[OVERVIEW]
Electrode is the premier Electric-type in RBY NU, wielding a completely unrivaled Speed tier and access to exquisite utility moves like Explosion and Thunder Wave. In a tier dominated by many Flying- and Water-types, its typing is a major boon offensively, allowing it to threaten a vast portion of the tier with its STAB Thunderbolt. Its high Speed also grants it an enormous critical hit rate of 27.34%, providing it with unpredictable bursts of extreme offensive pressure with both Thunderbolt and Explosion that can pave the way to potential sweeps. In addition, this high Speed allows it to uniquely outspeed every wrapper in the tier, lending it important utility versus the large variety of relevant Fire Spin users such as Charizard and Rapidash.
However, while Electrode can be an offensive powerhouse in certain matchups, it has terrible coverage, causing it to struggle against many of the tier's top threats like Golem, Nidoking, and Exeggcute and often forcing it to either switch out or self-KO with Explosion. Its reliance on its Speed also causes it to be threatened out by potential paralysis from key Pokemon like Mr. Mime, Clefable, and the aforementioned Exeggcute. In addition to this, its bulk is mediocre, being 2HKOed by Charizard's Earthquake and Moltres's Fire Blast, meaning that it can struggle to switch in on the Pokemon it's intended to threaten. This forces it to often rely on predictions in order to switch in, making Electrode somewhat inconsistent compared to other top threats. While these come together to make Electrode a very high-risk Pokemon, it has the potential to obliterate opposing teams in certain matchups with proper positioning, granting it a sizable niche in the metagame.
[SET]
name: Fast Attacker
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Screech / Toxic
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Thunder Wave is incredible utility, further enhanced by Electrode's fantastic Speed stat that leaves it almost completely uncontested. It allows Electrode to cripple offensive threats like Raticate and Rapidash and support its slower teammates such as Golem and Kingler. Thunderbolt is Electrode's primary offensive tool, threatening a 2HKO on Blastoise, Seadra, Kabutops, Charizard, Poliwhirl, and the occasional Fearow. Explosion allows Electrode to deal massive damage to many Pokemon, dishing upwards of 52% to even its notable checks like Nidoking and Exeggcute. A critical hit Explosion, or an Explosion on a Pokemon that has been inflicted with Screech, can OHKO the majority of the tier, giving Electrode a powerful tool that can potentially force switches with prediction. Alternatively to Screech, Toxic can be used as the most consistent check to wrappers such as Rapidash, Ninetales, and the rare Dragonair. Toxic's ability to spread poison also lets Electrode support its teammates that use Fire Spin, Bind, or Wrap, increasing the chip damage they provide over time.
While Electrode's movepool is nothing extraordinary, it has several other viable options. Generally, Electrode's fourth move is the least utilized, so it is the most likely to be replaced with another option. Take Down can be used due to its ability to allow Electrode to punish Nidoking for repeatedly switching in, 6HKOing it. While this would normally seem to be a miniscule amount, Nidoking's lack of reliable recovery makes this somewhat practical, and the small amounts of chip damage can become important in practice. For instance, a critical hit Take Down into Explosion is a KO versus Nidoking after minor chip damage. Thunder allows Electrode to guarantee an OHKO on Poliwhirl, making it especially useful in the lead slot to combat Poliwhirl leads that normally threaten Electrode with Hypnosis. In addition to this, it 2HKOes Moltres instead of 3HKOing it. However, Thunder's poor accuracy relegates this as a potent but inconsistent option. Hyper Beam can be used to deal decent damage to Electric-resistant foes without having to sacrifice Electrode with Explosion, dealing between 46.5% and 54.7% to Nidoking after Screech has been used.
Electrode's struggles versus Ground-types causes them to switch in semi-consistently, allowing for its teammates to make bold predictions in order to punish this. Kingler is a great example of this, forcing out Golem with a guaranteed OHKO with Crabhammer while using the opportunity to freely set up with Swords Dance. Alternatively, Seadra can force out both Golem and Nidoking while setting up Agility instead. Electrode's ability to combat Water-types like Blastoise, Poliwhirl, and the aforementioned Seadra lets it be utilized alongside Fire-types such as Charizard, Moltres, and Rapidash. These Fire-types are also able to punish Grass-types like Exeggcute and the niche Weepinbell that may attempt to switch in and check Electrode. In addition to this, Charizard and Moltres are able to come in on Earthquakes that threaten Electrode, thereafter pivoting out with Fire Spin to result in a complete loss of momentum from the opponent.
As an alternative to how it's normally used, Electrode can be used as a lead, acting as a counter to opposing Fire Spin and Poliwhirl leads. However, Electrode leads are countered very well by Venomoth. Electrode can be a difficult Pokemon to use, as it often relies purely on prediction to make progress. This especially applies to Explosion, as using it at the wrong time can often result in a wasted Pokemon (remove comma) due to it possibly exploding into a Kabutops or Golem, which will take minuscule damage. You should usually use Explosion when the opponent cannot be sure of its usage, such as when you have used Screech. If the opponent stays in, they potentially take disastrous damage from Explosion. If they switch out into a Pokemon such as Golem, this risks being predicted with a Water-type like Seadra being sent out. Pokemon like Mr. Mime, Clefable, and Nidoking are fantastic targets to hit with Explosion, typically leading the way for a sweep from the likes of Charizard and Raticate.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pac, 520967]]
- Quality checked by: [[May, 236353], [Enigami, 233818]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073]]
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