(Competitive) A Guide to Entry Hazards in BW UU (WIP)

ScraftyIsTheBest · Jan 21st, 2013, 4:20:39 PM

A Guide to Entry Hazards in BW UU

Introduction
Stealth Rock
Spikes
Toxic Spikes
The Users
Preventing Hazards
- Rapid Spin
- Taunt
- Magic Bounce
Spinblocking
Conclusion

Introduction

For a long time, entry hazards have always been one of the most important aspects of competitive battling. With the presence of threats such as Yanmega, Chandelure, and Darmanitan, the presence of Spikes and Stealth Rock is vital to eliminating them. Entry Hazards also play an important role in attaining needed KO's and racking up damage with switches. With the myriad of hazard setters and few spinners present in the UU tier, hazards are fairly difficult to remove from the field. UU has a number of hazard setters as well as spinners, and this guide will introduce the aspects of entry hazards in UU.

Stealth Rock

Stealth Rock is the most common of entry hazards in UU. Out of the three available entry hazards, Stealth Rock is arguably the easiest to set up, only requiring one turn to be used to its fullest effect. Stealth Rock is also arguably the most influential entry hazard. Without its presence, threats such as Yanmega and Chandelure become much harder to eliminate, but with it, they are much easier to deal with, as they have a much more limited lifespan. Stealth Rock is also the lone hazard that no Pokemon is immune to bar users of Magic Guard, of which are rare sights in UU. Additionally, it is the most widely distributed, so it can easily be on any team.

Spikes

Spikes is the oldest of entry hazards, and is quite a reliable one too. Spikes offers a consistent 25% damage output after three layers, which is very useful for stall teams to keep racking up damage as they cause numerous switches. Spikes also helps with offensive teams, wearing down walls and turning some 2HKO's into OHKO's, and vice versa. After all three layers have been set up, it will be very hard for the opposition to act, as Spikes damage stacks up much more quickly than Stealth Rock. Although it takes three turns to set up, this is mitigated by the fact that most of its users have enough bulk or speed to pull this job off effectively.

Toxic Spikes

Toxic Spikes is the least used of entry hazards, and for a good reason. There are numerous Pokemon immune to Toxic Spikes, and with Pokemon such as Roserade, Nidoqueen, and Qwilfish being some of the more popular Pokemon in the tier, Toxic Spikes are very difficult to keep on the field. The effect of Toxic Spikes is also ignored by Pokemon with Levitate, such as Bronzong, Azelf, and Claydol, the latter third of which can spin the Toxic Spikes away, as well as Pokemon of the Steel-typing such as Empoleon and Bisharp. However, once said Pokemon are eliminated, Toxic Spikes comes with its lethal effect; badly poisoning the target, especially with two layers on, and it can wear down walls such as Cofagrigus and Umbreon at a steady pace, and if a spinner or cleric is not used, it can be very hard to deal with the poison damage.

The Users

Bronzong
Type: Steel / Psychic
Base Stats: 67 HP / 89 Atk / 116 Def / 79 SpA / 116 SpD / 33 Spe
Abilities: Levitate / Heatproof / Heavy Metal
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

When it comes to users of Stealth Rock, Bronzong comes to the table as one of the most reliable of them. With a great Steel / Psychic typing along with a fantastic ability in Levitate, Bronzong can take many hits. This is further complemented by great 67 / 116 / 116 bulk, making Bronzong the perfect epitome of a sturdy Stealth Rock user. Thanks to these qualities, Bronzong will find many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock, while also being able to wall a sizable portion of the metagame. Bronzong's low Speed stat allows it to utilize Gyro Ball very effectively, ensuring Bronzong will be able to dish out some damage, so it's no sitting duck. However, one of the downsides to Bronzong is how easily prone it is to spinners such as Blastoise as well as Taunt and Magic Bounce. Nonetheless, when it comes to setting up Stealth Rock in UU, Bronzong is one of the best.

Azelf
Type: Psychic
Base Stats: 75 HP / 125 Atk / 70 Def / 125 SpA / 70 SpD / 115 Spe
Abilities: Levitate
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Azelf enters BW UU as one of the few surviving dedicated leads in the fifth generation. Azelf is the second fastest user of Stealth Rock available in UU, which means he will always be sure to get Stealth Rock up on the battlefield, unless there happens to be a Sableye with Taunt. Speaking of which, Azelf does have access to Taunt himself, so he can stop other users of Stealth Rock or Spikes from setting up. Azelf also sports high offensive stats, so he can put sizable dents in the opponent with Psyshock or Psychic. He also has decent coverage to boot, so he can definitely do some damage with Psyshock and Fire Blast after setting up Stealth Rock. Overall, Azelf can make for a great Stealth Rock lead to quickly set up Stealth Rock, stop the opposition from setting up, and dealing good damage to the opponent.

