[QC Checks: yogi / jklioe / 2xTheTap]
[GP Checks: martha / A Cake Wearing A Hat]
[OVERVIEW]
Muk carves a niche in the metagame as a capable bulky setup sweeper thanks to its access to Curse, managing to separate itself from other bulky setup sweepers like Spiritomb and Type: Null because of its inability to be crippled by Trick, Switcheroo, and Knock Off, courtesy of its ability Sticky Hold. Muk can also serve as a decent check to certain threatening special attackers such as Lilligant, Clefairy, Floatzel, and Pyroar due to its high special bulk, with its typing also allowing it to absorb Toxic Spikes. Because of its high Attack, powerful STAB Gunk Shot, access to Shadow Sneak to slightly mitigate its low Speed, and expansive coverage in moves such as Fire Punch, Ice Punch, and Explosion allowing it to threaten Pokemon like Mawile, Claydol, and Weezing, Muk is also capable of pulling off a Choice Band set, standing apart from Skuntank due to its higher Attack and Special Defense as well as its ability to more reliably switch into Clefairy. However, Muk still faces a decent amount of competition as both a setup sweeper and an offensive Poison-type. Curse Muk requires a lot more support to work than other bulky setup sweepers like Spiritomb, Type: Null, and Lurantis, while Skuntank tends to outperform Choice Band Muk due to its higher Speed, secondary Dark typing that allows it to threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types, and greater utility. Muk's typing isn't very good offensively, and it struggles to break through certain Steel-, Ground-, and Ghost-types like Aggron, Mudsdale, and Spiritomb because of this. Choice Band Muk is also relatively easy to exploit because of how common bulkier Pokemon like Qwilfish and Weezing are. Despite Shadow Sneak slightly mitigating Muk's low Speed, it will still often have to take a hit before dishing one out in response. Finally, Muk is vulnerable to strong physical attackers like Kingler and Zangoose because of its low Defense.
[SET]
name: Rest + Sleep Talk
move 1: Curse
move 2: Poison Jab
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse increases Muk's lackluster Defense and already decent Attack, which allows it to outlast threatening physical attackers that it would otherwise have issues with like Kingler. Poison Jab is Muk's only attacking move, becoming fairly powerful after Muk accrues enough boosts. Poison Jab is chosen over Gunk Shot due to the former's higher accuracy and higher PP making it more reliable. Poison Jab also boasts a decent chance to poison the opposing Pokemon, which is useful for a set of this nature due to it lessening the need to attack in some instances and potentially providing Muk with more opportunities to focus on setting up. Rest gives Muk a means of recovery that also allows it to heal status conditions, at the cost of incapacitating it for a few turns. Sleep Talk allows Muk to use one of its attacks while it is asleep, preventing it from being helpless after using Rest. It also allows Muk to freely absorb sleep-inducing moves from Pokemon like Lilligant.
Set Details
========
The investment in HP and Special Defense in combination with a Careful nature maximizes Muk's special bulk, allowing it to more reliably take on threatening special attackers like Lilligant, Pyroar, and Swanna. Black Sludge gives Muk a form of passive recovery, which lessens the need to use Rest. Sticky Hold allows Muk to easily take Knock Off from Pokemon like Audino and Gurdurr and prevents Muk from being crippled by Trick and Switcheroo from Pokemon such as Haunter and Manectric, respectively.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Muk should primarily be used to sponge special attacks from Pokemon like Floatzel and Swanna due to its high special bulk as well as pivot into Knock Off and Toxic from Pokemon such as Eelektross and Audino. Do not attempt to set up until all Steel-types have been removed, as they are immune to Muk's only attacking move. Muk should also wait until bulky Ghost- and Ground-types like Sableye and Mudsdale as well as Taunt users like Weezing have been removed. After Muk's checks and counters have been removed, it should attempt to use Curse against passive foes like Audino and Clefairy that cannot do much to it in return, as well as weaker special attackers like Manectric. Avoid Encore and Taunt from Pokemon such as Audino and Skuntank, since both moves render Muk completely useless. Take advantage of Sleep Talk and Muk's enhanced special bulk by switching it into special attackers with sleep-inducing moves like Lilligant and Victreebel.
