taken over Fiend Hound's old analysis
[OVERVIEW]
Phanpy has stellar physical bulk and a fair typing, though it faces stiff competition from other Ground-types. Phanpy misses out on Rapid Spin, unlike its older brother Donphan, causing it to lose ground excellent pun :> to Sandshrew and Drilbur. Meager special bulk further undermines Phanpy's viability. However, Phanpy's access to Knock Off allows it to differentiate itself from Drilbur and Hippopotas, and Ice Shard allows Phanpy to pick off faster threats whereas Sandshrew can't. Various other options such as Play Rough, Roar, Head Smash, and Gunk Shot give Phanpy a more distinct niche, though rather situational.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roar / Ice Shard
item: Eviolite
ability: Pickup
nature: Impish
evs: 116 HP / 116 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock endows Phanpy with the ability to support its teammates. Knock Off allows for walls to be more easily broken down and in general helps the team break past common Water- and Grass-types. Earthquake is Phanpy's STAB move of choice, hitting most Pokemon for decent damage while having nice coverage alongside Knock Off. The last slot is a toss-up between Roar and Ice Shard. Roar helps make up for Phanpy's weaker offensive presence, making setting up on Phanpy impossible, while also having utility in ruining the opposing team's momentum. Ice Shard can be used over Roar, however, as it deals extra chip damage and can potentially pick off weakened Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Phanpy's EV spread allows it to outspeed both Skrelp and Timburr while having impressive physical bulk, bolstered further thanks to Eviolite. An Impish nature gives Phanpy the highest Defense stat it can get, but still allows it to hit with some power thanks to its Attack investment. Pickup is the chosen ability due to being the most likely to activate in battle; however, it is still often useless.
Usage Tips
========
When using Phanpy, strive to set up Stealth Rock early-game against physical attackers, such as Diglett, Croagunk, Dwebble, and Larvesta, while avoiding special attacks. Use Roar as the opponent in their Phanpy switch-in to keep momentum in your favor. Use Knock Off versus bulky Pokemon to help your team run through them late-game. If Phanpy is running Ice Shard, just use it to scavenge a KO on a threat that is low on health.
Team Options
========
Grass-types such as Ferroseed and Lileep make for great teammates for Phanpy, as Ferroseed is able to stack Spikes and covers Phanpy's weaknesses well, while Lileep absorbs Scalds and other special attacks nicely. However, be aware of their shared Ice-type weakness. A variety of Water-types such as Tentacool and Skrelp can easily tank special hits aimed at Phanpy while resisting Ice- and Water-type attacks. Tentacool can get rid of entry hazards with Rapid Spin and has the ability Liquid Ooze to annoy Giga Drain and Drain Punch users, whereas Skrelp adds great offensive power to your team. General walls such as Spritzee and Porygon have great bulk and enjoy the use of Stealth Rock. Spritzee has the added bonus of being able to pass Wishes to Phanpy in order to recover its HP. In theory, Phanpy defeats Poison- and Steel-types for Spritzee while gracefully taking Fighting-type attacks for Porygon. Unfortunately, Ferroseed counters Phanpy, and Phanpy fails to check a number of Poison-types due to their secondary typing allowing them to hit Phanpy for STAB super effective damage or evade Earthquake. As a result, Vullaby pairs nicely with Phanpy as well to deal with these foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Play Rough can be run in order to hit Fighting-types harder, though it's rather weak outside of this. Head Smash is another option, which hits Vullaby much harder than Play Rough and allows Phanpy to OHKO Larvesta on the switch. Head Smash also prevents Archen and Fletchling from trying to switch into Phanpy. However, it does hamper Phanpy's niche as a defensive Pokemon due to recoil and has undesirable accuracy. Rock Tomb is a weaker alternative to Head Smash which slows down switch-ins, allowing Phanpy to Speed tie with Pokemon with 17 Speed. Gunk Shot nails common Grass-type switch-ins such as Chespin, Snover, and Cottonee, but many other common Grass-types aren't weak to Poison and the move is inaccurate. Lastly, Toxic can be used to wear down walls and provides more utility for the team, though Phanpy has limited opportunities to use it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types can easily switch into Phanpy due to its weak offenses and threaten it with their STAB attacks. Slowpoke is an example of such, and has the bulk and the power to easily handle Phanpy; however, (AC) remove (AC) Slowpoke will need to be wary of Knock Off. Corphish and Totodile are other examples that have the raw power to KO Phanpy. The rare Mantyke avoids Phanpy's STAB moves while threatening it back with Scald. However, stray Rock Tombs and Head Smashes will swiftly deal with Mantyke. Staryu and Shellder can comfortably switch in, spin away entry hazards, and KO Phanpy with ease.
**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon easily switch into Phanpy and can typically KO it with their STAB moves. Foongus, Lileep, Cottonee are defensive answers to Phanpy, able to counter and KO it. Snivy is an offensive answer, grabbing a nice +2 off of Phanpy as it KOes with Leaf Storm, and doesn't take much damage from Ice Shard.
**Taunt**: Mienfoo and Cottonee can Taunt Phanpy, preventing it from using Stealth Rock and effectively decimating Phanpy's immediate usefulness.
**Entry Hazard Removers**: Entry hazard removers can make Phanpy useless at times. Vullaby is a good example, as it doesn't mind Knock Off and Phanpy's coverage moves too badly, can Defog away entry hazards, and can KO Phanpy.
