[Pros]
<li>Toxicroak has a decent Attack stat.</li>
<li>It also has access to Sucker Punch, a priority move.</li>
<li>Being a Poison-type makes it immune to Toxic Spikes.</li>
<li>Dry Skin gives Toxicroak additional healing in the rain.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>It is very frail; even resisted Physical attacks can be painful.</li>
<li>With only base 85 Speed, even Sucker Punch can be outsped by other priority moves.</li>
<li>Dry Skin relies heavily on the rain, which has been nerfed.</li>
<li>Dry Skin can also be a double-edged sword given the addition of a new Drought user: Mega Charizard Y.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Drain Punch
Move 3: Sucker Punch
Move 4: Poison Jab
Ability: Dry Skin
Item: Life Orb / Black Sludge
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly </p>
<p>With nerfs to Rain Dance and Drought, as well as a shift in the metagame, Bulk Up has become less viable, meaning Toxicroak only has Swords Dance to rely on to maximise its damage output. Dry Skin still gives Toxicroak a Water-type immunity, meaning it can freely switch in on Water-type Pokemon such as Politoed, Tentacruel, and Clawitzer, as well as set up on Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn when they switch out. While the rain is active, Toxicroak has an advantage thanks to Dry Skin and Drain Punch, both of which allow Toxicroak to recoup some of its HP every turn; Toxicroak also gains STAB on Drain Punch, granting it serious power at +2 Attack. Sucker Punch has good neutral coverage, high Base Power, and priority, making it a great choice against most of the Pokemon looking to revenge kill Toxicroak. Poison Jab allows Toxicroak to hit Fairy-type Pokemon such as Florges and Sylveon effectively, clearing a path for any Dragon-types in your team. Even though Poison Jab is the recommended option, Ice Punch can be used in order to deal serious damage to opposing Dragon-type Pokemon and can hit Hippowdon hard. Ice Punch also allows you to deal neutral damage to Skarmory, but you often lack enough power to really take it out.</p>
<p>Because its ability relies on the rain being active, Politoed is the obvious teammate for Toxicroak, simply due to Drizzle. Magnezone and Dugtrio are also partners whose support Toxicroak appreciates. The first traps and OHKOes Skarmory, which fully counters Toxicroak, making its sweep under rain more easy, whereas Dugtrio traps Tyranitar and Ninetales, both of which are problematic for Toxicroak due to their own weather-altering abilities. Rotom-W and Scizor can also bring the previously mentioned Dugtrio in with Volt Switch and U-turn respectively; Scizor in particular has more power and slightly better coverage, making it very good at cleaning up any holes left by Toxicroak's attacks.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Skarmory is the best counter to Toxicroak as it will resist all of Toxicroak moves (barring Ice Punch) and proceed to OHKO with Brave Bird. Talonflame also OHKOes Toxicroak with priority Brave Bird, which outspeeds Toxicroak's Sucker Punch due to Talonflame's naturally higher Speed. RestTalk Gyarados can soften Toxicroak's blows with Intimidate and use Roar to phaze it out. Physically defensive Hippowdon can withstand anything Toxicroak throws at it and can OHKO back with Earthquake. Garchomp, Choice Band Scizor, and Salamence can all survive a boosted Sucker Punch and OHKO Toxicroak. Fast Substitute users such as Gengar can avoid Sucker Punch and then deal serious damage in safety. Sun-based teams are problematic for Toxicroak, as Dry Skin causes it to lose HP each turn, as well as causing Toxicroak to take more damage from Fire-type moves. Aegislash can set up on Toxicroak very easily, as it can also use King's Shield to negate the effect of Swords Dance.</p>
<li>Toxicroak has a decent Attack stat.</li>
<li>It also has access to Sucker Punch, a priority move.</li>
<li>Being a Poison-type makes it immune to Toxic Spikes.</li>
<li>Dry Skin gives Toxicroak additional healing in the rain.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>It is very frail; even resisted Physical attacks can be painful.</li>
<li>With only base 85 Speed, even Sucker Punch can be outsped by other priority moves.</li>
<li>Dry Skin relies heavily on the rain, which has been nerfed.</li>
<li>Dry Skin can also be a double-edged sword given the addition of a new Drought user: Mega Charizard Y.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Drain Punch
Move 3: Sucker Punch
Move 4: Poison Jab
Ability: Dry Skin
Item: Life Orb / Black Sludge
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly </p>
<p>With nerfs to Rain Dance and Drought, as well as a shift in the metagame, Bulk Up has become less viable, meaning Toxicroak only has Swords Dance to rely on to maximise its damage output. Dry Skin still gives Toxicroak a Water-type immunity, meaning it can freely switch in on Water-type Pokemon such as Politoed, Tentacruel, and Clawitzer, as well as set up on Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn when they switch out. While the rain is active, Toxicroak has an advantage thanks to Dry Skin and Drain Punch, both of which allow Toxicroak to recoup some of its HP every turn; Toxicroak also gains STAB on Drain Punch, granting it serious power at +2 Attack. Sucker Punch has good neutral coverage, high Base Power, and priority, making it a great choice against most of the Pokemon looking to revenge kill Toxicroak. Poison Jab allows Toxicroak to hit Fairy-type Pokemon such as Florges and Sylveon effectively, clearing a path for any Dragon-types in your team. Even though Poison Jab is the recommended option, Ice Punch can be used in order to deal serious damage to opposing Dragon-type Pokemon and can hit Hippowdon hard. Ice Punch also allows you to deal neutral damage to Skarmory, but you often lack enough power to really take it out.</p>
<p>Because its ability relies on the rain being active, Politoed is the obvious teammate for Toxicroak, simply due to Drizzle. Magnezone and Dugtrio are also partners whose support Toxicroak appreciates. The first traps and OHKOes Skarmory, which fully counters Toxicroak, making its sweep under rain more easy, whereas Dugtrio traps Tyranitar and Ninetales, both of which are problematic for Toxicroak due to their own weather-altering abilities. Rotom-W and Scizor can also bring the previously mentioned Dugtrio in with Volt Switch and U-turn respectively; Scizor in particular has more power and slightly better coverage, making it very good at cleaning up any holes left by Toxicroak's attacks.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Skarmory is the best counter to Toxicroak as it will resist all of Toxicroak moves (barring Ice Punch) and proceed to OHKO with Brave Bird. Talonflame also OHKOes Toxicroak with priority Brave Bird, which outspeeds Toxicroak's Sucker Punch due to Talonflame's naturally higher Speed. RestTalk Gyarados can soften Toxicroak's blows with Intimidate and use Roar to phaze it out. Physically defensive Hippowdon can withstand anything Toxicroak throws at it and can OHKO back with Earthquake. Garchomp, Choice Band Scizor, and Salamence can all survive a boosted Sucker Punch and OHKO Toxicroak. Fast Substitute users such as Gengar can avoid Sucker Punch and then deal serious damage in safety. Sun-based teams are problematic for Toxicroak, as Dry Skin causes it to lose HP each turn, as well as causing Toxicroak to take more damage from Fire-type moves. Aegislash can set up on Toxicroak very easily, as it can also use King's Shield to negate the effect of Swords Dance.</p>
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