Upgraded Pokemon

Pokemon that just aren't good but I liked enough to upgrade for one reason or another will go here. So here is the first. The first of the pokemon Upgrades to come is...



Let's face the facts, people. Corsala is adorable but awful. Just look at its base stats.

HP 55
Attack 55
Defense 85
Sp Atk 65
Sp Def 85
Speed 35

Its stats alone have dropped it to the NU tier with minor survivability in UU. Its Ability, one of them anyway, isn't bad. Natural Cure is a terrific ability if you're allowed the switch or you can trick the opponent into pseudo-hazing you by stat boosting with Calm Mind to kingdom come. That said, Corsala still isn't good at all. Several other pokemon can do this better. So rather than allowing Corsala to evolve, taking away the cuteness factor, I've tweaked it, boosting its stats to newer levels that'll hopefully let it slot high UU low survivability in OU/Standard, in otherwords right to the Borderline Tier.

HP 90
Attack 55
Defense 110
Sp Atk 85
Sp Def 97
Speed 60

On this upgraded Corsala, Rock-Polish/Calm Mind and Recover are pretty risky but worth it if it works because now Corsala's Sp. Atk is no longer abyssmal and it can scrape some clean hits. The emphasis went to boosting its defenses to make it a viable walling option, however. A speedy wall is always good so I'd go for Rock Polish and Recover. Pack Ice Beam for any Grass or Ground Types and Psychic for Fighting types. Calm Min is there because now Corsala can suck up attacks better so it can afford a hit of two then dish out some MASSIVE damage. Noteworthy Counters are pretty much any better walls, specifically Special ones like Snorlax, Blissey, Metagross, Replinurse, and Torkindle. All of which, except maybe Blissey, can hit back HARD. Donphan and Tyranitar are also good options if they can stand a Calm Mind Surf from it, which isn't too likely. On the set below, however, Tyranitar is a god compared to Corsala.

Calm Mind/Rock Polish
Recover
Ice Beam
Psychic

Nothing there that hits it too hard.

The next pokemon is, Tah-Dah! Everyone's favorite pokeball pokemon, Electrode!



Electrode has the same problem as Corsala; One Great Stat, several awful stats, bad movepool. That's just about it. Check out its stats, will you?

HP 60
Attack 50
Defense 70
Sp Atk 80
Sp Def 80
Speed 140

That speed, alone, makes me say HELLO! Then I look at everything else and say Goodbye. Let's face it, the best thing about Electrode is it's smile...erm...it's speed...so I upgraded =D Electrode stuggles to even reach the borderline tier. If not for its speed it'd be in NU but it's locked in UU. So the upgrade gives Electrode some good purpose in Borderline and OU. Its abilities are okay. There are a lot of new Sound based moves so Soundproof is a good idea and Static isn't really necessary because, let's face it, people only like Paralysis because of the speed reduction. Does Electrode look like it NEEDS to reduce enemy speed? The only faster non-uber is Ninjask. Everything else is Deoxys (minus Defense Form) and Bluradical, who's the fastest pokemon in existence with base 300 speed, automatically making it an Uber. So here's where the upgrade comes in.

HP 86
Attack 50
Defense 103
Sp Atk 115
Sp Def 90
Speed 140

Can we say Special Sweeper? That's exactly what I've done now. That speed and special attack makes Electrode a worth while special sweeper in the OU tier with WAY more survivability thanks to nice and sizable defense stat. While its attack stat is the same and its special defense isn't all that much higher, that doesn't matter. Electrode looks like it's made of metal so I made it more physically durable. As for movepools, it already has several new moves in its movepool AND we've added some older moves to the arsenal. Zap Cannon as an egg move, for one is useful. Energy Ball gives it some nice way to cover Ground types (excluding half resist combos Gliscor, Steelix, etc) nd Nasty Plot makes its newly ridiculous Sp Atk even more ridiculous. Hypervoice is also an option now that gels with its new stats. Amnesia compensates for its lower Special Defense. Both Metal Sound and Iron Defense are way cool for the bonuses of A. Making Electrode all kinds of scary to be attacked by and B. Making Electrode all kinds of hard to get rid of. Flash Cannon is a good move and gives it some easy was to clear out Rock Types and hit dragons with a lot. Aurora Beam is also available through a special in game event, giving it a way to MURDER Salamence, Flygon, Dragonite, and Garchomp, all of the dragons that used to mock it. Recommended movepool? Play around with it a bit. I'd say...Rain Dance, Thunder, Aurora Beam, and Hyper Voice/Energy Ball. Countering it is still pretty easy though. If you avoid Energy Ball, Swampert can wipe it out. Blissey and Snorlax would be torture thanks to BoltBeam and BellyQuake combos. Replinurse is the medium between Metagross and Blissey so she can always come in handy.

