The choice band - one of the hardest items to use. Gives an extreme 1.5x boost to physical attacks, but only lets the user use one move, unless switched out.
Role in the metagame:
Choice band is an incredible item that can change a match completely. Most users of the item already carry incredible speed, or have access to a priority move. Choice Band works well with STAB, and users such as Scizor with Technician get such a boost that getting OHKO's are nothing as much special. Although some users may want to use a scarf (looks at heracross...), but will greatly appreciate an incredible boost to their already high attack stat. When using a banded user with decent speed, adding a jolly nature is the best idea to look towards to, as it gives them a strong attack that may move first most of the time. Although it is not common, banded users can always use ninjask baton pass support.
Viable Users (Bolded pokemon stand out more):
Terrakion
Gyarados
Scizor
Excadrill
Garchomp
Heracross
Haxorus
Azumarill
Are there any missed? Let me know.
Usable Band Sets
The Classic Scizor.
Scizor
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP, 252 Atk, 8 SpDef
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Pursuit/Knock Off
- Superpower
The most used scizor set in the universe! Douche bags use it, your kids use it, your mailman uses it, and your fucking dog uses it. It is everything. Seriously, this set is my personal favorite band set, and the reason I carry a scizor on all my OU teams. Bullet Punch is obvious why it's there. U-turn is a tricky move to use, but is best used when forcing a switch. Pursuit is a trapping move, and is boosted by Technician, but not when an enemy switches. Superpower is just an incredibly strong move that you can use for nice power.
Choice Band Haxorus
Haxorus
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spd
- Outrage
- Superpower
- Earthquake
- Poison Jab/Aqua Tail/Dragon Claw
252+ Atk Choice Band Mold Breaker Haxorus Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0- Def Abomasnow: 501-589 (130.4 - 153.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Mold Breaker Haxorus Outrage vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Shuckle: 169-199 (69.2 - 81.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Mold Breaker Haxorus Outrage vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Dragonite: 740-872 (228.3 - 269.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Fucking multiscale...)
252+ Atk Choice Band Mold Breaker Haxorus Outrage vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Rotom-W: 334-394 (109.8 - 129.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO (EQ would've also snapped it)
It says much, right? Although Haxorus and outrage fit hand in hand, Haxorus's other moves provides coverage towards other pokemon. Especially faries, with iron tail (No Iron Head :() Superpower, like scizor, deals massive damage. Earthquake is always a default, and don't you say otherwise.
That fucking Talonflame
Talonflame
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 Def
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-Turn
- WoW/Tailwind/Sleep Talk
It's pretty simple - it's the only fucking reason anyone gives a shit about talonflame. Priority Brave Bird with choice band OHKO's most pokemon with low defenses. Flare Blitz is a good STAB move. U-turn will OHKO Alakazam, and various psychic types. Return is just powerful overall, but the other status moves are good for a last ditch or so.
Choice Band Duckthing (Azumarill)
Azumarill
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 248 HP, 252 Atk, 8 Spd
- Aqua Jet
- Play rough
- Waterfall
- Superpower/Knock Off
Azumarill gets huge power, and with max attack and choice band, takes this shit to a whole new level. Aqua Jet isn't even a revenge move; it's just a move that moves first while dealing loads of damage. Play rough, being the strongest physical fairy move, can be very scary with STAB, dealing 135 BP. Waterfall is also STAB, but is usually not as used as aqua jet. Superpower covers steel types, which will wall without a super effective move being used against them.
Choice Band Staraptor
Staraptor
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Brave Bird
- Double Edge
- Close Combat
- U-Turn
Unfortunately Gale wings is only available to the talonflame family - but that doesn't mean staraptor is nothing but amazing. Brave Bird is boosted by reckless, rather than getting priority, and is an excellent STAB move. Return and Quick Attack, as well as Double Edge are all STAB but have their differences. Double Edge is boosted by Reckless, Quick Attack is a good priority move, Return has no drawbacks. Close combat hurts steels, and U-Turn takes care of Zam.
Choice Band Dragonite
Dragonite
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Outrage
- Extremespeed
- Fire Punch/Thunderpunch
- Earthquake
What can I say? It's a pretty simple set that may always OHKO. Outrage is STAB, and is 180 BP with the boost. Extremespeed is great priority, and outspeeds gale wings talonflame's brave bird. Waterfall, fire punch, and thunderpunch are all coverage. Earthquake is also a nice move with no drawbacks.
Choice Band Infernape
Infernape
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Mach Punch
- Thunderpunch/U-Turn/Earthquake
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
The purpose of this set is to usually check the opponent but either forcing a switch, or revenge killing with an iron fisted mach punch. Thunderpunch can cover water and flying types, but U-Turn gives it competition, as it does cover Psychic Types. Flare Blitz is nice STAB, as well as Earthquake giving nice coverage.
Crawdaunt @ Choice Band
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP (or Spe) / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Aqua Jet
- Crabhammer
- Superpower
This is Albacore's set, but I think it is easy to find what is going on here. Basically this is a bulky physically offensive set. Knock off is a great adaptability boosted STAB that can vitally remove an item. Aqua Jet serves the same purpose as azumarill's and crabhammer is just strong.
Garchomp @ Choice Band
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Stone Edge/Outrage
Here's the standard set:
Tyranitar
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 180 HP, 252 Atk, 76 Spd
Nature: Adamant
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake/Superpower
Current Conclusion: Choice Band is easily my favorite choice item. Please give comments on this, and tell me more viable users. If I deem them correct, I will add them to the list.
Now - The Choice Specs
Role in the Metagame: Though the least used choice item, you can't help but give this a spot on my band thread. Thanks Ninja Charizard. Most of its users would rather use a scarf, but specs may be the better choice. Choice Specs are usually used for offense, but serve a small niche at killing off a physical attacker - the move trick. This move is generously given to users that already have nice special attack. This makes a nice win-win situation.
Notable users (Bold stands out more):
Kingdra
Politoed
Rotom-W (Trick)
Jolteon
Latios
Starmie
Porygon-Z
Magnezone
Are there any missed? Let me know
Usable Specs Sets:
Choice Specs Jolteon.
Jolteon
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Volt Switch
- HP Ice
Unfortunately Jolteon's offensive movepool is a barren desert, so this is its only viable set. However, it works. Volt Switch is a nice free switch out STAB that does damage. Thunderbolt is STAB period. Signal beam counters Dark, Grass, and Psychic. HP Ice gets rid of fucking Gliscor.
Trick or
Rotom-W
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 220 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 36 HP
- Trick
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- WoW
It's easy - either use trick to fuck a physical sweeper over, or take advantage of the specs and hydro pump all the mofos! Volt Switch takes you out of a bad situation and is STAB, and WoW is supposed to be used after choice specs, to continuously keep fucking over that physical sweeper.
Choice Specs Kingdra
Kingdra
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
Ability: Sniper/Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Pulse
- Flash Cannon
This set hits almost anything at least neutrally. Hydro Pump is excellent STAB, topping at 165 BP. Ice Beam covers other Dragon/Flying's and Gliscor. Dragon Pulse is just nice STAB. Flash Cannon covers faries. It's underrated for sure, but still deserves a mention. This set is recommended to work on rain teams, using swift swim as an ability. Gennosuke Fujiki
Choice Specs Keldeo (Creds to NC)
@ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Scald
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 244 HP / 252 SpA / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ground] / Hidden Power [Fire]
[THIS IS ALL @Dr.Ciel] Sylveon is a really underrated Specs user in the current meta. The reason for this is some people that overlook her amazing base 110 Special Attack, great coverage, & solid Fairy typing. Her bulk isn't too bad either, so a Specs set is completely justifiable for her. Hyper Voice in conjunction with Pixilate equates to a base power of 117, & that's not even including STAB either, & it can put a dent in anything that doesn't resist it. Psyshock helps against Mega Venusaur, a very common switch in to Sylveon. Shadow Ball hits Aegislash for super-effective damage, while granting her nearly perfect type coverage. Hidden Power Ground rounds out her coverage by hitting & sometimes grabbing the OHKO on Heatran (Granted it doesn't carry a Balloon, or if it is popped beforehand. Hidden Power Fire is also a solid option & it has a good chance to OHKO standard Mega Scizor.
Another user contributed set (Albacore ):
Heatran @ Choice Specs
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Ancient Power / Dragon Pulse
I honestly think that the only way to justify using Choice Specs over Life Orb or Leftovers is on something that intends to hit hard, yet also wants to be able to survive a few hits. Heatran fits the bill very nicely, since it's decently bulky and still hits like a truck. It can be a really good option for a wallbreaker if you've already filled up your mega slot, alhough it does receive competition from Kyurem-B Fire Blast is an obvious main stabs that fries most of OU. Flash Cannon is there for the dual STAB and is the best option against Rock and Fairy types. Earth Power gives great neutral coverage and can destroy other Heatran (hence the 4 Speed EVs which let you outspeed all other commo Heatran variants besides the Scarfed one) Ancient Power may seem silly, but it's Hetran's best way to stop being setup fodder for SD Talonflame, and it also deals with Charizard Y if it doesn't carry Earthquake. Dragon Pluse can be a decent option against Dragons, OHKOing Garchomp on the switch-in, and is you best way of hitting Rotom-W.
