Bibarel
[OVERVIEW]
<p> Bibarel has always been considered a troll pokemon and has mostly been used "just vfor the lols". This gen, Bibarel recieved two things that recover it from the troll status to a serious threat status. Bibarel recieved Cheer Up, a move which is a godsend for mixed swepers and especially for pokemon with Simple. Bibarel also recieved the ability Inconsistent from the Dream World, which makes it capable of single handedly taking down teams. Bibarel has been salvaged from low NU to high OU this gen and is no longer a joke but rather is a serious threat. </p>
[SET]
name: Inconsistent
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Protect
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Waterfall
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Inconsistent
Nature: Jolly
EVs.: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> This could be the most annoying set in Pokemon. The basic premise behind this set is to stall until Inconsistent gains an Evasion boost, and then Evasion stall the opponent out. The beauty of this set is the other boosts Bibarel receives from Inconsistent. Attack boosts make Waterfall hurt much more. Any boosts to Bibarel's defenses only help it stall out the opponent even longer. Speed boosts make it easier to set up subs and make it easier to stall out the opponent without taking any hits. Only Special Attack boosts aren't useful. After Bibarel has monstruous defenses, high evasion, and is sitting comfterably behind a sub, Toxic should be used to stall out the opponent. After the opponent is poisoned, just spam Waterfall until they die. Then repeat for the remaining five pokemon. This strategy is so simple and yet so deadly and so hard to counter. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> Super Fang can be a real pain on this set, but the only problem is where to put it. If it is put over Toxic, then Ghost-types and Pokemon with Water Absorb (or a 4x resistance to water) wall Bibarel. If it is put over Waterfall, then Ghost-types, Poison-types, and Steel-types wall Bibarel. Yet is can really speed up the wearing down proccess, so it deserves a mention. Many of the EVs can be shifted into Attack or into either Defesne, but Bibarel needs its bulk and its speed. Return can be used over Waterfall, yet this leaves Bibarel vulnerable to Steel-types, Ghost-types, and Poison-types. It is always possible to remove Toxic for Return, but this means that Burungeru will wall Bibarel. Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, but it relies on a boost in Accuracy and is essentially useless if Bibarel's accuracy is lowered.</p>
[SET]
name: Cheer Up
move 1: Cheer Up
move 2: Aqua Tail
move 3: Return / Quick Attack
move 4: Thunderbolt / Ice Beam
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Simple
Nature: Naive
EVs.: 252 Atk / 252 SAtk / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> Simple really helps boost Bibarel's sweeping power. Essentially, in a single turn, Bibarel is using both Swords Dance and Nasty Plot. This allows Bibarel to be a fantastic wall breaker. The Attack and Special Attack allow Bibarel to score some very important KO's such as follows:
+2 Aqua Tail Vs Physically Defensive Hippowdon 94.8% - 111.9% (OHKO with SR)
+2 Aqua Tail Vs SD Scizor 102.1% - 120.2% (OHKO)
+2 Return vs Max HP, Def Blissey 82.4% - 97.1% (very close to OHKO with SR)
+2 Return vs Wish Support Vaporeon 94.4%-111.2% (OHKO with SR)
+2 Thunderbolt vs Specially Defensive Skarmory 85.6% - 101.2% (very close to OHKO with SR)
+2 Thunderbolt vs Max HP, Max SDef Burungeru 51.9% - 61.3% (2HKO)
These stats show that Bibarel is clearly capable of taking out some of the most prominent walls in OU after just one boost. Aqua Tail and Return get great coverage together, being resisted by only Shedinja, Cradily, Nattorei, and Empoleon, and Burungeru in OU. The choice between Ice Beam and Thunder can cover most of these. If Ice Beam is chosen, Empoleon, Burungeru, and Shedinja can wall Bibarel. If Thunder is chosen, Cradily, Nattorei, and Shedinja wall it. Bibarel tends to be very frail and somewhat slow, so priority attacks are also options, as they can deal a lot of damage at +2.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Bibarel is very frail and can easily be killed. Quick Attack and makes it a priority sweeper because of its otherwise slow speed. Return and Aqua Tail make it more of a wall breaker. Thunder and Blizzard can be used for more power and to ensure certain KO's, but it is unreliable an hould only be used for wall breaking. Superpower can be used as well for coverage, but its defense drops are counter productive. </p>
[SET]
name: Defenive Booster
move 1: Curse
move 2: Amnesia
move 3: Return / Quck Attack
move 4: Waterfall
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Simple
Nature: Impish / Adamant
EVs.: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Simple, Bibarel is capable of boosting both of its defenses to great leves and tanking throught the opponent's team. Bibarel can use Amnesia to raise its Special Defense to +4, which is very impressive. Curse allows it to raise its physical Defense while simultaneously raising its physical Attack. This allows Bibarel to tank through the opponent's team. Return and Waterfall have great coverage together and are Bibarel's main STAB moves. But the Speed drops are a let down, so Bibarel can use its STAB priority attack. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Bibarel can move some EVs around in order to suit a much more bulky role, but Bibarel should be more offensive. Bibarel's main STAB attacks are completely walled by Burungeru and Nattorei, but Bibarel really doesn't have too many offensive options, so its only other option is Superpower, which is counter productive to its boosting. </p>
