QC: Tone114, Anty, Raiza
GP: Frenzyplant, P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Politoed is the best blanket Water check in the tier thanks to its much-coveted Water immunity. It has decent offensive pressure, and it can be difficult to play around Politoed's combination of Scald and Encore. However, it has somewhat lacking Speed and physical bulk, making it easy to pressure with common wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Dodrio. Furthermore, Politoed's lack of reliable recovery and susceptibility to being baited into strong coverage attacks such as Choice Band Floatzel's Return give it difficulties.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Electric
move 4: Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Politoed's strongest attack and threatens burns. Ice Beam gives Politoed coverage against Flying- and Grass-types, such as Altaria and Simisage, while Hidden Power Electric hits opposing Water-types, such as Floatzel and Simipour. Encore allows Politoed to pressure bulkier foes reliant on status moves, such as Audino. Protect can be run instead for extra Leftovers recovery and the ability to occasionally scout foes with Choice items, but it leaves Politoed much more useless versus passive teams.
Set Details
========
Water Absorb allows Politoed to wall opposing Water-types, and Leftovers provides its only form of recovery outside of switching Politoed into Water-type attacks. Maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature give Politoed some offensive presence and help it KO opposing Water-types more quickly, while near-maximum HP investment makes it as bulky as possible without taking increased damage from entry hazards.
Usage Tips
========
Politoed should be conserved until the opposing team has no Water-types left, as sacrificing it too early can leave teams vulnerable to them. Politoed is a fairly obvious switch-in to most Water-types, so be wary of opponents predicting it to come in and either hitting it with a strong coverage move or double switching to a counter. Don't use Encore too liberally, as it can quickly become predictable and give foes free turns to switch. Similarly, using Protect too often for extra recovery can give foes free switching or setup opportunities. Use Scald as much as possible to spread burns throughout opposing teams.
Team Options
========
Politoed is easy to fit into most playstyles, as many Pokemon in the tier benefit from its almost unique ability to deter Water-type attackers. Pokemon vulnerable to Water-types benefit the most from Politoed's ability to absorb their STAB moves. These include Fire-types such as Monferno, Rock-types such as Golem, and even offensive Pokemon, such as Dodrio, that are normally easily revenge killed by Floatzel or Simipour. Entry hazard removal is highly appreciated, as Politoed can be quickly worn down by Spikes or Toxic Spikes, making it more difficult for it to check Water-types, and is easy Spikes fodder for Roselia, especially if running Protect. Fellow defensive Pokemon can form defensive cores with Politoed. Vullaby can take on strong physical attackers such as Stoutland and appreciates the check to Water-types that have Ice-type coverage, and Stunfisk can support Politoed with its Electric immunity in return for the Water-type check. Other Electric-type checks such as Assault Vest Bouffalant and Lightningrod Zebstrika can deter opposing Electric-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An offensive Choice Scarf set makes Politoed faster and less passive while still checking Water-types, although it sacrifices all of Politoed's bulk. Hypnosis can cripple switch-ins but has poor accuracy. A faster spread with 56 Speed EVs can be used to let Politoed outrun Golem and Marowak, but it is only recommended on teams that are extremely vulnerable to them, as it otherwise sacrifices bulk unnecessarily. Hydro Pump does more damage than Scald, but it comes with accuracy issues and cannot burn foes. Focus Blast can be worth a moveslot to hit Normal-types such as Stoutland and Bouffalant, but it generally isn't needed over Scald. Running Toxic or Choice Specs can cripple opposing defensive Pokemon attempting to switch in, but both generally lack the utility to deserve the move or item slot. A fully physically or specially defensive spread can be run to better outlast foes, but both leave Politoed reliant on Scald burns for dealing any serious damage. Politoed can also attempt a Perish trapping set with Whirlpool and Perish Song, but it is generally a poor strategy and cannot reliably beat Water-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Politoed can survive a single hit from most of the offensive Grass-types in the tier, such as Jumpluff and Sawsbuck, and KO them with Ice Beam, but it can be KOed when slightly weakened. Ice Beam does little to Roselia, which can set up entry hazards or simply KO Politoed with Giga Drain, and other defensive Grass-types such as Gourgeist-XL can survive an Ice Beam and threaten Politoed with their super effective STAB moves.
**Electric-types**: Although they are incapable of switching in safely, offensive Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Rotom-F threaten to KO Politoed with Thunderbolt.
**Strong Attackers**: Politoed's mediocre bulk leaves it susceptible to being OHKOed by strong physical wallbreakers such as Choice Band Leafeon and Dodrio. Strong special attackers that lack a super effective move against Politoed, such as Choice Specs Mr. Mime and Chatot, are still capable of 2HKOing it if it has taken damage from Stealth Rock.
**Chip Damage**: Politoed's lack of reliable recovery leaves it susceptible to being worn down by multiple weaker hits, entry hazards, poison, and burn. Many of the stronger attackers in the tier, such as Ursaring, only require small amounts of chip damage to secure a KO against Politoed.
