Starmie (Bold)

[august]

[SET]
name: Bulky Rapid Spin (Bold Starmie)
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Thunderbolt / Reflect
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Choice Band Tyranitar and Scizor have historically been able to tank Starmie's hits and retaliate with Pursuit. This Starmie set aims to alleviate this Pursuit weakness that has hampered Starmie and provide considerably more bulk than the standard spin set, allowing Starmie to act as sturdier pivot. The most common Pursuit Tyranitar set is currently Choice Scarf Tyranitar, which always fails to OHKO Bold Starmie after Stealth Rock with Crunch, allowing Starmie to spin in a pinch. The given EVs allow Starmie to outspeed Adamant max Speed Lucario, and, by extension, other neutral nature base 90s and Timid Heatran. An additional 20 EVs in Speed allow Starmie to outpace Jolly Mamoswine and although Starmie should not be used as a primary Mamoswine check, the additional bulk allows Starmie to switch into Mamoswine a couple of times.</p>

<p>The choice between Thunderbolt and Reflect depends on what is a better fit for the team Starmie is being used on. Thunderbolt is more common because it allows Starmie to function as a reliable Gyarados check that can also deal some damage to bulky Water-types such as opposing Starmie or Suicune. Reflect softens the blows from harder hitting Pursuit users such as Choice Band Scizor and Choice Band Tyranitar and can also provide direct team support. The choice between Hydro Pump and Surf lies mainly in personal preference. Hydro Pump is less accurate, but its extra power allows Starmie to quickly wear down Rotom-A, while Surf deals damage more consistently. One major upside of using Hydro Pump is that it allows Starmie to 2HKO Heatran, even if it is holding a Passho Berry, something that Surf cannot do. Although Starmie was once considered the ultimate Infernape counter, Bold Starmie must be careful switching into Infernape because a coverage move followed by Grass Knot will 2HKO Starmie, and Starmie no longer outspeeds Infernape.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>As mentioned previously, the added bulk of Bold Starmie helps to alleviate the Pursuit weakness that Starmie has. This has made Bold Starmie an excellent choice to act as both a spinner and a bulky Water-type for stall teams. However, at only 280 Speed, Starmie no longer outspeeds Gengar and does not outspeed most Rotom-A, barring defensive RestTalk sets. In order for Starmie to spin more easily, a Pursuit user makes an excellent teammate. In particular, Choice Scarf Tyranitar can switch into Gengar's Shadow Balls as well as any of Rotom-A's assaults thanks to a buffed Special Defense stat and can remove them from play. If your team does not worry about Gengar, a mixed Tyranitar set is also an excellent choice, because it can still remove Rotom-A from play with Pursuit and, by feigning a Choice Scarf set, can surprise otherwise troublesome Pokemon such as Breloom and Forretress.</p>

<p>Ice Beam can be used on Starmie to deal more damage to Pokemon such as Breloom and Dragonite, but even with the added bulk a Bold nature provides, Starmie has little business switching into either one. If Starmie is being used as the spinner on a hail team, Blizzard is an excellent option, 2HKOing Shaymin and Zapdos as well as OHKOing Breloom. When using an Ice-type attack on Starmie, 287 Speed is more appropriate than 280. As for other teammates, Starmie appreciates having a teammate that can easily switch into Grass-type Pokemon. Specially defensive Skarmory does an excellent job switching into Grass-types and setting up Spikes. Heatran is another Pokemon that can come into Grass-types and can run a variety of different sets, including but not limited to a specially defensive set to handle Electric-types that scare Starmie off and a Choice Scarf set to beat Pokemon like Dragonite and Swords Dance Scizor.</p>

[SET COMMENTS]
-Much more physically bulky than the standard Starmie
-Survives assaults such as ScarfTar Crunch meaning Starmie can Rapid Spin in a pinch
-Thunderbolt allows Starmie to hit other Starmie as well as making it a pretty surefire Gyarados counter. Reflect helps Starmie soften blows from common Pursuit users such as CB Scizor and any Tyranitar set
-Hydro Pump is strong even with no investment and allows Starmie to hit the Rotom formes harder meaning it can spin faster
-Spins on SR Heatran without HP Grass but needs to be wary of Passho Tran
-No longer outspeeds Infernape so Grass Knot Infernape becomes scary

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
-Bold Starmie helps to alleviate the Pursuit weakness that hampers Starmie as a spinner making it a better candidate to spin on stall
-Additional bulk helps Starmie spin on bulky Ground-types such as Swampert and Hippowdon without worrying about critical hits
-Ice Beam is an option over Thunderbolt / Reflect to hit Breloom and Dragonite, but even with the additional bulk Starmie generally has little business switching into either

 

[McMeghan]

I don't think there is much to add, considering the popularity of Bold Starmie in the current DPP metagame.
You outlined all the reasons as to why someone should consider it for his team.

Maybe you could mention that the speed is there to outspeed Lucario and thus, allows you to check it better thanks to the added bulk even if it gets the SD boost late-game.

Also, maybe a little mention of a few more EVs in speed (hitting 285 for Mamo and 288 for Jolly Gyara).

QC Approved (if I can actually do that lol)!

