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Brown Bomber
Alakazam Review
No fancy intros; let's get to the meat of the article. Alakazam
has the movepool, optimal stats, and unpredicability to wreck
teams; however, it's hardly played for some reason. Still,
Alakazam can easily be used in the OU metagame if you use it
properly.
Alakazam (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Spd / 56 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Fire Punch
- Encore
IMO, the best Alakazam set. Due to Alakazam's pathetic defenses,
it can't switch into any sort of damaging attack; this set
remedies this problem. Predict a stat-up move such as Curse from
Snorlax or a Substitute from some random Pokemon, then switch
Alakazam in and use Encore. With base 120 Speed, it should
outspeed the opposing Pokemon and force it to use the
non-damaging attack repeatedly. While your opponent switches,
Zam can easily get in free Calm Minds and prepare to sweep. Fire
Punch is for the Metagross that can withstand Zam's other
attacks and OHKO it with a powerful attack, while Calm Mind and
Psychic are obvious moves.
Alakazam (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Spd / 56 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Fire Punch
- Thunderpunch/Ice Punch/Hidden Power Water/Hidden Power
Grass/Recover/Knock Off
Alakazam can learn a lot of moves. ;( The Encore set is still
better, though, since it can actually provide free switches and
allow Alakazam to set up easier.
Alakazam (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Spd / 56 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind/Substitute
- Psychic
- Trick
- Fire Punch/Substitute
The basic Trickbanding Alakazam. Trick the Choice Band onto a
special sweeper/wall that won't make use of it and steal their
Leftovers, then sweep. You can use Substitute to predict what
the opposing Pokemon will do after you've Tricked a Choice Band
onto it, or merely use the standard Calm Mind set-up afterwards.
Alakazam (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Spd / 56 SAtk
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Psychic
- Safeguard
- Recover
A set purely for countering Blissey; Safeguard against any
Thunder Waves, and Calm Mind while shrugging off Seismic Tosses
and Ice Beams with Recover. Snorlax and Regice still wall this
set, though, and you have no way to damage Metagross now.
Alakazam (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Inner Focus
EVs: 84 HP / 124 Atk / 216 Spd / 84 SAtk
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Trick
- Psychic
- Fire Punch
- Focus Punch
An odd version of Trickbanding Alakazam that several people
(including myself) have tried. With the power boost from Choice
Band, Alakazam has 250 Attack, which is enough to the special
walls Blissey, Snorlax, and Regice on the switch-in, and will
OHKO Tyranitar. If the special wall is weakened or if you don't
need to Focus Punch, Trick the Choice Band onto a special
sweeper or a wall that won't make use of the Choice Band. Again,
Fire Punch is for Metagross (and Skarmory, since it can
withstand some Psychics without a Calm Mind), and Psychic is for
STAB. It has 361 Speed to outspeed base 115 Pokemon (hi Persian
and Starmie), enough HP to withstand three Seismic Tosses with
Leftovers, and the rest in Special Attack. This set takes some
prediction to work, so it isn't recommended for newbie players.
Other Options: It can pseduo-pass with Reflect and Light Screen,
but Zam is meant to be a sweeper. If you somehow survive a
physical attack, Counter the attack back for a kill. Shadow Ball
can go on the Choice Band set for novelty, but there are better
options. It can Snatch Blissey's Softboiled/Aromatherapy, but
most Pokemon will just attack Zam normally.
Counters: Snorlax can take special attacks for awhile and OHKO/2HKO
Alakazam with powerful physical attacks, while Regice can use
Psych Up to copy Alakazam's Calm Minds and blast it with Ice
Beam. Blissey isn't a counter for Recover Alakazam since
Alakazam can outstall Blissey's Seismic Tosses/Ice Beams with
Recover; however, Thunder Wave Blissey can annoy Alakazam
(beware, as Synchronize will paralyze Blissey and force it to
switch out). Without Fire Punch, Metagross can take Psychics and
OHKO Alakazam with Meteor Mash, while Tyranitar is immune to
Psychic and can easily kill Alakazam.
Final Thoughts: Alakazam is a wonderful, diverse Pokemon. If you
cannot figure out its moveset, Alakazam will likely take a
Pokemon with it while you try to counter it, so beware. Although
it isn't seen often, Alakazam is still a formidable force, and
is an excellent Pokemon to use overall.
Hi everyone. Welcome to another Pokémon of the Week. First of
all I want to dedicate this review to a very good friend called
Sabrina, She loves this Pokémon. This week we have the spoon
bender Pokémon; Alakazam.
Low HP and Defense Pokémon, then why is it so great? Many
reasons answer this question; its special attack and speed, a
wide variety of move combinations and a great ability. Alakazam
is both predictable and unpredictable because of this.
I’d say Synchronize is better, because if Alakazam gets a status
condition, then your foe does as well, and you could use this to
take advantage in late game.
Now, for the move combination, despite our friend has the
ability to learn a wide variety of attacks and you could combine
them in many ways, I’ll suggest the most effective combinations.
Calm mind as your boost, then just sweep with Psychic or the
elemental punches. You could try fire punch instead of another
punch or instead Calm Mind if you don´t like boosting.
Substitute and calm mind until your dummy’s broken. Then Sweep
as much as you can. You can also change thunder punch for any
other elemental punch.
When should I use this Pokémon?
Perfect for any battle environment because of the punches.
Thunder punch for Gyarados, Fire punch for Skarmory and Ice
punch for Dragonite or Salamence.
What should I use against this Pokémon?
Houndoom’s perfect for this one. Remember, Alakazam is fast, so
be sure you use something fast and with high special defense…
Bottom line:
Probably the most used psychic type, a classic and effective
Pokémon.
