Status: Finished; awaiting GP checks
Yeh, finally got around to getting this done. Not a full revamp per se, I left the set comments as they were since I appreciate the effort put into the original analysis, and they were pretty well written regardless (just saying, I'm not trying to be lazy).
Stamps:
(Thund91)
(Bluewind)
(whistle)
(uragg)
Changes Made:
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/absol
-----------------------------
[Overview]
<p>Absol is considered the "Disaster" Pokémon because it is thought to bring bad luck to anyone who meets it, including its opponent. Absol's biggest selling point, its STAB Sucker Punch, is the most powerful priority move in the game. Swords Dance and a monstrous base 130 Attack stat make switching into Absol difficult; and if that wasn't bad enough, Super Luck gives Absol a good chance of landing a critical hit. Absol’s only real downfalls are its lackluster defenses and average Speed stat.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Night Slash / Psycho Cut
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Absol's amazing base 130 Attack stat, coupled with Swords Dance and the strongest priority move in the game, makes it a devastating sweeper against those who aren't prepared.</p>
<p>Sucker Punch helps mitigate its mediocre Speed. With it, Absol becomes a challenge to take down as Sucker Punch can severely dent or even OHKO would-be revenge killers. Superpower is a great move to pair with Sucker Punch, as it damages Steel- and Dark-type Pokémon, such as Steelix and Drapion, who take little damage from Absol's STAB Dark-type attacks. Night Slash allows Absol to eliminate Pokémon who try to outsmart you by refusing to attack while Absol tries to Sucker Punch, and works extremely well with Absol's Super Luck ability. Psycho Cut, which also benefits from Super Luck, can maim incoming Poison- and Fighting-type Pokémon, such as Weezing, Hitmontop, and Hariyama.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs generate maximum Attack and Speed to increase Absol’s potency as a sweeper. The remaining 4 EVs go in Special Defense rather than HP in order to give Absol a HP stat of 271, decreasing the damage it takes from Stealth Rock. If you want, you can also choose to give Absol a 29 HP IV, which means it will take less damage from Life Orb recoil. Adamant is the recommended nature as the extra power can prove very useful; Blaziken can be OHKOed after Stealth Rock by +2 Sucker Punch, and the extra damage can ensure KOs on bulkier walls such as Milotic and Donphan with a little bit of residual damage. However, a Jolly nature can sometimes be useful to get the jump on opponents like offensive Milotic and Venusaur that run neutral-Speed natures. A Jolly nature also allows Absol to outpace slower Blaziken and Toxicroak, enabling it to use Sucker Punch before they can use Vacuum Wave. While Life Orb is the recommended item to boost Absol’s power, Lum Berry is also a nice option as it gives Absol a cushion against Weezing’s and Spiritomb’s Will-O-Wisp. It also helps against Venusaur who may try to evade Sucker Punch by using Sleep Powder.</p>
<p>Entry hazards are a good idea to facilitate your sweep – Stealth Rock can be easily set up by a lead such as Kabutops or Uxie, while Spikes can be set up by Omastar or Cloyster. If you can manage to get Absol set up and ready to go, there’s very little in the UU metagame that can actually stand in its way. However, in practice, using Absol is rarely such a smooth ride, as its poor defensive stats and relatively low Speed immediately highlight two big problems – first, setting it up without being killed or crippled, and second, stopping faster Pokemon from simply revenge killing it or forcing it out. As for the first point, Absol generally can only set up on weaker attackers with resisted STAB moves. While luring out a Choiced Rotom or Alakazam with something like a weakened Venusaur can do the trick, you can do more than that. For example, Uxie can provide dual screen support to allow Absol to set up more easily, or it can give Absol a free switch with strategic U-turn pivoting. As for revenge killers, you can first try to ascertain what Pokemon are likely to be faster or carry priority and whether they can avoid Sucker Punch – for example, Alakazam could revenge kill Absol with Signal Beam, but Absol can beat it to the punch with Sucker Punch. However, Alakazam has the potential to carry Substitute or Encore to thwart this strategy.</p>
<p>Bulkier threats to Absol are hard to come by, yet still exist. While frailer Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee and Primeape are OHKOed by boosted Sucker Punch, more defensive Pokemon such as Hitmontop and Hariyama can be problematic, especially if you lack Sucker Punch. Hitmontop’s Technician Mach Punch is a guaranteed OHKO on Absol, while defensive Hariyama can take anything Absol has, bar Psycho Cut, and hit back with Revenge or Brick Break. Thus, a partner such as Claydol or Weezing who can take down Fighting-types is greatly recommended. Threats that don’t immediately attack can be quite threatening as you cannot rely on the extra strength of Sucker Punch. Will-O-Wisp Weezing and Spiritomb can cripple Absol, but can be taken care of by most Fire-types. Milotic can be a potent foe, as it can Haze away boosts and then attack with STAB Surf or even potentially outspeed Absol. If you are concerned about Milotic, Venusaur can be employed to deal with it, while also helping out by absorbing Toxic Spikes, checking Fighting-types, and crippling opponents with Sleep Powder.</p>
<h3>Damage Calculations</h3>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Psycho Cut vs. 252/252+ Hitmontop: 107.2% - 126.3%</li>
<li>+1 Adamant Absol Psycho Cut vs. 252/252+ Hitmontop: 80.3% - 94.7%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 248/252+ Milotic: 69.5% - 81.9%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 252/200 Milotic: 79.9% - 94.4%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 52/204 Donphan: 70.4% - 82.9%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 252/0+ Weezing: 76.3% - 89.8%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 252/252+ Weezing: 62% - 73.1%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Sucker Punch vs. 252/0 Hitmontop: 63.8% - 75%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Sucker Punch vs. 0/0 Blaziken: 82.7% - 97.7%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Sucker Punch vs. 0/0 Moltres: 127.1% - 149.8%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Superpower vs. 252/0 Regirock: 111.5% - 131.3%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Superpower vs. 244/0 Rhyperior: 103.5% - 121.8%</li>
