Deletions
Additions / Corrections
Comments
The Overview and Counters sections had some clunky, repetitive prose, but I think you did a decent job otherwise.
GP 1 / 2
Additions / Corrections
Comments
[Overview]
<p>With the addition of Dream World, Blaziken receives an excellent ability in Speed Boost which turns it into a potent offensive threat. Blaziken's Its amazing offensive typing makes it a great choice to lead with on any most teams, except those which run rain teams, (I changed these two sentences a bit to avoid excessive repetition of ''teams'') in the VGC 2012 metagame. However, Blaziken works best with sun support, as it can wreak havoc with its sun-boosted Fire-type STAB well on Sun teams; when Blaziken is paired with sun, it becomes a very powerful offensive threat. With weather teams being so common in this metagame, Blaziken's dual STABs allow it to hit hail and sandstorm starters as well as bulky Steel-types such as Bronzong and Metagross for super effective damage, paving the way for its teammates to set up weather of their own and sweep ,and its STABs allow it to hit many common Steel-types such as Bronzong and Metagross for super effective damage.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Sky Uppercut / Hi Jump Kick
move 3: Rock Slide / Shadow Claw
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant / Jolly
ability: Speed Boost
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The initial goal of this set is to use Protect on turn one, which provides a free turn for Blaziken's ability, Speed Boost, ability to activate, and allowing it to outspeed a high large (''large'' is the more appropriate adjective here) number of threats. Flare Blitz is Blaziken's strongest STAB, and dents hail teams and Fire-weak Pokemon such as Metagross and Abomasnow. Hi Jump Kick is can be used for a powerful secondary STAB, move but, because many Pokemon in the VGC metagame carry Protect, Sky Uppercut is Blaziken's most reliable Fighting-type STAB move preferred for its reliability. Rock Slide hits opposing Fire- and Flying-types while Shadow Claw hits Ghost-types and Shadow Claw are both mainly for coverage; the former hits Fire and Flying-types for super effective damage, while the latter covers Ghost-types. However, Rock Slide is generally the better option because it hits both opposing Pokemon simultaneously and has a nifty flinch chance as well, while Shadow Claw can hit only one. Rock Slide also has a nifty chance of flinching opposing Pokemon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Adamant is preferred over Jolly because Speed Boost increases Blaziken's Speed, reducing the need to use a +Speed nature. Blaziken can also OHKO Abamosnow and Tyranitar that do not carry a Chople Berry, two very common Pokemon in the VGC 2012 metagame. If you wish to use a mixed set, an alternative EV spread of 252 Atk / 48 SpA / 208 Spe can be used with Hidden Power Ice or Hidden Power Electric; Hidden Power Ice can 2HKO Garchomp, even if it is holding a through Yache Berry, while Hidden Power Electric can 2HKO Wacan Berry Gyarados.</p>
<p>As for teammates, Ninetales is certainly one of the best teammates Blaziken could ask for, as it has the ability to summon permanent sun. A max Attack, sun-boosted Flare Blitz can 2HKO or OHKO almost every Pokemon in the metagame, including those that resist it. As Blaziken has a lot of trouble with rain teams, Ferrothorn makes an excellent teammate; it can take all of hits the Water-type attacks aimed at Blaziken and retaliate with a powerful STAB Power Whip. Sunny Day users are also good teammates. Priority support is also very helpful as well; Weavile is a good teammate in this case.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Blaziken has a few other options to consider. A special set with 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe is a viable option. Choice Band is an item to consider if you feel Blaziken's attack is not high enough, but it is not nearly as good as Life Orb. Fire Gem is a very good item that can be used to fire off a single powerful Flare Blitz which can OHKO almost everything that does not resist it, if used in the sun. Swords Dance is another excellent move that can be used can surprise opponents expecting Protect. If used on turn 1; Blaziken will be at +2 Attack and +1 Speed at the end of the turn. Work Up is another setup move to consider using, as it Work Up works well on a mixed set, while Swords Dance works well on the physical set. Brave Bird can be used for added type coverage, but it's not recommended is an option for additional coverage, but the recoil damage can bring Blaziken down fast. Lastly, Sunny Day can be used to bring up the sun, but Ninetales does this job better.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Blaziken in the sun doesn't have many counters because of the fact that a sun-boosted Flare Blitz 2HKOes almost all Pokemon, including those who resist it. Although, Bulky Water-types can however take a hit in the rain easily and OHKO back with a their STAB, super effective moves. Rain teams in general check Blaziken very well. When not used in the sun, Blaziken has a few hard counters such as Jellicent and Gliscor; they can take any hit of its attacks and then proceed to KO Blaziken with a super effective move. Rain teams also do the job of walling Blaziken quite well, as rain decreases the power of Fire moves, making Blaziken not so much of a threat. Trick Room teams abusers such as Reuniclus can take down Blaziken with ease as well, as they can outpace Blaziken in Trick Room use its high Speed to their advantage and KO with a powerful move.</p>
