QC: Rowan / AD Thunderboy / Nineage
GP: CryoCryo / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Lickitung can check many offensive threats in the metagame, such as Abra, Magnemite, Bellsprout, and Gastly, due to its great defensive stats. Furthermore, Lickitung's bulk combined with its access to Wish and Heal Bell make it a great support Pokemon on balanced and defensive teams. Lickitung can also use its support and status moves against Taunt users due to Oblivious. However, Lickitung's typing lacks resistances, meaning it has to rely on its raw bulk and Eviolite when switching into powerful attacks. Furthermore, Lickitung's low Speed combined with its passivity makes it struggle in such an offensive metagame and leaves it vulnerable to several offensive Pokemon in the tier. Lickitung also struggles against the common Fighting-types in the tier, such as Mienfoo and Timburr. Lastly, Lickitung faces competition from Spritzee as a Wish passer and cleric and from Munchlax as a Normal-type special wall.
[SET]
name: Wish Support
move 1: Wish
move 2: Protect
move 3: Body Slam / Heal Bell
move 4: Knock Off / Heal Bell
item: Eviolite
ability: Oblivious
nature: Impish
evs: 196 HP / 76 Def / 236 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Wish enables Lickitung to recover health for teammates while also giving it a reliable form of recovery. Protect is used to guarantee recovery from Wish and can be used to scout for the foe's moves. It can also be used situationally against High Jump Kick users like Mienfoo. Body Slam is a decently strong STAB move that has a 30% chance to paralyze the foe, giving Lickitung more utility compared to other Normal-type moves like Return. Knock Off further enhances Lickitung's utility by removing items. It also allows Lickitung to threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types. Heal Bell can be run to enhance Lickitung's supportive capabilities, curing its teammates and itself from harmful status such as burns or poison. However, when using Heal Bell, Lickitung will have to forgo either Body Slam or Knock Off. This makes Lickitung very passive when running Heal Bell over Body Slam, and Lickitung will be walled by Ghost-types when using Heal Bell over Knock Off.
Set Details
========
Eviolite greatly increases Lickitung's bulk, allowing it to take more hits from various attackers. Oblivious is used so Lickitung can't be affected by Taunt, allowing it to use Wish against stallbreakers. 196 HP and 236 Special Defense EVs are used to maximize Lickitung's special bulk in order to take on special attackers like Abra, Gastly, Magnemite, and Chinchou. In particular, Lickitung can avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Gastly and Life Orb Abra after Stealth Rock damage. The HP investment also makes Lickitung's Wishes as big as possible. The 76 Defense EVs and an Impish nature maximize Lickitung's Eviolite-boosted bulk and allow it to nearly always avoid the OHKO from Choice Scarf Mienfoo's High Jump Kick.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Eviolite combined with Lickitung's raw bulk, it can switch into most non-Fighting-type attacks relatively easily. However, Lickitung should stay away from Fighting-types, as they can KO it quickly, thus eliminating its Wish support for the rest of the match. Also, do not let Lickitung take a Knock Off, as without an Eviolite, Lickitung loses much of its bulk and cannot take on many special attackers reliably. Lickitung can become setup bait for threats such as Swords Dance Pawniard and Shell Smash Shellder, so it is best to switch out into an appropriate check if one of those Pokemon comes in. Use Wish liberally when either Lickitung or its teammates require healing. When Lickitung doesn't have to use Wish, Body Slam and Knock Off should be used to fish for paralysis and remove items.
