Zeus
05-27-2008, 04:53 AM
Salamence
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/TeamUber_album/Pokemon%20Analysis%20Art/Salamence.png
Specs Mence
Salamence @ Choice Specs
Trait: Intimidate
6 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Rash (+SpA, -Att)
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake / Hydro Pump / Hidden Power Ground
The very popular and standard SpecsMence. Earthquake is recommended over Hydro Pump and Hidden Power Ground because it lets Salamence 1hko or 2hko pokemon that you will use a ground attack on, Heatran / Tentacruel / Empoleon. Draco Meteor is Salamence's single most powerful move without any setup, setting the tone early. Dragon Pulse is meant for late game, to diminish the remains after Draco Meteor.
Dragon Dance Mence
Salamence @ Life Orb
Trait: Intimidate
220 Att / 252 Spe / 32 SpAtt
Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast / Stone Edge
The classic late game sweeper that is DD Mence. Once again, Salamence's type combination of moves is outstanding. With the new addition of Outrage from Platinum, Salamence will be a dangerous threat. The EVs given grant you 270 which is enough to outspeed Adamant Heracross (269). Unlike SpecsMence, Blissey will be facing a much bigger threat in DD Mence. In the last slot, Stone Edge can be equipped especially to take on Gyarados and Zapdos. Or Fire Blast to take on Skarmory and Forretress better, whom Skarmory may wall and phaze you away otherwise.
Band Mence
Salamence @ Choice Band
Trait: Intimidate
6 HP / 252 Att / 252 Spe
Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Outrage
- Fire Blast
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake / Stone Edge / Dragon Claw
Salamence also gained Aqua Tail in Platinum. Aqua Tail enables Salamence to 2hko Hippowdon and Gliscor without getting stuck into Outrage, a great way to lure those two in and take them out in 2 shots. The 4th slot is simply just filler since Aqua Tail negates the usefulness of certain moves. However, Earthquake can still be used to ohko Tyranitar and hit Metagross. Stone Edge is mainly for Zapdos and Gyarados, but that's if you have severe problems with them and need the 1hko instead of the 2hko when using Outrage. If none of those moves prove useful to you, and/or if you find the fact that getting locked into Outrage early can get annoying, Dragon Claw is optional too.
Mix Mence
Salamence @ Life Orb
Trait: Intimidate
84 Att / 216 SpA / 208 Spe
Rash (+SpA, -SpD)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage / Roost
Do I have to mention the move type combination anymore? No, we all know it's amazing. This breaks stall into shreds, not much can take on Mix Mence. Draco Meteor sets the tone early capable of denting any physical wall thinking of a physical varient. Outrage does more to Cresselia and Blissey than either Brick Break or Crunch, and unlike the other two, has a high chance to ko them on the switch with Draco Meteor and Stealth Rock. That said, Earthquake gets the mention over Brick Break to get the greater damage on Heatran and still 2hkos Tyranitar. Roost is an option to heal itself up to cause more threatening damage later on. If any move gets replaced by Roost it would probably be Outrage.
The Speed EV's reach 288 which outspeeds Max Speed Jolly Gyarados.
Wish Mence
Salamence @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
212 HP / 174 Def / 124 Spe
Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
- Wish
- Protect
- Dragon Claw
- Flamethrower
Ah yes, the novelty Wish Mence. With the combination of Wish and Protect, you'll be scouting your opponent's possible Choice item, gaining HP from Leftovers, and supporting Wish to itself or for its teammates. Now for Salamence's attacking moves, you'd want to have the safest moves possible. Dragon Claw is better than Dragon Pulse due to its Attack stat being higher than its Special Attack stat. And it's better than Draco Meteor because the SpA drop really isn't worth it for Wish Mence if you have to stop CM Mismagius. Flamethrower is over Fire Blast for, obviously, the greater accuracy. Flamethrower is really the better option than Earthquake. Sure Heatran walls this set, but it's "the lesser of two evils" really. Would you rather get walled by Skarmory and Bronzong, or just Heatran? Also to the fact that against Heatran you can scout it's possible Choice item and then switch to a counter.
