Liepard is a unique Prankster user in the VGC 2016 metagame. Its access to status moves such as Fake Tears and Encore and a faster Fake Out than Mega Kangaskhan and the uncommon Meowstic allows Liepard to perform a useful role on many teams. Liepard also has access to STAB Foul Play, which only few other threats can boast. However, it has terrible bulk and requires Foul Play to deal much damage. It has severe four-moveslot syndrome, making it difficult to fit what you might want onto it. It is also slower than Thundurus and Whimsicott, which also have Prankster, making it difficult to avoid getting Taunted or Encored itself.
[SET]
name: Prankster Support
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Foul Play
move 3: Encore / Swagger
move 4: Taunt / Fake Tears / Thunder Wave
item: Focus Sash
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Fake Out allows Liepard to stop opposing threats from getting off attacks or stop Pokemon from using a move such as Thunder Wave or Trick Room. Foul Play is Liepard's damaging option and deals high amounts of damage to restricted legendaries, and its power is increased due to the raising of the foe's Attack stat by Swagger. Encore lets Liepard lock the target into moves like Protect and Trick Room, while Swagger gives Liepard a decent chance at stopping Pokemon from attacking that turn as well as on later turns, but at the cost of being unreliable. Taunt can make Smeargle incapable of doing anything while prohibiting the use of Geomancy, Follow Me, and any form of speed control bar Icy Wind. Fake Tears, on the other hand, lowers the target's Special Defense by two, significantly increasing the damage output of Liepard's partner's special attacks. Thunder Wave is a final option that allows Liepard to cripple fast threats that could otherwise sweep the team such as Xerneas and Mega Rayquaza.
Set Details
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The EVs allow Liepard to outspeed as much as possible, fully investing in Speed; the remaining EVs are put into HP to improve bulk, as there is no other stat for them to be invested in. A Timid nature is used because Liepard does not utilize either of its attacking stats. Focus Sash lets it live longer when it faces restricted legendaries that aim to get rid of Liepard. Prankster gives Liepard's status moves priority in order to make it easier to carry out its role.
Usage Tips
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Liepard functions well as a lead, as Fake Out can provide a good amount of momentum for the team. Liepard should always have a strong partner out with it in order to not lose momentum. If Liepard is carrying Encore, it should usually use Fake Out on the strong attacker and Encore on its supportive partner the next turn, unless facing Smeargle. In that case, it would use Fake Out on Smeargle instead. If Liepard is carrying Taunt, it should use it on the foe to prevent it from getting up anything too dangerous, such as Trick Room or Gravity. Be aware of potential Quick Guard users such as Crobat or Talonflame, as they may stop Liepard from using anything but Foul Play. It may not be best to bring Liepard in a game against a Quick Guard user.
Team Options
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Liepard does very well with strong special attackers such as Primal Kyogre and Xerneas due to it providing Fake Tears support and increasing the damage that either one deals. Setup attackers such as Geomancy Xerneas and Swords Dance Primal Groudon greatly appreciate the Fake Out support, as well as Tailwind setters such as Mega Salamence and Talonflame. Yveltal is also a notable partner, as Dark Aura boosts the power of Foul Play, which can be strengthened by Swagger boosts, and both Liepard and Yveltal can run it effectively. Lastly, Ditto can effectively switch in on foes that have had their Attack stats raised by Swagger and copy the boosts. Liepard itself likes Pokemon that can deal with Mega Kangaskhan, such as Mega Gengar or Mega Salamence, as well as checks to Quick Guard users, which can be any restricted legendary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Liepard has a very wide movepool, allowing it to remain very effective while running a multitude of sets. Role Play can be used to reset a partner Primal Pokemon's weather, which can help against the opposite Primal Pokemon and Mega Rayquaza. Liepard can run both Encore and Swagger by dropping the second moveslot for the other move. Charm and Snarl can be used to decrease the opponent's offenses, but they take up a useful moveslot and can be useless in many cases. Protect can punish Pokemon that think they can quickly double target Liepard to get rid of it, but it takes up a useful moveslot. Assist allows Liepard to use a move such as Dark Void from its own team's Smeargle, but is completely random unless Liepard's teammates had mostly moves which Assist does not affect. Knock Off or Sucker Punch with a Jolly nature and maximized EVs in Attack can work as an alternative to Foul Play. However, these two moves are very unreliable, as Liepard has a mediocre Attack stat and both moves deal little to no damage to most restricted legendaries, whereas Foul Play can deal much more.
Checks and Counters
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**Utility**: Liepard does particularly well against slower utility Pokemon but when facing a faster Pokemon such as Thundurus or Whimsicott, it fears getting Taunted or Encored. If Liepard runs Encore over Taunt, it can be easy bait for Follow Me or Rage Power users. Quick Guard users are also dangerous, as they can force Liepard to use Foul Play.
**Strong Attacks**: Liepard has very low HP and bulk and cannot take more than one hit from most threats. Special attackers in particular pose as threats, as Liepard's Foul Play will not hit them for as much damage as it would normally deal to a physical attacker.
**Mega Kangaskhan**: While Liepard can manipulate an opposing Mega Kangaskhan into being incapable of doing anything, a Mega Kangaskhan that is played smartly can nab a clean KO on Liepard with either of its Fighting- or Normal-type attacks, as Parental Bond ignores the target's Focus Sash. As it has Inner Focus before Mega Evolving, Mega Kangaskhan may also attempt to avoid an otherwise inevitable Fake Out flinch from Liepard.
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