I know this isn't the best option out there but what if you used block in conjunction with a drizzle team to eliminate ttar, ninetales, and hippowdon. I know dugtrio does this better buy I wanted something more sturdy and capable of doing more than trapping and killing one poke...
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Feraligatr [QC 3/3!] [GP 3/2]
- Thread starter zarator
- Start date
That's exactly the point of using Dugtrio; it traps, kills, maybe sets up Stealth Rock, and absolutely nothing else. Only a few select Pokemon can use Block effectively, and usually, it's not worth using because you can't entirely eliminate the possibility of the target switching out. Many Pokemon rely on Drizzle support, and yet their analyses do not point out such support.
On to the set itself, I'll see what I can do when I test it out this week so the PK' QC Stamp counts. The set looks good at the moment, so hold your horses.
On to the set itself, I'll see what I can do when I test it out this week so the PK' QC Stamp counts. The set looks good at the moment, so hold your horses.
Wow, all the damage calculations are amazing. Aqua Jet + SD + LO + Rain + Torrent + STAB is truly impressive. Good job on bringing such a neglected Pokemon into the spot light!
This was pretty beastly when I playtested it, sometimes even outside of rain, so cheers.
QC Approved [2/3]
QC Approved [2/3]
zarator, great Feraligatr Analysis! Just a few feedback
Also this:
Start of turn 22
Cheated used U-turn!
It's super effective!
The foe's Celebi lost 99% of its health!
The foe's Celebi fainted!
Quality Checker called Cheated back!
Quality Checker sent out Tick Tock! (Feraligatr)
Rain continues to fall!
BigChocolate sent out Conkeldurr!
Pointed stones dug into the foe's Conkeldurr!
Start of turn 23
Tick Tock used Swords Dance!
Tick Tock's Attack sharply rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr used Bulk Up!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Attack rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Defense rose!
Rain continues to fall!
The foe's Conkeldurr restored a little HP using its Leftovers!
Start of turn 24
Tick Tock used Swords Dance!
Tick Tock's Attack sharply rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr used Bulk Up!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Attack rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Defense rose!
Rain continues to fall!
Start of turn 25
Tick Tock used Swords Dance!
Tick Tock's Attack sharply rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr used Drain Punch!
Tick Tock lost 237 HP! (63% of its health)
Tick Tock had its energy drained!
Rain continues to fall!
Start of turn 26
Tick Tock used Aqua Jet!
The foe's Conkeldurr lost 100% of its health!
The foe's Conkeldurr fainted!
Tick Tock is hurt by its Life Orb!
-------------------------------
Yep, Feraligatr got the bulk and power to make great use of Torrent!
Awesome find, zarator :)
QC Approved (3/3)
EDIT: OK, that's fine by me.
- add the mention of Slowbro when you're explaining the usefulness of Crunch in Set Comments
- add the mention of Slowbro and bulky Gyarados under Checks and Counters
- Make sure that Checks and Counters section is comprehensive and organized as the revamped versions shown in "Checks and Counters" Project. Feel free to copy & paste your Counter section on that thread to receive feedback.
- Beef up OO - It can run Substitute + Focus Punch set, and it can also can run a CB set.
- Beef up OO - It also has enough bulk to utilize moves such as Roar, Dragon Tail, Counter, and Avalanche
- Beef up OO - Substitute + DD / SD + Flail option?
- Beef up OO - Shadow Claw to not only hit Latias, Jellicent, Slowbro for SE, but to hit Toxicroak neutrally; Low Kick can be used over Superpower to preserve Atk; Outrage, although has an undesirable effect provides great coverage when coupled with Superpower & STAB
- Generally not preferred, it does have an option to go Mixed with Hydro Pump and Ice Beam allowing it to hit certain physical walls harder.
- Aqua Tail is noticeably stronger than Waterfall, but the accuracy drop is undesirable
Also this:
Start of turn 22
Cheated used U-turn!
It's super effective!
The foe's Celebi lost 99% of its health!
The foe's Celebi fainted!
Quality Checker called Cheated back!
Quality Checker sent out Tick Tock! (Feraligatr)
Rain continues to fall!
