uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Bibarel finds a small niche in the PU metagame as a sweeper thanks to its ability Simple, which doubles positive stat changes, in conjunction with Swords Dance, allowing Bibarel's Attack to reach high levels and letting Bibarel break past opposing Pokemon easily. Bibarel's unique STAB combination allows it to hit the majority of the tier for neutral damage, so when it is able to boost its Attack, it will always heavily damage opposing Pokemon. Unfortunately, Bibarel has very poor defensive stats, a poor Speed stat, and mediocre Attack, making it quite slow and weak without a Swords Dance boost. It faces strong competition with many offensive Water-types in the tier such as Kingler, Floatzel, and Kabutops due to them being more reliable sweepers with higher Attack and Speed stats than Bibarel. Bibarel also faces strong competition as a Normal-type wallbreaker with Kangaskhan and Zangoose, which also possess higher Attack and Speed stats. Furthermore, Bibarel is walled by the likes of Gourgeist-XL and Tangela, which can take its STAB attacks and threaten it back with strong super effective attacks.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Return
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb
ability: Simple
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance, thanks to the ability Simple, allows Bibarel to boost its mediocre Attack to very high levels, allowing Bibarel to break through walls in the tier such as Weezing and Regirock. Return is a reliable STAB attack, especially when at +4. Waterfall is Bibarel's main Water-type STAB move, able to hit opposing Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-type Pokemon such as Pyroar, Aggron, and Golurk. Waterfall also allows Bibarel to hit opposing Ghost-types for neutral damage, since they are immune to Return. Aqua Jet is a priority attack that allows Bibarel to pick off weakened foes and chip faster opposing Pokemon such as Zangoose and Primeape before it goes down. Aqua Jet also allows Bibarel to chip at faster Ghost-types like Haunter and OHKO them at +4.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allow Bibarel to deal as much damage as it can after setting up a Swords Dance, and maximum Speed EVs allow Bibarel to outspeed slower Pokemon such as Adamant Alolan Sandslash and Modest Ludicolo if hail and rain are not active, respectively. Life Orb is the preferred item on Bibarel to maximize its damage output, allowing it to act as a stronger wallbreaker and sweeper, especially after a boost from Swords Dance. Simple is the best ability to use on Bibarel because Swords Dance's effect is doubled, which allows it to become a threatening wallbreaker and sweeper after one boost.
Usage Tips
========
Bibarel can switch in and set up against passive Pokemon that cannot deal much damage to it, such as Clefairy, and Pokemon it might force out, such as Aurorus and Golurk. Bibarel's best opportunity to be brought in is against weakened foes to revenge kill them with Aqua Jet. Bibarel only functions as a late-game sweeper, so it is not ideal to bring in Bibarel to set up until bulky Grass-types and faster Water-resistant Pokemon like Gourgeist-XL and Lilligant have been defeated. Bibarel should not be brought in on strong attacks due to its low defenses, as even attacks from walls such as Type: Null 2HKO Bibarel. Bibarel should only be brought into moves that it resists or is immune to, such as Alolan Dugtrio's Iron Head and Haunter's Shadow Ball. Bibarel should especially try to set up Swords Dance on Choice-locked Pokemon like Choice Scarf Haunter locked into Shadow Ball, which Bibarel is immune to, and Choice Scarf Togedemaru locked into Iron Head, which Bibarel resists. Bibarel appreciates being brought in with U-turn or on a free switch where it doesn't take any damage whatsoever.
