[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Toxic / Whirlwind / Sludge Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Dustox compresses the roles of entry hazard control, special wall, and pivot into a single set. While its bulk is far from impenetrable, its typing allows it to have a solid matchup versus special attackers like Servine and Frogadier. Politoed gets a special mention here; Dustox is one of its best switch-ins, since it doesn't have to be concerned with burn from Scald due to Shield Dust. This provides opportunities for it to clear entry hazards with Defog as well as gain momentum with STAB U-turn. Toxic allows Dustox to punish switch-ins like Gigalith and Pignite, a more proactive approach of dealing with its checks in comparison to pivoting. Whirlwind forces out sweepers like Klang and Scraggy, and it can also gain momentum when drawing in a Pokemon that cannot threaten Dustox with a subsequent U-turn. Sludge Bomb is another option Dustox may opt for to spread status while also nailing the Grass-types it checks like Servine, Simisage, and Gogoat. Physically defensive and mixed defensive investments work well too, given the appropriate team support. These sets help check the likes of offensive Swalot, Krokorok, and Persian.
Offensive Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Frogadier are great teammates, as they can force out the Fire- and Rock-types that come in on Dustox, like Magmar and Lairon. In return, Dustox can come in on Grass-types like Servine and restart the U-turn momentum cycle. Physical walls like Gigalith and Carbink make for a good core to pair with Dustox because it takes on the Grass- and Water-types that threaten them while they handle the Normal- and Fire-types that threaten Dustox. Offensive pivots like Electabuzz and Furfrou also generate momentum in tandem with Dustox. Dark-types like Scraggy and Krokorok are necessary so that Dustox can pivot out on Duosion and not fear the following Future Sight. Krokorok has the added benefit of Pursuit trapping Duosion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double Dance sets with Quiver Dance + Iron Defense and Bug Buzz for coverage can be decent wincons, but they fail to break the mold due to their passivity before setting up and lack of general power even after boosts.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Lairon and Gigalith are offensive Stealth Rock users that Dustox has little chance at deterring by itself because they can threaten it out with their STAB attacks.
**Fire-types**: Dustox needs to watch out for offensive Fire-type Pokemon like Magmar and Pignite, as it fears letting them in any time it attempts to recover with Roost or use Defog.
**Psychic-types**: While they take hefty damage from U-turn, Dustox struggles with its role as a special wall versus Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat.
**Wallbreakers**: Dustox is vulnerable to stronger physical attackers like Choice Band Furfrou and Life Orb Simisage. Even with maximum bulk, it also still cannot safely switch into some special threats like Choice Specs Vanilluxe.
**Stallbreakers**: Given Dustox's passivity, it relies on Toxic and Whirlwind to deal with setup sweepers, so the likes of Dragon Dance + Taunt Scraggy and Encore Jumpluff make it a sitting duck.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jett.226429/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Roost
move 3: Defog
move 4: Toxic / Whirlwind / Sludge Bomb
item: Black Sludge
ability: Shield Dust
nature: Careful
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Dustox compresses the roles of entry hazard control, special wall, and pivot into a single set. While its bulk is far from impenetrable, its typing allows it to have a solid matchup versus special attackers like Servine and Frogadier. Politoed gets a special mention here; Dustox is one of its best switch-ins, since it doesn't have to be concerned with burn from Scald due to Shield Dust. This provides opportunities for it to clear entry hazards with Defog as well as gain momentum with STAB U-turn. Toxic allows Dustox to punish switch-ins like Gigalith and Pignite, a more proactive approach of dealing with its checks in comparison to pivoting. Whirlwind forces out sweepers like Klang and Scraggy, and it can also gain momentum when drawing in a Pokemon that cannot threaten Dustox with a subsequent U-turn. Sludge Bomb is another option Dustox may opt for to spread status while also nailing the Grass-types it checks like Servine, Simisage, and Gogoat. Physically defensive and mixed defensive investments work well too, given the appropriate team support. These sets help check the likes of offensive Swalot, Krokorok, and Persian.
Offensive Water-types like Politoed, Simipour, and Frogadier are great teammates, as they can force out the Fire- and Rock-types that come in on Dustox, like Magmar and Lairon. In return, Dustox can come in on Grass-types like Servine and restart the U-turn momentum cycle. Physical walls like Gigalith and Carbink make for a good core to pair with Dustox because it takes on the Grass- and Water-types that threaten them while they handle the Normal- and Fire-types that threaten Dustox. Offensive pivots like Electabuzz and Furfrou also generate momentum in tandem with Dustox. Dark-types like Scraggy and Krokorok are necessary so that Dustox can pivot out on Duosion and not fear the following Future Sight. Krokorok has the added benefit of Pursuit trapping Duosion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double Dance sets with Quiver Dance + Iron Defense and Bug Buzz for coverage can be decent wincons, but they fail to break the mold due to their passivity before setting up and lack of general power even after boosts.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Lairon and Gigalith are offensive Stealth Rock users that Dustox has little chance at deterring by itself because they can threaten it out with their STAB attacks.
**Fire-types**: Dustox needs to watch out for offensive Fire-type Pokemon like Magmar and Pignite, as it fears letting them in any time it attempts to recover with Roost or use Defog.
**Psychic-types**: While they take hefty damage from U-turn, Dustox struggles with its role as a special wall versus Psychic-types like Duosion and Swoobat.
**Wallbreakers**: Dustox is vulnerable to stronger physical attackers like Choice Band Furfrou and Life Orb Simisage. Even with maximum bulk, it also still cannot safely switch into some special threats like Choice Specs Vanilluxe.
**Stallbreakers**: Given Dustox's passivity, it relies on Toxic and Whirlwind to deal with setup sweepers, so the likes of Dragon Dance + Taunt Scraggy and Encore Jumpluff make it a sitting duck.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/s1nn0hc0nfirm3d.231074/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jett.226429/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
Last edited:
