| 149 | Lopunny | 3053 | 0.39 |
"Resurrection Of The Elegant Rabbit"
Lopunny is a great Baton Passer- it's typing doesn't fuck over its chances of switching in multiple times, it sports a fantastic base 105 Speed alongside decent 65/84/96 defenses and a great movepool. With these traits, Lopunny can Baton Pass multiple times with success; however what really sets Lopunny apart from other Baton Passers is here unique ability and Switcheroo. With Switcheroo, Lopunny is able to cripple a myriad of Pokemon while maintaining her ability to effectively Baton Pass thanks to Klutz nullifying the effects of any item it receives.
UU is a treasure trove of sweepers who, if Baton Passed a Substitute, can become a brutal threat to the opposition. I searched for a Pokemon that could utilize Lopunny's sweeping opportunities and be a potent threat in the OU metagame.
Mismagius springs to mind as a great late-game sweeper and great Baton Pass recipient. Mismagius can easily draw out any Pursuit user from behind a Substitute, allowing me to find a way to effectively deal with it. Mismagius also has Nasty Plot from HG/SS, which allows for that retard power Mismagius lacked with Calm Mind.
A secondary sweeper- something that, given the right support, would be able to wreak havoc early in the game and either demolish most of my opponent's team, or weaken it to the point where Mismagius could finish it off. Numerous battles, testing what Lopunny would lure in left me with two type choices: Steel and Fighting. This stems from the fact that Lopunny lures in Scizor, Tyranitar, Latias, and Foretress (Most Steel types have a have to trounce, Foretress while Fighting types can use it as setup fodder) more than often. The mentioned can also kill Mismagius, provided that they have the correct sets (Bullet Punch on Scizor, Choice Specs Latias, Gyro Ball on Foretress, etc.).
Most Steel type sweepers - Lucario, Metagross and Heatran - normally require their checks out of the way and are thus late game sweepers. I already have Mismagius cleaning up the aftermath, so this leaves with the few Fighting types with the ability to dent the hell out of something before and after a stat boost: Infernape, Breloom, Heracross, and Machamp. Infernape is dumb, Mach Punch keeps it from being revenged by the Steel type Choice Scarf users. However, it needs Flare Blitz and Close Combat to dent what switches in on it which leaves Infernape wide open to Salamence and Gyarados, usually giving them a Dragon Dance. Breloom would be the second candidate for this team, sporting decent typing, offensive stats, STAB moves and Spore to allow for easier setups. It's low Defense and Speed are what kept me away from Breloom, as it would be revenge killed after a single Swords Dance is setup. This leaves Machamp (Bulk Up) and Heracross (Swords Dance).
Both were decent Fighting types who could switch in without much trouble, and either setup and wreck most of my opponent's team, or just dent something with their decent coverage. So, rather than do hours of testing in order to decide on which one to use, I split them up like so:
Machamp----Heracross
Fighting----Fighting/Bug
Resistances: Dark, Rock, Bug (x2)----Resistances: Dark, Fighting (x2)/Bug (x4)
Weaknesses: Psychic, Flying (x2)----Weaknesses: Fire, Psychic (x2)/ Flying (x4)
HP: 90----HP: 80
Def: 75---- Def: 80
x----x
SDef: 85--- SDef: 95
Spd: 55----Spd: 85
BST: 505---- BST: 500
Other (viable) differences: Dyanamicpunch, Stone Edge, Fire Blast, Ice Punch (100% acc)---- Other (viable) differences: Megahorn, Swords Dance
Final Choice: Heracross
What drew towards Heracross, you ask? Well, Heracross' Speed stat is what interested me. The ability to outplace so many Pokemon that attempt to switch in while at the same time, doubling its impressive base 125 Attack stat. Megahorn is also a great STAB move, allowing Heracross to hit Tyranitar, Celebi, and (some) Latias for a great amount of damage without having to resort to the negative effects of Close Combat.
Machamp does have Payback, though it has to move last for it to have 100 BP and even then, Celebi and Latias can survive, stalling Machamp with Reflect, Recover and Grass Knot and killing Machamp with Draco Meteor respectively. Dynamicpunch's low PP is also a turn off, despite the 100% accuracy.
So, I have my sweepers - what's next? Baton Passing Substitutes is a difficult process without a very bulky Baton Passer, a fast Baton Passer with Taunt, or Dual Screen support. Lopunny doesn't have Taunt, she isn't bulky enough to pass reliable Substitutes, so Dual Screens seem to work nicely, here. Bronzong came to mind at blinding speeds with its ability to keep Scizor at bay for a while, scout for choiced Earthquake users, rape Pokemon whom use Speed stat up moves, or have a high Speed initially, Explode, and of course, setup both Reflect and Light Screen.
Before the 5th slot, I decided to try out a few leads. After Aerodactyl, I realized how great of a lead Lum Berry Metagross is, then I try out Lum Berry Heatran and... GODAAAAAAAMNNNN. Lum Berry Heatran worked like a charm, and every match, it always gets up Stealth Rock which of course, is great for a lead.
So, I'm Heatran-weak. I can't seem to find any Pokemon that can fit the bill of keeping Scizor out of play, so I tested multiple switch ins to Heatran. The next Pokemon had to be a solid check for Heatran and support the team at simultaneously.
Slowbro
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So, that completes the process of team building. Now, I wiggle around and do stuff.
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Trampe (Heatran) (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP/20 Spd/236 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power / Taunt / Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Will-o-wisp / Explosion
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"Trap"
Whoa, this is one of the best leads that I've tried as of yet.
