UberSkitty
Assist Skitty was banned from NatDex Ubers
uploaded -zard
QC: Yogurt / Galbia / Mom
GP: A Cake Wearing A Hat / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
With access to Shell Smash, Gorebyss is able to serve as a decent setup sweeper and wallbreaker. Its nice base 114 Special Attack, powerful STAB move in Hydro Pump, and various coverage options such as Ice Beam, Hidden Power Grass, and Hidden Power Fire all help Gorebyss in performing its roles. However, its low Speed largely hinders Gorebyss, making it much easier for Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Togedemaru to revenge kill it, even after a Shell Smash. If Gorebyss has taken enough damage, it can also be revenge killed by priority users such as Skuntank, Kangaskhan, and Hitmonchan. This leads to large competition from Carracosta, which has priority in Aqua Jet to make up for its low Speed, better bulk, Solid Rock, a secondary STAB move in Stone Edge, and the ability to run a mixed set, making it even harder to stop after it sets up a Shell Smash. Despite this, Gorebyss can carve itself a niche thanks to its higher Special Attack and Speed that allow it to not get stopped by certain threats to Carracosta such as Taunt Weezing. Gorebyss also faces some competition from other offensive Water-types in general, such as Floatzel and Swanna, due to their higher base Speed stats as well as Swanna's additional utility in its access to Defog and resistance to Fighting-type attacks, often allowing them to support their team better throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fire / Substitute
item: Waterium Z / White Herb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash boosts Gorebyss’s Special Attack and Speed at the cost of lowering its defenses, allowing Gorebyss to sweep and break through teams. Hydro Pump serves as its STAB attack and hits Fire- and Rock-types such as Magmortar and Regirock for super effective damage. It also allows Gorebyss to use Hydro Vortex to break through specially bulky Pokemon such as Miltank, Hitmonchan, and Articuno more easily as well as bypass Hydro Pump’s low accuracy. Ice Beam gives Gorebyss coverage against Grass- and Dragon-types such as Lilligant, Alolan Exeggutor, Drampa, and Altaria, which resist Hydro Pump. Hidden Power Grass hits Water-types such as Gastrodon, and can 2HKO other bulky Water-types such as Lanturn and Poliwrath after a Shell Smash. However, if running a Timid nature, Gorebyss can often fail to 2HKO Lanturn. Hidden Power Fire is an alternate option that gives Gorebyss a way to hit Jynx as well as certain Grass-types that only take neutral damage from Ice Beam, such as Ferroseed and Abomasnow. Substitute is another choice for the last slot, which protects Gorebyss from status moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic, giving it a better matchup against special walls such as Clefairy and Audino. If Gorebyss can maintain its Substitute, it can also grant a layer of protection against Choice Scarf users such as Primeape. It is also notable that, when using a White Herb, Gorebyss can use Substitute on Ferroseed and essentially use it as setup fodder, as Ferroseed fails to break Gorebyss's Substitute with Gyro Ball when Gorebyss is at neutral defenses, even with +2 Speed.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Special Attack and Speed give Gorebyss offensive presence, which it appreciates when sweeping. Modest is the preferred nature, as it allows Gorebyss to do as much damage as possible and break through bulkier foes such as Lanturn and Miltank more easily. Timid is an alternate option that allows Gorebyss to outspeed a few more Pokemon, most notably Timid Choice Scarf Mesprit. However, this is much more situational overall, as Gorebyss prefers the additional damage output when attempting to sweep. Waterium Z gives Gorebyss an accurate, one-time nuke, which is specifically useful for taking on specially defensive Pokemon such as Clefairy and Audino. Alternatively, White Herb negates the lowered defenses from Shell Smash, which allows Gorebyss to better take hits from faster Pokemon and priority users such as Primeape and Skuntank when sweeping, making it more difficult to offensively stop once it sets up. However, be wary that the White Herb can be unintentionally activated through other means such as Intimidate. Although neither of Gorebyss’s abilities benefit it in most occasions, Swift Swim gives it a better matchup against rain teams and allows it to function decently well on said rain teams.
