[OVERVIEW]
Although Pansear has above average stats and gets a powerful Special Attack boost from its ability when taken down to 1/3 HP, it is significantly held back by its poor movepool and below average attacking stats. It's also largely outclassed by other Fire-types, mainly Houndour. However, its bulk and ability to take on Fighting-types, as well as its ability to use a unique Berry Juice + Recycle set, gives it a small niche in competitive play.
[SET]
name: Berry Juice Stall
move 1: Recycle
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Flame Charge
move 4: Substitute
item: Berry Juice
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 212 Def / 212 SpD / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recycle replenishes Pansear's Berry Juice, keeping it alive until it runs out of PP given that Pansear isn't OHKOed or your move isn't predicted. Will-O-Wisp whittles down the foe while Pansear stalls and makes Pansear a somewhat decent physical wall by halving the foe's Attack. Substitute cuts Pansear's own HP to activate Berry Juice, as well as letting it avoid status and wear down burned Pokemon. Flame Charge gives Pansear +1 Speed, letting it outspeed Diglett and common Choice Scarf users as well as giving it a good STAB move. Knock Off could work over Substitute or Will-O-Wisp to cripple bulkier foes, but it struggles for a moveslot.
Set Details
========
This EV spread gives Pansear 15 Speed so it can outspeed common Choice Scarf threats as well as the entire unboosted metagame after a Flame Charge. Its Defense and Special Defense stats also have enough investment to let it survive Fletchling's Acrobatics, Abra's Psychic, and Mienfoo's Drain Punch, and it specifically survives Chinchou's Scald and a burned Diglett's Earthquake; both of these Pokemon are big threats to Pansear. Its ability, Blaze, gives it a very good power boost at under 1/3 HP but should not be taken advantage of much, as the whole point of the set is to keep Pansear at a high HP. Berry Juice and Recycle are used in conjunction to stall the opponent out by continually restoring Pansear to full health until the foe faints or runs out of options. 132 Def / 132 SpD / 244 Spe with a Jolly nature is also a good alternate spread to run to outspeed Jolly Pawniard, but it isn't recommended.
Usage Tips
========
Never switch in Pansear to a Knock Off user due to it negating Recycle and therefore the entire set. However, if Pansear has consumed its Berry Juice and is faster than the opponent's Pokemon, then it can easily use Recycle, allowing it to take a Knock Off and not worry about losing its important item. It is also recommended to use Pansear late-game when the enemy team has taken a bit of chip damage. Futhermore, Pansear completely walls Ponyta, though it is also walled by it if neither has Toxic. Getting up a Flame Charge is always a very good idea if the opponent has Diglett. Using Substitute to activate Berry Juice and get back to full HP so Pansear can survive certain attacks such as a burned Life Orb Diglett's Earthquake is usually beneficial. Finally, Pansear can sometimes use Will-O-Wisp on the switch of a Pokemon that can OHKO it so it can stall out said Pokemon later in the game.
Team Options
========
Bulky Grass-types like Ferroseed and Foongus beat Ground- and Water- types that threaten Pansear, as do fast Water-types like Choice Scarf Chinchou. Slow U-turn or Volt Switch users also help Pansear get in the field. Furthermore, Cottonee checks are very useful, as Pansear hates being Taunted; Fletchling fills both of these roles quite well. Entry hazard removers such as Vullaby and Drilbur stop Pansear from being whittled down every time it switches in while hazards are up. Toxic Spikes users can help Pansear stall by making sure it doesn't have to waste a turn using Will-O-Wisp, although they decrease the effectiveness of Pansear as a physical tank. Pokemon that can punish big threats like Porygon, such as Pawniard and Scraggy, generally make good teammates for Pansear. Finally, Pokemon that appreciate the burning of common threats like Omanyte and other setup sweepers like the support from Pansear.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Flame Charge / Substitute
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Blaze
nature: Timid
evs: 52 Def / 176 SpA / 244 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot doubles Pansear's Special Attack and sets it up for a sweep. Fire Blast is a very powerful STAB option for Pansear and is almost essential on this set. Hidden Power Grass OHKOes a lot of common Pokemon like Omanyte and Onix, as well as 2HKOing other threats like Chinchou. Flame Charge helps Pansear set up even more and outspeed many foes, such as Diglett and common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Chinchou and Magnemite. Substitute helps Pansear hide from status, avoid damage, and get down to Blaze's activation range.
