Salamence Analysis

[DC]

Salamence

Type: Dragon/Flying

Abilities:
Intimidate- Upon entering battle, the opponent's Attack lowers one stage. In a double battle, both opponents' Attacks are lowered. Pokemon with Clear Body, Hyper Cutter, or White Smoke ability are unaffected. In a link battle, if both sides switch on the same turn, and the first player sends out a Pokemon with Intimidate, the opponent's Attack will be lowered before the opponent's Pokemon switches.

Base Stats:
HP: 95
Attack: 135
Defense: 80
Special Attack: 110
Special Defense: 80
Speed: 100

http://serebii.net/pokedex-bw/373.shtml

Overview

Salamence makes a return in Gen V as a shadow of the beast it was in Gen IV. The so important 100 base speed stat is now out-sped by many of its new checks/counters. Despite all this, Salamence still packs its punch in this new metagame with the Intimidate ability, as well as moves like Dragon Dance, and Roost. It has decent bulk, and great offensive stats from both sides of the spectrum. It also has two great STAB moves: Draco Meteor and Outrage.
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In Depth/Move Sets


MixMence
Salamence w/ Life Orb/Leftovers/Lum Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Naive
EVs: 48 Atk; 208 Spd; 252 SpA

• Draco Meteor
• Outrage
• Fire Blast
• Earthquake/Brick Break/Roost

Set Comments

Probably the most-used set last generation, and still viable in this one. Draco Meteor will be punching holes in your opponents team. Steel types can be used to try and absorb the Draco Meteor attacks, so Fire Blast is in the third slot. The combination of Draco Meteor and Fire Blast will KO most Steel types that commonly switch in on Salamence, inclding Scizor, Skarmory, Forretress, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill. Outrage is in the second slot to provide a powerful, accurate attack that has excellent coverage when combined with Earthquake and Fire Blast. It leaves Salamence confused, however. Earthquake is the primary option for the fourth slot because it gives Salamence some much-needed coverage against a number of Pokemon, including Heatran (without a Balloon) and Blissey. However, Brick Break is also a good option as it allows Salamence to hit Blissey harder and eliminates the risk of a wasted turn with Balloon Heatran. Roost can also be used in the last slot to heal off Life Orb damage and any other damage as well.

Additional Comments

Life Orb is the item of choice in this case, although Leftovers can be used if you decide not to run Roost. Lum Berry can also be used to keep Salamence away from status ailments and heal the confusion after Outrage. Dragon Pulse could also be used in the first slot to provide a more accurate move with slightly less power.


DDMence
Salamence w/ Life Orb/Leftovers/Lum Berry
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Naive
EVs: 220 Atk; 4 Def; 252 Spd; 36 SpA

• Dragon Dance
• Outrage
• Earthquake
• Fire Blast/Roost/Draco Meteor

Set Comments

With the right support, this set allows Salamence to sweep late game, or break some holes in the opponent's team early on. Dragon Dance goes in the first slot and is used to boost Salamence's Attack and Speed stats. In the second slot, Outrage is self-explanatory as Dragon Claw is not powerful enough to be considered, even though Salamence becomes confused after Outrage. Earthquake provides great coverage along with Outrage and Fire Blast, allowing Salamence to KO Pokemon like Jirachi, Heatran w/o Balloon, and Terrakion w/o Balloon. Roost and Draco Meteor are also viable options for the fourth slot. Roost can be useful if you're using a Life Orb, especially with Stealth Rocks up. Draco Meteor can be used to bluff a Mix-Mence set at the beginning of the match, then allowing Salamence to sweep late in the game using Dragon Dance.

Additional Comments

The EVs allow you to OHKO Max SpD Ferrothorn/Skarmory/Forretress with Fire Blast, without losing the power Salamence needs in Attack. Life Orb provides more power as well. Leftovers can also be useful if you're not running Roost, but you will lose some of the offensive power obtained from Life Orb. The Lum Berry protects Salamence against any status ailments, and can be helpful for curing confusion after using Outrage.


Physical Choice
Salamence w/ Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk; 4 Def; 252 Spd

• Outrage/Dragon Claw
• Earthquake
• Brick Break
• Fire Blast/Fire Fang/Thunder Fang

Set Comments

Salamence's 135 base Attack and 100 Base Speed, coupled with its awesome move pool, make Salamence a great hit-and-runner or even a revenge killer with a Choice Scarf. Outrage is recommended for the first slot because of STAB, and the amazing 120 Base Power coupled with Salamence's huge Attack stat. Dragon Claw is also an option if the user wants to avoid being locked into Outrage when trying to revenge kill your opponent's Pokemon. Dragon Claw also eliminates the issue of Salamence becoming confused. The rest of the moves are for coverage. Earthquake and Brick Break hit Blissey, and all variants of Heatran. Fire Blast or Fire Fang can be used to hit Steel types that resist Salamence's STAB attacks, except for Heatran. Thunder Fang can be useful against something like Gyarados or other Water types trying to set up on Salamence.

Additional Comments

Additional comments go here.


Special Choice
Salamence w/ Choice Specs
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 252 Spd; 4 Def; 252 SpA

• Draco Meteor
• Fire Blast
• Hydro Pump
• Dragon Pulse

Set Comments

Specs Mence is outclassed by Pokemon like Latias, but it still deserves a mention. Salamance has the advantage of being a Flying type and having Intimidate, making it a great Conkeldurr counter. 110 base special Attack is decent, and coupled with STAB Draco Meteor, this set can be very effective. The Hydro Pump/Fire Blast combination provides great coverage. Hydro Pump gets a 50% boost from Rain as well, so this set can be especially effective in the rain. Dragon Pulse is used for cleaning up late in the game.

Additional Comments

Additional comments go here.


Physically Defensive Wish Passer - Provided by .sECRET
Salamence (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP; 240 Def; 16 Spd

• Wish
• Protect/Roost
• Dragon Tail
• Flamethrower

Set Comments

Salamence has access to a move few Pokemon get, in the form of Wish. While at first glance, Salamence may seem outclassed by parashuffler Dragonite, this set provides better team support. Salamence should not be used as an inferior Dragonite, as it can use Wish, which is a move that Dragonite doesn't get. Salamence is capable of taking physical hits with ease, using Intimidate to cushion the hits. The crux of this set is Wish. Wish heals 197 HP, which means that it can generally heal over half of a standard Pokemon's health. The second set is up for grabs. Roost provides you with instant healing if you find yourself in a situation where you really need it, but Roost in generally is counterproductive with Wish. Protect is the preferred option, allowing you to scout the opponent's move and act accordingly. The third slot should always be Dragon Tail. This provides you with a solid phazing move, racking up hazard damage. Flamethrower occupies the last slot. This allows you to take on Steel Pokemon, namely Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Forretress, who otherwise wall your entire set.

Additional Comments

The EVs are tailored to allow you to out-speed Jolly Tyranitar and Adamant Breloom. This also allows you to out-speed standard Gliscor by one point. Max HP is necessary to maximize the amount you heal from Wish. The rest is dumped in Defense to allow you to take physical hits with ease. Flamethrower can be replaced by Fire Blast if you find it to be too weak. However, Salamence does not appreciate the decreased accuracy, especially when so many slow threats are able to hit it for a lot of damage. Roar can also be used over Dragon Tail, but Dragon Tail provides you with STAB and isn't affected by Taunt.

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Other Options

Wish- Wish-Mence was used in Gen IV and can still be used here.
Dragon Tail- Can be used in a pseudo-phazer set with Dragon Dance and Roost. This allows Salamence to phaze opponents while inflicting damage, and it isn't ruined by Taunt.
Roar- Comments for Roar go here.

Teammates

Any Pokemon that can absorb Ice and Dragon attacks intended for Salamence can make a good teammate. Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Scizor all make very good partners for Salamence. Ferrothorn can set up Spikes/Stealth Rocks, which helps Salamence sweep. Scizor can revenge kill weakened Pokemon for Salamence. Ferrothorn and Scizor also can be used for luring Heatran, which can be good if you're not running Earthquake and/or Brick Break. Other Dragon types make good offensive partners, especially if you're running the Mix set. Pokemon like Hydregion and Latias can be used to reveal the opponent's Salamence counter, so that it can be dealt with accordingly.

Counters

Balloon Heatran walls the DD set and the Mix set if Salamence doesn't carry Brick Break. Ferrothorn can wall sets that don't carry a Fire move. All three Genies and Terrakion can be used to revenge kill any Salamence locked into Outrage, including a Salamence running the DD set if they are Scarfed. Excadrill is an extremely effective counter against any of the sets under Sand Storm, and can even set up with some prediction on the Physical Choice set.

[MikeDecIsHere]

mmk, not bad. I have a couple of suggestions though.

For the Mix-Mence, there are just wayyyyy too many slashes. There should be no slashes next to Fire Blast, since its pretty much necessary with things like Nattorei, Scizor, and Doryuuzu running around. The order of slashes in the last slot should probably be Earthquake/Brick Break/Roost since Earthquake gives mence some desperately needed coverage. Brick Break allows Mence to hurt Blissey more and to not waste a turn hitting Balloon Heatran.

DD Mence is fine

The Physically choiced set has the same problem. It should probably be:
-Outrage/Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Brick Break
-Fire Blast/Fire Fang/Thunder Fang
The Elemental Fangs might not even be necessary though.

For Specs Mence: Try to avoid using the word "I" when making these. Aside from that, Specs Mence is still pretty freaking powerful in this Gen.

Just another thing, Sazandora SUCKS. Sazandora has a base speed of 97, so it will lose to Mence every time unless it's scarfed. It has crappy typing, which means it will definately lose to Max HP/Max spDef Roobushin while Mence has intimidate and will force it to use Payback if anything. Saying that Specs Mence is outclassed by Specs Sazandora gives Sazandora a lot more credit than it deserves, even if it has a higher spAtk.

[DC]

Ok thanks mike corrected most of the stuff you said, thanks for the roopushin observation in the specsmence set. About sazandora, it doesnt suck and other than the roobushin thing it makes a better specs user then mence because it doesnt have the SR weakness, higher spec attack which allows it to run a timid nature while mence will probably need the modest nature and stuff like u-turn for scouting. anyway, thanks again.

[MikeDecIsHere]

Oh byt he way, you forgot to include a "Other Options" section, where you list Mence's other viable attack/support moves, such as Dragon Tail/Roar/Wish etc. You also have to explain how Mence can use them in a set.

[DC]

K ill add it now. then ill get started on scizor

[DDwhiscash]

Threads like these are why TU needs a like button. Nice job on this DC. Also, does anyone know how to get a Wishmence? Is that thing even like...real?

[steel dragons]

I believe that Wish-Mence was released in a NYC event along with other Pokemon (I think Wish Blissey was one of them), so Wish-Mence can't have any egg moves, I think.

[lapras6666]

Completely agree with you guys. One thing: Add Dragon Pulse into Mix-Mence as an option over DM or at least put it on other options.

[SilentDreams]

Edited... some things that need improving:
-Overview needs more content
-Need comments on the EV spread for the Mix-Mence set
-Physical Choice set needs additional comments on the EVs, item, and nature
-Choice Specs set needs improved comments, and an additional comments section
-Need better comments on the Other Options
-Counters could probably use some work

[.sECRET]

Salamence (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Wish
- Protect/Roost
- Dragon Tail
- Flamethrower


Add that set in, I'll add some comments later if I have the time.