Taking this over from Alfalfa etc etc
QC Approvals: WhiteDMist, tennisace, DAT BLAST(whoooosh)
[Overview]
<p>In a tier filled to the brim with Psychic- and Ground-type Pokemon, it is no wonder that Arbok has difficulty performing well in the NU tier. In addition to Arbok's subpar offensive stats, it is rather frail, which means that just about any super effective—or even a strong neutral attack—will OHKO it. However, it is a good setup sweeper due to its access to Coil, and while it isn't inherently bulky, it has a good defensive typing— while its Poison typing gives it weaknesses to two common offensive types, it also gives Arbok important resistances to Fighting-, Grass-, Bug-, and Poison-type attacks, allowing it to set up on the likes of Scolipede, Roselia, and Primeape.</p>
<p>Arbok also gets access to two great abilities in Intimidate and Shed Skin, with the former allowing it to set up in the face of most physical attackers and the latter letting it set up without any fear of status. It also becomes an excellent stallbreaker due to absorbing Toxic Spikes, as well as immunity to status and Toxic. Overall, Arbok is a worthy candidate for a team, but it requires some support.</p>
[SET]
name: Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Earthquake / Seed Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Intimidate / Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With access to a move that boosts Attack, Defense, and accuracy, as well as a high-powered STAB move, this set can become very threatening after a single boost. In this set, Arbok utilizes its good defensive typing as well as Coil to set up on prominent threats such as Fighting-type Pokemon, boosting its Attack while simultaneously making it harder to revenge kill. Gunk Shot is the main STAB move, and it hits most Pokemon hard. Sucker Punch gives Arbok a way of defeating the faster Pokemon that try to revenge kill it. In the last slot, Earthquake gets coverage on Steel-types while Seed Bomb hits most Ground-type Pokemon for super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Intimidate is the preferred ability as it lets Arbok come in on most Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Primeape, Sawk, and Gurdurr, and use them as setup bait. Aside from the moves listed above, Rest is a usable option for Arbok to use in conjunction with Shed Skin, which lets it absorb status, making Arbok a great stallbreaker. However, it loses out on a lot of coverage. Aqua Tail is a usable move in the fourth slot to hit Ground-types while still retaining coverage on Steel-types, but it doesn't hit Steel-types hard enough and it misses out on Seismitoad. The given EV spread gives Arbok maximum power while allowing to outspeed Adamant Braviary and Modest Altaria as well as Speed tie with Timid Gardevoir.</p>
<p>While this set is powerful, it faces a lot of trouble with Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon, making partners that can get rid of these great. Liepard makes for an exceptional teammate, being able to Pursuit trap these Pokemon and even being able to Encore setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Musharna that would normally set up on Arbok. Arbok returns the favor by defeating the Fighting-types that plague Liepard. If Seed Bomb is used, Steel-type Pokemon such as Metang, Klang, and Bastiodon will be problematic—Klang can even set up alongside it. Therefore, Pokemon that can get rid of them, such as Golurk and Seismitoad, make for good partners. However, if Earthquake is chosen, Ground-types such as Piloswine and Golurk become an issue, so checks to these Pokemon, such as Ludicolo and Seismitoad, are good partners.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Arbok can use a bulkier Coil spread to set up on powerful attackers more easily. However, it requires both the Attack and Speed to sweep, which it lacks. Arbok has a few other moves it can utilize. Out of these, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, and Fire Fang seem like good options, but they do not provide much coverage and have very low Base Power. Rock Slide is in the same boat, as it has low Base Power and provides redundant coverage. Arbok also gains access to moves like Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Dragon Tail, and Glare, but it is better off attacking. Rather funnily, Arbok has access to Pursuit; however, being a Poison-type Pokemon, it cannot force Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon out, making it a rather poor user of this move. Disable is a rather gimmicky option, but a lack of immunities to efficiently take advantage of it deems it unworthy. Arbok can use a Choice Band to hit hard right off the bat, but Poison STAB is rather mediocre and Coil is Arbok's biggest niche. Similarly, it can also use Choice Scarf, but its base Speed is rather decent anyway and it is very weak without a boost.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>While Arbok is powerful when it has set up, it is relatively frail and will not be able to set up easily, so offensive pressure is the single best way to deal with Arbok. This is not to say that counters do not exist. Bulky variants of Musharna can easily OHKO Arbok with Psychic, while Arbok cannot 2HKO even after a Coil boost. Ground-type Pokemon such as Golurk and Piloswine can easily stomach even boosted hits and OHKO Arbok. Seismitoad must watch out for Seed Bomb, but bulkier variants can even live a +1 Seed Bomb, making it a decent check. Steel-type Pokemon such as Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang can easily deal with variants lacking Earthquake, with Bastiodon being able to phaze Arbok out as well. Klang gets a special mention as it can set up alongside Arbok and eventually KO it. Misdreavus and Frillish also wall Intimidate variants hard and cripple it, but Shed Skin variants can actually set up on them. Mandibuzz can check Arbok as well, as even though it is 2HKOed by a +1 Gunk Shot after Stealth Rock, it can phaze Arbok out with Whirlwind or attack it with a STAB Foul Play. Finally, revenge killing Arbok is a good way to deal with it. Pokemon such as Jynx and Gardevoir can set up Substitute to avoid Sucker Punch and OHKO, but the latter only Speed ties and a +1 Gunk Shot OHKOes in return.</p>
QC Approvals: WhiteDMist, tennisace, DAT BLAST(whoooosh)
[Overview]
- Faces trouble with everpresent Psychic-type Pokemon
- Access to Coil + Gunk Shot allows it to hit hard, despite average attack. Also, Coil increases defense, making it harder to revenge kill.
