Status: Finished
After getting the go ahead from both Eo Ut Mortus and j. franky I've decided to rewrite this Ninetales revamp to improve its sentence structure and sentence flow. I've also revamped the Team Options section.
Old analysis which can be locked.
I also have not included j. franky's separate Sunny Day sweeper set but would be willing to add it to the full revamp if there is enough support.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/ninetales
[Overview]
<p>While there is no shortage of Fire-types in UU, Ninetales has some unique attributes which help it stand out from the crowd. It boasts one of the largest movepools of all Fire-types, including assets like Nasty Plot, Hypnosis, and Energy Ball. This movepool not only helps make up for Ninetales's somewhat depressing Base Stats but also allows it to overcome the biggest threats to UU Fire-types: bulky Water-types like Slowbro and Milotic. This unique characteristic allows Ninetales to step out of the shadows of its more popular Fire-type brethren and take center stage as a special attacker or status inducer.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Hypnosis / Hidden Power Rock
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Nasty Plot, Ninetales is able to remedy its lackluster Special Attack, which soars to 522 after a +2 boost. Ninetales can abuse Flash Fire to enter the battle without damage, and begin to up against slower opponents. Hypnosis is a valuable (if somewhat unreliable) asset, as it can be used freely as your opponent switches out and may grant Ninetales a free turn to Nasty Plot. This boost then makes Energy Ball and Fire Blast extremely powerful, taking down a majority of the tier. Those who are able to take these attacks (Moltres, Altaria, and other Flash Fire Pokémon) are the reasoning behind adding Hidden Power Rock to the moveset, even if its coverage does not outweigh Hypnosis's crippling effect.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Without Hypnosis, Ninetales will have a harder time boosting its Special Attack, since it will have to rely on predicted switches to obtain boosts without risking serious damage. Its accuracy, however, will always be a problem, which makes Hidden Power Rock another useful option; it stops other Flash Fire Pokémon from stopping your sweep and increasing Ninetales's sweeping potential. Another option over Hypnosis is Substitute; Ninetales can boost its Special Attack from behind a Substitute without fearing status or damage. Since Ninetales's defenses are rather low, it is best to use attacks with high accuracy. However, Flamethrower may miss out on OHKOing standard Registeel, since it can only do 87.36% - 102.75%, making Fire Blast the better choice. Energy Ball adds type coverage to Ninetales's movepool, deftly handling otherwise threatening Water- and Rock-types.</p>
<p>Life Orb is used to squeeze out all of Ninetales's sweeping potential, while Leftovers helps replenish health lost through entry hazards and opposing attackers. If Hidden Power Rock is used over Hypnosis, Life Orb is definitely a better choice since Ninetales will be forcing less switches and will instantly reveal its item if it switches in against entry hazards.</p>
<p>Ninetales easily makes one-third of the commonly seen Fire-Water-Grass combination. Helpful teammates include Venusaur, who is able to switch in and immediately threaten bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Slowbro. These same bulky Waters function well as teammates, since they can easily sponge attacks aimed at Ninetales and can threaten Altaria, who resists both Energy Ball and Fire Blast. Milotic becomes an even better choice should you forgo Hidden Power Rock, since it can check the likes of Altaria, Blaziken, Houndoom, and Moltres effectively. Blastoise is also a great Water-type teammate who is capable of adding not only defensive synergy to your team but also Rapid Spin support - something Ninetales must have in order to sweep uninhibited.</p>
[SET]
name: Double Status
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Overheat / Fire Blast
item: Wide Lens
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Ninetales's support movepool also allows it to pull off a double status set quite effectively. Hypnosis provides the sleep status that starts things off, while Will-O-Wisp cripples physical switch-ins looking to take Ninetales down. Energy Ball and your choice of Fire-type attack fill out the moveset, providing Ninetales with STAB and coverage should it find an opportunity to pick off a foe.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Wide Lens is almost mandatory when using this set, due to Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp's low accuracy. Since this Ninetales isn't looking to stay in and sweep, Overheat is a perfectly viable attack choice. Fire Blast is a better choice if you want Ninetales to function both as a supporter and a special attacker, since it doesn't lower Ninetales's Special Attack.</p>
