VGC Ask a Simple Question, Get a Simple Answer - Mark II

[Plastic Beach]

Hey guys, I´ve 3 questions:

1. What is are good EVs for adamant Tyranitar? I heared that 252 KP / 124 Atk / 36 Def / 96 SDef are good to survive a MM from Metagross and OHKO Scizor with Fire Punch. Do you have better Splits or is this split good?

2. I want to try Excadrill in combination with Ttar cause imo atm the most common weather is sandstorm as anti weather (LO-Exca in Endgame). Is this a good idea or not because it´s played not often imo.

3. What´s good in genereal and good to check Landorus T in GBU Doubles?

[Superpokemon67]

Even though it's weak to ground, I've found Bisharp to be an amazing Landorus-t check due to Defiant. It also doesn't like intimidate, so something like Gyarados could wall it an KO. The Tyranitar looks fine, and while Excadrill with ttar is popular, it is so because it's a strong combo. I think you'll be fine with it.

[Plastic Beach]

Ty. I think Cresselia will be good with Icy Wind against it too, won´t it? And what are other good teammates to this core? I consider to use modest Salamence too because of Intimidate and that it is not affected by EQ. Have you ideas for other mons which are good when I have the Ttar/Exca/Cresse-Core ( I think one man on the worlds had a similar team, but it was bw1 afaik, my team should be for bw2+therians, tutors etc

[TalkingLion]

Sandman's team had those Pokemon in it

Even though the team was designed for VGC 2012, the VGC 2013 rules will most likely not be too different(only changed would be the new forms and tutors). You can still modify the team to fit the new rules and your own playstyle.

[tlyee61]

Originally Posted by Fat Plastic Beach

Hey guys, I´ve 3 questions:
3. What´s good in genereal and good to check Landorus T in GBU Doubles?

Hyper Cutter Gliscor sounds really odd but it works wonders. Also, Cresselia is somewhat of a good counter with Ice Beam.

[MANMAN9657]

do any of the regis have any use in vgc

[tlyee61]

Originally Posted by Fat MANMAN9657

do any of the regis have any use in vgc

none of them are particularly good except for the trolly worry seed-regigiggas strategy.

[voodoo pimp]

They aren't bad, necessarily...but Regirock is mostly outclassed by Tyranitar, Registeel is mostly outclassed by Cresselia, and Regice would be pretty good if it didn't have the worst defensive type in the game (oh hi there Rock Slide). Regigigas of course has the Slow Start problem, and usually fixing it isn't worth the effort.

[Wiretap]

Originally Posted by Fat tlyee61

none of them are particularly good except for the trolly worry seed-regigiggas strategy.

On gbu recently, I encountered someone running a similar strategy, but running Regigigas alongside skillswap Dusclops. Dusclops is way bulkier than pretty much any worry seed user, and doesn't care about receiving slow start. Not to mention, with will-o-wisp and trick room, Dusclops can play a solid supporting role.

[The Knights of Wario Land]

Originally Posted by Fat tlyee61

none of them are particularly good except for the trolly worry seed-regigiggas strategy.

I can back this up. Got trolled hard by one at Regionals this year, lol

[Saboros]

Originally Posted by Fat Wiretap

On gbu recently, I encountered someone running a similar strategy, but running Regigigas alongside skillswap Dusclops. Dusclops is way bulkier than pretty much any worry seed user, and doesn't care about receiving slow start. Not to mention, with will-o-wisp and trick room, Dusclops can play a solid supporting role.

Yeah but Whimsicott gets Worry Seed, so it gets +1 Priority almost certainly ensuring it getting up without getting taunted.

[Wiretap]

Originally Posted by Fat Saboros

Yeah but Whimsicott gets Worry Seed, so it gets +1 Priority almost certainly ensuring it getting up without getting taunted.

The only problem is that without a very specific niche that it can consistently provide, Whimsicott is almost dead weight.

[Blaze123]

I have a question,can anyone ev train a scrafty with fake out,drain punch,and hi Jump kick in defense and attack?

[voodoo pimp]

Originally Posted by Fat Blaze123

I have a question,can anyone ev train a scrafty with fake out,drain punch,and hi Jump kick in defense and attack?

Unless you're looking to survive a specific physical threat, Scrafty is usually better with HP EVs than Defense (and having both Drain Punch and HJK is pretty redundant). Also, since we're currently awaiting the new VGC rules before doing anything, you'll probably want to ask in this thread if you want it right away.

