POKE-FOCUS #26: LAPRAS

Firstly, allow me to say that I am not the original writer of Poke-Focus, Joe.  Because Joe has been busy lately he is letting me try to write Poke-Focus.  So please forgive me if this edition of Poke-Focus is not as detailed or as good as it usually is.  Thank you.

 

INTRODUCTION

Lapras has been in the Pokemon world since the beginning.  Since then, Lapras has been one of the strongest water and ice type Pokemon ever created.  Lapras is known as the transport pokemon because Lapras is usually seen carrying some people on its back.

CAPTURE/TRAINING

In most games, Lapras is a gift.  You can get one in places like Silph Co. in Saffron City and in Union Cave on Fridays in second generation games.  In games where he is not a gift, Lapras is extremely rare.  There is a 1% chance to find one in Icefall Cave (Fire Red and Leaf Green) and a 10% chance of finding one in Victory Road (Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum).  Once a Lapras has been acquired, it can be a little difficult to train.  But it is completely worth training this behemoth of a sea monster!

STATS

130 HP, 85 Atk, 80 Def, 85 SpA, 95 SpD, 60 Spe

Dat Shell.

Very good stats!  Lapras has one of the best HP's in the game.  His attack is great for dealing out damage and his special attack is even better!  Same goes for its defense stats!  Lapras knows how to take a hit especially from special attack moves.  Now, not everyone is perfect and Lapras is no exception.  Lapras is a great Pokemon to have on your team, but if you're looking for all fast Pokemon, Lapras is not for you.  His speed stat is not that great being only at 60.

ABILITIES

Lapras is capable of having a few different abilities.  Firstly, Lapras can have the ability of "water absorb".  With this ability, Lapras absorbs water type moves and regains some HP.  Lapras can gain up to 25% of HP with this ability.  

Shell armor does not allow critical hits to hit him.  This is especially good because there are so many times when your Pokemon would faint just because of a critical hit.  Lastly, Lapras can know "Hydration".  This ability allows Lapras to recover from any status effect like poison, burn, paralysis, sleep, and freeze at the end of the turn.  This ability only works if it is raining during the battle.  So, if you want Lapras to use this ability (if it has it) teach it Rain Dance.

MOVES

Lapras learns quite a few ice and water type moves.  WATER PULSE is the first powerful water type move Lapras learns on its own.  60% power is not too bad and 100% accuracy is really good.  Plus this move has a 20% chance to confuse the targeted Pokemon.

ICE BEAM is the first powerful ice type move Lapras learns on its own.  95% power makes it an ice move most enemies want to avoid and with 100% accuracy rating makes it a great ice attack.  It also has a 10% chance to freeze the target.

RAIN DANCE is a water move that most people would want their Lapras to learn.  It decreases fire attack moves by 50% and increases water attack moves by 50%.  It also decreases the power of healing moves such as Morning Sun, Synthesis, and Moon Light.  The downside of teaching your Lapras rain dance is that the move Thunder never misses, which is super effective against Lapras.

Everyone knows the move HYDRO PUMP.  It is the most powerful water attack Lapras learns at level 49.  120% attack power means a lot of damage to the enemy!  Though it has 80% accuracing rating, that is not so bad.  It could be a lot worse.

Not much to say about SHEER COLD.  It is an ice type move that Lapras learns at level 55.  It does have a 30% accuracy rating, but if it does hit the enemy it is a one hit KO.  This move does not work if the targeted Pokemon is a higher level than Lapras.  PERISH SONG is another good move for a quick KO.  After it is used, everyone Pokemon on the field that heard the song will faint in three turns.  A way to keep your Lapras alive is to switch your Pokemon out in less than three turns.  It's good to use this move if your opponent only has one Pokemon left and that one Pokemon is being difficult to defeat.

EFFECTIVE MOVESETS

1. CRY ME A RIVER

-Rain Dance

-Water Pulse

-Brine

-Hydro Pump

If you already have a strong ice type pokemon on your team and you really want Lapras to just be a water type, this is the way to go.  A full on water type moveset.

2. ICE TO MEET YOU

-Mist

-Ice Beam

-Ice Shard

-Sheer Cold

3. KO

-Sheer Cold

-Hydro Pump

-Perish Song

-Ice Beam

If you really want Lapras to be just a beast and protect your other Pokemon, this is a good moveset to use.  

4. A LIL' BIT OF EVERYTHING

-Body Slam

-Hydro Pump

-Ice Beam

-Sheer Cold 

 

CONCLUSION

Lapras is definitely one of the best water/ice type Pokemon around!  Though they are not much for speed they are a threat to not take lightly.  A Lapras would be a great addition to anyone's team!

By: Shawn