Ask a Simple Question; Get a Simple Answer & General Resources (OU Edition)

[Codraroll]

^Just play the game however you want. EV training from the start would be too complicated and too little fun. Until you've beaten the E4, EV training shouldn't be a concern at all.

That being said, if you happen to bump into a, say, Jolly Axew or Adamant Drillbur on your travels, you should put it in a box for later and use something else in-game.

After the Elite Four, you will have access to a whole lot more stuff to effectively EV train, such as Fly, the Power Items, Exp. Share, TMs stronger 'mons to do the dirty work, etc. In short, pleasure before business. Have fun, beat the game, then EV train.

 

[Ianny]

Thank you big time bro

 

[Hariyama]

What moves are recommended for Swords Dance Gallade? Is Shadow Sneak a must? I understand it's for priority, but it's base power is a let-down for me, which makes me consider Ice Punch for Gliscor and Landorus...also, should Psycho Cut be used?

 

[ShortsTheory]

Is there any use of the Lagging Tail for Trick Room? It says that it negates the effects of Trick Room. Does that mean that I can get Gengar to set TR up in doubles, and still use its awesome 110 base speed? Also, it says that it negates Stall, which doesn't really make sense to me. Clarifications will be appreciated!

 

[Wobbanaut]

Lagging tale will always make you go last in the same priority bracket so Gengar will still go last even with trick room if you use iron ball you will probably go last but youll lose your levitate so use a macho brace to go first in trick room

 

[fudgy]

Is there any use of the Lagging Tail for Trick Room? It says that it negates the effects of Trick Room. Does that mean that I can get Gengar to set TR up in doubles, and still use its awesome 110 base speed? Also, it says that it negates Stall, which doesn't really make sense to me. Clarifications will be appreciated!

It negates Trick room, meaning a Pokemon with Lagging Tail will always go last.

 

[Joeyboy]

What moves are recommended for Sowrds Dance Gallade? Is Shadow Sneak a must? I understand it's for priority, but it's base power is a let-down for me, which makes me consider Ice Punch for Gliscor and Landorus...also, should Psycho Cut be used?

What other mo are you thinking?

I assume you are talking about using Gallade in the OU tier based on your examples. Ice Punch is definitely a cool option as it would let you get through Gliscor, who walls many a fighting-type. Landorus though would probably have to be hit on the switch in as it is faster and can attack Gallade's weaker defense (I can't imagine many Landorus will switch in on a Gallade). Maybe try running SD/ Close Combat/ Ice Punch/ Shadow Sneak. I think you'll find the priority rather appealing for picking faster guys off.

Also make sure to go over your other five pokemon. Is there another poke' who would love to have Gliscor out of the way, then Ice Punch is great as it makes Gallade a Gliscor lure. Does your team not have problems with Gliscor? In that case Ice Punch is not needed.

Hope that helps!

 

[The QWAZ]

What is the best metagross and rakio? Sets to use in OU

 

[Jimera0]

What is the best metagross and rakio? Sets to use in OU

errr Rakio? Do you mean Raikou? If you mean Raikou, then that depends on your teams needs. Raikou can run a really powerful Rain set with Aura Sphere, Weather Ball, Thunder and HP Grass/Ice. It can also run a potent Calm Mind set with Thunderbolt and HP Ice/Fighting Shadow ball, which doesn't loose out on speed like the rain set does due to being forced to run a Rash nature. It can also do Sub-CM with Thunderbolt and HP Ice, but look out for Tyranitar. No matter what the Pink Blobs are going to wall you, but hey, what's new for Special attackers?

EDIT: And I don't know shit about how to use Metagross.

Just in general, you should remember that most Pokemon don't have a "best" set. You always need to chose based on what your team is and what you need the Pokemon you're using to accomplish. You'll learn how this stuff goes together with experience, at first it's best to just try some standard sets and learn.

 

[The QWAZ]

Kay thanks, i've always wanted a reason to use raikou, but does anybody know a really effective metagross set?

 

[Hariyama]

@Choice Scarf
4HP/252SpA/252Spe
Timid nature, Water Veil trait
~Water Spout
~Hydro Pump
~Ice Beam
~Toxic

Is this the best Wailord set? I find HP Grass too weak and preffer to cripple swtich-in with Toxic.

 

[Arcticblast]

@The QWAZ: I've used the Stealth Rock set to great success in the past, and the Agility set is a great lategame sweeper.

