Politoed [QC:2/3] written

[blinkie]

Overview
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Politoed is a rather niche Pokemon in the PU metagame, but it still can distinguish itself with access to helpful supporting moves such as Perish Song and Encore. This gives it a small niche over other bulky Water-types sycg as Pelipper and Prinplup, as it can stop many dangerous setup sweepers. Politoed has to rely on passive damage to wear down foes, and it also has no reliable recovery, making it easy to wear down. While Politoed is reliant on burns to check many threats, it still has decent Defenses and good Speed for a defensive Pokemon.


Perish Song
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name: Perish Song
move 1: Perish Song
move 2: Scald
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Protect / Encore
ability: Water Absorb
item: Leftovers
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
nature: Calm

Moves
========

Perish Song is used to put setup sweepers such as Calm Mind Clefairy and Carbink on a timer, preventing them from sweeping Politoed's team. Scald can burn Physical attackers and patches up Politoed's weaker Defense. It is also Politoed's only attacking move. Toxic is used for bulkier foes such as Pelipper and Articuno, who do not mind Scald burns due to their recovery. Protect is the main choice in the last slot to stall for Leftovers recovery, passive damage, and Perish Song turns, while also scouting Choice-locked Pokemon. Encore is also usable as it can mess up slower setup sweepers by locking them into the wrong move. Finally, Haze can be used to help with more offensive setup sweepers.


Set Details
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Maximum HP and Special Defense investment combined with a Calm nature maximize special bulk to check to check special attackers such as Simipour. A Physically defensive spread is also an option if you want to check physical attackers such as Pawniard and Golem better. Leftovers is a must as it provides helpful passive recovery, and is Politoed's only form of healing. Water Absorb lets Politoed switch in for free against Water-type moves and get healed. 56 Speed EVs can be used in order to outspeed max speed base 45 Pokemon such as Golem, Marowak, and Armaldo, if they are a problem for the team.

Usage Tips
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Try and conserve Politoed for the most dangerous setup sweepers to your team as it gets worn down quickly by residual damage. It also will be weakened from repeated hits. If you predict bulkier targets switching in, such as Pelipper, it is better to hit them with Toxic, as you do not want to burn them. Do not be too predictable with Protect, as opponents can take advantage of it once they predict right. If you run Encore, be careful of trying to Encore faster setup sweepers, as they can outrun Politoed with their boosts. Do not risk using Perish Song on Pokemon that can hit Politoed hard such as Pawniard as the opponent can just switch out, leaving Politoed crippled. Scald is generally the best move to use early game to fish for burns although keep in mind it can easily be absorbed by most walls with recovery.

Team Options
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Politoed fits best on stall teams as it can help check many setup sweepers. As it forces many switches, Stealth Rock from partners such as Piloswine is helpful, and for the same reason Toxic Spikes and Spikes from Roselia and Quilladin also work well, while the latter two also have good type synergy with Politoed. Heal Bell users such as Grumpig and Lickylicky can come in handy if Politoed is statused. Wish passers also can constantly keep Politoed healthy, Flareon and Wigglytuff both can do this, while the former also has decent synergy with Politoed. Entry hazard removers such as Avalugg and Togetic can get rid of entry hazards that wear Politoed down. Grass-types such as Tangela and Gourgeist-Super make for good teammates since they can take Electric- and Grass-type moves, while Politoed covers their Fire- and Ice-type weaknesses.


Other Options
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Ice Beam is an option that is more reliable than hoping for a burn versus threats such as Jumpluff and Torterra, but it is hard to find room for. Hypnosis can be used to incapacitate a threat, but its accuracy makes it unreliable at critical moments. Counter is an option to surprise Physical attackers, but Politoed is better off just burning them.Psychic can do some damage to Fighting-types such as Throh and Poliwrath but it is still extremely weak.Offensive sets should not be used as they are completely outclassed by Simipour who has access to Nasty Plot and a better speed tier.


Checks & Counters
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**Grass-types**: Grass-type Pokemon such as Roselia and Tangela do not mind Scald too much and can hurt Politoed with their STAB moves before being forced out.

**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Raichu, Zebstrika, and Electabuzz can also hit Politoed hard with their STAB moves, although they take more damage from Scald on the switch in.

**Wallbreakers**: Some powerful Pokemon such as Ursaring, Luxray, and Choice Specs Beheeyem do not need to setup and do not mind Perish Song, while they can hurt Politoed hard right off the bat.

**Water-types**: Water-types such as Lapras and Pelipper can easily take Scald, although they dislike Toxic, while Substitute users such as Simipour and Poliwrath can avoid Toxic, although they can be stalled with Perish Song, and Politoed is also setup fodder for Taunt Baton Pass Floatzel.

**Passive Damage**: Politoed has no relialbe recovery so it is easily worn down by Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic, while Toxic Spikes can negate cleric support.

 

[blinkie]

qc ready

 

[Anty]

Overview: This is decent, but no need to mention BP as that isnt very common, and Taunt BP Floatzel uses toed as fodder.

