Status: DONE
#521 Kenhorou (Normal, Flying)- The Pride Pokemon
http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/521.shtml
Pigeon Heart: Prevents Defense from being lowered
Super Luck: Raises the critical-hit ratio of moves; allows simultaneous use of Dire Hit and Focus Energy
Dream World:Rivalry: Rivalry raises the the base power of a move by 25% if the foe and the user have the same gender, but reduces base power by 25% if the foe and the user have opposite genders. If the foe is genderless, move base power is unaffected.
[OVERVIEW]
<p>Kenhorou appears at first to be another typical "weak bird to begin your journey"-type of Pokemon. It is, but unlike Fearow, Swellow, or Staraptor, Kenhorou is more of a support Pokemon than anything else. Kenhorou has a rather wide support movepool with Taunt, Roost, Tailwind, U-Turn, Featherdance, Wish, Gift Pass, and above all Hypnosis. Kenhorou has a stat spread of 80 / 105 / 80 / 65 / 55 / 93. Its Attack is decent, while everything else leaves a little to be desired. On the defensive spectrum, its below-average Defense and HP and horrible Special Defense combined with crippling weaknesses to 3 of the most popular offensive-types in the metagame leave a ton to be desired, though like all Normal/Flying birds it has useful immunities to Ghost and Ground-type moves. On the offensive spectrum, Kenhorou's good Attack is put to waste as it suffers from shallow-movepool syndrome. The viable moves it can use have low base power. Its abilities are also nigh-on terrible. Obviously, it is a rather poor choice in the upper-tiers, outclassed by Torunerosu, Crobat, and Erufuun among others, but can be useful with its ability to boost slower Pokemon's Speed and put Pokemon to sleep.</p>
[SET]
Name: UtilityBird
Move 1: U-turn
Move 2: Hypnosis
Move 3: Roost / Tailwind
Move 4: Taunt / Wish / Toxic
Item: Leftovers / Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Kenhorou appears to be outclassed by Mischievous Heart Torunerosu or Crobat with this set, but does have one very useful thing Torunerosu and doesn't: Hypnosis. It can Hypnosis a Pokemon to incapacitate it, then U-turn to a check, counter, or set-up sweeper. Taunt can stop set-up sweepers or utility Pokemon. Roost is valuable for healing Pokemon. Kenhorou is also useful over Torunerosu for its Normal-typing, as it can switch into Gengar, Goruugo, Mismagius and Shanderra without being hurt by Shadow Ball or Shadow Punch/Earthquake. It doesn't mind Will-O-Wisp at all, making it an effective burn-absorber for your team as well.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Kenhorou can run Toxic instead of Hypnosis, or it can use Toxic to poison a switch-in. Kenhorou can also run STAB Quick Attack to pick off weakened Pokemon. Tailwind is the better option in Ubers (but why would you be using this in Ubers anyway?) for its ability to speed up slower Pokemon like Groudon and Zekrom. It can still be useful in OU to boost Genosekuto, Ononokusu, Sazandora, and other Pokemon with trollish speed, but Roost is usually better so that Kenhorou can cripple more Pokemon. Please note that Tailwind only lasts for 4 turns, so the Speed boost is a limited bonus. Wish is also an option to heal both Kenhorou or another Pokemon, and is the main thing it has over Crobat. However, its HP stat is too small to really help your team. Wish can also not be run with Hypnosis, making it less than advisable. Choice Scarf can be used to boost Kenhorou's rather average speed, but part of the utility of this set is the ability to switch moves to support the team. Kenhorou works mostly as a defensive pivot and support Pokemon, so it can really fit in on most teams, especially helping set-up sweepers. Kenhorou doesn't mind entry hazards as much because of Roost, so a spinner is not as necessary for Kenhorou to function. However, like all Flying types, Kenhorou appreciates a Pokemon that can take out Rock, Steel, and Electric Pokemon. Ground Pokemon such as Doryuzu, Donphan, Randorusu, and Swampert make good partners due to their defensive resistances and attacking strength, and Heatran, Infernape, and Blaziken are helpful against Nattorei, Forretress, and Scizor. If running Toxic, this is a must.</p>
[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Kenhorou, as I've said before, is more of a support Pokemon and annoyer than anything else. It appreciates Spikes and Stealth Rock (Toxic Spikes really strips it of its status-spreading usefulness). A Rapid Spinner is helpful for Kenhorou as it will be switching in and out using U-turn. Nattorei makes a great partner for Kenhorou with it's spinning abilities and resistances to Rock, Electric, and Ice. It can also Leech Seed, which further enhances Kenhorou's ability to spread status. <p>
