[SET]
name: Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Dragon Tail / Swords Dance
item: Eviolite
ability: Rough Skin
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 112 Def / 116 SpD / 28 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fairy / Steel
[SET COMMENTS]
Gabite's good Eviolite-bolstered bulk and defensive typing make it a premier Stealth Rock user and an effective check to threats like Skuntank, Raichu, and Lycanroc-N. With its decent Attack and STAB Earthquake + Dragon Tail, Gabite is deceptively hard to switch into and exploit, which gives it an easier time setting Stealth Rock and negating offensive pressure. Rough Skin adds to the support Gabite provides, helping it further wear down physical threats like Basculin and Zangoose for its teammates to finish off. Stone Edge nails Charizard and Articuno and also hits Rotom-F. Dragon Tail is useful against setup sweepers like Gogoat and Tera Fighting Carbink, but Gabite can use Swords Dance instead to double as a bulky wallbreaker. The investment in bulk lets Gabite avoid the 2HKO from Lycanroc-N's Play Rough after Stealth Rock and Charizard's Hurricane at full. 28 Speed EVs allow Gabite to outspeed defensive Misdreavus. Tera Ghost helps against Normal-types like Zangoose and Squawkabilly, provides an immunity to Carbink's Body Press, and lets Gabite spinblock. Tera Fairy is another option that staves off Dark- and Dragon-types like Alolan Persian and Flapple. Alternatively, Tera Steel offers useful resistances like Ice, Flying, and Grass and also lets Gabite come in freely on Toxic and Toxic Spikes.
Because of its unique blend of offense and defense, Gabite fits well on multiple playstyles. Ice-types like Rotom-F and Articuno are the biggest threat to Gabite and must be accounted for when using it. Charizard, Rotom-F, and Carbink are checks to such Pokemon and appreciate having their switch-ins worn down by Stealth Rock, with Charizard and Carbink also offering Gabite backup against Grass- and Fire-types, respectively. If Carbink runs Spikes, it can even form an entry hazard stacking core with Gabite. Pyroar is another option for checking Ice-types that also pressures Tera Fairy Misdreavus, which is really good at exploiting Gabite, and appreciates Gabite coming to its aid against threats like Alolan Dugtrio and Lycanroc-N. Wallbreakers that struggle against Steel-types, such as Indeedee-F and Honchkrow, benefit from Gabite's presence and can also check Misdreavus for it. Cleaners and revenge killers like Electrode and Choice Scarf Basculin love being paired with Gabite, since its ability to effortlessly spread chip damage can give them an easier time picking foes off.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/asa.400292/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rien.474994/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
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