Natu (Update) [QC: 3/3] [GP: 2/2]

So I'm not really a huge fan of Natu's dual screens set, so I'm going to alternate the set a bit; however, I'm not exactly sure how this set should be presented, so input on this is appreciated.

I'm actually pretty cool.

[Overview]

<p>Magic Bounce has carved Natu an interesting niche in the NU metagame, allowing it to shut down several support Pokemon that rely on status, phazing, or entry hazard setting, such as Alomomola, Bastiodon, and Tangela, and can therefore single-handedly wall most stall-oriented teams; it also stops the lesser known but deadly Riolu phazing strategy. Furthermore, the utility Magic Bounce boasts prevents the opposition from obliviously laying entry hazards and spreading status around, an external support tactic no Pokemon but Natu can rightfully claim in NU. However, Natu is very underwhelming itself, as even with Eviolite and a generally maximized Defense stat, Natu is still hit quite hard by many relatively powerful physical attackers. Thus, a skilled user who excels in prediction is required to play completely to Natu's strengths, as switching Natu in on the wrong move or allowing the opponent to set up entry hazards will essentially make it a wasted slot. In essence, Natu is completely reliant on its ability and support moves to cause any kind of nuisances, which makes it a risky Pokemon to use and setup bait for a myriad of sweepers, such as Bulk Up Braviary, Nasty Plot Jynx, and Swords Dance Samurott.</p>

[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Natu's generic support set, which works effectively due to the fact that Natu cannot be shut down by Taunt thanks to its ability bouncing it right back at the opponent. When using Natu, the basic objective is to bring it in against any non-threatening support Pokemon, such as Audino, defensive Scolipede, and Mandibuzz, to keep entry hazards and status from hindering your team and instead reflect them all back towards the opponent.</p>

<p>Because Magic Bounce users typically need to stay alive for as long as possible due to the phenomenal support it provides, Roost is the primary move to ensure such longevity. It further helps Natu to potentially accommodate for three of its weaknesses to Rock-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves, as Natu would take neutral damage from slower Pokemon carrying moves of said types, such as Regirock and Piloswine. Toxic is Natu's best weapon to actually deal with the Pokemon it shuts down, as many bulky walls detest the poison status, such as Alomomola and Tangela. Reflect is a vital move on Natu because it provides it with the ability to withstand the many Rock- and Ice-type Stealth Rock setters, such as the aforementioned Regirock and Piloswine, as well as Golem. On top of that, it makes Natu and its teammates significantly harder to overcome by physical attacks for a few turns. Lastly, Night Shade is used to better handle other threats Natu switches into, especially against Toxic-immune Pokemon as seen in Bastiodon and Garbodor, as it does decent damage and also prevents Natu from being complete setup bait against boosting attackers.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The suggested Speed EVs allows Natu to outpace max Speed Golem to use Reflect and Roost before it can attack with Rock Blast. It's recommended to invest in Natu's Defense as most entry hazard setters are physically attacking. 0 Attack IVs and a Bold nature are used to minimize Foul Play damage, making Natu an excellent answer to Mandibuzz and Liepard. In terms of other moves to use, Thunder Wave is a good way to cripple sweepers and potentially buy free turns through full paralysis, but Toxic is more useful as Natu needs to beat the threats it walls by Toxic stalling. Psychic can work as a STAB move to hit Scolipede, Garbodor, and Roselia, but Night Shade already beats the former two and Roselia overtakes Natu with Sludge Bomb anyway. Night Shade is also needed to hurt Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang, while preventing Skuntank from walling Natu. Finally, U-turn is a good move to scout for switch-ins, as Natu forces a lot of Pokemon out, and generally increases momentum on your side, but it's not recommended as Natu doesn't have room for it and it is inferior to the other moves Natu should be using.</p>

<p>Pokemon that appreciate Natu's ability to keep entry hazards off the field and act as a reliable status absorber are recommended. Jynx, Charizard, and Mandibuzz are excellent options to consider as they are all easily hampered by entry hazards and status effects. It's also necessary to carry Pokemon that have good synergy with Natu's typing. Liepard, which typically lures in the defensive Pokemon that Natu beats, resists Natu's Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses while Natu in return quad-resists Liepard's Fighting-type weakness. Seismitoad is also a great Pokemon to use with its resistance to Rock and immunity to Electric, and Natu takes care of its Grass-type weakness. As Natu attracts setup sweepers and Pokemon with Substitute, Liepard deserves another mention as it's equipped with a Prankster Encore to lock the opposition into their setup move and can use U-turn to scout for their switch-in. Volbeat is also an excellent partner in this regard, as it too has Prankster Encore and can potentially set up a free Tail Glow to Baton Pass to a teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Natu holds an extensive support movepool consisting of notable moves such as Haze, Light Screen, Wish, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Rain Dance, and Sunny Day, but each move is generally executed better by more reliable Pokemon and Natu just doesn't have the space to use them effectively. Calm Mind looks like a feasible option, but with Natu's poor defenses and underwhelming Special Attack, it's better done by the likes of Musharna and Gardevoir. Grass Knot can be useful against Seismitoad, Golem, and Regirock, but it's highly situational and Natu doesn't have the power to OHKO them.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>As Natu typically shuts down bulky walls, there are specific methods to dealing with it. Pokemon with high offensive prowess, specifically special attackers to take advantage of Natu's poor Special Defense, work excellently. Jynx, Eelektross, and Regice, which pack STAB super effective attacks against Natu, are examples that easily dispose of it. Boosting sweepers that don't fear Toxic too greatly can set up and bypass Natu, such as Swords Dance Samurott, SubSmash Gorebyss, and Shift Gear Klang. Substitute users that block Toxic can also be effectively used. Braviary and Tauros are great Substitute users to promptly shut Natu down as Night Shade fails to even affect them. Guts Pokemon, such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Ursaring, can switch in freely, activate their abilities once hit by Toxic, and pound Natu with their STAB Facade. It's also possible to indirectly cripple Natu with status as it significantly hinders Natu's effectiveness. This can be done with the likes of Wartortle's Scald, Skuntank's Poison Jab (which also packs Pursuit), Torkoal's Lava Plume, and Stunfisk's Discharge; Musharna also works well because once Natu reflects Toxic, it will be poisoned itself due to Synchronize and Musharna can use Heal Bell to remove its own Toxic. It's generally very easy to threaten Natu as it cannot do much from an offensive standpoint and its defenses are not high enough to withstand most Pokemon with enough power or with super effective attacks.</p>

