Ninetales [QC 3/3] [GP: 2/2]

[etern]

[OVERVIEW]
Ninetales distinguishes itself from other Fire-types in the tier with its access to a Special Attack-boosting move in Nasty Plot, as well as a very useful ability in Flash Fire, which allows it to pivot into predicted Fire-type attacks from the likes of Magmortar, Pyroar and Combusken and absorb Will-O-Wisp from Gourgeist-XL and Mismagius. Ninetales also has good coverage with moves such as Psyshock and Energy Ball, allowing it to get past many traditional Fire-type checks, namely Hariyama and Rhydon. Additionally, a great Speed stat allows Ninetales to outspeed many common offensive Pokemon, including Mesprit, Lilligant, Jynx, Sawk, and Haunter. However, Ninetales is easily revenge killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, and mixed Sceptile. Unfortunately, Ninetales also has a reliance on boosting with Nasty Plot in order to hit anything substantially hard due to its middling power and is easily worn down due to its dependence on Life Orb and susceptibility to all forms of entry hazards, particularly Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Energy Ball / Hidden Power Electric
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Ninetales's Special Attack to incredible levels, turning it into an extremely threatening late-game sweeper. Fire Blast is Ninetales's most powerful STAB move, netting OHKOs and 2HKOs Flamethrower misses out on. Psyshock allows Ninetales to get past the most common Fire-type check in the tier, Hariyama, as well as other specially bulky walls such as Magmortar and Mantine. Energy Ball grants Ninetales coverage on Rock / Ground types such as Rhydon, as well as bulky Water-types such as Prinplup, Quagsire, Samurott, Lanturn, Kabutops, and Barbaracle. However, Hidden Power Electric is an option over Energy Ball because it hits the common Water / Flying types of the tier, Pelipper and Mantine, which would otherwise threaten Ninetales out, while also maintaining coverage on some other Water-types.

Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Timid nature maximize Ninetales's offensive presence and Speed, allowing it to outspeed many offensive threats including Lilligant, Vivillon, Jynx, Mesprit, Sawk, and Kangaskhan. Ninetales is quite weak before boosting, so Life Orb is used to increase its power. Flame Plate can be substituted over Life Orb to retain a boost on Fire Blast without the cost of recoil, but this takes away from the power of Ninetales's important coverage moves.

Usage Tips
=======
Take advantage of Flash Fire by pivoting Ninetales into common Will-O-Wisp users such as Weezing, Rotom, and Gourgeist-XL, as well as Fire-type attacks from the likes of Pyroar, Magmortar, and opposing Ninetales. However, It is important to keep hazards off the field when using Ninetales, as they hinder its ability to pivot and can wear it down quickly in conjunction with Life Orb recoil. Ninetales should try to set up on passive pokemon such as Mega Audino, Gourgeist-XL, Vileplume, and Weezing, which cannot do much back to it. However, if the opponent has a pokemon capable of revenge killing Ninetales, it is better to just fire off an attack rather than boost.

