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-   -   Good Zam? (RMA) (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=114927)

Nintendoid64 November 9th, 2007 8:47 PM

Good Zam? (RMA)
 
is this a good alakazam or not?

please share your thoughts.


[email protected]
Spcl attck MAX!
Psychic
Hidden power (Flying)
Calm mind
Focus blast

thankyou :)

sims796 November 9th, 2007 8:55 PM

No.

HP Flying offers no additional coverage. He's too fragile to use Calm Mind. Sky Plate sucks, simply because it ONLY powers up that weak HP Flying.

What are the EV's?

Hikari Hyuga November 9th, 2007 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sims796 (Post 3065090)
No.

HP Flying offers no additional coverage. He's too fragile to use Calm Mind. Sky Plate sucks, simply because it ONLY powers up that weak HP Flying.

What are the EV's?

You could at least give him suggestions for a better moveset instead of just critisiing.

sims796 November 9th, 2007 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hikari Hyuga (Post 3065361)
You could at least give him suggestions for a better moveset instead of just critisiing.

Look. He asked whether or not it was good, I answered. At least I said something helpful. I wasn't mean or rude. As I said, I ned his EV spread before I can help further.

Before you speak, do something to contribute. You didn't help him at all.

Arcknight316 November 9th, 2007 10:48 PM

Sky Plate = no
psychic = ok
focus blast = ok
calm mind = no
HP flying = no

happy?

Nintendoid64 November 10th, 2007 12:04 AM

sheesh, i didnt realise peeps could be so mean! -.-

my strategy is: get zam to use calm mind, use moves depending on foe.

PS HP Flying is to cover up bug types, all zam's moves cover up ALL his weaknesses.

ill also add this for future posts.


If you want please feel free to give suggestions.

ThePlaya November 10th, 2007 12:13 AM

is this for competiteve battling or for ingame purposes??

Smarties-chan November 10th, 2007 12:17 AM

People, it's only common sense to tell him how to improve the moveset if he asks whether or not his moveset is good. Sims and darkknight, in the future, I'll expect you to actually give ways to improve the sets.

Furthermore, Calm Mind is just fine on 'Zam if you can predict well. That, or if you're using the oh-so schmexy Encorezam.
Quote:

sheesh, i didnt realise peeps could be so mean! -.-

my strategy is: get zam to use calm mind, use moves depending on foe.

PS HP Flying is to cover up bug types, all zam's moves cover up ALL his weaknesses.

ill also add this for future posts.


If you want please feel free to give suggestions.
The problem here is that bugs (unless they have a 4x weakness to Flying, and those bugs would be Parasect and Heracross, neither of which likes to switch in on Zam) take a whooping 5 base power more damage from a full power Hidden Power Flying than from a STAB Psychic, which defeats the point of keeping the Hidden Power. Super effective moves aren't everything.

If you want to use Calm Mind, breed for a new 'Zam with Encore, otherwise go with a Choice Specs set. The Encore set is as follows:

Alakazam @ Lum Berry/Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Timid
EVs. 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Speed

- Psychic
- Focus Blast/Grass Knot/Energy Ball/Hidden Power [FIGHTING/ICE/FIRE/ELECTRIC]/Shadow Ball
- Calm Mind
- Encore

This thing was a beast in 3rd gen and will stop the likes of Swords Dancechomp (if you switch in on a Swords Dance, that is) and will gladly set up on Skarm by switching in on Roost and Encoring it. The set requires prediction, but it's deadly if used well. If you want to dish out a lot of damage fast, go with this set instead:

Alakazam @ Choice Specs
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Speed

- Psychic
- Energy Ball/Grass Knot/Focus Blast/Shadow Ball/Hidden Power [FIGHTING/FIRE/ICE/ELECTRIC]
- Energy Ball/Grass Knot/Focus Blast/Shadow Ball/Hidden Power [FIGHTING/FIRE/ICE/ELECTRIC]
- Energy Ball/Grass Knot/Focus Blast/Shadow Ball/Hidden Power [FIGHTING/FIRE/ICE/ELECTRIC]

Pretty straight forward. Unless the opponent is Cresselia, Blissey or immune to the attack you're using, this set will most likely be doing a lot of damage regardless of what your opponent switches in.

Nintendoid64 November 10th, 2007 12:17 AM

competetive when i get wifi in January

Azonic November 10th, 2007 6:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nintendoid64 (Post 3065057)
is this a good alakazam or not?

please share your thoughts.


