[OVERVIEW]
[OVERVIEW]
Froslass is a good Spikes user thanks to its great offensive typing that gives it a good matchup versus common hazard control options, with it most notably being able to consistently lay entry hazards without fearing Xatu. It is also able to protect its own Spikes from being removed by Rapid Spin users like Hitmonlee thanks to its Ghost typing. Furthermore, its high Speed stat allows it to outpace the majority of the unboosted metagame, putting it above dangerous Pokemon like Mismagius, Virizion, and Delphox, all of which it hits super effectively with its STAB attacks, allowing Froslass to soft check them for teammates; this comes in handy when combined with its wide utility movepool, which includes useful options like Spikes, Taunt, and Destiny Bond. These various characteristics allow Froslass to set itself apart from its main competition as a Spikes user: Garbodor. However, its moderately low firepower means that it can struggle to leave much of a mark when attacking directly, especially versus specially bulky neutral targets like Cryogonal and Mega Audino. This alongside its weakness to Pursuit and inability to pose as a threat to most Pursuit users can cause issues when Froslass is not used in the lead slot. In addition, its weakness to Stealth Rock alongside the fact that it is grounded limits the number of times it can switch in, especially alongside Life Orb recoil, while also leaving it vulnerable to Sticky Web.
[SET]
name: Offensive Spikes
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
ivs: 29 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes is Froslass's main niche over other Ice- and Ghost-types like Vanilluxe and Mismagius, pressuring the opposing team's switches. Ice Beam allows Froslass to hit Grass-types like Venusaur, Virizion, and Whimsicott for solid damage, hits Guzzlord trying to switch in on Shadow Ball hard, and is Froslass's strongest option versus neutral targets. Shadow Ball hits Psychic-types—most notably including Delphox—hard and OHKOes Mismagius a little over one third of the time even without prior chip damage, allowing Froslass to soft check these Pokemon. It is also worth noting that both attacks OHKO maximum HP Xatu, alleviating pressure that it can put onto Froslass's ability to set up Spikes. Taunt allows Froslass to prevent opposing Pokemon from using Stealth Rock or Spikes versus it while also protecting its own Spikes from the Defog attempts of Pokemon like Silvally and Cryogonal; it also catches Pokemon like Samurott that try to take advantage of Froslass's underwhelming firepower to set up safely.
Set Details
========
Maximum investment in Special Attack and Speed allows Froslass to hit as hard and fast as possible, and a Timid nature is used to ensure that Froslass outruns a large number of important Pokemon, including Delphox, Sigilyph, Virizion, and Mismagius, while also Speed tying with opposing Froslass. Life Orb provides a much-needed boost to Froslass's firepower, and without it Froslass misses out on a number of important KOs such as an OHKO with Shadow Ball on Mismagius after Stealth Rock and Delphox after 1 layer of Spikes. Cursed Body is Froslass's least situational ability, and it is particularly useful to turn a Choice-locked Sneasel that KOes Froslass into a liability by forcing it to switch out while a teammate sets up on it. Running 29 HP IVs reduces Life Orb recoil by 1 hit point.
Usage Tips
========
Try to bring Froslass in through VoltTurn support or on a free switch wherever possible, and try to take advantage of Pokemon it forces out to set up a layer of Spikes. Don’t be afraid to play aggressively if you think you can generate an opportunity to use Spikes by bringing Froslass in on a double switch, and consider your options carefully when deciding between attacking and using Spikes. This is particularly important versus offensive archetypes. Versus balance and stall, take any opportunity to set up Spikes that you get, as Froslass will generally not put much of a dent into such teams with its attacking moves; Spikes will generally put in more legwork than trying to chip away at foes with attacks, especially when faced with Pokemon which take very little from either STAB move such as Incineroar. If you expect Xatu to switch in, fire off whichever of Froslass's STAB attacks is less risky given what your opponent still carries in the back. Similarly, use Taunt if you expect your opponent to use Defog and to prevent Pokemon like Cryogonal and Golbat from healing up on Froslass. If you lack anything to prevent a boosted Scrafty or Klinklang cleaning up and one comes out against Froslass, use Taunt instead of switching out or using Spikes.
Team Options
========
It is worth noting that this set fits best on bulky offensive teams. VoltTurn users, such as Rotom, Heliolisk, Passimian, Scyther, Silvally, and Vikavolt, benefit from the pressure that Froslass puts on switches with its Spikes while also being useful for getting Froslass onto the field safely against Pokemon like Delphox, Guzzlord, Venusaur, and Cryogonal that it can either pressure or use to set up Spikes without any real direct punishment. Wallbreakers like Medicham, Venusaur, and Sigilyph appreciate the added chip that Froslass’s Spikes put onto walls that they target, whereas fast attackers like Whimsicott, Sceptile, and Accelgor and a number of Choice Scarf users like Delphox, Vanilluxe, and Passimian appreciate the added chip damage from Spikes because it helps them clean up versus offense. Setup attackers like Vivillon, Klinklang, and Delphox appreciate Froslass's Spikes because it helps net chip for them to sweep. Offensive answers to Dark-types, such as Hitmonlee, Toxicroak, and Aromatisse, are extremely good partners because they can take advantage of Pokemon like Sneasel and Houndoom that Froslass is a magnet for. In particular, setup attackers that can take advantage of Dark-types like Choice Band Sneasel, such as Omastar, Klinklang, and Scrafty, make for good partners.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Destiny Bond
item: Focus Sash
ability: Cursed Body
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spikes allows Froslass to help wear down the opposing team for teammates throughout the match. Taunt prevents Froslass from being set up on while also allowing it to prevent other leads from laying hazards of their own; this is especially useful versus slower suicide leads like Omastar and Pokemon like Piloswine and Palossand that Froslass can set up a layer of Spikes versus even if they attack it; it can also be used prevent Defog attempts from Pokemon like Silvally and Cryogonal. Ice Beam is important to allow Froslass to break through Xatu that try block Froslass's attempts to lay Spikes, having a sliver of a chance to OHKO it from full health. Destiny Bond is useful against Pokemon like Sneasel that can outrun Froslass to prevent it from setting multiple layers of Spikes by making them choose between preventing Froslass from setting up its first layer of Spikes or losing a potential threat to Froslass's team; it is also useful for removing slower targets that can potentially pose as a threat to Froslass's team.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed investment alongside a Timid nature makes the most of Froslass's excellent Speed tier, maximizing the efficiency with which Froslass can lay Spikes and allowing it to fire off fast Taunts and Destiny Bonds while also Speed tying with opposing Froslass to try and to Taunt them first. Maximum investment in Special Attack is used to ensure that Ice Beam hits as hard as possible, with Focus Sash compensating for the resultant lack of bulk by ensuring that Froslass survives at least one hit. This allows Ice Beam to deal upwards of 85% to Xatu and to OHKO Whimsicott. Cursed Body allows Froslass to disable attacks that target it; this takes advantage of the fact that Froslass will usually take two hits thanks to Focus Sash, allowing it to potentially disable an attack from an opposing Pokemon and consequently create opportunities for teammates by forcing Choice-locked Pokemon to use Struggle or by locking attackers out of a threatening attack.
Usage Tips
========
You will usually find yourself leading with Froslass to try to whittle the opposing team down right from the start of the match. However, don't blindly click the Froslass slot in case you expect a specific Pokemon that makes leading with a different Pokemon more opportune. While you will usually let Froslass faint to provide a free switch for a teammate, it is worth noting that it is sometimes worth preserving Froslass so to set up an extra layer of Spikes later on, make use of its other utility options later on in the match, or preserve its ability to spinblock. If you do this after Froslass has been brought down to below 25% of its maximum HP, try to switch Froslass in either on the turn the opposing team uses Stealth Rock to make the most of the fact it won't be able to switch in again or, more ideally, try to double in on them to prevent them using Stealth Rock with Taunt. If your opponent leads with Sneasel, have Froslass use Destiny Bond on turn one so that Sneasel can't safely attack it on the second turn; this will allow Froslass to set up its first layer of Spikes safely while also potentially providing an opportunity to either lay a second or to use one of Froslass's other moves before going down, depending on the scenario. Similarly, consider your situation very carefully instead of brainlessly clicking Destiny Bond after Froslass has been brought down to its Focus Sash; a mistimed use of Destiny Bond can be easily taken advantage of by foes that don't boost Speed, especially considering that it will always fail on the following turn.