Team Options
========
Due to its general lack of offensive presence prior to using Curse, Muk fits best on bulkier, defensive teams as a bulky late-game sweeper that can also absorb Toxic Spikes as well as Knock Off and Trick, all of which can hinder these teams. Probopass pairs well with Muk due to its ability to easily trap and dispose of Steel-types like Mawile courtesy of Magnet Pull, set Stealth Rock, and wear down Pokemon like Weezing with Flash Cannon. Muk appreciates being paired with Pursuit trappers like Spiritomb, since they can remove Ghost-types like Golurk and Oricorio-G. Spiritomb can also cripple physical wallbreakers with Will-O-Wisp and potentially lure Weezing with Psychic. Physically bulky Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist-XL pair well with Muk, as they are capable of sponging strong physical attacks from the likes of Kingler for it. These two are also capable of checking Ground-types like Golurk. In return, Muk can take on special attackers like Pyroar for these Pokemon. Cleric support from Pokemon like Audino and Lanturn is useful, since this can wake Muk up and prevent it from having to burn sleep turns itself, which allows it to use Rest again when necessary. Audino is especially notable, since it can also provide Wish support to keep Muk healthy and act as a check to stronger special attackers like Alolan Exeggutor. Muk's ability to check threats to defensive teams like Lurantis and Calm Mind Clefairy is appreciated by teammates such as Pyukumuku, Spiritomb, and Regirock. Muk appreciates being paired with checks to Pokemon like Sableye and Calm Mind Spiritomb due to their ability to pose a threat to the archetypes that Curse Muk fits on, with Clefairy standing out as a premier example. Clefairy can also set Stealth Rock to pressure switch-ins and set up with Calm Mind to wear down bulkier Pokemon, with Muk sponging Knock Off from Sableye in return.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Gunk Shot
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Thunder Punch / Fire Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Explosion
item: Choice Band
ability: Sticky Hold / Poison Touch
nature: Adamant
evs: 220 HP / 252 Atk / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Gunk Shot is Muk's strongest Poison-type STAB move, threatening to 2HKO physically bulky foes such as defensive Mesprit and Gurdurr as well as certain Poison-resistant Pokemon like Skuntank. Its low accuracy and PP hinder its reliability, however. Shadow Sneak provides Muk with a form of priority that allows it to revenge kill Pokemon such as Haunter, offensive variants of Mesprit, and Oricorio-G as well as weakened frailer Pokemon like Alolan Dugtrio. Thunder Punch enables Muk to threaten Qwilfish and Omastar, while Fire Punch gives Muk coverage for Froslass as well as Steel-types such as Togedemaru and Mawile. Ice Punch allows Muk to threaten certain Ground-types such as Claydol, Mudsdale, and Golurk, though it must be used on the switch to be effective. Explosion can be used over Ice Punch to give Muk a 250-Base Power attack that threatens to deal heavy damage to Pokemon like Weezing at the cost of Muk itself. It is important to note that Muk must catch Weezing on the switch with it in order for the lure to work, since Weezing outspeeds Muk and can soften the blow with Will-O-Wisp. Poison Jab can be used instead of Gunk Shot as a more reliable STAB move, though it isn't as strong as Gunk Shot and doesn't achieve the previously mentioned 2HKOs that Gunk Shot does.
Set Details
========
The investment in Attack in combination with an Adamant nature and a Choice Band maximizes Muk's offensive presence, with 36 Speed EVs being used so that Muk outspeeds Gourgeist-XL. The remainder of the EVs are poured into HP to increase Muk's mixed bulk. Sticky Hold allows Muk to freely switch into Trick and Switcheroo as well as take Knock Off from Pokemon such as Audino and Gurdurr with fewer issues. Alternatively, Poison Touch can be used to give Muk's contact moves a chance to poison non-Steel- and non-Poison-type Pokemon, which gives Muk an easier time wearing them down.