 

[Tetrinity]

@Choice Scarf
4HP/252SpA/252Spe
Timid nature, Water Veil trait
~Water Spout
~Hydro Pump
~Ice Beam
~Toxic

Is this the best Wailord set? I find HP Grass too weak and preffer to cripple swtich-in with Toxic.

Again, there's not really any such thing as a "best" set for any Pokémon, as that would depend on the specifics of your team. That said, locking yourself into Toxic seems rather unwise...

I'm also feeling a bit iffy about Water Spout, which I imagine is why you're using Wailord at all. Bear in mind that Water Spout becomes weaker than Hydro Pump at anything below 80% HP. With Wailord's neutrality to Stealth Rock, being hit by Spikes/Toxic Spikes and having poor Defence / Special Defence stats, you'll find yourself under 80% extremely fast.

 

[Hariyama]

Again, there's not really any such thing as a "best" set for any Pokémon, as that would depend on the specifics of your team. That said, locking yourself into Toxic seems rather unwise...

I'm also feeling a bit iffy about Water Spout, which I imagine is why you're using Wailord at all. Bear in mind that Water Spout becomes weaker than Hydro Pump at anything below 80% HP. With Wailord's neutrality to Stealth Rock, being hit by Spikes/Toxic Spikes and having poor Defence / Special Defence stats, you'll find yourself under 80% extremely fast.

Heracross used to use Toxic on it's Scarf set, it's meant ot cripple wall switch-ins...and Wailord's insane HP makes up for it's medicore defenses, I actually ran some damage calculations and found out Wailord is bulkier than Gyarados!

So you say I shiuld use defensive sets mostly?

 

[Tetrinity]

It's got a lot of HP, sure, but entry hazards don't discriminate. Scarfed Pokémon switch a lot by their very nature, so you'll need to make absolutely sure you can keep hazards off the field in order to make Water Spout useful. Priority will also mess him up pretty badly - even with a resistance and no hazards, CB Scizor's Bullet Punch will easily knock Water Spout down below the power of Hydro Pump.

Overall, I think the offensive set would probably work better than a defensive one. Just be sure you provide the right support - Rapid Spin / Magic Bounce and something to deal with common priority users will be key. He'd probably make a decent revenge killer, mind you. :)

 

[Jukain]

@Choice Scarf
4HP/252SpA/252Spe
Timid nature, Water Veil trait
~Water Spout
~Hydro Pump
~Ice Beam
~Toxic

Is this the best Wailord set? I find HP Grass too weak and preffer to cripple swtich-in with Toxic.

I would like to suggest you using Jellicent.

 

[The QWAZ]

Dam that hariyama guy liked wailord, anyways i will try out agligross thanks actiblast.

 

[TrueKite]

Couple of questions.

1.) Can someone please explain to me how exactly Guard Split and Power Split work?

2.) Which is better, Flame Body or Flash Fire Volcarona? I'm currently using Flame Body and I have no complaints with it. It has saved my ass PLENTY of times, but my Volcarona tends to attract a lot of attention from Fire type moves on the battle subway, so I don't know which is better.

3.) What other uses are there for Mold Breaker besides it surpassing Levitate. I can't think of any, but I'm sure there are more out there.

 

[Mygavolt]

@TrueKite: I can answer #3: Hitting Shedinja and Sturdy Aron.

 

[Tetrinity]

#1: Power Split takes the user's and target's unmodified actual Attack stat, adds them together and divides by two. Both user and target then have this Attack stat. Modifiers like those from Swords Dance or Growl are then applied to this new stat. The same applies for Special Attack. Guard Split is similar for Defence and Special Defence.

#2: They're both useful abilities. Flame Body can be a lifesaver as you point out, but an extra immunity is always nice, especially if you're using Volcarona with sun support. I'd say it could really go either way, depending on the rest of your team.

#3: Mold Breaker basically means that if an opposing ability would affect your attack, it no longer will do so. As pointed out, this affects Wonder Guard and Sturdy, along with Levitate. It also bypasses abilities like Flash Fire and Water Absorb, along with abilities like Thick Fat or Heatproof that change numerical damage. It also bypasses Unaware, Insomnia, Shield Dust... you name it, if it would change or block an effect of your attack, Mold Breaker stops that from happening. For a full list of affected abilities, see here.

 

[TrueKite]

Thank you both! You were incredibly helpful. Especially you, Tetrinity.

 

[Jukain]

Couple of questions.

