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New UU List (July 2009)
- Thread starter X-Act
- Start date
Modest LO variants even KO it with sludge bomb at -2 sp. atk. after it comes in on a Leaf Storm. Actually, it can even kill something ELSE with a Leaf Storm, and then always OHKO Tangrowth with Sludge Bomb if it comes in on rocks, though it can OHKO it w/o SR if you get a high enough damage roll. (min 89% against it at -2 Sp. Atk.)
I don't think i've seen anyone keep a Tangrowth in on a Roserade....except when they've scouted the set and seen Sludge Bomb isn't there.
Hm. Thats cool, could beat Roserade leads. I dont like having suicide anything unless its explosion on a Regi though. Dugtrio seems like a much bigger help to a team as a trapper than as a SR user. Imo, UU has enough of those and I think his job as a revenge killer is going to outway his usefulness as a lead... guess we will find out. :P
Protect in place of one of the coverage moves lets you beat Ambipom 100% of the time.
Probably in place of Stone Edge, since Sucker Punch allows you to beat Scarf Roserade that Leaf Storms instead of Sleep Powders.
What kind of idiot would use a Scarfed Sleep Powder against Dugtrio anyway?
You don't exactly 'beat' Ambipom. Dugtrio and Ambipom simply exchange blows with Earthquake and U-turn respectively for ~60% each. If anything the Ampibom user wins due to the favorable match-up after U-turn.
Brain fart on my part. My bad.
Yup. The guy with Ambipom may switch to anybody after the U-turn, ranging from priority carrier, water or grass, more Dugtrio, Trace, etc. (for the last, Sand Veil handles this, but who on Earth will do it so often outside TSSes?) This effect is multiplied during late game, imho, where you two usually know who's in whose team.
With the Nidos being balanced, Claydol spinning, Torterras defense and now Dugtrios offense, is Donophan even going to have a role to fill in UU? Seems to strong for NU but I just dont see him getting much play without the same number of dragons and fliers his ice shard was good for in OU.
Donphan has access to Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin and Knock Off. Claydol has the first two but is a significantly weaker Spinner due to having less offense to shake off Ghosts. Claydol is also a much weaker wall in general due to being weak to Absol's Night Slash, a move that is incredibly common in UU. Claydol has Explosion, yes, Trick Room, and Special availability, but thats it.
Nidoking is nothing like Donphan. Nidoqueen is weak to Earthquake, and although it's not as common in UU it's existant. Donphan's ability to Ice Shard a DDAltaria really makes it's niche, IMO.
Again, Donphan is nothing like Dugtrio.
Aight, last but not least, Torterra. Torterra's Grass/Ground typing isn't great at defending - he gains a weakness to Fire, a bigger weakness to Ice and the only good thing about having that Grass typing is he's neutral to Water. Torterra, however, is used more for Rock Polish sweeping, and Donphan is too sturdy to just go sweep.
Intresting, Donphan could actually pose a good substitute to u know the standard SR users (Claydol, Nido's etc) UU will definately have a new twist having new pokemon and old leaving. I'm keeping my eyes on Dugtrio it has a lot of potential as a revenge killer in UU.
Good points, hadnt thought about Absol. I guess I just prefer Claydol's utility in the form of Trick and Explosion, but Donophan can at least try to throw Stone Edges at the ghosts while weathering 2-3 Shadow Balls.
Torterra has Leech Seed and Synthesis which I think makes it a better physical wall, plus a STAB grass attack for waters. Donophan isnt weak to fire, but he is weak to the super effective HPs most Typhlosion, Blaziken, and Magmortar carry.
I know he isnt the same as Dugtrio, but if I'm looking for an offensive EQ and Stone Edge, I'd pick Duggy over Phan for his speed and ability to trap, not to mention his even better answer to ghosts.
Rescinding my original opinion though, he does seem to have some good roles to fill.
Torterra has Leech Seed and Synthesis which I think makes it a better physical wall, plus a STAB grass attack for waters. Donophan isnt weak to fire, but he is weak to the super effective HPs most Typhlosion, Blaziken, and Magmortar carry.
I know he isnt the same as Dugtrio, but if I'm looking for an offensive EQ and Stone Edge, I'd pick Duggy over Phan for his speed and ability to trap, not to mention his even better answer to ghosts.
Rescinding my original opinion though, he does seem to have some good roles to fill.
Donphan doesn't need to be weak to fire with that wretched special defense. Switching into Fire Blasts/Eruptions is impossible for him. Not only does Torterra get Leech Seed and Synthesis, Wood Hammer for bulky waters, but dual screens, resistance to ground, no weakness to water, and the omnipresent threat of sweeping. Torterra can beat most of its counters abusing the SubSeed strategy, or sweeping through offensive teams with Rock Polish. The versatility makes up for the lower attack and defense.
I wouldn't call Donphan a real Torterra check, considering that Donphan needs max attack and Choice Band to even have a chance for a OHKO on RP Torterra with Ice Shard (about 3% chance at that) while a Max HP/Def Donphan has a decent chance of being OHKOed (60% with Stealth Rock IIRC)
More of a revenge killer if anything :/.
