Fusxfaranto
I know this meta is kinda dead, but I've really wanted to make this post for a long time, and I still really like this meta.
I made some posts a while back about how I think Sableye is overpowered in Averagemons, and I still stand by that point. This post will be an analysis of Sableye in Averagemons and why I think it is unhealthy for the meta and should be banned. But before I go on, I would like to point out that I topped the Averagemons ladder back when it was OMOTM with a 43-0 w/l ratio, and got pretty high up on some other alts too (The team I topped the ladder with is
here). In total, I’ve probably played at least 100 matches of this metagame. I don't want to seem like I'm tooting my own horn, but I think it's pretty reasonable to assume that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to this metagame.
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Careful Nature
- Will-o-Wisp
- Recover
- Taunt
- Knock Off
The above set is the most common Sableye set, and is imo the most broken. Sableye is a defensive support Pokemon, using its good typing and Prankster to spread burns around opposing teams with ease. Taunt lets it prevent opposing set-up, and protect itself from opposing Taunts and status. STAB Knock Off is really good, giving it offensive presence and discouraging a lot of things from switching in on it for fear of losing their item. It invests in special defense because it can cover physical attackers with Will-o-wisp.
The combination of Prankster with Taunt, Will-o-wisp, and Recover allows it to beat 95% of the meta 1-on-1. Pretty much nothing can break through Sableye, as it can burn physical attackers, taunt defensive Pokemon and set-up sweepers, and the special defense investment and its good defensive typing lets it wall most special attackers, burn them, and Recover off any damage they deal to you while they slowly burn to death. Knock Off is the proverbial icing on the cake, letting it cripple switch-ins by removing their leftovers or boosting item.
The most common stops to Sableye are powerful Fairy-type
special attackers, like Xerneas and Sylveon, as well as
physically offensive Fire-types, like Arcanine and Talonflame. Magic Guard Pokemon can also handle it. However, none of these Pokemon want to switch into Knock Off; Geomancy Xern is crippled if it loses its Power Herb. As well, Talonflame largely relies on its boosting item to be a threat, and Specs Sylveon/Xern are lame without their item. As well, nothing likes to lose its Leftovers.
Some other good stops to Sableye include Poison Heal Pokemon (but none of them want to switch in if they aren't already poisoned, lest they be burned or get their Toxic Orb Knocked Off), which don't really care about any of Sableye's moves. Mega Absol works too, but can't switch in if it hasn't mevo'd yet, for fear of being burned. All of the other Magic Bouncers are weak to Knock Off, and thus are very shaky checks to Sableye. Magic Coat is an option against Sableye, bouncing back its Taunt, but you are risking giving your opponent a free turn to Knock Off or switch to a counter.
Other than these Pokemon,
everything loses to Sableye. Sableye is nigh unbreakable, and even if it does eventually go down, it leaves behind it a long trail of residual damage, burns, and Knocked Off items. I can't think of a team that wouldn't greatly benefit from the addition of Sableye; it easily provides set-up turns to dangerous sweepers on offense teams, and it is an excellent, reliable burn spreader on stall, as well as a win condition against opposing stall teams. The first thing I do when building an Averagemons team is put on Sableye, then get a Sableye counter. At the top end of the Averagemons ladder, every team had a Sableye. There really is no reason not to run it; its supporting capacity is unparalleled, and its ability to break down entire teams on its own with little to no risk is utterly broken.
Sableye can run more than just this set though; it has a lot of options at its disposal. Magic Coat, as mentioned earlier, is a good way to beat opposing Sableye, bouncing back their Taunt. Substitute and Toxic can both be effective, and it is a reliable weather setter thanks to Prankster. It also has a solid offensive movepool, however, offensive sets are generally best left to other Pokemon. One set which I've found to be very effective at beating Sableye's usual checks and counters is this:
Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Shadow Ball
Calm Mind Sableye is a really good lure, using Pokemon that would otherwise force it out, like Sylveon and Xerneas, as set-up fodder. Come in with it on something Sableye forces out (this isn't difficult), and set up a Calm Mind. If they go into a special fairy-type, you can boost again and be at +2 Spdef before they can hit you. You can just keep boosting and Recovering off damage, and eventually take them out with Shadow Ball.
252 SpA Fairy Aura Xerneas Moonblast vs. +2 252 HP / 0 SpD Sableye: 174-206 (43 - 50.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
The extra physical bulk makes it easier to take on things like Talonflame which would otherwise cause Sableye significant trouble. As well, this set can still spread burns around just as easily as the standard set does. The obvious issue with this set is the inability to protect itself from Taunt and status, due to the lack of Taunt; however this is still a very good set, and is especially potent against offensive teams.
I have played Averagemons both with and without Sableye, and I can safely say that Sableye makes the tier a lot less fun to play. It's overcentralising to the highest degree, and at higher levels of play the winner is often the player whose Sableye lives longest. The team I topped the ladder with was based around using Gothitelle to remove checks to Talonflame and Kangaskhan to allow them to sweep, but more often than not I found myself removing my opponent's Sableye counter instead; Sableye was just a lot more potent at taking down entire teams than my dedicated sweepers.
Averagemons is my favourite tier to play; it's incredibly diverse and fun, but I feel that Sableye kills a lot of the meta's potential for greatness. Overall, I feel that Sableye's effect on the meta is extremely negative, and that it deserves a ban.
