Baton Pass
by Omicron and Jubilee
WIP
Open to comments etc.
ATTENTION: If anyone has a good OU / UU Baton Pass team they'd like to share for the example teams, please let us know! You'll be given credit for the team.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is Baton Pass?
- SmashPass and QuickPass
- SmashPass and QuickPass Users
- OU Baton Pass Users
- UU Baton Pass Users
- OU Baton Pass Receivers
- UU Baton Pass Recievers
- Baton Pass Team Building
- OU Example Teams
- UU Example Teams
- Playing with the Baton Pass Chain
- Playing against Baton Pass in OU
- Playing against Baton Pass in UU
- Conclusion
- Pokemon that Learn Baton Pass
Introduction
With the fifth generation, the Baton Pass playstyle has received several great additions and also several notable setbacks. New, powerful, setup moves such as Shell Smash and Quiver Dance have been introduced, and the new ability Magic Bounce reflects all status and support moves including Taunt, Whirlwind, and Roar. Unfortunately, Pokemon with the Prankster ability have priority on support moves, and can easily stop a non-Magic Bounce Pokemon in the Baton Pass chain. Although Baton Pass may seem like a gimmicky or unreliable strategy, if played correctly, and with proper team support, it can be an extremely effective and rewarding experience.
What is Baton Pass?
Baton Pass is a 64 Max PP Normal-type move that allows the user to switch to another Pokemon in the party. It transfers all stat boosts, Substitute, and special conditions such as Ingrain or Taunt to the intended receiver. In addition, it allows the user to escape the effects of Shadow Tag, Mean Look, Arena Trap, Magnet Pull, Spider Web, and Pursuit's effect of hitting before switching out. However, Baton Pass no longer passes the trapping effects of Mean Look and Spider Web, rendering "Trap-Passing" ineffective this generation.
SmashPass and QuickPass
Shell Smash is by far one of the most popular moves to pass to a receiver, and has a select few users that also have access to Baton Pass. The strategy of "SmashPass" is to set up a Shell Smash and quickly pass it to a sweeper who can utilize the boosts immediately. Other moves that can quickly be the catalyst of a sweep such as Quiver Dance and Gear Shift are other forms of QuickPassing. Unfortunately, there are only three Pokemon with access to Shell Smash and Baton Pass (Gorebyss, Huntail, and Smeargle), and two Pokemon with access to both Quiver Dance and Baton Pass (Venomoth and Smeargle). Smeargle is the only Pokemon that can pass a Gear Shift boost.
SmashPass and QuickPass Users
Gorebyss
Description: Gorebyss is one of the only, and best passers of Shell Smash. After a boost, Gorebyss can proceed to either attack with its good Special Attack stat or pass to a deadly sweeper such as Lucario that can quickly make use of the boosts.
Example Moveset:
Gorebyss @ White Herb
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 HP / 24 SpD / 232 Spe
Calm nature (+SpD, -Atk)
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Surf
- Substitute / Ice Beam
Huntail
Description: Huntail is Gorebyss's physical counterpart, which also has access to Shell Smash and Baton Pass. Like Gorebyss, Huntail can either sweep after it has gotten the boost, or pass to a sweeper.
Example Moveset:
Huntail @ White Herb
Ability: Water Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 74 Def / 184 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Waterfall
Smeargle
Description: Due to Smeargle being able to learn every move in the game thanks to Sketch, it is the only other viable Pokemon capable of SmashPassing. It also has access to Spore, which can put a counter out of commission and enable Smeargle to Baton Pass more successfully. Unfortunately, due to its abysmal stats, Smeargle is pretty much good only for Baton Passing, and cannot utilize the boosts itself.
Example Moveset:
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Baton Pass
- Shell Smash / Gear Shift / Quiver Dance
- Spore
- Magic Coat / Substitute
Venomoth
Description: Venomoth has been blessed with Quiver Dance in BW, which raises Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed all at the same time. Other than Smeargle, Venomoth is the only Quiver Dancer that can Baton Pass the boosts, giving it a niche among the other few users of Quiver Dance.
Example Moveset:
Venomoth @ Leftovers
Ability: Wonder Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Quiver Dance
- Sleep Powder
- Baton Pass
- Bug Buzz
Baton Pass Users
With the tiering changes in BW, many of the old DPP OU Baton Pass users have dropped into UU, or even RU, bypassing UU completely. However, this does not mean that they are unusable in OU. In fact, this makes Baton Pass all the more dangerous, as the main users are now usable in the lower tiers, and are more uncommon, meaning that many users aren't as prepared as they used to be for a well-played Baton Pass team as their opponent.
OU
Espeon
Usable Moves: Calm Mind, Work Up, Wish
Description: With the introduction of BW, Espeon has gained one of the best new abilities in the game, Magic Bounce, which has cemented its place in BW OU. Magic Bounce reflects nearly all support moves including status moves, Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and phazing moves such as Whirlwind and Roar. This makes Espeon a great boon to Baton Pass teams, as it automatically prevents Taunt or phazing and can set up with ease. Espeon is best at passing Calm Mind boosts, and can also utilize the boosts itself. In OU, every Baton Pass team should carry Espeon, as it is one of the few Pokemon able to set up without being Taunted by a Pokemon with Prankster, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott.
Example Moveset:
Espeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Stored Power
- Hidden Power Fighting / Substitute / Reflect
Gliscor
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Rock Polish
Description: Gliscor remains one of the best Baton Pass users in OU, and has gained a great addition in the form of the ability Poison Heal. Gliscor can now be immune to status while holding a Toxic Orb, and heals 12.5% of its health each turn. Gliscor can pass Swords Dance boosts and Agility boosts, and it also has access to Taunt, preventing the opponent from phazing Gliscor and its intended recipient. Gliscor also has great defensive typing, though teammates to sponge the special Water- and Ice-type attacks aimed at it.