BigChocolate sent out Conkeldurr!
Pointed stones dug into the foe's Conkeldurr!
Start of turn 23
Tick Tock used Swords Dance!
Tick Tock's Attack sharply rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr used Bulk Up!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Attack rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Defense rose!
Rain continues to fall!
The foe's Conkeldurr restored a little HP using its Leftovers!
Start of turn 24
Tick Tock used Swords Dance!
Tick Tock's Attack sharply rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr used Bulk Up!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Attack rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr's Defense rose!
Rain continues to fall!
Start of turn 25
Tick Tock used Swords Dance!
Tick Tock's Attack sharply rose!
The foe's Conkeldurr used Drain Punch!
Tick Tock lost 237 HP! (63% of its health)
Tick Tock had its energy drained!
Rain continues to fall!
Start of turn 26
Tick Tock used Aqua Jet!
The foe's Conkeldurr lost 100% of its health!
The foe's Conkeldurr fainted!
Tick Tock is hurt by its Life Orb!
-------------------------------
Yep, Feraligatr got the bulk and power to make great use of Torrent!
Awesome find, zarator :)
QC Approved (3/3)
EDIT: OK, that's fine by me.
Thanks guys^^ A bit late on the replies because of a one week inactivity due to flu, sadly.
Anyway, you bring up a lot of good points, Pocket. I'll try to comment each one
Done
Will do, of course^^
I know that this stuff would be OO for a reason, but some of these options seem really outclassed by something else in OU, whether they are considered gimmick or not. More in depth, these are my thoughts - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Substitute + Focus Punch: No. Feraligatr lacks 101 HP subs, and has Superpower already. He has next to no reason to use Focus Punch, at all.
Choice Band: Yes. I think it is crucial to run Crunch in this case, or you simply have a weaker Azumarill. But if you run Crunch, nothing strictly outclasses Gatr in this sense.
Roar/Dragon Tail: Yes. It would play similarly to Swampert I guess (minus Stealth Rock). Worthy a mention in OO for me.
Counter: Yes. I can't imagine I could forget about this after all those defensive calcs in the OP. I'll add it for sure.
Avalanche: Yes. You're going second against most Dragons, so why not? It still sucks to move after Tangrowth and other walls, but that's why it's OO.
Substitute + DD / SD + Flail: Yes, but only to SD. If you use Dragon Dance, Gyarados is probably the better choice, thanks to Intimidate. However, if you go for SD, you can pair Flail with Aqua Jet and take advantage of all the assets which help Gatr differentiate himself from Gyarados in the first place.
Shadow Claw: Yes. Although mentioning Latias is redundant, if you wanted to hit her and Toxicroak neutrally or better you'd use Ice Punch.
Low Kick: Yes. Although it should be noted that losing that much power vs Rotom-W is not really recommendable most times... but I guess it's still ok as OO.
Outrage: No. Sorry, just no. Certainly not on the set in the OP, you'd be too slow to sweep anything once you lock yourself in. And even with DD, I'd rather use it on Kingdra and Gyarados, I don't really see the point.
Mixed set: No. The calcs show that you can break any physical wall worth mentioning with the right move, without any need to split your EVs. If anything, the only physical wall you still can't beat (defensive Rotom-W) has an even easier time if you split EVs.
Aqua Tail: No. Unless there are any 3HKO turned into 2HKO or 2HKO turned into OHKO, it doesn't seem worth it to me. Or are we gonna mention Aqua Tail on every physical water attacker out there? Seems overkill to me.
Anyway I'll implement most of this stuff asap in the skeleton, while at the same time I'll start working on the actual analysis.
P.S.: The log made me laugh^^
Anyway, you bring up a lot of good points, Pocket. I'll try to comment each one
Done
Will do, of course^^
I know that this stuff would be OO for a reason, but some of these options seem really outclassed by something else in OU, whether they are considered gimmick or not. More in depth, these are my thoughts - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
Substitute + Focus Punch: No. Feraligatr lacks 101 HP subs, and has Superpower already. He has next to no reason to use Focus Punch, at all.
