[HGSS LC] How to Train your Bagon

Discussion in 'Rate My Team' started by Heysup, Jun 10, 2010.

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  1. Heysup

    Heysup Active Member

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    Chimchar (M) @ Focus Sash
    Ability: Blaze
    EVs: 4 HP/56 Atk/188 Spd/216 SAtk/4 SDef
    Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
    - Stealth Rock
    - Fake Out
    - Hidden Power [Grass]
    - Overheat
    ---
    Bagon (M) @ Choice Scarf
    Ability: Rock Head
    EVs: 236 Atk/36 Def/196 Spd/36 SAtk
    Naughty nature (+Atk, -SDef)
    - Fire Fang
    - Hydro Pump
    - Outrage
    - Dragon Claw
    ---
    Gastly (M) @ Life Orb
    Ability: Levitate
    EVs: 76 Atk/200 Spd/200 SAtk
    Rash nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
    - Shadow Ball
    - Sucker Punch
    - Substitute
    - Hidden Power [Fighting]
    ---
    Munchlax (M) @ Oran Berry
    Ability: Thick Fat
    EVs: 236 Atk/36 Def/236 SDef
    Brave nature (+Atk, -Spd)
    - Fire Punch
    - Return
    - Pursuit
    - Earthquake
    ---
    Houndour (M) @ Life Orb
    Ability: Flash Fire
    EVs: 196 Atk/76 Spd/196 SAtk/36 SDef
    Lonely nature (+Atk, -Def)
    - Sucker Punch
    - Fire Blast
    - Crunch
    - Substitute
    ---
    Mankey (M) @ Choice Scarf
    Ability: Vital Spirit
    EVs: 36 HP/196 Atk/76 Def/196 Spd
    Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
    - Close Combat
    - Payback
    - U-turn
    - Ice Punch
    ---

    In Depth:

    The Lead

    The role of my leads are almost always something to the effect of "set up Stealth Rock and kill shit until you die". Well Chimchar is slightly different, because it prevents Stealth Rock set up so well in this current metagame. Of course, setting up Stealth Rock is still a priority, but preventing it and killing something is almost worth not setting up. The threat of being able to to both is very important.

    Chimchar
    Hiccup (M) @ Focus Sash
    Ability: Blaze
    EVs: 4 HP/56 Atk/188 Spd/216 SAtk/4 SDef
    Hasty nature (+Spd, -Def)
    - Stealth Rock
    - Fake Out
    - Hidden Power [Grass]
    - Overheat
    ---

    Role Summary: Chimchar is probably one of my favorite anti-metagame leads at the moment because of the HUGE influx of Snover and Kabuto leads. Chimchar not only beats both of those two, but it also handily beats Hippopotas and Machop. It's main role is to keep Stealth Rock off the field initially, and setting it up whenever possible.

    Moveset: It's quite self-explanatory; Fake Out for sash users, Overheat for beating Snover, Machop, and Hippopotas, Hidden Power Grass for Kabuto and Omanyte, and Stealth Rock for..well...Stealth Rock.

    EVs, Nature, and Item: Faster than Kabuto, with enough Atk/SpA to 2HKO the other listed leads.
    __________________________________________________ ______________

    The Offensive Core

    This core is fairly simple yet surprisingly effective. Mankey comes in to revenge kill something, on a weak attack, or on a Sleep inducing move. After this, I scout with U-turn to see the opponent's switch-in. Based on the switch-in, I'll go to one of my offensive powerhouses, who cover basically everything...except Gligar. If Gligar comes in, I send in Bagon to deal with it, but I need to be careful with my move choice.

    Mankey
    Stoick the Vast (M) @ Choice Scarf
    Ability: Vital Spirit
    EVs: 36 HP/196 Atk/76 Def/196 Spd
    Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
    - Close Combat
    - Punishment
    - U-turn
    - Ice Punch
    ---

    Role Summary: Mankey is namely my utility Pokemon early game because of its ability to do many things at once. Firstly, it scouts the opponent's team with U-turn, allowing me to know who to set up and when. That is why I chose Mankey over Machop. Second, it revenge kills everything quite easily. Third, it absorbs Sleep from the growing population of Hypnosis and Spore users. That is why I chose Mankey over Gligar.

    Moveset: U-turn is for scouting and dealing major damage to physically weak Pokemon, while Close Combat, Ice Punch, and Punishment are for revenge killing and/or sweeping.

    EVs, Nature, and Item: Choice Scarf and Max Speed gives Mankey high enough Speed to outpace 15 speed Scarfers, and Attack is then maximized. HP / Defense are invested in to take a hit if it needs to. I do mean "a single hit". This "hit" is usually Head Smash from Aron.

