uploaded -zard
[OVERVIEW]
Access to Magnet Pull gives Probopass a niche in PU, as thanks to this ability, it can easily remove several bulky Steel-types from the match, such as Aggron, Mawile, and Ferroseed. 4x resistances to Normal and Flying are quite useful, as they allow Probopass to, for example, switch in on a Choice Band Stoutland locked into Return and an Oricorio-G's Hurricane. Probopass also makes for a good switch-in to Mesprit due to its resistances to all of the latter's common moves. Probopass has a surprisingly customizable movepool, with very useful utility and coverage options such as Taunt to cripple slower walls, Earth Power for Steel-types, and Volt Switch for pivoting working very well with it. Defensively speaking, though, its 4x weaknesses to Fighting and Ground severely hamper its viability, as both types are very common in the metagame in the forms of Pokemon such as Palossand, Golurk, Hitmonchan, and Gurdurr. It also can be hit very hard by coverage moves of these types used by Pokemon that Probopass otherwise would check, such as Kangaskhan, Stoutland, and Archeops. It struggles a lot against common entry hazard setters and removers due to its weaknesses and lack of raw power. Probopass has no reliable recovery, making it prone to getting worn down fast against opposing teams. Even when fully invested, Probopass is often embarrassingly weak against a lot of neutral targets. It also struggles severely against bulky Water-types, since the most viable ones in PU such as Gastrodon and Lanturn take little from any of its attacks.
[SET]
name: Offensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Taunt / Earth Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Modest
evs: 172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Probopass makes for a pretty good setter of Stealth Rock due to its ability to beat several entry hazard removers very well, mainly ones such as Shiftry and physical Skuntank. Flash Cannon is Probopass's STAB move of choice, allowing it to hit Pokemon such as Archeops and Clefairy for super effective damage. Hidden Power Fire is used to target Steel-type Pokemon that Probopass traps, most notably Ferroseed, but also others such as Mawile. Taunt allows Probopass to cripple slower, more passive Pokemon such as Type: Null and Musharna. Earth Power can alternatively be used in the last slot to hit Alolan Raichu and opposing Probopass super effectively. Volt Switch is an option that allows Probopass to pivot around a lot of its common checks. This is particularly useful when combined with Probopass's low base Speed. Power Gem is an alternative STAB move that targets Flying-types such as Oricorio-G and Fire-types such as Pyroar, although it can't hit Rock-types such as Regirock super effectively.
Set Details
========
172 HP EVs allow Probopass to tank hits more easily, 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature maximize Probopass's power, and 84 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed uninvested base 50s and under such as Regirock. Magnet Pull is Probopass's main niche in the tier and as such is chosen for this set. It allows Probopass to trap Steel-types for the player's team, mainly Ferroseed. Leftovers is used for passive recovery over time, since Probopass lacks a reliable way to heal up and it can help very much in certain matchups, such as against slower walls like Clefairy. Air Balloon can alternatively be run as the item due to it giving a temporary immunity to Ground-type attacks, allowing it to more reliably switch into Pokemon such as Pinsir and Choice Band Aggron. However, this leaves Probopass with no passive recovery, which can leave it worn down a lot quicker.
Usage Tips
========
Probopass's main niche is trapping Steel-type Pokemon. Because of this, it's rather easy for the opponent to predict the switching of Probopass into their Steel-type and immediately switch out. Thus, finding the right opportunity to switch Probopass into other Steel-types is crucial to its success in a match. This can be done by either double switching or pivoting Probopass in using either Volt Switch or U-turn. Be cautious when playing against Pokemon known for having Ground-type coverage, such as Earthquake Archeops and Kangaskhan. Due to the threat of such coverage, it shouldn't be treated as a Normal- or Flying-type check for the team. Probopass is quite weak and one-dimensional, so after it successfully removes opposing Steel-types from the match and sets up Stealth Rock, it can often become dead weight or even setup fodder for Pokemon such as Lilligant. It is highly recommended to avoid recklessly switching Probopass in. Volt Switch variants should pivot on checks, would-be or otherwise, to Probopass like defensive Carracosta and Gurdurr. They also should be wary of using the move when the opponent has a Ground-type still active. Use Taunt to shut down setup or recovery from Pokemon such as Trick Room Alolan Exeggutor and Miltank.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that struggle with Steel-types will appreciate Probopass's ability to take them on reliably. These include Type: Null, Z-Move variants of Lilligant, and physically offensive variants of Skuntank. Probopass offers very handy resistances to both Flying and Psychic, and there are many Pokemon in PU vulnerable to either of these types. Examples of these include Weezing for more defensive builds and Primeape and Pinsir for more offensive ones. Volt Switch variants can be paired with powerful wallbreakers that are hard to get in such as Passimian, Archeops, and Drampa due to the fact that Probopass's Volt Switch is slow and therefore very reliable in getting the aforementioned Pokemon in. Volt Switch variants also like being paired with other Volt Switch users such as Eelektross and Lanturn or U-turn users such as Mesprit to form VoltTurn cores. Eelektross in particular also helps against the Water-types Probopass struggles with. Even without Volt Switch on Probopass, these Pokemon can also get Probopass in on opposing Steel-types more easily, due to the fact that they are checked by common Steel-types in PU such as Ferroseed. A Fighting-type switch-in is useful, as Probopass hates taking on such Pokemon. Examples of this include Oricorio-G, Weezing, and Mesprit. Likewise, Pokemon that resist or are immune to Ground such as Lilligant, Haunter, and Abomasnow help dodge moves like Earthquake. Probopass can also remove Pokemon such as Ferroseed that these Pokemon don't do too well against. Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan can also be good partners for Probopass due to their ability to reliably beat a lot of specially defensive walls that Probopass have trouble with, mainly Audino and Type: Null. Water-type checks such as Alolan Exeggutor and Shiftry can help due to Probopass struggling with Pokemon such as Gastrodon and Lanturn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic is an option to catch Gastrodon on the switch, which otherwise completely stops Probopass in its tracks. It can be used to cripple Pokemon such as Musharna as well, which is particularly useful because Synchronize cannot affect Probopass. However, Probopass's four-moveslot syndrome means that Toxic has a hard time being fit, as Probopass's moves are all very important to its success. A more defensive set with Sturdy is usable, but for the most part it's outclassed by Regirock, which has better offensive presence and a better typing. It also lacks Probopass's main niche as a trapper. Magic Coat allows Probopass to bounce back status moves such as opposing entry hazards from the likes of Weezing and Taunt from Pokemon such as Skuntank. However, Probopass doesn't have much room to run this on its main set, and a lot of these Pokemon will just simply switch out of Probopass. Pain Split gives Probopass a form, albeit an unreliable one, of recovery. It fits more on bulkier sets, but such sets are less practical in general and as mentioned before Pain Split is a very unreliable way of recovery that can easily be played around.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Air Balloon can somewhat help Probopass's poor matchup against Ground-types, but Leftovers variants are easily KOed by strong Earthquakes from Pokemon such as Golurk, Torterra, and Golem. In addition, it needs the right coverage move to deal a decent amount of damage to these Pokemon, which is somewhat hampered by Probopass's four-moveslot syndrome.
**Fighting-types**: Probopass's 4x weakness to Fighting coupled with a lack of firepower against them leads to it being countered by the likes of Primeape, Gurdurr, and Hitmonchan, which can revenge kill it, set up on it, or easily remove its entry hazards, respectively.
**Water-types**: Pokemon such as Lanturn, Ludicolo, Poliwrath, and Gastrodon can easily switch into Probopass and hit back with Scald or similar moves. Lanturn and Gastrodon are also immune to Volt Switch.
[OVERVIEW]
Access to Magnet Pull gives Probopass a niche in PU, as thanks to this ability, it can easily remove several bulky Steel-types from the match, such as Aggron, Mawile, and Ferroseed. 4x resistances to Normal and Flying are quite useful, as they allow Probopass to, for example, switch in on a Choice Band Stoutland locked into Return and an Oricorio-G's Hurricane. Probopass also makes for a good switch-in to Mesprit due to its resistances to all of the latter's common moves. Probopass has a surprisingly customizable movepool, with very useful utility and coverage options such as Taunt to cripple slower walls, Earth Power for Steel-types, and Volt Switch for pivoting working very well with it. Defensively speaking, though, its 4x weaknesses to Fighting and Ground severely hamper its viability, as both types are very common in the metagame in the forms of Pokemon such as Palossand, Golurk, Hitmonchan, and Gurdurr. It also can be hit very hard by coverage moves of these types used by Pokemon that Probopass otherwise would check, such as Kangaskhan, Stoutland, and Archeops. It struggles a lot against common entry hazard setters and removers due to its weaknesses and lack of raw power. Probopass has no reliable recovery, making it prone to getting worn down fast against opposing teams. Even when fully invested, Probopass is often embarrassingly weak against a lot of neutral targets. It also struggles severely against bulky Water-types, since the most viable ones in PU such as Gastrodon and Lanturn take little from any of its attacks.
[SET]
name: Offensive Stealth Rock
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Taunt / Earth Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Magnet Pull
nature: Modest
evs: 172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Probopass makes for a pretty good setter of Stealth Rock due to its ability to beat several entry hazard removers very well, mainly ones such as Shiftry and physical Skuntank. Flash Cannon is Probopass's STAB move of choice, allowing it to hit Pokemon such as Archeops and Clefairy for super effective damage. Hidden Power Fire is used to target Steel-type Pokemon that Probopass traps, most notably Ferroseed, but also others such as Mawile. Taunt allows Probopass to cripple slower, more passive Pokemon such as Type: Null and Musharna. Earth Power can alternatively be used in the last slot to hit Alolan Raichu and opposing Probopass super effectively. Volt Switch is an option that allows Probopass to pivot around a lot of its common checks. This is particularly useful when combined with Probopass's low base Speed. Power Gem is an alternative STAB move that targets Flying-types such as Oricorio-G and Fire-types such as Pyroar, although it can't hit Rock-types such as Regirock super effectively.
Set Details
========
172 HP EVs allow Probopass to tank hits more easily, 252 Special Attack EVs and a Modest nature maximize Probopass's power, and 84 Speed EVs allow it to outspeed uninvested base 50s and under such as Regirock. Magnet Pull is Probopass's main niche in the tier and as such is chosen for this set. It allows Probopass to trap Steel-types for the player's team, mainly Ferroseed. Leftovers is used for passive recovery over time, since Probopass lacks a reliable way to heal up and it can help very much in certain matchups, such as against slower walls like Clefairy. Air Balloon can alternatively be run as the item due to it giving a temporary immunity to Ground-type attacks, allowing it to more reliably switch into Pokemon such as Pinsir and Choice Band Aggron. However, this leaves Probopass with no passive recovery, which can leave it worn down a lot quicker.
Usage Tips
========
Probopass's main niche is trapping Steel-type Pokemon. Because of this, it's rather easy for the opponent to predict the switching of Probopass into their Steel-type and immediately switch out. Thus, finding the right opportunity to switch Probopass into other Steel-types is crucial to its success in a match. This can be done by either double switching or pivoting Probopass in using either Volt Switch or U-turn. Be cautious when playing against Pokemon known for having Ground-type coverage, such as Earthquake Archeops and Kangaskhan. Due to the threat of such coverage, it shouldn't be treated as a Normal- or Flying-type check for the team. Probopass is quite weak and one-dimensional, so after it successfully removes opposing Steel-types from the match and sets up Stealth Rock, it can often become dead weight or even setup fodder for Pokemon such as Lilligant. It is highly recommended to avoid recklessly switching Probopass in. Volt Switch variants should pivot on checks, would-be or otherwise, to Probopass like defensive Carracosta and Gurdurr. They also should be wary of using the move when the opponent has a Ground-type still active. Use Taunt to shut down setup or recovery from Pokemon such as Trick Room Alolan Exeggutor and Miltank.
Team Options
========
Pokemon that struggle with Steel-types will appreciate Probopass's ability to take them on reliably. These include Type: Null, Z-Move variants of Lilligant, and physically offensive variants of Skuntank. Probopass offers very handy resistances to both Flying and Psychic, and there are many Pokemon in PU vulnerable to either of these types. Examples of these include Weezing for more defensive builds and Primeape and Pinsir for more offensive ones. Volt Switch variants can be paired with powerful wallbreakers that are hard to get in such as Passimian, Archeops, and Drampa due to the fact that Probopass's Volt Switch is slow and therefore very reliable in getting the aforementioned Pokemon in. Volt Switch variants also like being paired with other Volt Switch users such as Eelektross and Lanturn or U-turn users such as Mesprit to form VoltTurn cores. Eelektross in particular also helps against the Water-types Probopass struggles with. Even without Volt Switch on Probopass, these Pokemon can also get Probopass in on opposing Steel-types more easily, due to the fact that they are checked by common Steel-types in PU such as Ferroseed. A Fighting-type switch-in is useful, as Probopass hates taking on such Pokemon. Examples of this include Oricorio-G, Weezing, and Mesprit. Likewise, Pokemon that resist or are immune to Ground such as Lilligant, Haunter, and Abomasnow help dodge moves like Earthquake. Probopass can also remove Pokemon such as Ferroseed that these Pokemon don't do too well against. Fighting-types such as Gurdurr and Hitmonchan can also be good partners for Probopass due to their ability to reliably beat a lot of specially defensive walls that Probopass have trouble with, mainly Audino and Type: Null. Water-type checks such as Alolan Exeggutor and Shiftry can help due to Probopass struggling with Pokemon such as Gastrodon and Lanturn.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic is an option to catch Gastrodon on the switch, which otherwise completely stops Probopass in its tracks. It can be used to cripple Pokemon such as Musharna as well, which is particularly useful because Synchronize cannot affect Probopass. However, Probopass's four-moveslot syndrome means that Toxic has a hard time being fit, as Probopass's moves are all very important to its success. A more defensive set with Sturdy is usable, but for the most part it's outclassed by Regirock, which has better offensive presence and a better typing. It also lacks Probopass's main niche as a trapper. Magic Coat allows Probopass to bounce back status moves such as opposing entry hazards from the likes of Weezing and Taunt from Pokemon such as Skuntank. However, Probopass doesn't have much room to run this on its main set, and a lot of these Pokemon will just simply switch out of Probopass. Pain Split gives Probopass a form, albeit an unreliable one, of recovery. It fits more on bulkier sets, but such sets are less practical in general and as mentioned before Pain Split is a very unreliable way of recovery that can easily be played around.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Air Balloon can somewhat help Probopass's poor matchup against Ground-types, but Leftovers variants are easily KOed by strong Earthquakes from Pokemon such as Golurk, Torterra, and Golem. In addition, it needs the right coverage move to deal a decent amount of damage to these Pokemon, which is somewhat hampered by Probopass's four-moveslot syndrome.
**Fighting-types**: Probopass's 4x weakness to Fighting coupled with a lack of firepower against them leads to it being countered by the likes of Primeape, Gurdurr, and Hitmonchan, which can revenge kill it, set up on it, or easily remove its entry hazards, respectively.
**Water-types**: Pokemon such as Lanturn, Ludicolo, Poliwrath, and Gastrodon can easily switch into Probopass and hit back with Scald or similar moves. Lanturn and Gastrodon are also immune to Volt Switch.
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