Strange Pokemon and a lesser Diancie, but I guess it has a small niche in RU thanks to its bulk, typing, and movepool.
Overview
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Carbink finds its niche in RU thanks to its unique typing and high defensive stats, allowing it to counter many prominent threats in the RU metagame such as Moltres, Delphox, Braviary, and Druddigon. This gives Carbink a place on stall teams as a sturdy Pokemon that can take on many things that other Pokemon on stall typically struggle with. However, Carbink lacks any offensive presence; for example, it cannot OHKO Moltres with a super effective Rock Slide, which means it will often become setup fodder. Carbink also lacks reliable recovery, so it is also prone to being worn down easily. As a result, Carbink is a niche Pokemon that needs support; it cannot be placed onto every team. However, despite its flaws, Carbink has notable strengths definitely worth looking into, and it can prove useful as long as you can alleviate its weak points.
ROCK WITH EYES
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name: ROCK WITH EYES
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Protect
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Rock Slide
ability: Sturdy
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
nature: Careful
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is an obligatory support move that is appreciated by any team. Protect allows Carbink to scout for an opponents move, while accumulating Toxic damage and Leftovers recovery. Toxic allows Carbink to deal meaningful damage while crippling an opponent for the match. The combination of Protect and Toxic can wear down Gligar and make it easier to maintain Stealth Rock against it. Finally, Rock Slide gives Carbink a moderately powerful move that prevents Carbink from being Taunt bait, although its damage output is rather poor. Power Gem is also an alternative to do better damage to Fletchinder after a burn, and it also packs slightly more power.
Set Details
========
The EV's go specially defensive in order to better handle threats such as Delphox, Moltres, and Exploud. However, a physically defensive spread is viable in order to better handle Fletchinder, Braviary, and Druddigon, but Carbink takes on these Pokemon well enough without significant investment anyway. Leftovers provides Carbink a form of passive recovery, as well as its only mode of recovery outside of Wish support. Sturdy is the preferred ability to ensure Carbink can survive at least one hit if needed.
Usage Tips
========
Carbink's main use is to wall threats such as Fletchinder, Druddigon, Delphox, and Moltres by virtue of its good bulk and great defensive typing. When using Carbink, one must be wary of its tendency to become setup fodder, so ways to handle setup sweepers are heavily advised. Carbink fits primarily on stall teams, where it can use its bulk and typing to take on many threats that otherwise trouble a stall team.
Team Options
========
Toxic Spikes Drapion is a great teammate, as it can provide Toxic Spikes so that Carbink never has to spend a turn using Toxic. It also takes on Reuniclus and Grass-types rather decently by virtue of its typing, while it can use Taunt and Whirlwind to stop setup sweepers. Dragalge, Qwilfish, and Roselia are viable alternatives as well. Alomomola and Aromatisse can both provide Wish support in order to heal Carbink; the latter also has Aromatherapy to cure status, but it has a slight type redundancy with Carbink.
Other Options
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Carbink can run a Mono-Attacker set with Calm Mind, Rest, Sleep Talk, and one of either Moonblast or Power Gem. However, Carbink's lack of initial power hinders this set's ability to work well. Carbink can also run Light Screen and Reflect to support its team, however, this is better done by Meowstic-Male and Uxie. Trick Room is also a possibility, as is Sunny Day, and Carbink could use its bulk to support such team archetypes. Beyond that, Carbink has a very narrow selection of viable options to use.
Checks and Counters
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**Pokemon with boosting moves** Due to Carbink's lack of offensive presence, it is very easy to take advantage of with boosting sweepers. Examples of these include Calm Mind Reuniclus, Swords Dance Cobalion and Virizion, and Nasty Plot Mismagius
**Water-types** Pokemon such as Clawitzer and Slowking can weak down Carbink heavily with Scald. They also take little from Carbink in general, barring Toxic. Sharpedo can also wear down Carbink with Waterfall.
**Ground-types** Rhyperior takes little from Carbink and can heavily dent it with Earthquake. Dugtrio can trap Carbink to prevent its escape and defeat it with Earthquake.
**Steel-types** Pokemon such as Cobalion, Doublade, and Escavalier can put a heavy dent in Carbink with Iron Head. Magneton can also hurt with Flash Cannon. All of these Pokemon are also immune to Toxic and barring Escavalier, resist Rock Slide.
**Repeated Damage** Carbink lacks a reliable form of recovery, so it can very easily be worn down by entry hazard damage and repeated assaults, which will eventually lead to its demise.
Overview
########
Carbink finds its niche in RU thanks to its unique typing and high defensive stats, allowing it to counter many prominent threats in the RU metagame such as Moltres, Delphox, Braviary, and Druddigon. This gives Carbink a place on stall teams as a sturdy Pokemon that can take on many things that other Pokemon on stall typically struggle with. However, Carbink lacks any offensive presence; for example, it cannot OHKO Moltres with a super effective Rock Slide, which means it will often become setup fodder. Carbink also lacks reliable recovery, so it is also prone to being worn down easily. As a result, Carbink is a niche Pokemon that needs support; it cannot be placed onto every team. However, despite its flaws, Carbink has notable strengths definitely worth looking into, and it can prove useful as long as you can alleviate its weak points.
ROCK WITH EYES
########
name: ROCK WITH EYES
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Protect
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Rock Slide
ability: Sturdy
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
nature: Careful
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is an obligatory support move that is appreciated by any team. Protect allows Carbink to scout for an opponents move, while accumulating Toxic damage and Leftovers recovery. Toxic allows Carbink to deal meaningful damage while crippling an opponent for the match. The combination of Protect and Toxic can wear down Gligar and make it easier to maintain Stealth Rock against it. Finally, Rock Slide gives Carbink a moderately powerful move that prevents Carbink from being Taunt bait, although its damage output is rather poor. Power Gem is also an alternative to do better damage to Fletchinder after a burn, and it also packs slightly more power.
Set Details
========
The EV's go specially defensive in order to better handle threats such as Delphox, Moltres, and Exploud. However, a physically defensive spread is viable in order to better handle Fletchinder, Braviary, and Druddigon, but Carbink takes on these Pokemon well enough without significant investment anyway. Leftovers provides Carbink a form of passive recovery, as well as its only mode of recovery outside of Wish support. Sturdy is the preferred ability to ensure Carbink can survive at least one hit if needed.
Usage Tips
========
Carbink's main use is to wall threats such as Fletchinder, Druddigon, Delphox, and Moltres by virtue of its good bulk and great defensive typing. When using Carbink, one must be wary of its tendency to become setup fodder, so ways to handle setup sweepers are heavily advised. Carbink fits primarily on stall teams, where it can use its bulk and typing to take on many threats that otherwise trouble a stall team.
Team Options
========
Toxic Spikes Drapion is a great teammate, as it can provide Toxic Spikes so that Carbink never has to spend a turn using Toxic. It also takes on Reuniclus and Grass-types rather decently by virtue of its typing, while it can use Taunt and Whirlwind to stop setup sweepers. Dragalge, Qwilfish, and Roselia are viable alternatives as well. Alomomola and Aromatisse can both provide Wish support in order to heal Carbink; the latter also has Aromatherapy to cure status, but it has a slight type redundancy with Carbink.
Other Options
########
Carbink can run a Mono-Attacker set with Calm Mind, Rest, Sleep Talk, and one of either Moonblast or Power Gem. However, Carbink's lack of initial power hinders this set's ability to work well. Carbink can also run Light Screen and Reflect to support its team, however, this is better done by Meowstic-Male and Uxie. Trick Room is also a possibility, as is Sunny Day, and Carbink could use its bulk to support such team archetypes. Beyond that, Carbink has a very narrow selection of viable options to use.
Checks and Counters
########
**Pokemon with boosting moves** Due to Carbink's lack of offensive presence, it is very easy to take advantage of with boosting sweepers. Examples of these include Calm Mind Reuniclus, Swords Dance Cobalion and Virizion, and Nasty Plot Mismagius
**Water-types** Pokemon such as Clawitzer and Slowking can weak down Carbink heavily with Scald. They also take little from Carbink in general, barring Toxic. Sharpedo can also wear down Carbink with Waterfall.
**Ground-types** Rhyperior takes little from Carbink and can heavily dent it with Earthquake. Dugtrio can trap Carbink to prevent its escape and defeat it with Earthquake.
**Steel-types** Pokemon such as Cobalion, Doublade, and Escavalier can put a heavy dent in Carbink with Iron Head. Magneton can also hurt with Flash Cannon. All of these Pokemon are also immune to Toxic and barring Escavalier, resist Rock Slide.
**Repeated Damage** Carbink lacks a reliable form of recovery, so it can very easily be worn down by entry hazard damage and repeated assaults, which will eventually lead to its demise.
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