</ul>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Night Slash
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Scarf makes up for Absol's mediocre Speed, boosting it to a reasonable 373 with an Adamant nature. Due to this great increase in Speed, Sucker Punch becomes a lesser option; Night Slash is a far better choice to hit almost as hard without worrying about opponents potentially using non-damaging moves. Superpower will intimidate those who resist Absol's Dark-type STAB attacks, such as Steelix and Registeel, while Psycho Cut eliminates Fighting-type Pokémon who also enjoy switching in on Absol's STAB attacks. Pursuit is Absol's best choice for the last slot, as it allows Absol to take out retreating Ghost- and Psychic-types.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With an Adamant nature, Absol reaches 373 Speed, which means that it can outrun Timid Alakazam and everything slower—essentially the entire unboosted UU metagame. The loss in power from the Swords Dance set is severe, so Adamant is the superior option. A Jolly nature does not allow Absol to outrun anything more of real significance, aside from the odd Dragon Dance Feraligatr or Altaria. Aside from that, the EVs are the standard Absol EVs.</p>
<p>This Absol is much faster than the Swords Dancer, and hence less prone to revenge-killing, but unfortunately it is also a lot less powerful, making it much more susceptible to being walled by defensive threats. Weezing and Spiritomb can burn Absol and render it useless, so a Fire-type teammate such as Blaziken or Arcanine can be useful as they are immune to Will-O-Wisp. Houndoom, in particular, can be a very good partner since Will-O-Wisp activates its Flash Fire ability. However, be aware that Absol and Houndoom have similar weaknesses and are both poor defensively, so don’t expect much defensive synergy. Fire-types are also useful for dealing with Tangrowth, who can survive two Night Slashes and either cripple Absol with Stun Spore or Sleep Powder or simply OHKO Absol with STAB Leaf Storm. Lastly, Milotic is still an issue, so Venusaur can be employed as a check.</p>
<p>One of Choice Scarf Absol’s main attractions is its fast STAB Pursuit, which allows it to checkmate slower, frail sweepers such as Alakazam and Mismagius, both of whom are OHKOed regardless of whether they switch or not. You can also use it to get rid of a weakened Chansey permanently should it attempt to flee. Pokemon who are threatened by these Pokemon, such as Venusaur, Rotom, and Moltres, value this kind of support. Bear in mind, however, that being locked into a weak move – not just Pursuit, but also Psycho Cut or Superpower after its Attack drop – can give your opponent the free turn they need to destroy your team.</p>
<p>It is worth mentioning that Choice Scarf Absol can have some merit in the lead position, acting as an anti-lead that also has a strong presence later on in the game. With its strong STAB Night Slash, it can 2HKO Mesprit and less bulky Uxie, while Superpower allows it to beat Kabutops, Ambipom, and, to a certain extent, Omastar, although Absol is unlikely to 2HKO the last with Superpower. Night Slash scores an OHKO on Alakazam and a 2HKO on Qwilfish, and Pursuit can catch Alakazam attempting to flee. Psycho Cut's main target is Qwilfish, however you cannot OHKO, so you may prefer Megahorn to improve Absol’s chances of OHKOing Mesprit and 2HKOing bulky Uxie and Spiritomb leads.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Pursuit
item: Choice Band
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Band allows Absol to forgo Swords Dance and hit hard right off the bat. Absol is capable of reaching a whopping 591 Attack, making it a fierce competitor.</p>
<p>Absol should generally always run Sucker Punch as it helps support its mediocre Speed and is Absol's strongest option to deal huge amounts of damage. However, it is well worth noting that locking yourself into Sucker Punch can be a very dangerous move if the opponent outpredicts and decides not to attack. Superpower is a great secondary option as it allows Absol to deal super effective damage to Dark- and Steel-type Pokémon who resist Absol's STAB moves. The standard Steelix takes a minimum of 66% damage, meaning Absol can always 2HKO. Like on the Choice Scarf set, Pursuit is an excellent option to rid your team of Ghosts and special walls. In this case, it is stronger against Chansey, and therefore carries less risk in case of a misprediction., However, it cannot be used to checkmate Rotom and Mismagius the way it can with the Choice Scarf set, though it is still quite effective against them. Night Slash is a reliable attack and serves as Absol's "safe" option on this set, since all three other moves have undesirable side-effects.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>While Choice Band Absol has more raw power than the Choice Scarf set, it still isn’t quite strong enough to break the most defensive of Pokemon. Thus, the checks and counters of the Choice Band are usually a mixture of those that resist its STAB attacks and those that are faster and can revenge kill. As this Absol will be switching a lot anyway, faster revenge killers are of less concern than with the Swords Dance set, and the defensive threats are mostly the same as those of the Choice Scarf set.</p>
