Skuntank [0/3]

[Bouff]

Taken over from CyclicCompound =) Is in WIP format for now, as the old analysis was outdated.

Overview
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• Great Defog user for bulky offensive teams
• Has good defensive bulk and typing, wielding only one weakness to Ground-types, and lets it absorb Toxic Spikes
• Has good offensive stats and STAB combination, letting it check the likes of Delphox, Aromatisse, and Reuniclus
• Has a lack of reliable recovery
• Faces competition with Gligar and Golbat as a defensive Defog user, and also has worse offenses in comparison to Shiftry

Utility Skunk
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name: Utility Skunk
move 1: Defog
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Punishment / Taunt
move 4: Pursuit / Foul Play / Poison Jab
ability: Aftermath
item: Black Sludge
evs: 248 HP / 248 Atk / 12 Spe
nature: Adamant

Moves
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• Defog lets Skuntank clear hazards, preventing its teammates from taking chip damage from hazards
• Sucker Punch serves as a powerful Dark-type STAB, letting Skuntank hit faster Pokemon such as Jolteon and Moltres
• Punishment is a consistent STAB attack which smacks set up sweepers, particularly Calm Mind users such as Reuniclus and Meloetta
• Taunt also stops set up sweepers, as well as blocking hazards and status moves, forcing the targeted Pokemon to attack Skuntank
• Pursuit works well in tandem with Taunt, trapping Psychic- and Ghost-types that may be forced out, especially after having their set up move blocked
• Foul Play does a huge chunk of damage to the likes of Pokemon like Doublade, which can be reliable if it has set up a Swords Dance boost, and also does a bit more against the likes of Rhyperior. However, it is redundant with Punishment as they both target boosted Pokemon, and should not be used with it
• Poison Jab is a powerful Poison STAB attack which lets Skuntank hit the likes of Shiftry, Aromatisse, Granbull, and Togetic

Set Details
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• Given EV spread is used to outspeed and Taunt Cresselia and Gligar, while also OHKOing Dugtrio with Sucker Punch after Rocks, with the rest invested into bulk
• Adamant ensures Skuntank hits as hard as possible
• Black Sludge gives Skuntank passive recovery each turn
• Dread Plate can be used to increase Skuntank's Dark-type attacks, particularly Sucker Punch and Pursuit.

Usage Tips
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• Skuntank should be kept healthy as it is usually aiming to remove hazards
• Should also be kept healthy if it needs to stop late game cleaners like Delphox and Reuniclus
• Serves mainly as a support unit, and shouldn't be kept alive at thhe expense of its teammates
• If it is unclear what the opponent will switch into, Taunt and Pursuit are generally the safest options depending on if chip damage is needed on the opposing Pokemon

Team Options
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• Bulky sweepers that can be worn down by Toxic Spikes, like Gallade and Meloetta
• Hazard-weak Pokemon, like Moltres, Fletchinder, and Braviary
• Fits well on balance teams

Other Options
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• A fully offensive or defensive set can be used, but it is usually a waste of Skuntank's potential due to its somewhat limited stats
• Haze can be used, but most sweepers either force Skuntank out or get shut down by Taunt

Checks & Counters
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***Braviary***: While Braviary takes a lot of damage from Sucker Punch, Aftermath, Recoil, and possible hazard damage, a +2 Braviary is still a scary thing to face, and it can OHKO Skuntank.

**Ground-types**: Pokemon like Rhyperior, Gligar, and Sandslash can take all of Skuntank's attacks with little problem, and force it out with their Ground-type STAB moves.

***Hard-hitting Attackers***: Skuntank has decently bulky, but it cannot at all switch into powerful Pokemon like Reckless Hitmonlee, LO Moltres, and Choice Specs Meloetta.

***Cobalion***: Cobalion can take advantage of Pursuit, Sucker Punch, or Poison Jab thanks to Justified, and can threaten Skuntank out with Iron Head or Close Combat.

 

[Punchshroom]

particularly Calkm Minf users such as Reuniclus and Meloetta

such type
very english
wow

 

[Bouff]

ok got this out of wip after a month of laziness lol

atomicllamas Molk EonX checkerino

 

[atomicllamas]

Looks good, mention sub bu braviary dodges the sucker punch as well in C&C.

 

[g]

Fire Blast in OO as Skuntank lures in Cobalion like nothing else :/
I guess Crunch too

 

[aVocado]

Fire Blast in OO as Skuntank lures in Cobalion like nothing else :/

I concur. Fire Blast Skuntank has fucked me over a couple times.