Competitive Single Rates - READ FIRST POST

[D-World]

Re-posting because of no rates.

Toxicroak@Wet Rock
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 Hp/252 Att/252 Spd
Nature: Jolly
~Sucker Punch
~Drain Punch
~Rain Dance
~Stone Edge/Earthquake/Something else?

He sets up my non-Drizzle RD team. I've got just about everything except the last move slot. Stone Edge or Earthquake? Or is there a better move that would fit there?

Most Toxicroak have Bulk Up and Substitute, so maybe something in that area. Otherwise, Bullet Punch might be handy, since Priority is good.

[cheeselord]

I'd try sub, focus punch, bullet punch and sucker punch (unless he learns a better dark or ghost move). And Lefties for the item.

[Psycho Cut]

Aggron's one of my favourite pokemon, so I wanted to make a decent set for him. I've got two ideas:

#1 @ Sitrus Berry/Focus Sash
Rock Head
Jolly
EVs: 252 Att, 220 Speed, 36 HP
Moves:
--Automize
--Hone Claws
--Head Smash
--Iron Tail

So this one is fairly self explanatory. Set up using automize and hone claws. After two or so hone claws aggron's powerful STABs will do a LOT of damage and won't be affected by their shaky accuracy. Rock Head also means that head smash won't do any damage to aggron

OR

#2 @ Iron Ball
Sturdy
Careful
EVs: 252 Hp, 252 Att, 4 Sp.Def
Moves:
--Fling
--Metal Burst
--Endeavour
--Iron Head

Iron ball reduces speed meaning that metal burst will always go after the opponent (well, most of the time) and also allow fling to do a lot of damage. Sturdy prevents a OHKO, and endeavour can reduce an enemy to 1HP when aggron's sturdy has prevented a OHKO. Iron Head is normal, reliable attacking move.

--------------------------

Ok, so two very different sets. But which one, if any, do you think is good?

Thanks in advance

[Quilava2]

@Psyco Cut

I like your second set. Metal Burst is like Counter and Mirror Coat in one move and is perfect with the ability Sturdy letting you almost always defeat one of your opponents Pokemon. Custap Berry would be a good item unfourtunately it is unreleased.

[Psycho Cut]

Thanks for your imput, Quilava. I agree that it would be a very good item on that set. I actually have on on HG from the shiny entei event, it's a shame you can't transfer items.

[D-World]

Rufflet @ Oran Berry
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 60 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
- Hone Claws
- Brave Bird
- Return
- Rock Slide/ Shadow Claw/ U-Turn/ Tailwind

*Rufflet has the overall advantage of being cute and strong. Hone Claws deals with Hustle's low accuracy disadvantage and increases the attack. After a Hone Claws, Rufflet's attack becomes around about 40. Then it can attack with some wicked STABs: Brave Bird and Return. Rock Slide and Shadow Claw are for coverage, U-Turn can give Rufflet a quick escape. Tailwind doubles his speed so he becomes a sweeper.*

*Detailed description of the Pokemon's purpose to the team*

[fschulze47]

How about my Banette set? I use it for random matchup, it's movepool is really poor, but I've always thought this Pokemon was really cool, and has the ability to cripple two threats out of three on a random matchup team AND reveal an opponent's item, which is great for random matchup considering that matches are under an item clause and knowing what random item the opponent may be using is really beneficial.


Banette@Choice Scarf/Choice Band
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 60 HP/ 252 Atk/ 196 Spe
Nature: Jolly
- Thunder Wave/ Will-o-Wisp
- Sucker Punch
- Trick
- Shadow Claw/ Shadow Sneak

Set is pretty simple. Makes sense to use as a lead or revenge killer to quickly get the upper hand on opponents. The item choice is always variable, this thing can double as a pretty efficient revenge killer with choice band, sucker punch, and shadow sneak, but there are less threats it can trick its Band on to. Choice Scarf allows you to screw over stuff and operate somewhat efficiently as a revenge killer, albeit only all that effective against weakened foes. Frisk allows me to see an opponent's item, which in my opinion is a huge advantage in random matchup mode. Status effects also operate beautifully in random matchup, because effectively you can cripple one third of your opponents team, the status is really up to preference. EVs are so that I can outrun positive base 110's with a scarf. Let me know how this looks, or if base 110 is even an important number to outrun anymore.

Suggestions?

[Eaglehawk]

I like the yanmega, but Aerodactyl wrecks this completely.

Speaking of Latis

Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Sp. Atk/ 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
-Dragon Pulse
-Recover
-Psychic/ Surf/ Hidden Power [FIGHTING]/ Calm Mind
-Psychic/ Surf/ Hidden Power [FIGHTING]/ Calm Mind
*Offensive Latias, since she has more bulk than her counterpart, i think she's a bit better. She's a Dragon, so she can take on most Pokés, and she's a Psychic, the noble race in decline, but Latias is strong enought to take on the Fighting Types that exist in plethoras in this metagame. Dragon Pulse offers STAB, Recover is to regain all that health, Psychic is also STAB and kills most Fighting Types like Machamp or Conkeldurr. Surf for Coverage, HP Fighting covers weaknesses and Calm Mind for added Bulk and Power.*

inb4 fact that Latios outperforms it in every single way offensively.

[Eaglehawk]

How about my Banette set? I use it for random matchup, it's movepool is really poor, but I've always thought this Pokemon was really cool, and has the ability to cripple two threats out of three on a random matchup team AND reveal an opponent's item, which is great for random matchup considering that matches are under an item clause and knowing what random item the opponent may be using is really beneficial.


Banette@Choice Scarf/Choice Band
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 60 HP/ 252 Atk/ 196 Spe
Nature: Jolly
- Thunder Wave/ Will-o-Wisp
- Sucker Punch
- Trick
- Shadow Claw/ Shadow Sneak

Set is pretty simple. Makes sense to use as a lead or revenge killer to quickly get the upper hand on opponents. The item choice is always variable, this thing can double as a pretty efficient revenge killer with choice band, sucker punch, and shadow sneak, but there are less threats it can trick its Band on to. Choice Scarf allows you to screw over stuff and operate somewhat efficiently as a revenge killer, albeit only all that effective against weakened foes. Frisk allows me to see an opponent's item, which in my opinion is a huge advantage in random matchup mode. Status effects also operate beautifully in random matchup, because effectively you can cripple one third of your opponents team, the status is really up to preference. EVs are so that I can outrun positive base 110's with a scarf. Let me know how this looks, or if base 110 is even an important number to outrun anymore.

Suggestions?

Knock Off as option.

[Eaglehawk]

Aggron's one of my favourite pokemon, so I wanted to make a decent set for him. I've got two ideas:

#1 @ Sitrus Berry/Focus Sash
Rock Head
Jolly
EVs: 252 Att, 220 Speed, 36 HP
Moves:
--Automize
--Hone Claws
--Head Smash
--Iron Tail

So this one is fairly self explanatory. Set up using automize and hone claws. After two or so hone claws aggron's powerful STABs will do a LOT of damage and won't be affected by their shaky accuracy. Rock Head also means that head smash won't do any damage to aggron

OR

#2 @ Iron Ball
Sturdy
Careful
EVs: 252 Hp, 252 Att, 4 Sp.Def
Moves:
--Fling
--Metal Burst
--Endeavour
--Iron Head

Iron ball reduces speed meaning that metal burst will always go after the opponent (well, most of the time) and also allow fling to do a lot of damage. Sturdy prevents a OHKO, and endeavour can reduce an enemy to 1HP when aggron's sturdy has prevented a OHKO. Iron Head is normal, reliable attacking move.

--------------------------

Ok, so two very different sets. But which one, if any, do you think is good?

Thanks in advance

You're better off not running Hone Claws and Autonomize together. Rarely would you have the chance to set up both moves, especially with the prevalence of Ground and Fighting type moves in almost every tier. Plus, it wastes a moveslot which you could squeeze in a coverage move (Aqua Tail, Earthquake). Plus, Steel isn't a great STAB type because it's resisted by a lot of types, including Steel itself.

As for the second set, there's something called Sturdy Aron with Shell bell in Sandstorm. It works much better that Aggron.

[Snar]

I've been breeding Minccinos lately and I'm thinking about one of two sets...

@ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252Spd, 252Atk, 4Hp
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
- Rock Blast/ Bullet Seed
- Wake-Up Slap/Tail Slap
- Encore/Knock-Off
- Sing

@ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
EVs: EVs: 252Spd, 252Atk, 4Hp
Nature: Jolly
- Bullet Seed/Wake-Up Slap
- Tail Slap/Return
- U-Turn
- Aqua Tail

Yes I know Cinccino is far from the best thing since sliced bread.

[cheeselord]

Try this king's rock. Then, assuming five hits, you have a 50% of flinch.

[D-World]

Try this king's rock. Then, assuming five hits, you have a 50% of flinch.

Agreed, and the set I'd use is

Cincinno @ King's Rock
Ability: Technician (No skill link since that's not legal yet)
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly/ Adamant
-Tail Slap
-Aqua Tail
-Bullet Seed (for bulky Waters)
-U-Turn/ Rock Blast

[archeopsdan]

first of all kings rock is banned in competetive play so instead go with wide lens or(items that act like the ability skill link)
other than that not bad really

[littlea53]

Scrafty @ Fight Gem (Open to suggestions)
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Spd / 244 Atk / 12 HP
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)
~ Hi Jump Kick
~ Stone Edge
~ Zen Headbutt
~ Dragon Dance

This is meant as a replacement sweeper for Zoroark since he is a Uber now. Anyways, this is meant to hit first and hit hard. First I D-Dance, then straight out sweep. Hi Jump Kick covers Steel and other Dark types. Stone Edge covers Flying types and Bug types. While Zen Headbutt covers Fighting types and any others that aren't covered by the other two moves.

[Eaglehawk]

Try this king's rock. Then, assuming five hits, you have a 50% of flinch.

By probability, each critical hit is an independent event, so the percentage of flinch isn't necessarily [number of hits] * 10%.

[asterat]

Whimsicott @ focus sash
Ability: prankster
EVs: none
Nature: hasty
-Encore
-leech seed
-Safeguard
-toxic
Ok, if you didn't realize it, this is a FEAR pokemon. Leech seed allows for full recovery each turn. Also, some pokemon (cloyster) can break whimsicott when he is FEAR with multiple attack moves. In that situation, send out some ine else and give them seeds. Encore is so good on a lead. It encores stealth rocks or taunts or a sweeper leads DD/swords dance. I have not run this guy much yet and am considering some other moves, namely protect and taunt. However I figured taunt and encore were kind of dumb on the same set.

[D-World]

Whimsicott @ focus sash
Ability: prankster
EVs: none
Nature: hasty
-Encore
-leech seed
-Safeguard
-toxic
Ok, if you didn't realize it, this is a FEAR pokemon. Leech seed allows for full recovery each turn. Also, some pokemon (cloyster) can break whimsicott when he is FEAR with multiple attack moves. In that situation, send out some ine else and give them seeds. Encore is so good on a lead. It encores stealth rocks or taunts or a sweeper leads DD/swords dance. I have not run this guy much yet and am considering some other moves, namely protect and taunt. However I figured taunt and encore were kind of dumb on the same set.

I like the idea, but having it as a FEAR could be risky. Try Encore/Leech Seed/ Substitute/ Toxic. Sub means you can recover HP from seeds without taking extra damage, and it annoys the opponent if he's been Toxicated, and it's more reliable long term than Protect, but be careful of those other priority moves.

Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs:
Nature: Timid
-Wish
-Dragon Pulse
-Psychic
-Surf/ Ice Beam/ Calm Mind/ Safeguard/ Protect

*I use this set in the Subway since it has great synergy with Rotom-H and Breloom. Latias acts as a supporting Pokémon on the team, throwing wishes so that the other two can spam their attacks. But Latias herself is strong. She has great typing whose weaknesses and resistances compliment the other two. She has Dragon Pulse, a brilliant STAB resisted only by Steels, Psychic as another powerful STAB against Poisons (who threaten breloom) and Fightings. Her last slot can be varied: a coverage move such as Surf or Ice Beam adds her movepool coverage by alot, Calm Mind makes her Bulkier and a lot stronger. Safeguard protects the team from Status and Protect can help Latias recover her own HP with Wish.*

I don't know what to use for the last slot. Any advice?

[Dark Sharpedo]

name: Life Orb
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Stone Edge / Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Reckless
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Comments: This dude works alot like Staraptor does with Reckless, even though Staraptor has much more Attack then Hitmonlee does. Anyways, even though Hitmonlee is quite Frail, it has decent Speed when Jolly and can outrun all neutral 100's. With a great amount of attack + Reckless moves like Hi-Jump Kick have 254 Base Power, which is monsterous. Also, with other reckless-recoil combo boosted moves like Double-Edge, this guy can take out a big proportion of the opposing team.

[D-World]

name: Life Orb
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Double-Edge
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Stone Edge / Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Reckless
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Comments: This dude works alot like Staraptor does with Reckless, even though Staraptor has much more Attack then Hitmonlee does. Anyways, even though Hitmonlee is quite Frail, it has decent Speed when Jolly and can outrun all neutral 100's. With a great amount of attack + Reckless moves like Hi-Jump Kick have 254 Base Power, which is monsterous. Also, with other reckless-recoil combo boosted moves like Double-Edge, this guy can take out a big proportion of the opposing team.

nice set, but you might want something like Mach Punch for whenever Hitmonlee is getting in a tough spot. But I think Staraptor is better since he's faster, stronger, has dual STAB and access to Recovery (but I run Endeavor).