Approved by AccidentalGreed
<img src="/download/sprites/bw/460.png" alt="" />
<p><strong>Typing:</strong> Grass / Ice<br />
<strong>Base Stats:</strong> 90 HP / 92 Atk / 75 Def / 92 SpA / 85 SpD / 60 Spe<br />
<strong>Abilities:</strong> Snow Warning / Soundproof</p>
<p>Abomasnow is unique in standard play as the only fully evolved Pokemon that can summon permanent hail. It is somewhat limited by its only decent offenses and mediocre Speed; therefore, it is often seen running a Choice Scarf set to make up for the latter, to take on the role of a revenge killer. It typically carries Blizzard and either Grass Knot or Wood Hammer, as well as Hidden Power Fire or Earthquake to deal with the Steel-types that resist its STABs. Abomasnow also makes for an annoying SubSeed user, as Leech Seed works in tandem with hail damage to slowly chip away at the opponent's health; it also has STAB Blizzard to severely punish any Grass-type that tries to nullify this strategy. The last move on this set is usually a choice between Focus Punch to smash Rock- and Steel-types, and Wood Hammer to demolish bulky Water-types.</p>
<h3>Alakazam</h3>
<img src="/download/sprites/bw/65.png" alt="" />
<p><strong>Typing:</strong> Psychic<br />
<strong>Base Stats:</strong> 55 HP / 50 Atk / 45 Def / 135 SpA / 85 SpD / 120 Spe<br />
<strong>Abilities:</strong> Synchronize / Inner Focus / Magic Guard</p>
<p>Alakazam, having been denied OU status for numerous generations, was finally given it in part thanks to a new ability, Magic Guard. Now that it gained OU status, Alakazam is here to showcase its immense power. Packing base 135 Special Attack as well as base 120 Speed, and a move called Psyshock to hit the two blobs Chansey and Blissey, Alakazam is one tough cookie to break. It also runs plenty of sets; ranging from Sub + 3 Attacks to Offensive Calm Mind to Focus Sash sets, it will be difficult to predict what exactly Alakazam is doing. It is also hard to decide what item it could be holding due to Magic Guard making Alakazam take no recoil from Life Orb. Coverage wise, Alakazam strives for coverage with moves such as Focus Blast and Shadow Ball. However, some even run Hidden Power Fire, especially on the Focus Sash set to deal with one of Alakazam's biggest checks, Scizor. All in all, Alakazam is a Pokemon of immense power, and if you ever see one in battle, have a game plan for it, or else you'll be in trouble.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/184.png" alt="Azumarill" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Azumarill/ou"><strong>Azumarill</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 100 HP / 50 Atk / 80 Def / 50 SpA / 80 SpD / 50 Spe<br />
Abilities: Thick Fat / Huge Power / Sap Sipper</p>
<p>Although BW2 still has not brought anything new for Azumarill, it still has a niche in the metagame. With the onslaught of many fast, powerful attackers and frail setup sweepers, powerful priority is virtually a must for any team, and Azumarill certainly provides this. With the combination of Huge Power and Choice Band, Azumarill can OHKO many of the top threats in the metagame with STAB Aqua Jet, as well as smack defensive threats such as Ferrothorn and Blissey with Superpower. The advent of Drizzle Politoed in OU makes it all the more difficult to deal with Azumarill, as few can stand up to a boosted Waterfall in rain. Azumarill also has coverage options, such as Ice Punch, to fall back on, and its great Water typing and above average defenses allow it to take the odd hit or two with ease. Overall, Azumarill is a great choice for any team lacking a solid revenge killer, and should always be played against carefully.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/286.png" alt="Breloom" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Breloom"><strong>Breloom</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 60 HP / 130 Atk / 80 Def / 60 SpA / 60 SpD / 70 Spe<br />
Abilities: Effect Spore / Poison Heal / Technician</p>
<p>A top tier threat in BW1, Breloom comes into BW2 with Technician. This ability gives Breloom access to a powerful Mach Punch, having the same power as Scizor's Bullet Punch, except with much better typing. Breloom's utility in Spore also is useful as ever, as it allows Breloom to get a free Swords Dance or use its classic SubSeed or SubPunch sets. Technician also boosts Bullet Seed' s power, meaning at worse it hits only 5 Base Points less than Seed Bomb and at best, it's stronger than even Focus Punch! However, unlike Scizor, it's much less bulky and find itself walled by common threats such Celebi and Dragonite, meaning that teammates must move these checks and counters for it to wreck havoc. While it's mediocre Speed is remedied by Low Sweep, it still isn't enough to outpace extremely fast threats like Jolteon and Alakazam. Its average defenses are something that are desired. Despite these flaws, Breloom still remain a top tier threat.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/251.png" alt="Celebi" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Celebi"><strong>Celebi</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 100 HP / 100 Atk / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe<br />
Abilities: Natural Cure</p>
