QC (3/3): atomicllamas | Spirit | Sweep
GP (1/2): The Dutch Plumberjack | Winry
[OVERVIEW]
Absol is one of RU's strongest wallbreakers and is backed up by many positive traits. Its combination of STAB Knock Off and great coverage options in Superpower, Play Rough, and Iron Tail make it extremely hard to switch into. Absol's Sucker Punch is the strongest priority move in RU, giving it a favorable matchup versus offensive teams in addition to mitigating its mediocre base 75 Speed. It can also run a Swords Dance set, making it a formidable sweeper if left unchecked, or Pursuit, helping it support its team by taking out threatening Pokemon such as Slowking and Meloetta more easily. Sadly, Absol's defensive stats are quite poor, and its relatively low Speed stat means it has to rely on Sucker Punch to deal with faster threats, which can play around it with Substitute or priority moves.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Superpower / Fire Blast
move 4: Play Rough / Iron Tail / Pursuit
item: Life Orb
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Absol's most powerful STAB move and has the added benefit of removing a foe's item. Sucker Punch is Absol's best tool, allowing it to revenge kill faster Pokemon and prevent it from being revenge killed itself. Superpower allows Absol to heavily damage Mega Steelix, and Fire Blast is an alternative that also damages Tangrowth. Play Rough hits Fighting- and other Dark-types super effectively, while Iron Tail can be used to deal with Fairy-types. Pursuit turns Absol into a powerful trapper, allowing it to pick off weakened Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Slowking.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature with maximum Attack and Speed EVs allow Absol to hit as hard as possible. If Fire Blast is being used, a Naughty nature should be opted for. Super Luck is Absol's only ability with offensive merit. Life Orb slightly boosts the power of Absol's moves.
Usage Tips
========
Absol should be used early- to mid-game to punch holes through the opposing team, although its powerful Sucker Punch is also quite useful late-game. Be careful when attempting to Pursuit trap a Pokemon, as Pursuit's low Base Power means some targets are very likely to survive a hit if they don't switch out. Pursuit is also a gamble against faster Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Sigilyph, which can outrun and OHKO Absol if it uses Pursuit. To alleviate this, try using another coverage move earlier in the game so your opponent takes into consideration whether you're sending in Absol to Pursuit trap its foe or simply to attack it with Sucker Punch.
Team Options
========
Teammates will usually depend on the coverage moves Absol lacks. Mega Steelix is a great partner regardless, as it can provide Stealth Rock support and can pressure Fairy-types. Pokemon that pressure Fighting-types, such as Fletchinder and Slowking, are greatly appreciated. Fighting-types such as Medicham and Hitmonlee appreciate the pressure Absol puts on Psychic-types. Most late-game cleaners appreciate the holes Absol can punch through the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Superpower
item: Life Orb / Dread Plate
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Absol's already great Attack stat to sky-high levels. Knock Off is a powerful STAB move that gets rid of a foe's item. Sucker Punch mitigates Absol's underwhelming Speed while also providing it with a way to avoid being revenge killed. Superpower allows Absol to get past Mega Steelix. Other options for coverage include Play Rough for Fighting-types and Iron Tail for Fairy-types.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature with maximum Attack and Speed EVs make Absol as fast and powerful as possible. Alternatively, a Jolly nature can be run in order to Speed tie with Adamant Hitmonlee, potentially allowing Absol to hit it with Sucker Punch. Life Orb boosts the power of Absol's moves, but Dread Plate can be used in order to slightly increase Absol's longevity at the cost of only increasing the power of its Dark-type attacks. Lum Berry can provide Absol with more opportunities to set up at the cost of power.
