This thread will be a discussion of building paralysis / flinch / confusion teams for standard (OU). I intend this to be a reference to those people who wish to build such teams built around paralysis to aid in the team's sweeping.
Paraflinch teams work on the premise that a Pokemon who is paralyzed and attacked with flinch attacks has (generally) only a small chance to actually use their attack. These can be 1v1 or 2v2 teams, although 2v2 offers more possibilities. For the most part this discussion topic will cover 1v1 team concepts.
First thing's first, you need Pokemon who induce the paralysis status. There are many Pokemon who can manage this well, and here's a short list of those that I came across, sorted by the paralyzing move. This generally only contains possible standards and Pokemon who could be useful in the main metagame.
Paralysis
[Normal][Physical] 030% 085BP 100ACC - Body Slam
... #143 Snorlax
... #206 Dunsparce (Serene Grace)
... #241 Miltank
... #385 Jirachi (Serene Grace)
... #423 Gastrodon
... #463 Lickilicky
[Electric][Special] 030% 080BP 100ACC - Discharge
... #026 Raichu
... #145 Zapdos
... #233 Porygon2
... #243 Raikou
... #462 Magnezone
... #466 Electivire
... #474 Porygon-Z
... #476 Probopass
[Dragon][Special] 030% 060BP 100ACC - Dragonbreath
... #149 Dragonite
... #254 Sceptile
... #330 Flygon
... #350 Milotic
... #373 Salamence
[Normal][Support] 100% 000BP 075ACC - Glare
... #206 Dunsparce
[Grass][Support] 100% 000BP 075ACC - Stun Spore
... #286 Breloom
... #465 Tangrowth
[Electric][Special] 030% 120BP 070ACC - Thunder
... #385 Jirachi
[Electric][Support] 100% 000BP 100ACC - Thunder Wave
... #135 Jolteon
... #145 Zapdos
... #224 Octillery
... #306 Aggron
... #377 Regirock
... #424 Ambipom
... #428 Lopunny
... #429 Mismagius
... #462 Magnezone
... #468 Togekiss
... #476 Probopass
... #478 Frosslass
... #481 Mesprit
... #486 Regigigas
Choosing the Pokemon is very important since you need to build the team around them. You'll want one or two Thunder Wave Pokemon and a Stun Spore / Glare Pokemon in most cases, but if you do not wish to go that route you need a comprehensive solution to Ground-types who would come in and ignore your Thunder Waves and threaten you. Keeping this in mind, you next need a Pokemon (or three) that can take advantage of the slow speed that the opponent will be at after becoming paralyzed, especially ones that can flinch the opponent. Here is another short list of promising Pokes in this regard.
Flinch
[Flying][Special] 030% 075BP 095ACC - Air Slash
... #006 Charizard
... #146 Moltres
... #169 Crobat
... #468 Togekiss
... #469 Yanmega
[Dark][Physical] 030% 060BP 100ACC - Bite
... #053 Persian
... #059 Arcanine
[Dark][Special] 020% 080BP 100ACC - Dark Pulse
... #094 Gengar
... #248 Tyranitar
... #275 Shiftry
... #332 Cacturne
... #429 Mismagius
... #430 Honchkrow
... #442 Spiritomb
... #448 Lucario
... #454 Toxicroak
... #474 Porygon-Z
... #485 Heatran
[Normal][Physical] 100% 040BP 100ACC - Fake Out
... #026 Raichu
... #106 Hitmonlee
... #107 Hitmonchan
... #122 Mr. Mime
... #124 Jynx
... #237 Hitmontop (Technician)
... #275 Shiftry
... #297 Hariyama
... #308 Medicham
... #392 Infernape
... #424 Ambipom
