PDA

View Full Version : Forretress Revamp



Vertigo
10-08-2009, 11:32 PM
Forretress

http://arkeis.com/images/pokemonfactory/Forretress.png

Summary:

Forretress is a Pokemon that has been purely designed to go into battle and set up entry hazards for the opponents team to come into, while also destroying the opponents entry hazards as well.

Most used set:

Forretress' most used set is always going to the Rapid Spinner, Spiker style version. The set utilizes being able to set up layers of spikes while being able to fend against some of the top OU threats in the metagame while also using the support of the team to further help how efficient it does out in battle.

Usual counters:

Any Rotom forme can make an easy switch in on Forretress thanks to their handy immunity to Ground and resistance to Steel, letting them take Gyro Balls with ease. But also decimating any chances of Forretress' Rapid Spin abilities. All of the formes can scare Forretress out with STAB special attacks, but Rotom-H gets special mention due to its ability to use Overheat. Gengar also has the abilities to block it's Rapid Spin, although it is not as significant due to a hard hit from Gyro Ball. However, despite both these Usual Counters, Forretress does have the ability to use Payback and if you are running it on yours you can scare them away.

Whenever Forretress doesn't have an electric type move, Gyarados can switch in and Taunt it, and then begin to set up with Dragon Dance. Forretress' Explosion hurts even bulky Gyarados badly, but the standard Forretress, unfortuneately can only do 79% with it after the effects of Intimidate. Similar to thr Rotom formes, Zapdos does aquire the useful immunity and resistances to nearly all of the moves Forretress does which means Zapdos easily switches in and scares away Foretress with Heat Wave and STAB Thunderbolt. Other Fire types can switch in if they avoid or if Forretress isn't carrying Earthquake.

Types of Teams Pokemon Is Used In:

Forretress is a Pokemon that has been purely designed to be used in Stall type teams and do a number of jobs. It can also be used in some of the Balanced type teams and Stall based teams.

http://www.serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/pokemon/205-m.png
Rapid Spin, Spiker @Shed Shell / Leftovers
IVs: 0 Spe
EVs: 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def
Relaxed Nature
Ability: Sturdy
- Toxic Spikes / Spikes
- Gyro Ball / Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Explosion / Reflect / Rest

By far Forretress' most useful and effective set. Forretress being one of the metagame's top Spikers, due to it's respectable Defense Base Power stat of 140 and a nice lot of resistances. It is a major layer in a lot of the successful stall teams around. The idea is fairly simple, having Forretress laying in your team you can easily call him out at the right time when he isn't threatened and start setting up spikes and what not. These situational plays are actually quite common to happen. An example would be it come into a Choice Band Tyranitar stuck on Crunch, any Weavile set, or a Salamence and Flygon locked into Outrage.

Leftovers should only be used if you have reason not to fear Magnezone. Relaxed nature and a 0 Speed IV will maximize the power output from Gyro Ball, which proves very useful against high speed set-up sweepers. Along with the given EVs, it can OHKO Weavile or, should you use Earthquake, OHKO a Magnezone using 4 HP / 0 Def on the switch with Stealth Rock support. The rest of the EVs are put into HP and Defense to allow Forretress to have an easier time setting up and taking hits. Shed Shell is the preferred item, as it will allow you to escape from Magnezone, Forretress’ worst fear.

These situational hazard plays are those that you depend on what you simply want your team to accomplish. Spikes punish those teams that like to switch around alot, eg; U-Turn users and Baton Pass teams and Toxic Spikes will ruin the Pokémon what like to stay in / set up, such as Hippowdon and Swampert for some quick examples. With Toxic Spikes they come to a disadvantage of being absorbed by other Poison-types, and both lose to Rapid Spinning Pokémon. So having Spin blocking support on your team with Forretress is ideal to futher more extend the greatness of this set. You will find that Stealth Rock is is a possibility for this set, however there are fewer viable Spikers then there are Stealth Rock holders so it is more effecient if and logical to find another member of your team to carry it. Using Gyro Ball lets you dish out heavy damage to Weavile and Tyranitar, especially Dragon Dance varients, but using Earthquake will allow you to hit Poison-types who are looking out to absorb Toxic Spikes and lets you hit Magnezone, cautiously of course. Running Rapid Spin gets rid of give you the power ro remove the foes teams entry hazards, but can be removed to accomidate two attacks or two hazards should you support elsewhere. Explosion giving you the oppertunity to deal out a lot of damage to your opponents team when you are finished with Forretress and you are confident enough to avoid any possible apposing Spinners. Reflect gives your team more support on the physical side of things and helps Forretress survive repeaded Stone Edges from Choice Band Tyranitar and Rhyperior. Rest can be used as a viable option to help Forretress stay around longer and further stall.

http://www.serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/pokemon/205-m.png
RestTalk @Shed Shell / Leftovers
IVs: 0 Spe
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD
Relaxed Nature
Ability: Sturdy
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Spikes / Toxic Spikes
- Gyro Ball

Gyro Ball is ideal as to be put on Forretress. While it can become tempting to add another support move in the final slot, any Pokemon with no attacking move is quite wide open and vulnerable as Forretress can no longer fend for itself, regardless of it's defensive capabilities. Providing a very nice and powerful STAB attack that can put dents on common threats in the OU metagame is just what Forretress needs to work well. Better yet, Sleep Talk makes up for Gyro Ball's mere 8 PP. Essentially meaning Forretress will be able to defend itself when ever he needs to. Toxic can also be ussd to add residual damage and tr ro stall out opponents with Rest bu Gyro Ball is quite the reassured move to use.

