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What's your favourite lead?
- Thread starter SevveN
- Start date
I either like standard MixPert lead, with Protect, or I use ScarfLoom, which works wonderous as a lead.
That pretty much sums up what I wanted to say. Swampert is the most reliable lead I have ever used. The only thing that can stop him is getting tricked by lead Jirachi, but other than that it beats most other leads with little to no trouble.
At the moment, I'm rotating 3 leads:
Anti-lead Weavile:
Fake Out,
Taunt,
Night Slash,
Counter.
It works wonderfully well. It completely counters Azelf lead, without letting it set up Stealth Rock, It kills off Anti-Lead Starmie, Fake out breaks most sashes, which is useful, when i'm not setting up my own SR. Counter is a great move in itself, taunt a Leadpert into attacking, generally using their superior Attack, only for Weavile to survive, and throw it back in their face for a swift OHKO.
It also works against cocky Metagross leads, who think they can kill you off promptly, with Meteor Mash, or Bullet Punch.
Bronzong's Gyro Ball does enough to provide a Countered OHKO as well, it really works wonders. The only thing Really capable of outdoing it is Jirachi, if it gets a flinch, and Aerodactyll.
Choice Band Metagross is another awesome lead. Considering most people associate Leadgross with Shuca, Occa or Lum, they get quite a nasty surprise when they are dealt Huge damage. Not to mention Jirachi trying to fire a trick off, only for it to get a Choice Band.
Finally, Anti-lead starmie is probably one of the best current anti-leads, bar weavile. It can OH-2hKO most other leads, with:
Hydro Pump
Grass Knot
Ice Beam
Rapid Spin
It's attacks usually activate sash, while the opponent tries to set up Stealth Rock, and Rapid Spin finishes them off, while getting rid of Stealth Rock, which is usually Very useful, considering most teams don't carry more than one user of it.
Anti-lead Weavile:
Fake Out,
Taunt,
Night Slash,
Counter.
It works wonderfully well. It completely counters Azelf lead, without letting it set up Stealth Rock, It kills off Anti-Lead Starmie, Fake out breaks most sashes, which is useful, when i'm not setting up my own SR. Counter is a great move in itself, taunt a Leadpert into attacking, generally using their superior Attack, only for Weavile to survive, and throw it back in their face for a swift OHKO.
It also works against cocky Metagross leads, who think they can kill you off promptly, with Meteor Mash, or Bullet Punch.
Bronzong's Gyro Ball does enough to provide a Countered OHKO as well, it really works wonders. The only thing Really capable of outdoing it is Jirachi, if it gets a flinch, and Aerodactyll.
Choice Band Metagross is another awesome lead. Considering most people associate Leadgross with Shuca, Occa or Lum, they get quite a nasty surprise when they are dealt Huge damage. Not to mention Jirachi trying to fire a trick off, only for it to get a Choice Band.
Finally, Anti-lead starmie is probably one of the best current anti-leads, bar weavile. It can OH-2hKO most other leads, with:
Hydro Pump
Grass Knot
Ice Beam
Rapid Spin
It's attacks usually activate sash, while the opponent tries to set up Stealth Rock, and Rapid Spin finishes them off, while getting rid of Stealth Rock, which is usually Very useful, considering most teams don't carry more than one user of it.
Definently Metagross. It's bulky, has SR and great typing. I don't run asplosion because I switch Gross into meteors a lot mid-game.
But then you don't get the first turn flinch, which is primarily why it gets used. And since Weavile needs a boost to OHKO with Ice shard, it would still lose out.
I was running Jolly Focus Sash Mamoswime for a long while. Endeavor/Earthquake/Ice Shard/Stealth Rock. He has his way with most leads, but the fact that he couldn't beat Azelf/Fake Out Pokemon lead me to use..
Trick Scarf Togekiss. I'll always Trick any supporter/wall that leads, ala, Hippowdon/Swampert. If they setup Stealth Rocks, that's fine. If it's Infernape, Azelf, or a number of other leads I'll flinch hax them to death nine times out of ten. Interestingly, people like to switch Skarmory into Togekiss after this, which promply haxed to death, or destroyed by Magnezone, depending on my team.
