Agents of Darkness Part 2 – Sableye Revisit for VGC 2017

“It digs branching holes in caves using its sharp claws in search of food—raw gems. A Sableye lurks in darkness and is seen only rarely.”

 

OVERVIEW

 

Sableye comes into VGC 2017 largely as a forgotten member of the Prankster family. The inclusion of Alolan Guardians into the mix did not help its plight, making it even more nonviable for the season.

All is not lost for the Darkness Pokemon, however. With Liepard and Meowstic out of the picture, Sableye becomes the only eligible Prankster Pokemon that can use Fake Out. Despite the introduction of Psychic Terrain, Queenly Majesty and Dazzling, the chance to incapacitate a target for a turn is still very important in a player’s tool set.

Of course, Sableye has other usages besides Prankster and Fake Out. Its unique movepool makes it a rather interesting pick to give specific support to the team.

 

SAMPLE SETS

 

Since each team has different needs, this section will first feature a selection of support moves that readers can choose from, before moving on to the EV spreads.

 

Fake Out / Feint

 

These two options are priority moves on their own, so while they are blocked by Psychic Terrain on grounded targets, they are able to hit Dark Type Pokemon like Alolan Persian and Mandibuzz out of Psychic Terrain.

Sableye is not only unique for being the only Prankster Pokemon in VGC 2017 that can legally use Fake Out, but also immune to the move itself. This allows Sableye to more or less guarantee its partner a free turn to set up, assuming that Psychic Terrain is not active.

Since the capability to Fake Out often invites the opponent to Protect, Sableye could instead run Feint to catch that play, which ensures that the targeted slot will be hit for maximum damage. This helps greatly to prevent wasting a Z move, by lifting the effects of Protect and/or Detect (incl. King’s Shield etc) so that the Z move deals the full amount of damage.

 

Trick / Quash

 

Trick is a rarely seen move that gives Sableye a unique way of dealing permanent damage to the opposing target’s Speed stat. This strategy involves having Sableye trading over either a Lagging Tail or Iron Ball onto a target. Lagging Tail causes the holder to permanently move last in its priority bracket, and ignores the effect of Trick Room. For Iron Ball, it halves the holder’s Speed, but is not immune to the effects of Trick Room.

Both are devastating when used on Snorlax, and has the added benefit of robbing the target of a pinch Berry or messing up Choice item sets. Iron Ball is more useful when passed onto opposing Celesteela, since it makes the Ultra Beast weak to Ground Type moves, and hence easier to eliminate. Alternatively, players can run Choice Scarf on Trick Sableye sets to punish opposing set up Pokemon.

Unlike Trick, Quash is a one turn fix for move priority management. While the effects are relatively temporary, it is more consistent in the sense that it works against targets that are holding a Z Crystal.

 

Taunt / Will-O-Wisp

 

Taunt is arguably a staple for Prankster Pokemon since it is very useful in stopping opponents from being able to set up. This extends to Belly Drum on Snorlax, Swords Dance on Garchomp and Kartana, Tail Glow on Xurkitree, Aurora Veil on Alolan Ninetales, and other supporting moves.

Will-O-Wisp, on the other and, gives the team a different form of support by heavily limiting the damage dealt by Physical attackers, most notably Metagross, Garchomp, and Kartana. While it may be tempting to try and Burn Snorlax, players will ahve to be wary of a Facade that would cause the play to backfire.

Players opting to use Will-O-Wisp will have to take note that Misty Terrain, if chosen as the team’s main method of overriding Psychic Terrain, will nullify the move. Keeping Psychic Terrain around doesn’t make it any better, so players might have to rely on clever switches or the less used Tapu Bulu to achieve successful play.

 

Foul Play / Shadow Claw

 

Sableye, like most other Prankster Pokemon, exerts low offensive pressure on its own. In scenarios where the partner is forced to Protect and/or switch out, a move on Sableye that can do consistent damage becomes greatly appreciated.

Foul Play is a great option for Dark Type Prankster Pokemon, so for Sableye it is no exception. Foul Play also works very well against Belly Drum Snorlax, and is able to at least 3HKO most Physical attackers like Arcanine and Garchomp.

Shadow Claw, on the other hand, is an option that requires a lot of justification and investment, but works well against the intended target. With sufficient investment, Sableye’s Shadow Claw can 2HKO Tapu Lele. Slap on a Ghostium Z and Never Ending Nightmare becomes a solid OHKO against even Shoma Honami’s bulky Tapu Lele set from the ONOG Invitationals. That said, this strategy is very much in gimmick territory so use with caution.

 

Protect / Recover

 

Like Murkrow, Sableye can also opt to run self preservation moves to allow it to stay on the field longer so as to better support its teammates. Protect is the more common move, and pairs well with Imprison to prevent the opponent from making more defensive plays. With Prankster, Recover becomes a clever way to stall out the opponent when Sableye is at low HP, since the opponent is unlikely to double into a weakened Sableye. Since Sableye is immune to ExtremeSpeed, Recover also forces Arcanine to take more recoil damage from Flare Blitz.

 

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Sableye @ Focus Sash / Eject Button
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk

 

Damage Calc:

Defensive

36+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Dazzling Gleam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 134-162 (85.3 – 103.1%) — 12.5% chance to OHKO

252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye in Electric Terrain: 133-157 (84.7 – 100%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ Atk Tapu Bulu Horn Leech vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Sableye in Grassy Terrain: 133-157 (84.7 – 100%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ Atk Arcanine Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Sableye: 126-148 (80.2 – 94.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Sableye: 124-147 (78.9 – 93.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO

164+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Dazzling Gleam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye: 116-140 (73.8 – 89.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Sableye: 81-96 (51.5 – 61.1%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

This Sableye spread sacrifices Speed so that it can survive more common hits. This causes Foul Play to be less useful since it is not elevated by Prankster, however. Focus Sash can be used to help Sableye survive stronger hits than those mentioned above, though with the Held Item being more useful on other Pokemon, players can opt to run Eject Button instead. This works better on bulkier sets since it allows Sableye to set up support, survive hit and switch into a teammate that gives better board positioning or exert more offensive pressure within a single turn. Of course, players looking to adopt the Trick strategy can run the different options listed above instead.

 

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Sableye @ Misty Seed
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 124 (204) HP / 100 (0) Atk / 76 (52) Def / 204 (252) SpD / 4 (0) Spe
Careful (Calm) Nature

 

Damage Calc:

Offensive

Shadow Claw

100 Atk Sableye Shadow Claw vs. 164 HP / 92 Def Tapu Lele: 84-98 (50.6 – 59%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

Defensive

164+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. +1 124 HP / 204+ SpD Sableye: 132-156 (93.6 – 110.6%) — 50% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. +1 124 HP / 204+ SpD Sableye: 116-140 (82.2 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Arcanine Flare Blitz vs. 124 HP / 76 Def Sableye: 115-136 (81.5 – 96.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 124 HP / 76 Def Sableye: 112-133 (79.4 – 94.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. +1 124 HP / 204+ SpD Sableye in Electric Terrain: 102-121 (72.3 – 85.8%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

This Sableye relies on Misty Seed to bulk up itself against Special strikes, most notably being able to survive a Moonblast from Modest Tapu Lele. The EVs in Attack are the minimum required for Shadow Claw to 2HKO Trainer Tower’s Tapu Lele, though it can be redistributed into HP and Special Defense for players opting to run Foul Play over Shadow Claw. In that case, players should adopt the bracketed spread instead.

 

TEAMMATES

 

Tapu Bulu

 

Suppresses both Psychic and Misty Terrain so that Sableye gets to unleash the full spectrum of its admittedly limited movepool. Tapu Bulu handles opposing Alolan Guardians rather well with its montrous Grassy Terrain boosted Wood Hammer, though suffers from lacklustre Speed. Sableye’s Quash would allow Tapu Bulu to land the hit for an OHKO first, which is extremely pivotal in maximizing the Alolan Guardian’s efficiency.

 

Nihilego

 

Of the 12 different Pokemon featured in the Worlds Finals, Nihilego’s STAB moves hit 9 of them for Super Effective damage. A major flaw plaguing this Ultra Beast is its low Base Defense, which is only made worse due to its 4x Weakness to Ground Type moves. While Tapu Bulu can help out in that regard, Grassy Terrain can be overriden by another Terrain, and it does not cover for moves like Bonemerang and Tectonic Rage.

This is where Sableye comes in. Will-O-Wisp works well on most Physical attackers in VGC 2017 (except for Fire Type Pokemon like Arcanine and Alolan Marowak) by halving its offensive powers. With Nihilego only one point faster than Garchomp, which itself isn’t known much for Speed, Quash (and Lagging Tail or Iron Ball Trick) helps pin down a faster threats so that Nihilego can get the hit in first.

Sableye’s sole Type Weakness to Fairy Type moves is subsequently covered by Nihilego’s STAB Sludge Bomb. Nihilego’s presence on the field can also work in favor of maintaining a preferrable Terrain, since the threat of switching into a Super Effective Sludge Bomb can pressure opponents into thinking twice about haphazardly switching in Tapu Lele or Tapu Fini in an attempt to shut down Sableye.

