On most things with a secondary STAB this is true, however for Rotom-H and Rotom-C where their STAB lowers their SpA, or Rotom-W and Rotom-F where their STAB is innaccurate, it's a good idea to have a solid backup move. Hidden Power Ground is an obvious choice for coverage against everything that touches the ground...
Except Raichu completely outclasses Pikachu in all these rolls, it's bulkier and faster, meaning it can Encore more things that Protect on the Fake Out. Pikachu's ONLY positive trait is that it hits harder with a Light Ball, but that set is SO frail that it will just die to whatever it doesn't kill. Raichu can also hold handy items like Air Balloon and Shuca Berry. Seriously, use Pikachu only if you really think Endeavor is a cool event move...
I meant in general since the theme of the event is to actually use Pikachu. The teams that annoyed me the most on Showdown had Pikachu. The Raichu teams I just double protected and then KO'd since Raichu can only Encore 1 of those double protectors, which usually one of those double protectors was Luxray with Baby-doll Eyes and that has a +1 priority.
I mean, what you just said for Raichu, you can say the same for Pikachu.
Magnet rise is pretty useful, ive been using it and it definitely helps against evire
Yeah Magnet Rise is so good against non-Scarf Electivires (and anything else that tries Hidden Power Ground-ing you). It also let's you run Helio next to your own Electivire without having to spam Protect. I tried Electrify on my first team but only used it like once, it didn't live up to the hype.
From what I have seen though, not many people use the same double protect against Pikachu. I don't know what the difference is, I figure Pikachu hits harder with Fake Out, but I guess it is because Raichu is more of a threat with Speed that people have worried more about the turn after.
I notice each of Heliolisk's abilities prefers a different weather. Since you're not actually setting weather yourself, why did you choose this one?
Because I have one in game with it, (It's stupidly powerful in the Manson in Triples alongside Typhlosion and Mega Zard Y. >:D) and Dry Skin causes a weakness to fire which is way more common in the Pika Cup than the type it grants immunity to.
I did that on my own team in case my opponent sets sun, and so heliolisk isn't weaker to random fire attacks. Most people don't target heliolisk with a water attack anyway.
All the best teams in these competitions have at least some basic surprise value, that's why the Japanese somewhat struggle with the best-of-three format that VGC uses as they play a more best-of-one style surprise factor style. My team for this basically relies on the opponent not expecting what's coming, which sucks because the PS! playerbase for this comp isn't the biggest, so I've run into many familiar faces and subsequently lost due to them knowing exactly what I'm going to do, lol. I wouldn't worry too much about people beating you the second time around on PS! as you won't encounter the same person during the actual competition..
My team is Ampharos, Eelektross, Electivire, Emolga, Rotom-C, and Heliolisk. A lot of who I pick boils down to team preview.
Why not Scarf Lanturn with Specs?
Scarf is Lanturn's Item and Life Orb is Heliolisk.
For breeding Flawless Genderless Pokemon, like Rotom, I highly recommend a 6 IV Ditto. The user Most gives them away if you're okay with a cloned Ditto.
I didn't know people had blissey bases so thank you for showing me. However, I'm a little scared to use a cloned ditto because the PGL just issued a warning about modified pokemon which could get you banned from rating battles and competitions and considering how long it takes them to post the results, I think that they actually investigate top ranked participants (not that I will ever fall into that catagory, but I'd rather be safe). There is still a while until the competition so the ditto mirage spots have got to show up eventually.
