[OVERVIEW]
- Pyukumuku is a decent pick for stall teams, using its ability Unaware, high defenses, and good defensive typing to handle a number of setup sweepers that threaten defensive teams, including Gurdurr, Alolan Sandslash, and Omastar.
- Although Pyukumuku does face tight competition as an Unaware user from Quagsire and as a bulky Water-type from Jellicent and Poliwrath, its unique access to Block gives it a slight niche over them.
- Block, in tandem with Spite, Toxic, and Rest, allows Pyukumuku to trap and either PP stall or Toxic stall opposing defensive Pokemon like Regirock and Altaria as well as weaker offensive foes, which takes pressure off of stall teams and gives them an easier time outlasting opposing teams.
- However, Pyukumuku lacks any attacking moves besides Counter, which leaves it very easily shut down by users of Taunt and Substitute such as Jellicent, Oricorio-E, and Oricorio-G.
- Pyukumuku is also incredibly passive because of its inability to deal direct damage and. as a direct result, can only reliably fit on stall.
- What holds Pyukumuku back most is arguably the competition it faces in its roles. Quagsire is a better Unaware user, as it is much less passive, can also act as a bulky setup sweeper with Curse, more reliably handles Pokemon like Lycanroc and Aggron because of its Ground typing, and fits on more playstyles than just stall.
- On the other hand, bulky Water-types like Jellicent and Poliwrath are also less passive, also fit on multiple playstyles, better check threats like Primeape and Carracosta because of their respective typings, and boast solid utility options in Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, Scald, and Circle Throw,
name: Unaware Trapper
move 1: Block
move 2: Spite / Toxic
move 3: Recover
move 4: Rest
item: Leftovers
ability: Unaware
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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- Block is a large part of Pyukumuku's niche. The move traps the opposing Pokemon, which allows Pyukumuku to either PP stall them in tandem with Spite and Rest or gradually wear them down with Toxic.
- Spite more quickly depletes the PP of the opposing Pokemon's moves, making the process of PP stalling foes and removing threats all the more easy.
- Toxic is Pyukumuku's only means of dealing damage and allows it to dispatch foes it traps more immediately and punish switch-ins like Eelektross.
- While Rest may seem redundant alongside Recover,
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- Unaware ignores stat changes, which prevents setup sweepers like Gurdurr, Omastar, and Combusken from capitalizing on Pyukumuku's passivity and subsequently pressuring its team.
- Depending on whether Pyukumuku opts for Spite or Toxic, Ghostium Z or Poisonium Z can be used. The former allows Pyukumuku to fully recover any lost HP, while the latter increases its Defense by one stage and enables it to more reliably stomach hits from physical threats. Both options allow Pyukumuku to attack under the influence of Taunt once, decrease Knock Off damage, and make it immune to Trick and Switcheroo, though this is at the cost of having passive recovery that lessens the need to use Recover and Rest.
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- Don't make the fact that Pyukumuku has Block obvious until it feels necessary to trap a foe, since the move becomes much easier to play around once an opponent knows that it's running the move.
- Refrain from switching Pyukumuku in while entry hazards are up, as they can limit its ability to reliably check setup sweepers like Dodrio and physically offensive threats like Kangaskhan.
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- Pyukumuku can only reliably fit on stall teams in need of a switch-in to setup sweepers, as its sheer passivity would cost any other type of team too much momentum.
- Specially defensive Pokemon are great partners to have and complete a solid defensive core alongside Pyukumuku, as they are each capable of handling one another's checks. Audino is a notable example, as well as a staple on stall, providing useful cleric support to reduce the number of times that Pyukumuku has to use Recover and Rest.
- Grass- and Electric-types like Victreebel, Oricorio-E, and Alolan Raichu are capable of easily exploiting Pyukumuku, especially if it lacks Toxic; therefore, checks like Articuno, Regirock, and Claydol are essential to have. In addition to checking threatening special attackers like Aurorus and Guzzlord and providing cleric support like Audino, Articuno can also prevent Pyukumuku from unnecessarily taking chip damage from entry hazards with Defog.
- Entry hazard removers are important teammates to have, since
- Pyukumuku shouldn't be a stall team's only physical wall given that stronger physical wallbreakers like Aggron and Stoutland can easily overwhelm it and go on to pressure the remainder of its team, making Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock good teammates.
Other Options
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- Soak can be used to make Poison- and Steel-types vulnerable to Toxic, which prevents Pyukumuku from being utterly walled by them.
- Counter allows Pyukumuku to remove stronger physical attackers like Stoutland and Aggron after taking a hit, which prevents them from exerting pressure on the rest of its team.
- Both of these options are similar in that finding room for them can be difficult, as Pyukumuku is already strapped for moveslots, and that both of them detract from Pyukumuku's main niche. Furthermore, unless Soak is used alongside Block, Poison- and Steel-types can just switch out before Pyukumuku gets a chance to use Toxic.
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**Taunt and Substitute users**: Because Pyukumuku lacks any attacking moves, Taunt and Substitute users like Froslass, Oricorio-E, and Oricorio-G can render Pyukumuku completely useless and force it out. The latter two examples are especially notable, as they can turn Pyukumuku into setup fodder after using either Taunt or Substitute, while Froslass can set Spikes after forcing it out.
**Grass- and Electric-types**: Grass- and Electric-types like Victreebel, Bellossom, Oricorio-E, Alolan Raichu, and Rotom-F
**Poison- and Steel-types**: Describe why the Pokemon is a threat.
**Strong Wallbreakers**: While Pyukumuku's physical bulk is solid, stronger wallbreakers like Stoutland, Aggron, and Choice Band Dodrio are capable of overwhelming it. Strong special wallbreakers like Guzzlord, Aurorus, and Choice Specs Mesprit
[CREDITS]
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