[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 6-8 points
**Overview**: Dudunsparce is a bulky Normal-type with multiple ways to set up and sweep with excellent coverage and STAB attacks. It can also disrupt foes by spreading status and making them flinch with Serene Grace. Typically a filler pick later in the draft, Dudunsparce fits well on teams that aren’t already weak to Fighting. It can be hard for opponents to predict, being able to boost its offensive stats with Coil and Calm Mind and its Speed with Agility and Rattled to snowball through teams that do not adequately prepare for it. The biggest drawbacks to choosing Dudunsparce are its poor Speed stat, inability to deal much damage while unboosted, and its Normal typing being more of a luxury than a necessity.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Wallbreaker / Sweeper**: Dudunsparce thrives as a mid- to late-game wincon by using some combination of Coil, Calm Mind, and Agility alongside its strong Normal STAB moves, multiple coverage options, and reliable recovery in Roost to prevent itself from being worn down. Agility in particular can be paired with Throat Spray or another damage-boosting item to allow Dudunsparce to outspeed and threaten most of the metagame after one turn as a result of its expansive movepool.
**Paraflinch**: Dudunsparce can use Glare or Body Slam + Serene Grace to paralyze its foes and then attack with moves that have a doubled chance to flinch. Headbutt is the most common option, but for Ghost-types and other foes that may require coverage, it can also utilize Rock Slide, Air Slash, and Bite.
**Utility**: Although less common than the primary sets, Dudunsparce sports multiple tools to support its team and allow its teammates to set up and win. Its options include paralyzing foes with Serene Grace + Body Slam or Glare, setting up Stealth Rock, and forcing switches with Yawn and Dragon Tail.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Boomburst, Hyper Drill, Body Slam, Headbutt, Double-Edge
**Setup Moves**: Coil, Calm Mind, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Glare, Toxic, Yawn, Roost, Stealth Rock, Dragon Tail, Substitute
**Coverage**: Earth Power, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Ice Beam, Air Slash, Hurricane, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Earthquake, Aqua Tail, Ice Spinner, Poison Jab, Lunge, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Throat Chop, Wild Charge, Zen Headbutt, Body Press
Niche Moves
========
**Bite**: Serene Grace Dudunsparce can use Bite as a means of hitting Ghost-type foes while maintaining a high chance to make slower foes flinch.
**Stored Power**: Dudunsparce thrives with sets that allow it to boost multiple stats with its setup options and Rattled, so Stored Power is a viable coverage option against teams without a Dark-type if it struggles to fit coverage otherwise.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers pairs well with any Dudunsparce set involving defensive setup or paraflinching, as it gains passive healing while boosting its stats or preventing its foe from moving.
**Throat Spray**: One of Dudunsparce's easiest ways of applying pressure is simply by clicking Boomburst which procsThroat Spray. After an Agility, this can be very effective at allowing it to score OHKOs on foes that did not anticipate it having time to boost both its Speed and Special Attack.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Against opposing teams with multiple entry hazard options, Heavy-Duty Boots may provide more value to Dudunsparce sets that are expecting to switch in and out multiple times.
Niche Items
========
**Chople Berry**: Chople Berry allows Dudunsparce to take half-damage to a Fighting-type move once and either set up or attack its foe when the opponent might have expected it to faint.
**Mental Herb**: Taunt and Encore are two of the best ways to prevent Dudunsparce from setting up or spreading status, so a Mental Herb provides one-time protection against these moves.
**Choice Specs**: The best way for Dudunsparce to apply immediate pressure is to use Choice Specs with Boomburst alongside coverage like Earth Power, Fire Blast, and Shadow Ball to catch anything trying to switch in with a strong hit.
**Sitrus Berry**: For defensive setup sets, sometimes Dudunsparce only needs to survive a single big hit before it can self-sustain with either Coil or Calm Mind, so Sitrus Berry gives it the extra health it needs.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Dudunsparce can make use of Silk Scarf to immediately boost its Normal-type coverage or Expert Belt to have a better chance of knocking out foes with its super effective coverage moves, particularly on Agility sets or when it does not want to be locked in to a single move.
**Custap Berry**: Dudunsparce can typically tank at least one hit and then use Custap Berry if it took enough damage to get a guaranteed fast Glare, Boomburst, Stealth Rock, or other useful move off before fainting.
**Rocky Helmet**: For defensive sets, Dudunsparce can utilize Rocky Helmet to punish physical attackers and take advantage of reckless U-turn users by also gaining a Speed boost via Rattled.
**Assault Vest**: Dudunsparce's high health, wide coverage movepool, and utility in Serene Grace make Assault Vest a viable item for dealing with teams with several special attackers that do not appreciate taking hits.
Tera
========
When possible, Dudunsparce can be a very versatile and unpredictable secondary Tera captain that can utilize many different Tera types. Although it has some solid coverage options, it lacks any Fairy-type moves and appreciates the resistance to Fighting it gains alongside Tera Blast Fairy. Tera Ghost also allows it to effectively flip its weakness and hit Ghost-type foes harder. Tera Normal further boosts the power of Boomburst and Hyper Drill, allowing it to deal significant damage to teams lacking Pokemon that resist Normal. With its above-average defensive stats, any defensive Tera type can allow Dudunsparce to become a nuisance for foes with some types also blocking potential disruption, such as Tera Fire preventing burns and Tera Poison and Steel preventing Toxic. Defensive Tera types like Tera Water can take advantage of resisting STAB attacks from Pokemon like Palafin and Volcanion that do not have coverage to break through its defenses while it sets up.
Draft Strategy
========
Dudunsparce is a versatile Pokemon that should be drafted for its unpredictability, status spam, and bulk to force prep against it and take advantage of opposing teams that lack strong Pokemon that resist Norma. It appreciates teammates that can set entry hazards and dual screens to facilitate it to sweep. Teammates that deter Ghost- and Electric-types also allow it to spread paralysis and get away with running less coverage. Dudunsparce as a slow Normal-type is typically more of a luxury, fitting best with already well-rounded teams that have good role compression like hazards, essential typings, and Speed tiers handled already.
**Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Especially if Dudunsparce is not a Tera Captain, having multiple teammates that resist or are immune to Fighting can press foes for coverage or they risk being unable to break through its bulk. For example, Gholdengo, Galarian Slowking, and Uxie can be fantastic teammates, as they easily brush off Fighting-type moves.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Fast Pokemon that can weaken Dudunsparce's checks and ignore utility like Encore and Taunt complement its slower pace, such as Iron Valiant and Enamorus.
**Knock Off Users**: Paraflinch Dudunsparce's biggest weakness is Rocky Helmet, (AC) and special attacking sets can struggle to break bulky Assault Vest Pokemon, so teammates that can use Knock Off to remove problematic items can remove barriers to a Dudunsparce sweep. Rillaboom, Azelf, and Gliscor can provide it with Knock Off support, pivoting with U-turn, and Grassy Terrain recovery in the case of Rillaboom.
**Pivots**: Dudunsparce can find trouble getting a free turn to switch in and start setting up, so pivots that force defensive switches can give it multiple chances to spread status and start boosting. Examples include Hisuian Samurott and Zapdos, which can bring it in safely.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Dudunsparce tends to miss out on OHKOs, since its STAB moves do not hit anything for super effective damage, so entry hazard chip via Stealth Rock and Spikes from teammates like Deoxys-S and Garchomp can deal the additional damage to guarantee KOs. Sticky Web from teammates like Ribombee and Araquanid can also allow Dudunsparce to outspeed opposing bulkier Pokemon without needing to use Glare, Body Slam, or Agility first.
Checks and Counters
========
**Taunt / Encore**: Standard Dudunsparce sets need at least one turn to set up, so a fast Taunt or Encore can prevent it from boosting or lock it into a boosting move, forcing a switch and nullifying its effectiveness.
**Status**: Bulky setup Dudunsparce sets are slow and prone to being statused, as it rarely has room for Substitute. Burn renders Coil and Headbutt sets far less effective, Toxic and poison can chip it down without needing to deal direct damage, and paralysis can stop Glare sets from outspeeding and flinching foes.
**Haze / Phazing**: Removing Dudunsparce's boosts with Haze, Clear Smog, Dragon Tail, and similar moves and causing it to start over prevents it from gaining momentum and snowballing boosts, especially when it uses one-time boosts like Throat Spray.
**Offensive Fighting-types**: Without Tera, Dudunsparce can struggle to deal with strong foes with super effective coverage, such as Close Combat from Great Tusk and Annihilape. Iron Hands can pressure it with super effective coverage while also being immune to Glare.
**Defensive Ghost-types**: While Dudunsparce can potentially power through Steel-types and Rock-types with Normal-type spam, Ghost-types force it to run much weaker non-STAB coverage moves like Shadow Ball, Bite, and Throat Chop.
