[OVERVIEW]
Firstly, as a special sponge, Regice is able to keep pace with opposing special attackers such as Zapdos and Starmie. Secondly, its ability to take a hit and strike back with BoltBeam coverage will counter some of the opponent's best sweepers like Salamence and Gyarados, thus being a special attacker. Thirdly, thanks to Explosion, it can become a bait for common special walls such as Blissey and Snorlax. However, the top threats of ADV OU such as Metagross and Tyranitar check Regice, which makes its Explosion hard to work because they resist Normal-type attacks. In addition, it can be destroyed by Spikes, which offensive teams have no choice to remove most of the time. Furthermore, it is also significantly affected by Toxic, implying that Snorlax with Immunity is generally a better option on offensive teams. Finally, compared to Snorlax's powerful STAB Self-destruct, its Explosion is dismal.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunderbolt / Thunder
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Thunder Wave / Hidden Power Fire
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 104 Atk / 152 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Ice Beam is Regice's STAB attack and threatens targets such as Zapdos, Celebi, Dugtrio, Claydol, and Flygon hard. Thunderbolt hurts Pokemon like Skarmory, Starmie, Suicune, Cloyster, and Gyarados. Thunder is an option for more power and higher paralysis rate, but it has accuracy issues. With right prediction, Explosion weakens Blissey. In addition, it limits setup opportunities of Curse Snorlax and Dragon Dance Tyranitar. Furthermore, exploding with Regice is a risk-free way of getting your Pokemon in without taking damage and helps to bring threats such as Metagross and Jirachi into OHKO range of attacks like Earthquake from Dugtrio or Hydro Pump from offensive Swampert. Thunder Wave is a general nuisance to switch-ins such as Jirachi, Tyranitar, Metagross, and Snorlax, which are often seen on offensive teams. As a result, Regice's teammates can outspeed them. In particular, if offensive Jirachi is paralyzed, its Speed will drop, thus limiting its offensive presence; if defensive Jirachi is paralyzed, it may fail to use Wish or Protect to heal itself. Hidden Power Fire prevents Forretress from freely laying Spikes on Regice. It also hits Steel-type Pokemon such as Metagross and Magenton.
104 Attack EVs let Explosion do much damage to Blissey, allowing standard Dugtrio to revenge kill it all time. Maximized HP EVs are required to retain bulk.
Team Options
========
The key to this set is that Snorlax and Blissey are sometimes the only answer to Regice, so Explosion weakens them to the point that Dugtrio is able to revenge kill them most of the time, which means Dugtrio is often used with Regice. Furthermore, Dugtrio traps Tyranitar, Metagross, and Jirachi, which also stop Regice. Since Regice lures specially defensive Pokemon with Explosion, it excels on special offense that is built around special attackers such as Gengar, Suicune, and Jirachi. In return, Gengar resists Fighting-type attacks; Suicune resists Steel-type attacks; Jirachi resists Rock-type attacks. Fire-type Pokemon such as Moltres and Charizard check Steel-type threats, while Metagross check Blissey, Snorlax, and Tyranitar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Punch and Superpower can surprise Tyranitar, Blissey, and Snorlax. Psych Up lets Regice set up alongside Calm Mind users by copying their boosts, allowing Regice to threaten foes with Ice Beam and Thunderbolt. A defensive set can be considered, but apart from Clear Body to block Screech or Metal Sound and STAB Ice Beam to hit Dugtrio or Zapdos, it is outclassed by Blissey and Celebi that have Natural Cure and instant recovery.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Metagross, Jirachi, and Forretress resist Regice's Ice Beam and Explosion. Metagross threatens Regice mainly with STAB Meteor Mash. Jirachi can set up on Regice and block Thunder Wave with Substitute. Forretress can lay Spikes on Regice, but it should be wary of Hidden Power Fire. Anyway, all of them can be affected by Thunder Wave on the switch.
**Tyranitar**: The behemoth can scare Regice with Brick Break, Fire Blast, and STAB Rock Slide. Furthermore, Lum Berry can be used to prevent Thunder Wave from crippling its Dragon Dance after it switches in as a sweeper. However, it should be wary of the rare Focus Punch or Superpower.
**Fighting-types**: Heracross, Machamp, and Hariyama can learn Rock Slide and STAB Fighting-type attacks to frighten Regice. Hariyama has Thick Fat to shrug off Ice Beam from Regice; Heracross and Machamp have Guts to exploit Thunder Wave. Nevertheless, Regice's Explosion and STAB Ice Beam generally do much damage to them.
**Fire-types**: After some chip, Moltres, Charizard, and the rare Houndoom can take Regice by their STAB Fire attacks, but all of them hate Thunder Wave and Explosion.
**Special Walls**: Blissey and Snorlax have tremendous special bulk, but they must care about Explosion from Regice. Specially speaking, Regice's STAB Ice Beam does considerable damage to Snorlax.
