Governess
A Beautiful Blossom Waiting to Bloom
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Ninjask
[Overview]
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Swords Dance / X-Scissor
item: Leftovers
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
[Other Options]
[Checks and Counters]
- Fastest unboosted Pokemon in the tier.
- Successful niche of passing boosts from its Speed Boost ability to its teammates with Baton Pass; really shines on Baton Pass teams in general.
- With Protect and Sub, it allows Ninjask to rack up the boosts to pass to a sweeper that could turn the game around. Swords Dance can be passed as well for additional power. Usable Attack stat.
- Horribly frail Pokemon, couldn't survive a strong hit if its life depended on it; weak to priority as well.
- 4x weakness to SR, limiting the number of times it can switch in.
- Horrible typing; many weaknesses that can be targeted.
- If used properly, it can allow its teammates to cleanly sweep the opposing team, so don't underestimate it.
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Swords Dance / X-Scissor
item: Leftovers
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
- Ninjask's niche is displayed in this set; its main goal is to successfully to rack up boosts with its ability, Speed Boost, who it can then use Baton Pass to give to a partner.
- Can usually come out any part of the game, but is most common early-game to avoid being weakened by entry hazards.
- Can be very annoying to get rid of if you aren't prepared against it and very easy to beat because of its frailness and poor defensive typing.
- Baton Pass is the center of this set; it allows Ninjask to pass all of its Speed boosts to a teammate.
- Substitute is very useful in avoiding status conditions and collecting Speed boosts and Leftover recovery.
- Protect is also an important move, as using it can usually get Ninjask a free Speed boost from the get-go and scout the opponents attacks.
- Swords Dance can be used to get an Attack boost to pass to a teammate with Speed boosts. However, X-Scissors grants Ninjask a STAB move and prevents Ninjask from being completely Taunt bait / offensively useless, hitting fairly hard, as it comes off of a viable base 90 Attack.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Speed Boost - mandatory ability; it's what makes Ninjask worth using with Baton Pass.
- Leftovers - allow more Substitutes and switch ins, along with working well with Protect. Focus Sash is an option to guarantee a Speed / Attack boost and survive an attack. However, with SR so common in NU, Focus Sash can easily be broken.
- 248 HP EVs - allow Ninjask to switch in to SR twice without fainting. 36 Spe EVs - allows Ninjask to outspeed Jolly Swellow, and the remaining EVs + Impish gives Ninjask physical bulk to take Fighting-type attacks and such (specifically Sawk locked in Close Combat)
- The defensive EVs can be traded for Special Defense (with Careful for weak special attacks, such as Tangela or Murkrow) or Attack (with Adamant to KO Psychic-types and 2HKO Pokemon such as Lickilicky) if your situation calls for it. The latter choice isn't recommended, as Ninjask can easily be KOed by Pokemon it can't outright OHKO, so investing in defenses may be the better option.
- U-turn can be used in the 4th moveslot; if Ninjask is inflicted by Taunt, it would have to resort to either switching out or using X-Scissors, losing momentum in the process. U-turn can be used to ensure momentum is not lost, though it's a situational option.
- Roost allows Ninjask to get more opportunities to setup if its been weakened, can force switches decently well and can work out well if it's behind a Substitute. However, it doesn't get chanches to fully utilize Roost.
- Pokemon that benefit from the Speed boost Ninjask can Baton Pass (Golurk, Rampardos, Ursaring, Samurott, Exeggutor, and Gorebyss) are good allies to use with Ninjask. Pokemon that benefit from the Attack boost Ninjask occasionally passes also work well with Ninjask.
- Rapid Spin support - recommended if you want Ninjask to be useful throughout the match. Wartortle is a great choice, as it can tank many attacks for Ninjask thanks to Eviolite. Armaldo is a good choice as well, as it benefits from the Speed boost.
- Other Baton Passing Pokemon (Mr.Mime, Gorebyss, Mawile) work well with Ninjask on a dedicated Baton Pass team, as they can pass their boosts to each other, helping each other out. Gorebyss and Mawile can pass defensive boosts to Ninjask for it to last longer, and they have good typing. Mr.Mime can pass Barrier to raise Defense, allowing Ninjask to tank hits a little easier. (Mr.Mimes Soundproof can stop any Roars against it, so that's useful in a way.
[Other Options]
- Offensive set (Life Orb or Choice Band) to make use of its decent base 90 Attack and great coverage moves; too frail to reign successful and many Pokemon can still easily wall it, specifically Steel-types.
