Skuntank (GP 2/2)

erisia · Jul 21, 2012

Let's finally get this done. Christ on a stick has this been overdue...

[Overview]

If you can overlook Skuntank's appearance, you'll find that it's one of the most useful Pokemon in the tier, as it can fulfill a number of offensive and defensive roles for a team simultaneously. First and foremost, Skuntank is certainly the most foolproof response to the myriad of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier, boasting STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit off of a respectable base 93 Attack stat. While its rival Absol may have the upper hand in terms of sheer power, Skuntank boasts neutrality to the Bug- and Fighting-type coverage moves that its prey often use, as well as a far superior HP stat, which allows it switch into combat more reliably. In combination with its unique typing and its focused support movepool, practically any team can benefit from Skuntank's smelly services. For example, offensive teams love Skuntank's ability to revenge kill weakened sweepers, such as Haunter, Cinccino, and Swellow, and the disruption it can cause stall teams with the use of Taunt. Meanwhile, defensive teams really appreciate Skuntank's ability to completely shut down threats such as Misdreavus and Duosion that would otherwise give them headaches, as well as the removal of Toxic Spikes every time it switches in.

Unfortunately, Skuntank has somewhat been a victim of its own success, contributing to the popularity of Hidden Power Ground on many of the Pokemon it traps, as well as that of Fighting-type Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, which can take it on without problems. Nevertheless, Skuntank is still extremely effective as a stabilizing influence for your team, providing a solid response to a variety of threats, and if you have a free position available, Skuntank won't disappoint (unless you expect it to bring refreshments).

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Black Sludge / Dread Plate
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpD / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

This is Skuntank's flagship set, presenting an ultimatum to all Psychics, Ghosts, and other spiritual influences within the tier. When Gardevoir, Haunter, Exeggutor, Musharna, Misdreavus, Kadabra, Duosion, and Swoobat run their usual moves, they will find themselves completely helpless should Skuntank be given the opportunity to switch in. If they try to outrun Skuntank and attack it directly, Sucker Punch will stop them in their tracks. If they try to switch out, Pursuit will hit them for the same amount of damage, crippling them at the very least. If they try to set up against Skuntank or stop it with Will-O-Wisp, Taunt will prevent them from doing so, and if they try anything else, Crunch will hit them for the same consistent damage regardless of their actions. Although its effectiveness is governed by how well its user can strategize and predict the opponent's moves, if played correctly, Skuntank is almost unstoppable in completing its task.

Skuntank's inherent bulk, alongside its unique defensive typing, ensures that it can switch into practically any attack from its targets, survive the blow, and destroy its opponent immediately after. For example, Choice Specs Exeggutor only deals 58.04-68.39% with Leaf Storm, failing to 2HKO after Black Sludge, which lets Skuntank Pursuit trap it with ease. Meanwhile, Gardevoir has no hope of OHKOing Skuntank with a Life Orb Focus Blast, even at +1, without hazards on the field. Even Golurk can be removed if you can bring Skuntank into anything other than Earthquake, as it usually favors Drain Punch over Hammer Arm as its Fighting-type move of choice. Meanwhile, Skuntank's Poison typing removes Toxic Spikes to aid defensive teammates and makes it immune to Toxic itself, which makes it hard for defensive teams to cope with it in combination with Taunt. While Absol might be more powerful, it can only dream of accomplishing these feats, and Skuntank still retains enough power to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types with ease.

However, Skuntank is somewhat less imposing when used outside of its niche. Sucker Punch is still able to revenge kill (and Pursuit is still able to trap) targets that are neutral to the attack, such as Cinccino and Swellow, but requires them to be weakened first, either through entry hazards or the recoil from their items or attacks. Likewise, while Dark-type moves have good neutral coverage in the tier, Skuntank won't be doing much damage to bulky targets due to its only decent attacking power, so Fighting-, Steel-, and other Dark-type Pokemon can wall Skuntank effortlessly. Poison Jab's main purpose is to expand on this neutral coverage while hitting Tangela super effectively, but unfortunately it does nothing to help against Probopass and Bastiodon. Both attacks in the third moveslot are useful for hitting opponents that try to switch into Skuntank, as Sucker Punch and Pursuit will let them switch into battle without taking any damage. Overall, although it has its flaws, this set can completely stop its targets in their tracks and seize control of the match from the opponent in the process.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The above EV spread capitalizes on Skuntank's niche as a bulky trapper, as a faster spread receives more competition from Absol. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary, as they give Skuntank enough power to break through its most physically defensive targets, such as Calm Mind Musharna and SubSeed Exeggutor, with the latter being 2HKOed with Leftovers and the former being 2HKOed with a Dread Plate. With the given Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds Adamant Torterra; although this is not useful in itself, it's a Speed tier that a lot of defensive Pokemon in the tier like to invest in, which lets Skuntank Taunt them more reliably. The rest of the EVs are placed in Special Defense, as Skuntank has a high HP stat and investment in its poor base 61 Special Defense stat has a much greater effect. This allows Skuntank to take attacks from most of its prey with fewer issues, especially in combination with Black Sludge, which is the item of choice for this set. This is because Skuntank lacks other recovery options, and it appreciates the extra health when trying to tank powerful attacks such as Gardevoir's Focus Blast and Musharna's Hidden Power Ground. Skuntank also uses the item more efficiently than most, as it garners a lot of "free" turns through the use of Taunt, Pursuit, and its Psychic-type immunity, and it punishes the Trick users that it commonly traps with crippling residual damage. However, if you want a little more power and don't mind the loss of recovery, Dread Plate has the advantage of boosting all of Skuntank's Dark-type attacks by 20% without causing any recoil. It's a rare luxury for a Pokemon that's able to make the most of it, and it gives Skuntank's attacks some extra "oomph", which is handy when attempting a revenge kill.

Skuntank can also make use of a faster EV spread, especially in combination with a Dread Plate or Life Orb, as an offensive variant of this set. With 236 Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds targets such as standard Drifblim and SubWisp Gardevoir, KOing them before they can use Will-O-Wisp or Substitute. This is in addition to threats such as Absol, Samurott, Jolly Torterra, and Emboar, all of which can be hit for decent damage with Poison Jab. As Dread Plate doesn't boost Poison Jab, it's best to use Life Orb instead when running the move. Alternatively, Skuntank can shift its EVs from Special Defense into Defense; this allows Skuntank to switch into frail physical sweepers more easily, and thus trap or revenge kill them more effectively. For example, with 220 Defense EVs, Skuntank takes only 57.75-68.1% from Life Orb Cinccino's Tail Slap and 77.58-91.37% from Swellow's Guts-boosted Facade, and can clean them up afterwards if they've been worn down. Skuntank can also use a Lum Berry; although the drop in power is noticeable, Skuntank can switch into Will-O-Wisps, Spores, and Thunder Waves more easily.

When looking for suitable teammates for Skuntank, it's hard to ignore the Fighting / Psychic / Dark cores that are extremely powerful both offensively and defensively. Psychic- and Ghost-types of your own are great for checking Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, which can all take Skuntank down with no trouble at all. Gardevoir and Haunter are well-suited to aggressive playstyles, with the former hitting Fighting-types extremely hard with STAB Psychic, and the latter switching into Choice-locked Close Combats and Superpowers with impunity and setting up a Substitute as the opponent switches out. On the other hand, Musharna and Misdreavus provide bulkier responses and can either provide team support or set up sweeps against the hopeless brawlers. Meanwhile, Fighting-type Pokemon of your own love Skuntank's ability to eliminate their best checks and counters, with Sawk being able to spam Choice Band Close Combats without fear, and Gurdurr feeling free to set up without being hopelessly walled. As Skuntank struggles against physically bulky Pokemon in general, packing powerful responses to them is useful. Torterra can take on Golem, Carracosta, and Probopass without any problems at all, while Gardevoir excels at destroying Regenerator cores with super effective coverage moves and Tracing their abilities to heal off any residual damage. Finally, as Skuntank isn't the most powerful Pokemon in existence, providing entry hazard support will help it secure KOs more easily, especially if it uses Black Sludge. Torterra and Golurk are the best candidates for providing Stealth Rock, with the former covering Skuntank's Ground-type weakness and the latter being a more imposing check to opposing Sawk. Spikes users don't have good type synergy with Skuntank in general, so if you want them, just use Garbodor or Omanyte and cover the gaps with other teammates.

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit / Crunch
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Aftermath
nature: Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpA / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

While this set is somewhat less reliable at trapping and killing its conventional prey, it specializes in luring in Pokemon that usually wall it, such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Probopass, and dealing heavy damage with unexpected special attacks. Sucker Punch and Pursuit remain present for their excellent utility and are no less powerful than on any other Skuntank set, letting it revenge kill frail opponents easily, although the lack of Crunch and Taunt makes it harder to stop setup attempts. Meanwhile, Sludge Bomb is Skuntank's most powerful special attack, and with the given EV investment and a Life Orb boost, it manages to OHKO Tangela 100% of the time, even without any residual damage, a significant improvement over Poison Jab's damage output. Likewise, while it falls just short of 2HKOing Alomomola, if the move's 30% poison chance activates, then Alomomola will not be able to stall Skuntank out with Wish + Protect. Skuntank can also pull other tricks from its special attacking movepool for specific targets. Hidden Power Ground is the best option for slowly breaking down Probopass and Bastiodon, as well as other Skuntank, all of which lack reliable recovery. Meanwhile, Fire Blast secures the 2HKO on Torterra, as well as Amoonguss after Stealth Rock. By running mixed attacking options on Skuntank, it can take some of the pressure off of physical sweepers such as Samurott, Swellow, and Cinccino, letting them wreak havoc later on in the match.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Using a Life Orb alongside high Special Attack investment is necessary on this set, as Skuntank's base 71 Special Attack stat is hardly impressive, and it will otherwise struggle to break through even physically based walls. It also ensures that Skuntank's physical attacks are as strong as ever, as it would be silly not to make the most of Skuntank's trapping and revenge killing abilities, even on a lure set. A Lonely nature is the best choice, as Skuntank's physical attacks retain their normal strength without compromising its Special Attack. The Speed investment allows Skuntank to outrun Adamant Torterra, which is actually useful in this case as it can inflict massive damage with Fire Blast. It can also use different Hidden Power types to hit different Pokemon super effectively, with Hidden Power Grass being the most notable, as it OHKOes Golem and Carracosta if they've taken any residual damage.

As stated above, teammates that appreciate the removal of physical walls are highly recommended; with Tangela and Alomomola removed, Golurk can blow holes in teams with its amazing coverage, while Samurott can set up deadly sweeps without worrying about being forced out. Meanwhile, Swellow and Cinccino become much more devastating once their hard counters have been removed, placing high offensive pressure on the opponent. Torterra is an excellent candidate for a Stealth Rock supporter, as it really appreciates the ability to attack without hesitation once Tangela is removed, and it can use Stealth Rock when it forces an opposing Pokemon out. In addition, Sawk and Emboar can spam their STAB attacks of choice without fear, as Skuntank can remove both Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, as well as the remaining candidates that are physically defensive enough to wall them regardless.

[Other Options]

Skuntank has quite an expansive movepool, and while Sucker Punch / Pursuit / Crunch / Taunt is the optimal configuration for trapping Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, there are plenty of other moves that it can also use. Substitute allows Skuntank to block status attacks from slower users and also has the advantage of blocking attacks from physical sweepers that could normally break through it. With a Substitute, most opponents will have to attack twice to KO Skuntank, which means that they have to take two Sucker Punches instead of one, which can prove quite difficult after some residual damage. However, the issue with this strategy is that it doesn't help Skuntank get past physically defensive Pokemon; the likes of Golem and Probopass won't mind taking an extra hit to get rid of the Substitute, so Skuntank fails to utilize its Substitutes particularly well. Haze can be useful when dealing with opponents that have already set up, such as Musharna or Misdreavus, but in most cases the best course of action is to switch Skuntank into them before they become threats. It also learns Roar if you want a phazer on your team, but this usually contradicts Skuntank's other roles and thus isn't particularly useful. Night Slash is an option, but Crunch is generally better thanks to its more consistent power. Meanwhile, Toxic can cripple walls that attempt to tank Skuntank's attacks, and can be a good option if you lack other Pokemon with the move on your team.

