VOLUME 1— LEADS

Just to start off, I’m a 7th grader in 7d6 called Sean, and to get to the point, I’m writing a Pokemon Blog. Let’s just get straight to the point, cuz I don’t feel like introducing myself a lot. Of course, my tips aren’t in order, or else I would be going over things like abilities and effects right now…

WHAT ARE LEADS?

Leads, my man, are pokemon that you use to lead your team (duh) and are sent out first. Leads can be any type of Pokemon, from Pokemon that set the weather, (moves like Rain Dance) Pokemon that set the terrain, (it’s kind of like weather but it’s a different thing), Pokemon that set up, Pokemon that set up entry hazards, Pokemon that straight up sweep the opponents (OHKO-One Hit KnockOut), Pokemon that stall and make the opponent rage quit, (unless you’re playing in a tournament or some kind of competition, there are a lot of people who just give up and let you win if you stall the battle) and even Pokemon that are used just for free damage. (*ahem* Fake Out *ahem*) Examples of leads are but not limited to:

Hazard Setter

Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet

Ability: Iron Barbs

EVS: 252 Def, 252 SpD/HP, 4 SpD/HP

Impish Nature(-SpA,+Def)

-Spikes

-Stealth Rock

-Toxic/Leech Seed

-Leech Seed/Gyro Ball

This may not seem very intimidating, but it is. Iron Barbs and Rocky Helmet stacks, so if the opponent uses a physical attack, they lose 14/48 of their maximum HP! Plus, Iron Barbs is an ability, so if the opponent constantly attacks with physical attacks, they lose 1/8 of their maximum HP every time they do! Spikes and Stealth Rock set up entry hazards. Spikes can be stacked up to 3 layers, and adding Stealth Rock makes it even more of a scary opening when the opponent switches out. Toxic pressures the opponent to switch out, because they are badly poisoned if they don’t switch out they lose HP every turn. Toxic is a bit more reliable than Leech Seed, since it goes on even after Ferrothorn faints. Lastly, if you want Ferrothorn to have a big influence in pressuring, use Leech Seed in the last slot and keep Toxic as well. Or, you could always use Gyro Ball, which inflicts damage the slower Ferrothorn is that the target. Ferrthorn’s base speed is 40, which makes it one of the slowest things in the game.

Setup

Dusclops @ Eviolite

Ability: Frisk

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def  

Adamant Nature(-SpA, +Atk)

– Trick Room  

– Earthquake  

– Poltergeist  

– Thunder Punch/Rock Slide 

Ah! Dusclops, one of my favorite PvP ‘mons. With Eviolite, it’s tankier than Dusknoir. That’s why most people use this as a setting up pokemon, but it also can hold its own against other pokemon in a battle. Poltergeist is for type coverage, and the STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus). Earthquake is a powerful move that has 100 base power and 100 accuracy, so it is also a good choice. Trick Room is for setup, like I mentioned. It changes the move order, making slower pokemon attack first and faster ones attacking last. Thunder Punch is for damage against flying and water types.(people like to use gyarados)  Rock Slide is used for the flinch chance, so it’s a pretty sweet move. 

SWEEPER

Cloyster @ Focus Sash

Ability: Skill Link

EVs: 252 Atk, 4 SpD, 252 Spe

Jolly(-SpA,+Spe)

-Shell Smash

-Rock Blast

-Icicle Spear

-Liquidation/Spikes

This, by far, is my favorite and most reliable pokemon, sitting at #1. Focus Sash to guarantee the boost from Shell Smash, boosting Atk and Spe and lowering Def and SpD. The reason I made it the EVs 252 Atk and 252 Spe is to guarantee the OHKO. Some pokemon are too tanky for Cloyster’s attacks, so you have to see where you’re going with your Cloyster. If you think it’s not going to be an OHKO, switch it out. Keep in mind that you can always switch out. Spikes can be used to set up more entry hazards, and you might want to keep it around in case the opponent is a Marowak or such, because some moves can bypass the Focus Sash, and KO your Cloyster even with Focus Sash. Liquidation is a reliable water type move. It has 5 less base power than Surf, but it has a 20% chance to lower the opponent’s Def by 1. Icicle Spear and Rock Blast are to cover some moves, and Skill Link makes the most out of them. Skill Link “Increases the number of times multi-strike moves hit” to the maximum. Icicle Spear and Rock Blast both hit to a maximum of 5X, guaranteeing 100 base power every time they are used.

I will post again soon, maybe next week. I’ll try to post weekly, so look out! Bye!