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View Full Version : Knowing Your Ou/Bl pokes.



i am cool
09-23-2008, 04:07 AM
Abomosnow:

Most Used Abomo Set: Abomosnow usually runs a scarf or sub leesh seed set, the leesh seed sets usually packs a lot of special defence and defense evs, making it very bulky, enough to take salamence’s unboosted fire fang, or its outrage after a dragon dance, which is pretty sweet and very helpful. Now as for the scarf Abomosnow set, it will usually pack max speed evs with a boosting nature, thus making it reach a speed of 360, and with such a passable speed stat, and all its stab and high powered attacks coming from that amazing special attack stat it will probably ko or even 2hko almost every pokemon in the over used environment.

Usual Counters: It’s usual counters include some pokemons that are resistant to it’s stab attacks, like bronzong for instance, although, the leesh seed set might give said bronzong some problems, since zong’s gyro ball can not do more than 24% damage to abomosnow, meaning it can’t break it’s substitude, while hail negates it’s leftovers and leesh seed will be sapping 12% of it’s health each turn. And considering zong doesn’t really get a recovery move, it will not be enjoying the health loss.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Abomosnow runs the leesh seed set for the sole purpose of defeating its counters, since it can prove to be annoying and really hard to take down considering its defenses aren’t that bad. To effectively counter it, you must not let it set up in the first place, so your lead pokemon will usually decide if it can or can not set up its leesh seed strategy (considering that almost every Abomosnow is used as a lead). If your lead poke can not break its sub or do any significant damage to it, then you might need to sacrifice a pokemon just to get rid of this annoying Christmas tree.

Abomsnow Is Used On: Hail teams, obviously, since it is the only pokemon in the game that has access to change the weather into a never ending hail storm automatically, unless tampered with another weather condition. Also a lot of pokemons can benefit from hail, but, to use an effective hail team, you have to put some spinners and fire, rock, and steel resists, since all the pokemon’s who benefit from hail sadly, are, ice types, so be sure to stack water and steel or rock types, good examples that work on a hail team are tentacruel, whom also rids the awful sr which takes 25% damage from almost every ice type pokemon except mamaswine.

Aerodactyl:

Most Used Aero Set: Aerodactyl is really fast and learns stealth rocks meaning it serves a great job at being a suicide lead. The choice band set should not be really considered, since now, in DPPt you have a lot of physical sweepers that can perform better than him at physical sweeping and he just doesn’t hit as hard as he did in the advance generation. There is an annoying set which take’s advantage of aero’s high speed and ability pressure; that set runs substitude, protect, roost and earth quake and is meant to stall out your opponnet from their pp. You don’t have to worry about flyers being immune to your earth quake since you can just stall them out with the combination of substitude, protect and aerodactyl’s trait pressure.

Usual Counters: If you decide to use the choice band set (recomended that you don't) then hippowdon and bulky waters are a pain. A choice banded ice fang does 24% max damage to a 252 defense 252 hp eved hippowdon, which just shows why he shouldn’t be used with a band. Bulky waters are also only 3hkoed by cb earth quake while they can ohko aero with stab surfs. Now if you decide to use the suicide lead set (recomended that you do) then there isn’t much to counter you since your job is to set up sr and die and there is nothing stopping you from setting up stelath rocks if you're holding a focus sash. The pressure set is super annoying, even if you have one of its counters it can just stall out your pp, but a good way to own it is to just use 2 flyers and keep switching between the 2, and if it carries toxic over earth quake then all the better, since now you can switch between the many types that are immune to toxic damage or some pokemons that carry an ability which makes them immune to toxic damage.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, the pressure set actually proves annoying to take down, and was developed for pp stalling purposes, countering those pesky bulky waters whom counter aero, and basically for the surprise factor. Hence it’s somewhat rising in popularity once it was popularized by a certain person.

Aero is most used on: Offensive teams for the suicide set, same goes for the choice band set, and stall teams for the pp stall set. The pp stall set really likes stealth rocks and toxic spikes since it aids it in stalling, hence its presence on stall teams. The suicide set is used on an offensive team so you can set up a sweep for another pokemon by laying stealth rocks which will in terms further aid your 5 other sweepers on your offensive team at sweeping the opposition.

Alakazam:

Most Used Zam Set: Trick Specs Or Trick scarf are obviously used to make blisey useless, although with gengar getting trick and azelf getting trick, then that’s a little of bad news for alakazam, but alakazam can still use the choice specs set effectively and the gimmicky scarf set as well, also the encore set is used and rising in popularity, since it can really mess up some of it’s counters and is also the only thing alakazam has left to distinguish it from azelf and gengar.

Usual Counters: Blissey to an extent, since it can survive almost every attack coming from alakazam. Weavile and tyranytar enjoy coming in to pursuit alakazam, making it trapped and basically has to choose between dying and dying! Although, they both die to focus blast, so be carefully of that, and they will not enjoy being crippled by a thunder wave.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The encore set was created as a result to counter its counters, which are weavile, ttar, and blissey. Both weavile and tyranytar can no longer counter it 100% since if It’s hiding behind a substitude, then it will switch out unharmed thanks to the substitude taking pursuit’s damage. And as for blissey, an alakazam using the encore set will just use substitude while it tries to cripple you with suppose thunder wave for instance, then you respond with an encore making it locked into thunder waving a substitude while you can attack it with a beautiful stab psychic.

Alakazam Is Most Used On: It can be used effectively on many teams, but where it shines are on offensive ones, since the encore set aids a sweeper to sweep easily, and it can do some sweeping itself with the specs set coming from it’s spectacular special attack and speed.

Ampibom:

Most Used Ampi Sets: A fake out lead set can prove annoying to take down, fake out after technician and lo coming from it’s respectable attack set will put a hurting on anything that’s not a ghost type, furthermore, double hit can put a hurting on many opponent’s and shadow claw can deal with ghosts, band sets are sometimes used but not as much as the fake out lead set.

Usual Counters: Steel types as you can see can prove annoying to take down considering that they resist almost all your moves, a scarf gengar can switch in on a normal move then outspeed and ko you with some super effective move, like focus blast for instance, while mismagius has a chance of surviving a shadow claw with some hp and defense evs and then going for the ko with hidden power fighting.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Considering that steel types are usually defensively oriented, a gimmick nasty plot set might work if you don’t have access to a magnezone or it’s adding a certain weakness to your team. Nasty plot thunderbolt will put a hurting on steel types, 2hkoing some or even ohkoing some, but metagross is only 3hkoed which is somewhat a problem. Also, magnezone should be considered to put on a team if you decide to use ampibom and since there is the presence of magnezone, then you shouldn’t really consider the nasty plot set, unless of course magnezone is like adding a terrible weakness to your team or some other deal.

Ampibom Is Most Used On: It is usually used on teams in need of a good lead that can somewhat set up a sweep, since it can scout with u-turn, do some respectable damage with stab, technician boosted, life orb boosted fake outs, and basically be a team player.

Arcanine:

Most Used Arcanine Set: The pepper set is rising in popularity, since pepper can survive a lot of move’s from thing’s, and cripple them back, pepper is only 3hkoed by cb duggy’s earth quake after intimidate factored in, and if there’s no intimidate then it’s 2hkoed, but after it uses the earth quake pepper can further cripple it’s attack stat by throwing a wow at it’s face which should cripple it enough. The band set should also be considered, since arcanine gets flare blitz which allows it to put a hurting on a lot of things, and thunder fang should dent those bulky waters. (If you don’t know what pepper is, it’s a set involving bulky arcanine with wow and has the ability intimidate etc)

Usual Counters: Bulky waters counter both arcanine’s most popular sets, obviously, although, a lot of them are 2hkoed by a predicted choice band thunder fang, although, suicune has a chance of surviving, and throwing a stab surf which should ko, pepper is much easier to take care of by bulky waters, since it can’t really do a lot of damage like the choice band set can.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The choice band set serves a rather interesting choice if you want to counter it’s counters whom consist of some bulky waters, since a choice band boosted thunder fang has a chance at scoring a neat ko on all those pesky bulky water types, not only that but the choice band set has a very nice stab attack that will hurt a lot of pokemons and even do some respectable damage to those whom resist it.

Arcanine Is Most Used On: Offensive teams use arcanine if it uses the choice band set, since it hit’s and hurt’s like hell with it’s powerful high powered attacks, stall teams will also appreciate the use of pepper since it makes physical attackers hurt less with intimidate and wile o wisp, thus allowing some entry hazard set uppers like tentacruel or skarmory, to come on with much more safety and set up entry hazards, hence you will see pepper on stall oriented teams, since the members of said stall team will appreciate the aid arcanine is giving to them by crippling opponents pokemons making them have an easier time setting up entry hazards.

Armaldo:

Most Used Armaldo Set: The sd and rock polish set get a notable mention, since they can both sweep a team with relative ease. Furthermore, under a sand storm weather condition armaldo can prove to be annoying to take down, since it will have defenses of a great level and hp of an even greater level, not to mention that after a sd it’s attack will basically be in the 700’s and with so much bulk it should be a threat to look out for, this is why these 3 sets are so much used.

Usual Counters: Water types, obviously. But it should be noted, that after a sd a lo stone edge can ko all said bulky waters, and even do 88% to suicune, not only that but under ss armaldo will take 70% max from a swampert’s hydro pump, so the rest of the moves from the bulky waters should not really affect you, so with stealth rock and ss up, he really is powerful and hard to take down.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The sword dance set does the job of countering its counters and not only that, but effectively sweeping and being bulky and again, annoying to take down especially under sand storm, basically it can score a powerful ohko on about every bulky water, and basically do a lot of damage to other pokemons, whilst maintaining relative bulk thanks to sand storm and it’s pretty decent defensive stats.

Armaldo is most used on: Sand storm teams, since under ss it hits extremely hard whilst maintaining relative bulk, or even without ss it’s still scary and should never be underestimated, but sadly, most people do underestimate it, and that ends up in them being swept by it, so you basically shouldn’t do that and you’ll be fine against it if you ever face it.

Articuno:

Most Used Articuno Set: The sub toxic roost set is overwhelming the under used environment. It can basically wall over half of the under used pokemons, and basically proves extremely annoying to take down. It basically saps all your pp within 32 or less turns.

Usual Counters: Articuno is used as a staller or a support pokemon, now some usual counters for the support set are pokemons that are status absorbers and are resistant to it’s attacks. Sleep talk milotic, rest suicune, and a lot more can work to an extent, obviously it’s ice beam shouldn’t hurt the bulky non resistant pokes, like cressilia or dusknoir, come to think of it, both of them can mess around with articuno, and cressilia works better since it can just set up cm or keep charge beaming it, while it rests off the toxic. Now as for the staller set, like every stat upper you shouldn’t let it set up in the first place, or you can have a stat upper that is resistant to its attacks or have a phazer, all 3 of those can work to counter the stalling set.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Articuno’s move pool isn’t anything spectacular, really, so you can’t really use a specific set to counter its counters, since its options are so limited…

Articuno Is Most Used On: Stall teams, or actually any team at all, except offensive ones, because on an offensive team it can’t really do anything, unless you’re looking for some team support, but you won’t really need that on an offensive team, but a stall team would really appreciate the status spreading coming from toxic, and will obviously enjoy the fact that it can heal all it’s team mates from annoying status that a lot of stallers may not enjoy, also the staller set can stall on it’s own on a stall team, and basically makes great use of toxic spikes.


Azelf:

Most Used Azelf Set: Azelf usually runs suicide zelf, which is meant to set up stealth rocks, survive a move with it’s sash, and explode killing anything which isn’t resistant or immune and allowing one of your sweepers to freely switch in, the np set is somewhat neglected in today’s metagame, meaning you won’t see it often, compared to the huge amount of suicide azelf which is the most used starter. Trick sets are somewhat used but not much, but trick scarf is kind of rising in popularity, since you basically trick a choice scarf onto all those hippowdon leads or heck, other suicide leads!

Usual Counters: The suicide azelf is countered by ttar, and ttar is almost always used as a lead, same goes to suicide azelf, hence suicide azelf will have a lot of problems with said ttar. Ss will break it’s sash, but azelf is faster so it will basically have fulfilled it’s duty which is to set up rocks and then die, but, actually, come to think of it, ttar can be a pain for all azelf’s, even np hp fighting can’t ko some bulky ttar which are being more used now, and, it can pursuit if you flee killing you, and will still kill you if you don’t, even with sash since ss will ruin you, weavile also works in the same fashion, kind of.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Azelf’s run focus sash so they can survive anything weavile throws at them and then flame thrower for the kill, hp fighting is used to kill ttar but an extremely bulky ttar can survive even np hp fighting (if it doesn’t carry life orb). Scarf sets with prediction can also ruin weavile, but terribly fail against tyranytar.

Azelf Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, since suicide zef is meant to set up sr for sweepers to have an easier time sweeping and then sacrifice itself buying a free turn for one of the 5 sweepers that will be on the team, sometimes azelf is used as a sweeper but in today’s metagame you might not see much of it.

Azumaril:

Most Used Azmuaril Set: A choice band set is truly devastating, stab boosted aqua jet coming off of an attack stat of 600+ is really scary, not only that but it’s other moves can also do a lot of damage, azumaril is surprisingly bulky as well, it is truly underrated and you should never underestimate this little rat, do so and you will probably loose 2+ pokes or more.

Usual Counters: Bulky waters surprisingly do a good job at countering this little scary rat, superpower coming from the cb set, though, might put a lot of hurting on those bulky waters, 2hkoing with stealth rocks up, steel types which aren’t weak to fighting also do a decent job, good examples include bronzong, jirashi, metagross and skarmory, to an extent.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The choice band set does that job and is effective for countering its counters, and also performs decently in the over used environment.

Azumaril Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, its stab priority move should be considered on any offensive team since it’s one of the best revenge killers in the game. Furthermore, its high powered attacks can put a lot of hurting on many physical walls and obviously ko or come close to one if you’re not facing a physical wall.

Blaziken:

Most Used Blaziken Set: The choice band and choice scarf set get a notable mention, the choice band set can hurt like hell with flare blitz and superpower, all of which are high powered moves and both get stab. The choice scarf set is also an effective and surprising revenge killer, not to mention that flare blitz, superpower, hp ice and thunder punch can do a lot of damage to a lot of pokemons and give near excellent type coverage.

