Azelf (Life Orb Lead)

Status
Not open for further replies.

cheexyn

Hi all, this is an Azelf lead that I have tested on the ladder extensively. Two different teams that this variant of Azelf led has reached 1500 and 1450 CRE on the ladder.




Azelf (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252SpAtk / 252 Speed

Nature: Naïve (+Speed, -SpDef)
- Psychic
- Fire Blast
- Energy Ball / Grass Knot
- Explosion / Stealth Rock / Taunt

Why this set deserves to be on-site:
- Guarantees a quick 1HKO on many leads, giving you an early advantage.
- Brings an overwhelming majority of those that it can’t kill to its sash.
- Often prevents Stealth Rock and other entry hazards.
- Life Orb-boosted, STAB Psychic from base 125 SpAtk is ridiculously powerful.
- Useful in both mid-game and late-game. (Explained under Additional Comments)

Additional Comments:
- Brilliant mid-game revenge killer and wall-breaker due to blistering speed. (Checks and beats, amongst others, Gengar, MixNite, Machamp, Infernape and bulky waters. Offers an avenue to kill dedicated special walls via Explosion.)
- Excellent type coverage allows it to be a late-game sweeper.
- Very good for offensive teams.
- Useful lure for special walls such as Blissey and/or Pursuit users. For example, Scarftars can be scouted by using Explosion. If it hits first it is Scarfed and opens a gap for you to set-up. For non-Scarfed Tyranitars, explosion will do about 80% to 4/0 variants.
- Few counters to Life Orb Azelf due to its type coverage and speed.
- Explosion should be used as "contrasting move". SR and Taunt can be used if your team lacks a SR-er or a stall breaker. If so, use a Modest nature.
 - Should be at the very least mentioned in the Lead or Life Orb Azelf set. (I mean, even a Colbur Berry Azelf got its own moveset!)

Teammates:
- Heatran deals with many leads that Azelf might have trouble with, including other Azelf, LeadRachi, OccaGross and Roserade. It can also set-up Stealth Rock if Azelf doesn’t carry it.
- Fighters such as Lucario, Infernape or Machamp can set-up and sweep on a choice-locked pursuit.

Counters:
- Match-up against other lead Azelf results in a speed tie deciding the outcome.
- Pursuit users can come in easily, although as mentioned above such users can be easily exploited.
- Usual Azelf counters, such as Spiritomb and Jolteon.


That's all for this Azelf, thank you for reading through it!

*Note: Just so this post isn't too long, the second post will showcase July top 15 lead match-ups.
**Energy Ball is used over Grass Knot due to a glitch. (GK cannot receive LO boost)
 
Against various (July top 15) leads:

Azelf: Speed tie. Fire Blast does ~90% to standard sashed leads and ~70% to the now-celebrated Colbur lead. Azelfs usually open with taunt. You get a free hit before the second speed tie decides the real outcome. Alternatively you can just Stealth Rock if you run it.
Machamp: With life orb, Azelf does a minimum of 110%.
Aerodactyl: Aeros open with taunt and subsequently Stealth Rocks. Azelf does ~85% with Psychic.
Metagross: LumGross gets 1HKO-ed 99% of the time. Occa variants decide between Stealth Rock and killing Azelf.
Swampert: Energy Ball for the 1HKO.
Jirachi: TrickScarf leads cannot 1HKO you with any attacks so Fire Blast for a likely 1HKO.
Infernape: Psychic takes it down to its sash while it decides between attacking and setting up rocks.
Roserade: Psychic once again brings it down to its sash as it takes a chance with Sleep Powder. Explosion would prevent any layers of Toxic Spikes as you switch in a faster Pokemon to kill it or set-up (without wasting a turn to switch).
Heatran: Forced to switch, although Life-Orb boosted explosion has a chance of 1HKO (minimum 85%)
Ninjask: Psychic to prevent Ninjask from getting a free sub. Switch to an appropriate counter on the Protect.
Hippowdon: Psychic + Energy Ball is a guaranteed 2HKO taking into account leftovers. Explosion kills it over 50% of the time.
Tyranitar: Explosion does about 70%, or switch to a counter on the obvious payback.
Starmie: Speed Tie with Life Orb variants. Scarfed Timid variants cannot KO even with Hydro Pump. Energy Ball has a good chance to 1HKO.
Uxie: Explode for an easy 1HKO while it tricks you a scarf or before it sets-up its screens.
Dragonite: Psychic is a comfortable 2HKO, but so is Extremespeed. Explosion kills it outright.

