Prankster Doesn't Activate The Turn You Mega-Evolve: athough you can still be faster than your opponent.
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Pokémon Banette
- Thread starter AccidentalGreed
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Prankster Doesn't Activate The Turn You Mega-Evolve: athough you can still be faster than your opponent.
Yeah, I usually use Banette to be the lead to mega-evolve then land a will-o-wisp on their support/tank(their lead) than switch out for late game sweep. I still want it to be slower for better Phantom Force and sucker punch...thats why I chose Brave nature
Therefore I don't have flying type in my banette team cause they can land a free stealth rock...I love my Charizard but stealth rock is a thread...and I don't need two mega~
Why wouldnt you just protect so that banette can take a hit if necessary. Banette has a much bigger offensive presence than other prankster bar thunderous. With a set running protect, will-o-wisp, destiny bond and shadow claw or knock off, banette can stop all but a few sweepers stone cold. Sable eye can beat or at least cripple most physical sweepers, but any special attacker, especially fairy types easily bust through sableye without any problem. Not to mention any fire type sweeper like charizard x or substitute user like hydreigon. While sableye and banette are very similar, banette is able to stop all but a few Pokemon that would give sableye trouble and has better overall utility in my honest opinion.
Yeah, but Phantom Force is telegraphed since it requires a turn to use, and then you can switch out to a Normal type to become completely immune to it. Not worth it, I'd rather use Shadow Ball or Shadow Sneak instead.
You mean shadow claw or knock off right? Shadow sneak is nice for knocking out certain threats, but it is priority, so it doesn't do the same thing as phantom force. Shadow ball uses banettes mediocre special attack instead of its massive attack. Shadow claw is its hardest hitting one turn attack, but knock off also has added utility. The reason banette likes these attacks is because destiny bond + shadow claw allows 2 turns of protection with destiny bond. Shadow sneak can replace will o wisp or protect, but it can't replace phantom force because it doesn't do the same thing.
I think that's a reasonable question. I would say that any team that has trouble with setup sweepers has a reason to use it. I personally had success with banette on a semi stall team. Basically I used it to help me sweep with dragonite. The main problem with banette is that it helps setup sweeps, but it takes up a Mega slot. Many of the top sweepers are megas, so banette is tough to put on many teams. Maybe try to put it on the same team as talonflame and something like rotom w to take out most of the Pokemon banette can't and then sweep with something like dragonite or zygarde or something like that. Maybe bring skarmory to stop mamoswine.
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Nice I want to make a team around M-Banette (for a challenge) Maybe a defensive dark type?
In my experience mega banette is best as a support mon, he's not worth building a team around though, but good to include if he's what you're team needs. Once you practice with it, you can usually get it to be atleast a 2 for 1 every match.
His best ability is taking out boosted sweepers and being a priority taunter, but as a warning even though most know this, Talonflames priority bravebird takes precedence over prankster DB
Ive seen a protect/Disable set work amazingly well too.
His best ability is taking out boosted sweepers and being a priority taunter, but as a warning even though most know this, Talonflames priority bravebird takes precedence over prankster DB
Ive seen a protect/Disable set work amazingly well too.
Banette is surprisingly good. I've been going with a simple Max HP, Max Attack Adamant set with Shadow Claw, Sucker Punch, Taunt, and Destiny Bond, and that's been doing pretty well for me. Being able to abuse free turns with Priority Destiny Bond followed up with a slow Shadow Claw is very good against offensive teams, while defensive teams struggle a bit with Taunt. It reminds me a bit of those invincibility frames in fighting games. You can't attack it outright while in Destiny Bond mode, so you're forced to the defensive, which is quite nice for regaining momentum against offensive teams. The main issue I've faced is just getting it in unscathed, which is a total pain given its Speed and relatively low bulk. Sucker Punch alleviates that a little, since Banette can force out or KO a ton of dinged up Pokemon, but switching it in directly isn't a great move.
Yeah, I began wasting a slot for protect, but that just amplifies banette's 4mss tenfold.