Now for the EV spread, the speed gives Salamence 240 speed which is enough to outspeed Adamant Breloom (239). Of course you can adjust the EVs for you to outspeed other threats, maybe bring the speed to 244. However, Wish is a better function for pokemon who aren't wrecked by Stealth Rock, such as Vaporeon. But it can be a great pokemon with Rapid Spin support, either Forretress or Starmie, since Salamence covers Forretress' only weakness of Fire, and Starmie counters two major threats to Wish Mence; Infernape and Gyarados.
Other Options
You can equip Choice Scarf on just about any of Salamence's offensive sets. If you want a more bulky DD Mence, you can give it this EV spread: 214 HP / 252 Att / 44 Spe @ Jolly nature. For an even more defensive Salamence, you can use a Sub / Toxic stalling moveset, however it's better used for a pokemon with a more efficient Trait (such as Pressure).
Counters
Special Varients: Blissey is the most efficient counter. Calm natured Cresselia functions nicely as well. Empoleon gets a mention due to resisting Dragon and Water and being only neutral to Fire. Earthquake can 2hko though.
Physical Varients: Due to Outrage's debut into Platinum, the counters are suddenly decreased. Hippowdon still takes physical varients well and Slack Offs the damage or hits back with Ice Fang. Cresselia is once again a viable counter with superb Defenses and the existence of Ice Beam. Bronzong is probably the most notable counter, being resistant to Outrage and KO back with Gyro Ball, possibly powered by a Macho Brace or Choice Band. Vaporeon gets decent mentions as well, but it's really hard to switch into Choice Band Outrage rather than a DD.
Any varient: Donphan/Mamoswine/Weavile revenge kills any varient with Ice Shard.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn107/TeamUber_album/Pokemon%20Analysis%20Art/Salamence.png
Specs Mence
Salamence @ Choice Specs
Trait: Intimidate
6 HP / 252 Spe / 252 SpA
Rash (+SpA, -Att)
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake / Hydro Pump / Hidden Power Ground
The very popular and standard SpecsMence. Earthquake is recommended over Hydro Pump and Hidden Power Ground because it lets Salamence 1hko or 2hko pokemon that you will use a ground attack on, Heatran / Tentacruel / Empoleon. Draco Meteor is Salamence's single most powerful move without any setup, setting the tone early. Dragon Pulse is meant for late game, to diminish the remains after Draco Meteor.
Dragon Dance Mence
Salamence @ Life Orb
Trait: Intimidate
220 Att / 252 Spe / 32 SpAtt
Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast / Stone Edge
The classic late game sweeper that is DD Mence. Once again, Salamence's type combination of moves is outstanding. With the new addition of Outrage from Platinum, Salamence will be a dangerous threat. The EVs given grant you 270 which is enough to outspeed Adamant Heracross (269). Unlike SpecsMence, Blissey will be facing a much bigger threat in DD Mence. In the last slot, Stone Edge can be equipped especially to take on Gyarados and Zapdos. Or Fire Blast to take on Skarmory and Forretress better, whom Skarmory may wall and phaze you away otherwise.
Band Mence
Salamence @ Choice Band
Trait: Intimidate
6 HP / 252 Att / 252 Spe
Adamant (+Att, -SpA)
- Outrage
- Fire Blast
- Aqua Tail
- Earthquake / Stone Edge / Dragon Claw
Salamence also gained Aqua Tail in Platinum. Aqua Tail enables Salamence to 2hko Hippowdon and Gliscor without getting stuck into Outrage, a great way to lure those two in and take them out in 2 shots. The 4th slot is simply just filler since Aqua Tail negates the usefulness of certain moves. However, Earthquake can still be used to ohko Tyranitar and hit Metagross. Stone Edge is mainly for Zapdos and Gyarados, but that's if you have severe problems with them and need the 1hko instead of the 2hko when using Outrage. If none of those moves prove useful to you, and/or if you find the fact that getting locked into Outrage early can get annoying, Dragon Claw is optional too.
