Simipour (GP 2/2)

erisia

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Should be called Simisoak.



[Overview]

<p>Despite its appearance and reputation, Simipour is actually a very effective offensive Pokemon in NU, putting teams under pressure with its incredible Speed, great coverage, and ability to boost its good Special Attack stat with Nasty Plot. Sadly, it lives under the shadow of Gorebyss, who is the more popular Water-type booster in the tier because of its access to Shell Smash, better Special Attack, and a good enough Defense stat to take priority hits. However, Simipour is still perfectly usable, and can distinguish itself from Gorebyss through the use of coverage moves, such as Grass Knot and Focus Blast, which Gorebyss doesn't have access to. Furthermore, Simipour can be used alongside Gorebyss on a pseudo-double Dragon team, in which one Pokemon to soften up the opponent's checks enough so that the other can attempt a full sweep, just like Salamence + Rayquaza in Ubers, and Heracross + Pinsir in UU. Unlike Gorebyss, Simipour also makes a good Choice-item user, and thus is a better option if you're looking for a potent revenge killer on your team. All in all, whilst Simipour has its disadvantages, it certainly doesn't Simisuck.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Simipour's excellent speed, great coverage, and access to STAB Hydro Pump combine to make it a particularly good user of Nasty Plot, as it can threaten to sweep an unprepared opponent after a single boost once Choice Scarf users and faster threats, such as Swellow, are removed. Very few walls can take repeated boosted attacks from Simipour, as those that resist Hydro Pump, such as Altaria and Lapras, are hit extremely hard by Ice Beam and Grass Knot, respectively. This fantastic coverage means many teams are only able to check Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon or a Sucker Punch user, such as Absol. Simipour can hence keep constant pressure on the opponent, forcing them to make predictable moves to check it, which allows you to out-maneuver them effectively. Hydro Pump is a superior STAB attack to Surf as Simipour's base 98 Special Attack is slightly underwhelming. This is especially important if Simipour attacks early in the game instead of boosting, because Surf simply won't have enough power. Ice Beam provides coverage against the various Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon that resist Hydro Pump, and is especially helpful against the rising threat of Water Absorb Cacturne, which is a hard counter to Simipour otherwise. Meanwhile, Grass Knot allows Simipour to hit bulky Water-type Pokemon for decent damage, being particularly effective against Lapras, who would otherwise take its attacks with ease.</p>

<p>Although Simipour remains an excellent offensive threat, the main reason why it sees low usage in the metagame is that Gorebyss largely fulfils the same roles on many teams, while being much easier to use due to the ridiculous boosting capabilities that Shell Smash provides. However, it is worth noting that Simipour can outspeed many offensive opponents without any boosts, while Gorebyss is more or less forced to boost its Speed before it can deal with them effectively. This means that Simipour can simply be used in the early-game to wallop opponents with STAB Hydro Pump and super effective coverage moves, and does not have to boost until its checks are removed in the mid-game. Furthermore, this makes the combination of Simipour + Gorebyss very effective on hyper offensive teams, as Simipour can soften up the checks for Gorebyss before the latter attempts a sweep of its own. The offensive pressure that both of these sweepers can place on teams can often be overwhelming, unless the opponent prepares specific lures and checks for your Water-type Pokemon in advance.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is straightforward; Simipour needs as much power and Speed as it can get to sweep effectively. Not maximizing Special Attack and Speed would be selling its advantages short, especially as Simipour is so frail that investment in bulk will not save it from many specific KOs. Likewise, Life Orb is the primary item because of the extra power it provides. In terms of alternative attacking options, Simipour can use Surf as its STAB instead of Hydro Pump; while the power drop can be noticeable against defensive teams, Hydro Pump's imperfect accuracy can ruin a sweep. Overall, this makes Surf the more reliable option against offensive teams, but as Gorebyss is more effective in this respect, Hydro Pump is given the nod for its ability to soften up Gorebyss's checks as much as possible before Gorebyss attempts a sweep. Hidden Power Grass can also be used over Grass Knot, as it hits lighter opponents, such as Quagsire and Alomomola, ever-so-slightly harder, but the power loss against Lapras can be unappealing as it is one of the few bulky Water-types that can directly threaten to KO Simipour in return, and the former are already hit fairly hard anyways due to Quagsire's neutrality to Hydro Pump and Alomomola's shockingly poor Special Defense. Focus Blast is another offensive option, but doesn't actually hit a lot of opponents in the tier harder than either Hydro Pump or Grass Knot, and its low accuracy has a significant chance of screwing up Simipour's sweep. It does, however, deal more damage to Cryogonal, who can otherwise survive a STAB Hydro Pump and Toxic Simipour, greatly shortening the length of Simipour's sweep.</p>

<p>If you're not so concerned about Simipour being walled by Water-types, then you can run several support options over Grass Knot in the fourth moveslot, to improve Simipour's chances of setting up. Substitute can be used to block status, such as Thunder Wave from Mesprit and Spore from Amoonguss, letting Simipour set up Nasty Plots against them with little fear of being crippled. Substitute also provides Simipour with a defense against priority attackers, such as Cacturne and Absol, who would otherwise easily revenge kill the frail Simipour. Taunt can also be used as it is a reliable precaution against status users, and also prevents opponents from setting up Calm Minds, Substitutes, or entry hazards alongside Simipour, further reducing your opponent's options in dealing with Simipour. As Simipour outspeeds almost every wall in the tier, these measures are particularly effectively against defensive teams.</p>

<p>Even though Simipour is often used as a second-string attacker alongside Gorebyss, both of these Pokemon still appreciate certain forms of team support. Entry hazards are useful for breaking Focus Sashes and deactivating the Sturdy ability, which could save the likes of Sawk from certain death and allow them to threaten your sweepers, as well as limiting your opponent's ability to switch around in attempts to block your attacks and stall for Life Orb damage. Cacturne is particularly useful for this role as it can deal extremely well with the bulky Water-types that stand a chance of weathering Simipour's assaults, provide Spikes to stack residual damage, and even use Encore to provide Simipour and Gorebyss with setup opportunities. Likewise, Mesprit can provide Simipour with Stealth Rock support to break the Focus Sashes of Pokemon who are unaffected by Spikes, such as Haunter, while also being able to provide Rain Dance support. The Simipour + Gorebyss combo is especially devastating in rain, as Gorebyss now has the Speed to deal with offensive threats without boosting, and the power bonus it provides to both of their STABs is exceptional. With this in mind, good rain setters include Mesprit, who can also get Simipour in safely by using a slow U-turn, and Electrode, who can wear down bulky Water-types significantly with its Volt Switch and make them easier to break through.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a Choice item equipped, Simipour changes roles completely, turning from a wallbreaker or setup sweeper into a potent revenge killer, and turning from Gorebyss's second-in-command into a standalone threat. Choice Simipour retains the excellent coverage of its Nasty Plot set while also having room for a fourth attacking move. Focus Blast is used primarily for its ability to hit Cryogonal hard as it attempts to switch in, and also provides a stronger hit against specially defensive Normal-types such as Licklicky, who can survive an unboosted Hydro Pump. Simipour naturally outspeeds most opponents in the tier, meaning that even Choice Specs variants make excellent revenge killers. Opponents such as Magmortar, Sawk, and Rotom-S cannot hope to outspeed it without using a Choice Scarf, and are thus revenge killed fairly easily once Simipour gets in. When using Choice Specs, Simipour has the advantage of hitting harder initially than the Nasty Plot set, while still retaining its excellent Speed tier and not taking any residual damage, meaning it can clean up weakened teams more effectively in the late-game, and it can sweep offensive teams much more easily than an unboosted Gorebyss.<p>

