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Move Infestation (and trapping moves in general)
- Thread starter Banryu
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I think it's interesting that everyone is talking about this move's stall potential as I'm realizing that it's not really anything new, barring the fact that it's more accurate than previous trapping moves.
Actually, I'm curious if this could be utilized somehow offensively, in terms of like say, setting up a sweep or some such. Someone mentioned Infestation Volcarona, which sounds interesting to me in theory even though in practice Volcarona would be starved for type coverage if it were just restricted to (presumably) two attacking moves. Maybe Reuniclus would do it better with CM/Infestation/Recover/Psychic or something?
Still, it's an interesting thought. Although I guess we can't speculate much further to its usefulness until we get a clearer picture of who all gets the move.
Actually, I'm curious if this could be utilized somehow offensively, in terms of like say, setting up a sweep or some such. Someone mentioned Infestation Volcarona, which sounds interesting to me in theory even though in practice Volcarona would be starved for type coverage if it were just restricted to (presumably) two attacking moves. Maybe Reuniclus would do it better with CM/Infestation/Recover/Psychic or something?
Still, it's an interesting thought. Although I guess we can't speculate much further to its usefulness until we get a clearer picture of who all gets the move.
On that swalot set, what about something like Gastro Acid in place of Toxic to check insomnia users? I mean it's probably less flexible overall but the whole point of this set is to have the opponent asleep as much as possible while they're trapped and sapped.
Also @ OP, it may not be anything new but the fact that trapping moves now deal 1/8 of total HP instead of 1/16 on top of all its other good points make it somewhat desirable.
Even though ghosts can flee from it, it forces switches for them because unlike Wrap it still actually hits and deals damage.
Also @ OP, it may not be anything new but the fact that trapping moves now deal 1/8 of total HP instead of 1/16 on top of all its other good points make it somewhat desirable.
Even though ghosts can flee from it, it forces switches for them because unlike Wrap it still actually hits and deals damage.
Tentacruel learns this with the TM, I don't know if that will do it any good though
In game I'm messing with Vespiquen with the move. Trapping the foe allows it to set up and not have to worry about switching in and out too many times (stealth rocks hurt).
Infestation+Toxic->Defend order+Heal order (or Roost). When you finally kill the trapped Pokemon anything else that gets sent in will have to deal with Vespiquen and its boosted defenses, which might be too high to allow for it to be KOed by a rock move in one hit. At least in lower tiers. Roost allows it to tank rock moves to some extent too if it outspeeds the enemy....somehow.
Infestation+Toxic->Defend order+Heal order (or Roost). When you finally kill the trapped Pokemon anything else that gets sent in will have to deal with Vespiquen and its boosted defenses, which might be too high to allow for it to be KOed by a rock move in one hit. At least in lower tiers. Roost allows it to tank rock moves to some extent too if it outspeeds the enemy....somehow.
I tried this with HP INVESTMENT ;D cause i like HP investment and it kills the usual lead Hazard setter almost 100% of the time. Just trap them yawn them and protect a bunch. Easy spinning especially if their hazard setter was a ghost like Frosslass. You can put froslass to sleep with this to get around destiny bond.
Cruel could even take it a step further and take that as an opportunity to set up some Tspikes. Infestation as a technique to stall for setup is where I think it could have the most potential.
Something else you guys need to keep in mind is that an Infestation-user may not likely trap its desired target, since people can switch before Infestation is used.
Someone remind me, do the effects of these trapping moves like Fire Spin and now of course Infestation and whatnot remain when the user switches out? If so, this could be great for teamplay involving trapping something that might normally counter the Infestation-user. IE, Goodra using it to trap a Fairy-type so Lucario or whoever can murderficate it.
I'm gonna add known learners of the move to the OP. Feel free to report any others.
EDIT: Threw in some off-the-top-the-old-noggin' sets as well as some from the thread that didn't seem horribly bad. (*coughSwalot*)
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That swalot set hardly seems 'horribly bad'. Swalot has the bulk to pull it off in many cases. You trap them, put them to sleep and then let infestation do its thing. I would use yawn FIRST to force out the incoming counter, then use infestation on the switch, then yawn again.
Another pokemon who runs infestation well is hydration Goodra with rain dance. It uses infestation, sets up rain and then abuses rest until the target faints.
Another pokemon who runs infestation well is hydration Goodra with rain dance. It uses infestation, sets up rain and then abuses rest until the target faints.
If it hasn't been confirmed yet, I can confirm that this is the case. My Froakie got obliterated by that thing because it ate up all my Super Potions by alternating Psybeam and Infestation. =(
I think its a really great move on something like tentacruel.
in my head it goes like this:
Switch tenta in to something that is scared of it
use infest on the switch
Did a spinblocker pop in? Switch to its counter and ensure youcan spin away those hazards
Did a Spinner pop in? Same story.
etc etc etc.
This has major potential if you build a team capable of breaking enough threats, might also be very good if you are looking to set up on something.
