Taking over this as The3DOstrich hasn't updated the thread in a while, and I got tennisace's and dtc's permission.
Original set by The3DOstrich
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Substitute / Encore
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Water Absorb / Sand Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 64 HP / 252 Atk / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Although Cacturne is normally used as an offensive Spikes user, it can also make an excellent sweeper that can ravage teams that lack a response to it. Cacturne excels at playing mindgames with opponents by using Substitute and Sucker Punch, and can easily force them into making bad decisions that could cost them the game. Walls such as Regirock and Wartortle that may normally try and setup against Cacturne, assuming it to be a utility Pokemon, will be in for a nasty surprise as Cacturne sets up with Swords Dances instead, blowing by them with ease after a boost. After a single Swords Dance and maximum Attack investment, it reaches a devastating Attack stat of 658, and although Cacturne lacks Speed even with investment, STAB Sucker Punch will hit most faster Pokemon for significant damage. Even with Leftovers, Cacturne's power seriously threatens offensive teams, although a Life Orb can be used instead to threaten bulky Pokemon when at +2. The Speed EVs and Jolly nature allow it to outspeed defensive Misdreavus and other defensive Pokemon within that Speed tier, and use Substitute to block Will-O-Wisp and other status conditions, as well as outspeed Skuntank before it can use Taunt. If you choose to use Encore, this investment also makes it more effective and gives Cacturne more chances to set up. While Cacturne faces competition from Absol due to its higher Speed and access to Superpower, Cacturne's immunity to Water-type attacks, particularly Scald, in addition to STAB Seed Bomb that can OHKO Quagsire without any boosts, give it more utility on teams that have issues with Water-type Pokemon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>When using a Life Orb, Cacturne's HP will be drained quickly after multiple attacks, especially if it uses Substitute. In this case, it may be more prudent to use Encore to conserve Cacturne's HP and to allow it to fire off more attacks. It should also be noted that Encore, and other coverage moves such as Drain Punch, are illegal with the Water Absorb ability and must be used with Sand Veil instead, but their extra utility may make them worth using despite this disadvantage, especially if your team already packs a solid response to Water-type Pokemon. Speaking of Drain Punch, the type coverage it provides allows it to break through Steel-type Pokemon, such as Probopass and Bastiodon, more quickly than Seed Bomb. Brick Break can also be used to provide this coverage; although it doesn't provide HP recovery, it remains compatible with Water Absorb. If you don't want to invest so much in Cacturne's lackluster Speed, an EV spread of 184 HP / 136 Atk / 32 Def / 32 SpD / 124 Spe with an Adamant nature still allows Cacturne to outspeed uninvested base 65 Speed Pokemon, while maintaining its attacking power and providing significantly better bulk.</p>
<p>Cacturne can certainly devastate teams if given the chance, but it helps to remove its checks and counters in advance before attempting to sweep. Tangela can wall Cacturne effortlessly even as it accrues boosts, and can cut it down with Hidden Power Ice, but packing a Magmortar on your team can make it less of an issue. Fighting-type Pokemon are a big problem for Cacturne as they resist Sucker Punch and can easily OHKO Cacturne with their STAB moves. Misdreavus can switch into Sawk with impunity and burn it with Will-O-Wisp, while Haunter can threaten to KO it with Sludge Bomb when Sturdy has been nullified. Throh and Gurdurr are more persistent threats as they can take even boosted Seed Bombs with ease and cannot be dealt with via status attacks due to their Guts ability. Musharna deals with them expertly, taking relatively little damage from Payback due to its abysmal Speed stat and hitting them hard with STAB Psychic. Ninjask is an unexpected but extremely problematic Pokemon for Cacturne to face, as its Substitutes aren't broken by Seed Bomb without a boost, and it can bypass Sucker Punch with a Substitute of its own before Baton Passing to a teammate. Golem and Bastiodon are both decent responses in a lead match-up, as they can use Stealth Rock to prevent Ninjask from switching into battle commonly, Roar to phase Ninjask out before it can Baton Pass its boosts to a teammate, or Rock Blast to kill it directly.</p>
<p>While Cacturne doesn't necessarily force a lot of switches, the residual damage caused by Stealth Rock can be helpful in securing OHKOs in the late game. For instance, after Stealth Rock damage, all Sawk are OHKO'd by +2 Seed Bomb, and other Pokemon with the Sturdy ability (or a Focus Sash equipped) become more vulnerable. Golem is a good candidate for providing hazard support as it also deals with opposing Flying- and Fire-type Pokemon, such as Braviary and Emboar, who would otherwise cause problems for Cacturne. Cacturne also appreciates Dual Screens support, as the extra bulk they provide can allow it to set up on Pokemon that would normally threaten it; Gardevoir is an excellent candidate as it can deal with Fighting-types fairly well, and it can use Healing Wish or Memento to support Cacturne's sweep further if necessary. Rotom-S is an unconventional candidate for this role, but it can deal with Flying-types such as Swellow and Braviary more easily due to its STAB Volt Switch.</p>
