p2
Banned deucer.
Taken over from Tressed
QC 3/3: Steve Angello | AM | TheEnder
GP 2/2: Malley | GatoDelFuego
[OVERVIEW]
Seismitoad's solid typing and ability allow it to check and counter many threats in OU, including Mega Manectric, Rotom-W, Mega Scizor, and Mega Metagross lacking Grass Knot, or to function as a powerful sweeper under rain. Seismitoad has a niche in rain, only shared with Mega Swampert, as a sweeper that cannot be crippled by Thunder Wave. However, Seismitoad has a 4x weakness to Grass-type moves which can easily be exploited by Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn, and very little with which to fight back. It also has a lack of reliable recovery, which means it has limited longevity and an over-reliance on Leftovers or switching into Water-type moves. Seismitoad also faces very strong competition from Gastrodon as a bulky Water-type, but Seismitoad has access to Knock Off and Stealth Rock, in addition to higher Speed and better physical bulk.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Scald
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Knock Off / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Seismitoad can find plenty of opportunities to set Stealth Rock up, as it can easily come in on Pokemon such as Electric-types that lack Grass coverage or Pokemon locked into weak or Water-type moves. Scald's chance to burn allows Seismitoad to cripple a lot of Pokemon that try to switch in, such as Breloom. Despite having a Bold nature, Earthquake is the preferred Ground-type STAB move on Seismitoad, as it prevents Seismitoad becoming setup bait for specially defensive Pokemon such as Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo. Earthquake also does solid damage to Fire- and Steel-types such as Mega Charizard X, Heatran, and Mega Metagross. Knock Off can cripple Pokemon such as Chansey, Ferrothorn, and Rotom-W by removing their items. Toxic can severely shorten the longevity of setup sweepers such as Mega Charizard X, Mega Altaria lacking Heal Bell or Refresh, and Mega Gyarados, while also wearing down Grass-type switch-ins outside of Mega Venusaur and Ferrothorn.
Set Details
========
Maximizing Seismitoad's HP and Defense allows it to handle many threats in OU such as Victini, Mega Metagross lacking Grass Knot, and Tyranitar. 12 Speed EVs are used to ensure Seismitoad outspeeds Mega Scizors lacking Speed investment. Water Absorb is the best ability to use on Seismitoad, as it completely deters Pokemon such as Keldeo, Rotom-W, and Slowbro from spamming Water-type moves. Leftovers provides valuable recovery for Seismitoad, as it lacks any outside of Leftovers and Water Absorb.
Usage Tips
========
Stealth Rock should be used as soon as possible to punish switches, but only when Seismitoad is in a safe position. Seismitoad shouldn't be switched in repeatedly, as it has a lack of recovery and is easily worn down by entry hazards and powerful attacks. Scald is Seismitoad's most spammable move and should be used to weaken or cripple Pokemon with burn while Knock Off should be used against Pokemon that are item reliant, such as Chansey and Gliscor. Seismitoad can be used to pivot and gain momentum against threats such as Victini locked into Bolt Strike or Landorus-T locked into Stone Edge.
Team Options
========
Pokemon such as Talonflame, Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, Scizor, and Mega Venusaur make for good partners, as they can handle the Grass-types that force Seismitoad out, while Seismitoad handles Rotom-W for Talonflame and Scizor. Fairy-types appreciate support from Seismitoad, as it can handle Steel-types such as Jirachi and Heatran. Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Rotom-W, Scizor, and Landorus-T can gain momentum for Seismitoad, allowing it to come in more easily and set up Stealth Rock. Scizor handles the Fairy-types that can give Seismitoad trouble such as Clefable and Mega Altaria, while Seismitoad takes on Heatran for Scizor. Steel-types such as Bisharp, Ferrothorn, and Skarmory are good partners because they have decent defensive synergy with Seismitoad. Bisharp punishes the use of Defog with Defiant, while Skarmory and Ferrothorn can set up Spikes. Jirachi can heal Seismitoad with Wish and deal with the Grass-types that beat Seismitoad, such as Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss. Seismitoad is a very useful Pokemon on sand teams as it can provide Stealth Rock and handle Rotom-W, which is a big problem for Sand Rush Excadrill.