[Overview]
  • possesses arguably the best ability in the game, Magic Bounce, which when combined with Eviolite, gives Natu one of the most unique niches within NU
  • with Magic Bounce, Natu can shut down several support Pokemon that rely on status, phazing, or entry hazard setting, such as Alomomola, Garbodor, and Tangela
  • it also single-handedly walls most stall-oriented teams and prevents the lesser known but deadly Riolu phazing strategy
  • Natu's sheer presence prevents the opposition from obliviously laying hazards and spreading status around, an external support tactic that no other Pokemon can rightfully claim
  • a skilled user who predicts well is required to play completely to Natu's strengths, as allowing the opponent to set up hazards and spread status will essentially make Natu a wasted slot
  • despite packing Eviolite and generally maximizing its Defense, it's still hit quite hard by powerful physical attackers
  • Natu is completely reliant on its ability and support moves to cause any kind of nuisances, making it setup bait for a myriad of sweepers, such as Bulk Up Braviary, Nasty Plot Jynx, and Swords Dance Samurott
[SET]

name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]
  • Natu's generic support set, which works very well due to the fact that Natu cannot be shut down by Taunt, thanks to Magic Bounce
  • Magic Bounce users typically want to stay alive for as long as possible as the support Magic Bounce provides is phenomenal, making Roost the primary move to ensure longevity
  • Toxic helps neuter bulky attackers and walls and is Natu's best method to weakening the Pokemon it shuts down, such as Alomomola, Tangela, and Audino
  • Reflect helps Natu defeat the many Stealth Rock setters carrying Rock- and Ice-type attacks within NU, such as Regirock, Golem, and Piloswine
  • Night Shade is used to better handle the threats Natu typically shuts down by hitting for good damage and prevents it from being complete setup bait against boosting attackers
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
  • 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 to outpace max Speed Golem to Reflect/Roost before using Rock Blast; recommended to bolster Natu's Defense as most entry hazard setters are commonly physically attacking
  • 0 Attack IVs and a Bold nature are used to minimize Foul Play damage, making Natu a great counter to Mandibuzz and Liepard
  • Thunder Wave to cripple sweepers and potentially buy free turns, but Toxic is much more useful so Natu can actually beat the threats it walls by poison stalling
  • Psychic as a STAB move to hit Scolipede, Garbodor, and Roselia, three Pokemon Natu typically shuts down, but Night Shade already beats the former two and it's needed to hurt Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang, as well as prevent Skuntank from walling Natu
  • U-turn is to scout for switch-ins and generally increase momentum on your side, but is often not recommended because Natu really doesn't have room for it
  • Pokemon that appreciate Natu's ability to keep hazards off the field and act as a reliable status absorber are recommended - Jynx, Charizard, and Mandibuzz are excellent options to consider that are easily hampered by entry hazards and status
  • Pokemon that carry resistances to Natu's weaknesses - Liepard as it resists Dark and Ghost (also lures in the physically defensive Pokemon Natu beats, such as Golem, Probopass, and Regirock), Seismitoad as it resists Rock and immune to Electric
  • because Natu attracts setup sweepers and Pokemon with Substitute, Encore Liepard and Volbeat are excellent teammates to consider, as their Prankster ability allows them to always lock the opposition into their setup move; Liepard can also U-turn to scout for their switch-in and Volbeat can freely Tail Glow and Baton Pass it to a teammate
[Other Options]
  • not much to consider
  • has a variety of other support moves, such as Haze, Light Screen, Wish, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Rain Dance, and Sunny Day, but each move is generally executed better by more reliable Pokemon in NU
  • Calm Mind is feasible, but with Natu's poor defenses and underwhelming Special Attack, it's better done by Musharna and Gardevoir
  • Grass Knot for Seismitoad, Golem, and Regirock, but highly situational and doesn't OHKO them
[Checks and Counters]
  • since Natu typically shuts down most bulky walls, there are specific methods to dealing with it
  • Pokemon with high offensive prowess, specifically special attackers that carry super effective moves to take advantage of Natu's poor Special Defense, work excellently - Jynx, Eelektross, Regice
  • boosting sweepers that don't fear Toxic too greatly can set up on Natu - Swords Dance Samurott, Substitute + Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Shift Gear Klang
  • Substitute users to block Toxic can be used, as Natu is considered as a sitting duck in those cases - Braviary, Kangaskhan, and Tauros are all great Substitute users to promptly shut Natu down as Night Shade fails to affect them
  • Toxic absorbing Pokemon, such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Ursaring, can switch in freely, activate their abilities once hit by Toxic, and promptly pound Natu with their STAB Facade
  • indirectly crippling it with status really hinders Natu's effectiveness - Wartortle's Scald, Skuntank's Poison Jab (who also Packs Pursuit), Torkoal's Lava Plume, and Stunfisk's Discharge; Heal Bell Musharna cripples it with Toxic too if it gets hit
  • it's generally very easy to threaten Natu as it cannot do much from an offensive standpoint, so any Pokemon with enough power or packs super effective attacks will suffice
 
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Celever

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Not QC or anything so you don't need to put in everything I say or anything! This thread just looks lonely :p.