Usual Counters: Blaziken doesn’t enjoy bulky waters, although a choice band thunder punch can 2hko all of those pesky bulky waters, and it scores a ohko on gyarados, hp ice can also kill those dragons which also serve as decent counters to chicken boy.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The choice band set and choice specs sets really hurt its counters, obviously the choice band set is the one denting its counters but the specs set can also dent some of its counters, not to mention that all these sets still do a lot of respectable damage to everything.

Blaziken Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, since this chicken hurts like hell and should never be underestimated, it is not a weaker version of infernape as many people think it is, since it can actually dent its counters or counter its counters while infernape will have to use less effective sets to sufficiently beat them. .

Blissey:

Most Used Blissey Set’s: The annoying pink blob of death usually caries a wish set to heal its team mates, you will probably encounter a blissey that carries wish, protect, toxic and flamethrower, this set is very effective at healing team mates, scouting for moves, and crippling the opponent. Some blissey carry ice beam, thunderbolt, soft boiled and thunder wave, or another crippling move. Thunder wave is also somewhat popular since it’s always nice to cripple the opposition and shut down some sweepers who rely on their speed.

Usual Counters: Machamp is a fine and decent counter, since it’s usually used as a rest talker hence it won’t care about thunder wave or toxic. Also if machamp has the guts ability then it will even enjoy status, but, sadly, guts machamp is rare. Actually come to think of it any fighter can counter blissey, Heracross, Lucario etc can work to a degree, but machamp is more effective since blissey can not hit it super effectively, while a predicted flame thrower will 2hko Lucario and Heracross.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Really it can’t do anything to machamp, Heracross and all those other fighting physical attackers, so it can’t really carry anything to beat them, unless you consider flame thrower for beating Heracross or Lucario anything notable, although flame thrower barely 2hkoes the 2.

Blissey Is Most Used On: A standard over used team without any strategy going on, or a stall team, since it can heal its team mates with wish and spread status all around to help the team further wear down the opponent.

Breloom:

Most Used Breloom Sets: Something along the lines of, spore, seed bomb, focus punch and substitude. That is one of the most used breloom sets, it is used so much because you can basically sleep a pokemon, then once it’s asleep simply substitude and regain health thanks to poison heal, breloom’s ability which makes toxic orb a must on him since his ability makes you heal 12% every turn if you’re poisoned, hence the use of toxic orb as an item on him (the toxic orb item poisons the holder of it on the second turn of it’s presence in the battle). Plus the cool sub punch strategy is really fun to use and seed bomb is basically for bulky waters.

Usual Counters: Cressilia, gliscor and dusknoir are good at countering breloom. Although, like any sleep inducer, you have to sacrifice a pokemon to sleep (breloom is much scarier than other sleep inducers since its sleep inducing move is 100% accurate) and then bring in it’s counter to defeat it, but this does not apply to cressilia, since cressilia can be used as a sleep talker hence she will not be bothered by sleep or any other of breloom’s moves, meaning cressilia should be your primary choice if you’re looking for a breloom counter on your team.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, like every sleep inducer it will usually server a purpose in the battle by crippling one pokemon, really I find sleep inducers the most pokemons that can accomplish something in a battle. But if you’re looking for a sure fire counter then cressilia can come close at countering it since it’s one of the only sleep talkers that are resistant to breloom’s moves and take 20% damage maximum from it’s attacks, although, if cressilia stays asleep for 5 turns and picks rest every time it uses sleep talk, then it will get defeated, but if “hax” is involved then pretty much every pokemon can defeat it’s counters.

Breloom Is Most Used On: Breloom can really work on any team, especially offensive ones or a normal over used one, it can surprisingly work on stall teams, considering the leesh seed set can really help its team mates at recovering health and prove to be annoying to take down for the opponents.

Bronzong:

Most Used Zong Set: Bronzong is almost always used as a lead, hence it will use a lead set which consists of gyro ball, hypnosis, stealth rock and explosion/earth quake, basically this zong either uses stealth rocks or sleeps the opposition, depending on the situation, then does the move that it didn’t use in the first turn, and finally it will use explosion or gyro ball depending on the pokemon the opponent has sent out. This guy basically cripples 1 pokemon, and then kills like 1 or 2 more pokemons, this is what makes bronzong such an amazing lead.

Usual Counters: Basically if you face trick scarf azelf or trick scarf gengar (if they’re being used as leads) then you will not enjoy them tricking their choice scarf onto your bronzong, hence if you ever see the 2 you should switch out immediately, even if you have a feeling that they aren’t using the trick scarf set, just to basically be safe. Heatran and infernape can also counter it if it doesn’t use earth quake on the turn they switch in.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You can run earth quake and predict the heatran or infernape switch ins, or heck you could even run heatproof bronzong since no one would suspect it and will not use ground moves, thus they will use fire moves which won’t do a lot of damage to bronzong while he sets up rocks and then kills them with earth quake.

Bronzong Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team that is willing to start the match with an amazing lead pokemon like this!

Celebi:

Most Used Celebi Set: A set which runs leesh seed, thunder wave, some stab attack and a filler move, is one of the most used celebi sets. Celebi is over used since it is gyarados’s best counter, even if it runs lo and ice fang it still can’t win the war against celebi, unless it gets lucky with a flinch or a freeze, also celebi can leesh seed to be as annoying as hell while recovering more and more hp, hence making it a popular over used pokemon. Also you might encounter a few sword dance seed bomb celebis, or even some calm mind, recover ones holding life orb.

Usual Counters: Any pursuiter can be a nightmare for all celebi, especially the like’s of weavile or even ttar to some extent, also infernape can be annoying, and let’s not forget, heatran, one of its best counters, but it should be mentioned that is the celebi user predicts correctly he can use thunder wave thus crippling infernape or heatran, so be careful of that happening.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Obviously a specs set can be used to destroy celebi’s usual counters, since specs hp ground can be cool to use since it can ko heatran and infernape with some prediction, and stab specs leaf storm will ko both ttar and weavile with relative ease.

Celebi Is Most Used On: Any team with heatran since they form the famous cele tran combo which abuses celebi and heatran whom cover each other’s weaknesses completely, you might also find a celebi on some stall teams if not all since it makes an amazing perish trapper which lets the opponent switch further racking up entry hazards damage.

Charizard:

Most Used Zard Set: Belly zard is obviously the most used, not only is it fun to sweep with this beast, but this basically can sweep teams in late game. Really I find a well built charizard team capable of netting you a lot of wins. Specs sets can also hurt like hell with their powerful stab attacks and high special attack and speed stats, which will aid them further in becoming powerful sweepers, hence why you might see some if you’re not against a belly zard or a belly zard team.








Usual Counters: Suicune and harirama serve as decent counters to belly zard. Suicune can not be ohkoed by a +6 attack earth quake or fire punch, which quite makes it a good belly zard counter since it’s one of the few pokemons in the game (that aren’t uber) that can survive a +6 move from a full set up belly zard (meaning it got it’s blaze boost and salac boost), even salamence and gyarados are koed by fire punch, even after factoring intimidate. Hariama can also somewhat survive a fire punch thanks to thick fat, and he will easily survive an earth quake. Now if you decide to use the double edge belly zard set then the recoil from double edge kills you but also kills hariama, now the recoil from double edge will kill you because the recoil damage is calculated depending on how much higher the hp stat of the opponent is than yours (if it’s less than yours then you’ll take pitiful recoil damage).

And hariama happens to have one of the highest hp stats to date, hence charizard and hariama will both get koed if charizard uses double edge. It should be noted that some belly zards are starting to carry fly, since with fly you can ko every single poke in the game, but if you miss then it will end your sweep. Now as for the choice specs set, it should basically be countered by prediction, since even blissey, the might special wall, gets 2hkoed by a specs boosted focus blast, unless ofcourse it carries abysmal hp and special defense evs.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Well the choice specs set is only countered by prediction and some good luck, so you basically have to outpredict your opponent. The belly zard set can also run fly if it wants to kill suicune or hariama, but sadly if it misses fly then its sweep will be over, and that is something you’d obviously don’t want to happen.

Charizard Is Most Used On: Charizard usually has a team centered around it, basically all members of the team have to support charizard and aid it at sweeping the opposition with its belly drum set. Be careful about how you build the team, though, since you have to have a rapid spinner, and a roarer to reveal some pokes of your opponent’s team, since once revealed you can know if they usually carry priority moves and if they do then you need to take out said pokes for allowing your zard to sweep with out any priority user stopping your belly zard sweep. Not only that but you might need some paralysis support to further aid your sweep, like some pokemons that can use thunder wave effectively but aren’t expected to have it on their sets.

Cressilia:

Most Used Cressilia Set: The rest talk set is now officially yesterday’s news. These days cressilia are attempting to sweep with the substitude and calm mind set, yes this might seem unethical but it really isn’t. Cressilia can actually sweep, and you should never underestimate it just by looking at its special attacking stat, because after a few calm minds it will be what you call, “unstoppable”, not only that but 101 hp subs become really helpful to this beast, for blocking status, beating blissey 1 v 1 etc.

Usual Counters: Rest talk cress, if ever used, will be utterly walled by tyranytar and weavile to some extent. Sub cm cress is countered by phazers and fast physical sweepers that don’t take much damage from its attacks even after a cm whilst doing some respectable damage back.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The sub cm cress set has been created to sweep teams and to effectively shut down all of the usual counters to the rest talk set. Sub cm cressilia is not countered by neither tyranytar nor weavile, since after a calm mind hp fighting will 2hko every version of tyranytar while he fails to score a ohko on cress even with stab cb crunch, and weavile will basically do less damage to cressilia while she scores a ohko with calm mind hp fighting, or heck even without a calm mind, hp fighting will still ohko weavile.

Cressilia Is Most Used On: Rest talk cressilia will be usually found on stall teams, while sub cm cressilia will be either on offensive teams or standard over used ones.

Crobat:

Most Used Crobat Set: Crobat is almost always run as an anti-lead, and as such, it should carry a set which can effectively counter and shut down most popular leads in the current stage of the metagame. At this stage of the metagame, crobat will be run as a lead knowing the following moves, taunt, hypnosis, roost and finally u-turn. This set can achieve what it’s mean to do, which is to effectively counter almost all the top 10 leads, and it can also basically be one of the most effective anti-leads.

Usual Counters: Crobat needs 2 pokemons to counter it, since it’s a sleep inducer and basically all sleep inducers need 2 or more pokemons to effectively counter it. You basically have to sacrifice one pokemon to sleep and then bring in crobat’s counters, which include pokemons like, cressilia, dusknoir, blissey, skarmory etc…

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, you basically have to rely on your team mates to rid crobat of those annoying walls, or predict accordingly and hypnotise one of crobat’s counters on the switch in.

Crobat Is Most Used On: Crobat can basically be found on any team, even stall teams! Hence it will be hard to discover the type of the opponent’s team if you ever see a crobat lead. Crobat basically gives you the advantage in the beginning of the match, since it’s one of the best leads in the over used metagame.

Deoxys-E:

Most Used Deoxys-E set: If you see it as a lead then it’s obviously the dual screen set, but if you see it not being used as a lead, then you obviously know it’s the late game sweeper set running, ice beam, thunder bolt, phsychic/shadow ball and superpower. Now running into a cosmic wall deoxys is rare and near impossible, but if you ever see one of those, then be very cautious to not let it set up and don’t underestimate it. You basically have to quickly bring in your counter to cosmic wall deoxys before it gets enough cosmic powers to not take more than 40% damage from your counters moves.

Usual Counters: For the dual screen set, nothing can stop it form setting up stealth rocks or even some screens. If you lead with tyranytar then you can stop it from setting up screens but it is near impossible to stop it from setting up stealth rocks. Well maybe a scarf skymin can stop it from setting up anything by relying on flinch hax to make it not do anything on the first turn and then killing it with another air slash on the second turn, but relying on luck isn’t usually good.

Now as for the late game sweeper set, then cressilia, spiritomb and basically every steel type that can stand some special hits (registeel, metagross, jirashi, bronzong etc) can counter it. The cosmic wall set can be countered by a scarf timid gengar, choice band weavile or tyranytar, and basically any special or physical attacker that has an attack or special attack stat of over 400 or 500 (choice items or life orb might be used to reach such high numbers, or even stat boosts).

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It can’t do anything to spiritomb, cressilia and the steels, no matter what it uses, even if it used fire punch or hp fire then it’s still eaten alive by steels, even with shadow ball it still gets walled badly by cressilia, and spiritomb has no weaknesses so it’s better as a counter.

Deoxys-e Is Most Used On: Offensive teams for the late game sweeper set. Bp teams for the dual screen set or basically any team looking for some good supporter. While the cosmic power set is used with stall teams, since the cosmic wall set really likes toxic spikes that a lot of pokemons on stall teams can set up. So it can basically be used on any team, depending on its set, of course, so just find out its set and you’ll probably find out what kind of team your opponent is using.

Dragonite:

Most Used Dragonite Set: You will probably never see dragon dance outrage dragonite’s since it’s somewhat outclassed by dragon dance outrage salamence. But now, a new set has been created for dragonite to distinguish it from salamence. Dragonite now is being used as a wall breaker instead of a dragon dancer since now salamence completely outclasses it at stat up sweeping. But dragonite still has some toys of it’s own to distinguish it from salamence, hence the creation of the wall breaker set. The wall break set usually runs draco meteor, ice beam, thunder bolt and superpower whilst holding the life orb item; this set gets near excellent coverage making it one of the best wall breakers in the game.

Usual Counters: The wall breaker set should be countered by good prediction. Really if it can basically kill every wall, then what’s left countering it? Sweepers? No, sweepers can never counter anything since all of them are frail, hence you should predict what move dragonite will use and switch accordingly. For example you could switch to salamence as you predict dragonite will use super power.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Dragonite really doesn’t have a true counter since it’s a wall breaker. Basically wall breakers can defeat all walls with their high powered attacks and high attack stats, and if they can defeat every wall, then nothing is left to counter them, since sweepers are so frail and will not stand a hit from such high attacking pokemons even if they resist the move! So basically what I’m trying to say is, every wall breaker doesn’t have a true counter and you have to therefore rely on prediction to beat it.

Dragonite Is Most Used On: Stall teams looking for a wall breaker or heck some offensive teams need a good wall breaker; dragonite is basically one of those pokemons that don’t reveal anything about the type of team the user of dragonite is using. .

