Super Smash Bros Dream Fighter Roster!!! Pt. 2

OK! Seriously, I just can't help but to spit out some more ideas about my dream fighter roster. I mean, come on! So... after listening some Super Robot Taisen at the office (LOL xD), there were some certain characters that sprung up in mind.

That being said, here are the other character's that I have in mind for my Dream Roster! :)

NOTE: All of the proposed moves and Final Smashes are based on what game they originally existed.

1. Einst Alfimi from Super Robot Taisen (Alfimi wreaks havoc!)

Reason: Well, as one of the more enigmatic characters in the series, Alfimi has that certain charm that really makes me interested in the character. Although, I really can't tell what can be her attacks are, since most of the animations in the original game are somewhat deemed violent for Nintendo standards... (now if only she becomes included).

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Yomiji (Default Special) - summons one of her familiars; firing an energy beam in a straight line. Holding the B button longer will make the beam smaller and deals weaker damage.

2. Shishio Blade (Side Special) - Alfimi brandishes her blade against an enemy. Press the B button rapidly for a follow-up attack.

3. Mabuitachi (Air Special) - Alfimi slashes downward, emitting a powerful shockwave while pushing her upward as well. Pressing the B button again will allow her to perform another slash, but it will not push her upward.

4. Spirit Drain (Down Special) - Alfimi summons spheres and attacks the enemy with the most damage, stunning it. If multiple foes are present in the field, they are just simply damaged.

Final Smash: Raigoue - Alfimi brandishes her sword. Anyone caught by her attack will suffer from her ultimate attack. She summons her mysterious mech, Personlichkeit, and unleashes an array of beams from all directions.


2. Zero from Megaman Zero (Zero rises!)

Reason: Since that Mega Man appeared in the Smash series, I don't see a reason why Zero don't deserve the spotlight! :3

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Zero Knuckle (Default Special) - grabs enemies, damages them, and absorbs their abilities to convert the knuckle into another weapon; upgrading it. Press the throw button to discard your assimilated weapon; converting it into a bomb. When your Zero Knuckle has an ability, your other abilities will have improved effects.

2. Skewer Dash (Side Special) - Zero dashes forward with Z-Saber in hand, damaging anyone he approaches with. With an upgraded Zero Knuckle, it transforms into Volt Rush, paralyzing foes while being damaged.

3. Aerial Fang (Air Special) - Zero jumps and performs an upward slash. With an upgraded Zero Knuckle, it transforms into Flame Fang, dealing more damage and it pushes Zero higher than usual.

4. Edge Divide (Down Special) - Zero performs a downward slash. Zero's sword fires energy balls as it reaches the ground. It can only be used in mid-air. With an upgraded Zero Knuckle, it transforms into Earth Divide, dealing greater damage and spouts energy-based boulders instead.

Final Smash: Giga Attack - Zero charges his Zero Knuckle, slams it into the ground, and large amount of energy beams will descend from above, dealing damage to all enemies in sight. With an upgraded Zero Knuckle, his Final Smash will deal triple the damage than usual, however, it automatically discards the weapon it assimilated.

Side Note: Well, I could also propose that Zero can also use a variety of weapons other than the Zero Knuckle. However, this will not improve the effects of his other attacks. Weapons such as the Recoil Rod and Shield Boomerang; adding versatility to his attacks. Take note, these are only custom moves, so Zero Knuckle is still his default special.


3. Roxas from Kingdom Hearts II (Roxas emerges!)

Reason: The reason I put him here is because of the mysterious nature that he has in the game (and I believe that Sora is just TOO mainstream). He started as a Nobody, and he'll remain a Nobody (I'm sure many KH fans will bash me for this, but come on, cut me some slack here, I still need to play more) :(. However, the good thing about Roxas is that he has a lot of fighting potential, being a Keyblade wielder and all. :D

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Fire (Default Special) - shoots a burning bullet from the tip of his Keyblade, dealing damage.

2. Thunder Raid (Side Special) - throws his Keyblade towards enemies, brimming with electric energy, and strikes them. The damage decays when it hits enemies more than once.

3. Glide (Air Special) - Roxas glides in the air.

4. Blizzard Shield (Down Special) - Roxas gains additional super armor and attack damage for 15 seconds. However, this will slow him down.

Final Smash: Oathkeeper and Oblivion - Roxas summons his two Keyblades, Oathkeeper and Oblivion, allowing him to deal more damage and adds additional launching power to all of his attacks for the next 20 seconds. Pressing the B button again before his Final Smash ends will allow him to unleash Magic Hour, firing beams from all directions. Executing Magic Hour ends the Final Smash immediately.


4. Ryu from Breath of Fire (Ryu roars from the depths!)

Reason: Breath of Fire is one of the only few RPG franchises that Capcom has ever produced... and I must say that BoF has some unique charms to it. The theme on where dragons are the "sentient" beings found, the various unique settings and characters, as well as the story line; all of which has a certain incarnation of a young man with dragon-born powers. Ryu simply deserves to enter in the world of Smash Bros, and these reasons strengthen its case. I mean, come on! Who doesn't want to play as a fire-breathing dragon?!