<p>Where Swords Dance Absol is meant to be a sweeper and Choice Scarf Absol a revenge killer, Choice Band Absol is generally best played in the role of wall-breaker, supporting the team by dealing massive damage to anything that switches in to pave the way for a sweep by another team member. With Stealth Rock support, defensive Pokemon such as Milotic and Donphan can be broken by the sheer power of Absol’s STAB moves, paving the way for a sweep by a set-up sweeper such as Swords Dance Scyther. Pursuit is also useful to rid you of a fleeing Chansey, meaning that special sweepers such as Nasty Plot Houndoom have an easier time. Another point to take note of is that Choice Band Absol can lure in Fighting- and Steel-types quite easily, thus allowing you to immediately ascertain what threats your opponent is carrying to your sweepers. This is especially useful if Absol and your sweeper have similar checks; if you can manage to get rid of them with prediction, it can be very useful for your team. Nasty Plot Houndoom in particular values the absence of Fighting-types such as Hitmontop and Hariyama, as well as Milotic; in return, it can switch in on Will-O-Wisp from Weezing and Spiritomb directed at Absol.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Setting up entry hazards can help Absol score more KOs and increase its effectiveness late-game. Cloyster or Omastar are both good candidates for Spikes support, and Claydol is a nice choice for setting up Stealth Rock, since it resists Absol's Fighting-type weakness and can threaten Fighting-types with Psychic. Having heavy hitters such as Blaziken and Azumarill on your team to weaken your opponent's team is also a good thing to keep in mind, as it allows Absol to sweep weakened enemies much more easily. Fire Blast from Blaziken and Waterfall from Azumarill are both powerful STAB attacks that can severely dent your opponent's bulkier Pokémon, giving Absol a chance to score many kills later in the battle.</p>
<p>Mismagius can be one of the best offensive complements to Absol; it can take care of most of Absol’s physically-inclined checks, while Absol can either take down Mismagius’s checks or break down walls in preparation for a Nasty Plot Mismagius sweep. Mismagius can also block Rapid Spin and use Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, and Destiny Bond to drive out and weaken the opposing team for Absol to sweep. Houndoom and other Fire-types can also make good partners, as they absorb Will-O-Wisp (perhaps even for a Flash Fire boost) and can use their STAB moves to deal with many of Absol’s counters. However, this means that Milotic is likely to be a more potent threat to your team. Thus, Venusaur can be a useful addition as it is able to take Milotic’s Ice Beam and fire back with Power Whip, while also checking Fighting-types and supporting Absol with Sleep Powder.</p>
<p>On a defensive level, there are several bulky Pokemon who are likely to give Absol trouble despite the raw power of the sweeper set. Absol’s pathetic defensive stats mean it cannot afford to take a hit, so anyone who is not OHKOed is generally a threat. Moltres can make a pretty good partner to Absol provided you have Rapid Spin support, as Moltres can come in for free on Will-O-Wisp and threaten Weezing and Spiritomb with its STAB Fire Blast, while also checking many of Absol’s common counters with its STAB Air Slash and resistance to Fighting-type attacks. As an added bonus, it also beats Tangrowth and Steel-types while drawing out Pokemon such as Chansey that Absol can set up on. Milotic can also be a good partner, taking on most Fighting-types easily, absorbing Will-O-Wisp for a Marvel Scale boost, and dealing out damage with Surf. Ironically, Weezing and Spiritomb can also make good partners for their ability to call a halt to just about every Fighting-type in the game. Spiritomb can also block Hitmontop’s Rapid Spin.</p>
<p>The defensive Pokemon mentioned are quite commonly used together, and hence Milotic is a very popular partner for Weezing, Spiritomb, and Hitmontop. These defensive teams usually includea defensive Steel-type, though this should not be a problem for Absol as a boosted Superpower should deal with them. Weezing and Spiritomb are sometimes used together, so be aware of this before revealing Absol. Clefable is also quite a popular partner for both Weezing and Spiritomb, but can do little to stop Absol from sweeping.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>One of the main problems with Absol's Swords Dance set is that it suffers from having too few moveslots for all of Absol's necessary options. Therefore, if you want, you can remove Swords Dance from the set altogether and run a simple Life Orb attacker set, relying on Absol's immense power—even without a boost—and benefiting fully from the coverage granted by Absol's movepool without being locked into a single move. By doing this, you are able to run both Night Slash and Psycho Cut alongside Sucker Punch and Superpower or include another option such as Megahorn or Pursuit. Without the power from Swords Dance, Absol won't be sweeping teams, but in exchange it can hit hard off the bat and punch holes into any walls who try to absorb the blows. It should generally function similarly to the Choice Band set, but with the added ability to act as a potential late-game cleaner should the need arise.</p>
<p>Megahorn is a powerful weapon that can OHKO Tangrowth after a Swords Dance, something few physical sweepers without a super effective STAB can boast. It is stronger than a STAB Night Slash against neutral opponents, and, besides low accuracy, has no detrimental side-effect. However, Megahorn is a lesser option since Night Slash has the ability to effectively hit Rotom and Mismagius. Stone Edge is extremely strong against Flying-types, but for the most part its coverage is redundant or inconsequential. Zen Headbutt has 10 more Base Power than Psycho Cut, but the latter's higher critical hit rate and better accuracy make up for the slight power drop.</p>
<p>Taunt may seem a poor option on something as frail as Absol; indeed, its uses are mostly situational. However, if you are especially worried about status attacks, it can completely shut down Spiritomb and turn it into set-up fodder. Weezing can also be shut down unless it attacks off the bat (since Sludge Bomb will deal decent damage to Absol). However, despite Absol's big weakness to status effects, Taunt’s utility is fairly limited, as revenge killing is a far more popular way of dealing with Absol. Absol is capable of Baton Passing Mean Look, Swords Dance, Calm Mind, and Curse. Baton Passing Mean Look is one of Absol's few niches compared to the rest of the UU Baton Passers. Swords Dance is better left to Scyther, while Hypno and Mr. Mime pass Calm Mind much better than Absol. It is one of the few Pokémon who can Baton Pass Curse as well, but there are still better choices for this job.</p>