Usage Tips
========
This set is geared towards wallbreaking and should mainly be used to punch holes in teams early- or mid-game. It is important to note that Muk isn't very powerful when it isn't either using Gunk Shot or hitting a foe super effectively, which can hamper its ability to wallbreak. Due to Muk being Choice-locked, prediction plays a heavy part in its success; for example, should Muk predict a Ground-type like Mudsdale to switch in, it should use Ice Punch, and if it predicts Qwilfish to switch in, it should use Thunder Punch. Once all Poison-resistant and -immune Pokemon have been removed, Muk should prioritize using Gunk Shot, as there will be very little to prevent it from doing so by this point. Against teams relying solely on Pokemon like Weezing and Skuntank to check Poison-types, it is safer to simply chip away at them with Gunk Shot. Recklessly switching Muk into attacks is ill-advised due to its lack of recovery and only middling bulk, though it can switch in on certain special attackers like Eelektross as well as certain passive Pokemon like Clefairy. Refrain from using Explosion until you are certain that Muk has served its purpose and wish to heavily damage Pokemon that aren't Ghost-type, since Muk can only use it once.
Team Options
========
Probopass makes for an amazing teammate due to its ability Magnet Pull, since it can trap and dispose of problematic Steel-types like Mawile that can prevent Muk from safely locking into Gunk Shot. Probopass can also set up Stealth Rock and break Weezing with its STAB Flash Cannon, while its slow Volt Switch is useful for preserving Muk's HP. Eelektross also pairs fairly well with Muk, as it can bring Muk in safely with a slow Volt Switch, pressure defensive cores with its coverage, and pivot into Ground-type attacks due to its ability in Levitate, while Muk can heavily damage Pokemon that Eelektross tends to bait in like Hitmonchan and Audino in return. Muk's ability to bait in Weezing is also appreciated, since this allows Eelektross to switch back in and threaten it out again. Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Primeape can also threaten and remove Steel-types as well as bulky Rock-types like Regirock and Carracosta, and they appreciate Muk potentially luring in Weezing with Explosion and heavily damaging other checks such as defensive Mesprit. Dark-types and Pursuit trappers such as Spiritomb and Absol pair well with Muk, as they can remove Ghost- and Psychic-types and give Muk an easier time with breaking. Absol can also provide Knock Off support and potentially lure in Steel-types and opposing Spiritomb and KO them with Superpower and Play Rough, respectively. Power-Up Punch Kangaskhan is a good partner, since it can break through checks it shares with Muk, such as Regirock, Carracosta, Sableye, and Omastar. In return, Muk can absorb Toxic Spikes for it, preventing its longevity from being shortened. Strong special wallbreakers like Aurorus, Pyroar, and Floatzel pair well with Muk due to their ability to easily remove Pokemon like Weezing and Qwilfish, with Floatzel additionally being able to offensively check Ground-types and other fast threats like Lycanroc for Muk. Entry hazards are useful for placing pressure on Muk's checks, making setters of them like Mesprit, Clefairy, and Froslass good partners. In particular, Mesprit can beat Weezing, bring Muk in with a slow U-turn, and provide Healing Wish support to give Muk another chance at wallbreaking. Late-game sweepers and cleaners like Carracosta, Lycanroc, and Lilligant appreciate Muk making their job easier by punching massive holes into the opposing team and potentially luring in checks to them like Togedemaru. Muk can also switch into and pressure other checks to them like Tangela, Eelektross, Clefairy, and Alolan Exeggutor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest can be used in order to give Muk an easier time taking special attacks from Lilligant and Pyroar while still maintaining offensive presence and not being locked into any of its moves, but this leaves Muk much weaker. Focus Punch is an option, possibly in tandem with Fightinium Z or Substitute, that can KO certain Rock- and Steel-types such as Regirock, Lycanroc, Aggron, and Probopass that Muk lures in, but it is very reliant on prediction in order to function properly. Special attacks like Fire Blast and Giga Drain can catch certain checks like Mawile and Omastar off guard, but Muk's mediocre Special Attack prevents these attacks from being very strong or useful. Though these moves hit the previously mentioned Pokemon harder, Choice Band Muk can potentially break through both of these Pokemon with Fire Punch and Explosion, both of which are more consistent moves overall. Memento is an interesting support option that can be used over Explosion, though Muk's low Speed and difficulty finding room for it prevent it from being an efficient user of the move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing fears nothing that Muk can throw at it besides Explosion, but Weezing outspeeds Muk and can reduce the damage that it deals with Will-O-Wisp. Weezing also threatens Curse Muk with Taunt, preventing it from healing itself.