Choice Band: Yes. I think it is crucial to run Crunch in this case, or you simply have a weaker Azumarill. But if you run Crunch, nothing strictly outclasses Gatr in this sense.
Roar/Dragon Tail: Yes. It would play similarly to Swampert I guess (minus Stealth Rock). Worthy a mention in OO for me.
Counter: Yes. I can't imagine I could forget about this after all those defensive calcs in the OP. I'll add it for sure.
Avalanche: Yes. You're going second against most Dragons, so why not? It still sucks to move after Tangrowth and other walls, but that's why it's OO.
Substitute + DD / SD + Flail: Yes, but only to SD. If you use Dragon Dance, Gyarados is probably the better choice, thanks to Intimidate. However, if you go for SD, you can pair Flail with Aqua Jet and take advantage of all the assets which help Gatr differentiate himself from Gyarados in the first place.
Shadow Claw: Yes. Although mentioning Latias is redundant, if you wanted to hit her and Toxicroak neutrally or better you'd use Ice Punch.
Low Kick: Yes. Although it should be noted that losing that much power vs Rotom-W is not really recommendable most times... but I guess it's still ok as OO.
Outrage: No. Sorry, just no. Certainly not on the set in the OP, you'd be too slow to sweep anything once you lock yourself in. And even with DD, I'd rather use it on Kingdra and Gyarados, I don't really see the point.
Mixed set: No. The calcs show that you can break any physical wall worth mentioning with the right move, without any need to split your EVs. If anything, the only physical wall you still can't beat (defensive Rotom-W) has an even easier time if you split EVs.
Aqua Tail: No. Unless there are any 3HKO turned into 2HKO or 2HKO turned into OHKO, it doesn't seem worth it to me. Or are we gonna mention Aqua Tail on every physical water attacker out there? Seems overkill to me.
Anyway I'll implement most of this stuff asap in the skeleton, while at the same time I'll start working on the actual analysis.
P.S.: The log made me laugh^^
gp approved 1/2
[Overview]
<p>When people look at Feraligatr, they often see Sheer Force, and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential, even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unaware teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in the merciless environment of OU, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent expects it the least.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes fully advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs massive power, and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 80 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you often will have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a Rapid Spin user is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet killing range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options, such as Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold <extremespeed worth a mention?>. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOes. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as he can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control, and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive variants of Gyarados can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder, or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, and Intimidate is in fact more useful than Multiscale in this case.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up variants of Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if still healthy upon switching him, as Swords Dance ones can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the above moves are used. However, without the defensive investment of the Swords Dance set, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
<p>When people look at Feraligatr, they often see Sheer Force, and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential, even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unaware teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in the merciless environment of OU, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent expects it the least.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes fully advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs massive power, and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 80 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you often will have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a Rapid Spin user is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet killing range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options, such as Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold <extremespeed worth a mention?>. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOes. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as he can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control, and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive variants of Gyarados can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder, or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, and Intimidate is in fact more useful than Multiscale in this case.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up variants of Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if still healthy upon switching him, as Swords Dance ones can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the above moves are used. However, without the defensive investment of the Swords Dance set, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
Feraligatr in OU makes me happy. :3 checking now
Removals
(Additions/Replacements)
(Quick Comments)
GP (2/2)
Removals
(Additions/Replacements)
(Quick Comments)
[Overview]
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs (a) massive power (punch), and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 80 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you often will (often) have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options, (colon) such as Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOes. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as he (it) can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control, and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive variants of Gyarados can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p> (Due to Intimidate, would this not just be +2?)
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up variants of Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if still healthy upon switching him, as Swords Dance ones (variants) can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the above moves are used. However, without the defensive investment of the Swords Dance set, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
<p>When people look at Feraligatr, they often see Sheer Force, and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential, even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unaware (unprepared) teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in the merciless environment of OU, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent expects it the least (least expects it).</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes fully advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs (a) massive power (punch), and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 80 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you often will (often) have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a Rapid Spin user is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, (which is) by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet('s KO) killing range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options, (colon) such as Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOes. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as he (it) can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control, and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive variants of Gyarados can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p> (Due to Intimidate, would this not just be +2?)
