QC Checks by : Tokyo Tom, AM, Leftiez
[OVERVIEW]
Tentacruel's good defensive typing and stats allow it to check some of the largest threats in the OU metagame such as Azumarill, Keldeo, and Clefable. However, its main claim to fame is being a Rapid Spin user that can beat Mega Sableye. It also absorbs Toxic Spikes, which are very common in the current metagame. On the flip side, Tentacruel has some common weaknesses to Electric-, Psychic-, and Ground-type moves, which substantially hinder its defensive capabilities. Tentacruel also lacks any form of reliable recovery, making it easy to wear down. It also faces competition as a Water-type Rapid Spin user from Starmie, which has reliable recovery, a much better Speed tier, and more coverage options. However, Tentacruel differentiates itself with its better support options, lack of Pursuit weakness, and some unique resistances.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Scald
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Acid Spray
move 4: Toxic Spikes / Knock Off
ability: Liquid Ooze / Rain Dish
item: Black Sludge
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe
nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald has a high chance to burn the target, which makes physical attackers reluctant to switch into Tentacruel. Rapid Spin is Tentacruel's main perk over other bulky Water-types and provides immense support to its team. Acid Spray lowers a target's Special Defense by two stages, allowing Tentacruel to beat Mega Sableye and use Rapid Spin, while also checking Calm Mind users. Toxic Spikes cripples opposing grounded Pokemon upon switching in, pressuring them with residual damage each turn. Knock Off provides huge utility and allows Tentacruel to beat Gengar faster. Haze is also an option as it allows Tentacruel to reliably check Belly Drum Azumarill by removing Azumarill's boosts. Protect can be used for scouting Choice-locked moves and gaining an extra turn of Black Sludge recovery, as well as getting an extra turn of Toxic damage on the opponent. Sludge Wave hits Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Both of Tentacruel's abilities are situational. Liquid Ooze is preferred, as it punishes the use of HP draining moves such as Leech Seed and Giga Drain. However, Rain Dish can be used on rain teams for semi-reliable recovery. Black Sludge provides passive recovery. The EV spread makes sure that Tentacruel avoids the 2HKO from Life Orb Gengar's Shadow Ball and Modest Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast or Solar Beam after Stealth Rock 100% of the time, while still retaining a respectable physical bulk that allows it to check physical attackers such as Azumarill. 16 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Tentacruel to outspeed neutral-natured Mega Altaria and max Speed base 70s such as Breloom, Adamant Diggersby, and almost all versions of defensive Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
Tentacruel should be switched in on resisted attacks or on Pokemon that are checked by it such as Azumarill and Mega Altaria. Even though Tentacruel has respectable bulk, do not try to switch it into unresisted attacks, especially if you absolutely need entry hazards gone, as it is prone to getting worn down easily due to lack of recovery and constant switching into entry hazards. If an opponent has a Ghost-type, then it is preferable to not use Rapid Spin immediately. Before using Toxic Spikes, assess the opposing team. If it has too many Pokemon immune to them or a grounded Poison-type, it is preferable to not use Toxic Spikes at all. Also, use only one layer if your opponent is using an offensive team, as regular poison will result in more damage short-term.
Team Options
========
Tentacruel fits well on balance and stall teams. Mega Sableye has great synergy with Tentacruel, as it is immune to Psychic-type attacks and Tentacruel in return resists Fairy. Mega Sableye can also block Rapid Spin for Toxic Spikes set up by Tentacruel and also benefits from Toxic Spikes support when sweeping with its Calm Mind set. Grass-types such as Celebi and Ferrothorn have very good synergy with Tentacruel. Celebi also provides cleric support with Heal Bell. Wish users such as Chansey and Clefable are great teammates, as Tentacruel has no reliable recovery of its own. Gliscor has very good synergy with Tentacruel, as it can switch into Electric- and Ground-type attacks and Tentacruel can easily take Ice- and Water-type attacks aimed at Gliscor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam hits Dragon-types, Gliscor, and Landorus formes for huge damage, but it is weak otherwise. Toxic cripples the bulky Water-types that tend to switch into Tentacruel. An offensive set with Hydro Pump, Hidden Power Fire, and Ice Beam or Sludge Bomb with Black Sludge can do significant amounts of damage on Tentacruel's usual counters and make good use of Tentacruel's Speed tier. A set consisting of Mirror Coat with Assault Vest can lure Pokemon such as Thundurus and Raikou. However, it is pretty bad otherwise. Haze allows Tentacruel punish Pokemon that try to set up. Substitute can be used to keep momentum and stall out Pokemon that have been already burned or poisoned.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Thundurus, Mega Manectric, and Raikou easily force Tentacruel out with their super effective STAB moves while gaining momentum with Volt Switch.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Latias, Latios, Slowbro, and Mega Slowbro can easily take out Tentacruel with their Psychic-type STAB moves. Slowbro and Mega Slowbro should be wary of Toxic, though.
**Water-types**: Manaphy, Starmie, and Rotom-W fear nothing from Tentacruel aside from a Scald burn or the occasional Toxic and can either set up or threaten it with their secondary STAB attacks, respectively. And although Tentacruel takes little from Scald, it hates getting burned, as it has no reliable recovery.
**Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Substitute Mega Gyarados, and SubCM Keldeo can easily set up on Tentacruel and potentially sweep its team.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon with super effective attacks, such as Excadrill, Landorus, and Mamoswine, can easily force out Tentacruel.
