by undisputed and hyperbeem
Introduction:
Despite the widespread usage of Taunt and Phazers, Baton Pass teams can prove a deadly style if used correctly. The new ability Prankster, which gives all non-damaging moves priority, is a large threat to Baton Pass, but is balanced out by excellent boosts to Baton Pass in the 5th generation. The move Stored Power raises in Base Power for each boost accumulated, so once multiple boosts have been passed this move has enormous strength. In addition, the move Shell Smash sharply boosts Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, allowing for quick set up. Finally, the ability Magic Bounce reflects the effects of non-danaging boosts, and largely counters Prankster Pokemon, Taunt, and phazing. Baton Pass may seem like an unreliable or gimmicky strategy, but with a properly built team, it can work wonders.
What is Baton Pass?
Baton Pass is a 64 Max PP Normal-type move that transfers all stat boosts, Substitute, and special conditions to the intended receiver. In addition, it escapes the trapping effects of Shadow Tag, Mean Look, Magnet Pull, Arena Trap. Also, the receiver is the Pokemon hit by Pursuit rather than the passer. Baton Pass no longer passes the effect of Mean Look as in the 4th generation
Styles of Baton Pass
The two types of Baton Pass are quick pass and full pass. Quick pass is often just a strategy between two or three Pokemon, and focuses on getting extreme boosts to a powerful receiver quickly to attempt a sweep. Quick pass is generally used with tactics like dual screens, hazards, and trappers to aid and remove counters to a sweep. Full pass consists of the entire team slowly accumulating offensive and defensive boosts while blocking Taunt and Phazing to consistently sweep. In full pass teams, the whole team is used for this purpose, so generally hazards and other strategies are usually unseen.
Quick Pass:
Quick Pass has become very common this generation with the advent of Shell Smash. Shell Smash sharply raises Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, the common traits of a powerful mixed sweeper. It also has a side effect of lowering defenses, which can be countered with a White Herb. Mew, another excellent quick passer, is now usable in standard play, and can provide any boost necessary to a receiver. Mew's excellent bulk and good speed make it a great alternative to Shell Smash. On the receiving side, there are a host of powerful receivers including past terrors like Salamence and the new, powerful genies.
Quick Pass Strategy
Passers
Gorebyss
Notable Moves: Shell Smash, Amnesia, Barrier, Aqua Ring
Description: Gorebyss is the premier Shell Smasher in OU for many reasons. Its decent defenses give it numerous opportunities to set up. In addition, its powerful Special Attack lets it pose an offensive threat even before passing, especially if the opposing team uses Drizzle.
Example Moveset:
Gorebyss @ White Herb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 24 SpD / 232 Spe
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)
-Shell Smash
-Substitute
-Baton Pass
-Surf
Smeargle
Notable Moves: Smeargle can learn every move in Pokemon.
Description: Smeargle possesses the unqoque quality of having any move combination. The move Spore can incapacitate foes, so Smeargle can use moves like Shell Smash, Quiver Dance, Shift Gear, and others in safety.
Example Moveset
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -Atk)
-Shell Smash
-Taunt
-Baton Pass
-Spore
Mew
Notable Moves: Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Rock Polish, Barrier, Amnesia
Description: Mew is an extremely versatile Pokemon, and can run a variety of Baton Pass options. The most common set is boosting the speed and one offensive stat of a receiver to instantly create a powerful sweeper with no drawbacks.
Example Moveset:
Mew @ Lum Berry
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe
-Rock Polish
-Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
-Baton Pass
-Taunt
Venomoth
Notable Moves: Quiver Dance, Sleep Powder
Description: Venomoth has the unique ability to Baton Pass the boosts of Quiver Dance, which combines a Calm Mind boost with a Speed Boost. In addition, it can use Sleep Powder to set up, and use its modest Special Attack and Tinted Lense to pose an offensive presence before passing. Venomoth's ability Wonder Skin halves the accuracy of non-damaging moves, but relies on luck.
Example Moveset:
Venomoth @ Leftovers
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
-Sleep Powder
-Quiver Dance
-Baton Pass
-Bug Buzz
Receivers
Metagross
Notable Moves: Meteor Mash, Zen Headbutt, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch
Description: Metagross is an excellent receiver because of its high attack stat, wide array of powerful coverage moves, and solid defenses. In addition, Metagross resists both ExtremeSpeed and Bullet Punch which makes it very hard to revenge kill. The only downside to using Metagross as a Quick Pass recipient is the wide spread use of Excadrill. With Sand Rush, Excadrill is able to out-speed Metagross and use Earthquake to stop it in its tracks.
