I apologize that this took me so long; I've had a hellish time with procrastination at school.
[Overview]
<p>Cacturne is a Pokemon riddled with great strengths and debilitating weaknesses. Cacturne is one of the few Pokemon in NU able to use Spikes, which gives it a high inherent value. Additionally, Cacturne is blessed with Sucker Punch, high base 115 Attack, and the perfect move to boost it with. However, even with these huge advantages, Cacturne is crippled by poor Speed and defenses as well as a typing rife with weaknesses. Regardless, Cacturne is a usable Pokemon and definitely one that can be fit onto a team with some effort.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Spiker
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Substitute / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 28 Def / 252 Atk / 28 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Spikes is one of the best moves that a Pokemon can have access to in NU - in a tier where users of Rapid Spin are largely terrible, entry hazards are not hard to set up. Sucker Punch is the move that gives Cacturne offensive presence, allowing it to bypass its poor Speed and hit its opponent hard. Seed Bomb is Cacturne's secondary STAB and allows it to hit Pokemon like Regirock and Bastiodon harder than it can with Sucker Punch. The last slot houses either Substitute, which protects Cacturne from status and eases prediction, or Swords Dance, which boosts Cacturne's Attack to a colossal level and turns Sucker Punch into a very powerful weapon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs maximize Attack; the remaining EVs are spread around a bit for the most efficient bulk. A spread of 188 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Def / 20 SpD / 28 Spe can be used to ensure that Cacturne outspeeds any Wartortle that tries to use Rapid Spin against it at the cost of a negligible amount of bulk. Leftovers gives Cacturne survivability and provides it with a bit of recovery to keep it going. Drain Punch can be used over Seed Bomb, but requires the use of Sand Veil. Leech Seed can go in the last slot to regain more health. Cacturne pairs well with Misdreavus, which can be used to ensure that its Spikes are not spun away; Misdreavus also takes Fighting-type moves aimed at Cacturne with ease. Otherwise, Pokemon such as Probopass and Regirock are also good teammates due to their high Defense, resistance to Flying-type moves that Cacturne attracts, and ability to use Stealth Rock.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>An offensive set with Life Orb is certainly viable, especially on a Pokemon with high Attack such as Cacturne. With a Swords Dance boost, nothing can take a Sucker Punch but the Pokemon that resist it. A special set catches opponents off guard and even has the option to run Nasty Plot for boosting, but loses the wonder of Sucker Punch. Sets with choice items and Switcheroo are viable, but force Cacturne to forgo Sucker Punch - the move is useless for sets with Choice Specs and risky to use with Choice Band. Encore is an interesting move that can be abused to give Cacturne opportunities to set up Spikes or Swords Dances. Toxic puts a death timer on everything that it touches and slowly breaks down walls usupported by clerics. SubPunch is not unreasonable, but Cacturne lacks the speed to abuse it. Destiny Bond gives Cacturne a chance to remove something that it cannot by itself.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>If a Pokemon can outspeed Cacturne, OHKO, and take little from Sucker Punch, it is able to counter Cacturne. Quiver Dance users are the most threatening - if Cacturne does not guess when they attack, they can freely set up as much as they desire. Sawk outspeeds and OHKOes, but is unable to counter +2 Cacturne after its health drops below 60%. Throh and Gurdurr are nearly impervious to Cacturne's attempts at damage and have little trouble KOing it. Many Pokemon that can stop Cacturne when at full health become shakier and shakier checks once Cacturne starts to gain Swords Dance boosts or they lose health - for example, although Magmortar can take a Sucker Punch at full health, it cannot endure one when Cacturne is at +2. In general, it is hard to counter Cacturne due to its ability to lay Spikes, which are difficult to remove from the field.</p>
[Overview]
<p>Cacturne is a Pokemon riddled with great strengths and debilitating weaknesses. Cacturne is one of the few Pokemon in NU able to use Spikes, which gives it a high inherent value. Additionally, Cacturne is blessed with Sucker Punch, high base 115 Attack, and the perfect move to boost it with. However, even with these huge advantages, Cacturne is crippled by poor Speed and defenses as well as a typing rife with weaknesses. Regardless, Cacturne is a usable Pokemon and definitely one that can be fit onto a team with some effort.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Spiker
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Sucker Punch
move 3: Seed Bomb
move 4: Substitute / Swords Dance
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Adamant
evs: 200 HP / 28 Def / 252 Atk / 28 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Spikes is one of the best moves that a Pokemon can have access to in NU - in a tier where users of Rapid Spin are largely terrible, entry hazards are not hard to set up. Sucker Punch is the move that gives Cacturne offensive presence, allowing it to bypass its poor Speed and hit its opponent hard. Seed Bomb is Cacturne's secondary STAB and allows it to hit Pokemon like Regirock and Bastiodon harder than it can with Sucker Punch. The last slot houses either Substitute, which protects Cacturne from status and eases prediction, or Swords Dance, which boosts Cacturne's Attack to a colossal level and turns Sucker Punch into a very powerful weapon.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs maximize Attack; the remaining EVs are spread around a bit for the most efficient bulk. A spread of 188 HP / 252 Atk / 20 Def / 20 SpD / 28 Spe can be used to ensure that Cacturne outspeeds any Wartortle that tries to use Rapid Spin against it at the cost of a negligible amount of bulk. Leftovers gives Cacturne survivability and provides it with a bit of recovery to keep it going. Drain Punch can be used over Seed Bomb, but requires the use of Sand Veil. Leech Seed can go in the last slot to regain more health. Cacturne pairs well with Misdreavus, which can be used to ensure that its Spikes are not spun away; Misdreavus also takes Fighting-type moves aimed at Cacturne with ease. Otherwise, Pokemon such as Probopass and Regirock are also good teammates due to their high Defense, resistance to Flying-type moves that Cacturne attracts, and ability to use Stealth Rock.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>An offensive set with Life Orb is certainly viable, especially on a Pokemon with high Attack such as Cacturne. With a Swords Dance boost, nothing can take a Sucker Punch but the Pokemon that resist it. A special set catches opponents off guard and even has the option to run Nasty Plot for boosting, but loses the wonder of Sucker Punch. Sets with choice items and Switcheroo are viable, but force Cacturne to forgo Sucker Punch - the move is useless for sets with Choice Specs and risky to use with Choice Band. Encore is an interesting move that can be abused to give Cacturne opportunities to set up Spikes or Swords Dances. Toxic puts a death timer on everything that it touches and slowly breaks down walls usupported by clerics. SubPunch is not unreasonable, but Cacturne lacks the speed to abuse it. Destiny Bond gives Cacturne a chance to remove something that it cannot by itself.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>If a Pokemon can outspeed Cacturne, OHKO, and take little from Sucker Punch, it is able to counter Cacturne. Quiver Dance users are the most threatening - if Cacturne does not guess when they attack, they can freely set up as much as they desire. Sawk outspeeds and OHKOes, but is unable to counter +2 Cacturne after its health drops below 60%. Throh and Gurdurr are nearly impervious to Cacturne's attempts at damage and have little trouble KOing it. Many Pokemon that can stop Cacturne when at full health become shakier and shakier checks once Cacturne starts to gain Swords Dance boosts or they lose health - for example, although Magmortar can take a Sucker Punch at full health, it cannot endure one when Cacturne is at +2. In general, it is hard to counter Cacturne due to its ability to lay Spikes, which are difficult to remove from the field.</p>