Example Moveset:
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Agility
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
Mienshao
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Calm Mind, Work Up
Description: Mienshao is one of the few new users of Baton Pass in BW, and has all the right traits to be an excellent addition to any Baton Pass team. Mienshao can pass Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Work Up, and Calm Mind. It can also pass Substitutes without losing health thanks to the new ability, Regenerator. Mienshao also has access to Taunt, meaning it can prevent the opponent from phazing or using status to stop the Baton Pass chain.
Example Moveset:
Mienshao @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Atk / 172 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Substitute / Hi Jump Kick
Scizor
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Iron Defense
Description: Scizor makes a great Baton Pass user in OU for its ability to pass multiple moves and great defensive typing. Scizor can pass Swords Dance, Agility, and Iron Defense, and has a great base 130 Attack stat to abuse its offensive boosts. It also has Roost for instant recovery.
Example Moveset:
Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Atk / 172 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
Vaporeon
Usable Moves: Acid Armor, Aqua Ring, Wish
Description: Vaporeon continues to be a great Baton Pass user in BW with its great HP stat to pass Substitute and access to Acid Armor to patch up its below average Defense. In addition, it can heal itself with the Wish and Protect combination, and is immune to Water-type attacks thanks to its ability, Water Absorb.
Example Moveset:
Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 Spe
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Acid Armor
- Roar / Scald
UU
Gligar
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Hone Claws, Taunt
Description: Like it's evolve form in OU, Gligar makes an excellent user of Baton Pass because of its excellent Defense, typing, and access to Taunt. Since Gligar is an un-evolved Pokemon it can benefit from Eviolite, which boosts his defenses allowing him to gather more boosts.
Example Moveset:
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spe
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Agility / Substitute
Mew
Usable Moves: Nasty Plot, Swords Dance, Rock Polish, Calm Mind, Bulk Up, Amnesia, Barrier, Hone Claws, Taunt
Description: Mew is arguably the best user of Baton Pass in the entire game because of its gargantuan movepool especially since it is capable of passing every boost in the entire game. Add Mew's great overall bulk and access to moves such as Taunt and Mirror Coat to stop from being phazed and Mew becomes one of the hardest users of Baton Pass to stop.
Example Moveset:
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
- Rock Polish / Substitute
Ninjask
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Hone Claws
Description: Ninjask has always been known as the beginner of a Baton Pass chain and for good reason. Its blazing Speed stat and ability to gain Speed boosts at the end of every turn with Speed Boost makes it impossible to outspeed it. Ninjask's Speed boosts allow the chain to get a jump on the foe and set up before they can attack.
Example Moveset:
Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 24 Spe
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Protect / X-Scissor
Baton Pass Receivers
OU
Hydreigon
Description: Hydreigon is one of the new Dragon-types introduced in BW, and boasts fantastic mixed attacking stats and a decent Speed stat. In addition, its large movepool allows it to cover the majority of major threats in the OU metagame. It also has the Levitate ability, which allows it to be Baton Passed to on a Ground-type attack. Unfortunately, it has weaknesses to Fighting- and Ice-type moves, meaning Pokemon such as Conkeldurr can bypass Speed boosts with Mach Punch. However, Hydreigon's 92 / 90 / 90 defenses allow it to survive super effective priority moves at full health. The following EV spread allows Hydreigon at + 2 to outspeed Adamant Excadrill in the sand, a major Speed tier to reach in the OU metagame.
Example Moveset:
Hydreigon @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 80 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Dragon Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Focus Blast
- Outrage
Infernape
Description: Infernape has equal attacking stats, allowing it to go mixed with ease. In addition, it has an expansive movepool, with powerful dual STAB moves that provide great neutral coverage, with the exception of Dragon-types, which is what Hidden Power Ice is for. Grass Knot destroys the bulky Water-types that love to wall Infernape, and Close Combat easily eliminates Blissey and Chansey. The EV spread in the example moveset allows Infernape to outspeed Adamant Excadrill in sand, maximizes Special Attack, and bolsters Close Combat with some investment into Attack. Infernape is a fearsome mixed attacker, and can easily run through teams lacking priority.
Example Moveset:
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 160 Atk / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot / Vacuum Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Close Combat
Lucario
Description: Lucario has been a great Baton Pass receiver since the fourth generation, boasting great Special Attack and Attack stats, as well as a decent Speed stat. It also has access to several forms of priority including ExtremeSpeed, Bullet Punch, and Vacuum Wave. Lucario also has a wide movepool both physical and special, allowing it to take on special and physical walls simultaneously. The seemingly arbitrary EV spread in the example moveset allows Lucario to outspeed Choice Scarf Base 115's at +2, maximizes Special Attack, and gives a little more power to Close Combat. With even a few boosts under its belt, Lucario can easily sweep teams.
Example Moveset:
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 32 Atk / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Hidden Power Ice
- Dark Pulse
- Vacuum Wave
- Close Combat
Metagross
Description: Metagross was a fantastic Baton Pass receiver in DPP, and retains that status in BW. With a great typing that resists nearly every type of priority including ExtremeSpeed, Bullet Punch, Ice Shard, and Quick Attack. It is neutral to Aqua Jet, Mach Punch, and Shadow Sneak, but is able to tank hits with its massive Base 130 Defense. In addition, Metagross has fantastic type coverage with access to a pseudo-BoltBeam in the form of ThunderPunch and Ice Punch. Metagross also doesn't have to worry about Attack drops from Intimidate users due to its ability Clear Body. Overall, Metagross is an excellent candidate for a Baton Pass receiver because of these traits.
Example Moveset:
Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Meteor Mash
- ThunderPunch
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake / Zen Headbutt
Salamence
Description: Salamence has all the tools to threaten every single Pokemon in the BW OU metagame, a huge offensive movepool, a good Speed tier, and access to instant recovery. In addition, its 95 / 80 / 80 defenses aren't too shabby, and with Intimidate, Salamence can survive most neutral hits. The following EV spread allows Salamence to outspeed Adamant Excadrill in sand at +2, while maximizing Special Attack with the rest of the EVs in Attack to boost Outrage and Earthquake. Salamence reaches 330 Attack and 350 Special Attack with this EV spread, meaning it reaches an astounding 660 Attack and 700 Special Attack after a Shell Smash boost, a truly frightening thought.