Usage Tips
========
As its poor bulk means it will be difficult to find opportunities to set up throughout the match, Absol should only attempt to do so once all of its checks and counters are gone. Absol's best method of getting setup opportunities is by forcing out switches from Pokemon that fear getting hit by its powerful STAB Knock Off.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock support helps immensely, as it allows Absol to achieve some otherwise unachievable KOs such as the OHKO on Alomomola with Knock Off after a Swords Dance boost. Mega Steelix stands out, as it can also help check Fairy-types for Absol. Fighting types should be taken care of before Absol attempts to set up, so Pokemon that can deal with them such as Fletchinder and Slowking are great partners. Wallbreakers that can pave the way for Absol to sweep and cleave through the likes of Alomomola and Tangrowth, which can burn Absol or KO it, are appreciated; such include Exploud and Meloetta. Venusaur can check Fighting- and Fairy-types for Absol while also providing support with Sleep Powder.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Absol can run a Choice Scarf set in order to patch up its mediocre Speed, but the ability to switch moves and effectively use Sucker Punch is too significant to pass out on. A Baton Pass set with Swords Dance or Calm Mind and a Focus Sash can be used to pass boosts to Absol's teammates. Substitute can be used to block status and ease prediction, giving Absol more opportunities to set up with Swords Dance, but keep in mind that it would have to forgo a coverage move to do so.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Virizion, Poliwrath, and Emboar can switch into Absol's STAB moves, with Virizion receiving an Attack boost from Justified, and OHKO Absol with their own STAB moves. It should be noted that the former two cannot switch into Play Rough, however. Hitmontop can switch into Absol while also reducing its Attack with Intimidate and OHKO it with Close Combat. Gurdurr can switch into Play Rough at full health and OHKO Absol with Mach Punch, although it wouldn't like losing its Eviolite.
**Fairy-types**: Aromatisse, Diancie, Togetic, and Granbull resist Absol's STAB moves and can easily KO it with STAB moves of their own, but they should be careful when switching into Iron Tail.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Mega Steelix can take Absol's STAB moves well, but it does not like being hit by Superpower or Fire Blast. Alomomola can generally take most of Absol's moves and burn it with Scald, although it should be wary of the Swords Dance set. Tangrowth can switch into Absol at full health and OHKO it with any strong attack, but it should be wary of Fire Blast.
GP (1/2): The Dutch Plumberjack | Winry
[OVERVIEW]
Absol is one of RU's strongest wallbreakers and is backed up by many positive traits. Its combination of STAB Knock Off and great coverage options in Superpower, Play Rough, and Iron Tail make it extremely hard to switch into. Absol's Sucker Punch is the strongest priority move in RU, giving it a favorable matchup versus offensive teams in addition to mitigating its mediocre base 75 Speed. It can also run a Swords Dance set, making it a formidable sweeper if left unchecked, or Pursuit, helping it support its team by taking out threatening Pokemon such as Slowking and Meloetta more easily. Sadly, Absol's defensive stats are quite poor, and its relatively low Speed stat means it has to rely on Sucker Punch to deal with faster threats, which can play around it with Substitute or priority moves.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Knock Off
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Superpower / Fire Blast
move 4: Play Rough / Iron Tail / Pursuit
item: Life Orb
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Naughty
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Knock Off is Absol's most powerful STAB move and has the added benefit of removing a foe's item. Sucker Punch is Absol's best tool, allowing it to revenge kill faster Pokemon and prevent it from being revenge killed itself. Superpower allows Absol to heavily damage Mega Steelix, and Fire Blast is an alternative that also damages Tangrowth. Play Rough hits Fighting- and other Dark-types super effectively, while Iron Tail can be used to deal with Fairy-types. Pursuit turns Absol into a powerful trapper, allowing it to pick off weakened Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Slowking.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature with maximum Attack and Speed EVs allow Absol to hit as hard as possible. If Fire Blast is being used, a Naughty nature should be opted for. Super Luck is Absol's only ability with offensive merit. Life Orb slightly boosts the power of Absol's moves.
Usage Tips
========
Absol should be used early- to mid-game to punch holes through the opposing team, although its powerful Sucker Punch is also quite useful late-game. Be careful when attempting to Pursuit trap a Pokemon, as Pursuit's low Base Power means some targets are very likely to survive a hit if they don't switch out. Pursuit is also a gamble against faster Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Sigilyph, which can outrun and OHKO Absol if it uses Pursuit. To alleviate this, try using another coverage move earlier in the game so your opponent takes into consideration whether you're sending in Absol to Pursuit trap its foe or simply to attack it with Sucker Punch.
