Top Ten Coverage Attacks

[Chase]

Captain Obvious here reporting that Pokemon, can learn moves that don't match with their typing. This is an advantageous feat for the Pokemon in most instances, where the Pokemon has threat of taking out Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it.

The question though....which moves tuck in your 'Mon safely at night, the best? Top Ten Coverage Moves, Leggo. (oh yeah, and if you don't agree with my list or you feel I missed something. Lemme see YOURS.)

Number 10 - Hidden Power

Hidden Power is determined off of your Pokemon's IV spread...or....something. It's a weird quirk that you don't find in DS battles too often, but in PokeSims you can usually find a special attacker using Hidden Power _____ to provide them with just the coverage they would need. Hidden Power has the potential to catch people off guard, switching in a Pokemon that would normally force your 'Mon out only to see the underdog win the type match-up. I'll admit. The move that could be ANY type is sort of a cop-out pick - but no move is designed for being a coverage move better than Hidden Power...or...maybe not.

Number 9 - Extrasensory

Extrasensory is a stronger move than HP, hailing from the Psychic type - a rare coverage move department. It also has a chance to flinch the opponent. Extrasensory is note-worthy due to the immense amount of non-psychic type Mons that pick up it, such as Exploud, Raikou, Zoroark, Shiftry, the Genies....Extrasensory is pretty good.

Number 8 - Giga Drain

Giga Drain is most common on Grass type Pokemon for sustain, but in lower tiers, it makes for a fearsome coverage move on the likes of Heatmor, Eelektross, Yanmega, and....Flygon?....huh....Anyway, the recovery option makes most grass types viable as their defensive synergy is lacking. Things without the grass typing getting this move can really pay off. Oh yeah, Overrate-...OU and Ubers are not safe either, with Ho-Oh and Volcarona joining in on the Giga Drain fun.

Number 7 - Heat Wave

Fire is one of the best offensive types in my opinion, and it's seen in vast majority of most Pokemon's move-pool in some form or fashion. Heat Wave however benefits a few note-worthy special attackers, such as Sigilyph in RU, Mega-Pidgeot in UU, and Zapdos in OU. In doubles, this move can be used if for whatever reason your opponent is like Hilda and protects with BOTH of her Pokemon, thus leaving both of them stranded next turn. In any format, this move works very nicely.

Number 6 - Stone Edge

Yes, Yes....Stone Miss makes this list. My reasoning is actually personal however. I really like to use Fighting and Grass type Pokemon, and both types are not appreciative of birdspam. Bugs and Birds don't really like powerful rock type moves, and most Bug types are Bug/Flying for some reason, meaning my Chesnaught or Virizion has a solid chance of knocking out potential threats with it on the switch. A Pokemon that also doesn't like Stone Edge is Talonflame. Ha.

Number 5 - Ice Beam

I have a lot of respect for Ice Beam. It works well in conjunction with Thunderbolt. It takes out annoying Ground/Flying types (how does that even make sense, Gound Fly-...GameFreak....when you made Gligar, were you all collectively on drugs?) like Gliscor and Landorus-I/T, and like grass, it comes from an offensive type with potential. Many Pokemon can learn Ice Beam, like Staryu in LC, Starmie in OU, Nidoking/queen, etc, making it a move that works well on non-ice types.

Number 4 - Knock Off

Early Gen-6 was the Knock Off meta pretty much across the board. Aegislash was felled by a carefully timed attack, losing it's Life Orb at the very worst. Knock Off's secondary utility makes it a desirable move for not only Dark types, but things like Conkeldurr and Hitmonlee that benefit from protection from Psychic and Ghost types. Psychics for the very same reason - and if you don't trust your STABS, your Ghosties can probably learn it too. M-Banette is such an exception. Knock Off is a near must on most teams - but you don't have to give it to the most obvious 'Mon in your party, which is GREAT.

Number 3 - Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch being a coverage move is probably seen more in my neck of the woods down in RU, where it's common on Pokemon such as Druddigon and Emboar, but it catches opposing Psychics off guard all the same as Knock Off would. To be completely honest though, Druddigon learning this move has made the Dragon a loveable friend in my eyes, and one of my favorites of the type. Druddigon singlehandedly put Sucker Punch this high. Priority is always welcome.

Number 2 - Leaf Blade

Leaf Blade is my favorite attack of all time, and Gallade is my favorite Mega of all time and an absolute darling in RU. Personal preference pick here. <3

Number 1 - Earthquake

...and it's not even a close race. Earthquake is like nacho cheese, bacon, or chocolate. It goes great with EVERYTHING. Heck, even SPECIAL attackers throw the ole EQ on their sets. If a pure rock type can learn it, it pairs well with Stone Edge, enabling the Pokemon to hit everything in the tier for neutral damage. Earthquake has cemented itself throughout all of Pokemon's existence as an OG coverage move.

Honorable Mentions

- Bullet Punch - A nice form of priority held by Medicham and Hariyama that dents Fairy types.

- Thunderbolt - Not as helpful as Ice Beam in my opinion, but still is a good slot filler.

- Weather Ball - On Chlorophyll Pokemon, this move provides Grass type Pokemon with a Fire type move that's -very- unique. No, Castform is -not- the only 'Mon that learns it. The more, you know...~ Mostly seen in Little Cup.

- Seismic Toss - This move isn't a world beater by any means, but it helps pure walls like Chansey, Blissey, and Registeel in conjunction with paralysis maintain some offensive hope.

[Reno]

Rock Slide is all you need.

Live and die by Rock Slide.

[Darvan Korematsu]

Well let's see: (Pulls out list)

-Close Combat

-Fake Out

-Will-o-Wisp

-Thunder Wave

-Toxic

-U-turn

-Superpower

-Brick Break

Yup that's all I can think of. These moves are seen quite a bit, except for maybe Brick Break, b/c screen breaking is not as important this grn.