**Covert Cloak**: Serene Grace Dudunsparce relies on high chances to make foes flinch, so Covert Cloak nullifies Serene Grace entirely.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/xand.614716/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 6-8 points
**Overview**: Dudunsparce is a bulky Normal-type with multiple ways to set up and sweep with excellent coverage and STAB attacks. It can also disrupt foes by spreading status and making them flinch with Serene Grace. Typically a filler pick later in the draft, Dudunsparce fits well on teams that aren’t already weak to Fighting. It can be hard for opponents to predict, being able to boost its offensive stats with Coil and Calm Mind and its Speed with Agility and Rattled to snowball through teams that do not adequately prepare for it. The biggest drawbacks to choosing Dudunsparce are its poor Speed stat, inability to deal much damage while unboosted, and its Normal typing being more of a luxury than a necessity.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Setup Wallbreaker / Sweeper**: Dudunsparce thrives as a mid- to late-game wincon by using some combination of Coil, Calm Mind, and Agility alongside its strong Normal STAB moves, multiple coverage options, and reliable recovery in Roost to prevent itself from being worn down. Agility in particular can be paired with Throat Spray or another damage-boosting item to allow Dudunsparce to outspeed and threaten most of the metagame after one turn as a result of its expansive movepool.
**Paraflinch**: Dudunsparce can use Glare or Body Slam + Serene Grace to paralyze its foes and then attack with moves that have a doubled chance to flinch. Headbutt is the most common option, but for Ghost-types and other foes that may require coverage, it can also utilize Rock Slide, Air Slash, and Bite.
**Utility**: Although less common than the primary sets, Dudunsparce sports multiple tools to support its team and allow its teammates to set up and win. Its options include paralyzing foes with Serene Grace + Body Slam or Glare, setting up Stealth Rock, and forcing switches with Yawn and Dragon Tail.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Boomburst, Hyper Drill, Body Slam, Headbutt, Double-Edge
**Setup Moves**: Coil, Calm Mind, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Glare, Toxic, Yawn, Roost, Stealth Rock, Dragon Tail, Substitute
**Coverage**: Earth Power, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Ice Beam, Air Slash, Hurricane, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Earthquake, Aqua Tail, Ice Spinner, Poison Jab, Lunge, Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Throat Chop, Wild Charge, Zen Headbutt, Body Press
Niche Moves
========
**Bite**: Serene Grace Dudunsparce can use Bite as a means of hitting Ghost-type foes while maintaining a high chance to make slower foes flinch.
**Stored Power**: Dudunsparce thrives with sets that allow it to boost multiple stats with its setup options and Rattled, so Stored Power is a viable coverage option against teams without a Dark-type if it struggles to fit coverage otherwise.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers pairs well with any Dudunsparce set involving defensive setup or paraflinching, as it gains passive healing while boosting its stats or preventing its foe from moving.
**Throat Spray**: One of Dudunsparce's easiest ways of applying pressure is simply by clicking Boomburst which procsThroat Spray. After an Agility, this can be very effective at allowing it to score OHKOs on foes that did not anticipate it having time to boost both its Speed and Special Attack.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Against opposing teams with multiple entry hazard options, Heavy-Duty Boots may provide more value to Dudunsparce sets that are expecting to switch in and out multiple times.
Niche Items
========
**Chople Berry**: Chople Berry allows Dudunsparce to take half-damage to a Fighting-type move once and either set up or attack its foe when the opponent might have expected it to faint.
**Mental Herb**: Taunt and Encore are two of the best ways to prevent Dudunsparce from setting up or spreading status, so a Mental Herb provides one-time protection against these moves.
**Choice Specs**: The best way for Dudunsparce to apply immediate pressure is to use Choice Specs with Boomburst alongside coverage like Earth Power, Fire Blast, and Shadow Ball to catch anything trying to switch in with a strong hit.
**Sitrus Berry**: For defensive setup sets, sometimes Dudunsparce only needs to survive a single big hit before it can self-sustain with either Coil or Calm Mind, so Sitrus Berry gives it the extra health it needs.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Dudunsparce can make use of Silk Scarf to immediately boost its Normal-type coverage or Expert Belt to have a better chance of knocking out foes with its super effective coverage moves, particularly on Agility sets or when it does not want to be locked in to a single move.
**Custap Berry**: Dudunsparce can typically tank at least one hit and then use Custap Berry if it took enough damage to get a guaranteed fast Glare, Boomburst, Stealth Rock, or other useful move off before fainting.
**Rocky Helmet**: For defensive sets, Dudunsparce can utilize Rocky Helmet to punish physical attackers and take advantage of reckless U-turn users by also gaining a Speed boost via Rattled.
**Assault Vest**: Dudunsparce's high health, wide coverage movepool, and utility in Serene Grace make Assault Vest a viable item for dealing with teams with several special attackers that do not appreciate taking hits.
