http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/qwilfish
Name: Offensive Spikestacking Lead
Move 1: Spikes
Move 2: Waterfall/Aqua Jet
Move 3: Taunt
Move 4: Explosion/Destiny Bond
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Poison Point or Swift Swim, both work well.
EVs: 252 Speed is a must, preference can be put in 252 HP or 252 Atk.
Why this set deserves to be on the site:
- Fast taunt
- Viable UU spiker
- Excellent Utility in suiciding through Explosion and Destiny Bond.
- With Aqua Jet, you can get a layer of spikes and still break the focus sash against the leads that beat you so you can 1HKO when revenging them.
- Plays vastly different from the Rain Dance lead.
Lead Matchups
Ambipom
- Forced out due to Fake Out and Return KOing
Uxie
- Slower variants allow at least two layers of spikes. Taunting is risky because you might get no spikes if it's faster but if you don't, it gets free set up. Taunting might be the better idea just in case it's something really bad for your team like Rain, Sun, Dual Screens, or Trick Room. In Uxie's favor.
Mesprit
- Always outspeed, and always get two layers of spikes up, which is the goal. Scarf versions allow one layer of spikes, but you can keep your sash for death or suicide fodder later and switch to a dark type on the psychic for free set up.
Omastar
- Faster taunt allows you to get two layers of spikes on variants without Earth Power. With Earth Power you still prevent Omastar from getting any hazards up and you get one of your own up.
Cloyster
- Taunted, although it can rapid spin.
Spiritomb
- Easy two spikes at least.
Electrode
- Rain started. The only situation where Swift Swim can be valuable since Qwilfish does outspeed Electrode in the rain.
Hippopotas
- Although taunting can only net you one layer of spikes, I'd say you get the upper hand because sandstorm teams are always heavily affected by spikes.
Alakazam
- Probably the worst match up especially since Qwilfish is usually on offense teams. Spike until you're at your sash and then Aqua Jet to break the sash so you don't have to hit it twice to revenge kill it. Dual Screen is a definite problem, although usually lets you get more spikes up.
Jumpluff +
Jynx +
Venomoth + other sleepers faster than Qwilfish
- The worst leads to face. Annoying because you have to rely on Sleep Powder missing and then Taunting to cripple them. If you don't, your team's entire offensive momentum and game can be killed off. Can use Lum Berry but Focus Sash is a much more sturdy option on Qwilfish.
Hariyama
The easiest match up. A guaranteed two spikes up minimum and he doesn't set up anything.
Additional comments:
- Pairs well with Moltres, Rhyperior, Swellow. Pokemon whose have grounded counters that are mainly found on balance teams. Rhyperior getting special mention for being able to handle Ambipom leads.
- Able to come back later in the game and freely switch in on the #1 used pokemon in the tier (Milotic)
- Similiar to Froslass's duties. Although Froslass could spinblock just by being in, Qwilfish can technically spin block by exploding, weakening their spinner, preventing that spin, and allowing you to switch something that will force it out so you protect your spikes.
- Absorbs Toxic Spikes. If you desperately need that.
- Can lures in ghosts like a magnet, making ghost killers great partners
Name: Offensive Spikestacking Lead
Move 1: Spikes
Move 2: Waterfall/Aqua Jet
Move 3: Taunt
Move 4: Explosion/Destiny Bond
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Poison Point or Swift Swim, both work well.
EVs: 252 Speed is a must, preference can be put in 252 HP or 252 Atk.
Why this set deserves to be on the site:
- Fast taunt
- Viable UU spiker
- Excellent Utility in suiciding through Explosion and Destiny Bond.
- With Aqua Jet, you can get a layer of spikes and still break the focus sash against the leads that beat you so you can 1HKO when revenging them.
- Plays vastly different from the Rain Dance lead.
Lead Matchups
- Forced out due to Fake Out and Return KOing
- Slower variants allow at least two layers of spikes. Taunting is risky because you might get no spikes if it's faster but if you don't, it gets free set up. Taunting might be the better idea just in case it's something really bad for your team like Rain, Sun, Dual Screens, or Trick Room. In Uxie's favor.
- Always outspeed, and always get two layers of spikes up, which is the goal. Scarf versions allow one layer of spikes, but you can keep your sash for death or suicide fodder later and switch to a dark type on the psychic for free set up.
- Faster taunt allows you to get two layers of spikes on variants without Earth Power. With Earth Power you still prevent Omastar from getting any hazards up and you get one of your own up.
- Taunted, although it can rapid spin.
- Easy two spikes at least.
- Rain started. The only situation where Swift Swim can be valuable since Qwilfish does outspeed Electrode in the rain.
- Although taunting can only net you one layer of spikes, I'd say you get the upper hand because sandstorm teams are always heavily affected by spikes.
- Probably the worst match up especially since Qwilfish is usually on offense teams. Spike until you're at your sash and then Aqua Jet to break the sash so you don't have to hit it twice to revenge kill it. Dual Screen is a definite problem, although usually lets you get more spikes up.
- The worst leads to face. Annoying because you have to rely on Sleep Powder missing and then Taunting to cripple them. If you don't, your team's entire offensive momentum and game can be killed off. Can use Lum Berry but Focus Sash is a much more sturdy option on Qwilfish.
The easiest match up. A guaranteed two spikes up minimum and he doesn't set up anything.
Additional comments:
- Pairs well with Moltres, Rhyperior, Swellow. Pokemon whose have grounded counters that are mainly found on balance teams. Rhyperior getting special mention for being able to handle Ambipom leads.
- Able to come back later in the game and freely switch in on the #1 used pokemon in the tier (Milotic)
- Similiar to Froslass's duties. Although Froslass could spinblock just by being in, Qwilfish can technically spin block by exploding, weakening their spinner, preventing that spin, and allowing you to switch something that will force it out so you protect your spikes.
- Absorbs Toxic Spikes. If you desperately need that.
- Can lures in ghosts like a magnet, making ghost killers great partners
