Alakazam [TrickBand]

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http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/alakazam

So this set may seem like a gimmick, but it is a great Chansey lure, as well as KOing other Dark types with low defense, and the best thing about it is that they never see it coming.

Name: TrickBand
Move #1: Trick
Move #2: Focus Punch
Move #3: Psychic
Move #4: Grass Knot
EVs: 252 Atk, 4 Sp Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Hasty
Held Item: Choice Band

Why this set deserves to be on site:
- Great Chansey lure. With the given EVs and nature, a Choice Band boosted Focus Punch from Alakazam either severely wounds or KOs Chansey (91.7% - 108%). Also kills miscellanous Dark types like Houndoom and Absol, and they never see it coming. It also does dent Registeel (52.7% - 62.1%).
- Even after killing Chansey, Alakazam isn't useless yet. He can still Trick his Choice Band to another Pokemon, crippling it. And even if he is already dead by then, he has served his purpose.
- No other similar set on site.

Additional comments:
- Psychic is there so as not to waste Alakazam's impressive Special Attack, and it also helps in not giving the surprise away too early. Still, don't use it until all Dark types with Pursuit are gone because if you are locked into Psychic you are essentially dead when they switch in their Dark type with Pursuit.
- Grass Knot is Alakazam's best option against Spiritomb, although even then it will do pathetic damage. Still, it damages bulky waters like Milotic, and it also deals with Slowbro and to a lesser extent Slowking, who resist both Focus Punch and Psychic.
- Stealth Rock support is highly recommended to guarantee the OHKO on Chansey so that she won't be able to use Wish or Protect to recover back her health. And worse, she won't switch into Alakazam anymore if she survives; knowing his strategy, therefore ruining the purpose of this set, and thus emphasising the importance of Stealth Rock.

Team options:
- Special Attackers that appreciate Chansey out of the picture such as Moltres, Houndoom, Sceptile etc.
- Moltres and Houndoom also happen to be able to blast Spiritomb to bits, who happens to be Alakazam's worst nightmare.

Counters:
- Spiritomb is a full stop to this Alakazam. The best Alakazam could do is Grass Knot, which barely takes out a quarter of Spiritomb's health, while Spiritomb can easily KO with Shadow Sneak, Pursuit etc.
- Drapion and Skunktank are also hinderances to this set, and has access to Pursuit as well.
 
Just a quick note. Spiritomb is 3 times more common than Chansey is, is more inclined to switch in than Chansey is, and doesn't mind being tricked a Choice Band, since it might have one of its own. Ergo, this set is likely to fail three times out of four, which doesn't sound promising. That said, it looks like it'll work great against Houndoom, Absol and maybe Cacturne (depending on luck) but Spiritomb is by far the most popular Dark type, which could give this set a tendency to backfire. If you Focus Punch and Spiritomb comes in, you've wasted your Alakazam if it has pursuit, and let it set up otherwise.
 
And when your opponent doesn't have Chansey... you're stuck with an Alakazam that has a Choice Band. This is nothing more than a gimmick, one that won't work well.

Alakazam does well against frailer offensive teams - why would you want to limit his usefulness in order to try and beat Chansey? You might as well use Choice Specs.
 
What is this, Advance? Trick Band is a bad idea on Alakazam because it doesn't benefit from having a Choice Band. Like Erazor said, Choice Specs or hell, even a Choice Scarf would be a better idea than this.

Edit: While I understand the purpose of having a Choice Band, Chansey gains no benefit, not expected etc etc it just doesnt make sense from a battler standpoint. If I was going to want to cripple Chansey I would rather be doing as much damage as I possibly can on switches with my Choice Specs than I would worry about crippling a pokemon that may or may not be on the opponents team. Also Choice Band Focus Punch is a terrible idea in DPP.
 
No, just no. Tricking a Choice Specs works just as well against Chansey, and Spiritomb is walling this thing regardless and doesn't mind a Band. QC Rejected 1/2.
 
Sorry, but no. Except for Chansey, there is no single Pokemon you wouldn't rather hit with Focus Blast instead. That isn't to mention Spiritomb is way more common, Specs Focus Blast 2HKOes Chansey (IIRC), locking yourself in Focus Punch is suicide, it only boosts one move, Trick already messes Chansey up...

QC Rejected 2/2
 
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