VGC and battle spot are the official metagames if you forgot ;)
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SPOILERS! Pokemon Sword & Shield Pre-Release SPOILERS - Check Post 2!
- Thread starter DHR-107
- Start date
Better that Lilligant sit this one out than get screwed out of coverage moves again.So Cottonee got in but Petilil's line is out?
Think how good Download has been on things which got it, and imagine if it always gave the stat boost you want. That's Zacian's ability.
Zamazenta's depends a lot on whether it buffs Sp Def too, but even if it doesn't, it's functionally similar to Intimidate -- except that the effect disappears when you switch out and it works better against boosted stats.
I was thinking of clutch situations, where it needs the boost to secure a KO, but it's questionable that it can survive a hit beforehand. Without Prankster, the question would be that should it go for two Sucker Punches for example and play some mind games, or pray on surviving a hit and then SD. With Prankster, it can get that boost, although Bulk Up could be an option as well.
So, Zacian's base form gets a +1 in Attack everytime it enters the battlefield. That's huge, that's pretty huge, it's a download but without the risk of getting SpA.
Any damage calculation has to keep track of Zacian's +1 Attack, because he'll get it in every scenario bar Alolan Weezing switching at the same time and triggering it's ability first. Equip it with a C.Band, similar to Genesect physical U-turn abuse set from the past, and Zacian's is always at +2 for free.
Any damage calculation has to keep track of Zacian's +1 Attack, because he'll get it in every scenario bar Alolan Weezing switching at the same time and triggering it's ability first. Equip it with a C.Band, similar to Genesect physical U-turn abuse set from the past, and Zacian's is always at +2 for free.
Seems like Zacian is going to the dog pound really really fast...
The effect disappears when you switch out but remains when your opponent switchs. From a setup sweeper perspective, it's better than Intimidate, and I think Zamazenta will function similar to Dusk Necrozma, with Swords Dance and a bulky EV Spread.
Better than +2 -- I'm pretty sure Choice Band and stat modifiers stack multiplicatively.
Having said that, Zacian's fully powered form has an item restriction.
That's what I like, it's an interesting mechanic. Gaining the Steel type is better in both scenarios offense and defense, but limits your options in regards to the items you equip. In the other side, pure Fairy and pure Fighting aren't bad and you get to use whatever you want.
I suposse you get the +1 in attack/defense everytime, so I think Zamazenta's will always run Steel/Fightning instead of pure Fightning + Leftys, I think the bulk added from Steel typing benefits him the most unless we get to see C.Band Zamazenta's set with +1/+1 in both Defense and Attack, that could be a thing. I can see Zacian's sets be much more variable, if he gets U-turn one of them will be the CB, but Steel/Fairy is SO GREAT defensively and +1 should be enough and also helps him to get easier Swords Dance.
It would be amazing if Aegislash got a slightly different form when equipping these items, e.g. its body turns into Zacian's super sword or shield turns into Zamazenta's shield. Not necessarily amazing from a balanced competitive standpoint per se, just from a "that looks so cool!" point of view. ;)
Also you can probably prankster taunt with him, which could prove interesting.
The possibility of having prankster taunt on a setup sweeper with solid stab combo (without mentioning the potential stab priority / stab knockoff) isn't to be underestimated...
But we only know Prankster as its ability, and it very likely has 2 more. It's not to exclude that in the end it wouldn't use Prankster at all anyway
From the animations we've seen, we can be fairly sure that their signature moves are exclusive to the Steel forms. I guess a lot depends on how good those are, but every box mascot since gen 6 has had a good signature move. (I think their signature moves will use Fairy and Fighting typing, so that they hit each other neutrally.)
It's also possible that they get reduced stats or different abilities without their items, rather than the items just giving the Steel typing. But that would also be interesting because they'd probably be balanced for OU, and only the full forms would get banned. Either implementation seems cool IMO, and I feel like signature items (other than Mega Stones and Z-crystals) are an underutilised mechanic. I'm happy we're seeing more of it.
I hope they make sure it's possible to get the Zacian item in Shield and vice versa.
As actual cart player, allow me to remind you the atrocious amount of itembloat we have *due to signature items*, expecially the ones that come in huge amount of versions (plates/memories/drives)....
Oh. Well it looks like Grimmsnarl will probably be OU worthy after all ‘cus good lord. A fairly good attack stat and moves to back it up, a type combo that’s only resisted by three other type combos (one of which does not exist), Prankster and at least Swagger to make use of it in VGC with Taunt seeming like a likely movepool addition based on it’s prevos apperance, and a Gmax form. Geeze.
Forgive my bad math abilities without sufficent coffees, which one is it?
Swagger was already unbanned in Gen 7 when the rate of hitting itself was changed from 50% to 30%. Swagplay did not saw any competitive usage after the nerf. Being part Fairy-type, it might be able to defeat most of the Dark-types that's immune to Prankster, but it seems rather slow.
I believe fire/fairy.
Yup. Fairy/Poison has G-Weezing (which may have 120 defense if it keeps the same stats as regular Weezing) and Fairy/Steel has a few ‘mons but none are really great except for maybe Zacian with the item.
Zacian's is Ubers material. The low firepower of this gen can't stand a fast offensive Steel/Fairy user with access to Swords Dance and potentially +1 attack for free, but even if not, that alone is enough to wrek everything that isn't sand rush drill or EQ scarfers. I'm pretty sure it'll have enough bulk to withstand non-stab EQ or Fire Blast (im thinking about scarf hydreigon).
I won't be surprised if it gets Sacred Sword or some type of fightning coverage to get rid of Steels and Steel/Ground, but if thats the case, a SD 3 Attacks demolish the entire pool of mons except for Aegi, who hard counters both —Zacian and Zamazenta— no matter what (for some reason I don't see Zacian's getting EQ).
"Go, Dracovish!
*Dracovish has fainted due to being unable to breathe*
Welp, GG."
these dex entires are wack lol. does this confirm yet that dex entries dont correlate to gameplay?
Have they ever? Iirc Magcargo’s temperature according to the Pokedex should make it extremely hard/impossible to get near it, among other entries
Edit: 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit is what it’s body temperature is claimed to be, which is hotter than the surface of the sun.
"Escavalier flies around at very high speeds!"
20 base speed