Focus Punch/Sucker Punch

matg1002

Hey,

I'm new to the Smogon forums, but I've played pokemon for a while. I got into competitive battling this year.

I'm thinking of a potential moveset which uses sucker punch and focus punch. The idea behind it is that you use a priority +1 and a priority -1 move, giving you at least a 50/50 chance of causing good damage, and at best you can sweep an entire team untouched.

I was also thinking of running it with sub and taunt, in case I need a guaranteed hit.

The only problem is that I'm having trouble finding guys who can pull it off. So far, the best I've found is

Nidoking @ leftovers/leichi berry
rivalry - brave nature (speed doesn't matter)
focus punch
sucker punch
fire blast (for skarm switches)
substitute/taunt

which is alright, but his attack is WAY lower than I wanted. Although, he's immune to thunder wave, which keeps para hax off. Still not as nice as I wanted.

The other pokemon who learn sucker&focus punch are kangaskhan, furret, sudowoodo, mawile, spinda, caturne, kecleon, and toxicroak.

Any suggestions? I'd really like to get this set to work, since it would be so fun to play.
 
It could be a fun set, but would require almost superhuman prediction skills.

Nidoking aint too bad with Rivalry. Cacturne gets STAB on Sucker Punch and has a potential 361 attack stat. Shame he takes hits really poorly. Kanghaskan is rather sturdy, could hit ghost switch-ins with Focus Punch and has respectable attack.
 
In that list, Cacturne, Toxicroak and Kangaskhan are the best users.

Cacturne: STAB in Ambush (Sorry, Sucker Punch... I hate this name) and 329 Att
Toxicroak: STAB in Focus Punch and 311 Att
Kangaskhan: No STAB, but she's the most sturdy. (101 Hp Substitutes FTW). Sadly, "only" 289 Att.
 
I would think that Kangaskhan would be the best choice available, due to Scrappy, as it ensures that you can hit anything with Focus Punch. It gets Reversal if you want to go with a Salac Berry based substitute set (set up for four subs, not three), or you could go with some standard attacks such as EQ or Return. You could even go with Avalanche, which would fit quite well with the rest of the set.
 
Thx for the help. I originally thought it up when thinking of potential medicham movesets, so I had upwards of 400 attk in mind, which isn't even close to feasible on anyone else. I haven't checked, but I'm not sure if anyone else has something to handle a skarm switch, which would kill this set. Anyone know off hand Nidokings attack with rivalry activated? Also, how does rivalry work? Does it only work on the switch, or is it like a statup? I ask because I'm thinking that it needs the attk boost to have sucker punch actually kill things, especially if its not STAB. Thx again for the help.

P.S. - I was really bummed to see that Nidoking doesn't get swords dance
 
I've actually just thought that Kanghaskan's stat distribution might not be great for this set. He has pretty high speed, and this set can more-or-less completely disregard speed unless you really want to get the taunt in first (although it might be more fun to just Focus Punch).

For that reason, Cacturne's rubbish speed could be completely overlooked meaning more EV's to increase his sturdiness.

*shrugs*
 
Khangashan actually works very well with that set. She has a 90 base speed which is good, but not amazing so the priority move can really help out against an Agility-Pass teams and speedy psychics/ghosts(ie Azelf/Gengar). Plus you get the big subs as was already mentioned.

My finest moment was putting up a substitute and obliterating a Spiritomb with a Focus Punch and then 2hKO Suckerpunching Mewtwo with her.
 
To be honest, I think Sucker Punch/Focus Punch is a bit of a novelty.

Sucker Punch is essentially equivalent to an Extremespeed, if and only if your opponent attacks. Therefore, it only works well on weakened foes, since stronger ones can take the hit and try and plow through you.

I've used CB Arcanine in advance, and it's very potent while cleaning up weakened foes, but Arcy usually had to take a hit on full HP ones.

In short, the Sucker Punch/Focus Punch mindgame only works late game.
 
I don't think I've seen it explicitly mentioned anywhere, so I'll just throw it out- Sucker Punch works in 2v2 as long as the target attacks... it doesn't have to be attacking the Sucker Punch user. Two Sucker Punchers could probably cover a weakened ally fairly well as long as they don't resist Dark.

Also, the name is dumb. :p Mostly because it's not a "punch", and thus (probably) doesn't get Iron Fist bonus, and handless things like Gastly can use it. It doesn't take too much thought to make these connections... :p
~Uiru
 
Ya, if you pair a sucker puncher with a sweeper in 2v2 you're in the money. I know what you're saying Deck Knight, and that's why I'm trying to think of ways to get those moves off with a high attack. That's also why kangaskhan is looking so nice right now.

It's like a 3 way tug of war - toxicroak and cacturne get the stabs in different places and the high attack, but don't have the defense to handle it. Kangaskhan has the defense, but not the attack power. :-\
 
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