Introduction
The battles rages as your SD max speed Terrakion faces a renowned physical wall with arsonphobia, Ferrothorn. As you and your opponent, in rain coats, prepare the next move, a lightning strikes down a nearby tree into ash. Rain is pouring endlessly. Unfortunately, in your arsenal, only a Gliscor is left while your opponent has a Dragonite and a Chansey. Realizing that the only hope of winning is to enhance the Terrakion's attack stat to +4, you order it to use Swords Dance. Luckily, the opponent's Ferrothorn seems to have no direct attacks, and it uses Leech Seed. The deadly seeds are fired of the Pokemon's vines, but it is blown away by the wind and battered out of sight due to the endless rain. With a great sense of relief, you order Terrakion to enhance its fighting skills once more. However, you see a weird smile in the opponent's smile—as if he was mocking you. Then he utters the three terrifyingly shocking words: paralyze it, Ferrothorn. Waves of electricity emanate from the creature's vines and the fearsome sweeper, Terrakion is paralyzed. Your hopes are dashed as Dragonite comes into the battlefield after Ferrothorn faints to a Close Combat. Gallons of water and wind due to Dragonite's hurricane annihilates Terrakion and Gliscor. All because of status.
Status Users
Paralysis seems to be the most frequent status ailment, since there are three ways to spread definite paralysis: Thunder Wave, Glare, and Stun Spore. What makes Thunder Wave so deadly is that it's reliable. Toxic has a 90% accuracy, Will-o-wisp has a 75% accuracy, and Spore......well, only the lucky ones are granted with this crazy move. More to the point, paralysis can completely wreck sweepers and make a crucial turn your favor. Not only that, there are multitudes of attacking moves that have a relatively high chance of spreading paralysis. Many people have left a battle in complete rage due to a rather lucky Body Slam or Discharge, spammed Thunders, and especially Serene Grace Jirachi and Togekiss. Here is my opinion of what the top 5 paralysis users are (not ranked):
Celebi
Typing: Psychic/Grass
Stats: 100 HP/100 Atk/100 Def/100 SpA/100 SpD/ 100 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
When given thunder wave, leaf storm, and the right prediction, Celebi can deal solid damage to any ground type Pokemon trying to switch into a thunder wave, suck as Donphan, both Landorus formes, Mamoswine, and the occasional Claydol. HP ice is an option over leaf storm to consider. Fool your opponent by making them predict that you'll use thunder wave, and when they switch to a counter like Gliscor, Landorus-I, Thundurus-T and Thundurus-T, you'll have one less threat to deal with, though Thundurus-T will certainly live through it if it's somewhere in full health. Also, it can increase its longevity through recover and its ability Natural Cure. Unfortunately, it can't really harm one of the two most annoying Pokemon: Chansey and Blissey. They also have natural cure and can wall Celebi completely. It's such a shame how Celebi didn't get psyshock. The rare Electivire can safely switch in on a Thunder Wave, get a speed boost and punch Celebi with chunks of ice. If Celebi does not have HP fire, then steel types will also easily defeat Celebi, though they'll be paralyzed. at last, common scouters with U-turn and Terrakion, Scolipede, and scarfed Heracross can put an end to the little fairy with X-scissor and Megahorn.
Dragonite
Typing: Dragon/Flying
Stats: 91 HP/134 Atk/95 Def/100 SpA/100 SpD/80 Spe
Ability: Inner Focus/Multiscale
It is considered very exasperating when it is used as a parashuffler. When you are up against a sweeper, let it break the Multiscale, then use Thunder Wave, so you are guaranteed to go first and roost back to full health. Then you can keep using roost roost while they damage your Multiscale over and over again until the opponent's Pokemon gets a parahax. All you have to do after that is wear down your opponents team with a mixture of substitue and dragon tail. This however, is not recommended for people who loathe stall. Unfortunately, its impressive 100 special attack and beastly 134 attack is not used to its full extent. A Thunder Wave + 3 Attacks can be used, but DD Dragonite is almost always the better option, due to the extra +1 attack.
