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Community POTW #122

Serebii

And, as if by magic, the webmaster appeared...
Staff member
Admin
Time for the next Pokémon of the Week and this week we return to Galar

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This week it's Flapple!

 

XaelOstigian

Competitive...kinda
One of my favorite gen 8 Pokemon, Flapple has a lot going on for it considering all the things it's design is inspired by. It's a worm in an apple, a pun on how worm and wyrm (A type of dragon) are homonyms, a clever nod to the falling apple that allowed Isaac Newton to understand gravity, and even a parallel to the serpent that tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with the fruit of knowledge. The last comparison may be the most accurate at least in the competitive metagame since using Flapple seems akin to making a deal with the devil. Incredible offensive power at the cost of accuracy and coverage. But Flapple is still fun to use, apple skin and all.
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Fruit of Power
Ability: Hustle
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
Nature: Jolly
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)

Moves:
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Grav Apple
Sucker Punch

Set Details:
Blistering power thanks to Hustle, but questionable accuracy and coverage. Boost attack and speed with Dragon Dance, sweep with Outrage and hope the opponent does not have a Fairy or Steel type in reserve, Grav Apple is your non-locked secondary STAB with a handy defense drop, and Sucker Punch serves as both coverage and priority against faster and frailer threats that still outpace you post dance. If you want to bypass Outrage's move lock and Hustle's accuracy drop, Dynamaxing is your best option and even lets you lay down Grassy Terrain with D-Max Grass thus boosting Grav Apple further. Don't bother with its G-Max form though since dropping your foe's evasion is not that useful since you will want to 1 hit KO your opponents anyways (Would have been a different story if G-Max Tartness boosted your accuracy though to compensate for Hustle). Life Orb boosts damage output, but Focus Sash can save your bacon since Flapple is not the sturdiest of targets. Invest everything into attack, but mostly speed.

Sin of Gluttony
Ability: Gluttony/Ripen
Item: Leichi Berry
Nature: Jolly
EVs: (HP 4) (Attack 252) (Speed 252)

Moves:
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Grav Apple
Sucker Punch/Acrobatics

Set Details:
Same set as above only without the accuracy drop or power of Hustle. Use Flapple's lower bulk to your advantage as once it gets below half health with Gluttony it will consume its held berry and obtain a power boost on par with Hustle only without the accuracy drop. Outrage again (Be mindful of Fairy and Steel types), Grav Apple is the more spamable move, Sucker Punch for coverage and priority, though Acrobatics is also an option once your berry is consumed and offers a speed boost when D-Maxed, and Dragon Dance compensates for poor speed and adds more power. If you are feeling particularly bold you could even opt for Ripen as your ability instead. The berry activation threshold will lower to 1/4, but you will get 2 attack boosts instead of one. But it's your call at the end of the day.

So give this literal dragon fruit a chance, and you may be surprised how far it will take you.
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Mestorn

Wandering Battler
Flapple is an interesting addition to the 8th generation, being a proper Grass Dragon type not locked behind a Mega Evolution. Flapple and Appletun are a new spin on version exclusives -Applin is available to both games, but the evolution item is locked to a version -the Defensive Appletun's item is the Shield Exclusive, while the offensive Flapple's item is located in sword.

Flapple is an adept Dynamax abuser. Hustle is such an amazing ability in a Dynamax format, which turns the ability into essentially a free Choice Band, no strings attached while Dynamaxed. Access to Max Airstream, even non-STAB is always a plus, and Flapple has three great options in Fly, Dual Wingbeat and Acrobatics. Grass and Dragon have wide neutral coverage ensuring few targets can get away from Flapple unscathed.

However that is where the good ends. Flapple has no way to break through Steel types bar Sucker Punch. Additionally Flapple needs a speed boost of some sort, whether that is from Max Airstream or Dragon Dance -otherwise its middling speed holds it back too much from sweeping. Flapple's reliance on Hustle is also a sticking point -giving it serious reliability issues outside of Dynamax. Forcing Outrage or Hustle Boosted Dragon Rush for Flapple's secondary STAB can make it a further liability, especially vs teams with Fairies. Add in a crippling Ice weakness and a common weakness in Fairy and Flapple starts falling behind. Flapple can be a potent threat -however its reliance on Dynamax along with crippling poor speed keep this apple tucked in the bin.

The Big Applesauce
Flapple
Ability
: Hustle
Item: Miracle Seed/Dragon Fang
-Grav Apple
-Outrage
-Fly/Dual Wingbeat
-U-Turn/Sucker Punch
EVs: 4 HP / 252 ATK / 252 SPE
Nature: Jolly (+SPE, -SATK)

This Flapple is meant to abuse Dynamax as much as possible. Max Airstream gives Flapple a powerful offensive option and patches up its lackluster speed, while Max Overgrowth and Max Wyrmwind make for powerful STAB options. Last move is up to preference. U-Turn gives Flapple the ability to pivot out, great for scouting an opponent switch in and can get a counter in safely. Sucker Punch on the other hand, patches up Flapple's speed issues by giving it a semi reliable priority move.
 

Divine Retribution

Conquistador de pan
Just wanted to say that Hustle Dragon Rush has a whopping 60% accuracy. You thought gambling on Focus Blast was bad? I would consider Dragon Rush to essentially be non-viable on this Pokemon unless you're absolutely certain you'll be Dynamaxed while using it.
 
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