QC: Anty, Tone114, Raiza
GP: Snobalt, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Huntail is a solid setup sweeper thanks to its access to both Shell Smash and Sucker Punch, its barely passable bulk that allows it to set up somewhat reliably, and its low number of true counters once it has set up. However, it faces major competition from the large number of Water-types in PU, with Gorebyss's greater effectiveness versus bulky Pokemon, Relicanth's extra Rock typing, Kingler's far superior unboosted Attack, and Simipour's much better Speed. It can also be checked by a number of Choice Scarf users that outspeed it at +2 and can survive a boosted Sucker Punch, as well as Taunt users and strong attackers before setting up.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Ice Beam / Double Edge
item: White Herb / Wacan Berry
ability: Water Veil / Swift Swim
nature: Naughty / Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash sharply boosts all of Huntail's offensive stats, allowing it to sweep weakened or offensive teams with ease. Waterfall is Huntail's strongest STAB move, while Sucker Punch allows Huntail to KO faster Choice Scarf users and beat out opposing priority users. Ice Beam helps Huntail break through Vullaby and physically bulky Grass-types such as Tangela. Double-Edge is an alternate option that allows Huntail to OHKO Roselia and Politoed after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment alongside an Attack-boosting nature makes Huntail as strong and fast as possible after a boost to easily sweep teams. A Naughty nature is used with Ice Beam to avoid lowering its power, but if running Double-Edge, an Adamant nature will suffice. Water Veil prevents Huntail from being burned and can be used alongside Ice Beam, but it is incompatible with Double-Edge, forcing Huntail to use Swift Swim if running the move. White Herb prevents Huntail's defenses from dropping after using Shell Smash, allowing it to set up on weakened attackers more easily, although Wacan Berry can be run to be able to use Shell Smash versus the common Electric-types in the tier such as Zebstrika and Rotom-F.
Usage Tips
========
Huntail is best used as a late-game cleaner once its checks and counters have been weakened or removed, and it should only be setting up on defensive or somewhat weak Pokemon lacking a super effective attack, such as Pelipper and Metang, as strong attackers such as Stoutland can simply KO it due to its mediocre bulk. The exception is that Huntail is capable of setting up Shell Smash versus opposing Electric-types if holding a Wacan Berry. Avoid trying to set up on faster Pokemon with Taunt such as Misdreavus, as well as Will-O-Wisp users such as Rapidash if not running Water Veil.
Team Options
========
Memento users such as Jumpluff and Misdreavus, as well as dual screens setters such as Meowstic-M, give Huntail extra setup opportunities versus stronger foes. Pursuit trappers such as Metang can forcibly break Kadabra's Focus Sash, allowing Huntail to KO it once it sets up. If running Double-Edge, Pokemon capable of luring Vullaby and physically bulky Grass-types, such as Taunt + Toxic Grumpig, can help facilitate a sweep. Similarly, if running Ice Beam, Politoed lures such as Choice Band Floatzel with Return will allow Huntail to sweep with its counter removed. Physical wallbreakers such as Dodrio and VoltTurn cores with Pokemon such as Raichu and Ninjask can also help wear down bulky Pokemon for Huntail. Entry hazard setters such as Golem and Roselia are also valued for the chip damage provided from Toxic Spikes, Spikes, or Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Huntail can run a Coil + Baton Pass set, but it is outclassed by Floatzel, which sports higher Speed. Return can be run over Double-Edge to avoid recoil damage, but it fails to OHKO Politoed and defensive Roselia, making it less reliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Kadabra**: Focus Sash Kadabra can take any hit from Huntail and either cripple it with Thunder Wave or KO it, depending on how healthy Huntail is. However, if Kadabra is holding a Life Orb or its Focus Sash is broken, it is no longer a threat.
**Grass-types**: If running Double-Edge, Huntail cannot deal any significant amount of damage to physically bulky Grass-types such as Gourgeist-XL, Quilladin, and Tangela, even at +2, and can be KOed back by their super effective STAB moves. Choice Scarf Sawsbuck can also outspeed Huntail and survive a +2 Sucker Punch at full health.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Due to Huntail's somewhat low Attack, there are several physically bulky Pokemon in the tier such as Machoke, Vullaby, Avalugg, and Metang that are capable of taking a +2 hit and either KOing Huntail or afflicting it with a status condition as long as they are close to full health. If running a physically defensive EV spread, Misdreavus, Pelipper, Relicanth, and Clefairy can all serve as checks. Politoed can also easily wall non-Double-Edge variants.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Electrode and Zebstrika can KO Huntail before it has set up as long as Huntail is not holding Wacan Berry. Stunfisk can take a single hit from +2 Huntail if running Passho Berry, and Choice Scarf Rotom-F can outspeed Huntail and force it into a 50/50 situation with Trick and Thunderbolt. In addition, Rotom-F is capable of surviving a +2 Sucker Punch at full health, and can check Huntail if Stealth Rock are not on the field.
