QC: Kl4ng, Adrian Marin, Aesf
GP: Snobalt, P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Sneasel is the fastest STAB Refrigerate user in the metagame, and this, combined with its passable Attack stat, makes it a solid offensive threat. Sneasel has excellent super effective coverage and high Base Power STAB moves, as well as strong priority that allows it to pick off Gale Wings users, giving it a great matchup versus offensive teams. However, Sneasel also suffers from poor bulk and a weakness to Stealth Rock, making it easy to wear down and difficult to switch in on even weak attackers. Sneasel is also easily stopped by most physical walls, particularly common bulky Water-types, which makes it much harder for it to perform versus bulkier teams.
[SET]
name: FREE WEAVILE
move 1: Return
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Swords Dance / Low Kick / Pursuit
item: Life Orb
ability: Refrigerate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is Sneasel's main attacking move, with Refrigerate boosting its power and giving it a STAB bonus. Knock Off hits common Pokemon that resist Ice, such as Victini and Entei, as well as removing items from foes. Quick Attack gives Sneasel a boosted STAB priority move for picking off faster threats and other priority users. Swords Dance allows Sneasel to function as a late-game cleaner and helps it break through bulkier teams, while Low Kick is an option to lure in and 2HKO Steel-types such as Heatran and Ferrothorn. Pursuit can trap Pokemon weak to Dark, such as Victini, that Sneasel threatens out, but it comes at the cost of losing Swords Dance or Low Kick, making it harder to pull off late-game sweeps and hit Steel-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature utilize Sneasel's excellent Speed tier by allowing it to outspeed and OHKO common threats such as Latios, Gengar, and Thundurus, while maximum Attack investment allows Sneasel to hit as hard as possible. Life Orb further boosts Sneasel's Attack to give it even more power, but it comes at the cost of wearing down Sneasel quickly in conjunction with Stealth Rock. Refrigerate is the preferred ability to give Sneasel a higher Base Power Ice-type STAB move in Return, as well as a boosted priority move in Quick Attack.
Usage Tips
========
Knock Off should be used more often early-game, as it can remove items to cripple teams for the late-game. Use Return frequently versus teams lacking a Pokemon with recovery and a resistance to Ice, as its high Base Power can quickly wear down even bulky Pokemon that resist Ice. Thanks to its own Ice resistance, Sneasel is capable of revenge killing some Refrigerate Extreme Speed users such as Dragonite and Genesect, but it is imperative that you make sure these Pokemon actually have Refrigerate first, because Sneasel cannot survive a neutral or super effective Extreme Speed. If using Swords Dance, avoid setting up until late-game, as most teams will have at least one check capable of preventing a sweep. If running Low Kick, try to hit Steel-types on the switch, because most of them, such as Heatran and Ferrothorn, are 2HKOed by it and can OHKO Sneasel in return. Make sure that Sneasel almost never directly switches into an attack, due to its poor bulk, and instead use double switches, free switches, and slow pivots to bring Sneasel in.
Team Options
========
Electric-types such as Thundurus and Desolate Land Pokemon such as Victini are useful for taking on bulky Water-types, which Sneasel is incapable of breaking through. Magnet Pull users such as Heatran can also trap and remove Steel-types such as Skarmory and Mega Scizor, two of Sneasel's biggest counters. Entry hazard removers such as Mandibuzz and Skarmory help Sneasel stay around longer by removing Stealth Rock for it, and pivots such as Baton Pass Vaporeon and U-turn Genesect can get Sneasel free switches into the field to avoid having it take an attack. Entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn and Deoxys-D also benefit Sneasel by helping it wear down teams so that it can more easily sweep late-game. Shaymin-S is an excellent offensive partner for Sneasel, as it can break past bulky Water-types and outspeed some of the faster Pokemon that give Sneasel trouble, while Sneasel can lure Steel-types and KO Assault Vest users and special walls for Shaymin-S. Both, however, are threatened by common Choice Scarf or Extreme Speed users.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Feint can be used over Quick Attack to attack before slower Extreme Speed users with its higher priority and to bypass the occasional Protect for extra pressure versus Wish users such as Chansey. However, most Extreme Speed users aside from Dragonite resist Ice anyway, and the power drop is notable. Double-Edge can be run over Return for a stronger STAB attack, but it can get Sneasel KOed very quickly with the combination of recoil, Life Orb, and Stealth Rock. Taunt can be run to cripple defensive switch-ins but is risky, as using it at the wrong time forces Sneasel to take a hit. Sneasel can run an Adaptability set as an alternate option to make up for its lower Base Power STAB attacks, exchanging a stronger Knock Off for weaker Ice-type STAB moves in Icicle Crash and Ice Shard. However, no abilities other than Refrigerate and Adaptability are viable, as Sneasel is reliant on the extra Attack boost to do satisfactory damage. Fake Out can also be run for strong, free chip damage, but Sneasel prefers having a priority move that is usable after its first turn out. Eviolite can be run over Life Orb to take one or two weaker attacks, such as uninvested Zapdos's Volt Switch, at the cost of making Sneasel's power somewhat underwhelming.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Skarmory and Mega Scizor**: Physically defensive Skarmory can avoid the 3HKO from Sneasel's Return even after Stealth Rock and can proceed to set up entry hazards, Roost off the damage, or simply KO Sneasel with Brave Bird. Similarly, Mega Scizor can KO Sneasel with a priority Bullet Punch and takes little damage from any of Sneasel's attacks; it also has the added bonus of not being crippled by Knock Off. However, both can be trapped and KOed by Magnet Pull users such as Suicune.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Sneasel's frailty many Pokemon that outspeed it are capable of OHKOing it with little or no prior damage. This includes threats such as Mega Manectric and Crobat, weather sweepers with Chlorophyll or Swift Swim, and Choice Scarf users such as Victini and Genesect.
**Physical Walls**: Physically defensive Pokemon not weak to one of Sneasel's STAB moves are typically capable of switching into and beating it 1v1. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Mega Gyarados fit this role well, as well as other Pokemon such as Umbreon and Mega Scizor.
**Priority Users**: Pokemon with powerful or super effective priority moves, such as Bullet Punch Scizor and Pixilate or Tough Claws Extreme Speed users such as Lucario and Genesect, are capable of KOing Sneasel before it has the chance to attack. However, Sneasel can take on Shadow Sneak users, such as Doublade, and those that use Gale Wings for priority, such as Braviary, fairly easily due to its resistance to the former and ability to go for a faster Quick Attack against the latter, with Refrigerate Quick Attack being super effective on the most common users of Gale Wings.
GP: Snobalt, P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Sneasel is the fastest STAB Refrigerate user in the metagame, and this, combined with its passable Attack stat, makes it a solid offensive threat. Sneasel has excellent super effective coverage and high Base Power STAB moves, as well as strong priority that allows it to pick off Gale Wings users, giving it a great matchup versus offensive teams. However, Sneasel also suffers from poor bulk and a weakness to Stealth Rock, making it easy to wear down and difficult to switch in on even weak attackers. Sneasel is also easily stopped by most physical walls, particularly common bulky Water-types, which makes it much harder for it to perform versus bulkier teams.
[SET]
name: FREE WEAVILE
move 1: Return
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Quick Attack
move 4: Swords Dance / Low Kick / Pursuit
item: Life Orb
ability: Refrigerate
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Return is Sneasel's main attacking move, with Refrigerate boosting its power and giving it a STAB bonus. Knock Off hits common Pokemon that resist Ice, such as Victini and Entei, as well as removing items from foes. Quick Attack gives Sneasel a boosted STAB priority move for picking off faster threats and other priority users. Swords Dance allows Sneasel to function as a late-game cleaner and helps it break through bulkier teams, while Low Kick is an option to lure in and 2HKO Steel-types such as Heatran and Ferrothorn. Pursuit can trap Pokemon weak to Dark, such as Victini, that Sneasel threatens out, but it comes at the cost of losing Swords Dance or Low Kick, making it harder to pull off late-game sweeps and hit Steel-types.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment and a Jolly nature utilize Sneasel's excellent Speed tier by allowing it to outspeed and OHKO common threats such as Latios, Gengar, and Thundurus, while maximum Attack investment allows Sneasel to hit as hard as possible. Life Orb further boosts Sneasel's Attack to give it even more power, but it comes at the cost of wearing down Sneasel quickly in conjunction with Stealth Rock. Refrigerate is the preferred ability to give Sneasel a higher Base Power Ice-type STAB move in Return, as well as a boosted priority move in Quick Attack.
