Common Leads

[blasphemy1]

Originally Posted by Fat bearsfan092

The answer is relatively simple as to why Ninjask still sees use. Quite a few players (especially newer players) see Ninjask as the easiest way of passing stat boosts to Pokemon. I mean, think about it. It's easy to get a +2 attack +3 speed (or similar) to something deadly like Tyranitar, Salamence, Gyarados, or anything else that can deal massive amounts of physical damage.

The reason why I say newer players use Ninjask more is because, in paper, Ninjask seems decent. However, Ninjask telegraphs your moves to your opponents. Nearly every Jask is a passer (hyperbole fail). It takes almost zero effort to use Protect, Sub, Swords Dance, Baton Pass, pretty much in that order.

This makes Ninjask extremely easy to counter. Even a +2 X-Scissor fails to pose an adequate threat to a defensive minded Pokemon. Its ability to be pseudo-hazed means that its passes are usually for naught. Even if Ninjask comes in on something other than a Pseudo-hazer, all one has to do is switch to the hazer and spam Roar/Whirlwind, blowing away the stat boosts the moment they're passed. In addition, Stealth Rocks take 50 percent from this bug, and factoring in subs, Ninjask usually gets only one chance to pass, and that one chance is easily denied.

But again, some users fail to realize how easy it is to counter Ninjask. If you don't stop Ninjask, there's a chance you'll end up 6-0'd. It works both ways. The inexperienced user doesn't know what to do against Ninjask and gets swept. The inexperienced user of Ninjask thinks that Ninjask is a good lead, leading to its higher usage.

And Aerodactyl gets screwed by Bullet Punch Metagross.

Exactly, however, newer players should realize that Gliscor can pass the same boosts, has access to Taunt, and is much sturdier.

Luckily, Ninjask typically passes to something it shares a weakness to, so if you can predict which recipient they are passing to, you can hit them SE. Salamence, Gyarados, and Ninjask are weak to rock. Tyranitar and Ninjask are destroyed by Bullet Punch. Metagross is weak to fire. Marowak is weak to ice. Unfortunately, if you mispredict and use a rock move, the latter two could come in and rape you. Still, just pressing the point that most teams can beat Jask passes without a pseudo-hazer.

[A.P.]

Thankfully, you don't need the same mindgames against Gligar in UU. Bring in an Electric user (Shaymin works too), and predict the Bibarel switch, and OHKO it.

[Forsety]

No surprises on the standard leads.

However two leads in UU strikes me as odd, Nidoqueen seems to be an odd lead since you'd be giving away one of your best defensive players very early. Steelix too, what the hell is it going to do? SR and blow up? The others make sense though.

[Xaqwais]

Originally Posted by Fat Forsety

No surprises on the standard leads.

However two leads in UU strikes me as odd, Nidoqueen seems to be an odd lead since you'd be giving away one of your best defensive players very early. Steelix too, what the hell is it going to do? SR and blow up? The others make sense though.

Well, Nidoqueen can set up entry hazards very easily. Steelix gets SR up quick and can actually threaten Crobat with Gyro Ball.

[nickoboy1992]

Gengar can also use the countersash combo iirc

Yea but it is outclassed IMO by the likes of alakazam who is faster and can do a crapload of damage with psychic as well and to top it all off it is faster. Idk how no one knows this yet and it seems like im the first person to use it. and the gengars that you talk about, they get killed by psychic unless you are running suckerpunch in which case ill accept the defeat to a wierd set.

[Amphetamines]

Originally Posted by Fat nickoboy1992

Yea but it is outclassed IMO by the likes of alakazam who is faster and can do a crapload of damage with psychic as well and to top it all off it is faster. Idk how no one knows this yet and it seems like im the first person to use it. and the gengars that you talk about, they get killed by psychic unless you are running suckerpunch in which case ill accept the defeat to a wierd set.

No one really runs TrickScarf Alakazam EVER, so I don't think it would be considered "Outclassed". Alakazam has a poor STAB attack (Psychic, easily trapped by T-Tar), and is very frail. Gengar doesn't loose a lot of speed compared to Alakzam, and has a much better STAB move and movepool.

[Xaqwais]

Originally Posted by Fat nickoboy1992

Yea but it is outclassed IMO by the likes of alakazam who is faster and can do a crapload of damage with psychic as well and to top it all off it is faster. Idk how no one knows this yet and it seems like im the first person to use it. and the gengars that you talk about, they get killed by psychic unless you are running suckerpunch in which case ill accept the defeat to a wierd set.

Also, after Gengar uses it's Sash, it can still either Explode or Destiny Bond, taking another Pokemon out. It may not be "better" but it still has it's benefits.