Other Creative / Underrated Sets Thread (Read the thread, NO SHITTY GIMMICKS)

[Pancham]

Lol no it wasn't. The set says 252 attack 252 speed and 4 special attack. Also I don't know why you're argueing why some spreads for talonflame are stupid because each one acomplishes a different thing talonflame couldn't do before and helps cut down on the support it needs. No talonflame set will be able to get past every single threat, but based on your team support it won't need to.

No need for all that speed, very unnecessary. Most people would use the recommended EV spread on site while using Talonflame. It only needs 60Spe for outspeeding Excadrill. That being said, I did see the EVs on the posted set, I just ignored them while keeping suggested EVs in mind.

Also, Overheat on Talonflame accomplishes the same exact thing that HPIce would, tho HPIce just does it better while being at a lower cost. And, I also judged by the posted calc, which uses no SpA investment, as you can see.

 

[Habib]

What I'm super interested in is:

Vileplume w/ black sludge
HA: Effect Spore
Relaxed/Quiet Nature
EVs: 252 HP 252 Def

Grassy Terrain
Giga Drain
Teeter Dance
Sludge Bomb

Two great stabs, I would love to have this guy on a trick room team with rain and some baton passing goin on...

Seems like there are lots more move options this geneartion.
Should also mention aromatherapy and the new petal blizzard which would be sweet with a sap sipper partner in doubles!

 

[Mr James Grey]

Despite what it says in it's BW description, using Fling/Acrobatics/EQ/Protect on Gliscor has proven quite effective for me. Even though he only gets to poison one poke, EQ and Acrobatics have pretty good coverage. The only poke I've had trouble with is Skarmory, but that's what the rest of the team is for, I suppose.

 

[Scorpiopt]

Why not offensive Mr. Mime ?

If it learned Draining Kiss or Fairy Wind would be nice

Mr. Mime @ Life Orb/Choice Specs/Expert Belt
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Icy Wind
- Charge Beam(+1 Spa is allways good )/Shock Wave
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dazzling Gleam/Confusion

 

[OMEGAwarrior97]

Personally, I like this for a mid to late sweeper or whenever you have the chance to set up:
Gardevoir @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 SAtk / 128 SDef / 128 Spd
Modest Nature
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Safeguard

Try to +2 on the Calm Mind for the PsyBlast power w/ STAB and Safeguard to help wall/stall for the setup or switch in.

 

[Dxrkn3ss]

I have been maining this pokemon for a while now and it provokes rage quits and wins games

Tropius @ Kee Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 DEF / 4 SP DEF (Might need adjusting for speed creep)
Impish Nature

- Roost
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Leaf Blade

Its optimal to switch in to an obvious physical priority move (Mach Punch, Bullet Punch, ect) To get the defense boost (Kee berry boosts defense one stage when hit with a physical att), then Dragon Dance/ Roost it up as the opponent struggles to kill you with a ever weakening physical att or forces the switch.
Maximizing HP and Def ensures that Tropius can take 2 super effective hits like Flare Blitz and Brave Bird. His natural bulk allows you to take special 2x effective attacks from certain pokemon as well. It doesnt even hit the opponent what is happening until its too late. With 1-2 dragon dances, tropius can now outspeed some special counters and OTK them. This set is especially effective against Aegislash, as it resists all of its moves and destroys it with earthquake after boosts. I have swept standard OU teams (consisting of Greninja, Aegislash, Talonflame, and MegaTAR) with this Tropius.

PRICELESS!!

 

[Dxrkn3ss]

^ After 1-2 Kee berries, It can safely beat any Physical pokemon even while taking super effective hits and just Roost off the damage

 

[RayStrikeAbius]

Here's something. I've been testing it out in multiple Battle Spot battles, and so far it's been a dominating tactic.