Skuntank also has access to various suicide options such as Explosion and Memento, which it can use well thanks to its above-average Speed stat, especially when invested. The former will inflict over twice as much damage as Sucker Punch on most neutral targets, and while it doesn't help break through the Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon that can generally ignore Skuntank's attacks, it can OHKO bulky offensive Pokemon such as Braviary and Emboar when used with Life Orb. Memento, on the other hand, cuts the opponent's attacking stats in half, allowing Pokemon such as Gorebyss or Samurott to set up more easily against offensive teams. Both of these options are best used by a high-Speed set and are more suited to offensive playstyles in general. Skuntank can also have a go at running a few other movesets. With a Choice Band equipped, it has a lot more power and can use Pursuit more effectively against neutral targets, but Choice-locked Sucker Punch is easy setup bait, and thus Skuntank loses the utility of one of its greatest assets. If you're desperate for recovery, Skuntank can use Rest alongside a Chesto Berry to give it a one-time kick start; Sleep Talk is also present, but it places too many constraints on Skuntank's attacking movepool to make RestTalk a viable strategy. It also has access to Hone Claws and can set up with ease whenever it switches into a Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon, but due to Skuntank's lackluster coverage and severe competition from Absol as a boosting attacker, it's generally not a good idea.

Aftermath is by far the best ability for Skuntank, as it compensates for its low attacking power in comparison to Absol. The 25% extra residual damage it inflicts on opponents is highly appreciated and can clean up revenge kills that Skuntank isn't quite powerful enough to secure. Furthermore, a low-health Skuntank can switch into opponents such as Sawk to deactivate their Sturdy or Focus Sash, making them much easier to respond to. While the flinches that Stench can provide are useful, the 10% activation rate is highly unappealing and not consistent enough to be considered a viable option. Finally, if you have a keen eye for good Pokemon, you'll avoid using Keen Eye.

[Checks and Counters]

With Skuntank's good special bulk, excellent typing, and STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit, it can be very hard to stop Skuntank from fulfilling its role of eliminating any Pokemon weak to its attacks. Running Will-O-Wisp on Haunter, Drifblim, or Gardevoir will at least cripple Skuntank before it can kill them off with two Pursuits, provided they run enough Speed EVs to use the move before Skuntank can Taunt them. Running Hidden Power Ground on Skuntank's targets can also throw it for a loop, but if it runs the specially defensive EV spread, this will rarely be sufficient to KO the skunk before it KOes your Pokemon in return. If your Pokemon runs Substitute, Skuntank can potentially be outplayed if it goes for Sucker Punch, letting your Haunter or Gardevoir escape with its life. Drifblim also has a fighting chance to avoid being trapped, as it can outspeed and KO specially defensive Skuntank with fully invested Acrobatics after Stealth Rock damage. However, this only works if the opponent decides to use Pursuit or Taunt, as Sucker Punch will destroy Drifblim if its user mispredicts. Overall, the best way to preserve your Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon against a Skuntank user is smart and conservative play. Don't attempt to sweep with Pokemon such as Calm Mind Musharna or Gardevoir until Skuntank is removed, and you'll generally find that your Psychics and Ghosts will remain safe.

Thankfully, Skuntank is far easier to deal with when it's outside of its comfort zone. Pretty much anything that resists Dark-type attacks or has good physical bulk is usually a safe bet. Emboar and Gurdurr can switch into Skuntank without any consequences, especially if it uses Sucker Punch or Pursuit on that turn. Emboar can proceed to break down the Skuntank user's team with its powerful STAB attacks, while Gurdurr can set up with ease and quickly become an imposing force. Using Poison Jab to hit the latter neutrally has a 30% chance of backfiring and activating Guts, which is seriously bad news for the Skuntank user. Its biggest rival Absol is also a pretty good check, as it can take Dark-type moves easily due to its resistance and proceed to cripple Skuntank with Superpower or set up a Swords Dance. Bulky Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Golem easily OHKO Skuntank with their STAB attacks and take little from Crunch or Sucker Punch thanks to their excellent Defense stats. Likewise, Regirock and Carracosta can take hits all day from Skuntank and wear it down quickly. In addition, all of the previous four checks are able to set up Stealth Rock as Skuntank switches out. While it can use Taunt to prevent this, it risks being OHKOed or 2HKOed by STAB attacks regardless, and generally it shouldn't risk itself to prevent hazards from being set up. Miltank is especially good at annoying Skuntank, as not only can it take its attacks with ease, but it can also outspeed Skuntank and use support moves before it even has a chance to stop it, seizing defensive momentum in the process. Probopass and Bastiodon also take next to nothing from any of Skuntank's attacks apart from Hidden Power Ground, but they can't really do anything to prevent Skuntank from Taunting them and switching to a better match-up.

marilli · Jul 21, 2012

1. Sleep Talking Pursuit is really bad. IIRC, you just attack with a base 40 power move without its side effect. Also Leftovers is quite good, because it's got good overall bulk. Not sure about Dread Plate, but when I had the choice between Life Orb and Lefties, I ended up going lefties most of the time. Pretty sure FLCL can elaborate on this.

2. At least with Poison Jab, enough speed to outspeed Adamant Absol can be pretty cool.

breh · Jul 21, 2012

As funny as that line in the unreleased section is, Keen Eye's out, so ignore it.

Hone Claws in OO?

I feel like Substitute needs more mention.

Raseri · Jul 21, 2012

I'm really unsure about the mixed set in this meta, with Tangela dropping in popularity Sludge Bomb fails to hit much of anything harder than Poison Jab. I'd like some more input on this set but i cant see it doing much of anything

DTC · Jul 21, 2012

I'd give Lum Berry a bigger mention on Skuntank. It's extremely useful for switching into stuff you want to Pursuit such as Will-o-Wisp Misdreavus and usually accomplishes more than Leftovers.

In AC, you mention Emboar as a partner to Skuntank because Skuntank can Pursuit Psychic- and Ghost-types. Emboar is amazing, yes, but Skuntank's support hardly helps it as it can beat all of the Psychic- and Ghost-types fairly easily anyways.

I would like to see more in the checks and counters section. Yeah, Skuntank isn't that hard to check, but there should still be more meat there! A lot of the current NU analyses lack good, informative checks and counters sections. (Not saying yours is, just it's kind of small atm!) Stuff like Golem, Regirock, and Carracosta do well against Skuntank.

Mention somewhere that Skuntank either really troubles a Pokemon or doesn't threaten it. I'd also like to see a mention of Skuntank acting as an effective glue to some teams and its affect on the meta (for example, people running Fighting-type Pokemon with their Psychic-types and using Hidden Power Ground on them).

Yonko7 · Jul 21, 2012

I think Lefties should be slashed before Dread Plate on the first set. I think that it's even better than LO. It's main purpose is to take down Psychics so the extra power doesn't matter too much when they're hit SE anyway.

watashi · Jul 23, 2012

I've been using Skuntank on most of my teams ever since I started playing NU 6 months ago and I've never, ever ran anything lower than 184 Speed EV's. It's just way too convenient to outrun Absol, Ludicolo, Emboar, and other Pokemon that sit in that region. I've never really seen the effects of the extra bulk that the 220 EV's provide, but I guess it could be helpful in some instances, although Dread Plate over Leftovers sort of negates that.

Speaking of item choice, Leftovers is usually my preferred choice since Skuntank gets worn down considerably when switching into random Giga Drains, Shadow Balls, or other resisted moves. Skuntank can get a lot of free turns by Taunting opponents or switching into Psychics, and Leftovers helps it take advantage of that. I don't think Skuntank needs the extra damage Dread Plate or Life Orb provides since it should be played more like a bulky pivot or utility attacker rather than a hard hitting one. If you want the ability to do serious damage to Cinccino and trap at the same time, there's always Pursuit Absol (which is much more effective in this metagame than Skuntank as much as I hate to admit it).

erisia · Jul 23, 2012

Okay, I've edited the thread to address some of these issues, and I'll discuss them more thoroughly when i get home. I agree with most of the changes, but I'll have to test Leftovers and Substitute more before I make any decisions. Substitute seems like a hidden gem, as Skuntank can compensate for its lack of power by setting one up on a fleeing Psychic, letting it use Sucker Punch twice on any sweepers that try to come in. It's less effective against bulky defensive pokemon, though.

watashi · Jul 23, 2012

The problem with Substitute is that most of Skuntank's switch-ins are bulky Rock and Steel types that it can't touch at all. Nobody is going to switch a frail Pokemon into Skuntank due to fear of Poison Jab or Crunch on the switch. Skuntank is already lacking in move slots, since it needs Sucker Punch, Pursuit, and Taunt to fulfill its role. I'd rather run either Poison Jab or Crunch in the last slot for reliable damage rather than hit something like Carracosta for an extra twenty percent or so. Skuntank isn't fit to use Substitute because of its horrible coverage. Something like Samurott or Exeggutor can use it to their advantage by hitting common switch-ins for super effective damage without the need of prediction, but Skuntank just gets flat-out walled.

erisia · Jul 23, 2012

Hmmm, I guess AC will suffice then. You're right in that Skuntank would struggle to capitalize on the Substitute against good players, and Taunt is more effective at disruption.

I've used Leftovers for a bit and it's pretty good, especially with the SpD EVs. So that leaves us with a choice between two main sets.

[SET]
name: Offense
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Dread Plate / Life Orb
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 68 SpD / 188 Spe

or

[SET]
name: Defense
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers / Dread Plate
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpD / 36 Spe

I think we should go in one direction or the other, but I'm not sure which. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages, so I think they'd deserve the slot equally. Defense probably has more of a niche, but offense does have its perks. I can't wait to see the discussion that comes from this!

Also, I think I'll keep the mixed set for now, because luring and beating Tangela, Probopass, Alomomola, Amoonguss etc is pretty good. Getting Amoonguss requires prediction and Fire Blast, but it's pretty snazzy.

TLCJR4LIFE · Jul 25, 2012

As a person who features both Aloma and Amoonguss and a stall team I can say that special Skuntank has ruined my day on a few occasions. So it's definitely viable.

However, I don't really see why you have to pick one or the other on the offense or defensive sets.

Both do different things and have different merits, so with that in mind I don't see the harm in publishing both sets. Unless there's some decided effort to make everything as condensed as humanly possible in these analyses.

Personally, I've always used speed. If Im using Skuntank he's a dedicated trapper and needs to outspeed everything humanly possible to guarantee KOs against pesky Psychic and Ghost types that plagued some of my teams in the past.

erisia · Jul 26, 2012

While they do serve somewhat distinct purposes, i feel slightly uneasy about having two sets where the only differences are evs and item choices. Essentially, they do exactly the same thing, but the offense set is more effective at revenge killing and the defense set is better at removing Psychics and Ghosts. Unless anyone objects, I'm going to use the defense set, as you'd use Absol as a more general revenge killer. However, I'll discuss the offense set (ie EV and item changes) thoroughly in the AC, probably as its own paragraph.

Unless anyone objects, I'm giving this a stamp to speed things along. I'm pretty sure that this analysis is done now. CB and ChestoRest Skuntank may warrant sets, but they can be proposed in seperate threads if necessary. It's important that this analysis is on the website as soon as possible, given the lack of any existing NU analysis since the start of BW.

QC APPROVED 1/3

TLCJR4LIFE · Jul 26, 2012

Is it any different than Emboar having different sets for Choice Band and Choice Scarf?

Yonko7 · Jul 26, 2012

TLCJR4LIFE said:
Is it any different than Emboar having different sets for Choice Band and Choice Scarf?

Well each set has a specific job. In Emboar's case, the CB set is a good wallbreaking set, while the CS set is a decent revenge killer / cleaner. For Skuntank the bulky attacker's purpose is to get rid of ghosts and psychics no matter what. The mixed attacker serves to break down the common walls.

erisia · Jul 26, 2012

TLCJR4LIFE said:
Is it any different than Emboar having different sets for Choice Band and Choice Scarf?

Yes, in that the change is even less dramatic. Skuntank acts as a trapper and a revenge killer on both sets, and both share the same overall purpose. However, offense is slightly better at revenging while defense is slightly better at trapping. There's no polar shift in roles like in the CB/CS case.

