Samurott [QC 3/3] [GP 2/2]

Taunt is an excellent addition to Samurott's movepool which allows it to stop set-up sweepers and Pokemon who attempt to use support moves.

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Komodo said:

http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/samurott

This is being written for Scoopapa, and he provided the skeleton. I'm aware that the skeleton may be lacking, but I intend to bulk up the analysis as I write it. Thank you.

[Overview]

<p>Samurott is another standard Water-type starter. It has great offensive stats, access to Swords Dance, and decent type coverage with its STAB moves. Furthermore, Samurott is pretty bulky and it has an easy time setting up against less powerful threats. Unfortunately, Samurott's sweeping potential is hindered by its average Speed stat, though luckily it has access to Aqua Jet to combat this. Samurott's movepool isn't great, though it has access to decent moves such as Taunt and Encore to aid it in setting up. The only thing that sets Samurott apart from Feraligatr and Poliwrath is Megahorn. With Megahorn, Samurott can score a super effective hit on Psychic-types such as Uxie, and severely damage Grass-types such as Tangrowth.</p>

[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest
EVs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set attempts to break through the opponent's walls and make it easier for[add space]your sweepers to sweep. Samurott is fast enough to outrun most walls in the tier, and ensures that Adamant Aggron cannot outspeed it either. Taunt is an excellent addition to Samurott's movepool, which allows it to stop walls who attempt to use recovery moves and inflict statusing on Samurott. This set has so much power, it's incredibly difficult to switch into and makes Samurott difficult to counter. Hydro Pump will OHKO Claydol, Crustle, and Steelix 100% of the time, but you can use Surf if you dislike Hydro Pump's imperfect accuracy. Ice Beam will deal immense damage to Grass-types such as Lilligant, Tangrowth, and Sawsbuck, scoring an OHKO after Stealth Rock [lower case D]amage. Flying-types such as Mandibuzz and Honchkrow are hit for decent damage as well. Grass Knot gives Samurott a way to deal with opposing Water-types such as Poliwrath, and it deals a lot of damage to heavy opponents such as Aggron.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EVs on this set are tailored to very specific needs. 96 Speed EVs ensure that Samurott can outspeed base 50 Pokemon who invest heavily in Speed, such as Aggron, while maximum Special Attack EVs are used to give Samurott some serious firepower. Finally, the remaining EVs are placed in HP to give Samurott additional bulk, which gives it the ability to survive Medicham's Hi Jump Kick, and avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Entei's Flare Blitz.</p>

<p>Support from entry hazards is helpful as they make the difference between some OHKOs and 2HKOs. For example, with Stealth Rock set up, Samurott will always OHKO Rotom with Hydro Pump, and OHKO Lilligant and Sawsbuck with Ice Beam. Claydol is an excellent partner as it can switch into Electric-type moves aimed at Samurott, set up Stealth Rock, and remove entry hazards with Rapid Spin. Uxie is another great choice as it can set up Stealth Rock and dual screens, and use Memento to give Samurott a safe switch in. When entry hazards are on the field, a Ghost-type, such as Dusknoir or Cofagrigus, can block Rapid Spin, and support Samurott with Will-O-Wisp.</p>

<p>Pokemon who can switch into Samurott's weaknesses are also helpful. Gligar can switch into Electric-type moves with an immunity, is only hit neutrally by Grass-type moves, and has access to a variety of handy support moves such as Taunt, Baton Pass, and Rock Polish. Electivire can form a decent offensive combination with Samurott, taking advantage of Motor Drive, and breaking through specially defensive Pokemon such as Munchlax. Ferroseed resists both Grass- and Electric-type moves, can slow down offensive threats with Thunder Wave, and has access to Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Leech Seed.</p>

<p>As Samurott lacks any form of recovery outside of Rest, Wish support is helpful. Clefable and Leafeon are great choices as they take little damage from Grass- and Electric-type attacks, and both of them can set up in their own way. Clefable has access to Stealth Rock and Heal Bell, while Leafeon can set up Swords Dance and use Baton Pass to help a teammate. Ludicolo and Ferroseed can[add space]pass Leech Seed to Samurott, giving it a little recovery, though this is unreliable. Finally, Rest can be used with a Chesto Berry, though this means Samurott has to give up a coverage move or Taunt, which isn't recommended.</p>

