Little Monster
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Rest
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a fantastic typing, ability, and good bulk, Bulk Up Scraggy makes for a terrific defensive setup sweeper. Drain Punch is preferred over its other Fighting STAB moves, giving it additional longevity. Knock Off threatens out Fighting-resistant and -immune targets like Duosion and Dusclops, while crippling bulky walls like Ivysaur and Dustox. Rest allows Scraggy to get rid of any status it had and makes it healthy again. Shed Skin allows for Scraggy to potentially wake up earlier and makes it a solid status absorber.
Scraggy pairs excellently in bulky balance and stall builds as a status absorber, Knock Off user, and a wincon in one slot. Unlike other Dark-types, Scraggy is able to wall Psychic-types like Meowstic-F and Duosion through its typing and bulk, which other Dark-types have trouble doing. Physical walls like Bronzor and Swalot make for excellent partners; both can provide utility via setting up Stealth Rock and absorbing Knock Off, respectively, and resist Fairy-type attacks from Carbink. Additionally, Bronzor can resist Flying-type attacks from Jumpluff. Clerics like Meganium and Wigglytuff can make Scraggy less reliant on Rest and Shed Skin, and the latter can even pass large Wishes to augment Scraggy's longevity. In return, Scraggy can make progress for its team through Knock Off support, crippling item-reliant Pokemon like Politoed and Servine, while consistently walling Duosion's Future Sights. Physical walls like Hippopotas and Carbink can often halt its progress as a late-game sweeper, so checks to them like Ivysaur and Bronzor can be quite helpful. Conversely, Scraggy can help its teammates out through walling defensive staples like Bronzor, Duosion, and Dustox, while also taking on special attackers like Electabuzz, Frogadier, and Vanilluxe in a pinch.
[SET]
name: Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
move 4: Taunt / Rest
item: Eviolite
ability: Moxie / Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Dragon Dance Scraggy is a terrifying cleaner with its threatening STAB moves and solid Speed and power after a boost. Knock Off cripples many Eviolite- and item-reliant Pokemon like Bronzor and Politoed. High Jump Kick's higher Base Power enables Scraggy to achieve benchmarks Drain Punch would not, such as securing OHKOs on Furfrou, and Magmar, and having a good chance to OHKO Huntail after Stealth Rock, all at +1 Attack. Drain Punch can be used as a safer move against Protect users like Politoed and Ghost-types like Dusclops. Taunt stops bulky Pokemon like Whirlipede, Dustox, and Vibrava from using their utility moves, enabling Scraggy to continue setting up and potentially snowball KOs with Moxie boosts. Rest can be used alongside Shed Skin to make status less effective against Scraggy, though it can be unreliable when dealing with offensive pressure.
Unlike the previous set, Dragon Dance Scraggy works better on offensive teams, working together to overwhelm the opposition with repeated attacks. Setup sweepers like Dragonair, Simipour, and Swoobat work nicely alongside Scraggy, looking to overwhelm checks it struggles against like Electabuzz, Carbink, and Swalot, respectively. In return, Scraggy can break down defensive stalwarts like Bronzor, Dustox, and Klang. Meowstic-M stands out as a great support partner, setting up screens and spreading status via Thunder Wave so that Scraggy has an easier time breaking or cleaning. Entry hazard setters like Gigalith and Whirlipede can make offensive benchmarks easier to achieve.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Iron Head can be used on the Dragon Dance set to 2HKO Carbink on the switch, though it lacks any other targets,(add comma) and the utility of Taunt or Rest is preferred.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Even with Iron Head, Fairy-types like Carbink and Wigglytuff are bulky enough to take at least one hit from Scraggy and OHKO it with their Fairy-type STAB moves.
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type coverage**: Mienfoo outspeeds all Scraggy variants and can threaten it out with High Jump Kick and Knock Off. While Pignite doesn't outspeed offensive Scraggy variants, it can take at least any +1 Attack hit and threaten it out with its own Fighting-type STAB moves, and can even phaze Bulk Up Scraggy with Roar. Pokemon sporting Fighting-type coverage, like Magmar and Electabuzz, can discourage Scraggy from setting up.
**Poison-types**: Swalot and Ivysaur resist Scraggy's Fighting-type STAB moves and have enough bulk to take Knock Off reasonably well. They can wear it down with Rocky Helmet chip damage and Leech Seed, respectively. Offensive Poison-types like a healthy Seviper and Gastly can use Final Gambit and Dazzling Gleam, respectively, to threaten huge damage on Scraggy.
**Flying-types**: While they cannot switch in safely, Flying-types like Pidgeot, Swoobat, and Jumpluff can threaten Scraggy out with their STAB moves; Jumpluff does particularly well as it does not run an item and therefore takes less damage from Knock Off.
**Physical Wallbreakers**: Scraggy's physical bulk without a Bulk Up boost is mediocre, so wallbreakers like Furfrou and Sawsbuck can threaten heavy damage on Scraggy and jeopardize its sweeping attempts. Even at +1 Speed, offensive Scraggy is outpaced by revenge killers like Simisage, Jumpluff, and Furfrou.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jett.226429/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/queez.229690/
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