<p>This set's ideal teammates are the same as the Special Sweeper's, since the Grass-Water-Fire combination creates such strong team synergy. Specifically, Torterra is able to function well with Double Status Ninetales since it can set up Stealth Rock, which is very useful when using a set that causes as many switches as this one does. It is also suggested that your Water-type has the potential to overcome Morning Sun Arcanine, since it resists or is immune to three of the moves in the moveset. Using a Utility Blastoise with Roar is highly recommended, since it can shuffle your opponent's team and Rapid Spin away entry hazards that ruin Ninetales. Just be sure not to use Yawn in the third moveslot; it will fail if Ninetales has already put something to sleep.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat / Fire Blast
move 2: Energy Ball
move 3: Extrasensory
move 4: Hidden Power Rock
item: Choice Specs
nature: Timid
evs: 36 HP / 252 SpA / 220 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One can avoid the shaky accuracy of Hypnosis and the hassle of setting up Nasty Plot boosts by having Ninetales hold a Choice Specs. Overheat is more useful early-game, where Ninetales will be switching more often, while Fire Blast becomes a better choice late-game, where Ninetales will be sweeping unimpeded. Energy Ball does the same job here as it does on the other sets, cleaning up Rock- and bulky Water-types. Extrasensory, while not commonly seen, does give Ninetales a way to take down Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Blaziken. Hidden Power Rock helps out with other Fire-types as well as Flying-types.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread allows Ninetales to outspeed base 95 Speed Pokémon, since the 30 Speed IV caused by Hidden Power Rock means outspeeding anything faster is impossible. The EVs left over are placed in HP, but could also be put back in Speed if opposing Ninetales are of concern. If you decide to use another attack other than Hidden Power Rock, a simple 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe spread could be adopted to reach the next Speed checkpoint.</p>
<p>Being locked into a single move often results in a lot of switching, something no Fire-type enjoys doing with Stealth Rock around. Therefore, it is recommended that you add a Rapid Spinner to your team. Cloyster is able to fill this role and can also set up its own entry hazards to help make sweeping easier. Bulky Hitmontop is a fair choice too, since it can hit enemy Rock-types super effectively or employ a Foresight + Rapid Spin combination that can only be stopped by a double-Ghost team.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Ninetales is able to cause many switches thanks to its ability to cause status and take down many popular Pokémon after augmenting its Special Attack stat. In order to capitalize on these switches, include some sort of entry hazard in your team. Stealth Rock is the most obvious choice, with Spikes next. Toxic Spikes can be useful, but the sheer number of Poison-types in UU means that keeping them on the field can become a chore. Froslass is a very capable Spiker, as is Cloyster. Stealth Rock can be added to your team by a variety of Pokémon including Donphan, Miltank, Uxie, and a whole host of others, some of which are discussed in further detail below.</p>
<p>Taking down Clefable and Chansey can be problematic for Ninetales, which is why Hariyama is a good teammate. Its STAB Fighting-type attacks and Guts allow it to deftly handle these threats, along with Houndoom, who may try to nab a Flash Fire boost on the switch in.</p>
<p>Opposing Fire-types are capable of ruining Ninetales' sweep before it even gets off the ground. To remedy this, try using the Steelix moveset Baitlix as a lure. It has no problems luring out Fire-types and punishing them with Explosion or just setting up Stealth Rock. Occa Berry is a very handy item for Baitlix when being used as a lure to ensure it doesn't get KOed before doing its job.</p>
<p>Ninetales's frailty can be remedied somewhat by dual screen support. Uxie is by far one of the best dual screeners to pair with Ninetales, since it is immune to the omnipresent Earthquake and can provide screens multiple times throughout the match thanks to its bulk. Other dual screeners worth mentioning include Rotom (who can handle Water-types with STAB Thunderbolt), Clefable, and Espeon.</p>
<p>Forming a solid Grass-Water-Fire core for your team is also a great way to benefit Ninetales, since these three types resist a large majority of attack types. Grass-types tend to be bulky by nature, which complements fragile Ninetales very well. Venusaur is the most popular Grass-type, thanks to its versatility, although other choices abound. Tangrowth has the same versatility as Venusaur plus a resistance to Ground-type attacks, but its stat distribution means it will be taking much more damage from special attacks. Leafeon is able to act as a potent tank, thanks to its high physical stats and access to Swords Dance. Ludicolo, too, is a decent choice.</p>
<p>Water-types tend to be more diverse than Grass-types, which offers more in the way of team customization. More defensively inclined choices include Slowbro and Milotic. Both Pokémon are great choices thanks to instant recovery moves and access to status. Lanturn, while lacking instant recovery, packs numerous resistances and boasts access to Confuse Ray and Thunder Wave to make sweeping much easier for Ninetales. The previously mentioned entry hazards can be put down by Cloyster, whose high Defense and Rapid Spinning capabilities make it an effective teammate for Ninetales. Rapid Spinning can also be done by Blastoise, who can also force switches via Yawn.</p>
