Blaziken gets Speed Boost this gen and he is looking to be a top threat. However, it is still to be known what this effect will have on Blazkien's viability. Although it looks like Infernape is now outclassed severely. Blaziken already was a top threat in UU and he may have a shot at OU.
Swords Dance
Blaziken @ Life Orb
Adamant/Jolly
Speed Boost
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Hi Jump Kick
- Flare Blitz / Blaze Kick
- Stone Edge
Damage Calcs
-Hi Jump Kick vs. Walls; all calcs assume +2.
vs. 404/361 Suicune: (92.82% - 109.41%) OHKO with rocks.
vs. 404/306 Swampert: (109.16% - 128.71%) OHKO.
vs. 394/282 +1 Milotic: (81.47% - 95.94%) 53.85% chance of OHKO with rocks.
vs. 448/240 Vaporeon: (125.45% - 147.99%) OHKO.
vs. 420/368 Hippowdon: (87.14% - 102.86%) 53.85% chance of OHKO with rocks.
vs. 404/328 Manaphy: (101.73% - 119.80%) OHKO.
vs. 324/295 Starmie [never seen]: (70.68% - 83.33%)
vs. 384/372 Donphan: (94.79% - 111.72%)
vs. 338/364 Bronzong: (110.06% - 129.59%)
-Hi Jump Kick vs. potential 5th gen walls, all calcs assume +2
vs. 352/401 Abagoora [Water/Rock turtle]: (191.48% - 225.57%)
vs. 374/394 Gigaiasu: (183.42% - 216.58%)
vs. 386/392 Kobaruon: (178.76% - 210.36%)
vs. 344/383 Iwaparesu [Bug/Rock hermit crab?]: (102.91% - 121.22%)
-Fire Blast vs. 4th gen walls
vs. 404/328 Celebi: (66.83% - 79.21%)
vs. 334/262 Skarmory: (102.40% - 120.96%)
vs. Forretress: OHKO
vs. 338/364 Bronzong: (72.78% - 85.80%)
vs. 354/186 Gliscor: (67.80% - 79.94%)
-Fire Blast vs. potential 5th gen walls
vs. 320/246 Desukan: (56.56% - 66.88%)
vs. Nattorel: OHKO
I'm not even going to continue. The great thing is that the few things that can survive Hi Jump Kick...are highly Susceptible to Fire Blast in exchange. And with Steels annihilated by Hi Jump Kick as is, there may not even be a need for Fire Blast, freeing up a slot for Shadow Claw/Night Slash for ghosts.
-+2 Shadow Claw vs:
vs. 320/427 Desukan: (71.25% - 84.38%)
vs. 404/262 Burunkeru [Water/ghost]: (91.58% - 107.92%)
vs. 382/284 Goruggo: (89.53% - 105.76%)
vs. 404/328 Celebi: (73.27% - 86.63%)
MixKen 2011
Swords Dance
Blaziken @ Life Orb
Adamant/Jolly
Speed Boost
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Hi Jump Kick
- Flare Blitz / Blaze Kick
- Stone Edge
Damage Calcs
-Hi Jump Kick vs. Walls; all calcs assume +2.
vs. 404/361 Suicune: (92.82% - 109.41%) OHKO with rocks.
vs. 404/306 Swampert: (109.16% - 128.71%) OHKO.
vs. 394/282 +1 Milotic: (81.47% - 95.94%) 53.85% chance of OHKO with rocks.
vs. 448/240 Vaporeon: (125.45% - 147.99%) OHKO.
vs. 420/368 Hippowdon: (87.14% - 102.86%) 53.85% chance of OHKO with rocks.
vs. 404/328 Manaphy: (101.73% - 119.80%) OHKO.
