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

[Project_Mars]

This totally qualifies: now that intimidate scraggy is in the dream world, do you think it will be more popuar than 'top? (It does learn fake out) or do you think it would work better as a bulky physical sweeper with intimidate to help its bulk?

[TheAllyKat]

The Dream Park totally did a number on the number unavailable Hidden Abilities. Ignoring the legendary trios and starter Pokemon are there really any more competitive Pokemon with unavailable Hidden Abilities? (I am ignoring Litwick. *sad face*)

[tlyee61]

Originally Posted by Fat Project_Mars

This totally qualifies: now that intimidate scraggy is in the dream world, do you think it will be more popuar than 'top? (It does learn fake out) or do you think it would work better as a bulky physical sweeper with intimidate to help its bulk?

I think it is the premier bulky Fake Outer now. It has much better bulk, at the cost of move power and speed. A spread of 132 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 116 SDef gets the same bulk as Wolfe's Hitmontop with much more attack. Also, you could invest speed to beat 4 speed Hitmontop if you wanted.

[voodoo pimp]

Originally Posted by Fat Project_Mars

This totally qualifies: now that intimidate scraggy is in the dream world, do you think it will be more popuar than 'top? (It does learn fake out) or do you think it would work better as a bulky physical sweeper with intimidate to help its bulk?

I think they'll both see a lot of use. Hitmontop still has some advantages, namely Sucker Punch, Wide Guard, and not being weak to Fighting.

Originally Posted by Fat TheAllyKat

The Dream Park totally did a number on the number unavailable Hidden Abilities. Ignoring the legendary trios and starter Pokemon are there really any more competitive Pokemon with unavailable Hidden Abilities? (I am ignoring Litwick. *sad face*)

According to this thread, the only evolutionary lines that we're missing now are legendaries, starters, Litwick, and Larvesta.

[Otterz]

Is Musharna the ideal option for a TR setter, or are there better Pokemon available? ( Cresselia, Cofagrigus, etc.)

[The Agonist]

It has Telepathy, which immediately sets it apart from the others, allowing you to safely spam spread moves.

[Dimsun]

Originally Posted by Fat Otterz

Is Musharna the ideal option for a TR setter, or are there better Pokemon available? ( Cresselia, Cofagrigus, etc.)

It is ENTIRELY reliant on the team you're using. You'll have to look at individual synergies, speed tiers, and attacking options.

[Otterz]

Originally Posted by Fat Dimsun

It is ENTIRELY reliant on the team you're using. You'll have to look at individual synergies, speed tiers, and attacking options.

I plan on using a rain team with a TrickRoom alternate/backup if my opponent can shut down weather.

[Superpokemon67]

Originally Posted by Fat Otterz

I plan on using a rain team with a TrickRoom alternate/backup if my opponent can shut down weather.

I really like Bronzong in rainroom, as with Levitate it effectively has no weaknesses unless your opponent changes the weather.

[Baz Anderson]

Alternatively, Reuniclus gets Thunder and has more offensive presence but is no where near as bulky as Bronzong.

[AuraRayquaza]

I was thinking of a hail team to take to the UK nats as ice typing is a great offensvie typing with dragons and genies running amok. However, i wasnt sure about how viable it is or what pokes other than abomasnow, rotom-f and gyarados (best heatarn check) would work.

[tlyee61]

Originally Posted by Fat Otterz

I plan on using a rain team with a TrickRoom alternate/backup if my opponent can shut down weather.

Musharna sounds good for RainRoom because it is immune it's partner's to Surf spam

[pootoucher]

so now that the 2013 ruleset is set, will there be an area similar to the OU section to discuss set lineups/team synergy?

[TheMantyke]

Originally Posted by Fat pootoucher

so now that the 2013 ruleset is set, will there be an area similar to the OU section to discuss set lineups/team synergy?

Yup, go ahead and start a discussion if you'd like!

[pootoucher]

Originally Posted by Fat TheMantyke

Yup, go ahead and start a discussion if you'd like!

rain v. the field....

all the hype surrounding rain and the only thing i can see it cant use is keldeo. Is the ensuing format going to be a play rain or adjust your team for the rain match-up?