**Ground-types**: While they don't appreciate switching in on Explosion or Ice Punch, bulkier Ground-types such as Mudsdale and Claydol are capable of taking at least one hit from Muk and retaliating with a super effective STAB attack. Mudsdale can also take advantage of any attack Muk uses besides Explosion or Ice Punch due to Stamina increasing its Defense. More offensive Ground-types such as Alolan Dugtrio and Golurk outspeed and OHKO Muk, though they can't switch in as reliably and can be KOed by Shadow Sneak after taking enough prior damage.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Aggron and Probopass are immune to Poison-type moves and can switch in on everything else rather well.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mesprit and Jynx threaten to KO Muk with Psyshock, though they can't switch in safely and can be revenge killed by Shadow Sneak after acquiring enough damage beforehand.
**Bulky Ghost-types**: Bulky Ghost-types like Spiritomb, Sableye, and bulky Oricorio-G don't take very much from Choice Band Muk's Gunk Shot and can put Curse Muk to a complete stop with Taunt. Spiritomb and Sableye can also burn Muk with Will-O-Wisp, while Calm Mind Spiritomb and bulky Oricorio-G can even set up alongside Curse Muk. However, Oricorio-G needs to watch out for Ice Punch and Shadow Sneak from Choice Band variants.
**Strong Attackers**: Muk's merely decent Defense and low Speed leave it vulnerable to faster, powerful physical attackers such as Kingler and Lycanroc, which can easily use Swords Dance against Curse Muk, as well as Kangaskhan. They may face issues with KOing Curse Muk after it obtains enough Defense boosts, however. In addition, even though Muk's special bulk is high, strong special attackers like Aurorus are still capable of 2HKOing it.
**Rock-types**: Bulky Rock-types like Regirock, Omastar, and Carracosta take very little damage from any of Muk's attacks and can easily set Stealth Rock against it, with Omastar being able use both variants of Muk as setup fodder if it isn't locked into Thunder Punch. Lycanroc can easily switch into Fire Punch from Choice Band variants as well as an unboosted Poison Jab from Curse Muk and set up with Swords Dance. Choice Specs Aurorus is capable of 2HKOing even Curse Muk and can handle any attack Muk throws at it.
[GP Checks: martha / A Cake Wearing A Hat]
[OVERVIEW]
Muk carves a niche in the metagame as a capable bulky setup sweeper thanks to its access to Curse, managing to separate itself from other bulky setup sweepers like Spiritomb and Type: Null because of its inability to be crippled by Trick, Switcheroo, and Knock Off, courtesy of its ability Sticky Hold. Muk can also serve as a decent check to certain threatening special attackers such as Lilligant, Clefairy, Floatzel, and Pyroar due to its high special bulk, with its typing also allowing it to absorb Toxic Spikes. Because of its high Attack, powerful STAB Gunk Shot, access to Shadow Sneak to slightly mitigate its low Speed, and expansive coverage in moves such as Fire Punch, Ice Punch, and Explosion allowing it to threaten Pokemon like Mawile, Claydol, and Weezing, Muk is also capable of pulling off a Choice Band set, standing apart from Skuntank due to its higher Attack and Special Defense as well as its ability to more reliably switch into Clefairy. However, Muk still faces a decent amount of competition as both a setup sweeper and an offensive Poison-type. Curse Muk requires a lot more support to work than other bulky setup sweepers like Spiritomb, Type: Null, and Lurantis, while Skuntank tends to outperform Choice Band Muk due to its higher Speed, secondary Dark typing that allows it to threaten Ghost- and Psychic-types, and greater utility. Muk's typing isn't very good offensively, and it struggles to break through certain Steel-, Ground-, and Ghost-types like Aggron, Mudsdale, and Spiritomb because of this. Choice Band Muk is also relatively easy to exploit because of how common bulkier Pokemon like Qwilfish and Weezing are. Despite Shadow Sneak slightly mitigating Muk's low Speed, it will still often have to take a hit before dishing one out in response. Finally, Muk is vulnerable to strong physical attackers like Kingler and Zangoose because of its low Defense.
