Serebii Pokedex
Smogon Analysis
In order for an analysis of a pokemon to be complete, you must know its proper niche. As far as stat-up sweeping and Choice Specs sweeping is concerned, Infernape and Heatran take the crop most of the time. However, Moltres's unique movepool and typing might give it some use. This topic hopes to discuss possible niches for this forgotten Pokemon. The Smogon analysis is quite good on Moltres.
Base Stats:
HP:90
Attack: 100
Defense: 90
Sp. Atk: 125
Sp. Def: 85
Speed: 90
4x Weak: Rock
2x Weak: Water, Electric
2x Resist: Fire, Fight, Steel
4x Resist: Grass, Bug
Immune: Ground
Location on speed tier:
Max Speed with Scarf: 459
Max Speed with Nature: 306
0 EVed Speed: 216
Defense Tier: 117 (like Mamoswine)
Sp. Def Tier: 116 (like Machamp)
SkarmCent: 50 to 85
BlissCent: 30 to 52
Both Blaziken and Infernape score 2+ tiers below Moltres in defenses. Of course, the Stealth Rocks Weak hurts Moltres a lot. However, its defenses cannot be underestimated, as it scores even higher than Spiritomb on both Sp. Def and Physical Defense. Keep the Stealth Rocks at bay and you'll have a decent bulky sweeper. Heatran has more defenses than Moltres on both sides.
Max/Max Defense/HP Moltres is equivalent to a Standard Skarm at 85% HP (SkarmCent). Max/Max Sp. Def Moltres is equal to a Standard Blissey at 52% HP. Needless to say, I'm personally quite surprised that Moltres hits such a high defense tier.
Notable Physical Movepool:
* Return
* Aerial Ace / Pluck
* U-Turn
* Fly
* Steel Wing
* Sky Attack
* Double-Edge (FireRed Tutor)
When Fly and Double-Edge are your most powerful physical attacks... yeah... It is a shame to waste that nice looking 100 base Atk stat. U-Turn is very useful and great for the team in general, so at least Moltres can get some use out of that from the physical side.
Notable Special Movepool:
* Flamethrower
* Fire Blast
* Heat Wave
* Overheat
* Air Slash
* Ancientpower
* Solarbeam
* Hidden Power
We don't got much, but we know what it can do. You'll have to choose a good Hidden Power to round out the set, but Fire / Flying STAB is decent however.
Notable Support Movepool:
* Will o Wisp
* Roost
* Agility
* Fire Spin
* Endure
* Safeguard
* Sunny Day
* Toxic
* Subsitute
With Roost, a bit of Defense EVs, and Will o Wisp, you have a decently performing physical tank. Adamant Garchomp fails to OHKO with Stone Edge when burned, clearly showing Moltres's ability to take a hit or two. The Smogon analysis lists such a set.
Similar Pokemon in BL/OU
Before using Moltres, look through this list and make sure no other guy here can do your set better than Moltres. Infernape and Heatran are standards for a reason. Magmotar similarly has access to a huge physical movepool and a similar Sp. Atk as Moltres.
* Magmotar
* Blaziken
* Typhlosion
* Houndoom
* Charizard
* Infernape
* Heatran
Discussion
With Infernape and Heatran as the premier fire pokemon currently, what can Moltres do? Well, I've tested a set out, it isn't gamebreaking material but it certainly beats anything that Infernape / Heatran can do. At least for the current metagame.
Scarf-Lead Moltres.
Modest @ 252 Sp. Atk, 216 Speed, 40 Defense
--------
U-Turn
Will o Wisp
Overheat
Air Slash
Like Yanmega, Moltres has a serious problem with stealth rocks. So I decided to experiment with it as a lead pokemon, and overall... it has done pretty well. U-Turn is extremly useful when paired up with Dugtrio. If you know your opponent will switch out (say... Bronzong or Skarmory lead), U-Turn out of there and see what they do. They will probably switch to Heatran or maybe Tentacruel to absorb the obvious Overheat. U-Turn then hits, giving you a chance to switch out. If they stayed in for some stupid reason, switch to something that can handle Bronzong/Skarm. Else, switch to Dugtrio and score an early kill on Heatran / Tentacruel.
Will o Wisp is a strange one, but it seems to work for me. I use it because it seems like the best thing I can do to Gyarados, the current #1 lead. Gyarados hates burn more than any other pokemon, and it is so effective that Moltres with the above EVs will always survive a Stone Edge from Gyarados, with exception of CB or a Critical Hit.
The above EVs outrun Scarf Heracross.
That said, here are the top 15 leads on the ladder for January:
The best for Gyara is again, Will o Wisp. Sorry if you expected better. However, Air Slash does 3-hit KO non-bulky versions (damn you leftovers), and it is a 9% chance that you flinch it 2x in a row. There is a ~50% chance that you'll flinch on either the 1st or the 2nd turn, making you beat Gyarados in the case he decides to Dragon Dance or even (WTF?) Taunt you.
Gengar is OHKOed by Overheat, and Moltres outspeeds non-scarf versions.
EDIT: someone did point out that LO Gengar can OHKO Moltres, however, Moltres will outspeed and OHKO first with Overheat. If Gengar has a Scarf, then it doesn't OHKO Moltres, while Moltres then strikes back with an OHKOed Overheat. Win/Win here.
Bronzong will switch out :-p If he doesn't, he eats a firey death by Overheat.
Non-boah T-Tar also hates burn, but U-Turn is most likely the best plan.
Physical versions are scared of WoW, but Stone Edge hurts and Specs Draco Meteor OHKOs. Gamble on the Physical version, or Switch out.
2-hit KO with Overheat.
All OHKOed by Overheat or Air Slash (for Infernape), but Ninjask probably should be Phazed out by someone else before it gets dangerous.
Obviously, Moltres can be a good lead. Gyarados, Salamence, and T-Tar give it trouble, but it forces many leads out and scores a free hit with U-Turn anyway.
That is all for now.