<p>Will-O-Wisp can burn opponents while Thunder Wave can cripple some fast sweepers. Perish Song can be used to ruin Baton Pass chains as well. Absol can also learn Wish as a NYPC move, but it is illegal with many of Absol's egg moves. You are probably better off using a bulkier Pokémon if you are set on using these moves, as even with defensive investment Absol can barely survive neutral hits.</p>
<p>Since Absol will only ever be used as a sweeper and cannot take a hit from anything, max Attack and Speed are essential to maximize its chances of a successful sweep. This leaves 4 EVs unaccounted for, and while it may seem irrelevant where you place them, 4 HP Absol reaches 272 HP, which is divisible by 4, 8, and 16, which means that Absol will take more damage from residual damage such as Stealth Rock and Spikes. This is of concern on the Choice sets in particular, where a lot of switching is likely, since Absol will faint upon 8 switch-ins to Stealth Rock rather than 9. To avoid this, place the last 4 EVs in the defensive stat of your choice – which one you choose is largely irrelevant, but putting them in Special Defense ensures Porygon2 won’t get a Special Attack boost from Download. Another point that should be considered is that with a 29 HP IV, Absol takes less damage from Life Orb, and thus after three attacks and beyond, a Life Orb Absol with a 29 HP IV will have more HP remaining than one with a 31 HP IV.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Hitmontop with Intimidate is a good Absol counter. It isn't OHKOed by Sucker Punch and can do heavy damage in return with Mach Punch or Close Combat. It must beware of Psycho Cut, though, as it will do massive damage even with Intimidate factored in. Hariyama resists Absol's Dark-type attacks, rubs off Superpower, and can threaten to OHKO Absol with Force Palm or Close Combat. However, a Swords Danced Psycho Cut will OHKO Hariyama. Drapion resists Sucker Punch and is immune to Psycho Cut, and the only concern Drapion should have is a Swords Danced Superpower. Unfortunately, Drapion cannot OHKO Absol without resorting to a niche move like Brick Break or X-Scissor. Fighting-types with Mach Punch make most Absol think twice before retaliating. Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan work best as both of them are faster than Absol and can use their strong Fighting-type attacks to OHKO it. Blaziken can revenge kill Absol with Vacuum Wave, as it can survive a boosted Sucker Punch;, but just barely. Steelix, Rhyperior, and Regirock can survive an unboosted Superpower and retaliate with Earthquake or Stone Edge.</p>
<p>There are a couple of Pokemon who, while not having the resistances for the job, can attempt to thwart Absol by means of sheer defensive stats and the strength of their secondary moves. Chief among these are Spiritomb and Weezing, who can cripple Absol for the rest of the game with Will-O-Wisp. Be wary, though, since Weezing will take massive damage from a Swords Danced Psycho Cut. Tangrowth can actually survive two Night Slashes if Absol gets a low damage roll, cripple Absol with Stun Spore or Sleep Powder, or else simply eliminate Absol with STAB Leaf Storm or Power Whip. Leafeon is less defensive than Tangrowth, but is faster than Absol and can take a Night Slash. Milotic is similarly bulky and can use Haze to remove boosts, but Absol will be able to do massive damage if Milotic mispredicts. Offensive Milotic outruns Absol and can do large amounts of damage with Hydro Pump, but is OHKOed by boosted Sucker Punch. Lastly, Donphan can take an attack and hit back with Earthquake or use Ice Shard to pick off a weakened Absol.</p>
<p>In reality, it is rather difficult to switch into Absol with "prediction". After a Swords Dance, Absol can severely damage many of its counters while outpacing a lot of them. The best strategy to taking down Absol is to target its two key vulnerable points: its defenses and its Speed stat. Pokémon who use Substitute and are faster than Absol can basically force Absol to use Sucker Punch to get the KO, meaning you can get a free Substitute up to block Sucker Punch damage. For example, Alakazam can threaten to OHKO Absol with a powerful super effective Signal Beam, use Substitute when Absol uses Sucker Punch, and proceed to OHKO Absol from behind its Substitute. Dugtrio can employ a similar strategy with Substitute and Earthquake. Other methods of dodging Sucker Punch include Swellow’s and Scyther’s Quick Attack, Venusaur’s Sleep Powder, and Mismagius’s Will-O-Wisp.</p>
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Post-critique changes:
- 29 HP IV added as option on Swords Dance
- Lum Berry added as option on Swords Dance
- SuckerPunch/Superpower/NightSlash/Pursuit main option on Choice Band
- Taunt added in Optional Changes
- Notes on dodging Sucker Punch added in Counters
- Damage Calculations added to Swords Dance
- Added LO + 4 attacks to OC
- Choice Scarf lead? (pending)
- GP Grammar-Prose Check 1, thanks to whistle
- Got rid of the annoying blue text
- GP Grammar-Prose Check 2, thanks to uragg
Yeh, finally got around to getting this done. Not a full revamp per se, I left the set comments as they were since I appreciate the effort put into the original analysis, and they were pretty well written regardless (just saying, I'm not trying to be lazy).
Stamps:
Changes Made:
- All changes in BLUE
- Additional Comments tags added – Team Options updated slightly (currently focuses mainly on counters mentality, which I would say doesn’t necessarily hold true for Absol, so needs mention of other notable walls as well as revenge-killers and helping Absol get set up as that is arguably Absol’s weakest point)
- I’m not fond of Aerial Ace being so prominent on the Choice Band set (pretty lacklustre in practice, not guaranteed to 2HKO standard bulky Hariyama or even to 3HKO standard Tangrowth, the main targets). While I’m sure it has its uses, I myself wouldn’t want to be locked into nonSTAB Aerial Ace at any point. The only thing is that I can’t see what to replace it with, Stone Edge isn’t that much better, Megahorn is highly situational and Psycho Cut is even less useful – I would personally run both Night Slash and Pursuit but it’d be stupid to advise three Dark-type moves on the same set (especially if you aren’t a lunatic like me), so… I’d like some opinions here.
