Thunderstruck 2; Electric Boogaloo!

Hi, Drago here with a post on a team I've been working on for a month featuring Primarina and Galarian Zapdos. This team is primarily balance centered around setting up Primarina to sweep and close out games with Gapdos (this is what we will call it from now on). Gapdos and Primarina are mostly anti-meta picks I found were interesting, and decided to give both a spin and found them to be really successful. Before I get too far into these picks, lets dive into the team.

Credit to patricia755 on DeviantArt

Zeus (Zapdos-Galar) @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Defiant

Level: 50

Tera Type: Ghost

EVs: 108 HP / 108 Atk / 44 Def / 4 SpD / 244 Spe

Adamant Nature

- Brave Bird

- Thunderous Kick

- Tera Blast

- U-turn

Lets start with the original center point of why I built this team. Gapdos is a strong anti meta pick. Defiant prevents intimidate drops and pressures the opponent to not click snarl and give Gapdos a +2 boost in attack. Something that the format doesn't really have is consistent flying type damage. Your best is rain+Bleakwind Storm from Tornadus. Gapdos offers Brave Bird, a move that doesn't miss and hits super hard, having 120 base power. Thunderous Kick is Gapdos' signature move, its a 90 base power move that lowers defense. This synergizes well with Ogerpon-H which is its main partner, it allows Ogerpon to hit even harder when needed. Tera Ghost is added to prevent incoming fake outs, and allows Gapdos to hit Gholdengo and Fluttermane for SE damage with Tera Blast. Flutter can't take a Tera Blast but it can take a Brave Bird. U-turn is for pivoting out of bad situations. Choice Scarf allows Gapdos to outspeed all Adamant Scarf Urshifu.

Important Calcs:

252+ Atk Tera-Water Urshifu-Rapid Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 148 HP / 44 Def Zapdos-Galar on a critical hit: 150-180 (81.5 - 97.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

36 SpA Flutter Mane Moonblast vs. 148 HP / 76 SpD Zapdos-Galar: 144-170 (78.2 - 92.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

220 SpA Choice Specs Flutter Mane Dazzling Gleam vs. 148 HP / 76 SpD Zapdos-Galar: 152-182 (82.6 - 98.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Raging Bolt Thunderclap vs. 148 HP / 76 SpD Zapdos-Galar: 138-164 (75 - 89.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Sludge Bomb vs. 148 HP / 76 SpD Zapdos-Galar: 81-95 (44 - 51.6%) -- 8.2% chance to 2HKO

+1 92 Atk Zapdos-Galar Thunderous Kick vs. 236 HP / 156+ Def Incineroar: 168-200 (84 - 100%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

Credit to Kura Draws Pokemon

Hestia (Ogerpon-Hearthflame) @ Hearthflame Mask

Ability: Mold Breaker

Level: 50

Tera Type: Fire

EVs: 196 HP / 44 Atk / 4 Def / 68 SpD / 196 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Ivy Cudgel

- Wood Hammer

- Follow Me

- Spiky Shield

Ogerpon Hearthflame has 2 main roles on this team. Most importantly it's here to redirect attacks for Primarina and Gholdengo to set up. It can also turn into an offensive threat when it uses it's tera and gains an attack boost. Ivy Cudgel and Wood Hammer both are just here to pick up kills when needed. Spiky Shield is protect but you take damage for hitting it.

Important Cals:

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Sludge Bomb vs. 196 HP / 68 SpD Ogerpon-Hearthflame: 153-182 (85 - 101.1%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

252 Atk Tera-Dark Urshifu-Single Strike Wicked Blow vs. 196 HP / 4 Def Ogerpon-Hearthflame on a critical hit: 148-176 (82.2 - 97.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

44 Atk Tera-Fire Ogerpon-Hearthflame Ivy Cudgel (1.2x Mask Boost) vs. 212 HP / 132 Def Flutter Mane: 144-170 (91.7 - 108.2%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

Credit to C-ren on DeviantArt

Poseidon (Primarina) (M) @ Leftovers

Ability: Liquid Voice

Level: 50

Shiny: Yes

Tera Type: Steel

EVs: 212 HP / 164 Def / 52 SpA / 76 SpD / 4 Spe

Modest Nature

- Hyper Voice

- Moonblast

- Calm Mind

- Protect

Primarina is the other anti meta pick of choice. Liquid Voice changes normal moves to water, giving Primarina a hard hitting spread water type move with Hyper Voice. Moonblast hits hard, great single target move. Calm Mind is the reason I decided to run Primarina. I wanted to add a set up member to the team and Primarina covered this and has solid synergy with Hearthflame. Protect is Protect. Steel tera covers your weakness to Lando Incarnates' Sludge Bomb, grass moves from Ogerpon and Rilla, and change to neutral damage for Raging Bolt. Lefties gives you some recovery.

