[OVERVIEW]
Registeel's bulk lets it easily wall and check many specially offensive Pokemon in the tier like Comfey, Swellow, Diancie, Roserade, and Dragalge while serving as a blanket check to many Pokemon that can only hit it neutrally, especially with special attacks. This, in tandem with access to helpful utility moves such as Stealth Rock, also allows it to be a very consistent entry hazard setter. Registeel can also cripple opposing Pokemon with status without ever being overly passive, as it can stall with Protect and Toxic and deal solid damage with Seismic Toss. On the other hand, its typing means that it is weak to the ever-common Ground-, Fire-, and Fighting-types, specifically being pressured by Salazzle, Flygon, Zygarde-10%, and Pangoro with their super effective STAB moves and common coverage moves such as Focus Blast and Earthquake. In addition, it is susceptible to Taunt, which makes it susceptible to Pokemon like Chesnaught and Mismagius.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Seismic Toss
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Seismic Toss does a solid 100 HP of damage to anything that isn't a Ghost-type, allowing Registeel to dish out decent damage or break Substitutes of Pokemon that may try to set up on it. Toxic is used in tandem with Seismic Toss to whittle down the array of bulky Pokemon in the tier such as Porygon2, Slowbro, and Umbreon. Stealth Rock is mandatory to pressure Pokemon switching in while breaking Focus Sash and Sturdy, making teammates have an easier time cleaning up late-game. Protect has a multitude of uses, such as stalling for extra damage from Toxic and recovery from Leftovers, scouting for Choice items, and cushioning Z-Moves that may otherwise outright KO Registeel. Iron Head can be used over Seismic Toss to hit certain Pokemon that may completely wall Registeel otherwise such as Froslass, which it 2HKOes with no investment.
Set Details
========
Running 252 EVs in HP and Special Defense along with a Calm nature maximizes Registeel's special bulk, but if Iron Head is being used, a Careful nature should be run instead. Leftovers is used to mitigate Registeel's lack of recovery and help it stay out for longer on the field. Clear Body is chosen to avoid stray stat drops from moves such as Shadow Ball and Psychic and, if using Iron Head, the Attack drop from Intimidate.
Usage Tips
========
Stealth Rock should be set up as early as possible to start racking up chip damage, heavily damaging Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon such as Moltres, Salazzle, and Yanmega, limiting their use in play. Switch Registeel into foes that cannot do much to it, such as Dragalge, Jolteon, Cresselia, and Diancie, in order to force them out, allowing it to get Stealth Rock up or take advantage of status. However, be wary of super effective coverage moves such as Focus Blast from Hoopa and Zoroark, as, despite Registeel's special bulk, it will still take a measurable chunk of damage from them. While it can take neutral physical hits fairly well, do not switch Registeel into them too often, as lack of Defense investment along with no recovery outside of Leftovers means it will get worn down fairly fast. Make use of Protect to stall out turns of Toxic damage along with PP and to heal with Leftovers while scouting for possible Choice items, but do not overuse it, as it may lead to free switches.
Team Options
========
Cresselia, Gligar, and Golbat are all good checks to Fighting-types, with the latter two helping Registeel's longevity by removing entry hazards with Defog, while Cresselia can deal with Pokemon like Salazzle and Chesnaught slightly better. Chesnaught's natural physical bulk and resistance to Ground-type attacks mean that it can take on the physical hits, such as Thousand Arrows from Zygarde-10%, that Registeel may not want to stay in on, and access to Taunt and Spikes allows it to keep Stealth Rock on the field while setting up more hazards alongside it. Umbreon provides Wish and Heal Bell support, upping Registeel's longevity while serving as a check to Nidoqueen. Rotom-H's Levitate allows it to switch in on opposing Ground-type moves with no drawbacks, and, thanks to its Fire typing, it can take on other Pokemon that wall or threaten Registeel such as Doublade, Escavalier, and Mega Abomasnow. Rotom-H's access to Volt Switch further means that it can safely bring in Registeel on a predicted switch while damaging the foe, and its Will-O-Wisp helps Registeel take on more of the physical attackers in the tier. Araquanid is a more offensive partner, but due to its resistances to all of Registeel's weaknesses and Water Bubble, it can come in on a wide variety of moves that threaten it and can often force their users out or outright KO them, while Registeel supports it by taking the Flying-, Rock-, and special Electric-type moves that it fears.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder Wave can be used to cripple faster threats like Moltres and Durant on the switch, but, as a consequence, Registeel becomes more passive, as it loses out on the damage from Toxic, becoming unable to do anything to a status-afflicted Ghost-type. Curse can be used alongside Iron Head with the same EV spread with a Careful. Rest and Sleep Talk can be used in order to somewhat mitigate the lack of reliable recovery, but it's usually not worth what you're giving up for it. Earthquake can be used to KO the Fire-types Registeel lures in such as Salazzle, which may try to set up Nasty Plot, expecting you to switch out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Flygon, Rhyperior, and Zygarde-10% can all 2HKO Registeel with their Ground-type STAB moves or start setting up on a predicted switch out. Gligar is also immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic by virtue of Immunity and can dent Registeel quite a bit with Earthquake. Ground-type coverage such as Earthquake from Mega Abomasnow can also damage it sufficiently.
