Molk
Godlike Usmash
The RU Role Comparison Project
Credit to Theorymon for the OP and the idea!
Have you ever pinpointed a Pokémon on one of your teams, where you find it's role to be extremely useful for your team, but wonder "man, if only there was a similar Pokémon that had more manageable flaws for my team"? If so, this is the thread for you! Believe it or not, there tend to be a lot more Pokémon that can achieve a certain role than you think, but often times, these Pokémon are obscure, or they may be common Pokémon using an unusual set, so the people who are looking for such a "role replacement" may end up never finding it!
This thread aims to fix that problem! The main goal of this thread is to highlight certain underrated Pokémon sets, by comparing them to more common Pokémon who fulfill similar roles, both the advantages and the disadvantages! This way, people who feel like their team could use with some changes can get some tips from this thread, or if they are just making a team with certain roles in mind, they can be exposed to some Pokémon that deserve more usage! Also, don't worry if you can't think of any good examples, commenting on examples already mentioned to incite discussion is fine too!
Here's to get you guys started. Feel free to use the same format, since it gets right to the point, but if you feel the need to deviate a bit, that's fine too!
Poliwrath as a physically defensive bulky water-type vs: Qwilfish
Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Scald
Poliwrath's Advantages
1. Typing: Unlike Qwilfish, Poliwrath possesses a resistance to Rock-type moves, which gives it a handy resistance to Stealth Rock and allows it to wall important threats that Qwilfish can't such as Kabutops and Aggron. Poliwrath also lacks the weakness to Earthquake Qwilfish has, making it better at walling Ground-type Pokemon such as Rhydon, Piloswine and Golurk
2. Circle Throw: Poliwrath has the ability to phaze out opponents unlike its competition Qwilfish, preventing Pokemon from setting up on it as easily and also racking up entry hazards damage. Well played Circle Throws also make it harder to directly switch into Poliwrath, as it can simply Circle Throw things like Rotom-C back out as they attempt to switch in.
3. Water Absorb: This is fairly minor compared to the two previously mentioned advantages, but Poliwrath has an immunity to Water-type moves instead of a resistance to them like Qwilfish, and actually gets healed by various Scalds and Aqua Jets flying around. This makes it easier for Poliwrath to check certain Water-type Pokemon, and also gives it a secondary form of recovery.
Poliwrath's disadvantages
1. Lack of Hazards: While Poliwrath might be better at outright walling certain Pokemon because of its extra resists and lack of certain weaknesses, Poliwrath is completely incapable of setting Spikes and Toxic Spikes like Qwilfish can, Qwilfish is easily one of the best Spikers in the tier and can get up multiple layers per match, so this is pretty big. The lack of Entry Hazards also makes Poliwrath less desirable on offensive teams, where a bulky water-type without the move can be seen as a momentum killer.
2. Lack of other support moves such as Taunt and Thunder Wave. Poliwrath also lacks various support moves that Qwilfish can carry such as Taunt and Thunder Wave, making it unable to do things such as stop hazard setters or cripple a switch in such as Sceptile, even if Poliwrath could learn these moves, it has a bad case of 4mss, and probably wouldn't be able to fit them in without giving up its recovery.
3. Toxic Spikes and Poison: Poliwrath's lack of a Poison-type means that it can't absorb Toxic Spikes like Qwilfish can, it also means that Poliwrath is vulnerable to being poisoned by Toxic, something Qwilfish doesn't need to worry about.
Credit to Theorymon for the OP and the idea!
Have you ever pinpointed a Pokémon on one of your teams, where you find it's role to be extremely useful for your team, but wonder "man, if only there was a similar Pokémon that had more manageable flaws for my team"? If so, this is the thread for you! Believe it or not, there tend to be a lot more Pokémon that can achieve a certain role than you think, but often times, these Pokémon are obscure, or they may be common Pokémon using an unusual set, so the people who are looking for such a "role replacement" may end up never finding it!
This thread aims to fix that problem! The main goal of this thread is to highlight certain underrated Pokémon sets, by comparing them to more common Pokémon who fulfill similar roles, both the advantages and the disadvantages! This way, people who feel like their team could use with some changes can get some tips from this thread, or if they are just making a team with certain roles in mind, they can be exposed to some Pokémon that deserve more usage! Also, don't worry if you can't think of any good examples, commenting on examples already mentioned to incite discussion is fine too!
