Fiend
someguy
[What To Use]
The Rapture (Shellder) @ Eviolite
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell / Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard
- Rock Blast
Roles: Physical Sweeper
What It Does: Shell Smash is the key component of Shellder's viability, especially when used alongside Skill Link. Rock Blast benefits from Skill Link while also deals with Flying and Fire-type threats, such as Archen and Wild Charge Larvesta, respectively, also scoring a neutral hit on Water-type Pokemon so they don't wall Shellder to oblivion. Razor Shell is a fantastic option, gaining STAB and providing fantastic coverage along side Rock Blast. Yet, Icicle Spear can be used to fully utilize Skill Link, but using this instead of Razor Shell will make Steel-types a bit more difficult to deal with. Icicle Spear does, however, give Shellder the ability to break through Grass-type Pokemon far easier. Ice Shard allows Shellder to bypass Fletchling before it can hit Shellder with a priority Acrobatics, scoring the KO after Stealth Rock when at +2. Additionally, with proper prediction, it causes Sucker Punch to fail. Here, Eviolite is used over White Herb as it not only grants an increase in Defense and Special Defense before Shell Smash, but also nullifies the drops afterwards.
Good Teammates: If Shellder runs Icicle Spear instead of Razor Shell, Steel-types can be a problem. Magnemite and Diglett are both great teammates as they easily trap and eliminate these pokemon. On the other hand, if Razor Shell is run over Icicle Spear instead, Foongus and Doduo pair well with Shellder in aiding the removal of opposing Grass-types. Knock Off support can aid Shellder in weakening bulky Fighting-types and other physical behemoths such as Spritzee. Memento users such as Koffing, Cottonee, and Drifloon provide Shellder with much easier set up. Stealth Rock support is a great asset to Shellder, letting it secure several KOes and break past Magnemite.
What Counters It: Shellder's counter are dependant on what it is running. Common Fighting-types, such as Mienfoo and Timburr, tend to be bulky enough to take Shellder's Icicle Spear multiple times and can normally fire back a Drain Punch Back for the KO. Croagunk gets a special mention for hard walling any Shellder lacking Icicle Spear, and revenging those who do run it. Pawniard and Magnemite are also able to sponge numerous attacks from shellder providing none of them are Razor Shell. If Razor Shell is run over Icicle Spear, Foongus and Cottonee pose quite the problem for Shellder. Additionally, pokemon with decent bulk and Berry Juice are able to revenge Shellder, for example Chinchou and Stunky, as are most walls (with Eviolite still).
[What To Use]
Cubone @ Thick Club
Ability: Battle Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bonemerang / Earthquake
- Rock Tomb
- Knock Off
- Fire Punch / Swords Dance
Roles: Wallbreaker
What It Does: Cubone shatters even the metagme's most defensive walls thanks to the item, Thick Club, doubling Cubone's attack. With Thick Club, Cubone reaches an astounding 28 attack with an neutral nature. This monstrous attack is sturdily supported with Cubone's movepool, leaving a grand total of zero safe switch ins for this beast. Bonemerang allows Cubone to bypass Sturdy (sometimes) and Focus Sash pokemon, especially useful with Sticky Web support, however using Earthquake is also an option to avoid untimely misses. Rock Tomb is a perfect second move, allowing Cubone to outpace the entire unboosted metagame and providing EdgeQuake coverage, while also remaining powerful enough (and more accurate than the other alternatives). Knock Off is Cubone's third move, allowing pokemon to be crippled easily while also securing the 2HKO on Berry Juice pokemon and Lileep/Slowpoke. Lastly, Fire Punch is used over Swords Dance to defeat Ferroseed with much more ease, however Swords Dance allows Cubone to OHKO almost entire tier, save a few select pokemon.
Good Teammates: Torchic is an obvious pairing with Cubone, as Torchic can pass both Speed and attack boosts to Cubone, letting it annihilate everything if successful. Archen can set up Stealth Rock for Cubone allowing it to secure more KOes after a Swords Dance, while also providing a decent answer to the numerous Fighting types who'll try to land a Knock Off on Cubone. Mienfoo, Trubbish, and Shellos each easily sponge the Knock Offs aimed at Cubone, eash with their individual perks; Mienfoo is just a generally great pokemon which can easily deal with most Knock Off users while also retaining insane longevity, Trubbish provides hazard support for Cubone, securing everything dies if they come in on two layers of spikes when Cubone is at +2, and Shellos has the perk of being amazingly bulky with burn support and reliable recovery. Sticky Web support is also a godsend for Cubone, letting it outspeed much more of the metagame, letting even less check it.
What Counters It: Nothing actually can boast to counter Cubone. However, a fair amount of pokemon can revenge kill Cubone or cripple it. For example, Mienfoo can take one hit, then cripple with Knock Off, and then switch out again for Regenerator. Staryu can abuse Cubone's lower Speed and Special Defense KO with Scald. Vulpix outspeeds and KOes as well. Eviolite Aipom beats Cubone with the combination of Knock Off and Fury Swipes/Seed Bomb.
Any Additional Info: Don't let it get a pass from Torchic, or set an SD with Sticky Web support. Also actively try to hit Cubone with a Knock Off, it makes Cubone useless usually.
