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(So the title doesn't fit in the box... Is that a problem?) Current Topic:Nintendo sent out its January newsletter, part of which included this team: Ampharos: Thunderpunch, Thunderwave, Firepunch, Swift Not only did they not list any of the attachments or explain the strategy, but they claimed that the strategy was decent. To their credit is that the writer of the newsletter at least hinted that there was little defense involved. Now, to rate the team:
Thunderpunch has no advantage over Thunderbolt, which can be bred onto Ampharos. Thus, there is no reason to use it. Also, Swift will do practically zero damage, coming from Ampharos's low Attack. Fire Punch and Thunder Wave are part of the standard. Leftovers or a Miracle Berry should be attached.
With three different moves of such diverse types, Mean Look has almost no advantage. It will merely waste a turn while Misdreavus gets pounded, and Misdreavus can't take many hits. Misdreavus's stats aren't too stellar in the first place, and using it as a sweeper probably isn't a good idea. I recommend the Communist Ghost: Shadow Ball, Swagger, Psych Up, and Mean Look. The attachment should be Leftovers.
Lugia has wonderful defensive stats. It should almost certainly know Rest or Recover - or at least have Leftovers attached to it! At least one of the attacks should be replaced with one of those moves, and a gamer wouldn't do badly to replace another with Double Team. Most combinations of two attacking moves will cover all types, with the frequent exception of Steel. Leftovers should be attached with a moveset that includes Recover or Rest. Quick Claw might suffice for Nintendo's moveset.
Snorlax really either needs a defensive move or some BPed Agility to use Rollout effectively, and this team has neither. Snorlax doesn't have the Special Attack to use Blizzard effectively unless its going for the freeze, and this Snorlax isn't equipped as a tanker. Even Blizzard's good freeze rate is marred by its low accuracy; and, in general, the greater PP and accuracy of Ice Beam make up for the discrepancy in their modified freeze rates (10% vs. 21%). Blizzard is now only good for a fast freeze, and the creators of this moveset apparently use Blizzard to do damage. Finally, Snore will do little damage without Curse or Belly Drum, and Snorlax is much too slow to get a flinch with it. With the moveset Nintendo suggests, Leftovers is the best item. However, with some other movesets, Quick Claw or Mint Berry is more useful. (Check out the Snorlax database.)
Scizor has a bad Fire problem and is difficult to use as anything but a BPer. However, I must say that the use of Protect to detect Fire type moves on dubious pokémon is actually a good idea. The question that should be asked is for what purpose Protect was intended. Scizor is possibly the least confused pokémon on the team.
Well, three of the moves are useful. Surf should probably be replaced with something like Fire Blast or Rest (with a Mint Berry). Crunch is occasionally useful. That's my ranking. To say something positive about the team, I'll comment that the species of pokémon used aren't bad, but the movesets just aren't too stellar. |