October 15, 2014

Farewell 5.4 Part VIII
I still have 55 teams to go in the countdown of my favorite 5.4 teams. The problem is that we’re now in 6.0.2 and the rules have been changed. Accuracy has received a major overhaul, adders have been nerfed, valks got smacked with a Haunt cooldown and probably a lot more. I was going to stop the countdown but I decided to keep it going for a couple reasons. First, it will be interesting to see how some of my favorite teams do under the new accuracy rules. Then there’s sentimentality. MoP was the expansion where pet battles were introduced, I feel like I should give it the proper homage by continuing the countdown. 55 teams to go. Remember that te competitive rating is for 5.4, not 6.0.

note: something weird happened with the screenshots and it’s too late to fix it so they’re all at the end

Team 55: Spartan Rain
Competitive Rating: 7/10
Jademist Dancer, Azure Crane Chick, Spirit Crab
vs. Iron Starlette, Fiendish Imp, Scourged Whelpling
Sometimes I wonder what the designers of pet battles are thinking. Fluxfire Feline is generally considered the most overpowered pet in the brief history of pet battles. Why would they try to reinvent this pet with the Iron Starlette? Wind-Up and Supercharge on a mech, this is going to be annoying. I know it’s not really the FFF since it’s not as fast and Supercharge has been nerfed since then, but still, I could live with out it.

Team 54: Whole Lotta Metal
Competitive Rating: 8/10
Spirit Crab, Death Adder Hatchling, Robo-Chick
vs. Crow, Gilnean Raven, Darkmoon Monkey
My biggest disappointment so far has been the change to Snap. I should know this for sure since I’ve use it thousands and thousands of times, but I think it hit at 345 damage at 95% accuracy before the change. Now it hits for 312 damage at 100% accuracy. It’s only been a few days but man does it feel weak. It may or may not be a mathematical buff but it sure feels like a nerf. Since the crab is the back bone of many of my favorite teams I should plan on losing a lot during these next 53 battles. I won this battle thanks to the Robo-Chick messing with the Alpha Striking flyers. At least that hasn’t changed.

Team 53: Rabies McGraw
Competitive Rating: 5/10
Harmonious Porcupette, Rabid Nut Varmint 5000, Emerald Proto-Whelp
vs. Forest Spiderling, Mr. Grubbs, Fossilized Hatchling
It came down to the EPW versus the Maggot; the dragon won.

Team 52: My First Tuesday
Competitive Rating: 7/10
Fledgling Buzzard, Mongoose Pup, Warbot
vs. Iron Starlette, Pandaren Earth Spirit, Jade Oozeling
This was a team designed to take out adders. There were no adders but it still won.

Team 51: Turcraber
Competitive Rating: 7/10
Death Adder Hatchling, Spirit Crab, Highlands Turkey
vs. Unborn Val’kyr, Bonhers, Alpine Hare
The funny thing is I played the adder in the exact same way I would have played it before the nerf. I realized that Burrow is 100% accuracy now, too. So many things to consider now.

Team 50: Bronies Before Ponies
Competitive Rating: 7/10
Tiny Bog Beast, Vengeful Porcupette, Sen’Jin Fetish
vs. Wild Golden Hatchling, Alpine Hare, Clockwork Gnome
Damn that’s one awesome porcupine. This battle was especially easy since my opponent gave me some help with lightning. Flame Breath and Wild Magic in lightning adds up to some huge damage.

Team 49: Jaguero Intensified
Competitive Rating: 7/10
Fiendish Imp, Tiny Twister, Baby Ape
vs. Anubisath Idol, Kun-Lai Runt, Sprite Darter Hatchling
The Tiny Twister has got to be my best new pet of 5.4. A 289 speed Bash plus lightning and a field effect has added up to a lot of wins.