Armaldo

[CT Chia]

#348 Armaldo
Typing: Bug/Rock
Ability: Battle Armor- Opponent’s moves cannot Critical Hit.
75/125/100/70/80/45



Wallmaldo

Armaldo@Leftovers
Impish/Battle Armor
252HP/160Def/88SpDef/10Atk
-Stealth Rock
-Stone Edge
-Knock Off
-Earthquake/X-Scissor

This is probably the only thing Armaldo can do well in Standard play, but it does one hell of a job at it. After setting up Stealth Rocks, Armaldo can Knock Off the other lead's item, KO fragile leads (Like Infernape and Yanmega), or switch out to Knock Off later.

The only thing that really gives this set problem is Focus Sash leads. Tyranitar/Hippowdon support elimantes this problem, however, and give Armaldo extra SpDef. Take that, you firey monkey!

X-Scissor is a viable option over Earthquake, with better Power and the ability to OHKO Azelf and Celebii, but with lesser type coverage.



Rock Polish Sweeper

Armaldo@Life Orb/Lum Berry/Leftovers
Adamant/Battle Armor
252Atk/252Spe/4HP
-Rock Polish
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake
-X-Scissor

Essentially a slower, bulkier version of the once-popular Rock Polish Rampardos. After a single RP, Armaldo will be able to just outspeed a Modest 252Spe Scarftran and OHKO it with EQ. Stone Edge and X-Scissor will be your main sweeping moves. Bug, Rock, and Ground get surprisingly good type coverage, taking care of Zapdos, Salamence (Before Inimidate kicks in, I think), Infernape, Gyarados, Heatran, Azelf, Tyranitar, and several others.

The item is really up to you. Life Orb adds sweeping power, but also wears Armaldo down. Lum Berry allows you to stay in on Brelooms and KO them with X-Scissor, and Leftovers adds bulkiness.

Sadly, unlike the more popular physical sweepers, this set here lacks a way to deal with Steel-types. I suppose you could try HP Fire, but with 70 Base SpAtk, it isn't worth it.


Spinner/Stallmaldo

Armaldo@Leftovers
Battle Armor/Impish
252Hp/170Def/88SpDef
-Rapid Spin
-Knock Off
-Body Slam/Toxic
-Stone Edge/Earthquake/Aqua Tail

Not the best set out there, but if you're looking for a quirky Spinner/Knocker, this is your guy. After spinning away problems, Armaldo can paralyze sweepers and/or poison walls, and knock a few dents in other Pokemon.

The attacking move can be a bit of a difficult position. Stone Edge provides a powerful, semi-reliable STAB move, EQ has great coverage, and Aqua Tail comes out of nowhere to surprise Gliscor. It should be noted that even without Atk EVs, Armaldo still has a great Atk of 314.

Extra Options

Aqua Tail can slam a few Pokemon that aren't weak to SE or EQ, and is useful in the Fire-filled UU environment. Stone Edge is normally a better choice, although it has less PP.

Rapid Spin can be used on any set, but Armaldo is weak to Stealth Rocks, limiting it's usefulness.

Ancient Power has a tiny chance of raising all of his stats. Not reliable at all, but you can test your luck.

Superpower is a powerful Fighting-type option, but SE and EQ already hit everything it can without the drawback of losing stats.

Rock Blast can break through Subs, and potentially do more damage than SE.

Swords Dance is worth mentioning for sweeping sets. Armaldo has an awsome Base Atk of 120, and he easily breaks the 750-Atk barrier with just one SD.

Seismic Toss hurts Skarm, Forretress, and other Steels a bit.

EVs

For defensive sets, 252 Hp/170 Def/88 SpDef is the preffered EVs. For offensive, the standard 252 Atk/252 Sp/6 whatever is necessary, due to his slow speed.

I've recently learned that Scarftrans now carry 390 Speed. This means that Armaldo will need to be Jolly with 212 Spd EVs to outspeed him after a Rock Polish. Pump the extra EVs into his HP or Def.

Troublesome Pokemon

Armaldo's biggest enemy is a fellow Bug-type. He's become a metagame God with the introduction of Platinum. Most Pokemon simply call him 'Scis-', because that's all they have time to say before he Bullet Punches them into the void. We call this monster 'Scizor.'

Scizor might be the one Pokemon Armaldo can't faze whatsoever. Sure, you could Knock Off a Life Orb, but he'll be too busy Dancing to take care. Rock Polish can outspeed him, but he doesn't care as long as he has the ridiculously powerful and fast Bullet Punch. Not to mention none of his attack options hurt the little bugger. (Ha, get it? Bugger...?)

Asides from Scizor, Armaldo has a few other enemies. Stealth Rocks take away 25% of his HP, Skarm completely walls him, and Milotic gives him trouble.

Armaldo's bigest thing holding him back is that although he can do alot of stuff, he is outclassed in nearly everything. He can be a spinner and knocker at the same time, but so can Tentacruel, who is faster, can absorb Toxic Spikes, and doesn't get demolished by Stealth Rock. Armaldo can try to speed-boost weep, but Rampardos and Metagross are more powerful and faster.

Written by Zook.