[OVERVIEW]
Spritzee has a solid place in the metagame thanks to its good bulk and fantastic Fairy typing, allowing it to check the ever-present Fighting- and Dark-type moves that dominate the LC metagame. Additionally, Spritzee has fantastic defensive synergy with other prominent defensive Pokemon in the metagame, allowing it to form backbones to support defensive, balanced, and bulky offensive teams. Spritzee also has access to Wish, giving it both a semi-reliable form of recovery and the ability to support its team. Coupled with Aromatherapy, Wish helps Spritzee become the best cleric in the LC metagame. Spritzee can even act as a late-game wincon with access to Calm Mind. Its ability Aroma Veil doesn't hurt either, giving it an immunity to moves that would typically take down defensive Pokemon, including Taunt and Encore.
Spritzee is held back, however, by several key flaws. First of all, Spritzee is essentially forced to rely on Moonblast as its sole attack, which leaves it easily walled by many of the Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-types that resist it. Even against Pokemon that don't resist its attack, Spritzee lacks offensive power without Calm Mind boosts, leaving it open to be setup fodder for key Pokemon. A limited movepool makes Spritzee quite predictable and easy to prepare for as well, meaning that most teams are equipped to handle it. Spritzee is also extremely easy to trap with the common Calm Mind Gothita unless it spends a moveslot on Skill Swap, which makes it a liability to a team when facing this Gothita set if any other move is run. Lastly, because of its role as a Fighting-type check, Spritzee usually is hit by Knock Off during a match, depriving it of its Eviolite and thus limiting its defensive capabilities for the rest of the match.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Skill Swap / Calm Mind / Aromatherapy
item: Eviolite
ability: Aroma Veil
nature: Bold
evs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Wish allows Spritzee to restore its own HP and pass 13 HP boosts to teammates. Protect allows Spritzee to receive its own Wishes when it would otherwise be KOed by a foe's attack, and it can also ease prediction against Choice-locked Pokemon. Moonblast provides Spritzee with a STAB move that hits the Fighting-type Pokemon it aims to check, and it hits most of the metagame at least neutrally, making the most of Spritzee's limited offensive presence. Additionally, Moonblast carries a decent chance to lower the foe's Special Attack, which can come in handy against checks. In the last slot, Skill Swap allows Spritzee to escape from encounters with Shadow Tag users, specifically Gothita. It also has situational use against Regenerator users that switch into Spritzee, allowing it to restore its health just by switching out against these Pokemon. Calm Mind can be used instead to allow Spritzee to sweep late-game if its checks have been eliminated, as it can slowly boost up while healing itself with Wish. Alternatively, Aromatherapy heals Spritzee's team from status moves, making it the better option on teams that are susceptible to burns or paralysis.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Bold nature maximize Spritzee's physical bulk and allows Spritzee to pass the largest Wishes possible to its teammates. Spritzee prefers physical bulk over special bulk because its role is to check Fighting-types, which are predominantly physical attackers. The remaining EVs go into Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Eviolite boosts Spritzee's Defense and Special Defense stats, giving it greater bulk and longevity. Aroma Veil is the preferred ability because it gives Spritzee an immunity to certain stallbreaking moves, such as Taunt and Encore.
Usage Tips
========
Spritzee should be brought in against the Pokemon it checks, most notably Fighting-types that aren't Croagunk. From there, Spritzee can heal itself and its teammates with Wish and Protect. Despite its good bulk, be careful of allowing Spritzee to take super effective hits, especially if its Eviolite has been knocked off, as it can get worn down quickly. However, Spritzee can take most neutral hits, so don't be afraid to attack. If you're running Calm Mind, Spritzee should wait until late in the game to set up, after its checks have been weakened and it has a safe opportunity to set up. If Spritzee is acting as a wincon in a given battle, be careful about letting it get hit by Knock Off, which will limit its eventual setup opportunities. If you're using Aromatherapy, Spritzee can take advantage of the switches it forces by coming in on the Pokemon it checks to quickly heal its team. Be aware of the fact that Spritzee often requires using Protect the turn after using Wish to heal itself, which can give the opponent a free switch or setup opportunity, especially late in the game, and predict accordingly.
