Lickilicky (Yea, I do custom sprites :P)
Writing this for Shnen :D
[Overview]
<p>Lickilicky is an odd Pokemon, to say the least. With a tongue longer than its body, one would wonder why this Normal-type Pokemon is usable, especially when it has a pre-evolution, Lickitung, who is bulkier with Eviolite. With its 110 / 95 / 95 defenses, as well its access to the newly improved Wish (well for Lickilicky anyway), Lickilicky is a top-notch team supporter. Not only does Lickilicky have Wish, it has moves such as Heal Bell and Dragon Tail, making it an above-average team supporter and cleric. Also, unlike Lickitung, it can use Leftovers, which is useful in slowly recovering health. Lickilicky also has a great offensive movepool, capped off by a STAB-boosted Explosion, which even with the power drop in BW, deals massive damage to any Pokemon that doesn't resist it.</p>
<p>However, this long-tongued Pokemon isn't without its flaws. With a pitiful base 50 Speed, it is constantly being outsped, and this isn't good news as Fighting-type Pokemon, such as Emboar and Sawk, can easily outspeed and OHKO Lickilicky. Also, without Fire Punch, Lickilicky can't touch Steel-type Pokemon such as Metang, and therefore has to be cautious around them. Furthermore, Lickilicky is forced to use Own Tempo, as the more useful Cloud Nine is illegal with Wish, Heal Bell, and Curse. Nevertheless, if you need a bulky Wish passer, Lickilicky is a great place to start.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Heal Bell
move 4: Dragon Tail / Body Slam
item: Leftovers
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Lickilicky faces stiff competition from Alomomola in the Wish passing department, its higher Special Defense sets it apart from other Wish passers. This is Lickilicky's most useful set, and it's easy to see why. With the second biggest Wishes in the entire NU tier, as well as Heal Bell, Lickilicky can easily support its teammates. Protect is used to guarantee Lickilicky restores health from Wish, and it also provides an extra turn of Leftovers recovery. The last moveslot prevents Lickilicky from becoming set up fodder. Dragon Tail phazes opponents that attempt to set up on Lickilicky, such as Calm Mind Duosion or Dragon Dance Altaria, while Body Slam provides a STAB move that has a nice chance of paralysis, making it a viable alternative. However, this leaves Lickilicky powerless against Ghost-type Pokemon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The Defense EVs ensure that Lickilicky is never OHKOed by Jolly Sawk's Close Combat, allowing Lickilicky to phaze it with Dragon Tail, attack it, or heal itself with Wish. Maximum HP EVs are used to make Lickilicky's Wishes as big as possible. The remaining EVs are placed into Special Defense to bolster Lickilicky's tanking abilities. However, other viable EV spreads, such as 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD with an Impish nature, or a 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD with a Careful nature, also work, to let Lickilicky take either physical or special attacks better.</p>
<p>Knock Off is viable alternative, as it can remove items such as Eviolite from the numerous NFE Pokemon in the NU metagame. Seismic Toss can also be used as it offers consistent damage, as well as preventing Pokemon from setting up a Substitute on it. However, just like Body Slam, this means that Lickilcky is open to Ghost-type Pokemon, so this should be kept in mind if Seismic Toss is used. Return be used over Dragon Tail or Body Slam, as it provides Lickilicky with a more powerful STAB attack to deal more damage.</p>
<p>Lickilicky works best with entry hazards and Dragon Tail. Whirlipede and Garbodor therefore make great partners, as both can set up Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and they also resist Fighting-type attacks aimed at Lickilicky. Cacturne can also set up Spikes; however, it will build up a Fighting-type weakness, so checks to Fighting-type Pokemon are advised. Speaking of checks to Fighting-types, Lickilicky also works well with Misdreavus, as Lickilicky is immune to Ghost-type attacks, while Misdreavus is immune to Fighting-type ones, granting the two great defensive synergy. Misdreavus can also use Will-O-Wisp to burn physical attackers such as Sawk, who give Lickilicky problems, and it also blocks Rapid Spin, guaranteeing the effectiveness of Lickilicky's Dragon Tail. Also, since one Pokemon can use Heal Bell, it frees up a moveslot for the other Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Mono-Attacker
