KABUTOPS
ROCK/WATER
BASE STATS: 60 HP / 115 ATK / 105 DEF / 65 SPA / 70 SPD / 80 SPE
ABILITIES:
Swift Swim: Doubles this pokemons speed in rain.
Battle Armor: Opponents moves cannot score a critical hit.
Weak Armor: When this pokemon is hit by a physical move it's defense drops one stage, while it's speed increases two stages.
LEVEL UP MOVES (LEVEL-MOVE):
1-Slash/Night Slash/Feint/Absorb/Harden/Scratch/Sand Attack, 15-Aqua Jet, 20-Leer, 25-Mud Shot, 30-Ancient Power, 35-Brine, 43-Protect, 49-Leech Life, 56-Liquidation, 63-Metal Sound, 70-Stone Edge
TM MOVES:
TM01-Mega Kick, TM08-Hyper Beam, TM09-Giga Impact, TM15-Dig, TM16-Screech, TM21-Rest, TM22-Rock Slide, TM23-Thief, TM24-Snore, TM25-Protect, TM27-Icy Wind, TM28-Giga Drain, TM31-Attract, TM32-Sandstorm, TM33-Rain Dance, TM35-Hail, TM36-Whirlpool, TM39-Facade, TM43-Brick Break, TM45-Dive, TM48-Rock Tomb, TM53-Mud Shot, TM54-Rock Blast, TM55-Brine, TM69-Psycho Cut, TM73-Cross Poison, TM76-Round, TM83-Razor Shell
TR MOVES:
TR00-Swords Dance, TR01-Body Slam, TR03-Hydro Pump, TR04-Surf, TR05-Ice Beam, TR06-Blizzard, TR07-Low Kick, TR16-Waterfall, TR18-Leech Life, TR20-Substitute, TR26-Endure, TR27-Sleep Talk, TR39-Superpower, TR46-Iron Defense, TR60-X-Scissor, TR67-Earth Power, TR75-Stone Edge, TR76-Stealth Rock, TR84-Scald, TR98-Liquidation
EGG MOVES:
Aurora Beam, Bubble Beam, Confuse Ray, Flail, Knock Off, Rapid Spin, Take Down, Mega Drain
TRANSFER ONLY MOVES:
Toxic, Smack Down, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Rock Polish, Swagger, Nature Power, Confide, Headbutt, Reflect, Seismic Toss, Aqua Tail, Water Pulse, Hone Claws, Rock Smash, Cut, Fury Cutter, Mud-slap, Rollout, Double-edge, Mimic, Curse, Water Gun, Submission, Skull Bash
NEW MOVES/MOVE TUTORS: Flip Turn, Meteor Beam
COMPETITIVE MOVES:
Stone Edge
Swords Dance
Aqua Jet
Flip Turn
Rapid Spin
Knock Off
Aqua Tail
Superpower
SUMMARY:
The OG returns for another generation. Kabutops really only reaches its full potential on rain teams, because outside rain it is slow and outclassed. It's main niche is that is has access to the coveted Rapid Spin and can boost up with SD to wreck the opposing team. It also has access to STAB priority in Aqua Jet and has a new toy in Flip Turn. In rain, Kabutops outspeeds also everything including Regieleki and, Phermosa. It also resists ES, but is neutral to Bullet Punch. Kabutops is one of the most powerful swift swimmers in the whole game and at +2 can blast though walls.
POSITIVES:
Very threatening under rain
Access to Rapid Spin
Has Swords Dance+Aqua Jet to help it revenge kill faster threats
NEGATIVES:
Dependent on rain to really maximize potential
Mostly underwelming stats aside from attack
Frail, can't take many hits especially on the special side
Has many weaknesses including electric and ground
MOVESET #1
Kabutops @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP / 252 ATK / 252 SPE
Adamant Nature
-Swords Dance
-Stone Edge
-Aqua Tail
-Superpower/Aqua Jet/Rapid Spin
The Predator's flag ship set. When you get a opportunity set up a Swords Dance and then ravage everything in sight. At +2, Aqua Tail and Stone Edge get at least neutral coverage on almost all of OU and have the power to sweep. For the last slot you have many good options. Aqua Jet is very valuable in the current metagame and provides a way to best Sucker Punch users and other fast threats. Superpower OHKOes Kartana and Ferrothorn which resist your other moves. Rapid Spin is great to protect your team from hazards.
MOVESET #2
Kabutops @ Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
EVS: 4 HP / 252 ATK / 252 SPE
Adamant Nature
-Aqua Tail/Flip Turn
-Stone Edge
-Superpower
-Aqua Jet
A Choice Band turns Kabutops into a wrecking ball from the getgo. Flip Turn is a great momentum grabber and is quite powerful under rain while Aqua Tail provides a lot more firepower to break though bulkier pokemon. Stone Edge does horrendous damage to Kyurem-B, and the many flying types. Superpower is mostly for Ferrothorn and Kartana who wouldn't have many problems with it's other moves. Aqua Jet is incredibly useful revenge killling boosted threats like Phermosa, Volcarona and Blaziken.
OTHER OPTIONS:
Kabutops doesn't really have many other viable options. Liquidation, Waterfall, Knock Off, Leech Life, Stealth Rock, and Rock Blast all have their merits but most of the time they are not the best option. A focus sash set is also viable but is much weaker and struggles to break through many of the bulkier pokemon in OU.
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