Team Options
========
One of Spritzee's greatest attributes is its ability to form defensive cores. Munchlax and Ferroseed both appreciate Spritzee's ability to take care of opposing Fighting-types and the recovery that Spritzee's Wish passing can provide, and in return, they can handle Steel-types, except Pawniard, and Poison-types, respectively. Mudbray can handle the Steel-, Poison-, and to a lesser extent, Fire-type Pokemon that give Spritzee trouble, and it appreciates the recovery that Spritzee provides it. Hippopotas also makes a good defensive partner for Spritzee, checking Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-type Pokemon and wearing down opposing teams with weather damage, entry hazards, and Whirlwind. Bulky Pokemon without recovery appreciate Spritzee as well. Skrelp, Timburr, Mienfoo, and Croagunk easily take on most of the Pokemon that threaten Spritzee and appreciate Wish support, as they tend to get worn down. Pursuit trappers synergize well with Spritzee on all team types, as they are able to remove Gothita, which would otherwise render Spritzee useless for a match. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer work well in this role, due to their complete immunity to Gothita's STAB attack. Pursuit trappers synergize especially well with Skill Swap variants of Spritzee, which can bring in Gothita and switch out to the Pursuit trapper, virtually guaranteeing Gothita's removal. If you're running the Calm Mind set, Spritzee appreciates partners that can break down the Pokemon that resist Moonblast for an eventual late-game sweep. Diglett makes a fantastic partner, as it is able to trap nearly all of the Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types in the metagame and remove them from battle. Ponyta and Larvesta double as Pawniard checks and can check many of the Pokemon that threaten a Spritzee sweep, most notably Foongus, but both are vulnerable to Skrelp and Mareanie. A Pawniard check is essential when using Spritzee, however, making Fighting-types and Flame Body users good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic is an interesting option that allows Spritzee to surprise a Poison-type that attempts to check it, but it needs a Calm Mind boost to do any kind of damage, and Spritzee doesn't generally have the room on its moveset to run it. Covet can be run in the final moveslot, allowing Spritzee to take a foe's item after being hit with Knock Off. Hidden Power Fighting and Hidden Power Fire can surprise Pawniard and Ferroseed, respectively, but they are very situational and require Spritzee to give up a generally more useful move to be used. Spritzee is one of the most reliable Trick Room setters in the metagame thanks to its bulk and low Speed stat, but it can't really take advantage of Trick Room once it is set up, and Trick Room is a subpar strategy in the LC metagame as it is.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, including Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Honedge, can switch into Spritzee with ease and take advantage of the low damage dealt by Moonblast to either set up entry hazards or use boosting moves. Pawniard is a more offensive answer to Spritzee, though it can't switch in as fearlessly thanks to its partial Dark typing.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types also take very little damage from Spritzee's Moonblast and can take advantage of it in various ways. Trubbish appreciates the opportunity to stack Spikes, and offensive Pokemon such as Gastly and Skrelp can switch in on Spritzee and begin to fire off powerful attacks. Foongus and Mareanie are even more dangerous, however, as they are able to heal any damage Spritzee can deal with Regenerator, remove Spritzee's Calm Mind boosts with Clear Smog and Haze, respectively, and KO it with their Poison-type STAB moves.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist Moonblast and have no trouble switching in on Spritzee. Vulpix can set up sun for a teammate to exploit, Torchic can switch in and begin to set up boosts to Baton Pass away, and Ponyta and Larvesta can blow past Spritzee with powerful Fire-type attacks while healing off damage dealt to them with Morning Sun.
**Gothita**: Calm Mind Gothita makes it virtually impossible for Spritzee to do its job if it is not running Skill Swap, as it can easily come in on other variants of Spritzee and trap it while setting up with Calm Mind, eventually KOing it with Psyshock.
