[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Crabhammer
move 2: X-Scissor
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Superpower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Kingler's naturally high Attack and Choice Scarf-boosted Speed make it an effective revenge killer. Crabhammer is a spammable STAB move that 2HKOes most neutral targets, such as pivot Mienfoo and Arbok through Intimidate. X-Scissor targets the Grass-types that resist Crabhammer, 2HKOing offensive variants of Meganium and Leafeon and usually 3HKOing defensive variants of both. When boosted by Sheer Force, Rock Slide is effective coverage against Flying-types; its primary target is Pelipper, and it has a chance of 2HKOing defensive variants after Leftovers recovery while falling just shy of OHKOing offensive variants. Rock Slide also always OHKOes Emolga. Superpower lets Kingler OHKO Lairon and Pawniard while also serving as coverage against Ice- and Normal-types, 2HKOing most of them; it notably OHKOes the best Pokemon in the tier, Persian, something Crabhammer falls just short of doing without prior chip damage. Superpower must be used with caution, however, as the drops to Kingler's stats can make it easier to revenge kill.
Choice Scarf Kingler best fits on balance and sometimes offense teams looking for a form of speed control that's difficult to switch into. Many of Kingler's moves just barely miss miss out on OHKO ranges against foes like offensive Pelipper and Glaceon; Stealth Rock support from teammates like Clefairy, Solrock, and Lairon can help bring these targets into KO range. Stealth Rock also puts foes like Persian and Emolga into range of Crabhammer, sometimes easing the need for prediction. Kingler's biggest problem is that it's unable to threaten Frillish in the slightest; switch-ins to it like Clefairy and Meganium are the most common way for Kingler's team to deal with Frillish. Wallbreakers like Raichu and Leafeon and stallbreakers like Walrein and Grumpig are also effective partners for their ability to break through Frillish. Pivots with Knock Off, like Mienfoo, Vullaby, and Persian can serve the dual purpose of removing Frillish's Eviolite and pivoting their offensive teammates in. Shelgon walls Kingler and can use it as setup fodder, making checks to it like Walrein and Lairon necessary partners; the aforementioned Knock Off users can also soften it up by removing its Eviolite. Grass-types like Ivysaur, Meganium, and bulky variants of Leafeon can switch into all of Kingler's attacks with little worry, and offensive variants of Leafeon can notably use Kingler as setup fodder to start its sweep, making checks to Grass-types like Emolga and Simisear good partners. Kingler's special bulk is quite subpar, so it appreciates the support of special sponges such as Muk and Meganium.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off cripples the plethora of walls reliant on Eviolite or Leftovers, such as Frillish, Ivysaur, and Meganoium, which Kingler has an easy time forcing in. However, Kingler generally prefers extra coverage that can help it secure KOs, and its poor bulk and longevity harms its potential in a utility role. Toxic can be used to cripple Pokemon that wall Kingler, notably Frillish, though it has limited use against Grass-types, as Ivysaur is immune to poison while Meganium and Leafeon can carry status-curing moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Ivysaur and bulky variants of Meganium and Leafeon aren't 2HKOed by any of Kingler's moves, while they OHKO or 2HKO it back with their Grass-type STAB moves. Meganium and especially Leafeon can use Kingler lacking proper coverage or being Choice-locked as setup fodder.
**Faster special attackers**: Due to its low special bulk, many special attackers that outspeed Kingler, most notably those that can hit it super effectively like Raichu and Simisear, threaten to OHKO it. Others like Grumpig fail to OHKO Kingler, but Kingler's ability to OHKO it back depends on its set. However, these foes must watch out for Kingler boosting its Speed with Choice Scarf or Agility.
**Frillish**: Frillish resists all of Kingler's moves except Rock Slide, which fails to 2HKO it when unboosted, can stay healthy with Recover, and threatens to burn Kingler with Scald or Will-O-Wisp. However, it must be wary of Swords Dance variants, which can KO Frillish after some chip damage at +2.
**Shelgon**: Shelgon resists Crabhammer and takes minimal damage from Kingler's other attacks due to its high physical bulk, letting it wall Kingler and turn it into setup fodder.
