Toxicroak (Placeholder)

[Afti]

STATUS: let's get it started in here

http://veekun.com/dex/pokemon/toxicroak

[Overview]

• Toxicroak's acceptable defensive stats, combined with Bulk Up and the rapid recovery afforded by Dry Skin and Drain Punch, make it very hard to take down.
• Without a boost it's folding if it takes a hit.
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• Overall, Toxicroak isn't very different. The game around it, though, is far kinder to it, with Politoed everywhere.

[SET]
name: Bulky Toxicroak
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Taunt/Substitute
move 3: Drain Punch
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Leftovers
nature: Adamant
ability: Dry Skin
evs: 244 HP/252 Atk/12 Def

Set Description:

• Come in on something that you can set up on and set up. Taunt prevents most phazers from working. Substitute protects you from status.
• Once Toxicroak is set up, you can't kill it in the rain.
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• Speed investment isn't worth much; Toxicroak is plodding at best anyway

Additional Comments:

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Teammates and Counters:

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[SET]
name: BaitCroak
move 1: Cross Chop
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: X-Scissor
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Jolly
ability: Dry Skin
evs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe

Set Description:

• Takes out enemy weather-inducers, which love to come in on Toxicroak
• Dry Skin sucks for this purpose, but is essential to keep the bluff up
• A little gimmicky, but used right will allow your real Rain sweepers to prosper
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Additional Comments:

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Teammates and Counters:

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[Team Options]

• Politoed is vital to set up rain. Without rain, Toxicroak is just an average Fighting-type.
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[Optional Changes]

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[Counters]

• Ninetales removes Toxicroak's beloved Rain and kills it dead with Special Fire attacks.
• For that matter, Tyranitar or Hippowdon will kill off Toxicroak, as well.
• Dragon Tail/Overhead Throw will work, if you can keep it from having another chance to set up.
• And, of course, Psychic attacks will brutalize Toxicroak.

[Dream World]

• Without Dry Skin, Toxicroak is nothing.
• Poison Hand isn't useful anyway; it keeps you from inflicting a better status like Burn or Sleep.

 

[elDino]

You should add a Swords Dance set on when you get the chance, it was very effective last generation and it sees a lot of use this gen as well. Good luck!

 

[Limewire]

You should add a Swords Dance set on when you get the chance, it was very effective last generation and it sees a lot of use this gen as well. Good luck!

Second this. Swords Dance/Drain Punch/Sucker Punch/Taunt worked wonderfully on my rain team. With a little modification, it can also counter rain teams as well.

 

[Jeslimak]

Also, balloon. Lets you set up on way more things.

 

[Forte.EXE]

A Swords Dance set should be somewhere in the OP.

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Substitute / Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Adamant
ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Personally, I think that's the best set for a Toxicroak. Tyranitar can't just come in and shit all over it, because only ScarfTar is going to be out-speeding, and Drain Punch is a OHKO through and through. Hippowdon is 2HKOed by +2 Drain Punch, so you have a chance to beat it. A 252 HP | 252 Def Ninetales is 2HKOed by +0 Drain Punch with Stealth Rock down, and seeing as no one actually uses Defense EVs on a Ninetales, you'll be sure to 2HKO with Drain Punch. Should be mentioned that Roobushin's most common attacks (Drain Punch/Mach Punch/Payback or Stone Edge) are resisted by Toxicroak, and even with mediocre Defenses, Dry Skin and Leftovers are really helping out there.

 

[YaM]

Nasty Plot set deserves at least OC mention. Based on the last generation, something like

- Nasty Plot
- Vaccum Wave
- Dark Pulse
- Focus Blast or Sludge Bomb

 

[Rakan]

Second the NP set. Very surprising to Toxicroak's physical counters and STAB NP boosted Vacuum Wave can revenge kill many annoying threats.

 

[Noble Cactus]

You could mention that Toxicroak's typing allows it to switch in on a few common attacks, namely Fighting, Bug, and (Stealth) Rock. He also resists Dark and Grass, so you could also mention that he has a nice defensive typing in general. Just a thought.

 

[Afti]

All right. I'll test NP/Swords Dance sets tomorrow and get to work on revising this once I'm comfortable with Croak in the post-banning metagame.

Also, going to note that Tyranitar's only a counter to Bulk Up Toxicroak if it hasn't set up yet. A +1/+1 or better Croak can survive Tyranitar's attacks and OHKO back with Drain Punch before leaving to bring something else in.

 

[DFang]

I just started playing PO on smogon's server and Toxicroak has been performing pretty well in this meta.

-immune to toxic
-absorbs toxic spikes
-water immunity, notable boiling water immunity
-loves the rain
-multiple priority options

I've been saving Toxicroak for late game sweeping once the dragons are gone unless there are toxic spikes on the field. This set has worked well:

Jolly with leftovers (252 Att, 252 Spd)
-substitue
-bulk up
-drain punch
-sucker punch

He lasts forever in the rain!

I plan on trying this mixed priority set to counter fast threats like Excadrill and Cloyster:

Rash with leftovers (252 Att, 252 Spd)
-substitute
-cheer up
-sucker punch
-vacuum wave

 

[Setsuna]

Same as with this thread. Closed.