QC: TONE114 / galbia / Raiza
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Although Lapras faces major competition from a lot of Water-types in the metagame such as Poliwrath and Simipour, its high bulk along with its strong dual STAB moves makes it a decent choice as a bulky attacker. On the downside, Lapras has mediocre Speed and is therefore left vulnerable to strong attackers such as Stoutland and Barbaracle. It struggles against special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig, and it heavily relies on team support. It is also weak to Stealth Rock and has no means of recovery, so it is worn down fairly quickly.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Toxic / Surf
item: Leftovers / Icicle Plate
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 208 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Lapras's strongest Water-type STAB move and allows it to take on Fire-types such as Ninetales, which resist Freeze-Dry and Ice Beam. Ice Beam is Lapras's strongest Ice-type STAB move on this set; it can deal a lot of damage to most of the Pokemon that resist Hydro Pump, though opposing Water-types resist both of the two. Freeze-Dry, although weaker than Ice Beam, deals super effective damage to Water-types. Toxic is helpful to wear down bulkier Pokemon such as Grumpig and Lickilicky, while Surf can be used as a more accurate and reliable alternative to Hydro Pump.
Set Details
========
Because Lapras lacks reliable recovery, Leftovers is used for passive recovery; alternatively, Assault Vest can also be used with Surf over Toxic in order to check Fire-types such as Ninetales better. Maximum Special Attack investment along with a Modest nature allows Lapras to hit as hard as possible, while Icicle Plate can be used instead of Leftovers to boost all of its Ice-type moves. 44 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Roselia, which can deal a lot of damage to Lapras. The remaining EVs are placed into HP while 4 are placed into Defense to give Lapras as much additional bulk as possible and allow it to switch into Stealth Rock four times. Water Absorb is Lapras's most useful ability and allows it to switch into and gain health from Water-type moves from Pokemon such as Pelipper and Basculin.
Usage Tips
========
Because of Lapras's high natural bulk, it can be used to switch into attackers, especially Water-types, such as Floatzel and Pelipper, although it can't switch in multiple times, because of its lack of recovery. If a bulkier Pokemon such as Lickilicky or Grumpig switches in, Lapras can use Toxic in order to wear it down. Because Lapras doesn't appreciate taking multiple hits, it can also be brought in with the help of a slow Volt Switch or U-turn from Pokemon such as Probopass and Pelipper. Lapras should avoid switching into a strong attack if Stealth Rock is up, as it is forced to take a lot of damage and doesn't have reliable recovery to heal itself. If an opponent has a Water-type such as Poliwrath, Lapras can use Freeze-Dry to try hitting it on the switch, even if it's rather risky; otherwise, it should spam Hydro Pump and Ice Beam, as those are its two strongest moves.
Team Options
========
Lapras fits best on balanced teams, as it can deal heavy damage to foes while also being able to take on some attackers. Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon such as Golem, Quilladin, Roselia is helpful to Lapras in order to weaken its foes as well as break opposing Sturdy and Focus Sash; it can also help pick up specific KOs. For example, Poliwrath is OHKOed by Freeze-Dry after taking damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Lapras appreciates entry hazard control from Pokemon such as Armaldo and Vullaby, as they can prevent it from being easily worn down. Clerics such as Lickilicky and Hypno are helpful to Lapras to get rid of inflicted status as well as keeping it at a high amount of health with Wish. Grass-types such as Roselia makes for good partners for Lapras, as they can take super effective Electric- and Grass-type attacks targeted at Lapras; an added Fire-type such as Ninetales can form a Fire / Water / Grass core that takes on one another's weaknesses well. Ground-types such as Golem and Torterra provide an immunity to Electric-type attacks as well as a resistance to Rock-type attacks, both of which Lapras is weak to. Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves, such as Clefairy and Grumpig, are good partners for Lapras, as they can take advantage of Fighting-types such as Poliwrath and Machoke, which Lapras is weak to.