So you know how to build a team or copy one that was successful and wonder why you’re still losing? Competitive Pokemon is about making the best possible move according to the opponent’s probable moves and these strategies will help you to gain an advantage during your battles.
One common mistake that people make is to think that because they have Pokemon A that counters Pokemon B in their opponent’s team, they’ll be able to handle it. As you have probably experienced, it doesn’t always go as planned. Let’s take a view of some strategies that might help…
PREDICTION
Read More
It is exactly as the word “Predict” defines. You have to anticipate what your opponent is going to do and strike your opponent according to your anticipation. A very high risk high reward technique.
Let’s say you have Mamoswine as your active Pokemon against your opponent’s Heatran, it is very likely that your opponent will not stay in on the Earthquake and might switch into his Latios and pick you up with a draco meteor, you anticipate this and use icicle crash instead OHKOing his Latios. Giving you a huge advantage.
REGRESSIVE PLAYS
Read More
So your opponent is reading you like a book and keeps predicting your moves? Start mixing up your plays. One thing that throws off people a lot is playing like a brand-new player. Being able to mix up your reactions will prevent your opponent from reading you easily. If you don’t know anything about a player, try to gather some knowledge on how he plays during the game to switch your playstyle accordingly.
Let’s say you’re playing Arcanine and your opponent sends out Analytic Starmie. You could switch back to your Tangrowth but your opponent tends to hit on the switch rather than what is in front of him/her. Starmie could very likely be going for Ice Beam to kill Tangrowth which would put you in a bad situation. What then? Wild Charge on Arcanine to tank the Ice Beam with ease and then OHKO Starmie.
DOUBLE SWITCH
Read More
Double switching refers to switching twice in a row trying to force a favorable matchup. It is a very risky play, especially if your opponent just attacks what is in front but can be very rewarding.
So let’s say you switched into your Tangrowth to deal with Azumarill. Your opponent has Scizor in the back and you have Magnezone, trying to figure out how to find a way to trap him. You expect him to switch into Scizor and U-turn to counter Tangrowth but you decide to double switch right away into Magnezone without using any move on Tangrowth. You then end up Scizor VS Magnezone.
LURE
Read More
This is a strategy to remove a threat to your team by baiting it in to punish it. Double-switching is a good way to lure specific threats but you have other ways to do so. If you identify something that can be a problem for your team and especially your win condition, preparing a lure is a great way to deal with it. It is commonly done with a “Surprise Move” [which is not very common in your Pokemon’s competitive moveset] but is not limited to this technique as trapping Steel types with Magnet Pull is also involved in the concept of luring.
Using Hidden Power Fire on Tangrowth to lure in Scizor and kill it or using Garchomp with Flamethrower/Fire Blast to take out Skarmory are good examples.
VOLTURN
Read More
Volt Switch and U-Turn allow your team to be more fluid and switch around with less risk than double switching. It also allows you to break Focus Sash while counter-picking your opponent. It is a very common strategy used in competitive and helps in gaining momentum.
A slow Volt-Switch/U-Turn user helps you can bring something else safely without taking damage. Pokemon like bulky Scizor or Forretress have enough bulk to absorb a hit and will move second against most matchups and can Pivot to safely bring in hard hitters that are frailer but can dish out big damage against the opponents.
A fast Volt-Switch/U-Turn user offensively threatens the opponents active Pokemon forcing switch ins and Volt-Turn helps you to gain offensive momentum via a free switch and some chip damage. Hydreigon and Mienshao are good examples as they can dish out a lot of damage but may be forced out by some defensive checks.
PANIC DEFOG
Read More
An effective technique to slot in the move “Defog” as an insurance to regain lost advantage against the opponent who would have setup entry hazards that cripple your team away from the win condition. It can be very beneficial to fit into offensive teams that do not like losing momentum.
Scarfed Landorus-T and Specs/Scarfed Latios are good examples as they will be used primarily for dealing damage or as speed control but can still hold Defog as backup.
SUICIDE LEAD
Read More
A Pokemon that is used as a sacrifice at the beginning of the battle to set up entry hazards. It is a very common tactic in hyper offensive teams allowing sweepers to clean up opponent teams easier with the help of chip damage provided by the hazards (often removing focus sashes).
Aerodactyl is a pokemon with fantastic speed and can set up stealth rocks and taunt the opponent preventing them from setting up their own hazards and with a focus sash it can live one hit helping it to perform its role effectively.
Shuckle with the sturdy ability and its natural bulk can survive a hit and set up sticky webs to slow down the opponents and can also set up stealth rocks, by holding a mental herb it can prevent itself from being taunted and also has access to encore to prevent set ups or hazard removal.
SCOUTING
Read More
It is a strategy to gather information about the opponent’s Pokemon, helping in effective counterplay, popularly with the move “Protect”. It often eliminates risk of losing advantage.
You have led the battle with your Gliscor and your opponent leads with his Rotom-Wash, Gliscor can use protect to unveil Rotom’s set before switching (into your Rotom check i.e, Amoonguss, Seismitoad, Chansey. etc) eliminating the risk of it being a choice scarf or choice specs set with trick.
by in