Original set by The3DOstrich
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Substitute / Encore
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Water Absorb / Sand Veil
nature: Jolly
evs: 64 HP / 252 Atk / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Although Cacturne is normally used as an offensive Spikes user, it can also make an excellent sweeper that can ravage teams that lack a response to it. Cacturne excels at playing mindgames with opponents by using Substitute and Sucker Punch, and can easily force them into making bad decisions that could cost them the game. Walls such as Regirock and Wartortle that may normally try and setup against Cacturne, assuming it to be a utility Pokemon, will be in for a nasty surprise as Cacturne sets up with Swords Dances instead, blowing by them with ease after a boost. After a single Swords Dance and maximum Attack investment, it reaches a devastating Attack stat of 658, and although Cacturne lacks Speed even with investment, STAB Sucker Punch will hit most faster Pokemon for significant damage. Even with Leftovers, Cacturne's power seriously threatens offensive teams, although a Life Orb can be used instead to threaten bulky Pokemon when at +2. The Speed EVs and Jolly nature allow it to outspeed defensive Misdreavus and other defensive Pokemon within that Speed tier, and use Substitute to block Will-O-Wisp and other status conditions, as well as outspeed Skuntank before it can use Taunt. If you choose to use Encore, this investment also makes it more effective and gives Cacturne more chances to set up. While Cacturne faces competition from Absol due to its higher Speed and access to Superpower, Cacturne's immunity to Water-type attacks, particularly Scald, in addition to STAB Seed Bomb that can OHKO Quagsire without any boosts, give it more utility on teams that have issues with Water-type Pokemon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>When using a Life Orb, Cacturne's HP will be drained quickly after multiple attacks, especially if it uses Substitute. In this case, it may be more prudent to use Encore to conserve Cacturne's HP and to allow it to fire off more attacks. It should also be noted that Encore, and other coverage moves such as Drain Punch, are illegal with the Water Absorb ability and must be used with Sand Veil instead, but their extra utility may make them worth using despite this disadvantage, especially if your team already packs a solid response to Water-type Pokemon. Speaking of Drain Punch, the type coverage it provides allows it to break through Steel-type Pokemon, such as Probopass and Bastiodon, more quickly than Seed Bomb. Brick Break can also be used to provide this coverage; although it doesn't provide HP recovery, it remains compatible with Water Absorb. If you don't want to invest so much in Cacturne's lackluster Speed, an EV spread of 184 HP / 136 Atk / 32 Def / 32 SpD / 124 Spe with an Adamant nature still allows Cacturne to outspeed uninvested base 65 Speed Pokemon, while maintaining its attacking power and providing significantly better bulk.</p>
<p>Cacturne can certainly devastate teams if given the chance, but it helps to remove its checks and counters in advance before attempting to sweep. Tangela can wall Cacturne effortlessly even as it accrues boosts, and can cut it down with Hidden Power Ice, but packing a Magmortar on your team can make it less of an issue. Fighting-type Pokemon are a big problem for Cacturne as they resist Sucker Punch and can easily OHKO Cacturne with their STAB moves. Misdreavus can switch into Sawk with impunity and burn it with Will-O-Wisp, while Haunter can threaten to KO it with Sludge Bomb when Sturdy has been nullified. Throh and Gurdurr are more persistent threats as they can take even boosted Seed Bombs with ease and cannot be dealt with via status attacks due to their Guts ability. Musharna deals with them expertly, taking relatively little damage from Payback due to its abysmal Speed stat and hitting them hard with STAB Psychic. Ninjask is an unexpected but extremely problematic Pokemon for Cacturne to face, as its Substitutes aren't broken by Seed Bomb without a boost, and it can bypass Sucker Punch with a Substitute of its own before Baton Passing to a teammate. Golem and Bastiodon are both decent responses in a lead match-up, as they can use Stealth Rock to prevent Ninjask from switching into battle commonly, Roar to phase Ninjask out before it can Baton Pass its boosts to a teammate, or Rock Blast to kill it directly.</p>
<p>While Cacturne doesn't necessarily force a lot of switches, the residual damage caused by Stealth Rock can be helpful in securing OHKOs in the late game. For instance, after Stealth Rock damage, all Sawk are OHKO'd by +2 Seed Bomb, and other Pokemon with the Sturdy ability (or a Focus Sash equipped) become more vulnerable. Golem is a good candidate for providing hazard support as it also deals with opposing Flying- and Fire-type Pokemon, such as Braviary and Emboar, who would otherwise cause problems for Cacturne. Cacturne also appreciates Dual Screens support, as the extra bulk they provide can allow it to set up on Pokemon that would normally threaten it; Gardevoir is an excellent candidate as it can deal with Fighting-types fairly well, and it can use Healing Wish or Memento to support Cacturne's sweep further if necessary. Rotom-S is an unconventional candidate for this role, but it can deal with Flying-types such as Swellow and Braviary more easily due to its STAB Volt Switch.</p>
