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Rarely Used (RU) Tier

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it is FEAR lol.

I faced this on the ladder and Moxie Honchkrow destroyed by team bad. Hadn't faced one in so long that by the time I realised it was +2 it was too late :(

Cool Smeargle set but it is a gimmick.
 
you should also mention fake out user as a counter for this smeargle. They are not common (only hariyama and medicham as far as I know) but they completely nullify this strategy.


On a side note, I also want to suggest my new Hariyama guts set.

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Hariyama (M) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 128 Def / 128 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- Payback
At first, it seems like Hariyama should as a tank and no a guts user but after trying this set, there's no coming back. A combination of fake out which activate toxic orb and close combat can OHKO most of the RU metagame. Its only real counters are cresselias, slowking and, to a lesser extend, confagrigus (thanks to mummy). It's also quite bulky and it can take even Choice Band Adament Entei flare blitz! The EVs can be tweaked a bit to take either special hits or physical hit better (but don't invest in HP). Anyways, it's a great poke overall that deserves more usage. Gallade may outclass it in some situation but Hariyama has just more raw power with guts.
 
Lv1 Smeargle is an absolute force to behold. Given a good player at its helm, this thing will gladly and assuredly cripple 2-3 pokémon on your opponents team, or at least kill one. I've been using it all day and the only cases where it was underwhelming were cases where I didn't use him as a lead. Otherwise, it can eliminate one of the opponent's pokémon almost certainly if they aren't prepared for it. Just pair it up with Honchkrow to finish off the pokémon crippled by Endeavour (Honch also benefits from Smeargle's Trick Room) with Sucker Punch, Pursuit and Brave Bird for an easy Moxie boost. [CP'd from the Threat List thread]

To elaborate, here's the set I'm using

Smeargle (lv1) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Trick Room
- Spore
- Endeavor
- Dragon Rage

This is about as good as dedicated leads come in Gen 5. Always Trick Room first unless the opponent either carries priority (eg Entei) or is likely to use Taunt (Electrode? idk), as not only does it set Smeargle up to "sweep" but it can also provide team support should you need to switch out. Next just hit something with Spore, so long as it's not a Sap Sipper. Then use Endeavor; if the opponent stays in you can just switch to a Pursuiter or use Dragon Rage, if they don't you've just crippled two of the opponent's pokémon. Dragon Rage should only be used should you be sure the opponent is staying in after being Endeavor'd, otherwise it wastes a precious Trick Room turn. Just keep doing this until Smeargle is threatened or you have a setup opportunity.

Thanks to Smeargle's general rhythm, the moveset accomodates the possibility of "sweeping" multiple times. Since Trick Room last five turns, which will usually be...

  1. Trick Room
  2. Spore
  3. Endeavor
  4. Dragon Rage
  5. Spore
You'll often be in a good position when Trick Room runs out, either guaranteeing more Trick Room or letting you Endeavor once more. When using Smeargle like this, the main threats are...

  • Sap Sipper pokemon like Bouffalant. If the opponent has one, don't bother Sporing, they might be onto you. Crippling the opponent with Endeavor is often good enough, especially since Bouffalant is naturally slow.
  • Pokemon with multi-hit moves, such as Rhyperior's Rock Blast. Needless to say, this ruins Smeargle if it hits.
  • Pokemon with priority, such as Entei's Extremespeed. You'll want to Spore right away here, then Trick Room the next turn.
  • Ghost types. Obviously outside of using Foresight over Dragon Rage (not recommended), you're not going to touch them.
However, outside these threats Smeargle can more or less guarantee a kill every game, or at least cripple a few of the opponent's pokemon.

As mentioned before pokemon with fake out ruin this strategy and pokemon in the lead that use substitute or trick you with a choice item not to mention pokemon with vital spirit or insomnia or Lum/chesto berry in the lead which make spore useless and be wary of Snover breaking your sash with Hail amd Snover usually will be using the sub seed strategy and can sub up on your or just stall out trick room with sub and protect.

Extreme speed mite be good on the list too, I think Smeargle might KO after an endeavour, It's possible lol.
 
i hope you realize that lvl 1 smeargle is screaming SET UP A SUB ON ME. taunt shuts it down, priority isn't exactly uncommon, and hell, if they have a snover it gets a kill. level 1 smeargle is a gimmick, sorry.
 
