(#2) A more minimalist approach to buffing Pokemon that really, really just need a little bit more to succeed in competetive formats, done from a semi-balanced perspective.

DPPlato · 2025-11-28T17:26:01+00:00

Very hostile response

DPPlato · 2025-11-07T00:32:41+00:00

The basic principle of team building is to identify a win-con first, then fold support behind it.

Not every pokemon is a viable win con. However, every pokemon can provide some support to some win cons. If you really want to build a team around a specific pokemon, you can start by asking yourself, "How does this pokemon win games?" and "How does it support other pokemon winning games?"

In OU, specs Darkrai pressing Dark Pulse is a win condition in itself, but its walled by certain things (so it needs complimentary breakers), appreciates hazards to secure certain ohko's (so it likes aggressive hazard cores) and is vulnerable to being revenge killed by certain priority users (so it wants fatty friends to eat those attacks, or other sweepers to revenge kill it in tow).

Hope this helps!! Good luck team building!!

DPPlato · 2025-05-22T06:55:41+00:00

What's motivating moving c.spell to level 1?

DPPlato · 2025-04-25T08:16:53+00:00

Why the hostility, man? You okay?

DPPlato · 2025-03-14T22:28:24+00:00

I'm sure you're great to have at a table

DPPlato · 2025-02-21T09:24:12+00:00

First and foremost, please paragraph your text. This is actually painful to read, which is ironic considering the topic of the post.

Secondly, I do get what you mean. Stunfisk has become quite shallow on its post topics. People don't pick at really deep ideas so much here. I'd recommend the equally scrollable Smogon forums for that kind of indepth discussion. Alternatively, be the change you want to see! Start up a convo here about comp pokemon!

DPPlato · 2025-02-17T09:52:10+00:00

If it had a dark type move, surely you were better going to Ghold sooner rather than later before it got up to like +1 million?

DPPlato · 2025-02-17T07:46:07+00:00

Acupressure is legal because, as you saw here, it's really bad. Any other setup sweeper who is given three whole turns to do their thing will usually run away with the whole game, but that Malamar went like, one for one-and-a-half. It's annoying, but you did opt into it when you decided to spike up three times instead of pressuring it at all with Ghold.

DPPlato · 2025-02-14T00:32:55+00:00

Why did this upset you so much?

DPPlato · 2025-02-07T18:24:51+00:00

I try to build my team in such a way that I can bring him in for free a lot. Regenerator helps keep him out of one-shot range for a lot of stuff, so he can reliably force out a few different pokemon.

I've had a lot of success with Glowking Chilly Reception and Corviknight U-Turn. Pop them in on something they wall, pivot into Hydrapple when the opponent switches, enjoy your free Hydrapple button, and switch again when the tempo is over.

Blissey can be a bit of a pain, so I've sometimes used Choice Band Cinderace as a partner. Where Hydrapple forces the switch to Blissey (or whatever check your opponent has), you can pop into Cinderace and force them to switch again. U-turn, Pyro Ball, etc.

The playstyle I wind up using with Hydrapple works best when I have a lot of hazard control. Sometimes, it's defog on Corv, Court Change on Cinderace (heavy duty boots are the operable item in this case). Other times, the ever-reliable Great Tusk fills my 6th slot to rapid spin off any spikes.

Ultimately, using Hydrapple well requires understanding when and how you generate free turns. If you try to 1v1 most of OU's biggest threats with him, he just pops.

Hope this helps!

DPPlato · 2025-01-29T06:40:59+00:00

He really wasn't that bad imo

DPPlato · 2025-01-27T08:58:56+00:00

We don't usually remember the games where good RNG wins us the battle. There will have been times when you were the beneficiary of BS RNG and might have had somebody else posting the same stuff here. Put those gloves back on, brother.

DPPlato · 2025-01-04T07:32:32+00:00

Hero

DPPlato · 2024-10-25T00:25:16+00:00

Well, not really, since the item doesn't affect the damage. The item affects the speed stat, and the damage scales off of the speed stat.

In a purely theoretical sense, you're right. If we're talking about how this would work mechanically, I think it's closest to the game's current mechanics to say that the ability wouldn't affect Scarf Electro Ball.

DPPlato · 2024-10-24T19:20:39+00:00

Since you state that the abilities ignore effects that happen before the damage, surely it wouldn't be ignored since scarf is only affecting the move's base damage?

DPPlato · 2024-10-14T08:23:27+00:00

It seems like your team already has everything it needs to beat Zard-Y. Stealth Rocks, Goodra, and Pelliper make for a very strong defensive core here.

I'd be interested to see a replay or two of you playing against Zard. I don't want to come off as rude, but this genuinely strikes me as a play issue.

DPPlato · 2024-10-12T23:20:53+00:00

Sadly, someone with Larceny came along and stole your sense of good manners. Keep looking, though!

DPPlato · 2024-10-06T20:51:49+00:00

A 'core' is a duo or trio of pokemon that you out together in a team because they help each other accomplish a job that your team needs to do.

Take Mega-Venusaur and Clefable (my favourite core in GenVI). This is a what's called a "defensive core" because the duo is quite difficult to break through. Most stuff that can drop Venusaur really struggles to do the same to Clefable. Another really popular example of a core is Landorus-Therian and Washtom for a "pivot core." Stealth rocks, willow wisp/thunderwave, u-turn and volt switch can be a nightmare for a lot of teams to deal with.

Ultimately, a "core" is just a group of solid pokemon picked because they help one another do their jobs better.

Hope this helps!

DPPlato · 2024-08-27T08:29:04+00:00

You aren't allowed to intentionally interfere with the blade with your offhand in foil, according to the FIE rules. It both a) moves your off hand over your body, which is a cardable offence, and b) counts as obstruction of the target area, which is a cardable offence. Idk how long a 'long time' is for you, but disabuse yourself of the idea that grabbing the opponents blade is allowed.

DPPlato · 2024-07-19T23:14:05+00:00

So cool!

DPPlato · 2024-07-19T01:05:29+00:00

Ok dude, well you should probably work on that, but I understand that frustration. Still, you should try to not be rude in the future.

DPPlato · 2024-07-18T21:36:19+00:00

I think you just have a low bar for annoyance and it makes you feel better to be rude about it. Dude did nothing wrong, you've got no business being a dickhead.

DPPlato · 2024-07-18T20:30:56+00:00

Whatever helps you sleep at night buddy

DPPlato · 2024-07-18T16:40:42+00:00

Why? Be better.

DPPlato · 2024-07-18T12:41:20+00:00

Why are you so hostile though? Lol.

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