[OVERVIEW]
Kabutops has an excellent offensive STAB combination, allowing it to hit most of the tier for neutral damage. It is also one of the only two relevant Aqua Jet users in the tier, which allows it to revenge kill fast Pokemon such as Archeops and Pyroar, which may otherwise threaten Kabutops with their coverage moves. While Kabutops's typing is really good offensively, it's below average defensively, leaving Kabutops weak to common types such as Grass, Ground, and Fighting. It also isn't that bulky, which makes it somewhat difficult to set up or spin and limits the usefulness of its resistances to Normal and Flying.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Swords Dance / Rapid Spin
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Aqua Jet
move 4: Waterfall / Rapid Spin
item: Life Orb / Lum Berry
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Swords Dance boosts Kabutops's Attack to high levels. Stone Edge provides good neutral coverage, hitting common Pokemon such as Magmortar and Xatu hard. Aqua Jet gives Kabutops priority to pick off faster Pokemon such as Archeops, Pyroar, and +2 Rhydon. Waterfall gives Kabutops a secondary, more reliable Water-type STAB move that helps break bulky teams and hits Ground- and Fighting-types such as Claydol, Piloswine, Hariyama, and Gurdurr harder than any other move Kabutops has. Rapid Spin can be used instead to remove entry hazards. Superpower can be used in the foruth moveslot instead to hit Ferroseed, Cradily, and Poliwrath, as these Pokemon tank Kabutops's STAB moves with ease.
Set Details
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Swift Swim allows Kabutops to function on or against rain teams. Weak Armor can be used instead for a Speed boost to have an easier time sweeping, but it makes it more difficult to set up after repeated physical hits. Life Orb gives Kabutops extra power, while Lum Berry provides Kabutops with protection against status from defensive Pokemon. A Jolly nature allows Kabutops to get the jump on neutral-natured base 85 Speed Pokemon and below, such as Sawk and Shiftry, while an Adamant nature gives Kabutops more power, and Kabutops can circumvent not outspeeding those threats with a more powerful Aqua Jet.
Usage Tips
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Set up mid-game to break balanced teams or late-game to clean offensive teams. Try to spin on Pokemon that Kabutops can force out, because it isn't bulky enough to survive much. Save Kabutops for its priority when necessary; otherwise, you can play more recklessly with it. Kabutops can come in on Fire-types such as Pyroar and Magmortar easily and force them out with its STAB moves. Faster Pokemon that are weak to Kabutops's Aqua Jet such as Archeops or frail threats, such as Liepard and Swellow, can be forced out as well.
Team Options
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Healing Wish support from Mesprit or Lilligant allows Kabutops to essentially set up twice in one game, as it can break teams down early-game and sweep late-game. It also allows Kabutops to play more recklessly throughout the match. Pokemon weak to entry hazards, such as Scyther and Pyroar, appreciate the Rapid Spin support Kabutops can provide. Strong special attackers such as Magmortar, Pyroar, and even Skuntank can pressure physical walls, such as Ferroseed and Quagsire, allowing Kabutops to set up and sweep. Toxic Spikes support from Garbodor or Weezing is amazing as well because most of Kabutops's best checks, such as Quagsire and Poliwrath, are crippled by the entry hazard.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Knock Off allows Kabutops to hit Gourgeist-S as well as remove items from walls that commonly switch into it, such as Quagsire and Ferroseed. Giga Drain, while coming off of Kabutops's weaker attacking stat, can help it lure in and defeat Quagsire, paving a way for Kabutops to beat the opponent. Stealth Rock can take advantage of Kabutops's ability to force switches; however, Kabutops is better off launching an attack or setting up. Assault Vest can patch up Kabutops's weaker defensive stat, but the increase in bulk doesn't make up for the lack of power.
Checks and Counters
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**Bulky Grass-types**: Ferroseed, Gourgeist-S, Tangela, physically defensive Cradily, and Torterra can wear Kabutops down with Life Orb recoil and Iron Barbs in Ferroseed's case, and with reliable recovery in the last two's case. They also have 4x super effective STAB moves to make sure Kabutops goes down.
**Quagsire**: Quagsire ignores any boosts Kabutops acquires due to Unaware. It also resists Stone Edge while taking little damage from Waterfall, as well as access to reliable recovery.
**Fast Pokemon That Resist Water**: Jynx and Lilligant either are immune to or can tank Kabutops's Aqua Jet, and they can hit back with a super effective Focus Blast in Jynx's case and STAB Giga Drain in Lilligant's case. However, neither of them can switch into Stone Edge.
**Bulky Fighting-types**: Gurdurr and Poliwrath resist Stone Edge and can use their super effective STAB moves to punish Kabutops. Gurdurr can also set up Bulk Up and has access to priority in Mach Punch, while Poliwrath's Water Absorb makes it immune to Kabutops's Water-type moves.
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