Antarki

[poweroftibarn]

Thanks for the thorough guide. Regarding your latest post, Beliaddon completely counters any set without Focus Blast. Antarki can't even 2HKO it while Beliaddon OHKOs back. Also, Will-o-Wisp also doesn't allow Antarki to just be able to deal with every physical attacker. A handful outspeed and OHKO Antarki, a handful can't even get burned, and a handful still beat Antarki 1-on-1 even if it burns them. 

Anyway, I want to address the CM set because it helps us understand the purpose of such a set. Every CM set can essentially be sorted into two categories: offensive or defensive. Your Antarki's CM set is a more defensive set because you're trying to use the Special Defense boosts and Pain Split to outlast the opponent at times. Antarki should be running an offensive CM set for the following reasons. 

Offensive CM sets (e.g. Mega Alakazam, Landorus-I, etc.) don't really care about the Special Defense boosts and are geared towards increasing their ability to break balanced builds. Sets like these most often carry 3 attacks because the goal of the set is to demolish the opposing team due to the increased Special Attack, and having better offensive coverage amplifies this capability. The reason that these Pokemon run offensive CM sets is due to their high Special Attack and Speed stats and good offensive movepool. It's also partially due to their inability to run a defensive CM set - this is caused by mediocre bulk, lack of reliable recovery, and not a great defensive typing. Offensive CM users should be used on, well, offensive teams due to them being hard to switch into. 

Defensive CM users are completely different. Common users include Clefable, Mega Latias, and Slowbro, and the purpose of the defensive CM set on these Pokemon is to be able to win the war of attrition - these Pokemon do rely on the Special Defense boost. But they also rely on the Special Attack boost, because although they don't run any Special Attack investment, they eventually are able to deal enough damage by virtue of simply boosting enough. That's why these Pokemon are most often found on balance builds. These Pokemon are able to run an effective defensive CM set due to a combination of solid defensive typing, good physical bulk, good abilities, and reliable recovery. 

Defensive CM users need good physical bulk because the Special Defense boosts are useless if you die to many physical hits. Antarki does not have good physical bulk. Reliable recovery is obvious - you're trying to outlast the opponent and not get worn down easily. Pain Split is not reliable recovery. A good defensive typing is key because if you're hit super-effectively by lots of common types, running an effective defensive set is difficult. Antarki's defensive typing, while not terrible, is not that good. Finally, a good ability really helps in preventing a defensive CM user from being beaten. Magic Guard, Levitate, and Regenerator from Clefable, Mega Latias, and Slowbro, respectively, assist them in staying healthy (and in Mega Latias's case, improving its defensive "typing"). Antarki's ability does nothing. 

Anyway, that's why the best CM set for Antarki is an offensive one with 3 attacks and not Pain Split. Plus, Pain Split is especially not very helpful if you have no investment in bulk (which is correct - Antarki should have max Special Attack and Speed).

Thank you for your feedback.  Tbh I lack experience with offensive CM users, I tend to lean more towards mons like Clefable and Lati@s, hence why I made the set with the mindset of using Pain Split for longevity.  I'll make changes tomorrow when I'm not so tired.