Mix Mence
Salamence @ Life Orb
Trait: Intimidate
84 Att / 216 SpA / 208 Spe
Rash (+SpA, -SpD)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage / Roost
Do I have to mention the move type combination anymore? No, we all know it's amazing. This breaks stall into shreds, not much can take on Mix Mence. Draco Meteor sets the tone early capable of denting any physical wall thinking of a physical varient. Outrage does more to Cresselia and Blissey than either Brick Break or Crunch, and unlike the other two, has a high chance to ko them on the switch with Draco Meteor and Stealth Rock. That said, Earthquake gets the mention over Brick Break to get the greater damage on Heatran and still 2hkos Tyranitar. Roost is an option to heal itself up to cause more threatening damage later on. If any move gets replaced by Roost it would probably be Outrage.
The Speed EV's reach 288 which outspeeds Max Speed Jolly Gyarados.
Wish Mence
Salamence @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
212 HP / 174 Def / 124 Spe
Relaxed (+Def, -Spe)
- Wish
- Protect
- Dragon Claw
- Flamethrower
Ah yes, the novelty Wish Mence. With the combination of Wish and Protect, you'll be scouting your opponent's possible Choice item, gaining HP from Leftovers, and supporting Wish to itself or for its teammates. Now for Salamence's attacking moves, you'd want to have the safest moves possible. Dragon Claw is better than Dragon Pulse due to its Attack stat being higher than its Special Attack stat. And it's better than Draco Meteor because the SpA drop really isn't worth it for Wish Mence if you have to stop CM Mismagius. Flamethrower is over Fire Blast for, obviously, the greater accuracy. Flamethrower is really the better option than Earthquake. Sure Heatran walls this set, but it's "the lesser of two evils" really. Would you rather get walled by Skarmory and Bronzong, or just Heatran? Also to the fact that against Heatran you can scout it's possible Choice item and then switch to a counter.
Now for the EV spread, the speed gives Salamence 240 speed which is enough to outspeed Adamant Breloom (239). Of course you can adjust the EVs for you to outspeed other threats, maybe bring the speed to 244. However, Wish is a better function for pokemon who aren't wrecked by Stealth Rock, such as Vaporeon. But it can be a great pokemon with Rapid Spin support, either Forretress or Starmie, since Salamence covers Forretress' only weakness of Fire, and Starmie counters two major threats to Wish Mence; Infernape and Gyarados.
Other Options
You can equip Choice Scarf on just about any of Salamence's offensive sets. If you want a more bulky DD Mence, you can give it this EV spread: 214 HP / 252 Att / 44 Spe @ Jolly nature. For an even more defensive Salamence, you can use a Sub / Toxic stalling moveset, however it's better used for a pokemon with a more efficient Trait (such as Pressure).
Counters
Special Varients: Blissey is the most efficient counter. Calm natured Cresselia functions nicely as well. Empoleon gets a mention due to resisting Dragon and Water and being only neutral to Fire. Earthquake can 2hko though.
Physical Varients: Due to Outrage's debut into Platinum, the counters are suddenly decreased. Hippowdon still takes physical varients well and Slack Offs the damage or hits back with Ice Fang. Cresselia is once again a viable counter with superb Defenses and the existence of Ice Beam. Bronzong is probably the most notable counter, being resistant to Outrage and KO back with Gyro Ball, possibly powered by a Macho Brace or Choice Band. Vaporeon gets decent mentions as well, but it's really hard to switch into Choice Band Outrage rather than a DD.
Any varient: Donphan/Mamoswine/Weavile revenge kills any varient with Ice Shard.