Pokémon Azumarill

[Edgar81539]

Garchomp has base 102 speed. Blaziken has speed boost. An Azumarill that attempts to "set up" on these pokemon will simply die.

With this I have clear you haven't tried to use Belly Drum Azumarill.

252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 132 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 196-232 (52.4 - 62.03%) -- 98.83% chance to 2HKO

252 Atk Life Orb Blaziken Hi Jump Kick vs. 132 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 157-187 (41.97 - 50%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

On that turn, Azumarill does Belly Drum and...

+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Garchomp: 331-391 (92.45 - 109.21%) -- 56.25% chance to OHKO

+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Blaziken: 848-1002 (280.79 - 331.78%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[Spenstar]

With this I have clear you haven't tried to use Belly Drum Azumarill.

252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 132 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 196-232 (52.4 - 62.03%) -- 98.83% chance to 2HKO (guaranteed after rocks)

252+ Atk Mega Blaziken Hi Jump Kick vs. 132 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 164-193 (43.85 - 51.6%) -- 10.94% chance to 2HKO (guaranteed after rocks)

On that turn, Azumarill does Belly Drum and...

+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Garchomp: 331-391 (92.45 - 109.21%) -- 56.25% chance to OHKO

+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Blaziken: 848-1002 (280.79 - 331.78%) -- guaranteed OHKO

If Azumarill tries to use Belly Drum when more than half its health is gone, it fails and Azu is screwed.

 

[jPottie]

If Azumarill tries to use Belly Drum when more than half its health is gone, it fails and Azu is screwed.

I'm assuming that in these scenarios Azu is holding sitrus berry, which would activate once being hit, allowing it to drum and then OHKO back with priority aqua jet.

 

[Edgar81539]

If Azumarill tries to use Belly Drum when more than half its health is gone, it fails and Azu is screwed.

Azumarill has no business switching while rocks are up into Garchomp. However, checking Blaziken is more than possible. A great deal of the OU pokemons can be setup fodder for Azumarill, for example, Adamant Toxic Orb 252 Atk Gliscor EQ only deals 50% against him.

 

[cellooooo]

Azumarrill's typing + utility alone is good enough to make it OU in my opinion. Water/Fairy might honestly be the best typing in the entire game - such a unique and useful set of resistances that I almost find it difficult to build teams without it now; seriously, resisting water, fire, ice, fighting, dragon (along with pursuit, sucker punch, and U-turn) is ridiculous, and along with reasonable bulk makes him a synergy king. Add to that the utility of an incredibly strong, usefully typed priority attack that means you essentially never have to worry about Blaziken, Volcarona, Alakazam and Azumarrill really earns it's place.

However, I don't think Belly Drum is his best set; he already hits hard enough, and there are enough pokemon that resist Aqua Jet/have faster priority that it's difficult to orchestrate the sweep. I personally use CB, allows you to do like 40% with Aqua Jet to neutral bulky things like Garchomp, and since Azu is so easy to switch in, you can just unleash Play Roughs and know you're gonna do like 50% min to whatever comes in.

Honestly, I look at Azumarrill almost like this generation's Scizor - granted without the amazing utility of U-Turn - but a powerful priority user with an amazing typing that checks so many things that it just finds its way onto a ton of teams.

 

[Zumaren]

Beatstick Azumarill
Nature: Brave/Adamant
252 Atk (must be maxed) 252 HP 4 Def (or 150 Hp, 50 Def, 54 Sp Def)
Items: Life Orb/Muscle band/Choice band/Assualt Vest (life orb and choice band are both great power boosters, but have a drawback that muscle band doesnt, however the new item assault vest allows zuma to survive thunderbolt and its only drawback is you cant use any status afflicting moves,)
(ps. Please correct me if im wrong about assault vest)
Aqua Tail/Waterfall
Play Rough (a must, it can hit and kill almost every dragon in one shot)
Aqua Jet/Power Up Punch (I like the gradual boost for switch in but priority hits are good too)
Ice Punch/Dig (both moves provide strength over weakness by enabling him with a super effective hit)
I appreciate how my top pokemon in previous games got the needed change to increase his defense,)

 

[LittleTLK]

It's possible and it has been demonstrated a lot of times. Hi Jump Kick and Flare Blitz the best thing can do is to 3HKO Azumarill.



