Pros/Cons of Shifty vs Cacturne?

Question

I am playing Omega Ruby and I think I might use one of the two. I would like to know which is better overall; stats, move pool, etc. Please also provide a moveset. Thanks

Answer 1

Honestly, both are amazing Pokemon, sometimes used as physical sweepers. Personally, I use both Shifty and Cacturne in a mono team on showdown.

For Shiftry, I use this set:

Shiftry (M) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 28 HP / 252 Atk / 228 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Sucker Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Fake Out
- Swords Dance

I use Shifty just like I use Ambipom. As soon as it gets in the match, depending on my opponent, I'll either fake out or swords dance. Once swords dance is active, opponents are going to find it very hard to resist sucker punch. On the downside, many people see the sucker punch coming and attempt to avoid it. Seed Bomb is there for amazing STAB+Coverage.

For Cacturne:

Cacturne (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Destiny Bond
- Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Focus Blast

While I've seen Cacturne used flawlessly in sand teams, I use it to set up spikes and then take an opponent down with Destiny Bond.

That's my sets for competitive.
Overall, Shiftry has a better move pool, and a stat total of 480. Cacturne is limited to grass, dark, bug, and drain punch with a stat total of 475. In my opinion, Cacturne is a good support, but Shiftry is a better sweeper

Comments

Thanks

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I'm sorta eh on your Cacturne Set. It could work well.
To be honest, I think an offensive set would work better:

Cacturne@Focus Sash
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Sucker Punch
- Seed Bomb
- Cotton Spore / Destiny Bond / (or some coverage move)

I upvoted this because of the sets, but I think you should also compare their individual stats (like who has higher attack / hp / speed / def /sp.def)

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That's a good sweeper set, but i kinda use Cacturne like a Froslass. I'll make the edit now.

Answer 2

I think it's a close choice.
Both Pokemon are both grass and dark types, but Shiftry has better abilities. Also, Shiftry has a higher base stat total. Cacturne has great attack and sp. attack, but I don't see a reason to make a person both - then again, cacturne's moves has a balance, so it's great. Shrifty is great is attack, and partially is hp, sp. attack, and speed. To me, this is reasonably better. But, cacturne can learn much more moves of different types than shiftry.
Overall, I'm leaning more toward cacturne, but shiftry is an amazing choice too. It's your decision!

Hope I helped! :)

Comments

Thanks

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I think i am gonna use cacturne

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Uh, it's base stat total, not EV total

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Thanks! I'll change it