Munchlax @ Eviolite
Ability: Thick Fat
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Def / 236 SpD
Impish Nature
- Pursuit
- Sleep Talk
- Body Slam
- Rest
Role: Special Wall, Mixed Wall, Tank
What It Does: Munchlax is the single specially bulkiest Pokemon in the entire metagame, so naturally, it should be used as a special wall. This is a role Munchlax performs admirably, being able to even avoid the OHKO from Modest Clamperl's Deepseatooth Shell Smash Surf from full health; it is arguably the only viable dedicated special wall in LC, as most other defensive Pokemon tend to focus on checking specific threats. Munchlax's enormous built-in bulk allows it to absorb unboosted special attacks with incredible ease, usually avoiding the 3HKO from even Modest Bellsprout's Solar Beam; anything weaker than that hardly scratches Munchlax at all. All this bulk gives Munchlax ample time to spread paralysis and a bit of damage with its STAB Body Slam; even without investments, frailer Pokemon will not enjoy being hit by Body Slam. Pursuit is an extremely useful move to have because two of the top threats to stall teams, Life Orb Abra and Life Orb Gastly, fail to 2HKO Munchlax, allowing Munchlax to switch in and put them in checkmate position. Munchlax's biggest issue as a wall is its lack of reliable recovery; Rest serves to alleviate this while also getting rid of bothersome burn and poison statuses, and still letting Munchlax keep its Eviolite to maintain its amazing special bulk. Sleep Talk is necessary to ensure that Munchlax isn't a sitting duck while asleep. Thick Fat may not seem very useful at first glance when Ice-types are almost non-existent, but it allows Munchlax to wall an even greater number of Pokemon; in particular, it allows Munchlax to crush important threats in Ponyta and Vulpix. Defense is usually maxed out because Munchlax's HP stat is so innately high that it doesn't need much investments, so with maximum Defense, Munchlax is able to withstand weaker hits from both sides of the spectrum with ease.
What Counters It: Bulky Fighting-types are able to easily take a Body Slam and force Munchlax out with the threat of powerful STAB Super-effective attacks. Timburr in particular can actually take advantage of Body Slam paralysis to activate Guts, while Mienfoo abuses Regenerator to check Munchlax throughout the match. Any Fighting-type with access to the move will love to throw out Drain Punches to heal large amounts of HP back from Munchlax's massive HP stat. In addition, Fighting-types tend to pack another move that is very detrimental to Munchlax's walling capabilities - Knock Off. By getting rid of Munchlax's Eviolite, many former 4HKOs turn into 3HKOs, preventing Munchlax from stalling these attacks out with Rest. This means that if a team's Fighting-types are down, Munchlax can still be taken out if its Eviolite can be Knocked Off. Other than Fighting-types, the most prominent Knock Off user is probably Pawniard; Pawniard also has the physical bulk and the resistances to take anything this particular set can dish out, although Choice Scarf variants in particular won't want to be paralyzed. Powerful Rock-types such as offensive Archen and Shell Smash variants of Tirtouga and Omanyte can heavily damage or set up on Munchlax with ease, but must be wary of Body Slam paralysis as well.
Good Teammates: Due to its ability to wall an enormous portion of the metagame, including very notable threats such as Sun sweepers and Abra, but at the same time get forced out by extremely important Pokemon like Mienfoo and Pawniard, and lose momentum drastically for its team due to its sluggish nature, Munchlax is best placed on a stall team that can repeatedly switch in on Pokemon that Munchlax dislikes and doesn't mind losing momentum. Because two of the biggest impediments to Munchlax's walling capabilities are Knock Off and Fighting-types, Trubbish and Foongus immediately come to mind as brilliant teammates, absorbing Knock Off with ease and dealing with most Fighting-types. Trubbish in particular can set up Spikes to take advantage of the switches Munchlax tends to force. Other than that, anything that appreciates Munchlax's ability to take on Fire-types and special Pokemon in general will greatly enjoy its presence; examples of these Pokemon include Larvesta and Spritzee.
Any Additional Info: A set with Recycle and Berry Juice was quite popular as a check to Murkrow before Murkrow's ban, but in the current metagame, it suffers from being prone to the very common burn status and is even more badly affected by Knock Off than the Eviolite set. However, by only running one recovery move, Munchlax is able to run an additional offensive move, such as Earthquake or Brick Break to deal with Pawniard. An Eviolite set with four attacks could work, but is easily worn down. A Curse set is usually ineffective at sweeping because if it runs Resttalk, then it is easily walled with only one attacking move, and if it does not, then it can be worn down. Munchlax's impressive special movepool is hampered by Munchlax's atrocious 40 base Special Attack, compared to its far more potent 85 base Attack.
