Is Wigglytuff a viable counter for Dragapult in Gen 8 OU?
I know Wigglytuff absolutely sucks, and I don’t intend to use it, but could it technically work as a good Dragapult answer? It is immune to both STAB moves and is a defensive Pokémon, but Dragapult is… well… Dragapult, and could power through anyway. Since from what I’ve seen, most Dragapult are special attackers, you could run max HP and max S.Def and run something like Toxic, Wish, and Protect and just stall it out in the endgame? I’m never gonna use this of course but this is a theoretical question anyway.
Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.
As Dragapult could just be OHKOed by +2 Ice Shard Weavile, Sucker Punch Bisharp, and many other Pokemon that have super effective moves against it, Wigglytuff would no way be a proper counter to Dragapult. For anyone new to competitive that may be reading this, use a speedy Ice, Fairy, Dark type to instantly knock out Dragapult if you’re having trouble dealing with it. Anywho, lets get to theorizing.Ok, so Dragapult often serves two purposes in OU,Offensive PivotandChoice Specs Sweeper, and just for the sake of theorization, lets say that Wigglytuff utilities this exact set:
Wigglytuff @ LeftoversAbility: FriskEVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpDCalm NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Dazzling Gleam- Toxic- Wish- ProtectP.S: If Wigglytuff used a set running Choice Specs + Modest + 252 SpA EVs, it could just OHKO both Dragapult sets with Dazzling Gleam, though as Wigglytuff is not used offensively, I thought I’d use a set it’d most likely use.
With this in mind, I’ll get to answering the question.
This is the moveset I see Offensive Pivot Dragapult often use:
Dragapult @ Heavy-Duty BootsAbility: InfiltratorEVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Hex- Draco Meteor- U-turn- Thunder Wave
As you can see, Wigglytuff is unaffected by Hex and Draco Meteor, meaning that Dragapult can’t take matter into his own hands. If Dragapult has access to a team member to assist them, they can easily paralyze Wigglytuff and pivot into a team member who can deal with it much easier. If Dragapult is the last team member standing, it cannot deal with Wigglytuff, as Wigglytuff can 2HKO it with Dazzling Gleam, or just Toxic stall it to torture the user using Dragapult. U-Turn takes nearly 9 turns to knock out Wigglytuff, allowing Wigglytuff to have enough time to heal to full health with Wish. Unless Dragapult gets insane paralysis and crit luck, it can’t deal with Wigglytuff alone, even if Dragapult has access to Dynamaxing.
4 SpA Wigglytuff Dazzling Gleam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Dragapult: 192-228 (60.5 - 71.9%) – guaranteed 2HKO0- Atk Dragapult U-turn vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Wigglytuff: 49-58 (10.1 - 11.9%) – possibly the worst move ever
This is the Choice Specs Dragapult set I often see used:Dragapult @ Choice SpecsTimid NatureAbility: InfiltratorEVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe- Shadow Ball- Draco Meteor- U-turn- Hydro Pump
Once again, if Dragapult has a team member to assist them, they can pivot (or switch if its trapped into using a move), though if Dragapult is the last Pokemon remaining, Dragapult once again has troubling dealing with Wigglytuff. If Dragapult is trapped into using the first three moves, it may as well call it quits, as Wigglytuff is immune to Shadow Ball and Draco Meteor, and as we saw before, U-Turn deals hardly any damage. Though if it can use Hydro Pump, it’s a different story. Hydro Pump can 3HKO Wigglytuff, which means Wigglytuff can use Toxic on the first turn, and then Wish + Protect stall until. If Dragapult manages to hit Wigglytuff with two critical Hydro Pumps before Wish can activate, it has a small chance to knock out Wigglytuff. This can be prevented if you just use Wish on the first turn, and then use Toxic.
252 SpA Choice Specs Dragapult Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Wigglytuff: 162-191 (33.4 - 39.4%) – 17.3% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
TL;DR, Wigglytuff could likely 2HKO Dragapult if running Dazzling Gleam, but if Dragapult switches out to a Steel/Poison type, Wigglytuff can’t do much.