Sitrus Berry has been working wonders for me, because some attacks will get you down past the 50% health mark, so getting the chance to belly drum back is amazing.

I've run into a few Blaziken/MegaBlaziken running Brave Bird now. I even got a surprise Poison Jab from one that knocked out my clefable.
While it's possible to setup on one that lacks those coverage moves, I'd still feel safer taking it out ASAP.

 

[Kairyu_Gen1]

I've run into a few Blaziken/MegaBlaziken running Brave Bird now. I even got a surprise Poison Jab from one that knocked out my clefable.
While it's possible to setup on one that lacks those coverage moves, I'd still feel safer taking it out ASAP.

You might see a couple people running coverage moves on Blaziken this gen as OU will allow him a lot more chances to set up than uber did, reducing the need to run protect. But I think the general fear of aqua jet is enough to send the Combustible Chicken clucking away.

 

[default NNC]

Azumaril Leftovers
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 either Def or SDef
Ability: Huge Power
Nature -Spe +Whichever Def you have EV'ed

- Scald/Aqua Jet
- Play Rough
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

With its ton of resists, good HP stat, and decent defences, Azumarill makes a great bulky water type. With RestTalk, it is no longer as scared of Burns as before, since it can Rest them right off. Also with the new sleep mechanics, the counter no longer resets, meaning you don't always have to Sleep Talk for two turns without switching out to wake up. Since his defences are balanced both ways, he can also be EVed for whichever wall you need more, making him very vertasile, especially if you keep in mind it can run other offensive sets besides this one.

You might be saying, wouldn't Sap Sipper or Thick Fat be better for a defensive set? The problem with this though, is that Azumarill would have to rely on a base 50 Attack stat. Frankly, that goes nowhere, and you'll just get set up on. Huge Power allows it to retain its attacking power, making it somewhat like Lando-T as a good tank even without much investment. Although Sap Sipper decreases its weakness to Poison and Electric, it is too situational to be useful.

Usually, this guy will be used for walling Fighting, Dragon, or Dark types, such as Dragonite, Greninja, or Blaziken, which has already mentioned before. Play Rough gives Azumarill a way to hit them very hard. Scald over Aqua Jet is a toss-up of being able to burn switchins and physical attackers, or being able to pick off weakened pokemon.

 

[Stormbrigader]

Did anybody try Toxicroak to deal with Azumarill? Dry Skin immunity to water so fuck Aqua jet and OHKO with supereffective poison jab (Life orb boosted as far as I know).

 

[Edgar81539]

Did anybody try Toxicroak to deal with Azumarill? Dry Skin immunity to water so fuck Aqua jet and OHKO with supereffective poison jab (Life orb boosted as far as I know).

As a check, it works wonders. As a counter, not so much. Azumarill can predict the switch-in and OHKO with Play Rough (ya know... Toxicroak is frail as hell), unless it's the Bulk Up variant.

Azumarill Play Rough vs Bulk Up Toxicroak: 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill vs. 244 HP / 120 Def Toxicroak: 215-254 (58.42 - 69.02%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Azumarill Play Rough vs Swords Dance Toxicroak: 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Toxicroak: 254-299 (80.89 - 95.22%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

 

[iQs__]

I dont like this Belly Drum set tbqh. 50% of your HP is too much of a cost to a slow poke like Azumarill. 50 base speed come on ... a decent sweeper with investment in Speed and a priority move can easily turn it to dust after a 50% health lost. Scizor Offensive or Bulky SD set can easily out-speed this Azumarill, not to mention Scarfed Scizor. Bullet Punch deals neutral damage and with Technician a 50% health Azu is wasted.

