[SET]
Shox @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sticky Hold
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Glare / Knock Off
- Ice Beam / Glare
- Milk Drink
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
=================
Shox functions as a highly reliable special wall and defensive pivot due to his ability to safely leave the field and retain his item throughout the match. , and strong utility movepool. Volt Switch allows Shox to safely generate momentum against a wide variety of special attackers such as Gholdengo, Ramnarok, and Iron Moth while bringing offensive teammates into advantageous positions. Knock Off provides Shox with crucial utility, stripping items from common switch-ins such as Ting-Lu,Garganacl and Equilibra and steadily wearing them down throughout the match. Ice Beam punishes Ground- and Grass-type Pokémon like Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Malaconda that may attempt to block Volt Switch or exploit its defensive nature.
Sticky Hold is central to Shox’s role, guaranteeing that Heavy-Duty Boots cannot be removed by Knock Off and allowing Shox to pivot freely without being punished by entry hazards. Tera Fairy provides Shox with valuable defensive matchups, granting key resistances to Fighting- and Dark-type attacks from threats such as Iron Valiant, Roaring Moon, and Kingambit while also giving it the flexibility to tank boosted hits in crucial late-game moments.
Shox fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate its ability to stabilize the field and maintain momentum. Offensive threats such as, Walking Wake, and Caribolt benefit immensely from Shox’s ability to bring them in safely with Volt Switch while softening opposing walls with Knock Off. Physical walls like Corviknight, Garganacl, and Cresceidon pair well with Shox, forming strong defensive cores that cover its weaknesses to strong physical attackers. Hazard setters such as Ting-Lu, Samurott-H, and Glimmora also appreciate Shox's ability to repeatedly pivot and force switches, enabling them to maximize hazard chip. Finally, setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Dragonite and Swords Dance Gliscor. They value Shox's ability to absorb special pressure in the early and mid-game, removing important items and maintaining momentum until they are ready to finish the match. Pokémon dependent on heavy duty boots like Moltres, Mollux, Cresceidon and Venomicon really appreciate shox switching on knock off
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Teams seeking additional utility might consider replacing Knock Off with Glare to neutralize faster offensive threats like Dragapult and Iron Valiant. Knock Off is generally preferred as a secondary utility move, although Toxic can be used to pressure tanky Pokémon that use items to buff themselves, such as Revenankh and Arghonaut; this comes at the cost of losing Shox's ability to immediately punish item-dependent defensive Pokémon like Ting-Lu and Corviknight. Teams focused on dealing gradual damage over the long term might try Discharge instead of Volt Switch to spread paralysis more consistently, but this sacrifices Shox's primary pivot role and significantly reduces its ability to safely bring teammates onto the field. Milk Drink is indispensable, as removing it drastically reduces Shox's longevity and undermines its role as a reliable defensive pivot. Another option for Shox's tera-type would be Water, to better defend against a Walking Wake, for example. We could also swap the Sticky Hold ability for Electromorphosis to have stronger volt switches, however, this would prevent Shox from switching in against Knock Offs on the field.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ground-types: Bulky Ground-types such as Equilibra,Ting-Lu and Clodsire take little from Shox’s attacks and can exploit its passivity. Landorus-T and Great Tusk threaten to block Volt Switch entirely, forcing Shox to stay in and either take heavy damage or give up momentum. Clodsire, meanwhile, can freely set hazards or spread status, gradually wearing Shox down despite Milk Drink.
Setup Sweepers: Physical setup sweepers like Dragonite, and Hemogoblin can overwhelm Shox due to its lower physical bulk. Even with Tera Fairy available, repeated boosted hits quickly force it out, and many of these sweepers can use Shox as setup fodder if Ice Beam fails to pressure them effectively. Hemogoblin in particular shrugs off most attacks and threatens massive damage with boosted Flare Blitz or Extreme Speed. Pokémon with substitutes, like Iron Moth, and Pokémon like Taunt Chug as well.
Bulky Grass-types: Grass-types such as Malaconda,Ogerpon-W, and Rillaboom resist Volt Switch and take little from Ice Beam if Shox has not invested in Special Attack. These Pokémon can pivot in nearly risk-free, forcing Shox to rely on Knock Off for meaningful progress. In return, they threaten to cripple Shox with status or pressure it with strong Grass-type moves.
Wallbreakers : Tera Ground Iron moth and Focus Blast Gholdengo
Taunt Users: Taunt users like Weavile, and Heatran can shut down Milk Drink and force Shox into unfavorable trades. Without the ability to heal, Shox rapidly loses the longevity that makes it effective, especially against repeated chip damage from hazards or strong neutral hits.