Lum Berry Heatran functions like any other Lum Berry lead: Take the status and KO something. Magma Storm is a sort of, "high risk, high return" kind of move, as it allows Heatran to beat Focus Sash leads on their first turn out, or trap another Pokemon in, hence the slash with Explosion; however, the 30% chance of missing does become abundant when the opposing lead sets up in Heatran's face. Will-o-Wisp helps Heatran take an Earthquake due to the absence of the Shuca Berry, it also gives me a permanent solution to Tyranitar, Machamp and the like. Earth Power is a great move, though I am considering replacing it with Taunt to prevent anything from using Heatran's "limited" coverage to setup, or Explosion in the case that Latias, Blissey, or any other Pokemon that can wall Heatran becomes trapped in Magma Storm.
Will-o-Wisp is valuable move, it makes it easier for this team to switch in and actually setup something. Most instances that involve the use of the Shuca Berry (bar Metagross leads, though it's the only reason to use a Shuca Berry) have the same result of using Will-o-Wisp, the only difference is that Heatran doesn't use up its item and the opposing lead that uses Earthquake is now crippled with a Burn. Swampert is really the only thing posing an immediate threat, considering if it uses Earthquake first.
Lum Berry Heatran as a lead is, as already said, great. It gets up Stealth Rock, which is vital to both sweepers earning KOs.
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Apoyar (Slowbro) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 212 HP/236 Def/44 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Thunder Wave
- Slack Off
- Ice Beam
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"Support"
It's been quite a while since I've tried Slowbro out as a sponge for Physical moves and I have to say, Slowbro supports this team a few ways. The first is supplying me with an effective switch in to both Gyarados and Machamp, giving Lopunny an easier time Baton Passing Subsitutes. Slowbro also provides Paralysis support, which helps in the long run when taking Heracross' ability to effectively sweep when the opposition's Speed is reduced to almost nothing into account.
Slowbro can also come into Toxic Spikes, provided that Lopunny can Baton Pass a Substitute to it, which defiantly helps with Slowbro's survival.
Currently Testing:
Code:
[IMG]http://pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_rotomu_heat.gif[/IMG]
Rotom-h @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Overheat
- Trick
- Shadow Ball
Suave Mujer (Lopunny) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Klutz
EVs: 236 HP/108 Spd/164 SDef
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Switcheroo
- Encore
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"Gentle Woman"
- This sprite is sex.
- Lopunny is sex.
- Baton Passing Substitutes is sex.
- Switcheroo is sex.
- Encore is sex.
Encore and Switcheroo work together for two reasons: Baton Passing Lopunny's Choice Scarf isn't usually the best option until I know my opponent's team and the fact that Switcheroo (or Trick that matter) doesn't lock a slower opponent in on a single move - I can't stop a Pokemon trying to stack up multiple stat boosts from attacking Lopunny before she can make a Substitute. Encore also hits Substitutes, which really helps screw over Baton Pass chains and Sub-stat boost Pokemon such as Jirachi and Empoleon.
Venero (Heracross) (M) @ Wide Lens
Ability: Guts
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Megahorn
- Swords Dance
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"Poison"
Truly and underrated threat.
Heracross alone can plow through teams given its decent base 85 Speed and gargantuan base 125 Attack, doubled by a Swords Dance. If given a Substitute, Heracross rips through its checks like tissue and can then pull off a sweep, or damage enough of the opposition to the point where Mismagius can finish them off.
Close Combat and Megahorn are great STAB attacks, hitting a good amount of Pokemon for Super Effective, or neutral damage. Stone Edge can hit what Heracross' STAB can't and it keeps Gyarados from ruining the party.
To end any curious thoughts, I did try Lucario out with success; however, I found myself using Mismagius as my initial Baton Pass recipient more than often due to Lucario's inability to switch in on Gliscor and, well, most Fighting attacks safely, even when 'protected' by a Substitute. Heracross could switch in, setup with ease, and do its job of weakening the opposing team without much trouble at all.
Potente Mujer (Mismagius) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk) / Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Shadow Ball
- Power Gem / Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
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"Powerful Woman"
Scizor is to Aggron, as Darkrai is to Mismagius.
Nasty Plot Mismagius is one of the better of the HG/SS additions. Before, Mismagius would be restricted to using Calm Mind behind its Substitutes, making a [slow] attempt at a sweep. Now, Mismagius can pull off a sweep with ease thanks to the immediate boost from Nasty Plot and its Life Orb.
Shadow Ball and Hidden Power Fighting provide "perfect" coverage, giving that up wouldn't be the brightest of ideas, not to mention that Hidden Power Fighting can OHKO most variants of Tyranitar that don't invest in Special Defense after a Nasty Plot while having a 60% chance of OHKOing ones that do with Stealth Rock damage. The third slot is really up to which Pokemon gives my team trouble if it can find time to setup on Mismagius- Suicune and Vaporeon or Salamence and Gyarados.
Gengar can't touch this.
Currently Testing:
Code:
[IMG]http://pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_togekiss.gif[/IMG]
Togekiss (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Encore
Suave Asistente (Bronzong) @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/152 Atk/8 Def/96 SDef
Relaxed nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Gyro Ball
- Explosion
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"Gentle Assistant"
The final piece of this puzzle, Dual Screen Bronzong.
I really couldn't find anything better; Uxie's Dual Screens to Memento/U-turn crap wasn't effective against teams that packed Scizor, Heatran, Machamp, Latias, Tyranitar or Gengar, as Uxie would be bombarded with attacks to the point where it couldn't switch in more than once, or use Memento as a "last ditch" effort. On the contrary, Bronzong can easily lay down both screens with plenty of HP left and with its typing (Levitate), it can switch in and out without much trouble. Not only that, but Explosion ensures that something either dies, or one of my sweepers, or Lopunny can get a free setup from the Pokemon that switches in to take the Explosion.
All in all, Bronzong is an effective Dual Screener as well as my mediocre way to deal with Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Life Orb Gengar.