Trainer's Choice - Eelektross

[ultimatedra]

Eelektross

By: Benzo

This time around we take a look at Eelektross, the Pokémon that has no problem going ashore to attack and drag it's pray off the shore line and into it's belly! This Pokémon is one battle beast to contend with, that is if a player chooses this guy to claim some fame in the battle arena.

Let's take a look at Eelektross's base stats:

Hit point: 85
Attack: 115
Defense: 80
Special Attack: 105
Special Defense: 80
Speed: 50

This Pokémon is more of a physical attacker due to the higher attack stat over the special attack stat. The move pool this guy has that is available compliments the attack stat while leveling up from Tynamo to Eelektrik, then Eelektross using the Thunderstone on Eelektrik on or after level 39.

Eelektross has access to 23 different physical attacks at it's disposal, while having only16 special attacks to choose from by TM or leveling up. Hence the reason to lean more towards considering Eelektross as a physical fighter verse being a special attacker.

This Pokémon has an ability that makes this guy a contender and a great partner in double battles, Levitate. This is the only ability Eelektross has at this time. Levitate keeps damage dealing ground attacks from hurting Electross, stops spikes from working, and the ability Arena Trap is not effective as well. Ground attacks are bad news for electric Pokémon, but this guy laughs in the face of ground hazards by not having the weakness like other electric Pokémon suffer from. In fact, with this ability- it has no weakness for it's type!

Here is an excellent physical fighter suggestion for this electric beast:

Adamant Nature
Hold item: Leftovers
Effort training: 252 in Hit Points, 252 in Attack, and 4 in Special Defense.

Putting the Leftovers on him will keep him in play a bit longer, and also replace lost hit points to Hail and Sandstorm.
Investing the effort points into Hit points will boost the Eel's life expectancy, allowing him to take some hits and survive. All those effort points placed into the attack stat is for that boost in complimenting the power this dude can dish out.

Suggested Moves:

Wild charge: This attack is pure muscle. It gets STAB and will do plenty of damage to Pokémon that don't resist it, and could spell doom to those weak to it. There is a price to pay, the attack does recoil damage, so be carefully when using it.

Dragon Claw: Comes in handy against Dragon Pokémon and can do decent damage to Pokémon that Eelektross can not hit with a good Wild Charge.

Flamethrower: Now I know I said that this guy is a physical fighter and all, but this guy needs some back up, right? Flamethrower will be your friend when you least expect it. It can hammer in some Steel Pokémon that Eelektross can't take down or put up much of a good fight against without fire support. Grass Pokémon will fear you as well. Surprise! Burn Bonus! Yup, a chance to burn as well!

Coil: OK, so this move will boost your attack, defense and accuracy stats in battle? Really? Oh yeah, this is a move to watch out for when opposing Eelektross. This will turn the Eel into a wrecking ball if played right.

So, I did say that this Pokémon is a physical fighter, correct? Well, let's look at this guy from another view: The Special Attacker!

Although Eelektross's base stats suggest a physical fighter, he CAN toss his weight around in the Special Attack area as well, if raised and trained to be!

Modest Nature
Hold Item: Leftovers
Effort Points: 252 in Special Attack, 252 in Hit Points, 4 in Special Defense.

Same as above, accept the effort points are switched for Special Attack instead. Leftovers: Again for the same reason as above.

Suggested Moves:

Thunderbolt: Well, who doesn't like a little, I mean, a nice Zap against your opponents? Any Pokémon that can not resist it! And it can shock the daylights out of Pokémon rather well with some STAB power behind it, thanks to the type matching.

Flamethrower: Time to "toast" your opponents! This is a surprise attack, and a needed attack if you want to make certain that your not having a bad day fighting that Steel Pokémon or that nuisance Grass Pokémon. Plus, with a chance to cause a burn: sweet! Status infliction to wittle down some health and drop the opponents attack power!

U-Turn: Hit and Run! Hit nice, then run back to come out later in the game to clean up and get yourself out of a sticky spot early on in the battle. Not bad, and gives some threatening advice to your opponent if they have some Psychic/Grass Pokémon in their team.

Protect: Now, Protect can be of use here, especially in this move pool. Keeps you safe for a turn, and allows your to gain a little health Points from Leftovers, and compliments U-Turn as well. Plus, keeps you around longer. Your opponent will LOVE that!

Can this guy handle Double Battles? Well, lets see:

Eelektross can fit into any team if built right and is partnered with some Pokémon pals that can compliment and be complimented by this electric Pokémon's ability and move pool.
A good partner for Eelectross could be Tyranatar, since leftovers can compensate for Sandstorm and Levitate ability will keep it safe from Tyranatar's Earthquake Attacks. Other pair-able Pokémon include Brongzong and Scizor, both of which can help out the Eel with supporting moves and coverage against opposing Pokémon that give the Eel trouble on the field.

Some of the Pokémon that Eelektross can't handle very well are Pokémon such as Haxorus, who has the ability Mold Breaker, which keeps Eel's Levitate from working and will drop Eel in no time at all. With Haxorus's speed advantage and brute physical power, Eelectross will not last long enough to be of help or assistance in battles. Pokémon Like Haxorus should be considered when building your team and using Eelektross if your looking to have this electric Pokémon at your battle side.

Over-all: This Pokémon has it's good points and bad points, just like all other Pokémon. He is also on the slow side speed stat wise, so maybe a partner for Trick Room teams as an option to make up for it's sluggishness. But the two examples above will aim you in the direction to getting the best use of the Eel in the battlefield, and some wins for you if played right.

How else can Eelektross be used in battles?

[Prime]

That's pretty neat that it has Levitate! Gotta love those quasi-no weakness Pokemon.

Is there a way to counter Levitate minus another ability, like an attack or something?

[ultimatedra]

Originally Posted by Prime

That's pretty neat that it has Levitate! Gotta love those quasi-no weakness Pokemon.

Is there a way to counter Levitate minus another ability, like an attack or something?

Gravity will ground anything with levitate or is flying type.

[vaporeon]

I do hope they fix the Gravity glitch on BW2. That's another reason the game needs to be on the 3DS because they can just release update patches to fix them.

[RB Golbat]

The glitches will probaly not be fixed so replays between BW and BW2 can still be viewed between games without causing glitches from desynchs happening. I know that Brawl saves replay data based on your button strokes as opposed to what actually happens, so it wouldn't surprise me if the same thing happens here.

[PMysterious]

Um, Mold Breaker says hi to Levitate users. That's the only way (without Gravity) to attack Eelektross for weakness.

[vaporeon]

Mold Breaker is one. The abilities Zekrom and Reshiram is another and both of them gain access to Earthquake I believe.

[PMysterious]

That is if they weren't Uber.

[vaporeon]

True but Trainer's Choice does not care about Uber or other made up tier list. If a player wants to use Reshiram, its our responsibility to make sure its the best Reshiram it can be.

[Pikamaster]

For the Physical set, maybe run a Brave nature. Eelektross has bad speed anyway, and Brave would allow for Flamethrower to pack a little more punch.

Another option that shouldn't be overlooked is Grass Knot. With the likes of Swampert and Gastrodon out there, having that option for attacking might be nice. And any rock/ground types won't appreciate it, either.