Usage Tips
========
Knock Off should be used more often early-game, as it can remove items to cripple teams for the late-game. Use Return frequently versus teams lacking a Pokemon with recovery and a resistance to Ice, as its high Base Power can quickly wear down even bulky Pokemon that resist Ice. Thanks to its own Ice resistance, Sneasel is capable of revenge killing some Refrigerate Extreme Speed users such as Dragonite and Genesect, but it is imperative that you make sure these Pokemon actually have Refrigerate first, because Sneasel cannot survive a neutral or super effective Extreme Speed. If using Swords Dance, avoid setting up until late-game, as most teams will have at least one check capable of preventing a sweep. If running Low Kick, try to hit Steel-types on the switch, because most of them, such as Heatran and Ferrothorn, are 2HKOed by it and can OHKO Sneasel in return. Make sure that Sneasel almost never directly switches into an attack, due to its poor bulk, and instead use double switches, free switches, and slow pivots to bring Sneasel in.
Team Options
========
Electric-types such as Thundurus and Desolate Land Pokemon such as Victini are useful for taking on bulky Water-types, which Sneasel is incapable of breaking through. Magnet Pull users such as Heatran can also trap and remove Steel-types such as Skarmory and Mega Scizor, two of Sneasel's biggest counters. Entry hazard removers such as Mandibuzz and Skarmory help Sneasel stay around longer by removing Stealth Rock for it, and pivots such as Baton Pass Vaporeon and U-turn Genesect can get Sneasel free switches into the field to avoid having it take an attack. Entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn and Deoxys-D also benefit Sneasel by helping it wear down teams so that it can more easily sweep late-game. Shaymin-S is an excellent offensive partner for Sneasel, as it can break past bulky Water-types and outspeed some of the faster Pokemon that give Sneasel trouble, while Sneasel can lure Steel-types and KO Assault Vest users and special walls for Shaymin-S. Both, however, are threatened by common Choice Scarf or Extreme Speed users.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Feint can be used over Quick Attack to attack before slower Extreme Speed users with its higher priority and to bypass the occasional Protect for extra pressure versus Wish users such as Chansey. However, most Extreme Speed users aside from Dragonite resist Ice anyway, and the power drop is notable. Double-Edge can be run over Return for a stronger STAB attack, but it can get Sneasel KOed very quickly with the combination of recoil, Life Orb, and Stealth Rock. Taunt can be run to cripple defensive switch-ins but is risky, as using it at the wrong time forces Sneasel to take a hit. Sneasel can run an Adaptability set as an alternate option to make up for its lower Base Power STAB attacks, exchanging a stronger Knock Off for weaker Ice-type STAB moves in Icicle Crash and Ice Shard. However, no abilities other than Refrigerate and Adaptability are viable, as Sneasel is reliant on the extra Attack boost to do satisfactory damage. Fake Out can also be run for strong, free chip damage, but Sneasel prefers having a priority move that is usable after its first turn out. Eviolite can be run over Life Orb to take one or two weaker attacks, such as uninvested Zapdos's Volt Switch, at the cost of making Sneasel's power somewhat underwhelming.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Skarmory and Mega Scizor**: Physically defensive Skarmory can avoid the 3HKO from Sneasel's Return even after Stealth Rock and can proceed to set up entry hazards, Roost off the damage, or simply KO Sneasel with Brave Bird. Similarly, Mega Scizor can KO Sneasel with a priority Bullet Punch and takes little damage from any of Sneasel's attacks; it also has the added bonus of not being crippled by Knock Off. However, both can be trapped and KOed by Magnet Pull users such as Suicune.
**Faster Pokemon**: Due to Sneasel's frailty many Pokemon that outspeed it are capable of OHKOing it with little or no prior damage. This includes threats such as Mega Manectric and Crobat, weather sweepers with Chlorophyll or Swift Swim, and Choice Scarf users such as Victini and Genesect.
**Physical Walls**: Physically defensive Pokemon not weak to one of Sneasel's STAB moves are typically capable of switching into and beating it 1v1. Bulky Water-types such as Suicune and Mega Gyarados fit this role well, as well as other Pokemon such as Umbreon and Mega Scizor.
**Priority Users**: Pokemon with powerful or super effective priority moves, such as Bullet Punch Scizor and Pixilate or Tough Claws Extreme Speed users such as Lucario and Genesect, are capable of KOing Sneasel before it has the chance to attack. However, Sneasel can take on Shadow Sneak users, such as Doublade, and those that use Gale Wings for priority, such as Braviary, fairly easily due to its resistance to the former and ability to go for a faster Quick Attack against the latter, with Refrigerate Quick Attack being super effective on the most common users of Gale Wings.
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