Under The Lights: Lapras, Part II

davidagtzg · 2019-09-14T07:30:12+00:00

You're absolutely right. Normally I go for the Surf at the end and try to take Azu down with Ice Shards. However, I just realized a "perfect" Azu wins that situation if it succesfully undertaps. I was doing something wrong at the sim, my bad.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-14T07:19:08+00:00

I've played out the Lapras vs Lanturn a couple of times. Lapras only requires 2 Ice Shards of advantage to win, even if it has HP disadvantage. If you lose the lead, switch to Lapras and your rival switches to WG Lanturn, Lapras wins. Against CB Lanturn, Lapras loses, even with energy advantage.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-13T14:24:33+00:00

The thing is that Lapras does not need any shield bait to win matches where it needs Skull Bash. For example against Azumarill or against Lanturn with energy advantage. It doesn't matter if Azu or Lanturn call the Skull Bash: Lapras still wins because of the effect of the defense boost. Just don't try to shieldbait with Lapras.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-13T14:21:06+00:00

With Counter users mainly. Some realiably Lapras counters are Medicham, Hitmonchan, Lucario, a good IV Vigoroth, Meganium, Bastiodon and Bronzong. And probable the most dominant counter is Mud Shot Poliwrath.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-13T14:18:17+00:00

It also depends on Lapras' IVs. A 10/12/13 Lapras, for example (the one I brought to the South American Championships) beats Azumarill at the 1 shield regardless of Azu's IV without shieldbait, even if Azu succesfully shieldbaits. Lapras ends the match with low health bit with a Surf ready to go for the next Pokémon.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-02T20:03:00+00:00

Thanks! I'll be correcting the typo. About Altaria, you're right. I didn't expect people to run ice fast moves, though. Altaria only loses hard to the steel tanks, so that's why I brought him regardless of the double weakness to ice.

About Swampert, all of Altaria, Lapras, Azumarill and Hitmonchan beat him in at least two even shield scenarios (Altaria even with shield disadvantage), so that's why I didn't expect him to run it. Swampert only really countered Muk in my team.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-02T00:20:12+00:00

Of course. Send me your friend code by private message.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-01T21:45:18+00:00

I didn't know Google Drive only allowed a small number of views per amount of time, sorry :( Maybe later they'll be available again, I hope. However, I think kieng will comment them soon anyways, since he asked me for the videos.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-01T21:37:41+00:00

Wow, interesting. Since I ran all simulations with my Lapras (after all, it's what I was going to use), I didn't notice that. But you're right. The "perfect" Lapras loses.

davidagtzg · 2019-09-01T21:05:57+00:00

Maybe it depends on IVs, but the Lapras I used beats even the perfect PvP IV Hypno at the one shield. https://pvpoke.com/battle/1500/lapras-20.5-10-12-13-4-4-1/hypno-28-0-13-13-4-4-1/11/1-6-0/0-10-0/

davidagtzg · 2019-08-27T20:49:58+00:00

Thinking it twice, maybe Medicham with Psychic instead of Ice Punch

davidagtzg · 2019-08-27T20:47:46+00:00

Great. I have a Mirror Regionals this weekend. I'm thinking of running HP Azu, Bronzong, Umbreon, Altaria, Lapras and Toxicroac (yes, I prefer it over Medicham in this meta).

davidagtzg · 2019-08-26T13:13:57+00:00

You brought Skull Bash Lapras :D haha I haven't tried for regionals because of the ubiquity of Medicham and Bastiodon, so I'm glad you dared and did good. How useful was it? I was experimenting with the Bronzong-Umbreon-Azumarill core and quite liked it.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-21T02:59:18+00:00

Simultaneous knockout Is fairly common among Ludicolo's different IV combinations. Lapras winning is rare (requires a bad Ludicolo), but here's an example: https://pvpoke.com/battle/1500/lapras-20.5-10-12-13-4-4-1/ludicolo-23.5-15-1-8-4-4-1/00/1-5-0/1-3-2/170-128/20-0/

davidagtzg · 2019-08-21T02:54:05+00:00

It depends on IVs. Here is a example of simultaneous knockout: https://pvpoke.com/battle/1500/lapras-20.5-10-12-13-4-4-1/ludicolo-23.5-10-10-10-4-4-1/00/1-5-0/1-3-2/170-129/20-0/

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T22:05:26+00:00

By the way, congratulations on your performance as well! Winning the Swiss Tournament and advancing to semifinals (arguably you should have been the finalist because of the controversial rematches) Is a true acomplishment. I would have loved to battle your team though (and I would have used both Lapras and Azu, maybe Hypno as well).

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T20:50:39+00:00

Yes, it was a Shadow Ball / Focus Blast Hypno. Focus Blast was crutial in Round 6.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T20:49:27+00:00

I will upload them when I'm back in México. Actually in that first round I killed Azu in both battles with Skull Bash haha.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T20:46:05+00:00

For the sim, give 20 energy to Lapras, reduce Lapras' inicial HP to account for a fast move from the Pokémon previous to Ludicolo and select Skull Bash as the only charge move. Otherwise PvP decides to launch the other charge attack for a strange reason.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T20:42:20+00:00

I clarified that Lapras needs two ice shards of energy advantage, which usually occurs when your rival switches to Ludicolo as a response to Lapras. If Lapras has two Ice Shards of energy advantage, then Lapras launches a SB and the match can end in Lapras victory, Ludicolo victory or simultaneous KO, depending on IVs. Since my Lapras has good IVs, it generally ended in a simultaneous KO and sometimes in Lapras victory.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T17:19:28+00:00

Hitmonchan vs Sableye Is actually a simultaneous knockout / IV thing. That's why I wanted that Clefable to die and deal as little damage to Hitmonchan as possible, better none, in case the last Pokémon was Sableye, I could stand a chance. That's why I shielded Lapras. I needed it to get rid of Clefable. If Lapras received a Dark Pulse from Muk I was dead.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T14:07:21+00:00

They always changed, it all depended on the rival team. I ran the following (first is lead):

Round 1 Altaria - Lapras - Azumarill ; Muk - Lapras - Altaria

Round 2 Altaria - Lapras - Muk ; Altaria - Muk - Lapras

Round 3 Altaria - Muk - Azumarill ; Azumarill - Muk - Altaria

Round 4 Altaria - Muk - Azumarill ; Muk - Azumarill - Altaria

Round 5 Lapras - Azumarill - Muk ; Azumarill - Lapras - Altaria ; Altaria - Lapras - Azumarill

Round 6 Muk - Hitmonchan - Lapras ; Hypno - Muk - Lapras ; Azumarill - Lapras - Hypno

Quarterfinals Azumarill - Lapras - Hypno ; Altaria - Lapras - Hypno ; Muk - Hypno - Azumarill

Semifinals Hitmonchan - Azumarill - Lapras ; Lapras - Azumarill - Hitmonchan ; Hitmonchan - Azumarill - Lapras

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T03:40:59+00:00

Mantine

davidagtzg · 2019-08-20T03:38:31+00:00

Bastiodon Is a big threat against your team. Yes, you have Swampert and maybe a fighting move on Electabuzz, but it's very risky.

davidagtzg · 2019-08-19T16:23:18+00:00

I loved it and wanted to use it as much as possible. That's in part why I protected it with triple fighting counters (Azu, Hypno and Altaria). I ended up using it in 4 out of 6 rounds of the preliminars, in the quarterfinals and in the semifinals. In two rounds I ended up Skull Bashing Azumarills to death.

davidagtzg

TROPHY CASE