Zapi vs Murkrow

[size=+2]Zapi vs Murkrow[/size]

Arena said:

Format: 2vs2 Singles
Style: Switch
DQ: 3 weeks (21 days)
Damage Cap: 40%
Banned/Restricted Moves: Chills are limited to 6 total per Pokémon, and 10 total per team. Each Pokémon may only use a direct recovery move once per battle. Any moves that always cause a Pokémon to faint as part of their effect (OHKOs, Destiny Bond, Perish Song, Explosion, Selfdestruct, and any others I've missed) are banned completely. See the arena description for additional terrain-based restrictions.
Arena Description: A vast outdoor field stretching seemingly infinitely under an open sky. The terrain is covered with green grass and a variety of wildflowers, and there are a few small hills and valleys. Most of the grass is short, although there are some patches where it is taller, up to about 1ft. The soil is soft enough to easily dig through. There are no immediately accessible water sources, nor are there any large rocks to be found, so moves requiring such terrain features cannot be used.
Additional Rules: N/A

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Zapi's active squad

Violet the female Ivysaur <Overgrow>
Johanna the shiny female Axew <Rivalry>
Wally the male Ralts <Synchronize>
Persephone the shiny female Gastly <Levitate>
Lightning the female Pichu <Static>
Bastet the female Meowth <Technician>
Demyx the male Buizel <Swift Swim>
Hiver the male Snorunt <Ice Body>
Reyn the male Larvitar <Guts>
Piaf the male Spearow <Keen Eye>


Murkrow's active squad

Bendigeidfran the male Murkrow <Super Luck> @ Eviolite
Guraigu the female Mareep <Static> @ Micle Berry
Cat the female Meowth <Technician> @ Reaper Cloth
Nikki the female Numel <Simple>
Victor Meldrew the male Kabuto <Swift Swim>
Richard Starkey the shiny male Charmander <Solar Power>

Zapi sends out first, then Murkrow sends out and posts commands, then Zapi posts commands.

It's Reyn time!

I'll send out Victor!

Start off with a Rain Dance to bring some wetness to the field, and start using Water Pulse.
If the rain stops and the area is still too dry to continue using it, use Aurora Beam instead.


Rain Dance ~ Water Pulse/Aurora Beam ~ Water Pulse/Aurora Beam

Hmm... we don't really like that rain, so let's start out by using Sandstorm to clear it away. Once you've done that, let's see how much we can do with an Earthquake. Protect against Victor's final attack, whatever it ends up being. Pretty straightforward, I think!

Sandstorm ~ Earthquake ~ Protect.

Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Status: Eager to get started.

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Status: Wishing for a wetter climate.


Victor Meldrew is the first to move, scuttling through the grass as he taps his limbs rhythmically on the ground. The clacking sounds of his feet are soon accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain, as the sky darkens overhead and grey clouds rush in to cover the sun. It lasts for all of five seconds before Reyn gets sick of the feel of dampness on his normally dry skin. He bellows out a loud cry, and the rain slows to a drizzle before stopping entirely. Swirling winds begin to whip through the field, carrying with them particles of sand and rock.

Victor appears completely unfazed by this change in weather. The blowing sand does nothing to obscure his vision as he draws upon his internal water reservoir, and with a strange, echoey warble, releases a stream of wispy blue rings of condensation in his foe's direction. The renewed dryness of Reyn's skin absorbs some of the moisture, helping to soften the blow a bit, but the Larvitar still roars in pain, holding his head as he shakes it from side to side. The rippling waves of sound continue to echo within his ears, and he woozily stumbles on the spot, nearly falling over. His senses return to him just in time and he leaps up into the air instead, slamming into the ground with as much force as he can muster. Thin cracks spread from the source of the impact as the earth begins to shake, and Victor is thrown up into the air to find himself repeatedly slammed against the ground.

Hastily withdrawing his legs into his shell, Victor closes his eyes and struggles to withstand the impact without squealing in pain. After what seems like an eternity the rumbling finally fades, and warily he sticks out a leg to test the earth. Finding it suitably stable, he picks himself up again and spits another series of watery soundwaves at his opponent, but Reyn is ready for him: deftly he summons up a transparent bubble of energy to surround him, and the water rings bounce harmlessly off it.


Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 89%
Energy: 85%
Status: Trying his best to ignore the ringing in his ears. Moderately confused (15% failure chance).
Used: Sandstorm ~ Earthquake ~ Protect

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 82%
Energy: 92%
Status: Still trembling a bit from that earthquake.
Used: Rain Dance ~ Water Pulse ~ Water Pulse

Arena Status

• A sandstorm is raging (7 more actions).

Damage and Energy

• Reyn's Health: 100% - 11% (Water Pulse) = 89%
• Reyn's Energy: 100% - 4% (Sandstorm) - 5% (Earthquake) - 6% (Protect) = 85%
• Victor Meldrew's Health: 100% - 18% (Earthquake) = 82%
• Victor Meldrew's Energy: 100% - 4% (Rain Dance) - 2% (Water Pulse) - 2% (Water Pulse) = 92%

Notes

• Speed order: Victor Meldrew (55) > Reyn (41).
• Both Pokémon have their Special Defense increased due to the sandstorm.
• Water Pulse comes from an internal water source, so it doesn't matter if it's raining or not.
• The first Water Pulse moderately confused Reyn.
• Zapi commands first.

Nice job so far, Reyn! Confusion kind of sucks, but at least you haven't taken much damage!

First of all - I know you're already slower anyway, but make sure to wait and see what Victor does before taking any action this round. It's important to most of your commands for this round that you move second.

Second of all - if there's rain (or hail, for that matter, but I can't imagine how useful that would be for Victor anyway), your first priority is to Sandstorm it away again. If you fail to do so, try it again on the next action. Water-type attacks boosted by both STAB and rain are very scary for you okay...

If there's no rain/hail, then you should Dig down and get underground. If you're already underground and there's no rain/hail, then use Iron Defense if it's action two or Rock Polish if it's action three. So, ideally, we'd like to start by Digging down, then using Iron Defense and Rock Polish while you're still underground. But that's only if there's no rain/hail whatsoever and you don't confusion-fail at all, and knowing my luck, that's... quite a bit to hope for.

Well. Concentrate, Reyn! Fight past your confusion! I believe in you (and the RNGods)!

Dig (down) / Sandstorm ~ Iron Defense / Dig (down) / Sandstorm ~ Rock Polish / Dig (down) / Sandstorm

(I know these commands are sort of confusing, so let me know if you need any clarification, Eifie!)

Okay, so first thing I want is for you to do is shoot some bubbles with BubbleBeam. Continue using BubbleBeam until he digs down. You can't earthquake unfortunately so once he's underground use Hone Claws and if there's an action left over, set up a Reflect

BubbleBeam ~ BubbleBeam/Hone Claws ~ BubbleBeam/Hone Claws/Reflect

Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 89%
Energy: 85%
Status: Trying his best to ignore the ringing in his ears. Moderately confused (15% failure chance).

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 82%
Energy: 92%
Status: Still trembling a bit from that earthquake.


Determined to hit his mark this time, Victor takes a deep breath and shoots out a high-pressure stream of bubbles from his mouth. Reyn helplessly covers his face with his hands as the bubbles strike him one after another, bearing him backwards and jolting him back to his senses. When Victor pauses to take a breath, he takes advantage of his opening to leap straight up, flipping upside-down in midair so that he can drill down into the soft ground with his horn. Tossing handfuls of dirt away behind him, he manages to dig his way a couple of meters belowground, where he hollows out a resting place for himself and waits.

All seems calm at the surface. Reyn hears a few scraping sounds against the ground, but nothing more. Shrugging to himself, he closes his eyes and concentrates on secreting a liquid silvery substance from his pores, that spreads out to cover his skin in a thin layer of metal. And then he decides that he doesn't really like the metal all that much, so he begins rolling around in the dirt, polishing off all that metal until his form is sleek and light.

Aboveground, Victor clicks his newly-sharped front claws to himself in satisfaction and closes his eyes. Within seconds a barrier of brilliant golden energy appears in front of him to shield him from incoming attacks... but the mysterious hole in the ground remains silent. Victor stares at it, waiting patiently.


Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 77%
Energy: 79%
Status: Getting kind of bored down there. Underground. +2 Speed.
Used: Dig (down) ~ Iron Defense ~ Rock Polish

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 82%
Energy: 85%
Status: Getting kind of bored up there. Protected by a Reflect (4 more actions). +1 Attack, +1 Accuracy.
Used: Bubble Beam ~ Hone Claws ~ Reflect

Arena Status

• A sandstorm is raging (4 more actions).

Damage and Energy

• Reyn's Health: 89% - 12% (Bubble Beam) = 77%
• Reyn's Energy: 85% - 2% (Dig (down)) - 2% (Iron Defense) - 2% (Rock Polish) = 79%
• Victor Meldrew's Health: 82%
• Victor Meldrew's Energy: 92% - 3% (Bubble Beam) - 2% (Hone Claws) - 1% (Reflect) - 1% (Reflect upkeep) = 85%

Notes

• Speed order: Reyn (82) > Victor Meldrew (55).
• Both Pokémon have their Special Defense increased due to the sandstorm.
• Bubble Beam did just enough damage to jolt Reyn out of his confusion.
• So, Iron Defense involves the Pokémon covering its skin with a thin layer of metal, and Rock Polish basically involves polishing all that off, so after using Rock Polish Reyn lost his Defense boost.
• Murkrow commands first.

Okay, we're not faster any more. I don't imagine you'll be able to feel a Dig coming fast enough to know whether to protect or not.

Start off with an Iron Defense. After that, Hone Claws again, and then finally get a Rain Dance off again.
But if you get dug at after the first turn, counter with a Body Slam and if there's time left, follow up with one or two Water Jets to quickly get back at him in case he digs back down. Don't bother with the Body Slam if it's the first turn.

(hopefully Hone Claws doesn't also cancel Iron Defense)

Iron Defense ~ Hone Claws/Body Slam/Water Jet ~ Rain Dance/Body Slam/Water Jet

Murkrow said:

(hopefully Hone Claws doesn't also cancel Iron Defense)

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Nah, I think Rock Polish is unique in that regard. You're always free to ask me, by the way.

Argh, should've looked more carefully at those move descriptions. Oh well - you're faster now AND you're no longer confused! Nice!

Start out by Digging up and hitting Victor as hard as you can! Next I want you to poison him with Toxic just for the hell of it. If Toxic misses, try it again on the next action; otherwise, use Earth Power. Although, if he tries to hit you with Aqua Jet (which I'm assuming is what Murkrow meant?), then Protect unless you already used it on the previous action.

Dig (up) ~ Toxic / Protect ~ Earth Power / Toxic / Protect

(We'll deal with that rain next round, I promise.)

Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 77%
Energy: 79%
Status: Getting kind of bored down there. Underground. +2 Speed.

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 82%
Energy: 85%
Status: Getting kind of bored up there. Protected by a Reflect (4 more actions). +1 Attack, +1 Accuracy.


Victor continues to click his front pincers as he waits, until the ground begins to rumble beneath him. Perhaps another Pokémon would have attempted to escape, but the brave Victor Meldrew obstinately stands his ground. This has nothing to do with the fact that he's settled down in this nice patch of grass and is now supremely comfortable.

His supreme comfort is ruined when Reyn bursts up from the ground below, throwing the poor Kabuto high into the air. Thankfully his trusty Reflect bubble is waiting below to cushion his fall, but the impact still leaves a small crack in his treasured shell. This is unacceptable! Victor closes his eyes in despair, abandoning all other battle plans to secrete a thin silver substance over his shell that fills in the gaps, reinforcing his defenses even further than before. Once he's satisfied, he abruptly propels himself forward with a stream of water trailing behind him, but Reyn is prepared. Victor finds himself bouncing off his opponent's hastily-erected shield bubble with a loud grunt.

Grumbling, Victor wastes no time in trying again, and this time he catches Reyn off his guard. Surrounded in a thin veil of water, he bowls the Larvitar over onto his side, and Reyn begins to cough as the breath is forcibly driven from his lungs. With one particularly mighty cough he hacks up a mound of gross toxic sludge straight into Victor's eyes. The Kabuto hisses in distress as the poison begins to enter his system, destroying him from within.


Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 65%
Energy: 67%
Status: Breathing hard. +2 Speed.
Used: Dig (up) ~ Protect ~ Toxic

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 74%
Energy: 76%
Status: Pointlessly clawing at the skin around his eyes. Protected by a Reflect (1 more action). Toxic poisoned (1% this round, 3% next round). +1 Attack, +2 Defense, +1 Accuracy.
Used: Iron Defense ~ Aqua Jet ~ Aqua Jet

Arena Status

• A sandstorm is raging (1 more action).

Damage and Energy

• Reyn's Health: 77% - 12% (Aqua Jet) = 65%
• Reyn's Energy: 79% - 2% (Dig (up)) - 6% (Protect) - 4% (Toxic) = 67%
• Victor Meldrew's Health: 82% - 7% (Dig) - 1% (poison) = 74%
• Victor Meldrew's Energy: 85% - 2% (Iron Defense) - 2% (Aqua Jet) - 2% (Aqua Jet) - 3% (Reflect upkeep) = 76%

Notes

• Speed order: Reyn (82) > Victor Meldrew (55).
• Both Pokémon have their Special Defense increased due to the sandstorm.
• I hope I interpreted Murkrow's commands correctly! And Zapi's, too, which were kind of ambiguous as to whether Reyn was meant to use Toxic or Earth Power on the third action when he used Protect on the second.
• The toxic poison only did 1% damage to Victor this round because he was poisoned at the end of the round. Starting next round the damage will be inflicted and accumulated as normal.
• Zapi commands first.