Banette @ Banettite
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Shadow Claw
This is what I've been using. With special defense investments, it works better with my team, which has two physically defensive Pokemon. Taunt and Destiny Bond force set-up sweepers to die or switch, and Shadow Claw destroys what thinks is safe from a worthless mega with only Will-O-Wisp. I've OHKO'd many things weak to ghost that thought they could OHKO it with Shadow Ball.
I've been using a team utilizing Mega Banette, which has been dolphin-ing above and below 1600 ELO. Banette plays a very big role in the team.
http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/the-niche-of-mega-banette.3499987/
Mega Banette's biggest weakness is mind games. It's the only thing that gets in the way of it removing one threat from the enemy's team, other than getting one-shotted before mega evolving.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-94240714 (Skip to turn 20)
As you can see in this fight, I had to defend the rest of my team from Charizard by taking it to the underworld with my Banette. Destiny Bond is the way to do it, but with non-attacking moves and switching, there are ways to delay the use of it. By recognizing patterns in the mindgame, you can beat the foe in most cases. For example:
What I mean to say with this post is that Mega Banette is very under rated. Priority Destiny Bond is exclusive to it, and it's ridiculously strong. With special defense investments, it functions well against special attackers, and scares them off with Knock Off, Sucker Punch, or Shadow Claw. Not to mention, physical sweepers don't like it either since it carries priority Will-O-Wisp. It brings in mind games which are always fun. Well, not always. Actually, practically never. Still good, though.
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Shadow Claw
This is what I've been using. With special defense investments, it works better with my team, which has two physically defensive Pokemon. Taunt and Destiny Bond force set-up sweepers to die or switch, and Shadow Claw destroys what thinks is safe from a worthless mega with only Will-O-Wisp. I've OHKO'd many things weak to ghost that thought they could OHKO it with Shadow Ball.
I've been using a team utilizing Mega Banette, which has been dolphin-ing above and below 1600 ELO. Banette plays a very big role in the team.
http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/the-niche-of-mega-banette.3499987/
Mega Banette's biggest weakness is mind games. It's the only thing that gets in the way of it removing one threat from the enemy's team, other than getting one-shotted before mega evolving.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-94240714 (Skip to turn 20)
As you can see in this fight, I had to defend the rest of my team from Charizard by taking it to the underworld with my Banette. Destiny Bond is the way to do it, but with non-attacking moves and switching, there are ways to delay the use of it. By recognizing patterns in the mindgame, you can beat the foe in most cases. For example:
Charizard predicts Destiny Bond, uses Roost. I use Destiny Bond.
Charizard predicts Destiny Bond, uses Roost. I use Taunt, disabling Roost.
Foe predicts Destiny Bond, switches to Gengar. I use Destiny Bond to be on the safe side, even though Bullet Punch would beat the Gengar any way.
Foe predicts Destiny Bond, uses Will-O-Wisp. I use Shadow Claw, even though the foe should have used Shadow Ball to try and dispose of the thing disposing of his Charizard, which could have beaten me.
Foe must send in Charizard and predicts Destiny Bond, uses Dragon Dance. I use Destiny Bond.
Foe refers back to last time, when I would have used Taunt. I refer to the last instance, and predicted they would as well, so I used Destiny Bond.
Charizard predicts Destiny Bond, uses Roost. I use Taunt, disabling Roost.
Foe predicts Destiny Bond, switches to Gengar. I use Destiny Bond to be on the safe side, even though Bullet Punch would beat the Gengar any way.
Foe predicts Destiny Bond, uses Will-O-Wisp. I use Shadow Claw, even though the foe should have used Shadow Ball to try and dispose of the thing disposing of his Charizard, which could have beaten me.
Foe must send in Charizard and predicts Destiny Bond, uses Dragon Dance. I use Destiny Bond.
Foe refers back to last time, when I would have used Taunt. I refer to the last instance, and predicted they would as well, so I used Destiny Bond.
