Resource ORAS OU Simple Questions, Simple Answers (Read the OP First!)

[aVocado]

can someone explain how people are using focus punch on the same turn it's cast. Whats happening is I switch and they tighten. my pokemon comes out they attack me. that's moving twice in the same exact turn. this is an example of what im talking about http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-116933422

Focus Punch "tightens" and attacks in the same turn. This is how it goes:

Turn 1:
If the opponent used focus punch here, it ALWAYS states "x is tightening it's focus" before protect, switching, mega evolving, priority moves, etc. This line has like +7 or +8 priority, highest in the game.

If you attack, the focus punch is cancelled. If you don't, the focus punch happens. It's that simple. When you switch, you don't attack, so focus punch happens. The focus puncher needs to be directly hit for Focus Punch to be cancelled, that's why substitute is often used with the move.

 

[GoldenSandslash15]

What's the general consensus on Leftovers vs Black Sludge?

Go to Black Sludge's page on the Strategy Pokédex (which, I know, is for Gen 5, but whatever, the effect hasn't changed) and you see a very well-constructed argument for why Leftovers are better. Anything with Trick/Switcheroo can take it from you and get hurt, yes, but then they can just Trick it back onto a non-Poison Pokémon of yours, thus crippling two of your Pokémon. As such, Leftovers is always a superior item, unless you run a mono-Poison team where nothing would be vulnerable to receiving a Black Sludge.

Despite that, several Pokémon in the Strategy Pokédex have Black Sludge listed as their recommended held item, and I very frequently see other players on Showdown! using the Black Sludge on their Poison-types instead of using Leftovers.

Why is this the case?

 

[Consignia]

The general consensus right now is that Black Sludge is better than Leftovers. Here's a good thread where this was being discussed:

https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/black-sludge.3470127/

Analyses have long claimed that Leftovers is superior to Black Sludge on Poison-types.

These claims are not true in practice. Switching in your original Poison-type should not be a gamble if you were willing to switch it in to begin with: it would likely have been a counter or check to the user of Trick in the first place. Furthermore, there are other factors to consider: Black Sludge will wear down its holder (absence of Leftovers plus residual damage), so if you can maintain momentum properly, the Trick user might not even have an opportunity to switch in safely and Trick the sludge back. There's also the fact that the Trick user has to waste a turn to do this, still risking the original Sludge holder / death fodder switching in.

I started using Black Sludge as soon as I realized that it was a better option. I also have noticed that several good players have started / had been using it, as it has come into play in handful of my matches (where I was the one using Trick and getting fucked over by Black Sludge).

(By the way, I dislike this description's tone, especially given the fact that I believe it is wrong.)

 

[Amaan]

Is Flare Blitz good on Bulky DD Charizard X with 144 HP/240 Atk/4 Spdef/ 120 spe

I personally find Flare Blitz better than Fire Punch or EQ, but he analysis doesn't even have it listed as a slash or option.

 

[Indiladhar]

Is there a link to a list of overused pokemon that include x & y overused pokemon too?

 

[Amaan]

Is there a link to a list of overused pokemon that include x & y overused pokemon too?

http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/the-current-smogon-tier-lists.3504634/

(Don't ask me why Infernape is OU).

 

[Indiladhar]

Oh cool, thanks!

I've used infernape as a lead, I've always hated him and still do, but he was effective as a revenge killer/scout/late game sweeper :) Don't use him any more because heatran is so awesome!

 

[Midtek]

What tier is Slurpuff in? Slurpuff was rejected from OU, but I here everyone saying Slurpuff is broken in UU. Does that mean it's borderline?

Slurpuff is massively broken in Little Cup (or whatever the pre-evolution is, I forget... Swirlix?). I think Slurpuff/Swirlix might even be banned in Little Cup.

 

[MoosyDoosy]

Anyone know a generically good OU pokemon team that's pretty standard? (Think Standard Rain Offense from Gen V). Coming back to competitive pokemon after seeing the new sprites and am looking for something good that'll get me some decent experience on the ladder and let me get accustomed to the metagame again.

Edit: Not looking for a newbie team as I was around for the start of XY, but looking for a solid established team.

 

[Magnemite]

Anyone know a generically good OU pokemon team that's pretty standard? (Think Standard Rain Offense from Gen V). Coming back to competitive pokemon after seeing the new sprites and am looking for something good that'll get me some decent experience on the ladder and let me get accustomed to the metagame again.

This is a very standard and consistent OU team right now. It was good enough to make the RMT archive if you need any proof of its success.

