[Grammar] Kingler

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Analyses' started by Ortheore, May 14, 2015.

  1. Ortheore

    Ortheore One beautiful monster

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    Overview

    Kingler is a Pokemon that is capable of representing an enormous threat given the right circumstances. It has a monstrous base 130 attack stat, which can be further boosted by Swords Dance. Its physical prowess is complemented by STAB Crabhammer, which provides consistent damage by virtue of its high critical hit rate. On top of all of this, its middling speed means it needs less paralysis support than other physical attackers to be effective. Despite these traits, there are many issues plaguing the mighty crab- it loathes paralysis, and its abysmal special stat means that most special attackers can easily 2HKO. Consequently, it can have a very difficult time finding an opening.


    Swords Dance

    Kingler (M) @ (No Item)
    - Swords Dance
    - Crabhammer
    - Body Slam
    - Hyper Beam


    The goal of this set is to power through an opposing team once you’ve spread paralysis enough. Swords Dance is used to boost Kingler’s attack to astronomical levels. Crabhammer is Kingler’s STAB and ensures that Rock types do not wall it, as well as being Kingler’s best option vs. Gengar. Body Slam is used to spread paralysis, and for dealing damage if the enemy isn’t in KO range of Hyper Beam. Hyper Beam becomes Kingler’s main tool of destruction after a boost, threatening almost anything in the game.


    Checks and Counters

    Zapdos can easily tank one of Kingler’s attacks, out speed and OHKO with STAB Thunderbolt. Gengar is immune to Kingler’s normal attacks and 2HKOs with Thunderbolt, but must be wary of switching into Crabhammer repeatedly, as it 3HKOs. Starmie resists Crabhammer, out speeds and 2HKOs with Thunderbolt, but if paralysed has to be careful as boosted Hyper Beam has a 30% chance of KOing it. Jolteon switches into anything Kingler uses and outspeeds and OHKOs with Thunderbolt, but has poor durability and cannot take repeated switches. Exeggutor and Slowbro have significant bulk and access to paralysis, but Slowbro can only deal significant damage if it has Psychic. Unparalysed Reflect Alakazam doesn't die to anything Kingler uses, sets up Reflect and proceeds to beat Kingler. Victreebel isn't really a good response to Kingler, as it is slower and is OHKO'd by boosted Kingler around half the time, but is notable for being able to OHKO with Razor Leaf. Similarly, Lapras resists Crabhammer and has Thunderbolt, but is outpaced and 2HKO'd by boosted Kingler. Generally Kingler can be kept in check by not letting it set up, and good status management- ensuring you keep your key Pokemon free of paralysis and by paralysing Kingler when you see it.
    Overview
    • Immense power, coupled with Swords Dance
    • Crabhammer always crits, which compensates for its poor special
    • Middling speed and a lack of normal type checks means Kingler needs less paralysis support than other physical attackers to be effective
    • Loathes being paralysed
    • Abysmal special means it's extremely susceptible to special attackers
    Swords Dance

    Kingler (M) @ (No Item)
    - Swords Dance
    - Body Slam
    - Hyper Beam
    - Crabhammer

    • The goal of this set is to wallbreak or sweep a team after it is been riddled with paralysis.
    • SD is used to boost its attack to enormous levels, ensuring BSlam + HBeam 2HKOs just about everything that doesn't resist it
    • Body Slam is for consistent damage output, and is used primarily when the opponent is not in HBeam's KO range
    • Hyper Beam hits extremely hard after a boost, and is used for finishing foes off.
    • Crabhammer is used primarily to ensure that GolDon don't wall this set, while also being King's best option against Gengar. Usually 3HKOs Snorlax which is very notable.
    Checks and Counters
    • Zapdos can easily tank an attack, outspeed and OHKO with STAB Tbolt
    • Gengar is immune to Kingler's normal attacks, outspeeds it and 2HKOs with Tbolt. It is 3HKO'd by Crabhammer though
    • Lapras and Exeggutor both have plenty of physical bulk and 2HKO it with Tbolt and Psychic respectively
    • Slowbro is in a similar boat, but can only deal damage back if it runs Psychic
    • Starmie resists Crabhammer, outspeeds and 2HKOs with tbolt. However a boosted Hyper Beam has a 31% chance to OHKO.
    • Jolteon is capable of OHKOing with STAB Tbolt, but doesn't like switching in except on SD.
    • As much as possible, avoid letting Kingler set up, and also avoid letting too much of your team take paralysis
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2015
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  2. Isa

    Isa Well-Known Tauros

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    Kingler doesn't need paralysis nearly as much as, say, Rhydon. Rhydon suffers because he cannot paralyze one of the mons that give him issues by himself (Chansey), whereas Kingler can at least in theory provide the paralysis himself onto would-be checks such as Starmie. I'd rather say that Kingler is very reliant on not getting paralyzed himself rather than facing paralyzed opponents.