GP: Snobalt, The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
Huntail is a solid setup sweeper thanks to its access to both Shell Smash and Sucker Punch, its barely passable bulk that allows it to set up somewhat reliably, and its low number of true counters once it has set up. However, it faces major competition from the large number of Water-types in PU, with Gorebyss's greater effectiveness versus bulky Pokemon, Relicanth's extra Rock typing, Kingler's far superior unboosted Attack, and Simipour's much better Speed. It can also be checked by a number of Choice Scarf users that outspeed it at +2 and can survive a boosted Sucker Punch, as well as Taunt users and strong attackers before setting up.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Ice Beam / Double Edge
item: White Herb / Wacan Berry
ability: Water Veil / Swift Swim
nature: Naughty / Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shell Smash sharply boosts all of Huntail's offensive stats, allowing it to sweep weakened or offensive teams with ease. Waterfall is Huntail's strongest STAB move, while Sucker Punch allows Huntail to KO faster Choice Scarf users and beat out opposing priority users. Ice Beam helps Huntail break through Vullaby and physically bulky Grass-types such as Tangela. Double-Edge is an alternate option that allows Huntail to OHKO Roselia and Politoed after Stealth Rock.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed investment alongside an Attack-boosting nature makes Huntail as strong and fast as possible after a boost to easily sweep teams. A Naughty nature is used with Ice Beam to avoid lowering its power, but if running Double-Edge, an Adamant nature will suffice. Water Veil prevents Huntail from being burned and can be used alongside Ice Beam, but it is incompatible with Double-Edge, forcing Huntail to use Swift Swim if running the move. White Herb prevents Huntail's defenses from dropping after using Shell Smash, allowing it to set up on weakened attackers more easily, although Wacan Berry can be run to be able to use Shell Smash versus the common Electric-types in the tier such as Zebstrika and Rotom-F.
Usage Tips
========
Huntail is best used as a late-game cleaner once its checks and counters have been weakened or removed, and it should only be setting up on defensive or somewhat weak Pokemon lacking a super effective attack, such as Pelipper and Metang, as strong attackers such as Stoutland can simply KO it due to its mediocre bulk. The exception is that Huntail is capable of setting up Shell Smash versus opposing Electric-types if holding a Wacan Berry. Avoid trying to set up on faster Pokemon with Taunt such as Misdreavus, as well as Will-O-Wisp users such as Rapidash if not running Water Veil.
Team Options
========
Memento users such as Jumpluff and Misdreavus, as well as dual screens setters such as Meowstic-M, give Huntail extra setup opportunities versus stronger foes. Pursuit trappers such as Metang can forcibly break Kadabra's Focus Sash, allowing Huntail to KO it once it sets up. If running Double-Edge, Pokemon capable of luring Vullaby and physically bulky Grass-types, such as Taunt + Toxic Grumpig, can help facilitate a sweep. Similarly, if running Ice Beam, Politoed lures such as Choice Band Floatzel with Return will allow Huntail to sweep with its counter removed. Physical wallbreakers such as Dodrio and VoltTurn cores with Pokemon such as Raichu and Ninjask can also help wear down bulky Pokemon for Huntail. Entry hazard setters such as Golem and Roselia are also valued for the chip damage provided from Toxic Spikes, Spikes, or Stealth Rock.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Huntail can run a Coil + Baton Pass set, but it is outclassed by Floatzel, which sports higher Speed. Return can be run over Double-Edge to avoid recoil damage, but it fails to OHKO Politoed and defensive Roselia, making it less reliable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Kadabra**: Focus Sash Kadabra can take any hit from Huntail and either cripple it with Thunder Wave or KO it, depending on how healthy Huntail is. However, if Kadabra is holding a Life Orb or its Focus Sash is broken, it is no longer a threat.
**Grass-types**: If running Double-Edge, Huntail cannot deal any significant amount of damage to physically bulky Grass-types such as Gourgeist-XL, Quilladin, and Tangela, even at +2, and can be KOed back by their super effective STAB moves. Choice Scarf Sawsbuck can also outspeed Huntail and survive a +2 Sucker Punch at full health.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Due to Huntail's somewhat low Attack, there are several physically bulky Pokemon in the tier such as Machoke, Vullaby, Avalugg, and Metang that are capable of taking a +2 hit and either KOing Huntail or afflicting it with a status condition as long as they are close to full health. If running a physically defensive EV spread, Misdreavus, Pelipper, Relicanth, and Clefairy can all serve as checks. Politoed can also easily wall non-Double-Edge variants.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Electrode and Zebstrika can KO Huntail before it has set up as long as Huntail is not holding Wacan Berry. Stunfisk can take a single hit from +2 Huntail if running Passho Berry, and Choice Scarf Rotom-F can outspeed Huntail and force it into a 50/50 situation with Trick and Thunderbolt. In addition, Rotom-F is capable of surviving a +2 Sucker Punch at full health, and can check Huntail if Stealth Rock are not on the field.
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