VGC 19 Analysis #1 – Xerneas
Yep, we’re back doing VGC analysis articles! Guess what else is gracing VGC players with their presence again… that’s right, the uber legends have returned to competitive play! So what better way is there to kick start the return of our Analysis series than talking about one of the ubers you’re going to be seeing all season long? Enter, the God Deer, Xerneas!
Now, we’re not going to be attempting to redefine Xerneas at all with any zany Specs, Scarf or Big Berry sets. Whilst they could all have their niche, there’s literally no point in handicapping one of your two restricted picks; all the following sets are going to utilise Xerneas’ Power Herb, Geomancy set.
Pokémon Analysis 20 – Tapu Lele!
Well, as we promised a Tapu Lele giveaway over on Facebook, we may as well give you a few sets to choose from! So here we go, our second Guardian analysis will focus on VGC 17’s premium Psychic type!
Pokémon Analysis 19: Tapu Koko!
I guess this was the obvious step right? After finishing our Analysis on the weather quartet, it’s about time Chaoticespeon.com moved on to another quartet which have all but dominated the VGC 17 metagame thanks to their unique ability to set Terrains on switch in! We’ll kick start our analysis on the Guardian Deities with Tapu Koko, the first Tapu to win an International Championship all the way back in Decemeber!
Megamite’s Meme Box: Pyukumuku
*DISCLAIMER* Everything inside these articles is either at the extreme edge of niche or is outright outclassed by Pokemon that can perform their role better or perform multiple given roles while outclassing them and aren’t meant to be used seriously (unless you really want to anyway). I believe Pyukumuku is outclassed by CurseLax or BD + Stockpile Lax as both can perform the “end game indestructible wincon” that Pyukumuku will almost always be performing while exerting offensive pressure against the opposing team, among other Pokemon it shares a typing with being generally more valuable.
Pyukumuku’s niche over Gastrodon and Milotic (both Water types with Recover) lies in the ability Unaware, making it a somewhat reliable wincon against any Pokemon that cannot hit it for x2 or isn’t strong enough to KO Pyukumuku with a timely critical hit. Running Unaware unfortunately means that Pyukumuku cannot be aided by Intimidate or Snarl which, while disappointing, is far outweighed by the benefits compared to Innards Out as this ability goes against the entire point of Pyukumuku – NOT to be knocked out.
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Pokémon Analysis 17 – Winter is Coming!
So here we are, we’ve made it through searing sun, relentless rain and sordid sand to arrive at our final weather analysis, only to be greeted by blistering blizzards! Phew, that’s enough alliteration for one article!
Similarly with rain, we’re spoilt for choice with weather setters. Whilst Sand and Sun only have one setter, Rain and Hail have a whopping two! Not only that but Hail has access to an exclusive move Aurora Veil – which is the equivalent of setting both a Reflect and Light Screen in one turn. That’s about it however in terms of positives; yes, you get access to a fully accurate Blizzard too but Hail as a dedicated archetype has a few glaring weaknesses. The most viable Hail setter is quicker than all other weather setters, which means you’ll have to be switching it in to guarantee setting hail; the VGC 17 legal Hail equivalent to Lilligant, Stoutland and Golduck offers much less damage output than the aforementioned trio whilst the offensive diversity between setter and sweeper is seriously lacking. That being said, Hail is an extremely fun strategy to play around with away from a tournament setting, so let’s jump into some frosty sets!
Pokémon Analysis 17 – Pheromosa!
If you look up the term ‘Glass Cannon’ in the dictionary, I’m almost certain you’ll find a picture of UB-02 Beauty staring right back at you! In a VGC meta where bulk is typically favoured over sheer offensive prowess, how does Pheromosa fit in within VGC 17?
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Pokémon Analysis 16 – Kommo-o!
Since the addition of fairy types in Generation Six, Dragon types have seen a little less competitive play. In fact, barring Garchomp (which often is run without a Dragon type attack), there’s not a single Dragon in the top 30 most used Pokémon on Battlespot. Garchomp is the most used among all the dragon types legal in VGC 17, but today, we are focusing on a Pokemon that hasn’t seen much usage of late. Feast your eyes on The Scaly Pokemon: Kommo-o!
*Feature art was created by Yggdrassal – check out more of their work by following this link!*
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Pokémon Analysis 15 – Battlin’ in The Rain!
Oh Gamefreak, you were very, VERY kind to Pelipper during its migration to Alola. No longer can the Hoenn native pelican (oops… sorry… duck) be regarded as your typical early trash bird, it now rivals Politoed for the highly coveted title of ChaoticEspeon’s best Drizzle user!
Both of VGC 17’s Drizzle users function in completely different ways; Pelipper, primarily, is used alongside Swift Swim Golduck to overwhelm opponents offensively, whilst Politoed is the more defensive option, protecting its team mates from opposing Fire attacks whilst disrupting with moves like Encore and Perish Song.
But of course, you’re not here for our classy introductions, you’re here for some snazzy spreads. Lets get started…
Pokémon Analysis 14 – Dhelmise!
Trick Room setters in VGC 17 are something we’ve heavily explored during this analysis series, but what about Pokémon who thrive under the twisted dimensions? With the Tapus running rampant alonside high speed threats like Kartana & Pheromosa it’s essential, whilst teambuilding, to think of ways to combat these threats. What if we showed you a Trick Room sweeper, lurking in the ocean depths waiting to rise up and unleash it’s potential? Interested? You should be. Introducing Dhelmise!
Pokémon Analysis 13: PorygonZ!
Everybody knows about Porygon2 right? With Trick Room playing a major part in the VGC 17 meta, P2’s access to Eviolite and reliable recovery has turned it into, arguably, the best Trick Room setter in the format. But what about its almost forgotten evolution, Porygon Z?
In the earlier stages of the Meta, Sejun Park used a Choice Scarf Porygon-Z on his team, which offered reliable offensive support and coverage. However, with the introduction of Z moves in Gen 7, Porygon-Z certainly lives up to the Z in its name by having access to the moves Conversion, which raises each stat by one stage when turned into Z Conversion, and Hyper Beam, which delivers a destructive base 200 blow to unfortunate recipients.
