The use of NFE Pokemon?

[Aether Nexus]

Specifically I mean two Pokemon: Kadabra & Haunter. I have everything else completed in my Red version except for these two who I want to level up to level 100 and use on Stadium for the fun of it, but what movesets could I give them?

The thing that concerns me is that I'll give them movesets that are going to be very similar, if not identical, to their higher evolutions. So should I just go with making them a mini-Alakazam/mini-Gengar or is there some use for the both of them that their evolutions cant pull off?

Edit: And hooray for my 50th post!

~ Aether Nexus

[WaterWizard]

Everything Kadabra/Haunter can do, Alakazam/Gengar can do better. They can/should be used the same way as their final forms. The only possible exception that I can imagine is Kadabra somehow using Counter better than Alakazam in some situation, but I'm not sure how Defense/HP ratios compare on each side of that (any) evolution.

WW

[Aether Nexus]

Yeah, figured they could. Well, I'll still level 'em up and use them on places in Stadium that their evolutions cant get into. They'll serve a small purpose.

Edit: Are there other NFE 'mon worth considering while I'm doing this? Or are Kadabra and Haunter pretty much the most useful NFE 'mon in RBY?

~ Aether Nexus

[Consumptus]

Poliwhirl?

[Aether Nexus]

Set?

~ Aether Nexus

[t3h Icy]

Most NFEs are garbage, and only a few can compete in even UU. The ones that do are still worse than their evolved forms. There are a few Pokemon that have stat differences such as Poliwhirl's Speed, but it's not really worth it, and there are also some type differences, which are also not worth it. The only Pokemon that can viably be used over their evolution is Dragonair, but only for the use of Wrap. Even then, I'd suggest Dragonite.

If you're looking to do more damage with Counter for whatever reason, just decrease your Defense DV. I wrote a thread about that here.

In-game can be slightly debatable as Pokemon learn moves faster in their NFE forms, but even then it doesn't matter much.

[WaterWizard]

Dragonair, Poliwhirl, and perhaps Charmeleon are the only pokes in RBY that have any sort of realistic advantage over their evolved form. I say that in spite of the fact that Nidorino, Nidorina, Seel, Shellder, and Staryu gain a type (and thus weaknesses) when they evolve, because those pokes have miserable stats compared to their evolutions.

[Nerd]

Charmeleon lacks Charizard's stats AND movepool (specifically earthquake and hyper beam), so it can't make use of swords dance and thus it is outclassed by already crappy mono-fire types. Dragonair takes slightly less than Dragonite from electric, ice and rock attacks, but gives up a lot of stats so it is virtually always inferior. It could be used on a wrap-abusive team in conjunction with Dragonite, though. Likewise, Kadabra & Haunter could hypothetically be used in addition to their evolutions. I suppose Poliwhirl COULD be used in UU; it is tied for the fastest sleeper with venomoth (and poliwag), outspeeding its evolution. In OU, its lack of a psychic type (and superior ability to use counter, I suppose) could justify its use over Poliwrath (though personally I advise against it).

If you're just playing ingame/stadium/whatever, you can use whatever you want and still win.

[Aether Nexus]

Well, this is all just for fun. It serves no competitive reason. I just keep all NFE 'mon low leveled, but if some have somewhat potential and can be used for fun in-game, then I'd be willing to raise them up to L100 and give a decent moveset if possible to use. Gimmick set or not; doesn't matter.

~ Aether Nexus

[hipmonlee]

Be careful countering with kadabra, I cant be bothered checking, but I am pretty confident Tauros will just OHKO it with hyperbeam.

[davidchansey]

Indeed it does, also a crit bslam is a guaranteed ohko.

[garrinred]

Reflect on a paralyzed Tauros. Then Counter. :-D

[davidchansey]

I suppose that would work if tauros uses hbeam, then use psychic if it didn't ko. Even if he uses bslam, counter under reflect will still do more damage than psychic. But one crit would ko kadabra, and if tauros fp, you would've been better of with psychic anyway. Also, a spec fall with the 1st psychic would guarantee a ko with the 2nd. We need calculations here maybe against a paralysed and non-paralysed tauros.

[davidchansey]

By guarantee, I mean most likely