The Rapture (Shellder) @ Eviolite
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell / Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard
- Rock Blast
Roles: Physical Sweeper
What It Does: Shell Smash is the key component of Shellder's viability, especially when used alongside Skill Link. Rock Blast benefits from Skill Link while also deals with Flying and Fire-type threats, such as Archen and Wild Charge Larvesta, respectively, also scoring a neutral hit on Water-type Pokemon so they don't wall Shellder to oblivion. Razor Shell is a fantastic option, gaining STAB and providing fantastic coverage along side Rock Blast. Yet, Icicle Spear can be used to fully utilize Skill Link, but using this instead of Razor Shell will make Steel-types a bit more difficult to deal with. Icicle Spear does, however, give Shellder the ability to break through Grass-type Pokemon far easier. Ice Shard allows Shellder to bypass Fletchling before it can hit Shellder with a priority Acrobatics, scoring the KO after Stealth Rock when at +2. Additionally, with proper prediction, it causes Sucker Punch to fail. Here, Eviolite is used over White Herb as it not only grants an increase in Defense and Special Defense before Shell Smash, but also nullifies the drops afterwards.
Good Teammates: If Shellder runs Icicle Spear instead of Razor Shell, Steel-types can be a problem. Magnemite and Diglett are both great teammates as they easily trap and eliminate these pokemon. On the other hand, if Razor Shell is run over Icicle Spear instead, Foongus and Doduo pair well with Shellder in aiding the removal of opposing Grass-types. Knock Off support can aid Shellder in weakening bulky Fighting-types and other physical behemoths such as Spritzee. Memento users such as Koffing, Cottonee, and Drifloon provide Shellder with much easier set up. Stealth Rock support is a great asset to Shellder, letting it secure several KOes and break past Magnemite.
What Counters It: Shellder's counter are dependant on what it is running. Common Fighting-types, such as Mienfoo and Timburr, tend to be bulky enough to take Shellder's Icicle Spear multiple times and can normally fire back a Drain Punch Back for the KO. Croagunk gets a special mention for hard walling any Shellder lacking Icicle Spear, and revenging those who do run it. Pawniard and Magnemite are also able to sponge numerous attacks from shellder providing none of them are Razor Shell. If Razor Shell is run over Icicle Spear, Foongus and Cottonee pose quite the problem for Shellder. Additionally, pokemon with decent bulk and Berry Juice are able to revenge Shellder, for example Chinchou and Stunky, as are most walls (with Eviolite still).
[What To Use]
Cubone @ Thick Club
Ability: Battle Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bonemerang / Earthquake
- Rock Tomb
- Knock Off
- Fire Punch / Swords Dance
Roles: Wallbreaker
What It Does: Cubone shatters even the metagme's most defensive walls thanks to the item, Thick Club, doubling Cubone's attack. With Thick Club, Cubone reaches an astounding 28 attack with an neutral nature. This monstrous attack is sturdily supported with Cubone's movepool, leaving a grand total of zero safe switch ins for this beast. Bonemerang allows Cubone to bypass Sturdy (sometimes) and Focus Sash pokemon, especially useful with Sticky Web support, however using Earthquake is also an option to avoid untimely misses. Rock Tomb is a perfect second move, allowing Cubone to outpace the entire unboosted metagame and providing EdgeQuake coverage, while also remaining powerful enough (and more accurate than the other alternatives). Knock Off is Cubone's third move, allowing pokemon to be crippled easily while also securing the 2HKO on Berry Juice pokemon and Lileep/Slowpoke. Lastly, Fire Punch is used over Swords Dance to defeat Ferroseed with much more ease, however Swords Dance allows Cubone to OHKO almost entire tier, save a few select pokemon.
Good Teammates: Torchic is an obvious pairing with Cubone, as Torchic can pass both Speed and attack boosts to Cubone, letting it annihilate everything if successful. Archen can set up Stealth Rock for Cubone allowing it to secure more KOes after a Swords Dance, while also providing a decent answer to the numerous Fighting types who'll try to land a Knock Off on Cubone. Mienfoo, Trubbish, and Shellos each easily sponge the Knock Offs aimed at Cubone, eash with their individual perks; Mienfoo is just a generally great pokemon which can easily deal with most Knock Off users while also retaining insane longevity, Trubbish provides hazard support for Cubone, securing everything dies if they come in on two layers of spikes when Cubone is at +2, and Shellos has the perk of being amazingly bulky with burn support and reliable recovery. Sticky Web support is also a godsend for Cubone, letting it outspeed much more of the metagame, letting even less check it.
What Counters It: Nothing actually can boast to counter Cubone. However, a fair amount of pokemon can revenge kill Cubone or cripple it. For example, Mienfoo can take one hit, then cripple with Knock Off, and then switch out again for Regenerator. Staryu can abuse Cubone's lower Speed and Special Defense KO with Scald. Vulpix outspeeds and KOes as well. Eviolite Aipom beats Cubone with the combination of Knock Off and Fury Swipes/Seed Bomb.
Any Additional Info: Don't let it get a pass from Torchic, or set an SD with Sticky Web support. Also actively try to hit Cubone with a Knock Off, it makes Cubone useless usually.
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