Important Calcs:

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Sludge Bomb vs. 212 HP / 76 SpD Primarina: 133-156 (73 - 85.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. +1 212 HP / 76 SpD Tera-Steel Primarina: 133-159 (73 - 87.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252+ SpA Raging Bolt Thunderbolt vs. 212 HP / 76 SpD Primarina: 146-174 (80.2 - 95.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

116+ Atk Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 212 HP / 164 Def Primarina in Grassy Terrain: 126-150 (69.2 - 82.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery and Grassy Terrain recovery

76+ Atk Ogerpon-Wellspring Horn Leech (1.2x Mask Boost) vs. 212 HP / 164 Def Primarina: 146-174 (80.2 - 95.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

52+ SpA Primarina Moonblast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Urshifu-Rapid Strike: 224-266 (127.2 - 151.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Vesta (Incineroar) (F) @ Safety Goggles

Ability: Intimidate

Level: 50

Shiny: Yes

Tera Type: Water

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 156 Def / 68 SpD / 28 Spe

Impish Nature

- Flare Blitz

- Will-O-Wisp

- Fake Out

- Parting Shot

Incineroar is, Incineroar. Fake Out pressure, Flare Blitz for damage, Parting Shot for damage reduction and pivot power. The newer thing is Will-O-Wisp instead of Knock Off. Decided to do Wisp with the mu into Chien Pao Dragonite teams being really hard to slow down. Safety Goggles are for Amoonguss to stop spores and redirection from it. Tera water is for Urshifu Rapid Strike. You live just about everything you need to and die to about everything you expect to. Rapid Strike kills it, Lando I kills it. You live everything else.

Credit to Pasquale Falco on ArtStation

Stormclaw (Raging Bolt) @ Assault Vest

Ability: Protosynthesis

Level: 50

Tera Type: Fairy

EVs: 116 HP / 92 Def / 196 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe

Modest Nature

IVs: 20 Atk

- Thunderbolt

- Thunderclap

- Draco Meteor

- Snarl

Raging Bolt is one of the new paradox introduced in the Indigo Disk DLC. This one is sporting an Assault Vest to take hits from special attackers like Fluttermane and opposing Raging Bolt. Thunderbolt is for general damage, Draco Meteor is a nuke button, and Snarl is for damage mitigation for Psyspam and Farigiraf Bloodmoon teams. Thunderclap is a interesting move, it's a special attack electric type version of Sucker Punch. It is a very strong move, and lets the team manage Urshifu Rapid Strike a lot more. Tera Fairy is to dodge dragon attacks and take most attacks for neutral. Also allows it to have a winning MU into both versions of Urshifu.

Improtant Calcs (There's a lot):

252 Atk Sword of Ruin Chien-Pao Icicle Crash vs. 116 HP / 92 Def Raging Bolt: 180-212 (83.7 - 98.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 156-187 (72.5 - 86.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Tera-Poison Landorus Sludge Bomb vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Tera-Fairy Raging Bolt: 156-187 (72.5 - 86.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

36 SpA Beads of Ruin Tera-Fairy Flutter Mane Moonblast vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 168-200 (78.1 - 93%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

36+ SpA Protosynthesis Tera-Fairy Flutter Mane Moonblast vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 180-216 (83.7 - 100.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Life Orb Tera-Normal Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Blood Moon vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 153-182 (71.1 - 84.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Life Orb Tera-Normal Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Earth Power vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 151-179 (70.2 - 83.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Single Strike Wicked Blow vs. 116 HP / 92 Def Raging Bolt on a critical hit: 156-184 (72.5 - 85.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Raging Bolt Draco Meteor vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 168-198 (78.1 - 92%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