Set Details
========
Pansear's Defense investment lets it take less than 1/2 from Mienfoo's Drain Punch and survive a lot of other physical moves easily. Pansear is given maximum Speed investment to reach a comfortable 17 Speed, which lets it outspeed much of the current metagame and Speed tie with common threats like Onix and Mienfoo. The rest goes into Special Attack along with 30 IVs to maintain Hidden Power Grass. As for items, Eviolite lets Pansear survive many more attacks, but it gives up some power, while Life Orb is used for more power at the cost of the extra bulk. Finally, Blaze is a great ability when used with Life Orb and/or Substitute because when Pansear has less than 1/3 HP, it gains an incredible Special Attack boost.
Usage Tips
========
Pansear should be used as a setup sweeper, meaning it should never be sacrificed early-game and shouldn't try to set up on big threats such as Diglett and Carvanha. On the same note, all threats should be defeated before setting up with Pansear. Setting up on weak Pokemon such as Spritzee is beneficial so Pansear doesn't get KOed before a sweep. All in all, giving up Pansear isn't a good idea unless the opponent has many counters to it.
Team Options
========
Bulky Grass-types like Ferroseed and Foongus are good against Water-types that threaten Pansear, and Porygon takes care of Carvanha and some other common threats to Pansear. Entry hazard removers and hazard setters are important for keeping Pansear from being whittled down and simultaneously whittling down foes; Drilbur is great for this role. Fast Water-types check Rock-, Ground-, and sometimes even other Water-types. Gothita traps and removes common threats like Fletchling and Timburr, preventing them from being a threat to Pansear. As Pansear can break through a lot of walls, Pokemon such as Download Porygon and Corphish appreciate its help.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Flamethrower is a decent choice for its better accuracy, but it isn't recommended, as Pansear's low Special Attack makes Fire Blast almost always better. Taunt can be fairly decent for keeping Pansear from being setup fodder, but Pansear generally doesn't have room for it. Pansear also has a good physical movepool, but it isn't very threatening and is generally outclassed by Ponyta in that niche. Torment can also be used as a secondary option on a stall set because many Pokemon don't have two good moves to hit Pansear with, letting Pansear set up behind a Substitute. Toxic can also be used over Will-O-Wisp to deal with Pokemon that can counterstall Pansear with recovery, but Will-O-Wisp is usually more useful to help Pansear more effectively wall physical Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Other Fire-types**: Since Pansear can't burn opposing Fire-types or really damage them at all, they can completely stop it. Houndour stands out in this regard because it can utilize Flash Fire to take a Fire-type move and answer back with a very powerful STAB Dark-type move, but all Fire-types should be dealt with before setting up. The only real exceptions to this are Larvesta and Ponyta, which Berry Juice Pansear almost completely walls.
**Pokemon with Reliable Recovery**: Any Pokemon that can survive a hit from Pansear and reliably reclaim their lost HP makes for a large threat to Pansear; the most prominent of these are Porygon, Spritzee, and Roost users like Vullaby and Archen.
**Specially Attacking Water-types**: Any Pokemon that can bring stall Pansear to just above the threshold for Berry Juice's activation and then finish it off with a powerful Water-type attack, such as Chinchou, or any Pokemon that can just OHKO Pansear such as Shell Smash Omanyte, will defeat it easily.
**Water-types with Priority**: Corphish's Aqua Jet and Carvanha's ability to easily revenge kill Pansear with a very powerful Waterfall make them both notable counters to Pansear. The latter is particularly threatening, as it can also use Pansear as fodder to accrue multiple Speed boosts for a sweep.
**Special Setup Sweepers**: Special setup sweepers can use Pansear as setup fodder and OHKO it without caring about being burned by Will-O-Wisp. The most prominent of these include Omanyte and Nasty Plot users such as Houndour, Vullaby, and Croagunk.
