credits to Dundies for the skeleton
[OVERVIEW]
Seviper has a niche as a mixed attacker with workable offensive stats. With decent typing defensively and offensively and a huge movepool, including Sludge Wave, Flamethrower, and even Giga Drain, Seviper is a nightmare against slower teams. On the other hand, its mediocre defensive stats make it difficult to bring in, even against resisted moves. On top of that, Seviper's lackluster speed makes it practically dead weight versus offensive teams, as it is forced out by pretty much anything faster.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Flamethrower / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Rash
evs: 40 Atk / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave deals big damage to almost anything that doesn't resist it. Giga Drain is an excellent coverage move, hitting bulky Ground- and Water-types, such as Golem and Relicanth. Flamethrower helps Seviper match up better against Steel-types and other Pokemon weak to Fire, OHKOing Pawniard and 2HKOing Metang and Roselia. Earthquake could be used over Flamethrower to OHKO Probopass and to nail the other relevant Poison-type in the tier, Arbok. Sucker Punch rounds off this set as Seviper's strongest priority move, making up for its lackluster Speed and finishing off weakened foes or anything faster than it in general.
Set Details
========
252 EVs are put into Special Attack to maximize Seviper's wallbreaking potential. A Rash nature is used to fully power up Seviper's special attacks without compromising its physical power or Speed. The 216 EVs in Speed let it outpace Pawniard, with the rest poured into Attack to strengthen Earthquake and Sucker Punch. Due to Infiltrator being incompatible with Sucker Punch, Shed Skin is the preferred ability, helping Seviper shrug off status. Life Orb boosts Seviper's power even more but wears it down very quickly at the same time.
Usage Tips
========
As Seviper is extremely frail, bringing it in against even resisted moves is ill advised. However, you can bring Seviper in against bulkier or weaker Pokemon, as its typing allows it to shrug off weaker moves such as Clefairy's Moonblast and Gourgeist's Seed Bomb. It is definitely okay to sacrifice Seviper if it means getting crucial damage off on an offensive threat, such as Kadabra. Make sure to utilize Seviper against more defensively oriented teams, as its immunity to poison along with Shed Skin makes it easier to bring in.
Team Options
========
Seviper is best utilized on an offensive team, as it is great at breaking down opposing defensive cores that its teammates may struggle with. Jumpluff in particular is a stellar partner for Seviper, as the former wears down bulky Ground-types such as Stunfisk. Jumpluff can also weaken Roselia and Machoke, two defensive and offensive threats that can tank any of Seviper's moves from full health. Other Grass-types in general are great teammates for Seviper, as they can switch into any Ground move for it; some examples are Tangela and Leafeon. Seviper also appreciates any form of speed control, so Sticky Web setters and Thunder Wave users such as Leavanny and Clefairy make good teammates. A Pursuit trapper also pairs well with Seviper, removing Ghost-types and Psychic-types such as Misdreavus and Kadabra, respectively. Speaking of Misdreavus, Seviper appreciates teammates than can effectively remove it without being crippled, like Ninetales and Rapidash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A fully physical set consisting of Poison Jab, Aqua Tail, Sucker Punch, and Earthquake allows Seviper to hit hard while retaining similar coverage. Aqua Tail does heavy damage to Ground-types like Golem, while Earthquake hits Steel-types such as Probopass and Metang. Knock Off could also be used to cripple switch-ins, especially Eviolite holders, such as Machoke. A Choice Scarf set outruns the majority of the unboosted tier, but it is fairly weak. On such a set, Switcheroo could be utilized to shut down an Eviolite holder or a bulkier Pokemon in general. Lastly, Glare is an option that can paralyze opposing Pokemon, including Ground-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Most Ground-types such as Stunfisk can tank a Giga Drain and OHKO with a STAB Ground-type move. Golem can survive a Giga Drain with Sturdy and OHKO back with Earthquake, Trapinch traps Seviper and OHKOes it, Vibrava completely walls it, and a bunch of other Ground-types such as Stunfisk and Camerupt check it.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Audino, Bouffalant, Regice, and Grumpig can switch into most of Seviper's moves and can threaten to KO it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Seviper's subpar Speed and poor defenses, it is easily revenge killed by opposing Choice Scarf users such as Mr. Mime and Rotom-F. However, these should be wary of switching into the wrong move.
**Ghost-types**: Both Misdreavus and Dusknoir shrug off Seviper's Poison-type STAB moves and can cripple it with Will-O-Wisp to weaken its Sucker Punch, while Drifblim can set up Substitutes on it.
**Psychic-types**: Colbur Berry Grumpig is a good check to Seviper, as it can survive both a Sucker Punch and a Sludge Wave and KO back with Psychic. Mr. Mime and Metang can also KO, but they can't switch into most of Seviper's moves.
