KillerDraco
Well-Known Member
Alright Prakhar, let's break this down...
Seriously, you didn't even think this through at all. Leaf Storm is practically a no-risk move for Serperior. Even if the thing that switches in resists it, Serperior has a +2 boost under its belt and just pelted them with a decently strong STAB, so barring things that resist Dragon/Fire/Grass, many of those things it outspeeds suddenly get picked off by a +2 attack. This is especially true if Stealth Rock is in play. And it's very easy to outspeed considerable portions of the metagame when you're sitting at a solid base 113 speed tier. No one expects it to be a top-tier threat in OU; far from it since it doesn't have good defensive typing, and it's very predictable with limited coverage. But to insist it's gonna sit in NU based solely on the fact that it has checks in each tier is extremely limited thinking. Especially since every single Pokemon has checks.
Heatran and Talonflame, I'll give you. But I should point out...
...is outsped and dies to the combination of Leaf Storm + Hidden Power Fire so it can only act as a check (i.e., it can't switch in).
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Metagross: 104-123 (34.5 - 40.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Metagross: 87-104 (28.9 - 34.5%) -- 4% chance to 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Metagross: 218-257 (72.4 - 85.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(The second and third calcs are adjusted for Mega Metagross's stats since Smogon's damage calcs STILL don't have the new Megas uploaded)
Same as above, barring Scarf variants.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 40 HP / 0 SpD Heracross: 100-118 (32.1 - 37.9%) -- 95.7% chance to 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 40 HP / 0 SpD Heracross: 250-294 (80.3 - 94.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
1HKO'ed with Stealth Rock up so it's only a check (again, can't switch in)
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Aerodactyl: 243-289 (80.7 - 96%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
No longer in UU, and considering its mega has one of the best defensive typings in the game regardless, that's not saying much. It also walls both Mega Charizards entirely, if you hadn't noticed.
Can't switch in AT ALL and isn't even a check because it can only 2HKO Serperior while Serperior does the same and outspeeds it.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Ampharos: 208-247 (58.7 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Mega Ampharos: 156-185 (44 - 52.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Mega Ampharos: 309-364 (87.2 - 102.8%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Mold Breaker Mega Ampharos Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 190-225 (65.2 - 77.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Every one of these is 2HKO'ed, although Beedrill with Protect can afford itself the speed boost it needs to check Serperior. If Arcanine, Chandelure, or Darmanitan are not using a Scarf though, then they can't switch in because Serperior outspeeds them.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Arcanine: 116-136 (36.1 - 42.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Arcanine: 230-272 (71.6 - 84.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Chandelure: 104-123 (39.8 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Chandelure: 209-246 (80 - 94.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Darmanitan: 153-181 (43.5 - 51.5%) -- 9% chance to 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Darmanitan: 307-361 (87.4 - 102.8%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
And then what do you know, you're left facing a Serperior at +4.
Just like Mega Ampharos, Abomasnow isn't even a reliable check because it can't switch in at all and is horribly outsped.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 109-129 (28.3 - 33.5%) -- 0.2% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 270-322 (70.3 - 83.8%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 541-640 (140.8 - 166.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Abomasnow: 458-541 (119.2 - 140.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Meanwhile if it tries to do something like Ice Shard...
4 Atk Mega Abomasnow Ice Shard vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 116-138 (39.8 - 47.4%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after hail damage
Can serve as a counter.
Can take a few hits but can't do much in return to Serperior. Also gets set up on pretty easily.
2HKO'ed by the combination of Leaf Storm and HP Fire and it's outsped so it can't switch in. Plus, it's only pulling about 65% max with Close Combat so it's not even a great check.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 126-148 (39 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 309-367 (95.6 - 113.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Cobalion Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 160-189 (54.9 - 64.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
2HKO'd by Leaf Storm if Stealth Rock is up so it can't switch in unless it has a Scarf.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Delphox: 96-113 (32.9 - 38.8%) -- 9.8% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Delphox: 191-226 (65.6 - 77.6%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
2HKO'ed once again. Plus, it barely takes out half of Serperior's HP total on offensive variants.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Doublade: 113-133 (35 - 41.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Doublade: 225-265 (69.8 - 82.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Doublade: 278-328 (86.3 - 101.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Doublade Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 135-159 (46.3 - 54.6%) -- 56.3% chance to 2HKO
This one's a little closer due to Dragalge's special bulk, but with Stealth Rock it still falls to the combo of Leaf Storm + Dragon Pulse. Dragalge can check an unboosted Serperior though, or a +2 Serperior but it'll be hanging by a thread so Rocks can't be up.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dragalge: 40-47 (11.9 - 14%) -- possible 7HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dragalge: 278-330 (83.2 - 98.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
mega metagross
...is outsped and dies to the combination of Leaf Storm + Hidden Power Fire so it can only act as a check (i.e., it can't switch in).
