Moveset Help & Other Questions

[WhiteKnightL]

(Gen V question, as I haven't even bought Pokemon X yet ._.)

Caught a Jolly Durant on Twist Mountain. What's a good moveset for it? Since Hustle lowers its Accuracy, I find Hone Claws to be a good move for it. Thoughts?

 

[PlatinumDude]

(Gen V question, as I haven't even bought Pokemon X yet ._.)

Caught a Jolly Durant on Twist Mountain. What's a good moveset for it? Since Hustle lowers its Accuracy, I find Hone Claws to be a good move for it. Thoughts?

Hone Claws helps patch up the accuracy drop Hustle brings:
-Hone Claws
-X-Scissor
-Iron Head/Superpower
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge/Superpower
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Hustle

or
-Iron Head
-Superpower
-Thunder Fang
-Hone Claws/X-Scissor
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Hustle

 

[Pilkie]

Scizor Moveset for X/Y

Hey, I am looking to get into the competitive battle scene and am working on breeding a Scyther with (very near) perfect IVs, Technician and an Adamant nature. Everything is coming along alright with the IVs, but what moveset should my Scizor use?

I was thinking:

Swords Dance
Bullet Punch
Acrobatics
U-Turn

With my EVs like this:

252 Attack
252 Speed
4 Sp.Def

I am hoping for scizor to be my goto guy and use him as my sweeper.
So I ask these questions

•Should I use Scizorite with him?
•What item do I use?
•Does this moveset work? (if not) How can I improve it?
•Other comments.

I am a newcomer to online battling, so any advice helps.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Hey, I am looking to get into the competitive battle scene and am working on breeding a Scyther with (very near) perfect IVs, Technician and an Adamant nature. Everything is coming along alright with the IVs, but what moveset should my Scizor use?

I was thinking:

Swords Dance
Bullet Punch
Acrobatics
U-Turn

With my EVs like this:

252 Attack
252 Speed
4 Sp.Def

I am hoping for scizor to be my goto guy and use him as my sweeper.
So I ask these questions

•Should I use Scizorite with him?
•What item do I use?
•Does this moveset work? (if not) How can I improve it?
•Other comments.

I am a newcomer to online battling, so any advice helps.

U-turn makes Scizor waste away its Attack boosts by switching out. Offensive SD Scizor should use Life Orb. Bulky SD Scizor should use Scizorite. Acrobatics isn't worth using since Flying Gem isn't available in X/Y:

Offensive:
-Swords Dance
-Bullet Punch
-X-Scissor
-Brick Break
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Technician

Bulky:
-Swords Dance
-Bullet Punch
-X-Scissor
-Roost
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP/12 Atk/244 SDef
Item: Scizorite
Ability: Technician

 

[Jimmyray]

Still completely baffled in regards to the largely inconsistent priority variatons I'm experiencing competitively

 

[SnowpointQuincy]

Look at this Hawlucha Set - To use untill Flying Gem is Availible

Hawlucha @ Power Herb
252 attk/252 speed
Ability - Unburden

Sky Attack - To Activate Unburden ASAP
Acrobatics - reliable stab
Hi Jump Kick
Hone Claws.

It did decently on Showdown, but what do yall think?

Still completely baffled in regards to the largely inconsistent priority variatons I'm experiencing competitively

Are you talking about Showdown? I've seen other complain about it. One time, my power herb failed to activate when it was meant to.

 

[Jimmyray]

Are you talking about Showdown? I've seen other complain about it. One time, my power herb failed to activate when it was meant to.

No actually I'm talking about in X & Y Wi-Fi rating battles. There seems to be something I'm missing in regards to priority and occasionally even damage inconsistencies. Have a look at my post on the previous page of the thread if you think you know the problem! Thanks

 

[Xairmo]

I have a question about Aegislash's forme ability: do the offensive and defensive stats merely swap places like in power trick or do the stats independently increase and decrease upon change?

