[OVERVIEW]
With Shell Smash in its arsenal, Blastoise is capable of sweeping weakened teams and is a staple on offensive playstyles. It has enough natural bulk to secure setup opportunities on passive Pokemon like Sylveon and Gastrodon, and its Speed is crucially high enough to prevent Choice Scarf users like Passimian and Rotom-C from revenge killing it after setting up. Its defensive counterplay is limited, as Toxic users like Bronzong and Vaporeon are unable to deter Substitute variants, and tanks like Stealth Rock Copperajah and Dragalge are only able to KO it with chip damage; they may even inadvertently buff Blastoise by weakening it into Torrent range. Nonetheless, Blastoise is likely to sustain noteworthy damage when setting up, which in turn makes it easier for the aforementioned walls and priority users like Golisopod and Sirfetch'd to deal with it. Some bulky Pokemon like Assault Vest Copperajah, Haze Mantine, and specially defensive Dhelmise check Blastoise even without prior chip damage. Blastoise will also struggle to set up against offensive teams that pressure it with faster wallbreakers and sweepers as well as against teams with ample entry hazard and Knock Off support to make Blastoise much more vulnerable to revenge killers like Goodra and Choice Scarf Heliolisk.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Substitute / Dark Pulse
item: White Herb
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Surf threatens many of the same OHKOs at +2 that Hydro Pump does without the inaccuracy. Ice Beam targets Grass- and Dragon-types like Rotom-C, Decidueye, and Dragalge. Substitute offers a safe way to activate Torrent and setup opportunities against status users like Bronzong, while Dark Pulse nails Starmie and Golisopod. White Herb is necessary to retain Blastoise's bulk and severely limit revenge killers.
Dual screens support from Xatu or Espeon is a great way for Blastoise to get off Shell Smash and to prevent Gastrodon and Guzzlord from breaking Substitute, and these setters also have Magic Bounce to prevent entry hazards from chipping Blastoise. Additional sweepers and wallbreakers like Salazzle, Tyrantrum, and Decidueye break down walls like Mantine and Gastrodon and keep momentum up for an eventual Blastoise sweep. On less offensive teams, Blastoise is more likely to sweep with defensive cores of Copperajah + Sylveon and Bronzong + Vileplume wearing down foes through status, Stealth Rock, and item removal; in return, Blastoise is a crucial Fire-type check. Knock Off support from Passimian and Guzzlord is another great way to wear down Blastoise's defensive checks such as Mantine and Copperajah. Pivots such as Dragalge and Comfey get Blastoise in safely against targets it's able to use Shell Smash on like Bronzong and Arcanine.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Blastoise may opt for a defensive utility set that offers Rapid Spin, Flip Turn, and status support, although this set is less effective than other defensive Water-types like Mantine and Vaporeon. Life Orb has the niche of picking up more OHKOs at +2, like against Dragalge and Silvally-Ghost, but these KOs are also obtainable with entry hazard damage. This makes Life Orb usually not worth the recoil combined with the lack of White Herb. Aura Sphere hits notable targets like Heliolisk, Assault Vest Copperajah, and Arctovish, but outside of the improved matchup for these threats, Blastoise has better options for sweeping.
Checks and Counters
====
**Bulky Water-types**: Despite being passive, Mantine and Vaporeon use Haze and recovery to outlast Blastoise and prevent it from sweeping. Gastrodon is another special wall that deters it with Earth Power and Toxic, although it's less effective when Blastoise has dual screens support.
**Special Walls**: A handful of special tanks and Assault Vest users like Copperajah, Dhelmise, and Goodra are capable of surviving a hit and OHKOing Blastoise. Other walls such as Escavalier and Guzzlord can stomach a boosted hit as well, but with usually only weaker attacks and Toxic to threaten Blastoise, they are more situational checks.
