Ice-types are about the statistically worst type of them all having numerous weaknesses such as Rock and Fighting and only resisting themselves. As such, they are far and few inbetween in the tiers, and most of them have fell into the depths of the NU tier. Even down in NU, many of them aren't used. Some of them are actually quite useful, and should be used more. They are a very interesting type, and many Ice-types are some of the best checks to Gorebyss and Jynx.
There is a severe lack of rapid spinners in NU, and Cryogonal happens to be one of the few! It's quite an interesting Pokemon, and while it doesn't have many many options, its stats are quite versatile; you can make it tank special attacks better by investing in special defense, you can make it tank physical hits better by invesnting in physical defense, and you can even go on the offensive if you'd like. That's not all, it's also the only non NFE rapid spinner with Recover, making it tougher to take down.
Regice, one of my personal favorites. It's very bulky, and it's an amazing check to Gorebyss and Jynx. It can reliably spread Thunder Wave across the opposing team while tanking / damaging threats while nessciary. One of its major problems is recovery, as it dies pretty fast if SR is up on the field and from repeated recovery. Some people have used Chesto Rest over Leftovers, as the 4th move isn't that important. Other people have used RestTalk, which is also pretty effective, but can't spread Thunder Wave. There's always Wish support from Lickilicky or Audino, too.
Thought SR was a big enough pain to all these other Ice-types? Well, Articuno has even more trouble with it. It's a fantastic Pokemon... If you keep Stealth Rock off the field. It isn't exactly very versatile either, but a simple set of Sub / Roost / Ice Beam / Toxic can be very hard to take out without phazing it to make it take extra damage from SR. Pressure makes it even more annoying.
Rotom-F
What's similar about Sawk, Magmortar and Bravairy? They are all slower than Rotom-F! Access to the infamous BoltBeam combo with STAB, Rotom-F can devastate its opponents easily. Choice Scarf Rotom-F can check Gorebyss and Jynx, and has access to Volt Switch and Trick, both great moves for choiced Pokemon. It faces some competition from Rotom-S, but it's certinally worth it if you need a choice scarfer who can beat Jynx as well. The powerful STAB Blizzard is always helpful, but it hits less often than Stone Edge; if that's even possible.
With only 80 stats across the board and such an unappealing typing, Glalie doesn't look like such a great Pokemon. In fact, the only reason you'd use it is Spikes. There are very few spikers in NU, and Glalie happens to be one of them! It also has access to some nifty options such as Super Fang and Taunt, and if it needs to can go out in a boom with Explosion. While nerfed, a Normal Gem Explosion will hit fairly hard. It works best as a "suicide lead", which while a lot less common in Gen 5, can still be fairly effective.
One of the scariest threats back when Hail was in NU, Glaceon is now just thrown aside for other Pokemon. Glaceon can still use a Choice Specs set effectively, as a 130 base Special Attack is very high for NU and will hit most things it hits hard. It's a bit slow, and its coverage isn't that great, but at least it's pretty buky. Speaking of it being bulky, a defensive set could possibly be used well as its overall bulk isn't half bad!
As it is slow and fairly bulky, Bearctic can be an effective SubPuncher. Ice / Fighting coverage is great, and hits practically every Pokemon in NU neutrally. Its Attack isn't that great, but it's just enough to inflict some major dents into many Pokemon. A full-out attacker set could be useful too, as it has useful options like Stone Edge. If only Bearctic had Ice Shard...
Lapras is such a versatile Pokemon with options ranging from Dragon Dance sweeping to special walling to being an effective rain tank. Its stats are well rounded as well. Unfortunately, none of those options are truly outstanding, and each have many issues that prevent them from being very effective. Hydration Rest is my personal favorite, and I've used it on most of the few rain teams I made--just be careful not to use Rest on the last Rain turn!
Oh look, another Water-Ice type. Unlike Lapras, Walrein is a lot less versatile, with a lot less options. It has slightly less bulk too, but it does have a few niche options to differentiate itself from Lapras. The two most noticeable options are Encore and Thick Fat, which can be helpful in certain situations. Super Fang is another useful option. It has better Special Attack than Lapras which is fairly noticeable, and the extra Speed could possibly help it with speed creeping Rock-types.
NFE Ice-types
Ice-Ground is a pretty good typing, giving Piloswine a STAB Earthquake and making it take neutral damage from SR. It's also the reason it has Stealth Rock, and Piloswine is actually the only ice type with Stealth Rock. With Eviolite, Piloswine can be very physically bulky, making it tough to break down. On the special side its not so tough, but it's still okay. Ice Shard is also noteable, as it lets Piloswine revenge the prominent birds and the occasional Dragon Dance dragons. Piloswine isn't a sitting duck either, it has a respectable 100 base Attack. A more offensive set utilizing Choice Band could be effective, but then you don't get Stealth Rock or the great bulk from Eviolite.
The fastest NFE is also one of the fastest Pokemon in NU. With a unique typing that gives it an immunity to the common Psychic type attacks, a decent base Attack and good coverage, Sneasel is actually quite effective. In fact, it makes an amazing Jynx check. Once Jynx makes something fall asleep, you can switch to Sneasel who will take almost no damage from any of Jynx's attacks other than the rare Focus Blast, then proceed to kill it with Pursuit--preventing it from escaping. The most common Sneasel is Choice Band, and it can deal quite a lot of damage to certain Pokemon. Swords Dance can be effective, too. The main problem with Sneasel is that it can't hit as hard as various other Pokemon and that its offensive movepool is very limited, lacking moves such as Night Slash that Dark-types usually use. It's still a fairly effective Pokemon, though, and it has suprised me all the times I've faced it.