Lickitung @ Eviolite
Ability: Oblivious
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 SpD
Careful Nature
- Wish
- Protect
- Knock Off / Body Slam
- Heal Bell / Body Slam
Role: Support (Cleric, Wish Support), Mixed Wall, Special Wall, Physical Wall
What It Does: With the highest mixed bulk in LC and an immunity to Taunt, Lickitung finds ample opportunity to utilize its ridiculous support movepool, rendering it one of the most effective support Pokemon in the metagame. Thanks to its massive 27 or 28 HP, Lickitung's Wishes are able to heal enormous portions of a teammate's HP, allowing it to keep its entire team healthy; in addition, Lickitung can utilize a combination of Wish and Protect to take advantage of this recovery itself. Knock Off, although not very powerful when coming off Lickitung's average Attack stat, is still useful to permanently cripple a variety of switch-ins, further supporting its team. Lickitung also has access to Heal Bell, a very useful move to have to cure its team of burn and paralysis statuses that run rampant. Lickitung works well with four support moves, but if more offensive presence is needed, Body Slam is also an option; although still not hugely powerful, it carries a useful paralysis chance to cripple the opposing team even more. Oblivious, although nothing incredible, is still a solid ability by blocking Taunt, allowing Lickitung to use one of its support moves unhindered. With Eviolite, Lickitung is able to reach absolutely phenomenal 27/16/18 defenses; its huge mixed bulk means that only strong Fighting-type attacks or the most powerful of wall-breaking moves can hope to even 2HKO it, provided Lickitung still has its Eviolite, allowing it to function as a fairly effective wall. However, Lickitung's low damage output, even if Body Slam is run, means that it might simply act as set-up bait to a large number of bulkier set-up attackers; as such, Lickitung should more often than not be played in a supportive role, coming in on a variety of weaker attacks, using the appropriate support move, and then switching back out, occasionally replenishing its own health with Wish + Protect.
What Counters It: The three greatest hindrances to Lickitung's supporting and walling capabilities are Knock Off, Fighting-types, and set-up sweepers. Knock Off, although usually not damaging Lickitung too severely on its own, gets rid of Eviolite, drastically weakening Lickitung's walling capabilities by forcing Lickitung to have to waste turns healing itself much more often or even get 2HKOed by more powerful attacks, preventing Lickitung from stalling them out; common Knock Off users include Pawniard and Mienfoo. Fighting-types, such as Timburr and Croagunk are able to hit Lickitung super-effectively, while Lickitung generally struggles to hurt them noticeably in return; it doesn't help that most Fighting-types often carry Knock Off as well. Lickitung's low damage output is most evident when it's trying to stop a set-up sweeper that doesn't get OHKOed or 2HKOed by Knock Off or Body Slam, like Omanyte or Pawniard, because if the sweeper is even moderately bulky, then it will be able to set up almost for free against Lickitung, allowing it to eventually muscle through Lickitung and then the rest of its team.
Good Teammates: Due to Lickitung's playstyle, it is best suited for a defensive teams, because offensive teams will not appreciate its lack of momentum. Other than that, Pokemon that can handle Lickitung's weaknesses are obviously ideal teammates. Trubbish and Foongus immediately come to mind as Pokemon that don't mind Knock Off as badly, and can deal with most Fighting-types; Croagunk acts similarly, and will also especially enjoy Lickitung's Wish support. One of the most prominent defensive cores in the current metagame is a bulky Normal-type paired with a bulky Fairy-type, and Lickitung absolutely fits the role of a bulky Normal-type, so Snubbull, Spritzee and Cottonee are naturally prime candidates as partners for Lickitung. No one Pokemon covers every set-up sweeper, but most solid defensive teams should have at least one good answer to every notable set-up sweeper regardless; for example, Chinchou can take on Fletchling, while Ferroseed handles most Omanyte variants. Of course, Pokemon that appreciate Lickitung's supportive moves will enjoy having Lickitung on their team; other than the aforementioned Fairy-types, most defensive Pokemon that lack recovery, such as Ferroseed, will like having Wish support, while Heal Bell is useful for Pokemon that are evidently incapacitated by status, such as Archen.
Any Additional Info: The defensive set is by far the most effective set for Lickitung; however, the minute details can certainly be shifted around to suit individual teams. Dragon Tail is a decent option if Lickitung's team relies heavily on hazards, and also helps to deal with Lickitung's issue with set-up sweepers; however, it is difficult to fit onto Lickitung's moveset. Sweeping sets involving moves like Belly Drum or Curse tend to be ineffective because Lickitung can be worn down if it is hit by Knock Off; the former doesn't actually help Lickitung deal with common switch-ins such as Fighting-types and Pawniard very well and is generally too slow to sweep, while the latter lacks power before it obtains multiple boosts. Lickitung's average offensive stats also hold it back from performing adequately in an offensive attacking role despite its excellent offensive movepool.