LC Scraggy

Nineage

Pugnacious.
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[OVERVIEW]

Scraggy's unique Dark / Fighting typing gives it access to dual STAB coverage that hits a huge chunk of the LC metagame at least neutrally, which coupled with its fairly high Attack stat turns it into a threatening offensive Pokemon. Scraggy most often opts for a sweeper set, first using Dragon Dance to boost its Attack and patch up its mediocre Speed and then attempting to sweep opposing teams with its STAB attacks and variety of coverage moves. Alternatively, Scraggy can also become a threatening cleaner by using a Choice Scarf. Access to useful STAB moves helps Scraggy take advantage of the coverage that its typing gives it, especially Knock Off, Drain Punch, and High Jump Kick. Scraggy also can use two distinct abilities, both of which assist it in different ways. Moxie makes Scraggy more difficult to beat every time it KOes a foe, while Shed Skin gives it a way to shrug off status and more easily set up on status inducers. However, Scraggy suffers significantly from weaknesses to the common Fairy-, Flying-, and Fighting-types, which leave it often struggling to set up, despite its good defensive stats. Fairy-type Pokemon are especially troublesome, as they resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. Additionally, though it has access to a wide variety of coverage moves, Scraggy must choose which to use, which means that depending on its set Scraggy can be walled by different Pokemon.

[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Poison Jab / Drain Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin / Moxie
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

With Dragon Dance, Scraggy becomes a threatening sweeper, able to boost its Attack and Speed to dangerous levels in a single turn. High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use after a boost to break down teams. However, it comes with a risk of missing and taking crash damage. Drain Punch is a decently alternative STAB option that gives Scraggy a form of recovery while it attempts to sweep, and it is more reliable than High Jump Kick. Knock Off is another powerful STAB move with the added utility of removing foes' items, allowing Scraggy to cripple opposing teams for itself and its teammates. It has terrific coverage alongside Drain Punch, hitting the entire metagame aside from Fairy-types and Croagunk at least neutrally. In Scraggy's final slot, it has a choice of various coverage moves. Zen Headbutt hits Poison-types, such as Foongus and Croagunk, and Fighting-types, which tend to be some of the most common answers to Scraggy. Poison Jab can be run instead to hit Fairy-types for super effective damage, and it comes with a decent poison chance, which can be helpful in wearing down foes. Drain Punch is an option here if Scraggy's team can handle its checks well enough to warrant not running a coverage move, giving it access to both recovery with Drain Punch and power with High Jump Kick.

Set Details
========

Scraggy's EV spread gives it enough defensive investment to optimize its bulk with Eviolite, with the remainder invested in Attack and Speed to maximize its sweeping potential. Eviolite couples well with the defensive investment, giving Scraggy the bulk to take hits when necessary while setting up with Dragon Dance, including usually avoiding the OHKO from Vullaby's Brave Bird and always avoiding the KO from Mienfoo's Drain Punch. Scraggy's nature can be Jolly, which allows it to outspeed threats such as Corphish after Dragon Dance and tie with Choice Scarf Magnemite and +2 Tirtouga. Alternatively, Adamant can be run to give Scraggy more attacking power, at the expense of being outsped by the aforementioned threats. Even with an Adamant nature, it should be noted that Scraggy outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame after a Dragon Dance Speed boost. Scraggy's ability is a choice between Shed Skin and Moxie. The former makes it less worried about status, giving it the ability to set up against Will-O-Wisp users such as Ponyta and shrug off other statuses that would cripple most sweepers, such as paralysis and sleep. The latter leaves Scraggy comparably more susceptible to status-inducing moves but makes it very difficult to stop after it gets a KO, which means that after it does set up, Scraggy has a much easier time sweeping.

Usage Tips
========

Dragon Dance Scraggy is a late-game sweeper and should be somewhat preserved throughout a match. It is primarily checked by Fairy-types, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and bulky Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Croagunk, Foongus, Timburr, and Mienfoo, so these Pokemon should be weakened and, if possible, hit by Knock Off before Scraggy attempts to sweep. Additionally, when choosing when to set up, keep in mind that Scraggy's coverage moves, especially Poison Jab, aren't particularly powerful even after a boost, so its checks should be weakened as much as possible even if Scraggy does carry a super effective coverage move. However, that doesn't mean it should not be used at all before attempting a sweep: early- to mid-game, Scraggy can lure in its checks and use Knock Off to weaken them for a sweep later in the game. After said checks have been weakened over the course of a battle, Scraggy should be brought in against a Pokemon that can't hit it super effectively, such as Ferroseed or Slowpoke, to set up and then sweep. Be careful, however, about letting Scraggy get worn down too much too early in a match, as if this happens, Scraggy will be susceptible to priority later in the game.

Team Options
========

Scraggy is a terrific choice for type spam cores, as Pokemon that share one of its types can bring in foes that check it and weaken them for Scraggy to sweep late in the game. Timburr and Mienfoo make good Fighting-type partners to Scraggy, as they can draw in Poison- and Fairy-types and weaken them with Knock Off. Vullaby and Carvanha form a potent Dark-type core with Scraggy and can similarly wear down Scraggy's checks over the course of a match. Alolan Grimer makes an especially notable choice, as it is able to come in on and Pursuit trap Focus Sash Abra, hit Fairy-type Pokemon that aim to check Scraggy super effectively, and use Knock Off and Pursuit to weaken Choice Scarf users that outspeed Scraggy even after a Dragon Dance so that Scraggy doesn't need to worry about them later in a match. Other Poison-types also make good partners, able to take on both Fairy- and Fighting-type Pokemon that can threaten Scraggy. Foongus, Croagunk, and Skrelp make good choices for this, with the first also able to bring in Steel-types that Scraggy can set up on.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that can severely dent even the Pokemon that resist it. Knock Off is a far more reliable Dark-type STAB move that Scraggy can spam more freely, and it still hits the majority of the metagame for significant damage while maintaining terrific offensive synergy with High Jump Kick by hitting the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that resist Fighting. It even comes with the useful side effect of removing foes' items. Poison Jab is Scraggy's most generally useful coverage move, as it hits the Fairy-types that resist its STAB combination and comes with a useful chance of inflicting poison. Drain Punch is an alternate STAB move that can be used when the power of High Jump Kick is not necessary or its chance of missing should not be risked, especially early-game. Zen Headbutt is an alternative that can hit Pokemon such as Croagunk and Foongus that might switch in predicting a resisted hit.

Set Details
========

The given EV spread maximizes Scraggy's Attack and Speed so that it can be as fast as possible while still hitting hard. With a Jolly nature, Scraggy reaches 15 Speed, which, with a Choice Scarf, is enough to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, and some slower Choice Scarf users such as Mudbray and Modest Magnemite. This turns Scraggy into a powerful revenge killer. The remaining EVs are used to boost Scraggy's HP, improving its mixed bulk as much as possible. Moxie makes Scraggy into an especially threatening revenge killer, as it gets an Attack boost just by revenge killing something, and can give it the ability to clean opposing teams in the late-game.

