This post is being made to reintroduce one of the most fearful strategies. Ladies and gentleman I bring to you a couple Hackmon, engineered to be the best harvesters. Each of these Hackmon are overflowed with high Atk and provide at least an adequate level of bulk. They all also share the same set, for max efficiency in the Pure Hackmons metagame. I reveal to you:
Solgaleo/Metagross-Mega/Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leppa Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Evoboost
- Searing Sunraze Smash
- Synthesis
- Sunny Day
This set, primarily used by Mega Metagross or Necrozma-Dusk-Mane is a set which rightfully holds proper moves to utilize Harvest and Leppa Berry, with Extreme Evoboost leveling up all of its primary base stats to x2, Sunny Day to make its Harvest ability fully effective, Synthesis to take advantage of Sunny Day with extensive healing, and last but not least, a Steel-type STAB move with the special effect of going through any ability. Aside from the high offensive and defensive stats these three Hackmon have, the most apparent similarity they have which likely makes them the best harvesters in the meta are their dual types. Both Steel and Psychic-type are used for this set to allow these Hackmon to utilize STAB Mold Breaker moves such as Searing Sunraze Smash and Light That Burns The Sky, while at the same time being able to fully imposterproof themselves, unlike users of the ghostly STAB Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom. This deeply matters due to the ability to not only beat non Innards Out Chansey at its best but break through opposing Wonder Guards who'd like to block this set. Despite Light That Burns The Sky having good representation as a STAB move, especially one fitting for this particular set, Searing Sunraze Smash is left to as truly the only usable attack move for these Hackmon for the reasoning of it being the only one that can still hit every type whatsoever (Normal is immune to Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom, Dark is immune to Light That Burns The Sky). All three of these Hackmon have their own strengths and weaknesses that make them more or less effective. They will be ranked in order of effectiveness with their main high points and low points when compared to the other two. The stats in bold are what matters most in regards to each comparison. The points for defensive stats are varied by calculations of their HP with said defensive stat rather than just the raw stat.
Metagross-Mega
+ Higher
Attack than Solgaleo
+ Higher
Defense than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
+ Higher
Speed than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane and Solgaleo
- Lower
Attack than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
- Lower defenses than Solgaleo
- Lower Special Defense than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
+ Higher
Attack than Solgaleo and Metagross-Mega
+ Higher Special Defense than Metagross-Mega
- Lower defenses than Solgaleo
- Lower
Speed than Solgaleo and Metagross-Mega
+ Higher defenses than Metagross-Mega and Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
+ Higher
Speed than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
- Lower
Attack than Metagross-Mega and Necrozma-Dusk-Mane
- Lower
Speed than Metagross-Mega
- Attack is in bold because the more Attack a Hackmon with the set has, the easier it will be for the Hackmon to take down bulky walls such as Giratina and Zygarde-Complete.
- Defense is in bold because the higher Defense a Hackmon with this set has, the less damage it can take from itself when facing an Imposter Chansey. This also makes it easier for the Hackmon to take hits before Extreme Evoboost.
- Speed is in bold because the faster a Hackmon is, the more likely it is able to use Extreme Evoboost first, before taking a hit.
Metagross-Mega gains the upper advantage over the other two due to its overwhelmingly higher Speed stat and a higher defense stat than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane. However the differences in their Attack and Defense are slim enough to where it isn't very costly to use Metagross-Mega despite its lowered Attack. Speed is the most important factor which makes this Hackmon more usable than Necrozma-Dusk-Mane and Solgaleo, since it would be able to use Extreme Evoboost before plenty other Hackmon make a move. This most notably goes out to Groudon-Primal, who often runs Shadow Tag and V-Create to trap and KO Steel-types. Although Metagross-Mega is fast, it is still worth mentioning the overall high speed tier of this metagame. There are still going to be many Hackmon faster than Metagross-Mega, such as Rayquaza-Mega, Gengar-Mega, Mewtwo-Mega-X, Aerodactyl-Mega, Mewtwo-Mega-X, and Deoxys-Speed. The other two Hackmon should be fine to use under most circumstances, but be aware of their disadvantages.
Here is a team made around this Harvest set:
I will briefly go over the roles each of these Hackmon have to take care of Metagross-Mega.
Deoxys-Speed @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Comatose
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Sleep Talk
- Chatter
- Copycat
- Whirlwind
This Deoxys-Speed is meant to break as many Focus Sashes as it could by spamming a neutral priority Whirlwind after Stealth Rock is set up. Succeeding in its role allows Metagross-Mega to have a much easier time plowing through opposing teams after setting up Extreme Evoboost.