Physical Attackers: Like Ogerpon-W,Iron Valiant,Hemogoblin,Zamazenta,Revenankh,Kingambit,Ursaluna.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hxmo.716600
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lightniong.591294
Grammar checked by:
Shox @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Sticky Hold
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Volt Switch
- Glare / Knock Off
- Ice Beam / Glare
- Milk Drink
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
=================
Shox functions as a highly reliable special wall and defensive pivot due to his ability to safely leave the field and retain his item throughout the match. , and strong utility movepool. Volt Switch allows Shox to safely generate momentum against a wide variety of special attackers such as Gholdengo, Ramnarok, and Iron Moth while bringing offensive teammates into advantageous positions. Knock Off provides Shox with crucial utility, stripping items from common switch-ins such as Ting-Lu,Garganacl and Equilibra and steadily wearing them down throughout the match. Ice Beam punishes Ground- and Grass-type Pokémon like Landorus-T, Gliscor, and Malaconda that may attempt to block Volt Switch or exploit its defensive nature.
Sticky Hold is central to Shox’s role, guaranteeing that Heavy-Duty Boots cannot be removed by Knock Off and allowing Shox to pivot freely without being punished by entry hazards. Tera Fairy provides Shox with valuable defensive matchups, granting key resistances to Fighting- and Dark-type attacks from threats such as Iron Valiant, Roaring Moon, and Kingambit while also giving it the flexibility to tank boosted hits in crucial late-game moments.
Shox fits best on balance and bulky offense teams that appreciate its ability to stabilize the field and maintain momentum. Offensive threats such as, Walking Wake, and Caribolt benefit immensely from Shox’s ability to bring them in safely with Volt Switch while softening opposing walls with Knock Off. Physical walls like Corviknight, Garganacl, and Cresceidon pair well with Shox, forming strong defensive cores that cover its weaknesses to strong physical attackers. Hazard setters such as Ting-Lu, Samurott-H, and Glimmora also appreciate Shox's ability to repeatedly pivot and force switches, enabling them to maximize hazard chip. Finally, setup sweepers such as Dragon Dance Dragonite and Swords Dance Gliscor. They value Shox's ability to absorb special pressure in the early and mid-game, removing important items and maintaining momentum until they are ready to finish the match. Pokémon dependent on heavy duty boots like Moltres, Mollux, Cresceidon and Venomicon really appreciate shox switching on knock off
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Teams seeking additional utility might consider replacing Knock Off with Glare to neutralize faster offensive threats like Dragapult and Iron Valiant. Knock Off is generally preferred as a secondary utility move, although Toxic can be used to pressure tanky Pokémon that use items to buff themselves, such as Revenankh and Arghonaut; this comes at the cost of losing Shox's ability to immediately punish item-dependent defensive Pokémon like Ting-Lu and Corviknight. Teams focused on dealing gradual damage over the long term might try Discharge instead of Volt Switch to spread paralysis more consistently, but this sacrifices Shox's primary pivot role and significantly reduces its ability to safely bring teammates onto the field. Milk Drink is indispensable, as removing it drastically reduces Shox's longevity and undermines its role as a reliable defensive pivot. Another option for Shox's tera-type would be Water, to better defend against a Walking Wake, for example. We could also swap the Sticky Hold ability for Electromorphosis to have stronger volt switches, however, this would prevent Shox from switching in against Knock Offs on the field.
Checks and Counters
===================
Ground-types: Bulky Ground-types such as Equilibra,Ting-Lu and Clodsire take little from Shox’s attacks and can exploit its passivity. Landorus-T and Great Tusk threaten to block Volt Switch entirely, forcing Shox to stay in and either take heavy damage or give up momentum. Clodsire, meanwhile, can freely set hazards or spread status, gradually wearing Shox down despite Milk Drink.
Setup Sweepers: Physical setup sweepers like Dragonite, and Hemogoblin can overwhelm Shox due to its lower physical bulk. Even with Tera Fairy available, repeated boosted hits quickly force it out, and many of these sweepers can use Shox as setup fodder if Ice Beam fails to pressure them effectively. Hemogoblin in particular shrugs off most attacks and threatens massive damage with boosted Flare Blitz or Extreme Speed. Pokémon with substitutes, like Iron Moth, and Pokémon like Taunt Chug as well.
Bulky Grass-types: Grass-types such as Malaconda,Ogerpon-W, and Rillaboom resist Volt Switch and take little from Ice Beam if Shox has not invested in Special Attack. These Pokémon can pivot in nearly risk-free, forcing Shox to rely on Knock Off for meaningful progress. In return, they threaten to cripple Shox with status or pressure it with strong Grass-type moves.
Wallbreakers : Tera Ground Iron moth and Focus Blast Gholdengo
Taunt Users: Taunt users like Weavile, and Heatran can shut down Milk Drink and force Shox into unfavorable trades. Without the ability to heal, Shox rapidly loses the longevity that makes it effective, especially against repeated chip damage from hazards or strong neutral hits.
Physical Attackers: Like Ogerpon-W,Iron Valiant,Hemogoblin,Zamazenta,Revenankh,Kingambit,Ursaluna.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hxmo.716600
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lightniong.591294
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
