[OVERVIEW]
Camerupt holds a firm niche in the tier thanks to its defensive typing, which allows it to counter Rotom, a massive and common threat in the metagame, and absorb Will-O-Wisp. With decent bulk when invested, it is also a solid user of Stealth Rock, making it a good support option for balanced teams. Its excellent STAB coverage and powerful Fire Blast when equipped with Choice Specs make it a potent offensive threat as well. However, its low Speed means it is very susceptible to being forced out or revenge killed, and it often has to hit its checks with coverage moves on predicted switches, as Camerupt is often slower than various defensive Pokemon. Camerupt can easily become setup bait for various Water-types, as defensive sets will fail to do enough damage to Samurott or Ludicolo, while offensive sets may find themselves Choice locked into the wrong move. Finally, Camerupt faces competition from other Pokemon, such as Steelix, which sports more useful resistances as a bulky Stealth Rock setter, and other offensive Fire-types such as Charizard, Magmortar, and Pyroar, all of which are faster and have either greater coverage, more versatility, or more support options.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Lava Plume
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Will-O-Wisp
item: Leftovers
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is essential for every competitive team, and Camerupt can provide it thanks to its typing that allows it to beat Pokemon such as Weezing and Rotom, to which nearly every Stealth Rock user in the tier loses. Lava Plume is the main STAB move on this set thanks to its chance to burn foes, which is more useful on a defensive set, potentially allowing Camerupt to cripple Thick Fat Hariyama and bulky Rock-type switch-ins such as Rhydon. It also helps prevent Xatu from trying to bounce back Stealth Rock with Magic Bounce, as a burn drastically decreases its longevity. Earthquake hits Pokemon that resist Fire such as Lanturn and bulky Rock-types. Earthquake is preferred over Earth Power because Camerupt will often be taking on Magmortar, which takes much more damage from physical attacks. Toxic and Will-O-Wisp are both useful for wearing down bulkier switch-ins. Toxic is preferred because it wears down Mantine and Pelipper more quickly while also not being completely useless against Charizard. It is also useful for crippling Calm Mind Musharna, even though it comes at the cost of poisoning Camerupt too. Will-O-Wisp is still useful if crippling Thick Fat Hariyama and Rhydon is more important for your team. Rock Slide can have use in the last slot if your team is very weak to Charizard, as it allows Camerupt to defeat it with much more ease.
Set Details
========
Maximum special bulk is necessary so that Camerupt can tank hits from the likes of Rotom, Mismagius, Magmortar, and other special attackers and set up Stealth Rock or retaliate appropriately. Leftovers is important so that Camerupt doesn't get worn down too quickly over the course of the match. Solid Rock allows Camerupt to take various super effective hits, such as non-STAB Earthquake from the likes of Tauros and Archeops, and potentially set up Stealth Rock or put the foe in range of a revenge killer. An offensive Stealth Rock set with an EV spread of 140 HP / 252 SpA / 116 Spe is viable if you specifically need both Stealth Rock and Camerupt's wallbreaking ability. In this case, Hidden Power Electric is preferred in the last slot, as it does heavy damage to Mantine and Pelipper and can deter them from trying to come in immediately to Defog away Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
Use Camerupt's ability to come in on Rotom, Weezing, Mismagius, Garbodor, and bulky Grass-types to set up Stealth Rock. Using status moves on predicted Mantine and Pelipper switch-ins is often very beneficial, as it will be difficult for them to continuously use Defog over the course of the match. Likewise, if you have Will-O-Wisp on Camerupt, it can be very useful for your team to opt for this move on the switch to cripple an incoming Thick Fat Hariyama or Rhydon. Although defensive Camerupt does not hit very hard, it can also be more beneficial for your team to fish for Lava Plume burns or hit Lanturn switch-ins with Camerupt's Earthquake, depending on the circumstance.
Team Options
========
Camerupt pairs well with sweepers that dislike Rotom's presence in general, as a large draw to using Stealth Rock Camerupt is because it is one of few Stealth Rock setters in the tier that don't lose to Rotom. Barbaracle in particular likes Camerupt as a partner, as Stealth Rock helps Barbaracle clean, and Camerupt helps Barbaracle deal with Rotom and Gourgeist, with the former giving it a very difficult time in the early- and mid-game and the latter being a hard counter. Scyther also appreciates defensive Camerupt, as its bulk allows it to stay around longer to come in on Scyther's checks and counters. Fighting-types such as Primeape and Hitmonchan pair well with Camerupt, as it beats a lot of their checks one-on-one, including Rotom, Gourgeist, Weezing, and Garbodor, and provides Stealth Rock, which helps them break past their counters. Xatu must also risk taking a Lava Plume burn and damage if it wants to try to reflect Stealth Rock with Magic Bounce, meaning it won't be able to check Fighting-types for the opposing team. Strong checks to Water-types are necessary on the same team thanks to Camerupt's weakness to them.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Lava Plume
move 4: Hidden Power Electric
item: Choice Specs
ability: Solid Rock
nature: Modest
evs: 140 HP / 252 SpA / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Fire Blast is a powerful STAB move that at least 2HKOes pretty much everything that doesn't resist it. Earth Power is a great secondary STAB move that hits bulky Rock-types, other Fire-types, and Lanturn super effectively while hitting other Water-types hard. Lava Plume is the most spammable move on the set in part because of its perfect accuracy, which can be useful when Camerupt doesn't need Fire Blast's power, as well as its chance to burn foes, which can cripple certain counters. Hidden Power Electric 2HKOes Mantine, which otherwise hard counters Camerupt. It also deals with Charizard, which resists Camerupt's STAB moves.