- Hone Claws can be passed instead of Swords Dance, trading power for accuracy.
- A gimmicky strategy with Final Gambit can be used to defeat frailer Pokemon when Ninjask is at full HP; it doesn't have the desired HP to utilize it and it has better things to do.
- Ninjask has many great special attacks, such as Bug Buzz, SolarBeam, Silver Wind, and Shadow Ball. However, it has a saddening base 50 Special Attack to effectively use them.
- Other moves such as Sunny Day can be used to support, but they are poor choices as Ninjask's frailness fail to make the set successful.
- Flash - gimmicky, but gives Ninjask chances to set up if used correctly.
- While Mental Herb is not a very useful item in most cases, it can stop Taunt from hindering Ninjask once, but that matters more on Baton Pass teams than anything else.
[Checks and Counters]
- Stealth Rock - huge weakness to Ninjask, so having Pokemon who can set it up are effective.
- Rock-type Pokemon are your best bet to defeat Ninjask, such as Golem, Regirock, and Gigalith. Having Rock Blast (Golem + Gigalith) works wonders, as it can break through Substitute and the occasional Focus Sash.
- Phazing it out after SR has been set (Eelektross, for example) is a great way to weaken it and preventing/removing any boosts it has attained.
- Powerful priority attacking Pokemon (Aqua Jet from CB Floatzel for example) can stop Ninjask before it can use Baton Pass or set up Substitute.
- Taunt - Pokemon with Prankster is the best option, as Ninjask will outspeed everything else and use Baton Pass. Taunt will force Ninjask to use an attacking, which can cut the Baton Pass chain short. Liepard and Murkrow are good canidates for that.
- Because of Ninjask's extreme frailness, any relatively strong attack can easily score a KO on Ninjask.
- While stopping Ninjask from using Baton Pass may be difficult if you are unprepared, if you have a offensively strong Pokemon or SR, you won't have many issues against it.
- Haze and Clear Smog can basically renders Ninjask useless, and if predicted correctly, Encore is able to do this also to a lesser extent, so Pokemon who wield those moves (Torkoal, Wartortle, Liepard) work well against it.
- It's is more important to handle the Baton Pass recipient rather than Ninjask itself; Ninjask isn't too threatening when it is on its own.
[Overview]
<p>Ninjask has a successful niche of utilizing Baton Pass; the secret lies in Ninjask's ability, Speed Boost, which raises its Speed every turn, and when this is Baton Passed to a teammate in succession, it can pull off a threatening sweep. Holding the title of the fastest unboosted Pokemon in the tier, Ninjask fits perfectly onto dedicated Baton Pass teams as a Pokemon that can rack up Speed boosts with Protect and Substitute easily. While its frailness and 4x weakness to Stealth Rock prevent Ninjask from staying on the field for very long, it will always be a coveted member of a team in need of speed.</p>
[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Baton Pass
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect
move 4: Swords Dance / X-Scissor
item: Leftovers
ability: Speed Boost
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 224 Def / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Ninjask's full potential as a Baton Pass user is displayed in this set; its main goal is to successfully rack up boosts with its ability, Speed Boost, and pass them to a teammate. It is capable of coming out in any part of the match, but it is most common early-game due to its vulnerability to entry hazards. While its poor defenses might give the impression that Ninjask is easy to defeat, it can be very annoying to get rid of if you aren't prepared for it.</p>
<p>Baton Pass is the centerpoint of this set, as it allows Ninjask to pass all of its accumulated Speed boosts to a teammate. Substitute is very useful in avoiding status conditions while collecting Speed boosts and Leftovers recovery. Protect is also a vital move on this set, as it usually can earn Ninjask a free Speed boost from the get-go and scout the opponent's attacks. Swords Dance can be used to get an Attack boost to pass to a teammate, and while it is difficult to achieve due to Ninjask's frailness, it can be very dangerous when paired with Speed Boost. However, X-Scissor grants Ninjask a STAB move and prevents it from being complete Taunt bait or offensively useless.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Speed Boost is mandatory on this set; it, along with Baton Pass, is what makes Ninjask worth using. Leftovers allow Ninjask to create more Substitutes and switch in more often, as well as working well in conjunction with Protect. 248 HP EVs allow Ninjask to switch in on Stealth Rock twice without fainting, 36 Speed EVs allow Ninjask to outspeed Jolly Swellow, and the remaining Defense EVs with an Impish nature gives Ninjask enough physical bulk to tank Fighting-type attacks, such as a Choice Band Sawk's Close Combat. However, the defensive EVs can be traded for Special Defense with a Careful nature to survive weak special attacks from Tangela, Wartortle, and Scald Alomomola. It can also be traded for Attack with an Adamant nature to KO Psychic-types with X-Scissor. The second choice isn't recommended, as Ninjask can easily be KOed by Pokemon it cannot outright OHKO, so investing in its defenses is the superior option. Focus Sash is an option to nearly guaranteed a Speed or Attack boost by surviving a potential OHKO. However, with Stealth Rock being so common, the Focus Sash can easily be broken before Ninjask can make use of it, making Leftovers the best option. U-turn can be used in the fourth moveslot; if Ninjask is hit by Taunt, it would have to resort to either switching out or using X-Scissor, losing momentum in the process. U-turn can be used to ensure momentum is not lost, though it's a very situational option. Roost allows Ninjask to get more opportunities to set up if it's been weakened. However, Ninjask doesn't get chances to fully utilize Roost.</p>
<p>Pokemon that benefit from the Speed boost Ninjask can pass, such as Golurk, Rampardos, Ursaring, Samurott, Exeggutor, and Gorebyss, are good allies. Pokemon that benefit from the occasional Attack boost from Swords Dance are also good teammates to use alongside Ninjask. Rapid Spin support is recommended if you want Ninjask to stay useful in the match. Wartortle is a great choice, as it can tank many attacks for Ninjask thanks to Eviolite. Armaldo is a good choice as well, as it benefits from the Speed boost Ninjask provides. Other Pokemon that can use Baton Pass, such as Mr. Mime, Gorebyss, and Mawile, work well with Ninjask on a dedicated Baton Pass team, as they can pass their boosts to each other. Gorebyss and Mawile can pass defensive boosts to Ninjask, allowing it to last longer. Mr. Mime can pass Barrier to raise its Defense as well.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>An offensive set with a Life Orb or Choice Band is plausible, as it allows Ninjask to make use of its decent base 90 Attack and access to coverage moves. However, it's too frail to reign successful and it's not strong enough to KO opposing Pokemon. Hone Claws can be used in place of Swords Dance, trading power for accuracy. A gimmicky strategy with Final Gambit can be used to defeat weakened Pokemon when Ninjask is at full HP; however, it doesn't have the desired HP to fully utilize it correctly, and its talents are being wasted with such a set. Flash is a gimmicky option as well, but it gives Ninjask many chances to set up if it's used correctly. Ninjask has many great special attacks, such as Bug Buzz, SolarBeam, Silver Wind, and Shadow Ball, but only a mediocre base 50 Special Attack to effectively use them. Other moves such as Sunny Day can be used to support, but there are poor choices, as Ninjask's frailness puts a limit on how long it can stay on the field. Finally, while Mental Herb is not a very useful item in most cases, it can stop Taunt from hindering Ninjask once, although that matters more on Baton Pass teams than anything else. Overall, Ninjask has many options other than its standard set, but the majority of them are lackluster.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Stealth Rock is a huge weakness to Ninjask, so Pokemon that can set it up are very useful in defeating Ninjask. Rock-type Pokemon, such as Golem, Regirock, and Gigalith, are your best bet in OHKOing Ninjask. Rock Blast can work wonders against Ninjask, as it can break through its Substitute and the occasional Focus Sash. Phazing Ninjask out after Stealth Rock is in place is a great way to not only weaken it but prevent or remove any boosts it have attained. Eelektross is a great example of a Pokemon that can phaze Ninjask with ease. Pokemon with priority moves, such as Choice Band Floatzel, can stop Ninjask before it can use Baton Pass or set up Substitute. Taunt is another way to silence Ninjask and break a Baton Pass chain; a Pokemon with Prankster is the best option in this department, as Ninjask will easily outspeed everything else. Murkrow is a good candidate for such a task. Haze and Clear Smog can basically renders Ninjask useless. With correct prediction, Encore is also able to do this to a lesser extent, so Pokemon that wield one of the aforementioned moves, such as Torkoal, Wartortle, and Liepard, work well against it. While stopping Ninjask from using Baton Pass can be difficult if you are unprepared, if you have a offensively strong Pokemon or Stealth Rock, you won't have many issues against it. It's is more important to handle the Baton Pass recipient rather than Ninjask itself; Ninjask isn't too threatening on its own.</p>