What is a good moveset for Alolan Muk?

Question

This thread is for Alolan Muk. For Kantonian Muk, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Alolan Muk, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Alolan Muk Pokedex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
Adamant / Brave Nature
- Poison Jab
- Knock Off
- Pursuit
- Shadow Sneak / Fire Blast

Pretty self-explanatory. Poison Jab + Knock Off is a good combination for STAB. Pursuit allows you to pursuit trap Psychic and Ghost-types. So, Muk-Alola can switch into threats like Latios and click Pursuit or Knock Off.
The last move can be anything really, but these two are probably the best options. Shadow Sneak is for priority (will go better with Adamant Nature). Fire Blast (will go better with Brave Nature) is for hitting defensive Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn.

You could also try an Assault Vest set with 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def, if you're looking for a more bulkier build.

Comments

would you not just wanna dump into hp instead of spdef?

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I agree with Jarjar. Also, an Assualt Vest is more suitable for this set in my opinion.

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I did mention both EV spread and the Assault Vest set in my description already.

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Pretty late but why fire blast instead of fire punch? Did it not get fire punch back then or is fire blast just a better option?

Answer 2

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Payback
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

I've found Alolan Muk very capable of the Rest-Talk method. Personally, I prefer this moveset for my own. Curse will increase Muk-A's Attack and Defense, while decreasing its Speed. Payback is meant to take advantage of the stat increases and decreases. With every Curse, not only does Payback get stronger in general, there's a higher chance of being hit first, allowing Payback to double in damage. Finally, the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allow Muk-A to maintain health and continuously fight, even while asleep.

Answer 3

Another Curse Set.
Credit to my friend for this set.

Muk-Alola @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Gluttony
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Def / 188 SpD
Careful Nature
- Recycle
- Curse
- Poison Jab / Ice Punch / Fire Punch
- Knock Off
252 HP / 188 SpD EVs with Careful Nature allow Muk to take hits from Manectric-Mega, Latias, Hydreigon etc. Only 68 Def EVs because Muk is using Curse, Curse boosts Atk and Def by 1 stage, lowers Speed by 1 stage. Negative Speed doesn't matter, Muk' s speed is already very slow. Def boost allows Muk to take hits from Scizor, Mega-Aerodactyl, Mega-Aggron, Mega Beedrill and KO it with Fire Punch / Ice Punch. Curse also raises Atk, letting Muk to sweep. Knock off removes items from Gliscor, Breloom, Crawdaunt, Latias. Poison Jab is a strong STAB and it has 30% chances of poisoning the target. Poison Jab hits Mega Sceptile, Serperior, Mega Altaria, Primarina, Togekiss and Sylveon. Btw, Ice Punch can also got Mega-Sceptile, Serperior, Altaria-Mega and Togekiss. Fire Punch hits Klefki and Scizor.

Aguav Berry restores HP by 50% at 1/2 max HP or less. 1/2 instead of 1/4 because of Gluttony.
Gluttony allows Muk to eat certain berries early when Mum has 1/2 or less HP. This is a great way for healing early.

Recycle restores Aguav Berry if Muk has used it. Letting Muk to use Curse, and Some curse make Muk very bulky Pokemon.
Then use Recycle again, heal Muk and use Curse. Use Curse until Muk is going to be fainted, or its Atk and Def is at 6 stages already.
Then try to sweep everything with Knock Off and Poison Jab / Ice Punch / Fire Punch.

Comments

If u use a curse set, imo gunk shot is generally better than poison jab with higher power. And with its Def boosted after curse, missing isnt really a big deal.

Answer 4

Gen 9 Monotype RestTalk (Poison)

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

A RestTalk set Alolan Muk can use in Gen 9 Monotype on Poison teams. Knock Off is Alolan Muk's Dark STAB due to its ability to remove items from Pokemon who need their items. With Knock Off having a chance to poison thanks to Poison Touch, Knock Off will always make some sort of progress in battles. Drain Punch allows Alolan Muk to hit Dark- and Steel-types such as Chien-Pao, Hydreigon, Kingambit, Heatran, and Hisuian Goodra super effectively while also letting Alolan Muk recover some HP. With Rest, Alolan Muk can heal up to full HP, allowing it to 1v1 Spectrier. Sleep Talk lets Muk be able to attack while sleeping to prevent it from being taken advantage of during the two turns of Rest.

