If you could get Growlithe, you couldn't get Vulpix. It was the same situation.
Demographics: Starting Pokémon
- Thread starter BananaHands
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Actually...
With base 95 HP, base 79 defense, and base 100 special defense, Gyarados is actually surprisingly bulky. While he's weaker on the physical defense side, he comes with the ability Intimidate, which cuts the opposing pokemon's attack in half right off the bat. This means he can tank physical hits despite having a lower base defense than special defense. Yes, he's 4x weak against electric attacks, but if he switches in on a non-electric opponent, he actually has a good chance of surviving whatever attack they throw at him. Yes, sometimes even electric attacks.
Oh, not to mention that Gyarados's flying/water typing makes it weak to two types (electric and rock), but resists five (water, fighting, bug, steel and fire), while also making him immune to ground type attacks. This means that unless your opponent has an electric type on the field, you can probably switch Gyarados in fairly easily, and count on it surviving.
Then, after switching in, depending on the moveset you use, you can utterly destroy your opponent. The most effective set is probably the Dragon Dance set, which involves using Dragon Dance to boost Gyarados's attack and speed. After one boost, you'll outspeed most of your opponents, plus you'll have 50% higher attack. Coupled with Gyarados's base 125 attack stat, and you can often sweep your opponent's team. If you manage to accumulate more than one boost, your opponent might as well surrender.
An effective set would look something like Dragon Dance/Waterfall/Earthquake/Stone Edge. Dragon Dance for the boosts, as mentioned already. Waterfall for the physical STAB (same type attack bonus, which increases damage by 50%), Earthquake for the inevitable electric type that's going to switch in, and Stone Edge for flying types such as a lot of the common dragons, and even opposing Gyarados.
Of course, more advanced players can use a strategy like Motor Drive bait. Motor Drive is an ability found on Electivire, which means it's immune to electric attacks, and actually gets a speed boost when it's hit by an electric attack. So by putting Gyarados on the field, you're basically screaming "hit me with electric!" And then you switch Gyarados out and have Electivire take the electric attack (and thus get a speed boost). Electivire then sweeps the opposing team with its base 123 attack stat, and huge movepool.
Oh, and for starter, I gotta go with Mudkip. Its final evolution Swampert is an utter beast. It has only one weakness (grass) and has two great STAB types to attack with. Not to mention it can support its team with Stealth Rock.
BananaHands
Staff member
"Wait! Let's check out our Pokémon! Come on, I'll take you on!"
BananaHands
Staff member
A theme deck? Goblin at that?
...
That's usually how I would respond to a deck like that.
It's cute that you think you'll have time to build up 4 mana.A theme deck? Goblin at that?
It's cute you think you'd be allowed to cast anything worthwhile or keep it on the board with my /U/ side.
Hell if you want -Protection against-
Red elemental blast!
I like how MTG is taking over this thread lol.
I always played black... sometimes with a splash of green for good measure. I was always fond of my demon reanimator deck... definitely not the strongest but plenty of fun.
I always played black... sometimes with a splash of green for good measure. I was always fond of my demon reanimator deck... definitely not the strongest but plenty of fun.
I completely understand how in Magic there's always a counter to a deck or play style. I'm just teasing Tress because in the entire time I played MTG, a Theme Deck, much less a Goblin one, never would have broken the line on a U/W deck.
Still though, not saying it's not possible, just saying that U/W is meant for defense and chip damage kills.
Tress
Still though, not saying it's not possible, just saying that U/W is meant for defense and chip damage kills.
Tress
On a semi-unrelated note, if you ever want to watch people rage out of their minds as they play M:tG, put this underrated gem on the table:
In a casual setting, this card disrupts around 80% of decks. But no one seems to understand it or sees it coming. So you get this type of fun situation:
Opponent: "... and then I tap this for 2 damage."
You: "No. You have to pay 2 every time, and you don't have it."
Opponent: "No I don't! It doesn't say that..."
*reads card*
*begins swearing*
In a casual setting, this card disrupts around 80% of decks. But no one seems to understand it or sees it coming. So you get this type of fun situation:
Opponent: "... and then I tap this for 2 damage."
You: "No. You have to pay 2 every time, and you don't have it."
Opponent: "No I don't! It doesn't say that..."
*reads card*
*begins swearing*
Charmander. Dragons are cool, nuff said.
Well whatevs baby, I'd love my kick-ass dragon till the end, as would all my hypothetical magical monster pets. Though I'd teach them all to talk because saying there names all the time would be freaking annoying. Seriously, why hasn't Meowth wrote books on how to teach Pokemon to talk? Bonafide best seller.
Psychic communication doesn't count I think.
Meowth proves that Pokemon can learn to verbally communicate with their owners and as such are logically as cognizant as human beings. In-fact they may be MORE cognizant as Pokemon can understand different species of Pokemon through basic vocal conversation. This would also mean that all Pokemon are inertly telepathic and understand anything any creature says and Meowth learning how to vocally speak with humans is merely him able either alter his vocal chords or alter his brain-waves so that humans would THINK he is really talking. So actually...I take back the top sentence. All Pokemon are psychic and are constantly reading our minds. And the fact that they let us use them for stupid shit like battles, transportation, and powering motor-cycles shows that they are humble god like beings.
Meowth proves that Pokemon can learn to verbally communicate with their owners and as such are logically as cognizant as human beings. In-fact they may be MORE cognizant as Pokemon can understand different species of Pokemon through basic vocal conversation. This would also mean that all Pokemon are inertly telepathic and understand anything any creature says and Meowth learning how to vocally speak with humans is merely him able either alter his vocal chords or alter his brain-waves so that humans would THINK he is really talking. So actually...I take back the top sentence. All Pokemon are psychic and are constantly reading our minds. And the fact that they let us use them for stupid shit like battles, transportation, and powering motor-cycles shows that they are humble god like beings.
Ditto. He's EVERY pokemon!
Mewtwo. Just look at him, the dude just OOZES charisma. He also shouldn't have been replaced by Lucario in my opinion. Nothing against Lucario, but Mewtwo is just cooler.
Well if you look at the movepool and stats of.... aww dammit.
Ok, my favorite pokemon would probably be Medicham, because I have a very fond memory of coming across a Medicham with the moves Endure and Reversal in the Emerald Battle Frontier, specifically I rented one at the Battle Factory. Those two moves allowed me to sweep through the whole tournament like a tank rolling over a row of grapes.
I can't make a case for Medicham being the best competitive pokemon. It's got too many weaknesses. But damn if I don't have fond memories of this guy.
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