I wish I got Shell Smash
[Overview]
<p>BW brought something that Shelgon has dreamed of ever since its release in ADV: Eviolite. For the low, low price of no Leftovers recovery, Shelgon finds itself as one of the best defensive Pokemon in the tier, with excellent typing, access to Wish, and incredible defenses. Now it has that extra something to give it an edge over Altaria—it is a great counter to top physical threats such as Sawk, Swellow, and Torterra. However, the omnipresent Gorebyss and Jynx can easily dispose of it without a second thought; it is also setup bait for most other special attackers in the tier. Nevertheless, Shelgon is a unique and viable Pokemon that every team should have a way around.</p>
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Toxic / Roar
move 4: Dragon Claw
item: Eviolite
ability: Rock Head
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Shelgon's main set, and the one that walls nearly every physical attacker in the tier to hell and back. It relies on Shelgon's few weaknesses and lots of useful resistances, which prove unbreakable for many sweepers. Wish and Protect are irreplaceable, as they provide recovery for either Shelgon or a teammate; the lack of damaging weather in NU also makes the extra turn this takes less of a disadvantage. Toxic allows Shelgon to break down the many foes that it walls, and complements the stalling nature of the Wish and Protect combination. However, Roar is another viable option here, as it can inflict more entry hazard damage on your opponent, limiting the effectiveness of Pokemon that use Life Orb to break through Shelgon, such as Absol. Dragon Claw is the fourth move on the set, and allows Shelgon to hit targets with a decently powered STAB move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EV spread emphasizes Shelgon's Defense, allowing it to avoid the 2HKO from Jolly Choice Band Sawk's Close Combat. The remaining EVs are placed in Special Defense to boost its weaker defensive stat. Here are a few calculations to show just how bulky Shelgon is:</p>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li>Jolly Choice Band Sawk Close Combat vs. Shelgon 42.2% - 49.7%</li>
<li>Jolly Guts Swellow Facade vs. Shelgon 38.0% - 44.7%</li>
<li>Adamant Choice Band Torterra Earthquake vs. Shelgon 35.2% - 41.4%</li>
<li>+2 Adamant Life Orb Absol Night Slash vs. Shelgon 48.1% - 56.6%</li>
<li>Adamant Zweilous Outrage vs. Shelgon 71.6% - 84.2%</li>
</ul>
<p>While Rock Head sees absolutely no use at all, it is the only ability that is legal with Wish, so it is a must. It is worth noting that by running a specially defensive spread, Shelgon becomes a formidable mixed wall, but it is usually better off investing in Defense instead; otherwise, it won't be able to counter Sawk, Swellow, and other top physical attackers. Another option worth considering is DragonBreath. It has a 30% chance to paralyze the target, and enables Shelgon to provide great support for the likes of Armaldo and Eelektross, Pokemon which hit hard but are slow. However, it is generally not recommended as it is very weak and conflicts with Toxic. Similarly, Outrage is also not recommended for its locking effect.</p>
<p>Cryogonal pairs well with Shelgon to make a great defensive core, as it can take the Ice attacks that Shelgon doesn't like, as well as the more powerful special attacks such as Rotom-S Air Slashes and Gorebyss Ice Beams. Quagsire and Regirock also make good partners, as they can both deal with Altaria. Calm Mind Duosion is the bane of this set, as it can take weak Dragon Claws, is immune to Toxic, and can set up and sweep while Shelgon does little or nothing in return.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulky Dragon Dance
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Outrage
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Eviolite
ability: Rock Head
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 20 Atk / 236 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Shelgon is also capable of running a bulky Dragon Dance set, which functions very similarly to the legendary CroCune of DPP. Use Dragon Dance to boost both Shelgon's Attack and Speed until its health runs low. After that, Rest and Sleep Talk allow it to either boost its stats further with Dragon Dance, or fire off powerful Outrages that will severely dent almost everything thrown at it. Outrage is superior to Dragon Claw because Outrage will not have the locking and confusion effects if selected by Sleep Talk.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Once again, the EVs ensure that Shelgon will never be 2HKOed by a Jolly Choice Band Sawk's Close Combat. The remaining EVs are placed into Attack to power up Outrage by a small amount. An Eviolite is preferred for the item as it lets Shelgon set up multiple Dragon Dances, providing more power and Speed than a Life Orb or another item would. Rock Head is again chosen because it is the only legal ability; Overcoat is illegal with Sleep Talk, as is the combination of Dragon Dance and Outrage on the same set.</p>
<p>Two Pokemon that Shelgon will never get past are Probopass and Bastiodon. They both boast enormous Defense and can easily take on Shelgon; to illustrate, they are never OHKOed even at +6, and Bastiodon can even avoid the 2HKO at +6. Probopass can hit Shelgon with either Earth Power or STAB Power Gem, whereas Bastiodon can use Roar to negate all of Shelgon's boosts. Sawk is an excellent partner for Shelgon because it can get rid of both of these Pokemon, allowing Shelgon to sweep. It can also clean up after Shelgon, because physical walls will be hard-pressed to take both these assaults of immense power and great offensive coverage.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Shelgon is capable of running an offensive Dragon Dance set to good effect. It can run maximum Attack and Speed with Dragon Dance, Outrage, Brick Break, and either Dragon Claw or Substitute. With Steel being the only type that resists Outrage, Brick Break provides Shelgon with great offensive coverage. It severely dents the two main Steel-types in NU, Probopass and Bastiodon, hitting them for 4x super effective damage. Shelgon will therefore be free to run either Dragon Claw for a more reliable STAB, or Substitute to avoid status.</p>
<p>Other physical options in Shelgon's movepool include Crunch, Rock Slide, Shadow Claw, Zen Headbutt, and Fire Fang. However, Shelgon has no use for a coverage move and, more importantly, does not have a slot in which one can be viably run.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Bastiodon is the best counter to Shelgon, as it has massive Defense, resists Dragon-type attacks, is immune to Toxic, and can phaze with Roar. It can also set up Stealth Rock, weakening Shelgon each time it switches in. In a similar vein, Probopass has identical typing to Bastiodon, can also set up Stealth Rock, and can hit back with either Earth Power or STAB Power Gem. Finally, Shelgon takes full damage from all forms of entry hazards, and lacks even Leftovers recovery to mitigate this, so double switching will wear it down eventually.</p>
<p>As for revenge killing Shelgon, special attackers are usually the way to go. Gorebyss can 2HKO with an unboosted Modest White Herb Ice Beam, and OHKOes at +2. Jynx can set up a Substitute to avoid Toxic and can hit Shelgon hard with STAB Ice Beam. As Shelgon commonly only carries one move that hits Haunter, specifically its Dragon-type STAB, SubDisable Haunter can Disable either Outrage or Dragon Claw and fire off STAB Shadow Ball with impunity. Both Choice Specs and Life Orb Rotom-S can 2HKO Shelgon with Air Slash, but Rotom-S can't switch in very well. Duosion gets a special mention because it can switch in on anything bar Outrage—and even then it can switch in before Shelgon has accumulated too many boosts—and set up Calm Minds of its own to start a sweep.</p>
