[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Flamethrower / Fire Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Dark / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Focus Blast
item: Life Orb / Salac Berry
ability: Gluttony
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Simisear's blistering fast Speed, wide movepool, and access to Nasty Plot make it a staple wallbreaker and sweeper in ZU. At +2, Flamethrower is a brutally powerful attack that OHKOes nearly every foe that does not resist Fire; Fire Blast is an alternative that has less PP and accuracy, but it turns some ranges into guaranteed OHKOs, like Vullaby at +2 when holding a Life Orb. The sheer power of +2 Life Orb-boosted Fire Blast can also reliably OHKO certain foes that resist Fire, like opposing Simisear, easing prediction in some scenarios. Hidden Power Dark targets Psychic- and Ghost-types that resist Fire, namely Grumpig, Lampent, and Frillish. After a Nasty Plot boost, stallbreaker Lampent and offensive Grumpig are OHKOed when Simisear is holding a Life Orb. Additionally, regardless of what Simisear holds, after boosting, all other Lampent sets are OHKOed and other Grumpig sets and Frillish are 2HKOed. Hidden Power Grass is an alternative, letting Simisear retain coverage against Frillish while also targeting other Water-types like Staryu. It's also Simisear's best option against Walrein if it forgoes Focus Blast, 2HKOing it at +2, and it is a perfectly accurate way to OHKO Graveler unboosted. Focus Blast is primarily for bulky Normal-types, with its unboosted non-Life Orb version 3HKOing specially defensive Clefairy and 2HKOing physically defensive Clefairy and Slaking. It also 3HKOes Vibrava and bulky variants of Shelgon, 2HKOes Walrein and offensive variants of Shelgon, and OHKOes Graveler. Simisear's choice of item is particularly important here, because when it's holding a Life Orb, specially defensive Clefairy, Vibrava, and offensive Shelgon variants are always OHKOed after a Nasty Plot boost, while bulky variants of Shelgon become a range to KO. While the loss of Focus Blast deprives Simisear of notable coverage, Substitute is an alternative. The guard against status and some revenge killers is always welcome, and Simisear takes advantage of Substitute notably well due to how easily it forces targets to switch out. While Life Orb is crucial for landing many KOs, Salac Berry is an alternative, letting Simisear act as a cleaner against weakened teams. It's particularly effective in this role, since very few Choice Scarf users can outspeed a Simisear at +1 Speed. Salac Berry should be used in conjunction with Substitute, as due to its frailty, Simisear needs a safe way to lower its HP. 4 HP EVs should also be used, so Simisear can reach pinch Berry range after two Substitutes instead of three. Gluttony is the only legal ability Simisear can use when running Nasty Plot, though it can help activate Simisear's Salac Berry earlier.
While most teams can appreciate Simisear's sheer wallbreaking and sweeping prowess, it should traditionally be found on offense teams. Simisear is used for its ability to overwhelm traditional special walls thanks to its coverage and overwhelming power, while its exceptional Speed limits what can revenge kill it, making it fare well against other speedy offensive and defensive foes alike. On all team styles, Simisear struggles to switch in given its frailty, so pivots like Mienfoo and Persian can help bring it on the field safely. On offense teams, particularly hyper offense, traditional setup sweepers like Whiscash and Arbok are always welcome, as they can weaken each other's checks like Frillish, opening a path for their partner to sweep. These teams, especially if Simisear is intended to be used as a cleaner, always need some protection against priority users, notably the omnipresent Persian, so physically bulky partners that can take advantage of them such as Rock Polish Lairon are necessary. Entry hazards, namely Stealth Rock, are useful for helping Simisear wear down the Pokemon it falls just shy of OHKOing, like Frillish after Nasty Plot and Walrein unboosted with Life Orb. They are particularly important if Simisear chooses to forgo Life Orb or Fire Blast. Stallbreakers like Walrein and Grumpig can work well against passive walls that give Simisear trouble like Frillish. Dual screens support from Mr. Mime can help Simisear set up Nasty Plot more consistently. Some balance teams can also make use of Simisear, as the reliable defensive backbone and entry hazard support from partners like Clefairy and Solrock is always welcome, and it notably makes Simisear much less susceptible to revenge killers. In return, Simisear provides the offensive power its partners lack. On all team styles, but particularly more balanced ones where Simisear may have to switch in multiple times, Stealth Rock is a major problem. Offense teams, notably hyper offense, can make use of Taunt leads like Persian and Mr. Mime to deny Stealth Rock. More defensive teams can instead opt for a spinner like Staryu.