[Overview]
<p>Wailord isn't as big of a threat as it looks, but it certainly is a force to be reckoned with. Its stat distribution is good, with decent bulk and reasonable offense, but poor Speed. The only niche it has is its access to Water Spout. When Water Spout is used in rain at full HP, it can OHKO or 2HKO pretty much every Pokemon in the metagame. Wailord's support options are lacking, but its powerful Water Spout helps to make up for that. All in all, Wailord has its pros and cons, and can be useful on a rain or Trick Room team.<p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Protect
item: Wacan Berry / Sitrus Berry
nature: Quiet
ability: Pressure
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Wailord possesses decent offenses and defenses, it lacks Speed. With Trick Room set up by a teammate, though, Wailord will be able to outspeed almost all Pokemon in non-Trick Room teams and do massive damage with Water Spout. Water Spout is a powerful STAB move that should only be used when Wailord is at, or close to full HP. Surf and Hydro Pump are less powerful STAB attacks which can do good damage when Wailord's HP is too low to use Water Spout anymore. Surf hits all Pokemon on the field, including teammates, which can work well if Wailord has a teammate with Dry Skin or Water Absorb. Hydro Pump is a more powerful, but less accurate move that hits only one Pokemon on the field. Protect should be used on the first turn to conserve HP, while a teammate sets up Trick Room. This ensures that Wailord will outpace almost all Pokemon during the next four turns, which allows it to freely spam its powerful moves. Ice Beam 2HKOes most common Dragon-types, such as Latios and Dragonite, that try to come in on a resisted Water-type move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Wacan Berry reduces the amount of damage taken by Electric-type moves, allowing Wailord to take a Thunderbolt from Zapdos or Thundurus, and hit back with a super effective Ice Beam. Sitrus Berry is another option, giving Wilaord some extra health to boost the power of Water Spout. The EV spread used is fairly simple; it maximizes Wailord's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing Wailord to take special Grass- and Electric-type attacks more easily, as well as hit opposing Pokemon hard. A Quiet nature and 0 Spe IVs make Wailord as slow as possible, meaning that it will be blindingly fast when Trick Room is up. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD can be used to increase Wailord's overall bulk. As for teammates, Politoed is an amazing choice, as it can summon permanent rain to boost Water Spout. Also, teammates that can set up Trick Room such as Bronzong, Musharna, and Cresselia are a must, as this set is only meant to be used under Trick Room. Musharna is an amazing partner, due to its immunity to Surf through Telepathy. Lightningrod Rypherior is also a great teammate, as it can absorb all Electric-type attacks aimed at Wailord.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Wailord has a few other sets that it can pull off effectively. If you're looking for a fast Pokemon to spam Water Spout on a rain team, Choice Scarf Wailord is a viable option. Wailord doesn't have the best Defense and Special Defense, but it can take hits reasonably well thanks to its enormous base 170 HP, making a more defensive set viable. If you plan on using Wailord on a Hail team, Blizzard should be used over Ice Beam. Life Orb and Water Gem are also two other items to consider. Life Orb gives Wailord a much appreciated power boost, but Water Spout will decrease in power thanks to recoil damage. Water Gem-boosted Water Spout under the rain can OHKO almost every Pokemon in the metagame. Wailord also has a decent base 90 Attack stat, allowing it to utilize a Choice Band set with Waterfall, Double-Edge, Earthquake, and Selfdestruct. Hidden Power Ice and Hidden Power Electric can be used over Protect to hit opposing Water-types. Wailord can also set up Rain Dance on its own, and it is a viable option over Protect. Selfdestruct can be used as a reasonably powerful last-ditch attack, but it's generally not powerful enough to be really useful.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Sun teams make Water Spout pitifully weak, and the common Chlorophyll users are able to do huge damage to Wailord with their STAB Grass-type attacks. However, when in Trick Room, Wailord can outspeed and OHKO most Chlorophyll users with Ice Beam. Priority moves can be problematic for Wailord, as they can do significant damage to it before it attacks, reducing Water Spout's Base Power. Jellicent with Water Absorb is the best counter to Wailord, as it can gain HP from any Water-type move it gets hit by, while also resisting Ice Beam. Dry Skin Toxicroak can also take anything Wailord has to offer and retaliate back with priority moves such as Fake Out and Sucker Punch, or restore its own HP with Drain Punch. Taunt users such as Tornadus can stop Wailord's teammates' attempts to set up Trick Room. Ferrothorn is another notable counter that resists both of Wailord's moves and can sap large amounts of health from Wailord with Leech Seed, or do huge damage with Power Whip. Almost all bulky Water-types such as Lanturn and Milotic can wall Wailord.</p>
