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[D/P] Alakazam
Lester Burnham
post Mar 16 2008, 01:14 PM
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Alakazam
Pokedex #: 65
Type: Psychic
Bases:
HP 55 ATK 50 DEF 45 SP. ATK 135 SP. DEF 85 SPD 120
Total: 490
Tier: Borderline/Overused

Strengths: Fighting, Poison
Weaknesses: Bug, Ghost, Dark
No Effect Against: Dark
Resistances: Fighting

Abilities:
Synchronize: When Alakazam becomes Poisoned, Paralyzed, or Burned, the other Pokemon is also Poisoned, Paralyzed, or Burned. Does not work if the opponent's Pokemon is resistant to that status change.
Inner Focus: Alakazam will not flinch.

Sweeper Sets

1: Standard Special Sweeper
Alakazam@Choice Specs
Modest
[[Synchronize/Inner Focus]]
252 SP. ATK/252 SPD/6 HP
Psychic
Energy Ball/Grass Knot
Focus Blast
Shadow Ball

Your everyday set. Specs is used here because of Modest. Zam gets 405 Sp. Atk with 31 IV's. Psychic gets STAB as well and has 90 base power with no downside (save for Weavile). Ball/Knot hits TTar, but Knot is better because it's more effective, especially against bulky waters. Focus Blast hits Weavile for 4x, 150 base, so a probable OHKO is present. Shadow Ball is good because it hits Azelf and other OU Psychics.

2: Focus Sash'd

Alakazam@Focus Sash
Modest
[[Synchronize/Inner Focus]]
252 SP. ATK/252 SPD/6 HP
Psychic
Energy Ball/Grass Knot
Focus Blast
Shadow Ball

The above set, just with Sash. This time, you can use other options like TWave or Calm Mind. Just keep Blast and Psychic.

3: Scarfed

Alakazam@Choice Scarf
Timid
[[Synchronize/Inner Focus]]
252 SP. ATK/252 SPD/6 HP
Psychic
Energy Ball/Grass Knot
Focus Blast
Shadow Ball

Fast hitter here. Stick with the specs sets here.

Others

4: Annoyer
Alakazam@Choice Scarf
Timid
[[Synchronize]]
252 SPD/126 HP/126 SP. ATK/6 SP. DEF
Thunder Wave
Toxic
Encore
Psychic

Alakazam's wide variety is good for a pisser-offer with TWave, Synchronize, and Toxic. Alakazam has a high Speed too, so it's easy to outspeed anything not named Choice Scarf Weavile. Remember that you'll need to switch after attacking because of Scarf. So Pursuit Weavile is a bitch there. However, Kazam can easily be your status whore, taking a status effect, synching it, and switching to your sweepers or walls. Just remember: You need to breed for Encore.

Other options:
Never use Alakazam as a wall or physical sweeper. Your choices are limited because Alakazam is mainly your sweeper. However, you can vary moves, for example, adding Shock Wave and maybe Charge Beam. Trick is another option that can really help Zam sometimes. Just watch if you get Flame/Toxic orb. It could be a bad mistake on your part.

Counters
Weavile: Weavile is your worst threat. It can hit about 405 base speed off Jolly and will easily outspeed Kazam, and will end it quickly with any strong Dark move, like Night Slash. If Weavile comes in on Kazam, watch out for Pursuit if you want to switch out.
Blissey: Blissey resists all of Alakazam's attacks, so watch for Blissey in the long run. Your only grace is that Blissey will not OHKO Alakazam even with its poor defenses.
Tyranitar: Resistance to Alakazam's best attack, Psychic, and auto-sandstorm really puts TTar at a high risk. Focus Blast and Energy Ball work well here, just watch that 1.5x boost.
Anything with Trick Room: Alakazam's speed is worthy for OU, and anything with TR can easily take that away, especially a slow dark.
Spiritomb/Sableye: Both of Alakazam's major weaknesses rolled into one. Miracle Eye helps here, but you still don't get a Super Effective. Energy Ball is best here.
Honchkrow: Not that much of a threat, but its Dark nature and resistance to Energy Ball and 1/2 resistance to FBlast makes it a tough enemy. Its high attack power makes Krow worthy to kill Alakazam. Your hope here is Shock Wave.
Metagross/Bronzong: Resistance to all of Alakazam's attacks make Metagross and Bronzong hard to sweep.

