-
Welcome to Smogon! Take a moment to read the Introduction to Smogon for a run-down on everything Smogon, and make sure you take some time to read the global rules.
-
Congrats to the winners of the 2024 Smog Awards!
Ask a Simple Question; Get a Simple Answer & General Resources (OU Edition)
- Thread starter Matthew
- Start date
- Status
I`m such a blind tool. Thanks for the heads up!
Ok, so I'm not sure this deserves it's own thread, since it's probably on the borderline of viable either way, but I was messing around with Physical Offense and came up with a pretty cool Zebstrika set as a catch-all VoltTurn check and problem solver. One of the biggest weaknesses of physical HO for me is that the members are usually slower than fast special attackers, which allows Pokemon like Starmie and Latios to run riot. VoltTurn is less of a pain, but still annoying if they put you in a position where you can't set anything up because they just go to a check every time. I was in a mood for testing having just seen a good amount of success with Carracosta, but Rotom kept being a pain with that I-can-revenge-kill-you-without-locking-myself-into-something-exploitable habit of his. So I had a quick look at Pokemon immune to Volt Switch and came up with this:
Zebstrika (F) @ Life Orb Trait: Motor Drive
EVs: 200 Atk / 56 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Overheat
- Wild Charge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Double Kick / Double-Edge / Me First
Zebstrika has a pretty solid base 100 attack and an exceptional 116 base speed, and this set is deisgned to put those traits to good use. While its movepool is not exceptional, it does have some useful options in the role of a mixed lure/cleaner/utility attacker. Firstly, it is easily able to outrun and OHKO Starmie thanks to a base speed a single point higher than the starfish, which, as mentioned, is useful for offensive teams that struggle to find an answer to Starmie's speed and coverage. With Motor Drive, it is able to absorb and nullify a Volt-Switch and become blisteringly fast, outrunning the scarfed Landorus most Volt-turn teams will switch into a Wild Charge and OHKOing even neutral natured ones after Stealth Rock; Naive Landorus will often fall even without it. Overheat will always KO standard Ferrothorn as long as it is not raining, and also proves a good answer to Scizor thanks to your resistance to Bullet Punch. Hidden Power Ice will also OHKO offensive Dragonite almost all the time if SR is on the field, and similarly, after a Motor Drive boost you are faster than scarf MoxieMence and KO always with SR and sometimes without. The final slot is a more difficult choice, with Double Kick KOing offensive Tyranitar some of the time with SR, and almost all of the time if it has switched in twice. Zebstrika will speed tie Scarftar, so it can be a handy backup check to this admittedly rare set in a pinch. Thanks to Electric STAB, Zebstrika is not walled by Skarmory either, having a very slim chance to fail to 2HKO (ie minimum damage twice) and always 2HKOing with SR. This means that Zebstrika will not cost offensive pressure on a HO team, because Gliscor is similarly crippled by HP Ice. Tornadus, another big threat to HO, is also outrun and elimininated by Wild Charge. However, with a naive nature, Specs Hurricane will deal astronomical damage, and combined with the confusion chance, Zebstrika is not a good switch-in - merely a revenge killer. In the final slot, Double Edge offers superior overall coverage to Double Kick, and will 2HKO Latios and pick off many other weakened Pokemon that are hit neutrally. However, it does leave Zebstrika walled quite significantly by Tyranitar, and it is pretty weak. Hp Ice will hit a heavily weaikened Latios anyway, although it does do quite a bit less damage. You could also use Volt Switch in the last slot for momentum, but the opponent is unlikely to give you a boost twice, so it should be used sparingly. While gimmicky, Me First is also a fairly strong option in the last slot - among other things, it enables you to copy Latios' Draco Meteor or Dragonite's Outrage and OHKO them. However, it is of limited utility beyond this, and Zebstrika is unlikely to have the speed boost it would need to outrun if facing off against a boosted Dragonite. A Choice Bander locked into an Outrage is fair game, however. Remember that Multiscale will allow Dragonite to survive Outrage even with the Me First boost. Still, me first does have solid utility versus opposing dragons, if not much else. Quick Attack has priority, but is pitifully weak and unlikely to have much utility. Similarly, Flame Charge can be used to manually grab a speed boost, but does not offer any notable coverage. Support options like Light Screen and Thunder Wave simply don't fit Zebstrika's lack of bulk, and while Pursuit has utility in trapping Starmie, it will do pitiful damge if starmie does not switch, leading to Zebstrika being KOd. Wild Charge will also get rid of Politoed, Tentacruel and Jellicent quite easily, 2HKOing even the bulkiest examples of these Pokemon.
