A slightly off-topic post...
I've been at an anime convention in Sacramento (Sac-Anime) since yesterday evening. So, I won't be posting regularly today or tomorrow (I have my phone and 3DS, but no computer). If I happen to StreetPass tag you, hello! (I've set my Mii to my personal one, and renamed it Dusk.) I'm off to search for Pokémon-related things!
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Friday, August 29, 2014
Singin' in the Rain: Lapras
Today, I'll be talking about a Pokémon that can work particularly well on rain-based weather teams...and that Pokémon is Lapras. I considered doing a "Competitive Pokémon of the Week" for this peaceful beast, but I thought that, because I'll be using one on my first-ever rain team, I might as well talk about how Lapras can be used very effectively in that weather condition.
1. Lapras can use Rain Dance, and generally not be too affected by using its first turn in this way.
If you have a rain team, you obviously need rain! Unless you happen to have a Politoed with Drizzle (or are using a Kyogre, in which case everything will end up fainting just because...it's a Kyogre!) you'll need to get the rain started. While a multitude of Pokémon can learn Rain Dance, you'll probably want whatever uses Rain Dance to not take a lot of damage in the first turn. Lapras' Defense and HP stats are hearty enough to where it will probably be just fine even if it needs to set up the rain.
2. Even if it does take a lot of damage in the first turn, Hydration can easily fix that. OR: Even if it does take a lot of damage, Hydration can easily fix that.
Having a Lapras with Hydration and Rest is a wonderful combination. Hydration heals any status conditions Lapras has-- provided that it's raining-- meaning that your Lapras can close their eyes, take a brief nap, and then wake up the next turn with full HP.
3. Lapras has Perish Song, and that is why this is called "Singin' in the Rain."
Lapras' ability to use Perish Song makes it incredibly dangerous as a foe in the rain. Why? Provided that you have another Pokémon Lapras can switch out to, whatever is fighting your Lapras-- even if it's difficult to KO-- can easily be defeated. How?
1. Have a Lapras equipped with Perish Song and another Pokémon equipped with a binding move (or, if you're willing to use eugenics, a Lapras equipped with Whirlpool).
2. Send out the Pokémon with the binding move (or, in Doubles, just use the binding move) and use it.
3. Send out Lapras (or, in Doubles, just use the move) and use Perish Song.
4. Switch out Lapras to another Pokémon.
5. Whatever is trapped in the binding move will faint in three turns provided that it does not become untrapped.
4. It's a Water/Ice type.
This is fun for a whole variety of reasons; mostly that you can down dragons and Grass-types with relative ease before they do serious damage to your team.
Will your Lapras sing in the rain?
1. Lapras can use Rain Dance, and generally not be too affected by using its first turn in this way.
If you have a rain team, you obviously need rain! Unless you happen to have a Politoed with Drizzle (or are using a Kyogre, in which case everything will end up fainting just because...it's a Kyogre!) you'll need to get the rain started. While a multitude of Pokémon can learn Rain Dance, you'll probably want whatever uses Rain Dance to not take a lot of damage in the first turn. Lapras' Defense and HP stats are hearty enough to where it will probably be just fine even if it needs to set up the rain.
2. Even if it does take a lot of damage in the first turn, Hydration can easily fix that. OR: Even if it does take a lot of damage, Hydration can easily fix that.
Having a Lapras with Hydration and Rest is a wonderful combination. Hydration heals any status conditions Lapras has-- provided that it's raining-- meaning that your Lapras can close their eyes, take a brief nap, and then wake up the next turn with full HP.
3. Lapras has Perish Song, and that is why this is called "Singin' in the Rain."
Lapras' ability to use Perish Song makes it incredibly dangerous as a foe in the rain. Why? Provided that you have another Pokémon Lapras can switch out to, whatever is fighting your Lapras-- even if it's difficult to KO-- can easily be defeated. How?
1. Have a Lapras equipped with Perish Song and another Pokémon equipped with a binding move (or, if you're willing to use eugenics, a Lapras equipped with Whirlpool).
2. Send out the Pokémon with the binding move (or, in Doubles, just use the binding move) and use it.
3. Send out Lapras (or, in Doubles, just use the move) and use Perish Song.
4. Switch out Lapras to another Pokémon.
5. Whatever is trapped in the binding move will faint in three turns provided that it does not become untrapped.
4. It's a Water/Ice type.
This is fun for a whole variety of reasons; mostly that you can down dragons and Grass-types with relative ease before they do serious damage to your team.
Will your Lapras sing in the rain?
 |
| (Via thvbh.wordpress.com.) |
Thursday, August 28, 2014
The Bizarre Case of Mega Kangaskhan
Kangaskhan is a Pokémon that was, until relatively recently, forgotten. Its concept was interesting: a Normal-type marsupial with its young "child" in tow, ready to witness its mother participate in battles. Even in Generation I, Kangaskhan was listed as "Under-Used," where it-- for the most part-- remained for its competitive life before falling into "Never-Used" during Generation V. Generation VI has been exceptionally kind to Kangaskhan, perhaps even to a fault. She was given a Mega Evolution with huge offensive capabilities; each move Kangaskhan uses hits twice, because, after five generations of simply observing, Kangaskhan's "child" has come to battle as a rather fearsome opponent.
You might be wondering: why is this so strange? Plenty of Pokémon from Generation I were given massive upgrades with Generation VI, from the introduction of Fairy types to Mega Evolutions which may be less than fair in terms of power boosts.
Don't get me wrong; I've always been fond of Kangaskhan! Ever since I first saw her design at roughly the age of eight or nine, I found her adorable and impressive, even if just in design. Kangaskhan's inclusion of her child in her battling career is unlike any other Pokémon in existence, and it should make sense that an ability like Parental Bond is put into place in order to better harness this potential. So, what's the problem?
Kangaskhan is a member of the Uber tier and banned alongside Mega Blaziken (and occasionally Mega Gengar) in a large percentage of tournaments.
I suppose we were expecting it with Blaziken, as that fiery chicken/martial artist has been a member of the Uber tier since Generation 5 due to possessing Speed Boost. (Even before this, it was fairly powerful.) Gengar gaining the ability to use Dazzling Gleam alongside its collection of Ghost- and Poison-type moves makes it a feasible threat, especially with the boosted power granted by Mega Evolving. Kangaskhan transformed from a Pokémon that was stuck among various other Normal-types in a category the average competitive battler disregarded, into one of the most deadly powerhouses in the Generation 6 metagame overnight. (And it didn't need help from a Ditto!) Parental Bond is Kangaskhan's Speed Boost; and, like Blaziken, it gains this ability as soon as it Mega Evolves. Kangaskhan's child hops out of its pouch and readies itself for combat, copying its mother's moves exactly...and hitting the opponent again. While its attacks have their power decreased by 50%, the fact that Mega Kangaskhan does 150% damage with every attack is frightening enough. Combine this with STAB and/or moves that hit more than once, and the once-forgotten marsupial mother becomes a sweeper capable of downing half a Trainer's team in no time flat.
Is it wonderful? Yes. Is it frightening? Yes. Should it be banned? Yes. Should we start to hate Mega Kangaskhan with a passion? No.
It's true; Mega Kangaskhan is very, very powerful. (It does have an Attack stat of 125!) It can be a particular pain in Doubles, and still a valid tormentor in Singles. The fact that a Pokémon once forgotten by the competitive world can become so powerful so quickly is amazing, and sort of inspiring. Even before it could Mega Evolve, Kangaskhan could still function well in battle. Those who love it dearly can still use it without Mega Evolution, and those who paid it no mind can dabble in the Uber-ranked power of mother and child.
You might be wondering: why is this so strange? Plenty of Pokémon from Generation I were given massive upgrades with Generation VI, from the introduction of Fairy types to Mega Evolutions which may be less than fair in terms of power boosts.
 |
| Kangaskhan in Gen 1 (Yellow). (From http://pokemondb.net/sprites/kangaskhan.) |
Kangaskhan is a member of the Uber tier and banned alongside Mega Blaziken (and occasionally Mega Gengar) in a large percentage of tournaments.
I suppose we were expecting it with Blaziken, as that fiery chicken/martial artist has been a member of the Uber tier since Generation 5 due to possessing Speed Boost. (Even before this, it was fairly powerful.) Gengar gaining the ability to use Dazzling Gleam alongside its collection of Ghost- and Poison-type moves makes it a feasible threat, especially with the boosted power granted by Mega Evolving. Kangaskhan transformed from a Pokémon that was stuck among various other Normal-types in a category the average competitive battler disregarded, into one of the most deadly powerhouses in the Generation 6 metagame overnight. (And it didn't need help from a Ditto!) Parental Bond is Kangaskhan's Speed Boost; and, like Blaziken, it gains this ability as soon as it Mega Evolves. Kangaskhan's child hops out of its pouch and readies itself for combat, copying its mother's moves exactly...and hitting the opponent again. While its attacks have their power decreased by 50%, the fact that Mega Kangaskhan does 150% damage with every attack is frightening enough. Combine this with STAB and/or moves that hit more than once, and the once-forgotten marsupial mother becomes a sweeper capable of downing half a Trainer's team in no time flat.
Is it wonderful? Yes. Is it frightening? Yes. Should it be banned? Yes. Should we start to hate Mega Kangaskhan with a passion? No.
It's true; Mega Kangaskhan is very, very powerful. (It does have an Attack stat of 125!) It can be a particular pain in Doubles, and still a valid tormentor in Singles. The fact that a Pokémon once forgotten by the competitive world can become so powerful so quickly is amazing, and sort of inspiring. Even before it could Mega Evolve, Kangaskhan could still function well in battle. Those who love it dearly can still use it without Mega Evolution, and those who paid it no mind can dabble in the Uber-ranked power of mother and child.
 |
| Battle on, Kangaskhan. Battle on. (From officialnintendomagazine.co.uk.) |
As to my Disappearance and General Updates
I understand that I have become very inactive with this project for the past month. It is not that I have lost interest; far from it. I have simply had too many other things going on, like the injury of a family member and the fact that my school term resumed on the 5th of August. I intend to become active with this blogging project again, and post as soon and often as is acceptable and possible for me. I apologize for my disappearance and will prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)