Frillish's access to Water Spout and Trick enables it to utilize a Choice Scarf to either deal significant damage before taking a hit or cripple a defensive switch-in. Furthermore, great coverage in Ice Beam and Energy Ball allows Frillish to surprise its checks and counters. Frillish is also able to spinblock and can counter the most common spinner in LC, Staryu. It can use Will-O-Wisp to cripple physical attackers and Recover to stay healthy throughout the match so it can keep spinblocking. However, Knock Off's prevalence in LC makes it harder for Frillish to check certain Pokemon, especially Fighting-types, which usually carry this move. Additionally, Dark-types such as Vullaby and Scraggy are able to set up on Frillish. It also faces competition from Pumpkaboo-XL as a spinblocker and Staryu as a fast offensive Water-type; however, Scald gives Frillish a niche over the former, and Water Spout gives it a niche over the latter.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Shadow Ball / Hex
move 3: Recover
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Eviolite
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 236 HP / 116 Def / 76 SpA / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Frillish's main attack and is very useful for checking physical attackers that switch into Frillish. It can also hit Fire-types that attempt to predict Will-O-Wisp and is generally a useful move that can spread burns throughout the enemy team. Shadow Ball provides good STAB coverage and enables Frillish to hit Pokemon that resist Scald such as Slowpoke. Hex can be used over Shadow Ball if there is a lot of status on your team, and Frillish has Will-O-Wisp and Scald to help boost it. Recover is used to stay healthy throughout the game and allows Frillish to take multiple hits. Will-O-Wisp enables Frillish to cripple physical attackers while also whittling down their health slowly.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and nature allow Frillish to hit 21 Defense and 24 Special Defense. This spread allows it to take two Wild Charges from Ponyta and two Thunderbolts from non-Life Orb Staryu. The rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack to help deal more damage. Water Absorb is considered the better ability, as it allows Frillish to get free recovery when it switches into Water-type attacks. It also plays mind games with the opponent and forces them to choose whether or not they should use a Water-type move. Cursed Body is also a good ability because most Pokemon only carry one coverage move that 2HKO Frillish, and Cursed Body can disable that move, making it hard to KO Frillish. However, its low activation rate can make it unreliable at times.
Usage Tips
========
Frillish is able to counter Normal-, Fire-, and Ground-types such as Bunnelby, Larvesta, and Drilbur. Be careful trying to check Fighting-types, as many carry Knock Off, which can hurt Frillish a lot. It is usually better to use Frillish as a check as opposed to a counter, as it usually does not appreciate taking hits, but it can force out most Pokemon. Try to use Scald as often as possible, as it is able to burn checks to Frillish. Frillish can counter non-Thunderbolt Staryu, which is the most common spinner in LC. Frillish can also try to predict a Water-type move to get free recovery.
Team Options
========
Chinchou is a major problem for Frillish, so Diglett is a good partner because it is able to trap and KO Chinchou. Grass-types such as Cottonee and Foongus are also able to deal with Chinchou. Chinchou is also a good check for itself, as it can absorb Electric-type attacks from Pokemon that check Frillish, such as Magnemite and Thunderbolt Staryu, and resist Water-type attacks. Frillish does not appreciate taking Knock Off's Off, so teammates that can take Knock Off well, such as Mienfoo and Trubbish, are good. Dark-types threaten Frillish, so Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr are good partners. Entry hazard setters such as Dwebble, Omanyte, Ferroseed, and Onix all appreciate Frillish, as it is able to spinblock. Hex Gastly can be a good partner, as Frillish is able to spread burns and weaken opposing Pokemon, and Gastly can clean up with Hex. Overcoat Vullaby works well because it can counter Foongus and force a lot of switches to take advantage of Frillish keeping up hazards.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf + Water Spout
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Shadow Ball / Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 76 HP / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is insanely strong, and with Choice Scarf Frillish can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and deal tons of damage. Shadow Ball allows Frillish to deal neutral damage to most Pokemon, giving it a safe option. It also allows Frillish to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types that can threaten it, such as Honedge, Gastly, and Abra. Hydro Pump is another safe option when Frillish is at low health, and Frillish does not mind losing Shadow Ball because it does not hit many Pokemon super effectively. Ice Beam is able to hit Grass-types that resist Water Spout, such as Chinchou, Snivy, and Foongus. Energy Ball is able to hit Water-types that resist Water Spout such as Chinchou and Staryu. Trick lets Frillish cripple walls that enjoy switching into it, such as Munchlax, Foongus, and Spritzee.