<p>On the other hand, a Simipour equipped with a Choice Scarf becomes one of the fastest threats in the entire metagame, outspeeding almost all other Choice Scarf users and threatening most of them—as well as many other threats, namely Swellow, Tauros, Rapidash and boosted Altaria—with a powerful STAB Hydro Pump. Though less effective against defensive teams, Choice Scarf Simipour can halt or severely shorten the sweep of many offensive Pokemon due to its ridiculous Speed and ability to OHKO with Hydro Pump or super effective coverage moves. In fact, the only offensive checks that can deal reliably with Choice Scarf Simipour effectively are priority attackers. Jynx deserves a special mention as it takes almost no damage from all of Simipour's common moves, and therefore doesn't need to outspeed Simipour to beat it. While these sets don't have to be used alongside Gorebyss and aren't outclassed by it at all, Gorebyss does appreciate Choice Simipour's ability to revenge kill fast opponents that could otherwise interrupt its boosting attempts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Just like the Nasty Plot set, Simipour wants to fully invest in its Special Attack and Speed stats to hit as hard and as fast as possible, as it will likely take considerable damage if it fails to KO the foe. Although a Pokemon at Simipour's Speed tier would elect to run a Timid nature in OU, this isn't actually necessary in the NU metagame, as Simipour is able to outspeed even the faster offensive threats, namely Timid Magmortar, Jolly Sawk, and Timid Rotom-S, with a Modest nature. The only threats that Simipour becomes more vulnerable to by running a Modest nature are Haunter and Jynx, the latter of which is a hard counter to non-boosting Simipour anyways. Therefore, unless your team has problems dealing with Haunter, using a Modest nature on Simipour is the way to go thanks to the extra power it provides, which is especially important when using a Choice Scarf. In terms of team support, Choice Simipour appreciates entry hazard support more so than Nasty Plot variants do, as it forces more switches as the opponent attempts to block Simipour's attacks. Entry hazards increase the damage output of the Choice Scarf set as well. Choice Simipour also appreciates Rapid Spin support, as it will be switching in and out of battle many times throughout matches and it is unfortunately vulnerable to both Spikes and Stealth Rock. Although neither of these hazards particularly cripple Simipour, they can eventually wear it down as it attempts to fulfil its revenge killing role in the late game. Torkoal is a good candidate for this, as it can use both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock to support Simipour, while also dealing with Cacturne and Absol excellently thanks to its excellent Defense stat and STAB Lava Plume.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Simipour also has a good Attack stat, but doesn't really secure a lot of extra coverage when using physical attacks, and as they are coming off of an uninvested stat, they will usually be significantly weaker than their special counterparts. Waterfall is completely inferior to Hydro Pump due to its lower Base Power and the greater prevalence of physical walls, such as Regirock. Acrobatics is an interesting option, but requires the use of a Flying Gem to be useful, and lacks overall purpose whilst preventing Simipour from running a Life Orb or Choice item to boost its other moves or Speed. Rock Slide is a notable exception, as when run with a Naive nature, it grants Simipour the ability to OHKO offensive Jynx and Cryogonal, which are otherwise two excellent checks. However, it achieves nothing apart from this, and is thus generally an inferior option over Simipour's special coverage moves. Likewise, Simipour also has access to Hone Claws and Work Up to boost its Attack stat, but these sets will always be inferior to the Nasty Plot set due to the latter's faster boosting capability, more powerful attacking options, and better coverage.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>As Simipour will most likely be using Grass-type coverage moves in this metagame, Mantine makes an unexpected counter. It heals from Hydro Pump, tanks neutral Grass Knot and Ice Beam with ease due to its titanic Special Defense, and resists Focus Blast. In the meantime, it can simply stall Simipour out with Rest, Sleep Talk, and Toxic, or with repeated Hidden Power Flying. Jynx also makes a particularly good response to all Simipour that lack Rock Slide, as it also heals if hit by Hydro Pump, resists Ice Beam, and takes paltry damage from Grass Knot. Jynx is a more useful offensive check as Timid variants can outspeed Modest Simipour, and can set up with moves such as Calm Mind and Nasty Plot, as well as put Simipour to sleep with Lovely Kiss. If you lack these specific responses, powerful Sucker Punch users, such as Absol and Cacturne, can be useful in halting Simipour's sweep too; the latter is also able to switch into Hydro Pump and Grass Knot. Choice Scarf users can take down the Nasty Plot set fairly easily, but are in turn eliminated by Choice Scarf Simipour, so you must make sure to determine which set Simipour is running before attempting to stop it via this method.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Simipour benefits significantly from the Dream World, gaining access to the Torrent ability. This provides Simipour with an insane power boost to its Hydro Pump should it be reduced to below 33% health, which is easily done due to its poor defenses, good Speed, and access to Substitute. Once Torrent is released, Simipour's Substitute + Nasty Plot set will be significantly improved, as not only does it gain access to a more powerful STAB, but it can also be utilized with a Salac Berry, letting Simipour outspeed every opponent in the metagame whilst still hitting like a truck, and not taking any recoil damage at all whilst it sweeps. In essence, this may well elevate Simipour to Gorebyss's level of attacking prowess and beyond, making the combination of the two even more devastating.</p>
 

Endorfins

Your Worst Nightmare
is a Contributor Alumnus
this is like the best skeleton ive ever read
i cant find anything to change apart from for you to maybe mention modest
there arent many important base 100s in NU apart from miltank who is often defensive and pokemon like scolipede outspeed regardless
but im not sure if it gets any extra KOes if it doesnt dont bother mentioning it
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Hmmm. The only notable targets that Modest fails to outspeed are Haunter, Jynx and Miltank, but since these can all revenge kill Simipour fairly effectively thanks to its frailty, I'm inclined to keep Modest in the other options. Plus just barely outspeeding +2 Klinklang with a Scarf set is really good.

I'll look into it tomorrow however, since i haven't really tested a Modest nature.
 

breh

強いだね
Would you care to provide calcs on Slowking? I'm curious how well it takes Grass Knot vs. HP Grass.

Is HP Fire worth using?

I agree with happy endorphins; modest desereves at least an AC mention on the first set. Bar Jynx, nothing in that range is threatening (and jynx is oddly rare sooo).
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Okay, Grass Knot does NOT do enough damage to Slowking to warrant using over HP Grass. Since most of the Water types in the tier are light, I'm switching to HP Grass and putting Grass Knot in the OO.
 