 

[Hikamaru]

I have a question about Aegislash's forme ability: do the offensive and defensive stats merely swap places like in power trick or do the stats independently increase and decrease upon change?

Here's information on Stance Change courtesy of Bulbapedia:

Stance Change allows Aegislash to switch between Blade Forme and Shield Forme. It changes to Blade Forme when using an attacking move, and reverts to Shield Forme when using King's Shield or any other move that increases its Defense or Special Defense, such as Iron Defense. Other status moves will not change its form.
Stance Change cannot be Traced or removed with Simple Beam or Skill Swap. The ability activates prior to and independently of any checks for status conditions that may stop the execution of the user's attack, such as paralysis or confusion.

Basically, Stance Change acts like Power Trick, it switches Aegislash's defensive stats with its offensive stats. The stats that are increased are at 150 while the stats they swap with are at base 50. The defensive stats are 150 in Shield Forme, offenses are at 50, and vice-versa for Blade Forme.

Hope my answer wasn't too confusing.

 

[Xairmo]

Here's information on Stance Change courtesy of Bulbapedia:



Basically, Stance Change acts like Power Trick, it switches Aegislash's defensive stats with its offensive stats. The stats that are increased are at 150 while the stats they swap with are at base 50. The defensive stats are 150 in Shield Forme, offenses are at 50, and vice-versa for Blade Forme.

Hope my answer wasn't too confusing.

Yeah I think that cleared it up. So since it's like power trick to use an offensive Aegislash I should do Bold with Def EVs since they're gonna swap over when he changes forme?

 

[PlatinumDude]

Yeah I think that cleared it up. So since it's like power trick to use an offensive Aegislash I should do Bold with Def EVs since they're gonna swap over when he changes forme?

Not exactly. Physical Aegislash are commonly seen using Adamant natures with 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def. While this seems pointless, when Stance Change activates, the new 150 base Attack of Aegislash's Blade Forme will use the 252 Attack EVs. Mixed Aegislash are occasionally seen as well.

At level 100, the maximum Attack of Shield Forme Aegislash is 218. In Blade Forme, this becomes 438 when the Attack and Defense switch.

 

[wolf]

Yeah I think that cleared it up. So since it's like power trick to use an offensive Aegislash I should do Bold with Def EVs since they're gonna swap over when he changes forme?

Only the base stats are swapped, not the EVs, IVs, Nature, etc. So, you'd definitely want to invest plenty of EVs into the offensive stats.

 

[avgfighterbutabrilliantscientist]

I've been using this doubles trick room team with mostly positive results on Pokemon Showdown. Critique of it is welcome. I've encountered some problems when my Musharna and Hariyama lead up against Ghost pokemon, since i can't use Fake Out on them. Should i replace Reuniclus with a medium speed Dark type pokemon to be used in the 1st turn when setting up trick room? I keep some speed on my Aegislash so he is less likely to move early in trick room

Smokey (Musharna) (F) @ Mental Herb
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Helping Hand
- Light Screen

Gamabunta (Hariyama) (M) @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Fake Out
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Wide Guard

Boneking (Marowak) (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Bonemerang
- Swords Dance

Soul Edge (Aegislash) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spd
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Iron Head
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Claw

Psymon (Reuniclus) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 172 HP / 28 Def / 252 SAtk / 56 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Protect

Goku (Ampharos) (M) @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Dragon Pulse
- Rest
- Cotton Guard
- Thunderbolt

 

[PlatinumDude]

I've been using this doubles trick room team with mostly positive results on Pokemon Showdown. Critique of it is welcome. I've encountered some problems when my Musharna and Hariyama lead up against Ghost pokemon, since i can't use Fake Out on them. Should i replace Reuniclus with a medium speed Dark type pokemon to be used in the 1st turn when setting up trick room? I keep some speed on my Aegislash so he is less likely to move early in trick room

