Ask a simple question, get a simple answer - VGC edition

[DoubleJG]

Originally Posted by Fat tikidude

Reuniclus, Porygon2, Dusclops, Bronzong, Banette.

I'm assuming that Porygon2 and Dusclops would be holding Eviolite, yes? Also, why Banette? It seems like its defenses wouldn't cut it.

Originally Posted by Fat R Inanimate

Not conting unevolved Pokemon:

Name (base speed)
Scrafty (58)
Sableye (50)
Hariyama (50)

Hmmm... That's a tough call between Scrafty and Hariyama. Scrafy has Drain Punch and Crunch, yet Hariyama is slower and has a beastly Close Combat.

[mattj]

Guts Hariyama 1HKOs so much crap.

[DoubleJG]

Originally Posted by Fat mattj

Guts Hariyama 1HKOs so much crap.

Thank you, my good sir, for reminding me about abilities.

Hariyama it is!

[tikidude]

Originally Posted by Fat DoubleJG

I'm assuming that Porygon2 and Dusclops would be holding Eviolite, yes? Also, why Banette? It seems like its defenses wouldn't cut it.

It's a suicide lead my friend. Looks like this:
Nature: Brave
Ability: Insomnia
Item: Focus Sash
IVs: 0/31/0/31/0/0
EVs: 255 Att/ 255 SpA
Moves: Trick Room/Destiny Bond/Taunt/Shadow Claw
BTW, the reason you put 255 EVs in each attacking stat is because the EVs are useless anywhere else. Hope this helped!

[mattj]

pardon the obvious question, but why would you put 252 in SAtk if it doesn't have a move that uses its SAtk stat

If you want to use Banette for some reason, personally I would suggest something like:

Banette (354)

Mental Herb
Insomnia
Brave
31/31/31/X/31/0
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Trick Room, Shadow Claw, Shadow Sneak, Protect

Obviously it won't survive any big hits, but with the proper partner supporting it you have a good chance of setting up TR, and don't have to worry about Spore or Taunt. Plus, if they bring out an Imprison Chandelure (or most any imprison mon) you can hit it with a substantial Shadow Claw.

[tikidude]

Originally Posted by Fat mattj

pardon the obvious question, but why would you put 252 in SAtk if it doesn't have a move that uses its SAtk stat

It's meant to die so, all of its defensive IVs will be zero. It's used for Trick Room, so its speed IV will be zero. Special Attack is the only other stat besides attack that doesn't completely suck, and the EVs have to go somewhere.

[mattj]

respectfully,
no
they don't have to go anywhere
if you're not going to use your SAtk stat, don't invest anything in it
unless you want the effort ribbon for sentimental reasons or something

[Showsni]

And if you want no speed no defence Bannette with no real attacking options, why not go for as low a level as possible?

[Jegretis]

I don't understand the point of having a suicide lead. Why not invest those SpA EVs into HP? I mean, at least then it can survive some attacks.

[Zog]

Lol a suicide lead is basically handing your opponent 25% of their game win on a plate.

Just don't do it, it's a terrible strategy that will only make you lose.

[Showsni]

Well, it's not meant to just suicide with no benefit. It's meant to set up Trick Room and take down an opponent with Destiny Bond. But it's total Taunt bait.

[Jegretis]

That basically means if you don't set up TR, you just cost yourself the battle...

That really is a bad strategy. I would go with more along the lines of a Cripple lead, such as a Whimsicott.

[DoubleJG]

Thanks for clarifying on the purpose of using Banette. I'm not much of a suicider in this game, so I'll probably go with one of the other Trick Room users. I just need to figure out who has the best bulk while being able to cover the spots that Hariyama lacks.

New Questions:

1) When running a TR team, is it recommended to bring a mon that does not rely on TR to succeed?

2) How many TR users are recommended for double battles per 4 that you send out?

[R Inanimate]

Originally Posted by Fat Misdreavus

Is Toxicroak generally a better choice for a rain team than Parasect? Also, is it too dangerous to use Surf on most or all of my Water-type Pokémon if I have 2 offensively-EV'd Pokémon without Protect on my team (Thundurus and Dragonite)?

I'd say that Toxicroak usually has more use on a Rain Team. However, Parasect is better if you find yourself having troubles with Trick Room teams.