[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Bibarel really has no other viable options. Its movepool is okay, but its stats make many of its possible sets not viable. It can run a Charge Beam set because Charge Beam doubles Bibarel's Special Attack, but Bibarel's Special Attack is subpar, and Cheer Up is much better. Bibarel has a decent special movepool, but its Special Attack stat is lacking, so Choice Specs are required. Bibarel can have a god Choice Band set due to having poweful STAB attacks. Unaware has its benefits, but Bibarel isn't suited for a bulky set. Super Fang is always a useful move, but there are usually better options.</p>
[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>The inconsistent set works pretty independently and doesn't really have too many team options Toxic Spikes support can be useful, but Bibarel can use Toxic itself. Tentacruel can be a good partner due to the fact that it can lay down and absorb Toxic Spikes as well as take Fighting-type attacks. For the other sets, a pokemon that can benefit from the broken down walls makes a good teamate such as Infernape or Gyarados. Bibarel's biggest counters are Burungeru and Nattorei, so a pokemon that can take out both is welcome, like Heat Wave Zapdos or Hidden Power Fire Gengar. Curse Bibarel has the same issues, and it needs a pokemon that can take out pokemon that resist Water+Normal. The Curse set also needs a pokemon to remove common phazers like Skarmory, so once again Infernape makes a good teamate. Rain support is always welcome to boost Bibarel's main STAB, and it also allows Bibarel's Thunder to always hit.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Burungeru and Nattorei are the bane to Bibarel's existance. They resist Bibarel's STAB combo, and there's little Bibarel can do in return. In fact, most bulky waters can give Bibarel a hard time as long as Return doesn't do too much damage. Some physical walls can counter Bibarel pretty well, as long as they don't become set up fodder for either boosting set. Phazers are huge problems for either set as well, so pokemon like Skarmory and Suicune tend to be troublesome. There is very little that can counter the Inconsistent set. Steel-types and Poison-types are annoying in the sense that Bibarel can't use Toxic, but Bibarel can always straight forward attack them. </p>
[DREAM WORLD]
<p>Inconsistent is the greatest gift Bibarel could have received. It's what separates Bibarel from other crappy early in-game pokemon. Bibarel really received a huge upgrade with Inconsistent.</p>
[OVERVIEW]
<p> Bibarel has always been considered a troll pokemon and has mostly been used "just vfor the lols". This gen, Bibarel recieved two things that recover it from the troll status to a serious threat status. Bibarel recieved Cheer Up, a move which is a godsend for mixed swepers and especially for pokemon with Simple. Bibarel also recieved the ability Inconsistent from the Dream World, which makes it capable of single handedly taking down teams. Bibarel has been salvaged from low NU to high OU this gen and is no longer a joke but rather is a serious threat. </p>
[SET]
name: Inconsistent
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Protect
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Waterfall
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Inconsistent
Nature: Jolly
EVs.: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> This could be the most annoying set in Pokemon. The basic premise behind this set is to stall until Inconsistent gains an Evasion boost, and then Evasion stall the opponent out. The beauty of this set is the other boosts Bibarel receives from Inconsistent. Attack boosts make Waterfall hurt much more. Any boosts to Bibarel's defenses only help it stall out the opponent even longer. Speed boosts make it easier to set up subs and make it easier to stall out the opponent without taking any hits. Only Special Attack boosts aren't useful. After Bibarel has monstruous defenses, high evasion, and is sitting comfterably behind a sub, Toxic should be used to stall out the opponent. After the opponent is poisoned, just spam Waterfall until they die. Then repeat for the remaining five pokemon. This strategy is so simple and yet so deadly and so hard to counter. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> Super Fang can be a real pain on this set, but the only problem is where to put it. If it is put over Toxic, then Ghost-types and Pokemon with Water Absorb (or a 4x resistance to water) wall Bibarel. If it is put over Waterfall, then Ghost-types, Poison-types, and Steel-types wall Bibarel. Yet is can really speed up the wearing down proccess, so it deserves a mention. Many of the EVs can be shifted into Attack or into either Defesne, but Bibarel needs its bulk and its speed. Return can be used over Waterfall, yet this leaves Bibarel vulnerable to Steel-types, Ghost-types, and Poison-types. It is always possible to remove Toxic for Return, but this means that Burungeru will wall Bibarel. Aqua Tail can be used over Waterfall, but it relies on a boost in Accuracy and is essentially useless if Bibarel's accuracy is lowered.</p>
[SET]
name: Cheer Up
move 1: Cheer Up
move 2: Aqua Tail
move 3: Return / Quick Attack
move 4: Thunderbolt / Ice Beam