move 1: Curse
move 2: Dragon Tail
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Own Tempo
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With great typing and above-average defenses, Lickilicky can also use a mono-attacking set to great effect. Once Lickilicky gains enough Curse boosts, it will become a great tank that is incredibly hard to take out. Rest is used to keep Lickilicky healthy, whereas Sleep Talk ensures that sleep won't leave Lickilicky completely useless. If Sleep Talk picks Dragon Tail, Lickilicky can even bypass faster phazers such as Throh by phazing them out first. Dragon Tail is the chosen attacking move for this set, as it phazes out opponents, preventing them from setting up on Lickilicky, and accumulates damage if entry hazards are on the field. This is especially useful as no Pokemon are immune to Dragon Tail, meaning that Lickilicky will successfully phaze most of the time.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Since this set only has one attack, support is key if you want Lickilicky to successfully set up. Probopass is the best option, as it can trap Steel-type Pokemon, as well as provide Stealth Rock, which is crucial because Lickilicky can help spread damage thanks to Dragon Tail. Also, as this set has no way to check Fighting-type Pokemon, defensive checks to said Pokemon are appreciated. Whirlipede and Garbodor are Lickilicky's best friends, as they provide crucial Spikes and Toxic Spikes that Lickilicky can utilize with Dragon Tail. They also provide Lickilicky with defensive synergy, thanks to their resistance to Fighting-type attacks. Lickilicky also appreciates being paired with Misdreavus, as Lickilicky is immune to Ghost-type attacks, while Misdreavus is immune to Fighting-type attacks, forming the grounds for a beautiful relationship. Misdreavus can also use Will-O-Wisp to burn physical attackers such as Sawk, who give Lickilicky problems, making it an even better teammate.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Lickilicky has quite an impressive movepool; sadly, it doesn't have enough moveslots to use most of them. Other boosting moves, such as Swords Dance, Belly Drum, Amnesia, and Work Up, are all good ideas on paper, but Lickilicky is too slow to use Swords Dance, Work Up, or Belly Drum, and Amnesia is just a waste of a moveslot. Counter can work, as it allows Lickilicky to hurt Pokemon such as Sawk who try to KO it with Close Combat. However, this is really gimmicky, and wasting a moveslot to use it isn't a great idea. Earthquake for Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon, or Power Whip for bulky Water-types such as Quagsire, are also good ideas on paper, however these moves are situational, and other Pokemon can better get rid of these threats. If these moves are to be used, however, a Choice Band set is usually the way to go, as Lickilicky also packs a STAB Explosion which can KO many Pokemon in the NU tier. Toxic can be used, as Lickilicky is fairly efficient as a status spreader. Protect and Disable can work, but Lickilicky is just too slow. Finally, a Cloud Nine set is possible, but Lickilicky misses out on so many key moves to make it effective.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Fighting-types are the bane of Lickilicky's existence. Pokemon such as Sawk, Emboar, and Gurdurr can all take any attack dished out by Lickilicky and retaliate with a strong Fighting-type attack. Pokemon that have Substitute, such as Mesprit and Absol, can easily set one up as Lickilicky tries to use Dragon Tail, and proceed to attack or boost up on Lickilicky. Pokemon with Taunt, such as Murkrow and Swoobat, can stop Lickilicky from using its supporting moves, however these Pokemon can still be phazed via Dragon Tail. The likes of Rotom-S and Rotom-F can cripple Lickilicky by Tricking it a Choice item, making it useless for the remainder of the match. Another great way to wear down Lickilicky is by setting up entry hazards, as constant switches into Stealth Rock and Spikes take a toll on Lickilicky, and will eventually wear it down.</p>