Claydol
Type: Ground / Psychic
Base Stats: 60 HP / 70 Atk / 105 Def / 70 SpA / 120 SpD / 75 Spe
Abilities: Levitate
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Claydol stands out from the rest of Stealth Rock users with its good bulk as well as its ability to both set up Stealth Rock and spin hazards away. This gives Claydol its role as a solid utility Pokemon; thanks to its good bulk and some resistances to Electric, Psychic, and Ground, it will be sure to set up Stealth Rock quite a few times in the match. Claydol also boasts the unique ability to use Rapid Spin as well, so while setting up, it can also remove entry hazards from its side of the field. If needed, Claydol could also set up Light Screen and Reflect to be a better teammate. Claydol's ultimate downfall is its weak offensive stats, so it usually fails to do much damage to the opposition. It also has numerous exploitable weaknesses, especially to Dark, making it prone to being trapped by Pursuit. Nonetheless, if you want a Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock and be a solid supportive Pokemon, look no further than Claydol.

Rhyperior
Type: Ground / Rock
Base Stats: 115 HP / 140 Atk / 130 Def / 55 SpA / 55 SpD / 40 Spe
Abilities: Lightningrod / Solid Rock / Reckless
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Rhyperior is a very solid user of Stealth Rock. With an immunity to Electric, a great ability in Solid Rock, and STAB's that provide great coverage together, Rhyperior can fit himself on many teams. His big perks are his ability to reliably check the Electric-types running rampant in UU, namely Raikou, Zapdos, and Rotom-H. With this, he can also set up Stealth Rock very reliably, which is useful for any team in need of a hand. Rhyperior also has some decent resistances to Normal and Fire, meaning he can take onslaughts from Snorlax and Darmanitan. This gives him numerous ample opportunities to set up. But on top of that, Rhyperior has a massive 140 Attack, and when combined with great two-move coverage, can deal some damage to numerous Pokemon in the tier, ensuring it's no sitting duck. Rhyperior also has Dragon Tail in order to shuffle the opponent's team, so he can take advantage of the Stealth Rocks it uses. However, Rhyperior lacks recovery, which hampers his ability to set up numerous times. He also has multiple weaknesses, which must be kept in mind. However, if you want a solid Stealth Rock user who can check Raikou and Zapdos, as well as dish out damage, there's Rhyperior.

Cobalion
Type: Steel / Fighting
Base Stats: 91 HP / 90 Atk / 129 Def / 90 SpA / 72 SpD / 108 Spe
Abilities: Justified
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Cobalion may seem like an odd choice for a Stealth Rock user. However, with access to the coveted Fighting STAB, a great Steel typing, and a high 129 Defense stat, Cobalion is very capable of laying Stealth Rock down on the field. His great 108 Speed is also a nice asset, allowing him to outspeed a good portion of a metagame, which is a plus when it comes to setting up Stealth Rock, ensuring it will do it before going down. Cobalion also has access to the rare Volt Switch, allowing it to keep up momentum by switching out of common switch-ins while dealing decent damage. It also dents Blastoise, the most common spinner in the tier. Its usable mixed attacking stats are also ensure that Cobalion does more than set up Stealth Rock. Additionally, it has Thunder Wave to cripple opponents as well. All in all, Cobalion is a good choice for setting up Stealth Rock while being a defensive pivot.

Swampert
Type: Water / Ground
Base Stats: 100 HP / 110 Atk / 90 Def / 85 SpA / 90 Def / 60 Spe
Abilities: Torrent / Damp
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Say hello to Swampert, a Pokemon who has been in OU for the past two generations, a testament to just how good it is. Swampert stands out from other Stealth Rock users with its great typing, giving it only one weakness, albeit a big one. This, when combined with good 100 / 90 / 90 bulk, makes Swampert one of the better users of Stealth Rock in the tier. Swampert can come in on some of UU's physical attackers, such as Darmanitan and Choice Scarf Flygon, and set up the hazard. Swampert also has access to Roar, allowing it to shuffle the team and rack up Stealth Rock damage. Its 110 Attack stat ensures that it isn't a sitting duck either, and can deal some damage with Earthquake and Waterfall, especially to the things it can set up on, particularly Darmanitan. However, Swampert has no reliable recovery, which limits its ability to set up Stealth Rock numerous times in the match.

Empoleon
Type: Water / Steel
Base Stats: 84 HP / 86 Atk / 88 Def / 111 SpA / 101 SpD / 60 Spe
Abilities: Torrent / Defiant
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Empoleon sports a unique Water / Steel typing, granting it a myriad of resistances, allowing it to take on threats such as This makes Empoleon a great candidate for Stealth Rock, as it can utilize its great defensive typing to reliably set up Stealth Rock numerous times in the match. Empoleon also comes with a usable 111 Special Attack, allowing it to deal decent chunks of damage with Scald and Ice Beam, which makes it no sitting duck. Like Swampert, Empoleon also has access to Roar, giving it the ability to shuffle the team to rack up damage from Stealth Rock. However, Empoleon is weak to Fighting-type attacks, making it easy bait for dangerous Pokemon such as Heracross and Mienshao. It also lacks any form of reliable recovery, something you must keep in mind.