[SET]
name: Rest + Sleep Talk
move 1: Curse
move 2: Poison Jab
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Black Sludge
ability: Sticky Hold
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse increases Muk's lackluster Defense and already decent Attack, which allows it to outlast threatening physical attackers that it would otherwise have issues with like Kingler. Poison Jab is Muk's only attacking move, becoming fairly powerful after Muk accrues enough boosts. Poison Jab is chosen over Gunk Shot due to the former's higher accuracy and higher PP making it more reliable. Poison Jab also boasts a decent chance to poison the opposing Pokemon, which is useful for a set of this nature due to it lessening the need to attack in some instances and potentially providing Muk with more opportunities to focus on setting up. Rest gives Muk a means of recovery that also allows it to heal status conditions, at the cost of incapacitating it for a few turns. Sleep Talk allows Muk to use one of its attacks while it is asleep, preventing it from being helpless after using Rest. It also allows Muk to freely absorb sleep-inducing moves from Pokemon like Lilligant.
Set Details
========
The investment in HP and Special Defense in combination with a Careful nature maximizes Muk's special bulk, allowing it to more reliably take on threatening special attackers like Lilligant, Pyroar, and Swanna. Black Sludge gives Muk a form of passive recovery, which lessens the need to use Rest. Sticky Hold allows Muk to easily take Knock Off from Pokemon like Audino and Gurdurr and prevents Muk from being crippled by Trick and Switcheroo from Pokemon such as Haunter and Manectric, respectively.
Usage Tips
========
Early-game, Muk should primarily be used to sponge special attacks from Pokemon like Floatzel and Swanna due to its high special bulk as well as pivot into Knock Off and Toxic from Pokemon such as Eelektross and Audino. Do not attempt to set up until all Steel-types have been removed, as they are immune to Muk's only attacking move. Muk should also wait until bulky Ghost- and Ground-types like Sableye and Mudsdale as well as Taunt users like Weezing have been removed. After Muk's checks and counters have been removed, it should attempt to use Curse against passive foes like Audino and Clefairy that cannot do much to it in return, as well as weaker special attackers like Manectric. Avoid Encore and Taunt from Pokemon such as Audino and Skuntank, since both moves render Muk completely useless. Take advantage of Sleep Talk and Muk's enhanced special bulk by switching it into special attackers with sleep-inducing moves like Lilligant and Victreebel.
Team Options
========
Due to its general lack of offensive presence prior to using Curse, Muk fits best on bulkier, defensive teams as a bulky late-game sweeper that can also absorb Toxic Spikes as well as Knock Off and Trick, all of which can hinder these teams. Probopass pairs well with Muk due to its ability to easily trap and dispose of Steel-types like Mawile courtesy of Magnet Pull, set Stealth Rock, and wear down Pokemon like Weezing with Flash Cannon. Muk appreciates being paired with Pursuit trappers like Spiritomb, since they can remove Ghost-types like Golurk and Oricorio-G. Spiritomb can also cripple physical wallbreakers with Will-O-Wisp and potentially lure Weezing with Psychic. Physically bulky Pokemon such as Tangela and Gourgeist-XL pair well with Muk, as they are capable of sponging strong physical attacks from the likes of Kingler for it. These two are also capable of checking Ground-types like Golurk. In return, Muk can take on special attackers like Pyroar for these Pokemon. Cleric support from Pokemon like Audino and Lanturn is useful, since this can wake Muk up and prevent it from having to burn sleep turns itself, which allows it to use Rest again when necessary. Audino is especially notable, since it can also provide Wish support to keep Muk healthy and act as a check to stronger special attackers like Alolan Exeggutor. Muk's ability to check threats to defensive teams like Lurantis and Calm Mind Clefairy is appreciated by teammates such as Pyukumuku, Spiritomb, and Regirock. Muk appreciates being paired with checks to Pokemon like Sableye and Calm Mind Spiritomb due to their ability to pose a threat to the archetypes that Curse Muk fits on, with Clefairy standing out as a premier example. Clefairy can also set Stealth Rock to pressure switch-ins and set up with Calm Mind to wear down bulkier Pokemon, with Muk sponging Knock Off from Sableye in return.
