QC: TONE114 / Magnemite / Raiza
GP: Weebl / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Noctowl faces competition as a defensive Defogger from Pelipper and Vullaby, which have more physical bulk and better typings. However, Noctowl lacks both a 4x weakness to Electric-type attacks and reliance on Eviolite for bulk, unlike Pelipper and Vullaby, respectively. Noctowl has a niche in Insomnia, which allows it to safely switch into users of sleep-inducing moves such as Victreebel and Jumpluff. Noctowl also has nice HP and Special Defense stats, allowing it to check special attackers, such as Simipour and Mr. Mime. However, Noctowl's Flying typing gives it a weakness to Stealth Rock, and its low Defense makes it vulnerable to physical attackers, such as Barbaracle and Carracosta. Because Noctowl is passive, it is easily taken advantage of as fodder for setup sweepers, such as Clefairy and Pawniard, and crippled by Taunt users, such as Misdreavus and Grumpig.
[SET]
name: Defensive Defog
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Night Shade
item: Leftovers
ability: Insomnia
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides reliable recovery and allows Noctowl to stay healthy throughout the match. Defog allows Noctowl to remove entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, allowing teammates to switch in more. Toxic hits defensive walls that Noctowl is otherwise unable to touch, such as Tangela and Carracosta, and Normal-types, which are immune to Night Shade, such as Stoutland and Vigoroth. Night Shade is Noctowl's only attack, and has fixed damage. Alternatively, Noctowl could run Hidden Power Fighting in the fourth slot to hit Steel-types, such as Probopass and Pawniard, or Air Slash to hit Grass- and Fighting-types, such as Jumpluff and Poliwrath.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD and a Calm nature maximize Noctowl's Special Defense and allow it to take hits from special attackers such as Simipour and Mr. Mime and take minimum damage from Stealth Rock. Insomnia allows Noctowl to check sleep users such as Jumpluff. Leftovers adds to Noctowl's recovery and aids it in staying healthy during the match.
Usage Tips
========
Noctowl should use Defog to remove entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, but it should be wary of Defiant users, such as Pawniard, as they can gain a +2 Attack boost from switching into Defog. Noctowl should Roost frequently in order to keep its health up. Noctowl should focus on using Toxic early-game to wear down foes. Switch Noctowl into special attackers that can't much to Noctowl, such as Simipour, but try not to switch it into physical attacks, due to its low Defense. Status conditions such as burn, paralysis, and poison cause Noctowl to be worn down quickly when combined with Stealth Rock damage, so don't switch it into status users, such as Misdreavus and Grumpig. Use Night Shade to rack up more damage combined with Toxic damage.
Team Options
========
Noctowl fits best on balanced or stall teams because of its passive nature. Fighting-types, such as Poliwrath, are able to take care of Pawniard, while Noctowl provides Defog support. Physically defensive Pokemon, such as Carracosta and Tangela, are able to take physical hits for Noctowl, while it can take special attacks and handle Grass-types, such as Jumpluff and Victreebel, in turn. Ground-types, such as Torterra and Golem, are able to take Electric- and Rock-type attacks for Noctowl, while it provides Defog support and deals with Grass-types. Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon, such as Rotom-F, Dodrio, and Rapidash, benefit from Noctowl's ability to remove entry hazards and can take down threats to Noctowl. Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Piloswine and Probopass is also beneficial to help Noctowl wear down its does. Pokemon such as Pawniard make for good partners because they can deal with Magic Guard users, which Noctowl is unable to touch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Noctowl could run a Tailwind set to let slow wallbreakers, such as Torterra and Marowak, outspeed their threats. Whirlwind prevents Noctowl from being setup fodder for sweepers, such as Ninetales and Barbaracle. Noctowl could run Magic Coat to bounce back status moves, such as Taunt, but it is unreliable. Noctowl could run a Tinted Lens attacking set, but it is outclassed by the likes of Chatot. Thunder Wave could be used over Toxic, but Toxic is preferred due to Noctowl's passive nature.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu easily outspeed and can 2HKO Noctowl, forcing it to use Roost more frequently. However, they dislike getting hit with a Toxic.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, such as Golem and Barbaracle, can easily OHKO Noctowl with their Rock-type STAB moves. However, they must watch out for Toxic on the switch in.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Pawniard and Klang are immune to Toxic,and can use Noctowl as set up fodder. Pawniard in particular has Defiant, allowing it to switch into a predicted Defog and set up to +2.
**Magic Guard Users**: Magic Guard users, such as Clefairy and Duosion, don't take any damage from poison. Because Noctowl relies on Toxic damage, they can set up a Calm Mind on it and make it setup fogger.
**Residual Damage**: Status conditions, such as burn, poison, and paralysis combined with Stealth Rock damage can wear down Noctowl quickly, forcing it to frequently use Roost.
**Faster Taunt Users**: Faster Taunt users, such as Misdreavus and Grumpig, can outspeed cripple Noctowl and cripple it with Taunt, forcing it to use Night Shade or switch out. The former can use the opportunity to set up with Nasty Plot and the latter can cure its team of status with Heal Bell.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers, such as Ursaring and Stoutland, can take advantage of Noctowl's low Defense and KO it. Both of them do not mind a Toxic, as they can use it to their advantage for a more powerful Facade.
