QC: Anty | Magnemite | Raiza.
GP: Winry. | P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Regice boasts one of the highest Special Defense stats in the game, which allows it to beat many special attackers 1v1, such as Chatot and Rotom-F. It's also helped by its base 100 Special Attack stat and a solid movepool consisting of moves such as Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Focus Blast. Regice's low Speed is an issue, but it has access to both Rock Polish and Thunder Wave to alleviate this, allowing it to function as a potent sweeper or a bulky tank. Ice typing gives it a decently powerful STAB move to work with in Ice Beam, but it isn't a great defensive typing and hampers Regice's ability to switch in and out due to a Stealth Rock weakness. Furthermore, Regice's recovery is limited to Leftovers, meaning it will often be worn down quickly. Its weaknesses to Fighting, Rock, Steel, and Fire make its superb defenses less effective. However, Regice can run through teams by setting up a Rock Polish and taking advantage of its amazing coverage to become a serious threat later in the game.
[SET]
name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Clear Body
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Rock Polish doubles Regice's Speed and turns it into a serious offensive threat late-game, allowing it to outspeed and KO many Pokemon. Ice Beam is Regice's most reliable STAB move to work with, striking Pokemon such as Roselia and Tangela for serious damage. Thunderbolt only adds to the coverage, hitting Water- and Flying-types such as Poliwrath and Swanna for super effective damage and forming the famous BoltBeam combo. Focus Blast gives Regice much-needed Fighting-type coverage against Avalugg, Piloswine, Lickilicky, Probopass, and Rotom-F.
Set Details
=======
252 Special Attack EVs with a Modest nature maximize Regice's Special Attack stat, which allows it to hit as hard as possible, and the 252 Speed EVs allow Regice to outspeed almost all Pokemon that lack a Choice Scarf after a Rock Polish. The final 4 EVs go into Defense to lower residual damage, and Life Orb provides a much-needed boost in power. Clear Body is Regice's only ability, but it prevents Regice's stats from dropping due to things such as Sticky Web.
Usage Tips
========
Rock Polish Regice is best used to sweep mid- and late-game, preferably when all its counters and checks have been severely weakened or KOed. In addition, Regice should primarily try to set up on special attackers that can't touch it, such as Choice-locked Rotom-F and Swanna (though Regice must be wary of Hurricane's confusion chance and Scald's burn chance). Other opportune moments to set up include when Regice forces a Pokemon such as Roselia or Pelipper out. Regice should aim to switch in on special attackers when faster Choice Scarf users have been dealt with and there's nothing stopping it from sweeping, as its bulk lets it absorb most special attacks quite easily. However, one should attempt clear the field of entry hazards beforehand to secure an easier time setting up.
Team Options
========
Defoggers such as Swanna can use Defog to remove Stealth Rock and Spikes from the field, greatly increasing Regice's longevity. Swanna also resists Fire- and Fighting-type attacks, which is an added bonus. Other good choices for teammates are Torkoal and Pelipper, which can also get rid of entry hazards. Regice also appreciates wallbreakers such as Heatmor, Haunter, and mixed Simipour as teammates because they can break and weaken opposing teams, which also makes Regice's job easier. Regice appreciates entry hazard support to weaken opposing teams, so Stealth Rock setters such as Golem are optimal as partners, as entry hazards can turn 3HKOs into 2HKOs.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Thunder Wave / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is Regice's main attack, getting STAB and providing great coverage against Pokemon such as Tangela. Thunderbolt forms the BoltBeam combo with Ice Beam, has great neutral coverage, and strikes Water-types which don't take much damage from Regice's other attacks. Focus Blast is Regice's final offensive option, providing critical coverage on Pokemon such as Avalugg and Probopass, which are problematic to Regice otherwise. Thunder Wave allows Regice to support its team as well as itself by slowing down the opposition, conveniently alleviating its otherwise poor Speed stat. Protect is a different option, allowing Regice to scout Choice users and the foe's moves while also giving it a free turn for Leftovers recovery.