... #428 Lopunny
... #454 Toxicroak
... #461 Weavile
[Normal][Physical] 030% 070BP 100ACC - Headbutt
... #105 Marowak
... #206 Dunsparce
[Steel][Physical] 030% 080BP 100ACC - Iron Head
... #105 Marowak
... #212 Scizor
... #306 Aggron
... #445 Garchomp
[Rock][Physical] 030% 075BP 090ACC - Rock Slide
... #105 Marowak
... #142 Aerodactyl
... #275 Shiftry
... #286 Breloom
... #297 Hariyama
... #306 Aggron
... #308 Medicham
... #330 Flygon
... #338 Solrock
... #346 Cradily
... #348 Armaldo
... #377 Regirock
... #389 Torterra
... #392 Infernape
... #448 Lucario
... #452 Drapion
... #454 Toxicroak
... #465 Tangrowth
... #486 Regigigas
[Fighting][Physical] 030% 060BP 085ACC - Rolling Kick
... #068 Machamp
... #106 Hitmonlee
... #237 Hitmontop (Technician)
... #466 Electivire
[Normal][Physical] 030% 060BP 100ACC - Stomp
... #463 Lickilicky
... #486 Regigigas
[Water][Physical] 020% 080BP 100ACC - Waterfall
... #062 Poliwrath
... #130 Gyarados
... #131 Lapras
... #149 Dragonite
... #160 Feraligatr
... #184 Azumarill
... #424 Octillery
... #260 Swampert
... #419 Floatzel
... #423 Gastrodon
[Psychic][Physical] 020% 080BP 090ACC - Zen Headbutt
... #128 Tauros
... #169 Crobat
... #373 Salamence
... #376 Metagross
... #385 Jirachi
... #486 Regigigas
King's Rock Flinch
[Fight][Physical] 020BP 100ACC 2-5 HITS - Arm Thrust
... #297 Hariyama
[Ground][Physical] 025BP 80ACC 2-5 HITS - Bone Rush
... #105 Marowak
... #448 Lucario
[Ground][Physical] 050BP 90ACC 2 HITS - Bonemerang
... #105 Marowak
[Water][Physical] 035BP 075ACC 2-5 TURNS - Clamp
... #091 Cloyster
[Ice][Physical] 010BP 100ACC 2-5 HITS - Icicle Spear
... #091 Cloyster
[Rock][Physical] 025BP 080ACC 2-5 HITS - Rock Blast
... #224 Octillery
... #348 Armaldo
... #464 Rhyperior
Well, I lied. Not so short. King's Rock flinchers are notable because they typically can break through substitutes quite easily and still possibly flinch the opponent, but in general the best ones are those that can just do it with their normal non-haxified moves. Next you may want to consider a confusion Pokemon, but only if you have Stealth Rock planned for the team. Here's the bulkiest options in this regard.
Confusion
[Ghost][Support] 100% 000BP 100ACC - Confuse Ray
... #131 Lapras
... #282 Gardevoir
... #452 Drapion
... #475 Gallade
... #486 Regigigas
[Fighting][Physical] 100% 100BP 050ACC - Dynamicpunch
... #068 Machamp (No Guard)
Finally you can start to put it all together. There are some Pokemon, as you may have noticed in this discussion, that are capable of multiple facets of the strategy. Here's some of the major sets that would benefit paraflinch teams the most.
Raichu @ Leftovers
Nature: Hasty (+Spd -Def)
EVs: 44 Atk / 252 Spd / 212 SAtk
Trait: Static
-Fake Out
-Discharge
-Grass Knot
-Wish
Works best with Stealth Rock out. Fake Out deals damage against faster opponents, and once they know that you have it (especially if the Pokemon they have out is at low HP) they'll be inclined to a special wall who won't take much from Fake Out. This gives you a free Wish on their switch out to supply some needed HP to your teammates. Discharge is for a paralysis chance and it still can OHKO Gyarados, and Grass Knot because it's cool.