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder, or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, and Intimidate is in fact more useful than Multiscale (Moxie) in this case.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up variants of Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if still healthy upon switching him, as Swords Dance ones (variants) can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the above moves are used. However, without the defensive investment of the Swords Dance set, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
[Overview]
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs a massive punch, and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 80 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you will often have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options: Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOes. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as it can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive variants of Gyarados can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p> (Due to Intimidate, would this not just be +2?)
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up variants of Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if still healthy upon switching him, as Swords Dance variants can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the above moves are used. However, without the defensive investment of the Swords Dance set, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
<p>When people look at Feraligatr they often see Sheer Force and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unprepared teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in the merciless environment of OU, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent least expects it.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes full advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs a massive punch, and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 80 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you will often have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a Rapid Spin user is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, which is by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet's KO range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options: Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOes. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as it can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive variants of Gyarados can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p> (Due to Intimidate, would this not just be +2?)
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, and Intimidate is in fact more useful than Moxie in this case.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up variants of Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if still healthy upon switching him, as Swords Dance variants can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the above moves are used. However, without the defensive investment of the Swords Dance set, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
GP (2/2)
Nitpick alert:
Also, taking a hit to active torrent then taking LO recoil gives Feraligatr just four turns to sweep in the best case.
In such a case it seems like Splash Plate would give most of the power without the recoil.
OTOH, if Gator sets up with minimal damage, LO's ability to get him into Torrent range is actually quite nice.
So I'm just wondering whether another boosting item would be worth a mention for the pros/cons.
Feraligatr actually has base 78 Speed.
Also, taking a hit to active torrent then taking LO recoil gives Feraligatr just four turns to sweep in the best case.
In such a case it seems like Splash Plate would give most of the power without the recoil.
OTOH, if Gator sets up with minimal damage, LO's ability to get him into Torrent range is actually quite nice.
So I'm just wondering whether another boosting item would be worth a mention for the pros/cons.
Thanks about the nitpick on speed Deluge. As for the LO vs Splash Plate, I don't see the latter working. The LO boost is crucial to get the necessary OHKOes with Superpower and Crunch, plus the recoil dmg gets you into Torrent range more easily. Who cares if you live only for 4 more turns then? Even if you kill 3 mons with Aqua Jet, it's totally worth it.
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[Overview]
<p>When people look at Feraligatr, they often see Sheer Force, and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential, even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unaware teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in OU's merciless environment, of OU, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent expects it the least.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes fully advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs massive power, and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 78 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you often will have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a spinner is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, which is by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet killing range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options, such as Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOs. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as it can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control, and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive Gyarados variants can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder, or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, except it has the more useful Intimidate as opposed to Multiscale.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if it is still healthy after it is switched in, as Swords Dance Toxicroak can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the aforementioned moves are used. However, without the Swords Dance set's defensive investment, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