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nasty Plot Simisear can make use of certain Gems to hit some KO ranges while not cutting into its longevity like Life Orb does. Grass Gem and Nasty Plot-boosted Hidden Power Grass has a 50% chance to OHKO Frillish, and it will always OHKO Walrein. An unboosted Fighting Gem-boosted Focus Blast will always OHKO 3 Attacks Walrein and Slaking, and at +2 it will always OHKO specially defensive Clefairy. Simisear has physical options that can deal with some of its troublesome matchups. Notably, Crunch hits Grumpig like none of Simisear's other moves can, while Superpower is a strong option to target specially defensive Normal-types and retain coverage against Rock-types. While Superpower hits some foes for less damage than Focus Blast, it also has perfect accuracy. However, Simisear lacks a physical Fire-type attack stronger than Fire Punch, so it's usually forced to go mixed, cutting down on its power. Work Up is an option to remedy this, as it boosts both of Simisear's attacking stats, letting it hit hard physically and specially. However, most of the time, teams prefer Simisear's raw unboosted power or Nasty Plot, as Simisear's physical moves are generally inferior to its special options outside of the few aforementioned cases. Grass Knot targets Water- and Rock-types while not restricting Simisear's use of Hidden Power, though it does low damage to some prominent Water-types like Frillish and Staryu. Knock Off, Taunt, Toxic, and Yawn are strong utility options that provide aid against defensive teams, though Simisear's poor bulk means it's threatened even by weak walls, and its Stealth Rock weakness means it prefers more immediately threatening options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Losing a quarter of its health leaves Simisear quickly worn down and put into the KO range of its foes. Variants holding Life Orb lose HP especially quickly, while Choice item variants suffer greatly due to frequently switching in and out.
**Faster Foes**: While only three Pokemon are faster than Simisear, Persian, Emolga, and Lopunny can easily revenge kill it. Choice Scarf users like Slaking and Kingler also find little difficulty in KOing Simisear. However, these Pokemon struggle to switch into Simisear, and they must be wary of Choice Scarf, Substitute, and Salac Berry variants.
**Priority**: While they sometimes lose the one-on-one, priority users like Arbok can pick off a weakened Simisear. Fake Out users, notably Persian, are especially problematic, as they can repeatedly switch in to wear down Simisear. Pikachu and Pawniard also deserve a special mention, as their priority moves can 2HKO it.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Walrein easily OHKO Simisear, while it can struggle to threaten them back if it lacks the right coverage. However, these foes must be wary of Choice Specs- and Nasty Plot-boosted Hidden Power Grass and Focus Blast. Frillish deserves a special mention, as while it can't OHKO Simisear, it takes minimal damage from most of its attacks, only fearing Hidden Power Grass and Dark, which will still never OHKO even when boosted by Nasty Plot and Life Orb.
**Special Sponges**: Munchlax's combination of titanic bulk and Thick Fat lets it wall Simisear, with even a Choice Specs-boosted Focus Blast failing to 2HKO. Grumpig similarly fears little from Simisear, though it must watch out for Hidden Power Dark, which will let Simisear win the one-on-one if Grumpig is weakened or if Simisear can set up while remaning at full health. Specially defensive Clefairy takes most of Simisear's attacks with ease, though Life Orb-boosted Focus Blast, Life Orb- and Blaze-boosted Fire Blast, and Choice Specs- and Blaze-boosted Flamethrower will 2HKO it. Other special sponges neutral to Fire like Muk can win the one-on-one against most Simisear variants, though they usually cannot switch into its Fire-type STAB moves, and they can sometimes be OHKOed by Nasty Plot- or Choice Specs-boosted attacks, especially when Blaze is active.
**Dragon-types**: Simisear lacking or locked into an attack that isn't Focus Blast are walled by Vibrava and Shelgon; the former has reliable recovery in Roost, while the latter can set up with Dragon Dance. However, Focus Blast can 2HKO or even OHKO the pair depending on Simisear's item, whether it has set up Nasty Plot, and the Dragon-type's set.
**Status**: Paralysis from spreaders like Clefairy and Grumpig ruins Simisear, as it's then easily overwhelmed due to its poor bulk. Toxic from foes like Frillish is very annoying for Simisear, as its damage combined with Stealth Rock and Life Orb recoil can wear Simisear down incredibly fast.