First of all in the Overview you really need to stress the only reason anybody would ever use Natu is for Magic Bounce, as it has no other merits. You mentioned some other things it can do but Natu's sets are built around the ability, not the ability slapped onto a set.

I can't really support Wish being on this set. Natu's HP is too tiny, like you mentioned anyway, to be worthwhile imo. Light Screen would almost always be the better option, and Reflect is an option there too. Furthermore you can accept your own wishes and still have that safety cushion you mentioned. Haze is also a good option so that Natu is not complete and utter set-up fodder.. The set should look like this:
name: Support
move 1: Roost / Wish
move 2: Light Screen / Reflect / Wish / Haze
move 3: Toxic / Thunder Wave / Reflect / Haze
move 4: U-turn / Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD


The set comments look fine for now though.

In the Additional Comments you said that it checks Primeape well, however almost all Primeape will have a move Super-Effective on Natu such as Ice Punch or Assurance, so I would just delete mention of it. Many Torterra also use Stone Edge for EdgeQuake coverage so I would note "defensive Torterra" rather than simply "Torterra".

In Other Options you should mention Focus Sash in the Grass Knot section as it will 2HKO all of the threats you mentioned. This means that unless they use Rock Blast which isn't as common anymore you are guaranteed to keep rocks off for at least some of the battle.

I would also like to see Tauros mentioned in "Checks and Counters" given that many of them use Substitute and set it up easily on Natu.

Besides that this analysis looks pretty good. Well done! :)
 
- encore liepard is probably going to be a pretty good partner for natu, as it shits on pokemon using substitute and setup moves. natu also has that slow u-turn to get it in safely
- i think that psychic could possibly get an ac mention instead of oo, as it hits scolipede, garbodor and roselia super effectively, all hazard layers. the former is more important because if it's some kind of sd spikes set it can set up on and beat natu. for the record uninvested psychic ohkos no bulk scolipede after stealth rock
- id also mention that natu really really fucks up riolu teams, which are probably the most infuriating to play against in the tier. stall as well to be honest, as long as you also have some steel fryer with you (zard)
- i'd personally make the move order something like: roost, u-turn, toxic/thunder wave, night shade. roost as you said is the most important move, to keep it alive, then u-turn to gain you loads of momentum, and since it's slow spikers cant outpredict you and setup on the incoming mon. natu then relies on the status move to disrupt the opponents that stay in, and night shade in the last slot because imo its the least important move. possibly slash psychic with it, because otheriwse stuff like zangoose just come in for free, which is never good
- basically i feel like there are too many moves on the set atm, and that wish and screens should probably be limited to AC or even OO for wish. One screen is probably enough as a slash somewhere on the set
 
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I'll wait for some QC input regarding how the set should look like.

Considered and implemented your suggestions.
 

tennisace

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Agreeing with cherub that the set should be trimmed down a bit. The point of Natu is to get in, try to bounce back stuff, and then U-turn out.

-U-turn
-Roost
-Toxic / Thunder Wave
-Night Shade / Reflect

with Light Screen, Wish, and Psychic in AC. First two moves can be flipped if you want. Also Nature should be Bold to reduce Foul Play + Confusion damage, since you're going to be doing piddle with U-turn regardless.
 

ebeast

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The set to be used:
name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Reflect
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD

Why Reflect? Because it lets Natu actually beat SR Pokemon 1v1 and just Toxic stall them with Roost and Night Shade. It would be nice if it could fit U-turn, but it can't so that goes to AC. Thunder Wave to either AC or OO, you really need Toxic for Natu to do anything. Light Screen and Wish to OO and if possible make the Attack IVs to 0 because it lets Natu actually counter Mandibuzz by just switching in and Toxic stalling it to death without fearing Taunt, Toxic, or Foul Play.

I'll look at it again later, just make these changes and fix the Set Comments, AC, and OO accordingly for now. Overview can probably be trimmed to just get straight to the point: Natu's only niche is using Magic Bounce to prevent hazards from being set up as well as beating walls that rely on Toxic for damage or simply can't do much to Natu due to its typing. Basically remove the first sentence; combine points 2, 3, and 4; combine points 5 and 7 since they go hand in hand somewhat, bad bulk means you can't play recklessly.

@Fuzznip
 
Okay yeah I tried that set out and like it more. Natu does a way better job at shutting down and defeating entry hazard setters. Thanks ebeast.

I think I got that all. I'll remember your points about the Overview once I write it.
 
Excuse the double post. I updated the OP with some stuff that was discussed on IRC, mainly the new EV spread and beefing up the C&C section.
 

ebeast

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As long as you remember about what you should do for the Overview on the write up that is fine.

[Additional Comments]
When talking about Liepard as a partner I think you can add that it lures in a lot of the physically defensive SR users for it to U-turn on so Natu gets in there immediately to start using Reflect and stalling. For the AC moves add on as to why they are not main set moves; Psychic is not because it misses out on Steel-types (Metang, Probopass, Bastiodon) and only helps vs Spiker match up (You beat Scoli + Garbo anyways and Rose beats you anyways); Thunder Wave because Toxic is more useful for stalling out Rock-types faster and a bunch of other walls; U-turn because all of its other moves are needed.

[Checks and Counters]
Kadabra uses Signal Beam > Shadow Ball so mention something like Eelektross instead since it can also get the advantage against it whether it switches or not with Volt Switch.

QC Approved 1/3 @Fuzznip
 

ebeast

she's probably sexting nprtprt
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[Overview]
Combine the first two sentences; say that Magic Bounce gives it the niche of *insert second sentence stuff here*. Third sentence seems somewhat redundant since you already mention that it gets over those things in the previous sentence. You can remove the first sentence of the second paragraph since you go into more detail with the next one anyways. Then combine the paragraphs and this is good.

[Set Comments]
In the last sentence I would rephrase it or remove the part about it dealing with Substitute users as Natu's match up isn't good against most of them in the first place. SubBU Brav, Tauros, and Sawsbuck are immune to Night Shade and other users of Substitute such as Serperior, NP Missy, Gorebyss, and Jynx are dangerous for you to stay in on.

Stamping it because nobody is doing it, if anyone else wants to look at it for themselves: go for it.

QC Approved 3/3 Fuzznip
 

Celever

i am town
is a Community Contributor
amcheck ^_^. Was a good analysis, but one thing to keep in mind is that there is a difference between "poison" and "toxic", since that was mixed up a couple times in this. Also I saw "moves" or "move" a lot in this; don't forget that you can use "attack(s)" instead whilst referring to offense so that the analysis doesn't get stale. "Due" and "thanks" also have different meanings, just notes idk!!
Del Add Comments
[Overview]

<p>Possessing what is arguably the best ability in the game, in Magic Bounce, Natu has carved itself an interesting niche in the NU metagame. With it, Natu can shuts down several support Pokemon that rely on status, phazing, or entry hazard setting, such as Alomomola, Bastiodon, and Tangela, and therefore single-handedly wallsing most stall-oriented teams; it also stops and prevents the lesser known, but deadly, Riolu phazing strategy. Furthermore, the utility Magic Bounce boasts prevents the opposition from obliviously laying hazards and spreading status around, an external support tactic no Pokemon but Natu can rightfully claim in NU. However, Natu is very underwhelming itself.; Eeven with Eviolite and generally maximizing its Defense, Natu is still hit quite hard by many relatively powerful physical attackers;. tThus, a skilled user who excels in prediction is required to play completely to Natu's strengths, as switching Natu in on the wrong move or allowing the opponent to set up hazards will essentially make it a wasted slot. Natu is simply completely reliant on its ability and support moves to cause any kind of nuisances, which makes it a risky Pokemon to use and setup bait for a myriad of sweepers, such as Bulk Up Braviary, Nasty Plot Jynx, and Swords Dance Samurott.</p>

[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Natu's generic support set, which works effectively due to the fact that Natu cannot be shut down by Taunt becausethanks ofto its ability bouncing it right back at the opponent. When using Natu, the basic objective is to bring it in against any non-threatening support Pokemon, such as Audino, defensive Scolipede, and Mandibuzz, to keep off all entry hazards and status from hindering your team and instead reflect them all back towards the opponent.</p>

<p>Because Magic Bounce users typically need to stay alive for as long as possible due to the phenomenal support it provides, Roost is the primary move to ensure such longevity. It further helps Natu to potentially accommodate for three of its weaknesses to Rock-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves, as Natu would take neutral damage from slower Pokemon carrying moves of said types, such as Regirock and Piloswine. Toxic is Natu's best weapon to actually deal with the Pokemon it shuts down, as many bulky walls detest badly poison status, such as Alomomola and Tangela. Reflect is a vital move on Natu because it provides it with the ability to withstand the many Rock- and Ice-type Stealth Rock setters, such as the aforementioned Regirock and Piloswine, as well as Golem. On top of that, it makes Natu and its teammates significantly harder to overcome by physical attacks for a few turns. Lastly, Night Shade is used to better handle other threats Natu switches into, especially against Toxic-immune Pokemon as seen in Bastiodon and Garbodor, as it does decent, consistent damage and also prevents Natu from being complete setup bait against boosting attackers.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The suggested Speed EVs allows Natu to outpace max Speed Golem to use Reflect and Roost before it can useattack with Rock Blast. It's recommended to inveset in Natu's Defense as most entry hazard setters are physically attacking. 0 Attack IVs and a Bold nature are used to minimize Foul Play damage, making Natu an excellent answer to Mandibuzz and Liepard. In termsregards ofto other moves to use, Thunder Wave is a good way to cripple fast sweepers and potentially buy free turns through full paralysis, but Toxic is more useful as Natu needs to beat the threats it walls by poisontoxic stalling. Psychic can work as a STAB move to hit Scolipede, Garbodor, and Roselia, but Night Shade already beats the former two and Roselia overtakes Natu with Sludge Bomb anyway. Night Shade is also needed to hurt Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang, and to prevent Skuntank from walling Natuit. Finally, U-turn is a good move to scout for switch-ins, as Natu forces a lot of Pokemon out, and generally increases momentum on your side, but it's not recommended as Natu doesn't have room for it and it is inferior to the other moves Natu should be using.</p>