You interpreted my commands just fine; I probably should've been more clear about them anyway, sorry!

Okay, Reyn, start out using Iron Defense to lessen the impact of any more Aqua Jets that may come your way. Next, put up a Sunny Day to weaken Victor's water attacks even further. If Victor gets rid of your sun with a weather move of his own, or if Sunny Day fails the first time, try it again on the next action. Otherwise, if there's still an action left over, try and hit him with Earth Power!

Iron Defense ~ Sunny Day ~ Earth Power / Sunny Day

Okay, Aqua Jet has priority so we can easily start with one and not worry about how ferrous they are.

Now that Sp. Def is back to normal, try to counteract the poison with a Giga Drain, then quickly Protect yourself.

Aqua Jet ~ Giga Drain (health) ~ Protect

Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 65%
Energy: 67%
Status: Breathing hard. +2 Speed.

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 74%
Energy: 76%
Status: Pointlessly clawing at the skin around his eyes. Protected by a Reflect (1 more action). Toxic poisoned (1% last round, 3% this round). +1 Attack, +2 Defense, +1 Accuracy.


Trembling slightly as the poison works its way through his system, Victor puts his all into his next attack, launching himself forward with a powerful jet of water to bowl his opponent over before he can make a move. Having just gotten up, Reyn is shoved heavily back down onto his side, crying out as the water slightly erodes his tough, rocky skin. Closing his eyes, he again concentrates on reinforcing it with a thin sheet of metal that flows out from his pores, this time resolving to keep his armor around a bit longer. As both Pokémon lie in a crumpled heap in the grass, panting, the sandstorm swirling around them fades away, taking Victor's now-forgotten Reflect bubble with it.

Sorely missing the dryness, Reyn roughly shoves Victor off of him and gets to his feet to roar impressively to the skies above. (Zapi holds back a snicker at his Pokémon pathetically high-pitched cries, and Reyn glares at him.) All the clouds remaining in the sky are obviously quite terrified of Reyn's quite terrifying and commanding bark, and immediately clear right off, allowing the sun to emerge from behind in its full glory to bathe the field in dryness and warmth. Ugh, sunlight. Victor is desperate to recede back into his shell to avoid the light that burns his poor eyes, but Murkrow urges him to battle on. ("I worry about you, Victor! You never leave the basement!") The Kabuto huffs. Reluctantly he latches on to Reyn with his front pincers, digging them into the grooves in the Larvitar's skin to leech a portion of his lifeforce away.

Reyn cries out in agony as his opponent takes a huge bite out of his life energy, and the ground below begins to ripple in response. Eagerly Victor takes advantage of this excuse to recede back into his cool and comfy shell, enveloping himself in a transparent bubble to shield himself from the incoming attack. His opponent roars again, full of rage, and his fury is unleashed from the ground below, which tears open as a geyser of molten earth erupts from it, throwing Victor up into the air. Thankfully his bubble cushions the impact as he slams back into the ground, and the boiling rock that rains down upon him bounces harmlessly off it, scattering onto the ground around him.


Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 38%
Energy: 56%
Status: Getting pretty frustrated. +2 Defense, +2 Speed.
Used: Iron Defense ~ Sunny Day ~ Earth Power

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 78%
Energy: 60%
Status: Hoping he won't have to experience that attack for real... Toxic poisoned (3% this round, 4% next round). +1 Attack, +2 Defense, +1 Accuracy.
Used: Aqua Jet ~ Giga Drain ~ Protect

Arena Status

• The sun is shining brightly (7 more actions).
• Bits of molten rock are scattered around Victor. There is a large tear in the earth nearby.

Damage and Energy

• Reyn's Health: 65% - 12% (Aqua Jet) - 15% (Giga Drain) = 38%
• Reyn's Energy: 67% - 2% (Iron Defense) - 5% (Sunny Day) - 4% (Earth Power) = 56%
• Victor Meldrew's Health: 74% + 7% (Giga Drain) - 3% (poison) = 78%
• Victor Meldrew's Energy: 76% - 2% (Aqua Jet) - 1% (Reflect upkeep) - 5% (Giga Drain) - 8% (Protect) = 60%

Notes

• Speed order: Reyn (82) > Victor Meldrew (55).
• Zapi PMed me to ask about this, but I'll repeat my answer here for posterity or something: using Iron Defense after Rock Polish didn't have the same cancelling-out effect, because Iron Defense just covers the skin with a thin and smooth layer of metal. However it's so thin that polishing the skin would wear it right off.
• The sandstorm ended after the first action. So did Victor's Reflect.
• Murkrow commands first.

