6th Gen Pokemon of the Week

[SirBlaziken]

To be honest, I almost never see Mega Blastoise in OU or UU. Oh, and Xatu this gen is NU at the moment, I use it in RU to troll.

[SaRo|Rapidash]

I love how mega blastoise is awful because I hate it so much xD

But, I think it's main problem comes in that if you're using it on an offensive team you're not using Pinsir or Charizard,and if you're using it on a defensive team you're not using Venusaur, so it doesn't have any reason to be used in OU, especially when there are much better ways of getting rid of rocks (See Latias, Excadrill, Starmie etc.)

[Captain Jigglypuff]

How about an issue dealing with Malamar? I think it'd be an interesting Pokemon to discuss.

[Richard and Blaziken]

I may do Malamar some time in the near future, but you may not like what I have to say about its ability in OU. ^^;

Anyway! It is a new week, and we're covering a Pokemon I've been using a lot recently! This week we're discussing Bisharp!

This is also an important issue, because it marks the re-birth of Pokemon Unearthed, written by the wonderful Dragoncat, who has given some of her free time each week to help me out!

I hope you all enjoy the issue, and especially Unearthed! Discuss Bisharp below!

[Wolstenholme]

Unearthed made a fantastic addition to the article. I loved it, Cat. This sort of stuff is always what I like to read. It also works well with the issue as it sort of 'coloured it in' as it were, it's easy to see a Pokemon using Night Slash with the little animation but now I can clearly picture Bisharp 'mincing' the competition. Assured to say, it made me smile :-)

[OpalRhea]

Bad Bisharp. Don't stab Richard. Or Dragoncat. I'll sick Blaziken on you. ...good. Now stay there. I SAID STAY.

Excellent issue. I'm glad to see the return of Unearthed. I may have to put a Bisharp in the team I might be making (along with SubToxicQuake Gliscor). ...hm. Bisharp, Gliscor, MoxieMence, Heatran, Rotom W and something else. Could be fun.

Also, if i were any good at sculpting, i'd say that i would make a Pokemon chess set.

Get away from my Venusaur. Now.


Rich, I'm borrowing your Blaziken. I'll even take a derpape.

[Richard and Blaziken]

Hey, quick update here: PotW will be delayed for a while, and I can't be sure when it'll be posted. I've gotten violently ill and I can't even stand looking at my laptop because of the headache. Sorry to disappoint you guys.

[the bread dragon]

the flus the worst man =/ hope you feel better soon, though!

[Richard and Blaziken]

Thanks for understanding, and for being patient with me. I finally got over my flu Friday, which lasted a total of 8 days. But with me being better now, let's get this back on track! This week we'll be discussing one of the most used Pokemon in the current metagame, Excadrill!

What are your thoughts on Excadrill? Is Rapid Spin worth dedicating a team slot to anymore? Does Excadrill provide more than just Rapid Spin to earn his team spot? Is Sand Rush still viable? Discuss!

[Delicious_Scout]

Too bad the current spinners have to be totally offensive and lack any kind of recovery, because that would make Excadrill perfect. If happens to have an almost perfect synergy with Talonflame: Excadrill resists x4 the Rock-Type attacks and is immune to Electric; in return, Talonflame is immune to Earthquake (bar Gravity) and resits Fire. Nevertheless, both are weak to Water. Defensively, the best spinner for it is Forretress (and yet both lose to Fire), but it needs heavy predictions to use Rapid Spin, Volt Switch or deploying hazards. Offensively, Excadrill (Megastoise is hard to fit in any team, but it is pretty good, too). The best thing is that it does not heavily need Wish support because it is meant to MURDER. If using Assault Vest, it will just it once (on average). If struck by a physical hit, it will be in such a low health that it won't mind dying. It is not walled by Azumarill, which is not bad.

Ah, it might survive a Choice-Banded Aqua Jet, so another Pokémon like Meganectric can use Intimidate and scare it away.

252+ Atk Choice Band Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 168 HP / 0 Def Excadrill: 360-426 (89.3 - 105.7%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

In return...

60+ Atk Mold Breaker Excadrill Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Azumarill: 195-229 (48.2 - 56.6%) -- 89.1% chance to 2HKO

(An intelligent Azumarill should use Waterfall instead, which is always a clean OHKO)

Honestly, I prefer Spinning like a goat rather than Defogging. The question is: what other Hazard setters can be used along with Excadrill? Heatran must run Air Balloon and loses to Water as well, Skarmory is another bird (if counting Talonflame)... hard decision.

Talking about Sand Rush:

Per se, it loses to Gliscor, Azumarill, Rotom-W, and Skarmory, four common Pokémon (a Sand Rush Pokémon rarely invests in HP). Anything else gets maimed if played properly. Nevertheless, I would play it in another way since Tyranitar and Hippowdon don't offer a very desired defensive synergy. Instead, a Wall-Breaker or Stall-Breaker set could be very nice to try. If going for a sweep, better pass a speed boost and substitute before.

[Richard and Blaziken]

This week is a bit of a special one for me. It's my girlfriend's birthday today, so I've decided to put the Pokemon I had planned on hold until next week to focus on one of her favorites. But fear not! This one is also important to discuss with the current metagame, given the most recent nerf to Baton Pass. This week, we discuss Espeon.

What do you think about Espeon? Has the recent nerf made it an unreliable choice for OU, or do you just have to work harder for the same results as before the ban? Is Espeon worth using on teams that don't revolve around 3 dedicated Baton Passers? Discuss!

[SirBlaziken]

Well, if anything keeps it in OU, it's the fact that it have Magic bounce, and it's offensive, and fast. I tried it in out, it didn't work well for me, but overall it's my favorite eeveelution, and one of my personal favorite pokemon (#4 on my favorites).

[kindtocrows]

Hey, Rich, I just sent the next Unearthed, but I think your inbox was full and I clicked out too fast and didn't save it to my sent messages, so I'm not sure.

[SirBlaziken]

^Um..... that may be my fault. Sorry. 

If you can type it out and send it to me, I could relay it to him. Or you could save it again.

[Richard and Blaziken]

Just cleared out my inbox, sorry about that.