<p>Celebi is a Pokemon that has always shined in the OU environment. It is easy to see why, as a typing that grants in 6 resistances, base 100 stats across the board, and a useful ability in Natural Cure, make Celebi a huge threat to look out for in OU. Also, thanks to its well-balanced stats, Celebi is a great team supporter and defensive pivot for offensive teams as it possesses great defensive qualities such as resisting Water-, Ground-, Fighting-, and Electric-type attacks that are common in OU, as well as sporting moves such as Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Leech Seed, Recover, Dual Screens, and Heal Bell. Its great typing also lets it check Keldeo, a very dominant threat in the current metagame. Sporting two great boosting attacks in Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, as well as coverage moves in Earth Power and Hidden Power Fire or Ice, offensive Celebi can rip through unprepared teams with ease. Celebi can also run choice sets, as it has Trick and U-turn, allowing it to cripple a potential check or keep up the momentum. Finally, to top of the great Pokemon which is Celebi, it can also use Baton Pass to pass along Substitutes, boosts from Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, or even Swords Dance, and with that great bulk, it's easy to see why Celebi has little difficulty doing that. However, it isn't all fun and games for the pixie. Since Celebi doesn't gain Psyshock, it can't get past Blissey or Chansey, two Pokemon which will give Celebi trouble. Celebi also sports a 4x weakness to Bug-type moves, meaning it can't handle Scizor without Hidden Power Fire. Speaking of Scizor, it can also trap Celebi with Pursuit due to Celebi's Psychic typing. Other Pursuit users such as Tyranitar and Weavile can also trap Celebi. Lastly, Dragon-type Pokemon give Celebi without Hidden Power Ice, though Thunder Wave will keep them at bay. All in all, Celebi is a Pokemon with many uses in the OU metagame and is definitely a Pokemon to look out for.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/639.png" alt="Chandelure" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Chandelure/ou"><strong>Chandelure</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 60 HP / 55 Atk / 90 Def / 145 SpA / 90 SpD / 80 Spe<br />
Abilities: Flash Fire / Flame Body / Shadow Tag (Unreleased)</p>
<p>One of the newest Ghost-types to grace the BW2 OU metagame, Chandelure has more than enough to set itself apart from its ghostly brethren. A gigantic base 145 Special Attack, two powerful STABs, and decent defensive stats make Chandelure a massive threat and a fantastic Choice Scarf user. Through Dream World, it is destined to gain the ability Shadow Tag: the reason for Wobbuffet's ban from standard play in previous Generations. Its movepool includes useful coverage options, such as Energy Ball, to deal with troublesome Water-types, as well as the boosting moves Calm Mind and Flame Charge. Access to useful support moves, such as Will-O-Wisp, means it is not bereft of support options either. Though Chandelure has a sub-par base 80 Speed, remains as an outcast in the rain dominated metagame, and sports weaknesses to Stealth Rock, as well as common Water-, Rock-, Dark-, Ghost-, and Ground-type attacks, do not underestimate Chandelure; one wrong step will spell doom for your chances of victory.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/91.png" alt="Cloyster" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Cloyster"><strong>Cloyster</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 50 HP / 95 Atk / 180 Def / 85 SpA / 45 SpD / 70 Spe<br />
Abilities: Shell Armor / Skill Link / Overcoat (Unreleased)</p>
<p>Cloyster has traditionally relied on its massive Defense stat and solid support movepool , consisting of Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Rapid Spin, to snag it a place on teams in previous generations. However, it hit the jackpot in BW, gaining one of the the best boosting moves in the game: Shell Break. This makes Cloyster a very dangerous mixed attacker, capable of tearing through entire teams without breaking a sweat. With just a single turn of setup, Cloyster's offensive stats skyrocket to massive heights, enabling it to OHKO or 2HKO the whole metagame while still outspeeding many threats. Skill Link also gives Icicle Spear and Rock Blast maximum Base Power, meaning that not even Focus Sash, Substitute, Multiscale, or Sturdy can stop Cloyster's rampage. However, Shell Break lowers Cloyster's defenses by one stage each. While Cloyster's Special Defense is awful as it is, Fighting-type priority users, such as Conkeldurr, can prey on Cloyster's lowered Defense and weakness to their attacks. Overall though, Cloyster is definitely a Pokemon to watch out for, as it can rip teams to shreds if not met with a check.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/562.png" alt="Conkeldurr" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Conkeldurr"><strong>Conkeldurr</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 105 HP / 140 Atk / 95 Def / 55 SpA / 65 SpD / 45 Spe<br />
Abilities: Guts / Sheer Force / Iron Fist (Unreleased)</p>
<p>Another slow, bulky, and very powerful Fighting type, Conkeldurr is not a clown to joke about. Conkeldurr packs a massive 140 base Attack, a great ability in Guts, and a fantastic boosting move in Bulk Up, making it one of the most potent threats in the metagame. Conkeldurr's good HP and Defense stats allow it to take the odd hit or two when setting up; STAB Drain Punch complements this well, significantly boosting its survivability. Powerful priority in Mach Punch also adds to its utility, letting it revenge kill threatening sweepers such as Cloyster. Its physical movepool isn't half bad either, it includes coverage options, such as Stone Edge and Payback, to complement its abovementioned STABs. However, its ability is what lets it stand out from the pack; Guts lets Conkeldurr scoff at the Achilles heel of many other physical attackers, enabling it to set up on walls that beat many of its fellow physical sweepers with status or Scald's burn chance. Aside from traditional Bulk Up and Choice Band sets, Conkeldurr can also abuse Guts directly with Flame Orb or Toxic Orb. Conkeldurr also has access to another great ability in Sheer Force which boosts its physical BoltBeam coverage in ThunderPunch and Ice Punch. Though common Psychic-types, such as Latios and Reuniclus, can dispose of Conkeldurr without too much trouble, dare not fool around with it, or its powerful fists will be the last thing you will ever see.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/584.png" alt="Darmanitan" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Darmanitan/ou"><strong>Darmanitan</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 105 HP / 140 Atk / 55 Def / 30 SpA / 55 SpD / 95 Spe<br />
