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GPotM August 2012 - Sunflora
Topic Started: Aug 1 2012, 11:15 AM (325 Views)
GrassPokemonFTW
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I'm soaking up the sun!

GPotM is back! While I don't seem to have made any major changes like I would have liked to do...but whatever, sometimes you can't beat perfection, am I right? *shot* Er-hem...that out of the way, here's the 19th GPotM thus far, Sunflora.

Sunflora uses sunlight as its ready fuel source of energy and nutrition. As a result, when it becomes dark out, Sunflora closes its petals and literally "hibernates". This makes Sunflora a bit of an oddball; while it can expend an infinite amount of energy during the daytime, Sunflora comes to a complete stop at night. Likewise, during the summer months when the sun is more prominent, Sunflora's petals become more vivid and are colored vibrantly. In fact, Sunflora is so attracted to this sunlight that it will attempt to pursue the sun across the horizon.

Sunflora is...interesting, to say in the least. Among the Grass Pokemon of Gen II, Sunflora is quite underwhelming. But then again, there only are 5 fully-evolved Grass Pokemon in Gen II, but it is a little difficult to handle, even among them. However, Sunflora is a Pokemon that always seems optimistic, so if you want a Pokemon that looks on the bright side of life...then your search would include Sunflora as a top candidate.

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La-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaa~! LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~!

Sunflora is an interesting Pokemon with a fresh concept. It's a sunflower, but it's not too different from an actual sunflower. Basically, if you took a sunflower, made it have legs, and plastered a face onto it, you'd get Sunflora. Not that I'm saying it's bad, but...it's just...meh. It seems to be a little pudgy as well. And even looking at it, it looks incredibly frail, which is actually a perfect description of Sunflora. Its shiny coloration isn't to inspiriting; in fact, its shiny form looks like Sunflora's running a little dry. How unfortunate.

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LALALALALALALALALALALA~~~~~!

Sunflora's only methods of obtainment are to trade from another game, or to evolve it from a Sunkern. Luckily for us, Sunkern evolves into Sunflora by way of Sun Stone. Also luckily for us, Sunflora, unlike many Pokemon that evolve from stones, has the ability to learn moves. Less fortunately, however, is Sunflora's similar movepool to Sunkern. Sunflora has some bonus moves, such as Pound, Bullet Seed, Petal Dance, and Leaf Storm. Despite this, training a Sunflora is tough work, as I'll explain soon.

Sunflora, as a pure Grass-type, must deal with the many weaknesses that it is dealt. More unfortunate is Sunflora's lackluster movepool, including only Grass and Normal attacking moves (not including Hidden Power), 1 Poison move (Sludge Bomb), and 1 Ground move (Earth Power, only in BW2). This makes for only its Poison weakness, an uncommon attacking type, to be mitigated, and even so, relies a little bit on luck. To hit Flying-types, Sunflora is forced to rely on Normal moves and Sludge Bomb, while Fire-types must be beaten with Earth Power.

Probably the most prominent of Sunflora's flaws are its stats. Despite its appearance, its attacking stats aren't too shabby. While its 75 Attack is virtually unused, its 105 Special Attack is actually not too bad. This Special Attack is complemented by a very good ability in Solar Power, which gives a 50% boost in Special Attack in the sun. But this attacking power cannot be useful without a decent speed, and by god, Sunflora has among the worst fully-evolved Speed stats in the entire game. Even slower than Bronzong, Sunflora comes in packing a Base 30 Speed, which is actually exactly the same as its pre-evolution, Sunkern. In the defense department, it comes in as looks would determine. HP comes in at a barely-average 75, while Special Defense comes in somewhat respectable at 85. Its Defense proves to be a major issue for Sunflora, as its Base 55 Defense is hardly enough to keep this Pokemon on its feet.

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TENTACLE RAPE, LALALALALALALALA~!

Sunflora is in the bottom tiers for a reason; a combination of bad speed and low defense makes for a deadly combination. But not all is horrible for our little sunflower friend here. One thing must be followed like a religion if you plan to use a Sunflora on the team - you MUST have a reliable Sunny Day user. Staying true to its Pokedex entries, Sunflora is virtually useless in the competitive battling world if the sun is not up. Two of Sunflora's abilities (which are the only two worth using) require the sun to be out. Most people elect to use Solar Power for amazing Special Attacking, which makes Sunflora a fairly reliable SolarBeam user. Sunflora also has a few reliable recovery options in the sun; both Morning Sun and Synthesis are good options that heal a massive amount of HP in the sun. However, Sunflora's very few alternate attacking options often give it major issues. Hidden Power Fire is probably the most effective, taking advantage of the power boost from sun along with Solar Power boosts.

Chlorophyll is another ability option for Sunflora, though less commonly used because of Sunflora's relatively unmanageable Speed. Still, some elect to try and "sweep" with Sunflora, maxing out Speed stats with a Timid nature and having the sun out to double its Speed. Of course, this may work with a Choice Scarf set, allowing Sunflora to spam SolarBeam, but taking into note its comparatively weaker SolarBeam in relation to Solar Power-boosted SolarBeam leaves a little sense of discomfort. However, if Speed is more of a priority, then by all means choose Chlorophyll.

Sunflora doesn't have many other options besides the one listed. Sunflora can set up Sunny Day itself, but that's only advisable if you have your weaknesses covered. Sunflora's DW ability Early Bird is practically useless in comparison with Solar Power or Chlorophyll. Sunflora has its own opportunities to set up itself, as it has a very useful access to Encore along with Growth, which conveniently boosts Attack and Special Attack by two stages in the sun. This method should probably be used in a non-Choice Scarfed Chlorophyll set, under which Sunflora has the ability to outrun the major threats. Sunflora also can be used as a suicide setup; basically, slap on a Focus Sash, and before it's KO'd, use Sunny Day. Then, with double speed from Chlorophyll, use Endeavor to inflict massive damage.

While Sunflora has not much going for it, it has its uses. So why not try and see the potential? Sunflora just needs a little push in the right direction.

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LALALALALALA- *stops moving*
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