Serperior [QC: 0/3]

[skies]

taken over from gooey kirby.

QC: / /
GP: /​

Overview
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• Has a niche in high Speed + Calm Mind + good natural bulk
• Can set up on walls thanks to this bulk
• Speed allows it to outpace Archeops and anything below
• Faces huge competition from other Grass-types
• Mainly from Sceptile, which is more powerful and faster
• Over Lilligant, Serperior has the better natural bulk which allow it to take hits from Pokemon such as Kangaskhan much better than Lilligant can and therefore allow Serperior to setup with more ease. Serperior also outspeeds Kangaskhan and gets the jump on it, whereas Lilligant has to be careful about Speed ties. Serperior's bulk also pays off when setting up because it's a lot harder to break through.
• Doesn't always have the space to set up
• And, it's weak without the boosts.

Calm Mind
########
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Substitute / Taunt
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice
ability: Overgrow
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

• Calm Mind is used to bolster Serperior's power to high levels and increases its bulk, making it harder for threats to break through its Substitute.
• Substitute shields it from status and allows Serperior to set up Calm Mind with greater ease; it also allows Serperior to take on Choice Scarfed Pokemon much more easily.
• Substitute also has a possibility to push Serperior into Overgrow range.
• Giga Drain works well on Serperior because it keeps it healthy and hits hard, making it a good option on Serperior because it's running both Substitute and Life Orb.
• Hidden Power is for coverage; Fire to hit Steel-types, such as Pawniard, Ice to hit Flying- and Dragon-types, such as Rotom-Fan or Dragalge, both hit opposing Grass-types.
• Taunt is usable over Substitute to shut down defensively-oriented Pokemon such as Audino and allows Serperior more space to set up but Substitute is a generally more safe move
• Hidden Power Rock hits Flying- and Fire-types but generally isn't the best coverage that Serperior can run and leaves it open to more Pokemon than if it should run Fire or Ice. It also leaves Serperior unable to get past Grass-types.

Set Details
========

• A simple 252 / 252 spread is effective because Serperior should aim to be as strong and fast as possible.
• Thus, a Timid nature is preferred to ensure Serperior can make 100% use of its high base
• Though investing in bulk could be an option, Serperior fully needs all the Speed and power it can possibly achieve.
• A Life Orb may seem like a poor choice alongside Substitute but it's very useful to increase Serperior's power and increases Giga Drain's damage output, thus allowing it to recover even more health.
• Leftovers might seem like a neat option but Giga Drain provides constant recovery and Serperior needs all the power it can get.

Usage Tips
========

• Setting up against bulkier Pokemon is what this set aims to do, because Serperior can set up quite easily against foes with weak moves, such as Audino or Lickilicky
• Substitute blocks phazing, so it's best to use against weaker Dragon Tail users such as the aforementioned Lickilicky
• Serperior should set up on Pokemon it fares well against, such as Electric- and Water-type Pokemon, for example.
• Using Calm Mind before Substitute is never a bad idea, nor is plainly using Calm Mind and not setting up a substitute. This can be helpful to boost its Special Defense and make the following Substitute harder to break; for example, using Substitute, then Calm Mind on the turn that Substitute is broken, then using Substitute again, will be causing 50% damage versus 25%. Calm Mind can be used as a stand-alone move as well and can just be used to boost Serperior's Special Attack to fire off powerful attacks and is useful when it's too pressured to be able to use Substitute.
• Substitute should be used cautiously because Serperior has four chances and its bulk will only go so far. Using it on weaker priority moves is a good idea or using it on Pokemon that carry Water-type moves, such as Lanturn. Defensive Lanturn in particular is a good option to set up on because Serperior resists both of its STAB moves. Even against foes that Serperior could easily beat, it's often best to Substitute because it will be being used on the switch and thus provide Serperior with a free turn afterwards.
• Taunt, however, can be used against other setup sweepers, such as Uxie, Musharna, Klinklang, and Slurpuff, to help Serperior prevent them from setting up and is also a great way to halt defensive Pokemon and status. Taunt provides more in terms of raw stuff it can be used against, and it is more useful when Serperior is facing a Calm Mind war.
• Giga Drain should be used when it is felt needed, NEVER wait for Overgrow to use it because Serperior will rarely reach this. Though, when in Overgrow range, Giga Drain is insanely powerful and will most likely take Serperior out of Overgrow range; so use this only when need be. Do not repeatedly use Substitute to get into Overgrow range, however, as this is quite a waste of Serperior if it is just spamming Substitute.
• Hidden Power Fire is useful to nail Ferroseed on the switch, while Hidden Power Ice is important to hit Flying-type switch ins. It's crucial to not reveal which Hidden Power is being run and try and keep it a mystery as long as possible, as this puts the opponent at a disadvantage because of the guessing game they are now playing.