Usage Tips
========

Throughout the majority of the game, Scraggy should be used to revenge kill foes. Scraggy can bluff a Dragon Dance set early in the game, which will make Ghost-types less likely to switch into it for fear of Knock Off. After Scraggy's Choice Scarf has been revealed, Knock Off and Drain Punch are the safest moves to spam early in the game to wear down opposing teams if there are Ghost-types on the opponent's team. Ghost-types should be defeated before Scraggy locks itself into Drain Punch, but if there are no Ghost-types remaining on the field, Scraggy should lock itself into High Jump Kick when possible, as it is by far its most powerful attack. Be careful, however, of Protect users, such as Spritzee, Carvanha, and Torchic, when locking Scraggy into High Jump Kick, especially if Scraggy has revealed its Choice Scarf. Poison Jab, and Zen Headbutt if it is run, should only be used when absolutely necessary to weaken the Pokemon they are super effective against, as High Jump Kick will almost always hit harder. Late in a game, when the opponent's Fighting-type switch-ins have been worn down, Scraggy can use its Choice Scarf to clean an opposing team with High Jump Kick. The most efficient way to allow Scraggy to clean is to send it in when it can KO a foe and get a Moxie boost, as it immediately becomes very hard to switch into. Although it has decent bulk, Scraggy should usually not be switched in on opposing attacks, as if it is worn down it will be vulnerable to priority moves when attempting to clean late-game.

Team Options
========

The best teammates for Scraggy are those that can give it the support it needs to clean opposing teams in the late-game. Pursuit trappers, such as Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, are essential to remove Ghost-types so that Scraggy can safely use High Jump Kick to clean teams. Both of these Pokemon, along with Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr, are able to use Knock Off, which is also beneficial to Scraggy because it wears down foes for Scraggy to be able to clean late in a game. Pokemon that share checks with Scraggy, such as Carvanha, Vullaby, Timburr, and Mienfoo, can bring in and wear down these checks for Scraggy, again allowing Scraggy to clean opposing teams without fear of these checks. Checks to Fairy-types, such as Foongus, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer, are useful to take out opposing Spritzee and Snubbull. Finally, entry hazard support from the likes of Ferroseed and Dwebble can wear down opposing Pokemon and get them within range of a KO from Scraggy.

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

A bulkier set with Intimidate can be used to give Scraggy more setup opportunities against physical attackers, but Scraggy loses either the ability to set up on status inducers or the Attack boosts from Moxie. Various other coverage moves are available to Scraggy, including Head Smash, to hit Vullaby, and Iron Head, as an alternate way to hit Fairy-types that comes with a flinch chance. However, these moves hit a much smaller slice of the metagame than the other coverage moves available to Scraggy. Scraggy can also run Dual Chop to deal with Focus Sash Abra, which otherwise can take a hit with Focus Sash and OHKOes it in return with Dazzling Gleam, but it does very little damage to anything else. Scraggy also has access to the elemental punches and Stone Edge, but most of what these moves hit is hit harder by one of Scraggy's STAB moves anyway. Brick Break is a potential Fighting-type STAB move that can be used to break through Aurora Veil, but it lacks the power of High Jump Kick or the recovery of Drain Punch and is very situational. Finally, various Z-Crystals can be used on Scraggy's Dragon Dance set: Poisonium Z can be used in conjunction with Poison Jab to turn Scraggy into a deadly lure for Fairy-type Pokemon, and Fightinium Z can be used to give Scraggy one extremely high-powered High Jump Kick to take out a weakened foe it otherwise could not KO. However, the lack of Eviolite makes it much harder for Scraggy to set up and leaves it more vulnerable to opposing priority.

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

**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are among the only Pokemon to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves, and they OHKO it easily in return with their 4x super effective STAB attacks. Snubbull and Spritzee both serve as good checks to Scraggy, taking even a boosted Poison Jab and OHKOing in return, but they have to be wary of being hit by Knock Off or worn down to the range of a Poison Jab KO. Cottonee also makes a decent check to non-Poison Jab variants of Scraggy.

**Fighting-types**: Bulkier Fighting-types, such as slow Mienfoo and Timburr, can take Scraggy's attacks and OHKO in return with their super effective STAB. Timburr has the additional advantage of super effective priority, which it can use to pick off a weakened Scraggy. Croagunk also makes a potent Scraggy check, as it is the only non-Fairy type in the tier to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. However, all of these Pokemon must be wary of taking a boosted Zen Headbutt.

**Powerful Choice Scarf Users**: Many Choice Scarf users can outspeed Scraggy, even after a Dragon Dance boost, and KO it in return, including Mienfoo, Doduo, Rufflet, Dazzling Gleam Gastly, and Vullaby. However, these Pokemon cannot take a hit from Scraggy.

**Abra**: Thanks to Magic Guard, Abra cannot have its Focus Sash broken by entry hazards, and so can take any hit from Scraggy no matter how much it has boosted and OHKO in return with Dazzling Gleam. Thus, opposing Abra must have their Focus Sash broken before Scraggy can set up safely.
 
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[OVERVIEW]
(Y)

[SET]
cool

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
I think Head Smash should be moved to Other Options. I would never really consider using it on a set since the other moves in the final slash are all so much better. you can knock vull off easily, and wear it down to HJK range easily enough without needing to resort to Head Smash
I wouldn't mind seeing Iron Head move to OO either, I think Poison Jab outclasses as it guarantees the OHKO on Cottonee, so besides trying to flinch you way past spritzee I don't see the benefit.

most other stuff is really good

in Checks and counters, you could mention a couple of other scarfers like rufflet, vullaby and dgleam gastly which can all easily revenge scraggy. also mention Sashbra somewhere, and that can stop a scraggy sweep with ease.

1/3
 
Set: Dragon Dance

Moves
  • Mention that Drain Punch and Knock Off have very good neutral coverage, only missing out on hitting Fairy-types and Croagunk
  • Mention that Knock Off can also remove Choice Scarves from mons like Doduo and Mienfoo to give Scraggy an easier time sweeping.
  • Mention that Poison Jab's chance to Poison can also be nice for crippling its targets like non-Aroma Spritzee and non-Heal Bell Snubbull
Set Details
  • Mention some hits Scraggy can take thanks to Eviolite-boosted bulk (Offensive Vull's Brave Bird, two Sludge Bombs from non-LO Scarf Gastly, both usually)
  • Mention that the Speed investment lets Scraggy outspeed the entire unboosted metagame after a DD even without a Jolly nature.
  • You are tagging the user 'Shrug' in stead of just saying shrug off (don't)
Usage Tips
  • Mention examples of mons Scraggy sets up on (Ferroseed, Slowpoke)
  • Make clear that Scraggy should focus on sweeping in the late game
Team Options
  • Not sure if I like the word terrific, it doesn't really fit the tone of the rest of the analysis.
  • I think Sludge Bomb Diglett deserves a mention, as it can remove Cottonee from play, which can otherwise stop Scraggy's dreams with Prankster Encore.
Set: Choice Scarf

Moves
  • Same comments as above
Usage Tips
  • Mention not using HJK on Pokemon known for using Protect, such as Spritzee, Lickitung (Wish + Protect), and Carvanha (Protect), espcially if your Scarf has been revealed.
Team Options
  • Mention why Pursuit trappers are so important (trap Ghosts like Gastly and Pump)
  • Mention Pokemon that can threaten Fairy-types (Pawniard and Grimer-A both work, but mention some others) to allow Scraggy to spam its STABs more.
QC 2/3, write me up Scotty
QC Stamp final.gif
 
Overview
Super solid work!

