u/Ekyt — reddlx

[Skill Improvement] What can I do to improve this team?

*Please forgive the lack of correct items on Aero and Lass, it's meant to be the King's Rock and Mega Stone respectively*

Alright, so this is a team that I've built around Basculegion, and Liepard. I've been trying to think upon this for a while, and whilst I do like using Pokemon that are underepresented, like Araquanid and Liepard, they need to be backed up by some powerhouses that can perform like Mega Lass, Aero, Incineroar and Basculegion.

To give some insight into my thinking, I was looking through all the Prankster mons that were avaliable - a very small amount - and I noticed Liepard had it. Having already played with Sableye and Whimsi to some wins in the climb and Master ranks last season, I decided that I wanted to attempt to use Liepard, a Pokemon that is much faster than Sableye, but much more uncommon than Whimsi and Sableye combined, and I wanted Liepard to be the focal point support mon of the group, which will hopefully throw my opponents off guard with its speedy nature and rather deep supportive move pool.

And whilst I've had *some* sucsess with this team [around 5 wins, 7 loses], I feel like there could always be improvement and alterations with this team. And I'm not too big brained yet to figure some things out myself, and I would like to ask you, much more experienced VCG players to give me some of your insights and thoughts!

When it comes to my lead, 8/10 it's going to be Liepard and Aerodactyl, because of the popularity of the Aero, Zard and Sneasler lead [With the other two outta ten times being Liepard/Incin] Not only does this have Fake Out pressure courtesy of Liepard, but also Tailwind pressure from Aerodactyl, but also a very powerful Rock Slide that could always approach.

I've made Liepard the way it is {Timid, Max Speed} to be always able to Outspeed a max speed Adamant Sneasler, which seems to have picked up some popularity from what I've seen, which means I'll be able to outspeed and Fake Out the Sneasler to put my opponent on the back foot right off the bat. However, I am unsure if I want to keep Encore in [as I really can't see myself using it often], but I don't know what to place in its spot, like T-Wave, or maybe something else, and with how Speedy this lil' cutie is, Snarl can come in handy with some nice chip and a special attack drop to my opponents.

Incineroar I've made Bulky, but also capable of hitting hard with its Darkest Lariat and Low Kick to counter T-Tars and Kingambit, which my team does struggle with, but at the same time, as of right now, I haven't faced a whole lot. It's also got Fake Out for pressure, and Parting Shot for constant cycling of Intimidate.

Froslass is my only Mega as of now, and is normally coming in the back, I feel like it's moveset is pretty solid, but maybe the EV spread is a little off. Even though I have seen Thunderbolt quite a bit recently from other Mega Lass', I feel like it's not exactly necessary, but I could be wrong.

Basculegion is my Sweeper, plain and simple. Adamant Nature, Adaptability, Max Speed and Max Attack with a Choice Scarf. I did have it as Jolly, but I changed it, although it is a tossup if i want those extra points in speed. But, this is my first time using Basc, so perhaps I'm utilising it wrong.

Araquanid has been a carry over from last season, because I just like how it felt. It's a Bug/Water that's pretty damn bulky and can hit very hard when it comes to shove, with recovery from Leech Life from those Psychic-mons, and a powerful Mystic Water'd Liquidation. It's support move is Wide Guard, which always feels nice to have, especially against the common Torkoal/Chomp and H. Typhlosion. And it's also my slowest mon here, so when I believe that there is a Trick Room team as my opponent, I bring that so I'm not always the slowest two mons on the field.

u/Ekyt — 21 hours ago

▲ 129 r/PokemonChampions

Regulation M-A Appreciation

*I know there is still another season of M-A, but I still wanted to make this*

Honestly, I know there is another 'season' to go for Regulation M-A, but I must say, my thoughts on this game has changed a lot from when it first released a month ago now, and it's in a very positive way.

Sure, having a smaller roster of Mons sucked to begin with, but the odd choice of Pokemon in this roster has given me a massive appreciation for these lesser used Pokemon. Like, I never expected I'll have as much fun using a Toucanon, or even styling on some people with Araquanid. Using this mostly storyline teams in a competitive sense has been really, really fun. And I feel like the current list of Mega Pokemon avaliable has been acceptable, and I'll be curious to see how some of those megas will fare in future Regulations, or even Metas.

Sure, I wish that Sneasler and Incineroar, Basculegion or Kingambit weren't introduced right off the bat, but as time progressed, it feels like whilst those Pokemon are still good, they aren't as oppressive and everywhere [at least from my experience, I haven't encountered a Basculegion in at least 20 odd games in Master Ball]. And it was very fun to try and get some counters into them by using lesser Pokemon, like how Heliolisk absolutely walled Basculegion.

Item wise, sure it's a little bland, and I really, really wish they didn't add Quick Claw into the game, the item is just not fun to use, or play against. However, I'm really, really glad that they didn't add in Life Orb, Choice Band, Specs or Assault Vest or any of those other niche items like Covert Cloak or Clear Amulet, and I hope that they aren't introduced in Regulation M-B.