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Megahorn
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Adamant
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Samurott makes for a fine Swords Dancer; its STAB moves provide decent type coverage along with Megahorn, and Aqua Jet helps with its average Speed. The idea behind this set is to set up a Swords Dance while a Pokemon such as Gligar switches, then attack with its powerful boosted attacks. Waterfall is used for reliable STAB, and deals massive damage to everything that doesn't resist it. Aqua Tail may be used over Waterfall if you require more power, though the loss of accuracy isn't[add space]recommended. Megahorn provides coverage against Grass- and Psychic-types such as Lilligant and Uxie, and deals a lot of damage to Dark-types such as Sharpedo. In addition, Megahorn is the only reason to use Samurott over Feraligatr, and it has a chance to OHKO Tangrowth after a Swords Dance boost. Finally, Aqua Jet helps combat Samurott's average Speed, and it's a great option to pick off weakened opponents.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EVs on this set give Samurott enough Speed to outrun Adamant Aggron, while maximum Attack gives it as much power as possible. The remaining EVs are placed in HP for extra bulk. Support from entry hazards is helpful as they give Samurott the ability to KO threats more easily. Uxie can set up Stealth Rock and dual screens, Claydol can set up Stealth Rock and use Rapid Spin, and Ferroseed can set up Spikes and abuse Thunder Wave to cripple opponents. A Choice Band may be used with Night Slash for more power and a little more coverage, but it lacks the power of a Swords Dance boost.</p>

<p>Poliwrath is a hard counter to this set, so Grass- or Electric-type Pokemon make great partners. Rotom-C can switch into Poliwrath's Waterfall and threaten it with its STAB moves, while Lilligant and Sawsbuck can hit it hard right off the bat. Electivire makes a great offensive partner as it can switch into Electric-type moves, gain a boost with Motor Drive, and break through the opponent's team, including Poliwrath, with relative ease.</p>

<p>Again, Pokemon that can switch into Samurott's weaknesses are helpful. Grass-types, such as Sceptile and Lilligant, can switch into Water- and Electric-type moves and set up with Substitute and Sleep Powder, respectively. Ground-types, such as Krookodile and Gligar, can also switch into Electric-type moves and use their STAB moves, while Rotom-C resists both Grass- and Electric-type attacks, and is so unpredictable, the opponent will be in a scramble trying to guess what happens next.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Samurott's movepool is pretty poor, so there aren't a lot of options left available. Choice items can be used for more Speed or power, but they restrict Samurott to only one move. Dragon Tail can be used to force switches and rack up entry hazard damage, but it provides poor coverage when combined with Samurott's STAB. A defensive set is viable, using a combination of Scald, Taunt, Rest, Encore, and Toxic, but lacking a reliable recovery move outside of Rest, Samurott faces stiff competition for this role. Aqua Tail, Night Slash, Assurance, and Aerial Ace are other physical options, but they all have low Base Power, and provide very poor coverage compared to Samurott's other moves. A gimmicky Toxic stall set can be used with Substitute, but Samurott's average Speed holds it back.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Because of its Water typing, most Grass-types who can take a hit make excellent checks to Samurott. Roselia and Amoonguss can survive 2 hits from Ice Beam, but they lack the raw power to do anything back. Furthermore, neither of them can survive a Swords Dance boosted Megahorn. Rotom-C can switch into Ice Beam and outspeed Samurott, and is difficult to predict thanks to its dual Grass and Electric typing. Sawsbuck and Lilligant can switch into any of Samurott's Water-type attacks and KO it with their STAB moves, but neither of them can switch into Ice Beam or Megahorn without fainting.</p>

<p>Munchlax can take on the special set if it manages to paralyze Samurott with Body Slam, though repeated hits from Hydro Pump will wear it down quickly. Specially defensive Electric-types such as Ampharos and Lanturn are also great counters, and they have powerful STAB moves with which to KO Samurott. Poliwrath can take on the physical set thanks to Water Absorb and a resistance to Megahorn, and it can set up Substitutes and fire off STAB Focus Punches to dent Samurott. Finally, Porygon-Z can't switch into any of Samurott's attacks, though it appreciates the Special Attack boost from Download.</p>

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