Team Options
========
Teammates will usually depend on the coverage moves Absol lacks. Mega Steelix is a great partner regardless, as it can provide Stealth Rock support and can pressure Fairy-types. Pokemon that pressure Fighting-types, such as Fletchinder and Slowking, are greatly appreciated. Fighting-types such as Medicham and Hitmonlee appreciate the pressure Absol puts on Psychic-types. Most late-game cleaners appreciate the holes Absol can punch through the opposing team.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Sucker Punch
move 4: Superpower
item: Life Orb / Dread Plate
ability: Super Luck
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Absol's already great Attack stat to sky-high levels. Knock Off is a powerful STAB move that gets rid of a foe's item. Sucker Punch mitigates Absol's underwhelming Speed while also providing it with a way to avoid being revenge killed. Superpower allows Absol to get past Mega Steelix. Other options for coverage include Play Rough for Fighting-types and Iron Tail for Fairy-types.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature with maximum Attack and Speed EVs make Absol as fast and powerful as possible. Alternatively, a Jolly nature can be run in order to Speed tie with Adamant Hitmonlee, potentially allowing Absol to hit it with Sucker Punch. Life Orb boosts the power of Absol's moves, but Dread Plate can be used in order to slightly increase Absol's longevity at the cost of only increasing the power of its Dark-type attacks. Lum Berry can provide Absol with more opportunities to set up at the cost of power.
Usage Tips
========
As its poor bulk means it will be difficult to find opportunities to set up throughout the match, Absol should only attempt to do so once all of its checks and counters are gone. Absol's best method of getting setup opportunities is by forcing out switches from Pokemon that fear getting hit by its powerful STAB Knock Off.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock support helps immensely, as it allows Absol to achieve some otherwise unachievable KOs such as the OHKO on Alomomola with Knock Off after a Swords Dance boost. Mega Steelix stands out, as it can also help check Fairy-types for Absol. Fighting types should be taken care of before Absol attempts to set up, so Pokemon that can deal with them such as Fletchinder and Slowking are great partners. Wallbreakers that can pave the way for Absol to sweep and cleave through the likes of Alomomola and Tangrowth, which can burn Absol or KO it, are appreciated; such include Exploud and Meloetta. Venusaur can check Fighting- and Fairy-types for Absol while also providing support with Sleep Powder.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Absol can run a Choice Scarf set in order to patch up its mediocre Speed, but the ability to switch moves and effectively use Sucker Punch is too significant to pass out on. A Baton Pass set with Swords Dance or Calm Mind and a Focus Sash can be used to pass boosts to Absol's teammates. Substitute can be used to block status and ease prediction, giving Absol more opportunities to set up with Swords Dance, but keep in mind that it would have to forgo a coverage move to do so.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Virizion, Poliwrath, and Emboar can switch into Absol's STAB moves, with Virizion receiving an Attack boost from Justified, and OHKO Absol with their own STAB moves. It should be noted that the former two cannot switch into Play Rough, however. Hitmontop can switch into Absol while also reducing its Attack with Intimidate and OHKO it with Close Combat. Gurdurr can switch into Play Rough at full health and OHKO Absol with Mach Punch, although it wouldn't like losing its Eviolite.
**Fairy-types**: Aromatisse, Diancie, Togetic, and Granbull resist Absol's STAB moves and can easily KO it with STAB moves of their own, but they should be careful when switching into Iron Tail.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Mega Steelix can take Absol's STAB moves well, but it does not like being hit by Superpower or Fire Blast. Alomomola can generally take most of Absol's moves and burn it with Scald, although it should be wary of the Swords Dance set. Tangrowth can switch into Absol at full health and OHKO it with any strong attack, but it should be wary of Fire Blast.
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