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Weird Leads

I lead with CB Scizor. It laughs at Weavile leads, Pursuits Starmie leads to death(same with Gengar if they're dumb enough to not use Hypnosis), and U-Turn allows me to do many things. A few examples would be scouting for Magnezone, dealing a little damage to common Gyarados leads while switching to a counter, basically it's the perfect scout. Only time it runs into trouble is against Salamence/Garchomp leads.
 
I've been tinkering a bit with the Protect Breloom set. As a lead it's seems solid (except against Jolteon/Ninjask leads, which to this day I STILL haven't figured out a reliable counter for) as it screws over anything slower or named Weavile or Gengar and lets me get an early Spore or Focus Punch in. It kinda faulters somewhat against Gyarados though, which is why I run a lot of speed on it.

The problem I'm having is following up on the advantage gained by it (especially due to Sleep Clause) However, I think I'm going to run it for a while and see if I can build a team around abusing it.
 
Jolteon is easily countered by FSMence with EQ. As for Ninjask I would say a hazer or phazer. Taunt also screws Ninjask if you can outspeed it(which is near impossible without set-up or scarf)
 
Why taunt AND encore, out of sheer curiousity?

Taunt stops everything that tries to use Stealth Rock, Hypnosis, etc., which are extremely common right now. Encore forces them to use a Taunted move, and I can switch to something appropriate, or use Substitute.

I originally had alot of text here about what it did in my battle with cyl3x, but I took it out because I didn't think it was too important.
 
CBSwine has been a good lead for me as well, easily KOs Salamence with Shard even after Intimidate. Stone Edge if you think they will switch, Ive taken down surprisingly many Gyarados this way.

Machamp is a fantastic lead according to me, Dynamicpunch can fuck over so many leads, and Stone Edge covers the rest. Most Weavile leads Ive faced stay in and SD, thinking their Focus Sash will save them. They do not enjoy the confusion ;D
 
I use leading spiritomb and it does surprisingly well.Not to much common leads
can touch it,gengar(W/o hypnosis) and starmie leads are screwed over since spiritomb will pursuit 'em for a good amount of damage,OHKO'ing gengar.Physical eat a wisp,specials will get pain splitted and anything attempting to set up gets a taunt.
 
I used to lead with magmortar with scarf. I predicted most of the times they switched into a water pokemon which hiddenpower grass or thunderbolt easily handled. However I still believe that dugtrio can really show off as a lead. I mean if you are not prepared to be trapped you are down from the beginning.
 
I often lead with Spiritomb, Hypnosis/Nastyplot have even sweeped through some entire teams XD (maybe not the best opponents, but it works nice, with it´s decent defences and great typings^^
 
The problem I'm having is following up on the advantage gained by it (especially due to Sleep Clause) However, I think I'm going to run it for a while and see if I can build a team around abusing it.
The best option would be not to be so trigger happy. Just because you have a sleep move doesn't mean firing it on the first chance you get is a good idea.

Porygon2 is the best lead EVER in my [bias] opinion!
With that said, one of the best leads I ever used was Recycle/Rest Porygon2. It won't die easily and can easily shrug off any status. It can potentially sweep too against the inexperienced as well once you gain momentum.
 
The best option would be not to be so trigger happy. Just because you have a sleep move doesn't mean firing it on the first chance you get is a good idea.


With that said, one of the best leads I ever used was Recycle/Rest Porygon2. It won't die easily and can easily shrug off any status. It can potentially sweep too against the inexperienced as well once you gain momentum.

I've never thought of a rest/recycle porygon2 before...

That sounds like it would be SO FUN to use!
 
The thing is, leads are diverse, so there really is no such thing as a weird lead, just one you're not used to. I'm doing an analysis on leads right now, and honestly am like, "what the hell does the list ever fucking end!"

I love how using the right lead can keep your opponent guessing the entire match. Things like Ambipom,(I love that thing) Salamence, Metagross, Zapdos and Spiritomb. Starmie, Garchomp,(Non-Scarfed)Lucario, Infernape, Tyranitar and a few others, however, are horrible leads, that usually end up bringing you nowhere. Unless they are a certain set, your opponent is almost always in the right position to counter them. For example, half of them are countered almost always by Hippodon and the other half killed off by Weavile.
 
Gengar leads are EXTREMELY common, Uxie.

The weirdest lead I've seen (and the most effective I think) was a CS Medicham with Ice Punch, Psycho Cut, Thunderpunch, and Brick Break. He called it the "anti-lead lead" and then he proceeded to 6-0 my early flinchhax team XP.
 