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Dragon Strike (Default Special) - Ryu harnesses the power of a dragon within him, granting him some certain boosts and it can allow Ryu to improve some of his attacks using a certain stance. Ryu can choose 3 different stances.

2. Piercing Edge (Side Special) - Ryu dashes forward and stabs an enemy with his sword. If he has the Fire Dragon Strike stance, his sword will transform into a dragon head; unleashing a stream of fire in its wake.

3. Mortal Drive (Air Special) - Ryu jumps high and at the top, he performs a downward slash. If he has the Ice Dragon Strike stance, Ryu unleashes ice shards as he lands.

4. Counter Sword (Down Special) - Ryu fixes his stance and when he gets attacked, he will counter it with a sword attack. This has increased damage against non-sword users. If he has the Bolt Dragon Stance, Ryu's counter stance duration is longer and the damage becomes greater.

Final Smash: Great Dragon - Ryu stabs his sword on the ground and transforms into the Great Dragon. In this form, Ryu summons gigantic meteors from random directions, instantly KOing them on the first hit, then damaging them severely on consecutive hits.


5. Axel from Kingdom Hearts (Axel sears forward!)

Reason: Another Axel to be included in my dream roster, but unlike the other Axel, this guy actually has a heart of gold, and shows some degree of concern for his allies and doesn't regard them as merely disposable tools for war. Additionally, behind that fiery face, Axel has a cool personality; being able to fix his composure despite being defeated multiple times. He's just that cool! Additionally, his powers can be a great benefit for the entire Smash Bros community; adding diversity to an already diverse game! :D

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Heat Chakram (Default Special) - throws a chakram at an enemy, pulling it and dealing damage. Press the B button again to throw another chakram. Can be used in conjunction with Glide.

2. Firaga Blade (Side Special) - Axel rushes in and slashes the enemy three times using his chakrams. The third slash will unleash a fiery explosion, damaging nearby enemies as well.

3. Empowered Glide (Air Special) - Axel glides in the air. Hold the B button to prolong floating in the air.

4. Firewall (Down Special) - Axel unleashes a fiery wall, damaging and trapping anyone who approaches it. Using Firewall in the air will also cause Axel to be pushed upward.

Final Smash: Fiery Rhapsody - Axel summons a fiery field in the area and transforms everyone's damage counter (excluding Axel's) into an HP meter of 100. Axel has 20 seconds to defeat all of them, and when he does, Axel wins the game. If he does not, however, Axel will just unleash a stream of fire throughout the field, dealing damage to enemies, and the battle proceeds as normal; ending the Final Smash. Take note that he can be KO'ed when using this Final Smash; ending it immediately.


And I think that wraps up Part Two of my Dream Roster! I think... O.o

Super Smash Bros Dream Fighter Roster!!!

Satoru Iwata, CEO of Nintendo, has recently announced on their latest Nintendo Direct last April 1, that players all around the world have been given the privilege to vote for the next Super Smash Bros. fighter! You heard it right! We are given the chance to make our dream fighter come true! Isn't it great?! :D

But I am pretty sure that not all of them will be taken to consideration. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean that we won't try to make it happen! Anyways, as a recent Super Smash Bros fan, there are really so much characters that I can think of, can be potential candidates for a Smash Bros game! No joke about it! In fact, I made a list on some of my favorite video game characters that has the strength and capabilities (for me, at least) to make them viable in said game. :)

So here's my Super Smash Bros. Dream Fighter Roster!!!

To begin with, I will mention first the name of the character in mind as well as the series it came from, then the reason why I want that character to include in the game, and the proposed Special moves and Final Smash for that character, so without further ado, let's do this!

1. Axel Almer from Super Robot Taisen (Axel enters the fray!)

Reason: To be honest, Axel is a very cocky character, but at the same time, he looks very heroic. As one of the popular anti-heroes in the Super Robot Taisen franchise, Axel deserves to take a part of the fighting game spotlight. Why? Because of Endless Frontier EXCEED! This is the first game in the series to see Axel's fighting moves. I know that I haven't played the game before, but hey, one can dream, right? :) He also has a very awesome battle theme and a very strong mech to boot, so there's that.

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Dragon Scale (Default Special) - Axel unleashes a powerful orb of energy from his palms. Hold down the B button to make the blast radius stronger.

2. Tiger Bite (Side Special) - Axel rushes in and attacks the first enemy it approaches with a three-punch combo. Deals greater damage in the third hit.

3. Phoenix Flyer (Up Special) - Axel lunges upward twice using his tonfas. The first lunge reaches higher than the second, but the second lunge's damage is stronger.

4. Focus Stance (Down Special) - Axel prepares his stance, and when an attack hits Axel, he'll unleash a Tiger Bite against the one who attacked Axel.

Final Smash: Code KIRIN - Axel lunges in to an opponent (or a group of opponents) and traps them. He then summons his mech, Soulgain, and goes inside of it. Soulgain pummels his foes through Axel's movement inputs; finishing them off with a powerful blade attack. After the Final Smash, for 18 seconds, Axel fights on as Soulgain; drastically increasing his movement and attack speed.