Here are a few calcs just to give you an idea of how good this thing is :
252+ SpA Choice Specs Heatran Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Thick Fat Mega Venusaur: 188-224 (51.6 - 61.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Heatran Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Conkeldurr: 186-220 (52.8 - 62.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Heatran Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Landorus: 357-420 (111.5 - 131.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Heatran Flash Cannon vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tyranitar in Sand: 206-246 (50.9 - 60.8%) -- 89.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Heatran Flash Cannon vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Latias: 172-204 (57.1 - 67.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Some of these are occasionally used as checks or counters to standard Heatran, and cannot preform their job against the Choice Specs variety.
Hydreigon
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Timid
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpAtk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
- Fire Blast
- U-Turn/Focus Blast/Earth Power/Flash Cannon
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
This set could go mixed with superpower, but mixing sets is a whole different thread away. Anyways, this set hits HARD. Fire Blast, Earth Power, Draco Meteor, and Dark Pulse all provide neutral coverage together, and are terrifyingly strong for a choice specs pokemon such as hydreigon. Fire Blast can cover Ice types, which may be a pain for hydreigon. Earth power hits poison and rock types, who could hurt other parts of the team. Draco Meteor is STAB, and Dark Pulse is also STAB.
Arikado 's Set:
Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Nature: Modest
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Speed / 4 Def
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power / Focus Blast
Passion 's set:
Well Im pretty bored rn so I decided to bless a thread with my presence. I am too lazy to check rest of posts to see if this was mentioned yet [I would be surprised if it hasnt tbh.] But um ya what I will be discussing is something that should be used a lot more than it has been Choice Specs Raikou. Not only does this thing outspeed a majority of the tier [excluding Greninja, Deo-S, Alakazam, and Scarfers] and hit hard but it has surprisingly decent bulk with 90/75/100 making it one of the best checks/counters depending on healthy to Thundurus-I. It is also a good check to common fly spam users such as Talonflame and Mega-Pinsir but cannot exactly switch into them due to its lackluster physical defense. Furthermore Raikou has pretty good coverage moves such as Extrasensory to hit Mega Venusaur, Conkeldurr, and the not as common Terrakion and Shadow Ball for Aegislash, Latios, Latias. I prefer Shadow Ball unless your team really struggles with Mega Venusaur. Not only that but it is an amazing Revenge Killer easily revenge killing mons such as Latios, Keldeo, Mandibuzz, Manaphy, Crocune, Gengar, Azumarill, and as already mentioned Tflame, Mega-Pinsir, and Thundurus. It can also of course revenge kill Non-Scarf Chomp, broken Multiscale Dnite, Lando-I, Lando-T, and Gliscor with HP Ice. Lastly I think I should mention that Volt Switch is very very useful because Raikou's strong as fuck tbolts force a lot of switches, letting you get easy momentum. I find myself putting this on a lot of my teams recently and really like it. Now that I have explained myself I guess I should put a set lol.
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball / Extrasensory
- Volt Switch
Choice Specs Latios:
Latios
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpA, 252 Spd, 4 Spdef
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power Fire/Thunderbolt
- Trick
- Draco Meteor
Ok, I guess that although I mentioned this pokemon in the OP, I didn't explain it. So, Psyshock is a great STAB move that breaks through special walls, most notably blissey. Despite the -10 BP drop, it still is nonetheless a great move. HP Fire covers steel types, that Latios would normally be walled against. Under normal circumstances, this may not be an awesome move, but with specs, it has a decent boost in its power. Thunderbolt can also be a viable option that can still hit steel types neutrally. Trick is a very notable move here, as it can potentially stop a physical sweeper from doing much in terms of damage. Draco Meteor is Latios's most powerful move, and is 195 BP with STAB, which is pretty powerful.
Calcs:
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mega Venusaur: 330-390 (90.6 - 107.1%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Latias: 384-452 (105.4 - 124.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Ferrothorn: 344-408 (97.7 - 115.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Hippowdon: 417-492 (99.2 - 117.1%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Slowbro: 180-212 (45.6 - 53.8%) -- 41.8% chance to 2HKO
Conclusion: I AM NOT DONE YET. I AM STILL TAKING REQUESTS AND IDEAS.
**************I will add to this later***************
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