Overview
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Phanpy is a solid pokemon, having 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 brethren Donphan, causing it to lose ground to SandShrew and Drilbur. Meger Special bulk further undermines Phanpy's viability. However, Phanpy's access to Knock Off allows it to differentiate itself from Drilbur and Hippopotas while Ice Shard allows it pick off faster threats where Sandshrew cannot. Various other options such as Play Rough, Roar, Head Smash, and Gunk Shot give Phanpy a more distinct niche, though rather specific.
Utility
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name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roar / Ice Shard
ability: Pick Up
item: Eviolite
evs: 116 HP / 116 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
nature: Impish
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is the keystone piece on this set; Stealth Rock endows Phanpy with the ability to support its teammates, an ability which is furthered by Knock Off. 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 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 is helps make up for Phanpy's weaker offensive presence, making setting up on Phanpy impossible, while also having utility in ruining opposing team's momentum. Ice Shard can be used over Roar however, as it deals extra chip damage and can potentially pick off opposing Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Phanpy's EV spread allows it to outspeed both Skrelp and Timburr while hitting impressive Physical bulk, boltered further thanks to Eviolite. Impish is the Nature of choice as it makes the highest Defense stat attainable but still allows Phanpy to hit with some power thanks to its Attack investment. Pick Up is the chosen Ability due to being the most likely to activate in battle, however it is still often unuseful.
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 the Special Attacks. Roar as they bring in their switchin to potentially gain an edge or to combat pokemon setting up on you while Knock Offing versus bulky pokemon to help your team run through them late game. If you are running Ice Shard, only use it to scavenge a kill on a rather low health mon.
Team Options
========
Grass-types such as Ferroseed and Lileep make great teammates for Phanpy as Ferroseed is able to stack Spikes and covers Phanpy's weaknesses well where as Lileep absorbs Scalds and Special Attacks nicely. However, be aware of their shared Ice weakness. A variety of Water types like Tentacool and Skrelp easily tank Special hits aimed at Phanpy while resisting Ice- and Water-type attacks. Tentacool has the bonuses of of Rapid Spin and Liquid Ooze to annoy Giga Drains and Drain Punches aimed at Phanpy whereas Skrelp adds great offensive power to your team. General walls akin to Spritzee and Porygon have great bulk and enjoy the use of Stealth Rock and Spritzee has the added bonus of passing Wishes to Phanpy, maintaining its health. In theory, Phanpy defeats Poison-types and Steel-types for Spritzee as well, while taking Fighting attacks gracefully for Porygon. Unfortunately, Ferroseed counters Phanpy, while Phanpy fails to check a number of Poison-types due to their second typing hitting Phanpy for Super Effective damage or them evading Earthquake, making Vullaby pair nicely as well.
Other Options
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Play Rough can be run in order to hit Fighting types harder, though its rather weak outside of this. Head Smash is another option which hits Vullaby much harder than Play Rough and allows Phanpy to kill Larvesta on the switch. Head Smash also prevents Archen and Fletchling from trying to switch into Phanpy. However, this does hamper Phanpy's niche as a defensive pokemon due to recoil and has undesirable accuracy. Because of this, Rock Tomb is a weaker alternative which slows down switch ins, allowing Phanpy to speed tie with the 17 speed tier. Gunk Shot nails common Grass-type switch ins like Chespin, Snover, and Cottonee but many other common Grass-types aren't weak to Poison coupled with the move's inaccurate nature makes Gunk Shot limitedly useful. Lastly, Toxic can be down for further wearing down walls and provides more utility for the team, though limited.
Checks & Counters
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**Water Types**
Bulky Water-types easily switch into Phanpy due to its weak offenses and threaten it with their STABS. Slowpoke is an example of such whom has the bulk and the power to easily handle Phanoy, however Slowpoke will lose its precious Eviolite in the process. Corphish and Totodile is another example that has the raw power to flat out KO Phanpy. The rare Mantyke avoids Phanpy's STAB 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 and spin away rocks and KO Phanpy with ease.
**Grass Types**
Grass-types easily switch into Phanpy and can typically KO with their STAB moves. Foongus, Lileep and Ferroseed are able do this many times as is Cottonee which can Encore Phanpy into an unfavorable move and 2HKO. Snivy is an offensive answer, grabbing a nice +2 off of Phanpy as it KOes with Leaf Storm and avoids any scarring damage from Ice Shard
**Taunt**
Mienfoo and Cottonee can Taunt Phanpy preventing Stealth Rock, effectively decimating Phanpy's immediate usefulness.
**Hazard Removers**
Hazard removers can make Phanpy's addition to a team become obsolete at times. Vullaby is a good example as it doesn't mind Knock Off or coverage options too badly and can Defog away hazards while KOing Phanpy with ease.
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Phanpy is a solid pokemon, having 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 brethren Donphan, causing it to lose ground to SandShrew and Drilbur. Meger Special bulk further undermines Phanpy's viability. However, Phanpy's access to Knock Off allows it to differentiate itself from Drilbur and Hippopotas while Ice Shard allows it pick off faster threats where Sandshrew cannot. Various other options such as Play Rough, Roar, Head Smash, and Gunk Shot give Phanpy a more distinct niche, though rather specific.
Utility
########
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Roar / Ice Shard
ability: Pick Up
item: Eviolite
evs: 116 HP / 116 Atk / 196 Def / 36 SpD / 36 Spe
nature: Impish
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is the keystone piece on this set; Stealth Rock endows Phanpy with the ability to support its teammates, an ability which is furthered by Knock Off. 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 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 is helps make up for Phanpy's weaker offensive presence, making setting up on Phanpy impossible, while also having utility in ruining opposing team's momentum. Ice Shard can be used over Roar however, as it deals extra chip damage and can potentially pick off opposing Pokemon.
Set Details
========
Phanpy's EV spread allows it to outspeed both Skrelp and Timburr while hitting impressive Physical bulk, boltered further thanks to Eviolite. Impish is the Nature of choice as it makes the highest Defense stat attainable but still allows Phanpy to hit with some power thanks to its Attack investment. Pick Up is the chosen Ability due to being the most likely to activate in battle, however it is still often unuseful.
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 the Special Attacks. Roar as they bring in their switchin to potentially gain an edge or to combat pokemon setting up on you while Knock Offing versus bulky pokemon to help your team run through them late game. If you are running Ice Shard, only use it to scavenge a kill on a rather low health mon.
Team Options
========
Grass-types such as Ferroseed and Lileep make great teammates for Phanpy as Ferroseed is able to stack Spikes and covers Phanpy's weaknesses well where as Lileep absorbs Scalds and Special Attacks nicely. However, be aware of their shared Ice weakness. A variety of Water types like Tentacool and Skrelp easily tank Special hits aimed at Phanpy while resisting Ice- and Water-type attacks. Tentacool has the bonuses of of Rapid Spin and Liquid Ooze to annoy Giga Drains and Drain Punches aimed at Phanpy whereas Skrelp adds great offensive power to your team. General walls akin to Spritzee and Porygon have great bulk and enjoy the use of Stealth Rock and Spritzee has the added bonus of passing Wishes to Phanpy, maintaining its health. In theory, Phanpy defeats Poison-types and Steel-types for Spritzee as well, while taking Fighting attacks gracefully for Porygon. Unfortunately, Ferroseed counters Phanpy, while Phanpy fails to check a number of Poison-types due to their second typing hitting Phanpy for Super Effective damage or them evading Earthquake, making Vullaby pair nicely as well.
Other Options
########
Play Rough can be run in order to hit Fighting types harder, though its rather weak outside of this. Head Smash is another option which hits Vullaby much harder than Play Rough and allows Phanpy to kill Larvesta on the switch. Head Smash also prevents Archen and Fletchling from trying to switch into Phanpy. However, this does hamper Phanpy's niche as a defensive pokemon due to recoil and has undesirable accuracy. Because of this, Rock Tomb is a weaker alternative which slows down switch ins, allowing Phanpy to speed tie with the 17 speed tier. Gunk Shot nails common Grass-type switch ins like Chespin, Snover, and Cottonee but many other common Grass-types aren't weak to Poison coupled with the move's inaccurate nature makes Gunk Shot limitedly useful. Lastly, Toxic can be down for further wearing down walls and provides more utility for the team, though limited.
Checks & Counters
########
**Water Types**
Bulky Water-types easily switch into Phanpy due to its weak offenses and threaten it with their STABS. Slowpoke is an example of such whom has the bulk and the power to easily handle Phanoy, however Slowpoke will lose its precious Eviolite in the process. Corphish and Totodile is another example that has the raw power to flat out KO Phanpy. The rare Mantyke avoids Phanpy's STAB 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 and spin away rocks and KO Phanpy with ease.
**Grass Types**
Grass-types easily switch into Phanpy and can typically KO with their STAB moves. Foongus, Lileep and Ferroseed are able do this many times as is Cottonee which can Encore Phanpy into an unfavorable move and 2HKO. Snivy is an offensive answer, grabbing a nice +2 off of Phanpy as it KOes with Leaf Storm and avoids any scarring damage from Ice Shard
**Taunt**
Mienfoo and Cottonee can Taunt Phanpy preventing Stealth Rock, effectively decimating Phanpy's immediate usefulness.
**Hazard Removers**
Hazard removers can make Phanpy's addition to a team become obsolete at times. Vullaby is a good example as it doesn't mind Knock Off or coverage options too badly and can Defog away hazards while KOing Phanpy with ease.
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