Kangaskhan

Kangaskhan



[Overview]

<p>The fabled mother of Cubone returns this generation with relatively nothing new in its arsenal. With the new powerhouses and buffs in BW, Kangaskhan was kicked down from UU and finds itself in the NU tier. While Kangaskhan didn't gain too many tools in BW, it still has some nice moves and abilities that make it a decent threat, most notably Scrappy, which allows Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-type Pokemon with Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. Kangaskhan also has decent base 90 Speed, nice natural bulk, and a fairly diverse movepool. Of course, with base 95 Attack and no boosting moves outside of Work Up, Kangaskhan won't be sweeping by itself anytime soon. Still, Kangaskhan has the potential to be a threat to any NU team if played correctly.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return / Body Slam
move 3: Drain Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Scrappy
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With Scrappy, Kangaskhan has the ability to hit anything in NU for neutral damage. Fake Out is for that one turn priority, allowing Kangaskhan to break Focus Sashes or to rack up any residual damage if need be. Return is Kangaskhan's most reliable STAB move, and, thanks to Scrappy, hits every Pokemon in NU for neutral damage except Rock- and Steel-types. Drain Punch allows Kangaskhan to recover from Life Orb recoil and gives it a super effective hit on Rock- and Steel-types. Sucker Punch rounds out the moveset for additional coverage and gives Kangaskhan a second priority move. Body Slam can be used over Return for the paralysis chance, which is always appreciated with all of the Choice Scarf Pokemon in NU to counter Gorebyss. Earthquake also offers nice coverage with Return, and hits harder than Drain Punch, but Kangaskhan won't be lasting as long without Drain Punch's recovery.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is fairly standard, maximizing Speed and Attack while throwing the remaining EVs into HP. A Jolly nature is used to maximize Kangaskhan's Speed, allowing it to tie with other base 90 Speed Pokemon, while an Adamant nature gives Kangaskhan some much-needed extra power. Despite having pretty good coverage, Kangaskhan still has trouble with some of the common physical walls of NU, such as Quagsire and Regirock, who can take any hit Kangaskhan has to offer. Pokemon that can take these walls out are greatly appreciated as teammates. Amoonguss can tank anything that physical walls can throw at it and fire off a Giga Drain or Spore at them. Special sweepers such as Gorebyss and Magmortar have trouble switching in, but they can take these walls out if they are able to get in. Kangaskhan also appreciates Spikes support, as it will help Kangaskhan net some easier KOs. Garbodor makes a pretty nice teammate for Kangaskhan, resisting the Fighting-type moves that threaten it.</p>

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Return
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Scrappy
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Kangaskhan has the potential to make 101 HP Substitutes, which, alongside Scrappy, makes it a great candidate for a SubPunch set. Substitute renders some walls, such as Misdreavus and Frillish, completely useless, as their only means of damaging Kangaskhan is by burning it. Focus Punch and Scrappy allow Kangaskhan to muscle its way through the tier, though Kangaskhan will face trouble against the abundant Rock-type Pokemon that can survive one Focus Punch. Return is Kangaskhan's best STAB option, and has very solid coverage with Focus Punch. Finally, Sucker Punch rounds out the set, giving Kangaskhan some form of priority, and it works wonders in tandem with Substitute.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The HP EVs give Kangaskhan 404 HP, which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature is recommended, as this set is mainly designed to muscle its way through the opponent's walls. The remaining EVs are placed into Speed, as uninvested base 90 Speed is not very good in NU. While Focus Punch is recommended for this set, Drain Punch can be used for a more reliable attack; while Drain Punch is only half as strong as Focus Punch, it allows Kangaskhan to restore some of the HP that it uses from making Substitutes, which makes it a viable alternative.</p>