All in all, Ice-types can be pretty effectie in NU, and are defenitely worth looking into. Which ones of these do you find most effective? Which one do you like using the most? Find any of these underwelming, or think something else should be added to the list? Post--I look forward to discussion!
There is a severe lack of rapid spinners in NU, and Cryogonal happens to be one of the few! It's quite an interesting Pokemon, and while it doesn't have many many options, its stats are quite versatile; you can make it tank special attacks better by investing in special defense, you can make it tank physical hits better by invesnting in physical defense, and you can even go on the offensive if you'd like. That's not all, it's also the only non NFE rapid spinner with Recover, making it tougher to take down.
Regice, one of my personal favorites. It's very bulky, and it's an amazing check to Gorebyss and Jynx. It can reliably spread Thunder Wave across the opposing team while tanking / damaging threats while nessciary. One of its major problems is recovery, as it dies pretty fast if SR is up on the field and from repeated recovery. Some people have used Chesto Rest over Leftovers, as the 4th move isn't that important. Other people have used RestTalk, which is also pretty effective, but can't spread Thunder Wave. There's always Wish support from Lickilicky or Audino, too.
Thought SR was a big enough pain to all these other Ice-types? Well, Articuno has even more trouble with it. It's a fantastic Pokemon... If you keep Stealth Rock off the field. It isn't exactly very versatile either, but a simple set of Sub / Roost / Ice Beam / Toxic can be very hard to take out without phazing it to make it take extra damage from SR. Pressure makes it even more annoying.
Rotom-F
What's similar about Sawk, Magmortar and Bravairy? They are all slower than Rotom-F! Access to the infamous BoltBeam combo with STAB, Rotom-F can devastate its opponents easily. Choice Scarf Rotom-F can check Gorebyss and Jynx, and has access to Volt Switch and Trick, both great moves for choiced Pokemon. It faces some competition from Rotom-S, but it's certinally worth it if you need a choice scarfer who can beat Jynx as well. The powerful STAB Blizzard is always helpful, but it hits less often than Stone Edge; if that's even possible.
With only 80 stats across the board and such an unappealing typing, Glalie doesn't look like such a great Pokemon. In fact, the only reason you'd use it is Spikes. There are very few spikers in NU, and Glalie happens to be one of them! It also has access to some nifty options such as Super Fang and Taunt, and if it needs to can go out in a boom with Explosion. While nerfed, a Normal Gem Explosion will hit fairly hard. It works best as a "suicide lead", which while a lot less common in Gen 5, can still be fairly effective.
One of the scariest threats back when Hail was in NU, Glaceon is now just thrown aside for other Pokemon. Glaceon can still use a Choice Specs set effectively, as a 130 base Special Attack is very high for NU and will hit most things it hits hard. It's a bit slow, and its coverage isn't that great, but at least it's pretty buky. Speaking of it being bulky, a defensive set could possibly be used well as its overall bulk isn't half bad!
As it is slow and fairly bulky, Bearctic can be an effective SubPuncher. Ice / Fighting coverage is great, and hits practically every Pokemon in NU neutrally. Its Attack isn't that great, but it's just enough to inflict some major dents into many Pokemon. A full-out attacker set could be useful too, as it has useful options like Stone Edge. If only Bearctic had Ice Shard...
Lapras is such a versatile Pokemon with options ranging from Dragon Dance sweeping to special walling to being an effective rain tank. Its stats are well rounded as well. Unfortunately, none of those options are truly outstanding, and each have many issues that prevent them from being very effective. Hydration Rest is my personal favorite, and I've used it on most of the few rain teams I made--just be careful not to use Rest on the last Rain turn!
Oh look, another Water-Ice type. Unlike Lapras, Walrein is a lot less versatile, with a lot less options. It has slightly less bulk too, but it does have a few niche options to differentiate itself from Lapras. The two most noticeable options are Encore and Thick Fat, which can be helpful in certain situations. Super Fang is another useful option. It has better Special Attack than Lapras which is fairly noticeable, and the extra Speed could possibly help it with speed creeping Rock-types.
NFE Ice-types
Ice-Ground is a pretty good typing, giving Piloswine a STAB Earthquake and making it take neutral damage from SR. It's also the reason it has Stealth Rock, and Piloswine is actually the only ice type with Stealth Rock. With Eviolite, Piloswine can be very physically bulky, making it tough to break down. On the special side its not so tough, but it's still okay. Ice Shard is also noteable, as it lets Piloswine revenge the prominent birds and the occasional Dragon Dance dragons. Piloswine isn't a sitting duck either, it has a respectable 100 base Attack. A more offensive set utilizing Choice Band could be effective, but then you don't get Stealth Rock or the great bulk from Eviolite.
The fastest NFE is also one of the fastest Pokemon in NU. With a unique typing that gives it an immunity to the common Psychic type attacks, a decent base Attack and good coverage, Sneasel is actually quite effective. In fact, it makes an amazing Jynx check. Once Jynx makes something fall asleep, you can switch to Sneasel who will take almost no damage from any of Jynx's attacks other than the rare Focus Blast, then proceed to kill it with Pursuit--preventing it from escaping. The most common Sneasel is Choice Band, and it can deal quite a lot of damage to certain Pokemon. Swords Dance can be effective, too. The main problem with Sneasel is that it can't hit as hard as various other Pokemon and that its offensive movepool is very limited, lacking moves such as Night Slash that Dark-types usually use. It's still a fairly effective Pokemon, though, and it has suprised me all the times I've faced it.
All in all, Ice-types can be pretty effectie in NU, and are defenitely worth looking into. Which ones of these do you find most effective? Which one do you like using the most? Find any of these underwelming, or think something else should be added to the list? Post--I look forward to discussion!
