I apologize if there is another thread. I searched for another thread and nothing appeared.
Name: Empoleon
Typing: Water/Steel
Stats: 84 HP | 86 ATK | 88 DEF | 111 SPA | 101 SPD | 60 SPE
Abilities: Torrent: When its HP is below 1/3, Water moves are 1.5 more powerful.
[Dream World]
Competitive Spirit: As its stats are lowered, it's attack increases.
Movepool:
Now Empoleon has been -arguably- the best late-game sweeper in existence. I hope it will remain that way in Gen V. Almost nobody likes to take a +1 Torrented Surf from this guy.
Unfortuantley, this guy didn't get anything new other than a new ability, and some moves. Competitive Spirit would've been good if it had a bit more attack points. ditto for Claw Sharpen. But it did gain a new move: Boiling Water. Combine that 80 BP with its 111 SPA and a boost from Petaya... 8D
Well, onto the sets.
SubAgility Petaya
Empoleon@Petaya Berry
Modest
12 HP / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
~Substitute
~Agility
~Surf/Boiling Water
~Ice Beam/Grass Knot
The standard and the most popular set for Empoleon. Agility is the core of this set, and without it, he would not be able to sweep. You send him in after the other team is down by. lets say, 3 Pokemon, Agility as they hit you, then spam that Substitute to bring it down to Torrent and Petaya range. Then its surf's up, or time for tea.
the choice between Ice beam and Grass knot is really tricky; it depends on who you face. If you choose Ice beam, then Celebi and Shaymin are things of the past. If you choose Grass knot, then bulky Grass types are much easier to handle.
Dancing Emperor
Empoleon@Life Orb
Adamant
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
~Swords Dance
~Aqua Jet
~Drill Peck
~Earthquake/Avalanche
Well, here we have a different approach on Empoleon, this time as an early sweeper rather than an a janitor. On paper, this looks awesome, but in real life? I don't think so.
SubSword
Empoleon@Salac Berry
Adamant
252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Spe
~Sword Dance
~Substitute
~Earthquake/Avalanche/Shadow Claw
~Brick Break/Drill Peck/Aqua Jet
(that's a lot of moves to choose from lol)
Here's the strategy i'm thinking of:
you switch in Empoleon onto something it resists, dance when he switches out (if the pokemon WILL switch out in the first place lol), then spam substitute to activate the berry, the rest is all yours. this may look good on paper, but i don't think this will be very effective.
Conclusion:
How will Empoleon be in the Gen V metagame? Will he still be the king of late-game sweeping? Will he still be OU? What will it counter? What can counter it?

Name: Empoleon
Typing: Water/Steel
Stats: 84 HP | 86 ATK | 88 DEF | 111 SPA | 101 SPD | 60 SPE
Abilities: Torrent: When its HP is below 1/3, Water moves are 1.5 more powerful.
[Dream World]
Competitive Spirit: As its stats are lowered, it's attack increases.
Movepool:
— Tackle 50 100 35 --
Charges the foe with a full- body tackle.
— Growl -- 100 40 --
Growls cutely to reduce the foe's ATTACK.
— Bubble 20 100 30 --
An attack using bubbles. May lower the foe's SPEED.
4 Growl -- 100 40 --
Growls cutely to reduce the foe's ATTACK.
8 Bubble 20 100 30 --
An attack using bubbles. May lower the foe's SPEED.
11 Swords Dance -- -- 30 --
A fighting dance that sharply raises ATTACK.
15 Peck 35 100 35 --
Attacks the foe with a jabbing beak, etc.
16 Metal Claw 50 95 35 --
A claw attack that may raise the user's ATTACK.
19 Bubblebeam 65 100 20 --
Forcefully sprays bubbles that may lower SPEED.
24 Swagger -- 90 15 --
Confuses the foe, but also sharply raises ATTACK.
28 Fury Attack 15 85 20 --
Jabs the foe 2 to 5 times with sharp horns, etc.
33 Brine 65 100 10 --
Power doubles if foe's HP is less than half
36 Aqua Jet 40 100 20 --
Always strikes first
39 Whirlpool 35 85 15 100
Traps and hurts the foe in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns.
46 Mist -- -- 30 --
Creates a mist that stops reduction of abilities.
52 Drill Peck 80 100 20 --
A corkscrewing attack with the beak acting as a drill.
59 Hydro Pump 120 80 5 --
Blasts water at high power to strike the foe.
Charges the foe with a full- body tackle.
— Growl -- 100 40 --
Growls cutely to reduce the foe's ATTACK.
