QC: Anty, Dundies, Tone114
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack, Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Lapras has excellent attacking power and coverage with just its STAB attacks, giving it a niche over other offensive Water-types like Simipour thanks to its ability to beat traditional Water-type checks such as Politoed and Roselia with Freeze-Dry. Furthermore, Water Absorb allows it to pivot into opposing Water-types such as Floatzel, making it a wallbreaker with some additional role compression options to support its team. However, Lapras's weakness to Stealth Rock and common Grass-, Fighting-, and Electric-type attacks makes it somewhat reliant on team support, and its mediocre Speed tier only makes it easier to revenge kill.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Freeze-Dry
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Surf
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Freeze-Dry and Ice Beam complement each other, the former hitting opposing Water-types such as Lumineon and the latter providing a stronger alternative to it. Hydro Pump is Lapras's strongest attack to put pressure on bulky foes such as Audino, while Surf is a slightly weaker but more accurate alternative to be used when the extra power is not needed.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs, a Modest nature, and Choice Specs contribute to Lapras hitting as hard as possible, decimating all but the bulkiest Pokemon. 136 Speed EVs allow Lapras to outspeed fully invested Adamant Golem, while the rest is put into HP to increase its general bulk. Water Absorb helps Lapras to check opposing Water-types.
Usage Tips
========
Lapras can be brought in on many slower Pokemon such as Stunfisk, Probopass, Roselia, and Vullaby when predicting them to use a support move. Although this can be risky if they go for a super effective attack, Lapras needs to be brought in as frequently as possible to wallbreak effectively, and it has very few foes that it can safely switch into due to its mediocre two resistances. Once Lapras has been brought in safely, it should aim to use the best attack for breaking down opposing teams. Hydro Pump is good for chipping away at specially bulky foes such as Audino and Assault Vest Bouffalant, while Freeze Dry is good for hitting bulky Pokemon that resist Water. In most other situations, Ice Beam and Surf are the safest neutral coverage attacks. Although Lapras is a decent check to opposing Water-types, beware of Superpower Simipour and Focus Blast Floatzel or Politoed.
Team Options
========
Electric-immune Pokemon such as Stunfisk and Camerupt can help prevent foes such as Zebstrika from using Volt Switch on Lapras to gain momentum. Fighting-type checks such as Grumpig and Clefairy help take on Monferno and Machoke, and both can slow down faster foes with Thunder Wave for Lapras. Grass-type checks such as Roselia and Bouffalant are also key for covering foes such as Leafeon. Teammates to help break down specially bulky foes such as Machoke and Stoutland can help Lapras put pressure on opposing walls. Lapras also pairs well with other Water-types such as Floatzel to put pressure on most Water-type checks such as Lumineon with Freeze-Dry. Setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Simisear and Rock Polish Regice can use Lapras's special wallbreaking capabilities to more easily sweep late-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunderbolt hits opposing Lapras and Articuno, but it is a generally poor move to be locked into otherwise. Substitute + Toxic sets can beat Audino more reliably and help to ease prediction but significantly drops Lapras's power and sacrifices its more reliable attacking options in Surf and Ice Beam. Lapras can run Life Orb, Icicle Plate, or Splash Plate to boost its power without being locked into a single move, but it is left a fair amount weaker than Choice Specs sets, and Life Orb wears down Lapras quickly. Physical sets with Dragon Dance can be used but are fairly weak and outclassed by other Water-types such as Floatzel. Defensive sets also seem passable at a first glance but are fairly outclassed due to Lapras's lack of recovery. Ice Shard can be used as a filler move to get some extra chip damage on faster foes, but it isn't particularly strong and so only helps against Ice-weak foes such as Jumpluff.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Type Advantage**: Due to Lapras's large number of weaknesses, it can easily be checked by many foes carrying super effective STAB attacks such as Rotom-F, Golem, Leafeon, and Monferno. However, most of these foes cannot safely switch into Lapras unless predicting it to Choice-lock itself into the incorrect attack.
**Specially bulky Pokemon**: Lapras can be switched into by extremely bulky Pokemon such as Audino, Clefairy, and Assault Vest Bouffalant. However, the first two can be broken through by Hydro Pump after some chip damage, and Assault Vest Bouffalant can be worn down thanks to its lack of recovery. Certain other foes such as Grumpig and Machoke can check Lapras but do not have the bulk to adequately deal with it over longer games.
**Faster Pokemon**: Although most faster Pokemon cannot switch into Lapras, it can be revenge killed by strong, faster foes such as Stoutland, Choice Specs Chatot, and Simisear.