 

Tapu Koko

 

Sableye greatest rivals include Alolan Persian and Mandibuzz, simply because they are not affected by Prankster. Since Sableye generally detests being in the company of Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini, players have to opt for another Fairy Type Pokemon to fill the role. Enter Tapu Koko. While Dazzling Gleam isn’t really that impressive, it is still a solid 2HKO on the aforementioned targets. When pit against Mandibuzz, Electric Terrain boosted STAB Thunderbolt is usually enough to secure a 2HKO through any Psychic or Misty Seed boost.

 

COUNTERS AND CHECKS

 

Tapu Lele

 

While it is possible for Sableye to survive Tapu Lele’s attacks, or even OHKO it, Tapu Lele’s activation of Psychic Terrain upon entering the battlefield lingers on to prevent Sableye from doing its job. Players can always override Psychic Terrain by switching in another Alolan Guardian, such moves can be predictable and does not really help with board positioning.

 

Mandibuzz

 

Mandibuzz is immune to Sableye’s Prankster moves, can Taunt the Darkness Pokemon successfully, and isn’t fazed by either Foul Play or Shadow Claw. Since Mandibuzz is usually paired with either Tapu Lele or Tapu Fini, its appearance in the team preview is enough to make a Sableye lead very risky.

 

Tapu Fini

 

Tapu Fini, especially Choice Specs variants, can easily dispose of Sableye with STAB Moonblast. Calm Mind variants can just set up in its face after the latter has been hit with Taunt, from a teammate like Alolan Persian or Mandibuzz. It sets up Misty Terrain upon entry, which nullifies Sableye’s Will-O-Wisp and further reduces the options available to the Darkness Pokemon. Often forcing a switch, Tapu Fini predict that play and either target the partner, or just strike into it for guaranteed damage.

 

Agents of Darkness Part 1 – Murkrow Guide for VGC 2017

“Murkrow were feared as the alleged bearers of ill fortune. It shows strong interest in anything that sparkles. It will even try to steal rings from women.”

 

OVERVIEW

 

Murkrow’s stock has always been rather abysmal among its Prankster brethren. When Generation VII rolled around with Alolan Guardians and Psychic Terrain, its utility took another hit. Together with Sableye, Murkrow slipped all the way down to the bottom of the ladder for Prankster Pokemon. Whimsicott quickly became the premier Prankster abuser for VGC 2017, even landing the coveted Worlds Champion title on the way.

As a Tailwind setter, Murkrow is behind the likes of Mandibuzz and Drifblim in the pecking order. Mandibuzz is bulkier without the need to lock its Held Item to Eviolite, and Drifblim has Unburden as a tool to further twist the Speed order.

That said, Murkrow still has some tricks tuck beneath its feathers that only it can pull off. Besides being the only other eligible Prankster Pokemon with access to Tailwind, it is also the only one that can use Haze, and with Sableye, the only ones that can use Quash. Being a Dark Type Pokemon also gives it a surprising advantage against Whimsicott, since the Windveiled Pokemon cannot touch Murkrow with Nature Power, nor will any move elevated by Prankster. This unique skill set makes Murkrow a decent option for teams that appreciates such support.

 

SAMPLE SETS

 

Since each team has different needs, this section will first feature a selection of support moves that readers can choose from, before moving on to the EV spreads.

 

Tailwind

 

The first moveslot for any Murkrow set should always feature the best form of Speed control it gets. Tailwind works well by allowing Pokemon with below average Speed to outspeed those in the average band, and those with above average Speed to outrun even the speediest of opponents. While Murkrow is unable to prevent Whimsicott and Mandibuzz from setting up Tailwind, it is at the very least able to match it.

 

Haze / Taunt

 

With the rise of the Mimikyu + Snorlax combination adding to the list of set up sweepers, having a reliable way to deny the opponent from setting up becomes a very useful tool during competitive play. Haze and Taunt both exist as viable options in this slot. The former can easily undo all the boosts that the opponents have snowballed, like Belly Drum and Swords Dance, and thanks to Prankster, ignores Choice Scarf, Tailwind, and/or Trick Room. It also comes with the added benefit of resetting stat drops from Intimidate, Close Combat, and Superpower, though it works both ways. Most crucially, Haze affects every Pokemon on the battlefield and is not blocked by Psychic Terrain.