Set Details
========
Choice Specs, a Modest nature, and 252 Special Attack EVs allow Camerupt to hit as hard as possible. The Speed EVs allow Camerupt to outspeed Gourgeist-XL. It also ensures that Camerupt will be able to outspeed uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon even if they run some Speed creep EVs. The rest of the EVs go into HP to help it tank various attacks. Solid Rock allows Camerupt to survive various super effective attacks, such as Earthquake, that would otherwise OHKO it.
Usage Tips
========
Bulky Rotom, Weezing, and Garbodor are all common threats that Camerupt can easily switch in on. Don't be afraid to double switch to punish these Pokemon for switching in. Utilizing slow Volt Switch and U-turn users can also be effective in bringing Camerupt onto the field safely. Once Camerupt hits the field, proceed to annihilate the opposing team by clicking the appropriate coverage move. Lava Plume is generally the safest play to make, such as when the opponent has Hariyama or has absolutely nothing to take Camerupt's attacks. It is also useful for scouting switch-ins and burning counters. Use Earth Power when you predict your opponent to go into Lanturn or a bulky Rock-type, but be mindful that being Choice locked into the move can be risky due to it not hitting Levitate users and Flying-types. When it looks like your opponent's best switch-in to Camerupt is a bulky Pokemon that doesn't resist Fire such as Musharna or Audino, use Fire Blast. Use Hidden Power Electric to catch Mantine on the switch, but beware that Camerupt becomes very exploitable if it locks itself into the move.
Team Options
========
Scyther can get Camerupt into the battle easily thanks to U-turn. Camerupt also has a very good matchup against most Scyther checks, which include Steelix, Rotom, Weezing, Garbodor, and Rhydon. Bulky Grass-types such Vileplume and Ferroseed deal with Water-types that threaten Camerupt, a lot of which, such as Samurott, Kabutops, and Barbaracle can freely set up on Camerupt locked into a Fire-type move. Electric-types such as Lanturn and Rotom can help Camerupt deal with Mantine. They can also use Volt Switch to get Camerupt onto the field. On the flip side, pairing Camerupt with late-game cleaners in general is beneficial to take advantage of the mess that Camerupt makes of the opposing team. Both physical and special Sceptile, two notable sets capable of cleaning late-game, work well with Camerupt. Special Sceptile helps with wearing down Hariyama, while physical Sceptile appreciates Camerupt's ability to switch into and destroy Weezing. Likewise, Pokemon such as Swords Dance Samurott and other sweepers that are walled by Mantine and Pelipper appreciate Camerupt's ability to lure them in and weaken them with Hidden Power Electric.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Polish can be used to make Camerupt a late game sweeper, as it can find plenty of setup opportunities, but its lower bulk than Rhydon and inability to tank priority moves, means there are better options for cleaners. On defensive sets, Camerupt can make use of Roar or Yawn in the last slot to phaze foes and rack up entry hazard damage, but generally speaking it is better off spreading as much status as possible.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Mantine and Pelipper in particular resist or are immune to Camerupt's STAB moves and can KO it with Scald or Defog away the Stealth Rock it sets up. Pelipper needs a specially defensive spread or it gets 2HKOed by Fire Blast, however. Both must also beware of Hidden Power Electric. Other Water-types such as Samurott, Kabutops, and Ludicolo can all switch in and force out Camerupt unless they come in on the wrong STAB move. These three Water-types, along with Barbaracle, can all set up on Camerupt if it's locked into the wrong STAB move.
**Dragon-types**: Even offensive variants of Altaria and Sliggoo can switch in on Camerupt and retaliate with a powerful Draco Meteor or Muddy Water, respectively. Fire Blast nearly 2HKOes Altaria, so it needs Stealth Rock off the field in order to switch in safely. Defensive Sliggoo is the best answer to Camerupt in NU, as it takes a pittance from Fire Blast, is only 3HKOed by Choice Specs Earth Power, and it has Rest to heal off a potential Toxic.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Pokemon like Choice Band Sawk, Choice Specs Aurorus, and maximum Attack variants of Abomasnow can revenge kill Camerupt, although they can't switch into it. Non-STAB Earthquake users such as Archeops, Kangaskhan, and Tauros must also be careful, as Camerupt's Solid Rock allows it to take their Earthquakes from full health.
**Bulky Setup Sweepers** Malamar and RestTalk Mega Audino set up easily on defensive Camerupt and can set up on the Choice Specs set if it is locked into Hidden Power Electric. They should avoid switching into Choice Specs variants, however, as Fire Blast 2HKOes both of them.
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