Team Options
========
Possessing a check to Fighting-types is imperative to make sure that Bibarel can carry out its job as smoothly as possible. Mesprit is a solid option that can also bring Bibarel in against slower foes with its slow U-turn to start setting up Swords Dance. Furthermore, Mesprit is able to use Healing Wish to keep Bibarel healthy at any point of the game, and it can set Stealth Rock to chip opposing Pokemon so Bibarel can more easily sweep. Golurk is also a great teammate for Bibarel, as it is immune to Fighting and Electric, which are two of Bibarel's weaknesses. Golurk is also able to set up Stealth Rock to provide chip damage so Bibarel has an easier time wallbreaking after a Swords Dance. Furthermore, Bibarel is weak to Grass, so having some Grass-resistant Pokemon such as Skuntank and Weezing really helps Bibarel. Entry hazard removal is also very useful to improve Bibarel's survivability. Skuntank is a solid teammate that removes entry hazards and checks the Grass-types that resist Bibarel's Waterfall such as Lilligant and Alolan Exeggutor. Slow users of Volt Switch and U-turn, such as Eelektross and Volbeat, ensure that Bibarel can enter the field safely. Memento and Parting Shot support from Pokemon such as Skuntank, Alolan Persian, and Silvally-Fairy ensure that Bibarel can enter safely, somewhat mitigating its poor defensive stats. Dual screens support from Pokemon like Meowstic-M helps bolster Bibarel's lacking defenses so that it takes less damage from neutral attacks that are otherwise able to 2HKO it. Furthermore, Meowstic-M provides speed control with a Prankster-boosted Thunder Wave, which can give Bibarel more opportunities to outspeed faster threats and KO them. Meowstic-M also has access to Yawn, which gives Bibarel more opportunities to set up Swords Dance and proceed to sweep. Sticky Web support from the likes of Leavanny and Masquerain helps to counteract Bibarel's middling Speed by allowing it to outspeed faster threats, making it a better sweeper. Bibarel appreciates the help of special wallbreakers like Pyroar and Aurorus to break past bulky Grass-type Pokemon such as Gourgeist-XL that give Bibarel trouble. Bibarel, in return, is able to break past specially defensive Pokemon like Clefairy and Type: Null for them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Normalium Z or Waterium Z along with Swords Dance allows Bibarel to have one very strong attack to deal with any opposing Pokemon. A Jolly nature can be used instead of Adamant, allowing Bibarel to outspeed Pokemon like Adamant Absol, but this overall just makes it weaker than it already is, especially before setting up. Quick Attack is an alternative priority option over Aqua Jet that is able to hit faster offensive Pokemon such as Lilligant and Jynx that can take a boosted Aqua Jet. However, opting for Quick Attack prevents Bibarel from being able to dispatch faster Ghost-types like Haunter and Oricorio-G with its priority move. Double-Edge can be used over Return for a higher damage output, but Bibarel is worn down even more quickly by using it due to the combined recoil from Double-Edge and Life Orb. The additional recoil is especially noticeable if Bibarel OHKOes a Pokemon with Double-Edge. Curse + Rest Bibarel is a set that allows Bibarel to boost its Attack and Defense by two stages at a time; by using this set with a Chesto Berry and an EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD, Bibarel can assume the role of a bulky attacker, but it is easily checked by Pokemon like Gourgeist-XL. Furthermore, it becomes more passive without Attack investment, and faster Pokemon like Lilligant can easily set up against it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-type Pokemon like Tangela and Gourgeist-XL can easily take attacks from a set-up Bibarel and threaten it with their super effective Grass-type moves. Gourgeist-XL walls Bibarel especially well and forces Bibarel to switch out. Furthermore, faster Grass-types like Lilligant and Leafeon resist Aqua Jet and can threaten Bibarel.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Due to its low Speed, Bibarel is outsped by many Pokemon that threaten to OHKO it such as Primeape, Togedemaru, Lilligant, Haunter, and Swanna.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Primeape and Life Orb Hitmonchan outspeed Bibarel and OHKO with their super effective Fighting-type moves. Gurdurr is also a major threat to Bibarel, as Gurdurr is able to take it on before it sets up a Swords Dance and can also pick it off with Mach Punch.
**Priority**: Bibarel does not appreciate Sucker Punch from the likes of Absol and Skuntank, but it can play around Sucker Punch with Swords Dance and use its own priority in either Aqua Jet or Quick Attack. Bibarel is also weak to Mach Punch from Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan.
