[OVERVIEW]
Arbok's wide offensive movepool alongside Coil makes it a potent setup sweeper. Arbok can also surprise the opposing team thanks to its access to a plethora of coverage moves such as Seed Bomb, Earthquake, Aqua Tail, and Sucker Punch. In particular, Seed Bomb makes Arbok a very good physical sweeper, allowing it to break past Quagsire, a common deterrent to physical setup sweepers due to Unaware and Scald. Arbok also has decent physical bulk when bolstered by Intimidate, allowing it to take advantage of its Fighting-type resistance and softening physical hits in general. Arbok also has access to one of the best boosting moves in the game in Coil, boosting its Attack, Defense, and accuracy all at once. However, Arbok relies heavily on Sucker Punch to hit faster threats such as Mesprit, Archeops, and Xatu. Its average Speed means that it struggles against more offensive teams as well. Arbok is also specially frail, as it has no way of boosting its Special Defense. Lastly, it is easily checked by Quagsire, Klinklang, or Mawile if it lacks the appropriate coverage move.
[SET]
name: Offensive Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Earthquake / Seed Bomb
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Coil raises Arbok's Attack, Defense, and accuracy simultaneously. Gunk Shot benefits from Coil, as the accuracy boost negates its chance to miss. Earthquake hits Steel-types such as Klinklang, Pawniard, and Mawile that are immune to Arbok's STAB moves as well as Poison-types such as Garbodor. However, Seed Bomb allows Arbok to punch holes in bulky Ground-types such as Rhydon, Piloswine, and Quagsire while also hitting Carracosta hard. Sucker Punch bypasses Arbok's middling Speed and hits faster threats such as Archeops and Tauros hard after a boost. Aqua Tail allows Arbok to hit Rhydon slightly harder than Seed Bomb, with a +1 Adamant Life Orb Aqua Tail guaranteeing the OHKO on offensive Rhydon and having an over 50% chance of OHKOing bulky Rhydon after Stealth Rock damage. It also allows Arbok to hit Steel-types neutrally, but it misses out on hitting Quagsire and Carracosta super effectively.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack and Speed EVs allow Arbok to hit as hard and as fast as possible. An Adamant nature gives Arbok the power to break through defensive Pokemon such as Quagsire, Mawile, and Klinklang, while a Jolly nature allows Arbok to outspeed other neutral-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon such as Mesprit and Shiftry. Life Orb gives Arbok's attacks more initial power; however, Lum Berry gives Arbok protection against status ailments while setting up. Intimidate gives Arbok more setup opportunities against offensive teams by softening physical hits, while Shed Skin lets it set up against defensive teams by giving it a chance to get rid of status conditions and works better in tandem with Black Sludge.
Usage Tips
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Try to set up mid- or late-game, as Arbok doesn't really have the power to break through early-game and is better used when the opposing team is weakened. Arbok should set up on walls such as Mega Audino, which cannot break past Arbok thanks to its resistance to Dazzling Gleam. Arbok can also set up on Vileplume lacking Sleep Powder as well as Roselia thanks to its resistance to both of their STAB moves. Arbok can set up on Cradily, a plethora of opposing Poison-types such as Garbodor and Skuntank, and non-Choiced Fighting-types such as Hariyama, Hitmonchan, and Gurdurr. However, Arbok must scout for moves on said Fighting-types, as the former two might be running Earthquake, while Gurdurr can severely hinder Arbok's sweeping capabilities should it have Knock Off. Do not switch Arbok in at all early-game because it has no recovery and taking damage early-game limits Arbok's sweeping capabilities.
Team Options
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Dark-types such as Skuntank, Shiftry, Malamar, and Liepard can get rid of Psychic-types such as Musharna and Mesprit. Skuntank and Liepard can also Pursuit trap foes, whittling down the opposing team so that Arbok can sweep; however, Skuntank stacks a Ground weakness with Arbok. Fire-types such as Magmortar and Pyroar can absorb Will-O-Wisp and deal with Ghost-types as well as Weezing. Spikes support from Pokemon such as Ferroseed and Cacturne can help wear down Steel-types such as Klinklang that are immune to Arbok's STAB moves. One layer of Spikes also guarantees an OHKO with Aqua Tail on defensive Rhydon. Healing Wish support from Mesprit or Lilligant can give Arbok a second chance at sweeping if it has been weakened throughout the match. Defensive Grass-types such as Vileplume, Torterra, and Ferroseed can help wear down the bulky Ground-types that Arbok has trouble with.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A bulky Coil + Rest set with Shed Skin gives Arbok a way of setting up and avoiding status ailments while taking hits from the foe; however, Arbok is better off simply setting up and hitting as hard as possible. A combination of Choice Band and Switcheroo allows Arbok to hit really hard initially and cripple the opponent's walls by locking them into one particular move later in the game. This, however, forces Arbok to miss out on Coil and Sucker Punch, as the former is a boosting move and the latter is not a good move to be locked into. Fire Fang is a decent option to nail Ferroseed, which is immune to Arbok's STAB moves and takes neutral damage from Earthquake. Crunch gives Arbok a more reliable coverage move for Ghost-types, but most of them are frail anyway and Crunch provides less coverage than Arbok's other coverage options. Shuca Berry grants Arbok a one-time chance to tank a Ground-type move while setting up, giving it more setup opportunities; however, Arbok will miss the power of Life Orb or the passive recovery of Black Sludge.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing is immune to Earthquake, resists Seed Bomb and Arbok's STAB moves, and can burn Arbok with Will-O-Wisp.
**Bulky Ground-types**: Rhydon, Quagsire, and Torterra can tank Arbok's STAB moves with ease and can take a hit from its coverage moves if they are healthy and Arbok hasn't set up. Rhydon can OHKO Arbok with Earthquake, while Quagsire can cripple it with a Scald burn or hit it hard with Earthquake. The former two, however, fear Seed Bomb, though Torterra is only hit neutrally by it.
**Psychic-types**: Jynx, Mesprit, and Xatu can use their super effective STAB moves to OHKO Arbok. Mesprit and Xatu also tend to run Colbur Berry, so they can take Sucker Punch. Musharna can also tank any of Arbok's moves at +1 while OHKOing Arbok with its STAB moves.
**Ghost-types**: Mismagius and Rotom can cripple Arbok with Will-O-Wisp and hit hard with their STAB moves on Arbok's unboosted Special Defense. However, they both fear Sucker Punch unless Arbok is burned.
**Special Attackers**: Pyroar, Aurorus, and Rotom-S can all hit Arbok on its unboosted Special Defense, crippling it or OHKOing it; however, the former two must watch out for Earthquake.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Regirock and Miltank can tank Arbok's STAB moves and proceed to cripple it via Thunder Wave or Body Slam respectively.
**Steel-types**: Klinklang, Mawile, Pawniard, and Ferroseed can beat Arbok lacking Earthquake, as they are immune to its STAB moves. Ferroseed can even beat Arbok with Earthquake one-on-one, as it takes neutral damage from it.
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