Pokémon Bloodstock: Version 2

[AnnihiSlateR]

Skitty is naff, in this case it's just a means to an end. But never underestimate Ambipom.

The key to this move set is technician.
Technician boosts the power of moves with less than 60 base power by 1.5%.
Fake out has a base power of 40. So technician boosts that to 60, STAB increases that by 1.5% again, so it's now on 90, and then when I give it the silk scarf it gets a 20% increase, so 20% of 90 is 18, meaning it will hit with a base power of 108. Fake out always hits first and makes them flinch. Granted it can only be used the first turn its switched out, but it's a free 108 base power attack. It's base attack stat of 100 isn't to shabby and it's base speed of 115 (+10% due to jolly nature) means it's very likely that it will hit first with the next move. Which unless resistant will be double hit. Which is 35 base power, times by 2. So with the combination of ability, stab and item, mean you're getting two hits of 94.5 base damage in one move, so essentially a base power of 189. That's 49 stronger than Draco Meteor, the most powerful move not to kill the pokemon using it.

Then for coverage I'll also whack on Aerial Ace and U-turn. Whilst U-turn doesn't get a technition boost due to it's 70 base power, it's good for damaging and switching out if in trouble, and then enabling it to re-enter the battle and use fake out again. Areal Ace is good for it's hit without fail accuracy, and a base power of 90 thanks to technician.

As with everything it's not perfect, there's counters, but that's where U-turn comes into play. I think it's a really clever set myself.

[Delightful-Jim]

Sure sounds it. I prefer simplicity though. Marowak + Thick Club + Earthquake = Win.

[AnnihiSlateR]

Don't forget STAB too.

Whilst it would seem an effective combination, it's frustratingly slow with 45 base speed. Even with a choice scarf it would only have 67.5 which doesn't even make the top 200. A Hippowdon could out run it if you made it hold the Thick Club. It also has 3 very common weaknesses in Ice, Grass and Water. Which team doesn't have at least one of them? You'd have to set up with trick room and use him as a sweeper to have any sort of real success with him. Obviously Stone Edge would cover the immunity from flying types, but something like a Gengar or Bronzong would give you a bit of trouble, though it would make sense to carry Fire Punch for Bronzong. But with trick room in Bronzong would hit first, without Gengar would hit first.

It's a risky strategy, but one that can work. However I'm suspicious as to why it's ranked NU on smogon. There's obviously something wrong with it.

Also you've only 5% chance of finding a cubone/marowak with the thick club so there's still a bit of work to do.

[Delightful-Jim]

I know, I have one. It took about an hour to find too. I had no idea it slowed Marowak down though, but even then it's not terribly fast to begin with.


I started a new game in the MMO and I'm still unsure what to use with my team. I have an Ivysaur at the moment and I'm hoping someone will trade me a Mareep, but Pokémon always has so many awesome choices it's hard to nail anything down.


I'd pick Starmie again for my special sweeper but I already have one, and it's one of the best pokémon I've had the pleasure of training. Same goes to my Annoyer Umbreon. I upped it's defence and sp.defence and it knows Confuse Ray, Toxic, Moonlight and Faint attack.

[AnnihiSlateR]

It doesn't slow it down. It's just unbelievably slow period

Just found the male skitty I was after. now to hatch a female aipom.

edit: bugger me, the only ambipom in the game has pick up ability, meaning there's an 80% chance of the aipom from the egg having pick up. So I'm having to hatch a tonne of eggs hoping for the 20% chance of technician.

[AnnihiSlateR]

Jolly Aipom acquired with Run Away (will become technician when it evolves) that knows fake out. I also have one with a stat of 7 in speed which is higher than the rest, so that shall be the one I train. Now to EV train....

[AnnihiSlateR]

I've given it 100 in speed and attack and 10 in HP (bit of a cock up there as I'm going to have to loose a stat point on attack now) using vitamins. I've got it to level 11 and checked it's IV's and it's looking like a perfect 31 in speed, so assuming I don't cock up the ev training, it should be as fast as physically possible, meaning a cool 361 at level 100.

[Delightful-Jim]

How does this sound for a team, competitively speaking? Disregarding IV's, EV's and natures and such.


Ampharos
Tyranitar
Salamence
Starmie
Venusaur
Either Houndoom, Umbreon, or Skarmory.

I've loads of options, which is why nailing it down is a bitch.

[AnnihiSlateR]

Before I begin, have you thought how they work together? have you some idea of a strategy?

Ampharos - As with Marowak, annoyingly slow. Could work as a trick room sweeper due it's rather generous 115 sp.att. Thunderbolt is obviously going to be your best bet, Power gem and Signal Beam are good for coverage. Ground is the only weakness and it's quite common, so look out for that.
However, I always go Electivire when it comes to an elecric type. Good attack stat, amazing coverage with Thunder and ice punch, earthquake and cross chop or break brick. Made better with an expert belt which boosts damage for super effective moves. Decent speed too, but with Motor Drive speed gets boosted if hit by an electric. So if your Starmie can lure in an electric type, you can switch into the electric attack, take no damage and receive a speed boost. Obviously don't use it as a lead though.

Tyranitar - First concern is it's ability. Sand Stream starts a sandstorm as soon as he's switched in. So anything that isn't steel, rock or ground will take damage every turn. I would seriously avoid using unless your making a specific sandstorm team and picking only pokemon of the above 3 types and looking at ability. Garchomp for example gets a 20% evasion boost in sand, or Excadrill gets it's speed doubled in sand as long as it has sand rush (meaning base speed of 176, coupled with an attack stat of 135, has meant it's ranked uber tier along with the legendaries according to smogons classifications as it's ridiculously powerful).
Second concern again is speed, it's another slow one. Despite a massive attack stat, it's speed lets it down, especially when you factor in 5 x2 weakness and a x4 weakness too. A lot of pokemon will have moves that can hit you for serious damage before you get a hit in. Thankfully it has good defence, but a fighting move and you stand no chance. A break brick will hit you with a base power of 300.

Salamence - Good choice. The big decision is what set to go for. Mine is a slightly less conventional special set with hydro pump, flame thrower and dragon pulse. I also have crunch for coverage or to deceive the opponent. But with dragon dance as an option, a physical set is just as good, especially given it's massive attack stat. I like to give it a focus sash item wise, as ice shard really fucks you up, so at least you survive and get chance to hit back that way.

Starmie - never used one, but it seems good. Good speed, decent coverage with surf, thunderbolt and ice beam. May also come in useful as a rapid spinner too with the fourth slot.

Venusaur - again never used one, but seems a nice solid bulky pokemon. Sleep powder is useful, as well as leech seed, knock off and giga drain. I'm sure you can see the tactic here, put them to sleep, leech seed them so they are constantly loosing hp and your gaining (coupled with leftovers as held item this has massive potential for health regain), then knock off, so you get rid of their held item, and then giga drain so you again restore your health as well as dealing damage. It's great because by the time you kill an opponent, more often than not your back on full HP.

--------
as for the last 3

Houndoom - Flashfire ability makes it a good back up for Venusaur. If they switch in a fire type, expect a fire move and switch to houndoom, and it wont take damage but the power of fire type moves will be increased. Flame Thrower and Dark Pules are good moves to get stab from, and if you can take a hit (not likely with 50 in defence), you an stick on nasty plot for a sp.att boost. Though it's a bit risky and might benefit from a focus sash. The pysical weakness is it's big letdown.

Umbreon- I've always been more of an espeon person myself (pyschic, grass knot, shadow ball, hidden power, with really good speed and sp.att.) but you don't need more pysical attackers I don't feel. Umbreon is good defensively. Protect, Toxic and Wish are good for stalling for time/wearing down an opponent.

Skarmory - I remember when SkarmBliss was all the rage. Skarmory's amazing defense and blisseys enormous HP meant that if you came across a pysical attacker you switch in Skarmory, and if you came across a special atter you switch in Blissey. This was so effective it was banned in some competitions. It's a good solid pokemon, with Spikes, Wirlwind and Roost probably being the best option for stalling, and getting an opponent pokemon you want whilst doing damage.


Hope that's of some use to you.

[Delightful-Jim]

It is, but the only thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that I'm playing on a FireRed rom, so all the rules and such will apply then.

The Idea was to have a Physical sweeper (Salamence), Special Sweeper (Starmie, because I think it's fantastic), Physical tank (Skarmory possibly), Special tank/annoyer (Umbreon. Toxic, Moonlight Confuse Ray and Faint Attack) and improvise from there.

I opted for Tyranitar because it's pretty handy.

Ampharos I want to use because there aren't many good electric types in this game and almost everyone has a water type. I'd prefer to use it over Venusaur (which will also be an annoyer) because most water users will also probably know Ice Beam/Blizzard.

I have no specific strategy in mind, I'm just trying to get as many bases covered as possible and go in with blind luck.

[AnnihiSlateR]

Other electric options would be Raichu, Jolteon or Manectric

Are you only playing in game then?

[Delightful-Jim]

Manectric isn't currently an option as it hasn't been implemented into the game (I'm playing the MMO).


I can pretty much conjure any team to finish the main story of the game, I just want to assemble a team that can hold it's own against other players. We all battle a lot.

[AnnihiSlateR]

Ah, I didn't realise, I just thought Gen 3 in general.

So it's a rom you can connect with? Thats pretty cool.

[Delightful-Jim]

http://pokemmo.eu/


All the info and downloads are here. I suggest downloading a heartgold/soulsilver rom for a graphics update.

It's not fully finished, but it's serviceable and pretty fun.

[AnnihiSlateR]

Once I finish EV training this Ambipom I might have a look into it, cheers.

The best things about ROM's when I was at school was you could speed it up like 500%, meaning grindind was an absolute doddle. Is that possible with this or is it not a typical rom/emulator?