<p>When people look at Feraligatr, they often see Sheer Force, and little else. Since the coveted Dream World ability is unreleased, the Water-type starter is thus frequently shunned. However, this is only the result of a false impression. Contrary to popular belief, Feraligatr has a lot of potential, even without Sheer Force, as his luck has blessed him with another really good ability in the form of Torrent. When combined with Swords Dance and the boost provided by Drizzle, Feraligatr can turn its initially underwhelming priority move, the 40 Base Power Aqua Jet, into a lethal weapon that can sweep unaware teams.</p>
<p>When you take into account that Feraligatr has access to several interesting coverage options, you'll realize that he needn't be jealous of the likes of Azumarill. Even in OU's merciless environment, of OU, this ferocious Water-type can turn the tide of the battle—often when the opponent expects it the least.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Ice Punch / Crunch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is by far the best one Feraligatr can run in OU, and unlike most other Pokemon, it is actually more effective in practice than on paper. While Aqua Jet may seem like an insufficient STAB, its power in the rain is almost comparable to Scizor's Bullet Punch, and it goes above and beyond that once Torrent kicks in. You may think this is better said than done, but Feraligatr's surprising bulk allows him to set up much more comfortably than you could expect. He can take all sorts of hits, and possibly even activate Torrent in the process. The EV spread takes fully advantage of this, investing heavily in its defenses while retaining the highest possible Attack.</p>
<p>The coverage moves are there almost entirely for those walls that can take even a boosted Aqua Jet, making the lack of Speed a non-issue. Superpower packs massive power, and easily breaks through Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, and Chansey among others; it can also be fired off unboosted in order to soften some threats, most notably Rotom-W. Ice Punch prevents Dragonite and Salamence from setting up on Feraligatr, and also severely injures Tangrowth. Crunch, on the other hand, is the ideal choice for dealing with Jellicent, Reuniclus, and Slowbro.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The power behind Feraligatr's attacks goes far beyond what his "average" base 105 Attack may suggest, as shown by these calculations, all of which factor in a Swords Dance boost, Life Orb, Torrent, and rain:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Aqua Jet vs 36/0 Haxorus 65% - 76%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 192/64 Reuniclus 101% - 120%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Rotom-W 70% - 83%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Scizor 105% - 123%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 252/0 Skarmory 81% - 96%</li>
<li>Aqua Jet vs 4/0 Virizion 73% - 85%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/0 Multiscale Dragonite 114% - 134%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 252/252+ Tangrowth 61% - 72%</li>
<li>Ice Punch vs 244/12 Toxicroak 76% - 90%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 248/216+ Jellicent 99% - 117%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Reuniclus 87% - 103%</li>
<li>Crunch vs 252/252+ Slowbro 74% - 87%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/252+ Eviolite Chansey 121% - 142%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/88+ Ferrothorn 122% - 144%</li>
<li>Superpower vs 252/0 Gastrodon 103% - 122%</li>
</ul>
<p>Once Torrent is activated, Aqua Jet obliterates anything that doesn't resist Water; even those that do are at risk should they fall below 70% of their max HP. The beauty of all this is that Feraligatr, unlike other Swords Dance sweepers, has no fear of being outsped. His base 78 Speed, even uninvested, allows him to get the jump on other common priority users, such as Conkeldurr and Scizor, allowing him to OHKO both with a boosted Aqua Jet. Even Trick Room Reuniclus, who can often turn the tables on most sweepers, is OHKOed by Aqua Jet alone. Meanwhile, Feraligatr's coverage moves OHKO just about all walls, putting most stall teams in a dangerous position. Naturally, you often will have to ditch either Ice Punch or Crunch, but until you reveal which moves you pack, the opponent is always at risk of losing their precious wall if he makes a wrong prediction.</p>
<p>Getting into Torrent range is a big part of Feraligatr's performance. Luckily for him, though, his bulk allows him to weather most hits, even some super effective ones, and live with just enough HP to start a Torrent-boosted rampage. Here is a list of some common attacks that can bring him close to or into Torrent range:
<ul class="damage_calculations">
<li>Relaxed 0 Atk Ferrothorn Power Whip 66% - 78%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Haxorus Outrage 63% - 75%</li>
<li>Modest 252 SpA Rotom-W Volt Switch 68% - 80%</li>
<li>Adamant 252 Atk Choice Band Scizor U-turn 51% - 60%</li>