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Flamethrower / Fire Blast
move 3: Hidden Power Dark / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Substitute / Focus Blast
item: Life Orb / Salac Berry
ability: Gluttony
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Simisear's blistering fast Speed, wide movepool, and access to Nasty Plot make it a staple wallbreaker and sweeper in ZU. At +2, Flamethrower is a brutally powerful attack that OHKOes nearly every foe that does not resist Fire; Fire Blast is an alternative that has less PP and accuracy, but it turns some ranges into guaranteed OHKOs, like Vullaby at +2 when holding a Life Orb. The sheer power of +2 Life Orb-boosted Fire Blast can also reliably OHKO certain foes that resist Fire, like opposing Simisear, easing prediction in some scenarios. Hidden Power Dark targets Psychic- and Ghost-types that resist Fire, namely Grumpig, Lampent, and Frillish. After a Nasty Plot boost, stallbreaker Lampent and offensive Grumpig are OHKOed when Simisear is holding a Life Orb. Additionally, regardless of what Simisear holds, after boosting, all other Lampent sets are OHKOed and other Grumpig sets and Frillish are 2HKOed. Hidden Power Grass is an alternative, letting Simisear retain coverage against Frillish while also targeting other Water-types like Staryu. It's also Simisear's best option against Walrein if it forgoes Focus Blast, 2HKOing it at +2, and it is a perfectly accurate way to OHKO Graveler unboosted. Focus Blast is primarily for bulky Normal-types, with its unboosted non-Life Orb version 3HKOing specially defensive Clefairy and 2HKOing physically defensive Clefairy and Slaking. It also 3HKOes Vibrava and bulky variants of Shelgon, 2HKOes Walrein and offensive variants of Shelgon, and OHKOes Graveler. Simisear's choice of item is particularly important here, because when it's holding a Life Orb, specially defensive Clefairy, Vibrava, and offensive Shelgon variants are always OHKOed after a Nasty Plot boost, while bulky variants of Shelgon become a range to KO. While the loss of Focus Blast deprives Simisear of notable coverage, Substitute is an alternative. The guard against status and some revenge killers is always welcome, and Simisear takes advantage of Substitute notably well due to how easily it forces targets to switch out. While Life Orb is crucial for landing many KOs, Salac Berry is an alternative, letting Simisear act as a cleaner against weakened teams. It's particularly effective in this role, since very few Choice Scarf users can outspeed a Simisear at +1 Speed. Salac Berry should be used in conjunction with Substitute, as due to its frailty, Simisear needs a safe way to lower its HP. 4 HP EVs should also be used, so Simisear can reach pinch Berry range after two Substitutes instead of three. Gluttony is the only legal ability Simisear can use when running Nasty Plot, though it can help activate Simisear's Salac Berry earlier.
While most teams can appreciate Simisear's sheer wallbreaking and sweeping prowess, it should traditionally be found on offense teams. Simisear is used for its ability to overwhelm traditional special walls thanks to its coverage and overwhelming power, while its exceptional Speed limits what can revenge kill it, making it fare well against other speedy offensive and defensive foes alike. On all team styles, Simisear struggles to switch in given its frailty, so pivots like Mienfoo and Persian can help bring it on the field safely. On offense teams, particularly hyper offense, traditional setup sweepers like Whiscash and Arbok are always welcome, as they can weaken each other's checks like Frillish, opening a path for their partner to sweep. These teams, especially if Simisear is intended to be used as a cleaner, always need some protection against priority users, notably the omnipresent Persian, so physically bulky partners that can take advantage of them such as Rock Polish Lairon are necessary. Entry hazards, namely Stealth Rock, are useful for helping Simisear wear down the Pokemon it falls just shy of OHKOing, like Frillish after Nasty Plot and Walrein unboosted with Life Orb. They are particularly important if Simisear chooses to forgo Life Orb or Fire Blast. Stallbreakers like Walrein and Grumpig can work well against passive walls that give Simisear trouble like Frillish. Dual screens support from Mr. Mime can help Simisear set up Nasty Plot more consistently. Some balance teams can also make use of Simisear, as the reliable defensive backbone and entry hazard support from partners like Clefairy and Solrock is always welcome, and it notably makes Simisear much less susceptible to revenge killers. In return, Simisear provides the offensive power its partners lack. On all team styles, but particularly more balanced ones where Simisear may have to switch in multiple times, Stealth Rock is a major problem. Offense teams, notably hyper offense, can make use of Taunt leads like Persian and Mr. Mime to deny Stealth Rock. More defensive teams can instead opt for a spinner like Staryu.