Community POTW #84 - Special #3

[Serebii]

So, the RNG hit a Pokémon we had chosen to be a part of a special week, so it's time for that special week! Be kind to Blue Harvest in this. Please keep it one Pokémon to a post

It's Electric Rat week here on Serebii.net

First, on Sunday, we will begin with Raichu



Raichu is a pretty decent Pokémon, especially now it gets Lightningrod

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/026.shtml

Monday, we'll go with Pikachu in its own article like we did with Scyther



Now the Light Ball is out in Gen V, Pikachu is pretty badass again, even though it lacks Surf

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/025.shtml

Tuesday



Plusle is an ok Pokémon, works better in Doubles, but still can do decent stuff

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/311.shtml

Wednesday



Minun is an ok Pokémon, works better in Doubles, but still can do decent stuff

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/312.shtml

(On deciding, we may do Plusle & Minun the same day since they are near identical, just with different status moves)

Thursday/Wednesday



Pachirisu came with the Physical/Special split and was fine tuned to them so is capable of some decent stuff

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/417.shtml

Friday/Thursday



Emolga changed things up by including a secondary type, and can be annoying if you allow evasion like all places barring Smogon does

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/587.shtml

Go nuts!

[Serpentine]

Raichu
THUNDER! THUNDER! THUNDER RATS! HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Raichu@Damp Rock
Timid(-Atk/+Spd)
Lightningrod
4 HP/252 SpAtk/252 Spd

Rain Dance
Thunder
Thunder Wave
Light Screen/Grass Knot

Let's see... Not much to say here. Get rain up and spam a STAB never miss Thunder for 8 turns. T-Wave and Light Screen are just there for support. Grass Knot's there to hit grounds that wall Thunder.

SubPunch works too. Just use the Pikachu set below with different EVs. Just put the extra 4 EVs into Def instead of HP because it's HP is already perfect for 4 Substitutes with max HP IVs and use a Shell Bell or Lefties. Shell Bell will recover enough for two more Substitutes if you take no more damage and keep using Focus Punch. Lefties will recover enough for two more Substitutes as well and it's far more reliable but Shell Bell works if the item clause is in effect and you'd rather use lefties for something else that needs it more.

Pikachu
Sub-Punch
Pikachu@Light Ball
Adamant (+Atk/-SpAtk)
Static
8 HP/252 Atk/248 Spd

Substitute
Focus Punch
Reversal/Flail/Volt Tackle
Quick Attack

Make a Substitute and then Focus Punch, simple right? With 12 HP EVs you can make four substitutes and be left with 1 HP which is perfect for Reversal and/or Flail. Depending on your personal tastes or you could go for a weaker but still powerful STAB Volt Tackle. This only works if you're faster and Pikachu outspeeds quite a bit in the NU tier but without max speed I'm not so much. It's good to have if you're going against some of the slower NU Pokemon. Another option just to pull off a little damage before fainting is Quick Attack which means you can pull one off even if you are slower which can pull off a knock out if they have very very low HP and then get another hit on the next Pokemon or you can get a little bit of damage to help a revenge killer.

Nasty Plot
Pikachu@Light Ball
Timid (+Spd/-Atk)
Lightningrod
4 Def/252 SpAtk/252 Spd

Nasty Plot
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power (Ice)
Substitute/Encore

Pikachu doesn't have a very wide variety of moves when it comes to Special Attacks but it does have a pseudo Bolt-Beam coverage with Hidden power and STAB Thunderbolt. With the Light Ball Pikachu's Special attack quadruples with a single Nasty Plot which is just plain deadly. Then if you do a switch in from a Pokemon like Gyarados it just adds more Sp Atk to your little yellow sweeper. Finally Substitute or Encore because it can allow you to set up. I know it's the Smogon set but it's a really good set.

Pichu?
I don't see why there's no Pichu. I guess it has bad stats. It has Nasty Plot though which is nice.

Plusle & Minun
Shockingly Annoying
Plusle & Minun@Leftovers
Timid (+Spd/-Atk)
Plusle=Plus, Minun=Minus
4 HP/252 SpAtk/252 Spd

Volt Switch
Thunder Wave
Sweet Kiss
Attract

So many hax, so little time. Thunder Wave paralyses, Sweet Kiss' confusion and Attract's infatuation they're down to 18.75% chance of attacking. Volt Switch is there to get out if you're taunted.

