qc: kev / eien / tork
gp: cake / fire flame
[OVERVIEW]
Water
========
Empoleon's good bulk allows it to fulfill the niche of a Stealth Rock setter and Defogger at the same time. Utility in Knock Off and Roar lets it cripple Pokemon like Chansey and phaze Pokemon like Suicune. Its amazing defensive typing gives it a resistance to ten types, an immunity to Poison-type attacks, and an important neutrality to Grass-type attacks. Although Empoleon has an amazing typing, the weakness to Ground-type attacks doesn't do it any favors, since it heavily stacks the weakness to Ground- and Electric-type moves with other balance staples like Toxapex. A lack of recovery outside of Leftovers weakens Empoleon's ability to provide Defog and Stealth Rock support and hinders its opportunity to check massive threats like Mega Diancie because it gets worn down so quickly. Empoleon also has lackluster Defense, so Pokemon like Tapu Bulu take advantage of it easily and it gets chipped at quickly by even weak physical attacks. A bad Speed stat and lackluster offensive stats make it very passive and exploitable. Stallbreakers like Mew and Gliscor take advantage of Empoleon's passive nature, preventing it from doing anything worthwhile thanks to their fast Taunt. Empoleon also has huge competition from other Pokemon like Swampert and Mantine. Swampert provides the same Stealth Rock support while also having an immunity to Electric-type attacks, which lets it check massive threats like Tapu Koko and Magnezone. On the other hand, Mantine offers much more reliable Defog support thanks to its superior bulk and access to Roost. It also provides a very important immunity to Ground-type attacks while still being neutral to Grass-type attacks like Empoleon.
[SET]
name: Utility (Water)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Defog
move 3: Scald
move 4: Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock lets Empoleon chip at threatening Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Mega Pinsir on the switch. Defog supports teammates like Gastrodon and Azumarill that are vulnerable to entry hazards like Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock. Scald prevents Empoleon from being Taunt bait and helps it beat Pokemon like Mega Diancie. It also threatens physical attackers like Tapu Bulu with a potential burn. Roar lets Empoleon phaze Pokemon like Suicune and Mega Latias and rack up Stealth Rock chip damage.
Set Details
========
Leftovers gives Empoleon a form of passive recovery. Torrent boosts the power of Scald if Empoleon is at a third of its health or lower. Maximum HP and Special Defense EVs along with a Calm Nature maximize Empoleon's special bulk, which lets it take on Pokemon like Latios more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Prioritize setting up Stealth Rock early-game, especially against types like Fire and Bug. Similarly, against types like Flying and Fire, don't worry about using Defog to clear entry hazards. Instead, make sure Empoleon gets Stealth Rock up, as it is really important to chip down big threats like Zapdos and Mega Pinsir. Preserve Empoleon when you know you'll need it later on for threatening Pokemon like Mega Diancie. If Stealth Rock is up, use Roar liberally against types like Dragon and Flying that struggle with it, as it racks up chip damage quickly. Use Scald liberally to potentially burn physical threats like Tapu Bulu on the switch. Take care of setup sweepers like Suicune and Mega Latias by phazing them with Roar. Don’t waste Empoleon’s potential to check a big threat later in the game by trying to chip down opposing walls like Mega Venusaur and Celesteela. Similarly, avoid chip damage, as it wears down Empoleon quickly. Leftovers is Empoleon’s only form of recovery, so don’t recklessly switch it into attacks. Utilize Empoleon's immunity to Poison by absorbing Toxic from Pokemon like Mantine and Chansey for teammates like Gastrodon and Azumarill.
