[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Shadow Ball / Trick / Hidden Power Ground
item: Choice Specs
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swoobat sets itself apart as a special wallbreaker and revenge killer with its incredible Speed stat, outpacing other fast Pokemon like Electabuzz, Jumpluff, and Simipour. Swoobat's offensive STAB moves are only resisted by the few Steel-types in the tier, making it very hard to switch into. U-turn gives Swoobat the ability to pivot out of these Steel-types like Lairon and Klang so its teammates can chip them down. Shadow Ball hits Bronzor and Duosion for big damage. Trick is an option to cripple the Steel-types trying to switch into it as well as Dusclops, which would otherwise wall it. Hidden Power Ground gives Swoobat an option to 3HKO Klang and OHKO Lairon, but having no way around Bronzor and Duosion is less than ideal.
Special sweepers like Simipour, Servine, and Vanilluxe appreciate Swoobat's ability to break through or cripple special walls like Duosion and Klang. Pokemon like Scraggy, Pignite, and Magmar make great partners, since they can be brought into favorable matchups versus the Steel-types that like to switch into Swoobat. Swoobat can check Grass-types like Servine, Simisage, and Quilladin, so the likes of Huntail and Gigalith appreciate it as a teammate. Entry hazard removers like Dustox and Vibrava are beneficial, since they provide Swoobat more longevity and give reliable entry against the opposing team with their slow pivot. Due to Swoobat's mediocre defensive stats, it is susceptible to getting revenge killed by Persian and Choice Scarf users like Krokorok; it really needs teammates that can take on these threats like Carbink and Meganium, respectively. VoltTurn teams get the most out of Swoobat because it has such a hard time hitting the field with its defensive profile, so pivots like Electabuzz, Furfrou, and Frogadier are helpful partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heat Wave can be run in the last slot on Swoobat's Choice Specs set to hit all three Steel-types, but this leaves it reliant on its teammates to get through Duosion. Heat Wave can also work on its Calm Mind set instead of one of its support moves in order to hit the Steel-types, allowing it to apply more immediate pressure but limiting its longevity. Swoobat can run dual screens with its great Speed and support movepool of Taunt and U-turn, though it faces strong competition from Meowstic because it does not have Prankster.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Klang, Lairon, and Bronzor all resist Swoobat's STAB moves. However, Bronzor is 2HKOed by Shadow Ball after Stealth Rock. Lairon can't reliably switch into Swoobat more than two times unless it's running a bulky set, and it also has to be wary of Hidden Power Ground.
**Psychic-types**: Defensive Pivot Duosion can easily take hits from Swoobat's STAB moves, threaten it with paralysis, and heal back any damage taken with Regenerator. Meowstic can set up Light Screen to take hits from Swoobat and also has the option to cripple it with Thunder Wave, while Lunatone resists both of Swoobat's STAB moves and can threaten it back with Power Gem. However, they all fear coming into a Shadow Ball or U-Turn.
**Faster Attackers**: Persian and Choice Scarf users like Krokorok, Simipour, and Vanilluxe can outspeed and reliably KO Swoobat with their STAB moves. Priority users such as Huntail, Furfrou, and Pikachu also threaten Swoobat, although less reliably because Swoobat can avoid Sucker Punch by using Substitute or tank Extreme Speed at +2 Defense.
**Bulky Attackers**: The likes of Electabuzz, Gigalith, and Politoed can all stomach a hit from Swoobat and OHKO it back.
**Chip Damage**: Stealth Rock and status like poison or burn can severely limit the longevity of Swoobat, giving it a harder time at functioning properly.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5gen.296755/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Air Slash
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Shadow Ball / Trick / Hidden Power Ground
item: Choice Specs
ability: Unaware
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swoobat sets itself apart as a special wallbreaker and revenge killer with its incredible Speed stat, outpacing other fast Pokemon like Electabuzz, Jumpluff, and Simipour. Swoobat's offensive STAB moves are only resisted by the few Steel-types in the tier, making it very hard to switch into. U-turn gives Swoobat the ability to pivot out of these Steel-types like Lairon and Klang so its teammates can chip them down. Shadow Ball hits Bronzor and Duosion for big damage. Trick is an option to cripple the Steel-types trying to switch into it as well as Dusclops, which would otherwise wall it. Hidden Power Ground gives Swoobat an option to 3HKO Klang and OHKO Lairon, but having no way around Bronzor and Duosion is less than ideal.
Special sweepers like Simipour, Servine, and Vanilluxe appreciate Swoobat's ability to break through or cripple special walls like Duosion and Klang. Pokemon like Scraggy, Pignite, and Magmar make great partners, since they can be brought into favorable matchups versus the Steel-types that like to switch into Swoobat. Swoobat can check Grass-types like Servine, Simisage, and Quilladin, so the likes of Huntail and Gigalith appreciate it as a teammate. Entry hazard removers like Dustox and Vibrava are beneficial, since they provide Swoobat more longevity and give reliable entry against the opposing team with their slow pivot. Due to Swoobat's mediocre defensive stats, it is susceptible to getting revenge killed by Persian and Choice Scarf users like Krokorok; it really needs teammates that can take on these threats like Carbink and Meganium, respectively. VoltTurn teams get the most out of Swoobat because it has such a hard time hitting the field with its defensive profile, so pivots like Electabuzz, Furfrou, and Frogadier are helpful partners.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heat Wave can be run in the last slot on Swoobat's Choice Specs set to hit all three Steel-types, but this leaves it reliant on its teammates to get through Duosion. Heat Wave can also work on its Calm Mind set instead of one of its support moves in order to hit the Steel-types, allowing it to apply more immediate pressure but limiting its longevity. Swoobat can run dual screens with its great Speed and support movepool of Taunt and U-turn, though it faces strong competition from Meowstic because it does not have Prankster.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Klang, Lairon, and Bronzor all resist Swoobat's STAB moves. However, Bronzor is 2HKOed by Shadow Ball after Stealth Rock. Lairon can't reliably switch into Swoobat more than two times unless it's running a bulky set, and it also has to be wary of Hidden Power Ground.
**Psychic-types**: Defensive Pivot Duosion can easily take hits from Swoobat's STAB moves, threaten it with paralysis, and heal back any damage taken with Regenerator. Meowstic can set up Light Screen to take hits from Swoobat and also has the option to cripple it with Thunder Wave, while Lunatone resists both of Swoobat's STAB moves and can threaten it back with Power Gem. However, they all fear coming into a Shadow Ball or U-Turn.
**Faster Attackers**: Persian and Choice Scarf users like Krokorok, Simipour, and Vanilluxe can outspeed and reliably KO Swoobat with their STAB moves. Priority users such as Huntail, Furfrou, and Pikachu also threaten Swoobat, although less reliably because Swoobat can avoid Sucker Punch by using Substitute or tank Extreme Speed at +2 Defense.
**Bulky Attackers**: The likes of Electabuzz, Gigalith, and Politoed can all stomach a hit from Swoobat and OHKO it back.
**Chip Damage**: Stealth Rock and status like poison or burn can severely limit the longevity of Swoobat, giving it a harder time at functioning properly.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5gen.296755/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
