(just as a heads up here, I think we're all over the initial excitement phase so one sentence posts like 'yay, missy got nasty plot, she will be OU now!' or 'quagsire is my favorite, im glad he got recover!' are no longer gonna fly in here. Try to make sure your posts serve a purpose)
I think there's a really interesting move that has received almost no attention...in fact, this is the addition that I am most excited about using.
When you think of Pokemon whose usage was killed by Scizor you'd probably think of Gengar or Heracross, but don't forget about Weavile...Scizor is to Weavile what Heatran is to Weezing...as close to a perfect counter as something can be. Weavile was 16th in usage in the month before Platinum's additions, but now he sits at 34 - that's a big drop.
Just like Electivire, one of Weavile's biggest flaws is the low BP of its attacks - more specifically its crucial coverage Fighting attack. When Platinum passed straight over Weavile's head I expressed my dissapointment here but it seems that HGSS has been a whole lot nicer to the little guy. In fact, the more I think about it the more I think that Low Kick is the best move Weavile could ever have asked for.
You might be thinking 'Low Kick isn't that much better than Brick Break, is it?' and you wouldn't be completely wrong but when you consider the targets that Weavile will be using it on you'll realise just how crucial this boost is. Here's a small taster:
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 4/0 Heatran = 58% - 69%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 4/0 Heatran = 94% - 110%
This is just one example of many that demonstrate how the boost from Low Kick can turn forgettable 2HKOs into easy OHKOs.
The beautiful thing about Low Kick is that its primary targets will be Rock or Steel types - two types that are typically incredibly heavy. If you love Weavile as much as I do then you're probably already dashing off to the Low Kick page to see for yourself just how this move fares against common targets so I'll save you the hassle with a link -
http://www.smogon.com/dp/moves/low_kick
So here comes a catalogue of calculations. The two sets I'll be using for this purpose are of course:
Weavile @ Choice Band
Jolly
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Pursuit
- Ice Shard
- Low Kick
- Ice Punch / Night Slash
Weavile @ Life Orb
Jolly
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Ice Punch
- Night Slash
- Low Kick
(where necessary I'll be listing calculations that assume +2)
Notable targets who take 120BP from Low Kick (in order - Heatran, Hariyama, Mamoswine, Metagross, Snorlax, Registeel, Steelix, Tyranitar)
Code:
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 4/0 Heatran = 67% - 80%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 4/0 Heatran = 108% - 128%
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 4/0 Heatran = 58% - 69%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 4/0 Heatran = 94% - 110%
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 252/0 Heatran = 57% - 67%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 252/0 Heatran = 91% - 107%
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 252/0 Heatran = 49% - 59%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/0 Heatran = 79% - 93% (41% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
Notes - It should be noted here that Weavile is capable of outrunning a Modest/Rash Heatran @ Choice Scarf who maxes at 379. Reason enough to run max speed imo, but the standard set runs 40 HP EVs as it allowes guaranteed survival against Azelf's Flamethrower and Modest Choice Specs Starmie. Your choice.
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 80/252+ Hariyama = 25% - 30%
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 80/252+ Hariyama = 40% - 47%
678 Atk (+2) Life Orb Brick Break vs 80/252+ Hariyama = 43% - 51%
678 Atk (+2) Life Orb Low Kick vs 80/252+ Hariyama = 70% - 82%
Notes: Many consider Hariyama to be a perfect Weavile counter thanks to his typing, stats and ability but Low Kick puts paid to that belief.
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 0/4 Mamoswine = 77% - 90% (20% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 0/4 Mamoswine = 122% - 144%
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 0/4 Mamoswine = 67% - 79%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 0/4 Mamoswine = 106% - 125%
339 Atk Choice Band Night Slash vs 252/12 Metagross = 34% - 41%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 252/12 Metagross = 40% - 47%
678 Atk (+2) Life Orb Night Slash vs 252/12 Metagross = 60% - 71%
678 Atk (+2) Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/12 Metagross = 69% - 81%
678 Atk (+2) Low Kick vs 4/0 Metagross = 84% - 99% (33% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
Notes: Night Slash is listed over Brick Break as Night Slash was previously Weavile's best attack against the part Psychic Metagross. That is also the reason Bronzong won't feature on this list (he takes 100BP from Low Kick). The last calculation may seem a little optimistic of me but Dougs stats show that last month 26% of Metagross invested no Def EVs (I assume they're Scarfed or full speed Agility variants).
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 168/120 Snorlax = 55% - 65%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 168/120 Snorlax = 88% - 104% (guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock)
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 168/120 Snorlax = 48% - 56%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 168/120 Snorlax = 76% - 90% (20% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
Notes: Spread used is Curselax variant which is the most physically defensive Snorlax set listed in the analysis.
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 252/88+ Registeel = 38% - 45%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 252/88+ Registeel = 61% - 72%
678 Atk (+ 2) Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/88+ = 105% - 124%
Notes: Spread used is 'OU tank' - the most physically defensive spread in the analysis.
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 252/0+ Steelix = 32 - 38%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 252/0+ Steelix = 51% - 61%
678 (+2) Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/0+ Steelix = 89% - 105% (53% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 252/0 Tyranitar = 92% - 108%
339 Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/0 Tyranitar = 146% - 173%
Notes: Somewhat surprisingly LO Brick Break isn't guaranteed to OHKO 252/0 Tyranitar and as bonus calculation - without a boosting item, Brick Break will never OHKO 4/0 Tyranitar (it maxes at 99%).
Notable targets who take 100BP from Low Kick (in order - Abomasnow, Forretress, Magnezone, Regice, Scizor)
Code:
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 252/0 Abomasnow = 76% - 90%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 252/0 Abomasnow = 102% - 120%
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 252/0 Abomasnow = 66% - 78%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/0 Abomasnow = 88% - 104%
678 (+2) Life Orb Brick Break vs 252/144+ Forretress = 34% - 40%
678 (+2) Life Orb Low Kick vs 252/144+ Forretress = 46% - 54% (97% chance to 2HKO after SR + Leftovers)
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 172/0 Magnezone = 63% - 75%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 172/0 Magnezone = 84% - 100% (41% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
339 Atk Life Orb Brick Break vs 4/0 Magnezone = 63% - 75%
339 Atk Life Orb Low Kick vs 4/0 Magnezone = 84% - 100% (33% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
Notes: I didn't make a mistake here lol - the 172 HP Magnezone takes the CB attacks almost exactly the same as the 4/0 Magnezone takes the LO attacks.
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 252/252 Regice = 50% - 59%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 252/252 Regice = 67% - 79% (28% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
339 Atk Choice Band Brick Break vs 248/0 Scizor = 33% - 39%
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 248/0 Scizor = 44% - 53% (guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock)
678 (+1) Life Orb Low Kick vs 248/0 Scizor = 77% - 91% (28% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
Notes: Low Kick does make a very noteworthy difference here as now Scizor can only switch into Weavile once. The Swords Danced calculation is nice but it's rare you'll be able to catch Scizor with a +2 Low Kick due to Bullet Punch. Maybe someday though!
Notable targets who take 80BP from Low Kick (in order - Empoleon)
Code:
339 Atk Choice Band Brick vs 12/12 Empoleon = 81% - 96% (15% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock)
339 Atk Choice Band Low Kick vs 12/12 Empoleon = 87% - 106% (53% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock, 15% to do so without)
Notes: Even though the difference in BP here is minimal, this is a perfect example of the difference Low Kick makes to Weavile.
So Low Kick is great for Weavile right? There's so many instances there where it OHKO's Pokemon that Brick Break simply couldn't and on a Pokemon as fragile and vulnerable to status as Weavile, this is crucial.
But of course, now you're probably thinking 'what about the Pokemon who take less than 80BP? Will I miss Brick Break?' In another lucky twist of fate, light Pokemon generally have low Defences so are easily dealt with regardless...examples include Blissey, Houndoom and PorygonZ. From a scan of the list, I'd say the only instances where you'd probably miss Brick Break are against Clefable, Crawdaunt, Glaceon, Kabutops, Lopunny, Omastar, Porygon2, Umbreon and Relicanth but the majority of those Pokemon are UU and none of them particularly enjoy taking Weavile's STAB Attacks.
In conclusion, I don't think this is going to cause an astronomic rise in Weavile usage but I think that the few players who do use Weavile will notice an improvement in their Weavile's performance and kill-per-match ratio. I'm really looking forward to building a team around Swords Dance Weavile...should be practical with a little bit of Magnezone support.
EDIT:
Another thought that just came to me based on this Low Kick Weavile hype, is the viability of Swords Dance Sneasel in UU. It should be noted that I have minimal experience in the current UU so I'm basing this mostly on theorymon but it would appear that Sneasel's move coverage is very 'anti-physical wall' in UU. Low Kick deals with the Steel types like Steelix and Registeel, Bite downs Slowbro and Ice Punch downs bulky Grounds and Grasses like Donphan and Tangrowth respectively. If you can get past the NFE tag, Sneasel has very respectable offensive stats - 95 Atk and 115 Spe aren't bad by any standards. It might take a bit of work to get the SD off, but I can imagine it being quite dangerous if you did considering how fast it is and how well it deals with physical walls. It also has the tiny advantage over Weavile in that he has Inner Focus over Pressure to help him against Ambipom (who he speed ties with).