OU Alakazam (Life Orb)

[MANNAT]

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Shadow Ball
move 4: Recover
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========

Psychic is Alakazam's main STAB move and does significant damage to most neutral targets. Alternatively, Psyshock can be used to pressure specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Assault Vest Tapu Bulu. However, Psyshock’s lower Base Power and underwhelming performance versus defensive Landorus-T makes it the worse STAB option. Focus Blast is the ideal coverage move on this set, being able to beat Steel- and Dark-types that switch into Psychic like Heatran and Tyranitar. Hidden Power Fire can be used to beat Mega Scizor as well as to beat Ferrothorn without having to risk missing Focus Blast. Shadow Ball is a potential coverage option over Hidden Power Fire in order to nail Psychic-types like Latios and Mew while simultaneously being a solid neutral attacking move. Recover rounds out the set, allowing Alakazam to take advantage of Pokemon like Heatran and Toxapex and remain healthy.

Set Details
========

252 Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Alakazam can outspeed maximum Speed Hawlucha before Unburden activates and Speed tie with opposing Alakazam while having as much power as possible. Magic Guard in tandem with Life Orb allows Alakazam to fire off powerful, boosted attacks without having to suffer Life Orb damage.

Usage Tips
========

First and foremost, Alakazam is very frail, so make sure that it's pivoted in via VoltTurn or free switches for the most part. However, Alakazam can be pivoted into special attackers like Toxapex and Heatran due to its access to Recover in conjunction with super effective attacks versus both of these foes. Alakazam is one of the best Heatran answers in the tier because it outspeeds Heatran, is immune to passive damage from Toxic and Magma Storm, threatens to OHKO Heatran with Focus Blast, and can avoid being KOed by Magma Storm after Recover most of the time. Make sure to scout for Choice Scarf users like Kartana that Alakazam normally beats before trying to take them on to prevent unnecessarily losing Alakazam early on in the match. Finally, it's usually best to prioritize attacking the foe over healing Alakazam unless there is a threat on the opposing team like Heatran that Alakazam needs to consistently pivot into throughout the match.

Team Options
========

Defensive pivots like Toxapex and Ferrothorn should be used alongside Alakazam to make up for its mediocre defensive capabilities as well as for their ability to provide Alakazam with a defensive Pokemon to fall back to if they lose momentum. Offensive Pokemon like Heatran and Zygarde that can break through bulky Steel-types like Magearna that give Alakazam trouble make great teammates for Alakazam due to their excellent offensive synergy with it. Finally, entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Clefable is appreciated to wear down defensive cores so that Alakazam can potentially break through the opposing team.

 

[ABR]

- slash sball after hpfire, hits lati/mew and i guess reuni(?) but is also just nice neutral coverage.

- reflect the above change in moves

- if ur gonna go as far as mentioning knock (dont necessarily disagree), id also include cm and taunt

- Usage Tips section: it's actually one of the best answers to max spatk tran as well cuz then focus ohkos and u almost always live magma recover magma; psychic ohkos kartana

- Team Options section: point 1 seems basically irrelevant; i agree alakazam fits on more defensive teams but nothing to do w scarf users really; agree with 3rd point.

QC 1/3

 

[Leo]

Alternatively, Psyshock can be used to pressure specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and AV Tapu Bulu.

Id mention some downsides of using shock, namely the lower base power and doing less dmg to defensive lando

The Set Details ==== break thing doesn't have "Set Details" on top of it, make sure to fix that

Team Options seems kinda lacking atm, try to give it more substance with examples and mentioning other stuff you'd pair with this

Pretty good other than that 2/3

 

[Finchinator]

written

looks good from prior checks

3/3

 

[autumn]

GP 1/2
add remove comments

Hide

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Shadow Ball
move 4: Recover
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========

Psychic is your Alakazam's main STAB move and can threaten to does significant damage to most neutral targets. Alternatively, Psyshock can be used to pressure specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Assault Vest Tapu Bulu. However, Psyshock’s lower Base Power and underwhelming performance versus defensive Landorus-T makes it the worse STAB option. Focus Blast is the ideal coverage move on this set, being able to beat Steel- and Dark-types that switch into Psychic like Heatran and Tyranitar. Hidden Power Fire can be used to beat Mega Scizor as well as being able to beat Ferrothorn without having to risk missing Focus Blast. Shadow Ball is a potential coverage option that can be used over Hidden Power Fire in order to nail Psychic-types like Latios and Mew while simultaneously being a solid neutral attacking move. (it's slashed here) Recover rounds out the set, allowing Alakazam to abuse take advantage of Pokemon like Heatran and Toxapex and remain healthy. Shadow Ball is a potential coverage option that can be used over Hidden Power Fire in order to nail Psychic-types like Latios and Mew while simultaneously being a solid neutral attacking move.