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Simple
Nature: Naive
EVs.: 252 Atk / 252 SAtk / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> Simple really helps boost Bibarel's sweeping power. Essentially, in a single turn, Bibarel is using both Swords Dance and Nasty Plot. This allows Bibarel to be a fantastic wall breaker. The Attack and Special Attack allow Bibarel to score some very important KO's such as follows:
+2 Aqua Tail Vs Physically Defensive Hippowdon 94.8% - 111.9% (OHKO with SR)
+2 Aqua Tail Vs SD Scizor 102.1% - 120.2% (OHKO)
+2 Return vs Max HP, Def Blissey 82.4% - 97.1% (very close to OHKO with SR)
+2 Return vs Wish Support Vaporeon 94.4%-111.2% (OHKO with SR)
+2 Thunderbolt vs Specially Defensive Skarmory 85.6% - 101.2% (very close to OHKO with SR)
+2 Thunderbolt vs Max HP, Max SDef Burungeru 51.9% - 61.3% (2HKO)
These stats show that Bibarel is clearly capable of taking out some of the most prominent walls in OU after just one boost. Aqua Tail and Return get great coverage together, being resisted by only Shedinja, Cradily, Nattorei, and Empoleon, and Burungeru in OU. The choice between Ice Beam and Thunder can cover most of these. If Ice Beam is chosen, Empoleon, Burungeru, and Shedinja can wall Bibarel. If Thunder is chosen, Cradily, Nattorei, and Shedinja wall it. Bibarel tends to be very frail and somewhat slow, so priority attacks are also options, as they can deal a lot of damage at +2.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Bibarel is very frail and can easily be killed. Quick Attack and makes it a priority sweeper because of its otherwise slow speed. Return and Aqua Tail make it more of a wall breaker. Thunder and Blizzard can be used for more power and to ensure certain KO's, but it is unreliable an hould only be used for wall breaking. Superpower can be used as well for coverage, but its defense drops are counter productive. </p>
[SET]
name: Defenive Booster
move 1: Curse
move 2: Amnesia
move 3: Return / Quck Attack
move 4: Waterfall
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Simple
Nature: Impish / Adamant
EVs.: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With Simple, Bibarel is capable of boosting both of its defenses to great leves and tanking throught the opponent's team. Bibarel can use Amnesia to raise its Special Defense to +4, which is very impressive. Curse allows it to raise its physical Defense while simultaneously raising its physical Attack. This allows Bibarel to tank through the opponent's team. Return and Waterfall have great coverage together and are Bibarel's main STAB moves. But the Speed drops are a let down, so Bibarel can use its STAB priority attack. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Bibarel can move some EVs around in order to suit a much more bulky role, but Bibarel should be more offensive. Bibarel's main STAB attacks are completely walled by Burungeru and Nattorei, but Bibarel really doesn't have too many offensive options, so its only other option is Superpower, which is counter productive to its boosting. </p>
[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Bibarel really has no other viable options. Its movepool is okay, but its stats make many of its possible sets not viable. It can run a Charge Beam set because Charge Beam doubles Bibarel's Special Attack, but Bibarel's Special Attack is subpar, and Cheer Up is much better. Bibarel has a decent special movepool, but its Special Attack stat is lacking, so Choice Specs are required. Bibarel can have a god Choice Band set due to having poweful STAB attacks. Unaware has its benefits, but Bibarel isn't suited for a bulky set. Super Fang is always a useful move, but there are usually better options.</p>
[TEAM OPTIONS]
<p>The inconsistent set works pretty independently and doesn't really have too many team options Toxic Spikes support can be useful, but Bibarel can use Toxic itself. Tentacruel can be a good partner due to the fact that it can lay down and absorb Toxic Spikes as well as take Fighting-type attacks. For the other sets, a pokemon that can benefit from the broken down walls makes a good teamate such as Infernape or Gyarados. Bibarel's biggest counters are Burungeru and Nattorei, so a pokemon that can take out both is welcome, like Heat Wave Zapdos or Hidden Power Fire Gengar. Curse Bibarel has the same issues, and it needs a pokemon that can take out pokemon that resist Water+Normal. The Curse set also needs a pokemon to remove common phazers like Skarmory, so once again Infernape makes a good teamate. Rain support is always welcome to boost Bibarel's main STAB, and it also allows Bibarel's Thunder to always hit.</p>
[COUNTERS]
<p>Burungeru and Nattorei are the bane to Bibarel's existance. They resist Bibarel's STAB combo, and there's little Bibarel can do in return. In fact, most bulky waters can give Bibarel a hard time as long as Return doesn't do too much damage. Some physical walls can counter Bibarel pretty well, as long as they don't become set up fodder for either boosting set. Phazers are huge problems for either set as well, so pokemon like Skarmory and Suicune tend to be troublesome. There is very little that can counter the Inconsistent set. Steel-types and Poison-types are annoying in the sense that Bibarel can't use Toxic, but Bibarel can always straight forward attack them. </p>
[DREAM WORLD]
<p>Inconsistent is the greatest gift Bibarel could have received. It's what separates Bibarel from other crappy early in-game pokemon. Bibarel really received a huge upgrade with Inconsistent.</p>
