[Overview]
-Like Volbeat and Sableye, Murkrow has been blessed with a wonderful gift of the Ability Prankster. This means Murkrow can be a dangerous threat in NU, but even more devastating in NFE.
-Also thanks to Eviolite, Murkrow is bulkier (however this is common in all of NFE) and can take a few hits.
-He has a great movepool to spam Prankster, and is known to be one of the few that has access to a recovery move.
-He's also VERY vulnerable to Taunt, if he doesn't have the move in his set.
-Murkrow does have a weakness to Stealth Rocks which can cripple his support sets.
-It can be an effective late game sweeper thanks to 84 Base Attack and Special Attack, plus the 91 base speed doesn't hurt either.
[SET]
Name: Perish Trapper
Move 1: Perish Song
Move 2: Roost
Move 3: Taunt/Substitute/FeatherDance
Move 4: Mean Look
Item: Eviolite
Nature: Sassy
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
IVs (optional): 0 Spe
Set Comments:
-This is a common set for Murkrow, yet it is effective. This is because every move in this set allows Murkrow to abuse Prankster.
-Taunt is the better option of this set, otherwise Murkrow might be forced to struggle. However Substitute can work for protection because Murkrow can be 2HKO'd by many pokes. Featherdance can allow Murkrow perish trap even physically based pokemon.
-Roost gives him the chance to be more reliable, and also gets rid of his weaknesses, which is also guaranteed by Prankster.
-If Murkrow gains priority is a threat to baton pass chains because it also gets passed.
Additional Comments:
-Murkrow does not need any speed on this set, so you may want to minimize speed on this set to reduce Gyro Ball damage.
Teammates and Counters:
-Wish passers such as Roselia, Kirlia, Happiny, are great supporters for Murkrow so he can come back for another round of perish trapping without having to roost.
-Wynaut also is a good teammate because Murkrow can switch out without having to Mean Look and the opponent would be trapped because of Wynaut's Shadow Tag
-Most Sweepers will strike Murkrow before it can perish strike.
-Murkrow, without priority can be a set up fodder and pokemon like Scyther would sweep your whole team.
-Rapid Spinners would be appreciated by Murky because of Stealth Rock damage.
-U-turners can escape Murkrow's Mean Look and would hurt like f*** if it he roosts.
[SET]
Name: ToxiStaller
Move 1: Taunt/Torment
Move 2: Toxic
Move 3: Featherdance/Protect
Move 4: Roost
Item: Eviolite
Nature: Careful
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Set Comments:
-When you look at Murkrow this set may be pathetic and may never come to mind. But once you think about it, this little bird is a force to be reckoned with.
-Toxic and Taunt prevent your opponent from recovering, setting up, status inducing, and other taunts.
-Featherdance cripples physical sweepers and is a excellent move to spam if you don't want to waste roost PP.
-Roost lets Murkrow spam toxic stall many times throughout this match.
Additional Comments:
-Substitute may be replaced by Featherdance, however it does reduce HP and it would be hard to set subs with poor defenses.
-Torment and Protect can be a variation of this set, but Taunt and Featherdance is better suited.
Teammates and Counters:
-Rapid Spinners would also be appreciated here because Murkrow may be knocked out earlier than expected.
-Toxic Spikes can be an asset to Murkrow because he can just go straight to that stalling.
-Pretty much many pokemon what had already set up can counter Murkrow in one or two hits.
[SET]
Name: Physical Sub
Move 1: Sucker Punch/Foul Play
Move 2: Drill Peck
Move 3: Substitute
Move 4: Frustration/Return/Confuse Ray
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Nature: Adamant
Set Comments:
-Murkrow at first may be a horrible sweeper, but with 84 base attack and 91 base speed, it is welcomed in NFE.
-Sucker Punch gives Murkrow priority and can be used when the opponent has little HP left.
-Foul Play may be a better option because it doesn't require the opponent to attack you and can get rid of those pesky Swords Dance Scythers.
-Substitute is the core of this set because it protects Murkrow from at least 1 or 2 attacks while Murkrow strikes.
-Super Luck gives Murkrow an increase of crit rates, making his moves extra powerful.
Additional Comments:
-Due it Murkrow's limited movepool, Murkrow is forced to go with Frustration/Return or Confuse Ray. Confuse Ray can annoy your opponent, but you can go with Frustration/Return if you want another damaging move.
Teammates and Counters:
-Again, wish passers and rapid spinners are appreciated.
-Scyther, as a baton passer with Agility/Swords Dance and a sub can be very beneficial for Murky as he can go straight to sweeping.
-Although Scyther can be an asset, it can also be a threat to this poor old bird because Murkrow if more frail in this set and a few Bullet Punches can KO Murkrow.
-Murkrow can also be fried with a powered up Thunderbolt.
[SET]
Set Name: Special Sub
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Dark Pulse/Snarl
Move 3: Psychic
Move 4: Heat Wave/Hidden Power Ground/Hidden Power Fighting
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Nature: Modest
Set Comments:
-Basically the Physical set, but reversed.
-Murkrow can swim a little more with his movepool, but it is still shallow.
-Dark Pulse can be used for power, but Snarl can be used for giving other Special Attackers a -1 drop.
-Psychic can 2HKO Machoke, a big threat to Murkrow and with the protection of the sub, he should be fine.
Additional Comments:
-The last slot can be filled with Heat Wave if you really need it for synergy but HP Ground/Fighting cover two of Murkrow's weaknesses.
Teammates and Counters:
-See physical set ;X
[SET]
Set Name: Parafusion
Move 1: Taunt
Move 2: Roost
Move 3: Thunder Wave
Move 4: Confuse Ray
Item: Eviolite
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Nature: Careful
Set Comments:
-This is a rare set that is seen anywhere but it is effective.
-The plan of this set is TAUNT, CONFUSE, THUNDER WAVE or CONFUSE AND THUNDER WAVE. That will annoy most pokemon.
-Once you do that, you can stall or switch and let your opponent but in a bad situation.
Additional Comments:
-Roost is there for a recovery move, just to fill the last slot.
-Prankster again, gives Murkrow Priority, which is helpful for this set.
Teammates and Counters:
-Since many pokemon can 2HKO this birdie, you may just want to go for Confuse Ray then T-wave then roost.
-Diglett makes a good teammate for Murkrow because once Murkrow induces parafusion, he can revenge kill easily.
[Team Options]
-Murkrow loves entry hazard support, making it easier to Toxic Stall or Sweep.
-Dual Screeners also help a lot with Murkrow's defenses.
-Rapid Spinners prevent Stealth Rock damage and which make Murkrow vulnerable to incoming attacks.
[Optional Choices]
-Thunder Wave can be used in the Physical Sub set to slow down opponents.
