With a rare defensive typing as well as access to reliable recovery in Shore Up, Palossand carves out a niche as a Stealth Rock setter that can block Rapid Spin attempts from Cyclizar. Palossand's solid natural bulk lets it tank anything Cyclizar throws at it and take on dangerous physical attackers like Galarian Zapdos, Entei, and Jirachi, threatening the latter two with Scorching Sands. However, Palossand often finds itself 2HKO'd by dangerous wallbreakers like Mamoswine and Volcanion; while it can threaten them with Scorching Sands, Palossand will find itself at their mercy if they find a safe entry point against it. Palossand's passivity means that many of the Pokemon it's supposed to check, like Cyclizar and Galarian Zapdos, can pivot out on it with U-Turn, letting the aforementioned wallbreakers come in on it safely; this also means that setup sweepers like Suicune can use it as fodder to rack up boosts. As a defensive Ground-type capable of setting Stealth Rock, Palossand competes directly with Hippowdon and Rhyperior; the former has much better overall bulk while also being able to phaze setup sweepers with Whirlwind, while the latter lacks reliable recovery but has a much stronger offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Scorching Sands
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Shore Up
item: Heavy-Duty Boots / Colbur Berry
ability: Water Compaction
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
tera type: Water / Fairy / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Palossand's good bulk, access to reliable recovery, and Ghost-typing let it act as a Stealth Rock setter that can stop Cyclizar from freely using Rapid Spin. Scorching Sands lets Palossand burn and cripple physical attackers, particularly those that could otherwise come in on it freely, like Krookodile and Maushold. Shore Up lets Palossand stay healthy throughout the game, and has a bonus effect of letting it exploit Sand Stream Hippowdon thanks to its ability to heal more HP under sandstorm. By protecting it from entry hazard damage, Heavy-Duty Boots makes Palossand less reliant on Shore Up, letting it utilize its other moves more easily. Colbur Berry can instead be used as a safeguard against Knock Off from the likes of Cyclizar and Galarian Zapdos, letting Palossand check them more easily. Tera Water is a solid defensive typing that lets Palossand use Water Compaction more easily thanks to its newfound resistance to Water, turning it into a solid check against Water-type attackers like Gyarados and Feraligatr. It also turns Palossand's Ice weakness into a resistance, letting it check Mamoswine. Tera Fairy is an alternative that grants Palossand a resistance to Knock Off from Krookodile and Galarian Zapdos, while its Dragon immunity lets it take on Dragon Dance Salamence and non-Flash Cannon Hisuian Goodra in a pinch. Tera Poison grants it an immunity to Umbreon's Toxic and Alolan Muk's Poison Touch, preventing it from being crippled by chip damage. Tera Poison also lets Palossand check Mimikyu and Hisuian Lilligant by granting it a neutrality to Ghost and a resistance to Fairy for the former, and a resistance to Grass while maintaining its Fighting resistance for the latter.
Palossand's ability to block Rapid Spin and set Stealth Rock means that it finds itself right at home on hazard stack and balance teams. Spikes users such as Mew and Chesnaught appreciate Palossand keeping their hazards up against Cyclizar, with Chesnaught in particular making for a good partner due to its ability to check Dark-types like Krookodile and Bisharp. Cyclizar itself makes for a solid teammate thanks to its ability to check Ghost- and Water-types, like Basculegion-F and Volcanion, while appreciating Palossand's ability to deter Fighting-types like Galarian Zapdos from freely using Close Combat. Colbur Berry variants also appreciate Cyclizar removing hazards on its team's side while also keeping up Palossand's Stealth Rock. Palossand's lacking special bulk means that specially defensive Pokemon like Hisuian Goodra, Wo-Chien, and Blissey pair well with it, appreciating Palossand's ability to shore up their own defensive shortcomings. The former two are able to check Water-types like Slowbro and Basculegion-F, while the latter keeps Gengar in check and appreciates not having to run Stealth Rock itself. Umbreon makes for a fantastic partner with Palossand due to its ability to check Gyarados, one of Palossand's best counters, as well as its ability to stop opposing Ghost-types like Gengar and Basculegion-F while wearing down the opposition with Toxic. In return, Palossand checks dangerous Fighting-types like Terrakion for it. On hazard stack teams, offensive powerhouses like Gardevoir and Volcanion can use Taunt and Encore users, such as Noivern and Jirachi, respectively, to find switch-in opportunities. In exchange, Palossand is able to wear down the opposing team with Stealth Rock and Scorching Sand burns while also checking opposing offensive threats, like Galarian Zapdos and Maushold.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Rocky Helmet allows Palossand to better wear down physical attackers like Galarian Zapdos as well as punish U-Turn attempts from pivots like Cyclizar or Jirachi. Hex can be used as an alternative to Shadow Ball on teams that rely on statusing the opponent's team, in addition to synergizing well with Scorching Sands, though Shadow Ball's reliable power makes it preferred in most other scenarios. Sludge Bomb targets Grass-types like Wo-Chien and Hisuian Lilligant, in addition to its poison chance making it easier to wear them down. However, it's quite situational outside of hitting Grass-types and requires Palossand to give up a STAB move in order to run it. Palossand can forgo Scorching Sands' burn chance for Earth Power's higher base power, guaranteeing a 2HKO on Bisharp and offensive Empoleon, though Palossand's passivity means that it usually prefers Scorching Sands' ability to spread burns. Palossand can lure in and cripple defensive Pokemon like Umbreon and Wo-Chien with a Choice Specs Trick set; however, Palossand's passivity makes it sub-optimal offensively, rendering it dead weight until Choice Specs is removed.
Checks and Counters
====
**Water-types**: Suicune and Gyarados can take just about anything Palossand throws at them, taking advantage of its passivity to rack up multiple boosts in preparation for a sweep. While Suicune dislikes being burned by Scorching Sands, Gyarados' immunity to the move makes it public enemy number one for Palossand. Volcanion and Basculegion-F are also able to threaten it offensively by targeting its lower Special Defense stat, though they must be mindful of Scorching Sands and Shadow Ball, respectively.
**Dark-types**: Wo-Chien resists both Scorching Sand and Shadow Ball and can wear Palossand down with Leech Seed, Knock Off, and Ruination. Umbreon similarly doesn't mind Palossand's attacks and can cripple it with Toxic, while Krookodile and Bisharp threaten it offensively. However, aside from Wo-Chien, none of these Pokemon appreciate being burned by Scorching Sands.
**Special Wallbreakers**: Palossand's poor special bulk means that strong special attackers, like Noivern, Gengar, Armarouge, and Gardevoir threaten to OHKO or 2HKO it. However, all but Noivern struggle to switch in on Palossand's STAB moves.
**Disruption**: Palossand's passivity means that it is significantly crippled by Taunt from Noivern as well as Encore from Maushold or Jirachi. Additionally, Trick users like Cresselia and Gardevoir can saddle Palossand with a Choice item, preventing it from functioning as a defensive Pokemon.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bice.236507/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/heatranator.647728/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