If Skuntank ran different moves in the sets, then i'd consider seperating them, but the fact remains that it doesn't.

The mixed attacker is fundamentally different and thus obviously gets a set.

MMF · Jul 28, 2012

When you do mention the Offensive set make sure you mention 236(or max really doesn't matter) Speed EVs to outspeed Samurott and Absol so you can get an extra hit on both of them before they hit you with Waterfall/Hydro Pump and Superpower respectively.

I'm more of a fan of the Offensive set than the Bulky set but I'm ok with it just getting a mention unless anyone else objects. I've used both sets and both are good so either way I think it'll be ok. Just make sure you explain the pros and cons between the two. Other than that it looks good.

QC Approved 2/3

watashi · Jul 29, 2012

I think what needs to be said has already been said. In my opinion Skuntank has sort of been left in the dust in BW2, not being able to hit hard enough to break through the bulky walls or bulky enough to withstand attacks from Golurk, Cinccino, Zangoose, etc. Pursuit Absol has gotten the nod over Skuntank in most of my teams. Even then, Skuntank is still one of the best glue Pokemon in the tier, and is a lot more reliable than Absol when it comes to trapping only.

QC APPROVED 3/3

erisia · Jul 29, 2012

Okey doke, I'll have this written up by tomorrow hopefully. Godspeed!

erisia · Jul 31, 2012

Written up, but hold your horses. I'm going to neaten this up before it goes through GP, as I'm aware of how repetitive it is. :p Should be done in a few hours, tops.

Electrolyte · Aug 2, 2012

Reserving for amateur GP check
(REMOVE)
ADD
RAMBLING

[Overview]

If you can overlook its appearance, you'll find that Skuntank is one of the most useful Pokemon in the tier, able to fill a number of offensive and defensive roles for a team simultaneously. First and foremost, Skuntank is certainly the most foolproof response to the myriad of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier, boasting STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit off of a respectable base 93 Attack stat. While its rival, Absol, may have the upper hand in terms of pure attacking power, Skuntank boasts neutrality to the Bug- and Fighting-type coverage moves that its prey often use, as well as a far more superior HP stat, letting it switch into combat (and deal with them) more reliably overall. In combination with its unique typing and its (a) focused support movepool, practically almost any team can benefit from Skuntank's smelly services. For example, offensive teams love Skuntank's ability to revenge kill weakened sweepers such as Haunter, Cinccino, and Swellow, and the disruption it can cause to stall teams through the use of Taunt. Meanwhile, defensive teams really appreciate Skuntank's ability to completely shut down threats such as Musharna, Misdreavus, and Duosion that would otherwise give them headaches, as well as the removal of Toxic Spikes every time it switches into the field. Unfortunately, Skuntank has somewhat been a victim of its own success, contributing to the popularity of Hidden Power Ground on many of the Pokemon it traps, as well as that of Fighting-type Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, which can take it on without problems. Nevertheless, Skuntank is still extremely effective as a stabilizing (stabilising) influence for your team, providing a solid response to a variety of threats, and if you have a free position available, Skuntank won't disappoint (unless you expect it to bring refreshments).

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers / Dread Plate
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpD / 36 Spe

[Set Comments]

This is Skuntank's flagship set, presenting an ultimatum to all Psychics, Ghosts, and other spiritual influences within the tier. When Gardevoir, Haunter, Exeggutor, Musharna, Misdreavus, Kadabra, Duosion, and Swoobat run their usual moves, they will find themselves (being) completely helpless should Skuntank be given the opportunity to switch into them, and capitalize (capitalise) on this position. If they outrun Skuntank and try to attack it directly, Sucker Punch will stop them in their tracks. If they try to switch out, (.) Pursuit will hit them for the same amount of damage, crippling them at least. If they try to set up (setup) against Skuntank or stop it with Will-O-Wisp, Taunt will prevent them from doing so; and if they try anything else, Crunch will hit them for the same consistent damage regardless of their actions. Although (While) Skuntank's effectiveness is governed by how well its user can strategize (strategise) and predict the opponent's moves, if (when) played correctly, Skuntank is almost unstoppable in completing its task.

Its inherent bulk, alongside its unique defensive typing, ensures that it can switch into practically any attacking move from its targets, survive the blow, and destroy its opponent (user) immediately after. For example, Choice Specs Exeggutor only deals 58.04-68.39% with its signature Leaf Storm, failing to 2HKO after Leftovers, letting Skuntank Pursuit trap it with ease. Meanwhile, Gardevoir has no hopes of OHKOing with Life Orb Focus Blast, even at +1, without hazards on the field. Even Golurk can be removed if you can bring Skuntank into anything other than Earthquake, as it usually favours Drain Punch over Hammer Arm as its Fighting-type move of choice. Meanwhile, its Poison-typing lets Skuntank remove Toxic Spikes to aid defensive teammates, and makes it immune to Toxic itself, making it hard for defensive teams to cope with it in combination with Taunt. While Absol may be more powerful, it can only dream of accomplishing these feats, and Skuntank still retains enough power to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types without trouble.

However, Skuntank is somewhat less imposing when used outside of its niche. Sucker Punch is still able to revenge-kill (and Pursuit is still able to trap) targets that are neutral to the attack, such as Cinccino and Swellow, but requires them to be weakened first, either through entry hazards or the recoil that their items / attacks cause. Likewise, while Dark-type moves have good neutral coverage in the tier, Skuntank won't be doing much damage to bulky targets due to its only-decent attacking power, so (and) Fighting-, Steel-, and other Dark-type Pokemon can wall them effortlessly. Poison Jab's main purpose is to expand on this neutral coverage while hitting Tangela super-effectively, but unfortunately it does nothing to help against Probopass and Bastiodon. Both attacks in the third moveslot are useful for hitting opponents that try to switch into Skuntank, (however,) as Sucker Punch and Pursuit will let them switch into battle without taking damage. Overall, though (while) Skuntank has its flaws, this set can completely stop its targets in their tracks and often seize control of the match from the opponent in the process.

[Additional Comments]

The above EV spread capitalises on Skuntank's niche as a bulky trapper, as a faster spread receives more competition from Absol. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary, as they give Skuntank enough power to break through its most physically defensive targets, such as Calm Mind Musharna and SubSeed Exeggutor, with the latter being 2HKO'd with Leftovers and the former being 2HKO'd with a Dread Plate. The given Speed EVs let Skuntank outspeed Adamant Torterra; although this is not useful in itself, it's a Speed tier that a lot of defensive Pokemon in the tier like to invest to, letting Skuntank Taunt them more reliably. Meanwhile, the rest of the EVs are placed in Special Defense, as Skuntank has a high HP stat and investment in its poor base 61 Special Defense stat has a much greater effect. This allows Skuntank to take attacks from most of its prey with fewer issues, especially in combination with Leftovers, which is the primary item of choice (of item) for this set. This is because Skuntank lacks other recovery options, and it appreciates the extra health when trying to tank powerful attacks like Gardevoir's Focus Blast and Musharna's Hidden Power Ground. Skuntank also uses the item more efficiently than most, as it garners a lot of "free" turns through the use of Taunt, Pursuit, and its Psychic-immunity. However, if you want a little more power and don't mind the loss of recovery, Dread Plate has the advantage of boosting all of Skuntank's Dark-type attacks by 20%(,) without causing any recoil; it's a rare luxury for a Pokemon that's (to be) able to make the most of it, and it gives Skuntank's attacks some extra "oomph", which is handy when attempting a revenge(-)kill.

However, Skuntank can also make good use a faster EV spread, especially in combination with a Dread Plate or Life Orb, as an offensive variant of this set. With 236 Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds targets such as standard Drifblim and SubWisp Gardevoir, killing them before they can use Will-O-Wisp or Substitute, in addition to threats such as Absol, Samurott, and Jolly Torterra and Emboar, which can be hit for decent damage with (by) Poison Jab. As Dread Plate doesn't boost Poison Jab, it's best to use a Life Orb instead when running the move(, as Dread Plate will no longer boost all of Skuntank's attacks in this case). Alternatively, Skuntank can shift its EVs from Special Defense into Defense; this allows Skuntank to switch into frail physical sweepers more easily, and thus trap / revenge-kill them more effectively. For example, with 220 Defense EVs, Skuntank takes only 57.75-68.1% from LO Cinccino's Tail Slap, and 77.58-91.37% from Swellow's Guts-boosted Facade, and can clean them up afterwards if they've been worn down. Skuntank can also use a Lum Berry over its other items; although the drop in power is noticeable, it lets Skuntank switch directly into Will-O-Wisps, Spores, and Thunder Waves, to deal with their users more easily.

When looking for suitable teammates for Skuntank, it's hard to ignore the Fighting/Psychic/Dark cores that are extremely powerful both offensively and defensively. Psychic- and Ghost-types of your own are great for checking Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, who can take Skuntank down with no trouble at all. Gardevoir and Haunter are well suited to aggressive playstyles, with the former hitting Fighting-types extremely hard with STAB Psychic, and the latter switching into Choiced Close Combats and Superpowers with impunity, setting up a Substitute as the opponent switches out. On the other hand, Musharna and Misdreavus provide bulkier responses, and can either provide team support or set up sweeps against the hopeless brawlers. Meanwhile, Fighting-type Pokemon of your own love Skuntank's ability to eliminate their best checks and counters, with Sawk being able to spam Choice Band Close Combats without fear, and Gurdurr feeling free to set up without being hopelessly walled. As Skuntank struggles against physically bulky Pokemon in general, packing powerful responses to them is generally useful. Torterra can take on Golem, Carracosta and Probopass without any problems at all, while Gardevoir excels at destroying Regenerator cores, destroying their constituents with super-effective coverage moves and Tracing their abilities to heal off any residual damage. Finally, as Skuntank isn't the most powerful Pokemon in existence, providing entry hazard support will help it secure KOs more easily, especially if it uses Leftovers. Torterra and Golurk are the best candidates for providing Stealth Rock, with the former covering Skuntank's Ground-type weakness and the latter being a more imposing check to opposing Sawk. Spikes users don't have good type synergy with Skuntank in general, so if you want to provide them, just use Garbodor or Omanyte and cover the gaps with other teammates.

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit / Crunch
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Aftermath
nature: Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpA / 36 Spe

[Set Comments]
While this set is somewhat less reliable at trapping and killing its conventional prey, it specialises in luring in Pokemon that usually wall it, such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Probopass, and dealing heavy damage with unexpected special attacks. Sucker Punch and Pursuit remain present for their excellent utility, and are no less powerful than on any other Skuntank set, letting it revenge-kill frail opponents just as easily as before, although the lack of Crunch and Taunt makes it harder to stop setup attempts. Meanwhile, Sludge Bomb is Skuntank's most powerful special attack, and with the given EV investment and a Life Orb boost, it manages to OHKO Tangela 100% of the time, even without an residual damage; a significant improvement over Poison Jab's damage output. Likewise, while it falls just short of 2HKOing Alomomola, if the move's 30% Poison chance activates, then Alomomola will not be able to stall it out with Wish + Protect. Skuntank can also pull other tricks from its special attacking movepool for specific targets. Hidden Power Ground is the best option for slowly breaking down Probopass and Bastiodon, as well as other Skuntank, all of which lack reliable recovery. Meanwhile, Fire Blast secures the 2HKO on Torterra, as well as Amoonguss after Stealth Rock. By running mixed attacking options on Skuntank, it can take some of the pressure off of physical sweepers such as Samurott, Swellow, and Cinccino, letting them wreak havoc later on in the match, (and) providing your team with yet another useful service.

