Phione (GP 2/2)

Phione

[Overview]

<p>As a doppelganger of the legendary sea prince Manaphy, Phione doesn't look too horrible at first sight. Sure, it lacks huge stats, but they seem good enough for NU. It doesn't have access to boosting moves, but it can set up Rain Dance for teammates. In fact, the combination of Hydration, Rain Dance, Rest, and U-turn makes Phione seem like the Pokemon best suited for setting up rain. So what went wrong? Its bland typing adds no resistances to dedicated rain teams, and actually compounds the Electric- and Grass-type weaknesses that plague its teammates. For a utility supporter, this is a serious flaw. Competition from Mesprit and other superb rain setters makes it even harder for Phione to stand out. However, at the end of the day, you can laugh at Phione all you want; just have your game face on if you don't want to be washed away by incoming Swift Swim sweepers.</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rest
move 4: Scald / Toxic
item: Damp Rock
ability: Hydration
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses all of Phione's assets in order to muster up a decent supporting set. With U-turn, Phione can switch to a rain abuser immediately after setting up Rain Dance without having it take a hit. While Phione doesn't have any spectacular stats, its average Speed and bulk serves it well as a supporter. Rest, along with Hydration and Rain Dance, gives Phione enough bulk and longevity to set up rain multiple times a match. Scald is available as an attack, but you will rarely find yourself in a position to attack when you can simply U-turn to a sweeper that is far better at using the precious rain. Toxic is also an option to cripple opposing bulky Water-types and serve as a general nuisance against opposing stall.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Damp Rock is the only viable item, as it lengthens the duration of Rain Dance significantly. The EVs and nature are for maximum physical bulk and a slow U-turn, but be sure to change the nature to Impish if you choose Toxic over Scald. Phione is relatively flexible with its EVs. In fact, an alternate spread with maximum HP and Speed may be useful for setting rain more reliably without worrying about Taunt users or faster attackers. However, this forfeits Phione's greatest asset, a slow U-turn to switch in a sweeper unscathed. It is important to pair up Phione with teammates that can effectively abuse the short bout of rain. Shell Smash Gorebyss and Huntail are incredibly dangerous in normal circumstances, and can be nigh unstoppable with rain support. Other capable Swift Swimmers include Seismitoad, Golduck, and Armaldo. Of course, dedicated rain teams need more than a single Rain Dance user. Electrode is yet another superb rain supporter, with a fast Taunt and Explosion at its disposal for maintaining momentum.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Phione has little in the way of other options. An offensive Life Orb set can be viable with max Speed and Special Attack, especially as specially defensive Water-types, such as Mantine and Frillish, are often unable to harm Phione. Otherwise, Safeguard is the only remaining supporting option, which simply goes to show how pathetic its movepool is. Phione's greatest strength is support, and it should stick to providing 8-turn rain for its teammates.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Electric- and Grass-types can easily kill Phione with a super effective STAB move. However, countering Phione is often a pointless endeavor unless you can prevent it from setting up Rain Dance, as killing Phione will only allow the opposition to get a free switch to their sweeper. For example, Raichu, Rotom-S, and faster Electric-types can remove it before it gets a chance to set up Rain Dance. Also, Phione is rather helpless against Substitute and Taunt users, as it has little offensive presence. Often, Pokemon with Substitute easily set up on Phione, and can then hit the incoming rain sweeper with a strong attack. Finally, Huntail and Gorebyss sets up on Phione, and uses its rain to their advantage with Swift Swim.</p>

I'm thinking you might want some speed investment on Phione. It doesn't have bad base speed and if you invest in it, you'll be able to heal before many opponents are able to attack, effectively giving you more survivability than max bulk whilst also letting you support more effectively. I'd consider dropping defense down to avoid a specific OHKO and then putting the rest into Speed, personally, although this may interfere with your U-Turn strategy. Probably worth a mention in the OO if not the main set.

Eh you could mention a spread with higher speed in the main set but usually a slow U-turn is more useful, so your frail Swift Swim sweepers don't have to take a hit THEN set up (esp. Gorebyss/Huntail who use Shell Smash).

