Competitive Single Rates - READ FIRST POST

[Ironfish]

Got another one to rate!

Salamence: Choice Band
Abilty: Moxie
Nature: Jolly

-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Crunch/Zen Headbutt/Rock Slide
-Crunch/Zen Headbutt/Rock Slide

Just Like dragonite to slaughter the opponent's pokemon as much as it can is it's mane purpose. It does not have to survive just knock the opponent's socks off with outrage to OHKO most anything that doesn't resist it and with moxie it's attack snowballs up making it un-beatable. So anything I can improve on?

[Ansem1013]

Not sure if this is the place to ask this, but I'm currently breeding Magnemites and I'm wondering if this one is worth keeping:

Magnemite
Modest
Magnet Pull
10-11/31/31/31/18-19/28-29
Hidden Power Ice, Power 64

So, should I keep breeding Magnemite, or is this one worth keeping? The IV stat for HP is what bothers me the most, but the Hidden Power and how long this particular pokemon has been taking me to get is making me consider keeping this one . . .

[Divine Retribution]

Who says Luvdisc is terrible? Well it is actually... Anyways, me and a few of my friends decided to put things like Luvdisc, Spinda, etc. in a hat, and choose one to wage a 1v1 tournament with. I got Luvdisc. **** my life.

Luvdisc @ Choice Specs
Modest - Swift Swim
252 Sp. Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
-Hydro Pump
-Hidden Power (Grass)
-Blizzard
-Surf

So this is about the best I can do, Specs Hydro Pump spam. Hidden Power (Grass) will hopefully let me beat Phione and Castform-Rain, but if Ty uses Sun, I'm ****ed. The other two moves are really filler.

So, yeah, if there's any other options, I'm all ears...

[Ironfish]

Not sure if this is the place to ask this, but I'm currently breeding Magnemites and I'm wondering if this one is worth keeping:

Magnemite
Modest
Magnet Pull
10-11/31/31/31/18-19/28-29
Hidden Power Ice, Power 64

So, should I keep breeding Magnemite, or is this one worth keeping? The IV stat for HP is what bothers me the most, but the Hidden Power and how long this particular pokemon has been taking me to get is making me consider keeping this one . . .

that's a keeper, try a special tank set

[Lady Eli]

I could think of a set to try out though this is a personal set of mine.

Liepard (F)@Leftovers
ATK: 252/Def: 124/SpD: 124/Spd: 8(Physical attacking team)|Def: 124/Sp.A: 252/SpD: 124/Spd: 8(Special attacking team)
Adamant (for Physical attacking teams)/Modest (for Special attacking teams)
Prankster

-Assist (This is where attacking comes in, though you have to be careful since you don't know which move will come up.)
-Attract (Yep. This is where things can bet very sticky if anything happens. This forces an opponent to stay in or try to fight through this move and being paralyzed.)
-Substitute (This is where defense comes up as despite how fragile it is a switch onto this can give a chance to stun and or attract the opposition.)
-Thunder Wave (As we all know, not only slowing an opponent is good but the chance to make them stop in an attack is better!)

Depending on what your team has will depend on how many attacks this mon will have as this will clearly depend on your team's moves but it has made for interesting comebacks and wildcard moments to make a fighter wonder what next.

There's two to four Glaring weaknesses that one has to look out for.

Taunt attacks (which forces struggle to happen)
Priority attackers (this is because Prankster is able to make this a +1 speed attacker, chances are you're going to run into mon that use Quick Attack, Extremespeed, and the like. If they can be slowed down then this Pokemon can be)
Non-gendered Pokemon or same gendered Pokemon (when the fact there's a 50/50 chance of the Pokemon being the wrong gender is a pain enough as it is. A non gendered Pokemon will make it harder to work this mon's moves.)
Ground Types (Thunder Wave is an Electric move. Ground types are immune to it as well as Pokemon with Limber. Enough said.)

I think I explained this Pokemon enough but if needed be I'll let others have this tried out.

Sure it's a gamble, but if you want to date lady luck, this set is right for you.

[ShinyChandelure]

Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Suctions Cups
EVs: 156 Atk/252/100 Sp.Def
Nature: Adamant
- Recover
- Stockpile
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide

Meant to be a mixed tank, usually sent out in the middle of the battle. When there is a pokemon that has no coverage on it, I switch it in and set up stockpile, max times if possible. I carry stockpile as apposed to barrier or amnesia because, as I mentioned earlier, it is a mixed tank. Stockpile raises both defenses, and I have not encountered problems using it yet, because 3 stage def. and sp.def. is a menace to any unprepared supporter. Recover is a great health recovery option because once I have enough defense boosted, it and leftovers will keep my health from getting below 25%. Earthquake is there to take care of steel types that wall my other move Rock Slide. Rockslide is good STAB move with a nice added effect of flinching on any slower opponents. This is a good set for walling any pokemon that aren't too bulky or are insanely strong, and can force switch-outs.

The EVs are mostly meant to give Cradily heavy defenses, while equalizing the def. and sp.def. The investment in Attack is so Cradily isn't helpless once it is done stockpiling, and can fend off weak attackers.

[Ironfish]

Cradily @ Leftovers
Ability: Suctions Cups
EVs: 156 Atk/252/100 Sp.Def
Nature: Adamant
- Recover
- Stockpile
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide

Meant to be a mixed tank, usually sent out in the middle of the battle. When there is a pokemon that has no coverage on it, I switch it in and set up stockpile, max times if possible. I carry stockpile as apposed to barrier or amnesia because, as I mentioned earlier, it is a mixed tank. Stockpile raises both defenses, and I have not encountered problems using it yet, because 3 stage def. and sp.def. is a menace to any unprepared supporter. Recover is a great health recovery option because once I have enough defense boosted, it and leftovers will keep my health from getting below 25%. Earthquake is there to take care of steel types that wall my other move Rock Slide. Rockslide is good STAB move with a nice added effect of flinching on any slower opponents. This is a good set for walling any pokemon that aren't too bulky or are insanely strong, and can force switch-outs.

The EVs are mostly meant to give Cradily heavy defenses, while equalizing the def. and sp.def. The investment in Attack is so Cradily isn't helpless once it is done stockpiling, and can fend off weak attackers.

If you use it on a sand team then it raises it's sp.def to rival that of regice after one or two stockpiles and if you give it giga drain than that increases it's longevity giving it an offensive move that also resortes HP if your willing to keep it in battle then give it ingrain to give it a little bit more HP every turn

[Divine Retribution]

So Latios is always special, right? Nah. I've been running this set to surprising success, since everyone expects it to be a special set.

Latios @ Leftovers
Nature: Adamant
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 Speed, 252 Attack, 4 HP
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Dragon Claw
-Substitute

This is great, as Latios forces plenty of switches and gets plenty of opportunities to set up a Dragon Dance. After a DD or two, Earthquake and Dragon Claw become powerful weapons that hammer away at everything not named Skarmory. Substitute lets you set up on Blissey switchins. Not really as effective as, say, Haxorus or Salamence, but it's still fun and gets plenty of surprise KOs. Plus it's faster than any other dragon other than other Lati@s, since her pitiful base 80 Attack pretty much forces you to run a Speed neutral nature.

[Rosez66]

Dragonair @Eviolite
252 HP / 100 Def/ 152 Sp. Def
Nature Sassy
Marvel Scale
Dragon Tail
Thunder wave
Rest
Sleep Talk

Ok bear with me on this set but the idea here is to have a bulky pokemon which can take a hit and build up residue damage. The team which I'm building around it will also be inflicting other status moves and laying down entry hazards, now onto dragonair. I know it is inferior to dragonite on most sets but I think this the exception. So the plan is I switch dragonair into something that I know it will be able to survive and with the great defensive typing that is dragon this should be easily done. Depending on the situation I fire of rest straight away which activates marvel scale and the Eviolite item the defence is doubled and the special defence is increased to a bulky amount. I then fire of sleep talk to either paralyse the opponent which is useful or dragon tail which is the desired move as it forces a switch and builds up entry hazard damage. Lastly the reason for a speed reducing nature is because I will be using this on Hybrid trick room team so to can pull of a rest straight away, along with this thunder wave will be crippling speed and because of the priority dragon tail goes last anyway. Thank you for reading and tell me what you think.

[Soperman]

Dragonair @Eviolite
252 HP / 100 Def/ 152 Sp. Def
Nature Sassy
Marvel Scale
Dragon Tail
Thunder wave
Rest
Sleep Talk

Ok bear with me on this set but the idea here is to have a bulky pokemon which can take a hit and build up residue damage. The team which I'm building around it will also be inflicting other status moves and laying down entry hazards, now onto dragonair. I know it is inferior to dragonite on most sets but I think this the exception. So the plan is I switch dragonair into something that I know it will be able to survive and with the great defensive typing that is dragon this should be easily done. Depending on the situation I fire of rest straight away which activates marvel scale and the Eviolite item the defence is doubled and the special defence is increased to a bulky amount. I then fire of sleep talk to either paralyse the opponent which is useful or dragon tail which is the desired move as it forces a switch and builds up entry hazard damage. Lastly the reason for a speed reducing nature is because I will be using this on Hybrid trick room team so to can pull of a rest straight away, along with this thunder wave will be crippling speed and because of the priority dragon tail goes last anyway. Thank you for reading and tell me what you think.

Jut to point this out, Dragonite does basically the exact same thing, but with a higher HP stat and harder-hitting Dragon Tail

[Prohawk]

Jut to point this out, Dragonite does basically the exact same thing, but with a higher HP stat and harder-hitting Dragon Tail

Dragonite is also has more weaknesses, can't abuse Marvel Scale, is far more susceptible to status and considering the main point of the set is to build hazard damage, the harder hitting attack is negligible

[Rosez66]

Dragonite is also has more weaknesses, can't abuse Marvel Scale, is far more susceptible to status and considering the main point of the set is to build hazard damage, the harder hitting attack is negligible

That was my thinking when building the team I still haven't fully trained even half of my team yet so I can't see it in action and see if the set actually works but what do you guys think, could a NFE pokemon work and if so what theif because my team at the moment will be in OU

[Divine Retribution]

That was my thinking when building the team I still haven't fully trained even half of my team yet so I can't see it in action and see if the set actually works but what do you guys think, could a NFE pokemon work and if so what theif because my team at the moment will be in OU

Chansey, Porygon2, and Dusclops are all NFE pokemon that are very common and viable. I've never thought of Dragonair, but I don't see why not.

[silverangel]

Does anyone think Rhydon is pretty good? I mean, it has Skarmory like defenses, 105 HP to tank hits, and a great 130 attack power. The downsides are 40 speed, 45 sp. def, and terrible typing. After an Eviolite boost, This guy can tank hits and dish out painful ones in return. It's great in a sun team, but let me show you a set.

Gaia the Rhydon @Eviolite
Impish Nature. Ability- Solid Rock
252 HP, 252 Sp. def, 4 Atk
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Megahorn

Rather great set. In sun, it can tank freaking Hydro Pumps from Starmie. It can also kill Heatran easily, having a 4x resistance to fire, Solid Rock to take Earth Power. It only fears the rare Solarbeam, but even that isn't guaranteed to OHKO. On the other hand, Heatran holding anything not called Air Balloon is utterly raped by an Earthquake, and those with Air Balloon only take a hit before they lose their ground immunity.

What do you think of this guy?

[Ironfish]

Does anyone think Rhydon is pretty good? I mean, it has Skarmory like defenses, 105 HP to tank hits, and a great 130 attack power. The downsides are 40 speed, 45 sp. def, and terrible typing. After an Eviolite boost, This guy can tank hits and dish out painful ones in return. It's great in a sun team, but let me show you a set.

Gaia the Rhydon @Eviolite
Impish Nature. Ability- Solid Rock
252 HP, 252 Sp. def, 4 Atk
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Megahorn

Rather great set. In sun, it can tank freaking Hydro Pumps from Starmie. It can also kill Heatran easily, having a 4x resistance to fire, Solid Rock to take Earth Power. It only fears the rare Solarbeam, but even that isn't guaranteed to OHKO. On the other hand, Heatran holding anything not called Air Balloon is utterly raped by an Earthquake, and those with Air Balloon only take a hit before they lose their ground immunity.

What do you think of this guy?

ard you using it in LC or one of the higher teirs?

[SkyDriver]

Does anyone think Rhydon is pretty good? I mean, it has Skarmory like defenses, 105 HP to tank hits, and a great 130 attack power. The downsides are 40 speed, 45 sp. def, and terrible typing. After an Eviolite boost, This guy can tank hits and dish out painful ones in return. It's great in a sun team, but let me show you a set.

Gaia the Rhydon @Eviolite
Impish Nature. Ability- Solid Rock
252 HP, 252 Sp. def, 4 Atk
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Megahorn

Rather great set. In sun, it can tank freaking Hydro Pumps from Starmie. It can also kill Heatran easily, having a 4x resistance to fire, Solid Rock to take Earth Power. It only fears the rare Solarbeam, but even that isn't guaranteed to OHKO. On the other hand, Heatran holding anything not called Air Balloon is utterly raped by an Earthquake, and those with Air Balloon only take a hit before they lose their ground immunity.