Although Pansear has above average stats and gets a powerful Special Attack boost from its ability when taken down to 1/3 HP, it is significantly held back by its poor movepool and below average attacking stats. It's also largely outclassed by other Fire-types, mainly Houndour. However, its bulk and ability to take on Fighting-types, as well as its ability to use a unique Berry Juice + Recycle set, gives it a small niche in competitive play.
[SET]
name: Berry Juice Stall
move 1: Recycle
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Flame Charge
move 4: Substitute
item: Berry Juice
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 212 Def / 212 SpD / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recycle replenishes Pansear's Berry Juice, keeping it alive until it runs out of PP given that Pansear isn't OHKOed or your move isn't predicted. Will-O-Wisp whittles down the foe while Pansear stalls and makes Pansear a somewhat decent physical wall by halving the foe's Attack. Substitute cuts Pansear's own HP to activate Berry Juice, as well as letting it avoid status and wear down burned Pokemon. Flame Charge gives Pansear +1 Speed, letting it outspeed Diglett and common Choice Scarf users as well as giving it a good STAB move. Knock Off could work over Substitute or Will-O-Wisp to cripple bulkier foes, but it struggles for a moveslot.
Set Details
========
This EV spread gives Pansear 15 Speed so it can outspeed common Choice Scarf threats as well as the entire unboosted metagame after a Flame Charge. Its Defense and Special Defense stats also have enough investment to let it survive Fletchling's Acrobatics, Abra's Psychic, and Mienfoo's Drain Punch, and it specifically survives Chinchou's Scald and a burned Diglett's Earthquake; both of these Pokemon are big threats to Pansear. Its ability, Blaze, gives it a very good power boost at under 1/3 HP but should not be taken advantage of much, as the whole point of the set is to keep Pansear at a high HP. Berry Juice and Recycle are used in conjunction to stall the opponent out by continually restoring Pansear to full health until the foe faints or runs out of options. 132 Def / 132 SpD / 244 Spe with a Jolly nature is also a good alternate spread to run to outspeed Jolly Pawniard, but it isn't recommended.
Usage Tips
========
Never switch in Pansear to a Knock Off user due to it negating Recycle and therefore the entire set. However, if Pansear has consumed its Berry Juice and is faster than the opponent's Pokemon, then it can easily use Recycle, allowing it to take a Knock Off and not worry about losing its important item. It is also recommended to use Pansear late-game when the enemy team has taken a bit of chip damage. Futhermore, Pansear completely walls Ponyta, though it is also walled by it if neither has Toxic. Getting up a Flame Charge is always a very good idea if the opponent has Diglett. Using Substitute to activate Berry Juice and get back to full HP so Pansear can survive certain attacks such as a burned Life Orb Diglett's Earthquake is usually beneficial. Finally, Pansear can sometimes use Will-O-Wisp on the switch of a Pokemon that can OHKO it so it can stall out said Pokemon later in the game.
Team Options
========
Bulky Grass-types like Ferroseed and Foongus beat Ground- and Water- types that threaten Pansear, as do fast Water-types like Choice Scarf Chinchou. Slow U-turn or Volt Switch users also help Pansear get in the field. Furthermore, Cottonee checks are very useful, as Pansear hates being Taunted; Fletchling fills both of these roles quite well. Entry hazard removers such as Vullaby and Drilbur stop Pansear from being whittled down every time it switches in while hazards are up. Toxic Spikes users can help Pansear stall by making sure it doesn't have to waste a turn using Will-O-Wisp, although they decrease the effectiveness of Pansear as a physical tank. Pokemon that can punish big threats like Porygon, such as Pawniard and Scraggy, generally make good teammates for Pansear. Finally, Pokemon that appreciate the burning of common threats like Omanyte and other setup sweepers like the support from Pansear.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Flame Charge / Substitute
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Blaze
nature: Timid
evs: 52 Def / 176 SpA / 244 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot doubles Pansear's Special Attack and sets it up for a sweep. Fire Blast is a very powerful STAB option for Pansear and is almost essential on this set. Hidden Power Grass OHKOes a lot of common Pokemon like Omanyte and Onix, as well as 2HKOing other threats like Chinchou. Flame Charge helps Pansear set up even more and outspeed many foes, such as Diglett and common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Chinchou and Magnemite. Substitute helps Pansear hide from status, avoid damage, and get down to Blaze's activation range.