[OVERVIEW]
Tentacruel's good defensive typing and stats allow it to check some of the largest threats in the OU metagame such as Azumarill, Keldeo, and Clefable. However, its main claim to fame is being a Rapid Spin user that can beat Mega Sableye. It also absorbs Toxic Spikes, which are very common in the current metagame. On the flip side, Tentacruel has some common weaknesses to Electric-, Psychic-, and Ground-type moves, which substantially hinder its defensive capabilities. Tentacruel also lacks any form of reliable recovery, making it easy to wear down. It also faces competition as a Water-type Rapid Spin user from Starmie, which has reliable recovery, a much better Speed tier, and more coverage options. However, Tentacruel differentiates itself with its better support options, lack of Pursuit weakness, and some unique resistances.
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Scald
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Acid Spray
move 4: Toxic Spikes / Knock Off
ability: Liquid Ooze / Rain Dish
item: Black Sludge
evs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 28 SpD / 16 Spe
nature: Timid
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald has a high chance to burn the target, which makes physical attackers reluctant to switch into Tentacruel. Rapid Spin is Tentacruel's main perk over other bulky Water-types and provides immense support to its team. Acid Spray lowers a target's Special Defense by two stages, allowing Tentacruel to beat Mega Sableye and use Rapid Spin, while also checking Calm Mind users. Toxic Spikes cripples opposing grounded Pokemon upon switching in, pressuring them with residual damage each turn. Knock Off provides huge utility and allows Tentacruel to beat Gengar faster. Haze is also an option as it allows Tentacruel to reliably check Belly Drum Azumarill by removing Azumarill's boosts. Protect can be used for scouting Choice-locked moves and gaining an extra turn of Black Sludge recovery, as well as getting an extra turn of Toxic damage on the opponent. Sludge Wave hits Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
Both of Tentacruel's abilities are situational. Liquid Ooze is preferred, as it punishes the use of HP draining moves such as Leech Seed and Giga Drain. However, Rain Dish can be used on rain teams for semi-reliable recovery. Black Sludge provides passive recovery. The EV spread makes sure that Tentacruel avoids the 2HKO from Life Orb Gengar's Shadow Ball and Modest Mega Charizard Y's Fire Blast or Solar Beam after Stealth Rock 100% of the time, while still retaining a respectable physical bulk that allows it to check physical attackers such as Azumarill. 16 Speed EVs and a Timid nature allow Tentacruel to outspeed neutral-natured Mega Altaria and max Speed base 70s such as Breloom, Adamant Diggersby, and almost all versions of defensive Landorus-T.
Usage Tips
========
Tentacruel should be switched in on resisted attacks or on Pokemon that are checked by it such as Azumarill and Mega Altaria. Even though Tentacruel has respectable bulk, do not try to switch it into unresisted attacks, especially if you absolutely need entry hazards gone, as it is prone to getting worn down easily due to lack of recovery and constant switching into entry hazards. If an opponent has a Ghost-type, then it is preferable to not use Rapid Spin immediately. Before using Toxic Spikes, assess the opposing team. If it has too many Pokemon immune to them or a grounded Poison-type, it is preferable to not use Toxic Spikes at all. Also, use only one layer if your opponent is using an offensive team, as regular poison will result in more damage short-term.
Team Options
========
Tentacruel fits well on balance and stall teams. Mega Sableye has great synergy with Tentacruel, as it is immune to Psychic-type attacks and Tentacruel in return resists Fairy. Mega Sableye can also block Rapid Spin for Toxic Spikes set up by Tentacruel and also benefits from Toxic Spikes support when sweeping with its Calm Mind set. Grass-types such as Celebi and Ferrothorn have very good synergy with Tentacruel. Celebi also provides cleric support with Heal Bell. Wish users such as Chansey and Clefable are great teammates, as Tentacruel has no reliable recovery of its own. Gliscor has very good synergy with Tentacruel, as it can switch into Electric- and Ground-type attacks and Tentacruel can easily take Ice- and Water-type attacks aimed at Gliscor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam hits Dragon-types, Gliscor, and Landorus formes for huge damage, but it is weak otherwise. Toxic cripples the bulky Water-types that tend to switch into Tentacruel. An offensive set with Hydro Pump, Hidden Power Fire, and Ice Beam or Sludge Bomb with Black Sludge can do significant amounts of damage on Tentacruel's usual counters and make good use of Tentacruel's Speed tier. A set consisting of Mirror Coat with Assault Vest can lure Pokemon such as Thundurus and Raikou. However, it is pretty bad otherwise. Haze allows Tentacruel punish Pokemon that try to set up. Substitute can be used to keep momentum and stall out Pokemon that have been already burned or poisoned.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Thundurus, Mega Manectric, and Raikou easily force Tentacruel out with their super effective STAB moves while gaining momentum with Volt Switch.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Latias, Latios, Slowbro, and Mega Slowbro can easily take out Tentacruel with their Psychic-type STAB moves. Slowbro and Mega Slowbro should be wary of Toxic, though.
**Water-types**: Manaphy, Starmie, and Rotom-W fear nothing from Tentacruel aside from a Scald burn or the occasional Toxic and can either set up or threaten it with their secondary STAB attacks, respectively. And although Tentacruel takes little from Scald, it hates getting burned, as it has no reliable recovery.
**Setup Sweepers**: Pokemon such as Mega Charizard X, Substitute Mega Gyarados, and SubCM Keldeo can easily set up on Tentacruel and potentially sweep its team.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon with super effective attacks, such as Excadrill, Landorus, and Mamoswine, can easily force out Tentacruel.
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