<p>While this set is fairly independent, Kangaskhan still has trouble getting by some of the premier physical walls in NU, such as Quagsire and Alomomola. Strong special attackers such as Magmortar or Raichu can weaken these threats to the point where Kangaskhan can finish them off. Amoonguss is also a good teammate as it can threaten most of the popular physical walls with Spore or Toxic. Choice Band Sawk also works well with Kangaskhan, severely denting most of the physical walls in NU and paving the way for Kangaskhan to clean up late-game.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Kangaskhan really doesn't have too many other viable options. Kangaskhan has access to the elemental punches, but a neutral Return will always be more powerful than a super effective punch, so there really is no point in using them. Kangaskhan also has Aqua Tail, but there is no spectacular coverage offered from it outside of hitting Rock-type Pokemon slightly harder. Kangaskhan can also run a Choice Band set, where Double-Edge can be used over Return. A Choice Band also patches up Kangaskhan's pretty underwhelming Attack. Kangaskhan finally received a stat boosting move in Work Up, which can be used with Return, Drain Punch, and Sucker Punch.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>While Kangaskhan has great coverage and a pretty solid movepool, it still doesn't hit very hard. Many physical walls, such as Alomomola, Quagsire, Tangela, and Regirock, ruin Kangaskhan's day. If Kangaskhan is not running Substitute, then Frillish and Misdreavus can easily switch in and threaten it with a Will-O-Wisp. Kangaskhan is also fairly slow, so there are many Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Choice Scarf Sawk is quite possibly the best candidate for the job, resisting Sucker Punch and easily smacking Kangskhan around with Close Combat.</p>
 

jake

underdog of the year
is a Tournament Director Alumnusis a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Team Rater Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Researcher Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Top Dedicated Tournament Host Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnusis a Past SPL Champion
sub in OO?
That. SubPunch definitely needs a mention if not an entire set; Return + Focus Punch actually gets pretty good coverage with Scrappy, Kangaskhan gets 101 HP Substitutes, and Kanga also gets Sucker Punch which is cute.
 
Kanga also gets Sucker Punch which is cute.
And very deadly. I really like the idea of a sub-punching set in NU, Kanga has the stats and sits at a damn good speed tier in Base 90; plus dark/fighting + normal/fighting leaves nothing but physically defensive mons to try and wall its attacks (aka Tangela).
 

jake

underdog of the year
is a Tournament Director Alumnusis a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Team Rater Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Researcher Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnusis a Top Dedicated Tournament Host Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnusis a Past SPL Champion
make sure you emphasize that fighting + normal actually has good coverage with scrappy, also be sure to explain your evs in the ac of both sets (notably subpunch's 212 HP to get 101 subs, max attack, dump rest in speed). mention teammates who can help break down alomomola, tangela, etc in the ac as well. even if it's self-sufficient, you can still mention partners that help it through stuff that kanga can't break down alone.

QC APPROVED (2/3)
 
I apologize, this took way too long. I've been extremely busy irl with Varsity tennis starting up etc. I will work on the other one asap, but for now, this is ready for GP checks.
 
Hello, here's an amateur check for you!

Good writeup overall. A few things to keep in mind for future reference:

  • When giving examples, "such as" is preferred over "like."
  • Stats (Speed, Attack, etc.) are capitalized.
  • As per this post, Return is the standard over Frustration. Dumb PO and its default 0 Happiness :x
Good job!


[Overview]

<p>The fabled mother of Cubone returns this generation with nothing relatively new in its arsenal. With the new powerhouses and buffs in 5th genBW, Kangaskhan was kicked down from UU and finds itself in the NU tier. While Kangaskhan didn't gain too many tools in Gen VBW, it still has some nice moves and abilities that make it a decent threat. It has access to some pretty cool abilities, most notably Scrappy, which allows Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-type Pokemon with Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. (Since the previous sentence already mentioned abilities, I think it makes more sense to merge these sentences like this to avoid repetition) Kangaskhan also has decent base 90 Speed, nice natural bulk, and a fairly diverse movepool. Of course, with base 95 aAttack and no boosting moves outside of Work Up, Kangaskhan won't be sweeping by itself anytime soon. Still, Kangaskhan has the potential to be a threat to any NU team if played correctly.(remove space)</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: FrustratioReturn / Body Slam
move 3: Drain Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Scrappy
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With Scrappy, Kangaskhan has the ability to hit anything in NU for neutral damage. Fake Out is for that one turn priority, allowing Kangaskhan to break sFocus Sashes or to rack up any residual damage if need be. FrustratioReturn is Kangaskhan's most reliable STAB move, and, thanks to Scrappy, hits almost every Pokemon in NU for neutral damage minus Rock- and Steel-types. Drain Punch allows Kangaskhan to recover from Life Orb recoil and gives Kangaskhanit a super effective hit foron Rock- and Steel-types. Sucker Punch rounds out the moveset for additional coverage and gives Kangaskhan a second priority move. Body Slam can be used over FrustratioReturn for the paralysis chance, which is always appreciated with all of the sChoice Scarfed Pokemon in NU to counter Gorebyss. Earthquake also offers nice coverage with FrustratioReturn, and hits harder than Drain Punch, but Kangaskhan won't be lasting as long without Drain Punch's recovery.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is fairly standard, maximizing sSpeed and aAttack while throwing the extra 4 EVs into HP. A Jolly isnature is used to maximize Kangaskhan's sSpeed, allowing it to tie with other base 90s Speed Pokemon, while an Adamant nature gives Kangaskhan some much needed extra power. Despite having pretty good coverage, Kangaskhan still has trouble with some of the common physical walls of NU, likesuch as Quagsire and Regirock, who can take any hit Kangaskhan has to offer. Pokemon that can take these walls out are greatly appreciated as teammates. Ammoonguss can tank anything that physical walls can throw at it and fire off a Giga Drain or Spore them. Special sweepers likesuch as Gorebyss and Magmortar have trouble switching in, but they can take these walls out if they are able to get in. Kangaskhan also likes to have Spikes support, as it will help himKangaskhan net some easier KOs. Garbaodor makes a pretty nice teammate for Kangaskhan, resisting the fFighting-type moves that threaten it.(remove space)</p>