Machamp @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant (+Atk -SAtk)
EVs: 196 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Def
Trait: No Guard
-Dynamicpunch
-Stone Edge
-Ice Punch
-Bulk Up
Dynamicpunch against paralyzed opponents grants a fun parafusion status duo that works like a 2-5 turn paraflinch chance. Stone Edge hits those things that either resist or are immune to Dynamicpunch and Ice Punch is for Gliscor, who has a problem taking on Machamp after being confused with Dynamicpunch. Bulk Up makes it a great end-game clean-up Pokemon.
Floatzel @ Leftovers
Nature: Jolly (+Spd -SAtk)
EVs: 240 HP / 52 Atk / 216 Spd
Trait: Swift Swim
-Baton Pass
-Bulk Up
-Taunt
-Waterfall
This is Jumpman's Floatzel set and it can be just beyond mean with paralysis support. Waterfall has a great chance to flinch along with the full paralysis chance and Taunt just further incapacitates the opponent. Bulk Up passing is a great option since most flinch-capable Pokemon are physical in nature, and it helps them endure a hit that gets through the paraflinching. Pass to the next Pokemon for great fun.
Marowak @ Thick Club
Nature: Adamant (+Atk -SAtk)
EVs: TBD
Trait: Rock Head
-Earthquake / Bonemerang
-Stone Edge
-Iron Head
-Rock Smash
Rock Smash against switch-ins, should you get the defense down, works wonders with Marowak's monster attack. If the Pokemon is not paralyzed (such as a ground type) then Earthquake in general will 2HKO almost every bulky ground in the game after that defense down, and OHKOs the rest. Stone Edge hits Skarmory and 2HKOs it while it tries to Taunt your paralysis efforts and Iron Head is for STAB, along with hitting Claydol for neutral damage.
Regigigas @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant (+Atk -SAtk)
EVs: TBD
Trait: Slow Start
-Thunder Wave
-Stomp / Confuse Ray
-Focus Punch
-Stone Edge
Really only works with a paraflinch team. Paralysis + Stomp has good flinch hax, rest is self-explanatory.
This discussion post will be updated later, it is a guide-in-progress so to speak. Thoughts and such are very much appreciated.
Paraflinch teams work on the premise that a Pokemon who is paralyzed and attacked with flinch attacks has (generally) only a small chance to actually use their attack. These can be 1v1 or 2v2 teams, although 2v2 offers more possibilities. For the most part this discussion topic will cover 1v1 team concepts.
First thing's first, you need Pokemon who induce the paralysis status. There are many Pokemon who can manage this well, and here's a short list of those that I came across, sorted by the paralyzing move. This generally only contains possible standards and Pokemon who could be useful in the main metagame.
Paralysis
[Normal][Physical] 030% 085BP 100ACC - Body Slam
... #143 Snorlax
... #206 Dunsparce (Serene Grace)
... #241 Miltank
... #385 Jirachi (Serene Grace)
... #423 Gastrodon
... #463 Lickilicky
[Electric][Special] 030% 080BP 100ACC - Discharge
... #026 Raichu
... #145 Zapdos
... #233 Porygon2
... #243 Raikou
... #462 Magnezone
... #466 Electivire
... #474 Porygon-Z
... #476 Probopass
[Dragon][Special] 030% 060BP 100ACC - Dragonbreath
... #149 Dragonite
... #254 Sceptile
... #330 Flygon
... #350 Milotic
... #373 Salamence
[Normal][Support] 100% 000BP 075ACC - Glare
... #206 Dunsparce
[Grass][Support] 100% 000BP 075ACC - Stun Spore
... #286 Breloom
... #465 Tangrowth
[Electric][Special] 030% 120BP 070ACC - Thunder
... #385 Jirachi
[Electric][Support] 100% 000BP 100ACC - Thunder Wave
... #135 Jolteon
... #145 Zapdos
... #224 Octillery
... #306 Aggron
... #377 Regirock
... #424 Ambipom
... #428 Lopunny
... #429 Mismagius
... #462 Magnezone
... #468 Togekiss
... #476 Probopass
... #478 Frosslass
... #481 Mesprit
... #486 Regigigas
Choosing the Pokemon is very important since you need to build the team around them. You'll want one or two Thunder Wave Pokemon and a Stun Spore / Glare Pokemon in most cases, but if you do not wish to go that route you need a comprehensive solution to Ground-types who would come in and ignore your Thunder Waves and threaten you. Keeping this in mind, you next need a Pokemon (or three) that can take advantage of the slow speed that the opponent will be at after becoming paralyzed, especially ones that can flinch the opponent. Here is another short list of promising Pokes in this regard.