Dragonite
Ability: Multiscale (obviously)
Item: Weakness Policy
Nature: (This is pretty much up in the air as far as I'm concerned. Mine is a Gentle, but work with whatever.)
EVs: 252 Speed, 152 Attack, 104 Sp. Attack
-Dragon Dance/Agility
-Outrage
-Fire Punch
-Hurricane

Admittedly, it isn't all that different from previous sets involving Dragonite. However, Weakness Policy is the difference here. Usually, the chosen item for this set is Life Orb or Leftovers. Maybe even Lum Berry. But as a Dragon-Flying type, Dragonite has some notable weakness, particularly Ice and Fairy, now that the latter has become a thing. And with that bulk, you can be almost certain that the enemy is gonna try to target one of those weaknesses. That's where Weakness Policy comes into play. Normally the problem with Weakness Policy is that a lot of Pokémon will faint after taking a particular super-effective hit from a strong attack/Pokémon/both. But combined with Multiscale, that worry is alleviated. Multiscale not only virtually guarantees at least one turn of set-up for Dragonite, it also virtually ensures that Dragonite will survive a super-effective hit, even from Ice (so long as it's the first hit he takes in the battle), allowing Weakness Policy to activate. Because of this, Agility becomes viable instead of Dragon Dance for even more speed, so Dragon Dance is still viable if you want sheer, unstoppable attacking power.

 

[aVocado]

It's not very "creative" but it is certainly underrated:

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Modest - 252 SpA / 4 HP / 252 Spe
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast

In a metagame where everyone is scared of the common physical threats, Hydreigon utilizes that fact to it's advantage, Draco Meteor coming from a Specs modest Hydreigon hits like a truck, and if you're afraid of the SpA boost, then Dark Pulse 2HKOs most what doesn't resist it.

Here are some calcs:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 64 SpD Rotom-W: 301-355 (99 - 116.7%)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 64 SpD Rotom-W: 186-220 (61.1 - 72.3%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Aegislash-Shield: 294-348 (90.7 - 107.4%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gastrodon: 400-472 (93.8 - 110.7%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Venusaur: 291-343 (79.9 - 94.2%)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Venusaur: 178-211 (48.9 - 57.9%)


vs. Hippowdon, 252 HP variants are OHKO'd by DM while 252/252+ SpD are only damaged for 71.4-84.2%.

Fire Blast kills off some random shit like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Forretress, while Earth Power is for extra (heatran) coverage. Needless to say this set is countered by some fairy types, mainly Azumarill and Togekiss that can come in on any attack. So having teammates that can handle those specific 2 is appreciated.

 

[Kejmur]

It's not very "creative" but it is certainly underrated:

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Modest - 252 SpA / 4 HP / 252 Spe
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast

In a metagame where everyone is scared of the common physical threats, Hydreigon utilizes that fact to it's advantage, Draco Meteor coming from a Specs modest Hydreigon hits like a truck, and if you're afraid of the SpA boost, then Dark Pulse 2HKOs most what doesn't resist it.

Here are some calcs:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 64 SpD Rotom-W: 301-355 (99 - 116.7%)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 64 SpD Rotom-W: 186-220 (61.1 - 72.3%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Aegislash-Shield: 294-348 (90.7 - 107.4%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Gastrodon: 400-472 (93.8 - 110.7%)

252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Venusaur: 291-343 (79.9 - 94.2%)
252+ SpA Choice Specs Hydreigon Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Mega Venusaur: 178-211 (48.9 - 57.9%)


vs. Hippowdon, 252 HP variants are OHKO'd by DM while 252/252+ SpD are only damaged for 71.4-84.2%.

Fire Blast kills off some random shit like Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Forretress, while Earth Power is for extra (heatran) coverage. Needless to say this set is countered by some fairy types, mainly Azumarill and Togekiss that can come in on any attack. So having teammates that can handle those specific 2 is appreciated.

Is there anything that Earth Power is really needed for ? When we talk about PokeBank, Heatran is like the only target which comes to my mind now and STAB Dark Pulse should hit hard anyway now when it lost Dark Resistance. Heck, if Heatran is more offensive, Draco Meteor will hurt as well. I would replace it with Flash Cannon - while Fairies are not that common, Togekiss is still damn problem for this set otherwise, while something like Sylveon, Florges, etc. show up once in a while as well. Also with Flash Cannon you have at least good Neutral move to hit Azumarill as well. And I don't think being locked on Earth move is something you want to happen and 3 other moves provide you with technically perfect coverage except bulkier Fairies, which Flash Cannon fixes.