SET: DRAGON DANCE SWEEPER
Set
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Poison Jab / Drain Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin / Moxie
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe

I believe you saw the discussion regarding the changes of slashes on Discord. High Jump Kick allows it to break past bulkier threats to more success, which is why it should be first despite the slightly worse accuracy and crash damage risk.

Moves
* Reword both your Drain Punch and High Jump Kick mentions so that they better reflect the new set. Make sure to give examples of Pokemon High Jump Kick heavily dents when boosted, like Ferroseed and maybe Munchlax.
* Talk about Drain Punch again when addressing Scraggy's fourth moveslot, but make sure to say that it leaves Scraggy walled by Poison- and Fairy-types if opted over its other coverage.
* Remove your final High Jump Kick mention, as it's no longer necessary what with HJK being the most preferable STAB option.

Set Details
* Change your Choice Scarf Gastly example, since it usually uses Dazzling Gleam, which more often than not OHKOes.
* Clarify that with Adamant, Scraggy outpaces the entire unboosted metagame after a boost.

Usage Tips
* Give examples of checks Scraggy has that need to be removed, just so new players reading know what to look out for.
* I'd also say specifically that Fairy-types should be removed or heavily weakened, as even if it has Poison Jab, Scraggy won't be able to break through most Fairy-types in one hit with the move and die to any super effective STAB.

Team Options
Nice work here!

SET: CHOICE SCARF
Set
Looks good

Moves
* I'd add to your Knock Off section a little, just in saying that it hits Psychic- and Ghost-types, which can otherwise switch into High Jump Kick.

Set Details
* Give one more example of a slower Choice Scarfer the given investment allows Scraggy to outspeed, since one isn't enough. Shellder works, but idk if it's really relevant enough (I'm trusting that you can come up with another example since tired hilo can't think of them too well, and if there aren't relevant examples, just give some of what it speed ties)

Usage Tips
This is extremely well done!

Team Options
Looks good

Other Options
* This looks really solid as well, but I'd honestly suggest that Brick Break is put here. It's a decently powerful STAB attack that's main use is breaking Aurora Veil. Say that the obvious drawback is the move's lack of power and the fact that it's also extremely situational.

Checks and Counters
Looks really nice as well

This analysis is extremely well done, great job!

QC 3/3
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(Comments.)
[OVERVIEW]

Scraggy's unique Dark / Fighting typing gives it access to dual STAB coverage which that hits a huge chunk of the LC metagame at least neutrally, and this(AC) coupled with its fairly high Attack stat(AC) which turn turns it into a threatening offensive Pokemon. Scraggy most often opts for a sweeper set, first using its access to Dragon Dance to boost its Attack and patch up its mediocre Speed, and then attempting to sweep opposing teams with its dual STAB STABs and variety of coverage moves. However Alternatively, Scraggy can also become a threatening cleaner by using a Choice Scarf. Scraggy has access to useful STAB moves that help it abuse take advantage of the coverage that its typing gives it, especially has, including Knock Off, Drain Punch, and High Jump Kick. Scraggy also can use two distinct abilities, both of which assist help it in its duties (The original was a bit clumsy.) in different ways. Moxie makes Scraggy more difficult to beat everytime every time it KOs KOes a foe, while Shed Skin gives Scraggy it a way to shrug off status and more easily set up on status inducers. However, Scraggy suffers significantly from weaknesses to the common Fairy-, Flying-, and Fighting-types, which leave it often struggling to set up, despite its good defensive stats. Fairy-type Pokemon are especially troublesome, as they resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. Additionally, though it has access to a wide variety of coverage moves, Scraggy must choose which to use, which means that(AC) depending on the its set(AC) Scraggy can be walled by different Pokemon.

[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Poison Jab / Drain Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin / Moxie
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

With Dragon Dance, Scraggy becomes a threatening sweeper, able to boost its Attack and Speed to dangerous levels in a single turn. High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use after a boost to break down teams. However, it comes with a risk of missing and taking crash damage. Drain Punch is a decently alternative STAB option that gives Scraggy a form of recovery while it attempts to sweep, and is more reliable than High Jump Kick. Knock Off is a another powerful STAB move and has with the added utility of removing foe's foes' items, allowing Scraggy to break cripple ("Break" was used in the previous sentence with a different meaning.) opposing teams for itself and its teammates. It has terrific coverage alongside Drain Punch, hitting the entire metagame aside from Fairy-types and Croagunk at least neutrally. In Scraggy's final slot, it has a choice of various coverage moves. Zen Headbutt hits Poison-types(AC) such as Foongus and Croagunk, as well as and Fighting-types, which tend to be some of the most common answers to Scraggy. Poison Jab can be run instead to hit Fairy types for super effective damage, and it comes with a decent Poison chance, which can be helpful in wearing down foes. Drain Punch is an option here if Scraggy's team can handle its checks well enough for it not to warrant not running (Smoother) a coverage move, giving it access to both recovery with Drain Punch and power with High Jump Kick.

Set Details
========

Scraggy's EV spread gives it enough defense investment to hit optimal Eviolite numbers optimize its bulk with Eviolite (Avoid using technical jargon where possible.), with the remainder invested in Attack and Speed to maximize its sweeping potential. An Eviolite couples well with the defensive investment, giving Scraggy the bulk to take hits when necessary while setting up with Dragon Dance, including usually avoiding the OHKO from Vullaby's Brave Bird and always avoiding the KO from Mienfoo's Drain Punch. Scraggy's nature can be Jolly, which allows it to outspeed threats such as Corphish after Dragon Dance, and tie with Choice Scarf Magnemite and +2 Tirtouga after Shell Smash (Tirtouga could run Swift Swim, and this makes it clear that Scraggy isn't the one using Shell Smash.). Alternatively, Adamant can be run to give Scraggy more attacking power, at the expense of outspeeding the being outsped by the aforementioned threats. Even with an Adamant nature, it should be noted that Scraggy outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame after a Dragon Dance Speed boost. Scraggy's ability is a choice between Shed Skin, which makes it less worried about status and gives it the ability to set up against Will-O-Wisp users such as Ponyta, and shrug off status moves other statuses that would cripple most sweepers, such as paralysis and sleep. Moxie leaves Scraggy comparably more susceptible to status inducing moves, but makes it very difficult to stop after it gets a KO, which means that after it does set up, Scraggy has a much easier time sweeping.

Usage Tips
========

Dragon Dance Scraggy is a late-game sweeper and should be somewhat preserved throughout a match. It is primarily checked by Fairy-types, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and bulky Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Croagunk, Foongus, Timburr, and Mienfoo, and so these Pokemon should be weakened, and, if possible, hit by Knock Off before Scraggy attempts to sweep. Additionally, keep in mind when choosing when to set up(AC) keep in mind that Scraggy's coverage moves, especially Poison Jab, aren't particularly powerful even after a boost, so its checks should be weakened as much as possible even if Scraggy does carry a super effective coverage move. However, that doesn't mean it should not be used at all before attempting a sweep: early- to mid-game, Scraggy can bring lure in its checks and use Knock Off to weaken them for a sweep later in the game. After said checks have been weakened over the course of a battle, Scraggy should be brought in against a Pokemon that can't hit it super effectively, such as Ferroseed or Slowpoke, to set up and then sweep. Be careful, however, about letting Scraggy get worn down too much too early in a match, as if Scraggy gets worn down it this happens, Scraggy (Avoids repeating "worn down.") will be susceptible to priority late later in a the game.