Abilities: Sheer Force / Zen Mode</p>
<p>With a colossal Attack stat, a devastating STAB move in Flare Blitz, and a great ability in Sheer Force, Darmanitan has the power to blast its way through its opponents, including those that resist its attacks. With a Sheer Force-boosted Flare Blitz under sun, Darmanitan can power its way through just about all Pokemon who aren't outright immune to Fire-type attacks. Those who are immune face the threat of a similarly boosted Rock Slide or Superpower, or a quick U-turn to a counter. Although Darmanitan excels at dealing large amounts of damage in short periods of time, its biggest fault is its vulnerability to all forms of entry hazards, as well as recoil damage, which will ultimately be its downfall. Its poor defenses, and unfortunate base 95 Speed also mean that faster threats can revenge kill it easily. Nonetheless, Darmanitan is indeed a dangerous threat: underestimate its raw power at your own peril.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/196.png" alt="Espeon" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Espeon"><strong>Espeon</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 65 HP / 65 Atk / 60 Def / 130 SpA / 95 SpD / 110 Spe<br />
Abilities: Synchronize / Magic Bounce</p>
<p>At first glance, Espeon appears to be outclassed by other Psychic-types, most notably Alakazam, who has higher Special Attack and Speed stats, as well as Focus Blast to beat Tyranitar. However, Espeon's saving grace comes not in the form of typing, stats, or moves, but in its Dream World ability: Magic Bounce. Its ability to deflect entry hazards, phazing moves, status moves, and Taunt not only gives it a niche on standard teams, but also allows it to set up on many defensive Pokemon, including Jellicent, Blissey without Seismic Toss, and Skarmory. Despite this incredible ability, Espeon's Psychic typing and poor Defense limit its ability to set up. Tyranitar and Scizor can come in and threaten Espeon with super effective STAB moves, forcing Espeon to switch or be KOed. Still, with the ability to pass Calm Mind boosts, reflect entry hazards, as well as set up and sweep itself, Espeon is an excellent support choice for any team, particularly Sun teams.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/94.png" alt="Gengar" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Gengar"><strong>Gengar</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 60 HP / 65 Atk / 60 Def / 130 SpA / 75 SpD / 110 Spe<br />
Abilities: Levitate</p>
<p>With its Ghost typing, high base 110 Speed, and massive base 130 Special Attack, Gengar remains a dangerous threat four generations after its introduction. Convenient immunities to common Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type attacks make Gengar a great pivot, giving it a wealth of opportunities to switch in and wreak havoc. Along with a powerful STAB Shadow Ball, Gengar has fantastic coverage options in Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, and Hidden Power. As Shadow Ball and Focus Blast achieve perfect neutral coverage together, Gengar can simultaneously make use of its multitude of support options, including Substitute, Disable, and Pain Split, making it an effective check to threats such as Conkeldurr, and even walls such as Blissey, Ferrothorn, and Jellicent. Despite these amazing perks, the fact remains that Gengar has poor defensive stats, and can be revenge killed by faster threats, such as Alakazam and Starmie, as well as by priority, unless it is safely tucked away behind a Substitute. Pursuit users, such as Tyranitar and Scizor, wreck Gengar too, and have the bulk to take a Focus Blast most of the time. Gengar even has to face competition with Jellicent, who has much better bulk and an excellent abilty in Water Absorb, who can also defeat Starmie, which Gengar cannot do without a Choice Scarf. Still, tread carefully, else Gengar will be truly frightening to deal with.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/477.png" alt="Gliscor" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Gliscor"><strong>Gliscor</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 75 HP / 95 Atk / 125 Def / 45 SpA / 75 SpD / 95 Spe<br />
Abilities: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Poison Heal</p>