However I do regconise the potential coming out of this cutie. With 252 EVs, good IV on Attack, Huge Power and a Choice Band, it doesn't even need any buff to do huge damage. If you can predict and give it a good matchup, then you are doing just fine. The new Play Rough move is what makes this Pokemon come to OU imo. x2 on Dragon, neutral on fire/fighting, x2 on fighting. And if it's a fire type, one Aqua Jet and that's it.

About the matchup vs Blaziken. Just throw at most 2 Aqua Jet and he's gone. YOu don't even need to Belly Drum or anything. I don't think people are stupid enough to give you that matchup - unless the case mentioned above with Blaziken and Poison Jab. I just wow-ed at this. First time. Maybe people start to give him coverage because Azu is freakin' everywhere.

 

[Edgar81539]

I dont like this Belly Drum set tbqh. 50% of your HP is too much of a cost to a slow poke like Azumarill. 50 base speed come on ... a decent sweeper with investment in Speed and a priority move can easily turn it to dust after a 50% health lost. Scizor Offensive or Bulky SD set can easily out-speed this Azumarill, not to mention Scarfed Scizor. Bullet Punch deals neutral damage and with Technician a 50% health Azu is wasted.

However I do regconise the potential coming out of this cutie. With 252 EVs, good IV on Attack, Huge Power and a Choice Band, it doesn't even need any buff to do huge damage. If you can predict and give it a good matchup, then you are doing just fine. The new Play Rough move is what makes this Pokemon come to OU imo. x2 on Dragon, neutral on fire/fighting, x2 on fighting. And if it's a fire type, one Aqua Jet and that's it.

About the matchup vs Blaziken. Just throw at most 2 Aqua Jet and he's gone. YOu don't even need to Belly Drum or anything. I don't think people are stupid enough to give you that matchup - unless the case mentioned above with Blaziken and Poison Jab. I just wow-ed at this. First time. Maybe people start to give him coverage because Azu is freakin' everywhere.

Just a thing on Scizor: Belly Drum Azumarill has 124 EVs invested on Speed in order to outspeed minimal Speed Scizor and OHKO with Aqua Jet after Belly Drum.

 

[Stormbrigader]

As a check, it works wonders. As a counter, not so much. Azumarill can predict the switch-in and OHKO with Play Rough (ya know... Toxicroak is frail as hell), unless it's the Bulk Up variant.

Azumarill Play Rough vs Bulk Up Toxicroak: 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill vs. 244 HP / 120 Def Toxicroak: 215-254 (58.42 - 69.02%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Azumarill Play Rough vs Swords Dance Toxicroak: 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill vs. 28 HP / 0 Def Toxicroak: 254-299 (80.89 - 95.22%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Yeah, maybe I was so frustrated I ended up thinking that the only solution was revenge kill xD But the fact is that he must predict the switch, misprediction=dead azumarill or free bulk up setup for Toxicroak if he switches.

 

[iQs__]

Just a thing on Scizor: Belly Drum Azumarill has 124 EVs invested on Speed in order to outspeed minimal Speed Scizor and OHKO with Aqua Jet after Belly Drum.

Sorry. I have never run Scizor with such low Speed. He has one of the best typing/coverage in BW OU, but he must have the chance to show what he has.

And if you checked out those 3 sets I said - 2 SD set and 1 Scarf set, you would know that 2 SD sets always have 252 EVs invested in Speed. So no way Azumarill can set up or do any damn thing with Belly Drum against Scizor. The scarf set pretty much explains itself so no argument there.

252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 169-200 (41.83 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

First hit already almost 50% HP. And I go first. So either you belly drum and activate that Sitrus Berry, just to fall next turn with another Bullet Punch, or you try to hit me with whatever you have, be it Play Rough (*0.5) or an Aqua Jet with no damage whatsoever.

Those 2 sets on Smogon fyi.

Yeah, maybe I was so frustrated I ended up thinking that the only solution was revenge kill xD But the fact is that he must predict the switch, misprediction=dead azumarill or free bulk up setup for Toxicroak if he switches.

252+ Atk Life Orb Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 246-290 (60.89 - 71.78%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Talking about Revenge kill. This guy can do the trick guaranteed that you deal some damages to Azumarill before fainting, or Azumarill runs that Belly Drum set which I'm not interested in.

 

[Larkas]

Sorry. I have never run Scizor with such low Speed. He has one of the best typing/coverage in BW OU, but he must have the chance to show what he has.

And if you checked out those 3 sets I said - 2 SD set and 1 Scarf set, you would know that 2 SD sets always have 252 EVs invested in Speed. So no way Azumarill can set up or do any damn thing with Belly Drum against Scizor. The scarf set pretty much explains itself so no argument there.

252+ Atk Life Orb Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 169-200 (41.83 - 49.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

First hit already almost 50% HP. And I go first. So either you belly drum and activate that Sitrus Berry, just to fall next turn with another Bullet Punch, or you try to hit me with whatever you have, be it Play Rough (*0.5) or an Aqua Jet with no damage whatsoever.

Those 2 sets on Smogon fyi.

Prediction, prediction, prediction. You don't want to set up on Scizor, and if it comes when you're at +6, it'll be toast unless you somehow are at less than 50%. The 124 Spe is to outspeed minimum investment Scizor, namely, its listed Choice Band set, which, IMHO, was the best one in BW2. This, of course, might not be the case in XY. Time will tell.

 

[iQs__]

Prediction, prediction, prediction. You don't want to set up on Scizor, and if it comes when you're at +6, it'll be toast unless you somehow are at less than 50%. The 124 Spe is to outspeed minimum investment Scizor, namely, its listed Choice Band set, which, IMHO, was the best one in BW2. This, of course, might not be the case in XY. Time will tell.

So people are saying that you invest 124 Speed to try to outspeed minimum investment Scizor, I say that it's rare to see a Scizor which is slower than your Azumarill. Remember in BW2 OU, Azumarill was rarely seen. People use Scizor for many purposes, so your argument regards your opinion about the-only-set-that-Azumarill-can-outspeed-a-Scizor-is-accidently-in-your-opinion-his-best-set is invalid. I use my Sun Team in BW2 OU and I can tell you that a Banded Scizor is not that popular. Besides, he has like 3 or 4 available sets left with lots of potential. Not everyone uses Scizor, and not everyone uses a Banded Scizor. So please cut out the part about outspeed a Scizor with that poor investment in Speed on Azumarill.

Now you say that a Scizor comes out when Azumarill is at +6. What the hell man? The assumption is so huge and important that it's like "let's give Shiftry 3 Swords Dance under the sun". If you want your assumption like that, let's try this. You have your +6 Azu out (maybe he's 50% or even lower than that since he has already used Belly Drum to reach +6), fine. I have a Ditto with a Choice Scarf. Good luck.

The case I'm talking about here is that Scizor is one of the good sweepers with a priority move which allows it to hit Azumarill neutral damage and a fairly good amount too. Therefore, having it out on the field with Azumarill having a Belly Drum set puts Azumarill in a very bad position, forcing it to switch out or stay there and die. The reason why, I explained earlier. In conclusion to that, I stated again about me not supporting the set.

 

[AOPSUser]

So people are saying that you invest 124 Speed to try to outspeed minimum investment Scizor, I say that it's rare to see a Scizor which is slower than your Azumarill. Remember in BW2 OU, Azumarill was rarely seen. People use Scizor for many purposes, so your argument regards your opinion about the-only-set-that-Azumarill-can-outspeed-a-Scizor-is-accidently-in-your-opinion-his-best-set is invalid. I use my Sun Team in BW2 OU and I can tell you that a Banded Scizor is not that popular. Besides, he has like 3 or 4 available sets left with lots of potential. Not everyone uses Scizor, and not everyone uses a Banded Scizor. So please cut out the part about outspeed a Scizor with that poor investment in Speed on Azumarill.

Now you say that a Scizor comes out when Azumarill is at +6. What the hell man? The assumption is so huge and important that it's like "let's give Shiftry 3 Swords Dance under the sun". If you want your assumption like that, let's try this. You have your +6 Azu out (maybe he's 50% or even lower than that since he has already used Belly Drum to reach +6), fine. I have a Ditto with a Choice Scarf. Good luck.