Endorfins

Your Worst Nightmare
is a Contributor Alumnus
mention jynx in checks and counters
dry skin heals jynx while ice beam is resisted
hp grass wouldnt be doing much to jynxs good spD

edit: sorry didnt read
forget i said that

in an attempt to make this post meaningful
mantine counters simipour well, not taking super effective damage from any of its moves
and its sky high spD can sponge neutral coverage moves
 

erisia

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is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Done. Also, I've tested Simipour some more and found that Haunter isn't really common enough to warrant a Timid nature. Furthermore, since Klinklang only aims to outspeed Rotom-S now, Scarf Modest Simipour still outspeeds +2 Klinklang. I'm switching to Modest. :p
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Bumping to announce that Simipour is ready for GP checks! I've used Grass Knot after talking with tennisace but will switch back to Hidden Power Grass if required.
 
psst, post in the GP queue when this is ready for checks! I'll start checking this when I get home in a few hours, but if anyone gets there before I do, feel free :)
 
Here is an amateur GP check. Feel free to take all, any, or none of my suggestions.

delete insert comments/reasons
[Overview]

<p>Despite its appearance and reputation, Simipour is actually a very effective offensive Pokemon in this tier NU clarification (I know this must seem obvious, but... why not? Who knows what silly person will come along and not realize they're reading an NU analysis until they've read more than half of it?), putting teams under pressure with its incredible sSpeed, great coverage, and its ability to boost its good Special Attack stat with Nasty Plot. Sadly, it lives under the shadow of Gorebyss, who is the more popular Water-type booster in the tier because of its access to Shell Smash, better Special Attack, and a good enough Defense stat to take priority hits. However, Simipour is still perfectly usable, and can distinguish itself from Gorebyss to ensure the reader still knows we're talking about Gorebyss and not, say, the other Water-types or set-up sweepers in NU. through the use of coverage moves such as Grass Knot and Focus Blast that Gorebyss doesn't have access to formality and reads better. Furthermore, Simipour can be used alongside Gorebyss in a pseudo-"Double Dragon" style, using one to soften up the opponent's checks enough so that the other can attempt a full sweep, just like Salamence + Rayquaza in Ubers, and Heracross + Pinsir in UU. Unlike Gorebyss, Simipour also makes a good Choice-item user, and thus is a better option if you're looking for a potent revenge-killer on your team. All in all, whilst Simipour has its disadvantages, it certainly doesn't Simisuck.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Simipour's excellent speed, great coverage and access to STAB Hydro Pump, make it a particularly good user of Nasty Plot, as it can threaten to sweep an unprepared opponent after a single boost if their Choice Scarf users (and faster threats like Swellow) are removed. Very few walls can take repeated boosted attacks from Simipour otherwise: "Wow! Walls in NU must suck!" as many of the key resistors of Hydro Pump are hit extremely hard by Ice Beam and Grass Knot, such as Altaria and Lapras respectively, meaning that for many teams, checking Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon or a Sucker Punch user like Absol is the only way of dealing with it. causing many teams to only be able to check Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon like Sucker Punch Absol. This is simpler and fixes what was a run-on sentence. Furthermore, you use "to mean" in the next sentence, and I thought the change in vocabulary makes it less repetitive. This means that Simipour can be used to keep constant pressure on the opponent, forcing them to make predictable moves to check it, and allowing you to out-manuveur them effectively. Hydro Pump provides Simipour with the powerful STAB it loves, and the extra power over Surf is helpful due to Simipour's slightly underwhelming Special Attack Stat, especially if Simipour is hitting opponents in the early game instead of boosting. is superior to Surf for Simipour's STAB attack because its Special Attack is slightly underwhelming. This is especially important if Simipour attacks early in the game instead of boosting because Surf simply won't have enough power. Keeps the original meaning while eliminating a run-on sentence while adding in the previously alluded to "Surf won't have enough power." Ice Beam provides coverage against the various Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon that resist Hydro Pump, and is especially helpful against the rising threat of Water Absorb Cacturne, which is a hard counter to Simipour otherwise. Meanwhile, Grass Knot allows Simipour to hit bulky Water-type Pokemon for decent damage, being particularly effective against Lapras who can would otherwise take your attacks with ease.</p>

<p>Whilst Simipour remains an excellent offensive threat, the main reason why it sees low usage in the metagame is that Gorebyss largely fulfills the same roles on many times "on many times" doesn't make sense or goes without saying -- I can't tell which. Oh, and the "role" we're talking about is that of a boosting sweeper, so it's singular., whilst being much easier to use due to the ridiculous boosting capabilities that Shell Smash provides. However, it is worth noting that Simipour can outspeed many offensive opponents without any boosts, whilst Gorebyss is more or less forced to boost its Speed before it can deal with them effectively. This means that Simipour can simply be used in the early game to wallop opponents with STAB Hydro Pump and super-effective coverage moves, and does not have to boost until its checks are removed in the mid-game. Furthermore, this makes the combination of Simipour + Gorebyss very effective on hyper-offensive teams, as Simipour can soften up the checks for Gorebyss before the latter attempts a sweep of its own. The offensive pressure that both of these sweepers can place on teams can often be overwhelming, unless the opponent prepares specific lures and checks for your Water-type Pokemon in advance.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is straightforward; Simipour needs as much power as it can get to sweep effectively, whilst it also resides in one of the best speed tiers in the tier. Not maximising Special Attack and Speed would be selling its advantages short, especially as Simipour is so frail that investment in bulk will not save it from many specific KOs. Likewise, Life Orb is the primary item because of the extra power it provides. In terms of alternative attacking options, Simipour can use Surf as its STAB instead of Hydro Pump; whilst the power drop can be noticeable against defensive teams, Hydro Pump's accuracy can ruin an attempt to sweep at the worst possible moment. Overall, this makes Surf the more reliable option against offensive teams, but as Gorebyss is more effective in this respect, Hydro Pump is given the nod for its ability to soften up Gorebyss's checks as much as possible before it attempts a sweep. Hidden Power Grass can also be used over Grass Knot, as it hits lighter opponents such as Quagsire and Alomomola ever-so-slightly harder, but the power loss against Lapras can be unappealing as it is one of the few bulky Water-types that can directly threaten to KO Simipour in return, and the former are already hit fairly hard anyways due to Quagsire's neutrality to Hydro Pump and Alomomola's shocking Special Defense. Focus Blast is another offensive option, but doesn't actually hit a lot of opponents in the tier harder than either Hydro Pump or Grass Knot, and its low accuracy has a significant chance of screwing up Simipour's sweep. It does, however, deal more damage to Cryogonal, who can otherwise survive a STAB Hydro Pump and Toxic Simipour, shortening the length of its sweep significantly.</p>

<p>If you're not so concerned about Simipour being walled by Water-types, then you can run several support options over Grass Knot in the fourth moveslot, to improve Simipour's chances of setting up. Substitute can be used to block status such as Thunder Wave from bulky opponents such as Mesprit and Spore from Amoonguss, letting Simipour set up Nasty Plots against them with little fear of being interrupted. Substitute also provides Simipour with a defense against priority attackers such as Cacturne and Absol, who would have no problems cutting its sweep short due to its poor Defense and residual Life Orb recoil. On the other hand, Taunt can also be used instead, as it is still a reliable precaution against status users, and also prevents opponents from setting up Calm Minds, Substitutes or entry hazards alongside you, further eliminating your opponent's options in dealing with Simipour. As Simipour outspeeds almost every wall in the tier, these measures are particularly effectively against defensive teams.</p>

