Combusken (Special Attacker) [GP 2/2]

So I've been playtesting this set for a couple of days now, credits to ShakeItUp for finding this gem. This thing is actually really good!


[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Protect
move 4: Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Combusken may seem fairly weak when its stats aren't boosted, it has some very powerful special attacks in its arsenal. These attacks allow it to 2HKO the majority of the NU metagame, where there are more physically bulky Pokemon than specially defensive. Fire Blast is your first STAB move, which not only roasts anything that is weak to it but also 2HKOes a lot of Pokemon that are hit neutrally by it. Focus Blast smashes most of the Pokemon that can take Fire Blast. As a testament to the power of STAB Focus Blast, Regirock has a 69% chance of being OHKOed after Stealth Rock damage. As an added bonus, Fire / Fighting also has excellent neutral coverage on most of the tier. Protect takes the third moveslot, allowing you to snag a Speed boost for free. In the final slot, Substitute provides an small buffer for attacks as well as status moves. While it may seem detrimental in conjunction with Life Orb, Combusken won't be lasting for very long anyways.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>To prove exactly how powerful Combusken is, below are some damage calculations versus some of the most prominent walls in the tier.</p>

<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Focus Blast vs 36/220 Alomomola 57.08% - 67.08%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/0 Weezing 83.83% - 99.1%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/80 Mesprit 51.1% - 60.16%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/0 Misdreavus 74.38% - 87.35%</li>
<li>Focus Blast vs 252/0 Torkoal 81.4% - 96.22%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/252+ Cryogonal 71.51% - 84.59%</li>
<li>Hidden Power Ice vs 252/252+ Altaria 65.54% - 76.84%</li>
</ul>

<p>The above calculations are only possible with Life Orb, making it the preferred item. However, both Leftovers and Eviolite are options, the former for restoring lost HP from Substitute, and the latter for giving you more overall bulk. However, you will be missing out on most of the KOs you would be achieving otherwise. On that note, you can forgo Substitute for another coverage move, preferably a Hidden Power of your choice. Hidden Power Ice is usually the best option, as it is the only way you will ever get past specially defensive Altaria. Teammates who can set up hazards are incredibly useful for this set, as they are needed for several of the above KOs. Lastly, make sure you come in only on Pokemon who can't do anything to you, or right after a kill; Combusken is incredibly frail and will sustain heavy damage if switching in directly on even a neutral attack. Likewise, it doesn't outspeed everything after a single boost, so when faced with a faster threat, don't be afraid to switch out.</p>
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
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Yeah, this thing was pretty damn good when I faced it the other day. Special Attacks in general seem to be more effective in this tier when there's stuff like Alomomola, Tangela, Regirock etc kicking around at high usage, so as a non-boosting attacker this is probably the way to go. You still deal a lot of damage to Cryogonal with super effective STABs, so yeah, I reckon this should be in the analysis somewhere.
 

Agonist

how can I feel existential dread, it's my fear
is a Forum Moderator Alumnus
maybe make a mention of wish support, as well as a spinner? Sub and LO will whittle its HP down really fast, so having both would be a plus.
 
Maybe, but this isn't meant to be bulky, or even last long - it's supposed to hit hard, dgf about longevity

also i wrecked ice-eyes team with it today

edit: lol i'll mention it in AC most likely along with shit like physical attacks, mixed is honestly not worth it :P
 
Work Up might be worth a mention since its the only boosting move that raises Special Attack. Actually, a mixed set might be worth looking into xD
 
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Protect
move 4: Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Combusken may seem fairly weak when its stats aren't boosted, it has some very powerful special attacks in its arsenal; this allows, allowing it to 2HKO the majority of the NU metagame, where there are more physically bulky Pokemon than specially defensive. Fire Blast is your first STAB move, not only roasting anything that is weak to it but also 2HKOing a lot of Pokemon that are hit neutrally by it. Focus Blast smashes most of the Pokemon that can take Fire Blast. As a testament to the power of STAB Focus Blast, Regirock has a 69% chance of being OHKOed after Stealth Rock damage. As an added bonus, Fire / Fighting also has excellent neutral coverage on most of the tier. Protect takes the third moveslot, allowing you to snag a Speed boost for free. In the final slot, Substitute provides an small buffer for attacks as well as status moves. While it may seems detrimental in conjunction with Life Orb, Combusken is not won't be lasting for very long anyways.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>To prove exactly how powerful Combusken is, below are some damage calculations versus some of the most prominent walls in the tier.</p>

<ul_class="damage calculations">

<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Focus Blast vs 36 HP/220 SpD Alomomola: 57.08% - 67.08%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP Weezing: 83.83% - 99.1%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP/80 SpDef Mesprit: 51.1% - 60.16% (2HKO after SR)</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP Misdreavus: 74.38% - 87.35%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Focus Blast vs 252 HP Torkoal: 81.4% - 96.22%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP/255 SpDef Cryogonal: 71.51% - 84.59% (75% chance to OHKO after SR)</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Hidden Power Ice vs Calm 252 HP/252 SpD Altaria: 65.54% - 76.84% (18% chance of an OHKO after SR)</li>

