Taken over from Justintown11's analysis
QC: The Avalanches / OP / Celestavian
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Rattata manages to distinguish itself from other Pokemon in the LC tier with certain advantages within its movepool such as Sucker Punch and Flame Wheel, allowing it to take on its counters more easily. It is faster than most Normal-type attackers such as Aipom, Bunnelby, Buneary, and Zigzagoon and can deal good damage to targets that don't resist its moves when in the right conditions. However, it still faces a lot of competition from other Normal-types and is forced to rely on Hustle in order to deal large amounts of damage, which causes all of its attacks to lose 20 percent of their initial accuracy. It also has very low bulk, leaving it susceptible to strong priority attacks.
[SET]
name: Hustle
move 1: Double-Edge / Return
move 2: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 3: Flame Wheel
move 4: U-turn / Quick Attack
item: Life Orb
ability: Hustle
nature: Jolly
evs: 228 Atk / 76 Def / 180 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Double-Edge is Rattata's main attacking move and is necessary for picking up all of the OHKOs or 2HKOs it needs. Return, while less powerful than Double-Edge, doesn't have recoil. Sucker Punch helps mitigate Rattata's susceptibility to revenge killing and hits Ghost-types such as Gastly. Crunch is another option that hits Ghost-types without them having to attack, so it is helpful for catching Pokemon such as Pumpkaboo on the switch for massive damage. Flame Wheel is Rattata's only move for hitting Steel-types and is able to OHKO Ferroseed after Stealth Rock. U-turn maintains offensive momentum and gets chip damage on counters, while Quick Attack is another priority move useful for finishing off weakened foes. Quick Attack should only rarely be used with Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Life Orb and Hustle are important to make sure the set manages to deal enough damage towards its foes; otherwise, there is very little reason to use Rattata. The EVs are optimized to hit a Speed stat of 17 and to have as much attacking power as possible. The other EVs are put into Defense to help take most priority attacks better.
Usage Tips
========
Rattata should never be switching into an attack, as it is simply too frail to survive a hit comfortably, and it should rely on its teammates to bring it in through slow pivoting moves such as Volt Switch and U-turn. Attacking is only worth it if there is a good chance of knocking out what is in front of Rattata. Rattata is easily worn down by entry hazards and Life Orb recoil, especially alongside the use of Double-Edge, so keeping it alive and healthy before it knocks itself out is important.
Team Options
========
Entry hazards from Pokemon such as Archen and Drilbur are useful for picking up KOs that Rattata normally wouldn't; Archen further is notable for having both a usable offensive presence and the ability to switch into Fletchling. Users of Volt Switch and U-turn such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Larvesta are useful for safely bringing Rattata onto the field without it having to take damage. Snubbull is notable for being a good partner to Rattata because of its ability to switch into common Fighting-types bar Croagunk. Timburr and Abra can revenge kill setup sweepers such as Omanyte and Dwebble, which threaten Rattata. Users of Knock Off such as Timburr, Croagunk, Archen, and Abra lure in defensive walls and remove their Eviolite, making them easier for Rattata to take on.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rattata can be used as a Baton Pass recipient of Hone Claws Torchic; however, Darumaka and Deino are more suited for such roles. Choice Scarf allows Rattata to perform better against faster foes, but then Rattata misses out on a lot of power that it normally would wield. Wild Charge can be used to hit bulky Flying- and Water-types such as Archen, Frillish, and Omanyte. Zen Headbutt hits Fighting-types harder, but it is largely unnecessary because STAB Normal-type attacks already do this well enough. Iron Tail is the only move that Rattata can use to hit Rock-type Pokemon for solid damage, but it has a staggering 60% accuracy when Hustle is applied, making it very unreliable. Guts might seem like a good option, but Guts Rattata doesn't offer enough advantages over other attackers with Guts.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: Pokemon with naturally higher Speed stats such as Abra and priority move users such as Fletchling can easily take advantage of Rattata's nonexistent bulk and inflict large amounts of damage on it, if not outright KOing it.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Rock-type Pokemon such as Archen, Onix, Tirtouga, Omanyte, and Dwebble are capable of stopping Rattata dead in its tracks, as it has no moves to hit these Pokemon well enough; the latter three are particularly deadly, as they can use it as setup fodder.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-type Pokemon such as Pawniard, Magnemite, and Honedge need to wary of Flame Wheel when switching in or when in KO range, but most can check Rattata, as they are able to take at least one hit; additionally, Pawniard can KO Rattata with Sucker Punch.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mienfoo, Pancham, Timburr, Scraggy, and Croagunk can all check Rattata but ultimately can't switch into attacks comfortably. Timburr and Croagunk in particular can KO Rattata with a super effective Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, respectively.
**Status**: Status ailments, paralysis and burns in particular, cause Rattata to lose most of its effectiveness during the course of a battle, as the former cuts its Speed and hinders its ability to hit its targets and the latter cuts its damage output by half, which cripples most sweepers. Poison can also wear down Rattata very quickly, limiting its effectiveness and the number of chances it gets to attack.
