Shellos (Analysis)

[Overview]

<p>Believe it or not, Shellos is a lot better than it appears to be. It's got a decent Special Attack stat and some bulk. It doesn't have much of a movepool, but it has enough for it to pull through. One of its most obvious flaws is that it is majorly outclassed by almost all other Water-types, and it doesn't get access to Hydro Pump. The thing that keeps Shellos away from competitive play are those otherdarn other Water-types.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Electric
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Timid
EVs: 220 SpA / 244 Spe
IVs: 30 SpA

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is the best (and only) set that Shellos can run. It has average Special Attack and reaches 21 Speed with Choice Scarf. Its STAB Surf hits other Pokémon fairly hard, while the other attacks are for coverage. Ice Beam hits Flying- and Grass-types hard. Earth Power provides coverage against Electric-types such as Chinchou. Hidden Power Grass nails (primary option, sentence needs to portray that) Water-type Pokemon, particularly Water / Ground-types such as Barboach. Hidden Power Electric can be used to hit Mantyke, but Hidden Power Grass is the recommended option. Shellos's better ability is Sticky Hold, as Knock Off and Trick users will be stopped cold. The given EVs are really just to increase Shellos's Speed and Special Attack stats as much as possible (max investment and all).</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>This set needs Stealth Rock support so that less Pokémon will be inclined to switch into Shellos. Pokémon that are Good partners are the ones that for Shelloscan remove Munchlax, its number 1 counter, especially Fighting-types like Mankey and Machop (You weren't very specific, so I added some hard counters to Munchlax). If Shellos isn't running Hidden Power Grass, it will lose to a (it loses to all, not just one) Water / Ground-type Pokémon badly. Both Snover and Shroomish can take care of all of the aforementioned Water / Ground-type Pokemon.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Shellos gets Curse, but not Waterfall or Aqua Tail, or even a decent physical STAB. It can make use of Icy Wind if lowering the opponent's Speed is of priority. Amnesia is there, but not recommended as it does get Recover , which is better to tank hits with, a move which it might use if the correct amount of EVs are put in. Rain Dance is another option. To counter Mantyke, Ancientpower could be used because of its seconday effect, but Hidden Power Electric gets the job done better.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Munchlax is arguably the best counter to Shellos. It can hit Shellos with a STAB Return and sponge all of its attacks. Mantyke can come in on anything but a Hidden Power Electric, which hits for hard damage especially if Stealth Rock is up. Grass-types easily beat up Shellos if it is not locked into Ice Beam. Snover deserves special mention here for its neutrality to it, although it must watch out for the rare but possible Hidden Power Fire.</p>

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