[Additional Comments]

Using a Life Orb alongside high Special Attack investment is necessary on this set, as Skuntank's base 71 Special Attack stat is hardly impressive and will struggle to break through even physically based walls otherwise. It also ensures that Skuntank's physical attacks are as strong as ever, as it would be silly not to make the most of Skuntank's trapping and revenge-killing abilities (services), even on a lure set. A Lonely nature is the best choice, as it lets Skuntank's physical attacks retain their normal strength without compromising its Special Attack. The Speed investment allows Skuntank to outrun Adamant Torterra, which is actually useful in this case as it can inflict massive damage to it with Fire Blast(, should it run the move). Skuntank can also use different Hidden Power types to hit different Pokemon super-effectively, with Hidden Power Grass being the most notable, OHKOing Golem and Carracosta if they've taken any residual damage. As stated above, teammates that appreciate the removal of physical walls are highly recommended; with Tangela and Alomomola removed, Golurk can blow holes in teams with its amazing coverage, while Samurott can set up deadly sweeps without worrying about being forced out. Meanwhile, Swellow and Cinccino become much more devastating (devestating) once their hard counters have been removed, placing high offensive pressure in the opponent. Torterra is an excellent candidate for a Stealth Rock supporter, as it really appreciates being able to attack without hesitation (abandon) once Tangela is removed, and it can use Stealth Rock when it forces something out on a switch. Meanwhile, Sawk and Emboar can spam their STAB attacks of choice wihout fear, as Skuntank can remove both Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, and the remaining candidates that are physically defensive enough to wall them regardless.

[Other Options]

Aftermath is by far the best ability for Skuntank to run, as it compensates for Skuntank's lower attacking power in comparison to Absol. The 25% extra residual damage it inflicts on opponents is highly appreciated, and can clean up revenge-kills that Skuntank isn't quite powerful enough to secure. Furthermore, a low-health Skuntank can be switched into opponents such as Sawk to de-activate their Sturdy of Focus Sashes, making them much easier to respond to. While the flinches that Stench can provide are useful, the 10% activation rate is highly unappealing, and not consistent enough to be considered a viable option. (And)Finally, if you have a keen eye for good Pokemon, you'll avoid using Keen Eye.

Skuntank has quite an expansive movepool, and while Sucker Punch / Pursuit / Crunch / Taunt is the optimum configuration for trapping Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, there are plenty of other moves that can also be used. Substitute (still) allows Skuntank to block status attacks from slower users, and also has the advantage of blocking attacks from physical sweepers that could normally break through it. (but obviously not Cinccino) With a Substitute up, most opponents will have to attack twice to kill Skuntank, meaning that they have to take two Sucker Punches instead of one, which can prove quite difficult after some residual damage. However, the issue with this strategy is that it doesn't help Skuntank get past physically defensive Pokemon; the likes of Golem and Probopass won't mind taking an extra hit to get rid of the Substitute(it.), so Skuntank fails to capitalize (capitalise) on its Substitutes particularly well. Haze can be useful when dealing with opponents that have already set up, such as Musharna or (and) Misdreavus, but in most cases the best course of action is to switch Skuntank into them before they become threats. Skuntank also learns Roar if you want a phazer (phaser) on your team, but this usually contradicts Skuntank's other roles, and thus isn't particularly useful. (Night Slash is there if you want a worse STAB attack.) Why would you ever want a worse STAB? Is it because of the crit rate? Meanwhile, Toxic can be used to cripple walls that attempt to tank Skuntank's attacks, and can be a good option if you lack other Pokemon with the move on your team.

Skuntank also has access to various suicide options such as Explosion and Memento, which it can use well thanks to its above-average Speed stat, especially when invested. The former will inflict over twice as much damage as Sucker Punch on most neutral targets, and while it doesn't help break through the Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon that can generally ignore Skuntank's attacks, it can OHKO bulky offensive Pokemon such as Braviary and Emboar(,) when used with a Life Orb. Memento, on the other hand, cuts the opponent's attacking stats in half, letting something like Gorebyss or Samurott set up more easily against offensive teams. Both of these options are best used by a high-Speed set, and are more suited to offensive playstyles in general. Skuntank can also have a go at running a few other (different) movesets. With a Choice Band equipped, Skuntank has a lot more power, and can use Pursuit more effectively against neutral targets, but Choiced Sucker Punch is easy set up bait (absurdly bad), and thus Skuntank loses the utility of one of its greatest assets. If you're desperate for recovery, Skuntank can use Rest alongside a Chesto Berry to give it a one-time kickstart; Sleep Talk is also present, but places too many constraints on Skuntank's attacking movepool to make RestTalk a viable strategy. It also has access to Hone Claws, and can set up with ease whenever it switches into a Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon, but due to Skuntank's lackluster (lacklustre) coverage and severe competition from Absol as a boosting attacker, it's generally not a good idea.

[Checks and Counters]

With Skuntank's good special bulk, excellent typing and STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit, it can be very hard to stop Skuntank from fulfilling its role of eliminating any Pokemon weak to its attacks. Running Will-O-Wisp on Haunter, Drifblim, or Gardevoir(,) will at least let them cripple Skuntank before it can kill them off with two Pursuits, providing they run enough Speed EVs to use the move before it can Taunt them. Running Hidden Power Ground on Skuntank's targets can also throw it for a loop, but if it runs the specially defensive EV spread, this will rarely be sufficient to KO the skunk before it KOes your Pokemon in return. If your Pokemon runs Substitute, Skuntank can potentially be outplayed if it goes for (the) Sucker Punch, letting your Haunter or Gardevoir escape with its life. Drifblim also has a fighting chance to avoid being trapped, as it can outspeed and KO specially defensive Skuntank with fully invested Acrobatics, after Stealth Rock damage. However, this only works if the opponent decides to use Pursuit or Taunt; Sucker Punch will destroy Drifblim if its user mispredicts. Overall, the best way to preserve your Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon against a Skuntank user is to play smartly and conservatively against them. Don't attempt to sweep with something like Calm Mind Musharna or Gardevoir until Skuntank is removed, and you'll generally find that your Psychics and Ghosts will remain safe.

Thankfully, Skuntank is far easier to deal with when it's outside of its comfort zone. Pretty much anything that resists Dark-type attacks or has good physical bulk is usually a safe bet. Emboar and Gurdurr can switch into Skuntank without any consequences, especially if it uses Sucker Punch or Pursuit on that turn. Emboar can proceed to break down the Skuntank user's team with its powerful STAB attacks, while Gurdurr can set up with ease and quickly become an imposing force. Using Poison Jab to hit the latter neutrally has a 30% chance of backfiring (spectacularly) and activating Guts, which is seriously bad news. Skuntank's biggest rival, Absol, is also a pretty good check, as it can take Dark-type moves easily due to its resistance and proceed to cripple Skuntank with Superpower or set up a Swords Dance. Bulky Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Golem also excel at killing Skuntank, OHKOing it easily with their STAB attacks and taking little from Crunch or Sucker Punch thanks to their excellent Defense stats. Likewise, Regirock and Carracosta can take hits all day from Skuntank and wear it down quickly, with all of the previous four checks additionally being able to set up Stealth Rock as Skuntank switches out. While Skuntank can use Taunt to prevent this, it risks being OHKO'd or 2HKO'd by STAB attacks regardless, and generally it shouldn't risk itself to prevent hazards from being set up. Miltank is especially good at annoying Skuntank, as not only can it take its attacks with ease, it can outspeed Skuntank and use support moves before it even has a chance to stop it, seizing defensive momentum in the process. Probopass and Bastiodon also take next to nothing from any of Skuntank's attacks apart from Hidden Power Ground, but can't really do anything to prevent Skuntank from Taunting them and switching into a better match-up.

erisia · Aug 3, 2012

Thanks for the check, implemented.

Yonko7 · Aug 3, 2012

am GP check.

~~Remove~~

Add

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[Overview]

If you can overlook its appearance, you'll find that Skuntank is one of the most useful Pokemon in the tier, able to fill a number of offensive and defensive roles for a team simultaneously. First and foremost, Skuntank is certainly the most foolproof response to the myriad of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier, boasting STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit off of a respectable base 93 Attack stat. While its rival Absol may have the upper hand in terms of pure attacking power, Skuntank boasts neutrality to the Bug- and Fighting-type coverage moves that its prey often use, as well as a far superior HP stat, letting it switch into combat more reliably overall. In combination with its unique typing and its focused support movepool, practically almost any team can benefit from Skuntank's smelly services. For example, offensive teams love Skuntank's ability to revenge kill weakened sweepers, Comma such as Haunter, Cinccino, and Swellow, and the disruption it can cause to stall teams through the use of Taunt. Meanwhile, defensive teams really appreciate Skuntank's ability to completely shut down threats such as Musharna, Misdreavus, and Duosion that would otherwise give them headaches, as well as the removal of Toxic Spikes every time it switches into the field. Unfortunately, Skuntank has somewhat been a victim of its own success, contributing to the popularity of Hidden Power Ground on many of the Pokemon it traps, as well as that of Fighting-type Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, which can take it on without problems. Nevertheless, Skuntank is still extremely effective as a stabilizing influence for your team, providing a solid response to a variety of threats, and if you have a free position available, Skuntank won't disappoint (unless you expect it to bring refreshments).

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers / Dread Plate
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpD / 36 Spe

[Set Comments]

This is Skuntank's flagship set, presenting an ultimatum to all Psychics, Ghosts, and other spiritual influences within the tier. When Gardevoir, Haunter, Exeggutor, Musharna, Misdreavus, Kadabra, Duosion, and Swoobat run their usual moves, they will find themselves completely helpless should Skuntank be given the opportunity to switch into them, and capitalize on this position. If they outrun Skuntank and try to attack it directly, Sucker Punch will stop them in their tracks. If they try to switch out, Pursuit will hit them for the same amount of damage, crippling them at least. If they try to set up against Skuntank or stop it with Will-O-Wisp, Taunt will prevent them from doing so; and if they try anything else, Crunch will hit them for the same consistent damage regardless of their actions. Although Skuntank's effectiveness is governed by how well its user can strategize and predict the opponent's moves, if played correctly, Skuntank is almost unstoppable in completing its task.

~~Its~~ Skuntank's inherent bulk, alongside its unique defensive typing, ensures that it can switch into practically any attacking move from its targets, survive the blow, and destroy its opponent immediately after. For example, Choice Specs Exeggutor only deals 58.04-68.39% with its signature Leaf Storm, failing to 2HKO after Leftovers, letting Skuntank Pursuit trap it with ease. Meanwhile, Gardevoir has no hopes of OHKOing with Life Orb Focus Blast, even at +1, without hazards on the field. Even Golurk can be removed if you can bring Skuntank into anything other than Earthquake, as it usually favours Drain Punch over Hammer Arm as its Fighting-type move of choice. Meanwhile, its Poison-typing lets Skuntank remove Toxic Spikes to aid defensive teammates, and makes it immune to Toxic itself, making it hard for defensive teams to cope with it in combination with Taunt. While Absol may be more powerful, it can only dream of accomplishing these feats, and Skuntank still retains enough power to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types without trouble.

However, Skuntank is somewhat less imposing when used outside of its niche. Sucker Punch is still able to revenge-kill (and Pursuit is still able to trap) targets that are neutral to the attack, such as Cinccino and Swellow, but requires them to be weakened first, either through entry hazards or the recoil that their items / attacks cause. Likewise, while Dark-type moves have good neutral coverage in the tier, Skuntank won't be doing much damage to bulky targets due to its only-decent attacking power, so Fighting-, Steel-, and other Dark-type Pokemon can wall ~~them~~ Skuntank effortlessly. Poison Jab's main purpose is to expand on this neutral coverage while hitting Tangela super-effectively No hyphen, but unfortunately it does nothing to help against Probopass and Bastiodon. Both attacks in the third moveslot are useful for hitting opponents that try to switch into Skuntank, as Sucker Punch and Pursuit will let them switch into battle without taking damage. Overall, though Skuntank has its flaws, this set can completely stop its targets in their tracks and often seize control of the match from the opponent in the process.

[Additional Comments] [ADDITIONAL COMMENTS] Idk if this matters for uploading, but its all CAP, same with [set comment], but OO and C&C is fine.

