Smogon Community - View Single Post - Zapdos (Agility LO) [QC 3/3] [GP 2/3]

Thread: Zapdos (Agility LO) [QC 3/3] [GP 2/3]

View Single Post

Aug 14th, 2012, 8:58:20 PM	#14
DittoCrow Moderator Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,137 Mentor	... [SET] name: Agility LO move 1: Thunderbolt move 2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Flying move 3: Agility move 4: Roost item: Life Orb ability: Pressure nature: Modest evs: 180 HP / 252 SpA / 76 Spe [SET COMMENTS] <p>This is a un~~derrated and rar~~ique set,; Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice make the ~~well known coverage combo known as "Boltbeam", which is quite effective against the popular FWG cores, achieving an OHKO or 2HKO with Stealth Rock support with Swampert being the exception~~BoltBeam combination, which is quite effective against the popular Fire / Water / Grass cores, as Zapdos achieves an OHKO or 2HKO on most Pokemon in these cores with Stealth Rock support except for Swampert. However, Hidden Power Flying is also a good option, because it receives STAB~~. F~~; for example, Gligar is always a 2HKOed by Hidden Power Flying after Steath Rock damage. This set has two options: a bulky set with access to Roost and good coverage;, or a more offensive set, that sacrific~~ing~~es recovery for coverage.</p> <p>This set ~~has to~~must be played ~~well, in the e~~in different ways throughout the match. Early-game, Zapdos ~~attacks with a~~should use its great 383 Special Attack in tandem with Life Orb ~~boost,~~to wear down the opponent and wreaks havoc on unprepared teams. ~~On the other hand, Roost~~Roost must then be used to increases Zapdos's longevity. ~~Once~~Finally, late-game, Zapdos can use Agility to avoid being revenge killed by a Choice Scarf user, such as Flygon ~~and~~or Darmanitan~~, while they are easily OHKOed by~~ and then easily OHKO them with Hidden Power Ice and Thunderbolt, respectively.</p> [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] <p>With the given EV spread, Zapdos will outruns max Speed Naive Choice Scarf Mienshao byafter an Agility. The ~~Special Attack boosting~~Modest nature and ~~the~~ EVs are ~~invest~~used to maximize itZapdos's immediate power. The rest of the EVs are placed into HP to maintain ~~Zapdos~~ respectable bulk ~~despite being a special sweeper but being weak to Stealth Rock~~. Zapdos can also ~~can run~~use max Speeed to outrun non-Choice Scarf Jolly Heracross, Chandelure, and Nidoking~~, among anothers~~. Another option to gain coverage is to forego Roost for Heat Wave~~, with Heat Wave Zapdos bypasses its common checks such as Roserade, Swampert or Rhyperior~~ in order to bypass Zapdos's common checks such as Roserade and Bronzong. The last option is Baton Pass, which, along with Agility, can be another option at the cost of coverage and a loss in durability. However, Baton Pass is generally is a bad option.</p> <p>This set really appreciates entry hazard and Rapid Spin support if Zapdos is on a balanced or bulky team~~, i~~. If you are using a ~~very~~n offensive team, the pressure of your sweepers often act as pseudo team support by minimizing the chances of the opponent using Rapid Spin and placing entry hazards. Good teammates for this set are physical attackers such as Hitmontop, who can actually make use of Rapid Spin, and Machamp; basically any pPokemon that can beat Zapdos's most solid counters~~, who are usually special walls~~: Snorlax, Raikou, Umbreon, and Lanturn.</p> c/p [SET] name: Agility LO move 1: Thunderbolt move 2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Flying move 3: Agility move 4: Roost item: Life Orb ability: Pressure nature: Modest evs: 180 HP / 252 SpA / 76 Spe [SET COMMENTS] <p>This is a unique set; Thunderbolt and Hidden Power Ice make the BoltBeam combination, which is quite effective against the popular Fire / Water / Grass cores, as Zapdos achieves an OHKO or 2HKO on most Pokemon in these cores with Stealth Rock support except for Swampert. However, Hidden Power Flying is also a good option because it receives STAB; for example, Gligar is always 2HKOed by Hidden Power Flying after Steath Rock damage. This set has two options: a bulky set with access to Roost and good coverage, or a more offensive set that sacrifices recovery for coverage.</p> <p>This set must be played in different ways throughout the match. Early-game, Zapdos should use its great 383 Special Attack in tandem with Life Orb to wear down the opponent and wreak havoc on unprepared teams. Roost must then be used to increase Zapdos's longevity. Finally, late-game, Zapdos can use Agility to avoid being revenge killed by a Choice Scarf user such as Flygon or Darmanitan and then easily OHKO them with Hidden Power Ice and Thunderbolt, respectively.</p> [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] <p>With the given EV spread, Zapdos will outrun max Speed Naive Choice Scarf Mienshao after an Agility. The Modest nature and EVs are used to maximize Zapdos's immediate power. The rest of the EVs are placed into HP to maintain respectable bulk. Zapdos can also use max Speed to outrun non-Choice Scarf Jolly Heracross, Chandelure, and Nidoking. Another option to gain coverage is to forego Roost for Heat Wave in order to bypass Zapdos's common checks such as Roserade and Bronzong. The last option is Baton Pass, which, along with Agility, can be another option at the cost of coverage and a loss in durability. However, Baton Pass is generally is a bad option.</p> <p>This set really appreciates entry hazard and Rapid Spin support if Zapdos is on a balanced or bulky team. If you are using an offensive team, the pressure of your sweepers often act as pseudo team support by minimizing the chances of the opponent using Rapid Spin and placing entry hazards. Good teammates for this set are physical attackers such as Hitmontop, who can actually make use of Rapid Spin, and Machamp; basically any Pokemon that can beat Zapdos's most solid counters: Snorlax, Raikou, Umbreon, and Lanturn.</p> Changed a lot so GP Approved 2/3 __________________ Last edited by DittoCrow; Aug 14th, 2012 at 9:27:42 PM.