Poliwhirl (NU Mini) [WIP]

[pac]

Volk's best friend!

[OVERVIEW]

Poliwhirl establishes a niche in the metagame as the fastest Water-type Pokemon in the tier, while also being tied for the fastest user of a Sleep-inducing move with Venomoth. This grants it unique opportunities for role compression, as the combination of Hypnosis, Amnesia, and Water-typing provides incredible offensive and defensive utility. [Needs Elaboration]

However, Poliwhirl faces a few key issues in RBY NU. Poliwhirl's reliance on its Speed means that its often forced out versus users of Thunder Wave like Mr. Mime, Clefable, and especially Electrode due to its STAB Thunderbolt and high critical hit rate. Poliwhirl's typing and coverage is both a blessing and a curse, as while it allows it to combat the numerous Fire- and Ground-types of the tier like effectively, it leaves it struggling versus other relevant Water-type Pokemon like Blastoise and Seadra. Blastoise is especially threatening, as it will sometimes carry Toxic, a move that will chip Poliwhirl down and force it out before it can KO Blastoise. In addition to this, a poisoned Poliwhirl will be more susceptible to chip damage from Fire Spin, mitigating some of its most precious defensive utility. Alternatively, Blastoise will use Body Slam, which potentially feeds into Poliwhirl's distaste for paralysis.

[SET]
name: Amnesia Sleeper
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Amnesia
move 3: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 4: Psychic / Blizzard

[SET COMMENTS]

Hypnosis is Poliwhirl's claim to fame, allowing it to quickly gain momentum as well as provide free opportunities to potentially set up Amnesia. Surf is Poliwhirl's most consistent STAB option, threatening a 2HKO or better to every Fire- and Ground-type in the tier after a single boost with Amnesia. Alternatively, Hydro Pump is able to turn some of these 2HKOs versus the likes of Rapidash, Arcanine, and Nidoking into OHKOs, albeit at the cost of accuracy. Psychic is Poliwhirl's best option versus opposing Water-types like Blastoise and Seadra, 4HKOing both of them while possibly doing more with Special drops. As a different option, Blizzard allows Poliwhirl to threaten Exeggcute, Dragonair, and Fearow much more effectively, having chances to OHKO all of them while also wielding a chance to Freeze.

While Poliwhirl has other options, it is typically hard to utilize them due to it being very difficult to fit into its moveset. Toxic is Poliwhirl's most consistent check to wrappers such as AgiliWrap Dragonair and Rapidash. Body Slam allows Poliwhirl to spread Paralysis in order to support slower teammates like Golem and Kingler. Submission is Poliwhirl's strongest attack versus Clefable and Wigglytuff, 4HKOing the former while having a chance to 3HKO the latter. Rest grants Poliwhirl longevity, with the prevalence of Fire Spin users such as Rapidash and Moltres granting it situations to burn sleep turns. Earthquake is Poliwhirl's strongest unboosted attack versus Kabutops and Electrode, though it finds little use outside of these matchups.

Poliwhirl finds itself used
Team Options: [Talk about potential for Poliwhirl in the back rather than the lead] [Talk about how Electrode can be nice for opposing Water-types, namely Blastoise]

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pac, 520967]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]

 

[Plague von Karma]

Was asked to help with this. On mobile so feedback will be brief.

Poliwhirl establishes a niche in the metagame as the fastest Water-type Pokemon in the tier, while also being tied for the fastest user of a Sleep-inducing move with Venomoth. This grants it unique opportunities for role compression, as the combination of Hypnosis, Amnesia, and Water-typing provides incredible offensive and defensive utility. [Needs Elaboration]

There's miles more you can go over here. Not once do you go over what the combination of Hypnosis + Amnesia can truly do for our little tadpole friend, which is uhhh win instantly. Well, not quite that, but regardless of game state it can usually go two for one if it gets that sacred combo off. There's also coverage which wasn't quite there.

Poliwhirl finds itself used
Team Options: [Talk about potential for Poliwhirl in the back rather than the lead] [Talk about how Electrode can be nice for opposing Water-types, namely Blastoise]

Water Spam teams are where Poliwhirl is commonly used, no? They appreciate the sheer offensive boost it brings to the table. Anything that can afford the inconsistency of Poliwhirl should work just fine. Personally, I love using it with Nidoking.

You mention Electrode for opposing Water-types, but not Mr. Mime or the rare Gastly? Curious! Ok, but seriously, you should include some Swords Dance wallbreakers around here.