- The QC process guide said that a new Anti-Lead set could be viable – I haven’t tested the recommended set
- Added to other options: Megahorn (OHKOes Tangrowth after one SD boost no matter what, which is pretty insane, but doesn’t actually do anything else (well okay, it’s stronger than STAB Night Slash on neutral foes and doesn’t lower stats, unlike Superpower, but that’s about it really)).
- Added to counters: Haze Milotic, Tangrowth/Leafeon, Donphan, and Rhyperior (if Steelix and Regirock get a mention…)
- Scope Lens removed from Swords Dance
- Choice Scarf > Choice Band – personal preference really, Scarf has always worked better for me than CB. Also, I prefer to list sets in order of popularity, and Choice Scarf was more than twice as popular as Choice Band as Absol’s item in June (though that says little about effectiveness obviously)
- Other Options and EVs combined – “Optional Changes”
- Opinion changed to “Overview”
- Added note on EVs to Optional Changes with regards to HP EVs (272 divisible by 16, etc.)
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/absol
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[Overview]
<p>Absol is considered the "Disaster" Pokémon because it is thought to bring bad luck to anyone who meets it, including its opponent. Absol's biggest selling point, its STAB Sucker Punch, is the most powerful priority move in the game. Swords Dance and a monstrous base 130 Attack stat make switching into Absol difficult; and if that wasn't bad enough, Super Luck gives Absol a good chance of landing a critical hit. Absol’s only real downfalls are its lackluster defenses and average Speed stat.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Night Slash / Psycho Cut
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Absol's amazing base 130 Attack stat, coupled with Swords Dance and the strongest priority move in the game, makes it a devastating sweeper against those who aren't prepared.</p>
<p>Sucker Punch helps mitigate its mediocre Speed. With it, Absol becomes a challenge to take down as Sucker Punch can severely dent or even OHKO would-be revenge killers. Superpower is a great move to pair with Sucker Punch, as it damages Steel- and Dark-type Pokémon, such as Steelix and Drapion, who take little damage from Absol's STAB Dark-type attacks. Night Slash allows Absol to eliminate Pokémon who try to outsmart you by refusing to attack while Absol tries to Sucker Punch, and works extremely well with Absol's Super Luck ability. Psycho Cut, which also benefits from Super Luck, can maim incoming Poison- and Fighting-type Pokémon, such as Weezing, Hitmontop, and Hariyama.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs generate maximum Attack and Speed to increase Absol’s potency as a sweeper. The remaining 4 EVs go in Special Defense rather than HP in order to give Absol a HP stat of 271, decreasing the damage it takes from Stealth Rock. If you want, you can also choose to give Absol a 29 HP IV, which means it will take less damage from Life Orb recoil. Adamant is the recommended nature as the extra power can prove very useful; Blaziken can be OHKOed after Stealth Rock by +2 Sucker Punch, and the extra damage can ensure KOs on bulkier walls such as Milotic and Donphan with a little bit of residual damage. However, a Jolly nature can sometimes be useful to get the jump on opponents like offensive Milotic and Venusaur that run neutral-Speed natures. A Jolly nature also allows Absol to outpace slower Blaziken and Toxicroak, enabling it to use Sucker Punch before they can use Vacuum Wave. While Life Orb is the recommended item to boost Absol’s power, Lum Berry is also a nice option as it gives Absol a cushion against Weezing’s and Spiritomb’s Will-O-Wisp. It also helps against Venusaur who may try to evade Sucker Punch by using Sleep Powder.</p>
<p>Entry hazards are a good idea to facilitate your sweep – Stealth Rock can be easily set up by a lead such as Kabutops or Uxie, while Spikes can be set up by Omastar or Cloyster. If you can manage to get Absol set up and ready to go, there’s very little in the UU metagame that can actually stand in its way. However, in practice, using Absol is rarely such a smooth ride, as its poor defensive stats and relatively low Speed immediately highlight two big problems – first, setting it up without being killed or crippled, and second, stopping faster Pokemon from simply revenge killing it or forcing it out. As for the first point, Absol generally can only set up on weaker attackers with resisted STAB moves. While luring out a Choiced Rotom or Alakazam with something like a weakened Venusaur can do the trick, you can do more than that. For example, Uxie can provide dual screen support to allow Absol to set up more easily, or it can give Absol a free switch with strategic U-turn pivoting. As for revenge killers, you can first try to ascertain what Pokemon are likely to be faster or carry priority and whether they can avoid Sucker Punch – for example, Alakazam could revenge kill Absol with Signal Beam, but Absol can beat it to the punch with Sucker Punch. However, Alakazam has the potential to carry Substitute or Encore to thwart this strategy.</p>
<p>Bulkier threats to Absol are hard to come by, yet still exist. While frailer Fighting-types such as Hitmonlee and Primeape are OHKOed by boosted Sucker Punch, more defensive Pokemon such as Hitmontop and Hariyama can be problematic, especially if you lack Sucker Punch. Hitmontop’s Technician Mach Punch is a guaranteed OHKO on Absol, while defensive Hariyama can take anything Absol has, bar Psycho Cut, and hit back with Revenge or Brick Break. Thus, a partner such as Claydol or Weezing who can take down Fighting-types is greatly recommended. Threats that don’t immediately attack can be quite threatening as you cannot rely on the extra strength of Sucker Punch. Will-O-Wisp Weezing and Spiritomb can cripple Absol, but can be taken care of by most Fire-types. Milotic can be a potent foe, as it can Haze away boosts and then attack with STAB Surf or even potentially outspeed Absol. If you are concerned about Milotic, Venusaur can be employed to deal with it, while also helping out by absorbing Toxic Spikes, checking Fighting-types, and crippling opponents with Sleep Powder.</p>