164+ SpA Archaludon Draco Meteor vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 146-174 (67.9 - 80.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

244 SpA Life Orb Walking Wake Draco Meteor vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Raging Bolt: 182-218 (84.6 - 101.3%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

+1 212+ SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 116 HP / 108 SpD Assault Vest Tera-Fairy Raging Bolt: 164-194 (76.2 - 90.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

100 Atk Gouging Fire Breaking Swipe vs. 116 HP / 92 Def Raging Bolt: 62-74 (28.8 - 34.4%) -- 3.3% chance to 3HKO

116+ Atk Rillaboom High Horsepower vs. 116 HP / 92 Def Raging Bolt: 102-122 (47.4 - 56.7%) -- 34.8% chance to 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery

Gholdy (Gholdengo) @ Metal Coat

Ability: Good as Gold

Level: 79

Shiny: Yes

Tera Type: Fairy

EVs: 204 HP / 60 Def / 116 SpA / 36 SpD / 92 Spe

Modest Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Make It Rain

- Shadow Ball

- Nasty Plot

- Protect

Gholdengo is no stranger to VGC, being a big threat since its debut in Regulation A. Gholdengo is pretty standard here, Make it Rain (120 base power) is a very powerful spread move, Shadow Ball is great coverage, Nasty Plot allows for it to do more damage, and protect is protect. Metal Coat allows Gholdengo to do even more damage with Make it Rain. Tera Fairy lets it sit in front of Urshifu Single Strike and take Sucker Punches from Kingambit and Chien Pao. Gholdengo was added to help the Chien Pao Dragonite mu feel much more manageable.

Important Calcs:

252+ Atk Tera-Water Urshifu-Rapid Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 204 HP / 60 Def Gholdengo on a critical hit: 138-168 (73.4 - 89.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252 Atk Sword of Ruin Chien-Pao Sucker Punch vs. 204 HP / 60 Def Gholdengo: 150-176 (79.7 - 93.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

-1 252+ SpA Life Orb Ursaluna-Bloodmoon Earth Power vs. 204 HP / 36 SpD Gholdengo: 156-187 (82.9 - 99.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Main Leads:

Primarina Ogerpon is the primary lead for the team. Primarina sets up Calm Mind and Ogerpon clicks Follow Me. Good lead into both Urshifu, Incin, Rillaboom, Chien Pao, Entei, Gouging Fire and Kingambit.

Gholdengo is the option to take in place of Primarina if its a bad MU (match up) for it. Good into Hatterene and Iron Crown Psyspam, Chien Pao and Dragonite.

Incineroar takes over Ogerpon if the MU feels like it needs Fake Out over Redirection. Good into Chien Pao, Dragonite, Rillaboom, Farigiraf, and Raging Bolt (Parting Shot).

Gapdos leads with Ogerpon and Incin. Good into Incin, Ogerpon (all forms), Rillaboom, and both Urshifu.

Raging Bolt leads if the team needs to remove Urshifu R or Torn early, or we need damage reduction. Good into Tornadus, Urshifu R, Ogerpon, Psyspam, and Farigiraf Bloodmoon.

Matchups:

The team's best matchups are into teams that need to set up, allowing you to set up. Farigiraf Bloodmoon team and Psyspam are teams that Primarina and Gholdengo can set up into freely.

The team has a neutral matchup into most balance and hyper offense teams. Gholdengo and Incineroar handle Chien Pao hyper offense, and balance really depends on the opposing mons.

The team has 2 major bad matchups. Lando Incarnate has ground and poison type coverage which unfortunately causes some issues for the entire team except Gapdos. The best way to remove it is blowing it up with tera on Hearthflame or taking it down with Gapdos. The other is Calm Mind Raging Bolt with double Fake Out from Incin and Rilla. The best way to handle this is with Gholdengo or Primarina, Hearthflame, Incin, and Gapdos. Gholdengo is safer into the team, Primarina offers SE damage into Bolt and pressures it to tera, which allows Hearthflame to kill it.

Pokepaste/Bin: https://pokebin.com/8cd89259eafa2e7c

Thank you for taking time to read this, I hope you enjoy the team!