Team Options
========
Entry hazard removal is crucial when using Ninetales, so Pokemon such as Pelipper, Mantine, Hitmonchan, Prinplup, and Sandslash make for great teammates. Bulky Water-types such as Poliwrath, Lanturn, and Samurott are spectacular partners, being able to check Ground-, Rock- and other Water-types, which harass Ninetales. In return, Ninetales uses the Grass-types that plague them as setup fodder. Poliwrath in particular makes for a good partner, resisting Rock-type moves and sporting an immunity to Water. Grass-types such as Lilligant, Abomasnow, and Sceptile appreciate the utility Ninetales provides with Flash-Fire, and they check Water-, Ground- and Rock-types in return. For the same reason, physically offensive teammates such as Kangaskhan, Sawk, Tauros, and Primeape appreciate having a partner than can absorb Will-O-Wisps. Entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes are very beneficial to Ninetales, as it lacks the raw power needed to muscle past neutral targets. Partnering Ninetales with strong Fire-types such as Pyroar and Magmortar creates a powerful wallbreaking core, as Ninetales breaks down common Fire-type switch-ins such as Hariyama, Rhydon, and Lanturn.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A bulkier set with Substitute and Calm Mind and Leftovers can be used, but it means Ninetales is not going to be hitting very hard until it has accumulated many boosts. A set with Will-O-Wisp and Charcoal can be used; however, most targets of Will-O-Wisp are getting hit very hard by Psyshock regardless. Passho Berry makes Ninetales an effective Water-type lure, allowing it to survive one Water-type move from the likes of Samurott, Kabutops and Floatzel and potentially OHKO with Energy Ball. Likewise, Shuca Berry can be used to let Ninetales better handle Sturdy Steelix, Rhydon, and Piloswine. Leftovers is another option for passive healing, but it sacrifices the much-needed power boost that Life Orb provides. Finally, Hypnosis is a fun option to catch switch-ins off guard, but it is unreliable and comes at the cost of sacrificing vital coverage.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Revenge Killers**: Ninetales's frailty and Speed tier leave it vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, and mixed Sceptile. Ninetales is also quite vulnerable to being picked off by strong priority from the likes of Kabutops, Samurott, Kangaskhan, Shiftry, and Liepard.

**Entry Hazards**: Ninetales is worn down by every kind of entry hazard.

**Thick Fat Users: Grumpig and Miltank can both comfortably come in on a Fire Blast and cripple Ninetales with Thunder Wave. Hariyama can also switch into Fire Blast, though it is unable to check Ninetales once it has a boost up due to Psyshock.

 

[erisia]

Not much to say as this is really on point. Good job!

Overview: You should refer to its low physical defense and sever priority weakness in the Overview as they are its second biggest weakness. Replace the bit on type weaknesses with this imo, you can find out Ninetales' type weaknesses quite easily by hovering over the type icon anyways.

Team Options: Explain why entry hazards are so important to Ninetales, i.e., its poor neutral damage output and lack of power for revenge killing targets without a boost. I don't see why Spikes and Toxic Spikes in particular are helpful for a Nasty Plot sweeper so maybe reword this. Also, mention that physically offense teammates in general appreciate Ninetales switching into Wisps too, like Tauros and Kangaskhan.

Checks and Counters: Remove the section on status as Ninetales is no more vulnerable to Paralysis or Toxic than other setup sweepers, and it actually wants to switch into Wisps, so... also, the section on fast water types should just be condensed into the faster attackers and priority attackers sections for conciseness imo, since both sections more or less refer to the same thing. Also, Simipour is not relevant so don't mention it lol.

QC 1/3

 

[boltsandbombers]

Just going to preface this with that a lot of the issues here are with mentions of irrelevant Pokemon or sets.

Overview

Thick Fat Miltank isn't an important target of Psyshock, remove it from that line.
Don't list the Pokemon's base stats, they're listed on the top of the dex page.

• Great matchup against common balanced, and stall builds

This line is really vague and unclear, be more specific or remove it please.
Add in the overview that its Speed tier leaves it easily revenged killed by threats such as Tauros, Archeops, and Mixed Sceptile (EQ does 72.4 - 86%).

Remove the "booster" part from the set name.

Moves

Add that Psyshock hits Mantine fairly hard as well as Sliggoo, and add that Energy Ball hits Lanturn, Samurott, and Kabutops.

Set Details

Move Leftovers to OO, its really not worth mentioning here. I'm hesitant on having anything other than Life Orb in Set Details but Charcoal can stay for now.

Usage Tips

• Hazard control is extremely important when using Ninetales, as Stealth Rock and Life Orb recoil accumulates very quickly.

The wording here isn't very clear, usage tips should be telling the user how to use the Pokemon in question. I'll help you out with this here, this would sound better saying something like "keeping entry hazards off the field is important for ninetales as it gets quickly worn down by life orb recoil".

• Ninetales should try to set up on passive pokemon such as Audino and Cryogonal which cannot do much back to it.

