Approved by Earthworm
The Lead Cycle








+ ---- + ----------------------- + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| Rank | Leads | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ----------------------- + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Snorlax | 38 | 39.58% | 44.74% |
| 2 | Zapdos | 16 | 16.67% | 68.75% |
| 3 | Raikou | 12 | 12.50% | 50.00% |
| 4 | Nidoking | 8 | 8.33% | 62.50% |
| 4 | Exeggutor | 8 | 8.33% | 50.00% |
| 4 | Cloyster | 8 | 8.33% | 37.50% |
| 7 | Jynx | 2 | 2.08% | 50.00% |
| 8 | Porygon2 | 1 | 1.04% | 100.00% |
| 8 | Heracross | 1 | 1.04% | 0.00% |
| 8 | Articuno | 1 | 1.04% | 0.00% |
| 8 | Tyranitar | 1 | 1.04% | 0.00% |
| Rank | Leads | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ----------------------- + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Snorlax | 38 | 39.58% | 44.74% |
| 2 | Zapdos | 16 | 16.67% | 68.75% |
| 3 | Raikou | 12 | 12.50% | 50.00% |
| 4 | Nidoking | 8 | 8.33% | 62.50% |
| 4 | Exeggutor | 8 | 8.33% | 50.00% |
| 4 | Cloyster | 8 | 8.33% | 37.50% |
| 7 | Jynx | 2 | 2.08% | 50.00% |
| 8 | Porygon2 | 1 | 1.04% | 100.00% |
| 8 | Heracross | 1 | 1.04% | 0.00% |
| 8 | Articuno | 1 | 1.04% | 0.00% |
| 8 | Tyranitar | 1 | 1.04% | 0.00% |
+ ---- + ----------------------- + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| Rank | Leads | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ----------------------- + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Snorlax | 25 | 32.89% | 52.00% |
| 2 | Zapdos | 15 | 19.74% | 53.33% |
| 2 | Raikou | 15 | 19.74% | 40.00% |
| 4 | Exeggutor | 6 | 7.89% | 16.67% |
| 5 | Nidoking | 5 | 6.58% | 60.00% |
| 6 | Jynx | 3 | 3.95% | 100.00% |
| 6 | Cloyster | 3 | 3.95% | 33.33% |
| 8 | Tyranitar | 2 | 2.63% | 100.00% |
| 9 | Blissey | 1 | 1.32% | 100.00% |
| 9 | Smeargle | 1 | 1.32% | 0.00% |
| Rank | Leads | Use | Usage % | Win % |
+ ---- + ----------------------- + ---- + ------- + ------- +
| 1 | Snorlax | 25 | 32.89% | 52.00% |
| 2 | Zapdos | 15 | 19.74% | 53.33% |
| 2 | Raikou | 15 | 19.74% | 40.00% |
| 4 | Exeggutor | 6 | 7.89% | 16.67% |
| 5 | Nidoking | 5 | 6.58% | 60.00% |
| 6 | Jynx | 3 | 3.95% | 100.00% |
| 6 | Cloyster | 3 | 3.95% | 33.33% |
| 8 | Tyranitar | 2 | 2.63% | 100.00% |
| 9 | Blissey | 1 | 1.32% | 100.00% |
| 9 | Smeargle | 1 | 1.32% | 0.00% |
Electrics force Cloyster leads out and use Thunder (or Thunder Wave) to paralyze whatever (even if an opponent sends a Ground-type Pokemon, you will know early-game the Ground-type Pokemon you are facing), a phazing move to let an opponent reveal three mons in the first two turns, or double-switching to your Cloyster against expected Snorlax / Ground-type (unless Nidoking) switch-ins to give you early Spikes and a free turn to use Toxic or Hidden Power Electric against an opposing Cloyster when it is switched in and use Spikes. When it comes to Zapdos vs Raikou matchup, Raikou can either use Roar or try to force Rest on Zapdos, while Zapdos can try to paralyze Raikou with Thunder Wave, which can be game-changing.
Although Electrics on offensive teams can hit Snorlax with Thunder or use a phazing move, it is still a versatile Pokemon that can threaten an opposing team early-game in different ways: it can use Curse to scout two-third of opposing mons on offensive teams at most, sleep something with Lovely Kiss, lure Cloyster that wants early Spikes with Double-Edge + Thunder, spread paralysis with Body Slam, click Self-Destruct when it comes to Snorlax mirror, or use Toxic against Cloyster and maybe opposing Snorlax.
Cloyster gurantees Spikes vs Snorlax leads, but it is at a huge disadvantage if facing an Electric-type lead, Nidoking, and Jynx. When Cloyster teams have something like a cleric, they can stay in against Exeggutor to lay Spikes, otherwise it can be switched out. However, on offensive teams, Cloyster can use Miracle Berry against status.
Leads that try to get an advantage on Turn 1 via status or via removing Leftovers of an opposing Pokemon shouldn't be overlooked. Exeggutor is especially effective at this because Electrics are its most common counters and it can easily use Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, or Thief to help sweepers like Vaporeon, Machamp, and Marowak. Nidoking outspeeds Snorlax and capitalizes on leads like Raikou. On offensive teams, Jynx has an advantage against Zapdos and Cloyster. It can force leads without Sleep Talk such as Snorlax out and use Substitute to scout a Pokemon with Sleep Talk like Zapdos, thus threatening boom offense.
Other options are Tyranitar (that gives you an advantage against some common leads like Zapdos), Forretress (that sets up Spikes against Electrics, but it is scared of random Fire-type coverage moves as well as a possible paralysis that would make spinning harder), Smeargle (that can use Agility, set up Spikes, or surprise something since it can learn almost every move), and Porygon2 (mainly with Thunder Wave to paralyze something or sometimes Thunder to surprise Cloyster).
It's better late than never. Feel free to comment.
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