What Do I Choose?: 4 Moveslot Syndrome in SS UU

By cheru. Released: 2022/04/11.
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4 Moveslot Syndrome in SS UU art

Art by wixi.

Introduction

4 Moveslot Syndrome (more commonly simplified as 4MSS) is a situation where a certain Pokémon has multiple good moves but can only pick certain ones, limiting its offensive or utility capabilities. Here, we explore how 4MSS affects certain Pokémon in UU.

The Pokémon

Mandibuzz

Mandibuzz

Mandibuzz has established itself as a great defensive Pokémon in UU, checking many Pokémon such as Azelf, Excadrill, and Zarude. U-turn and Foul Play are mandatory for keeping momentum on switch-ins and nailing setup sweepers like Aegislash and Salamence. For the fourth move, Mandibuzz has various options to use with solid perks. Knock Off always provides good utility for a team, removing items from the likes of Celesteela and Chansey, but it gives a threat like Cobalion completely free entry to either use Stealth Rock or Volt Switch. Brave Bird deals good damage to Conkeldurr and Tapu Bulu. Defog can be used but lets Fighting-types walk all over Mandibuzz. Additionally, Defog Mandibuzz is vulnerable to status from Swampert and Chansey and has no way of beating Nihilego and Cobalion. Taunt shuts down walls such as Chansey, Umbreon, and Slowking, but it lacks use against more offensive teams. Toxic can punish Stealth Rock Swampert. Whirlwind forces out setup sweepers that don't mind Foul Play, like Galarian Moltres. Though it cannot run all of these moves at once, Mandibuzz can tailor itself to its team's needs.

Thundurus-T

Thundurus-T

After its Incarnate forme was banned, Thundurus-T filled in the role as an effective pivot due to its good typing and solid Speed. Knock Off lets it remove items from checks such as Assault Vest Tangrowth, Swampert, and Nihilego. Psychic is great coverage for Amoonguss and Nihilego. Focus Blast hits Excadrill, Hydreigon, and Zarude, and it also works with Knock Off to break through Chansey when chipped. Grass Knot can bust through Swampert and the rarer Quagsire. Sludge Bomb can rip through teams relying on Tapu Bulu and Tangrowth as checks. Thundurus-T can use U-turn over Volt Switch to pivot freely around Ground-types and let it use Thunderbolt as a stronger STAB move for Slowking and Celesteela. However, this costs a potentially important coverage move, leaving it without the tools to break through its checks. Thundurus-T can also use Volt Switch and Thunderbolt together on teams without the need for its coverage. Its moves must be chosen carefully though, since that would make it a less effective pivot. While Thundurus-T cannot hit everything with one set, it's dangerous to scout given that it can beat any check with the right coverage.

Zygarde-10%

Zygarde-10%

Zygarde-10% is a fantastic wallbreaker with its high Speed and signature Thousand Arrows busting through Flying-types like Moltres and Skarmory, which other wallbreakers like Mamoswine and Excadrill have trouble with. It can mix its fourth move for some coverage or utility. Superpower is a good option against Chansey and Zarude, since both can stomach Thousand Arrows and heal. Skitter Smack OHKOes Zarude and picks off weakened Tangrowth without locking into Outrage. However, Bug's poor coverage makes it risky to lock into and always results in Zygarde-10% getting forced out. Toxic is a solid catch-all option to hit the likes of Tangrowth, Tapu Bulu, and Mandibuzz. Scale Shot gives Zygarde-10% a move to hit Salamence without the Outrage lock, but it is inconsistent due to its accuracy and low power.

Azelf

Azelf

Azelf is one of the best pivots in UU thanks to its elite Speed tier letting it outpace threats like Zarude and Cobalion. Psyshock can be used over Psychic to OHKO Nihilego and better damage Primarina. Psychic is preferred due to its higher overall damage output against more common foes like Thundurus-T. Knock Off is the preferred move on this set, as it cripples checks like Chansey and Mandibuzz. Azelf also has various coverage options to dispatch its checks, making it difficult to check without scouting and able to wallbreak with Expert Belt sets at the cost of some utility. Energy Ball threatens Swampert and Slowking, helping out a teammate like Mamoswine. Dazzling Gleam nails Hydreigon and Salamence, but it doesn't have enough power to break through Galarian Moltres and Mandibuzz.

