[SET]
Kitsunoh @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Trace
EVs: 104 HP / 152 Atk / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Water
Jolly Nature
- Shadow Strike
- Strength Sap
- Will-O-Wisp / Knock Off
- U-turn
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
Kitsunoh is a Pokemon brimming with utility; as with Trace, an excellent movepool, a wonderful speed tier, and great typing, Kitsunoh can be a great support Pokemon capable of annoying common cores, including Pokemon like Galarian Slowking, Zamazenta, and Arghonaut. Kitsunoh is also a wonderful spin blocker, capable of dealing with the most common spinner in the tier, Equilibra, while also being able to burn Great Tusk, although this comes at the risk of an OHKO from Headlong Rush. Strength Sap allows Kitsunoh to have longevity, as due to it constantly switching into Pokemon like Zamazenta and Ogerpon-W, Kitsunoh is more often than not getting almost a full recovery from Strength Sap. Wil-o-Wisp cripples physical threats that Kitsunoh switches into, such as the aforementioned Zamazenta, Ogerpon-W, and Arghonaut, as well as Dragonite. Knock Off, on the other hand, allows it to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from common checks like Moltres, Dragapult, and other Kitsunoh on the Switch, allowing hazards to dig into their longevity. U-turn lets Kitsunoh grab momentum from the aforementioned checks and let one of Kitsunoh's teammates, namely Darkrai, Cresceidon, and Ting-Lu, handle the opposing Pokemon. Tera Water allows Kitsunoh to shed its Ground and Dark weaknesses, allowing it to check Samurott-Hisui and Great Tusk, as well as being able to check Cinderace, as well as Hemogoblin and Chuggalong as a last resort. This does sacrifice Kitsunoh's ability to spinblock, however. The EVs allow Kitsunoh to survive a Knock Off from Ogerpon-W from full, allowing Kitsunoh to either heal with Strength Sap or cripple it with Wil-o-Wisp.
Kitsunoh can fit snugly on multiple variations of bulky offense and balance teams, but hazard stacking balance teams are where Kitsunoh really shines, allowing Kitsunoh to abuse its speed tier and spinblocking capabilities. As such, Spikes setters such as Gliscor, Arghonaut, and Hisuian Samurott are wonderful partners, as well as Stealth Rock setters such as Garganacl, Clefable, and Ting-Lu. Garganacl and Hisuian Samurott in particular can check Fire-types like Cinderace, Iron Moth, and Ramnarok, Pokemon that can easily threaten it, while Kitsunoh deals with Arghonaut and Ogerpon-W, two Pokemon that could prove to be huge troubles to them. Gliscor and Clefable also help with absorbing Knock Off from opposing Gliscor and Clefable, as well as others like Arghonaut and Weavile, as Kitsunoh can become heavily impaired in its switching abilities if it loses its Heavy-Duty Boots. Kitsunoh also has trouble dealing with Dark-types like Darkrai and Kingambit, as it can force it to tera or just KO it outright, so Pokemon like the aforementioned Arghonaut and Zamazenta can help in fending them off. Darkrai and Kingambit are also great teammates for Kitsunoh, as they can deal with Ghost-types like Pecharunt and Dragapult that can give Kitsunoh trouble, while Kitsunoh can deal with Fighting-types like Zamazenta and Arghonaut for them.
STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Sets utilizing Choice Band and Choice Scarf can be a viable option for some offensive teams, as it can use its decent attack stat and a spammable attack in Shadow Strike to become a great offensive threat. These sets can also afford more anttacking options like Close Combat, Ice Punch, and Meteor Mash to deal with Garganacl and Samurott-Hisui, Landorus-T and Gliscor, and Clefable and Hemogoblin respectively. These coverage options can also be run on the utility set, but it’s usually at the cost of a more consistently useful utility move. Defog can also be used if your team really appreciates the hazard removal, however, again, there are more useful moves out there, especially since Kitsunoh dosen’t have a great matchup into common hazard setters like Gliscor and Garganacl. Covert Cloak can be useful to almost turn the tables on Garganacl, as well as prevent Scald burns, but since Kitsunoh will be switching in and out a lot, the hazard damage-preventing Heavy-Duty Boots is preferred.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off**: Kitsunoh needs to be careful switching into Pokemon like Ogerpon-W, Gliscor, and Weavile, as if Knock Off dosen’t OHKO Kitsunoh outright, it will now be taking hazard damage, limiting the things it can switch into over the course of a game. Do note that all of these mons don’t like getting burned by Kitsunoh, but Gliscor can become a full check once Toxic Orb activates.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Pokemon like Darkrai, Kingambit, and Colossoil can easily switch into Shadow Strike and threaten it out fairly easily, especially Darkrai and Colossoil as they don’t fear Wil-o-Wisp. However, U-Turn will do a decent chunk if predicted to come in, and all of them can be lured by Close Combat, especially with Choice Scarf.
**Garganacl**: Garganacl acts as an almost full counter, as it resists Shadow Strike due to it’s ability, and can easily set up Stealth Rock or set up with Curse in front of it, especially cause Salt Cure can outpace the healing done by Strength Sap after a certain time. Garganacl does have to fear Choiced sers with Close Combat or Meteor Mash, as well as Covert Cloak sets, however Garganacl can still threaten with Earthquake.
**Status**: Kitsunoh really struggles dealing with status from the likes of Shox, Mollux, and Zapdos, as Kitsunoh getting burned will make it almost a sitting duck offensively, while Paralysis shuts down Kitsunoh’s amazing speed, allowing Pokemon like Great Tusk and Revenankh to take it out more easily.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Clefable, Cresceidon, and Alomomola can easily stonewall it and use it to either set up hazards, status it, or heal it’s teammates with Wish, respectively. All of these Pokemon can also switch into Strength Sap, as due to their low attack stats, Kitsunoh won’t gain much health back. However, Kitsunoh can break through with lucky defense drops from Shadow Strike, as well as Cresceidon and Alomomola being susceptible to Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lightniong.591294/
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/
Kitsunoh @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Trace
EVs: 104 HP / 152 Atk / 252 Spe
Tera Type: Water
Jolly Nature
- Shadow Strike
- Strength Sap
- Will-O-Wisp / Knock Off
- U-turn
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
===================
Kitsunoh is a Pokemon brimming with utility; as with Trace, an excellent movepool, a wonderful speed tier, and great typing, Kitsunoh can be a great support Pokemon capable of annoying common cores, including Pokemon like Galarian Slowking, Zamazenta, and Arghonaut. Kitsunoh is also a wonderful spin blocker, capable of dealing with the most common spinner in the tier, Equilibra, while also being able to burn Great Tusk, although this comes at the risk of an OHKO from Headlong Rush. Strength Sap allows Kitsunoh to have longevity, as due to it constantly switching into Pokemon like Zamazenta and Ogerpon-W, Kitsunoh is more often than not getting almost a full recovery from Strength Sap. Wil-o-Wisp cripples physical threats that Kitsunoh switches into, such as the aforementioned Zamazenta, Ogerpon-W, and Arghonaut, as well as Dragonite. Knock Off, on the other hand, allows it to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from common checks like Moltres, Dragapult, and other Kitsunoh on the Switch, allowing hazards to dig into their longevity. U-turn lets Kitsunoh grab momentum from the aforementioned checks and let one of Kitsunoh's teammates, namely Darkrai, Cresceidon, and Ting-Lu, handle the opposing Pokemon. Tera Water allows Kitsunoh to shed its Ground and Dark weaknesses, allowing it to check Samurott-Hisui and Great Tusk, as well as being able to check Cinderace, as well as Hemogoblin and Chuggalong as a last resort. This does sacrifice Kitsunoh's ability to spinblock, however. The EVs allow Kitsunoh to survive a Knock Off from Ogerpon-W from full, allowing Kitsunoh to either heal with Strength Sap or cripple it with Wil-o-Wisp.