Dugtrio:

Most Used Duggy Set: The choice band set is mostly used because of dugtrio’s mediocre attack stat. I mean dugtrio has a perfect ability which aids it at revenge killing, a speed stat which makes him extremely fast further aiding him at revenge killing, but the problem is, without choice band, his attack stat is mediocre and won’t hurt a lot of pokemons, hence why choice band should be used over any other item. (Note that life orb can be used but it’s not preferable over choice band)

Usual Counters: You can’t switch out if dugtrio has the “arena trap” ability so I guess it doesn’t have counters, a counter has to be able to Switch in safely and not take much damage from the pokemon it’s countering and also do some respectable damage back at said pokemon, and since you can’t switch then dugtrio does not have any counters. Because of dugtrio’s amazing stat distribution and ability, it will be rare if he doesn’t get a kill per game. But weavile can make an interesting revenge killer since if duggy decides to switch then he dies to pursuit and if he doesn’t then he dies to ice shard or ice punch, hence bringing mind games and prediction into the battle.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Again, it has no counters since nothing can switch out, meaning nothing can be used to counter its counters since it doesn’t have any!

Dugtrio Is Most Used On: Offensive teams looking for a good revenge killer that can aid some sweepers by revenge killing one of their counters hence aiding in setting up a possible sweep!

Dusknoir:

Most Used Dusknoir Set: The pain split set is the most used, using wow and 2 filler moves as well, dusknoir is obviously meant to be a tank on both sides on the spectrum since its defenses are very high although its hp makes the spectacular defenses average.

Usual Counters: Pursuit users will suck dusknoir into his own black hole, ttar is a fine example and so is weavile, although they should be careful of wow. Guts choice band Heracross will obviously enjoy switching into wow and hit back with a night slash which will do a lot of damage to dusknoir to a dusknoir, but Heracross should be weary of fire punch. Gyara can also come in and taunt although it won’t enjoy thunder punch coming from dusknoir’s respectable attack stat, also dragons serve the same purpose although, yet again, an elemental punch will make them be more careful of switching in, in this case it’s ice punch.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: A choice band set carrying all the elemental punches plus some ghost type move (shadow sneak, shadow punch etc) will really surprise some common dusknoir switch ins and this set almost insures a kill on all the counters for the “wall” dusknoir set.

Dusknoir Is Most Used On: Stall teams sometimes use it for anti-spinning purposes and some standard over used teams use it because it makes such an excellent wall.

Electivire:

Most Used Electivire Set: A set which uses ice punch, thunder punch, earth quake and cross chop is the most used set on electivire. This set basically has excellent type coverage since it hits 13 types for super effective damage. Although, sadly, some physical walls like celebi, hippowdon etc, aren’t even 2hkoed by a super effective move on them (in this case ice punch) and that is kind of a let down, but this is not going to make electivire less good, since it’s speed stat is decent and can become excellent if electivire switches into an electric attack, while it’s attack stat is very high and should not be underestimated.

Usual Counters: Electivire can’t touch celebi, hippowdon or donphan, etc since they aren’t even 2hkoed by ice punch. Fortress can also do decently against electivire.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The life orb mix set can actually 2hko all of the above listed counters with lo hp ice, and flame thrower. It still gets near excellent coverage and you shouldn’t underestimate electivire if it’s running this set, since it has a respectable special attack stat that is nothing to laugh about.

Electivire Is Most Used On: Usually if you see a gyarados lead, then you should be careful of using electric moves on said gyara since electivire might freely switch in receiving a speed boost from the electric move you were about to use on gyara.

Empoleon:

Most Used Empoleon Set: The supporter set running, stealth rock, yawn / grass knot, surf and ice beam. Basically it’s used to set up stealth rocks and then wall many pokemons with its amazing typing and defense stats.

Usual Counters: All special walls are decent counters for empoleon, especially for the supporter set, cressilia, regice, snorlax, blissey etc all make good counters for the supporter set. Electivire can also switch in with its reasonable special defense stat and threaten to score a ko on empoleon. Lanturn can also counter every single set, including the supporter set.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: All the above listed special walls are 2hkoed by a petaya boosted, torrent boosted hydro pump. Also electivire is now outsped thanks to agility fixing empoleon’s speed and ohkoed by hydro pump. Lanturn, sadly still is one of empoleon’s best counters, since even after a petaya boost it will still take little damage from grass knot. So basically, the agility sub petaya set is great if you want to counter empoleon’s usual counters.

Empoleon Is Most Used On: Usually found on some types of stall teams, but you won’t find it much on stall teams. It can also have a team centered around it if it’s using the late game sweeper set, or said late game sweeper set can also be used on offensive teams.

Entei:

Most Used Entei Set: Don’t get over existed at its very high attack stat and reasonable speed stat. You will get disappointed by how little it can accomplish as a physical sweeper, since it doesn’t get any notable physical moves and all its physical moves are basically very low powered. This is why the calm mind set has been created; the calm mind set has a chance of pulling a sweep and can beat a lot of the physical attacker’s counters.

Usual Counters: You should be careful of switching a counter to the physical set, like bulky waters or heatran for example. The calm mind set can beat all of the physical set counters, so be wary of switching counters for the physical set since you might end up facing a calm minder.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The calm mind set, as mentioned above, can actually counter all the counters for the physical set. It basically lures the opponents into thinking it’s running the physical sweeper set thus making them bring their bulky waters or heatrans, and then it starts calm minding until it has enough calm minds to take little damage from surf and ohkoing said bulky water with a boosted hidden power electric.

Entei Is Most Used On: Usually found on offensive teams or standard over used ones.

Espeon:

Most Used Espeon Set: The cm bp set is the most used set. You also might see some scarf espeons once in a while. Espeon serves as a good baton passer for calm minds, which is why you should even consider using it.

Usual Counters: Weavile and tyranytar can switch in easily and basically kill it with pursuit. Although, they should be careful of something like scarf hidden power fighting, or even worse, specs!

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, a scarf set might prove surprising for ttar, weavile and many of its “counters”, although its movepool is nothing spectacular so don’t consider it to do much anyway.

Espeon Is Used On: Bp chain teams, or heck some teams based on all the Eeveelutions. It might also be found on any normal ou team if it’s running a scarf or specs set, but you probably won’t see much of that since there are a lot of pokemons that can do the job better than the little pink cat.

Exeggutor:

Most Used Exeggutor Set: Exeggutor is used mostly on uber sunny day teams, since out of sunny day it doesn’t really work, and it can prove to be an effective sunny day sweeper. Under sunny weather conditions it outspeeds almost everything and it will have a very high special attack stat, plus it hits other pokemons with a stab 120 bp move that doesn’t have any bad side effects; basically under sunny day it makes an excellent special sweeper hence why it should be considered when creating a sunny day team.

Usual Counters: Heatran and various other fire types can be a pain for exeggutor. Also they enjoy the presence of sunny day since it boosts their fire moves. Blissey might give exeggutor some problems if he doesn’t carry sleep powder or explosion.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Exeggutor usually runs sleep powder so that blissey falls into a deep sleep while he 4hkoes with solar beam or switches to some stat upper.

Exeggutor Is Used On: Sunny day teams, obviously, since if it’s not being used on a sunny day team, then it will obviously be dead weight.

Feraligatr:

Most Used Feraligatr Set: A dragon dance set is the most common. Feraligatr has a very high attack stat and a reasonable speed stat, making him an excellent choice if you’re looking for a physical sweeper.

Usual Counters: Celebi gives feraligatr trouble. Even if gator happens to have ice punch and life orb, it will still loose to celebi thanks to celebi being able to ohko feraligatr with a stab super effective grass knot. Tangagrowth works in the same fashion as celebi. If feraligatr doesn’t carry life orb, then a defensive zapdos can switch in easily and threaten to ohko with a stab thunder bolt.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Feraligatr could run life orb, ice beam and rock slide to take care of both tangagrowth and zapdos. Now you obviously can’t do anything to celebi, unless you decide to invest a lot of special defense evs; enough to survive a grass knot from said celebi.

Feraligatr Is Most Used On: Any offensive team looking for a semi decent sweeper.

Floatzel:

Most Used Floatzel Sets: Obviously floatzel should be used on rain teams to perform to its fullest. Although if you’re not using a floatzel on a rain team, then a bulk up baton passing floatzel can prove to be effective at passing some bulk ups to a physical sweeper.

Usual Counters: Tangagrowth, gyarados, Lapras, vaporeon, cressilia, starmie and more.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It can run ice beam and some special attack evs to be able to ohko tangagrowth, it can also run special defense evs so it can take 2 charge beams from cressilia (factoring charge beam’s special attack boost), and you can even consider running brick break for Lapras.

Floatzel Is Most Used On: Rain teams for obvious reasons. You also might find baton pass + bulk up floatzel on some baton passing teams.

Flygon:

Most Used Flyong Set: You will obviously see a lot of choice band and choise scarf flygons. Choice scarf and choice band sets usually run the following moves; outrage, earth quake, u turn and fire blast.

Usual Counters: Skarmory, brozong and many other steel types that can soak up an outrage can be called “counters”. Although a predicted fire blast might nail said “counters”. Cressilia also serves as an excellent counter, although it won’t enjoy taking choice band boosted outrages.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Fire blast can be used to rid you of skarmory, fortress, bronzong and many other steel types. Also you can use choice band to score a lot of damage on cressilia and dusknoir.

Flygon Is Most Used On: A normal ou team or an offensive one, it can also work as a stall breaker, since it’s immune to spikes, toxic spikes and takes only 6% from stealth rocks, and is immune to ss, which makes it a decent counter to stall.

Fortress:

Most Used Fortress Sets: Fortress should run the following moves; rapid spin, stealth rocks, spikes / toxic spikes and finally either gyro ball or explosion. Usually what entry hazards are chosen are based on what can your team cover. For example, your team has a skarmory and a fortress, you will obviously not be in need of spikes on fortress because skarmory can cover them; this is just to show you how entry hazards should be chosen when using fortress.

Usual Counters: Fire types like heatran and infernape will obviously give fortress problems, but they should watch out for earth quake when switching in. A heat rotom, or any other rotom form for that matter, can block fortresses rapid spinning whilst koing with over heat (if it’s heat rotom) or 2hkoing with thunder bolt (if it’s any other form). Magnezone can also trap and kill fortress, but it should be wary of earth quake as well.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really; you can obviously run earth quake so you can ruin magnezone and fire type switch ins.

Forry Is Most Used On: Usually found on stall teams for its ability to set up a lot of entry hazards and spin other pokemons entry hazards.

i am cool
09-23-2008, 04:09 AM
Gallade:

Most Used Gallade Sets: Once you see a gallade leading, then you obviously know that it’s an anti-lead gallade, holding lum berry, and using shadow sneak, close combat, stone edge and sword dance. This set can beat a lot of common leads like gengar, ninjask, bronzong, azelf etc… So if you start of with one of these popular leads and face a gallade lead, then you should directly switch to a counter before it can do anything notable.

Usual Counters: Cressilia, dusknoir, bronzong, skarmory and a lot more of physical walls can work. Although, they should watch out for choice band gallade since it can defeat a lot of these “counters” with some prediction.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Choice band boosted close combats can ohko skarmory, bronzong, fortress etc, and choice band boosted night slash scores a 2hko on dusknoir with rocks down, and a 3hko on cressilia (but if you get lucky with a crit then cressilia is toast), so you basically should be careful if gallade is using the choice band set.

Gallade Is Most Used On: Either offensive teams or some standard ou ones looking for a though anti-lead.

Gardevioir:

Most Used Gardevoir Sets: Usually if gardevoir is being used as a lead, then it’s obviously using the choice scarf set. Gardevioir can serve as an excellent counter to gyarados and salamence (sort of). If it’s not being used as a lead, then it’s most likely going to use a support set running thunder wave, wow, psychic and thunder bolt.

Usual Counters: Like any psychics type it obviously doesn’t enjoy pursuiters, especially the likes of ttar and weavile, although these 2 will not enjoy switching into wow, and weavile won’t enjoy switching into thunder wave. Also you should be careful of switching weavile and ttar on focus blast, since a predicted one will nail weavile and ttar switch ins.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The scarf set with the aid of some prediction can defeat a lot of gardeviors common switch ins to the support set. The scarf set can cause some havoc since weavile suddenly can’t outspeed and the issue of speed is forgotten so you can focus on sp.atk, which you should invest enough in to be able to ko ttar with a focus blast.

Gardevoir Is Most Used On: If your team is in need of a supporter then look no further, gardevoir gets, wish, thunder wave, wow, toxic, hypnosis and a lot more for her support movepool options, not only that but it’s somewhat bulky since it’s base sp.def is moderately high. Also it can be used as an effective special attack sweeper since it has a lot of options to go with and has respectable offensive stats, and the speed is further aided by a choice scarf which helps her focus more on other investments. So basically, it will be either found on stall or offensive teams.

Gengar:

Most Used Gengar Set: Gengar usually runs hypnosis, shadow ball, focus blast and some filler move like thunder bolt. You also might encounter some scarf gars. If you ever see a gengar lead, be cautious, as it might have focus sash, destiny bond, hypnosis, shadow ball and focus blast; this set cripples 1 poke, kills one, and dents the other. So basically be cautious if you ever see a gengar lead since it might be using this set which might net it a few surprise kills.

Usual Counters: Blissey serves as an excellent counter to gengar. A bulky jirashi can also take 4 shadow balls from gengar and ohko back with either phsychic or 2hko with zen hed butt. Spiritomb, tyranytar, weavile, heracross, metagross and many other pursuiters will switch in with relitave ease, although, ttar, weavile and metagross fear focus blast and wow.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: With wow gengar can cripple 3/5 of the popular puruisters. Sub punch gengar can defeat 3/5 of said pursuiters and also beat blissey. Specs gengar with some prediction can 2hko and ohko every popular pursuiter and even 2hko blissey!

Gengar Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, some stall ones if you decide to go with the perish trapper, but mismagius is a better perish trapper than gengar.

Glaceon:

Most Used Glaceon Set: A choice specs set is truly devastating, hence why it’s extremely used. Since it’s high special attack and good defenses mean that it can actually hurt something while maintaining bulk.

Usual Counters: Heatran can easily switch in on shadow ball, ice beam and basically any of glaceon’s move, barring hp ground or hp fighting, of course. Infernape can do the same but is frail meaning it won’t enjoy taking repeated hits from specs ice beam. Bulky waters such as suicune can also be a pain for glaceon. A bulky ttar can take more than 3 specs ice beams and kill glaceon with pursuit if it decides to switch or kill it with stone edge if it doesn’t.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Really, glaceon’s movepool is nothing spectacular; its options are really limited so nothing “unpredictable” can be used to deal with some counters. Although, you can use hp fighting or hp ground on the specs set to deal with some counters. Hp ground can be used if you’re scared of heatran and infernape, while hp fighting can also be used to still hurt heatran whilst scoring a ohko on both ttar and weavile.