The case I'm talking about here is that Scizor is one of the good sweepers with a priority move which allows it to hit Azumarill neutral damage and a fairly good amount too. Therefore, having it out on the field with Azumarill having a Belly Drum set puts Azumarill in a very bad position, forcing it to switch out or stay there and die. The reason why, I explained earlier. In conclusion to that, I stated again about me not supporting the set.

In BW2 people ran 44 Speed Azumarill because outspeeding Scizor wasn't a concern.

Even nowadays you see every ladder noob running around with a 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe Adamant Scizor because it is the standard option. In higher level play you get into speed creep and such trouble with investing EVs that 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe Adamant may as well be Scizor's best shot at a Band set. But then there's Mega Scizor, which outspeeds your Azumarill, blah blah.

The best way to set up a Belly Drum Azumarill sweep is to eliminate mons that could potentially revenge kill it, like any Scizor, Talonflame, etc. If you're trying to get a +6 sweep with one of those mons on the field then you're already doing something wrong. Also there's a huge difference in Azumarill and Shiftry in sun. The former sets up in one turn, so it's a lot easier to set up, especially on a Choice locked Draco Meteor or Outrage. The latter is outsped by very fast Scarfers and takes three turns to set up, so I don't know why you're trying to compare them. Sure, you have a Ditto in the wings. I'm not setting up until it's gone. That's what all good players do anyways.

The fact that you even need to run a BellyAzu check on your team is a testament to its power. Yes, it's really bad against a team of Scizor/Talonflame/Ferrothorn/Ditto/Quagsire/Toxicroak. But that's like saying Talonflame is bad against a team of Rotom-W/Heatran/Tyranitar/Regirock/Rhyperior/Golem. Every Pokemon has its checks. You have to remove them before you can sweep.

 

[The Great Gastly]

I've been having a lot of success with Belly Drum Azumarill on my team, and have found Sitrus Berry to be invaluable. Being able to have a 2nd chance at set-up, cutting the cost of a 1-turn +6 Attack in HALF, and having a slight buffer after drumming are all great!

I'm still having a hard time on settling on Speed EVs, and since I tend to wait until Scizor (and other checks) is gone before setting up... I haven't felt the need to detract from Azumarill's HP to out-speed an EV spread that people probably speed creep anyway. >_>

 

[Larkas]

I've been having a lot of success with Belly Drum Azumarill on my team, and have found Sitrus Berry to be invaluable. Being able to have a 2nd chance at set-up, cutting the cost of a 1-turn +6 Attack in HALF, and having a slight buffer after drumming are all great!

I'm still having a hard time on settling on Speed EVs, and since I tend to wait until Scizor (and other checks) is gone before setting up... I haven't felt the need to detract from Azumarill's HP to out-speed an EV spread that people probably speed creep anyway. >_>

That is actually a valid consideration. People won't know how many EVs, if any, to invest in Spe for a BelllyJet Azu until the metagame settles a bit. I've been running 132 HP/ 252 Atk/ 124 Spe with great success so far, but that might change in the near future.

 

[AOPSUser]

I've been having a lot of success with Belly Drum Azumarill on my team, and have found Sitrus Berry to be invaluable. Being able to have a 2nd chance at set-up, cutting the cost of a 1-turn +6 Attack in HALF, and having a slight buffer after drumming are all great!

I'm still having a hard time on settling on Speed EVs, and since I tend to wait until Scizor (and other checks) is gone before setting up... I haven't felt the need to detract from Azumarill's HP to out-speed an EV spread that people probably speed creep anyway. >_>

44 Speed EVs outspeeds no speed Blissey, ensuring it can't cripple you with status. 84 lets you outspeed no speed Sylveon and no speed Empoleon. 132 is for 8 speed Scizor. 140 outspeeds 56 Speed Empoleon, which is the standard Specs set from Gen 5.