Flinch
[Flying][Special] 030% 075BP 095ACC - Air Slash
... #006 Charizard
... #146 Moltres
... #169 Crobat
... #468 Togekiss
... #469 Yanmega
[Dark][Physical] 030% 060BP 100ACC - Bite
... #053 Persian
... #059 Arcanine
[Dark][Special] 020% 080BP 100ACC - Dark Pulse
... #094 Gengar
... #248 Tyranitar
... #275 Shiftry
... #332 Cacturne
... #429 Mismagius
... #430 Honchkrow
... #442 Spiritomb
... #448 Lucario
... #454 Toxicroak
... #474 Porygon-Z
... #485 Heatran
[Normal][Physical] 100% 040BP 100ACC - Fake Out
... #026 Raichu
... #106 Hitmonlee
... #107 Hitmonchan
... #122 Mr. Mime
... #124 Jynx
... #237 Hitmontop (Technician)
... #275 Shiftry
... #297 Hariyama
... #308 Medicham
... #392 Infernape
... #424 Ambipom
... #428 Lopunny
... #454 Toxicroak
... #461 Weavile
[Normal][Physical] 030% 070BP 100ACC - Headbutt
... #105 Marowak
... #206 Dunsparce
[Steel][Physical] 030% 080BP 100ACC - Iron Head
... #105 Marowak
... #212 Scizor
... #306 Aggron
... #445 Garchomp
[Rock][Physical] 030% 075BP 090ACC - Rock Slide
... #105 Marowak
... #142 Aerodactyl
... #275 Shiftry
... #286 Breloom
... #297 Hariyama
... #306 Aggron
... #308 Medicham
... #330 Flygon
... #338 Solrock
... #346 Cradily
... #348 Armaldo
... #377 Regirock
... #389 Torterra
... #392 Infernape
... #448 Lucario
... #452 Drapion
... #454 Toxicroak
... #465 Tangrowth
... #486 Regigigas
[Fighting][Physical] 030% 060BP 085ACC - Rolling Kick
... #068 Machamp
... #106 Hitmonlee
... #237 Hitmontop (Technician)
... #466 Electivire
[Normal][Physical] 030% 060BP 100ACC - Stomp
... #463 Lickilicky
... #486 Regigigas
[Water][Physical] 020% 080BP 100ACC - Waterfall
... #062 Poliwrath
... #130 Gyarados
... #131 Lapras
... #149 Dragonite
... #160 Feraligatr
... #184 Azumarill
... #424 Octillery
... #260 Swampert
... #419 Floatzel
... #423 Gastrodon
[Psychic][Physical] 020% 080BP 090ACC - Zen Headbutt
... #128 Tauros
... #169 Crobat
... #373 Salamence
... #376 Metagross
... #385 Jirachi
... #486 Regigigas
King's Rock Flinch
[Fight][Physical] 020BP 100ACC 2-5 HITS - Arm Thrust
... #297 Hariyama
[Ground][Physical] 025BP 80ACC 2-5 HITS - Bone Rush
... #105 Marowak
... #448 Lucario
[Ground][Physical] 050BP 90ACC 2 HITS - Bonemerang
... #105 Marowak
[Water][Physical] 035BP 075ACC 2-5 TURNS - Clamp
... #091 Cloyster
[Ice][Physical] 010BP 100ACC 2-5 HITS - Icicle Spear
... #091 Cloyster
[Rock][Physical] 025BP 080ACC 2-5 HITS - Rock Blast
... #224 Octillery
... #348 Armaldo
... #464 Rhyperior
Well, I lied. Not so short. King's Rock flinchers are notable because they typically can break through substitutes quite easily and still possibly flinch the opponent, but in general the best ones are those that can just do it with their normal non-haxified moves. Next you may want to consider a confusion Pokemon, but only if you have Stealth Rock planned for the team. Here's the bulkiest options in this regard.
Confusion
[Ghost][Support] 100% 000BP 100ACC - Confuse Ray
... #131 Lapras
... #282 Gardevoir
... #452 Drapion
... #475 Gallade
... #486 Regigigas
[Fighting][Physical] 100% 100BP 050ACC - Dynamicpunch
... #068 Machamp (No Guard)
Finally you can start to put it all together. There are some Pokemon, as you may have noticed in this discussion, that are capable of multiple facets of the strategy. Here's some of the major sets that would benefit paraflinch teams the most.
Raichu @ Leftovers
Nature: Hasty (+Spd -Def)
EVs: 44 Atk / 252 Spd / 212 SAtk
Trait: Static
-Fake Out
-Discharge
-Grass Knot
-Wish
Works best with Stealth Rock out. Fake Out deals damage against faster opponents, and once they know that you have it (especially if the Pokemon they have out is at low HP) they'll be inclined to a special wall who won't take much from Fake Out. This gives you a free Wish on their switch out to supply some needed HP to your teammates. Discharge is for a paralysis chance and it still can OHKO Gyarados, and Grass Knot because it's cool.
Machamp @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant (+Atk -SAtk)
EVs: 196 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Def
Trait: No Guard
-Dynamicpunch
-Stone Edge
-Ice Punch
-Bulk Up
Dynamicpunch against paralyzed opponents grants a fun parafusion status duo that works like a 2-5 turn paraflinch chance. Stone Edge hits those things that either resist or are immune to Dynamicpunch and Ice Punch is for Gliscor, who has a problem taking on Machamp after being confused with Dynamicpunch. Bulk Up makes it a great end-game clean-up Pokemon.
Floatzel @ Leftovers
Nature: Jolly (+Spd -SAtk)
EVs: 240 HP / 52 Atk / 216 Spd
Trait: Swift Swim
-Baton Pass
-Bulk Up
-Taunt
-Waterfall
This is Jumpman's Floatzel set and it can be just beyond mean with paralysis support. Waterfall has a great chance to flinch along with the full paralysis chance and Taunt just further incapacitates the opponent. Bulk Up passing is a great option since most flinch-capable Pokemon are physical in nature, and it helps them endure a hit that gets through the paraflinching. Pass to the next Pokemon for great fun.
Marowak @ Thick Club
Nature: Adamant (+Atk -SAtk)
EVs: TBD
Trait: Rock Head
-Earthquake / Bonemerang
-Stone Edge
-Iron Head
-Rock Smash
Rock Smash against switch-ins, should you get the defense down, works wonders with Marowak's monster attack. If the Pokemon is not paralyzed (such as a ground type) then Earthquake in general will 2HKO almost every bulky ground in the game after that defense down, and OHKOs the rest. Stone Edge hits Skarmory and 2HKOs it while it tries to Taunt your paralysis efforts and Iron Head is for STAB, along with hitting Claydol for neutral damage.
Regigigas @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant (+Atk -SAtk)
EVs: TBD
Trait: Slow Start
-Thunder Wave
-Stomp / Confuse Ray
-Focus Punch
-Stone Edge
Really only works with a paraflinch team. Paralysis + Stomp has good flinch hax, rest is self-explanatory.
This discussion post will be updated later, it is a guide-in-progress so to speak. Thoughts and such are very much appreciated.