The above EV spread capitalizes on Skuntank's niche as a bulky trapper, as a faster spread receives more competition from Absol. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary, as they give Skuntank enough power to break through its most physically defensive targets, such as Calm Mind Musharna and SubSeed Exeggutor, with the latter being 2HKO'd with Leftovers and the former being 2HKO'd with a Dread Plate. The given Speed EVs let Skuntank outspeed Adamant Torterra; although this is not useful in itself, it's a Speed tier that a lot of defensive Pokemon in the tier like to invest to in, letting Skuntank Taunt them more reliably. Meanwhile, the rest of the EVs are placed in Special Defense, as Skuntank has a high HP stat and investment in its poor base 61 Special Defense stat has a much greater effect. This allows Skuntank to take attacks from most of its prey with fewer issues, especially in combination with Leftovers, which is the item of choice for this set. This is because Skuntank lacks other recovery options, and it appreciates the extra health when trying to tank powerful attacks like Gardevoir's Focus Blast and Musharna's Hidden Power Ground. Skuntank also uses the item more efficiently than most, as it garners a lot of "free" turns through the use of Taunt, Pursuit, and its Psychic-immunity. However, if you want a little more power and don't mind the loss of recovery, Dread Plate has the advantage of boosting all of Skuntank's Dark-type attacks by 20% without causing any recoil; it's a rare luxury for a Pokemon that's able to make the most of it, and it gives Skuntank's attacks some extra "oomph", which is handy when attempting a revenge kill.

However, Skuntank can also make good use a faster EV spread, especially in combination with a Dread Plate or Life Orb, as an offensive variant of this set. With 236 Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds targets such as standard Drifblim and SubWisp Gardevoir, killing them before they can use Will-O-Wisp or Substitute, in addition to threats such as Absol, Samurott, and Jolly Torterra and Emboar, which can be hit for decent damage with Poison Jab. As Dread Plate doesn't boost Poison Jab, it's best to use a Life Orb instead when running the move. Alternatively, Skuntank can shift its EVs from Special Defense into Defense; this allows Skuntank to switch into frail physical sweepers more easily, and thus trap / revenge-kill them more effectively. For example, with 220 Defense EVs, Skuntank takes only 57.75-68.1% from LO Cinccino's Tail Slap, and 77.58-91.37% from Swellow's Guts-boosted Facade, and can clean them up afterwards if they've been worn down. Skuntank can also use a Lum Berry over its other items; although the drop in power is noticeable, it lets Skuntank switch directly into Will-O-Wisps, Spores, and Thunder Waves, to deal with their users more easily.

When looking for suitable teammates for Skuntank, it's hard to ignore the Fighting / Psychic / Dark I believe that there's a space between them cores that are extremely powerful both offensively and defensively. Psychic- and Ghost-types of your own are great for checking Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, who can take Skuntank down with no trouble at all. Gardevoir and Haunter are well suited to aggressive playstyles, with the former hitting Fighting-types extremely hard with STAB Psychic, and the latter switching into Choiced Close Combats and Superpowers with impunity, setting up a Substitute as the opponent switches out. On the other hand, Musharna and Misdreavus provide bulkier responses, and can either provide team support or set up sweeps against the hopeless brawlers. Meanwhile, Fighting-type Pokemon of your own love Skuntank's ability to eliminate their best checks and counters, with Sawk being able to spam Choice Band Close Combats without fear, and Gurdurr feeling free to set up without being hopelessly walled. As Skuntank struggles against physically bulky Pokemon in general, packing powerful responses to them is generally useful. Torterra can take on Golem, Carracosta and Probopass without any problems at all, while Gardevoir excels at destroying Regenerator cores, destroying their constituents with super-effective No hyphen coverage moves and Tracing their abilities to heal off any residual damage. Finally, as Skuntank isn't the most powerful Pokemon in existence, providing entry hazard support will help it secure KOs more easily, especially if it uses Leftovers. Torterra and Golurk are the best candidates for providing Stealth Rock, with the former covering Skuntank's Ground-type weakness and the latter being a more imposing check to opposing Sawk. Spikes users don't have good type synergy with Skuntank in general, so if you want to provide them, just use Garbodor or Omanyte and cover the gaps with other teammates.

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit / Crunch
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Aftermath
nature: Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpA / 36 Spe

[Set Comments] Space between set comments and the paragraph

While this set is somewhat less reliable at trapping and killing its conventional prey, it specialiszes in luring in Pokemon that usually wall it, such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Probopass, and deal~~ing~~ heavy damage with unexpected special attacks. Sucker Punch and Pursuit remain present for their excellent utility, and are no less powerful than on any other Skuntank set, letting it revenge-kill frail opponents just as easily as before, although the lack of Crunch and Taunt makes it harder to stop setup attempts. Meanwhile, Sludge Bomb is Skuntank's most powerful special attack, and with the given EV investment and a Life Orb boost, it manages to OHKO Tangela 100% of the time, even without an residual damage; a significant improvement over Poison Jab's damage output. Likewise, while it falls just short of 2HKOing Alomomola, if the move's 30% Poison chance activates, then Alomomola will not be able to stall it Skuntank out with Wish + Protect. Skuntank can also pull other tricks from its special attacking movepool for specific targets. Hidden Power Ground is the best option for slowly breaking down Probopass and Bastiodon, as well as other Skuntank, all of which lack reliable recovery. Meanwhile, Fire Blast secures the 2HKO on Torterra, as well as Amoonguss after Stealth Rock. By running mixed attacking options on Skuntank, it can take some of the pressure off of physical sweepers such as Samurott, Swellow, and Cinccino, letting them wreak havoc later on in the match, providing your team with yet another useful service.

[Additional Comments]

Using a Life Orb alongside high Special Attack investment is necessary on this set, as Skuntank's base 71 Special Attack stat is hardly impressive and will otherwise struggle to break through even physically based walls ~~otherwise~~. It also ensures that Skuntank's physical attacks are as strong as ever, as it would be silly not to make the most of Skuntank's trapping and revenge-killing abilities, even on a lure set. A Lonely nature is the best choice, as it lets Skuntank's physical attacks retain their normal strength without compromising its Special Attack. The Speed investment allows Skuntank to outrun Adamant Torterra, which is actually useful in this case as it can inflict massive damage to it with Fire Blast. Skuntank can also use different Hidden Power types to hit different Pokemon super-effectively No hyphen, with Hidden Power Grass being the most notable, OHKOing Golem and Carracosta if they've taken any residual damage. As stated above, teammates that appreciate the removal of physical walls are highly recommended; with Tangela and Alomomola removed, Golurk can blow holes in teams with its amazing coverage, while Samurott can set up deadly sweeps without worrying about being forced out. Meanwhile, Swellow and Cinccino become much more devastating once their hard counters have been removed, placing high offensive pressure in the opponent. Torterra is an excellent candidate for a Stealth Rock supporter, as it really appreciates being able to attack without hesitation once Tangela is removed, and it can use Stealth Rock when it forces something out on a switch. Meanwhile, Sawk and Emboar can spam their STAB attacks of choice wihout fear, as Skuntank can remove both Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, and the remaining candidates that are physically defensive enough to wall them regardless.

[Other Options]

Aftermath is by far the best ability for Skuntank ~~to run~~, as it compensates for Skuntank's lower attacking power in comparison to Absol. The 25% extra residual damage it inflicts on opponents is highly appreciated, and can clean up revenge-kills that Skuntank isn't quite powerful enough to secure. Furthermore, a low-health Skuntank can be switched into opponents such as Sawk to de-activate their Sturdy ofr Focus Sashes, making them much easier to respond to. While the flinches that Stench can provide are useful, the 10% activation rate is highly unappealing, and not consistent enough to be considered a viable option. Finally, if you have a keen eye for good Pokemon, you'll avoid using Keen Eye.

Skuntank has quite an expansive movepool, and while Sucker Punch / Pursuit / Crunch / Taunt is the optimum configuration for trapping Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, there are plenty of other moves that can also be used. Substitute allows Skuntank to block status attacks from slower users, and also has the advantage of blocking attacks from physical sweepers that could normally break through it. With a Substitute up, most opponents will have to attack twice to kill Skuntank, meaning that they have to take two Sucker Punches instead of one, which can prove quite difficult after some residual damage. However, the issue with this strategy is that it doesn't help Skuntank get past physically defensive Pokemon; the likes of Golem and Probopass won't mind taking an extra hit to get rid of the Substitute, so Skuntank fails to utilisze its Substitutes particularly well. Haze can be useful when dealing with opponents that have already set-up hyphen, such as Musharna or Misdreavus, but in most cases the best course of action is to switch Skuntank into them before they become threats. Skuntank also learns Roar if you want a phazer on your team, but this usually contradicts Skuntank's other roles, and thus isn't particularly useful. Night Slash is there., random period but Crunch is generally the better option due to its more consistent power. Meanwhile, Toxic can be used to cripple walls that attempt to tank Skuntank's attacks, and can be a good option if you lack other Pokemon with the move on your team.

Skuntank also has access to various suicide options such as Explosion and Memento, which it can use well thanks to its above-average Speed stat, especially when invested. The former will inflict over twice as much damage as Sucker Punch on most neutral targets, and while it doesn't help break through the Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon that can generally ignore Skuntank's attacks, it can OHKO bulky offensive Pokemon such as Braviary and Emboar, when used with a Life Orb. Memento, on the other hand, cuts the opponent's attacking stats in half, letting something like Gorebyss or Samurott set up more easily against offensive teams. Both of these options are best used by a high-Speed set, and are more suited to offensive playstyles in general. Skuntank can also have a go at running a few other movesets. With a Choice Band equipped, Skuntank has a lot more power, and can use Pursuit more effectively against neutral targets, but Choiced Sucker Punch is easy set up bait, and thus Skuntank loses the utility of one of its greatest assets. If you're desperate for recovery, Skuntank can use Rest alongside a Chesto Berry to give it a one-time kickstart; Sleep Talk is also present, but places too many constraints on Skuntank's attacking movepool to make RestTalk a viable strategy. It also has access to Hone Claws, and can set up with ease whenever it switches into a Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon, but due to Skuntank's lackluster coverage and severe competition from Absol as a boosting attacker, it's generally not a good idea.

[Checks and Counters]

With Skuntank's good special bulk, excellent typing and STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit, it can be very hard to stop Skuntank from fulfilling its role of eliminating any Pokemon weak to its attacks. Running Will-O-Wisp on Haunter, Drifblim, or Gardevoir will at least ~~let them~~ cripple Skuntank before it can kill them off with two Pursuits, providing they run enough Speed EVs to use the move before it Skuntank can Taunt them. Running Hidden Power Ground on Skuntank's targets can also throw it for a loop, but if it runs the specially defensive EV spread, this will rarely be sufficient to KO the skunk before it KOes your Pokemon in return. If your Pokemon runs Substitute, Skuntank can potentially be outplayed if it goes for Sucker Punch, letting your Haunter or Gardevoir escape with its life. Drifblim also has a fighting chance to avoid being trapped, as it can outspeed and KO specially defensive Skuntank with fully invested Acrobatics, after Stealth Rock damage. However, this only works if the opponent decides to use Pursuit or Taunt; Sucker Punch will destroy Drifblim if its user mispredicts. Overall, the best way to preserve your Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon against a Skuntank user is to play smartly and conservatively against them. Don't attempt to sweep with something like Calm Mind Musharna or Gardevoir until Skuntank is removed, and you'll generally find that your Psychics and Ghosts will remain safe.

Thankfully, Skuntank is far easier to deal with when it's outside of its comfort zone. Pretty much anything that resists Dark-type attacks or has good physical bulk is usually a safe bet. Emboar and Gurdurr can switch into Skuntank without any consequences, especially if it uses Sucker Punch or Pursuit on that turn. Emboar can proceed to break down the Skuntank user's team with its powerful STAB attacks, while Gurdurr can set up with ease and quickly become an imposing force. Using Poison Jab to hit the latter neutrally has a 30% chance of backfiring and activating Guts, which is seriously bad news. Skuntank's biggest rival, Absol, is also a pretty good check, as it can take Dark-type moves easily due to its resistance and proceed to cripple Skuntank with Superpower or set up a Swords Dance. Bulky Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Golem also excel at killing Skuntank, OHKOing it easily with their STAB attacks and taking little from Crunch or Sucker Punch thanks to their excellent Defense stats. Likewise, Regirock and Carracosta can take hits all day from Skuntank and wear it down quickly, with all of the previous four checks additionally being able to set up Stealth Rock as Skuntank switches out. While Skuntank can use Taunt to prevent this, it risks being OHKO'd or 2HKO'd by STAB attacks regardless, and generally it shouldn't risk itself to prevent hazards from being set up. Miltank is especially good at annoying Skuntank, as not only can it take its attacks with ease, it can outspeed Skuntank and use support moves before it even has a chance to stop it, seizing defensive momentum in the process. Probopass and Bastiodon also take next to nothing from any of Skuntank's attacks apart from Hidden Power Ground, but can't really do anything to prevent Skuntank from Taunting them and switching into a better match-up.