[OVERVIEW]
Seviper has a niche as a mixed attacker with workable offensive stats. With decent typing defensively and offensively and a huge movepool, including Sludge Wave, Flamethrower, and even Giga Drain, Seviper is a nightmare against slower teams. On the other hand, its mediocre defensive stats make it difficult to bring in, even against resisted moves. On top of that, Seviper's lackluster speed makes it practically dead weight versus offensive teams, as it is forced out by pretty much anything faster.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Sludge Wave
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Flamethrower / Earthquake
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Rash
evs: 40 Atk / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Wave deals big damage to almost anything that doesn't resist it. Giga Drain is an excellent coverage move, hitting bulky Ground- and Water-types, such as Golem and Relicanth. Flamethrower helps Seviper match up better against Steel-types and other Pokemon weak to Fire, OHKOing Pawniard and 2HKOing Metang and Roselia. Earthquake could be used over Flamethrower to OHKO Probopass and to nail the other relevant Poison-type in the tier, Arbok. Sucker Punch rounds off this set as Seviper's strongest priority move, making up for its lackluster Speed and finishing off weakened foes or anything faster than it in general.
Set Details
========
252 EVs are put into Special Attack to maximize Seviper's wallbreaking potential. A Rash nature is used to fully power up Seviper's special attacks without compromising its physical power or Speed. The 216 EVs in Speed let it outpace Pawniard, with the rest poured into Attack to strengthen Earthquake and Sucker Punch. Due to Infiltrator being incompatible with Sucker Punch, Shed Skin is the preferred ability, helping Seviper shrug off status. Life Orb boosts Seviper's power even more but wears it down very quickly at the same time.
Usage Tips
========
As Seviper is extremely frail, bringing it in against even resisted moves is ill advised. However, you can bring Seviper in against bulkier or weaker Pokemon, as its typing allows it to shrug off weaker moves such as Clefairy's Moonblast and Gourgeist's Seed Bomb. It is definitely okay to sacrifice Seviper if it means getting crucial damage off on an offensive threat, such as Kadabra. Make sure to utilize Seviper against more defensively oriented teams, as its immunity to poison along with Shed Skin makes it easier to bring in.
Team Options
========
Seviper is best utilized on an offensive team, as it is great at breaking down opposing defensive cores that its teammates may struggle with. Jumpluff in particular is a stellar partner for Seviper, as the former wears down bulky Ground-types such as Stunfisk. Jumpluff can also weaken Roselia and Machoke, two defensive and offensive threats that can tank any of Seviper's moves from full health. Other Grass-types in general are great teammates for Seviper, as they can switch into any Ground move for it; some examples are Tangela and Leafeon. Seviper also appreciates any form of speed control, so Sticky Web setters and Thunder Wave users such as Leavanny and Clefairy make good teammates. A Pursuit trapper also pairs well with Seviper, removing Ghost-types and Psychic-types such as Misdreavus and Kadabra, respectively. Speaking of Misdreavus, Seviper appreciates teammates than can effectively remove it without being crippled, like Ninetales and Rapidash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A fully physical set consisting of Poison Jab, Aqua Tail, Sucker Punch, and Earthquake allows Seviper to hit hard while retaining similar coverage. Aqua Tail does heavy damage to Ground-types like Golem, while Earthquake hits Steel-types such as Probopass and Metang. Knock Off could also be used to cripple switch-ins, especially Eviolite holders, such as Machoke. A Choice Scarf set outruns the majority of the unboosted tier, but it is fairly weak. On such a set, Switcheroo could be utilized to shut down an Eviolite holder or a bulkier Pokemon in general. Lastly, Glare is an option that can paralyze opposing Pokemon, including Ground-types.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Most Ground-types such as Stunfisk can tank a Giga Drain and OHKO with a STAB Ground-type move. Golem can survive a Giga Drain with Sturdy and OHKO back with Earthquake, Trapinch traps Seviper and OHKOes it, Vibrava completely walls it, and a bunch of other Ground-types such as Stunfisk and Camerupt check it.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Audino, Bouffalant, Regice, and Grumpig can switch into most of Seviper's moves and can threaten to KO it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Seviper's subpar Speed and poor defenses, it is easily revenge killed by opposing Choice Scarf users such as Mr. Mime and Rotom-F. However, these should be wary of switching into the wrong move.
**Ghost-types**: Both Misdreavus and Dusknoir shrug off Seviper's Poison-type STAB moves and can cripple it with Will-O-Wisp to weaken its Sucker Punch, while Drifblim can set up Substitutes on it.
**Psychic-types**: Colbur Berry Grumpig is a good check to Seviper, as it can survive both a Sucker Punch and a Sludge Wave and KO back with Psychic. Mr. Mime and Metang can also KO, but they can't switch into most of Seviper's moves.
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