[QC Checks: roman / phantom / Rakan]
[GP Checks: TDP / A Cake Wearing A Hat]
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Solar Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Specs
ability: Drought
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Overheat is a very powerful STAB move due to receiving boosts from both Choice Specs and Drought, capable of 2HKOing even extremely bulky Pokemon like specially defensive Mandibuzz after Stealth Rock damage; however, it lowers Ninetales's Special Attack by two stages upon use. Although it isn't as strong as Overheat, Fire Blast provides Ninetales with a secondary, more spammable STAB attack. Flamethrower can be used instead to give Ninetales a more reliable means of finishing off weakened foes such as Gligar. Solar Beam pairs nicely with Ninetales's STAB moves, since allows Ninetales to threaten bulky Rock- and Water-types like Rhyperior, Milotic, Mega Blastoise, and Slowking. Hidden Power Ice rounds out Ninetales's coverage, letting it threaten Dragon-types that are resistant to Fire such as Noivern, Tyrantrum, Dragalge, and Choice Scarf Flygon. Psyshock can be used instead to deal more consistent damage to Dragalge, though this is the only target that it hits, limiting its usefulness.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack in tandem with Choice Specs allows Ninetales to hit as hard possible, while maximum investment in Speed and a Timid nature allow it to outrun Pokemon like Drapion, Roserade, and Yanmega. Drought summons sun for five turns, which is useful for increasing the power of Ninetales's STAB moves and reducing the turns needed to use Solar Beam from two to one.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Ninetales should mainly be used to wallbreak early- and mid-game, since this can pave the way for a teammate to have an easier time finishing the opposing team off late-game. Switching Ninetales in on stronger, neutral attacks from Pokemon like Gardevoir is ill advised, especially if Stealth Rock is on its side of the field, due to it lacking the bulk to handle stronger attacks and this cutting into its longevity; however, Ninetales can switch in on weaker or resisted attacks from Pokemon such as Mandibuzz and Vanilluxe. The ideal methods of getting Ninetales in are on predicted double switches to Pokemon like Mega Steelix and Rotom-C, through the use of U-turn or Volt Switch, and after a teammate has been KOed in order to revenge kill the foe. Since Ninetales is Choice locked, prediction plays a major role in it succeeding at wallbreaking; for example, if it predicts a Water- or Rock-type to switch in, it should use Solar Beam. Once these Pokemon have been removed, Ninetales is freer to spam its STAB moves. Ninetales can also take advantage of the switches it forces by doubling into a teammate that can take advantage of the Pokemon that switched in, like Virizion against Pokemon like Gigalith. Exercise caution when using Overheat if the opponent has a Pokemon like Feraligatr or Barbaracle that can take advantage of Ninetales being locked into it.
Team Options
========
Ninetales appreciates being paired with entry hazard removers such as Mega Blastoise, Mandibuzz, Gligar, and Rotom-C due to its vulnerability to all forms of entry hazards, most notably Stealth Rock. The latter three are also capable of bringing Ninetales in safely with U-turn or Volt Switch. Conversely, Ninetales also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mega Steelix, Rhyperior, and Roserade to guarantee certain OHKOs and 2HKOs such as on Mega Blastoise with Solar Beam and on Cresselia with Overheat, respectively. Since Ninetales struggles with breaking through certain specially bulky Pokemon like Snorlax and Gigalith, it appreciates being paired with powerful physical wallbreakers that can pressure them like Tyrantrum, Escavalier, and Bewear, with Ninetales being able to remove physically bulky Pokemon like Doublade as well as bulkier entry hazard setters like Mega Steelix and Rhyperior with the appropriate coverage move. Grass-types such as Virizion, Shaymin, and Roserade synergize well with Ninetales due to their ability to deal with Water- and Rock-types like Mega Blastoise, Milotic, and Diancie, with the former also being capable of taking on Pokemon like Snorlax for Ninetales. Shaymin and Roserade especially appreciate the removal of Steel-types and can provide useful Healing Wish and Spikes support, respectively. Ninetales appreciates having pivots, such as Flygon and Rotom-C, as teammates due to their ability to get Ninetales into play safely against Pokemon that they tend to bait in like Bronzong and Registeel. Late-game cleaners like Zygarde-10% and Choice Scarf Gardevoir appreciate Ninetales breaking through bulky Pokemon like Mandibuzz, Gligar, and Bronzong and have a much easier time finishing teams off as a result, with the latter being able to cripple Ninetales's switch-ins with Trick and also provide useful Healing Wish support should Ninetales get worn down too quickly.
[GP Checks: TDP / A Cake Wearing A Hat]
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Solar Beam
move 4: Hidden Power Ice
item: Choice Specs
ability: Drought
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Overheat is a very powerful STAB move due to receiving boosts from both Choice Specs and Drought, capable of 2HKOing even extremely bulky Pokemon like specially defensive Mandibuzz after Stealth Rock damage; however, it lowers Ninetales's Special Attack by two stages upon use. Although it isn't as strong as Overheat, Fire Blast provides Ninetales with a secondary, more spammable STAB attack. Flamethrower can be used instead to give Ninetales a more reliable means of finishing off weakened foes such as Gligar. Solar Beam pairs nicely with Ninetales's STAB moves, since allows Ninetales to threaten bulky Rock- and Water-types like Rhyperior, Milotic, Mega Blastoise, and Slowking. Hidden Power Ice rounds out Ninetales's coverage, letting it threaten Dragon-types that are resistant to Fire such as Noivern, Tyrantrum, Dragalge, and Choice Scarf Flygon. Psyshock can be used instead to deal more consistent damage to Dragalge, though this is the only target that it hits, limiting its usefulness.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack in tandem with Choice Specs allows Ninetales to hit as hard possible, while maximum investment in Speed and a Timid nature allow it to outrun Pokemon like Drapion, Roserade, and Yanmega. Drought summons sun for five turns, which is useful for increasing the power of Ninetales's STAB moves and reducing the turns needed to use Solar Beam from two to one.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Ninetales should mainly be used to wallbreak early- and mid-game, since this can pave the way for a teammate to have an easier time finishing the opposing team off late-game. Switching Ninetales in on stronger, neutral attacks from Pokemon like Gardevoir is ill advised, especially if Stealth Rock is on its side of the field, due to it lacking the bulk to handle stronger attacks and this cutting into its longevity; however, Ninetales can switch in on weaker or resisted attacks from Pokemon such as Mandibuzz and Vanilluxe. The ideal methods of getting Ninetales in are on predicted double switches to Pokemon like Mega Steelix and Rotom-C, through the use of U-turn or Volt Switch, and after a teammate has been KOed in order to revenge kill the foe. Since Ninetales is Choice locked, prediction plays a major role in it succeeding at wallbreaking; for example, if it predicts a Water- or Rock-type to switch in, it should use Solar Beam. Once these Pokemon have been removed, Ninetales is freer to spam its STAB moves. Ninetales can also take advantage of the switches it forces by doubling into a teammate that can take advantage of the Pokemon that switched in, like Virizion against Pokemon like Gigalith. Exercise caution when using Overheat if the opponent has a Pokemon like Feraligatr or Barbaracle that can take advantage of Ninetales being locked into it.
Team Options
========
Ninetales appreciates being paired with entry hazard removers such as Mega Blastoise, Mandibuzz, Gligar, and Rotom-C due to its vulnerability to all forms of entry hazards, most notably Stealth Rock. The latter three are also capable of bringing Ninetales in safely with U-turn or Volt Switch. Conversely, Ninetales also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mega Steelix, Rhyperior, and Roserade to guarantee certain OHKOs and 2HKOs such as on Mega Blastoise with Solar Beam and on Cresselia with Overheat, respectively. Since Ninetales struggles with breaking through certain specially bulky Pokemon like Snorlax and Gigalith, it appreciates being paired with powerful physical wallbreakers that can pressure them like Tyrantrum, Escavalier, and Bewear, with Ninetales being able to remove physically bulky Pokemon like Doublade as well as bulkier entry hazard setters like Mega Steelix and Rhyperior with the appropriate coverage move. Grass-types such as Virizion, Shaymin, and Roserade synergize well with Ninetales due to their ability to deal with Water- and Rock-types like Mega Blastoise, Milotic, and Diancie, with the former also being capable of taking on Pokemon like Snorlax for Ninetales. Shaymin and Roserade especially appreciate the removal of Steel-types and can provide useful Healing Wish and Spikes support, respectively. Ninetales appreciates having pivots, such as Flygon and Rotom-C, as teammates due to their ability to get Ninetales into play safely against Pokemon that they tend to bait in like Bronzong and Registeel. Late-game cleaners like Zygarde-10% and Choice Scarf Gardevoir appreciate Ninetales breaking through bulky Pokemon like Mandibuzz, Gligar, and Bronzong and have a much easier time finishing teams off as a result, with the latter being able to cripple Ninetales's switch-ins with Trick and also provide useful Healing Wish support should Ninetales get worn down too quickly.
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