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Choice Scarf... its effects on the Metagame

I know that it can be really annoying to face at times, but I think that the metagame is aided by the addition of Choice Scarf. It keeps you on your toes, and gives you many options to handle counters you previously may not have been able to. At the same time, it can create many more possible threats, but it works both ways. It's not just you that has to look out for Choice Scarf - your opponent does too.

Magic numbers are still important, but there is less of an emphasis on them for many Pokemon. You'll notice that they haven't disappeared altogether - certain Pokemon with Agility (ie. Metagross) aim to outspeed Choice Scarf Heracross at the very minimum.

People often forget that no matter how fast a Choice Scarf Pokemon is, they can often be dispatched quite easily with a priority move. Garchomp is a prime example of this. Scarfed or not, there's no way it's surviving a boosted Ice Shard from the likes of Mamoswine. Aside from that, simply tanking a Choice Scarf user is often enough, as to boost their Speed, they have sacrificed the opportunity to boost an offensive stat.
 
FadeAway had it. People will at all times try to optimize their success. At some point outspeeding things won't be worth it. I won't go so far as to say that causes a rise in stall teams, but maybe just generally more cautious and defensive play. Bottom line, these things are cyclical.

I lead with adamant scarfcham and use timid scarftran on the same team.
 
I definitely see Scarfers as easily countered. Especially Scarfgar. It leads with hypnosis so switch to an insomniac or Natural Cure poke. Then switch back to your lead as Scarfgar goes out.


I predict that Trick Room will become much more effective. If only TR always went 5 turns and it had a damp rock equivalent.

I think that if you cannot outspeed, you may as well go with pokes like CM Slowbro where speed is no matter anyway.


Weirdest thing I have scarfed would have to be my olf infernape lead. I usually don't even have a Scarfer on my team anymore. I do go one CB and one CSpecs though.
 
RaikouLover said:
  1. Is the Choice Scarf hampering or improving the metagame, in regards to strategy, originality, and effectiveness? I say improving.
  2. Are there meanings to Magic Numbers anymore? Yes, you still need t outspeed regular pokes.
  3. How many Choice Scarfers are you willing to use on a team? 1.
  4. What is the wierdest thing you slapped a choice scarf on? Kingler, it worked pretty good. :)
  5. Finally, how do you go about countering these speedy pokemon? Bulky Pokemon like Suicune can counter scarfers easily, also resistances when I'm playing all out defense.
Click to expand...
 
Bulky Pokemon like Suicune can counter scarfers easily,
Click to expand...

That's very ambiguous. For example, Suicune can't really counter many Scarfers at all. If max/max + nature Suicune switches in on an Outrage, he'll be 3HKO'd, and in his one attacking turn will deal 99% damage to Garchomp at most. Similarly, if he were to switch in on a ScarfGar Thunderbolt, he would be 2HKO'd effortlessly.

A good Scarfer should ideally have:

- A good attacking stat
- A wide range of attacks
- The ability to outspeed all standard non-Scarfers

In order to counter such a Pokemon you'll either need to predict and send out a resist/immune, or send out a catch-all wall (read: Blissey).

Basically...a GOOD scarfer can't really be countered by any one Pokemon. They are countered by prediction and prediction alone. For example, the two premier Scarfers atm seems to be Gengar and Garchomp, neither of which can be reliably countered if the right move is selected. And any item that promotes prediction is fine by me.
 
You're forgetting Heatran, who hits every type in the game neutral with one of three moves, and can Explode on Blissey.
 
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