- Has coverage moves like Aqua Tail, Earthquake, and Sucker Punch to boot
- Two excellent abilities in Intimidate and Shed Skin
- A bit lacking in power; 85 base attack, and Coil only boosts you to +1
- Lacks good HP and special bulk, and can easily be beaten by Ground-type or Psychic-type Pokemon, including Jynx if it carries Substitute
[SET]
name: Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Earthquake / Aqua Tail / Seed Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Intimidate / Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- This is Arbok's best set. With the ability to boost both Attack, Defense, and Accuracy all at once, Arbok can prove to be annoying.
- Intimidate can be used to set up on offensive Pokemon that cannot touch Arbok, such as Choice Band Sawk.
- Shed Skin allows Arbok to recover from random burns, paralysis, and other status conditions, though it is already immune to Toxic.
- Coil's accuracy boost makes Gunk Shot rather lethal, and can hit pokemon that don't resist it or are not immune to it hard.
- Sucker Punch helps Arbok to avoid getting picked off by revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Jynx and also is Arbok's main option against Golurk
- The next move is a coverage move. Earthquake hits Steels, especially Metang, while still hitting Regirock and Golem super effectively. Howevever, Aqua Tail hits Ground types like Golem and Golurk harder, and keeps neutral coverage on steels. Seed Bomb hits Grounds, especially Seismitoad, but leaves you walled by Steels.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Black Sludge is the preferred item on the set as it grants Arbok longevity
- Rest can be used as a form of recovery if using Shed Skin, as there will be a 30% chance to wake up each turn. However, Arbok loses out on an attack, and it is not always going to wake up Arbok.
- Ghost and Psychic removal is appreciated; Liepard can Pursuit trap Ghosts and Psychics while having good synergy with Arbok
- If Aqua Tail is chosen, Steels like Metang and Mawile will be a problem; Golurk and Seismitoad can dispatch of them, and lay down Stealth Rock to wear down the opponent, especially Choice Scarf users like Jynx and Sawk. Misdreavus is still 4HKOd by Aqua Tail after +1
- If Earthquake is chosen, then Ground types will become a bigger issue. Pokemon that can deal with them, such as Ludicolo and Seismitoad, hence make for good partners
- Normal-type Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Audino can take on Psychic-type Pokemon, while appreciating its ability to check Fighting-type Pokemon such as Primeape
- Stealth Rock support is important to secure 2HKOs such as on Mandibuzz with a +1 Gunk Shot. Miltank and Regirock can provide Stealth Rock, and can paralyze faster opponents and help prevent them from revenging Arbok.
[Other Options]
- A bulky Coil set can be used, but the defense EVs do not allow Arbok to set up on any additional threats
- The elemental fangs and Rock Slide are usable, but provide redundant coverage.
- Arbok can use a Choice set, but Coil is Arbok's biggest niche.
- Arbok also has access to support moves like Dragon Tail, Glare, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, and Haze, but the snake is not bulky enough to use them
- Arbok has access to Pursuit but being a Poison-type means that it loses to virtually every Psychic/Ghost type mon
[Checks and Counters]
- Musharna is easily Arbok's best counter as it can take a boosted Gunk Shot or Sucker Punch and deal huge amounts of damage with STAB Psychic
- Misdreavus and Frillish wall Arbok hard, and can use Will-O-Wisp and Taunt to shut it down, though Shed Skin variants can get past them.
- Steels like Mawile, Probopass, and Metang need towatch for Earthquake, but they are immune to Gunk Shot, and can really put Arbok in a pickle.
- Ground types like Golurk and Seismitoad can tank Arbok's attacks and respond back with a super effective Earthquake / Earth Power, though most should watch for Aqua Tail
- Special Choice Scarf users, such as Jynx and Electabuzz, need to watch for Sucker Punch, but can do hefty amounts of damage to it.
