Plusle
[OVERVIEW]
For a Pokemon that is all about positivity, there are ironically very few plus points about Plusle. Despite seemingly passable offensive stats, it is outclassed as an offensive Electric-type by the likes of Zebstrika, Rotom-F, Raichu, Electabuzz, and Pikachu. Defensively, anything remotely strong will negate its presence completely, and it's even frailer than its cousin Minun. In addition, its Ruby Pokedex entry states that Plusle will cry loudly if its teammates lose. So much for positivity; a team of five good Pokemon plus one Plusle isn't likely to win very often against a team of six. To sum it up, Plusle is a poor addition to any team.
[SET]
name: "Support"
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Substitute
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb / Salac Berry
ability: Plus
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot enables Plusle to boost its Special Attack if it gains a free turn. Baton Pass not only enables Plusle to flee the battlefield as quickly as possible but also allows Plusle to support its teammates by passing Nasty Plot boosts or a Substitute to them. The combination of Nasty Plot and Baton Pass is Plusle's best way of standing out among Electric-types, although it still faces stiff competition from its equally shockingly bad cousin, Minun. Substitute can be used in case it is more beneficial to pass it than a Special Attack boost, and it can be used with a Salac Berry to potentially pass Speed boosts. The offensive moves are useful if you are lucky enough to face an opponent who brings six Pokemon weak to Electric with below base 95 Speed.
Set Details
========
If using a Salac Berry, run a spread of 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe to activate it after three uses of Substitute. A Focus Sash enables Plusle to set up a Nasty Plot boost before passing it without having to run dual screens and three Memento users while facing an opponent who doesn't understand how to switch. However, if you are confident in Plusle's ability to force foes out, Life Orb is a good alternative to hit moderately hard. Salac Berry can be used to pass a Speed boost or even attempt a mini-sweep, but it needs to be used with Substitute. Don't even bother trying to pull off something like strategically switching into weak moves to get it down into Salac Berry range. It's Plusle. It will die.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Plusle in after a teammate has been sacrificed, preferably into something that is frightened out by it, such as Pelipper, Wingull, or Luvdisc. Then, set up a Nasty Plot or Substitute as they switch out and then use Baton Pass to get the heck out of there before the opponent gets a chance to put Plusle out of commission.
Team Options
========
Special attacking teammates work well with Plusle, as they appreciate Nasty Plot boosts. Additionally, dual screens and Memento users, such as Misdreavus, Jumpluff, and Magcargo, help Plusle actually survive a few hits if you aren't intending on using Focus Sash. For example, it is no longer 2HKOed by Silk Scarf Purugly's Fake Out or Jumpluff's Acrobatics after Stealth Rock behind an appropriate screen.
Minun is also a great teammate for Plusle. They are both cheerleaders, so surely the more moral support, the merrier, right?
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Plusle has a few interesting support options, such as Encore, Nuzzle, Copycat, Sing, and Agility. However, Minun probably does these better, and if a set is outclassed by Minun, it probably needs some re-evaluating.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon, no matter how weak they are, will probably at the very least 2HKO Plusle. To illustrate, Jumpluff's weak, unboosted, resisted Acrobatics has a decent chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock. Plusle stands no chance against stronger foes. Most teams will have a Pokemon above base 95 Speed, so Plusle will be in for some trouble. At least it won't fare so poorly against slower Pokemon, right...?
**Slower Pokemon**: Unfortunately, not every Pokemon is as all-around bad as Plusle is. Slower Pokemon generally make up for their clumsiness with greater bulk or raw power. Bulky foes have no trouble swatting Plusle aside by tanking hits and retaliating. On the other hand, slower but powerful Pokemon spell trouble for Plusle as well, as they make Plusle think twice before using Baton Pass to a teammate that will be on the receiving end of the kind of crushing blow that Plusle can only dream of dishing out. Why did you choose to put such a bad Pokemon on your team again?