Set Details
========
Running 196 Speed EVs allows Frillish to reach 14 Speed and outspeed the entire unboosted metagame with a Choice Scarf equipped. 236 Special Attack EVs maximize Frillish's damage, and the rest of the EVs are put into HP to increase longevity. Water Absorb allows Frillish to switch into Water-type attacks for free and can also help Water Spout do more damage by restoring HP.
Usage Tips
========
Frillish can help break holes into the opposing team to allow for its teammates to clean up. Frillish can also clean up opposing teams once its checks and counters have been weakened a bit thanks to its Choice Scarf. Make sure to play around the opponent's hazard setter if they have one because hazards make Water Spout weaker. Frillish can spinblock, but it can lose a good amount of HP if it switches into an attack, which will make Water Spout weaker. Try to not directly switch into any attacks, as that will weaken Water Spout's damage.
Team Options
========
Defog and Rapid Spin are necessary, as Water Spout is weakened by hazard damage. Vullaby and Staryu are both good options. Chinchou is a major problem for Frillish, so Diglett is a good partner, as it is able to trap and KO Chinchou. Grass-types such as Cottonee and Foongus are also able to deal with Chinchou. Frillish does not appreciate taking Knock Off, so teammates that can take Knock Off well, such as Mienfoo and Trubbish, are good. Dark-types threaten Frillish, so Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr are good partners. Entry hazard setters such as Dwebble, Omanyte, Ferroseed, and Onix all appreciate Frillish, as it is able to spinblock, which prevents the foe from spinning away hazards. Slow pivots such as Mienfoo and Chinchou can bring Frillish in without taking any damage, which allows it to fire off powerful Water Spouts.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Specs can be used over Choice Scarf to do more damage, but Frillish does not have the speed to effectively sweep teams, so Choice Scarf tends to be better. Dazzling Gleam is an option to hit Scraggy, Vullaby, and other Dark-types that could switch in or try to set up on Frillish. Psychic can be used to deal with Croagunk, which would otherwise absorb Frillish's Water-type attacks. Taunt can be used to deal with hazard setters and status moves, but Frillish is usually too slow to use Taunt effectively. Toxic can be used to try to outstall bulky Pokemon such as Munchlax, but it tends to be worse than Will-O-Wisp. Trick Room can be used by Frillish on Trick Room teams, but Pumpkaboo-XL and Spritzee are considered better setters. An offensive Berry Juice set can be used as a spinblocker on Sticky Web teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Elekid, Chinchou, and Magnemite can all force Frillish out, but they can sometimes have a hard time switching into attacks. Chinchou is bulky enough to take a Shadow Ball or Energy Ball, and since it resists Water-type moves, it can use Thunderbolt or Volt Switch on Frillish, which usually KOes it.
**Munchlax**: Munchlax is a huge threat to Frillish, as it can PP stall it with its large bulk and its RestTalk set, which can heal away the burns, or Pursuit trap Frillish and deal a lot of damage to it. However, the Berry Juice + Recycle set has trouble with Frillish.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types resist Water Spout and can hit Frillish for super effective damage. Ferroseed can set up entry hazards, which Frillish does not appreciate. Cottonee can use Taunt or Encore on the defensive set, which can force it out.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Choice Scarf users such as Pawniard, Doduo, and Mienfoo can all outspeed Frillish and KO it with Knock Off.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types in general can check or counter Frillish fairly well, as most are able to KO it with STAB Dark-type moves or set up on it. Scraggy and Vullaby are both able to set up on Frillish, and Pawniard, Stunky, and Alolan Grimer can Pursuit trap it.