GP: Frenzyplant, P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Politoed is the best blanket Water check in the tier thanks to its much-coveted Water immunity. It has decent offensive pressure, and it can be difficult to play around Politoed's combination of Scald and Encore. However, it has somewhat lacking Speed and physical bulk, making it easy to pressure with common wallbreakers such as Stoutland and Dodrio. Furthermore, Politoed's lack of reliable recovery and susceptibility to being baited into strong coverage attacks such as Choice Band Floatzel's Return give it difficulties.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Electric
move 4: Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Politoed's strongest attack and threatens burns. Ice Beam gives Politoed coverage against Flying- and Grass-types, such as Altaria and Simisage, while Hidden Power Electric hits opposing Water-types, such as Floatzel and Simipour. Encore allows Politoed to pressure bulkier foes reliant on status moves, such as Audino. Protect can be run instead for extra Leftovers recovery and the ability to occasionally scout foes with Choice items, but it leaves Politoed much more useless versus passive teams.
Set Details
========
Water Absorb allows Politoed to wall opposing Water-types, and Leftovers provides its only form of recovery outside of switching Politoed into Water-type attacks. Maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature give Politoed some offensive presence and help it KO opposing Water-types more quickly, while near-maximum HP investment makes it as bulky as possible without taking increased damage from entry hazards.
Usage Tips
========
Politoed should be conserved until the opposing team has no Water-types left, as sacrificing it too early can leave teams vulnerable to them. Politoed is a fairly obvious switch-in to most Water-types, so be wary of opponents predicting it to come in and either hitting it with a strong coverage move or double switching to a counter. Don't use Encore too liberally, as it can quickly become predictable and give foes free turns to switch. Similarly, using Protect too often for extra recovery can give foes free switching or setup opportunities. Use Scald as much as possible to spread burns throughout opposing teams.
Team Options
========
Politoed is easy to fit into most playstyles, as many Pokemon in the tier benefit from its almost unique ability to deter Water-type attackers. Pokemon vulnerable to Water-types benefit the most from Politoed's ability to absorb their STAB moves. These include Fire-types such as Monferno, Rock-types such as Golem, and even offensive Pokemon, such as Dodrio, that are normally easily revenge killed by Floatzel or Simipour. Entry hazard removal is highly appreciated, as Politoed can be quickly worn down by Spikes or Toxic Spikes, making it more difficult for it to check Water-types, and is easy Spikes fodder for Roselia, especially if running Protect. Fellow defensive Pokemon can form defensive cores with Politoed. Vullaby can take on strong physical attackers such as Stoutland and appreciates the check to Water-types that have Ice-type coverage, and Stunfisk can support Politoed with its Electric immunity in return for the Water-type check. Other Electric-type checks such as Assault Vest Bouffalant and Lightningrod Zebstrika can deter opposing Electric-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An offensive Choice Scarf set makes Politoed faster and less passive while still checking Water-types, although it sacrifices all of Politoed's bulk. Hypnosis can cripple switch-ins but has poor accuracy. A faster spread with 56 Speed EVs can be used to let Politoed outrun Golem and Marowak, but it is only recommended on teams that are extremely vulnerable to them, as it otherwise sacrifices bulk unnecessarily. Hydro Pump does more damage than Scald, but it comes with accuracy issues and cannot burn foes. Focus Blast can be worth a moveslot to hit Normal-types such as Stoutland and Bouffalant, but it generally isn't needed over Scald. Running Toxic or Choice Specs can cripple opposing defensive Pokemon attempting to switch in, but both generally lack the utility to deserve the move or item slot. A fully physically or specially defensive spread can be run to better outlast foes, but both leave Politoed reliant on Scald burns for dealing any serious damage. Politoed can also attempt a Perish trapping set with Whirlpool and Perish Song, but it is generally a poor strategy and cannot reliably beat Water-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Politoed can survive a single hit from most of the offensive Grass-types in the tier, such as Jumpluff and Sawsbuck, and KO them with Ice Beam, but it can be KOed when slightly weakened. Ice Beam does little to Roselia, which can set up entry hazards or simply KO Politoed with Giga Drain, and other defensive Grass-types such as Gourgeist-XL can survive an Ice Beam and threaten Politoed with their super effective STAB moves.
**Electric-types**: Although they are incapable of switching in safely, offensive Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Rotom-F threaten to KO Politoed with Thunderbolt.
**Strong Attackers**: Politoed's mediocre bulk leaves it susceptible to being OHKOed by strong physical wallbreakers such as Choice Band Leafeon and Dodrio. Strong special attackers that lack a super effective move against Politoed, such as Choice Specs Mr. Mime and Chatot, are still capable of 2HKOing it if it has taken damage from Stealth Rock.
**Chip Damage**: Politoed's lack of reliable recovery leaves it susceptible to being worn down by multiple weaker hits, entry hazards, poison, and burn. Many of the stronger attackers in the tier, such as Ursaring, only require small amounts of chip damage to secure a KO against Politoed.
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