[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Access to the best boosting move in the game: Shell Smash</li>
<li>High Attack and Defense stat</li>
<li>Nice ability that pairs well with the many high critical hit rate moves it learns. </li>
<li>Decent STABs</li>
<li>Diverse Movepool</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Only resist two Priority moves. </li>
<li>Highest physical Water STAB is Razor Shell, which only has 75 Power, and it's secondary STAB has very shaky accuracy.</li>
<li>Serious weaknesses due to his typing</li>
<li>Relies on innacurate moves</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Barbaracle @ Focus Sash / White Herb / Life Orb<br />
Ability: Tough Claws<br />
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Attack / 252 Spe <br />
Jolly Nature (+Attack, -SpA)<br />
- Shell Smash<br />
- Razor Shell<br />
- Stone Edge / Earthquake<br />
- Cross Chop / Poison Jab / Night Slash</p>
<p>Shell Smash is undoubtedly the best boosting move in the game. Barbaracle is no exception to what greatness is. At +2, Barbaracle reaches a staggering 540 Attack and a respectable 378 Speed! Razor Shell is a very powerful STAB move at +2. Tough Claws boosts Cross Chop, Poison Jab, and Razor Shell, making it the far superior ability. Earthquake could be used to hit through Aegislash and other Steel-types, but Cross Chop is more useful for better coverage. Focus Sash ensures Barbaracle will get a Shell Smash in, while White Herb can be used to recover lost Defenses. Life Orb is another option, as it does give a substantial boost in power to Barbaracle. Barbaracle might seem outclassed by Cloyster in just about every respect, but Barbaracle lacks a Stealth Rock weakness and pitiful Special Defense. Poison Jab had never been viable before, but Barbaracle makes it work, as it can finally beat Grass types that wall it. Be careful with how you use Barbaracle, as it is not a Pokemon you can just set up and sweep with, you must be wary of status and hazards.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Grass-types such as Ferrothorn and Amoonguss must be wary of X-Scissor or Poison Jab, but won't be taking much from it anyways. Ferrothorn walls it as well, resisting its Dual STABs and setting up on Barbracle. Taunt sorely defeats Barbaracle, as it prevents it from setting up and attempting a sweep. A lot of Scarf Pokemon outspeed it, even at +2, such Pokemon also reliably counter it as it will likely be at -1 Defense anyways, so it is prone to being revenge killed. Mach Punches from Breloom and Conkeldurr also halt it's sweep. Finally, Mega Venusaur walls it to no end, as does Venusaur, but to a lesser extent.</p>
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