    Houndour
    Snotlout Jorgenson (M) @ Life Orb
    Ability: Flash Fire
    EVs: 196 Atk/156 Spd/116 SAtk/36 SDef
    Lonely nature (+Atk, -Def)
    - Sucker Punch
    - Fire Blast
    - Crunch
    - Substitute
    ---

    Role Summary: MixDour is absolutely devastating in this metagame because of it's horrible weakness to Special Fire and Physical Dark moves. Houndour sets a Substitute up on things like Wynaut and Bronzor, which means that the opponent is going to have to "pick their poison": Use Bronzor and get destroyed by SubDour or don't use Bronzor and get swept by Scarf Bagon.

    Moveset: Substitute allows me to do many things that make it worth a move slot. Firstly, it allows me to capitalize on switches that the opponent makes. Second, it forces foes to attack me and trigger Sucker Punch. Crunch hits Munchlax reliably hard, while Fire Blast toasts everything in it's path.

    EVs, Nature, and Item: I lowered its SpA by a single point so that I could reliably outpace Dratini and other MixDours, but otherwise it's the standard MixDour spread.

    Gastly
    Tuffnut Thorston (M) @ Life Orb
    Ability: Levitate
    EVs: 76 Atk/200 Spd/200 SAtk
    Rash nature (+SAtk, -SDef)
    - Shadow Ball
    - Sucker Punch
    - Substitute
    - Hidden Power [Fighting]
    ---

    Role Summary: Gastly is the second Substitute sweeper I use, and it is definitely one of the most underestimated sets. Unlike Misdreavus, Gastly reaches a whopping 20 SpA, meaning Shadow Ball will hurt a lot. Sucker Punch is useful for beating out other Pokemon who would otherwise revenge kill Gastly, such as opposing CS Gastly and Abra.

    Moveset: I opted for Shadow Ball + Hidden Power Fighting over Sludge Bomb + Shadow Ball because it's two-move coverage is more important then gaining maybe one KO on something with Sludge Bombs 10 bonus power. Substitute allows me to capitalize on switches while Sucker Punch gives Gastly defense against other revenge killers.

    EVs, Nature, and Item: With a Rash nature, Gastly hits Munchlax for a 2HKO often, and it avoids being OHKOed by Pursuit.
    __________________________________________________ ______________

    The Glue


    The glue is something that should resist common weaknesses, check common threats, and overall have great synergy with the whole team. Munchlax does just that with its mammoth HP and SpD stats along with its high Atk.

    Munchlax
    Gobber the Belch (M) @ Oran Berry
    Ability: Thick Fat
    EVs: 236 Atk/36 Def/236 SDef
    Brave nature (+Atk, -Spd)
    - Fire Punch
    - Return
    - Pursuit
    - Earthquake
    ---

    Role Summary: If I happen to U-turn to a Ghost, I go to Munchlax. Otherwise Munchlax's sole function is to glue my team together. With its excellent HP stat, Munchlax will be able to shrug off most Special Attacks and even some weak physical attacks. After Munchlax takes a hit, it can usually OHKO back with Return or Fire Punch.

    Moveset: Return, Fire Punch, and Earquake provide perfect coverage, while Pursuit allows Munchlax to trap Ghost-types.

    EVs, Nature, and Item: I have always preferred the max Attack variants of Munchlax because of there ability to punch holes in teams. The lower HP stat means Oran Berry does more anyway.
    __________________________________________________ ______________

    Late Game Sweeper

    My late game sweeper takes advantage of the fact that most priority is physical, and uses its great Defense, Attack, and move power to sweep late game.

    Bagon
    Toothless (M) @ Choice Scarf
    Ability: Rock Head
    EVs: 236 Atk/36 Def/196 Spd/36 SAtk
    Naughty nature (+Atk, -SDef)
    - Fire Fang
    - Hydro Pump
    - Outrage
    - Dragon Claw
    ---

    Role Summary: My early game check to Gligar and late game sweeper. Bagon functions an a nearly unstoppable late-game sweeper because if its impressive physical power, bulk, and typing. One Pokemon in particular stops it however, Bronzor. If the opponent has Bronzor, instead of attempting to trap it I use it to set up Houndour. This way the opponent will likely not only end up sacrificing Bronzor, but also end up weak enough to be swept by Bagon.

    Moveset: Fire Fang is needed for Bronzor, just in case something goes awry when I'm setting up Houndour, while Hydro Pump nails Gligar and Aron. Dragon Claw helps me nail things hard without getting locked in by Outrage.

    EVs, Nature, and Item: Max Attack and Speed are obviously necessary for max sweeping power. The remaining EVs are dumped into Defense and Special Attack so that Bagon shrugs off physical attacks and Hydro Pump hits a little harder respectively.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2010
Moderators: Edna, fsk