**Fire-types**: Salazzle, Moltres, and Rotom-H can all heavily damage Registeel with their powerful Fire-type STAB moves, and Ninetales can OHKO it using Inferno Overdrive boosted by Drought. However, Fire-types don't like taking Stealth Rock damage, and the former two are crippled by Thunder Wave.
**Fighting types**: Kommo-o, Chesnaught, Bewear, and Pangoro can all heavily damage or cleanly OHKO Registeel with their respective STAB moves, depending on the Pokemon's set or chip damage, and can force it out very easily. None like Thunder Wave, but Chesnaught can shut it down with Taunt, and Pangoro may hold a Lum Berry.
**Status-Immune Pokemon**: Pokemon immune to Toxic or Thunder Wave, such as Escavalier, Durant, and Doublade, have an easy time setting up on and proceeding to outright KO Registeel. Substitute users such as Hoopa are also unable to be inflicted with status and, in any Ghost-type's case, cannot have Substitute broken by Seismic Toss.
**Taunt**: Taunt users like Sableye, Mismagius, and Chesnaught can completely shut down Registeel, forcing it out or leaving it incapable of doing anything but using Seismic Toss.
Registeel's bulk lets it easily wall and check many specially offensive Pokemon in the tier like Comfey, Swellow, Diancie, Roserade, and Dragalge while serving as a blanket check to many Pokemon that can only hit it neutrally, especially with special attacks. This, in tandem with access to helpful utility moves such as Stealth Rock, also allows it to be a very consistent entry hazard setter. Registeel can also cripple opposing Pokemon with status without ever being overly passive, as it can stall with Protect and Toxic and deal solid damage with Seismic Toss. On the other hand, its typing means that it is weak to the ever-common Ground-, Fire-, and Fighting-types, specifically being pressured by Salazzle, Flygon, Zygarde-10%, and Pangoro with their super effective STAB moves and common coverage moves such as Focus Blast and Earthquake. In addition, it is susceptible to Taunt, which makes it susceptible to Pokemon like Chesnaught and Mismagius.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Seismic Toss
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Clear Body
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Seismic Toss does a solid 100 HP of damage to anything that isn't a Ghost-type, allowing Registeel to dish out decent damage or break Substitutes of Pokemon that may try to set up on it. Toxic is used in tandem with Seismic Toss to whittle down the array of bulky Pokemon in the tier such as Porygon2, Slowbro, and Umbreon. Stealth Rock is mandatory to pressure Pokemon switching in while breaking Focus Sash and Sturdy, making teammates have an easier time cleaning up late-game. Protect has a multitude of uses, such as stalling for extra damage from Toxic and recovery from Leftovers, scouting for Choice items, and cushioning Z-Moves that may otherwise outright KO Registeel. Iron Head can be used over Seismic Toss to hit certain Pokemon that may completely wall Registeel otherwise such as Froslass, which it 2HKOes with no investment.
Set Details
========
Running 252 EVs in HP and Special Defense along with a Calm nature maximizes Registeel's special bulk, but if Iron Head is being used, a Careful nature should be run instead. Leftovers is used to mitigate Registeel's lack of recovery and help it stay out for longer on the field. Clear Body is chosen to avoid stray stat drops from moves such as Shadow Ball and Psychic and, if using Iron Head, the Attack drop from Intimidate.
