OverviewBefore BW was released, there wasn't yet an Electric-type that had Levitate to negate its sole weakness to Ground-type attacks. Eelektross is the prototype of this new breed, and it's itching for a test run. In fact, it's the only NU Pokemon that has no weaknesses, with Sableye and Spiritomb locked up in higher tiers. Eelektross has a few more things going for it. Eelektross was blessed with great mixed attacking stats, as base 115 Attack and 105 Special Attack are more than enough to strike fear into the heart of your opponent. However, its lack of good high-powered physical STAB and coverage moves leave it passed over by other attackers with similar stats such as Golurk, Braviary, and Sawk. Eelektross's only real boosting move is Coil, which finds use on physical sets, but Eelektross wishes it had a recovery move to last longer, especially because of its low Speed. That being said, Eelektross is a fine Choice Specs user, and fits well on VoltTurn or Choice-based teams. This is largely due to its good bulk, as well as its coverage. 85/80/80 defenses are great for an offensive Pokemon in NU, since even without investment it retains a great deal of bulk. Once Eelektross gets in, it causes havoc by forcing multiple switches, and can take advantage of entry hazards mainly thanks to its fantastic coverage and access to Dragon Tail. However, its atrocious base 50 Speed holds Eelektross back from becoming a top-tier threat and cements its role as a bulky attacker. Unfortunately, Eelektross's bulk doesn't come with useful resistances, since outside of its Ground-type immunity its only important resistances are to Flying- and Electric-type moves. Though it may seem to have a lot of things going for it, Eelektross just isn't as good in practice as it may seem on paper.
A specially attacking set takes advantage of all of Eelektross's strengths: great coverage, power, and bulk. Its slow Volt Switch allows you to keep momentum while bringing in a frail sweeper free of charge and capitalizing on entry hazards immensely. Volt Switch, Acid Spray, and Eelektross's coverage moves all force out your opponent's Pokemon. This set is especially good at tearing apart defensive cores, since it has Acid Spray to become a special wall's worst nightmare, and can use its coverage moves to easily destroy physical walls such as Tangela and Vileplume. Thunderbolt is usually superior to Acid Spray, though, since Eelektross poses a larger threat when equipped with Choice Specs and Thunderbolt doesn't force Eelektross to switch. It can be a great asset for Spikes-stacking teams, although it is useful on other types of offensive teams as well. This set can function as a momentum grabber, hazard abuser, and bulky attacker all in one. Levitate is very useful on this set as well, since even if your opponent manages to lay their own hazards down, Eelektross will only take damage from Stealth Rock. Volt Switch is the primary STAB move on this set, and is chosen for the reasons outlined above. Flamethrower is a great move for Eelektross, primarily used to hit the Grass-types that resist Volt Switch. Tangela, Vileplume, and Sawsbuck can't be allowed to get a free switch-in, and Flamethrower puts them in their place. Grass Knot rounds out Eelektross's coverage by hitting Ground-types that try to come in for free on Volt Switch, specifically Golem and Camerupt since they resist Flamethrower as well. Thunderbolt is the preferred option in the last slot mainly because Eelektross enjoys having a powerful STAB move that doesn't force it to switch. However, Acid Spray is another great choice that also messes with your opponent, as it forces them to switch before they get destroyed. Note that Thunderbolt has more use when using Choice Specs, while Acid Spray is more effective when using Leftovers. Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
This set functions differently to the special attacker set, since instead of trying to cause as much damage as possible over a few turns, this set aims to set up a sweep. Eelektross's only decent boosting move is put to good use in this set, and it complements Eelektross's naturally high Attack. This set is a great cleaner and is more effective against defensive teams, which find it very difficult to beat. Eelektross's immunity to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes really comes in handy here, and is one of the main things separating it from other Coil users, such as Arbok. This set is good on defensive teams mainly because it has great bulk, and is a great way for stall teams to destroy opposing stall teams. However, this set isn't as effective against offensive teams since it's rather weak without a couple of boosts and only has Leftovers recovery, which makes wearing it down rather easy. As such, the best way to defeat this set is to hit it hard with whatever you've got, as Eelektross will eventually die to powerful STAB moves. Eelektross has a poor physical movepool, and its only usable STAB option is Wild Charge. Although its power is decent once it has attained a couple of boosts, it comes with unappreciated recoil that can bring Eelektross to its death more quickly. However, its positives outweigh its negatives, as it is Eelektross's strongest physical STAB move. Dragon