http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/empoleon
(WIP)
I was asked to do a concise version of the lead set, the other edits I had in mind were minor cuts here and there. Any input on what can be reworded, cut out, etc is appreciated! This is my first shot at conciseness so I would really like receiving advice.
The original analysis also had a few grammatical errors here and there so I cleaned up a few of them. I will probably get to polishing it up later. I also changed the organization a bit and placed the paragraph about Surf after the explanation of the EV spread.
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<p>Empoleon’s bulk, excellent typing, and the combination of STAB Hydro Pump and Aqua Jet allow it to reliably set up Stealth Rock and defeat other leads. Suicide leads like Azelf and Aerodactyl are easily taken out with a Hydro Pump followed by an Aqua Jet. Hydro Pump will KO bulkier leads like Hippowdon, Heatran, and Gliscor, and will deal heavy neutral damage to other leads like Forretress. Against Metagross, Empoleon can set up Stealth Rock while Metagross hits with an Earthquake that brings you to Torrent range, a boosted Hydro Pump doing 87% minimum and KOing 16% of the time. If Metagross chooses not to attack, or does not carry Earthquake, Hydro Pump is still a 2HKO. Torrent boosted Hydro Pump will deal some big damage to just about anything and Empoleon will often find itself in this range thanks to Focus Sash. Grass Knot deals with Swampert, grabbing the KO 60% of the time. If you don't mind Swampert setting up Stealth Rock more often, Ice Beam provides an excellent alternative, as it prevents things like Salamence or Latias from setting up, and is a more accurate attack for killing Gliscor and Aerodactyl leads.</p>
<p>Thanks to the power of Hydro Pump, Empoleon doesn't need to invest in Attack or use an Attack neutral nature to allow Aqua Jet to KO what it needs to. 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature allows Empoleon to hit as hard as possible with Hydro Pump. 100 Speed EVs hits 181 Speed, which outspeeds the many Pokémon in the 176-180 Speed range, which includes Metagross, Tyranitar, and Machamp. The remaining EVs are placed in HP for bulk. If the 80% accuracy of Hydro Pump is an issue for you, you can choose to run Surf with a Rash nature and an EV spread of 52 Def / 104 Atk / 252 SpA / Spe in order to still KO Azelf with Surf and Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>Focus Sash is used to guarantee Empoleon's ability to set up Stealth Rocks in the face of powerful supereffective hits. Focus Sash will bring Empoleon into Torrent range, meaning that Empoleon can take a hit from a faster, hard-hitting attacker and smash it back with an extremely powerful Torrent boosted Hydro Pump. Chople Berry presents itself as another excellent option. It allows you to beat Fake Out Infernape leads, allow you to still go into Torrent range after being hit by Close Combat and KO them back with Hydro Pump. If you choose to use Ice Beam, Lum Berry is a very good item to use, as it allows you to OHKO Breloom leads that try to Spore you, kill Smeargle with Hydro Pump and Aqua Jet, and set up Stealth Rock against Roserade. However without Focus Sash, you must take greater care when it comes to trying to handle certain attacks. Shuca Berry is the item of choice when using Surf, because without Hydro Pump's power, Empoleon will lose to Metagross as it cannot survive Earthquake and Bullet Punch. With Shuca Berry, you have at least a 48% chance of 2HKOing it with Surf.</p>
<p>Though this Empoleon may fare well against the majority of OU leads, there are a few leads that cause Empoleon trouble. Empoleon does very badly against Fake Out Infernape leads, and can only win if it runs a Chople Berry. Faster sleep leads like Breloom, Roserade, and Smeargle will put a stop to you as well, and you can only hope to eliminate the sashes of the latter two. Because of some of these weaknesses, it is best to pair Empoleon with something that can take care of them or set up. Gyarados can easily come in on Infernape and begin to Dragon Dance. Meanwhile, a powerful Dragon like Latias or Salamence can switch into Roserade with little to fear of retaliation and either begin to set up or fire off powerful STAB attacks. The Rotom Appliances are generally a good partner with Empoleon, with immunity to Ground and Fighting and a resistance to Electric. The Rotom forms also do a good job of blocking Tentacruel, who easily shrugs off your attacks and can either Rapid Spin or set up Toxic Spikes. It is highly recommended that you carry a Pokémon that can handle Dragon types like Salamence and Latias if you don't run Ice Beam, as each of them can set up on you.</p>
(WIP)
I was asked to do a concise version of the lead set, the other edits I had in mind were minor cuts here and there. Any input on what can be reworded, cut out, etc is appreciated! This is my first shot at conciseness so I would really like receiving advice.
