Taken over from Tahu, approved by macle
[OVERVIEW]
Pansage is extremely frail, has poor offensive stats, and lacks powerful coverage options; however, the damage mechanics at level 5 make Pansage's Bullet Seed one of the strongest attacks in the metagame. Bullet Seed can 2HKO even the bulkiest walls, and Pansage's decent movepool allows it to heavily damage almost everything that resists Bullet Seed. Lastly, Pansage has a decent Speed tier and can outspeed many threats.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Bullet Seed
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Low Sweep
move 4: Rock Tomb / Gunk Shot
item: Life Orb
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 244 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bullet Seed is Pansage's strongest attack and the only reason to include Pansage on a team; it's capable of 2HKOing every Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Knock Off weakens many switch-ins to Pansage such as Pumpkaboo-XL and Foongus, and Low Sweep hits Steel-types such as Pawniard and Magnemite. Rock Tomb can 2HKO bulky Fire-types and Vullaby after Stealth Rock and allows Pansage to outspeed faster threats. Alternatively, Gunk Shot lets Pansage heavily damage Grass- and Fairy-types and is its best way of dealing any sort of meaningful damage to Foongus.
Set Details
========
The EV spread increases Pansage's Attack as much as possible while allowing it to reach 17 Speed. Life Orb significantly increases the power of Pansage's attacks. Overgrow is Pansage's most useful ability, as it makes Bullet Seed even stronger when Pansage is at low health.
Usage Tips
========
Use Pansage to break down walls with its powerful Bullet Seed. Pansage's coverage options should be used to heavily damage or KO incoming checks and counters. Pansage as a whole isn't a very good Pokemon and will lose many matchups, making it important to only use it against walls and Pokemon it can threaten to KO. Take advantage of weak attacks, Life Orb recoil, and damage from entry hazards to activate Overgrow and empower Bullet Seed.
Team Options
========
Pansage appreciates Stealth Rock support to weaken its Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-type checks and ensure extra KOs such as the 2HKO on Ponyta. Slow pivots can compensate for Pansage's poor bulk and allow it to come into play and begin firing off powerful attacks. Pansage struggles to damage Foongus in any meaningful way, making Vullaby and Sleep Talk + Rest Skrelp great teammates. Gothita can also deal with Foongus along with trapping other Poison-types and fast threats to Pansage. Skrelp and other Water-types are also good for dealing with Fire-types that threaten Pansage. Chinchou is a particularly good Water-type teammate because it can check Flying-types on top of its ability to pivot Pansage in with a slow Volt Switch. Finally, Snivy and Fletchling appreciate Pansage's abilities to break down walls for them and they can return the favor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pansage learns Nasty Plot, but Snivy typically outclasses any set using it. A set utilizing Acrobatics and Berry Juice allows Pansage to hit Foongus, but Pansage is much weaker without its Life Orb. Hone Claws and Substitute are good options for setting up and easing prediction, but Pansage typically needs all of its coverage options and can't afford to use either of these moves. A set with Gluttony and a Salac or Petaya Berry could be used to try to sweep; however, again, Pansage is very weak without a Life Orb. Lastly, Taunt helps to break down walls and prevent entry hazards from being set up, but Pansage's poor bulk makes it difficult to utilize.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Foongus**: Foongus takes very little from any of Pansage's attacks and forces it out with Sludge Bomb. However, Pansage can 2HKO a Foongus that has lost its Eviolite with Gunk Shot after Stealth Rock damage.
**Croagunk**: Croagunk resists all of Pansage's common coverage and can OHKO it with Sludge Bomb. However, it is prone to being worn down and takes a lot from Bullet Seed if its Eviolite has been Knocked Off.
**Flying-types**: Fletchling can outspeed and OHKO Pansage with its super effective STAB Acrobatics, while Vullaby can take any hit and KO in return. They both must watch out for Rock Tomb, though.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can cripple Pansage with a burn or KO it with Flare Blitz. However, both are hit hard by Rock Tomb.
**Faster Pokemon and Priority Moves**: Pansage is very frail, so fast attackers such as Abra and priority attackers such as Pawniard can easily KO it or force it out.
[OVERVIEW]
Pansage is extremely frail, has poor offensive stats, and lacks powerful coverage options; however, the damage mechanics at level 5 make Pansage's Bullet Seed one of the strongest attacks in the metagame. Bullet Seed can 2HKO even the bulkiest walls, and Pansage's decent movepool allows it to heavily damage almost everything that resists Bullet Seed. Lastly, Pansage has a decent Speed tier and can outspeed many threats.
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Bullet Seed
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Low Sweep
move 4: Rock Tomb / Gunk Shot
item: Life Orb
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 244 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bullet Seed is Pansage's strongest attack and the only reason to include Pansage on a team; it's capable of 2HKOing every Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Knock Off weakens many switch-ins to Pansage such as Pumpkaboo-XL and Foongus, and Low Sweep hits Steel-types such as Pawniard and Magnemite. Rock Tomb can 2HKO bulky Fire-types and Vullaby after Stealth Rock and allows Pansage to outspeed faster threats. Alternatively, Gunk Shot lets Pansage heavily damage Grass- and Fairy-types and is its best way of dealing any sort of meaningful damage to Foongus.
Set Details
========
The EV spread increases Pansage's Attack as much as possible while allowing it to reach 17 Speed. Life Orb significantly increases the power of Pansage's attacks. Overgrow is Pansage's most useful ability, as it makes Bullet Seed even stronger when Pansage is at low health.
Usage Tips
========
Use Pansage to break down walls with its powerful Bullet Seed. Pansage's coverage options should be used to heavily damage or KO incoming checks and counters. Pansage as a whole isn't a very good Pokemon and will lose many matchups, making it important to only use it against walls and Pokemon it can threaten to KO. Take advantage of weak attacks, Life Orb recoil, and damage from entry hazards to activate Overgrow and empower Bullet Seed.
Team Options
========
Pansage appreciates Stealth Rock support to weaken its Flying-, Fire-, and Ice-type checks and ensure extra KOs such as the 2HKO on Ponyta. Slow pivots can compensate for Pansage's poor bulk and allow it to come into play and begin firing off powerful attacks. Pansage struggles to damage Foongus in any meaningful way, making Vullaby and Sleep Talk + Rest Skrelp great teammates. Gothita can also deal with Foongus along with trapping other Poison-types and fast threats to Pansage. Skrelp and other Water-types are also good for dealing with Fire-types that threaten Pansage. Chinchou is a particularly good Water-type teammate because it can check Flying-types on top of its ability to pivot Pansage in with a slow Volt Switch. Finally, Snivy and Fletchling appreciate Pansage's abilities to break down walls for them and they can return the favor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Pansage learns Nasty Plot, but Snivy typically outclasses any set using it. A set utilizing Acrobatics and Berry Juice allows Pansage to hit Foongus, but Pansage is much weaker without its Life Orb. Hone Claws and Substitute are good options for setting up and easing prediction, but Pansage typically needs all of its coverage options and can't afford to use either of these moves. A set with Gluttony and a Salac or Petaya Berry could be used to try to sweep; however, again, Pansage is very weak without a Life Orb. Lastly, Taunt helps to break down walls and prevent entry hazards from being set up, but Pansage's poor bulk makes it difficult to utilize.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Foongus**: Foongus takes very little from any of Pansage's attacks and forces it out with Sludge Bomb. However, Pansage can 2HKO a Foongus that has lost its Eviolite with Gunk Shot after Stealth Rock damage.
**Croagunk**: Croagunk resists all of Pansage's common coverage and can OHKO it with Sludge Bomb. However, it is prone to being worn down and takes a lot from Bullet Seed if its Eviolite has been Knocked Off.
**Flying-types**: Fletchling can outspeed and OHKO Pansage with its super effective STAB Acrobatics, while Vullaby can take any hit and KO in return. They both must watch out for Rock Tomb, though.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types such as Ponyta and Larvesta can cripple Pansage with a burn or KO it with Flare Blitz. However, both are hit hard by Rock Tomb.
**Faster Pokemon and Priority Moves**: Pansage is very frail, so fast attackers such as Abra and priority attackers such as Pawniard can easily KO it or force it out.
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