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Shard can be used to pick off weakened foes while also OHKOing Jumpluff after damage from Stealth Rock, but it is very weak and is often situational. Dragon Dance can also be used to turn Lapras into a physical sweeper, but its Attack is mediocre and it is easily revenge killed due to its low Speed. Choice Specs can also be used to deal extra damage to foes, but Lapras doesn't appreciate being locked into a single move. Heal Bell is an option that can turn Lapras into an offensive cleric, though it misses out on Toxic or Surf. Block along with Perish Song can be used to trap and take out bulkier foes such as Clefairy and Grumpig, but it is pretty gimmicky and Lapras loses two important attacks. Frost Breath can also be helpful to beat Calm Mind users because it ignores stat boosts thanks to its guaranteed critical hit rate. Lapras can use Protect in order to scout a foe's attack as well as give itself a turn to recover health with Leftovers, but it loses out on Toxic, which is helpful for wearing down foes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Attackers**: Pokemon such as Stoutland and Barbaracle can take advantage of Lapras's low Speed and KO it with Superpower and Stone Edge, respectively; however, most attackers prefer not to switch into Lapras, as they are forced to take a lot of damage.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Machoke and Poliwrath can deal massive damage to Lapras with their super effective STAB moves, being able to KO it; Poliwrath can't safely switch into Lapras, however, as it takes super effective damage from Freeze-Dry.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Grumpig can take multiple hits from Lapras and slowly whittle it down; the former can use Wish along with Knock Off to slowly take it out, while the latter can cripple it with Toxic and deal heavy damage to it with Focus Blast, though neither of them appreciates Toxic from Lapras.
**Electric-types**: Though they are unable to switch into Lapras, Electric-type Pokemon such as Raichu and Zebstrika can deal massive damage to it and KO it with prior damage.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage from entry hazards and status can quickly wear Lapras down, as it has no reliable means of recovery and is weak to Stealth Rock.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Although Lapras faces major competition from a lot of Water-types in the metagame such as Poliwrath and Simipour, its high bulk along with its strong dual STAB moves makes it a decent choice as a bulky attacker. On the downside, Lapras has mediocre Speed and is therefore left vulnerable to strong attackers such as Stoutland and Barbaracle. It struggles against special walls such as Lickilicky and Grumpig, and it heavily relies on team support. It is also weak to Stealth Rock and has no means of recovery, so it is worn down fairly quickly.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Freeze-Dry
move 4: Toxic / Surf
item: Leftovers / Icicle Plate
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 208 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 44 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Lapras's strongest Water-type STAB move and allows it to take on Fire-types such as Ninetales, which resist Freeze-Dry and Ice Beam. Ice Beam is Lapras's strongest Ice-type STAB move on this set; it can deal a lot of damage to most of the Pokemon that resist Hydro Pump, though opposing Water-types resist both of the two. Freeze-Dry, although weaker than Ice Beam, deals super effective damage to Water-types. Toxic is helpful to wear down bulkier Pokemon such as Grumpig and Lickilicky, while Surf can be used as a more accurate and reliable alternative to Hydro Pump.
Set Details
========
Because Lapras lacks reliable recovery, Leftovers is used for passive recovery; alternatively, Assault Vest can also be used with Surf over Toxic in order to check Fire-types such as Ninetales better. Maximum Special Attack investment along with a Modest nature allows Lapras to hit as hard as possible, while Icicle Plate can be used instead of Leftovers to boost all of its Ice-type moves. 44 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Roselia, which can deal a lot of damage to Lapras. The remaining EVs are placed into HP while 4 are placed into Defense to give Lapras as much additional bulk as possible and allow it to switch into Stealth Rock four times. Water Absorb is Lapras's most useful ability and allows it to switch into and gain health from Water-type moves from Pokemon such as Pelipper and Basculin.
