[SET]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Fire Lash
move 2: Stomping Tantrum
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Encore
move 4: Spikes / Defog
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 252 SpD / 220 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
Astrolotl's unique offensive profile combined with an attractive set of utility moves lets it perform as one of CAP's defining utility options. Regenerator not only enables Astrolotl to be a great scout against Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Magnezone, but it also lets it stay in and accrue chip damage on foes like Tapu Fini and Krilowatt before switching out scot-free, trivially healing off whatever health it lost. The combination of Fire Lash, Will-O-Wisp, and Spikes is perfect for the job; Astrolotl can repeatedly force foes out with the threat of Will-O-Wisp or after enough Defense drops from Fire Lash, further capitalizing on any forced switches with Spikes. Stomping Tantrum is required for Heatran and bulky Poison-types like Galarian Slowking and Toxapex, while Will-O-Wisp is useful for denying would-be checks like Landorus-T and Garchomp from freely staying or switching in. Alternatively, Encore can be used over Will-O-Wisp to disrupt setup sweepers like Tapu Fini and Venomicon. Astrolotl is a great Spikes setter for its positive matchup against common Defog users like Corviknight, simultaneously denying entry to Defog Landorus-T due to Will-O-Wisp. However, Astrolotl is just as good at using Defog itself; it can easily switch into Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Clefable and remove their hazards, while Ground-type Stealth Rock users can never switch in without being prepared to accept a burn. The given Speed investment allows Astrolotl to outspeed Kartana and Alolan Ninetales, with the remaining EVs maximizing special bulk to withstand weak special hits like Tapu Fini's Moonblast or Heatran's Earth Power.
Wallbreakers like Urshifu-R, Venomicon-E, and Weavile greatly appreciate Astrolotl's Spikes wearing down opposing bulky Water-types such as Toxapex and Steel-types like Ferrothorn. Additionally, Astrolotl is a nice soft check to faster Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zeraora that bother these Pokemon. Electric-types of your own are great partners as well, as Astrolotl can often burn the opponent's Ground-type and pave the way for a teammate like Bulk Up Zeraora or Calm Mind Tapu Koko to win. These teammates can also keep pressure up against opposing bulky Water-types for Astrolotl in return. Bulkier, slower Pokemon like Venomicon and Calm Mind Tapu Fini are massive benefactors of Astrolotl's Spikes support and its ability to often draw out longer games. Landorus-T is a particularly good partner, providing a Ground immunity, inflicting Toxic on some of Astrolotl's checks like Slowbro and Arghonaut, giving complementary support with either Stealth Rock or Defog, and being able to easily pivot Astrolotl into foes like Corviknight. Lastly, other Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Skarmory can enable Astrolotl to more comfortably run Defog or even Encore or Thunder Wave in its last moveslot.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Stomping Tantrum
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Hasty
evs: 232 Atk / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
With the added Speed from Choice Scarf, Astrolotl can utilize its strong STAB combination to become a formidable fast option and offensive check to the likes of Weavile, Dragapult, Tapu Koko, and Cawmodore. Flare Blitz is preferred over Fire Lash for more immediate pressure against foes like Landorus-T and the ability to always revenge kill Cawmodore from full health. Regenerator additionally mitigates recoil damage, making it a strong low-risk attacking option. Draco Meteor is crucial for OHKOing Dragapult, with additional use against Garchomp and opposing Astrolotl; alternatively, Outrage with a Jolly nature offers slightly increased damage with the tradeoff of being much easier to take advantage of. Stomping Tantrum denies Heatran from free entry and is useful as a recoil-free option against Electric-types, Toxapex, and Galarian Slowking. Finally, a fast Healing Wish is a major draw of this set, letting Astrolotl give setup sweepers like Revenankh or wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Venomicon-E a second chance at finishing off a game. If Healing Wish is not needed, though, other utility moves like Defog can be run. The given EVs let Astrolotl survive one Earth Power from Heatran after Stealth Rock damage while maximizing its Speed.
Due to Astrolotl often getting its item removed or sacrificing itself with Healing Wish, supplementary fast options like Tapu Koko and Weavile are good teammates. Astrolotl can even help weaken their defensive checks, such as opposing Landorus-T and Tapu Fini, respectively. Setup sweepers like Revenankh, Weavile, Garchomp, and Kartana that are prone to getting worn down or inflicted with status are good partners; Healing Wish allows you to play more aggressively with these sweepers early-game and attempt to clean again late-game. Strong wallbreakers that tend to get worn down by chip damage like Melmetal, Urshifu-R, and Galarian Zapdos are effective teammates for the same reason. While Regenerator helps prevent Stealth Rock damage from overwhelming Astrolotl, good entry hazard removal options like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, Corviknight, and Colossoil are nonetheless helpful partners, with Astrolotl being particularly strong on teams with double hazard removal.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Slowbro can either punish Astrolotl with Rocky Helmet or ignore its Spikes with Heavy Duty Boots and ultimately use it as bait to use Future Sight. Toxapex and Arghonaut are capable of removing Astrolotl's item and are only bothered by Stomping Tantrum after multiple Defense drops or somewhat by Will-O-Wisp in the latter's case. Tapu Fini has worse longevity overall but is still notable for preventing Astrolotl from burning it, being able to remove its Spikes with Defog and potentially crippling utility sets with Trick. Rotom-W and Swampert are also nice answers, being able to stay healthy with Pain Split and Rest, respectively.