Edit @ below: lol get rekt i was first

 

[Amaan]

Anyone know a generically good OU pokemon team that's pretty standard? (Think Standard Rain Offense from Gen V). Coming back to competitive pokemon after seeing the new sprites and am looking for something good that'll get me some decent experience on the ladder and let me get accustomed to the metagame again.

http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/force-of-nature-an-in-depth-guide-to-zard-y.3501476/
Extremely newbie friendly team with easy to use Pokemon(expect Keldeo). Not difficult to use and is extremely effective. Will help you get acquainted with new Pokemon like Aegislash and new Threats like Bisharp

 

[MoosyDoosy]

http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/force-of-nature-an-in-depth-guide-to-zard-y.3501476/
Extremely newbie friendly team with easy to use Pokemon(expect Keldeo). Not difficult to use and is extremely effective. Will help you get acquainted with new Pokemon like Aegislash and new Threats like Bisharp

Hm, I should have been more specific. I was around for the beginning of XY, but the metagame tends to shift constantly. Not exactly looking for a "newbie" team, but looking for a standard, good, solid team. But I'll definitely look into the team. Sounds interesting. :)

 

[Magnemite]

Hm, I should have been more specific. I was around for the beginning of XY, but the metagame tends to shift constantly. Not exactly looking for a "newbie" team, but looking for a standard, good, solid team.

It's not a "newbie" team in that it isn't good in high level play (it gets a ton of usage in SPL and tour), but it kind of is in that it is fairly easy to use. It's still a great team overall.

 

[Amaan]

Hm, I should have been more specific. I was around for the beginning of XY, but the metagame tends to shift constantly. Not exactly looking for a "newbie" team, but looking for a standard, good, solid team. But I'll definitely look into the team. Sounds interesting. :)

Sorry. If it helps, I use this team and consistently get up into the 1700s on showdown.

Charizard @ Charizardite-X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 144 HP / 240 Atk / 4 SDef / 120 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Flare Blitz
- Roost

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Surf
- Roost

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Whirlwind
- Roost

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword

Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast

Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 Def
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock

 

[MoosyDoosy]

Sorry. If it helps, I use this team and consistently get up into the 1700s on showdown.

Charizard @ Charizardite-X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 144 HP / 240 Atk / 4 SDef / 120 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Flare Blitz
- Roost

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Surf
- Roost

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Defog
- Whirlwind
- Roost

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword

Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast

Landorus-Therian @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Atk / 240 Def
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock

It's not a "newbie" team in that it isn't good in high level play (it gets a ton of usage in SPL and tour), but it kind of is in that it is fairly easy to use. It's still a great team overall.

Sounds interesting. Thanks. ;)

 

[The Legend Waker]

How come there's still no RarelyUsed section?

 

[Xylen]

How come there's still no RarelyUsed section?

It's still in Beta.

 

[MyNameIsVeryCreative]

How do you put images and text under your comments? I see people who have the same image underneath every comment they make, such as Magnemite with Tornadus, Thunderus, and Landorus. I assume you can edit that in your profile, but I don't know how to do it. Help me plz?!?!?

 

[Xylen]

How do you put images and text under your comments? I see people who have the same image underneath every comment they make, such as Magnemite with Tornadus, Thunderus, and Landorus. I assume you can edit that in your profile, but I don't know how to do it. Help me plz?!?!?

It's a signature, go to your settings, and you can set them

 

[Indiladhar]

Going from the above link to OU: force of nature, an in depth guide to Zard Y, are there other links with similar team building ideas that focus on other mega evolutions too?

 

[Egyptian]

What are the best defoggers/rapid spinners for HO? Excluding Excadrill because of it's not-very-good speed and somewhat low bulk without investment And latios because of the pursuit problem

Also is SD mega scizor viable in the metagame?

 

[Durant]

What are the best defoggers/rapid spinners for HO? Excluding Excadrill because of it's not-very-good speed and somewhat low bulk without investment And latios because of the ttar/bisharp/even scizor problem

For Defoggers Latios is a great choice. Excadrill is for Rapid Spin but Starmie isn't bad either.

 

[Egyptian]

For Defoggers Latios is a great choice. Excadrill is for Rapid Spin but Starmie isn't bad either.

Latios and Starmie are completely wrecked by pursuit , there are 4 pokes i can think of which are completely viable in the metagame and carry pursuit

I know about Excadrill , But it's low bulk/speed is a problem , Aren't there any other choices?

 

[Durant]

Latios and Starmie are completely wrecked by pursuit , there are 4 pokes i can think of which are completely viable in the metagame and carry pursuit

I know about Excadrill , But it's low bulk/speed is a problem , Aren't there any other choices?

Scizor can have Defog although more offensive sets don't have room for Defog. Zapdos while more defensive can still be a good Defogger on more offensive teams and also works as a mega Pinsir check. But unless your team has a giant Pursuit weakness I would choose for Starmie or Latias since there are only 4 common Pursuit users and even then Latias can have Hp Fire to smack one of them ( Scizor ).

 

[Egyptian]

Defog Scizor Seems Redudent for a HO team , zapdos on the other hand...does 252+ SpA 252 HP evs work on it? (I can't run any bulkier because of the HO theme)

Also does anyone run stone edge on megpinsir to stop zapdos/some damage to skarm?