Omastar
QC: [Chou Toshio] [Snunch] [PK Gaming]
GP: [elDino] [V0x]
[Overview]
<p>Omastar has always been a decent Rain Dance abuser with its high Special Attack stat, but has also been overlooked because of its poor Speed and many weaknesses, courtesy of its secondary Rock typing. For those reasons, Omastar was more often used to set up hazards, as it is one of the few Pokemon with access to all three of Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. However, BW has blessed Omastar with one of the best setup moves in the entire game — Shell Smash. Sharply raising Speed, Special Attack, and Attack, Shell Smash is limited to a few select users, and Omastar is among one of the best because of its high Special Attack stat. Shell Smash also patches up any Speed issues that Omastar previously had; this shellfish becomes one of the most threatening sweepers around.</p>
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb / White Herb
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a single turn of set up, Shell Smash Omastar instantly turns into a deadly sweeper by essentially giving it a Nasty Plot and Agility boost at the same time. Hydro Pump is the preferred STAB move, as it has a chance to 2HKO 252 / 252 Bold Chansey after Stealth Rock, assuming Omastar uses a Modest nature and Life Orb. Furthermore, it always 2HKOs 252 / 4 Bold Chansey after Stealth Rock, even without a rain boost. Surf is a reliable alternative with less power but perfect accuracy and more PP. Ice Beam is a great coverage move and hits Grass-types hard, especially after a boost. The final move should be Hidden Power Grass, as it hits other Water-types such as Suicune and Milotic. It also has the added benefit of destroying Gastrodon, which is immune to Water-type moves due to the new-and-improved Storm Drain, and takes a pittance from Ice Beam, even when Omastar is at +2. Hidden Power Grass also hits Quagsire, which is immune to Water-type attacks if it has Water Absorb, though the Unaware variants will still be hit hard by Hydro Pump.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Hidden Power Electric can be used to hit Empoleon harder than Hidden Power Grass, but Hidden Power Grass is always better otherwise, as hitting Gastrodon is crucial. Specially defensive Empoleon always survives a +2 Hidden Power Electric and can KO back with Hidden Power Grass. Therefore, teammates that can get rid of Empoleon such as Heracross or Gallade are appreciated, as Omastar would much rather be using Hidden Power Grass than Hidden Power Electric. Life Orb is crucial to gain certain KOs or in Chansey's case, 2HKOs; however, Leftovers can be used for some passive recovery. White Herb is an option to eliminate the negative defensive drops (Technitop's Mach Punch never OHKOes at full health without the defense drop), though either way, Omastar loses a significant amount of power. Although the EV spread is standard, maximizing Special Attack and Speed along with a Timid or Modest nature, an alternative spread with some HP EVs is viable to give Omastar a bit more bulk, as 115 base Defense is quite good. A Modest nature is the preferred option to provide the most power, but a Timid nature allows Omastar at +2 to outspeed neutral base 100 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Flygon and Victini.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock / Toxic Spikes
move 2: Spikes / Stealth Rock
move 3: Scald
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Leftovers
ability: Shell Armor
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Omastar has an amazing Defense stat, and despite its several crippling weaknesses, can check some of the most dangerous threats in the game such as Victini and Arcanine. In addition, Omastar is the only Pokemon in UU with access to all three entry hazards, though only two are recommended at any given time. Scald is a STAB move with a nice 30% chance to burn, crippling all physical attackers except for those with the Guts ability. Ice Beam is the primary move in the last moveslot, discouraging Grass-types from wantonly switching in.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread along with a Bold nature provides a Leftovers number as well as maximizes Omastar's Defense stat. Choice Scarf Victini's Fusion Bolt fails to 2HKO Omastar, and Omastar can either set up more entry hazards or do major damage with Scald. Surf is an option over Scald as a more powerful STAB move, but Omastar sorely misses the burn chance of Scald to cripple physical attackers. Shell Armor is the preferred ability to prevent annoying critical hits, as Swift Swim has little merit on a support set. Hippopotas is a great teammate to provide a Special Defense boost thanks to the eternal sandstorm it brings, though it also brings an additional weakness to Grass-type attacks. Because Omastar is so slow, it is very susceptible to Taunt, and is better suited to laying hazards mid-game rather than early-game. Regardless, having a fast Taunt user on your own team can aid Omastar in setting up entry hazards. Pokemon such as Mew, with access to Taunt and Will-O-Wisp, can easily shut down the opposing team's supporting Pokemon and pave the way for Omastar to set up its own hazards. Omastar can utilize a Mental Herb quite well, reflecting Taunt and allowing Omastar to set up one or more layers of hazards. In addition, despite Omastar's great Defense stat, it will still fall easily to special Grass- and Electric-type attacks. Teammates that can sponge these types of attacks such as Roserade and Celebi are much appreciated. As a bonus, the aforementioned teammates also resist Fighting-type moves, another one of Omastar's weaknesses.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Earth Power is another option for coverage, but is somewhat redundant with Omastar's other moves. AncientPower is Omastar's only viable secondary special STAB, but is weak, has low PP, and also provides redundant coverage. Haze is an option on the support set, but such a move is better left to Pokemon such as Milotic, which has access to instant recovery. Chople Berry is an option on the Shell Smash set to prevent Technitop from OHKOing with Mach Punch after the Defense drop, but is usually not worth the power loss. Knock Off is a great option on the support set to destroy Chansey and other Pokemon highly dependent on their items, but Omastar already sets up on Chansey if it switches in. Omastar receives Weak Armor from the Dream World, but it is highly situational, and Shell Armor or Swift Swim is much better in almost every single instance.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Due to Omastar's capabilities of 2HKOing even Chansey after Stealth Rock, there is nothing that can actually wall Omastar with the exception of Empoleon, which takes everything except the rare Hidden Power Electric. Specially defensive variants survive a +2 Hidden Power Electric and can KO back with Grass Knot, though they cannot directly switch into a +2 Hidden Power Electric. Milotic variants with Hidden Power Grass can survive a +2 super effective Hidden Power and KO back, but these are risky checks at best: they cannot directly switch into a super effective Hidden Power because there is a risk of a 2HKO with Stealth Rock down. Faster Choice Scarf users and priority users such as Raikou or Hitmontop can easily take Omastar out, as they either outspeed Omastar even after a boost, or completely bypass its Speed with priority.</p>