Probably the least standard lead I used was Substitute Gengar. It worked really well as long as they didn't lead with Weavile and eased prediction worries so much. It was a near failsafe against Assassin Yanmega (who Protect on the first turn in fear of Thunderbolt), Gyarados, and some other stuff.
 
I've lead with Persian before, to Great success.

Persian@ Choice Band/Flame Orb
Technician/ Limber
Jolly- 252 Speed/ 252 attack/ 4 HP
--------------------------------
U-Turn
Fake out
Switcheroo
Bite/ Nightslash

If you are faster than opponent, Switcheroo. Choice Band Switcheroo hurts Swampert who tries Stealthrocking, and owns Bronzong. If opponent is faster, Fake Out and run, respectively saving Switcheroo for later. Once you have Switcheroo'd, Fake out then U-turn for wracking up damage. Works Similar to Ambipom except he runs sans Switcheroo.
Bite if you're running Technician, Nightslash if you're running Limber.
If you ever face a Gengar, run.

Basically, this set is wonderful vs. Ninjask leads/ Set- up leads who think they can Stat-up in your face. With Switcheroo, they'll be locked on. Flame Orb hurts physical leads that Persian outspeeds. This set can be Compared to Ambipom's, but he doesnt have Persian's speed or Switcheroo. He does have a higher attack stat, however.
 
I've been giving RK9 a few tries but he doesn't work as well as in RSE, where Ninjask was a lot more common (And a lot more owned by the dog). He seems to fall to a lot of other leads now though, tho his Intimidation still makes certain leads less scary.
Stantler can be fun too. He's relatively sturdy, can T-Wave/C-Ray and hit for decent damage. Not to be underestimated.
 
I've lead with Persian before, to Great success.

Persian@ Choice Band/Flame Orb
Technician/ Limber
Jolly- 252 Speed/ 252 attack/ 4 HP
--------------------------------
U-Turn
Fake out
Switcheroo
Bite/ Nightslash

If you are faster than opponent, Switcheroo. Choice Band Switcheroo hurts Swampert who tries Stealthrocking, and owns Bronzong. If opponent is faster, Fake Out and run, respectively saving Switcheroo for later. Once you have Switcheroo'd, Fake out then U-turn for wracking up damage. Works Similar to Ambipom except he runs sans Switcheroo.
Bite if you're running Technician, Nightslash if you're running Limber.
If you ever face a Gengar, run.

Basically, this set is wonderful vs. Ninjask leads/ Set- up leads who think they can Stat-up in your face. With Switcheroo, they'll be locked on. Flame Orb hurts physical leads that Persian outspeeds. This set can be Compared to Ambipom's, but he doesnt have Persian's speed or Switcheroo. He does have a higher attack stat, however.

Actually, Ambipom has the exact same base speed as Persian. They both have 115. I suppose Persian does have Switcheroo though. I'm not sure why you'd want to switch out against Gengar when you could just Night Slash or Bite it right in the face for a super-effective hit. Dark is super-effective against Ghost remember.
 
I have used a CB Crobat before. Since it's faster then any lead not named Ninjask or CS, it can really do some damage. Though it's physical movepool may be small (Brave Bird, U-turn, Pursuit, Cross Poison is what I run), it does wonders on some of the common leads. Crobat can take a non critical Stone Edge from a CS Heracross and KO with Brave Bird. CB U-Turn is enough to OHKO Weavile not holding Focus Sash, and Pursuit for revenge kills. My Crobat managed to survive a T-bolt from Gengar and 2HKO with Pursuit.
 
I have used a CB Crobat before. Since it's faster then any lead not named Ninjask or CS, it can really do some damage. Though it's physical movepool may be small (Brave Bird, U-turn, Pursuit, Cross Poison is what I run), it does wonders on some of the common leads. Crobat can take a non critical Stone Edge from a CS Heracross and KO with Brave Bird. CB U-Turn is enough to OHKO Weavile not holding Focus Sash, and Pursuit for revenge kills. My Crobat managed to survive a T-bolt from Gengar and 2HKO with Pursuit.

What evs are you running? I ask because I've been considering CBCrobat for a while myself.
 
Infernape as a lead?? Infernape is a terrible lead, as it is more suited to statting up lategame and sweeping, plus its owned by plenty of leads.

Straight from the D/P Analysis:

[Opinion]
<p>Ties with Swampert for the title of 'best starter'; the others don't even come close.

I agree moreso with Surgo in this case, Infernape can actually do pretty damn well as a lead, and on the other hand, he's near impossible to switch in during the match.
 
Starter means the starter pokemon, like blastoise and typhosion, the ones you get in the beginning of the game.

I hate facing Yanmega and Breloom leads. Also facade clefable could probably be a beast starter.

I like that persian set though.
 
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