Carracosta
[Overview]
- Its impressive Attack and Defense stat let it deal impressive damage and take attacks mildly well.
- Its access to moves such as Shell Smash, Aqua Jet, and Wide Guard make it a sweeper or a nice supporter.
- Its ability, Sturdy, gives it an automatic focus sash, which is very helpful in the VGC.
- Its typing is a double-edged sword. Offensively it provides excellent coverage in the VGC metagame, but defensively its typing leaves it open to many super effective attacks.
Name: Shell Smash Sweeper
Move 1: Shell Smash
Move 2: Waterfall
Move 3: Rock Slide
Move 4: Wide Guard / Aqua Jet
Item: Rock Gem
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
First off, Carracosta needs Shell Smash because that is what the set is all about. Shell Smash gives Carracosta +2 Attack, Special Attack, Speed, and –1 Defense and Special Defense. Waterfall is a nice STAB that hits most Pokemon for neutral or super effective damage. Rock Slide is a key component that can dish out some serious damage with +2 attack, STAB, and a Rock Gem. Since Rock Slide is a Spread attack, it can potentially take out both of the opponents Pokemon. On the last slot you can either go with Wide Guard to help from moves like Rock Slide, Earthquake, Discharge, and Water Spout. You can go with Aqua Jet for priority in order to get a move off before an opponent's Pokemon uses a priority attack on you.
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
Sturdy allows Carracosta to pull off a Shell Smash and get a powerful move off before you faint. Rock Gem is the preferred item so Carracosta can deal more damage with its spread attack, Rock Slide. Life orb is not a good item for Carracosta because it negates the effect of Sturdy. Type resist berries are also not recommended due to the fact that Carracosta should be living a hit from any one Pokemon because of his Sturdy ability. Jolly nature was chosen with 252 speed EVs so it can reach 184 speed, which outspeeds all the genies and ties with Whimsicott and Zebstrika.
Being weak to Grass-, Fighting-, Electric-, and Ground-type attacks is a let down in some ways because Pokemon like Whimsicott, Terrakion, Conkledurr, Scrafty, Thundurus, and Landorus are so popular in this metagame. Luckily for Carracosta, his Water-Rock typing lets him hit five of the sixteen types for super effective damage, so it is almost an equal trade. Because Shell Smash gives Carracosta –1 defense and special defense, he won’t be taking hits as well as he would with normal stats. If used with a partner that can handle his weaknesses, such as a Flying- or a Psychic- Type, he can be used very effectively.
[OTHER OPTIONS]
Carracosta gets moves such as Earthquake and Aqua Tail that could potentially come in handy. Because Carracosta already hits Fire- and Rock-types hard, Earthquake would only be used for Electric-types, and the most common Electric-type Pokemon are also part Flying-type or have Levitate. Aqua Tail could be used over Waterfall if you want some extra damage, but the drop in accuracy and the loss of the chance of flinching are big deterrents.
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
Whimsicott is definitely a big counter because Carracosta does not OHKO it with Rock Slide and Whimsicott can shoot back a powerful Grass Knot or Giga Drain, killing Carracosta if he has already taken damage making Sturdy not activate. Other good counters are Thundurus and Landorus, which can Earthquake and Discharge to easily kill the poor little turtle. The threat of powerful spread attacks is one main reason to use Wide Guard. Trick Room also hinders Shell Smash boosts, so you must plan accordingly to counter such teams. Even though the genies are somewhat of a counter, they are also weak to Carracosta if he gets a Shell Smash up, so he really has an even playing field in this metagame.
*Adding another set, will be up shortly*
