Honchkrow (analysis)

ChinchillaBau5

ChinchillaBau5

Hi everyone, this is my first analysis and I hope to bring some interesting information and points about:​
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Honchkrow
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Honchkrow was introduced in Gen IV, being the evolution of Murkrow. Honchkrow has a really high Attack stat of 125, partnered with a good HP stat of 100 but it's let down with its sad defence stats (52 for both), but you needn't worry because about that because you probably won't be running a defensive Honch. I feel that I should also note that Honchkrow also has a Special Attack stat of 105, which can be quite handy if you want to have a 'ambidextrous' type of Honchkrow, if you know what I mean. So let's take a look at some of the moves that Honchkrow can use:
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  • Honchkrow has a powerful, STAB priority move-Sucker Punch which is great for revenge killing bulk setup Pokemon (like Dragonite or Venusaur).
  • Honchkrow has Brave Bird, which, just like Sucker Punch, has STAB too!
  • Superpower is great for getting rid of those pesky Tyranitars or similar Pokemon (and they won't even see it coming)
  • Heat Wave can be used as an alterior to Superpower and is great for clearing nuisances like Ferrothorn.
These are just a few of Honchkrows many moves, but they're the ones I find to be most common and most effective.

I currently run Honchkrow on my team, with Moxie (like the 1950s gangster he is) and an Adamant Nature, quite honestly because he helps me get out of sticky situations (and besides the reason that he wears that badass hat!)

Here is a moveset that you could run when using Honch (the ChinchillaBau5 style):

Nature: Adamant
Ability: Moxie
EVs: +252 Attack, +252 Spd, +4 HP
Item: Dark Gem
Moves:​
  • Brave Bird
  • Sucker Punch
  • Substitute
  • Superpower
You may be thinking "Wow, he loves his moves that start with 's'!" however I simply use this moveset because I found it to be highly effective. The Dark Gem really helps you in those, as I said earlier, sticky-situations; because you have this priority and STAB attack that hits as hard as a Brave Bird! Now if you ever have trouble with a Venusaur setting up in Sun, or something of that nature, Sucker Punch away!

You can find some more movesets here: http://www.serebii.net/potw-dp/430.shtml

Honchkrow has to be on my top 10 favourite list, for both power and personality, I hope I've given you a reason to give him a go!

I hope you guys found this analysis to be helpful in some way. Please post your thoughts, suggestions and what-not, they will be greatly appreciated.


Regards,
ChinchillaBau5



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Honckrow really doesn't need an OU analysis. It's extremely frail, pretty slow, and has to rely on Sucker Punch for priority which can easily be worked around with a status move, Substitute, etc. To be honest, I think Bisharp outclasses Honchkrow in most cases, because it not only has access to Swords Dance, but its Steel-typing lets it setup on things like Tyranitar, Scizor, Celebi, Jirachi, etc. Honchkrow HAS to KO at least one Pokemon before it can get an Attack boost, and it lacks a lot of useful resistances that Bisharp has to come in safely and get the ball rolling. To top it all off, it's weak to Stealth Rock, which makes it more of a liability.

Bisharp is a pretty niche Pokemon on its own and isn't that fantastic in this metgame, but it's still very threatening because of its ability to sweep with SD Sucker Punch and setup in the face of a lot of defensive Pokemon, which is why it's getting an analysis. Honchkrow requires MUCH more support than Bisharp.
 
Gary2346 said:
Honckrow really doesn't need an OU analysis. It's extremely frail, pretty slow, and has to rely on Sucker Punch for priority which can easily be worked around with a status move, Substitute, etc. To be honest, I think Bisharp outclasses Honchkrow in most cases, because it not only has access to Swords Dance, but its Steel-typing lets it setup on things like Tyranitar, Scizor, Celebi, Jirachi, etc. Honchkrow HAS to KO at least one Pokemon before it can get an Attack boost, and it lacks a lot of useful resistances that Bisharp has to come in safely and get the ball rolling. To top it all off, it's weak to Stealth Rock, which makes it more of a liability.

Bisharp is a pretty niche Pokemon on its own and isn't that fantastic in this metgame, but it's still very threatening because of its ability to sweep with SD Sucker Punch and setup in the face of a lot of defensive Pokemon, which is why it's getting an analysis. Honchkrow requires MUCH more support than Bisharp.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply, Gary2346. I completely understand what you're saying, that Bisharp 'outclasses' Honchkrow, however the problem I have with Bisharp is its x4 weakness to Fighting, with Mach Punch users like Conk and Breloom, this becomes a problem. A +2 Iron Head/Sucker Punch generally won't KO a Conkeldurr, because of it's great physical bulk. Also it is pesky because your opponent will (or at least should) expect a Sucker Punch, so you could fall victim to predictions. You see, I've been using Honchkrow for quite a while in OU, and it's helped me win countless battles, so I thought I should do it justice and share my experience with him.

I have also used Bisharp, with all the same reason that you've listed, however I believe Honchkrow deserves some recognition too.
 
To put it bluntly, Honchkrow sucks in OU. It's too frail, weak to Stealth Rock, weak to priority, walled by literally any physically defensive Pokemon, outclassed by other priority users, and just outclassed in general as an offensive attacker.

It's not good enough for me.

QC REJECT 1/3
 
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