You're almost there Victor! Let's weaken him with a Brine at the first chance you get. If he protects on the first action try to use it again! Otherwise, follow up your Brine with a Scald. The hot rocks near you might help heat up your body-water!

Lastly, Giga Drain again. Unless it looks like he's going to attack in which case Protect.

Brine ~ Brine/Scald ~ Giga Drain/Protect

Well... I kind of screwed you over and you don't have any healing moves (other than Rest, which... I don't really feel like building a strategy around), so let's just try to dish out some damage before you're taken out.

Start of with a Snarl to deal some initial damage and hopefully take the edge off Victor's attacks. Next, go all out with an Earth Power. There should be some muddy ground in the area after all those water attacks, so if you're still conscious on the last action, finish with a Mud-Slap to make Victor use Protect instead of attacking you while expending as little energy as possible.

Snarl ~ Earth Power ~ Mud-Slap

Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 38%
Energy: 56%
Status: Getting pretty frustrated. +2 Defense, +2 Speed.

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 78%
Energy: 60%
Status: Hoping he won't have to experience that attack for real... Toxic poisoned (3% last round, 4% this round). +1 Attack, +2 Defense, +1 Accuracy.


Reyn roars the roaring roar of a fearsome roaring dinosaur, and as a thin wave of dark energy washes over him, Victor cringes in fear and hurriedly retreats back into his shell. He knew he shouldn't have left the basement! This is exactly the kind of horrible thing that he warned Murkrow would happen if he were to venture outside! A moment passes as Victor remains scrunched up as tightly as he can be, but unfortunately the time eventually comes that he must tentatively reach out a tiny leg to scope out his surroundings. Trembling, he slowly emerges from his shell, gathering up as much salty water as he can hold in his mouth. In his nervousness he releases the attack a bit too early, and the baking sunlight from above tempers some of its ferocity as a jet of seawater streaks across to hit his foe. Still Reyn screams in pain as the salt eats into his wounds, making them sting painfully as it washes them out. With another, anguished roar, Reyn wills the ground beneath Victor to burst up again, tossing the helpless Kabuto in the air and showering him with molten rock so hot some of his shell begins to melt in response.

Angrily Victor retaliates with another stream of water once he regains his footing, this time heated to near-boiling, clouds of steam coming off it as it leaves his mouth. A bit of the water does in fact evaporate into gas as the heat of the sun shines down on it, but a large amount remains to scald Reyn's already-dry skin as he screeches in agony. Thankfully the attack doesn't leave him with any particularly painful burns, and he collects himself enough to kick up a few clods of mud from the dirt that's been loosened around him. Victor, however, is quick to retreat back into his shell, and the bits of mud slide uselessly off it.


Zapi (2/2 left)

Reyn ♂
Ability: Guts
Health: 8%
Energy: 47%
Status: Weakening fast. +2 Defense, +2 Speed.
Used: Snarl ~ Earth Power ~ Mud-Slap

Murkrow (2/2 left)

Victor Meldrew ♂
Ability: Swift Swim
Health: 53%
Energy: 45%
Status: Reluctant to leave his shell again... Toxic poisoned (4% this round, 5% next round). +1 Attack, +2 Defense, -1 Special Attack, +1 Accuracy.
Used: Brine ~ Scald ~ Protect

Arena Status

• The sun is shining brightly (4 more actions).
• Bits of molten rock are scattered around Victor. There is a large tear in the earth nearby.

Damage and Energy

• Reyn's Health: 38% - 19% (Brine) - 11% (Scald) = 8%
• Reyn's Energy: 56% - 4% (Snarl) - 4% (Earth Power) - 1% (Mud-Slap) = 47%
• Victor Meldrew's Health: 78% - 5% (Snarl) - 16% (Earth Power) - 4% (poison) = 53%
• Victor Meldrew's Energy: 60% - 7% (Brine) - 4% (Scald) - 4% (Protect) = 45%

Notes

• Speed order: Reyn (82) > Victor Meldrew (55).
• Zapi commands first.

Well, Reyn, you made a valiant effort, but I suppose this just wasn't your time to shine. Try to get at least one Earth Power in before you're taken out!

Earth Power x3

I think the best thing to do it minimise your chances of taking more damage, but a Rain Dance might come in useful for later. Take him out with Aqua Jet!

Rain Dance ~ Aqua Jet x2