[OVERVIEW]
Roselia's good defensive typing and high Special Defense combined with Eviolite allow it to become a decent special wall, able to switch into Pokemon such as Haunter, and make Roselia into one of the best Water, Grass, and Electric checks in the tier. It also has a strong offensive presence, as it has a respectable Special Attack stat and STAB combination that hits the entire relevant metagame for at least neutral damage. Roselia has access to both Spikes and Toxic Spikes, and its Poison typing allows it to absorb the opposing team's Toxic Spikes. Although it receives competition from other Spikes users, Roselia's niche comes in its longevity along with its high special bulk. Its wide range of support moves, such as Sleep Powder and Synthesis, increases its defensive potential, and its ability, Natural Cure, allows it to absorb status. Unfortunately, Roselia has a low Defense, meaning it has a difficult time checking Pokemon such as Poliwrath, and Roselia's reliance on Eviolite means stray Knock Offs from Pokemon such as Simisage greatly cripple it. Roselia's typing can also hinder it, granting it several weaknesses which limit its walling capabilities; for example, Water-types can hit it hard and threaten to KO it with Ice Beam.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Giga Drain
move 2: Sludge Bomb
move 3: Synthesis / Spikes / Toxic Spikes
move 4: Sleep Powder / Spikes / Toxic Spikes
ability: Natural Cure
item: Eviolite
evs: 160 HP / 252 SpA / 96 Spe
nature: Modest
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Giga Drain hits hard and recovers HP, helping Roselia check Water-types. Sludge Bomb is a stronger STAB move and provides good neutral coverage, hitting Pokemon that resists Grass, such as Tangela and Ninetales. Synthesis helps Roselia switch in to check special attackers and prevents it from being worn down too quickly but has a low PP and canthus be stalled out. Spikes is a valuable asset to any team, as it weakens the opponent's Pokemon every time they switch in, which is especially useful because Roselia forces many switches. Sleep Powder cripples switch-ins by immobilizing them, allowing Roselia to set up Spikes or damage the foe with its STAB moves. Toxic Spikes also wears the opponent's team down and allows teammates to stall bulky foes out. Hidden Power Fighting can be used to KO baited Probopass and Pawniard, two common switch-ins.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature allow Roselia to hit as hard as possible. 96 Speed EVs let Roselia beat maximum invested base 45 Speed Pokemon such as Marowak and Golem. The remaining EVs go in HP to increase its bulk, which is backed up by Eviolite. Natural Cure is its most relevant ability, allowing it to freely take Scalds and other status moves.
Usage Tips
========
Roselia should be switched in against weaker special attackers and ones which it has a type advantage over, such as Pelipper and Tangela, but if not running Synthesis, Roselia should try to not take too much damage. When in, Roselia should either set up entry hazards or deal damage depending on its team's priorities, but if the opponent has a Pokemon such as Lickilicky or Probopass which can switch in and wall Roselia, it should either set up entry hazards on the switch or put them to sleep. Roselia is best used early- and mid-game to set up entry hazards or check strong attackers, but it can be saved at high health for late-game if the opponent has Pokemon such as Rain Dance Poliwrath, which Roselia needs to be at high health to check.
Team Options
========
Roselia fits best on offensive teams which need switch-ins to powerful special attackers such as Raichu and contain Pokemon which appreciate entry hazards. Fighting-types such as Machoke and Poliwrath beat Steel-types that wall Roselia, and in return, Roselia beats Tangela, which those Pokemon have trouble with. Water- and Rock-types such as Simipour and Carracosta both beat Fire-types; Water-types also check Ice-types and appreciate the removal of Grass- and Water-types, and Rock-types beat Flying-types and enjoy Roselia's ability to check Water- and Ground-types. Stealth Rock, from setters such as Golem and Piloswine, works well with Spikes, increasing the amount of damage the opponent's Pokemon take when switching in. Dark- and Ghost-types such as Mightyena and Misdreavus also check Psychic-types. Ghost-types are particularly appreciated, as they can block Rapid Spin. Steel-types such as Probopass check Psychic-, Ice-, and Fire-types and can set up Stealth Rock. Pawniard is a particularly good teammate, as it can deter the use of Defog, and in return Roselia beats bulky Water-types.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Synthesis
move 3: Sludge Bomb / Toxic Spikes
move 4: Giga Drain / Toxic Spikes
ability: Natural Cure
item: Eviolite
evs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD
nature: Calm
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes constantly weakens the opponent's team, damaging Pokemon that try to switch in on Roselia. Synthesis is crucial to let Roselia consistently switch into special attackers. Sludge Bomb hits Grass-types and Togetic super effectively while also hitting Flying- and Fire-types for neutral damage, and Giga Drain provides some recovery and hits Water-types for super effective damage. Toxic Spikes wears down the opponent's team, which is helpful for stalling on defensively based teams. Sleep Powder cripples switch-ins and provides more opportunities to set up Spikes.