<p>Even though Simipour is often used as a second-string attacker alongside Gorebyss, both of these Pokemon still appreciate certain forms of team support. Entry hazards are useful for breaking Focus Sashes and deactivating the Sturdy ability that could save Pokemon like Sawk from certain death and allow them to threaten the combo, as well as limiting your opponent's ability to switch around in attempts to block your attacks and stall for residual damage. Cacturne is particularly useful for this role as it can deal extremely well with the bulky-Water types that stand a chance of weathering Simipour's assaults, can provide Spikes to stack residual damage, and even can parallelism use Encore to provide Simipour and Gorebyss with setup opportunities. Likewise, Mesprit can provide Simipour with Stealth Rock support to break the Focus Sashes of Pokemon such as Haunter who are unaffected by Spikes, whilst also being able to provide Rain Dance support. The Simipour + Gorebyss combo is especially devastating in Rain, as Gorebyss now has the speed to deal with offensive threats without boosting, and the power bonus it provides to both of their STABs in exceptional.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a Choice item equipped, Simipour changes roles completely, turning from a wallbreaker / or informal setup sweeper into a potent revenge killer, and turning from Gorebyss's henchman into a standalone threat. Simipour retains the excellent coverage of its Nasty Plot set whilst also having room for a fourth attacking move. Focus Blast is used primarily for its ability to hit Cryogonal hard as it attempts to switch in, and it also otherwise you have changed tense while keeping the same subject; I don't think you're allowed to do that. Anyway, this change can't hurt. provides a stronger hit against specially defensive Normal types, such as Licklicky, who can survive an unboosted Hydro Pump. Simipour naturally outspeeds most opponents in the tier, meaning that even using Choice Specs it makes an excellent revenge killer. Opponents such as Magmortar, Sawk and Rotom-S cannot hope to outspeed it without using a Choice Scarf, and are thus revenge-killed fairly easily once Simipour can get gets "can get" implies that it will have trouble getting in. From what I can see, the point is that it's a revenge killer, which by definition switches in for free. Thus, the conditional use here makes no sense. in. When using Choice Specs, Simipour has the advantages of hitting harder initially than the Nasty Plot set, whilst still retaining its excellent Speed tier and not taking any residual damage, meaning it can clean up weakened teams more effectively in the endgame, and it can sweep offensive teams much more easily than an unboosted Gorebyss.<p>

<p>On the other hand, a Simipour equipped with a Choice Scarf becomes one of the fastest threats in the entire metagame, outspeeding almost all other Choice Scarf users and threatening most of them (in addition to other threats like Swellow, Tauros, Rapidash and +1 Altaria) with a powerful STAB Hydro Pump. Whilst less effective against defensive teams, Choice Scarf Simipour can halt or severely shorten the sweep of many offensive Pokemon due to its ridiculous speed, you only use commas if your list has 3+ things in it. This has two. and ability to OHKO just KO doesn't tell us anything. with Hydro Pump or super-effective coverage moves. In fact, the only offensive checks that can deal reliably with Choice Scarf Simipour effectively are priority attackers. and Jynx, who Jynx deserves a special mention because along with not needing priority to stop Simipour, it also before it made it seem like the priority attackers take almost no damage as well -- not true. handily takes almost no damage from all of Simipour's common moves. Whilst these sets don't have to be used alongside Gorebyss and aren't outclassed by it at all, it Gorebyss "it" is likely to spark in a reader's mind as referring to Simipour, which is incorrect. appreciates Choice Simipour's ability to revenge-kill fast opponents that could otherwise interrupt its boosting attempts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Just like the Nasty Plot set, Simipour wants to fully invest in its Special Attack and Speed stats to hit as hard and fast as possible, considering that it will likely take considerable damage if it fails to complete OHKOs. Although a Pokemon at Simipour's speed tier would normally elect to run a Timid nature in OU I'm not really sure what you mean, but I think this is it. If not, make this sentence more clear -- I don't understand; the first part of the sentence implies Simipour is slow, the second implies it is fast., this isn't actually necessary in the NU metagame, as Simipour is able to outspeed the "fast" offensive threats such as Timid Magmortar, Jolly Sawk and Timid Rotom-S with even a Modest nature. The only threats that Simipour becomes more vulnerable to by running a Modest nature are Haunter and Jynx, the latter of which is a hard counter to non-boosting Simipour anyways. So unless your team has problems with dealing with Haunter, using a Modest nature on Simipour is the way to go thanks to the extra power it provides, which is especially important when using a Choice Scarf. In terms of team support, Simipour appreciates entry hazard support more so than with the Nasty Plot set, as it forces more switches as the opponent attempts to block Simipour's attacks, in addition to increasing the damage output of the Choice Scarf set. Choice item Simipour also appreciates Rapid Spin support, as it will be switching in and out of battle constantly many times "constantly" implies that every move is either switching in or out. throughout matches and it is unfortunately hit for neutral damage by both Spikes and Stealth Rock. Whilst neither of these hazards particularly cripple Simipour, they can eventually wear it down as it attempts to fulfill its revenge-killing role in the late game. Torkoal is a good candidate for this, as it can use both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock to support Simipour, whilst also dealing with Cacturne and Absol excellently with its excellent Defense stat and STAB Lava Plume.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Simipour also has a good Attack stat but doesn't really secure a lot of extra coverage when using physical attacks, and as they are coming off of an uninvested stat, they will usually be significantly weaker than Simipour's special counterparts. Waterfall is completely inferior to Surf Hydro Pump You never suggest Surf on your sets, and now there seems to be no reason to be talking about it. due to its lower base power and its ability for physically bulky targets such as Regirock to withstand it. Acrobatics is an interesting option, but requires the use of a Flying Gem to be useful, and lacks overall purpose whilst preventing Simipour from running a Life Orb or Choice item to boost its other moves or Speed. Rock Slide is a notable exception to this rule, as with a Naive nature it has the ability to OHKO offensive Jynx and Cryogonal even without investment, who otherwise make two excellent checks. However, it achieves nothing apart from this, and is thus generally an inferior option over Simipour's special coverage moves. Likewise, Simipour also has access to Hone Claws and Work Up to boost its Attack stat, but these sets will always be inferior to the Nasty Plot set due to the latter's faster boosting capability, more powerful attacking options and better coverage.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Because Simipour will most likely be using Grass-type coverage moves in this metagame, Mantine makes an unexpected counter, healing from Hydro Pump, tanking Grass Knots and Ice Beams with ease due to its titanic Special Defense, and resisting Focus Blasts. In the meantime, if it has to go for the kill, it can simply stall you out with RestTalk + Toxic, or with repeated use of Hidden Power Flying. Jynx also makes a particularly good response to Simipour so long as it lacks Rock Slide, as it also heals if it by it doesn't heal Hydro Pump, it is healed by Hydro Pump Hydro Pump whilst resisting Ice Beam and taking paltry damage from Grass Knot. Jynx is a more useful offensive check as it can outspeed Modest Simipour with if it carries the first time I read this I actually thought Jynx outspeeds Modest Simipour that is Timid XD. a Timid nature, set up Substitutes, Calm Minds and Nasty Plots on its attacks, and possibly even put it to sleep with a Lovely Kiss. If you lack these specific responses, powerful Sucker Punch users such as Absol and Cacturne can also be useful in halting Simipour's sweep, the latter of which additionally being is able to switch into Hydro Pumps and Grass Knots. Choice Scarf users can also take down the Nasty Plot set fairly easily, but are in turn eliminated by Choice Scarf Simipour, so you must make sure to determine which set Simipour is running before attempting to stop it via this method.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Simipour benefits significantly from the Dream World, gaining access to the Torrent ability. This provides Simipour with an insane power boost to its Hydro Pump should it be reduced to below 33% health, which is easily done due to its poor defenses, good Speed and access to Substitute. Once Torrent is released, Simipour's Substitute + Nasty Plot set will be significantly improved, as not only does it provide access to a more powerful STAB, but it can also be utilised with a Salac Berry, letting Simipour outspeed every opponent in the metagame whilst still hitting like a truck, and not taking any recoil damage at all whilst it sweeps. In essence, this may well elevate Simipour to Gorebyss's level of attacking prowess and beyond, making the combination of the two even more devastating.</p>
 

Shame That

TAKE IT ALL OR LEAVE IT
is a Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
Here are a few mini-changes on top of that check:

and Lapras respectively, meaning that for many teams, checking Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon or a Sucker Punch user like Absol is the only way of dealing with it. causing many teams to only be

This sentence is excessively long. Change it to this:

and Lapras respectively,.[Remove Comma / Add Period] meaning that for many teams, checking Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon or a Sucker Punch user like Absol is the only way of dealing with it. This can cause many teams to only be


Just sounds a bit more smooth. Also:

Jynx is a more useful offensive check as it can outspeed Modest Simipour with if it carries the first time I read this I actually thought Jynx outspeeds Modest Simipour that is Timid XD. a Timid nature, set up Substitutes, Calm Minds and Nasty Plots on its attacks, and possibly even put it to sleep with a Lovely Kiss.


Once again, an excessively long sentence. Try:

Jynx is a more useful offensive check as it can outspeed Modest Simipour with if it carries the first time I read this I actually thought Jynx outspeeds Modest Simipour that is Timid XD. a Timid nature, set up Substitutes, Calm Minds and Nasty Plots on its attacks, before setting up with moves such as Calm Mind and possibly even putting it Simipour to sleep with a Lovely Kiss.

This was a great check though. Keep it up.

 

erisia

Innovative new design!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Okay, that complete check has been implemented. Glad to see it was less work than last time :P
 
[Overview]

<p>Despite its appearance and reputation, Simipour is actually a very effective offensive Pokemon in NU, putting teams under pressure with its incredible Speed, great coverage, and its ability to boost its good Special Attack stat with Nasty Plot. Sadly, it lives under the shadow of Gorebyss, who is the more popular Water-type booster in the tier because of its access to Shell Smash, better Special Attack, and a good enough Defense stat to take priority hits. However, Simipour is still perfectly usable, and can distinguish itself from Gorebyss through the use of coverage moves, such as Grass Knot and Focus Blast that, which Gorebyss doesn't have access to. Furthermore, Simipour can be used alongside Gorebyss ion a pseudo-"Ddouble Dragon" style, using one team, in which one Pokemon to soften up the opponent's checks enough so that the other can attempt a full sweep, just like Salamence + Rayquaza in Ubers, and Heracross + Pinsir in UU. Unlike Gorebyss, Simipour also makes a good Choice-item user, and thus is a better option if you're looking for a potent revenge- killer on your team. All in all, whilst Simipour has its disadvantages, it certainly doesn't Simisuck.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Simipour's excellent speed, great coverage, and access to STAB Hydro Pump, combine to make it a particularly good user of Nasty Plot, as it can threaten to sweep an unprepared opponent after a single boost if theironce Choice Scarf users (and faster threats like, such as Swellow), are removed. Very few walls can take repeated boosted attacks from Simipour, as many of the keythose that resistors of Hydro Pump, such as Altaria and Lapras, are hit extremely hard by Ice Beam and Grass Knot, such as Altaria and Lapras respectively. This can causerespectively. This fantastic coverage means many teams toare only be able to check Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon or a Sucker Punch user like Absol. This means that Simipour can be used to, such as Absol. Simipour can hence keep constant pressure on the opponent, forcing them to make predictable moves to check it, andwhich allowings you to out-maneuveur them effectively. Hydro Pump is a superior STAB attack to Surf foras Simipour's STAB attack because itsbase 98 Special Attack is slightly underwhelming. This is especially important if Simipour attacks early in the game instead of boosting, because Surf simply won't have enough power. Ice Beam provides coverage against the various Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon that resist Hydro Pump, and is especially helpful against the rising threat of Water Absorb Cacturne, which is a hard counter to Simipour otherwise. Meanwhile, Grass Knot allows Simipour to hit bulky Water-type Pokemon for decent damage, being particularly effective against Lapras, who would otherwise take yourits attacks with ease.</p>

<p>WhilstAlthough Simipour remains an excellent offensive threat, the main reason why it sees low usage in the metagame is that Gorebyss largely fulfils the same roles on many teams, whilste being much easier to use due to the ridiculous boosting capabilities that Shell Smash provides. However, it is worth noting that Simipour can outspeed many offensive opponents without any boosts, whilste Gorebyss is more or less forced to boost its Speed before it can deal with them effectively. This means that Simipour can simply be used in the early -game to wallop opponents with STAB Hydro Pump and super- effective coverage moves, and does not have to boost until its checks are removed in the mid-game. Furthermore, this makes the combination of Simipour + Gorebyss very effective on hyper- offensive teams, as Simipour can soften up the checks for Gorebyss before the latter attempts a sweep of its own. The offensive pressure that both of these sweepers can place on teams can often be overwhelming, unless the opponent prepares specific lures and checks for your Water-type Pokemon in advance.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is straightforward; Simipour needs as much power and Speed as it can get to sweep effectively, whilst it also resides in one of the best speed tiers in the tier. Not maximiszing Special Attack and Speed would be selling its advantages short, especially as Simipour is so frail that investment in bulk will not save it from many specific KOs. Likewise, Life Orb is the primary item because of the extra power it provides. In terms of alternative attacking options, Simipour can use Surf as its STAB instead of Hydro Pump; whilste the power drop can be noticeable against defensive teams, Hydro Pump's imperfect accuracy can ruin an attempt to sweep at the worst possible moment sweep. Overall, this makes Surf the more reliable option against offensive teams, but as Gorebyss is more effective in this respect, Hydro Pump is given the nod for its ability to soften up Gorebyss's checks as much as possible before itGorebyss attempts a sweep. Hidden Power Grass can also be used over Grass Knot, as it hits lighter opponents, such as Quagsire and Alomomola, ever-so-slightly harder, but the power loss against Lapras can be unappealing as it is one of the few bulky Water-types that can directly threaten to KO Simipour in return, and the former are already hit fairly hard anyways due to Quagsire's neutrality to Hydro Pump and Alomomola's shockingly poor Special Defense. Focus Blast is another offensive option, but doesn't actually hit a lot of opponents in the tier harder than either Hydro Pump or Grass Knot, and its low accuracy has a significant chance of screwing up Simipour's sweep. It does, however, deal more damage to Cryogonal, who can otherwise survive a STAB Hydro Pump and Toxic Simipour, greatly shortening the length of its sweep significantlySimipour's sweep.</p>

<p>If you're not so concerned about Simipour being walled by Water-types, then you can run several support options over Grass Knot in the fourth moveslot, to improve Simipour's chances of setting up. Substitute can be used to block status, such as Thunder Wave from bulky opponents such as Mesprit and Spore from Amoonguss, letting Simipour set up Nasty Plots against them with little fear of being interruptcrippled. Substitute also provides Simipour with a defense against priority attackers, such as Cacturne and Absol, who would have no problems cutting its sweep short due to its poor Defense and residual Life Orb recoil. On the other hand,otherwise easily revenge kill the frail Simipour. Taunt can also be used instead, as it is still a reliable precaution against status users, and also prevents opponents from setting up Calm Minds, Substitutes, or entry hazards alongside ySimipour, further eliminatreducing your opponent's options in dealing with Simipour. As Simipour outspeeds almost every wall in the tier, these measures are particularly effectively against defensive teams.</p>

<p>Even though Simipour is often used as a second-string attacker alongside Gorebyss, both of these Pokemon still appreciate certain forms of team support. Entry hazards are useful for breaking Focus Sashes and deactivating the Sturdy ability that, which could save Pokemonthe likes of Sawk from certain death and allow them to threaten the comboyour sweepers, as well as limiting your opponent's ability to switch around in attempts to block your attacks and stall for residualLife Orb damage. Cacturne is particularly useful for this role as it can deal extremely well with the bulky- Water -types that stand a chance of weathering Simipour's assaults, can provide Spikes to stack residual damage, and can even use Encore to provide Simipour and Gorebyss with setup opportunities. Likewise, Mesprit can provide Simipour with Stealth Rock support to break the Focus Sashes of Pokemon such as Haunter who are unaffected by Spikes, such as Haunter, whilste also being able to provide Rain Dance support. The Simipour + Gorebyss combo is especially devastating in Rrain, as Gorebyss now has the sSpeed to deal with offensive threats without boosting, and the power bonus it provides to both of their STABs ins exceptional. With this in mind, good rain setters include <examples>.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a Choice item equipped, Simipour changes roles completely, turning from a wallbreaker or setup sweeper into a potent revenge killer, and turning from Gorebyss's henchsecond-in-command into a standalone threat. Choice Simipour retains the excellent coverage of its Nasty Plot set whilste also having room for a fourth attacking move. Focus Blast is used primarily for its ability to hit Cryogonal hard as it attempts to switch in, and it also provides a stronger hit against specially defensive Normal -types such as Licklicky, who can survive an unboosted Hydro Pump. Simipour naturally outspeeds most opponents in the tier, meaning that even using Choice Specs itvariants makes an excellent revenge killers. Opponents such as Magmortar, Sawk, and Rotom-S cannot hope to outspeed it without using a Choice Scarf, and are thus revenge- killed fairly easily once Simipour gets in. When using Choice Specs, Simipour has the advantages of hitting harder initially than the Nasty Plot set, whilste still retaining its excellent Speed tier and not taking any residual damage, meaning it can clean up weakened teams more effectively in the endlate-game, and it can sweep offensive teams much more easily than an unboosted Gorebyss.<p>

<p>On the other hand, a Simipour equipped with a Choice Scarf becomes one of the fastest threats in the entire metagame, outspeeding almost all other Choice Scarf users and threatening most of them (in addition to—as well as many other threats like, namely Swellow, Tauros, Rapidash and +1boosted Altaria) with a powerful STAB Hydro Pump. WhilstThough less effective against defensive teams, Choice Scarf Simipour can halt or severely shorten the sweep of many offensive Pokemon due to its ridiculous sSpeed, and ability to OHKO with Hydro Pump or super- effective coverage moves. In fact, the only offensive checks that can deal reliably with Choice Scarf Simipour effectively are priority attackers. Jynx deserves a special mention as it handily takes almost no damage from all of Simipour's common moves, not even needing to rely on outspeeding itand therefore doesn't need to outspeed Simipour to beat it. Whilste these sets don't have to be used alongside Gorebyss and aren't outclassed by it at all, itGorebyss does appreciates Choice Simipour's ability to revenge- kill fast opponents that could otherwise interrupt its boosting attempts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Just like the Nasty Plot set, Simipour wants to full invest in its Special Attack and Speed stats to hit as hard and as fast as possible, considering thatas it will likely take considerable damage if it fails to complete OHKOsKO the foe. Although a Pokemon at Simipour's sSpeed tier would normally elect to run a Timid nature in OU, this isn't actually necessary in the NU metagame, as Simipour is able to outspeed even the "fast"er offensive threats such as, namely Timid Magmortar, Jolly Sawk, and Timid Rotom-S, with even a Modest nature. The only threats that Simipour becomes more vulnerable to by running a Modest nature are Haunter and Jynx, the latter of which is a hard counter to non-boosting Simipour anyways. SoTherefore, unless your team has problems with dealing with Haunter, using a Modest nature on Simipour is the way to go thanks to the extra power it provides, which is especially important when using a Choice Scarf. In terms of team support, Choice Simipour appreciates entry hazard support more so than with the Nasty Plot setvariants do, as it forces more switches as the opponent attempts to block Simipour's attacks, in addition to. Entry hazards increasinge the damage output of the Choice Scarf set as well. Choice item Simipour also appreciates Rapid Spin support, as it will be switching in and out of battle many times throughout matches and it is unfortunately hit for neutral damage byvulnerable to both Spikes and Stealth Rock. WhilstAlthough neither of these hazards particularly cripple Simipour, they can eventually wear it down as it attempts to fulfil its revenge- killing role in the late game. Torkoal is a good candidate for this, as it can use both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock to support Simipour, whilste also dealing with Cacturne and Absol excellently withthanks to its excellent Defense stat and STAB Lava Plume.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Simipour also has a good Attack stat, but doesn't really secure a lot of extra coverage when using physical attacks, and as they are coming off of an uninvested stat, they will usually be significantly weaker than Simipour'stheir special counterparts. Waterfall is completely inferior to Hydro Pump due to its lower bBase pPower and its ability for physically bulky targetsthe greater prevalence of physical walls, such as Regirock to withstand it. Acrobatics is an interesting option, but requires the use of a Flying Gem to be useful, and lacks overall purpose whilst preventing Simipour from running a Life Orb or Choice item to boost its other moves or Speed. Rock Slide is a notable exception to this rule, as, as when run with a Naive nature, it hasgrants Simipour the ability to OHKO offensive Jynx and Cryogonal even without investment, who, which are otherwise make two excellent checks. However, it achieves nothing apart from this, and is thus generally an inferior option over Simipour's special coverage moves. Likewise, Simipour also has access to Hone Claws and Work Up to boost its Attack stat, but these sets will always be inferior to the Nasty Plot set due to the latter's faster boosting capability, more powerful attacking options, and better coverage.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>BecauseAs Simipour will most likely be using Grass-type coverage moves in this metagame, Mantine makes an unexpected counter,. It healings from Hydro Pump, tankings neutral Grass Knots and Ice Beams with ease due to its titanic Special Defense, and resistings Focus Blasts. In the meantime, if it has to go for the kill, it can simply stall ySimipour out with RestTalk +, Sleep Talk, and Toxic, or with repeated use of Hidden Power Flying. Jynx also makes a particularly good response to all Simipour so long as ithat lacks Rock Slide, as it also heals if hit by Hydro Pump whilst, resistings Ice Beam, and takinges paltry damage from Grass Knot. Jynx is a more useful offensive check as itTimid variants can outspeed Modest Simipour if it carries a Timid nature, before setting, and can set up with moves such as Calm Mind and Nasty Plot, and possibly even puttings well as put Simipour to sleep with a Lovely Kiss. If you lack these specific responses, powerful Sucker Punch users, such as Absol and Cacturne, can also be useful in halting Simipour's sweep, too; the latter of which is additionallyis also able to switch into Hydro Pumps and Grass Knots. Choice Scarf users can also take down the Nasty Plot set fairly easily, but are in turn eliminated by Choice Scarf Simipour, so you must make sure to determine which set Simipour is running before attempting to stop it via this method.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Simipour benefits significantly from the Dream World, gaining access to the Torrent ability. This provides Simipour with an insane power boost to its Hydro Pump should it be reduced to below 33% health, which is easily done due to its poor defenses, good Speed, and access to Substitute. Once Torrent is released, Simipour's Substitute + Nasty Plot set will be significantly improved, as not only does it providegain access to a more powerful STAB, but it can also be utiliszed with a Salac Berry, letting Simipour outspeed every opponent in the metagame whilst still hitting like a truck, and not taking any recoil damage at all whilst it sweeps. In essence, this may well elevate Simipour to Gorebyss's level of attacking prowess and beyond, making the combination of the two even more devastating.</p>


2/2

[Overview]

<p>Despite its appearance and reputation, Simipour is actually a very effective offensive Pokemon in NU, putting teams under pressure with its incredible Speed, great coverage, and ability to boost its good Special Attack stat with Nasty Plot. Sadly, it lives under the shadow of Gorebyss, who is the more popular Water-type booster in the tier because of its access to Shell Smash, better Special Attack, and a good enough Defense stat to take priority hits. However, Simipour is still perfectly usable, and can distinguish itself from Gorebyss through the use of coverage moves, such as Grass Knot and Focus Blast, which Gorebyss doesn't have access to. Furthermore, Simipour can be used alongside Gorebyss on a pseudo-double Dragon team, in which one Pokemon to soften up the opponent's checks enough so that the other can attempt a full sweep, just like Salamence + Rayquaza in Ubers, and Heracross + Pinsir in UU. Unlike Gorebyss, Simipour also makes a good Choice-item user, and thus is a better option if you're looking for a potent revenge killer on your team. All in all, whilst Simipour has its disadvantages, it certainly doesn't Simisuck.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Grass Knot
item: Life Orb
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Simipour's excellent speed, great coverage, and access to STAB Hydro Pump combine to make it a particularly good user of Nasty Plot, as it can threaten to sweep an unprepared opponent after a single boost once Choice Scarf users and faster threats, such as Swellow, are removed. Very few walls can take repeated boosted attacks from Simipour, as those that resist Hydro Pump, such as Altaria and Lapras, are hit extremely hard by Ice Beam and Grass Knot, respectively. This fantastic coverage means many teams are only able to check Simipour with a faster offensive Pokemon or a Sucker Punch user, such as Absol. Simipour can hence keep constant pressure on the opponent, forcing them to make predictable moves to check it, which allows you to out-maneuver them effectively. Hydro Pump is a superior STAB attack to Surf as Simipour's base 98 Special Attack is slightly underwhelming. This is especially important if Simipour attacks early in the game instead of boosting, because Surf simply won't have enough power. Ice Beam provides coverage against the various Grass- and Dragon-type Pokemon that resist Hydro Pump, and is especially helpful against the rising threat of Water Absorb Cacturne, which is a hard counter to Simipour otherwise. Meanwhile, Grass Knot allows Simipour to hit bulky Water-type Pokemon for decent damage, being particularly effective against Lapras, who would otherwise take its attacks with ease.</p>

<p>Although Simipour remains an excellent offensive threat, the main reason why it sees low usage in the metagame is that Gorebyss largely fulfils the same roles on many teams, while being much easier to use due to the ridiculous boosting capabilities that Shell Smash provides. However, it is worth noting that Simipour can outspeed many offensive opponents without any boosts, while Gorebyss is more or less forced to boost its Speed before it can deal with them effectively. This means that Simipour can simply be used in the early-game to wallop opponents with STAB Hydro Pump and super effective coverage moves, and does not have to boost until its checks are removed in the mid-game. Furthermore, this makes the combination of Simipour + Gorebyss very effective on hyper offensive teams, as Simipour can soften up the checks for Gorebyss before the latter attempts a sweep of its own. The offensive pressure that both of these sweepers can place on teams can often be overwhelming, unless the opponent prepares specific lures and checks for your Water-type Pokemon in advance.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread is straightforward; Simipour needs as much power and Speed as it can get to sweep effectively. Not maximizing Special Attack and Speed would be selling its advantages short, especially as Simipour is so frail that investment in bulk will not save it from many specific KOs. Likewise, Life Orb is the primary item because of the extra power it provides. In terms of alternative attacking options, Simipour can use Surf as its STAB instead of Hydro Pump; while the power drop can be noticeable against defensive teams, Hydro Pump's imperfect accuracy can ruin a sweep. Overall, this makes Surf the more reliable option against offensive teams, but as Gorebyss is more effective in this respect, Hydro Pump is given the nod for its ability to soften up Gorebyss's checks as much as possible before Gorebyss attempts a sweep. Hidden Power Grass can also be used over Grass Knot, as it hits lighter opponents, such as Quagsire and Alomomola, ever-so-slightly harder, but the power loss against Lapras can be unappealing as it is one of the few bulky Water-types that can directly threaten to KO Simipour in return, and the former are already hit fairly hard anyways due to Quagsire's neutrality to Hydro Pump and Alomomola's shockingly poor Special Defense. Focus Blast is another offensive option, but doesn't actually hit a lot of opponents in the tier harder than either Hydro Pump or Grass Knot, and its low accuracy has a significant chance of screwing up Simipour's sweep. It does, however, deal more damage to Cryogonal, who can otherwise survive a STAB Hydro Pump and Toxic Simipour, greatly shortening the length of Simipour's sweep.</p>

<p>If you're not so concerned about Simipour being walled by Water-types, then you can run several support options over Grass Knot in the fourth moveslot, to improve Simipour's chances of setting up. Substitute can be used to block status, such as Thunder Wave from Mesprit and Spore from Amoonguss, letting Simipour set up Nasty Plots against them with little fear of being crippled. Substitute also provides Simipour with a defense against priority attackers, such as Cacturne and Absol, who would otherwise easily revenge kill the frail Simipour. Taunt can also be used as it is a reliable precaution against status users, and also prevents opponents from setting up Calm Minds, Substitutes, or entry hazards alongside Simipour, further reducing your opponent's options in dealing with Simipour. As Simipour outspeeds almost every wall in the tier, these measures are particularly effectively against defensive teams.</p>