Tail is the best out of Eelektross's few coverage options, allowing it to slowly wear down Ground-types and other Pokemon that are immune to Wild Charge. It also has the great effect of phazing, preventing both slower Pokemon such as Bastiodon from phazing Eelektross and stopping opposing setup sweepers from boosting alongside it. Substitute allows Eelektross to avoid crippling status such as Toxic, and after a few boosts its Substitutes will be nearly impossible to break with physical attacks. Substitute also gives Eelektross more longevity, as it can slowly be worn down without the move by defensive Pokemon, but with Substitute its health will replenish at a faster rate. Return is a decent option over Substitute, as it gets good neutral coverage, especially against Tangela, who can take advantage of Dragon Tail's phasing effect to heal with Regenerator. Team Options & Additional Comments >>>Other OptionsEelektross has a decent movepool that it can make use of, although no other set is quite as effective as the two listed above. Mixed sets are certainly a possibility, as Brick Break can be used to lure in Lickilicky and dispose of it while also beating physical walls. As such, a mixed set utilizing Coil is feasible too, with moves such as Thunder and Zap Cannon taking advantage of the accuracy boost that Coil provides. However, you lose out on much-needed bulk, and even with accuracy boosts Zap Cannon is still extremely unreliable. Eelektross is a reliable setter of Rain Dance, and can make use of perfectly accurate STAB Thunder, and its slow Volt Switch can bring in a rain sweeper unharmed. However, it faces stiff competition from Gardevoir in this department, who can set up Rain Dance multiple times and use Healing Wish to give a sweeper a second chance. Eelektross can run an offensive Coil set, utilizing a Chesto Berry along with Rest to set up a sweep. Similarly, Eelektross can use a Choice Band to boost the power of Wild Charge. However, Eelektross's coverage moves are mediocre and it can't break through physical walls with only Dragon Claw, Rock Slide, Return, Brick Break, and Crunch. Acrobatics is also a viable option, as with a Flying Gem intact it is a guaranteed 2HKO on Tangela. However, it doesn't grant coverage on any other notable threats. Checks and CountersWhile Eelektross's coverage, power, and ability to go either physical or special limit its number of checks and counters considerably, there are a few Pokemon who can claim to check it effectively. For special sets, Stunfisk, Lickilicky, and Probopass are arguably the best ways of dealing with Eelektross. Stunfisk is immune to Eelektross's STAB moves, and takes paltry damage from Grass Knot due its low weight. Stunfisk can then use Toxic to cripple Eelektross before slowly wearing it down with Scald. Lickilicky only fears an Acid Spray or two followed by Thunderbolt, otherwise it is a complete stop to special Eelektross. In fact, Lickilicky's Return has a small chance to 2HKO Eelektross after Stealth Rock, which is another way of dealing with it if you don't want to go down the Toxic stall route with Wish. Probopass is immensely bulky, and can paralyze Eelektross before wearing it down with Power Gem or Volt Switching out to a Pokemon that can take a predicted attack and dispose of it comfortably. Altaria can also take Eelektross's hits well, and with Roost can wall all of Eelektross's special attacks bar Acid Spray. Altaria can then either force it out with Perish Song or Toxic stall it to death. For physical sets, there are even fewer defensive Pokemon that can hope to take Eelektross on. Tangela is the best option for beating physical Eelektross, as it outspeeds Eelektross that don't invest in Speed, and can hit it with Sleep Powder before it can cause any damage. Also, Dragon Tail will heal Tangela because of Regenerator, while Eelektross will be slowly worn down. Bastiodon is also a good check to physical Eelektross, although it will struggle after Eelektross has attained a few boosts. It only takes minimal damage from Wild Charge before Eelektross has accumulated several boosts, but it must watch out for Dragon Tail if attempting to phaze. Once Eelektross's Substitute is broken, it must make a difficult choice between being phazed out by Roar or being hit by Toxic as it uses Dragon Tail. While there isn't really much else that can switch in to Eelektross very easily, it will fall to repeated powerful attacks, so for offensive teams that is the best option. Pinsir and Rampardos both get special mentions here, as they can take advantage of Mold Breaker to OHKO Eelektross with a super effective Earthquake. While Eelektross is extremely threatening on paper, in practice it is beaten by lots of threats, mainly due to its low Speed. Choice item users are usually the best way of dealing with it, especially those wielding Choice Band or Choice Specs. It's best to hit Eelektross hard right off the bat, lest it retaliate and sweep. Exeggutor, Sawk, and Charizard are among the strongest Pokemon in the tier, and many of them use Choice items to increase their power tremendously. For offensive teams, the best way to beat Eelektross is to keep attacking it, since it will die eventually. |
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