[OVERVIEW]
With a solid Speed tier, Adaptability, and a STAB pivoting move in Flip Turn, Basculin secures its niche as a decent pivot in the tier. A Choice Scarf Basculin can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, as well as some boosted Pokemon like Choice Scarf Mesprit and +1 Silvally-Ghost. Its decent offensive stats allow it to hit hard physically while packing a solid Ice Beam for a few physical walls, like Tangela. However, Basculin lacks ways around common Water-resistant foes like Jellicent and Eldegoss, forcing it to pivot out most times. It is also frail, limiting its ability to come in on Pokemon it would otherwise force out, like Charizard and Gigalith. Since it pivots so much, it is prone to racking up chip damage from entry hazards, Iron Barbs, and Rocky Helmet. Finally, despite having a good Speed tier, it cannot deal with Unburden + Grassy Seed users like Thievul and Hitmonlee, so it pales in comparison to Choice Scarf Ribombee on that front.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Liquidation
move 2: Flip Turn
move 3: Crunch
move 4: Superpower / Ice Beam / Aqua Jet
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Adaptability
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Crunch lets Basculin hit Jellicent super effectively, which is especially useful against Water Absorb variants, since they keep it from simply pivoting out. Superpower hits Ferroseed harder than anything else Basculin has, Ice Beam outdamages the recovery from Tangela's Regenerator—even with a Jolly nature—and Aqua Jet picks off faster foes like +1 Ninjask. Basculin struggles heavily with Water-resistant Pokemon and physically defensive walls, but it preys upon common special walls like Audino and Gigalith: partners like Galarian Articuno and Vikavolt pair well with Basculin, as they can come in on Basculin's checks, and Basculin can force out the special walls that check them. They also appreciate Basculin bringing them in with Flip Turn, forming a solid offensive pivoting core with it. Entry hazard setters like Sandslash can help Basculin wear down switch-ins like Tangela and Ferroseed, as they do not run Heavy-Duty Boots; this also helps Basculin clean late-game. Entry hazard removers like Eldegoss and the aforementioned Sandslash are equally important, as Basculin is constantly taking damage from entry hazards otherwise.
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heracross2-0.414072/
Quality checked by:
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https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mz.202117/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/adeleine.517429/
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