[email protected]Choice Specs
Timid
252 Sattack / 252 Speed / 4 HP
Psychic
Trick
Energy Ball / Shadowball / HP Flying
Focus blast

thankyou :)

Its the TrickSpecsZam. A good Hidden Power is hard to come upon.

Anti November 10th, 2007 8:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkknight316 (Post 3065395)
Sky Plate = no
psychic = ok
focus blast = ok
calm mind = no You know half the Zams in competitive battling have that, correct?
HP flying = no

happy?

Sorry, but could you give a few reasons? And lol, you realise how GOOD calm mind is on Zam? Because it's VERY good on it...

I'd run a trickbander Zam. Ah, they are quite fun. Or, choice specs, rather. lol

If you want a pure attacker, I've always loved the choice specs set. It is very effective and only a couple special walls really can take its hits well.

Faceless* November 10th, 2007 8:16 AM

Oh my god.. how the heck is Calm Mind good on Alakazam? It doesn't even raise speed, and a Blissey will just switch in and laugh the hell at you. Even worse.. Spiritomb/Weavile will come out as well. Focus Sash also obliterates Calm Mind. Calm Mind isn't even good if you can predict a switch, they'll switch into a wall or a sweeper faster than Alakazam =P

Anti November 10th, 2007 8:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name (Post 3066822)
Oh my god.. how the heck is Calm Mind good on Alakazam? It doesn't even raise speed, and a Blissey will just switch in and laugh the hell at you. Even worse.. Spiritomb/Weavile will come out as well. Focus Sash also obliterates Calm Mind. Calm Mind isn't even good if you can predict a switch, they'll switch into a wall or a sweeper faster than Alakazam =P

and other Zam sets do any better at those things? Blissey will switch in no matter what, you can't do anything about weavile, regardless of the set, and how often do you see spiritomb?

Faceless* November 10th, 2007 8:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Pop Culture Warrior 13 (Post 3066844)
and other Zam sets do any better at those things? Blissey will switch in no matter what, you can't do anything about weavile, regardless of the set, and how often do you see spiritomb?

Trick Zam my friend, Blissey is stuck with Choice Specs while Zam hold Leftovers =\

Besides, if the team doesn't carry one of the mentioned above, ALL teams should have one Pokemon with base speed higher than 120, even with Choice Scarf. If thats not available, they use moves like SUcker Punch, Extremespeed, Aqua Jet etc. and you have one Dead Alakazam

Anti November 10th, 2007 8:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name (Post 3066852)
Trick Zam my friend, Blissey is stuck with Choice Specs while Zam hold Leftovers =\

And then what? Blissey being locked onto a choice spec seismic toss or ice beam doesn't give zam much time to survive. I even ran this set in ADV with decent success:

Zam @ choice band
Synchronize
4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid
- trick
- Calm mind
- Psychic
- fire punch

As in, you can use both in the same moveset...it's very tricky, but it works :0

No matter what you do tyo blissey, you're gonna have to switch out anyways...

Faceless* November 10th, 2007 9:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Pop Culture Warrior 13 (Post 3066868)
And then what? Blissey being locked onto a choice spec seismic toss or ice beam doesn't give zam much time to survive. I even ran this set in ADV with decent success:

Zam @ choice band
Synchronize
4 HP / 252 Spd / 252 SAtk
Timid
- trick
- Calm mind
- Psychic
- fire punch

As in, you can use both in the same moveset...it's very tricky, but it works :0

No matter what you do tyo blissey, you're gonna have to switch out anyways...

It cripples Blissey MUCH more than the Calm Mind set, this is 4th gen, open your eyes O_O

Calm mind is a waste on Alakazam's set, it needs as move coverage it can get, as well as speed.

Arcknight316 November 10th, 2007 9:45 AM

Sorry.....
OK, Calm Mind isn't too good on 'Zam because it can't take a hit. Just like you don't give Recover to a Porygon-Z. The ONLY way to put Calm Mind on a 'Zam is to Focus Sash it up.

Faceless* November 10th, 2007 9:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkknight316 (Post 3067145)
Sorry.....
OK, Calm Mind isn't too good on 'Zam because it can't take a hit. Just like you don't give Recover to a Porygon-Z. The ONLY way to put Calm Mind on a 'Zam is to Focus Sash it up.

No.. that won't succeed either, Calm Mind up for what? A switch? You wasted turns isntead of hurting, and you gave the opponent a free turn

Anti November 10th, 2007 9:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name (Post 3067119)
It cripples Blissey MUCH more than the Calm Mind set, this is 4th gen, open your eyes O_O

Calm mind is a waste on Alakazam's set, it needs as move coverage it can get, as well as speed.

