[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Trick
move 4: Energy Ball / Fire Blast / Overheat
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Lampent's potent STAB combination, access to Trick, and just good enough Special Attack and Speed allow it to don a Choice Scarf. Lampent can differentiate itself as a Choice Scarf user from Grumpig thanks to a largely superior STAB combination and its unique defensive profile while having significantly better bulk than Gastly, which allows it to take stray resisted attacks without fearing itself being KOed. With the Speed boost, Lampent is able to outrun the entire tier unboosted, aside from Persian that often cannot harm Lampent, as well as some common setup sweepers after a boost such as Adamant Whiscash and Shelgon. Flamethrower and Shadow Ball are the requisite STAB attacks, which are notable for their excellent synergistic coverage and the selling points of this set compared to Choice Scarf Mienfoo, which shares a similar Speed tier and generally more desirable traits as a Choice Scarf user. STAB Flamethrower hits a huge part of the tier at least neutrally while seriously threatening staples like Leafeon and Wormadam-S, while STAB Shadow Ball also has strong neutral coverage and dispatches Pokemon that resist Flamethrower such as Frillish, Solrock, and Grumpig. Trick allows Lampent to unload its item onto a foe, hampering setup sweepers with a detrimental item and ruining walls when the Choice Scarf is no longer needed. The most common final move is Energy Ball, which allows Lampent to directly dispatch a boosted Whiscash regardless of HP as well as more significantly damage Staryu and Walrein. If said Water-types are no concern, Fire Blast and Overheat are good pairings for Flamethrower when higher damage is necessary, such as potentially OHKOing Persian after Stealth Rock. A Timid nature is necessary to outrun Emolga, Simisear, Raichu, and boosted Adamant Whiscash. Flash Fire is a much more consistent ability than Flame Body, forcing Simisear to reconsider using its STAB moves.
Choice Scarf Lampent fits on exclusively offensive teams that appreciate its powerful STAB combination and immunity to Persian and Mienfoo's STAB moves. However, Lampent's Speed tier for a Choice Scarf user is the slowest in the tier, necessitating backup speed control such as Pawniard, Persian, Muk, or even an additional Choice Scarf user such as Grumpig or Mienfoo. Lampent is quite difficult to switch into, as the boost to its Speed allows it to 2HKO regular checks such as Staryu and Walrein after Stealth Rock, so it is an excellent lure to hamper Clefairy and Vullaby with Trick. Teammates such as Calm Mind Grumpig, Swords Dance Leafeon or Meganium, Arbok, and Agility Kingler can break open games once these targets are crippled by Choice Scarf. Besides the previously mentioned specific immunities, Lampent is a very poor switch-in to just about everything else. Offensive Pokemon with important defensive profiles such as Muk, Shelgon, Lairon, and the previously mentioned Grumpig are key partners. Good switch-ins to Water-types, such as Meganium and Clefairy, are great partners in order to lessen Lampent's struggle with Staryu, Whiscash, and Pelipper.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flamethrower
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Trick
move 4: Energy Ball / Fire Blast / Overheat
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Lampent's potent STAB combination, access to Trick, and just good enough Special Attack and Speed allow it to don a Choice Scarf. Lampent can differentiate itself as a Choice Scarf user from Grumpig thanks to a largely superior STAB combination and its unique defensive profile while having significantly better bulk than Gastly, which allows it to take stray resisted attacks without fearing itself being KOed. With the Speed boost, Lampent is able to outrun the entire tier unboosted, aside from Persian that often cannot harm Lampent, as well as some common setup sweepers after a boost such as Adamant Whiscash and Shelgon. Flamethrower and Shadow Ball are the requisite STAB attacks, which are notable for their excellent synergistic coverage and the selling points of this set compared to Choice Scarf Mienfoo, which shares a similar Speed tier and generally more desirable traits as a Choice Scarf user. STAB Flamethrower hits a huge part of the tier at least neutrally while seriously threatening staples like Leafeon and Wormadam-S, while STAB Shadow Ball also has strong neutral coverage and dispatches Pokemon that resist Flamethrower such as Frillish, Solrock, and Grumpig. Trick allows Lampent to unload its item onto a foe, hampering setup sweepers with a detrimental item and ruining walls when the Choice Scarf is no longer needed. The most common final move is Energy Ball, which allows Lampent to directly dispatch a boosted Whiscash regardless of HP as well as more significantly damage Staryu and Walrein. If said Water-types are no concern, Fire Blast and Overheat are good pairings for Flamethrower when higher damage is necessary, such as potentially OHKOing Persian after Stealth Rock. A Timid nature is necessary to outrun Emolga, Simisear, Raichu, and boosted Adamant Whiscash. Flash Fire is a much more consistent ability than Flame Body, forcing Simisear to reconsider using its STAB moves.
Choice Scarf Lampent fits on exclusively offensive teams that appreciate its powerful STAB combination and immunity to Persian and Mienfoo's STAB moves. However, Lampent's Speed tier for a Choice Scarf user is the slowest in the tier, necessitating backup speed control such as Pawniard, Persian, Muk, or even an additional Choice Scarf user such as Grumpig or Mienfoo. Lampent is quite difficult to switch into, as the boost to its Speed allows it to 2HKO regular checks such as Staryu and Walrein after Stealth Rock, so it is an excellent lure to hamper Clefairy and Vullaby with Trick. Teammates such as Calm Mind Grumpig, Swords Dance Leafeon or Meganium, Arbok, and Agility Kingler can break open games once these targets are crippled by Choice Scarf. Besides the previously mentioned specific immunities, Lampent is a very poor switch-in to just about everything else. Offensive Pokemon with important defensive profiles such as Muk, Shelgon, Lairon, and the previously mentioned Grumpig are key partners. Good switch-ins to Water-types, such as Meganium and Clefairy, are great partners in order to lessen Lampent's struggle with Staryu, Whiscash, and Pelipper.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