- Psychic types such as Musharna and Gardevoir need to watch for Sucker Punch, but can easily dispatch of it.
- Faces trouble with everpresent Psychic-type Pokemon
- Access to Coil + Gunk Shot allows it to hit hard, despite average attack. Also, Coil increases defense, making it harder to revenge kill.
- Has coverage moves like Aqua Tail, Earthquake, and Sucker Punch to boot
- Two excellent abilities in Intimidate and Shed Skin
- A bit lacking in power; 85 base attack, and Coil only boosts you to +1
- Lacks good HP and special bulk, and can easily be beaten by Ground-type or Psychic-type Pokemon, including Jynx if it carries Substitute
[SET]
name: Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Earthquake / Aqua Tail / Seed Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Intimidate / Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- This is Arbok's best set. With the ability to boost both Attack, Defense, and Accuracy all at once, Arbok can prove to be annoying.
- Intimidate can be used to set up on offensive Pokemon that cannot touch Arbok, such as Choice Band Sawk.
- Shed Skin allows Arbok to recover from random burns, paralysis, and other status conditions, though it is already immune to Toxic.
- Coil's accuracy boost makes Gunk Shot rather lethal, and can hit pokemon that don't resist it or are not immune to it hard.
- Sucker Punch helps Arbok to avoid getting picked off by revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Jynx and also is Arbok's main option against Golurk
- The next move is a coverage move. Earthquake hits Steels, especially Metang, while still hitting Regirock and Golem super effectively. Howevever, Aqua Tail hits Ground types like Golem and Golurk harder, and keeps neutral coverage on steels. Seed Bomb hits Grounds, especially Seismitoad, but leaves you walled by Steels.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Black Sludge is the preferred item on the set as it grants Arbok longevity
- Rest can be used as a form of recovery if using Shed Skin, as there will be a 30% chance to wake up each turn. However, Arbok loses out on an attack, and it is not always going to wake up Arbok.
- Ghost and Psychic removal is appreciated; Liepard can Pursuit trap Ghosts and Psychics while having good synergy with Arbok
- If Aqua Tail is chosen, Steels like Metang and Mawile will be a problem; Golurk and Seismitoad can dispatch of them, and lay down Stealth Rock to wear down the opponent, especially Choice Scarf users like Jynx and Sawk. Misdreavus is still 4HKOd by Aqua Tail after +1
- If Earthquake is chosen, then Ground types will become a bigger issue. Pokemon that can deal with them, such as Ludicolo and Seismitoad, hence make for good partners
- Normal-type Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Audino can take on Psychic-type Pokemon, while appreciating its ability to check Fighting-type Pokemon such as Primeape
- Stealth Rock support is important to secure 2HKOs such as on Mandibuzz with a +1 Gunk Shot. Miltank and Regirock can provide Stealth Rock, and can paralyze faster opponents and help prevent them from revenging Arbok.
[Other Options]
- A bulky Coil set can be used, but the defense EVs do not allow Arbok to set up on any additional threats
- The elemental fangs and Rock Slide are usable, but provide redundant coverage.
- Arbok can use a Choice set, but Coil is Arbok's biggest niche.
- Arbok also has access to support moves like Dragon Tail, Glare, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, and Haze, but the snake is not bulky enough to use them
- Arbok has access to Pursuit but being a Poison-type means that it loses to virtually every Psychic/Ghost type mon
[Checks and Counters]
- Musharna is easily Arbok's best counter as it can take a boosted Gunk Shot or Sucker Punch and deal huge amounts of damage with STAB Psychic
- Misdreavus and Frillish wall Arbok hard, and can use Will-O-Wisp and Taunt to shut it down, though Shed Skin variants can get past them.
- Steels like Mawile, Probopass, and Metang need towatch for Earthquake, but they are immune to Gunk Shot, and can really put Arbok in a pickle.
- Ground types like Golurk and Seismitoad can tank Arbok's attacks and respond back with a super effective Earthquake / Earth Power, though most should watch for Aqua Tail
- Special Choice Scarf users, such as Jynx and Electabuzz, need to watch for Sucker Punch, but can do hefty amounts of damage to it.
- Psychic types such as Musharna and Gardevoir need to watch for Sucker Punch, but can easily dispatch of it.