Smokey (Musharna) (F) @ Mental Herb
Ability: Telepathy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Helping Hand
- Light Screen

Gamabunta (Hariyama) (M) @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 132 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Fake Out
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Wide Guard

Boneking (Marowak) (M) @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Bonemerang
- Swords Dance

Soul Edge (Aegislash) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Spd
Adamant Nature
IVs: 0 SAtk
- Iron Head
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Claw

Psymon (Reuniclus) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 172 HP / 28 Def / 252 SAtk / 56 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Protect

Goku (Ampharos) (M) @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Dragon Pulse
- Rest
- Cotton Guard
- Thunderbolt

Team looks good, but I'd like to suggest things for Aegislash and Ampharos.

Aegislash is in a Trick Room team and yet it has Speed investment? Why is that the case? Also note that setup moves aren't suited for the fast pace of doubles, so I'd drop it for Sacred Sword. Also, change the nature and EV spread to Brave and 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def.

While Cotton Guard boosts Ampharos' Defense significantly, it's not worth using. Rest is terrible because once you Rest up, you're left a sitting duck:
-Thunderbolt/Thunder
-Dragon Pulse
-Focus Blast
-Protect
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Item: Ampharosite
Ability: Static

Edit: Also consider Aromatisse on the team. The immunity to Dragon really helps:
-Trick Room
-Moonblast/Dazzling Gleam
-Heal Pulse
-Hidden Power (Ground)/Thunderbolt/Psychic/Protect
Nature: Relaxed/Sassy/Quiet
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef (Relaxed), 252 HP/4 Def/252 SDef (Sassy) or 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef (Quiet)
Item: Leftovers/Mental Herb

 

[avgfighterbutabrilliantscientist]

Team looks good, but I'd like to suggest things for Aegislash and Ampharos.

Aegislash is in a Trick Room team and yet it has Speed investment? Why is that the case? Also note that setup moves aren't suited for the fast pace of doubles, so I'd drop it for Sacred Sword. Also, change the nature and EV spread to Brave and 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def.

While Cotton Guard boosts Ampharos' Defense significantly, it's not worth using. Rest is terrible because once you Rest up, you're left a sitting duck:
-Thunderbolt/Thunder
-Dragon Pulse
-Focus Blast
-Protect
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Item: Ampharosite
Ability: Static

Thanks a lot for the quick response! I figured once in trick room i don't want my Aegislash moving too slow (fast in trick room) because that will leave him in blade form once some of the oppositions slower pokemon attack (who move early in trick room). My aegislash outspeeds Tyranitar and Metagross i assume so i guessed it was good to be in shield forme against them and some other slower threats?

I will change accordingly for my Ampharos

 

[TrainerNico]

What's a preferable Nature for a Lead Smeargle?

 

[Bulbartle]

What's a preferable Nature for a Lead Smeargle?

Try jolly if your smeargle is a physical sweeper.

 

[Zeffy]

Try jolly if your smeargle is a physical sweeper.

Jolly (or Timid!) is the preferred nature but I would not deliberately make Smeargle a physical sweeper. With just a measly base attack stat of 20, you can't really make it work. Smeargle's best sets involve moves that benefits the team (like Baton Passing boosts, entry hazards, etc.) so it is best to build it around that.

 

[TrainerNico]

Jolly (or Timid!) is the preferred nature but I would not deliberately make Smeargle a physical sweeper. With just a measly base attack stat of 20, you can't really make it work. Smeargle's best sets involve moves that benefits the team (like Baton Passing boosts, entry hazards, etc.) so it is best to build it around that.

Thanks alot! And another question, is it possible to breed for a Phanpy that knows Stealth Rock?

 

[Hikamaru]

Thanks alot! And another question, is it possible to breed for a Phanpy that knows Stealth Rock?

As far as I'm aware, Stealth Rock is a tutor move for it in B2/W2 so sadly this move isn't available for it until Pokemon Bank is released.