[OVERVIEW]
With very good defensive stats, a passable Special Attack stat, and a cool signature move in Strength Sap, Morelull can make for a relatively good defensive pivot. Spore and Moonblast add to this by putting switch-ins to sleep and catching incoming Fighting-types, respectively, as does its ability, Effect Spore. However, Morelull is commonly outclassed by the many other bulky Grass-types such as Ferroseed, Lileep, and most of all, Foongus, which also acts as a defensive pivot with Spore but has access to Regenerator. With the rise of Poison-types in SM, Morelull struggles to find a teamslot over Foongus due to its 4x weakness to the type, but its Fairy typing and slightly wider support movepool can certainly grant it a niche. It also struggles with a relatively passive playstyle in a very offensive metagame, making it unwelcome on many teams.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Spore
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Strength Sap
item: Eviolite
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 76 SpA / 156 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore is used to cripple foes and to more safely guarantee recovery with Strength Sap. Moonblast is Morelull's main Fairy-type STAB move, and is very useful for hitting common threats such as Vullaby, Mienfoo, and Scraggy while also having a fairly good chance to lower the foe's Special Attack stat, which can become quite annoying to deal with in conjunction with Strength Sap. Giga Drain is Morelull's Grass-type STAB move and is another good form of recovery, able to score a KO while recovering HP. Strength Sap is very unique and quite good in Little Cup because, unlike other forms of recovery in the tier, Morelull gains more than 50% of its HP back by using this move against most physical attackers, and it weakens their offensive potential by lowering their Attack. The move is less effective against special attackers, however. It is also important to note that Strength Sap deals no damage. All in all, it is a fairly good move, and it is one of Morelull's main niches over Foongus.
Set Details
========
Morelull's EV spread is used to maximize its Defense and Special Defense when used with Eviolite, and the HP and Special Attack EVs help Morelull's pivoting potential. A Bold nature also helps to maximize its Defense. Eviolite boosts Morelull's Defense and Special Defense to help it take hits better. Effect Spore is the only viable ability on Morelull and it certainly has its perks, as it can passively apply status without Morelull needing to use up a moveslot, but it can sometimes incorrectly status the foe with what you don't want it to, such as poisoning a sweeper instead of paralyzing it or putting it to sleep.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its bulk, Morelull can freely switch into any resisted attack and many neutral attacks. Try to avoid staying in on Poison-types such as Croagunk, Mareanie, and Stunky. Using Strength Sap to heal up when you predict a physical attacker switching in can both heal Morelull and lower the Attack of said foe. However, even when pivoting, never be careless with letting Morelull lose excessive amounts of health, as its recovery is not passive like Foongus's, and it doesn't work very well against special attackers.
Team Options
========
Other pivots, particularly offensive ones such as Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Magnemite, (add comma) are good partners for Morelull's playstyle and can help get it in without taking too much damage. Salandit, although particularly niche, has good type synergy with Morelull, resisting Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-type moves, and it can help break opposing walls for Morelull. Mareanie also has good type synergy with Morelull and can help with resisting the ever-present Water-types of Little Cup. Pawniard also boasts good type synergy and a similar wallbreaking nature with Knock Off. Any Dark-type with Pursuit can trap Gothita to remove it in case it's running a Calm Mind set. A special wall such as Munchlax can help cover some attackers that Morelull can't beat such as Abra. Rapid Spin and Defog users can help keep Morelull from taking damage every time it pivots in. Gothita and Diglett help trap Poison-types for Morelull, the former being better at trapping Poison-types in particular, and the latter trapping Steel-types as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Using Thunder Wave could work, but it usually isn't worth using, since giving up damage, recovery, or the utility of Spore often isn't worth it. A more specially defensive set using Strength Sap to deal with physical threats and an EV spread of 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 SpD with a Calm nature could work in theory, but that wouldn't let it survive long enough against these threats to pull it off. Leech Seed, though it may look appealing, isn't as good in practice; if Morelull is switching around a lot as it should be, the foe will usually do so as well. Using Hidden Power Fire or Hidden Power Fighting could surprise unsuspecting Ferroseed and Pawniard on the switch, respectively, but it isn't recommended, as it only hits a few Pokemon. Light Screen could provide extra utility, but there is usually no room for it on a set, (add comma) and it generally isn't good in Little Cup.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Due to Morelull's 4x weakness to Poison, every Poison-type in Little Cup can beat it on their own. They also all resist at least one of its STAB moves, giving Morelull an extremely tough time inflicting even the slightest amount of damage.
**Steel-types**: Resisting both of Morelull's STAB options along with being generally bulky makes Steel-types quite hard for Morelull to deal with. Pawniard in particular is troublesome due to it gaining extra Attack via Defiant when Strength Sap is used against it, making it the probable best counter to Morelull.
**Fire-types**: Similarly to Steel-types, Fire-types resist Morelull's STAB options and many of them in Little Cup, mainly Larvesta and Ponyta, can be quite bulky. Additionally, many Fire-types are special attackers, making them essentially unaffected by Strength Sap.
**Special Attackers with Super Effective Coverage**: Although Morelull is fairly specially bulky, a super effective special attack from Pokemon like Magnemite and Houndour can usually 2HKO it, and Morelull can't reliably recover enough HP to avoid the 2HKO.