Team Options
========
BoltBeam Greninja helps pressure Defog users like Zapdos and Mantine that beat Empoleon. Pokemon like Lanturn and Gastrodon provide an Electric immunity for Empoleon. Toxic Spikes support from Toxapex helps pressure offensive checks to Empoleon like Infernape. Perish Song + Whirlpool Azumarill beats entry hazard setters like Ferrothorn and Toxapex that Empoleon struggles against. It can also switch into Grass-types like Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and trap them. Stall staples like Quagsire and Lanturn provide Unaware and Volt Absorb support for Empoleon, respectively, and appreciate Empoleon's ability to chip down threats like Mega Pinsir with Stealth Rock. Dragon Dance Gyarados appreciates Empoleon's Defog support, as it's weak to Stealth Rock. Empoleon also provides its own Stealth Rock for Gyarados. In return, Gyarados provides a useful Ground immunity that helps force prediction from Choice-locked Ground-type attackers like Excadrill. Mega Sharpedo appreciates Stealth Rock support and beats Defog users like Mew that trouble Empoleon. Rotom-W provides a Ground immunity, a slow Volt Switch, and the ability to wall physical attackers like Gyarados for Empoleon. Manaphy appreciates Empoleon's Stealth Rock support, as it lets boosted Manaphy OHKO Pokemon like Mega Venusaur. Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Keldeo break down Pokemon like Ferrothorn that Empoleon struggles against.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Knock Off lets Empoleon cripple Pokemon like Chansey that are dependent on their item. Protect lets Empoleon capitalize on Leftovers recovery and scout against threats like Choice Band Diggersby. Toxic allows Empoleon to cripple walls like Porygon2 and Mantine.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Defensive Pokemon**: Empoleon struggles to beat defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Toxapex, as its attacks fail to wear them down and they can chip it down throughout the match due to its lack of recovery.
**Electric-types**: Common Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Magnezone outspeed Empoleon and OHKO it with their STAB attacks.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Keldeo KO Empoleon with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Excadrill outpace and OHKO Empoleon.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage like Leech Seed, entry hazards, and weak attacks from Pokemon like Celesteela wear down Empoleon extremely quickly.
**Taunt**: Taunt users like Deoxys-S and Mew render Empoleon useless, as they outpace it and prevent it from performing its roles.
**Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Keldeo and Choice Band Tapu Bulu outpace and OHKO Empoleon.
gp: cake / fire flame
[OVERVIEW]
Water
========
Empoleon's good bulk allows it to fulfill the niche of a Stealth Rock setter and Defogger at the same time. Utility in Knock Off and Roar lets it cripple Pokemon like Chansey and phaze Pokemon like Suicune. Its amazing defensive typing gives it a resistance to ten types, an immunity to Poison-type attacks, and an important neutrality to Grass-type attacks. Although Empoleon has an amazing typing, the weakness to Ground-type attacks doesn't do it any favors, since it heavily stacks the weakness to Ground- and Electric-type moves with other balance staples like Toxapex. A lack of recovery outside of Leftovers weakens Empoleon's ability to provide Defog and Stealth Rock support and hinders its opportunity to check massive threats like Mega Diancie because it gets worn down so quickly. Empoleon also has lackluster Defense, so Pokemon like Tapu Bulu take advantage of it easily and it gets chipped at quickly by even weak physical attacks. A bad Speed stat and lackluster offensive stats make it very passive and exploitable. Stallbreakers like Mew and Gliscor take advantage of Empoleon's passive nature, preventing it from doing anything worthwhile thanks to their fast Taunt. Empoleon also has huge competition from other Pokemon like Swampert and Mantine. Swampert provides the same Stealth Rock support while also having an immunity to Electric-type attacks, which lets it check massive threats like Tapu Koko and Magnezone. On the other hand, Mantine offers much more reliable Defog support thanks to its superior bulk and access to Roost. It also provides a very important immunity to Ground-type attacks while still being neutral to Grass-type attacks like Empoleon.
[SET]
name: Utility (Water)
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Defog
move 3: Scald
move 4: Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Torrent
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Stealth Rock lets Empoleon chip at threatening Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Mega Pinsir on the switch. Defog supports teammates like Gastrodon and Azumarill that are vulnerable to entry hazards like Toxic Spikes and Stealth Rock. Scald prevents Empoleon from being Taunt bait and helps it beat Pokemon like Mega Diancie. It also threatens physical attackers like Tapu Bulu with a potential burn. Roar lets Empoleon phaze Pokemon like Suicune and Mega Latias and rack up Stealth Rock chip damage.
