QC: Hilomilo / AD Thunderboy / Tahu
GP: Fireflame479 / CryoGyro
[OVERVIEW]
Shellos holds a unique niche over common bulky Water-types thanks to Sticky Hold, which allows it to permanently hold on to its Eviolite. It has a decent movepool that grants it access to Scald, Earth Power, Yawn, Clear Smog, and, most importantly, Recover. Shellos also has a solid defensive Water typing. However, said typing also means that Shellos will be vulnerable to common Electric- and Grass-types such as Chinchou, Magnemite, and Foongus. All of Shellos's base stats bar HP are relatively mediocre, meaning it has middling bulk, which allows powerful wallbreakers such as Abra, Snivy, and Rufflet to significantly weaken it, and Shellos's low offensive stats cause it to drain momentum while potentially being used as setup bait.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Recover
move 3: Earth Power / Ice Beam
move 4: Clear Smog / Toxic
item: Eviolite
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Bold
evs: 228 HP / 132 Def / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is a useful Water-type STAB move that also has a 30% chance to burn, which discourages physical attackers such as Pawniard, Alolan Grimer, and Snubbull from switching in. Recover is essential, since it provides Shellos with a form of reliable recovery. Earth Power can be used to damage Electric-types that would otherwise beat Shellos such as Magnemite and Chinchou. Ice Beam is another coverage option that allow Shellos to deal with Grass-types such as Foongus, Pumpkaboo-S, and Snivy. Clear Smog prevents setup sweepers such as Vullaby and Timburr from using Shellos as setup fodder while also hitting Cottonee harder than Ice Beam. Lastly, Toxic provides Shellos with a way to deal with bulkier Pokemon such as Vullaby, Pumpkaboo-S, and Slowpoke. However, remember that due to the HP mechanics in Little Cup, it often takes a while for Toxic damage to accumulate.
Set Details
========
The EV spread helps maximize Shellos's bulk, allowing it to reach a respectable benchmark of 27 HP and 21 in both Defense and Special Defense. In conjunction with Eviolite, Shellos will be able to effectively take hits from Pokemon such as Mudbray, Ponyta, and non-Thunderbolt Staryu. 4 Speed EVs are added to bring Shellos to a benchmark of 10 Speed, allowing it to outspeed Ferroseed, Foongus, and Munchlax while Speed tying with Timburr. Sticky Hold is the ability of choice, since it prevents Shellos's Eviolite from being removed by moves like Knock Off and Trick.
Usage Tips
========
Shellos should be used as a defensive pivot due to its great defensive typing, Eviolite, and decent natural bulk. Switch Shellos in on an anticipated Knock Off from Pokemon such as Mienfoo and Pawniard. Thanks to its bulk, Shellos can also be switched into weak neutral and resisted attacks from Pokemon such as Ponyta, Hippopotas, and Kabuto. Scald is often Shellos's move of choice, since it can cripple many Pokemon, especially physical attackers, with a burn. Keep in mind that using Toxic or Recover may be better at certain times, such as when you anticipate your opponent switching into a bulkier Pokemon such as Slowpoke or Spritzee. Shellos must be kept healthy if it is used to check a specific Pokemon such as Ponyta or Drilbur. Due to Shellos's low Speed, it must be able to take one or two hits before being able to recover. Shellos is easily crippled by status conditions, so you should be careful of switching Shellos into status-inducing moves such as Scald from Water-types like Mareanie, Tirtouga, and Frillish as well as Poison Touch Knock Off from Alolan Grimer.
Team Options
========
Due to Shellos's passive and defensive nature, it should be used on defensive or balanced teams. Grass-types such as Foongus, Ferroseed, and Cottonee appreciate having a check to Fire-types such as Ponyta and Torchic. Foongus and Ferroseed can also check opposing Grass- and Electric-types that threaten Shellos such as Chinchou and Cottonee. Ground-types like Diglett and Mudbray can help check Electric-types such as Magnemite and Elekid. The aforementioned Fire-types as well as Steel-types such as Magnemite and Pawniard appreciate Shellos checking Ground-types such as Mudbray and Drilbur. In return, they can help check Grass-types that threaten Shellos. Pokemon that rely on their items like Spritzee, Onix, and Magnemite appreciate Shellos's ability to take a Knock Off, Thief, or Trick thanks to Sticky Hold. Shellos appreciates Heal Bell or Aromatherapy support from Pokemon such as Spritzee, Snubbull, and Chinchou, as they can remove any status conditions on Shellos.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Shellos can utilize boosting moves such as Stockpile, but due to its low Speed, it struggles to set up the majority of the time. Yawn can be used to either force a switch or put the foe to sleep, but it is highly situational and less consistent than Shellos's other utility options. Hidden Power Fire hits Ferroseed super effectively after being lured in, but it has limited use outside of that. Memento can be used to safely bring in a setup sweeper. Counter or Mirror Coat can be used to reflect any strong attacks back to its attacker. However, they require a good amount of prediction, and they aren't as valuable compared to Shellos's other options. Whirlpool can be used with Toxic and Recover to stall out almost any Pokemon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Elekid can threaten Shellos with Electric-type STAB moves. However, they must be careful of a Shellos carrying Earth Power, though keep in mind that bulkier variants of Chinchou avoid being 2HKOed by it.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Pumpkaboo-S, Snivy, and Foongus threaten Shellos with their Grass-type STAB moves as well as with status moves such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp. However, all of these Grass-types bar Ferroseed must be careful of getting hit with Ice Beam, while Ferroseed must be mindful of the extremely rare Hidden Power Fire.
**Setup Sweepers**: Setup sweepers such as Pawniard, Spritzee, and Timburr can take advantage of Shellos's passive nature to boost up. Spritzee, Shed Skin Scraggy, and Timburr don't mind Scald burns or Toxic, though they do not appreciate Clear Smog. Meanwhile, Pawniard does not have to worry about Clear Smog or Toxic due to its immunity to Poison, but it has to be careful of getting burned by Scald.
**Status Conditions**: Being burned or poisoned by Pokemon such as Pumpkaboo-S, Mareanie, and Alolan Grimer limits Shellos's longevity.
**Taunt**: Taunt users such as Cottonee and Mienfoo can prevent Shellos from spreading Toxic or using Recover. This allows Pokemon that Shellos has trouble beating without Toxic, such as Slowpoke and Frillish, to switch in with ease, and having no access to Recover makes Shellos much easier to wear down.
**Wallbreakers**: Due to Shellos's average bulk, wallbreakers such as Life Orb Abra, Bunnelby, and Rufflet can use their strong moves to 2HKO Shellos.
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