barry4ever's Original Thread
[Overview]
<p>Tirtouga is a relative newcomer in Little Cup , but it certainly didn't take much time to settle down. Don't let the cute eyes and fins fool you though, as Tirtouga is a monster if used properly. With a decent 78 Attack and Shell Smash, it reaches a frightening 34 Attack and 24 Speed after only one boost. Excellent STAB moves in Waterfall and Stone Edge allow it to decimate most Pokemon, and it even gets STAB priority in Aqua Jet. Its ability, Sturdy, prevents Tirtouga from getting OHKOed. However, Tirtouga does have some crippling weaknesses. Even after a Shell Smash, it can be outsped by Scarf users sitting at 17 Speed, making it prone to revenge killing, especially to Fighting-type priority. Nevertheless, Tirtouga can still be a threat to most teams if used properly.</p>
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Stone Edge / Rock Slide
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 84 HP / 212 Atk / 12 Def / 180 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a Jolly nature, Tirtouga reaches a fantastic 34 Attack, 22 Special Attack, and 24 Speed after after a single Shell Smash, allowing it to outpace and deal hefty damage to all Pokemon without a Choice Scarf and a few slower Scarf users. Waterfall and Stone Edge are the primary STAB moves, providing near-perfect coverage with the combo being resisted by only a handful of Pokemon. The choice between Stone Edge and Rock Slide depends on power versus reliability. Rock Slide has a greater accuracy and a chance to flinch, while Stone Edge has 20 more Base Power and a high chance of a critical hit. In the last slot, Earthquake rounds off the overall coverage quite well.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Aqua Jet can also be used over Waterfall , allowing Tirtouga to snip off weakened Pokemon thanks to its priority. Life Orb provides Tirtouga with the raw power it needs to smash through most walls, but Eviolite is still a viable option, increasing both of Tirtouga's defenses by one stage and giving it a decent amount of bulk, which makes makes setting up easier. The EV spread is designed to give Tirtouga maximum Attack and Speed, so that it can outpace and decimate most Pokemon with its STAB moves. The remaining EVs are placed in HP and Defense so as to increase Tirtouga's bulk marginally. Aqua Tail is an option over Waterfall since it can provide that extra power to the set, but at the cost of the accuracy.</p>
<p>Since Tirtouga is completely walled by Ferroseed, a Pokemon that can take it down is a necessity. Magnemite does this job quite well thanks to its ability preventing Ferroseed from switching out. From there, it can roast Ferroseed with a super effective Hidden Power Fire. Since Shell Smash lowers Tirtuoga's defenses, dual screens can go a long way in keeping Tirtouga alive and also makes setting up easier, since they effectively negate the drops in its defenses after a Shell Smash, making Abra and Bronzor good teammates to set up dual screens with ease. Finally, like every other sweeper, Tirtouga likes entry hazards in place. Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes allow Tirtouga to net several important KOs and breaks enemy Focus Sashes. Hippopotas can also be a useful teammate to Tirtouga since it provides sandstorm, which increases its Special Defense. Hippopotas can also provide it with Stealth Rock support which can be helpful with breaking Focus Sashes and making it easier to KO other Pokemon.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Tirtouga does not exactly have a lot of options. It can run a Choice Scarf set but it is rather slow even with a Scarf, being outsped by Pokemon with 19 Speed. Waterfall can be replaced by Hydro Pump, allowing Tirtouga to attack from both sides of the spectrum with its decent 22 base Special Attack. A Curse set is possible with Waterfall and Rock Slide but isn't as effective due to Tirtouga's sub-par Special Defense and weaknesses to Grass-, Ground-, and Fighting-type attacks. Hidden Power Fire can be used to deal with Ferroseed and other Steel-types, though it makes Tirtouga a sitting duck for Croagunk who can smash Tirtouga into pieces with Vacuum Wave. A bulky Rock Polish set is surely something Tirtouga can pull off with ease, raising Tirtouga's meager Speed and allowing it to outspeed several key threats. A viable bulky Shell Smash set with Eviolite may work, allowing it to severely dent Pokemon while retaining extra bulk, which is useful in situations where there isn't much room to set up, and allows it to have an easier time against Timburr.</p>
[Checks And Counters]
<p>Ferroseed is the best possible counter to Tirtouga. It is resistant to both of Tirtouga's STABs and takes little damage from Earthquake. It can then proceed to KO Tirtouga easily with Bullet Seed or Gyro Ball. Pokemon with powerful priority attacks , such as Timburr, can easily destroy Tirtouga with a Mach Punch, especially after Tirtouga has used Shell Smash, but it cannot switch in. Pawniward and Croagunk can take out Tirtouga out with Sucker Punch but both must be wary of Earthquake. Croagunk has the added advantage of being able to switch in due to Dry Skin. Scarf userswith 17 Speed and above, such as Joltik, Electrike, and Elekid can outspeed Tirtouga even after a boost and can KO with a super effective Thunderbolt. Slowpoke can eat all of Tirtouga's attacks and can KO with Scald or Surf. Since its Speed stat is so low, the Rock Polish set may not always work. It would usually get outsped by several other Pokemon.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Tirtouga receives Swift Swim as a Dream World ability. This opens up a lot of new opportunities for it and can allow it to fit in very well in any Rain Dance-based team. It can function in a similar manner as Kabuto, though it is much more bulkier and receives Earthquake which can be useful in hitting several Pokemon. Kabuto doesn't get Stone Edge, which again is useful for Tirtouga, giving it a niche over Kabuto, though Kabuto is overall better since Tirtouga can be outsped by most Scarf users.</p>