 

[AOPSUser]

Is there anything that Earth Power is really needed for ? When we talk about PokeBank, Heatran is like the only target which comes to my mind now and STAB Dark Pulse should hit hard anyway now when it lost Dark Resistance. Heck, if Heatran is more offensive, Draco Meteor will hurt as well. I would replace it with Flash Cannon - while Fairies are not that common, Togekiss is still damn problem for this set otherwise, while something like Sylveon, Florges, etc. show up once in a while as well. Also with Flash Cannon you have at least good Neutral move to hit Azumarill as well. And I don't think being locked on Earth move is something you want to happen and 3 other moves provide you with technically perfect coverage except bulkier Fairies, which Flash Cannon fixes.

It's not like your Flash Cannon 2HKOing Specially Defensive Sylveon or Florges anyways, and it gets coverage on only Fairies, which you should really have your teammates deal with instead. Earth Power is needed to hit Heatran and hits Tyranitar decently, although I'd prefer using Focus Blast for Tyranitar instead, as you can actually do damage to TTar (gasp) and you still hit Heatran hard.

 

[HanakoToast]

Tropius @ Kee Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 DEF / 4 SP DEF (Might need adjusting for speed creep)
Bold Nature

- Roost
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Leaf Blade

Why not Starf Berry?

 

[Banryu]

If it learned Draining Kiss or Fairy Wind would be nice

Mr. Mime @ Life Orb/Choice Specs/Expert Belt
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Icy Wind
- Charge Beam(+1 Spa is allways good )/Shock Wave
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Dazzling Gleam/Confusion

What's the point to Fairy Wind or Confusion when Psychic and Moonblast outdamage them, even with Technician?
Also, doesn't it seem like a waste not to at least run Encore or something on him? I'd say Dazzling Gleam+HP Fire+Icy Wind OR Charge Beam + some kind of support option might be good, or even just Substitute to help survivability against Scizor and such. Just because it has Technician, it doesn't mean you HAVE to abuse it, especially if it has better options.

Tropius @ Kee Berry
Ability: Harvest
EVs: 252 HP / 252 DEF / 4 SP DEF (Might need adjusting for speed creep)
Bold Nature

Imma go out on a limb here and guess you meant Impish.

Isn't Ground/Grass coverage pretty bad? If the team has Skarm at all or any other Flying type that 4x resists Grass (I find your claims to have beaten Talonflame pretty dubious, BTW), it seems like you'd be S.O.L. I think Tropius is way cool and I'd love to believe it, but I'm a bit skeptical.

It's not like your Flash Cannon 2HKOing Specially Defensive Sylveon or Florges anyways, and it gets coverage on only Fairies, which you should really have your teammates deal with instead. Earth Power is needed to hit Heatran and hits Tyranitar decently, although I'd prefer using Focus Blast for Tyranitar instead, as you can actually do damage to TTar (gasp) and you still hit Heatran hard.

U-turn with some Attack investment could be an option for Tyranitar if the team has ways to handle it.
As for Heatran, there's neutral Dark Pulse, but what with all the SDef Heatran running around Bank OU I suppose that's not a great idea.

 

[zdude]

Here is something I have been trying out....

Dusknoir
Item: Binding Band
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP, 128 Def, 128 SpDef
Nature: Careful

-Pain Split
-Will-O-Wisp/Toxic
-Infestation
-Shadow Punch

Infestation is the main move of the set. With the buff to trapping moves and the binding band, Infestation will whittle the opponents away slowly but surely. Will-O-Wisp is the move I am currently using, but Toxic I think can be just as (if not more) viable than Will-O-Wisp. Pain Split can be used to heal any damage done to the haunting ghost or weaken high HP pokemon (such as Chansey or Blissey). Shadow Punch is there as STAB.

 

[Dude Bro 420]

No need for all that speed, very unnecessary. Most people would use the recommended EV spread on site while using Talonflame. It only needs 60Spe for outspeeding Excadrill. That being said, I did see the EVs on the posted set, I just ignored them while keeping suggested EVs in mind.

Also, Overheat on Talonflame accomplishes the same exact thing that HPIce would, tho HPIce just does it better while being at a lower cost. And, I also judged by the posted calc, which uses no SpA investment, as you can see.

