"Swords Dance doesn't do anything, I'll make him learn HYPER BEAM!"

I learned very early on that stat altering moves could make a big difference. Now, I always try to have at least one move on every Pokemon focused on stat altering. Offensive moves with the possibility of altering stats are even better. I don't usually use a move that only lowers defense if I can get another move that deals damage as well as having a chance to lower defense.

I also enjoy the benefits of of status changing moves. My SoulSilver team has several moves that cause paralysis and freezing.

I go all offense, tbh. Wprks better, and getting overleveled to make up for it is easy. I do use Swords Dance on Scyther, but that's about it. Well, Absol, too.

Yeah, I was also one of those kids xD

I used to be like it too, even now I rarely use stat-boosting moves, just on the odd 'mon when I think I can get away with it, most of the 'mon I use are "glass cannons" so I'd die after using it anyways likely. I do have Nasty Plot on my Porygon-Z though and Iron Defence on my Forretress which turned out to be very useful in the league trying to out-stall the damn double teaming Crobat and Umbreon.

nowadays i still can only take moves that I know will affect the enemy that turn, i cant even use future sight lol

however, i am always looking for moves that have a effect, wether its for stats or conditions. water pulse instead of surf is a great power for a water/wall pokemon since it confuses like hell for me.

Twilight Sky said:

Stat increasing moves. Although it takes time to set up, it's worth it in the end. I think it's a bit reckless to attack head-on if you don't know what you're attacking and if you don't know your own strengths and weaknesses. So it's best to be prepared.

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thats why i use pokemon with every attack type i can put into them, to have as many super effectives as I can... :classic:
also, why would you even use a pokemon without figuring out if it is defensive or offensive, special or physical? using built in traits well seems more efficient that building up and getting pounded in the meanwhile...

one calm mind is not enough to stop my attacks head on. in the time it takes for two of those, your 3/4 gone or more with a well built and fast guy. if you want stats, EV train.

When I was like 9, I always thought that the defensive moves are like "blah blah blah, I don't care.."
But after seeing competitive battling on youtube, I tried to think of the best combination's I can get.
So, DEFENSIVE AND OFFENSIVE RAISING ARE DA BEST!!!

Early in my pokemon career, I never thought attacks like leer or growl were useful. However as I would always choose Charmender, I slowly found growl and leer to be more and more useful in my war against Brock. Manky was not available, and Nidoran (m) didn't learn doublekick 'till 43 (even if I were able to get my hands on one)

I never taught a pokemon an attack that wasen't it's STAB (even though I didn't know what that was), and I never thought about special attacks and physicial attacks and there relationship with the stats until generation 3, when I learned about competive play.

I slowly started to try and cover my bases, and think about what stat my pokemon specialise in, so I can get a better performance out of them. Allthough, I don't play competitively.

All of my freinds (exept my brother who I lecture frequently how good Status moves are) think Non-Attacking moves are pointless.So then I always have to yell or scream at them.Then I Baton Passed +Stat Boost swept them with every worthless pokemon possible,Toxic Stalled all of there pokemon,and other attepts to prove them wrong after 5 years only 1 or 2 of my freinds learned >.>

I think that would be because in the general story of the game you don't NEED stats, and so most people ignore them in favour of cooler looking damaging movesets. for sure in the elite four I wouldn't waste time doing stats if I'm only training up guys. i'de think of pp left and one hit ko's with brute strengh.
only with people can you want to stat it up, to find any edge on them.

Just like most people here, I used to only use offensive moves as a kid, then found that there was much more strategy involved. The only non-offensive move I've ever used was Thunder Wave on my Pikachu.

I'm generally a pretty offensive battler. x3 Lawl, I know they do something. I just don't find they do enough.

I've always been the type to strategize~

My teams moves consist of maybe 2/3 offense, and always have at least one defensive. They usually have some sort of move that helps me kill them, even though it's a defensive move~ (Like....well I don't know, but a move that poisons without hurting...or curse.)

Ayselipera said:

I'm all about offense. I like Pokemon with high attack and speed just so I can get the job done. Although I'll occasionally settle for a status move. The few that I use are...

- Confuse Ray
- Toxic
- Leech Seed
- Will-o-Wisp

... and that's about it. Well that's about the extent! :3

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Wow, I think those are probably the only ones I use as well. I think that the only defense-oriented Pokemon that I have is my Togetic that knows Metronome, Toxic, Protect and Softboiled.

I use to, until recentely I found out that defensive moves actually do something. No wonder it took me awhile to complete diamond. Ughh. But I completely spammed growl and sand-attack in Heartgold :D

chaos11011 said:

All of my freinds (exept my brother who I lecture frequently how good Status moves are) think Non-Attacking moves are pointless.So then I always have to yell or scream at them.Then I Baton Passed +Stat Boost swept them with every worthless pokemon possible,Toxic Stalled all of there pokemon,and other attepts to prove them wrong after 5 years only 1 or 2 of my freinds learned >.>

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In game, that strategy pretty much sucks. Why would yo spend your time making that strategy when you could be grinding?
In competitive, that strategy is pretty much ruined up, phazers and hazers are everywhere in competitve (especially in Standard) with moves like Taunt(that doesn't let you use boosting moves), Haze(Eliminates stat-changes), Whirlwind & Roar(These are the main problem, you've already [somehow] setted up your mighty 893 Attack and 754 Speed Rampardos with help from your Ninjask, and a Skarmory comes in and uses Whirlwind. Fin.
Unless, of course, you have a Suction Cups Pokémon (Octillery & Cradily); but they're not worth the pass, one is pretty frail (Octillery) and the other ones is killed by STAB Technician Bullet Punch or STAB Ice Beam; pretty common moves (Cradily).

Of course, If you're battling with your noob friend that doesn't know about pseudo-hazing and taunting, then you're lucky. I love killing my friends with things like 999 Attack and 999 Speed Magikarp or Dunsparce xD

^ Most pure baton pass teams that have dedicated users have a Smeargle lead. Best Baton Pass Pokemon to have on your team, as well. Spore to put the Pokemon to sleep with an awesome 100% accuracy and then pass off ingrain to prevent roar. I don't see anybody who uses Haze, never had in my competitive battling history at all. I've made a few baton pass teams myself, but didn't use Smeargle. One of then has been broken, upon which you are just completely screwed unless by some black magic you kill the phazer and then set up your chain again. It's amazing when you have a +4 Speed, +6 Sp. Atk, +6 Def, +3 Sp. Def Togekiss with a flinch set. I use Mr. Mime to set up barriers and pass off calm mind if I can. One of the best things to do is set up on a bad Pokemon that you can easily outlast and mean look baton pass him, it works well. Sweep that Poke after your boosts and proceed to set up your chain. I feel that baton pass chains rely a little too much on luck and just what the enemy team has.

Stat boosting moves used in a baton pass chain can be extremely dangerous if in the right hands and mixed with the right Pokemon, but can be broken apart if not cautious. I feel it can be better to set up on a weaker Pokemon and then start sweeping on a switch or something like that, but if you ever feel the rush whenever you sweep your entire enemy team with one huge tank of a Pokemon then you know that baton pass teams are great & fun to use if you succeed.