Sleep one foe, which will often cause it to switch, and paralyze the next one that's sent in. Energy Ball is for STAB and feeds off his decent base 90 Special Attack. The final slot provides type coverage. Both Hidden Power types hit Gras-types; Ice hits Fliers and Dragons, while Fire hits Steels and Bugs. Leech Seed is also worth considering for some extra healing support for Carnivine or another team member. Power Whip can be used over Energy Ball and gives Carnivine some extra offensive power thanks to the extra 40 base power. You'll lose the versatility provided by Hidden Power if you go the physical route, as his only other options for physical attacks are Return and Crunch.
His physical movepool is incredibly limited, so type coverage on this set is poor, although after a Swords Dance, Power Whip is a powerful attack. Return stops Cacturne and Shiftry walling him and hits most Grass, Flying and Fire-types for neutral damage. Crunch hits Shedinja and other Ghosts who resist Power Whip such as Drifblim, but is otherwise a poor option as a neutral Power Whip does more than a super effective Crunch. Steel-types like Mawile and Wormadam will wall you whichever attack you choose though—hence the option of Hidden Power Fire.
Sub Seeding can be a very effective strategy, although Carnivine's crappy Speed stat makes it difficult to pull off. However, Stun Spore compensates for this and possible full paralysis can help set up a Substitute. Sludge Bomb can be used over a STAB move so you can hit other Grass-types who are immune to Leech Seed. Try not to use it before you've spread some paralysis though, as poisoning your opponent makes Stun Spore useless. Sleep Powder over Stun Spore allows you to set up a Substitute more easily and will incapacitate an incoming counter. Although you'll be easily walled by Grass-types, Power Whip is worth considering as it's his most powerful Attack. If you use Sludge Bomb over Power Whip, use a Modest nature and shift those Attack EVs to Special Attack. Other OptionsStockpile will help to boost his mediocre defenses, but he'll still be taking a lot of damage from super effective attacks, so this it not recommended. Giga Drain has less power than Energy Ball, but you may benefit from its healing side effect. Sludge Bomb can hit fellow Grass-types, but many Grasses have Poison subtypes, and Hidden Power Fire or Ice provides better type coverage. Worry Seed can screw up Rest users or any Pokémon that relies heavily on its ability. EVsWhile Sub Seeders generally operate more effectively with their EVs focused in defenses before HP, it makes little difference to Carnivine as his HP stat is average at best. Max out HP and whichever attacking stat you're using. Double Powder set should follow the same EV spread as the Sub Seeder. The Swords Dancer should have max HP and Attack, Adamant nature. If you choose Hidden Power Fire, then a Brave nature is recommended. OpinionStatus, draining moves, everything you expect from a Grass-type. While his offensive movepool may be limited, it's just about good enough so his decent attacking stats aren't entirely wasted. The fairly exclusive Power Whip is his stand-out move and at least gives him something over those that can utilize similar sets, such as Victreebel and Venusaur. His poor Speed and Defense means he'll have a hard time competing against some of the bigger threats in the game, but he can be somewhat effective in the lower tiers. CountersGrass/Poison-types like Vileplume and Venusaur make good counters, as they're immune to Leech Seed and resist his STAB moves. Both possess enough Special Defense to handle super effective Hidden Power and hit back with STAB Sludge Bomb. Fire-types destroy him, but won't like being Seeded or statused. Same goes for Flying-types, although they'll have to be wary of Hidden Power Ice. Tentacruel won't enjoy too many hits from Power Whip, but Liquid Ooze will screw up Leech Seed, and Sludge Bomb, Poison Jab or Ice Beam will defeat Carnivine quickly. |
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