Here's to get you guys started. Feel free to use the same format, since it gets right to the point, but if you feel the need to deviate a bit, that's fine too!
Poliwrath as a physically defensive bulky water-type vs: Qwilfish
Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Circle Throw
- Scald
Poliwrath's Advantages
1. Typing: Unlike Qwilfish, Poliwrath possesses a resistance to Rock-type moves, which gives it a handy resistance to Stealth Rock and allows it to wall important threats that Qwilfish can't such as Kabutops and Aggron. Poliwrath also lacks the weakness to Earthquake Qwilfish has, making it better at walling Ground-type Pokemon such as Rhydon, Piloswine and Golurk
2. Circle Throw: Poliwrath has the ability to phaze out opponents unlike its competition Qwilfish, preventing Pokemon from setting up on it as easily and also racking up entry hazards damage. Well played Circle Throws also make it harder to directly switch into Poliwrath, as it can simply Circle Throw things like Rotom-C back out as they attempt to switch in.
3. Water Absorb: This is fairly minor compared to the two previously mentioned advantages, but Poliwrath has an immunity to Water-type moves instead of a resistance to them like Qwilfish, and actually gets healed by various Scalds and Aqua Jets flying around. This makes it easier for Poliwrath to check certain Water-type Pokemon, and also gives it a secondary form of recovery.
Poliwrath's disadvantages
1. Lack of Hazards: While Poliwrath might be better at outright walling certain Pokemon because of its extra resists and lack of certain weaknesses, Poliwrath is completely incapable of setting Spikes and Toxic Spikes like Qwilfish can, Qwilfish is easily one of the best Spikers in the tier and can get up multiple layers per match, so this is pretty big. The lack of Entry Hazards also makes Poliwrath less desirable on offensive teams, where a bulky water-type without the move can be seen as a momentum killer.
2. Lack of other support moves such as Taunt and Thunder Wave. Poliwrath also lacks various support moves that Qwilfish can carry such as Taunt and Thunder Wave, making it unable to do things such as stop hazard setters or cripple a switch in such as Sceptile, even if Poliwrath could learn these moves, it has a bad case of 4mss, and probably wouldn't be able to fit them in without giving up its recovery.
3. Toxic Spikes and Poison: Poliwrath's lack of a Poison-type means that it can't absorb Toxic Spikes like Qwilfish can, it also means that Poliwrath is vulnerable to being poisoned by Toxic, something Qwilfish doesn't need to worry about.
Jumpluff vs Whimsicott as a SubSeeder
Alomomola vs Poliwrath and Qwilfish as a defensive Water-type
Lilligant vs Rotom-C as a Grass Choice Scarfer
Lickilicky vs Clefable as a special wall
Mesprit as a Choice Specs user vs Slowking
Emboar vs Entei as a physical Fire-type
Scolipede vs Accelgor as a Spiker
Glaceon vs Rotom-F as a scarfed Ice-type
Omastar vs Smeargle as a suicide hazards lead
Feraligtar vs Kabutops as a SD user
Samurott vs Ferligatr & Kabutops as a SD user
Golurk vs Rhydon as a SR setter
Galvantula vs Manectric & Rotom-C as a Choice user
Magmortar vs Moltres as a Fire-type wallbreaker
Durant vs Klinklang as a setup sweeper
Roselia vs Amoonguss as a defensive Grass-type
Alomomola vs Poliwrath and Qwilfish as a defensive Water-type
Lilligant vs Rotom-C as a Grass Choice Scarfer
Lickilicky vs Clefable as a special wall
Mesprit as a Choice Specs user vs Slowking
Emboar vs Entei as a physical Fire-type
Scolipede vs Accelgor as a Spiker
Glaceon vs Rotom-F as a scarfed Ice-type
Omastar vs Smeargle as a suicide hazards lead
Feraligtar vs Kabutops as a SD user
Samurott vs Ferligatr & Kabutops as a SD user
Golurk vs Rhydon as a SR setter
Galvantula vs Manectric & Rotom-C as a Choice user
Magmortar vs Moltres as a Fire-type wallbreaker
Durant vs Klinklang as a setup sweeper
Roselia vs Amoonguss as a defensive Grass-type