[OVERVIEW]
Plagued with a terrible typing and mediocre stats, Arbok is limited to abusing Wrap to contribute any useful role in a team. However, even the niche role of Wrap sweeper is outclassed heavily by Dragonite and Victreebel, both of which provide much stronger sweeping potential and superior status moves, and aren't as devastatingly crippled by paralysis. Earthquake gives it a positive match-up with Gengar, which its competition lacks, but this narrow niche does little to overcome its many flaws. Until all faster Pokemon are crippled with paralysis or eliminated, it doesn't even have a prayer to sweep. As a standalone Pokemon, Arbok is a high risk-low reward Pokemon that struggles to justify its use, but as a member of a Wrap heavy team alongside Dragonite and Victreebel, Arbok finds a meaningful niche in OU. Through paralysis inducing moves and Wrap to pressure faster Pokemon into staying in to attempt to put a stop to it, Arbok and its teammates can achieve victory by overwhelming and crippling the opposing team through sheer number of paralysis inducing Wrap users, and then sweeping after wearing them down with Wrap and pivoting. As Arbok is a Pokemon that only works effectively on a RNG reliant archetype, it is not a good pick for any player looking for consistency.
[SET]
name: Status + Wrap
move 1: Wrap
move 2: Glare
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Hyper Beam
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
When Arbok is faster than its opponent, Wrap prevents the opponent from moving until the duration is over, at which point Arbok can immobilize it with Wrap again. By preventing slower opponents from moving, Arbok avoids taking hits and status until it misses or runs out of Wrap PP. This provides the majority of Arbok's offensive presence, as it cannot take hits with its low bulk and lack of useful resistances, does not threaten much damage with its non-STAB attacks off of mediocre stats, and is rendered almost useless once inflicted with status. Glare provides Arbok with a paralysis inducing move, which can be used with Wrap to pressure a faster Pokemon in to cripple it with paralysis. Earthquake 2HKOs Gengar and makes Arbok one of the only Wrap users that beats Gengar one on one, and provides a safe finishing move against most Pokemon. Hyper Beam is Arbok's strongest attack against most Pokemon and hits Ground-resistant Pokemon, but its imperfect accuracy and recharge turn should a healthy Pokemon switch into it can make it risky to use.
It is best used alongside Victreebel and Dragonite as part of a paralysis-inducing Wrap core, with Arbok treated as its most expendable member if Gengar is not present on the enemy team. It should be pivoted into faster Pokemon (except Alakazam, which can OHKO with Psychic) and attempt to bait it into attacking or paralyzing Arbok, while Arbok paralyzes the Pokemon to reduce the amount of Pokemon faster than the team's Wrap users and set up a sweep. If Gengar is present, after Sleep Clause is activated or Gengar is paralyzed, Arbok can be brought in safely using Wrap to take advantage of it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hyper Beam can be replaced with Body Slam, Rock Slide or Acid to safely inflict finishing blows on Flying-types and Exeggutor, with Body Slam also adding a chance to cripple a switch-in, but reduces Arbok's sweeping potential against all other Pokemon that aren't weak to Arbok's coverage.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Unparalyzed Alakazam**: While unparalyzed, Alakazam can switch in on Wrap, wait out Wrap's duration, and threaten it with paralysis or an 87% chance to OHKO with Psychic.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types resist Wrap and are not very threatened by Arbok's weak Earthquake, making it easy to sit in front of Arbok waiting for Wrap to miss or to PP stall Wrap. However, Arbok can use Wrap to safely switch to a teammate that massively threatens them, such as Victreebel or Surf Dragonite.
**Paralysis**: Arbok is entirely dependent on speed and Wrap to contribute offensively, once paralyzed Arbok is almost completely neutralized.
**Exeggutor**: Exeggutor's bulk and Earthquake resistance lets it switch into Arbok easily, and can try to wait for Wrap to miss and cripple Arbok with status, or try for a 51% chance to OHKO with Psychic.
**PP Stall**: Arbok's Wrap is not very strong, so switching between healthy Pokemon can wear out Arbok's Wrap PP without taking too much damage as long as Arbok doesn't have other Wrap sweepers to pivot to.
**Faster Pokemon**: Most faster Pokemon can switch in on Wrap and attempt to OHKO Arbok with critical hits or cripple it with status, however Arbok can cripple the faster Pokemon in turn with Glare which could set up a sweep for its teammates.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Enigami, 233818]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
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