The Next Best Thing - Spiritomb [Voting]

Hot N Cold's Mixed Unburden Sceptile

hnc

All the sets are really good, and I've run Molk's sub-petaya set before (like a long time ago, but still). But I think for the purpose of Next Best Thing, Hot N Cold has the best set that lets it beat its counters.

Yeah, hnc

HnC

Although I use Molk's set myself, I am definitely interested in Hot n Cold's set, so I'll vote for that one.

Molk

Nice twist

Ok so Hot N Cold wins with 11 votes. Now for this weeks pokemon...

Qwilfish

Qwilfish @ Focus Sash
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Spikes
- Waterfall
- Taunt
- Explosion

While most Qwilfish aim to stick around for as long as possible, checking certain Pokemon throughout the match and setting Spikes over time, this Qwilfish takes a different approach, aiming to get as many layers of hazards up as possible early game while stopping other hazard setters such as Smeargle, Crustle, Omastar, Ferroseed, and opposing Qwilfish from setting their own hazards. Despite usually being used as a defensive Pokemon, Qwilfish has a very nice base 95 Attack stat to work with, so its Waterfall packs a nice punch, possibly allowing it to take out another Pokemon with it before it goes down. A relatively fast Taunt combined with Qwilfish's bulk helps Qwilfish prevent other hazard setters such as the ones previously mentioned from setting up their hazards, crippling Qwilfish with a status move, or possibility attempting to boost, giving the user a significant advantage early on. It puts a temporary stop to various other Pokemon too, stopping them from using their status, support, or recovery moves and often forcing them to switch out, giving Qwilfish a free opportunity to set up another layer of Spikes. When Qwilfish is no longer needed and/or is about to die, Explosion lets it go out with a bang, possibly scoring a free KO in the process. Explosion serves another purpose too: it stops slower opponents from pulling off a Rapid Spin against Qwilfish and remove all the hazards it set while simultaneously giving the Qwilfish user a free switch in, forcing the spinner out the next turn and keeping hazards on the field.

Qwilfish @damp rock
Trait: Swift Swim
252 HP/76Def/176Speed
Jolly Nature
-Rain Dance
-Destiny Bond
-Waterfall
-Taunt

Rain Dance Qwilfish is an awesome lead with a great chance to set up the rain. Against common leads (Smeargle, Aerodactyl, Accelgor, Snover, and Uxie) this Qwilfish does pretty well, avoiding being OHKOed by any of their offensive moves, and is able to out speed and taunt opposing Smeargle and Uxie. Rain dance on turn one (except Aerodactyl which you should waterfall on the taunt) and use destiny bond if you are in danger of dying as you out speed basically everything in the rain (176 Jolly Qwilfish reaches 550 speed in the rain) . This allows you to start the game 5 to 5 with 6 remaining turns of rain. 0 Atk Qwilfish 2HKOs Aerodactyl, so they have to chose between stealth rocks and killing Qwilfish (which it still fails to do). 0 Atk Qwilfish 2HKOs Accelgor in the rain, and offensive Accelgor 3HKO's at best (standard lead Accelgor has a 9HKO at best).

Note, the 76 Def EVs are important as they allow you to survive a max damage life orb Earthquake from 252 Jolly Aerodactyl with 1 HP.

Qwilfish @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant or Jolly Nature
- Waterfall
- Swords Dance
- Poison Jab
- Explosion

Qwilfish makes a mean swift swim sweeper. It's surprisingly fast with its 85 base Speed, being faster than both Kabutops and Ludicolo (and Seismitoad). What gives Qwilfish an edge over Kabutops as a SD rain sweeper is its alternative Poison STAB. Unlike Kabutops, it can OHKO offensive Grass-types without any boost, and even Tangrowth is OHKOed by +2 Poison Jab! Druddigon, another annoyance for rain teams is felled by a +2 Poison Jab, and +2 PJ also have a good chance at killing Lanturn, both targets after SR. This STAB also has a nifty 30% poison effect that can come in handy in wearing down the likes of Slowking or Poliwrath that it may fail to kill. However, it can simply kill these walls with Explosion so Kabutops, etc can sweep late-game. As you can see, Qwilfish and Kabutops form a good partnership. Qwilfish does the wall-breaking with Explosion, while Kabutops can come in on ExtremeSpeeds / Sucker Punches, and pick things off with its priority Aqua Jet.

Qwilfish @ Focus Sash
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 Def
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Destiny Bond
- Spikes
- Hydro Pump


Despite Qwilfish's higher physical Attack stat, Hydro Pump actually hits harder than Waterfall when used against a target with equal defenses. This becomes useful is quite a few situations, including hitting Steelix (pretty much dead if it faces this Qwilfish), Regirock (this includes the SpDef set) and Sandslash (for ladder play) loads harder. This set especially makes it easier to sweep with mons like Klinklang, Moltres, and other Pokemon that have trouble with those Defensive Pokemon . The Speed is used to Taunt Pokemon like Uxie and Smeargle and prevent them from setting up hazards / screens, as well as Destiny Bonding slower mons after you've set up Spikes. Destroys Custap Crustle with Intimidate and Taunt, as well as setting up at least 2 layers of hazards of its own and Destiny Bonding once its finished its job. Otherwise, this is standard suicide lead Qwilfish with Hydro Pump over Waterfall and Destiny Bond over Explosion.

Damage calcs to prove Hydro Pump hits harder, Mew is just an example:

252 Atk Qwilfish Waterfall vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mew: 106-126 (31.08 - 36.95%) -- 76.61% chance to 3HKO


252 SpA Qwilfish Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mew: 115-136 (33.72 - 39.88%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

K time for voting to begin. Here are the sets you can vote for:

Molk's Suicide Lead set
atominllamas' Rain Dance lead set
Pocket's Rain Dance Sweeper Set
Feranfell's Hydro Pump Suicide Lead Set

Feranfell's Hydro Pump suicide lead set

interesting twist