Team Options
========
Spritzee is a good teammate for Lickitung because the two form an effective Wish-passing core while covering each other's weaknesses. Other Fairy-types such as Snubbull and Cottonee value Lickitung's Wishes and can take on the Fighting-types that trouble Lickitung, namely Mienfoo and Timburr. Other Fighting-type checks, which include Mareanie, Mudbray, Foongus, and Vullaby, can handle Fighting-types that threaten Lickitung. Fighting-type checks that don't have reliable recovery, such as Croagunk, Skrelp, and Koffing, appreciate Lickitung's Wishes. Swords Dance Pawniard can easily set up on Lickitung and use Knock Off to remove its Eviolite, so Lickitung appreciates Pokemon that check it such as Mienfoo, Timburr, Mudbray, and Croagunk. Fighting-types such as Mienfoo and Timburr appreciate Lickitung's ability to handle Abra and also value Lickitung's Wishes. Although Lickitung can take Spritzee's attacks, it's setup fodder for Spritzee; therefore, Pokemon that can threaten Spritzee, such as Magnemite and Pawniard, are appreciated. In turn, Lickitung provides Wish support for them. If Lickitung is not running Knock Off, Dark-types, including Pawniard, Vullaby, and Alolan Grimer, can deal with opposing Ghost-types that otherwise won't take damage from Lickitung. Pawniard and Alolan Grimer can also Pursuit trap these Ghost-types, relieving pressure on Lickitung. Similarly, teammates that can damage Rock- and Steel-types can be helpful if Lickitung doesn't have Knock Off. Such Pokemon include common Fighting- and Ground-types in the tier, such as Mienfoo, Timburr, and Mudbray.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Lickitung has access to a huge physical movepool that offers a wide array of coverage to hit specific threats Earthquake hits common Rock- and Steel-types; Power Whip damages Shell Smash users and Staryu; Zen Headbutt deals with bulky Fighting-types; Hammer Arm OHKOes offensive Pawniard variants and has a good chance of OHKOing Eviolite Pawniard, but outside of that, it has no other prominent function. Other physical moves include Aqua Tail and the elemental punches. Lickitung also has an expansive special movepool that includes Ice Beam, which hits Dragon- and Flying-types, Fire Blast, which nails Ferroseed, and Surf, which damages Geodude and Onix. However, Lickitung is too slow to utilize these moves, has low offensive stats, and has superior moves in Body Slam and Knock Off, which offer more utility. Lickitung can use Dragon Tail along with Rest and Sleep Talk in order to phaze foes and common switch-ins like Mudbray; however, the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk is generally better used with Munchlax, whereas phazing foes can be done better through the likes of Onix. Lickitung can utilize a more defensive set with Body Slam, Knock Off, Toxic, and a specific coverage move, but the Wish set is generally superior. Lickitung also has access to several boosting moves, such as Swords Dance, Belly Drum, and Curse, but there are better setup sweepers in the tier such as Swords Dance Pawniard, Zigzagoon, and various Shell Smash users.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Lickitung struggles with various Fighting-types, such as Mienfoo, Timburr, Scraggy, and Croagunk. They threaten Lickitung with super effective Fighting-type STAB moves, and most carry Knock Off to easily remove Lickitung's Eviolite, greatly reducing its bulk.
**Knock Off**: Lickitung is very reliant on Eviolite for its bulk. If its Eviolite gets removed by Knock Off, it greatly reduces Lickitung's bulk, thus reducing its supportive and walling capabilities.
**Pawniard**: Pawniard takes little damage from Lickitung's offensive moves outside of Earthquake and can use Lickitung as setup bait. Pawniard can also use Knock Off to remove Lickitung's Eviolite.
**Setup Sweepers**: Various setup sweepers, including Swords Dance Pawniard, Dragon Dance Scraggy, Belly Drum Zigzagoon, and Shell Smash users, can use Lickitung as setup bait, as it cannot do much to them.
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon, such as offensive Mudbray, Doduo, Rufflet, and Deerling, carry Fighting-type coverage, which can deal heavy damage to Lickitung.
**Defensive Rock- and Steel-types**: Lickitung cannot do much to defensive Rock- and Steel-types like Ferroseed, Onix, Honedge, and Geodude if it doesn't have Knock Off and Earthquake. However, most of these Pokemon can't really do much to Lickitung in return.
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