What I mean to say with this post is that Mega Banette is very under rated. Priority Destiny Bond is exclusive to it, and it's ridiculously strong. With special defense investments, it functions well against special attackers, and scares them off with Knock Off, Sucker Punch, or Shadow Claw. Not to mention, physical sweepers don't like it either since it carries priority Will-O-Wisp. It brings in mind games which are always fun. Well, not always. Actually, practically never. Still good, though.
I agree with a lot of what you said about making it specially defensive to fit your team, notably because it is its higher of its defensives so why not exploit it since it always has WoW to make up for its physical def. Also because you bring up a good point off of its rather high attack still able to chip away good dents of whatever it hits.
But it seems M Banette always finds itself serving a roll on teams instead of simply find a niche. Meaning many of the sets can work effectively but you always end up trying to take a Pokemon down with you with Destiny Bond.
I always like putting its attack to good use with a max HP/atk set just to pick off everything possible in the end with priority kind of like sending the grim reaper in >=]. And with proper teambuilding getting rid of resists and apposing priority sweepers/cripplers it can do it beautifully.
And just to note, a role as a crippler could also be used to good results as long as it has Destiny Bond and the proper defensively orientated EV spread for your team it could spread burns (and even paralasis) and at worst 1 for 1 a boosted pokemon ripping through your team which isn't bad at all for a worst case scenario. Even stalling for a few turns with Taunt/Encore/Protect/Disable/Substitute + Destiny Bond shananigans would've benefited stall teams if they weren't extinct.
... but is any of that worth the Mega slot on a team?
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Banette cries Foul
Banette
H.I. Banetite
Adamant
252 attack 126 defense special defense
31 iv Hp, Attack, Def, Sp. Def speed
Moves
Swagger-Increase attack+Prankster
Foul Play-165 attack with stat increase
Thunder wave to stop threats + prankster
Protect-Prevent heavy damage
Banette has high potential that I rarely see. Really high attack with some good moves, Banette can own some threats. The only thing is that sometimes it can be broke through. This is just an idea for now.
Banette
H.I. Banetite
Adamant
252 attack 126 defense special defense
31 iv Hp, Attack, Def, Sp. Def speed
Moves
Swagger-Increase attack+Prankster
Foul Play-165 attack with stat increase
Thunder wave to stop threats + prankster
Protect-Prevent heavy damage
Banette has high potential that I rarely see. Really high attack with some good moves, Banette can own some threats. The only thing is that sometimes it can be broke through. This is just an idea for now.
Foul Play is a strong option to hit Banette with, not the other way around. Foul Play isn't too good on Banette, as the move uses the opponent's attack stat and not it's own.
SwagPlay is shit, don't use it.
Mega Banette is mainly trying to be what Mega Gengar was, a stallbreaker by using it's Destiny Bond (I know, I know, Mega Gengar isn't a stallbreaker because of that move). But... Yeah, Priority Dbond is cool and all, but saccing your mega slot on that when you could've just as easily used mix Mega Charizard Y, Mega Medicham or Kyurem-B for such a role which kills the target and lives to tell the tale... yeah, it's not a desired option. If only it had other features that allowed it to live on during the match (no pain split doesn't do this very well, as it's effective early game and early game only) then I feel it would have a more welcomed spot on teams.
I can see it's main use being on DeoSharp teams that would like to remove a part of the opponent's stallcores, but I can't see much beyond that.
This.
It can stall break if necessary, but its most useful as a revenge killer/crippler. Endure is really crappy on m-banette unless you really only will use banette as a sacrificial stall breaker. Protect keeps banette alive long enough to kill any true offensive threat with dbond and will o wisp and shadow claw are generally enough to wear down any wall without serious physical defense and a way to get rid of status. Using a banette with will-o-wisp, shadow claw, destiny bond, and protect, your banette can be useful enough in both early and late game to help win you a lot of matches. While banette isn't good enough to win a match on its own, it provides a lot of support and can run a few interesting options as the second best offensive prankster (thunderous-i is amazing use it).