Fire Punch and psychic worked fine in ADV as far as coverage is concerned...only houndoom and TTar gave it any real problems...HP fire would work in 4th gen, eh?

Saying calm mind is a waste really isn't correct. CM Zam sweeps teams, either generation. And if you leave Zam in against bliss, well...who does that? Switch to dugtrio, or Vire, or...or something!

Really, bliss should be the last thing on your mind, since it owns Zam. the recover / CM set (which isn't great) may not be great (as I just said), but it totally lols at blissey. If you're so worried about blissey, use that...

Okay, calm mind givfes Zam more power. It has 120 base speed. with timid, it doesn't need any more. In fact, CM probably works BETTER in 4th gen since you can attack focus sash...which guarentees one CM, and gives you a great chance for two. After that, power takes over. I mean, kill blissey and tell me what can stop CM alakazam?

EDIT: Nobody here has seen the power of CM Zam, which has swept many of my teams, good and bad.

Faceless* November 10th, 2007 9:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Pop Culture Warrior 13 (Post 3067157)
Fire Punch and psychic worked fine in ADV as far as coverage is concerned...only houndoom and TTar gave it any real problems...HP fire would work in 4th gen, eh?

Saying calm mind is a waste really isn't correct. CM Zam sweeps teams, either generation. And if you leave Zam in against bliss, well...who does that? Switch to dugtrio, or Vire, or...or something!

Really, bliss should be the last thing on your mind, since it owns Zam. the recover / CM set (which isn't great) may not be great (as I just said), but it totally lols at blissey. If you're so worried about blissey, use that...

Okay, calm mind givfes Zam more power. It has 120 base speed. with timid, it doesn't need any more. In fact, CM probably works BETTER in 4th gen since you can attack focus sash...which guarentees one CM, and gives you a great chance for two. After that, power takes over. I mean, kill blissey and tell me what can stop CM alakazam?

EDIT: Nobody here has seen the power of CM Zam, which has swept many of my teams, good and bad.

Lots to list my friend... If Calm Mind gave Speed it would be a whole different story

TO list the obliterators...

Ninjask (Focus Sash)
Aerodactyl (Focus Sash)
Spiritomb (Pursuit/Shadow Sneak)
Lucario (Extremespeed/Focus Sash)
Floatzel (Aqua Jet/Focus Sash)
Weavile (Pursuit/Focus Sash/Sucker Punch)
Crobat (Hypnosis/Cross Poison/Focus Sash)
Mamoswine (Ice Shard)
Blissey (Self-Explanatory)
Heatran (Scarf pwnage)
Zangoose (CB Quick Attack)
Cresselia (Self-Explanatory)
Bronzong (Earth|Prison Heatproof)

Wow, any questions?

Anti November 10th, 2007 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name (Post 3067178)
Lots to list my friend... If Calm Mind gave Speed it would be a whole different story

TO list the obliterators...

Ninjask (Focus Sash)
lol, many ninjasks can't even attack you :/ besides, roar > ninjask.
Aerodactyl (Focus Sash)
yes. and other Zam sets aren't countered by this?
Spiritomb (Pursuit/Shadow Sneak)
No Zam saves you from spiritomb either :/
Lucario (Extremespeed/Focus Sash)
How does a speed boost for Zam help here again? and once again, what other Zam set is going to survibe this?
Floatzel (Aqua Jet/Focus Sash)
see above.
Weavile (Pursuit/Focus Sash/Sucker Punch)
see above.
Crobat (Hypnosis/Cross Poison/Focus Sash)
Mamoswine (Ice Shard)
see above.
Blissey (Self-Explanatory)
what a shocker.
Heatran (Scarf pwnage)
and other zam sets don't get pwnt either?
Zangoose (CB Quick Attack)
see above.
Cresselia (Self-Explanatory)
CM > Cresselia.
Bronzong (Earth|Prison Heatproof)
lol heatproof lol
Wow, any questions?

Yeah, why is it that any Zam, no matter what the moveset, gets countered by the pokemon anyways? Even if CM gave speed, the quick attack moves pwn you, the pursuiters pwn you, everything pwns you...I mean, I can think of maybe two pokemon on that list that counter the CM set and not the others. I mean really...

oreo November 10th, 2007 10:05 AM

if u wana try a cool zam try this :

[email protected] glasses/sash
timid/modest

encore
calm mind
psychic
focus blast/energy ball

works great vs tanks and great for setting up calm mind.

use encore after it uses a non-damageing atk, then pwn.