[pootoucher]

do trap moves stack? like toxic spikes and spikes same time

[Biosci]

Yes they do, but entry hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes are hardly ever seen in VGC play.

[pootoucher]

Originally Posted by Fat Biosci

Yes they do, but entry hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes are hardly ever seen in VGC play.

do you think it is more a product of people moving away from the "stall" pokemons or the presence of rapid spin/flying/levitate?

[voodoo pimp]

Mostly because games are a lot faster, and there are a lot fewer switches. In an average game, if you use a hazard on the first turn you're only going to hit two Pokémon with it (less if one of their back two is immune to it). It's almost never going to be worth the turn you spend setting it up.

[Plastic Beach]

What are good EV Splits for calm Cresselia and modest Heatran ( with chople berry and without) in a VGC 12+ Metagame with new tutormoves etc? I saw different splits in the nuggetbridge world reports, so I´m confused atm. The Teammates atm are Hitmontop Tyranitar. And is it worth to play skill swap on Cresselia, I suggested sthg like Skill Swap/ Icy Wind/ Trick Room/ Psyshock

[Wiretap]

Originally Posted by Fat Plastic Beach

What are good EV Splits for calm Cresselia and modest Heatran ( with chople berry and without) in a VGC 12+ Metagame with new tutormoves etc? I saw different splits in the nuggetbridge world reports, so I´m confused atm. The Teammates atm are Hitmontop Tyranitar. And is it worth to play skill swap on Cresselia, I suggested sthg like Skill Swap/ Icy Wind/ Trick Room/ Psyshock

You should be looking more at useful spreads than "good" ones. Those top tier players that you're reading about ev their pokemons to serve different purposes. I'd suggest you do the same using a damage calculator. Decide hits you want to survive, things you want to beat, or mons you want to out-speed and then ev accordingly.

[The Last Sheikah]

I've found entry hazards to be a pretty underrated tactic in VGC; even though it's only guaranteed to hit two Pokémon, good players do tend to switch a lot. It's especially hilarious when people switch out a focus sash'd Pokémon and then get hit with Stealth Rock before they can get back in.
Having said all that, it is so situational that there's almost always something better you could be doing with that moveslot/turn.

[tlyee61]

Originally Posted by Fat Plastic Beach

What are good EV Splits for calm Cresselia and modest Heatran ( with chople berry and without) in a VGC 12+ Metagame with new tutormoves etc? I saw different splits in the nuggetbridge world reports, so I´m confused atm. The Teammates atm are Hitmontop Tyranitar. And is it worth to play skill swap on Cresselia, I suggested sthg like Skill Swap/ Icy Wind/ Trick Room/ Psyshock

For cress:
252 HP / 60 Def / 20 SAtk / 176 SDef (allows it to 2HKO Terrakion / Virizion with Psyshock, survive Dark Gem Crunch from Max Attack Adamant TTar and a turn of sand, and a HItmontop's Fake Out + Volcarona's +1 Bug Buzz)

as for Heatran, use Wolfe's.

[Plastic Beach]

ty for the split, I´ll test it. Is that the "best" split in general for Cress or are there other usefuls for calm Cresselia? And can you give me a good Split for Chople Tran ( the Split from Wolfey is based on Sunny Day Support from Cress, so I can´t use it imo). I can´t calc splits btw cause I´ve atm only a smartphone with internet and the calcers doesn´t work there...

[M. Rock]

Okay so I woke up this morning with an idea for a new set, but I'm not sure how well it would work. I'm in the midst of studying for finals now so I don't currently have the time to test or run damage calcs, but I wanna post this anyway to see if it's worth anything. For all intents and purposes, view this set within the context of the VGC12 environment:

@
(SpecsCune)
Ability: Pressure (Water Absorb if it gets released in the near future)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: MAYBE 252 HP/252 SpA/4 Spe. Didn't put time into thinking of a true spread, but I figure max out at least one of HP or SpA, put in some Spe, and maybe some SpD
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam/Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Signal Beam/Tailwind/Protect/Sleep Talk

DETAILS:

...

