I wanted to make a pokemon that specializes in spiking, what should I raise?
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Best Spiker?
- Thread starter ManaScrew987
- Start date
i wanna give a shoutout to froslass, the only ghost with any type of spikes.
What it really comes down to is what you need.
Do you need a Spiker and Phazer? Give Skarmory or Hippowdown (Stealth Rock) a look in.
Do you need a Spiker and Rapid Spinner? What about Forretress, Cloyster or Tentacruel (Toxic Spikes)?
Do you want a fast Spiker? Tentacruel (Toxic Spikes) and Froslass can do the job (albeit not being as bulky).
Which type of Spikes do you want to be setting? Different Pokemon can set different types of Spikes. Forretress can lay whatever you want, while Tentacruel only lays Toxic Spikes. The type of Spikes that is best for you should be considered if you're only laying the one Spiker. Personally, if you're only having one Spiker, I'd recommend using Stealth Rock, as it will hit all incoming Pokemon, eliminating Focus Sash. Of course, some will be hit harder than others due to resistances and weaknesses, but all types of Spikes have their own pros and cons.
What you need to do is assess is your needs in the Spiker. There is no real "best", only the most reliable choice for your needs.
Do you need a Spiker and Phazer? Give Skarmory or Hippowdown (Stealth Rock) a look in.
Do you need a Spiker and Rapid Spinner? What about Forretress, Cloyster or Tentacruel (Toxic Spikes)?
Do you want a fast Spiker? Tentacruel (Toxic Spikes) and Froslass can do the job (albeit not being as bulky).
Which type of Spikes do you want to be setting? Different Pokemon can set different types of Spikes. Forretress can lay whatever you want, while Tentacruel only lays Toxic Spikes. The type of Spikes that is best for you should be considered if you're only laying the one Spiker. Personally, if you're only having one Spiker, I'd recommend using Stealth Rock, as it will hit all incoming Pokemon, eliminating Focus Sash. Of course, some will be hit harder than others due to resistances and weaknesses, but all types of Spikes have their own pros and cons.
What you need to do is assess is your needs in the Spiker. There is no real "best", only the most reliable choice for your needs.
philpher: omastar could be very useful given that he can get a sandstream boost. he has excellent defense to my knowledge
To get the maximum effect out of Spikes, you need 3 turns to set them up. Omastar has awful typing for a defensive Pokémon - any boost received by Sandstorm is negated by that awful 4x Grass weakness.
Furthermore, the Sandstream boost only multiplies Omastar's Special Defense by 1.5 - the absolute maximum Special Defense Omastar can have is 393, and that is only achieved by being in a Sandstorm with a Special Defense boosting AND 252 EVs invested into Special Defense. This significantly hinders Omastar's ability to add to its impressive Defense; only 256 usable EVs remain for HP and Defense combined.
Therefore, Omastar's only hope is to maximise Defense and try to switch into Choice Banded attacks that aren't very effective on it, namely Normal and Flying. Even then base 70HP doesn't leave Omastar in the best stead against physical opponents.
In my opinion, a Pokemon such as Omastar should not be Spiking when there are so many other Pokemon that do the job better. It's just too fragile, to be honest.
Furthermore, the Sandstream boost only multiplies Omastar's Special Defense by 1.5 - the absolute maximum Special Defense Omastar can have is 393, and that is only achieved by being in a Sandstorm with a Special Defense boosting AND 252 EVs invested into Special Defense. This significantly hinders Omastar's ability to add to its impressive Defense; only 256 usable EVs remain for HP and Defense combined.
Therefore, Omastar's only hope is to maximise Defense and try to switch into Choice Banded attacks that aren't very effective on it, namely Normal and Flying. Even then base 70HP doesn't leave Omastar in the best stead against physical opponents.
In my opinion, a Pokemon such as Omastar should not be Spiking when there are so many other Pokemon that do the job better. It's just too fragile, to be honest.
Kirby: you've got some good points there. however, i run an omastar with 252 SpAtk and 252 Spd in the sandstorm, and it survives non-STAB
T-bolts :S it has some kind of survivability
T-bolts :S it has some kind of survivability
Even Skarmory can survive non-STAB Thunderbolts off the right Pokemon. ; )
Without any true statistical backup, such assertions don't really assure anyone of Omastar's survivability. I'm not shooting you down by any means, so please don't take this the wrong way; I'm just providing my opinion for the OP.
If Omastar works for you then good on you. : )
Without any true statistical backup, such assertions don't really assure anyone of Omastar's survivability. I'm not shooting you down by any means, so please don't take this the wrong way; I'm just providing my opinion for the OP.
If Omastar works for you then good on you. : )
STOP TALKING ABOUT OMASTAR!!, but seriously there really isnt a best spiker each one is tailer to different needs ( my fav is tentacruel due to it it autospinning toxic spikes)
Why would we stop talking about Omastar? It's interesting to discuss at least, which is a better reason than your caps lock being turned on (you've yet to provide a better one).
Skarmory has ages to set up Spikes if it just finds one Pokemon to come in on and it won't be trapped either thanks to Shed Shell (Forretress needs its Leftovers quite badly). Stealth Rock can be put on about anything, and since a team usually has a good Ground anyway you'll find you won't need to put that on the same Pokemon. Forretress is obviously good as well, but Skarmory lasts longer and is therefore better at setting up the general Spikes.
If you want Toxic Spikes AND Spikes then Forretress > Skarmory obviously, or you have to invest two Pokemon slots, and then your second choice should be Tentacruel or Drapion. Or Cloyster, I suppose, but he's more for Hail teams and even then Tentacruel is arguably superior.
Skarmory has ages to set up Spikes if it just finds one Pokemon to come in on and it won't be trapped either thanks to Shed Shell (Forretress needs its Leftovers quite badly). Stealth Rock can be put on about anything, and since a team usually has a good Ground anyway you'll find you won't need to put that on the same Pokemon. Forretress is obviously good as well, but Skarmory lasts longer and is therefore better at setting up the general Spikes.
If you want Toxic Spikes AND Spikes then Forretress > Skarmory obviously, or you have to invest two Pokemon slots, and then your second choice should be Tentacruel or Drapion. Or Cloyster, I suppose, but he's more for Hail teams and even then Tentacruel is arguably superior.
Im sorry mekkah dont beat me :) Anyway choicescarfed tentacruel seems quite common nowdays cant go wrong with the squid monster.... or can you?
I enjoy Skarmory for the reason that if I can't attack the random Poke out against me after I got all my Spikes, yes I am implying that I will get out all my spikes and keep it there, I can just blow it away. I mean, for example, if Forretress is up against a for god knows why, a RSless Donphan. You're forced to switch whereas Skarmory will just randomly WW stuff around for Spikes damage. =[
Bad example but hopefully you get the point.
Bad example but hopefully you get the point.
omastar and forretress learn all 3, which make them very versatile but, skarmory has amazing defense and hp. most people go with skarmory for spikes, but if you want someone with all three, go with omastar or forretress. by the way, if you depend on choosing the versatile ones and your in need of a sp. attk poke then go with omastar, or in need of a physical attk poke, go with forrettress
Doesn't Focus Sash work AGAINST Destiny Bond?