writing up for amarillo
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Careful
evs: 224 HP / 32 Atk / 128 SpD / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite its seemingly mediocre base 85 Attack stat, Lickilicky is able to run an effective offensive set. Unlike its other sets, which focus on providing support to Lickilicky's team, this set is used to sweep. Lickilicky is somewhat different from other common physical sweepers, such as Absol and Samurott, as its substantial bulk allows it to set up on many common physical walls, such as Tangela and Alomomola. Swords Dance is the key move of this set, as it allows Lickilicky to boost its Attack to high levels and hit very hard. It is Lickilicky's best boosting move for an offensive set, as it does not compromise its HP, as Belly Drum does, nor its Speed, as Curse does. Body Slam is Lickilicky's best choice for a STAB move, as Lickilicky really appreciates the paralysis Body Slam can inflict, allowing Lickilicky to outspeed faster opponents. Power Whip is a fantastic coverage move, allowing Lickilicky to smash Pokemon such as Golem, Alomomola, and Quagsire. Quagsire is one of the main counters to most other physical setup sweepers, and as such, being able to get past it is a major boon for Lickilicky. Substitute grants Lickilicky the aforementioned ability to set up on a large amount of physical walls, and also prevents it from being afflicted with status, which can be very crippling to Lickilicky.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Although the EV spread might look complex at first glance, it's actually quite simple. The Speed EVs allow Lickilicky to outspeed uninvested base 65 Speed Pokemon such as Alomomola as well as most other defensive Pokemon, such as Tangela and Regirock. 224 HP EVs grants Lickilicky 404 HP, an important benchmark which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. The Special Defense EVs and the Careful nature mean that Lickilicky's Substitute will not be broken by a Volt Switch from Rotom-S, and the remaining EVs are then put into Attack to provide a little more punch behind Lickilicky's attacks. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe with an Adamant nature can also be used if you prefer power to bulk. Cloud Nine is the preferred ability, as it is vastly superior to Lickilicky's other abilities which should only be used in the case of a move illegality. Cloud Nine helps Lickilicky combat the common weather teams, vastly reducing the prowess of Pokemon such as Charizard and Gorebyss.</p>
<p>Zen Headbutt can be used to grant Lickilicky extra power against Fighting- and Poison-types, especially Haunter. Earthquake is also a viable option, hitting Steel-types hard; it OHKOes Mawile, Bastiodon, and Probopass (the latter two after Sturdy has been broken) after a Swords Dance. Return can be used instead of Body Slam if you prefer the extra power to the paralysis chance; however, given Lickilicky's bad Speed stat, it really appreciates the paralysis chance. Lickilicky is one of the few Pokemon with access to STAB Explosion, which allows it to take down most Pokemon that do not resist the move after a boost. However, Lickilicky must of course sacrifice itself to use the move, and it must replace one of the moves already on the set, all of which are crucial for Lickilicky to be able to do its job successfully. Lastly, Life Orb can also be used over Leftovers, but it severely detracts from Lickilicky's bulk and doesn't match up very well with Substitute.</p>
<p>Because Fighting-types are the primary counters to Lickilicky, Pokemon that can deal with them make fantastic teammates. Misdreavus excels at handling Sawk and Gurdurr, the most common Fighting-types in the tier. Vileplume and Garbodor are also solid choices, as they are able to absorb Toxic Spikes, which limit Lickilicky's longevity. Tangela and Quagsire are also good partners due to their ability to take on the aforementioned Fighting-types. Exeggutor is a more offensive partner which also possesses the ability to switch in on Fighting-types for Lickilicky. Lickilicky really appreciates entry hazards, and as such, Pokemon such as Golem, Regirock, and Cacturne make excellent partners.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Body Slam
move 3: Power Whip
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Careful
evs: 224 HP / 32 Atk / 128 SpD / 124 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite its seemingly mediocre base 85 Attack stat, Lickilicky is able to run an effective offensive set. Unlike its other sets, which focus on providing support to Lickilicky's team, this set is used to sweep. Lickilicky is somewhat different from other common physical sweepers, such as Absol and Samurott, as its substantial bulk allows it to set up on many common physical walls, such as Tangela and Alomomola. Swords Dance is the key move of this set, as it allows Lickilicky to boost its Attack to high levels and hit very hard. It is Lickilicky's best boosting move for an offensive set, as it does not compromise its HP, as Belly Drum does, nor its Speed, as Curse does. Body Slam is Lickilicky's best choice for a STAB move, as Lickilicky really appreciates the paralysis Body Slam can inflict, allowing Lickilicky to outspeed faster opponents. Power Whip is a fantastic coverage move, allowing Lickilicky to smash Pokemon such as Golem, Alomomola, and Quagsire. Quagsire is one of the main counters to most other physical setup sweepers, and as such, being able to get past it is a major boon for Lickilicky. Substitute grants Lickilicky the aforementioned ability to set up on a large amount of physical walls, and also prevents it from being afflicted with status, which can be very crippling to Lickilicky.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Although the EV spread might look complex at first glance, it's actually quite simple. The Speed EVs allow Lickilicky to outspeed uninvested base 65 Speed Pokemon such as Alomomola as well as most other defensive Pokemon, such as Tangela and Regirock. 224 HP EVs grants Lickilicky 404 HP, an important benchmark which allows it to create 101 HP Substitutes. The Special Defense EVs and the Careful nature mean that Lickilicky's Substitute will not be broken by a Volt Switch from Rotom-S, and the remaining EVs are then put into Attack to provide a little more punch behind Lickilicky's attacks. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe with an Adamant nature can also be used if you prefer power to bulk. Cloud Nine is the preferred ability, as it is vastly superior to Lickilicky's other abilities which should only be used in the case of a move illegality. Cloud Nine helps Lickilicky combat the common weather teams, vastly reducing the prowess of Pokemon such as Charizard and Gorebyss.</p>
<p>Zen Headbutt can be used to grant Lickilicky extra power against Fighting- and Poison-types, especially Haunter. Earthquake is also a viable option, hitting Steel-types hard; it OHKOes Mawile, Bastiodon, and Probopass (the latter two after Sturdy has been broken) after a Swords Dance. Return can be used instead of Body Slam if you prefer the extra power to the paralysis chance; however, given Lickilicky's bad Speed stat, it really appreciates the paralysis chance. Lickilicky is one of the few Pokemon with access to STAB Explosion, which allows it to take down most Pokemon that do not resist the move after a boost. However, Lickilicky must of course sacrifice itself to use the move, and it must replace one of the moves already on the set, all of which are crucial for Lickilicky to be able to do its job successfully. Lastly, Life Orb can also be used over Leftovers, but it severely detracts from Lickilicky's bulk and doesn't match up very well with Substitute.</p>
<p>Because Fighting-types are the primary counters to Lickilicky, Pokemon that can deal with them make fantastic teammates. Misdreavus excels at handling Sawk and Gurdurr, the most common Fighting-types in the tier. Vileplume and Garbodor are also solid choices, as they are able to absorb Toxic Spikes, which limit Lickilicky's longevity. Tangela and Quagsire are also good partners due to their ability to take on the aforementioned Fighting-types. Exeggutor is a more offensive partner which also possesses the ability to switch in on Fighting-types for Lickilicky. Lickilicky really appreciates entry hazards, and as such, Pokemon such as Golem, Regirock, and Cacturne make excellent partners.</p>