Chansey

Chansey

A UU newcomer, Chansey has been a solid staple on stall, balance, and even some bulky offense teams due to its titanic special bulk and good utility options. Its choice for its utility moves is quite flexible depending on its team. Toxic lets it wear down various bulky threats like Salamence, Slowking, and Mandibuzz. Thunder Wave is an alternative to slow down a threat like Nihilego, but this gives free entry to other threats like Thundurus-T and Zygarde-10%. Teleport helps its passivity issue by freely bringing in a wallbreaker like Choice Specs Hydreigon. Chansey can also fit Stealth Rock on more balanced teams. Aromatherapy is a useful option on stall teams, thanks to it already being a fantastic status absorber, alleviating cleric duties from a teammate like Umbreon. Chansey really desires all of these moves, but it will always be a great defensive pivot.

Tapu Bulu

Tapu Bulu

Arguably the most apparent case of 4MSS in SS UU, Tapu Bulu is a unique wallbreaker thanks to Grassy Surge improving its team's longevity and weakening Earthquake for teammates like Aegislash. Its colorful coverage options showcase its wallbreaking potential, mixing and matching them to bust through its checks. Close Combat and Darkest Lariat beat common defensive Pokémon like Chansey, Skarmory, and Aegislash. Stone Edge can surprise Moltres trying to inflict a Flame Body burn, and Amoonguss can't handle a boosted Zen Headbutt. However, Tapu Bulu sets without the right coverage are brought to a halt by those Pokémon. Synthesis provides immediate recovery, but it exacerbates Tapu Bulu's already awful coverage issue. Tapu Bulu has all the tools to succeed, but the inability to fit every coverage move it wants limits its potency.

Gyarados

Gyarados

Gyarados is a deadly setup sweeper. Ice Fang is great coverage that nails Salamence, Zarude, and Mandibuzz, though it needs multiple boosts to bust past Tangrowth and Amoonguss. Bounce is a good alternative to break through them, but it needs two turns to activate and is exploited by Aegislash's King's Shield without Power Herb. Power Whip nails bulky Water-types like Rotom-W, Slowking, Azumarill, and Swampert. Substitute and Leftovers work beautifully with Bounce, letting Gyarados use Bounce without much risk, blocking Thunder Wave and Toxic from Chansey and Aegislash, and giving it setup opportunities on common defensive Pokémon like Celesteela. Intimidate is also an option to weaken attacks to set up Substitute more easily. Unfortunately, Substitute Gyarados has much more trouble breaking through Water-types, requiring external support. Gyarados can be a dangerous sweeper at times, but its limited moveslots mean it can often come up short.

Starmie

Starmie

Starmie is probably the poster child of 4MSS throughout the generations. Though not UU by usage, Starmie is an potent offensive threat thanks to its high Speed and Analytic-boosted attacks. Blizzard is a viable alternative to Ice Beam that can OHKO Thundurus-T, but it is very risky due to its accuracy. Psyshock hits Keldeo and Chansey for good damage, while Thunderbolt is good coverage against Slowking and Celesteela. Recover is a good option for offsetting entry hazard and Life Orb damage and can be used against defensive foes like Celesteela. Rapid Spin may seem appealing due to Starmie's good matchup against entry hazard setters like Nihilego and Excadrill, but giving up Recover leaves it worn down rather easily. Starmie really desires all of these moves, but it has still found an effective niche in the tier.

Conclusion

Many of these great Pokémon suffer from 4MSS. The best way to solve this is to go out there and find out which moves work best yourself!

HTML by Ryota Mitarai.
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