![]() |
GGFan, Please keep in mind that Shoddy Battle is not the "American Metagame". Everyone has access to it, so a large section of the players are from outside the US. English Metagame would be more appropriate, although there are players that I have seen on Shoddy that do not speak English. Regardless, I can't see how there are either less players in this generation (with the introduction of Wifi) or how Smogon is to blame for the "Decline" in the Metagame. These Superpowers exist to provide new players with somewhere to start and a central hub for more experienced players to keep an eye on things.
To sum up the 4th Generation as opposed to the 3rd, I would say: The 4th Generation has evolved (pardon the pun) into a faster-paced, more Offensive Metagame, where Sweepers now have more powerful moves with better coverage and most walls gained nothing outside of entry hazards, which sweepers have begun to use. |
Quote:
Superpower is great for CB Scizor, but it doesn't really help the SDer. However I do agree that it really helps the CBer a lot. then there's Superpower Mamoswine which you didn't mention, though I don't blame you since it's hardly worth mentioning. Shaving 50% from Bronzong is kind of neat, but that would only be useful in a world with Deoxys-S (using "useful" loosely). Mamoswine is much better off beating Gliscor and Hippowdon more reliably (as well as Celebi) rather than worrying about 3HKOing something. I don't see Superpower as going overboard by any means though, as Dragonite is very slow and easy to beat before it can beat you (unless, of course, you're running stall), and Scizor would just Run Brick Break instead (though Superpower is admittedly superior on the CBer). As for Salamence, Outrage is no worse than what we had with Garchomp. Salamence can only boost its attack with Dragon Dance, so it's not "uncounterable" or anything. The Life Orber dies much the same way LO SDchomp did, and the CBer has to worry about Stealth Rock and Sandstorm damage. I mean, it's not like they're overboard, just maybe piling onto a generation that has already hampered stall compared to GSC and Advance. Quote:
I will say that how "good" or "bad" Platinum made the metagame is just personal preference; if you like stall or even some forms of bulky offense, then you're probably going to hate it (that's me), but if you love heavy offense, you're probably going to like it way more. |
Quote:
I also didn't say this generation produced less players, maybe you just misread what I said. What I'm saying is that the quality of play has decreased thanks to Smogon's monopolization of battling and because of Shoddy. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're wrong or bad, but the level of competitive play has taken a huge hit because of these elements. However, I'm not sure if Smogon is still as political as they've usually been so maybe there are some faulty measures there. And to say multiple superpowers exist is just a joke. Smogon is the only place left for Americans. You have to go back years to find superpowers. |
Perhaps I did not specify in the first post what exactly I meant by "metagame discussion."
This thread isn't for discussing who is to blame for the current state of any metagame that is outside of the Pokemon themselves. This thread is for the discussion of purely the Pokemon and how they affect each other and play against each other and all of that stuff, not about Pokemon websites or battle simulators. GGfan, your opinions are probably best suited for another thread, but this just isn't the one. There's a lot of blame to go around for the decline of previous generations and the problems with our current one, but this isn't the thread to discuss that. Let the discussion resume. Thank You. |
SD Scizor actually can use Superpower effectively, although the CBer uses it with much better results. The reason to use Superpower is simply this: Skarmory. Unlike Bronzong, it's not 2HKO'd by +4 LO Bullet Punch, and it 4x resists X-Scissor. Superpower 2HKOs Skarmory after a single Swords Dance (63% minimum the first time, 47% percent minimum the second time). Bullet Punch can only manage 42% maximum after 2 Sword Dances, and X-Scissor does a laughable 28% maximum. Skarm can Whirlwind Scizor out, but if it decides to Roost, X-Scissor 2HKOs it.
Anyway, the metagame revolves around Scizor now. Skymin isn't at dominant as I believed it to be. It's uber when you use reasoning, but it either dies or doesn't do enough damage, not to mention its 4x Ice weakness makes it no harder to kill than Salamence. Scizor has a ton of checks and counters, but with most of them being Stealth Rock weak, and a majority of them being unable to handle things like Tyranitar, it's easy to work around it. |
Quote:
I see absolutely no reason to use Superpower on Scizor. Its speed doesn't allow to hit the Superpower weak pokemon (like Heatran) in time, it's only practical when you catch them on the switch, but that isn't likely to happen most of the time. Skarmory doesn't have to Roost either - Brave Bird hits Scizor naturally as he won't enjoy it with the LO recoil damage. I would only consider Quick Attack and X-Scissor as the 2nd or 3rd move besides Bullet Punch and Swords Dance. Roost is optional (if I intend to use all 3 attacks). Scizor should be running enough speed to outrun base 85 non speed pokes like Cresselia and Suicune. Salamence strikes me as the biggest threat currently, solely for Outrage. It practically forces you to have SR on your team so this dragon doesn't come in for free everytime. I guess Scizor helps balancing him out with a powerful BP and Ice Shard is also good for stopping it completely if you don't mind sacrificing a pokemon so you can bring Mamoswine / Weavile safely. At least they will score a 100% hit, not worrying about friggin Sand Veil. |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
To be fair, with "prediction," you can beat about any "check" that comes in. Besides, Brick Break can hit hit them too (though not as hard, but at least you can use it after a SD and not have your sweep completely ruined). Yeah 2HKOing Skarmory is probably cool and all if you actually see it, but it's 30th in usage. I'd rather be using that moveslot to better deal with counters and checks that are far more common like Zapdos and Gyarados (not like Scizor can really hurt them, but still).
Besides, like Sya said, the defense drop added to 120 base power STAB Brave Bird and LO recoil...Scizor actually isn't going to last very long at all. Superpower could work on the SD set I suppose, but if you want to "predict" what is coming in on it and deal with it, CB Scizor is probably a better choice for you anyways. Brick Break doesn't halt its sweep once he uses it, so Brick Break is probably going to be much more useful than Superpower. EDIT: If Salamence switches in on SR, Yache Berry won't save it from CB Mamo's Ice Shard: 591 Atk vs 196 Def & 332 HP (40 Base Power): 260 - 308 (78.31% - 92.77%) Add in the damage it will probably take switching in and Ice Shard has a really good shot at beating YacheDDmence. |
I never use Superpower on the SD set, but when someone says there's "no reason to use it" then they're obviously wrong. There IS a reason to use it, and I've addressed that reason.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
So it really isn't like Fire Fang/Blast on the dragons since it's actually essential to their sets, while Superpower is hardly essential (unless you have a REALLy bad Skarmory problem). I mean I see where you're coming from trying to say Superpower can be useful, but Brick Break is better 98% of the time so it's hardly notable. It is notable, but again, in an "Other Options" type of way. =p |
Quote:
See my point? |
Quote:
If this set was something where Roost >>> Swords Dance, then I would agree with you a lot more. Swords Dance + Superpower is kind of like using Nasty Plot + Overheat. |
I think it's time we address an overlooked threat in the new metagame; Flygon. Yeah, in D/P, all the Dragons (especially Garchomp) outclassed it, nearly entirely. But with Garchomp being Uber, the addition of Outrage, and the prevelance of stall, Flygon can fit quite well in the new metagame. Not only is it either resistant or immune to all forms of entry hazards, but it can't be paralysed, nor can it be hit by one of the game's most common attack, Earthquake. Ground and Dragon STAB hits everything bar Skarmory and Bronzong for neutral, and Fire Blast lets it destroy Skarmory, though it cannot touch Bronzong. U-Turn is very good on Flygon; letting it hurt switch ins and turnign 3HKO's into 2HKOs. It's also perfect for Flygon's build, as Flygon doesn't fear entry hazards one bit. For example, a 333 Def/444 HP Cresselia takes 42%-50% from a Choice Banded Outrage. It'll never 2HKO, unless SR/SS is taken into account. U-Turn does 33%-40% to the same Cresselia. In other words, that U-Turn turns the 3HKO into a 2HKO 100% of them time. If you're feeling lucky punk then you can just spam U-Turn and 3-4HKO Cresselia. Alternatively, a Max HP/Max Defense Suicune takes between 44%-51%. That'll never 2HKO without Leftovers or Stealth Rock, but U-Turn guarantees the 2HKO on the next switch in.
Flygon can also make a "subpar" Tyranitar switch in, taking, at maximum, 63% from Choice Banded Stone Edge. Still, a CB Crunch can 2HKO it, but only 2.56% of the time. You can use some more bulk, but then again, Flygon isn't a Tyranitar counter, just a last minute check (at best). Fire Punch 2HKOs Bronzong and Shed Shell Skarmory (very rare) if Stealth Rock is in play, meaning there is little need for Fire Blast (it won't do anything to Bronzong). Outrage 2HKOs Gyarados after Intimidate, and Salamence is obviously going to get murdered. As far as counters go, the whole U-Turn switch idea ruins them. Hippowdon is the best thing to handle Flygon, as it's immune to Sandstorm, and can live a U-Turn and 2 CB Outrages (it does 48% max, and 41% min). Hippowdon also can Ice Fang it, or just plain Roar the poor bug/dragon/thing out. Still, Draco Meteor for the Mixed/Specs set can 2HKO most Hippowdon. Cresselia can remain a slightly good counter, since it has Ice Beam to guarantee a solid KO on the dragon. Anyway, I think Flygon needs more lovin ;( |
Quote:
Flygon does have several advantages over Mence and Dragonite too, most notably U-Turn and its SR resistance. Fire Punch is has over Mence, and the (Toxi)spikes immunity is really cool. Given that Outrage 2HKOs every bulky water in the game given SR (and it only needs SR to beat Suicune), you could say that the power drop isn't that noticeable (but it IS noticeable). Still, Garchomp wasn't immune to Toxic Spikes, so in a sense (emphasizing that), Flygon is better against stall since it's REALLY hard to actually stall out of damage. Hippowdon and Skarmory are the only real trouble Pokémon for it. Even though it's no CBchomp, I don't get how CBchomp is number one in usage but this is BL. lol Just from watching Vance ladder with this I can tell you that it's not just theorymon - this set is REALLY good. |
Flygon, hmm..? I should try it out sometime.
What would the best strategy for a sceptile be, if I got one? SubSeedPetayaSunnyBeam? |
Ninja Cateprie, this is a metagame discussion thread. Ask for movesets in the Individual Movesets thread.
|
I'll be honest, I thought before that Flygon sucked in every way. :| However, when I watched Anti the other night, it was both very surprising and ... kinda shocking. U-turn laughs at too much, and it's like people don't know how to properly handle it. Needless to say I'm impressed with Flygon's ability to perform in today's metagame.
Kinda makes me want to use it on the ol' revamped Haymakers. XD |
Flygon was one of those off-the-beaten-path type of Pokemon that showed great usage in R/S/E, plummeted in D/P, and is seeing a comeback in Platinum with Garchomp banished to Ubers. Outrage, unique typing that gives it the easiest switching in possible (resists SR, immune to all Spikes, Quake, and having a few resistances, as well as decent bulk), and great coverage are all going with Flygon. U-Turn, as stated before, causes trouble against most of the metagame since CB U-Turn hurts things, period. Steels that resist U-Turn and Outrage eat a nice Fire Punch or Fire Blast. Also, unlike Salamence and Dragonite, Flygon gets STAB on Earthquake, the most common move in today's metagame. However, Flygon kills to have better stats. If it did, then we'd be looking at a top OU Pokemon easily. I guess we can't choose what we want these days...
Flygon's an awesome Pokemon, both game-wise and artistic wise, although slightly weird. It appears as a bug of some sort, but never does it have the bug type. Instead, it's made a dragon! That's just strange to me. But, back to Flygon...if you need a simple dragon to use, Flygon's your choice. Roost, easy entry, and good coverage make it great to use, and it can be either a pain or a killer to your opponent. |
Hum...Flygon's one of those Pokemon that doesn't lose anything from roost, just gains the ability to be hit by Ground moves... It's got everything going for it except stats, but with a base Attack of 100, it's still pretty scary. Although, too much stronger and it'll uberise itself like Garchomp. :\
|
btw, Flygon doesn't ever gain the ability to get hit by ground moves because it is not a typing, it is an ability. mold breaker is what would cause this to occur.
ooh i just noticed flygon got tpunch. not bad, not bad at all. |
Yeah, Roost only negates a flying sub-type, never does it negate Levitate. It shows why every Pokemon now has a type that goes with Flying.
|
Maybeb the reason I've had such trouble [LIE] is because I wasn't utilizing Flygon properly. Hmmm....
If it's ok to ask here, Smarties, what would the ideal nature for said CBGon be? |
For CBGon, I'd have to say something like Adamant or Jolly. Adamant for pure power, or Jolly for a little more speed. You hit 299 and 328, respectively. For the attack, I think you hit 494 and 449, respectively (factoring in CB here.)
You could use Lax for the extreme awesome value though. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 6:11 AM. |
![]()
© 2002 - 2018 The PokéCommunity™, pokecommunity.com.
Pokémon characters and images belong to The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo. This website is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. We just love Pokémon.
All forum styles, their images (unless noted otherwise) and site designs are © 2002 - 2016 The PokéCommunity / PokéCommunity.com.
PokéCommunity™ is a trademark of The PokéCommunity. All rights reserved. Sponsor advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service. User generated content remains the property of its creator.
Acknowledgements
Use of PokéCommunity Assets
vB Optimise by DragonByte Technologies Ltd © 2023.