The Ridiculous OU Theorymon Discussion Thread - Week 2: Ice Beam Keldeo and Technician Weavile (and more!)

[KorpiklaaniVodka]

Yet another idea stolen from Smogon. Here we'll discuss stuff which will have an additional move / ability / typing that they didn't originally have.

You can discuss about any Pokemon as long as the ability/move/retyping/anything else don't make it obviously broken. So no Pure Power Slaking or Wonder Guard Cresselia.

Here are my two ideas for the first week - Bolt Strike Sandslash and Rapid Spin Ferrothorn.

Spoiler:

#1: Sandslash is completely outclassed as a Sand Rush sweeper by Excadrill, which is stronger, faster, has an awesome Steel-typing, and makes use of Rapid Spin much better. Both Sandslash and Excadrill have trouble getting past bulky waters such as Alomomola and Suicune, which can take a +2 EQ and strike back with their own scalds, which have a nasty chance of burn.

However what if Sandslash alone were to get a move available only to Zekrom and Victini (and lolsmeargle), which can instantly eliminate these pesky water-types, as well as getting a good smack on Mandibuzz and OHKOing Gyarados? That's right, Bolt Strike. Yes, it seems ridiculous, but that's another discussion.

It would only need to run Stone Edge if it wants to hit Landorus-T and Gliscor - the rest can also be done by Bolt Strike. Here are some calcs which show how effective this new and improved Sandslash can be:

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash Bolt Strike vs. 248 HP / 136+ Def Mandibuzz: 515-608 (121.7 - 143.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash Bolt Strike vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Suicune: 442-520 (109.4 - 128.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash Bolt Strike vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Gyarados: 621-733 (187.6 - 221.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (boom headshot)
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash Bolt Strike vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Cresselia: 213-252 (47.9 - 56.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Life Orb Sandslash Bolt Strike vs. 232 HP / 252+ Def Alomomola: 559-660 (105.6 - 124.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Get it? These are Pokemon neither Exca nor Slash can reliably beat. If the latter got Bolt Strike, while it probably would still be worse than Excadrill, it'd at least have a useful niche over it.

Sandslash @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature

- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Knock Off / Stone Edge
- Bolt Strike

#2. Ferrothorn

I'll just copy-paste this:

It would seem plausible that Ferroseed could learn Rapid Spin, then carry it over into its evolution. Ferrothorn would be one hell of a spinner if it did indeed get Rapid Spin, because with its amazing defensive typing and access to STAB Power Whip, Ferrothorn could actually beat other spinners that may try to keep Ferrothorn from setting up its own hazards, such as Excadrill and Starmie. Honestly, this thing would probably be one of the best rapid spinners in the entire game, not just because of it's ability to beat out other spinners and spin blockers and its useful resistances, but also because of how amazing its supporting movepool is to help its teammates. It could spin, setup hazards, cripple, sap health with Leech Seed, and fight back. Definitely something that I would enjoy trying out in a theorymon battle. Something like this would be awesome:

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Trait: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SDef
Relaxed Nature
- Spikes/Stealth Rock
- Power Whip
- Rapid Spin
- Leech Seed/Gyro Ball

So that's it. Discuss these two, and suggest your own theorymon sets too.

 

[Polar Spectrum]

Maybe I'm missing the point of the thread, or not grasping that these are supposed to be completely fictitious (but rapid spin ferrothorn seems like it actually makes sense - it already even learns gyro ball) but how would Sandslash reasonably ever under any circumstance, be given bolt strike - it's a mascot legends signature stab, and not to mention it's practically the opposite typing; and Sandslash doesn't seem to have any feasible way to use the move. I apologize if this is a given, and the thread is supposed to be things that would never happen outside of hypotheticals- but, it would be like giving machamp aeroblast - I think Ho Oh's Sacred Fire going to Entei is the closest thing to this actually happening - and Entei has a good logical and canonical reason for being able to use sacred fire.


Anywho, if it is hypotheticals (and again, I HEARTILY apologize for the above if that is the case) I'd like to modestly suggest Tauros be given Headbutt. How the hell does Tauros not have headbutt anyways? It would get a sheer force boost if it were sheer force - or if it were intimidate it would still be a reasonable stab that could possibly flinch off its nice speed stat while providing fair damage.

 

[KorpiklaaniVodka]

Maybe I'm missing the point of the thread, or not grasping that these are supposed to be completely fictitious (but rapid spin ferrothorn seems like it actually makes sense - it already even learns gyro ball) but how would Sandslash reasonably ever under any circumstance, be given bolt strike - it's a mascot legends signature stab, and not to mention it's practically the opposite typing; and Sandslash doesn't seem to have any feasible way to use the move. I apologize if this is a given, and the thread is supposed to be things that would never happen outside of hypotheticals- but, it would be like giving machamp aeroblast - I think Ho Oh's Sacred Fire going to Entei is the closest thing to this actually happening - and Entei has a good logical and canonical reason for being able to use sacred fire.


Anywho, if it is hypotheticals (and again, I HEARTILY apologize for the above if that is the case) I'd like to modestly suggest Tauros be given Headbutt. How the hell does Tauros not have headbutt anyways? It would get a sheer force boost if it were sheer force - or if it were intimidate it would still be a reasonable stab that could possibly flinch off its nice speed stat while providing fair damage.

Exactly. The point of the thread is not to discuss how unlikely Bolt Strike Sandslash would happen (but then again, we have Sacred Sword Aegi), but rather how would this move impact Slash's performance in OU.

Also Tauros gets Rock Climb fyi.

 

[Polar Spectrum]

Mm, okay thanks for the clarification. And as above, sorry haha. I was unaware. :p I know Tauros got rock climb in fourth gen, but it isn't too easy to obtain one with it now - and besides, I'm really just surprised a normal type, physical, BULL pokemon, doesn't learn headbutt by level up. Dafuq.

Now that I understand the point of the thread though - I'd like to also see the impact of Gyarados with Drill Peck. It's the alternative STAB it needs; that's not 2 turns or carrying an accuracy hax possibility.

I also think Ferrothorn with Earthquake or Drill Run would be an interesting tweak. Although it may place it possibly too high on its thorny pedestal considering what that strong ground coverage would do for it.

 

[skyburial]

Nice. Theorymons, I love it.

I motion that Sawsbuck should get a larger physical move pool to make use of Serene Grace. Right now it gets Bounce and Rock Smash... and that's about it. Blaze Kick would make sense alongside the rest of its moves, as would Headbutt, Zen Headbutt, and Iron Head.

I get that it has a 60% chance of paralyzing anything bar Electric-types with 90 base damage, but that is not reason enough to squander its potential with a garbage move pool.

 

[5qwerty]

Dragon Dance Garchomp?

Sorry I haven't played competitive in so long. I just have always felt that Dragon Dance Garchomp would be super strong for some reason.

 

[rob_thijs]

Dragon Dance Garchomp?

Sorry I haven't played competitive in so long. I just have always felt that Dragon Dance Garchomp would be super strong for some reason.

I always thought Flygon with Dragon Dance would do so much more for this pokémon. Sure it would still be outclassed by other dragons but keep in mind Flygon also has acces to Roost something Garchomp doesn't if Garchomp had DD.

I could not think about anything else at the moment but there are things in the past when I thought why the f would this pokémon not learn that move.