Azelf Lead (Colbur)

[Cooltrainer]

My Own comments, which would NOT be included if this became "concised":

Machamp usage is increasing in the lead spot, which hurts Azelf. Why? Because the user must decide whether to attack or set up rocks. If Standard Lead Azelf is to use Psychic, (which is most likely the strongest attack besides Explosion) he will not kill the standard Machamp, and is then taken out by Bullet Punch on the next turn. In this instance, no Stealth Rocks are set up. If Standard Lead Azelf is to use Stealth Rocks first turn, it is taken out by the combination of Payback and Bullet Punch. The next teammate in line then must deal with a full HP Machamp, as well as the risk of confusion. This set attempts to rectify this problem, whilst also allowing it to beat its biggest threat: ScarfTar.


This lead works to counter increasing trends in the OU Metagame while still maintaining the efficiency of the Azelf lead. It's high speed and reasonable bulk allow it to set up Stealth Rocks and continue to provide support mid-game.

[SET]
name: Colbur Lead
move 1: Taunt
move 2: U-Turn
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Explosion
item: Colbur Berry
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Speed

[SET COMMENTS]
The concensus among battlers is that Stealth Rocks is a must-have. With that being said, many players attempt to set up Stealth Rocks immediately while some attempt to thwart any chance of set up with Anti-Leads. This set manages to break the standard Anti-leads, succeed in setting up one's own Stealth Rocks, and continue to be used throughout the rest of the battle, whether as useful fodder, preventing set up (Taunt), or eliminating a problematic poke (Explosion).

<p>The selling point of this set is the Colbur Berry, which reduces the damage of Dark Type attacks by 50%. The standard Anti-Lead Machamp does 42.4% - 50% with the first payback, and even the most offensive Machamp's deal 44.9% - 53.1%. This allows Azelf to set up Stealth Rocks while still being in good health. After setting up the hazard, Explosion is usually the best option. The maximum HP investment is responsible for the following calculations:

Lead Heatran Fire Blast 74% - 87.6%
Lead Roserade Leaf Storm 84.2% - 99.4%
Scarf Tyranitar Crunch 50.3% - 59.6%
Anti-Lead Dragonite Extreme Speed 43.8% - 51.7%
Percentage wise, this generally fails to 2hKo. Although the Draco Meteor will always OhKo, most opponents opt to Extreme Speed first turn to guarentee that the sash is broken.

Lead Infernape Fire Blast 63.6% - 74.9%
Lead Infernape Fake Out 12.1% - 14.4%
Lead Infernape Overheat 74% - 87.6%
Fake Out + Fire Blast is never a 2hKo, while the odd Fake Out + Overheat fails to OhKo on average and needs nearly maximum damage from both attacks.

Lead Metagross Meteor Mash 68.9% - 81.4%
Lead Metagross BulletPunch 28% - 33.1%
Obviously, Lead Metagross can pose a problem. However, the Bullet Punch second turn is almost mandatory for the other player, so you can predict accordingly. Meteor Mash will never OhKo.

With the Colbur Berry, Azelf maintains its momentum, sets up its Stealth Rock at the cost of sheer power. However, the metagame has adapted to the Azelf Lead since it sat at the #1 spot for a while. The Colbur Berry sacrifices Azelf's Focus Sash for a more useful item in today's metagame.

 

[remlabmez]

if you really hate machamp that much you could just run life orb, and Uturn for them ttar lead which dont really run pursuit.

gonna have to say no

 

[Setsuna]

The idea behind this set is good, though the problem is that you're focusing everything on that berry, which only lets you beat Machamp and scape from Tyranitar after having set the rocks. As mentioned above, Azelf can accomplish this by simply running Life Orb, which is going to make U-turn strike harder as well.
Like I said, the thought you put behind the creation of this set is good, but it's just that those leads are already beaten without having to place a Colbur berry that in real life only benefits 2-3 situations. So I'm sorry but I have to say no on this.

 

[The SPrinkLer]

Your formatting is wrong as well. I suggest waiting for approval before writing up the set and providing a skeleton instead. Also giving up the survival of focus sash to beat two leads is pretty dumb IMO. I agree with setsuna.