**Dragon-types**: Pajantom and Dragapult, as well as the rarer Cyclohm and Hydreigon, are all unbothered by Astrolotl's utility options. The most Astrolotl can do is hope to overwhelm them with chip damage in the long run, but it will still be forced out in any normal situation. However, Choice Scarf Astrolotl turns the tables and can revenge kill the above Dragon-types, though it can still be taken advantage of if locked into an undesirable move.
**Knock Off and Toxic**: Because Astrolotl often wants to stay in for multiple turns at once, Toxic damage can quickly add up and prevent it from accomplishing what it wants to do. Knock Off is also helpful in either mitigating the effectiveness of Regenerator on utility sets, or in the case of Choice Scarf sets, removing its ability to revenge kill a faster teammate. Though effective individually, Toxic and Knock Off combined can easily suffocate Astrolotl and prevent it from making any meaningful progress. Heatran and Magnezone are two Pokemon that can inflict Astrolotl with Toxic as it switches in, while Clefable, Toxapex, and Arghonaut can typically remove its item.
**Tomohawk**: While a much more niche pick, Tomohawk remains a sturdy check to any Astrolotl set. Bolstered by Intimidate, Tomohawk's physical bulk prevents Astrolotl from easily breaking through it, punishing Astrolotl's hits with Rocky Helmet in the process. Moreover, Tomohawk can remove Astrolotl's Spikes with Rapid Spin.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[spoo, 251944]]
- Quality checked by: [[dex, 277988], [Rabia, 336073]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
name: Offensive Utility
move 1: Fire Lash
move 2: Stomping Tantrum
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Encore
move 4: Spikes / Defog
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Regenerator
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 252 SpD / 220 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
Astrolotl's unique offensive profile combined with an attractive set of utility moves lets it perform as one of CAP's defining utility options. Regenerator not only enables Astrolotl to be a great scout against Pokemon like Tapu Fini and Magnezone, but it also lets it stay in and accrue chip damage on foes like Tapu Fini and Krilowatt before switching out scot-free, trivially healing off whatever health it lost. The combination of Fire Lash, Will-O-Wisp, and Spikes is perfect for the job; Astrolotl can repeatedly force foes out with the threat of Will-O-Wisp or after enough Defense drops from Fire Lash, further capitalizing on any forced switches with Spikes. Stomping Tantrum is required for Heatran and bulky Poison-types like Galarian Slowking and Toxapex, while Will-O-Wisp is useful for denying would-be checks like Landorus-T and Garchomp from freely staying or switching in. Alternatively, Encore can be used over Will-O-Wisp to disrupt setup sweepers like Tapu Fini and Venomicon. Astrolotl is a great Spikes setter for its positive matchup against common Defog users like Corviknight, simultaneously denying entry to Defog Landorus-T due to Will-O-Wisp. However, Astrolotl is just as good at using Defog itself; it can easily switch into Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Clefable and remove their hazards, while Ground-type Stealth Rock users can never switch in without being prepared to accept a burn. The given Speed investment allows Astrolotl to outspeed Kartana and Alolan Ninetales, with the remaining EVs maximizing special bulk to withstand weak special hits like Tapu Fini's Moonblast or Heatran's Earth Power.