Taunt, on the other hand, helps the team somewhat against Trick Room, and nullifies the target from being able to set up in the first place. Taunt is also capable of preventing opponents from setting up Aurora Veil, which Haze cannot achieve. Against the likes of Extreme Evoboost leads, Taunt can be used to first negate Follow Me on Turn 1, then negate Baton Pass on Turn 2. It can also stop Drifblim dead in its tracks since the latter does not benefit from Psychic Terrain. It should be said that Taunt, because of the Prankster elevation, becomes void while under Psychic Terrain, and is unable to stop Z Trick Room and/or Z Conversion.

The choice between Haze and Taunt is largely dependent on how well the team is able to handle Psychic Terrain, and whether the player prefers a reactionary measure (Haze) or prevention move (Taunt) with regards to opponents’ set up strategies.

 

Flatter / Quash / Perish Song

 

The third slot is the one that gives the most variance. Here, three moves that provides unique utility are put under the spotlight. Flatter works similar to Swagger Tapu Fini sets, though this time Tapu Fini becomes the main beneficiary. This combination allows Tapu Fini to enjoy both the benefits of Choice Specs and pinch Berry sets, but without the move locking of the first set nor the lack of firepower of the second. While Misty Terrain is still active, Flatter remains as a reliable way to boost a different teammate’s firepower.

Quash is useful as a makeshift way to negate any Speed control on the battlefield, whether it be Tailwind or Trick Room. The target becomes guaranteed to go last, so Murkrow’s teammate is allowed the opportunity to strike before being the recipient of a hit. For example, assuming Psychic Terrain is not active, Murkrow can use Quash to suppress Tapu Lele so that a partner, like Alolan Marowak, can finish it off with Shadow Bone. Without Quash, Murkrow’s teammate might be taken out by Tapu Lele before it gets to move.

Perish Song gives the team a solid win condition if the user can establish an early 4-2 or 3-2 advantage, since it forces the opponent to break through the user’s defensive set up within three turns. While it may not be as consistent as Quash, it has the added benefit of reducing the amount of turns so as to provide more time in the next game in a Best of 3 set.

 

Foul Play / Mirror Move

 

Murkrow might be immune from being victimized by Prankster Taunt, but it still cannot escape Taunt from the likes of Alolan Persian and Mandibuzz. It also exerts minimal offensive pressure, so moves that prevent Murkrow from being Taunt bait is important to ensure that Murkrow remains useful beyond providing support.

Foul Play is by far the most popular offensive coverage for Murkrow, since it benefits from STAB and relies on the target’s Attack stat for damage calculation instead. This allows players to invest EVs solely into Murkrow’s bulk and/or Speed to help it stay on the field for a longer period of time. Foul Play also gives the team a solid answer to Belly Drum Snorlax. Players who opt to run Foul Play can also slap on Swagger, though they would have to risk turning the target into an offensive behemoth, as well as Misty Terrain and Psychic Terrain from ruining the strategy.

Mirror Move is arguably Murkrow’s answer to Whimsicott’s Nature Power. While it is not reliable as a form of offensive output, it gives Murkrow a unique form of utility otherwise unavailable to the Darkness Pokemon. For example, Murkrow can use Mirror Move on a partner’s Rock Slide and/or Muddy Water to double the chances of inflicting a flinch or an accuracy drop. On the supportive side, Murkrow can use Mirror Move to set up Aurora Veil, or even Leech Seed on opposing Celesteela

 

Protect / Roost

 

Other moves that Murkrow could consider would include self preservation. This can be useful when it comes to a tiebreaker in terms of numerical superiority, or keeping Murkrow around provide a win condition. Protect is the most reliable option here, since it almost guarantees that Murkrow lives to see the next turn, while Roost is more spammable and removes its weaknesses to Rock, Electric, and Ice Type moves at the cost of losing its immunity to Ground Type moves for the remainder of the turn. Players would need to consider whether these options are worth sacrificing a precious moveslot for, however.

 

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Murkrow @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 116 Def / 140 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk

 

Damage Calc:

Defensive

252+ Atk Gigalith Rock Slide vs. 0 HP / 116 Def Eviolite Murkrow: 114-134 (84.4 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 140 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 114-134 (84.4 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

84 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 140 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 114-134 (84.4 – 99.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Water Bubble Araquanid Liquidation vs. 0 HP / 116 Def Eviolite Murkrow: 112-133 (82.9 – 98.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 140 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 109-133 (80.7 – 98.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Arcanine Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 116 Def Eviolite Murkrow: 105-124 (77.7 – 91.8%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Ninetales-Alola Blizzard vs. 0 HP / 140 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 102-122 (75.5 – 90.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO after hail damage

252 Atk Kartana Bloom Doom (175 BP) vs. 0 HP / 116 Def Eviolite Murkrow: 100-118 (74 – 87.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Garchomp Rock Slide vs. 0 HP / 116 Def Eviolite Murkrow: 68-80 (50.3 – 59.2%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

This EV spread gives Murkrow the bare minimum to survive a few hits, and can be used by players as a starting point when trying to conjure a bulkier set. It does allow Murkrow to outspeed most non maximum Speed Arcanine so as to 2HKO it with Foul Play when Tailwind is not active.