<p>Offensively, Kabutops, Feraligatr, and Azumarill are great Water-types to pair with Ninetales. Kabutops has access to Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock for support and Stone Edge to help take down Flying-types should you forgo Hidden Power Rock on Ninetales. Feraligatr's priority and access to Dragon Dance makes it a lethal offensive threat, while a combination of Substitute and Focus Punch is what makes Azumarill shine. All in all, your choice should come down to which Pokémon's strategy gels the best with the rest of your team.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Ninetales has few other viable move choices, although some can prove useful. Dark Pulse has more coverage than Extrasensory but its damage output never exceeds that of a STAB Fire Blast or Overheat. Grudge can be useful against walls and sweepers to drain the PP of one of their attacks. Calm Mind is also available, but Nasty Plot's +2 Special Attack boost is much more useful on such a frail Pokémon.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Chansey is by far the best counter to Ninetales. Her massive Special Defense and HP stats make brute force useless, while Natural Cure erases any status effects Ninetales had hoped to inflict. In a similar (but less strong) vein is Altaria, who has no problems sponging attacks and boasts Natural Cure as well. Be wary of switching in Altaria after Ninetales gets a Nasty Plot boost; Hidden Power Rock will 2HKO Altaria after a +2 Special Attack boost and Stealth Rock damage. Thick Fat Hariyama will also be able to overpower Ninetales, as will specially defensive Uxie.</p>
<p>Flash Fire Pokémon like Arcanine and Houndoom are also great answers to Ninetales, especially the Choice Specs set once it has locked itself into a Fire-type attack. Blaziken, too, is able to switch in with relative ease and immediately threaten Ninetales with Stone Edge or Superpower. Substitute + Roost Moltres can also handle Ninetales thanks to Substitute and Toxic. Arcanine, Houndoom, and Moltres must be wary of Hidden Power Rock, however.</p>
<p>Bulky Water-types should look to stop Ninetales before it nabs that +2 boost so Energy Ball loses its potency. Milotic can absorb status very well (even better if it is a RestTalk variant), as can the lesser seen Mantine.</p>
After getting the go ahead from both Eo Ut Mortus and j. franky I've decided to rewrite this Ninetales revamp to improve its sentence structure and sentence flow. I've also revamped the Team Options section.
Old analysis which can be locked.
I also have not included j. franky's separate Sunny Day sweeper set but would be willing to add it to the full revamp if there is enough support.
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/ninetales
[Overview]
<p>While there is no shortage of Fire-types in UU, Ninetales has some unique attributes which help it stand out from the crowd. It boasts one of the largest movepools of all Fire-types, including assets like Nasty Plot, Hypnosis, and Energy Ball. This movepool not only helps make up for Ninetales's somewhat depressing Base Stats but also allows it to overcome the biggest threats to UU Fire-types: bulky Water-types like Slowbro and Milotic. This unique characteristic allows Ninetales to step out of the shadows of its more popular Fire-type brethren and take center stage as a special attacker or status inducer.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Sweeper
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Hypnosis / Hidden Power Rock
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Nasty Plot, Ninetales is able to remedy its lackluster Special Attack, which soars to 522 after a +2 boost. Ninetales can abuse Flash Fire to enter the battle without damage, and begin to up against slower opponents. Hypnosis is a valuable (if somewhat unreliable) asset, as it can be used freely as your opponent switches out and may grant Ninetales a free turn to Nasty Plot. This boost then makes Energy Ball and Fire Blast extremely powerful, taking down a majority of the tier. Those who are able to take these attacks (Moltres, Altaria, and other Flash Fire Pokémon) are the reasoning behind adding Hidden Power Rock to the moveset, even if its coverage does not outweigh Hypnosis's crippling effect.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Without Hypnosis, Ninetales will have a harder time boosting its Special Attack, since it will have to rely on predicted switches to obtain boosts without risking serious damage. Its accuracy, however, will always be a problem, which makes Hidden Power Rock another useful option; it stops other Flash Fire Pokémon from stopping your sweep and increasing Ninetales's sweeping potential. Another option over Hypnosis is Substitute; Ninetales can boost its Special Attack from behind a Substitute without fearing status or damage. Since Ninetales's defenses are rather low, it is best to use attacks with high accuracy. However, Flamethrower may miss out on OHKOing standard Registeel, since it can only do 87.36% - 102.75%, making Fire Blast the better choice. Energy Ball adds type coverage to Ninetales's movepool, deftly handling otherwise threatening Water- and Rock-types.</p>
<p>Life Orb is used to squeeze out all of Ninetales's sweeping potential, while Leftovers helps replenish health lost through entry hazards and opposing attackers. If Hidden Power Rock is used over Hypnosis, Life Orb is definitely a better choice since Ninetales will be forcing less switches and will instantly reveal its item if it switches in against entry hazards.</p>
<p>Ninetales easily makes one-third of the commonly seen Fire-Water-Grass combination. Helpful teammates include Venusaur, who is able to switch in and immediately threaten bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Slowbro. These same bulky Waters function well as teammates, since they can easily sponge attacks aimed at Ninetales and can threaten Altaria, who resists both Energy Ball and Fire Blast. Milotic becomes an even better choice should you forgo Hidden Power Rock, since it can check the likes of Altaria, Blaziken, Houndoom, and Moltres effectively. Blastoise is also a great Water-type teammate who is capable of adding not only defensive synergy to your team but also Rapid Spin support - something Ninetales must have in order to sweep uninhibited.</p>
[SET]
name: Double Status
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Energy Ball
move 4: Overheat / Fire Blast
item: Wide Lens
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Ninetales's support movepool also allows it to pull off a double status set quite effectively. Hypnosis provides the sleep status that starts things off, while Will-O-Wisp cripples physical switch-ins looking to take Ninetales down. Energy Ball and your choice of Fire-type attack fill out the moveset, providing Ninetales with STAB and coverage should it find an opportunity to pick off a foe.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Wide Lens is almost mandatory when using this set, due to Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp's low accuracy. Since this Ninetales isn't looking to stay in and sweep, Overheat is a perfectly viable attack choice. Fire Blast is a better choice if you want Ninetales to function both as a supporter and a special attacker, since it doesn't lower Ninetales's Special Attack.</p>
<p>This set's ideal teammates are the same as the Special Sweeper's, since the Grass-Water-Fire combination creates such strong team synergy. Specifically, Torterra is able to function well with Double Status Ninetales since it can set up Stealth Rock, which is very useful when using a set that causes as many switches as this one does. It is also suggested that your Water-type has the potential to overcome Morning Sun Arcanine, since it resists or is immune to three of the moves in the moveset. Using a Utility Blastoise with Roar is highly recommended, since it can shuffle your opponent's team and Rapid Spin away entry hazards that ruin Ninetales. Just be sure not to use Yawn in the third moveslot; it will fail if Ninetales has already put something to sleep.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat / Fire Blast
move 2: Energy Ball
move 3: Extrasensory
move 4: Hidden Power Rock
item: Choice Specs
nature: Timid
evs: 36 HP / 252 SpA / 220 Speed
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One can avoid the shaky accuracy of Hypnosis and the hassle of setting up Nasty Plot boosts by having Ninetales hold a Choice Specs. Overheat is more useful early-game, where Ninetales will be switching more often, while Fire Blast becomes a better choice late-game, where Ninetales will be sweeping unimpeded. Energy Ball does the same job here as it does on the other sets, cleaning up Rock- and bulky Water-types. Extrasensory, while not commonly seen, does give Ninetales a way to take down Fighting-types such as Hariyama and Blaziken. Hidden Power Rock helps out with other Fire-types as well as Flying-types.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread allows Ninetales to outspeed base 95 Speed Pokémon, since the 30 Speed IV caused by Hidden Power Rock means outspeeding anything faster is impossible. The EVs left over are placed in HP, but could also be put back in Speed if opposing Ninetales are of concern. If you decide to use another attack other than Hidden Power Rock, a simple 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe spread could be adopted to reach the next Speed checkpoint.</p>
<p>Being locked into a single move often results in a lot of switching, something no Fire-type enjoys doing with Stealth Rock around. Therefore, it is recommended that you add a Rapid Spinner to your team. Cloyster is able to fill this role and can also set up its own entry hazards to help make sweeping easier. Bulky Hitmontop is a fair choice too, since it can hit enemy Rock-types super effectively or employ a Foresight + Rapid Spin combination that can only be stopped by a double-Ghost team.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Ninetales is able to cause many switches thanks to its ability to cause status and take down many popular Pokémon after augmenting its Special Attack stat. In order to capitalize on these switches, include some sort of entry hazard in your team. Stealth Rock is the most obvious choice, with Spikes next. Toxic Spikes can be useful, but the sheer number of Poison-types in UU means that keeping them on the field can become a chore. Froslass is a very capable Spiker, as is Cloyster. Stealth Rock can be added to your team by a variety of Pokémon including Donphan, Miltank, Uxie, and a whole host of others, some of which are discussed in further detail below.</p>