Except HP Ice doesn't counter Skarmory, who can use Whirlwind and let you die to SR. And I predict a spike in Skarmory users thanks to Defog, so a way to counter a switch in to Skarmory is Overheat. HP Ice doesn't help if the Skarmory has a Chustap berry because it doesn't hit hard enough, especially without SpA investment.

 

[Arcticblast]

Except HP Ice doesn't counter Skarmory, who can use Whirlwind and let you die to SR. And I predict a spike in Skarmory users thanks to Defog, so a way to counter a switch in to Skarmory is Overheat. HP Ice doesn't help if the Skarmory has a Chustap berry because it doesn't hit hard enough, especially without SpA investment.

Or you can just use Flare Blitz and do this:
0 Atk Life Orb Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 159-190 (47.6 - 56.8%)
252 Atk Life Orb Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 213-252 (63.7 - 75.4%)

I personally see no reason to run HP Ice on Talonflame at all. If anything it should be running HP Ground for Heatran, who actually walls it, unlike Skarmory. Overheat can be used on special attacking sets because it can catch physically bulky switchins by surprise (with an EV spread of 196 Atk / 252 SpA / 60 Spe Rash, LO Overheat + Brave Bird has a chance to KO physically defensive Hippowdon even without hazards), and considering Talonflame's stats (81 vs. 74) the damage output on the first hit is pretty much the same.

 

[Scorpiopt]

What's the point to Fairy Wind or Confusion when Psychic and Moonblast outdamage them, even with Technician?
Also, doesn't it seem like a waste not to at least run Encore or something on him? I'd say Dazzling Gleam+HP Fire+Icy Wind OR Charge Beam + some kind of support option might be good, or even just Substitute to help survivability against Scizor and such. Just because it has Technician, it doesn't mean you HAVE to abuse it, especially if it has better options.

he doesnt learn moonblast, running sub is not a bad idea

 

[aVocado]

U-turn with some Attack investment could be an option for Tyranitar if the team has ways to handle it.
As for Heatran, there's neutral Dark Pulse, but what with all the SDef Heatran running around Bank OU I suppose that's not a great idea.

Yeah, Dark Pulse barely 3HKOs Specially Defensive Heatran factoring Leftovers recovery (37.4-44.3%)

Earth Power is a clean OHKO though, and Focus Blast does 75.1-88.6% which is still decent, and OHKOs 252/252+ SpD Ttar in sand (for reference, vs. AV it's 67.3%-79.2%) so it's a very viable option, and I might actually even switch it to that.

 

[Deleted User [105998]]

flash cannon is dumb in OU, ice beam hits toges better, and you arent damaging azumarill/mawile either way with flash cannon, hydro pump does a lot more. Admittedly, hydro pump does more to all fairies but whimsicott who gets beat up by ice beam

Would clear smog work on the sniper kingdra set? The only thing it hits really is Azumarill and Whimsicott but it can 2HKO Azumarill easily and it can come in on even a +6 aqua jet take hardly any damage and then outspeed and KO with clear smog. It does have the added utility of removing boosts on certain pokemon too. It also can 2HKO togekiss after stealth rock and is more reliable than hydro pump.

 

[FlameUser64]

Would clear smog work on the sniper kingdra set? The only thing it hits really is Azumarill and Whimsicott but it can 2HKO Azumarill easily and it can come in on even a +6 aqua jet take hardly any damage and then outspeed and KO with clear smog. It does have the added utility of removing boosts on certain pokemon too. It also can 2HKO togekiss after stealth rock and is more reliable than hydro pump.

Huh. I'd originally been suggesting Hidden Power Poison on Sniper Kingdra, because I'd forgotten that Clear Smog was even a thing. That works much better since it also removes the Belly Drum boost.

 

[aVocado]

Another not-so-creative set, but it's extremely underrated. Deo-S is extreme wasted potential, it shouldn't be setting up hazards, it should be revenge-killing shit with it's wonderful coverage.

Deo-S @ Life Orb
Naive - 12 Atk / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Superpower
- Hidden Power Fire

HP Fire OHKOs Genesect clean, and so does Superpower against 252 HP Tyranitar. The rest of the options are pretty obvious. No stab is used because, well, stab psychic is pretty bad coverage and Deo-S is supposed to pick off weakened Pokemon anyway, or Pokemon it can really hurt with its moves. And because it needs every single move in the set (you can forego t-bolt if you like, but i've had more success with it than Psycho Boost or Psyshock.)

 

[Dude Bro 420]

Or you can just use Flare Blitz and do this:
0 Atk Life Orb Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 159-190 (47.6 - 56.8%)
252 Atk Life Orb Talonflame Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 213-252 (63.7 - 75.4%)

I personally see no reason to run HP Ice on Talonflame at all. If anything it should be running HP Ground for Heatran, who actually walls it, unlike Skarmory. Overheat can be used on special attacking sets because it can catch physically bulky switchins by surprise (with an EV spread of 196 Atk / 252 SpA / 60 Spe Rash, LO Overheat + Brave Bird has a chance to KO physically defensive Hippowdon even without hazards), and considering Talonflame's stats (81 vs. 74) the damage output on the first hit is pretty much the same.

Thanks for running the calcs, and totally agreed about HP Ground being a far superior choice to HP Ice. And from my playtesting with Overheat on Talonflame, it is best used as you described. Overheat is just a good move on any mixed poke.

Also a nitpick about HP Ice, Talonflame needs to go with 30 IVs in both Attack and SpA to run it. Nothing monumental and it isn't like it effects speed teirs or something, but anything that decreases Talonflame's odds to OHKO or 2HKO something should be noted.

 

[Arcticblast]

Thanks for running the calcs, and totally agreed about HP Ground being a far superior choice to HP Ice. And from my playtesting with Overheat on Talonflame, it is best used as you described. Overheat is just a good move on any mixed poke.

Also a nitpick about HP Ice, Talonflame needs to go with 30 IVs in both Attack and SpA to run it. Nothing monumental and it isn't like it effects speed teirs or something, but anything that decreases Talonflame's odds to OHKO or 2HKO something should be noted.

HP Ice reduces Attack and Defense, not Attack and Special Attack. Ground, incidentally, reduces SpA and SpD.

 

[Dude Bro 420]

HP Ice reduces Attack and Defense, not Attack and Special Attack. Ground, incidentally, reduces SpA and SpD.

Oops, thanks for the corrections.

But after trying the Mixed set and the standard Roost SD set for Talonflame, the SD set just works better. With the Mixed set, when you predict a switch to resistances or a physically bulky Poke, you use Overheat or HP Ice/Ground for a hopeful 2HKO. Problem is, HP Ice/Ground doesn't do enough damage. With the SD set, you use SD when you predict the switch and end up doing similar damage but with the chance to sweep at +2. It's just more rewarding.

Maybe Overheat should be considered on some sets if your team has difficulty getting past Physical Bulk, but only in place of Roost.

HP is pretty useless on Talonflame unless you invest heavily in SpA anyways. 60 BP coming off of an uninvested 74 SpA is pretty worthless, especially when you consider that part of what makes Talonflame so deadly is the BP of Brave Bird and Flare Blitz. If Talonflame had to rely upon 90 BP moves, it would effectively have 3/4th the attacking power it has now with Brave Bird and Flare Blitz. At least 130 BP off of Overheat hits some things hard, and it's over twice as powerful as a x2 Super Effective HP Ice/Ground.

 

[felix]

Persian
252 att 252 spe 4 hp
Jolly
Technician
Fake out
U turn
Taunt
Bite

I have been using this set quite efficiently on showdown. This is because nobody expects persian who in fact makes a great stall breaker/pivot thanks to taunt and u turn coming off of 115 speed. Further more with technician and fake out/ bite its no slouch offensively and can revenge a multitude of threats. This set works best against stall though as you can taunt and then u turn to a sweeper/revenge killer giving it a easy set up chance or a easy ko.
I at first only used this pokemon because i am a cat meow meow but then i later found out it is the perfect pokemon for a multitude of roles.

Persian is one of my favorite pokemon but his offensive power is quite underwhelming. I would suggest using Knock Off instead of Bite since getting rid of the opponents item is more beneficial than a possible flinch. You'll be missing on the Technician boost, but switching the ability to Limber will ensure that he's never paralized, since you're using him for his speed. Foul Play could also be useful if you want something instead of Fake Out if not using technician.