<h3>Damage Calculations</h3>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Psycho Cut vs. 252/252+ Hitmontop: 107.2% - 126.3%</li>
<li>+1 Adamant Absol Psycho Cut vs. 252/252+ Hitmontop: 80.3% - 94.7%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 248/252+ Milotic: 69.5% - 81.9%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 252/200 Milotic: 79.9% - 94.4%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 52/204 Donphan: 70.4% - 82.9%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 252/0+ Weezing: 76.3% - 89.8%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Night Slash vs. 252/252+ Weezing: 62% - 73.1%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Sucker Punch vs. 252/0 Hitmontop: 63.8% - 75%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Sucker Punch vs. 0/0 Blaziken: 82.7% - 97.7%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Sucker Punch vs. 0/0 Moltres: 127.1% - 149.8%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Superpower vs. 252/0 Regirock: 111.5% - 131.3%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Absol Superpower vs. 244/0 Rhyperior: 103.5% - 121.8%</li>
</ul>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Night Slash
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Psycho Cut
move 4: Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Scarf makes up for Absol's mediocre Speed, boosting it to a reasonable 373 with an Adamant nature. Due to this great increase in Speed, Sucker Punch becomes a lesser option; Night Slash is a far better choice to hit almost as hard without worrying about opponents potentially using non-damaging moves. Superpower will intimidate those who resist Absol's Dark-type STAB attacks, such as Steelix and Registeel, while Psycho Cut eliminates Fighting-type Pokémon who also enjoy switching in on Absol's STAB attacks. Pursuit is Absol's best choice for the last slot, as it allows Absol to take out retreating Ghost- and Psychic-types.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With an Adamant nature, Absol reaches 373 Speed, which means that it can outrun Timid Alakazam and everything slower—essentially the entire unboosted UU metagame. The loss in power from the Swords Dance set is severe, so Adamant is the superior option. A Jolly nature does not allow Absol to outrun anything more of real significance, aside from the odd Dragon Dance Feraligatr or Altaria. Aside from that, the EVs are the standard Absol EVs.</p>
<p>This Absol is much faster than the Swords Dancer, and hence less prone to revenge-killing, but unfortunately it is also a lot less powerful, making it much more susceptible to being walled by defensive threats. Weezing and Spiritomb can burn Absol and render it useless, so a Fire-type teammate such as Blaziken or Arcanine can be useful as they are immune to Will-O-Wisp. Houndoom, in particular, can be a very good partner since Will-O-Wisp activates its Flash Fire ability. However, be aware that Absol and Houndoom have similar weaknesses and are both poor defensively, so don’t expect much defensive synergy. Fire-types are also useful for dealing with Tangrowth, who can survive two Night Slashes and either cripple Absol with Stun Spore or Sleep Powder or simply OHKO Absol with STAB Leaf Storm. Lastly, Milotic is still an issue, so Venusaur can be employed as a check.</p>
<p>One of Choice Scarf Absol’s main attractions is its fast STAB Pursuit, which allows it to checkmate slower, frail sweepers such as Alakazam and Mismagius, both of whom are OHKOed regardless of whether they switch or not. You can also use it to get rid of a weakened Chansey permanently should it attempt to flee. Pokemon who are threatened by these Pokemon, such as Venusaur, Rotom, and Moltres, value this kind of support. Bear in mind, however, that being locked into a weak move – not just Pursuit, but also Psycho Cut or Superpower after its Attack drop – can give your opponent the free turn they need to destroy your team.</p>
<p>It is worth mentioning that Choice Scarf Absol can have some merit in the lead position, acting as an anti-lead that also has a strong presence later on in the game. With its strong STAB Night Slash, it can 2HKO Mesprit and less bulky Uxie, while Superpower allows it to beat Kabutops, Ambipom, and, to a certain extent, Omastar, although Absol is unlikely to 2HKO the last with Superpower. Night Slash scores an OHKO on Alakazam and a 2HKO on Qwilfish, and Pursuit can catch Alakazam attempting to flee. Psycho Cut's main target is Qwilfish, however you cannot OHKO, so you may prefer Megahorn to improve Absol’s chances of OHKOing Mesprit and 2HKOing bulky Uxie and Spiritomb leads.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Pursuit
item: Choice Band
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Choice Band allows Absol to forgo Swords Dance and hit hard right off the bat. Absol is capable of reaching a whopping 591 Attack, making it a fierce competitor.</p>
<p>Absol should generally always run Sucker Punch as it helps support its mediocre Speed and is Absol's strongest option to deal huge amounts of damage. However, it is well worth noting that locking yourself into Sucker Punch can be a very dangerous move if the opponent outpredicts and decides not to attack. Superpower is a great secondary option as it allows Absol to deal super effective damage to Dark- and Steel-type Pokémon who resist Absol's STAB moves. The standard Steelix takes a minimum of 66% damage, meaning Absol can always 2HKO. Like on the Choice Scarf set, Pursuit is an excellent option to rid your team of Ghosts and special walls. In this case, it is stronger against Chansey, and therefore carries less risk in case of a misprediction., However, it cannot be used to checkmate Rotom and Mismagius the way it can with the Choice Scarf set, though it is still quite effective against them. Night Slash is a reliable attack and serves as Absol's "safe" option on this set, since all three other moves have undesirable side-effects.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>While Choice Band Absol has more raw power than the Choice Scarf set, it still isn’t quite strong enough to break the most defensive of Pokemon. Thus, the checks and counters of the Choice Band are usually a mixture of those that resist its STAB attacks and those that are faster and can revenge kill. As this Absol will be switching a lot anyway, faster revenge killers are of less concern than with the Swords Dance set, and the defensive threats are mostly the same as those of the Choice Scarf set.</p>