QC: The Avalanches / OP / Celestavian
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Rattata manages to distinguish itself from other Pokemon in the LC tier with certain advantages within its movepool such as Sucker Punch and Flame Wheel, allowing it to take on its counters more easily. It is faster than most Normal-type attackers such as Aipom, Bunnelby, Buneary, and Zigzagoon and can deal good damage to targets that don't resist its moves when in the right conditions. However, it still faces a lot of competition from other Normal-types and is forced to rely on Hustle in order to deal large amounts of damage, which causes all of its attacks to lose 20 percent of their initial accuracy. It also has very low bulk, leaving it susceptible to strong priority attacks.
[SET]
name: Hustle
move 1: Double-Edge / Return
move 2: Sucker Punch / Crunch
move 3: Flame Wheel
move 4: U-turn / Quick Attack
item: Life Orb
ability: Hustle
nature: Jolly
evs: 228 Atk / 76 Def / 180 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Double-Edge is Rattata's main attacking move and is necessary for picking up all of the OHKOs or 2HKOs it needs. Return, while less powerful than Double-Edge, doesn't have recoil. Sucker Punch helps mitigate Rattata's susceptibility to revenge killing and hits Ghost-types such as Gastly. Crunch is another option that hits Ghost-types without them having to attack, so it is helpful for catching Pokemon such as Pumpkaboo on the switch for massive damage. Flame Wheel is Rattata's only move for hitting Steel-types and is able to OHKO Ferroseed after Stealth Rock. U-turn maintains offensive momentum and gets chip damage on counters, while Quick Attack is another priority move useful for finishing off weakened foes. Quick Attack should only rarely be used with Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
Life Orb and Hustle are important to make sure the set manages to deal enough damage towards its foes; otherwise, there is very little reason to use Rattata. The EVs are optimized to hit a Speed stat of 17 and to have as much attacking power as possible. The other EVs are put into Defense to help take most priority attacks better.
Usage Tips
========
Rattata should never be switching into an attack, as it is simply too frail to survive a hit comfortably, and it should rely on its teammates to bring it in through slow pivoting moves such as Volt Switch and U-turn. Attacking is only worth it if there is a good chance of knocking out what is in front of Rattata. Rattata is easily worn down by entry hazards and Life Orb recoil, especially alongside the use of Double-Edge, so keeping it alive and healthy before it knocks itself out is important.
Team Options
========
Entry hazards from Pokemon such as Archen and Drilbur are useful for picking up KOs that Rattata normally wouldn't; Archen further is notable for having both a usable offensive presence and the ability to switch into Fletchling. Users of Volt Switch and U-turn such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Larvesta are useful for safely bringing Rattata onto the field without it having to take damage. Snubbull is notable for being a good partner to Rattata because of its ability to switch into common Fighting-types bar Croagunk. Timburr and Abra can revenge kill setup sweepers such as Omanyte and Dwebble, which threaten Rattata. Users of Knock Off such as Timburr, Croagunk, Archen, and Abra lure in defensive walls and remove their Eviolite, making them easier for Rattata to take on.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rattata can be used as a Baton Pass recipient of Hone Claws Torchic; however, Darumaka and Deino are more suited for such roles. Choice Scarf allows Rattata to perform better against faster foes, but then Rattata misses out on a lot of power that it normally would wield. Wild Charge can be used to hit bulky Flying- and Water-types such as Archen, Frillish, and Omanyte. Zen Headbutt hits Fighting-types harder, but it is largely unnecessary because STAB Normal-type attacks already do this well enough. Iron Tail is the only move that Rattata can use to hit Rock-type Pokemon for solid damage, but it has a staggering 60% accuracy when Hustle is applied, making it very unreliable. Guts might seem like a good option, but Guts Rattata doesn't offer enough advantages over other attackers with Guts.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: Pokemon with naturally higher Speed stats such as Abra and priority move users such as Fletchling can easily take advantage of Rattata's nonexistent bulk and inflict large amounts of damage on it, if not outright KOing it.
**Rock-type Pokemon**: Rock-type Pokemon such as Archen, Onix, Tirtouga, Omanyte, and Dwebble are capable of stopping Rattata dead in its tracks, as it has no moves to hit these Pokemon well enough; the latter three are particularly deadly, as they can use it as setup fodder.
**Steel-type Pokemon**: Steel-type Pokemon such as Pawniard, Magnemite, and Honedge need to wary of Flame Wheel when switching in or when in KO range, but most can check Rattata, as they are able to take at least one hit; additionally, Pawniard can KO Rattata with Sucker Punch.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Mienfoo, Pancham, Timburr, Scraggy, and Croagunk can all check Rattata but ultimately can't switch into attacks comfortably. Timburr and Croagunk in particular can KO Rattata with a super effective Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, respectively.
**Status**: Status ailments, paralysis and burns in particular, cause Rattata to lose most of its effectiveness during the course of a battle, as the former cuts its Speed and hinders its ability to hit its targets and the latter cuts its damage output by half, which cripples most sweepers. Poison can also wear down Rattata very quickly, limiting its effectiveness and the number of chances it gets to attack.
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