Registeel
Type: Steel
Base Stats: 80 HP / 75 Atk / 150 Def / 75 SpA / 150 SpD / 50 Spe
Abilities: Clear Body / Light Metal
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Registeel is a defensive behemoth, sporting gargantuan 150 defensive stats and a Steel-typing granting it numerous resistances. This makes Registeel one of the sturdiest users of Stealth Rock. Registeel can wall a myriad threats such as Yanmega, Shaymin, and Raikou without much trouble, and this allows it to set up Stealth Rock numerous times in the match. Thunder Wave is also a plus to using Registeel, which allows it to cripple opponents, making setting up Stealth Rock an easier task. However, Registeel lacks any offensive presence and often provides free switch ins for dangerous Pokemon such as Mienshao and Rhyperior. Therefore, Registeel will usually face stiff competition from the likes of other users of Stealth Rock such as Bronzong, Cobalion, and Empoleon, which are things you must keep in mind before choosing Registeel as your hazard setter.

Gligar
Type: Ground / Flying
Base Stats: 65 HP / 75 Atk / 105 Def / 35 SpA / 65 Def / 85 Spe
Abilities: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Immunity
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Gligar may seem inferior to other Stealth Rock users thanks to its inferior stats, but his physical bulk, when boosted by Eviolite, reaches nearly unreachable levels. This, along with useful resistances to Fighting, Electric, and Ground, grant Gligar many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock throughout the match. His access to other supportive moves such as Toxic and Taunt are useful assets as well, which ensure he can do more than set up Stealth Rock. While the use of Eviolite may seem detrimental, Gligar makes up for that with his access to Roost, ensuring he will last even longer to be able to set up. Immunity along with a Ground typing make him immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic, making him less prone to being crippled. Its usable 75 Attack stat is decent enough to utilize Earthquake and U-turn to deal decent damage, as well as switch out in the latter's case. Just be careful that Gligar's lack of offensive presence makes it a momentum murderer, so as it sets up Stealth Rock, it may attract some dangerous Pokemon such as Abomasnow and Slowbro.

Golurk
Type: Ground / Ghost
Base Stats: 89 HP / 124 Atk / 80 Def / 55 SpA / 80 SpD / 55 Spe
Abilities: Klutz / Iron Fist / No Guard
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Golurk does a fairly solid job when it comes to setting up Stealth Rock. Golurk is unique in that it is the only Ghost-type with access to Stealth Rock, which means it can set up Stealth Rock and prevent the opponent from spinning it away. Golurk packs great resistances to Rock and Bug while it also has immunities to Normal, Fighting, and Electric. This, along with its usable 89 / 80 / 80 bulk grant Golurk many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock against common threats such as Snorlax, Raikou, and Mienshao. Golurk isn't a sitting duck either; it has a great 124 Attack stat to put damage on the opposition. That said, Golurk does sport numerous exploitable weaknesses which, besides making it bait for common threats such as Roserade and Weavile, give Golurk a hard time against UU's most popular spinner, Blastoise, which can make spinblocking hard. Therefore, it is advisable to pair Golurk up with a second Ghost-type such as Cofagrigus if you want to keep Stealth Rock on the field for long.

Druddigon
Type: Dragon
Base Stats: 77 HP / 120 Atk / 90 Def / 60 SpA / 90 SpD / 48 Spe
Abilities: Rough Skin / Sheer Force / Mold Breaker
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

If you can overlook Druddigon's horrible design, you can find that it has quite a lot of unique qualities for a Stealth Rock user. The first thing that stands out is that Druddigon has the rare Dragon-type, which gives it some useful resistances. Combine this with its good 77 / 90 / 90 bulk, and it can set up Stealth Rock reliably throughout the match. Rough Skin is an extremely useful ability, which aside from wearing down physical attackers, especially Darmanitan, also chips HP away when the opponent uses Rapid Spin, meaning Blastoise and Claydol can be worn down to the point where they cannot spin. Druddigon also has access to both Roar and Dragon Tail, so it can shuffle the team and rack up damage from the Stealth Rock it sets up. 120 Attack is no slouch and can hit for solid damage, so Druddigon isn't just about residual damage. Overall, Druddigon is a great Stealth Rock user who can wear the team down with residual damage.

Uxie
Type: Psychic
Base Stats: 75 HP / 75 Atk / 130 Def / 75 SpA / 130 Def / 95 Spe
Abilities: Levitate
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Although Uxie is generally overlooked by other Stealth Rock users, such as his brother Azelf for his higher speed and offenses, Claydol with its access to Rapid Spin, and Bronzong, who sports the coveted Steel-typing, Uxie does have his perks. Uxie has strong 75 / 130 / 130 defenses, and when combined with a Psychic-typing and Levitate, make him a great check to threats such as Nidoqueen and Mienshao. This grants Uxie many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock throughout the match. Uxie's support movepool is a boon as well, as he has access to Thunder Wave to cripple opponents, as well as Yawn to force switches (and rack up hazard damage). U-turn is Uxie's big selling point and allows him to switch out so he can come in later to set up Stealth Rock again if needed. However, Uxie's pitiful offenses are his ultimate downfall, often causing Uxie to kill offensive momentum, something you must keep in mind before using Uxie as a Stealth Rock user.

Kabutops
Type: Water / Rock
Base Stats: 60 HP / 115 Atk / 105 Def / 65 SpA / 70 SpD / 80 Spe
Abilities: Swift Swim / Battle Armor / Weak Armor
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Kabutops seems like an odd choice because it's primarily an offensive Pokemon, but it has its perks. Its 105 Defense allows it to take physical hits decently, and although its defensive typing gives it a number of crippling weaknesses, it also has useful resistances that allow it multiple opportunities to set up Stealth Rock. Aside from that, Kabutops can support the team further with its access to Rapid Spin, much like Claydol. Kabutops also possesses a solid 115 Attack stat and good STAB moves that make sure it isn't a sitting duck in the match. It loses to most of the spinners though, but with all of its positive points in mind, Kabutops can be a solid choice for a Stealth Rock user.

Aerodactyl
Type: Rock / Flying
Base Stats: 80 HP / 105 Atk / 65 Def / 60 SpA / 75 SpD / 130 Spe
Abilities: Rock Head / Pressure / Unnerve
Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock

Once a popular suicude lead in DPP OU, Aerodactyl now finds itself in BW RU. Despite this, Aerodactyl can still effectively perform its former duties in the UU tier. It has an extremely high Speed, outpacing even Azelf, meaning it will always set Stealth Rock up early in the match. Its access to Taunt also helps out in this too, as Aerodactyl can stop other entry hazard leads from setting up. Its 105 Attack allows it to deal solid damage too, which means it is never useless outside of simply quick Stealth Rock. However, Aerodactyl is frail and vulnerable to priority and faces stiff competition in its role from Azelf, who is generally more useful. Despite this, Aerodactyl can still be a useful asset to those in need of a quick Stealth Rock early in the match.

Accelgor
Type: Bug
Base Stats: 80 HP / 70 Atk / 40 Def / 100 SpA / 60 SpD / 145 Spe
Abilities: Hydration / Sticky Hold / Unburden
Usable entry hazards: Spikes

True to his name, Accelgor is the second fastest Pokemon legal in UU, outpaced only by Ninjask. His quick Speed along with his access to Spikes make him an excellent suicide lead, quickly getting up Spikes before the opponent can react. Accelgor isn't a sitting duck either, as it has a solid 100 Special Attack stat and great moves in Bug Buzz, Focus Blast, and Giga Drain to make good use of it. Accelgor also has Final Gambit to sacrifice itself, denting an opposing spinner while setting up a couple layers of Spikes in the process. Accelgor is an excellent Pokemon when it comes to Spikes stacking, and although it faces competition from Froslass, is still a great choice.

Froslass

Okay, since I'm out of time right now, I'll finish the rest later.

Santuga · Feb 11th, 2013, 12:47:08 PM

Although this is still incomplete, I can see you're doing a very good job and a very good writing process! I noticed two things:

"Stealth Rock is also the lone hazard that no Pokemon is immune to bar users of Magic Bounce" you probably wanted to say Magic Guard?

"However, once they are eliminated, Toxic Spikes comes with its lethal effect;" if they are not eliminated maybe?

Magcargo 2 · Mar 3rd, 2013, 12:52:11 PM

Frosslass and Golurk deserve to be on this list somewhere. They can spinblock and setup entry hazards. They also have alright attacking stats and can put pressure on the opponent as golurk has sheer power and froslass has destiny bond. I know this is still uncomplete, but don't forget about these two.

ScraftyIsTheBest · Mar 5th, 2013, 10:18:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Santuga

Although this is still incomplete, I can see you're doing a very good job and a very good writing process! I noticed two things:

"Stealth Rock is also the lone hazard that no Pokemon is immune to bar users of Magic Bounce" you probably wanted to say Magic Guard?

"However, once they are eliminated, Toxic Spikes comes with its lethal effect;" if they are not eliminated maybe?

I took care of those, thanks for noticing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Magcargo 2

Frosslass and Golurk deserve to be on this list somewhere. They can spinblock and setup entry hazards. They also have alright attacking stats and can put pressure on the opponent as golurk has sheer power and froslass has destiny bond. I know this is still uncomplete, but don't forget about these two.

Yeah, I'm not quite done with this yet, but when I started this I was sure to put both of them on the list. As I expand, they'll be listed, no worries.

Anyways, got to continue!

Jan 21st, 2013, 4:20:39 PM	#1
ScraftyIsTheBest Floatin' Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 541 Lake Verity	A Guide to Entry Hazards in BW UU (WIP) A Guide to Entry Hazards in BW UU Introduction Stealth Rock Spikes Toxic Spikes The Users Preventing Hazards Rapid Spin Taunt Magic Bounce Spinblocking Conclusion Introduction For a long time, entry hazards have always been one of the most important aspects of competitive battling. With the presence of threats such as Yanmega, Chandelure, and Darmanitan, the presence of Spikes and Stealth Rock is vital to eliminating them. Entry Hazards also play an important role in attaining needed KO's and racking up damage with switches. With the myriad of hazard setters and few spinners present in the UU tier, hazards are fairly difficult to remove from the field. UU has a number of hazard setters as well as spinners, and this guide will introduce the aspects of entry hazards in UU. Stealth Rock Stealth Rock is the most common of entry hazards in UU. Out of the three available entry hazards, Stealth Rock is arguably the easiest to set up, only requiring one turn to be used to its fullest effect. Stealth Rock is also arguably the most influential entry hazard. Without its presence, threats such as Yanmega and Chandelure become much harder to eliminate, but with it, they are much easier to deal with, as they have a much more limited lifespan. Stealth Rock is also the lone hazard that no Pokemon is immune to bar users of Magic Guard, of which are rare sights in UU. Additionally, it is the most widely distributed, so it can easily be on any team. Spikes Spikes is the oldest of entry hazards, and is quite a reliable one too. Spikes offers a consistent 25% damage output after three layers, which is very useful for stall teams to keep racking up damage as they cause numerous switches. Spikes also helps with offensive teams, wearing down walls and turning some 2HKO's into OHKO's, and vice versa. After all three layers have been set up, it will be very hard for the opposition to act, as Spikes damage stacks up much more quickly than Stealth Rock. Although it takes three turns to set up, this is mitigated by the fact that most of its users have enough bulk or speed to pull this job off effectively. Toxic Spikes Toxic Spikes is the least used of entry hazards, and for a good reason. There are numerous Pokemon immune to Toxic Spikes, and with Pokemon such as Roserade, Nidoqueen, and Qwilfish being some of the more popular Pokemon in the tier, Toxic Spikes are very difficult to keep on the field. The effect of Toxic Spikes is also ignored by Pokemon with Levitate, such as Bronzong, Azelf, and Claydol, the latter third of which can spin the Toxic Spikes away, as well as Pokemon of the Steel-typing such as Empoleon and Bisharp. However, once said Pokemon are eliminated, Toxic Spikes comes with its lethal effect; badly poisoning the target, especially with two layers on, and it can wear down walls such as Cofagrigus and Umbreon at a steady pace, and if a spinner or cleric is not used, it can be very hard to deal with the poison damage. The Users Bronzong Type: Steel / Psychic Base Stats: 67 HP / 89 Atk / 116 Def / 79 SpA / 116 SpD / 33 Spe Abilities: Levitate / Heatproof / Heavy Metal Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock When it comes to users of Stealth Rock, Bronzong comes to the table as one of the most reliable of them. With a great Steel / Psychic typing along with a fantastic ability in Levitate, Bronzong can take many hits. This is further complemented by great 67 / 116 / 116 bulk, making Bronzong the perfect epitome of a sturdy Stealth Rock user. Thanks to these qualities, Bronzong will find many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock, while also being able to wall a sizable portion of the metagame. Bronzong's low Speed stat allows it to utilize Gyro Ball very effectively, ensuring Bronzong will be able to dish out some damage, so it's no sitting duck. However, one of the downsides to Bronzong is how easily prone it is to spinners such as Blastoise as well as Taunt and Magic Bounce. Nonetheless, when it comes to setting up Stealth Rock in UU, Bronzong is one of the best. Azelf Type: Psychic Base Stats: 75 HP / 125 Atk / 70 Def / 125 SpA / 70 SpD / 115 Spe Abilities: Levitate Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Azelf enters BW UU as one of the few surviving dedicated leads in the fifth generation. Azelf is the second fastest user of Stealth Rock available in UU, which means he will always be sure to get Stealth Rock up on the battlefield, unless there happens to be a Sableye with Taunt. Speaking of