[SET]
name: Rain Sweeper
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Sludge Wave
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 60 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump is Seismitoad's main attacking move and is boosted even further when rain is up. Earth Power is weaker but more reliable. Sludge Wave allows Seismitoad to deal damage to Grass-types that resist its STAB combination. Focus Blast allows Seismitoad to break past Ferrothorn, which resists its Water, Ground, and Poison coverage, though it has unreliable accuracy. Knock Off can be used over Focus Blast to deal a lot of damage to Latios and Latias, as they can handle Hydro Pump and Sludge Wave and have an immunity to Earth Power. Knock Off also cripples Chansey by removing its Eviolite and gives Seismitoad a good chance to 2HKO it.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Seismitoad's offensive capabilities while the Speed investment allows it to outspeed Choice Scarf Landorus-T and the remaining EVs are dumped into HP. Swift Swim is the only reason to use offensive Seismitoad, as it allows Seismitoad to become a very threatening sweeper in rain. Life Orb should be run to maximize damage output, as Seismitoad has a fairly low Special Attack stat. A Modest nature maximizes Seismitoad's Special Attack, but, a Rash nature should be run with Knock Off to allow Seismitoad to 2HKO Latios and Latias.
Usage Tips
========
Offensive Seismitoad should only be used on rain teams, as rain support makes Hydro Pump very powerful while allowing Seismitoad to outspeed the entire unboosted tier. Seismitoad acts as a late-game cleaner rather than a wallbreaker, and so should be used once specially defensive Pokemon have been weakened. Try to only use Seismitoad once rain is set up as it is very slow without the Swift Swim boost and can be easily beaten by faster threats. To get Seismitoad in safely, send it in on Fire- and Electric-type Pokemon that are Choice-locked or do not have any Grass-type coverage as it can take their moves easily and OHKO or force them out next turn. Aim to have entry hazards set before attempting to sweep with Seismitoad to break Focus Sashes and Sturdy and make it easier to net OHKOs. Seismitoad also appreciates VoltTurn support as it minimizes the damage it takes from coming in.
Team Options
========
Politoed is the best teammate for Seismitoad, as it can set up rain with Drizzle, which is absolutely necessary for Seismitoad to sweep. Manual rain setters such as Thundurus and Klefki are also great partners, while Klefki can put pressure on teams with Spikes. Entry Hazard support from Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Celebi are very useful for Seismitoad, as it helps it net OHKOs and 2HKOs more easily. All three work well in rain, as rain halves the damage they take from Fire-type moves. Seismitoad works well with other rain sweepers such as Kabutops and Mega Swampert as they can handle specially defensive Pokemon that trouble Seismitoad, while Seismitoad can break physically defensive Pokemon that trouble Mega Swampert and Kabutops. Pokemon that can switch into Grass-type moves, such as Tornadus-T and Thundurus, are very useful, as bulky Grass-types can beat Seismitoad under rain. Bulky Water-types can halt Seismitoad's sweep, so Electric-types such as Thundurus and Magnezone are also good teammates. Fighting-types such as Conkeldurr and Keldeo can threaten Chansey and Blissey, both of which are problems for Seismitoad. Conkeldurr can restore HP against them with Drain Punch, while Keldeo can take advantage of the rain.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain Dance lets Seismitoad set up rain for itself and sweep, but lasts only 5 turns because Seismitoad needs Life Orb, and also means that Seismitoad loses out on coverage. A specially defensive spread can be run to check special attackers such as Gengar and Alakazam, but the physically defensive set takes on many more Pokemon. Running 56 Attack EVs and a Relaxed nature on the defensive set allows Seismitoad to OHKO Mega Diancie 75% of the time with Earthquake and 2HKO Mega Metagross. However, the loss of bulk is quite noticeable.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types resist Seismitoad's STAB moves and can threaten it with 4x effective STAB moves. Mega Venusaur, Serperior, Celebi, and Amoongus can all easily switch into defensive Seismitoad and force it out, although Celebi and Serperior cannot safely switch into offensive Seismitoad as they risk taking a Sludge Wave.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types can also take Seismitoad's attacks quite easily and stall it out with poison or set up on it. Examples include Slowbro, Keldeo, and Starmie.
**Bulky Dragon-types**: Bulky Dragon-types, such as Latias, Latios, and Goodra, have no trouble taking Seismitoad's attacks. However, Latias and Latios should be wary of Knock Off.
**Offensive Pressure**: Due to Seismitoad's lack of recovery, offensive Pokemon such as Azumarill, Mega Gallade, and Gengar can take Seismitoad out by consistently putting offensive pressure on it. However, Azumarill and Mega Gallade are crippled by the burns Scald can inflict.
**Status**: While an immunity to paralysis is very handy for Seismitoad, it is very susceptible to poison and burn because they will easily wear it down.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Chansey can take any hit from the offensive set and stall Seismitoad out. However, it is 2HKOed if its Eviolite has been removed. Mega Venusaur also can take Seismitoad's attacks, then KO it with Giga Drain. Latias can easily take Seismitoad's attacks, but must be wary of Knock Off.
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