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: FrustratioReturn
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Scrappy
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Kangaskhan has the potential to make 101 HP Substitutes. This and, which, alongside Scrappy, make Kangaskhans it a great candidate asfor a SubPuncher set. Substitute renders some walls like, such as Misdreavus and Frillish, completely useless, as their only means of damaging Kangaskhan before wais by burning it. Focus Punch andwith Scrappy allows Kangaskhan to muscle its way through the tier, though Focus Punch gives Kangaskhan some trouble against the abundant amount of Rock-type Pokemon that can usually tank one hit. FrustratioReturn is Kangaskhan's best STAB option, and has very solid coverage with Focus Punch. Finally, Sucker Punch rounds out the set, giving Kangaskhan some form of priority, and it works wonders in tandem with Substitute.(period)(remove space)</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>(remove space)The HP EVs give Kangaskhan 404 HP, which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. Max aimum Attack with an Adamant nature is recommended, as this set is mainly designed to muscle its way through the opponent's walls. The remaining EVs are placed into Speed, since non-as uninvested base 90 sSpeed is not very good in NU. While Focus Punch is recommended for this set, Drain Punch can be used for a more reliable attack. W; while Drain Punch is only half as strong as Focus Punch, Drain Punchthe former (changed to avoid too much repetition of "Drain Punch") allows Kangaskhan to restore some of the HP that it uses from making a Substitutes, which makes it a viable alternative.</p>
(line break)
<p>While this set is fairly self-functioning, Kangaskhan still has trouble getting by some of the premier physical walls in NU, likesuch as Quagsire, and Alomomola, etc. Strong special attackers likesuch as Magmortar or Raichu can weaken these threats to the point thatwhere Kangaskhan can finish them off. Ammoonguss is also a good teammate, since it countersas it can threaten most of the popular physical walls and can threaten with a Spore or Toxic. Choice Banded Sawk also works well with Kangaskhan, as it can severely dent most of the physical walls in NU, paving the way for Kangaskhan to clean up late-game.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Kangaskhan really doesn't have too many other viable options. Kangaskhan has access to the Eelemental Ppunches, but a neutral Return will always be more powerful than a x22x super effective punch, so there really is no point in using them. Kangaskhan also has Aqua Tail, but there really is no spectacular coverage offered from it outside of hitting Rock-type Pokemon slightly strongharder. Kangaskhan can also run a Choice Band set, where Double-Edge can be used over Return. A Choice Band also patches up Kangaskhan's pretty underwhelming aAttack. Kangaskhan finally recieved a stat boosting move in Work Up, which can be used with Return /, Drain Punch /, and Sucker Punch.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>While Kangaskhan has great coverage and a pretty solid movepool, it still doesn't hit fairlvery hard. Many physical walls like, such as Alomomola, Quagsire, Tangela, and Regirock, ruin Kangaskhan's day. If Kangaskhan is not running Substitute, then Frillish and Misdreavus can easily comeswitch in and threaten it with a Will-oO-Wisp. Kangaskhan is also fairly slow, so there are many Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Choice Scarfed Sawk is quite possibley the best candidate for the job, resisting Sucker Punch and can easily smacking Kangskhan around with a Close Combat.</p>


