Right, time for another post. I haven't been able to post this yet since the forums were down this morning (I think). It doesn' have as much information or explanation as my previous post, it is more an explanation of the thought process that goes into my decision. So, here we go. These Pokemon are in OU or BL:
Code:
Aerodactyl
Azelf
Blissey
Breloom
[COLOR=black]Bronzong[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Celebi [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Dragonite [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Dusknoir [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Electivire [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Empoleon [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Flygon[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Forretress[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Gengar [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Gliscor [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Gyarados[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Heatran[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Heracross[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Hippowdon [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Infernape [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Jirachi [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Jolteon [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Kingdra [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Lucario [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Machamp[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Magnezone[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Mamoswine [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Metagross [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Ninjask[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Roserade[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Salamence [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Scizor [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Skarmory[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Smeargle [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Snorlax [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Suicune [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Swampert [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Tentacruel[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Togekiss [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Tyranitar[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Umbreon[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Vaporeon[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Weavile [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Zapdos[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Abomasnow[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Cresselia[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Crobat[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Froslass [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Gallade [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Honchkrow [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]PorygonZ[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Raikou [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Shaymin [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Staraptor [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Yanmega [/COLOR]
Next, we remove some Pokemon. Specifically, those in the top ten or so of usage, those lower down who have the same or similar type as higher-ranked Pokemon, those who have too generic a typing to be of consequence (ie. Easily partnered with others regardless, little scope for achievement), and Celebi, as that has already been done, as shown below:
Code:
Aerodactyl
Breloom
[COLOR=black]Empoleon [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Gliscor [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Heracross[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Jolteon [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Kingdra [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Lucario[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Magnezone[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Mamoswine [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Roserade [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Skarmory[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Suicune [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Swampert [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Tentacruel[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Togekiss[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Weavile [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Zapdos[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Abomasnow[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Crobat[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Froslass [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Gallade [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Honchkrow[/COLOR]
This has shortened the list significantly, as you can see. Now, I will crop the list further. In essence, now we are progressing to stages that some/most of you may not agree with in weeding out potential partners. Now, I am going to take out those Pokemon that cannot fulfil, to my mind, the essence of what I talked about in my previous post – the ability to support the partner defensively, offensively, and indirectly, to some capacity. See my last post for details.
Code:
Breloom
[COLOR=black]Empoleon [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Heracross[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Magnezone[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Mamoswine [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Roserade [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Swampert [/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Togekiss[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Zapdos[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Abomasnow[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]Crobat[/COLOR]
Thus, here is my final probationary list. The above Pokemon are those that, I feel, would be able to compliment a partner in standard OU most effectively, work in powerful and, crucially, exclusive cohesion with them, where they are recognised as being very good partners. For a more in-depth look:
Breloom: Not bad. Horrible frailty is the main turn-off, as it is nailed even by NVE moves. Poison Heal helps somewhat, as well as making a status buffer for the partnership, but aside from that I would be worried.
Empoleon: I’d be inclined to support Deck Knight on this one. It has good bulk, reasonable offensive stats and a support inclination. In short, it is pretty much perfect. My only niggling worry would be that Water and Steel are two prominent types in OU regardless, so our Perfect Mate may well find some relationship issues if he attracts too many hangers-on, given the popularity of both types regardless.
Heracross: A bit like Breloom but without Poison Heal. I love Heracross, but for the good of the project I honestly have to say he’s an inferior Breloom, not in terms of actual ability, but how well he can potentially partner up.
Magnezone: Again a Steel-type, so good resistances coupled with good defences. Another great option beside Empoleon, but slightly lower perhaps because Magnezone already has pretty good partners in Salamence and other Scizor-fearing Pokemon, which marks him out already as a niche partner, which we don’t really want.
Mamoswine: He is one of my favourites, but still not really good enough. Good defensive stats, high offensive stats, and capacity to be a very good teammate. The one problem I can see is Scizor, and unfortunately that’s one very big problem. As I don’t really want to have to push into this, I have to advise against it, although I would dearly love to see him in there. More than that horrible Weavile anyway.
Roserade: Ehh… pretty frail in OU, and I’m not terribly keen on its offensive ability either. It’s a bit like Weavile in a way – it doesn’t necessarily function better just because of teammates. I can’t really see Roserade forming a good partnership in OU, as there it is more or less restricted to Spiking, unlike in UU where it had a good defensive typing and was able to seriously threaten.
Swampert: One weakness and not many resistances makes this a bit of a poor cohesive tool in my opinion, and low offensive stats don’t help either.
Togekiss: Hmm… reliable recovery is nice, but it isn’t terribly versatile. It can sweep, support or annoy the living crap out of you, but it doesn’t seem a very good partner. A little bit too niche. Still, it seems fine from where I’m standing, it ticks all the boxes, it’s versatile, and it makes for a good partner in all respects. I’m concerned from a personal standpoint that Togekiss might just be a little bit too… low down to make the partnership reliable. Similarities to other Flying-types don’t help either.