I would just go for 84 Speed EVs, since you want to eliminate Scizor anyways Empoleon with speed EVs isn't that common in OU. Also, you cannot OHKO 252/252 Bold Sylveon with Aqua Jet, so it is kind of mandatory.

 

[iQs__]

In BW2 people ran 44 Speed Azumarill because outspeeding Scizor wasn't a concern.

Even nowadays you see every ladder noob running around with a 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe Adamant Scizor because it is the standard option. In higher level play you get into speed creep and such trouble with investing EVs that 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe Adamant may as well be Scizor's best shot at a Band set. But then there's Mega Scizor, which outspeeds your Azumarill, blah blah.

The best way to set up a Belly Drum Azumarill sweep is to eliminate mons that could potentially revenge kill it, like any Scizor, Talonflame, etc. If you're trying to get a +6 sweep with one of those mons on the field then you're already doing something wrong. Also there's a huge difference in Azumarill and Shiftry in sun. The former sets up in one turn, so it's a lot easier to set up, especially on a Choice locked Draco Meteor or Outrage. The latter is outsped by very fast Scarfers and takes three turns to set up, so I don't know why you're trying to compare them. Sure, you have a Ditto in the wings. I'm not setting up until it's gone. That's what all good players do anyways.

The fact that you even need to run a BellyAzu check on your team is a testament to its power. Yes, it's really bad against a team of Scizor/Talonflame/Ferrothorn/Ditto/Quagsire/Toxicroak. But that's like saying Talonflame is bad against a team of Rotom-W/Heatran/Tyranitar/Regirock/Rhyperior/Golem. Every Pokemon has its checks. You have to remove them before you can sweep.

The comparison part between +6 Azu and +6 Shiftry under the sun is to show him that, the context he is talking about is not appropriate. When you already have that on the field, there's nothing to talk about anymore. Your sweeper has perfect setup already. By the way, I have never liked banded Scizor. He has so much staying power with his typing and Roost, his ability to help his teamate with a free-switch on unfavored matchup with U-Turn, his priority with Bullet Punch to finish off weaken Scarfed Sweeper that it's not worth putting a Band on him to try hit and run. But it's just my playstyle, that's all.

As for Shiftry, I might want to hear about some "very fast scarfers" who can outspeed him under the sun. I invest 180 EVs in Speed, at level 100 he has 265 Speed. Double under the sun makes it 530. Choice Scarf only gives you 1.5x. Latios 252 EVs Speed Scarfed only reached 525. There are only a few Pokemons with Scarf can actually outspeed him under the sun with 180 Spe EVs, namely Weavile, Azelf, Alakazam, Crobat, Jolteon (all 252 Spe EVs). But unfortunately, rarely anyone runs those Pokemons with Scarfs.

Anyway, back to the BellyAzu matter. People run Scizor, Ferrothorn, Ditto, and now Talonflame all the time. They don't really use them for checking on a BellyAzu in particular. Ditto is a hard counter. Scizor can check many other threats along with BellyAzu. Talonflame is a fine sweeper with priorities. Ferrothorn is one hell of a lead. They serve many different purposes, which include checking on that Azu if the enemy has one.

I don't say that Azumarill does not have power. It clearly does. But BellyAzu is too fragile and unreliable as a sweeper imo. You are relying on a boosted at a cost of 50% of your HP, hoping to survive with your Sitrus Berry. If that's all then I might find it useful, but again, relying once more on a priority (Aqua Jet) with a base speed of 50. So many thing that you have to worry about, so many opponents you have to eliminate or check on in order to have this BellyAzu goes to work.

 

[AOPSUser]

The comparison part between +6 Azu and +6 Shiftry under the sun is to show him that, the context he is talking about is not appropriate. When you already have that on the field, there's nothing to talk about anymore. Your sweeper has perfect setup already. By the way, I have never liked banded Scizor. He has so much staying power with his typing and Roost, his ability to help his teamate with a free-switch on unfavored matchup with U-Turn, his priority with Bullet Punch to finish off weaken Scarfed Sweeper that it's not worth putting a Band on him to try hit and run. But it's just my playstyle, that's all.