[SET]
name: Tank
move 1: Scald
move 2: Shadow Ball / Hex
move 3: Recover
move 4: Will-O-Wisp
item: Eviolite
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Bold
evs: 236 HP / 116 Def / 76 SpA / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Scald is Frillish's main attack and is very useful for checking physical attackers that switch into Frillish. It can also hit Fire-types that attempt to predict Will-O-Wisp and is generally a useful move that can spread burns throughout the enemy team. Shadow Ball provides good STAB coverage and enables Frillish to hit Pokemon that resist Scald such as Slowpoke. Hex can be used over Shadow Ball if there is a lot of status on your team, and Frillish has Will-O-Wisp and Scald to help boost it. Recover is used to stay healthy throughout the game and allows Frillish to take multiple hits. Will-O-Wisp enables Frillish to cripple physical attackers while also whittling down their health slowly.
Set Details
========
The EV spread and nature allow Frillish to hit 21 Defense and 24 Special Defense. This spread allows it to take two Wild Charges from Ponyta and two Thunderbolts from non-Life Orb Staryu. The rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack to help deal more damage. Water Absorb is considered the better ability, as it allows Frillish to get free recovery when it switches into Water-type attacks. It also plays mind games with the opponent and forces them to choose whether or not they should use a Water-type move. Cursed Body is also a good ability because most Pokemon only carry one coverage move that 2HKO Frillish, and Cursed Body can disable that move, making it hard to KO Frillish. However, its low activation rate can make it unreliable at times.
Usage Tips
========
Frillish is able to counter Normal-, Fire-, and Ground-types such as Bunnelby, Larvesta, and Drilbur. Be careful trying to check Fighting-types, as many carry Knock Off, which can hurt Frillish a lot. It is usually better to use Frillish as a check as opposed to a counter, as it usually does not appreciate taking hits, but it can force out most Pokemon. Try to use Scald as often as possible, as it is able to burn checks to Frillish. Frillish can counter non-Thunderbolt Staryu, which is the most common spinner in LC. Frillish can also try to predict a Water-type move to get free recovery.
Team Options
========
Chinchou is a major problem for Frillish, so Diglett is a good partner because it is able to trap and KO Chinchou. Grass-types such as Cottonee and Foongus are also able to deal with Chinchou. Chinchou is also a good check for itself, as it can absorb Electric-type attacks from Pokemon that check Frillish, such as Magnemite and Thunderbolt Staryu, and resist Water-type attacks. Frillish does not appreciate taking Knock Off's Off, so teammates that can take Knock Off well, such as Mienfoo and Trubbish, are good. Dark-types threaten Frillish, so Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr are good partners. Entry hazard setters such as Dwebble, Omanyte, Ferroseed, and Onix all appreciate Frillish, as it is able to spinblock. Hex Gastly can be a good partner, as Frillish is able to spread burns and weaken opposing Pokemon, and Gastly can clean up with Hex. Overcoat Vullaby works well because it can counter Foongus and force a lot of switches to take advantage of Frillish keeping up hazards.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf + Water Spout
move 1: Water Spout
move 2: Shadow Ball / Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam / Energy Ball
move 4: Trick
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 76 HP / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Water Spout is insanely strong, and with Choice Scarf Frillish can outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and deal tons of damage. Shadow Ball allows Frillish to deal neutral damage to most Pokemon, giving it a safe option. It also allows Frillish to hit Ghost- and Psychic-types that can threaten it, such as Honedge, Gastly, and Abra. Hydro Pump is another safe option when Frillish is at low health, and Frillish does not mind losing Shadow Ball because it does not hit many Pokemon super effectively. Ice Beam is able to hit Grass-types that resist Water Spout, such as Chinchou, Snivy, and Foongus. Energy Ball is able to hit Water-types that resist Water Spout such as Chinchou and Staryu. Trick lets Frillish cripple walls that enjoy switching into it, such as Munchlax, Foongus, and Spritzee.