Nasty Plot
Plusle & Minun@Leftovers
Modest (+SpAtk/-Atk)
Plusle=Plus, Minun=Minus
4 HP/252 SpAtk/252 Spd

Nasty Plot
Thunderbolt/Thunder
Grass Knot
Signal Beam

Plusle & Minun lack the movepools to pull this off but here's what they can do. Nasty Plot doubles their Sp Atk and then Thunderbolt is accurate, Thunder's more power. Grass Knot is for rocks and grounds and then Signal Beam's there for coverage.

The Squeak Squad Cheerleaders
Pluzle & Minun@Focus Sash
Timid (+Spd/-Atk)
Plusle=Plus, Minun=Minus
252 HP/4 Def/252 Spd

Baton Pass
Nasty Plot
Encore
Volt Switch

One slice of strawberry shortcake to whoever knows the reference. Trap the foe that's trying to take advantage of your non-intimidating appearance and give them a hand with Encore. Then you start to thing of ways to get revenge on their Team with Nasty Plot as they get out of there and go into something else. If you're fast enough you can develop your plans further for complete domination, if not you can pass the baton to the next member of the Squeak Squad with Baton Pass and give them your revenge plans so they can sweep the competition. If you get taunted by your foe just tag out with Volt Switch.

Pachirisu
Oh poor Pachirisu. It was stuck with two useless competitive abilities in Gen 4 but now with the Dream World it gains a new ability giving it... I guess giving it a little more of an edge but since the other two are useless it's predictable as to what it has and not only that but it's unable to recieve TMs prior to Gen V as well as Move Tutor moves prior to the new ones in B2/W2.

Choice
Pachicrisu@Life Orb/Choice Band
Adamant (+Atk/-SpAtk)
Volt Absorb
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd

Thunderpunch
Seed Bomb
Dig/Iron Tail
Return/U-Turn

Thunderpunch is STAB and physical. Seed Bomb can take care of Water/Ground types that would otherwise wall your little rodent punches as well as add coverage. Iron Tail has less accuracy but more power than Dig and Dig takes two turns so they could easily switch out into something else, but they both add more coverage and have similar coverage. U-Turn can scout out moves while Return is just plain powerful.

Emolga
Acrorat
Emolga@Flying Gem
Adamant (+Atk/-SpAtk)
Volt Absorb
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd

Acrobatics
Wild Charge
Roost/U-Turn
Iron Tail

It's a squirrel, but whatever. Acrobatics gains a LOT of power with the Flying Gem and STAB. Then there's Wild Charge which is also STAB and is quite strong. Roost can heal while U-Turn can scout or switch out to something to prevent damage and Iron Tail can hit those who resist your STABs.

[Lucario Fan]

Raichu

Ability: Static
Moves: Thunder, Rain Dance, Iron Tail, Volt Tackle
Held Item: Focus Sash

[philzone]

Wow. this is a SHOCKING turn of events.
Raichu
-volt tackle
-fake out
-iron tail
-brick break
life orb
jolly
evs 252 speed 252 att 4hp

One set I came up with. volt tackle is strong and fake out eliminates sturdy users. iron tail for power and brick break for steels and other.
shame it doesn't get the light ball.

[grantholomew]

Pikachu can be pretty good in the NU tier, where there’s no Zekrom to zap it and make it useless…

The Original Electric Rat
Pikachu @ Light Ball
Trait: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk /252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
If Pikachu can get a nasty Plot in after a Substitute, there really isn’t that much hope for most other Pokémon. If switched into an Electric attack, it may not even have to Nasty Plot to get the job done.

Ash’s Pikachu
Pikachu @ Light Ball
Trait: Static
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk /252 Spd
Hasty (+Spd, -Def)
- Thunderbolt
- Quick Attack
- Iron Tail
- Electro Ball
Not sure why you’d use this one, other for fun lower-than-NU battles with your friends. It works great for aspiring Pokémon trainers wandering around the world.

[TimmahX]

Agility Sweeper
Nature: Modest
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 252 SpAtk, 252 Spd, 4 HP
Item: Life Orb

- Electro Ball / Thunderbolt
- Air Slash
- Agility
- Baton Pass

Electro Ball is a move that inflicts more damage the faster Emolga is than the opponent and it learns Agility. In conjunction, this gives Emolga one outright devastating STAB move that will usually go first given it's strong 103 Base Speed. If you want reliability not having to bank on using Agility first, Thunderbolt is a fair alternative. Air Slash is a nice secondary STAB move that offers a good flinch rate and benefits from Emolga's high speed. Baton Pass is a great last move that allows Emolga to hand off its Agility boosts and get out of dodge against checks and counters.

Other Key Moves for Emolga

Encore: Great for messing with Pokemon who think they can set up against Emolga.
Thunder Wave: A very viable alternative to Agility or just for the Paralysis support.
Charge Beam: Can be run on a Baton Pass set.
Substitute: Also viable in Baton Pass sets.
Hidden Power [Ice]: Smashes Ground types.
Volt Switch/U-Turn: Great for Scouting.
Acrobatics + Flying Gem: Technically Emolga's offensive stats are even, so it CAN go Physical.
Wild Charge: On the same note as Acrobatics, here is a Physical STAB.
Tailwind: Offers team Agility and can easily take Agility's place on the set above if you think Emolga won't be able to survive often.

[Kraleck]

Wow...so much to analyze...and only 1 Pokemon per post? Yeesh...this'll be difficult, but I'll give it a shot...

Let's start with Pachirisu...

Aside from a very limited pool of Gen 4 only Moves, you'll really only be using a Pachi' with the Volt Absorb Dream World Ability since Pick Up and Run Away are useless in PvP Battles. Even then, it doesn't have much to go on - Base 45 offenses, Base 60 HP, and Base 70 Defense are terrible and it can't use its Base 90 Sp.Def with such low HP. One silver lining is its Base 95 Speed, access to Super Fang, Toxic, and some other devious Status Moves make it somewhat frustrating to deal with.

Compared to Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu's evolution line, Pachirisu...
-Hovers between Pikachu and Raichu in Speed
-Matches Raichu in HP
-Has better defenses than Raichu
-Hovers between Pichu and Pikachu in offenses

Then again, being defensive never really worked for Electric Types aside from the various Appliance Rotom. Pachi' has good Moves, but poor Stats behind them - basically a sturdy castle built on swampland (for those of you who don't get the reference, go watch "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" for Arceus's sake)...

[Sceptile Leaf Blade]

Pikachu getting Fly has just got to be the weirdest move compatibility in the history of pokémon games so far. Weirder than Octillery getting Fire Blast, Bullet Seed, and Psybeam, I mean seriously weird. It's a 6 kg mouse that can carry people in the air, and it doesn't even have wings. Forget flamethrowing octopusses, flying pikachu's are the new bosses. Pikachu is immediately cool just because it gets Fly. It being a completely badass suicide pokémon with 400+ offences and no defence makes it even more awesome. Pikachu is, while not the top of competitive battling, seriously cool.

Suicidal Pika @ Light Ball
Jolly nature
Lightning rod
252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
-Fly
-Volt Tackle
-Iron Tail
-Encore

Fly deals with grass types, Volt Tackle is STAB, Iron Tail deals with Golem and Onix, and Encore is fun when switching in on pokémon setting up. EV's are self-explanatory, and the ability might occasionally allow a safe switch in, since Pika can't take any hit. It may need a pass of Agility or Swords Dance to really function properly.

[Sala-imence]

Minun

Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 HP / 4 SpD
Ability: Minus
Moveset:
- Baton Pass
- Nasty Plot / Agility
- Encore
- Wish

Choose which move you want to pass on, ENCORE is to keep a pokemon using status moves so it gives you more time. And WISH to heal the pokemon you pass onto.

[grantholomew]

Opposites Attract
Plusle @ Life Orb
Trait: Plus
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt/Discharge
- Hidden Power Ice
- Nasty Plot
- Encore/Entrainment
Minun @ Leftovers
Trait: Minus
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def /252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt/Discharge
- Hidden Power Ice
- Helping Hand
- Encore
Doubles are what Plusle and Minun were basically made for. When they are both on the field, their abilities actually have use for once.

Positive to the Positive, Negative to the Negative
Plusle\Minun @ Life Orb
Trait: Plus\Minus
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spd
Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice
- Nasty Plot
- Entrainment
This is for the use of Plusle or Minun in Singles. It’s not as effective as Doubles, but it can work with a little team support. Entrainment is a great way to transfer your usless ability to your opponent.