Team Options
========

• Pokemon that can wear down Poison-types such as Mesprit, Earthquake Hariyama, Earthquake Kangaskhan, and Ground- and Psychic-types in general.
• Pokemon that can take out Fire-types and stomach Fire-type moves from the likes of Typhlosion and Pyroar make for good partners, such Pokemon like this include Archeops, Dragalge, or Hariyama.
• Hariyama is a good partner in general because it can take on Fire- and Poison-types and can wear down bulkier Pokemon via Close Combat.

Other Options
########

• Swords Dance is one of Serperior's greatest other options, instantly boosting its Attack to threatening levels; however, it receives competition from Sceptile in this regard, which has higher Speed and has better coverage. It also receives competition in this regard from Leafeon.
• These sets would consist of Serperior's physical movepool which includes Leaf Blade / Aqua Tail / Knock Off.
• Leaf Blade is a really strong physical Grass-type STAB move; Aqua Tail hits Fire- and Steel-types hard; Knock Off is, Knock Off, and is a good move all-around.
• Coil could also be used, but this is generally unadvised because Serperior won't have enough time to set up and its coverage is bad when running physical sets. Coil is also generally inferior because of the lack of a Giga Drain counterpart to recover health.
• Leaf Storm could be used as a really strong STAB move, but it will usually force Serperior right out afterwards.
• Dual screens could be used thanks to Serperior's high Speed, access to Taunt, and naturally good bulk. Though, it lacks the moves such as Yawn, Memento, or U-turn, that other dual screens setter s, such as Uxie, are able to provide.
• Glare sets might sounds interesting on paper, but are generally not effective in practice and Serperior has better things to be doing.

Checks & Counters
########

• **Flying- and Fire-types**: These Pokemon resist Giga Drain and neither are hurt much by Hidden Power Fire, though Flying-types have to be careful about Hidden Power Ice. Hidden Power Rock hurts both, though it's not so common. These Pokemon include Swellow, Rotom-Fan, Typhlosion, Pyroar, and Magmortar.

• **Steel-types**: Steel-types have to be wary for Hidden Power Fire but otherwise can take on all of Serperior's Grass-type STABs and all physical sets. Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Klinklang are examples of such Steel-types that can reasonably handle Serperior.

• **Sneasel and Cryogonal**: Sneasel outspeeds Serperior and can KO it with Ice Punch, while Cryogonal has the high natural bulk to live Serperior's hits and hurt it in return with its Ice-type attacks including Freeze-Dry.

• **Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users can outspeed Serperior and dent it; these include Choice Scarf Typhlosion, Choice Scarf Mesprit, and Rotom-Fan. Typhlosion KOs with Fire Blast or Eruption, Mesprit hurts it with either U-turn or Ice Punch, Rotom-Fan hurts it via Air Slash and also resists its STAB attacks.

 

[Punchshroom]

Overview should emphasize on Serperior being weak without setup.

Substitute shields it from status and allows Serperior to set up Calm Mind with greater ease; it also allows Serperior to take on Choice Scarfed Pokemon much more easily.

You can also say that Substitute can force Serperior into Overgrow range, should the extra power be needed.

Hidden Power is for coverage; Fire to hit Steel-types, Ice to hit Flying-types, both hit opposing Grass-types.
Hidden Power Rock hits Flying- and Fire-types but generally isn't the best coverage that Serperior can run and leaves it open to more Pokemon than if it should run Fire or Ice.

You'll need to make it clearer why HP Rock isn't generally recommended over the other Hidden Powers, like missing out on Grass-types? Mention relevant targets for each HP, such as HP Ice hitting Dragalge.