Set Details
========
Pansear's Defense investment lets it take less than 1/2 from Mienfoo's Drain Punch and survive a lot of other physical moves easily. Pansear is given maximum Speed investment to reach a comfortable 17 Speed, which lets it outspeed much of the current metagame and Speed tie with common threats like Onix and Mienfoo. The rest goes into Special Attack along with 30 IVs to maintain Hidden Power Grass. As for items, Eviolite lets Pansear survive many more attacks, but it gives up some power, while Life Orb is used for more power at the cost of the extra bulk. Finally, Blaze is a great ability when used with Life Orb and/or Substitute because when Pansear has less than 1/3 HP, it gains an incredible Special Attack boost.
Usage Tips
========
Pansear should be used as a setup sweeper, meaning it should never be sacrificed early-game and shouldn't try to set up on big threats such as Diglett and Carvanha. On the same note, all threats should be defeated before setting up with Pansear. Setting up on weak Pokemon such as Spritzee is beneficial so Pansear doesn't get KOed before a sweep. All in all, giving up Pansear isn't a good idea unless the opponent has many counters to it.
Team Options
========
Bulky Grass-types like Ferroseed and Foongus are good against Water-types that threaten Pansear, and Porygon takes care of Carvanha and some other common threats to Pansear. Entry hazard removers and hazard setters are important for keeping Pansear from being whittled down and simultaneously whittling down foes; Drilbur is great for this role. Fast Water-types check Rock-, Ground-, and sometimes even other Water-types. Gothita traps and removes common threats like Fletchling and Timburr, preventing them from being a threat to Pansear. As Pansear can break through a lot of walls, Pokemon such as Download Porygon and Corphish appreciate its help.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Flamethrower is a decent choice for its better accuracy, but it isn't recommended, as Pansear's low Special Attack makes Fire Blast almost always better. Taunt can be fairly decent for keeping Pansear from being setup fodder, but Pansear generally doesn't have room for it. Pansear also has a good physical movepool, but it isn't very threatening and is generally outclassed by Ponyta in that niche. Torment can also be used as a secondary option on a stall set because many Pokemon don't have two good moves to hit Pansear with, letting Pansear set up behind a Substitute. Toxic can also be used over Will-O-Wisp to deal with Pokemon that can counterstall Pansear with recovery, but Will-O-Wisp is usually more useful to help Pansear more effectively wall physical Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Other Fire-types**: Since Pansear can't burn opposing Fire-types or really damage them at all, they can completely stop it. Houndour stands out in this regard because it can utilize Flash Fire to take a Fire-type move and answer back with a very powerful STAB Dark-type move, but all Fire-types should be dealt with before setting up. The only real exceptions to this are Larvesta and Ponyta, which Berry Juice Pansear almost completely walls.
**Pokemon with Reliable Recovery**: Any Pokemon that can survive a hit from Pansear and reliably reclaim their lost HP makes for a large threat to Pansear; the most prominent of these are Porygon, Spritzee, and Roost users like Vullaby and Archen.
**Specially Attacking Water-types**: Any Pokemon that can bring stall Pansear to just above the threshold for Berry Juice's activation and then finish it off with a powerful Water-type attack, such as Chinchou, or any Pokemon that can just OHKO Pansear such as Shell Smash Omanyte, will defeat it easily.
**Water-types with Priority**: Corphish's Aqua Jet and Carvanha's ability to easily revenge kill Pansear with a very powerful Waterfall make them both notable counters to Pansear. The latter is particularly threatening, as it can also use Pansear as fodder to accrue multiple Speed boosts for a sweep.
**Special Setup Sweepers**: Special setup sweepers can use Pansear as setup fodder and OHKO it without caring about being burned by Will-O-Wisp. The most prominent of these include Omanyte and Nasty Plot users such as Houndour, Vullaby, and Croagunk.
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