**Status**: Burn completely ruins Kingler, as it becomes dead weight without its explosive offensive power. Paralysis makes Kingler easier to overwhelm using slower threats like Lairon and offensive pivot Mienfoo, foes it'd otherwise have an easy time beating one-on-one. Toxic putting Kingler on a timer usually stops sweeping variants from making worthwhile progress.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Crabhammer
move 2: X-Scissor
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Superpower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Kingler's naturally high Attack and Choice Scarf-boosted Speed make it an effective revenge killer. Crabhammer is a spammable STAB move that 2HKOes most neutral targets, such as pivot Mienfoo and Arbok through Intimidate. X-Scissor targets the Grass-types that resist Crabhammer, 2HKOing offensive variants of Meganium and Leafeon and usually 3HKOing defensive variants of both. When boosted by Sheer Force, Rock Slide is effective coverage against Flying-types; its primary target is Pelipper, and it has a chance of 2HKOing defensive variants after Leftovers recovery while falling just shy of OHKOing offensive variants. Rock Slide also always OHKOes Emolga. Superpower lets Kingler OHKO Lairon and Pawniard while also serving as coverage against Ice- and Normal-types, 2HKOing most of them; it notably OHKOes the best Pokemon in the tier, Persian, something Crabhammer falls just short of doing without prior chip damage. Superpower must be used with caution, however, as the drops to Kingler's stats can make it easier to revenge kill.
Choice Scarf Kingler best fits on balance and sometimes offense teams looking for a form of speed control that's difficult to switch into. Many of Kingler's moves just barely miss miss out on OHKO ranges against foes like offensive Pelipper and Glaceon; Stealth Rock support from teammates like Clefairy, Solrock, and Lairon can help bring these targets into KO range. Stealth Rock also puts foes like Persian and Emolga into range of Crabhammer, sometimes easing the need for prediction. Kingler's biggest problem is that it's unable to threaten Frillish in the slightest; switch-ins to it like Clefairy and Meganium are the most common way for Kingler's team to deal with Frillish. Wallbreakers like Raichu and Leafeon and stallbreakers like Walrein and Grumpig are also effective partners for their ability to break through Frillish. Pivots with Knock Off, like Mienfoo, Vullaby, and Persian can serve the dual purpose of removing Frillish's Eviolite and pivoting their offensive teammates in. Shelgon walls Kingler and can use it as setup fodder, making checks to it like Walrein and Lairon necessary partners; the aforementioned Knock Off users can also soften it up by removing its Eviolite. Grass-types like Ivysaur, Meganium, and bulky variants of Leafeon can switch into all of Kingler's attacks with little worry, and offensive variants of Leafeon can notably use Kingler as setup fodder to start its sweep, making checks to Grass-types like Emolga and Simisear good partners. Kingler's special bulk is quite subpar, so it appreciates the support of special sponges such as Muk and Meganium.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Knock Off cripples the plethora of walls reliant on Eviolite or Leftovers, such as Frillish, Ivysaur, and Meganoium, which Kingler has an easy time forcing in. However, Kingler generally prefers extra coverage that can help it secure KOs, and its poor bulk and longevity harms its potential in a utility role. Toxic can be used to cripple Pokemon that wall Kingler, notably Frillish, though it has limited use against Grass-types, as Ivysaur is immune to poison while Meganium and Leafeon can carry status-curing moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Ivysaur and bulky variants of Meganium and Leafeon aren't 2HKOed by any of Kingler's moves, while they OHKO or 2HKO it back with their Grass-type STAB moves. Meganium and especially Leafeon can use Kingler lacking proper coverage or being Choice-locked as setup fodder.
**Faster special attackers**: Due to its low special bulk, many special attackers that outspeed Kingler, most notably those that can hit it super effectively like Raichu and Simisear, threaten to OHKO it. Others like Grumpig fail to OHKO Kingler, but Kingler's ability to OHKO it back depends on its set. However, these foes must watch out for Kingler boosting its Speed with Choice Scarf or Agility.
**Frillish**: Frillish resists all of Kingler's moves except Rock Slide, which fails to 2HKO it when unboosted, can stay healthy with Recover, and threatens to burn Kingler with Scald or Will-O-Wisp. However, it must be wary of Swords Dance variants, which can KO Frillish after some chip damage at +2.
**Shelgon**: Shelgon resists Crabhammer and takes minimal damage from Kingler's other attacks due to its high physical bulk, letting it wall Kingler and turn it into setup fodder.
**Status**: Burn completely ruins Kingler, as it becomes dead weight without its explosive offensive power. Paralysis makes Kingler easier to overwhelm using slower threats like Lairon and offensive pivot Mienfoo, foes it'd otherwise have an easy time beating one-on-one. Toxic putting Kingler on a timer usually stops sweeping variants from making worthwhile progress.
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