Set Details
=======
248 HP EVs are used to minimize Stealth Rock damage and keep Regice bulky, while the other 252 EVs are put into Special Attack to remind opponents that Regice still packs a punch. The remaining 8 EVs are put into Special Defense for a slight increase in bulk. To maximize Regice's Special Attack, a Modest nature is used. Leftovers provides passive recovery and is the only form of HP recovery Regice has. Clear Body doesn't come into play very often, but it's Regice's only option.
Usage Tips
========
Despite having a passable Defense stat, Regice should rarely be kept in on faster physical attackers, as they could KO or weaken Regice severely to the point where it is no longer a threat. Thus, Regice should mainly be switched in on special attackers that cannot harm it, minimizing any damage taken on a switch in and forcing them out. When forcing an opposing Pokemon out, Regice should primarily attempt to predict the opposing switch and nail it with the appropriate coverage move or simply play it safe and use Thunder Wave to cripple them. The field should usually be cleared of entry hazards, as Regice will be switching in to absorb attacks, and losing HP just by switching in will greatly shorten the amount of times Regice can do its job.
Team Options
========
Swanna is a good partner due to its access to Defog, allowing it to rid the field of entry hazards and give Regice an easier time switching in. In addition, it resists Fire- and Fighting-type attacks and can take on Rock- and Fighting-types with its STAB moves. Despite both being weak to Rock, Armaldo and Torkoal can spin away entry hazards as well. Other entry hazard removers such as Pelipper, Prinplup, and Togetic are all good partners as well. Poliwrath is a good defensive partner for Regice to soak up Rock-, Steel-, and Fire-type moves that could seriously harm or outright KO Regice, and it can deal solid damage back to all of these types with its STAB moves. Due to Regice's bulky nature but lack of recovery, clerics such as Lickilicky are good options as partners, at the cost of sharing a Fighting-type weakness.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Regice can attempt to run a Choice Specs set to cause havoc to opposing switch-ins with its fantastic coverage, though its slow Speed is unfixable in this scenario. Another option is Charge Beam, which can slowly increase Regice's Special Attack and subsequently make it harder to switch into. Frost Breath is an interesting option, as it always results in a critical hit with the cost of slightly lower accuracy, and Thunder is another offensive option that does a significantly higher amount of damage, notably being able to OHKO some Poliwrath, but lacks accuracy. RestTalk is an option to give Regice some type of healing aside from Leftovers, and BoltBeam gives it great coverage to work with. Finally, ChestoRest is an interesting combo to fully heal Regice once with Rest and then wake up the same turn. This comes at the cost of losing Leftovers, however.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Special Walls**: Bulky special walls such as Hypno and Grumpig can take virtually any attack from Regice and can either cripple, phaze, or KO it. While Lickilicky is 2HKOed by Regice's Life Orb-boosted Focus Blast, it can be considered a shaky check due to its impressive bulk.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Flareon and Rapidash resist Regice's Ice-type STAB move and can KO back with super effective Fire-type STAB moves, though Rapidash dislikes being paralyzed.
**Revenge Killers**: While Regice can use Rock Polish to boost its Speed to tremendous levels, a faster Choice Scarf user can normally outspeed and KO it, which is one of the main ways offensive teams beat it. Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Mr. Mime with Psyshock and Stoutland in sand can outspeed and revenge kill it.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Powerful Pokemon such as Ursaring can easily strike at Regice's lesser Defense stat with their high-powered moves, weakening or outright KOing it, but they usually can't switch in on a Focus Blast and Thunder Wave can slow them down; however, Ursaring can take advantage of paralysis with Guts or Quick Feet. Other powerful attackers such as Rampardos, Flareon, and Barbaracle can easily beat the tank set, but they have immense difficulty switching in and KOing Regice once it's at +2 Speed.
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock chips 25% HP from Regice every time it switches in, which wears it down very fast, especially if Regice is using a Life Orb. In addition, status such as poison and burn will stack up over time and slowly take Regice down.
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