Set Details
========
Leftovers gives Empoleon a form of passive recovery. Torrent boosts the power of Scald if Empoleon is at a third of its health or lower. Maximum HP and Special Defense EVs along with a Calm Nature maximize Empoleon's special bulk, which lets it take on Pokemon like Latios more easily.
Usage Tips
========
Prioritize setting up Stealth Rock early-game, especially against types like Fire and Bug. Similarly, against types like Flying and Fire, don't worry about using Defog to clear entry hazards. Instead, make sure Empoleon gets Stealth Rock up, as it is really important to chip down big threats like Zapdos and Mega Pinsir. Preserve Empoleon when you know you'll need it later on for threatening Pokemon like Mega Diancie. If Stealth Rock is up, use Roar liberally against types like Dragon and Flying that struggle with it, as it racks up chip damage quickly. Use Scald liberally to potentially burn physical threats like Tapu Bulu on the switch. Take care of setup sweepers like Suicune and Mega Latias by phazing them with Roar. Don’t waste Empoleon’s potential to check a big threat later in the game by trying to chip down opposing walls like Mega Venusaur and Celesteela. Similarly, avoid chip damage, as it wears down Empoleon quickly. Leftovers is Empoleon’s only form of recovery, so don’t recklessly switch it into attacks. Utilize Empoleon's immunity to Poison by absorbing Toxic from Pokemon like Mantine and Chansey for teammates like Gastrodon and Azumarill.
Team Options
========
BoltBeam Greninja helps pressure Defog users like Zapdos and Mantine that beat Empoleon. Pokemon like Lanturn and Gastrodon provide an Electric immunity for Empoleon. Toxic Spikes support from Toxapex helps pressure offensive checks to Empoleon like Infernape. Perish Song + Whirlpool Azumarill beats entry hazard setters like Ferrothorn and Toxapex that Empoleon struggles against. It can also switch into Grass-types like Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu and trap them. Stall staples like Quagsire and Lanturn provide Unaware and Volt Absorb support for Empoleon, respectively, and appreciate Empoleon's ability to chip down threats like Mega Pinsir with Stealth Rock. Dragon Dance Gyarados appreciates Empoleon's Defog support, as it's weak to Stealth Rock. Empoleon also provides its own Stealth Rock for Gyarados. In return, Gyarados provides a useful Ground immunity that helps force prediction from Choice-locked Ground-type attackers like Excadrill. Mega Sharpedo appreciates Stealth Rock support and beats Defog users like Mew that trouble Empoleon. Rotom-W provides a Ground immunity, a slow Volt Switch, and the ability to wall physical attackers like Gyarados for Empoleon. Manaphy appreciates Empoleon's Stealth Rock support, as it lets boosted Manaphy OHKO Pokemon like Mega Venusaur. Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Keldeo break down Pokemon like Ferrothorn that Empoleon struggles against.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Knock Off lets Empoleon cripple Pokemon like Chansey that are dependent on their item. Protect lets Empoleon capitalize on Leftovers recovery and scout against threats like Choice Band Diggersby. Toxic allows Empoleon to cripple walls like Porygon2 and Mantine.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Defensive Pokemon**: Empoleon struggles to beat defensive Pokemon like Ferrothorn and Toxapex, as its attacks fail to wear them down and they can chip it down throughout the match due to its lack of recovery.
**Electric-types**: Common Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Magnezone outspeed Empoleon and OHKO it with their STAB attacks.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Keldeo KO Empoleon with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Excadrill outpace and OHKO Empoleon.
**Residual Damage**: Residual damage like Leech Seed, entry hazards, and weak attacks from Pokemon like Celesteela wear down Empoleon extremely quickly.
**Taunt**: Taunt users like Deoxys-S and Mew render Empoleon useless, as they outpace it and prevent it from performing its roles.
**Wallbreakers**: Wallbreakers like Choice Specs Keldeo and Choice Band Tapu Bulu outpace and OHKO Empoleon.
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