<p>Kenhorou is countered by Steel-type Pokemon and Rock-type Pokemon for all of its moves. It appreciates Fighting and Ground Pokemon that can take them out. Kojondo is arguably the best partner for Kenhorou in this regard as they form a U-Turn chain while Kojondo dishes out super-effective Hi Jump Kicks. Roobushin also works well due to its bulk and super-effective Mach Punch. All in all, Kenhorou makes an excellent teammate for any set-up sweeper like Swords Dance Ononokusu, Dragon Dance Salamence, Bulk Up Roobushin, or even Nasty Plot Zoroark. Either Taunt or Hypnosis can be used to prolong someone else's set-up.<p>
[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Kenhorou gets Wish, but its HP is not large enough to effectively use it. Gift Pass is a poor man's Trick, and should only be used (if at all) on the UtilityBird set with Choice Scarf. Featherdance forces many physically-based foes to switch out, but is usually outclassed by Kenhorou's ability to spread status and boost teammates. Sky Attack can be used as a one-shot move with Power Herb, but is generally a poor option. Kenhorou can run Choice Band, Choice Scarf, or Life Orb sets, but they are completely and utterly outclassed by every Flying Pokemon except Farfetch'd. Kenhorou also learns Cheer Up to utilize a mixed sweeper set with Cheer Up/Return/Air Slash/HP Fighting, but it does not have the bulk or the Special Attack to make a set like this truly worthwhile.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Like most Normal/Flying types, Rock and Steel Pokemon are the best counters to Kenhorou's Attacks: Scizor, Forretress, Aggron, and Steelix to name a few. However, all of those Pokemon need to watch out for Hypnosis. Without any investment in Special Defense, Kenhorou dies to just about any unresisted Special Attack, and even with investment still takes major damage. Glaceon, Abomasnow, Magnezone, Jolteon and other powerful Ice and Electric Pokemon have the ability to KO. Yet again those Pokemon have to watch out for Hypnosis.</p>
#521 Kenhorou (Normal, Flying)- The Pride Pokemon
http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/521.shtml
Pigeon Heart: Prevents Defense from being lowered
Super Luck: Raises the critical-hit ratio of moves; allows simultaneous use of Dire Hit and Focus Energy
Dream World:Rivalry: Rivalry raises the the base power of a move by 25% if the foe and the user have the same gender, but reduces base power by 25% if the foe and the user have opposite genders. If the foe is genderless, move base power is unaffected.
[OVERVIEW]
<p>Kenhorou appears at first to be another typical "weak bird to begin your journey"-type of Pokemon. It is, but unlike Fearow, Swellow, or Staraptor, Kenhorou is more of a support Pokemon than anything else. Kenhorou has a rather wide support movepool with Taunt, Roost, Tailwind, U-Turn, Featherdance, Wish, Gift Pass, and above all Hypnosis. Kenhorou has a stat spread of 80 / 105 / 80 / 65 / 55 / 93. Its Attack is decent, while everything else leaves a little to be desired. On the defensive spectrum, its below-average Defense and HP and horrible Special Defense combined with crippling weaknesses to 3 of the most popular offensive-types in the metagame leave a ton to be desired, though like all Normal/Flying birds it has useful immunities to Ghost and Ground-type moves. On the offensive spectrum, Kenhorou's good Attack is put to waste as it suffers from shallow-movepool syndrome. The viable moves it can use have low base power. Its abilities are also nigh-on terrible. Obviously, it is a rather poor choice in the upper-tiers, outclassed by Torunerosu, Crobat, and Erufuun among others, but can be useful with its ability to boost slower Pokemon's Speed and put Pokemon to sleep.</p>
[SET]
Name: UtilityBird
Move 1: U-turn
Move 2: Hypnosis
Move 3: Roost / Tailwind
Move 4: Taunt / Wish / Toxic
