[SET]
name: Suicide Lead
move 1: Spikes
move 2: Scald / Hydro Pump
move 3: Icy Wind / Ice Beam
move 4: Earth Power / Stealth Rock
item: Focus Sash
ability: Weak Armor
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is one of the premier suicide leads in the RU metagame. Thanks to an excellent Special Attack stat, solid overall defenses, and access to Spikes, Omastar is able lay entry hazards consistently. One of the drawbacks of using Omastar as a suicide lead is its lackluster Speed. However, the use of Weak Armor alongside Icy Wind mitigates this lack of Speed and allows Omastar to almost always get 2 layers of Spikes. Scald is Omastar's primary STAB should it need to attack rather than lay hazards. Scald gives Omastar a chance to beat Taunt + Focus Sash Aerodactyl lead in one turn, and the 30% burn chance is often enough incentive to sacrifice some extra power for Scald. If you want a stronger move, Hydro Pump is an alternative that allows Omastar to deal more damage but comes with the risk of misses. Icy Wind prevents Omastar from becoming setup fodder while also giving it an upper hand against faster Taunt users. Ice Beam is an alternative to hit the likes of Rotom-C, Sceptile, and Druddigon harder. The last move depends on the rest of Omastar's team. Omastar can set up Stealth Rock, but this role is generally better left to another Pokemon, as Stealth Rock conflicts with Omastar's ability to set up Spikes. Earth Power allows Omastar to hit Kabutops, other Omastar, and Qwilfish for a considerable amount of damage while also taking a chunk out of Lanturn's HP.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Timid nature with 252 Speed EVs in conjunction with Weak Armor allows Omastar to get 2 layers of Spikes up rather easily. The rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack so that Omastar can hit opposing leads as hard as possible. AncientPower can be used over Earth Power on teams that choose to forgo a spinblocker, as AncientPower will help Omastar overcome Cryogonal and keep its hazards in play. A Modest nature can be used over a Timid nature in order to pack more power. However, this means that Omastar will outrun even fewer Pokemon even with Weak Armor and Icy Wind and makes laying Spikes more difficult overall. If your team uses Omastar as a check to physical Fire-types such as Entei and needs more longevity, Swift Swim is a viable alternative to Weak Armor. However, even without Defense drops this set will struggle to check physical Fire-types because of its offensive spread. </p>
<p>Omastar struggles with faster sleep-inducing leads, therefore you should use a Pokemon that can easily beat leads such as Smeargle. Focus Sash Snover also limits Omastar to one layer of hazards, so a designated Pokemon to beat Snover may also be used. Vital Spirit Magmortar is immune to sleep and handles Snover rather easily. Vital Spirit Primeape is also immune to sleep and can U-turn out of Snover to break its Focus Sash. Fake Out Kangaskhan breaks both Smeargle's and Snover's Focus Sashes and can easily outspeed and KO them the next turn. Since Omastar is being used as a hazard setter, a Ghost-type teammate is recommended. Offensive Spiritomb can handle Cryogonal while also being able to remove Cinccino, a Pokemon that can OHKO Omastar with Bullet Seed despite the Focus Sash. On the other hand, offensive Spiritomb struggles against Kabutops and Sandslash, two common spinners. However, Omastar itself is generally enough to keep both from spinning freely. In general, Omastar pairs well with Pokemon that can capitalize on hazards well. Rotom-C resists all of Omastar's weaknesses barring Fighting and can rack up Spikes damage with Volt Switch. Choice Band Druddigon also gets a special mention for being able to come into Grass-types after Omastar has been KOed and spam Outrage, which becomes even more dangerous as all of Druddigon's counters are grounded, forcing them to take Spikes damage. Since this Omastar functions best as a dedicated Spikes lead, another Pokemon with access to Stealth Rock is integral. Steelix is immune to Electric-type attacks and can set Stealth Rock with ease while also racking up hazards damage with Roar.</p>
[SET COMMENTS]
- Excellent special attack and access to both Spikes and Stealth Rock allow Omastar to function as a surprisingly consistent suicide lead.
- Below average speed is mitigated slightly by Weak Armor and Icy Wind. Functions very well against slower Stealth Rock leads such as Steelix or Regirock. Scald off of 349 SAtk is still strong and the added burn chance for extra passive damage gets a sure nod over the stronger but less useful Surf / Hydro Pump.
- Hidden Power [Grass] hits Kabutops. Stealth Rock works if you don't feel like using another slot for it but generally you'd rather use this as a dedicated Spikes lead.
- Is in general more useful than other dedicated Sash spikes leads, such as Accelgor and Scolipede. Is only momentarily stopped by Taunt leads like Aerodactyl, as with Icy Wind + Weak Armor + Sash you can still often get atleast 1 layer.
- The utter fear of Shell Smash Omastar means that bulky waters will be switching in very often even on turn 1. This allows Omastar to get often get 3 layers of Spikes.
- Ice Beam gets a solid 2HKO on Druddigon leads, but Icy Wind alongside Weak Armor helps to better mitigate your lack of Speed
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
- Earth Power can be used for Lanturn, as Hidden Power [Grass] is barely enough to scratch it. Earth Power + Icy Wind is also enough to beat Taunt Qwilfish.
- Modest nature hits harder and is somewhat feasible with Weak Armor helping Omastar's rather poor speed.
- Swift Swim can be used over Weak Armor to increase longevity a bit, as the Defense drops can be especially troublesome if Omastar is also used to switch into pokemon like Choice Band Entei. 252 HP can also be used to increase longevity, but it is only recommended if Omastar is using Swift Swim as opposed to Weak Armor.
- Pairs well with a spinblocker. Offensive Spiritomb fits the bill rather well, considering it can do sufficient damage to Cryogonal to prevent it from Rapid Spinning. While Spiritomb does somewhat poorly against Kabutops and Sandslash, Omastar itself is generally enough to keep them at bay. Spiritomb can also eliminate Cincinno, which quickly threatens Omastar with Bullet Seed.
- Choice Band Druddigon is able to switch into the Grass-type pokemon that often switch in to try to quickly eliminate Omastar. Druddigon can also bludgeon bulky Water-types such as Slowking and Lanturn and appreciates Spikes support considering almost all, if not all of its counters are grounded.
- A designated pokemon to lead against both Hail and Smeargle teams is generally a good partner for Omastar as well. Focus Sash Snover prevents Omastar from getting any more than 1 layer, and Smeargle can quickly put Omastar to sleep and start laying hazards of its own. Kangaskhan tends to be a good pokemon to lead against both, as Fake Out breaks their Focus Sashes and flinches them making them relatively useless. There are other pokemon that fit this bill too of course, such as Vital Spirit Primeape and Magmortar.
I personally have been very successful with this set, as have others I am sure. Omastar is a very offensive suicide lead that has considerable power alongside the threat of Shell Smash, making the opponent very weary of misplaying and allowing Omastar to set up hazards quite easily. If there is any more justification needed I will gladly post more.
Go easy on me this is my first analysis ;-;