<p>Despite being thought of as a primarily defensive threat, Gliscor's stats, movepool, and typing lend themselves to effective offensive sets as well. With its bulk and decent Speed, it is easily able to switch into top threats, such as Tyranitar and Lucario, and threaten them with its STAB Earthquake. It can then use Swords Dance to boost its Attack as the opponent switches out, activating its Poison Heal ability at the same time. Such a setup allows Gliscor to protect itself from status, gradually restore its health, and threaten the opposing team at the same time. Gliscor will typically supplement its powerful boosted STAB Earthquake with some combination of Stone Edge, Taunt, and Ice Fang. A lesser-seen alternative is Flying Gem, which enables Gliscor to effectively use a full-powered Acrobatics alongside Earthquake and, in doing so, score super effective hits on 8 of the 17 types with its boosted STAB attacks alone. However, Gliscor's weakness to Ice- and Water-type moves limit its effectiveness and it even faces competition with the newcomer, Landorus-T. In this metagame, a check to offensive Gliscor is mandatory for any successful team, as any unprepared team will quickly be decimated by it.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/642.png" alt="Haxorus" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Haxorus"><strong>Haxorus</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 76 HP / 147 Atk / 90 Def / 60 SpA / 70 SpD / 97 Spe<br />
Abilities: Rivalry / Mold Breaker / Unnerve (Unreleased) </p>
<p>Haxorus was a vastly overhyped threat in the early stages of BW and even BW2, where it got access to Superpower, but is not quite the terror that its massive base 147 Attack might make it seem. However, it is still a very dangerous threat. Outside of its powerful STAB Outrage, Haxorus has coverage options in Earthquake, Rock Slide, and Brick Break, allowing it to surprise unsuspecting opponents which switch in expecting Outrage. Access to boosting moves, such as Dragon Dance and Swords Dance, makes Haxorus a dangerous setup sweeper too, as it can be hard to stop after just a single turn of setup. It is also one of the few Dragon-types with access to Taunt, which means that phazing walls, such as Skarmory, won't be stopping Haxorus in a hurry. It can also utilize Choice Band to smash its way through teams with just the raw power of its STAB Outrage, which can power through even the likes of Steel-types, such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory! Choice Scarf Haxorus also happens to be one of the only reliable checks to Dragon Dance Dragonite in the metagame. What does keep our axe-faced dragon from being a top-tier threat, however, is its odd base 97 Speed, which means it is outsped by a huge number of threats who can exploit its average defenses and weakness to common Dragon- and Ice-type attacks. Kyurem-B also makes its extreme attack stat look like a joke. Still, be sure to pack a Steel-type or two, or Haxorus will be a massive pain for your team.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/490.png" alt="Heatran" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Heatran"><strong>Heatran</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 91 HP / 90 Atk / 106 Def / 130 SpA / 106 SpD / 77 Spe<br />
Abilities: Flash Fire / Flame Body (Unreleased)</p>
<p>Heatran is a very versatile Pokemon that can run a variety of sets, ranging from all-out offensive ones to defensive ones. With great balanced stats, a unique and effective typing, as well as a useful ability in Flash Fire, Heatran can run a fantastic offensive set , which, when backed by a Life Orb or a Choice Specs, has the power to rip through whole teams. Slapping a Choice Scarf on Heatran makes it a great revenge killer too, as it can then outspeed many popular unboosted sweepers, while simultaneously being able to finish off most threats with a powerful STAB Fire Blast. It also has the ability to clean up weakened teams late-game with any its offensive set. Finally, Heatran has a variety of support options, and its respectable defenses allow it to sponge most neutral and resisted attacks. With a great support movepool including Stealth Rock, Sunny Day, Roar, Taunt, Toxic, Protect, and Torment, the only thing that stops Heatran from being a top mixed wall is its lack of reliable recovery, which nonetheless can be somewhat remedied by Leftovers. Despite having a nasty weakness to common Ground-, Water-, and Fighting-type attacks, Heatran is still quite a threat, and makes a great addition to any team looking for a bulky, powerful attacker.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/665.png" alt="Hydreigon" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Hydreigon"><strong>Hydreigon</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 92 HP / 105 Atk / 90 Def / 125 SpA / 90 Def / 98 Spe<br />
Abilities: Levitate</p>
<p>A high base 125 Special Attack, a unique typing, and decent defensive stats, along with a massive movepool and a wonderful ability in Levitate, give this new dragon a niche in the metagame, making it a very dangerous threat indeed. Hydreigon's wide movepool, which includes Fire Blast, Surf, Dark Pulse, Draco Meteor, and Focus Blast, allows it to check a large range of threats. Levitate and its decent defenses also give Hydreigon the ability to switch in with ease and take the odd hit or two. Hydreigon can also surprise its normal would-be counters by running physical moves ,such as Earthquake and Outrage, thanks to its good base 105 Attack. Unfortunately, Hydreigon's odd base 98 Speed leaves it outpaced by a large number of threats who can hit it hard with their STAB attacks, Dragon-types in particular. While Hydreigon's defenses are decent, they are not spectacular, and it can't stomach powerful attacks from the likes of Conkeldurr and Latios. Its Dark part-typing also bestows on it unfortunate weaknesses to common Fighting- and Bug-type attacks. Offensively, special walls such as Blissey wall Hydreigon unless it runs Outrage. BW2 also brought Keldeo and Technician Breloom which easily revenge kill it, and also Kyurem-B who it faces competition with. Still, Hydreigon is a dangerous threat that, thanks to its sheer offensive power and wide movepool, can raze unprepared teams easily if given the chance.</p>
asked vertex and i'll be taking this over
Code:
Database - Offensive Threats<h3>Abomasnow</h3>
<img src="/download/sprites/bw/460.png" alt="" />
<p><strong>Typing:</strong> Grass / Ice<br />
<strong>Base Stats:</strong> 90 HP / 92 Atk / 75 Def / 92 SpA / 85 SpD / 60 Spe<br />
<strong>Abilities:</strong> Snow Warning / Soundproof</p>
<p>Abomasnow is unique in standard play as the only fully evolved Pokemon that can summon permanent hail. It is somewhat limited by its only decent offenses and mediocre Speed; therefore, it is often seen running a Choice Scarf set to make up for the latter, to take on the role of a revenge killer. It typically carries Blizzard and either Grass Knot or Wood Hammer, as well as Hidden Power Fire or Earthquake to deal with the Steel-types that resist its STABs. Abomasnow also makes for an annoying SubSeed user, as Leech Seed works in tandem with hail damage to slowly chip away at the opponent's health; it also has STAB Blizzard to severely punish any Grass-type that tries to nullify this strategy. The last move on this set is usually a choice between Focus Punch to smash Rock- and Steel-types, and Wood Hammer to demolish bulky Water-types.</p>
<h3>Alakazam</h3>
<img src="/download/sprites/bw/65.png" alt="" />
<p><strong>Typing:</strong> Psychic<br />
<strong>Base Stats:</strong> 55 HP / 50 Atk / 45 Def / 135 SpA / 85 SpD / 120 Spe<br />
<strong>Abilities:</strong> Synchronize / Inner Focus / Magic Guard</p>
<p>Alakazam, having been denied OU status for numerous generations, was finally given it in part thanks to a new ability, Magic Guard. Now that it gained OU status, Alakazam is here to showcase its immense power. Packing base 135 Special Attack as well as base 120 Speed, and a move called Psyshock to hit the two blobs Chansey and Blissey, Alakazam is one tough cookie to break. It also runs plenty of sets; ranging from Sub + 3 Attacks to Offensive Calm Mind to Focus Sash sets, it will be difficult to predict what exactly Alakazam is doing. It is also hard to decide what item it could be holding due to Magic Guard making Alakazam take no recoil from Life Orb. Coverage wise, Alakazam strives for coverage with moves such as Focus Blast and Shadow Ball. However, some even run Hidden Power Fire, especially on the Focus Sash set to deal with one of Alakazam's biggest checks, Scizor. All in all, Alakazam is a Pokemon of immense power, and if you ever see one in battle, have a game plan for it, or else you'll be in trouble.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/184.png" alt="Azumarill" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Azumarill/ou"><strong>Azumarill</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 100 HP / 50 Atk / 80 Def / 50 SpA / 80 SpD / 50 Spe<br />
Abilities: Thick Fat / Huge Power / Sap Sipper</p>
<p>Although BW2 still has not brought anything new for Azumarill, it still has a niche in the metagame. With the onslaught of many fast, powerful attackers and frail setup sweepers, powerful priority is virtually a must for any team, and Azumarill certainly provides this. With the combination of Huge Power and Choice Band, Azumarill can OHKO many of the top threats in the metagame with STAB Aqua Jet, as well as smack defensive threats such as Ferrothorn and Blissey with Superpower. The advent of Drizzle Politoed in OU makes it all the more difficult to deal with Azumarill, as few can stand up to a boosted Waterfall in rain. Azumarill also has coverage options, such as Ice Punch, to fall back on, and its great Water typing and above average defenses allow it to take the odd hit or two with ease. Overall, Azumarill is a great choice for any team lacking a solid revenge killer, and should always be played against carefully.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/286.png" alt="Breloom" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Breloom"><strong>Breloom</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 60 HP / 130 Atk / 80 Def / 60 SpA / 60 SpD / 70 Spe<br />
Abilities: Effect Spore / Poison Heal / Technician</p>
<p>A top tier threat in BW1, Breloom comes into BW2 with Technician. This ability gives Breloom access to a powerful Mach Punch, having the same power as Scizor's Bullet Punch, except with much better typing. Breloom's utility in Spore also is useful as ever, as it allows Breloom to get a free Swords Dance or use its classic SubSeed or SubPunch sets. Technician also boosts Bullet Seed' s power, meaning at worse it hits only 5 Base Points less than Seed Bomb and at best, it's stronger than even Focus Punch! However, unlike Scizor, it's much less bulky and find itself walled by common threats such Celebi and Dragonite, meaning that teammates must move these checks and counters for it to wreck havoc. While it's mediocre Speed is remedied by Low Sweep, it still isn't enough to outpace extremely fast threats like Jolteon and Alakazam. Its average defenses are something that are desired. Despite these flaws, Breloom still remain a top tier threat.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/251.png" alt="Celebi" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Celebi"><strong>Celebi</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 100 HP / 100 Atk / 100 Def / 100 SpA / 100 SpD / 100 Spe<br />
Abilities: Natural Cure</p>
