"My Way or the Highway" Attitude in Pokémon

IanExMachina

> Wish they would just improve the calcium/hp up method, and get rid of the "kill 64 abras to get 256 SP ATK EVs" thing. 

Much agreement.

Ponicalica

I wouldn't want to play competitively a game that has as much hidden information as Pokémon.

RedEyedAbyss

^^Yes. Grinding on top of grinding is just madness.

Related to the original topic, I don't mind which Pokemon people use, either casual or competitive, but from my experience, Smogon's servers are the epitome of Complacent Gaming Syndrome. I remember that their Lucario analysis used to gush over its sheer versatility, yet everyone uses the same damn Swords Dance set. I get that on a ladder, people are so afraid of losing even one battle that they don't dare try new things, but it does not make for a fun experience if you ask me.

Vivi

5th Gen has improved a lot of things.

Vorpy

Does Steelix still have problems not dying in Gen 5 or is he better too?

Vivi

Steelix has not changed significantly this generation, but it has,
however, gotten a few toys to play with. Here's what's notable:

• Sturdy Prevents Being OHKO'd by Any Attack
  
  This means that at 100%, it doesn't have to worry about investing in a
  great deal of special defense in order to survive a hit. It can if it
  wants to sponge special attacks, but it is essentially free to invest in
  other stats now. Furthermore, Steelix 4x resists SR, meaning that
  switching in will not break Sturdy's effects while running leftovers.
• Encourage
  
  With this, Steelix's attacking power gains a much needed boost. Although
  the amount boosted is yet unknown, things like Elemental Fangs, Rock
  Slide, and Iron Tail gain a power boost.
• New Attacks
  
  Heavy Bomber, Strike Down, and Dragon Tail fit wonderfully with
  Steelix's general role. Heavy Bomber looks set to make fantastic use of
  Steelix's massive weight, while Dragon Tail is especially handy for
  absorbing Outrages and Phazing dragons.
• It's still slow as shit and dies to most special attacks and even
  some physical attacks now. Plus it's attacking capabilities are "lol
  Steelix."
  
  Not much needs to be explained here.

I do not envision Steelix's role changing much this generation.
However, I do feel that he might have some viability in OU given some of
the new options it has available.

Icalasari

I like the feathers. You can use those to raise an EV by one point, and it isn't limited to the first 100 like Vitamins

Gelzo

EV training is such a timesink, you'd be silly to not want to do it right the first time.

Vorpy

Invisible game mechanics HOLY FUCK

Also, pokemon do not need different randomizing IV stats. It doesn't matter if they all had the same stats when caught in the same area, and the only thing defining their change was their nature...most games have gone pretty good by not randomizing their character's stats each time you obtain them. Pokemon would do fine.

Bob

Eeveelution only party _{excluding Flareon because fuck you Flareon}: A good idea? Probably not.

Cute? FUCK YES.

Gelzo

Flareon is besteon.

Bob

BULL TO THE SHIT, BITCH WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?

WHAT DID YOU JUST FUCKING SAY?

inkblot

INUH: There are very few truly bad Pokemon, but many are situational (Bibreal), hard to use (Slaking), have one crippling weakness (Charizard) or have better alternatives (many starters and half the Water types).

Ponicalica

Pretty sure Umbreon is besteon.

inkblot

All Nines

Indeed, Umbreon is besteon, but since there are seven Eeveelutions, one has to stay out, and I agree that Flareon is worsteon. Though it is still a cool pokemon.

Icalasari

Flareon - Appparently raped Satoshi Tajiri to deserve the fate it got

It is the one eeveelution that consistently gets screwed, after all

IanExMachina

So what is wrong with flareon?

nohaynicklibre

It has no moves and the ones it has are special, being attack its highest stat

IanExMachina

So just to clear this up as I haven't played since the originals, and even then I was achild.

Attack is physical hitting, and special is general powers (like flamethrower and stuff right?)

nohaynicklibre

Yeah

ClockworkUniverse

That's correct.

Dammit, ninja'd.

Vorpy

Yup.

And it only gets flamewheel (I think), and not fire fang or Blaze kick or Flare Blitz either.

IanExMachina

Ah so it's moveset is geared to the wrong stat?

Vorpy

Yup, so it's like a fish with wings but no fins.

Icalasari

Horribly geared

Vorpy

Non-pre-evolution or not-not-fully-evolved-yet Pokemon that suck and need to be improved
Illumise
Luvdisc
Corsola
Plusle
Minun
Pachirisu
Torkoal
Mightyena
Gulpin/Swalot (the purple one)
Manectric
Sableye
Kangaskhan
Pinsir
Beedrill
Butterfree
Venomoth
Dustox
Beautifly
Swellow
Regirock
Regice
Grumpig
Ditto

ClockworkUniverse

How would one go about improving Ditto?

Vorpy

Give him better stats. Like maybe instead of flat shit everything, give him like maybe "only a little bit below average" stats, like all 100s or all 90s (think that's the medium since mew is all 120s).

Icalasari

Ditto got Eccentric, an instant transform

It can't improve any further unless it also copied HP

Edit: Ditto copies the targets stats as well, excluding Ev's and Iv's, Vorpy