@Narutard
Toxic orb is better if it stays in for two turns or less which is usually what it does. If you think he will always stay in for 3 turns or more, feel free to use a flame orb.
 
i hope you realize that lvl 1 smeargle is screaming SET UP A SUB ON ME. taunt shuts it down, priority isn't exactly uncommon, and hell, if they have a snover it gets a kill. level 1 smeargle is a gimmick, sorry.

I agree with most of what you're saying, but doesn't Endeavor break Subs provided it deals more damage than the substitute has hp?
 
I agree with most of what you're saying, but doesn't Endeavor break Subs provided it deals more damage than the substitute has hp?

IIRC, Endeavor doesn't break subs and it just fails, but don't quote me on it.

Also, the strategy can be easily turned against you. Let's say you get rid of the opponent's lead, but then they bring in the slowest Pokémon, kill the Smeargle, then abuse the Trick Room until it runs out.
 
IIRC, Endeavor doesn't break subs and it just fails, but don't quote me on it.

Also, the strategy can be easily turned against you. Let's say you get rid of the opponent's lead, but then they bring in the slowest Pokémon, kill the Smeargle, then abuse the Trick Room until it runs out.

Smogon Description of Substitute for D/P said:
Endeavor does damage based on the HP of the Pokémon behind the Substitute, not the remaining HP of the Substitute.

There's nothing about endeavor in the research thread other than that it now will cause you to regain HP with shell bell, so I assume this is still the case. I'm not saying this is necessarily a good strategy, just that substitutes probably aren't the best strategy against it (though I suppose, once the difference between your hp and Smeargle's was less than the hp of your substitutes, Smeargle would be unable to break them in the one hit he would have to without dying).
 
Smeargle can be handled by Alakazam. It Taunts, Smeargle can't use Trick Room or Spore. Zam attacks, Smeargle uses Endeavor, Zam attack again, Smeargle dies. Also, Cinccino laughs at it. Bullet Seed = dead Smeargle.
 
I personally think fighting types suck in RU. Not only is the tier run by bugs, its best walls are cress, claydol, noir, and cofag. I guess they can kill munchlax, but thats it
 
I personally think fighting types suck in RU. Not only is the tier run by bugs, its best walls are cress, claydol, noir, and cofag. I guess they can kill munchlax, but thats it

Clefable, Lickilicky, Rhydon/perior, Aggron, hail Pokes, Sharpedo, Feeroseed, Umbreon...
yeah, fighting types are horrible because the tier is "run by bugs"
 
To clarify, the speed EVs are for other Lv1 smeargle, letting you Spore them before they can do anything.

Anything that's going to use a Substitute, such as Sceptile, can just be TR + Endeavor'd straight away, which DOES break the sub. Sure you lose your sash if they attack, but you can still get the kill.

In all of my games I haven't been Taunted once, the number of Taunt users in RU is surprisingly small. Even if I did, Endeavor would still take a chunk out.

And Extremespeed isn't worth using when Leftovers is so common.
 
I like my Hariyamas bulky and with Whirlwind and Leftovers <3

The same way I like my women! ... Someone had to say it.

But this whole level 1 Smeargle thing can only be considered a gimmick. It'll work when you have the surprise factor, but there's far too many things that can take advantage of it, and with the presence of Hail, lolFocusSash.
 
I know this may sound stupid, But without much weather. I've used Banded Shedninja and it is amazing with handling cress. Since, It stops some sweepers in it's tracks, With trick to cripple incoming switches. I find it very useful. Cress kisses shedninja's ass.
 
To clarify, the speed EVs are for other Lv1 smeargle, letting you Spore them before they can do anything.

Anything that's going to use a Substitute, such as Sceptile, can just be TR + Endeavor'd straight away, which DOES break the sub. Sure you lose your sash if they attack, but you can still get the kill.

In all of my games I haven't been Taunted once, the number of Taunt users in RU is surprisingly small. Even if I did, Endeavor would still take a chunk out.

And Extremespeed isn't worth using when Leftovers is so common.

EVs to beat other Lv1 Smeargles? What has the world come to...
 
Well, Yanmega can really cause some trouble for Fighting-types, and seeing as how he's pretty much the king of RU...

Besides him though, Bugs probably have more to fear from Fighting-types than vice-versa. Most Bugs don't carry moves that are SE on Fighting-types, while plenty of Fighting-types can pack Stone Edge or even Fire Punch.
 
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