roman
Banned deucer.
qc: torkool / misaka mikoto / eien
gp: cake / lotiasite
[OVERVIEW]
Bug
========
Shuckle's niche in Monotype is carved by its solid bulk and ability to get up at least one entry hazard in almost every game due to Mental Herb and Sturdy. Its typing gives it another niche, as a neutrality to Fire- and Flying-type attacks is extremely relevant for Bug-type teams. Shuckle also has access to solid utility options such as Knock Off and Encore that help improve its viability outside of hazard setting. However, Shuckle is vulnerable to sleep inducers such as Breloom and has no chance of beating prevalent Magic Bounce users like as Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye. Shuckle struggles to get more than one hazard up against hazard removers such as Skarmory and Crobat, as it has no attacking presence, relies on Toxic to pressure them, and can’t hope to PP stall them due to its lack of reliable recovery. Part of Shuckle's niche as a hazard setter, Sticky Web, is almost always useless against bulkier or stall teams, as these types of teams rely on slow, bulky Pokemon such as Toxapex and Chansey that don't care about lowered Speed. Shuckle's lack of reliable recovery compromises its ability to be a useful switch-in to Fire- and Flying-type attacks. Shuckle has big competition in the forms of Galvantula and Armaldo as a hazard setter because unlike Shuckle, they can offensively pressure hazard removers. Armaldo can also use Rapid Spin to clear threatening hazards such as Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes for the rest of the team.
[SET]
name: Entry Hazard Setter
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Stealth Rock
move 3: Encore
move 4: Toxic / Knock Off
item: Mental Herb
ability: Sturdy
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sticky Web allows Shuckle to support teammates such as Mega Pinsir and Scizor by slowing down grounded foes. For example, with Sticky Web up, Mega Pinsir can outpace Choice Scarf Victini and Scizor can outpace Heatran. Stealth Rock chips down foes when they switch in and renders Sturdy and Focus Sash on Pokemon such as Skarmory and Breloom useless. Encore prevents Shuckle from becoming setup bait by threatening setup sweepers such as Mega Charizard X and Suicune. Toxic lets Shuckle cripple entry hazard removers that aren't immune to the status such as Zapdos and Staraptor. Knock Off is a great utility move that can cripple Pokemon that rely on their item against Bug-type teams, such as Air Balloon Heatran and Eviolite Porygon2.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with an Impish nature allows Shuckle to set up entry hazards on threatening physical attackers such as Victini and Mega Lopunny. 248 HP EVs let Shuckle take minimal damage from Stealth Rock. Mental Herb allows Shuckle to bypass annoying Taunt and Encore users such as Deoxys-S and Mega Lopunny, respectively. Sturdy allows Shuckle to set at least one hazard against foes that could otherwise OHKO it, such as Choice Specs Keldeo.
Usage Tips
========
Lead with Shuckle almost every game, as this set allows it to set entry hazards against almost every Pokemon as well as pressure hazard removers that are susceptible to Toxic. However, play skillfully against common Magic Bounce Pokemon such as Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie, as they are generally good leads against Bug-type teams. You can lead with a Pokemon that can force the Magic Bounce user out before it can Mega Evolve and then double switch into Shuckle, which lets it safely set at least one entry hazard. Use Encore liberally against Pokemon like Tapu Bulu that could potentially be carrying setup moves, as Shuckle's bulk gives it multiple opportunities to set up hazards in most games. Although the most consistent plan with Shuckle is to set hazards and let it faint within a few turns, it can be wise to save Shuckle if given the opportunity, as it can be sacrificed for important momentum later on in a game. Play extremely aggressively around hazard removers such as Mantine by making double switches. For example, if you predict a Defog user like Mantine to switch in, double switch into a Pokemon such as Galvantula to maintain momentum. Be careful when setting Sticky Web if the opponent has a Pokemon with Contrary or Defiant like Serperior or Bisharp. Only set Sticky Web if you have a good way of beating these, as they can get out of control very quickly. Prioritize Sticky Web over Stealth Rock against offensive types such as Fighting and Bug. On the other hand, prioritize Stealth Rock over Sticky Web when playing against bulky teams or against types like Dragon and Flying that are not affected by Sticky Web.
Team Options
========
Mega Pinsir greatly appreciates Shuckle's Sticky Web support because it allows Mega Pinsir to outpace quick offensive threats to Bug such as Choice Scarf Victini. Choice Scarf Heracross and Buzzwole are good partners because they outpace most Pokemon with Sticky Web support. Heracross especially appreciates Sticky Web support, as it allows Heracross to outspeed and more reliably Pursuit trap Choice Scarf Victini. Heracross can also Pursuit trap entry hazard removers such as Latios and Zapdos, allowing teammates to keep up hazards more easily. Volcarona appreciates the support that Shuckle provides; Sticky Web allows +1 Volcarona to outpace Pokemon such as Swift Swim-boosted Kingdra and lets Volcarona set up on special attackers such as Gengar and Tapu Koko more easily, whereas Stealth Rock allows Volcarona to beat Pokemon such as Focus Sash Breloom and Alolan Golem. Scizor Pursuit traps hazard removers such as Latios and can also pressure other hazard removers such as Armaldo. Scizor can also give Shuckle a free opportunity to switch in with its slow U-turn. Armaldo and Forretress provide hazard removal support for Shuckle, which allows Shuckle to come in multiple times in a match to set entry hazards without having to worry about being chipped down by hazards such as Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock. Armaldo can also pressure Flying-type hazard removers like Mantine with Stone Edge, while Forretress can provide a secondary switch-in to Flying-type attacks and generate momentum with Volt Switch. Araquanid beats one of Shuckle's biggest problems, Mega Sableye, and it also pressures hazard removers like Latios and Rotom-H.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bug
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Opting for a more specially defensive spread allows Shuckle to set up entry hazards on strong special attackers. Infestation increases Shuckle’s potential to set up hazards, as it lets Shuckle trap and reliably set hazards against Pokemon like Clefable. Lum Berry trades Shuckle’s ability to set up hazards against Taunt users like Deoxys-S for the ability to set up against sleep inducers like Breloom.
Checks and Counters
===================
Bug
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**Magic Bounce Users**: Magic Bounce users, notably Mega Diancie and Mega Sableye, easily switch into any of Shuckle’s moves and render it useless.
**Entry Hazard Removers**: Hazard removers such as Skarmory and Excadrill prevent Shuckle from completing its role as a suicide lead, as they have no problem clearing hazards against Shuckle. However, they are susceptible to Encore, which turns them into setup bait.
**Sleep**: Sleep inducers such as Breloom and Mega Venusaur prevent Shuckle from setting hazards and can set up.
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