Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Toxic / Jump Kick
ability: Sap Sipper
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant
Moves
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Double-Edge, a strong STAB move with decent neutral coverage, allows Sawsbuck to hit a good portion of the tier very hard. After some prior damage, it is able to OHKO or 2HKO almost every offensive Pokemon in the tier that doesn't resist it. Horn Leech is a secondary STAB move that allows Sawsbuck to reliably revenge kill Pokemon such as Carracosta and hit other common resisters of Normal-type moves, such as Golem and Carbink, for super effective damage. It is also strong enough to 2HKO most offensive Pokemon on the switch and damage Ghost-types that try to come in, such as Misdreavus, and it has nice synergy with Double-Edge, which is able to hit Grass-, Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon hard as they switch in. Baton Pass is the main reason for which Choice Scarf Sawsbuck is viable. It allows Sawsbuck to pivot out of physical walls, such as Misdreavus and Avalugg, with ease as they come in and also to occasionally pass a Sap Sipper boost it might have gained from switching in against Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist. Toxic, while it might look strange on a Choice Scarf user, gives Sawsbuck value in the matchup against bulkier teams by crippling potential switch-ins such as Avalugg. However, it can be risky to lock Sawsbuck into the move at times. For this reason, Jump Kick is an option too, as it hits Probopass and Pawniard much harder than any other move Sawsbuck can use.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature is the best spread to outspeed a +2 Barbaracle that isn't carrying a positive Speed nature. Adamant can be used if your team has other answers to Barbaracle, and it has some cool advantages, such as guaranteeing an OHKO on Ninetales after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
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This set should be used as a revenge killer against common threats, such as Ninetales, Tauros, and Sneasel. Its ability to revenge kill Carracosta — thanks to Sawsbuck's resistance to Aqua Jet — and Barbaracle also comes in handy often. Double-Edge is a strong, spammable move and is generally hard for offensive teams to switch into. Horn Leech complements it well, and its threat is usually enough to scare Rock-types from coming in. Baton Pass is the best move to go for if you predict a switch into a defensive wall; coupled with entry hazards, it makes gaining momentum against Avalugg very easy. Toxic is also to be used when predicting switches to Sawsbuck checks.
Team Options
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This Sawsbuck set fits best in offensive and balanced teams looking for a momentum gainer and reliable revenge killer for Pokemon such as Carracosta. For example, Pelipper can handle most of the Pokemon that check Sawsbuck, such as Avalugg, and appreciates a revenge killer for Pokemon that can beat it with ease, such as Carracosta. On more offensive teams, entry hazard users, such as Whirlipede and Custap Berry Dwebble, are also great partners, as Sawsbuck is great at forcing switches. Teammates that are able to keep entry hazards up, such as Misdreavus and Pawniard, fit in as well. Wallbreakers such as Life Orb Haunter are great partners for Sawsbuck, as they allow it to sweep later in the game by weakening walls. Special variants of Poliwrath also work in this regard, as they are able to lure in and 2HKO Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist with Ice Beam. Volt Switch and U-turn users, such as Raichu and Probopass, also work very well with this Sawsbuck, as they are able to keep momentum with Sawsbuck's Baton Pass.
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Toxic / Jump Kick
ability: Sap Sipper
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant
Moves
========
Double-Edge, a strong STAB move with decent neutral coverage, allows Sawsbuck to hit a good portion of the tier very hard. After some prior damage, it is able to OHKO or 2HKO almost every offensive Pokemon in the tier that doesn't resist it. Horn Leech is a secondary STAB move that allows Sawsbuck to reliably revenge kill Pokemon such as Carracosta and hit other common resisters of Normal-type moves, such as Golem and Carbink, for super effective damage. It is also strong enough to 2HKO most offensive Pokemon on the switch and damage Ghost-types that try to come in, such as Misdreavus, and it has nice synergy with Double-Edge, which is able to hit Grass-, Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon hard as they switch in. Baton Pass is the main reason for which Choice Scarf Sawsbuck is viable. It allows Sawsbuck to pivot out of physical walls, such as Misdreavus and Avalugg, with ease as they come in and also to occasionally pass a Sap Sipper boost it might have gained from switching in against Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist. Toxic, while it might look strange on a Choice Scarf user, gives Sawsbuck value in the matchup against bulkier teams by crippling potential switch-ins such as Avalugg. However, it can be risky to lock Sawsbuck into the move at times. For this reason, Jump Kick is an option too, as it hits Probopass and Pawniard much harder than any other move Sawsbuck can use.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack and Speed with a Jolly nature is the best spread to outspeed a +2 Barbaracle that isn't carrying a positive Speed nature. Adamant can be used if your team has other answers to Barbaracle, and it has some cool advantages, such as guaranteeing an OHKO on Ninetales after Stealth Rock.
Usage Tips
========
This set should be used as a revenge killer against common threats, such as Ninetales, Tauros, and Sneasel. Its ability to revenge kill Carracosta — thanks to Sawsbuck's resistance to Aqua Jet — and Barbaracle also comes in handy often. Double-Edge is a strong, spammable move and is generally hard for offensive teams to switch into. Horn Leech complements it well, and its threat is usually enough to scare Rock-types from coming in. Baton Pass is the best move to go for if you predict a switch into a defensive wall; coupled with entry hazards, it makes gaining momentum against Avalugg very easy. Toxic is also to be used when predicting switches to Sawsbuck checks.
Team Options
========
This Sawsbuck set fits best in offensive and balanced teams looking for a momentum gainer and reliable revenge killer for Pokemon such as Carracosta. For example, Pelipper can handle most of the Pokemon that check Sawsbuck, such as Avalugg, and appreciates a revenge killer for Pokemon that can beat it with ease, such as Carracosta. On more offensive teams, entry hazard users, such as Whirlipede and Custap Berry Dwebble, are also great partners, as Sawsbuck is great at forcing switches. Teammates that are able to keep entry hazards up, such as Misdreavus and Pawniard, fit in as well. Wallbreakers such as Life Orb Haunter are great partners for Sawsbuck, as they allow it to sweep later in the game by weakening walls. Special variants of Poliwrath also work in this regard, as they are able to lure in and 2HKO Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist with Ice Beam. Volt Switch and U-turn users, such as Raichu and Probopass, also work very well with this Sawsbuck, as they are able to keep momentum with Sawsbuck's Baton Pass.
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