<p>Pokemon that appreciate Natu's ability to keep hazards off the field and act as a reliable status absorbers are recommended. Jynx, Charizard, and Mandibuzz are excellent options to consider as they are all easily hampered by entry hazards and status effects. It's also necessary to carry Pokemon that have good synergyize (synergize isn't a word)with Natu's typing. Liepard, who typically lures in the defensive Pokemon that Natu beats, resists Natu's Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses while Natu in return 4xquad-resists Liepard's Fighting-type weakness. Seismitoad is also a great Pokemon to use with its resistance to Rock and immunity to Electric, withand Natu taking care of its Grass-type weakness. BecauseAs Natu attracts setup sweepers and Pokemon with Substitute, Liepard deserves another mention as it's equipped with Prankster Encore to lock the opposition into their setup move and can use U-turn to scout for their switch-in. Volbeat is also an excellent partner in this regard, as it too has Prankster Encore and can potentially buy itself a free Tail Glow to Baton Pass to a teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Natu holds an extensive support movepool consisting of notable movesattacks such as Haze, Light Screen, Wish, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Rain Dance, and Sunny Day, but each move is generally executed better by better and more reliable Pokemon and Natu just doesn't have the space to use them effectively. Calm Mind looks like a feasible option, but with Natu's poor defenses and underwhelming Special Attack, it's better done by the likes of Musharna and Gardevoir. Grass Knot can be useful against Seismitoad, Golem, and Regirock, but it's highly situational and Natu doesn't have the power to OHKO them.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>BecauseAs Natu typically shuts down bulky walls, there are specific methods to dealing with it. Pokemon with high offensive prowess, specifically special attackers to take advantage of Natu's poor Special Defense, work excellently. Jynx, Eelektross, and Regice, who pack STAB super-effective movesattacks against Natu, are perfect examples that easily dispose of it. Boosting sweepers that don't fear Toxic too greatly can set up and bypass Natu, such as Swords Dance Samurott, Sustitute + Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Shift Gear Klang. Substitute users thato block Toxic can also be effectively used. Bulk Up Braviary and Tauros are all great Substitute users to promptly shut Natu down as Night Shade fails to even affect them. Toxic absorbing Pokemon, such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Ursaring, can switch in freely, activate their abilities once hit by Toxic, and poundce Natu with their STAB Facade. It's also possible to indirectly cripple Natu with status as it significantly hinders Natu's effectiveness. This can be done with the likes of Wartortle's Scald, Skuntank's Poison Jab (who also packs Pursuit), Torkoal's Lava Plume, and Stunfisk's Discharge; Musharna also works well because it inflicts Natu with Toxic if it gets poisoned by Natu duethanks to Synchronize and can use Heal Bell to remove its own Toxic. It's generally very easy to threaten Natu as it cannot do much from an offensive standpoint and its defenses are not high enough to withstand most Pokemon with enough power or with super effective attacks.</p>
 

GatoDelFuego

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naturally, I'll give this a check

Fuzznip

REMOVE CHANGE COMMENTS

[Overview]

<p>Magic Bounce has carved Natu an interesting niche in the NU metagame, allowing it to shut down several support Pokemon that rely on status, phazing, or entry hazard setting, such as Alomomola, Bastiodon, and Tangela, and therefore single-handedly walls most stall-oriented teams; it also stops the lesser known but deadly Riolu phazing strategy. Furthermore, the utility Magic Bounce boasts prevents the opposition from obliviously laying entry hazards and spreading status around, an external support tactic no Pokemon but Natu can rightfully claim in NU. However, Natu is very underwhelming itself. Even with Eviolite and generally maximizing its Defense, Natu is still hit quite hard by many relatively powerful physical attackers. Thus, a skilled user who excels in prediction is required to play completely to Natu's strengths, as switching Natu in on the wrong move or allowing the opponent to set up entry hazards will essentially make it a wasted slot. Natu is completely reliant on its ability and support moves to cause any kind of nuisances, which makes it a risky Pokemon to use and setup bait for a myriad of sweepers, such as Bulk Up Braviary, Nasty Plot Jynx, and Swords Dance Samurott.</p>

[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Natu's generic support set, which works effectively due to the fact that Natu cannot be shut down by Taunt thanks to its ability bouncing it right back at the opponent. When using Natu, the basic objective is to bring it in against any non-threatening support Pokemon, such as Audino, defensive Scolipede, and Mandibuzz, to keep off all entry hazards and status from hindering your team and instead reflect them all back towards the opponent.</p>

<p>Because Magic Bounce users typically need to stay alive for as long as possible due to the phenomenal support it provides, Roost is the primary move to ensure such longevity. It further helps Natu to potentially accommodate for three of its weaknesses to Rock-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves, as Natu would take neutral damage from slower Pokemon carrying moves of said types, such as Regirock and Piloswine. Toxic is Natu's best weapon to actually deal with the Pokemon it shuts down, as many bulky walls detest the poison status, such as Alomomola and Tangela. Reflect is a vital move on Natu because it provides it with the ability to withstand the many Rock- and Ice-type Stealth Rock setters, such as the aforementioned Regirock and Piloswine, as well as Golem. On top of that, it makes Natu and its teammates significantly harder to overcome by physical attacks for a few turns. Lastly, Night Shade is used to better handle other threats Natu switches into, especially against Toxic-immune Pokemon as seen in Bastiodon and Garbodor, as it does decent damage and also prevents Natu from being complete setup bait against boosting attackers.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The suggested Speed EVs allows Natu to outpace max Speed Golem to use Reflect and Roost before it can attack with Rock Blast. It's recommended to invest in Natu's Defense as most entry hazard setters are physically attacking. 0 Attack IVs and a Bold nature are used to minimize Foul Play damage, making Natu an excellent answer to Mandibuzz and Liepard. In terms of other moves to use, Thunder Wave is a good way to cripple sweepers and potentially buy free turns through full paralysis, but Toxic is more useful as Natu needs to beat the threats it walls by Toxic stalling. Psychic can work as a STAB move to hit Scolipede, Garbodor, and Roselia, but Night Shade already beats the former two and Roselia overtakes Natu with Sludge Bomb anyway. Night Shade is also needed to hurt Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang, and to prevent Skuntank from walling Natu. Finally, U-turn is a good move to scout for switch-ins, as Natu forces a lot of Pokemon out, and generally increases momentum on your side, but it's not recommended as Natu doesn't have room for it and it is inferior to the other moves Natu should be using.</p>

