QC: Bouff /dodmen / Sam
GP: Rhythms / Queez
[OVERVIEW]
Although Drapion's stats are rather mediocre, its unique typing and decent bulk give it immense value as a check to various threatening Psychic- and Ghost-types in UU. It also has an excellent support movepool consisting of Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and Whirlwind, which makes it a great choice to support your team.
However, it is weak to Ground, a very common attacking type, and its offensive capabilities are average at best. It is also rather outclassed as a Toxic Spikes setter in UU by Tentacruel and Nidoqueen, both of which, unlike Drapion, offer an important Fighting-type resistance and more utility with Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock, respectively.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Toxic Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is a useful, decently powered STAB move that enables Drapion to cripple its common counters. Taunt blocks Defog, recovery moves, and status, and is especially useful against more defensive teams. Toxic Spikes provides entry hazard support, helping with wearing down teams that lack a grounded Poison-type. Whirlwind allows Drapion to phaze setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Psychic-types, Calm Mind Florges, and Curse Snorlax, and accumulates Toxic Spikes damage. It is also useful against Aromatisse, whose ability Aroma Veil makes it immune to Taunt. Poison Jab can be used as an alternative over Whirlwind, providing Drapion with a reliable STAB move to hit Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs maximize Drapion's overall bulk. Maximum Special Defense EVs with a Careful nature are needed to allow Drapion to counter the various Psychic-types in the UU metagame such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, Alakazam, and Slowking. It also allows Drapion to set up Toxic Spikes against weak special attackers. The remaining 8 EVs are placed in Defense to slightly boost Drapion's already impressive physical bulk. Black Sludge increases Drapion's longevity. 44 EVs can be shifted into Speed to outrun maximum Speed Omastar; however, it is almost never found in the UU metagame.
Usage Tips
========
Aim to use Drapion's impressive special bulk to set up Toxic Spikes and counter the various Psychic-types in the UU metagame. It is heavily recommended that you try to eliminate any grounded Poison-types on your opponent's team as soon as possible, as they absorb Toxic Spikes. Once Toxic Spikes is set up, slowly cripple your opponent's team by phazing and using Knock Off to remove items, while Taunting any attempts at recovery and Defogging. Keep in mind, however, that Drapion is still outsped by some Defoggers, such as Crobat.
Team Options
========
The chip damage provided by Toxic Spikes is incredibly helpful for sweepers that have trouble breaking past certain walls. For example, it aids Mega Pidgeot in breaking past Florges, and it aids Feraligatr in breaking past Alomomola. Clerics such as Aromatisse and Florges make for great teammates, as they can pass Wishes to Drapion to keep it healthy while curing troublesome status conditions. Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock to complement Drapion's Toxic Spikes, such as Bronzong and Swampert, also make good partners. Pokemon that can get rid of grounded Poison-types, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Cresselia, and Dugtrio, which deserves special mention for being able to trap them, also partner well with Drapion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can be used to deal heavy damage to fleeing Psychic- and Ghost-types; however, Drapion's other moves are usually better, as they provide more utility. A Swords Dance set is usable with Drapion's decent Attack stat and wide physical movepool; however, Drapion's average Speed and lack of resistances mean that a sweep is hard to accomplish. A Choice Band set faces similar shortcomings due to Drapion's average Speed, and its Attack is really not high enough for it to be an effective wallbreaker in UU.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types such as Nidoqueen, Krookodile, Swampert, and Gligar all handle Drapion very well. However, they are all crippled by Knock Off, barring Mega Swampert; Gligar in particular hates to have its Eviolite removed.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Pokemon that can outspeed Drapion, such as Hydreigon, Entei, and Crobat, can easily switch in and defeat it. However, they dislike having their item removed by Knock Off.
**Status Effects**: A burn halves Drapion's Attack and gradually wears it down, while paralysis slows it down greatly.
**Knock Off Absorbers**: Mega evolved Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Aggron, and Mega Swampert can easily switch in and defeat Drapion. Pokemon resistant to Knock Off can also switch into Drapion relatively easily. Cobalion in particular is immune to Toxic Spikes and gains a free Justified boost from Knock Off.