Example Moveset:
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 96 Atk / 252 SpA / 160 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Outrage
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
UU
Azelf
Description: Azelf is already a powerhouse and speed-demon with its base 125 Special Attack and base 115 Speed, but with a Shell Smash, Azelf becomes an absolutely monstrous threat. Azelf reaches an insane 760 Special Attack and a blazing Speed stat of 542 with the given EV spread, and allows it to outspeed even Base 115 Choice Scarfed Pokemon! Back all this up with Azelf's amazing movepool for a excellent coverage moves and Psyshock that allows it to beat the Special Wall behemoth Chansey and you have a sweeper that is almost imossible to take a hit from.
Example Moveset:
Azelf @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 240 SpA / 20 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot / Shadow Ball
Electivire
Description: Electivire makes an excellent recipient of Shell Smash because of his great mixed attack stats and massive movepool. With a Shell Smash, Electivire reaches an amazing 758 Attack stat and a 490 Special Attack stat, while outspeeding even base 115 Speed Pokemon with a Choice Scarf. Wild Charge is Electivire's main attack, allowing him to severely dent anything it hits if not OHKOing it. However, Wild Charge recoil can add up, therefore, Thunderbolt can be used instead, albeit being much weaker. The rest of the moves provide Electivire with excellent coverage.
Example Moveset:
Electivire @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 252 Atk / 76 SpA / 180 Spe
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SpD)
- Wild Charge / Thunderbolt
- Earthquake / Cross Chop
- Ice Punch
- Hidden Power Grass
Heracross
Description: Heracross has always been a mighty brute when it comes to physical attacking. Now think about him with a +2 in both Attack and Speed! Heracross reaches an insane 766 Attack; OHKOing most Pokemon with his two STABs (who also boast excellent coverage with eachother), while Stone Edge hits Flying-types that resist them, and Night Slash hits Ghost-types. The EV spread gives Heracross a 'magic HP number', enough Speed to outspeed base 100s with a Choice Scarf, while 252 is dumped into Attack for maximum power and the rest in Defense for a little bulk against priority moes. Unlike most physical attackers, Heracross won't mind being burned by the likes of Dusclops who can take a +2 Night Slash. Once statused, Heracross reaches an Attack stat of 1146, so your opponent should think twice before using a status move on Heracross!
Example Moveset:
Heracross @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Def / 164 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Night Slash
Kingdra
Description: Kingdra is one of the fiercest sweepers in the rain, but instead of just boosting the power of Kingdra's Water-type moves Shell Smash boosts Kingdra's above average Attack and Special attack making it a threatening mixed sweeper. Kingdra reaches an incredible 634 Special Attack, 498 Attack, and 494 Speed with the given EV spread, which allows Kingdra to outspeed base 100 Choice Scarfed Pokemon. Kingdra's Water / Dragon typing gives it excellent coverage with those two types alone. Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor are Kingdra's main special attacks, while Outrage hits Pokemon like Snorlax and Chansey hard and Ice Beam allows Kingdra to hit bulkier Grass-types such as Roserade and Celebi. Dragon Pulse can be used over Draco Meteor because of the nasty -2 Special Attack it causes (basically removing the Special Attack boost recieved from Shell Smash).
Example Moveset:
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 92 Atk / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Outrage
- Ice Beam
Nidoking
Description: While Nidoking's Special Attack is below average compared to some, he makes up this with his incredible new ability, Sheer Force. With Sheer Force boosting all of his moves, his excellent movepool hitting multiple Pokemon for super effective damage, and a +2 boost in Special Attack makes it incredibly hard for Pokemon to survive his attacks. Nidoking's typing also makes him immune to the crippling status moves Thunder Wave and Toxic. Earth Power and Sludge Wave are Nidoking's strongest STAB attacks while Thunderbolt and Ice Beam give Nidoking the infamous BoltBeam combo. The combination of these moves gives Nidoking excellent coverage, hitting 10 of the 17 types for super effective damage.
Example Moveset:
Nidoking @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Baton Pass Team Building
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Example Teams
OU
-
UU
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Playing with the Baton Pass Chain
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Playing against Baton Pass
OU
In the past, some of the more popular methods of stopping Baton Pass chains were utilizing Whirlwind, and Roar to phaze, Haze to get rid of any boosts, Taunt to stop from opponents from boosting or using Baton Pass, Encore, to force a switch, Perish Song, also to force a switch, and Toxic Spikes, to gradually wear down a boosting Pokemon that is not of the Steel- or Poison-type. Some common users of phazing moves include Skarmory (Whirlwind), Hippowdon (Roar), and Vaporeon (Roar). Aside from Magic Bounce Pokemon and Magic Coat, only Ingrain and Suction Cups Pokemon nullify Whirlwind, but Soundproof Pokemon are immune to Roar. In the BW OU metagame, there are several new ways that can stop a Baton Pass chain, but also several buffers against attempts to stop the chain. Two new moves that cause phazing were introduced, Dragon Tail and Circle Throw. Ghost-types with Baton Pass are immune to Circle Throw, while nothing is immune to Dragon Tail. Unfortunately, the phazing effects of these moves do not take place when they hit a Substitute, so they are somewhat unreliable, as Baton Pass chains often make use of Substitute. There is also a new attacking version of Haze, called Clear Smog. Clear Smog is a special Poison-type attack with 50 base power, and will always hit regardless of evasion boosts, similar to Haze. Unfortunately, unlike Haze, Clear Smog does not work when the target is behind a Substitute, or if the target is unaffected by the attack due to it being a Steel-type. But perhaps the biggest boon to Baton Pass introduced in BW was not a new move, but a new ability: Magic Bounce.
