The Plagues of the Ladders: Common Gimmicks

[Chase]

This little number goes out to the battlers that stay on the straight and narrow~.....-and- those looking for a few common parlor tricks if you're unseasonable enough to build your team around. Just saying though, use these against me and I'll be twitching and having to think about not killing you.

Hi folks!

Today I want to talk about the 'Mons that just make some of us groan - and that we see on the path to glory that is known as "the ladder". These Pokemon are known for having one -specific- quirk about them that some trainers find incredibly handy and opponents already see coming the moment it comes out with utter disgust. Pokemon that are plagues and are arguably "no-skill-required" 'Mons to use.

For beginners, however, that might not be a bad way to start learning how to build. It's not all rotten tomatoes and death stares from the best auth this site has ever seen. <3 (LOL, JK, I IZ BAD)

There are two conditions the Pokemon must fill in order to be considered ladder plagues, those being:

- This Pokemon must only have -one- specific purpose that without it would make the Pokemon much less of a desirable pick.

- This Pokemon must be, in your opinion, used -very- often by your opponents when laddering in the tier you're discussing.

Here are mine.

OverUsed (OU) - For as "standard as fu-" and not-original and too mainstream OU is, the tier has the best parity out of them all. As our Competitive Convicts thread does a good job of revealing, most common threats are A) dependent on decent play, and B... not completely out of the woods. This doesn't exempt the tier from a couple of 'Mons that simply have a tried and true strategy that is very annoying to contend with - and due to the ease of use and strain it puts on opponents, you will find these two goons on a lot of opposing squads.

Choice Band Talonflame

CB Talonflame has one job, and it's very hard for SmOgonbUrd to screw it up....in fact, due to it's ability Gale Wings, it's impossible for it to screw it up. The opponent is going to want to use Brave Bird over...and over...and over again until it's out of HP, and if it's late game, this pretty much secures the "W". There are definitely other Talonflame sets, and some of them are quite crafty and focus on giving it more longevity, bulk, and attack power... or giving your opponent some crippling debuffs.....but this one is the one you -have- to assume -first-....because it's an immediate problem. Get those rocks up Soldier! and keep em there!

Sub-Protect Toxic Heal Gliscor

Not too many things like being poisoned...but -THIS- thing certainly does, and it does so while laughing at the fools who don't have wallbreakers or Ice type moves on hand-...or due to how insanely user friendly this stall-star....(Ahh, get it...All Star...Stall St-...aw cmon gimme that one.) is, it can sit back and laugh at just about everything if you're not careful. Toxic Heal provides Gliscor with an eighth of it's HP back each turn. Substitute prevents a lot of attacks from interfering with the return, and Protect can protect those subs even longer, resulting in Gliscor getting back up to 25% or more of it's HP back before you have a chance to break the Substitute. If -YOU- are poisoned as well, this is a REALLY big problem and would often be the cause of me rage-quitting a few matches when I was just starting out. The -best- thing you can do is predict the incoming Gliscor for the first time (or lead with) a Knock-Offer (that outspeeds) and remove that Toxic Orb before the venom sets in. Next, if you can predict Toxic and you have an Ice type move on hand, Use it and put the pain on this thing.

"Friends don't let Friends poison themselves, right?"

[catman9222]

Hasn't sub/protect tox heal gliscor been a thing since gen IV

[Chase]

I'm not just talking about "Gen-Six" then - if it's been there for as long as Gliscor has been a thing, it's been a plague for that long.

[Deleted User]

Hasn't sub/protect tox heal gliscor been a thing since gen IV

It doesn't say anywhere that it has to be a new tactic or pokemon. Good thread Hilda! I encourage the rest of you to contribute your own submissions here.

[Chase]

UnderUsed - UU is home to the bulkiest pokemon you will ever see, and abode to the Mons that flirt with one day being matched up against pseudo-legends as per usual or having fallen from a time where they had done so before. The pair of one-trick pokes that I present have hailed since Pokemon itself has been a thing, and one of them, has a seat at the royal table for being one of competitive battling's founding fathers.

