BDSP Dancing in the Moonlight (Defensive Clefable) [QC 2/2] [GP 1/1]

Tbolt

Tbolt

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[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Calm Mind / Thunder Wave / Aromatherapy / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware / Magic Guard
nature: Bold / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Wish and Protect provide Clefable reliable recovery that can also allow it to sustain its teammates for longer games. Calm Mind turns Clefable into a dangerous cleaner, especially against weakened teams late-game; if it uses Unaware, then it will have the edge against other Calm Mind users whose boosts get ignored. With Thunder Wave, Clefable can paralyze Heatran on the switch, supporting slower threats like offensive Scizor and Breloom that may be stymied by it. Aromatherapy is useful to relieve its team from the effects of status, and it is especially useful if Clefable is using Unaware because these variants hate getting worn down and being forced to use Wish. If another Pokemon cannot run Stealth Rock, then Clefable can set the entry hazard up itself with its useful defensive profile. Clefable also tends to lure in Steel-types like Scizor, which hate getting blasted by Flamethrower. A physically defensive set with Unaware is the standard, ensuring that threats that can boost their attack like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Feraligatr cannot make their way through it. However, a specially defensive Magic Guard set is more useful against special attackers like Starmie, Alakazam, and Latias. Specially defensive Clefable is not completely safe against the uncommon Life Orb Psyshock from Alakazam, which threatens to break through it, but it is not OHKOed and can cripple it with paralysis, which is favorable for the Clefable. Additionally, Magic Guard Clefable absorbs status like Rotom-W's Will-O-Wisp very nicely, and it completely ignores Spikes and Toxic Spikes.


Team Options
========

While physically defensive Clefable can stuff boosting physical sweepers, it is not perfect against all physical attackers; Life Orb Garchomp and Crawdaunt as well as Choice Band Azumarill and Weavile can still break through it. Therefore, pairing it with other defensive Pokemon that can handle the other attacks that Clefable cannot take is good; Rotom-W is an example that can take many of these foes' attacks. Steel-type attackers like Scizor and Lucario threaten out Clefable well, so checks to them like Heatran for the former and Garchomp for the latter are appreciated. Gliscor is an especially reliable Lucario check and can even soft-check bulky Swords Dance variants of Scizor. These Pokemon are also able to set up Stealth Rock, freeing Clefable from having to do so. Defensive Pokemon that lack reliable recovery, such as Rotom-W and Heatran, appreciate Clefable being able to heal them with Wish. Fast offensive Pokemon like Weavile, Garchomp, and Latias appreciate the fact that they can fall back on Clefable when being forced out by a Fighting- or Dragon-type; in exchange, these offensive Pokemon can revenge kill wallbreakers like Nidoking that give Clefable trouble. Unaware Clefable also dislikes entry hazards that wear it down; Defoggers like Gliscor, Latias, and Scizor and Rapid Spin Starmie can help with this. All of the Defoggers, especially Gliscor, are particularly good against Roserade, which switches into Clefable, threatens it out with STAB Sludge Bomb, and lays down Spikes and Toxic Spikes that cut into Unaware Clefable's longevity. Specially defensive Magic Guard Clefable gives up its ability to handle physical attackers, so teammates like Tangrowth and Skarmory that can do so are mandatory. Tangrowth is a better option against Water-types such as Crawdaunt and Azumarill, while Skarmory is superior against Weavile and Dragonite; both handle Garchomp equally well. In exchange, they can fall back on Clefable to take on Starmie and Latias that would destroy them.


[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tycarter.327020/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
 
Last edited:
Green = Add
Red = Remove
Yellow = Highlight
Purple = Comment/Note

if you have any questions ask on discord

[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Calm Mind / Stealth Rock / Flamethrower / Thunder Wave Put Twave ahead of rocks/flame
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware / Magic Guard
nature: Bold / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Wish and Protect provide Clefable reliable recovery that can also allow it to sustain its teammates for longer games. Calm Mind turns Clefable into a dangerous cleaner, especially against weakened teams late-game. Mention how Unaware means other CM users can't try and boost alongside it giving it the advantage Clefable is a great Stealth Rock setter, turning the switches it gets on the likes of Garchomp and Weavile that are locked into a Dark-type move into an opportunity to support its team. <- Clefable is probably one of the weaker rocks setters in the tier so it would be more accurate to say it could run them if its team cant fit them elsewhere Clefable also tends to lure in Steel-types like Scizor, which hates getting blasted by Flamethrower. With Thunder Wave, Clefable can paralyze Heatran on the switch, supporting slower threats like offensive Scizor and Breloom that may be stymied by it. <- Like earlier you could put this ahead of the stuff about rocks/flame Some Clefable opt for Moonlight instead of Wish and Protect to save a moveslot. However, the limited PP and lack of ability to scout Choice item attackers make it more difficult to use, especially in a longer game. <- This is already mentioned in the other options section of the analysis which we aren't rewriting A physically defensive set with Unaware is the standard, ensuring that threats that can boost their attack like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Gliscor Feraligatr cannot make their way through it. However, a specially defensive Magic Guard set is more useful into special attackers like Starmie and Latias.

Team Options
========

While physically defensive Clefable can stuff boosting physical sweepers, it is not perfect into all physical attackers; Life Orb Garchomp and Crawdaunt and Choice Band Azumarill and Weavile can still break through it. Therefore, pairing it with other defensive Pokemon that can handle the other attacks that Clefable cannot take is good; Rotom-W is an example that can take many of these foes' attacks. Steel-type attackers like Scizor and Lucario threaten out Clefable well, so checks to them like Heatran and Garchomp are appreciated. These Pokemon are also able to set up Stealth Rock, freeing Clefable from having to do so; alternatively, Clefable may set up Stealth Rock itself and allow these Pokemon to run more threatening options. What I said earlier about rocks clef still somewhat applies here Defensive Pokemon that lack reliable recovery, such as Rotom-W and Heatran, appreciate Clefable being able to heal them with Wish. Fast offensive Pokemon like Weavile, Garchomp, and Latias appreciate the fact that they can fall back on Clefable when being forced out by a Fighting- or Dragon-type; in exchange, these offensive Pokemon can revenge kill wallbreakers like Nidoking that give Clefable trouble. Unaware Clefable also dislikes Spikes from Roserade and Skarmory entry hazards that wear it down; Defoggers like Gliscor, Latias, and Scizor and Rapid Spin Starmie can help with this. Specially defensive Magic Guard Clefable gives up its ability to handle physical attackers, so teammates like Tangrowth and Skarmory that can do so are mandatory. Tangrowth is a better option into Water-types such as Crawdaunt and Azumarill, while Skarmory is superior into Weavile and Dragonite; both handle Garchomp around equally well. In exchange, they can fall back on Clefable to take on Starmie and Latias that would destroy them. Clefable, both in physically defensive and specially defensive roles, isn't a perfect counter to many threats, so revenge killers like Weavile and Choice Scarf attackers like Rotom-W, Garchomp, and Latias can take out a threat that Clefable temporarily holds off but doesn't stop throughout a game. You mention fast offensive mons as teammates earlier in this paragraph so this seems redundant


[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.104/
 
Green = Add
Red = Remove
Yellow = Highlight
Purple = Comment/Note
Ask me on discord or PM me if you have any specific questions. There shouldn't be too much to adjust, it was primarily some notes.

[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Calm Mind / Thunder Wave / Stealth Rock / Flamethrower / Aromatherapy - I'd mention aroma here since it's a pretty legit 4th move slot option and maybe would put it in higher priority than SR or Flamethrower.
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware / Magic Guard
nature: Bold / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Wish and Protect provide Clefable reliable recovery that can also allow it to sustain its teammates for longer games. Calm Mind turns Clefable into a dangerous cleaner, especially against weakened teams late-game; if it uses Unaware, then it will have the edge against other Calm Mind users whose boosts get ignored. With Thunder Wave, Clefable can paralyze Heatran on the switch, supporting slower threats like offensive Scizor and Breloom that may be stymied by it. If another Pokemon cannot run Stealth Rock, then Clefable can set the hazard up itself with its useful defensive profile, additionally, Clefable can run aromatherapy to support its teammates should status conditions be an issue. I'd mention this before but you can briefly talk about aroma which can help with teams that struggle with status especially if you are running unaware Clef. Clefable also tends to lure in Steel-types like Scizor, which hates getting blasted by Flamethrower. A physically defensive set with Unaware is the standard, ensuring that threats that can boost their attack like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Feraligatr cannot make their way through it. However, a specially defensive Magic Guard set is more useful into special attackers like Starmie, Alakazam and Latias. I would maybe note how it lets Clefable be a status absorber and handles toxic spikes nicely as Una Clef normally can not handle being status'ed. Zam is another Pokemon that would give legitimate merit for spdef clef being used. While it is true LO psyshock can break clef, not all Zams can run afford to run this and being able to twave it back can make it worthwhile.


Team Options
========

While physically defensive Clefable can stuff boosting physical sweepers, it is not perfect into all physical attackers; Life Orb Garchomp and Crawdaunt and Choice Band Azumarill and Weavile can still break through it. Therefore, pairing it with other defensive Pokemon that can handle the other attacks that Clefable cannot take is good; Rotom-W is an example that can take many of these foes' attacks. Steel-type attackers like Scizor and Lucario threaten out Clefable well, so checks to them like Heatran and Garchomp are appreciated. You can maybe mention Gliscor as a good Clefable partner for handling Lucario and soft-checking some variants of Scizor. These Pokemon are also able to set up Stealth Rock, freeing Clefable from having to do so. Defensive Pokemon that lack reliable recovery, such as Rotom-W and Heatran, appreciate Clefable being able to heal them with Wish. Fast offensive Pokemon like Weavile, Garchomp, and Latias appreciate the fact that they can fall back on Clefable when being forced out by a Fighting- or Dragon-type; in exchange, these offensive Pokemon can revenge kill wallbreakers like Nidoking that give Clefable trouble. Unaware Clefable also dislikes entry hazards that wear it down; Defoggers like Gliscor, Latias, and Scizor and Rapid Spin Starmie can help with this. Not sure where you can fit this but I think you can try mentioning how Gliscor (and Latias and Scizor to some degree) helps with the Roserade matchup specifically as Roserade is very much a legitimate threat in this tier as Rose threatens Sludge and can throw down either toxic spikes or spikes in front of Unaware Clefable. Specially defensive Magic Guard Clefable gives up its ability to handle physical attackers, so teammates like Tangrowth and Skarmory that can do so are mandatory. Tangrowth is a better option into Water-types such as Crawdaunt and Azumarill, while Skarmory is superior into Weavile and Dragonite; both handle Garchomp equally well. In exchange, they can fall back on Clefable to take on Starmie and Latias that would destroy them.


[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tycarter.327020/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.104/
 
add remove comment
1/1 GP Team done
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Moonblast
move 2: Wish
move 3: Protect
move 4: Calm Mind / Thunder Wave / Aromatherapy / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware / Magic Guard
nature: Bold / Calm
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD or 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========

Wish and Protect provide Clefable reliable recovery that can also allow it to sustain its teammates for longer games. Calm Mind turns Clefable into a dangerous cleaner, especially against weakened teams late-game; if it uses Unaware, then it will have the edge against other Calm Mind users whose boosts get ignored. With Thunder Wave, Clefable can paralyze Heatran on the switch, supporting slower threats like offensive Scizor and Breloom that may be stymied by it. Aromatherapy is useful to relieve its team from the effects of status, and it is especially useful if Clefable is using Unaware because these variants hate getting worn down and being forced to use Wish. If another Pokemon cannot run Stealth Rock, then Clefable can set the entry hazard up itself with its useful defensive profile. Clefable also tends to lure in Steel-types like Scizor, which hates hate getting blasted by Flamethrower. A physically defensive set with Unaware is the standard, ensuring that threats that can boost their attack like Dragonite, Garchomp, and Feraligatr cannot make their way through it. However, a specially defensive Magic Guard set is more useful into against special attackers like Starmie, Alakazam, and Latias. Specially defensive Clefable is not completely safe against the uncommon Life Orb Psyshock from Alakazam, which threatens to break through it, but it is not OHKOed and can cripple it with paralysis, which is favorable for the Clefable. Additionally, Magic Guard Clefable absorbs status like Rotom-W's Will-O-Wisp very nicely, and it completely ignores Spikes and Toxic Spikes.


Team Options
========

While physically defensive Clefable can stuff boosting physical sweepers, it is not perfect into against all physical attackers; Life Orb Garchomp and Crawdaunt and as well as 'and' is fine as-is but just for contrast's sake Choice Band Azumarill and Weavile can still break through it. Therefore, pairing it with other defensive Pokemon that can handle the other attacks that Clefable cannot take is good; Rotom-W is an example that can take many of these foes' attacks. Steel-type attackers like Scizor and Lucario threaten out Clefable well, so checks to them like Heatran for the former and Garchomp for the latter are appreciated. Gliscor is an especially reliable Lucario check and can even soft-check bulky Swords Dance variants of Scizor. These Pokemon are also able to set up Stealth Rock, freeing Clefable from having to do so. Defensive Pokemon that lack reliable recovery, such as Rotom-W and Heatran, appreciate Clefable being able to heal them with Wish. Fast offensive Pokemon like Weavile, Garchomp, and Latias appreciate the fact that they can fall back on Clefable when being forced out by a Fighting- or Dragon-type; in exchange, these offensive Pokemon can revenge kill wallbreakers like Nidoking that give Clefable trouble. Unaware Clefable also dislikes entry hazards that wear it down; Defoggers like Gliscor, Latias, and Scizor and Rapid Spin Starmie can help with this. All of the Defoggers, especially Gliscor, are particularly good against Roserade, which switches into Clefable, threatens it out with STAB Sludge Bomb, and lays down Spikes and Toxic Spikes that cut into Unaware Clefable's longevity. Specially defensive Magic Guard Clefable gives up its ability to handle physical attackers, so teammates like Tangrowth and Skarmory that can do so are mandatory. Tangrowth is a better option into against Water-types such as Crawdaunt and Azumarill, while Skarmory is superior into against Weavile and Dragonite; both handle Garchomp equally well. In exchange, they can fall back on Clefable to take on Starmie and Latias that would destroy them.


[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/igiveuponaname.593115/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tycarter.327020/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
 
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