Cryogonal and regular Audino aren't relevant, remove them. I'm assuming you were referring to Mega Audino, so be sure to be clear that its mega. Give more examples of Pokemon that Ninetales can set up, such as when it forces out grass or steel types with its STAB move.

• If the opponent has many checks to Ninetales at a range from which they cannot be taken out, then playing aggressively and hitting them with an appropriate coverage move is more beneficial for a late game Ninetales sweep.

There really aren't many common defensive answers to Ninetales, so I'd like this reworded a bit, its also somewhat confusing to read. This point should basically be saying that if your opponent has something which can revenge Ninetales its more beneficial to simply attack early game instead of trying to boost.

Team Options

Give examples of bulky water types, and merge the first two bullet points.
Remove Cryogonal mention from hazard removal.
I don't like listing generic "physically/specially bulky mons" as a teammate because its really arbitrary and not specific enough to the Pokemon in question.

C&C

The formatting for the section titles is incorrect, it should be "**Revenge Killers**:..." with no bullet point. Just take a look at other analyses in progress for an example if need be. Merge the section for faster attackers and priority users into one section called revenge killers. On that note, make the revenge killers section first please, as it is generally the best method of handling Ninetales.

• Specially Defensive Walls: Mega Audino, Flareon and Spdef Musharna can come in on any of Ninetales attacks, however they need to be careful, as Ninetales can use them as setup fodder.

I don't like this section for multiple reasons. Mega Audino is complete setup fodder bar Surf or Encore variants, SpDef Flareon and SpDef Musharna are both extremely irrelevant (if anything mush would use a mixed defensive spread), and are both setup fodder to some degree. I'd much rather see this section just cut.

• Thick Fat Users: Grumpig and Miltank can both comfortably come in on a Fire Blast and cripple Ninetales with Thunder Wave. Hariyama can also switch into Fire Blast, however it has to be very mindful of Psyshock.

Make sure to note that Hariyama only checks an unboosted Ninetales, if anything I'd consider removing Hariyama because its one of the main reasons Ninetales runs Psyshock in the first place.

QC 2/3, write this up

 

[shiloh]

[OVERVIEW]
Ninetales distinguishes itself from other Fire-Types in tier with access to a Special Attack boosting move in Nasty Plot, as well as a very useful ability in Flash Fire. Ninetales has good coverage with moves such as Psyshock and Energy Ball, allowing it to get past many traditional Fire-Type checks, namely Hariyama and Rhydon. Additionally, a great speed stat allows Ninetales to outspeed many common offensive Pokémon, including Mesprit, Zangoose remove Zangoose from here oo (its fairly irrelevant + has quick attack anyway), Lilligant, Jynx, Sawk and Haunter. Access to Flash Fire allows Ninetales to pivot into predicted Fire-Type attacks from the likes of Magmortar, Pyroar and Combusken, whilst also being able to absorb Will-O-Wisps from Gourgeist-XL and Mismagius. Ninetales is not without its faults however, as it is easily revenge-killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros and Mixed Sceptile. Unfortunately, Ninetales also has a reliance on boosting with Nasty Plot in order to hit anything substantially hard due to its middling power. Ninetales is also easily worn down due to its dependence on Life Orb and susceptibility to all forms of entry hazards, particularly Stealth Rocks.

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Energy Ball/Hidden Power Electric
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
Evs: 252 Spa / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Ninetales SpA to incredible levels, turning it into an extremely threatening late-game sweeper. Fire Blast is Ninetales most powerful and mandatory stab, netting KO’s and 2HKO’s which Flamethrower misses out on. Psyshock allows Ninetales to get past the most common Fire-Type check in the tier, Hariyama, as well as other specially bulky walls such as Magmortar, Mantine and Sliggoo I dont think Sliggoo should be mentioned here, as it can use Ninetales to Curse up against and at that point Ninetales can't really touch it. Energy Ball grants Ninetales coverage on Rock/Ground types such as Rhydon, as well as bulky water types such as Prinplup, Quagsire, Samurott, Lanturn, Kabutops and Barbaracle. However, Hidden Power Electric is an option over Energy Ball as it hits the common Water/Flying types of the tier, Pelipper and Mantine which would otherwise threaten Ninetales out while also maintaining coverage on some other water types.

Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Timid nature maximize Ninetales's offensive presence and Speed. A timid nature is used to outspeed many offensive threats including Lilligant, Vivillion, Jynx, Mesprit, Sawk and Kangaskhan. Life Orb is the item of choice, as Ninetales is quite weak before a boosting. The Flame Plate can be substituted over Life Orb to retain a boost on Fire Blast without the cost of recoil, however this takes away from the power of Ninetale’s important coverage moves.

Usage Tips
=======
Flash Fire should be taken advantage of by pivoting Ninetales into common will-o-wisp users such as Weezing, Rotom and Gourgeist, as well as fire type attacks from the likes of Pyroar, Magmortar and opposing Ninetales. However, It is important to keep hazards off the field when using Ninetales, as they hinder its ability to pivot, and can wear it down quickly in conjunction with Life Orb recoil. Ninetales should try to set up on passive pokemon such as Mega-Audino, Gourgeis-XL, Vileplume and Weezing which cannot do much back to it. However, if the opponent has something capable of revenge killing Ninetales, it is better to just fire off an attack rather than boosting.

Team Options
========
Entry Hazard removal is crucial when using Ninetales, so Pokemon such as Pelipper, Mantine, Hitmonchan, Prinplup and Sandslash make for great teammates. Bulky Water-types such as Poliwrath, Lanturn and Samurott are spectacular partners, being able to check Ground, Rock and other Water-types which harass Ninetales. In return, Ninetales uses the Grass-types which plague them as set-up fodder. Poliwrath in particular makes for a good partner, resisting Rock-type moves and sporting an immunity to water. Grass-types such as Lilligant, Abomasnow and Sceptile appreciate the utility Ninetales provides with Flash-Fire, and check Water, Ground and Rock-types in return. For the same reason, physically offensive teammates such as Kangaskhan, Sawk, Tauros and Primeape appreciate having a partner than can absorb Will-O-Wisps. Hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes are very beneficiary to Ninetales since it lacks the raw power needed to muscle past neutral targets. Mention other Fire Types like Pyroar here, as it really appreciates Ninetales ability to remove its common checks like Yama / Lanturn

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A bulkier set with Substitute and Calm Mind and leftovers can be used, however it means Ninetales is not going to be hitting very hard until it has accumulated many boosts. A set consisting of Will-O-Wisp and Charcoal can be used, however most targets of Will-O-Wisp are getting hit very hard by Psyshock regardless. Passho Berry is an effective water lure, allowing Ninetales to survive one water move from the likes of Samurott, Kabutops or Floatzel, and potentially OHKO with Energy Ball. Likewise, Shuca Berry can be used to let Ninetales better handle Steelix with sturdy, Rhydon and Piloswine also prevents it from being revenge killed by Archeops / Tauros EQ (though Acro may kill idr). Leftovers is another option for the passive healing, however it sacrifices the much needed power boost which Life Orb provides. Finally, Hypnosis is a fun option to catch switch-ins off guard, but it is unreliable, and comes at the cost of sacrificing vital coverage.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Revenge Killers**: Ninetales frailty and speed tier leaves it vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, and Mixed Sceptile. Ninetales is also quite vulnerable to being picked off by strong priority from the likes of Kabutops, Samurott, Kangaskhan, Shiftry and Liepard.

**Entry Hazards**: Ninetales is worn down by every form of entry hazard, including Stealth Rocks, Spikes and Toxic Spikes.

**Thick Fat Users: Grumpig and Miltank can both comfortably come in on a Fire Blast and cripple Ninetales with Thunder Wave. Hariyama can also switch into Fire Blast, however it is unable to check Ninetales once it has a boost up due to Psyshock.