 

[Jirachee]

looks good

approved 2/2

edit: don't forget to mention good teammates

 

[BKC]

285 speed if youre weak to mamo, 287 if youre using ice beam

also if you hydro vs passho tran as it hp grasses then you kill it with another so you arent as messed up by it, surf doesnt do this

looks good otherwise!!

 

[august]

thx boys started some writin will do more after work

 

[august]

any more comments / things i missed in the writeup would be appreciated before i ask for this to be gp'd

 

[Andy Snype]

looks gucci
gping this

check

[SET]
name: Bulky Rapid Spin
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Thunderbolt / Reflect
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

&lt;p&gt;SinChoice the onset of DiamoBand and Pearl, the biggest problem Starmie faced as a Rapid SpinneScizor and Tyranitar has been the glaring Pursuit weakness. Behemoths such as Choice Band Tyranitar had both the power and the bulk to comve historically been able into Starmie and prevent it from Rapid Spinning any further. With the onset of Platinum came an influx of Choice Band Scizors nk Starmie's hits and retaliate withat also carried Pursuit, making Starmies job even more difficult. This Starmie set aims to help alleviate theis Pursuit weakness that has hampered Starmie as well as offeringnd provide considerably more bulk than the standard spin set which, allowsing Starmie to act as a more sturdyier pivot. The most common Pursuit Tyranitar set is currently Choice Scarf Tyranitar, which always fails to OHKO Bold Starmie after Stealth Rock with Crunch, allowing Starmie to Rapid Sspin in a pinch. The given EVs allow Starmie to outspeed Adamant max Speed Lucario, and, by extension also allow Starmie to outspeed, other neutral natured max Speed base 90s as well as max Speed Pokemon and positive-Speed natured Heatran. An additional 20 EVs in Speed allow Starmie to outpace max Speed positive naturedJolly Mamoswine and although Starmie should not be used as a primary Mamoswine check, the additional bulk does allow Starmie to switch into Mamoswine a couple of times.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The choice between Thunderbolt and Reflect depends on what is a better fit for the team Starmie is being used on. Thunderbolt is more common because it allows Starmie to function as a reliable Gyarados check that can also deal some damage to bulky Water-types such as opposing Starmie or Suicune. Reflect helpsoftens to softenhe blows from harder hitting Pursuit users such as Choice Band Scizor and Choice Band Tyranitar and can also comprovide din handy forect team support. The choice between Hydro Pump and Surf lies mainly in personal preference. Hydro Pump is less accurate, but theits extra power allows Starmie to quickly wear down Rotom-aA, while Surf ideals damage more consistently. One major upside of using Hydro Pump is that it allows Starmie to 2HKO Heatran, even if it is holding a Passho Berry, something that Surf cannot do. Although Starmie was once considered the penultimate Infernape counter, Bold Starmie must be careful switching into Infernape because a coverage move followed by Grass Knot will 2HKO Starmie, and Starmie no longer outspeeds Infernape.&lt;/p&gt;

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

&lt;p&gt;As mentioned previously, the added bulk of Bold Starmie helps to alleviate the Pursuit weakness that Starmie has. This has made Bold Starmie an excellent choice to act as both a Rapid Sspinner and a bulky Water-types for Sstall Tteams historically. However, at only 280 Speed, Starmie no longer outspeeds Gengar and idoes not outpacspeed by most Rotom appliances-A formes, barring defensive RestTalk sets. In order for Starmie to spin more easily, a Pursuit user makes an excellent teammate. In particular, Choice Scarf Tyranitar can switch into Gengar's Shadow Balls as well as most assaults fromany of Rotom-A's appliance formessaults thanks to a buffed Special Defense stat and can remove them from play. AIf your team does not worry about Gengar, a Mixed Tyranitar set is also an excellent choice if your team is not worried about Gengar, because it can still remove Rotom appliance formes-A from play with Pursuit and, by feigning a Choice Scarf set, can surprise otherwise troublesome Pokemon such as Breloom or Forretress. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ice Beam can be used on Starmie in order to deal more damage to Pokemon such as Breloom and Dragonite, but even with the added bulk provided by a Bold nature provides, Starmie has little business switching into either. If Starmie is being used as the Rapid Sspinner on a Hail team, Blizzard is an excellent option to, 2HKOing Shaymin and Zapdos as well as OHKOing Breloom. When using an Ice-type attack on Starmie, 287 Speed is more appropriate than 280. As for other teammates, Starmie appreciates having a teammate that can easily switch into Grass-type pokemon. Specially Defensive Skarmory does an excellent job switching into Grass-types and setting up Spikes. Heatran is another pokemon that can come into Grass-types and can run a variety of different sets, including, but not limited to, a Specially Defensive set to handle Electric-types that scare Starmie off and a Choice Scarf set to beat Pokemon like Dragonite and Swords Dance Scizor.&lt;/p&gt;

First sentence should read: "Choice Band Scizor and Tyranitar have historically been able to tank Starmie's hits and retaliate with Pursuit." Diff app did that really funky.

GP Approved (1/2)

 

[Oglemi]

Implemented Andrew's GP check, gave my own, and uploaded it