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Swoobat
QC- Ice-eyes, Omicron, Zebraiken
GP- Shame That
[Overview]
<p>Swoobat is one interesting Pokemon. It has a fantastic base 114 Speed, but that's just about what it gets in the way of good stats. It has a decent support movepool, although its horrible defenses and bad typing makes it hard for these moves to be utilized well. That, coupled with poor 67 / 55 / 55 defenses, makes you wonder why would you ever use this Golbat knockoff. However, it is the fastest dual screener in the NU tier, as well as the fastest user of Calm Mind. With access to some great moves such as Roost and Taunt as well, Swoobat is a prime example of a support Pokemon that has just the right moves to help you win.</p>
[SET]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Taunt
move 4: U-turn
item: Light Clay
ability: Unaware
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 184 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Say hello to the fastest dual screener in the NU metagame. With 114 base Speed, Swoobat is almost guaranteed to set up Reflect or Light Screen before the opponent can attack, giving it enough time to set up both screens. When you're done setting up, Swoobat can U-turn away to set up on them later in the battle. Taunt is a nice move that can be utilized well with Swoobat's speed, preventing other Pokemon from using Swoobat as setup bait and giving you time to set up both screens.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>184 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Pokemon with base 105 Speed or below, such as the elemental monkeys and Rapidash. If you want to outspeed base 110s such as Tauros and Jumpluff, a spread of 252 HP / 32 Def / 224 Spe should be used instead. Roost can be used over Taunt if you want to get more recovery; however, this will leave Swoobat with no way to stop opponents from setting up.</p>
<p>Swoobat, like every other Pokemon weak to Stealth Rock, loves Rapid Spin support. Pokemon such as Armaldo and Cryogonal make great partners, as both can spin entry hazards from the field, and Swoobat can support them both by setting up Reflect or Light Screen. Pokemon that can set up under Dual Screens also make great teammates; Altaria and Absol enjoy the defense boost when setting up, as it makes sweeping easier.</p>
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Air Slash / Roost / Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 24 HP / 48 Def / 252 SpA / 184 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>At first glance, this looks like a joke. However, with proper support, Swoobat becomes a fine user of Calm Mind. Base 114 Speed comes in handy when trying to set up, as Swoobat's defenses make it hard to get in multiple Calm Minds. Psychic and Psyshock are both STAB, and the choice of move depends on what Swoobat needs to hit harder. For example, Psychic deals more damage to Torterra and Weezing, while Psyshock ruins Cryogonal. Hidden Power Fighting gives Swoobat a way to hit the Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon that have no problem taking Swoobat's STAB Psychic. The choice for the last slot is a hard one, and it depends on what your team needs. Air Slash is a secondary STAB, hitting Grass-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Jumpluff hard. Roost is an option for recovering HP lost to Life Orb recoil. Finally, Taunt can be used to stop opponents from setting up, in addition to keeping Swoobat safe from status such as paralysis.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Life Orb is the item of choice for this set, because with a paltry base 77 Special Attack, Swoobat needs all the offensive boosts it can get. For this reason as well, 252 Special Attack EVs are used, also making the most of a Calm Mind boost. With 24 HP EVs, Swoobat can switch into Stealth Rock four times. However, Stealth Rock damage and Life Orb recoil build up on Swoobat, which is why it's important to have Rapid Spin support; Pokemon such as Armaldo or Wartortle are good teammates that can utilize Rapid Spin well.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Swoobat has a decent support movepool, with plenty of other options to consider. Charm can be used to lower the Attack of an opponent bytwo stages; however, this is very situational, and Swoobat's other moves have more use. Fake Tears can be used to lower the Special Defense of an opponent by two stages, and while it could probably be useful in the last slot of the Calm Mind set, Swoobat has trouble finding the time to use it. Knock Off, Toxic, and Thunder Wave are all moves that can be used in a support set, and with Swoobat's high Speed, it could pull it off. Finally, Rain Dance can be utilized with a Damp Rock to set up rain for Pokemon such as Golduck and other Swift Swim sweepers.