Swords Dance is one of Serperior's greatest other options, instantly boosting its Attack to threatening levels; however, it receives competition from Sceptile in this regard, which has higher Speed and is all-around better.

Sceptile also has superior coverage. Leafeon also gives SD Serperior competition.

Coil could also be used, but this is generally unadvised because Serperior won't have enough time to set up and its coverage is bad when running physical sets.

Emphasize that the lack of a Giga Drain counterpart is what separates this set's effectiveness from Calm Mind.

Dual screens could be used thanks to Serperior's high Speed, access to Taunt, and naturally good bulk.

I feel this can be mentioned before Swords Dance, since it's faces less competition than the SD set and is pretty consistent. Do mention Serperior's lack of moves that grant teammates easier switches, such as U-turn, Yawn, or Memento.

 

[skies]

Punchshroom Implemented, thanks! Soulgazer said to keep Swords Dance in first spot on OO, so I'll move it another QC member tells me I should; otherwise I'll just leave it how it is :p.

 

[scorpdestroyer]

can you emphasize Serperior's niche over Lilligant a little more in the Overview? Lilligant just sounds a lot better in general, having a better setup move, more initial power, and Sleep Powder. If the extra bulk / initial speed comes into play often, please expand more on it.

 

[skies]

How does that look scorpdestroyer ?

 

[Ares]

I'm wondering if Taunt should get a main slash over or behind Substitute, I haven't used it to much in NU but my experience in PU was that I found myself either using Substitute or Taunt and tbh I found myself liking Taunt a lot more. It forces out defensive Pokemon that like to status set up sweepers and can even serve as a means to prevent hazards against things do to the fact that Serperior actually is pretty fast, a lot of the time the opponent will predict a switch with something like Garbodor or Qwilfish and will just try and status or set up spikes, Taunt is a great move so imo slash it with sub. QC thoughts?

 

[soulgazer]

pu isnt the same meta as nu

taunt can be slashed after sub

usage tips needs to talk about EVERYTHING. Explain how Serperior is played with sub. Explain how its played with Taunt. Explain Hp Fire, HP Ice.. etc.

 

[Ares]

pu isnt the same meta as nu

I know this >.>

I'm just saying it can actually provide team support outside of trying to sweep and seems better than moves, so I was asking for opinions.

 

[skies]

Soulgazer h-h-how does it look

 

[soulgazer]

Taunt, however, can be used against other Calm Mind users to help Serperior win and is a great way to halt defensive Pokemon and status. Taunt provides more in terms of raw stuff it can be used against, and it should be used against Calm Mind users before they are allowed the chance to setup.

not just calm mind users, just any set up sweeper that will want to set up on Serperior. Shift Gear Klinklang (if HP Ice), drum slurpuff, etc

for the substitute mention, talk about abusing Overgrow with Substitute to be able to get some OHKO that Serperior wouldnt get if it wasn't in Overgrow or just to get a stronger last ditch effort (especially nice when you can't Calm Mind but need a little more power).

• Giga Drain should be used when it is felt needed, NEVER wait for Overgrow to use it because Serperior will rarely reach this. Though, when in Overgrow range, Giga Drain is insanely powerful and will most likely take Serperior out of Overgrow range; so use this only when need be. Do not repeatedly use Substitute to get into Overgrow range, however, as this is quite a waste and is really not helpful.

???????????????????

lol

 

[skies]

Soulgazer no u see ;_;. i meant waste as in wasting serperior's potential by spamming substitute. i'll make it clearer

 

[boltsandbombers]

Alright, so after some discussion in the NU room I'm going to suggest adding in a Swords Dance as its own set, not just OO. Basically it does a great job of luring in Fire-types with a strong Aqua Tail, and no longer faces competition from Sceptile as a speedy grass type.

Serperior @ Life Orb / Lum Berry
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Leaf Blade
- Knock Off
- Aqua Tail

Punchshroom

Also small reminder to remove mentions of banned mons like Dragalge, which may be a reason to get rid of HP Ice.

late edit: I'd hold off on this analysis for now as serp might leave the tier after getting contrary :[

 

[Ares]

dropped