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Pokémon Dragalge (HA confirmed to be Adaptability)
- Thread starter 666lumberjack
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So now that I'm super excited about Dragalge, I was thinking of making a team with it and MMawile. Any suggestions as to what Pokemon would complement these two? I'm thinking a Toxic Spikes Sp Def set on Dragalge (Since no Adaptability ingame yet) and a straight Adamant attacker set on Mawile.
Eh, I wouldn't say it's a glass cannon, even with only a small amount of HP it's taking laughable damage from bulky waters besides Slowbro and comfortably taking hits from the likes of Heracross locked into Close Combat if it needs to. I suspect it won't have too much trouble finding opportunities to come in and obliterate something.
Since MMawile is likely to struggle with bulky steels and both of these Pokemon hate ground attacks, your best bet is probably some sort of flying/levitating ground-type. Gliscor seems like a great option, since it can abuse Toxic Spikes with Subsitute and Poison Heal, maim steels with Earthquake and take on Earthquake-users all day with its bulk and ground immunity. If you go with this, you'll definitely want some way to exploit or threaten Skarmory, however, as it doesn't really care about Mawile or Gliscor and if specially defensive might concievably take a couple of Focus Blasts from Dragalge too.
Mawile can carry Fire Fang for Skarmory, which surprisingly:
- 252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile Fire Fang vs. 224 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 152-180 (46.48 - 55.04%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
...does quite a bit of damage. As a bonus, it grants perfect coverage alongside commonly carried Dark and Fairy.
- 252+ Atk Huge Power Mawile Fire Fang vs. 224 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 152-180 (46.48 - 55.04%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
...does quite a bit of damage. As a bonus, it grants perfect coverage alongside commonly carried Dark and Fairy.
Mega Mawile works great with pokemons like Gyarados imo. Gyarados resists both Fire and Ground, has Intimidate so physical attackers are almost sure to switch and heh. Can grab a DD on said switch too! Otherwise I send Goodra against special attackers that Mawile can't resist. Goodra can take even SE hits like a pro.
You should look a couple pages back where i showed the calcs how this thing can take hits from Banded Hera minus an EQ. Dragalges worst enemy in UU would be a Flygon at best only because both its STABS can okho Dragalge which is why Bronzong is preferred to cover it
Dragalge has such a cool design, and although its initial two abilities suck, I'm glad that it gets Adaptability! Hopefully someone finds out how to get one in-game sometime soon so I can try it out. Some new Egg Moves wouldn't hurt either! I love its Sp. Def!
Well you better carry Pink Blobs on a teams which aren't called Hyper Offense (so you can actually sacrifice your switches if needed) or ur in a lot of trouble. BTW Specially Defensive Jirachi with somewhat reliable recovery (Wish + Protect) should still be able to switch in more then once. Although if your opponent switches for example into Dugtrio, Gothilette or MegaGengar while you use Wish after Dragalge's Draco Meteor (I think you MUST use Wish after you switch after Draco Meteor or you won't be able to do it again) then ur screwed anyway. Or allow something else like Garchomp get his Swords Dance for free as you have only two options to do:
a) Switch out and let someone else take Wish. But it means you can't switch into Dragalge anymore unless you find some free turn to heal yourself on other Pokemon from opponents team.
b) Use Protect to heal yourself, but it's 100% free Swords Dance for Garchomp as an example here. It may be for example Quiver Dance Volcarona as well or SD Talonflame.
Well, the sheer amount of power Draco Meteor brings mean that you can actually buy free turns by just one, max two attacks (Draco Meteor + Sludge Wave) for your other Pokemon (like in an example I provided) if opponents switch-in doesn't have Pokemon which can handle it and have 1-turn reliable recovery. If your opponent uses Wish + Protect Pokemon to take Draco Meteor, you technically buy free turn for yourself or just need to sacrifice something.
And taking into account Dragalge good special bulk with GREAT resistances (Electric, Water, Grass, Fire, Poison, Fighting, etc.) with Toxic Spikes immunity means that finding that free turns to switch in should be easy as hell to do.
We probably look into one of the best wall-breakers in the game. Switching to this thing is a nightmare and unlike some other really powerful Specs users this one has pretty easy time finding those turns to switch-in and it's not hazards weak at all (Spikes are annoying, but that's it and we still have Defog/Rapid Spin/Magic Bounce to deal with those). I don't think it's broken, as it is slow as hell and easy to KO on physical side, but it looks like a top-tier threat once you provide it with good support (VoltTurn, etc.) although playing against it may be a real pain to deal with. Slower teams won't like this guy (and taking into account how suspectible to trapping things like Jirachi and Pink Blobs are) I would be really, really worried in a place of those teams.
To put things into perspective... When running a 252 HP / 252 Special Attack / 4 Sp Def Specs set Dragalge ends up with better stat points in every way except for Speed compared to Latios (and Attack but who cares). When using its NON STAB moves it still strikes with about 90% the power of Timid Latios.
Unlike Latios Dragalge isn't Pursuit weak and can laugh at Fairies. Dragalge is weak to Ground and Psychic but has the advantage of Fairy annihilating STAB Poison. I doubt this thing will end up OU, but might manage some niche role like one that Bronzong or Victini had... perfectly usable in OU, but didn't make the usage cutoff amount.
Unlike Latios Dragalge isn't Pursuit weak and can laugh at Fairies. Dragalge is weak to Ground and Psychic but has the advantage of Fairy annihilating STAB Poison. I doubt this thing will end up OU, but might manage some niche role like one that Bronzong or Victini had... perfectly usable in OU, but didn't make the usage cutoff amount.