Team Options
========
This Froslass set generally fits best on hyper offense, but it also has a place on certain bulky offensive builds. Pokemon that can keep entry hazard removers like Golbat, Silvally-Steel, and Hitmonlee consistently under heavy pressure, such as Sigilyph, Mismagius, and Delphox, make for good partners due to Froslass typically having one chance to set Spikes per game. Setup attackers that can exploit Sneasel locked into Knock Off or Choice Scarf Fire-types, such as Omastar, Samurott, Virizion, and Celebrate Venusaur, take advantage of these Pokemon's tendency to try and remove Froslass before it can use Spikes twice. Offensively oriented Stealth Rock users like Mesprit, Rhydon, and Piloswine are a necessity to account for Froslass's lack of said move in the lead slot without sacrificing momentum too much. Strong wallbreakers like Vanilluxe, Vikavolt, and Medicham benefit from Spikes chipping away at the Pokemon they aim to weaken. Pokemon that can pressure bulky Defog and Rapid Spin users like Silvally, Cryogonal, and Golbat are useful to account for the fact that Froslass typically lays Spikes once per game, making Pokemon like Delphox and Braviary useful partners. Pokemon with a strong matchup versus opposing offense, such as Whimsicott, Heliolisk, Choice Scarf Vanilluxe, and Choice Scarf Passimian, make for superb partners due to their appreciation of Spikes, commonly cleaning up late-game.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
========
Icy Wind on the lead set can be used to slow down Pokemon like Sneasel and Accelgor for teammates while also temporarily nullifying the Choice Scarf of Pokemon like Delphox without sacrificing the ability to 2HKO Xatu. However, the move needs to hit Xatu as it switches in to make any headway, and it loses out on KOs versus Pokemon like Whimsicott, which isn't ideal. Avalanche can be used alongside Destiny Bond to allow Froslass to create an infinite state of protection by the latter. Avalanche still 2HKOes Xatu unboosted, but the fact that Froslass moves second means that it can't realistically set up Spikes past it if it alternates between healing up with Roost and attacking, and it also leaves Froslass more vulnerable versus other slow Pokemon. Thunderbolt can be used on the Life Orb set to dent Water-types like Vaporeon, Silvally-Water, and Samurott, which is useful to prevent the last from safely setting up Swords Dance against Froslass if it has taken around 25% prior; however, it fails to 2HKO physically defensive variants of Vaporeon even if they lose their Leftovers, meaning that they can easily stall for Life Orb recoil with the combination of Wish and Protect.
Checks and Counters
========
**Dark-types**: Sneasel and Houndoom resist both of Froslass's STAB attacks and can Pursuit trap it. Incineroar also resists both of Froslass's STAB moves and OHKOes it with Darkest Lariat. Scrafty can’t set up on Froslass due to it carrying Taunt, but it fears nothing from the listed Froslass sets and OHKOes with STAB Knock Off.
**Faster Pokemon**: Whimsicott and Sceptile are both faster than Froslass and severely dent it with Choice Specs-boosted STAB moves. Choice Scarf Delphox and Choice Scarf Rotom are both able to outrun Froslass and OHKO it with their STAB moves, whereas the Choice Scarf users Hitmonlee, Passimian, and Vanilluxe achieve the same with Knock Off or Flash Cannon.
**Ice-resistant Pokemon**: Cryogonal forces Froslass into somewhat of a stalemate with its excellent special bulk and can pressure it between Toxic and attacks, although it needs to be wary of Taunt when attempting to clear entry hazards or heal up. Miltank, Piloswine, and Hariyama all have access to Thick Fat and can put Froslass under a lot of pressure. Silvally-Water and Vaporeon fear little from Froslass, allowing them to wear it down via its own Life Orb recoil and their STAB attacks.
**Steel-types:** Klinklang OHKOes Frosslass with Gear Grind and can take one Shadow Ball comfortably, although it often won't be able to set up due to Froslass using Taunt. Silvally-Steel, Probopass, and Togedemaru similarly fear nothing from Froslass due to their high bulk and resistance to Ice Beam, allowing them to rack up Life Orb recoil at worst or KO Froslass at best; that said, the former can't clear Froslass's Spikes consistently due to Taunt. Steelix can't switch into a Life Orb-boosted Ice Beam, but it OHKOes Froslass with Gyro Ball or Heavy Slam.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Leftovers Vikavolt can usually take two hits from Froslass if Stealth Rock isn’t on the field and can pressure it with Volt Switch. Mega Audino fears little from Froslass and pressures it with Dazzling Gleam.
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