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Blaze
- Boosts power of Fire moves 50% when at 1/3 HP or less.
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Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
80
|
- |
301 |
364 |
- |
| Atk |
120
|
248 |
276 |
339 |
372 |
| Def |
70
|
158 |
176 |
239 |
262 |
| SpA |
110
|
230 |
256 |
319 |
350 |
| SpD |
70
|
158 |
176 |
239 |
262 |
| Spe |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
Switch into Blissey or Skarmory, and predict Rock Slides and / or Focus Punches. Once Salamence or Suicune fall, now is the time to Swords Dance and sweep with Overheat (or Fire Blast) and Sky Uppercut. Blaziken is a really good Fire type, mainly for the reason that he actually has a physical STAB.
If he learned Ice Punch, he would be so much better. Hidden Power Ice vs. Hidden Power Grass is a choice between covering Salamence and Flygon (whom you must hit on the switch, or predict a Dragon Dance from Salamence), or nearly OHKOing Swampert (whom you can hit after it comes in, requiring less prediction).
With these EVs, Blaziken will always survive a Zapdos Thunderbolt, which will then put Blaziken into Blaze range. For this reason, a Salac Berry isn't such a bad idea.
Blaziken has one major advantage over other Reversalers: STAB on a special typing (Fire) that allows him to OHKO threats like Weezing, Skarmory, and Gengar with the help of that great ability, Blaze. Overheat has higher accuracy and more power than Fire Blast, but you can only use it once (conversely, you normally only need to use it once). Flamethrower doesn't have the power to OHKO Weezing. Swords Dance is good to predict a switch to a Pokémon like Swampert, and you can then Endure his hit and OHKO with Reversal, whereas Hidden Power Ice will seriously surprise (and OHKO) that Salamence that thinks he can Intimidate you and survive a Reversal. Don't use Rock Slide on this set ever, as it's just as strong against Fliers as a 1 HP Reversal, but has the chance of missing. Just be very careful using this as Tyranitar runs rampant everywhere.
Focus Punch is an option for a Substituting set, in case your opponent tries to set up something before you're at 1 HP.
Blaziken makes a surprisingly decent Choice Bander, believe it or not. If you are good at predicting, this set is just as good as the Special Blaziken set or maybe even a tad better. Probably one of your best bets for taking down these Waters that tend to come in on you.
Predict a switch, get a Substitute up, and have fun smiting whatever has come in to take the blow. Focus Punch does loads of damage, Hidden Power Ice can take care of Salamence while Thunderpunch is for Gyarados (and other Waters at low HP). Salac Berry is a nice option for when you get on low health, you may even fool them into thinking you have Reversal, depending on your EVs.
Other Options
Double Kick can be used to break Substitutes on Tyranitar and other threats, so it deserves a mention. Fire Blast can be replaced for Flamethrower, Overheat or Blaze Kick if you wish. Flamethrower gives you reliable accuracy, but has less power. Overheat has both more accuracy and power than Fire Blast, but gives you a nasty Special Attack drop afterwards. Blaziken doesn't mind this much as he's switching in and out all the time anyway. And Blaze Kick, while not as strong as those attack the off-chance of a Critical Hit can be helpful in some situations. It does less damage on average per turn though. Brick Break can be substituted in wherever it says Sky Uppercut, because they both do roughly the same damage in the long run, if you hate missing.
A Salac Berry isn't such a bad idea on those sets that say Leftovers, because Blaziken isn't going to be taking many hits, anyway, so the main purpose of Leftovers is to counteract Sand Stream. Many hits from OU Pokémon will just barely leave Blaziken alive, such as Zapdos Thunderbolt and Suicune Surf, without a single EV in HP or Special Defense.
EVs
Reversaling set REQUIRES 264 Speed, and 270 isn't such a bad idea to beat out Adamant Heracross, as this will make you faster than all Pokémon but Electrode and Ninjask after your Salac activates. The others can have lower if you wish. Max is nice to catch lower Speed Salamence off guard, especially the sets with Hidden Power Ice. The special set requires mostly EVs in Special Attack, not as many in Attack. The rest need to concentrate on attack.
Opinion
Blaziken is a threat to many teams due the diverse ways in which it can sweep. Fire is an excellent attacking type vs. physical walls, Fighting hits all major special walls super effective, and Blaziken has the stats to go either route. However, it is hampered by its defensively poor typing, being weak to Surf, Earthquake, Hidden Power Flying, and Psychic, four of the most common and dangerous types around, but brings that incredible 4x's Bug resistance with it, as well. It has slightly above average Speed, but is slower than most Pokémon that make Speed EV investments.
Counters
Gyarados and Salamence resist both of its STAB moves, and have Intimidate to further weaken any physical attacks. To add insult to injury, they almost always carry STAB Hidden Power Flying, which is a guaranteed OHKO, and Blaziken can't even just Endure the hit and sweep with Reversal thanks to their resistance and the -1 Attack they put on Blaziken. However, they do need to beware of Thunderpunch and Hidden Power Ice, respectively, as this will OHKO them. Blaziken can also be faster than Gyarados, so it needs to be especially worried.
Suicune, Slowbro, Starmie, Milotic, and Swampert all resist Fire thanks to their Water typings, and take little damage from its physical attacks thanks to a high Defense stat (and the Psychic typing in Starmie and Slowbro's cases). Even Thunderpunch versions don't do as much to them as expected. Swampert, however, has serious problems with the Hidden Power Grass Blaziken, as it nearly OHKOs the poor mudfish. The Reversaler is also a threat to them, as it does roughly 75% to Milotic and Swampert, and OHKOs all of them save Slowbro after a Swords Dance.