Lee
@ Thick Club
I used this set quite a bit a few months back but I'm not sure quite how effective it will be now that Shaymin and Crobat dominate. Still, I found it to be a very effective set so I'll throw it out so you guys can give your opinion. I haven't played UU since February so if it's completely useless now, don't be afraid to say so and we can throw it on the backburner until NU gathers steam or whatever.
It's quite similar to the standard set except you give up the luxury of a secondary attack for Substitute. However it's so difficult to obtain useful special coverage with Water + Secondary attack that I find this set has a much easier time sweeping than the standard one.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/golduck
[SET]
name: Mono-Attacker
move 1: Surf
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Hypnosis
item: Leftovers
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Timid
EVs: 44 HP / 232 SpA / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> This set attempts to make use of Golduck's above average defensive capabilities and support movepool to set himself up for a sweep. The initial idea is to use this Golduck in a similar vein to Calm Mind Mismagius - come in on something that will flee and use Substitute on the switch before attacking accordingly. Calm Mind is always an excellent move especially in conjunction with Substitute and Hypnosis gives you the ability to disable a problematic Pokemon allowing Golduck to set up easier, or just to give your incoming Pokemon a free switch. Surf is the obvious option for the sole attack due to STAB and good neutral coverage.</p>
<p>232 Special Attack EVs ensure that at +6 you'll be able to 2HKO a 0/252 Calm Chansey after Leftovers. It also allows you to 2HKO a 252/0 Milotic 90% of the time in the same circumstances. This is important as both of the aforementioned Pokemon are prime candidates for Golduck to begin his set up on. The Speed EVs and nature allow for 290 Speed, putting you just ahead of Yanmega. The remaining EVs are placed into HP to take better advantage of Golduck's often overlooked 80/78/80 defenses.</p>
<p>As is to be expected with Surf as his solitary attack, this variant of Golduck will run into problems with bulky Grass types, most notably Shaymin and Roserade who have the luxury of outrunning Golduck. Even though they have Natural Cure, Golduck will still be able to put them out of commission for at least a single turn with Hypnosis giving you a chance to get in your counter unscathed. That said, Hypnosis is notoriously unreliable so it's important to pack a good Shaymin counter such as Crobat who can also lure out Rock types and use U-turn to give Golduck a free turn to begin his set up. Obviously Water Absorb and Dry Skin Pokemon wall you effortlessly if they have a way to avoid Hypnosis but fortunately they very rarely do.</p>
Criticise, praise, mock, nitpick etc!
It's quite similar to the standard set except you give up the luxury of a secondary attack for Substitute. However it's so difficult to obtain useful special coverage with Water + Secondary attack that I find this set has a much easier time sweeping than the standard one.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/golduck
[SET]
name: Mono-Attacker
move 1: Surf
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Calm Mind
move 4: Hypnosis
item: Leftovers
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Timid
EVs: 44 HP / 232 SpA / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> This set attempts to make use of Golduck's above average defensive capabilities and support movepool to set himself up for a sweep. The initial idea is to use this Golduck in a similar vein to Calm Mind Mismagius - come in on something that will flee and use Substitute on the switch before attacking accordingly. Calm Mind is always an excellent move especially in conjunction with Substitute and Hypnosis gives you the ability to disable a problematic Pokemon allowing Golduck to set up easier, or just to give your incoming Pokemon a free switch. Surf is the obvious option for the sole attack due to STAB and good neutral coverage.</p>
<p>232 Special Attack EVs ensure that at +6 you'll be able to 2HKO a 0/252 Calm Chansey after Leftovers. It also allows you to 2HKO a 252/0 Milotic 90% of the time in the same circumstances. This is important as both of the aforementioned Pokemon are prime candidates for Golduck to begin his set up on. The Speed EVs and nature allow for 290 Speed, putting you just ahead of Yanmega. The remaining EVs are placed into HP to take better advantage of Golduck's often overlooked 80/78/80 defenses.</p>
<p>As is to be expected with Surf as his solitary attack, this variant of Golduck will run into problems with bulky Grass types, most notably Shaymin and Roserade who have the luxury of outrunning Golduck. Even though they have Natural Cure, Golduck will still be able to put them out of commission for at least a single turn with Hypnosis giving you a chance to get in your counter unscathed. That said, Hypnosis is notoriously unreliable so it's important to pack a good Shaymin counter such as Crobat who can also lure out Rock types and use U-turn to give Golduck a free turn to begin his set up. Obviously Water Absorb and Dry Skin Pokemon wall you effortlessly if they have a way to avoid Hypnosis but fortunately they very rarely do.</p>
Criticise, praise, mock, nitpick etc!