Sunday
God Bless Nintys Incompetence :*)
Now that we've all spent a fair amount of time on Shoddy learning the ins and out of Syclant and with the 'CaP Stratergy Dex' sticky, I feel it is prudent to re-work the Syclant analysis to free it of theorymon and bring it to the highest possible quality.
[SET]
name: Tail Glow 'ant
move 1: Tail Glow
move 2: Ice Beam / Blizzard
move 3: Bug Buzz / Focus Blast
move 4: Focus Blast / Hidden Power [Ground]
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Mountaineer
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set would be nigh on uncounterable if it could run all listed options at once, and is thus very threatening when the opponent does know exactly what moves you're carrying. After a Tail Glow Bug Buzz will 2HKO all bulky waters, a Blizzard will 2HKO all who do not resist it bar Blissey and Thick Fat Snorlax. Hidden Power [Ground] makes Lucario, Heatran and most importantly Tentacruel squirm while Focus Blast will deal with Blissey, Snorlax, Regice, and Registeel. Mountaineer actually allows Syclant to switch in with Stealth Rocks on the field, and unless you can provide a large amount of Rapid Spin support is the preferable option.
[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Bug buzz
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Substitute / Tail Glow
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Mountaineer
nature: Naive / Rash
evs: 200 Atk/ 56 Satk / 252 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
Syclant has the ability to tear through many of the most common walls in D/P. Ice Beam is a great STAB in the OU Metagame which is the only one you will see Syclant playing in. Brick Break deals with Blissey and will 2HKO 90% of the time. Bug buzz provides a strong STAB that deals with many opponents. Substitute can be used if you do not want to risk mispredicting, which will often force Syclant to switch out. It is also useful to absorb Thunder Waves from Blissey and Cresselia. Focus Sash can be used to garuntee you get at least one Tail Glow in, but is best used with Weather support from Abomasnow.
If you do use Substitute than Superpower becomes an option over Brick Break as it can 2HKO Blissey with less EVs, but it does not allow for repeated hits.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Ice Shard / Ice Punch
move 3: X-Scissor
move 4: Brick Break
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
ability: Mountaineer
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
This is a full physical version of Syclant. It's attack reaches astronomical levels after a Swords Dance. Ice Shard takes care of anything that thinks it can switch in on the Swords Dance and outspeed for a KO. Ice Punch provides a more reliable Ice STAB.
Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Stone Edge, Night Slash or Shadow Claw could be used over Brick Break. Fire fang dents Forretress, who would otherwise wall you, after a SD. Thunder fang is your best bet against Gyarados. Stone edge (or Rock slide if you don’t like the poor accuracy and want to take advantage of the flinch chance) has great coverage and can 1HKO some Pokemon you would otherwise have problems with after a Swords Dance. Night slash or Shadow claw can beat down Dusknoir. Superpower is not an option on this set as the attack drop conflicts with Sword Dance.
[SET]
name: Specs Syclant
move 1: Ice Beam / Blizzard
move 2: Bug buzz
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Earth Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Mountaineer / Compound Eyes
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
This set has the ability to do massage damage to most of the OU metagame, provided you predict right. Coupound Eyes helps the low accuracy of Blizzard and Focus Blast, but make sure you have adequate spin support as Syclant wants the ability to switch freely with this set. Mountaineer is, as always, the "low maintenance" option. Superpower and Ice Beam allows you to still dent Blissey and also be immune to SR, but this restricts you to Hidden Power [Ground] in the final spot as Earth Power is illegal with Superpower. Keep in mind that only Modest Nature and Focus Blast are able to 2HKO without SR.
[Other Options]
Stone Edge is a good option for dealing with the likes of Moltres and Articuno. Superpower is unable to 1HKO Blissey even with max Atk, so isn't of much note other than on the Choice Specs set, or to 2HKO with less EVs. Thunder Fang and Earth Power will 1HKO Gyarados and Heatran respectively, but don't be tempted to use them on anything that isn't 4x weak as unresisted STAB Blizzard or Bug buzz will usually do more. Most of the time its incredibly powereful STABs will cover it better than a single attack that hits Super Effective against a certain Poke. Choice Band is also an option if you don’t want to have to set up your Physical sweeper, but Syclant isn't build for repeated switch ins. Choice Scarf makes it a decent lead, but be sure to max the Atk stats as much as possible.
Probably fine.