Wallbreakers like Urshifu-R, Venomicon-E, and Weavile greatly appreciate Astrolotl's Spikes wearing down opposing bulky Water-types such as Toxapex and Steel-types like Ferrothorn. Additionally, Astrolotl is a nice soft check to faster Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zeraora that bother these Pokemon. Electric-types of your own are great partners as well, as Astrolotl can often burn the opponent's Ground-type and pave the way for a teammate like Bulk Up Zeraora or Calm Mind Tapu Koko to win. These teammates can also keep pressure up against opposing bulky Water-types for Astrolotl in return. Bulkier, slower Pokemon like Venomicon and Calm Mind Tapu Fini are massive benefactors of Astrolotl's Spikes support and its ability to often draw out longer games. Landorus-T is a particularly good partner, providing a Ground immunity, inflicting Toxic on some of Astrolotl's checks like Slowbro and Arghonaut, giving complementary support with either Stealth Rock or Defog, and being able to easily pivot Astrolotl into foes like Corviknight. Lastly, other Spikes setters like Ferrothorn and Skarmory can enable Astrolotl to more comfortably run Defog or even Encore or Thunder Wave in its last moveslot.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Draco Meteor
move 3: Stomping Tantrum
move 4: Healing Wish
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Hasty
evs: 232 Atk / 24 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
With the added Speed from Choice Scarf, Astrolotl can utilize its strong STAB combination to become a formidable fast option and offensive check to the likes of Weavile, Dragapult, Tapu Koko, and Cawmodore. Flare Blitz is preferred over Fire Lash for more immediate pressure against foes like Landorus-T and the ability to always revenge kill Cawmodore from full health. Regenerator additionally mitigates recoil damage, making it a strong low-risk attacking option. Draco Meteor is crucial for OHKOing Dragapult, with additional use against Garchomp and opposing Astrolotl; alternatively, Outrage with a Jolly nature offers slightly increased damage with the tradeoff of being much easier to take advantage of. Stomping Tantrum denies Heatran from free entry and is useful as a recoil-free option against Electric-types, Toxapex, and Galarian Slowking. Finally, a fast Healing Wish is a major draw of this set, letting Astrolotl give setup sweepers like Revenankh or wallbreakers like Galarian Zapdos and Venomicon-E a second chance at finishing off a game. If Healing Wish is not needed, though, other utility moves like Defog can be run. The given EVs let Astrolotl survive one Earth Power from Heatran after Stealth Rock damage while maximizing its Speed.
Due to Astrolotl often getting its item removed or sacrificing itself with Healing Wish, supplementary fast options like Tapu Koko and Weavile are good teammates. Astrolotl can even help weaken their defensive checks, such as opposing Landorus-T and Tapu Fini, respectively. Setup sweepers like Revenankh, Weavile, Garchomp, and Kartana that are prone to getting worn down or inflicted with status are good partners; Healing Wish allows you to play more aggressively with these sweepers early-game and attempt to clean again late-game. Strong wallbreakers that tend to get worn down by chip damage like Melmetal, Urshifu-R, and Galarian Zapdos are effective teammates for the same reason. While Regenerator helps prevent Stealth Rock damage from overwhelming Astrolotl, good entry hazard removal options like Landorus-T, Tornadus-T, Corviknight, and Colossoil are nonetheless helpful partners, with Astrolotl being particularly strong on teams with double hazard removal.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Slowbro can either punish Astrolotl with Rocky Helmet or ignore its Spikes with Heavy Duty Boots and ultimately use it as bait to use Future Sight. Toxapex and Arghonaut are capable of removing Astrolotl's item and are only bothered by Stomping Tantrum after multiple Defense drops or somewhat by Will-O-Wisp in the latter's case. Tapu Fini has worse longevity overall but is still notable for preventing Astrolotl from burning it, being able to remove its Spikes with Defog and potentially crippling utility sets with Trick. Rotom-W and Swampert are also nice answers, being able to stay healthy with Pain Split and Rest, respectively.
**Dragon-types**: Pajantom and Dragapult, as well as the rarer Cyclohm and Hydreigon, are all unbothered by Astrolotl's utility options. The most Astrolotl can do is hope to overwhelm them with chip damage in the long run, but it will still be forced out in any normal situation. However, Choice Scarf Astrolotl turns the tables and can revenge kill the above Dragon-types, though it can still be taken advantage of if locked into an undesirable move.
**Knock Off and Toxic**: Because Astrolotl often wants to stay in for multiple turns at once, Toxic damage can quickly add up and prevent it from accomplishing what it wants to do. Knock Off is also helpful in either mitigating the effectiveness of Regenerator on utility sets, or in the case of Choice Scarf sets, removing its ability to revenge kill a faster teammate. Though effective individually, Toxic and Knock Off combined can easily suffocate Astrolotl and prevent it from making any meaningful progress. Heatran and Magnezone are two Pokemon that can inflict Astrolotl with Toxic as it switches in, while Clefable, Toxapex, and Arghonaut can typically remove its item.
**Tomohawk**: While a much more niche pick, Tomohawk remains a sturdy check to any Astrolotl set. Bolstered by Intimidate, Tomohawk's physical bulk prevents Astrolotl from easily breaking through it, punishing Astrolotl's hits with Rocky Helmet in the process. Moreover, Tomohawk can remove Astrolotl's Spikes with Rapid Spin.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[spoo, 251944]]
- Quality checked by: [[dex, 277988], [Rabia, 336073]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
