I think it might be interesting to discuss some of the best moves in OU, like what they are, what they do, why they're good etc... I am going to list the five I feel are best and write a description for each one. I encourage you all to add to this list and maybe promote some under rated moves, because I will be doing the best of the best moves(imo). I would also like to consider the moves distribution factoring in to what makes the move so good. For example sacred fire is seriously one of the best attacks in the game but OU only has 1 pokemon with access to it, so it doesn't make my list.(but it could make yours I suppose)
In no particular order(because I don't want to cause a riot)
Stealth Rock: Easily the most used hazard and for good reason, throughout the course of the match stealth rocks are breaking sashes, deterring switches, and turning 3hkos into 2hkos. On any given match using Stealth rock could be the equivalent of dealing over 100% of damage to your opponents team. It has a very wide distribution and can even be put on pokes that take the opponent by surprise, thus giving you offensive momentum as your opponent tries to get the rocks off the field, while not switching around too much. Stealth Rock can deal anywhere from 3% -50%, greatly limiting the viability of a pokemon entirely, and all this can be done with a single move.
Substitute: This one might surprise you guys, but let me explain. Sub can is useful in many situations and serves as a higher reward version of protect(if you are faster), in that it allows you to scout your opponents move and can give you a free turn to deal damage to a poke you otherwise would have had to switch out on. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure just about every pokemon gets substitute, so any pokemon could catch you by surprise. To name a few that use sub really well, kyurem-b(destroys stall all because sub), keldeo(has seen an increase in usage and is a very competent sub cm, and its fast enough to use sub as an effective scouting tool), well to be honest any fast pokemon with calm mind or bulk up is a deadly sub user. Sub allows you to prosper greatly against stall and immediately puts them at a disadvantage, and deters them from using status moves and the like. So yeah sub pretty much allows you great advantages verse a very popular playstyle and destroys offensive teams if you make a good prediction on a switch or something, pretty much forcing them to sack a mon.
Scald: This is move is too spammable in my opinion, and literally buffed the entire water type. Scald turns some pokemon into absolute monsters, namely defensive water types like suicune, alomomola, slowbro, manaphy etc...., there is almost never a reason not to use scald if you have a water pokemon on the field. The only pokemon that are immune to burn this gen are fire types...which scald hits super effectively, which means the only offensive mon that can switch into scald is bulky charizard x, and thats it, lmk if I'm wrong on that.aim v. Alf' This game is in the World Cup of Pokemon, and scald singlehandedly, imo, won Pokeaim this game, if scald wasnt a move or didnt have the burn chance he would've lost. I encourage you all to think of a pokemon that can switch into scald, its a small one and its the reason scald is one of the best moves in the game.
Knock Off: Knock Off received a huge buff this gen as its base power was raised to 65(without an item). This is on the list for the same reason as scald, it is so spammable. At least in the beginning of the matches, the only pokemon immune to this are sticky hold(unexistent in OU) and mega pokemon. Knock off has a very nice distribution and is just a very hard move to switch into in general. Even pokemon who resist the attack have to deal with losing their item, which can result in a lack of passive recovery throughout the match, or makes them lose a significant amount of power. Knock Off has so much utility that if a pokemon has accesss to it, it will always be considered as a move. Think of pokemon like thundurus, who turned into an absolute monster of a mixed attacker, as it can now OHKO latios, and other specially defensive psychics that gave him trouble in the past. I can't even begin to name all the pokes that benefit from knock off.
Defog: Defog also got a buff this gen and is pretty self explanatory, because of how powerful hazards are defog is an incredible move. It has a decent distribution in OU, and cannot be blocked so pokemon like the latis, can usualy guarentee that no hazards are on the field. The only slight downside is it also removes your own hazards, but if you have a fire-flying, you dont mind that one bit. Nothing else to really say about this one...so yeah.
Now its your turn, feel free to discuss the moves I mentioned, whether you agree or not, or lets us know what you think is the best move and why. I personally would like to hear your thoughts on scald, I think that move is just a touch too good, especially because it definitely has a higher burn chance than 30% lol.
In no particular order(because I don't want to cause a riot)
Stealth Rock: Easily the most used hazard and for good reason, throughout the course of the match stealth rocks are breaking sashes, deterring switches, and turning 3hkos into 2hkos. On any given match using Stealth rock could be the equivalent of dealing over 100% of damage to your opponents team. It has a very wide distribution and can even be put on pokes that take the opponent by surprise, thus giving you offensive momentum as your opponent tries to get the rocks off the field, while not switching around too much. Stealth Rock can deal anywhere from 3% -50%, greatly limiting the viability of a pokemon entirely, and all this can be done with a single move.
Substitute: This one might surprise you guys, but let me explain. Sub can is useful in many situations and serves as a higher reward version of protect(if you are faster), in that it allows you to scout your opponents move and can give you a free turn to deal damage to a poke you otherwise would have had to switch out on. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure just about every pokemon gets substitute, so any pokemon could catch you by surprise. To name a few that use sub really well, kyurem-b(destroys stall all because sub), keldeo(has seen an increase in usage and is a very competent sub cm, and its fast enough to use sub as an effective scouting tool), well to be honest any fast pokemon with calm mind or bulk up is a deadly sub user. Sub allows you to prosper greatly against stall and immediately puts them at a disadvantage, and deters them from using status moves and the like. So yeah sub pretty much allows you great advantages verse a very popular playstyle and destroys offensive teams if you make a good prediction on a switch or something, pretty much forcing them to sack a mon.
Scald: This is move is too spammable in my opinion, and literally buffed the entire water type. Scald turns some pokemon into absolute monsters, namely defensive water types like suicune, alomomola, slowbro, manaphy etc...., there is almost never a reason not to use scald if you have a water pokemon on the field. The only pokemon that are immune to burn this gen are fire types...which scald hits super effectively, which means the only offensive mon that can switch into scald is bulky charizard x, and thats it, lmk if I'm wrong on that.aim v. Alf' This game is in the World Cup of Pokemon, and scald singlehandedly, imo, won Pokeaim this game, if scald wasnt a move or didnt have the burn chance he would've lost. I encourage you all to think of a pokemon that can switch into scald, its a small one and its the reason scald is one of the best moves in the game.
Knock Off: Knock Off received a huge buff this gen as its base power was raised to 65(without an item). This is on the list for the same reason as scald, it is so spammable. At least in the beginning of the matches, the only pokemon immune to this are sticky hold(unexistent in OU) and mega pokemon. Knock off has a very nice distribution and is just a very hard move to switch into in general. Even pokemon who resist the attack have to deal with losing their item, which can result in a lack of passive recovery throughout the match, or makes them lose a significant amount of power. Knock Off has so much utility that if a pokemon has accesss to it, it will always be considered as a move. Think of pokemon like thundurus, who turned into an absolute monster of a mixed attacker, as it can now OHKO latios, and other specially defensive psychics that gave him trouble in the past. I can't even begin to name all the pokes that benefit from knock off.
Defog: Defog also got a buff this gen and is pretty self explanatory, because of how powerful hazards are defog is an incredible move. It has a decent distribution in OU, and cannot be blocked so pokemon like the latis, can usualy guarentee that no hazards are on the field. The only slight downside is it also removes your own hazards, but if you have a fire-flying, you dont mind that one bit. Nothing else to really say about this one...so yeah.
Now its your turn, feel free to discuss the moves I mentioned, whether you agree or not, or lets us know what you think is the best move and why. I personally would like to hear your thoughts on scald, I think that move is just a touch too good, especially because it definitely has a higher burn chance than 30% lol.