Tera
========
When possible, Dudunsparce can be a very versatile and unpredictable secondary Tera captain that can utilize many different Tera types. Although it has some solid coverage options, it lacks any Fairy-type moves and appreciates the resistance to Fighting it gains alongside Tera Blast Fairy. Tera Ghost also allows it to effectively flip its weakness and hit Ghost-type foes harder. Tera Normal further boosts the power of Boomburst and Hyper Drill, allowing it to deal significant damage to teams lacking Pokemon that resist Normal. With its above-average defensive stats, any defensive Tera type can allow Dudunsparce to become a nuisance for foes with some types also blocking potential disruption, such as Tera Fire preventing burns and Tera Poison and Steel preventing Toxic. Defensive Tera types like Tera Water can take advantage of resisting STAB attacks from Pokemon like Palafin and Volcanion that do not have coverage to break through its defenses while it sets up.
Draft Strategy
========
Dudunsparce is a versatile Pokemon that should be drafted for its unpredictability, status spam, and bulk to force prep against it and take advantage of opposing teams that lack strong Pokemon that resist Norma. It appreciates teammates that can set entry hazards and dual screens to facilitate it to sweep. Teammates that deter Ghost- and Electric-types also allow it to spread paralysis and get away with running less coverage. Dudunsparce as a slow Normal-type is typically more of a luxury, fitting best with already well-rounded teams that have good role compression like hazards, essential typings, and Speed tiers handled already.
**Fighting-resistant Pokemon**: Especially if Dudunsparce is not a Tera Captain, having multiple teammates that resist or are immune to Fighting can press foes for coverage or they risk being unable to break through its bulk. For example, Gholdengo, Galarian Slowking, and Uxie can be fantastic teammates, as they easily brush off Fighting-type moves.
**Fast Wallbreakers**: Fast Pokemon that can weaken Dudunsparce's checks and ignore utility like Encore and Taunt complement its slower pace, such as Iron Valiant and Enamorus.
**Knock Off Users**: Paraflinch Dudunsparce's biggest weakness is Rocky Helmet, (AC) and special attacking sets can struggle to break bulky Assault Vest Pokemon, so teammates that can use Knock Off to remove problematic items can remove barriers to a Dudunsparce sweep. Rillaboom, Azelf, and Gliscor can provide it with Knock Off support, pivoting with U-turn, and Grassy Terrain recovery in the case of Rillaboom.
**Pivots**: Dudunsparce can find trouble getting a free turn to switch in and start setting up, so pivots that force defensive switches can give it multiple chances to spread status and start boosting. Examples include Hisuian Samurott and Zapdos, which can bring it in safely.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: Dudunsparce tends to miss out on OHKOs, since its STAB moves do not hit anything for super effective damage, so entry hazard chip via Stealth Rock and Spikes from teammates like Deoxys-S and Garchomp can deal the additional damage to guarantee KOs. Sticky Web from teammates like Ribombee and Araquanid can also allow Dudunsparce to outspeed opposing bulkier Pokemon without needing to use Glare, Body Slam, or Agility first.
Checks and Counters
========
**Taunt / Encore**: Standard Dudunsparce sets need at least one turn to set up, so a fast Taunt or Encore can prevent it from boosting or lock it into a boosting move, forcing a switch and nullifying its effectiveness.
**Status**: Bulky setup Dudunsparce sets are slow and prone to being statused, as it rarely has room for Substitute. Burn renders Coil and Headbutt sets far less effective, Toxic and poison can chip it down without needing to deal direct damage, and paralysis can stop Glare sets from outspeeding and flinching foes.
**Haze / Phazing**: Removing Dudunsparce's boosts with Haze, Clear Smog, Dragon Tail, and similar moves and causing it to start over prevents it from gaining momentum and snowballing boosts, especially when it uses one-time boosts like Throat Spray.
**Offensive Fighting-types**: Without Tera, Dudunsparce can struggle to deal with strong foes with super effective coverage, such as Close Combat from Great Tusk and Annihilape. Iron Hands can pressure it with super effective coverage while also being immune to Glare.
**Defensive Ghost-types**: While Dudunsparce can potentially power through Steel-types and Rock-types with Normal-type spam, Ghost-types force it to run much weaker non-STAB coverage moves like Shadow Ball, Bite, and Throat Chop.
**Covert Cloak**: Serene Grace Dudunsparce relies on high chances to make foes flinch, so Covert Cloak nullifies Serene Grace entirely.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/xand.614716/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf2.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
