[OVERVIEW]
Swalot is not an amazing Pokemon in the metagame, as it is mostly overshined by Roselia; however, it does have a niche. Although it lacks Spikes and recovery, it can wall more and different Pokemon such as Knock Off Simipour, Poliwrath and Ninetales. Swalot has decent bulk with Assault Vest but lacks recovery, making it prone to being worn down and limiting its ability to switch in. It should only really be used if the team has weaknesses to the specific Pokemon Swalot can wall, such as those prior mentioned. Fortunately it has amazing coverage, and with offensive investment it can hit hard enough to prevent other Pokemon from setting up on it. Additionally, its typing, although not providing many important resistances outside Grass, does not provide many relevant weaknesses to common special attacks and lets it absorb Toxic Spikes.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Quiet
evs: 248 HP / 200 SpA / 60 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Bomb is Swalot's main STAB move with a nice chance to poison the foe. Giga Drain hits Rock-, Water-, and certain Ground-types such as Carracosta and Piloswine hard. Ice Beam hits most Ground-types such as Gabite and Torterra harder, as well as Pokemon such as Jumpluff, and it is Swalot's strongest move against Ghost-types such as Misdreavus. Earthquake 2HKOes Pawniard and Probopass, which would otherwise wall Swalot.
Set Details
========
Assault Vest turns Swalot into a special tank, and the EVs allow Swalot to take three Hydro Pumps from Life Orb Simipour after Stealth Rock damage and Giga Drain recovery as well as three Thunderbolts from Zebstrika. The rest is dumped in Special Attack for more power, and a Quiet nature is chosen to boost this more. It is required over Modest to let Swalot 2HKO Probopass. Sticky Hold helps against Knock Off Clefairy and Simipour and is Swalot's least situational ability.
Usage Tips
========
Swalot can be switched into special attackers such as Simipour, Simisage, and Rotom-F, but it should not be switched into too many strong attacks due to its lack of recovery, limiting the number of times it can switch in. Although it may wall Roselia, be wary of switching into it, as it can use Swalot as entry hazard bait. Additionally, it should be wary of switching into Pokemon such as Poliwrath, which can burn Swalot with Scald, severely weakening it for the rest of the match. After being weakened from taking on special attackers, it is fine to sack Swalot, as outside checking specific Pokemon, it does not do much. Swalot is also a decent absorber of the, albeit rare, move Trick, so Swalot can be switched into users such as Rotom-F if predicted.
Team Options
========
Swalot fits best on balanced and often bulky offensive teams to check specific special attackers that tend to threaten those builds. Flying- and Grass-types such as Pelipper and Tangela check Ground-types, which are the most threatening Pokemon to Swalot. Steel- and defensive Psychic-types such as Probopass and Grumpig check offensive Psychic-types. Hypno is especially good, as it can provide Wish support. Ghost- and Dark-types such as Misdreavus and Mightyena can offensively threaten Psychic-types but dislike switching in on them. Like Hypno, Lickilicky can provide Wish support for Swalot to prevent it from being worn down too easily. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Pelipper and Armaldo is greatly appreciated, as otherwise Swalot gets worn down too quickly. Pokemon that can immediately pressure Roselia such as Dodrio and Rapidash are important in preventing Roselia from setting up entry hazards on Swalot. Phazers such as Poliwrath, though fairly specific, can be very helpful, as Swalot often finds itself setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Vigoroth.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot can be used over Sludge Bomb with some Attack EVs to let Swalot deal decent damage to Roselia, and Liquid Ooze can also be used on the set if its team is weak to Leech Seed users and certain Grass-types. Acid Spray can be used to prevent Swalot from being setup fodder for bulky setup sweepers, but Swalot lacks the moveslot. A utility set with moves such as Encore and Pain Split can be used; it trades walling more Pokemon with Assault Vest for recovery, but it receives even more competition from Roselia. Choice Band can be used for its surprise factor and can be EVed to outspeed lead Golem and KO it with Bullet Seed. Choice Specs can also be used for more immediate power, and although it receives competition from Seviper, Swalot has a niche in its bulk. Custap Berry along with Destiny Bond can score a possible surprise KO.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Passive Damage**: Swalot's main weakness is its lack of recovery, meaning that Stealth Rock, Spikes, and chip damage severely weaken it and often put it in KO range of special attackers. Burns from Will-O-Wisps and Scalds from Pokemon such as Misdreavus and Poliwrath also annoy it, especially because it likes to switch into the latter.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Gabite can deal heavy damage with their Ground-type STAB move or set up Stealth Rock, but most dislike switching in on an Ice Beam. Stunfisk and Piloswine can take a hit better, as they do not have 4x weaknesses, but the former does not do too much damage with Earth Power and the latter lacks recovery.
**Physical Attackers*: Assault Vest only boosts Swalot's Special Defense, meaning it is more vulnerable to physical hits, especially because it does not invest EVs into it. Pokemon such as Ursaring and Stoutland can capitalize on this and easily revenge kill Swalot.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon such as Hypno and Lickilicky can take multiple hits and proceed to recover off lost damage, and they only care about a possible Sludge Bomb poison. Grumpig in particularly avoids the 3HKO and can retaliate with Psychic. Bulky setup sweepers such as Vigoroth and Duosion can use Swalot as setup fodder, and the latter does not care about being poisoned.
