Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
104
|
- |
349 |
412 |
- |
| Atk |
91
|
196 |
218 |
281 |
309 |
| Def |
63
|
145 |
162 |
225 |
247 |
| SpA |
91
|
196 |
218 |
281 |
309 |
| SpD |
63
|
145 |
162 |
225 |
247 |
| Spe |
68
|
154 |
172 |
235 |
258 |
With this set Exploud has a notable advantage of most of its fellow Normal-types, as few have the Special Attack stat to take advantage of their large movepools. Surf is very handy as it will do plenty of damage to most of the common switch-ins for the Normal-typed attacker, potentially 1-2HKOing the vast majority of them. Rocks, Steels and Ghosts are likely to come in to absorb Exploud's STAB move, and all will take heavy damage from a boosted Water attack. Shadow Ball offers more power against Ghosts and Psychics, particularly special walls like Grumpig and Hypno. With 140 Base Power, Overheat is the most powerful attack Exploud has (compared to the 135 of STAB Hyper Voice), so it will be doing plenty of damage to Steel and Ghost switch-ins. Ice Beam isn't really needed unless you want to seriously maim Altaria, in which case it can be used over Shadow Ball or Overheat.
Speed EVs reach 210, enough to outrun most Swift Swim Pokemon like Omastar and Gorebyss before they set up.
This is pretty much your typical Choice Band-wielding Normal-type, with the benefit of Exploud having decent offense in both categories, thus allowing Overheat to overwhelm annoying high-Defense Steels, like Steelix. Return has the most power, but on something as slow as Exploud, the paralysis support Body Slam can provide is often preferable.
Howl is Exploud's best (and only) move for boosting its Attack power. Thanks to Soundproof Exploud's Attack boosts cannot be Roared away, nor is he forced out by Perish Song. This makes Exploud a good recipient of a Baton Passed Agility. If you want Exploud to try and sweep without assistance, then you can opt for Body Slam over Return to score some paralysis support, before attempting a sweep. Surf can go over Earthquake as it deals with high Defense opponents, like Golem and Steelix, more effectively.
A simple Life Orb set, designed to take advantage of Swords Dance and/or Agility being passed to Exploud. Fire Blast deals up to 90% damage against most Steelix, and easily cripples Wormadam-S. As Return is your main tool for sweeping, the EVs are focused in Attack. Speed is sufficient to outrun max Speed Electrode if Exploud receives a single Agility.
Other Options
Exploud doesn't have many useful options outside of the ones already listed, but it's already proven itself to have quite the varied resource pool. Rest and Sleep Talk make it more durable, but its defensive stats aren't exactly impressive. Counter is a good choice given Exploud's high HP, and can grab a surprise KO.
EVs
Max out the desired attacking stat, aim for a "magic" Speed number, then put the remaining in HP. For mixed sets, put leftover EVs into the secondary attacking stat rather than HP.
Opinion
No other Normal-type Pokémon outside of the mighty Arceus has such an even and relatively powerful combination of Attack and Special Attack stats. Combined with a very diverse offense-based move pool, this gives Exploud much to talk about. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of its defenses and speed, and even its 104 base HP is not enough to save it in this regard. Exploud needs to come in on something it knows it can force out. For this purpose, Soundproof can be quite a useful ability, as it allows Exploud to block Heal Bell and Perish Song, prevent itself from being roared, and even stop the unpopular but still fairly annoying Sing and GrassWhistle (moves which see much more use in the lower tiers it finds itself). It makes for one hell of a Baton Pass recipient, so try it at the end of a chain or even a smaller two-Pokémon combination.
Counters
Exploud is slow, a Normal-type, and it is unable to boost its defenses in any way. Steels, Rocks and Ghosts all make good switch-ins against the Choice Bander, providing you predict correctly. Strong Fighting attacks from pretty much every Fighting-type Pokémon ever will wreck it, particularly ones with good defenses on both ends, such as Hitmontop.
Pokemon with Whirlwind, like Drapion and Noctowl can get around Soundproof and phaze any stat boosts Exploud has been passed.
