Finally got to Banette. Sorry for taking so long. I removed every set except for Trick Room because Banette is really outclassed by other Ghost-types. Unless someone completely opposes to one of the set removals, speak up and I may reconsider.
Status: COMPLETE (ready for uploading)
Banette
[Overview]
<p>Banette is an extremely overlooked Ghost-type, mainly because of its limited movepool, pathetic defenses, and pitiful Speed. Mismagius is always a better sweeper than Banette, while Dusclops is better at walling. In fact, Banette is only used because of its great base 115 Attack stat and Trick Room. It's one of the best suicide Trick Room leads in the UU metagame, and its ability, Insomnia, helps it better accomplish that role.</p>
[SET]
name: Suicide Trick Roomer
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Destiny Bond
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Shadow Claw
item: Focus Sash
ability: Insomnia
nature: Brave
evs: 252 Atk
ivs: 0 HP / 0 Def / 0 SpD / 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Combine Banette's horrible Speed, Insomnia, Trick Room, and Destiny Bond, and you get yourself one of the best suicide Trick Roomers in the UU metagame. This combination of traits is what makes Banette stand out from other Ghost-types and other Trick Room users in general, as none of them are capable of pulling off this combination of moves. Taunt is useful in allowing Destiny Bond to work properly, as the opponent is no longer able to avoid it with indirect attacks. Shadow Claw is a basic STAB move to use in emergencies.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Depending on the opposing lead, there are simple strategies to use this set effectively. If you are up against a lead who doesn't use Taunt, such as Omastar, set up Trick Room on the first turn and use Taunt the turn after. That way, the opposing lead will have to attack Banette directly, leaving them vulnerable to Destiny Bond. If you do happen to Taunt the opponent, try to avoid using Destiny Bond and go directly to one of your Trick Room sweepers, as your opponent will likely switch out due to the fear of Destiny Bond.</p>
<p>Since Banette is setting up Trick Room, it's obviously a good idea to use Trick Room sweepers and supporters. Excellent Trick Room sweepers to look into are Marowak, Rhyperior, and Rampardos, all of whom pack massive Attack, fairly low Speed, and powerful STAB moves. Other viable Trick Room sweepers you can use include Hariyama and Aggron, both of whom resist Banette's Dark-type weakness, and in Aggron's case, Ghost-type weakness, too. Pokemon that can keep Trick Room on the field include Slowbro, Claydol, and Porygon2. It's strongly recommended to read through the <a href="/dp/articles/trick_room_guide>Trick Room</a> guide to gain a better understanding of how Trick Room teams work and perform.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As mentioned in the Suicide Trick Roomer set, Trick Room sweepers and other Trick Room users need to be considered, as Banette is almost always guaranteed to set up Trick Room.</p>
<p>One of the biggest problems for lead Banette is Ambipom. Most Ambipom carry Taunt, which can completely shut down Banette's entire set, since Ambipom is also immune to Shadow Claw. It's a good idea to use a Pokemon that can take on Ambipom, but still keep the Trick Room theme going. Porygon2 is a great Pokemon to consider, because not only does it have decent overall bulk, but with Download, Porygon2 will score a free +1 Special Attack boost because of Ambipom's equal Defense and Special Defense. Rhyperior is also a great switch-in to Ambipom, thanks to its high Defense, resistance to Ambipom's STAB attacks, and access to a powerful Earthquake to destroy it.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Many of the moves Banette can use are usually utilized much better by other Ghost-types. Banette can use a support set with Will-O-Wisp, but Dusclops is usually a better fit for that role due to its much higher defenses. Calm Mind can be used, but Drifblim and Mismagius pull it off better. Since Banette has such low Speed, Sucker Punch can be used to accommodate that and give Banette a strong priority move to use. Using Thunder or Thunderbolt off of Banette's decent base 83 Special Attack are useful against bulky Water-types, such as Milotic. Banette can PP stall the opponent with a combination of Spite and Pain Split, but it's usually better used by a Ghost-type with better defenses, like Dusclops. Trick can be used on the Suicide Trick Roomer set in the place of Taunt with Choice Scarf instead of Focus Sash, but since Banette is already very slow, Tricking the Choice Scarf to the opponent won't really help it move first in Trick Room. Finally, a Choice Band set can be used to take advantage of Banette's high Attack, but with such a pathetic movepool, it's pretty underwhelming.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Banette doesn't necessarily have any counters, as it's basically meant to kill itself once it has set up Trick Room. The best thing you can do to stop Banette from setting up is by utilizing a Taunt lead, particularly Ambipom as it's immune to Banette's Shadow Claw. Another thing you should prepare for is Destiny Bond. Since Banette will most likely use this move after using Trick Room, avoiding attacking it directly will stall out Trick Room time and save your Pokemon's life; however, you must be careful of Taunt, as it will force you to use an attacking move. The easiest way to avoid Destiny Bond is by constantly switching around until Banette uses another move or switches out itself, or by crippling it with Toxic or Will-O-Wisp so you aren't affected by Destiny Bond.</p>