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Gunk Shot
move 2: Shadow Sneak
move 3: Thunder Punch / Fire Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Explosion
item: Choice Band
ability: Sticky Hold / Poison Touch
nature: Adamant
evs: 220 HP / 252 Atk / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Gunk Shot is Muk's strongest Poison-type STAB move, threatening to 2HKO physically bulky foes such as defensive Mesprit and Gurdurr as well as certain Poison-resistant Pokemon like Skuntank. Its low accuracy and PP hinder its reliability, however. Shadow Sneak provides Muk with a form of priority that allows it to revenge kill Pokemon such as Haunter, offensive variants of Mesprit, and Oricorio-G as well as weakened frailer Pokemon like Alolan Dugtrio. Thunder Punch enables Muk to threaten Qwilfish and Omastar, while Fire Punch gives Muk coverage for Froslass as well as Steel-types such as Togedemaru and Mawile. Ice Punch allows Muk to threaten certain Ground-types such as Claydol, Mudsdale, and Golurk, though it must be used on the switch to be effective. Explosion can be used over Ice Punch to give Muk a 250-Base Power attack that threatens to deal heavy damage to Pokemon like Weezing at the cost of Muk itself. It is important to note that Muk must catch Weezing on the switch with it in order for the lure to work, since Weezing outspeeds Muk and can soften the blow with Will-O-Wisp. Poison Jab can be used instead of Gunk Shot as a more reliable STAB move, though it isn't as strong as Gunk Shot and doesn't achieve the previously mentioned 2HKOs that Gunk Shot does.
Set Details
========
The investment in Attack in combination with an Adamant nature and a Choice Band maximizes Muk's offensive presence, with 36 Speed EVs being used so that Muk outspeeds Gourgeist-XL. The remainder of the EVs are poured into HP to increase Muk's mixed bulk. Sticky Hold allows Muk to freely switch into Trick and Switcheroo as well as take Knock Off from Pokemon such as Audino and Gurdurr with fewer issues. Alternatively, Poison Touch can be used to give Muk's contact moves a chance to poison non-Steel- and non-Poison-type Pokemon, which gives Muk an easier time wearing them down.
Usage Tips
========
This set is geared towards wallbreaking and should mainly be used to punch holes in teams early- or mid-game. It is important to note that Muk isn't very powerful when it isn't either using Gunk Shot or hitting a foe super effectively, which can hamper its ability to wallbreak. Due to Muk being Choice-locked, prediction plays a heavy part in its success; for example, should Muk predict a Ground-type like Mudsdale to switch in, it should use Ice Punch, and if it predicts Qwilfish to switch in, it should use Thunder Punch. Once all Poison-resistant and -immune Pokemon have been removed, Muk should prioritize using Gunk Shot, as there will be very little to prevent it from doing so by this point. Against teams relying solely on Pokemon like Weezing and Skuntank to check Poison-types, it is safer to simply chip away at them with Gunk Shot. Recklessly switching Muk into attacks is ill-advised due to its lack of recovery and only middling bulk, though it can switch in on certain special attackers like Eelektross as well as certain passive Pokemon like Clefairy. Refrain from using Explosion until you are certain that Muk has served its purpose and wish to heavily damage Pokemon that aren't Ghost-type, since Muk can only use it once.
Team Options
========
Probopass makes for an amazing teammate due to its ability Magnet Pull, since it can trap and dispose of problematic Steel-types like Mawile that can prevent Muk from safely locking into Gunk Shot. Probopass can also set up Stealth Rock and break Weezing with its STAB Flash Cannon, while its slow Volt Switch is useful for preserving Muk's HP. Eelektross also pairs fairly well with Muk, as it can bring Muk in safely with a slow Volt Switch, pressure defensive cores with its coverage, and pivot into Ground-type attacks due to its ability in Levitate, while Muk can heavily damage Pokemon that Eelektross tends to bait in like Hitmonchan and Audino in return. Muk's ability to bait in Weezing is also appreciated, since this allows Eelektross to switch back in and threaten it out again. Fighting-types like Gurdurr and Primeape can also threaten and remove Steel-types as well as bulky Rock-types like Regirock and Carracosta, and they appreciate Muk potentially luring in Weezing with Explosion and heavily damaging other checks such as defensive Mesprit. Dark-types and Pursuit trappers such as Spiritomb and Absol pair well with Muk, as they can remove Ghost- and Psychic-types and give Muk an easier time with breaking. Absol can also provide Knock Off support and potentially lure in Steel-types and opposing Spiritomb and KO them with Superpower and Play Rough, respectively. Power-Up Punch Kangaskhan is a good partner, since it can break through checks it shares with Muk, such as Regirock, Carracosta, Sableye, and Omastar. In return, Muk can absorb Toxic Spikes for it, preventing its longevity from being shortened. Strong special wallbreakers like Aurorus, Pyroar, and Floatzel pair well with Muk due to their ability to easily remove Pokemon like Weezing and Qwilfish, with Floatzel additionally being able to offensively check Ground-types and other fast threats like Lycanroc for Muk. Entry hazards are useful for placing pressure on Muk's checks, making setters of them like Mesprit, Clefairy, and Froslass good partners. In particular, Mesprit can beat Weezing, bring Muk in with a slow U-turn, and provide Healing Wish support to give Muk another chance at wallbreaking. Late-game sweepers and cleaners like Carracosta, Lycanroc, and Lilligant appreciate Muk making their job easier by punching massive holes into the opposing team and potentially luring in checks to them like Togedemaru. Muk can also switch into and pressure other checks to them like Tangela, Eelektross, Clefairy, and Alolan Exeggutor.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest can be used in order to give Muk an easier time taking special attacks from Lilligant and Pyroar while still maintaining offensive presence and not being locked into any of its moves, but this leaves Muk much weaker. Focus Punch is an option, possibly in tandem with Fightinium Z or Substitute, that can KO certain Rock- and Steel-types such as Regirock, Lycanroc, Aggron, and Probopass that Muk lures in, but it is very reliant on prediction in order to function properly. Special attacks like Fire Blast and Giga Drain can catch certain checks like Mawile and Omastar off guard, but Muk's mediocre Special Attack prevents these attacks from being very strong or useful. Though these moves hit the previously mentioned Pokemon harder, Choice Band Muk can potentially break through both of these Pokemon with Fire Punch and Explosion, both of which are more consistent moves overall. Memento is an interesting support option that can be used over Explosion, though Muk's low Speed and difficulty finding room for it prevent it from being an efficient user of the move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Weezing**: Weezing fears nothing that Muk can throw at it besides Explosion, but Weezing outspeeds Muk and can reduce the damage that it deals with Will-O-Wisp. Weezing also threatens Curse Muk with Taunt, preventing it from healing itself.
**Ground-types**: While they don't appreciate switching in on Explosion or Ice Punch, bulkier Ground-types such as Mudsdale and Claydol are capable of taking at least one hit from Muk and retaliating with a super effective STAB attack. Mudsdale can also take advantage of any attack Muk uses besides Explosion or Ice Punch due to Stamina increasing its Defense. More offensive Ground-types such as Alolan Dugtrio and Golurk outspeed and OHKO Muk, though they can't switch in as reliably and can be KOed by Shadow Sneak after taking enough prior damage.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types such as Aggron and Probopass are immune to Poison-type moves and can switch in on everything else rather well.
**Psychic-types**: Psychic-types such as Mesprit and Jynx threaten to KO Muk with Psyshock, though they can't switch in safely and can be revenge killed by Shadow Sneak after acquiring enough damage beforehand.
**Bulky Ghost-types**: Bulky Ghost-types like Spiritomb, Sableye, and bulky Oricorio-G don't take very much from Choice Band Muk's Gunk Shot and can put Curse Muk to a complete stop with Taunt. Spiritomb and Sableye can also burn Muk with Will-O-Wisp, while Calm Mind Spiritomb and bulky Oricorio-G can even set up alongside Curse Muk. However, Oricorio-G needs to watch out for Ice Punch and Shadow Sneak from Choice Band variants.
**Strong Attackers**: Muk's merely decent Defense and low Speed leave it vulnerable to faster, powerful physical attackers such as Kingler and Lycanroc, which can easily use Swords Dance against Curse Muk, as well as Kangaskhan. They may face issues with KOing Curse Muk after it obtains enough Defense boosts, however. In addition, even though Muk's special bulk is high, strong special attackers like Aurorus are still capable of 2HKOing it.
**Rock-types**: Bulky Rock-types like Regirock, Omastar, and Carracosta take very little damage from any of Muk's attacks and can easily set Stealth Rock against it, with Omastar being able use both variants of Muk as setup fodder if it isn't locked into Thunder Punch. Lycanroc can easily switch into Fire Punch from Choice Band variants as well as an unboosted Poison Jab from Curse Muk and set up with Swords Dance. Choice Specs Aurorus is capable of 2HKOing even Curse Muk and can handle any attack Muk throws at it.
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