2. Kyosuke Nanbu from Super Robot Taisen (Kyosuke shoots forward!)

Reason: Axel deserves to have a rival of sorts, and none could ever fit the role better than Kyosuke Nanbu (well, I could say Lamia, but I think she's more capable to be a Support Trophy). In contrast to Axel's high-speed Soulgain, Kyosuke focuses more on reinforcing power and defense to pummel down foes with his mighty, red mech, the Alteisen. Also, like Axel, Kyosuke can be rather confident and he also has a good battle theme. Man, talk about fancy! However, if he's going to get included here, they should tone down the gambling reference. He does like to ante up, after all! :(

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Autocannon (Default Special) - Kyosuke uses a machine gun to shoot foes. Holding the B button will prolong the shot but also increases his time to "reload".

2. Revolver Stake (Side Special) - Kyosuke dashes forward and attacks the first enemy it approaches with his stake, causing an explosion. Surrounding enemies are also dealt damage from the blast radius.

3. Bunker Jump (Up Special) - Kyosuke uses his stake arm to push himself upwards. He cannot be flinched at mid-jump.

4. Guard Stance (Down Special) - Kyosuke gains super armor state for a 30 seconds, but reduces the launching power of all of his attacks.

Final Smash: Trump Card - Kyosuke fires a warning shot against a group of enemies. If they are caught, Kyosuke will initiate his final attack. He calls his red mech, Alteisen, and goes inside of it. He then proceeds to shoot his opponents with the Autocannon and Heavy Claymore. He then finishes it off by firing Revolver Stake five times against his opponents. After the Final Smash, for 18 seconds, Kyosuke fights on as Alteisen; increasing the launching power of all of his attacks and gains super armor.


3. T-Rex from Fossil Fighters (T-Rex unleashes the fire!)

Reason: Fossil Fighters is one of the greatest Pokemon clones that I have every played. In fact, I even tried playing the latest installment of the Fossil Fighters series (Fossil Fighters Frontier), which I liked it so much! The T-Rex, being the mascot of the entire series, deserves some fighting game love, and for me, this is the perfect opportunity to show its power!

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Infernal Fire (Default Special) - fires a searing beam towards enemies, Holding the B button longer will decrease its damage gradually.

2. Deadly Fangs (Side Special) - T-Rex lunges in and bites the first enemy it approaches, slaughtering its victim and throws the victim away after enough damage is made.

3. Cranial Upper (Up Special) - T-Rex performs a ferocious headbutt, launching enemies upward.

4. Fearsome Roar (Down Special) - T-Rex fixes its stance, and when an enemy hits it, T-Rex will create a powerful roar; stunning nearby foes.

Final Smash: Royal Crush - T-Rex, for 20 seconds, increases its sizes and gains additional effects from all of his attacks. Infernal Fire will no longer have reduced damage, Deadly Fangs damages everyone caught in its attack, Cranial Upper has increased launching power, and Fearsome Roar has longer range and stun duration.


4. Gallade from Pokemon (Gallade slices through!)

Reason: I know, I know, we already have a Lucario, but the problem is, said Pokemon is just toooo overrated. How about we give some chance to other Fighting-Types? I mean, come on, Gallade has the powerful typing of Psychic and Fighting. Heh, talk about the best of both worlds!

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:

1, Force Palm (Default Special) - Gallade focuses his energy into his palm and hits the foe; stunning it. Hold down the B button to increase its power and stun duration.

2. Psycho Cut (Side Special) - Gallade fires energy blades from his sword arms, piercing through enemies.

3. Night Slash (Up Special) - Gallade teleports and then slashes downward.

4. Shadow Sneak (Down Special) - Gallade focuses his senses to evade the attack and slashes the enemy from behind. Instantly KOs an opponent if damage is already above 200%.

Final Smash: Mega Gallade - Gallade uses its Mega Evolution form to gain additional movement speed, immunity against projectile attacks, and super armor for 20 seconds.


5. Felix from Golden Sun (Felix crushes the battlefield!)

Reason: I know that Isaac has already represented the Golden Sun series back in Melee, but only as an Assist Trophy. What I want is a fighter that represents the Golden Sun series, and Felix has this particular flair and power to sweep the floor with other fighters! :)

Proposed Special Moves and Final Smash:
1. Clay Spire (Default Special) - Felix summons three shards of rocks to fire against enemies.

2. Ragnarok (Side Special) - slashes enemies with a powerful sword attack.

3. Skull Splitter (Up Special) - Felix jumps high and unleashes a powerful downward slash. Deals more damage if enemy is in mid-air.

4. Nettle - Felix stabs his sword on the ground, unleashing multiple spires of thorns around him.

Final Smash: Megiddo - Felix unleashes the Sol Blade in his possession and slashes enemies multiple times. He then summons a gigantic meteor and he crashes it down to his opponents for heavy damage.


Well that's all for my dream roster of characters. So, which character do you think that Nintendo will include as future DLC for Super Smash Bros? Please feel free to write in your comments on who deserves the Smash Bros. Spotlight!

Until then, KEEP ON SMASHING! :)

Pokemon Bootcamp Pt. 20: Absol

Step it up and don your sneaky tactics, because its time for another edition of Pokemon Bootcamp! :)

Elegance is an integral part of this Pokemon, and in addition to detect natural disasters, it can be a very powerful contender to begin with. Additionally, the Mega Evolution of this Pokemon can really wreck the Stealth Rock metagame, allowing you to get back against those pesky trappers! :)

WELCOME TO POKEMON BOOTCAMP!