Team Options
========

Scraggy is a terrific choice for type spam cores (Is there a more formal way of saying this?), as Pokemon that share one of its types can bring in foes that check it and weaken them for Scraggy to sweep late in the game. Timburr and Mienfoo make good Fighting-type partners to Scraggy, as they can draw in Poison- and Fairy-types and weaken them with Knock Off. Vullaby and Carvanha form a potent double-Dark-type core with Scraggy, and can similarly wear down Scraggy's checks over the course of a match. Grimer-Alola Alolan Grimer makes an especially notable choice, able to come in on and Pursuit trap Focus Sash Abra, hit Fairy-type Pokemon that aim to check Scraggy super effectively, and use Knock Off and Pursuit to weaken Choice Scarf users that outspeed Scraggy even after a boost Dragon Dance so that Scraggy doesn't need to worry about them later in a match. Other Poison types also make good partners, able to take on both Fairy- and Fighting-type Pokemon which can threaten Scraggy. Foongus, Croagunk, and Skrelp make good choices for this, with the former first ("Former" and "Latter" only work with lists of two.) also able to bring in Steel-types that Scraggy can set up on.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use to severely dent even the Pokemon that resist it. Knock Off is a far more reliable Dark-type STAB move that Scraggy can spam more freely, and it still hits the majority of the metagame for significant damage while maintaining terrific offensive synergy with High Jump Kick by hitting the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that resist High Jump Kick. It also even comes with the useful side effect of removing foes' items. Poison Jab is Scraggy's most generally useful coverage move, as it hits the Fairy-types that resist its STAB combination, and comes with a useful chance of inflicting Poison. Drain Punch is an alternate STAB move that can be used when the power of High Jump Kick is not necessary or its chance of missing should not be risked, especially early-game. Zen Headbutt is an alternative option that can draw in hit Pokemon such as Croagunk and Foongus that predict might switch in predicting a hit that they can resist (Zen Headbutt doesn't draw them in, Scraggy does.).

Set Details
========

The given EV spread maximizes Scraggy's Attack and Speed so that it can hit be as hard fast (An Adamant set would hit harder.) as possible while still hitting hard. With a Jolly Nature, Scraggy reaches 15 Speed, which, with a Choice Scarf, is enough to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, and some slower Choice Scarf users such as Mudbray and Modest Magnemite. This turns Scraggy into a powerful revenge killer. The remaining EVs are used to boost Scraggy's HP, improving its mixed bulk as much as possible. Moxie makes Scraggy into an especially threatening revenge killer, as it gets an Attack boost just by revenge killing something, and can give it the ability to clean opposing teams in the late-game.

Usage Tips
========

Throughout the majority of the game, Scraggy should be used to revenge kill foes. Scraggy can bluff a Dragon Dance set early in the game, which will make Ghost-types less likely to switch into it for fear of Knock Off. After Scraggy's Choice Scarf has been revealed, Knock Off and Drain Punch are the safest moves to spam early in the game to wear down opposing teams if there are Ghost-types on the opponents team. Ghost-types should be defeated or trapped (Redundant) before Scraggy locks itself into Drain Punch.(RP) If(AC) but if there are no Ghost-types remaining on the field, Scraggy should lock itself into High Jump Kick when possible, as it is by far its most powerful attack (Frankly, this sentence is a bit confusing. Scraggy isn't supposed to use Drain Punch if Ghosts aren't gone, but should use HJK if they are? I suggest rearranging this and the next sentence to explicitly say when Drain Punch is the best choice.). Be careful, however, of Protect users, such as Spritzee, Carvanha, and Torchic, when locking yourself into High Jump Kick, especially if Scraggy has revealed its Choice Scarf. Poison Jab, and Zen Headbutt if it is run, should only be used when absolutely necessary to weaken the Pokemon they are super effective against, as High Jump Kick will almost always hit harder. Late in a game, when the opponent's Fighting-type resists have been worn down, Scraggy can use its Choice Scarf to clean an opposing team with High Jump Kick. The most efficient way to allow Scraggy to clean is to send it in when it can KO a foe and get a Moxie boost, as it immediately becomes very hard to switch into. Although it has decent bulk, Scraggy should usually not be switched in on opposing attacks, as if it is worn down it will be vulnerable to priority moves when attempting to clean late-game.

Team Options
========

The best teammates for Scraggy are those that can give it the support it needs to clean opposing teams in the late-game. Pursuit trappers, such as Grimer-Alola Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, are essential to trap Ghost-types so that Scraggy can safely use High Jump Kick to clean teams. Both of these Pokemon, along with Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr, are able to use Knock Off, which is also beneficial to Scraggy because it wears down foes for Scraggy to be able to clean late in a game. Pokemon that share checks with Scraggy, such as Carvanha, Vullaby, Timburr, and Mienfoo, can bring in and wear down these checks for Scraggy, again allowing Scraggy to clean opposing teams without fear of these checks. Fairy-type checks Checks to Fairy-types, such as Foongus, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer, (These check Fairy-types; they aren't Fairy-Types themselves.) are useful to take out opposing Spritzee and Snubbull as well, including Foongus, Pawniard, and Grimer-Alola. Finally, entry hazard support from the likes of Ferroseed and Dwebble can wear down opposing Pokemon and get them within range of a KO from Scraggy.

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

A bulkier set with Intimidate can be used to give Scraggy more setup opportunities against Physical attackers, but by running it Scraggy loses either the ability to set up on status inducers or the Attack boosts from Moxie. Various other coverage moves are available to Scraggy, including Head Smash, to hit Vullaby, and Iron Head, as an alternate way to hit Fairy types that comes with a flinch chance. However, these moves hit a much smaller slice of the metagame than the other coverage moves available to Scraggy. Scraggy can also run Dual Chop to deal with Focus Sash Abra, which otherwise can take a hit with Focus Sash and KO OHKOes it in return with Dazzling Gleam, but it does very little damage to anything else. Scraggy also has access to the elemental punches and Stone Edge, but most of what these moves hit is hit harder by one of Scraggy's STAB moves anyway. Brick Break is a potential Fighting-type STAB move which can be used to break through Aurora Veil, but lacks the power of High Jump Kick or the recovery of Drain Punch, and is very situational. Finally, various Z Items can be used on Scraggy's Dragon Dance set.(RP)(add colon) Poisinium Poisonium Z can be run alongside used in conjunction with Poison Jab to turn Scraggy into a powerful (I'd say deadly tbh) lure for Fairy type Pokemon, or Fightium and Fightinium Z can be used to give Scraggy one extremely high-powered High Jump Kick (This somewhat misrepresents what Fightinium Z does. Consider mentioning All-Out Pummeling by name or referring to the attack as "Z-High Jump Kick". Doing either of these would also imply that this partially gets around Protect, which is a huge step up from taking crash damage.) to take out a weakened foe. However, the lack of Eviolite makes it much harder for Scraggy to set up, and leaves it more vulnerable to opposing priority.

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

**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are among the only Pokemon to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves, and OHKO it easily in return with their 4x super effective STAB. Snubbull and Spritzee both serve as good checks to Scraggy, taking even a boosted Poison Jab and OHKOing in return, but they have to be wary of being hit by Knock Off or worn down to the range of a Poison Jab KO. Cottonee also makes a decent check to non-Poison Jab variants of Scraggy.

**Fighting-types**: Bulkier Fighting-types, such as slow Mienfoo and Timburr, can take Scraggy's attacks and OHKO in return with their super effective STAB. Timburr has the additional advantage of super effective priority, which it can use to pick off a weakened Scraggy. Croagunk also makes a potent Scraggy check, as it is the only non-Fairy type in the tier to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. However, all of these Pokemon must be wary of taking a boosted Zen Headbutt.

**Powerful Choice Scarf Users**: Many Choice Scarf users can outspeed Scraggy, even after a Dragon Dance boost, and KO it in return, including Mienfoo, Doduo, Rufflet, Dazzling Gleam Gastly, and Vullaby. These However, these Pokemon cannot take a hit from Scraggy, however (Consider adding something more to this sentence; it seems a little too brief. Perhaps mention their reliance on having a Choice Scarf, or their inability to switch in?).

**Abra**: Focus Sash Thanks to Magic Guard, Abra cannot have its Focus Sash broken by hazards, if it holds one, (This avoids repetition and better explains why Abra takes no damage from hazards.) and so can take any hit from Scraggy no matter how much it has boosted and OHKO in return with Dazzling Gleam. Thus, opposing Abra must have their sash broken before Scraggy can set up safely.
 
added a few things to MacChaeger 's check in add remove comment
GP 1/2

[OVERVIEW]

Scraggy's unique Dark / Fighting typing gives it access to dual STAB coverage which that hits a huge chunk of the LC metagame at least neutrally, and this coupled with its fairly high Attack stat turn turns it into a threatening offensive Pokemon. Scraggy most often opts for a sweeper set, first using its access to Dragon Dance to boost its Attack and patch up its mediocre Speed, (RC) and then attempting to sweep opposing teams with its dual STAB STAB attacks and variety of coverage moves. However Alternatively, Scraggy can also become a threatening cleaner by using a Choice Scarf. Scraggy has access to useful STAB moves that help it abuse take advantage of the coverage that its typing gives it, especially Knock Off, Drain Punch, and High Jump Kick. Scraggy also can use two distinct abilities, both of which assist it in its duties (The original was a bit clumsy.) in different ways. Moxie makes Scraggy more difficult to beat everytime every time it KOs KOes a foe, while Shed Skin gives Scraggy it a way to shrug off status and more easily set up on status inducers. However, Scraggy suffers significantly from weaknesses to the common Fairy-, Flying-, and Fighting-types, which leave it often struggling to set up, despite its good defensive stats. Fairy-type Pokemon are especially troublesome, as they resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. Additionally, though it has access to a wide variety of coverage moves, Scraggy must choose which to use, which means that depending on the its set Scraggy can be walled by different Pokemon.

[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Poison Jab / Drain Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin / Moxie
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

With Dragon Dance, Scraggy becomes a threatening sweeper, able to boost its Attack and Speed to dangerous levels in a single turn. High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use after a boost to break down teams. However, it comes with a risk of missing and taking crash damage. Drain Punch is a decently alternative STAB option that gives Scraggy a form of recovery while it attempts to sweep, and it is more reliable than High Jump Kick. Knock Off is a another powerful STAB move and has with the added utility of removing foe's foes' items, allowing Scraggy to break cripple ("Break" was used in the previous sentence with a different meaning.) opposing teams for itself and its teammates. It has terrific coverage alongside Drain Punch, hitting the entire metagame aside from Fairy-types and Croagunk at least neutrally. In Scraggy's final slot, it has a choice of various coverage moves. Zen Headbutt hits Poison-types(AC) such as Foongus and Croagunk, as well as and Fighting-types, which tend to be some of the most common answers to Scraggy. Poison Jab can be run instead to hit Fairy-types for super effective damage, and it comes with a decent poison chance, which can be helpful in wearing down foes. Drain Punch is an option here if Scraggy's team can handle its checks well enough for it not to warrant not running (Smoother) a coverage move, giving it access to both recovery with Drain Punch and power with High Jump Kick.

Set Details
========

Scraggy's EV spread gives it enough defensive investment to hit optimal Eviolite numbers optimize its bulk with Eviolite (Avoid using technical jargon where possible.), with the remainder invested in Attack and Speed to maximize its sweeping potential. An Eviolite couples well with the defensive investment, giving Scraggy the bulk to take hits when necessary while setting up with Dragon Dance, including usually avoiding the OHKO from Vullaby's Brave Bird and always avoiding the KO from Mienfoo's Drain Punch. Scraggy's nature can be Jolly, which allows it to outspeed threats such as Corphish after Dragon Dance, (RC) and tie with Choice Scarf Magnemite and +2 Tirtouga after Shell Smash (Tirtouga could run Swift Swim, and this makes it clear that Scraggy isn't the one using Shell Smash.). Alternatively, Adamant can be run to give Scraggy more attacking power, at the expense of outspeeding the being outsped by the aforementioned threats. Even with an Adamant nature, it should be noted that Scraggy outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame after a Dragon Dance Speed boost. Scraggy's ability is a choice between (this thought was not finished in this sentence) Shed Skin and Moxie. The former, which makes it less worried about status, giving and gives it the ability to set up against Will-O-Wisp users such as Ponyta, (RC) and shrug off status moves other statuses that would cripple most sweepers, such as paralysis and sleep. Moxie leaves Scraggy comparably more susceptible to status-inducing moves, (RC) but makes it very difficult to stop after it gets a KO, which means that after it does set up, Scraggy has a much easier time sweeping.

Usage Tips
========

Dragon Dance Scraggy is a late-game sweeper and should be somewhat preserved throughout a match. It is primarily checked by Fairy-types, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and bulky Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Croagunk, Foongus, Timburr, and Mienfoo, and so these Pokemon should be weakened, (RC) and, if possible, hit by Knock Off before Scraggy attempts to sweep. Additionally, keep in mind when choosing when to set up(AC) keep in mind that Scraggy's coverage moves, especially Poison Jab, aren't particularly powerful even after a boost, so its checks should be weakened as much as possible even if Scraggy does carry a super effective coverage move. However, that doesn't mean it should not be used at all before attempting a sweep: early- to mid-game, Scraggy can bring lure in its checks and use Knock Off to weaken them for a sweep later in the game. After said checks have been weakened over the course of a battle, Scraggy should be brought in against a Pokemon that can't hit it super effectively, such as Ferroseed or Slowpoke, to set up and then sweep. Be careful, however, about letting Scraggy get worn down too much too early in a match, as if Scraggy gets worn down it this happens, Scraggy (Avoids repeating "worn down.") will be susceptible to priority late later in a the game.

Team Options
========

Scraggy is a terrific choice for type spam cores (Is there a more formal way of saying this?), as Pokemon that share one of its types can bring in foes that check it and weaken them for Scraggy to sweep late in the game. Timburr and Mienfoo make good Fighting-type partners to Scraggy, as they can draw in Poison- and Fairy-types and weaken them with Knock Off. Vullaby and Carvanha form a potent double-Dark-type core with Scraggy, (RC) and can similarly wear down Scraggy's checks over the course of a match. Grimer-Alola Alolan Grimer makes an especially notable choice, able to come in on and Pursuit trap Focus Sash Abra, hit Fairy-type Pokemon that aim to check Scraggy super effectively, and use Knock Off and Pursuit to weaken Choice Scarf users that outspeed Scraggy even after a boost Dragon Dance so that Scraggy doesn't need to worry about them later in a match. Other Poison-types also make good partners, able to take on both Fairy- and Fighting-type Pokemon that which can threaten Scraggy. Foongus, Croagunk, and Skrelp make good choices for this, with the former first ("Former" and "Latter" only work with lists of two.) also able to bring in Steel-types that Scraggy can set up on.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use to severely dent even the Pokemon that resist it. Knock Off is a far more reliable Dark-type STAB move that Scraggy can spam more freely, and it still hits the majority of the metagame for significant damage while maintaining terrific offensive synergy with High Jump Kick by hitting the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that resist High Jump Kick. It also even comes with the useful side effect of removing foes' items. Poison Jab is Scraggy's most generally useful coverage move, as it hits the Fairy-types that resist its STAB combination, (RC) and comes with a useful chance of inflicting poison. Drain Punch is an alternate STAB move that can be used when the power of High Jump Kick is not necessary or its chance of missing should not be risked, especially early-game. Zen Headbutt is an alternative option that can draw in hit Pokemon such as Croagunk and Foongus that predict might switch in predicting a hit that they can resist (Zen Headbutt doesn't draw them in, Scraggy does.) (yes ty).

Set Details
========

The given EV spread maximizes Scraggy's Attack and Speed so that it can hit be as hard fast (An Adamant set would hit harder.) as possible while still hitting hard. With a Jolly nature, Scraggy reaches 15 Speed, which, with a Choice Scarf, is enough to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, and some slower Choice Scarf users such as Mudbray and Modest Magnemite. This turns Scraggy into a powerful revenge killer. The remaining EVs are used to boost Scraggy's HP, improving its mixed bulk as much as possible. Moxie makes Scraggy into an especially threatening revenge killer, as it gets an Attack boost just by revenge killing something, and can give it the ability to clean opposing teams in the late-game.

Usage Tips
========

Throughout the majority of the game, Scraggy should be used to revenge kill foes. Scraggy can bluff a Dragon Dance set early in the game, which will make Ghost-types less likely to switch into it for fear of Knock Off. After Scraggy's Choice Scarf has been revealed, Knock Off and Drain Punch are the safest moves to spam early in the game to wear down opposing teams if there are Ghost-types on the opponent's team. Ghost-types should be defeated or trapped (Redundant) before Scraggy locks itself into Drain Punch.(RP) If(AC) but if there are no Ghost-types remaining on the field, Scraggy should lock itself into High Jump Kick when possible, as it is by far its most powerful attack (Frankly, this sentence is a bit confusing. Scraggy isn't supposed to use Drain Punch if Ghosts aren't gone, but should use HJK if they are? I suggest rearranging this and the next sentence to explicitly say when Drain Punch is the best choice.). Be careful, however, of Protect users, such as Spritzee, Carvanha, and Torchic, when locking Scraggy yourself into High Jump Kick, especially if Scraggy has revealed its Choice Scarf. Poison Jab, and Zen Headbutt if it is run, should only be used when absolutely necessary to weaken the Pokemon they are super effective against, as High Jump Kick will almost always hit harder. Late in a game, when the opponent's Fighting-type switch-ins resists (or "Fighting-resistant Pokemon" if you want to avoid ambiguity ig) have been worn down, Scraggy can use its Choice Scarf to clean an opposing team with High Jump Kick. The most efficient way to allow Scraggy to clean is to send it in when it can KO a foe and get a Moxie boost, as it immediately becomes very hard to switch into. Although it has decent bulk, Scraggy should usually not be switched in on opposing attacks, as if it is worn down it will be vulnerable to priority moves when attempting to clean late-game.

Team Options
========

The best teammates for Scraggy are those that can give it the support it needs to clean opposing teams in the late-game. Pursuit trappers, such as Grimer-Alola Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, are essential to trap Ghost-types so that Scraggy can safely use High Jump Kick to clean teams. Both of these Pokemon, along with Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr, are able to use Knock Off, which is also beneficial to Scraggy because it wears down foes for Scraggy to be able to clean late in a game. Pokemon that share checks with Scraggy, such as Carvanha, Vullaby, Timburr, and Mienfoo, can bring in and wear down these checks for Scraggy, again allowing Scraggy to clean opposing teams without fear of these checks. Fairy-type checks Checks to Fairy-types, such as Foongus, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer, (These check Fairy-types; they aren't Fairy-Types themselves.) are useful to take out opposing Spritzee and Snubbull as well, including Foongus, Pawniard, and Grimer-Alola. Finally, entry hazard support from the likes of Ferroseed and Dwebble can wear down opposing Pokemon and get them within range of a KO from Scraggy.

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

A bulkier set with Intimidate can be used to give Scraggy more setup opportunities against physical attackers, but by running it Scraggy loses either the ability to set up on status inducers or the Attack boosts from Moxie. Various other coverage moves are available to Scraggy, including Head Smash, to hit Vullaby, and Iron Head, as an alternate way to hit Fairy-types that comes with a flinch chance. However, these moves hit a much smaller slice of the metagame than the other coverage moves available to Scraggy. Scraggy can also run Dual Chop to deal with Focus Sash Abra, which otherwise can take a hit with Focus Sash and KO OHKOes it in return with Dazzling Gleam, but it does very little damage to anything else. Scraggy also has access to the elemental punches and Stone Edge, but most of what these moves hit is hit harder by one of Scraggy's STAB moves anyway. Brick Break is a potential Fighting-type STAB move that which can be used to break through Aurora Veil, but it lacks the power of High Jump Kick or the recovery of Drain Punch, (RC) and is very situational. Finally, various Z-Crystals Items can be used on Scraggy's Dragon Dance set.(RP)(add colon) Poisinium Poisonium Z can be run alongside used in conjunction with Poison Jab to turn Scraggy into a powerful (I'd say deadly tbh) lure for Fairy type Pokemon, or Fightium and Fightinium Z can be used to give Scraggy one extremely high-powered High Jump Kick (This somewhat misrepresents what Fightinium Z does. Consider mentioning All-Out Pummeling by name or referring to the attack as "Z-High Jump Kick". Doing either of these would also imply that this partially gets around Protect, which is a huge step up from taking crash damage.) (we don't use Z-[attack name] so if you wanna mention the Z-Move say All-Out Pummeling) to take out a weakened foe. However, the lack of Eviolite makes it much harder for Scraggy to set up, (RC) and leaves it more vulnerable to opposing priority.

