Pokemon of the Week 10/10/11 Bronzong

The epitome of a "Wall" hovers forth. Join me this week as we look into how to construct an impenitrable fortress with Bronzong. Partially Psychic and Steel, opponents will kneel to the power of this impenitrable Poke!

Ability: Heat Proof/ Levitate
Nature: Relaxed
Base Stats:
Hp-67
Atk-89
Def-116
Sp.Atk-79
Sp.Def-116
Spd-33

Ev Spread: (510)
Hp-14
Atk-0
Def-248
Sp.Atk-0
Sp.Def-248
Spd-0

Moveset Suggestion:
-Light Screen
-Reflect
-Toxic
-Future Sight
Additonal Valuable Moves: Rest/ Explosion/ Iron Defense/ Stealth Rocks/ Payback

Moveset Sidenotes:
This Pokemon is what in the Meta game we would call a "Wall." More will be coming to my site in terms of defining all these aspects in Meta game, but in short Bronzong will be your defense exclusivley. Looking at the stats, Bronzong wouldn't do bad in Attack and less well in Special, however this would be an absolute waste of Effort Value points. For anyone new to Ev Training, the max amount of stat boosting you can do is up to 510 Effort Value Points. This is percisley why every week I include the arangment of points for each Poke. Conclusivley to put any investment in Attack is a waste when your team already posseses sweepers (Offensive Players).

Drawing your attention to the two possiblities for Ability (excluding Hidden Ability), Bronzong plays a little mind game with your foes. Levitate allows you to switch in during a potentially devestating earthquake move to one of your team members. It prevents your Pokemon from being trapped in battle by such abilities like Arena Trap as well. This gives you invulnerability against any ground type however with this reveal, the opponent will know Bronzong remains weak to fire. Arming your wall with the Heat Proof ability halves Fire Type damage, allowing you to fight through the fire and flames directly. What's great about Heat Proof, is not many opponents knowing in depth details about the Meta game, will assume Bronzong has Levitate just by the animation of its entry into battle. Now you trick your opponent into thinking you resist Ground, when really you're repeling Fire Types. If all goes according to plan, you can take a Fire Type move with ease and avoid Earthquakes from your opponents uncertainty. You lose a switch out for any of your team members being hit with Earthquake, but the mental warfare you can have with an enemy is fun when holding an odd ability.

As a wall, Bronzong will mainly set up the rest of your team for pwnage(pronunced pone-ege). Use Reflect and Light Screen to defend your team from Special and normal Physical Attacks. Toxic works wonderfully when you need to stall your opponent. For more of a stalling wall, add Rest to Bronzong to continue bringing it back from the brink of death. Be sure to count the five turns when you unleash a barrier move, because you'll want to set the stage for a reoccuring screen safety when the original disipates. Future sight serves as a good annoyer and protects Bronzong from being beaten by one simple taunt. Wonderfully so, once Bronzong is off the field, the attack will still land with a wopping base damage of 100.


Conclusion:
Bronzong is a beast when it comes to Defense and Special Defense. Having an option of two resistant abilities allow you to play mind games with your foe. Bronzong lends your team added Defense through barriers. If you need a solid wall to start your Ev trained team, this would be the best place to start. Next week we'll take a look at a super supporter!