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/monai.482455/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/solarbeam.470115/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Nasty Plot Simisear can make use of certain Gems to hit some KO ranges while not cutting into its longevity like Life Orb does. Grass Gem and Nasty Plot-boosted Hidden Power Grass has a 50% chance to OHKO Frillish, and it will always OHKO Walrein. An unboosted Fighting Gem-boosted Focus Blast will always OHKO 3 Attacks Walrein and Slaking, and at +2 it will always OHKO specially defensive Clefairy. Simisear has physical options that can deal with some of its troublesome matchups. Notably, Crunch hits Grumpig like none of Simisear's other moves can, while Superpower is a strong option to target specially defensive Normal-types and retain coverage against Rock-types. While Superpower hits some foes for less damage than Focus Blast, it also has perfect accuracy. However, Simisear lacks a physical Fire-type attack stronger than Fire Punch, so it's usually forced to go mixed, cutting down on its power. Work Up is an option to remedy this, as it boosts both of Simisear's attacking stats, letting it hit hard physically and specially. However, most of the time, teams prefer Simisear's raw unboosted power or Nasty Plot, as Simisear's physical moves are generally inferior to its special options outside of the few aforementioned cases. Grass Knot targets Water- and Rock-types while not restricting Simisear's use of Hidden Power, though it does low damage to some prominent Water-types like Frillish and Staryu. Knock Off, Taunt, Toxic, and Yawn are strong utility options that provide aid against defensive teams, though Simisear's poor bulk means it's threatened even by weak walls, and its Stealth Rock weakness means it prefers more immediately threatening options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Stealth Rock**: Losing a quarter of its health leaves Simisear quickly worn down and put into the KO range of its foes. Variants holding Life Orb lose HP especially quickly, while Choice item variants suffer greatly due to frequently switching in and out.
**Faster Foes**: While only three Pokemon are faster than Simisear, Persian, Emolga, and Lopunny can easily revenge kill it. Choice Scarf users like Slaking and Kingler also find little difficulty in KOing Simisear. However, these Pokemon struggle to switch into Simisear, and they must be wary of Choice Scarf, Substitute, and Salac Berry variants.
**Priority**: While they sometimes lose the one-on-one, priority users like Arbok can pick off a weakened Simisear. Fake Out users, notably Persian, are especially problematic, as they can repeatedly switch in to wear down Simisear. Pikachu and Pawniard also deserve a special mention, as their priority moves can 2HKO it.
**Water-types**: Water-types like Walrein easily OHKO Simisear, while it can struggle to threaten them back if it lacks the right coverage. However, these foes must be wary of Choice Specs- and Nasty Plot-boosted Hidden Power Grass and Focus Blast. Frillish deserves a special mention, as while it can't OHKO Simisear, it takes minimal damage from most of its attacks, only fearing Hidden Power Grass and Dark, which will still never OHKO even when boosted by Nasty Plot and Life Orb.
**Special Sponges**: Munchlax's combination of titanic bulk and Thick Fat lets it wall Simisear, with even a Choice Specs-boosted Focus Blast failing to 2HKO. Grumpig similarly fears little from Simisear, though it must watch out for Hidden Power Dark, which will let Simisear win the one-on-one if Grumpig is weakened or if Simisear can set up while remaning at full health. Specially defensive Clefairy takes most of Simisear's attacks with ease, though Life Orb-boosted Focus Blast, Life Orb- and Blaze-boosted Fire Blast, and Choice Specs- and Blaze-boosted Flamethrower will 2HKO it. Other special sponges neutral to Fire like Muk can win the one-on-one against most Simisear variants, though they usually cannot switch into its Fire-type STAB moves, and they can sometimes be OHKOed by Nasty Plot- or Choice Specs-boosted attacks, especially when Blaze is active.
**Dragon-types**: Simisear lacking or locked into an attack that isn't Focus Blast are walled by Vibrava and Shelgon; the former has reliable recovery in Roost, while the latter can set up with Dragon Dance. However, Focus Blast can 2HKO or even OHKO the pair depending on Simisear's item, whether it has set up Nasty Plot, and the Dragon-type's set.
**Status**: Paralysis from spreaders like Clefairy and Grumpig ruins Simisear, as it's then easily overwhelmed due to its poor bulk. Toxic from foes like Frillish is very annoying for Simisear, as its damage combined with Stealth Rock and Life Orb recoil can wear Simisear down incredibly fast.
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