Using Burn, Poison, and Paralysis in Cobblemon

Status effects are among the most powerful tools in Cobblemon battles. Burn, Poison, and Paralysis can cripple opponents, disrupt strategies, and create openings for your team to capitalize on. This guide explores the mechanics, strategic applications, and best Cobblemon for inflicting these debilitating conditions.

Understanding the Basics of Status Effects

Burn

• Effect: Reduces Attack by 50% (for physical moves) and deals residual damage each turn.
• Best Against: Physical attackers.
• Strategic Advantage:
  • Neutralizes threats like Garchomp or Scizor that rely on physical moves.
  • Forces opponents to switch, giving you control over the battle.

Poison

• Effect: Deals residual damage each turn; Toxic deals increasing damage over time.
• Best Against: Defensive or stall Cobblemon.
• Strategic Advantage:
  • Wears down bulky Cobblemon like Blissey and Toxapex.
  • Pairs well with entry hazards and stalling strategies.

Paralysis

• Effect: Reduces Speed by 75% and has a 25% chance to prevent the target from moving each turn.
• Best Against: Fast attackers or setup sweepers.
• Strategic Advantage:
  • Slows down speedy Cobblemon like Dragapult or Infernape, allowing slower teammates to outspeed.
  • Disrupts setup strategies by introducing a chance of immobility.

Strategic Applications of Status Effects

1. Crippling Physical Attackers with Burn

Burn is a game-changer for dealing with physical threats. By halving their Attack, you can turn even the most aggressive Cobblemon into manageable opponents.

• Best Burn Moves:
  • Will-O-Wisp: Reliable and accurate burn application.
  • Scald: A Water-type move with a 30% chance to burn.
  • Flame Body: An ability that has a chance to burn on contact.
• Cobblemon Recommendations:
  • Rotom-Wash: Uses Will-O-Wisp to cripple threats while maintaining utility.
  • Talonflame: Flame Body punishes physical attackers.
  • Toxapex: Scald spreads burns while acting as a defensive wall.

2. Breaking Stall with Poison

Toxic Poison is the ultimate tool for countering stall teams and bulky Cobblemon. Its increasing damage forces opponents to switch or succumb to the residual damage.

• Best Poison Moves:
  • Toxic: Guarantees badly poisoned status.
  • Toxic Spikes: Sets up poison on all grounded Cobblemon that switch in.
  • Poison Touch: Ability that adds poison effects to physical moves.
• Cobblemon Recommendations:
  • Toxapex: Sets Toxic Spikes and stalls with Recover.
  • Gliscor: Uses Toxic and benefits from Poison Heal for sustainability.
  • Roserade: Dual role as a special attacker and hazard setter.

3. Neutralizing Speed with Paralysis

Paralysis is invaluable for controlling the battlefield, particularly against hyper-offensive teams or setup sweepers. Slowing down key threats allows your slower Cobblemon to outspeed and retaliate.

• Best Paralysis Moves:
  • Thunder Wave: Directly inflicts paralysis with high accuracy.
  • Nuzzle: A weaker Electric move that guarantees paralysis.
  • Stun Spore: Grass-type move to paralyze Ground-immune targets.
• Cobblemon Recommendations:
  • Togekiss: Combines Thunder Wave with Air Slash for flinch-locking opponents.
  • Jolteon: A speedy paralysis spreader with access to Thunder Wave.
  • Whimsicott: Prankster gives priority to Stun Spore.

Combining Status Effects with Team Strategies

1. Stall Teams

Stall teams thrive on residual damage, using status effects to slowly wear down opponents while healing off damage.

• Core Cobblemon:
  • Toxapex: Toxic Spikes and Recover for sustainability.
  • Blissey: Spreads Toxic and absorbs special attacks.
  • Mandibuzz: Uses Foul Play and Toxic while Defogging hazards.
• Strategy: Spread poison early, force switches, and control the tempo with burns or paralysis to limit offensive pressure.

2. Hyper-Offense with Paralysis Support

Paralysis works exceptionally well in hyper-offense teams, allowing slower but powerful sweepers to outspeed opponents.

• Core Cobblemon:
  • Togekiss: Paralyzes opponents and flinches with Air Slash.
  • Dragonite: Uses Thunder Wave to enable other sweepers.
  • Excadrill: Sweeps slowed teams under Sandstorm.
• Strategy: Use paralysis to disable faster threats and create opportunities for heavy hitters to dominate.

3. Hazard-Based Control

Pair status moves with hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, or Toxic Spikes to maximize chip damage.

• Core Cobblemon:
  • Ferrothorn: Sets Stealth Rock and spreads Leech Seed.
  • Toxapex: Lays down Toxic Spikes and burns physical attackers.
  • Rotom-Wash: Combines Will-O-Wisp with Volt Switch to disrupt and pivot.
• Strategy: Control the battlefield with hazards and status effects, forcing your opponent to take damage every turn.

Advanced Tips for Mastering Status Effects

1. Read Opponent’s Team Composition:
   • Against offensive teams, prioritize paralysis to slow down threats.
   • Against defensive teams, focus on poison to wear down walls.
2. Combine Status with Priority Moves:
   • Use priority moves like Bullet Punch or Ice Shard to clean up paralyzed targets.
3. Avoid Redundant Status Effects:
   • Don’t stack status moves on Cobblemon with conflicting roles. For example, avoid running Thunder Wave and Toxic on the same Cobblemon.
4. Beware of Immunities:
   • Fire-types are immune to burn.
   • Poison- and Steel-types are immune to poison.
   • Electric-types are immune to paralysis from Electric moves.
5. Pair with Abilities:
   • Synchronize: Passes status back to the opponent.
   • Prankster: Gives priority to status moves like Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp.
   • Natural Cure: Allows your Cobblemon to heal status when switched out.

Example Team Utilizing Status Effects

1. Rotom-Wash (Burn Support)

• Moves: Will-O-Wisp, Hydro Pump, Volt Switch, Pain Split
• Role: Cripples physical attackers and pivots into offensive teammates.

2. Toxapex (Poison and Defense)

• Moves: Toxic Spikes, Recover, Scald, Haze
• Role: Spreads poison, stalls, and removes boosts from setup sweepers.

3. Togekiss (Paralysis Support)

• Moves: Thunder Wave, Air Slash, Flamethrower, Roost
• Role: Slows opponents and flinch-locks for disruption.

4. Ferrothorn (Hazard Setter)

• Moves: Stealth Rock, Leech Seed, Knock Off, Gyro Ball
• Role: Sets hazards and complements status effects with chip damage.

5. Hydreigon (Special Attacker)

• Moves: Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse, Flamethrower, Roost
• Role: Capitalizes on status-weakened opponents to sweep.

6. Conkeldurr (Physical Attacker)

• Moves: Drain Punch, Knock Off, Facade, Mach Punch
• Role: Absorbs status with Guts and dishes out massive damage.

Conclusion

Status effects like Burn, Poison, and Paralysis are game-changing tools in Cobblemon battles. By incorporating them into your team strategy, you can neutralize threats, control the battlefield, and wear down opponents over time. Experiment with different combinations of status moves and supporting roles to find the perfect balance for your team.