which, Azelf does have access to Taunt himself, so he can stop other users of Stealth Rock or Spikes from setting up. Azelf also sports high offensive stats, so he can put sizable dents in the opponent with Psyshock or Psychic. He also has decent coverage to boot, so he can definitely do some damage with Psyshock and Fire Blast after setting up Stealth Rock. Overall, Azelf can make for a great Stealth Rock lead to quickly set up Stealth Rock, stop the opposition from setting up, and dealing good damage to the opponent. Claydol Type: Ground / Psychic Base Stats: 60 HP / 70 Atk / 105 Def / 70 SpA / 120 SpD / 75 Spe Abilities: Levitate Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Claydol stands out from the rest of Stealth Rock users with its good bulk as well as its ability to both set up Stealth Rock and spin hazards away. This gives Claydol its role as a solid utility Pokemon; thanks to its good bulk and some resistances to Electric, Psychic, and Ground, it will be sure to set up Stealth Rock quite a few times in the match. Claydol also boasts the unique ability to use Rapid Spin as well, so while setting up, it can also remove entry hazards from its side of the field. If needed, Claydol could also set up Light Screen and Reflect to be a better teammate. Claydol's ultimate downfall is its weak offensive stats, so it usually fails to do much damage to the opposition. It also has numerous exploitable weaknesses, especially to Dark, making it prone to being trapped by Pursuit. Nonetheless, if you want a Pokemon who can set up Stealth Rock and be a solid supportive Pokemon, look no further than Claydol. Rhyperior Type: Ground / Rock Base Stats: 115 HP / 140 Atk / 130 Def / 55 SpA / 55 SpD / 40 Spe Abilities: Lightningrod / Solid Rock / Reckless Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Rhyperior is a very solid user of Stealth Rock. With an immunity to Electric, a great ability in Solid Rock, and STAB's that provide great coverage together, Rhyperior can fit himself on many teams. His big perks are his ability to reliably check the Electric-types running rampant in UU, namely Raikou, Zapdos, and Rotom-H. With this, he can also set up Stealth Rock very reliably, which is useful for any team in need of a hand. Rhyperior also has some decent resistances to Normal and Fire, meaning he can take onslaughts from Snorlax and Darmanitan. This gives him numerous ample opportunities to set up. But on top of that, Rhyperior has a massive 140 Attack, and when combined with great two-move coverage, can deal some damage to numerous Pokemon in the tier, ensuring it's no sitting duck. Rhyperior also has Dragon Tail in order to shuffle the opponent's team, so he can take advantage of the Stealth Rocks it uses. However, Rhyperior lacks recovery, which hampers his ability to set up numerous times. He also has multiple weaknesses, which must be kept in mind. However, if you want a solid Stealth Rock user who can check Raikou and Zapdos, as well as dish out damage, there's Rhyperior. Cobalion Type: Steel / Fighting Base Stats: 91 HP / 90 Atk / 129 Def / 90 SpA / 72 SpD / 108 Spe Abilities: Justified Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Cobalion may seem like an odd choice for a Stealth Rock user. However, with access to the coveted Fighting STAB, a great Steel typing, and a high 129 Defense stat, Cobalion is very capable of laying Stealth Rock down on the field. His great 108 Speed is also a nice asset, allowing him to outspeed a good portion of a metagame, which is a plus when it comes to setting up Stealth Rock, ensuring it will do it before going down. Cobalion also has access to the rare Volt Switch, allowing it to keep up momentum by switching out of common switch-ins while dealing decent damage. It also dents Blastoise, the most common spinner in the tier. Its usable mixed attacking stats are also ensure that Cobalion does more than set up Stealth Rock. Additionally, it has Thunder Wave to cripple opponents as well. All in all, Cobalion is a good choice for setting up Stealth Rock while being a defensive pivot. Swampert Type: Water / Ground Base Stats: 100 HP / 110 Atk / 90 Def / 85 SpA / 90 Def / 60 Spe Abilities: Torrent / Damp Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Say hello to Swampert, a Pokemon who has been in OU for the past two generations, a testament to just how good it is. Swampert stands out from other Stealth Rock users with its great typing, giving it only one weakness, albeit a big one. This, when combined with good 100 / 90 / 90 bulk, makes Swampert one of the better users of Stealth Rock in the tier. Swampert can come in on some of UU's physical attackers, such as Darmanitan and Choice Scarf Flygon, and set up the hazard. Swampert also has access to Roar, allowing it to shuffle the team and rack up Stealth Rock damage. Its 110 Attack stat ensures that it isn't a sitting duck either, and can deal some damage with Earthquake and Waterfall, especially to the things it can set up on, particularly Darmanitan. However, Swampert has no reliable recovery, which limits its ability to set up Stealth Rock numerous times in the match. Empoleon Type: Water / Steel Base Stats: 84 HP / 86 Atk / 88 Def / 111 SpA / 101 SpD / 60 Spe Abilities: Torrent / Defiant Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Empoleon sports a unique Water / Steel typing, granting it a myriad of resistances, allowing it to take on threats such as This makes Empoleon a great candidate for Stealth Rock, as it can utilize its great defensive typing to reliably set up Stealth Rock numerous times in the match. Empoleon also comes with a usable 111 Special Attack, allowing it to deal decent chunks of damage with Scald and Ice Beam, which makes it no sitting duck. Like Swampert, Empoleon also has access to Roar, giving it the ability to shuffle the team to rack up damage from Stealth Rock. However, Empoleon is weak to Fighting-type attacks, making it easy bait for dangerous Pokemon such as Heracross and Mienshao. It also lacks any form of reliable recovery, something you must keep in mind. Registeel Type: Steel Base Stats: 80 HP / 75 Atk / 150 Def / 75 SpA / 150 SpD / 50 Spe Abilities: Clear Body / Light Metal Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Registeel is a defensive behemoth, sporting gargantuan 150 defensive stats and a Steel-typing granting it numerous resistances. This makes Registeel one of the sturdiest users of Stealth Rock. Registeel can wall a myriad threats such as Yanmega, Shaymin, and Raikou without much trouble, and this allows it to set up Stealth Rock numerous times in the match. Thunder Wave is also a plus to using Registeel, which allows it to cripple opponents, making setting up Stealth Rock an easier task. However, Registeel lacks any offensive presence and often provides free switch ins for dangerous Pokemon such as Mienshao and Rhyperior. Therefore, Registeel will usually face stiff competition from the likes of other users of Stealth Rock such as Bronzong, Cobalion, and Empoleon, which are things you must keep in mind before choosing Registeel as your hazard setter. Gligar Type: Ground / Flying Base Stats: 65 HP / 75 Atk / 105 Def / 35 SpA / 65 Def / 85 Spe Abilities: Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Immunity Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Gligar may seem inferior to other Stealth Rock users thanks to its inferior stats, but his physical bulk, when boosted by Eviolite, reaches nearly unreachable levels. This, along with useful resistances to Fighting, Electric, and Ground, grant Gligar many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock throughout the match. His access to other supportive moves such as Toxic and Taunt are useful assets as well, which ensure he can do more than set up Stealth Rock. While the use of Eviolite may seem detrimental, Gligar makes up for that with his access to Roost, ensuring he will last even longer to be able to set up. Immunity along with a Ground typing make him immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic, making him less prone to being crippled. Its usable 75 Attack stat is decent enough to utilize Earthquake and U-turn to deal decent damage, as well as switch out in the latter's case. Just be careful that Gligar's lack of offensive presence makes it a momentum murderer, so as it sets up Stealth Rock, it may attract some dangerous Pokemon such as Abomasnow and Slowbro. Golurk Type: Ground / Ghost Base Stats: 89 HP / 124 Atk / 80 Def / 55 SpA / 80 SpD / 55 Spe Abilities: Klutz / Iron Fist / No Guard Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Golurk does a fairly solid job when it comes to setting up Stealth Rock. Golurk is unique in that it is the only Ghost-type with access to Stealth Rock, which means it can set up Stealth Rock and prevent the opponent from spinning it away. Golurk packs great resistances to Rock and Bug while it also has immunities to Normal, Fighting, and Electric. This, along with its usable 89 / 80 / 80 bulk grant Golurk many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock against common threats such as Snorlax, Raikou, and Mienshao. Golurk isn't a sitting duck either; it has a great 124 Attack stat to put damage on the opposition. That said, Golurk does sport numerous exploitable weaknesses which, besides making it bait for common threats such as Roserade and Weavile, give Golurk a hard time against UU's most popular spinner, Blastoise, which can make spinblocking hard. Therefore, it is advisable to pair Golurk up with a second Ghost-type such as Cofagrigus if you want to keep Stealth Rock on the field for long. Druddigon Type: Dragon Base Stats: 77 HP / 120 Atk / 90 Def / 60 SpA / 90 SpD / 48 Spe Abilities: Rough Skin / Sheer Force / Mold Breaker Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock If you can overlook Druddigon's horrible design, you can find that it has quite a lot of unique qualities for a Stealth Rock user. The first thing that stands out is that Druddigon has the rare Dragon-type, which gives it some useful resistances. Combine this with its good 77 / 90 / 90 bulk, and it can set up Stealth Rock reliably throughout the match. Rough Skin is an extremely useful ability, which aside from wearing down physical attackers, especially Darmanitan, also chips HP away when the opponent uses Rapid Spin, meaning Blastoise and Claydol can be worn down to the point where they cannot spin. Druddigon also has access to both Roar and Dragon Tail, so it can shuffle