Do note that many of the leads that Azelf can't beat will be left with 1HP.
Heatran as a partner can SR and check leads such as other Azelf and ScarfRachi.
 
Why can't there just be a mention in the current Life Orb Azelf set that it can be used as a (surprisingly effective - I've tested it) lead.
 
I've used before and Taunt should be the main slash on the last slot. It prevents Rade/Smeargle leads from Sleeping you and stops Blissey and things from Protecting on your Explosion. Also, Energy Ball and Grass Knot do not really deserve a slash. Just Taunt/Boom on Swampert, Psychic is even doing a ton. Psychic or Explosion hits Waters hard enough.
 
This set already is on site. It's called Life Orb, and this set has the exact same moves and the exact same spread, except with SR and Taunt slashed over Explosion.

Also, as much as accounting for glitches might be nice, please don't do so. There's a reason we don't list Rock Blast as a way to beat Sashers.

Anyway, just listing "You can lead with this" in the AC of the Life Orb set will suffice. No need for an entire set.
 
It's not that this doesn't deserve a set, it's that it already has one. The Life Orb Azelf set might be outdated, so if anything, this should become an update with a mention that it can be used as a lead.

EDIT: Damn, ninja'd.
 
This set doesn't look too bad but bolding every other word of your posts is honestly a little off putting. Let the set do the talking, not your font face.

Be aware too that when you do the write up, if you hype the set as strongly as you do now it will make for a very obnoxious read. Best of luck!
 
As a reply to all,

I am indeed lobbying for, at least, the Life Orb Azelf set to be updated. Through the strengths of it shown above and the widespread acknowledgment of its usefulness, I believe the use of this set as a lead should warrant a mention in the LOzelf analysis.

Seven Deadly Sins said:
Also, as much as accounting for glitches might be nice, please don't do so. There's a reason we don't list Rock Blast as a way to beat Sashers.
Click to expand...

I think there is a misunderstanding; this version of Azelf is forced to use Energy Ball over Grass Knot even though the latter will be more helpful in most cases (due to most OU Pokemon being heavy).
 
A non Life Orb Grass Knot (with 120 BP) does more then an LO Energy Ball(given, Swampert isn't hit for 120 BP, so...).
 
Er, yeah this is way too similar to the LO set on-site to merit its own set. I will only approve of an added paragraph to the LO set explaining that it could potentially be used as a lead.
 
Chris is me said:
This set doesn't look too bad but bolding every other word of your posts is honestly a little off putting. Let the set do the talking, not your font face.
Click to expand...

I've unbolded everything.

Seven Deadly Sins said:
It's not forced to do anything. Literally the only reason you'd use Energy Ball is because of the glitch.
Click to expand...

I am just trying to explain why Energy Ball should be used over Grass Knot even though Grass Knot has more Base Power against the likes of Tyranitar and Hippowdon.

Grass Knot without the Life Orb boost is unable to 1HKO Swampert. However, Energy Ball, taking the 1.3x boost into account, can 1HKO Swampert.

firecape01 hit the nail on that one.

EDIT: I'm guessing this thread should be edited to LOzelf write-up minor update, then?
 
cheexyn said:
I am just trying to explain why Energy Ball should be used over Grass Knot even though Grass Knot has more Base Power against the likes of Tyranitar and Hippowdon.

Grass Knot without the Life Orb boost is unable to 1HKO Swampert. However, Energy Ball, taking the 1.3x boost into account, can 1HKO Swampert.

firecape01 hit the nail on that one.
Click to expand...

The lack of Life Orb boost is a glitch, and as I said, glitches should *not* be taken into account on analyses. Stop trying to characterise it as anything else.
 
I'm all for approving an added paragraph to the LO set explaining that it could be used as a lead, but not an analysis.

I'll take care of this from now. Thank you, and don't doubt to try again with another set in the future.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top