[OVERVIEW]
Chatot is a rather niche Pokemon in the RU metagame. It receives fierce competition from Meloetta and Exploud, both of which have better Special Attack. Chatot is also much frailer than these Pokemon and doesn't appreciate Stealth Rock. However, Chatot manages to differentiate itself from these Pokemon with its base 91 Speed, which allows it to outpace important Pokemon such as Venomoth, Rotom-C, Meloetta, and Hitmonlee, as well as its colorful movepool consisting of options such as Nasty Plot, Encore, Chatter, Boomburst, and U-turn.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Boomburst
move 3: Heat Wave / Chatter
move 4: Encore / Substitute
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot raises Chatot's Special Attack to fairly high levels. Boomburst hits hard with 140 Base Power and bypasses Substitute. Heat Wave hits Bronzong, Registeel, Escavalier, and Mega Steelix for considerable damage. However, Chatter can be used instead to confuse foes and give Chatot a better opportunity to set up a Nasty Plot. Encore punishes setup sweepers, entry hazard setters, and Pokemon trying to recover HP, giving Chatot free turns to set up. Chatot can also use Encore to take advantage of its immunities to Ground- and Ghost-type moves such as Earthquake and Shadow Ball, respectively. Substitute is another option to protect Chatot from status moves and strong attacks.
Set Details
========
The given EVs and a Timid nature give Chatot some power behind its attacks while taking full advantage of Chatot's unique Speed tier. Life Orb boosts Chatot's damage output by a considerable amount. Leftovers allows Chatot to recover damage taken from Substitute. Leftovers should only be used if running Substitute, as Chatot is very weak without Life Orb. Focus Sash is also a decent item choice, as it guarantees a Nasty Plot boost; it should be noted, however, that entry hazard removal is necessary if you opt for Focus Sash.
Usage Tips
========
This set is prone to being revenge killed, so make sure that Choice Scarf users, faster Pokemon, and priority users are out of the way before attempting a sweep. Chatot should only be coming into the battlefield on free switches because of its putrid bulk. It's a good idea to switch into harmless status moves, use Encore, and then set up a Nasty Plot on the switch if the opposing team is sufficiently weakened. Setting up a Substitute is also a good idea against Pokemon such as Alomomola and Amoonguss, as it allows Bouffalant to avoid Toxic and Spore, respectively, and begin boosting up with Swords Dance.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removers such as Hitmonlee and Flygon are necessary if Chatot is running Focus Sash, but this isn't as important if it's running a different item, as Chatot isn't really meant to be taking hits. If Chatot is not running Heat Wave, it appreciates having teammates that can lure in and weaken or KO Steel-types, such as Choice Band Tyrantrum, Mega Glalie, and, ironically, Exploud. Chatot also appreciates help from offensive Pokemon that can hit Rock-types hard, such as Tangrowth, Virizion, Scrafty, and Clawitzer. Chatot benefits greatly from being paired with an entry hazard setter such as Omastar, Accelgor, or Qwilfish, as Chatot can switch into and take advantage of opposing Defoggers with Encore. U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Meloetta, Eelektross, and Rotom-C can bring Chatot into battle without taking a hit.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Boomburst
move 2: Heat Wave
move 3: Chatter / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Specs
ability: Tangled Feet
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Boomburst is the move Chatot will be using most often, as its 140 Base Power rips through anything that doesn't resist it, even if the foe is behind a Substitute. Heat Wave muscles past Steel-type Pokemon such as Bronzong, Registeel, Escavalier, and Mega Steelix. Chatter is a great utility move to spread confusion if Chatot has a free turn. Alternatively, Hidden Power Grass nails Omastar, Jellicent, Rhyperior, and Seismitoad. U-turn, although not very powerful, allows Chatot to keep up momentum on its side of the field. It also serves as a safe option if you are unsure of what your opponent will switch into.
Set Details
========
When combined with maximum investment in Special Attack, Choice Specs gives Chatot the power it needs to break through RU's bulkiest walls. Choice Specs also lets Chatot achieve some KOs that it cannot get with a Life Orb, such as Exploud and Rotom-C with Boomburst, Durant with Boomburst after Stealth Rock, and the 2HKO on Mega Steelix with Heat Wave. The Speed investment along with a Timid nature makes use of Chatot's ability to outspeed popular Pokemon such as Rotom-C and Meloetta.
Usage Tips
========
This set should be used to break down defensive Pokemon for its team. Note that being locked into a single move makes this set easy to take advantage of. Keep Chatot away from faster Pokemon, as they can revenge kill Chatot due to its frailty and average Speed. When you're not sure of what your opponent is going to do, it is best to scout with U-turn.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard removers such as Hitmonlee and Flygon are greatly appreciated, as they can keep Stealth Rock off the field. Both Pokemon can also remove Rock- and Steel-types from the field to make it easier for Chatot to spam its STAB moves. As this set forces switches, entry hazard support from the likes of Omastar, Uxie, and Mesprit can help Chatot OHKO or 2HKO certain Pokemon. Uxie's Thunder Wave support can help make Chatot less prone to being revenge killed. Being a wallbreaker, this set pairs well with faster Pokemon such as Jolteon, Sneasel, and Accelgor that can come in and clean up the weakened opposing team. Scrafty demolishes Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-type Pokemon, allowing Chatot to spam Boomburst more often. Pokemon such as Jolteon, Rotom-C, Flygon, and Eelektross can create a powerful VoltTurn core that is good at wearing down the opposing team as well as keeping Chatot healthy. Dugtrio can trap and KO weakened Rock- and Steel-types, paving the way for a possible sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
============
A Choice Scarf set is a decent option, as Chatot sits in an interesting Speed tier; however, such a set would be too weak and frail compared to other users of the item. Roost gives Chatot a way to heal itself, but it lacks room for the move and is too frail to use Roost reliably. Agility can be used with a Modest nature to boost Chatot's Speed and outpace most revenge killers; however, Chatot has a hard time finding setup opportunities as well as KOing Pokemon without a Special Attack boost. If you're desperate for a Defogger, you can try to fit Defog onto one of Chatot's sets, but it's generally better to focus on sweeping or breaking down walls with Chatot rather than trying to fill other roles.
Checks and Counters
=================
**Offensive Pressure**: Faster offensive Pokemon such as Durant, Sigilyph, and Flygon can outspeed and OHKO Chatot with their respective STAB moves.
**Priority**: Due to Chatot's frailty, priority attacks such as Spritomb's Sucker Punch, Fletchinder's Acrobatics, and Ice Shard from Sneasel and Mega Glalie can easily pick it off.
**Rock- and Steel-types**: Though Chatot has the coverage for them, Rock- and Steel-types such as Kabutops, Omastar, Rhyperior, Mega Steelix, and Bronzong nonetheless wall Chatot's STAB attacks and can severely damage it back, set up Stealth Rock, or, in Bronzong's case, cripple it with status.
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