[OVERVIEW]
Bibarel finds a small niche in the PU metagame as a sweeper thanks to its ability Simple, which doubles positive stat changes, in conjunction with Swords Dance, allowing Bibarel's Attack to reach high levels and letting Bibarel break past opposing Pokemon easily. Bibarel's unique STAB combination allows it to hit the majority of the tier for neutral damage, so when it is able to boost its Attack, it will always heavily damage opposing Pokemon. Unfortunately, Bibarel has very poor defensive stats, a poor Speed stat, and mediocre Attack, making it quite slow and weak without a Swords Dance boost. It faces strong competition with many offensive Water-types in the tier such as Kingler, Floatzel, and Kabutops due to them being more reliable sweepers with higher Attack and Speed stats than Bibarel. Bibarel also faces strong competition as a Normal-type wallbreaker with Kangaskhan and Zangoose, which also possess higher Attack and Speed stats. Furthermore, Bibarel is walled by the likes of Gourgeist-XL and Tangela, which can take its STAB attacks and threaten it back with strong super effective attacks.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Return
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Aqua Jet
item: Life Orb
ability: Simple
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance, thanks to the ability Simple, allows Bibarel to boost its mediocre Attack to very high levels, allowing Bibarel to break through walls in the tier such as Weezing and Regirock. Return is a reliable STAB attack, especially when at +4. Waterfall is Bibarel's main Water-type STAB move, able to hit opposing Fire-, Rock-, and Ground-type Pokemon such as Pyroar, Aggron, and Golurk. Waterfall also allows Bibarel to hit opposing Ghost-types for neutral damage, since they are immune to Return. Aqua Jet is a priority attack that allows Bibarel to pick off weakened foes and chip faster opposing Pokemon such as Zangoose and Primeape before it goes down. Aqua Jet also allows Bibarel to chip at faster Ghost-types like Haunter and OHKO them at +4.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs with an Adamant nature allow Bibarel to deal as much damage as it can after setting up a Swords Dance, and maximum Speed EVs allow Bibarel to outspeed slower Pokemon such as Adamant Alolan Sandslash and Modest Ludicolo if hail and rain are not active, respectively. Life Orb is the preferred item on Bibarel to maximize its damage output, allowing it to act as a stronger wallbreaker and sweeper, especially after a boost from Swords Dance. Simple is the best ability to use on Bibarel because Swords Dance's effect is doubled, which allows it to become a threatening wallbreaker and sweeper after one boost.
Usage Tips
========
Bibarel can switch in and set up against passive Pokemon that cannot deal much damage to it, such as Clefairy, and Pokemon it might force out, such as Aurorus and Golurk. Bibarel's best opportunity to be brought in is against weakened foes to revenge kill them with Aqua Jet. Bibarel only functions as a late-game sweeper, so it is not ideal to bring in Bibarel to set up until bulky Grass-types and faster Water-resistant Pokemon like Gourgeist-XL and Lilligant have been defeated. Bibarel should not be brought in on strong attacks due to its low defenses, as even attacks from walls such as Type: Null 2HKO Bibarel. Bibarel should only be brought into moves that it resists or is immune to, such as Alolan Dugtrio's Iron Head and Haunter's Shadow Ball. Bibarel should especially try to set up Swords Dance on Choice-locked Pokemon like Choice Scarf Haunter locked into Shadow Ball, which Bibarel is immune to, and Choice Scarf Togedemaru locked into Iron Head, which Bibarel resists. Bibarel appreciates being brought in with U-turn or on a free switch where it doesn't take any damage whatsoever.