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Dark-type Pokemon such as Absol, Cacturne, and Sneasel are great checks to Swoobat, as they are immune to Psychic and can eliminate Swoobat with either a well-timed Sucker Punch in Absol and Cacturne's case, or just outspeed and OHKO with Night Slash in Sneasel's case. Rotom-S and Rotom-F can both either take Swoobat out with STAB Electric-type attacks or Trick it a Choice Scarf to cripple it for the rest of the game. Murkrow can prevent Swoobat from setting up due to priority Taunt, and can then attack Swoobat with Foul Play. If Swoobat doesn't have Air Slash, Shedinja becomes a great counter, as it can then set up or attack with STAB Shadow Sneak, without fear of being hit due to Wonder Guard.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Swoobat gets Simple from the Dream World. It is only useful on Calm Mind variants, as Dual Screen sets need Unaware if they come in on a Pokemon that already set up. Being at +2 Special Attack and +2 Special Defense after one Calm Mind is lethal, especially when coupled with Stored Power, which becomes viable with Simple making Swoobat's boosting moves much more powerful.</p>
[Overview]
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Taunt
move 4: U-Turn
item: Light Clay
ability: Unaware
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP/ 32 Def / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psychic / Psychock
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Air Slash / Roost / Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 24 HP / 48 Def / 252 SAtk / 184 Spd
- 114 Base Speed
- Decent Support Movepool
- Bad Typing, making it weak to Rock, Ice and Electric
- STAB's aren't all that good either
name: Dual Screens
move 1: Reflect
move 2: Light Screen
move 3: Taunt
move 4: U-Turn
item: Light Clay
ability: Unaware
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP/ 32 Def / 224 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Fastest Dual Screener in the tier
- 224 Spe to outspeed Positive base 110s
- Taunt to prevent other pokemon from setting up on Swoobat as it get Screens up
- U-Turn to gtfo after both screens are up
- Loves Rapid Spin Support
- Can be built around a team of pokemon that can set up behind the Dual Screens.
- Klinklang makes a great example as it Resists Rock, Ghost, Ice, Dark.
- Also, a spread of 252 HP / 72 Def / 184 Spd can be used to outspeed base 105's, as Jumpluff and Tauros are pretty uncommon
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psychic / Psychock
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Air Slash / Roost / Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 24 HP / 48 Def / 252 SAtk / 184 Spd
- Only way Swobat should be used Offensively
- Calm Mind brings up it's horrible 77 Base Special Attack and even worse 55 Special Defense
- Psychic / Psychock are both STAB, and the choice is up to the user on what they want to hit harder (Ex- Psychic deals more damage to Torterra and Weezing, while Psychock ruins Cryogonal)
- Hidden Power Fight to make sure the Steel and Dark types that resist/immune to psychic, respectably, are hit.
- Air Slash can be used as a Secondary STAB, and it has a nice Flinch Rate
- Roost can also be used to recover off Life Orb Recoil
- Taunt can be used to make it set up faster
- Life Orb is used because Swoobat is VERY weak
- 24 HP EV's means it can switch into Stealth Rock 4 times
- 224 Speed again to outspeed Positive base 110s
- Max Special Attack to make the most of the Calm Mind boosts.
- Life Orb is used because Swoobat is VERY weak
- 24 HP EV's means it can switch into Stealth Rock 4 times
- 224 Speed again to outspeed Positive base 110s
- Max Special Attack to make the most of the Calm Mind boosts.
- Again, a steel type like Klinklang makes a great partner.
- A Spread of 24 HP / 48 Def / 252 SAtk / 184 Spd can be used to again outspeed base 105s
- Charm
- Fake Tears
- Rain Dance
- Knock Off
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Dark Types
- Steel Types
- Rotom-S and Rotom-F(Rotom-S must be careful of Air Slash on Calm Mind However)
- Murkrow can prevent Set-Up thanks to Priority, and without any boosts, Swoobat won't be hitting hard
- Pokemon with Sucker Punch/Shadow Sneak, so Shedinja and Absol can take it out before Swoobat can react. Though Shedinja muct be wary of Air Slash if it switches in.
- Simple, only for Calm Mind Sets, Dual Screens needs the Unaware benefit if it comes on a pokemon that already set up. Being at +2/+2 after one Calm Mind is dangerous. It also gives Stored Power a nice option, as it can boost faster and deal heavy damage with Stored Power.