Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
I've used Magcargo as a lead it's actually pretty good.
Flame Body
- Lava Plume
- HP Rock
- SR
- Recover
common leads:
Ambipom - Please Fake Out me or U-turn out. Flame Body. Taunt risks a Lava Plume burn. usually a free SR.
Froslass - Lava Plume 2HKOs. 30% burn chance means that Lass is die...
When you are in a true "prediction war," it is a toss-up on who will come out on top. The OP's situation is a great example: MixMence could Outrage against Nite or Fire Blast in anticipation of Scizor's switch-in. If you predict correctly, you are in a huge advantage, because you KOed 1/6 of...
Prediction is glorified guessing. "Prediction wars" come down to a coin toss for the most part. I usually go for the obvious move initially, then switch it up depending on my opponent's playstyle.
Clefable is definitely viable in OU. The problem is that people try to use Clefable in OU like a Blissey; it is not your all purpose special wall like Blissey. If you don't use it correctly, don't bother. If you don't utilize Clefable's unique talents over Blissey (ie Encore, Trick, bulky CM...
My thoughts on my favorite former UUs...
Camerupt - Rock Polish is THE premier Camerupt set. I don't understand why it is more commonly used to set up SR and take hits, when it can cause so much chaos after a Rock Polish. Yes, it has nifty resistances, but those resistances are better used as...
If you can't vote, that doesn't mean that your opinions don't matter. You can post what you would vote BL/UU and your sound reasoning. You may be able to influence those who have voting rights.
My endorsements
BL
I'll start off with Staraptor, a suspect with a near unanimous consensus on its tiering. Staraptor is distinct from its Normal/Flying brethren, because it can actually demolish Rocks and Steels. A Life Orb Close Combat 2HKOes even the mighty Steelix. Combined with Brave...
The team looks very solid, and obviously you have much success with it. Here's my thoughts:
I think we had a game in which your Blaziken's Fire Blast missed, costing you the game severely. However, FB has the extra power to put most Slowbro into KO range of HP. Other than that, I'm always...
Testing may extend to April 1st, depending on what the mods say. Don't give up on ladder. Just spam Shaymin, Specs Fires, and Honchkrow. SubRoost Moltres is a killer too.
How do you deal with SubRoost Moltres? It Pressure and Toxic stalls insanely well. I rely on Hariyama Whirlwind to phaze it out and hopefully let SR kill it, or Drapion can do the same or Taunt it. Drapion gets hurt pretty badly by Flamethrower though. Or Moltres will Roost to full health as I...
If someone doesn't bother to put a Normal resist/immune on your team, then that person deserves to get smacked around by Ambipom, Swellow, Ursaring, and friends.
I don't think the Ambipom conversation was about it possibly being BL. It's just good at what it does. I believe that people are...
For Static and Flame Body Pokemon, only Magcargo and Ampharos are bulky enough to take tolerable damage from U-turn. It is hilarious for a Ambipom get paralyzed from Fake Outing the frail Manectric. It's not uncommon at all for an Ambipom vs Static Electrode lead match up. Would you take the...
With 252 HP EVs, Roserade's nice SpD base stat, and Leech Seed, Roserade can take a few light hits.
I was referring to an offensive Rotom switching into an Ambipom Fake Out. I should have been more specific.
Ambipom often switches in after a kill, Fake Outs, then U-turns to a counter. This...
I usually switch to a Rock or Steel type to take the inevitable Fake Out. Then, Ambipom will likely not have the balls to stay in Taunt and risk losing ~40% from a physical STAB move (Reigsteel Iron Head / Regirock Rock Slide). Most Ambipom that I've seen don't have Brick Break and even then...