Magic Bounce is a near-exclusive ability, with only two Pokemon having the ability: Espeon and Xatu. Of these two, only Espeon has legal access to Baton Pass thanks to the release of female Anticipation Eevee, which learns Baton Pass upon level up. In BW, Magic Bounce acts like a permanent Magic Coat, meaning that it now reflects all non-attacking support moves with the exception of Haze and Perish Song. Magic Bounce also reflects entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, Taunt, and non-damaging phazing moves such as Whirlwind and Roar. Because of this, Espeon has become a staple for Baton Pass teams in BW, as it serves as a counter to most of the methods used to stop Baton Pass chains. While this makes it quite difficult to stop a Baton Pass chain in BW, Magic Bounce does not reflect Haze, Clear Smog, Dragon Tail, Circle Throw, or Perish Song, so these are some of the most reliable ways to stop a Baton Pass chain.
Another way to stop a Baton Pass chain is to utilize priority moves early on, before the opponent has garnered any Defense boosts. Priority moves bypass any Speed boosts the opponent may have, and can aid in stopping a Baton Pass Chain. Some of the more popular priority moves include Extremespeed, Aqua Jet, Mach Punch, Ice Shard, Sucker Punch, and Bullet Punch. Some common users include Dragonite, Azumarrill, Conkeldurr, Mamoswine, Toxicroak, and Scizor, respectively. In addition, the introduction of the Prankster ability which grants +1 Speed priority to any non-attacking move allows for an easier time with Baton Pass teams. Thundurus, one of the best abusers of the Prankster ability, can easily utilize a priority Thunder Wave and Taunt to shut down Baton Pass teams without Espeon, or if Espeon has been defeated. On that note, Taunt is an excellent way to stop a Baton Pass chain, though it may be difficult if the user does not have the Prankster ability or if the opponent has gotten too many boosts. Encore coming from Wobbuffett who is OU in BW can also force switches, causing the opponent to lose their boosts, but it is relatively uncommon, and much less reliable as Encore has been nerfed from 5-8 turns to only 3 turns. As for other ways to stop Baton Pass, perhaps the only foolproof way is to use Perish Song or Haze. Perish Song works through a Substitute, and is impossibly to block unless the user is Taunted. Haze works the same way, but rather than forcing a switch, causes the target to simply lose all of its boosts. Finally, another thing that can cause a Baton Pass team some trouble is unwanted critical hits. Critical hits bypass any defensive boosts the opponent may have received, and thus, the only protection is by having a Substitute at all times. Well-made Baton Pass teams can tricky to deal with, but using the right methods described above can help avert a loss of the match.
UU
Playing against Baton Pass is very tricky and can be incredibly difficult to stop a well-built Baton Pass team that has gathered a few boosts. Well prepared Baton Pass teams prepare for the many things that threaten them. Almost every Baton Pass team has one Pokemon with the move Taunt to prevent the foe from using Taunt themselves or other moves that stop Baton Pass such as Roar, Whirlwind, Haze, Encore, and Perish Song. Some Baton Pass teams utilize Light Screen and Reflect to allow them to gain more boosts which makes it much harder to stop them from Baton Passing. Many Baton Pass teams also use a sleep inducing move such as Sleep Powder or Spore which can be used to put asleep a Pokemon that threatens them from passing. Despite all this, there are multiple ways to stop a Baton Pass team.
One simple way to beat Baton Pass is to hammer their team with powerful attacks before they get a chance to set up any boosts, set your own sweeper up before they can, or hit the recipient of their boosts with priority moves. Examples of these would be Choice Band Escavalier, Calm Mind Raikou, and any Pokemon with powerful priority such as Mamoswine, Hitmontop, and Houndoom. Escavalier can severely dent everything on a Baton Pass team preventing them from gathering any boosts without fainting, therefore, losing the chain. Raikou can set up Calm Minds on the opponent before they pass their boosts and hit the incoming recipient hard, potentially fainting it and making them lose their chain. Common Shell Smash recievers such as Nidoking and Azelf are weak to priority moves Ice Shard and Sucker Punch from the likes of Mamoswine and Houndoom respectively.
Status removing moves have always been the most effective way to stop Baton Pass. These moves include Roar, Whirlwind, and Haze, and the new move, Dragon Tail are all effective ways to stop a Baton Pass chain. Pokemon such as Arcanine, Empoleon, and Zapdos all have access to Roar and can use it to force the opponent out, making them lose all the boosts they gathered. Haze removes all status boosts on the field and can be used by Pokemon such as Milotic and Murkrow. While Milotic has the bulk to survive some boosted attacks, Murkrow has the ability Prankster that gives its Haze priority, therefore, cannot be stopped by Taunt. Speaking of Taunt, it can be used to stop the opponent from gathering any boosts at all, allowing you to attack them while they can do little back. Encore and Perish song, depsite uncommon in UU can stop a Baton Pass team for a short period of time. Perish Song makes all Pokemon who hear it faint in 3 turns, forcing the opponent to switch out and lose all their boosts or faint. Notable users of it are Celebi and Murkrow (who again deserves special mention because of its ability Prankster.) Encore forces the opponent to use the move they used last for 3 turns, which would make them use the same boosting move until it wears off. Although, there is many moves listed here to stop Baton Pass, they are all prevented by Taunt. If the foe's team has gathered enough Speed boosts they will most likely outspeed you and Taunt you before you can use any of the moves listed, this is what makes Baton Pass difficult to stop. Unlike the other moves listed here, Dragon Tail cannot be stopped by Taunt and forces the opponent out. Notable users of it include Milotic, Rhyperior, Mew, and Blastoise. Although it cannot be stopped by Taunt, Dragon Tail is a relatively weak move; therefore, if the opponent sets up a Substitute it will most likely not break, allowing them to continue boosting.
Conclusion
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by Omicron and Jubilee
WIP
Open to comments etc.
ATTENTION: If anyone has a good OU / UU Baton Pass team they'd like to share for the example teams, please let us know! You'll be given credit for the team.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is Baton Pass?
- SmashPass and QuickPass
- SmashPass and QuickPass Users
- OU Baton Pass Users
- UU Baton Pass Users
- OU Baton Pass Receivers
- UU Baton Pass Recievers
- Baton Pass Team Building
- OU Example Teams
- UU Example Teams
- Playing with the Baton Pass Chain
- Playing against Baton Pass in OU
- Playing against Baton Pass in UU
- Conclusion
- Pokemon that Learn Baton Pass
Introduction
With the fifth generation, the Baton Pass playstyle has received several great additions and also several notable setbacks. New, powerful, setup moves such as Shell Smash and Quiver Dance have been introduced, and the new ability Magic Bounce reflects all status and support moves including Taunt, Whirlwind, and Roar. Unfortunately, Pokemon with the Prankster ability have priority on support moves, and can easily stop a non-Magic Bounce Pokemon in the Baton Pass chain. Although Baton Pass may seem like a gimmicky or unreliable strategy, if played correctly, and with proper team support, it can be an extremely effective and rewarding experience.
What is Baton Pass?
Baton Pass is a 64 Max PP Normal-type move that allows the user to switch to another Pokemon in the party. It transfers all stat boosts, Substitute, and special conditions such as Ingrain or Taunt to the intended receiver. In addition, it allows the user to escape the effects of Shadow Tag, Mean Look, Arena Trap, Magnet Pull, Spider Web, and Pursuit's effect of hitting before switching out. However, Baton Pass no longer passes the trapping effects of Mean Look and Spider Web, rendering "Trap-Passing" ineffective this generation.
SmashPass and QuickPass
Shell Smash is by far one of the most popular moves to pass to a receiver, and has a select few users that also have access to Baton Pass. The strategy of "SmashPass" is to set up a Shell Smash and quickly pass it to a sweeper who can utilize the boosts immediately. Other moves that can quickly be the catalyst of a sweep such as Quiver Dance and Gear Shift are other forms of QuickPassing. Unfortunately, there are only three Pokemon with access to Shell Smash and Baton Pass (Gorebyss, Huntail, and Smeargle), and two Pokemon with access to both Quiver Dance and Baton Pass (Venomoth and Smeargle). Smeargle is the only Pokemon that can pass a Gear Shift boost.
SmashPass and QuickPass Users
Gorebyss
Description: Gorebyss is one of the only, and best passers of Shell Smash. After a boost, Gorebyss can proceed to either attack with its good Special Attack stat or pass to a deadly sweeper such as Lucario that can quickly make use of the boosts.
Example Moveset:
Gorebyss @ White Herb
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 252 HP / 24 SpD / 232 Spe
Calm nature (+SpD, -Atk)
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Surf
- Substitute / Ice Beam
Huntail
Description: Huntail is Gorebyss's physical counterpart, which also has access to Shell Smash and Baton Pass. Like Gorebyss, Huntail can either sweep after it has gotten the boost, or pass to a sweeper.
Example Moveset:
Huntail @ White Herb
Ability: Water Veil
EVs: 252 HP / 74 Def / 184 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Waterfall
Smeargle
Description: Due to Smeargle being able to learn every move in the game thanks to Sketch, it is the only other viable Pokemon capable of SmashPassing. It also has access to Spore, which can put a counter out of commission and enable Smeargle to Baton Pass more successfully. Unfortunately, due to its abysmal stats, Smeargle is pretty much good only for Baton Passing, and cannot utilize the boosts itself.
Example Moveset:
Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Baton Pass
- Shell Smash / Gear Shift / Quiver Dance
- Spore
- Magic Coat / Substitute
Venomoth
Description: Venomoth has been blessed with Quiver Dance in BW, which raises Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed all at the same time. Other than Smeargle, Venomoth is the only Quiver Dancer that can Baton Pass the boosts, giving it a niche among the other few users of Quiver Dance.
Example Moveset:
Venomoth @ Leftovers
Ability: Wonder Skin
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Quiver Dance
- Sleep Powder
- Baton Pass
- Bug Buzz
Baton Pass Users
With the tiering changes in BW, many of the old DPP OU Baton Pass users have dropped into UU, or even RU, bypassing UU completely. However, this does not mean that they are unusable in OU. In fact, this makes Baton Pass all the more dangerous, as the main users are now usable in the lower tiers, and are more uncommon, meaning that many users aren't as prepared as they used to be for a well-played Baton Pass team as their opponent.
OU
Espeon
Usable Moves: Calm Mind, Work Up, Wish
Description: With the introduction of BW, Espeon has gained one of the best new abilities in the game, Magic Bounce, which has cemented its place in BW OU. Magic Bounce reflects nearly all support moves including status moves, Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and phazing moves such as Whirlwind and Roar. This makes Espeon a great boon to Baton Pass teams, as it automatically prevents Taunt or phazing and can set up with ease. Espeon is best at passing Calm Mind boosts, and can also utilize the boosts itself. In OU, every Baton Pass team should carry Espeon, as it is one of the few Pokemon able to set up without being Taunted by a Pokemon with Prankster, such as Thundurus or Whimsicott.
Example Moveset:
Espeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Stored Power
- Hidden Power Fighting / Substitute / Reflect
Gliscor
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Rock Polish
Description: Gliscor remains one of the best Baton Pass users in OU, and has gained a great addition in the form of the ability Poison Heal. Gliscor can now be immune to status while holding a Toxic Orb, and heals 12.5% of its health each turn. Gliscor can pass Swords Dance boosts and Agility boosts, and it also has access to Taunt, preventing the opponent from phazing Gliscor and its intended recipient. Gliscor also has great defensive typing, though teammates to sponge the special Water- and Ice-type attacks aimed at it.
Example Moveset:
Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 196 SpD / 60 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Agility
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
Mienshao
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Calm Mind, Work Up
Description: Mienshao is one of the few new users of Baton Pass in BW, and has all the right traits to be an excellent addition to any Baton Pass team. Mienshao can pass Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Work Up, and Calm Mind. It can also pass Substitutes without losing health thanks to the new ability, Regenerator. Mienshao also has access to Taunt, meaning it can prevent the opponent from phazing or using status to stop the Baton Pass chain.