With tennis on this one.

sigh

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GP Approved 1/2

MINE

As in that finding nemo thing

Amarillo said:

Phione
[Overview]

<p>As a doppelganger of the legendary sea prince Manaphy, Phione doesn't look too horrible at first sight. Sure, it lacks huge stats, but they seem good enough for NU. It lacks boosting moves too doesn't have access to boosting moves, but it can set up Rain Dance for teammates. In fact, the combination of Hydration, Rain Dance, Rest, and U-turn makes Phione seem like the Pokemon best suited for setting up rain. So what went wrong? Its bland typing adds no resistances to dedicated rain teams, and actually compounds the Electric- and Grass-type weaknesses that plague its teammates. For a utility supporter, this is a serious flaw. Competition from Mesprit and other superb rain setters makes it even harder for Phione to stand out. However, at the end of the day, you can laugh at Phione all you want, but you'll need ; just have your game face on if you don't want to be swept washed away by incoming Swift Swim sweepers. Just a note on why I made that change, you needed the transition word 'however' to bridge "Phione sucks" and "Don't laugh at Phione"</p>

[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Rest
move 4: Scald / Toxic
item: Damp Rock
ability: Hydration
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses all of Phione's assets in order to muster up a decent supporting set. With Rain Dance and U-turn, Phione can switch to a rain abuser immediately after setting up Rain Dance without having it take a hit. While Phione doesn't have any spectacular stats, its average Speed and bulk serves it well as a rain supporter. Rest, along with Hydration and Rain Dance, gives Phione enough bulk and longevity to set up rain multiple times a match. Scald is available as an attack, but you will rarely find yourself in a position to attack when you can simply U-turn to a sweeper that is far better at using the precious rain. As a result, Toxic is also an option to cripple opposing bulky Water-types and serve as a general nuisance against opposing stall.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Damp Rock is the only viable item, as it lengthens the duration of Rain Dance significantly. The EVs and nature are for maximum physical bulk and a slow U-turn, but be sure to change the nature to Impish if you choose Toxic over Scald. Phione is relatively flexible with its EVs. In fact, an alternate spread with maximum HP and Speed may be useful for setting rain more reliably without worrying about Taunt users or faster attackers. However, this forfeits Phione's greatest asset, a slow U-turn, and its ability to switch in a sweeper unscathed. It is important to pair up Phione with teammates that can effectively abuse the short bout of rain. Shell Smash Gorebyss and Huntail are incredibly dangerous in normal circumstances, and can be nigh unstoppable with rain support. Other capable Swift Swimmers include Seismitoad, Golduck, and Armaldo. Of course, dedicated rain teams need more than a single Rain Dance user. Electrode is yet another superb rain supporter, with a fast Taunt and Explosion at its disposal for maintaining momentum.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Phione has little in the way of other options. An offensive Life Orb set can be viable with max Speed and Special Attack, especially as specially defensive Water-types, such as Mantine and Frillish, are often unable to harm Phione. Otherwise, Safeguard is one of its the only remaining relatively viable supporting options, which simply goes to show how pathetic its movepool is. Phione's greatest strength is support, and it should stick to providing 8-turn rain for its teammates.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Electric- and Grass-types can easily kill Phione with a super effective STAB move. However, countering Phione is often a pointless endeavor unless you can contain the rain sweeper that will undoubtedly switch in after the KO prevent it from setting up Rain Dance, as killing Phione will only allow the opposition to get a free switch to their sweeper. For example, Raichu, Rotom-S, and faster Electric-types can kill it off remove it before it gets a chance to set up Rain Dance. Also, Phione is rather helpless against Substitute and Taunt users, as it has little offensive presence. Often, Pokemon with Substitute can easily set up on Phione, and can then hit the incoming rain sweeper with a strong STAB move attack. Finally, Huntail and Gorebyss can easily set up sets up on Phione, and uses its rain to their advantage with Swift Swim.</p>

Click to expand...

Proofreading, lunch, not done

now finis

Nicely done, orcinus. I don't think I'm allowed to stamp the same analysis twice though.

OO PICK ME PICK ME



GP 2/2

OK we're done I guess.

uploaded