<p>Where Swords Dance Absol is meant to be a sweeper and Choice Scarf Absol a revenge killer, Choice Band Absol is generally best played in the role of wall-breaker, supporting the team by dealing massive damage to anything that switches in to pave the way for a sweep by another team member. With Stealth Rock support, defensive Pokemon such as Milotic and Donphan can be broken by the sheer power of Absol’s STAB moves, paving the way for a sweep by a set-up sweeper such as Swords Dance Scyther. Pursuit is also useful to rid you of a fleeing Chansey, meaning that special sweepers such as Nasty Plot Houndoom have an easier time. Another point to take note of is that Choice Band Absol can lure in Fighting- and Steel-types quite easily, thus allowing you to immediately ascertain what threats your opponent is carrying to your sweepers. This is especially useful if Absol and your sweeper have similar checks; if you can manage to get rid of them with prediction, it can be very useful for your team. Nasty Plot Houndoom in particular values the absence of Fighting-types such as Hitmontop and Hariyama, as well as Milotic; in return, it can switch in on Will-O-Wisp from Weezing and Spiritomb directed at Absol.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Setting up entry hazards can help Absol score more KOs and increase its effectiveness late-game. Cloyster or Omastar are both good candidates for Spikes support, and Claydol is a nice choice for setting up Stealth Rock, since it resists Absol's Fighting-type weakness and can threaten Fighting-types with Psychic. Having heavy hitters such as Blaziken and Azumarill on your team to weaken your opponent's team is also a good thing to keep in mind, as it allows Absol to sweep weakened enemies much more easily. Fire Blast from Blaziken and Waterfall from Azumarill are both powerful STAB attacks that can severely dent your opponent's bulkier Pokémon, giving Absol a chance to score many kills later in the battle.</p>
<p>Mismagius can be one of the best offensive complements to Absol; it can take care of most of Absol’s physically-inclined checks, while Absol can either take down Mismagius’s checks or break down walls in preparation for a Nasty Plot Mismagius sweep. Mismagius can also block Rapid Spin and use Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, and Destiny Bond to drive out and weaken the opposing team for Absol to sweep. Houndoom and other Fire-types can also make good partners, as they absorb Will-O-Wisp (perhaps even for a Flash Fire boost) and can use their STAB moves to deal with many of Absol’s counters. However, this means that Milotic is likely to be a more potent threat to your team. Thus, Venusaur can be a useful addition as it is able to take Milotic’s Ice Beam and fire back with Power Whip, while also checking Fighting-types and supporting Absol with Sleep Powder.</p>
<p>On a defensive level, there are several bulky Pokemon who are likely to give Absol trouble despite the raw power of the sweeper set. Absol’s pathetic defensive stats mean it cannot afford to take a hit, so anyone who is not OHKOed is generally a threat. Moltres can make a pretty good partner to Absol provided you have Rapid Spin support, as Moltres can come in for free on Will-O-Wisp and threaten Weezing and Spiritomb with its STAB Fire Blast, while also checking many of Absol’s common counters with its STAB Air Slash and resistance to Fighting-type attacks. As an added bonus, it also beats Tangrowth and Steel-types while drawing out Pokemon such as Chansey that Absol can set up on. Milotic can also be a good partner, taking on most Fighting-types easily, absorbing Will-O-Wisp for a Marvel Scale boost, and dealing out damage with Surf. Ironically, Weezing and Spiritomb can also make good partners for their ability to call a halt to just about every Fighting-type in the game. Spiritomb can also block Hitmontop’s Rapid Spin.</p>
<p>The defensive Pokemon mentioned are quite commonly used together, and hence Milotic is a very popular partner for Weezing, Spiritomb, and Hitmontop. These defensive teams usually includea defensive Steel-type, though this should not be a problem for Absol as a boosted Superpower should deal with them. Weezing and Spiritomb are sometimes used together, so be aware of this before revealing Absol. Clefable is also quite a popular partner for both Weezing and Spiritomb, but can do little to stop Absol from sweeping.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>One of the main problems with Absol's Swords Dance set is that it suffers from having too few moveslots for all of Absol's necessary options. Therefore, if you want, you can remove Swords Dance from the set altogether and run a simple Life Orb attacker set, relying on Absol's immense power—even without a boost—and benefiting fully from the coverage granted by Absol's movepool without being locked into a single move. By doing this, you are able to run both Night Slash and Psycho Cut alongside Sucker Punch and Superpower or include another option such as Megahorn or Pursuit. Without the power from Swords Dance, Absol won't be sweeping teams, but in exchange it can hit hard off the bat and punch holes into any walls who try to absorb the blows. It should generally function similarly to the Choice Band set, but with the added ability to act as a potential late-game cleaner should the need arise.</p>
<p>Megahorn is a powerful weapon that can OHKO Tangrowth after a Swords Dance, something few physical sweepers without a super effective STAB can boast. It is stronger than a STAB Night Slash against neutral opponents, and, besides low accuracy, has no detrimental side-effect. However, Megahorn is a lesser option since Night Slash has the ability to effectively hit Rotom and Mismagius. Stone Edge is extremely strong against Flying-types, but for the most part its coverage is redundant or inconsequential. Zen Headbutt has 10 more Base Power than Psycho Cut, but the latter's higher critical hit rate and better accuracy make up for the slight power drop.</p>