Example Moveset:
Mienshao @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Atk / 172 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Substitute / Hi Jump Kick
Scizor
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Iron Defense
Description: Scizor makes a great Baton Pass user in OU for its ability to pass multiple moves and great defensive typing. Scizor can pass Swords Dance, Agility, and Iron Defense, and has a great base 130 Attack stat to abuse its offensive boosts. It also has Roost for instant recovery.
Example Moveset:
Scizor @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 88 Atk / 172 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Swords Dance
- Baton Pass
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
Vaporeon
Usable Moves: Acid Armor, Aqua Ring, Wish
Description: Vaporeon continues to be a great Baton Pass user in BW with its great HP stat to pass Substitute and access to Acid Armor to patch up its below average Defense. In addition, it can heal itself with the Wish and Protect combination, and is immune to Water-type attacks thanks to its ability, Water Absorb.
Example Moveset:
Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 Spe
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Acid Armor
- Roar / Scald
UU
Gligar
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Agility, Hone Claws, Taunt
Description: Like it's evolve form in OU, Gligar makes an excellent user of Baton Pass because of its excellent Defense, typing, and access to Taunt. Since Gligar is an un-evolved Pokemon it can benefit from Eviolite, which boosts his defenses allowing him to gather more boosts.
Example Moveset:
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 252 HP / 184 Def / 72 Spe
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Agility / Substitute
Mew
Usable Moves: Nasty Plot, Swords Dance, Rock Polish, Calm Mind, Bulk Up, Amnesia, Barrier, Hone Claws, Taunt
Description: Mew is arguably the best user of Baton Pass in the entire game because of its gargantuan movepool especially since it is capable of passing every boost in the entire game. Add Mew's great overall bulk and access to moves such as Taunt and Mirror Coat to stop from being phazed and Mew becomes one of the hardest users of Baton Pass to stop.
Example Moveset:
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Baton Pass
- Taunt
- Nasty Plot / Swords Dance
- Rock Polish / Substitute
Ninjask
Usable Moves: Swords Dance, Hone Claws
Description: Ninjask has always been known as the beginner of a Baton Pass chain and for good reason. Its blazing Speed stat and ability to gain Speed boosts at the end of every turn with Speed Boost makes it impossible to outspeed it. Ninjask's Speed boosts allow the chain to get a jump on the foe and set up before they can attack.
Example Moveset:
Ninjask @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 24 Spe
Impish nature (+Def, -SpA)
- Baton Pass
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Protect / X-Scissor
Baton Pass Receivers
OU
Hydreigon
Description: Hydreigon is one of the new Dragon-types introduced in BW, and boasts fantastic mixed attacking stats and a decent Speed stat. In addition, its large movepool allows it to cover the majority of major threats in the OU metagame. It also has the Levitate ability, which allows it to be Baton Passed to on a Ground-type attack. Unfortunately, it has weaknesses to Fighting- and Ice-type moves, meaning Pokemon such as Conkeldurr can bypass Speed boosts with Mach Punch. However, Hydreigon's 92 / 90 / 90 defenses allow it to survive super effective priority moves at full health. The following EV spread allows Hydreigon at + 2 to outspeed Adamant Excadrill in the sand, a major Speed tier to reach in the OU metagame.
Example Moveset:
Hydreigon @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 80 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Dragon Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Focus Blast
- Outrage
Infernape
Description: Infernape has equal attacking stats, allowing it to go mixed with ease. In addition, it has an expansive movepool, with powerful dual STAB moves that provide great neutral coverage, with the exception of Dragon-types, which is what Hidden Power Ice is for. Grass Knot destroys the bulky Water-types that love to wall Infernape, and Close Combat easily eliminates Blissey and Chansey. The EV spread in the example moveset allows Infernape to outspeed Adamant Excadrill in sand, maximizes Special Attack, and bolsters Close Combat with some investment into Attack. Infernape is a fearsome mixed attacker, and can easily run through teams lacking priority.
Example Moveset:
Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 160 Atk / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Fire Blast
- Grass Knot / Vacuum Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Close Combat
Lucario
Description: Lucario has been a great Baton Pass receiver since the fourth generation, boasting great Special Attack and Attack stats, as well as a decent Speed stat. It also has access to several forms of priority including ExtremeSpeed, Bullet Punch, and Vacuum Wave. Lucario also has a wide movepool both physical and special, allowing it to take on special and physical walls simultaneously. The seemingly arbitrary EV spread in the example moveset allows Lucario to outspeed Choice Scarf Base 115's at +2, maximizes Special Attack, and gives a little more power to Close Combat. With even a few boosts under its belt, Lucario can easily sweep teams.
Example Moveset:
Lucario @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 32 Atk / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Hidden Power Ice
- Dark Pulse
- Vacuum Wave
- Close Combat
Metagross
Description: Metagross was a fantastic Baton Pass receiver in DPP, and retains that status in BW. With a great typing that resists nearly every type of priority including ExtremeSpeed, Bullet Punch, Ice Shard, and Quick Attack. It is neutral to Aqua Jet, Mach Punch, and Shadow Sneak, but is able to tank hits with its massive Base 130 Defense. In addition, Metagross has fantastic type coverage with access to a pseudo-BoltBeam in the form of ThunderPunch and Ice Punch. Metagross also doesn't have to worry about Attack drops from Intimidate users due to its ability Clear Body. Overall, Metagross is an excellent candidate for a Baton Pass receiver because of these traits.
Example Moveset:
Metagross @ Life Orb
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Meteor Mash
- ThunderPunch
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake / Zen Headbutt
Salamence
Description: Salamence has all the tools to threaten every single Pokemon in the BW OU metagame, a huge offensive movepool, a good Speed tier, and access to instant recovery. In addition, its 95 / 80 / 80 defenses aren't too shabby, and with Intimidate, Salamence can survive most neutral hits. The following EV spread allows Salamence to outspeed Adamant Excadrill in sand at +2, while maximizing Special Attack with the rest of the EVs in Attack to boost Outrage and Earthquake. Salamence reaches 330 Attack and 350 Special Attack with this EV spread, meaning it reaches an astounding 660 Attack and 700 Special Attack after a Shell Smash boost, a truly frightening thought.