[OVERVIEW]
For a Pokemon that is all about positivity, there are ironically very few plus points about Plusle. Despite seemingly passable offensive stats, it is outclassed as an offensive Electric-type by the likes of Zebstrika, Rotom-F, Raichu, Electabuzz, and Pikachu. Defensively, anything remotely strong will negate its presence completely, and it's even frailer than its cousin Minun. In addition, its Ruby Pokedex entry states that Plusle will cry loudly if its teammates lose. So much for positivity; a team of five good Pokemon plus one Plusle isn't likely to win very often against a team of six. To sum it up, Plusle is a poor addition to any team.
[SET]
name: "Support"
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Substitute
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb / Salac Berry
ability: Plus
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot enables Plusle to boost its Special Attack if it gains a free turn. Baton Pass not only enables Plusle to flee the battlefield as quickly as possible but also allows Plusle to support its teammates by passing Nasty Plot boosts or a Substitute to them. The combination of Nasty Plot and Baton Pass is Plusle's best way of standing out among Electric-types, although it still faces stiff competition from its equally shockingly bad cousin, Minun. Substitute can be used in case it is more beneficial to pass it than a Special Attack boost, and it can be used with a Salac Berry to potentially pass Speed boosts. The offensive moves are useful if you are lucky enough to face an opponent who brings six Pokemon weak to Electric with below base 95 Speed.
Set Details
========
If using a Salac Berry, run a spread of 8 HP / 248 SpA / 252 Spe to activate it after three uses of Substitute. A Focus Sash enables Plusle to set up a Nasty Plot boost before passing it without having to run dual screens and three Memento users while facing an opponent who doesn't understand how to switch. However, if you are confident in Plusle's ability to force foes out, Life Orb is a good alternative to hit moderately hard. Salac Berry can be used to pass a Speed boost or even attempt a mini-sweep, but it needs to be used with Substitute. Don't even bother trying to pull off something like strategically switching into weak moves to get it down into Salac Berry range. It's Plusle. It will die.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Plusle in after a teammate has been sacrificed, preferably into something that is frightened out by it, such as Pelipper, Wingull, or Luvdisc. Then, set up a Nasty Plot or Substitute as they switch out and then use Baton Pass to get the heck out of there before the opponent gets a chance to put Plusle out of commission.
Team Options
========
Special attacking teammates work well with Plusle, as they appreciate Nasty Plot boosts. Additionally, dual screens and Memento users, such as Misdreavus, Jumpluff, and Magcargo, help Plusle actually survive a few hits if you aren't intending on using Focus Sash. For example, it is no longer 2HKOed by Silk Scarf Purugly's Fake Out or Jumpluff's Acrobatics after Stealth Rock behind an appropriate screen.
Minun is also a great teammate for Plusle. They are both cheerleaders, so surely the more moral support, the merrier, right?
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Plusle has a few interesting support options, such as Encore, Nuzzle, Copycat, Sing, and Agility. However, Minun probably does these better, and if a set is outclassed by Minun, it probably needs some re-evaluating.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Pokemon**: Faster Pokemon, no matter how weak they are, will probably at the very least 2HKO Plusle. To illustrate, Jumpluff's weak, unboosted, resisted Acrobatics has a decent chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock. Plusle stands no chance against stronger foes. Most teams will have a Pokemon above base 95 Speed, so Plusle will be in for some trouble. At least it won't fare so poorly against slower Pokemon, right...?
**Slower Pokemon**: Unfortunately, not every Pokemon is as all-around bad as Plusle is. Slower Pokemon generally make up for their clumsiness with greater bulk or raw power. Bulky foes have no trouble swatting Plusle aside by tanking hits and retaliating. On the other hand, slower but powerful Pokemon spell trouble for Plusle as well, as they make Plusle think twice before using Baton Pass to a teammate that will be on the receiving end of the kind of crushing blow that Plusle can only dream of dishing out. Why did you choose to put such a bad Pokemon on your team again?
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