Usage Tips
========
As a sweeper, Gorebyss can come in late-game, after its potential threats have been taken care of or at least crippled so it can ideally set up and sweep, potentially closing out the match. These threats include Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Pyroar and bulkier Pokemon such as Lanturn and Clefairy, especially if Gorebyss is not running Waterium Z. When being used as a wallbreaker, Gorebyss should be used mid- to late-game, using its high Special Attack and the Shell Smash boosts to break down bulkier foes such as Regirock and Palossand so that a teammate can come in and have an easier time cleaning the match afterwards. Gorebyss should be brought onto the field through a slow pivot such as Eelektross's Volt Switch or Mesprit's U-turn or a Memento user such as Alolan Dugtrio in order to maintain as much health as possible. Gorebyss should set up against Pokemon that can do little to it, such as Weezing, as they are forced out and can be used as setup fodder. If a Pokemon is Choice locked into a resisted move, such as Choice Specs Mesprit locked into Ice Beam, Gorebyss can also use it to set up a Shell Smash. However, be wary that they can do a decent amount of damage, so Gorebyss should often only use it to set up one Shell Smash at most.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Passimian, Magmortar, and Drampa can break down the bulky Pokemon that give Gorebyss trouble, such as Type: Null and Ferroseed, and Gorebyss can clean up for them in return. Faster Pokemon such as Archeops and Pyroar appreciate Gorebyss's ability to serve as a wallbreaker, as it can help weaken Pokemon that can stop them such as Regirock, Palossand, and Weezing before they come in to clean. Entry hazard setters such as Mesprit, Regirock, Ferroseed, and Weezing can also help against bulky foes like Type: Null and Miltank, as the residual damage can potentially whittle them down to the point where Gorebyss can KO them. Mesprit can also support Gorebyss with a slow U-turn, which can serve as a reliable way to get Gorebyss on the field, or with Healing Wish, which can potentially give Gorebyss a second chance to set up and sweep. Regirock and Ferroseed can also provide support in Thunder Wave, which can cripple Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Pyroar and allow Gorebyss to outspeed them after a Shell Smash. Choice Scarf users can also be crippled by Knock Off users, such as Gurdurr, Alolan Raticate, and Passimian. Knock Off can furthermore be used as a way to cripple certain bulky Pokemon, such as Assault Vest holders like Eelektross and Eviolite holders like Clefairy. Eelektross is a good Knock Off user, slow pivot, and check to certain Choice Scarf users that can revenge kill Gorebyss, such as Pyroar and Oricorio-G. Gorebyss does not like to be whittled down by entry hazards because it needs to stay as healthy as possible in order to sweep, so it appreciates Defog and Rapid Spin users such as Skuntank, Hitmonchan, and Lurantis to remove the hazards. Memento users such as Alolan Dugtrio and Jumpluff can bring Gorebyss without it having to take any damage in the process. They also weaken the opposing Pokemon, making it more easy for Gorebyss to set up a Shell Smash on them. Dual screen users such as Meowstic-M, which also has access to Thunder Wave, can also give Gorebyss an easier time setting up. Gorebyss can be used on rain teams, in which Rain Dance users such as Volbeat and Liepard and other rain sweepers such as Ludicolo and Kabutops are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Surf can be a more reliable STAB option over Hydro Pump due to its higher accuracy, but it can be simply too weak at times, and it makes it easier for specially defensive Pokemon to wall Gorebyss. Scald is another option with even less power than Surf but with a chance to burn foes. Life Orb allows Gorebyss to constantly deal out a little more damage as it sweeps, but it can wear Gorebyss down over time, and it can leave Gorebyss more vulnerable against walls, faster foes, and priority users, making it generally less reliable than the other item options. Signal Beam is a coverage option that hits Grass-types, including Abomasnow and Ludicolo, which are neutral to Ice Beam, as well as Psychic-types such as Jynx, but this coverage is already accomplished by Hidden Power Fire, and if ran over Ice Beam, it leaves Gorebyss walled by Dragon-types such as Drampa and Altaria. Finally, Psychic can be run alongside Hidden Power Fire for almost perfect neutral coverage, but this leaves Gorebyss struggling more against certain bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Lanturn and Cradily.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users such as Primeape, Oricorio-G, Pyroar, and Togedemaru can still outspeed and OHKO Gorebyss even after a Shell Smash or with some chip damage if Gorebyss is using White Herb. Choice Scarf Alolan Raichu, Lilligant, Manectric, and Rotom-F are notable, as they can outspeed and OHKO Gorebyss, although they are not very common.
**Bulky Water-types**: Lanturn and Poliwrath can take a hit, even when Gorebyss is at +2, and take little from Hydro Vortex, and they KO Gorebyss with Volt Switch or force it out with Circle Throw, respectively. However, Gorebyss can 2HKO both with +2 Hidden Power Grass. Pyukumuku ignores the stat boosts of Shell Smash thanks to Unaware and can stall Gorebyss with Toxic, but it can be stopped by Substitute. If Gorebyss is not running Hidden Power Grass, Gastrodon can take a hit before retaliating with Toxic or dealing a good amount of damage with Earth Power, but it is 2HKOed by Ice Beam.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: If Gorebyss is not running Waterium Z, certain specially defensive Pokemon such as Eelektross, Type: Null, Audino, and Clefairy can take a hit before KOing Gorebyss with Volt Switch or Return, or crippling it with Toxic or Thunder Wave in order to stop its sweep. Audino and Clefairy can be played around with Substitute. However, even without Waterium Z, they do not appreciate taking a +2 Hydro Pump and can still be KOed in situations with previous damage. Cradily is immune to Hydro Vortex and manages to avoid the OHKO from +2 Ice Beam, if it has not taken too much damage beforehand. In return, it deals a good amount of damage with Giga Drain, even OHKOing Gorebyss if it is at -1. Substitute and Hidden Power Fire can give Ferroseed trouble, which can otherwise take a hit and whittle Gorebyss down with a combination of Leech Seed, Protect, and Gyro Ball and cripple it with a potential Thunder Wave.
**Priority Users**: If Gorebyss has taken a good amount of damage in the process of setting up and sweeping, priority users such as Skuntank, Kangaskhan, Hitmonchan, Alolan Raticate, and Shiftry can come in to KO Gorebyss without having to fear being outsped. This is especially easy if Gorebyss is at -1 defenses.
**Taunt and Encore Users**: Faster Taunt users such as Skuntank, Sableye, and Alolan Persian can stop Gorebyss from being able to set up a Shell Smash, and either switch into a better matchup, cripple it with Thunder Wave, Toxic, or Will-O-Wisp, or go for a KO. However, none of them appreciate taking Hydro Vortex. Certain Pokemon such as Archeops and Pyroar can Taunt Gorebyss, but they can often end up being KOed in the process due to their poor defenses and weakness to Hydro Pump. It is also notable that Taunt does little to nothing after Gorebyss sets up a Shell Smash. Both Liepard and Volbeat can lock Gorebyss into Shell Smash with Encore while not minding the Speed boost due to Prankster, although they must stay wary that Gorebyss can bypass this for one turn using its Z-Move.
QC: Yogurt / Galbia / Mom
GP: A Cake Wearing A Hat / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
With access to Shell Smash, Gorebyss is able to serve as a decent setup sweeper and wallbreaker. Its nice base 114 Special Attack, powerful STAB move in Hydro Pump, and various coverage options such as Ice Beam, Hidden Power Grass, and Hidden Power Fire all help Gorebyss in performing its roles. However, its low Speed largely hinders Gorebyss, making it much easier for Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Togedemaru to revenge kill it, even after a Shell Smash. If Gorebyss has taken enough damage, it can also be revenge killed by priority users such as Skuntank, Kangaskhan, and Hitmonchan. This leads to large competition from Carracosta, which has priority in Aqua Jet to make up for its low Speed, better bulk, Solid Rock, a secondary STAB move in Stone Edge, and the ability to run a mixed set, making it even harder to stop after it sets up a Shell Smash. Despite this, Gorebyss can carve itself a niche thanks to its higher Special Attack and Speed that allow it to not get stopped by certain threats to Carracosta such as Taunt Weezing. Gorebyss also faces some competition from other offensive Water-types in general, such as Floatzel and Swanna, due to their higher base Speed stats as well as Swanna's additional utility in its access to Defog and resistance to Fighting-type attacks, often allowing them to support their team better throughout the game.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fire / Substitute
item: Waterium Z / White Herb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash boosts Gorebyss’s Special Attack and Speed at the cost of lowering its defenses, allowing Gorebyss to sweep and break through teams. Hydro Pump serves as its STAB attack and hits Fire- and Rock-types such as Magmortar and Regirock for super effective damage. It also allows Gorebyss to use Hydro Vortex to break through specially bulky Pokemon such as Miltank, Hitmonchan, and Articuno more easily as well as bypass Hydro Pump’s low accuracy. Ice Beam gives Gorebyss coverage against Grass- and Dragon-types such as Lilligant, Alolan Exeggutor, Drampa, and Altaria, which resist Hydro Pump. Hidden Power Grass hits Water-types such as Gastrodon, and can 2HKO other bulky Water-types such as Lanturn and Poliwrath after a Shell Smash. However, if running a Timid nature, Gorebyss can often fail to 2HKO Lanturn. Hidden Power Fire is an alternate option that gives Gorebyss a way to hit Jynx as well as certain Grass-types that only take neutral damage from Ice Beam, such as Ferroseed and Abomasnow. Substitute is another choice for the last slot, which protects Gorebyss from status moves such as Thunder Wave and Toxic, giving it a better matchup against special walls such as Clefairy and Audino. If Gorebyss can maintain its Substitute, it can also grant a layer of protection against Choice Scarf users such as Primeape. It is also notable that, when using a White Herb, Gorebyss can use Substitute on Ferroseed and essentially use it as setup fodder, as Ferroseed fails to break Gorebyss's Substitute with Gyro Ball when Gorebyss is at neutral defenses, even with +2 Speed.