The original analysis also had a few grammatical errors here and there so I cleaned up a few of them. I will probably get to polishing it up later. I also changed the organization a bit and placed the paragraph about Surf after the explanation of the EV spread.
---
<p>Empoleon’s bulk, excellent typing, and the combination of STAB Hydro Pump and Aqua Jet allow it to reliably set up Stealth Rock and defeat other leads. Suicide leads like Azelf and Aerodactyl are easily taken out with a Hydro Pump followed by an Aqua Jet. Hydro Pump will KO bulkier leads like Hippowdon, Heatran, and Gliscor, and will deal heavy neutral damage to other leads like Forretress. Against Metagross, Empoleon can set up Stealth Rock while Metagross hits with an Earthquake that brings you to Torrent range, a boosted Hydro Pump doing 87% minimum and KOing 16% of the time. If Metagross chooses not to attack, or does not carry Earthquake, Hydro Pump is still a 2HKO. Torrent boosted Hydro Pump will deal some big damage to just about anything and Empoleon will often find itself in this range thanks to Focus Sash. Grass Knot deals with Swampert, grabbing the KO 60% of the time. If you don't mind Swampert setting up Stealth Rock more often, Ice Beam provides an excellent alternative, as it prevents things like Salamence or Latias from setting up, and is a more accurate attack for killing Gliscor and Aerodactyl leads.</p>
<p>Thanks to the power of Hydro Pump, Empoleon doesn't need to invest in Attack or use an Attack neutral nature to allow Aqua Jet to KO what it needs to. 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature allows Empoleon to hit as hard as possible with Hydro Pump. 100 Speed EVs hits 181 Speed, which outspeeds the many Pokémon in the 176-180 Speed range, which includes Metagross, Tyranitar, and Machamp. The remaining EVs are placed in HP for bulk. If the 80% accuracy of Hydro Pump is an issue for you, you can choose to run Surf with a Rash nature and an EV spread of 52 Def / 104 Atk / 252 SpA / Spe in order to still KO Azelf with Surf and Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>Focus Sash is used to guarantee Empoleon's ability to set up Stealth Rocks in the face of powerful supereffective hits. Focus Sash will bring Empoleon into Torrent range, meaning that Empoleon can take a hit from a faster, hard-hitting attacker and smash it back with an extremely powerful Torrent boosted Hydro Pump. Chople Berry presents itself as another excellent option. It allows you to beat Fake Out Infernape leads, allow you to still go into Torrent range after being hit by Close Combat and KO them back with Hydro Pump. If you choose to use Ice Beam, Lum Berry is a very good item to use, as it allows you to OHKO Breloom leads that try to Spore you, kill Smeargle with Hydro Pump and Aqua Jet, and set up Stealth Rock against Roserade. However without Focus Sash, you must take greater care when it comes to trying to handle certain attacks. Shuca Berry is the item of choice when using Surf, because without Hydro Pump's power, Empoleon will lose to Metagross as it cannot survive Earthquake and Bullet Punch. With Shuca Berry, you have at least a 48% chance of 2HKOing it with Surf.</p>
<p>Though this Empoleon may fare well against the majority of OU leads, there are a few leads that cause Empoleon trouble. Empoleon does very badly against Fake Out Infernape leads, and can only win if it runs a Chople Berry. Faster sleep leads like Breloom, Roserade, and Smeargle will put a stop to you as well, and you can only hope to eliminate the sashes of the latter two. Because of some of these weaknesses, it is best to pair Empoleon with something that can take care of them or set up. Gyarados can easily come in on Infernape and begin to Dragon Dance. Meanwhile, a powerful Dragon like Latias or Salamence can switch into Roserade with little to fear of retaliation and either begin to set up or fire off powerful STAB attacks. The Rotom Appliances are generally a good partner with Empoleon, with immunity to Ground and Fighting and a resistance to Electric. The Rotom forms also do a good job of blocking Tentacruel, who easily shrugs off your attacks and can either Rapid Spin or set up Toxic Spikes. It is highly recommended that you carry a Pokémon that can handle Dragon types like Salamence and Latias if you don't run Ice Beam, as each of them can set up on you.</p>