As for Shiftry, I might want to hear about some "very fast scarfers" who can outspeed him under the sun. I invest 180 EVs in Speed, at level 100 he has 265 Speed. Double under the sun makes it 530. Choice Scarf only gives you 1.5x. Latios 252 EVs Speed Scarfed only reached 525. There are only a few Pokemons with Scarf can actually outspeed him under the sun with 180 Spe EVs, namely Weavile, Azelf, Alakazam, Crobat, Jolteon (all 252 Spe EVs). But unfortunately, rarely anyone runs those Pokemons with Scarfs.

Anyway, back to the BellyAzu matter. People run Scizor, Ferrothorn, Ditto, and now Talonflame all the time. They don't really use them for checking on a BellyAzu in particular. Ditto is a hard counter. Scizor can check many other threats along with BellyAzu. Talonflame is a fine sweeper with priorities. Ferrothorn is one hell of a lead. They serve many different purposes, which include checking on that Azu if the enemy has one.

I don't say that Azumarill does not have power. It clearly does. But BellyAzu is too fragile and unreliable as a sweeper imo. You are relying on a boosted at a cost of 50% of your HP, hoping to survive with your Sitrus Berry. If that's all then I might find it useful, but again, relying once more on a priority (Aqua Jet) with a base speed of 50. So many thing that you have to worry about, so many opponents you have to eliminate or check on in order to have this BellyAzu goes to work.

CB Azumarill and BellyJet Azumarill have a lot of things in common, and the two sets help each other by making the other unexpected. Scizor and Ferrothorn can both be dealt with by Magnezone, the former only if it is choiced into a move other than Superpower. Also with a Choice Band Scizor is such a good revenge killer, it nabs a lot of OHKOes on Scarfers, and hit and run is one of the primary reasons to use Scizor. But anyways, with correct support, Belly Drum Azumarill can finish a match. Ferrothorn doesn't even have to be dead--it just needs a bit of prior damage. Against Talonflame you have to keep Stealth Rock up and put defensive pressure on it, which isn't that hard with a Tyranitar (which can also run Fire Blast to weaken Ferrothorn for Azumarill). Ditto is trickier but you can take advantage of the fact that it is Scarfed, and not too many people use Ditto.

I personally run Choice Band Azumarill. It works amazingly as long as the Belly Drum set exists, since I can lure in Ferrothorn and OHKO it with Superpower. Similarly, people may play too carefully around a Belly Drum Azumarill in fear of Choice Band, so they may end up losing that way.

Yes, it's a frail sweeper. So is Talonflame. After one Belly Drum, its Aqua Jet is a lot stronger than Talonflame's +2 Brave Bird, and it's fairly easy to run SR to cut the latter's HP in half. BellyJet Azumarill is similar to Swords Dance Talonflame--they are excellent lategame sweepers, and both require their checks weakened or gone.

 

[SJCrew]

Yeah, I'm really not buying the legitimacy of Belly Azu either. It's a high-stakes gambit that falls to dumb opponents attacking blindly and smart players who can keep an Aqua Jet resist alive (which is any of them, btw; +6 Azu can't even KO Breloom). Faster priority is on almost every team now, and Azumarill is essentially useless until it can set up. It's a gimmick and a severe misuse of the Pokemon IMO.

 

[Siggu]

Even if one screws it up and does not switch the counter into a Belly Drum (In which case would only be switched in for a revenge kill, not in between), Bellyzurril will at best get one KO on average against a decently-prepared team. It's either switching into the Belly Drum or revenge killing. Unless there are some tricks under the sleeve like Dual Screens or Sitrus Berry (Which does narrow the amount of counters if Azumarill Belly Drums and does not take damage in that same turn), that's generally what happens

It requires the counter to be at very good health (Unless it's a very bulky resistor like Celebi or Kyurem-B which are never 2HKOed by a +6 Aqua Jet, not even when uninvested -Unless SR is on the field in Cube's case-) or have faster priority but both are not exactly uncommon