QC 3/3 once you've implemented the bold

 

[P Squared]

je t'ai eu

GP 1/2

Hide

[OVERVIEW]
Ninetales distinguishes itself from other Fire-types in the tier with its access to a Special Attack-boosting move in Nasty Plot, as well as a very useful ability in Flash Fire, which allows it to pivot into predicted Fire-type attacks from the likes of Magmortar, Pyroar, and Combusken and absorb Will-O-Wisp from Gourgeist-XL and Mismagius. Ninetales also has good coverage with moves such as Psyshock and Energy Ball, allowing it to get past many traditional Fire-type checks, namely Hariyama and Rhydon. Additionally, a great Speed stat allows Ninetales to outspeed many common offensive Pokemon, including Mesprit, Lilligant, Jynx, Sawk, (AC) and Haunter. Access to Flash Fire allows Ninetales to pivot into predicted Fire-Type attacks from the likes of Magmortar, Pyroar and Combusken, whilst also being able to absorb Will-O-Wisps from Gourgeist-XL and Mismagius. However, Ninetales is not without its faults however, as it is easily revenge killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, (AC) and mixed Sceptile. Unfortunately, Ninetales also has a reliance on boosting with Nasty Plot in order to hit anything substantially hard due to its middling power. Ninetales is also easily worn down due to its dependence on Life Orb and susceptibility to all forms of entry hazards, particularly Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Energy Ball / Hidden Power Electric
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Ninetales's Special Attack to incredible levels, turning it into an extremely threatening late-game sweeper. Fire Blast is Ninetales's most powerful STAB move and mandatory stab, netting OHKOs and 2HKOs that which Flamethrower misses out on. Psyshock allows Ninetales to get past the most common Fire-type check in the tier, Hariyama, as well as other specially bulky walls such as Magmortar and Mantine. Energy Ball grants Ninetales coverage on Rock / Ground types such as Rhydon, as well as bulky Water-types such as Prinplup, Quagsire, Samurott, Lanturn, Kabutops, (AC) and Barbaracle. However, Hidden Power Electric is an option over Energy Ball because as it hits the common Water / Flying types of the tier, Pelipper and Mantine, (AC) which would otherwise threaten Ninetales out, (AC) while also maintaining coverage on some other Water-types.

Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Timid nature maximize Ninetales's offensive presence and Speed. A timid nature is used to, allowing it to outspeed many offensive threats including Lilligant, Vivillon, Jynx, Mesprit, Sawk, (AC) and Kangaskhan. Life Orb is the item of choice, as Ninetales is quite weak before a boosting, so Life Orb is used to increase its power. The Flame Plate can be substituted over Life Orb to retain a boost on Fire Blast without the cost of recoil, but however this takes away from the power of Ninetales's important coverage moves.

Usage Tips
=======
Take advantage of Flash Fire should be taken advantage of by pivoting Ninetales into common Will-O-Wisp users such as Weezing, Rotom, (AC) and Gourgeist, as well as Fire-type attacks from the likes of Pyroar, Magmortar, (AC) and opposing Ninetales. However, it is important to keep hazards off the field when using Ninetales, as they hinder its ability to pivot, (RC) and can wear it down quickly in conjunction with Life Orb recoil. Ninetales should try to set up on passive pokemon such as Mega Audino, Gourgeis-XL, Vileplume, (AC) and Weezing, (AC) which cannot do much back to it. However, if the opponent has a Pokemon something capable of revenge killing Ninetales, it is better to just fire off an attack rather than boosting.