<p>Taunt may seem a poor option on something as frail as Absol; indeed, its uses are mostly situational. However, if you are especially worried about status attacks, it can completely shut down Spiritomb and turn it into set-up fodder. Weezing can also be shut down unless it attacks off the bat (since Sludge Bomb will deal decent damage to Absol). However, despite Absol's big weakness to status effects, Taunt’s utility is fairly limited, as revenge killing is a far more popular way of dealing with Absol. Absol is capable of Baton Passing Mean Look, Swords Dance, Calm Mind, and Curse. Baton Passing Mean Look is one of Absol's few niches compared to the rest of the UU Baton Passers. Swords Dance is better left to Scyther, while Hypno and Mr. Mime pass Calm Mind much better than Absol. It is one of the few Pokémon who can Baton Pass Curse as well, but there are still better choices for this job.</p>
<p>Will-O-Wisp can burn opponents while Thunder Wave can cripple some fast sweepers. Perish Song can be used to ruin Baton Pass chains as well. Absol can also learn Wish as a NYPC move, but it is illegal with many of Absol's egg moves. You are probably better off using a bulkier Pokémon if you are set on using these moves, as even with defensive investment Absol can barely survive neutral hits.</p>
<p>Since Absol will only ever be used as a sweeper and cannot take a hit from anything, max Attack and Speed are essential to maximize its chances of a successful sweep. This leaves 4 EVs unaccounted for, and while it may seem irrelevant where you place them, 4 HP Absol reaches 272 HP, which is divisible by 4, 8, and 16, which means that Absol will take more damage from residual damage such as Stealth Rock and Spikes. This is of concern on the Choice sets in particular, where a lot of switching is likely, since Absol will faint upon 8 switch-ins to Stealth Rock rather than 9. To avoid this, place the last 4 EVs in the defensive stat of your choice – which one you choose is largely irrelevant, but putting them in Special Defense ensures Porygon2 won’t get a Special Attack boost from Download. Another point that should be considered is that with a 29 HP IV, Absol takes less damage from Life Orb, and thus after three attacks and beyond, a Life Orb Absol with a 29 HP IV will have more HP remaining than one with a 31 HP IV.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Hitmontop with Intimidate is a good Absol counter. It isn't OHKOed by Sucker Punch and can do heavy damage in return with Mach Punch or Close Combat. It must beware of Psycho Cut, though, as it will do massive damage even with Intimidate factored in. Hariyama resists Absol's Dark-type attacks, rubs off Superpower, and can threaten to OHKO Absol with Force Palm or Close Combat. However, a Swords Danced Psycho Cut will OHKO Hariyama. Drapion resists Sucker Punch and is immune to Psycho Cut, and the only concern Drapion should have is a Swords Danced Superpower. Unfortunately, Drapion cannot OHKO Absol without resorting to a niche move like Brick Break or X-Scissor. Fighting-types with Mach Punch make most Absol think twice before retaliating. Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan work best as both of them are faster than Absol and can use their strong Fighting-type attacks to OHKO it. Blaziken can revenge kill Absol with Vacuum Wave, as it can survive a boosted Sucker Punch;, but just barely. Steelix, Rhyperior, and Regirock can survive an unboosted Superpower and retaliate with Earthquake or Stone Edge.</p>
<p>There are a couple of Pokemon who, while not having the resistances for the job, can attempt to thwart Absol by means of sheer defensive stats and the strength of their secondary moves. Chief among these are Spiritomb and Weezing, who can cripple Absol for the rest of the game with Will-O-Wisp. Be wary, though, since Weezing will take massive damage from a Swords Danced Psycho Cut. Tangrowth can actually survive two Night Slashes if Absol gets a low damage roll, cripple Absol with Stun Spore or Sleep Powder, or else simply eliminate Absol with STAB Leaf Storm or Power Whip. Leafeon is less defensive than Tangrowth, but is faster than Absol and can take a Night Slash. Milotic is similarly bulky and can use Haze to remove boosts, but Absol will be able to do massive damage if Milotic mispredicts. Offensive Milotic outruns Absol and can do large amounts of damage with Hydro Pump, but is OHKOed by boosted Sucker Punch. Lastly, Donphan can take an attack and hit back with Earthquake or use Ice Shard to pick off a weakened Absol.</p>
<p>In reality, it is rather difficult to switch into Absol with "prediction". After a Swords Dance, Absol can severely damage many of its counters while outpacing a lot of them. The best strategy to taking down Absol is to target its two key vulnerable points: its defenses and its Speed stat. Pokémon who use Substitute and are faster than Absol can basically force Absol to use Sucker Punch to get the KO, meaning you can get a free Substitute up to block Sucker Punch damage. For example, Alakazam can threaten to OHKO Absol with a powerful super effective Signal Beam, use Substitute when Absol uses Sucker Punch, and proceed to OHKO Absol from behind its Substitute. Dugtrio can employ a similar strategy with Substitute and Earthquake. Other methods of dodging Sucker Punch include Swellow’s and Scyther’s Quick Attack, Venusaur’s Sleep Powder, and Mismagius’s Will-O-Wisp.</p>
-----------------------------
Post-critique changes:
- 29 HP IV added as option on Swords Dance
- Lum Berry added as option on Swords Dance
- SuckerPunch/Superpower/NightSlash/Pursuit main option on Choice Band
- Taunt added in Optional Changes
- Notes on dodging Sucker Punch added in Counters
- Damage Calculations added to Swords Dance
- Added LO + 4 attacks to OC
- Choice Scarf lead? (pending)
- GP Grammar-Prose Check 1, thanks to whistle
- Got rid of the annoying blue text
- GP Grammar-Prose Check 2, thanks to uragg