<p>Celebi is a Pokemon that has always shined in the OU environment. It is easy to see why, as a typing that grants in 6 resistances, base 100 stats across the board, and a useful ability in Natural Cure, make Celebi a huge threat to look out for in OU. Also, thanks to its well-balanced stats, Celebi is a great team supporter and defensive pivot for offensive teams as it possesses great defensive qualities such as resisting Water-, Ground-, Fighting-, and Electric-type attacks that are common in OU, as well as sporting moves such as Thunder Wave, Stealth Rock, Leech Seed, Recover, Dual Screens, and Heal Bell. Its great typing also lets it check Keldeo, a very dominant threat in the current metagame. Sporting two great boosting attacks in Nasty Plot and Calm Mind, as well as coverage moves in Earth Power and Hidden Power Fire or Ice, offensive Celebi can rip through unprepared teams with ease. Celebi can also run choice sets, as it has Trick and U-turn, allowing it to cripple a potential check or keep up the momentum. Finally, to top of the great Pokemon which is Celebi, it can also use Baton Pass to pass along Substitutes, boosts from Nasty Plot, Calm Mind, or even Swords Dance, and with that great bulk, it's easy to see why Celebi has little difficulty doing that. However, it isn't all fun and games for the pixie. Since Celebi doesn't gain Psyshock, it can't get past Blissey or Chansey, two Pokemon which will give Celebi trouble. Celebi also sports a 4x weakness to Bug-type moves, meaning it can't handle Scizor without Hidden Power Fire. Speaking of Scizor, it can also trap Celebi with Pursuit due to Celebi's Psychic typing. Other Pursuit users such as Tyranitar and Weavile can also trap Celebi. Lastly, Dragon-type Pokemon give Celebi without Hidden Power Ice, though Thunder Wave will keep them at bay. All in all, Celebi is a Pokemon with many uses in the OU metagame and is definitely a Pokemon to look out for.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/639.png" alt="Chandelure" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Chandelure/ou"><strong>Chandelure</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 60 HP / 55 Atk / 90 Def / 145 SpA / 90 SpD / 80 Spe<br />
Abilities: Flash Fire / Flame Body / Shadow Tag (Unreleased)</p>
<p>One of the newest Ghost-types to grace the BW2 OU metagame, Chandelure has more than enough to set itself apart from its ghostly brethren. A gigantic base 145 Special Attack, two powerful STABs, and decent defensive stats make Chandelure a massive threat and a fantastic Choice Scarf user. Through Dream World, it is destined to gain the ability Shadow Tag: the reason for Wobbuffet's ban from standard play in previous Generations. Its movepool includes useful coverage options, such as Energy Ball, to deal with troublesome Water-types, as well as the boosting moves Calm Mind and Flame Charge. Access to useful support moves, such as Will-O-Wisp, means it is not bereft of support options either. Though Chandelure has a sub-par base 80 Speed, remains as an outcast in the rain dominated metagame, and sports weaknesses to Stealth Rock, as well as common Water-, Rock-, Dark-, Ghost-, and Ground-type attacks, do not underestimate Chandelure; one wrong step will spell doom for your chances of victory.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/91.png" alt="Cloyster" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Cloyster"><strong>Cloyster</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 50 HP / 95 Atk / 180 Def / 85 SpA / 45 SpD / 70 Spe<br />
Abilities: Shell Armor / Skill Link / Overcoat (Unreleased)</p>
<p>Cloyster has traditionally relied on its massive Defense stat and solid support movepool , consisting of Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Rapid Spin, to snag it a place on teams in previous generations. However, it hit the jackpot in BW, gaining one of the the best boosting moves in the game: Shell Break. This makes Cloyster a very dangerous mixed attacker, capable of tearing through entire teams without breaking a sweat. With just a single turn of setup, Cloyster's offensive stats skyrocket to massive heights, enabling it to OHKO or 2HKO the whole metagame while still outspeeding many threats. Skill Link also gives Icicle Spear and Rock Blast maximum Base Power, meaning that not even Focus Sash, Substitute, Multiscale, or Sturdy can stop Cloyster's rampage. However, Shell Break lowers Cloyster's defenses by one stage each. While Cloyster's Special Defense is awful as it is, Fighting-type priority users, such as Conkeldurr, can prey on Cloyster's lowered Defense and weakness to their attacks. Overall though, Cloyster is definitely a Pokemon to watch out for, as it can rip teams to shreds if not met with a check.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/562.png" alt="Conkeldurr" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Conkeldurr"><strong>Conkeldurr</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 105 HP / 140 Atk / 95 Def / 55 SpA / 65 SpD / 45 Spe<br />
Abilities: Guts / Sheer Force / Iron Fist (Unreleased)</p>
<p>Another slow, bulky, and very powerful Fighting type, Conkeldurr is not a clown to joke about. Conkeldurr packs a massive 140 base Attack, a great ability in Guts, and a fantastic boosting move in Bulk Up, making it one of the most potent threats in the metagame. Conkeldurr's good HP and Defense stats allow it to take the odd hit or two when setting up; STAB Drain Punch complements this well, significantly boosting its survivability. Powerful priority in Mach Punch also adds to its utility, letting it revenge kill threatening sweepers such as Cloyster. Its physical movepool isn't half bad either, it includes coverage options, such as Stone Edge and Payback, to complement its abovementioned STABs. However, its ability is what lets it stand out from the pack; Guts lets Conkeldurr scoff at the Achilles heel of many other physical attackers, enabling it to set up on walls that beat many of its fellow physical sweepers with status or Scald's burn chance. Aside from traditional Bulk Up and Choice Band sets, Conkeldurr can also abuse Guts directly with Flame Orb or Toxic Orb. Conkeldurr also has access to another great ability in Sheer Force which boosts its physical BoltBeam coverage in ThunderPunch and Ice Punch. Though common Psychic-types, such as Latios and Reuniclus, can dispose of Conkeldurr without too much trouble, dare not fool around with it, or its powerful fists will be the last thing you will ever see.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/584.png" alt="Darmanitan" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Darmanitan/ou"><strong>Darmanitan</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 105 HP / 140 Atk / 55 Def / 30 SpA / 55 SpD / 95 Spe<br />