Item: Leftovers / Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Kenhorou appears to be outclassed by Mischievous Heart Torunerosu or Crobat with this set, but does have one very useful thing Torunerosu and doesn't: Hypnosis. It can Hypnosis a Pokemon to incapacitate it, then U-turn to a check, counter, or set-up sweeper. Taunt can stop set-up sweepers or utility Pokemon. Roost is valuable for healing Pokemon. Kenhorou is also useful over Torunerosu for its Normal-typing, as it can switch into Gengar, Goruugo, Mismagius and Shanderra without being hurt by Shadow Ball or Shadow Punch/Earthquake. It doesn't mind Will-O-Wisp at all, making it an effective burn-absorber for your team as well.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Kenhorou can run Toxic instead of Hypnosis, or it can use Toxic to poison a switch-in. Kenhorou can also run STAB Quick Attack to pick off weakened Pokemon. Tailwind is the better option in Ubers (but why would you be using this in Ubers anyway?) for its ability to speed up slower Pokemon like Groudon and Zekrom. It can still be useful in OU to boost Genosekuto, Ononokusu, Sazandora, and other Pokemon with trollish speed, but Roost is usually better so that Kenhorou can cripple more Pokemon. Please note that Tailwind only lasts for 4 turns, so the Speed boost is a limited bonus. Wish is also an option to heal both Kenhorou or another Pokemon, and is the main thing it has over Crobat. However, its HP stat is too small to really help your team. Wish can also not be run with Hypnosis, making it less than advisable. Choice Scarf can be used to boost Kenhorou's rather average speed, but part of the utility of this set is the ability to switch moves to support the team. Kenhorou works mostly as a defensive pivot and support Pokemon, so it can really fit in on most teams, especially helping set-up sweepers. Kenhorou doesn't mind entry hazards as much because of Roost, so a spinner is not as necessary for Kenhorou to function. However, like all Flying types, Kenhorou appreciates a Pokemon that can take out Rock, Steel, and Electric Pokemon. Ground Pokemon such as Doryuzu, Donphan, Randorusu, and Swampert make good partners due to their defensive resistances and attacking strength, and Heatran, Infernape, and Blaziken are helpful against Nattorei, Forretress, and Scizor. If running Toxic, this is a must.</p>
[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>Kenhorou, as I've said before, is more of a support Pokemon and annoyer than anything else. It appreciates Spikes and Stealth Rock (Toxic Spikes really strips it of its status-spreading usefulness). A Rapid Spinner is helpful for Kenhorou as it will be switching in and out using U-turn. Nattorei makes a great partner for Kenhorou with it's spinning abilities and resistances to Rock, Electric, and Ice. It can also Leech Seed, which further enhances Kenhorou's ability to spread status. <p>
<p>Kenhorou is countered by Steel-type Pokemon and Rock-type Pokemon for all of its moves. It appreciates Fighting and Ground Pokemon that can take them out. Kojondo is arguably the best partner for Kenhorou in this regard as they form a U-Turn chain while Kojondo dishes out super-effective Hi Jump Kicks. Roobushin also works well due to its bulk and super-effective Mach Punch. All in all, Kenhorou makes an excellent teammate for any set-up sweeper like Swords Dance Ononokusu, Dragon Dance Salamence, Bulk Up Roobushin, or even Nasty Plot Zoroark. Either Taunt or Hypnosis can be used to prolong someone else's set-up.<p>
[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Kenhorou gets Wish, but its HP is not large enough to effectively use it. Gift Pass is a poor man's Trick, and should only be used (if at all) on the UtilityBird set with Choice Scarf. Featherdance forces many physically-based foes to switch out, but is usually outclassed by Kenhorou's ability to spread status and boost teammates. Sky Attack can be used as a one-shot move with Power Herb, but is generally a poor option. Kenhorou can run Choice Band, Choice Scarf, or Life Orb sets, but they are completely and utterly outclassed by every Flying Pokemon except Farfetch'd. Kenhorou also learns Cheer Up to utilize a mixed sweeper set with Cheer Up/Return/Air Slash/HP Fighting, but it does not have the bulk or the Special Attack to make a set like this truly worthwhile.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Like most Normal/Flying types, Rock and Steel Pokemon are the best counters to Kenhorou's Attacks: Scizor, Forretress, Aggron, and Steelix to name a few. However, all of those Pokemon need to watch out for Hypnosis. Without any investment in Special Defense, Kenhorou dies to just about any unresisted Special Attack, and even with investment still takes major damage. Glaceon, Abomasnow, Magnezone, Jolteon and other powerful Ice and Electric Pokemon have the ability to KO. Yet again those Pokemon have to watch out for Hypnosis.</p>