Team Options
========
Entry hazard removal is crucial when using Ninetales, so Pokemon such as Pelipper, Mantine, Hitmonchan, Prinplup, (AC) and Sandslash make for great teammates. Bulky Water-types such as Poliwrath, Lanturn, (AC) and Samurott are spectacular partners, being able to check Ground-, Rock-, and other Water-types, (AC) which harass Ninetales. In return, Ninetales uses the Grass-types that which plague them as setup fodder. Poliwrath in particular makes for a good partner, resisting Rock-type moves and sporting an immunity to Water. Grass-types such as Lilligant, Abomasnow, (AC) and Sceptile appreciate the utility Ninetales provides with Flash-Fire, and they check Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types in return. For the same reason, physically offensive teammates such as Kangaskhan, Sawk, Tauros, (AC) and Primeape appreciate having a partner than can absorb Will-O-Wisps. Entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes are very beneficial to Ninetales, as since it lacks the raw power needed to muscle past neutral targets. Partnering Ninetales with strong Fire-types such as Pyroar and Magmortar creates a powerful wallbreaking core, as Ninetales breaks down common Fire-type switch-ins such as Hariyama, Rhydon, (AC) and Lanturn.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A bulkier set with Substitute and Calm Mind and Leftovers can be used, but however it means Ninetales is not going to be hitting very hard until it has accumulated many boosts. A set consisting of with Will-O-Wisp and Charcoal can be used; (ASC) however, (AC) most targets of Will-O-Wisp are getting hit very hard by Psyshock regardless. Passho Berry makes Ninetales is an effective water lure for Water-types, allowing Ninetales to survive one Water-type move from the likes of Samurott, Kabutops, and or Floatzel, (RC) and potentially OHKO with Energy Ball. Likewise, Shuca Berry can be used to let Ninetales better handle Sturdy Steelix with sturdy, Rhydon, (AC) and Piloswine. Leftovers is another option for the passive healing, but however it sacrifices the much-needed power boost that which Life Orb provides. Finally, Hypnosis is a fun option to catch switch-ins off guard, but it is unreliable, (RC) and comes at the cost of sacrificing vital coverage.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Revenge Killers**: Ninetales's frailty and Speed tier leaves it vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, and mixed Sceptile. Ninetales is also quite vulnerable to being picked off by strong priority from the likes of Kabutops, Samurott, Kangaskhan, Shiftry, (AC) and Liepard.

**Entry Hazards**: Ninetales is worn down by every form of entry hazard, including Stealth Rocks, Spikes and Toxic Spikes.

**Thick Fat Users: Grumpig and Miltank can both comfortably come in on a Fire Blast and cripple Ninetales with Thunder Wave. Hariyama can also switch into Fire Blast, though however it is unable to check Ninetales once it has a boost up due to Psyshock.

 

[Lumari]

implement with reply button please

remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2

fave

[OVERVIEW]
Ninetales distinguishes itself from other Fire-types in the tier with its access to a Special Attack-boosting move in Nasty Plot, as well as a very useful ability in Flash Fire, (AC) which allows it to pivot into predicted Fire-type attacks from the likes of Magmortar, Pyroar and Combusken and absorb Will-O-Wisp from Gourgeist-XL and Mismagius. Ninetales also has good coverage with moves such as Psyshock and Energy Ball, allowing it to get past many traditional Fire-type checks, namely Hariyama and Rhydon. Additionally, a great Speed stat allows Ninetales to outspeed many common offensive Pokemon, including Mesprit, Lilligant, Jynx, Sawk, and Haunter. However, Ninetales is easily revenge killed (remove hyphen) by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, and mixed Sceptile. Unfortunately, Ninetales also has a reliance on boosting with Nasty Plot in order to hit anything substantially hard due to its middling power. Ninetales is also and is easily worn down due to its dependence on Life Orb and susceptibility to all forms of entry hazards, particularly Stealth Rock.

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Energy Ball / Hidden Power Electric
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot boosts Ninetales's Special Attack to incredible levels, turning it into an extremely threatening late-game sweeper. Fire Blast is Ninetales's most powerful STAB move, netting OHKOs and 2HKOs Flamethrower misses out on. Psyshock allows Ninetales to get past the most common Fire-type check in the tier, Hariyama, as well as other specially bulky walls such as Magmortar and Mantine. Energy Ball grants Ninetales coverage on Rock / Ground types such as Rhydon, as well as bulky Water-types such as Prinplup, Quagsire, Samurott, Lanturn, Kabutops, and Barbaracle. However, Hidden Power Electric is an option over Energy Ball because it hits the common Water / Flying types of the tier, Pelipper and Mantine, which would otherwise threaten Ninetales out, while also maintaining coverage on some other Water-types.

Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Timid nature maximize Ninetales's offensive presence and Speed, (AC) alllowing allowing it to outspeed many offensive threats including Lilligant, Vivillon, Jynx, Mesprit, Sawk, and Kangaskhan. Ninetales is quite weak before a boosting, (AC) so Life Orb is used to increase its power. Flame Plate can be substituted over Life Orb to retain a boost on Fire Blast without the cost of recoil, but this takes away from the power of Ninetales's important coverage moves.

Usage Tips
=======
Take advantage of Flash Fire by pivoting Ninetales into common Will-O-Wisp users such as Weezing, Rotom, and Gourgeist, (which one?) as well as Fire-type (add hyphen) attacks from the likes of Pyroar, Magmortar, and opposing Ninetales. However, it is important to keep entry hazards off the field when using Ninetales, as they hinder its ability to pivot (RC) and can wear it down quickly in conjunction with Life Orb recoil. Ninetales should try to set up on passive pokemon such as Mega Audino, Gourgeist-XL, Vileplume, and Weezing, which cannot do much back to it. However, if the opponent has a pokemon capable of revenge killing Ninetales, it is better to just fire off an attack rather than boost.

Team Options
========
Entry hazard removal is crucial when using Ninetales, so Pokemon such as Pelipper, Mantine, Hitmonchan, Prinplup, and Sandslash make for great teammates. Bulky Water-types such as Poliwrath, Lanturn, and Samurott are spectacular partners, being able to check Ground-, Rock- and other Water-types, which harass Ninetales. In return, Ninetales uses the Grass-types that plague them as setup fodder. Poliwrath in particular makes for a good partner, resisting Rock-type moves and sporting an immunity to Water. Grass-types such as Lilligant, Abomasnow, and Sceptile appreciate the utility Ninetales provides with Flash-Fire, and they check Water-, Ground- and Rock-types in return. For the same reason, physically offensive teammates such as Kangaskhan, Sawk, Tauros, and Primeape appreciate having a partner than can absorb Will-O-Wisps. Entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes are very beneficial to Ninetales, (AC) as it lacks the raw power needed to muscle past neutral targets. Partnering Ninetales with strong Fire-types such as Pyroar and Magmortar creates a powerful wallbreaking core, as Ninetales breaks down common Fire-type switch-ins such as Hariyama, Rhydon, and Lanturn.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

A bulkier set with Substitute and Calm Mind and Leftovers can be used, but it means Ninetales is not going to be hitting very hard until it has accumulated many boosts. A set with Will-O-Wisp and Charcoal can be used; however, most targets of Will-O-Wisp are getting hit very hard by Psyshock regardless. Passho Berry makes Ninetales an effective Water-type lure, allowing Ninetales it to survive one Water-type move from the likes of Samurott, Kabutops and Floatzel and potentially OHKO with Energy Ball. Likewise, Shuca Berry can be used to let Ninetales better handle Sturdy Steelix, Rhydon, and Piloswine. Leftovers is another option for passive healing, but it sacrifices the much-needed power boost that Life Orb provides. Finally, Hypnosis is a fun option to catch switch-ins off guard, but it is unreliable and comes at the cost of sacrificing vital coverage.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Revenge Killers**: Ninetales's frailty and Speed tier leaves leave it vulnerable to being revenge killed by faster threats such as Archeops, Tauros, and mixed Sceptile. Ninetales is also quite vulnerable to being picked off by strong priority from the likes of Kabutops, Samurott, Kangaskhan, Shiftry, and Liepard.

**Entry Hazards**: Ninetales is worn down by every form kind of entry hazard.

**Thick Fat Users: Grumpig and Miltank can both comfortably come in on a Fire Blast and cripple Ninetales with Thunder Wave. Hariyama can also switch into Fire Blast, though it is unable to check Ninetales once it has a boost up due to Psyshock.

 

[boltsandbombers]

uploaderino