[Missingno. Master]

You're Gonna Need A Bigger Mousetrap
Raichu@Focus Sash
Timid nature
Lightningrod
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Nasty Plot
~Thunderbolt
~Focus Blast
~Hidden Power (Ghost)

Wow, my guess of Braviary was way off, wasn't it? Anyway, Raichu has respectable stats indeed, especially in Speed, and it has a great means of boosting its Special Attack. Namely, Nasty Plot. Once you boost Special Attack, it's time to sweep. Thunderbolt is for STAB, and Focus Blast and HP Ghost have unresisted coverage together.

Item ensures Raichu survives the setup turn. Ability gives it another means of boosting its Special Attack, as well as a nice immunity to Electric moves.


Other options:
*Raichu has the stats for a Choice Band set, but unfortunately, not the movepool to back it up. Besides a decent handful of physical Electric moves, Brick Break, and a bunch of Normal moves, there's not much of note.
*When the obligatory Surfing Pikachu event comes around, Surf is an excellent option. The only issue is that these event Pikachu tend to have set natures, and those natures are generally not desirable on a special attacking Raichu.


Abilities:
*Static: When the foe hits Raichu with a contact move, there's a 30% chance of the attacker becoming paralyzed. An extremely stupid ability on something with such pitiful defense, especially with access to...
*Lightningrod: Raichu's Hidden Ability. Raichu takes no damage from Electric moves, and whenever it's hit with one, its Special Attack goes up one stage. In double and triple battles, Raichu draws any Electric moves aimed at its allies towards itself. Even if it's to a type it already resists, an extra immunity is always a good thing, especially if a Special Attack boost comes into play. This should be the ability anyone uses on their Raichu, and thanks to a previous event, females with this Ability do exist legitimately. The event's long gone, but a quick search of the GTS for Pichu should provide some results.


Partners:
Rapid Spin or Magic Bounce support is ideal to ensure that the Focus Sash doesn't break prematurely. Smashpassing to it doesn't hurt, either.


Counters:
Special walls like Chansey and Blissey shrug off anything Raichu can dish out, even Focus Blast to an extent (but given its low PP count and the accuracy that has earned it the nickname "Focus Miss", it's not ideal to try and muscle through one with this move). Dugtrio also springs to mind. It's faster, it has Arena Trap, and STAB Earthquake. An Air Balloon can circumvent this to a degree, but Dugtrio has other moves, and Raichu's defenses suck.


Opinion:
Raichu is awesome. A classic if ever there was one.


Prediction for next week:
To be announced...

[grantholomew]

That Pesky Squirrel
Pachirisu @ None
Trait: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Charge Beam/Volt Switch
- Super Fang
- Covet
- Toxic

[Missingno. Master]

The Mascot Also Sweeps
Pikachu@Light Ball
Timid nature
Lightningrod
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Signal Beam
~Hidden Power (Fighting)
~Grass Knot

Now the series mascot, Pikachu, gets its turn. Though at a glance its stats are sucktastic, it has a means of boosting its meager Special Attack- Light Ball, a wonderful item that is basically an automatic Swords Dance and Nasty Plot at the same time. Thunderbolt is for STAB, and the other moves are for as much coverage as it can muster (not much).

Item I already explained. Ability is the best one it can have.


Other options:
*As the Light Ball also ups Attack, it can try for a physical set. Besides a decent handful of physical Electric moves, Brick Break, and a bunch of Normal moves, there's not much of note, though.
*When the obligatory Surfing Pikachu event comes around, Surf is an excellent option. The only issue is that these event Pikachu tend to have set natures, and those natures are generally not desirable on a special attacking Raichu.


Abilities:
*Static: When the foe hits Pikachu with a contact move, there's a 30% chance of the attacker becoming paralyzed. An extremely stupid ability on something with such pitiful defense, especially with access to...
*Lightningrod: Pikachu's Hidden Ability. Pikachu takes no damage from Electric moves, and whenever it's hit with one, its Special Attack goes up one stage. In double and triple battles, Pikachu draws any Electric moves aimed at its allies towards itself. Even if it's to a type it already resists, an extra immunity is always a good thing, especially if a Special Attack boost comes into play. This should be the ability anyone uses on their Pikachu, and thanks to a previous event, females with this Ability do exist legitimately. The event's long gone, but a quick search of the GTS for Pichu should provide some results.


Partners:
Smashpassing is good. It's also advisable to have Stealth Rock set up on your opponent, or else Shedinja and anything with a Focus Sash can interfere with Pikachu's sweeping.