Subject No. 20
Name: Absol

Species: The Disaster Pokemon
Height: 3'11"
Weight: 103.6 lbs. (108 lbs. in Mega form)

Type: Dark
Possible Abilities: Pressure, Super Luck, Justified
Mega Ability: Magic Bounce

Smogon Tier: UnderUsed

Insights: Absol possesses two different roles; an assassin and a trap artist. It's assassin-like capabilities comes from learning Sucker Punch and the critical hits it gain from Super Luck, while the trapping aspect comes in when it Mega Evolves; granting the ability to repel those Thunder Waves and Stealth Rocks lickety-split! However, Absol's natural frailness can also be the major source of its downfall, as well as other priority moves that can outright destroy it if already weakened beforehand.

Recommended Ability: Super Luck
Absol has an outstanding Attack power of 130, allowing the Disaster Pokemon to become a powerful glass-cannon of sorts. Fortunately, Super Luck can make Absol's not-so-meager attacks into oh-so-deadly blows; landing critical hits more than usual! Also, with the ability to learn Sucker Punch naturally, this Pokemon is one of the most dangerous Sucker Punchers out there. Slap in a Scope Lens, as well as some critical-hit modifiers (Focus Energy, to be specific), and let the sparks fly!

Recommended moves:
1. Sucker Punch - you're pretty much quite careless if you don't even consider this to be a part of your strategy. This is by-far the most reliable move that Absol can ever use. Additional priority plus STAB damage is equal to a recipe for disaster.

2. Night Slash - another STAB move and can benefit from Super Luck! This move has an increased critical hit-rate, and with Super Luck and Scope Lens, there would be like 70% chance to land a critical hit at certain situations.

3. Psycho Cut - not really that powerful due to its Psychic typing, but can greatly benefit from Super Luck's boost. The strength of this attack does not lie on its pseudo-Night Slash attack power, but the fact that it can serve as a coverage move against its weakness, Fighting.

4. Megahorn - high base power. That sums it up.

5. Swords Dance - not really mandatory to use it, but it can increase your chance on taking down high-priority threats.

6. Play Rough - not really powerful, but it reduces your foe's Attack. Simple as that.

Other recommended moves:
1. Special sets - I really do not recommend this particular set 100% due to its 75 Special Attack stat, but if you think that Ferrothorns and Skarmories annoy you to death, then this can be an effective substitute on the usual physical glass-cannon set. Moves like Flamethrower and Dark Pulse are specially viable for Absol, surprisingly.

2. Magic Coat - a perfect substitute for a Mega Absol set. The primary purpose of this move is to bounce back entry hazards and status ailments back to your foes. Also, with added priority. Magic Coat will have this very low chance to get taunted. Just watch out for Prankster, though... (or should I?) O.o

3. Counter - pump your defenses if you want to use this. However, even if you EV-trained your defenses, Absol still won't last as much as you expect. It's a good move, regardless.

4. Shadow Claw - an alternative for Psycho Cut. Nothing else to say, really.

5. Punishment - snowballs against status-boosting boneheads, but it sacrifices a move slot that is otherwise placed by a more powerful offensive move.

6. Superpower - a devastating attack. The recoil is a major setback, however.

Recommended items:
1. Choice Scarf - this will alleviate Absol's Speed problem, but it will also force you to switch out every now and then. Also, Sucker Punch makes this item pretty pointless.

2. Life Orb - adds more spice to your attacks, but also drains your HP steadily which contributes to its easier downfall.

3. Absolite - if you think that you are too awesome enough to use mentioned items, then you might as well grab this baby up! Mega-Evolve. Deflect those nasty ailments and rocks. Boost stats. Stomp everyone. PROFIT!

4. Choice Band - this is extremely useful when using Sucker Punch. That's it.

Recommended natures: Adamant or Jolly
Absol picks off foes using hard-pounding attacks to sweep off the opposition, but without the Speed to outrun more dangerous foes like Arcanine or Mienshao, the Disaster Pokemon may have a hard time for dealing trade-offs! That being said, if you want to prioritize movement over power, then Jolly might be a good nature for your Absol. Otherwise, if you think that pummeling enemies like no tomorrow is your thing, then choose Adamant. A Naive nature is only recommended if a mixed set suits you better or if you want to explore more viable possibilities with your Absol.

Overall: Absol is an average Pokemon in terms of its competitive capabilities, and it is outclassed by more powerful and sturdier contenders like Bisharp and basic Metagross. However, the magic that lies within Absol is its ability to shrug off status ailments and entry hazard, thanks to Mega Absol (Magic Coat if you think that Mega Absol won't be able to help you out in certain situations), so there really isn't much to argue about it, right? ;)

--END TRANSMISSION--

My Top 7 Super Smash Bros. characters

It has been really a while since I posted again in this blog, probably due to a lot of things lately that keeps me company. However, I am also really excited to play Fossil Fighters: Frontier, now that it has been released!

But anyway, I am not here right now to talk about Pokemon or Fossil Fighters. I am here to talk about everyone's casual fighting game: Super Smash Bros. for 3DS/WiiU. That's right! I have been playing a lot of Super Smash Bros. lately and I must say that it really is a very decent fighting game, which has the same competitive vibe as other popular fighting games like Street Fighter IV and Tekken, but without the complex button scheme of both games.

Whether you win or lose in this game, there's only thing I can say about this game; it's fun, and the excitement never stops there, for the challenge continues to ramp up as you fight your way from the different fighters in this game! :D

Speaking of fighters, as a recent Smash Bros. player, I have observed some certain characters that really catches my eye. So,without further ado, here are some of my favorite Super Smash Bros. characters.

There are 3 particular criteria that I used when considering the list:
1. Fighting style (custom moves are not included)
2. Level of reliability
3. Other reasons

Now then, let us begin the list of my Top 7 Super Smash Bros. characters! Please keep in mind that all of these are just a part of my own opinions, observations, and preferences when it comes to playing Smash Bros.

TOP 7: Ness


Ness is one of my favorite characters in this game, and the reason why is because, like Zeorymer from Super Robot Taisen J, Ness is quite notorious for being one of the most underrated, while still being ridiculously powerful characters in the game. His baseball bat (forward smash) attack is a very promising feat, especially when your opponent is trapped in a pillar of fire. Speaking of fire, Ness fights using a powerful energy known as PK (Psychokinesis in short), which can allow Ness to generate certain elemental attacks at his disposal, most notably PK Fire. Ness' reliability comes in spamming PK Fire at the enemy and dish out a powerful smash attack which can almost send any foe flying, especially when it is fully charged. Additionally, Ness can also bring back projectiles with it. The only reason that Ness is in the bottom of my list is because of his recovery move, PK Thunder, which can greatly determine the great Ness players from the bad ones (and I am one of the latter).

TOP 6: Princess Peach

Everything about Princess Peach screams kawaii! From the pink apparel that she wears (from the lovely pink dress to the elegant pink shoes) to the cutesy gestures that she does (her down taunt is just sooo lovely :D), Princess Peach can catch you off-guard in the most crucial of situations. She has a very weird yet technical set of skills, all of which can be very underwhelming at some point, but can all pack a punch; especially her side special, Peach Bomber, that deals decent damage using her hips. Her forward smash is a very unique one, cycling from a tennis racket, to a golf club, and to a frying pan. Honestly, I find her tennis racket to be her strongest weapon among the three, but it's just me. Lastly, the reason that she's one of my favorites is because of her aforementioned down taunt. She greets you with a lovely wink after she spins gracefully. Hehehe... what a cute little princess! Uh-huh~! ;)

TOP 5: Charizard

OK. Honestly, I am a reaaaaaallly bad Charizard player. Want to know why, you might ask? Well, simply put. Flare Blitz. Flare Blitz damages you and your enemies upon executing the move, which quite really reflects Charizard's fighting style; sheer power and reckless brutality. That's right, Charizard is one brutal dragon, and that's what makes it stand out against other bruisers, specifically the ability to fly and to charge right in your opponent's face. You better watch out, though, because once your opponent dodges your Flare Blitz, say goodbye to your victory and hello to your doom!

TOP 4: Shulk

As one of the latest fighters in SSB4, Shulk proves himself to be a very strong character, primarily due to his buff move, Monado Arts, which allows the crimson-clad warrior to adapt himself in any given situation. Suffering from damage? Shield has your back. Trying to get back up to the competition? Jump will scratch that itch. Ready for the kill? Smash will surely spice things up on your end. He also has his own counter move, allowing some decent punishment for those who approach this Monado boy. The only downside, for me, when it comes in using Shulk is that he is tend to get focused a lot due to the potential it has to destroy teams, especially during Team Battles. Another reason why he's on this list is because of his death scream... I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT TO LAUGH AT IT! XD

TOP 3: Zero Suit Samus

Like Ness, Zero Suit Samus is a very underrated yet surprisingly strong character. I have faced a lot of Zero Suit Samus players, and I really can't define on what her potential is. She's basically Samus without the Power Suit and heavy armaments, but the thing that the original Samus lacks is mobility, which made possible with her newly-acquired jet boots (which kinda reminds me of a pair of high heels, to be honest O.o) that allows her to deliver swift attacks to her opponents, while evading their savage blows. Speaking of evading, Zero Suit Samus is very susceptible of being thrown away from the battlefield, which quite sucks, but that doesn't make me put her off the list! :)

TOP 2: Toon Link

There's something about Toon Link that makes me put him on the list. He's adorable, courageous, and because... he's just simply... simple. Unlike his default counterpart, Toon Link focuses on swift blows, emulating the original Link's fighting style while adding some twists on his own. His Boomerang attack doesn't blow enemies away like the Gale Boomerang, but it hurts more, his downward thrust goes straight and it cannot be controlled, and his Hero's Bow travels farther and charges faster than Link's Hero's Bow, but doesn't travel as fast. In short, Toon Link have some ups and downs that makes him a very unique fighter rather than a carbon copy. His voice is quite goofy and likable, which makes me laugh every time his says "Gah!" and screaming and shouting during his down taunt. XD