GP: Rhythms / Queez
[OVERVIEW]
Although Drapion's stats are rather mediocre, its unique typing and decent bulk give it immense value as a check to various threatening Psychic- and Ghost-types in UU. It also has an excellent support movepool consisting of Toxic Spikes, Taunt, and Whirlwind, which makes it a great choice to support your team.
However, it is weak to Ground, a very common attacking type, and its offensive capabilities are average at best. It is also rather outclassed as a Toxic Spikes setter in UU by Tentacruel and Nidoqueen, both of which, unlike Drapion, offer an important Fighting-type resistance and more utility with Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock, respectively.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Toxic Spikes
move 4: Whirlwind / Poison Jab
item: Black Sludge
ability: Battle Armor
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is a useful, decently powered STAB move that enables Drapion to cripple its common counters. Taunt blocks Defog, recovery moves, and status, and is especially useful against more defensive teams. Toxic Spikes provides entry hazard support, helping with wearing down teams that lack a grounded Poison-type. Whirlwind allows Drapion to phaze setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Psychic-types, Calm Mind Florges, and Curse Snorlax, and accumulates Toxic Spikes damage. It is also useful against Aromatisse, whose ability Aroma Veil makes it immune to Taunt. Poison Jab can be used as an alternative over Whirlwind, providing Drapion with a reliable STAB move to hit Fairy-types for super effective damage.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs maximize Drapion's overall bulk. Maximum Special Defense EVs with a Careful nature are needed to allow Drapion to counter the various Psychic-types in the UU metagame such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, Alakazam, and Slowking. It also allows Drapion to set up Toxic Spikes against weak special attackers. The remaining 8 EVs are placed in Defense to slightly boost Drapion's already impressive physical bulk. Black Sludge increases Drapion's longevity. 44 EVs can be shifted into Speed to outrun maximum Speed Omastar; however, it is almost never found in the UU metagame.
Usage Tips
========
Aim to use Drapion's impressive special bulk to set up Toxic Spikes and counter the various Psychic-types in the UU metagame. It is heavily recommended that you try to eliminate any grounded Poison-types on your opponent's team as soon as possible, as they absorb Toxic Spikes. Once Toxic Spikes is set up, slowly cripple your opponent's team by phazing and using Knock Off to remove items, while Taunting any attempts at recovery and Defogging. Keep in mind, however, that Drapion is still outsped by some Defoggers, such as Crobat.
Team Options
========
The chip damage provided by Toxic Spikes is incredibly helpful for sweepers that have trouble breaking past certain walls. For example, it aids Mega Pidgeot in breaking past Florges, and it aids Feraligatr in breaking past Alomomola. Clerics such as Aromatisse and Florges make for great teammates, as they can pass Wishes to Drapion to keep it healthy while curing troublesome status conditions. Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock to complement Drapion's Toxic Spikes, such as Bronzong and Swampert, also make good partners. Pokemon that can get rid of grounded Poison-types, such as Mega Aerodactyl, Cresselia, and Dugtrio, which deserves special mention for being able to trap them, also partner well with Drapion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pursuit can be used to deal heavy damage to fleeing Psychic- and Ghost-types; however, Drapion's other moves are usually better, as they provide more utility. A Swords Dance set is usable with Drapion's decent Attack stat and wide physical movepool; however, Drapion's average Speed and lack of resistances mean that a sweep is hard to accomplish. A Choice Band set faces similar shortcomings due to Drapion's average Speed, and its Attack is really not high enough for it to be an effective wallbreaker in UU.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types such as Nidoqueen, Krookodile, Swampert, and Gligar all handle Drapion very well. However, they are all crippled by Knock Off, barring Mega Swampert; Gligar in particular hates to have its Eviolite removed.
**Faster Offensive Pokemon**: Pokemon that can outspeed Drapion, such as Hydreigon, Entei, and Crobat, can easily switch in and defeat it. However, they dislike having their item removed by Knock Off.
**Status Effects**: A burn halves Drapion's Attack and gradually wears it down, while paralysis slows it down greatly.
**Knock Off Absorbers**: Mega evolved Pokemon such as Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Aggron, and Mega Swampert can easily switch in and defeat Drapion. Pokemon resistant to Knock Off can also switch into Drapion relatively easily. Cobalion in particular is immune to Toxic Spikes and gains a free Justified boost from Knock Off.
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