Overview
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Smeargle looks like an odd choice for competitive play at first glance with its abysmal stats in all areas. However, with access to every move, it finds a niche in OU. With Spore and Stealth Rock, Smeargle is one of two viable Sticky Web users, allowing it to function as an effective support choice for slow sweepers, such as Swords Dance Diggersby. To aid in this role, Smeargle has access to moves such as Taunt, Parting Shot, Magic Coat, and even Dark Void, which makes it the only OU Pokemon able to put Grass-types and Overcoat users to sleep. It is also the only Pokemon that can gets the Baton Pass + Ingrain combination, granting it a place on fulldedicated Baton Pass teams. All in all, Smeargle isn't that great of a Pokemon, but it fulfills certain support roles that no other Pokemon can, giving it a place in the OU metagame.
Sticky Web
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name: Sticky Web
move 1: Sticky Web
move 2: Spore / Dark Void
move 3: Taunt / Parting Shot / Nuzzle
move 4: Stealth Rock / Magic Coat
ability: Own Tempo
item: Focus Sash
evs: 96 HP / 120 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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Sticky Web is a valuable support move, lowering the Speed of all grounded opponents by one stage to allow for slower attackers to shine. To facilitate setting it up, Spore is run to put an opposing Pokemon to sleep, crippling it for what often turns out to be the remainder of the match and making setup effortless. Dark Void is a viable alternative to put Grass-types, such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn, ands well as Overcoat users, such as Mandibuzz, to sleep, but has a miss chance to miss that makes it much more unreliable in virtually every scenario. Taunt prevents Smeargle from being setup and Defog fodder, while Parting Shot lowers the offenses of the foe and switches Smeargle out, enabling a teammate to set up with ease. Nuzzle is another option to paralyze threats that may want to set up on it or Taunt it.
Set Details
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The EVs prioritize Speed so that Smeargle can outrun as many opponents as possible. From, while the re, theyst serve to balance its defenses. A Focus Sash is necessary because even with the defensive investment, pretty much everany attack is going to kill Smeargle in one hit, so it needs the guaranteed survival to get much of anything useful done.
Usage Tips
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Smeargle is best utilized in the lead position to ensure an unbroken sash. The first move should be to put the foe to sleep, and then set up Sticky Web, followed by Stealth Rock. Taunt should only be used as absolutely necessary, specifically catching Pokemon likesuch as Ferrothorn that aim to take advantage of Smeargle's non-existent offenses and set up their own hazards. Parting Shot should be used on the off-chance that Smeargle actually survives after setting up dual hazards, potentially providing a teammate with a setup opportunity. Nuzzle paralyzes faster threats that aim to limit it, especially limiting Latios and Latias as Defoggers.
BHowever, beware of setting up Sticky Web against teams with Bisharp. The Speed reduction is not of much consequence for it, and Defiant will graint it a +2 Attack boost, making it extremely difficult to handle.
Team Options
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Pokemon such as Swords Dance Diggersby, Crawdaunt, and Mega Medicham love slower opponents so they can fire off their ridiculously high-powered attacks freely, thus enjoying Smeargle's support. Carrying a Bisharp can also be beneficial, as it turns Deoxys-D and Deoxys-S reflecting Sticky Web with Magic Coat into a beneficial scenario because of Defiant. Moreover, although Bisharp discourages the use of Defog it can also take advantage of it, as a +2 Bisharp is extremely threatening. Pokemon to put pressure on opposing Defog users, such as Greninja, Analytic Starmie, and mixed Thundurus, also make good teammates to help prevent Smeargle's hard work from being removed.
Ingrain Passer
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name: Ingrain Passer
move 1: Ingrain
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Spore / Dark Void
move 4: Quiver Dance
ability: Own Tempo
item: Focus Sash
evs: 96 HP / 120 Def / 40 SpD / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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Ingrain is a good move for Baton Pass teams, eliminating the need to pass to Espeon or Mr. Mime against every phazer. Smeargle is the only Pokemon that has access to the Ingrain + Baton Pass combination, giving it a niche on fulldedicated Baton Pass teams. The third slot contains a sleep move; Spore is preferred for accuracy, but Dark Void is a solid option if you would prefer to put Overcoat users and Grass-types to sleep. The last slot contains Quiver Dance, which accrues three boosts at once, including one to Special Attack so that the BP of Stored Power and overall offensive capabilities of Espeon are enhanced.
Set Details
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The EVs with a Timid nature prioritize Speed and balance Smeargle's defenses. Focus Sash is necessary because Smeargle will generally be used early in the match, where it won't have the defensive boosts to make up for its abysmal bulk and thus be unable to take a hit otherwise.
Usage Tips
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You will want to get in Smeargle in as soon as possible after Scolipede has gotten some Speed boosts, put the opposing Pokemon to sleep, and set up Ingrain to protect the Baton Pass chain from phazers. After that, Baton Pass out and attempt to accrue some defensive boosts. Baton Pass back to Smeargle later in the match to set up Quiver Dances if desired.
Team Options
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With this Smeargle set, there really isn't anything obligatoryrequired besides the fact that you must be running a full Baton Pass team, or else it is useless. Scolipede to obtain Speed boosts right off the bat and Espeon to sweep when enough boosts have been accrued are naturally mandatory (sentence sounds awkward, I think you should reword this). Vaporeon is also pretty mandatosomewhat necessary as a resilient, effective Defense booster. Mr. Mime is also useful as an extra block to Roar, and to create setup opportunities for itself and teammates with Encore. Sylveon can support the chain with Calm Mind boosts and can often even sweep on its own with boosted Hyper Voices. Pokemon such as Barrier + Amnesia Mew, Charge Zapdos, Iron Defense Mega Scizor, and Iron Defense Mega Mawile also work well to secure defensive boosts, all working toward the goal of making Espeon's Stored Power powerful enough to smashtear apart the opposing team.
Other Options
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A hazard setting variant of Smeargle with Stealth Rock, Spikes, a sleeping move, and a filler was pretty usable last generation. However, the reintroduction of Deoxys-S and Deoxys-D to OU, as well as the Defog buff, have rendered this set rather poor in the generation shift. A gimmicky FEAR set with Trick Room / Spore / Endeavor / Dragon Rage can be annoying, putting a foe to sleep and bringing another down to 1 HP, then finishing it off with Dragon Rage. However, the rise of priority in XYGen 6 has reduced the effectiveness of this set immensely. No other move is really worth running, as Smeargle has abysmal offensive and defensive stats that make it pretty useless outside of its limited niche.
Checks and Counters
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**Non-Sucker Punch priority users**: If a foe has already been put to sleep after having brought Smeargle down to its sash, a priority user can finish it off. Think, such as (Mega) Scizor, Azumarill, and Mega Pinsir. Sucker Punch users don't work because Smeargle doesn't attack, though.
**Damaging weather**: Choice Scarf Tyranitar outruns it and prevents it from doing anything by bringing it down to its sash.
**Magic Bounce**: Espeon and Mega Absol bounce back Spore, Dark Void, Sticky Web, and Stealth Rock, rendering Smeargle useless.
**Magic Coat**: Used by the likes of Deoxys-S and Deoxys-D, it bounces back Spore, Dark Void, Sticky Web, and Stealth Rock in a similar fashion to Magic Bounce.