the team and rack up damage from the Stealth Rock it sets up. 120 Attack is no slouch and can hit for solid damage, so Druddigon isn't just about residual damage. Overall, Druddigon is a great Stealth Rock user who can wear the team down with residual damage. Uxie Type: Psychic Base Stats: 75 HP / 75 Atk / 130 Def / 75 SpA / 130 Def / 95 Spe Abilities: Levitate Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Although Uxie is generally overlooked by other Stealth Rock users, such as his brother Azelf for his higher speed and offenses, Claydol with its access to Rapid Spin, and Bronzong, who sports the coveted Steel-typing, Uxie does have his perks. Uxie has strong 75 / 130 / 130 defenses, and when combined with a Psychic-typing and Levitate, make him a great check to threats such as Nidoqueen and Mienshao. This grants Uxie many opportunities to set up Stealth Rock throughout the match. Uxie's support movepool is a boon as well, as he has access to Thunder Wave to cripple opponents, as well as Yawn to force switches (and rack up hazard damage). U-turn is Uxie's big selling point and allows him to switch out so he can come in later to set up Stealth Rock again if needed. However, Uxie's pitiful offenses are his ultimate downfall, often causing Uxie to kill offensive momentum, something you must keep in mind before using Uxie as a Stealth Rock user. Kabutops Type: Water / Rock Base Stats: 60 HP / 115 Atk / 105 Def / 65 SpA / 70 SpD / 80 Spe Abilities: Swift Swim / Battle Armor / Weak Armor Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Kabutops seems like an odd choice because it's primarily an offensive Pokemon, but it has its perks. Its 105 Defense allows it to take physical hits decently, and although its defensive typing gives it a number of crippling weaknesses, it also has useful resistances that allow it multiple opportunities to set up Stealth Rock. Aside from that, Kabutops can support the team further with its access to Rapid Spin, much like Claydol. Kabutops also possesses a solid 115 Attack stat and good STAB moves that make sure it isn't a sitting duck in the match. It loses to most of the spinners though, but with all of its positive points in mind, Kabutops can be a solid choice for a Stealth Rock user. Aerodactyl Type: Rock / Flying Base Stats: 80 HP / 105 Atk / 65 Def / 60 SpA / 75 SpD / 130 Spe Abilities: Rock Head / Pressure / Unnerve Usable entry hazards: Stealth Rock Once a popular suicude lead in DPP OU, Aerodactyl now finds itself in BW RU. Despite this, Aerodactyl can still effectively perform its former duties in the UU tier. It has an extremely high Speed, outpacing even Azelf, meaning it will always set Stealth Rock up early in the match. Its access to Taunt also helps out in this too, as Aerodactyl can stop other entry hazard leads from setting up. Its 105 Attack allows it to deal solid damage too, which means it is never useless outside of simply quick Stealth Rock. However, Aerodactyl is frail and vulnerable to priority and faces stiff competition in its role from Azelf, who is generally more useful. Despite this, Aerodactyl can still be a useful asset to those in need of a quick Stealth Rock early in the match. Accelgor Type: Bug Base Stats: 80 HP / 70 Atk / 40 Def / 100 SpA / 60 SpD / 145 Spe Abilities: Hydration / Sticky Hold / Unburden Usable entry hazards: Spikes True to his name, Accelgor is the second fastest Pokemon legal in UU, outpaced only by Ninjask. His quick Speed along with his access to Spikes make him an excellent suicide lead, quickly getting up Spikes before the opponent can react. Accelgor isn't a sitting duck either, as it has a solid 100 Special Attack stat and great moves in Bug Buzz, Focus Blast, and Giga Drain to make good use of it. Accelgor also has Final Gambit to sacrifice itself, denting an opposing spinner while setting up a couple layers of Spikes in the process. Accelgor is an excellent Pokemon when it comes to Spikes stacking, and although it faces competition from Froslass, is still a great choice. Froslass Okay, since I'm out of time right now, I'll finish the rest later. __________________ <TLCNU> Esca literally is 2HKO'd by Stoutland Fire Fang C&C Work VM or PM me for a UU / RU rate! Last edited by ScraftyIsTheBest; May 14th, 2013 at 10:38:03 PM.

Mar 3rd, 2013, 12:52:11 PM	#3
Magcargo 2 Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 499 Skarmory Sands	Frosslass and Golurk deserve to be on this list somewhere. They can spinblock and setup entry hazards. They also have alright attacking stats and can put pressure on the opponent as golurk has sheer power and froslass has destiny bond. I know this is still uncomplete, but don't forget about these two. __________________ MY SHINY TEETH AND ME MY SHINY TEETH AND ME MY SHINY TEETH AND ME

Feb 11th, 2013, 12:47:08 PM	#2
Santuga Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 322	Although this is still incomplete, I can see you're doing a very good job and a very good writing process! I noticed two things: "Stealth Rock is also the lone hazard that no Pokemon is immune to bar users of Magic Bounce" you probably wanted to say Magic Guard? "However, once they are eliminated, Toxic Spikes comes with its lethal effect;" if they are not eliminated maybe?