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

**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are among the only Pokemon to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves, and they OHKO it easily in return with their 4x super effective STAB. Snubbull and Spritzee both serve as good checks to Scraggy, taking even a boosted Poison Jab and OHKOing in return, but they have to be wary of being hit by Knock Off or worn down to the range of a Poison Jab KO. Cottonee also makes a decent check to non-Poison Jab variants of Scraggy.

**Fighting-types**: Bulkier Fighting-types, such as slow Mienfoo and Timburr, can take Scraggy's attacks and OHKO in return with their super effective STAB. Timburr has the additional advantage of super effective priority, which it can use to pick off a weakened Scraggy. Croagunk also makes a potent Scraggy check, as it is the only non-Fairy type in the tier to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. However, all of these Pokemon must be wary of taking a boosted Zen Headbutt.

**Powerful Choice Scarf Users**: Many Choice Scarf users can outspeed Scraggy, even after a Dragon Dance boost, and KO it in return, including Mienfoo, Doduo, Rufflet, Dazzling Gleam Gastly, and Vullaby. These However, these Pokemon cannot take a hit from Scraggy, however (Consider adding something more to this sentence; it seems a little too brief. Perhaps mention their reliance on having a Choice Scarf, or their inability to switch in?).

**Abra**: Focus Sash Thanks to Magic Guard, Abra cannot have its Focus Sash broken by hazards, if it holds one, (This avoids repetition and better explains why Abra takes no damage from hazards.) and so can take any hit from Scraggy no matter how much it has boosted and OHKO in return with Dazzling Gleam. Thus, opposing Abra must have their Focus Sash broken before Scraggy can set up safely.
 
This thread for me is like Scraggy's battle with its pants: I constantly try but can never quite keep up.

1/2 implemented
 
remove add / fix (comments); (AC=add comma; RC=remove comma; SC=semicolon)
GP 2/2
[OVERVIEW]

Scraggy's unique Dark / Fighting typing gives it access to dual STAB coverage that hits a huge chunk of the LC metagame at least neutrally, and this which coupled with its fairly high Attack stat turns it into a threatening offensive Pokemon. Scraggy most often opts for a sweeper set, first using Dragon Dance to boost its Attack and patch up its mediocre Speed and then attempting to sweep opposing teams with its STAB attacks and variety of coverage moves. Alternatively, Scraggy can also become a threatening cleaner by using a Choice Scarf. Scraggy has Access to useful STAB moves that help it helps Scraggy take advantage of the coverage that its typing gives it, especially Knock Off, Drain Punch, and High Jump Kick. Scraggy also can use two distinct abilities, both of which assist it in different ways. Moxie makes Scraggy more difficult to beat every time it KOes a foe, while Shed Skin gives it a way to shrug off status and more easily set up on status inducers. However, Scraggy suffers significantly from weaknesses to the common Fairy-, Flying-, and Fighting-types, which leave it often struggling to set up, despite its good defensive stats. Fairy-type Pokemon are especially troublesome, as they resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. Additionally, though it has access to a wide variety of coverage moves, Scraggy must choose which to use, which means that depending on its set Scraggy can be walled by different Pokemon.

[SET]
name: Dragon Dance Sweeper
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: High Jump Kick / Drain Punch
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Poison Jab / Drain Punch
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin / Moxie
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 156 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

With Dragon Dance, Scraggy becomes a threatening sweeper, able to boost its Attack and Speed to dangerous levels in a single turn. High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use after a boost to break down teams. However, it comes with a risk of missing and taking crash damage. Drain Punch is a decently alternative STAB option that gives Scraggy a form of recovery while it attempts to sweep, and it is more reliable than High Jump Kick. Knock Off is another powerful STAB move with the added utility of removing foes' items, allowing Scraggy to cripple opposing teams for itself and its teammates. It has terrific coverage alongside Drain Punch, hitting the entire metagame aside from Fairy-types and Croagunk at least neutrally. In Scraggy's final slot, it has a choice of various coverage moves. Zen Headbutt hits Poison-types, such as Foongus and Croagunk, and Fighting-types, which tend to be some of the most common answers to Scraggy. Poison Jab can be run instead to hit Fairy-types for super effective damage, and it comes with a decent poison chance, which can be helpful in wearing down foes. Drain Punch is an option here if Scraggy's team can handle its checks well enough to warrant not running a coverage move, giving it access to both recovery with Drain Punch and power with High Jump Kick.

Set Details
========

Scraggy's EV spread gives it enough defensive investment to optimize its bulk with Eviolite, with the remainder invested in Attack and Speed to maximize its sweeping potential. Eviolite couples well with the defensive investment, giving Scraggy the bulk to take hits when necessary while setting up with Dragon Dance, including usually avoiding the OHKO from Vullaby's Brave Bird and always avoiding the KO from Mienfoo's Drain Punch. Scraggy's nature can be Jolly, which allows it to outspeed threats such as Corphish after Dragon Dance and tie with Choice Scarf Magnemite and +2 Tirtouga. Alternatively, Adamant can be run to give Scraggy more attacking power, at the expense of being outsped by the aforementioned threats. Even with an Adamant nature, it should be noted that Scraggy outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame after a Dragon Dance Speed boost. Scraggy's ability is a choice between Shed Skin and Moxie. The former makes it less worried about status, giving it the ability to set up against Will-O-Wisp users such as Ponyta and shrug off other statuses that would cripple most sweepers, such as paralysis and sleep. The latter leaves Scraggy comparably more susceptible to status-inducing moves but makes it very difficult to stop after it gets a KO, which means that after it does set up, Scraggy has a much easier time sweeping.

Usage Tips
========

Dragon Dance Scraggy is a late-game sweeper and should be somewhat preserved throughout a match. It is primarily checked by Fairy-types, which resist both of its STAB attacks, and bulky Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Croagunk, Foongus, Timburr, and Mienfoo, so these Pokemon should be weakened and, if possible, hit by Knock Off before Scraggy attempts to sweep. Additionally, when choosing when to set up, keep in mind that Scraggy's coverage moves, especially Poison Jab, aren't particularly powerful even after a boost, so its checks should be weakened as much as possible even if Scraggy does carry a super effective coverage move. However, that doesn't mean it should not be used at all before attempting a sweep: early- to mid-game, Scraggy can lure in its checks and use Knock Off to weaken them for a sweep later in the game. After said checks have been weakened over the course of a battle, Scraggy should be brought in against a Pokemon that can't hit it super effectively, such as Ferroseed or Slowpoke, to set up and then sweep. Be careful, however, about letting Scraggy get worn down too much too early in a match, as if this happens, Scraggy will be susceptible to priority later in the game.

Team Options
========

Scraggy is a terrific choice for type spam cores, as Pokemon that share one of its types can bring in foes that check it and weaken them for Scraggy to sweep late in the game. Timburr and Mienfoo make good Fighting-type partners to Scraggy, as they can draw in Poison- and Fairy-types and weaken them with Knock Off. Vullaby and Carvanha form a potent Dark-type core with Scraggy and can similarly wear down Scraggy's checks over the course of a match. Alolan Grimer makes an especially notable choice, as it is able to come in on and Pursuit trap Focus Sash Abra, hit Fairy-type Pokemon that aim to check Scraggy super effectively, and use Knock Off and Pursuit to weaken Choice Scarf users that outspeed Scraggy even after a Dragon Dance so that Scraggy doesn't need to worry about them later in a match. Other Poison-types also make good partners, able to take on both Fairy- and Fighting-type Pokemon that can threaten Scraggy. Foongus, Croagunk, and Skrelp make good choices for this, with the first also able to bring in Steel-types that Scraggy can set up on.

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: High Jump Kick
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Poison Jab
move 4: Drain Punch / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

High Jump Kick is an extremely powerful STAB move that Scraggy can use to severely dent even the Pokemon that resist it. Knock Off is a far more reliable Dark-type STAB move that Scraggy can spam more freely, and it still hits the majority of the metagame for significant damage while maintaining terrific offensive synergy with High Jump Kick by hitting the Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that resist High Jump Kick Fighting. It even comes with the useful side effect of removing foes' items. Poison Jab is Scraggy's most generally useful coverage move, as it hits the Fairy-types that resist its STAB combination and comes with a useful chance of inflicting poison. Drain Punch is an alternate STAB move that can be used when the power of High Jump Kick is not necessary or its chance of missing should not be risked, especially early-game. Zen Headbutt is an alternative that can hit Pokemon such as Croagunk and Foongus that might switch in predicting a resisted hit that they can resist.

Set Details
========

The given EV spread maximizes Scraggy's Attack and Speed so that it can be as fast as possible while still hitting hard. With a Jolly nature, Scraggy reaches 15 Speed, which, with a Choice Scarf, is enough to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, and some slower Choice Scarf users such as Mudbray and Modest Magnemite. This turns Scraggy into a powerful revenge killer. The remaining EVs are used to boost Scraggy's HP, improving its mixed bulk as much as possible. Moxie makes Scraggy into an especially threatening revenge killer, as it gets an Attack boost just by revenge killing something, and can give it the ability to clean opposing teams in the late-game.

Usage Tips
========

Throughout the majority of the game, Scraggy should be used to revenge kill foes. Scraggy can bluff a Dragon Dance set early in the game, which will make Ghost-types less likely to switch into it for fear of Knock Off. After Scraggy's Choice Scarf has been revealed, Knock Off and Drain Punch are the safest moves to spam early in the game to wear down opposing teams if there are Ghost-types on the opponent's team. Ghost-types should be defeated before Scraggy locks itself into Drain Punch, but if there are no Ghost-types remaining on the field, Scraggy should lock itself into High Jump Kick when possible, as it is by far its most powerful attack. Be careful, however, of Protect users, such as Spritzee, Carvanha, and Torchic, when locking Scraggy into High Jump Kick, especially if Scraggy has revealed its Choice Scarf. Poison Jab, and Zen Headbutt if it is run, should only be used when absolutely necessary to weaken the Pokemon they are super effective against, as High Jump Kick will almost always hit harder. Late in a game, when the opponent's Fighting-type switch-ins have been worn down, Scraggy can use its Choice Scarf to clean an opposing team with High Jump Kick. The most efficient way to allow Scraggy to clean is to send it in when it can KO a foe and get a Moxie boost, as it immediately becomes very hard to switch into. Although it has decent bulk, Scraggy should usually not be switched in on opposing attacks, as if it is worn down it will be vulnerable to priority moves when attempting to clean late-game.

Team Options
========

The best teammates for Scraggy are those that can give it the support it needs to clean opposing teams in the late-game. Pursuit trappers, such as Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, are essential to trap remove Ghost-types so that Scraggy can safely use High Jump Kick to clean teams. Both of these Pokemon, along with Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr, are able to use Knock Off, which is also beneficial to Scraggy because it wears down foes for Scraggy to be able to clean late in a game. Pokemon that share checks with Scraggy, such as Carvanha, Vullaby, Timburr, and Mienfoo, can bring in and wear down these checks for Scraggy, again allowing Scraggy to clean opposing teams without fear of these checks. Checks to Fairy-types, such as Foongus, Pawniard, and Alolan Grimer, are useful to take out opposing Spritzee and Snubbull. Finally, entry hazard support from the likes of Ferroseed and Dwebble can wear down opposing Pokemon and get them within range of a KO from Scraggy.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A bulkier set with Intimidate can be used to give Scraggy more setup opportunities against physical attackers, but by running it Scraggy loses either the ability to set up on status inducers or the Attack boosts from Moxie. Various other coverage moves are available to Scraggy, including Head Smash, to hit Vullaby, and Iron Head, as an alternate way to hit Fairy-types that comes with a flinch chance. However, these moves hit a much smaller slice of the metagame than the other coverage moves available to Scraggy. Scraggy can also run Dual Chop to deal with Focus Sash Abra, which otherwise can take a hit with Focus Sash and OHKOes it in return with Dazzling Gleam, but it does very little damage to anything else. Scraggy also has access to the elemental punches and Stone Edge, but most of what these moves hit is hit harder by one of Scraggy's STAB moves anyway. Brick Break is a potential Fighting-type STAB move that can be used to break through Aurora Veil, but it lacks the power of High Jump Kick or the recovery of Drain Punch and is very situational. Finally, various Z-Crystals can be used on Scraggy's Dragon Dance set: Poisonium Z can be used in conjunction with Poison Jab to turn Scraggy into a deadly lure for Fairy-type (AH) Pokemon, and Fightinium Z can be used to give Scraggy one extremely high-powered High Jump Kick to take out a weakened foe it otherwise could not KO. However, the lack of Eviolite makes it much harder for Scraggy to set up and leaves it more vulnerable to opposing priority.

Checks and Counters
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**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types are among the only Pokemon to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves, and they OHKO it easily in return with their 4x super effective STAB attacks. Snubbull and Spritzee both serve as good checks to Scraggy, taking even a boosted Poison Jab and OHKOing in return, but they have to be wary of being hit by Knock Off or worn down to the range of a Poison Jab KO. Cottonee also makes a decent check to non-Poison Jab variants of Scraggy.

**Fighting-types**: Bulkier Fighting-types, such as slow Mienfoo and Timburr, can take Scraggy's attacks and OHKO in return with their super effective STAB. Timburr has the additional advantage of super effective priority, which it can use to pick off a weakened Scraggy. Croagunk also makes a potent Scraggy check, as it is the only non-Fairy type in the tier to resist both of Scraggy's STAB moves. However, all of these Pokemon must be wary of taking a boosted Zen Headbutt.

**Powerful Choice Scarf Users**: Many Choice Scarf users can outspeed Scraggy, even after a Dragon Dance boost, and KO it in return, including Mienfoo, Doduo, Rufflet, Dazzling Gleam Gastly, and Vullaby. However, these Pokemon cannot take a hit from Scraggy.

**Abra**: Thanks to Magic Guard, Abra cannot have its Focus Sash broken by entry hazards, if it holds one, and so can take any hit from Scraggy no matter how much it has boosted and OHKO in return with Dazzling Gleam. Thus, opposing Abra must have their Focus Sash broken before Scraggy can set up safely.
 
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