Having Gyro Ball being Forretress's solitary attack and no purpose for using Explosion, it can have it's EVs invested into boosting the defenses as much as possible. Maximum HP gives it more chances or living longer, and 80 Special Defence EVs will very nearly guarantee two Surfs from a mim SpA Vaporeon. Since this set will often be expected to weather some weak special attacks while setting up, the investment is well worth it. The 176 remaining EVs are put into Defense, and fortuitously give Forretress a bonus point in the stat.

Shed Shell is definitely the preferred item on this set as without Earthquake or even Explosion, Forretress really will be at Magnezone's mercy if it decides to switch in.

Lack of recovery is the main thing holding Forretress back. This set is an attempt to try and use what Forretress is made for while implementing the infamous RestTalk role. It also allows it to be classified ad a team support, while also dramatically incrasing it's logetiviy on the playing field. Having it's great Base Power Defense stat and respectable amount of resistances Forretress should really be able to stay alive for a sustained period of time. After all, Forretress' main goal is to get all 3 layers of spikes up with ease.

The hazard entry of choice is Spikes. Stealth Rock only need a one turn set-uo and can be used by alot of other Pokemon, while Toxic Spikes are mainly inferior to Spikes in the OU metagame. Although, if you are planning on sweeping with stuff like Empoleon or Suicune and you are in quite desperate need for them then they can also be run as the entry hazard.

Other Options

Since we know Forretress is slow; it's going to be quite a good user of moves like Payback, and Revenge -- although this brings up the question of what you would be using them against. Some things that come to thought incluse Gengar, to which Payback might OHKO, just as long as Forretress moves last, and Tyranitar, who you can hit with Revenger. Revenge can also cover Magnet Rise Magnezone to an extent.

If Forretress is given Macho Brace as it's item it allows it to hit anything 198 Speed and above with at lease 100 Base Power attack, and 150 Base power to anything above 297 Speed. If Forretress isn't using the Macho Brace, it's only 66 and 100 Basee Power, respectively, with out facotinr in STAB. This harder hitting Gyro Ball may give Forretress the extra power you might feel it needs to hit is't enemys, such as Intimidating Salamence harder. Also keep in mind that Macho Brace and make the difference between OHKOing and not OHKOing Gengar.

If you run this EV spread of 252 HP / 96 Def / 162 SpD whilst having Light Screen up, an unbooxted Magnezones STAB Thunderbolt can only 3HKO you, which in advance allows you to set up 2 layers of Spikes as it tires to trap you, or you can opt to 2HKO with Earthquake. Rest and Sleep Talk can be used simulataniously to allow Forretress to set up and heal in a repetitive cycle.

You may or may not be aware of this but Forretress learns the move Zap Cannon, allowing Forretress to cripple Gengars on the switch and do some decend damage to Skarmory. It also lets Forretress counter Gyarados -- although some what unreliably. Hidden Power Electric would be a better option on Forretress if you want to couter Gyarados. Hidden Power Electric frmo Forretress with a neutral nature can 2HKO Gyarados including SR damage.

Opinion

Forretress’ true home is in a stall team, and it does its job very well. It can set up hazards, and then later in the game it can be used to force switches, racking up residual damage and continuing the aim of the team. Forretress is also occasionally seen on more balanced teams based around entry hazards, as it also has the ability to counter a number of dangerous threats. Using it only to counter threats is unwise; the majority of the time it is preferable to use a bulky Scizor set up, as Forretress’ poor attacking type coverage and low Attack stat mean that it can be set up on quite easily.

Forretress is a top tier OU Pokémon because it is good at the job that it does, providing great team support. Do not attempt to do anything fancy with it, odds are it is not cut out for it!

As far as I'm concerned Forretress full capabilities are to be used in a Stall team as it does do a very efficient job of what it is ment to do. Setting up hazards, racking up residual damage and continuing the aim of the team, and being used late game to force switches. Forretress is sometimes seen on the more balanced type teams basing around entry hazards, as it has the ability to counter quite a number of dangerous threats. Although, using it only to counter it's threats is no so smartas the majority of time it is preferable to use a bulky scizor set up, as Forretress has poor attacking and type coveredge. Poor Attack stat means that it can be set up on quite easily.

Vertigo
10-09-2009, 02:15 AM
I thought I should just note that this was originally the Smogon article but has been copied to word as I scanned through it for just about 2 hours whilst putting, changing, and interpreting it all into my own words. Just stating this if anybody is concerned about the length.
Thanks.

Tony32
10-09-2009, 04:25 AM
Great job :o

Vertigo
10-09-2009, 04:36 AM
Thanks, I'm going to try and to 13 more ones like this.

Safe_Kid
10-11-2009, 12:59 PM
IMO Payback as an option for its attacking move. Thats what everyone uses nowadays anyways.

Vertigo
10-11-2009, 05:50 PM
I gave Payback a mention in the other options section so it has been included.

Capn Crunch
10-12-2009, 03:53 PM
I'd make Payback the primary option on the Rapid Spin set, it's the only reason Forretress is capable of spinning with Rotom-A around.

PLDH-MajeSan
10-12-2009, 05:36 PM
Don't forget Zap Cannon, it can knock out Tauntrados trying to set up.

Vertigo
10-15-2009, 06:11 PM
Read Other Options
It's all there.

Tony32
10-16-2009, 03:55 AM
Overall this is another great analysis made by vert. Good job man.

Lunar
10-16-2009, 05:37 AM
i realy like how you did

great job ^_^