I've used a Rain team that where Surf is the water attack, and found it to work very well, but my non-water types on the team all had Protect. Then again, I rarely ever had to use Surf while they were on the field so even if they didn't have protect things could probably still work out. Thus, I think it can work to have Surf as your only water attack if you play your cards right.

[TsukasaSIGN]

Would running a sandstorm team be a good or bad idea in VGC 12?

[CakesOfSpan]

Originally Posted by Fat TsukasaSIGN

Would running a sandstorm team be a good or bad idea in VGC 12?

It's definitively viable. Just make sure you take into account other weather. Also, don't limit yourself to mons that take advantage of the sand (I run into this problem a lot.)

What is the optimal spread for a Eviolite Pory2? Would it be more efficient to run 252 HP or 128 Def/128 SpD?

[voodoo pimp]

Originally Posted by Fat CakesOfSpan

It's definitively viable. Just make sure you take into account other weather. Also, don't limit yourself to mons that take advantage of the sand (I run into this problem a lot.)

I see a lot of this too. People using sand/hail seem to think that every 'mon on their team needs to be immune to damage. Of course, it's even less relevant in doubles where you'll be playing less than half as many turns on average. Your big sweepers should be taking advantage of the weather, of course (but make sure they're still functional without it in case you lose control), but the rest of your team should be more focused on support and coverage.

What is the optimal spread for a Eviolite Pory2? Would it be more efficient to run 252 HP or 128 Def/128 SpD?

http://users.smogon.com/X-Act/defense.html
252 HP. Eviolite shouldn't make a difference, since it increases overall bulk by the same amount regardless of EVs.

[Jegretis]

I have never run a weather team before, so I decided that this year I would run one. Does anyone have any suggestions on which weather team is the easiest to get a hang of? For example, Rain, Hail, Sandstorm,etc...

[Firestorm]

If you require a specific weather to succeed, you're looking at an uphill battle.

[ultimatedra]

Originally Posted by Fat Jegretis

I have never run a weather team before, so I decided that this year I would run one. Does anyone have any suggestions on which weather team is the easiest to get a hang of? For example, Rain, Hail, Sandstorm,etc...

Rain has much more support going for it. Beautiful synergy and coverage. +Water power, swift swim, hydration, water absorb, storm drain, dry skin - all work together well. Water takes out rock/ground (sandstorm) and fire (sun). Rain & Hail can do toe to toe, but water pokemon learn blizzard also to so it can utilize hail also.

Also, the pokemon that go on these teams have great move coverage. Toxicroak, Ludicolo, Lanturn, Poliwrath, and Kingdra are all excellent pokemon for a rain team for the typing.

[soul_survivor]

I'm just curious but is jp having vgc this year, or no one knows still?

[Clinton]

What is the best Fire Type to use in VGC that doesn't not have more than a few weaknesses and has enough bulk to survive a super effective hit that also has an expansive movepool(like Grass, Ground, Electric... lol sounds like I should use overheat Manetric xD)? (My team requires a huge partner for like Metagross, Fire Fang aerodactly got ScarfSwitched by rotom way to much and I hate him)

[soul_survivor]

Originally Posted by Fat Clinton

What is the best Fire Type to use in VGC that doesn't not have more than a few weaknesses and has enough bulk to survive a super effective hit that also has an expansive movepool(like Grass, Ground, Electric... lol sounds like I should use overheat Manetric xD)? (My team requires a huge partner for like Metagross, Fire Fang aerodactly got ScarfSwitched by rotom way to much and I hate him)

There really aren't that many good fire types. Though the best to use are infernape, and chandelure(probably the only fire types seen besides ninetales in sun, the rare heatran and darmanitan). Nape has synergy on nearly every team, and is a great fake outer, and can use moves like encore to further screw your opponents. Then theres chandy who can run a amazing scarv set, run a regular sash set, can work in trickroom, and can be a nice tr counter with imprison.

[Showsni]

Arcanine might be a possiblity - Flare Blitz is powerful, Close Combat and Wild Bolt for powerful coverage moves, and it can also get Extremespeed to pick things off. Not sure how it fares to ever present Rock Slides, though.

[Age of Kings]

What're the fastest commonly used Pokemon with and without Scarf (and not boosted by a weather ability)? I'm trying to come up with EV spreads, and I was thinking to plan for Accelgor and Scarf Latios...is that a good speed tier to aim for? Is there anything above that, or is that overkill?