Piloswine (UU Analysis)

I have taken over Garganator’s Piloswine analysis. Even though Piloswine is cursed with bad typing and poor Speed, he does have decent bulk and a great base 100 Attack stat. Combine this with STAB Earthquake, Ice Shard, and Ice Fang, and you’ve got a good physical attacker that can inflict a lot of damage with the right support.

http://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74522
(^original thread)

Changes from Garganator’s analysis:
- Removed Mixed Attacker set. Ice Beam off a base 60 Special Attack stat isn’t really worth replacing Ice Fang off of base 100 Attack.
- Removed Lead set. Many of the common leads beat it, and Piloswine’s natural bulk makes Focus Sash + Endeavor hard.
- Moved the sets mentioned above to OC
- Added Overview section

QC Approvals (2/2): (Bluewind) (Heysup)
QC Rejections (0/2):
GP Checks (2/2): (Flora) (Bugmaniacbob)
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http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/piloswine

[Overview]

<p>Ever since its introduction, Piloswine has been continually bashed as a bad Pokemon due to its terrible defensive typing, in addition to horrid Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats, which was particularly bad since Ice-type moves were entirely special attacks. However, the 4th generation changed Piloswine’s fortunes by introducing the physical/special split and giving it Ice Shard and Ice Fang, as well as an evolution in Mamoswine. Despite being overshadowed by every other Ground-type, including its evolution, Piloswine has enough tools at its disposal to inflict damage in UU, thanks to its good Attack stat, decent physical bulk, and STAB moves.</p>

[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Ice Shard
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Substitute / Ice Fang
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb / Choice Band
ability: Snow Cloak
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Despite Piloswine’s low Speed, its Attack stat is hard to ignore when combined with its natural bulk, coverage, immunities to both hail and sandstorm, and STAB Ice Shard. Ice Shard is Piloswine’s primary attacking option, since it ignores its horrible Speed stat thanks to its increased priority. Earthquake, running off STAB and Piloswine’s above-average Attack stat, devastates any Pokemon that attempts to switch in on a predicted Ice Shard. Substitute gives Piloswine more time to survive, while also forcing the opponent's hand by revealing their switch-in without any risk to Piloswine itself. In addition, Substitute protects Piloswine from priority moves and status, two problems that severely limit Piloswine's potential. However, Ice Fang can be used to net important kills that Ice Shard does not. Stone Edge rounds out the set, providing excellent coverage with Earthquake, while also making Pokemon such as Moltres less keen to switch in.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Toxic is a viable option over Ice Fang in order to hamper bulky Pokemon that love to switch into Piloswine, such as Blastoise, Milotic, and Rotom. Avalanche also deserves a mention over Ice Fang, as Piloswine will usually be going last, ensuring that Avalanche's secondary effect will almost always activate. Piloswine also has the physical bulk to survive a hit, making Avalanche even more worthy of a mention. A Choice Band can be used to increase Piloswine’s power at the cost of being locked into a move. For example, with a Choice Band and a Jolly nature, Earthquake has a chance to 2HKO Utility Blastoise and Mono Attacker Spiritomb after Stealth Rock damage. A Jolly nature maximizes Piloswine's Speed, and is preferred so that Piloswine is not outrun by 8 Speed Milotic, but an Adamant nature is also viable for more power; with an Adamant nature, Piloswine has a higher chance of 2HKOing Donphan (with Ice Fang) and RestTalk Milotic (with Earthquake).</p>

[Team Options]

<p>Snover makes a great partner to Piloswine, as it provides the hail needed for Piloswine to abuse Snow Cloak. Weezing is also an excellent teammate because it cripples Fighting-types, such as Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, that may give Piloswine trouble. Moreover, Weezing can act as a decent status absorber with Rest and Sleep Talk. Chansey can also absorb status, sponge special attacks aimed at Piloswine, and provide Wish and Heal Bell support. Uxie and Mesprit resist Fighting-type moves, and can also set up Stealth Rock before crippling potential threats with Thunder Wave. Additionally, both Psychic-types can help against opposing Weezing, which is a huge threat to Piloswine. Houndoom appreciates Piloswine’s abilities to lure Fire-type attacks and weaken the opposing team, giving it an opportunity to clean up stragglers. Slowbro and Slowking can take any Fire-, Water-, and Fighting-type moves that Piloswine attracts, and slow down other threats that might hinder Piloswine’s sweep with Thunder Wave.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Piloswine has a couple of other options that it can use. Superpower is pretty awesome coming off of a base 100 Attack stat, but has overlapping coverage with Earthquake, which is more powerful, and also has that hateful Attack drop. A mixed attacking set with Ice Beam can catch physical walls off guard, but Piloswine’s base 60 Special Attack stat is a huge letdown. Piloswine can attempt to run a physically defensive set with Curse, or patch up its horrid Special Defense with Amnesia; however, its poor typing leaves it vulnerable to many common attacking types. The furry pig can also run an Endeavor set, with its immunity to damaging weather, but priority is still an issue. A lead set is possible, thanks to access to Stealth Rock and Ice Shard, but many common leads beat it. Piloswine’s other supporting moves include Reflect, Light Screen, Roar, and Charm, but its typing undermines the possibility of a support set.</p>

[Counters]

<p>Due to Piloswine’s excellent coverage, it is actually hard to switch in a counter, as a misprediction could easily result in the loss of the switch-in. Weezing is the best Pokemon to deal with Piloswine, thanks to its naturally high Defense, immunities to both Earthquake and Toxic, access to Will-O-Wisp, and ability to melt it away with Fire-type attacks. Uxie can set up Stealth Rock on in Piloswine’s face while taking its attacks easily. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Blastoise are also safe switch-ins against anything but Toxic. Hitmontop resists Stone Edge, significantly reduces Piloswine’s offensive capabilities with Intimidate, and threatens it with STAB Close Combat and the Technician Fake Out/Mach Punch combination. Moltres can switch into either of Piloswine's STABs if Stealth Rock is not up, then proceed to burn it away with its Fire-type STAB. However, switching into Stone Edge would be a death sentence for the fiery bird.</p>

Bump...I'm feeling lonely...

Cool analysis man, also if you want to get QC members attention, go to #Underused IRC and PM them there to get their attention;)

Regarding the analysis, I woulda rather have Life Orb as the primary slash on the Physical Attacker set since with its kinda limited and predictable moveset, it is preferable not to be locked into one move. The EVs you gave it are great, since you speed tie with Max Speed jolly Aggron when your using a Jolly nature and same thing with Rock Polish Adamant Aggron when you use an Adamant nature. Perhaps mentioning that in additional comments could be of some use to the reader.

Also I think it would be a good idea to mention Chansey as a Teammate, as it can sponge any Special Attack aimed at Piloswine from Bulky waters and other Special Attackers and proceed to cripple them with Toxic / Thunderwave.

Thanks for your suggestions, SOMALIA! I'm PMing QC members now. Others may give their comments as well.

Looks good to me. Only mention Toxic in AC over Ice Fang as a way to fuck up Milotic, Blastoise and stuff.

Thanks, Bluewind! One more QC Check remaining!

Bump...

Thanks, Heysup! To be honest, I'm actually surprised that this got through QC so quickly, because Piloswine received so little love in the past...I'll write it up as soon as possible.

It's written up! GP Checks, please!

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Edit: You don't need the color tags.
Edit 2: Done

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Made all of StevenSnype's changes except one, and the part in question got reworded so it works better.

Bump...

This analysis doesn't look too freakishly long. =o


Don't hype Piloswine so much, he still sucks..

Made Aeron's changes. Also, I know that I kinda overhyped Piloswine, but he isn't really too bad. Besides, if I said that Piloswine sucked throughout the entire analysis, it wouldn't be a good analysis.

Bump...

Bump again...

GP Check 1/2:
additions/changes in blue
removals in red
comments in navy



I am not QC, but I'd like to propose Substitute being the main option in the third slot (with Ice Fang slashing it). I know it'll "drain" away Piloswine's HP when factoring in Life Orb and entry hazards, but Ice Fang finds almost no particular use with a Life Orb (Choice Band too for that matter but you can't really Sub with a Choice Band). The best things Ice Fang helps against are generally pure Ground-types: Donphan and Claydol. Piloswine as it is actually isn't that bulky too; it's the threat of its un-resistable dual STABs that make it frightening. People will probably try to predict what STAB you're going to use and take advantage of the situation if you mispredict. That's what Substitute will help prevent, along with its other minor uses such as stopping critical hits and status. The negatives of using Substitute is mostly if the foe's using a defensive/stall team and/or has Weezing, Uxie (both Pokemon still walling Piloswine), Mesprit, Rotom, and Mismagius (both Ghosts have a chance to be 2HKOed by Jolly Choice Band Ice Shard with Stealth Rock and hail damage), which leads to basically a waste of 25% HP. You probably shouldn't use Substitute against such teams; if you know your opponent has these Pokemon and will switch them in, I guess Ice Fang does something, but maybe it'll be more productive to double switch to Houndoom and whatnot.

I'd recommend Avalanche being pushed up to AC (or even the main option of the fourth slot) if Substitute's proposal happens (over Stone Edge), but I'll leave that alone. 120 BP is incredible though it only works on Pokemon that switch out or are faster, and works well with Substitute. Missing out on Moltres/Articuno (somewhat because Avalanche is still amazing there) is bleh, but that's trade-off. Otherwise, Stone Edge actually isn't really needed. Flyers are hit by Ice, Bugs = Scyther mainly, which is hit by Ice (most Bugs are incredibly vulnerable to Avalanche/Ice Shard anyways), and Fire is hit by Ground. Enemy Ice-types themselves aren't very common, and if they do appear, Earthquake can work. I can see Stone Edge doing well against Lapras and Walrein, however (I know Articuno too, but I mentioned that already) but not like they're that common. edit: ack, forgot Cloyster; well, that's just one!

try contacting the GPers (if you haven't already) instead of bumping randomly.

Made the GP Check, and I'll see about Flora's suggestions.

I tested Substitute out, and it fared decently. I'm waiting for responses about the addition of Substitute from Bluewind and Heysup, since they stamped it. I also asked about the addition of Avalanche in the set's AC. However, if they do approve Avalanche, I'll say that it's a decent option, but not to be used with Substitute. Avalanche's secondary effect only happens if the opponent lands a hit on Piloswine, which will almost never happen if Piloswine's hiding behind a Substitute. Until I get responses from Bluewind and Heysup, I'm going to leave this analysis alone, because I would like to pass this request with them before making the changes, and I would have to rewrite part of the analysis, which has already been GP Checked.

EDIT: Heysup said yes to my changes, and I made the changes necessary for the analysis.

GP check on request - I always get a job done eventually

GP Check [2/2]

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Thanks, bugmaniacbob! This analysis is ready for upload!

Great job with this.

Uploaded.

Moving.