Answer 5

Doubles Set

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Power of Alchemy
Es: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Explosion
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab

Explantion: Nice Ability along with a Weird Design. The Preferred item here is Leftovers to stay in the Battle Longer along with Protect. Protect can defend you from attacks and with Lefties, you can Stay in the Battle Longer. Explosion has Scary Power. Knock Off is STAB and it makes the Foe lose its held item. Poison Jab is also STAB and it has a Chance to Poison the Foe. Here's a Good Team mate for Alolan Muk:

Golem-Alola @ Assault Vest / Air Balloon
Ability: Galvanize
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Explosion
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
-??? (Filler Move)

Explanation 2: I choose Alolan Golem because of it's Ability, Galvanize which can make turn Normal type move turn into Electric type moves so Alolan Muk can gain that Ability when Alolan Golem faints. Explosion is STAB with Galvanize and Scary Power. Rock Slide is STAB and it has a Chance to Flinch and it hits Multiple foes in Doubles. Earthquake is Coverage against Electric, Steel, Poison and Other Rock Types. The 4th Move is filler and can be up to you. Maybe Stone Edge or Return?

Comments

EQ gonna rip this apart tho :(

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Haha that's true Rex. 252 HP EVs instead of defence should be given to Muk. I like the idea about Muk getting Galvanize. And Ghost types will be affected by Explosion cause of Galvanize. Good Job on the set.

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All Edited sorry for the delay.

Answer 6

Trick Room set

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
- Poison Jab / Gunk Shot
- Knock Off
- Pursuit
- Stockpile

• Poison Jab / Gunk Shot for STAB
• Knock Off for more STAB and to get rid of annoying items
• Pursuit for trapping or Shadow Sneak for priority
• Stockpile for defense

That is my Alolan Muk set!

Answer 7

Here is mine!

Muk-Alola @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 180 HP / 252 Atk / 76 SpA
Brave Nature
- Pursuit
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Fire Blast
Pursuit lets Alolan Muk trap Pokemon it forces out like Latias, Starmie, Cofagrigus, and Mega Sceptile. Knock Off is Alolan Muk's secondary Dark-type STAB move that can be used against Ghost- and Psychic-types that might want to stay in while also removing the foe's item. Poison Jab hits most Fairy-types, and in conjunction with Poison Touch it also has a 51% chance to poison the target. Fire Blast targets Scizor, Cobalion, and Klefki, which take almost no damage from Alolan Muk's other moves.

Answer 8

This is a Curse set.

Muk-Alola @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 44 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Curse
- Poison Jab
- Knock Off
- Rest

Pretty gimmicky, AV set is much more viable.

Comments

You and a gimmicky set hmmmm.... i dont see it lol jk

Answer 9

This Muk is Specialized on SpD, which is an almost unbreakable Defensive type on it.
Muk-Alola (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 248 HP / 12 Def / 248 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak/Fire Blast
- Pursuit
We all know Knock Off is a MUST on this one, Pursuit is when you switch in Muk on Choice Psychic type, and Poison Jab gets a higher Accuracy, higher chance of poisoning along with Poison Touch. Finally, if you give it Fire Blast on Stuffs like Scizor or Skarmory, you want Sassy nature on it.

Answer 10

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Poison Jab
- Knock Off / Crunch / Payback
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch

• Poison Jab: STAB
• Knock Off / Crunch / Payback: STAB
• Rock Slide: Chance to flinch
• Ice Punch: Coverage

Answer 11

Gen 7 UU / OU / Ubers

Muk-Alola @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Atk / 36 Def / 160 SpD
Adamant Nature

• Knock Off
• Poison Jab
• Pursuit
• Rock Slide / Fire Punch

Knock Off is STAB, removes items and has a 30% Poison chance because of Poison Touch. Poison Jab is STAB with a whopping 69% chance to poison the target. Pursuit hits Pokemon on the way out and has a chance to poison them if they survive. Rock Slide (unaffected by Poison touch) should be used in OU as a method of threatening Volcarona, the Mega Charizards, Kyurem-Black, Tornadus-Therian, Zapdos, and Victini. In UU you're better off running contact Fire Punch for Scizor, Bisharp, Cobalion, Klefki, Lucario, Mamoswine, and some others, however Rock Slide can still work, especially against Mega Pidgeot and Moltres. In Ubers, you should use Rock Slide for Ho-Oh, Yveltal, Mega Salamence, and Rayquaza.

