Well, I'm successfully avoiding studying yet again. Just piling on the work for GP. Those poor bastards.
<hoot>
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/noctowl
Taking this over for Random Pizzaman who got this through QC here.
[Overview]
<p>Noctowl has always been the black sheep... err bird, of the Normal / Flying family. Its stats are completely backwards, and while cool and unique, they don't help it accomplish much. Looking at them, you'd think Noctowl could work as an effective special wall, but with weaknesses to three extremely common attacking types in UU, including an awful wing-clipping weakness to Stealth Rock, a lack of any form of offense, and a low physical defense, Noctowl's goose is effectively cooked. There may still be a little hope left for Noctowl, as it is one of the single best Grass-type counters available thanks to its special bulk and immunity to sleep moves; however, this niche still is not enough to save it from obscurity. Owls may be wise, but in this case, even the most battle-hardened of players are wise enough to steer clear from using Noctowl.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Wall
move 1: Whirlwind
move 2: Roost
move 3: Night Shade
move 4: Toxic / Reflect / Psycho Shift
item: Leftovers
ability: Insomnia
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Due to its excellent special bulk, Noctowl can become an effective special tank. The idea when using Noctowl is to switch it into a special attack and work from there. Whirlwind is for phazing, and works wonders with entry hazards. It can also help Noctowl scout out the opponent's physical attackers and stop a setup attempt. Roost grants Noctowl reliable recovery, and removes its nasty weaknesses to Ice-, Electric-, and Rock-type attacks. Unfortunately, Noctowl is normally too slow to take advantage of this, and when Roosting, Noctowl is exposed to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks. Because Noctowl's offensive stats are rather poor, Night Shade is used to obtain steady damage. The last slot is purely up to the player's discretion: Noctowl can use Toxic decently while phazing to rack up even more residual damage; Reflect cushions Noctowl's poor Defense and can help out the rest of the team; and Psycho Shift throws back status attacks so that Noctowl isn't crippled by them.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Insomnia is what makes Noctowl one of the best Grass-type counters available, as it is able to switch into special Venusaur, Exeggutor, and Tangrowth with impunity and force them out with Whirlwind or whittle their health down with Night Shade. Noctowl has to be careful around physical Grass-types, however, as they can punch holes right through its weaker physical defense. Noctowl also makes a great switch-in to Venomoth and Butterfree, as well as common Yawn users such as Uxie and Hippopotas.</p>
<p>Milotic pairs excellently with Noctowl, since it draws out Venusaur; in return, Noctowl lures in Rock-types, such as Rhyperior and Aggron, whom Milotic can take out with its STAB Surf. Noctowl appreciates Pokemon with large physical bulk to cover its weaker defensive stat. Good teammates to fill that void include Rhyperior, Registeel, and Donphan. Donphan gets a special mention as it is also able to provide Rapid Spin support to clear the field of Stealth Rock, which severely hampers Noctowl's ability to switch in. As Noctowl's main job is to phaze out opposing Pokemon and rack up residual damage, Spikes and Stealth Rock support are a must. Good teammates to set up entry hazards include Omastar, Cloyster, Uxie, and Donphan. Having a Rapid Spin blocker, such as Rotom, will also help Noctowl more effectively accomplish its goal.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Having a Rapid Spinner will allow Noctowl to accomplish its goal much better by removing Stealth Rock from the field. Hitmontop and Donphan work best as they resist Rock, and in Donphan's case, Electric as well. Magneton gets a special mention as a notable teammate, as it resists all of Noctowl's weaknesses and can eliminate most Steel-types that may stand in its way. In return, Noctowl is completely immune to Ground-type attacks and can switch into special Fire-type moves directed at Magneton with relative ease. Noctowl can be a buffer special wall alongside Milotic and Chansey, as it can handle some unique threats that they struggle against such as Venusaur, SubSeeders, and Mismagius. Noctowl loves entry hazards on the opponent's side of the field to help it rack up residual damage as it phazes. Donphan, Omastar, Cloyster, Cacturne, and Qwilfish can all provide them.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Hypnosis can be used in place of Toxic, but the lowered accuracy is unappealing. FeatherDance can provide the same buffer against physical attacks as Reflect, except it doesn't provide support for the whole team. Light Clay can be used alongside Reflect to give Noctowl's sweeper teammates an easier time setting up. Flame Orb + Psycho Shift can allow Noctowl to utilize a makeshift Will-O-Wisp, but is not a great idea since the time it takes to set up is too long, and Noctowl just doesn't have the Speed to make it happen.</p>
<p>On the offensive side, Air Slash, Psychic, Shadow Ball, and Heat Wave are available alongside the use of Agility, but since Noctowl's attacking stats are so poor, Night Shade will prove to be more useful overall. Noctowl has the bulk to set up Rain Dance or Sunny Day; however, it again lacks the Speed to do so effectively. Noctowl can make use of Substitute to become a Toxic SubRooster, but with the lack of Pressure to stall out Stone Edge's PP or the Speed to use Substitute before an attack, Noctowl is better off utilizing the standard set.</p>
[Counters]
<p>You don't have to be Ozymandias to take down this Nite Owl. Although setting up on Noctowl is difficult due to Whirlwind, Taunt from almost any Pokemon renders Noctowl almost completely helpless. Any physical attack not named Shadow Claw or Earthquake breaks right through Noctowl's low Defense stat. Rhyperior and Aggron beat Noctowl easily with their STAB Rock attacks, as well as any offensive Pokemon with STAB Thunderbolt and Ice Beam. All in all, don't try to set up on Noctowl, aim for its weaker Defense stat, and it will usually be forced to wave the white flag.</p>
<hoot>
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/noctowl
Taking this over for Random Pizzaman who got this through QC here.