**Revenge Killers**: Heliolisk is one of the only Choice Scarf users capable of revenge killing Blastoise and can even tank a boosted hit if Thunderbolt fails to OHKO. Priority users like Sirfetch'd and Decidueye dispatch Blastoise when its in Torrent range, and offensive Water-types like Starmie and Golisopod check non-Dark Pulse variants.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards and Knock Off wear down Blastoise and make it much more susceptible to being KOed, thus expanding its revenge killers and limiting its setup chances.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 231074]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Abejas, 241380]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [username2, userid2]]
With Shell Smash in its arsenal, Blastoise is capable of sweeping weakened teams and is a staple on offensive playstyles. It has enough natural bulk to secure setup opportunities on passive Pokemon like Sylveon and Gastrodon, and its Speed is crucially high enough to prevent Choice Scarf users like Passimian and Rotom-C from revenge killing it after setting up. Its defensive counterplay is limited, as Toxic users like Bronzong and Vaporeon are unable to deter Substitute variants, and tanks like Stealth Rock Copperajah and Dragalge are only able to KO it with chip damage; they may even inadvertently buff Blastoise by weakening it into Torrent range. Nonetheless, Blastoise is likely to sustain noteworthy damage when setting up, which in turn makes it easier for the aforementioned walls and priority users like Golisopod and Sirfetch'd to deal with it. Some bulky Pokemon like Assault Vest Copperajah, Haze Mantine, and specially defensive Dhelmise check Blastoise even without prior chip damage. Blastoise will also struggle to set up against offensive teams that pressure it with faster wallbreakers and sweepers as well as against teams with ample entry hazard and Knock Off support to make Blastoise much more vulnerable to revenge killers like Goodra and Choice Scarf Heliolisk.
[SET]
name: Shell Smash
move 1: Shell Smash
move 2: Surf
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Substitute / Dark Pulse
item: White Herb
ability: Torrent
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Surf threatens many of the same OHKOs at +2 that Hydro Pump does without the inaccuracy. Ice Beam targets Grass- and Dragon-types like Rotom-C, Decidueye, and Dragalge. Substitute offers a safe way to activate Torrent and setup opportunities against status users like Bronzong, while Dark Pulse nails Starmie and Golisopod. White Herb is necessary to retain Blastoise's bulk and severely limit revenge killers.
Dual screens support from Xatu or Espeon is a great way for Blastoise to get off Shell Smash and to prevent Gastrodon and Guzzlord from breaking Substitute, and these setters also have Magic Bounce to prevent entry hazards from chipping Blastoise. Additional sweepers and wallbreakers like Salazzle, Tyrantrum, and Decidueye break down walls like Mantine and Gastrodon and keep momentum up for an eventual Blastoise sweep. On less offensive teams, Blastoise is more likely to sweep with defensive cores of Copperajah + Sylveon and Bronzong + Vileplume wearing down foes through status, Stealth Rock, and item removal; in return, Blastoise is a crucial Fire-type check. Knock Off support from Passimian and Guzzlord is another great way to wear down Blastoise's defensive checks such as Mantine and Copperajah. Pivots such as Dragalge and Comfey get Blastoise in safely against targets it's able to use Shell Smash on like Bronzong and Arcanine.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Blastoise may opt for a defensive utility set that offers Rapid Spin, Flip Turn, and status support, although this set is less effective than other defensive Water-types like Mantine and Vaporeon. Life Orb has the niche of picking up more OHKOs at +2, like against Dragalge and Silvally-Ghost, but these KOs are also obtainable with entry hazard damage. This makes Life Orb usually not worth the recoil combined with the lack of White Herb. Aura Sphere hits notable targets like Heliolisk, Assault Vest Copperajah, and Arctovish, but outside of the improved matchup for these threats, Blastoise has better options for sweeping.
Checks and Counters
====
**Bulky Water-types**: Despite being passive, Mantine and Vaporeon use Haze and recovery to outlast Blastoise and prevent it from sweeping. Gastrodon is another special wall that deters it with Earth Power and Toxic, although it's less effective when Blastoise has dual screens support.
**Special Walls**: A handful of special tanks and Assault Vest users like Copperajah, Dhelmise, and Goodra are capable of surviving a hit and OHKOing Blastoise. Other walls such as Escavalier and Guzzlord can stomach a boosted hit as well, but with usually only weaker attacks and Toxic to threaten Blastoise, they are more situational checks.
**Revenge Killers**: Heliolisk is one of the only Choice Scarf users capable of revenge killing Blastoise and can even tank a boosted hit if Thunderbolt fails to OHKO. Priority users like Sirfetch'd and Decidueye dispatch Blastoise when its in Torrent range, and offensive Water-types like Starmie and Golisopod check non-Dark Pulse variants.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards and Knock Off wear down Blastoise and make it much more susceptible to being KOed, thus expanding its revenge killers and limiting its setup chances.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ho3nConfirm3d, 231074]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Abejas, 241380]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [username2, userid2]]
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