Usage Tips
========
Stealth Rock should be set up as early as possible to start racking up chip damage, heavily damaging Fire-, Bug-, and Flying-type Pokemon such as Moltres, Salazzle, and Yanmega, limiting their use in play. Switch Registeel into foes that cannot do much to it, such as Dragalge, Jolteon, Cresselia, and Diancie, in order to force them out, allowing it to get Stealth Rock up or take advantage of status. However, be wary of super effective coverage moves such as Focus Blast from Hoopa and Zoroark, as, despite Registeel's special bulk, it will still take a measurable chunk of damage from them. While it can take neutral physical hits fairly well, do not switch Registeel into them too often, as lack of Defense investment along with no recovery outside of Leftovers means it will get worn down fairly fast. Make use of Protect to stall out turns of Toxic damage along with PP and to heal with Leftovers while scouting for possible Choice items, but do not overuse it, as it may lead to free switches.
Team Options
========
Cresselia, Gligar, and Golbat are all good checks to Fighting-types, with the latter two helping Registeel's longevity by removing entry hazards with Defog, while Cresselia can deal with Pokemon like Salazzle and Chesnaught slightly better. Chesnaught's natural physical bulk and resistance to Ground-type attacks mean that it can take on the physical hits, such as Thousand Arrows from Zygarde-10%, that Registeel may not want to stay in on, and access to Taunt and Spikes allows it to keep Stealth Rock on the field while setting up more hazards alongside it. Umbreon provides Wish and Heal Bell support, upping Registeel's longevity while serving as a check to Nidoqueen. Rotom-H's Levitate allows it to switch in on opposing Ground-type moves with no drawbacks, and, thanks to its Fire typing, it can take on other Pokemon that wall or threaten Registeel such as Doublade, Escavalier, and Mega Abomasnow. Rotom-H's access to Volt Switch further means that it can safely bring in Registeel on a predicted switch while damaging the foe, and its Will-O-Wisp helps Registeel take on more of the physical attackers in the tier. Araquanid is a more offensive partner, but due to its resistances to all of Registeel's weaknesses and Water Bubble, it can come in on a wide variety of moves that threaten it and can often force their users out or outright KO them, while Registeel supports it by taking the Flying-, Rock-, and special Electric-type moves that it fears.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunder Wave can be used to cripple faster threats like Moltres and Durant on the switch, but, as a consequence, Registeel becomes more passive, as it loses out on the damage from Toxic, becoming unable to do anything to a status-afflicted Ghost-type. Curse can be used alongside Iron Head with the same EV spread with a Careful. Rest and Sleep Talk can be used in order to somewhat mitigate the lack of reliable recovery, but it's usually not worth what you're giving up for it. Earthquake can be used to KO the Fire-types Registeel lures in such as Salazzle, which may try to set up Nasty Plot, expecting you to switch out.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Flygon, Rhyperior, and Zygarde-10% can all 2HKO Registeel with their Ground-type STAB moves or start setting up on a predicted switch out. Gligar is also immune to both Thunder Wave and Toxic by virtue of Immunity and can dent Registeel quite a bit with Earthquake. Ground-type coverage such as Earthquake from Mega Abomasnow can also damage it sufficiently.
**Fire-types**: Salazzle, Moltres, and Rotom-H can all heavily damage Registeel with their powerful Fire-type STAB moves, and Ninetales can OHKO it using Inferno Overdrive boosted by Drought. However, Fire-types don't like taking Stealth Rock damage, and the former two are crippled by Thunder Wave.
**Fighting types**: Kommo-o, Chesnaught, Bewear, and Pangoro can all heavily damage or cleanly OHKO Registeel with their respective STAB moves, depending on the Pokemon's set or chip damage, and can force it out very easily. None like Thunder Wave, but Chesnaught can shut it down with Taunt, and Pangoro may hold a Lum Berry.
**Status-Immune Pokemon**: Pokemon immune to Toxic or Thunder Wave, such as Escavalier, Durant, and Doublade, have an easy time setting up on and proceeding to outright KO Registeel. Substitute users such as Hoopa are also unable to be inflicted with status and, in any Ghost-type's case, cannot have Substitute broken by Seismic Toss.
**Taunt**: Taunt users like Sableye, Mismagius, and Chesnaught can completely shut down Registeel, forcing it out or leaving it incapable of doing anything but using Seismic Toss.
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