Sash Smash Cloyster

Cloyster's niche use is being able to get fast and deadly, and hit you with really hard repetitive strike moves 5 times every single time with Skill Link. It -really- depends on the move Shell Smash in order to get rolling though, and there's no easier way to ensure you get that Shell Smash off than by running a Focus Sash on it. If you have to switch out on Cloyster. You're in -deep- trouble. The best way to get rid of this thing is start wailing at it on sight. (If you can immediately click Special attacks, DO IT, the Clam hates them.) If it gets Shell Smash off, it's almost guaranteed to KO at least one Pokemon.

Sash Attacker Alakazam

Alakazam is one of the few Pokemon that is unique in that it's impervious to hazards due to it's ability 'Magic Guard'. This means, if it's running a Focus Sash, it's an easy revenge killer that doesn't give a rip if there are hazards to damage it on the field and can if -needed- take a hit. It's best usage though is after you cause someone -else- to faint, allowing it to switch in for free and pressure the opponent freely. If used correctly, this sash won't break and Alakazam will blow the doors off of your team, after matching you punch for punch. One of the best competitive Pokemon since forever - and still has a bit of stock today, even if it does have a grandiose Mega that overshadows it.

[Commander]

Personally, I use a Scarf-Trick Alakazam. It's a fun way to stop a sweeper. Anyways, here's one we all know and love:

If you don't know about this guy, then you need to play more Metagame. This guy is remembered for one thing: Leech Seed + Sub. Personally, I've used one in the past and it works great for a trick room team, but man this thing is annoying (sometimes unbeatable) if you don't throw a status effect on it which is actually why I love it.

Here's another one: Harvest Trevenant

Honestly, I'm surprised this one isn't used more in the UU tier (or whatever tier it was moved to). With a Sitrus Berry slapped onto it, this thing can last a very long time combined with Leech Seed. I uhh...can't really think of anything else to say because I haven't used one myself.

[Deleted User]

The thing about Trevenant is, it can operate on either a Sitrus Berry or Lum Berry + Rest. They're absolutely different. Sub Seed is not the only set out there that sees fair usage IMO.

[Chase]

OK people, lemme do a little policing...

1. Please talk about the SMOGON tier or OTHER Metagame that your Pokemon is used in - at least indicate where you would see it the most.

2. You have to be very specific about sets. We're not talking about Pokemon with a lot of options so much as we are talking about "go-to" or "only viable" options depending on the situation. They aren't plagues if they are not the most common by far on the ladder.

3. You have to see the Pokemon -often-, so Trevenant for example, is a Pokemon that is questionable at best because of it's lower than expected usage, Commander. Unless -you- see it on the ladder all the time. It's not how much you -would- use it, but how much -others- use it, here.

RarelyUsed (RU) - This tier is known for the exact opposite reason as UU. Attackers run WILD in these parts, with the biggest threats being set-up sweepers and all-out attackers. It -is- possible to stall in this tier, but boy is it a rare sight to see. The two Pokemon I'm listing are Pokemon that have a specific uncanny ability to put the hurt on your team nearly for free, and are both good mons to look at if your just starting to build down here.

ALL OUT AMBIPOM

Ambipom will be carrying a Life Orb and will be tasked with doing one thing, over and over and over again. Doing "WAY too much" damage with Technician Fake Out (due to it being STAB) to the point where using it and getting the assured flinch feels cheap, and then Knocking Off your items and hurting your ghost types. It also has a plethora of coverage moves, Return, and U-turn to utilize a quick and safe escape while getting chip damage off. This thing is literally used by everybody on the ladder, and if you value your life, bring something particularly psychically bulky that can burn or paralyze this Pokemon. It can be quite the nuisance if gone unchecked.

Belly Drum Unburden Slurpuff

Slurpuff will be carrying a Sitrus Berry and will want to Belly Drum ASAP. Belly Drum not only means an automatic +6 attack to use Return and Play Rough a gazillion times, but a handy speed buff from it's ability unburden. Priority and hitting this thing REALLY hard as SOON as you see it come out of the Pokeball are your best bets to shutting down what could potentially be an embarrassing sweep.

[Void]

Hasn't sub/protect tox heal gliscor been a thing since gen IV

no, poison heal gliscor did not exist in gen IV