Team Options
========
Possessing a check to Fighting-types is imperative to make sure that Bibarel can carry out its job as smoothly as possible. Mesprit is a solid option that can also bring Bibarel in against slower foes with its slow U-turn to start setting up Swords Dance. Furthermore, Mesprit is able to use Healing Wish to keep Bibarel healthy at any point of the game, and it can set Stealth Rock to chip opposing Pokemon so Bibarel can more easily sweep. Golurk is also a great teammate for Bibarel, as it is immune to Fighting and Electric, which are two of Bibarel's weaknesses. Golurk is also able to set up Stealth Rock to provide chip damage so Bibarel has an easier time wallbreaking after a Swords Dance. Furthermore, Bibarel is weak to Grass, so having some Grass-resistant Pokemon such as Skuntank and Weezing really helps Bibarel. Entry hazard removal is also very useful to improve Bibarel's survivability. Skuntank is a solid teammate that removes entry hazards and checks the Grass-types that resist Bibarel's Waterfall such as Lilligant and Alolan Exeggutor. Slow users of Volt Switch and U-turn, such as Eelektross and Volbeat, ensure that Bibarel can enter the field safely. Memento and Parting Shot support from Pokemon such as Skuntank, Alolan Persian, and Silvally-Fairy ensure that Bibarel can enter safely, somewhat mitigating its poor defensive stats. Dual screens support from Pokemon like Meowstic-M helps bolster Bibarel's lacking defenses so that it takes less damage from neutral attacks that are otherwise able to 2HKO it. Furthermore, Meowstic-M provides speed control with a Prankster-boosted Thunder Wave, which can give Bibarel more opportunities to outspeed faster threats and KO them. Meowstic-M also has access to Yawn, which gives Bibarel more opportunities to set up Swords Dance and proceed to sweep. Sticky Web support from the likes of Leavanny and Masquerain helps to counteract Bibarel's middling Speed by allowing it to outspeed faster threats, making it a better sweeper. Bibarel appreciates the help of special wallbreakers like Pyroar and Aurorus to break past bulky Grass-type Pokemon such as Gourgeist-XL that give Bibarel trouble. Bibarel, in return, is able to break past specially defensive Pokemon like Clefairy and Type: Null for them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Normalium Z or Waterium Z along with Swords Dance allows Bibarel to have one very strong attack to deal with any opposing Pokemon. A Jolly nature can be used instead of Adamant, allowing Bibarel to outspeed Pokemon like Adamant Absol, but this overall just makes it weaker than it already is, especially before setting up. Quick Attack is an alternative priority option over Aqua Jet that is able to hit faster offensive Pokemon such as Lilligant and Jynx that can take a boosted Aqua Jet. However, opting for Quick Attack prevents Bibarel from being able to dispatch faster Ghost-types like Haunter and Oricorio-G with its priority move. Double-Edge can be used over Return for a higher damage output, but Bibarel is worn down even more quickly by using it due to the combined recoil from Double-Edge and Life Orb. The additional recoil is especially noticeable if Bibarel OHKOes a Pokemon with Double-Edge. Curse + Rest Bibarel is a set that allows Bibarel to boost its Attack and Defense by two stages at a time; by using this set with a Chesto Berry and an EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD, Bibarel can assume the role of a bulky attacker, but it is easily checked by Pokemon like Gourgeist-XL. Furthermore, it becomes more passive without Attack investment, and faster Pokemon like Lilligant can easily set up against it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-type Pokemon like Tangela and Gourgeist-XL can easily take attacks from a set-up Bibarel and threaten it with their super effective Grass-type moves. Gourgeist-XL walls Bibarel especially well and forces Bibarel to switch out. Furthermore, faster Grass-types like Lilligant and Leafeon resist Aqua Jet and can threaten Bibarel.
**Faster Offensive Threats**: Due to its low Speed, Bibarel is outsped by many Pokemon that threaten to OHKO it such as Primeape, Togedemaru, Lilligant, Haunter, and Swanna.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Primeape and Life Orb Hitmonchan outspeed Bibarel and OHKO with their super effective Fighting-type moves. Gurdurr is also a major threat to Bibarel, as Gurdurr is able to take it on before it sets up a Swords Dance and can also pick it off with Mach Punch.
**Priority**: Bibarel does not appreciate Sucker Punch from the likes of Absol and Skuntank, but it can play around Sucker Punch with Swords Dance and use its own priority in either Aqua Jet or Quick Attack. Bibarel is also weak to Mach Punch from Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan.
Last edited by a moderator:
2/2