Lol, lobster.

Armaldo is too cool not to pass up. Though I ought to do a machamp one at some point.

Introduction

Azelf was one of three Trio Legendary Pokemon introduced for D/P. While Uxie is his dynamic opposite in having excellent defensive stats, Azelf has a very impressive tandem of Attack/Special Attack at Base 125. His Speed is also at a good Base 115. Although his defensive stats are nothing impressive, Azelf should be able to do a lot of damage as a Sweeper. Plus, it can Explode.

75 HP
125 Attack
70 Defense
125 Special Attack
70 Special Defense
115 Speed

Movesets

Choice Item
Azelf @ Choice Scarf/Choice Specs
Levitate
Naive: 36 Attack, 252 Sp Attack, 220 Speed
Psychic
Flamethrower
Grass Knot
Explosion/U-Turn

Choice Scarf lets it outrun anything unboosted with the above EV spread. You could probably take away some Speed EVs and pour more into Attack, but that's really up to you. On the other hand, Choice Specs lets you hit significantly much harder. Explosion is fun, however, Azelf is known for it, so make sure any opposing Ghost's are effectively taken care of. If you don't particularly see a need for Explosion, you can use U-Turn to hit any Focus Sashing friends on the way out. Obviously, if you have any form of passive field damage, forget about U-Turn. It super-effects Weavile, who will be you're likely switch-in on a suspected Psychic. Grass Knot helps you hit Swampy and Tyranitar harder, and Flamethrower is for Steel types that will likely try to wall you.

Nasty Plot
Azelf @ Life Orb
Levitate
Timid: 4 HP, 252 Sp Att, 252 Speed
Nasty Plot
Flamethrower
Psychic
Grass Knot

Everything is exactly the same, although you have the luxury of not having to switch out when a potential counter comes in with the Choice Sets. However, it's also infinitely more difficult to set up your Nasty Plot. Focus Sash can be a nice aid, however, you lose some attacking power.

Other Options

Azelf is a powerful Special Attacker, and can make nice use of Hidden Power. In particular, Hidden power Fighting helps stop Dark types from switching in lightly on you. Shadow Ball helps you super effect Psychic types, although U-Turn works, also.

Counters

Although Azelf is very powerful, it is also very frail. Because of this, it can be threatened by many things.

Weavile is capable of OHKOing Azelf with both Pursuit and Night Slash. However, Azelf is capable of doing the same back with Flamethrower. It is often best left as a Flamethrower user. Even then, U-Turn super-effects Weavile, and Azelf can be much faster than it with Choice Scarf. Therefore, you should be careful of Weavile use.

Blissey and Cresselia both have indirect ways of dealing with Azelf. Firstly, they can immediately cripple it's power to Sweep with Thunder Wave, and both are capable of taking it's hits and healing it off. However, if Azelf decides to Explode, then Blissey and Cresselia are in serious danger of being OHKO'd.

Even if Thunder Wave is unavailable, other status effects can also help defeat it. Burning Azelf's that have Explosion will make Cresselia's job of walling it, even if it uses Explosion, much easier. Blissey should still stay far away. Toxic can help defeat it as well, since poison and Life Orb damage will not give it a long life-span.

Heatran resists most of the attacks that Azelf is likely to carry. It's resistance to Explosion is also a nice benefit. However, Hidden power Fighting will scare Heatran away. Houndoom is similar to Heatran, although Explosion threatens it, and it takes neutral damage from U-Turn.

Sucker Punch users are also very capable of threatening Azelf's position.

Opinion

Azelf is a very destructive Special Sweeper. Switching in might seem difficult, although Levitate gives it a nice edge over Earthquake users. Coming in on Dugtrio after it's used Earthquake will generally give you a free turn to set up or predict which attack will be necessary to use. Although Azelf is very frail, it's capability to destroy entire teams should not be passed up. And, it can use Explosion.

This message was edited by Jyarra on Nov 04 2007.

quote WiseLugia

quote ShinyCharizard

Correct me if Im wrong but doesnt Donphan run 252 HP, 252 Def, 6 Atk and Impish on standard spinner?

^This. Scip, do nao.

K, done. I didn't change the 6 Spd as 6 Atk though, since that extra 1 attack will rarely ever make a notable difference in a battle whereas the speed could allow you to outspeed other Pokes with the same base speed and no speed EVs.

This message was edited by Scipex on Oct 09 2007.

How do you stoled drawing?

More like, you shouldn't do that.

Oh, alright. I wouldn't really mind others using my fanart though, as long as they aren't making any profit from it and they're not claiming it as their own.

New [Res] - Blastoise


EDIT: Lol, I'll get to it eventually. PSATs tomorrow and some big assignments after that, but I should get it done sometime this millennium.

This message was edited by Scipex on Oct 16 2007.

Bumping to remind the crew we need to get rolling. =P

Okay sorry Predator.

Its just I thought you would have put mixmence but nevermind.

again really sorry

Actually I think we do need MixMence. It is a viable set and is quite useful tbh.

Finished Blaziken, Half way through Lanturn. I wanna post both together

quote The Team List

Wiselugia
DrunkenSniper
Jyarra
Scipex
Illegit
Purestealth
ShinyCharizard
ShinyMilotic

I don't see Giant Enemy Crab on there anywhere, funny...

We've had several revisions of the rules. Let's just say he reserved those pokemon before the latest revision went into effect, so that slips by.

Is it possible that if both my Analysises were up to standard, possibly even better, I would be on that list? There are quite a few pokemon I am willing to write for.

Maybe, maybe. We'll have to see.