    Crabhammer usually 3HKOs Snorlax which is noteworthy vs. the Tanklax sets and could do with a mention.
     
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  3. Ortheore

    Ortheore One beautiful monster

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    Thanks for the feedback, implemented
     
  4. Ortheore

    Ortheore One beautiful monster

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    Double posting because written in full, let me know if there should be changes
     
  5. magic9mushroom

    magic9mushroom Active Member

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    Victreebel OHKOs and Kingler's +2 HBeam is about 50-50, so it probably deserves a mention.

    Jolteon is only 3HKOed by Crabhammer, and isn't 2HKOed by unboosted BSlam+HBeam, so it is a counter, just not a very durable one.

    Unparalysed Reflect Zam is annoying.

    Beware of going for the +2 HBeam against an unparalysed Starmie with Thunderbolt; if it crits (22%), you're dead and it's unharmed, while if you fail to KO (54%) it can Recover on the recharge and still kill you. On the other hand, if you kill it (24%) you've still lost ~70% of your health. Very much a last resort.
     
  6. Ortheore

    Ortheore One beautiful monster

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    +2 Kingler Hyper Beam vs. Victreebel: 337-397 (92.8 - 109.3%) -- 56.4% chance to OHKO

    This is pretty poor for a slower pokemon. I guess it's not too bad if King simply attacks rather than setting up since BSlam + HBeam deals around 75% while ofc it tanks Crabhammer easy

    Edit: ok I'll mention the OHKO, but stress that boosted HBeam=rip half the time (I actually only just remembered that I shouldn't just post a calc when there's accuracy to be considered lol)

    Ya I can reword Jolt's thing to reflect those points

    I'm pretty reluctant to list unpara'd ReflectZam as a check, because it loathes switching into King and it's also a little redundant, given that it's capable of checking literally anything that isn't Slowbro. I mean, if you want Zam to switch in to King, it's taking at least 2 or 3 hits (depending on whether King boosts or not) before it can even do anything back (assuming it switches in, sets up Reflect then Recovers off damage). I guess it can go right at the end of C&C

    Good call on Starmie, I'll have to specify that paralysed Starmie are much more at risk.
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2015
  7. magic9mushroom

    magic9mushroom Active Member

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    It's not a real counter, no, but OHKOs are rare enough in RBY to deserve a mention.

    What I was noting is that Kingler has to make some hard predicts to win if ReflectZam switches in.

    Say Zam switches in on Swords Dance. Kingler's Hyper Beam is an OHKO, but if Zam Reflects Kingler's stuck in a recharge and will die to Psychic (guaranteed 2HKO, remember) before it gets another attack. On the other hand, if Kingler goes for Body Slam (or a second Swords Dance) and Zam doesn't Reflect, Kingler doesn't OHKO and therefore dies to Psychic.

    If Zam switches in on an attack (Body Slam or Crabhammer), then you've got the same scenario where Zam can spoil Hyper Beam (with Reflect or Recover, in that case) but Kingler wants Hyper Beam to win if Zam doesn't spoil it (unboosted BSlam doesn't 2HKO Zam).

    (Of course, you're right about Zam Zamming it up against a lot of things.)
     
  8. magic9mushroom

    magic9mushroom Active Member

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    Oh, and for the record Kingler has guaranteed 2HKOs at +2 against both Exeggutor and Lapras and outspeeds both, so Victreebel is actually better than either as a Kingler counter (because it switches in and has a ~50% chance of beating Kingler, while Egg and Lapras have roughly a 10% chance).
     
  9. Ortheore

    Ortheore One beautiful monster

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    Ah right cool point. I would still say Egg is a good check because Stun Spore, but that's a pretty big deal for Lapras. I might recheck CC and shuffle it around a little