<p>Even though Simipour is often used as a second-string attacker alongside Gorebyss, both of these Pokemon still appreciate certain forms of team support. Entry hazards are useful for breaking Focus Sashes and deactivating the Sturdy ability, which could save the likes of Sawk from certain death and allow them to threaten your sweepers, as well as limiting your opponent's ability to switch around in attempts to block your attacks and stall for Life Orb damage. Cacturne is particularly useful for this role as it can deal extremely well with the bulky Water-types that stand a chance of weathering Simipour's assaults, provide Spikes to stack residual damage, and even use Encore to provide Simipour and Gorebyss with setup opportunities. Likewise, Mesprit can provide Simipour with Stealth Rock support to break the Focus Sashes of Pokemon who are unaffected by Spikes, such as Haunter, while also being able to provide Rain Dance support. The Simipour + Gorebyss combo is especially devastating in rain, as Gorebyss now has the Speed to deal with offensive threats without boosting, and the power bonus it provides to both of their STABs is exceptional. With this in mind, good rain setters include <examples>.</p>

[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
ability: Gluttony
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With a Choice item equipped, Simipour changes roles completely, turning from a wallbreaker or setup sweeper into a potent revenge killer, and turning from Gorebyss's second-in-command into a standalone threat. Choice Simipour retains the excellent coverage of its Nasty Plot set while also having room for a fourth attacking move. Focus Blast is used primarily for its ability to hit Cryogonal hard as it attempts to switch in, and also provides a stronger hit against specially defensive Normal-types such as Licklicky, who can survive an unboosted Hydro Pump. Simipour naturally outspeeds most opponents in the tier, meaning that even Choice Specs variants make excellent revenge killers. Opponents such as Magmortar, Sawk, and Rotom-S cannot hope to outspeed it without using a Choice Scarf, and are thus revenge killed fairly easily once Simipour gets in. When using Choice Specs, Simipour has the advantage of hitting harder initially than the Nasty Plot set, while still retaining its excellent Speed tier and not taking any residual damage, meaning it can clean up weakened teams more effectively in the late-game, and it can sweep offensive teams much more easily than an unboosted Gorebyss.<p>

<p>On the other hand, a Simipour equipped with a Choice Scarf becomes one of the fastest threats in the entire metagame, outspeeding almost all other Choice Scarf users and threatening most of them—as well as many other threats, namely Swellow, Tauros, Rapidash and boosted Altaria—with a powerful STAB Hydro Pump. Though less effective against defensive teams, Choice Scarf Simipour can halt or severely shorten the sweep of many offensive Pokemon due to its ridiculous Speed and ability to OHKO with Hydro Pump or super effective coverage moves. In fact, the only offensive checks that can deal reliably with Choice Scarf Simipour effectively are priority attackers. Jynx deserves a special mention as it takes almost no damage from all of Simipour's common moves, and therefore doesn't need to outspeed Simipour to beat it. While these sets don't have to be used alongside Gorebyss and aren't outclassed by it at all, Gorebyss does appreciate Choice Simipour's ability to revenge kill fast opponents that could otherwise interrupt its boosting attempts.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Just like the Nasty Plot set, Simipour wants to full invest in its Special Attack and Speed stats to hit as hard and as fast as possible, as it will likely take considerable damage if it fails to KO the foe. Although a Pokemon at Simipour's Speed tier would elect to run a Timid nature in OU, this isn't actually necessary in the NU metagame, as Simipour is able to outspeed even the faster offensive threats, namely Timid Magmortar, Jolly Sawk, and Timid Rotom-S, with a Modest nature. The only threats that Simipour becomes more vulnerable to by running a Modest nature are Haunter and Jynx, the latter of which is a hard counter to non-boosting Simipour anyways. Therefore, unless your team has problems dealing with Haunter, using a Modest nature on Simipour is the way to go thanks to the extra power it provides, which is especially important when using a Choice Scarf. In terms of team support, Choice Simipour appreciates entry hazard support more so than Nasty Plot variants do, as it forces more switches as the opponent attempts to block Simipour's attacks. Entry hazards increase the damage output of the Choice Scarf set as well. Choice Simipour also appreciates Rapid Spin support, as it will be switching in and out of battle many times throughout matches and it is unfortunately vulnerable to both Spikes and Stealth Rock. Although neither of these hazards particularly cripple Simipour, they can eventually wear it down as it attempts to fulfil its revenge killing role in the late game. Torkoal is a good candidate for this, as it can use both Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock to support Simipour, while also dealing with Cacturne and Absol excellently thanks to its excellent Defense stat and STAB Lava Plume.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Simipour also has a good Attack stat, but doesn't really secure a lot of extra coverage when using physical attacks, and as they are coming off of an uninvested stat, they will usually be significantly weaker than their special counterparts. Waterfall is completely inferior to Hydro Pump due to its lower Base Power and the greater prevalence of physical walls, such as Regirock. Acrobatics is an interesting option, but requires the use of a Flying Gem to be useful, and lacks overall purpose whilst preventing Simipour from running a Life Orb or Choice item to boost its other moves or Speed. Rock Slide is a notable exception, as when run with a Naive nature, it grants Simipour the ability to OHKO offensive Jynx and Cryogonal, which are otherwise two excellent checks. However, it achieves nothing apart from this, and is thus generally an inferior option over Simipour's special coverage moves. Likewise, Simipour also has access to Hone Claws and Work Up to boost its Attack stat, but these sets will always be inferior to the Nasty Plot set due to the latter's faster boosting capability, more powerful attacking options, and better coverage.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>As Simipour will most likely be using Grass-type coverage moves in this metagame, Mantine makes an unexpected counter. It heals from Hydro Pump, tanks neutral Grass Knot and Ice Beam with ease due to its titanic Special Defense, and resists Focus Blast. In the meantime, it can simply stall Simipour out with Rest, Sleep Talk, and Toxic, or with repeated Hidden Power Flying. Jynx also makes a particularly good response to all Simipour that lack Rock Slide, as it also heals if hit by Hydro Pump, resists Ice Beam, and takes paltry damage from Grass Knot. Jynx is a more useful offensive check as Timid variants can outspeed Modest Simipour, and can set up with moves such as Calm Mind and Nasty Plot, as well as put Simipour to sleep with Lovely Kiss. If you lack these specific responses, powerful Sucker Punch users, such as Absol and Cacturne, can be useful in halting Simipour's sweep too; the latter is also able to switch into Hydro Pump and Grass Knot. Choice Scarf users can take down the Nasty Plot set fairly easily, but are in turn eliminated by Choice Scarf Simipour, so you must make sure to determine which set Simipour is running before attempting to stop it via this method.</p>

[Dream World]

<p>Simipour benefits significantly from the Dream World, gaining access to the Torrent ability. This provides Simipour with an insane power boost to its Hydro Pump should it be reduced to below 33% health, which is easily done due to its poor defenses, good Speed, and access to Substitute. Once Torrent is released, Simipour's Substitute + Nasty Plot set will be significantly improved, as not only does it gain access to a more powerful STAB, but it can also be utilized with a Salac Berry, letting Simipour outspeed every opponent in the metagame whilst still hitting like a truck, and not taking any recoil damage at all whilst it sweeps. In essence, this may well elevate Simipour to Gorebyss's level of attacking prowess and beyond, making the combination of the two even more devastating.</p>
 

erisia

Innovative new design!
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Thanks for the copypasta, this is now done unless anyone has any further objections! :)
 
U-turn, not U-Turn XD but other than that, yeah, looks good! this was immensely thorough imo, so kudos to you for that!
 

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