Quote:
Originally Posted by Fat Pocket
Cresselia is indeed a massive tank. During mini-tours, last round, and this round, I haven't find myself struggling to get past Cresselia, though. I think the biggest misconception I've heard on IRC channel and on the forums is the need to counter Cresselia. This strikes me as an absurd notion (countering a defensive mon?). From experience, you don't need to counter Cresselia; in contrary, all you need to do is pack more than one Pokemon that's not walled by Cresselia. The emphasis is now on the opponent switching in Cresselia on your mon rather than you switching into Cresselia. And from my experience there are plenty of mons that can put major dents to Cresselia to make it useless if it ever switches in on them. Here's a quick list: - Absol
- Aerodactyl (Taunt & Roost)
- Aggron (CB)
- Armaldo
- Bouffalant
- Cacturne
- Crawdaunt
- Crustle
- Durant
- Drapion
- Druddigon (HC & LO)
- Entei (SubCM)
- Escavalier
- Feraligatr
- Fraxure (DD Taunt & Eviolite)
- Gallade (SD & Lum / Sub)
- Golurk (LO)
- Hariyama (Guts + Payback)
- Linoone
- Pinsir
- Rhydon (SD)
- Sawsbuck (SD)
- Scolipede
- Scyther
- Zangoose
- Accelgor (LO)
- Eelektross (Acid Spray)
- Haunter (LO)
- Jynx
- Magneton (Metal Sound)
- Samurott (Taunt or SD)
- Spiritomb
Quite a list for a Pokemon "that walls 95% of the metagame." Then of course there's manual Rain and Sun that adds more to the list of Pokemon that Cresselia fails to wall: - Floatzel (BU + LO)
- Kabutops
- Kingler
- Omastar
- Gorebyss
- Poliwrath (BD)
- Emboar
- Entei
- Magmortar
- Moltres
- Charizard
Also there are Utility mons that can force Cress out or cripple it - Clefable (Encore + Status)
- Cryogonal (Haze + Status)
- Lapras (Hydration + Status)
- Mandibuzz (Phaze / Taunt / Status)
- Misdreavus (PerishTrap / Stallbreaker)
- Whimsicott
Now include Hail into the mix, and I found Cresselia an impenetrable wall on paper, but perfectly breakable in practice. From my perspective, RU has more than enough tools to deal with Cresselia. Sure, Cresselia is a major centralization force, as is any other good Pokemon like Sceptile, Entei, Slowking, etc. However, it does not restrict teambuilding to the extent that demands its banishment imo (and as shown through the list of mons that Cress doesn't wall). |
With all aspects, I'm inclined to disagree here. Cresselia can get hit super effectively, but has so much bulk that if it's not coming from Absol or Escavalier, it probably won't get OHKO'd. Most things who can hit it super effectively absolutely need to set up or they can't break through it. Cresselia also packs so many dangerous sets- The CM set not only provides it offensive prowess, but more special bulk- so it is literally impenetrable. T-Wave can cripple opponents so it can set up CM. Or alternatively, it can take a Hidden Power- Fire hurts Esca while Fighting deals with Absol and Crawdaunt. Also, Ice Beam can be used to deal with the two true dragons Fraxure and Druddigon as well as Sigi. Dual Screens can essentially do for the whole team and soften attacks. This makes Cresselia very powerful and overcentralizing.
Poliwrath, one of Cresselia's most common teammates walls everything Cress fails to wall. Cress not wallin' that thing for ya? In comes the mighty Poliwrath, laughing at that thing and prpares to burn or phaze.
Also, weather is so rare that Cress has little to worry about. She's still an OP wall.
If you don't carry something to break through Cresselia+Poliwrath, you're screwed. With that, Cresselia is surely ban worthy IMO.
EDIT: Another thing worth noting is that some of those things you mentioned very rarely run those moves. Magneton almost never runns Metal Sound, Rhydon hardly ever runs SD, and Druddi never runs HC. Floatzel never runs Bulk Up-its low Defense stat discourages that. Poliwrath also never runs Belly Drum, and is bound to die to Psychic easily. Also, Whimsicott is terrible.