[Overview]

<p>The fabled mother of Cubone returns this generation with nothing relatively new in its arsenal. With the new powerhouses and buffs in BW, Kangaskhan was kicked down from UU and finds itself in the NU tier. While Kangaskhan didn't gain too many tools in BW, it still has some nice moves and abilities that make it a decent threat, most notably Scrappy, which allows Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-type Pokemon with Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. Kangaskhan also has decent base 90 Speed, nice natural bulk, and a fairly diverse movepool. Of course, with base 95 Attack and no boosting moves outside of Work Up, Kangaskhan won't be sweeping by itself anytime soon. Still, Kangaskhan has the potential to be a threat to any NU team if played correctly.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return / Body Slam
move 3: Drain Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Scrappy
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With Scrappy, Kangaskhan has the ability to hit anything in NU for neutral damage. Fake Out is for that one turn priority, allowing Kangaskhan to break Focus Sashes or to rack up any residual damage if need be. Return is Kangaskhan's most reliable STAB move, and, thanks to Scrappy, hits every Pokemon in NU for neutral damage minus Rock- and Steel-types. Drain Punch allows Kangaskhan to recover from Life Orb recoil and gives it a super effective hit on Rock- and Steel-types. Sucker Punch rounds out the moveset for additional coverage and gives Kangaskhan a second priority move. Body Slam can be used over Return for the paralysis chance, which is always appreciated with all of the Choice Scarf Pokemon in NU to counter Gorebyss. Earthquake also offers nice coverage with Return, and hits harder than Drain Punch, but Kangaskhan won't be lasting as long without Drain Punch's recovery.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is fairly standard, maximizing Speed and Attack while throwing the extra 4 EVs into HP. A Jolly nature is used to maximize Kangaskhan's Speed, allowing it to tie with other base 90 Speed Pokemon, while an Adamant nature gives Kangaskhan some much needed extra power. Despite having pretty good coverage, Kangaskhan still has trouble with some of the common physical walls of NU, such as Quagsire and Regirock, who can take any hit Kangaskhan has to offer. Pokemon that can take these walls out are greatly appreciated as teammates. Amoonguss can tank anything that physical walls can throw at it and fire off a Giga Drain or Spore them. Special sweepers such as Gorebyss and Magmortar have trouble switching in, but they can take these walls out if they are able to get in. Kangaskhan also likes to have Spikes support, as it will help Kangaskhan net some easier KOs. Garbodor makes a pretty nice teammate for Kangaskhan, resisting the Fighting-type moves that threaten it.</p>

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Return
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Scrappy
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Kangaskhan has the potential to make 101 HP Substitutes, which, alongside Scrappy, makes it a great candidate for a SubPunch set. Substitute renders some walls, such as Misdreavus and Frillish, completely useless, as their only means of damaging Kangaskhan is by burning it. Focus Punch with Scrappy allows Kangaskhan to muscle its way through the tier, though Focus Punch gives Kangaskhan some trouble against the abundant Rock-type Pokemon that can usually tank one hit. Return is Kangaskhan's best STAB option, and has very solid coverage with Focus Punch. Finally, Sucker Punch rounds out the set, giving Kangaskhan some form of priority, and it works wonders in tandem with Substitute.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The HP EVs give Kangaskhan 404 HP, which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature is recommended, as this set is mainly designed to muscle its way through the opponent's walls. The remaining EVs are placed into Speed, as uninvested base 90 Speed is not very good in NU. While Focus Punch is recommended for this set, Drain Punch can be used for a more reliable attack; while Drain Punch is only half as strong as Focus Punch, the former allows Kangaskhan to restore some of the HP that it uses from making Substitutes, which makes it a viable alternative.</p>

<p>While this set is fairly self-functioning, Kangaskhan still has trouble getting by some of the premier physical walls in NU, such as Quagsire and Alomomola. Strong special attackers such as Magmortar or Raichu can weaken these threats to the point where Kangaskhan can finish them off. Amoonguss is also a good teammate, as it can threaten most of the popular physical walls with Spore or Toxic. Choice Band Sawk also works well with Kangaskhan, as it can severely dent most of the physical walls in NU, paving the way for Kangaskhan to clean up late-game.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Kangaskhan really doesn't have too many other viable options. Kangaskhan has access to the elemental punches, but a neutral Return will always be more powerful than a 2x super effective punch, so there really is no point in using them. Kangaskhan also has Aqua Tail, but there is no spectacular coverage offered from it outside of hitting Rock-type Pokemon slightly harder. Kangaskhan can also run a Choice Band set, where Double-Edge can be used over Return. A Choice Band also patches up Kangaskhan's pretty underwhelming Attack. Kangaskhan finally recieved a stat boosting move in Work Up, which can be used with Return, Drain Punch, and Sucker Punch.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>While Kangaskhan has great coverage and a pretty solid movepool, it still doesn't hit very hard. Many physical walls, such as Alomomola, Quagsire, Tangela, and Regirock, ruin Kangaskhan's day. If Kangaskhan is not running Substitute, then Frillish and Misdreavus can easily switch in and threaten it with a Will-O-Wisp. Kangaskhan is also fairly slow, so there are many Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Choice Scarf Sawk is quite possibly the best candidate for the job, resisting Sucker Punch and easily smacking Kangskhan around with Close Combat.</p>
 

Mafeking

channels his inner Wolverine
is a Contributor Alumnus
Kangaskhan for Mother of the Year 2012.

Removals
(Additions/Replacements)
(Quick Comments)

[Overview]

<p>The fabled mother of Cubone returns this generation with (relatively) nothing relatively new in its arsenal. (relatively was modifying the wrong word where it was) With the new powerhouses and buffs in BW, Kangaskhan was kicked down from UU and finds itself in the NU tier. While Kangaskhan didn't gain too many tools in BW, it still has some nice moves and abilities that make it a decent threat, most notably Scrappy, which allows Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-type Pokemon with Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. Kangaskhan also has decent base 90 Speed, nice natural bulk, and a fairly diverse movepool. Of course, with base 95 Attack and no boosting moves outside of Work Up, Kangaskhan won't be sweeping by itself anytime soon. Still, Kangaskhan has the potential to be a threat to any NU team if played correctly.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return / Body Slam
move 3: Drain Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Scrappy
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With Scrappy, Kangaskhan has the ability to hit anything in NU for neutral damage. Fake Out is for that one turn priority, allowing Kangaskhan to break Focus Sashes or to rack up any residual damage if need be. Return is Kangaskhan's most reliable STAB move, and, thanks to Scrappy, hits every Pokemon in NU for neutral damage minus (except) Rock- and Steel-types. Drain Punch allows Kangaskhan to recover from Life Orb recoil and gives it a super effective hit on Rock- and Steel-types. Sucker Punch rounds out the moveset for additional coverage and gives Kangaskhan a second priority move. Body Slam can be used over Return for the paralysis chance, which is always appreciated with all of the Choice Scarf Pokemon in NU to counter Gorebyss. Earthquake also offers nice coverage with Return, and hits harder than Drain Punch, but Kangaskhan won't be lasting as long without Drain Punch's recovery.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is fairly standard, maximizing Speed and Attack while throwing the extra 4 (remaining) EVs into HP. A Jolly nature is used to maximize Kangaskhan's Speed, allowing it to tie with other base 90 Speed Pokemon, while an Adamant nature gives Kangaskhan some much(hyphen)needed extra power. (much is used as a modifier for "needed" hence the hyphenation to declare this) Despite having pretty good coverage, Kangaskhan still has trouble with some of the common physical walls of NU, such as Quagsire and Regirock, who can take any hit Kangaskhan has to offer. Pokemon that can take these walls out are greatly appreciated as teammates. Amoonguss can tank anything that physical walls can throw at it and fire off a Giga Drain or Spore (at) them. Special sweepers such as Gorebyss and Magmortar have trouble switching in, but they can take these walls out if they are able to get in. Kangaskhan also likes to have (appreciates) Spikes support, as it will help Kangaskhan net some easier KOs. Garbodor makes a pretty nice teammate for Kangaskhan, resisting the Fighting-type moves that threaten it.</p>

