HypnoEmpire
Yokatta...
Overview
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+ Shell Smash.
+ Tough Claws boosted attacks off of Barbaracle's base 105 Attack hurt a lot, especially after a boost.
+ Solid physical bulk eases set up a bit.
+ Outspeeds the entire unboosted tier after a boost.
- Accuracy of most of Barbaracle's moves can kill it at times.
- Low special bulk makes setting up more difficult.
- Competition as a shell smasher from Omastar.
Shell Smash
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name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Razor Shell
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Low Kick
ability: Tough Claws
item: Lum Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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**Bulky Grass-Types**: Tangrowth can easily take a Stone Edge from Barbaracle and OHKO back with Grass STAB, but offensive sets have to watch out for Poison Jab. Amoonguss can take any boosted hit and OHKO back. Whimsicott can simply Encore Barbaracle into Shell Smash and OHKO it, but it definitely can't take a Poison Jab.
**Bulky Water-Types**: Slowking can't take a boosted Stone Edge too well unless it runs Defense investment, but Slowking can threaten it with a Scald burn (assuming no lum/lum was used up) or wipe it out with Grass Knot. Gastrodon can easily take a boosted Low Kick and if it has to, it can even take a Grass Knot from full and retaliate with Earth Power. Quagsire completely walls Barbaracle unless it runs Grass Knot because of Unaware.
**Doublade**: Eats up any of Barbaracle's hits pretty well and can OHKO it with Sacred Sword after Shell Smash Defense drop.
**Priority**: Due to Barbaracle's solid Defense, it doesn't take too much from priority even after Shell Smash Defense drop, but after Barbaracle's received enough chip damage, priority can finish it off, especially from Hitmonlee's Mach Punch.
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+ Shell Smash.
+ Tough Claws boosted attacks off of Barbaracle's base 105 Attack hurt a lot, especially after a boost.
+ Solid physical bulk eases set up a bit.
+ Outspeeds the entire unboosted tier after a boost.
- Accuracy of most of Barbaracle's moves can kill it at times.
- Low special bulk makes setting up more difficult.
- Competition as a shell smasher from Omastar.
Shell Smash
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name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Razor Shell
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Low Kick
ability: Tough Claws
item: Lum Berry
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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- Shell Smash gives Barbaracle the ability to sweep.
- Razor Shell is Water STAB that gets boosted by Tough Claws. Hits more consistently than other moves.
- Stone Edge is Rock STAB that hits Pokemon such as Amoonguss, Jellicent, and Qwilfish.
- Low Kick is coverage to hit targets such as Cobalion, Virizion, and Gastrodon.
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- Tough Claws boosts the power of Razor Shell and Low Kick, as well as niche moves like Poison Jab.
- Lum Berry is useful since Barbaracle hates status, especially burn and paralysis.
- Could run a Focus Sash to get up a guaranteed Shell Smash.
- Mental Herb is another option primarily for Whimsicott's Encore.
- White Herb removes Defense and Special Defense drops to make Barbaracle less prone to priority and enables it to take weaker attacks well.
- Adamant max Attack to obtain as many KOs as possible and Jolly is unnecessary.
- With max Speed, Barbaracle outspeeds the entire unboosted tier after a Shell Smash.
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- Best to set up later in the match after Barbaracle's checks and counters have received a fair amount of chip damage.
- Can set up on Flare Blitz locked Emboar, Fletchinder, Golbat, and others.
- Pokemon with strong priority like Hitmonlee should be eliminated before attempting to sweep.
- The only Choice Scarf Pokemon that outspeed Barbaracle after a boost are Durant and Timid Delphox iirc, so those should have their items scouted for before attempting a sweep.
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- Wallbreakers like CB Tyrantrum, CB Emboar, and Clawitzer can easily break down walls for Barbaracle to sweep.
- Whimsicott resists Fighting- and Grass-type moves targeted at Barbaracle and can provide it with a free turn to set up with Encore or Memento support.
- Omastar and Barbaracle can break down each other's checks and counters since they attract the same Pokemon more or less.
- Mega Abomasnow destroys nearly every bulky Grass- and Water-type and forces them out to give Barbaracle a potential setup opportunity.
- Mega Glalie can lure in and heavily dent bulky Water-types and Doublade.
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- Poison Jab hits Grass-types like Tangrowth, Rotom-C, and Virizion with more consistency.
- Dual Chop hits Druddigon and breaks Sturdy/Focus Sash.
- Grass Knot gets boosted by Tough Claws (for some reason) and hits Gastrodon and Quagsire.
- X-Scissor smacks bulky Psychic-types like Cresselia and Slowking hard.
- Shadow Claw gets the guaranteed 2HKO on Doublade after a boost and also hits Cofagrigus and Jellicent.
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**Bulky Grass-Types**: Tangrowth can easily take a Stone Edge from Barbaracle and OHKO back with Grass STAB, but offensive sets have to watch out for Poison Jab. Amoonguss can take any boosted hit and OHKO back. Whimsicott can simply Encore Barbaracle into Shell Smash and OHKO it, but it definitely can't take a Poison Jab.
**Bulky Water-Types**: Slowking can't take a boosted Stone Edge too well unless it runs Defense investment, but Slowking can threaten it with a Scald burn (assuming no lum/lum was used up) or wipe it out with Grass Knot. Gastrodon can easily take a boosted Low Kick and if it has to, it can even take a Grass Knot from full and retaliate with Earth Power. Quagsire completely walls Barbaracle unless it runs Grass Knot because of Unaware.
**Doublade**: Eats up any of Barbaracle's hits pretty well and can OHKO it with Sacred Sword after Shell Smash Defense drop.