[OVERVIEW]
Phanpy has stellar physical bulk and a fair typing, though it faces stiff competition from other Ground-types. Phanpy misses out on Rapid Spin, unlike its older brother Donphan, causing it to lose ground excellent pun :> to Sandshrew and Drilbur. Meager special bulk further undermines Phanpy's viability. However, Phanpy's access to Knock Off allows it to differentiate itself from Drilbur and Hippopotas, and Ice Shard allows Phanpy to pick off faster threats whereas Sandshrew can't. Various other options such as Play Rough, Roar, Head Smash, and Gunk Shot give Phanpy a more distinct niche, though rather situational.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roar / Ice Shard
item: Eviolite
ability: Pickup
nature: Impish
evs: 116 HP / 116 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock endows Phanpy with the ability to support its teammates. Knock Off allows for walls to be more easily broken down and in general helps the team break past common Water- and Grass-types. Earthquake is Phanpy's STAB move of choice, hitting most Pokemon for decent damage while having nice coverage alongside Knock Off. The last slot is a toss-up between Roar and Ice Shard. Roar helps make up for Phanpy's weaker offensive presence, making setting up on Phanpy impossible, while also having utility in ruining the opposing team's momentum. Ice Shard can be used over Roar, however, as it deals extra chip damage and can potentially pick off weakened Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Phanpy's EV spread allows it to outspeed both Skrelp and Timburr while having impressive physical bulk, bolstered further thanks to Eviolite. An Impish nature gives Phanpy the highest Defense stat it can get, but still allows it to hit with some power thanks to its Attack investment. Pickup is the chosen ability due to being the most likely to activate in battle; however, it is still often useless.
Usage Tips
========
When using Phanpy, strive to set up Stealth Rock early-game against physical attackers, such as Diglett, Croagunk, Dwebble, and Larvesta, while avoiding special attacks. Use Roar as the opponent in their Phanpy switch-in to keep momentum in your favor. Use Knock Off versus bulky Pokemon to help your team run through them late-game. If Phanpy is running Ice Shard, just use it to scavenge a KO on a threat that is low on health.
Team Options
========
Grass-types such as Ferroseed and Lileep make for great teammates for Phanpy, as Ferroseed is able to stack Spikes and covers Phanpy's weaknesses well, while Lileep absorbs Scalds and other special attacks nicely. However, be aware of their shared Ice-type weakness. A variety of Water-types such as Tentacool and Skrelp can easily tank special hits aimed at Phanpy while resisting Ice- and Water-type attacks. Tentacool can get rid of entry hazards with Rapid Spin and has the ability Liquid Ooze to annoy Giga Drain and Drain Punch users, whereas Skrelp adds great offensive power to your team. General walls such as Spritzee and Porygon have great bulk and enjoy the use of Stealth Rock. Spritzee has the added bonus of being able to pass Wishes to Phanpy in order to recover its HP. In theory, Phanpy defeats Poison- and Steel-types for Spritzee while gracefully taking Fighting-type attacks for Porygon. Unfortunately, Ferroseed counters Phanpy, and Phanpy fails to check a number of Poison-types due to their secondary typing allowing them to hit Phanpy for STAB super effective damage or evade Earthquake. As a result, Vullaby pairs nicely with Phanpy as well to deal with these foes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Play Rough can be run in order to hit Fighting-types harder, though it's rather weak outside of this. Head Smash is another option, which hits Vullaby much harder than Play Rough and allows Phanpy to OHKO Larvesta on the switch. Head Smash also prevents Archen and Fletchling from trying to switch into Phanpy. However, it does hamper Phanpy's niche as a defensive Pokemon due to recoil and has undesirable accuracy. Rock Tomb is a weaker alternative to Head Smash which slows down switch-ins, allowing Phanpy to Speed tie with Pokemon with 17 Speed. Gunk Shot nails common Grass-type switch-ins such as Chespin, Snover, and Cottonee, but many other common Grass-types aren't weak to Poison and the move is inaccurate. Lastly, Toxic can be used to wear down walls and provides more utility for the team, though Phanpy has limited opportunities to use it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types can easily switch into Phanpy due to its weak offenses and threaten it with their STAB attacks. Slowpoke is an example of such, and has the bulk and the power to easily handle Phanpy; however, (AC) remove (AC) Slowpoke will need to be wary of Knock Off. Corphish and Totodile are other examples that have the raw power to KO Phanpy. The rare Mantyke avoids Phanpy's STAB moves while threatening it back with Scald. However, stray Rock Tombs and Head Smashes will swiftly deal with Mantyke. Staryu and Shellder can comfortably switch in, spin away entry hazards, and KO Phanpy with ease.
**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon easily switch into Phanpy and can typically KO it with their STAB moves. Foongus, Lileep, Cottonee are defensive answers to Phanpy, able to counter and KO it. Snivy is an offensive answer, grabbing a nice +2 off of Phanpy as it KOes with Leaf Storm, and doesn't take much damage from Ice Shard.
**Taunt**: Mienfoo and Cottonee can Taunt Phanpy, preventing it from using Stealth Rock and effectively decimating Phanpy's immediate usefulness.
**Entry Hazard Removers**: Entry hazard removers can make Phanpy useless at times. Vullaby is a good example, as it doesn't mind Knock Off and Phanpy's coverage moves too badly, can Defog away entry hazards, and can KO Phanpy.
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