PixlBit

Last week I explained just how crazy the mechanics to Pokemon were. Now's a chance for me to show you just how you can apply these mechanics to the game in order to see just how deep this rabbit hole goes.

The SubSeed

SubSeeding is a signature moveset of Grass Pokemon. The basics behind it is to set up a Substitute, which takes away 25% of the health away in turn for protection against damage and status. Once the opponent damages you enough, substitute will go away. Usually it is fairly easy to take out a substitute, so it's best to use it predicting either a switch or passive move, then using Leech Seed, which will sap 12.5% of the opposing Pokemon's health each turn. From there, just keep using Substitute every turn, as the opposing Pokemon will not be able to hurt you. They just hit the Substitute, and with the Leech Seed healing and Leftovers, they either have to switch or keep suffering.

Subseeders love entry hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes as the sets encourage the opponent to switch, so taking passive damage on the switch in or getting poisoned will hurt the other Pokemon quicker. With two moves left, there are several options. Generally a Subseeder will want a move that damages Grass types immune to Leech Seed, with Hidden Power Fire and Ice being the most popular. If the Pokemon has a second typing, however, this can come in handy, especially for Grass/Flying and Grass/Poison Pokemon. The next move is either a Grass type one for damage or a status one to paralyze or put them to sleep, which come useful as well.

Countering Subseed takes smart playing usually, but there are some easy work arounds. Grass types with a move to hurt other Grass types are your best bet, but Pokemon with the Magic Guard ability (prevents passive damage) can work too. Pokemon with the ability Pressure (every time opponent uses a move it takes 2 uses) are also not a bad idea, as they limit Substitute uses to only 8 turns instead of 16. Finally, multi-hit moves work wonders, as they let you take out the substitute then damage with the other three or four hits. Mega Heracross is especially good here as he resists Grass and has a Bug multi-hit move, which really hurts Grass types.

A few good Subseeders

Shaymin-S

Between its super fast speed, Flying typing, and ability which nets Air Slash a 60% flinch rate, Shaymin-S is hands down the best in the game. This thing can destroy you.

Breloom

Breloom's slow and frail, but has a few things going for it. To start, it has a move that puts the other Pokemon to sleep and never misses, guaranteeing at least one turn against any non-Grass type (who are immune). It also has the ability Poison Heal, where getting poison heals 12.5% of its health each turn. Between that and Leech Seed, it gets a lot of health each turn in addition to being immune to status. Finally, it has a super high attack for its Fighting type moves in case the opponent decides to switch instead of attack.

Trevenant

Trevenant is a little unorthodox, but fills this role well. Rather than Leftovers, it holds a Sitrus Berry, which regenerates a third of its health when it hits below 50%. Thanks to its ability, Harvest, Trevenant has a 50% chance to get another berry at the end of each turn. Meaning if it gets too unhealthy, its berry and Leech Seed will get it right back into shape. Add Will-O-Wisp to burn the opposing Pokemon, lowering its attack and giving more passive damage and Phantom Force, a move which can't be blocked and needs a charge up turn where it can't be hit (but still gets Leech Seed recovery), and this thing can be a real pain to take down.

BaitTar

Tyranitar is easily one of the best Pokemon in the game. Always has been, and I don't see any way he won't be in the future. As such, knowing how to handle one is required in the game, but not too hard. He has a difficult time against quite a few Pokemon. This set is for those Pokemon.

The general idea is to make the opponent think this is just another Tyranitar. Physical attacks are key, speed and special attaacks, not so much. So they send in a Pokemon which resists its two typings without taking much damage from its other attacks, only to be in for a rude awakening. You have a Tyranitar built to outspeed many of its counters and hit hard with a special attack.

For instance, the aformentioned Breloom is a great Tyranitar counter. Resists many of its main attacks and hits hard with Grass and Fighting moves, as well as being faster than T-Tar. So you lure one in a Breloom, who gets hit with a move that doesn't hurt it much. Thinking it will just take you out with a Drain Punch, it soon finds itself out of the picture as it just was KO'd by your Fire Blast (also works wonders on Scizor). Next thing you know, another Pokemon that has trouble with Breloom is free to take everyone else out.

This set is meant to deal with specific Pokemon which give a Pokemon on your team trouble. Tyranitar has a move which can take out many of its counters, it's just that picking these generally goes against what makes Tyranitar good. This Tyranitar goes against what your opponent expects.

This also works since many Tyranitar have a choice item, which boost attack, special attack, or speed in exchange for locking it into one move until it switches out. Tyranitar can make the opponent think it's choiced, lure them into a false sense of security, then take their Pokemon out with a move it's weak to. Especially great for Gengar, a Pokemon who it can kill if it switches with Pursuit. It can make Gengar think it won't use Pursuit if the Gengar uses Protect or Substitute to scout, then Pursuit the next turn.

Tyranitar may be the best lure, but it's not the only one. As long as a Pokemon has the potential to knock something out with its less loved stat, it can probably be used as a lure. This takes a lot of prediction and using the opponent's knowledge against them, so tread carefully.

Hone Claws Dugtrio

This moveset is risky and only suited for certain teams, but works wonders if used right. Dugtrio's ability is to ensure opposing Pokemon cannot switch out unless they are immune to Ground attacks. With its Electric immunity and the item Air Balloon (grants immunity to Ground until hit by a move), it can have some fun with this.

Many Pokemon are locked into moves by the aformentioned choice items, Dugtrio will use this immunity on a Choice user locked into an electric or ground move, set up a Substitute, then use the move Hone Claws 6 times, boosting its attack to sky high levels and ensuring its moves never miss. The opponent can't hurt you with that move and it can't switch with Dugrio's ability. With its speed and Substiute, your opponent needs two Pokemon to outspeed it or use two priority moves before it can be taken out. With Dugtrio's good coverage, however, not much can take hits from this thing after it's fully boosted. It's a really risky set, but man does it pay off if used right.

Sub-Petaya Empoleon

I save the most creative for last. This is a Pokemon where everything just comes together for one bizarre moveset. The idea is to have Empoleon use Agility, doubling its speed. Once doing so, you will use Substitute until it's down to 25-33% of its health. It's here that it will eat its Petaya berry, boosting its special attack and its ability Torrent will activate, boosting Water moves when at low health.

The results are devastating. As long as you can take out any Pokemon which can sponge a special attack or resist its moves before setting up, it's hard to take out. It's just fast enough to outspeed most Pokemon after a boost while its Steel/Water typing resists most priority attacks. Vaccume Wave and Mach Punch will take it out, but everything else won't, meaning if you lack those two moves, you need to outspeed it to avoid taking damage. No other Pokemon has ever had a Sub-Berry set like Empoleon's. It's that perfect for it.