Set Details
========

Magic Guard in tandem with Life Orb allows Alakazam to fire off powerful, boosted attacks without having to suffer Life Orb damage. 252 Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Alakazam can outspeed maximum Speed Hawlucha (before unburden?) and Speed tie with opposing Alakazam while having as much power as possible. (would put the ev comments first because it's the order of the set but optional)

Usage Tips
========

First and foremost, Alakazam is very frail, so make sure that it's pivoted in via VoltTurn or free switches for the most part. However, Alakazam can be pivoted into specially based attackers like Toxapex and Heatran because due to its access to Recover in conjunction with super effective attacks versus both of these foes. Alakazam is one of the best Heatran answers in the tier because it outspeeds Heatran, is immune to passive damage from Toxic and Magma Storm, threatens to OHKO Heatran with Focus Blast, and can avoid being KOed by Magma Storm after recovering most of the time. Ensure to scout for surprise Choice Scarf users like Kartana that Alakazam normally beats before trying to take them on to prevent unnecessarily losing Alakazam early on in the match. Finally, It's usually best to prioritize attacking the foe over healing Alakazam unless there is a threat on the opposing team like Heatran that Alakazam needs to consistently pivot into throughout the match.

Team Options
========

Defensive pivots like Toxapex and Ferrothorn should be used alongside Alakazam to make up for its mediocre defensive capabilities as well as their ability to provide the Alakazam player with the ability to have a defensive Pokemon to fall back to if they lose momentum. Offensive Pokemon like Heatran and Zygarde that can break through bulky Steel-types like Magearna that give Alakazam trouble make great teammates for Alakazam due to their excellent offensive synergy with it. Finally, entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Clefable is appreciates appreciated to wear away at down defensive cores so that Alakazam can potentially break through the opposing team.

 

[Lumari]

GP 2/2

check

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Fire / Shadow Ball
move 4: Recover
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Moves
========

Psychic is Alakazam's main STAB move and does significant damage to most neutral targets. Alternatively, Psyshock can be used to pressure specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Assault Vest Tapu Bulu. However, Psyshock’s lower Base Power and underwhelming performance versus defensive Landorus-T makes it the worse STAB option. Focus Blast is the ideal coverage move on this set, being able to beat Steel- and Dark-types that switch into Psychic like Heatran and Tyranitar. Hidden Power Fire can be used to beat Mega Scizor as well as being able to beat Ferrothorn without having to risk missing Focus Blast. Shadow Ball is a potential coverage option that can be used over Hidden Power Fire in order to nail Psychic-types like Latios and Mew while simultaneously being a solid neutral attacking move. Recover rounds out the set, allowing Alakazam to take advantage of Pokemon like Heatran and Toxapex and remain healthy.

Set Details
========

252 Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature ensure that Alakazam can outspeed maximum Speed Hawlucha before Unburden activates and Speed tie with opposing Alakazam while having as much power as possible. Magic Guard in tandem with Life Orb allows Alakazam to fire off powerful, boosted attacks without having to suffer Life Orb damage.

Usage Tips
========

First and foremost, Alakazam is very frail, so make sure that it's pivoted in via VoltTurn or free switches for the most part. However, Alakazam can be pivoted into special attackers like Toxapex and Heatran due to its access to Recover in conjunction with super effective attacks versus both of these foes. Alakazam is one of the best Heatran answers in the tier because it outspeeds Heatran, is immune to passive damage from Toxic and Magma Storm, threatens to OHKO Heatran with Focus Blast, and can avoid being KOed by Magma Storm after recovering Recover most of the time. Make sure to scout for Choice Scarf users like Kartana that Alakazam normally beats before trying to take them on to prevent unnecessarily losing Alakazam early on in the match. Finally, it's usually best to prioritize attacking the foe over healing Alakazam unless there is a threat on the opposing team like Heatran that Alakazam needs to consistently pivot into throughout the match.

Team Options
========

Defensive pivots like Toxapex and Ferrothorn should be used alongside Alakazam to make up for its mediocre defensive capabilities as well as for their ability to provide Alakazam with the ability to have a defensive Pokemon to fall back to if they lose momentum. Offensive Pokemon like Heatran and Zygarde that can break through bulky Steel-types like Magearna that give Alakazam trouble make great teammates for Alakazam due to their excellent offensive synergy with it. Finally, entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Clefable is appreciated to wear down defensive cores so that Alakazam can potentially break through the opposing team.