Overall, I feel like Regulation M-A has been a very good starting point for new, and old heads into getting into a more competitive mindset, and appreciating VGC, and seeing all the different types of team composition, or some odd Pokemon being used to tournament wins - like Ariados - has been a wonderful thing.

If there is a new roster of Pokemon avaliable in the next Regulation - I really do hope to see Dhelmise and or Wailord, especially with Anchor Shot having been buffed, making Dhelmise even stronger :3

That is all.

reddit.com

u/Ekyt — 6 days ago

▲ 8 r/stunfisk

In my opinion, Carnivine has always felt like it was missing something, whether it was a Pre-Evolution, or an Evolution, Mega or even a Signature Move - it did have some importance in the Anime thanks to James.

So in this, I decided to give Carnivine an evolution, just in case Mega Evolution or Variants don't stick around in the future, and I made it a Dark/Grass type to really go for the Venus Flytrap basis. Grass-Dragon was also lingering around in my head, but in the end, I decided to go with Grass/Dark.

For the Evolution, I gave it an overall increase in BST by 119, which I feel would be necessary to even make Carnivine semi usable, and make it so that Carnivine itself could hold an Eviolite, even if it wouldn't do as much to it than what other Pokemon could use.

Added Physical Attack to make his moves hit harder, and to utilise the more powerful Grass-type moves, and Dark-type moves that he may learn, along with added bulk to help him stick around, and otherwise become a menace that will make him a target, and not something that can stick around for long periods of time.

I also gave it a Signature move, could 'Vine Restrict' - which could also be passed on to other Pokemon that have vines or flexible enough leaves and other such things.

I also gave it a new ability that would be completely new, and only given to Carnivine's evolution called 'Erratic Entaglement', which would further empower it's Grass-type moves, and lean into the Flytrap motif even more, and as an added benefit, the user's Dark-type moves will be unable to miss, meaning that it certain situations, it's Dark-typing could prove beneficial for a guaranteed hit, and extra STAB.

His way to evolve will be sorta a tip-in as to how and why it becomes a Dark-type, and I feel like it could be a unique evolution merge, but not as stupid as Galarian Yamasks' evolution method.

u/Ekyt — 7 days ago

▲ 3 r/stunfisk

So, a very long 3 days of battling has finally come to an end with me completing all 45 battles for this competition. I went into this with a very small brain moment, because I hadn’t encountered a lot of Incineroars in MB Ladder (I only ran into 1 in the eight battles I had!), my team was not equipped to face the big ol mean cat, and poorly equipped to take on Kingambit too, with 5 of my Pokemon being weak to Dark and or Fire and Steel.

My team was: Mega Froslass, Whimsicott, Gyarados, Abomasnow, Chandelure, H. Typhlosion.

I ended up finishing with a decent record (for the team that I brought anyway!)

Day 1, I ended up winning 8 Games, Losing 7, so I still had a positive W/L ratio, and ended up finishing at around 1570 elo, thanks to my yo yo in games won or lost, never really getting a win streak happening.

Day 2 was simply awful. I think that’s when I encountered the most sweats /s, and my W/L ratio plummeted to oblivion, and my Elo sank to as low as 1339, with 3 Wins and 12 Loses.

Day 3 was much better, I ran into way less Incineroar and Kingambit, but that might’ve been due to my elo levels. Anyway, I just finished the games with 7 Wins, 8 Loses.

Overall, I managed to win 18 Games and Lost 27, ending up with a 40% win rate, which I feel like it isn’t terrible considering my team choices. It was fun, and now I know to plan for the mean cat when the next comp rolls around.

*Feel free to roast me and my stupidity, and stubborness to bring the boy Abomasnow*

reddit.com

u/Ekyt — 11 days ago

▲ 0 r/pokemon

So, because I'm not allowed to use images or the likes, even copy and pasting, I'm going to write out a theorymon that I made, and it's an Evolution for Carnivine. I didn't go Mega or such, just in case they don't return in future Gens, and went a regular Evolution since Carnivive will be able to benefit the most from it.

Pokemon in Question: Carnivine

Type: Grass

Ability: Levitate

Base Stat Total: 454

HP: 74

ATK: 100

DEF: 72

SP. ATK: 90

SP. DEF: 72

SPEED: 46

Evolution:

Name: ??? [I'm not good at names! Maybe come up with one!]

Type: Grass / Dark

Ability: Erratic Entaglement*

Base Stat Total: 573 {+119}

HP: 85 [+11]

ATK: 133 [+33]

DEF: 97 [+25]

SP. ATK: 96 [+6]

SP. DEF: 102 [+30]

SPEED: 60 [+14]

Erratic Entaglement:

When the users Grass-type move comes into contact with the opposing Pokemon, it drains 1/16th of the targets max HP. This users Dark-type moves cannot miss.