Counters:
Special walls like Chansey and Blissey shrug off anything Pikachu can do. Without Stealth Rock support, Shedinja also walks all over you. Anything with better than base 90 Speed and semi-decent offensive stats also destroys Pikachu.


Opinion:
Overrated, but still awesome and cute.


Prediction for next week:
To be announced...

[grantholomew]

When Squirrels Fly
Emolga @ Leftovers
Trait: Motor Drive
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 Spd
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
- Charge Beam
- Air Slash/Hidden Power Ice
- Substitute
- Roost/Taunt

[Lucario Fan]

Pikachu

Ability: Static
Held Item: Light Ball
Moves: Thunderbolt, Volt Tackle, Signal Beam, Brick Break

[Missingno. Master]

I'm Positive This Can Sweep!
Plusle@Focus Sash/Air Balloon
Timid nature
Plus
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Nasty Plot
~Hidden Power (Fighting)
~Grass Knot

Plusle has a nice Speed and respectable Special Attack, but its movepool leaves something to be desired. Still, it can go with a special sweeping set. Thunderbolt is for STAB, Nasty Plot to boost Special Attack, and the rest for some semblance of coverage.

Item can help Plusle survive the setup turn. Ability is non-negotiable.


Other options:
*Grass Knot is an additional option, but it's not worth losing the Nasty Plot option.
*A Baton Pass set is always an option, if it can survive the multiple turns of setup.


Abilities:
*Plus: Plusle's one and only Ability. Boosts Plusle's Special Attack in a Double or Triple battle if its ally or allies has Plus or Minus. Useless in singles and rotation battles, but there's really no way around it.


Partners:
Smashpassing is good.


Counters:
Special walls like Chansey and Blissey are, as ever, excellent counters, as is Dugtrio.


Opinion:
Underrated, but still awesome and cute.


Prediction for next week:
To be announced...

[Aurath8]

I think I'll do Raichu. The elecrtic mouse has respectable offences at 90 and just enough speed at 100 but his poor defences make it hard to switch in and leaves him outclassed by more exotic Electric types, and stuck in NU as a result. He did get a new toy in Gen 5 in the form of Lightningrod, but other than that and Volt Switch he's very similar to past generations. Still, he remains a fast and versatile pokemon thanks to moves like Nasty Plot, Encore and more niche strategies such as SubPunch.

Counters
If Raichu lacks Grass Knot, Quagsire is an excellent counter and and even nullifies Nasty Plot boosts with it's ability Unaware. Raichu isn't the most powerful pokemon in the world, and pokemon with naturally high Spdef can handle him. For example, if Raichu lacks Focus Blast, the Regis can tank a hit and hit back hard with their respective STAB. Probopass falls in the same boat.
The easiest way to counter Raichu would be revenging it. It has very poor defence leaving it vulnerable to Scarfers, faster pokemon and priority users like Absol or Gurdurr. Any strong physical attack is sure to put a large dent in it.

On the whole Raichu isn't much of problem, but still consider it when making a team. Like many pokemon, after a Nasty Plot boost it can tear through teams without a second thought.

[Lucario Fan]

Plusle

Ability: Plus
Held Item: Focus Sash
Moves: Discharge, Nasty Plot, Swift, Encore

[Missingno. Master]

Sweep Of Negativity
Minun@Focus Sash/Air Balloon
Timid nature
Minus
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Thunderbolt
~Nasty Plot
~Hidden Power (Fighting)
~Grass Knot

Minun has a nice Speed and respectable Special Attack, but its movepool leaves something to be desired. Still, it can go with a special sweeping set. Thunderbolt is for STAB, Nasty Plot to boost Special Attack, and the rest for some semblance of coverage.

Item can help Minun survive the setup turn. Ability is non-negotiable.


Other options:
*Grass Knot is an additional option, but it's not worth losing the Nasty Plot option.
*A Baton Pass set is always an option, if it can survive the multiple turns of setup.


Abilities:
*Minus: Minun's one and only Ability. Boosts Minun's Special Attack in a Double or Triple battle if its ally or allies has Plus or Minus. Useless in singles and rotation battles, but there's really no way around it.


Partners:
Smashpassing is good.


Counters:
Special walls like Chansey and Blissey are, as ever, excellent counters, as is Dugtrio.


Opinion:
Underrated, but still awesome and cute.


Prediction for next week:
To be announced...

[Lucario Fan]

Minun

Ability: Minus
Held Item: Focus Sash
Moves: Discharge, Echoed Voice, Attract, Grass Knot