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Return
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Scrappy
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Kangaskhan has the potential to make 101 HP Substitutes, which, alongside Scrappy, makes it a great candidate for a SubPunch set. Substitute renders some walls, such as Misdreavus and Frillish, completely useless, as their only means of damaging Kangaskhan is by burning it. Focus Punch with (and) Scrappy allows Kangaskhan to muscle its way through the tier, though Focus Punch gives Kangaskhan some trouble against the abundant Rock-type Pokemon that can usually tank one hit (Kangaskhan will face trouble against the abundant Rock-type Pokemon that can survive one Focus Punch). Return is Kangaskhan's best STAB option, and has very solid coverage with Focus Punch. Finally, Sucker Punch rounds out the set, giving Kangaskhan some form of priority, and it works wonders in tandem with Substitute.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The HP EVs give Kangaskhan 404 HP, which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature is recommended, as this set is mainly designed to muscle its way through the opponent's walls. The remaining EVs are placed into Speed, as uninvested base 90 Speed is not very good in NU. While Focus Punch is recommended for this set, Drain Punch can be used for a more reliable attack; while Drain Punch is only half as strong as Focus Punch, the former (it) (the antecedent is obvious, so this suffices) allows Kangaskhan to restore some of the HP that it uses from making Substitutes, which makes it a viable alternative.</p>

<p>While this set is fairly self-functioning (independent), Kangaskhan still has trouble getting by some of the premier physical walls in NU, such as Quagsire and Alomomola. Strong special attackers such as Magmortar or Raichu can weaken these threats to the point where Kangaskhan can finish them off. Amoonguss is also a good teammate, as it can threaten most of the popular physical walls with Spore or Toxic. Choice Band Sawk also works well with Kangaskhan, as it can severely dent(ing) most of the physical walls in NU, (and) paving the way for Kangaskhan to clean up late-game.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Kangaskhan really doesn't have too many other viable options. Kangaskhan has access to the elemental punches, but a neutral Return will always be more powerful than a 2x super effective punch, so there really is no point in using them. Kangaskhan also has Aqua Tail, but there is no spectacular coverage offered from it outside of hitting Rock-type Pokemon slightly harder. Kangaskhan can also run a Choice Band set, where Double-Edge can be used over Return. A Choice Band also patches up Kangaskhan's pretty underwhelming Attack. Kangaskhan finally recieved (received) a stat boosting move in Work Up, which can be used with Return, Drain Punch, and Sucker Punch.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>While Kangaskhan has great coverage and a pretty solid movepool, it still doesn't hit very hard. Many physical walls, such as Alomomola, Quagsire, Tangela, and Regirock, ruin Kangaskhan's day. If Kangaskhan is not running Substitute, then Frillish and Misdreavus can easily switch in and threaten it with a Will-O-Wisp. Kangaskhan is also fairly slow, so there are many Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Choice Scarf Sawk is quite possibly the best candidate for the job, resisting Sucker Punch and easily smacking Kangskhan around with Close Combat.</p>


[Overview]

