DP Moltres

kd24

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It's about time I showed this. Moltres can sweep teams somewhat like Yanmega can if you arent prepared for it. Agility is such a great stat-boosting move on Moltres and its one of the few things that seperates it from Charizard.

I used this set very effectively on both Suspect Test and Standard Ladder. It did work a bit better on ST but it works perfectly fine in standard and can give you the edge you need to take opponents down.

http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/moltres

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[SET]
name: Agility
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Agility
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Air Slash / Roost
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest
evs: 64 HP/ 252 SpA / 192 Spe
ivs: 30 SpA / 30 Def


[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Agility is Moltres' only stat boosting move but it can work wonders if used correctly. With a Modest Nature and 192 Speed EVs, Moltres will always outpace Timid Choice Scarf Gengar after one Agility.</p>

<p>Hidden Power Fighting is a nasty surprise for Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Heatran, both of whom are very common switch-ins to Moltres. Hidden Power Grass is also an option, being able to hit bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Swampert hard. Fire Blast is your general STAB attack, used to finish off most opponents. With Life Orb, and a beneficial nature, Fire Blast off a base 125 SAtk is no laughing matter. Air Slash is fairly effective against bulky Water-types as well as strong Dragon-types that may switch in on Moltres. If these Pokemon don't worry you as much as Stealth Rock and taking heavy damage does, Roost can be used to heal off any damage taken from Stealth Rock as well as giving you a reliable recovery move to abuse Pressure with.</p>

<p>Will-o-wisp is also an option if you want to take a more defensive approach on the set.</p>
 
Good idea, helps to distinguish Moltres from Heatran / Charizard too in terms of "Special Attacking Fire Type".

Is HP Ice an option for Salamence?
 
I tried HP Ice for a little bit and it definitely has merits. However, Moltres does 3hko with air slash and can catch a flinch. I also used HP Grass for swampert but it just wasnt effective enough.

I am really on the border of "should i include hp ice" so hopefully i can get more insight.
 
I'd devote a paragraph to Salamence and other Fire-resists, showing how Air Slash can help out there. Make HP Fighting an unlisted option for people that fear Tyranitar more than Tentacruel.
 
Looks good KD. I might mention in set comments the possibility of Hidden Power Grass as well. Generally water types are going to be the first switch ins to any Moltres and outside of Tentacruel I don't see this set doing a lot of Milotic, Suicune, Starmie, Swampert so HP Grass should probably get a mention somewhere.

Edit: I'd still switch in Tentacruel though since even 204 HP / 172 SPD Calm Tentacruel is a 3HKO and with SR is still only a 2HKO 5% of the time. 252 HP / 172 SpD (the tenta I run) is always 3HKO. HP Ground really isn't hurting Tentacruel so badly. You mentioned HP Ground's lack of significant damage on Tyranitar so I think this should be done for Tentacruel as well if you choose to mention Tentacruel in particular.
 
I like this set man. I also like Roost on it way more than Air Slash.

In terms of SE damage, Air Slash only hits Fighters additionally, most of whom (besides Hariyama) you would be dealing comfortable damage to with Fire Blast anyway. I also would never leave Moltres in against Salamence / Suicune anyway, so I don't think the additional damage is that relevant there.

The Flinch is nice (I did Flinch a few times which was nice), but I think Roost helps you so much more, especially with Stealth Rock's popularity.
 
I don't really see a point in HP Ground, except for maybe Tentacruel, who I doubt you'll be hitting hard anyway.

I would suggest HP Fighting over it for a couple of reasons.
- Heatran isn't doing anything to Moltres.
- Moltres can still easily take out Heatran with HP Fighting.
- Tyranitar is much more threatening to Moltres.

I would also suggest to put Roost before Air Slash for that little 'priority of choice'. Roost, theoretically, is much better than Air Slash. Flying-type attacks aren't exactly hitting many for SE anyway. Air Slash doesn't really help Moltres against bulky Waters anyway. One of the less 'common' special defensive bulky water, 252 HP / 0 SpD Swampert, is only 2HKO'd by Air Slash 6.25% of the times (assuming it has Leftovers). 'Effective against bulky waters etc.' isn't exactly how I would phrase it.

Otherwise it looks good!


After reading comments: I disagree with Chris about not listing HP Fight on the set for the aforementioned reasons.
 
i've used moltres extensively before on a team and i could relate for the wanting to use HP ground. moltres gets completely walled by heatran without it. t-tar poses problems to it too, though HP ground really isn't going to be OHKOing it any time soon. i think this is a decent set so i salute the effort to share it on the analysis page. it really isn't a poke you can just plug in on any team though.
 
I would rather use Roost or WoW over HP Ground. Sure, Heatren walls it but thats not such a big deal as some people are making it out to be. A team like this would probably play Scarf Dugtrio or something to get rid of that threat.
 
Thanks for everyone supporting the set and leaving comments.

So should a new set be:

Fire Blast
Agility
Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
Roost

Will-o-Wisp could be used over the hidden powers as well for a more balanced moltres.
 
I agree with RaikouLover. (also, nice pun!)

KD, I really like this set, as I mentioned before on irc. I don't like HP Fight as an option because you're still not doing quite enough to Tyranitar even with the 4x weak, imo.
 
being able to hit bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Swampert extremely hard.
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I personally don't like "extremely" here but I guess it's based on personal preference.

With Life Orb and a Modest Nature, Fire Blast is no laughing matter.
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"With Life Orb, and a beneficial nature, Fire Blast off a base 125 SAtk is no laughing matter." Sounds better imo anyways still small nitpick.

If these Pokemon don't worry you as much as low health
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you might want to consider rewording this. I'm not exactly sure how but I'll edit this post if I think of a better way to put it.

as well as giving you a reliable recovery move to abuse with Pressure.
Click to expand...
Switch "with Pressure" with "Pressure with". You're abusing Pressure not Roost. Unless I misunderstood your post :/.

Thanks have a nice day ^^.
 
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