Paras (Gen 4, AgiliSpore)*

Dubulous

Dubulous

I look just like Buddy Holly.
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http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/paras
46_paras_1_m.png


[SET]
name: AgiliSpore
move 1: Agility
move 2: Spore
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Bug Bite / X-Scissor
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Jolly
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses a more offensive approach to Paras. After an Agility, Paras reaches 26 Speed, which is enough to outpace all non-boosted Pokemon. Paras's immunity to Water-type attacks and physical bulk gives it several opportunities to come in, allowing it to easily set up an Agility. Spore gives Paras an advantage over other Agility sweepers, as it allows it to incapacitate a potential counter.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Life Orb attached, Seed Bomb can OHKO Mankey after Stealth Rock damage, a Pokemon that cannot be dealt with using Spore because it has the ability Insomnia. Bug Bite is another strong STAB attack, and it is comes with the added benefit of stealing the opponent's Berry. Given Oran Berry's prominence in Little Cup, it is more than likely that Paras will be able to heal itself, which makes Life Orb a viable option. X-Scissor is a stronger Bug-type attack, but Oran Berry is recommended with it to increase Paras's survivability. The given EVs maximize Paras's Attack and Speed while adding an extra point in HP. Paras is most effective when it switches in on slower, bulkier Pokemon that don’t pack a super effective move so that it can set up an Agility without using Spore, which can then be used on an incoming counter.</p>

<p>Several faster Choice Scarf users like Gligar and Gastly will still outpace you even after you set up. Wynaut can be useful to remove Choice Scarf users thanks to its ability, Shadow Tag. Teammates that draw in Water-type moves are ideal so that Paras can switch in with impunity. Flash Fire Pokemon, such as Houndour and Ponyta, not only attract Water-type moves but can gain a boost from the Fire-type moves aimed at Paras. Rock-type Pokemon can make good teammates because they resist Fire- and Flying-type moves that Paras is weak to. Omanyte deserves a special mention, since it sports a resistance to Flying-type moves and a double resistance to Fire-type moves, and has the ability to set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can turn some 2HKOs into OHKOs. Omanyte also draws in Fighting-, Electric-, Ground-, and Grass-type attacks that Paras can easily switch in on.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]

<p>Brick Break is an option over either attacking moves on the AgiliSpore set if you’re worried about Aron setting up on you, but Paras will miss either the ability to hit Gligar with Seed Bomb or the potential recovery with Bug Bite.</p>
 
[SET]
name: AgiliSpore
move 1: Agility
move 2: Spore
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Bug Bite / X-Scissor
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Jolly
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is a more offensive approach to Paras. After an Agility, Paras reaches 26 Speed, which is enough to outspeed all non-boosted Pokemon. Paras’s immunity to Water-type attacks and physical bulk gives it has several opportunities to switch in, allowing it to easily set up an Agility. Spore gives it an advantage over other Agility sweepers [It seems that you are saying that Paras should be the only Agility sweeper], as it allows Paras to incapacitate a potential counter.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Life Orb attached, Seed Bomb gives Paras the ability to OHKO Mankey, who cannot be put to sleep if it has Vital Spirit, after Stealth Rock damage. Bug Bite is another strong STAB attack, and it [removed] comes with the added benefit of stealing the opponent’s Berry. Given Oran Berry’s prominence in Little Cup, it is more than likely that Paras will be able to heal itself, which makes Life Orb a viable option. X-Scissor is a stronger Bug-type attack, but Oran Berry is recommended with it to increase Paras’ survivability. The given EVs maximize Paras’s Attack and Speed while adding an extra point in HP.</p>
 
I know I can't contribute much, but I really really like this set. Good work.

Edit: this set alone makes me wanna play little cup. Really. :D
 
Really good set, I must say.

You forgot to mention team options for the set under [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]. What teammates work well with Paras? I would assume that Pokemon that attract Water, Ground, Grass, Fighting, or Electric moves would be decent partners. For example, you can mention Omanyte as a good teammate. It can set up Spikes to help Paras sweep more effectively, and it attracts Fighting-, Ground-, Electric-, and Grass-types moves that Paras can switch in on and set up. You can also mention Onix, who can set up Stealth Rock and resists Paras' weaknesses to Fire and Rock. Onix also attracts Water, Ground, and Fighting attacks that Paras can switch in on. Finally, you can mention Houndour as a good offensive partner, switching right into Fire-type moves fired at Paras for a free Flash Fire boost.

Nice job!
 
Whoops I was thinking Vital Spirit but wrote Insomnia, my bad.

Added the Team Options in and fixed up the minor errors that I had previously overlooked.
 
Dubulous said:
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/paras
46_paras_1_m.png


[SET]
name: AgiliSpore
move 1: Agility
move 2: Spore
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Bug Bite / X-Scissor
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Jolly
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses more offensive approach to Paras. After an Agility, Paras reaches 26 Speed, which is enough to outpace all non-boosted Pokemon. Paras’s immunity to Water-type attacks and physical bulk gives it has several opportunities to switch in, allowing it to easily set up an Agility. Spore give Paras an advantage over other Agility sweepers, as it allows Paras to incapacitate a potential counter.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Life Orb attached, Seed Bomb gives Paras the ability to OHKO Mankey, who cannot be put to sleep if it has Vital Spirit, after Stealth Rock damage. Bug Bite is another strong STAB attack, and it comes with the added benefit of stealing the opponent’s Berry. Given Oran Berry’s prominence in Little Cup, it is more than likely that Paras will be able to heal itself, allowing it to take more priority attacks and sweep longer. X-Scissor is a stronger Bug-type attack, but Oran Berry is recommended with it to increase Paras’ survivability. The given EVs maximize Paras’s Attack and Speed while adding an extra point in HP.</p>

<p> Teammates that draw in Water-type moves are ideal so that Paras can switch in with impunity. Flash Fire Pokemon, like Houndour and Ponyta, not only attract Water-type moves but can gain a boost from the Fire-type moves aimed at Paras. Rock-type Pokemon can make good teammates because they resist Fire- and Flying-type moves that Paras is weak too. Omanyte deserves a special mention, since it sports a resistance to Flying-type moves and a double resistance to Fire-type moves, and has the ability to set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can turn some 2HKOs into OHKOs. Omanyte also draws in Fighting-, Electric-, Ground-, and Grass-type attacks that Paras can easily switch in on. </p>
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Christ Dub this is a good analysis
 
Dubulous said:
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/paras
46_paras_1_m.png


[SET]
name: AgiliSpore
move 1: Agility
move 2: Spore
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Bug Bite / X-Scissor
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Dry Skin
nature: Jolly
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses a more offensive approach to Paras. After an Agility, Paras reaches 26 Speed, which is enough to outpace all non-boosted Pokemon. Paras's immunity to Water-type attacks and physical bulk gives it several opportunities to switch in, allowing it to easily set up an Agility. Spore gives Paras an advantage over other Agility sweepers, as it allows it to incapacitate a potential counter.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>With a Life Orb attached, Seed Bomb OHKOes Mankey, who cannot be put to sleep if it has Vital Spirit, after Stealth Rock damage. Bug Bite is another strong STAB attack, and it comes with the added benefit of stealing the opponent's Berry. Given Oran Berry's prominence in Little Cup, it is more than likely that Paras will be able to heal itself, effectively negating Life Orb's recoil and allowing it to take more priority attacks and sweep longer. X-Scissor is a stronger Bug-type attack, but Oran Berry is recommended with it to increase Paras's survivability. The given EVs maximize Paras's Attack and Speed while adding an extra point in HP.</p>

<p> Teammates that draw in Water-type moves are ideal so that Paras can switch in with impunity. Flash Fire Pokemon, like Houndour and Ponyta, not only attract Water-type moves but can gain a boost from the Fire-type moves aimed at Paras. Rock-type Pokemon can make good teammates because they resist Fire- and Flying-type moves that Paras is weak to Omanyte deserves a special mention, since it sports a resistance to Flying-type moves and a double resistance to Fire-type moves, and has the ability to set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can turn some 2HKOs into OHKOs. Omanyte also draws in Fighting-, Electric-, Ground-, and Grass-type attacks that Paras can easily switch in on. </p>
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You may want to mention that Paras has a much easier time setting up against something like Munchlax and other slow, bulkier pokemon (like Hippopotas/etc), so pokemon that can give it opportunities to set up against such pokemon. Examples I can think of are maybe Gastly and Stunky(?) It can also set up against Croagunk without a Poison move I think? I havent used it for a while so maybe not...

Also removing some pokemon that are faster after a boost still (some Scarf Gastly? and definitely Scarf Gligar) is probably necessary, definitely Gligar who you need a lot of prior damage to kill anyways even without Scarf.

Stealth Rock nets a lot of important OHKOes, like I think Scarf Houndour (maybe it was 0/0 or Hasty I'm not sure -- it was when i was first experimenting with the set and I never really got to test it out against non-lead Dour) and iirc Mantyke and Mankey like you mentioned.

Thanks for posting this :))
 
OK I added in all of EM's suggestions, and I also added a blurb about Brick Break to add into Optional Changes, though I am still somewhat skeptical about it's effectiveness. I think this is about ready to go.
 
Just a few things I need to say that I forgot when I posted before:

Paras’s immunity to Water-type attacks and physical bulk gives it several opportunities to come in, allowing it to easily set up an Agility.
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Remove the unneeded "has" there.

Spore is the reason to use Paras over another Agility sweeper, as it allows Paras to incapacitate a potential counter.
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Like who? Might be worth adding a few counters to Paras.

Given Oran Berry’s prominence in Little Cup, it is more than likely that Paras will be able to heal itself, which makes Life Orb a viable option.
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I think it would be a good idea to make a few mentions of the dominant Oran Berry users so the reader knows that (s)he should use Bug Bite instead of Seed Bomb (since Seed Bomb is stronger than Bug Bite by 20 Base Power, one would obviously use Seed Bomb if the opponent takes neutral damage from both of Paras's moves). Munchlax is a good example of one.

Paras is most effective when it switches in on slower, bulkier Pokemon that don’t pack a super effective move so that it can set up an Agility without using Spore, which can then be used on an incoming counter.
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There shouldn't be a hyphen in between the words "super effective." Also, you said "potential counter" already, so I suggest you use another word. You can use my alternative or use another one that you think is better.

Omanyte deserves a special mention, since it sports a resistance to Flying-type moves and a double resistance to Fire-type moves, and has the ability to set up both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which can turn some 2HKOs into OHKOs.
Click to expand...

What kind of Pokemon can it 2HKO or OHKO with entry hazard support?
 
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