1.) Can someone please explain to me how exactly Guard Split and Power Split work?

2.) Which is better, Flame Body or Flash Fire Volcarona? I'm currently using Flame Body and I have no complaints with it. It has saved my ass PLENTY of times, but my Volcarona tends to attract a lot of attention from Fire type moves on the battle subway, so I don't know which is better.

3.) What other uses are there for Mold Breaker besides it surpassing Levitate. I can't think of any, but I'm sure there are more out there.

I dunno about Guard Split, but Power Split switches the Attack and Defense stats. Although, I have my own question. Does it take into account boosts?

Flash Fire is better in theory, similar to Heatran, but I've rarely used Volcarona, so take that with a grain of salt.

Mold Breaker beats Unaware, so like Lum Haxorus wouldn't be affected by Unnerve Thunder Wave Tyranitar. It beats all immunity abilities, so you can Toxic an Immunity Snorlax and hit through Volt Absorb/Water Absorb/Flash Fire. I'm pretty sure it hits through Thick Fat. Also, it negates Sturdy. I'm fairly sure it beats Storm Drain an Lightningrod. A full list:

Battle Armor, Big Pecks, Clear Body, Contrary, Damp (both the Selfdestruct/Explosion effect and the Aftermath effect), Dry Skin (both the boosted power and absorbing Water attacks), Filter, Flash Fire, Flower Gift (both the Attack and Defense boosts), Heatproof, Heavy Metal, Hyper Cutter, Immunity, Inner Focus, Insomnia, Keen Eye, Leaf Guard, Levitate, Light Metal, Lightningrod, Limber, Magic Bounce, Magma Armor, Marvel Scale, Motor Drive, Multiscale, Oblivious, Own Tempo, Sand Veil, Shell Armor, Shield Dust, Simple, Snow Cloak, Solid Rock, Soundproof, Sticky Hold, Storm Drain, Sturdy, Suction Cups, Tangled Feet, Telepathy, Thick Fat, Unaware, Vital Spirit, Volt Absorb, Water Absorb, Water Veil, White Smoke, Wonder Guard, and Wonder Skin.

 

[melvni]

Couple of questions:

Can a pokemon with the ability Insomnia be put to sleep for the DW?

Can Blaze Blaziken be used in non-Uber tiers? Don't tell me to use Infernape instead.

Thanks.

Couple of questions.

1.) Can someone please explain to me how exactly Guard Split and Power Split work?

2.) Which is better, Flame Body or Flash Fire Volcarona? I'm currently using Flame Body and I have no complaints with it. It has saved my ass PLENTY of times, but my Volcarona tends to attract a lot of attention from Fire type moves on the battle subway, so I don't know which is better.

3.) What other uses are there for Mold Breaker besides it surpassing Levitate. I can't think of any, but I'm sure there are more out there.

From my understanding the mechanics of Power Split work like this:
Pokemon 1 (100 atk, 200 spAtk) uses Power Split on Pokemon 2 (150 atk and 350 spAtk)
100+150/2 = 125, 200+350/2 = 275
Pokemon 1 and 2 now both have 125 atk and 275 spAtk

or

Pokemon 1 (100 atk, 200 spAtk) uses Power Split on Pokemon 2 at +2 atk (150 atk *2 (equivalent of 300) and 350 spAtk)
100+150/2 = 125, 200+350/2 = 275
Pokemon 1 now has 125 atk and 275 spAtk, Pokemon 2 now has 125*2=250 atk and 275 spAtk

Guard Split works the same but with defense and special defense. Basically it averages either you and your opponent's attack and special attack or your defense and special defense.

2) Volcarona only has Flame Body and Swarm (which is unreleased) as potential abilities so it can't have Flash Fire

3) I feel like this one has already been pretty thoroughly addressed.

 

[Tetrinity]

You're very welcome. :)

One thing I just noticed on that Bulbapedia article I linked:

"While Mold Breaker allows a Pokémon to bypass the effects of moves that prevent status (i.e. Immunity, Insomnia, Limber, Own Tempo, and Vital Spirit, but not Leaf Guard), the status the Pokémon's move inflicts will be cured instantly after the attack."

I felt it was important to point this out, since it would seem Mold Breaker is still essentially useless against those abilities. I didn't know this either, otherwise I'd have pointed it out myself. Learn something new every day, I guess. :p

 

[Stratos]

@Genny,

Actually Honko's calculator does NOT need Silverlight to work, which is the exact reason I suggested it over the other one.