Gen 5 Machoke [QC 1/2]

[Akir]

[OVERVIEW]

Machoke takes on the surprising role of a physical tank for stall teams in BW PU. Machoke's physical bulk after investment and Eviolite, mixed with Machoke's lack of common physical weaknesses, means that Machoke can take many neutral hits that means that Machoke can take neutral hits from Pokemon like Monferno and Torterra that struggle to 4HKO it. On top of that, even without investment, Machoke's Dynamic Punch still hurts common threats like Scraggy and Monferno and means that Machoke is a lot less passive than other walls like Klang. However, Machoke's lack of common resistances, lack of Leftovers, and reliance on Rest for healing cuts deeply into its longevity.

[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Dynamic Punch
move 4: Toxic / Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: No Guard
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Rest is for keeping Machoke healthy and Sleep Talk is extra useful for Machoke due to it potentially saving some DynamicPunch PP. Dynamic Punch mixed with No Guard gives Machoke a reliable STAB option with the added bonus of causing confusion. The last moveslot is the choice between three options: Toxic is excellent for spreading chip damage, Ice Punch is good for hitting Flying-types like Jumpluff, and Thunder Punch is also good for hitting Flying-types like Swanna who might not be weak to Ice as well as Tentacool. The 44 Speed EVs is for outspeeding uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon such as Audino.

Machoke's unique toolkit is best used on stall teams that can better support it with options like Heal Bell or Wish. As such, partners like Articuno or Audino make for good partners, as they not only offer those options but Machoke can absorb some of the physical attacks thrown at them. Machoke also appreciates partners that can patch up its Psychic- and Flying-type weaknesses such as Zweilous or Bronzor. Machoke also loves entry hazard support as Dynamic Punch's confusion forces many switches, so teammates like Bronzor and Tentacool who can patch up Machoke's weaknesses and set entry hazards are great choices. Machoke boasts rare-but-valuable resistances to Dark- and Rock-type attacks, so common stall staples like Duosion and Articuno love having Machoke around to take hits from threats like Shiftry or Rampardos.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
- Quality checked by:https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/, [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]

 

[Bella]

[OVERVIEW]

Machoke takes on the surprising role of a physical tank for stall teams in BW PU. Machoke's physical bulk after investment and Eviolite, mixed with Machoke's lack of common physical weaknesses, means that Machoke can take many neutral hits that equal even 4HKOs (this reads awkwardly, maybe say "means that Machoke can take neutral hits from Pokemon like Monferno and Torterra that struggle to 4HKO it" instead?) from common threats like Monferno or Torterra. On top of that, even without investment, Machoke's Dynamic Punch still hurts (probably want to give examples of stuff i tcan threaten with this like Scraggy or Maw or whatever) and means that Machoke is a lot less passive than other walls (examples please). However, Machoke's lack of common resistances, lack of Leftovers, and reliance on BW Rest for healing cuts deeply into its longevity.

[SET]
name: Physical Tank
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Dynamic Punch
move 4: Toxic / Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: No Guard
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Dynamic Punch mixed with No Guard gives Machoke a reliable STAB option with the added bonus of causing confusion. (Not mention at all on resttalk?) The last moveslot is the choice between three options: Toxic is excellent for spreading chip damage, Ice Punch is good for hitting Flying-types like Jumpluff, and Thunder Punch is also good for hitting Water-types like Tentacool and Golduck as well as hitting Flying-types like Swanna who might not be weak to Ice. The 44 Speed EVs is for outspeeding uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon such as Audino.

Machoke's unique toolkit is best used on stall teams that can better support it with options like Heal Bell or Wish. As such, partners like Articuno or Audino make for good partners, as they not only offer those options, (ac) but Machoke can absorb some of the physical attacks thrown at them. Machoke also loves entry hazard support as Dynamic Punch's confusion forces many switches, so teammates like Bronzor and Tentacool who can patch up Machoke's weaknesses and set entry hazards are great choices. Machoke lastly boasts rare-but-valuable resistances to Dark- and Rock-type attacks, so common stall staples like Duosion and Articuno love having Machoke around to take hits from Pokemon like Shiftry and Ramprdos who they often struggle against.
(Could mention how Machoke likes Pokemon like Bronzong / Klang / whatever that deals with opposing Psychic- and Flying-types Machoke can struggle heavily against.)
[CREDITS]
- Written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
- Quality checked by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]

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