 

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Murkrow @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 28 HP / 116 Def / 252 SpD / 108 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk

 

Damage Calc:

Defensive

252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Volt Switch vs. 28 HP / 252 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 109-133 (78.4 – 95.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO

164+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Dazzling Gleam vs. 28 HP / 252 SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 108-128 (77.6 – 92%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Golduck Hydro Pump vs. 28 HP / 252 SpD Eviolite Murkrow in Rain: 108-127 (77.6 – 91.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Torkoal Eruption (150 BP) vs. 28 HP / 252 SpD Eviolite Murkrow in Sun: 102-121 (73.3 – 87%) — guaranteed 2HKO

 

The given EVs allows Murkrow to outspeed Whimsicott that has no Speed investments of its own so as to Taunt it before it can set up for the opponent. The spare EVs are then redistributed into Special Defense and HP.

 

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Murkrow @ Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 244 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk

 

Damage Calc:

Defensive

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 244+ SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 140-168 (83.8 – 100.5%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 244+ SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 140-166 (83.8 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Nihilego Power Gem vs. 252 HP / 244+ SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 140-166 (83.8 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Gigalith Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 12 Def Eviolite Murkrow: 134-162 (80.2 – 97%) — guaranteed 2HKO after sandstorm damage

4 SpA Xurkitree Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 244+ SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 132-156 (79 – 93.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Ninetales-Alola Blizzard vs. 252 HP / 244+ SpD Eviolite Murkrow: 84-98 (50.2 – 58.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO after hail damage

 

Players who intend to utilize Murkrow as a full Prankster supporter can opt to not invest in Speed at all, since Prankster elevates Murkrow’s move priority anway. With Murkrow immune to opposing Prankster effects, the EVs can be better used to bulk up Murkrow. This spread allows Murkrow to survive some of the hardest hitting moves on the Special spectrum. It should be noted that making Murkrow as bulky as possible can sometimes backfire since one would be limiting the offensive pressure that the team exerts when Murkrow is on the field.

 

TEAMMATES

 

Alolan Marowak

 

Alolan Marowak works rather well while alongside Murkrow, since it can handle the latter’s weakness to Rock, Electric, Ice, and Fairy Type moves with relative ease. Bonemerang covers the first two, Flare Blitz and Shadow Bone more or less covers the other two. With Lightningrod, Murkrow also does not need to worry about Tapu Koko as much.

Murkrow’s Tailwind, Haze, and Quash are all useful supports for Alolan Marowak. Tailwind can turn faster sets into a devastating sweeper, while Quash allows Alolan Marowak to move before all non Dark Type Pokemon. Haze works well to help Alolan Marowak shake off Intimidate drops so it can strike at full power.

This core is a bit vulnerable to Tapu Fini and other bulky Water Type Pokemon, so players are advised to include a Grass Type Pokemon in their team to handle the threat.

 

Tapu Fini

 

Tapu Fini might not be able to handle threats to Murkrow, but it is extremely crucial in ensuring that Psychic Terrain is suppressed so that Murkrow can do its job. In return, Murkrow can use Flatter to boost Tapu Fini’s damage output, or Tailwind for some much needed Speed control.

 

Kartana

 

Kartana works well in managing the biggest threats to Murkrow by virtue of STAB Leaf Blade and Smart Strike. In return, Murkrow can set up Tailwind to allow the Drawn Sword Pokemon to outspeed Tapu Koko, Haze to remove any Intimidate drops, or even Swagger while Misty Terrain is active to further boost the latter’s firepower.

 

COUNTERS AND CHECKS

 

Tapu Lele

 

Psychic Terrain neuters Prankster, while STAB Moonblast will OHKO Murkrow with ease.

 

Tapu Koko

 

Thunderbolt under Electric Terrain will OHKO Murkrow, and it takes heavy HP and Special Defense investment for the Darkness Pokemon to survive the same move out of Electric Terrain.

 

Tapu Fini

 

With more Tapu Fini running Choice Specs, Murkrow cannot afford to stay in against the “weakest” Alolan Guardian. Choice Specs Moonblast will make short work of Murkrow, and there is not much Murkrow can do in retaliation.