Dusclops
My first analysis, hope I've done this right...
STATUS: Waiting for QC checks.
QC checks: None
GP checks: None
[Overview]
In ADV, Dusclops was the best (and probably) only defensive spinblocker in the game. When DPP came around, it was quickly overshadowed by big brother Dusknoir and the much better Rotom-H. However, with the advent of the Evolite in BW, Dusclops has a chance to return to its former glory. With defenses that exceed Deoxys-D's, a plethora of support moves such as Will-O-Wisp and Trick Room, along with two immunities and a good defensive ability in Pressure, it can serve as a powerful wall in today's metagame.
Unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and rainbows for Dusclops. Weather, entry hazards and status greatly wear it down due to the lack of Leftovers and Pain Split as its only method of recovery. It's low 70 base attack leaves something to be desired, forcing it to run Seismic Toss or Night Shade as its only attacking option. Anything with Taunt can stop it in its tracks, then proceed to set up in its face. Despite all of this, Dusclops is fantastic at its job, given that you play it right.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Pain Split
move 3: Toxic / Taunt
move 4: Night Shade
item: Evolite
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD
[Set Comments]
- Near impenetrable wall that can spread burn and poison around.
- Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers that can cause trouble for your team.
- EVs give 284/561/474 Defenses, which allow it to deal with the numerous amounts of physical attackers in the tier.
- Toxic is great for stalling and can wear down other walls like Milotic and Chansey.
- Pain Split is the only method of healing, and can actually cut Chansey's HP in half while fully restoring Dusclops's.
- Night Shade is used over Seismic Toss to break through Mismagius's Substitues and hit other Ghost-type Pokemon. Dusclops has no business dealing with Chansey, as it has too much HP and Staraptor is immediately made useless with Will-O-Wisp anyway.
- Taunt can be used over Toxic if you have no problem with Flash Fire Pokemon, and want to cripple Chansey or other walls.
- A 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SpD could be used if you want more balance.
- Dusclops is susceptible to status and entry hazards, so Rapid Spin support or a cleric is greatly welcomed.
- Xatu can reflect back any status moves aiming at Dusclops.
- Steel types can soak up Dark and Ghost moves, then hit back with their own STAB moves. Bisharp and Empoleon are good examples of this.
- Chansey and Dusclops are a pair of assholes with Evolites. Chansey can neutralize Ghost-type moves and Dusclops can block Fighting-type moves. Wish support also greatly benefits Dusclops.
Choice Band Staraptor's Brave Bird vs 252/252+ Dusclops: 51.8% - 61.3%
Choice Scarf Staraptor's Brave Bird vs 252/252+ Dusclops: 34.9% - 41.2%
Life Orb Arcanine's Flare Blitz vs 252/252+ Dusclops: 35.2% - 41.5%
Life Orb Mamoswine
Choice Band Victini's V-Create vs 252/252+ Dusclops: 48.9% - 58.1%
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Will-O-Wisp
move 3: Pain Split / Toxic
move 4: Night Shade
item: Evolite
ability: Pressure
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[Set comments]
- Heavy bulk and low speed makes Dusclops a prime Trick Room supporter.
- Strategy is simple: switch out onto something that cannot taunt you, set up Trick Room and either switch out or inflict status.
- Toxic can be run over Pain Split if you want to cripple Fire-types.
- Almost the same utility as the Defensive set.
- 0 Spe IVs give it a speed stat of 55, making it 'faster' than anything under Trick Room, save for Escavalier, who is rendered useless by Will-O-Wisp
- Memento could be used when low on health.
- Speed IVs could be maxed out to give it a leg up over other Dusclops outside Trick Room, but the difference is almost negligible.
- Teammates are the same for the Support set. It helps that most Steel-types are slow.
- Toxic stall may be viable with Protect, although Milotic does that better.
- Confuse Ray can be used, although it is somewhat unreliable.
- Pressure could be used to PP stall with Protect.
- Gravity is an okay support option.
- Dusclops has a lot of physical moves such as Earthquake and the elemental punches, but its low attack stat makes them unfavorable.
- Torment and Disable.
- Memento, although Dusclops is too slow for that.
- Seismic Toss can hit Normal types, but most of them have too much HP or are burned into uselessness anyway.
- Anything with Substitute can block Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, set up and then sweep.
- Choice Band Staraptor will always 2HKO Dusclops. However, Dusclops can switch on a predicted Close Combat or Double Edge, and proceed to burn.
- Xatu with Magic Bounce can reflect status moves right back at Dusclops, and out stall it with Night Shade and Roost.
- Hard hitting attackers that are immune to burn or poison such as Victini or Nidoking.
- Arcanine and Houndoom can switch into Will-O-Wisp, gain the Flash Fire boost and hit back with Flare Blitz or Fire Blast, respectively. Houndoom is particularly deadly if it uses Nasty Plot.