— Bubble 20 100 30 --
An attack using bubbles. May lower the foe's SPEED.
4 Growl -- 100 40 --
Growls cutely to reduce the foe's ATTACK.
8 Bubble 20 100 30 --
An attack using bubbles. May lower the foe's SPEED.
11 Swords Dance -- -- 30 --
A fighting dance that sharply raises ATTACK.
15 Peck 35 100 35 --
Attacks the foe with a jabbing beak, etc.
16 Metal Claw 50 95 35 --
A claw attack that may raise the user's ATTACK.
19 Bubblebeam 65 100 20 --
Forcefully sprays bubbles that may lower SPEED.
24 Swagger -- 90 15 --
Confuses the foe, but also sharply raises ATTACK.
28 Fury Attack 15 85 20 --
Jabs the foe 2 to 5 times with sharp horns, etc.
33 Brine 65 100 10 --
Power doubles if foe's HP is less than half
36 Aqua Jet 40 100 20 --
Always strikes first
39 Whirlpool 35 85 15 100
Traps and hurts the foe in a whirlpool for 2 to 5 turns.
46 Mist -- -- 30 --
Creates a mist that stops reduction of abilities.
52 Drill Peck 80 100 20 --
A corkscrewing attack with the beak acting as a drill.
59 Hydro Pump 120 80 5 --
Blasts water at high power to strike the foe.
TM01 Claw Sharpen -- -- 15 --
It sharpens its claws. Increases your Accuracy and Attack.
TM05 Roar -- 100 20 --
Makes the foe flee to end the battle.
TM06 Toxic -- 90 10 --
Poisons the foe with an intensifying toxin.
TM07 Hail -- -- 10 --
Summons a hailstorm that strikes every turn.
TM10 Hidden Power ?? 100 15 --
The effectiveness varies with the user.
TM13 Ice Beam 95 100 10 10
Blasts the foe with an icy beam that may freeze it.
TM14 Blizzard 120 70 5 10
Hits the foe with an icy storm that may freeze it.
TM15 Hyper Beam 150 90 5 --
Powerful, but leaves the user immobile the next turn.
TM17 Protect -- -- 10 --
Evades attack, but may fail if used in succession.
TM18 Rain Dance -- -- 5 --
Boosts the power of WATER- type moves for 5 turns.
TM21 Frustration ?? 100 20 --
An attack that is stronger if the TRAINER is disliked.
TM26 Earthquake 100 100 10 --
A powerful quake, but has no effect on flying foes.
TM27 Return ?? 100 20 --
An attack that increases in power with friendship.
TM28 Dig 80 100 10 --
Digs underground the first turn and strikes next turn.
TM31 Brick Break 75 100 15 --
Destroys barriers such as REFLECT and causes damage.
TM32 Double Team -- -- 15 --
Creates illusory copies to raise evasiveness.
TM39 Rock Tomb 50 80 10 --
Stops the foe from moving with rocks and cuts SPEED.
TM40 Aerial Ace 60 -- 20 --
An extremely speedy and unavoidable attack.
TM42 Facade 70 100 20 --
Boosts ATTACK when burned, paralyzed, or poisoned.
TM44 Rest -- -- 10 --
The user sleeps for 2 turns, restoring HP and status.
TM45 Attract -- 100 15 --
Makes the opposite gender less likely to attack.
TM48 Sing A Round 60 100 15 --
It attacks the opponent with song. If everyone sings together you can use the move in successive turns and have its power increase.
TM49 Echo Voice 40 100 15 --
It attacks the opponent with an echoed voice. If it or one of its team mates uses it each turn, the power increases.
TM55 Boiling Water 80 100 15 30
It attacks by shooting boiling hot water at the opponent. It will sometimes cause a burn.
TM56 Fling ?? 100 10 --
Hurls out held item, power depends on held item
TM60 Postpone -- 100 15 --
It holds the opponent down and makes it attack last.
TM65 Shadow Claw 70 100 15 --
High critical hit ratio
TM68 Giga Impact 150 90 5 --
User cannot attack next turn
TM75 Swords Dance -- -- 30 --
A fighting dance that sharply raises ATTACK.
TM78 Level Ground 60 100 20 --
It stamps the ground and attacks anything nearby. It lowers the opponent’s speed.
TM80 Rock Slide 75 90 10 --
Large boulders are hurled. May cause flinching.
TM86 Grass Knot ?? 100 20 --
Power increases if foe is heavy
TM87 Swagger -- 90 15 --
Confuses the foe, but also sharply raises ATTACK.
