Conkeldurr (Analysis)

[ncsbert]

Detect is preferred because of Protect potentially being locked by an Imprison. Unless I'm overlooking something the only possible Detect + Imprison combo would come from Zoroark.

No Pressure users in VGC 2011 + 8 PP after being maxed + you're likely taking Flame Orb damage = Detect should have plenty of PP for Conkeldurr's purposes.

 

[Lucien Lachance]

Ncsbert, I'm pretty sure the only pokemon who uses Imprison is Chandelure and it's not going to be running Trick Room + Imprision + Protect. It needs Heat Wave and Shadow Ball to be effective. Plus, you're better off just Rock Sliding it for an easy kill. Plus, better safe than sorry. I know I do everything in my power to give me the edge.

Edit: The only other Imprision users save Chandelure are:
Cofagrigius (has too much on it's plate to even bother wasting 3 move slots)
Vanilluxe: (might not even run protect since it's more than likely scarfed, plus, why protect when you can Rock Slide / Drain Punch it?)
Reuniclus: (Also has too much on it's plate to burn 3 moves)
Musharna: (Again, too much on its plate to handle)
Swoobat: (Even if you DID see one, Rock Slide away)
Beheeyem (I have never seen one in VGC)
Zoroark (Very rare in the VGCs. Plus it's too weak to even take a hit unless it's sashed.)
I'm pretty sure none of them will run Imprision at Nationals. The metagame has matured enough where secret weapons aren't being seen. Save mine.

 

[ncsbert]

It's true that in Conkeldurr's case, the choice is almost a mute point. You're basically picking between more PP and being paranoid about an extremely unlikely (Imprison + Detect) situation. And, as you've illustrated, its time it better spent just KOing many of the Imprison users anyway.

Regardless, in a typical VGC 2011 match, I don't think it is likely that Conk will get to use up all 8 PP from a maxed Detect, let alone the 16 from Protect. I'd only pick Protect if I was not carrying Flame Orb.

Or, you could just go with Detect because the animation for the move is cooler. =P

 

[Darkmalice]

Taken from the Scrafty analysis, which doesn't even have Protect mentioned.

Protect has more pp, Detect is less likely to be imprisoned. Detect was always better to prepare for Imprison + Explosion teams in the past, since those don't exist this year the difference is less, but Detect is still better.

You'll never run out of PP for Detect with Conkeldurr. Same goes for any Pokemon, but even more so for Conkeldurr thanks to Flame Orb.

And before anyone brings up Egg move combinations, Mach Punch + Drain Punch + Detect and Mach Punch + Wide Guard + Detect are legal (Hitmonchan and Hitmontop father respectively).

 

[kingofmars]

Detect>Protect, added, please stop posting.

 

[Calisto]

Edit: The only other Imprision users save Chandelure are:
Cofagrigius (has too much on it's plate to even bother wasting 3 move slots)
Vanilluxe: (might not even run protect since it's more than likely scarfed, plus, why protect when you can Rock Slide / Drain Punch it?)
Reuniclus: (Also has too much on it's plate to burn 3 moves)
Musharna: (Again, too much on its plate to handle)
Swoobat: (Even if you DID see one, Rock Slide away)
Beheeyem (I have never seen one in VGC)
Zoroark (Very rare in the VGCs. Plus it's too weak to even take a hit unless it's sashed.)
I'm pretty sure none of them will run Imprision at Nationals. The metagame has matured enough where secret weapons aren't being seen. Save mine.

Protect has more pp, Detect is less likely to be imprisoned. Detect was always better to prepare for Imprison + Explosion teams in the past, since those don't exist this year the difference is less, but Detect is still better.

I've already run into a Landorus with Rock Slide, Imprison, Explosion and Protect. It definitely doesn't look like a completely crazy set considering the abundance of Rock Slide. Having said that, the discussion of Protect vs Detect is just silly because it will never make a difference anyway. You're WAY more likely to get haxed to death than something this trivial.

 

[Alaka]

It may make a difference almost never, but we aren't here to say well whatever go ahead and use this cause its basically as good. The clear advantage goes to Detect, so Detect will be recommended, the fact that detect isn't that much better isn't a reason not to use it.

Please no more posts on the detect protect thing.