Trick Scarf Togekiss. I'll always Trick any supporter/wall that leads, ala, Hippowdon/Swampert. If they setup Stealth Rocks, that's fine. If it's Infernape, Azelf, or a number of other leads I'll flinch hax them to death nine times out of ten. Interestingly, people like to switch Skarmory into Togekiss after this, which promply haxed to death, or destroyed by Magnezone, depending on my team.
Who needs the first turn flinch when you outspeed your opponents? pokemon that you use counter against, usually don't have focus sash (Metagross, Bronzong, Swampert). Ice Shard doesn't need to be a OHKO because Aero has sash anyway.
First turn flinch is pretty much essential, to stop the opponent setting up rocks, and nulling sashes at the same time, which is the main purpose of most Anti-leads.
And then how would you go about nulling sash, whilst keeping your sash intact then?
I'm using an awesome anti-lead Gallade that's listed in his analysis. It works wonders, and kills/cripples at least a few things on opponents teams every battle. I think the surprise of seeing a Gallade lead helps too.
Anyway:
Gallade@Focus Sash
Adamant (+Attack, -Sp. Attack)
56 HP, 252 Attack, 200 Speed
-Close Combat
-Shadow Sneak
-Taunt
-Destiny Bond
Taunt anything slower (Swampert, Metagross) and proceed to attempt a kill. Close Combat + Shadow Sneak = perfect coverage. Close Combat hurts a lot against anything that doesnt resist fighting. It also lowers his defenses, as you all know, making Destiny Bond a little easier to use. Gallade is faster than Gyarados before a Dragon Dance, letting me Taunt, and then Destiny Bond as they attack. Shadow Sneak hits anything thats faster, like Azelf and Infernape after I use Close Combat on em', picking both of them off. Metagross leads are a bit tricky. They could go either of two ways - SR first, or attack first. I seem to mess up here and there against them. Jirachi leads don't like Close Combat, but it's not very relaible cause of flinching and such. Steadfast helps if they flinch me a couple times, but I'm most likley going to switch out if it's a Jirachi lead and keep Gallade safe.
Anyway:
Gallade@Focus Sash
Adamant (+Attack, -Sp. Attack)
56 HP, 252 Attack, 200 Speed
-Close Combat
-Shadow Sneak
-Taunt
-Destiny Bond
Taunt anything slower (Swampert, Metagross) and proceed to attempt a kill. Close Combat + Shadow Sneak = perfect coverage. Close Combat hurts a lot against anything that doesnt resist fighting. It also lowers his defenses, as you all know, making Destiny Bond a little easier to use. Gallade is faster than Gyarados before a Dragon Dance, letting me Taunt, and then Destiny Bond as they attack. Shadow Sneak hits anything thats faster, like Azelf and Infernape after I use Close Combat on em', picking both of them off. Metagross leads are a bit tricky. They could go either of two ways - SR first, or attack first. I seem to mess up here and there against them. Jirachi leads don't like Close Combat, but it's not very relaible cause of flinching and such. Steadfast helps if they flinch me a couple times, but I'm most likley going to switch out if it's a Jirachi lead and keep Gallade safe.
Actually if you use Bite, you can beat Azelf if you go Adamant
And if you predict wrong? You've just wasted a Pokemon slot. Leadvile doesn't intend on returning later on, hence Sash + Counter. It's designed purely to counter most common leads, and then be used as a sacrifice to get your scout/wallbreaker in.
If you want something to not allow SR on the field, you should be using Aero or even taunt Electrode. Weavile will be at 100% HP if Azelf sets up SR. Again, you could argue against it, but personally I believe Ice Shard is a lot more useful.
I'm not sure what move you'd drop for Bite. Earthquake is required to handle Infernape, Tyranitar and Metagross. Endeavor+Ice Shard is one of the great assets Mamoswine has. Stealth Rock is probably the move you could drop, but you're not really preventing Azelf from setting up rocks, and you're not even getting them up yourself.
