QC - MrAldo / Omicron / Spirit / Arikado
GP - CryoGyro / Kris
[OVERVIEW]
Jellicent sets itself apart from the tier's other bulky Water-types through its stallbreaking potential with Taunt. Jellicent's fantastic defensive typing, Water Absorb ability, and access to Recover further complement its natural bulk. All of these qualities allow Jellicent to check threats such as Mega Glalie, Escavalier, Salazzle, Slowbro, and every variant of Snorlax with ease. While Jellicent's secondary Ghost typing allows it to act as a solid spinblocker to Pokemon such as Donphan and Dhelmise, it causes Jellicent to be vulnerable to moves such as Knock Off and Pursuit, which are commonly found on the Pokemon that it is meant to check such as Heracross, Gligar, and Escavalier. Lastly, Jellicent's low Speed tier usually means that it has to tank at least two hits before being able to use Recover and makes it vulnerable to faster stall staples such as Cresselia, Gligar, and Milotic, which can easily cripple Jellicent with Toxic before they are crippled by Taunt.
[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Scald / Hex
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 176 Def / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Jellicent's go-to move because it functions as a spammable Water-type STAB move that also has a chance to burn its target, which discourages the majority of physical attackers from switching in while also hitting Pokemon such as Snorlax and Salazzle. Hex is an option over Scald that synergizes well with Will-O-Wisp and increases Jellicent's stallbreaking potential. Hex also allows Jellicent to hit common switch-ins to it such as Mantine and Venusaur, but Scald has superior utility overall. Alternatively, Jellicent can afford to run both Scald and Hex and forgo Will-O-Wisp. However, this would mean that Jellicent has to rely on either Scald or another Pokemon for status conditions to power up Hex. Taunt allows Jellicent to cripple Pokemon that rely on their utility moves such as Florges, Umbreon, and Mantine. Will-O-Wisp lets Jellicent cripple physical attackers such as Pangoro and Tyrantrum as well as Pokemon that are reliant on Leftovers or Black Sludge such as Bronzong and Dragalge. Recover is essential because it provides Jellicent with a way for it to top off its health, allowing it to continually check the Pokemon that it needs to check. Toxic is an option over Will-O-Wisp that helps Jellicent deal with the Pokemon that would otherwise wall it such as Goodra and Slowbro and provides an easier matchup against bulkier Pokemon with recovery such as Mantine and Milotic.
Set Details
========
The EV spread alongside a Bold nature helps ensure that Jellicent will be able to check physical attackers such as Heracross, Rhyperior, and Snorlax a lot more effectively. 84 Speed EVs allow Jellicent to outspeed Mantine, letting it use Taunt on Mantine to cripple Mantine before it is able to either badly poison Jellicent or recover. If Mantine isn't an issue, 44 Speed EVs allow Jellicent to outspeed Chesnaught and Umbreon, which enables it to either burn Chesnaught or place Umbreon under Taunt first. Water Absorb provides Jellicent with a third immunity, which allows it to absorb Water-type moves from the tier's Water-types. Leftovers helps to increase Jellicent's longevity through passive recovery. Colbur Berry is an alternative to Leftovers that helps weaken an initial Dark-type move while weakening future Knock Offs.
Usage Tips
========
Take advantage of Jellicent's bulk and typing to switch in on attackers such as Rhyperior, Araquanid, Diancie, and Heracross. Due to Jellicent's naturally high Special Defense, it can also switch in on weak special hits from Pokemon such as Florges, Cresselia, and defensive Dragalge. Due to Jellicent's Water immunity, it can also act as a switch-in to opposing bulky Water-types such as Mantine, Slowbro, and Milotic, but it must be wary of Toxic. While Jellicent has the capabilities to wall said Water-types, it will still have trouble with beating them if it is not running either Hex or Toxic. Due to Jellicent's access to Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, and Hex, it can function as a decent stallbreaker that can cripple slower, defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Umbreon, and Pyukumuku. Jellicent can also threaten the majority of the tier's physical attackers such as Escavalier, Chesnaught, and Mega Glalie with either Will-O-Wisp or Scald. The burn status also helps to cripple Pokemon that are reliant on Leftovers such as Bronzong and Diancie. Keep in mind that Jellicent's low Speed means that it often has to tank at least two hits when switching in. While Jellicent has access to reliable recovery, it is important to keep it away from status conditions so that it can continue to stallbreak and tank hits without having to overly rely on healing. Avoiding Knock Off is also key, since it will do a lot of damage to Jellicent and removes its Leftovers, which reduces its longevity. Also note that Jellicent must be careful around Trick users such as Gardevoir, Espeon, and Rotom-H, which can cripple Jellicent by giving it a Choice item.