Set Details
========
252 EVs in Special Attack and Speed give Gorebyss offensive presence, which it appreciates when sweeping. Modest is the preferred nature, as it allows Gorebyss to do as much damage as possible and break through bulkier foes such as Lanturn and Miltank more easily. Timid is an alternate option that allows Gorebyss to outspeed a few more Pokemon, most notably Timid Choice Scarf Mesprit. However, this is much more situational overall, as Gorebyss prefers the additional damage output when attempting to sweep. Waterium Z gives Gorebyss an accurate, one-time nuke, which is specifically useful for taking on specially defensive Pokemon such as Clefairy and Audino. Alternatively, White Herb negates the lowered defenses from Shell Smash, which allows Gorebyss to better take hits from faster Pokemon and priority users such as Primeape and Skuntank when sweeping, making it more difficult to offensively stop once it sets up. However, be wary that the White Herb can be unintentionally activated through other means such as Intimidate. Although neither of Gorebyss’s abilities benefit it in most occasions, Swift Swim gives it a better matchup against rain teams and allows it to function decently well on said rain teams.
Usage Tips
========
As a sweeper, Gorebyss can come in late-game, after its potential threats have been taken care of or at least crippled so it can ideally set up and sweep, potentially closing out the match. These threats include Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Pyroar and bulkier Pokemon such as Lanturn and Clefairy, especially if Gorebyss is not running Waterium Z. When being used as a wallbreaker, Gorebyss should be used mid- to late-game, using its high Special Attack and the Shell Smash boosts to break down bulkier foes such as Regirock and Palossand so that a teammate can come in and have an easier time cleaning the match afterwards. Gorebyss should be brought onto the field through a slow pivot such as Eelektross's Volt Switch or Mesprit's U-turn or a Memento user such as Alolan Dugtrio in order to maintain as much health as possible. Gorebyss should set up against Pokemon that can do little to it, such as Weezing, as they are forced out and can be used as setup fodder. If a Pokemon is Choice locked into a resisted move, such as Choice Specs Mesprit locked into Ice Beam, Gorebyss can also use it to set up a Shell Smash. However, be wary that they can do a decent amount of damage, so Gorebyss should often only use it to set up one Shell Smash at most.
Team Options
========
Wallbreakers such as Passimian, Magmortar, and Drampa can break down the bulky Pokemon that give Gorebyss trouble, such as Type: Null and Ferroseed, and Gorebyss can clean up for them in return. Faster Pokemon such as Archeops and Pyroar appreciate Gorebyss's ability to serve as a wallbreaker, as it can help weaken Pokemon that can stop them such as Regirock, Palossand, and Weezing before they come in to clean. Entry hazard setters such as Mesprit, Regirock, Ferroseed, and Weezing can also help against bulky foes like Type: Null and Miltank, as the residual damage can potentially whittle them down to the point where Gorebyss can KO them. Mesprit can also support Gorebyss with a slow U-turn, which can serve as a reliable way to get Gorebyss on the field, or with Healing Wish, which can potentially give Gorebyss a second chance to set up and sweep. Regirock and Ferroseed can also provide support in Thunder Wave, which can cripple Choice Scarf users such as Primeape and Pyroar and allow Gorebyss to outspeed them after a Shell Smash. Choice Scarf users can also be crippled by Knock Off users, such as Gurdurr, Alolan Raticate, and Passimian. Knock Off can furthermore be used as a way to cripple certain bulky Pokemon, such as Assault Vest holders like Eelektross and Eviolite holders like Clefairy. Eelektross is a good Knock Off user, slow pivot, and check to certain Choice Scarf users that can revenge kill Gorebyss, such as Pyroar and Oricorio-G. Gorebyss does not like to be whittled down by entry hazards because it needs to stay as healthy as possible in order to sweep, so it appreciates Defog and Rapid Spin users such as Skuntank, Hitmonchan, and Lurantis to remove the hazards. Memento users such as Alolan Dugtrio and Jumpluff can bring Gorebyss without it having to take any damage in the process. They also weaken the opposing Pokemon, making it more easy for Gorebyss to set up a Shell Smash on them. Dual screen users such as Meowstic-M, which also has access to Thunder Wave, can also give Gorebyss an easier time setting up. Gorebyss can be used on rain teams, in which Rain Dance users such as Volbeat and Liepard and other rain sweepers such as Ludicolo and Kabutops are appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Surf can be a more reliable STAB option over Hydro Pump due to its higher accuracy, but it can be simply too weak at times, and it makes it easier for specially defensive Pokemon to wall Gorebyss. Scald is another option with even less power than Surf but with a chance to burn foes. Life Orb allows Gorebyss to constantly deal out a little more damage as it sweeps, but it can wear Gorebyss down over time, and it can leave Gorebyss more vulnerable against walls, faster foes, and priority users, making it generally less reliable than the other item options. Signal Beam is a coverage option that hits Grass-types, including Abomasnow and Ludicolo, which are neutral to Ice Beam, as well as Psychic-types such as Jynx, but this coverage is already accomplished by Hidden Power Fire, and if ran over Ice Beam, it leaves Gorebyss walled by Dragon-types such as Drampa and Altaria. Finally, Psychic can be run alongside Hidden Power Fire for almost perfect neutral coverage, but this leaves Gorebyss struggling more against certain bulky Water- and Grass-types such as Lanturn and Cradily.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Choice Scarf Users**: Choice Scarf users such as Primeape, Oricorio-G, Pyroar, and Togedemaru can still outspeed and OHKO Gorebyss even after a Shell Smash or with some chip damage if Gorebyss is using White Herb. Choice Scarf Alolan Raichu, Lilligant, Manectric, and Rotom-F are notable, as they can outspeed and OHKO Gorebyss, although they are not very common.
**Bulky Water-types**: Lanturn and Poliwrath can take a hit, even when Gorebyss is at +2, and take little from Hydro Vortex, and they KO Gorebyss with Volt Switch or force it out with Circle Throw, respectively. However, Gorebyss can 2HKO both with +2 Hidden Power Grass. Pyukumuku ignores the stat boosts of Shell Smash thanks to Unaware and can stall Gorebyss with Toxic, but it can be stopped by Substitute. If Gorebyss is not running Hidden Power Grass, Gastrodon can take a hit before retaliating with Toxic or dealing a good amount of damage with Earth Power, but it is 2HKOed by Ice Beam.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: If Gorebyss is not running Waterium Z, certain specially defensive Pokemon such as Eelektross, Type: Null, Audino, and Clefairy can take a hit before KOing Gorebyss with Volt Switch or Return, or crippling it with Toxic or Thunder Wave in order to stop its sweep. Audino and Clefairy can be played around with Substitute. However, even without Waterium Z, they do not appreciate taking a +2 Hydro Pump and can still be KOed in situations with previous damage. Cradily is immune to Hydro Vortex and manages to avoid the OHKO from +2 Ice Beam, if it has not taken too much damage beforehand. In return, it deals a good amount of damage with Giga Drain, even OHKOing Gorebyss if it is at -1. Substitute and Hidden Power Fire can give Ferroseed trouble, which can otherwise take a hit and whittle Gorebyss down with a combination of Leech Seed, Protect, and Gyro Ball and cripple it with a potential Thunder Wave.
**Priority Users**: If Gorebyss has taken a good amount of damage in the process of setting up and sweeping, priority users such as Skuntank, Kangaskhan, Hitmonchan, Alolan Raticate, and Shiftry can come in to KO Gorebyss without having to fear being outsped. This is especially easy if Gorebyss is at -1 defenses.
**Taunt and Encore Users**: Faster Taunt users such as Skuntank, Sableye, and Alolan Persian can stop Gorebyss from being able to set up a Shell Smash, and either switch into a better matchup, cripple it with Thunder Wave, Toxic, or Will-O-Wisp, or go for a KO. However, none of them appreciate taking Hydro Vortex. Certain Pokemon such as Archeops and Pyroar can Taunt Gorebyss, but they can often end up being KOed in the process due to their poor defenses and weakness to Hydro Pump. It is also notable that Taunt does little to nothing after Gorebyss sets up a Shell Smash. Both Liepard and Volbeat can lock Gorebyss into Shell Smash with Encore while not minding the Speed boost due to Prankster, although they must stay wary that Gorebyss can bypass this for one turn using its Z-Move.
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