Ferrothorn
Typing: Grass/ Steel
Stats: 74 HP/94 Atk/131 Def/54 SpA/116 SpD/20 Spe
Ability: Iron Barbs
On a superb wall like Ferrothorn, status moves like Leech Seed or Thunder Wave must be used. However, Leech Seed is usually the better option. Thunder Wave has poor synergy when used with leech seed, and though the sweepers have a chance of doing nothing on a turn, they are still faster than Ferrothorn. Also, Conkeldurr can switch in on Ferrothorn and activate its Guts ability. Celebi and Dragonite on the other hand counters its fighting moves and have ways to get rid of it, such as the occasional Psychic and the phazing move Dragon Tail. In my eyes, Ferrothorn is on the borderline of being capable of using Thunder Wave effectively.
Jirachi
Typing: Steel/Psychic
Stats: 100 HP/100 Atk/100 Def/100 SpA/100 SpD/ 100 Spe
Ability: Serene Grace
This is a pure, classic example of a Pokemon that can not only use Thunder Wave or Body Slam to cripple opponents but also able to flinch opponents. When using the Paralysis + Flinch tactic, the opponent only has a 28% chance of attacking each turn. More to it, Jirachi can still paralyze the opponent with body slam if it has been taunted. One major flaw to it is that ground type sweepers like Landorus-I can switch in and KO it with earthquake.
Mew
Typing: Psychic
Stats: 100 HP/100 Atk/100 Def/100 SpA/100 SpD/ 100 Spe
Ability: Synchronize
What a weird pokemon, constantly trying to put its tail up its *******. Although this Pokemon has a terrible typing that led to the downfall of Cresselia, it has the greatest memory in its pea-sized brain. Ironic, isn't it? Since a million movesets could be generated out of this Pokemon, you can never guess the set its using, which usually means a free Thunder Wave on another Pokemon. Most people think that Mew should have Will-o-wisp, but that really depends on what your team needs. The moves that set it apart from Celebi and Jirachi is a range of attacking moves and the Skarmory-stopper, Taunt.
Other Options
There are some other options if the five excellent Pokemon above really doesn't suit your team. Here is a list:
Blissey, Chansey, Deoxys-D, Hydreigon, Rotom-W, Togekiss, Tyranitar, Amoonguss, Porygon2, Snorlax.
Paralysis Counters
It's always vital to carry something that resists Thunder Wave at the very least. When searching for the counter, the first thing that comes to is ground types. That isn't always so, since some other Pokemon abuse it better. Examples are Pokemon with Lightning Rod, Speed Boost, Volt Absorb, Magic Bounce, and maybe Guts or Quick Feet. Some other slightly less flexible options are Pokemon with Natural Cure. Last resort options are Pokemon with Refresh, Heal Bell, Aromatherapy, or the ability Synchronize. Here are my opinion of the top 5 counters:
Landorus-I & Landorus-T
Typing: Ground/Flying
Stats (Incarnate): 89 HP/125 Atk/90 Def/115 SpA/80 SpD/101 Spe
Stats (Therian): 89 HP/ 145 Atk/ 90 Def/ 105 SpA/ 80 SpD/ 91 Spe
Ability (Incarnate): Sand Force/ Sheer Force
Ability (Therian): Intimidate
Since its immune to Spikes, Toxic Spikes, ground moves, and electric attacks, it can get an easy switch in from a predicted Thunder Wave. Then it proceeds to wreak havoc by setting up on a helpless Thunder Wave user. Don't be surprised when you see it sweep your team behind a sub or with +2 attack and/or speed. Scarfed or Rock Polish Landorus-T will have to be given a closer eye, since it can demolish teams without flying types or Levitate. You could think of it as a Intimidate Salamence but with a higher attack stat. It is a must-use in a sandstorm team.