Nice job writing this, very high quality!

And I did Articuno already ;)

erisia · Aug 8, 2012

Thanks, implemented. Has the GP team died or something? :p

Yonko7 · Sep 14, 2012

Checking this again, with one exception =]

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[Overview]

If you can overlook it Skuntank's appearance, you'll find that Skuntank its one of the most useful Pokemon in the tier, as it can able to fill fulfill a number of offensive and defensive roles for a team simultaneously. First and foremost, Skuntank is certainly the most foolproof response to the myriad of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier, boasting STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit off of a respectable base 93 Attack stat. While its rival Absol may have the upper hand in terms of pure attacking sheer power, Skuntank boasts neutrality to the Bug- and Fighting-type coverage moves that its prey often use, as well as a far superior HP stat, letting which allows it switch into combat more reliably overall. In combination with its unique typing and its focused support movepool, practically almost any team can benefit from Skuntank's smelly services. For example, offensive teams love Skuntank's ability to revenge kill weakened sweepers, such as Haunter, Cinccino, and Swellow, and the disruption it can cause to stall teams through with the use of Taunt. Meanwhile, defensive teams really appreciate Skuntank's ability to completely shut down threats such as Gothitelle, Gone now Misdreavus, No Comma and Duosion that would otherwise give them headaches, as well as the removal of Toxic Spikes every time it switches into the field.

Unfortunately, Skuntank has somewhat been a victim of its own success, contributing to the popularity of Hidden Power Ground on many of the Pokemon it traps, as well as that of Fighting-type Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, which can take it on without problems. Nevertheless, Skuntank is still extremely effective as a stabilizing influence for your team, providing a solid response to a variety of threats, and if you have a free position available, Skuntank won't disappoint (unless you expect it to bring refreshments).
Extra Space
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers / Dread Plate
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpD / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

This is Skuntank's flagship set, presenting an ultimatum to all Psychics, Ghosts, and other spiritual influences within the tier. When Gothitelle, Gardevoir, Haunter, Exeggutor, Musharna, Misdreavus, Kadabra, Duosion, and Swoobat run their usual moves, they will find themselves completely helpless should Skuntank be given the opportunity to switch into them. If they try to outrun Skuntank and try to attack it directly, Sucker Punch will stop them in their tracks. If they try to switch out, Pursuit will hit them for the same amount of damage, crippling them at the very least. If they try to set up against Skuntank or stop it with Will-O-Wisp, Taunt will prevent them from doing so; and if they try anything else, Crunch will hit them for the same consistent damage regardless of their actions. Although Skuntank's effectiveness is governed by how well its user can strategize and predict the opponent's moves, if played correctly, Skuntank is almost unstoppable in completing its task.

Skuntank's inherent bulk, alongside its unique defensive typing, ensures that it can switch into practically any attack from its targets, survive the blow, and destroy its opponent immediately after. For example, Choice Specs Exeggutor only deals 58.04-68.39% with its signature Leaf Storm, failing to 2HKO after Leftovers, letting Skuntank Pursuit trap it with ease. Meanwhile, Gardevoir has no hopes of OHKOing with a Life Orb Focus Blast, even at +1, without hazards on the field. Even Golurk can be removed if you can bring Skuntank into anything other than Earthquake, as it usually favours Drain Punch over Hammer Arm as its Fighting-type move of choice. Meanwhile, Skuntank's Poison-typing lets it removes Toxic Spikes to aid defensive teammates, and makes it immune to Toxic itself, which makesing it hard for defensive teams to cope with it in combination with Taunt. While Absol mightay be more powerful, it can only dream of accomplishing these feats, and Skuntank still retains enough power to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types with ease out trouble.

However, Skuntank is somewhat less imposing when used outside of its niche. Sucker Punch is still able to revenge-kill (and Pursuit is still able to trap) targets that are neutral to the attack, such as Cinccino and Swellow, but requires them to be weakened first, either through entry hazards or the recoil that from their items / or attacks cause. Likewise, while Dark-type moves have good neutral coverage in the tier, Skuntank won't be doing much damage to bulky targets due to its only-decent attacking power, so Fighting-, Steel-, and other Dark-type Pokemon can wall Skuntank effortlessly. Poison Jab's main purpose is to expand on this neutral coverage while hitting Tangela super effectively, but unfortunately it does nothing to help against Probopass and Bastiodon. Both attacks in the third moveslot are useful for hitting opponents that try to switch into Skuntank, as Sucker Punch and Pursuit will let them switch into battle without taking any damage. Overall, although Skuntank has its flaws, this set can completely stop its targets in their tracks and often seize control of the match from the opponent in the process.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The above EV spread capitalizes on Skuntank's niche as a bulky trapper, as a faster spread receives more competition from Absol. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary, as they give Skuntank enough power to break through its most physically defensive targets, such as Calm Mind Musharna and SubSeed Exeggutor, with the latter being 2HKO'ed with Leftovers and the former being 2HKO'ed with a Dread Plate. With tThe given Speed EVs, Comma let Skuntank outspeeds Adamant Torterra; although this is not useful in itself, it's a Speed tier that a lot of defensive Pokemon in the tier like to invest in, which letsting Skuntank Taunt them more reliably. Meanwhile, the rest of the EVs are placed in Special Defense, as Skuntank has a high HP stat and investment in its poor base 61 Special Defense stat has a much greater effect. This allows Skuntank to take attacks from most of its prey with fewer issues, especially in combination with Leftovers, which is the item of choice for this set. This is because Skuntank lacks other recovery options, and it appreciates the extra health when trying to tank powerful attacks like such as Gardevoir's Focus Blast and Musharna's Hidden Power Ground. Skuntank also uses the item more efficiently than most, as it garners a lot of "free" turns through the use of Taunt, Pursuit, and its Psychic-type immunity. However, if you want a little more power and don't mind the loss of recovery, Dread Plate has the advantage of boosting all of Skuntank's Dark-type attacks by 20% without causing any recoil. It's a rare luxury for a Pokemon that's able to make the most of it, and it gives Skuntank's attacks some extra "oomph", which is handy when attempting a revenge kill.

However, Skuntank can also make good use of a faster EV spread, especially in combination with a Dread Plate or Life Orb, as an offensive variant of this set. With 236 Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds targets such as standard Drifblim and SubWisp Gardevoir, kOilling them before they can use Will-O-Wisp or Substitute,.Period iIn addition to threats such as Absol, Samurott, and Jolly Torterra and Emboar, which can be hit for decent damage with Poison Jab. As Dread Plate doesn't boost Poison Jab, it's best to use a Life Orb instead when running the move. Alternatively, Skuntank can shift its EVs from Special Defense into Defense; this allows Skuntank to switch into frail physical sweepers more easily, and thus trap / revenge-kill them more effectively. For example, with 220 Defense EVs, Skuntank takes only 57.75-68.1% from LO Cinccino's Tail Slap, and 77.58-91.37% from Swellow's Guts-boosted Facade, and can clean them up afterwards if they've been worn down. Skuntank can also use a Lum Berry over its other items; although the drop in power is noticeable, it lets Skuntank can switch directly into Will-O-Wisps, Spores, and Thunder Waves, to deal with their users more easily.

When looking for suitable teammates for Skuntank, it's hard to ignore the Fighting / Psychic / Dark cores that are extremely powerful both offensively and defensively. Psychic- and Ghost-types of your own are great for checking Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, who that can take Skuntank down with no trouble at all. Gardevoir and Haunter are well suited to aggressive playstyles, with the former hitting Fighting-types extremely hard with STAB Psychic, and the latter switching into Choiced Close Combats and Superpowers with impunity, setting up a Substitute as the opponent switches out. On the other hand, Musharna and Misdreavus provide bulkier responses, and can either provide team support or set up sweeps against the hopeless brawlers. Gothitelle is a fantastic partner in particular, as Shadow Tag prevents Fighting-types such as Gurdurr from fleeing, meaning that Gothitelle can usually kill them with certainty if it finds a good opportunity to switch in. Meanwhile, Fighting-type Pokemon of your own love Skuntank's ability to eliminate their best checks and counters, with Sawk being able to spam Choice Band Close Combats without fear, and Gurdurr feeling free to set up without being hopelessly walled. As Skuntank struggles against physically bulky Pokemon in general, packing powerful responses to them is useful. Torterra can take on Golem, Carracosta and Probopass without any problems at all, while Gardevoir excels at destroying Regenerator cores, destroying their constituents with super effective coverage moves and Tracing their abilities to heal off any residual damage. Finally, as Skuntank isn't the most powerful Pokemon in existence, providing entry hazard support will help it secure KOs more easily, especially if it uses Leftovers. Torterra and Golurk are the best candidates for providing Stealth Rock, with the former covering Skuntank's Ground-type weakness and the latter being a more imposing check to opposing Sawk. Spikes users don't have good type synergy with Skuntank in general, so if you want to provide them, just use Garbodor or Omanyte and cover the gaps with other teammates.
Remove space
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit / Crunch
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Aftermath
nature: Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpA / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

While this set is somewhat less reliable at trapping and killing its conventional prey, it specialiszes in luring in Pokemon that usually wall it, such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Probopass, and deal heavy damage with unexpected special attacks. Sucker Punch and Pursuit remain present for their excellent utility, and are no less powerful than on any other Skuntank set, letting it revenge-kill frail opponents just as easily as before, although the lack of Crunch and Taunt makes it harder to stop setup attempts. Meanwhile, Sludge Bomb is Skuntank's most powerful special attack, and with the given EV investment and a Life Orb boost, it manages to OHKO Tangela 100% of the time, even without any residual damage; a significant improvement over Poison Jab's damage output. Likewise, while it falls just short of 2HKOing Alomomola, if the move's 30% Poison chance activates, then Alomomola will not be able to stall Skuntank out with Wish + Protect. Skuntank can also pull other tricks from its special attacking movepool for specific targets. Hidden Power Ground is the best option for slowly breaking down Probopass and Bastiodon, as well as other Skuntank, all of which lack reliable recovery. Meanwhile, Fire Blast secures the 2HKO on Torterra, as well as Amoonguss after Stealth Rock. By running mixed attacking options on Skuntank, it can take some of the pressure off of physical sweepers such as Samurott, Swellow, and Cinccino, letting them wreak havoc later on in the match, providing your team with yet another useful service.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Using a Life Orb alongside high Special Attack investment is necessary on this set, as Skuntank's base 71 Special Attack stat is hardly impressive and will otherwise struggle to break through even physically based walls. It also ensures that Skuntank's physical attacks are as strong as ever, as it would be silly not to make the most of Skuntank's trapping and revenge-killing abilities, even on a lure set. A Lonely nature is the best choice, as it lets Skuntank's physical attacks retain their normal strength without compromising its Special Attack. The Speed investment allows Skuntank to outrun Adamant Torterra, which is actually useful in this case as it can inflict massive damage to it with Fire Blast. Skuntank can also use different Hidden Power types to hit different Pokemon super-[no hyphen] effectively, with Hidden Power Grass being the most notable, OHKOing Golem and Carracosta if they've taken any residual damage. As stated above, teammates that appreciate the removal of physical walls are highly recommended; with Tangela and Alomomola removed, Golurk can blow holes in teams with its amazing coverage, while Samurott can set up deadly sweeps without worrying about being forced out. Meanwhile, Swellow and Cinccino become much more devastating once their hard counters have been removed, placing high offensive pressure ion the opponent. Torterra is an excellent candidate for a Stealth Rock supporter, as it really appreciates being able to attack without hesitation once Tangela is removed, and it can use Stealth Rock when it forces something out on a switch. Meanwhile, Sawk and Emboar can spam their STAB attacks of choice wihout fear, as Skuntank can remove both Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, and the remaining candidates that are physically defensive enough to wall them regardless.
Removed Space
[Other Options]

Skuntank has quite an expansive movepool, and while Sucker Punch / Pursuit / Crunch / Taunt is the optimal configuration for trapping Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, there are plenty of other moves that can also be used. Substitute allows Skuntank to block status attacks from slower users, and also has the advantage of blocking attacks from physical sweepers that could normally break through it. With a Substitute up, most opponents will have to attack twice to kill KO Skuntank, which meansing that they have to take two Sucker Punches instead of one, which can prove quite difficult after some residual damage. However, the issue with this strategy is that it doesn't help Skuntank get past physically defensive Pokemon; the likes of Golem and Probopass won't mind taking an extra hit to get rid of the Substitute, so Skuntank fails to utilize its Substitutes particularly well. Haze can be useful when dealing with opponents that have already set up, such as Musharna or Misdreavus, but in most cases the best course of action is to switch Skuntank into them before they become threats. Skuntank also learns Roar if you want a phazer on your team, but this usually contradicts Skuntank's other roles, and thus isn't particularly useful. Night Slash is an option there, but Crunch is generally the better option due thanks to its more consistent power. Meanwhile, Toxic can be used to cripple walls that attempt to tank Skuntank's attacks, and can be a good option if you lack other Pokemon with the move on your team.

