Pokemon of the Week!

[NDG Silver]

Let's start this off with the very first fully evolved pokemon, Venusaur, shall we?



#003 Venusaur
Seed Pokemon
Base Stats:
HP: 80
Atk: 82
Def: 83
Sp Atk: 100
Sp Def: 100
Spd: 80


For battling you earn 2 SP.Atk and 1 SP. Def from it.

One of the more popular movesets for Venusaur would be something like this:
Nature: Calm
252 HP/ 128 Def / 128 SpDef
Item: Leftovers
Substitute
Leech Seed
Sludge Bomb
Sleep Powder

This set works very nicely because Venusaur is one of the best Substitute/Leech Seed combo users out there~ This allows Venusaur to survive for veeery long periods of time and makes it difficult for a sweeper to take it down, especially behind a substitute.

Now for one of my crazy movesets. lol
You will probably never see something like this; but here goes anyway!

Nature: Adamant
Item: Leftovers / Life Orb
252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Swords Dance
Outrage
Earthquake
Power Whip

Looking over the moveset for Venusaur, I've learned that it has a very small movepool and thus can't do alot. I was however able to randomly make this up on the fly~ Haha, when you look at it's base stats you can tell that it's not as prominent a physical attacker as it is a special attacker. I'm sure using this, you could give someone quite a shock. I didn't even realize Venusaur could use Outrage until now. lol  

[NDG Silver]

Welcome back to Pokemon of the Week! The next Pokemon is:



#243 Raikou
Ability: Pressure
Thunder Pokemon
Base Stats:
Hp: 90
Atk: 85
Def: 75
Sp.Atk: 115
Sp.Def: 100
Spd: 115

For battling it, you get 1 Sp.Atk EV and 2 Spd EVs.

One of the more popular movesets for Raikou is:
Nature: Timid
4 HP / 252 SpAtk / 252 Spd
Item: Life Orb
Calm Mind / Charge Beam
Thunderbolt
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fighting

This moveset allows Raikou to boost it's special attack by way of either Calm Mind and Charge Beam, and then severely damaging opponents with only one turn of setup, thanks to Life Orb.

With Black and White soon to hit the shelves, Nintendo has begun to release the trio of legendary dogs from the Gold Silver games, Entei, Raikou and Suicune with very unique movesets. Here, I will show you a moveset that I have personally come up with, keeping these event moves in mind.

Nature: Rash (only)
Item: Life Orb
80 Atk / 252 Sp. Atk / 180 Spd
Thunder
Weather Ball (Water)
Aura Sphere
ExtremeSpeed

This moveset should be used on a team with Rain Dance support. That way Thunder becomes 100% accurate and Weather Ball becomes a base 100 Water type attack. Aura Sphere never misses and adds to the type coverage of the set which is only truly resisted by Celebi and Exeggutor with the exception of Extremespeed which frankly won't be enough to take down either one of them.  

[NDG Silver]

Week 3 of Pokemon of the Week!



#222 Corsola
Ability: Hustle / Natural Cure
Coral Pokemon
Base Stats:
Hp: 55
Atk: 50
Def: 85
Sp.Atk: 65
Sp.Def: 85
Spd: 35

You get 1 Def and 1 Sp.Def EVs when battling it.

Corsola's more popular moveset would be something like this:
Nature: Modest
252 HP / 252 SpAtk / 4 SpDef
Ability: Natural Cure
Item: Leftovers
Recover
Surf
Ice Beam
Hidden Power Grass / Power Gem

This moveset allows Corsola to do what it's best at, which honestly isn't much. In it's tier it's an acceptable tank, taking hits and dealing out as much damage as it can. Recover also helps it survive much longer.

With this in mind, the set that I would create here, will be just a little different.

Nature: Careful
HP 252 / Atk 4 / SpDef 252
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Recover
Curse
Earthquake
Stone Edge / Rock Slide

This set is designed to be heavy on walling, and with a little setup, can work as a tank as well. The Hustle ability could even work on this set as well to boost the power of Earthquake and one of the other attacks, but the accuracy drop of the attacks makes it very risky. It also takes away the ability to absorb status effects that Natural Cure does.  