<p>Pokemon that appreciate Natu's ability to keep entry hazards off the field and act as a reliable status absorber are recommended. Jynx, Charizard, and Mandibuzz are excellent options to consider as they are all easily hampered by entry hazards and status effects. It's also necessary to carry Pokemon that have good synergy with Natu's typing. Liepard, who which typically lures in the defensive Pokemon that Natu beats, resists Natu's Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses while Natu in return quad-resists Liepard's Fighting-type weakness. Seismitoad is also a great Pokemon to use with its resistance to Rock and immunity to Electric, and Natu takes care of its Grass-type weakness. As Natu attracts setup sweepers and Pokemon with Substitute, Liepard deserves another mention as it's equipped with a Prankster Encore to lock the opposition into their setup move and can use U-turn to scout for their switch-in. Volbeat is also an excellent partner in this regard, as it too has Prankster Encore and can potentially buy itself a free Tail Glow to Baton Pass to a teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Natu holds an extensive support movepool consisting of notable moves such as Haze, Light Screen, Wish, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Rain Dance, and Sunny Day, but each move is generally executed better by more reliable Pokemon and Natu just doesn't have the space to use them effectively. Calm Mind looks like a feasible option, but with Natu's poor defenses and underwhelming Special Attack, it's better done by the likes of Musharna and Gardevoir. Grass Knot can be useful against Seismitoad, Golem, and Regirock, but it's highly situational and Natu doesn't have the power to OHKO them.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>As Natu typically shuts down bulky walls, there are specific methods to dealing with it. Pokemon with high offensive prowess, specifically special attackers to take advantage of Natu's poor Special Defense, work excellently. Jynx, Eelektross, and Regice, who which pack STAB super effective attacks against Natu, are examples that easily dispose of it. Boosting sweepers that don't fear Toxic too greatly can set up and bypass Natu, such as Swords Dance Samurott, Sustitute + Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Shift Gear Klang. Substitute users that block Toxic can also be effectively used. Braviary and Tauros are great Substitute users to promptly shut Natu down as Night Shade fails to even affect them. Toxic absorbing Pokemon, such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Ursaring, can switch in freely, activate their abilities once hit by Toxic, and pound Natu with their STAB Facade. It's also possible to indirectly cripple Natu with status as it significantly hinders Natu's effectiveness. This can be done with the likes of Wartortle's Scald, Skuntank's Poison Jab (who which also packs Pursuit), Torkoal's Lava Plume, and Stunfisk's Discharge; Musharna also works well because once it inflicts Natu reflects with Toxic if it gets poisoned by Natu it will be poisoned itself due to Synchronize and Musharna can use Heal Bell to remove its own Toxic. It's generally very easy to threaten Natu as it cannot do much from an offensive standpoint and its defenses are not high enough to withstand most Pokemon with enough power or with super effective attacks.</p>


1/2
 
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Governess

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Hihi, GP Check! Nice job with this. :)

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[Overview]

<p>Magic Bounce has carved Natu an interesting niche in the NU metagame, allowing it to shut down several support Pokemon that rely on status, phazing, or entry hazard setting, such as Alomomola, Bastiodon, and Tangela, and can therefore single-handedly walls most stall-oriented teams; it also stops the lesser known but deadly Riolu phazing strategy. Furthermore, the utility Magic Bounce boasts prevents the opposition from obliviously laying entry hazards and spreading status around, an external support tactic no Pokemon but Natu can rightfully claim in NU. However, Natu is very underwhelming itself. Even with Eviolite and a generally maxed out maximizing its Defense, Natu is still hit quite hard by many relatively powerful physical attackers. Thus, a skilled user who excels in prediction is required to play completely to Natu's strengths, as switching Natu in on the wrong move or allowing the opponent to set up entry hazards will essentially make it a wasted slot. Natu is completely reliant on its ability and support moves to cause any kind of nuisances, which makes it a risky Pokemon to use and setup bait for a myriad of sweepers, such as Bulk Up Braviary, Nasty Plot Jynx, and Swords Dance Samurott.</p>

[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Natu's generic support set, which works effectively due to the fact that Natu cannot be shut down by Taunt thanks to its ability bouncing it right back at the opponent. When using Natu, the basic objective is to bring it in against any non-threatening support Pokemon, such as Audino, defensive Scolipede, and Mandibuzz, to keep entry hazards and status from hindering your team and instead reflect them all back towards the opponent.</p>

<p>Because Magic Bounce users typically need to stay alive for as long as possible due to the phenomenal support it provides, Roost is the primary move to ensure such longevity. It further helps Natu to potentially accommodate for three of its weaknesses to Rock-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves, as Natu would take neutral damage from slower Pokemon carrying moves of said types, such as Regirock and Piloswine. Toxic is Natu's best weapon to actually deal with the Pokemon it shuts down, as many bulky walls detest the poison status, such as Alomomola and Tangela. Reflect is a vital move on Natu because it provides it with the ability to withstand the many Rock- and Ice-type Stealth Rock setters, such as the aforementioned Regirock and Piloswine, as well as Golem. On top of that, it makes Natu and its teammates significantly harder to overcome by physical attacks for a few turns. Lastly, Night Shade is used to better handle other threats Natu switches into, especially against Toxic-immune Pokemon as seen in Bastiodon and Garbodor, as it does decent damage and also prevents Natu from being complete setup bait against boosting attackers.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The suggested Speed EVs allows Natu to outpace max Speed Golem to use Reflect and Roost before it can attack with Rock Blast. It's recommended to invest in Natu's Defense as most entry hazard setters are physically attacking. 0 Attack IVs and a Bold nature are used to minimize Foul Play damage, making Natu an excellent answer to Mandibuzz and Liepard. In terms of other moves to use, Thunder Wave is a good way to cripple sweepers and potentially buy free turns through full paralysis, but Toxic is more useful as Natu needs to beat the threats it walls by Toxic stalling. Psychic can work as a STAB move to hit Scolipede, Garbodor, and Roselia, but Night Shade already beats the former two and Roselia overtakes Natu with Sludge Bomb anyway. Night Shade is also needed to hurt Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang, (RC) while preventing and to prevent Skuntank from walling Natu. Finally, U-turn is a good move to scout for switch-ins, as Natu forces a lot of Pokemon out, and generally increases momentum on your side, but it's not recommended as Natu doesn't have room for it and it is inferior to the other moves Natu should be using.</p>