TOP 1: Bowser and King Dedede

And the moment you've all been waiting for! My favorite Smash Bros. characters! :) So what does these characters have in common?! First, they are both villains from their respective games (Super Mario and Kirby, respectively). And second, both of them have brutal and heavy attacks that can outright KO any unsuspecting fighter without hesitation. However, both of them has some subtle differences. Bowser does not jump as high and his recovery move is not very good when recovering from a great distance, but King Dedede can jump seven times. You heard it right. SEVEN. FREAKING. TIMES!!! Allowing King Dedede to recover as much more often than Bowser. Both of them have reliable poking attacks under the form of Bowser's Fire Breath, and King Dedede's Gordo Throw, which can annoy many opponents to their doom. And lastly, King Dedede and Bowser possess some of the best forward smashes to date, Bowser's drop kick and Dedede's hammer flail. One shot and BOOM! Total annihilation, and this is what makes both Dedede and Bowser to be on the top of my list!

So, do you agree to the list I made? Or do you have something else in mind? Let me know and share your insights on who are your favorite Smash Bros. characters!  Until then, keep on SMASHIN'! :D

Pokemon Bootcamp Pt.19: Skarmory

Again, my apologies for being on hiatus for too long. There just have been a lot of things to do lately, and the house is being renovated (sort of). Anyways, rest assured that this blog will still continue to give you some tips and tricks of your favorite Pokemon. :) Now then, without further ado...

WELCOME TO POKEMON BOOTCAMP!

Subject No. 19
Name: Skarmory
Species: The Armor Bird Pokemon
Height: 5'07"
Weight: 111.3 lbs.
Type: Steel, Flying
Possible Abilities: Keen Eye, Sturdy,Weak Armor
Smogon Tier: OverUsed

Insights: Skarmory is well-known for its very hefty Defense stat; capable of withstanding many different attacks while dealing an outstanding amount of utility in the process. The most well-known tactic among Skarmory users is to first set-up Stealth Rock, and if it survives, spam Whirlwind to whittle down the enemy party, and pick off weaker foes with Brave Bird. Additionally, Roost keeps it healthy; making this one of the strongest Pokemons in the current meta in terms of defensive prowess.

Recommended Ability: Sturdy
This is simply a no-brainer; Sturdy is required for a successful set-up. In fact, this is an extremely powerful Ability that can allow you the turn the tide in your favor if utilized properly, specifically against high-powered opponents like Garchomp and Talonflame.

Recommended moves:
1. Brave Bird - basically the only STAB move you'll ever need for Skarmory. This attack has a very high damage that wrecks faces effortlessly. Also, an 80 base Attack for a defensive Pokemon is also a reason to use this. Heck, I even see NO reason not to use this!

2. Stealth Rock - the main event of the evening; Stealth Rock. This is absolutely the very move Skarmory needs to proclaim its use. Stealth Rock whittles down foes efficiently, and with Whirlwind, it can allow to tear down foes in a matter of time. What a gratifying feeling. :)

3. Roost - do you ever want your Skarmory to act like a total jerk in front of your foes? Just as you are about to take it down, it then uses a healing move to restore its health back. WHAAAAT?! OK, now that is just frustrating just thinking about it! However, the downside of Roost is that it loses its Ground immunity, making it susceptible to the ever popular Earthquake, but on the bright side, it will also lose its weakness to Electric attacks. Oh well! You win some, you lose some. :)

4. Whirlwind - (OwO) That cute yet menacing expression is what I feel after mauling foes down with Stealth Rocks. This is the perfect move to rack up residual damage against foes while avoiding their possibly dangerous attacks. It kinda reminds me of Taunt except it blows you away, literally.

5. Steel Wing - want to add more Defense to your already tough Pokemon? Then Steel Wing is just the move for you. This move can allow you to deal damage while having a chance of slightly increasing your defenses. A quite nifty move to have, especially if you want your Skarmory to survive that long.

Other recommended moves:
1. Spikes - adds more utility to Skarmory, but it also begs to become Taunt bait.

2. Fly -  a weaker alternative to Brave Bird. However, due to the predictability of the move, it's not really reliable at most. Don't use this unless you want to run Brave Bird.

3. Aerial Ace - the weakest alternative to Brave Bird, competitively. The good thing here is that it doesn't miss.

4. Sky Attack - the stronger alternative to Brave Bird. However, due to the defensive set-up of most Skarmory sets, there isn't really much to boast. And that charge time? Sheesh. Don't make me start my rant over that.

5. Curse - increases your Defense and Attack while sacrificing Speed. Quite a surprising decent move for a Flying Pokemon, to be honest.

6. Drill Peck - the best alternative to Brave Bird. It doesn't have that in-your-face kind of damage that Brave Bird provides, but at least you won't get that nasty recoil, either. A decent 80 damage and 100 accuracy makes it all worthwhile.

Recommended items:
1. Custap Berry - I have no idea why pros run this thing? Well, probably because it lets you act first when your HP is down??? Maybe? HA! Just kidding. That's exactly what this item does... and it makes wonders.

2. Power Herb - OK! If you're REEEEEEALLY decided for your Skarmory to go for broke, then perhaps this item may scratch that itch. Seriously, that Sky Attack + Power Herb combo is always outstanding... and THAT is the only reason to use this.