Status: COMPLETE (ready for uploading)
Banette
[Overview]
<p>Banette is an extremely overlooked Ghost-type, mainly because of its limited movepool, pathetic defenses, and pitiful Speed. Mismagius is always a better sweeper than Banette, while Dusclops is better at walling. In fact, Banette is only used because of its great base 115 Attack stat and Trick Room. It's one of the best suicide Trick Room leads in the UU metagame, and its ability, Insomnia, helps it better accomplish that role.</p>
[SET]
name: Suicide Trick Roomer
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Destiny Bond
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Shadow Claw
item: Focus Sash
ability: Insomnia
nature: Brave
evs: 252 Atk
ivs: 0 HP / 0 Def / 0 SpD / 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Combine Banette's horrible Speed, Insomnia, Trick Room, and Destiny Bond, and you get yourself one of the best suicide Trick Roomers in the UU metagame. This combination of traits is what makes Banette stand out from other Ghost-types and other Trick Room users in general, as none of them are capable of pulling off this combination of moves. Taunt is useful in allowing Destiny Bond to work properly, as the opponent is no longer able to avoid it with indirect attacks. Shadow Claw is a basic STAB move to use in emergencies.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Depending on the opposing lead, there are simple strategies to use this set effectively. If you are up against a lead who doesn't use Taunt, such as Omastar, set up Trick Room on the first turn and use Taunt the turn after. That way, the opposing lead will have to attack Banette directly, leaving them vulnerable to Destiny Bond. If you do happen to Taunt the opponent, try to avoid using Destiny Bond and go directly to one of your Trick Room sweepers, as your opponent will likely switch out due to the fear of Destiny Bond.</p>
<p>Since Banette is setting up Trick Room, it's obviously a good idea to use Trick Room sweepers and supporters. Excellent Trick Room sweepers to look into are Marowak, Rhyperior, and Rampardos, all of whom pack massive Attack, fairly low Speed, and powerful STAB moves. Other viable Trick Room sweepers you can use include Hariyama and Aggron, both of whom resist Banette's Dark-type weakness, and in Aggron's case, Ghost-type weakness, too. Pokemon that can keep Trick Room on the field include Slowbro, Claydol, and Porygon2. It's strongly recommended to read through the <a href="/dp/articles/trick_room_guide>Trick Room</a> guide to gain a better understanding of how Trick Room teams work and perform.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>As mentioned in the Suicide Trick Roomer set, Trick Room sweepers and other Trick Room users need to be considered, as Banette is almost always guaranteed to set up Trick Room.</p>
<p>One of the biggest problems for lead Banette is Ambipom. Most Ambipom carry Taunt, which can completely shut down Banette's entire set, since Ambipom is also immune to Shadow Claw. It's a good idea to use a Pokemon that can take on Ambipom, but still keep the Trick Room theme going. Porygon2 is a great Pokemon to consider, because not only does it have decent overall bulk, but with Download, Porygon2 will score a free +1 Special Attack boost because of Ambipom's equal Defense and Special Defense. Rhyperior is also a great switch-in to Ambipom, thanks to its high Defense, resistance to Ambipom's STAB attacks, and access to a powerful Earthquake to destroy it.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Many of the moves Banette can use are usually utilized much better by other Ghost-types. Banette can use a support set with Will-O-Wisp, but Dusclops is usually a better fit for that role due to its much higher defenses. Calm Mind can be used, but Drifblim and Mismagius pull it off better. Since Banette has such low Speed, Sucker Punch can be used to accommodate that and give Banette a strong priority move to use. Using Thunder or Thunderbolt off of Banette's decent base 83 Special Attack are useful against bulky Water-types, such as Milotic. Banette can PP stall the opponent with a combination of Spite and Pain Split, but it's usually better used by a Ghost-type with better defenses, like Dusclops. Trick can be used on the Suicide Trick Roomer set in the place of Taunt with Choice Scarf instead of Focus Sash, but since Banette is already very slow, Tricking the Choice Scarf to the opponent won't really help it move first in Trick Room. Finally, a Choice Band set can be used to take advantage of Banette's high Attack, but with such a pathetic movepool, it's pretty underwhelming.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Banette doesn't necessarily have any counters, as it's basically meant to kill itself once it has set up Trick Room. The best thing you can do to stop Banette from setting up is by utilizing a Taunt lead, particularly Ambipom as it's immune to Banette's Shadow Claw. Another thing you should prepare for is Destiny Bond. Since Banette will most likely use this move after using Trick Room, avoiding attacking it directly will stall out Trick Room time and save your Pokemon's life; however, you must be careful of Taunt, as it will force you to use an attacking move. The easiest way to avoid Destiny Bond is by constantly switching around until Banette uses another move or switches out itself, or by crippling it with Toxic or Will-O-Wisp so you aren't affected by Destiny Bond.</p>
