QC’d by:
GP’d by:
Overview
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- This Bug / Water is unique to the series!!!
- Masquerain belongs to a plethora of a dual Bug / Flying-type Pokemon that have been released over the years. However, it only really stands out due to a coveted combination in Quiver Dance and Baton Pass
- A varied movepool that gives it the edge over its fellow companions, sporting access to offensive tools such as Hydro Pump and Ice Beam that grant it more coverage. Its support movepool also extends to valued moves such as Sticky Web
- Access to Intimidate and a 4x resistance to Fighting- and Grass-type moves gives Masquerain a chance to abuse switch ins into these
- Its stats are pretty mediocre as it is, with only a base 80 Special Attack as its usable offensive stat and a slow base 60 Speed stat. Luckily, both are mitigated by the aforementioned Quiver Dance
- A multitude of weaknesses from Ice- and Flying-type moves, as well as a 4x weakness to Stealth Rock, make it hard to fit in on a team as it doesn’t synergize well with many Pokemon
- Outclassed in many roles and as it is very one-dimensional, it can be predictable in what it does
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name: QuiverPass
move 1: Quiver Dance
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Air Slash / Bug Buzz
move 4: Roost
ability: Intimidate
item: Leftovers / Focus Sash
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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- Quiver Dance was bestowed to many of the Bug / Flying brethren, and Masquerain is no exception. The boosts it grants are pivotal for the Pokemon that Masquerain will pass to, turning them into formidable sweepers after one turn of set up. The bug also benefits from it itself, giving some sting to its STAB moves and some cushion from special attacks.
- Baton Pass is an important move on the set as it allows Masquerain to pass the required boosts obtained from Quiver Dance. The move itself also serves as a way for it to pivot out of danger. Its initial slowness can also give a free switch-in to a teammate of choice, giving it utility outside of just passing.
- Air Slash and Bug Buzz are interchangeable and may be chosen depending on what is the most desired coverage option. Air Slash covers Fighting- and Grass-types, provides more neutral coverage, and has that nasty flinch chance. Bug Buzz, on the other hand, hits Psychic- and Dark-types while also having more power than Air Slash
- Roost plays a more defensive role and allows Masquerain to mitigate Stealth Rock damage and potentially have more chances to set up and pass.
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- Intimidate is the ability of choice as it allows Masquerain to cushion physical hits and switch in on moves it resists (such as its 4x resistance to both Fighting-type and Grass-type moves)
- The item of choice is dependent on how Masquerain is played. If playing Masquerain in a conservative way, Roost accompanied by Leftovers would be optimal in order to account for more chances of setting up. However, a Focus Sash + Sticky Web could be utilized as a sort of “lead set”, ensuring that Masquerain has at least one chance to set up and either baton pass boosts, or lay down a powerful entry hazard
- 248 HP gives Masquerain all-around bulk, while allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock three possible times. Max Speed allows Masquerain to outspeed even +2 Jolly Carracosta after just 1 boost
- Timid is the nature of choice as it allows Masquerain to outspeed as much as possible; for example, Adamant Barbaracle and Torterra
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- Switch in Masquerain by virtue of a slow U-turn or Volt Switch and take advantage of its key resistances in order to effectively set up on a target. There might only be one chance at doing this, so take advantage of it
- Masquerain can threaten and force switches when it faces fat Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist (XL / S); as such, it can use them as set up bait.
- Abusing Intimidate and attacking, instead of setting up right off the bat, is a good way of conserving Masquerain and can give the player a feel of how their opponent plays for an ample opportunity later on.
- Even with Roost, Masquerain will most likely only have one chance of setting up, due to its relative frailness and not having a consistent way of buying free turns. In the event that passing is just not possible, Masquerain can just do the aforementioned role as an Intimidate pivot, or serve as death fodder for a healthy switch-in.
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- Due to a massive Stealth Rock weakness, a Rapid Spinner or a Defogger is appropriate in order to give Masquerain a safe switch in. Avalugg can further abuse Intimidate with its immense physical bulk and check threats much more easily, even with the shared Rock-type weakness. Prinplup and Vibrava synergize well with Masquerain by virtue of their typings, can deal with Rock-types, and can get rid of the hazard easily
- Recipients play a big role in how Masquerain contributes towards its teams, and as such, choosing ample candidates is required for its success. Pokemon such as Haunter, Chatot, Rotom-F, Frogadier, Kadabra, and Altaria are such examples of Pokemon who can abuse the boosts Masquerain accumulates, and sweep opposing teams. Some of these can have some bad synergy that hinders switches, but can otherwise prove to be lethal
- A Fighting-type such as Throh can be of great help when dealing with Rock-types and phazers such as Golem and Piloswine, respectively. It can come in on resisted hits and even phaze itself in order to prevent a disruption.
- A Taunt user such as Misdreavus can be of great help to Masquerain in order to shut down hazards, phazing and Taunt itself
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- Dedicated Lead Sticky Web set (outclassed by Kricketune / Ariados) with Stun Spore and U-turn as possible supporting options.
- Offensive Quiver Dance (outclassed by Butterfree) has access to coverage options such as Hydro Pump and Ice Beam
- Tailwind for a stronger speed boost at the cost of a limited time over Sticky Web
- Scald as a non-STAB option that may give Masquerain even more chances to set up if it manages to cripple an opposing foe with a burn
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- Rock-types such as Golem can effectively remove it swiftly with their STABs; Stealth Rock by extension. Beware of surprise Water-type attacks
- Taunt users such as Misdreavus can effectively shut down Masquerain
- Phazing can remove the receiver from play and force Masquerain to potentially have 50% of its health stripped by Stealth Rock yet again
- Virtually anything faster than Masquerain can completely destroy it before it even moves. Ice-types such as Sneasel and Piloswine (Ice Shard / Roar), Fire-types such as Simisear and Rapidash, and Flying-types such as Dodrio and Scyther are capable of doing this. In addition to this, most of these go down the physical route and as such don’t care about the special defense boosts Masquerain accumulates (and Intimidate won’t change this).
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