facepalm
QC: EonX / SilentVerse / Spirit
GP: fleurdyleurse / -
Overview
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Barbaracle's main claim to fame in the RU tier lies in its access to Shell Smash, arguably one of the best boosting moves in the metagame, which doubles its offensive stats and Speed in a single turn. Barbaracle can easily take advantage of this with its decent base 105 Attack, and it can often set up with its relatively decent 72 / 115 / 86 defenses. Barbaracle's movepool is also well-tailored to its role, containing the EdgeQuake combo and various coverage moves such as Cross Chop and Razor Shell, most of which are boosted by its ability, Tough Claws. However, common weaknesses to Electric-, Fighting-, and Grass-type attacks mean that even non-STAB coverage moves can KO it, especially after the lowered defenses from Shell Smash. Barbaracle's Speed prior to Shell Smash sits at a low 68, and even after a boost it is easily revenge killed by most Scarf users. In addition to this, most of Barbaracle's attacking moves have imperfect accuracy, which means that it may let you down in dire circumstances.
Shell Smash
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name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Razor Shell
move 4: Cross Chop / Earthquake
ability: Tough Claws
item: White Herb / Lum Berry
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
========
Shell Smash provides Barbaracle with its only real niche, doubling its Speed and Attack in a single turn. Stone Edge is its primary STAB attack, and it is chosen over Rock Slide due to its higher damage output. Razor Shell is Barbaracle's second STAB move, hitting Ground- and Rock-types super effectively, and the 50% Defense drop chance may come in handy. Cross Chop is used to hit bulky Grass- and Steel-types and comes with a useful increased critical hit ratio. Alternatively, Earthquake can be used to hit Drapion super effectively, and also hit Doublade, which otherwise walls Barbaracle.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature with maximum Attack and Speed investment is standard for an all-out physical attacker. An Adamant nature is used because Barbaracle will outspeed most relevant opponents after a Shell Smash anyway. Tough Claws is the best ability available, despite not boosting the power of Stone Edge. White Herb is used to negate the defense drops from Shell Smash, while a Lum Berry provides a layer of protection against status while setting up.
Usage Tips
========
A fast Taunt forces Barbaracle to attack without a Shell Smash boost, lowering its effectiveness. If holding a Lum Berry, Barbaracle can set up on a defensive Pokemon, but otherwise, it should attempt to set up on an opponent it can force out. Grass-types pose a huge threat to Barbaracle, so this set should be used late-game when Grass-types and its checks have been sufficiently weakened or removed. Barbaracle's checks also depend on its coverage move, so avoid revealing until it they are weakened enough to the point that it will KO them.
Team Options
========
Dual screens support from the likes of Meowstic-M and Uxie is appreciated, cushioning blows and allowing Barbaracle to set up more easily. Teammates that can remove sturdy physical walls such as Cofagrigus are also necessary, as Barbaracle can sometimes struggle against them. Fire-type teammates such as Delphox, Emboar, and Moltres can switch into and remove Grass-types, killing two birds with one stone. Alomomola is also a major worry for Barbaracle, being only 3HKOed by Stone Edge in most circumstances, so a Grass-type teammate such as Virizion or Rotom-C can help take it down.
Other Options
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Barbaracle has access to some interesting alternative attacks, such as Poison Jab, Earthquake, X-Scissor, Aerial Ace, and Shadow Claw, but they are mostly redundant. A Bulk Up set could also be used, but the extra setup turns leave a large window of time which the opponent can exploit. Taunt is able to shut down most walls, but Barbaracle cannot afford to give up a moveslot. Its access to Switcheroo is neat, allowing it to run a Choice item.
Checks & Counters
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**Tangrowth**: Tangrowth's monstrous physical bulk and fantastic ability in Regenerator makes it a fantastic switch-in to Barbaracle even after it has set up a Shell Smash. Tangrowth can easily stomach a +2 Stone Edge and OHKO back with a STAB move while taking little to no damage.
**Alomomola**: Alomomola can fish for misses and Scald burns to an extent, due to its massive physical bulk, access to Wish, and its ability, Regenerator.
**Virizion**: Virizion resists all of Barbaracle's moves except for Cross Chop, and can easily OHKO it with a 4x super effective Grass-type move. However, Virizion cannot directly switch in as it is 2HKOed by Stone Edge.
**Poliwrath**: Poliwrath resists both of Barbaracle's STAB moves and can use Circle Throw to phaze it out, removing its boosts. However, Poliwrath is 2HKOed by Cross Chop, so it cannot directly switch in.
**Doublade**: If Barbaracle is not running Earthquake, it cannot deal much damage to Doublade, while Doublade can just set up Swords Dance or KO Barbaracle with a combination of Iron Head + Shadow Sneak.
**Offensive Pressure**: Hyper offensive playstyles can usually deter Barbaracle from setting up a Shell Smash, as it usually cannot take two attacks and will be relatively useless as soon as a faster Pokemon is sent in.
**Priority**: Barbaracle's lack of priority means that moves such as Mach Punch and Sucker Punch can sometimes OHKO it after the defense drops.
