Know Your Role

Know Your Role

Heads Up

Be sure to check out previous post if something doesn’t make sense by scrolling down or the link: http://pokeswerve.blogspot.com/

We’ve come pretty far in this journey, but now it’s time to get into the good stuff. In this part I’ll be explaining the different roles Pokemon can play and giving an example. Just remember, my examples aren’t the only way to use a Pokemon.

I’ll be getting the list of roles from here: http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon/Competitive_battling/The_%22Job_System%22

It's about Natures, and those are similar to stats

Stat Breakdown (Key):

Hp – Hit Points

Atk – Attack

Def – Defense

Sp. Atk – Special Attack

Sp. Def – Special Defense

Spe – Speed

*Roles*

Physical Sweeper (Attackers)

Physical Sweepers have a High Attack Stat, and will either be categorized as “Fast” or “Bulky.”

·       Fast Physical Sweepers

o   Max EVs in Spe and Atk with a nature that boosts either one of those stats, but takes away from Sp. Atk.

§  Faster (Jolly)

§  Stronger (Adamant)

o   Items to consider using…

§  Choice Band/Scarf

§  Life Orb

§  Expert Belt

o   An example of a (my favorite) Fast Physical Sweeper…

§  Mega Lucario (Fighting/Steel)

Item: Lucarionite

Nature: Jolly

EVs: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe

Ability: Adaptability

Moves: Close Combat

             Bullet Punch

             Crunch

             Earthquake

·       Bulky Physical Sweepers

o   Typically have decent Def, so you want max EVs in Atk and HP

§  Adamant nature is better because Spe isn’t as important

o   Items to consider using…

§  Choice Band

§  Life Orb

§  Leftovers

o   An example of a Bulky Physical Sweeper…

§  Swampert (Water/Ground)

Item: Leftovers

Nature: Adamant

EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Atk/ 4 Def

Ability: Torrent

Moves: Waterfall

             Earthquake

             Ice Punch

             Power-Up Punch

Special Sweepers (Attackers)

Same concept as Physical Sweepers, but with High Special Attack Stat instead of Atk.

·       Fast Special Sweepers

o   Max EVs in Spe and Sp. Atk with a nature that boosts either one of those stats, but takes away from Atk.

§  Faster (Timid)

§  Stronger (Modest)

o   Items to consider using…

§  Choice Specs/Scarf

§  Life Orb

§  Expert Belt

o   An example of a (my favorite) Fast Special Sweeper…

§  Togekiss (Fairy/Flying)

Item: Choice Scarf

Nature: Timid

EVs: 252 Sp. Atk/ 4 Sp. Def/ 252 Spe

Ability: Serene Grace

Moves: Dazzling Gleam

             Air Slash

             Aura Sphere

             Flamethrower

·       Bulky Special Sweepers

o   Typically have decent Sp. Def, so you want max EVs in Sp. Atk and HP

§  Modest nature is better because Spe isn’t as important

Turrable Quality

o   Items to consider using…

§  Choice Specs

§  Life Orb

§  Leftovers

§  Assault Vest

o   An example of a (my favorite) Bulky Special Sweeper…

§  Roserade (Grass/Poison)

Item: Assault Vest

Nature: Modest

EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Sp. Atk/ 4 Sp. Def

Ability: Natural Cure

Moves: Giga Drain

             Sludge Bomb

             Extrasensory

             Hidden Power Fire

Walls

A Wall’s job is to take hits.

Physical Walls focus on Def and Special Walls focus on Sp. Def

·       They will have a high Def/Sp. Def stat and a high to decent HP stat

·       Max EVs in HP and Def/Sp. Def

o   Calm, Bold, Impish, and Careful are all natures that benefit Def/Sp. Def and lower Atk/Sp. Atk (Increase the Defense you want to focus and decrease the Attack stat you don’t need)

o   Items to consider using…

§  Leftovers

§  Assault Vest

o   An example of a Special Wall…

§  Umbreon (Dark)

Item: Leftovers

Nature: Careful

EVs: 252 HP/ 4 Def/ 252 Sp. Def

Ability: Synchronize

Moves: Heal Bell

             Protect

             Wish

             Foul Play

Tanks - Physical/Speical

Are like walls, they can take hits, but they can also do some damage.

Physical Tanks focus on Def and Special Tanks focus on Sp. Def

·       They will have a high Def/Sp. Def stat, and a high to decent HP and Atk/Sp. Atk stat

·       Max EVs in Def/Sp. Def with some in HP and some in Atk/Sp. Atk

o   Calm, Bold, Impish, and Careful are all natures that benefit Def/Sp. Def and lower Atk/Sp. Atk (Increase the Defense you want to focus and decrease the Attack stat you don’t need)

o   Items to consider using…

Mudkip tho

§  Leftovers

§  Assault Vest

o   An example of a Physical Tank…

§  Swampert (Water/Ground)

Item: Leftovers

Nature: Impish

EVs: 196 HP/ 60 Atk/ 252 Def

Ability: Torrent

Moves: Waterfall

             Stealth Rock

             Protect

             Avalanche

Healers

These Pokemon are typically Walls; a lot of HP and Def/Sp. Def. These Pokemon can heal other members of your team. Healers use moves like Wish (two turn move that heals equivalent of half or the wishing Pokemon) and Heal Bell/Aromatherapy (gets rid of the whole team’s Status Conditions).

·       Item to consider…

o   Leftovers

·       My example of Umbreon is also an example of a Healer

Even Gary Oak uses an Umbreon

Stallers

These Pokemon too are typically Walls; a lot of HP and Def/Sp. Def. Stallers are Pokemon that can inflict a status like Burn or Poison, use Protect (protects user for one turn) and can regenerate HP long enough until the opposing Pokemon faints.

·       This is, to me and possibly others, kind of cheap but it works. A good stop to this tactic is a Pokemon with Taunt (taunted Pokemon can’t use non-attacking moves).

·       Item to consider…

o   Leftovers

·       My example of Umbreon if you replace Heal Bell with Toxic is also an example of a Staller

It would be a shame if you were to get stalled out

Hazarder

These can be mixed with other Roles. This role is for Pokemon that put up Entry Hazards. Getting up Entry Hazards can change the pace of a game, because if you get a Pokemon to low enough HP they will faint upon entering. Roar (randomly switches opponent’s Pokemon) is a good move to use alongside Entry Hazards because you can keep dealing that damage. 

List of Entry Hazards… (Click here for details)

·       Stealth Rock

·       Sticky Web

·       Spikes/Toxic Spikes

o   My example of Swampert (Tank) is an example of a Pokemon that can get up Hazards

Spinners (Defoggers)

These can be mixed with other Roles as well. Spinners are Pokemon that use Rapid Spin to get Hazards off the Trainer’s side of the field, and Defoggers are Pokemon that use Defog to get Hazards off both sides of the field.

·       Rapid Spin

·       Defog

o   An example of a Defogger (Also a Fast Special Sweeper)…

§  Latias (Dragon/Psychic)

Item: Leftovers

Nature: Timid

EVs: 252 Sp. Atk/ 4 Sp. Def/ 252 Spe

Ability: Levitate

Moves: Dragon Pulse

             Psyshock

             Thunderbolt

             Defog

Until Next Time

These are some of the big name roles that I know, there are plenty others so feel free to check out the link I posted up top. Also I may not be 100% accurate with the descriptions; I’m mostly going off of what I know and some research.