Swalot is not an amazing Pokemon in the metagame, as it is mostly overshined by Roselia; however, it does have a niche. Although it lacks Spikes and recovery, it can wall more and different Pokemon such as Knock Off Simipour, Poliwrath and Ninetales. Swalot has decent bulk with Assault Vest but lacks recovery, making it prone to being worn down and limiting its ability to switch in. It should only really be used if the team has weaknesses to the specific Pokemon Swalot can wall, such as those prior mentioned. Fortunately it has amazing coverage, and with offensive investment it can hit hard enough to prevent other Pokemon from setting up on it. Additionally, its typing, although not providing many important resistances outside Grass, does not provide many relevant weaknesses to common special attacks and lets it absorb Toxic Spikes.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Sludge Bomb
move 2: Giga Drain
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Earthquake
item: Assault Vest
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Quiet
evs: 248 HP / 200 SpA / 60 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Sludge Bomb is Swalot's main STAB move with a nice chance to poison the foe. Giga Drain hits Rock-, Water-, and certain Ground-types such as Carracosta and Piloswine hard. Ice Beam hits most Ground-types such as Gabite and Torterra harder, as well as Pokemon such as Jumpluff, and it is Swalot's strongest move against Ghost-types such as Misdreavus. Earthquake 2HKOes Pawniard and Probopass, which would otherwise wall Swalot.
Set Details
========
Assault Vest turns Swalot into a special tank, and the EVs allow Swalot to take three Hydro Pumps from Life Orb Simipour after Stealth Rock damage and Giga Drain recovery as well as three Thunderbolts from Zebstrika. The rest is dumped in Special Attack for more power, and a Quiet nature is chosen to boost this more. It is required over Modest to let Swalot 2HKO Probopass. Sticky Hold helps against Knock Off Clefairy and Simipour and is Swalot's least situational ability.
Usage Tips
========
Swalot can be switched into special attackers such as Simipour, Simisage, and Rotom-F, but it should not be switched into too many strong attacks due to its lack of recovery, limiting the number of times it can switch in. Although it may wall Roselia, be wary of switching into it, as it can use Swalot as entry hazard bait. Additionally, it should be wary of switching into Pokemon such as Poliwrath, which can burn Swalot with Scald, severely weakening it for the rest of the match. After being weakened from taking on special attackers, it is fine to sack Swalot, as outside checking specific Pokemon, it does not do much. Swalot is also a decent absorber of the, albeit rare, move Trick, so Swalot can be switched into users such as Rotom-F if predicted.
Team Options
========
Swalot fits best on balanced and often bulky offensive teams to check specific special attackers that tend to threaten those builds. Flying- and Grass-types such as Pelipper and Tangela check Ground-types, which are the most threatening Pokemon to Swalot. Steel- and defensive Psychic-types such as Probopass and Grumpig check offensive Psychic-types. Hypno is especially good, as it can provide Wish support. Ghost- and Dark-types such as Misdreavus and Mightyena can offensively threaten Psychic-types but dislike switching in on them. Like Hypno, Lickilicky can provide Wish support for Swalot to prevent it from being worn down too easily. Entry hazard removal from Pokemon such as Pelipper and Armaldo is greatly appreciated, as otherwise Swalot gets worn down too quickly. Pokemon that can immediately pressure Roselia such as Dodrio and Rapidash are important in preventing Roselia from setting up entry hazards on Swalot. Phazers such as Poliwrath, though fairly specific, can be very helpful, as Swalot often finds itself setup fodder for bulky sweepers such as Vigoroth.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Gunk Shot can be used over Sludge Bomb with some Attack EVs to let Swalot deal decent damage to Roselia, and Liquid Ooze can also be used on the set if its team is weak to Leech Seed users and certain Grass-types. Acid Spray can be used to prevent Swalot from being setup fodder for bulky setup sweepers, but Swalot lacks the moveslot. A utility set with moves such as Encore and Pain Split can be used; it trades walling more Pokemon with Assault Vest for recovery, but it receives even more competition from Roselia. Choice Band can be used for its surprise factor and can be EVed to outspeed lead Golem and KO it with Bullet Seed. Choice Specs can also be used for more immediate power, and although it receives competition from Seviper, Swalot has a niche in its bulk. Custap Berry along with Destiny Bond can score a possible surprise KO.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Passive Damage**: Swalot's main weakness is its lack of recovery, meaning that Stealth Rock, Spikes, and chip damage severely weaken it and often put it in KO range of special attackers. Burns from Will-O-Wisps and Scalds from Pokemon such as Misdreavus and Poliwrath also annoy it, especially because it likes to switch into the latter.
**Ground-types**: Ground-type Pokemon such as Torterra and Gabite can deal heavy damage with their Ground-type STAB move or set up Stealth Rock, but most dislike switching in on an Ice Beam. Stunfisk and Piloswine can take a hit better, as they do not have 4x weaknesses, but the former does not do too much damage with Earth Power and the latter lacks recovery.
**Physical Attackers*: Assault Vest only boosts Swalot's Special Defense, meaning it is more vulnerable to physical hits, especially because it does not invest EVs into it. Pokemon such as Ursaring and Stoutland can capitalize on this and easily revenge kill Swalot.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Defensive Pokemon such as Hypno and Lickilicky can take multiple hits and proceed to recover off lost damage, and they only care about a possible Sludge Bomb poison. Grumpig in particularly avoids the 3HKO and can retaliate with Psychic. Bulky setup sweepers such as Vigoroth and Duosion can use Swalot as setup fodder, and the latter does not care about being poisoned.
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