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View Full Version : Alakazam Analysis Revamp.



i am cool
03-08-2009, 08:28 AM
http://www.teamuber.net/forum/showthread.php?t=570&highlight=Alakazam

Done by Zman83

Alakazam:

http://www.arkeis.com/images/pokemonfactory/alakazam.png

Summary:

Most Used Alakazam Set:

Trick Specs and Trick Scarf sets are commonly used to defeat Special walls such as Blissey. But sadly Gengar and Azelf now get Trick which is bad news for Alakazam since Trick was the only thing that really set Alakazam apart from Azelf and Gengar. But Alakazam can still use the Choice Specs set effectively and the gimmicky Scarf set as well. You also might encounter some Encore sets on some occasions. Encore sets really mess some of Alakazam’s counters up and Encore is really the only thing Alakazam has left to distinguish it from Azelf and Gengar after the Platinum updates.

Usual Counters:

Blissey and many other Special walls such as Snorlax and Regice can switch-in safely and threaten to status Alakazam or OHKO it. But the aforementioned Special walls should be cautious of Choice Specs Focus Blast or Trick. Even if Alakazam doesn’t switch out, Weavile and Tyranitar’s Pursuit will still OHKO it, but the former has to be wary of Thunder Wave and both of them should be wary of Focus Blast. Spiritomb is an excellent counter since it’s immune to Focus Blast and Psychic, which are Alakazam’s strongest moves, and it can also threaten to OHKO Alakazam with Sucker Punch if Alakazam decides to stay in and attack, or Pursuit if Alakazam decides to switch out. Usually priority moves such as Lucario’s ExtremeSpeed, Dusknoir’s Shadow Sneak, or Scizor’s Bullet Punch will destroy Alakazam before it does any damage.

Types of Teams Alakazam Is Used In:

Alakazam can be used effectively on many teams, but where it shines most is in offensive teams, since the Encore set aids a sweeper sweep easier once Encore has made a Pokémon get locked into using a non-damaging move. It can also do some sweeping itself with the Choice Specs set since it has a spectacular Special Attack and Speed Sat.

In Depth:

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_alakazam.gifTricking Beast@Toxic Orb / Flame Orb
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 6 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk) Or Modest (+SpA, -Atk)

- Trick
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast / Energy Ball

This set allows you to inflict Poison or Burn status on your opponent. Flame Orb is the preferred Item on this set, since nearly every counter for Alakazam is a Physical attacker, meaning a Burn will suit them better than Poison. But Toxic Orb can be used for those annoying Special walls such as Blissey, Snorlax, and Regice. Psychic and Focus Blast form near excellent coverage, but you could consider Energy Ball instead of Focus Blast if you’re worried about Swampert or bulky waters in general. Shadow Ball is really a filler move here, but it can be used for Ghosts like Mismagius and Dusknoir.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_alakazam.gifCalm Mind Zammeh@ Life Orb / Expert Belt / Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize / Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Spe/ 252 SpA / 6 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Calm Mind / Charge Beam
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast / Energy Ball

This is Alakazam’s stat upping set. Basically you try to boost your stats with Calm Mind / Charge Beam and attempt to sweep with a high Special Attack stat. Calm Mind is the preferred option here since it boosts your Special Attack stat and Special Defense stat 100% of the time, whereas Charge Beam only boosts your Special Attack stat, and that has a 70% chance of happening. But you could consider Charge Beam if you want to have a move that boosts your stats and hits the opponent. Psychic and Focus Blast are again for coverage, but you should be careful of Spiritomb when using this set since it walls 3/4 of your moves and takes little damage from Shadow Ball.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_alakazam.gifSpecs Alakazam@ Choice Specs
Ability: Inner Focus / Synchronize
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 6 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Psychic
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

This set provides a lot of power and coverage but you should be careful of some Pokémon that carry Pursuit and happen to switch-in on a move they are resistant or immune to. Focus Blast has a chance of 2HKOing Blissey and will certainly 2HKO Regice and Snorlax, but keep in mind that the chance of 2 Focus Blasts hitting in a row is only a mere 50%.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_alakazam.gifSpeed Madness@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Inner Focus / Synchronize
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 6 HP
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk) Or Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Psychic
- Energy Ball
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball

A Scarf Alakazam set might be a little unorthodox considering Alakazam has an excellent base Speed stat; but what you’re missing is that a lot of Choice Scarfers can cause a lot of problems to Alakazam (Scarf Gengar, Scarf Porygon-Z etc.) With Choice Scarf and a neutral Nature you will reach a Speed stat of 508, outrunning nearly everything. But you could try running Timid for stuff like Timid Scarf Gengar. Again the moves form excellent type coverage but be careful from the decrease of power from the Choice Specs set.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_alakazam.gifstatus Zammeh@ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus / Synchronize
EVs: 252 Spe / 252 SpA / 6 HP
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic

This set is not recommended to use but it can provide quite a nuisance for your opponent when you are giving status problems to their Pokémon. Psychic and Focus Blast form excellent coverage again while Thunder Wave can cripple some faster sweepers that switch into Alakazam (stuff like Scarf Heracross or Weavile), and Toxic can be a pain for Special walls such as Blissey, Regice, and Snorlax.

http://www.pokesho.com/img_icon_us/i_alakazam.gifEncoring Magician@ Leftovers
Ability: Inner Focus / Synchronize
EVs: 24 HP / 248 SpA / 236 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)

- Substitute
- Encore
- Psychic
- Hidden Power Bug

This set can possibly beat all of Alakazam’s usual counters. Stuff like Celebi, Blissey, Weavile etc. will loose to this Alakazam. Hidden Power Bug hits 252 HP / 6 SpD Celebi for 78-93% damage, which is an OHKO with Stealth Rock down and a 2HKO without Stealth Rock, while Starmie and Weavile will get 2HKOed by Hidden Power Bug. Although, Tyranitar is only 3HKOed by Hidden Power Bug, so you should be careful of Tyranitar switch-ins. To beat Blissey you should switch into a predicted non-status move (anything not named Thunder Wave or Toxic), and then set up a Substitute as it likely Thunder Waves or Toxics, this is when you Encore Toxic or Thunder Wave resulting into Blissey being locked into using a non damaging move on a Substitute while you proceed to hit her with Psychic and re-Encoring when necessary.

Other Options:

Recover could be used but Alakazam is a little too frail to use it effectively. Alakazam can make a somewhat effective Dual Screener considering it has an amazing Speed stat, but it’s let down by its fragility.

Opinion:

Alakazam is a really underrated Pokémon that can fulfill a lot of different roles. Alakazam will almost guarantee you that it will achieve something in a battle making it an excellent candidate to consider when constructing a team

Iconic
03-19-2009, 09:15 PM
Annnnd last one XD.

Reserved.