[Overview]
<p>Noctowl has always been the black sheep... err bird, of the Normal / Flying family. Its stats are completely backwards, and while cool and unique, they don't help it accomplish much. Looking at them, you'd think Noctowl could work as an effective special wall, but with weaknesses to three extremely common attacking types in UU, including an awful wing-clipping weakness to Stealth Rock, a lack of any form of offense, and a low physical defense, Noctowl's goose is effectively cooked. There may still be a little hope left for Noctowl, as it is one of the single best Grass-type counters available thanks to its special bulk and immunity to sleep moves; however, this niche still is not enough to save it from obscurity. Owls may be wise, but in this case, even the most battle-hardened of players are wise enough to steer clear from using Noctowl.</p>
[SET]
name: Special Wall
move 1: Whirlwind
move 2: Roost
move 3: Night Shade
move 4: Toxic / Reflect / Psycho Shift
item: Leftovers
ability: Insomnia
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Due to its excellent special bulk, Noctowl can become an effective special tank. The idea when using Noctowl is to switch it into a special attack and work from there. Whirlwind is for phazing, and works wonders with entry hazards. It can also help Noctowl scout out the opponent's physical attackers and stop a setup attempt. Roost grants Noctowl reliable recovery, and removes its nasty weaknesses to Ice-, Electric-, and Rock-type attacks. Unfortunately, Noctowl is normally too slow to take advantage of this, and when Roosting, Noctowl is exposed to Fighting- and Ground-type attacks. Because Noctowl's offensive stats are rather poor, Night Shade is used to obtain steady damage. The last slot is purely up to the player's discretion: Noctowl can use Toxic decently while phazing to rack up even more residual damage; Reflect cushions Noctowl's poor Defense and can help out the rest of the team; and Psycho Shift throws back status attacks so that Noctowl isn't crippled by them.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Insomnia is what makes Noctowl one of the best Grass-type counters available, as it is able to switch into special Venusaur, Exeggutor, and Tangrowth with impunity and force them out with Whirlwind or whittle their health down with Night Shade. Noctowl has to be careful around physical Grass-types, however, as they can punch holes right through its weaker physical defense. Noctowl also makes a great switch-in to Venomoth and Butterfree, as well as common Yawn users such as Uxie and Hippopotas.</p>
<p>Milotic pairs excellently with Noctowl, since it draws out Venusaur; in return, Noctowl lures in Rock-types, such as Rhyperior and Aggron, whom Milotic can take out with its STAB Surf. Noctowl appreciates Pokemon with large physical bulk to cover its weaker defensive stat. Good teammates to fill that void include Rhyperior, Registeel, and Donphan. Donphan gets a special mention as it is also able to provide Rapid Spin support to clear the field of Stealth Rock, which severely hampers Noctowl's ability to switch in. As Noctowl's main job is to phaze out opposing Pokemon and rack up residual damage, Spikes and Stealth Rock support are a must. Good teammates to set up entry hazards include Omastar, Cloyster, Uxie, and Donphan. Having a Rapid Spin blocker, such as Rotom, will also help Noctowl more effectively accomplish its goal.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Having a Rapid Spinner will allow Noctowl to accomplish its goal much better by removing Stealth Rock from the field. Hitmontop and Donphan work best as they resist Rock, and in Donphan's case, Electric as well. Magneton gets a special mention as a notable teammate, as it resists all of Noctowl's weaknesses and can eliminate most Steel-types that may stand in its way. In return, Noctowl is completely immune to Ground-type attacks and can switch into special Fire-type moves directed at Magneton with relative ease. Noctowl can be a buffer special wall alongside Milotic and Chansey, as it can handle some unique threats that they struggle against such as Venusaur, SubSeeders, and Mismagius. Noctowl loves entry hazards on the opponent's side of the field to help it rack up residual damage as it phazes. Donphan, Omastar, Cloyster, Cacturne, and Qwilfish can all provide them.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Hypnosis can be used in place of Toxic, but the lowered accuracy is unappealing. FeatherDance can provide the same buffer against physical attacks as Reflect, except it doesn't provide support for the whole team. Light Clay can be used alongside Reflect to give Noctowl's sweeper teammates an easier time setting up. Flame Orb + Psycho Shift can allow Noctowl to utilize a makeshift Will-O-Wisp, but is not a great idea since the time it takes to set up is too long, and Noctowl just doesn't have the Speed to make it happen.</p>
<p>On the offensive side, Air Slash, Psychic, Shadow Ball, and Heat Wave are available alongside the use of Agility, but since Noctowl's attacking stats are so poor, Night Shade will prove to be more useful overall. Noctowl has the bulk to set up Rain Dance or Sunny Day; however, it again lacks the Speed to do so effectively. Noctowl can make use of Substitute to become a Toxic SubRooster, but with the lack of Pressure to stall out Stone Edge's PP or the Speed to use Substitute before an attack, Noctowl is better off utilizing the standard set.</p>
[Counters]
<p>You don't have to be Ozymandias to take down this Nite Owl. Although setting up on Noctowl is difficult due to Whirlwind, Taunt from almost any Pokemon renders Noctowl almost completely helpless. Any physical attack not named Shadow Claw or Earthquake breaks right through Noctowl's low Defense stat. Rhyperior and Aggron beat Noctowl easily with their STAB Rock attacks, as well as any offensive Pokemon with STAB Thunderbolt and Ice Beam. All in all, don't try to set up on Noctowl, aim for its weaker Defense stat, and it will usually be forced to wave the white flag.</p>
