Fourth Of July (Tentacruel) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Def / 164 SpD / 80 Spe
Calm Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Clear Smog
- Scald
- Toxic Spikes / Giga Drain
Tentacruel is my latest experimentation and I've been enjoying it so much! This is my team-tailored set and has been putting in exceptional work. My main reason for use is its ability to check Keldeo, and its nice bulk and resistances. It formed a perfect core with Mega Sableye, another Pokemon I've been utilizing. Anyways, I've been digging Tentacruel of all things because of its unique typing and movepool. Rapid Spin is very helpful on my team, based around hazard stall, and Defog would be a huge detriment. Clear Smog is useful on defensively-oriented teams because it means that they do not have to worry about set up sweepers getting in the way. Scald places a great deal of pressure on the opponent, and it makes it difficult to switch into Tentacruel without worry of the burn. The last slot is an iffy one, but I've decided to give the edge to Toxic Spikes. Toxic Spikes stall is a legit threat and I've been enjoying watching the opponent dwindle down to nothing! Giga Drain, however, allows Tentacruel to completely beat Keldeo and provides another form of recovery which Tentacruel really needs.
The EVs are all for a purpose. Running 248 HP / 16 Def allows Tentacruel to switch in to Keldeo's Secret Sword and entirely avoid the 2HKO, forming a 3HKO. 80 Speed EVs allow Tentacruel to outspeed Diggersby and hit it with Scald in a time of need, and anything below Diggersby. 164 Special Defense EVs are the filler, but are placed into Special Defense so Tentacruel can take on the heavy hitting Special Attackers. Check this out, running 164 Special Defense EVs also allows Tentacruel to have a fair chance of living Landorus's Earth Power! Should it stay in? No. But, it does go to show how specially bulky Tentacruel is! Tentacruel is also an excellent check to Togekiss. Due to Liquid Ooze, Togekiss will actually lose around 140 HP - 164 HP, not gain! Oblivion Wing is only a mere 2HKO that is not even guaranteed, and Togekiss gets smacked by Clear Smog in the process, therefore wasting the Geomancy and losing in the end.
The best partner for Tentacruel that I've tested is Mega Sableye. Mega Sableye is equipped to take on Ground- and Pyschic-type moves easily for Tentacruel, while in return Tentacruel fully stops Fairy-types. Mega Sableye deflects detrimental status and blocks Rapid Spin as well, making them a great duo. Mega Sableye also struggles with Keldeo, and Tentacruel mitigates this. Clefable is also an excellent partner because of their defensive typings, and Clefable can keep Tentacruel healthy via Wish or Heal Bell. I've also been using Tangrowth alongside it because Tangrowth completely handles Ground- and Electric-type Pokemon for Tentacruel and Tentacruel takes on Poison-, Fire-, Bug-, and Ice-types for Tangrowth. The synergy between the two is excellent! Finally, I've also been using Landorus-Therian as a partner due to its ability to take on Ground- and Electric-type attacks aimed at Tentacruel and enjoys the Water- and Ice-type resist that Tentacruel brings to the table. Tentacruel truly has great synergy with a lot of defensive Pokemon!
Now, Tentacruel does have a few downfalls. Firstly, its lack of recovery is a major hit. Being a wall that is reliant on Wishpassing is kind of not so good, and Tentacruel is supposed to be taking on some very strong hits. Tentacruel's only recovery is Black Sludge, or Rain Dish in Rain I guess. Secondly, Tentacruel suffers from its typing as well as its incredible resistances. Ground-types, namely Landorus-T and Diggersby, are very common, and can take advantage of Tentacruel's weakness. They do have to watch out for Scald, however, but they'll often win. Tentacruel suffers from just sitting there, really, even if it does have Clear Smog, it just doesn't do much but spam Scald and that's not-so-great. Tentacruel faces competition as a Poison-type wall from Amoonguss, but it does have the edge over it by being a great Togekiss check.
Overall, Tentacruel is a very good Pokemon and I've not been seeing it often -- go out and use it!