Example Moveset:
Salamence @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 96 Atk / 252 SpA / 160 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Outrage
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
UU
Azelf
Description: Azelf is already a powerhouse and speed-demon with its base 125 Special Attack and base 115 Speed, but with a Shell Smash, Azelf becomes an absolutely monstrous threat. Azelf reaches an insane 760 Special Attack and a blazing Speed stat of 542 with the given EV spread, and allows it to outspeed even Base 115 Choice Scarfed Pokemon! Back all this up with Azelf's amazing movepool for a excellent coverage moves and Psyshock that allows it to beat the Special Wall behemoth Chansey and you have a sweeper that is almost imossible to take a hit from.
Example Moveset:
Azelf @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 240 SpA / 20 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Grass Knot / Shadow Ball
Electivire
Description: Electivire makes an excellent recipient of Shell Smash because of his great mixed attack stats and massive movepool. With a Shell Smash, Electivire reaches an amazing 758 Attack stat and a 490 Special Attack stat, while outspeeding even base 115 Speed Pokemon with a Choice Scarf. Wild Charge is Electivire's main attack, allowing him to severely dent anything it hits if not OHKOing it. However, Wild Charge recoil can add up, therefore, Thunderbolt can be used instead, albeit being much weaker. The rest of the moves provide Electivire with excellent coverage.
Example Moveset:
Electivire @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 252 Atk / 76 SpA / 180 Spe
Naughty nature (+Atk, -SpD)
- Wild Charge / Thunderbolt
- Earthquake / Cross Chop
- Ice Punch
- Hidden Power Grass
Heracross
Description: Heracross has always been a mighty brute when it comes to physical attacking. Now think about him with a +2 in both Attack and Speed! Heracross reaches an insane 766 Attack; OHKOing most Pokemon with his two STABs (who also boast excellent coverage with eachother), while Stone Edge hits Flying-types that resist them, and Night Slash hits Ghost-types. The EV spread gives Heracross a 'magic HP number', enough Speed to outspeed base 100s with a Choice Scarf, while 252 is dumped into Attack for maximum power and the rest in Defense for a little bulk against priority moes. Unlike most physical attackers, Heracross won't mind being burned by the likes of Dusclops who can take a +2 Night Slash. Once statused, Heracross reaches an Attack stat of 1146, so your opponent should think twice before using a status move on Heracross!
Example Moveset:
Heracross @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 16 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Def / 164 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Night Slash
Kingdra
Description: Kingdra is one of the fiercest sweepers in the rain, but instead of just boosting the power of Kingdra's Water-type moves Shell Smash boosts Kingdra's above average Attack and Special attack making it a threatening mixed sweeper. Kingdra reaches an incredible 634 Special Attack, 498 Attack, and 494 Speed with the given EV spread, which allows Kingdra to outspeed base 100 Choice Scarfed Pokemon. Kingdra's Water / Dragon typing gives it excellent coverage with those two types alone. Hydro Pump and Draco Meteor are Kingdra's main special attacks, while Outrage hits Pokemon like Snorlax and Chansey hard and Ice Beam allows Kingdra to hit bulkier Grass-types such as Roserade and Celebi. Dragon Pulse can be used over Draco Meteor because of the nasty -2 Special Attack it causes (basically removing the Special Attack boost recieved from Shell Smash).
Example Moveset:
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Sniper
EVs: 92 Atk / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Rash nature (+SpA, -SpD)
- Hydro Pump
- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse
- Outrage
- Ice Beam
Nidoking
Description: While Nidoking's Special Attack is below average compared to some, he makes up this with his incredible new ability, Sheer Force. With Sheer Force boosting all of his moves, his excellent movepool hitting multiple Pokemon for super effective damage, and a +2 boost in Special Attack makes it incredibly hard for Pokemon to survive his attacks. Nidoking's typing also makes him immune to the crippling status moves Thunder Wave and Toxic. Earth Power and Sludge Wave are Nidoking's strongest STAB attacks while Thunderbolt and Ice Beam give Nidoking the infamous BoltBeam combo. The combination of these moves gives Nidoking excellent coverage, hitting 10 of the 17 types for super effective damage.
Example Moveset:
Nidoking @ Life Orb / Leftovers
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest nature (+SpA, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Sludge Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Baton Pass Team Building
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Example Teams
OU
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UU
-
Playing with the Baton Pass Chain
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Playing against Baton Pass
OU
In the past, some of the more popular methods of stopping Baton Pass chains were utilizing Whirlwind, and Roar to phaze, Haze to get rid of any boosts, Taunt to stop from opponents from boosting or using Baton Pass, Encore, to force a switch, Perish Song, also to force a switch, and Toxic Spikes, to gradually wear down a boosting Pokemon that is not of the Steel- or Poison-type. Some common users of phazing moves include Skarmory (Whirlwind), Hippowdon (Roar), and Vaporeon (Roar). Aside from Magic Bounce Pokemon and Magic Coat, only Ingrain and Suction Cups Pokemon nullify Whirlwind, but Soundproof Pokemon are immune to Roar. In the BW OU metagame, there are several new ways that can stop a Baton Pass chain, but also several buffers against attempts to stop the chain. Two new moves that cause phazing were introduced, Dragon Tail and Circle Throw. Ghost-types with Baton Pass are immune to Circle Throw, while nothing is immune to Dragon Tail. Unfortunately, the phazing effects of these moves do not take place when they hit a Substitute, so they are somewhat unreliable, as Baton Pass chains often make use of Substitute. There is also a new attacking version of Haze, called Clear Smog. Clear Smog is a special Poison-type attack with 50 base power, and will always hit regardless of evasion boosts, similar to Haze. Unfortunately, unlike Haze, Clear Smog does not work when the target is behind a Substitute, or if the target is unaffected by the attack due to it being a Steel-type. But perhaps the biggest boon to Baton Pass introduced in BW was not a new move, but a new ability: Magic Bounce.