Glaceon Is Most Used On: Hail teams since with hail its blizzard becomes 100% accurate which is really a huge plus.


Gliscor:

Most Used Gliscor Set: Gliscor is usually used as a physical wall, and as such, it should have the following set; roost, stealth rock /knock off, ice fang and earth quake. This set can pretty much wall a lot of physical sweepers, the most notable being Heracross. Also gliscor serves as a decent stealth rocks set upper, and it also has access to a very nice health restoring move which further aids it at recovering the damage dealt from the physical sweeper it’s walling.

Usual Counters: Gyara just loves switching in gliscor, since it’s unaffected by earth quake, takes about 12% from ice fang (factoring intimidate), and basically sets up dragon dance making gliscor set up fodder for it. Also, basically any special attacker with access to an ice move can be called a “counter” to gliscor, although, physical ice users might not ohko gliscor with a physical ice move!

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Sword dance gliscor can ohko gyarados if rocks are up with a +1 (factoring intimidate) stone edge. Also any special ice type user won’t enjoy switching into a predicted stone edge.

Gliscor Is Most Used On: Stall teams who are looking for a good stealth rocks set upper.

Gyarados:

Most Used Gyara Set: Life orb dragon dance gyarados is used for its amazing ability at physical sweeping. It usually runs the following set; dragon dance, aqua tail, stone edge/earth quake and bounce. Basically with these moves many of its so called “counters” are now ohkoed.

Usual Counters: Celebi, vaporeon, starmie, suicune etc. Basically any bulky water can switch in with relative ease on gyarados.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Life orb gyarados can almost beat all of its counters. Bounce might seem like a joke, but it really isn’t. After a dragon dance boost, a life orb bounce will ohko celebi with stealth rocks down. Earth quake, stone edge or even bounce can also score an ohko on starmie if rocks are up and if gyara got a dragon dance boost. Vaporeon also takes 70% from a dd lo bounce, same goes to suicune.

Gyarados Is Most Used On: It should be used on offensive teams, but if you ever see a gyarados leading, then you should be careful of using an electric attack since electivire might switch in gaining a free speed boost.

Hariama:

Most Used Hariama Set: Harima makes a great counter to a lot of over used pokemons, but sadly it can’t keep countering them if it doesn’t have a reliable recovery move, hence the presence of the rest talk set.

Usual Counters: Any flying type usually won’t have any problems switching into hariama. Gyarados can set up on hariama if it lacks thunder punch, same goes to salamence if it lacks ice punch.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: With choice band, hariama can take care of gyarados and salamence with choice band boosted thunder punch and ice punch, respectively. Also, a choice band boosted close combat will either 2hko or 3hko those frail psychics that try to switch in on hariama.

Hariama Is Used On: Standard ou ones or even some offensive ones for the choice band set.

Heatran:

Most Used Heatran Sets: Scarf heatran is probably the most used. You also might encounter some sub toxic heatrans.

Usual Counters: Bulky waters, blissey etc. Usually prediction is the key to beat a scarf Tran. If you predict it’s going to use earth power then switch to a bug/fighting/grass type pokemon, now if it uses explosion then switch to a ghost/rock/steel type, if it used hp ice then switch to fire/ice/steel/water type, and finally if it uses fire blast then switch to a fire/water/dragon/dark type pokemon. Just to tell you that every choice user has to be countered by prediction and heatran isn’t an exception.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Explosion deals with blissey, hp electric can be used for those bulky waters, since with stealth rocks up, it’s a 2hko on almost every bulky water, and most of them don’t really carry recovery.

Heatran Is Most Used On: Scarf tran is used on offensive teams or standard over used ones. Rest talk and sub toxic tran are obviously found on some variants of stall teams.

Heracross:

Most Used Hera Set: Choice band heracross is obviously most used because it can basically ohko or 2hko near everything.

Usual Counters: Gliscor, since it’s resistant to its 2 stab attacks, and takes neutral damage from stone edge. Also, like any choice user, prediction is they key to beating it.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: If hera runs the rare flame orb set, after a sd, a triple attack facade will score an ohko on gliscor, but you should be careful of all the residual damage coming from burn, stealth rocks, sand storm etc.

Heracross Is Most Used On: Offensive teams are where it resides, obviously, since it’s one of the most powerful hard hitters in the game, also, it makes a decent revenge killer with scarf and what not, and its unique typing allows it to have beautiful resistances making it able to have an easier time switching in.

Hippowdon:

Most Used Hippowdon Set: A set running slack off, stealth rock, ice fang and earth quake is the optimal set of choice for a leading hippowdon.

Usual Counters: Like gliscor, hippowdon does not enjoy bulky waters switching into its attacks. Usually anything with a high special attack stat and a super effective special move on hippowdon can be called a “counter”.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You could try a choice band set, but odds are it won’t be very effective.

Hippowdon Is Most Used On: Stall or sand storm teams.

Honckrow:

Most Used Honckrow Sets: Mix honckrow for its capability at defeating a lot of its counters whilst still maintaining the surprise factor.

Usual Counters: Bronzong, skarmory and heatran make excellent counters for mix honckrow. Although, the former 2 are both 2hkoed and ohkoed by heat wave, respectively, and heatran will die if it switches on lo boosted super power, hence bringing mind games and prediction into the battle. So basically, to counter mix honckrow, you have to predict what move it will use and switch to the appropriate counter.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Now that honckrow gains access to heat wave, it no longer has to use hidden power fire meaning it can now use hidden power electric so it can deal with gyarados. Honckrow also gets super power in platinium with further aids it at countering its counters. Now honckrow can basically beat a lot of its counters with its new moves gained via platinium.

Honckrow Is Most Used On: Obviously offensive or standard over used teams.

Houndoom:

Most Used Houndoom Sets: Houndoom usually runs Nasty plot, flame thrower, dark pulse and substitude, whilst using salac berry as its item.

Usual Counters: Heatran and several bulky waters can be called “counters” to houndoom.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Houndoom can invest enough evs into hp and sp.def to be able to survive some bulky waters surfs thus getting 4 nasty plot boosts (one on the switch, and another when he survives the surf) and then ohko them with a +4 boosted nasty plot. .

Houndoom Is Most Used On: Offensive teams and some standard over used ones.

Infernape:

Most Used Infernape Set: Mix ape is one of the most effective sets to run on infernape and the most used set on infernape since it can basically hurt every pokemon with it’s strong high powered attacks.

Usual Counters: Vaporeon, starmie, gyarados, tentacruel and basically any bulky water can counter mix ape. Dragons like flygon, dragonite and salamence can also counter mix ape if he doesn’t run hp ice.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Infernape can run a choice band set. With choice band boosting its attack stat, thunder punch can now score an ohko on tentacruel, gyarados (even with intimidate!) vaporeon, starmie and basically every “bulky” water that can supposedly counter the mix ape set.

Infernape Is Most Used On: Infernape is usually found on offensive teams because it’s one of the best hard hitters in the game. Also you occasionally might find some infernapes on standard over used teams.

Jirashi:

Most Used Jirashi Set: Substitude, calm mind, thunder bolt and psychic. Sub cm jirashi is now one of the most used jirashi sets because of its amazing sweeping potential.

Usual Counters: Swampert isn’t even 2hkoed by a +1 psychic while it can ohko with earth quake. Blissey with seismic toss and a lot of special defense evs can be called a “counter” as well.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You could run grass knot for swampert but really jirashi doesn’t need much help countering its counters.

Jirashi Is Most Used On: If jirashi is using the wish support set, then you know it’s being used on a stall team or a team in need of wish support. With this new knowledge, you now know that wish jirashi is being used on a team of frail sweepers that need recovery which wish jirashi provides.

Jolteon:

Most Used Jolteon Set: Jolteon is mostly used as a lead, and lead jolteon always carries sub, baton pass, thunder bolt and hp ice/ grass, since with these moves it basically can pass subs and petaya berry boosts with relative ease. You also might occasionally run into a specs jolteon.

Usual Counters: Almost every special wall can deal with jolteon, these include, snorlax, blissey, regice, cressilia etc. Also ground types with enough bulk to survive a hidden power can be called “counters” as well. Rhyperior can counter jolteon if it’s using hp ice, and if it’s using hp grass then flygon, salamence and dragonite can counter it.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, its sp.atk and move pool are nothing spectacular, and since it’s a special attacker that doesn’t have access to a strong fighting type move, then it won’t be overcoming blissey any time soon. .

Jolteon Is Most Used On: Like all the eeveeleoution’s, it is best used on bp chain teams, or a standard ou team looking for some speedy pokemon that is able to baton pass some boosts to some top tier special thread. Like specs Lucario, gengar etc.

Kingdra:

Most Used Kingdra Set: If kingdra is being used on a rain team, then it will use the following set; surf, ice beam, hp electric, rain dance/hydro pump (depends if it’s being used to set up rain or if it’s relying on its team mates to set up rain). But if it’s not being used on a rain team, then it will usually use something like, sub, dd, outrage, water fall.

Usual Counters: Counters for rain dance kingdra include; Empoleon, Milotic, Ludicolo, Suicune, and Celebi and basically every bulky water and extremely bulky grass type can counter kingdra. Also the usual special walls can effectively shut down kingdra, these pokemon include; regice, blissey and snorlax. As for the dragon dancer, then skarmory, scizor (an extremely bulky one might work) and empoleon can give it trouble.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It can run hp electric or hp grass for those bulky waters, and it can go mixed to win against the special walls. As for the dragon dancer, then you can run hydro pump to defeat scizor and skarmory, or either hp grass or hp electric for the rare empoleon.

Kingdra Is Most Used On: The rain dancer is used on rain based teams while the dragon dancer is used on offensive teams.

Lickilicky:

Most Used Lickilicky Sets: Lickilicky is usually used as a choice bander.

Usual Counters: Like every normal type, lickilicky will not enjoy the company of steel types like metagross, fortress, skarmory etc; since they basically resist all of his moves and won’t take much damage from the moves that they don’t resist. Tyranytar can also hurt you like hell with choice band boosted stone edge while the only move you have that can deal supper effective damage on it is earth quake. Ghosts like gengar and mismagius completely wall lickilicky since it doesn’t get any moves to hurt them.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Steel types can be beat down by choice band boosted fire punches or earth quakes (depending on what steel type is being used as a lickilicky counter), Tyranytar can also be beat down by earth quake. But as for ghost types, then they will really give you trouble and you should basically carry a pursuiter on your team if you’re using lickilicky since lickilicky doesn’t get any moves to hurt ghost types; heck it can’t even touch them.

Lickilicky Is Most Used On: Lickilicky can usually be found on a regular ou team, or even some offensive ones, since it does a pretty decent job at being a decent offensive threat.

Lucario:

Most Used Lucario Set: life orb sword dance lucario usually runs the following moves, sword dance, close combat, extreme speed and bullet punch/ice punch/crunch. You also might occasionally find some specs luke.

Usual Counters: Everything depends on physical lukes last move. If you choose to run bullet punch, then hippowdon, cressilia, gliscor and celebi serve as counters. If you decide to run crunch, then gliscor, hippowdon and an extremely bulky skarmory serve as counters. And finally, if you decide to run ice punch, then hippowdon, cressilia, missmagius and gengar serve as counters. So basically, it all depends on what you do not want to be walled by the most and how your team can handle the pokemons that wall you when using either, bullet punch, crunch or ice punch for the last slot.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: To perfectly counter luke, you have to know its last move. What you should do is switch to your lucario counter, and then switch it out to something that resists the move it “might” have to beat you counter, now see if lucario switches out (meaning it doesn’t have the move) or if it uses the move. (for example, you have a cressilia, you switch in as lucario uses sword dance, you think it has crunch, you switch out to something that resists crunch; now if it switches out then that means that it doesn’t have crunch, but if it uses crunch you can now bring in your gliscor, weezing etc knowing that it doesn’t have ice punch!)

Luke Is Most Used On: Offensive teams for obvious reasons.

Ludicolo:

Most Used Ludicolo Set: A set using leesh seed, surf, grass knot/protect and ice beam/substitude.

Usual Counters: Basically every “good” special wall like blissey, snorlax, regice etc can counter ludicolo, although, they will not like leesh seed. Tentacruel can also make an amazing counter since it resists all ludicolos moves and will turn leesh seed on you thanks to liquid ooze.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You could try investing some attack evs and use the life orb item so that you can beat those special walls with a rain boosted, stab boosted life orb boosted water fall.

Ludicolo Is Most Used On: Rain teams are the place where ludicolo resides, although it can perform semi-decent out of rain, but in rain, you’re basically letting it work to its full potential.

Machamp:

Most Used Machamp Set: Rest talk champ is overwhelming the meta game, usually machamp’s run no guard as their ability, since with no guard you will have a 100 bp(not factoring stab) move, which also has a 100% chance of confusion and can not miss, which is a great asset to machamp. You might encounter some scarfed guts machamps with close combat, though.

Usual Counters: Cressilia is one of machamps best counters, the best he can do is confuse her, and even with the help of “hax” machamp still can’t win. Ghost types can also come in on a dynamic punch and then 2hko machamp with their ghost stab attacks. Gliscor, weezing, hippowdon and many other physical walls can make excellent counters to machamp. But in the end, your opponents luck with confusion will win against your counters. Rotom-H can also serve as a decent counter.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Machamp can run ice punch for celebi, zapdos and gliscor. Rotom-H will not enjoy coming in on a payback which will 2hko him. Cressilia won’t enjoy pay back as well.

Machamp Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team that is In need of a bulky rest talker who can also hit hard. Choice band and scarf sets might also be found on offensive teams.

Magmortar:

Most Used Magmortar Set: Magmortar usually uses a scarf set, using hp ice, flame thrower, thunder bolt and focus blast as his 4 moves.

Usual Counters: Bulky waters can make good counters since they can basically switch on any move magmortar carries not named thunder bolt. Heatran also enjoys switching into a flame thrower grabbing that flash fire boost, but it should be careful of focus blast.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Magmortar runs thunder bolt and focus blast, for bulky waters and heatran, respectively.

Magmortar Is Most Used On: Any team that is in need of a good anti-lead. You also might find some magmortars on some variants of offensive teams.

Magnezone:

Most Used Magnezone Set: A set using the following moves; hp ice, thunderbolt, substitude and magnet rise. Also with timid and about 220 speed evs you can outspeed a few notable pokemons, like adamant ttar, adamant breloom, any skarmory etc.

Usual Counters: Infernape might have trouble switching in, but once it’s in then magnezone has to get out. Heatran can switch in with even more ease and threaten to ohko magnezone with a fire blast. Blissey can also switch in to any kind of magnezone that does not carry explosion. Electivire might grab that boost if it switches into thunder bolt and it can basically 2hko magnezone with cross chop while magnezone’s hidden power ice is a 5hko.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Magnezone could run hp ground for infernape, heatran and electivire. It can also run explosion to beat blissey.

Magnezone Is Most Used On: If you ever see magnezone, then you know that the team you’re facing is in desperate need of something that can “get rid” of steels; meaning that the team you’re facing probably has problems with steels and thus you should try to kill magnezone and then wall your opponents team with your steel type pokemons.

Mamoswine:

Most Used Mamoswine Set: Choice band mamoswine is the most used set on mamoswine. Cb mamo runs the following moves; ice shard, earth quake, stone edge and ice fang.

Usual Counters: Bronzong and skarmory make excellent counters, since they’re immune to earth quake (if bronzong has levitate as his ability), and one of them (bronzong) is resistant to both ice fang/ice shard and stone edge, while skarmory has the defences to take them with ease and roost the damage later.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: With hp fire and life orb, mamoswine can 2hko both bronzong and skarmory, but that is probably some what “gimmicky”.

Mamoswine Is Most Used On: Hail teams, and offensive teams, also, mamoswine has unique typing, since it is immune to sand storm and hail, which aids it survive on these teams, so that basically means it can even work on some ss teams! Basically it’s used because it’s an excellent revenge killer.

Marowack:

Most Used Marowack Set: Sd marowack runs the following moves; sword dance, earth quake, fire punch, and double edge. After a sd, marowack has an attack stat of over 1000 making it pretty terrifying, but it’s sadly let down by its awful speed stat.

Usual Counters: Nothing really, since after a sd its attack stat will be in the 1000’s, meaning nothing could switch in safely because all ou pokemons get ohkoed or 2hkoed by its moves coming from that high attack stat. Just rely on outspeeding it because of its terrible speed stat.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Just watch out from getting revenge killed and you’ll be fine.

Marwack Is Most Used On: Trick room teams or offensive ones for obvious reasons.

Medicham:

Most Used Medicham Set: A scarf medicham serves as a fast revenge killer, hence why it’s the most used set on medicham. Scarf medicham runs the following moves; ice punch, brick break/hi jump kick, thunder punch and psycho cut.

Usual Counters: The generation shift gave medicham the elemental punches, but at the cost of physical shadow ball. Now with the loss of physical shadow ball, cressilia and dusknoir can switch in with ease and take little damage from its attacks; bronzong and skarmory also might work. Medicham, being pretty much like any choice user, should be beat by predicting its moves and switching accordingly.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Fire punch can be used for bronzong, although it’s not very effective out of beating bronzong and is really wasting a move slot for medicham. As for cressilia and dusknoir, then just rely on one of your team mates (something like cb pursuit ttar or cb pursuit weavile) to kill it.

Medicham Is Most Used On: Any team that is in need of a revenge killer and a powerful hard hitter, so basically any standard ou team or offensive ones.

Mesprit:

Most Used Mesprit Set: Mesprit is usually run as a mixed wall, with the following moves; thunderbolt, ice beam, psychic and calm mind.

Usual Counters: Pursuiters are big threats for any psychic type, and mesprit isn’t an exception. Ttar, weavile and metagross really enjoy switching into mesprit, but once they’re in they have to play mind games (they have to choose between pursuit or directly attacking it predicting that it won’t switch).

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, just try to watch out for pursuiters and you’ll be fine.

Mesprit Is Most Used On: Stall or normal ou teams, mesprit really can counter a lot of top tier ou threats which is why it’s usage has been rising, not only that but it is pretty bulky and can sweep a team if given the opportunity, it also gets bolt beam which is as always, a great asset to a pokemon.

Metagross:

Most Used Metagross Set: Cb metagross is obviously the most used set, running the following moves; meteor mash, explosion, earth quake and ice punch/thunder punch. You also might find some anti-lead metagross using the following moves; meteor mash, bullet punch, stealth rock and earth quake/pursuit.

Usual Counters: If Metagross is locked into any attack besides Earthquake or Hammer Arm, then Magnezone will switch in, trap it with magnet pull and win the war (assuming Meta is using the cb set). Heatran can switch in with ease on any of metagrosse’s moves not named earth quake and then score a ohko with fire blast. Skarmory, gliscor, fortress, bronzong and basically and physical wall can switch in easily (skarm and glis must be careful of an elemental punch).

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, just predict well when using the cb set.

Metagross Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, obviously, since metagross can hit hard and is pretty bulky, plus his astounding typing allows him to have a lot of resistances, which further aid him in switching in and basically sweeping a team once given the opportunity.

Milotic:

Most Used Milotic Set: Milotic is usually a rest talker, with the following moves; ice beam, surf, rest and sleep talk. With rest talk milotic becomes an excellent mixed wall [since its marvel scare ability multiplies its defense stat by 1.5 if struck by a status condition (rest)] and also with the aid of rest talk it can basically wall a lot of top tier ou pokemons.

Usual Counters: Milotic doesn’t like electric types switching into it; raikou, electivire and jolteon should obviously be avoided at all costs. Grass types like celebi should be avoided as well.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Just rely on your team mates to beat bulky grass and electric types, since milotic really can’t hurt those pokemons much.

Milotic Is Most Used On: Stall teams or normal ou teams for obvious reasons.

Mismagius:

Most Used Mismagius Set: Mismagius is usually used as a sub cmer with the following moves; shadow ball, hp fighting, substitude and calm mind.

Usual Counters: Weavile, ttar, heracross, metagross and basically every pursuiter can cause problems to mismagius. It has 60 base Defense, so Physical attackers with decent Special Defense are the obvious route, but watch out for Will-O-Wisp.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Just watch out for physical attackers and you’ll be fine. You con also run wow for said physical attackers but hp fighting is preferred to beat blissey.

Missmagius Is Most Used On: Usually missy has a team built around it so it can have an easier time sweeping. You also might find it on some offensive teams or some standard ou ones.

Moltres:

Most Used Moltres Set: If you ever see moltres leading then you know it’s scarfed and uses the following moves; flame thrower/wow, over heat, u turn and air slash. You also might occasionally run into some sub, toxic, roost and flame thrower moltreses.

Usual Counters: Bulky waters such as suicune, vaporeon, milotic can wall scarf moltres with ease. But toxic stall moltres might give bulky waters that don’t carry rest (like vaporeon) some problems.

A Choiced Heatran is walled by Moltres, not the other way around. Heatrans most powerful move against moltres, being fire blast, only has 4 pp (thanks to moltres’s pressure ability) and only does 28% max damage to moltres (if heatran is scarfed) or 50% max damage (if heatran is specsed). While moltres can retaliate by throwing up a substitude and roosting until heatran runs out of pp for fire blast or whatever move it decided to use and is forced to struggle since it’s choiced.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The toxic stall set can prove to be annoying for heatran and has a chance of beating bulky waters that don’t carry rest (like vaporeon, gyarados etc)

Moltres Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, usually, or any standard ou team. You also might find some toxic stall moltreses on some stall teams.

Ninjask:

Most Used Ninjask Set: Obviously ninjask is meant to baton pass and nothing else, so basically it either uses focus sash, sd, protect, x scissor and baton pass, or leftovers, sub, sd, bp and x-scizor.

Usual Counters: Ninjask isn’t meant to even be an attacker; his sole purpose is to just set up a possible sweep, meaning that it won’t care what switches into it as long as it can pass some stat ups. But if ninjask happens to be the last pokemon then just switch in some physical wall like dusknoir, skarmory etc. or just rely on its extreme fragility to kill it.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It doesn’t even care what switches into it as long as it can pass a few stat ups.

Ninjask Is Most Used On: Either a bp chain team or a normal bp team that focuses on one bper and one receiver, usually every time you see it you should be cautious since it might set up a possible sweep and your team might be unprepared for such a sweep.

Pinsir:

Most Used Pinsir Set: Pinsir is usually a scarfed lead, using close combat, earth quake, stone edge, and x-scizor.

Usual Counters: Like Heracross, gliscor is no friends of pinsir, same goes to skarmory. Gyarados and salamence can also intimidate pinsir (if it doesn’t have hyper cutter as its ability) and then set up on it. Weezing can walk over pinsir any day (if it doesn’t have mold breaker as its ability).

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It won’t get past gliscor and skarmory any time soon. It can ohko gyarados and salamence with a predicted stone edge (assuming it has the hyper cutter ability) or ohko or 2hko (depends if it’s banded or scarfed) weezing with a predicted earth quake (if it has the mold breaker ability).

Pinsir Is Most Used On: Any offensive or standard ou team. Usually you should focus on what pinsir has over heracross and use what he has over heracross so you can avoid making your pinsir a weaker heracross.

Porygon2:

Most Used Porygon2 Set: Porygon2 can counter a lot of top tier ou threats with the following move set; thunder bolt, ice beam, recover and magic coat. Gyarados, salamence (physical mence), vaporeon, heatran, jolteon and many more top tier ou threats are countered by porygon2. This is all thanks to porygons2’s awesome ability being trace.

Usual Counters: Fighting types such as machamp, heracross, lucario etc. should be looked out for. Like any special attacker, blissey will give porygon2 some trouble, so will snorlax, regice and other special walls.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You could try running psychic for fighting types, but its type coverage is absolutely terrible and will only aid you in beating its fighting type counters. You could try beating blissey by using the charge beam recover set.

Porygon2 Is Most Used On: Once you see a porygon2 lead, you can draw 2 conclusions. Either the team you’re facing has terrible problems with salamence, gyarados, vaporeon and heatran, or that the team you’re facing is semi-stall. If the team you’re facing indeed has problems with salamence, gyarados, vaporeon and heatran, hence the use of porygon2 on it whom can counter all those, then you should try to dispose of porygon2 as soon as possible and then let either salamence, gyarados, vaporeon and heatran cause havoc on your opponents team after porygon2 is gone.

Porygon-Z:

Most Used Porygon-Z set: Scarf sets using tri attack, thunder bolt, ice beam and hp fighting. Scarf Porygon-Z can basically hit extremely hard with its 135 base special attack stat and outspeed a lot of pokemons with scarf.

Usual Counters: Blissey can counter porygon-z, although a max special attack life orb porygon-z can ohko 6 hp/252 sp.def blissey with a +2 hyper beam. Snorlax and regice work in the same fashion as blissey, but are somewhat less effective. Fighting types like machamp and lucario can make excellent revenge killers. Steel types like fortress, bronzong, heatran and metagross can also switch in on porygon-z with relative ease and pose a threat to set up entry hazards or ohko with a stab move.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Hp ground can be used to deal with both heatran and metagross, ohkoing and 2hkoing both, respectively. Blissey won’t enjoy lo, max special attack np porygon-z with hyper beam whom will ohko her, same goes to regice and snorlax.

Porygon-Z Is Most Used On: Offensive or standard ou teams. Porygon-z is an excellent special sweeper thanks to its high special attack stat and its high speed stat (if you’re using the scarf set), making it a staple choice on many offensive teams.

i am cool
09-23-2008, 04:10 AM
Porygon-Z:

Most Used Porygon-Z set: Scarf sets are the sets of use in today’s offensive geared metagame, porygon-z gets double stab with tri attack, which is a 160 bp move if you factor the double stab, not only that but it also has a 10% chance of either a freeze, burn or paralyze. Furthermore, bolt beam has excellent coverage and, bolt beam+tri attack is walled by megnezone and sehdninja, the former will be easily dealt with by hp fighting, while you will almost never see the former.

Usual Counters: Steel types are porygon-z’s and almost every normal types enemy’s, good switch ins are obviously heatran and metagross, since these 2 can also ko porygon z with their high powered moves, bronzong also makes a somewhat decent switch in, although, obviously, Lucario and skarmory are the only exceptions to the rule “porygon-z Is walled by every steel type”, since a predicted thunder bolt can ohko and 2hko these 2, respectively.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Hp ground can be used to deal with both heatran and metagross, ohkoing and 2hkoing both of them, respectively, furthermore, a specs set can be used for a decent 3hko on metagross and heatran, making the 2 one time counters, but otherwise just stick with the moves listed, since you probably would nerf porygon-z’s effectiveness if you use other moves than the ones mentioned.

Porygon-Z Is Most Used On: Offensive or standard ou teams, porygon-z is a really underrated sp.atk sweeper, and you shouldn’t underestimate the cipher duck, if you got a magnezone, and if you effectively weakened your opponents heatran, then a scarfed porygon-z obviously has a big chance at sweeping a team like no other.

Raikou:

Most Used Raikou Set: Sub cm and bolt beam are the moves used on the most popular set, obviously bolt beam is only resisted by 3 pokes, 2 of which you probably will never see in standard competitive battling, but one is one of the most popular in ou so it’s a little tradeoff, furthermore, raikou makes an excellent sweeper, since with it’s high speed and sp.atk, it can basically outspeed and ko everything after a few cms.

Usual Counters: You basically have to hit raikou hard before it gets a chance of effectively pulling off a sweep, bulky ground types serve as decent counters, especially ones that can survive hp ice even after a boost (solid rock rhyperior in ss and many more), swampert also serves as a fine example, although it should be careful of hp grass, but if it happens to run hp grass, then dragonite and salamence make decent counters, so basically, raikou can kill a counter if it decides to switch the type of hp, but if it does so, then it gets a new counter, just like Lucario and It’s last move option(it has to choose between crunch, bullet punch or ice punch, and once it chooses one it gets a new counter).

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Nothing really, if you decide to switch from hp ice to hp grass, or vice versa, then you gain new counters, and since you can’t have 2 types of hp at the same time, and even if you did you won’t have the moveslot for it, then yeah….

Raikou Is Most Used On: Offensive or standard ou teams, there also has currently been a rise of teams centered around raikou to perform a sweep, so be careful of that.