Thundurus-T
Typing: Electric/ Flying
Stats: 79 HP/105 Atk/70 Def/140 SpA/80 SpD/101 Spe
Ability: Volt Absorb
No offense, but in appearance-wise, it looks like a a wannabe Mew (the tail). Anyways, right to the point. Just like the other genie, it can come in on some Thunder Wave users and proceed to setup with substitute, agility, nasty plot. Then it can spam Thunders in rain and end up with the other five Pokemon in the opponent's team blaming the one Pokemon who had let it setup.
Celebi
Typing: Psychic/Grass
Stats: 100 HP/100 Atk/100 Def/100 SpA/100 SpD/ 100 Spe
Ability: Natural Cure
It's amazing that Celebi is not only a paralysis user but also a paralysis counter. It has Natural Cure, so its never in real danger. Heal Bell revitalizes other Pokemon with status ailments. It is unfortunately 4x weak to U-turn, which is always a letdown.
Vire, Vire, Electivire
Typing: Electric
Stats: 75 HP/123 Atk/67 Def/95 SpA/85 SpD/95 Spe
Ability: Motor Drive/ Vital Spirit
There were only four Pokemon given the prestigious ability, Motor Drive. However, the one of the Pokemon was not full evolved, and two more had low base stats and rather shallow movepools. Still, one of them stood out and was able to use the ability effectively. Although it is ravaging in the depths of RU, it's still considered a great abuser of Thunder Wave. Once given the boost, it can outspeed the majority of the tier, and it has a diverse attacking movepool for it to use. Unfortunately, the good news ends here. Its underwhelming stats and a reliance on Motor Drive really hammers the nails in Electivire's coffin. It will be difficult finding a slot for it on your team, and there is almost always a better option available. Electivire's wide movepool and ability to run an effective mixed set just doesn't impress as much when compared to the sheer force of newer threats such as Scrafty or Conkeldurr.
Dugtrio
Typing: Ground
Stats: 35 HP/80 Atk/50 Def/50 SpA/70 SpD/120 Spe
Ability: Sand Veil/Arena Trap/Sand Force
Dugtrio is pure revenge and the equivalency of a dish best served cold. As long as it gets a free switch-in to Jirachi, Chansey, or a Seismic Toss Blissey, they are safely considered dead. Weakened Celebi and Mew are finished off with a Shadow Claw. It is also the best Pokemon to defeat non-scarfed Tyranitars, and with the importance of weather, it is more important than ever in weather wars. Unfortunately, it has major flaws. Its defenses are the worst in OU; the most it can do is tank a seismic toss or live through a weak priority attack.
Magic Bounce Users
Also, remember not to forget about the Magic Bouncers. They are perhaps the best abusers of paralysis. The only reason I didn't list them above was because they are abusers of both primary statuses and pseudo statuses. Espeon, for example, could function as a dual screen bouncer, so it doesn't just play one role. unfortunately, because of Team Preview, the switch-in is very predictable.
Dream World Counter
Zapdos
Typing: Electric/Flying
Stats: 90 HP/90 Atk/85 Def/125 SpA/90 SpD/100 Spe
Ability: Pressure/Lightning Rod
When Lightning Rod is released as an ability, Zapdos will replace Electivire as a paralysis counter. It has Heat Wave to destroy Jirachi and Celebi and STAB Thunderbolt to 2HKO Mew and others. it could also use HP Ice to wreck Dragonite, or HP Fire to set Ferrothorn on fire. Unfortunately, it has the same problem with Celebi: it is completely helpless when facing Chansey and her older sister, Blissey.
Other Options
Blissey, Chansey, Gliscor, Conkeldurr, Jolteon, Lanturn, Donphan, Raikou (DW), Hippowdon, Mamoswine, Breloom, Flygon, Ferrothorn and Bronzong (both with Gyro Ball).
Conclusion
Always have a paralysis counter in your team and a paralysis user if your team is slow, since its a sweeper's every nightmare.