Maybe -
Scald
Infest
Toxic spikes
Rapid spin
?
in my head it goes like this:
Switch tenta in to something that is scared of it
use infest on the switch
Did a spinblocker pop in? Switch to its counter and ensure youcan spin away those hazards
Did a Spinner pop in? Same story.
etc etc etc.
This has major potential if you build a team capable of breaking enough threats, might also be very good if you are looking to set up on something.
Maybe -
Scald
Infest
Toxic spikes
Rapid spin
?
I guess its very situational using a Binding band, from where I stand I think having a recovery item such as leftovers wins out in most cases, since you are already in a sort of soft-stall war, slowly wearing your opponent down wth small damage attack/Poison attacks.
If the pokemon in question has a reliable way of healing outside Lefties then it might be viable.
If the pokemon in question has a reliable way of healing outside Lefties then it might be viable.
Oh, very well. Right, what was the set then, Yawn/Infestation/Toxic/Protect or something? My thought was that Tentacruel has better stats in most areas barring HP, and could probably pull it off better, but looking at it again Swalot runs a more dedicated trapping set.
Goodra also sounds good.
= EDIT=
Right, so like Goodra has good offenses and great SpDef but mediocre Def so as a trapper/Rain setter, it'd be something like....?
Goodra @ Damp Rock
Bold | 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpDef
- Infestation
- Rain Dance
- Rest
- Toxic / Protect / Dragon Pulse / Muddy Water
Last moveslot can Protect for added stalling or Toxic/Dragon Pulse to speed things up, albeit useless on steels (and fairies in the case of DP). Muddy Water seems a bit gimmicky, but gets rain boost and can lower enemy accuracy, so maybe that'd help also? *shrug*
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What about evolite Gulpin or Sligoo? A rain rest Sligoo doesn't need leftovers and a yawn/infestation gulpin would be bulkier than Swalot, letting it sleep trap something into pursuit range before switching to whatever.
Also, using infestation again while a target is trapped does not reset the counter. I just tested.
Also I've been running mud slap on the Swalot set instead of toxic. It's highly amusing if nothing else.
Oh hey, gastrodon gets yawn too...and recover. That's giving me a nice idea.
Also, using infestation again while a target is trapped does not reset the counter. I just tested.
Also I've been running mud slap on the Swalot set instead of toxic. It's highly amusing if nothing else.
Oh hey, gastrodon gets yawn too...and recover. That's giving me a nice idea.
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That's very strange. I remember trying to stall out the counter when fighting the first gym leader by using Super Potions, but the counter just never expired. Maybe I'm just crazy.
Have they been buffed past last gen's moving to 35 BP and... was it 95% accuracy?
(also, ONE THOUSANDTH POST VEE VEE VEE VICTORYYY!)
(also, ONE THOUSANDTH POST VEE VEE VEE VICTORYYY!)
I'm more interested in using this move (and other trapping moves) on a baton pass team. It makes sense that it can be baton passed, since everything else does, but a confirmation is still necessary. Anyway, the plan goes something like:
1- Trap a pokemon that can't touch this, or if you have another pokemon that can counter it
2- Boost as much as possible, or baton pass to someone who can
3- Baton Pass to a sweeper just before the trap wears off
1- Trap a pokemon that can't touch this, or if you have another pokemon that can counter it
2- Boost as much as possible, or baton pass to someone who can
3- Baton Pass to a sweeper just before the trap wears off
Definitely an interesting prospect, though I think the only Passers that can utilize Infestation (that we know of at the moment, anyway) are Mew and Smeargle, who aren't much to look at in the category of survivability (or at least, in the amount of things that they can wall while they set up).
It may be a little gimmick, but I thought you could use two trapping moves (for instance shuckle with sand tomb or wrap and infestation) in order to deal great amount of damage. Using two moves will ensure that your rival cannot switch, and there are a ton of pokes that can use two moves of this kind (Tentacruel has wrap, whirlpool and infestation; steelix has bind, wrap and sand tomb; cloyster has whirlpool and clamp, etc). Shuckle is pretty interesting since you can use power split to reduce the attack of your enemy, and then use toxic and rest to (not so) slowly finish your enemy. Sturdy also ensures that he cannot be 0KO'd.
Also, despite not very related to the topic, Hippowdon has sand tomb, yawn, automatic sandstorm, slack off, toxic and a terrifyng phisical bulk. I think this Hippowdon may be the flagship of the new generation weather stall. Moreover, gliscor can learn sand tomb and it would make sense for him to be able to use infestation as well. You can pair that with poison heal+protect or simply roost (if you want to use the band). Not only that, but Gliscor has baton pass so you can trap things with sand tomb/infestation and then baton pass to a counter of the trapped foe.
Also, despite not very related to the topic, Hippowdon has sand tomb, yawn, automatic sandstorm, slack off, toxic and a terrifyng phisical bulk. I think this Hippowdon may be the flagship of the new generation weather stall. Moreover, gliscor can learn sand tomb and it would make sense for him to be able to use infestation as well. You can pair that with poison heal+protect or simply roost (if you want to use the band). Not only that, but Gliscor has baton pass so you can trap things with sand tomb/infestation and then baton pass to a counter of the trapped foe.
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