[Project_Mars]

Rain has been a dominating team strat in OU this entire generation, so it makes sense to want to keep it in mind. The fact that it now gets to have a very frightening Thunder Spamming Thundurus-T helps rain out, as does Drizzletoed getting Icy Wind.

[pootoucher]

Originally Posted by Fat Project_Mars

Rain has been a dominating team strat in OU this entire generation, so it makes sense to want to keep it in mind. The fact that it now gets to have a very frightening Thunder Spamming Thundurus-T helps rain out, as does Drizzletoed getting Icy Wind.

is it to the point where every team needs a way to stop the weather or be a rain team to win in this new(ish) format? like say i was building a team that had no weather, should i include the move to change the weather in my team just because otherwise rain will thunder/hurricane/hydro pump me to infinity and beyond?

as i was personally expecting a heavily restrictive pool of pokemon for this years events, im completely oblivious to how team were(are) built for VGC

[TheMantyke]

Originally Posted by Fat pootoucher

is it to the point where every team needs a way to stop the weather or be a rain team to win in this new(ish) format? like say i was building a team that had no weather, should i include the move to change the weather in my team just because otherwise rain will thunder/hurricane/hydro pump me to infinity and beyond?

as i was personally expecting a heavily restrictive pool of pokemon for this years events, im completely oblivious to how team were(are) built for VGC

You don't need to be a rain team to be sucessful, but you better pack answers to rain. If rain becomes a problem, try adding more Water resistant Pokemon and / or a Thunder Wave user to slow down swift swimmers. Generally, whenever I make a team, I carry at least two Pokemon that resist or are immune to Water. Thankfully, that isn't too hard to find between spectacular options like Latios, Rotom-W, and Ferrothorn.

[Project_Mars]

Originally Posted by Fat TheMantyke

You don't need to be a rain team to be sucessful, but you better pack answers to rain. If rain becomes a problem, try adding more Water resistant Pokemon and / or a Thunder Wave user to slow down swift swimmers. Generally, whenever I make a team, I carry at least two Pokemon that resist or are immune to Water. Thankfully, that isn't too hard to find between spectacular options like Latios, Rotom-W, and Ferrothorn.

Pretty much this. When building a team you need to think about what you could use that can do good vs Rain or Sand (Garchomp is legal, what makes you think it WON'T be used?) as well as Dragon-types (most teams have one), Steel-types (most teams have one to counter the dragons), and, going by vgc12, Cress and Thundurus.

Granted, there's a lot more than that to consider, but that would be a decent start, neh?

Edit: plus there's kinda a few overlapping things, for instance: Gastrodon is immune to Water (thanks to Storm Drain, which also can steal Water attacks targeted for its partner and turning them into Sp. Attack boosts.) and Electric type attacks (although Thundurus can learn Grass Knot) and can strike back with Ice-type attacks and gets STAB Water and Ground. Because of this, as well as its bulk, it's a fairly common sight to check Rain teams.

[PokeMaster366]

Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to take care of Landorus-T? Even before the rules were announced, he was being a constant and annoying presence to deal with, and now that he's legal for 2013, I'm worried about how to go about beating it without using a rain team. So, any ideas, or is countering him going to be a bigger chore than OHKOing Metagross or switching in on Hydreigon?

[mattj]

well there's his whole 4X weakness to ice

I've never known anyone to have any trouble with Landorus T.

[Sixonesix]

Latios, Latias, Hydreigon, and Salamence are pretty decent counters. Cresselia beats it too but it can't always nail it with Ice Beam before it U-turns out. Landorus-T also can't hit other Landorus-T that hard because of Intimidate and its own Earthquake immunity.

In general, fast Ground immune special attackers without a Rock weakness are good against it. The tricky thing is watching out for your physical attackers, since Landorus-T messes most of them up with raw power and Intimidate.

If Landorus-T just really gets on your nerves though, most people won't send it out at all vs rain teams or teams that use Hail, so there's a solution.

[Blaze123]

If a shedinja holds a focus sash what happens?

[Biosci]

Then it gets hit, gets brought down to it's sash, and then is susceptible to a KO

[Drifblim]

The Sash will let it survive any single hit attack thrown at it while it is still holding the Sash, but won't do anything about harmful statuses or weather damage. It is single use as it always is