Tune in next time for quick upgrades to the following:

Golduck, Arcanine, Victreebel, Muk, Marowak, Umbreon, Hitmontop, Slaking, Mawile, and Flygon. There will be others, but these are the next few in order. Til next time!

And now...Heeeeere's Golduck!



Golduck has a slightly different problem. It isn't good but isn't bad. It's bland. It has average stats and a "meh' movepool. Look...

HP 80
Attack 82
Defense 78
Sp Atk 95
Sp Def 80
Speed 85

Those aren't very inspiring stats...boost time, much? For starters, it's movepool is bad mostly because of its stats. It has tons of special moves but more physical moves. The opposite can be said about its stats. So it got the standard stat boost and three worthwhile additions movepool wise. Golduck is a UU pokemon. The upgrade gave it survivability though not a necessarily locked space in OU/Standard. Golduck is a pure water type that doesn't fit the bulky water, sweeper, or any specific rolls. Its best set for moves is mixed, which isn't too impressive really. Stat Boost is...

HP 95
Attack 97
Defense 85
Sp Atk 105
Sp Def 85
Speed 95

So now Golduck i a better pokemon with more survivability in OU than it once had. But it'd still be UU. The boost gave it SOME new found health and bulk while giving a nice speed boost. That boost places it in the middle of the mid-speed tier rather than at the top of the lower speed tier. The "HELLO!" stat is its Sp Atk. Clearly that's the big booster, making it very capable of dishing out some nice hits. Movepool additions include the much adored Nasty Plot and Swords Dance, allowing it to hit like a tank. Then you get Earthquake and rock up Electric types. To counter it? Easy. This is why it doesn't have a sure slot in OU: Jolteon stops it dead in its tracks, as do most bulky grass types and pseudo-bulky grass type, Leafeon. Golduck would be lucky to outrun most of them but if it does manage it, Earthquake or Ice Beam are total ruination factors so be careful.

Here's a very popular fire type: Arcanine!



I've always liked Arcanine and with its popularity on the rise, this was due. Arcanine has all of one problem. Its physical movepool is just ridiculously small an since it's physical attack stat is 110 and its special attack stat is 100, it could use them, as well as a Physical Fire STAB that DOESN'T do recoil coughflareblitzcough. Now, Arcanine's stats are nothing to scoff at, I mean look.

HP 90
Attack 110
Defense 80
Sp Atk 100
Sp Def 80
Speed 95

Geez, no wonder it's in the Borderline tier. It's WAY too powerful for UU just doesn't have the moves to make it effective in OU. The question that everyone had last generation is "What about Fire Fang and Flame Wheel?" Hello, those moves are only base 65 and 60 power. Even if it is STAB, it's not going to scare anybody. Arcanine got one small stat boost that hardly ever made a difference.

Speed 100

It may not seem like much but that throws Arcanine into the ridiculous amount of pokemon in the Upper Speed Tier rather than with Porygon-Z in the Middle Speed Tier, even if it is just barely. Now to fix its movepool. First, it gets a new physical STAB in Wildfire, a new move that torches every pokemon on the field. So, it's basically a Fire type Surf with a base power of 95. Also added to its movepool is the ever so terrific Earthquake as well as Body Slam to ruin those pokemon faster than it. It also got several of the newly create moves so have fun with that. To counter it is pretty simple still. All the counters are basically the same. Swampert and Dolphissure can tear it apart easily as well as most other bulky waters. Rock Types, if you evade Iron Tail. Best Counter ever is Stealth Rock.

Okay, get real. If you watch the show, how can you NOT like Victreebel? It was one of James' best pokemon before he let it go.



Victreebel has a similar issue to Golduck: blandness. =/ Bland Movepool and two awesome stats to go with other lackluster ones. So can you guess what tier it's in? Well, it's ability doesn't help either but it's in UU...yep. So here goes the boost. Its previous stats were

HP 80
Attack 105
Defense 64
Sp Atk 100
Sp Def 60
Speed 70

I feel bad when looking at those defensive stats (Including HP) It's somewhat depressing to see all that offense and no defense...well, I'm exaggerating. It has lackluster defense but it isn't terrible. So I boosted.

HP 103
Defense 80
Sp Def 91

Good, right? Yeah, I didn't boost the speed because, look. Does Victreebel look ridiculously fast? No, not really. I didn't want to make the defenses TOO great either so I gave it average defense and a nice and sizeable HP stat. Now, how'd I fix the ability? Two evolutionary families got a new ability exclusive to them. Bellsprout's evolutionary line and Oddish's evolutionary line both got an ability called Plant Cycle. Different weather effects these pokemon differently. Sun heals 1/4 HP and Rain ups Evasiveness. However Acid Rain, Hail, and Sandstorm do double the damage they'd normally do and Lightning remains the same, not effecting them at all other than occasionally lowering accuracy. This gives Victreebel a nice niche in both Rain AND Sun. And since the upgraded Rain mechanic boosts Grass type pokemons' defense, it gives Victreebel some viability in Rain Dance teams. It also gives Sunny Day teams a sort of "Secret Weapon" in Victreebel, Vileplume, and Bellossom. Movepool wise, it got some reeeeaally nice boosts. Victreebel now has two Physical STAB options: Leaf Blade OR Wood Hammer. Wood Hammer gives you power but recoil. Leaf Blade is less powerful but no recoil. Your pick. It also has several new moves such as such as Leaf Down and Photosynthsis for stat boosting and Grass Glare which is like a grass type Thunder Wave. It's more reliable than Stun Spore too...100 accuracy. It even has Fly Swatter to deal some bug type damage. It's a normal type move but it does double the damage to bugs, including Scizor and Shuckle type combos (Bug/Steel and Bug/Rock which are otherwise resistant) Now, thanks to the Defense boost, Victreebel can manage to set up Sunny Day without worrying too much, as well. This whole thing doesn't just give it OU survivability, it makes it an OU pokemon. Hooray! Recommended set?

Victreebel it's Garchumps like you for Breakfast.
Dragon Fang
Fire Fang
Sunny Day
Solarbeam/Leaf Blade/Wood Hammer
Ability - Plant Cycle/Chlorophyll

This set gives praise to two other moves Victreebel has been given, Dragon Fang and Fire Fang. Fire Fang is a Fire Attack so it gets a boost from Sunny Day as well as Annihilates the likes of Ice Types and Scizor. Sunny Day gels nicely wither either ability plus gives Fire Fang that welcomed boost or Solarbeam's nice little side affect. Leaf Blade and Wood Hammer are those nice physical STAB's I mentioned. Dragon Fang is for getting rid of those pesky Dragons, ergo Garchomp and Salamence.

Fire? I Ain't 'fraid o' no stinkin' Fire
Rain Dance
Water Whip
Leaf Blade
Grass Glare

Rain Dance is clearly to support its ability and Water Whip, which is a physical attack of 80 base power. Leaf Blade is STAB. Avoid Wood Hammer here because of lack of a recovery move. Grass Glare slows down pokemon that'll try to sweep you.

Countering Victreebel is always easy...if you avoid that second set. Use a fire type. ESPECIALLY on the first set. It has absolutely NO way to counter fire types in that set and actually HELPS them there. If you avoid fire moves, you'll be fine.

I've always liked Muk just because I can think of so many funny moments for it and its stench to pop up. But it isn't a terrific pokemon..sike! Muk is a beast! It can be an annoying pokemon if it runs Minimize! Plus Poison Jab and Brick Break with 105 base attack? Hello! So...what's the problem? Easy...Psychic types. I.E Espeon, Gardevoir, Gallade, Alakazam...get real. Muk isn't going to last against any of them...Even the liked of Reuniclus and Musharna mock it...whoops. Not now.



Muk didn't get a stat change or a ton of movepool changes. No, what Muk got was this. SUCKER PUNCH! Why's that so good? One thing most Psychic types have in common is terrible Defense. Muk has good attack and Sucker Punch devestates Psychics because they won't be able to resist attacking it!

Who's That Pokemon?! "Parasecachekt" It's...Parasect!



Today we have Parasect! When I saw the first Parasect episode I fell in love with it mostly because I love how it says its name. But Parasect isn't a very well off pokemon. All of its stats are slightly below average except for its Attack. It has two really useful abilities and Spore but the rest of its movepool is lacking. Also, Grass/Bug = 4x Weaknesses to Fire and Flying and 2x to Ice, Rock, Poison, and its own kin, Bug. Gamefreak didn't like Parasect much. It really needs a complete do-over.

Stat boosts take it up to

HP 90
Attack 105
Defense 95
Sp Atk 60
Sp Def 95
Speed 85

So Happy day, Parasect was made into a good, maybe even tolerable pokemon. The only non-boosted stat was Sp. Atk which it really doesn't need to be an effective grass OR bug type. It has X-Scissor, Spore, Seed Bomb, Leech Seed, it's good to go. Plus it got Wall Crawl and Morning Dew. Parasect has easily become a rather effective pokemon. It became leaps and bounds better Than Breloom at Sporing and with Dry Skin ability, pair it up with any fast pokemon with surf and watch it terrorize the opponent while their fire types are eliminated it can effectively sweep so much.