UbersSuck20
11-03-2012, 07:58 AM
There are some Pokemon that got some incredible hype at the beginning of Gen 5, only people realized that they were sucky...
#1: Ambipom
Why the hype?
With a great base 115 Speed coupled with a respectable base 100 Attack, it looked like Ambipom is going to be one of the best revenge killers of all UU, and even OU. It had Technician-boosted Fake Out, that could be further boosted by Normal Gem. Not only that, but it also had U-turn to gain momentum, as well as Low Sweep and Low Kick for hurting Snorlax hard.
What went wrong?
Let's face it, Ambipom has always been bad. Even with access to Low Kick, Rhyperior and bulky Steels laugh at it, and Ghost-types come in for free and dispatch it with Focus Blast/Hidden Power Fighting. Then, Mienshao, which also had access to Fake Out, came in UU, and Ambipom needed to run a Choice Band set to diferentiate itself from Mienshao. The release of Skill Link Cincinno does it no favors either. Personally, I think it's outclassed by both.
#2: Dusclops
Why the hype?
In Gen 4 Dusclops was outclassed by it's evolution, Dusknoir, which had 100 Attack, as well as slightly better defenses and the ability to run a SubPunch set. However, BW came and brought Dusclops the Eviolite, which boosted its defenses by 50%. With this item, Dusclops's already solid base 130 Defense and Special Defense were boosted to levels near that of Shuckle's.
What went wrong?
Dusclops lacked one thing all walls need: reliable recovery. It had to use Pain Split or a RestTalk set, which can be used as setup fodder for powerful sweepers, especially on the special side. Also, it has too bad Attack to deal damage, so it's forced to run Seismic Toss. Co***rigus' arrival in UU was probably the final nail in the coffin, though. Cofa also has great defenses, the special attack to actually damage foes, Haze and the ability to run a Nasty Plot or a Calm Mind set. In October 2012, Co***rigus was placed #24 in the UU usage, while Dusclops barely manages to stay there... Don't even think of using it in OU. If you want a bulky Ghost-type not named Jellicent, Co***rigus and Dusknoir are for you.
#3: Scrafty
Why the hype?
Scrafty had an amazing STAB combination only resisted by three Pokemon, as well as great defenses and access to Dragon Dance, to make it a potent sweeper. It also has access to Bulk Up to make it almost invincible on the physical side.
What went wrong?
It should have been obvious. Every one of Scrafty's good qualities is mitigated by another not-so-great quality. Great defenses? Terrible HP stat. Amazing STAB combination, coverage movepool, and access to Dragon Dance? Subpar Attack and abysmal Speed.
"But it can still Bulk Up!"
In a metagame filled with Hurricanes, Draco Meteors, VoltTurn, Terrakion, and rain-boosted Hydro Pumps? Yeah... good luck with that.
#4: Electivire(FailVire)
Why the hype?
Due to the enormous movepool Electivire has access to, including the elemental punches, as well as hitting 13 types out of 17 for super effective damage, it's clear it was overhyped at the beginning of DP. 123 Attack is nothing to scoff at either, and it also had Motor Drive for raising it's Speed and trying to sweep. Finally, Gyarados attracted Electric-type attacks like you wouldn't believe, and it looked like Electivire and Gyara were made one for each other. As such, a core named "GyaraVire" was invented, which was used by average players and by noobs to win battles. BW gave Electivire a better physical attack in the form of Wild Charge, which meant Electivire's weak STAB problem was now gone.
What went wrong?
Any bulky Pokemon with Earthquake means end-game for Electivire. There was a whole new generation of theoretically great Pokémon to have faffing about in low OU, and there was just no room for Electivire any more. But what has finally drove the nail in the coffin was Team Preview. With that, any Electric-type attacker could predict the opponent's switch to Electivire easily, and react accordingly. Now he's in RU, and I think Eelektross is better than Vire in the higher tiers, especially OU. Having no weaknesses, the ability to run a Coil + Thunder set or a Choice Specs set and better overall defenses... yea. At least Electivire manages to carve itself out a niche as the only real physical Electric-type. Only time will tell if it can even hang on to that, what with Luxray picking up Guts from Dream World and all.
Honorable Mentions(Fallen Stars)
#1: Dusknoir
Why the hype?
Dusclops acted as one of the premier spinblockers in ADV. In generation 4, Dusclops was overshadowed by its evolution, Dusknoir. With Gen 5, however, Eviolite did send Dusknoir's preevolution in UU, while Dusknoir fell into RU.
What happened?
To be honest, I don't know. Dusknoir's usage has suffered a lot due to people realizing how good Co***rigus is. Sure, Dusknoir is outclassed by Co***rigus as a wall, but Dusknoir can run a great SubPunch set, which is not outclassed by Golurk, because Dusknoir has only two weaknesses. However, Dusknoir is finally getting some use now that Co***rigus is locked in UU. It placed #12 in October 2012, higher than other Ghosts, like Spiritomb and Rotom.
However, it does have some fatal flaws: low HP stat, slower than other walls, and tons of moves wasted by its Speed and its Special Attack. The low base Speed and reliance on Will-o-Wisp and Pain Split means Taunt screws it over. What's more, should Dusknoir lack Earthquake, lots of fire-types can switch in for free and destroy Dusknoir with their powerful STAB moves.