It's not faultless, but Electric is a pretty awesome type for a physical attacker and it has exceptional speed for a physically inclined Pokemon too. I don't play a whole lot of OU, but it was cool in almost all the matches I played. If it actually had a good physical movepool it's be a pretty cool life orber a la Starmie, but since it doesn't, you have to play to its talents to do well. Here's to hoping it gets Flare Blitz, Close Combat and Extremespeed in BW2, lol.
Zebstrika (F) @ Life Orb Trait: Motor Drive
EVs: 200 Atk / 56 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Overheat
- Wild Charge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Double Kick / Double-Edge / Me First
Zebstrika has a pretty solid base 100 attack and an exceptional 116 base speed, and this set is deisgned to put those traits to good use. While its movepool is not exceptional, it does have some useful options in the role of a mixed lure/cleaner/utility attacker. Firstly, it is easily able to outrun and OHKO Starmie thanks to a base speed a single point higher than the starfish, which, as mentioned, is useful for offensive teams that struggle to find an answer to Starmie's speed and coverage. With Motor Drive, it is able to absorb and nullify a Volt-Switch and become blisteringly fast, outrunning the scarfed Landorus most Volt-turn teams will switch into a Wild Charge and OHKOing even neutral natured ones after Stealth Rock; Naive Landorus will often fall even without it. Overheat will always KO standard Ferrothorn as long as it is not raining, and also proves a good answer to Scizor thanks to your resistance to Bullet Punch. Hidden Power Ice will also OHKO offensive Dragonite almost all the time if SR is on the field, and similarly, after a Motor Drive boost you are faster than scarf MoxieMence and KO always with SR and sometimes without. The final slot is a more difficult choice, with Double Kick KOing offensive Tyranitar some of the time with SR, and almost all of the time if it has switched in twice. Zebstrika will speed tie Scarftar, so it can be a handy backup check to this admittedly rare set in a pinch. Thanks to Electric STAB, Zebstrika is not walled by Skarmory either, having a very slim chance to fail to 2HKO (ie minimum damage twice) and always 2HKOing with SR. This means that Zebstrika will not cost offensive pressure on a HO team, because Gliscor is similarly crippled by HP Ice. Tornadus, another big threat to HO, is also outrun and elimininated by Wild Charge. However, with a naive nature, Specs Hurricane will deal astronomical damage, and combined with the confusion chance, Zebstrika is not a good switch-in - merely a revenge killer. In the final slot, Double Edge offers superior overall coverage to Double Kick, and will 2HKO Latios and pick off many other weakened Pokemon that are hit neutrally. However, it does leave Zebstrika walled quite significantly by Tyranitar, and it is pretty weak. Hp Ice will hit a heavily weaikened Latios anyway, although it does do quite a bit less damage. You could also use Volt Switch in the last slot for momentum, but the opponent is unlikely to give you a boost twice, so it should be used sparingly. While gimmicky, Me First is also a fairly strong option in the last slot - among other things, it enables you to copy Latios' Draco Meteor or Dragonite's Outrage and OHKO them. However, it is of limited utility beyond this, and Zebstrika is unlikely to have the speed boost it would need to outrun if facing off against a boosted Dragonite. A Choice Bander locked into an Outrage is fair game, however. Remember that Multiscale will allow Dragonite to survive Outrage even with the Me First boost. Still, me first does have solid utility versus opposing dragons, if not much else. Quick Attack has priority, but is pitifully weak and unlikely to have much utility. Similarly, Flame Charge can be used to manually grab a speed boost, but does not offer any notable coverage. Support options like Light Screen and Thunder Wave simply don't fit Zebstrika's lack of bulk, and while Pursuit has utility in trapping Starmie, it will do pitiful damge if starmie does not switch, leading to Zebstrika being KOd. Wild Charge will also get rid of Politoed, Tentacruel and Jellicent quite easily, 2HKOing even the bulkiest examples of these Pokemon.