**Toxic and Spikes**: Without instant recovery, Regice can be crippled by these factors. For example, with Spikes, Zapdos has access to Toxic, Protect, and Roar, thus wearing down Regice in the long run.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[wyc2333, 336830]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Firstly, as a special sponge, Regice is able to keep pace with opposing special attackers such as Zapdos and Starmie. Secondly, its ability to take a hit and strike back with BoltBeam coverage will counter some of the opponent's best sweepers like Salamence and Gyarados, thus being a special attacker. Thirdly, thanks to Explosion, it can become a bait for common special walls such as Blissey and Snorlax. However, the top threats of ADV OU such as Metagross and Tyranitar check Regice, which makes its Explosion hard to work because they resist Normal-type attacks. In addition, it can be destroyed by Spikes, which offensive teams have no choice to remove most of the time. Furthermore, it is also significantly affected by Toxic, implying that Snorlax with Immunity is generally a better option on offensive teams. Finally, compared to Snorlax's powerful STAB Self-destruct, its Explosion is dismal.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunderbolt / Thunder
move 3: Explosion
move 4: Thunder Wave / Hidden Power Fire
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 104 Atk / 152 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Ice Beam is Regice's STAB attack and threatens targets such as Zapdos, Celebi, Dugtrio, Claydol, and Flygon hard. Thunderbolt hurts Pokemon like Skarmory, Starmie, Suicune, Cloyster, and Gyarados. Thunder is an option for more power and higher paralysis rate, but it has accuracy issues. With right prediction, Explosion weakens Blissey. In addition, it limits setup opportunities of Curse Snorlax and Dragon Dance Tyranitar. Furthermore, exploding with Regice is a risk-free way of getting your Pokemon in without taking damage and helps to bring threats such as Metagross and Jirachi into OHKO range of attacks like Earthquake from Dugtrio or Hydro Pump from offensive Swampert. Thunder Wave is a general nuisance to switch-ins such as Jirachi, Tyranitar, Metagross, and Snorlax, which are often seen on offensive teams. As a result, Regice's teammates can outspeed them. In particular, if offensive Jirachi is paralyzed, its Speed will drop, thus limiting its offensive presence; if defensive Jirachi is paralyzed, it may fail to use Wish or Protect to heal itself. Hidden Power Fire prevents Forretress from freely laying Spikes on Regice. It also hits Steel-type Pokemon such as Metagross and Magenton.
104 Attack EVs let Explosion do much damage to Blissey, allowing standard Dugtrio to revenge kill it all time. Maximized HP EVs are required to retain bulk.
Team Options
========
The key to this set is that Snorlax and Blissey are sometimes the only answer to Regice, so Explosion weakens them to the point that Dugtrio is able to revenge kill them most of the time, which means Dugtrio is often used with Regice. Furthermore, Dugtrio traps Tyranitar, Metagross, and Jirachi, which also stop Regice. Since Regice lures specially defensive Pokemon with Explosion, it excels on special offense that is built around special attackers such as Gengar, Suicune, and Jirachi. In return, Gengar resists Fighting-type attacks; Suicune resists Steel-type attacks; Jirachi resists Rock-type attacks. Fire-type Pokemon such as Moltres and Charizard check Steel-type threats, while Metagross check Blissey, Snorlax, and Tyranitar.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Punch and Superpower can surprise Tyranitar, Blissey, and Snorlax. Psych Up lets Regice set up alongside Calm Mind users by copying their boosts, allowing Regice to threaten foes with Ice Beam and Thunderbolt. A defensive set can be considered, but apart from Clear Body to block Screech or Metal Sound and STAB Ice Beam to hit Dugtrio or Zapdos, it is outclassed by Blissey and Celebi that have Natural Cure and instant recovery.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Metagross, Jirachi, and Forretress resist Regice's Ice Beam and Explosion. Metagross threatens Regice mainly with STAB Meteor Mash. Jirachi can set up on Regice and block Thunder Wave with Substitute. Forretress can lay Spikes on Regice, but it should be wary of Hidden Power Fire. Anyway, all of them can be affected by Thunder Wave on the switch.
**Tyranitar**: The behemoth can scare Regice with Brick Break, Fire Blast, and STAB Rock Slide. Furthermore, Lum Berry can be used to prevent Thunder Wave from crippling its Dragon Dance after it switches in as a sweeper. However, it should be wary of the rare Focus Punch or Superpower.
**Fighting-types**: Heracross, Machamp, and Hariyama can learn Rock Slide and STAB Fighting-type attacks to frighten Regice. Hariyama has Thick Fat to shrug off Ice Beam from Regice; Heracross and Machamp have Guts to exploit Thunder Wave. Nevertheless, Regice's Explosion and STAB Ice Beam generally do much damage to them.
**Fire-types**: After some chip, Moltres, Charizard, and the rare Houndoom can take Regice by their STAB Fire attacks, but all of them hate Thunder Wave and Explosion.
**Special Walls**: Blissey and Snorlax have tremendous special bulk, but they must care about Explosion from Regice. Specially speaking, Regice's STAB Ice Beam does considerable damage to Snorlax.
**Toxic and Spikes**: Without instant recovery, Regice can be crippled by these factors. For example, with Spikes, Zapdos has access to Toxic, Protect, and Roar, thus wearing down Regice in the long run.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[wyc2333, 336830]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
Last edited:
