[SET]
Name: Wall Cleric
move 1: Aromatherapy
move 2: Soft-Boiled
move 3: Toxic / Seismic Toss
move 4: Confide
item: Eviolite
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Calm
evs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Atk
[SET COMMENTS]
With only one weakness and high Eviolite-boosted special bulk, Chansey is a staple on stall teams, capable of checking the likes of Xerneas, non-Choice Specs Kyogre, and offensive Eternatus. Its amazing ability in Natural Cure also allows it to act as a status absorber for its team. Aromatherapy allows Chansey to act as a cleric, and its bulk gives it many chances to use this move in longer games. Toxic or Seismic Toss is used to inflict damage; Toxic cripples Yveltal and annoys Kyogre lacking Rest, while Seismic Toss can chip Zacian-C switch-ins, break Geomancy Xerneas’s Substitute, and let Chansey stay in against Taunt Yveltal. Confide is used to check Calm Mind Kyogre and Xerneas. Investment in Special Defense helps Chansey stomach hits from Xerneas and Kyogre, and Defense investment is imperative for Aromatherapy, giving Chansey far more chances to use it on weaker physical Pokemon like Ho-Oh and Zygarde-C.
Chansey is best used on stall and bulky balance teams, as it is extremely passive but can reliably counter opposing Xerneas, offensive Eternatus, and non-Choice Specs Kyogre. Having solid defensive partners helps to scout opposing Pokemon’s movesets, especially for Knock Off, allowing it to come in more safely. In stall teams, Chansey should be paired with physically bulky Pokemon, such as Quagsire and Giratina; Quagsire greatly appreciates Aromatherapy and can switch into most physical setup sweepers, as well as Zacian-C, and Giratina is especially useful as a partner due to Pressure stifling entry hazard setters such as Ferrothorn. On balance teams, Necrozma-DM is an excellent partner due to being an easy to fit check to most physical attackers; Chansey, in return, checks most special attackers. Rest users, such as Zygarde-C and bulky Kyogre, greatly benefit from Aromatherapy. As Chansey switches often, it gets chipped by hazards, which, with time, can hinder its ability to aid its teammates and heal; Defoggers such as Ho-Oh and Giratina are greatly appreciated.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Chansey can run a wide array of moves due to its large support movepool. Chansey's phenomenal HP makes Wish in the first or third moveslot very effective. However, forgoing Aromatherapy sacrifices its role as a cleric, and not using Toxic or Seismic Toss leaves Chansey with absolutely no way to damage foes. Stealth Rock can also be used, as it can allow teammates like Necrozma-DM to run otherwise unfeasible sets like defensive Dragon Dance. If Chansey’s teammates can reliably keep Xerneas at bay, Teleport can be used over Confide; this allows it to pivot, putting the user in an advantageous position against switch-ins. However, it is usually not worth it because Chansey all but loses its niche as a strong Xerneas check, as it can't stop Geomancy from eventually overpowering it. Thunder Wave is a fringe option over Toxic, as it affects Chansey’s most prominent switch-ins in Necrozma-DM and Eternatus, but forgoing Toxic prevents Chansey from making any meaningful progress. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD can be used on non-Stealth Rock variants; this allows Chansey to switch into Choice Specs Kyogre if it is healthy. However, this forces Chansey to switch out of any physical or mixed attacker, making it much more difficult to use Aromatherapy or heal.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Physical Damage**: Chansey should avoid Pokemon that can target its pitiful physical bulk. This includes a few special and mixed attackers, such as Psyshock Calyrex-S and offensive Yveltal if Dynamax. However, in an emergency scenario Chansey may stay in against an unboosted Psyshock user.
**Poison- and Steel-types**: Poison- and Steel-types such as Eternatus, Necrozma-DM, and Zacian-C aren’t affected by Toxic; Eternatus can annoy Chansey with Pressure, Necrozma-DM can remove its Eviolite with Knock Off, and Zacian-C can OHKO with Close Combat.
**Gothitelle**: Gothitelle can trap and remove even Seismic Toss Chansey with its faster Taunt and Rest. While occasional Teleport sets can lure Gothitelle out, Chansey can’t safely stay in as Gothitelle can beat it with rare Trick sets. However, Chansey has an easier time against Gothitelle if it has both Seismic Toss and Teleport.
**Knock Off**: Eviolite is instrumental to Chansey’s walling, and losing it may make Chansey unable to handle some stronger special attackers, such as Geomancy Xerneas and Kyogre. Some Necrozma-DM and Yveltal use Knock Off; it’s important to scout for the move before keeping Chansey in against these Pokemon.
**Taunt**: As Chansey is extremely passive, Taunt will force it to switch, use Seismic Toss if it has it, or use Struggle. Chansey with Seismic Toss will also often switch, as common Taunt users usually either don’t care about the chip from Seismic Toss, can easily heal from it, or are immune to the move.
**Entry Hazards**: Although Chansey has reliable healing, stall teams that fail to keep entry hazards away can leave it whittled down, forcing it to heal much more often and therefore preventing it from coming in as much. Some hazard setters to watch out for are Necrozma-DM, Groudon, and Ferrothorn, with the last one being especially annoying due to it recovering a significant portion of its HP against Chansey with Leech Seed.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Mbouchon, 515077]]
- Quality checked by: [[Fc, 511624], [Icemaster, 464176]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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