It's not faultless, but Electric is a pretty awesome type for a physical attacker and it has exceptional speed for a physically inclined Pokemon too. I don't play a whole lot of OU, but it was cool in almost all the matches I played. If it actually had a good physical movepool it's be a pretty cool life orber a la Starmie, but since it doesn't, you have to play to its talents to do well. Here's to hoping it gets Flare Blitz, Close Combat and Extremespeed in BW2, lol.
Im building a team around dark types, right now im certain that i want both a sharpedo and a hydreigon on there somewhere. can someone fill the blanks for me? ( just want a particular kind of pokemon, no stats/ev/iv/movesets are needed, but if you post them il happily use it, just wanna make the pokemon myself, almost literally from scratch)
I want to use a SubCM Suicune in Gen V, can anybody recommend a 3-4 man core that can take out Suicune's counters and give it team support in general? Entry hazards and ability to deal with weather, whilst having synergy with Suicune, are what I'm looking for.
Lucario would work as it eliminates ferrothorn who happens to be the biggest stops to suicune, they also both resist one of the others weaknesses.
Resistances don't matter when it is very frail. I'd prefer to have a stallish/balanced core, too.
I haven't actually tried it, so I'm just theorymonning. But what about Swords Dance + Taunt Gliscor ? seems like it would be a solid check to stall, and can set-up against a lot of Pokemon.
Scizor has pretty solid synergy with Suicune, and it can clean up what Suicune couldn't take care of late-game, and it can also scout the Pokemon movesets early-game with U-Turn. So a CB Scizor would make a good teammate. It can also work great under rain. Jirachi can do the same job as Scizor but with the ability to trick a choice item to cripple opposing walls, creating an opportunity for Suicune to set-up. It can also learn T-Wave and Stealth Rock.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf - Jolly - 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe - Iron Head, Trick, T-Wave, Stealth Rock
Or you can use 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe for a little more bulk.
Scizor has pretty solid synergy with Suicune, and it can clean up what Suicune couldn't take care of late-game, and it can also scout the Pokemon movesets early-game with U-Turn. So a CB Scizor would make a good teammate. It can also work great under rain. Jirachi can do the same job as Scizor but with the ability to trick a choice item to cripple opposing walls, creating an opportunity for Suicune to set-up. It can also learn T-Wave and Stealth Rock.
Jirachi @ Choice Scarf - Jolly - 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe - Iron Head, Trick, T-Wave, Stealth Rock
Or you can use 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe for a little more bulk.
Do you mean that you want to build a team of six Dark-types, or just a team with multiple Dark-types but also some others? If the former, you might want to check out the Dark section of this thread, if the latter just look at the strategy dex pages for Sharpedo and Hydreigon to see the teammates they like having.
I like the idea of Scizor, but what about a decent core that can help with setting Suicune up? I'm best with semi-stall and balance.
the idea of a team that is entirely dark makes me excited (mentally, for all the dirty minded people out there) but as far as im aware, that is impossible for someone of my status, being little access to anything so i want a team that can cover their weaknesses, but more dark types are always welcome
also i have just recieved the event darkrai, it was a Quiet nature and proud of its power. did i luck out and get a good nature? was that nature preset, is it a bad nature for darkrai and if not should i consider training it (0 evs, Pokerus)
That's called a Monotype team. Quiet is an awful nature for Darkrai because it lowers Speed which is arguably Darkrai's most important stat, but there are a few worse ones like Brave, Relaxed, or Sassy. Dark only has 2 weaknesses so as long as you run Pokés that aren't weak to Fighting and Bug (like Spiritomb) you should be okay
Does the Eviolite work when held by a male Combee? I ask because though Combee as a species can evolve, the males cannot.
thanks for the heads up on that, with its boosted SpA, if i manage to get around the speed issue with a paralasys would that make up for it? and btw, out of all those natures you missed adamant
also, doing some research i came up with my team, but need help on the final pokemon, the choices are:
a) Hitmontop (spinner)
b) Togekiss (cleric)
which should i go for? seeing as i may need both
Missingno. Master:
Eviolite will work as long as the holder's species has a higher evolutionary stage, even if the holder can't evolve into that stage for whatever reason. Since Combee's higher form is Vespiquen, the Eviolite will work on any Combee, whether male or female. (Therefore, it is not entirely correct to say that Eviolite works if the Pokemon is "not fully evolved" or "capable of evolution".)
Eviolite will work as long as the holder's species has a higher evolutionary stage, even if the holder can't evolve into that stage for whatever reason. Since Combee's higher form is Vespiquen, the Eviolite will work on any Combee, whether male or female. (Therefore, it is not entirely correct to say that Eviolite works if the Pokemon is "not fully evolved" or "capable of evolution".)
This seems to have been overlooked the first time, so I'll bring it up again:
And if so, could you also provide the role, moveset, teammates, etc.? I know there's an OU analysis for Honchkrow, but I want to hear from someone who's been using it in the current metagame.
And if so, could you also provide the role, moveset, teammates, etc.? I know there's an OU analysis for Honchkrow, but I want to hear from someone who's been using it in the current metagame.
All of the natures that he listed are worse than adamant because they all reduce speed, which is important for Darkrai.
You only listed 3 pokemon in your posts, so it would be helpful if you listed the two remaining as well. However, based on what you have here, neither are optimal given they are still neutral to fighting, but Togekiss might be a better choice since all of your pokemon rely on speed, and nothing on your team would be weak to SR (excluding Togekiss). Consider another spinner like Tentacruel if you really want to use one.
OP: Is there any use at all for Darmanitan (Zen Form)?
absolutely none, if anything it makes darmanitan worse, seeing as how when it hits half hp it becoms the psychic type, giving it even more weaknesses and transfers all its offensive stats to defensive. stick with sheer force
on another note, ty for the advice on my team, togekiss is harder for me to obtain but im sure itll be worth it, know any good sets for it that dont require past gen tms?
I'm pretty sure Heal Bell is a gen4/3 move so im not sure how it will be a cleric if you do not have access to those moves. If you cant get Heal Bell then perhaps a bulky paraflinch set could be used:
Togekiss (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Aura Sphere / Heal Bell
If you are able to get heal bell you could put it in place of aura sphere, as then you would act as a bulky defensive pivot and be able to relieve your team of status's.
Togekiss (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Aura Sphere / Heal Bell
If you are able to get heal bell you could put it in place of aura sphere, as then you would act as a bulky defensive pivot and be able to relieve your team of status's.
http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3466644 <- Poliwrath in OU
Virizion is one of the better Rain Stall checks, Bulk Up Breloom can also do pretty well. If you're using sun, Jump Kick Swasbuck is pretty cool as long as you're careful. It can't break some of the most physical defensive Pokemon on Rain Stall without hazard support, though.
Virizion is one of the better Rain Stall checks, Bulk Up Breloom can also do pretty well. If you're using sun, Jump Kick Swasbuck is pretty cool as long as you're careful. It can't break some of the most physical defensive Pokemon on Rain Stall without hazard support, though.
- Status