[Overview]
<p>Scraggy is quite the unusual Pokemon. Despite its deceptively low base stats and NFE status Scraggy is, in reality, one of most unique boosting sweepers in the tier. With high defenses thanks to Eviolite, access to Bulk Up, and an immunity to Psychic-type attacks, it stands out among the many Fighting-types in the NU tier. Scraggy also possesses the rare Shed Skin ability, which gives it a 30% chance to heal itself of status at the end of each turn. This, combined with the above factors, makes Scraggy extremely hard to take down without a super effective move. Sadly, there is a reason that this little lizard is overlooked; despite impressive bulk and access to a move that boosts its Defense, powerful super effective moves from foes such as Sawk, Swellow, Braviary, and Rotom-S will cripple it or outright KO it. Scraggy needs some team support to handle these threats, or it will not succeed. Nonetheless, watch out for Scraggy, because if you aren't prepared for it it can easily tear up your team right before your eyes, and is not to be underestimated.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Payback / Crunch
move 4: Rest
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Scraggy's most effective set, and differentiates itself from Throh and Gurdurr with its secondary Dark typing, Shed Skin + Rest combo, and perfect coverage with just its STAB moves. Scraggy is easily able to set up on the likes of Duosion, Haunter, and Mesprit as it is resistant or immune to their STAB moves and takes little damage from any other moves, even Hidden Power Fighting. Scraggy's boosting move, Bulk Up, raises its Defense to very high levels, while also boosting its Attack. Drain Punch adds to Scraggy's longevity, hitting relatively hard and restoring a good amount of its HP. Due to Scraggy's low HP stat, this recovery can go a long way. Out of Scraggy's Dark-type STAB moves, Payback is the main option due to Scraggy's low Speed, but Crunch is more reliable and still hurts quite a bit after a few Bulk Ups. Rest is one of the main reasons why Scraggy is not outclassed by Gurdurr and Throh; with a combination of Shed Skin and Rest Scraggy can recover all of its health in one turn and has a nice 30% chance of being healed from its sleeping state while doing so at the end of every turn.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>If you prefer a more powerful Fighting-type move, Hi Jump Kick is an option over Drain Punch. Although Hi Jump Kick is nearly twice as powerful, Drain Punch is the standard because of the recovery and reliability it offers. Dragon Tail can be used over Scraggy's Dark-type STAB move to prevent Pokemon such as Throh and Gurdurr from setting up alongside it, but one of Scraggy's main jobs is to set up on and KO opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types, and losing Crunch or Payback makes this much harder to do. Scraggy will need some team support to pull off a sweep because some common Pokemon can easily take it on if it has not yet gained any boosts. Teammates that can get rid of Sawk are very useful to Scraggy. Bulky Psychic-types, such as Musharna and Duosion, make excellent partners because they can sponge Fighting-type moves for Scraggy. Another good partner is Vileplume, who can take most Fighting-type attacks with ease, while also being able to heal Scraggy of any status problems it might have with Aromatherapy. Misdreavus is also an excellent teammate for Scraggy, being immune to Fighting-type moves and using Will-O-Wisp to burn foes that threaten it. Scraggy also has trouble with Flying-types, such as Rotom-S, Swellow, and Braviary, so a Pokemon that can take them on is much appreciated. Regirock is an excellent teammate, taking all Flying-type moves with ease, setting up Stealth Rock, and helping Scraggy deal with Magmortar. Golem, Gigalith, and Probopass also make good teammates for this role, because each one can take on some of the Pokemon that give Scraggy trouble. Be wary though, as all of these Pokemon share a Fighting-type weakness with Scraggy, making a Bulky Psychic- or Poison-type that much more essential.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Scraggy has a few other options it can use, the most notable of which is Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance Scraggy outruns positive-natured base 95 Speed Pokemon after one boost and if it somehow sets up, it is more than capable of sweeping. However, Scraggy is still quite slow after a Dragon Dance, and it can be checked quite easily. Scraggy can also use a SubPunch set, but is outclassed by the likes of Kangaskhan and Gurdurr in this role. Scraggy has a wide attacking movepool, which includes moves such as Stone Edge, Poison Jab, the elemental punches, and even Dragon Claw. Scraggy already has perfect coverage with just its STAB attacks, so most of the time, these utility moves are not needed.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Scraggy can be a thorn in an opponent's side due to its bulk and ability to sweep, but it has several counters that prevent it from ripping teams to shreds. The most notable of these is Sawk. Sawk can easily switch in on Scraggy and force it out with the threat of a super effective Close Combat. Gurdurr does the same, and can also set up alongside Scraggy with its own Bulk Up. Swellow can easily take out Scraggy after a Guts boost, but must be careful, as +1 Scraggy can tank a Brave Bird and KO Swellow in return with Drain Punch. Braviary is also a good check, coming in and threatening Scraggy with Brave Bird. Throh is as close to a hard counter as you can get; not only can it boost alongside Scraggy, it can also phaze the little lizard out with Circle Throw. Rotom-S can threaten Scraggy with Air Slash or Trick away its Eviolite, which will cut its defenses severely. Pokemon with methods to remove stat boosts such as Weezing, Amoonguss, and Garbodor make excellent checks to Scraggy, as they can quash its attempts to boost and force it out. Weezing also has an impressive base 120 Defense stat and Pain Split to work with, making it one of the best Scraggy checks available. Quagsire is a good check as well; with Unaware, Quagsire can ignore any stat boosts Scraggy has and completely wall it. Tangela can wall Scraggy effortlessly with its exceptional physical bulk, but struggles to damage Scraggy in return.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Scraggy's hidden ability is Intimidate. While this seems like an excellent ability for Scraggy, Shed Skin's utility is almost always preferred.</p>
<p>Scraggy is quite the unusual Pokemon. Despite its deceptively low base stats and NFE status Scraggy is, in reality, one of most unique boosting sweepers in the tier. With high defenses thanks to Eviolite, access to Bulk Up, and an immunity to Psychic-type attacks, it stands out among the many Fighting-types in the NU tier. Scraggy also possesses the rare Shed Skin ability, which gives it a 30% chance to heal itself of status at the end of each turn. This, combined with the above factors, makes Scraggy extremely hard to take down without a super effective move. Sadly, there is a reason that this little lizard is overlooked; despite impressive bulk and access to a move that boosts its Defense, powerful super effective moves from foes such as Sawk, Swellow, Braviary, and Rotom-S will cripple it or outright KO it. Scraggy needs some team support to handle these threats, or it will not succeed. Nonetheless, watch out for Scraggy, because if you aren't prepared for it it can easily tear up your team right before your eyes, and is not to be underestimated.</p>
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Bulk Up
move 2: Drain Punch
move 3: Payback / Crunch
move 4: Rest
item: Eviolite
ability: Shed Skin
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This is Scraggy's most effective set, and differentiates itself from Throh and Gurdurr with its secondary Dark typing, Shed Skin + Rest combo, and perfect coverage with just its STAB moves. Scraggy is easily able to set up on the likes of Duosion, Haunter, and Mesprit as it is resistant or immune to their STAB moves and takes little damage from any other moves, even Hidden Power Fighting. Scraggy's boosting move, Bulk Up, raises its Defense to very high levels, while also boosting its Attack. Drain Punch adds to Scraggy's longevity, hitting relatively hard and restoring a good amount of its HP. Due to Scraggy's low HP stat, this recovery can go a long way. Out of Scraggy's Dark-type STAB moves, Payback is the main option due to Scraggy's low Speed, but Crunch is more reliable and still hurts quite a bit after a few Bulk Ups. Rest is one of the main reasons why Scraggy is not outclassed by Gurdurr and Throh; with a combination of Shed Skin and Rest Scraggy can recover all of its health in one turn and has a nice 30% chance of being healed from its sleeping state while doing so at the end of every turn.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>If you prefer a more powerful Fighting-type move, Hi Jump Kick is an option over Drain Punch. Although Hi Jump Kick is nearly twice as powerful, Drain Punch is the standard because of the recovery and reliability it offers. Dragon Tail can be used over Scraggy's Dark-type STAB move to prevent Pokemon such as Throh and Gurdurr from setting up alongside it, but one of Scraggy's main jobs is to set up on and KO opposing Ghost- and Psychic-types, and losing Crunch or Payback makes this much harder to do. Scraggy will need some team support to pull off a sweep because some common Pokemon can easily take it on if it has not yet gained any boosts. Teammates that can get rid of Sawk are very useful to Scraggy. Bulky Psychic-types, such as Musharna and Duosion, make excellent partners because they can sponge Fighting-type moves for Scraggy. Another good partner is Vileplume, who can take most Fighting-type attacks with ease, while also being able to heal Scraggy of any status problems it might have with Aromatherapy. Misdreavus is also an excellent teammate for Scraggy, being immune to Fighting-type moves and using Will-O-Wisp to burn foes that threaten it. Scraggy also has trouble with Flying-types, such as Rotom-S, Swellow, and Braviary, so a Pokemon that can take them on is much appreciated. Regirock is an excellent teammate, taking all Flying-type moves with ease, setting up Stealth Rock, and helping Scraggy deal with Magmortar. Golem, Gigalith, and Probopass also make good teammates for this role, because each one can take on some of the Pokemon that give Scraggy trouble. Be wary though, as all of these Pokemon share a Fighting-type weakness with Scraggy, making a Bulky Psychic- or Poison-type that much more essential.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Scraggy has a few other options it can use, the most notable of which is Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance Scraggy outruns positive-natured base 95 Speed Pokemon after one boost and if it somehow sets up, it is more than capable of sweeping. However, Scraggy is still quite slow after a Dragon Dance, and it can be checked quite easily. Scraggy can also use a SubPunch set, but is outclassed by the likes of Kangaskhan and Gurdurr in this role. Scraggy has a wide attacking movepool, which includes moves such as Stone Edge, Poison Jab, the elemental punches, and even Dragon Claw. Scraggy already has perfect coverage with just its STAB attacks, so most of the time, these utility moves are not needed.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Scraggy can be a thorn in an opponent's side due to its bulk and ability to sweep, but it has several counters that prevent it from ripping teams to shreds. The most notable of these is Sawk. Sawk can easily switch in on Scraggy and force it out with the threat of a super effective Close Combat. Gurdurr does the same, and can also set up alongside Scraggy with its own Bulk Up. Swellow can easily take out Scraggy after a Guts boost, but must be careful, as +1 Scraggy can tank a Brave Bird and KO Swellow in return with Drain Punch. Braviary is also a good check, coming in and threatening Scraggy with Brave Bird. Throh is as close to a hard counter as you can get; not only can it boost alongside Scraggy, it can also phaze the little lizard out with Circle Throw. Rotom-S can threaten Scraggy with Air Slash or Trick away its Eviolite, which will cut its defenses severely. Pokemon with methods to remove stat boosts such as Weezing, Amoonguss, and Garbodor make excellent checks to Scraggy, as they can quash its attempts to boost and force it out. Weezing also has an impressive base 120 Defense stat and Pain Split to work with, making it one of the best Scraggy checks available. Quagsire is a good check as well; with Unaware, Quagsire can ignore any stat boosts Scraggy has and completely wall it. Tangela can wall Scraggy effortlessly with its exceptional physical bulk, but struggles to damage Scraggy in return.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Scraggy's hidden ability is Intimidate. While this seems like an excellent ability for Scraggy, Shed Skin's utility is almost always preferred.</p>