[NDG Silver]

Week 4, who wants some more?



#62 Poliwrath
Ability: Damp / Water Absorb
Tadpole Pokemon
Base Stats:
HP: 90
Atk: 85
Def: 95
Sp.Atk: 70
Sp.Def: 90
Spd: 70

You gain 3 Defense EVs for battling Poliwrath

Poliwrath has many uses, and here is just one of them:
Nature: Adamant
Item: Leftovers
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Ability: Water Absorb
Substitute
Focus Punch
Waterfall / Ice Punch
Encore / Bulk Up / Hypnosis

This moveset is mainly a substitute focus punch combo set, where you get a free turn to set up the substitute and then proceed to fire off focus punches until the sub breaks. Focus Punch is dangerously powerful, and not many pokemon can take one well, even if they resist it. Encore and Hypnosis are here to force a switch and give you the opportunity to set up that substitute, and Bulk Up further increases the danger that is Focus Punch and whichever other physical attack that you do decide on using.

Okay, so since I sat down and took a long look at all that Poliwrath can offer a team, I only saw two things that hadn't been done. And since one I already know is a terrible idea, I bring you the more efficient one.

Nature: Adamant
Item: Choice Band
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Ability: Water Absorb
Waterfall
Brick Break
Payback
Earthquake / Ice Punch

Yeah, that's right. It's a choice band set. Though extremely risky, this is a set that may possibly make some of Poliwrath's counters a little nervous. If Poliwrath survives an attack from a Slowbro, for example, he can respond with Payback and do some scary damage. The choice between Earthquake and Ice Punch is a tough one since Ice Punch hits Dragons and Flying types that might try to overcome Poliwrath while Earthquake's raw power can keep any Electric pokemon at bay. Rock Slide is also an option, though it's just not as good as Stone Edge, since the flinch is most often, not worth it.  

[NDG Silver]

Week 5! Pokemon of the Week!



#85 Dodrio
Ability: Run Away / Early Bird
Triple Bird Pokemon
Base Stats:
HP: 60
Atk: 110
Def: 70
Sp.Atk: 60
Sp.Def: 60
Spd: 100

You get 2 attack EVs from fighting these guys.

Standard Dodrio!
Nature: Jolly
Item: Choice Band
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Ability: Early Bird
Brave Bird
Return
Pursuit / Payback
Quick Attack / Toxic

This set is dangerous in the fact that Dodrio is already very fast, so he has no worry of pokemon outspeeding him as he pummels his opposition with Brave Bird and Return, his two powerful stabs. This set relies on pure power and speed and if you're troubled by a rock type or two, switch quick attack for toxic and weaken your opponent.

Now for an alternative.
Nature: Jolly
Item: Life Orb
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Ability: Early Bird
Brave Bird
Return
Roost
Knock Off / Faint Attack

By using Life Orb, you make Dodrio more versatile with a little less power. Brave Bird and return still do great damage, and Roost is there to heal off all the recoil from Brave Bird and Life Orb. Knock off is used to knock away beneficial items from your opponents while Faint Attack hits ghost hard.  

[NDG Silver]

Pokemon of the Week! Week 6~!



#344 Claydol
Ability: Levitate
Clay Doll Pokemon
Base Stats:
Hp: 60
Atk: 70
Def: 105
Sp.Atk: 70
Sp.Def: 120
Spd: 75

You gain 2 Sp. Def EVs from fighting Claydol.

The most often seen moveset for Claydol would be:
Nature: Bold
Item: Leftovers
252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpAtk
Ability: Levitate
Stealth Rock
Rapid Spin
Earth Power
Psychic / Ice Beam / Shadow Ball

This Support set for Claydol may be the best way to use it. Sending him as the lead pokemon ensures that he can at least set up Stealth Rock, or Rapid Spin away the opponent's Stealth Rock, or do both even! Many teams benefit from Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin support, and this pokemon uses both of them with moderate success.