Landorus
Notable Moves: Earthquake, Stone Edge, Hidden Power Ice, Substitute
Description: With almost unresisted coverage in Earthquake and Stone Edge coupled with a very high Attack stat, Landorus is capable of tearing through teams. In addition, Landorus' main attacking moves, Earthquake and Stone Edge, are boosted if Sand Storm is in effect. Landorus resists the popular priority move, Mach Punch, so it is resistant to revenge kills.
Salamence
Notable Moves: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, Brick Break, Fire Blast, Roost
Description: Salamence has a wide array of useful coverage moves, and when coupled with high Attack and Special Attack stats, it is a very powerful sweeper. In addition, Intimidate allows Salamence to effectively switch in on physically-based attackers when receiving boosts via Baton Pass. If and when Salamence receives its Dream World ability, Over Confidence, Salamence can become next to impossible to stop after its Attack raises with every KO.
Dragonite
Notable Moves: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Fire Blast, ExtremeSpeed, Brick Break, Fire Punch, Roost
Description: Dragonite and Salamence are very similar in playstyle. Like Salamence, Dragonite has very high attacking stats from both sides of the spectrum, and with many powerful coverage moves, Dragonite can be difficult to revenge kill once it gets going. ExtremeSpeed deserves a special mention because it guarantees Dragonite can move before Priority Attackers and continue a sweep. Dragonite's ability, Multiscale, halves damage when Dragonite is at full health, so Dragonite can easily switch in when receiving boosts.
Quick Pass Counters/Problems:
Full Pass
Full Pass Strategy
Stat Boosters / Supporters:
Receivers:
Full Pass Counters / Problems:
Sample Quick Pass RMT
Sample Full Pass RMT
Introduction:
Despite the widespread usage of Taunt and Phazers, Baton Pass teams can prove a deadly style if used correctly. The new ability Prankster, which gives all non-damaging moves priority, is a large threat to Baton Pass, but is balanced out by excellent boosts to Baton Pass in the 5th generation. The move Stored Power raises in Base Power for each boost accumulated, so once multiple boosts have been passed this move has enormous strength. In addition, the move Shell Smash sharply boosts Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, allowing for quick set up. Finally, the ability Magic Bounce reflects the effects of non-danaging boosts, and largely counters Prankster Pokemon, Taunt, and phazing. Baton Pass may seem like an unreliable or gimmicky strategy, but with a properly built team, it can work wonders.
What is Baton Pass?
Baton Pass is a 64 Max PP Normal-type move that transfers all stat boosts, Substitute, and special conditions to the intended receiver. In addition, it escapes the trapping effects of Shadow Tag, Mean Look, Magnet Pull, Arena Trap. Also, the receiver is the Pokemon hit by Pursuit rather than the passer. Baton Pass no longer passes the effect of Mean Look as in the 4th generation
Styles of Baton Pass
The two types of Baton Pass are quick pass and full pass. Quick pass is often just a strategy between two or three Pokemon, and focuses on getting extreme boosts to a powerful receiver quickly to attempt a sweep. Quick pass is generally used with tactics like dual screens, hazards, and trappers to aid and remove counters to a sweep. Full pass consists of the entire team slowly accumulating offensive and defensive boosts while blocking Taunt and Phazing to consistently sweep. In full pass teams, the whole team is used for this purpose, so generally hazards and other strategies are usually unseen.
Quick Pass:
Quick Pass has become very common this generation with the advent of Shell Smash. Shell Smash sharply raises Attack, Special Attack, and Speed, the common traits of a powerful mixed sweeper. It also has a side effect of lowering defenses, which can be countered with a White Herb. Mew, another excellent quick passer, is now usable in standard play, and can provide any boost necessary to a receiver. Mew's excellent bulk and good speed make it a great alternative to Shell Smash. On the receiving side, there are a host of powerful receivers including past terrors like Salamence and the new, powerful genies.
Quick Pass Strategy
Passers
Gorebyss
Notable Moves: Shell Smash, Amnesia, Barrier, Aqua Ring
Description: Gorebyss is the premier Shell Smasher in OU for many reasons. Its decent defenses give it numerous opportunities to set up. In addition, its powerful Special Attack lets it pose an offensive threat even before passing, especially if the opposing team uses Drizzle.