<p>Tirtouga is a relative newcomer in Little Cup , but it certainly didn't take much time to settle down. Don't let the cute eyes and fins fool you though, as Tirtouga is a monster if used properly. With a decent 78 Attack and Shell Smash, it reaches a frightening 34 Attack and 24 Speed after only one boost. Excellent STAB moves in Waterfall and Stone Edge allow it to decimate most Pokemon, and it even gets STAB priority in Aqua Jet. Its ability, Sturdy, prevents Tirtouga from getting OHKOed. However, Tirtouga does have some crippling weaknesses. Even after a Shell Smash, it can be outsped by Scarf users sitting at 17 Speed, making it prone to revenge killing, especially to Fighting-type priority. Nevertheless, Tirtouga can still be a threat to most teams if used properly.</p>
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Stone Edge / Rock Slide
move 4: Earthquake
item: Life Orb
ability: Sturdy
nature: Jolly
evs: 84 HP / 212 Atk / 12 Def / 180 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a Jolly nature, Tirtouga reaches a fantastic 34 Attack, 22 Special Attack, and 24 Speed after after a single Shell Smash, allowing it to outpace and deal hefty damage to all Pokemon without a Choice Scarf and a few slower Scarf users. Waterfall and Stone Edge are the primary STAB moves, providing near-perfect coverage with the combo being resisted by only a handful of Pokemon. The choice between Stone Edge and Rock Slide depends on power versus reliability. Rock Slide has a greater accuracy and a chance to flinch, while Stone Edge has 20 more Base Power and a high chance of a critical hit. In the last slot, Earthquake rounds off the overall coverage quite well.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Aqua Jet can also be used over Waterfall , allowing Tirtouga to snip off weakened Pokemon thanks to its priority. Life Orb provides Tirtouga with the raw power it needs to smash through most walls, but Eviolite is still a viable option, increasing both of Tirtouga's defenses by one stage and giving it a decent amount of bulk, which makes makes setting up easier. The EV spread is designed to give Tirtouga maximum Attack and Speed, so that it can outpace and decimate most Pokemon with its STAB moves. The remaining EVs are placed in HP and Defense so as to increase Tirtouga's bulk marginally. Aqua Tail is an option over Waterfall since it can provide that extra power to the set, but at the cost of the accuracy.</p>
<p>Since Tirtouga is completely walled by Ferroseed, a Pokemon that can take it down is a necessity. Magnemite does this job quite well thanks to its ability preventing Ferroseed from switching out. From there, it can roast Ferroseed with a super effective Hidden Power Fire. Since Shell Smash lowers Tirtuoga's defenses, dual screens can go a long way in keeping Tirtouga alive and also makes setting up easier, since they effectively negate the drops in its defenses after a Shell Smash, making Abra and Bronzor good teammates to set up dual screens with ease. Finally, like every other sweeper, Tirtouga likes entry hazards in place. Stealth Rock and a layer of Spikes allow Tirtouga to net several important KOs and breaks enemy Focus Sashes. Hippopotas can also be a useful teammate to Tirtouga since it provides sandstorm, which increases its Special Defense. Hippopotas can also provide it with Stealth Rock support which can be helpful with breaking Focus Sashes and making it easier to KO other Pokemon.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Tirtouga does not exactly have a lot of options. It can run a Choice Scarf set but it is rather slow even with a Scarf, being outsped by Pokemon with 19 Speed. Waterfall can be replaced by Hydro Pump, allowing Tirtouga to attack from both sides of the spectrum with its decent 22 base Special Attack. A Curse set is possible with Waterfall and Rock Slide but isn't as effective due to Tirtouga's sub-par Special Defense and weaknesses to Grass-, Ground-, and Fighting-type attacks. Hidden Power Fire can be used to deal with Ferroseed and other Steel-types, though it makes Tirtouga a sitting duck for Croagunk who can smash Tirtouga into pieces with Vacuum Wave. A bulky Rock Polish set is surely something Tirtouga can pull off with ease, raising Tirtouga's meager Speed and allowing it to outspeed several key threats. A viable bulky Shell Smash set with Eviolite may work, allowing it to severely dent Pokemon while retaining extra bulk, which is useful in situations where there isn't much room to set up, and allows it to have an easier time against Timburr.</p>
[Checks And Counters]
<p>Ferroseed is the best possible counter to Tirtouga. It is resistant to both of Tirtouga's STABs and takes little damage from Earthquake. It can then proceed to KO Tirtouga easily with Bullet Seed or Gyro Ball. Pokemon with powerful priority attacks , such as Timburr, can easily destroy Tirtouga with a Mach Punch, especially after Tirtouga has used Shell Smash, but it cannot switch in. Pawniward and Croagunk can take out Tirtouga out with Sucker Punch but both must be wary of Earthquake. Croagunk has the added advantage of being able to switch in due to Dry Skin. Scarf userswith 17 Speed and above, such as Joltik, Electrike, and Elekid can outspeed Tirtouga even after a boost and can KO with a super effective Thunderbolt. Slowpoke can eat all of Tirtouga's attacks and can KO with Scald or Surf. Since its Speed stat is so low, the Rock Polish set may not always work. It would usually get outsped by several other Pokemon.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Tirtouga receives Swift Swim as a Dream World ability. This opens up a lot of new opportunities for it and can allow it to fit in very well in any Rain Dance-based team. It can function in a similar manner as Kabuto, though it is much more bulkier and receives Earthquake which can be useful in hitting several Pokemon. Kabuto doesn't get Stone Edge, which again is useful for Tirtouga, giving it a niche over Kabuto, though Kabuto is overall better since Tirtouga can be outsped by most Scarf users.</p>