GP: Weebl / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Noctowl faces competition as a defensive Defogger from Pelipper and Vullaby, which have more physical bulk and better typings. However, Noctowl lacks both a 4x weakness to Electric-type attacks and reliance on Eviolite for bulk, unlike Pelipper and Vullaby, respectively. Noctowl has a niche in Insomnia, which allows it to safely switch into users of sleep-inducing moves such as Victreebel and Jumpluff. Noctowl also has nice HP and Special Defense stats, allowing it to check special attackers, such as Simipour and Mr. Mime. However, Noctowl's Flying typing gives it a weakness to Stealth Rock, and its low Defense makes it vulnerable to physical attackers, such as Barbaracle and Carracosta. Because Noctowl is passive, it is easily taken advantage of as fodder for setup sweepers, such as Clefairy and Pawniard, and crippled by Taunt users, such as Misdreavus and Grumpig.
[SET]
name: Defensive Defog
move 1: Roost
move 2: Defog
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Night Shade
item: Leftovers
ability: Insomnia
nature: Calm
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Roost provides reliable recovery and allows Noctowl to stay healthy throughout the match. Defog allows Noctowl to remove entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, allowing teammates to switch in more. Toxic hits defensive walls that Noctowl is otherwise unable to touch, such as Tangela and Carracosta, and Normal-types, which are immune to Night Shade, such as Stoutland and Vigoroth. Night Shade is Noctowl's only attack, and has fixed damage. Alternatively, Noctowl could run Hidden Power Fighting in the fourth slot to hit Steel-types, such as Probopass and Pawniard, or Air Slash to hit Grass- and Fighting-types, such as Jumpluff and Poliwrath.
Set Details
========
An EV spread of 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD and a Calm nature maximize Noctowl's Special Defense and allow it to take hits from special attackers such as Simipour and Mr. Mime and take minimum damage from Stealth Rock. Insomnia allows Noctowl to check sleep users such as Jumpluff. Leftovers adds to Noctowl's recovery and aids it in staying healthy during the match.
Usage Tips
========
Noctowl should use Defog to remove entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, but it should be wary of Defiant users, such as Pawniard, as they can gain a +2 Attack boost from switching into Defog. Noctowl should Roost frequently in order to keep its health up. Noctowl should focus on using Toxic early-game to wear down foes. Switch Noctowl into special attackers that can't much to Noctowl, such as Simipour, but try not to switch it into physical attacks, due to its low Defense. Status conditions such as burn, paralysis, and poison cause Noctowl to be worn down quickly when combined with Stealth Rock damage, so don't switch it into status users, such as Misdreavus and Grumpig. Use Night Shade to rack up more damage combined with Toxic damage.
Team Options
========
Noctowl fits best on balanced or stall teams because of its passive nature. Fighting-types, such as Poliwrath, are able to take care of Pawniard, while Noctowl provides Defog support. Physically defensive Pokemon, such as Carracosta and Tangela, are able to take physical hits for Noctowl, while it can take special attacks and handle Grass-types, such as Jumpluff and Victreebel, in turn. Ground-types, such as Torterra and Golem, are able to take Electric- and Rock-type attacks for Noctowl, while it provides Defog support and deals with Grass-types. Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon, such as Rotom-F, Dodrio, and Rapidash, benefit from Noctowl's ability to remove entry hazards and can take down threats to Noctowl. Stealth Rock support from Pokemon such as Piloswine and Probopass is also beneficial to help Noctowl wear down its does. Pokemon such as Pawniard make for good partners because they can deal with Magic Guard users, which Noctowl is unable to touch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Noctowl could run a Tailwind set to let slow wallbreakers, such as Torterra and Marowak, outspeed their threats. Whirlwind prevents Noctowl from being setup fodder for sweepers, such as Ninetales and Barbaracle. Noctowl could run Magic Coat to bounce back status moves, such as Taunt, but it is unreliable. Noctowl could run a Tinted Lens attacking set, but it is outclassed by the likes of Chatot. Thunder Wave could be used over Toxic, but Toxic is preferred due to Noctowl's passive nature.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Zebstrika and Raichu easily outspeed and can 2HKO Noctowl, forcing it to use Roost more frequently. However, they dislike getting hit with a Toxic.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, such as Golem and Barbaracle, can easily OHKO Noctowl with their Rock-type STAB moves. However, they must watch out for Toxic on the switch in.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Pawniard and Klang are immune to Toxic,and can use Noctowl as set up fodder. Pawniard in particular has Defiant, allowing it to switch into a predicted Defog and set up to +2.
**Magic Guard Users**: Magic Guard users, such as Clefairy and Duosion, don't take any damage from poison. Because Noctowl relies on Toxic damage, they can set up a Calm Mind on it and make it setup fogger.
**Residual Damage**: Status conditions, such as burn, poison, and paralysis combined with Stealth Rock damage can wear down Noctowl quickly, forcing it to frequently use Roost.
**Faster Taunt Users**: Faster Taunt users, such as Misdreavus and Grumpig, can outspeed cripple Noctowl and cripple it with Taunt, forcing it to use Night Shade or switch out. The former can use the opportunity to set up with Nasty Plot and the latter can cure its team of status with Heal Bell.
**Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers, such as Ursaring and Stoutland, can take advantage of Noctowl's low Defense and KO it. Both of them do not mind a Toxic, as they can use it to their advantage for a more powerful Facade.
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