Zapdos: THIS ONE PICK THIS ONE yeah in all seriousness, if it weren’t for Fuzznip’s post beforehand I would be advocating this guy over anybody else. A good typing, weaknesses can be worked around WITH a partner, can go defensive, offensive, or support-wise depending on wishes and excels in all categories. Good STAB for offensive, reliable recovery for defensive, and a good support movepool for the latter. As it stands, however, I very much doubt that he will get much support from the community for the simple reason that he already excels in this Scizor and Lucario filled metagame, and as such does not particularly “need” this valuable partner. Ergo, there is much less initiative to make a partnership, when Zapdos is already blessed by a good lot in the metagame, as per Fuzznip’s reply to my original post.
Abomasnow: No more hail. Please.
Crobat: Well… better than Weavile. Lack of really potent offence and generally mediocre everywhere besides Speed… I can’t really see this working too well.
So, in short summary, I would be more inclined to support
Zapdos,
Empoleon,
Togekiss,
Mamoswine, and
Roserade for consideration as the most likely partners for CAP11 (in descending order). I feel that these exhibit the correct balance of powerful offence, balanced defence, and support capacity to be considered the very best partners, insofar as they can give to their partner and receive at the same time: a symbiotic relationship, which is absolutely crucial to CAP11's success. I firmly believe that any one of these could result in an excellent CAP, and that these are the best choices on which to build the foundations of a "Perfect Mate".
Oh, and one more thing – please no Weavile. It really is a terrible option. It yields literally no benefit for its partner (revenge killing a Salamence is not teamwork in the slightest) and CAP11 would have to bend over backwards to make Weavile its legitimate partner. At which point it would be better off with other partners. And even if we went the other way and made it reliant on Weavile to succeed (Pursuit-trap etc.) this would only mean that CAP11 ended up underused as well. It just isn’t going to work. You may all say that finding out exactly how to make the little pink weasel actually usable would be interesting, and I’m inclined to agree. But I also want this CAP to be successful, and at the end of the day I feel sure nobody is going to be using something so good to help what it was originally designed for, especially if Weavile needs the sort of support that I have an inkling it does.
On another note: to my mind, the Team Options section for CAP11’s analysis will be very short indeed.
STET: I just noticed that I could not find a nomination post for Zapdos anywhere. Though I am want to do it, I feel I have to at least plead his case to a certain extent, although I doubt very much whether this appeals to the community consensus.
Pokemon Name: Zapdos
Why this Pokemon: Zapdos is quite extraordinary in many ways. It is an excellent offensive threat, with a powerful STAB Thunderbolt and a useful offensive movepool. It is very good defensively as well, boasting immunity to Earthquake and a generally good defensive typing, as well as reliable recovery in the form of Roost. It is also good on the support front to a certain extent, as besides the obvious, it is one of the best Scizor checks in the game, and can also check Lucario. It is an immensely flexible Pokemon, and can be adapted to suit any role, something which is crucial in a teammate. Rather than appealing from the standpoint that it is ill-used for one reason or another, as has been the case, and wailing about how it is misunderstood and has boatloads of weaknesses and needs help desperately, I would like to state that Zapdos is a good choice as CAP11's partner simply because of its raw power when used alongside other Pokemon rather than individually. It is an excellent teammate, and though you may say that it already has useful partners, it cannot be said that Zapdos has anything close to a "Perfect Mate" in the game. Because Zapdos is so reliable, I would have to impress explicitly, not only its viability in this metagame, which is already so strong, but also the capacity it has for actually performing well, which cannot be said for some certain other Pokemon that have been brought up.
What are the possibilities: Zapdos, first and foremost, is weak to Rock and Ice, and resists Grass, Fighting, Flying, Bug, Ground, and Steel. Its primary counters are notably Blissey, Snorlax, Swampert, and Tyranitar. Thus it would seem that viable types to mention would be Steel (resistance to Ice and Rock, Zapdos takes Fighting/Ground moves) while the secondary typing would be something to enable it to take on Swampert and Tyranitar (debate needed), as well as a medium-power Fighting-type move such as Low Kick, while at the same time making it abhorrent to other, similar Pokemon such as Salamence (ie, something like making it unable to deal properly with Steel-types such as Bronzong or Scizor). But this is getting way ahead of what I would like to specifically mention here, and that is the absolute flexibility of such a combination in place. The ability of both to determine the role they will play in the heat of battle, not before, marks them both out as strong supporters, and the ability to strike and support one another as a powerful offensive core, or else ward off the opponent through resistances. The difference between this and other Pokemon such as Yanmega, is that I can indeed see this working, where for other Pokemon I could not.
That being said, I've no serious problems with any of the Pokemon I listed above. This should be fun.