Power Up Punch is okay, but it can be stopped by Ghosts, and it doesn't give as much of a boost. Swords Dance is more reliable.
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Pokémon Lucario
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Power Up Punch is okay, but it can be stopped by Ghosts, and it doesn't give as much of a boost. Swords Dance is more reliable.
I'm trying a Nasty Plot mixed set now, with Hi Jump Kick, Crunch, Nastyplot and Flash Cannon. Full ev investment in sp atk looks fearsome, what with being able to flat-out ohko things like Hippowdon after one plot, but I was wondering if I should sacrifice some evs for atk to make his kick and bite a little more fearsome. Should I go for something like 52 atk/200 sp atk /252 speed?
None of the sets I've tried have displaced the standard sweeper set as 145 atk + adaptability makes damage output unbelievable.
Why not do Swords Dance and CC/Bullet Punch?
Because I want to be different, like a pretty little snowflake.
Don't know what to say but good luck. Don't know how much luck you'll get though as this fox focused on attack even when his special attack was higher. AV sets won't help you out any either.
Flash cannon'll do a hell of a lot more than bullet punch, and it's not as expected as the regular physical sweeper set is. Nothing wrong with a surprise or two. I know it's probably outclassed, but 145 base atk with adaptability makes CC/hijumpkick a fucking skull-crusher of an attack regardless of swords dance. I'm just trying to play to his other strengths. Yeah he's got 145 base attack, but he's also got base 140 special attack and the special movepool to abuse it.
I think my mixed set is perfectly viable, I just don't know if I should invest fully in special attack or split it a little with attack.
It's viable, and it is a creative idea, and you might get surprise KO's because of the surprise factor, but I think that going for one side of the spectrum, rather than a mixed set is better. Going for a mixed set might weaken you so that you'll miss out on notable KO's and 2HKO's. I wouldn't take that chance. Also, I find the physical set to have pure wallbreaking, bone crushing power, which is why I'm using it, although the special set is slightly unexpected and effective as well.
Of course, with the popularity of special walls this gen, having 1 physical move is very important, especially with attack as high as Lucario's
Man, now I'm conflicted. Assault Vest being everywhere isn't doing me any favors. Although, CC still destroys TTar, who's the biggest baddest user, which is kind of the point. Snorlax too, but he's not really relevant.
I don't know, I want to use it as a lategame sweeper and cleaner, but is it really that much less viable than a straight physical or special set?
I don't know, I want to use it as a lategame sweeper and cleaner, but is it really that much less viable than a straight physical or special set?
I think a primarily special set with CC or HJK will cover all your bases. Might want to do some damage calcs on sylveon though
Dark Pulse over Crunch, then?
At +2 Flash Cannon is destroying Sylveon. It 2HKO's Azumarill, which is a little more problematic but I have other ways of dealing with him.
Tentacruel won't see as much usage as T spikes is easier to remove and rain dish was ruined in the weather nerf.
Nobody's gonna use Moltres in OU, but MegaZardY and Talonflame could be trouble
Everything I've checked that you'd choose HJK over flash cannon is either solidly OHKO'd or too far out to warrant EV investment. So far your set's looking great for versatility and the only real counters I can think of is a bulky Dragonite (AV or leftovers) or a strong priority/scarf user. I suppose the standard Mega Lucario will also threaten it, but that'll be down to luck.
I like it in theory, but you'll have to let me know how it does in practice. Until then I'll stick with my Adamant sweeper. Good luck!
Lol, just hilarious
In terms of Versatility, Your hitting what you need to. In Terms of what you can't hit, I think this is as good as your getting, and you now need to think on your com padres to lucario.
Ever on the rise of popularity is Talonflame, With priority Tailwind, Priority Brave Bird, Flare Blitz, Uturn(Roost/Bulk up/ Swords Dance) (Sky Plate, Expert Belt) Setting up a tailwind to scoop up some extra speed for lucario is good Idea, letting him outspeed any threats that out-sped him. also usable as a revenge killer or sweeper if you can set-up (more possible than you think).
Thank ye kindly
I keep thinking of Talonflame as the perfect counter to Mega Lucario, and never stopped to think of him as a perfect partner. This sounds pretty fantastic in theory, so I think I'll put it in practice to see how it goes. Talonflame is an amazing pokemon in any case.
Again, depends on the lucario, My Lucario this to deal with threats that outspedd his priority:
MegaLuc: CC, BP, Extremespeed and Bulk up
Extremespeed is as we know, +2 priority, meaning it laughs at Talonflame's brave bird. Saving Grace against TalonFlame
I like it, but I'm still kind of thinking an all or nothing approach could be a good way to go for Lucario. What will an unboosted HJK OHKO that an Aura Sphere or Vacuum Wave won't after a +2?
with the introduction of the assault vest, special walls are going to be everywhere. A way around them is too good to pass up, especially with base 145 atk
Im curious as to why most special sets on here have Dark Pulse over Shadow Ball? It couldnt be the flinch chance over the SpD drop. But Shadow Ball hits neutral to fighting and fairy looking to switch in, while dark is resisted. And i don't see many normal types switching into Lucario.
And at the moment, I am having trouble deciding running Nasty Plot over Vacuum Wave. Could someone tell me which threats would check Lucario if I don't have a +2?
Hasty
Flash Cannon
Shadow Ball
Close Combat
Nasty Plot/Vacuum Wave
And at the moment, I am having trouble deciding running Nasty Plot over Vacuum Wave. Could someone tell me which threats would check Lucario if I don't have a +2?
Hasty
Flash Cannon
Shadow Ball
Close Combat
Nasty Plot/Vacuum Wave
ShadowBall is definitely better than Dark Pulse and it is what I ran on him. NastyPlot vs VacuumWave comes down to what Lucario you are running.
If his job on your team is to be a sweeper then you certainly want Nasty Plot because after that one turn he is going to outspeed and OHK things like Gliscor and Hippowdown. If you don't have the NP then you will kill something, they bring in Hippowdown, you outspeed and take half his life but then die to his EQ. This doesn't make NP better than Vacuum Wave sets, it just means that this is the better set if you want your Lucario to be a sweeper.
If your team is struggling with say SandRush Excadrill then you can make your Lucario a revenge killer, in which case VacuumWave is way better than NP. I personally don't think Lucario works well enough as a revenge killer as he 'failed' at his job too often in my experience. However the point is that if a revenge killer is what your team needs then that's what your team needs and you should take VacuumWave over NP.
Alright thanks you make some good points. I will most likely go sweeper NP Lucario, since I tend to not have a strong sweeper on my team. I wanted to make Vacuum Wave work since it was a pain to breed, but I have been running Azumaril on my teams and that works well enough as a revenge killer.
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