized you could use Showdown if you want to know your final stats before applying modifiers.
Quote:As for the Constrictor Set, if it gets enough complaints from users, I'll remove it from my guide not to give a bad impression. I want to provide useful, helpful info, not cause any discord from making a trolling guide!Causing discord? You give me too much credit ;
Oh and, by any means please keep the unorthodox sets coming ;
So investing in Maxiumum speed on the Offensive set is a pretty good idea, since it can outspeed Nucleon just baaaarely, and could potentially outspeed Lassiure and other 95-100 Base Speed Pokemon if its not holding a Scarf or has a Speed Boost from somewhere! So that investment does seem like a great idea! I didn't make a terrible assumption! Yay!
Now we know of at least another check to the green demon: Pursuit M-Arbok, since any Nucleon user will switch out from a speed drop! Either that, or get outspeed and hit by a Coil boosted STAB Pursuit, which, given its pitful DEF stat, will hurt it baaadly. It also has Sucker Punch if it switches in to counter it, which would usually mean they used Coiled to amp up its power even more! He he he...
I don't mind you comment about the Constrictor set, since I just made it up on a whim to see if it was possible to use Stockpile and Swallow to somewhat reliably recover from damage. Sometimes a set is just a plain bad idea, though *Shrugs*
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - shademonkey - 05-31-2017
Quote:So investing in Maxiumum speed on the Offensive set is a pretty good idea, since it can outspeed Nucleon just baaaarely, and could potentially outspeed Lassiure and other 95-100 Base Speed Pokemon if its not holding a Scarf or has a Speed Boost from somewhere! So that investment does seem like a great idea! I didn't make a terrible assumption! Yay!True. I guess the only way Arbok-M could afford not to use full investment in speed is when Uranium gets to have functional tiers and Nucleon gets banned to Uber. (snif, my bulky hydra)
Quote:Now we know of at least another check to the green demon: Pursuit M-Arbok, since any Nucleon user will switch out from a speed drop! Either that, or get outspeed and hit by a Coil boosted STAB Pursuit, which, given its pitful DEF stat, will hurt it baaadly. It also has Sucker Punch if it switches in to counter it, which would usually mean they used Coiled to amp up its power even more! He he he...Arbok can only counter Nucleon if it was safely brought in though, after a kill or thanks to a slow U-Turner, cause Hyper Voice OHKOs on the switch.
"252 SpA Refrigerate Lucario Hyper Voice vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 452-536 (126.2 - 149.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO"
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - Lord Windos - 05-31-2017
(05-31-2017, 02:54 PM)shademonkey Wrote:I said check for a reason. Something needs to die to Nucleon first before M-Arbok can safely get in and start doing its job, but once its in, they are able to reliably screw it over, since Petrify lets it either Sucker Punch it into Oblivion, or Pursuit it to death if it tries to switch. While its not a hard counter to the Green Demon, the hydra is surprisingly able to handle the beast once it get in safely, or if Nucleon thinks it can switch in unmolested (If its carrying Sucker Punch, of course.)Quote:So investing in Maxiumum speed on the Offensive set is a pretty good idea, since it can outspeed Nucleon just baaaarely, and could potentially outspeed Lassiure and other 95-100 Base Speed Pokemon if its not holding a Scarf or has a Speed Boost from somewhere! So that investment does seem like a great idea! I didn't make a terrible assumption! Yay!True. I guess the only way Arbok-M could afford not to use full investment in speed is when Uranium gets to have functional tiers and Nucleon gets banned to Uber. (snif, my bulky hydra)
Quote:Now we know of at least another check to the green demon: Pursuit M-Arbok, since any Nucleon user will switch out from a speed drop! Either that, or get outspeed and hit by a Coil boosted STAB Pursuit, which, given its pitful DEF stat, will hurt it baaadly. It also has Sucker Punch if it switches in to counter it, which would usually mean they used Coiled to amp up its power even more! He he he...Arbok can only counter Nucleon if it was safely brought in though, after a kill or thanks to a slow U-Turner, cause Hyper Voice OHKOs on the switch.
"252 SpA Refrigerate Lucario Hyper Voice vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Zygarde: 452-536 (126.2 - 149.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO"
RE: Competitive Guide: M-Arbok - shademonkey - 05-31-2017
Fun fact : Nucleon can tank a Pursuit if it doesn't switch out.
252 Atk Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Vanilluxe: 80-96 (54.4 - 65.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
And retaliate with a lethal Hyper Voice.
And Sucker Punch only kills on a roll
252 Atk Scizor Steel Wing vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Vanilluxe: 138-164 (93.8 - 111.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
God is this thing annoying.