The Capabilities of Furfrou in Tiershift

[Tide]

By: Tide​

OH. MY. @&%$! I just realized something that will potentially blow the minds with the force that it did to me.

First, let me provide some background information to address the relevance of this topic in the first place. As an avid Tiershift player, I naturally love to bring out the potential of the "lesser" pokemon - because that, in a way, is what the format is all about. I have always been fond of rather unpopular pokemon, namingly Purugly - so it's only natural that I would find Furfrou very appealing. While it's adorable and can be given haircuts, I can guarantee no one has even given it a glimpse when laddering.

Now, for those who are unfamiliar with the Tiershift metagame, here's how it works:

• Pokemon get points added to their base stats with varying amounts respective to their tiers.
• NU pokemon get +15 in each base stat
• RU pokemon get +10 in each base stat
• UU pokemon get +5 in each base stat
• OU pokemon do not receive Tiershift benefits

For additional information, you can go here.

With that being said, let's take a look at Furfrou's stats and attributes.

(Extracted from Pokemon Database and Pokestadium)

While the stats look absolutely atrocious overall, we should factor in its ability; Fur Coat, which halves the damage from all physical attacks. Now, that in itself is absolutely amazing - but it's logical to deduct that that won't be effective enough to make Furfrou viable. Without any offensive stats, adequate defenses to support its ability, and any essence of solid movepool - it'd be a good prediction to stick Furfrou in NU; RU at best.

With that being said, Furfrou, in Tiershift, would have 90 HP / 95 Attack / 75 Defense / 80 Sp. Attack / 105 Sp. Def / 117 Speed (if it were in NU.) These stats are looking a bit more solid - but not quite good enough to make it a stand-out pokemon. That is where you're wrong, sillyyyy~

WARNING: Your mind is about to explode. Please perform various health department-regulated tests to ensure your skull is prepared for this next piece of information.

-1 252 Atk Adaptability Mega Lucario Close Combat vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 94-112 (26.5 - 31.6%) -- 21.6% chance to 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Considering Tiershift is not out yet, it isn't 100% accurate (and only because it doesn't give Furfrou enough defense, so it's only beneficial to my point) - but I did my best to simulate a likely Tiershift exchange showcasing the walling capabilities of Furfrou. It has access to priority Baby Doll-Eyes, which will lower the attack of a physically-oriented Lucario. (Which I guarantee will be OU and not reap Tiershift benefits) That is a 21.6% chance to 4HKO; meaning it'll 5HKO in most cases. That IS factoring in Adaptability. That is INSANE.
Let's see how it'd fair against the other Fighting-type Mega; Medicham.

-1 252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham High Jump Kick vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 117-138 (33 - 38.9%) -- 7% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

It will almost ALWAYS 4HKO.

-1 252 Atk Pure Power Mega Medicham Drain Punch vs. +2 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 67-81 (18.9 - 22.8%) -- possible 6HKO after Leftovers recovery

6HKO. MY LIVER IS TWITCHING VIOLENTLY IN MY BODY.

-1 252+ Atk Aegislash-Blade Sacred Sword vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 79-93 (22.3 - 26.2%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

Furfrou just simply makes Aegislash look like a joke.

Now, I'm going to assume that your skull is pounding with explosive brain matter splattering around the walls of your cranium. I am now going to go in for the kill. Yep, I am going to make you all need to go to the emergency room because of this:

252- SpA Adaptability Mega Lucario Aura Sphere vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey: 256-304 (35.8 - 42.5%) -- 92.4% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery

This means that, Furfrou takes physical hits better than standard Blissey takes special hits. Keep in mind that Mega-Lucario actually has LESS special attack than it does physical attack, so Tiershift Furfrou is handling harder hitting physical attacks better than Blissey can handle "softer" hitting special attacks.

I personally find this to be completely insane, and I will definitely be utilizing this pokemon as a part of my defensive core. A set I'd recommend for this monster is:

Furfrou @ Leftovers
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Atk
Nature: Impish
- Baby-Doll Eyes
- Protect
- Return
- Cotton Guard / Toxic​

I think this is definitely worth discussion, and also gives this board/community more things to talk about. I want to know what you guys think and hopefully we can all take over the world with Furfrou.

 

[Nah]

You ok, Tide? You aren't typing this from the emergency room? JK.{XD}

After spending some time in the thread about Mega Kangaskhan, I did see that Furfrou has potential as a phyiscal wall. The problem was the meh base stats and the fact that it needs to set up beforehand.

So this isn't quite as mind-blowing to me as it is to some people, but its still impressive all the same. To show people the defensive might of Furfrou in Tiershift (if it lands in NU), I've run a few more calcs. I modified Furfrou's base stats in the calculator to simulate the Tiershift bonuses:

+1 252+ Atk Conkeldurr Superpower vs. +3 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 118-141 (30.7 - 36.7%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery

Even with a Bulk Up, Conkeldurr only 4HKOs it.

252+ Atk Choice Band Rampardos Head Smash vs. +3 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 84-99 (21.8 - 25.7%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

And the most powerful Head Smash in the game does a pathetic 5HKO.


+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Superpower vs. +3 252 HP / 252+ Def Fur Coat Furfrou: 220-259 (57.2 - 67.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

That's right. Belly Drum Azumarill's Superpower fails to OHKO +3 Tiershift Furfrou.

252+ Atk Teravolt Zekrom Bolt Strike vs. +3 252 HP / 252+ Def Furfrou: 91-108 (23.6 - 28.1%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

Even the mighty Zekrom, who has Teravolt (which negates Fur Coat), has a hard time dealing with the poodle Pokemon.

Now, of course, this is provided that Furfrou can get up a Cotton Guard (which does +3, not +2 btw). Otherwise, its a lot easier to kill. Although I did kinda forget about Baby-Doll eyes. But hey, we can work out sets in this discussion.

 

[Tide]

I did +2 not to represent a Cotton Guard, but to try to represent the boost of Defense that Tiershift will provide. The calculations I brought up did not include a Cotton Guard. c:
When pokemon get put into tiers, and Tiershift is released - what physical attacker will stop this? Especially if its paired with a Wish passer like Alomomola - which is also unstoppable.

 

[Nah]

You can fiddle with the base stats in the damage calculator. Or at least the one I use: https://pokemonshowdown.com/damagecalc/
I don't think that a +2 is the same as a base stats increase of 15.

 

[Tide]

'Which is exactly what I said. However, the only reason it ISN'T accurate is because it doesn't give Furfrou enough Defense - so it's only beneficial to my point.