[OVERVIEW]
* Scrafty is the bulkiest of the Fake Out users while also sporting Fake Out and Intimidate support, which leaves it easily one of the best supporters in VGC.
* Scrafty's low base 58 Speed allows it to underspeed and threaten to OHKO several large metagame threats such as Aegislash, Heatran, and Tyranitar. This makes Scrafty an ideal candidate for Trick Room teams looking for a Pokemon to help ensure Trick Room gets set.
* Dark / Fighting typing is a double-edged sword in perfectly countering Tyranitar, having great STAB coverage, and granting an immunity to Prankster but also leaving Scrafty crucially 4x weak to Fairy-type attacks.
* Scrafty unfortunately struggles to provide much offensive pressure due to a base 90 Attack and Knock Off as its strongest Dark-type STAB option.
* It is threatened by some of the top threats in the game, including all of the island guardians, Mega Salamence, Mega Gardevoir, and Mega Mawile.
[SET]
name: Offensive Support
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Low Kick / Drain Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Detect
item: Assault Vest / Figy Berry
ability: Intimidate
nature: Adamant / Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
* Fake Out helps to allow a teammate to set up Trick Room, Tailwind, or a Substitute. Fake Out also helps to safely pivot out your other Pokemon to better your matchup against the opponent.
* Knock Off stops the opposing Pokemon from healing with 50% Berries and can also weaken other Pokemon such as Eviolite Porygon2 and Chansey.
* Low Kick is the recommended Fighting-type STAB move, as it allows Scrafty to OHKO 4 HP Heatran and Stakataka and 2HKO Mega Kangaskhan, Incineroar, Ferrothorn, and Snorlax after Figy Berry recovery. Drain Punch is a runner up, being the more defensive option that will help to keep Scrafty around longer.
* Ice Punch is the coverage move of choice, as it hits Pokemon such as Landorus-T and Mega Salamence super effectively; it has an 80% chance to OHKO Landorus-T if Scrafty is not Intimidated. Detect also becomes an option when Figy Berry is used; it allows Scrafty to absorb a Z-Move or stall out weather, Terrain, Tailwind, or Trick Room.
* Rock Tomb, Super Fang, and Foul Play are options should Scrafty want to target specific threats (such as Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y in the case of Rock Tomb) or just generally do more damage to Pokemon it can't hit super effectively, like Zapdos and Suicune. Foul Play is great for more defensive variants of Scrafty that want to hit Landorus-T, Belly Drum Snorlax, and Metagross harder. Lastly, Snarl is another option in the fourth slot to help weaken opposing special attackers, which can often force a switch from the opponent due to Scrafty's already impressive special bulk.
* Assault Vest Scrafty can survive a plethora of attacks, including Hyper Voice from Mega Salamence, Dazzling Gleam from Life Orb Tapu Koko, Hurricane from Pelipper, Hydro Vortex from Ludicolo under rain, and Overheat from Mega Charizard Y under sun. Scrafty can also opt to run Figy Berry, which is the superior item when Scrafty is needed to face more physically attacking foes such as Landorus-T, Mega Kangaskhan, and Mega Metagross. However, it should be noted that Figy Berry Scrafty will be KOed by many of the special hits it normally would survive with Assault Vest.
* 252 HP and 252 Attack EVs maximize Scrafty's balance of bulk and offense. 4 Special Defense EVs will give opposing Download Porygon2 an Attack boost as opposed to a Special Attack boost.
* Adamant is often the best nature for Scrafty when outside of Trick Room. This allows Scrafty to move before and threaten to KO certain minimum Speed sweepers such as Tyranitar, Alolan Marowak, and Heatran.
* Brave with a 0 IV in Speed is recommended when Scrafty is paired with a Trick Room user to be as slow as possible. Brave Scrafty also has the added benefit of underspeeding all Aegislash by two Speed points and therefore attacking after Aegislash has switched to Blade forme. Knock Off is a OHKO on Aegislash 87% of the time.
* An alternate EV spread of 252 HP / 156 Atk / 4 Def / 92 SpD / 4 Spe with a Careful or Sassy nature will always survive Overheat from Mega Charizard Y in the sun. This spread works well to balance more between physical and special defense at the sacrifice of offensive pressure. Scrafty does have access to Foul Play, which would be the recommended Dark-type STAB move for this set to alleviate the weakened offenses.
* Scrafty is an excellent choice for Trick Room teams, as the combination of Fake Out, Knock Off, and Fighting coverage can threaten several threats to Trick Room setters such as Aegislash, Tyranitar, and Hydreigon. A core of Scrafty, Cresselia, and Stakataka is one of the most reliable ways to ensure Trick Room gets set.
* Stakataka and Scrafty alone form a very reliable and offensive Trick Room duo capable of winning entire games if Trick Room is set.
* Gothitelle and Mega Gengar appreciate Scrafty's Intimidate and Fake Out to help weaken and distract the opponent to allow for either Trick Room or Perish Song. Scrafty running Snarl + Gothitelle + Mega Mawile can become an extremely hard core to play against, as the multiple Intimidates and Snarls will make it very difficult for the opponent to KO anything. Eject Button can also be run to allow for two Intimidates in one turn if Scrafty is hit.
* Mega Gardevoir is a great complementary offensive Trick Room setter alongside Scrafty. Mega Gardevoir appreciates Intimidate and strong Fighting-type coverage to handle common Steel-type Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Stakataka, which prey on Gardevoir's poor physical defense.
* Substitute users such as Aegislash and Heatran appreciate Scrafty's Fake Out causing a foe to flinch, which provides them the chance to get Substitute up or safely attack a threat late in the game. This also often pairs well on Trick Room teams, as common threats like Hydreigon, Tapu Lele, and Metagross often will lose the matchup to either Aegislash or Heatran coupled with Scrafty.
* Scrafty pairs well with weather setters such as Mega Charizard Y and Pelipper thanks to its ability to counter Tyranitar effectively.
* Scrafty is naturally not a very offensive Pokemon, and the main set is your strongest and most viable way of utilizing it. Scrafty can be modified to be more defensive if the team calls for it, like shown in the alternate EV spread. Scrafty can fit onto a variety of teams with minimal support, but Scrafty does appreciate the removal of Fairy-type and Flying-type attacks from Pokemon like the island guardians, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Mawile, Mega Salamence, Pelipper, Togekiss, Azumarill, and Mimikyu.
Last edited:
