[SET]
Redirection Support (Clefable) @ Sitrus Berry / Safety Goggles / Mental Herb
Ability: Unaware
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Follow Me
- Protect
- Life Dew / Thunder Wave
[SET COMMENTS]
- Clefable is able to sit in front of set up sweepers thanks to its ability, Unaware, while also providing redirection support for its allies. Clefable, with its Fairy-type, does well into the Dragon-infested format of Regulation H, threatening Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Dragonite for decent damage.
- Life Dew provides healing support for the team, helping Clefable and its allies stay on the field longer. Thunder Wave can be used instead of Life Dew to provide speed control against faster foes that Clefable can wall, such as Dragapult and certain Sneasler sets.
- Sitrus Berry is used to keep Clefable healthy when redirecting powerful attacks such as Wood Hammer from Rillaboom and Electro Shot from Archaludon. Safety Goggles allows Clefable to redirect away Spore from Amoonguss comfortably, while Mental Herb prevents Clefable from getting disrupted by Taunt and Encore from the likes of Maushold and Whimsicott, respectively.
- Tera Water provides Clefable with a key resistance to Steel-types, letting it better hold up against pillars of the format, notably Gholdengo, Kingambit, and Archaludon. It also gives Clefable resistances to Wave Crash from Basculegion-M, Weather Ball from Pelipper, and Flare Blitz from Incineroar and Hisuian Arcanine, among others.
- The HP and Defense allow Clefable to survive Iron Head from Kingambit, Wave Crash from Choice Band Basculegion-M when the Rain isn't set up, and Dire Claw from Sneasler. The Special Defense investment allows Clefable to survive Make It Rain from Life Orb Gholdengo and Blood Moon from Ursaluna-B.
- Clefable is great at disturbing a lot of the set up sweepers in the format, namely Annihilape and Dondozo. Clefable additionally does a good job at beating other top Pokemon such as Dragonite. While Clefable does beat a lot of set up sweepers, some of the most popular, notably Kingambit and Gholdengo, can still break through Clefable with their Steel-type attacks. Clefable also finds itself in competition with Clefairy, which not only has superior bulk when holding Eviolite, but it also has the arguably better ability of Friend Guard.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Teambuilding
============
- Clefable is best placed on balance teams, using its supportive options, namely Follow Me and Life Dew, to help ally sweepers to set up. Additionally, it pairs well with frail Pokemon, as Follow Me can protect them from priority moves that would otherwise OHKO them.
- Sneasler is a great partner for Clefable, as it threatens many of the Steel-types that scare away Clefable. Sneasler also beats the most common Taunt and Encore users, Maushold and Whimsicott, so they cannot disrupt Clefable in any way. In return, Clefable and redirect attacks such as Scale Shot from Dragonite which would otherwise threaten Sneasler.
- Annihilape is another Fighting-type Pokemon, able to beat Kingambit and Archaludon while having the benefit of also beating out Gholdengo with Rage Fist. Annihilape can also use Final Gambit to remove Pokemon that heavily chip down Clefable, such as opposing Rillaboom. Clefable redirects attacks away from Annihilape so it can safely set up with Bulk Up.
- Gholdengo is able to beat out Sneasler, which, with Dire Claw, would threaten Clefable. In return, Clefable can use Follow Me to let Gholdengo set up with Nasty Plot safely, while also providing potential speed control in Thunder Wave, helping with Gholdengo's sometimes underwhelming speed stat. Gholdengo is also a good Taunt and Encore switch in thanks to Good as Gold, which are two moves that would heavily disrupt Clefable.
- Clefable struggles into top Pokemon, namely Steel-types like Gholdengo, Kingambit, and Archaludon, but also Sneasler. Additionally, Taunt and Encore from the likes of Maushold, Whimsicott, and Alolan Ninetales can disturb Clefable's supportive duties. Annihilape beats a majority of the Steel-types, including Gholdengo and also beats Sneasler sets that aren't carrying Acrobatics when outside of RNG from Dire Claw. Taunt and Encore are easily consumed by Gholdengo and can be stopped by ally Annihilape's own Taunt.
Strategy Comments
============
- Clefable's role is to support the team with redirection and recovery support with Follow Me and Life Dew, respectively, while also providing as a check to set up Pokemon, most famously Dondozo. When faced against these set up Pokemon is when Clefable shows off its caliber, being able to chunk them down with Moonblast and withstand hits that most other Pokemon just can't.
- Clefable can be brought at any point of the game, but it should be reserved for those set up sweepers if expected. When playing against offensive teams that lack set up Pokemon, Clefable, if brought, should focus more on providing support with Life Dew or Thunder Wave and redirecting attacks rather than dealing consistent chunks of damage. Most notably, Clefable should be brought in the Dondozo and Tatsugiri matchup, as that is where its true potential is shown.
- As mentioned before, Steel-types like Gholdengo provide a hell-like experience for Clefable. Fighting- and Ground-types such as Annihilape and Ursaluna-B can help stop these Steel-types dead in their tracks, as well as Fire- or Water-types like Incineroar and ally Dondozo that resist their attacks. Taunt and Encore are again big issues for Clefable, so try to position around them and, if planning to use Clefable as a enabler for victory, remove the Taunt or Encore users as fast as possible. Clefable is also pretty easy to take advantage of due to its passive nature, so surround Clefable with offensive allies that deal loads of damage such as a boosted Gholdengo or Dragonite.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pengu.650323/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Redirection Support (Clefable) @ Sitrus Berry / Safety Goggles / Mental Herb
Ability: Unaware
Level: 50
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Follow Me
- Protect
- Life Dew / Thunder Wave
[SET COMMENTS]
- Clefable is able to sit in front of set up sweepers thanks to its ability, Unaware, while also providing redirection support for its allies. Clefable, with its Fairy-type, does well into the Dragon-infested format of Regulation H, threatening Pokemon such as Hydreigon and Dragonite for decent damage.
- Life Dew provides healing support for the team, helping Clefable and its allies stay on the field longer. Thunder Wave can be used instead of Life Dew to provide speed control against faster foes that Clefable can wall, such as Dragapult and certain Sneasler sets.
- Sitrus Berry is used to keep Clefable healthy when redirecting powerful attacks such as Wood Hammer from Rillaboom and Electro Shot from Archaludon. Safety Goggles allows Clefable to redirect away Spore from Amoonguss comfortably, while Mental Herb prevents Clefable from getting disrupted by Taunt and Encore from the likes of Maushold and Whimsicott, respectively.
- Tera Water provides Clefable with a key resistance to Steel-types, letting it better hold up against pillars of the format, notably Gholdengo, Kingambit, and Archaludon. It also gives Clefable resistances to Wave Crash from Basculegion-M, Weather Ball from Pelipper, and Flare Blitz from Incineroar and Hisuian Arcanine, among others.
- The HP and Defense allow Clefable to survive Iron Head from Kingambit, Wave Crash from Choice Band Basculegion-M when the Rain isn't set up, and Dire Claw from Sneasler. The Special Defense investment allows Clefable to survive Make It Rain from Life Orb Gholdengo and Blood Moon from Ursaluna-B.
- Clefable is great at disturbing a lot of the set up sweepers in the format, namely Annihilape and Dondozo. Clefable additionally does a good job at beating other top Pokemon such as Dragonite. While Clefable does beat a lot of set up sweepers, some of the most popular, notably Kingambit and Gholdengo, can still break through Clefable with their Steel-type attacks. Clefable also finds itself in competition with Clefairy, which not only has superior bulk when holding Eviolite, but it also has the arguably better ability of Friend Guard.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Teambuilding
============
- Clefable is best placed on balance teams, using its supportive options, namely Follow Me and Life Dew, to help ally sweepers to set up. Additionally, it pairs well with frail Pokemon, as Follow Me can protect them from priority moves that would otherwise OHKO them.
- Sneasler is a great partner for Clefable, as it threatens many of the Steel-types that scare away Clefable. Sneasler also beats the most common Taunt and Encore users, Maushold and Whimsicott, so they cannot disrupt Clefable in any way. In return, Clefable and redirect attacks such as Scale Shot from Dragonite which would otherwise threaten Sneasler.
- Annihilape is another Fighting-type Pokemon, able to beat Kingambit and Archaludon while having the benefit of also beating out Gholdengo with Rage Fist. Annihilape can also use Final Gambit to remove Pokemon that heavily chip down Clefable, such as opposing Rillaboom. Clefable redirects attacks away from Annihilape so it can safely set up with Bulk Up.
- Gholdengo is able to beat out Sneasler, which, with Dire Claw, would threaten Clefable. In return, Clefable can use Follow Me to let Gholdengo set up with Nasty Plot safely, while also providing potential speed control in Thunder Wave, helping with Gholdengo's sometimes underwhelming speed stat. Gholdengo is also a good Taunt and Encore switch in thanks to Good as Gold, which are two moves that would heavily disrupt Clefable.
- Clefable struggles into top Pokemon, namely Steel-types like Gholdengo, Kingambit, and Archaludon, but also Sneasler. Additionally, Taunt and Encore from the likes of Maushold, Whimsicott, and Alolan Ninetales can disturb Clefable's supportive duties. Annihilape beats a majority of the Steel-types, including Gholdengo and also beats Sneasler sets that aren't carrying Acrobatics when outside of RNG from Dire Claw. Taunt and Encore are easily consumed by Gholdengo and can be stopped by ally Annihilape's own Taunt.
Strategy Comments
============
- Clefable's role is to support the team with redirection and recovery support with Follow Me and Life Dew, respectively, while also providing as a check to set up Pokemon, most famously Dondozo. When faced against these set up Pokemon is when Clefable shows off its caliber, being able to chunk them down with Moonblast and withstand hits that most other Pokemon just can't.
- Clefable can be brought at any point of the game, but it should be reserved for those set up sweepers if expected. When playing against offensive teams that lack set up Pokemon, Clefable, if brought, should focus more on providing support with Life Dew or Thunder Wave and redirecting attacks rather than dealing consistent chunks of damage. Most notably, Clefable should be brought in the Dondozo and Tatsugiri matchup, as that is where its true potential is shown.
- As mentioned before, Steel-types like Gholdengo provide a hell-like experience for Clefable. Fighting- and Ground-types such as Annihilape and Ursaluna-B can help stop these Steel-types dead in their tracks, as well as Fire- or Water-types like Incineroar and ally Dondozo that resist their attacks. Taunt and Encore are again big issues for Clefable, so try to position around them and, if planning to use Clefable as a enabler for victory, remove the Taunt or Encore users as fast as possible. Clefable is also pretty easy to take advantage of due to its passive nature, so surround Clefable with offensive allies that deal loads of damage such as a boosted Gholdengo or Dragonite.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pengu.650323/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
Last edited: