4th Gen Do you use moves like Calm Mind?

[POKEMASTERALEX]

Do you use moves like clam mind, agility, or howl? There is a lot of merit to using these but some people have the idea that in the time it takes them to use calm mind THEN psychic, they could have done more damage just using psychic twice. Do you use moves like this why or why not?

My opinion: I use them because they can really assist you. A lot of people only think of the round at hand (the pokemon you have out Vs. the pokemon your opponent has out). If it was a 1 pokemon Vs. 1 pokemon battle, these moves would certianly see less play but you should really think in terms of the pokemon you have out Vs. the rest of your opponents team. If you can manage a calm mind then do serious damage or even KO your opponent in the next hit its great. If you do this then your pokemon still has the stat increase to battle your opponents next pokemon with.

If my Alakazam is out and I use calm mind, then KO one of your pokemon, Alakazam will be even more prepared to perhaps 1HKO the next pokemon your opponent switches out. The only bad thing about these moves is that they take prediction. By prediction I mean that there is certianly a wrong time to use them. You could mis-read your opponent and calm mind only to get your alakazam a crunch in the face. The ideal oppurtunity to use these moves would be on the switch or when you have adequite defense precautions in place.

 

[Le_Avatar]

Of course I use moves like that... Depend on the setup I use, but surely I use those... They're too good to be left behind !!!

 

[ClassicRockFan]

I used to not use them, but I have learned to use them. They are a huge help to your Pokemon and can really make them much more powerful.

 

[El Gofre]

Most people start in the mindset of "Why CM and the psychic when i can psychic twice" until they try competetive fighting. Ill use CM as an example:
Psychic=Base 90 Power
so Psychic twice= 180
CM=1.5 boost
so CM+Psychic=135
At this point is not looking too good, but on a third turn they are tied at 270 power. After that CM zooms ahead in power. Its all about forward thinking

 

[airconditioning]

It depends on the move. I dislike Calm Mind on any Pokemon that doesn't make good use of the SDef boost (read: anything that isn't Suicune, Slowbro, Cresselia, or Gardevoir). I only use those types of moves when the Pokemon takes full advantage of the boost- Which is why I generally prefer Nasty Plot to Calm Mind.

The thing is, though, that if you just use them indiscriminately, you die. Alakazam is a good example- if he Calm Minds while the opponent doesn't switch, the opponent gets a free attack. Which is not good, because Zam dies in one hit. He can only use Calm Mind as an opponent switches, which limits him somewhat- and if the opponent switches to a Special Wall, the CM is wasted, as he won't do any damage even with the boost. That's why lately, I've been attacking or switching instead of boosting.

 

[gilgaland]

i think its a waste of space only time i ever use them if i have lost lots of times at a gym and need a pokemon to crush them

 

[POKEMASTERALEX]

I guess you're talking about in-game battling then?

 

[El Gofre]

Aircon and I certainly arent,

 

[Light Azelf]

a. As aforementioned by Gofre, CM is indeed a excellent move for Competitive.

b. Me, you ask? It's self-explanatory whether I utilize it or not.

c. Yes, I do in-fact utilize it, in-case you didn't know, which I am skeptical of, as point a pretty much disclosed it.

 

[Ninetales1]

The only bad thing about those booster moves is that critical hits ignore all those stat boosts. I learned that the hard way when I was battling Cynthia in Pearl. While battling her Leech Seeded Lucario, my Vespiquen used Defend Order six times. Then she sent out Milotic and I didn't switch because I had a superpowered Vespiquen who was maxed out in both defenses. I thought my Vespiquen would be fine... until Milotic's Ice Beam landed a critical hit and KO'd my Vespiquen... X_X

I personally love all those moves that sharply boost a stat, like Nasty Plot and Swords Dance and even Iron Defense. I remember having a hard time catching Azelf because of that darned Nasty Plot...

 

[POKEMASTERALEX]

Aircon and I certainly arent,

I was saying that to GILGALAND's post :)
-----
Really? I never thought about it, but it's probably good it CH aren't based on raised stats, think of how devestating a critical would be after a few calm minds! How would it work if the critical hit does 50% damage but a boosted attack hits for 60%? Does that mean a critical would do LESS than a normal would? that doesn't sound like it makes sense

 

[Azonic]

What kind of trainer doesn't use them (besides nubs)? They're good for sweepers and walls. They assist you in so many ways... yeah.

 

[POKEMASTERALEX]

haha well put :) Yeah moves like this really make the game as in-depth as it is

 

[FourFourTwo]

Calm mind is my favorite move (as you can see, under my username). :)

I only cause azelf by using charge with my Luxray (I kept upping my spdef, while azelf kept upping his sp.att).

 

[POKEMASTERALEX]

haha I love moves like calm mind too, my favorite, however, is probably cosmic power. haha I wish Lapras could learn it, then instead of dragon dancing you could use CP on the switch (maybe even get a quick water absorb) then once again, CP. Then you'd have one great physical and special wall, wall lol

 

[HalcyonXIII]

When I first started playing Pokémon, I used to get straight to the point and keep whacking my opponent until they were down ^-^
But when I got interested in breeding competitive Pokémon during the 3rd generation, and coming up with different movesets, I started to see how useful they could be.
Sure, you use an Attack boost - you lose a turn. But that means that all of the next turns that Pokémon is out, you'll be hitting with greater power. It makes up for it eventually.

And a Baton Passing Ninjask is fun~
It's always good to see your opponent shrink in fear at a +6 Atk/+3 Spd rampaging Shiny Gyarados =3

 

[~*Champion Shirona*~]

I never used Howl, but i do use Calm Mind. Its a very good move indeed.

:16:

 

[Last Raven]

I love using moves like Calm Mind, Agility, Swords Dance, and Rock Polish.
Nasty Plot's good too but it's far less common.(I'm sure I'm forgetting others but you get the point.)
AC made a good point about Calm Mind tho, it's a move that should really only be used when the pokemon can take full advantage of it.
And just out of curiosity...does anyone ever put Bulk Up on their pokemon?
I've never seen it in one competitive battle or one party that was put up in that strategy section.
It's just the physical equivalent of Calm Mind...but it seems far less popular.

 

[HalcyonXIII]

I love using moves like Calm Mind, Agility, Swords Dance, and Rock Polish.
Nasty Plot's good too but it's far less common.(I'm sure I'm forgetting others but you get the point.)
AC made a good point about Calm Mind tho, it's a move that should really only be used when the pokemon can take full advantage of it.
And just out of curiosity...does anyone ever put Bulk Up on their pokemon?
I've never seen it in one competitive battle or one party that was put up in that strategy section.
It's just the physical equivalent of Calm Mind...but it seems far less popular.

There were times when I wanted to teach Bulk Up to a Pokémon, but of course that particular species happened to be unable to learn it >_>
There are many more Pokémon that can learn Calm Mind, than Bulk Up, so that may explain why it isn't seen so often..

 

[Prynze Roserade]

Of course I use such moves. It's no waste of time at all, if the right Pokémon uses it. For instance, Alakazam is too frail for CM, so it's best to just give him the ChoiceSpecs. But the likes of Clefable and Gardevoir are just fine with using such a move, because they are sturdy enough to pull it off.

But on the other hand, there are Pokemon such as Ninetales that normally you'd think be better off with Calm Mind, but actually, if you're using an attacking Ninetales, then Nasty Plot is far better, 'cause her special attack stat is nothing extraordinary.

The same applies to other moves. Machamp can pull off Bulk Up just fine, but Blaziken does a better job with a ChoiceBand than he does with Swords Dance or Bulk Up, in my opinion.