[EVs]
Neutral Natured Syclant with max Atk and Life Orb is never guaranteed to 2HKO Blissey with Break Break, but 200 EVs Provide a very reasonable chance and a guaranteed KO with SR in play. Any EVs Leftover from your main form of offence should go into Speed. Always make sure that Syclant can survive two switch ins to SR if running Compound Eyes. This means NEVER give it four Hp EVs. Either eight or none.
[Opinion]
Syclant can tear through some of D/P's prestige walls, but is extremely high maintenance. Its typing is a mixed bag. It has two wonderful STABs for an offensive Poke, but is hindered by a horrible SR weakness. Mountaineer takes care of this, but leaves it using a weaker STAB. If you can keep Syclant in good condition then it will be a great asset to your team.
In order to survive, Syclant relies on its extremely powerful and accurate STAB moves and its impunity to Stealth Rock. Taking either one of these away will weaken it significantly. If it is running the Compound Eyes ability, an opponent that can use Stealth Rock and prevent them from being spun away will stop Syclant in its tracks. If Syclant is using Abomasnow's hail for 100% Acc Blizzard then your own weather changer will hinder it.
[Counters]
Tentacruel is a good overall counter, and is really only vunerable to Choice Specs Earth Power. Heatran can come in on the STABs and 1HKO if it's scarfed, but does not fare well against Brick Break or the aformentioned Earth Power. A bulky Gyarados can come in the majority of Syclant's movepool, save for Stone Edge and Thunder Fang. That same Gyarados Intimidates physical Syclants, and can take special hits with it's 95/100 defenses, along with resistances to Fighting, Bug, and Ground, the most common of Syclant's moves. Bronzong does well with Gyro Ball, great defences across the board and a resistance to Ice. Metagross can not be KO'd by anything bar a boosted Earth Power, and can threaten with Bullet Punch in responce. Registeel can take a Tail Glow boosted Focus Blast and come out still standing, but a lack of healing makes it hard for Registeel to switch in more than once or twice. Blissey is a good counter to the Spec set. Against the Mixant set, Blissey can come in on anything other than Brick Break and Substitute and can 1HKO Syclant with Flamethrower, or use a status move like Sing or Thunderwave. Priority moves, expecially Bullet Punch which Syclant is weak to, or Pokemon that outspeed Syclant can deal very heavy damage once they get in.
[SET]
name: Tail Glow 'ant
move 1: Tail Glow
move 2: Ice Beam / Blizzard
move 3: Bug Buzz / Focus Blast
move 4: Focus Blast / Hidden Power [Ground]
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Mountaineer
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This set would be nigh on uncounterable if it could run all listed options at once, and is thus very threatening when the opponent does know exactly what moves you're carrying. After a Tail Glow Bug Buzz will 2HKO all bulky waters, a Blizzard will 2HKO all who do not resist it bar Blissey and Thick Fat Snorlax. Hidden Power [Ground] makes Lucario, Heatran and most importantly Tentacruel squirm while Focus Blast will deal with Blissey, Snorlax, Regice, and Registeel. Mountaineer actually allows Syclant to switch in with Stealth Rocks on the field, and unless you can provide a large amount of Rapid Spin support is the preferable option.
[SET]
name: Mixed Sweeper
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Bug buzz
move 3: Brick Break
move 4: Substitute / Tail Glow
item: Life Orb / Focus Sash
ability: Mountaineer
nature: Naive / Rash
evs: 200 Atk/ 56 Satk / 252 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
Syclant has the ability to tear through many of the most common walls in D/P. Ice Beam is a great STAB in the OU Metagame which is the only one you will see Syclant playing in. Brick Break deals with Blissey and will 2HKO 90% of the time. Bug buzz provides a strong STAB that deals with many opponents. Substitute can be used if you do not want to risk mispredicting, which will often force Syclant to switch out. It is also useful to absorb Thunder Waves from Blissey and Cresselia. Focus Sash can be used to garuntee you get at least one Tail Glow in, but is best used with Weather support from Abomasnow.
If you do use Substitute than Superpower becomes an option over Brick Break as it can 2HKO Blissey with less EVs, but it does not allow for repeated hits.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Ice Shard / Ice Punch
move 3: X-Scissor
move 4: Brick Break
item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
ability: Mountaineer
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
This is a full physical version of Syclant. It's attack reaches astronomical levels after a Swords Dance. Ice Shard takes care of anything that thinks it can switch in on the Swords Dance and outspeed for a KO. Ice Punch provides a more reliable Ice STAB.
Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Stone Edge, Night Slash or Shadow Claw could be used over Brick Break. Fire fang dents Forretress, who would otherwise wall you, after a SD. Thunder fang is your best bet against Gyarados. Stone edge (or Rock slide if you don’t like the poor accuracy and want to take advantage of the flinch chance) has great coverage and can 1HKO some Pokemon you would otherwise have problems with after a Swords Dance. Night slash or Shadow claw can beat down Dusknoir. Superpower is not an option on this set as the attack drop conflicts with Sword Dance.
[SET]
name: Specs Syclant
move 1: Ice Beam / Blizzard
move 2: Bug buzz
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Earth Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Mountaineer / Compound Eyes
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 Satk / 252 Spd
[SET COMMENTS]
This set has the ability to do massage damage to most of the OU metagame, provided you predict right. Coupound Eyes helps the low accuracy of Blizzard and Focus Blast, but make sure you have adequate spin support as Syclant wants the ability to switch freely with this set. Mountaineer is, as always, the "low maintenance" option. Superpower and Ice Beam allows you to still dent Blissey and also be immune to SR, but this restricts you to Hidden Power [Ground] in the final spot as Earth Power is illegal with Superpower. Keep in mind that only Modest Nature and Focus Blast are able to 2HKO without SR.
[Other Options]
Stone Edge is a good option for dealing with the likes of Moltres and Articuno. Superpower is unable to 1HKO Blissey even with max Atk, so isn't of much note other than on the Choice Specs set, or to 2HKO with less EVs. Thunder Fang and Earth Power will 1HKO Gyarados and Heatran respectively, but don't be tempted to use them on anything that isn't 4x weak as unresisted STAB Blizzard or Bug buzz will usually do more. Most of the time its incredibly powereful STABs will cover it better than a single attack that hits Super Effective against a certain Poke. Choice Band is also an option if you don’t want to have to set up your Physical sweeper, but Syclant isn't build for repeated switch ins. Choice Scarf makes it a decent lead, but be sure to max the Atk stats as much as possible.
Probably fine.
[EVs]
Neutral Natured Syclant with max Atk and Life Orb is never guaranteed to 2HKO Blissey with Break Break, but 200 EVs Provide a very reasonable chance and a guaranteed KO with SR in play. Any EVs Leftover from your main form of offence should go into Speed. Always make sure that Syclant can survive two switch ins to SR if running Compound Eyes. This means NEVER give it four Hp EVs. Either eight or none.
[Opinion]
Syclant can tear through some of D/P's prestige walls, but is extremely high maintenance. Its typing is a mixed bag. It has two wonderful STABs for an offensive Poke, but is hindered by a horrible SR weakness. Mountaineer takes care of this, but leaves it using a weaker STAB. If you can keep Syclant in good condition then it will be a great asset to your team.
In order to survive, Syclant relies on its extremely powerful and accurate STAB moves and its impunity to Stealth Rock. Taking either one of these away will weaken it significantly. If it is running the Compound Eyes ability, an opponent that can use Stealth Rock and prevent them from being spun away will stop Syclant in its tracks. If Syclant is using Abomasnow's hail for 100% Acc Blizzard then your own weather changer will hinder it.
[Counters]
Tentacruel is a good overall counter, and is really only vunerable to Choice Specs Earth Power. Heatran can come in on the STABs and 1HKO if it's scarfed, but does not fare well against Brick Break or the aformentioned Earth Power. A bulky Gyarados can come in the majority of Syclant's movepool, save for Stone Edge and Thunder Fang. That same Gyarados Intimidates physical Syclants, and can take special hits with it's 95/100 defenses, along with resistances to Fighting, Bug, and Ground, the most common of Syclant's moves. Bronzong does well with Gyro Ball, great defences across the board and a resistance to Ice. Metagross can not be KO'd by anything bar a boosted Earth Power, and can threaten with Bullet Punch in responce. Registeel can take a Tail Glow boosted Focus Blast and come out still standing, but a lack of healing makes it hard for Registeel to switch in more than once or twice. Blissey is a good counter to the Spec set. Against the Mixant set, Blissey can come in on anything other than Brick Break and Substitute and can 1HKO Syclant with Flamethrower, or use a status move like Sing or Thunderwave. Priority moves, expecially Bullet Punch which Syclant is weak to, or Pokemon that outspeed Syclant can deal very heavy damage once they get in.