Signature Move: Vine Restrict [IDK, maybe come up with a cooler name?]

[Grass] [Physical] [Single Target] [Contact] [Trapped]

BP: 75

Always crits, and prevents the target from swapping out unless this Pokemon does. Moves such as Parting Shot, U-Turn, Volt Switch do not work, Baton Pass works, and Grass-type Pokemon are unaffected by the constrictive vines, allowing them to swap.

reddit.com

u/Ekyt — 11 days ago

▲ 82 r/pokemon

IMO, I really feel like a few Pokemon deserve a Mega Evolution, or perhaps a regional form.

My list will include the following:

Carnivine

Carnivine is just so cool, one of the most uniquely designed Pokemon around with a pretty cool inspiration. However, it has pitiful stats at a BST of 454. A Mega Evolution could've done a lot to help Carnivine, pumping it all the way up to a respectable 554 BST, and I feel like the design could've been a monstrous 'hydra-esque' design, with its head getting larger, and maybe some growths/mutations around it's head making it look like two smaller heads, or making those offshoots being more bright and vibrant to make its proper head more camo'd and the actual threat compared to the distractions on either side, and it's vines ending up more thorny/prickly.

Overall, I would 100% to see a more spider-like combined with the features of its base design of the Venus Flytrap, and either make it a Grass/Poison, or the much more dangerous typing [weakness wise] of Grass/Dark.

It's ability could either empower itself up, or be more supportive like what Hydrapple does with its move, and give a debuff to the opponents Pokemon's speed to give a constant, stable source of Speed Control.

Octillery

Octillery I feel like could deserve some love, even though it's basically 100 BST stronger than Carnivine, I feel like GF could've done something with a Mega Octillery, something to make it more dangerous and exaggerated some of its features, or maybe base it off a mixture between a Blue-Ringed Octopus combined with a Phantom Jellyfish like design[they look really beautiful].

Maybe it could prove to lose some bulk, but otherwise gain a tremendous amount of Speed and Special ATK, and could maybe gain the Dark or Poison typing.

Mantine

Mantine is a cool Pokemon, and it could sort of be like the counterpart to Mega Octillery, simply because one requires a Remoraid to evolve a Mantyke into Mantine in the mainline series of games, which could be a useful little nod to why both Octillery and Mantine would get Mega Evolutions.

I feel like Mantine could easily be designed to have some more prominent features to make it stand out more than what it could, maybe akin to a Manta Ray or a more whimsical fantasy Ray.

I could easily see it becoming a Water/Psychic type, and or remaining a Water/Flying type, and perhaps gaining the ability Water Bubble to boost its Water-type moves up, and leaving it unable to be burnt as an added benefit.

It could easily be a more 'supportive'/'Specially Bulky' Mega Evolution, to counteract the Hyper offensive Mega Octillery, and the Supportive / Jack of All Trades Mega Carnivine.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. Let me know what some Pokemon you think deserve a regional form / variant or Mega Evolution, and if you want, leave some BST changes you would bring to the mon, and what Ability it could have.

reddit.com

u/Ekyt — 11 days ago

▲ 14 r/stunfisk

Hey guys, so I recently made it to Master Ball with this team, finally escaping Ultra Bell hell on earth. And now, I think this team is overperforming. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that it's working, and I'm now on a 5 Win-Streak in Master Ball, and have defeated some interesting teams like a Rain Team [real shocker], and managed to outwit a Sun team [ngl, Aboma kinda came in clutch with Shard and Snow Warning]

However, as you can see, I only have 1 Mega mon, which is Froslass, and I'm debating on whether or not to tinker with this squad to add a secondary Mega mon.

As you can kinda tell by my movesets and abilities and the way I've trained these guys and gals in Champions that I really, really like Hyper Offense, which is why only two mons have Protect, well three, but my scarfer doesn't exactly count, unless I change Typhlosion's item to something else.

For this team;

My main lead is always Whimsicott for the Speed Control in Tailwind, either in combination with Charcoal Chandelure, or with Abomasnow for Snow Warning and hard hitting Blizzards.

I usually bring Lass in the back for the preserved Mega when my opponents has been worn down or knocked out, which I feel sometimes is the wrong play, I'm not sure if I should go all in right away with my Mega, but this seems to be working well?

Hisui Typhlosion is normally [at least in three of my five games] has been in the back pocket, just for that sharp burst of high output of damage, either through Heat Wave or Erutpion, or Infernal Parade when things aren't looking all that great for my fire moves, which is why Whimsi also knows Sunny Day, to counteract the common Peli/Arch teams, and the one sand team that I have faced.

Gyarados is normally used less often, like I've only brought him once thus far, and that was to spread Para with T-Wave when my Tailwind was down against a Mega Dnite.

So, coming from a new person coming back into VGC since my early, early years of 2014, I'm wondering if there is ways to touch up this team, whether it be movesets, a potential 2nd Mega, and ability changes.

u/Ekyt — 15 days ago