 

[Colonel M]

The minor formatting issue isn't that drastic. Even I can fix it in 10 seconds if it was an issue. Though I would recommend the skeleton anyway. Also really hate the use of "Stealth Rocks". The move is "Stealth Rock".

Anyway, I think I'd just use Life Orb if the main goal is KOing Machamp leads. Colbur Berry is cool on Tyranitar though. That's about... all I can really think of.

 

[Cooltrainer]

I see what most of you are saying. But if you run Life Orb than you lose to Roserade/Heatran. And Pursuit from Scarf Ttar does the same damage as Crunch if you U-turn out.

Sprinkles Your formatting is wrong as well. I suggest waiting for approval before writing up the set and providing a skeleton instead. Also giving up the survival of focus sash to beat two leads is pretty dumb IMO. I agree with setsuna.

This is my first QC. Obviously I had no idea how to write it up...

I just feel like the metagame has learned to counter Focus Sash Azelf. This lead does the EXACT same thing that Focus Sash Azelf does, except it can actually live vs Infernape, Metagross, and Machamp. The same thing that would happen with Heatran still happens, same with Rose, same with Swampert. Its not like Psychic on Timid/Naive Azelf does anything, it just breaks random sashes while not setting up stealth rocks. Psychic doesn't OHKO anything.

So I dont really lose much by not running it. U-turn lets me beat Tyranitar, which being #2 on the ladder, isnt exactly "useless." I think you guys are looking at this the wrong way. Im not using it to "Beat only two pokemon" as sprinkles said - I'm using it to beat the exact same pokemon that Standard Azelf would beat, and then also beat Machamp and the ever-so-prevalent Tyranitar.

 

[Philip7086]

I actually don't mind the idea of this set, but it definitely doesn't deserve a whole new analysis. At best, I would let you add this set to the Additional Comments of the already existing lead set. I approve as AC instead of a whole new set.

 

[Plus]

Whether you have Colbur berry or focus sash as your item, generally the idea of lead Azelf is kind of the same. You Taunt, and then you Stealth Rock. You can also explode when you have the chance. I don't think this warrants an extra analysis because it doesn't lose to something like Scarftar or Lead Champ. I don't doubt it's viability but I'm not sold on adding things to an analysis just because it beats some new faces.

It's not much of a pain to add this to AC. Colbur Azelf gets the rocks down and beats a couple other faces that the current lead azelf cannot handle. I'll approve it under AC as well.

 

[Cooltrainer]

So do I technically need three people to approve it under AC? Or is two enough?

 

[kokoloko]

You're actually understating how good Colbur Berry Azelf is, which is why a lot of people disapprove of the set. A set like:

Azelf @ Colbur Berry
Levitate / Jolly
252 HP / 20 Def / 20 SpD / 216 Spe
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion

never leaves you at a disadvantage against any leads, except Dragonite. It eliminates the "luck" element by not risking the tie with other Azelf - instead taking advantage of their higher speed to get off a Focus Sash breaking U-turn as they uselessly Taunt. Same thing against Aerodactyl. Against any slower lead you Taunt, SR, and U-turn to scout for the Ghost or Protect. Only leads with very strong priority beat you (I could only think of Dragonite) but they can't actually prevent SR.

 

[remlabmez]

You're actually understating how good Colbur Berry Azelf is, which is why a lot of people disapprove of the set. A set like:

Azelf @ Colbur Berry
Levitate / Jolly
252 HP / 20 Def / 20 SpD / 216 Spe
- Taunt
- U-turn
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion

never leaves you at a disadvantage against any leads, except Dragonite. It eliminates the "luck" element by not risking the tie with other Azelf - instead taking advantage of their higher speed to get off a Focus Sash breaking U-turn as they uselessly Taunt. Same thing against Aerodactyl. Against any slower lead you Taunt, SR, and U-turn to scout for the Ghost or Protect. Only leads with very strong priority beat you (I could only think of Dragonite) but they can't actually prevent SR.

whats the point of colbur berry on this lead? like i said earlier, life orb works much better on a set like this, regardless it should be max speed for starmies, eating a hydro and a weak uturn isnt a good start to a game

 

[Stellar]

I've also been using Life Orb with this set and it hasn't disappointed me so far. Max Speed is also a given.