What do you think of this guy?

js Rhydon dont get solid rock. at best reckless/lightningrod both useless

[silverangel]

Stupid Smogon. They never said anything about an ability. Ah, forget everything I said. If Rhydon did get Solid Rock, it would be good. (Also, Gamefreak, get working on an evolution for Skarmory. He would be much better with one, don't you think?)

[Divine Retribution]

^If he gets an evolution, he better get a pre-evo too, Skarmory would be the most broken thing to hit LC since SHELL SMAWSH Clamperl.

[TwistedSpoon]

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 148 HP / 252 SpA / 108 Spe
Modest Nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Thunder
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost

Hey guys, I was making a threatlist for my rain team, and noticed that I don't really have a way to get rid of Ferrothorn and Scizor, which is pretty big since Ferrothorn is a major threat to rain teams in general, and Scizor is the king of OU (the relevant tier). Luckily, I had one team slot left, so this Pokemon needs to patch up that weakness. I chose Zapdos because of its bulk and access to Roost, while it can pose a decent offensive threat as well. My playstyle is offensive by the way, somewhat bulky but definitely offensive (no surprise probably, given how offensive the OU metagame is).

Question 1: Since I didn't have any room left to fit in a Rapid Spinner, Stealth Rock will be a thorn in Zapdos' side. Will it still be able to fulfill its purpose (checking Ferrothorn and Scizor reliably) or not?

The item is Leftovers for durability, while the Modest nature makes it able to pose an offensive threat to the opponent. 108 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed Jolly Beloom by 1 stat point. After this I've maxed out Special Attack, and put the remainder in HP, to form an HP stat of 358, allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock 4 times without dying.

Question 2: Did I invest enough in Speed, or do I need more?

Now onto the moves! Thunder is obvious; Zapdos needs a STAB attack and under rain, Thunder is the best option, doing 72.59 - 85.71% damage to CB Scizor. Heat Wave actually does more damage to it though, even under rain it deals 80.46 - 95.62% damage, which has a 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock. Heat Wave is also Zapdos' only move against Ferrothorn, doing at least 50% damage to the Relaxed 252 HP / 168 SpD variant. Hidden Power [Ice] is for those Landorus and Gliscor that try to switch in on a Thunder.

Question 3: Heat Wave only deals 50% damage to Ferrothorn, allowing it to set up 2 layers of Spikes. Is this normal for a rain team or do I need to find a way to get rid of it quicker?

Also, if you don't see a solution to these problems (like me -__-"), here's
Question 4: Could you find a way to check Volcarona, Jirachi, Toxicroak, Scizor and Ferrothorn using only 2 Pokemon that are viable on a rain team?
(currently scarf Landorus and this Zapdos) << it's shaky, I know

That's it, I hope one of you can help me with this.
Thanks to anyone who has actually read this wall of text!

[Divine Retribution]

Interesting. Zapdos isn't something I'd normally think of using to check Scizor, but it certainly does so, as there's really nothing Scizor ever carries that hurts it. As for your problem, I'd actually recommend bringing your own Toxicroak. He checks Jirachi that don't run Zen Headbutt (which no one ever really does thanks to Iron Head having a 20% better flinch rate) and can set up in defensive Jirachi with ease. Volcarona... Well, I'm not sure he checks Volcarona. In fact I know he doesn't if Volcarona happens to be running Hurricane. Scizor is walled, Ferrothorn is walled, and both are setup bait. Here's my Rain Toxicroak set that I found works amazingly in the rain.

Toxicroak @ Black Sludge
Adamant - Dry Skin
252 Attack / 100 HP / 156 Speed
-Drain Punch
-Sucker Punch / Stone Edge
-Substitute
-Bulk Up

Substitute blocks out things like HaxRachi's Thunder Wave or Ferrothorn's Leech Seed, and after that it's just a matter of spamming Bulk Up until you reach a comfortable level. I ran Sucker Punch for priority, but you could run sacrifice coverage and run Stone Edge to kill Volcarona if you're behind a substitute when it comes in.

EDIT: In this case I'd run 156 Speed EVs to outrun standard hax abuse Jirachi so it won't Thunder Wave you.