Team Options
========
Jellicent functions as a great stallbreaker and spinblocker for defensive and balance teams. Since Jellicent can be crippled by status conditions from faster Pokemon such as Cresselia and Milotic, status absorbers such as Reuniclus, Roserade, and Immunity Gligar can help. Additionally, Heal Bell or Aromatherapy support from Pokemon such as Florges, Diancie, and Umbreon can help remove any status conditions on Jellicent. Entry hazard setters such as Gigalith and Registeel complement Jellicent very well, as Jellicent is able to spinblock Pokemon such as Donphan and will be able to beat Dhelmise one-on-one once Dhelmise gets burned. Jellicent can also deal with Defog users such as Mantine and Gligar very well due to its typing and access to Taunt. Jellicent can also take advantage of Toxic Spikes from Pokemon such as Roserade and Nidoqueen to automatically power up Hex on grounded targets. Since Jellicent will be switching in and out in order to continually tank hits, having entry hazard removers such as Gligar, Donphan, and Cryogonal can prevent Jellicent from taking any unnecessary residual damage. Physical attackers such as Escavalier, Flygon, and Pangoro appreciate having Jellicent absorb any potential incoming Scalds due to its immunity to Water-type attacks. Ground- and Fire-types such as Donphan, Nidoqueen, Moltres, and Rotom-H also appreciate Jellicent's ability to check opposing Water-types like Mantine and Slowbro. Steel-types such as Registeel, Durant, and Bronzong are able to check Grass-types such as Venusaur, Whimsicott, and Roserade. In return, Jellicent is able to check Fighting-types such as Heracross and Machamp, Ground-types such as Rhyperior and Donphan, and Fire-types such as Moltres and Salazzle. Ground-types such as Flygon and Donphan are also able to check troublesome Electric-types such as Rotom-H and Jolteon for Jellicent.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Magic Coat can be used to reflect back entry hazards from faster setters such as Froslass and Necrozma as well as faster Taunts from Pokemon such as Comfey, Whimsicott, and Alolan Persian. Trick Room can be used to support slower wallbreakers such as Tyrantrum and Araquanid while also turning the tides against faster attackers such as Yanmega and Swellow. Due to Jellicent's access to a variety of offensive moves such as Ice Beam, Dazzling Gleam, Energy Ball, Hydro Pump, Shadow Ball, and Trick, it can afford to run Choice Specs, Choice Scarf, or a generic offensive set.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Virizion, Venusaur, and Shaymin pose a threat to Jellicent, since they resist Scald and can retaliate with Grass-type STAB moves. Specially offensive Grass-types such as Venusaur, Shaymin, and Roserade also don't mind being burned, while the latter two also have access to Natural Cure. However, physically offensive Grass-types such as Virizion, Dhelmise, and Chesnaught must be careful of being burned.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Galvantula, Rotom-C, and Jolteon threaten out Jellicent with their Electric-type STAB moves. Heliolisk in particular is immune to Jellicent's STAB combination; therefore, it can only be affected by status conditions or a different coverage option. Rotom-H must be careful around Jellicent due to its weakness to Water-type attacks. Jellicent must also be careful around Pokemon with Electric-type coverage such as Gigavolt Havoc Reuniclus.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Sneasel, Drapion, and Zoroark threaten Jellicent with powerful Dark-type STAB moves, especially Knock Off and Pursuit. However, physical Dark-types such as Sneasel, Honchkrow, and Pangoro must be careful about getting burned and therefore cannot switch in safely. Sableye can annoy Jellicent due to its access to Prankster, Taunt, and status-inducing moves. Jellicent must also be wary of Dark-type coverage on Pokemon such as Escavalier, Durant, and Stoutland.
**Status-resistant Attackers**: Pokemon such as Heracross, Roserade, and Reuniclus don't mind status conditions due to their abilities. Clerics such as Umbreon and Florges can also shrug off status conditions with Heal Bell or Aromatherapy. While it isn't a direct status move, Toxicroak can afford to switch in on Scalds due to Dry Skin but must be careful about Will-O-Wisp.
**Faster Taunt Users**: Faster Pokemon with access to Taunt such as Comfey, Alolan Persian, and fast Taunt Chesnaught are able to prevent Jellicent from spreading status conditions or healing. While Espeon and Xatu do not have access to Taunt, Magic Bounce enables them to reflect Taunt back at Jellicent, thus crippling it. Jellicent must also be careful about Pokemon with access to Encore such as Whimsicott and Salazzle, which can lock Jellicent into a certain move.
**Residual Damage**: Jellicent does not appreciate status conditions from Toxic Spikes or Pokemon such as Sableye and Alolan Persian. Entry hazards also limit how often Jellicent will be able to switch in to tank a hit.
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