http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/140.shtml | http://veekun.com/dex/pokemon/kabuto
I thought this guy would learn Shell Break, but he doesn't...
[Overview]
<p>Kabuto is the best physical rain sweeper in Little Cup, which is the main reason to use it. It has access to Swift Swim and a solid 80 base Attack, combined with a good 55 base Speed. It also has good coverage in just its two STAB moves, with the only common resistors being Croagunk and Ferroseed. Unfortunately, Kabuto is weak to priority as it bypasses the Swift Swim boost. This is worsed by the fact that Kabuto is weak to Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave, two of the most common priority moves. Kabuto can use Aqua Jet to bypass other priority, though. Kabuto can also function as a good lead with access to Stealth Rock, a STAB priority attack, and Rapid Spin, though leading is now harder with Team Preview.</p>
- Best physical rain sweeper with Swift Swim and a solid 80 base Atk and a good 55 base Spe (in rain)
- Good coverage in two STAB moves
- Weak to priority, especially Fighting-type priority
- Can use Aqua Jet to bypass other priority
- Can also be a good "lead"
[Set]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Waterfall
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Rain Dance / Claw Sharpen
item: Life Orb / Evolution Stone
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p>Kabuto can abuse rain by using Swift Swim to double its Speed, while at the same time powering up Waterfall. Waterfall is a reliable and strong STAB move, especially in rain. Rock Slide provides a secondary STAB, providing good coverage. Rock Slide also hits Snover and Mantyke for super effective damage, who are normally annoying for rain teams to take on.
- Best physical rain sweeper, uses Swift Swim to double Speed and power up Waterfall
- Waterfall is a reliable and strong STAB move, especially in rain
- Rock Slide provides secondary STAB, providing good coverage and hitting opponents like Snover and Mantyke
- Waterfall and Rock Slide also have a nice flinch rate
- Aqua Jet hits priority users before they can attack
- Rain Dance sets up rain in case it stops raining or if you want to use Kabuto as a standalone rain sweeper
[Additional Coments]
- Adamant hits 30 Speed, outspeeding virtually everything
- Life Orb provides a welcome power boost
- Evolution Stone allows you to take strong priority moves more easily and moves while you set up
- Claw Sharpen can be used over Rain Dance if you're sure you always have rain up, also boosts Rock Slide's accuracy
- Aerial Ace can be used to deal with Croagunk and Grass-types
- Earth Power can be used for Croagunk, Chinchou and Tentacruel, but you have to split offenses and Evolution Stone makes you usually can't 2HKO
[Set]
name: Lead
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Aqua Jet
move 3: Rock Slide / Waterfall
move 4: Rapid Spin / Protect
item: Focus Sash
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 196 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
[Set Comments]
- Kabuto makes a good lead with access to Stealth Rock and priority
- Stealth Rock is obvious on a lead
- Aqua Jet finishes off Focus Sash and Sturdy leads
- Rock Slide provides good coverage with Aqua Jet
- Rapid Spin can remove opposing Stealth Rock and finish off weakened opponents with 1 move
- Protect is useful for scouting and blocking Fake Out
[Additional Comments]
- Focus Sash allows Kabuto to survive strong attacks
- Evolution Stone can be used as leading is harder with team preview
- Waterfall can be used over Rock Slide as it hits Fighting-types and Ground-types harder, such as Onix, Gligar, Machop, Meditite and Dokkora
- Waterfall can be used over Rapid Spin as it leaves you with more coverage
[Team Options]
- Pokemons that can reliably set up Rain Dance such as Bronzor and Frillish
- You can also use faster Pokemon to set up Rain Dance, such as Voltorb and Aipom
- Kabuto appreciates entry hazard support as it breaks Focus Sashes, Sturdy and helps Kabuto gain KOs
- Ferroseed is a good option as it resists Grass and Electric
- Magnemite can trap and kill Ferroseed and fire off 100% accurate Thunders in the rain
- Gligar is another useful teammate as it deals with Croagunk easily
- Wynaut can trap and kill Snover and Encore Lickitung
- Other rain sweepers. Omanyte is one of the best special sweepers, but shares a lot of weaknesses with Kabuto
- Buizel and Mantyke are good rain sweepers as well; Mantyke is immune to Ground and neutral to Grass
[Optional Changes]
- Rock Polish, but Rain Dance is usually superior as it boosts Water-type moves
- Kabuto hits 15 Speed, allowing him to run a Choice Scarf and outrun the plenty 14 Speed Scarfers
- Screech can work similar to Swords Dance, but wears off when the opponent switches out. Therefore, entry hazard support is very useful
- Hidden Power Fire deals with Ferroseed and Croagunk, but it's weak in the rain
[Counters]
- Ferroseed resists both of Kabuto's STAB moves and OHKO's with Bullet Seed
- Croagunk resists both of Kabuto's STAB moves and can do great damage with Vacuum Wave
- Snover stops Kabuto's precious rain and KOs with Wood Hammer or Energy Ball, but must be careful switching in because of Rock Slide
- Lickitung stops rain and can set up on Kabuto