<p>Taking down Clefable and Chansey can be problematic for Ninetales, which is why Hariyama is a good teammate. Its STAB Fighting-type attacks and Guts allow it to deftly handle these threats, along with Houndoom, who may try to nab a Flash Fire boost on the switch in.</p>
<p>Opposing Fire-types are capable of ruining Ninetales' sweep before it even gets off the ground. To remedy this, try using the Steelix moveset Baitlix as a lure. It has no problems luring out Fire-types and punishing them with Explosion or just setting up Stealth Rock. Occa Berry is a very handy item for Baitlix when being used as a lure to ensure it doesn't get KOed before doing its job.</p>
<p>Ninetales's frailty can be remedied somewhat by dual screen support. Uxie is by far one of the best dual screeners to pair with Ninetales, since it is immune to the omnipresent Earthquake and can provide screens multiple times throughout the match thanks to its bulk. Other dual screeners worth mentioning include Rotom (who can handle Water-types with STAB Thunderbolt), Clefable, and Espeon.</p>
<p>Forming a solid Grass-Water-Fire core for your team is also a great way to benefit Ninetales, since these three types resist a large majority of attack types. Grass-types tend to be bulky by nature, which complements fragile Ninetales very well. Venusaur is the most popular Grass-type, thanks to its versatility, although other choices abound. Tangrowth has the same versatility as Venusaur plus a resistance to Ground-type attacks, but its stat distribution means it will be taking much more damage from special attacks. Leafeon is able to act as a potent tank, thanks to its high physical stats and access to Swords Dance. Ludicolo, too, is a decent choice.</p>
<p>Water-types tend to be more diverse than Grass-types, which offers more in the way of team customization. More defensively inclined choices include Slowbro and Milotic. Both Pokémon are great choices thanks to instant recovery moves and access to status. Lanturn, while lacking instant recovery, packs numerous resistances and boasts access to Confuse Ray and Thunder Wave to make sweeping much easier for Ninetales. The previously mentioned entry hazards can be put down by Cloyster, whose high Defense and Rapid Spinning capabilities make it an effective teammate for Ninetales. Rapid Spinning can also be done by Blastoise, who can also force switches via Yawn.</p>
<p>Offensively, Kabutops, Feraligatr, and Azumarill are great Water-types to pair with Ninetales. Kabutops has access to Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock for support and Stone Edge to help take down Flying-types should you forgo Hidden Power Rock on Ninetales. Feraligatr's priority and access to Dragon Dance makes it a lethal offensive threat, while a combination of Substitute and Focus Punch is what makes Azumarill shine. All in all, your choice should come down to which Pokémon's strategy gels the best with the rest of your team.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Ninetales has few other viable move choices, although some can prove useful. Dark Pulse has more coverage than Extrasensory but its damage output never exceeds that of a STAB Fire Blast or Overheat. Grudge can be useful against walls and sweepers to drain the PP of one of their attacks. Calm Mind is also available, but Nasty Plot's +2 Special Attack boost is much more useful on such a frail Pokémon.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Chansey is by far the best counter to Ninetales. Her massive Special Defense and HP stats make brute force useless, while Natural Cure erases any status effects Ninetales had hoped to inflict. In a similar (but less strong) vein is Altaria, who has no problems sponging attacks and boasts Natural Cure as well. Be wary of switching in Altaria after Ninetales gets a Nasty Plot boost; Hidden Power Rock will 2HKO Altaria after a +2 Special Attack boost and Stealth Rock damage. Thick Fat Hariyama will also be able to overpower Ninetales, as will specially defensive Uxie.</p>
<p>Flash Fire Pokémon like Arcanine and Houndoom are also great answers to Ninetales, especially the Choice Specs set once it has locked itself into a Fire-type attack. Blaziken, too, is able to switch in with relative ease and immediately threaten Ninetales with Stone Edge or Superpower. Substitute + Roost Moltres can also handle Ninetales thanks to Substitute and Toxic. Arcanine, Houndoom, and Moltres must be wary of Hidden Power Rock, however.</p>
<p>Bulky Water-types should look to stop Ninetales before it nabs that +2 boost so Energy Ball loses its potency. Milotic can absorb status very well (even better if it is a RestTalk variant), as can the lesser seen Mantine.</p>