</ul>

<p>The above calculations are only possible with Life Orb, making it the preferred item. However, both Leftovers and Eviolite are options, the former for restoring HP for Substitute, and the latter for giving you more overall bulk. However, you will be missing out on most of the KOs you would be achieving otherwise. On that note, you can forgo Substitute for another coverage move, preferably a Hidden Power of your choice. Hidden Power Ice is usually the best option, as it is the only way you will ever get past specially defensive Altaria. Teammates who can set up hazards are incredibly useful for this set, as they are needed for several KOs. Lastly, make sure you come in only on Pokemon who can't do anything to you, or right after a kill; Combusken is incredibly frail. Likewise, you don't it doesn't outspeed everything after a single boost, so if you have to switch out of an attack, go ahead when faced with a faster threat, don't be afraid to switch out.</p>


1/2
 
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Protect
move 4: Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Modest
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>While Combusken may seem fairly weak when its stats aren't boosted, it has some very powerful special attacks in its arsenal. These attacks allow ; this allows it to 2HKO the majority of the NU metagame, where there are more physically bulky Pokemon than specially defensive. Fire Blast is your first STAB move, which not only roasts roasting anything that is weak to it but also 2HKOes 2HKOing a lot of Pokemon that are hit neutrally by it. Focus Blast smashes most of the Pokemon that can take Fire Blast. As a testament to the power of STAB Focus Blast, Regirock has a 69% chance of being OHKOed after Stealth Rock damage. As an added bonus, Fire / Fighting also has excellent neutral coverage on most of the tier. Protect takes the third moveslot, allowing you to snag a Speed boost for free. In the final slot, Substitute provides an small buffer for attacks as well as status moves. While it may seems detrimental in conjunction with Life Orb, Combusken won't be lasting for very long anyways.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>To prove exactly how powerful Combusken is, below are some damage calculations versus some of the most prominent walls in the tier.</p>

<ul_class="damage calculations">

<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Focus Blast vs 36 HP/220 SpD Alomomola: 57.08% - 67.08%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP Weezing: 83.83% - 99.1%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP/80 SpDef Mesprit: 51.1% - 60.16% (2HKO after SR)</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP Misdreavus: 74.38% - 87.35%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Focus Blast vs 252 HP Torkoal: 81.4% - 96.22%</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Fire Blast vs 252 HP/255 SpDef Cryogonal: 71.51% - 84.59% (75% chance to OHKO after SR)</li>
<li>252 SpAtk Life Orb Combusken Hidden Power Ice vs Calm 252 HP/252 SpD Altaria: 65.54% - 76.84% (18% chance of an OHKO after SR)</li>

</ul>

<p>The above calculations are only possible with Life Orb, making it the preferred item. However, both Leftovers and Eviolite are options, the former for restoring lost HP from for Substitute, and the latter for giving you more overall bulk. However, you will be missing out on most of the KOs you would be achieving otherwise. On that note, you can forgo Substitute for another coverage move, preferably a Hidden Power of your choice. Hidden Power Ice is usually the best option, as it is the only way you will ever get past specially defensive Altaria. Teammates who can set up hazards are incredibly useful for this set, as they are needed for several KOs. (maybe give an example or two?) Lastly, make sure you come in only on Pokemon who can't do anything to you, or right after a kill; Combusken is incredibly frail and will sustain heavy damage if switching in directly on even a neutral attack. Likewise, it doesn't outspeed everything after a single boost, so when faced with a faster threat, don't be afraid to switch out.</p>



GP APPROVED 2/2
 

JockeMS

formerly SuperJOCKE
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I was sent by tennis to correct the calc format.

<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Focus Blast vs 36/220 Alomomola 57.08% - 67.08%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/0 Weezing 83.83% - 99.1%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/80 Mesprit 51.1% - 60.16%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/0 Misdreavus 74.38% - 87.35%</li>
<li>Focus Blast vs 252/0 Torkoal 81.4% - 96.22%</li>
<li>Fire Blast vs 252/252+ Cryogonal 71.51% - 84.59%</li>
<li>Hidden Power Ice vs 252/252+ Altaria 65.54% - 76.84%</li>
</ul>

Let's see:
If Alomomola uses a nature that boost SpD, put a plus after 220.
If Mesprit uses a nature that boost SpD, put a plus after 80.
If Cryogonal doesn't use a nature that boost SpD, remove the plus after 252.

Basically, add a plus if the Pokémon in question use a beneficial nature. If not, leave it without one. And no lines between the <ul~> and </ul> and the the calcs.

Add this and everything should be correct.

I also think all GP members need to learn this so they can change it when they GP. ;P
 

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