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What's up with U-Turn suggested for Choice users?

StarWizard

What's up with U-Turn as a suggestion for Choice users?

Hello there everyone. This is something that has been bugging me for a while...

Looking into the D/P Analysis subforum and into the various ''Choice X'' sets for various pokémon, I keep seeing U-Turn as a suggestion and often times the explanation ''U-Turn to switch out when a counter switches in''. My question is, how? If you are a Choice user and something just switched into you, you are already locked into something that's not U-Turn, or else why are you still in and being suggested to U-Turn out? Let's see I'm up against Heatran and switch my Choice Band/Scarf Flygon in to Earthquake the bugger. Unless I'm predicting a switch to Cresselia (for example) I'm using Earthquake, not U-Turn, therefore I'm locked and have to switch out. If I'm going to outpredict and U-Turn rather than try to kill Heatran, then why did I switch Flygon into Heatran anyway?

Please enlighten me here. U-Turn is a great move and I love how versatile and good it is, but for Choice X users I don't really see the point. Is there something blatantly obvious that I'm missing? Please tell me if it's so.

Discuss.
 
Let's say...
My guy dies, I sent out primeape (horrible example I know)... predicting a switch, I U-turn as my opponent switches in Alakazam.
 
Well it adds a surprise factor that most people don't expect and the Choice item itself either makes U-Turn much more powerful or fast enough to not get hit before you use it. For your example of Flygon vs Heatran, how many people would keep Heatran in against Flygon when almost every Flygon should carry Earthquake, unless that Heatran is Scarfed. If it is, it will probably use whatever move Heatran uses that Flygon doesn't resist instead of switch. Either way, since Flygon is also Scarfed and thus faster, U-Turn allows you to either get the counter to the counter while doing respectable damage, if Heatran had switched, or U-Turn to a counter to the move that the Heatran has used/is now locked into.
 
Usually, you send in the Choice user as a counter to something (so this means you come in while taking little damage, posing an immediate threat with them having little to no options to use against you). This means they'll switch to your counter. You now use U-Turn so that they send out the counter, you switch out and switch in your counter while knowing who the counter to your Choice Pokemon is.

ie:
User switched in Infernape
Sceptile used Leaf Blade

Opponent withdrew Sceptile and sent out Swampert
Infernape used U-Turn!
Infernape returned to User and User sent out Celebi.
 
U-Turn lets you see what your opponent switches to, or if he even switched at all. Instead of using Fireblast and hoping that the opponent switches to Skarmory instead of Heatran, you can just use U-Turn and choose which pokemon you switch in accordingly.

Edit: I read the post wrong... but I still mean practically the same thing... it's more useful if you know that the opponent has solid counter for your U-Turn user...

@Below: no
 
Are you allowed to U-turn to the same Pokémon? And if so, would that negate Stat boosts/downs?
 
Yeah I get it. As a game of prediction as soon as you switch in, it works, and I knew it. But I read in one of the analysis a suggestion to use U-Turn to switch out when a counter switches in, and that doesn't work unless you predict that switch-in beforehand, as you'll be locked in whatever move caused your opponent to bring a different combatant in the first place (one that is immune/resistant to it, most likely.)
 
StarWizard said:
Yeah I get it. As a game of prediction as soon as you switch in, it works, and I knew it. But I read in one of the analysis a suggestion to use U-Turn to switch out when a counter switches in, and that doesn't work unless you predict that switch-in beforehand, as you'll be locked in whatever move caused your opponent to bring a different combatant in the first place (one that is immune/resistant to it, most likely.)
Click to expand...

Chances are that was for a set that didn't use Choice Items.

So in the case you KNOW your opponent is going to switch, except you don't know what to, use U-Turn with ANY Pokemon, Choice item or not. Not only do you hurt the switch in, but you can send out a Pokemon that counters what your opponent send out. U-Turn overall is an amazing move, one that's definitely not to be underrated.
 
YOur saying what everyone already answerd. YOu kill somthing, then kill somthing. Your bring out your choice bander, you know they are going to to bring in a counter, becuase of the fear of thier pokemon being KOed. So you assume that they switch. If they switchs you acomplish 2 things.

1. You did usually solid damage
2. Since they switched first, you can bring in your counter to thier counter.
3. You did more damage becuase of CB

So that is why you put it on, becuase you can Counter your opponent's counter, in 1 turn
 
Familiar Trainer said:
Chances are that was for a set that didn't use Choice Items.
Click to expand...