 

[Ika Ika Musume]

Poliwhirl establishes a niche in the metagame as the fastest Water-type Pokemon in the tier, while also being tied for the fastest user of a Sleep-inducing move with Venomoth. This grants it unique opportunities for role compression, as the combination of Hypnosis, Amnesia, and Water-typing provides incredible offensive and defensive utility. [Needs Elaboration]

Best User of Amnesia and carrying value sleep status condition can allow it to trade 2 for 1 and can force progress on the opponents blastoise or clefable after a pokemon is put to sleep. Amnesia makes up for Poliwhirls relatively poor special allowing it to hit very hard.

However, Poliwhirl faces a few key issues in RBY NU. Poliwhirl's reliance on its Speed means that its often forced out versus users of Thunder Wave like Mr. Mime, Clefable, and especially Electrode due to its STAB Thunderbolt and high critical hit rate. Poliwhirl's typing and coverage is both a blessing and a curse, as while it allows it to combat the numerous Fire- and Ground-types of the tier like effectively, it leaves it struggling versus other relevant Water-type Pokemon like Blastoise and Seadra. Blastoise is especially threatening, as it will sometimes carry Toxic, a move that will chip Poliwhirl down and force it out before it can KO Blastoise. In addition to this, a poisoned Poliwhirl will be more susceptible to chip damage from Fire Spin, mitigating some of its most precious defensive utility. Alternatively, Blastoise will use Body Slam, which potentially feeds into Poliwhirl's distaste for paralysis.


Stoss Blastoise or even Hbeam is worth mentioning here. Blastoise is the most common way to deal with Poliwhirl lead if it manages to get off sleep. It is also at a technical disadvantage vs. Venomoth lead due to having a lower probability of sleep but it does have the scarier sleep. Mid Whirl is just as good as lead whirl I think is the major development atm. Teams similar to this have had quite a bit of usage in NUSD:

https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/rby-nu.3679758/post-9080106

Being faster than Nidoking is one of the ways it can come in in the mid-lategame and can click hypnosis and then amnesia which is strong since generally you can commonly have zard king paraed mime endgames or can come in earlier to trade sleep if need be.

[SET]
name: Amnesia Sleeper
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Amnesia
move 3: Surf / Hydro Pump
move 4: Psychic / Blizzard

[SET COMMENTS]

Hypnosis is Poliwhirl's claim to fame, allowing it to quickly gain momentum as well as provide free opportunities to potentially set up Amnesia. Surf is Poliwhirl's most consistent STAB option, threatening a 2HKO or better to every Fire- and Ground-type in the tier after a single boost with Amnesia. Alternatively, Hydro Pump is able to turn some of these 2HKOs versus the likes of Rapidash, Arcanine, and Nidoking into OHKOs, albeit at the cost of accuracy. Psychic is Poliwhirl's best option versus opposing Water-types like Blastoise and Seadra, 4HKOing both of them while possibly doing more with Special drops. As a different option, Blizzard allows Poliwhirl to threaten Exeggcute, Dragonair, and Fearow much more effectively, having chances to OHKO all of them while also wielding a chance to Freeze.

Mention they are Poliwhirl attacks after an amnesia with all of these. Blizzard is generally the less good move than Psychic due to Blastoise being the premier defensive threat, this can allow egg to switch on Poliwhirl and get the sleep but it is usable.

While Poliwhirl has other options, it is typically hard to utilize them due to it being very difficult to fit into its moveset. Toxic is Poliwhirl's most consistent check to wrappers such as AgiliWrap Dragonair and Rapidash. Body Slam allows Poliwhirl to spread Paralysis in order to support slower teammates like Golem and Kingler. Submission is Poliwhirl's strongest attack versus Clefable and Wigglytuff, 4HKOing the former while having a chance to 3HKO the latter. Rest grants Poliwhirl longevity, with the prevalence of Fire Spin users such as Rapidash and Moltres granting it situations to burn sleep turns. Earthquake is Poliwhirl's strongest unboosted attack versus Kabutops and Electrode, though it finds little use outside of these matchups.

Most of these other options are bad. Id say the best OO other than Blizzard and perhaps Rest is probably Counter which you can use against Charizard and Blastoise, you are kind of clawing at straws generally since youd click surf vs clef/tuff and psychic/surf vs dragonair/rapidash. You'd click Surf Vs Kabutops/Electrode too since amne surf does more. Basically Poliwhirl has 3 slots already in and 4th slot needs to not make you auto lose to Blastoise.

Poliwhirl finds itself used
Team Options: [Talk about potential for Poliwhirl in the back rather than the lead] [Talk about how Electrode can be nice for opposing Water-types, namely Blastoise]

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[pac, 520967]]
- Quality checked by: [[name, id], [name, id]]
- Grammar checked by: [[name, id]]