[OVERVIEW]
Dunsparce is one of NFE's sturdiest walls and win conditions, boasting a wide array of utility moves and coverage. Serene Grace-enhanced attacks discourage incoming Normal resists like Drakloak and Tinkatuff from freely setting up on it. Dunsparce's bulk enables it to set up on common staples like Piloswine and Gabite, and each of its setup sets are effective in their own right: Coil sets outlast physical attackers like Piloswine and Fraxure, while Calm Mind sets can frustrate special attackers like Frogadier and Duosion. Alternatively, it can be an excellent Stealth Rock setter using its defensive prowess and movepool. However, Dunsparce can be quite passive without boosts and is very vulnerable to residual damage; status and hazards compromise its walling capabilities and make it much easier to check. Bulky walls like Tinkatuff and Quaxwell can take advantage of its low offensive prowess via Encore to lock it into exploitable moves.
[SET]
Calm Mind (Dunsparce) @ Eviolite
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Calm Mind
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power / Thunderbolt
- Roost
[SET COMMENTS]
After a Calm Mind boost, Dunsparce can more easily take on Choice Specs threats like Frogadier and Girafarig. Ice Beam threatens Grass-types like Ivysaur, Servine, and Thwackey. Earth Power can be used to more easily take on Steel-types like Tinkatuff and Hisuian Sliggoo, as well as Naclstack, though Thunderbolt can be used to hit Water-types like Wartortle and Quaxwell.
Even with Earth Power, Steel-types like Tinkatuff and Hisuian Sliggoo can wall it and wear Dunsparce down with utility or Acid Spray, respectively. Fire-types like Monferno and Pignite can threaten them out with their STAB moves while also making progress with Knock Off and U-turn against potential switch-ins. Walls like Koffing and Quaxwell are difficult to take down even with boosts, so wallbreakers like Choice Specs Girafarig and Thwackey can deal with them. Fighting-types like Monferno and Pignite threaten it with their STAB moves, so checks to them like Koffing, Quaxwell, and Gabite are appreciated. Knock Off users like Clefairy and Thwackey can jeopardize Dunsparce's sweeping attempts, so Knock Off absorbers like Koffing and Tinkatuff are helpful to preserve its bulk. Dunsparce is especially vulnerable to hazards, so hazard removers like Vullaby and Quaxwell are helpful to prevent Dunsparce from being worn down by residual damage. Wallbreakers like Fraxure and Pignite can facilitate Dunsparce's sweeping attempts late-game by breaking down Steel-types and opposing walls.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rattled can be used on any of its sets to more easily take on Knock Off and U-turn users like Vullaby and Thwackey, though losing Serene Grace makes it easier for checks to switch into it. Toxic is plausible for breaking down bulky threats like Quaxwell and Quilladin, though Poison-types and Poison-immune threats are commonplace in the metagame, not to mention it being difficult to give up a coverage choice.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type coverage**: Barring boosts and unlucky paralysis rolls, common Fighting-types like Monferno and Pignite are some of Dunsparce's worst matchups, taking most of its attacks with ease and retaliating with Knock Off or powerful STAB moves. While Hakamo-O is more niche, it can use defensive sets to heal up paralysis and phaze Dunsparce away with Dragon Tail, or can outlast it in the setup war with offensive sets. While not a Fighting-type itself, Raboot can use Libero-boosted coverage and remain similarly threatening.
**Steel-Types**: While they similarly dislike paralysis themselves, Steel-types like Tinkatuff and Hisuian Sliggoo can wear Dunsparce down with their utility moves: the former's access to Thunder Wave and Encore disrupts sweeping attempts while the latter's Acid Spray weakens Dunsparce's special bulk and makes it much easier to defeat. Pawniard can set up on utility and Coil sets but falters against Calm Mind variants.
**Residual Damage**: Being quite passive without boosts and being weak to all entry hazards, Dunsparce's walling capabilities falter if it is afflicted with any other status. Toxic and burns force it to use Roost more often for longevity, while paralysis frustrates its sweeping capabilities.
**Item Disruption**: Dunsparce's defensive prowess becomes much worse without its Eviolite, so Knock Off users like Tinkatuff, Thwackey, and Ivysaur can force it out early-game. Trick or Switcheroo users like Girafarig, Frogadier, and Lampent can give Dunsparce Choice items that can make it even easier to wall.
**Naclstack**: While relatively uncommon, Naclstack is immune to status conditions, and can whittle Dunsparce down with Salt Cure or even use Dunsparce as setup fodder with Iron Defense + Body Press.
**Ghost-types**: Despite Lampent's frailty, it can completely wall Dunsparce's Coil and Utility sets if certain coverage is not elected. While similarly uncommon, Dusclops can easily tank any of Dunsparce's attacks and remove potential boosts with Haze, only fearing the rare Toxic. However, Dusclops is unable to damage Dunsparce back aside from Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