Skuntank also has access to various suicide options such as Explosion and Memento, which it can use well thanks to its above-average Speed stat, especially when invested. The former will inflict over twice as much damage as Sucker Punch on most neutral targets, and while it doesn't help break through the Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon that can generally ignore Skuntank's attacks, it can OHKO bulky offensive Pokemon such as Braviary and Emboar, when used with a Life Orb. Memento, on the other hand, cuts the opponent's attacking stats in half, letting something like allowing Pokemon such as Gorebyss or Samurott to set up more easily against offensive teams. Both of these options are best used by a high-Speed set, and are more suited to offensive playstyles in general. Skuntank can also have a go at running a few other movesets. With a Choice Band equipped, Skuntank has a lot more power, and can use Pursuit more effectively against neutral targets, but Choiced Sucker Punch is easy set[No Space]up bait, and thus Skuntank loses the utility of one of its greatest assets. If you're desperate for recovery, Skuntank can use Rest alongside a Chesto Berry to give it a one-time kickstart; Sleep Talk is also present, but places too many constraints on Skuntank's attacking movepool to make RestTalk a viable strategy. It also has access to Hone Claws, and can set up with ease whenever it switches into a Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon, but due to Skuntank's lackluster coverage and severe competition from Absol as a boosting attacker, it's generally not a good idea.

Aftermath is by far the best ability for Skuntank, as it compensates for its lower attacking power in comparison to Absol. The 25% extra residual damage it inflicts on opponents is highly appreciated, and can clean up revenge-kills that Skuntank isn't quite powerful enough to secure. Furthermore, a low-health Skuntank can switch into opponents such as Sawk to de-activate their Sturdy or Focus Sashes, making them much easier to respond to. While the flinches that Stench can provide are useful, the 10% activation rate is highly unappealing, and not consistent enough to be considered a viable option. Finally, if you have a keen eye for good Pokemon, you'll avoid using Keen Eye.

[Checks and Counters]

With Skuntank's good special bulk, excellent typing and STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit, it can be very hard to stop Skuntank from fulfilling its role of eliminating any Pokemon weak to its attacks. Running Will-O-Wisp on Haunter, Drifblim, or Gardevoir will at least cripple Skuntank before it can kill them off with two Pursuits, providing they run enough Speed EVs to use the move before Skuntank can Taunt them. Running Hidden Power Ground on Skuntank's targets can also throw it for a loop, but if it runs the specially defensive EV spread, this will rarely be sufficient to KO the skunk before it KOes your Pokemon in return. If your Pokemon runs Substitute, Skuntank can potentially be outplayed if it goes for Sucker Punch, letting your Haunter or Gardevoir escape with its life. Drifblim also has a fighting chance to avoid being trapped, as it can outspeed and KO specially defensive Skuntank with fully invested Acrobatics, after Stealth Rock damage. However, this only works if the opponent decides to use Pursuit or Taunt;, as Sucker Punch will destroy Drifblim if its user mispredicts. Overall, the best way to preserve your Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon against a Skuntank user is to play smartly and conservatively against them. Don't attempt to sweep with something like Pokemon such as Calm Mind Musharna or Gardevoir until Skuntank is removed, and you'll generally find that your Psychics and Ghosts will remain safe.

Thankfully, Skuntank is far easier to deal with when it's outside of its comfort zone. Pretty much anything that resists Dark-type attacks or has good physical bulk is usually a safe bet. Emboar and Gurdurr can switch into Skuntank without any consequences, especially if it uses Sucker Punch or Pursuit on that turn. Emboar can proceed to break down the Skuntank user's team with its powerful STAB attacks, while Gurdurr can set up with ease and quickly become an imposing force. Using Poison Jab to hit the latter neutrally has a 30% chance of backfiring and activating Guts, which is seriously bad news. Skuntank's biggest rival, Absol, No Comma is also a pretty good check, as it can take Dark-type moves easily due to its resistance and proceed to cripple Skuntank with Superpower or set up a Swords Dance. Bulky Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Golem also excel at killKOing Skuntank, OHKOing it easily with their STAB attacks and taking little from Crunch or Sucker Punch thanks to their excellent Defense stats. Likewise, Regirock and Carracosta can take hits all day from Skuntank and wear it down quickly, with all of the previous four checks additionally being able to set up Stealth Rock as Skuntank switches out. While Skuntank can use Taunt to prevent this, it risks being OHKO'ed or 2HKO'ed by STAB attacks regardless, and generally it shouldn't risk itself to prevent hazards from being set up. Miltank is especially good at annoying Skuntank, as not only can it take its attacks with ease, it can outspeed Skuntank and use support moves before it even has a chance to stop it, seizing defensive momentum in the process. Probopass and Bastiodon also take next to nothing from any of Skuntank's attacks apart from Hidden Power Ground, but can't really do anything to prevent Skuntank from Taunting them and switching into a better match-up.

[Overview]

If you can overlook Skuntank's appearance, you'll find that its one of the most useful Pokemon in the tier, as it can fulfill a number of offensive and defensive roles for a team simultaneously. First and foremost, Skuntank is certainly the most foolproof response to the myriad of Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon in the tier, boasting STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit off of a respectable base 93 Attack stat. While its rival Absol may have the upper hand in terms of sheer power, Skuntank boasts neutrality to the Bug- and Fighting-type coverage moves that its prey often use, as well as a far superior HP stat, which allows it switch into combat more reliably. In combination with its unique typing and its focused support movepool, practically almost any team can benefit from Skuntank's smelly services. For example, offensive teams love Skuntank's ability to revenge kill weakened sweepers, such as Haunter, Cinccino, and Swellow, and the disruption it can cause stall teams with the use of Taunt. Meanwhile, defensive teams really appreciate Skuntank's ability to completely shut down threats such as Misdreavus and Duosion that would otherwise give them headaches, as well as the removal of Toxic Spikes every time it switches in.

Unfortunately, Skuntank has somewhat been a victim of its own success, contributing to the popularity of Hidden Power Ground on many of the Pokemon it traps, as well as that of Fighting-type Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr, which can take it on without problems. Nevertheless, Skuntank is still extremely effective as a stabilizing influence for your team, providing a solid response to a variety of threats, and if you have a free position available, Skuntank won't disappoint (unless you expect it to bring refreshments).

[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit
move 3: Crunch / Poison Jab
move 4: Taunt
item: Leftovers / Dread Plate
ability: Aftermath
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpD / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

This is Skuntank's flagship set, presenting an ultimatum to all Psychics, Ghosts, and other spiritual influences within the tier. When Gardevoir, Haunter, Exeggutor, Musharna, Misdreavus, Kadabra, Duosion, and Swoobat run their usual moves, they will find themselves completely helpless should Skuntank be given the opportunity to switch in. If they try to outrun Skuntank and attack it directly, Sucker Punch will stop them in their tracks. If they try to switch out, Pursuit will hit them for the same amount of damage, crippling them at the very least. If they try to set up against Skuntank or stop it with Will-O-Wisp, Taunt will prevent them from doing so; and if they try anything else, Crunch will hit them for the same consistent damage regardless of their actions. Although Skuntank's effectiveness is governed by how well its user can strategize and predict the opponent's moves, if played correctly, Skuntank is almost unstoppable in completing its task.

Skuntank's inherent bulk, alongside its unique defensive typing, ensures that it can switch into practically any attack from its targets, survive the blow, and destroy its opponent immediately after. For example, Choice Specs Exeggutor only deals 58.04-68.39% with its signature Leaf Storm, failing to 2HKO after Leftovers, letting Skuntank Pursuit trap it with ease. Meanwhile, Gardevoir has no hope of OHKOing with a Life Orb Focus Blast, even at +1, without hazards on the field. Even Golurk can be removed if you can bring Skuntank into anything other than Earthquake, as it usually favors Drain Punch over Hammer Arm as its Fighting-type move of choice. Meanwhile, Skuntank's Poison-typing removes Toxic Spikes to aid defensive teammates, and makes it immune to Toxic itself, which makes it hard for defensive teams to cope with it in combination with Taunt. While Absol might be more powerful, it can only dream of accomplishing these feats, and Skuntank still retains enough power to remove Psychic- and Ghost-types with ease.

However, Skuntank is somewhat less imposing when used outside of its niche. Sucker Punch is still able to revenge-kill (and Pursuit is still able to trap) targets that are neutral to the attack, such as Cinccino and Swellow, but requires them to be weakened first, either through entry hazards or the recoil from their items or attacks. Likewise, while Dark-type moves have good neutral coverage in the tier, Skuntank won't be doing much damage to bulky targets due to its only-decent attacking power, so Fighting-, Steel-, and other Dark-type Pokemon can wall Skuntank effortlessly. Poison Jab's main purpose is to expand on this neutral coverage while hitting Tangela super effectively, but unfortunately it does nothing to help against Probopass and Bastiodon. Both attacks in the third moveslot are useful for hitting opponents that try to switch into Skuntank, as Sucker Punch and Pursuit will let them switch into battle without taking any damage. Overall, although Skuntank has its flaws, this set can completely stop its targets in their tracks and seize control of the match from the opponent in the process.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The above EV spread capitalizes on Skuntank's niche as a bulky trapper, as a faster spread receives more competition from Absol. Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature are necessary, as they give Skuntank enough power to break through its most physically defensive targets, such as Calm Mind Musharna and SubSeed Exeggutor, with the latter being 2HKOed with Leftovers and the former being 2HKOed with a Dread Plate. With the given Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds Adamant Torterra; although this is not useful in itself, it's a Speed tier that a lot of defensive Pokemon in the tier like to invest in, which lets Skuntank Taunt them more reliably. Meanwhile, the rest of the EVs are placed in Special Defense, as Skuntank has a high HP stat and investment in its poor base 61 Special Defense stat has a much greater effect. This allows Skuntank to take attacks from most of its prey with fewer issues, especially in combination with Leftovers, which is the item of choice for this set. This is because Skuntank lacks other recovery options, and it appreciates the extra health when trying to tank powerful attacks such as Gardevoir's Focus Blast and Musharna's Hidden Power Ground. Skuntank also uses the item more efficiently than most, as it garners a lot of "free" turns through the use of Taunt, Pursuit, and its Psychic-type immunity. However, if you want a little more power and don't mind the loss of recovery, Dread Plate has the advantage of boosting all of Skuntank's Dark-type attacks by 20% without causing any recoil. It's a rare luxury for a Pokemon that's able to make the most of it, and it gives Skuntank's attacks some extra "oomph", which is handy when attempting a revenge kill.

Skuntank can also make use of a faster EV spread, especially in combination with a Dread Plate or Life Orb, as an offensive variant of this set. With 236 Speed EVs, Skuntank outspeeds targets such as standard Drifblim and SubWisp Gardevoir, KOing them before they can use Will-O-Wisp or Substitute. In addition to threats such as Absol, Samurott, Jolly Torterra and Emboar, which can be hit for decent damage with Poison Jab. As Dread Plate doesn't boost Poison Jab, it's best to use Life Orb instead when running the move. Alternatively, Skuntank can shift its EVs from Special Defense into Defense; this allows Skuntank to switch into frail physical sweepers more easily, and thus trap / revenge-kill them more effectively. For example, with 220 Defense EVs, Skuntank takes only 57.75-68.1% from LO Cinccino's Tail Slap, and 77.58-91.37% from Swellow's Guts-boosted Facade, and can clean them up afterwards if they've been worn down. Skuntank can also use a Lum Berry over its other items; although the drop in power is noticeable, Skuntank can switch into Will-O-Wisps, Spores, and Thunder Waves more easily.

When looking for suitable teammates for Skuntank, it's hard to ignore the Fighting / Psychic / Dark cores that are extremely powerful both offensively and defensively. Psychic- and Ghost-types of your own are great for checking Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr that can take Skuntank down with no trouble at all. Gardevoir and Haunter are well suited to aggressive playstyles, with the former hitting Fighting-types extremely hard with STAB Psychic, and the latter switching into Choiced Close Combats and Superpowers with impunity, setting up a Substitute as the opponent switches out. On the other hand, Musharna and Misdreavus provide bulkier responses, and can either provide team support or set up sweeps against the hopeless brawlers. Meanwhile, Fighting-type Pokemon of your own love Skuntank's ability to eliminate their best checks and counters, with Sawk being able to spam Choice Band Close Combats without fear, and Gurdurr feeling free to set up without being hopelessly walled. As Skuntank struggles against physically bulky Pokemon in general, packing powerful responses to them is useful. Torterra can take on Golem, Carracosta and Probopass without any problems at all, while Gardevoir excels at destroying Regenerator cores, destroying their constituents with super effective coverage moves and Tracing their abilities to heal off any residual damage. Finally, as Skuntank isn't the most powerful Pokemon in existence, providing entry hazard support will help it secure KOs more easily, especially if it uses Leftovers. Torterra and Golurk are the best candidates for providing Stealth Rock, with the former covering Skuntank's Ground-type weakness and the latter being a more imposing check to opposing Sawk. Spikes users don't have good type synergy with Skuntank in general, so if you want them, just use Garbodor or Omanyte and cover the gaps with other teammates.

[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sucker Punch
move 2: Pursuit / Crunch
move 3: Sludge Bomb
move 4: Hidden Power Ground / Fire Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Aftermath
nature: Lonely
evs: 252 Atk / 220 SpA / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

While this set is somewhat less reliable at trapping and killing its conventional prey, it specializes in luring in Pokemon that usually wall it, such as Tangela, Alomomola, and Probopass, and deal heavy damage with unexpected special attacks. Sucker Punch and Pursuit remain present for their excellent utility, and are no less powerful than on any other Skuntank set, letting it revenge-kill frail opponents just as easily as before, although the lack of Crunch and Taunt makes it harder to stop setup attempts. Meanwhile, Sludge Bomb is Skuntank's most powerful special attack, and with the given EV investment and a Life Orb boost, it manages to OHKO Tangela 100% of the time, even without any residual damage; a significant improvement over Poison Jab's damage output. Likewise, while it falls just short of 2HKOing Alomomola, if the move's 30% Poison chance activates, then Alomomola will not be able to stall Skuntank out with Wish + Protect. Skuntank can also pull other tricks from its special attacking movepool for specific targets. Hidden Power Ground is the best option for slowly breaking down Probopass and Bastiodon, as well as other Skuntank, all of which lack reliable recovery. Meanwhile, Fire Blast secures the 2HKO on Torterra, as well as Amoonguss after Stealth Rock. By running mixed attacking options on Skuntank, it can take some of the pressure off of physical sweepers such as Samurott, Swellow, and Cinccino, letting them wreak havoc later on in the match, providing your team with yet another useful service.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

Using Life Orb alongside high Special Attack investment is necessary on this set, as Skuntank's base 71 Special Attack stat is hardly impressive and will otherwise struggle to break through even physically based walls. It also ensures that Skuntank's physical attacks are as strong as ever, as it would be silly not to make the most of Skuntank's trapping and revenge-killing abilities, even on a lure set. A Lonely nature is the best choice, as Skuntank's physical attacks retain their normal strength without compromising its Special Attack. The Speed investment allows Skuntank to outrun Adamant Torterra, which is actually useful in this case as it can inflict massive damage with Fire Blast. Skuntank can also use different Hidden Power types to hit different Pokemon super effectively, with Hidden Power Grass being the most notable, OHKOing Golem and Carracosta if they've taken any residual damage. As stated above, teammates that appreciate the removal of physical walls are highly recommended; with Tangela and Alomomola removed, Golurk can blow holes in teams with its amazing coverage, while Samurott can set up deadly sweeps without worrying about being forced out. Meanwhile, Swellow and Cinccino become much more devastating once their hard counters have been removed, placing high offensive pressure on the opponent. Torterra is an excellent candidate for a Stealth Rock supporter, as it really appreciates being able to attack without hesitation once Tangela is removed, and it can use Stealth Rock when it forces something out. Meanwhile, Sawk and Emboar can spam their STAB attacks of choice wihout fear, as Skuntank can remove both Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, and the remaining candidates that are physically defensive enough to wall them regardless.

[Other Options]

Skuntank has quite an expansive movepool, and while Sucker Punch / Pursuit / Crunch / Taunt is the optimal configuration for trapping Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon, there are plenty of other moves that can also be used. Substitute allows Skuntank to block status attacks from slower users, and also has the advantage of blocking attacks from physical sweepers that could normally break through it. With a Substitute, most opponents will have to attack twice to KO Skuntank, which means that they have to take two Sucker Punches instead of one, which can prove quite difficult after some residual damage. However, the issue with this strategy is that it doesn't help Skuntank get past physically defensive Pokemon; the likes of Golem and Probopass won't mind taking an extra hit to get rid of the Substitute, so Skuntank fails to utilize its Substitutes particularly well. Haze can be useful when dealing with opponents that have already set up, such as Musharna or Misdreavus, but in most cases the best course of action is to switch Skuntank into them before they become threats. Skuntank also learns Roar if you want a phazer on your team, but this usually contradicts Skuntank's other roles, and thus isn't particularly useful. Night Slash is an option, but Crunch is generally the better thanks to its more consistent power. Meanwhile, Toxic can be used to cripple walls that attempt to tank Skuntank's attacks, and can be a good option if you lack other Pokemon with the move on your team.

Skuntank also has access to various suicide options such as Explosion and Memento, which it can use well thanks to its above-average Speed stat, especially when invested. The former will inflict over twice as much damage as Sucker Punch on most neutral targets, and while it doesn't help break through the Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon that can generally ignore Skuntank's attacks, it can OHKO bulky offensive Pokemon such as Braviary and Emboar, when used with Life Orb. Memento, on the other hand, cuts the opponent's attacking stats in half, allowing Pokemon such as Gorebyss or Samurott to set up more easily against offensive teams. Both of these options are best used by a high-Speed set, and are more suited to offensive playstyles in general. Skuntank can also have a go at running a few other movesets. With a Choice Band equipped, Skuntank has a lot more power, and can use Pursuit more effectively against neutral targets, but Choiced Sucker Punch is easy setup bait, and thus Skuntank loses the utility of one of its greatest assets. If you're desperate for recovery, Skuntank can use Rest alongside a Chesto Berry to give it a one-time kickstart; Sleep Talk is also present, but places too many constraints on Skuntank's attacking movepool to make RestTalk a viable strategy. It also has access to Hone Claws, and can set up with ease whenever it switches into a Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon, but due to Skuntank's lackluster coverage and severe competition from Absol as a boosting attacker, it's generally not a good idea.

Aftermath is by far the best ability for Skuntank, as it compensates for its low attacking power in comparison to Absol. The 25% extra residual damage it inflicts on opponents is highly appreciated, and can clean up revenge-kills that Skuntank isn't quite powerful enough to secure. Furthermore, a low-health Skuntank can switch into opponents such as Sawk to de-activate their Sturdy or Focus Sashes, making them much easier to respond to. While the flinches that Stench can provide are useful, the 10% activation rate is highly unappealing, and not consistent enough to be considered a viable option. Finally, if you have a keen eye for good Pokemon, you'll avoid using Keen Eye.

[Checks and Counters]

With Skuntank's good special bulk, excellent typing and STAB Sucker Punch and Pursuit, it can be very hard to stop Skuntank from fulfilling its role of eliminating any Pokemon weak to its attacks. Running Will-O-Wisp on Haunter, Drifblim, or Gardevoir will at least cripple Skuntank before it can kill them off with two Pursuits, providing they run enough Speed EVs to use the move before Skuntank can Taunt them. Running Hidden Power Ground on Skuntank's targets can also throw it for a loop, but if it runs the specially defensive EV spread, this will rarely be sufficient to KO the skunk before it KOs your Pokemon in return. If your Pokemon runs Substitute, Skuntank can potentially be outplayed if it goes for Sucker Punch, letting your Haunter or Gardevoir escape with its life. Drifblim also has a fighting chance to avoid being trapped, as it can outspeed and KO specially defensive Skuntank with fully invested Acrobatics, after Stealth Rock damage. However, this only works if the opponent decides to use Pursuit or Taunt, as Sucker Punch will destroy Drifblim if its user mispredicts. Overall, the best way to preserve your Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon against a Skuntank user is to play smart and conservative. Don't attempt to sweep with Pokemon such as Calm Mind Musharna or Gardevoir until Skuntank is removed, and you'll generally find that your Psychics and Ghosts will remain safe.

Thankfully, Skuntank is far easier to deal with when it's outside of its comfort zone. Pretty much anything that resists Dark-type attacks or has good physical bulk is usually a safe bet. Emboar and Gurdurr can switch into Skuntank without any consequences, especially if it uses Sucker Punch or Pursuit on that turn. Emboar can proceed to break down the Skuntank user's team with its powerful STAB attacks, while Gurdurr can set up with ease and quickly become an imposing force. Using Poison Jab to hit the latter neutrally has a 30% chance of backfiring and activating Guts, which is seriously bad news. Skuntank's biggest rival, Absol is also a pretty good check, as it can take Dark-type moves easily due to its resistance and proceed to cripple Skuntank with Superpower or set up a Swords Dance. Bulky Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Golem also excel at KOing Skuntank, OHKOing it easily with their STAB attacks and taking little from Crunch or Sucker Punch thanks to their excellent Defense stats. Likewise, Regirock and Carracosta can take hits all day from Skuntank and wear it down quickly, with all of the previous four checks additionally being able to set up Stealth Rock as Skuntank switches out. While Skuntank can use Taunt to prevent this, it risks being OHKOed or 2HKOed by STAB attacks regardless, and generally it shouldn't risk itself to prevent hazards from being set up. Miltank is especially good at annoying Skuntank, as not only can it take its attacks with ease, it can outspeed Skuntank and use support moves before it even has a chance to stop it, seizing defensive momentum in the process. Probopass and Bastiodon also take next to nothing from any of Skuntank's attacks apart from Hidden Power Ground, but can't really do anything to prevent Skuntank from Taunting them and switching to a better match up.

Your choice if you want to split the Overview into 2 paragraphs, but I think 2 is better, but you choose.

[GP]1/2[/GP]

erisia · Sep 14, 2012

Congrats on making GP, Yonko! Implemented all of the above, you were right about splitting the intro. Also replaced most Leftovers mentions with Black Sludge, as it was a C&C global decision that Black Sludge is the better choice on Poison-types. It also makes Skuntank an even better response to Trick-Scarfers like Gardevoir.

Skuntank (GP 2/2)

Innovative new design!

With you

強いだね

Guns make you stupid. Duct tape makes you smart.

Innovative new design!

Innovative new design!

Innovative new design!

Guns make you stupid. Duct tape makes you smart.

Innovative new design!

Give me the strength to part this sea

Innovative new design!

Innovative new design!

Wouldn't Wanna Know

Innovative new design!

Guns make you stupid. Duct tape makes you smart.

Innovative new design!

Guns make you stupid. Duct tape makes you smart.

Innovative new design!

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