With very good defensive stats, a passable Special Attack stat, and a cool signature move in Strength Sap, Morelull can make for a relatively good defensive pivot. Spore and Moonblast add to this by putting switch-ins to sleep and catching incoming Fighting-types, respectively, as does its ability, Effect Spore. However, Morelull is commonly outclassed by the many other bulky Grass-types such as Ferroseed, Lileep, and most of all, Foongus, which also acts as a defensive pivot with Spore but has access to Regenerator. With the rise of Poison-types in SM, Morelull struggles to find a teamslot over Foongus due to its 4x weakness to the type, but its Fairy typing and slightly wider support movepool can certainly grant it a niche. It also struggles with a relatively passive playstyle in a very offensive metagame, making it unwelcome on many teams.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Spore
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Giga Drain
move 4: Strength Sap
item: Eviolite
ability: Effect Spore
nature: Bold
evs: 36 HP / 236 Def / 76 SpA / 156 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore is used to cripple foes and to more safely guarantee recovery with Strength Sap. Moonblast is Morelull's main Fairy-type STAB move, and is very useful for hitting common threats such as Vullaby, Mienfoo, and Scraggy while also having a fairly good chance to lower the foe's Special Attack stat, which can become quite annoying to deal with in conjunction with Strength Sap. Giga Drain is Morelull's Grass-type STAB move and is another good form of recovery, able to score a KO while recovering HP. Strength Sap is very unique and quite good in Little Cup because, unlike other forms of recovery in the tier, Morelull gains more than 50% of its HP back by using this move against most physical attackers, and it weakens their offensive potential by lowering their Attack. The move is less effective against special attackers, however. It is also important to note that Strength Sap deals no damage. All in all, it is a fairly good move, and it is one of Morelull's main niches over Foongus.
Set Details
========
Morelull's EV spread is used to maximize its Defense and Special Defense when used with Eviolite, and the HP and Special Attack EVs help Morelull's pivoting potential. A Bold nature also helps to maximize its Defense. Eviolite boosts Morelull's Defense and Special Defense to help it take hits better. Effect Spore is the only viable ability on Morelull and it certainly has its perks, as it can passively apply status without Morelull needing to use up a moveslot, but it can sometimes incorrectly status the foe with what you don't want it to, such as poisoning a sweeper instead of paralyzing it or putting it to sleep.
Usage Tips
========
Due to its bulk, Morelull can freely switch into any resisted attack and many neutral attacks. Try to avoid staying in on Poison-types such as Croagunk, Mareanie, and Stunky. Using Strength Sap to heal up when you predict a physical attacker switching in can both heal Morelull and lower the Attack of said foe. However, even when pivoting, never be careless with letting Morelull lose excessive amounts of health, as its recovery is not passive like Foongus's, and it doesn't work very well against special attackers.
Team Options
========
Other pivots, particularly offensive ones such as Mienfoo, Chinchou, and Magnemite, (add comma) are good partners for Morelull's playstyle and can help get it in without taking too much damage. Salandit, although particularly niche, has good type synergy with Morelull, resisting Poison-, Fire-, and Steel-type moves, and it can help break opposing walls for Morelull. Mareanie also has good type synergy with Morelull and can help with resisting the ever-present Water-types of Little Cup. Pawniard also boasts good type synergy and a similar wallbreaking nature with Knock Off. Any Dark-type with Pursuit can trap Gothita to remove it in case it's running a Calm Mind set. A special wall such as Munchlax can help cover some attackers that Morelull can't beat such as Abra. Rapid Spin and Defog users can help keep Morelull from taking damage every time it pivots in. Gothita and Diglett help trap Poison-types for Morelull, the former being better at trapping Poison-types in particular, and the latter trapping Steel-types as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Using Thunder Wave could work, but it usually isn't worth using, since giving up damage, recovery, or the utility of Spore often isn't worth it. A more specially defensive set using Strength Sap to deal with physical threats and an EV spread of 116 HP / 156 Def / 236 SpD with a Calm nature could work in theory, but that wouldn't let it survive long enough against these threats to pull it off. Leech Seed, though it may look appealing, isn't as good in practice; if Morelull is switching around a lot as it should be, the foe will usually do so as well. Using Hidden Power Fire or Hidden Power Fighting could surprise unsuspecting Ferroseed and Pawniard on the switch, respectively, but it isn't recommended, as it only hits a few Pokemon. Light Screen could provide extra utility, but there is usually no room for it on a set, (add comma) and it generally isn't good in Little Cup.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Due to Morelull's 4x weakness to Poison, every Poison-type in Little Cup can beat it on their own. They also all resist at least one of its STAB moves, giving Morelull an extremely tough time inflicting even the slightest amount of damage.
**Steel-types**: Resisting both of Morelull's STAB options along with being generally bulky makes Steel-types quite hard for Morelull to deal with. Pawniard in particular is troublesome due to it gaining extra Attack via Defiant when Strength Sap is used against it, making it the probable best counter to Morelull.
**Fire-types**: Similarly to Steel-types, Fire-types resist Morelull's STAB options and many of them in Little Cup, mainly Larvesta and Ponyta, can be quite bulky. Additionally, many Fire-types are special attackers, making them essentially unaffected by Strength Sap.
**Special Attackers with Super Effective Coverage**: Although Morelull is fairly specially bulky, a super effective special attack from Pokemon like Magnemite and Houndour can usually 2HKO it, and Morelull can't reliably recover enough HP to avoid the 2HKO.
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