If however, you feel that you want to use Claydol with a more offensive set, here's one to work with.
Nature: Modest
Item: Chesto Berry
160 HP / 252 SpAtk / 96 Spd
Ability: Levitate
Calm Mind
Earth Power
Psychic / Ice Beam
Rest

This moveset turns Claydol into a bulky offensive threat. Earth Power and Psychic work well together, with the two attacks being able to mostly stop whatever resists the other attack. The idea is to use Calm Mind as many times as you can before you need to rest, and activate the Chesto Berry to awaken instantly. Then you choose your primary attacks to fire off, or if you feel that your Sp.Atk isn't high enough, you can keep boosting.  

[NDG Silver]

Pokemon of the Week Part 7!
I missed it yesterday, and since it was Valentine's Day, I was going to post Luvdisc as the next one, but that's alright.



#245 Suicune
Ability: Pressure
Aurora Pokemon
Base Stats:
Hp: 100
Atk: 75
Def: 115
Sp.Atk: 90
Sp.Def: 115
Spd: 85

You gain 1 Def and 2 Sp.Def EVs from Suicune.

Suicune, once upon a time was considered to be one of the best competitive pokemon in the game, it's stats make it the bulkiest water type out there, and it's extremely difficult to handle.
Nature: Bold
Item: Leftovers
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sp.Def
Surf
Calm Mind
Rest
Sleep Talk

Back in Suicune's prime, this set was the bread and butter of Suicune. It may not look like much, and with only one offensive move, one might think that this moveset is no big deal. However, those people would be wrong. Even with just one offensive move, Surf, This pokemon is still a force to be reckoned with, and with enough setup will be almost impossible to take down. Suicune keeps itself alive while either firing off boosted Surfs, doing good damage to even resisting pokemon, or making itself even bulkier by Calm Mind. Defense and Offense in the same set.

Suicune is normally seen as a defensive threat but, it works very well in offensive sets as well. Here's a good example.
Nature: Timid
Item: Leftovers / Life Orb
252 Sp.Atk / 4 Sp.Def / 252 Spd
Calm Mind
Hydro Pump / Surf
Ice Beam
Hidden Power [Electric]

This offensive moveset can really throw someone off guard if they're expecting a defensive Suicune like above. It's not hard to fool them either. Calm Mind and Surf are both things you'd normally see on a Suicune, but to see it fire off Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, and Hidden Power Electric, it'll throw 'em for a loop. Also, with these three types of attacks, Suicune gets a full type coverage against the entire game, meaning his attacks will never be fully resisted.  

[NDG Silver]

Pokemon of the Week Part 8!



#178 Xatu
Ability: Early Bird / Synchronize
Mystic Pokemon
Base Stats:
Hp: 65
Atk: 75
Def: 70
SpAtk: 95
SpDef: 70
Speed: 95

You gain 1 Sp. Atk and 1 Speed from fighting Xatu.

Xatu is a pokemon with a somewhat unique type combination, that makes it resist one of it's more problematic weaknesses, Bug. It's also one of the few pokemon that can come in on a fighting type attack and resist it by 4 times. Xatu also has a very nice defensive movepool to work with, and two great abilities to work with as well.

Nature: Jolly
Item: Leftovers
248 HP / 44 Def / 216 Speed
Ability: Synchronize
Wish
U-Turn
Zen Headbutt
Reflect / Light Screen

This Xatu focuses solely on team support, by way of passing Wish, Setting up screens, and Scouting with U-turn. With this Xatu, setting up a frail sweeper is much easier. That sweeper now has a screen to protect it from powerful attacks, and half of Xatu's health value recovered when Xatu uses U-turn after a wish.

~

Nature: Timid
Item: Choice Specs
40 HP / 252 SpAtk / 216 Spd
Ability: Synchronize
Psychic
Signal Beam
Heat Wave
Trick / Grass Knot

This set focuses on the offensive capabilities of Xatu as a Special Sweeper. Xatu's Special Attack tops out at 434 with a Timid nature and Choice Specs, which will most certain tear through pokemon that aren't expecting it. It's speed tops out at 308, and is definitely needed, but if you absolutely want to use a modest nature that is also possible, but the drop in speed without a scarf isn't worth it.