[Overview]
<p>Absol is an absolute powerhouse in the NU metagame. With base 130 Attack and a wonderful priority attack in Sucker Punch, Absol is a threat to just about every team. It is also one of the most unpredictable Pokemon in the tier, and with options that range from a Swords Dance set to a Choice Band one, beating it is problematic. To make Absol even harder to beat, it has a high critical hit ratio, thanks to its ability, Super Luck, making opposing Pokemon scared to switch into Absol. However, Absol does have it faults, and the main one is its Speed. With a mediocre base 75 Speed stat, it has to rely on Sucker Punch to hit faster opponents, which is predictable and gives the opponent time to set up. A Choice Scarf fixes this to an extent, but without the power boost, Absol won't be hitting as hard. Nevertheless, don't underestimate the Disaster Pokemon, as its pure power alone is enough to let it sweep.</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
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant
evs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 104 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a sky high base 130 Attack stat, Absol is a great user of Swords Dance. Setting up with Absol is simple; just switch into a Pokemon that Absol can scare off, and then set up a Swords Dance. After one turn of set up, Absol has 788 Attack; couple this with a STAB Sucker Punch, and Absol becomes a menace on the field. Superpower gives Absol much needed coverage, as it allows it to hit Steel-type Pokemon, such as Probopass and Bastiodon, which resist Absol’s Dark-type STAB. As stated before in the Overview, Pokemon can set up on Absol as it uses Sucker Punch. Therefore, Night Slash is used as another STAB option, and thanks to Absol’s ability Super Luck, critical hits will happen often. Psycho Cut can also work, as it hits Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Gurdurr, harder.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Life Orb is used with this set to guarantee that Absol will hit as hard as possible after a Swords Dance, thus making a sweep easier to pull off. Another option is to use 29 HP IVs, which makes Absol take less recoil from Life Orb. A Lum Berry can also be used to make Absol avoid status-inducing moves, such as Spore from Amoonguss and Thunder Wave from Probopass. The EV spread allows Absol to outpace Adamant Torterra while still retaining its attacking power through the use of an Adamant nature. However, an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe can also be used to make sure Absol outpaces more things; this spread works better with a Jolly Nature. Super Luck is preferred over Pressure or Justified because of the increase in the chance of getting critical hits, which can be game-changing.</p>
<p>Dispite the power of Swords Dance, Absol still needs support. Entry hazard support works well with Absol, as it weakens opposing Pokemon, making its job easier. Also, Thunder Wave support is nice, letting Absol outpace Pokemon it normally couldn't. Therefore, Probopass is a great partner for Absol, as it not only provides Thunder Wave support, but Stealth Rock support as well, which can help weaken the opposing team. Amoonguss also makes a great partner, being resistant to Fighting and able to use Spore or Stun Spore to cripple faster Pokemon, making it easier for Absol to sweep. Offensively, Sawk, Emboar, and other Fighting-type Pokemon are good partners, as they get rid of Steel-type Pokemon; Absol can get rid of Psychic-type Pokemon in return. Bulkier variants of Substitute + Calm Mind Mesprit also pair well with Absol, as Mesprit easily sets up on or flat-out KOes Pokemon that handle Absol, such as Gurdurr, Weezing, Quagsire; Mesprit is also a very powerful threat in its own right. Absol also helps deal with faster Pokemon that bother Mesprit. Mesprit can use almost every defensive method used to handle Absol to its advantage to set up and sweep, making it a great partner. Misdreavus deals with Fighting-types, who are a problem to Absol, and it can also use Heal Bell to cure Absol from status. Lastly, using Absol in a Fighting / Dark / Psychic or Ghost core is effective as well, as they are becoming more and more common and effective in the NU metagame.</p>
[SET]
name: Substitute + Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Superpower
item: Leftovers
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant
evs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 104 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set plays similarly to the Swords Dance set, except that it utilizes Substitute to stay on the field longer, which makes it easier to set up and gives Absol more opportunities to use Sucker Punch. Just like the Swords Dance set, you should force a switch and set up either a Substitute or a Swords Dance, depending on the situation, to begin a sweep. Once Absol is behind a Substitute, the opponent will be forced to attack Absol, making it easier to use Sucker Punch. Absol will also have an easier time setting up Swords Dance, which is crucial as Absol needs to boost its power to sweep properly. Superpower is used for coverage, as it allows Absol to hit Pokemon such as Probopass, Bastiodon, and Stunktank, who can easily take a Sucker Punch.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Absol can again use Psycho Cut over Superpower to nail Weezing, Sawk, and Throh. Leftovers is used since it allows Absol to make more Substitutes, which is what this set plays around. While the given EV spread is recommended, as it gives Absol's subs a little more bulk, Absol can also use an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe, which allows Absol to outpace more Pokemon with a Jolly nature. However, this means that Absol can make less Substitutes, and said Substitutes will have less bulk, so it isn't recommended unless Absol needs to outspeed specific threats to your team.</p>
<p>Like the Swords Dance set, support is needed to wear the opponent down, making it easier to get behind a Substitute. Like every other sweeper, entry hazards make Absol cry out with joy. Probopass not only sets up Stealth Rock for Absol, but it can also use Thunder Wave to slow opposing Pokemon down, making it easier for Absol to set up. Amoonguss again makes a great partner, as it can use Spore to make an opposing Pokemon worthless, increasing Absol's chances of setting up. Weezing makes a great partner as well, as it is resistant to Bug and Fighting and can also use Will-O-Wisp to cripple opposing physical attacks, making Absol's Substitutes bulkier. Misdreavus also works, as it can also take care of Fighting-type Pokemon and use Will-O-Wisp to cripple opposing teams. Lastly, using Absol in a Fighting / Dark / Psychic or Ghost core is effective, as each Pokemon can take care of each other's weaknesses.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Superpower
move 3: Night Slash
move 4: Sucker Punch / Psycho Cut
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Super Luck
nature: Jolly
evs: 68 HP / 252 Atk / 188 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlike the previous sets, this set works by fixing Absol's Speed issue by using a Choice Scarf. This set makes for a great surprise factor, as it hits Pokemon such as Mesprit which wouldn't attack predicting a Sucker Punch. It also makes for a great revenge killer, as base 130 Attack is nothing to play around with. The main merit of using a Choice set is the use of Pursuit, which would nail common Pokemon that would switch out in fear of Absol, such as Exeggutor and Haunter. This makes switching out on Absol really tricky, as a STAB Pursuit hits very hard. Superpower is used alongside Absol's Dark typing to hit the Steel- and Dark-type Pokemon that are resistant to its Dark-type STAB. Night Slash gives Absol an attack to use when not using Pursuit, which is greatly appreciated, especially with Super Luck for an ability. The move used in the last slot depends on what Absol needs to accomplish. Sucker Punch gives Absol a third Dark-type attack, and you can also use it to bluff a Choice Band set, fooling the opponent into a false sense of security. It also hits Pokemon such as Gorebyss and Huntail after they use Shell Smash, since Absol would be outsped. Psycho Cut is used to hit Emboar, Machoke and non-Choice Scarf variants of Sawk.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread allows Absol to hit 384 Speed with a Choice Scarf, making it able to outpace Swellow, one of the fastest threats in NU. If using an Adamant nature, however, it can't outspeed Swellow, so a spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe works fine as well. Megahorn can be used over Pursuit to hit Grass-type Pokemon harder, though you lose out on the main niche of using a Choice set. Support-wise, the Choice Scarf set needs more support than the Sword Dance sets, as Absol can't switch its moves. Since this variant of Absol uses a Jolly nature instead of an Adamant one, entry hazard support is needed to let Absol deal more damage. Garbodor makes a great partner for this set, as it can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes; it also resists Bug and Fighting. Probopass also works, as it provides Stealth Rock support and has access to Thunder Wave to cripple faster Choice Scarf users, such as Sawk. Misdreavus also provides burn support to let Absol take more hits. Weezing does the same, except it resists, but isn't immune to, Fighting. Using Absol in a Fighting / Dark / Psychic or Ghost core is effective, as each Pokemon can take care of each other's weaknesses, making it a great idea for Choice Scarf variants of Absol.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Night Slash
item: Choice Band
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant
evs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 104 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Unlike the Choice Scarf set, Absol's Choice Band set makes it a great wallbreaker, as the instant power it revives via Choice Band rips holes in even the bulkiest of Pokemon. Equipped with a Choice Band, Absol hits 991 Attack, and with priority, Absol shows what it takes to be a great Choice Bander. Like the Choice Scarf set, one of the main merits is using Pursuit to nail Pokemon that attempt to switch out, such as Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon. Sucker Punch is used to nail faster threats such as Swellow and Rapidash. Superpower makes sure Pokemon such as Probopass and Bastiodon don't wall the set, and it also hits Pokemon such as Sawk and Gurdurr hard, which is useful since both Pokemon are resistant to Sucker Punch. Night Slash is a solid STAB move that doesn't require the opponent to attack like Sucker Punch, or the opponent to switch to deal more damage like Pursuit. Also, Super Luck gives Absol an increased chance that Night Slash will get a critical hit.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Absol can again use Psycho Cut over Superpower to nail Weezing, Sawk and Throh. Megahorn can also be used, as it hits the numerous Grass-type Pokemon in the tier harder. While the given EV spread is recommended as it gives Absol enough Speed to outpace Adamant Torterra, Absol can also use an EV spread of 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature to outpace more Pokemon. However, this means that Absol is a little less bulky, and a Jolly nature strips away some of Choice Band Absol's power. Therefore, it is only recommended if a specific Pokemon needs to be outsped for your team.
<p>Like any Pokemon with a choice item, Choice Band Absol needs support to work. Like the other sets, entry hazards and status support are appreciated for Absol, as it can use the hazards to build up more damage on the opponent. Garbodor makes a great partner for Absol, as it resists Bug and Fighting, and can also set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes. It also has Body Slam to spread paralysis. Probopass also works, as it provides Stealth Rock support and has access to Thunder Wave to cripple faster Pokemon and Choice Scarf users, such as Sawk, Rapidash and Tauros. Misdreavus and Weezing also provide Will-O-Wisp support to make Absol take more hits, and both of them can switch into Fighting-type attacks easily. Finally, like every variant of Absol, a Fighting / Dark / Psychic or Ghost core is effective since each Pokemon can take care of each other's weaknesses, making it a great idea for Choice Band variants of Absol.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Outside of the options listed in the four sets above, Absol still has more options. With Calm Mind, Swords Dance, Hone Claws, and Mean Look, Absol can work as a Baton Passer. Will-O-Wisp and Taunt are supportive options that can catch the opponent off guard; Taunt is especially useful as it forces the opponent to attack, making Sucker Punch much easier to pull off. Replacing Swords Dance for Psycho Cut on an All-Out Attacking set can work, as it means that Absol can switch attacks freely while being able to run both Night Slash and Psycho Cut on the same set. Zen Headbutt can be used over Psycho Cut, though the shaky accuracy makes it frowed upon in comparison of Psycho Cut, which has an increased critical hit ratio thanks to Super Luck. Zen Headbutt, however, can flinch the opponent, so it still provides some use.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Absol, a Pokemon with base 130 Attack and great priority in Sucker Punch, is one of the hardest Pokemon to check in the entire NU metagame. However, there are some Pokemon that do a decent job. Tangela is incredibly physically bulky and can tank 2 Sucker Punches or Night Slashes, and can break Substitutes with Giga Drain and cripple Absol with Stun Spore or Sleep Powder. Gurdurr is another great Pokemon to use as an Absol check, as it can tank any attack from Absol other than a Choice Banded Psycho Cut without getting 2HKOed, and retaliate with Mach Punch and Drain Punch, each nabbing OHKOs. Sawk is also a good check, but it must be wary of Psycho Cut and a Choice Band-boosted Superpower. Weezing can use Will-O-Wisp to cut Absol's Attack in half, but Lum Berry variants of Absol beat Weezing, especially those with Psycho Cut. Murkrow has priority FeatherDance; however, it must be careful when it uses Roost, as a Superpower will destroy it after Roost removes Murkrow's Flying-type. Defensive Rotom-S can take a Night Slash and cripple Absol with a Thunder Wave or a Will-O-Wisp; however, like Weezing, it must be wary of Lum Berry variants of Absol.</p>