3. Rocky Helmet - an item that hurts even the nastiest of opponents. A very ideal item for a defensive Pokemon. I really can't recommend it more than enough.

4. Focus Sash - with Sturdy, it seems to be very redundant, but anything else, it's magical.

Recommended Nature: Bold or Impish
Defense is Skarmory's main arsenal. You just can't get enough to see those Talonflames and Mega Charizard Xs try to take you down with one hit with their Flare Blitzes. However, these two natures have their specific tweaks. Bold is recommended if you are the type of person who doesn't like Nasty Plot's nasty damage modifier. If you want, however, to wreck face while surviving tons of damage, then go for Impish. :)

Overall: There really isn't anything much to say about Skarmory other than it is simply a Flying-type Ferrothorn, sans the Iron Barbs. However, unlike Ferrothorn, Skarmory acts faster. Ummm... seriously. Nothing else...

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Pokemon Bootcamp Pt.18: Salamence

Boo-yaaaaaa!!!!

It's start of another new year and I am pretty pumped to see what lies ahead! But of course, it doesn't mean that we are going out of commission just yet! In fact, we will try to soar higher this time! :D

WELCOME TO POKEMON BOOTCAMP!

Subject No. 18
Name: Salamence
Species: The Dragon Pokemon
Height: 4'11" (5'11" in Mega Form)
Weight: 226.2 lbs. (248.2 lbs. in Mega Form)
Type: Dragon, Flying
Possible Abilities: Intimidate, Moxie (Aerilate in Mega Form)
Smogon Tier: OU (Uber in Mega Form)

Insights: Salamence is known for its high Attack power and a massive array of physical attacks. However, there are some players (like I do) tend to play Salamence as a Special Attacker; spamming Hydro Pumps and Dragon Pulses every day of the week. So you might ask, if you know that Salamence has high physical damage output, why make Salamence something that's not even good at? Well, I really can't say that Salamence is a terrible physical damage dealer. Besides, Salamence is NOT the only one who can use Intimidate here, and an Intimidated Salamence is a lost cause. The 110 Special Attack stat is not all that bad, too. And now that ORAS is out, it can learn Hyper Voice, on if which combined with Mega Salamence's Aerilate will do decent damage.

Recommended Ability: Intimidate
Like I said a while ago, Salamence is not the only Intimidate user in this game. There are a variety of Pokemon that can also utilize Intimidate, and if they pitted it against Salamence, the Dragon Pokemon's offensive potential will wear down quickly like a rusty blade (not really, but you get the point). However, if you can use Intimidate while having a Special build on your dragon, that can mean some serious business. While you lower your opponent's Attack, you spam your attacks while tanking their hits (or if your opponent switches out, has the chance to miss their opportunity of slaying the dragon). It's just that BROKEN!

Recommended Moves:
1. Draco Meteor - Salamence's main special STAB move with a good amount of damage. However, the only main downside here is the recoil; reducing your Special Attack by two levels. The accuracy is manageable using the Wide Lens, but it sacrifices a lot of needed firepower.

2. Fire Blast - Salamence's main coverage move against those pesky Ice-types while also leaving your foes' burning. The accuracy for this move begs for a Wide Lens, but just like in Draco Meteor's case, you need to sacrifice your Mega Stone slot to do so.

3. Hyper Voice - one of Salamence's good special moves, dealing a good amount of damage to an enemy party. However, this move only shines when using on a Mega Salamence build; dealing additional damage and turning it to Flying-type.

4. Double-Edge - an excellent physical attack that can benefit Mega Salamence's use of Aerilate; making it a pseudo-Brave Bird Talonflame, without the Gale Wings. :P

5. Outrage - another good physical STAB attack. However, this will force Salamence to lock itself with one move, and it can be disastrous if your foe switches in a Fairy Pokemon.

Other recommended moves:
1. Dragon Pulse - a good substitute for Draco Meteor with perfect accuracy and no drawbacks, but with an even less firepower than Draco Meteor.

2. Flamethrower - in a similar vein to Dragon Pulse, but this time, it replaces Fire Blast on a similar degree. It has lower damage and burn chance than Fire Blast, but it has perfect accuracy.

3. Giga Impact - Mega Salamence uses a powerful desperation attack to deal massive damage to your foe, but it will force you to recharge. It can benefit from Aerilate really well, but stick to Double-Edge instead.

4. Hyper Beam - similar to Giga Impact, but goes down on the Special side. Only use this if you're sure that your foe will go down in one hit.

5. Dragon Claw - a substitute for Outrage. Well, that's it. Just a substitute. No additional effects whatsoever.

Recommended items:
1. Salamencite - the only reason you would want to use a Salamence in ORAS. It grants Salamence some needed boosts on its key stats; Attack and Speed. It also increases its Special Attack and defenses on a certain degree. This Mega Stone made Mega Salamence a monster in competitive play, and the reason why Smogon banned this freaking thing! (U mad, Smogon?)