Example Moveset:
Gorebyss @ White Herb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 24 SpD / 232 Spe
Nature: Calm (+SpD, -Atk)
-Shell Smash
-Substitute
-Baton Pass
-Surf
Smeargle
Notable Moves: Smeargle can learn every move in Pokemon.
Description: Smeargle possesses the unqoque quality of having any move combination. The move Spore can incapacitate foes, so Smeargle can use moves like Shell Smash, Quiver Dance, Shift Gear, and others in safety.
Example Moveset
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -Atk)
-Shell Smash
-Taunt
-Baton Pass
-Spore
Mew
Notable Moves: Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Rock Polish, Barrier, Amnesia
Description: Mew is an extremely versatile Pokemon, and can run a variety of Baton Pass options. The most common set is boosting the speed and one offensive stat of a receiver to instantly create a powerful sweeper with no drawbacks.
Example Moveset:
Mew @ Lum Berry
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe
-Rock Polish
-Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
-Baton Pass
-Taunt
Venomoth
Notable Moves: Quiver Dance, Sleep Powder
Description: Venomoth has the unique ability to Baton Pass the boosts of Quiver Dance, which combines a Calm Mind boost with a Speed Boost. In addition, it can use Sleep Powder to set up, and use its modest Special Attack and Tinted Lense to pose an offensive presence before passing. Venomoth's ability Wonder Skin halves the accuracy of non-damaging moves, but relies on luck.
Example Moveset:
Venomoth @ Leftovers
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
-Sleep Powder
-Quiver Dance
-Baton Pass
-Bug Buzz
Receivers
Metagross
Notable Moves: Meteor Mash, Zen Headbutt, Earthquake, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch
Description: Metagross is an excellent receiver because of its high attack stat, wide array of powerful coverage moves, and solid defenses. In addition, Metagross resists both ExtremeSpeed and Bullet Punch which makes it very hard to revenge kill. The only downside to using Metagross as a Quick Pass recipient is the wide spread use of Excadrill. With Sand Rush, Excadrill is able to out-speed Metagross and use Earthquake to stop it in its tracks.
Landorus
Notable Moves: Earthquake, Stone Edge, Hidden Power Ice, Substitute
Description: With almost unresisted coverage in Earthquake and Stone Edge coupled with a very high Attack stat, Landorus is capable of tearing through teams. In addition, Landorus' main attacking moves, Earthquake and Stone Edge, are boosted if Sand Storm is in effect. Landorus resists the popular priority move, Mach Punch, so it is resistant to revenge kills.
Salamence
Notable Moves: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, Brick Break, Fire Blast, Roost
Description: Salamence has a wide array of useful coverage moves, and when coupled with high Attack and Special Attack stats, it is a very powerful sweeper. In addition, Intimidate allows Salamence to effectively switch in on physically-based attackers when receiving boosts via Baton Pass. If and when Salamence receives its Dream World ability, Over Confidence, Salamence can become next to impossible to stop after its Attack raises with every KO.
Dragonite
Notable Moves: Dragon Claw, Outrage, Fire Blast, ExtremeSpeed, Brick Break, Fire Punch, Roost
Description: Dragonite and Salamence are very similar in playstyle. Like Salamence, Dragonite has very high attacking stats from both sides of the spectrum, and with many powerful coverage moves, Dragonite can be difficult to revenge kill once it gets going. ExtremeSpeed deserves a special mention because it guarantees Dragonite can move before Priority Attackers and continue a sweep. Dragonite's ability, Multiscale, halves damage when Dragonite is at full health, so Dragonite can easily switch in when receiving boosts.
- Thundurus
- Lucario
Quick Pass Counters/Problems:
- Priority Taunt
- Status
- Phazing
- Enemy Stat Boosters
- Unaware
Full Pass
Full Pass Strategy
Stat Boosters / Supporters:
- Celebi
- Ninjask
- Scizor
- Mew
- Zapdos
- Vaporeon
- Mr. Mime
- Gliscor
- Mawile
- Smeargle
Receivers:
- ESPEON
- Metagross
- Lucario
Full Pass Counters / Problems:
- Priority Taunt Users
- Other Taunters
- Opposing Set-up
- Haze
- Attacking Phazers
Sample Quick Pass RMT
Sample Full Pass RMT