Magic Bounce is a near-exclusive ability, with only two Pokemon having the ability: Espeon and Xatu. Of these two, only Espeon has legal access to Baton Pass thanks to the release of female Anticipation Eevee, which learns Baton Pass upon level up. In BW, Magic Bounce acts like a permanent Magic Coat, meaning that it now reflects all non-attacking support moves with the exception of Haze and Perish Song. Magic Bounce also reflects entry hazards such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, Taunt, and non-damaging phazing moves such as Whirlwind and Roar. Because of this, Espeon has become a staple for Baton Pass teams in BW, as it serves as a counter to most of the methods used to stop Baton Pass chains. While this makes it quite difficult to stop a Baton Pass chain in BW, Magic Bounce does not reflect Haze, Clear Smog, Dragon Tail, Circle Throw, or Perish Song, so these are some of the most reliable ways to stop a Baton Pass chain.
Another way to stop a Baton Pass chain is to utilize priority moves early on, before the opponent has garnered any Defense boosts. Priority moves bypass any Speed boosts the opponent may have, and can aid in stopping a Baton Pass Chain. Some of the more popular priority moves include Extremespeed, Aqua Jet, Mach Punch, Ice Shard, Sucker Punch, and Bullet Punch. Some common users include Dragonite, Azumarrill, Conkeldurr, Mamoswine, Toxicroak, and Scizor, respectively. In addition, the introduction of the Prankster ability which grants +1 Speed priority to any non-attacking move allows for an easier time with Baton Pass teams. Thundurus, one of the best abusers of the Prankster ability, can easily utilize a priority Thunder Wave and Taunt to shut down Baton Pass teams without Espeon, or if Espeon has been defeated. On that note, Taunt is an excellent way to stop a Baton Pass chain, though it may be difficult if the user does not have the Prankster ability or if the opponent has gotten too many boosts. Encore coming from Wobbuffett who is OU in BW can also force switches, causing the opponent to lose their boosts, but it is relatively uncommon, and much less reliable as Encore has been nerfed from 5-8 turns to only 3 turns. As for other ways to stop Baton Pass, perhaps the only foolproof way is to use Perish Song or Haze. Perish Song works through a Substitute, and is impossibly to block unless the user is Taunted. Haze works the same way, but rather than forcing a switch, causes the target to simply lose all of its boosts. Finally, another thing that can cause a Baton Pass team some trouble is unwanted critical hits. Critical hits bypass any defensive boosts the opponent may have received, and thus, the only protection is by having a Substitute at all times. Well-made Baton Pass teams can tricky to deal with, but using the right methods described above can help avert a loss of the match.
UU
Playing against Baton Pass is very tricky and can be incredibly difficult to stop a well-built Baton Pass team that has gathered a few boosts. Well prepared Baton Pass teams prepare for the many things that threaten them. Almost every Baton Pass team has one Pokemon with the move Taunt to prevent the foe from using Taunt themselves or other moves that stop Baton Pass such as Roar, Whirlwind, Haze, Encore, and Perish Song. Some Baton Pass teams utilize Light Screen and Reflect to allow them to gain more boosts which makes it much harder to stop them from Baton Passing. Many Baton Pass teams also use a sleep inducing move such as Sleep Powder or Spore which can be used to put asleep a Pokemon that threatens them from passing. Despite all this, there are multiple ways to stop a Baton Pass team.
One simple way to beat Baton Pass is to hammer their team with powerful attacks before they get a chance to set up any boosts, set your own sweeper up before they can, or hit the recipient of their boosts with priority moves. Examples of these would be Choice Band Escavalier, Calm Mind Raikou, and any Pokemon with powerful priority such as Mamoswine, Hitmontop, and Houndoom. Escavalier can severely dent everything on a Baton Pass team preventing them from gathering any boosts without fainting, therefore, losing the chain. Raikou can set up Calm Minds on the opponent before they pass their boosts and hit the incoming recipient hard, potentially fainting it and making them lose their chain. Common Shell Smash recievers such as Nidoking and Azelf are weak to priority moves Ice Shard and Sucker Punch from the likes of Mamoswine and Houndoom respectively.
Status removing moves have always been the most effective way to stop Baton Pass. These moves include Roar, Whirlwind, and Haze, and the new move, Dragon Tail are all effective ways to stop a Baton Pass chain. Pokemon such as Arcanine, Empoleon, and Zapdos all have access to Roar and can use it to force the opponent out, making them lose all the boosts they gathered. Haze removes all status boosts on the field and can be used by Pokemon such as Milotic and Murkrow. While Milotic has the bulk to survive some boosted attacks, Murkrow has the ability Prankster that gives its Haze priority, therefore, cannot be stopped by Taunt. Speaking of Taunt, it can be used to stop the opponent from gathering any boosts at all, allowing you to attack them while they can do little back. Encore and Perish song, depsite uncommon in UU can stop a Baton Pass team for a short period of time. Perish Song makes all Pokemon who hear it faint in 3 turns, forcing the opponent to switch out and lose all their boosts or faint. Notable users of it are Celebi and Murkrow (who again deserves special mention because of its ability Prankster.) Encore forces the opponent to use the move they used last for 3 turns, which would make them use the same boosting move until it wears off. Although, there is many moves listed here to stop Baton Pass, they are all prevented by Taunt. If the foe's team has gathered enough Speed boosts they will most likely outspeed you and Taunt you before you can use any of the moves listed, this is what makes Baton Pass difficult to stop. Unlike the other moves listed here, Dragon Tail cannot be stopped by Taunt and forces the opponent out. Notable users of it include Milotic, Rhyperior, Mew, and Blastoise. Although it cannot be stopped by Taunt, Dragon Tail is a relatively weak move; therefore, if the opponent sets up a Substitute it will most likely not break, allowing them to continue boosting.
Conclusion
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