Also for those of you asking "Why Alolan Muk in Ubers?", it can get rid of 2 big threats in Xerneas and Mega Gengar with its STAB combination. It's generally a very good Pursuiter because unlike Tyranitar, it doesn't a ton of weaknesses.

Answer 12

National Dex UU

Muk-Alola @ Assault Vest
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 248 HP / 36 Atk / 28 Def / 196 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Pursuit
- Fire Punch / Shadow Sneak / Clear Smog

Knock Off is STAB that removes items and has a chance to poison opposing Pokémon. Poison Jab is STAB and now has a higher chance to poison opposing Pokémon. Pursuit deals double damage to Pokémon switching out and also has a chance to poison. Fire Punch is for steel types. Shadow Sneak can be used to revenge kill weakned Pokémon. Clear Smog is an option to get rid of a Pokemon's stat boosts.

Answer 13

National Dex Monotype (Poison)

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 12 Def / 224 SpD
Careful Nature
- Pain Split
- Protect
- Knock Off
- Pursuit / Poison Jab

Most people will most likely know about the Curse + Recycle set with a Pinch Berry like an Iapapa Berry Alolan Muk ran in Gen 7. However, in National Dex Monotype, that set isn't as good due to the Gen 8 Pinch Berry nerf of berries like Iapapa Berry only recovering 1/3 HP instead of 1/2 HP. This set that I posted is a way for Alolan Muk to have recovery on Posion-type teams in National Dex Monotype.

Since pinch berries recover 1/3 HP in NatDex Monotype, Alolan Muk turns to Pain Split for a way of reliable recovery. Pain Split lets Alolan Muk have the longevity needed to sponge special hits from Pokemon such as Latios, Latias, Tapu Lele, and Blacephalon consistently. Protect gives Alolan Muk free health recovery from Black Sludge and also lets Alolan Muk scout for Choice-locked Pokemon. Knock Off is used as a spammable dark STAB that cripples most Pokemon in the metagame. Pursuit lets Alolan Muk be able to Pursuit-trap Psychic- and Ghost types such as Blacephalon, Gengar, and the Lati twins, while Poison Jab is used to be able to spread status due to the stacked 30% poison chance from Poison Jab along with Poison Touch's 30% poison chance.

252 HP alongside 12 Defense EVs allow Alolan Muk to survive a Choice Scarf V-Create from Victini, even with Stealth Rock up on your side. 20 Attack EVs give Alolan Muk's Poison Jab enough power to always break SubRoost Kyurem's Substitute. The remaining EVs are used in Special Defense to let Alolan Muk sponge special attacks better.

Answer 14

Overall OP set

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 6 Def
Rash Nature
- Poison Jab
- Knock off
- Shadow Sneak
- Curse

Poison Jab and Knock off for STAB. Shadow sneak to outspeed because of its priority +1 in case of opponent gets low. Curse to get that ridiculously high Atk and Def making all stats high except the useless speed and special attack.

Answer 15

Gen 9 Monotype Specially Defensive (Poison)

Muk-Alola @ Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Poison Jab
- Drain Punch
- Protect

A Specially Defensive set with Black Sludge Alolan Muk can use on Poison teams in Monotype. With hazards being everywhere and Poison teams only having Glimmora for hazard removal, Assault Vest isn't as good. Therefore, Alolan Muk uses Protect with Black Sludge for a little bit of recovery. Knock Off is used for the Dark STAB due to its ability to remove items from opposing Pokemon, which can allow Alolan Muk to cripple Pokemon who really need/rely on their items. Poison Touch gives Knock Off a chance to poison, potentially making Knock Off even more annoying to switch into. Posion Jab is used for the Poison Jab that can spread poison due to the chance to poison along with the chance to poison via Poison Touch. Drain Punch, a move Alolan Muk gets in Gen 9, is useful to hit Pokemon such as Kingambit, Heatran, and Chien-Pao super effectively as well as being able to let Alolan Muk recover some HP. Protect lets Alolan Muk scout opposing Pokemon as well as giving it a free turn of Black Sludge recovery..