Moves: There are better examples of what perish song beats, as cm grumpig isnt relevant and gogoat beats you, Clefairy and Carbink are too options that come to mind. Mention Haze in moves imo, it also helps with set up sweepers, but is more effective vs offensive ones.

SD: I wouldnt say it runs spdef because it can burn physical attackers, rather than to check special attackers due to its higher special defense. Also mention that a ph def spread can be used.

UT: Looks good but 'Do not risk using Perish Song on Pokemon that can hit Politoed hard such as Leafeon as the opponent can just switch out and leave Politoed crippled' Use a different example as its not like politoed will be staying in on a Leafeon.

TO: Definitely talk about wish passers as that helps toed. Give more examples of types that synergies well with toed.

OO: Say specifically not to use offensive sets as they are outclassed by Simipour.

C&C: **Passive Damage** and **Water-types** should have their own bit imo. Politoed lacks any recovery so toxic and spikes will just wear it down, while water types easily take scalds and, Sub simipour/poliwrath and taunt bp use it as fodder

blinkie this is looking strong, sorry for the quick rate but my mouse has no fucked up x_x

 

[blinkie]

Implemented Anty

 

[Anty]

In the overview points 1 and 6 should be merged. Also give more examples here, ie say what dangerous set up sweepers it beats, also say what its niche is over other bulky waters.

Scald doesnt just burn physical attackers, it annoys every switch in. Also mention haze in moves like i said in my other post

In set details talk about a spread involving 56 speed to beat max 45s (golem/armaldo/marowak)

'Usually Politoed should just switch out once it has used the appropriate move on the foe, as it cannot reliably recover the damage dealt'. This isnt always the case, eg if politoed wants to stay in finish off the opponent it isnt exactly switching out, and if you used encore on a status move the opp will often switch out and you can burn/poison another switch ins

'Toxic Spikes and Spikes from Roselia and Quilladin also work well' You should probably say why and you can merge this with the other point about hazards. Again there should be more than one examples of types that synergise well

blinkie

 

[blinkie]

In the overview points 1 and 6 should be merged. Also give more examples here, ie say what dangerous set up sweepers it beats, also say what its niche is over other bulky waters.

Scald doesnt just burn physical attackers, it annoys every switch in. Also mention haze in moves like i said in my other post

In set details talk about a spread involving 56 speed to beat max 45s (golem/armaldo/marowak)

'Usually Politoed should just switch out once it has used the appropriate move on the foe, as it cannot reliably recover the damage dealt'. This isnt always the case, eg if politoed wants to stay in finish off the opponent it isnt exactly switching out, and if you used encore on a status move the opp will often switch out and you can burn/poison another switch ins

'Toxic Spikes and Spikes from Roselia and Quilladin also work well' You should probably say why and you can merge this with the other point about hazards. Again there should be more than one examples of types that synergise well

blinkie

Ok done

 

[Anty]

Looking good blinkie

QC 1/3

 

[Raiza]

This is really solid didn't really find anything important to add really just some little nitpicks blinkie good job

Overview
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Make sure to expand points a little bit with explanation when you go into writing up, just making sure, as the points are good but most of them lack a bit in detail.
Mention some bulky Water-types when you talk about them

Set Details
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Mention examples special and physical attackers when you cite them.

QC 2/3

 

[Grim]

Overview
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-Remove Prinplup mention.
-Instead of many dangerous setup sweepers say that it specifically stops bulky set up sweepers such as CM Clefairy for fat teams.
-Say that the fat stall teams that Politoed fits on are borderline unviable in PU so there is very little reason to ever use this Pokemon.
-Also say that it's spikes fodder for Roselia.

Set Details
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-Make the 252 HP / 200 SpD / 56 Spe spread the main spread. The bulk loss is pretty much unnoticable and outspeeding base 45 mons is great because you suddenly check them instead of the other way around.

Team Options
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-Flareon and Wigglytuff are pretty bad Wish passers, mention Lickilicky and Hypno instead.
-When you talk about entry hazard removers say that it's especially important because Roselia is very popular and it sets up Spikes / Toxic Spikes all over Politoed.

Other Options
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-I wouldn't say offensive is completely outclassed by Simipour as it actually has bulk. Just say that there is very little reason to use offensive Politoed when there are so many better offensive Water-types, such as Simipour and Poliwrath.

Checks & Counters
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-Also say how those Grass- and Electric-types take advantage of Politoed.
-Lapras is pretty much irrelevant, mention another Water-type such as Poliwrath.

Consider it 3/3 after you've done this. :)

 

[g]

There is a mention of throh as a psychic target pls remove

 

[Grim]

Also please fix the formatting before you send this to GP because it was changed recently. http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/the-new-analysis-formatting-guide.3537802/

 

[WhiteDMist]

blinkie are you still working on this? Please implement grimoiregod's check and update with new format

 

[WhiteDMist]

you have 48 hours to implement or I will have to reassign this blinkie

 

[WhiteDMist]

sorry, it's been 48 hours. I'm reassigning this.