Abilities: Sheer Force / Zen Mode</p>
<p>With a colossal Attack stat, a devastating STAB move in Flare Blitz, and a great ability in Sheer Force, Darmanitan has the power to blast its way through its opponents, including those that resist its attacks. With a Sheer Force-boosted Flare Blitz under sun, Darmanitan can power its way through just about all Pokemon who aren't outright immune to Fire-type attacks. Those who are immune face the threat of a similarly boosted Rock Slide or Superpower, or a quick U-turn to a counter. Although Darmanitan excels at dealing large amounts of damage in short periods of time, its biggest fault is its vulnerability to all forms of entry hazards, as well as recoil damage, which will ultimately be its downfall. Its poor defenses, and unfortunate base 95 Speed also mean that faster threats can revenge kill it easily. Nonetheless, Darmanitan is indeed a dangerous threat: underestimate its raw power at your own peril.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/196.png" alt="Espeon" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Espeon"><strong>Espeon</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 65 HP / 65 Atk / 60 Def / 130 SpA / 95 SpD / 110 Spe<br />
Abilities: Synchronize / Magic Bounce</p>
<p>At first glance, Espeon appears to be outclassed by other Psychic-types, most notably Alakazam, who has higher Special Attack and Speed stats, as well as Focus Blast to beat Tyranitar. However, Espeon's saving grace comes not in the form of typing, stats, or moves, but in its Dream World ability: Magic Bounce. Its ability to deflect entry hazards, phazing moves, status moves, and Taunt not only gives it a niche on standard teams, but also allows it to set up on many defensive Pokemon, including Jellicent, Blissey without Seismic Toss, and Skarmory. Despite this incredible ability, Espeon's Psychic typing and poor Defense limit its ability to set up. Tyranitar and Scizor can come in and threaten Espeon with super effective STAB moves, forcing Espeon to switch or be KOed. Still, with the ability to pass Calm Mind boosts, reflect entry hazards, as well as set up and sweep itself, Espeon is an excellent support choice for any team, particularly Sun teams.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/94.png" alt="Gengar" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Gengar"><strong>Gengar</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 60 HP / 65 Atk / 60 Def / 130 SpA / 75 SpD / 110 Spe<br />
Abilities: Levitate</p>
<p>With its Ghost typing, high base 110 Speed, and massive base 130 Special Attack, Gengar remains a dangerous threat four generations after its introduction. Convenient immunities to common Normal-, Fighting-, and Ground-type attacks make Gengar a great pivot, giving it a wealth of opportunities to switch in and wreak havoc. Along with a powerful STAB Shadow Ball, Gengar has fantastic coverage options in Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, and Hidden Power. As Shadow Ball and Focus Blast achieve perfect neutral coverage together, Gengar can simultaneously make use of its multitude of support options, including Substitute, Disable, and Pain Split, making it an effective check to threats such as Conkeldurr, and even walls such as Blissey, Ferrothorn, and Jellicent. Despite these amazing perks, the fact remains that Gengar has poor defensive stats, and can be revenge killed by faster threats, such as Alakazam and Starmie, as well as by priority, unless it is safely tucked away behind a Substitute. Pursuit users, such as Tyranitar and Scizor, wreck Gengar too, and have the bulk to take a Focus Blast most of the time. Gengar even has to face competition with Jellicent, who has much better bulk and an excellent abilty in Water Absorb, who can also defeat Starmie, which Gengar cannot do without a Choice Scarf. Still, tread carefully, else Gengar will be truly frightening to deal with.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/477.png" alt="Gliscor" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Gliscor"><strong>Gliscor</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 75 HP / 95 Atk / 125 Def / 45 SpA / 75 SpD / 95 Spe<br />
Abilities: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Poison Heal</p>