2. Choice Scarf - this item boosts your Salamence's speed, but it will force you to stick to one move unless you switch out. My recommendation? Use it to someone else. Not because it's not viable for Salamence, but there are other better Scarfers out there (*cough*Garchomp*cough*)

3. Wide Lens - this can help Salamence a lot since most of its attacks have awful accuracy (provided that you followed the recommended moves above). It increases the accuracy of all of your moves by 10%. It may be not enough, but at least its better than having zero accuracy.

4. Choice Specs - if you want your special attacks to have that extra kick, use this. It will force you on one move, however, so be careful.

5. Life Orb - I am going to slap this in because this is an obvious choice if you are not taking the Mega route.

Recommended Natures: Naive or Jolly
Salamence must be purely emphasized on Speed; allowing it to outspeed even the most dangerous of Pokemon within its tier such as Dragon Dance Charizard X, Dragonite, and even Garchomp. The trade-off here, however, underlies within its not-so-good defenses. Practically the best way to go for Salamence is to destroy as much as you can, as fast as you can. It's not really worth boasting, but think about it, a Dragon Pokemon that can beat the crap out of other Pokemon can be very rewarding... sort of. Anyways, just max out the Speed IV's; no matter what the build you take.

Overall: Salamence is one of the stronger picks nowadays due to its balanced stats and a decent amount of moves, whether you run a physical or special build. The most interesting part in Salamence's viability is on how the Dragon Pokemon can dish out enormous amounts of damage while still being tanky enough to survive enough hits, despite its squishy stats. The bottom line? Salamence is a powerful Pokemon with an enormous amounts of potential, capable of standing the test of time.

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Pokemon Bootcamp Pt.17: Empoleon

Get ready for another smashing edition of Pokemon Bootcamp!

There are many reasons to use this Pokemon: a unique typing, a decent stat distribution, and a flexible move pool. However, it cannot justify its sophistication and power from its higher-tier competitors. Regardless, this Pokemon has a lot of things going for.

WELCOME TO POKEMON BOOTCAMP!

Subject No. 17
Name: Empoleon
Species: The Emperor Pokemon
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 186.3 lbs.
Type: Water, Steel
Possible Abilities: Torrent, Defiant
Smogon Tier: UnderUsed

Insights: Empoleon has a very unique typing combination; Water and Steel. This can allow Empoleon to have ten different resistances while balancing it out with having certain weakness against the more common types in the metagame. Empoleon has solid stats, focusing on its Special Attack and overall defenses, that can go on par with other Pokemon on its tier. Additionally, Empoleon has a lot of synergy within team compositions focusing on bulky attackers and teams that is dedicated to Rain Dance.

Recommended Ability: Torrent
Torrent adds a little more consistency when it comes to competitive battles, but Defiant can allow Empoleon to wreck teams by becoming a sweeper. Ability choice depends on your team composition and overall synergy for your team's success. However, because Empoleon's Attack is mediocre, Torrent is a more suitable choice due to its high Special Attack and a more dedicated move set that aligns well with the mentioned stat. Honestly, I prefer my Empoleon as a physical sweeper nonetheless.

Recommended moves:
1. Hydro Pump - Empoleon's main special STAB move that can deal hefty damage in the rain. The only letdown here is its accuracy.

2. Flash Cannon - another special STAB that lowers the foe's Special Defense. A very nice debuff against those pesky walls that kicks you with status ailments all around the corner.

3. Ice Beam - good coverage move with decent power and it has a chance to freeze enemies in their tracks. It's also a good way to deal with Dragons.

4. Scald - burns foes while dealing decent STAB. It's a hot thing, I tell you!

Other recommended moves:
1. Waterfall - Empoleon's main physical STAB that flinches opponents and deals hefty damage. An indispensable move that focuses more on Defiant sets but can also work with Torrent's boosts.

2. Steel Wing - another physical STAB that raises the user's Defense. A quite decent attack.

3. Aqua Jet - when running a physical set, this is certainly a no-brainer. This priority move has good typing and it always strikes first. Seriously, who doesn't even want this move?

4. Swords Dance - increases Attack. Pretty good because Empoleon can resist certain attacks to allow the boosts to rack up.

5. Earthquake - the most unique move for a Physical Empoleon build. It wrecks teams with its powerful attack and perfect accuracy. It's THAT reliable!

Recommended items:
1. Splash Plate - one of Empoleon's main niche items that increases the damage output of its Water attacks. Usable on either physical or special sets.

2. Life Orb - sweeper Empoleon can wreck teams if used properly, and this item can does that exponentially well. The recoil can be a hassle, however.

3. Metal Coat - another solid niche item. Increases Steel moves in a pinch.

4. Assault Vest - a great choice for a tank build which increases its Special Defense exponentially. Also, in addition to an already durable Pokemon, it helps the mentioned Pokemon survive a lot.

Recommended nature: Adamant or Modest
There are only two natures that can be viable for the beloved Emperor Pokemon. It can either be a muscular penguin with high Attack or a powerful nuke that boasts its outstanding Special Attack. Nothing else. However, with a decent overall stat, it's not bad to experiment on other builds.

Overall: Empoleon has a decent niche... and it has a lot of potential in store for it. Now that Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire has been released, Empoleon has now gained access to some potentially powerful moves that can help the Emperor Pokemon gain the upper hand.

--END TRANSMISSION--