Spritzee has a solid place in the metagame thanks to its good bulk and fantastic Fairy typing, allowing it to check the ever-present Fighting- and Dark-type moves that dominate the LC metagame. Additionally, Spritzee has fantastic defensive synergy with other prominent defensive Pokemon in the metagame, allowing it to form backbones to support defensive, balanced, and bulky offensive teams. Spritzee also has access to Wish, giving it both a semi-reliable form of recovery and the ability to support its team. Coupled with Aromatherapy, Wish helps Spritzee become the best cleric in the LC metagame. Spritzee can even act as a late-game wincon with access to Calm Mind. Its ability Aroma Veil doesn't hurt either, giving it an immunity to moves that would typically take down defensive Pokemon, including Taunt and Encore.
Spritzee is held back, however, by several key flaws. First of all, Spritzee is essentially forced to rely on Moonblast as its sole attack, which leaves it easily walled by many of the Poison-, Steel-, and Fire-types that resist it. Even against Pokemon that don't resist its attack, Spritzee lacks offensive power without Calm Mind boosts, leaving it open to be setup fodder for key Pokemon. A limited movepool makes Spritzee quite predictable and easy to prepare for as well, meaning that most teams are equipped to handle it. Spritzee is also extremely easy to trap with the common Calm Mind Gothita unless it spends a moveslot on Skill Swap, which makes it a liability to a team when facing this Gothita set if any other move is run. Lastly, because of its role as a Fighting-type check, Spritzee usually is hit by Knock Off during a match, depriving it of its Eviolite and thus limiting its defensive capabilities for the rest of the match.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Skill Swap / Calm Mind / Aromatherapy
item: Eviolite
ability: Aroma Veil
nature: Bold
evs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Wish allows Spritzee to restore its own HP and pass 13 HP boosts to teammates. Protect allows Spritzee to receive its own Wishes when it would otherwise be KOed by a foe's attack, and it can also ease prediction against Choice-locked Pokemon. Moonblast provides Spritzee with a STAB move that hits the Fighting-type Pokemon it aims to check, and it hits most of the metagame at least neutrally, making the most of Spritzee's limited offensive presence. Additionally, Moonblast carries a decent chance to lower the foe's Special Attack, which can come in handy against checks. In the last slot, Skill Swap allows Spritzee to escape from encounters with Shadow Tag users, specifically Gothita. It also has situational use against Regenerator users that switch into Spritzee, allowing it to restore its health just by switching out against these Pokemon. Calm Mind can be used instead to allow Spritzee to sweep late-game if its checks have been eliminated, as it can slowly boost up while healing itself with Wish. Alternatively, Aromatherapy heals Spritzee's team from status moves, making it the better option on teams that are susceptible to burns or paralysis.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread and a Bold nature maximize Spritzee's physical bulk and allows Spritzee to pass the largest Wishes possible to its teammates. Spritzee prefers physical bulk over special bulk because its role is to check Fighting-types, which are predominantly physical attackers. The remaining EVs go into Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed. Eviolite boosts Spritzee's Defense and Special Defense stats, giving it greater bulk and longevity. Aroma Veil is the preferred ability because it gives Spritzee an immunity to certain stallbreaking moves, such as Taunt and Encore.
Usage Tips
========
Spritzee should be brought in against the Pokemon it checks, most notably Fighting-types that aren't Croagunk. From there, Spritzee can heal itself and its teammates with Wish and Protect. Despite its good bulk, be careful of allowing Spritzee to take super effective hits, especially if its Eviolite has been knocked off, as it can get worn down quickly. However, Spritzee can take most neutral hits, so don't be afraid to attack. If you're running Calm Mind, Spritzee should wait until late in the game to set up, after its checks have been weakened and it has a safe opportunity to set up. If Spritzee is acting as a wincon in a given battle, be careful about letting it get hit by Knock Off, which will limit its eventual setup opportunities. If you're using Aromatherapy, Spritzee can take advantage of the switches it forces by coming in on the Pokemon it checks to quickly heal its team. Be aware of the fact that Spritzee often requires using Protect the turn after using Wish to heal itself, which can give the opponent a free switch or setup opportunity, especially late in the game, and predict accordingly.