TM88 Pluck 60 100 20 --
Power doubles if foe is holding a berry
TM90 Substitute -- -- 10 --
Creates a decoy using 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.
TM91 Flash Cannon 80 100 10 --
May lower foe's SP.DEF one stage
TM94 Rock Smash 40 100 15 --
A rock-crushing attack that may lower DEFENSE.
HM01 Cut 50 95 30 --
Cuts the foe with sharp scythes, claws, etc.
HM03 Surf 95 100 15 --
Creates a huge wave, then crashes it down on the foe.
HM04 Strength 80 100 15 --
Builds enormous power, then slams the foe.
HM05 Waterfall 80 100 15 --
Charges the foe with speed to climb waterfalls.
HM06 Dive 80 100 10 --
Dives underwater the first turn and strikes next turn.
It sharpens its claws. Increases your Accuracy and Attack.
TM05 Roar -- 100 20 --
Makes the foe flee to end the battle.
TM06 Toxic -- 90 10 --
Poisons the foe with an intensifying toxin.
TM07 Hail -- -- 10 --
Summons a hailstorm that strikes every turn.
TM10 Hidden Power ?? 100 15 --
The effectiveness varies with the user.
TM13 Ice Beam 95 100 10 10
Blasts the foe with an icy beam that may freeze it.
TM14 Blizzard 120 70 5 10
Hits the foe with an icy storm that may freeze it.
TM15 Hyper Beam 150 90 5 --
Powerful, but leaves the user immobile the next turn.
TM17 Protect -- -- 10 --
Evades attack, but may fail if used in succession.
TM18 Rain Dance -- -- 5 --
Boosts the power of WATER- type moves for 5 turns.
TM21 Frustration ?? 100 20 --
An attack that is stronger if the TRAINER is disliked.
TM26 Earthquake 100 100 10 --
A powerful quake, but has no effect on flying foes.
TM27 Return ?? 100 20 --
An attack that increases in power with friendship.
TM28 Dig 80 100 10 --
Digs underground the first turn and strikes next turn.
TM31 Brick Break 75 100 15 --
Destroys barriers such as REFLECT and causes damage.
TM32 Double Team -- -- 15 --
Creates illusory copies to raise evasiveness.
TM39 Rock Tomb 50 80 10 --
Stops the foe from moving with rocks and cuts SPEED.
TM40 Aerial Ace 60 -- 20 --
An extremely speedy and unavoidable attack.
TM42 Facade 70 100 20 --
Boosts ATTACK when burned, paralyzed, or poisoned.
TM44 Rest -- -- 10 --
The user sleeps for 2 turns, restoring HP and status.
TM45 Attract -- 100 15 --
Makes the opposite gender less likely to attack.
TM48 Sing A Round 60 100 15 --
It attacks the opponent with song. If everyone sings together you can use the move in successive turns and have its power increase.
TM49 Echo Voice 40 100 15 --
It attacks the opponent with an echoed voice. If it or one of its team mates uses it each turn, the power increases.
TM55 Boiling Water 80 100 15 30
It attacks by shooting boiling hot water at the opponent. It will sometimes cause a burn.
TM56 Fling ?? 100 10 --
Hurls out held item, power depends on held item
TM60 Postpone -- 100 15 --
It holds the opponent down and makes it attack last.
TM65 Shadow Claw 70 100 15 --
High critical hit ratio
TM68 Giga Impact 150 90 5 --
User cannot attack next turn
TM75 Swords Dance -- -- 30 --
A fighting dance that sharply raises ATTACK.
TM78 Level Ground 60 100 20 --
It stamps the ground and attacks anything nearby. It lowers the opponent’s speed.
TM80 Rock Slide 75 90 10 --
Large boulders are hurled. May cause flinching.
TM86 Grass Knot ?? 100 20 --
Power increases if foe is heavy
TM87 Swagger -- 90 15 --
Confuses the foe, but also sharply raises ATTACK.
TM88 Pluck 60 100 20 --
Power doubles if foe is holding a berry
TM90 Substitute -- -- 10 --
Creates a decoy using 1/4 of the user's maximum HP.
TM91 Flash Cannon 80 100 10 --
May lower foe's SP.DEF one stage
TM94 Rock Smash 40 100 15 --
A rock-crushing attack that may lower DEFENSE.
HM01 Cut 50 95 30 --
Cuts the foe with sharp scythes, claws, etc.
HM03 Surf 95 100 15 --
Creates a huge wave, then crashes it down on the foe.
HM04 Strength 80 100 15 --
Builds enormous power, then slams the foe.
HM05 Waterfall 80 100 15 --
Charges the foe with speed to climb waterfalls.
HM06 Dive 80 100 10 --
Dives underwater the first turn and strikes next turn.
Double Hit 35 90 10 --
Strikes twice
Supersonic -- 55 20 --
Emits bizarre sound waves that may confuse the foe.
Yawn -- -- 10 --
Lulls the foe into yawning, then sleeping next turn.
Mud Sport -- -- 15 --
Covers the user in mud to raise electrical resistance.
Mud-slap 20 100 10 --
Hurls mud in the foe's face to reduce its accuracy.
Snore 40 100 15 --
A loud attack that can be used only while asleep.
Flail ?? 100 15 --
Inflicts more damage when the user's HP is down.
Agility -- -- 30 --
Relaxes the body to sharply boost SPEED.
Aqua Ring -- -- 20 --
Restores HP every turn
Hydro Pump 120 80 5 --
Blasts water at high power to strike the foe.
Featherdance -- 100 15 --
Envelops the foe with down to sharply reduce ATTACK.
Bide ?? -- 10 --
Endures attack for 2 turns to retaliate double.
Icy Wind 55 95 15 --
A chilling attack that lowers the foe's SPEED.
Strikes twice
Supersonic -- 55 20 --
Emits bizarre sound waves that may confuse the foe.
Yawn -- -- 10 --
Lulls the foe into yawning, then sleeping next turn.
Mud Sport -- -- 15 --
Covers the user in mud to raise electrical resistance.
Mud-slap 20 100 10 --
Hurls mud in the foe's face to reduce its accuracy.
Snore 40 100 15 --
A loud attack that can be used only while asleep.
Flail ?? 100 15 --
Inflicts more damage when the user's HP is down.
Agility -- -- 30 --
Relaxes the body to sharply boost SPEED.
Aqua Ring -- -- 20 --
Restores HP every turn
Hydro Pump 120 80 5 --
Blasts water at high power to strike the foe.
Featherdance -- 100 15 --
Envelops the foe with down to sharply reduce ATTACK.
Bide ?? -- 10 --
Endures attack for 2 turns to retaliate double.
Icy Wind 55 95 15 --
A chilling attack that lowers the foe's SPEED.
Now Empoleon has been -arguably- the best late-game sweeper in existence. I hope it will remain that way in Gen V. Almost nobody likes to take a +1 Torrented Surf from this guy.
Unfortuantley, this guy didn't get anything new other than a new ability, and some moves. Competitive Spirit would've been good if it had a bit more attack points. ditto for Claw Sharpen. But it did gain a new move: Boiling Water. Combine that 80 BP with its 111 SPA and a boost from Petaya... 8D
Well, onto the sets.
SubAgility Petaya
Empoleon@Petaya Berry
Modest
12 HP / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
~Substitute
~Agility
~Surf/Boiling Water
~Ice Beam/Grass Knot
The standard and the most popular set for Empoleon. Agility is the core of this set, and without it, he would not be able to sweep. You send him in after the other team is down by. lets say, 3 Pokemon, Agility as they hit you, then spam that Substitute to bring it down to Torrent and Petaya range. Then its surf's up, or time for tea.
the choice between Ice beam and Grass knot is really tricky; it depends on who you face. If you choose Ice beam, then Celebi and Shaymin are things of the past. If you choose Grass knot, then bulky Grass types are much easier to handle.
Dancing Emperor
Empoleon@Life Orb
Adamant
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
~Swords Dance
~Aqua Jet
~Drill Peck
~Earthquake/Avalanche
Well, here we have a different approach on Empoleon, this time as an early sweeper rather than an a janitor. On paper, this looks awesome, but in real life? I don't think so.
SubSword
Empoleon@Salac Berry
Adamant
252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 Spe
~Sword Dance
~Substitute
~Earthquake/Avalanche/Shadow Claw
~Brick Break/Drill Peck/Aqua Jet
(that's a lot of moves to choose from lol)
Here's the strategy i'm thinking of:
you switch in Empoleon onto something it resists, dance when he switches out (if the pokemon WILL switch out in the first place lol), then spam substitute to activate the berry, the rest is all yours. this may look good on paper, but i don't think this will be very effective.
Conclusion:
How will Empoleon be in the Gen V metagame? Will he still be the king of late-game sweeping? Will he still be OU? What will it counter? What can counter it?