^^^ I dumped Endeavor for Bite. Beating Azelf reliably was more useful, because I found Endeavor started to become very predictable.
Also hits Rotom/Gengar, who often try to block your endeavor too.
Also hits Rotom/Gengar, who often try to block your endeavor too.
Hmm, if you want to know what's the best lead I've ever used, well, here it is:
Heatran @ Choice Specs
Timid nature
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~Overheat
~Earth Power
~HP Grass
~Dragon Pulse / Stealth Rocks / Explosion
One of the more fun and effective anti-leads by far. Though this thing is getting steadily more noticable and popular, I can still brag about being one of the first to use this beast. Overheat KO's standard Metagross (with Occa) and Hippowdon, along with many others. Earth Power does 87.04% - 102.47% to the standard opposing Leadtran (of course with Shuca taken into account) and offers great coverage as usual. If you opt for Modest, Heatran can muster 95.06% - 112.35% on the same enemy heatran as it Stealth Rocks. HP Grass gets rid of Swampert, and is a solid choice for 2HKO'ing enemy Azelf if you don't run Dragon Pulse. If you do run Dragon pulse though, it's a great neutral attack that can even 2HKO 252 HP / 252 SpD Latias (if one exists). Stealth Rocks is a decent choice even if you get locked into it, but generally Explosion is preffered for later in the game, as it can KO a special defensive wall (Take that Blissey) on the switch-in. Of course, using Explosion requires a Naive (or Mild) nature.
Overall, this Heatran is a great anti-lead and late game threat, if you keep it alive.
Heatran @ Choice Specs
Timid nature
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
~Overheat
~Earth Power
~HP Grass
~Dragon Pulse / Stealth Rocks / Explosion
One of the more fun and effective anti-leads by far. Though this thing is getting steadily more noticable and popular, I can still brag about being one of the first to use this beast. Overheat KO's standard Metagross (with Occa) and Hippowdon, along with many others. Earth Power does 87.04% - 102.47% to the standard opposing Leadtran (of course with Shuca taken into account) and offers great coverage as usual. If you opt for Modest, Heatran can muster 95.06% - 112.35% on the same enemy heatran as it Stealth Rocks. HP Grass gets rid of Swampert, and is a solid choice for 2HKO'ing enemy Azelf if you don't run Dragon Pulse. If you do run Dragon pulse though, it's a great neutral attack that can even 2HKO 252 HP / 252 SpD Latias (if one exists). Stealth Rocks is a decent choice even if you get locked into it, but generally Explosion is preffered for later in the game, as it can KO a special defensive wall (Take that Blissey) on the switch-in. Of course, using Explosion requires a Naive (or Mild) nature.
Overall, this Heatran is a great anti-lead and late game threat, if you keep it alive.
I've been running a CB Rhypherior lead lately.
Rhypherior @ Choice Band
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 6 HP
Nature: Adamant (Atk+/SAtk-)
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Ice Punch
Rock Blast is very nice for taking out the suicide leads since it goes through Focus Sash. Ninjask, Aerodactyl, Infernape, and Weavile suicide leads all fail here, and it's not a wasted spot as a lead since it can come back after nullifying the enemy lead as a very powerful attacker that few foes can switch in on. Rhypherior isn't fast enough to outspeed them with a Scarf anyway so I just went with CB to break their sashes and kill them in the same turn and still be useful later.
Rhypherior @ Choice Band
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 6 HP
Nature: Adamant (Atk+/SAtk-)
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
- Megahorn
- Ice Punch
Rock Blast is very nice for taking out the suicide leads since it goes through Focus Sash. Ninjask, Aerodactyl, Infernape, and Weavile suicide leads all fail here, and it's not a wasted spot as a lead since it can come back after nullifying the enemy lead as a very powerful attacker that few foes can switch in on. Rhypherior isn't fast enough to outspeed them with a Scarf anyway so I just went with CB to break their sashes and kill them in the same turn and still be useful later.
Aero runs a focus sash, though. The one thing about that set, is that I tend to see the majority of Weaviles running Ice Punch over Night Slash for that very reason (and for revenge killing dragons).