However, I think Dusknoir needs more love even with the setbacks it faces this generation, and with the great support, it can be an unvalued Pokemon for your team.
#1: Ambipom
Why the hype?
With a great base 115 Speed coupled with a respectable base 100 Attack, it looked like Ambipom is going to be one of the best revenge killers of all UU, and even OU. It had Technician-boosted Fake Out, that could be further boosted by Normal Gem. Not only that, but it also had U-turn to gain momentum, as well as Low Sweep and Low Kick for hurting Snorlax hard.
What went wrong?
Let's face it, Ambipom has always been bad. Even with access to Low Kick, Rhyperior and bulky Steels laugh at it, and Ghost-types come in for free and dispatch it with Focus Blast/Hidden Power Fighting. Then, Mienshao, which also had access to Fake Out, came in UU, and Ambipom needed to run a Choice Band set to diferentiate itself from Mienshao. The release of Skill Link Cincinno does it no favors either. Personally, I think it's outclassed by both.
#2: Dusclops
Why the hype?
In Gen 4 Dusclops was outclassed by it's evolution, Dusknoir, which had 100 Attack, as well as slightly better defenses and the ability to run a SubPunch set. However, BW came and brought Dusclops the Eviolite, which boosted its defenses by 50%. With this item, Dusclops's already solid base 130 Defense and Special Defense were boosted to levels near that of Shuckle's.
What went wrong?
Dusclops lacked one thing all walls need: reliable recovery. It had to use Pain Split or a RestTalk set, which can be used as setup fodder for powerful sweepers, especially on the special side. Also, it has too bad Attack to deal damage, so it's forced to run Seismic Toss. Co***rigus' arrival in UU was probably the final nail in the coffin, though. Cofa also has great defenses, the special attack to actually damage foes, Haze and the ability to run a Nasty Plot or a Calm Mind set. In October 2012, Co***rigus was placed #24 in the UU usage, while Dusclops barely manages to stay there... Don't even think of using it in OU. If you want a bulky Ghost-type not named Jellicent, Co***rigus and Dusknoir are for you.
#3: Scrafty
Why the hype?
Scrafty had an amazing STAB combination only resisted by three Pokemon, as well as great defenses and access to Dragon Dance, to make it a potent sweeper. It also has access to Bulk Up to make it almost invincible on the physical side.
What went wrong?
It should have been obvious. Every one of Scrafty's good qualities is mitigated by another not-so-great quality. Great defenses? Terrible HP stat. Amazing STAB combination, coverage movepool, and access to Dragon Dance? Subpar Attack and abysmal Speed.
"But it can still Bulk Up!"
In a metagame filled with Hurricanes, Draco Meteors, VoltTurn, Terrakion, and rain-boosted Hydro Pumps? Yeah... good luck with that.
#4: Electivire(FailVire)
Why the hype?
Due to the enormous movepool Electivire has access to, including the elemental punches, as well as hitting 13 types out of 17 for super effective damage, it's clear it was overhyped at the beginning of DP. 123 Attack is nothing to scoff at either, and it also had Motor Drive for raising it's Speed and trying to sweep. Finally, Gyarados attracted Electric-type attacks like you wouldn't believe, and it looked like Electivire and Gyara were made one for each other. As such, a core named "GyaraVire" was invented, which was used by average players and by noobs to win battles. BW gave Electivire a better physical attack in the form of Wild Charge, which meant Electivire's weak STAB problem was now gone.
What went wrong?
Any bulky Pokemon with Earthquake means end-game for Electivire. There was a whole new generation of theoretically great Pokémon to have faffing about in low OU, and there was just no room for Electivire any more. But what has finally drove the nail in the coffin was Team Preview. With that, any Electric-type attacker could predict the opponent's switch to Electivire easily, and react accordingly. Now he's in RU, and I think Eelektross is better than Vire in the higher tiers, especially OU. Having no weaknesses, the ability to run a Coil + Thunder set or a Choice Specs set and better overall defenses... yea. At least Electivire manages to carve itself out a niche as the only real physical Electric-type. Only time will tell if it can even hang on to that, what with Luxray picking up Guts from Dream World and all.
Honorable Mentions(Fallen Stars)
#1: Dusknoir
Why the hype?
Dusclops acted as one of the premier spinblockers in ADV. In generation 4, Dusclops was overshadowed by its evolution, Dusknoir. With Gen 5, however, Eviolite did send Dusknoir's preevolution in UU, while Dusknoir fell into RU.
What happened?
To be honest, I don't know. Dusknoir's usage has suffered a lot due to people realizing how good Co***rigus is. Sure, Dusknoir is outclassed by Co***rigus as a wall, but Dusknoir can run a great SubPunch set, which is not outclassed by Golurk, because Dusknoir has only two weaknesses. However, Dusknoir is finally getting some use now that Co***rigus is locked in UU. It placed #12 in October 2012, higher than other Ghosts, like Spiritomb and Rotom.
However, it does have some fatal flaws: low HP stat, slower than other walls, and tons of moves wasted by its Speed and its Special Attack. The low base Speed and reliance on Will-o-Wisp and Pain Split means Taunt screws it over. What's more, should Dusknoir lack Earthquake, lots of fire-types can switch in for free and destroy Dusknoir with their powerful STAB moves.
However, I think Dusknoir needs more love even with the setbacks it faces this generation, and with the great support, it can be an unvalued Pokemon for your team.