Kitsunoh can fit snugly on multiple variations of bulky offense and balance teams, but hazard stacking balance teams are where Kitsunoh really shines, allowing Kitsunoh to abuse its speed tier and spinblocking capabilities. As such, Spikes setters such as Gliscor, Arghonaut, and Hisuian Samurott are wonderful partners, as well as Stealth Rock setters such as Garganacl, Clefable, and Ting-Lu. Garganacl and Hisuian Samurott in particular can check Fire-types like Cinderace, Iron Moth, and Ramnarok, Pokemon that can easily threaten it, while Kitsunoh deals with Arghonaut and Ogerpon-W, two Pokemon that could prove to be huge troubles to them. Gliscor and Clefable also help with absorbing Knock Off from opposing Gliscor and Clefable, as well as others like Arghonaut and Weavile, as Kitsunoh can become heavily impaired in its switching abilities if it loses its Heavy-Duty Boots. Kitsunoh also has trouble dealing with Dark-types like Darkrai and Kingambit, as it can force it to tera or just KO it outright, so Pokemon like the aforementioned Arghonaut and Zamazenta can help in fending them off. Darkrai and Kingambit are also great teammates for Kitsunoh, as they can deal with Ghost-types like Pecharunt and Dragapult that can give Kitsunoh trouble, while Kitsunoh can deal with Fighting-types like Zamazenta and Arghonaut for them.
STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Sets utilizing Choice Band and Choice Scarf can be a viable option for some offensive teams, as it can use its decent attack stat and a spammable attack in Shadow Strike to become a great offensive threat. These sets can also afford more anttacking options like Close Combat, Ice Punch, and Meteor Mash to deal with Garganacl and Samurott-Hisui, Landorus-T and Gliscor, and Clefable and Hemogoblin respectively. These coverage options can also be run on the utility set, but it’s usually at the cost of a more consistently useful utility move. Defog can also be used if your team really appreciates the hazard removal, however, again, there are more useful moves out there, especially since Kitsunoh dosen’t have a great matchup into common hazard setters like Gliscor and Garganacl. Covert Cloak can be useful to almost turn the tables on Garganacl, as well as prevent Scald burns, but since Kitsunoh will be switching in and out a lot, the hazard damage-preventing Heavy-Duty Boots is preferred.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Knock Off**: Kitsunoh needs to be careful switching into Pokemon like Ogerpon-W, Gliscor, and Weavile, as if Knock Off dosen’t OHKO Kitsunoh outright, it will now be taking hazard damage, limiting the things it can switch into over the course of a game. Do note that all of these mons don’t like getting burned by Kitsunoh, but Gliscor can become a full check once Toxic Orb activates.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Pokemon like Darkrai, Kingambit, and Colossoil can easily switch into Shadow Strike and threaten it out fairly easily, especially Darkrai and Colossoil as they don’t fear Wil-o-Wisp. However, U-Turn will do a decent chunk if predicted to come in, and all of them can be lured by Close Combat, especially with Choice Scarf.
**Garganacl**: Garganacl acts as an almost full counter, as it resists Shadow Strike due to it’s ability, and can easily set up Stealth Rock or set up with Curse in front of it, especially cause Salt Cure can outpace the healing done by Strength Sap after a certain time. Garganacl does have to fear Choiced sers with Close Combat or Meteor Mash, as well as Covert Cloak sets, however Garganacl can still threaten with Earthquake.
**Status**: Kitsunoh really struggles dealing with status from the likes of Shox, Mollux, and Zapdos, as Kitsunoh getting burned will make it almost a sitting duck offensively, while Paralysis shuts down Kitsunoh’s amazing speed, allowing Pokemon like Great Tusk and Revenankh to take it out more easily.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Pokemon like Clefable, Cresceidon, and Alomomola can easily stonewall it and use it to either set up hazards, status it, or heal it’s teammates with Wish, respectively. All of these Pokemon can also switch into Strength Sap, as due to their low attack stats, Kitsunoh won’t gain much health back. However, Kitsunoh can break through with lucky defense drops from Shadow Strike, as well as Cresceidon and Alomomola being susceptible to Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lightniong.591294/
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: