Lower Tiers LC Viability Rankings 2.0

Just looking at B+, I think that tirtouga fits perfectly well among the pokemon that are there. I also think that tirtouga fits the definition of B perfectly: Reserved for Pokemon who are great in the LC metagame. These Pokemon have more notable flaws than of those above it that affects how they function in the tier. Their positive traits still outshine their negatives, but they require a bit more team support to bring out their full potential. Their niches are often slightly smaller than those that are in A and S rank, which leads them to face some competition for a teamslot. Every single pokemon in B+, including and especially tirtouga, is an incredibly solid pokemon, but have smaller niches than those in A and need more team support. Tirtouga's positives outweigh its negatives, but not to the degree of any of the pokemon in A-, and not more than most of the pokemon in B+.
 

eren

je suis d'ailleurs
Im really wondering how Pancham is fine at B+. While it is more bulky than mienfoo, it doesnt check pawn and still is super slow, forcing it to take a hit in most situations. SD PJab Mienfoo does what pancham does so much better, and it checks pawn, and other threats much better. "Nothing decimates Balance cores like Pancham". I believe this to be false, the above mienfoo sets bops Balance as does DD Scraggy (which is way too low btw). Im just wondering
 
I would suggest Frillish to move from C+ to C
Knowing pumpkaboo exists.
The only niches i can see is being a scald absorber knowing pumpkaboo still doesn't like getting burned(wouldn't mind any other water move tho)
And the second niche is going into offence with Water Spout, what i also concider a useless niche. Only Max 14 speed, 16 special attack, shallow movepool and lacking on almost any important neutral KO.
I can't see how this poke is seposably better then remoraid in this niche outside of immunisizing some priority.
Like porperly this poke has a better movepool then frillish , better offences and better speed tier but still is ranked lower.
Reading up on set viability i see defencive frillish being the superior set i will argue about that one:
Pumpkaboo>
 

Anthiese

formerly Jac
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I would suggest Frillish to move from C+ to C
Knowing pumpkaboo exists.
The only niches i can see is being a scald absorber knowing pumpkaboo still doesn't like getting burned(wouldn't mind any other water move tho)
And the second niche is going into offence with Water Spout, what i also concider a useless niche. Only Max 14 speed, 16 special attack, shallow movepool and lacking on almost any important neutral KO.
I can't see how this poke is seposably better then remoraid in this niche outside of immunisizing some priority.
Like porperly this poke has a better movepool then frillish , better offences and better speed tier but still is ranked lower.
Reading up on set viability i see defencive frillish being the superior set i will argue about that one:
Pumpkaboo>
Frillish has an arguably okay typing when compared to Pumpkaboo. Yes it does more poorly since the only water mon stopping it from being great has Elec STAB, but Frillish has superior special bulk while Pumpkaboo has better mixed bulk. it does it's job alright in my opinion.

Next, Water Spout is a subpar set imo but Frillish has MUCH wider special coverage than other Spouters. Plus it's able to trick on it's scarf onto special and mixed walls which Remoraid nor can any other Spout mon can do. Also Remoraid has to dip in both physical and special coverage to have his good coverage which would limit it's power. Ending in 5 and needing so much EVs to have those good stats is not a good look in the long run. Most Remoraid sets are mixed so... Anyways, here's a list of acceptable coverage moves they could use.

Frillish: Dark Pulse / Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam / Energy Ball / Ice Beam / Sludge Wave
Remoraid: (special) Signal Beam / Ice Beam / Fire Blast / Psychic (physical) Bullet Seed or Seed Bomb / Gunk Shot / Rock Blast
Squirtle: Dragon Pulse / Aura Sphere / Ice Beam
Wailmer: Hyper Voice (lol) / Ice Beam / Clear Smog

Also your complaint about only 16 Special Attack, Remoraid is in the same bracket so it would hit just as hard. Unless you're running +Spa which is nonsensical.

Also not being picked apart my multiple common prio moves is a great thing. Weak to 2 & 1/2 (Sneak / Sucker / lol Pursuit) but immune to 7 (Fake / Feint / QA / ESpeed / Mach / Vacuum / AJet) Resists 2 (Shard / Bullet) is a godly thing.

Also once again, Frillish has the better special movepool, and better defensive movepool. Remoraid is however blessed with a great mixed attacking movepool.

Lastly, what is there to argue on the defensive set? Better recovery option in Recover (which is more PP and isnt reduced in Rain / Sand / Hail like Synth is)? The fact that Frillish is weak to less and resists more? Im not trying to put Pumpkaboo down because i use it so effing much but Frillish has a lot to offer in my opinion. It's not THAT overshadowed by Pumpkaboo in my opinion.

I think Frillish has earned it's place.
 

Celestavian

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Tirtouga: B+ -> A-
Ponyta: A+ -> A
Charmander: Unranked -> D
Vullaby: A- -> A

Pretty sure these mons have had enough discussion and these are the sentiments I'm getting. Tyrogue has been moved to the list of Pokemon under the Smog Frog heading that are especially bad because apparently it wasn't before. As always, feel free to discuss a bit more if you disagree.
 

Merritt

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Nominating Gible from Smog Frog to Unranked. While it's certainly not the best choice of Dragon in LC, it has qualities that make it usable on serious teams and absolutely put it above stuff like Magikarp, Tyrogue, and Yamask. Its STAB coverage is absurd, since only Cottonee (and Levitate Bronzor) resist its STABs, and it has a workable 70 base Attack to fire off attacks. It also has a good ability in Rough Skin that makes it a good choice to take resisted stuff like Flare Blitz. Although its defenses and speed aren't great, it's also not deadweight on teams like the other Smog Frogs are most of the time. This isn't even like a nomination for D rank, just to get it out of Smog Frog because I don't even remember when toxic discussion about it happened.

Also Frillish is a good spinblocker and is still a decent utility mon even when the opponent isn't using a spinner. It takes on non-Tbolt Staryu very well, but loses to Drilbur most of the time, while Pumpkaboo can have issues with offensive spinner Staryu with Ice Beam. Water Spout Frillish isn't the best set ever, but it still can punch holes in the opposing team. It should stay C+.
 
As someone who likes Krabby, I'm nominating Krabby from Smog Frogs to Unranked. It's not a good Pokemon, but it has qualities that put it above the likes of Tyrogue,Beldum and Chimchar. It has a nice move pool, and has a beefy 105 attack to work it with. And in case I get flooded with pictures of Corphish, HE HAS BETTER PHYSICAL BULK than Corphish, which is his main niche over it,as well as his movepool. It's abysmally slow, but it's not dead weight unlike the likes of other Smog Frogs(Gible excluded). It's clearly not D Rank although it's not Smog Frogs either. When did people start hating on Krabby,anyways?
 
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As someone who likes Krabby (and HAS been the target of an unwarranted mute) I'm nominating Krabby from Smog Frogs to Unranked. It's not a good Pokemon, but it has qualities that put it above the likes of Tyrogue,Beldum and Chimchar. It has a nice move pool, and has a beefy 105 attack to work it with. And in case I get flooded with pictures of Corphish, HE HAS BETTER PHYSICAL BULK than Corphish, which is his main niche over it,as well as his movepool. It's abysmally slow, but it's not dead weight unlike the likes of other Smog Frogs(Gible excluded). It's clearly not D Rank although it's not Smog Frogs either. When did people start hating on Krabby,anyways?
Its actually barely noticeable bulk difference because of corphish's better hp. Krabby is literally 100% outclassed by corphish (also even if its movepool is less varied it has a crabhammer that can bust through resists after knock off which it has itself, 2 great boosting moves, priority, superpower and switcheroo for band)
 
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Rowan

The professor?
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I mean smog frog/unranked isn't really that much of a big deal. I guess krabby can be in unranked, though smog frog was initially a rank that I created for pokemon that got more than 1% usage, yet were completely outclassed. That's why krabby was there iirc.
 
I want to see Elekid rise from B-, I reckon it's B+ tbh but I want it to at least B

It is a staple on Sticky Web teams because it can outspeed and OHKO Archen which is huge because Archen isn't slowed by webs and can remove them if it runs Defog. With a life orb attactched Strong stab Thunderbolt access to Psychic and a hidden power of choice for extra coverage, it can actually clean up late game suprisingly well. 16 SpA with a Timid nature is decent for a specially offensive pokemon too and of course it is tied for the fastest out of all unboosted pokemon and can beat Fletch reliably it just can't switch in repeatedly, however, as an offensive pokemon thats just common sense. Volt Switch also allows it to grab momentum easy by forcing out the common flying types in the tier.

it's main weakness is it's frailty making it be able to be picked off by scarfers and priority however its benefits definitely outweigh the negatives and it has a niche as a staple on well built webs teams which is why I think it should be brought up to B at least.
 
I want to see Elekid rise from B-, I reckon it's B+ tbh but I want it to at least B
it's main weakness is it's frailty making it be able to be picked off by scarfers and priority however its benefits definitely outweigh the negatives and it has a niche as a staple on well built webs teams which is why I think it should be brought up to B at least.
B most definatly, B+ is a bit over knowing how mutch other B+ pokes can do with there own needed support. Example Pancham.
 
I want to see Elekid rise from B-, I reckon it's B+ tbh but I want it to at least B

It is a staple on Sticky Web teams because it can outspeed and OHKO Archen which is huge because Archen isn't slowed by webs and can remove them if it runs Defog. With a life orb attactched Strong stab Thunderbolt access to Psychic and a hidden power of choice for extra coverage, it can actually clean up late game suprisingly well. 16 SpA with a Timid nature is decent for a specially offensive pokemon too and of course it is tied for the fastest out of all unboosted pokemon and can beat Fletch reliably it just can't switch in repeatedly, however, as an offensive pokemon thats just common sense. Volt Switch also allows it to grab momentum easy by forcing out the common flying types in the tier.

it's main weakness is it's frailty making it be able to be picked off by scarfers and priority however its benefits definitely outweigh the negatives and it has a niche as a staple on well built webs teams which is why I think it should be brought up to B at least.
agree with Superpowerdude on putting Elekid to B; I've been using it a lot on the suspect ladder and I found it useless only versus fat-unbreakable teams, sometimes versus Sticky Webs too. He has 20 speed, the fastest unboosted speed tier in the meta, but is extremely frail, which is pretty unfortunate because make it weak to priority moves(it takes 2HKO from Fletchling' Acrobatics although the electric typing) and i believe that's the reason why it won't go up that much.
 

The Avalanches

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It seems very odd to me that Elekid is currently in B-, especially considering its contemporaries in that rank are far more niche than it. Even if it were moved to B, I still think it would be better than most of the Pokemon in that sub-rank. Elekid is a surprisingly potent cleaner late game -- even against bulkier teams, its Speed stat obviously speaks for itself, but its Life Orb boosted attacks can really sting after its teammates have gone to work with Knock Off, allowing it to OHKO an enormous section of the tier with just a touch of entry hazard support.

240 SpA Life Orb Elekid Psychic vs. 124 HP / 160 SpD Foongus: 21-26 (84 - 104%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
240 SpA Life Orb Elekid Psychic vs. 0 HP / 36 SpD Mienfoo: 23-29 (109.5 - 138%) -- guaranteed OHKO
240 SpA Life Orb Elekid Thunderbolt vs. 36 HP / 116 SpD Eviolite Skrelp: 18-26 (81.8 - 118.1%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
240 SpA Life Orb Elekid Thunderbolt vs. 116 HP / 76 SpD Eviolite Vullaby: 18-26 (72 - 104%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Those are four examples of bulky Pokemon that can be cleaned up by Elekid. Although Poison- and Fighting-types require a bit more Knock Off support to take down, it's proof that Elekid can function surprisingly well as a cleaner -- even against bulky teams. It obviously thrives early-game too, as it can repeatedly click Volt Switch and gain momentum, and the fact that it outspeeds Abra is just too sweet. Elekid isn't without his problems, it's been pointed out that he is rather frail, and susceptible to priority, but against slower foes without priority, it can easily dent several Pokemon over the course of a match, as very few Pokemon can properly wall it, and those that do must be wary of surprise coverage it can run. I am going to suggest we move Elekid up as far as B+, because it's simply excellent in the current metagame, and it's the only Pokemon weak to Diglett that can cause a 50/50 with it.
 
Nah having used elekid on random teams its really fucking annoying to use; while there's like one thing on a given team that'll maybe avoid the 2hko, you have to be wary of diglett sucker punch if ur in range or scarf goth; also, a foo pivoting in makes you lose all your momentum. It also has zero switchin opportunities and the KOs on foo and foongus require knock support while tbolt is a stab SE attack lol so the last 2 calcs feel moot. It just requires a lot of support/prediction and if you mispredict once it could realllly hurt.

Edit- I guess a rise to B is warranted, but B+ kinda feels like pushing it haha
 

Shrug

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A brief Post on some things that are good in this meta and should rise:

Honedge to B-Rank

Rationale: Honedge is a p cool pokemon in current ORAS Lc. In terms of numbers, it is fantastic: hits 18 Def, ~17-18 Attack, 12 SpD, 10 Spe w/o much effort. Has a good typing - Steel / Ghost gives it tons of switchin ops. Ability is useless but you cant have it all.

Honedge is p cool due mostly to its unique check-set (as in, the things it beats) that can be super useful to some squads. Mainly, it beats Abra and can trap with Pursuit / KO with Shadow Sneak while also beating Fletchling. This combo is unshared among other lc mons. Ofc it doesnt check Shadow Ball Abra entirely but there will always be that Abra u cant beat, Honedge is about as good as it gets without wasting a spot on Stunky. Honedge isnt useless when the opp doesnt bring Abra or Fletch too. Blocks spins (from Staryu if you use some SpDef), just is a good mon to bring in to Fairy-types, Poison-types, as it is rlly hard to switch into (eat fight-steel-ghost coverage).

I hypothesize Honedge was brought down after the Missy meta, where it was prolly bad, after being good in KrowTits by virtue of beating tite. Pls bring it back to where it ought to be - its as good as stunky because it beats two major threads (stunky beats abra and gastly while Honedge beats Abra and Fletch) and has utility (prio and spinblocks and pursuit).

Magby for B-rank

Rationale: Mags is often compared unfavorably to another headhunting (in this context: attributive verb (slight pejorative) indicating a mon that attempts to set up once and end battles in a way considered near-impossible to stop) mon, ziggy, bc the latter has harder-hitting prioritized priority and such. I'd say Ziggy is better at demolishing once it has fired off a Belly Drum, yes. But Magby has a couple advantages: 1) it fits better into a normal team, meaning Ziggy usually has to set up after a Memento and Ghosts have been pursuited etc, which is fine bc zig is a killer and such, but Magby can set up w/o help versus good mons like SuperPump, Pony, Foongus sometimes, and thus doesnt need so much support; and 2) is more of an overall threat, such that you need to play around it more than you do with Dig. Can also run an LO set for some shenanigans with that pornographic speed. Not as good as Ziggy, but close enough to earn B.

summary: Donedge and Magby should be B-rank, thanks
 

Merritt

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Honedge to B-Rank
Ability is useless but you cant have it all.

Magby for B-rank

Rationale: Mags is often compared unfavorably to another headhunting (in this context: attributive verb (slight pejorative) indicating a mon that attempts to set up once and end battles in a way considered near-impossible to stop) mon, ziggy, bc the latter has harder-hitting prioritized priority and such. I'd say Ziggy is better at demolishing once it has fired off a Belly Drum, yes. But Magby has a couple advantages: 1) it fits better into a normal team, meaning Ziggy usually has to set up after a Memento and Ghosts have been pursuited etc, which is fine bc zig is a killer and such, but Magby can set up w/o help versus good mons like SuperPump, Pony, Foongus sometimes, and thus doesnt need so much support; and 2) is more of an overall threat, such that you need to play around it more than you do with Dig. Can also run an LO set for some shenanigans with that pornographic speed. Not as good as Ziggy, but close enough to earn B.
Just want to clarify that Honedge's ability isn't just useless, it's actually detrimental. While it lets you fire off 100% accurate rock slides (lol) it also means that every Fire Blast, every Hydro Pump, every Will-o-Wisp, and every other move is going to hit you. It's somewhat minor, sure, but it's worse than just useless.

I also want to speak to Magby's deserving of B-rank. I run a team of 3 sweepers (Zig, Oma, and Magby if you really must know) and Magby has been very helpful in many games. While it doesn't sweep quite as often as its partners, Magby does an excellent job of decimating the opposing team. Cottonee switch-ins hoping to stop me after a Belly Drum are obvious, and easily dealt with by Fire Punch. Magby also has the most sheer power after it sets up, as its 17 attack allows it to annihilate virtually anything slower. The downsides to it are obvious, however. Priority attacks really hurt, since Magby has so little bulk. Mach Punch is comparatively weak, since it's unlikely to KO anything that's not weak to fighting. Ultimately, though, Magby has many strong points (including its ability!) and I support a rise to B.
 

Celestavian

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Yeah I'm not feeling the Honedge hype. It's slow, has no recovery outside of Berry Juice, and is weak to Knock Off, all of which create major problems for Honedge. It's only good at stopping physical attackers and Pursuit trapping Abra and Gastly when combined with Shadow Sneak. Even then the majority of physical attackers have some kind of super-effective move to use on it. Going down the viability list, I see very few physical attackers that don't normally carry Knock Off, Earthquake, or some type of Fire move to hit it with, with Shellder being the only one in the A tiers that I can see fitting that description. It also lacks utility outside of checking physical attackers. It can't set rocks, use Taunt or Defog or Wisp or any moves like that, which the Pokemon that you named as competition to Honedge such as Stunky can do. Honedge is cool staying at C+ IMO.

EDIT: Elekid has been moved up to B
 
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Honedge is pretty good and better than any of the C shit; not much actually checks it and while there is soem stuff that 'might be able to take attacks from it' in practice it ends up destroying a lot of stuff if you don't have the right mons (which is very often the case). It's also a mon that doesn't give a fuck about trappers so that's great! I haven't actually used it but ive faced it a ton and it always manages to put in work (after an SD its very threatening). So ya honedge to b pls
 
Magby is outclassed by Zigzagoon, it has a small niche in being immune burns and being faster than a majority of its threats, but otherwise, it requires the same amount of support, and it has a much weaker priority. On paper Magby looks like an insane threat, but really its lack of strong priority makes it much more manageable than Zigzagoon.

Honedge is being way too over-hyped, it has great offensive coverage, can pursuit trap, and is quite bulky on the physical side. Furthermore, it is weak to Knock Off, its ability is nothing but a detriment, it doesn't have reliable recovery, and can only pursuit trap Abra and Gothita. Moreover, it also dislikes Diglett, which is likely to be banned, but it is still a problem at this point.

Edit: Yeah, I forgot that Ghost-types can't be trapped.
 
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Diglett is not an issue for Honedge; it does not trap it and Shadow Sneak easily destroys it in the event that it tries to revenge kill Honedge. I mean it's not excellent or anything but surely it's B- rank at least :/
 
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Merritt

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Magby is outclassed by Zigzagoon, it has a small niche in being immune burns and being faster than a majority of its threats, but otherwise, it requires the same amount of support, and it has a much weaker priority. On paper Magby looks like an insane threat, but really its lack of strong priority makes it much more manageable than Zigzagoon.
Magby's main "thing" over Zigzagoon is that it has a hella more power and can deal with STAB resists much better. 68 (17*4) attack is a lot more than 52 (13*4) attack, so when comparing the damage output on neutral targets the difference is striking.

+6 196+ Atk Zigzagoon Extreme Speed vs. 212 HP / 196+ Def Eviolite Spritzee: 18-22 (66.6 - 81.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+6 236 Atk Magby Fire Punch vs. 212 HP / 196+ Def Eviolite Spritzee: 24-28 (88.8 - 103.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock


Magby can sweep teams much easier than Zig if scarfers and strong priority is removed. Bulky mons that can take a +6 espeed (yes they exist) usually fall to a +6 fire punch. However, this is all on STAB targets. What about resists to STAB?

Against things that resist Zig's STAB, they're likely to at least get in one hit and do a huge amount of damage. Magby can outspeed them and hit them with the coverage move of choice, and it doesn't hurt that the things Mach Punch hits super effectively includes rock types and Pawn, allowing you to avoid a strong sucker punch.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows for Magby though. It does have some very big bulk issues, and it wishes it had more slots for moves. Fire Punch/Drum/Mach/(Thief/Return/Thunderpunch), it wants them all. However, Magby at least does an excellent job of decimating teams, so actually pairing it with another wincon is, in my opinion, the best way to use Drum Magby.
 
I would say honedge to B- at most, And even then
The poke is like celestavian stated slow and no means of recovery, thanks to the ability easier to ware down, so even tho it's natural stats it still lacks to be called defencive. The offencive side isn't too bad having Ghost, Steel stabs + even ghost priority but. as for filler moves sacred sword(idk why you did run that), SD what is basicaly the best for it and Rockslide what it could make good use of.
I have been looking trough honedge at one point trying to even make a team with it, it juts happened to be the most akward poke to core something with :/
it either lacked defencively or offencively and neede a set up chance what it did get actualy in the 1 battle i played it. even in that it didn't do mutch the guy just blocked it with larvesta ( curse the no rockslide), and well..... .
Your probobly face: priority, strong ghost stab or rockslide cover as main problem to invest the attack slot's into knowing iron head is standert.
i would say let it stay C+

magby however i would say B- and to a stretch B, but the reason behind this is because it's 2 utility's being LO(never faced one), and belly drum (losing to 1 once but having faced it like 3-4 times).
One of it's problems imo is not having stronger priority like sucker punch. Mach punch is good tho reguardless but just lacks picking up the last bit.
Another beign too low defences to work on it self with belly drum, but it can still pull it off with memento support or with just the right opponant. to specify what i mean by this:

it's main niche that i see is it properly being able to steamroll trough allot of teams witout needed that mutch support, yes zigzagoon exists and saying oh yea it's immune to burn as if that was the most important point.
It's imminity to burn is little but not the biggest.
-Able to set up against pokes like foongus, pumpkaboo, larvesta and ponyta and sutch what is the compleat opposit of what zigzoon wants to set up on.
-needed properly less support then you might think, i mean yes zigzagoon un-doutably is better overall, but being able to deal with pokes like that, what honestly i did bring this subject up again After the diglett suspect, knowing after that zigzagoon teams will struggle loads knowing one of the best partners/helpers to take care of it's weaknesses is gone.
-As merrit stated, Coverage, i forgot to even put that one on it, yes it does have issues with coverage but it still has a pretty good work out with this: Return over all is the most common/best cover, return allows you to deal with chinchou, speed tie with staryu and generaly allot more.
Teambuilding with magby usualy ends up with belly drum teams as far as i have seen it but it can be used in mutch more then just that actualy, it can with just cottonee set up against allot of pokes and sweep most teams(again maby can set up naturaly on things like larvesta,ponyta,foongus and sutch who are the best answeres to cottonee aswell) , sometimes it can get pressure allone with Fire punch+ 17 attack + 19 speed while running the belly drum set(but then again ponyta would do preciesly the same...)
As for the LO set... not too mutch use overall knowing ponyta could do most of that already :/

all by all mon i would say is worth B-, once diglett is gone... to B no hesitation P_P
 

Max Carvalho

Que os jogos comecem
Time to bring Magnememes
I'm nominating Magnemite for S-. I'll try to elaborate on some points as to why:
1) Trappers
A popular trend (and our current suspects !) are these guys at the moment and when bulding with either Gothita, Diglett or even both, I find it tough not to add Magnemite. Magnemite is the best Volt Switcher in the metagame at the moment, and bringing in Fighting-types and Fire-types, two kind of Pokemon that are the trapper's mais targets, is also too good for a teammate.
2) Doesn't lose to Dig
Scarf kills with Flash Cannon and BJ has a chance with Endure and keep recycling if Life Orb Diglett.
3) Among best burd checks.
Nuff said.
4) One of the most potent pivots in the metagame.
5) Chinchou is not a counter haha
236+ SpA Life Orb Magnemite Hidden Power Grass vs. 76 HP / 0 SpD Chinchou: 21-26 (84 - 104%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Btw, Life Orb is Analytic boost. Y'all should try Analytic. When running a VoltTurn core, the great deal is softing the opposing team enough for a teammate in most cases. Analytic Magnemite does this so much better. If you still aren't confident on its power, note that it's able to 2HKO Foongus after SR, one shot Bulky Fast Foo without its Eviolite (an everyday situation to much of you), 2HKO Ponyta with Volt Switch, among other incredible feats for an Eviolite fest metagame.
So, I propose mags to S- on the premise that it is absurdely good on anything it does pretty much, Choice Scarf allowing you to get faster threats, especially when counting Analytic, while BJ gives you a foolproof check to a great number of LC check, especially when considering Endure and Recycle.
What keeps maggs from being overwhelming (Fighters-, Hazards, Drilbur) are not holding back Maggs from being one of the most important members in a VoltTurn core. It really deserves a rise, and probs stay even when trappers aren't around.



Magnemite is just awesome though.
 
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Merritt

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5) Chinchou is not a counter haha
236+ SpA Life Orb Magnemite Hidden Power Grass vs. 76 HP / 0 SpD Chinchou: 21-26 (84 - 104%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
Ok so you obviously did... something to make it go all wonky. Analytic isn't quite the same as a LO boost, because rolls in LC are weird.

Here's the actual calc.

236+ SpA Analytic Magnemite Hidden Power Grass vs. 76 HP / 0 SpD Chinchou: 20-24 (80 - 96%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

I don't disagree with Mag to S-, though. BJ Chou isn't really a counter, granted, but it kinda never was if Mag was running a SE Hidden Power, regardless of whether or not you run Analytic. Analytic can just possibly save you some damage if rocks are up.

240+ SpA Magnemite Hidden Power Grass vs. 76 HP / 0 SpD Chinchou: 16-20 (64 - 80%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
152 SpA Chinchou Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Magnemite: 15-18 (78.9 - 94.7%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Mag kills in 3 hits, Chou kills in 2. Scarf Mag outspeeds BJ chou and gets to hit 3 times if chou switches in while chou can attack back exactly once most of the time. That's kind of why you run HP in the first place, in order to deal with Chou. Evio RestTalk Chou still does a pretty damn good job against Mag though, even with analytic.

My biggest issue with Endure/Recycle though is that it gives magnemite horrible 4MSS. Chinchou is now a 100% counter, and you have to give up either thunderbolt (not ideal since now if you want to use electric STAB you switch out) or Volt Switch (which means Mag can't give you nearly as much momentum). Sure, it can work, but it's essentially just forcing a 50/50 vs Diglett akin to Sucker Punch on Pawniard, but this isn't the place to discuss it.

(Also a note to if you want to calc stuff, make sure you're calcing what you want to calc, not the closest equivalent. For example, Analytic is properly implemented in the calculator, so just set mag to 1 base speed and remove the scarf if you want to show its proc, not just slap a LO on it and call it good enough)
 

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