**Priority**: Due to Barbaracle's solid Defense, it doesn't take too much from priority even after Shell Smash Defense drop, but after Barbaracle's received enough chip damage, priority can finish it off, especially from Hitmonlee's Mach Punch.
QC Checks: atomicllamas / 49 / -kal-
GP Checks: fleurdyleurse / Snobalt / fleurdyleurse
[OVERVIEW]
Barbaracle's access to Shell Smash gives it a good niche in the RU metagame. With great base 105 Attack and Tough Claws, Barbaracle hits very hard, especially after a boost. Barbaracle's solid Defense and typing make it easier for it to set up. Furthermore, Barbaracle outspeeds the entire unboosted tier after one Shell Smash. However, the imperfect accuracy of Barbaracle's STAB moves can prove fatal at times, while its low special bulk can make setting up difficult. Barbaracle also receives competition as a Shell Smash user from Omastar, which shares Barbaracle's typing and has a stronger STAB move.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Razor Shell
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Poison Jab
item: Lum Berry / Shuca Berry
ability: Tough Claws
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Shell Smash allows Barbaracle to sweep by boosting all of its offensive stats by two stages. Razor Shell is Barbaracle's most reliable Water-type STAB move and is boosted by Tough Claws. Stone Edge is a Rock-type STAB move that hits most Pokemon that resist or are immune to Razor Shell extremely hard. Poison Jab hits Aromatisse super effectively and prevents Grass-types such as Virizion and Tangrowth from revenge killing Barbaracle.
Set Details
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Tough Claws boosts the power of Barbaracle's contact moves. Lum Berry is useful, as status ailments, especially burn and paralysis, greatly hinder Barbaracle's effectiveness. Shuca Berry lets Barbaracle set up against a variety of Pokemon such as Mega Glalie without Freeze-Dry, Flygon, Mega Steelix, and Rhyperior. Barbaracle can run Focus Sash to set up against threats that would otherwise prevent it from setting up such as Jolteon and Medicham. White Herb removes Shell Smash's Defense and Special Defense drops to make Barbaracle less prone to priority and enable it to take weaker attacks better. 252 Attack EVs and an Adamant nature are used to obtain as many KOs as possible, though a Jolly nature is also feasible, as it lets Barbaracle outspeed Choice Scarf Durant and Timid Choice Scarf Delphox after a boost. With 252 Speed EVs, Barbaracle outspeeds the entire unboosted tier after a Shell Smash.
Usage Tips
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It is best for Barbaracle to set up later in the match after its checks and counters have received a fair amount of chip damage or have been removed. Barbaracle can set up on Pokemon such as Emboar Choice-locked into Flare Blitz, unboosted Sneasel, and, with Lum Berry, Fletchinder. With Shuca Berry, Barbaracle gets ample opportunities to set up on Pokemon that would otherwise threaten it with Ground-type moves. Pokemon with strong priority, such as Hitmonlee, should be eliminated before attempting to sweep. The only Choice Scarf Pokemon that outspeed Adamant Barbaracle after a boost are Durant, Timid Delphox, and Jolly Flygon, so these Pokemon should have their items scouted for before attempting to sweep.
Team Options
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Wallbreakers such as Choice Band Tyrantrum, Choice Specs Tangrowth, and Exploud can easily break down walls for Barbaracle. Omastar and Barbaracle can break down each other's checks and counters, as they lure in some of the same Pokemon. Amoonguss takes on most Grass- and Water-types and can provide paralysis support with Stun Spore or put a foe to sleep with Spore. Mega Glalie can lure in and heavily dent bulky Water-types while also being able to set up Spikes to further wear down Barbaracle's checks and counters. Fire-types such as Delphox and Houndoom can break down Grass-types for Barbaracle.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A set with Focus Sash and the moves Stealth Rock, Shell Smash, Razor Shell, and Stone Edge can prove useful as a suicide lead. Barbaracle gets a variety of moves that get boosted by Tough Claws. Low Kick OHKOes Registeel and Tyrantrum and has a greater chance to OHKO Omastar than Barbaracle's STAB moves. Grass Knot 2HKOes Gastrodon and Quagsire and OHKOes Seismitoad, while the rest of Barbaracle's moves fail to do so. Shadow Claw has a chance to OHKO Jellicent and offensive Cofagrigus.
Checks & Counters
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**Grass-types**: Defensive Tangrowth can take a boosted Poison Jab from Barbaracle and OHKO back with Giga Drain, but offensive sets have a good chance of getting OHKOed by a boosted Poison Jab. Amoonguss can take any boosted hit and OHKO back with Giga Drain. Grass-types, such as Virizion and Rotom-C, also prevent Barbaracle from setting up.
**Bulky Water-types**: Seismitoad and Gastrodon can easily take most boosted hits from Barbaracle and Gastrodon can take a boosted Grass Knot if it's healthy, but standard Seismitoad is OHKOed by Grass Knot. Quagsire can completely wall Barbaracle unless it runs Grass Knot due to Unaware, but Barbaracle can break through Quagsire if it gets a Defense drop with Razor Shell. Poliwrath can take a boosted Poison Jab from Barbaracle and easily OHKO it with Focus Blast, and Scald from Choice Specs Poliwrath has a good chance to OHKO Barbaracle after a bit of prior damage. Alomomola can take a boosted hit from Barbaracle and cripple it with status. If Barbaracle's Lum Berry is intact, Alomomola can come in after switching out repeatedly and attempt to inflict status on it again due to Regenerator.
**Priority Moves**: Due to Barbaracle's solid Defense, it doesn't take too much damage from priority attacks even after Shell Smash's stat drops, but after Barbaracle has received enough chip damage, priority attacks can finish it off, most notably Mach Punch from Hitmonlee and Gurdurr and Vacuum Wave from Poliwrath.
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