You really thought I have disappeared without a trace did you? No, I am back.And even if I did stop writing, you can still talk to me via my email listed
down there. Exams over too now, and my results have been quite pleasing, with
only As and Bs. Anyway, since exams are over, I have the inspiration AND the
time to write this review.
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Today's Pokemon is Luxray! I have always liked this guy for his cool looks.
Although in the competetive battle scene, he is often discarded for more
popular options... and I can't really blame those who do that. Luxray is
actually pretty good, just let down by his moves, as you will soon see.
Height: 4"07
Weight: 92.6 pounds
Evolution: Evolves from Luxio at Level 30, and Luxio evolves from Shinx atLevel 15.
Location: You can find Shinx early on in the game in Diamond/Pearl/Platinum
at Routes 202, 203 and 204, and also Valley Windworks if you play Platinum.
You can also find wild Luxio at the Fuego Ironworks in Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
and in Platinum at Route 222, but I suggest you catch the wild Shinx early on
and evolve it because it's much easier.
Ability #1: Rivalry
Rivalry raises the user's Attack stat by 50% if foe and the user have the same
gender, but reduces the user's Attack stat by 50% if the foe and the user have
opposite genders. Remains unchanged if foe is genderless.
Ability #2: Intimidate
Lowers opponent's attack by 50%.
Level up moves (D/P/P):
Move: Level:
Tackle Basic
Leer Basic
Charge Basic
Spark 13
Bite 18
Roar 23
Swagger 28
Thnder Fang 35
Crunch 42
Scary Face 49
Discharge 56
TMs and HMs:
TM05 Roar
TM06 Toxic
TM10 Hidden Power
TM15 Hyper Beam
TM16 Light Screen
TM17 Protect
TM18 Rain Dance
TM21 Frustration
TM23 Iron Tail
TM24 Thunderbolt
TM25 Thunder
TM27 Return
TM32 Double Team
TM34 Shock Wave
TM42 Facade
TM43 Secret Power
TM44 Rest
TM45 Attract
TM46 Thief
TM57 Charge Beam
TM58 Endure
TM68 Giga Impact
TM70 Flash
TM73 Thunder Wave
TM78 Captivate
TM82 Sleep Talk
TM83 Natural Gift
TM87 Swagger
TM90 Substitute
HM04 Strength
Egg moves:
Fire Fang: Breed with an Arbok, Growlithe/Arcanine, Flareon, Donphan, Exploud,
Rhyhorn/Rhydon/Rhyperior, Hippowdown, Mawile, Electrike/Manectric or Snubbull/
Granbull.
Ice Fang: Breed with an Arbok, Snubbull/Granbull, Floatzel, Glaceon, Exploud,
Electrike/Manectric, Spheal/Sealeo/Walrein, Hippowdown, Piloswine/Mamoswine,
Rhyhorn/Rhydon/Rhyperior or Mawile.
Howl: Breed with a Growlithe/Arcanine, Vulpix/Ninetales, Whismur/Loudred/Exploud,
Numel/Camerupt, Houndour/Houndoom, Poochyena/Mightyena or Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion.
Luxray's stats:
HP: 80 (270-364)
Atk: 120 (220-372)
Def: 79 (146-282)
Sp Atk: 95 (175-317)
Sp Def: 79 (146-282)
Speed: 70 (130-262)
Suggested Moveset #1:
Thunderbolt
Superpower
Crunch
Hidden Power [Grass]/Hidden Power [Water]/Ice Fang
Suggested Ability: Intimidate
Held Item: Life Orb
Nature: Naughty
EVs: 204 Atk, 156 Sp Atk, 148 Speed.
Forget what I said at the intro, Luxray is actually quite good. Not sure why
he gets discarded for other options like Electivire. Maybe it's because people
prefer sweepers instead of wall-breakers. What Luxray lacks in speed, he makes
up for it with better defenses, coupled with Intimidate. Anyway, Thunderbolt
here sends Water types crying home to mommy, and if Chansey thinks she can
take your hits, Superpower in her face, and you can see a dead egg on the field.
What is Crunch used for? Hell, it KOs Rotom, who is so popular and resists your
other moves, and also 2KOs bulky Psychic types like Uxie and Claydol. As a side
note, Dark + Fighting is only resisted by Toxicroak and Heracross, the latter
you'll never see in UU, and the former is forced to switch out because of Intimidate
and a powerful Thunderbolt should send him packing. The last move? Erm...
Hidden Power [Grass] KOs most Ground types like Donphan and Rhyperior, provided
you hit them on the switch with Crunch or better, Superpower, and also does
hefty damage to Water/Ground types like Quagsire and Gastrodon. Ice Fang can be
used also, and it's especially useful to shoo away Torterra, but most Ground types
have amazing Defense, so I suggest you stick with the Hidden Powers.
Suggested Moveset #2:
Spark
Ice Fang
Superpower
Crunch
Suggested Ability: Intimidate
Held Item: Choice Band/Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 40 HP, 252 Atk, 216 Speed.
Here is where the complaint starts... OK Nintendo, Volt Tackle should be available
to Luxray and Electivire, not just that bloody Pikachu just because he is the mascot.
Anyway, Spark boosted with Choice Band here can deal decent damage, if he had Volt
Tackle he would be wrecking teams by now, screw you Nintendo. And whose bright idea
was it to make Ice Fang, or all the elemntal fangs, only base 65 power? Hyper Fang
has base 80 power for the love of god. If Ice Fang had base 80 power, a Choice
Banded Ice Fang can 2KO those blasted Ground types like Donphan and Rhyperior, but
thanks to Nintendo being a retard, he just barely misses it, and takes an Earthquake
to the face. Superpower for Chansey, Aggron and other retarded Steels, and Crunch for
Rotom, Claydol and Uxie. Take note, in this moveset Luxray has the famous Electric + Ice
and Dark + Fighting combo without the use of Hidden Power, there are no safe switch-ins
for this set if you can predict correctly since he will hit anything for at least neutral
damage. Just the freaking low base power of the moves that pull him down. You can use
Life Orb so you can switch attacks, but the lost of HP isn't worth it.
Suggested Moveset #3:
Discharge/Thunderbolt
Hidden Power [Grass]
Toxic
Roar/Protect
Suggested Ability: Intimidate
Held Item: Leftovers
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 Speed.
What Luxray has over his fellow Electric types? A defensive capability. With Intimidate and
the given EVs and nature, Luxray can beat some of the top physical attackers in UU like Scyther,
Swellow, Kabutops and Azumarill. Just for an example, after an Intimidate, a Guts-boosted Facade
from Swellow can't even 2KO this thing, and Luxray can retaliate with Discharge. Thunderbolt if you
want more power, but this is a defensive set, Discharge's higher paralysis rate is better than
the higher power of Thunderbolt. Hidden Power [Grass] 2KOs Ground types who switch in, Toxic
is something you can do to keep Chansey out, Roar to scout the opponent's team, and Protect for
extra healing and stalling with Toxic, whichever suits your taste.
Other options? Most notably Thunder Fang, you can use it over Spark, but the perfect accuracy and
higher chance of paralysis tends to make Spark the better choice, although Thunder Fang can flinch
the opponent. Howl can be used to boost attack, but without Swords Dance or high base powered moves,
Luxray can't make use of the boosts so effectively. Quick Attack is an option, but don't use it.
Magnet Rise can be used to turn the tables on Ground types, but it is gimmicky at best.
Have fun using this fearsome feline and come back next time for another Pokemon of the Day!
Questions? Comments? Mad at me for insulting your favourite Pokemon? (You should be now.)
Or just wanna say hi? Email me at [email protected]!