Usage Tips
========
Because of Lapras's high natural bulk, it can be used to switch into attackers, especially Water-types, such as Floatzel and Pelipper, although it can't switch in multiple times, because of its lack of recovery. If a bulkier Pokemon such as Lickilicky or Grumpig switches in, Lapras can use Toxic in order to wear it down. Because Lapras doesn't appreciate taking multiple hits, it can also be brought in with the help of a slow Volt Switch or U-turn from Pokemon such as Probopass and Pelipper. Lapras should avoid switching into a strong attack if Stealth Rock is up, as it is forced to take a lot of damage and doesn't have reliable recovery to heal itself. If an opponent has a Water-type such as Poliwrath, Lapras can use Freeze-Dry to try hitting it on the switch, even if it's rather risky; otherwise, it should spam Hydro Pump and Ice Beam, as those are its two strongest moves.
Team Options
========
Lapras fits best on balanced teams, as it can deal heavy damage to foes while also being able to take on some attackers. Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon such as Golem, Quilladin, Roselia is helpful to Lapras in order to weaken its foes as well as break opposing Sturdy and Focus Sash; it can also help pick up specific KOs. For example, Poliwrath is OHKOed by Freeze-Dry after taking damage from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Lapras appreciates entry hazard control from Pokemon such as Armaldo and Vullaby, as they can prevent it from being easily worn down. Clerics such as Lickilicky and Hypno are helpful to Lapras to get rid of inflicted status as well as keeping it at a high amount of health with Wish. Grass-types such as Roselia makes for good partners for Lapras, as they can take super effective Electric- and Grass-type attacks targeted at Lapras; an added Fire-type such as Ninetales can form a Fire / Water / Grass core that takes on one another's weaknesses well. Ground-types such as Golem and Torterra provide an immunity to Electric-type attacks as well as a resistance to Rock-type attacks, both of which Lapras is weak to. Pokemon that resist Fighting-type moves, such as Clefairy and Grumpig, are good partners for Lapras, as they can take advantage of Fighting-types such as Poliwrath and Machoke, which Lapras is weak to.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Shard can be used to pick off weakened foes while also OHKOing Jumpluff after damage from Stealth Rock, but it is very weak and is often situational. Dragon Dance can also be used to turn Lapras into a physical sweeper, but its Attack is mediocre and it is easily revenge killed due to its low Speed. Choice Specs can also be used to deal extra damage to foes, but Lapras doesn't appreciate being locked into a single move. Heal Bell is an option that can turn Lapras into an offensive cleric, though it misses out on Toxic or Surf. Block along with Perish Song can be used to trap and take out bulkier foes such as Clefairy and Grumpig, but it is pretty gimmicky and Lapras loses two important attacks. Frost Breath can also be helpful to beat Calm Mind users because it ignores stat boosts thanks to its guaranteed critical hit rate. Lapras can use Protect in order to scout a foe's attack as well as give itself a turn to recover health with Leftovers, but it loses out on Toxic, which is helpful for wearing down foes.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Attackers**: Pokemon such as Stoutland and Barbaracle can take advantage of Lapras's low Speed and KO it with Superpower and Stone Edge, respectively; however, most attackers prefer not to switch into Lapras, as they are forced to take a lot of damage.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Machoke and Poliwrath can deal massive damage to Lapras with their super effective STAB moves, being able to KO it; Poliwrath can't safely switch into Lapras, however, as it takes super effective damage from Freeze-Dry.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Lickilicky and Grumpig can take multiple hits from Lapras and slowly whittle it down; the former can use Wish along with Knock Off to slowly take it out, while the latter can cripple it with Toxic and deal heavy damage to it with Focus Blast, though neither of them appreciates Toxic from Lapras.
**Electric-types**: Though they are unable to switch into Lapras, Electric-type Pokemon such as Raichu and Zebstrika can deal massive damage to it and KO it with prior damage.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage from entry hazards and status can quickly wear Lapras down, as it has no reliable means of recovery and is weak to Stealth Rock.
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