vs. 324/295 Starmie [never seen]: (70.68% - 83.33%)
vs. 384/372 Donphan: (94.79% - 111.72%)
vs. 338/364 Bronzong: (110.06% - 129.59%)
-Hi Jump Kick vs. potential 5th gen walls, all calcs assume +2
vs. 352/401 Abagoora [Water/Rock turtle]: (191.48% - 225.57%)
vs. 374/394 Gigaiasu: (183.42% - 216.58%)
vs. 386/392 Kobaruon: (178.76% - 210.36%)
vs. 344/383 Iwaparesu [Bug/Rock hermit crab?]: (102.91% - 121.22%)
-Fire Blast vs. 4th gen walls
vs. 404/328 Celebi: (66.83% - 79.21%)
vs. 334/262 Skarmory: (102.40% - 120.96%)
vs. Forretress: OHKO
vs. 338/364 Bronzong: (72.78% - 85.80%)
vs. 354/186 Gliscor: (67.80% - 79.94%)
-Fire Blast vs. potential 5th gen walls
vs. 320/246 Desukan: (56.56% - 66.88%)
vs. Nattorel: OHKO
I'm not even going to continue. The great thing is that the few things that can survive Hi Jump Kick...are highly Susceptible to Fire Blast in exchange. And with Steels annihilated by Hi Jump Kick as is, there may not even be a need for Fire Blast, freeing up a slot for Shadow Claw/Night Slash for ghosts.
-+2 Shadow Claw vs:
vs. 320/427 Desukan: (71.25% - 84.38%)
vs. 404/262 Burunkeru [Water/ghost]: (91.58% - 107.92%)
vs. 382/284 Goruggo: (89.53% - 105.76%)
vs. 404/328 Celebi: (73.27% - 86.63%)
MixKen 2011
Lee said:Yeah, not too keen on the Swords Dance set. If today's OU metagame is anything to go by he'd be promptly raped by priority and the horde of super-fast scarfers (which are likely to be even more common in BW with this new DD'er and Swift Swimmers galore). I reckon Lucario would still be better in that role thanks to his resistances and Extremespeed.
My first thought was the potential of a quick wall-breaker/cleaner, like HeySup proposed earlier. Obviously theorymonning out of my ass here because I don't know a thing about the BW metagame but something like...
Blaziken @ Life Orb
Rash
60 Atk / 252 SpA / 196 Spe
- Fire Blast
- Hi Jump Kick
- Hidden Power Grass / Electric
- Stone Edge
Look familiar? Yeah, it's basically HeySup's MixKen with Speed Boost alleviating the need for Vacuum Wave. The idea would be to come in on something you threaten and use one of your high-powered STAB moves on the switch. If the opponent goes to a slow, bulky Pokemon then your STAB attacks, even resisted are likely gonna sting enough for you to follow up with one of your other moves for a KO. If the go for a fast Pokemon who resists your attacks (eg. Starmie), then Speed Boost activates and allows you to outrun him for a KO on the next turn.
Fire Blast + Hidden Power vs 252/0 Slowbro = 96.7% minimum
HJK + HJK vs 252/252+ Vaporeon = 94.4% minimum
Hidden Power Grass vs 252/0 Swampert = 105.94% minimum
HJK + Hidden Power vs 252/252 Def+ Suicune = 78.46% minimum
Fire Blast + -1 Stone Edge vs 252/0 Gyarados = 78.68% minimum
So that's 5 of the toughest bulky waters on the game all getting obliterated on the switch in unboosted. And no, this doesn't require telepathic prediction skills, you're simply leading with a STAB move everytime.
As impressive as those calculations are, they don't really take advantage of Speed Boost as Blaziken already outruns those 5 Pokemon. Offensive teams might try to get the jump on 'Ken by going to their Salamence or the Garchomp etc. Sorry pal, not gonna work.
-Fire Blast + -1 Stone Edge vs 4/0 Salamence = 100.61% minimum
HJK + HJK vs 4/0 Garchomp = 120.34% minimum
HJK + Hidden Power vs 160/0 Starmie = 115.94% minimum
This is a very difficult set to switch into. I'm struggling to think of a safe switch in. Slowking and Tentacruel perhaps (although they're taking heavy damage from two HJK's)? The EVs outrun Jolly Tyranitar before a boost and outspeed max Spe Starmie/Azelf/Raikou after a boost. You can tweak the Spe to suit your designs but I wanted to squeeze enough Atk EVs in to get the most out of Blaziken's new toy, Hi Jump Kick.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this set is the fact that it brings two roles to any team. It can function as a high powered wall-breaker against stall teams or as a powerful late game cleaner vs balanced or offensive teams.