Gengar-Mega @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moongeist Beam
- Blue Flare
- Quiver Dance
- Spore
Gengar-Mega's main purpose for the team is to trap Hackmon who may resist Searing Sunraze Smash. It carries Blue Flare for Steel-types and Moongeist Beam to take care of the rest. In order for this Hackmon to be put in full use however, it's seen carrying Spore and Quiver Dance, allowing it to setup on most Hackmon after luring them to sleep. Most noticeably it outspeeds Mega-Mewtwo-X after one Quiver Dance, which is highly important seeing how the two have a matching Speed stat prior to Gengar-Mega setting up.
Audino-Mega @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Wonder Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Wish
- Magic Coat
- Aromatherapy
- Whirlwind
Although a bit weak to Shadow Tag itself, Audino-Mega's role is to be used as a switchin to the Gengar-Mega set above whenever it gets copied by Imposter. Safety Goggles is there to block Spore and it can use Whirlwind to get it out of the way. It's also a Wonder Guard used to block No Guard with Magic Coat helping to bounce back Sing, and a cleric, using Wish and Aromatherapy to heal the team.
Metagross-Mega @ Leppa Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Extreme Evoboost
- Searing Sunraze Smash
- Synthesis
- Sunny Day
The rising star of the show! Metagross-Mega is made to absolutely obliterate whatever comes in its path with Extreme Evoboost and Searing Sunraze Smash! It first starts off with either Extreme Evoboost, to increase each of its stats by x2, or Sunny Day, which is used to set the sun up for Harvest to be in full effect. Whenever this Hackmon is feeling tired and achy it can just use Synthesis to restore its HP to an overwhelming extent under the sun. Without the sun being there, its HP will only restore to a normal amount. With other weather it could restore its HP even less, so be careful.
Greninja-Ash @ Choice Band
Ability: Wonder Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Foul Play
- Defog
- Malicious Moonsault
- Trick
A certain man inspired Greninja-Ash to be set on this team. This was a man who considered the Hackmon to exceed what had been placed on the viability rankings. Greninja-Ash's role for the team is not only to act as a second Wonder Guard for Deoxys-Speed, but to outspeed and OHKO a Mega-Mewtwo-X without Choice Scarf, which is something Gengar-Mega might have a hard time doing. Because there was no other place to fit Defog on the team, it had been given Defog for the sake of removing hazards whenever they are unnecessary.
Deoxys-Speed @ Focus Sash
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sing
- Gastro Acid
- Sheer Cold
- Stealth Rock
Last but not least, there is the classic Deoxys-Speed set. This Deoxys-Speed is meant to put foes to sleep with Sing, then set up Stealth Rock in order to help Comatose Deoxys-Speed break Focus Sash by Whirlwind. As usual, it can also always go the Gastro Acid + Sheer Cold route whenever it's plausible.
Modifications:
Audino-Mega (King's Shield -> Whirlwind)
Replays:
These replays show success of the team and of Metagross-Mega as an individual user of Harvest. In almost every game it has been used in, with the exception being against regirock, Metagross-Mega managed to plow through the opposing team entirely. This includes battles played without a saved replay. The team regirock used was an attempt to try breaking down Harvest by using Magic Room, a move which nullifies the effect of items. However, it may be ineffective, with only a chance of it being a temporary solution. A more effective solution has been discovered. Here it is:
Registeel @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
- Haze
- Knock Off
- Shore Up
- Anchor Shot
All this beast has to do is trap Harvest users with Anchor Shot, use Haze to take down their already boosted stats, use Knock Off to knock Leppa Berry out, and then save the leave of the game to PP stall. This very likely is one of the greatest methods to deal with Harvest users. It hasn't been tried yet, but should be promising from the looks of it.
The same three Hackmon can also be used to beat Harvest. Have a look!
Solgaleo/Metagross-Mega/Necrozma-Dusk-Mane @ Leftovers
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spectral Thief
- Shore Up
- Sunsteel Strike
- False Swipe
Arguably less effective than the Prankster set above, this set is still able to work through the use of Spectral Thief after Extreme Evoboost is used. The magic kicks in on itself after as it is able to sweep with the acquired stat boosts and Sunsteel Strike. The main cause for its effectiveness being lowered is simply due to the inability to imposterproof itself, allowing Imposter Chansey to successfully retaliate whenever possible. Because of this a decision has been made to add False Swime which is a move designed to go against Innards Out Chansey, a Hackmon with the capability to take down Harvest.
May you all enjoy playing with these toys in Pure Hackmons :) I wish you the best of fun! Tell me if you have any questions regarding this post or if any errors were made.
but I know we've had a lot of fun with this metagame and I hope we continue to develop it when it's not spotlight :D