**Entry Hazards**: Lapras's lack of recovery leaves it easily worn down by Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. While Sticky Web is less problematic, it can still leave Lapras more easily revenge killed by normally slower foes such as Golem.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack, Haund
[OVERVIEW]
Lapras has excellent attacking power and coverage with just its STAB attacks, giving it a niche over other offensive Water-types like Simipour thanks to its ability to beat traditional Water-type checks such as Politoed and Roselia with Freeze-Dry. Furthermore, Water Absorb allows it to pivot into opposing Water-types such as Floatzel, making it a wallbreaker with some additional role compression options to support its team. However, Lapras's weakness to Stealth Rock and common Grass-, Fighting-, and Electric-type attacks makes it somewhat reliant on team support, and its mediocre Speed tier only makes it easier to revenge kill.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Freeze-Dry
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hydro Pump
move 4: Surf
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Freeze-Dry and Ice Beam complement each other, the former hitting opposing Water-types such as Lumineon and the latter providing a stronger alternative to it. Hydro Pump is Lapras's strongest attack to put pressure on bulky foes such as Audino, while Surf is a slightly weaker but more accurate alternative to be used when the extra power is not needed.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs, a Modest nature, and Choice Specs contribute to Lapras hitting as hard as possible, decimating all but the bulkiest Pokemon. 136 Speed EVs allow Lapras to outspeed fully invested Adamant Golem, while the rest is put into HP to increase its general bulk. Water Absorb helps Lapras to check opposing Water-types.
Usage Tips
========
Lapras can be brought in on many slower Pokemon such as Stunfisk, Probopass, Roselia, and Vullaby when predicting them to use a support move. Although this can be risky if they go for a super effective attack, Lapras needs to be brought in as frequently as possible to wallbreak effectively, and it has very few foes that it can safely switch into due to its mediocre two resistances. Once Lapras has been brought in safely, it should aim to use the best attack for breaking down opposing teams. Hydro Pump is good for chipping away at specially bulky foes such as Audino and Assault Vest Bouffalant, while Freeze Dry is good for hitting bulky Pokemon that resist Water. In most other situations, Ice Beam and Surf are the safest neutral coverage attacks. Although Lapras is a decent check to opposing Water-types, beware of Superpower Simipour and Focus Blast Floatzel or Politoed.
Team Options
========
Electric-immune Pokemon such as Stunfisk and Camerupt can help prevent foes such as Zebstrika from using Volt Switch on Lapras to gain momentum. Fighting-type checks such as Grumpig and Clefairy help take on Monferno and Machoke, and both can slow down faster foes with Thunder Wave for Lapras. Grass-type checks such as Roselia and Bouffalant are also key for covering foes such as Leafeon. Teammates to help break down specially bulky foes such as Machoke and Stoutland can help Lapras put pressure on opposing walls. Lapras also pairs well with other Water-types such as Floatzel to put pressure on most Water-type checks such as Lumineon with Freeze-Dry. Setup sweepers like Nasty Plot Simisear and Rock Polish Regice can use Lapras's special wallbreaking capabilities to more easily sweep late-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunderbolt hits opposing Lapras and Articuno, but it is a generally poor move to be locked into otherwise. Substitute + Toxic sets can beat Audino more reliably and help to ease prediction but significantly drops Lapras's power and sacrifices its more reliable attacking options in Surf and Ice Beam. Lapras can run Life Orb, Icicle Plate, or Splash Plate to boost its power without being locked into a single move, but it is left a fair amount weaker than Choice Specs sets, and Life Orb wears down Lapras quickly. Physical sets with Dragon Dance can be used but are fairly weak and outclassed by other Water-types such as Floatzel. Defensive sets also seem passable at a first glance but are fairly outclassed due to Lapras's lack of recovery. Ice Shard can be used as a filler move to get some extra chip damage on faster foes, but it isn't particularly strong and so only helps against Ice-weak foes such as Jumpluff.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Type Advantage**: Due to Lapras's large number of weaknesses, it can easily be checked by many foes carrying super effective STAB attacks such as Rotom-F, Golem, Leafeon, and Monferno. However, most of these foes cannot safely switch into Lapras unless predicting it to Choice-lock itself into the incorrect attack.
**Specially bulky Pokemon**: Lapras can be switched into by extremely bulky Pokemon such as Audino, Clefairy, and Assault Vest Bouffalant. However, the first two can be broken through by Hydro Pump after some chip damage, and Assault Vest Bouffalant can be worn down thanks to its lack of recovery. Certain other foes such as Grumpig and Machoke can check Lapras but do not have the bulk to adequately deal with it over longer games.
**Faster Pokemon**: Although most faster Pokemon cannot switch into Lapras, it can be revenge killed by strong, faster foes such as Stoutland, Choice Specs Chatot, and Simisear.
**Entry Hazards**: Lapras's lack of recovery leaves it easily worn down by Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes. While Sticky Web is less problematic, it can still leave Lapras more easily revenge killed by normally slower foes such as Golem.
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