Overview
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- has shell smash
- decent bulk, nice base 105 Attack stat
- pretty nice coverage options, including EdgeQuake and Cross Chop
- tough claws is a really nice ability for any physical attacker
- really bad typing with common weaknesses to electric, ground, fighting, and grass
- no forms of priority, and it's also vulnerable to many priority moves
- its STAB moves have shaky accuracy; Stone Miss and Razor Shell
- base 68 Speed before a shell smash is pretty bad for a setup sweeper
Shell Smash
########
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Razor Shell
move 4: Cross Chop
ability: Tough Claws
item: White Herb / Lum Berry
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
========
- shell smash is shell smash, barbaracle's only real niche
- stone edge and rock slide is basically accuracy vs power, and crit chance vs flinch chance, but stone edge is generally recommended because it really needs all the power it can get
- razor shell is secondary stab move, also comes with a defense lowering chance
- poison jab is its only reasonable move against grass-types which otherwise force it out
- cross chop provides valuable coverage on dark- and steel-types
- earthquake gives edgequake, but no tough claws boost
Set Details
========
- standard EVs for an offensive mon, 252 attack and speed to hit hard and fast
- tough claws is the best ability, despite not boosting any of its rock-type stab moves
- white herb negates defense drop after smashing, usually best option since it really needs all the bulk
- lum berry allows barbaracle to set up on some walls that will try to burn or paralyze it
- adamant nature to maximize attack, outspeeds most non-scarfed mons after a smash anyway
Usage Tips
========
- don't get taunted, otherwise without a shell smash barbaracle isn't as effective
- barbaracle can set up on walls if it holds lum berry, but otherwise smash on something it forces out
- use as late-game sweeper when all grass-types and checks have been removed
- remember all its moves have shaky accuracy, so have a backup plan in case it misses
Team Options
========
- dual screens support from meowstic-m and uxie is cool, since it gives barbaracle a cushion against priority and attacks in general while setting up
- teammates that can remove strong physical walls that barbaracle might have trouble with
- teammates that can switch into grass-type moves, mostly fire-types that can also wallbreak such as moltres, delphox, escavalier, and emboar
Other Options
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- choice item + switcheroo
- alternative attacks include: eq, shadow claw, aerial ace, rock slide, poison jab, and x-scissor
- taunt to screw over some walls
- a bulk up set can work
Checks & Counters
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- virizion and tangrowth can usually stomach even a +2 attack and ohko back
- sticky web leaves barbaracle open for revenge killing, since most scarfers outspeed it at +1
- alomomola and tangrowth can fish for misses while stalling barbaracle out
- priority users can prey on the shell smash defense drops and lack of priority
- hyper-offensive teams can generally prevent barbaracle from attempting to set up
########
- has shell smash
- decent bulk, nice base 105 Attack stat
- pretty nice coverage options, including EdgeQuake and Cross Chop
- tough claws is a really nice ability for any physical attacker
- really bad typing with common weaknesses to electric, ground, fighting, and grass
- no forms of priority, and it's also vulnerable to many priority moves
- its STAB moves have shaky accuracy; Stone Miss and Razor Shell
- base 68 Speed before a shell smash is pretty bad for a setup sweeper
Shell Smash
########
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Razor Shell
move 4: Cross Chop
ability: Tough Claws
item: White Herb / Lum Berry
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
========
- shell smash is shell smash, barbaracle's only real niche
- stone edge and rock slide is basically accuracy vs power, and crit chance vs flinch chance, but stone edge is generally recommended because it really needs all the power it can get
- razor shell is secondary stab move, also comes with a defense lowering chance
- poison jab is its only reasonable move against grass-types which otherwise force it out
- cross chop provides valuable coverage on dark- and steel-types
- earthquake gives edgequake, but no tough claws boost
Set Details
========
- standard EVs for an offensive mon, 252 attack and speed to hit hard and fast
- tough claws is the best ability, despite not boosting any of its rock-type stab moves
- white herb negates defense drop after smashing, usually best option since it really needs all the bulk
- lum berry allows barbaracle to set up on some walls that will try to burn or paralyze it
- adamant nature to maximize attack, outspeeds most non-scarfed mons after a smash anyway
Usage Tips
========
- don't get taunted, otherwise without a shell smash barbaracle isn't as effective
- barbaracle can set up on walls if it holds lum berry, but otherwise smash on something it forces out
- use as late-game sweeper when all grass-types and checks have been removed
- remember all its moves have shaky accuracy, so have a backup plan in case it misses
Team Options
========
- dual screens support from meowstic-m and uxie is cool, since it gives barbaracle a cushion against priority and attacks in general while setting up
- teammates that can remove strong physical walls that barbaracle might have trouble with
- teammates that can switch into grass-type moves, mostly fire-types that can also wallbreak such as moltres, delphox, escavalier, and emboar
Other Options
########
- choice item + switcheroo
- alternative attacks include: eq, shadow claw, aerial ace, rock slide, poison jab, and x-scissor
- taunt to screw over some walls
- a bulk up set can work
Checks & Counters
########
- virizion and tangrowth can usually stomach even a +2 attack and ohko back
- sticky web leaves barbaracle open for revenge killing, since most scarfers outspeed it at +1
- alomomola and tangrowth can fish for misses while stalling barbaracle out
- priority users can prey on the shell smash defense drops and lack of priority
- hyper-offensive teams can generally prevent barbaracle from attempting to set up
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