MOTW: Simple Beam

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Hey guys, Kenny here. I'm still not feeling my best, but I figured that I'd still do my duty and write a MOTW article (especially since I didn't write one last week). This week's move... Simple Beam! Kind of a weird move, huh? Anyway, let's get down to business.

Simple Beam is a Normal-Type status-inducing move with 100% accuracy, and 15 PP (which can be maxed out to 24). When used, the target of the attack has their Ability temporarily changed to the "Simple" Ability. A Pokémon with the "Simple" Ability is doubly affected by any stat change. This means that, for example, the move Harden would increase the user's Defense by 2 stages rather than 1, if that same Pokémon were to have the "Simple" Ability.

How can this be put to use? Can it even be put to use at all? Well, of course it can! In Double Battles, you can attack your own Pokémon, right? Say one of your Pokémon were to know Simple Beam, and another Curse and Gyro Ball. By using Simple Beam on your Curse / Gyro Ball Pokémon, you could set up for a killer combo in one turn! That's twice the Attack and Defense boost, and twice the Speed loss. You could also just use it to get rid of an opponent's unwanted Ability. While there aren't a ton of uses for this move, Simple Beam is definitely more than just a throw-away move. Next time you're looking for a unique way to spice up a battle, give this move a try!

IOTW: Choice Scarf

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I'm going to try something a little different with this article. It's going to be in more of a narrative form than a purely informational one like usual. I just thought you might like something a bit lighter in your Pokéreading. It still has all of the details and mechanics of the item like you are looking for, but just in the package of a little story. If you do or don't like it, please leave feedback in the comments. I'll do some more like this if you like it, and stop if you hate it. So here it goes, a story about Choice Scarf.

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IOTW: Macho Brace

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An odd item to focus on in terms of battle uses, I know, but stick with me. We're going to look at the advantages of the Macho Brace, and not even the ones regarding EV training ones.

Macho Brace's most common use is for speeding up EV training, because it doubles the EVs that the holder earns. What I'm going to focus on in this article is what most consider its negative side effect, that it halves the holder's speed.

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Team Tactics: Kingdra

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There's a thunder clap.  Rain falls from the grey-black sky and falls hard on your face.  Your opponent looks puzzled as you smile from the corner of your mouth.  You arm your Pokéballs and prepare for war.  Today will be your victory!

Welcome to the first official installment of Team Tactics!  In this bi-weekly series we will focus on a single Pokémon and discuss how you might train it, and how it functions on a team.  Keep in mind that while I consider myself fairly versed in the digital cock-fight that is Pokémon, I might not have all the answers, and I may not give you the best solution for every scenario, team, or Pokémon.  I hope that when you read these articles you will use them as a template and build on them.

This week we are focusing on Kingdra, a dual-type Water/Dragon Pokémon with some interesting abilities.

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