[Overview]
<p>In a tier filled to the brim with Psychic- and Ground-type Pokemon, it is no wonder that Arbok has difficulty performing well in the NU tier. In addition to Arbok's subpar offensive stats, it is rather frail, which means that just about any super effective—or even a strong neutral attack—will OHKO it. However, it is a good setup sweeper due to its access to Coil, and while it isn't inherently bulky, it has a good defensive typing— while its Poison typing gives it weaknesses to two common offensive types, it also gives Arbok important resistances to Fighting-, Grass-, Bug-, and Poison-type attacks, allowing it to set up on the likes of Scolipede, Roselia, and Primeape.</p>
<p>Arbok also gets access to two great abilities in Intimidate and Shed Skin, with the former allowing it to set up in the face of most physical attackers and the latter letting it set up without any fear of status. It also becomes an excellent stallbreaker due to absorbing Toxic Spikes, as well as immunity to status and Toxic. Overall, Arbok is a worthy candidate for a team, but it requires some support.</p>
[SET]
name: Coil
move 1: Coil
move 2: Gunk Shot
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Earthquake / Seed Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Intimidate / Shed Skin
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With access to a move that boosts Attack, Defense, and accuracy, as well as a high-powered STAB move, this set can become very threatening after a single boost. In this set, Arbok utilizes its good defensive typing as well as Coil to set up on prominent threats such as Fighting-type Pokemon, boosting its Attack while simultaneously making it harder to revenge kill. Gunk Shot is the main STAB move, and it hits most Pokemon hard. Sucker Punch gives Arbok a way of defeating the faster Pokemon that try to revenge kill it. In the last slot, Earthquake gets coverage on Steel-types while Seed Bomb hits most Ground-type Pokemon for super effective damage.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Intimidate is the preferred ability as it lets Arbok come in on most Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Primeape, Sawk, and Gurdurr, and use them as setup bait. Aside from the moves listed above, Rest is a usable option for Arbok to use in conjunction with Shed Skin, which lets it absorb status, making Arbok a great stallbreaker. However, it loses out on a lot of coverage. Aqua Tail is a usable move in the fourth slot to hit Ground-types while still retaining coverage on Steel-types, but it doesn't hit Steel-types hard enough and it misses out on Seismitoad. The given EV spread gives Arbok maximum power while allowing to outspeed Adamant Braviary and Modest Altaria as well as Speed tie with Timid Gardevoir.</p>
<p>While this set is powerful, it faces a lot of trouble with Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon, making partners that can get rid of these great. Liepard makes for an exceptional teammate, being able to Pursuit trap these Pokemon and even being able to Encore setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Musharna that would normally set up on Arbok. Arbok returns the favor by defeating the Fighting-types that plague Liepard. If Seed Bomb is used, Steel-type Pokemon such as Metang, Klang, and Bastiodon will be problematic—Klang can even set up alongside it. Therefore, Pokemon that can get rid of them, such as Golurk and Seismitoad, make for good partners. However, if Earthquake is chosen, Ground-types such as Piloswine and Golurk become an issue, so checks to these Pokemon, such as Ludicolo and Seismitoad, are good partners.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Arbok can use a bulkier Coil spread to set up on powerful attackers more easily. However, it requires both the Attack and Speed to sweep, which it lacks. Arbok has a few other moves it can utilize. Out of these, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, and Fire Fang seem like good options, but they do not provide much coverage and have very low Base Power. Rock Slide is in the same boat, as it has low Base Power and provides redundant coverage. Arbok also gains access to moves like Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Dragon Tail, and Glare, but it is better off attacking. Rather funnily, Arbok has access to Pursuit; however, being a Poison-type Pokemon, it cannot force Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon out, making it a rather poor user of this move. Disable is a rather gimmicky option, but a lack of immunities to efficiently take advantage of it deems it unworthy. Arbok can use a Choice Band to hit hard right off the bat, but Poison STAB is rather mediocre and Coil is Arbok's biggest niche. Similarly, it can also use Choice Scarf, but its base Speed is rather decent anyway and it is very weak without a boost.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>While Arbok is powerful when it has set up, it is relatively frail and will not be able to set up easily, so offensive pressure is the single best way to deal with Arbok. This is not to say that counters do not exist. Bulky variants of Musharna can easily OHKO Arbok with Psychic, while Arbok cannot 2HKO even after a Coil boost. Ground-type Pokemon such as Golurk and Piloswine can easily stomach even boosted hits and OHKO Arbok. Seismitoad must watch out for Seed Bomb, but bulkier variants can even live a +1 Seed Bomb, making it a decent check. Steel-type Pokemon such as Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang can easily deal with variants lacking Earthquake, with Bastiodon being able to phaze Arbok out as well. Klang gets a special mention as it can set up alongside Arbok and eventually KO it. Misdreavus and Frillish also wall Intimidate variants hard and cripple it, but Shed Skin variants can actually set up on them. Mandibuzz can check Arbok as well, as even though it is 2HKOed by a +1 Gunk Shot after Stealth Rock, it can phaze Arbok out with Whirlwind or attack it with a STAB Foul Play. Finally, revenge killing Arbok is a good way to deal with it. Pokemon such as Jynx and Gardevoir can set up Substitute to avoid Sucker Punch and OHKO, but the latter only Speed ties and a +1 Gunk Shot OHKOes in return.</p>
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