Final Thoughts
Alakazam is a great choice for a sweeper. Its high power and speed are good for sweeping a standard OU team that doesn't use Weavile or any other counters. Alakazam's great coverage and low weaknesses are good for a team. Paired with Weavile, Alakazam is deadly in the long run.


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fallowfield sphe...
post Mar 16 2008, 04:41 PM
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Hidden Power [Fighting] in other options, at least.

Miracle Eye is pretty useless. By the time you've used it, you will be either dead or unable to KO the dark Pokemon that just switched in anyway.
As is Psybeam for evident reasons.

Shadow Ball should be made the priority: hitting Cresselia is an ability to viable to pass up.

Second set isn't very "professionaly written" but i'm not one to talk when it comes to that department.

Why is Trick not even mentioned anywhere?

It's easily BL.
It is frail, and in the attacking department, does not have much to offer in the way of diversity. It is a Pokemon you cannot just slap on your team: you are going to need experience to make this thing work. That should also be mentioned in the "opinion" section: it had hardly any weaknesses but next to no useful resistances, so you're going to have a hard time getting this thing in at all. Saying it is "deadly when paired with weavile" is hardly suitable considering they barely cover each other's weaknesses; even with Zam's fight resist it will still be 2HKO'd by most strong STAB Close Combats.
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RAKKA
post Mar 17 2008, 06:32 PM
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It seems to me that the first moveset is actually 3 movesets:

Moveset 1: Choice Specs
Alakazam@Choice Specs
Timid/Modest
252 SP. ATK/ 252 SPD/ 4 HP
Psychic
Focus Blast
Shadow Ball/ Energy Ball/ Grass Knot
Trick

Moveset 2: Choice Scarf
Alakazam@Choice Scarf
Timid/Modest
252 SP. ATK/ 252 SPD/ 4 HP
Psychic
Focus Blast
Shadow Ball
Energy Ball / Grass Knot/ Hidden Power [Fire]

Moveset 3: Calm Mind
Alakazam@Salac Berry/ Petaya Berry/ Life Orb
Timid
[I'll calculate the best EVs later, but basically enough HP to activate berry after 3 subs + speed and special attack)
Substitute/ Encore
Calm Mind
Psychic
Hidden Power [Fighting]/ Focus Blast/ Shadowball

There's also a starter moveset involving counter and focus sash doing the rounds somewhere. Might want to try and find that.


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Lester Burnham
post Mar 17 2008, 08:18 PM
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QUOTE(fallowfield spheal @ Mar 16 2008, 05:41 PM) *
Why is Trick not even mentioned anywhere?

It's easily BL.
It is frail, and in the attacking department, does not have much to offer in the way of diversity. It is a Pokemon you cannot just slap on your team: you are going to need experience to make this thing work. That should also be mentioned in the "opinion" section: it had hardly any weaknesses but next to no useful resistances, so you're going to have a hard time getting this thing in at all. Saying it is "deadly when paired with weavile" is hardly suitable considering they barely cover each other's weaknesses; even with Zam's fight resist it will still be 2HKO'd by most strong STAB Close Combats.


Trick doesn't appeal to me and wastes a move when Alakazam is as frail as it is. Especially on Sticky Barb/The orbs.

It's BL or OU depending on the site. Here it's OU but Smogon is BL. Alakazam and Porygon-Z have the highest non-legendary base Special Attack and are great choices for a sweeper. It's high base speed helps too.

Kazam can be 2hkoed by STAB CC if he doesn't kill the user after their drop in defenses. CC is tough on Zam because of that fact. STAB Psychic will own it.


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Lord Raven
post Mar 18 2008, 12:12 AM
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It's OU here? Must've not been thinking when I made it XD
Zam's OHKO'd by CC isn't it?


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fallowfield sphe...
post Mar 18 2008, 02:47 AM
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QUOTE
Trick doesn't appeal to me and wastes a move when Alakazam is as frail as it is. Especially on Sticky Barb/The orbs.