Not really. See:

McGraw said:
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: U-Turn
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Draco Meteor
item: Choice Scarf

ability:
nature: Naughty
EVs: 252atk/120spatk/136spd

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>The EVs generate 270 (405) speed, which is the recommended minimum to outrun scarf Heracross. If you want more, take from special attack, though this will reduce your OHKO rate on Garchomp. As is, Draco Meteor always OHKOs 4HP/min Salamence and kills 4HP/min Garchomp 56.25% of the time. U-Turn scouts your opponent's switching and Stone Edge is a likely 2HKO on even the bulkiest Gyarados you might encounter (239def/384hp). Skarmory is likely to be the default switch into Flygon, so just U-Turn straight to Magnezone and be done with it.</p>
Click to expand...

That's a little misleading. You have to guess Skarmory is coming, and it has to be exactly after you switch your Flygon in. Then I agree U-Turning to Magnezone is good yeah. Otherwise you'll be locked in a different move (smart Skarm players would wait until the opposing Choice Flygon locks itself into a different move, I'd like to think) when Skarmory comes, and most likely you'll be forced to switch out the hard way.
 
StarWizard said:
That's a little misleading. You have to guess Skarmory is coming, and it has to be exactly after you switch your Flygon in. Then I agree U-Turning to Magnezone is good yeah. Otherwise you'll be locked in a different move (smart Skarm players would wait until the opposing Choice Flygon locks itself into a different move, I'd like to think) when Skarmory comes, and most likely you'll be forced to switch out the hard way.
Click to expand...

Except not many teams have two Pokemon that can take on all of Flygon's moves with relative ease (that aren't of the Steel type). Anyway, if they do switch to a Pokemon not called Skarmory, there's still no harm done. Just U-Turn to a counter for the Pokemon they sent out instead!
 
Familiar Trainer said:
Except not many teams have two Pokemon that can take on all of Flygon's moves with relative ease (that aren't of the Steel type). Anyway, if they do switch to a Pokemon not called Skarmory, there's still no harm done. Just U-Turn to a counter for the Pokemon they sent out instead!
Click to expand...

Yes I agree. But then you are probably going to assume switching in with a Scarfer and U-Turning is almost always the correct play, and will begin to be outpredicted by doing that (the opponent will simply not switch and keep on blasting you with the move that Flygon takes well, only Flygon will be U-Turning out). I understand all you're saying and I see the purpose, but I dunno. If I'm switching in a scarfer I want to kill whatever it is I took the trouble to put Flygon in front of. Maybe I'm just thinking about it the wrong way =/
 
StarWizard said:
Yes I agree. But then you are probably going to assume switching in with a Scarfer and U-Turning is almost always the correct play, and will begin to be outpredicted by doing that (the opponent will simply not switch and keep on blasting you with the move that Flygon takes well, only Flygon will be U-Turning out). I understand all you're saying and I see the purpose, but I dunno. If I'm switching in a scarfer I want to kill whatever it is I took the trouble to put Flygon in front of. Maybe I'm just thinking about it the wrong way =/
Click to expand...

Your assuming that your opponent will always play better then you no matter what the situation, and in that case you'll never win anything. Like, what if you Earthquake and they send out Skarmory? Or what if you Draco Meteor and they send out Heatran? Or what if you Stone Edge and they send out Garchomp?

U-Turn is a move for aiding prediction, not complicating things.
 
Familiar Trainer said:
Your assuming that your opponent will always play better then you no matter what the situation, and in that case you'll never win anything. Like, what if you Earthquake and they send out Skarmory? Or what if you Draco Meteor and they send out Heatran? Or what if you Stone Edge and they send out Garchomp?

U-Turn is a move for aiding prediction, not complicating things.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I shouldn't be that pessimistic. Thanks for putting up a good discussion. I have always liked U-Turn, I merely didn't know hot to put it into good use together with Choice Items. I'll try that with my newly hatched Trapinch once I train and evolve it. Let's see how that works :pimp:
 
That's why it's called scouting. If Heatran stays in, just U-Turn to something else that can take on Heatran.
 
Another advatnage to U-Turn is that if the counter they send out happens to have Intimidate, your counter to their Intimidate Pokemon is never Intimidated, because it always comes in after a U-Turn instead of on a switch. It's generally just to be used on Pokemon weak to Bug (Celebi) and when you know they're switching, but you don't know what they're switching to.

The Skarmory example is another one. You cannot hurt Skarmory at all with your moves, and as long as they don't have Shed Shell, Magnezone stops it 100%. Normally you'd have to predict a Skarmory coming in and switch to Magnezone. Using U-Turn guarantees that you only have to bring in Magnezone on Skarmory; if their Garchomp or whatever stays out, you don't have to worry about giving it a free turn having to switch Magnezone back out, since you can U-Turn directly to Cresselia or whatever.
 
I've a question about U-turn. Can it be used against a dugtrio(with arena trap) or any pokemon who has used Mean Look?
 
U-Turn also takes care of Focus Sash users, since Unless you're Scizor you probably won't OHKO with it and you can switch in your sweeper to finish them off.
 
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