<li>Timid 252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt 71%-83%</li>
<li>Bold 0 SpA Tangrowth Giga Drain 57% - 67%</li>
</ul>
<p>Naturally, some entry hazards can jeopardize all this bulk very easily, so a spinner is recommended. If Feraligatr is being used on a rain team, Tentacruel and Starmie are arguably the best choices. The former can also soak up Toxic Spikes, which is by far the most dangerous hazards for Feraligatr. The latter, on the contrary, packs an offensive presence which synergizes well with him.</p>
<p>As far as offensive support goes, Politoed is recommended for the invaluable Drizzle. Additionally, depending on Feraligatr's coverage moves of choice, an answer to some threats might be necessary, too. If Ice Punch is chosen over Crunch, Jellicent and Slowbro become a problem. Rotom-W can take care of both, keeping the offensive momentum with Volt Switch in the process. If Crunch is preferred to Ice Punch, Dragonite and Tangrowth must be taken care of. Ferrothorn does a good job at checking the former, as the rain makes him virtually impervious even to Fire-type attacks, while Tentacruel can switch into the latter—especially if Tangrowth is Bold instead of Impish—and either dispatch it with Sludge Bomb or lay Toxic Spikes to cripple it later. Regardless of which coverage move is chosen, though, it is advisable to pack checks to Rotom-W and defensive Gyarados. Once again, Ferrothorn is a good choice, thanks to his resistances and ability to set up the entry hazards that bring most foes down into Aqua Jet killing range, making Feraligatr's life much easier.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Dragon Dance could be used in conjunction with Waterfall, but Feraligatr would be much easier to revenge kill. In addition to lacking the bulk the Swords Dance set packs, he also faces severe competition from Gyarados. As with Azumarill, Choice Band can be used to give him more immediate power and make him a better revenge killer. However, in this case, Crunch is recommended to make sure Azumarill doesn't outclass him.</p>
<p>Feraligatr has also the bulk to effectively utilize his phazing options, such as Roar and Dragon Tail. The same can be said for Counter, especially as Feraligatr often survives unboosted physical hits. Avalanche has negative priority, but can be used over Ice Punch to put a larger dent into Dragonite and even Gyarados. Flail, if paired with Aqua Jet on a Substitute + Swords Dance set, will sweep unprepared teams, but Jellicent and Ferrothorn stop such a set cold. Shadow Claw is an option over Crunch to keep a neutral hit on Toxicroak, but loses some crucial OHKOs. Finally, Low Kick lacks the negative effects of Superpower, and still gets the job done against Ferrothorn. However, it should be noted that Superpower is much more reliable against special walls and Rotom-W.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>There are only a handful of Pokemon that can counter Feraligatr regardless of his coverage moves. A defensive Rotom-W is the safest choice, as it can take most hits and cripple Feraligatr with Will-O-Wisp before the latter can hit it with a boosted Superpower. Choice sets are harder to counter, as after its usual checks switch into Stealth Rock a few times, Feraligatr can pick them off with Aqua Jet. Quagsire is another good option, as Unaware prevents a boosted Feraligatr from getting out of control, and Toxic whittles him down while Quagsire heals off damage with Recover. Defensive Gyarados variants can switch in safely and phaze Feraligatr with Dragon Tail or Roar. Offensive variants must be more careful if Stealth Rock is up, as Feraligatr can OHKO them with +3 Torrent-boosted Aqua Jet.</p>
<p>If Feraligatr lacks Crunch, Jellicent can come in and cripple him with Will-O-Wisp, while healing any damage with Recover. Similarly, Slowbro walls him effortlessly and can proceed to bring him down with boosted Scalds. Without Ice Punch, Feraligatr is walled by Tangrowth, who takes nothing from his other attacks and can put Feraligatr to sleep with Sleep Powder, or take Feraligatr out with his STAB attacks. However, neither of Tangrowth's STAB attacks will OHKO a full health Feraligatr. Dragonite is another safe bet if Ice Punch is not present, especially since ExtremeSpeed gets the jump on Aqua Jet. However, offensive sets can be brought down if Stealth Rock is up, and defensive sets can be actually set up on if they lack Dragon Tail. Salamence is in the same boat, except it has the more useful Intimidate as opposed to Multiscale.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon that resist Water-type moves, such as Latios, Starmie, and Virizion, might be able to revenge kill Feraligatr if they are at top health, but even a bit of residual damage put them in KO range of a boosted Aqua Jet. Bulk Up Toxicroak can attempt to stop Feraligatr if it is still healthy after it is switched in, as Swords Dance Toxicroak can be KOed by a Crunch followed by Superpower, or by a +2 Ice Punch.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Sheer Force is an interesting addition to Feraligatr, as it gives a significant boost to the Dragon Dance set. In addition to boosting Waterfall, Crunch, and Ice Punch, this ability also negates Life Orb recoil when the aforementioned moves are used. However, without the Swords Dance set's defensive investment, Feraligatr will have a harder time setting up, and will be more vulnerable to priority attacks—even Scizor will deal up to 30% with a Choice Band Bullet Punch. Therefore, the viability of Sheer Force over Torrent in OU is debatable.</p>
GP Approved (2/2)