I really like dragalge and its typing . This looks like he will be uu most like. I would use a modest specs with mane some speed evs (well if it needs som just to outspeed certain mons ) or mane full in hp with Draco meteor , sludge bomb/wave , focus blast and hydro pump . Specs adaptability draco will surely put in serious damage . I wouldnt scarf this guy with that 44 base speed .
With hidden powers being so easy to get now once we figure out the hidden power IV determinator, I'm surprised no one has mentioned hidden power fire?
Its super effective vs almost all the stuff that walls its stabs: Mawile and Klefki
I don't have time to pull any numbers but I'm curious to see how much adding hp fire to his moveset would help.
Against steel fairies, it should be about as effective as focus blast with more reliable accuracy because 60bp*2 (super effective) = 120 which is just as good.
Only question is whether its worth replacing focus blast which I feel is a possibility. You can take on some things like: Scizor, Foretress, Ferrothorn etc (Who would otherwise get a few turns to set up entry hazards or KO back)
On a side note, I doubt this thing will ever solo a mawile that isn't weakened due to the fact that mawile outspeeds dragalge at 50 speed, but he can definitely tank a non swords danced hit and return a kill if he isn't switching in and mawile has sustained some damage.
Its super effective vs almost all the stuff that walls its stabs: Mawile and Klefki
I don't have time to pull any numbers but I'm curious to see how much adding hp fire to his moveset would help.
Against steel fairies, it should be about as effective as focus blast with more reliable accuracy because 60bp*2 (super effective) = 120 which is just as good.
Only question is whether its worth replacing focus blast which I feel is a possibility. You can take on some things like: Scizor, Foretress, Ferrothorn etc (Who would otherwise get a few turns to set up entry hazards or KO back)
On a side note, I doubt this thing will ever solo a mawile that isn't weakened due to the fact that mawile outspeeds dragalge at 50 speed, but he can definitely tank a non swords danced hit and return a kill if he isn't switching in and mawile has sustained some damage.
252+ Atk Life Orb Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Bronzong: 312-369 (92.3 - 109.17%) -- 56.25% chance to OHKO
Jussayin. Even if Exca goes back to ubers, Mold Breaker Haxorus and Mega Gyarados with EQ bust right through Dragalge + Bronzong as well.
EDIT: I realize the potential tiering differences here, just thought I'd mention it for posterity's sake.
Not trying to speculate on tiers here, but mixed Hydreigon also comes to mind as a threat to the core (if it ever sees any play anymore.)
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Well if you are running Dragalge Zong wont be running fireproof....jussayin!
But yeah mold breaker I know can handle these guys i didnt neglect that fact but in truth the ZongAlgea combo will be deadl
I´ve got a shiny calm skelps and I want to train him... but have no idea how spread the EVs. HP and SP Def? SP At and HP? What would you do?
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You could always just add a Flying-type to compliment this defensive core like Mandibuzz or Gliscor or somethin' too. Maybe even an offensive guy like Talonflame or Megazard Y.
Choice Specs Dragalge holds a lot of potential, for sure. I runned it against many different pokemons and it worked well against lots of them. The set I runned was:
-Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor (that depends on your choice, if you want staying power or immediate damage, the latter is more recommend since you will be switching more often due to choice specs)
-Sludge Wave (your main weapon against fairies, this is chosen over sludge bomb due to highier power and it gains more damage when used with adaptability, the chance to poison doesn't really matter)
-Focus Blast (For steel types that can wall both of dragalge's attacks)
-Shadow Ball/Surf/Thunderbolt (The former is chosen to hit Aegislash, so Dragalge won't be a totally bait against it. Alternatively, Surf and Thunderbolt have their own qualities and can be used as well if you are having problem against specific targets)
-Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor (that depends on your choice, if you want staying power or immediate damage, the latter is more recommend since you will be switching more often due to choice specs)
-Sludge Wave (your main weapon against fairies, this is chosen over sludge bomb due to highier power and it gains more damage when used with adaptability, the chance to poison doesn't really matter)
-Focus Blast (For steel types that can wall both of dragalge's attacks)
-Shadow Ball/Surf/Thunderbolt (The former is chosen to hit Aegislash, so Dragalge won't be a totally bait against it. Alternatively, Surf and Thunderbolt have their own qualities and can be used as well if you are having problem against specific targets)
What about an Assault Vest Dragalge just to make it's SDef stupidly high?
Dragalge @ Assault Vest
Trait: Adaptability / Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Scald
- Focus Blast
Dragon Pulse preferred over Meteor so you can stay in longer and hit harder. Sludge Bomb + Scald to spread status (Bomb for poison on non-Steel/Poison types, Scald for Steel/Poison). Focus Blast for coverage. Lack of recovery hurts, but pair it with a wish-passer and you've got a special wall that will stick around for a long time.
Dragalge @ Assault Vest
Trait: Adaptability / Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Dragon Pulse / Draco Meteor
- Sludge Bomb
- Scald
- Focus Blast
Dragon Pulse preferred over Meteor so you can stay in longer and hit harder. Sludge Bomb + Scald to spread status (Bomb for poison on non-Steel/Poison types, Scald for Steel/Poison). Focus Blast for coverage. Lack of recovery hurts, but pair it with a wish-passer and you've got a special wall that will stick around for a long time.
Some people don't like to run Black Sludge because of Trick. If an opponent Tricks the Black Sludge off of you, they get poisoned, sure, but they also now have the ability to trick that Sludge onto one of your own Pokemon now, poisoning and crippling them in the process.
Opponent Tricks your Black Sludge off and Tricks it to another defensive mon of yours. One good reason not to have it.
EDIT: Shedinja'd
That's a risk with any Black Sludge User though, and it's used on them, so I don't necessarily think thats a good enough reason to not use it in my opinion. I didn't think of that though.
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