<p>Pokemon that appreciate Natu's ability to keep entry hazards off the field and act as a reliable status absorber are recommended. Jynx, Charizard, and Mandibuzz are excellent options to consider as they are all easily hampered by entry hazards and status effects. It's also necessary to carry Pokemon that have good synergy with Natu's typing. Liepard, which typically lures in the defensive Pokemon that Natu beats, resists Natu's Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses while Natu in return quad-resists (Wow, this is the first time I've seen this used .0. That said, It doesn't look wrong; someone can object if so.) Liepard's Fighting-type weakness. Seismitoad is also a great Pokemon to use with its resistance to Rock and immunity to Electric, and Natu takes care of its Grass-type weakness. As Natu attracts setup sweepers and Pokemon with Substitute, Liepard deserves another mention as it's equipped with a Prankster Encore to lock the opposition into their setup move and can use U-turn to scout for their switch-in. Volbeat is also an excellent partner in this regard, as it too has Prankster Encore and can potentially buy itself a set up a free Tail Glow to Baton Pass to a teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Natu holds an extensive support movepool consisting of notable moves such as Haze, Light Screen, Wish, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Rain Dance, and Sunny Day, but each move is generally executed better by more reliable Pokemon and Natu just doesn't have the space to use them effectively. Calm Mind looks like a feasible option, but with Natu's poor defenses and underwhelming Special Attack, it's better done by the likes of Musharna and Gardevoir. Grass Knot can be useful against Seismitoad, Golem, and Regirock, but it's highly situational and Natu doesn't have the power to OHKO them.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>As Natu typically shuts down bulky walls, there are specific methods to dealing with it. Pokemon with high offensive prowess, specifically special attackers to take advantage of Natu's poor Special Defense, work excellently. Jynx, Eelektross, and Regice, which pack STAB super effective attacks against Natu, are examples that easily dispose of it. Boosting sweepers that don't fear Toxic too greatly can set up and bypass Natu, such as Swords Dance Samurott, Sustitute + Shell Smash SubSmash Gorebyss, and Shift Gear Klang. Substitute users that block Toxic can also be effectively used. Braviary and Tauros are great Substitute users to promptly shut Natu down as Night Shade fails to even affect them. Toxic absorbing (I think Toxic absorbing is the wrong words of choice here, as Posion-type technically 'absorb' Toxic as well. Because you are listing Pokemon whose abilities permit them to absorb Toxic, why not specifically mention them instead of that broad statement? I'm confident that you can find a good alternative.) Pokemon, such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Ursaring, can switch in freely, activate their abilities once hit by Toxic, and pound Natu with their STAB Facade. It's also possible to indirectly cripple Natu with status as it significantly hinders Natu's effectiveness. This can be done with the likes of Wartortle's Scald, Skuntank's Poison Jab (which also packs Pursuit), Torkoal's Lava Plume, and Stunfisk's Discharge; Musharna also works well because once Natu reflects Toxic, it will be poisoned itself due to Synchronize and Musharna can use Heal Bell to remove its own Toxic. It's generally very easy to threaten Natu as it cannot do much from an offensive standpoint and its defenses are not high enough to withstand most Pokemon with enough power or with super effective attacks.</p>

GP APPROVED 2/2
 
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[Overview]

<p>Magic Bounce has carved Natu has carved an interesting niche in the NU metagame thanks to its ability, Magic Bounce (I personally feel that this sounds better, feel free to disagree, though.), allowing it to shut down several support Pokemon that rely on status, phazing, or entry hazard setting, such as Alomomola, Bastiodon, and Tangela, and therefore single-handedly walls most stall-oriented teams; while it also stopsping the lesser known but deadly Riolu phazing strategy. Furthermore, the utility that Magic Bounce boasts prevents the opposition from obliviously laying entry hazards and spreading status around, an external support tactic no Pokemon but Natu can rightfully claim in NU. However, Natu is very underwhelming itself., as Eeven with Eviolite and generally maximizinged its Defense, Natu is still hit quite hard by many relatively powerful physical attackers. Thus, a skilled user who excels in prediction is required to play completely to Natu's strengths, as switching Natu in on the wrong move or allowing the opponent to set up entry hazards will essentially make it a wasted slot. In addition, Natu is completely reliant on its ability and support moves to cause any kind of nuisances, which makes it a risky Pokemon to use and setup bait for a myriad of sweepers, such as Bulk Up Braviary, Nasty Plot Jynx, and Swords Dance Samurott.</p>

[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Roost
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Reflect
move 4: Night Shade
item: Eviolite
ability: Magic Bounce
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 204 Def / 56 Spe
ivs: 0 Atk

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This is Natu's generic support set, which works effectively due to the fact that Natu cannot be shut down by Taunt thanks to its ability bouncing it right back at the opponent. When using Natu, the basic objective is to bring it in against any non-threatening support Pokemon, such as Audino, defensive Scolipede, and Mandibuzz, to keep entry hazards and status from hindering your team and instead reflect them all back towards the opponent.</p>

<p>Because Magic Bounce users Natu typically needs (Natu is the only Pokemon in the tier that has Magic Bounce, plus it's the subject of this analysis.) to stay alive for as long as possible due to the phenomenal support it provides, Roost is the primary move to ensure such longevity. It further helps Natu to potentially accommodate for three of its weaknesses to Rock-, Ice-, and Electric-type moves, as Natu would take neutral damage from slower Pokemon carrying moves of said types, such as Regirock and Piloswine. Toxic is Natu's best weapon to actually deal with the Pokemon it shuts down, as many bulky walls, such as Alomomola and Tangela detest the poison status, such as Alomomola and Tangela (Again, I feel that this sounds better, and again, feel free to ignore this.). Reflect is a vital move on Natu because it provides it with the ability to better withstand attacks from (Just clarifying here.)the many Rock- and Ice-type Stealth Rock setters, such as the aforementioned Regirock and Piloswine, as well as Golem. On top of that, it makes Natu and its teammates significantly harder to overcome by physical attacks for a few turns. Lastly, Night Shade is used to better handle other threats Natu switches into, especially against Toxic-immune Pokemon such as seen in Bastiodon and Garbodor, as it does decent damage and also prevents Natu from being complete setup bait against boosting attackers.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The suggested Speed EVs allows Natu to outpace max Speed Golem to and use Reflect and or Roost before it can attack with Rock Blast. It's recommended to invest in Natu's Defense as most entry hazard setters are physically attacking. 0 Attack IVs and a Bold nature are used to minimize Foul Play damage, making Natu an excellent answer to Mandibuzz and Liepard. In terms of other moves to use, Thunder Wave is a good way to cripple sweepers and potentially buy free turns through full paralysis, but Toxic is more useful as Natu needs to beat the threats it walls by Toxic stalling. Psychic can work as a STAB move to hit Scolipede, Garbodor, and Roselia, but Night Shade already beats the former two and Roselia overtakes Natu with Sludge Bomb anyway. Night Shade is also needed to hurt Bastiodon, Probopass, and Metang, and to prevent Skuntank from walling Natu. Finally, U-turn is a good move to scout for switch-ins, as Natu forces a lot of Pokemon out, and generally increases momentum on your side, but it's not recommended as Natu doesn't have room for it and it is inferior to the other moves Natu should be using.</p>

<p>Pokemon that appreciate Natu's ability to keep entry hazards off the field and act as a reliable status absorber are recommended as teammates. Jynx, Charizard, and Mandibuzz are excellent options to consider as they are all easily hampered by entry hazards and status effects. It's also necessary to carry Pokemon that have good synergy with Natu's typing. Liepard, which typically lures in the defensive Pokemon that Natu beats, resists Natu's Dark- and Ghost-type weaknesses while Natu in return 4x quad-resists Liepard's Fighting-type weakness in return (Meh, it just seems to flow better this way, at least to me.). Seismitoad is also a great Pokemon to use with thanks to its resistance to Rock and immunity to Electric, and Natu takes care of its Grass-type weakness. As Natu attracts setup sweepers and Pokemon with Substitute, Liepard deserves another mention as it's equipped with a Prankster Encore to lock the opposition into their setup move and can use U-turn to scout for their switch-in. Volbeat is also an excellent partner in this regard, as it too has Prankster Encore and can potentially buy itself a free Tail Glow to Baton Pass to a teammate.</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Natu holds an extensive support movepool consisting of notable moves such as Haze, Light Screen, Wish, Trick Room, FeatherDance, Rain Dance, and Sunny Day, but each move is generally executed better by more reliable Pokemon and Natu just doesn't have the space to use them effectively. Calm Mind looks like a feasible option, but with Natu's poor defenses and underwhelming Special Attack, it's better done by the likes of Musharna and Gardevoir. Grass Knot can be useful against Seismitoad, Golem, and Regirock, but it's highly situational and Natu doesn't have the power to OHKO them.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>As Natu typically shuts down bulky walls, there are specific methods to dealing with it. Pokemon with high offensive prowess, specifically special attackers to that can take advantage of Natu's poor Special Defense, work excellently. Jynx, Eelektross, and Regice, which pack STAB moves that are super effective attacks (I just think this sounds better, feel free to ignore this.)against Natu, are examples of Pokemon that can easily dispose of it. Boosting sweepers that don't fear Toxic too greatly can set up on and bypass Natu, such as Swords Dance Samurott, Sustitute + Shell Smash Gorebyss, and Shift Gear Klang. Substitute users that block Toxic (Every Pokemon that uses Substitute blocks Toxic, so.....)can also be effectively used to beat Natu.; Braviary and Tauros in particular are great Substitute users to can (Just cutting down on a little bit of repetitiveness, you don't have to implement this.)promptly shut down Natu down as they are immune to Night Shade fails to even affect them (This part definitely has a bit of personal preference leaking through in the changes I suggested, so you don't have to implement this if you don't want to.). Toxic absorbing Pokemon that can absorb Toxic, such as Zangoose, Swellow, and Ursaring, can switch in freely, activate their abilities once hit by Toxic, and pound Natu with their STAB Facade. It's also possible to indirectly cripple Natu with status as it significantly hinders Natu's effectiveness. This can be done with the likes of Wartortle's Scald, Skuntank's Poison Jab (which also packs Pursuit), Torkoal's Lava Plume, and Stunfisk's Discharge; Musharna also works well because once Natu reflects Toxic, it will be poisoned itself due to Synchronize and Musharna can use Heal Bell to remove its own Toxic. It's generally very easy to threaten Natu as it cannot do much from an offensive standpoint and its defenses are not high enough to withstand most Pokemon with enough power or with super effective attacks.</p>


Skuntank's Poison Jab (which also packs Pursuit),
I'm not QC, but I feel that you should instead add a separate mention of Pursuit users in Checks and Counters.
[/quote]

Edit: Oops, got ninja'd by an actual member of the GP team. Oh well.
 

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