QC: Raiza / TONE114 / Anty
GP: Weebl / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Natu is PU's only Magic Bounce user and can bounce back entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock, and status moves, such as Taunt. Natu's nice support movepool, which includes reliable recovery in Roost, momentum with U-turn, and Thunder Wave to slow down foes, makes it a great teammate on hazard-weak teams. However, its Psychic typing makes it vulnerable to Knock Off users such as Pawniard, as it relies on its Eviolite for bulk. Its Flying typing gives it a weakness to common Stealth Rock users, such as Golem and Probopass. Natu is also vulnerable to special attackers, such as Raichu and Zebstrika, because of its poor special bulk even with Eviolite. Natu is also unable to utilize an attacking set due to its mediocre attacking stats.
[SET]
name: Magic Bounce
move 1: Psychic
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic hits Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Poliwrath, Arbok, and Roselia, for super effective damage. Alternatively, Night Shade deals more damage to Roselia and has a fixed damage output. U-turn lets Natu both gain momentum and switch out of an unfavorable matchup. Thunder Wave slows down foes so they are easier to KO. Roost provides reliable recovery and allows Natu to perform as a decent pivot.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with a Bold nature maximizes Natu's physical bulk and minimizes the damage taken from Stealth Rock, giving it a better chance against Stealth Rock users, such as Golem and Carracosta. An Eviolite is chosen to provide Natu with extra bulk and allow it to be a successful pivot. Magic Bounce bounces back status moves, such as Taunt, and entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock. Natu could run a specially defensive spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD to take on Roselia better.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Natu in on entry hazard leads in order to bounce back entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock and Spikes. Natu should focus on using Thunder Wave early-game in order to cripple foes. Use U-turn on predicted switches in order to get a favorable matchup. If Natu is worn down, use Roost to keep it healthy. Switch Natu into a predicted Taunt or into other status moves, such as Toxic.
Team Options
========
Natu is best used on teams that have Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon but cannot afford to use a Rapid Spin or Defog user. Shedinja also appreciates Natu's ability to block Stealth Rock, as it gets to switch in. Natu forms a nice VoltTurn core with slow Pokemon such as Probopass, as Natu can prevent Stealth Rock from being set up on the battlefield, while Probopass traps Steel-types and sets up Stealth Rock in turn. Fighting-types, such as Poliwrath, can handle a Knock Off and take Rock-type attacks, while Natu provides Thunder Wave and Magic Bounce support. Dark-types, such as Pawniard, can take care of Ghost-types, while Natu threatens Fighting-types, such as Poliwrath, although it dislikes Machoke's Knock Off. Revenge killers, such as Dodrio and Mr. Mime, outspeed many threats to Natu and benefit from Magic Bounce, as they are easily worn down. Ground-types, such as Stunfisk and Torterra, take care of Electric-types such as Raichu and Zebstrika and prevent the opponent from freely gaining momentum with Volt Switch. Pokemon that hate status, such as Torterra and Fraxure, appreciate Magic Bounce support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Alternatively, Natu could run Toxic to cripple specially defensive walls such as Grumpig and Lickilicky. Haze prevents Natu from being complete setup fodder for setup sweepers, such as Nasty Plot Ninetales and Swords Dance Jumpluff. Tailwind + U-turn could be used to let slow wallbreakers, such as Torterra and Stoutland, outspeed their foes. Hidden Power Fighting allows Natu to KO Pawniard, while Grass Knot combined with 56 Speed EVs allows Natu to outspeed and KO Golem after Stealth Rock damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu, can easily outspeed and KO Natu with Thunderbolt. Futhermore, they are immune to Thunder Wave, stopping Natu from freely spreading paralysis. They also can gain momentum with Volt Switch.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types can deal tons of damage to Natu with Stone Edge. In particular, Golem is immune to Thunder Wave and Rampardos can set up Stealth Rock against Natu thanks to Mold Breaker, which ignores Magic Bounce.
**Dark-types**: Natu is unable to touch Dark-types such as Pawniard and Mightyena. Pawniard can threaten Natu by using Knock Off to get rid of its Eviolite, making it easier to KO; using Pursuit when predicting a switch; or by freely setting up a Swords Dance.
**Ghost-types**: Although they have to be wary of Taunt due to Magic Bounce, Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Dusknoir can hit Natu with their super effective moves. The former can set up a Nasty Plot, while the latter can Pursuit trap Natu.
**Steel-types**: Natu cannot do much to Steel-types such as Klang and Probopass. Klang has Rest to heal off paralysis from hunder Wave and can set up Shift Gear, while Probopass has Power Gem to take care of Natu.
**Strong Attackers**: Strong attackers, such as Simipour, Chatot, and Stoutland, can deal massive damage to Natu, but most of them hate being crippled by Thunder Wave on the switch in. If Natu predicts wrongly and switches into one of their attacks, it will likely be KOed, due to its poor bulk.
GP: Weebl / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Natu is PU's only Magic Bounce user and can bounce back entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock, and status moves, such as Taunt. Natu's nice support movepool, which includes reliable recovery in Roost, momentum with U-turn, and Thunder Wave to slow down foes, makes it a great teammate on hazard-weak teams. However, its Psychic typing makes it vulnerable to Knock Off users such as Pawniard, as it relies on its Eviolite for bulk. Its Flying typing gives it a weakness to common Stealth Rock users, such as Golem and Probopass. Natu is also vulnerable to special attackers, such as Raichu and Zebstrika, because of its poor special bulk even with Eviolite. Natu is also unable to utilize an attacking set due to its mediocre attacking stats.
[SET]
name: Magic Bounce
move 1: Psychic
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Roost
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Psychic hits Fighting- and Poison-types, such as Poliwrath, Arbok, and Roselia, for super effective damage. Alternatively, Night Shade deals more damage to Roselia and has a fixed damage output. U-turn lets Natu both gain momentum and switch out of an unfavorable matchup. Thunder Wave slows down foes so they are easier to KO. Roost provides reliable recovery and allows Natu to perform as a decent pivot.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD with a Bold nature maximizes Natu's physical bulk and minimizes the damage taken from Stealth Rock, giving it a better chance against Stealth Rock users, such as Golem and Carracosta. An Eviolite is chosen to provide Natu with extra bulk and allow it to be a successful pivot. Magic Bounce bounces back status moves, such as Taunt, and entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock. Natu could run a specially defensive spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD to take on Roselia better.
Usage Tips
========
Switch Natu in on entry hazard leads in order to bounce back entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock and Spikes. Natu should focus on using Thunder Wave early-game in order to cripple foes. Use U-turn on predicted switches in order to get a favorable matchup. If Natu is worn down, use Roost to keep it healthy. Switch Natu into a predicted Taunt or into other status moves, such as Toxic.
Team Options
========
Natu is best used on teams that have Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon but cannot afford to use a Rapid Spin or Defog user. Shedinja also appreciates Natu's ability to block Stealth Rock, as it gets to switch in. Natu forms a nice VoltTurn core with slow Pokemon such as Probopass, as Natu can prevent Stealth Rock from being set up on the battlefield, while Probopass traps Steel-types and sets up Stealth Rock in turn. Fighting-types, such as Poliwrath, can handle a Knock Off and take Rock-type attacks, while Natu provides Thunder Wave and Magic Bounce support. Dark-types, such as Pawniard, can take care of Ghost-types, while Natu threatens Fighting-types, such as Poliwrath, although it dislikes Machoke's Knock Off. Revenge killers, such as Dodrio and Mr. Mime, outspeed many threats to Natu and benefit from Magic Bounce, as they are easily worn down. Ground-types, such as Stunfisk and Torterra, take care of Electric-types such as Raichu and Zebstrika and prevent the opponent from freely gaining momentum with Volt Switch. Pokemon that hate status, such as Torterra and Fraxure, appreciate Magic Bounce support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Alternatively, Natu could run Toxic to cripple specially defensive walls such as Grumpig and Lickilicky. Haze prevents Natu from being complete setup fodder for setup sweepers, such as Nasty Plot Ninetales and Swords Dance Jumpluff. Tailwind + U-turn could be used to let slow wallbreakers, such as Torterra and Stoutland, outspeed their foes. Hidden Power Fighting allows Natu to KO Pawniard, while Grass Knot combined with 56 Speed EVs allows Natu to outspeed and KO Golem after Stealth Rock damage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu, can easily outspeed and KO Natu with Thunderbolt. Futhermore, they are immune to Thunder Wave, stopping Natu from freely spreading paralysis. They also can gain momentum with Volt Switch.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types can deal tons of damage to Natu with Stone Edge. In particular, Golem is immune to Thunder Wave and Rampardos can set up Stealth Rock against Natu thanks to Mold Breaker, which ignores Magic Bounce.
**Dark-types**: Natu is unable to touch Dark-types such as Pawniard and Mightyena. Pawniard can threaten Natu by using Knock Off to get rid of its Eviolite, making it easier to KO; using Pursuit when predicting a switch; or by freely setting up a Swords Dance.
**Ghost-types**: Although they have to be wary of Taunt due to Magic Bounce, Ghost-types such as Misdreavus and Dusknoir can hit Natu with their super effective moves. The former can set up a Nasty Plot, while the latter can Pursuit trap Natu.
**Steel-types**: Natu cannot do much to Steel-types such as Klang and Probopass. Klang has Rest to heal off paralysis from hunder Wave and can set up Shift Gear, while Probopass has Power Gem to take care of Natu.
**Strong Attackers**: Strong attackers, such as Simipour, Chatot, and Stoutland, can deal massive damage to Natu, but most of them hate being crippled by Thunder Wave on the switch in. If Natu predicts wrongly and switches into one of their attacks, it will likely be KOed, due to its poor bulk.
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