<p>With the addition of Dream World, Blaziken receives an excellent ability in Speed Boost which turns it into a potent offensive threat. Blaziken's Its amazing offensive typing makes it a great choice to lead with on any most teams, except those which run rain teams, (I changed these two sentences a bit to avoid excessive repetition of ''teams'') in the VGC 2012 metagame. However, Blaziken works best with sun support, as it can wreak havoc with its sun-boosted Fire-type STAB well on Sun teams; when Blaziken is paired with sun, it becomes a very powerful offensive threat. With weather teams being so common in this metagame, Blaziken's dual STABs allow it to hit hail and sandstorm starters as well as bulky Steel-types such as Bronzong and Metagross for super effective damage, paving the way for its teammates to set up weather of their own and sweep ,and its STABs allow it to hit many common Steel-types such as Bronzong and Metagross for super effective damage.</p>
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Sky Uppercut / Hi Jump Kick
move 3: Rock Slide / Shadow Claw
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant / Jolly
ability: Speed Boost
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>The initial goal of this set is to use Protect on turn one, which provides a free turn for Blaziken's ability, Speed Boost, ability to activate, and allowing it to outspeed a high large (''large'' is the more appropriate adjective here) number of threats. Flare Blitz is Blaziken's strongest STAB, and dents hail teams and Fire-weak Pokemon such as Metagross and Abomasnow. Hi Jump Kick is can be used for a powerful secondary STAB, move but, because many Pokemon in the VGC metagame carry Protect, Sky Uppercut is Blaziken's most reliable Fighting-type STAB move preferred for its reliability. Rock Slide hits opposing Fire- and Flying-types while Shadow Claw hits Ghost-types and Shadow Claw are both mainly for coverage; the former hits Fire and Flying-types for super effective damage, while the latter covers Ghost-types. However, Rock Slide is generally the better option because it hits both opposing Pokemon simultaneously and has a nifty flinch chance as well, while Shadow Claw can hit only one. Rock Slide also has a nifty chance of flinching opposing Pokemon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Adamant is preferred over Jolly because Speed Boost increases Blaziken's Speed, reducing the need to use a +Speed nature. Blaziken can also OHKO Abamosnow and Tyranitar that do not carry a Chople Berry, two very common Pokemon in the VGC 2012 metagame. If you wish to use a mixed set, an alternative EV spread of 252 Atk / 48 SpA / 208 Spe can be used with Hidden Power Ice or Hidden Power Electric; Hidden Power Ice can 2HKO Garchomp, even if it is holding a through Yache Berry, while Hidden Power Electric can 2HKO Wacan Berry Gyarados.</p>
<p>As for teammates, Ninetales is certainly one of the best teammates Blaziken could ask for, as it has the ability to summon permanent sun. A max Attack, sun-boosted Flare Blitz can 2HKO or OHKO almost every Pokemon in the metagame, including those that resist it. As Blaziken has a lot of trouble with rain teams, Ferrothorn makes an excellent teammate; it can take all of hits the Water-type attacks aimed at Blaziken and retaliate with a powerful STAB Power Whip. Sunny Day users are also good teammates. Priority support is also very helpful as well; Weavile is a good teammate in this case.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Blaziken has a few other options to consider. A special set with 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe is a viable option. Choice Band is an item to consider if you feel Blaziken's attack is not high enough, but it is not nearly as good as Life Orb. Fire Gem is a very good item that can be used to fire off a single powerful Flare Blitz which can OHKO almost everything that does not resist it, if used in the sun. Swords Dance is another excellent move that can be used can surprise opponents expecting Protect. If used on turn 1; Blaziken will be at +2 Attack and +1 Speed at the end of the turn. Work Up is another setup move to consider using, as it Work Up works well on a mixed set, while Swords Dance works well on the physical set. Brave Bird can be used for added type coverage, but it's not recommended is an option for additional coverage, but the recoil damage can bring Blaziken down fast. Lastly, Sunny Day can be used to bring up the sun, but Ninetales does this job better.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Blaziken in the sun doesn't have many counters because of the fact that a sun-boosted Flare Blitz 2HKOes almost all Pokemon, including those who resist it. Although, Bulky Water-types can however take a hit in the rain easily and OHKO back with a their STAB, super effective moves. Rain teams in general check Blaziken very well. When not used in the sun, Blaziken has a few hard counters such as Jellicent and Gliscor; they can take any hit of its attacks and then proceed to KO Blaziken with a super effective move. Rain teams also do the job of walling Blaziken quite well, as rain decreases the power of Fire moves, making Blaziken not so much of a threat. Trick Room teams abusers such as Reuniclus can take down Blaziken with ease as well, as they can outpace Blaziken in Trick Room use its high Speed to their advantage and KO with a powerful move.</p>
The Overview and Counters sections had some clunky, repetitive prose, but I think you did a decent job otherwise.
GP 1 / 2