<p>Wailord isn't as big of a threat as it looks, but it certainly is a force to be reckoned with. Its stat distribution is good, with decent bulk and reasonable offense, but poor Speed. The only niche it has is its access to Water Spout. When Water Spout is used in rain at full HP, it can OHKO or 2HKO pretty much every Pokemon in the metagame. Wailord's support options are lacking, but its powerful Water Spout helps to make up for that. All in all, Wailord has its pros and cons, and can be useful on a rain or Trick Room team.<p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room Attacker
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Protect
item: Wacan Berry / Sitrus Berry
nature: Quiet
ability: Pressure
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Wailord possesses decent offenses and defenses, it lacks Speed. With Trick Room set up by a teammate, though, Wailord will be able to outspeed almost all Pokemon in non-Trick Room teams and do massive damage with Water Spout. Water Spout is a powerful STAB move that should only be used when Wailord is at, or close to full HP. Surf and Hydro Pump are less powerful STAB attacks which can do good damage when Wailord's HP is too low to use Water Spout anymore. Surf hits all Pokemon on the field, including teammates, which can work well if Wailord has a teammate with Dry Skin or Water Absorb. Hydro Pump is a more powerful, but less accurate move that hits only one Pokemon on the field. Protect should be used on the first turn to conserve HP, while a teammate sets up Trick Room. This ensures that Wailord will outpace almost all Pokemon during the next four turns, which allows it to freely spam its powerful moves. Ice Beam 2HKOes most common Dragon-types, such as Latios and Dragonite, that try to come in on a resisted Water-type move.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Wacan Berry reduces the amount of damage taken by Electric-type moves, allowing Wailord to take a Thunderbolt from Zapdos or Thundurus, and hit back with a super effective Ice Beam. Sitrus Berry is another option, giving Wilaord some extra health to boost the power of Water Spout. The EV spread used is fairly simple; it maximizes Wailord's Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing Wailord to take special Grass- and Electric-type attacks more easily, as well as hit opposing Pokemon hard. A Quiet nature and 0 Spe IVs make Wailord as slow as possible, meaning that it will be blindingly fast when Trick Room is up. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD can be used to increase Wailord's overall bulk. As for teammates, Politoed is an amazing choice, as it can summon permanent rain to boost Water Spout. Also, teammates that can set up Trick Room such as Bronzong, Musharna, and Cresselia are a must, as this set is only meant to be used under Trick Room. Musharna is an amazing partner, due to its immunity to Surf through Telepathy. Lightningrod Rypherior is also a great teammate, as it can absorb all Electric-type attacks aimed at Wailord.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Wailord has a few other sets that it can pull off effectively. If you're looking for a fast Pokemon to spam Water Spout on a rain team, Choice Scarf Wailord is a viable option. Wailord doesn't have the best Defense and Special Defense, but it can take hits reasonably well thanks to its enormous base 170 HP, making a more defensive set viable. If you plan on using Wailord on a Hail team, Blizzard should be used over Ice Beam. Life Orb and Water Gem are also two other items to consider. Life Orb gives Wailord a much appreciated power boost, but Water Spout will decrease in power thanks to recoil damage. Water Gem-boosted Water Spout under the rain can OHKO almost every Pokemon in the metagame. Wailord also has a decent base 90 Attack stat, allowing it to utilize a Choice Band set with Waterfall, Double-Edge, Earthquake, and Selfdestruct. Hidden Power Ice and Hidden Power Electric can be used over Protect to hit opposing Water-types. Wailord can also set up Rain Dance on its own, and it is a viable option over Protect. Selfdestruct can be used as a reasonably powerful last-ditch attack, but it's generally not powerful enough to be really useful.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Sun teams make Water Spout pitifully weak, and the common Chlorophyll users are able to do huge damage to Wailord with their STAB Grass-type attacks. However, when in Trick Room, Wailord can outspeed and OHKO most Chlorophyll users with Ice Beam. Priority moves can be problematic for Wailord, as they can do significant damage to it before it attacks, reducing Water Spout's Base Power. Jellicent with Water Absorb is the best counter to Wailord, as it can gain HP from any Water-type move it gets hit by, while also resisting Ice Beam. Dry Skin Toxicroak can also take anything Wailord has to offer and retaliate back with priority moves such as Fake Out and Sucker Punch, or restore its own HP with Drain Punch. Taunt users such as Tornadus can stop Wailord's teammates' attempts to set up Trick Room. Ferrothorn is another notable counter that resists both of Wailord's moves and can sap large amounts of health from Wailord with Leech Seed, or do huge damage with Power Whip. Almost all bulky Water-types such as Lanturn and Milotic can wall Wailord.</p>
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