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Old May 7th, 2011, 10:45:52 PM   #7
Sixonesix
is a past Smogon Premier League champion
 
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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I never really liked Air Balloon. Yeah, it grants a ground immunity, but it also broadcasts to the whole world that you have it (and not Focus Sash or Chople or any other item that could screw them harder). Unless the opponent is retarded (or playing on a sim >_>), that Earthquake immunity won't be anything more than a minor inconvenience to them, as there are plenty of ways to subvert Air Balloon to hit Excadrill with an Earthquake anyway. I'd rather take a half power Earthquake with Shuca and be left at about 40% than get gimped by a faster Rock Slide or Quick Attack or something and have to take a fatal full powered Earthquake.

But I know that Air Balloon is a common item on Excadrill nonetheless, which is why I gave it a mention in other options. I'm still iffy about putting it on the main set, even to replace Shuca. I'll consider it, though.

Edit: To put it another way, Air Balloon is a lot like Focus Sash, except it only prevents you from getting OHKOed by ground attacks from full health. Air Balloon is fairly legit for partner-related shenanigans, but against the opponent's Earthquakes I'd really rather just use Focus Sash or Shuca.
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