 

[kokoloko]

whats the point of colbur berry on this lead? like i said earlier, life orb works much better on a set like this, regardless it should be max speed for starmies, eating a hydro and a weak uturn isnt a good start to a game

I've also been using Life Orb with this set and it hasn't disappointed me so far. Max Speed is also a given.

No, you're both looking at that set the wrong way. Putting Life Orb on lead Azelf makes you lose against more leads than it makes you win. Sure you'll beat Machamp, but then you lose Focus Sash and with it, the ability to beat anything that can OHKO you. With the defensive investment that I gave it and Colbur Berry, you beat everything the current Azelf beats + Machamp. Also, its a hell of a lot easier to get off an Explosion with this set than it is with the regular lead. Would you rather just die to any Tyranitar or would you rather actually set up SR and Explode in its face for at least 50%? And like I said earlier, you actually don't want to run max speed; this way, you can get a free Focus Sash breaking U-turn on other lead Azelf as they uselessly Taunt you.

People are really looking at Colbur Azelf as if its exchanging some wins for some other wins. Its not. Its literally just adding to them and improving the way lead Azelf works.

 

[Mekkah]

The maximum HP investment is responsible for the following calculations:

Lead Heatran Fire Blast 74% - 87.6%
Lead Roserade Leaf Storm 84.2% - 99.4%
Scarf Tyranitar Crunch 50.3% - 59.6%
Anti-Lead Dragonite Extreme Speed 43.8% - 51.7%
Percentage wise, this generally fails to 2hKo. Although the Draco Meteor will always OhKo, most opponents opt to Extreme Speed first turn to guarentee that the sash is broken.

I'd put the Scarftar calc elsewhere, since you're implying max HP makes a difference against it when it clearly doesn't - Colbur Berry does. Even if Scarftar Crunch on Colbur doesn't kill it in two hits, Colbur is consumed after one hit, so you're getting 2HKO'd no matter how you look at it.

 

[Cooltrainer]

I'd put the Scarftar calc elsewhere, since you're implying max HP makes a difference against it when it clearly doesn't - Colbur Berry does. Even if Scarftar Crunch on Colbur doesn't kill it in two hits, Colbur is consumed after one hit, so you're getting 2HKO'd no matter how you look at it.

I don't know about you, but there's not a lot of Scarf Ttar leads. People lead with things like Roserade and Swampert. They get taunted, and switch to Ttar to give the whole "checkmate" position (pursuit/crunch). With the colbur berry, this is rectified.

kokoloko is looking at this the right way, while remlabmez doesn't seem to get it. This lead does EXACTLY the same thing that standard Azelf does, as in setting up rocks "safely." The focus sash is essentially its massive HP investment. The Colbur berry then helps it beat Machamp and Scarf Ttar, two of Azelf's most prevalent counters.

 

[Ray Jay]

I don't know about you, but there's not a lot of Scarf Ttar leads. People lead with things like Roserade and Swampert. They get taunted, and switch to Ttar to give the whole "checkmate" position (pursuit/crunch). With the colbur berry, this is rectified.

kokoloko is looking at this the right way, while remlabmez doesn't seem to get it. This lead does EXACTLY the same thing that standard Azelf does, as in setting up rocks "safely." The focus sash is essentially its massive HP investment. The Colbur berry then helps it beat Machamp and Scarf Ttar, two of Azelf's most prevalent counters.

What Mekkah was pointing out was that you are putting that calc to show the effectiveness of HP evs, when really that calc has nothing to do with HP evs, it's because of Colbur Berry.

 

[Farmer]

I'm in agreement for ac.

 

[Philip7086]

Okay that's three. You can write an AC paragraph or two for this. I'll move this topic to OU now.

Edit: Since you agreed to pass this set on to SDS, he will be in charge of the writeup, so I'll be closing this topic. Good work.