Team Options
========
One of Spritzee's greatest attributes is its ability to form defensive cores. Munchlax and Ferroseed both appreciate Spritzee's ability to take care of opposing Fighting-types and the recovery that Spritzee's Wish passing can provide, and in return, they can handle Steel-types, except Pawniard, and Poison-types, respectively. Mudbray can handle the Steel-, Poison-, and to a lesser extent, Fire-type Pokemon that give Spritzee trouble, and it appreciates the recovery that Spritzee provides it. Hippopotas also makes a good defensive partner for Spritzee, checking Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-type Pokemon and wearing down opposing teams with weather damage, entry hazards, and Whirlwind. Bulky Pokemon without recovery appreciate Spritzee as well. Skrelp, Timburr, Mienfoo, and Croagunk easily take on most of the Pokemon that threaten Spritzee and appreciate Wish support, as they tend to get worn down. Pursuit trappers synergize well with Spritzee on all team types, as they are able to remove Gothita, which would otherwise render Spritzee useless for a match. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer work well in this role, due to their complete immunity to Gothita's STAB attack. Pursuit trappers synergize especially well with Skill Swap variants of Spritzee, which can bring in Gothita and switch out to the Pursuit trapper, virtually guaranteeing Gothita's removal. If you're running the Calm Mind set, Spritzee appreciates partners that can break down the Pokemon that resist Moonblast for an eventual late-game sweep. Diglett makes a fantastic partner, as it is able to trap nearly all of the Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-types in the metagame and remove them from battle. Ponyta and Larvesta double as Pawniard checks and can check many of the Pokemon that threaten a Spritzee sweep, most notably Foongus, but both are vulnerable to Skrelp and Mareanie. A Pawniard check is essential when using Spritzee, however, making Fighting-types and Flame Body users good partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic is an interesting option that allows Spritzee to surprise a Poison-type that attempts to check it, but it needs a Calm Mind boost to do any kind of damage, and Spritzee doesn't generally have the room on its moveset to run it. Covet can be run in the final moveslot, allowing Spritzee to take a foe's item after being hit with Knock Off. Hidden Power Fighting and Hidden Power Fire can surprise Pawniard and Ferroseed, respectively, but they are very situational and require Spritzee to give up a generally more useful move to be used. Spritzee is one of the most reliable Trick Room setters in the metagame thanks to its bulk and low Speed stat, but it can't really take advantage of Trick Room once it is set up, and Trick Room is a subpar strategy in the LC metagame as it is.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Steel-types, including Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Honedge, can switch into Spritzee with ease and take advantage of the low damage dealt by Moonblast to either set up entry hazards or use boosting moves. Pawniard is a more offensive answer to Spritzee, though it can't switch in as fearlessly thanks to its partial Dark typing.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types also take very little damage from Spritzee's Moonblast and can take advantage of it in various ways. Trubbish appreciates the opportunity to stack Spikes, and offensive Pokemon such as Gastly and Skrelp can switch in on Spritzee and begin to fire off powerful attacks. Foongus and Mareanie are even more dangerous, however, as they are able to heal any damage Spritzee can deal with Regenerator, remove Spritzee's Calm Mind boosts with Clear Smog and Haze, respectively, and KO it with their Poison-type STAB moves.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types resist Moonblast and have no trouble switching in on Spritzee. Vulpix can set up sun for a teammate to exploit, Torchic can switch in and begin to set up boosts to Baton Pass away, and Ponyta and Larvesta can blow past Spritzee with powerful Fire-type attacks while healing off damage dealt to them with Morning Sun.
**Gothita**: Calm Mind Gothita makes it virtually impossible for Spritzee to do its job if it is not running Skill Swap, as it can easily come in on other variants of Spritzee and trap it while setting up with Calm Mind, eventually KOing it with Psyshock.
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