np: ORAS UU Stage 6 - Slow Hands

[Aberforth]

I was fairly certain Snorlax got selfestruct already.

 

[Hogg]

Self-destruct was already legal on lax. I haven't looked through everything in depth, but from a brief glance I can't really see any noteworthy changes.

 

[Serene Grace]

Blissey gets Serene Grace Tri attack. GG

 

[Mega-Pokebattlerz]

SM will be 7th gen, Gen 1 Pokémon can't be sent to ORAS or XY. This discussion is pointless.

 

[DaSpoofy]

SM will be 7th gen, Gen 1 Pokémon can't be sent to ORAS or XY. This discussion is pointless.

are you certain because we can get the download for gen 1 tomorrow. It would seem kind of funny to not be able to send pokemon over from gen 1 to the current gen on the same device it is being played on.

 

[Sam]

this is literally ~10 months down the line (and an entirely new generation) let's worry about the current metagame please thanks

 

[Mega-Pokebattlerz]

are you certain because we can get the download for gen 1 tomorrow. It would seem kind of funny to not be able to send pokemon over from gen 1 to the current gen on the same device it is being played on.

Yes, Bulbanews just confirmed it.

 

[Thisbemyalt]

So for those who don't know the legendary birds got their hidden abilities today
edit: http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wi...f_Hidden_Ability_Legendary_birds,_Shiny_Eevee

 

[newfren]

Static zapdos is fun I guess, the other birds are reasonably irrelevant to our tier though.

Even then I'm sure a bunch of zapdos will still run pressure to stall out stone edges and shit.

 

[Cactrune]

I really really wish that Zapdos still had lightningrod as its HA. Really sucks that they changed it.

 

[Bluemargay]

Zapdos would be so much if it learned Defog. It has some use in UU, but it's useless in OU

 

[Heavyweapons Mann]

Zapdos would be so much if it learned Defog. It has some use in UU, but it's useless in OU

Doesn't Zapdos already learn Defog?

 

[Serene Grace]

I think he means that defog is incompatible with static. If it had static and defog it would no doubt be a lot cooler.

 

[DaSpoofy]

Static will obviously be better on offensive varients. Same goes for Moltres.

 

[kokoloko]

i'll probably still use pressure on roost zap. static will be nice of specs/scarf i suppose?

 

[tehy]

a big potential use I see is switching into beedrill u-turns, once that thing gets paralysed may as well stick a fork in it

same goes for scarf shao. scarf hera wouldn't like it either!

pressure is still cool i guess, definitely screws over shaymin, it just seems like it has more theoretical use than real. static gives you a nice last-ditch check to any physical sweeper not packing a lum (those usually have outrage and use it, so they'll at least confuse themselves. if you're facing the legend lum gyara you might be out of luck, but as we all know they do not exist so.)

 

[LRXC]

Yeah really stinks Zapdos cant have Defog and Static, meaning Static will only be useable on offensive sets like Scarf/Specs, or 3 attacks LO roost. Static will be really cool though, as it really pressures u-turners that would switch out of it such as Whimsicott, Beedrill, Mienshao, etc. Also just works as a nice last ditch effort. It also forces people to play less aggressive, as for example. Someone may Close Combat on a semi-obvious Zapdos switchin, just because its the safe play, but you risk getting paralyzed, and crippled for the match. But yeah, will see some fun use out of it, even though Defensive is more popular.

 

[Ramses]

I don't really see how it benefits more from Static than Pressure in nearly all aspects.

It's obvious that Pressure is the best ability on all defensive sets as stalling out low PP moves like Gyro Ball, Close Combat, and Seed Flare pretty easily. I see the merit in being able to spread paralysis semi-reliably but the semi-reliably part is what makes it a little undesirable as opposed to Pressure. And the fact having Defog + Static is illegal. Even on offensive sets (scarf is a thing? guess it's on my list then) I'd be more inclined to use Pressure as being able still chip away at low PP moves it just a lot better than forcing yourself to take a hit for a 30% chance to punish with paralysis. On LO + Roost sets I can see some merit in Static since you've got Roost which means you've got longevity on your side and you're not defensive, but that's about it.

I mean if you're using Static thinking, "this is my last-ditch check to this +2 Salamence" or you're relying heavily upon luck to check something that only has a 30% chance to be paralyzed, you shouldn't expect to win that match. Stick to Pressure.

 

[Hogg]

I mean if you're using Static thinking, "this is my last-ditch check to this +2 Salamence" or you're relying heavily upon luck to check something that only has a 30% chance to be paralyzed, you shouldn't expect to win that match. Stick to Pressure.

The point of Static isn't that it is your last ditch chance of stopping a sweep; the point is that it discourages people from spamming certain moves. Things like Whimsicott, Beedrill or Mienshao are not going to feel comfortable spamming U-Turn (normally an incredibly low risk move) knowing that there's a 30% chance they'll be crippled for the match. It also means that things like non-Stone Edge Cobalions trying to wear down Zapdos by making it repeatedly switch into Rocks + Iron Head for a late-game sweep can no longer do that.

I also tend to think Defog on Zapdos is kind of not great anyhow, so the illegality of it doesn't really bother me. Some sets will definitely prefer Pressure, no doubt, but ironically Static can actually pressure opposing teams a lot more than Pressure can. I definitely think it's an upgrade for many sets.

 

[Nightingales]

Zapdos tends to be my go-to defogger, but I tend to run a specially defensive set so I think it won't benefit me too much. Pdef would certainly love it on defog, but pressure is still great for stall.

 

[Adaam]

Off topic nitpick but AV Escav is incredibly underwhelming and any hype it may or may not have gotten was undeserved. SD Lefties Escav, however, is great in this meta, so I implore you try it out over AV sets

 

[Malin]

for record AV anything is really bad in UU besides maybe AV Machamp

 

[DMT]

Wow yay good, I really haven't been enjoying UU as of late because there's not been enough paralysis. Really thinking the fact that touching a Zapdos can paralyze you will make me want to play more.

Also, does static effect ground types? Just thinking about krook v zap. Static does work on ground types. Rip.

All that aside though, how many Zapdos do you actually see that don't run defog? Not a whole lot.

 

[Shadestep]

for record AV anything is really bad in UU besides maybe AV Machamp

how about AV Metagross? It was a set people hyped up when it re-entered UU a couple weeks back. Is a resist berry or a LO better?

 

[Amaroq]

I haven't used Metagross super extensively or anything, but Shuca Berry has let it lure and/or check stuff like Nidoqueen/Salamence/Gyarados/etc. that the teams I used it on would ordinarily have trouble with. Occa/Colbur Berries can do the same thing for specific threats you really want Metagross to beat, but Shuca is probably the best option for a resist berry. Leftovers is also a decent option. I don't like Life Orb on it, though, since I'd generally want to use Metagross as a bulky tank that uses its durability to check stuff as opposed to its power to break walls and would prefer that its item somehow increase its longevity rather than its offensive power.