|
-
Inner Focus
- Prevents flinching.
-
Keen Eye
- The wielder's accuracy cannot be lowered.
-
Pickpocket
- The wielder immediately steals an item from an attacker using a contact move.
|
Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
55
|
- |
251 |
314 |
- |
| Atk |
95
|
203 |
226 |
289 |
317 |
| Def |
55
|
131 |
146 |
209 |
229 |
| SpA |
35
|
95 |
106 |
169 |
185 |
| SpD |
75
|
167 |
186 |
249 |
273 |
| Spe |
115
|
239 |
266 |
329 |
361 |
Overview
Sneasel isn't as dangerous as its evolution, Weavile, but it can pose a formidable threat in the lower tiers. As it has one of the highest Speed stats in the NU tier and its Attack stat can leave a dent in anything that doesn't resist its STABs, it makes a very good revenge killer. However, Sneasel isn't without its flaws; with a weakness to Stealth Rock, common weaknesses in Fire, Rock, and Fighting, and pitiful Defense and HP, Sneasel is fairly easy to KO. If you're incredibly lucky, Sneasel can pull off a sweep with Swords Dance, revenge kill with a Choice item, or trap fleeing Psychic-types with Pursuit. It may not look the part, but Sneasel is incredibly powerful given the right support.
Thanks to its high Speed, Sneasel can revenge kill most Psychic- and Ghost-types with Pursuit without having to take a hit. Ice Punch is Sneasel's most reliable STAB move and hits bulky Grass- and Ground-types super effectively. Ice Shard helps Sneasel finish off weakened opponents and Dragon-type Pokemon locked into Outrage, while Brick Break hits Pokemon such as Lapras and Miltank super effectively. Low Kick can be used if you prefer its higher Base Power against Regirock and Lapras, who can take Sneasel's other attacks with ease.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The EV spread is simple; maximum Attack and Speed give Sneasel the highest chance of sweeping. A Jolly nature reaches 361 Speed, matching that of Persian and Floatzel, and outrunning the occasional Choice Scarf Wailord. An Adamant nature can be used along with a Choice Scarf, but the added power from a Choice Band is preferred. Shadow Claw can be used to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types super effectively, but isn't boosted by STAB or doubled in power when the opponent switches out.
Weezing walls Sneasel effortlessly and can threaten it with a burn from Will-O-Wisp, so a bulky Psychic-type such as Musharna is recommended. Torkoal can take all of Sneasel's attacks and KO it with its STAB move, making bulky Water-types, such as Lanturn and Quagsire, excellent partners. Rapid Spin support from the likes of Armaldo and Torkoal helps Sneasel survive longer, giving it more chances to KO an opponent.
This set takes a different approach to Sneasel, attempting to deal as much damage as possible before going down. The idea is to switch into a Pokemon Sneasel can force out and proceed to set up Swords Dance; from there, Sneasel can pummel the opponent with boosted STAB moves or shut them down with Taunt. Ice Punch is recommended as it is Sneasel's most reliable STAB move. Low Kick can OHKO Regirock after Stealth Rock and Spikes damage, while Lapras is OHKOed when at +2 Attack. Furthermore, the combination of Ice Punch and Low Kick is only resisted by Tentacool, Slowking, Lampent, and Frillish. Bite rounds off Sneasel's coverage and means that Sneasel hits everything in the tier for at least neutral damage. Taunt can be used to stop the opponent from setting up, and it usually forces defensive Psychic-types, such as Musharna, to switch out.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Ice Shard can be used to finish off Swellow and Braviary, but this leaves Sneasel walled by Steel-types. A Pokemon that deals with Steel-types should be used if Low Kick is absent, making Samurott or Probopass great teammates. Sawk is another great teammate as it can switch into Rock-type moves and deal with Steel-types that wall Sneasel without Low Kick.
Rapid Spin support is almost mandatory in setting up a sweep, as Sneasel already loses health from Life Orb recoil; Armaldo and Torkoal are two excellent Rapid Spin users, but share a nasty weakness to Rock-type moves. Psychic-types can be used to KO Weezing and friends, and also resist Fighting-type moves aimed at Sneasel. Wynaut can Encore an attack Sneasel resists and give it an easy switch in, while Grass-types can take out Alomomola.
Other Options
Sneasel's movepool isn't great—it doesn't even have Night Slash—but it has a few options to consider. Punishment can be used to batter Calm Mind users such as Musharna, while Knock Off renders Eviolite Pokemon useless. Fake Out is somewhat gimmicky but breaks the opponent's Focus Sash, and Counter can be used with Focus Sash to catch physical attackers, such as Sawk, off guard. Finally, Sneasel can use a gimmicky set with Eviolite and defensive EVs, but its awful defensive typing makes it difficult to pull off.
Checks and Counters
Most Fighting-types can destroy our clawed friend. Sawk can utilize a Choice Scarf to outrun and batter Sneasel, while bulkier Pokemon, such as Throh, Gurdurr, and Machoke, can take a hit and deal massive damage in return. Torkoal resists Ice-type moves, has Will-O-Wisp to lower Sneasel's Attack, and can KO Sneasel with Lava Plume. Weezing takes little damage from any of Sneasel's attacks, deals massive damage with Fire Blast, and cripples Sneasel with Will-O-Wisp. Armaldo can switch into Sneasel's Ice-type attacks and threaten it with X-Scissor or Rock Blast. Regirock and Carracosta can take on sets without Low Kick, but neither of them likes taking boosted attacks. Magcargo can burn Sneasel with Will-O-Wisp or KO it with Lava Plume, but its lack of recovery makes it an easy Pokemon to revenge kill. Thanks to Alomomola's massive HP and Defense, it can wall Sneasel all day, and it has access to Wish and Toxic to keep it alive and let it wear down Sneasel, respectively. Most Water-types can deal with Sneasel; these include Whiscash, Seismitoad, and Relicanth. Almost anything with decent Defense that isn't weak to Ice-type moves can be considered a counter; Sneasel isn't dangerous enough to require a specialized counter.