---

So I noticed a rise in offensive Cresselia in Sep/Oct, so I figured maybe this would work? An offensive take on a defensive mon. It has same base Spe as Cress and much higher base SpA. Part of the point is surprise factor, since a set like this can catch Cune's usual counters off guard (and a few others off guard as well).
Hydro Pump is STAB. Ice Beam is the preferred choice, but some may opt for Icy Wind if they really want the side effect (at the cost of power). HP Grass is needed to beat down fellow Water-types who would usually stay in not sensing a threat (most notably Politoed). This gives it a shot against Rotom-W as well....although you don't want to stay in on a Specs Rotom. Scout first; if it has an Electric Gem and uses it up, then Cune can come in much more safely.
The last move is personal preference. Signal Beam is what I believe to be the best bet, as it helps Cune deal with Reuniclus, Abomasnow, and Ludicolo, who would otherwise laugh at it completely. Aboma can be outsped and I THINK 2HKOed...but stay away from scarfed ones. Tailwind and Protect can be used on the first turn, and then Suicune can switch out afterwards to bluff a non-choice set. This is kinda situational and may not be worth it...but it can screw with your opponent really badly, and Tailwind can create an advantage for your side. Sleep Talk lets Suicune absorb Spore...but being locked into ST on the turn that you wake up is a rather unsavory situation, and you lose out on a coverage move to boot.
This can potentially work because it can take on all auto-weather mons. I would pair it with an Amoonguss, who resists Thunderbolt and Grass moves, and can draw them in with Rage Powder, and cause havoc with Spore.

So...would this be a good set by any stretch of the imagination?

[TheMantyke]

Originally Posted by Fat M. Rock

Okay so I woke up this morning with an idea for a new set, but I'm not sure how well it would work. I'm in the midst of studying for finals now so I don't currently have the time to test or run damage calcs, but I wanna post this anyway to see if it's worth anything. For all intents and purposes, view this set within the context of the VGC12 environment:

@
(SpecsCune)
Ability: Pressure (Water Absorb if it gets released in the near future)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: MAYBE 252 HP/252 SpA/4 Spe. Didn't put time into thinking of a true spread, but I figure max out at least one of HP or SpA, put in some Spe, and maybe some SpD
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam/Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Signal Beam/Tailwind/Protect/Sleep Talk

DETAILS:

...

---

So I noticed a rise in offensive Cresselia in Sep/Oct, so I figured maybe this would work? An offensive take on a defensive mon. It has same base Spe as Cress and much higher base SpA. Part of the point is surprise factor, since a set like this can catch Cune's usual counters off guard (and a few others off guard as well).
Hydro Pump is STAB. Ice Beam is the preferred choice, but some may opt for Icy Wind if they really want the side effect (at the cost of power). HP Grass is needed to beat down fellow Water-types who would usually stay in not sensing a threat (most notably Politoed). This gives it a shot against Rotom-W as well....although you don't want to stay in on a Specs Rotom. Scout first; if it has an Electric Gem and uses it up, then Cune can come in much more safely.
The last move is personal preference. Signal Beam is what I believe to be the best bet, as it helps Cune deal with Reuniclus, Abomasnow, and Ludicolo, who would otherwise laugh at it completely. Aboma can be outsped and I THINK 2HKOed...but stay away from scarfed ones. Tailwind and Protect can be used on the first turn, and then Suicune can switch out afterwards to bluff a non-choice set. This is kinda situational and may not be worth it...but it can screw with your opponent really badly, and Tailwind can create an advantage for your side. Sleep Talk lets Suicune absorb Spore...but being locked into ST on the turn that you wake up is a rather unsavory situation, and you lose out on a coverage move to boot.
This can potentially work because it can take on all auto-weather mons. I would pair it with an Amoonguss, who resists Thunderbolt and Grass moves, and can draw them in with Rage Powder, and cause havoc with Spore.

So...would this be a good set by any stretch of the imagination?

It sounds alright. Personally when I've used Suicune, it's always seemed to lack enough power so slapping on a pair of Choice Specs might solve that.

The main problem I can see with it is that it faces stiff competition from Specs Rotom-W. Rotom-W trades a good chunk of HP for better typing and an Earthquake immunity. Personally, whenever I throw on a water-type on to my team, I like it to be able to hit opposing water types for strong neutral or super effective damage to go toe to toe with Rain. Rotom-W does that really well with STAB Thunderbolts. I guess Suicune does it alright, but Hidden Power Grass looks pretty weak even with Specs.

And yeah, Amoonguss sounds like a good partner for it. Latios might do well alongside it by merit of its resistances for a cool anti rain core.