Well, since I decided to undertake the Charmander analysis, I've been looking into what Charmander can do... I've not seen a single Charmander used by someone who knows what they're doing EVER, which led me to assume that he wasn't very good. Closer investigation shows that his movepool is, actually, pretty impressive.
Apart from a rather large inferiority complex to Magby, (which I'm fully aware of but not discussing here) the biggest problem with Charmander is that his best moves are his egg moves-- which creates some serious problems when compiling his best moves together into usable sets.
Partly as a tool for myself, and partly as a topic for discussion, I'm going to list here what moves can be used together and speculate on some sets that could work based the moves that are compatible together.
NOTE: If this thread in some way violates a rule I may have overlooked, please notify me before closing so that I can back up this information.
Charmander's competive movepool consists of the following:
STAB: Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Flare Blitz, Fire Punch, Overheat
Non-STAB Physical: Thunderpunch, Rock Slide, Crunch / Shadow Claw, Brick Break, Dragon Claw / Outrage
Non-STAB Special: Ancientpower
Non-Attacking: Will-O-Wisp, Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Belly Drum
NOTE: Moves that everyone gets, like Protect and Hidden Power, are not included. Moves with forgettable coverage, such as Aerial Ace, are ommitted.
From Charmander's movepool, we're able to see that a physical sweeping role fits him very well, and he seems well-suited to hypothetical sets that include Dragon Dance, Swords Dance, Choice Scarf (or even Band), and possibly Belly Drum.
Of those listed above, the ones that are breeding-exclusive are Flare Blitz, Crunch, Outrage, Ancientpower, Dragon Dance, and Belly Drum. Instead of listing illegal combinations, which would probably take longer, I'll instead simply list which moves ARE compatible together, which is what I care about more anyway.
Legal Egg move combinations:
- Crunch + Dragon Dance + Outrage + Flare Blitz (Larvitar, Salamence)
- Crunch + Belly Drum + Flare Blitz (Snorlax)
- Crunch + Ancientpower + Flare Blitz (Cranidos)
From here, we're able to derive some possible movesets for him. I don't have access to Shoddy at the moment, so I can't do anything in the way of EVs or Stat Calcs, but as soon as I have Shoddy again I'll come and add that back in. Please not that these are all speculatory and untested.
Dragon Dancer
Hold: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
- Dragon Dance
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- Thunderpunch
- Brick Break / Rock Slide / Dragon Claw
Dragon Dance-boosted Flare Blitz is pretty intimidating, any way you slice it. Thunderpunch hits Waters, and in the last slot, you can go with Brick Break for Houndour, Rock Slide for Fire-types other than Houndour, or Dragon Claw for hitting Dragons (resist the other two types) and getting coverage.
Choice Scarf
Hold: Choice Scarf
Nature: Lonely / Hasty
- Flare Blitz
- Overheat
- Brick Break / Rock Slide
- Thunderpunch
FB + Overheat give powerful dual STABs, and you then have Brick Break / Rock Slide for Houndour switchins, and Thunderpunch for Water-types. Has better options than Scarf Cyndaquil outside of Eruption.
Swords Dancer
Hold: Salac Berry
Nature: Jolly
- Swords Dance
- Fire Punch
- Rock Slide
- Substitute / Thunderpunch
Like the DDer, but slower and more powerful. Fire Punch can be used over FB to eliminate recoil, since you have added power already. Added in Sub, which if you can get a free one in, can be used to set up SD.
Choice Band
Hold: Choice Band
Nature: Jolly
- Flare Blitz
- Thunderpunch
- Brick Break / Rock Slide
- Crunch
Basically like other sets, but adds Crunch for coverage.
I'm skipping Belly Drum because let's face it, Charmander is pretty much inferior to Poliwag in every concievable way.
Anyway... discuss.
Apart from a rather large inferiority complex to Magby, (which I'm fully aware of but not discussing here) the biggest problem with Charmander is that his best moves are his egg moves-- which creates some serious problems when compiling his best moves together into usable sets.
Partly as a tool for myself, and partly as a topic for discussion, I'm going to list here what moves can be used together and speculate on some sets that could work based the moves that are compatible together.
NOTE: If this thread in some way violates a rule I may have overlooked, please notify me before closing so that I can back up this information.
Charmander's competive movepool consists of the following:
STAB: Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Flare Blitz, Fire Punch, Overheat
Non-STAB Physical: Thunderpunch, Rock Slide, Crunch / Shadow Claw, Brick Break, Dragon Claw / Outrage
Non-STAB Special: Ancientpower
Non-Attacking: Will-O-Wisp, Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Belly Drum
NOTE: Moves that everyone gets, like Protect and Hidden Power, are not included. Moves with forgettable coverage, such as Aerial Ace, are ommitted.
From Charmander's movepool, we're able to see that a physical sweeping role fits him very well, and he seems well-suited to hypothetical sets that include Dragon Dance, Swords Dance, Choice Scarf (or even Band), and possibly Belly Drum.
Of those listed above, the ones that are breeding-exclusive are Flare Blitz, Crunch, Outrage, Ancientpower, Dragon Dance, and Belly Drum. Instead of listing illegal combinations, which would probably take longer, I'll instead simply list which moves ARE compatible together, which is what I care about more anyway.
Legal Egg move combinations:
- Crunch + Dragon Dance + Outrage + Flare Blitz (Larvitar, Salamence)
- Crunch + Belly Drum + Flare Blitz (Snorlax)
- Crunch + Ancientpower + Flare Blitz (Cranidos)
From here, we're able to derive some possible movesets for him. I don't have access to Shoddy at the moment, so I can't do anything in the way of EVs or Stat Calcs, but as soon as I have Shoddy again I'll come and add that back in. Please not that these are all speculatory and untested.
Dragon Dancer
Hold: Life Orb / Focus Sash
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
- Dragon Dance
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- Thunderpunch
- Brick Break / Rock Slide / Dragon Claw
Dragon Dance-boosted Flare Blitz is pretty intimidating, any way you slice it. Thunderpunch hits Waters, and in the last slot, you can go with Brick Break for Houndour, Rock Slide for Fire-types other than Houndour, or Dragon Claw for hitting Dragons (resist the other two types) and getting coverage.
Choice Scarf
Hold: Choice Scarf
Nature: Lonely / Hasty
- Flare Blitz
- Overheat
- Brick Break / Rock Slide
- Thunderpunch
FB + Overheat give powerful dual STABs, and you then have Brick Break / Rock Slide for Houndour switchins, and Thunderpunch for Water-types. Has better options than Scarf Cyndaquil outside of Eruption.
Swords Dancer
Hold: Salac Berry
Nature: Jolly
- Swords Dance
- Fire Punch
- Rock Slide
- Substitute / Thunderpunch
Like the DDer, but slower and more powerful. Fire Punch can be used over FB to eliminate recoil, since you have added power already. Added in Sub, which if you can get a free one in, can be used to set up SD.
Choice Band
Hold: Choice Band
Nature: Jolly
- Flare Blitz
- Thunderpunch
- Brick Break / Rock Slide
- Crunch
Basically like other sets, but adds Crunch for coverage.
I'm skipping Belly Drum because let's face it, Charmander is pretty much inferior to Poliwag in every concievable way.
Anyway... discuss.