[OVERVIEW]
Frogadier stands out as a stellar offensive pivot, revenge killer, and, if it's running Heavy-Duty Boots, the best Spikes setter of the metagame thanks to its versatile movepool and great Speed tier. These traits cement Frogadier as a centerpiece in the metagame's most dominant structures, particularly entry hazard-stacking teams with Spikes. Choice Specs Frogadier's offensive potential is matched by few, and the Choice Scarf variant is the fastest Pokemon in the metagame, making it one of the most effective revenge killers. However, it's limited by Thwackey and Water-types, though the latter can be hindered by Choice item variants' Switcheroo.
[SET]
Spikes Pivot (Frogadier) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
[SET COMMENTS]
Spikes lets Frogadier heavily pressure the opposing team while also making it immune to Thunder Wave due to Protean. Ice Beam hits Grass- and Dragon-types like Thwackey, Ivysaur, Fraxure, and Drakloak and removes its Grass weakness, allowing it to always survive Eviolite Thwackey's Grassy Glide. U-turn allows it to escape problematic matchups, such as Quaxwell and Wartortle, and generate momentum by bringing its teammates in on advantageous matchups.
Frogadier fits on offense and balance teams focused on setting entry hazards. Ghost-types are nearly mandatory teammates for Frogadier, providing spinblocking support to ensure Spikes stay up on the field in a metagame where Rapid Spin is the primary hazard removal method. Misdreavus is generally the go-to option thanks to its wide array of utility moves, but Drakloak is also a viable alternative due to its good typing, Speed tier, and movepool. Pawniard is also a decent partner for Frogadier, punishing Defog attempts from Vullaby with Defiant—even though Defog is relatively uncommon—and using the Attack boost to potentially clean or dent the opposing team. Frogadier pairs excellently with other hazard setters like Tinkatuff, Piloswine, Gabite, and Koffing, supporting it in relentlessly pressuring the opposing team with hazards and other utility or damage-dealing moves. Tinkatuff and Koffing also help Frogadier in dealing with Grass-types, most notably Thwackey, which can easily revenge kill Frogadier with Grassy Glide. Strong Pokemon such as Thwackey, Pikachu, Raboot, Pignite, and Girafarig heavily appreciate Frogadier's Spikes support, which enables them to wallbreak or clean with ease. Thwackey assists Frogadier by dealing with threats like Quaxwell and Wartortle, while Frogadier threatens Fire-types like Raboot, Monferno, and Pignite for Thwackey. Pikachu is a good partner for similar reasons, and it appreciates Frogadier threatening Ground-types such as Piloswine and Gabite. Setup variants of Dunsparce and Vigoroth are also terrific teammates, being excellent wincons. Defensive teammates for Frogadier include Pokemon like Quaxwell and Ivysaur. Quaxwell provides the much-needed Rapid Spin support, ensuring Frogadier's team is unaffected by hazards while the opposing team writhes in agony due to them. Ivysaur fends off pesky Grass- and Water-types for Frogadier.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zastra.558636/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydro Pump can be used over Surf as a stronger but less accurate option; Hydro Pump 2HKOes Eviolite Girafarig after Stealth Rock, while Surf fails to accomplish this. Gunk Shot over Ice Beam with a Naive nature is an alternative, transforming Frogadier's Grass weakness into a resistance and allowing it to potentially turn the tables on foes like Thwackey. Grass Knot is also a niche option, 2HKOing Quaxwell and Wartortle that have lost their Eviolite after minor chip damage, usually from entry hazards; it also removes Frogadier's Grassy Glide weakness.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Quaxwell and Wartortle can shrug off its moves and use Rapid Spin to clear Spikes. Wartortle, however, has a limit to how long it can keep Frogadier at bay because it lacks a good recovery move. Quaxwell is comparatively better at answering Frogadier long-term thanks to Roost giving it great longevity. Niche Water-types such as Mareanie, Dewott, and Seadra are also decent answers to Frogadier. However, Choice item Frogadier can hinder all these Water-types with Switcheroo.
**Grass-types**: Thwackey's Grassy Glide is a nightmare for Frogadier. Other Grass-types like Ivysaur and Servine can also check it. These Grass-types, however, do fear switching into Frogadier's Ice Beam.
**Special Walls**: Frogadier fails to deal significant damage to Pokemon like Dunsparce, Vigoroth, Duosion, Clefairy, and Tinkatuff, but all of these can threaten it in return. However, it is worth noting that Tinkatuff fails to check Frogadier long-term.