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Metagross: 104-123 (34.5 - 40.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Metagross: 87-104 (28.9 - 34.5%) -- 4% chance to 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Metagross: 218-257 (72.4 - 85.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
(The second and third calcs are adjusted for Mega Metagross's stats since Smogon's damage calcs STILL don't have the new Megas uploaded)
heracross
Same as above, barring Scarf variants.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 40 HP / 0 SpD Heracross: 100-118 (32.1 - 37.9%) -- 95.7% chance to 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 40 HP / 0 SpD Heracross: 250-294 (80.3 - 94.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
It is not even viable in UU with stuff like aerodactyl
1HKO'ed with Stealth Rock up so it's only a check (again, can't switch in)
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Aerodactyl: 243-289 (80.7 - 96%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
altaria
No longer in UU, and considering its mega has one of the best defensive typings in the game regardless, that's not saying much. It also walls both Mega Charizards entirely, if you hadn't noticed.
mega amphy
Can't switch in AT ALL and isn't even a check because it can only 2HKO Serperior while Serperior does the same and outspeeds it.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Ampharos: 208-247 (58.7 - 69.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Mega Ampharos: 156-185 (44 - 52.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Mega Ampharos: 309-364 (87.2 - 102.8%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Mold Breaker Mega Ampharos Dragon Pulse vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 190-225 (65.2 - 77.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
arcanine, beedrill, chandelure, darmanitan,etc.
Every one of these is 2HKO'ed, although Beedrill with Protect can afford itself the speed boost it needs to check Serperior. If Arcanine, Chandelure, or Darmanitan are not using a Scarf though, then they can't switch in because Serperior outspeeds them.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Arcanine: 116-136 (36.1 - 42.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Arcanine: 230-272 (71.6 - 84.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Chandelure: 104-123 (39.8 - 47.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Chandelure: 209-246 (80 - 94.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Darmanitan: 153-181 (43.5 - 51.5%) -- 9% chance to 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Darmanitan: 307-361 (87.4 - 102.8%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
And then what do you know, you're left facing a Serperior at +4.
In RU, it faces Abomasnow
Just like Mega Ampharos, Abomasnow isn't even a reliable check because it can't switch in at all and is horribly outsped.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 109-129 (28.3 - 33.5%) -- 0.2% chance to 3HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 270-322 (70.3 - 83.8%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 541-640 (140.8 - 166.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Abomasnow: 458-541 (119.2 - 140.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Meanwhile if it tries to do something like Ice Shard...
4 Atk Mega Abomasnow Ice Shard vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 116-138 (39.8 - 47.4%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after hail damage
amoonguss, braviary, drapion,
Can serve as a counter.
bronzong
Can take a few hits but can't do much in return to Serperior. Also gets set up on pretty easily.
cobalion
2HKO'ed by the combination of Leaf Storm and HP Fire and it's outsped so it can't switch in. Plus, it's only pulling about 65% max with Close Combat so it's not even a great check.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 126-148 (39 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 309-367 (95.6 - 113.6%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Cobalion Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 160-189 (54.9 - 64.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
delphox
2HKO'd by Leaf Storm if Stealth Rock is up so it can't switch in unless it has a Scarf.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Delphox: 96-113 (32.9 - 38.8%) -- 9.8% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Delphox: 191-226 (65.6 - 77.6%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
doublade
2HKO'ed once again. Plus, it barely takes out half of Serperior's HP total on offensive variants.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Doublade: 113-133 (35 - 41.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Doublade: 225-265 (69.8 - 82.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Eviolite Doublade: 278-328 (86.3 - 101.8%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Doublade Iron Head vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Serperior: 135-159 (46.3 - 54.6%) -- 56.3% chance to 2HKO
dragalge
This one's a little closer due to Dragalge's special bulk, but with Stealth Rock it still falls to the combo of Leaf Storm + Dragon Pulse. Dragalge can check an unboosted Serperior though, or a +2 Serperior but it'll be hanging by a thread so Rocks can't be up.
252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dragalge: 40-47 (11.9 - 14%) -- possible 7HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 SpA Life Orb Serperior Dragon Pulse vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Dragalge: 278-330 (83.2 - 98.8%) -- 75% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
It will still sit in NU...
Seriously, you didn't even think this through at all. Leaf Storm is practically a no-risk move for Serperior. Even if the thing that switches in resists it, Serperior has a +2 boost under its belt and just pelted them with a decently strong STAB, so barring things that resist Dragon/Fire/Grass, many of those things it outspeeds suddenly get picked off by a +2 attack. This is especially true if Stealth Rock is in play. And it's very easy to outspeed considerable portions of the metagame when you're sitting at a solid base 113 speed tier. No one expects it to be a top-tier threat in OU; far from it since it doesn't have good defensive typing, and it's very predictable with limited coverage. But to insist it's gonna sit in NU based solely on the fact that it has checks in each tier is extremely limited thinking. Especially since every single Pokemon has checks.
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