Set Details
========
Running 196 Speed EVs allows Frillish to reach 14 Speed and outspeed the entire unboosted metagame with a Choice Scarf equipped. 236 Special Attack EVs maximize Frillish's damage, and the rest of the EVs are put into HP to increase longevity. Water Absorb allows Frillish to switch into Water-type attacks for free and can also help Water Spout do more damage by restoring HP.
Usage Tips
========
Frillish can help break holes into the opposing team to allow for its teammates to clean up. Frillish can also clean up opposing teams once its checks and counters have been weakened a bit thanks to its Choice Scarf. Make sure to play around the opponent's hazard setter if they have one because hazards make Water Spout weaker. Frillish can spinblock, but it can lose a good amount of HP if it switches into an attack, which will make Water Spout weaker. Try to not directly switch into any attacks, as that will weaken Water Spout's damage.
Team Options
========
Defog and Rapid Spin are necessary, as Water Spout is weakened by hazard damage. Vullaby and Staryu are both good options. Chinchou is a major problem for Frillish, so Diglett is a good partner, as it is able to trap and KO Chinchou. Grass-types such as Cottonee and Foongus are also able to deal with Chinchou. Frillish does not appreciate taking Knock Off, so teammates that can take Knock Off well, such as Mienfoo and Trubbish, are good. Dark-types threaten Frillish, so Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr are good partners. Entry hazard setters such as Dwebble, Omanyte, Ferroseed, and Onix all appreciate Frillish, as it is able to spinblock, which prevents the foe from spinning away hazards. Slow pivots such as Mienfoo and Chinchou can bring Frillish in without taking any damage, which allows it to fire off powerful Water Spouts.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Specs can be used over Choice Scarf to do more damage, but Frillish does not have the speed to effectively sweep teams, so Choice Scarf tends to be better. Dazzling Gleam is an option to hit Scraggy, Vullaby, and other Dark-types that could switch in or try to set up on Frillish. Psychic can be used to deal with Croagunk, which would otherwise absorb Frillish's Water-type attacks. Taunt can be used to deal with hazard setters and status moves, but Frillish is usually too slow to use Taunt effectively. Toxic can be used to try to outstall bulky Pokemon such as Munchlax, but it tends to be worse than Will-O-Wisp. Trick Room can be used by Frillish on Trick Room teams, but Pumpkaboo-XL and Spritzee are considered better setters. An offensive Berry Juice set can be used as a spinblocker on Sticky Web teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Electric-types such as Elekid, Chinchou, and Magnemite can all force Frillish out, but they can sometimes have a hard time switching into attacks. Chinchou is bulky enough to take a Shadow Ball or Energy Ball, and since it resists Water-type moves, it can use Thunderbolt or Volt Switch on Frillish, which usually KOes it.
**Munchlax**: Munchlax is a huge threat to Frillish, as it can PP stall it with its large bulk and its RestTalk set, which can heal away the burns, or Pursuit trap Frillish and deal a lot of damage to it. However, the Berry Juice + Recycle set has trouble with Frillish.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types resist Water Spout and can hit Frillish for super effective damage. Ferroseed can set up entry hazards, which Frillish does not appreciate. Cottonee can use Taunt or Encore on the defensive set, which can force it out.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Choice Scarf users such as Pawniard, Doduo, and Mienfoo can all outspeed Frillish and KO it with Knock Off.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types in general can check or counter Frillish fairly well, as most are able to KO it with STAB Dark-type moves or set up on it. Scraggy and Vullaby are both able to set up on Frillish, and Pawniard, Stunky, and Alolan Grimer can Pursuit trap it.
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