I've been doing a little thinking about sacrificial moves lately, but I am wondering if the rest of you consider any of them aside from Memento viable. Although losing a member of your team can be a hefty price to pay, the four suicide moves have spectacular effects and when used properly, they can neutralize threats to your team or allow a teammate an opening to set up and sweep.
Here is my concise analysis of the sacrifice moves:
Memento
Power: --
Type: Dark
Effect: User faints. Lowers foe's Attack and Special Attack by two stages.
Viable Users:
Applications:
Using Memento in order to provide a teammate an opportunity to set up is a reasonably common strategy in LC given the ferocity of some of the sweepers. A Memento user is paired with a teammate such as Zigzagoon or Omanyte, excellent sweepers that are sometimes too frail to set up without support. Each of the three common users of the move are fast enough to use it and can provide ample support for their teammates; Diglett traps the Steel-types that Zigzagoon cannot beat while allowing its Extreme Speed to secure more OHKOes by setting up Stealth Rock. Stunky traps Ghost-types, Gothita, and Abra, allowing for Zigzagoon or a Fighting-type sweeper to benefit from its Memento support. Cottonee's Prankster means it will almost always successfully use Memento. In addition, it can beat some of the Fighting- and Water-types that check most Shell Smash sweepers.
Healing Wish
Power: --
Type: Psychic
Effect: User faints. The next Pokemon sent in is fully healed and cleared of status. This effect takes place before entry hazard damage.
Viable Users:
Applications:
Healing Wish is used less than Memento considering there are much fewer viable users, and it does not necessarily allow a frail Pokemon an opportunity to set up. However, a Healing Wish user's teammate can be used much more recklessly, as any chip damage and status conditions will all be undone when the move is used -- provided the intended recipient does not faint. Bulky Pokemon that can take hits are good recipients of Healing Wish, as they can effectively take and deal twice as much damage and even act as status absorbers for their teammates. Bulk Up Timburr and Calm Mind Spritzee are two examples of set-up sweepers, and provided they are kept clear of Knock Off, they remain capable of grinding opposing teams to dust. Bulky Pokemon that lack recovery also enjoy being afforded a second life by Healing Wish, such as Skrelp, Ferroseed, and Pancham.
Destiny Bond
Power: --
Type: Ghost
Effect: If the user faints as a direct result of a attack, the for faints also
Viable Users:
Applications:
The goal of a Destiny Bond user is to simply to bring down a foe. Most of the viable users of the move are very fast and strong, meaning that they can ordinarily take down a few foes before being taken down themselves, usually bringing down a final foe along with them -- ordinarily a check. Houndour and Carvanha can be revenge-killed by Fighting-types, but if they are taken down by Destiny Bond, then this allows its teammates weak to Fighting some breathing space and perhaps even an opportunity to sweep late-game.
Explosion
Power: 250, 100%
Type: Normal
Effect: Regular attack. User faints upon execution.
Viable Users:
Applications:
Explosion is much more niche than the other suicide moves, as the users of the move are very situational. Voltorb uses the move as a suicide rain-setting lead, Pumpkaboo seldom uses the move except for on Trick Room teams as a suicide lead, and Pineco is used as a suicide lead on hyper offense teams. Explosion is not used in order to secure sweeps or open up opportunities for setup, or even necessarily bring down checks to its teammates. It is simply used to bring in a teammate into an advantageous field condition, however, the damage it does can allow for a teammate to easily pick off a damaged foe. However, there are examples of Pokemon that can score surprise KOes with Explosion. Scarf Analytic Magnemite is fantastic at forcing switches, and its Explosion can put a heavy dent in many switch-ins, particularly Chinchou.
I would love to hear your opinions on suicide moves and the strategies you have developed with them.