Faceless* November 10th, 2007 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anti-Pop Culture Warrior 13 (Post 3067200)
Yeah, why is it that any Zam, no matter what the moveset, gets countered by the pokemon anyways? Even if CM gave speed, the quick attack moves pwn you, the pursuiters pwn you, everything pwns you...I mean, I can think of maybe two pokemon on that list that counter the CM set and not the others. I mean really...

Omg, I said this once before and I'll say it again, IT'S BETTER TO ATTACK THAN WASTE TURNS DOING NO DAMAGE AT ALL TO YOUR FOE

You got that? Bronzong with Heatproof is my personal strategy, Imprison + Earthquake already gives it protection from Ground moves, leaving it with no weaknesses and Heatproof covering Fire attacks

Ninjasks carry X-Scissor, ring a bell? Alakazam Roar? rofl

You can do heavy damage on Aerodactyl switch in's instead of wasting a turn on CM

Spiritomb = Already Zam pwnage

See above on the Aerodactyl explanation

See above again..

See above again..

See above again..

Heatran is daamged at least some instead of wasting a turn on CM

See above again..

You see? CM is a waste of turn IF YOU HAVE TO SWITCH!

Anti November 10th, 2007 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Name (Post 3067219)
Omg, I said this once before and I'll say it again, IT'S BETTER TO ATTACK THAN WASTE TURNS DOING NO DAMAGE AT ALL TO YOUR FOE

Uh, what? It's called "setting up."

You got that? Bronzong with Heatproof is my personal strategy, Imprison + Earthquake already gives it protection from Ground moves, leaving it with no weaknesses and Heatproof covering Fire attacks

Okay, fine. still counters all Zam sets anyways, since it has the bulk to take those hits :/

Ninjasks carry X-Scissor, ring a bell? Alakazam Roar? rofl

you SWITCFH to a PHazer. then you sens in Zam and CM up :/ And agin, ninjask counters ALL ZAM SETS WITH X-SCIZZOR.

You can do heavy damage on Aerodactyl switch in's instead of wasting a turn on CM

Focus sash + crunch = dead Zam :/ in other words, you'd have to switch anyways :/

Spiritomb = Already Zam pwnage

and other Zam sets, AGAIN, are pwnt. It won't do crap to tomb anyyways...

See above on the Aerodactyl explanation

about what?

See above again..

See above again..

See above again..

Okay, how many times to I have to read it?

Heatran is daamged at least some instead of wasting a turn on CM

Yeah, they'd switch into psychic, take about 15%, and then make you switch...OH NO! 15%!

See above again..

You see? CM is a waste of turn IF YOU HAVE TO SWITCH!

And? you waste a turn, you wipe out the counter, you sweep the team! This is why I hate D/P...all the decent startegies of ADV were wiped out with focus sash and more quick attack moves than there are hyper beams.

Of course it has counters, what doesn't? Using CM Zam requires prediction. your examples were very concrete and made it so that Zam was bring used by somebody with no skill at all. what I mean is, who DOESN'T see those switch-ins coming? that's why you PREDICT what is going to happen so you can set up CM Zam to sweep.

It's like saying DD is a waste on gyara because it could be pummeling a poke with waterfall. To use CM zam, you're supposed to switch in to a favorable matchup, then immediately switch to you Zam counter counter (meaning that blissey is coming in to lol at you, so you switch to dugtrio immediately). with the counter out of the way, CM up, and then sweep.

In fact, I have my own example. I use Raikou, very similar to Zam, except slower and less powerful. I often get caught CMing the first turn and then bliss loling at me on the switch. Okay, and? I switch out, let the battle progress, and when the time is right, I send in raikou to sweep the team.

Same goes for Zam, only it is faster and more powerful.

I don't care if CM Zam is outclassed by certain sets, but it is in no way useless.

EDIT: Oh, CM Zam is very common with encore, to cause a switch and another turn to power up. you can't expect it to tank or anything, jirachi does that far better...

Archer November 11th, 2007 12:34 AM

Sorry, APCW, I usually agree with you, but i personally think Alakazam is too fragile to CM. You are completely right that everything has its counters, but that is what you build it to beat. If you can predict it right, then it works, but that sure wont be easy. Oh and that set is owned by pursuit. (Phys, Super Effective). My vote is TrickGlassesZam.


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