I don't think this would warrant any spot above B-, as the opportunity cost is inherently too great. While it acts as a great check to Magmar x Serperior, it doesn't provide much beyond that, as most other Unaware users (eg. Dusclops x Clef, Munch/Null x Quag, etc.) would outclass it at this point. Dragon-typing isn't great and it would definitely appreciate a little physical bulk. Yes, you can argue that its pitiful defense can be remedied by Acid Armor, but it's meant to act as a check to setup sweepers, and a subpar physical defense is not acceptable if it is meant to accomplish that. I'd be willing to reconsider if further argumentation is made.
And I personally want to talk about a few underrated Pokemon.
So first I'd like to go over the Lairon set, specifically Lairon x Dragonite.
Lairon -> Dragonite: 90/140/170/80/80/50
Inner Focus/Multiscale
Steel / Flying type
Dragonite (Lairon) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 248HP / 124 Def / 136 SpD
Relaxed/Impish Nature
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
- Defog
- Metal Burst / Iron Head / Toxic
Previously, I never gave this Poke much thought. At first it just seemed like a subpar Doublade to me, and I originally thought Defog wasn't compatible with Multiscale. But as it actually is, my view of this Pokemon has changed. Having access to both Stealth Rock and Defog as well as slightly better mixed bulk than Doublade bumps up its viability. As for the EV spread, with the specified EV's it does many impressive feats, including:
- Living a Xerneas +2 Modest Thunder through Multiscale
- Taking 80% from a Close Combat from
Adamant Life Orb Rhydon x Gallade and KO'ing back with Metal Burst
- Taking 60% from a
Magmar x Gallade Life Orb Flare Blitz Through Multiscale and KO'ing back with Metal Burst
- Taking a
+6 Moonblast from uninvested CroSprit x Milo without Multiscale, as well as taking at most 60% from a fully invested +6 Moonblast from Sprit x Milo.
Other things it does well against include Archen, Cranidos, Scyther, and, by virtue of its typing, at least half of the offensive Pokes in the game.
However it struggles in the sense that it is highly reliant on Multiscale to survive crucial hits and can sometimes seem like a somewhat passive Pokemon. But with all of this in mind, I urge you to try it out, as it is a nice asset to both stall and balance due to its ability to both set up hazards and remove them. Think of like like a better Skarmory.
Next comes Tangela. Now, I know you're going to ask: "smellslikememe, why Tangela? It's pretty prominent if you ask me." But I'm talking about forgettable but decent evolutions of Tangela, and those are Tangela x Chansey/Persian-A.
Tangela -> Chansey: 215/55/115/120/80/80
Natural Cure / Serene Grace / Healer
Grass type
Tangela -> Persian-A: 90/80/140/125/65/85
Fur Coat / Technician / Rattled
Grass type
I don't have calc'd EV spreads for either of these Pokemon, but they are potent threats in their own ways. Tangela x Chansey is scary purely because of its sheer bulk. While it lacks the typing to reliably abuse the insane amount of bulk it has, it is still noteworthy as a check to certain Ground-types, such as Rhydon x Gallade. Meanwhile, Tangela x Persian-A is a different story. It would be a purely physical bulk invested 'mon, so the spread would be as follows:
Persian-Alola (Tangela) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Synthesis
- Parting Shot
-
Filler
Having a somewhat barren movepool but having access to Parting Shot is a mixed bag for Tangela. It lacks special bulk but has insane amounts of physical bulk. (TimeZone used it vs. an Adamant Rayquaza.
Dragon Ascent did 37%.) It lacks a good support movepool, making it very predictable, and Synthesis isn't a great form of recovery, but this could be used as an alternative to Gligar x Persian-A as a blanket check to physical attackers if you REALLY need a defensive Grass-type for whatever reason.
Finally we have Archen x Whimsicott. I put this here because a lot of people were confused as to what sort of role it would play.
Archen -> Whimsicott: 75/152/70/114/70/120
Prankster / Infiltrator / Chlorophyll
Rock / Flying type
Right off the bat you notice that it has Prankster as its ability, so obviously it must revolve around it. The set I use is as follows:
Whimsicott (Archen) @ Focus sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Taunt
- Stone Edge / Head Smash
- Memento
This set is fairly straightforward, and should only be used on hyper offense. It has a respectable attack stat as well as access to Taunt. It can act as an excellent lead as well as anti-lead due to this. It's fairly easy to use; set up Rocks first turn or use Taunt if you suspect the opponent to be using a suicide lead as well. Afterwards, use Memento and/or Stone Edge and sack it off in order for your offensive team to gain momentum. This works particularly well on teams that can put heavy pressure on opposing Defoggers. Its greatest weaknesses are Dark-types as well as opposing priority users, and cannot reliably pressure either of those.
These Pokemon are generally quite underrated (AbyssalBot doesn't even know how do use any other moves other than Head Smash, apparently, so Archencott is pretty much useless for it) However, I want you to give these 'mons a try, because while they may not be the best at what they do, they certainly have their own niches that distinguish themselves from other Pokemon that would otherwise outclass it.
-smellslikememe