<p>Despite being thought of as a primarily defensive threat, Gliscor's stats, movepool, and typing lend themselves to effective offensive sets as well. With its bulk and decent Speed, it is easily able to switch into top threats, such as Tyranitar and Lucario, and threaten them with its STAB Earthquake. It can then use Swords Dance to boost its Attack as the opponent switches out, activating its Poison Heal ability at the same time. Such a setup allows Gliscor to protect itself from status, gradually restore its health, and threaten the opposing team at the same time. Gliscor will typically supplement its powerful boosted STAB Earthquake with some combination of Stone Edge, Taunt, and Ice Fang. A lesser-seen alternative is Flying Gem, which enables Gliscor to effectively use a full-powered Acrobatics alongside Earthquake and, in doing so, score super effective hits on 8 of the 17 types with its boosted STAB attacks alone. However, Gliscor's weakness to Ice- and Water-type moves limit its effectiveness and it even faces competition with the newcomer, Landorus-T. In this metagame, a check to offensive Gliscor is mandatory for any successful team, as any unprepared team will quickly be decimated by it.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/642.png" alt="Haxorus" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Haxorus"><strong>Haxorus</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 76 HP / 147 Atk / 90 Def / 60 SpA / 70 SpD / 97 Spe<br />
Abilities: Rivalry / Mold Breaker / Unnerve (Unreleased) </p>
<p>Haxorus was a vastly overhyped threat in the early stages of BW and even BW2, where it got access to Superpower, but is not quite the terror that its massive base 147 Attack might make it seem. However, it is still a very dangerous threat. Outside of its powerful STAB Outrage, Haxorus has coverage options in Earthquake, Rock Slide, and Brick Break, allowing it to surprise unsuspecting opponents which switch in expecting Outrage. Access to boosting moves, such as Dragon Dance and Swords Dance, makes Haxorus a dangerous setup sweeper too, as it can be hard to stop after just a single turn of setup. It is also one of the few Dragon-types with access to Taunt, which means that phazing walls, such as Skarmory, won't be stopping Haxorus in a hurry. It can also utilize Choice Band to smash its way through teams with just the raw power of its STAB Outrage, which can power through even the likes of Steel-types, such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory! Choice Scarf Haxorus also happens to be one of the only reliable checks to Dragon Dance Dragonite in the metagame. What does keep our axe-faced dragon from being a top-tier threat, however, is its odd base 97 Speed, which means it is outsped by a huge number of threats who can exploit its average defenses and weakness to common Dragon- and Ice-type attacks. Kyurem-B also makes its extreme attack stat look like a joke. Still, be sure to pack a Steel-type or two, or Haxorus will be a massive pain for your team.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/490.png" alt="Heatran" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Heatran"><strong>Heatran</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 91 HP / 90 Atk / 106 Def / 130 SpA / 106 SpD / 77 Spe<br />
Abilities: Flash Fire / Flame Body (Unreleased)</p>
<p>Heatran is a very versatile Pokemon that can run a variety of sets, ranging from all-out offensive ones to defensive ones. With great balanced stats, a unique and effective typing, as well as a useful ability in Flash Fire, Heatran can run a fantastic offensive set , which, when backed by a Life Orb or a Choice Specs, has the power to rip through whole teams. Slapping a Choice Scarf on Heatran makes it a great revenge killer too, as it can then outspeed many popular unboosted sweepers, while simultaneously being able to finish off most threats with a powerful STAB Fire Blast. It also has the ability to clean up weakened teams late-game with any its offensive set. Finally, Heatran has a variety of support options, and its respectable defenses allow it to sponge most neutral and resisted attacks. With a great support movepool including Stealth Rock, Sunny Day, Roar, Taunt, Toxic, Protect, and Torment, the only thing that stops Heatran from being a top mixed wall is its lack of reliable recovery, which nonetheless can be somewhat remedied by Leftovers. Despite having a nasty weakness to common Ground-, Water-, and Fighting-type attacks, Heatran is still quite a threat, and makes a great addition to any team looking for a bulky, powerful attacker.</p>
<p><img src="/download/sprites/bw/665.png" alt="Hydreigon" /><br />
<a href="/bw/pokemon/Hydreigon"><strong>Hydreigon</strong></a><br />
Base Stats: 92 HP / 105 Atk / 90 Def / 125 SpA / 90 Def / 98 Spe<br />
Abilities: Levitate</p>
<p>A high base 125 Special Attack, a unique typing, and decent defensive stats, along with a massive movepool and a wonderful ability in Levitate, give this new dragon a niche in the metagame, making it a very dangerous threat indeed. Hydreigon's wide movepool, which includes Fire Blast, Surf, Dark Pulse, Draco Meteor, and Focus Blast, allows it to check a large range of threats. Levitate and its decent defenses also give Hydreigon the ability to switch in with ease and take the odd hit or two. Hydreigon can also surprise its normal would-be counters by running physical moves ,such as Earthquake and Outrage, thanks to its good base 105 Attack. Unfortunately, Hydreigon's odd base 98 Speed leaves it outpaced by a large number of threats who can hit it hard with their STAB attacks, Dragon-types in particular. While Hydreigon's defenses are decent, they are not spectacular, and it can't stomach powerful attacks from the likes of Conkeldurr and Latios. Its Dark part-typing also bestows on it unfortunate weaknesses to common Fighting- and Bug-type attacks. Offensively, special walls such as Blissey wall Hydreigon unless it runs Outrage. BW2 also brought Keldeo and Technician Breloom which easily revenge kill it, and also Kyurem-B who it faces competition with. Still, Hydreigon is a dangerous threat that, thanks to its sheer offensive power and wide movepool, can raze unprepared teams easily if given the chance.</p>
asked vertex and i'll be taking this over
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