Azumarill: Rai-Choose you! Nugget Bridge Invitational Champion Report
After a bitterly disappointing official season, I managed to iron out my team and myself into a Nugget Bridge Invitational-winning partnership I could be pleased with.
VGC ’14 has been a trying season for yours truly. With less free time on my hands and the introduction of one Pokémon who utterly shuts down my VGC ’13 team playing style, I could definitely have hoped for a more enjoyable format. After establishing my favoured playing style last year, the creation of Talonflame unwillingly forced me to adapt. This manifested itself with a team based around an Electric type and a Water type with a Rock Mega Pokémon. And a Talonflame.
This report comes in a slightly different form — in that through the power of modern technology and the press of a button, my very real and very English voice will talk to you through your own very speakers. The sets and spreads will also be laid out here as normal.
Raichu @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Lightningrod
Level: 50
EVs: 88 HP / 164 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 HP / 2 Atk / 30 Def
– Thunderbolt
– Hidden Power [Ice]
– Fake Out
– Encore
Amoonguss @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 4 SpA / 12 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
– Giga Drain
– Spore
– Rage Powder
– Protect
Tyranitar @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 124 HP / 108 Atk / 12 Def / 12 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Crunch
– Rock Slide
– Dragon Dance
– Protect
Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 180 SpA / 68 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Shadow Ball
– Flash Cannon
– Wide Guard
– King’s Shield
Azumarill @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
Level: 50
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 4 SpD / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
– Play Rough
– Aqua Jet
– Belly Drum
– Protect
Talonflame @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
– Flare Blitz
– Brave Bird
– Taunt
– Protect
As an extra treat, you can listen to an additional team overview, and a look at the history this team went through – including talk of Nationals performances – to end up how it did. There had to be a Liepard in this article somewhere – here it is!
The Tournament
I also took the time to narrate my Nugget Bridge Invitational tournament run, so if the sound of my voice hasn’t reduced you to a catatonic state – feel free to follow each game with my play by play insight and thoughts.
Round 1 vs Simon
Round 2 vs Ray
Quarter Final vs Bopper
Semi Final vs CT MikotoMisaka
Final vs Samuel996
VGC ’14 will always be “the year Talonflame was introduced” to me, before any thoughts of Kangaskhan or even the new Fairy typing. I would like to be able to say I enjoyed this format more than I actually did, but at least I closed my season with the Nugget Bridge Circuit crown and some restored pride.
Pokémon can be a very testing game at times, especially when you put pressure on yourself to live up to past year’s glories. It is easy to lose sight of the most important aspect of this game: the community. My official tournament performances this year might have left something, a lot, to be desired – but VGC ’14 has finally given me a big tournament win and a title to carry for a year. For that reason – VGC 2014 – I can’t deny you haven’t been… ok.
Article image created by feathers for Nugget Bridge. View more of her artwork on her tumblr.
About the Author
Baz Anderson has a wealth of knowledge and experience playing Pokémon VGC, most notably placing 9th at Worlds in 2013 and becoming Nugget Bridge Invitational Champion in 2014. He works as an animal ranger, writes as a heavy metal critic and has a degree in Psychology.
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13 Responses to Azumarill: Rai-Choose you! Nugget Bridge Invitational Champion Report
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I like how you used your individual analysis videos for this report, that wasn’t something I had even thought of someone doing. Congrats on your finish in the Invitational! Hope next year goes a little smoother for you.
Really good read/watch, this is making me look forward to the Manchester finals if I qualify! Congrats on your achievement, and hopefully VGC 2015 will be even better!
=[ You don’t have our battles from Manchester on there. Anyway, it is a really great team, and I’m glad it did well for you
Open every youtube video on the page
Hear the soothing electropop on your skin
‘Allo, Internet, whispers the man
The man pronounces crisp, British nothings in your welcoming ears
In this moment I am infinite
I am glad somebody else has also realized the true power of Azumarill and Raichu. I just took 11th in Fort Wayne using those two. Did the safety goggles come in handy or do you think they could have better been used on another Pokemon?
Love how I didnt have to actually read too far into it to know that most of it I saw when the vids originally posted. It was a pleasure to finally meet you in person at worlds and chat a bit after being a bit of a fan from your run last year (big shame it didn’t carry to 2014 though)
Also I loved the drunk-Baz captions too–made for some nice talk walking round DC
“Hello Internet, today we are going to have a look at my Amoonguss…”
I expected slap bass, but was instead given a thorough and in-depth analysis on a solid team. Thanks for confusing me, in a good way!
Great team, great talk, great subtitles!
This kind of turn-by-turn analysis of a great player’s thoughts process is among the best content there is for aspiring competitive players like me! Not having access to a local community tends to make it hard to properly understand and anticipate another player’s choices, but your videos here and on your channel are an excellent source of insight. That smooth voice is just icing on the cake, of course. Be sure I’ll be waiting for the next report and videos!
It think it would have been fun to see Game 2 of our match, what you thought your mistakes were and how you needed to adapt for Game 3. But otherwise I enjoyed your content and congrats!
Very inspiring, a great listen. Loved your use of Raichu and Azumarill.
Thanks for all your comments guys, I’ve been away from the Internet (and still am really) so I’ve not had chance to keep up with stuff recently.
Just to let you know, Baz, I used your Raichu set and spread (but with Feint instead of HP) in a recent tournament. Because I hadn’t tested it first, it backfired spectacularly haha!
When I was testing Hariyama in place of Aegislash, Feint was pretty handy – especially with a Belly Drum or a Dragon Dance up. I think Hidden Power is too useful on Raichu here though for the double target KOs on Garchomp.