It's certainly worth more of a mention than Psybeam and at the least deserves mention in Other Options.
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Lord Raven
post Mar 18 2008, 10:15 AM
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yeah Archangel Trick is a pretty decent option on Zam, and iirc a Focus Punch can 2HKO Blissey (or something like that) off around 200 or so Attack.


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Lester Burnham
post Mar 18 2008, 08:05 PM
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QUOTE(Raven @ Mar 18 2008, 11:15 AM) *
yeah Archangel Trick is a pretty decent option on Zam, and iirc a Focus Punch can 2HKO Blissey (or something like that) off around 200 or so Attack.

But FP is useless on Zam because of its poor attack and the fact that it won't survive enough. I'll add Trick.


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Lord Raven
post Mar 18 2008, 10:43 PM
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Except when you give it Focus Punch it doesn't get completely and utterly fucked by Blissey... it was used in Advanced, and when I played shoddy I saw it on literally EVERY TEAM. Besides, it'll have enough SAtk to be doing the 2HKOing it's already doing without the highest SAtk possible. After all, iirc it wasn't able to OHKO that much anyway.


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Kookie Monster
post Mar 20 2008, 11:38 AM
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QUOTE
Moveset 1: Standard Special Sweeper
Alakazam@Life Orb/Choice Specs/Choice Scarf
Timid/Modest
[[Synchronize/Inner Focus]]
252 SP. ATK/252 SPD/6 HP
Psychic
Energy Ball/Psybeam/Shadow Ball/Focus Blast
Miracle Eye/Thunder Wave
Future Sight/Calm Mind


T-Wave or Miracle won't help it, Grass Knot can be used over Energy Ball, for Tyranitars and co, eg Bulky Waters, Hippowdon
Trick could be used, Psybeam is a no-no, Future Sight=NO WAI Synchorize may be more preferable.


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Lester Burnham
post Mar 20 2008, 02:50 PM
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No TWave? I think TWave is a better option because it slows CS Weavile down.


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RAKKA
post Mar 20 2008, 03:56 PM
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QUOTE(Archangel 1602 @ Mar 20 2008, 07:50 PM) *
No TWave? I think TWave is a better option because it slows CS Weavile down.


But you have to hit it on the switch for it to have any effect. If you hit it with Focus blast it's a OHKO anyway.


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Lord Raven
post Mar 20 2008, 11:12 PM
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QUOTE(Archangel 1602 @ Mar 20 2008, 03:50 PM) *
No TWave? I think TWave is a better option because it slows CS Weavile down.
1) People actually use CS Weavile?
2) It won't survive after using TWave. Have you even seen its defenses before?


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Lester Burnham
post Mar 21 2008, 08:10 AM
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Yeah, I have. Zam gets raped by a lot of counters. My list lists them all. -.-


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Lord Raven
post Mar 21 2008, 12:45 PM
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Then why contemplate TWave? Sash it if you're going to consider moves like that.


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Lester Burnham
post Mar 21 2008, 04:14 PM
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Okay, I've switched things around a bit and added Sash. I don't know why I left it out in the first place.


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PKMN Trainer Red
post Mar 28 2008, 01:05 AM
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You should add a Calm Mind Set

Alakazam@ Life Orb
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spe/6 Hp
Calm Mind
Psyhic
Focus Blast
Hidden Power Ice/ Energy Ball
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Lord Raven
post Mar 28 2008, 02:07 PM
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I'd like to add while the above is an option, I'd recommend Sash as a secondary item and I'd like to comment that it's very frail. You need to catch them at just the right time so you can activate it.


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Lester Burnham
post Mar 28 2008, 03:28 PM
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QUOTE(PKMN Trainer Red @ Mar 28 2008, 02:05 AM) *
You should add a Calm Mind Set

Alakazam@ Life Orb
252 Sp. Atk/252 Spe/6 Hp
Calm Mind
Psyhic
Focus Blast
Hidden Power Ice/ Energy Ball

HP Ice won't do you good in the long run, though. It hits less than Grass Knot and Grass Knot helps better with TTar, Rhyperior, and Ramparados.


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Lord Raven
post Mar 28 2008, 11:00 PM
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It's worth noting though, because it destroys dragons.


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