[OVERVIEW]
Klinklang is NU's premier late-game sweeper thanks to an excellent setup move in Shift Gear, which boosts its Speed by two stages and Attack by one stage. Solid natural bulk with a great defensive typing that gives it many resistances lets it set up on a good majority of the metagame, most notably Calm Mind Psychic-types. While its Speed isn't the greatest before it sets up, after a Shift Gear, it outspeeds almost every Pokemon, even the ones with Speed-boosting items. However, Klinklang has a poor early- to mid-game presence due to its Attack being very lacking before a boost. Very limited coverage does not help Klinklang's case either, as it is easily walled by any bulky Pokemon that resists Gear Grind. Its typing also leaves it susceptible to three very common attacking types in Fighting, Fire, and Ground, causing it to struggle to find an opportunity to set up.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Gear Grind
move 3: Return
move 4: Substitute
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Adamant
evs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Shift Gear boosts Klinklang's Speed by two stages and its Attack by one stage, letting Klinklang outspeed a good majority of Pokemon when boosted, making it essential for sweeping. Gear Grind is Klinklang's most powerful STAB attack and hits the foe twice, breaking past Substitute and Focus Sash and most notably breaking Sawk's Sturdy before it revenge kills Klinklang with Close Combat. Return has decent neutral coverage and hits Pokemon that resist Gear Grind such as Lanturn, Pyroar, Samurott, and Ludicolo. Substitute is very important for Klinklang avoid any crippling status ailments such as burn and paralysis, both of which stop its sweep.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack EVs plus an Adamant nature allow Klinklang to hit as hard as possible, while 96 Speed EVs allows Klinklang to outspeed Choice Scarf Haunter and Jynx after a boost, as well as outspeed neutral base 70 Speed Pokemon before a boost. The rest of the EVs go into HP to increase its overall bulk, making it easier to set up. Klinklang can customize its EV spread to outspeed even more Pokemon before a boost; 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe allows it to outspeed neutral-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon, while 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe lets it outspeed Adamant Sawk. Clear Body prevents Klinklang's Attack from being lowered by Intimidate, as well as preventing the Speed drop from Sticky Web. Leftovers is chosen for passive recovery, allowing Klinklang to set up more Substitutes if needed.
Usage Tips
========
Generally, it's best to save Klinklang for mid- to late-game when its checks and counters have been sufficiently weakened. Bring in Klinklang against a Pokemon that cannot deal much damage in return, such as Scyther, Uxie, or non-Heat Wave Xatu. Use Substitute against any predicted status move, against a Pokemon that cannot do much in return, or on forced switches. Substitute is sometimes a good move to use to scout for status, Leech Seed, and any super effective coverage move that the foe may have. Once the opposing team is significantly weakened, use Shift Gear to boosts Klinklang's damage output, and choose the appropriate move to hit the foe with from there.
Team Options
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Grass-types such as Lilligant, Cacturne, and Vileplume all make for great teammates, as they threaten Pokemon that check Klinklang, such as Quagsire, Lanturn, Poliwrath and Stunfisk. Cacturne also provides Spikes support for Klinklang, making it easier to sweep teams. Mesprit, Uxie, Xatu, and Musharna are also great teammates thanks to their ability to threaten Gurdurr, Sawk, Weezing, and Garbodor. Mesprit and Uxie most notably have access to Stealth Rock to support Klinklang as well as U-turn to potentially bring it in safely, while the former has Healing Wish to bring Klinklang back to full HP and rid it of any status conditions. Hex Rotom is an interesting partner, as it lures in Stunfisk and Lanturn, weakening them significantly for Klinklang. Scyther is able to switch in and threaten Fighting-types, as well as lure in Pokemon that Klinklang can use as setup bait, such as Mawile and Ferroseed. Scyther also has good synergy with Klinklang because of its immunity to Ground and resistance to Fighting and Klinklang's ability to cover Scyther's Ice-, Rock-, and Flying-type weaknesses. Powerful wallbreakers such as Archeops, Choice Band Sawk, and Life Orb Magmortar can weaken teams significantly, paving the way for Klinklang to clean late-game. Garbodor is a great partner, as it switches into Fighting-types relatively well and supports Klinklang with Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Toxic Spikes in particular pairs very well with Klinklang because it primarily wears down Quagsire.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A more offensive Shift Gear set consisting of Gear Grind / Return / Hidden Power Grass with a Life Orb is another option, as it lures in most answers to Klinklang, but this comes at the cost of sacrificing most of its defensive qualities, making it inferior. Wild Charge is another option for coverage move to hit Poliwrath, Pelipper, Mantine, and Prinplup, but this leaves Klinklang walled by Electric-types if used over Return. Magnetic Flux in conjuction with either Plus or Minus is another option to boost Klinklang's defenses, but doing so forces Klinklang to sacrifice Substitute, making Klinklang vulnerable to status ailments. Toxic allows Klinklang to lure in and cripple Quagsire and Barrier Musharna, which otherwise hard counter it. Volt Switch is an interesting option on Klinklang, as it enables Klinklang to pivot out of unfavorable situations, letting it retain offensive momentum.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Quagsire**: Quagsire is the best answer to Klinklang, as it resists Gear Grind, takes pitiful damage from Return, has Recover to heal any damage received, and ignores stat boosts thanks to Unaware. To retaliate, Quagsire hits Klinklang with Earthquake and can burn it with Scald.
**Fighting-types**: Gurdurr can easily take a +1 Gear Grind and hits Klinklang with Drain Punch, healing lost HP in the process, and can pick off a weakened Klinklang not behind a Substitute with Mach Punch. Sawk can also check Klinklang and OHKO it with Close Combat before it uses Shift Gear, but it loses if Klinklang has already boosted due to Gear Grind hitting twice and thus ignoring Sturdy.
**Bulky Pokemon that Resist Steel**: Lanturn, Stunfisk, and Poliwrath all check Klinklang well thanks to their resistance to Gear Grind and good natural bulk, allowing them to take a boosted Return. Lanturn can burn Klinklang with Scald and cripple it with Thunder Wave, while Stunfisk hits Klinklang with Earth Power and can paralyze it behind a Substitute with Static. Poliwrath can burn Klinklang with Scald as well and phaze it with Circle Throw, and more offensive variants are able to pick off a weakened Klinklang with Vacuum Wave.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Garbodor and Weezing both are able to take hits from Klinklang well and break through its Substitute with Drain Punch and Flamethrower, respectively. Weezing is also able to burn Klinklang with Will-O-Wisp, crippling it for the rest of the match. Physically defensive Carracosta is able to take a +1 Gear Grind and retaliate with Scald, possibly burning Klinklang in the process provided that it is not behind a Substitute. Gourgeist-S is another good switch-in, as it takes Gear Grind very well and naturally outspeeds Klinklang before it uses Shift Gear, enabling it to cripple it with Will-O-Wisp before it sets up a Substitute. It also has Foul Play, which punishes any boosts Klinklang has attained and breaks its Substitute.
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