**Dragon-types**: Hisuian Sliggoo, Choice Specs Drakloak, and First Impression Fraxure can revenge kill Frogadier.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zastra.558636/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Frogadier stands out as a stellar offensive pivot, revenge killer, and, if it's running Heavy-Duty Boots, the best Spikes setter of the metagame thanks to its versatile movepool and great Speed tier. These traits cement Frogadier as a centerpiece in the metagame's most dominant structures, particularly entry hazard-stacking teams with Spikes. Choice Specs Frogadier's offensive potential is matched by few, and the Choice Scarf variant is the fastest Pokemon in the metagame, making it one of the most effective revenge killers. However, it's limited by Thwackey and Water-types, though the latter can be hindered by Choice item variants' Switcheroo.
[SET]
Spikes Pivot (Frogadier) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Spikes
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- U-turn
[SET COMMENTS]
Spikes lets Frogadier heavily pressure the opposing team while also making it immune to Thunder Wave due to Protean. Ice Beam hits Grass- and Dragon-types like Thwackey, Ivysaur, Fraxure, and Drakloak and removes its Grass weakness, allowing it to always survive Eviolite Thwackey's Grassy Glide. U-turn allows it to escape problematic matchups, such as Quaxwell and Wartortle, and generate momentum by bringing its teammates in on advantageous matchups.
Frogadier fits on offense and balance teams focused on setting entry hazards. Ghost-types are nearly mandatory teammates for Frogadier, providing spinblocking support to ensure Spikes stay up on the field in a metagame where Rapid Spin is the primary hazard removal method. Misdreavus is generally the go-to option thanks to its wide array of utility moves, but Drakloak is also a viable alternative due to its good typing, Speed tier, and movepool. Pawniard is also a decent partner for Frogadier, punishing Defog attempts from Vullaby with Defiant—even though Defog is relatively uncommon—and using the Attack boost to potentially clean or dent the opposing team. Frogadier pairs excellently with other hazard setters like Tinkatuff, Piloswine, Gabite, and Koffing, supporting it in relentlessly pressuring the opposing team with hazards and other utility or damage-dealing moves. Tinkatuff and Koffing also help Frogadier in dealing with Grass-types, most notably Thwackey, which can easily revenge kill Frogadier with Grassy Glide. Strong Pokemon such as Thwackey, Pikachu, Raboot, Pignite, and Girafarig heavily appreciate Frogadier's Spikes support, which enables them to wallbreak or clean with ease. Thwackey assists Frogadier by dealing with threats like Quaxwell and Wartortle, while Frogadier threatens Fire-types like Raboot, Monferno, and Pignite for Thwackey. Pikachu is a good partner for similar reasons, and it appreciates Frogadier threatening Ground-types such as Piloswine and Gabite. Setup variants of Dunsparce and Vigoroth are also terrific teammates, being excellent wincons. Defensive teammates for Frogadier include Pokemon like Quaxwell and Ivysaur. Quaxwell provides the much-needed Rapid Spin support, ensuring Frogadier's team is unaffected by hazards while the opposing team writhes in agony due to them. Ivysaur fends off pesky Grass- and Water-types for Frogadier.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zastra.558636/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Hydro Pump can be used over Surf as a stronger but less accurate option; Hydro Pump 2HKOes Eviolite Girafarig after Stealth Rock, while Surf fails to accomplish this. Gunk Shot over Ice Beam with a Naive nature is an alternative, transforming Frogadier's Grass weakness into a resistance and allowing it to potentially turn the tables on foes like Thwackey. Grass Knot is also a niche option, 2HKOing Quaxwell and Wartortle that have lost their Eviolite after minor chip damage, usually from entry hazards; it also removes Frogadier's Grassy Glide weakness.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Quaxwell and Wartortle can shrug off its moves and use Rapid Spin to clear Spikes. Wartortle, however, has a limit to how long it can keep Frogadier at bay because it lacks a good recovery move. Quaxwell is comparatively better at answering Frogadier long-term thanks to Roost giving it great longevity. Niche Water-types such as Mareanie, Dewott, and Seadra are also decent answers to Frogadier. However, Choice item Frogadier can hinder all these Water-types with Switcheroo.
**Grass-types**: Thwackey's Grassy Glide is a nightmare for Frogadier. Other Grass-types like Ivysaur and Servine can also check it. These Grass-types, however, do fear switching into Frogadier's Ice Beam.
**Special Walls**: Frogadier fails to deal significant damage to Pokemon like Dunsparce, Vigoroth, Duosion, Clefairy, and Tinkatuff, but all of these can threaten it in return. However, it is worth noting that Tinkatuff fails to check Frogadier long-term.
**Dragon-types**: Hisuian Sliggoo, Choice Specs Drakloak, and First Impression Fraxure can revenge kill Frogadier.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zastra.558636/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mirbro.451786/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