I use a very similar set, the only thing I do is I use pursuit instead of shadow claw. I find that you need hazard support for this set to be used to its fullest potential. With a spike and stealth rock, you can wear down the opponents team much easier, and the great thing is that M-Banette keeps those hazards on the field! M-Banette can spin block and defog block with taunt. The funnest part is when you destiny bond their defogger/ spinner, which most are faster than M-Banette, and you can freely pursuit on the switch or they kill you and destiny bond activates. I find that M-Banette works very well on hyper offense, can weaken walls and burn fast-physical threats, allowing for easy setup for team mates.
So yesterday I encountered this set. It's somewhat easily countered if you're expecting it and can predict, but I wasn't expecting it and it almost cost me an important poke.
Banette @ Banettite
??? Nature
Frisk
EVs: Probably Attack and HP or possibly speed
-Destiny Bond
-Taunt
-Infestation
-Something else
It mega evolved and trapped my Defensive Zapdos with infestation which I desperately needed to win the game while I did about 50% with thunderbolt, then I knew Destiny Bond was coming so I tried to roost stall the infestation out but it taunted me. Luckily I had Hidden Power Ice and it did little enough to stall out the infestation so I could switch something else out to die to d-bond instead, but it was an interesting surprise that almost cost me the game. I still lost but because of my own stupidity in the following turns, but that's neither here nor there =/
EDIT: Just saw someone already posted this set on the previous page. Welp.
Banette @ Banettite
??? Nature
Frisk
EVs: Probably Attack and HP or possibly speed
-Destiny Bond
-Taunt
-Infestation
-Something else
It mega evolved and trapped my Defensive Zapdos with infestation which I desperately needed to win the game while I did about 50% with thunderbolt, then I knew Destiny Bond was coming so I tried to roost stall the infestation out but it taunted me. Luckily I had Hidden Power Ice and it did little enough to stall out the infestation so I could switch something else out to die to d-bond instead, but it was an interesting surprise that almost cost me the game. I still lost but because of my own stupidity in the following turns, but that's neither here nor there =/
EDIT: Just saw someone already posted this set on the previous page. Welp.
I'm pretty sure that Trick set would be useless, since you can't swap Mega Stones with Trick, and even if you could, it would only cause you to lose your Mega Evolution.
Mega Stones may never be removed from the Pokemon holding them under any circumstances, just like mail but useful.
Exactly my point. It would completely defeat the purpose of a Trick set, and you'd just have a useless move in your move slot.
Sorry, but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work. The only way Banette can get Destiny Bond is by breeding, and Cotton Guard is not an Egg Move. Therefore, your idea, while it sounds good, would be illegal.
One thing I don't get is why everyone has been listing Shadow Sneak as a priority move when you could run Sucker Punch instead? That way, on the turn you Mega Evolve, you have it use Sucker Punch. If your opponent doesn't use any attacks, you're guaranteed a Mega Evolution, and if they do, they get smacked by a powerful priority move that, unlike Shadow Sneak, is able to even hit Normal-Types like Blissey hard. Sure, you don't get STAB, but even with that factored in, I'm pretty sure that Sucker Punch is more powerful than Shadow Sneak.
Sucker punch is terribly unreliable on a Pokemon that causes a lot of switches and that often baits status moves because of destiny bond. You can use sucker punch if you really want to, but I don't really see the point. Banette is not useful in taking blissey out, or any current ou normal type for that matter, so unless you run sub+ sucker punch, I just don't see the point in the risk for only a modest increase in power.
Sucker punch is slightly more powerful than shadow sneak (80 vs. 60 BP), but it's not as reliable as shadow sneak. Also, you're not hitting Blissey one way or another because Blissey won't be seismic tossing you for the same reason you won't be shadow sneaking it. It'll be toxic-ing you instead which means you can't really get a d-bond off because the opponent can then let the toxic kill you by switching out over and over instead of having to do it themselves. Also, Ghost is a better offensive typing because the only worse matchup it has than Dark is the normal immunity, whereas it gains the benefit of not being resisted by Fighting or Fairy like Dark moves are, while still being SE against the same types (Ghost and Psychic).
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