Set Details
========
The EV spread provides decent mixed bulk combined with Eviolite and allows Roselia to avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Poliwrath with Stealth Rock most of the time without wasting too many EVs, while always avoiding the 2HKO from Zebstrika's Overheat. Maximum Special Defense EVs can be used to more effectively check special attackers, but with increasing investment, Roselia's Special Defense increases at a slower rate. A more physically defensive spread can also be used to take on Pokemon such as Leafeon with more ease, but many physical attackers can beat Roselia anyway. 96 Speed EVs can be used to let Roselia outspeed base 45 Speed Pokemon such as Golem and Armaldo, but running those EVs takes away a noticeable amount of bulk. Natural Cure allows Roselia to absorb status and prevents it from being worn down too much from Scald burns.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its decent bulk and typing, Roselia is a premier switch-in to special attackers such as Raichu and Simipour and can check physical attackers such as Leafeon, but it has to be careful of taking too much damage, due to Synthesis's low PP. Roselia's main priority is to set up entry hazards, which it can easily do on predicted switches, but if the opponent has ways to remove entry hazards, getting off damage might be more helpful. Setting up Spikes is preferred if the opponent has a Poison-type, as they can absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in. Roselia should be wary about switching into Pokemon that might carry a move to beat Roselia, such as Knock Off Simisage and Simipour.
Team Options
========
Roselia is better used on defensively based teams, which appreciate entry hazards and the checking of special attackers, but it can work on offensively based ones as a defensive switch-in to select foes. Poliwrath is a good teammate, as it checks Fire- and Ice-types, can take a Knock Off and other physical hits, and takes advantage of Roselia's entry hazards with Circle Throw. In return, Roselia beats Electric-, Fairy-, and Grass-types. Other Water-types such as Carracosta and Simipour can also beat Ice- and Fire-types. The former is a particularly good teammate, as it provides Stealth Rock and can check Flying-types. Roselia appreciates Stealth Rock, as it works well with Spikes, so users such as Piloswine and Stunfisk make for decent teammates. Steel-types such as Probopass and Klang beat Ice-, Flying-, and Psychic-types and appreciate the removal of Water-types. Ghost-types such as Misdreavus check Psychic-types and function as spinblockers to keep Roselia's entry hazards on the field.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rest works well with Natural Cure, provides more recovery, has more PP than Synthesis, and works better on sand and hail teams, but it forces Roselia to switch out. Aromatherapy provides support for teammates, but Roselia lacks a free moveslot for it. Leach Seed can wear down switch-ins and provide Roselia with passive recovery; however, Roselia already has recovery and would prefer to set up entry hazards. Stun Spore allows Roselia to cripple switch-ins such as Ninetales. Leaf Storm is an option over Giga Drain for a largely increased power output, but it also forces Roselia to switch out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Offensive Type Advantage**: Fire-types such as Ninetales and Rapidash resist Giga Drain and can take a Sludge Bomb and retaliate back with their Fire-type STAB moves or use Roselia as setup fodder. Flying-types such Dodrio and Jumpluff can revenge kill Roselia, but most offensive ones do not have the bulk to take a Sludge Bomb. Psychic-types such as Beheeyem and Kadabra can set up Nasty Plots or Calm Minds on Roselia and can deal heavy damage with their STAB moves. Ice-types such as Articuno and Regice can KO Roselia with their STAB moves and can easily take a hit or use Roselia as setup fodder.
**Physical Attackers**: Due to its low physical bulk, Roselia is easily revenge killed by strong attackers such as Stoutland and Purugly. Ursaring can force Roselia out and set up a Swords Dance, and it can survive a weak hit if necessary.
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive Pokemon such as Lickilicky can easily stall Roselia out of Synthesis PP and slowly KO it. Machoke can set up Bulk Ups on Roselia, and it can get an Attack boost from status and OHKO Roselia with a boosted hit.
**Knock Off**: Knock Off severely weakens Roselia's ability to take hits, allowing Pokemon such as Life Orb Raichu to 2HKO it when they otherwise couldn't. Although Roselia can force switches against common users, Pokemon such as Simisage can surprise Roselia with Knock Off on the switch in.
**Steel-types**: Steel-type Pokemon such as Probopass can easily take any hit from Roselia and can set up entry hazards or wear it down with repeated hits. Pawniard can set up Swords Dances on Roselia, while Klang can freely Shift Gear and does not worry about Sleep Powder.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Defog users such as Swanna and Pelipper are not affected by Roselia's entry hazards and have a type advantage over Roselia, while Rapid Spin users such as Torkoal and Armaldo either have a type advantage over Roselia or access to Knock Off to cripple it. Poison-types such as Arbok and Roselia can absorb Toxic Spikes upon switching in, and the latter can use Roselia as setup fodder.
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