MURKROW

Let's get this blog off to a good start by talking about a Pokemon I think deserves some real attention this generation: Murkrow.  Ok yeah, people have noticed it, BUT HAVE THEY NOTICED IT ENOUGH?  I think the answer is most definitely 'NO THEY HAVE NOT.'  Let's take a look at this bird, shall we?

Murkrow - Dark/Flying
Ability: Prankster

HP:  60
Atk: 85
Def: 42
SpA: 85
SpD: 42
Spe: 91

Oh, those stats don't look good enough do they?  Well, what happens when we throw an Eviolite into the mix?  Assuming a 252 HP, 4 Def, 252 SpD spread with a positive nature, Murkrow's effective defensive bases go up to 60/72/87.  If you go with a more balanced 232 HP, 152 Def, 124 SpD with a special defense boosting nature (the defensive investments could be reversed if you wish, but Murkrow has better special resistances), they go to a more balanced 60/81/80.  Ok, so these defenses are only passable.  What makes Murkrow so great?  Check out that new Dreamworld ability: Prankster.  Murkrow now gets +1 to the priority of any non-attacking move.  When you consider its fabulous movepool, you can start to see the appeal of Murkrow.  Let's take a look at its uses.  Since the EVs should probably always be similar to one of the above spreads unless you have a specific purpose in mind and the item should always be Eviolite, I'm not going to bother posting the sets in proper format.

First off, Perish Trapping.  Murkrow gets access to Perish Song, Mean Look, Protect/Substitute, and Roost.  ALL of which get priority.  This means that you can throw up priority Substitutes and Roost away damage.  Remember, you only have to stall for two turns after the initial setup to take them out, since you can switch on the last turn.  That means it only takes 50% of your health to kill something, since as long as it doesn't have a multi-hit move, it won't get by those subs.  Murkrow is just a big ol' 'Fuck You' to any Pokemon it can set up properly on.  Unfortunately, even with its boosted defenses, Murkrow isn't taking too many hits, so this set may end up falling a little bit flat.  It's nice to see that Perish Trapping has potential again though.

The main problem I have with people here is that this is pretty much the only option I've seen mentioned for Murkrow.  Have you people even LOOKED at its support movepool?  Let's go on to its other amazing singles option, Haze.  Seriously.  Priority Haze.  Yeah I know, Haze is generally outclassed by pHazing moves like Whirlwind, but Murkrow can fuck shit up with this.  Usually, you can't afford to run a fast Haze because you need the bulk to take the hit, even unboosted.  That means that on fast DD setups, for example, you have to take the boosted hit and more unless you pHaze.  Not Murkrow.  Murkrow comes in there and removes stat-ups before your opponenet even knows what hit them.  DD Salamence?  Fuck you; Hazed.  You got Scarf Ditto'd?  Fuck you; Hazed.  SD Excadrill?  Fuck you; Hazed.  SD Scizor?  If you're bulky, I can Haze you even before you get a bullet punch off, bitch.  What's that?  You wanna try to set up again?  PRANKSTER TAUNT UP IN YOUR FACE BITCH.  WHAT NOW??  And of course, you get Roost for some healing and whatever other moves you think are pretty ok.

But MAN, Murkrow is WASTED in singles.  You thought these looked like fun sets to play?  Just wait until you look at the support options Murkrow gets for doubles.  Tailwind and Quash.  These.  Are.  AMAZING.  Yeah, I don't have to tell you how good priority Tailwind is; that's pretty well understood.  But MAAAAN, priorty Quash.  In case you weren't aware, when Quash hits a Pokemon, that Pokemon will go last in the turn if it hasn't already gone.  You know who gets this move who isn't slow as balls?  MURKROW.  ONLY MURKROW.  AND HE GETS PRIORITY.  That means that whatever Pokemon you want goes LAST automatically.  OH SHIT I"M PLAYING IN FIFTH GEN PBR WITH NO TIERS AND HE BROUGHT IN A SCARF KYOGRE WHAT DO I DO WHAT DO I DO?  Quash that asshole.  Hit him hard before he Water Spouts.  Darkrai gonna outspeed you?  Smack him down hard as he goes LAST.  Jesus Murkrow, what CAN'T you do?

But what if you want to actually ATTACK with Murkrow?  It's all well and good to abuse these status moves, and priorty Taunt will keep you pretty safe there, but still.  WHAT IF.  Well, 85 Atk and SpA aren't TOO TOO shabby, so you can still do something there.  But Murkrow has a few options to hit with even if you have no faith in its attacking power, including Night Shade and Foul Play, which hits the opponent using their own attack stat (and is the subject of a cool gimmick set I will probably get to later).  And of course you should consider Sucker Punch because why not have priority on EVERYTHING.  And I didn't even mention the rest of Murkrow's support movepool, including Toxic, Double Team (because fuck evasion clause; I wanna be an asshole), Torment, Embargo, Thunder Wave, and Swagger.

So go out there and use Murkrow!  I'm not gonna tell you exactly what to do, but there are SOOOO many options with this beast of a bird that I'm sure you'll come up with something cool.