Ramparados:

Most Used Ramparados Set: Choice scarf and band ramparados are the sets of popularity and choice, band ramparados serves as an excellent disher of pain, same goes to scarf rampy, although, scarf might be more effective, since a 471 atk stat is nothing to laugh at, and a high powered stab attack is nothing to laugh at either, and the speed problem can further be fixed by choice scarf which makes rampy faster than a gengar! But I presume a band set can work if you’re looking for high power, plus the cb set has a whooping 700+ atk stat, which again, is not a walk in the park either.

Usual Counters: Such high powered moves and attacks are surely to not have a “true counter”, not only that, but weezing and bronzong who seem like they can wall it thanks to them taking neglect able damage from stone edge,/head smash, but sadly, ramparados also gets a very awesome ability, which makes it’s earth quakes being able to hit bronzong and weezing and gengar for a very nice and clean ohko, making them not really “true counters”.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It doesn’t even really have one “true counter” so there isn’t any need to run something for a specific counter, not only that, but if it did have a “true counter”, it can’t really use an offensive move to hit said “counter” hard enough since it doesn’t really have spectacular options as physical moves…

Ramparados Is Most Used On: Obviously such a powerful and hard hitting sweeper is used on offensive teams.

Regice:

Most Used Regice Set: Rest talk and bolt beam are the optimal moves on a good set, stab ice beam is always nice, and makes a decent option for a strong stab move, thunder bolt is basically for gyarados, who you can basically counter well, rest talk is so you can regain some hp, especially the hp lost from switching in from stealth rock, but you should usually pack a spinner when using regice instead of relying on rest to aid you.

Usual Counters: Anything with a strong se move can effectively counter regice, considering that there are many pokemons in ou that use moves that are super effective against regice, it shouldn’t that much of a problem if you ever face one.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It can’t really do anything to any of it’s counters, unless you decide to run specs hp ground, which has no real purpose and is all around stupid on something like regice, so basically just stick with the normal sets, because if you don’t, then you obviously will be only using a gimmick version of regice, which is not using regice to it’s full potential.

Regice Is Most Used On: Either hail teams or standard ou teams in need of a special wall, once you see a regice, you have to try to kill it, since it’s obviously the opponents special wall, so if you got a special sweeper in need of a sweep, you should obviously try to take down regice, since it’s role will probably be of utterly shutting down all special attackers.

Regigigas:

Most Used Regigigas Set: The “stall out regigigase’s ability until it ends” set is the set of use in today’s metagame, you basically make regigigas bulky enough to survive for 5 turns, which is enough to stall out it’s awful ability, but not even the great blissey can stick around for 5 turns, not alone regigigas, so basically it’s a stall set, and if you manage to get lucky enough for your regigigas to stay in for 5 full turns, then you might actually hurt something instead of stalling the heck out of your opponent.

Usual Counters: You should basically hit regigigas as hard as you can, especially before it’s ability runs out, but regigigas is somewhat bulky, so killing or hitting it “hard” won’t be exactly an easy task to accomplish, furthermore, if you’re looking for a specific counter, then, skarmory is one of the best, since not only does it take neglect able damage from regigigase’s moves, after and before slow start, but it also can roar it out to make the slow start ability “restart” (get it….).

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: To be honest, a specs set has more potential of working than a physical one, so if you use that, you shouldn’t have much problems with steel types like skarmory, bronzong, heatran, metagross etc.

Regigigas Is Most Used On: Stall teams, or mostly teams centered around it to let it get an effective sweep, it is also seen on standard ou teams, but not much to tell you the truth.

Regirock:

Most Used Regirock Set: A set running curse, stone edge, ice punch and a filler move, this has 400+ defenses under ss, and 350+ hp, making it take hits reasonably well, not only that but it can prove to be a somewhat decent late game sweeper, since curse boosts its attack and defense to further higher levels.

Usual Counters: Regirock, being a pure rock type, meaning it has a total of 5 weaknesses, which means, even with it’s super high defenses and hp, it will not enjoy the company of said types, bulky waters to be specific, since even with the boosted defenses, they can still 2hko with their powerful super effective stab attacks, furthermore, steel types aren’t something to play around with, grass types also obviously can hurt regirock.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: For grass types it can run ice punch to further aid it at the purpose of countering its counters, after a curse, stone edge can 2hko these bulky waters, and with a lot of sp.def investment, you can survive 2 surfs with ease(under ss of course), whilst earth quake can prove annoying for those steel type switch ins, also, fire punch can be used for skarmory and bronzong, especially skarmory since he can also roar out all those stat boosts.

Regirock Is Most Used On: Without ss, regirock basically fails, so obviously, ss teams are the place where it resides.

Registeel:

Most Used Registeel Set: The “tank” set is one of the most popular sets in today’s current metagame, registeel can basically counter tons of pokes, registeel’s attacking stats aren’t that bad either, so you can use that at your advantage, registeel also serves as one of the best shaymin-s counters in the game, since it has clear body to make it immune to the sp.def drops coming from seed flare, furthermore, a specs modest earth power fails to 2hko, while you can ice punch for the kill.

Usual Counters: Anything that has a fire, fighting or ground move, and is resistant to registeel’s attacks serves as a decent counter.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Earth quake can be used for fire types, like heatran and infernape, you can’t really do anything to fighting types but use a ghost on your team to aid you, you can run ice punch for ground types, but you won’t be hurting much since most ground types are bulky and won’t mind an ice punch from such an average attack stat compared to their astronomical hp and defense stats.

Registeel Is Most Used On: Any team that has a glaring shaymin-s weakness, shaymin-s can basically sweep numerous teams, and if you’re too worried about that, then why not use a registeel to further aid you.

Relicanth:

Most Used Relicanth Set: Cb relicanth is one of the most underrated sweepers, but you should never underestimate it like everyone does, since a cb 225 bp move(factoring stab) coming from a 306 atk stat will clearly do a lot of damage and “hurt”, also, there is no draw backs once using this move, since with rock head, you won’t be taking any recoil, so you only have to worry about head smashes pp and low accuracy.

Usual Counters: With the cb set, prediction is they key, since nothing can safely switch in without taking a huge chunck of damage from it’s hp stat, gliscor is 2hkoed by a cb head smash, so is skarmory, while cb water fall is a nice and solid 3hko on bronzong, which isn’t that bad, since bronzong can’t really do anything to relicanth.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It doesn’t even really have one sure fire counter, so there is no need to use a move to counter said “counter’.

Relicanth Is Most Used On: Any decent offensive team looking for a hard hitting sweeper which is also somewhat bulky, it’s a shame relicanth doesn’t have a really good typing, if only it got those amazing dual stab options but not that much weaknesses to common attacks.

Rhyperior:

Most Used Rhyperior Set: Rock polish rhyperior is something to watch out for, since after a rock polish, it will have 550+ atk, and 380+ speed, furthermore, it has high powered physical moves, stone edge, earth quake, mega horn are some examples, basically even the though physical walls can’t get past this, so be careful if you ever see one of those.

Usual Counters: Skarmory can come in, and roar out the rock polish speed boosts, but if it switches in a life orbed stone edge, then it will obviously loose since it’s 2hkoed by stone edge, same goes to bronzong but without the roaring part for sleep and the stone edge part for mega horn, so basically prediction is the key.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You should basically outpredict your opponent to let you win against the opponents counters to your rhyperior, you shouldn’t use a rhyperior if you don’t have any prediction skills, since prediction is the key to use such a monstrous pokemon.

Rhyperior Is Most Used On: Ss teams, obviously, since under ss, a bulky solid rock rhyperior, can take 2 surfs from a starmie, which makes rhyperior a super bulky pokemon with a high attack stat.

Roserade:

Most Used Roserade Set: Roserade is always, and I do mean always, a lead, using, sleep powder, toxic spikes, leef storm and hp ice/fire, this set is very effective, basically survive a hit from a faster pokemon, thanks to focus sash, and if it’s not faster, simply sleep it while you set up toxic spikes as it sleeps, and then after that is done, basically use leef storm to do heavy damage on any switch in.

Usual Counters: Any fire type usually counters roserade, thanks to being resistant to both hp fire/hp ice and leef storm, although, some frail fire types won’t enjoy being poisoned, for example, infernape won’t enjoy poison, since life orb, stealth rock, ss and poison will make it take more damage than it’s hitting for. Heatran also deserves a special mention, since it’s 4x resistant to leaf storm, and hp fire raises its fire attacks while hp ice, is yet again 4x resistant.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Hp ground will be ridiculous on roserade, it might let you beat some of its “counters” but outside of that it really doesn’t do anything other than the other hps, so you should stick with hp ice/hp fire if you want roserade to be effective.

Roserade Is Most Used On: Roserade is one of the best and popular leads in the game, it is usually used on somewhat offensive teams, since its purpose, is to set up toxic spikes, cripple a poke, and once that’s done, do some damage to weaken walls, so that a sweeper can have an easier time sweeping.

Salamence:

Most Used Salamence Set: Dd outrage mence is one of the most used ou pokes, cb mence also gets an honorable mention as one of the most used sets in today’s metagame, dd yachee outrage mence is almost counterless, not even the great cressilia can effectively counter it.

Usual Counters: The dd set is almost counterless, you can only rely on revenge killing it by super fast pokes, like deoxys-e, or some priority users like cb mamo or cb weavile’s ice shard, cressilia can also serve as a decent counter, it basically switches in as salamence dds, thunder waves while mence outrages, and then deals 78% damage with ice beam while mence kills It with a second outrage, or if you’re lucky, it gets fully paralyzed, but if mence runs a cb set, then it can 2hko with a predicted outrage, but you can easily switch in a steel type, making it a prediction war…

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Cb mence looks more appealing now, since it basically 2hkoed every single poke in the ou metagame.

Salamence Is Most Used On: Salamence can be used on any team, since it’s the most popular pokemon you will ever face.

Sceptile:

Most Used Sceptile Set: The leesh seed set is the set of use in today’s current metagame, basically you sub up, and start regaining a minimum of 18% health each turn, if you happen to come on a blissey, all the better, since you basically recover more hp than you’re loosing once you substitude.

Usual Counters: The leesh seed set can prove to be super annoying, not only that, but sceptile is fast and basically can leesh seed almost every time thanks to its high speed, so basically be careful of that, mostly you should hit it as hard as you can before it gets a chance of setting up leesh seed and substitude, fire types can do that, so can ice types, basically just try to bring in the types that sceptile is weak to and you should be fine.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You can’t really run anything to counter your counters, you just have to basically outpredict your opponent, which allows you to set up leesh seed and substitude, and after that is done, even its counters can’t stop the annoying leesh seed set, since it basically leesh seeds them, and then keeps subbing whilst only loosing 7% each turn, while at the end, they loose the pp for their high powered, low pp moves, eventually leading them to struggle.

Sceptile Is Most Used On: There is some sort of teams that are called “annoying” teams, which basically use annoyers such as scpetile, shuckle etc to make the opponent stuck into a boring stall fest, these sort of teams are like “stall” teams, but they’re a type of stall teams not like a full stall team which utilizes entry hazards, weather damage etc., instead relying on status effects such as toxic, leesh seed (if you count that as a status effects) etc…

Scizor:

Most Used Scizor Set: A set running, bullet punch, x-scissor, roost and sword dance and holding lo, is one of the most effective sets in the game, scizor basically after a sd, will 2hko a gliscor with a lo sd double stab bullet punch.

Usual Counters: Heatran basically is resistant to every scizor’s moves, except well brick break, but brick break is being used less and less, and is only a 2hko while heatran ohkoes and is obviously faster since it has higher base speed, furthermore, skarmory can effectively counter scizor, since it can whirlwind any stat boosts out, and doesn’t fear anything from scizor, although if scizor is the last pokemon on the team, meaning it can’t be phased out, then skarmory will have problems, since it basically can set up 3 sds, and 2hko skarmory with a +6 atk double stab lo nve bullet punch.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It can’t really do anything to heatran, unless you decide to run the most gimmick set of almost all pokes, which is a specs hp ground scizor, but that is so gimmicky that it sucks and will be useless and basically is always dead weight.

Scizor Is Most Used On: And offensive team, scizor is one of the most used pokes, thanks to double stab bullet punch, which will really hurt anything, not only that but it basically 2hkoes everything with a double stab, lo sd bullet punch, except ofcourse, heatran and skarmory.

Shaymin:

Most Used Shaymin Set: Shaymin is nothing like shaymin-s, it’s almost completely outclassed by shaymin-s, but since most sites (including tu) have shaymin-s as uber, then this could be a last ditch effort, basically, a specs set is the most used, running, air slash, seed flare, earth power and hp fire/hp ice.

Usual Counters: Shaymin is much more less devastating than shaymin-s, considering shaymin-s has no real counter aside from registeel, but shaymin has much more counters, including blissey, regice, registeel, and many more, basically all shaymin-se’s checks are counters to land shaymin.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really can’t do anything to shaymin-se’s “checks” which are its “counters”, unless you can use shaymin-s in the place where you’re playing in, then you have to use shaymin if you really want an effective sweeper or if you like “using” shaymin…

Shaymin Is Most Used On: Before platinium was introduced, shaymin was the most underrated sweeper of all, not only that but a lot of people had a lot of success with it, and people where thinking of moving it up to ou, but now, it’s new form is uber in some tier lists, shaymin is obviously used on offensive teams, same goes to shaymin-s if it’s allowed in the place you’re playing in.

Shedninja:

Most Used Shedninja Sets: Shedninja can only effectively run, sword dance, shadow sneak, x-scissor and wow/toxic, this is the only “effective” set shedi can use.

Usual Counters: Any form of residual damage, which includes, Fire/ Flying / Dark / Ghost / Rock moves, non-Fighting / Normal attacks from a Mold Breaker Pokémon, Poison, Burn, Leech Seed, Confusion damage, Sandstorm, Hail, Spikes / Stealth Rock, Nightmare, Darkrai’s Bad Dreams, Life Orb recoil, Double-Edge recoil, Struggle, Struggle recoil, Destiny Bond, Perish Song, Aftermath, Rough Skin, Future Sight / Doom Desire, Ghost-type Curse, Jaboca/Rowap Berry recoil, and absorbing health against a Pokémon with Liquid Ooze.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really can’t do anything to any form of residual damage. So basically just be careful of any form of residual damage, furthermore, you should keep this until late game, once you have killed every pokemon that has access to a residual damaging move or you have made sure your opponent doesn’t have an automatic weather changer, then that’s the time where you can switch in your hidden shedninja and “own” your opponent.

Shedninja Is Most Used On: Shedninja should have a team centered around it, which is usually what happens, running 2-3 rapid spinners and 1-2 weather changers, to make shedi sweep with ease.

Skarmory:

Most Used Skarmory Set: Skarmory can only use one single and effective set, which is, roost, whirlwind, brave bird and stealth rock/ spikes, this set serves as one of the best physical walls, not only that but it can also set up entry hazards, and also recover damage, plus it can whirl wind out a poke which has set up, whilst also doing a lot of damage with the high powered brave bird.

Usual Counters: Magnezone…..magnezone traps skarmory, takes 9% max from brave bird, and kos with thunder bolt, the reason why many skarmory run shed shell is because of magnezone messing with them.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Natural gift is a 80 bp physical ground move, if you’re holding Apicot Berry, which kills magnezone, but is a waste of a moveslot, usually, and wont’ be doing much outside of countering magnezone.

Skarmory Is Most Used On: Stall teams, also, there is the famous, skarm bliss combo, which is usually used on stall teams, also, skarmory is used on some standard ou teams, but stall is where it’s good at.

Slaking:

Most Used Slaking Set: Cb slaking gets a mention as the most used slaking set, with cb, an adamant, max attack slaking, will have an attack stat of 690! Basically meaning, that it will hurt almost everything in site, especially with its good high powered moves.

Usual Counters: Prediction, against almost every cb user, is the key to winning, even if you have bronzong and skarmory, a slaking user might predict the switch in and use fire punch, 2hkoing both, so basically, you have to outpredict your opponent.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You should always outpredict your opponent so you can effectively counter its counters, but with slaking, you have to predict the most, since without good prediction, you will just let a sweeper set up, and in dpp, there are a lot of dangerous sweepers, and you should watch out to not give your opponent a free turn.

Slaking Is Most Used On: Any offensive team, or sometimes even teams built around it, you basically have to look at the most powerful sweepers that get a stat upping move, and put a lot of their counters in them, that is, if you decide to make a team around slaking.

Slowbro:

Most Used Slowbro Set: Slowbro is one of the best “bulky waters” in the game, it usually runs, calm mind, slack off, surf and hp electric/ice beam, this set deals with a lot of pokes and can basically sweep late game with calm mind.

Usual Counters: Electric and grass types are obviously not slowbro’s best friends, electivire, jolteon, raikou and many more electric types should obviously be avoided at all costs, grass types like celebi and tangagrowth can also prove to be annoying, although after a cm, ice beam can deal with them and they can’t deal a lot of damage back, although tangagrowth can outspeed and sometimes kill you with power whip, so watch out for that.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Slowbro might also run ice beam for the occasion of grass type switch ins, but it can’t really do anything to electric types, unless you invest enough sp.def evs to take only 50% from a thunder bolt after a cm, then you’re not getting past them any time soon, blissey can also prove annoying, since it has toxic to wear you down, but if a blissey happens to not carry toxic, then it really isn’t anything you should be scared of.

Slowbro Is Most Used On: Any normal ou balanced team which is in need of a physical wall, slowbro might also work on stall based teams, but it’s rare that you will see one there.

Slowking:

Most Used Slowking Set: Slowking usually runs nasty plot, slack off, surf and hp electric/ice beam, sound familiar eh? Well, that’s what slowbro runs, but instead of calm mind, you run nasty plot, since there’s no need for cm, considering that slowking’s sp.def is amazing and you should focus on boosting Its defense stat.

Usual Counters: Everything that counters slowbro is a counter for slowking, so read the above post.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Blissey is beaten by slowking, even if it carries the rare toxic, but if it does happen to carry toxic, then you beat it but kill yourself in the process, so it’s a little sad, but you won’t see a lot of them toxic bliss, so you shouldn’t be that worried, basically, after 3 nps, slowking can 2hko a blissey with surf, while the best she can do is seismic toss which is only a 5hko, while slowking can recover off health via slack off.

Slowking Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team, which is in need of a powerful hard hitting special wall.

Smeargle:

Most Used Smeargle Set: Spore, baton pass, ingrain and some stat upping move that you want to pass to your receiver (dd to Lucario, nasty plot to gengar etc).

Usual Counters: Really, what can counter a poke that can run every single move in the game, and besides, smeargle’s purpose isn’t attacking, but instead, abusing it’s ability to baton pass a lot of stat boosts, so basically, you shouldn’t be too scared of it, just be careful to not let it set up a lot of stat ups that can be bped to an effective sweeper, that mind end up sweeping your team, so basically, just hit it as hard as you can to not allow it to get too much boosts.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You basically need to outpredict your opponent, your plan is to get as many stat up boosts as possible and then bping said stat up boosts to your powerful hard hitting receiver, you can accomplish this with good prediction, so good prediction is the key to let you get as much boosts as possible.

Smeargle Is Most Used On: Bp chain teams, or one of those teams that run “one bper, and 2 recievers”.

Snorlax:

Most Used Snorlax Set: Cb snorlax is the set of use in today’s metagame, since the damage it can deal is something that will make everyone cry.

Usual Counters: The cb set doesn’t have any counter, “counterless” as some people say, since, a cb self destruct can ohko a skarmory! Also, if you’re worried about ghost type switch ins, then you can predict them switching in on your self destruct, and use a cb crunch which will ko every ghost type except spiritomb, but spiritomb is 2hkoed so no worries there.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Since it has no “true” counter, then it doesn’t really need to run a move to counter its counter, so basically, just stick with the normal set.

Snorlax Is Most Used On: Any standard or offensive ou team.

Spiritomb:

Most Used Spiritomb Set: If you ever see a lead spiritomb, then you know that it’s using the lead set, obviously, and if it’s not a lead, then it will be obviously a rest talker, since both sets are the most used, depending on spiritomb’s move slot of course.

Usual Counters: It should be noted, that spiritomb doesn’t have a single weakness, coupled with it’s “ok” defensive stats, it can’t really be taken down by one hit, but, fine counters are Heracross, whom can switch in, receiver a guts boost, and ko with a cb stab guts boosted mega horn.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Spiritomb, really, can’t do anything to any of its counters, it doesn’t learn any super effective attack against said “counter” so you basically just have to stick with the sets that is proposed.

Spiritomb Is Most Used On: Stall teams, since it performs as one of the best spin blockers in the game.

Starmie:

Most Used Starmie Set: Starmie is one of the best rapid spinners in the game, so the set of use, obviously, contains, you guessed it, rapid spin! A set consisting of rapid spin, surf, thunder bolt/ ice beam and recover is the set of use, some sets even don’t run rapid spin, instead, recover, ice beam, thunder bolt and surf.

Usual Counters: Pursuit is obviously not a friend of starmie, furthermore, ttar can survive 2 surfs from a starmie, and a cb pursuit will ko a starmie regardless if it switches or not, also, weavile can do the same, but is 2hkoed by surf, but is faster so it can freely pursuit, celebi also works, since ice beam is only a 3hko, while it can do 89% damage with a grass knot.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It can run a specs set to effectively counter some of its “counters”, since a specs surf can 2hko or ohko every pursuiter in the game, and do 88% damage min to celebi with ice beam.

Starmie Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team which is In need of a rapid spinner.

Staraptor:

Most Used Staraptor Set: CB staraptor, obviously, is the set of use in today’s metagame, since it has 2 120 bp stab moves, and it’s one of the only normal/flying physical attacking types to not be walled by steels, and that is because it gets close combat, another high powered low pp move to add to its movepool.

Usual Counters: Steel types who either take neutral damage from close combat or take little damage although being weak to it, the latter is almost impossible to find, but the former includes many ou standard pokes, like bronzong, metagross, jirashi and skarmory, these take neutral damage from close combat since they’re secondary typing is resistant to close combat which is a fighting move, so basically, staraptor can’t really hurt these pokes.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really can’t do anything to its “counters”, nothing at all, you just have to rely on your team mates to kill said “counters”, magnezone completely annihilates all of its “counters”, so unless jirashi carries u-turn, then magnezone should be paired up with staraptor to form an amazing combination.

Staraptor Is Most Used On: Any offensive or balanced standard ou team.

Suicune:

Most Used Suicune Set: Obviously, cro cune, although, a set is getting popularized in today’s current metagame, this set runs, hp electric, ice beam, surf and calm mind, and it holds lo as an item, this set is getting popularized and being used more and more daily, this set basically ohkoes celebi and zapdos after a cm, and does a lot of damage to anything else, so be cautious of letting this beast set up.

Usual Counters: Cro cune is countered by celebi, and only celebi, not even vaporeon, since suicune can stall out vaporeon thanks to pressure and superior pp moves, the lo set is countered by prediction to wear it down, and basically not allowing it set up too much.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: The lo set’s purpose was to counter suicune’s counters, and it sure accomplishes it purpose, since it can ohko both celebi and zapdos, and over all deal a lot of damage and pain, whilst letting you control the flow of the match.

Suicune Is Most Used On: Stall teams or regular ou ones, the lo set is also, obviously, on offensive teams, since it’s so ridiculously powerful.

Swampert:

Most Used Swampert Set: Swampert is usually a lead, and considering it’s ability to learn stealth rock, then it should be abused to set up stealth rocks as quick as possible, which is accomplished by making a lead, furthermore, it runs mix sets, consisting of, ice beam, surf and earth quake, which not only hits hard, but also allows you to set up an early stealth rocks whilst also maintaining respectable defensive stats and staying power.

Usual Counters: Anything with swampert’s one and only weakness, which is grass, is considered a counter, but, sadly, swampert gets ice beam to deal with said grass types, but like any pokemon, you should have good prediction skills to win the war.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Ice beam is used for those grass types, otherwise, swampert doesn’t really have anything special about it’s offensive move pool.

Swampert Is Most Used On: Usually found as a lead on teams, it is usually also found on stall teams, or regular ou ones.

Tangagrowth:

Most Used Tangagrowth Set: Tangagrowth usually runs, power whip, sleep powder, knock off and leesh seed, this set has a lot of potential, and is very effective, a lot of people think celebi is better than tangagrowth, although, that is really wrong, since tangagrowth has more survivability capability on the defense side, furthermore, tangagrowth has less weaknesses whilst maintaining more resistances.

Usual Counters: Like celebi, anything with a strong supper effective stab move that is resistant to it’s attacks is a counter to it, also, tangagrowthe’s sp.def is much more lower than celebi’s, which also means, that it won’t enjoy taking special hits, also, a lack of recovery move also hurts it somewhat.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really can’t do anything to its “counters”, it can carry earth quake for fire types, but earth quake isn’t really effective out of doing that, furthermore, a choice band set can be surprising, and prove to be devastatingly powerful and counter its counters, so you might look into using that instead of the standard defensive set.

Tangagrowth Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team in need of a proper wall, it can also be used on “wall” teams, which is a form of stall teams.

Tauros:

Most Used Tauros Set: Cb tauros, like advance, is one of the most powerful and hard hitting sweepers in the game, it still maintains that in d/p, but isn’t as effective as it used to be.

Usual Counters: Floating steels are not good new for tauros, bronzong and skarmory are one of it’s best counters, it can’t touch any of them, it really can’t do anything to them, and will probably struggle against them. Furthermore, almost every physical wall in the game doesn’t mind tauros, so if you ever decide to use the bull, you should carry counters for said pokemon. Also if you bring magnezone, then you can handle these steel types just fine.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really can’t do anything but rely on it’s team mates to win against these counters, magnezone handles the steel type switch ins, while other hard hitting special attackers can handle gliscor, dusknoir and many more physical attackers.

Tauros Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team or offensive ones, although you will most likely see it on offensive ones.

Tentacruel:

Most Used Tentacruel Set: Toxic spikes, surf, ice beam and rapid spin are what everyone is using in today’s current meta game, basically, rapid spin all those annoying entry hazards away, set up your own entry hazards, and then start attacking with the best you can.

Usual Counters: Any anti spin poke is a counter to a spinner, and tentacruel is no exception, furthermore, any poke that is unaffected by toxic spikes and can hit tentacruel for super effective damage serves as a counter, since it makes it’s toxic spikes worthless, considering, it’s, unaffected by them. Also, it should be noted, that any strong user of earth quake, that is only 3hkoed by one of tentacruel’s moves is also, yet again, another counter.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Prediction, is yet again, the key, this is what you have to do against those pesky earth quake users which are bulky to boot, but against some of its counters that it can’t touch, then you should, yet again, rely on your team mates to beat said “counters”.

Tentacruel Is Most Used On: Stall teams, since it can support its team by being a rapid spinner, special wall, toxic spiking and absorbing enemy’s toxic spikes.

Torterra:

Most Used Torterra Set: Cb torterra is obviously the most used, as you can see, is the most used set in today’s current meta game, the cb set has a lot of potential in hurting stuff, since torterra has a unique typing which means it can hurt a lot of things with it’s strong high powered stab moves.

Usual Counters: Anything that is immune/resistant to it’s too high powered stab moves, good examples are skarmory and bronzong, basically, any user of ice beam will give torterra a run for it’s money, also, any poke that has a super effective move against tortarra and is resistant to at least one of it’s attacks is a counter, heatran, infernape and many more serve as decent examples.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really can’t touch bronzong and skarmory, even cb stone edge is a 3hko on skarmory, and bronzong is resistant, so you basically should carry a magnezone if you’re that scared of skarmory and bronzong switch ins.

Torterra Is Most Used On: Offensive or regular ou teams, obviously, are the places where torterra resides.

Tojekiss:

Most Used Tojekiss Set: Tojekiss is what I call the king of “hax”, it usually runs air slash, aura sphere, roost and thunder wave/ nasty plot, this set basically haxes the hell out of your opponent, since with tojekiss, you got a 60% chance of flinch, and 30% chance of full paralysis, which means, your opponent won’t be hitting you 80% of the time.

Usual Counters: You should rely on revenge killing if you ever wish to counter tojekiss, since it can hax the hell out of you, also, ground types give tojekiss a run for it’s money, since they are immune to thunder wave, but if it flinch haxes a lot, then that could be a problem, blissey, also can semi-counter tojekiss, but not effectively since np and flinch/paralyze has, will really annoy you.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Tojekiss can run body slam if it wants to paralyze ground types, and it can run nasty plot for those pesky blissey’s, since after a np, aura sphere will really hurt.

Tojekiss Is Most Used On: There are some teams that are called “hax” teams, they abuse the most haxing pokes in the game, and obviously, tojekiss is one of them, so basically, watch out for those annoying “hax” teams.

Typhlosion:

Most Used Typhlosion Set: Choice scarf sets, obviously, since with the translation to dpp, typhlosion now gets eruption, typhlosion is usually a lead, which carries eruption, with a modest nature, typhlosion has a speed stat of over 400, thanks to scarf, and an sp.atk stat of over 330, this will rally hurt, and a stab 150 bp move will really hurt any switch in.

Usual Counters: Bulky waters aren’t typhlosion’s friends, especially lead bulky waters like gyarados and swampert, so watch out for those.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You can always run the less effective specs set if you want to beat those bulky waters, hp electric is a 2hko on all those bulky waters, and if you’re afraid of swampert, then run hp grass, but choice specs isn’t really as effective as scarf, so you should take that into consideration.

Typhlosion Is Most Used On: It is mostly used as a lead, it is also always used on offensive teams, or regular ou ones, but offensive teams are the place you’ll find it most likely.

Tyranytar:

Most Used Tyranytar Set: Cb tyranytar, obviously, cb ttar can even beat a hippowdon if given the chance, since with stealth rocks down, a cb aqua tail will 2hko hippowdon, while crunch and stone edge are good stab options.

Usual Counters: Hariama, being able to survive anything from the cb set, same goes to the less effective machamp, hippowdon can serve as a decent counter if stealth rocks are up, and even if they are, you can always outpredict your opponent.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Ttar can run aqua tail for the occasion that hippowdon switches in, you can run aerial ace for hariama and machamp, but that would be a waste of a movelot, and won’t be effective outside of beating hariama and machamp.

Tyranytar Is Most used On: SS teams, obviously, since it’s the one that sets up ss, once you see a ttar then there’s a 98% chance that your opponent will have a ss team, so it’s nice to draw conclusions about the team you’re facing.

Umbreon:

Most Used Umbron Set: Umbreon usually tries to pass curses and wishes, so take advantage of this new knowledge, furthermore, umbreon, although having terrible attacking stats, carries pay back, since it has 150 bp (factoring stab), and after a few curses it will hurt, but you won’t see much use for it, since it’s job is to baton pass stat boosts, instead of benefiting itself from the stat ups.

Usual Counters: Umbreon is a stat up bper, so that means it doesn’t really care about any poke since it’s job is to only baton pass stat boosts, instead of doing something else, and won’t mind any poke switching in. but if you want specific counters, then machamp, hariama, and many mother fighting types serve as decent counters, also, heatran and Heracross also serve as decent counters.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Since umbreon doesn’t really mind any of its counters switching in, since as I mentioned previously, it doesn’t really mind anything switching in since it’s only purpose is to stat up and baton pass, so there’s no need to put a move to counter something you don’t care about switch in.

Umbreon Is Most Used On: Bp chain teams, or one of those teams that run “one bper, and 2 recievers”.

Ursaring:

Most Used Ursaring Set: Guts and flame/toxic orb as an item, and façade, sd, earth quake and fire punch for moves, this set can basically destroy everything in existence, since sd, flame/toxic orb with such a monstrous attacking stat, backed up by a 270 bp move (after stab and status calcs) will slay everything in existence, every non steel, rock or ghost type are going to be koed by a façade, and after a sd, fire punch will kill ghost types, even dusknoir can’t survive a guts boosted sd boosted earth quake, and earth quake and fire punch deal with rock and steel types, so basically, if ursaring had a base speed stat of 110, it would be uber.

Usual Counters: As I mentioned before, nothing can counter ursaring, everything in the game is ohkoed after a sd, the only way you can beat it is to not let it set up and hit it with the best you can, or if it set up, rely on it’s slow speed stat to effectively revenge kill it.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Since it has no “true” counter then…yeah.

Ursaring Is Most Used On: Ursaring usually has teams built around it just to let it effectively let it sweep, the team usually spreads paralysis to let ursaring outspeed everything, and it also usually carries 2 wish passers to help ursaring regain the hp lost threw the use of flame/toxic orb, so be cautious of those sorts of teams, since they might take you by surprise.

Uxie:

Most Used Uxie Set: What makes uxie separate from cressilia is that it can stealth rock and yawn, which means that it runs those 2 moves as an advantage over cressilia.

Usual Counters: Everything that counters cressilia effectively, can also do the same to uxie, ttar, weavile, Heracross, metagross etc are cressilas counters and the same goes to uxie.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: U turn also separates uxie from cressilia, so use that at your advantage, not only that but it can mess with a lot of pursuiters, especially weavile, since your slower that means you don’t take as much damage from pursuit, so if you decide to run u turn, which you should, then consider making uxie as slow as possible.

Uxie Is Most Used On: Stall teams and standard ou ones, although, you will most likely found it on stall teams.

Vaporeon:

Most Used Vaporeon Set: Wish, protect, hp electric and surf get my vote, vaporeon serves as an excellent counter to gyarados, not only that but it’s one of the best wish passers in the game, and it can also prove to be assisting with it’s water “immunity”.

Usual Counters: Like all bulky water types, vaporeon won’t enjoy the use of grass and electric types, especially things like raikou, jolteon, electivire etc, furthermore, vapy runs hp electric to be able to counter gyarados, and as such, it won’t run ice beam, meaning it is totally walled by grass types, who are resistant to both it’s attacking moves once it runs hp electric, ofcourse.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: If it decides to run ice beam for those grass types, then it can’t counter gyarados, and as such, it won’t be as effective, so unless you got another counter for gyara, you should just stick with hp electric since it lets vaporeon be used at its full potential, a specs set might also work, since with vapy’s base 110 sp.atk, it can really hurt a lot of things.

Vaporeon Is Most Used On: Once you see a vapy you can draw things, first you can know that your opponent is weak to gyara, and as such, if you want to pull of a successful gyara sweep, you should weaken or take out vaporeon, furthermore, the second thing you can draw is that the opponents team needs wish since it obviously doesn’t have recovery, so use this newly gained knowledge.

Venusaur:

Most Used Venusaur Set: A specs set, obviously, since a specs leef storm will hurt like hell on almost every opponent that doesn’t resist it, furthermore, hp fire can help against the pokes that resist leef storm, while sludge bomb is mostly filler and won’t see much use considering it gets horrid coverage.

Usual Counters: Any fire type can effectively switch in, although some specs venusaur’s are starting to carry earth quake just for that occasion so be careful, infernape and heatran are fine examples, flying types can also work in a similar fashion.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Earth quake can be used for said fire types, and you might catch them while they switch in if you have good prediction. Hp ice can also be used for flying and dragon types, but usually hp fire is better for steel types, it’s usually a matter of preference.

Venusaur Is Most Used On: There’s nothing really special about venusaur, it’s stats are balanced on both sides, which means that you will see it on any type of team, these sort of pokes that don’t reveal anything about the opponents team are not only good things to use, but also are rare and make the game more unpredictable and in your favor.

Weavile:

Most Used Weavile Set: Weavile is usually used as a sd sweeper, and as such it should be another dangerous stat up sweeper to look out for, weavile has a very high speed, and a unique typing which gives it excellent coverage.

Usual Counters: Weavile really doesn’t like bronzong or skarmory or fortress, bronzong can ko with gyro bal whilst being only 3hkoed by a +2 night slash from sash weavile, same goes to skarmory but for ice punch, and forry basically laughs at everything weavile can throw at it, but if you get too greedy with entry hazards then a +6 atk brick break says bye bye to forry.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Weavile, like many pokes, has to rely on it’s team mates to win against its counters, magnezone really works good with weavile, since magnezone can beat all its counters, which are steel types, and being steel types, magnezone can basically own them.

Weavile Is Most Used On: Offensive teams, obviously, since its one of the scary hard hitters in the game, so offensive teams are obviously where it resides.

Weezing:

Most Used Weezing Set: A set running, wow, pain split, thunder bolt and flame thrower / sludge bomb, this set has a potential at countering a lot of top tier physical threats.

Usual Counters: Anything with a psychic move, although, what’s sad is, that weezing only has one weakness and it is to one of the most unused types in the game, so use that to your advantage, too bad, though, it’s special defense is nothing special, so you should focus on hitting is as hard as you can with your special attackers until you let it get weakened enough for your team’s physical pokes to sweep.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: It really just has to outpredict the special attackers switch in and basically switch in something that can handle said special attackers.

Weezing Is Most Used On: Any ou team in need of a physical wall, usually it’s used on some stall teams.

Yanmega:

Most Used Yanmega Set: A set consisting of hypnosis, bug buzz, substitude / protect / hp ice / hp ground and air slash are good moves to use and happen to be moves used on the most popular yanmega set, this set has a potential to sweep a lot of teams, so be cautious.

Usual Counters: If yanmega doesn’t carry hp ground then heatran makes a decent counter, furthermore, yanmega is also beaten by the queen of special walling, which is blissey, so be careful of that as well, regice and snorlax can also do that.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: Yanmega can run the gimmick and less effective reversal set, to beat all its counters, but outside of doing that, its, like I mentioned previously, gimmicky and far less effective than the special attacking set.

Yanmega Is Most Used On: Any standard ou team, you can’t really draw any conclusions once you see a yanmega, just be cautious since it’s really dangerous.

Zapdos:

Most Used Zapdos Set: Specs zapdos is rising every and every day, it usually runs, thunder bolt, heat wave, hp grass and extra sensory, this set can basically deal a lot of damage and sweep late game, furthermore, hp ice isn’t listed since thunder bolt 2hkos all the dragons with chomp in uber, and heat wave can deal with grass types if you’re worried about that, furthermore, now zapdos can run hp grass which allows it to not be easily countered by swampert.

Usual Counters: Nothing can really switch in the specs set, you just need to have good prediction and you can win against it, so basically, outpredict your opponent, and if you fail at that, then zapdos will pretty much mess up your team.

Sets Used To Counter Its Counters: You should outpredict your opponent who’s trying to outpredict you thinking that you won’t predict the outpredict, in other words, just outpredict your opponent so you can effectively do a lot of damage on the opposition’s team.

Zapdos Is Most Used On: again, zapy is one of those pokemon that can be used on various types of teams, so be careful of that.

Thx for reading my guide, I hoped it help.

Many thanks go to tu for some knowledge and help with this, and thanks to farmer, eternal and zmt for helping me with this guide.

ekspo
09-23-2008, 04:17 AM
Wow, awesome.. helps alot, especially with the new players (like me).



*EDIT* Salamence is the most used poke in standard by fair, yet you have only listed one half of the salamence variants... specsmences are just as powerful and just as common.. you should add something about countering them ect.. Just a thought *EDIT*

ikke
09-23-2008, 12:46 PM
expo you actulay read it?
.-. Exzor it's waaaaaaaaaaaay too long

ekspo
09-23-2008, 12:56 PM
lol, haha not really, I was just battling a Salamence and I looked up this guide and I was certain it was physical.. then it was a specsmence and i sad faced :{

ikke
09-23-2008, 01:52 PM
more reasons this fails:
still hard to look up, pokedex/analysis would work better.
this isn't a guide it's a fuckign encyclopedia

ekspo
09-23-2008, 01:59 PM
haha true.

Statigar
09-23-2008, 02:51 PM
I am truly amazed!

I am cool!? You did this? o.O


WOW!

ikke
09-23-2008, 02:52 PM
I am truly amazed!

I am cool!? You did this? o.O


WOW!
if you think it's good I'm getting a divorce, it's way too long

Lyfsaho
09-23-2008, 03:13 PM
Is every second pokemon name misspelled for a reason ? ._.

i am cool
09-24-2008, 02:17 AM
yes i did this, i swear to god, i even got it saved on word, ikke, ever heard of control+F? also, specs mence has a 5% chance of appearing, so yeah.....just got unlucky, i guess.

ekspo
09-24-2008, 06:45 AM
%5 chance? is that a real stat... if it is then thats quite surprising because it feels like every one i verse is sppecs..

ikke
09-24-2008, 03:30 PM
yes i did this, i swear to god, i even got it saved on word, ikke, ever heard of control+F? also, specs mence has a 5% chance of appearing, so yeah.....just got unlucky, i guess.
it's too long for the guide<___________________________<
but parts of this can be added to the pokedex

Statigar
09-24-2008, 09:19 PM
It will be. This guide will be split into each pokedex article.

Thanks I am cool for your hard work.

Thanks ikke for your ideas.

Kuja20
09-24-2008, 10:45 PM
i think this is some really nice work its one of those guides that could help beginners think about what pokes are good on certain teams. Good job iac!

Iconic
09-24-2008, 10:53 PM
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm very impressed i am cool ^_^

Some of it just needs to be grammatically edited, but that's easy. Again, well done!

i am cool
09-25-2008, 02:13 AM
i'm glad everyone liked it, as for grammer, i'm very sry, but i really get tired and forget things....so each poke i analyzed will be in the pokedex? aah....ok then, whatevs.

The Shadow Projekt
10-10-2008, 08:48 AM
Well IAC this is probably your most "intellegent" piece of work. I personally skimmed over it on like half of the pokemon whose names start with A then realized how long this was.

Loads of detail or something, and seems decently organized. Must have taken forever. One last thing, nothing against you but something this huge should be tackled by multiple people as you can get the insight from more than one perspective and can reduce the amount of errors in the whole thing. (i.e: Grammer as I believe you stated in one of the previous posts.)

I still like this contribution very much tho, excellent work.

Elevator Music
10-11-2008, 01:01 PM
Alternatively you could just use http://cap.smogon.com/ShoddyStats/2008- ... ndard.html (http://cap.smogon.com/ShoddyStats/2008-09/Smogon-200809-Details-Standard.html)

Which in a way is more helpful because it's incredibly accurate (yours is bound to be more subjective unless you use stats of your own). However, the inclusion of how to beat them is also helpful I suppose and is your selling point.

i am cool
10-11-2008, 07:12 PM
not only does it also tell how to beat them, but also the list change every month, so don't expect james to update 493 pokes every day 0___0.....

DaPlayaFlow
10-21-2008, 11:57 AM
IAC massive respect for making this guide.

Statigar
10-31-2008, 03:25 PM
i am cool: yea*
i am cool: u didn't even post in them, like i told u to :@*
Statigar: http://teamuber.net/uturn.php << its on the site*
Statigar: and your teambuilding guide: http://teamuber.net/teambuilding.php*
Statigar: and your name for credits: http://teamuber.net/member/contributors.php*
i am cool: 0_0*
i am cool: oh......loooool*


The guide is now up on the site :D