<p>The fabled mother of Cubone returns this generation with relatively nothing new in its arsenal. With the new powerhouses and buffs in BW, Kangaskhan was kicked down from UU and finds itself in the NU tier. While Kangaskhan didn't gain too many tools in BW, it still has some nice moves and abilities that make it a decent threat, most notably Scrappy, which allows Kangaskhan to hit Ghost-type Pokemon with Normal- and Fighting-type attacks. Kangaskhan also has decent base 90 Speed, nice natural bulk, and a fairly diverse movepool. Of course, with base 95 Attack and no boosting moves outside of Work Up, Kangaskhan won't be sweeping by itself anytime soon. Still, Kangaskhan has the potential to be a threat to any NU team if played correctly.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return / Body Slam
move 3: Drain Punch / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Scrappy
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With Scrappy, Kangaskhan has the ability to hit anything in NU for neutral damage. Fake Out is for that one turn priority, allowing Kangaskhan to break Focus Sashes or to rack up any residual damage if need be. Return is Kangaskhan's most reliable STAB move, and, thanks to Scrappy, hits every Pokemon in NU for neutral damage except Rock- and Steel-types. Drain Punch allows Kangaskhan to recover from Life Orb recoil and gives it a super effective hit on Rock- and Steel-types. Sucker Punch rounds out the moveset for additional coverage and gives Kangaskhan a second priority move. Body Slam can be used over Return for the paralysis chance, which is always appreciated with all of the Choice Scarf Pokemon in NU to counter Gorebyss. Earthquake also offers nice coverage with Return, and hits harder than Drain Punch, but Kangaskhan won't be lasting as long without Drain Punch's recovery.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is fairly standard, maximizing Speed and Attack while throwing the remaining EVs into HP. A Jolly nature is used to maximize Kangaskhan's Speed, allowing it to tie with other base 90 Speed Pokemon, while an Adamant nature gives Kangaskhan some much-needed extra power. Despite having pretty good coverage, Kangaskhan still has trouble with some of the common physical walls of NU, such as Quagsire and Regirock, who can take any hit Kangaskhan has to offer. Pokemon that can take these walls out are greatly appreciated as teammates. Amoonguss can tank anything that physical walls can throw at it and fire off a Giga Drain or Spore at them. Special sweepers such as Gorebyss and Magmortar have trouble switching in, but they can take these walls out if they are able to get in. Kangaskhan also appreciates Spikes support, as it will help Kangaskhan net some easier KOs. Garbodor makes a pretty nice teammate for Kangaskhan, resisting the Fighting-type moves that threaten it.</p>

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Return
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
ability: Scrappy
nature: Adamant
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Kangaskhan has the potential to make 101 HP Substitutes, which, alongside Scrappy, makes it a great candidate for a SubPunch set. Substitute renders some walls, such as Misdreavus and Frillish, completely useless, as their only means of damaging Kangaskhan is by burning it. Focus Punch and Scrappy allow Kangaskhan to muscle its way through the tier, though Kangaskhan will face trouble against the abundant Rock-type Pokemon that can survive one Focus Punch. Return is Kangaskhan's best STAB option, and has very solid coverage with Focus Punch. Finally, Sucker Punch rounds out the set, giving Kangaskhan some form of priority, and it works wonders in tandem with Substitute.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The HP EVs give Kangaskhan 404 HP, which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. Maximum Attack with an Adamant nature is recommended, as this set is mainly designed to muscle its way through the opponent's walls. The remaining EVs are placed into Speed, as uninvested base 90 Speed is not very good in NU. While Focus Punch is recommended for this set, Drain Punch can be used for a more reliable attack; while Drain Punch is only half as strong as Focus Punch, it allows Kangaskhan to restore some of the HP that it uses from making Substitutes, which makes it a viable alternative.</p>

<p>While this set is fairly independent, Kangaskhan still has trouble getting by some of the premier physical walls in NU, such as Quagsire and Alomomola. Strong special attackers such as Magmortar or Raichu can weaken these threats to the point where Kangaskhan can finish them off. Amoonguss is also a good teammate as it can threaten most of the popular physical walls with Spore or Toxic. Choice Band Sawk also works well with Kangaskhan, severely denting most of the physical walls in NU and paving the way for Kangaskhan to clean up late-game.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Kangaskhan really doesn't have too many other viable options. Kangaskhan has access to the elemental punches, but a neutral Return will always be more powerful than a super effective punch, so there really is no point in using them. Kangaskhan also has Aqua Tail, but there is no spectacular coverage offered from it outside of hitting Rock-type Pokemon slightly harder. Kangaskhan can also run a Choice Band set, where Double-Edge can be used over Return. A Choice Band also patches up Kangaskhan's pretty underwhelming Attack. Kangaskhan finally received a stat boosting move in Work Up, which can be used with Return, Drain Punch, and Sucker Punch.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>While Kangaskhan has great coverage and a pretty solid movepool, it still doesn't hit very hard. Many physical walls, such as Alomomola, Quagsire, Tangela, and Regirock, ruin Kangaskhan's day. If Kangaskhan is not running Substitute, then Frillish and Misdreavus can easily switch in and threaten it with a Will-O-Wisp. Kangaskhan is also fairly slow, so there are many Pokemon that can revenge kill it. Choice Scarf Sawk is quite possibly the best candidate for the job, resisting Sucker Punch and easily smacking Kangskhan around with Close Combat.</p>




Stampy stampy (2/2)
 

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